Without a doubt, Mamukkoya's departure marks the end of an era when actors who primarily played supporting roles carried Malayalam cinema. And to make it clear what this means, Malayalam cinema is what it is today because of the skill and brilliance of such actors.
The Malayali subconscious has always treated Kerala as one large extended neighbourhood. The film industry, too, was treated that way. At least till the Bhavana episode erupted in our faces.
The actor, a cancer survivor after he was detected with the deadly disease as far back as 2012, has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi for the last two-and-half weeks.