KPAC Lalitha, the veteran Malayalam actor, died on Tuesday at the age of 74. Married to late legendary director Bharathan, the actor leaves behind her daughter Sreekutty and son Sidharth Bharathan, who is an Indian film director. 

Lalitha, who had been bedridden for the past few months, died at her son’s home in Kochi on Tuesday. 

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 Lalitha began her acting career as a theatre artist with KPAC (Kerala People’s Arts Club)– a theatre collective in Kerala, five decades ago. She forayed into the movie industry in 1969 with ‘Koottukudumbam’ directed by K S Sethumadhavan. She took a break from acting for some time in the late 1970s, but returned in 1983 with ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’, directed by Bharathan.

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Lalitha has acted in more than 550 films and won four state awards.

Meanwhile, the actor won her national award for her role in Bharathan’s ‘Amaram’ in 1991. Nine years later, she won her second National Award for her performance in Jayaraj’s ‘Shantham.’

Following her death, several people from the Malayalam film industry took to social media to pay tributes. 

“Rest in peace Lalitha aunty! It was a privilege to have shared the silver screen with you! One of the finest actors I’ve known,” actor Prithviraj Sukumaran wrote.  

Who was KPAC Lalitha’s husband Bharathan?

Bharathan was an Indian filmmaker who directed over 40 films in Malayalam and Tamil. He died at a private hospital in Chennai in 1998 following prolonged illness. His mortal remains were brought back to his ancestral home in Kerala‘s Wadakkanchery and cremated with full state honours.  

Who are KPAC Lalitha’s children? 

Sidharth Bharathan is an Indian film director, actor and screenwriter. He has directed movies such as Chandrettan Evideya (2015), Chathuram and Nidra (2012).