Veteran filmmaker Fazil, while acknowledging the incredible loss of Malayalam cinema through the demise of KPAC Lalitha, hoped that the actress, who had been struggling with severe health issues, would now get liberation in death.
“Lalitha’s health had severely deteriorated. Dialysis couldn’t be done. Her health didn’t allow for a liver transplant either. Lalitha was brought home when she could no more be treated at a hospital. She wasn’t able to recognise people. So, her demise is, in a way, a liberation from all the pain,” he said.
She was an extraordinary artist. It is my greatest pride to say that she had delivered fabulous performances in my movies ‘Aniyathipraavu’ and ‘Manichitrathazhu’. Her demise is a great loss for Malayalam cinema. The saying that there is no one to replace a person who is no more is absolutely right in Lalitha’s case. I pray that her soul rests in peace!”
In an earlier interview to Manorama Online, Fazil had said about the climax of ‘Aniyathipraavu’, “I didn’t have to say anything specifically to Sreevidya, Lalitha or Thilakan as I knew that they could easily do the scene. That is the reason why I had cast such senior artists when I made a movie with newcomers. They give more than what we expect from them. It is a fact that the climax of the movie was a success only because these artists had acted in it.
Sreevidya and Lalitha chechi’s characters create a few build ups before the iconic dialogue where the former asks for the heroine’s hand. Those build ups were actually the strength of the climax scene. Those mothers were learning more about their kids right in front of the audience. Moreover, the audience were watching their sadness too. Finally, when the boy’s mother leaves the house without even looking at the girl, her mother says, “You didn’t even speak to my daughter. Its her marriage! Can’t you at least bless her?” The boy’s mother reluctantly walks to the girl. However, she breaks down, unable to bless the girl who was in love with her son. The build ups created by those great artists had only strengthened the emotional intensity of these dialogues.
Music composer Ouseppachan had added a nadaswaram bit as BGM immediately after Sreevidya’s dialogue. He didn’t even wait for KPAC Lalitha’s next dialogue. He even added a wedding beat. It was marvellous! The incredible feel of it had touched the audience’s hearts too. I can never forget that scene.”
