Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Arvind Swamy’s Childhood Farm Deepened His Connection to Meiyazhagan
Arvind Swamy spent his childhood on a large farm in Poonamallee.
He loved the farm, including its trees, animals and open spaces.
When he was 15, his family moved away, and later the farm was sold.
Swamy said leaving it was very hard for him.
Years later, he visited the place and cried.
When he read the story of Meiyazhagan, he recognized how its character felt about leaving home.
During the film’s promotions, a drive through Poonamallee reminded him of his childhood.
Those memories made him cry again.
Arvind Swamy said he grew up on a 32-acre farm in Poonamallee until he was 15.
His family moved away because of his father’s heart condition, schooling and work, and later sold the farm.
Swamy said leaving the farm was traumatic and that he cried when he returned years later.
Reading director C Prem Kumar’s Meiyazhagan script reminded him of his attachment to his childhood home.
During the film’s promotions, a drive through Poonamallee after about 30 years brought back memories and moved him to tears.
- Who
- Actor Arvind Swamy, discussing his connection to Meiyazhagan and its character Arulmozhi.
- What
- Swamy said memories of leaving his childhood farm helped him connect emotionally with the film’s story.
- When
- He grew up on the farm until age 15; he recalled returning years later and being reminded of it during Meiyazhagan promotions, about 30 years afterward.
- Where
- A 32-acre farm in Poonamallee and the surrounding area.
- Why
- The character’s separation from an ancestral home echoed Swamy’s own attachment to the farm he had to leave.
- Farm size
- 32 acres
- Farm location
- Poonamallee
- Age when he left
- 15
- Film
- Meiyazhagan
- Swamy’s character
- Arulmozhi
- Director
- C Prem Kumar
- Promotional drive
- Swamy said the route through Poonamallee brought back memories after about 30 years.