Malayalam actress Sukumari dies of cardiac arrest

Chennai: Ailing actress Sukumari died at a private hospital in Chennai following cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. The 75 year-old veteran star of Tamil and Malayalam cinema was admitted to the hospital for burn injuries that she suffered a month ago. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who had acted with Sukumari in some films, had visited her in the hospital a few days back. Recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2003, Sukumari appeared in over 1,000 films.

Sukumari was admitted to the hospital after she sustained burn injuries while lighting a lamp in a temple recently. She even underwent plastic surgery. "She was undergoing treatment for burn injuries in our hospital for the last few days. She died following cardiac arrest," a source from Global hospital told IANS.

In Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala State Film Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said her demise was a 'shocking news'. Talking to IANS, Kumar told, "She was convalescing in a hospital in Chennai and we wish that her funeral is held in our state. I have already talked to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and he has pledged complete support. Now the decision has to be made by her son Suresh Bhimsingh."

Sukumari started acting at the age of 10 and featured in more than 2,500 films in various languages. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri. In 2010, she won the National Award for her performance in the Malayalam film Namma Gramam. She had acted with J Jayalalitha in Pattikkada Pattanama. Some of Sukumari's best films include Ezhu Nirangal, Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil and Chiriyo Chiri.