One of India’s oldest film actors Pappukutty Bhagavathar passed away on Monday night (June 22) at his residence in Kochi, Kerala. He was a popular actor and also a singer, known for his exemplary work in the Malayalam film industry. Pappukutty Bhagavathar died due to an age-related illness, he was 107 years old. He was fondly called as the Kerala Saigal. He was the father of Malayalam actor Mohan Jose and film director KG George was his son-in-law. Pappukutty Bhagavatha who was born in the year 1913 entered films around 1950. At the age of 95, in the year 2009, he sang a song for Marykkundoru Kunjadu, sixty years after he sang his first song for a movie.  
 
Pappukutty Bhagavathar  was married to Baby and the couple had five children, actor Mohan Jose, playback singer Selma George, Sabu Jose, Shadhi, and Jeevan. His wife Baby died a couple of years ago. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has issued a statement to mourn the death of Pappukutty Bhagavatha - “He came as a child artist in Malayalam cinema, later was an active figure as an actor and singer for over seven decades in the field of both cinema and theatre. His contributions will always be remembered by the cultural Kerala (sic),” Pinarayi Vijayan said in an official statement.