Popular Malayalam Actress Lalitha Passes Away
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 23: Veteran Malayalam actress Lalitha passed away due to age-related ailments. She was 74. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condoled her demise on Wednesday. The Chief Minister said the renowned actress, who passed away late Tuesday, won hearts of different generations with her extraordinary acting skills. Lalitha became a household name due to her social commitment and contributions.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the versatile actress, who was also the chairperson of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, earned a place in the heart of every Keralite. As a companion of the Left, she always associated with progressive movement, fans said. Her cremation will take place at Vadakkancherry in Thrissur at 5 pm. Lalitha was suffering from multiple health issues and passed away at her son’s residence, family members said. She is survived by her daughter Sreekutty and actor-director son Sidharth. Lalitha was admitted to a hospital in November, but after she showed improvement, she was shifted to her son’s house.
She started her acting career with Kerala People’s Arts Club (KPAC), a prominent leftist drama troupe at Kayamkulam in Kerala. In a career spanning five decades, she starred in over 550 films. Born as Maheshwari Amma in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha, on February 25, 1948, to Kadaykatharayil Veettil K. Ananthan and Bhargavi Amma, Lalitha was the eldest among five children. Her father was a photographer and mother a homemaker. She spent most of her childhood at Ramapuram near Kayamkulam, Alappuzha. Her family migrated to Changanassery, Kottayam, for her to join dance classes. She was trained by Chellappan Pillai and then by Kalamandalam Gangadharan. She started acting in plays when she was 10. Her first appearance on stage was in the play “Geethayude Bali”. She later joined KPAC. She won two National Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress along with four Kerala State Film Awards.
In 2009, she was honoured with the Filmfare (South) Lifetime Achievement Award. She was married to the late Malayalam filmmaker Bharathan, who died in 1998. Her first movie was the film adaptation of “Koottukudumbam” directed by KS Sethumadhavan. The second era of her career started with “Kattathe Kilikkoodu” (1983) directed by her husband. Her pairing with actor Innocent was hugely popular among the audience between 1986 and 2006. Some of her most successful films are “Gajakesariyogam”, “Apporvam Chillar”, “Makkal Mahatmiyam”, “Shubha Yatra”, “My Dear Muthachan”, “Kannanum Polisum”, “Arjunan Pillaiyum Anju Makkalum”, “Injankaddai Mathan and Sons”, “Pavam Pavam Rajakumaram”. She published an autobiography, titled “Katha Thudarum” (Story To Be Continued), which won the Cherukad Award in 2013.
