When Bollywood actress, Sridevi died a few days ago, a certain section of media and a few self-proclaimed protectors of public interest didn’t find anything wrong in commenting about the actress’ lifestyle. That these celebrities also have a personal life is something which the TRP-hungry media channels and the fans often tend to overlook. And, commenting about this constant, unnecessary and obnoxious media scrutiny, Amala Akkineni, popular Telugu and Tamil cinema actress, wrote a powerfully-worded post on social media about ‘ageing gracefully’, something that resonated with many.
Tired about how everything, from her weight to the way she dresses up is a talking point, Amala Akkineni wrote:
“Will you let me age gracefully without needing to comment on how tired I look or the weight I have gained?
The shadows under my eyes are from reading glass lines and freckles change to age spots everyday.Will you let me dress without feeling low self esteem that I am not size zero anymore, nor that I wear the season’s couture? A washed handloom engulfs me providing market to the looms, comfortably accommodating menopause.”
In 1987, Amala appeared in Pushpak with Kamal Haasan and Tinnu Anand, and using that as a reference, she wrote in her post about the flawed and extremely superficial idea of beauty that many seem to garner, urging everyone to, instead, focus on finer things in life. She ends her post with a subtle message to everyone going overboard with Sridevi’s death and their respective ‘investigation’ into her sudden death:
Will you let me stop colouring my hair, let me wear it short, without referring to my long tresses in Pushpak, at 19?
The bad hair days get captured, not the wisdom I carry, and that’s demoralizing. Surely cameras can show the depth of a person and not just the surface?Will you let me discuss meaningful things without interrupting the flow with questions on how I cook or what the season’s latest gossip demands?
My inner being thrives on accomplishing things that make a difference, things I seek to complete before my physical form is put to rest.Will you let me walk through my day with peace and calm without the endless messages to attend events teeming with emptiness?
I need to complete life’s mission, but I can’t if my head spins in endless carousels, important to you, no doubt.Will you free me of the box office madness, the TRP wars, Page 3, the likes, the comments, the traps that menacingly surround everything we do?
You have caught me in a time warp, a cage of fame, while my spirit is free.Allow me a life, some privacy, to engage with humanity and the universe, with purpose, truth, compassion and some respect for those now gone.”
Read her entire Facebook post here:
Amala’s post is a much-needed, rude reminder of how superficial our lives have become, lest we forget everything about humanity.
Also read: #LetHerRestInPeace Say Telugu Actors As Sridevi’s Death Turns Into A Media Circus
Also read: The Gossip Around Sridevi’s Death Reflects Everything Wrong With India’s Celebrity Culture
