Why is Resul Pookutty delaying his Kerala visit?

Sound engineer Resul Pookutty, who hails from Kerala, arrived in Mumbai on Thursday with his wife and actor Irrfan Khan after the glorious victory at the Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire. He will finalize the date of his Kerala visit only after some time, after attending the receptions organized by the Union government and the Maharashtra government in Mumbai to honour the Oscar winners.

A national newspaper quoted Pookutty as saying that he would like to coordinate his Kerala visit in such a manner as to complete the various receptions within three or four days. Pookutty"s brother-in-law A.K. Nazaruddin said Kollam District Collector A. Shajahan had contacted him on Thursday to enquire about Pookutty"s Kerala visit. Pookutty would confirm the date in consultation with A.R. Rahman, he added.

The State government has already announced that it would honour Pookutty and A.R. Rahman at a public reception to be held in Thiruvananthapuram. The Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, will honour Pookutty, a former student of the college.

According to a tentative plan prepared by the Kollam district administration, the District Collector will formally receive Pookutty when he enters Kollam district. A public reception will be organized in Kollam. A public reception to honour the Oscar winner is also being planned at his hometown, Vilakkupara.

Resul is celebrating the first birthday of his daughter Salna today (Friday) in their home in Mumbai, where he is settled. His son Rayan is four. Hailing from Vilakkupaara village near Anchal, Kollam, Resul Pookutty is the first Keralite to win an Oscar award