Kollywood turns to suicide

It’s struggle. It’s victory. It’s money. It’s poverty. It’s love. It’s failure. It’s insecurity. Surviving in any film industry takes numerous emotional and physical strength.But some people haven't been so fortunate to have made it – in life. And the Tamil film industry is not any exception. Kollywood too has lost numerous talented people to suicide.

No one could forget the sex symbol of the 80s, Silk Smitha. The unique ‘item girl’, who’s being celebrated today on-screen, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her house in 1996. Her professional and private life saw its share of ups and downs that at last ended in her succumbing to the pressures of life. But she’s not the one actor who couldn’t cope.

Talented National Award-winning actress, Shobha, died on the tender age of 17. Having started out as a kid artist, she married director Balu Mahendra only to be ‘snatched from his life’. The actress, who must have lived a celebrated life, disappeared instead. Was her death driven by love or every other factor?

‘Fatafat’ Jayalakshmi’s suicide, however, is attributed to like failure and perhaps even financial woes.Another instance of affection playing havoc is the death of Monal, Simran’s sister. This young lady, who had many films to her credit, including those of top Kollywood stars, was seeing an upward surge in her career. Her sudden suicide is again attributed to heartbreak and depression.

Love was also the cause of ‘Kozhi Koovuthu’ Viji giving up her life. Post surgery to correct her near paralytic state, the actress gave the impression to have a bright future. But falling in a love with a married man, and unable to legally wed him, made her meet her untimely death.While Kollywood celebrates cinema and everything that’s larger-than-life, there’s also an aspect to it which shows the stark reality that every one those within the industry are affected as much, and maybe more, by loneliness, love failure, poverty, insecurity…as everyone else. And often their acting and roles just extend from reel to real life…fatally.