KPAC Lalitha

Some Lesser Known Facts About KPAC Lalitha

• KPAC Lalitha was a noted Indian actress and theatre artist who worked mainly in the Malayalam film industry. Initially, KPAC Lalitha started working in the K. P. A. C. (Kerala People’s Art Club) theatre in Kayamkulam, Kerala. Her real name was Maheshwari Amma. KPAC Lalitha was so attached to the K. P. A. C. (Kerala People’s Art Club) theatre while working with it that she added KPAC before her name. For more than fifty years, she worked in the Malayalam industry and appeared in more than 550 films. KPAC Lalitha was the recipient of the two National Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress and four Kerala State Film Awards. In 2009, at the Filmfare Awards South, she was conferred with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. KPAC Lalitha served as the chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi for five years. Her notable works in the Malayalam film industry are Shantham (2000), Life Is Beautiful (2000), and Valkannadi (2002).

• The family members of KPAC Lalitha belonged to Ramapuram near Kayamkulam. WhenKPAC Lalitha was a child, her parents wanted her to learn dance, so they moved from their ancestral village Ramapuram to Changanassery. The renowned Indian classical dance teachers Chellappan Pillai and Kalamandalam Gangadharan were her teachers. KPAC Lalitha began working in theatres plays and shows when she was ten years old. Thereafter, KPAC Lalitha started working with the K.P.A.C. (Kerala People’s Arts Club) in Kerala, which was famous for drama plays in Kerala. During her period with K.P.A.C., she earned the name Lalitha. KPAC Lalitha was so attached to the theatre that she prefixed the name of the theatre before her own name.

• In 1969, KPAC Lalitha made her acting debut with the Malayalam movie Koottukudumbam. The director of this movie was Sethumadhavan. After nine years, she distanced herself from acting for some time soon after her marriage in 1978. KPAC Lalitha then appeared in the film Kattathe Kilikkoodu in 1983, which was directed by her husband and came back in the Malayalam film industry. Gajakesariyogam, Apporvam Chillar, Makkal Mahatmiyam, Shubha Yatra, My Dear Muthachan, and Kannanum Polisum were some of her popular films in which she worked between 1986 and 2006.

  

• Her acting performance was critically acclaimed in the films including Adakku Nooki Yanthram (1989), Innathe Program (1991), Dasharatham (1989), Venkalam (1993), Godfather (1991), Amaram (1991), Vietnam Colony (1993), Pavithram (1993), Manichitrathazhu (1994), and Sphadikam (1995).  For her film Amaram in 1991, KPAC Lalitha was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. This film was directed by her husband. KPAC Lalitha’s husband died in 1998, and she took a break from her acting career for a few months. In the following year, KPAC Lalitha was cast in the film Sathyan Anthikkad, and the director of this film was Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal. KPAC Lalitha’s acting skills were highly appreciated in the Malayalam film industry in the films Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Maniratnam’s Alaipayuthey (2000), and Kaatru Veliyidai (2017). Her memorable comic acting skills were also acclaimed in various Malayalam movies apart from supporting roles.

  

• According to KPAC Lalitha, in 1969, she received rupees 1000 for her first film as remuneration. ^[4]Onmanorama

• Reportedly, KPAC Lalitha was the eldest child of her parents, and she was born fives years after the marriage of their parents. ^[5]Deccan Herald

• When KPAC Lalitha was studying in class seventh, her father collapsed at work. Then, his doctors advised him to quit his job. KPAC Lalitha then decided to quit her studies, and she took the financial responsibility of her family and started working in theatre plays and shows. KPAC Lalitha was then ten years old.

• In 2002, her son, Sidharth started working in the Malayalam film industry. He made his film debut with the film Nammal, which was directed by Kamal. However, after working in a few Malayalam films, he quit his acting career and chose film direction as a career. In 2012, he directed the film Nidra, which was a remake of the 1984 film. In 1984, this film was originally directed by Sidharth’s father.

• KPAC Lalitha published her autobiography titled Katha Thudarum (Story To Be Continued) in 2010. This autobiography won the Cherukad Award in 2013.

• Initially, when KPAC Lalitha started working at the KPAC theatre, she was asked to put on the weight for her role in a play. Lalitha was so curious to act in the play that KPAC Lalitha soon consulted a doctor for gaining weight. She was given 16 injections and was advised to take a strict non-vegetarian diet comprised of soup made from buffalo tail, dried grapes soaked in a toddy, raw egg in milk, and cold rice gruel. Chyavanaprasam was also included in KPAC Lalitha’s diet. ^[6]Onmanorama