Actor Mohanlal's mother Santhakumari passes away

The news of her passing saw an immediate outpouring of grief from the film fraternity. Megastar Mammootty, accompanied by his wife Sulfath, visited the Elamakkara residence soon after the news broke to stand in solidarity with his long-time friend and colleague. This gesture underscored the deep respect the industry held for the woman behind one of Indian cinema's most celebrated careers.

One of the most poignant testaments to their relationship occurred recently when Mohanlal was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Despite the global acclaim and festivities, the first person he went to meet upon returning to Kochi was his mother.

Santhakumari was originally from Elanthoor village in Pathanamthitta district. Her life’s journey took her to Thiruvananthapuram after her marriage to Viswanathan Nair, a former bureaucrat who served as the Law Secretary for the Kerala government. For many decades, she was the heart of the family’s Hill View home in Mudavanmugal.