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Here's a hero
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Life is all about facing adversity and coming up trumps, says actor Kutty in an interview
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Pic. by S. Siva Saravanan
Overcoming odds: Kutty
LIFE WOULD'VE been quite predictable for actor Kutty but for the accident that reduced the once-strapping lad to a one-legged `freak'.
Surprisingly, the star of Dancer doesn't hold any grudges against life and has learnt to look at his accident in a positive light.
"But for that, I would've just been another good cine dancer. Now, I have others dancing in the background when the spotlight is on me," he says.
In Coimbatore to take part in Convergence, a cultural fest organised for differently abled students by the Dr. GRD School of Social Work, he spoke to the kids to let them know nothing is impossible.
To prove his optimism, he even swirled on stage, leaving them open-mouthed.
"Encouraging the disabled is what I love doing. They must not let accidents break their will. I am proof of that. In June 1998, they removed my leg. But, I was dancing by September. It was a painful process. But my willpower kept me alive," says the 21-year-old lad.
Kutty was holidaying in Kumbakonam many summers ago when life changed. While returning after dropping a friend's niece at school, a lorry rammed into his bike.
Motivation important
"It is very important to keep your spirits up. When you are down and out, friends matter, especially those who can pep you up," says Kutty. That is what brought him back from the brink. "The only things my pals wanted from me for all that they did was a promise to always support the physically challenged," he adds.
For a boy who was too young during the release of the legendary Mayuri, which catapulted another one-legged dancer, Sudha Chandran, to fame, Dancer was a dream come true. "I had only heard of Mayuri. I got to see it just before we started shooting for Dancer. It was great encouragement."
His accident also taught Kutty a few things about life. "I think God puts us through these tests to know who is worthy and who is not. I learnt to see through people for what they are. I must thank the accident for that."
Pain and maturity
At 21, he seems far more mature than his contemporaries. Is that because of the cards life dealt him? "Yes. I had to suddenly grow up and take stock of my life. That has made me realise the true worth of life. With pain comes maturity."
Though Kutty is basking in the wolf whistles his dances and stunts elicit, fame did not come easy. Though he danced soon after his accident, people continued to look at him as a freak who managed to execute steps despite losing a leg. "They never saw the talent in me ... never looked at me as an individual. My faith was vindicated when the audience applauded me."
Ask him how easy it was to execute difficult steps without losing his balance, and Kutty says the credit goes to his elder brother Solomon, an assistant with dance ace Prabhu Deva. "He taught me how to do things differently. I used to rehearse back dives on the Marina from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., unmindful of the innumerable times I got hurt."
His most rewarding moment came when he was honoured at his old school for his achievements. A class VIII drop out from the Metro English Medium School in Chennai, the award showed him that when you persevere anything is possible.
The enormity of his achievement is not lost on Kutty. Probably why the only tattoo on his body reads Saadhanai. When his friends were busy getting local tattoo artistes to ink the names of their favourite people, Kutty chose this word, which has been quietly inspiring him over the years.
Now, Kutty is aspiring to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for dancing non-stop for half-an-hour. On Sunday, he took part in a variety show put up at Loyola College to raise aid for tsunami victims. That is also the stage where he showcased his prowess.
After portraying his life story on screen, albeit with lots of filmi excesses (he felt bad in the scenes where the hero is treated badly, but consoled himself saying he finally triumphs), he now wants to play different characters and prove himself a good actor.
Does the way the world treat the disabled rankle him? "Yes. Instead of just doling out cash, textbooks and tailoring machines, spend some time with them and find out their interests. You'll be helping them earn a living that way."
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