Debasis Sen, Pallekele: If you are in Kandy to cover cricket, there is one place you can never give it a miss. Much like the Sahitya Niwas in Bandra (E), Nattaranpotha in Kundasale has also occupied a place in history. This is the place from where Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan hails from.
Situated some half an hour drive from Kandy city, Nattaranpotha comes on the way to Pallekele stadium. Once we reach the place, a local guides us to Luckyland Biscuit factory where we find the Murali’s father Sinnaswamy Muttiah.
Spotting a bright smile, Sinnaswamy immediately reminds you of someone you’ve grown up watching on TV .With one of his four sons being Test cricket’s highest wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan, Sinnasamy Muthiah is a well-known man in Kandy . However, this 73-year-old seems to be unlike the fathers of other famous sports persons, who like to ride on their son’s popularity.
Strange it may sound like, Murali do not endorse his father’s business. The world’s highest wicket taker endorses ‘Sunridges’ biscuits, which is the largest biscuit manufacturer in Sri Lanka.
Like an understanding father, Sinnasamy does not want his son to loose some fat pay cheque by way of endorsing his competitors brand. Lady luck biscuits do not use Murali’s image on the packets of the biscuits.
“My son endorses `Sunridges’ biscuits (rival) brand, so I can’t use his face to promote my biscuits,“ says the humble man, who prefers to converse only in Tamil and Sinhalese, and prefers to wear the traditional `lungi’ instead of donning a suit like a corporate czar.
Talking fondly about his son, the 73-year-old shows us a small, cement backyard, situated below his factory , where the little `Murali’ would play cricket with his friends and brothers all day . The father and son, it seems, hardly seem to talk cricket at all. Both Murali and Sinnaswamy will not visit Pallekele Stadium for the test match as they have no time. In fact Murali is now in Singapore to play a T20 tournament.
Muralitharan was engulfed in the biggest chucking controversy of all time in Australia back in 1995. Recalling the incident, Sinnasamy says, “I’m so thankful to Arjuna Ranatunga (the then Lankan captain) for completely supporting Murali during that phase. I never spoke to him about it.”
Senior Muttiah does not find any problem with his son assisting the Australian spinners last year during their tour to Lanka. Defending his son, Sinnasamy says,“Murali supports cricket, not the country . Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) knew Murali was coaching them and still didn’t seek his services. Otherwise, he would definitely have gone and helped our team. He has so much knowledge, and he’s someone who likes to coach and pass on his knowledge to the youngsters. Even today , he would offer his help to Lankan cricket after just one phone call.”