Mexican film and television actress and comedienne "La India Maria," whose real name is Maria Elena Velasco, died on Friday at the age of 74 for still unknown reasons. Local news however had reported that Velasco had stomach cancer.  Imcine, the state-run film institute had confirmed Velasco's death on Twitter.

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Velasco, also a singer-songwriter, dancer, screenwriter, film producer, and film director, is best known for creating and portraying  the popular comical character named "La India María," an indigenous Mexican woman who has become an iconic character appearing in numerous films and televisions series for over four decades.

La India Maria last appeared in the adventure comedy film, "La hija del Moctezuma" (Moctezuma's Daughter), wherein the heroine, India Maria, must save Mexico from destruction. Directed by Velasco's son, Ivan Lipkies, the movie is La India Maria's comeback after an absence of 15 years.   

The character "La India Maria," is one of the most recognizable characters in Mexican film.  It is an exaggerated stereotype of the Mexican indigenous woman wearing braids and dressed in colorful blouses and full skirts.  The character is often accompanied by her donkey "Filemon," and while the two travel from the remote native village to the big city, comic situations often ensue. 

Velasco started her career performing on stages in Mexico City. Her popularity eventually carried her to film fame and a long run on television.

In 1963, appeared in her first film role in the drama "Los derechos de los hijos" (1963), starring Elvira Quintana and Carlos Agostí. It was in 1964, when Velasco began to include comedic material to her characters especially when she portrayed a servant  in television programs. Soon, a comedic character named Elena Maria, a rural Mexica woman, was developed.

It was when director Fernando Cortés asked Velasco to portray an indigenous woman named "María" that her breakthrough came. The character, dressed in traditional colorful native-type blouse and skirt and a braid with ribbons was made more authentic when Velasco observed the gestures and mannerisms of indigenous women.  In 1968, she was credited as La India María for the first time in the western "El bastardo."

Velasco's first La India María show was in 1972, in "Tonta, tonta, pero no tanto" directed by Fernando Cortés.  The success of the film created a series of low-budget comedies that became a regular fare in Mexican movie theaters.

Velasco won a Silver Goddess Award for Best Comedic Performance in1982.

TagsElena Velasco, Velasco, La India Maria, comedy, Actress, Mexican, traditional