This popular Malayalam actress is in need of financial help!

Actress Thodupuzha Vasanthi’s life has been full of tragedies that changed her life upside down. The actress is now suffering from throat cancer and acute diabetes owing to which one of her legs were amputated. 

Vasanthi has done about 450 movies over a span of 30 years in Malayalam movie industry. The actress' real name is P Vasanthakumari and was a famous theatre artist before coming to movies. Besides theatre, she was a pro classical dancer.

She started her film career in 1975, by doing the role of a dancer in a movie called Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre. It was her performance in the film 'Alolam' in 1982 that the actress proved her talent. Further, she worked as supporting actress in movies like Vakkeel Vasudev, Vesham, Sketch etc. 

In 2012, Kerala Films Critic Association recognised her by giving the Chalachithra Pratibha Award. She also acted in television serials like Sthree and Annankunjinu Thannalayathu.

Unfortunately, she is now struggling to meet both ends. The actress who used to do dance performance on stage is an amputee now. Thodupuzha Vasanthi's right leg was amputated above the knee on August 17 due to diabetes. 

She was also diagnosed with throat cancer and is still recovering from the expensive surgery. She is currently staying with her brother and is in dire need of money as the treatment itself is very costly. 

“Due to infection doctor had to amputate my leg above the knee. It cost me ₹4 lakh. Along with that, I am undergoing the treatment for cancer. I might have to undergo chemotherapy, but I do not have the money to pay for it,” she told Asianet News.

She also added that one of her kidneys is not working. "I need at least ₹7 lakh for my treatment, and I don't have any source of income. I do not have anyone to help me out," she says.

The actress father K R Ramakrishnan Nair was a theatre actor and mother P Pankajakshi Amma was a proponent of Thiruvathira dance. Later, she got married to Rajendran, who was also from the film industry. Her husband was also diagnosed with cancer. He died in August 2010 leaving her alone as they both didn't have children. 

Vasanthi has received the state government’s award for her performance as a theatre artist. 

Vasanthi had bought an acre of land at Manakkad in Thodupuzha and built a three-room house with her earnings. Later, she sold 43 cents of land and mortgaged 10 cents to meet the expenses of her husband’s treatment.

“The only income was the monthly allowance of ₹5,000 from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). The association had helped me with ₹70,000 as medical insurance when my leg was amputated. I had a lot of people around me at the prime of my life, but none of them cares about me now. The financial aid from AMMA too has stopped few months ago. " the actress said. 

Vasanthi was learning mohiniattam before she got her legs amputated. "I was learning mohiniattam just before this operation. The only wish is to continue acting even if I am on cruches," she said. 

Readers, we have mentioned Vasanthi's bank account details below so that you can help her meet the treatment expenses. 

(Vasanthi has an account with Federal Bank’s Thodupuzha branch. Account number is 11210100032566, IFSC FDRL001121)

• Malayalam actress
• Thodupuzha Vasanthi