TRIBUTE PAID TO TARUNI SACHDEV

TRIBUTE PAID TO TARUNI SACHDEV

Those who had worked with Taruni Sachdev remained shocked on hearing about her tragic death in an air crash in Nepal on Monday,14^th May,2012.Taruni had acted in two Malayalam films – Vellinakshathram and Satyam – and featured in many advertisements. “I spotted her in an advertisement featuring Amitabh Bachchan and got in touch with her through Mr. Bachchan's manager. We were all amazed by the manner in which she performed. She was just five then and could render Malayalam dialogues after listening to it for a couple of times. I still remember the intensity with which she performed in the climax of the film, where even senior actors found it difficult to work against high-speed propellers,” Vinayan, who directed her in Vellinakshathram told .

The film released in 2005 endeared her to Malayalam audience. Vinayan cast her in his next film too, along with Prithviraj and Priyamani. “But it was her character in Vellinakshathram that really made her popular. Especially that song, with animation graphics, was a favourite among children.” Vinayan remembered that she had called him when she came down to the State a couple of months back for shooting an advertisement. Her mother was also killed in the air crash. 

     The mortal remains of child artist Taruni Sachdev and her mother Geeta, who were killed in the Nepal plane crash, were consigned to flames at a crematorium.The deceased duo were brought here from Kathmandu last afternoon following which the last rites took place at the Santa Cruz cremation ground here at around 5.30 pm.The two were among the 15 people killed in the Nepal plane crash on Monday.

“We are still in state of shock...don’t know what to say. I feel she was god’s daughter, and has gone to God,” Taruni’s father told reporters.The 14-year-old artist is best remembered for her role as Auro’s (Amitabh Bachchan) friend in the national awarding winning film ‘Paa’.

Though no celebrities attended the funeral on Wednesday, Vidya Balan, who essayed the role of Bachchan’s mother in ‘Paa’, said, “I don’t know how to react to this...to wake up to a news of Taruni passing away...It is very unfortunate for any parent to lose their child. And I really pray to God to give strength to her father to cope with this.”“I remember Balki (director of ‘Paa’) used to say that she (Taruni) is like a mature actor and you put her in any situation she will manage it,” the actress said at an event last evening.

Big B and son Abhishek also condoled her demise on micro-blogging site Twitter.

                                                               Prof. John Kurakar