Malayalam actor Santhosh Nair, 65, dies after road accident near Adoor
Synopsis
Santhosh Nair, a 65-year-old veteran of over 100 Malayalam films and one of superstar Mohanlal's closest friends since their MG College days, died on Tuesday after a road accident on MC Road near Adoor. His final film, Mohiniyattam, is still running in theatres — a poignant coda to a four-decade career.
Key Takeaways
Santhosh Nair , 65 , passed away on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 after a road accident at Enathu near Adoor , Pathanamthitta.
The accident occurred at around 6:30 am IST on MC Road when his car collided with a parcel lorry; he succumbed to a heart attack during treatment.
His wife Shubhashree and the lorry driver sustained injuries and are under medical care.
Nair appeared in more than 100 Malayalam films after debuting in 1982 with Ithu Njangalude Katha .
He was a close friend of superstar Mohanlal , a bond that began at MG College , Thiruvananthapuram.
His final film, Mohiniyattam , is currently running in theatres.
Malayalam cinema actor Santhosh Nair, 65, passed away on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, following injuries sustained in a road accident at Enathu near Adoor in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. The actor, who appeared in over 100 films across four decades, succumbed to a heart attack while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.
How the Accident Unfolded
The accident occurred at approximately 6:30 am IST on the MC Road when the car in which Santhosh Nair was travelling with his wife, Shubhashree, reportedly lost control and collided with a parcel lorry. Nair was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he suffered a cardiac arrest during treatment and could not be revived. His wife Shubhashree and the lorry driver sustained injuries and are currently under medical care, according to reports.
A Career Spanning Four Decades
Born on 12 November 1960 in Thiruvananthapuram to C.N. Kesavan Nair and P. Rajalakshmi Amma, Santhosh made his film debut in 1982 with Ithu Njangalude Katha, directed by P.G. Viswambharan. Over the following decades, he built a reputation as a versatile performer, taking on villainous, comedic, and character roles across more than 100 Malayalam films. His work in films such as Irupatham Noottandu is widely cited as a marker of his range and screen presence.
Though he briefly stepped away from the industry in the late 1990s for personal reasons, he returned and remained a consistent presence in Malayalam cinema. His final film, Mohiniyattam, is currently running in theatres.
A Lifelong Bond With Mohanlal
Beyond his filmography, Santhosh Nair was widely known as one of the closest friends of superstar Mohanlal. The two first met during their student years at MG College in Thiruvananthapuram, where Santhosh — a junior to Mohanlal — served as editor of the college magazine and was a prominent figure in campus life. Their friendship, forged through youth festival performances and shared experiences on campus, endured through the decades and remained a well-known chapter in Malayalam film circles.
Santhosh was also active in student politics and was known for his warmth and his ability to sustain friendships both within and beyond the film industry.
What Happens Next
Details of the funeral arrangements had not been officially announced at the time of reporting. The Malayalam film industry and colleagues are expected to pay their respects in the coming days. His passing leaves a void in a generation of character actors who defined the texture of Malayalam cinema through the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond.
Point of View
Comic, and character arcs — represents a generation of performers who gave the industry its depth while the stars took the marquee. That his final film is still in theatres as news of his passing breaks adds an uncommon poignancy. The road safety dimension is also hard to ignore: MC Road in Kerala has a long record of fatal accidents, and this tragedy underscores a systemic issue that periodic state interventions have failed to resolve.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Santhosh Nair die?
Santhosh Nair died on Tuesday after the car he was travelling in with his wife lost control on MC Road near Adoor, Pathanamthitta, and collided with a parcel lorry. He was hospitalised but succumbed to a heart attack during treatment.
How old was Santhosh Nair and how many films did he act in?
Santhosh Nair was 65 years old, born on 12 November 1960. He acted in more than 100 Malayalam films over a career that began in 1982 with Ithu Njangalude Katha.
What is Santhosh Nair's connection to Mohanlal?
Santhosh Nair and superstar Mohanlal were close friends since their student days at MG College in Thiruvananthapuram. Santhosh, a junior to Mohanlal, was the college magazine editor and the two shared a bond that lasted through their careers in Malayalam cinema.
What was Santhosh Nair's last film?
Santhosh Nair's final film was Mohiniyattam, which is currently running in theatres at the time of his passing.
Were others injured in the accident?
Yes, Santhosh Nair's wife Shubhashree and the driver of the parcel lorry sustained injuries in the accident and are currently under medical care, according to reports.
