This story of a family reunion could make a good script for a blockbuster film - a young, differently-abled boy, who went missing six years ago, was reunited with his family after they saw him in a Tamil film 'Vazhakku Enn 18/9'. The movie was recently telecast recently on TV on the occasion of Ganesha Mahotsav.
Anbu, a four-year-old then, had strayed away from his family, who had come to Chennai in 2006 for a vacation.
"We searched for him everywhere that day but unfortunately couldn't find him and returned home having lost all hope," Loganathan, father of the boy, told IANS.
Loganathan, who works at a knitwear mill in Tirrupur, stays with wife Manjula and daughter Kavita. The young boy was admitted to Balavihar, a Chennai-based school for the mentally-challenged, after he was found unattended and crying on the roadside.
Agnes Shanthi, chairperson, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) told IANS: "The boy was found by rescue workers and was brought to us. As a practice, we always strive to unite the kids with their parents, and in this boy's case we advertised in the papers and television, but nobody came forward for him and therefore we admitted him to Balavihar."
CWC is an organization, which deals with matters concerning children in need of care and protection. However, little would anyone have imagined that a film will reunite the family.
'Vazhakku Enn 18/9' is a Tamil teen thriller film written and directed by Balaji Sakthivel. Anbu played a mentally-challenged neighbour of the heroine in the film.
Asked how did the boy get a chance to be a part of the film, Agnes said: "The director of the film was looking for a differently-abled boy for his film and approached Balavihar. The boy was cast in the film after the officials recommended him."
Anbu was handed over to his family on October 4, after they came forward with the director to claim the boy's responsibility.
"We verified all the necessary documents from the parents and then handed over the boy to them. We also advised the parents how to deal with such children and encouraged them to put him in a special school. It was definitely one of the most emotional moments for all of us", Agnes further added.
Anbu, now 10, was taken home by his family. A joyous Loganathan said: "We lost all hope and never even dreamt we would get see our son again. I will now put him in a special school and give him everything he wants."
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