Mimicry artiste Raghu Kalamassery, known for portrayals of former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy, dies

Kalamassery: Mimicry artiste Raghu Kalamassery, best known for portraying the lookalike of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, passed away on Thursday. He was 56.

He had reportedly been undergoing treatment for a heart-related ailment at a hospital. Raghu was also employed with the Kochi Naval Base.

With a career spanning over 35 years, Raghu was a familiar and respected figure in Kerala’s mimicry circuit. He began his journey with the Cochin Harisree troupe and went on to perform with several leading art troupes. He featured prominently in popular comedy audio cassettes such as ‘Dhe Maveli Kombathu’, which were widely released during the Onam season.

As mimicry evolved and the era of political and celebrity lookalikes gained prominence, Raghu successfully transitioned into portraying impersonator roles. His most notable performance was as the lookalike of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the Asianet comedy series ‘Cinemala’, which ran for over 1,000 episodes and brought him widespread recognition.

In addition to mimicry, Raghu appeared in numerous Malayalam television serials and films, playing both minor and supporting roles. He shared the stage with celebrated artistes including Dileep, N.F. Varghese and Harisree Ashokan.

Raghu was the son of Damu and Sharada and resided in Kalamassery, Ernakulam. He is survived by his wife, Binu, and children Devi, Diya and Deva. His siblings are Suresh, Shaji, Usha and Indira. His brothers Sudhakaran, Babu and Thankappan predeceased him.