One after another actresses are committing suicide. Doubts about these deaths are being raised, every time. In most cases, the conclusion is suicide due to love failure. When actress Pratyusha died recently, there were strong doubts about the cause of death; a case is going on. Before the mystery of Pratyusha's death was solved, we have one more case.

A leading actress (Badri, Charlie Chaplin, Paarvai Ondre Podhum) and Simran's sister, Monal has committed suicide recently. Though doubts were raised about the cause of this death, too, doctors have confirmed that it is a suicide case. Despite this, Vijaykanth, President of the Nadigar Sangam, has announced that the police will do a thorough investigation to find out the real cause of death, to put at rest any speculation (as happened in the Pratyusha case).

Monal joins a long list of actresses, who have committed suicide, Vijayasree, Patapat Jayalakshmi, Shoba, Lakshmisree, Silk Smitha, Kalpana, Kumari Padmini, Viji, Pratyusha ..
Monal's suicide has created quite a stir among the cinema fraternity. The question raised by everyone is what problems could a 21-year-old have to force her to commit suicide? ( they know the answer themselves?!). As was the case in earlier incidents, love failure is cited as the reason, this time around too.

Though this is the reason advanced, for public consumption, the sad fact is each one of these actresses had undergone great mental agony and numerous other problems. There are some who say that as brave as they are, in front of the cameras, away from the cameras. They are sheer cowards. There have been instances of very famous actresses trying to commit suicide. Notable among those who tried to commit suicide and now settled, is Sripriya. One doesn't know if there is any truth, in the stories doing the rounds about suicide attempts by Mumtaz and Roja. 

Hard to believe though it may be, all of them have always been found to be very happy on the movie sets. Monal was no exception. Shortly before she died, Monal is reported to have been in a happy mood, talking to people around her. It is believed it was a spur of the moment decision. One really wonders how any problem, however complex, can force these people to take this extreme step. 

" Life is alright for these people when their market is good, but when there is a reversal of fortunes, they succumb to pressures very easily. The attitude of some of the people, in the industry, towards these artistes, adds to their woes. Unable to handle the pressure, they end their lives," says the well-known psychiatrist Dr. Mathrubootham.

Vijaykanth, President of Nadigar Sangam, has appealed to everyone to take the Sangam's help in sorting out their problems. He has also said that the Nadigar Sangam will, from now on, take an active role in these matters.

"It is unfortunate that some never learn not to mix their work and personal life. The actresses who have committed suicide have been incapable of turning their focus or attention away from the cinema industry, in bad times. Everyone should realise that life is not about only cinema," says Kushboo. 

When one tries to find out about the problems, one is aghast at what one finds. The first sad truth is all these actresses are viewed as "money bearing trees". The parents drive their daughters to earn more and more. When they fall in love, the parents' insecurity increases since they fear a loss of income. Commenting on this, Film News Anandan, an industry veteran has this to say, "The parents don't allow these actresses to choose their life partners, as they are worried their money flow will stop." In all the cases where the actresses have eloped with their boy friends, they have done so to escape from the clutches of the parents. This is the only escape route! 

These much harassed souls start looking to someone for deliverance. Being been part of an industry, notorious for intrigue, when these actresses get someone with whom they can be frank and open, they are greatly attracted to the person. While talking about their fiancés, these actresses always talk about their understanding, care, affection, openness. Simple words they may look like, but there is a lot of hidden meaning.

If there is any break in the relationship, they get affected badly. They decide death is the only solution. In most cases, the guys are hesitant when it comes to marriage. What is to be taken note of is the fact that most people perceive an actress as an object of desire. Among the fans too, the general impression is that an actress cannot be truly in love with someone. It is indeed a pity, that the guys these actresses court have the same view! 

Whether they are in love or married, the biggest problem, is their partners. Nalini, recently divorced, speaking about her erstwhile husband, Ramaraj, said, "My husband Ramrajan was always suspecting me. If he saw me watching a Satyaraj movie, in which I had starred, he would immediately taunt me. I had to talk to the bank manager for any loan. I had to talk to him also for repayment." The doubting husbands are thorns in their lives. The courageous ones fight, but the others simply succumb.

When it becomes no longer possible to have a reliable partner, they go off to some far off land and become the third or fourth wife of a wealthy businessman. Actresses have to 'oblige' the producers, actors, distributors, politicians, industry dons and many more, according to a PRO in the industry. They are forced to 'oblige' if they are looking at longevity in the industry.

Why not get out of movies? is a fair question that one may ask, but the truth is, it is not possible. Once they enter movies, they start living in a make-believe world. An ordinary working female can always change her job, if there is a problem, whereas these women cannot.. They cannot move without a car. They cannot walk with any freedom, on the roads, without fear of being surrounded by their fans. The other fact is there are some, having got used to the good life, do not/cannot adjust to a more ordinary life.

Actresses from other parts of India fall easy preys to unscrupulous elements. A recent example is the story about how the Editor, Nellai Gopal, of a small time magazine called 'Headlines' had coerced actresses into paying him money - he is supposed to have threatened them that he will go to town with a story that they were suffering from AIDS, if he was not paid. They have to tackle a number of problems within and without.

Actresses are looked at as marketable products. The moment the product loses its market value, it is discarded. Actresses are dealt with in the same way; they are not treated as human beings. They lead a life of uncertainty. They cannot get out, nor can they continue within. They need a shoulder to cry on. It is very unfortunate that they decide on suicide when they fail to establish any meaningful relationship.

Circulating in the dream world, the lives of these actresses, too, is far removed from reality. Commenting on the suicides, a journalist felt that even in the midst of 'fans' these actresses feel throttled. How very true! Let us pray that the future generation of actresses don't succumb this way. 

In a country where, may be, thousands of women commit suicide everyday, let us not look at this suicide by Monal, as one more in the long list of actresses ending their lives, but as the unfortunate death of a young 21-year-old on the threshold of life and pay our respectful homage.