CHENNAI: Popular yesteryear actress S Varalakshmi, who was best known for her character roles in films in Tamil and Telugu from 1950 to the ‘70s, died on Tuesday night.
Wife of writer-poet Kannadasan’s brother A L Srinivasan, Varalakshmi has acted in over 500 films in both Tamil and Telugu. She was 84.
The actress, who was last seen in Kamal Haasan’s Guna, has been part of several Tamil classics like Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Kandhan Karunai, Poova Thalaya, Panama Paasama and Rajarajacholan.
Her role as the termagant mother-in-law in Jaishankar’s Poova Thalaya is considered to be one of her finest and has been widely appreciated by the film critics.
Varalakshmi began her career as a child artiste and was introduced in films by legendary filmmaker K Subramaniyam in the film Balayogini.
Her first role as an adult came later through Mayalokam. The actress, adept in both Tamil and Telugu, later turned producer in 1957 with the banner Varalakshmi Films.
Her husband A L Srinivasan was also a producer owning the banner ALS Productions. The actress was also a vocalist and has sung in a few films for her own characters.
Varalakshmi, who has been residing in Mahalingapuram in Chennai, was bedridden for over six months following a fall. The actress did not completely recover from it.
She was admitted to a private hospital, where she breathed last around 8 pm on Tuesday night. She is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter.
A host of luminaries, including AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, condoled her death.