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. 
Sudish,
Heart felt condolences for her family and to her friends. I remember u both posed for Vikatan about friendship. It is really shocking and I can understand the pain in losing a true and close friend. May her soul rest in peace.
Jesus!
that’s painful, sudish.
I’m so sorry Sudhish. I do remember that Vikatan article. So sad about it.. God, give strength to her family and friends!
Shocked.
Sorry, Sudhish. I really am. 😦
yeah.. read ur report in hindu. only last week i saw her in ‘whistle’ ( movie) in sun TV.Deepest condolences
hi.. first time visiting your blog, after this bad news.
I always felt that she was acting decently, as in Manmadhan.
Feeling sorry for her & you guys, her friends.
sudish – i read about this distressing news recently and dismissed it as yet another one. i did’nt realise that this distressing incident touched you [and others] in a personal way – sorry for you.
So sorry Sudhish…Yes, the media – I hate it too in these circumstances. Know what you would have felt like. And u wrote a report on the shocking incident… of an actress and more importantly, a friend of yours. Should have been real tough da… Am sorry. Take care. Srinivas.
Oh my God.
Yes i clearly remember that vikatan article.
So sorry to learn about this sudhish.
And some of these media bastards -they should be followed everywhere with cameras everywhere where no sane person will follow.
scum of the earth.
Sudhish:
Shalini did the best she could.
It sucks to have media baiting the family. But thats what they get maximum coverage for.
Thanks for this quiet note of tribute.
Sudhish, I feel really bad about the loss of such a wonderful friend of yours and the media making a crude joke of it. My heart felt condolences to her family and friends.
Thats really saddening news Sudhish! really sorry to hear about that..
Shocking! Just 23 years, I wonder why she had to take such a drastic step with 80% of her life before her!!
May her soul rest in peace.
As usual, insensitive, nosy, intrusive media – these guys should be ashamed of themselves. You should expose these $%^$%#@ ambulance chasers in Hindu. Publish their name, photo and humiliate them.
The general audience also should share the blame in such intrusions, if tragedy doesnt sell – they might stop.
Very sorry-Paparaazi as in Dianas case is taking over India too.
First up, condolences.
How low can the media stoop? Anything for news? No regard to sensitivity? It is appalling, disgusting, sad. What’s worse, outrage, such as the one expressed by you, are becoming increasingly rare. More’s the pity.
something like this happened before, when covering Srirangam fire. I saw in sun news,with their camera grazing the burnt bodies. I felt sad for the people who died, not just for the way they died, also for having lost the right to die with dignity.
Sorry to hear that!
The line delineating news media and tabloids is absent in India.
Many mistakes have been corrected after lives have been lost – like the school tragedy or the Yerwadi tragedy – media provoked a public outcry which forced the govt to regulate them.
Unfortunately, things arent gonna change in this case coz rarely has the media acknowledged that it has committed a mistake!