Veteran actor Thilakan passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Malayalam actor Thilakan passed away at a private hospital here early Monday, following a cardiac arrest. He was 77.

Thilakan, who died at 3:35 am this morning, was in a serious condition after having suffered two heart attacks. He was part of nearly 300 films, most of them in Malayalam. He is survived by two sons and two daughters. Thilakan had been struggling ever since he was admitted on August 23. He also suffered from an attack of pneumonia.

Thilakan's first notable presence on screen was in Ulkadal (1979) directed by K G George. He was one of the most talented actors in Malayalam cinema and was recognised with various awards.

Thilakan bagged the national award for best supporting actor for his performance in Rithubhedangal in 1988. In 2007, he got special mention from the national jury for his role in the film Ekantham. Thilakan also won the state government's best actor award twice and the best supporting award six times.