Malayalam Actress Kanakalatha, 63, Dies After Prolonged Illness

One of the versatile actresses in the Malayalam film industry is Kanakalatha. She was a prominent face in films and serials including Priyam, Chirikkudukka and Aadyathe Kanmani. The 63-year-old passed away due to her prolonged illness on May 6 at her home in Malayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Kanakalatha has proactively worked in Malayalam and Tamil film industries for the last four decades. Reportedly, she has worked in more than 360 films during her course of career and garnered a lot of love, fame and respect. Soon, she stepped away from the limelight. It was found that she was grappling with Parkinson’s disease and dementia. It was last year that her sister, Vijayamma, revealed her illness and said that the symptoms had surfaced in 2021. It was in August 2022 that her doctor diagnosed her with dementia through an MRI scan.

Further, her sister revealed that Kanakalatha began exhibiting behaviour very similar to a 3-year-old and required constant care. While the symptoms were reported in 2021, they aggravated during the pandemic-era. Kanakalatha was later also found to show signs of amnesia.

If the reports are anything to go by, Kanakalatha had to be admitted to ICU in October 2022. Reportedly, her condition was deteriorating severely. Such was her state that she needed aid while eating and drinking. When she forgot to eat or drink food and water, she was forced to survive on liquid food. She also had to wear adult diapers, her skin turned pale and her hair was cut short.

Kanakalatha was a part of many amateur dramas and later shifted to professional theatre to showcase her talent. That’s when she discovered her knack for acting.

Kanakalatha has been featured in films like Kannezhuthi Pottumthottu, Varnapakittu, Spadikam, Kireedam, Rajavinte Makan and Chillu to name a few. She marked her debut in 1980 with Unarthupaattu. She was also noted for her roles in Anyar, Vakkalathu Narayanankutty, Chirikkudukka and Agrahaaram.

She has worked alongside prolific actors like Jagathy Sreekumar. She was last seen in the film Pookkaalam in 2023 which was directed by Ganesh Raj.