Sri Devi Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

A travel
From Sivakasi
A place in Southern India
To Ville Parle
A suburb of Mumbai
The financial capital of India

Born beautiful
Photogenic look
Sighted by a photographer
Fourth year in a film
And a number of films
As a child artist
First time a heroine
At an age thirteen
This hit took her
To another hit
At an age fourteen
In both the above
Had a role between
Two who were great stars
In the making
A number of hit films
In the regional language

Stepped out of the state
Acted in memorable roles
In other languages
Around the state

Got a chance to
Act in Bollywood film
No looking back
An acquaintance
That hurt families both sides
And had to walk out

Against odds
Worked in a number of films
Many of which proved hit
Making the once child artist
A national figure
And indeed a female super star

Father died
Mother fell sick
Her conditions worsened
Because of a wrong procedure
In an expensive healthcare abroad

Money money in many ways
Still happiness from nowhere
Mother died
Sister eloped

Left alone
Only with name and fame

New acquaintance
Against the desire of the family
On the other side
Committed to that
And both entered into
A family relationship
Two daughters
The elder one
Now aspiring to be an actor
Awaiting a film release

Super star in her fifties
Appeared in two films
Which too were well received
If not great hits

Decorated with a national award
Just five years back

Recently in Dubai
Attending a family wedding
Died of cardiac arrest
Proved later it was not so
Accidental drowning
Is the cause of death as now
Nothing is clear
As to how this super star died
Remains a mystery
A detailed medical examination
Of her dead remains
Failed to say how this
Unnatural death shaped up
It took almost four days
For her mortal remains
Reach her mother land
Leaving millions of her fans
In a shock and dismay
More than what they felt
When they heard she died
And her much probed cadaver
Reached the cremation ground
At Ville Parle
After a 6 km long journey
With her fans paying their
Last respects
Standing the entire route
And she got consigned to fire

What a journey
From Sivakasi
To Ville Parle