Adieu, Navodaya Appachan

KOCHI: The city on Tuesday paid homage to the legendary producer Navodaya Appachan. Thousands of people from all walks of life, including prominent political and cultural figures, paid their last respects to Appachan.The body of Appachan, who died at a private hospital here on Monday, was brought to the Ernakulam Town Hall by 11 am. It was kept for three hours for the public to pay homage. Directors Fazil and Sibi Malayil and actors Kunchakko Boban and Fahad Fazil accompanied the body along with the relatives. Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikkutty also paid their last respects to the deceased. Cardinal Mar George Alenchery offered his prayers and condolence to Appachan’s family. “I met him at the hospital 15 minutes before his death. Even at that time he appeared mentally strong. The same composure had helped him attain new heights in film making. He was kind and truthful, the two essential qualities vital for a good human being,” Alenchery said before offering his prayers.Maliyampurakkal Chacko Punnoose aka Appachan, popularly known as Navodaya Appachan, was a pioneer in bringing revolutionary changes to film production. After the death of his brother Kunchakko, Appachan had started a new production house titled ‘Navodaya’. The first film of Navodaya was ‘Kadathanattu Makkam’. Appachan also produced the first multi-starrer in Malayalam cinema - ‘Theekkadal’. Manjil Virinja Pookkal, another of his production, saw the launch of Mohanlal, Shankar and director Fazil. Appachan also produced the country’s first 3D film ‘My Dear Kuttichathan’.Benny Behanan MLA, Hibi Eden MLA, Ernakulam District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth, Kerala Film Development Corporation chairman Sabu Cheriyan, producers Suresh Kumar, Rejaputra Renjith, Antony Perumbavoor and Ziyad Koker, directors T K Rajeevkumar and G S Vijayan, cameraman P Sukumar, AMMA president Innocent and secretary Idavela Babu also paid homage to Appachan.The body was shifted to Navodaya Studio at Kakkanad by 2 pm, where it was kept till 7 pm. The body was later taken to Chennai.