'Absolutely down-to-earth and simple'

Madimalan talks about life with Murali:

"Amma cricket," little Naren would demand when his mother turns the TV on to her favourite channel 'Star World'. "Naren," his mother would call him to put another mouth full of cereal.

"Amma, Naren no, Baby Murali," he demands. "That's what he wants. He doesn't like being called Naren, but 'Baby Murali'. Hopefully he would also play good cricket like his father.

Wherever I go I have to chuck his bat and ball in his baby bag along with his milk bottle and baby stuff. Playing and watching cricket was his only hobby," says his Mum, Madimalan Muralitharan. Madimalan (Madi) has a lot to talk about her two-year-old, as he has also already got 'cricket fever' from his Cricketing father, our Dusra bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan.

While being jubilant over her hubby's victory and his world record 709 wickets which was held by Shane Warne (708 wickets) of Australia during the first Test against England at Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium on December 3, the young pretty wife of Cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan began to reveal her life story.

"It was great to achieve this feat at his own home town in the presence of his people," she says. The 27-year-old small made mother of one still looks as if she is a teenage. Believe me, Madi is one of the great happy-go-lucky.

Question: Unlike the wives of the other Sri Lankan cricketers, you have broken the hearts of the girl fans of your hubby not merely in Sri Lanka, but many of Indians as well.

Madi : Am I? Oh! but I really appreciate his fans here because unlike Indians who would treat the cricketers as Gods and would touch their feet where ever they go, Sri Lankans know their limits. They would say 'Hi! Murali' and leave us alone.

This is really important when my son Naren and I are together with Murali. We rarely get little time to be together. Girl fans do come to him, get his autographs signed and would ask him to pose for a photograph with them. But I think they are quite decent (smiles).

Madimalan Ramamurthi was born as the second twin daughter of late Dr. S. Ramamurthi, General Physician and founder of Malar Hospital, Adyar, Chennai and Dr. Nithya Ramamurthi, gynaecologist and the present Managing Director of the Malar Hospital.

"My twin sister, Radhimalan who was ten minutes older to me and Divya who was six years younger to us comprise my family. Our teachers used to get confused over us, the identical twins. So, we were the only students who had name tags on us. I have a birth mark on my right side of the upper lip. And that was another small sign to identify us separately. It was fun.

All three of us could dance any folk step though we have never got any formal training. We used to take part in many culturals; inter school competitions and have won many certificates and prizes. I had a benevolent childhood and fun filled school days," she recalls.

"It was my father who took me to Europe first. And I have travelled to eight countries with my parents. But with Murali, I've gone to three countries only - West Indies, Australia and England. I always tell that to Murali. But actually what has happened was that I got pregnant soon after the marriage, and now Naren has restricted my movements," she says.

"My parents really worked hard to raise the hospital to today's standard. My mother is a popular gynaecologist. She is my idol as well. She has always told us, a woman should always be able to stand on her own feet. She was right behind us emphasising the importance of the education," says Madi.

Madi has had her education first at Rosary Matriculation

Higher Secondary School, Chennai and then entered Stella Maris College, Chennai for under graduate studies in B.Com. She did her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Sathyabama University, Chennai in 2002.

Her father's terminal illness was the first ever shock that struck in her life. "Amma had to take Appa to Singapore. He was to under go a Liver transplant. But he died before the operation due to a heart attack. Actually it was he who had been handling everything at the hospital.

When he was gone, my mother decided to hand over a certain administrative sections to me. I was nervous, but she put her foot down and insisted on it. I took over, and oh! it was a great challenge, but I faced it. It was the best training I have ever had," she reminisces.

Madi's twin sister got married when her father was alive. "He threw a lavish wedding for her. We were happy to think that, at least he saw one wedding out of the three. You won't believe if I say something.

He was a great fan of Cricket. Even on the sick bed at his last stage he was watching Cricket on TV. 'Ah! here comes the dangerous man,' once he said, and when I turned to the TV to see whom he was referring to, it was Murali who had come to ball.

I was not at all a Cricket fan and it was the first time I noticed Murali. And that was all," she smiles. Dr. Ramamurthi might not have ever thought that the 'dangerous bowler' would be one of his sons-in-law one day. "If he was alive, oh! he would have gone to town," sighs Madi.

Muttiah Muralitharan was born in Kandy on April 17, 1972. He is the eldest son of Sinnathambi Muttiah and Lakshmi Muttiah, the owners of Luckyland Biscuits in Kandy. Sridaran, Shashidaran and Prabagaran are the three younger brothers of Murali.

His mother decided to send him to the hostel of St. Anthony's College, Katugastota since he was the naughtiest of the four. Murali was just six years when he first spent the night at the hostel. When he saw Amma during the weekend he clung on to her and started howling. But when the time passed Murali adopted to the new set up gradually.

He started playing Cricket at the age of twelve. Murali who was a brilliant student in studies started showing a bit of a set back when he was playing for Under 15. It was an alarming sign to his Mum. "You better stop Cricket.

It seems that you are neglecting your studies. See, Mahan (son), you have been the first in the class through out. But this time you have gone a bit down," said Murali's Mum. But his class teacher came to his rescue. "Mrs. Muttiah, Murali is a good player.

Don't stop him. I have a prediction for him. One day, he will be a shining star in Sri Lankan Cricket," said the teacher. Murali's mother still recalls these words with tears.

Question: Madi, How did the marriage of both of you get arranged?

Madi : Mr. Chandrashekar, a South indian actor was a family friend of both families. It was he who match-made ours. I was not at all interested in marriage as I was very much engulfed in the work at our hospital.

So was Murali who was dedicated to his Cricket career. I have heard that he had been flooding with proposals from India through his uncle who was residing there. This uncle of his used to E-mail Murali's home the pictures of the girls he knew, and it was his three younger brothers who had been selecting brides to him out of the lot. Murali's mother had been insisting that he get married to a Tamil girl. So, Murali had left things in their hands. It was his brothers who had selected my photo, and asked him to go Chennai and see me (laughs).

The traditionally dressed Madi was the very first proposal the Dusra bowler had gone to see. It was the first ever experience of Madi as well. "If you like me I would like to marry you soon," he said. Madi was little shocked to observe his extreme nature of down-to-earth and simplicity. "Murali never acted as a 'super star'. Even his dress code and food habits were simple.

Even now I don't have any problem with him. He would eat a simple diet with rice and curry. That was the best part of him," she recalls. "Murali came to see me on a day like today, December 16 in 2004 (laughs). And our marriage took place on March 21, 2005," she reminisces.

"Appa two Wickets," the two-year-old Naren seemed to have no other language known other than the Cricket language. "He's very naughty. When his Appa (father) is around, he doesn't want anybody. He really misses him when he goes for practices," smiles Madi.

Question: Murali seems to be a good father and a husband. What are the especial qualities you see in him?

Madi : Well, he has never neglected his family, not till today. His simplicity is gold. He never goes for branded items. And if he has a target in Cricket he would never compromise it for anything. He is a real hard worker.

That is the success behind him. He is short tempered, but cool down with in five minutes. Murali minds her own business and never gets involve in internal politics of Cricket. He even never discusses Cricket at home, and neither do I. Once he is at home he is my hubby and Naren's Appa only. I should also appreciate his parents and brothers.

I'm away from my home, and because of them I've never felt home sick. My mother-in-law has been a great asset to me. She is great. Murali does a lot of charity work. A large lump sum of his personal account goes for the education of many poor children. I also do charity by not disturbing him doing all that (laughs).

Question: When there's a match between Sri Lanka and India, which side would you support?

Madi : Ooops! India was the country I was born and bred. But, my Murali and my son are both Sri Lankans. So now this is my country too. So I want Murali to play well, and Sri Lanka to win. There's no two words about it. But when India plays with another country, I would be backing up India, definitely.

Murali and Madi, a great cultural integration between Sri Lanka and India, which has marked the history, likewise it happened during the time of ancient kingdoms. Murali is a National asset. When would he decide to retire? "He thinks if he would be able to play well this year, he would continue to the following year. And he would go on like that until he feels tired.

That day is far away ahead," predicts Madi. Yes, of course! Murali will play good Cricket and win many more matches for Sri Lanka so many years in the future.

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