Heroine of longest-running Malayalam film and Mohanlal’s co-star in two blockbusters, she now lives in isolation: ‘Can’t trust anyone’

However, her career truly peaked with her Malayalam debut in Siddique-Lal’s Godfather (1991). The director duo’s third feature film, Godfather also became a massive blockbuster, like their previous two ventures. It ended up recording a theatrical run of over 400 days, thus becoming the longest-running Malayalam film of all time. Her performance as the female lead in the comedy-drama, too, was widely acclaimed. Kanaka soon began receiving a flood of opportunities from the industry, but she was selective in her choices.

Mukesh and Kanaka in Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan. (Express archive photo)

The following year, she collaborated with Siddique-Lal yet again, playing the female lead in the Mohanlal-led Vietnam Colony, which also became a blockbuster. Meanwhile, she had the opportunity to work with Mammootty in the Tamil movie Kilipetchu Ketkavaa and the Malayalam film Golanthara Vartha. Although she once again received a project with Mohanlal, director Sathyan Anthikad’s Pingami, the movie did not perform well at the box office. From Kusruthikaatu and Mangala Soothram to Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan, Bhoopathi and Manthri Kochamma, she starred in a string of Malayalam films, regardless of whether a star headlined them or not. In 2000, she appeared alongside Mohanlal yet again, this time playing his sister in Shaji Kailas’ blockbuster action drama Narasimham. However, that became one of her final films, and she was last seen in the Malayalam movie Ee Mazha Then Mazha (2000).

‘My father is responsible for all tragedies in my life’

While she was at the pinnacle of her career, Kanaka lost her mother, who passed away in 2002. This devastated her completely. As she was grieving her mother’s loss, her estranged father, Devadoss, re-entered the scene, reportedly accusing Kanaka of forging her mother’s will. In a 2018 conversation with an online Tamil portal, she reportedly alleged, “It’s my father who spoiled my mother’s career, and he is also responsible for all the tragedies in my life. He is the one who is spreading false news about me. He used to say that I was mentally unstable and that my mother was a prostitute. He even stated that I was on drugs. Because of such conduct, I even stopped talking to him. I did my schooling only till Class 6, as my mother had feared he would come and take me away. She suffered a lot before her death. She had supported my decision to act.”

Kanaka now leads a secluded life in her Chennai home, with little to no connection to the outside world. Her fans learned more about her life through the words of actor Kutty Padmini, who shared her experience of visiting Kanaka at her home two years ago. “Reunited after years with my lovable Devika ma’am’s daughter, my loveable sister Kanaka. The happiness is immeasurable, and we spent some quality time together,” Padmini wrote, sharing a picture with the yesteryear actor. In the photo, Kanaka appeared almost unrecognisable.

“It was because you (her fans) told me that I went looking for Kanaka. Though I had gone there before, I didn’t quite remember the house or the way. It was raining heavily. I searched a lot and finally found the house. When I saw the board ‘Devika’ outside, I understood it was the right one. The house and gate were locked. But there was a light inside. When I asked the neighbours, they all said, ‘No one knows when Kanaka leaves or when she comes back.’ We stayed in the car. I felt sad thinking about how lovingly her mother raised her, and now she has no one,” Padmini recounted.

“Suddenly, an auto stopped outside the house. When I looked, it was Kanaka. I quickly went and hugged her. I told her I had called many times, but there was no answer, as a result of which I decided to come in person. When I said, ‘I don’t know if you remember me, I am Kutty Padmini Auntie,’ she replied, ‘You are not Auntie, you are Akka (elder sister). How can I forget you?’ and we talked. We went to a coffee shop together. Kanaka said she was taking auto-rickshaws now because her car was broken. I told her to sell this old car and buy a new one. We talked for a long time at the coffee shop. I bought her everything she liked, including cake. I offered to pay, but she didn’t agree. She paid herself,” Padmini shared.

She continued, “When I scolded her, ‘Why are you living like this? Sell this old house, buy a new flat, move there and live like a princess,’ she said, ‘No akka, the case and arguments I had with my father over property are over.’ Upon asking, ‘Kanaka, as a very good dancer, why don’t you take dance classes?’ she said, ‘How can I go, and in this condition?’ Anyway, she seemed very happy now. Kanaka is a child raised with a lot of love and pampering from her mother. She told me, ‘I can’t trust anyone, akka. Everyone acts well, but in the end, they will cheat you. That’s why I decided I don’t need anyone,’ she told me.”

In the late 2000s, reports had emerged claiming that Kanaka married an engineer from California. However, in a 2010 interview, she apparently revealed that her husband vanished merely 15 days after their wedding and has not been seen or heard from since.

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