Legendary Tamil actress Manorama has passed away following a heart attack at the age of 78. She is survived by her son Boopathi. A versatile actress, Manorama had acted in over 1,200 Tamil films, rubbing shoulders with top stars like MGR and Sivaji Ganesan in a brilliant career spanning over six decades.

Manorama also holds the unique distinction of having been in plays and films with five chief ministers. She played the female lead in the plays written, directed and acted in by former Tamil Nadu chief minister CN Annadurai besides appearing in plays with another chief minister M Karunanidhi. She also acted in films with MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, both of whom later became chief ministers. Manorama also acted in Telugu films with NT Rama Rao, who went on to become chief minister of the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh.

Affectionately called “Aachi” (mother), she began her career as a stage artiste and acted in several hundreds of dramas. Born Gopishantha to Kasi Kilakudaiyar and Ramamirtham at Mannargudi in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, she started her acting career on stage at age 12. She was rechristened Manorama by drama director Thiruvengadam.

She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2002 and also won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Pudhiya Pathai’ in 1989.

Top Heroes and Politicians paid their last respects to Manorama.