<p>The condition of popular Malayalam actor Innocent currently admitted to a private hospital, continues to be critical and he is on ECMO support, said the hospital in a bulletin issued here, Saturday.</p>.<p>ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and it pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest.</p>.<p>He was admitted to the hospital nearly two weeks back due to breathing issues.</p>.<p>The 75-year-old veteran comedian and character actor was diagnosed with cancer some years ago and according to sources, Innocent had suffered a fall after which his health deteriorated.</p>.<p>Covid also has taken a heavy toll on him after he tested positive for it thrice in the past three years.</p>.<p>Innocent served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for several years.</p>.<p>The veteran actor whose film career began as a producer, turned to acting and easily walked into the hearts of all film buffs through his comedy and his Trissur slang.</p>.<p>In a career spanning over four decades, he has acted in around 750 films.</p>.<p>His popularity was huge and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) fielded him as an independent candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Chalakudy, where he trounced Congressman P C Chacko.</p>.<p>However, he lost to Congress leader Benny Behanan while defending his seat in 2019.</p>.<p>Innocent's cancer relapsed in 2020 and he acted in a few films after recovering.</p>
<p>The condition of popular Malayalam actor Innocent currently admitted to a private hospital, continues to be critical and he is on ECMO support, said the hospital in a bulletin issued here, Saturday.</p>.<p>ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and it pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest.</p>.<p>He was admitted to the hospital nearly two weeks back due to breathing issues.</p>.<p>The 75-year-old veteran comedian and character actor was diagnosed with cancer some years ago and according to sources, Innocent had suffered a fall after which his health deteriorated.</p>.<p>Covid also has taken a heavy toll on him after he tested positive for it thrice in the past three years.</p>.<p>Innocent served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for several years.</p>.<p>The veteran actor whose film career began as a producer, turned to acting and easily walked into the hearts of all film buffs through his comedy and his Trissur slang.</p>.<p>In a career spanning over four decades, he has acted in around 750 films.</p>.<p>His popularity was huge and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) fielded him as an independent candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Chalakudy, where he trounced Congressman P C Chacko.</p>.<p>However, he lost to Congress leader Benny Behanan while defending his seat in 2019.</p>.<p>Innocent's cancer relapsed in 2020 and he acted in a few films after recovering.</p>