Tearful adieu to Kalabhavan Navas

The mortal remains of popular mimicry artiste and actor Kalabhavan Navas were interred at the Aluva Town Juma Masjid on Saturday evening.

Hundreds of people from various walks of life, including his colleagues in the film industry, paid homage to him when the body was kept at his residence in Nalam mile along the Aluva-Perumbavoor route. Many had also turned up at the Juma Masjid to pay their last respects to the departed actor. Niyas Backer, actor and his brother, other family members were present at the time of his burial.

Suspected heart failure

Navas was found unconscious in a hotel room at Chottanikkara on Friday evening. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where his death was confirmed owing to suspected heart failure. A post-mortem was held at the Ernakulam Government Medical College Hospital on Saturday morning. He was staying in the hotel as part of the shooting of the Malayalam movie Prakambanam.

K. S Prasad, noted mimicry artiste and his close friend, recalled that he had the opportunity to introduce Navas to Fr. Abel of Cochin Kalabhavan, who was instrumental in offering a creative platform to several mimicry artistes in Kerala. We are yet to come to terms with his loss, he said.

Leader of the Opposition V. D Satheesan said in a release that Navas was instrumental in making a popular art form in society. M.V. Govindan, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said in a communication that Navas had won the hearts of cinema lovers in the State.