Shock in Asian cinema: Pachai Kili Muthucharam actress Metta Rungrat found dead from gunshot

Metta Rungrat, the Thai actress who starred alongside M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in the 1973 Tamil film Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, has died at the age of 83. She was found dead at her residence in Bangkok on Tuesday (November 3), with Thai media reporting that she had died from a gunshot wound. The actress was particularly remembered among Tamil audiences for her appearance alongside MGR in the popular song Pachai Kili Muthucharam from the film.

According to Thai media reports, Metta, whose real name was Darawadee Duangdara, was found in a bedroom on the upper floor of her two-storey residence in the Min Buri area of Bangkok. Police received information about the incident at around 4.40 pm and arrived at the house along with forensic personnel and rescue workers. A firearm was found near her body, prompting investigators to examine the scene. A neighbour reportedly heard a loud sound resembling a firecracker at around 4.30 pm, shortly before the actress was discovered.

Her caregiver, who had been looking after her for around 10 years, reportedly left the house at approximately 4 pm to drop off a friend at the Lat Krabang Airport Rail Link station. She returned around 35 minutes later and found Metta dead in her bedroom before alerting the authorities. Speaking to Thai media, the actress's younger brother, Sumeth Duangdara, said his sister had been suffering from several health problems, including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. He revealed that she had occasionally expressed distress over her deteriorating health and had previously made remarks suggesting that she might take her own life if her condition became unbearable. He admitted that he had not taken those statements seriously and never imagined she would act on them.

Her brother also disclosed that Metta had visited a hospital for a medical appointment on the day of her death. The firearm found at the scene reportedly belonged to the actress and had been in her possession for many years, although her brother said he was unaware that she still kept it. A preliminary post-mortem examination reportedly found that the gunshot wound had caused damage to her brain. Her body was subsequently handed over to the family for funeral arrangements, while police continued examining the evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.

Metta Rungrat was a prominent figure in the Thai entertainment industry and was popularly known as the 'Black Pearl of Asia'. She won the Golden Doll Award for Best Actress in 1962 for her performance in Wai Roon Wai Khanoong. She continued working in the entertainment industry for several decades before retiring in 2014 amid declining health. Her death has left fans in Thailand and Tamil cinema audiences who remember her association with MGR deeply saddened.