Suriya’s Agaram Foundation: Kerala’s Ex-Health Minister KK Shailaja Lauds Actor's Efforts

KK Shailaja, Kerala’s state Health Minister who was in charge during both the Nipah virus crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, has lauded actor Suriya’s efforts for the manner in which he has been operating the Agaram Foundation for close to two decades. Praising his efforts, the leader took to Facebook to call the work of the foundation ‘exemplary and commendable.’

According to a report in Mathrubhumi News, the post elaborated on the foundation’s efforts, especially with regards to supporting students from financially backward backgrounds. She details that as many as 51 students had already become doctors due to its efforts and pointed out that a large section of students in India dropped out as they were incapable of managing the financial costs that came with education.

“What makes Agaram remarkable,” she wrote, “was its ability to identify such students and help them complete their educational endeavours.” Apart from 51 doctors, the foundation has also moulded over 1500 engineers and a network of 6000 students.  

The Agaram Foundation recently completed 15 years and at the event, Kamal Haasan was the Chief Guest. As for Suriya, on his 50th birthday, the team of his next film released a teaser video. Directed by RJ Balaji, the teaser promises a full-fledged action drama with a glimpse of the actor playing a lawyer again after his hit OTT release Jai Bhim (2021).

Titled Karuppu, which translates to 'black,' we can also spot a few callbacks to his classics in the 10-second teaser. One of these is the way he replicates the iconic watermelon sequence from his old film Ghajini. We also see him introducing himself as ‘Saravannan’, with the line ‘Ennakku innoru per irukku’, translating to ‘I have another name too’, borrowed from the famous dialogue in Rajinikanth’s Baasha (1995). Not only is Suriya the actor’s stage name, but Saravannan is his real given name. “A Feast By TEAM RJB” is how the teaser concludes.