2021 continues to be a year filled with grief and sorrow as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rampage around the world. As several states across India, including Tamil Nadu, are gradually making progress and coming out of the second wave of the COVID-19, there have still been considerable losses as many have lost their dear ones during this period. The despair experienced in this time remains unparalleled as people from all walks have been affected by the pandemic, including members of the Tamil film fraternity as several notable names have succumbed to the highly-infectious disease since early last year. 

It has now come as a big shock to many in Tamil cinema as Shanthi Hamsavardan, the daughter-in-law of veteran actor Ravichandran and wife of actor Hamsavardan, passed away due to COVID-19. She was 42. Shanthi had tested positive for the novel coronavirus last month and had also undergone treatment at a private hospital. Soon after, her test results had come in negative, but she continued to receive treatment as she was still experiencing breathing difficulties. However, it came to a tragic end when Shanthi succumbed to the effects of the infection and passed away on Sunday evening. 

Shanthi and her husband Hamsavardan have two sons and a daughter and her body had been brought back to their residence in Teynampet on Monday for the last rites ritual to be held later today at the Besant Nagar Electric Cemetery. The loss of his wife will come as a huge personal loss to Hamsavardan and we here at Galatta extend our heartfelt condolences to him and the bereaved family.