KPAC Lalitha, the veteran Malayalam actor, died in Kochi on Tuesday night at the age of 74. She had been undergoing treatment for liver-related ailments for a long time.
Having made her debut in Malayalam cinema with Kootukudumbam (1969) in her early 20s, the veteran actor worked till her last days and had appeared in more than 500 films. After the news of her demise, several actors and other collaborators paid tribute to the late actor on social media.
Veteran actor Mammootty wrote in a social media post, “I have lost someone dear to me. With a lot of everlasting memories, I condole her death.”
In a lengthy post, Mohanlal also paid tribute to the late actor and wrote, “So many movies we acted together in. She was like a dear family member for everyone in the audience, as a mother, as a sister, as a loving relative. It was not an act, be it in movies, or life. She held the audience and the loved ones close to her. A few formal words are not enough to pay homage when that love fades into the cycle of time with a smile. She was an irreplaceable talent, and for Malayali and Malayalam cinema, her passing away is a pain/loss that will not heal. My Salute to Lalitha chechi.”
Prithviraj Sukumaran also mourned her death and posted, “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.”
Condoling the actor’s demise, Kerala Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan in a Facebook post said “With her social commitment and social interventions, she gained a place in our hearts.”
Actor Keerthy Suresh posted an old black and white photo of KPAC Lalitha and wrote on Twitter, “Extremely saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary KPAC Lalitha aunty. My heartfelt condolences to the family.”
Dulquer Salmaan too remembered the veteran actor and posted pictures with her from their last meeting. He wrote, “My best on-screen pairing. The most love I’ve felt for a co-actor. As an actor she was magic, wearing her genius as lightly as her smile. I’ve never felt more alive in a scene cause she transcended the written word.”
Actor Manju Warrier also penned a heartfelt post and wrote, “Lost a person whom I loved like a mother. Even though I was called sister, my mother’s face is always in my heart. Although I don’t have memories of many movies together, what is left in me is her smile mixed with affection and a hug.”
Recommended
Among others, Asif Ali, Sharaf U Dheen, Siddharth, Shine Tom Chacko also paid their respects to the late veteran actor.
Lalitha was born as Maheshwari Amma on February 25, 1947, in Kayamkulam, Kerala. She was popularly known as KPAC Lalitha because she began her career on the stage, performing with the Kerala People’s Arts Club. Lalitha was the recipient of two National Awards in the supporting actress category for her performances in the films Amaram (1990) and Shantham (2000). She also received four Kerala State Film Awards and was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Filmfare Awards South.