THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Does not remember anything. Even forgot to eat food. A soft smile comes to her lips only when she listens to her favourite song. She will then look into the void. Actress Kanakalatha, who was busy in films and serials, is in distress as she suffers from dementia and Parkinson's disease.

She started experiencing a lack of sleep in 2021. In August 2022, she was diagnosed with dementia. An MRI scan revealed that her brain was shrinking. Now, she is being given liquid food through a tube. Her weight reduced from 85 kg to 57 kg.

Recently, she recognised actor Aneesh when he came to visit her. She recognised actresses Beena and Chippy while watching television serials. Sometimes she can be seen crying. Kanakalatha, who lived on rent in Valiyavila, later bought a house in Malayinkeezhu. Her income dried up during the lockdown, making it difficult for her to pay back her loan. Sister Vijayamma said that Kanakalatha at least has her own house as she settled the loan by pledging her gold. Vijayamma has been with Kanakalatha for 34 years. Their nephew Anoop and his family are there to help.

Kanakalatha last appeared in the film 'Pookkaalam.' She has insurance from the 'AMMA' organization and receives 5000 per month as 'kaineettam.' She also received a small amount from ATMA. The family is finding it hard to find money for daily expenses.

"Some YouTubers had come saying that they wanted to shoot the current situation of my sister. They said that we would get financial assistance. We don't want to present her before society in such a condition. It will be a harm done to her," Vijayamma said.

360 films in 38 years
Kanakalatha is an actress who has acted in more than 360 films in Malayalam and Tamil in thirty-eight years. She shined on the miniscreen as well. Kanakalatha entered the acting field through amateur dramas. Her first movie was 'Unarthupattu'. The movie, however, was never released. Her first movie to hit theatres was 'Chillu.' Despite falling in love and getting married at the age of 22, she and her spouse split after sixteen years. She does not have any children.