To describe VS Achuthanandan, who served as the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala, as anything less than “the Vanguard of Revolution” would be an injustice. For the greater part of his life, spanning over a century, he has remained at the forefront of resistance movements for the downtrodden and in relentless pursuit of justice. Born into a poor Ezhava family, the Communist Party of India–Marxist (CPI–M) strongman was orphaned before reaching his teenage years. With no choice but to find work to survive, Achuthanandan dropped out of school in Class VII and became a child labourer.
Even amid his struggles for survival and a life marred by hardships, he refused to lead a self-centred life. From that early age until he withdrew from public life a few years ago due to ill health, his journey spanned over eight tumultuous decades. It was marked by unwavering political stances that aligned with the interests of common people, a deep understanding of justice, and a commitment to action over rhetoric. That is precisely why “VS”, beyond being just his initials, grew to symbolise one of the most influential and unshakeable chapters in Kerala‘s history.
Known for his distinctive speech delivery and natural flair for humour, VS Achuthanandan earned admirers across generations. From schoolchildren to professionals, whenever the opportunity arose to perform mimicry, many rushed to the stage to imitate his highly theatrical mannerisms and expressive body language. The thunderous applause such performances received was testament to his widespread influence. Interestingly, that indirect one wasn‘t his only brush with the performing arts.
Did you know that the legendary Marxist leader — who also served as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Kerala Assembly for 15 years — once appeared in a movie? Yep, you heard that right. And no, we‘re not referring to fictional characters inspired by him. VS Achuthanandan indeed appeared in a film as himself, marking his acting debut at the age of 93. Directed by Jeevan Das, the political drama Campus Diary was released in 2016, and in it, VS portrayed a fictionalised version of himself, lending support to a student-led environmental protest.
Check out VS Achuthanandan’s scene in Campus Diary here:
The scene, filmed in Koothuparamba in Kannur district, depicted VS as a beloved political figure joining a group of college students protesting against a powerful bottling plant whose operations had disrupted the local drinking water supply. In the brief but impactful scene, VS was shown addressing the students, extending his solidarity.
After the movie‘s release, VS watched it in a theatre, accompanied by his wife Vasumathy and son Arun Kumar. The film featured Sudev Nair, Thalaivasal Vijay, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Mamukkoya, Sunil Sukhada, Gautami Nair, Joy Mathew, and Kottayam Naseer in key roles.
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VS Achuthanandan, 101, passed away at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The Kerala government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday and three days of mourning. VS will be cremated at the Valiyachudukadu funeral ground in his home district of Alappuzha on Wednesday.
