Singer Malavika Pantula who has sung for over 200 movies in the Telugu film industry has slammed rumours about her that arose from a WhatsApp message that was doing the rounds. It stated that the singer, who was recently tested positive for COVID19, had deliberately participated in ETV Telugu’s Samajavaragamana, a reality music show, and passed on the coronavirus infection to the musicians, technical crew, and especially Padma Bhushan SP Balasubrahmanyam, who was a part of the show, in the last week of July. The message also added that her sister was also a part of the show.
Upset by the bizarre rumours, Malavika had taken to her Facebook wall to clarify that the WhatsApp message was untrue and stated the exact chain of events. She also released a video of the same, requesting everyone to stop making baseless allegations and said that she would report this incident to the Cyber Crime department.
She said that the special episode featuring SPB was planned for July 30 and 31 and that she was part of the crew only on the second day with four other singers namely Karunya, Damini, Satya Yamini, Vasa Pavani with adequate precautions. She said her sister is in the US and isn’t a singer and could not possibly be present at the show nor pass on the infection.
She added that she decided to get tested after getting to know that a few musicians and SPB had tested positive on August 5 to make sure she was okay, but unfortunately tested positive too on August 8. She also added that she had passed on the infection to her two-year-old daughter and parents who took the test on the 9th.
The singer wrote, “Ever since lockdown my husband has been “working from home”, my elderly parents have not even stepped into the “corridor” for walking and stayed indoors for the past 5 months. We have NOT had a maid for the past 5 months to reduce the risk of corona. I have a 2-year-old daughter and have been extremely cautious and not stepped out for any recording or show or shoot in the last 5 months. This TV show was the first time I stepped out of my house with a shield in my car between me and my driver. That is the level of caution I have carried through this lockdown.”
She added, “As a safety precaution I got everyone at home tested after I got my positive report and unfortunately my father, my mother and my daughter tested positive while my husband tested negative. My driver tested negative too.
We admitted my father in the hospital today (August 19).”
She ended by saying that both her and SPB’s family are going through a tough time and needed the support and blessings of all.
A fake whastapp message has been doing the rounds which says I tested positive for Corona “before” the shoot of a TV…
Posted by Malavika Pantula on Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Singer-actor SP Balasubrahmanyam who was admitted to MGM Healthcare Hospital, Choolaimedu, on August 5 owing to mild symptoms of COVID19, has been on life support for the past week after his health deteriorated on the night of August 13. He is also additionally receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) treatment but has been deemed stable by the doctors on Friday. His vitals are continuing to be closely monitored by experts.
#SPBalasubrahmanyam #COVID19 update: Singer’s condition upgraded to stable by the hospital, even as he continues to be in Intensive care and on life support. pic.twitter.com/4Smx9OKNLo
— Silverscreen.in (@silverscreenin) August 21, 2020
On Thursday evening, the singer’s colleagues and friends, music lovers, and several others gathered for a mass prayer for the recovery of the singer. They sang various songs of the actor and prayed for him to return to normalcy.
Image Courtesy: Malavika Pantula Facebook
