By Umaima Shafiq/Chennai
Veteran South Indian actress Sujatha, popular for her woman-centric roles, died of cardiac arrest at her home in Neelangarai in Chennai on Wednesday.She had been on dialysis for kidney failure and had a pacemaker for some time.The 58-year-old actress, born in Galle, Sri Lanka, had migrated to Chennai. She acted in bit parts in Malayalam films like Ernakulam Junction, Punar Janmam and Hindi film Do Kaliyaan before her sensational debut in director K Balachandar’s film Aval Oru Thodarkathai (1974).Her role as a fiery, independent working woman supporting her family won critical acclaim.Sujatha’s other Tamil films included Vidhi, Annakili, Mayangugiral Oru Madhu, Senthamizhil Pattu, Avargal with actor Rajnikanth, Aval Varuvaala and others through the 1970s to 1980s.At the peak of her career, she wed businessman Jayakar and took a break from acting. She re-entered films in the mid-1980s and acted in films like Baba, Ullaipali, Maharajan among others.Her acting and looks won her many fans.Sujatha has acted in nearly 500 Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. Her last Tamil film was Varalaru where she played mother to actor Ajith.Tamil film actor Vijaykumar, who has often starred opposite Sujatha, paying tribute said “she was a excellent performer, but after her wedding chose to devote her time and energy to her family.”Film director Ramanarayanan, who is also president of Tamil Film Producers Association said, “The Tamil film industry has lost a great actress. It is an irreplaceable loss. She was a great human being. She acted in my film Sivappu Nila. She was very punctual on the sets.”Sujatha is survived by husband and children Divya and Sajith.Sujatha: ‘great loss’