Sridevi Deserves Our Respect! Dear News Channels, Dissect These 7 Facts about Her Instead of Putting Your Journos in Bathtubs

Enough has been said about how our news channels have been making a mockery of Sridevi's untimely demise, that saying anything more on this would just be adding salt to sea. Ever since the post-mortem details came out, nearly every news channels pounced upon it as if a deer carcass has been thrown in front of a pack of hungry hyenas (a selected choice of animal considered on observing some of these anchors laugh and shout).

As a member of the fraternity I agree that if there are inconsistencies in the report, it is the duty of the media to inform the public. But to dissect them with poor graphics and making their own theories, and in the process, doing a character assassination of the beloved icon, is really uncalled. News Channels, you have a degree in journalism, not forensics science. And fire that person who made that poorly-photoshopped image of Sridevi lying in the bathtub.

But like I said in the beginning, I am not here to play blame games here. Instead I am here to remind the news channels what they really should talk about the true diva of India cinema, if they truly believe in the concept 'rest in peace'! So let's talk about the seven facts of Sridevi that you should really discuss on your panels.

#1 The fact that she is the only Indian Cinema icon who achieved success in five movie industries -  Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. Unlike some news channels love to boast, she is not just a Bollywood diva; but a pan-India icon. Remember she has done she has done 81 films in Telugu, 72 films in Hindi and Tamil, 23 films in Malayalam and 6 films in Kannada.

#2 The fact that she started off acting at the age of 4 and had sacrificed her childhood for the sake of cinema. Also the fact that this obsession continued for three decades, till she took that long break in 1997.

#3 The fact that directors used to write author-backed roles for her even during the '80s when Indian cinema was at its patriarchal worst. And we are talking about mainstream cinema here!

#4 The fact that she did need any of the Khans and the Kumars to make a successful second innings comeback and that every movie she signs is seen with great interest by both fans and the media.

#5 The fact that she is perhaps the best mainstream leading lady in Bollywood when it comes to making you smile. And she has no competition for miles! Who can pull off Charlie Chaplin so convincingly among out breed of actors like she did in Mr India?

#6 The fact that she got six Filmfare Awards in three languages, not to mention the many nominations. Also, she also got Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards.

#7 The fact that our National Awards juries have never bothered to give her a single award, despite the unarguable fact that she is one of the best actresses we had in Indian cinema. And to think, they had the time and the brains to give Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar awards for some of their regular performances.

But if our news channels really have trouble talking nice about someone or they have a fetish for crime stories, why not focus instead on real crimes happening elsewhere. Maybe you can talk about the Judge Loya's murder. Or the fugitive MLA who ran away after killing 9 children in a hit and run case. Or the fact that some unscrupulous businessmen are looting our banks and leaving the country quite easily. For once, we don't mind you talking for hours about real crime and getting yo the root of it, instead of making your anchors lie in bathtub.

If not Sridevi's memory, at least respect the dignity of the journalists working for you!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2018 05:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).