K. P. A. C. Lalitha (25 Febrauary 1948- 22 February 2022) is an Indian film and stage actress who worked primarily in Malayalam Industry. She was one of the malayalam cinema’s finest and versatile actresses, who has given life to all those iconic characters she portrayed. In her career spanning 5 decades, Lalithamma has starred in over 550 films (in Malayalam and Tamil). She won 2 National Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress along with 4 Kerala State Film Awards. She received the national awards for the character in ‘Amaram’ (1999) and for ‘Shantham’ (2000). She also held the position of the Chairperson of ‘Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy‘ for 5 years.
She was married to Bharathan (? – 29 July 1998) a malayalam film maker and has a son and a daughter with him. (Siddharth Bharathan and Sreekutty Bharathan). Siddharth, her son is also a filmmaker, screenwriter and actor in Malayalam cinema. He directed movies such as Chandrettan Evideya (2015), Chathuram and Nidra (2012). Her daughter Sreekutty aka Shree Menon, is a former child artist.
K.P.A.C. Lalitha’s real name was Maheswari Amma. She joined in K.P.A.C (Kerala People’s Arts Club), a prominent drama troop in Kerala, and the tag K.P.A.C was added to her name. Then she was given the screen-name Lalitha when she started acting in movies. She got her first chance in the adaptation of ‘Koottukudumbam’ which was directed by Sethumadhavan.
Later she got married in 1978 and decided to take a gap from the acting profession. However, she came back with a bang with the movie titled as ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’ directed by her husband in 1983. She had also performed in the television shows such as Sangeetha Sangamam, On Record, JB Junction, etc.
Bio
| Name | Maheshwari Amma |
| Populary Known as | K.P.A.C. Lalitha |
| Profession | Actress |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx) | in centimeters - 160 cm in meters - 1.6 m in feet and inches- 5 ' 3" |
| Weight (approx) | in kilograms - 68 kg in pounds - 150 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 25 Febrauary 1947 |
| Hometown | Kayamkulam, Alappuzha, Kerala, India |
| Date of Death | 22-02-2022 |
| Died at | Thrippunithura, Kochi, Kerala, India |
| Age (as in 2022) | 74 |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste | NA |
| Family, Relationship & More | |
| Siblings | Brothers: Indira, Shyamala. Sisters: Babu, Rajan |
| Parents | Father - Kadaykatharayil Veettil K. Ananthan Nair Mother - Bhargavi Amma |
| Husband | Bharathan m(1978-1998) |
| Affairs | NA |
| Children | Son - Siddharth Bharathan Daughter - Sreekutty Bharathan |
| Debut Movie | Koottukudumbam |
| Awards | National Film Awards 1990: Best Supporting Actress – Amaram 2000: Best Supporting Actress – Shantham Kerala State Film Awards 1975: Second Best Actress – Neela Ponman, Onnum Lelle (1975) 1978: Second Best Actress – Aaravam 1990: Second Best Actress – Amaram 1991: Second Best Actress – Kadinjool Kalyanam, Godfather, Sandhesam Asianet Film Awards 2000: Best Supporting Actress – Shantham 2007: Best Supporting Actress – Thaniye, Nasrani, Aakasham 2011: Best Supporting Actress – Snehaveedu Filmfare Awards South 2009: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award Other Awards 2007: Premji Award 2009: Thoppil Bhasi Prathibha Award 2009: Annual Malayalam Movie Award (Dubai) for Best Outstanding Performances 2010: Bharat Murali Award 2011: Bahadoor Award 2011: Kambisseri Karunakaran Award 2012: Thoppil Bhasi Prathibha Award 2013: MT Chandrasenan Award 2013: Cherukad Award for Literature for Autobiography “Katha Thudarum” (Writer) 2014: Kalaratna Fellowship by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy 2014: Sangam Lifetime Achievement Award 2014:Vanithalokam Award 2015: Part-Ono Films- Samaadharanam-‘Prashasthipathram’ 2015: SIIMA – Lifetime Achievement 2015: Vanitha Film Award – Lifetime Achievement 2015: TCR Bharath P.J.Antony Smaraka Abhinaya Prathibha Award 2015: IIFA Awards IIFA Utsavam – Performance in a Supporting Role (Female) – Nominated 2016: Parabrahma Chaithanya Award PK Rosy Award Devarajan Master Award 2017: Good Knight Film and Business Awards |
Some of Lalitha’s popular movies are:
- Godfather (1991) as Kochammini
- Sandesham (1991) as Anandan’s Wife
- Thilakkam (2003) as Devaki
- Kadinjool Kalyanam (1991) as Chinnamalu
- Amaram (1991)
- Alai Payuthey (2000)
- Manichithrathazhu (1993)
- Kodiyettam (1977)
- Thilakkam (2003).
Lalitha was bedridden for few months beacuse of some liver illness and her daughter Sreekutty had sought help online from people willing to donate a part of their liver. It was even shared by several artists and technicians on social media. And people thought she was recovering too. But She died on 22 February 2022 at her son’s residence leavng her fans in shock.
Some Interesting Facts About K.P.A.C. Lalithamma
- K.P.A.C. Lalitha published her autobiography, called Katha Thudarum (Story To Be Continued), which won the Cherukad Award in 2013.
- She was the eldest among five children and her father was a photographer.
- She learned to dance when she was a child from Chellappan Pillai and then under Kalamandalam Gangadharan. She started acting in plays when she was just 10 years.
- Her first appearance on stage was in the play Geethayude Bali. Later She joined in K.P.A.C.
