Kottayam Pradeep’s combination scenes with Mohanlal in Aaraattu was entertaining: B Unnikrishnan

Kottayam Pradeep’s unexpected demise has come as a shock for many in the Malayalam film industry. Director B Unnikrishnan, who recently talked with the actor in connection with the release of his upcoming film Aaraattu, put up a social media post about the void the actor’s passing has left.

Aaraattu, which will release on February 18, will be Pradeep’s final few releases including Joju George’s Peace and Pazhanchan Pranayam. Unnikrishnan shared a still of Pradeep and Mohanlal from Aaraattu, saying he is yet to come to terms with the actor’s demise.

“Two days ago, he had called asking about updates regarding Aaraattu’s release. He had also sent a promo video for the film’s GCC release. What I heard today is deeply sad news,” posted the filmmaker.

Unnikrishnan also wrote that the combination sequence between Mohanlal and Pradeep was entertaining, and the latter has a dialogue in the movie that went, ‘he was a talented actor’. “True, Pradeep was someone like that. A close friend and a music lover,” posted the director.

Aaraattu also marks the final combination between Mohanlal and Nedumudi Venu, who had passed away last year. Unnikrishnan’s longtime associate director Jayan had also died after the film had completed its shoot.

Pradeep, who made his film debut through IV Sasi Ee Naadu Innale Vare, had acted in over 70 films in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi, and was also seen in a couple of TV serials in his career spanning 21 years.

The actor, who was part of films such as Amar Akbar Antony, Kattapanayile Rithwik Roshan, Thattathin Marayathu, Thoppil Jopan, Adi Kapyare Koottamani, Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Raja Rani, Theri and Ekk Dewaana Tha, was last seen in Asif Ali’s Kunjeldho and Dheeraj Denny’s Michael’s Coffee House. He is survived by wife Maya and their two children.