Nanban Oruvan Vantha Piragu

Anand begins sharing his life story with a fellow passenger during a flight to Chennai, offering a detailed glimpse into his journey from childhood to adulthood. Born in 1992, he moved to Anandam Colony with his family shortly after the birth of his younger brother, seeking a fresh start in a new environment. During his school years, Anand quickly formed bonds with Aadhi’s gang, but also had frequent conflicts with Lalith’s group, highlighting the typical rivalries of adolescence. A memorable incident at an intra-school event saw Anand humiliating himself when he fainted on stage due to crowd phobia, which caused his team to lose, marking a low point in his early life.

In 2011, Anand made a significant decision: he wanted to pursue his passion for Visual Communication at Loyola College, instead of following the traditional path of engineering. His father, Ravi, a former cricketer who played for the Ranji Trophy team in 1984, had dreams that had been dashed by poverty and financial hardship. Ravi always emphasized the importance of education, urging Anand to chase his aspirations after completing his studies. Anand enrolled at Sri Muthulakshmi Engineering College, where he encountered new challenges, including fainting during a college seminar, but also found solace in developing a close bond with Kannamma, a girl from Delhi who also attended the same college and shared similar struggles.

As they parted with their degrees, Anand suggested starting an event management company called NOVP Events—originally named Infinity Events—to keep their friend group united. The plan was to give this venture a year, with hopes of success before exploring other career options. He also proposed developing an app called “Become a Star,” which showed promise but faced setbacks, including delayed progress and withheld loans, leading most friends to lose hope and scatter in pursuit of their careers. During this turbulent time, Anand found himself increasingly isolated, as most of his friends moved on, leaving him to grapple with uncertainty.

The financial struggles of Anand’s family in Chennai added more stress. Ravi took on loans at high interest rates, and Anand’s mother, Vishalini Daniel, often scolded him for not having a job, adding emotional weight to his situation. During these difficult times, Anand’s grandmother, Kulappulli Leela, scolded him when he reacted angrily to his mother’s criticism, emphasizing the importance of resilience. His friends, Srikanth and Praveen, treated him unkindly as well, mocking his inability to find stability. Kannamma advised him to seek employment, prompting Anand to reluctantly agree, but his father suggested he pursue a postgraduate degree and consider moving to Singapore, where his friend Krishna was working, as a way to escape his troubles.

In Singapore, Anand met new friends, including Madan and Lalith, a former rival who was now willing to help him. With Lalith’s assistance, Anand managed to complete and test the “Become a Star” app. Meanwhile, in Delhi, Kannamma’s family arranged her marriage with Ratheesh, causing some tension. Anand felt increasingly distant from her and confronted her over the phone, prompting her to say she would contact him when she was free, even as her marriage preparations continued. During this period, Anand befriends Azhagar, an avid Ajith Kumar fan, who shares his struggles with homesickness and missing his family dearly. Tragically, Azhagar passes away the day after revealing his grief, which becomes Anand’s first personal experience with loss, deeply affecting him.

Despite the success of the “Become a Star” app and the possibility of partnering with a multinational company, Anand chooses to decline the offer. Instead, he decides to return to India and focus on using the app to revive his initial dream of building NOVP Events. Back in Chennai, Anand reunites with his friends, and together they organize their annual colony event, showcasing their renewed teamwork and determination. Kannamma also joins this effort, rekindling her connection with Anand.

With newfound confidence and purpose, Anand successfully orchestrates a flawless event, confidently taking the stage and leading his team to victory. His journey reflects perseverance, friendship, and the importance of following one’s passion despite numerous setbacks, illustrating how determination and support from loved ones can overcome life’s greatest challenges.