THE RED CARPET - 2023

As Vasu mentioned on stage, organizing and making this event grand is not a simple button-click action or a one-night plan; it involves nearly 3–4 months of planning. Similarly, I began my preparations for the red carpet on November 1st. You might wonder, what preparations did I go through? I have a habit of dressing up appropriately for various festivals, functions, occasions, and events. One competition that I loved the most was the fancy dress competition. In my childhood days, I portrayed characters like Thiruvalluvar, Bharathiyar, Bhagath Singh, Kuravan Kurathi, Abdul Kalam, Raja Raja Chola, and even a sage. As I grew older, the friends I had and the gang I was part of never encouraged or supported this wish of mine. They usually dressed casually and, in the middle of an event, would have some beer before parties or functions, considering it a moment of pride. They made me feel the same way. Moreover, we would label someone who behaved differently as "cringe." It took ...