Actor Mohanlal’s mother Santhakumari Amma passes away at 90

Santhakumari Amma had been paralysed and unwell for some time due to age related ailments.

Mohanlal, producer Antony Perumbavoor, Mohanlal’s wife Suchitra and daughter Vismaya, stand beside the mortal remains of Mohanlal’s mother Shanthakumari  

KOCHI: Actor Mohanlal’s mother, Santhakumari Amma, passed away in Kochi on Tuesday. She was 90. Santhakumari Amma, who had been a constant source of support for the veteran actor, passed away at her residence in Elamakkara owing to age-related ailments.

Santhakumari Amma had been paralysed and had been unwell for quite some time. The funeral will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. She is the wife of the late Viswanathan Nair, a retired government employee.

Mohanlal always shared a warm bond with his mother. The actor had earlier said that he sees his mother in every elderly woman. Speaking about his mother, Mohanlal earlier said that he was a blessed son. “She fell ill when we (Mohanlal and his mother) were talking. Though she speaks, it is not clear. But I can understand what she says. I go to her and sit with her. I also call her and talk over the phone every day,” he said, explaining how he maintained communication with her even after she fell ill. They shared a divine bond. In 2009, the mother-son pair shed tears on stage as they listened to Abdussamad Samadani’s speech about motherhood at the Nattika festival.

Prominent actors and political leaders paid tributes to Santhakumari Amma. Upon hearing about the demise of Santhakumari Amma, the mother of his beloved friend, actor Mammootty and family visited the residence of Mohanlal in Elamakkara to pay tributes.

Actors Mammootty and Jayasoorya leave after paying their last respects to Mohanlal’s mother at his residence | A Sanesh

Ministers P Rajeeve, K B Ganeshkumar, and V Abdurahiman; MPs Hibi Eden and Jebi Mether, MLA T J Vinod; producer Antony Perumbavoor; directors Sibi Malayil, Joshyy, actors Ramesh Pisharody and others paid tributes. Hundreds of neighbours and residents gathered at his house to pay tributes on Tuesday evening.

“I express grief over the passing of beloved actor Mohanlal’s mother. She played a major role in shaping Mohanlal and stood as his support all throughout. My condolences to the beloved star and his family,” Speaker A N Shamseer wrote on Facebook. Back in 2015, the veteran actor established the ViswaSanthi Foundation, a non-profit organisation in the name of his parents, Viswanathan and Santhakumari Amma.