The last pic we took together! In February! 
Archive For June 19th, 2005
Death of an actress!
I hate the media.
Especially for its disregard to privacy.
My friend Shalini killed herself last week. We’re yet to recover from that shock.
Sun News invented a lover from her. He’s supposed to be absconding.
Deccan Chronicle made her Punjabi, discovered that her surname was actually Singh and said it was some case of sexual harassment and actually carried some sleaze actress photograph in the same story.
Dina Thanthi and the other Tamil papers said she did it because of a failed relationship.
Vijay TV’s journalists thrust a camera on Jyotika’s face when she had come to the crematorium to pay her last respects.
Random photographers waited for her brother to arrive from the airport to get powerful pictures and snapped away as he broke down at the pyre.
I hate these bastards. And I’m ashamed they belong to my tribe!
* * *
Shalini was the greatest example for us on what friends actually are. In fact, we appeared on the cover of a magazine together when it did a special feature on friends.
She has always been there. She was the nerve centre. She would plan the surprises for everybody’s birthday. Like the one she did on my birthday.
The very next day after we meet up, I can be sure to find an email from her with the photographs she had taken the previous night. The picture you guys see above this blog is the last one we took together.
Last August, we got Suriya and Jyotika to surprise her. The couple not just blew balloons, we also lit 22 candles on her bed and a video camera aimed at the door of her room. She walked in to the surprise. She was nearly in tears.
She was always a picture of confidence, the most bubbly warm person you can find.
On June 15, we knew what a fine actress she was!
MADRAS INK. 