View source for K. P. A. C. Lalitha

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = K. P. A. C. Lalitha
| image       = Manju Pillai.jpg
| caption     = K. P. A. C. Lalitha with [[Manju Pillai]] and [[Mallika Sukumaran]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1947|03|10}}
| birth_place = [[Kayamkulam, Alappuzha]] kerala
| nationality = Indian
| occupation  = Actress, Chairperson of Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Bharathan]]|1978|1998|reason=death}}
| children    = [[Sidharth Bharathan|Sidharth]], Sreekutty
| website     = {{URL|http://kpaclalitha.in}}
| awards      = [[National Film Awards]] (1990, 2000)
| birthname   = Maheshwari Amma
| nickname    = Lalithamma
| yearsactive = 1968–present
}}

'''Maheshwari Amma'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know/did-you-know-kpac-lalithas-real-name-is-maheshwari-amma/articleshow/75693894.cms|title=Did you know KPAC Lalitha’s real name is Maheshwari Amma? |date=12 May 2020|access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref> (born 1947), better known by her [[stage name]] '''K. P. A. C. Lalitha''', is an Indian film and stage actress who works primarily in Malayalam theatre and [[Malayalam cinema]]. She stated her acting career with K. P. A. C. (the [[Kerala People's Arts Club]]); a theatre collective in [[Kayamkulam]], Kerala. In a career spanning five decades, she has starred in over 550 films. She is the current chairperson of [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]]. She was married to the late Malayalam filmmaker [[Bharathan]].

She has won two [[National Film Awards]] for [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] along with four [[Kerala State Film Awards]]. In 2009, she was honoured with the [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award]] at the 2009 [[Filmfare Awards South]].

==Early life==
K. P. A. C. Lalitha was born as eldest among five children as Maheshwari Amma in 1947 in Aranmula, [[Pathanamthitta]], [[Kerala]] to Kadaykatharayil Veettil K. Ananthan Nair and Bhargavi Amma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LALITHA. (K.P.A.C.)|url=http://www.malayalamcinema.com/meet-star/profile/lalitha-kpac|website=www.malayalamcinema.com|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> She has four siblings: Indira, Babu, Rajan and Shyamala. Her father was a photographer who was from Kayamkulam and mother was a housewife who was from Aranmula. She spent most of her childhood at Ramapuram near [[Kayamkulam]], [[Alappuzha]].
Her family migrated to Changanassery, Kotttayam for her to join dance class.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Ps6KvdlDM|title="KPAC Lalitha"-On Record 31,May 2012 Part 1|last=asianetnews|date=31 May 2012|via=YouTube}}</ref> She learned to dance when she was a child under the guidance of Chellappan Pillai and then under Kalamandalam Gangadharan. She started acting in plays when she was 10 years old.<ref>[http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0502/25/1050225031_1.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507072124/http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0502/25/1050225031_1.htm|date=7 May 2008}}</ref>
Her first appearance on stage was in the play ''Geethayude Bali''. She later joined K.P.A.C. ([[Kerala People's Arts Club]]), which was a prominent leftist drama troupe in Kerala. She was given the screen-name Lalitha and later, when she started acting in movies, the tag K.P.A.C. was added to her screen-name to differentiate it from another actress known as Lalitha.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kpac-lalitha-opts-out/article8383448.ece|title=KPAC Lalitha opts out|author=Staff Reporter|date=22 March 2016|via=The Hindu}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Lalitha has a daughter Sreekutty and a son [[Sidharth Bharathan|Sidharth]] who debuted as an actor in the movie ''Nammal'', which was directed by [[Kamaluddin Mohammed|Kamal]]. After a short career in acting, he chose a career in film direction. In 2012, he made his directorial debut with ''[[Nidra (2012 film)|Nidra]]'', which is the remake of [[Nidra (1981 film)|1984 film with the same title]] written and directed by his father [[Bharathan]].{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}. Now Sidharth Bharathan is scaling to heights with movies; ''Chandrettan Evideya'' and ''Varnyathil Aashanka'' running well.
Lalitha published an autobiography, titled ''Katha Thudarum'' (''Story To Be Continued''), which won the [[Cherukad Award]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcbooks.com/cherukad-award-for-kpsc-lalitha.html |title=Cherukad Award for KPSC Lalitha |publisher=Dcbooks.com |access-date=18 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119112814/http://www.dcbooks.com/cherukad-award-for-kpsc-lalitha.html |archive-date=19 November 2015  }}</ref>
In 1998, when her husband [[Bharathan]] died, she took a break for a few months, only to come back with an acclaimed performance in [[Sathyan Anthikkad]] directed ''Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal'' (1999). K.P.A.C. Lalitha's notable roles in recent years were in ''[[Shantham]]'' (2000), ''Life Is Beautiful'' (2000) and ''Valkannadi'' (2002). She won her second [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress]] for her role in ''Shantham'' (2000), directed by [[Jayaraj]]. She still appears in films.<ref>[http://content1.msn.co.in/Entertainment/SouthCinema/SOUTHCINEMAGal_131007_1349.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref>
K.P.A.C. Lalitha has acted in over 500 films in Malayalam cinema. Apart from Malayalam, she has acted in some Tamil films including ''[[Kadhalukku Mariyadhai]]'' (1997), Maniratnam's ''[[Alaipayuthey (film)|Alaipayuthey]]'' (2000) and ''[[Kaatru Veliyidai]]'' (2017). Particularly, her performance in Tamil film ''[[Kadhalukku Mariyadhai]]'' as Shalini's mother won her critical acclaim.

== Acting career==
Her first movie was the film adaptation of ''Koottukudumbam'' directed by [[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]. In 1978 she married [[Bharathan]], a noted Malayalam film director.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.deepthi.com/malayalam/actress/kpac-lalitha.html |title=KPAC Lalitha – Malayalam celebrities the stories and the gossips |publisher=Movies.deepthi.com |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> She took a break from film acting for sometime, doing only a few films.
The second era of her career started with ''[[Kattathe Kilikkoodu]]'' (1983) directed by her husband. Her pairing with [[Innocent (actor)]] was hugely popular with the audience between 1986 and 2006 with successful films like Gajakesariyogam, Apporvam Chillar, Makkal Mahatmiyam, Shubha Yatra, My Dear Muthachan, Kannanum Polisum, Arjunan Pillaiyum Anju Makkalum, Injankaddai Mathan and Sons, Pavam Pavam Rajakumaram. During this time, she did many critically acclaimed roles including those in ''Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam'' (1986), ''Ponn Muttyidunna Tharavu'' (1988), ''[[Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu]]'' (1988), ''[[Vadakku Nooki Yanthram]]'' (1989), ''Dasharatham'' (1989), ''Venkalam'' (1993), ''[[Godfather (1991 film)|Godfather]]'' (1991), ''[[Amaram]]'' (1991), ''Vietnam Colony'' (1993), ''[[Pavithram]]'' (1993), ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' (1994), ''[[Sphadikam]]'' (1995), and ''[[Aniyathi Pravu]]'' (1997). She won the [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress]] for her performance in ''[[Amaram]]'' (1991), a film directed by her husband [[Bharathan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/161018/kpac-lalitha-draws-flak.html|title=KPAC Lalitha draws flak|date=16 October 2018|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatrefestivalkerala.com/speaker/k-p-a-c-lalitha/|title=K P A C Lalitha – International Theatre Festival of Kerala, ITFoK}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Main|K. P. A. C. Lalitha filmography}}

==Awards==
;[[National Film Awards]]
* 1990: [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] – ''[[Amaram]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=38NFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326034004/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=38NFA.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* 2000: [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] – ''[[Shantham]]''

;[[Kerala State Film Awards]]
* 1975: [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress|Second Best Actress]] – ''[[Neela Ponman]]'', ''Onnum Lelle'' (1975)
* 1978: [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress|Second Best Actress]] – ''Aaravam''
* 1990: [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress|Second Best Actress]] – ''[[Amaram]]''
* 1991: [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress|Second Best Actress]] – ''[[Kadinjool Kalyanam]]'', ''[[Godfather (1991 film)|Godfather]]'', ''[[Sandhesam]]''

;[[Asianet Film Awards]]
* 2000: [[Asianet Film Awards#Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] – ''[[Shantham]]''
* 2007: [[Asianet Film Awards#Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] – ''Thaniye'', ''[[Nasrani (film)|Nasrani]]'', ''[[Aakasham]]''
* 2011: [[Asianet Film Awards#Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] – ''[[Snehaveedu]]''

;[[Filmfare Awards South]]
* 2009: [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South|Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award]]

; Other awards
* 2007: [[Premji]] Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mallufilmworld.blogspot.com/2007/10/kpac-lalitha-won-premji-award.html|title=KPAC Lalitha won the Premji Award|publisher=Mallufilmworld.blogspot.com|access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>
* 2009: [[Thoppil Bhasi]] Prathibha Award
* 2009: Annual Malayalam Movie Award (Dubai) for Best Outstanding Performances<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forumkeralam.com/malayalam-cinema/32966-annual-malayalam-movie-awards-amma-announced-lalettan-best-actor.html|title=Annual Malayalam Movie Awards(AMMA) Announced |access-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215220535/http://www.forumkeralam.com/malayalam-cinema/32966-annual-malayalam-movie-awards-amma-announced-lalettan-best-actor.html |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref>
* 2010: Bharat [[Murali (Malayalam actor)|Murali]] Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/news/2010/lalitha-bharat-myrali-award-090810.html |title=KPAC Lalitha gets Bharat Murali Award – Filmibeat |publisher=Entertainment.oneindia.in |date=9 August 2010 |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>
* 2011: [[Bahadoor]] Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalammovies.org/news/bahadhur-puraskar-presented-kpac-lalitha|title=Latest Malayalam Movies |access-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718083907/http://www.malayalammovies.org/news/bahadhur-puraskar-presented-kpac-lalitha |archive-date=18 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/womanoftheweek-article-184971|title=കെ.പി.എ.സി ലളിതയ്ക്ക് ബഹദൂര്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരം  |access-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605012941/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/womanoftheweek-article-184971 |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref>
* 2011: [[Kambisseri Karunakaran]] Award<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moovyshoovy.com/articles/KPAC-Lalitha-bags-Kambiserry-Karunakaran-award.html |title=KPAC Lalitha Bags Kambiserry Karunakaran Award |publisher=Moovyshoovy.com |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916192744/http://www.moovyshoovy.com/articles/KPAC-Lalitha-bags-Kambiserry-Karunakaran-award.html |archive-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
*2012: [[Thoppil Bhasi]] Prathibha Award
*2013: MT Chandrasenan Award
* 2013: Cherukad Award for Literature for Autobiography "Katha Thudarum" (Writer)
* 2014: Kalaratna Fellowship by [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]]
* 2014: Sangam Lifetime Achievement Award
* 2014:Vanithalokam Award
* 2015: Part-Ono Films- ''Samaadharanam''-'Prashasthipathram'
* 2015: SIIMA  – Lifetime Achievement
* 2015: Vanitha Film Award – Lifetime Achievement
* 2015:TCR Bharath P.J.Antony Smaraka Abhinaya Prathibha Award
* 2015:IIFA Awards IIFA Utsavam - Performance in a Supporting Role (Female) - Nominated
* 2016: Parabrahma Chaithanya Award
* PK Rosy Award
* Devarajan Master Award
* Good Knight Film and Business Awards 2017

==See also==
* [[Bharathan]]
* [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress]]
* [[Kerala State Film Awards]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0433884|title=K.P.A.C. Lalitha}}

{{NationalFilmAwardBestSupportingActress}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAwardSouth}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lalitha, KPAC}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Aranmula]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Kerala]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Thrissur]]
[[Category:Indian voice actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam television]]
[[Category:Indian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam theatre]]
[[Category:Indian actresses]]