Remember the animal grunts of Teja, the villain of Gemini. Jayaram had suggested ManiвЂ™s name for a cameo in his upcoming film, Aadupuliyattum, but by then Mani was ill.ДЄfter proving his calibre in Malayalam, Mani worked in Tamil and Telugu cinema too. вЂњSince both of us were passionate about mimicry, it was great fun to be with him,вЂќ he adds. Jayaram worked with Mani on more than thirty films and calls him a versatile actor who could take on any role, be it a comedian, a character actor or a villain. Watching Mani perform on stage I understood his potential.вЂќ вЂњFather Abel, spoke about Mani as a talent to watch soon in films. Mani was also a good singer and brought out several albums.ДЄctor Jayaram who was ManiвЂ™s senior at Kalabhavan (a performing arts centre in Kochi, Kerala) remembers meeting the late actor for the first time during the 25th anniversary celebrations of Kalabhavan. Joining Kalabhavan centre for performing arts in Kochi and doing stage shows, Mani entered the film industry with Aksharam. Mani found his true calling after winning the first prize at the State School Arts Festival held in 1982 in Kollam. In order to supplement the family income Mani did several kinds of jobs including carrying sack-loads while in school, climbing up coconut trees as a coconut picker to driving an autorickshaw. Until then he was wearing hand me downs that were passed on to his mother who worked in households. Vinayan remembers Mani telling him that he got his first set of new clothes only when he was in class eight. His poor family background did not deter him from dreaming big. While the Bharat Gopi Foundation award came much later, Mani won the national and state awards for VLPN.Д«orn in 1971, Mani grew up in Chalakudy. His talent matched the likes of Kodiyettam Gopi.вЂќ вЂњMani drew that effect into his expressions. вЂњHave you noticed that when a visually challenged person speaks, there is a stress on their faces,вЂќ asks Vinayan. After a ten-minute shoot, Mani would rest his eyes for fifteen minutes. The eyes hurt and Mani suffered from watering eyes. вЂњIt is not easy squinting and contorting the eyes for that blind manвЂ™s look,вЂќ explains Vinayan. Mani played an impoverished, blind singer in VLPN. вЂњ VLPN was an experiment on which I took a risk,вЂќ says the director of the historic film, Albuthadweep. The second hurdle came when an actress who had initially agreed to do the film returned the advance on being told that Mani would be playing the lead.

After discussing the script, he enacted a few scenes for me.вЂќД«ut others did not share VinayanвЂ™s vision.ДЇinding a producer was the first challenge. Vinayan who has an eye for spotting talent says, вЂњMani was only a second-level comedian then, but I had a strong conviction about ManiвЂ™s acting prowess. Until then, Mani, who had been in the industry for three years was mostly doing small roles. But nothing suspicious was found.What made Malayalam film-maker Vinayan take a chance with late Kalabhavan Mani in the 1998 film, Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Nyanum (VLPN)? Six of ManiвЂ™s close friends including actors Idukki Jafar and Sabumon had undergone narcotics analysis.

The presence of cannabinoids in his blood was from the Ayurveda medicine he had consumed.Д®ven though doctors had reportedly asked him not to consume liquor, he avoided their warning. The report also said that the presence of pesticide in ManiвЂ™s body was because he ate raw vegetables. ManiвЂ™s body had only 4 g which establishes that it was not the reason for his death, the medical report further said. An alcoholic may have up to 6 g of methyl alcohol in his body. Since his liver was weak, methyl alcohol was not removed from blood. There is a slight amount of methyl alcohol in liquor products including beer, said the medical report. Towards the last days, ManiвЂ™s liver was too weak and he used to drink over 15 cans of beer a day. But the report by medical board stated that the presence of methyl alcohol in blood was due to alcoholism as Mani was suffering from liver disease. The presence of methyl alcohol in ManiвЂ™s blood had raised suspicion that he might have been murdered by mixing poison in alcohol. Following this case was transferred to CBI. Relatives had alleged dissatisfaction over the probe conducted by police. The death was caused due to Child-Pugh C liver cirrhosis, the report further stated.Д¬BI submitted the report after two years of investigation. There was no methyl alcohol in dangerous level in his blood. The report was filed based on the report from a medical board including noted doctors in the country. Kochi: There is no mystery in the death of actor Kalabhavan Mani, stated the probe report submitted by CBI.

Kalabhavan mani