KOCHI:
Popular Malayalam actor and mimicry artist Abi passed away on Thursday. He was 52.
The actor, who is best known for films like Mazhavil Koodaram, Kireedamillatha Rajakkanmar, Mimics Action 500, Aniyathipraavu and Rasikan, breathed his last at Kochi.
Abi, who was also a popular mimicry artist, had gained fame after his stint with mimicry troupe Kalabhavan. He went on to work with other troupes like Harisree and Cochin Sagar. The actor was also the voice of Amitabh Bachchan in Malayalam ads.
Abi, whose real name is Habeeb Ahamed, is survived by wife Sunila and children Ahana, Aleena and Shane Nigam.
His sudden death on November 30 has come as a shocking news to one and all. Though the reason for his illness was not known to many, it is reported that he was not keeping well for a while now and was undergoing treatment with the blood platelets’ count coming down.
Abi’s son Shane Nigam, who made his debut with the film Kismath, has soon managed to become one of the promising young actors in Mollywood.
Abi, who began his career as a mimicry artist more than two decades ago, had acted in over 50 films and was closely associated with Malayalam actors Dileep and Harisree Asokan. He had performed several stage shows in Kerala and Gulf countries.
In the beginning, he used to imitate popular actors in Kerala. At that time, mimicry casettes were all the craze in Kerala, and a young team of mimicry astistes like Dileep, Nadirshah, Harishri Ashokan and Abi became popular quickly. Abi, who was a superstar in the world of mimicry, entered Malayalam cinema as a comedy actor in a Mammooty starrer, Nayam Vyakthamakunnum in 1991.
Abi has released more than 300 audio and video casettes of mimicry, of which De Maveli and Onathinidakku Pootu Kachavadam were the biggest hits.
Hailing from Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district, he gained fame for his portrayal of ‘Amina Thatha’ in several TV programmes and stage shows.
