THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Malayalam new year began on a tragic note for singer KS Chithra and husband Vijayashankar whose only child, eight-year-old Nandana, drowned in a swimming pool in Dubai on Thursday. The incident happened in a villa in Emirates Heights where Chithra and family were staying. Chithra had gone to Dubai to be part of AR Rahman's music show in Sharjah on Thursday.
Initial reports said Nandana, who was differently-abled, had fallen into the pool and though she was rushed to the hospital, she was declared dead. The body will be brought to Chennai. "We are awaiting the details. We don't know what exactly led to the tragedy," said KK Menon, Chithra's manager.
Nandana was born to Chithra and Vijayashankar in 2002 after 15 years of marriage.
"Every woman wishes to become a mother. I was sad when we didn't have a child for 15 years. However, God has given me another blessing. So, when I sing, I forget my sorrow. My mother was sad and used to pray a lot for me. However, she was not alive when Nandana was born," Chithra had said in a recent interview to a women's magazine.
Nandana was a Class I student at Chennai.
"She is very fond of songs. She sleeps listening to songs like 'Paatupaadi..', 'Omanathingal kidavo..', 'Kannum pootti...'. These songs have been recorded on CDs for her when I am not around," Chithra had said in an interview.
Despite her daughter's special condition, Chithra was bringing her up like a normal child, a close friend of Chithra said. "She was extremely close to Nandana. I don't know how she is going to come out of this," he said.