K. P. A. C. Lalitha

{{Infobox person

| name = K. P. A. C. Lalitha

| image = KPAC Lailtha at KSNA Award night Kollam 2019.jpg

| caption = Lalitha at Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award night in Kollam (2019)

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|03|10|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kayamkulam,{{cite web | url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/ems-called-her-comrade-lalitha-for-the-first-time-1.7286551 | title=It was EMS who first called the actor 'Comrade Lalitha' | date=23 February 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/end-of-an-era-kpac-lalita-passes-away/5943 | title=KERALA | access-date=10 September 2023 | archive-date=31 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031115834/https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/end-of-an-era-kpac-lalita-passes-away/5943 | url-status=dead }} Kingdom of Travancore

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|02|22|1947|03|10|df=yes}}

| death_place = Thrippunithura, Kochi, Kerala, India

| occupation = Actress

| spouse = {{Marriage|Bharathan|1978|1998|reason=d}}

| children = 2; including Sidharth Bharathan

| awards = National Film Awards (1990, 2000)

| birth_name = Maheshwari Amma

| yearsactive = 1968–2022

| works = Full list

}}

Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K. P. A. C. Lalitha (10 March 1947 – 22 February 2022), was an Indian film and stage actress who worked primarily in the Malayalam film industry. Considered one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian Cinema, she started her acting career with Kerala People's Arts Club, a theatre collective in Kayamkulam, Kerala. In a career spanning five decades, she starred in over 550 films.

Lalitha has won two National Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress along with four Kerala State Film Awards. In 2009, she was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Filmfare Awards South. Lalitha latterly served as the chairperson of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. She was married to the late Malayalam filmmaker Bharathan.

Early life

Lalitha was born as Maheshwari Amma at Aranmula,{{cite web | url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/ems-called-her-comrade-lalitha-for-the-first-time-1.7286551 | title=It was EMS who first called the actor 'Comrade Lalitha' | date=23 February 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/end-of-an-era-kpac-lalita-passes-away/5943 | title=KERALA | access-date=10 September 2023 | archive-date=31 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031115834/https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/end-of-an-era-kpac-lalita-passes-away/5943 | url-status=dead }} in present day Pathanamthitta District, on 10 March 1947.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know/did-you-know-kpac-lalithas-real-name-is-maheshwari-amma/articleshow/75693894.cms |title=Did you know KPAC Lalitha's real name is Maheshwari Amma? |website=The Times of India |date=12 May 2020 |access-date=17 May 2021}} She was born to Kadaykatharayil Veettil Ananthan Nair and Bhargavi Amma,{{Cite web |title=LALITHA. (K.P.A.C.) |url=http://www.malayalamcinema.com/meet-star/profile/lalitha-kpac|access-date=20 May 2020 |work=Association of Malayalam Movie Artists}} as the eldest among five children; her four siblings were Indira, Babu, Rajan and Shyamala. She is the child born five years after her parents' marriage. Her father was a photographer who was from Kayamkulam and mother was a housewife who was from Aranmula. She spent most of her childhood at Ramapuram near Kayamkulam.

Her family migrated to Changanassery, Kottayam for her to join dance class. In a young age itself she had very much interest in dance.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Ps6KvdlDM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/53Ps6KvdlDM |archive-date=12 December 2021 |url-status=live |title="KPAC Lalitha"-On Record 31, May 2012 Part 1 |last=asianetnews |date=31 May 2012 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} She learned to dance when she was a child under the guidance of Chellappan Pillai and then under Kalamandalam Gangadharan. She started acting in plays when she was 10 years old.[http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0502/25/1050225031_1.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507072124/http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0502/25/1050225031_1.htm|date=7 May 2008}}

Her first appearance on stage was in the play Geethayude Bali. She later joined Kerala People's Arts Club (K. P. A. C.), which was a prominent leftist drama troupe in Kerala. She was given the stage name Lalitha and later, when she started acting in movies, the tag K.P.A.C. was added to her screen-name to differentiate it from another actress known as Lalitha.{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kpac-lalitha-opts-out/article8383448.ece |title=KPAC Lalitha opts out |author=Staff Reporter |date=22 March 2016 |newspaper=The Hindu}}

Acting career

Her first movie was the film adaptation of Koottukudumbam directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan. In 1978 she married Bharathan, a noted Malayalam film director.{{cite web |url=http://movies.deepthi.com/malayalam/actress/kpac-lalitha.html |title=KPAC Lalitha – Malayalam celebrities the stories and the gossips |publisher=Movies.deepthi.com |access-date=18 November 2015}} She took a break from film acting for sometime, doing only a few films.

The second era of her career started with Kattathe Kilikkoodu (1983) directed by her husband. Her pairing with Innocent was hugely popular with the audience between 1986 and 2006 with successful films like Gajakesariyogam, Apporvam Chillar, Makkal Mahatmiyam, Shubha Yatra, My Dear Muthachan, Kannanum Polisum, Arjunan Pillaiyum Anju Makkalum, Injankaddai Mathai and Sons, Pavam Pavam Rajakumaram. During this time, she did many critically acclaimed roles including those in Kattukuthira (1990), Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Ponn Muttyidunna Tharavu (1988), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989), Innathe Program (1991), Dasharatham (1989), Kanalkkattu (1991),Venkalam (1993), Godfather (1991), Amaram (1991), Vietnam Colony (1993), Pavithram (1993), Manichitrathazhu (1994), Spadikam (1995), and Aniyathipraavu (1997). She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Amaram (1991), a film directed by her husband Bharathan.{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/161018/kpac-lalitha-draws-flak.html |title=KPAC Lalitha draws flak |date=16 October 2018 |website=Deccan Chronicle}}{{Cite web|url=https://theatrefestivalkerala.com/speaker/k-p-a-c-lalitha/|title=ITFOK|website=theatrefestivalkerala.com|access-date=26 February 2019|archive-date=23 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423080604/https://theatrefestivalkerala.com/speaker/k-p-a-c-lalitha/|url-status=dead}}

In 1998, when her husband Bharathan died, she took a break for a few months, only to come back with an acclaimed performance in Sathyan Anthikkad directed Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal (1999). K.P.A.C. Lalitha's notable roles after that were in Shantham (2000), Life Is Beautiful (2000) and Valkannadi (2002). She won her second National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Shantham (2000), directed by Jayaraj.

K.P.A.C. Lalitha acted in over 500 films in Malayalam cinema. Apart from Malayalam, she acted in some Tamil films including Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Maniratnam's Alai Payuthey (2000) and Kaatru Veliyidai (2017). Particularly, her performance in Tamil film Kadhalukku Mariyadhai as Shalini's mother won her critical acclaim.{{Cite news |date=23 February 2022 |title=5 memorable Tamil films that KPAC Lalitha was part of |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/5-major-tamil-films-that-kpac-lalitha-was-part-of/photostory/89780441.cms|access-date=23 February 2022 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Kadhaluku Mariyadhai actress KPAC Lalitha passed away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kadhaluku-mariyadhai-actress-kpac-lalitha-passed-away/articleshow/89766521.cms|access-date=23 February 2022 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}

Personal life and death

Lalitha had a daughter Sreekutty and a son Sidharth who debuted as an actor in the movie Nammal, which was directed by Kamal. After a short career in acting, he chose a career in film direction. In 2012, he made his directorial debut with Nidra, which is the remake of 1984 film with the same title written and directed by his father Bharathan.{{Cite news |title=Sidharth Bharathan blessed with a baby girl: Here's the picture of the newborn |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/sidharth-bharathan-blessed-with-a-baby-girl-heres-the-picture-of-the-newborn/articleshow/77121054.cms|access-date=22 February 2022 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}

She published an autobiography, titled Katha Thudarum (Story To Be Continued), which won the Cherukad Award in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.dcbooks.com/cherukad-award-for-kpsc-lalitha.html |title=Cherukad Award for KPSC Lalitha |publisher=Dcbooks.com |access-date=18 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119112814/http://www.dcbooks.com/cherukad-award-for-kpsc-lalitha.html |archive-date=19 November 2015}}

Lalitha died in Thrippunithura on 22 February 2022, at the age of 74.{{cite news |title=കെ.പി.എ.സി ലളിത അന്തരിച്ചു |language=ml |trans-title=Salutations to KPAC Lalitha; The funeral will take place at 5 pm at her house in Wadakkanchery |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kpac-lalitha-passed-away-1.7284677 |access-date=22 February 2022 |publisher=Mathrubhumi |date=22 February 2022}}{{Cite news |last=ലേഖകൻ |first=മാധ്യമം |title=കെ.പി.എ.സി ലളിത അന്തരിച്ചു |trans-title=KPAC Lalitha passes away |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/kpac-lalitha-passed-940134|access-date=22 February 2022 |work=Madhyamam |language=Malayalam}} She had been hospitalised since November 2021 due to multiple health issues, including liver ailment and diabetes.{{Cite news |title=KPAC Lalitha's mortal remains consigned to flames |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/02/23/kpac-lalitha-funeral-wadakkancherry-tribute-actors-politicians.html|access-date=23 February 2022 |work=OnManorama}} Her mortal remains was taken to her home in Wadakkancherry, and was cremated with full state honours.

Filmography

Awards

;National Film Awards

1990: Best Supporting Actress – Amaram{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=38NFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326034004/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=38NFA.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}
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, Sandesam

;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{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}
2009: Thoppil Bhasi Prathibha Award
2009: Annual Malayalam Movie Award (Dubai) for Best Outstanding Performances{{cite web |url=http://www.forumkeralam.com/malayalam-cinema/32966-annual-malayalam-movie-awards-amma-announced-lalettan-best-actor.html |title=Annual Malayalam Movie Awards(AMMA) Announced |access-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215220535/http://www.forumkeralam.com/malayalam-cinema/32966-annual-malayalam-movie-awards-amma-announced-lalettan-best-actor.html |archive-date=15 December 2010}}
2010: Bharat Murali Award{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}
2011: Bahadoor Award{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/womanoftheweek-article-184971 |title=കെ.പി.എ.സി ലളിതയ്ക്ക് ബഹദൂര്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം |access-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605012941/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/womanoftheweek-article-184971 |archive-date=5 June 2011}}
2011: Kambisseri Karunakaran Award{{cite web |url=http://www.moovyshoovy.com/articles/KPAC-Lalitha-bags-Kambiserry-Karunakaran-award.html |title=KPAC Lalitha Bags Kambiserry Karunakaran Award |publisher=Moovyshoovy.com |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916192744/http://www.moovyshoovy.com/articles/KPAC-Lalitha-bags-Kambiserry-Karunakaran-award.html |archive-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}
2012: Thoppil Bhasi Prathibha Award
2013: MT Chandrasenan Award
2013: Cherukad Award for Literature for Autobiography "Katha Thudarum" (Writer)
2014: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship{{cite news |title=കേരള സംഗീത നാടക അക്കാദമി കലാരത്‌ന ബഹുമതികള്‍ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു |url=https://www.sirajlive.com/2015/01/01/155762.html |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Siraj Daily |date=1 January 2015 |language=ml}}
2014: Sangam Lifetime Achievement Award
2014:Vanithalokam Award
2015: Part-Ono Films- Samaadharanam-'Prashasthipathram'
2015: SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award
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
Good Knight Film and Business Awards 2017