Hot items: A vendor showing the hot-selling T-shirts of superstars of the Tamil film industry in Little India in Ipoh. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: T-shirts printed with the faces of Kollywood superstars Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Suriya are flying off the shelves at a stall set up for Deepavali in Ipoh’s Little India.
The three heroes are currently the trending movie stars in the South Indian film industry.
Vendor M. Mathan, 45, said the T-shirts with Vijay’s face were selling fast because of the actor’s blockbuster movie GOAT (Greatest of All Time) released recently.
“The T-shirts with Vijay’s face, especially the ones with the wording ‘Thalapathy’ (Commander), as the actor is referred to by fans, are popular.
“However, T-shirts featuring the other two movie heroes are selling just as well, as the latest movies of both Ajith Kumar and Suriya are going to be released soon.
“The youngsters are really excited about getting these T-shirts for Deepavali,” he said when met at his stall at the Deepavali bazaar here.
Decorations such as kolam, danglers, lights, wall stickers and mango leaves are also much sought after for the celebration.
At Viknesmart Cash and Carry, S. Puvanesvary, 65, said there are two types of kolam designs being sold.
According to the trader, one is the ready-made kolam designs made out of paper that can be stuck to the floor, while the other type has a cardboard, with the design crafted inside, and customers can either use coloured rice or powder to fill the mould.
Puvanesvary said shoppers are also going for danglers of various shapes, sizes and designs that they can hang inside or outside their homes.
“Most of the decorations, be it kolam or danglers, come mostly in the designs of peacock, oil lamp or lotus.
As for the paper mango leaves that are tied at the entrance, she said the real mango leaves dry up quickly, and thus the preference for the paper ones.
“People will take one or two real leaves to string together with the paper ones as well,” she said.
Over at the Senthamarai store, dangling lights in the shape of oil lamps and Lord Ganesha as well as velvet decorative pieces for the entrance with the word “welcome” are popular too this Deepavali.Worker S. Uma, 54, said the velvet pieces with elephant and peacock motifs are also in demand.
Besides that, dome and basket-shaped Indian lanterns and those made out of fabric are selling like hot cakes at the store, she added.
“These colourful lanterns can be fixed with lights to make them brighter and more vibrant.”
S. Hemalataa, 32, a hospital clerk, was there to get the colourful powder for the kolam-making competition at work.
“I’m here to get all the beautiful colours to make a peacock design for our inter-department competition.
“I will be coming back another day to do my own Deepavali shopping,” she said.
Another customer, B. Asweny, 35, from Indonesia, who is married to a local here, said she came to buy some garlands and danglers.
“There are so many beautiful designs to choose from,” she said.
