Malayalam Cinema Icon Kanakalatha Battles Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia

Kanakalatha, a beloved name in Malayalam cinema, known for her roles in iconic films such as ‘Chillu’, ‘Rajavinte Makan’, and ‘Spadikam’, is currently facing a profound health crisis. The 63-year-old actor, who has graced the screen in over 360 films, is now battling Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. Her sister, Vijayamma, revealed the heart-wrenching details of Kanakalatha’s condition, including her struggle with memory loss, inability to recognize her own name, and reliance on liquid food due to difficulties in eating and drinking.

Kanakalatha’s health struggles began in 2021 when she started experiencing symptoms of sleeplessness. Following consultations with doctors, she was diagnosed with the onset of dementia, a condition exacerbated by Parkinson’s Disease. An MRI scan revealed the shrinking of her brain, underscoring the severity of her condition. Vijayamma, her devoted sister and caregiver, highlighted Kanakalatha’s need for diapers and her drastically weakened physical state.

Living in the house Kanakalatha purchased a few years ago, she receives support from AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists), amounting to Rs 5,000 per month as ‘kaineettam’ (gift). Despite her significant contributions to the film industry, she relies on this assistance and previous financial aid received from ATMA and the Chalachitra Academy.

Kanakalatha, who began her acting journey in 1980 with ‘Unarthupaattu’, carved a niche for herself in both Malayalam and Tamil films. Despite her enduring passion for acting, her health challenges led her to take a hiatus from films. In recent years, she made a comeback with movies like ‘Panchavarnathatha’ (2018) and ‘Akashaganga 2’ (2019). Her absence from the industry was primarily due to her deteriorating health, even though opportunities continued to come her way.