The demise of renowned Malayalam film and stage actor KPAC Lalitha has sent shockwaves across the industry. The actress passed away at her residence in Thrippunithura on Tuesday night just three days before her 74th birthday. Afeter the news broke, tributes are pouring in for the actor from all corners on social media. Condoling her passing, Mammootty took to his social media handle and wrote, "I have lost a very very dear person." As you Mammootty and Lalitha has shared screen space in several movies including Mathilukal and Kanalkkattu. Meanwhile, Manju Warrier remembered her motherly love. "Even though I called her chechi (elder sister), in my heart she was a mother," said Manju. Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran shared on Instagram, '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.

Meanwhile Kunchacko Boban wrote, "KPAC LALITHA ……….No words can describe what a loss this is for the industry and for me personally. From her first movie as an Actress she has been associated with UDAYA. She was there in my very first movie where I was introduced as an Actor. And we were together for many more movies where she was my lovely mother, grandmother and so on.She was there again when UDAYA came back into production after a hiatus,as I turned a Producer for the first time. Always a well wisher for me and my family,more than a co-Actor she was like family.She lived long to see the fourth generation of UDAYA family and my son was lucky to get her blessings. The kind of naturalistic flair that she gave to the most dramatic roles she has donned,she has been the quintessential go-to mother,mother-in-law,grand mother,elderly sister characters in any genre and generation of movies till her last breath. Not to mention the number of other characters that she has portrayed whether it was good,evil,humorous,emotional…she breathed life into them!! Lalitha Chechi …Lalithamma…You will me missed in person..but not from our memories or sight because of the everlasting characters that you have given life to!". Actors Mohanlal, Bhavana, Indrajith, Navya Nair and sever other celebs too expressed the loss of her most favourite co-star and mother-like figure on-screen and off-screen.

Born as Maheswari Amma in Kayamkulam of Alappuzha in 1948, the actress had joined K.P.A.C (Kerala People's Arts Club), a prominent drama troop in Kerala. She was then given the screen-name Lalitha and later when she started acting in movies. Hence the tag K.P.A.C was added to her name. Lalitha has had a prolific career in Malayalam cinema, and has won several awards for her work. Having worked in the industry for more than 5 decades and acted in over 550 movies, Lalitha has won two National Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress, in 1991 and 2001, and has won four Kerala State Film awards as well, in 1975, 1978, 1990 and 1991. She was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2009 Filmfare South Awards. As a character artist, she has also worked in many movies in Tamil. Lalitha, the wife of one of Kerala's most popular directors, Bharathan, who passed away in 1998, was also the chairperson of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Her son Sidharth is also an actor and a director.

The mortal remains of KPAC Lalitha will be kept in Ernakulam until 11 am for the public to pay homage. The funeral will be held in Vadakkencherry in Thrissur around 5 pm on Wednesday.

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Pranaamam pic.twitter.com/3bBo8nQmNd

— Ramya Nambessan (@nambessan_ramya) February 23, 2022

#KPACLalitha was not just an icon of Malayalam cinema. She was also one of the faces of the progressive art movement that has fought the conservative forces in our society. Till her last breath, she stood firm by those values. Heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/SCOJq8PluB

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) February 23, 2022