Veteran Malayalam actress Kozhikode Sarada passed away at the Kozhikode Government Medical College on Tuesday. She was 84. According to reports, she was admitted to the hospital on Monday after she suffered a cardiac arrest. Kerala's Minister for Films and Culture, Saji Cherian expressed his condolences and said that she was a strong actor, who would be greatly missed. Tributes continue to pour in for Sarada from fans on social media, with leading Malayalam actor and filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran too paying his last respects. 

Sarada began her acting career as a stage performer before she gained popularity in Malayalam cinema. She made her big screen debut in the 1979 film Angakkuri and went on to appear in around 90 films in a career that spanned close to four decades. She was often seen playing the role of a mother or other character roles, including appearing on Malayalam television serials. Sarada's most notable collaboration was with iconic Malayalam director IV Sasi and acted in films like Ammakilikkoodu, Anubandham, Anyarude Bhoomi, Ulsavapittennu, Nandanam, Kutty Srank, Kilichundan Mampazham, Sadayam, Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu to name a few. Among her last major films was the Prithviraj and Parvathy-starrer Ennu Ninte Moideen.

Kozhikode Sarada's most memorable role to date is the 1996 film Sallapam, in which she played the role of Manoj K Jayan’s character's mother, with her performance garnering rave reviews and acclaim from fans and critics alike. Sarada is survived by her four children - Umada, Sajeev, Rajitha and Sreejith.