2021 has been a year of mixed baggage as the world is still struggling to come over the pandemic, which has affected every sphere of life, including the various challenges that have been presented to mankind by it. There have also been a number of people in the Tamil film industry, who passed away either due to COVID-19 or various other reasons since 2020. Meanwhile, it has now come as a big shock to many in Tamil cinema as veteran actress Gemini Rajeshwari passed away on Sunday morning. She was 94. Hailing from Karaikudi, Rajeshwari had made her entry into the world of cinema after acting in stage plays and had starred in over a 1,000 plays, with the news of her demise coming as a big shock as celebrities and fans have been expressing their condolences. 

Rajeshwari got her major breakthrough when she cast as one of the group dancers in the classic Gemini Studios' Tamil film, Chandralekha, released in 1948. She gained further popularity when she made an appearance in director Bharathiraja's debut film, 16 Vayathinile, in 1975, which also had superstars namely Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the lead roles. She landed a notable role in the 1983 blockbuster, Mann Vasanai, while also making a recent appearance in the Sivakarthikeyan and Priya Anand-starrer, Ethir Neechal, which came out in 2013. The news of Gemini Rajeshwari's passing away has come as a big blow to many who have known her personally and from watching films. Her loss is a huge loss to Tamil cinema and we here at Galatta extend our heartfelt condolences to her bereaved family.