Victor George’s son recreates Manorama’s iconic photo

Twenty years ago as the new millennium dawned on January 1, 2000, the front page of Malayala Manorama carried a full-length photo of a granny kissing a tiny tot's legs. That photo was taken by Malayala Manorama photographer Victor George.

The endearing photo, welcoming the 21st century, struck a chord with Keralites.

Twenty years later, photographer Neil Victor, the son of Victor George, has recreated that photo for Malayala Manorama.

The tiny tot from the two-decade-old picture is now an adult, aged 20.

He is Hanoke, son of Joseph C George, a native of Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district.

Hanoke is back in the frame for the photo recreated by Neil. However, the granny from the old photo is no more. She died years ago. Victor had found that wrinkled, kind face from the Santhom Snehalayam at Malayinkeezhu in Kothamangalam.

The oldest granny of the same Snehalayam, 105-year-old Sara, has graced the New Year picture in 2020.

During these 20 years, Victor too left the world of mortals. The acclaimed photographer died during a landslide at Venniyani Mala in Idukki.

That old photo was titled 'Mudrakal charthuna kalam' (roughly translated into ‘Impressions left by time’). Twenty years on, time has shown us how that image has transformed.

Let 2020 too mesmerise us with images of growth and prosperity.