Thiruvananthapuram: People of Kerala yesterday bid tearful adieu to two people of significant stature from diverse fields.
While national award-winning actor Gopi's final rites took place in the state capital, Revolutionary Socialist Party leader and former minister Baby John's funeral was in Kollam.
Gopi, born Gopinathan Nair, shot to national fame through his role of a village simpleton in Kodiyettam directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan for which he won the national award. He was later conferred the national civilian honour Padmashri for his contribution to film art.
Gopi made his film debut with Adoor Gopalakrishnan's first movie Swayamvaram in 1972 and went on to star in popular films like Ormakkayi (In memory), Yavanika (Curtain), Panchavadippalam (Bridge of Panchavadi) and Aadaminte Vaariyellu (Adam's Rib).
Ailment
Born in 1937 in Chirayankeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram district, Gopi acted in nearly 100 films in his long career, but he was choosy about the roles. He also acted in two Hindi movies. Gopi was paralysed by a stroke at the prime of his career in 1986 and never fully recovered.
Gopi also produced and directed a few films, including Mammootty-starrer Padyam (Verse).
Gopi is survived by wife Jayalakshmi and children Murali Krishnan and Minu Gopi.
Like Gopi, John also underwent a long period of physical ailment before succumbing to multiple illnesses. The last time he was fully active in state politics was when E.K. Nayanar headed the Left Democratic Front government in the state of which RSP was a constituent.
While Baby John underwent physical setbacks one after the other, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, of which he was the undisputed leader, also suffered reverses. The party had to endure a series of rifts that saw his son Shibu Baby John taking up leadership of one of the factions.
