Noted film actor and producer Augustine died at a private hospital here on Thursday morning after prolonged illness. He was 58. The actor is survived by wife Hansamma and daughters, actor Ann Augustine and Jeethu.
Augustine was undergoing treatment at Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, for liver ailment for the past one week. On Thursday, his condition turned worse and he breathed his last at 10.15am. Earlier, he had undergone treatment at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, and was discharged two weeks ago, his family sources said.
The funeral will be held at West Hill after performing the last rites at St Antony’s Forane Church, Paroppadi, at 3pm on Friday. Augustine, son of Kunnumpurathu Mathew and Rosy of Kodencheri in the district, began his acting career through theatre, and entered the Malayalam film industry in the mid-80s. Since then, he has acted in more than 100 films. Augustine got notable roles in films under the partnership of prominent script writer-director Ranjith and Superstar Mohanlal, which made him familiar for family audiences. The role of Thangalangadi Bappu, a close aide of hero Jagannathan donned by Mohanlal in ‘Aaram Thampuran’, driver Ali Babu in ‘Ustad’, Hydrose in ‘Ravanaprabhu’ and Jose in ‘Chandrotsavam’ are a few examples. His other notable films are ‘Devasuram’, ‘Kazhcha’,‘Commissioner’, ‘Ekalavyan’, ‘Katha Parayumbol’, ‘Arabikatha’, ‘Vesham’, ‘Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala’, ‘Nandanam’, ‘Indian Rupee’ and ‘Bavuttiyude Naamathil’. He was the producer of the movie ‘Mizhi Randilum’, written and directed by Ranjith in 2003.
The actor, who donned comedy and character roles with an amazing equilibrium, was keeping away from the industry for quite a long time after he got paralysed due to a stroke suffered in 2010. Surprisingly, he made a comeback in spite
of his ailment and did perform well in movies afterwards. His movies after the ailment include ‘Indian Rupee’, ‘Bhakthajanangalude Sradhakku’, ‘Bavuttiyude Naamathil’, ‘Nakhangal’ and ‘Shutter’. His last film was ‘Shutter’, that was released in 2012. People from various walks of life paid last respects to the actor when his body was kept at the Town Hall till 1 pm on Thursday, before taking to his residence at NGO Quarters, Vellimadukunnu. AMMA secretary Idavela Babu, directors Ranjith, V M Vinu, Joy Mathew, actors Suresh Gopi, Suresh Krishna, Nadirsha, Sudheesh, Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Vijayan Karanthur, producers Liberty Basheer and P V Ganagadharan, M K Raghavan MP, District Collector C A Latha, CPM district secretary T P Ramakrishnan and Deputy Mayor P T Abdul Latheef paid their last respects.