Lt Col (hon) Mohanlal of the Territorial Army (TA) saluted Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma of the Travancore Royal family at the Kowdiar Palace here on Monday.
The actor, who was inducted into the Madras Regiment of Territorial Army at its Kannur unit recently, arrived at the Kowdiar Palace in full uniform at around 8.45 a.m. along with his mother Santhakumari Amma. Madras Regiment is the oldest regiment of the Indian Army which was formed by the rulers of the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, at Padmanabhapuram in 1740.
“It is a great moment in my life. After joining the Territorial Army, I had wished to seek blessings from the King. Now, I have fulfilled my wish. By doing so, I think, I have done a right thing,’’ Lt Col Mohanlal said, after saluting Marthanda Varma.
Mohanlal said that as an officer of the Territorial Army, he would try to convey the message of the Indian Army to the youth.
“Territorial Army can be defined as a bridge between the Army and public. So, my aim is to spread the message of the Army, which deals with a lot of discipline, a lot of commitment and patriotism. It would be a great achievement if at least 10 persons join the Army on account of me,’’ the superstar said.
Earlier, Mohanlal laid a wreath at ‘Panchavadi’, the memorial of Sree Chithira Thirunal at the Palace. Members of the royal family welcomed Mohanlal and his mother to the Palace. Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma presented a memento and photographs of Col Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, Major General (hon) Chithira Thirunal Rama Varma and Major General Parameswaran Pillai to Mohanlal.
Marthanda Varma also presented a ‘ponnada’ to Mohanlal’s mother, Santhakumari, on the occasion of her birthday. After spending around an hour with the royal family, Lt Col Mohanlal returned.
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