KPAC Lalitha, veteran Malayalam actor, dies at 74

Veteran Malayalam actor KPAC Lalitha has died at the age of 74. The actor was reportedly hospitalised recently due to ill-health. She was brought back to her son’s home in Kochi where she died on Tuesday, On Manorama reported.  

Born on February 25, 1947, in Kerala‘s Alappuzha district, Lalitha started taking dance lessons at a young age and got herself enrolled in Indian Dance Academy led by Kalamandalam Ramachandran.

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She made her theatre debut with the play titled ‘Bali’ by Geetha Arts Club, Changanassery. She went on to act in plays such as ‘Swayamvaram’, ‘Koottukudumbam’, ‘Sharashayya’,  ‘Thulabharam’ and ‘Anubhavangal Paalichakal’. 

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She went on to make her movie debut with ‘Kootukudumbam’ produced by Udaya Studios. 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.’

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

Legendary director Bharathan was her husband. She leaves behind her daughter Sreekutty and son Sidharth Bharathan.

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.

Last week, actor Kottayam Pradeep died in a private hospital in Kottayam after suffering a heart attack at the age of 61. 

The actor started his acting career in 2001 at the age of 40 and acted in over 70 movies, mostly donning comic roles.