The latest Internet sensation is a 60-year-old daily wage labourer from Kerala, Mammikka, who has been winning the hearts of netizens with his modelling skills.
Not only the regional and National media, but international media also carries the story of the transformation of daily wage labourer Mammikka, who usually wear faded lungi and shirt, into a super model in suit and sunglasses.
Mammikka is now a social media icon. Everyone was impressed by his remarkable makeover, but little know that the brain behind this incredible makeover - the photographer Shareek Vayalil - was a former Kuwait Indian and once a photographer with popular community portal IndiansinKuwait.com
Shareek Vayalil was working as a designer and photographer with IndiansinKuwiat.com when he was in Kuwait. "It was when I worked for IIK, I used high end DSLR camera for the first time," Shareek recalls his Kuwait life. "I still remember the support and encouragement given by George Sir and all my colleagues at IIK," Shareek told IndiansinKuwait.com. Later he did some private jobs before leaving Kuwait to India in the year 2015. In 2017 he opened his own Digital studio SHK Digital at Koduvally near Kozhikode in Kerala and became a full time photographer. Later he also opened a wedding suits store for men.
It all happened when Shareek was searching for a suitable model for his store that rents out wedding suits for men. Instead of downloading images from the internet and placing large-sized prints of actors in front of his store, he think like a photographer. He met a 60 year old daily wage labourer Mammikka on the street and by chance captured the labourer on his camera.
Shareek took some photographs of Mammikka and posted it on social media, where it went viral. He then convinced Mammikka to be a model for his wedding suit company.
60-year-old Mammikka underwent a makeover before the photo shoot and there it is! He looks dapper. Shareek shot a video of his transformation and shared it online.
As expected, the video went viral on social media. In the video, the daily wage labourer is looking amazing in a classic blazer and trousers, with an iPad in hand. He is also seen wearing a pair of sunglasses. Mammikka has indeed taken the internet by storm.
“Mammikka has a special photography look, and was hence a natural choice,” Shareek told IndiansinKuwait.com.
Photographer Shareek in Kuwait, while working for IIK during the year 2012
Reacting to the pictures, Shareek said that the sleek avatar of his friend can be called “Mammikka 2.0”.
Shareek, while working in Kuwait, had captured many exciting moments for IndiansinKuwait.com
IIK Wish Shareek and Mammika all the best in their new Avatar!