Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s mother, Santhakumari, who celebrated her 90th birthday recently, passed away at the actor’s residence in Kochi, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. She was battling neurological issues post a stroke and had been staying with son Mohanlal in Kochi for the past many months.
Doctors at Amrita Hospital, who were treating her confirmed the death, reports The Hindu.
Originally from Elanthoor village in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, she shifted to Thiruvananthapuram to stay with husband Viswanathan Nair, who worked with Kerala government, and last held the post of law secretary.
Mohanlal rushed to his residence as soon as he came to know about her mother’s passing, according to reports.
Mohanlal’s close bond with his mother
The actor was quite close to his mother and often talked about the close bond they shared. In fact, right after he won Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year, his mother was the first person he met after his return to Kochi.
During lockdown, Mohanlal express sadness over spending time apart from his mother. In an interview to OnManorama he said: “I am sad that I am not near my mother. She is relaxing at our home in Kochi. I came here thinking that I could return in two days. I see and talk to her everyday through video calls. We cannot do anything about it, can we? Things like these aren’t anticipated by anyone.”
Mohanlal also took to social media to share a rare childhood picture on the occasion of Mother’s Day early this year. Santhakumari lost his elder son Pyarelal back in 2000 to heart attack. He was just 48. The tragedy profoundly affected her.
Mohanlal has two children with his wife Suchitra Mohanlal – a son, Pranav Mohanlal, an actor, who starred in Dies Irae recently, and a daughter, Vismaya Mohanlal, who is a writer and artist.
Tributes pour in for Mohanlal’s mother
“Saddened by the passing of Mohanlal’s mother, Santhakumari Amma. My condolences to him and his family during this time of grief. Om Shanti 🙏🏻,” wrote Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
“Lalettan’s mother has passed away..😢🌹Condolences..,” a netizen wrote.
“Our very own Lalettan’s beloved mother passed away 💔 Rest in peace beautiful soul, thank you & you will be remembered for ever, for gifting our Lalettan to this world,” another post read.