Inter-University and State Champion; friends who wrestled with Mohanlal 50 years ago meet him again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two old friends came to Mohanlal's hotel room today. They had wrestled with Lal fifty years ago. When Mohanlal became the pride of cinema, the friends moved forward with wrestling.

Former Secretary General of the National Wrestling Federation VN Prasood and Sports Council trainer and technical officer P Krishnakumar shared memories with Mohanlal today.

They first met when Lal joined for pre-degree at MG College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1975. Although Prasood went to Chembazhanthi SN College for his degree, the three of them trained together at the Veera Kerala Gymkhana and Central Stadium in Vanchiyoor. Mohanlal competed in the 74 kg category, Krishnakumar in the 52 kg category, and Prasood in the 48 kg category.

Lal was the wrestling champion of MG College. He won medals in the Inter-University Championship and the State Championship held in Kannur. Prasood had accompanied Lal as his coach.

Prasood and Krishnakumar later became coaches in wrestling. Prasood became the first Malayali to become the Secretary General of the National Wrestling Federation. When Lal played a wrestling champion in the movie Chathurangam in 2002, Prasood came to train him and act as a coach.

Lal has extraordinary flexibility. Although he is shy, he is a tiger when he gets into the ring. Wrestling training helped him act easily in stunt scenes. If he had continued in wrestling, Lal would have become a national champion

- VN Prasood, P Krishnakumar