"A villain with a towering figure, scars on his face and bloodshot eyes was a new experience for Malayalis. The name Mohanraj faded away, overshadowed by the iconic Keerikkadan Jose. I often felt that I was never meant to be part of the film industry," Mohanraj, who passed on Thursday, reflected in an old interview with Mathrubhumi.

Mohanraj's life changed dramatically from a government servant with the iconic Malayalam classic 'Kireedam', where he became the familiar figure of Keerikkadan Jose. For many Malayalis, the name Mohanraj alone might not evoke recognition; it is the character that remains etched in their memory.

Mohanraj, who passed away on Thursday after battling Parkinson's disease, leaves behind a legacy firmly established in the history of Malayalam cinema.

Birth of Keerikkadan Jose

Legendary screenwriter Lohithadas's choice to cast someone with no acting experience for the role of Keerikkadan drew Mohanraj into the industry. In fact, he never initially aspired to be an actor.

"Lohithadas often said that Keerikkadan is the backbone of 'Kireedam'. I still believe I do not know how to act; I just perform what the director tells me to do," he remarked in the interview.

Keerikkadan's iconic moments, standing tall against the antagonist alongside Mohanlal, left a lasting impression on a generation of Malayalis. Mohanlal's character demonstrated his strength by defeating similar villainous roles played by Mohanraj in 'Aaram Thamburan', 'Narasimham', and 'Naran'.

Mohanraj & Mohanlal

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"I became part of 'Kireedam' thanks to a friend named Kaladharan. The director and writer liked me and offered me the role. When I came to act, no one told me any story, and I didn't even ask. The fight scene was filmed in Arya Nadu, Thiruvananthapuram. It was Mohanlal who guided me on how to hit him and suggested that I block the strikes this way. My background as a national-level athlete also helped during the stunt scenes; a lot of physical work went into the climax," Mohanraj recalled.

'Kireedam' was released while he was working as an Assistant Enforcement Officer in Kozhikode. "I was staying at Nalanda Hotel that day. When I told my friends about the movie I acted in, no one believed me. I took them straight to the theater to watch it," he reminisced.