Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Malayalam actor Thilakan passed away at a private hospital here on early Monday. He was 74.
The actor, who died at 3 am, was in critical condition after suffering two heart attacks. He acted in nearly 300 films in south Indian languages, mostly Malayalam.
Beginning his career on stage in the 1950s, he became famous with his very first film, Ulkadal (1979). His latest film, Ustad Hotel, is still running in theatres.
The state government has borne the hospital expenses of the actor since his hospitalisation a month ago. Thilakan is survived by two sons and a daughter. The body was kept at VJT Hall here, so that his fans could pay their last respects before the cremation on Monday.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Thilakan had straddled both the stage and the screen world, and that actors like him were rare. "The void he leaves cannot be filled," the chief minister said, recalling a career that spanned five decades.Leader of the opposition VS Achuthanandan said Thilakan was a close friend of the communist movement, and one willing to fight battles for the industry single-handed.
"He stood tall in the field of theatre and cinema and his passing away is an irreparable loss to the social and cultural fabric of the state," Achuthanandan said.
The actor, who died at 3 am, was in critical condition after suffering two heart attacks. He acted in nearly 300 films in south Indian languages, mostly Malayalam.
Beginning his career on stage in the 1950s, he became famous with his very first film, Ulkadal (1979). His latest film, Ustad Hotel, is still running in theatres.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Thilakan had straddled both the stage and the screen world, and that actors like him were rare. "The void he leaves cannot be filled," the chief minister said, recalling a career that spanned five decades.Leader of the opposition VS Achuthanandan said Thilakan was a close friend of the communist movement, and one willing to fight battles for the industry single-handed.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"CAA Deliberately Set Aside In Manifesto": Pinarayi Vijayan Slams Congress Kerala Man Climbs High Voltage Tower Demanding House "Deploy Adequate Staff At Sabarimala": Union Minister To Pinarayi Vijayan Abhishek Likes Post On "Divorces" Amid Rumours Of Separation From Aishwarya "Tickled Pink With Joy": Richa Chadha And Ali Fazal Welcome A Baby Girl Viral: Virat With Baby Boy Akaay Spotted In Pic With Anushka In London Delhi University Inviting Applications For Course In Pali/Tibetan Hegemonistic Ambitions: Tibet PM-In-Exile On China Renaming Places In India 7 Killed, 3 Injured As Taxi Falls Into Roadside Well In Maharashtra: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.