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Veteran Tamil film actress Gandhimathi (pictured) died in Vadapalani, Chennai on September 9.
She was suffering from cancer.
The 65-year-old acted in over 300 films in a career spanning 30 years. As a character artiste, she infused life into the mundane roles of a mother, sister and daughter in her films.
A native of Sivaganga district, 300km from Chennai, Gandhimathi began as a child star and acted in novelist Jayakanthan’s plays. She debuted in his play Yarukkaha Azhuthan and soon entered films as a heroine.
She shot to fame as actress Sridevi’s mother in the hit Tamil film 16 Vaiyathinilai (1976) directed by Bharathiraja.
At the time Bharathiraja said: “I was looking for a character who could speak colloquial Tamil and could think of nobody better than Gandhimathi for the role.”
She also acted in Bharathiraja’s other hits including Kilaka Pogum Rail and Manvasanai.
Her other memorable films were Karaattakaran, Chinna Thambi Periya Thami, Walter Vetrivel, Muthu, Porter Ponnusami, Agal Vilakku and Virumandi among others.
She has acted with all leading actors including Sivaji Ganesan, M G Ramachandran, Radha Ravi, Kamalhasan, Rajnikanth and Sathyaraj.
Her comic timing with actor Surulirajan and Goundamani in several films had the audience in splits.
Her role as Miss Poongavanam with Rajnikanth in the 1995 film Muthu was a memorable hit. Her colloquial twang and earthy looks were an instant hit among the rural fans. She has played mother to all leading heroes in the 1980s and 1990s.
She has won the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani award. Her generous and outgoing nature earned many friends in the film industry.
A tearful actor Radha Ravi recalled how she once offered her home as collateral when banks tried to foreclose his home loan.
“Jayakanthan, the late S S Chandran, Gandhimathi and I were all good friends. She was a good soul,” Radha Ravi said.
After falling ill, Gandhimathi stopped acting and restricted herself to television serials. Her last performance was in the Tamil serial Pondatti Thevai on Sun TV.
She was a spinster and adopted her siblings’ sons Balasubramaniam and Dheenadayalan.