The News Minute | January 28, 2015 | 9.35 am ISTMalayalam actor Mala Aravindan died at a private hospital in Coimbatore on Wednesday after a prolonged illness resulting from a heart attack . He was 76.Aravindan, who acted mainly in comedy roles, had not been keeping well for the last one year.He had acted in over 400 films. A noted theatre personality, Aravindan acted in his first film in 1968. Since then he has been an integral part of the film industry in the state, working in popular films such as "Meesha Madhavan", "Tharavu", "Patalam", and "Thadavara".Aravindan worked with three generations of Malayalam actors, from Prem Nazir, Jayan, Soman, Mammootty, Mohanlal to Dileep and now the younger actors.He was the president of the AMMA, the association of Malayalam film artistes.Chalakudy Lok Sabha member Innocent said he first met the talented Aravindan when he was part of a drama troupe in his home town."I met him while I was staying in Chennai, trying my luck in films. At that time, he already was an actor. Years passed and we maintained very good relations. I feel his talent was not fully utilised," said Innocent.Aravindan's funeral will be held in his home town Mala later in the day.Mala is a small, sleepy town near Thrissur. It was the assembly constituency of four time former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran.Aravindan is survived by his wife, Geetha and two children, Kala and Muthu.TweetComedy scene of Mala in the movie Georgekutty c/o Georgekutty