Viruman: I am not against temples, reiterates Soori; details inside

Clarifying that he was not against temples and he was a big devotee of Goddess Meenakshi, Viruman actor Soori said that his statement, “providing education to the poor was better than building a 1000 temples had been misconstrued by some.”

Soori said he's a big devotee of Amman. “Whenever I speak at any public function, I begin by starting from Goddess Meenakshi. Some people seem to have misunderstood it!”

Urging people to not get offended by the statement, Soori said, “I am not against any temple. I did not intend to hurt anyone. I am someone who prays to God. All my hotels in Madurai are called Amman. I am someone who does not have an education and therefore understands its significance. There have been occasions I have been broken-hearted because of not having proper schooling. Therefore, I believe everybody must have access to education.”

Further, the comedian added, “The other day, several fans had turned up at the venue. I thought that was the best platform to emphasise the need to provide education to all. That was not even my statement. Mahakavi Bharathiyar said those words. He emphasised the importance of providing education and made such a statement and I, realising its significance, recalled it.”

Soori progressed from docile side roles in films to becoming a mainstream comedian in several popular films. Nobody can forget the amusing scene from Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu in which he attempts to eat 50 parottas. Soori earned the nickname ‘Parotta’ from the film. “I ate 13 even though I don't like parottas. Director Suseenthiran gave me my first break, and I wanted to bring out the comedic undertone of such ‘eating contests’ that are common in rural areas,” he recalled, in an interview.

Soori, known for his unassuming spontaneity and witty one-liners, is inspired by the people he grew up with. Also, the son of a milkman who ran a tea stall in suburban Madurai, Soori was keenly aware of the locals' comical mannerisms and slang. “Everyone in Madurai has a story, and the way they narrate it with effortless animation adds drama to it. People in the region have a natural sense of humour. I got to hear a lot of real-life comedies while sitting in my father's tea stall every evening and supplying milk every morning. My father, R Muthusamy, was a witty man who served as my greatest inspiration. He could make even the tensest situations bearable,” he added, in a freewheeling chat with The Hindu.

Up next, Soori is awaiting the release of Vetrimaaran's Viduthalai, co-starring Vijay Sethupathi.