Sajeesh Mukhathala, known for his daredevil stunts, finally got his attempt to be the fastest pilgrimage run with a five kg bundle (irumudikkettu) on his head approved by the Limca Book of Records after a long wait of two years. This unusual footracecum- trek to Sabarimala Sannidhanam in January 2012 was approved by the Limca Book as a one-time entry in the adventure category.
He completed the marathon in 33 hours with the actual running time of 15.29 hours. Sajeesh said that his run was for the faster resolution of the Mullaperiyar issue. The issue might have died down, but he had to wait for the approval as it was not in the competition category.
This 31-year-old freelance sculptor is not new to setting records and doing scary stunts. His most audacious stunt was when he inserted 10 knives into his nose. He had also inserted two active drilling machines’ 3.5-inch pins into his nostrils.
He can keep those sharp objects in the nose and demonstrate his peculiar writing skill. This ITI diploma holder can simultaneously write with both hands in two different languages.
He claims to be the world’s best ‘nose stuntman’ with his stunts being reviewed by the Hong Kong-based World Records Association and UKbased Elite World Records. Sajeesh said that he had received an invite from the Discovery Channel to perform in one of their programmmes on adventure, starting November.
Once, while inserting 18 nails in his nose one of it got lodged inside his mouth and had to be surgically removed. Son of Gopinathan Pillai and Omanayamma, of Sajeev Bhavan, Neduvilakkara, Mukhathala, he had entered the Limca Book of Records for retro-running (backward running) 27 km from Kollam to Kottarakkara in two hours and 27 minutes in 2007.
P T Usha is the role model for this former state school athletic meet medal winner. He shifted to more daring stunts after being influenced by the stunts seen on AXN TV channel.
He said that his parents and his younger brother were dead against him continuing with the stunts. Sajeesh said that all stunts were a mind game and the secret was in controlling breath. At present he is practising to insert a nail into his eyes and blow up a balloon with his ear.