South singer Kalpana Raghavendar opens up about suicide attempt: 'I took another 10 tablets and...'
Following an apparent suicide attempt, popular playback singer Kalpana Raghavendar was found unconscious at her residence in Nizampet, Hyderabad on March 2. As reports suggested, she had taken sleeping pills, and had to be rushed to the hospital. Kalpana Raghavendar told police that she took an overdose of insomnia tablets at home as she struggled to due to conflict with her daughter over her education.
According to KPHB police, for the last five years, both Kalpana Raghavendar and her husband Prasad Prabhakar have been staying at a house in Nizampet in KPHB. Going by what Kalpana told the police, a disagreement arose between her and her daughter, Daya Prasad, over her education on March 3. Kalpana wanted her daughter to study in Hyderabad, but Daya didn't agree with it. On regaining consciousness, police told the singer that she did not attempt suicide. Police stated that Kalpana Raghavendar had arrived from Ernakulam on March 4. Even though she tried hard, she was unable to sleep. "I took eight tablets but was still unable to sleep. I took another 10 tablets and fell conscious. I don't know what happened after that," she said.
The situation was brought to everyone's attention when the apartment security alerted residents after Kalpana didn't opened her door for two days. Neighbors were quick to contact the police, and soon an investigation followed. After they opened the door, she was found lying unconscious in the bedroom. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
Kalpana's daughter urged media persons at the hospital to "not manipulate any information". "Our family is perfectly fine. My mom and dad are happy. I am happy. My mom is perfectly fine. She will be back in a few days," Daya Prasad said.
Kalpana, daughter of popular playback singer TS Raghavendra, gained massive attention after she bagged the title in Star Singer Malayalam in 2010. Following her win, she worked with Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman among others. She was just 5 when she started her singing career.