When Lingusamy visited his good friend Vasantabalan in the ICU

While news of ill health, despair, and death have been flooding our timelines, thanks to

COVID-19

, a post from

Vasantabalan

, who has been hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19, has come as a welcome change. The director shared that while he was in the ICU, he had a visitor, and it was none other than his friend and fellow filmmaker,

Lingusamy

.

The two directors have been friends for over three decades, and Vasantabalan’s narration of how Lingusamy braved all odds to pay him a visit while he was battling the virus, and his words of positivity had instilled in him fresh strength, has touched a chord with many Kollywood buffs.

Vasantabalan, who’s helmed acclaimed films like

Veyyil

, Angaadi Theru and Kaaviya Thalaivan, among others, took to his Facebook page to write, “Veeram endral enna? Bayamilladha madhiri nadikkiradhu. Pazhaya vasanam. Veeram endral enna theriyuma? Peranbin migudhiyil, nerukkadiyana nerathil, anabanavargal pakkam nirpadhu. Pudhiya vasanam.”

The director, who’s been shifted to a ward after his health condition improved, went on to describe how he was admitted to the ICU of a hospital last week. Hearing this news, a kind soul had become restless and after tossing and turning the whole night, the person reaches the hospital the first thing in the morning. He further wrote, in Tamil, that the person requests the hospital administration to allow him to meet me. The team explains to the person that it’s not possible for them to allow anyone inside an ICU ward.

“Idaiyaradhu sandaikkozhiyai poradugirathu,” he wrote, subtly referring to one of Lingusamy’s blockbusters,

Sandakozhi

. Vasantabalan described how the hospital authorities deny Lingusamy permission, stating that he also stands the risk of contracting COVID-19 and it could be risky. But Lingusamy persists, stating it’s okay and that he needs just a few minutes to meet Vasantabalan. Finally, the administration relents and sends Lingusamy inside the ICU after making him wear PPE kit.

The

Jail

filmmaker described how his eyes opened upon sensing a figure standing near his bed. “I couldn’t differentiate if it was a doctor or a nurse. So, I said, ‘Doctor’. ‘Lingusamy da’, the voice said. I channelized all the strength I had and said, ‘Dei! Nanba’. He said, ‘Bala’. His voice broke. He said, ‘Vandhiruvada’. I managed a ‘Mmm’. He patted me, prayed for me. I shed a tear. When he asked me to stay strong, I wondered who this angel was. I wondered what did I do right 30 years ago to earn such a good friend. ‘I’ll come back for you again, my friend’, he said. I’m there, we are there – Oru samy en araiai vittu veliyeriyadhu. I felt like a crore hands of friendship hugged me tightly. A thousand kisses for you, Lingu. You’ll live a thousand years with all the fame,” Vasantabalan ended the post.

Heartwarming, no?