Veteran Communist leader, Kerala Sahitya Akademi award winner and advocate G. Janardhana Kurup passed away at his residence here on Friday.
He was 92 and is survived by five daughters. His wife had predeceased him, family sources said.
Kurup a leading lawyer, had appeared in nearly 500 criminal cases, including the one relating to communal riots in Marad in 2003 in which he appeared for over 100 accused.
A well known orator, Kurup was founder member of KPAC (Kerala Peoples Arts Club) had also essayed roles in plays during the early days.
KPAC's second and most popular play 'Ningalenay Communistaki' (You made me a Communist), a socio-political drama played a historical role in popularising the Communist movement in Kerala in the 1950s, leading to establishment of the first democratically elected Communist ministry in Kerala in 1957 under E M S Namboodiripad.
Till date, the play has been enacted in over 6000 stages.
Kurup's autobiography 'Ente Jeevitham', won him the Kerala Sahitiya Academy award.
The funeral will be held on Saturday.