The Hindu : Front Page : Muralitharan ties the knot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2005

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Front Page

Muralitharan ties the knot

By Karthik Subramaniam

A VERY SPECIAL DAY: Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan secured the partnership of a lifetime with his marriage to Madhi Malar in Chennai on Monday. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI, MARCH 21. Muttiah Muralitharan, 33, was the happiest man today as he married the Chennai girl who bowled him over. The Sri Lankan off-spinner tied the knot to R. Madhi Malar, daughter of Malar Hospitals founder Dr. S. Ramamoorthy and Dr. (Mrs.) Nithiya Ramamoorthy, in a traditional Hindu wedding at the Rani Meyyamai Hall here.

Muralitharan looked every bit the Tamil groom, dressed in a white silk dhoti and shirt, and an angavastram across his shoulder. Madhi Malar was dressed in a red Kancheepuram silk saree.

Tamil actor S. Chandrasekar, who was instrumental in bringing the couple together, played the role of host. "Murali was reluctant even to talk about marriage. He said there was so much left to achieve in cricket and he was not ready for marriage. But I asked him to decide after he met Madhi. One meeting with her, he changed his mind."

Muralitharan's mother, Lakshmi Muttiah, is a fan of Chandrasekar, who is also close to the late Dr. Ramamoorthy. A native of Namakkal, Mrs. Lakshmi had always wanted a bride from Tamil Nadu for her son.

The glittering function, studded with cricket stars, film actors and politicians, was a unique opportunity for autograph-hunters. Muralitharan's former captain and mentor Arjuna Ranatunga, teammates Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas were among the VIPs from Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu who attended the wedding.

The Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament, W.J.M. Lokubandara, the Finance Minister, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, and the Central Province Chief Minister, Sarat Ekanayake, were present. Industrialists M.A.M Ramaswamy and A.C. Muthiah also attended.

Dr. Nithiya Ramamoorthy said the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had sent a gift to the couple with a letter congratulating them. Madhi Malar's twin sister, Radhi Malar, said the couple would leave for Sri Lanka on Wednesday. An exclusive reception has been arranged for friends and family tomorrow.

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