PATHANAMTHITTA: Lifelike wax statues that include superstar Rajinikanth to Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This is amusement for Kumbanad Harikumar (41) of Pathanamthitta. The turning point was seeing the visuals of the wax museum in London on video. Harikumar learned the construction methods by watching videos online.

His first statue was of Shah Rukh Khan in 2015. After it became a success, he started with statues of others. More than twenty-five sculptures have been made, including those of Mammootty, Mohanlal, Vijay, Kalabhavan Mani, Yesudas, and former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay congratulated him on the phone after seeing the statues. He is currently trying to make a sculpture of world traveler Santosh George Kulangara.

Apart from Kerala, he has also held exhibitions in Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

He is the son of the late Valiyaparambil Sukumaran and Radha. Wife: Geetu Harikumar. Children: Gayathri and Harshit.

Two lakhs required to make a statue

A statue costs between one lakh and two lakh rupees. It is not sold. The wax is purchased with income from exhibitions. The wax is brought from abroad with the help of friends.

The museum established in Kumbanad was closed due to the Covid crisis. Statues had to be moved to special boxes. It cannot be kept in a place that is too hot or humid. Efforts are being made to establish a new museum.

"Making wax statues is my only source of income. More support came from places other than Kerala. It takes two to three months to make a statue."

-Harikumar Kumbanad