Prathyusha

{{Infobox person

| name = Prathyusha

| image = Prathyusha.jpg

| birth_date = 29 August 1981

| birth_place = Bhongir, Andhra Pradesh, India

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|02|23|1981|08|29}}

| death_place = Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

| othername =

| yearsactive = 1998–2002

| occupation = Actress

| website = {{url|prathyusha.org}}

}}

Prathyusha (29 August 1981 – 23 February 2002) was an Indian actress who appeared in Telugu and Tamil language films.

Early life and film career

Pratyusha was born in Bhuvanagiri of present-day Telangana into a middle-class family. Her mother, Mrs. Sarojini Devi, is a government school teacher. Her brother is Praneet Chandra (also known as Krishna Chandra).

Pratyusha was schooled at Santosh Vidhya Niketan, Bhuvanagiri, Prakash Public School, Miryalaguda and later at St. Anns High School, Tarnaka, Hyderabad.

Pratyusha completed her intermediate from Gouthami Residential Academy, S.R.Nagar and graduation in Bachelor of Hotel Management at Banjara Hills and JB Institute of Hotel Management.

Pratyusha participated in Television Star 2000 Contest and was crowned Ms. Lovely Smile. Her success in the contest paved way to enter the film world. She had signed for a Kannada film before she died.

Pratyusha's final release was the 2004 Tamil language movie Sound Party, for which she received positive reviews.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/08/13/stories/2004081301930300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814234358/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/08/13/stories/2004081301930300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 August 2004 |title=Sound Party |date=13 August 2004 |work=The Hindu |accessdate=5 August 2012}}

Death

Prathyusha died on 23 February 2002 after allegedly attempting suicide by consuming poison along with her friend Siddharth, reportedly because their marriage proposal was rejected by family members. Some reports suggest it was a murder. Pratyusha died while undergoing treatment at Care Hospital, while Siddartha recovered. The case was widely discussed in the media and attracted public attention as some leaders of then ruling party were involved in this case. the suspicion of murder arose on Siddhartha, and after a forensic expert opined that the cause of her death was 'asphyxia due to manual strangulation'.{{cite web |author=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-03-06/hyderabad/27122940_1_pratyusha-case-film-actress-pratyusha-cid-officials |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111111950/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-03-06/hyderabad/27122940_1_pratyusha-case-film-actress-pratyusha-cid-officials |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 November 2013 |title=Pratyusha case travels at a snail's pace |date=6 March 2002 |work=The Times of India |accessdate=5 August 2012}} The report was referred to Professor T D Dogra, an eminent forensic expert and Head of Forensic Division, at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi.{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/07/stories/2002110707050300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229172235/http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/07/stories/2002110707050300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 December 2009 |title=Pratyusha committed suicide, says CBI |date=7 November 2002 |work=The Hindu |accessdate=30 January 2013}} The doctor's report was then found to be faulty.{{cite web |author=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-03-14/hyderabad/27108835_1_film-actress-pratyusha-muniswamy-strangulation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111114327/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-03-14/hyderabad/27108835_1_film-actress-pratyusha-muniswamy-strangulation |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 November 2013 |title='Doctor's report on actress death faulty' |date=14 March 2002 |work=The Times of India |accessdate=5 August 2012}} In 2004, Siddhartha was sentenced to five years' imprisonment{{cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-02-24/hyderabad/28340945_1_pratyusha-imprisonment-reddy-family |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821005133/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-02-24/hyderabad/28340945_1_pratyusha-imprisonment-reddy-family |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2011 |title=Pratyusha murder case accused gets 6-yr jail term |date=24 February 2004 |work=The Times of India |accessdate=31 August 2015}} and to pay a fine of ₹6,000 as he was found guilty of attempting suicide and abetting Pratyusha's suicide.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/24/stories/2004022408400100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040313045058/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/24/stories/2004022408400100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2004 |title=Pratyusha case: childhood friend Siddhartha convicted |date=24 February 2004 |work=The Hindu |accessdate=5 August 2012}}

After her death, her mother started a charity in her name.{{cite web |url=http://www.prathyusha.org |title=.:: Prathyusha Charitable Trust(PCT) ::. |author=ns }}