The character Ramanan from the blockbuster movie 'Punjabi House' was a turning point in actor Harisree Asokan’s career. The funny and loyal Ramanan still remains one of the most iconic characters in Malayalam cinema. Asokan who came to the movies from a humble background worked hard to earn his spot as a leading comedy artist. Years later, when he built a house of his own in Kochi, he didn’t hesitate to name the house ‘Punjabi House’, a tribute to the blockbuster movie and his character. However, unlike the movie, the house turned out to be a big flop. The poor quality of flooring completely ruined the house, making it unfit to live in. The actor who not only suffered financial loss but mental distress, then filed a case at the consumer court, seeking damages for his losses. Asokan speaks about his legal battle and what ‘home’ means to him.
Dream home
Harisree Asokan was born into a modest family where he had eight siblings. They lived in a small house with just two rooms, for years. Asokan who earned fame as a talented mimicry artist soon entered Malayalam cinema. He worked hard, essaying some unforgettable roles that are still admired by Malayali moviegoers. The actor then purchased 10 cents of land in Chembumukku, one of the prime spots in Kochi. His daughter had wished to get married only after the family moved into their brand-new house. Asokan was thrilled to bring his beloved mother to his new house from his ancestral home. The actor wished to live peacefully with his wife, children and mother in his dream home. But, his dream was short-lived.
Difficult times
A common man spends his hard-earned money or life’s savings to build a house of his own. Asokan and his family suffered severe mental trauma as they witnessed their dream home crumble before their eyes.
“The flaw that happened during the furnishing – flooring stages of construction had caused the problem. One night, a few years after we moved in, we woke up hearing a big bang. When we checked, we found a tile on the upper floor was broken and popped out. I called the person who did the flooring work and sought to know the reason and further course of action. But, they arrived only months later. Besides, they demanded labour charges and material costs to do the repair work. When I didn't agree, they turned away. That is when I decided to file a complaint with the consumer court,” recalls Asokan.
Meanwhile, the tiles in other spots too began breaking and popping up. Water and mud started coming up through the cracks between the tiles. Gradually, the flooring in all the rooms in the house began breaking, making it difficult even to walk. Due to the faulty paving of wall tiles in the kitchen, moisture began seeping through the walls, damaging the cupboards. Even though the actor kept contacting the companies for a solution, they showed complete apathy towards the family’s plight.
The consumer court had appointed a Commission to inspect the house and submit a report. The Commission visited the house and took a few tile samples. The samples were tested for quality at the government labs. They found out that the damage was caused by the flaw in paving the tiles rather than the quality of the tiles. Finally, years later, the consumer court issued an order in favour of the actor.
Now what?
Despite the court victory, the experience left a bitter taste. Asokan recounts how his grandchildren never crawled or played on the damaged floor. He was too embarrassed to invite friends or colleagues over, even resorting to lying about his whereabouts to avoid showing them his home. His son, actor Arjun Asokan and his family moved out because of the dilapidated state of the house.
He is planning to renovate the house with the court's permission, hoping to finally enjoy the peaceful family life he always dreamed of. A proper housewarming celebration awaits, signifying a fresh start and the chance to reclaim his dream home from the shadow of its troubled past.
