Actor Mela Raghu passes away

Kochi: Film actor Mela Raghu whose real name is Puthanveli Sasidharan (60) passed away here on Tuesday.  He was hospitalized in Kochi after he collapsed at home on April 16. He was in a critical condition for the last few days.

Raghu entered the film industry in the movie Mela, directed by K G George, where he played a lead role in which Mammootty too essayed a prominent role. He had made his film debut along with Mammootty in this film in 1980 which is noted for starring the shortest actor as the protagonist and in a full-length character. He had acted in over 30 films in Malayalam and Tamil and his last film was Mohanlal-starrer Dhrishyam2.

Raghu has also acted in Kamal Haasan’s blockbuster Tamil movie Apoorva Sagodharargal.