Veteran Malayalam Actor Mohan Raj Passes Away at Thiruvananthapuram Home

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Malayalam actor Mohan Raj, renowned for his iconic portrayal of the character “Kireekadan Jose” in the film “Kireedam,” has passed away. The actor had been battling illness for an extended period.

The actor’s demise occurred at his home in Kanjirankulam, Thiruvananthapuram. Having acted in over eighty films across various languages, Mohan Raj was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Approximately a year ago, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram from Chennai to undergo Ayurvedic treatment.

Mohan Raj made his entry into the film industry through the 1988 movie “Moonnammura,” subsequently making appearances in numerous movies, playing villainous roles that became highly memorable. His notable works include “Artham,” “Vyuham,” “Rajavazhcha,” “Chenkol,” “Aaram Thamburan,” and “Narasimham.” He last appeared in a Malayalam film in 2008, with only two performances post that year.

In 2015, he featured in “Chira Kadinja Kinakkal,” and in 2022, he appeared alongside Mammootty in “Rorschach,” playing the character of Vishwanathan, the father of Grace Antony’s character. His career also extended to nine Tamil and 31 Telugu films.

Mohan Raj was working as an Assistant Enforcement Officer in Kozhikode when “Kireedam” was released. After retiring from his job, he resided in Chennai with his family. He is survived by his wife Usha and daughters Jaishma and Kavya.

The news of his passing was shared by actor and producer Dinesh Panicker on social media. Several colleagues expressed their condolences, with actor and Union Minister Suresh Gopi noting, “Mohan Raj, who gifted Malayali audiences a number of memorable characters, will always be in our hearts. My homage to ‘Kireekkadan Jose’ of Malayalam cinema.”

Mammootty also paid his respects, with Dinesh Panicker stating, “Mohan Raj, who immortalized the fierce villain Kireekadan Jose, will always remain in memory. Post ‘Kireedam,’ he was part of other films like ‘Cheppu Kilukkana Changathi’ and ‘Rajaputhran,’ among others.”

Mohan Raj’s role in the film “Kireedam,” featuring Mohanlal, brought him considerable popularity, and he became synonymous with villainous roles in Malayalam cinema, later gaining recognition in Telugu and Tamil films as well. Apart from “Kireedam,” he delivered notable performances in films like “Narasimham” and “Mayavi,” among others, contributing to over 300 films during his illustrious career.