Legendary singer and actor A. L. Raghavan passed away this morning in a private hospital in Chennai where he was admitted after suffering a massive heart attack at 7.30 am.  He was eighty and is survived by his wife M.N. Rajam a much-respected character artiste in the MGR-Sivaji era who continued to act till 2007.

A.L. Raghavan who started his music career in 1947 has sung hundreds of songs in Tamil with his last being "Nalla Ketukka Paadam" in Sean Roldan's music in the film 'Aadama Jeyichomada' released in the year 2014. His singing style was most vibrant and full of gusto as evidenced in "Paappa Paappa Kathaikelu", "Once a Pappa Met a Mama" and "April Fool".  Ironically however his most famous song is a pathos "Engirundhaalum Vaazhga" from the classic romance tragedy 'Nenjirukkum Varai' directed by Sridhar.

Raghavan has acted in several movies and serials with his last one being the Sun TV mega serial 'Ahalya' in which he was one of the leads.