KOZHIKODE: THE state bid a tearful adieu to Santha Devi, the artiste who eternalised a number of memorable mother characters in Malayalam films and plays.
The mortal remains of the artiste were consigned to flames with state honours at Mavoor Road crematorium here on Sunday afternoon.
Santha Devi's elder son Suresh Kumar and other family members were present during the funeral. The state government was represented by Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem. District Collector P B Salim placed a wreath for the Chief Minister.
The cremation took place around 2 pm. Earlier, the body of the deceased artiste was kept at the Kozhikode Town Hall for the public to pay homage from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm. Minister of State for Railways E Ahamed paid his last respects to the artiste at the Town Hall. A large number of persons from the film industry, politics, theatre and different walks of life paid homage to the motherly figure.
Among the leaders of political parties who arrived to pay their last respects were M K Raghavan MP, Forests Minister Benoy Viswom, Mayor A K Premajam, district panchayat president K Jameela, Deputy Mayor P T Abdul Latheef, former Mayor M Bhaskaran, BJP state president V Muraleedharan, CPM district secretary T P Ramakrishnan, DCC president K C Abu, CPI district president T V Balan and former MLA Sathyan Mokeri.
Film personalities V M Vinu, T A Razaq, Ali Akbar, Mamukkoya, Babu Swami, Augustin, Sudheesh, singer Machat Vasanthi, Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Illikkettu Namboothiri, Abu Salim, Vasu Pradeep, who introduced the actress through his plays, and Santhadevi's colleague in film and theatre Kuttiedathi Vilasini also paid homage to the artiste.
Literary personalities, eminent people from social and cultural world also paid homage to Santhadevi. Kerala Sahitya Akademi president P Valsala, secretary Purushan Kadalundi, U A Khader, president of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, social critics K E N Kunhahammad, M N Karassery, K Ajitha, writer V R Sudheesh, U K Kumaran, theatre artistes Madhu master, V T Murali, Chemanchery Narayanan Nair, Ibrahim Vengara, and others paid homage to the artiste.
Santha Devi's mortal remains were kept at her residence at Nallalam till 10.30 am, where many of her acquaintances and neighbours paid homage.