Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam film actor and theatre artiste K S Premkumar, popularly called Kochu Preman, passed away at a private hospital here on Saturday. He was 68.

The actor had been admitted to hospital for treatment for a lung disease.

He is survived by his wife Girija Preman, who is also an actor and son Harikrishnan.

Born on June 1, 1955 in Thiruvananthapuram, the veteran actor completed his primary education at a government school in Peyad, after which, he joined the Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram.

Following success in theatre, Preman moved to cinema, with ‘Ezhu Nirangal’ of 1979 being his first movie. The 1996 movie ‘Dilliwala Rajakumaran’ was one of his most successful ventures as actor. Preman acted in more than 250 films.

He is most remembered for his comic portrayal of characters in movies like ‘Thilakkam’, ‘Kalyanaraman’, ‘Thenkasipattanam’ and ‘Pattabhishekam’. His last movie, ‘Oru Pappadavada Premam’ was in released in 2021.

In addition, Preman starred in several Malayalam television serials and also worked in theatre troupes like Kalidasa Kalakendram, Kerala Theaters, and Sanghachethana.

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New Delhi, Dec 28: The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) on Saturday announced a cash award of Rs 25 lakh for young Nitish Reddy, acknowledging his maiden Test century effort, which was crucial to India's fightback in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

The 21-year-old Reddy scored a resilient unbeaten 105 to steer India to 358 for nine on the third day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"It is a fortunate day and a happiest moment for the Andhra Cricket Association. We are very happy that a boy from Andhra has been picked for the Test format and international T20 format. As an honour, on behalf of the Andhra Cricket Association, Rs 25 lakh prize money is being given to Nitish Kumar Reddy," (ACA) President Kesineni Sivanath said.

Reddy, who has been a standout performer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, showed his grit again in the fourth Test, sharing a crucial 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50 off 162 balls).

Reddy’s remarkable innings was praised by cricketing legends with Sunil Gavaskar describing it as one of the greatest Test knocks in India's Test history.