‘Akka nasi lemak’ proprietor must learn from mistake of YouTube cooking sensation ‘Sugu Pavithra’

OVERNIGHT fame/glory and instant wealth have proven costly to many rags-to-riches ‘bright sparks’ who suddenly vanished from the social media radar after having only tasted their new-found fortune momentarily.

To ensure lightning does not strike twice, the recently shot-to-fame ‘Akka (sister) nasi lemak’ owner, Sangeetha, must not let good fortune get the better of her for there are many sad lessons to be learnt of people who are unable to cope with their overnight success.

The small business that she has been operating in an outdoor stall in Seri Kembangan for about a decade has suddenly gone viral after food blog KL Foodie posted a positive review of her food with customers willing to queue for even five to six hours to taste her nasi lemak.

While good fortune has kicked at Sangeetha’s door, it is noteworthy to know that the entire Malaysia is wondering where YouTube cooking sensation S. Pavithra who was the talk of the town at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is today.

Back then when the country was put under the movement control order (MCO), Pavithra, 32, and her husband, M. Sugu, 33, touched many hearts with their easy-to-follow recipes on their YouTube channel, “Sugu Pavithra”.

HAPPIER TIMES: S. Pavithra (left) and her husband, M. Sugu with their children savouring the dishes that they cooked earlier

A week after receiving the Silver Play Button for hitting 100,000 subscribers on her channel and commendation from former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Perak-born housewife who speaks fluent Malay was bestowed as Ipoh’s inaugural icon on July 20, 2020.

Ironically, cracks started to surface in the couple’s marriage soon after when Pavithra tuned down the Ipoh City Icon award as she and her husband want to remain “normal people”.

“We want to live normally and just want to focus on our YouTube channel. There’s no need to idolise us as we are not really qualified to be an icon,” she said after posting bail for Sugu at the Ipoh lower courts four days later.

Earlier, her former plantation worker husband had claimed trial to two charges to causing hurt to her and being in possession of a sickle at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

“Pavithra was visiting a relative who was in labour,” a source told The Star. “Her husband, who was said to be drunk had a dispute with her and hit her, ” the source said, adding that the man had also brought a sickle to the hospital.

“The dispute is believed to be over the fact that Pavithra didn’t mention his name when receiving an award on Monday July 20, 2020),” the source added.

Pavitra last posted a video on Oct 4, 2021. Since then, she and her spouse have vanished from the cyberspace with many netizens missing their presence. The couple’s YouTube channel currently has over 826,000 subscribers. – April 29, 2023

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