New Delhi:
Ranu Mondal became an overnight sensation after she was spotted singing Lata Mangeshkar’s song Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai at the Ranaghat station in West Bengal. She has already made her Bollywood debut by singing two songs for music-composer Himesh Reshammiya in his upcoming film Happy, Hardy and Heer.
Now, Ranu Mondal’s estranged daughter Elizabeth Sathi Roy has claimed that she didn’t know her mother used to sing on the platform of a railway station, because she could not visit her regularly.
"I didn't know that ma used to sing at the railway station because I could not visit ma regularly. I had been to Dharmatala (in Kolkata) a couple of months ago and found her sitting aimlessly at a bus stand. I told her to go home immediately and gave her Rs 200," Sathi told IANS.
Sathi now faces public flak for deserting her mother in a helpless condition, and she says many have been blaming her for negligence, although she is the only one among Ranu's four children who has been taking care of their mother.
"I used to send her Rs 500 as and when possible using an uncle's account. I am a divorcee and run a small grocery shop in Suri (a small town in Birbhum district), where I stay. I am a single mother looking after my younger son, so I have my own struggles. Still, I try to look after ma as much as I can. I tried to get her to stay with us several times, but my mother does not want to stay with us. Despite this, people are blaming me. The public is against me. Who do I go to now?" said Sathi.
Revealing about Ranu's three other children from her two marriages, Sathi, daughter from Ranu's first husband, shared: "My father passed away a few years back. Ma's kids from her second husband probably stay in Mumbai now, though I am not sure. Her second husband is still alive. I am her first husband's daughter, and I have an elder brother and a half-brother and half-sister. We are not in touch with each other. Why don't the other kids take responsibility of ma? Why is nobody is blaming them? I want them to come forward and take care of ma along with me."
Sathi blames the members of Ranaghat's Amra Shobai Shoitaan club, who are looking after her mother, for not letting her get in touch with Ranu and also accuses them of threatening her.
"It feels like as if Atindra and Tapan (club members) are my mother's own sons. They, and other members of the club, have threatened to break my leg and throw me out if I try to get in touch with my mother. They don't let me talk to ma even over the phone. Also, they are brainwashing ma against me. I feel helpless. I don't know what should I do. I am not taking any drastic step because that will create an impact on my mother, and she will not be able to concentrate on her music and recordings. She is mentally imbalanced and, on top of that, the media is annoying her," said Sathi.
Accusing the club members of misusing Ranu's money, her daughter further said: "Tapan and Atindra want fame, so they have sidelined me. They are pretending to be selfless but they are not. Why are they accompanying ma to Mumbai, leaving behind their family and work? They did not let me accompany ma to Mumbai. Tapan takes money from my mother in the pretext of buying goods for her daily use. But, when I went to her place, I discovered that she doesn't even have basic utensils like a dish or a cup. They have taken Rs 10,000 from ma's account and bought only a suitcase and a couple of nighties for her. I don't trust them at all."
Meanwhile, as per reports, Ranu Mandal is being showered by offers from Bollywood, Bengali and South Indian film industries. She got a call from AR Rahman's office and even Sonu Nigam has also shown interest in collaborating with the viral singer.
(With inputs from IANS)
