CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Malayalam mimicry and cine artist Kottayam Somaraj passed away on Friday. He was 62.

Somaraj, a native of Kottayam district’s Puthuppally, breathed his last due to illness that kept him out of public life for some time. He was being treated at the Kottayam Medical College where he was recently admitted due to abdominal issues, local media reports said.

Kottayam Somaraj garnered attention via his incredible mimicry performances before entering the world of Malayalam cinema. He was also part of television comedy shows and stage programmes that were adored by Malayali audiences.

Mammootty’s ‘Annan Thampi’ and ‘Phantom’, Kalabhavan Mani’s ‘Bamboo Boys’ and ‘Chacko Randaaman’ are some of the Mollywood projects he was a part of. ‘King Liar’, ‘Kannaki’, ‘Ancharakalyanam’ are also popular movies that featured Somaraj.

Kottayam Somaraj also donned the hat of the scriptwriter for Karumadi Rajendran-directorial ‘Indrapuranam.’