Friends Forever In Ponggal Ad

By Ravichandran D.J Paul KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Two Indian boys who part ways are reunited by a mutual Malay friend in a One Malaysia video clip in conjunction with the cultural harvest festival or "Ponggal" to be celebrated by the Indian community on Sunday. The two minute video clip entitled 'Friends Forever' is based on the concept of "Nambikei" or trust in Tamil. The two friends, Maniam and Sundram who last saw each other 60 years ago on Ponggal day grew up separately as successful agro entrepreneurs in Sekinchan and Cameron Highlands respectively. The public service video clip in a commercial format is being aired on RTM, Astro and Media Prima channels, and is also on Youtube. Over the years, rice farmer Maniam would wonder about his childhood friend Sundaram and had hopes of meeting him one day. Their lost friendship is renewed when Mardi’s agricultural officer Mohd Salleh reunites them on the same ponggal day 60 years later. During the emotional reunion, Maniam and Sundaram hug each other and it’s a poignant moment for both in the Ponggal festival. Maniam shows Sundaram the nostalgic terracotta horse which he gave him 60 years ago and they all laugh as the festival of Ponggol is celebrated. Ponggal is a cultural harvest festival which signifies thanksgiving to Mother Earth for her natural and bountiful provision of food and sustenance. The short video clip sponsored by the government in the spirit of 1Malaysia displays the importance of instilling trust (Nambikei) in various aspects of life in a multi-racial and harmonious Malaysia that we have today. The story shows how they both have fruitfully raised their children through sheer hard work, perseverance and Mardi’s financial and technical assistance in providing technology, machinery, new seedlings and fertilisers. It is a coincidence when two old friends journalist M.Krishnamoorthy and K.S.Maniam had previously worked together in real lives at Tenaga Nasional 40 years ago. When they were cast for their roles in 'Friends Forever', it was a serendipitous and an unexpected meeting and a moment of truth for two colleagues and friends who had in real life not seen each other for 40 years. 'Friends Forever' shows unity between Malaysians and the soil, and also manifests itself in various relationships of trust between people and their country. -- BERNAMA