SALEM :In a case of literal ‘idol worship’, a 52-year-old from Vinayakapuram in Attur is taking fandom to the next level.
To Nedumaran, M G Ramachandran is not a mere politician, hero and role model, but a soul worthy of worship. He has a statue of MGR in his pooja room that he worships every day.
Though Nedumaran, a dhobi, has not been very lucky in terms of income or finances, his love for the actor-cum-politician pushed him to save enough money to buy the statue for `20,000. Nedumaran has four daughters, who are now married.
As a young boy, he was inspired by MGR’s movies, and later he became an active participant in politics.
“When MGR started the AIADMK in the early 70s, I joined as an ordinary member and continue to be a grassroot member without seeking any post,” he said.
According to Nedumaran, MGR‘s life is a perennial source of inspiration for ordinary people. The late leader’s boyhood struggles that made him drop out of school, his entry into stage acting and his meteoric rise to an evergreen film hero is something that can move anyone to aspire for a better position in life. Nedumaran said he got the MGR statue from one of the artisans in Vinayakapuram. The recent regulations on statue installations forced Nedumaran to buy a statue of a particular size that will not need any permission from authorities.
Nedumaran‘s family joins him in his daily worship of his matinee idol.
“On MGR’s birth and death anniversaries, we conduct poojas, distribute food and extend whatever help is possible. My only wish that remains to be fulfilled is to build a temple for MGR to enlighten others about the need to worship the great soul. I know my wish is strange, but by following my leader, I know I will succeed,” he exuded confidence.