Santhakumari Amma, the mother who gave Malayalam cinema the rare talent of Mohanlal, passed away on Tuesday in Elamakkara, Kochi. She was 90.
It is well known to Mohanlal’s millions of fans that he shared a deep emotional bond with his mother, often emphasising through his words and writings her importance in his life, her love for him that shaped him as a person, and her profound influence on the artistic maestro he became.
A testament to his love, Mohanlal first rushed to his ailing mother after returning to Kerala following his conferment with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.

As condolences pour in, old interviews and incidents involving Mohanlal and his mother have begun circulating widely on social media. One such anecdote is Santhakumari’s candid revelation about the films her son acted in that she chose to watch, as well as the Mohanlal movies she generally avoided.
In an interview given to a private television channel years ago, Santhakumari said that she could not bring herself to watch Kireedam, Chenkol, and Thalavattam.

“I cannot watch Kireedam or Chenkol. It is too painful. There are beatings and suffering. I have never watched Chenkol at all. I watched a little of Kireedam and then stopped. I have not seen Thalavattam either, and I do not want to,” she had told a private television channel. She added that she preferred lighter films such as Kilukkam and even walked out before the climax of Chithram.
To the unversed, Mohanlal is fondly called ‘Lalu’ by his mother. The love and warmth of his mother will undoubtedly form part of the celebrated actor’s enduring legacy, and she will always remain his greatest driving force.