Sathyaseelan Kasevan, in a post on his Facebook account, said: “Teach your daughter about the boldness of Jayalalithaa in the future because there won’t be another lady like her again.”

A person identified only as Suntheran wrote on Twitter: “Jayalalitha … the best actress the Tamil film industry had seen, the best leader the political industry had earned.”

Kavithra Devi wrote: “Rest in peace Iron Lady. May your soul rest in peace.”

Jayalalithaa, who was once a top actress in Tamil movies, died at the age of 68 at 11.30pm Indian time yesterday (2am today in Malaysia) at a hospital in the state capital Chennai.

She was admitted on Sept 22 for a fever, dehydration and a respiratory infection.

Jayalalithaa, also known as the Iron Lady of India, dominated Tamil Nadu politics for three decades and became chief minister six times.

She was born into a Brahmin family in Mysore in Karnataka, a state bordering Tamil Nadu, and was a hugely popular movie star before formally entering politics in 1982.

Fortune teller M Babu, 48, said the “Amma” chain of canteens introduced by the late chief minister was one of the major contributions of Jayalalithaa to the poor who could get a meal there at a low price.

N Letchumi, 53, hailed the “Puratchi Thalaivi” (revolutionary leader) as a role model for many women around the world.

“Amma had built many schools, provided many incentives to farmers and fishermen, and given aid to the needy and low-income group,” the tourist said.

N Alegheraj, 51, who works as a waiter at a restaurant, said he had a tough time trying to come to terms with the departure of the six-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, popularly known as “Amma” (mother).

Alegheraj, whom Bernama talked to in Little India, Brickfields, said Jayalalithaa had helped the poor in Tamil Nadu a lot.