Thrissur, Saturday, October 22, 2011: Noted Malayalam poet, lyricist and actor, Neelakantan Mullanezhi, passed away at a private hospital here early today following heart attack.

He was 63, and leaves behind wife and three children, family sources said.

Mullanezhi, who was active till the end, had participated at a literary function at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi yesterday evening.

Besides being a teacher, he had made rich contributions to cinema and theatre and he had won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi’s awards for his drama ‘Samathalam’ in 1995 and his anthology of poems in 20l0.

His important works are ‘Mohapakshi’, ‘Raapattu’, ‘Naaranathupranthan’ and ‘Penkoda’.

He complained of chest pain late yesterday night and was rushed to hospital, where he later died, the hospital sources said.

Mullanezhi had acted in several films successfully as also in dramas. After retirement from a government high school, he had actively participated in social work and literary activities.

His body would be brought to the Kerala Sahitya Academy hall at 12.30 pm from his Illam from Avinassery near here. The body will be placed at the KSA for paying tributes.

The poet will be laid to rest this evening at his family compound.

(News agency)