Thrissur boy Vishnu received a rousing welcome

On Monday morning, Peter England Mr India World 2016 Vishnuraj S Menon reached his hometown, Chembuthara near Pattikad, Thrissur. A banner announcing his victory with a picture of Vishnu alongside Hrithik Roshan welcomed visitors to the picturesque village, situated near Peechi dam, away from the town. His parents Surendran and Padmavathi, and brother Jishnu joined him in his joy, along with his extended family and villagers, for whom he is not the supermodel Vishnu, but their beloved Chandu.

Curiosity and awe was written on the faces of the locals who had gathered near the Chembuthara Bagavathy temple next to Vishnu’s ancestral home, where Vishnu was to visit as soon as he reached.As he made his entry in an elegant silk kurta and dhoti, his childhood friends as well as old ladies praying in the temple crowded around the youngster, eager to congratulate him. “Not many of us knew what exactly he won, but we know he has done us proud,” said his cousin, Prasad. “We all knew him as an athlete as he was always found playing cricket and football in the ground adjacent to the temple.” Vishnu offered prayers to the almighty at the temple around which he had grown up, where he was blessed by the komaram.

Vishnu’s next stop was his ancestral home in Chembuthara, where his aunts and uncles were ready to welcome him, with hugs and treats. “We didn’t even know he was entering the competition, only his father knew about it. We got to know the news of his victory directly, our boy has done us proud,” said his aunt, while his father smiled mischievously. “I didn’t tell even his mother that he had entered the Mr India contest. When he called at 1 am to inform me that he had won the pageant, I missed his call. He called next day at 10 am and told me the news but I didn’t believe him. I asked his brother to check the internet where we found the video of him and Hrithik Roshan.”

At their home in Chembuthara, Vishnu’s mom had prepared a delicious spread to welcome him, consisting of rice, avial and a variety of dishes served on a plantain leaf. The family of four had lunch together after a long time, since Vishnu could rarely visit his home amidst preparations for the contest and shows.
For old times’ sake
The beautiful Pattathipara woods is almost walking distance from Vishnu’s home, and he easily climbed the wooded path leading to the waterfalls situated half way up the hill. “After school we would all play and then head for the hill in our bicycles. The waterfall was our favourite hangout spot,” said Vishnu.
Yes, that’s me as a kid!
At their flat in Thrissur town, Vishnu’s parents dusted out old family albums which had pictures of the brothers as kids. “This was me playing the bass drum for the school band; I had make up and even lipstick on, I think my craze for makeup started then!” he said. There was no regret in his mother’s voice when she said, “He had A pluses all through in Class 10. It was during college that he developed an interest for modelling and body building. He saw Salman Khan at an event in his college once and the seeds were sown.”
Vishnu has never hesitated from helping someone in need, often without thinking of his own safety, recalled his mother. “Once he found a woman involved in an accident lying unattended on the road and without thinking twice, carried her to the hospital close by. He was asked who he was and what he had done to the woman by the hospital authorities but he didn’t care.”