KOCHI: Senior Malayalam actor Meena Ganesh, 81, passed away at Shoranur in Palakkad on Thursday. The death occurred early morning at a private hospital, where she was under treatment for the last five days following a cerebral stroke.
Meena acted in over a hundred Malayalam films, numerous serials, and plays. She had notable roles in Malayalam movies such as Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum, Meesha Madhavan, Nandanam, Punaradhivasam, and Karumadikuttan.
She performed with various theatre groups in Kerala, such as SL Puram Soorya Soma, Kayamkulam Kerala Theatres, and Thrissur Chinmayi, earning numerous awards.
She acted in her first play at the age of 19, and her debut in movies was P.A. Backer’s “Manimuzhakkam”. However, she became active in cinema after portraying the character Pathumma in the 1991 film Mukhamudra.
She was born in 1942 in Kallekulangara, Palakkad, as the daughter of Tamil movie actor K.P. Keshavan. Meena first entered the theatre world through the Koppam Brothers Arts Club during her school days and subsequently became active in theatre, performing in Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, and other places in Tamilnadu.
In 1971, she married the renowned playwright, director, and actor A.N. Ganesh. After marriage, Meena and Ganesh started a theatre group called Pournami Kalamandir in Shornur. However, due to financial difficulties, the troupe was disbanded within three years. She then began working in plays with other groups.
Some of the famous plays include Panchajanyam, Fasah, Mayookham, Simhasanam, Swarnamayooram, etc. The character ‘Kulsumbi’ played by Meena Ganesh in the play “Fasah,” directed by actor Thilakan for Chalakudy Sarathi Theaters, was well-received. The play “Panchajanyam,” written and directed by A.N. Ganesh for Ernakulam Drishyakalanjali, was performed continuously for three years. Meena and Ganesh acted together in over 20 plays written by him.
She is survived by her son and director Manoj Ganesh, and daughter Sangeetha. The funeral will be held on Thursday evening at Shanthitheeram in Shoranur in Palakkad.
