KOCHI: Kalidas Jayaram, actor-son of actor Jayaram, has vivid memories of APJ Abdul Kalam though he met him 12 years ago at the age of nine in New Delhi when he went there to receive the National Film Award for the best child artiste for his performance in the Malayalam film ‘Ente Veedu Appontem’.
“Though only 30 seconds were allowed for me to receive the award, President Dr Kalam spent nearly five minutes with me on the dais surprising me, those on the dais and even the audience. He asked me what my ambition was and the name of my school. I told him that I had not yet decided on what to become. Then he held my hand and told me to put in my hundred percent in whatever I did and do it with all sincerity and dedication,” Kalidas reminisces now.
Kalidas too was prepared for the occasion. As the conversation came to a pause, Kalidas put his hand into the pocket of his trousers. “This sudden move threw the security guards and those on the dais into a tizzy because they obviously did not know what he was planning to do. When he brought out a blank paper and presented Kalam with the request for an autograph, all were relieved and they broke into applause. Kalam, as usual, was very obliging. He also allowed me to take a number of photos with him after presenting the film award. He was such a kind and affable person. The memory of that only meeting will last for my lifetime,” Kalidas said.
The quotable quotes of Kalam have been a source of inspiration for Kalidas. “But he impressed me most with his request not to take a holiday on his death but work an extra day. He is a role model for every youngster,” said Kalidas who has graduated in Visual Communication from Loyola College, Chennai.
