Noted Malayalam poet and actor, Neelakantan Mullanezhy, passed away at a private hospital in Thrissur early today following heart attack. He was 63. Mullanezhy, who was active till the end, had participated at a literary function at the Kerala Sahitya Academy yesterday evening. Besides being a teacher, he had made rich contribution to cinema and theatre. Mullanezhy had won the Kerala Sahitya academy’s awards for his drama ‘Samathalam’ in 1995 and his anthology of poems in 20l0. His important works are 'Mohapakshi', 'Raapattu', 'Naaranathupranthan' and 'Penkoda'.