KPAC Lalitha, a veteran Malayalam actress, died on Tuesday (Feb 22). She was 74 years old at the time. According to reports, the actress died at her son's home in Kochi. In November, KPAC Lalitha was admitted to the hospital for a variety of health difficulties; however, her condition improved and she was sent to her son Sidharth's home in Kochi.

The death of the legendary actress has shocked the Malayalam film industry.

KPAC Lalitha began acting in plays at the age of ten and later joined the KPAC (Kerala People's Arts Club), a well-known Kerala theatrical troupe. She made her Malayalam film debut in 1969 with the film 'Kootu Kudumbam,' in which she played the character Saraswathi. 'Postmane Kananilla', 'Ponnapuram Kotta', 'Gandhinagar 2nd Street', 'Vellanakalude Naadu', 'Manu Uncle', 'Manichitrathazhu', 'Thenmavin Kombathu', 'Manassinakkare', and 'Njan Prakashan' were among her later films. KPAC Lalitha has appeared in over 550 films during her five-decade career. KPAC Lalitha has played a variety of characters, from the prostitute Kalyani in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Swayamvaram' to the gorgeous Omana in 'Kanalkkattu' to the serial actor Akashavani in the latest 'Varane Avashyamund.

In 1990, KPAC Lalitha won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film 'Amaram,' and again in 2000 for the film Shantham. For the films 'Neela Ponman,' 'Aaravam,' 'Amaram,' 'Kadinjool Kalyanam,'Godfather,' and 'Sandesham,' the actress also won the Kerala State Film Award for second best actress.

She has seen Malayalam cinema evolve from black and white to colour, film to digital, and classics to realism. Lalitha KPAC is the late Bharathan's wife, a prominent Malayalam filmmaker. Sidharth Bharathan, her son, is an actor who has also directed a few films.