Soundarya Rajinikanth ties the knot

By Victor DSouza, Doha
From various sources
Bellevision Media Network

Chennai, 03 September 2010: Superstar Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya entered wedlock with Ashwin Ramkumar, a Stanford graduate, at the Rani Meyyammani Hall in Chennai today. Top political leaders and leading film personalities graced the occasion and blessed the couple.

 

The stage was done up with a mandapam in muted gold colour and rows of white flowers, thousands of people dressed in traditional silks walked in with excitement, several volunteers were busy extending their hospitality – Soundarya Rajinikanth’s wedding at the Rani Meyyammani Hall here on Friday was a grand affair.

 

The hall was packed as early as 7.30 a.m. The guests included leading directors, politicians, actors and family of the bride and the groom, Ashwin Ramkumar, a Stanford graduate.

 

Clad in a white shirt and a dhoti, the actor was his usual poised self. A yellow turban was tied around his head, even as he performed the wedding rituals for his daughter as per the Vedic/Tamil Brahmin tradition. The priest anchoring the rituals announced that the newly-wed were being blessed with verses in all four Vedas of the Hindu tradition as pandits chanted them.

 

South Indian superstar Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya with her groom Ashwin Ramkumar.

Soundarya and Ashwin in a candid conversation.

 

The wedding is in progress.

 

The bride and the groom with Rajinikanth and his wife Latha Rajinikanth during the ceremony.

 

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram blesses the couple.

 

Bollywood couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan with actor Rajinikanth during the wedding engagement of his daughter Soundarya with Ashwin in Chennai on Thursday, September 2, 2010. Also seen from left are Madhuvanti Arun, Aishwarya Dhanush, Lata Rajinikanth and Dr. Murali Manohar.

 

Leading producers and technicians of the Tamil film industry presented themselves to the event. From left are Anbalay Prabhakaran, V.C. Guhanathan, Ramanarayanan,Amirtham, Srinivasan and Muralidharan.

 

Congress MLA and industrialist Vasanth Kumar with his actor-son Vijay presenting a book to the couple.

 

Actor Sridevi with her husband and filmmaker Boney Kapoor (second from left) with actor Rajinikanth and Lata Rajinikanth (left) during the wedding engagement of his daughter Soundarya with Ashwin in Chennai on Thursday, September 2, 2010. Members of the groom’s family are seen on the right

 

The celebrity couple is seen with industrialist Nalli Kuppuswamy.

 

N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu (third from right) and Mrs. Ram with members of the bride and grooms’ family during the occasion.

 

Former Union Minister and Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan with his family at the event.

 

M.K. Alagiri, DMK MP and son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with his son Durai Dayanidhi (second from left) and wife Kanthi Alagiri gracing the occasion. Also seen on the right is Telugu actor Mohanbabu.

 

Educationist A.C Shanmugham with the couple during the engagement reception.

Veteran director K. Balachander blessing the couple. It was under the direction of KB that superstar Rajinikanth made his debut in "Apoorva Raagangal" more than three decades ago.

 

Soundarya, who was first dressed in a green silk saree later changed into a red nine-yards saree. Her temple jewellery seemed to blend well with the “ethnic” ambience at the hall.

 

Rajinikanth and his wife Lata came down from the stage to receive guests – including the actor’s mentor director K. Balachander, director Mani Ratnam, actor Suhasini, poet Vairamuthu, former minister R.M.Veerappan, singer P. Susheela, actors Sivakumar and Prabhu.

 

A few minutes later, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and Home Minister P. Chidambaram, with his family, came in.

 

When Ashwin tied the “thali”, to a majestic nagaswaram and thavil playing in the background, it was a poignant moment for Lata, bride’s mother, who was overcome by emotions.

 

Meanwhile, there was a lot of buzz in the dining area. “We’ve designed the menu to include some traditional dishes of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. We’re making poli in the Karnataka style. Around 3,000 guests will have breakfast, while about 5,000 are expected for lunch,” caterer ’Arusuvai’ Kumar said.

 

Following the formal engagement earlier on Thursday, there was a reception. Guests including actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sridevi and Minister Alagiri attended this reception. Another reception is to be held Friday evening.