Actor Jameela Malik passes away in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran actor Jameela Malik passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. She was 73. She was living with her son at her residence in Palode. She came to the city on Monday to attend Beemapally Uroos festival and was staying at a relative's residence.
At night she complained of chest pain, following which she was first taken to a private hospital and then to the medical college, where she was declared dead on arrival.Her mortal remains were kept for public to pay homage at Bharat Bhavan. By evening her body was taken to her native place in Kollam for final rites.
Jameela was born as the eldest child of Thankamma Malik and Malik at Jonakapuram in Kollam. Her progressive mother’s persuasions bore fruit when she became the first woman from Kerala to graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
During the 70s, she worked in Tamil and Malayalam films, donned various roles and occasionally dubbed for movies. But her career never took off as a breakthrough role evaded her. She was also cast in several television serials.
She had worked as a dubbing artist in Hindi movies, she lent her voice to Manjula in ‘Mayoora’ and had dubbed for Jayamalini. She had acted with J Jayalalithaa in the film ‘Nadiye Thedi Vantha Kadal’. She did roles with top actors like Sharada, Chiranjeevi and Rajesh Khanna.
Her first movie (that was released) was K S Sethumadhavan’s ‘Adyathe Katha’. She got a significant role with the film ‘Ragging’ directed by NN Pisharody in which she acted along with a star cast comprising PJ Antony, Balan K Nair and Rani Chandra. She did a notable role of Devi teacher in the film ‘Pandavapuram’.