Veteran actor Meena Ganesh passed away at a hospital in Shoranur, where she was undergoing treatment for four days following a brain condition. She was 81. She had been on a hiatus from cinema due to age-related health issues. Meena acted in more than 100 films and around 25 serials. She came to the film industry, after debuting in theatre as a 19-year-old. She worked in numerous drama committees, including Kerala Theatres and Chinmayi, and won many awards as a theatre artist.

She made her film debut with PA Backer’s 1976 film Manimuzhakkam and had a career break with 1991’s Mukha Chithram. Her most notable performances came in films such as Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum and Karumadikkuttan, with Kalabhaban Mani, Meesa Madhavan with Dileep, as well as Nandanam and Ammakilikkoodu with Prithviraj Sukumaran and Navya Nair.

Meena was married to playwright, actor and director AN Ganesh. She is survived by her director son Manoj Ganesh and her daughter Sangeetha.

Her funeral will take place in Shoranur this evening.