Thiruvananthapuram: Despite suffering from Parkinson's, perhaps Mohanraj would have chosen to revisit memories through his iconic role as ‘Keerikkadan’. He may have wished to return to those memories with the strong hands and powerful strides that defined his onscreen persona. In real life, however, he was nothing like the villainous characters he portrayed on screen. Mohanraj never aspired to be an actor; it just happened. Many who had watched the ruthless Keerikkadan in ‘Kireedam’ movie frowned upon seeing him in person, with some even too scared to talk to him, as he once shared.

Mohanraj excelled in exams for jobs in the Army, Customs and Enforcement. At 20, he joined the Army, but had to leave due to a leg injury. He later cleared the customs exam and joined the department, also securing second rank in the Kerala Police Sub-Inspector test. However, he gave up those opportunities when he was selected as an Assistant Enforcement Officer in the Enforcement Directorate. It was during his time with the Enforcement Directorate that Mohanraj took on the role of Keerikkadan in ‘Kireedam’. He acted in the film without obtaining official permission from the government, which led to his suspension from service. After a 20-year legal battle, he was reinstated in 2010, worked for a few more years, and eventually took voluntary retirement in 2015.

Mohanarajan of Kanjiramkulam

Kanjirankulam: To the people of Kanjiramkulam in Thiruvananthapuram, the towering villain of the silver screen, Mohanraj, was their beloved Mohanarajan (his real name). He interacted with his neighbours without any air of stardom or celebrity arrogance. Until Alzheimer's disease affected him, his heart held memories of Kanjiramkulam, where he was born and raised, along with his childhood friends. Despite being busy with his film career, Mohanraj would always visit Kanjiramkulam during special occasions whenever he could.

Mohanraj studied up to the tenth standard at PKS Higher Secondary School at Kanjiramkulam and later attended Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram, for higher studies. After completing his education, he joined the Army, where he served for five years, followed by two years in Customs, before eventually joining the Enforcement Directorate.