Veteran Tamil film actress S N Lakshmi, who had acted in more than 1500 films, died early Monday following a heart attack, family source said. She was 85.
A recipient of several awards, including the State Government's Kalaimamani Award, Lakshmi has been ailing for quite some time. She was admitted to a private hospital a couple of days back and was operated upon. She developed breathing problems late last night and suffered a heart attack. Her end came around 0100 hrs this morning. Her body was brought to her residence at Saligramam in the city, where people from the tinsel world, paid their last respects. Her body would be taken to her native Virudhunagar district where the last rites would be performed tomorrow. A versatile actress, Lakshmi had donned the role of a 'mother' in a majority of her films.

She had acted with yesteryear actors like M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, and with present generation actors like Vijay, Ajith and others. Her popular films included 'En Annan', 'Michael Madhana Kamarajan', 'Mahanadhi', 'Kadhala Kadhala' and 'Rhythm', 'Ninaithen Vanthaai'. Acting was her passion and she had been acting till she breathed her last by figuring in several popular soap operas in the small screen like 'Thendral', 'Mundhanai Mudichchu' 'Saravanan Meenakshi', among others.