By Akhel MathewCorrespondent
Thiruvananthapuram Well-known film actress Srividya who ruled the tinsel world in south Indian languages for nearly four decades, particularly in Malayalam cinema, died here after a prolonged illness. She was 53.
She was suffering from cancer. The end came yesterday at the Sree Uthradam Thirunal Hospital here at about 8pm. Hospital sources said the actress had also contacted jaundice in her final days.
Srividya was one of the real multi-lingual stars in all of the country and she served the movie industry in as many as six languages for well over 35 years.
Though she donned a variety of roles, it was in the role of a mother in dozens of movies that she really endeared herself to the audiences.
The movie world seemed to be her natural choice, being as she was the daughter of Krishnamurthy, a Tamil actor who made a name for himself doing humour roles, and famous singer M.L. Vasanthakumari. Srividya was born in Chennai in 1953.
Srividya, who was not a Malayalee, did such a variety of roles in so many Malayalam movies that many a movie goer in Kerala even took her for a natural Keralite. Srividya's talent was recognised early and she got her first role in movies when she was only 13 years, playing a role in the Tamil movie Tiruvarul Selvan.
However, it was K. Balachander's Apoorvaragangal which really got her star value in tinsel town. That movie also had Kamal Hassan and Rajanikant playing keyroles, thus cementing Srividya's stature among the established stars in south Indian movies.
Srividya made her debut in Malayalam by acting alongside none other than the legendary Satayan in the movie Chattambi Kavala. In 1979, she underlined her considerable acting talents by picking up the state award for her performance in Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindaa Poocha. In 1983 and 1992 she won the state awards again to make it a hat-trick.
The actress's private life, however, was not very happy. She married film producer George Thomas in 1978, but following differences the two opted for a divorce.
