Legendary actress, comedian, and singer Manorama, passed away in Chennai on Saturday due to multiple organs failure. She was 78 and is survived by her son and singer-actor Boopathy. Another mighty loss for Tamil cinema. Fondly called Aachi, Manorama has graced the silver screen for over four decades playing a variety of roles that have stunned, awed and moved the audience. She started out in stage plays and after several productions and graduated to the silver screen.
 
She faced the camera for the first time in a film with Rajendran and Devika in the lead roles. But the movie was never released. Maalayitta Mangai (1958), produced by famous poet Kannadasan, brought Manorama on the silver screen for the first time. Now, this actress is a Guinness record-holder for acting in the maximum number of films – more than 1200. She completed 1000 films in 1985.
 
Further, she is the only actor who has acted with four Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, namely Annadurai (Naan Kanda Hindu Rajyam), Karunanidhi (Udaya Sooryan), M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa (Nidhiand Galata Kalyanam). She still calls Jayalalithaa “Ammu”! She has also acted with the legendary NTR, who later became the Chief Minister of A.P. 
 
Her dream to act as a heroine came true in Konjum Kumari (1963). Her other films as heroine include Alangari and Periya Manithan. She was honoured with the National award (Best Supporting Actress) for Puthiya Pathai in 1988 and with the Padma Shri in 2002. 
 
In fact, acting was not Manorama's original ambition. She wanted to be a singer. She accidentally became an actor when a lead actress refused to take the stage. But she never missed a chance to sing in her plays or films. Manorama's first song was 'Thatha thathakodu kodu' for Magale Un Samathu (1963). The typical folk number 'Pokathe pokathe en kanava' which she sang for Rathathilakam became a huge hit. Then she went on to sing in many movies and released an album ('Vaa Vathiyare') of her collected songs in 1991. Manorama has sung in around 60 films including for A.R. Rahman in May Mathem.
 
She has played mom or grandmother to almost every top actor and has delivered inspiring performances each time. Her sense of humour is remarkable. She is as much adored and admired for her comedy roles as she is for her more serious ones. Galatta.com joins the film fraternity in mourning the loss of such a wondrous actor and beautiful human being. May her soul rest in peace.