Actress Sreelatha in penury, looks for help

Thiruvananthapuram - Malayalam actress Sreelatha Menon, known for films like "Perumthachan" and "Kauthuka", is suffering from a rare bone disease but there is no one to look after her three children and they have been asked to vacate their rented house.

"We live in a rented home here and we have been asked to move out. I have no clue where to go with my three children," said the bed-ridden former Miss Trivandrum (1985) who has acted in more than 20 films and more than 200 TV serials.

Sreelatha, whose husband passed away four years back, added: "We have no money to buy even food. I am not a member of any of actor's bodies."

Her illness and financial crunch have affected her three sons' studies. They have not gone to school for last few months because they do not have enough money to pay the fees.

Arjun, who is the eldest and studying in plus-2, said: "None of us have been to school for a while now. I, being the eldest, am the only one in a position to go for work, but if I go, there will be none to look after my ailing mother."

His two younger siblings are in class V and pre-school.

Meanwhile, Sreelatha, who is at home without any medical assistance, Monday received Rs.100,000 from the state chief minister's relief fund.

Kerala Cinema Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar's office told IANS that in the past also they have extended help to her.

"Now that her condition has worsened, we have got in touch with the film actors' body (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists). I am told that the state health minister will be doing something," said the office of actor-turned minister Kumar.