Hero Image

Man who turned his disability into art struggles to make ends meet

Chennai: S Kanakaraj became popular after he began imitating actor Surya’s hunchback character ‘Perazhagan’ since he watched it in 2005. The 39-year-old differently-abled artist, who had been earning a livelihood from stage performances until the lockdown kicked in, is now struggling to support his 72-year-old father.



The resident of Vikramasingapuram at Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district said he was now waiting for some rice and groceries that a leading political party had promised to supply as part of its donation drive. “I used to have at least 15 stage programmes in a month. Even though the money I earn is less, it was more than enough for me to meet our daily expenses. But I am having a tough time for the past three months, particularly after lockdown. I don’t know what to do if the situation continuess,” said Kanakaraj, a bachelor who lives with his father Sangaralingam.

As a stage performer, Kanakaraj swam against the flow many a time. Born with an orthopaedic disability, Kanakaraj had a miserable childhood. His parents stopped sending him to school after fellow-students called him ‘kullan’. Life at home was boring, but the young Kanakaraj soon got attracted to cinematic dance. One day, he got an opportunity to imitate thespian MGR at a temple festival. It was a turning point. “I can survive anywhere but I have to take care of my father who has age-related illnesses. He doesn’t show his difficulties. He rather supports me,” he said.

The present uncertainty, according to Kanakaraj, was a big disappointment for stage artists like him. “When the film industry is hit badly, you can imagine the condition of stage artists like us. We earn very less, but we can earn more during seasons. Many of my friends are starving in their villages. Some depend on rice and groceries donated by some organisations. I just went to collect rice and groceries, but members of the political party that was distributing it asked me to come in the evening,” said Kanakaraj.

While most of Kanakaraj’s fame came from imitating Surya’s character in ‘Perazhagan’, he is also known for imitating matinee idols MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. “I still do some comic numbers at my home to avoid the tension. My father watches the performances. That’s how we forget our worries,” he said.

READ ON APP