Laila Beegam, eldest daughter of actor Prem Nazir, passes away

KOZHIKODE: Laila Beegum (76), the eldest daughter of evergreen actor of Malayalam cinema Prem Nazir, passed away at her residence in Parayancheri, Kozhikode. She breathed her last around 8:30 PM on Wednesday. Beegum had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a private hospital in Kozhikode for two days and had returned home after being discharged around 5:00 PM yesterday.

Born on August 24, 1950, in Chirayinkeezhu, she was educated at Kodikkakam Government LP School (Chirayinkeezhu), Madras Presidency School, St. Roch's Convent (Thiruvananthapuram), and Kunthalloor Government High School. Her husband was the late P.A. Rasheed, a retired Superintending Engineer. She is survived by her children, Sajith (Australia) and Soja (Coimbatore), and children-in-law, Naushad (VKC) and Nasrin (Australia).

Prem Nazir's 60-year-old house in Chirayinkeezhu is named 'Laila Cottage' after her.

Laila Beegum is the author of the memoir titled *Ithile Poyathu Vasantham* about Prem Nazir. The burial ceremony will take place in Thiruvananthapuram today.