LOHITADAS'S PREMATURE DEATH - WHAT A PITY

A news item that had appeared in the paper today about film director Lohitadas who passed away day before yesterday, made me feel very sad indeed. This gifted movie maker had died a pauper. The last movie made by him bombed and he owed money to lots of people. The story goes to the extent that there is no money to take care of the education of his college going children. Some prominent movie personalities had come forward to help.

Just look at this, the plight of the children of the most successful, respected and gifted story teller and director! They have to live the rest of their life on the gratis from others! What a pitiable state of affair is this!

Lohitadas had always commanded great respect from all sections of movie people. His was the lone voice that every one listened. Whether it was Manju Varrrier’s domestic problems or Meera Jasmin’s love affair, the final judgment made by him was always accepted by both parties. But how come such a soul died bankrupt? Was it his overconfidence to bet everything he had on the movies he made? Was he not practical to understand that there are ups and downs in life and saving for the rainy day makes sense?

Being young (54 years is not a old age, considering that at an average, a Malayali male lives up to 73 years) and with lots of dreams in front of him, he must have been looking long terms with regard to his life and career. It could also be that he never thought that the end would come this fast (who thinks so!) lest he would have had something done for his family. There were hundred of people who could have helped him on the simple fact that it was Lohitadas who made their life and career. It could also be that no one knew his story. When everything looks hunky dory, they would never have thought of a state of affair like this.

One had always seen such a plight for great artists. So many people benefit out of them. The money sharks hover around them only to multiply their wealth using the talents of these gifted ones. See the case of Michael Jackson, which too is not different.

Memory is a short thing. Soon everyone will forget this gifted person, including his pal bearers. Even the benevolent persons who had offered the help will forget their promises. For his family it is ground zero now. For the children of Lohitadas, who launched many lives and career, life have to start from the bottom. They have to undergo all the hardships to come up in life. They have to live like nobody. Only time will tell whether they had made it.

Carelessness, lack of farsightedness, cocksureness and being impractical (a trait always associated with gifted, maverick artists) etc could have led Lohitadas not to save for his family. And when he left them all of a sudden, they find themselves in pits.

What a way to die! What a pity!