Tamil cinema has witnessed the loss of a number of reputed personalities in recent times including S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vivek, directors Thamira and K.V. Anand. Now, actor and folk singer T K S Natarajan, known for starring in comedy and character roles, passed away on Wednesday. He was 87. The veteran artiste born on July 23, 1933, in Tamil Nadu, went on to act in over 500 films after he developed a keen interest for acting from a young age and was a part of the legendary T.K. Shanmugham's drama troupe. TKS Natarajan subsequently made a transition to films and made his big screen debut in Ratha Paasam, which came out in 1954. 

TKS Natarajan later went on to star in films like MGR's Kanavan, the Sivaji Ganesan-starrer Deiva Magan and Nadodi. He continued to maintain an active screen presence throughout the 70s and 80s, appearing in character roles in Cinema Paithiyam, Needhikku Thalaivanangu, Aadu Puli Attam, Thee and Naan Sigappu Manithan to name a prominent few. The veteran actor's performance is still remembered by many in Cinema Paithiyam, which is a remake of Guddi in Hindi, and proved to be a turning point for Jayachitra. Likewise, he was also a part of Aadu Puli Attam, featuring 'Superstar' Rajinikanth as the main villain. He also dabbled in comedy for a while and shared screen space with the legendary Goundamani in many films, including Mannukketha Ponnu, which saw him play the role of a patient. 

Apart from proving himself to be a credible performer, TKS Natarajan made heads turns with his abilities as a singer, making him a household name. The song "Ennadi Muniyamma Un Kannula Mai" from Vaanga Mappillai Vaanga went on to become a chartbuster and was subsequently remixed again in the 2006 film, Vathiyar, which saw him share screen space with Arjun Sarja. Likewise, the song "Kottampatti Rottula" too became a hit in rural areas, making him a notable folk singer. The news of TKS Natarajan's death has come as a big loss to the film industry and Galatta offers its deepest condolences for the bereaved family.