TN chef Selvakumar makes 76 dishes, carves PM Modi's portrait on watermelon for 76th birthday
Synopsis
A Tirunelveli chef has prepared 76 healthy, no-cook dishes and carved detailed watermelon portraits of PM Modi and his late mother Heeraben to celebrate Modi's 76th birthday on 17 September — a culinary tribute that blends artistry, health messaging, and personal admiration in one striking display.
Key Takeaways
Selvakumar , head chef at a popular Tirunelveli restaurant, prepared 76 food items to mark PM Modi's 76th birthday on 17 September .
The spread includes 24 vegetable and fruit salads , 26 sprouted pulse salads , and 14 root vegetable salads — all natural, no-cook preparations.
Selvakumar also carved portraits of PM Modi and his late mother Heeraben Modi on watermelons.
BJP has planned a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan' and a 'Aashirvaad ka diya' initiative to celebrate 25 years of Modi's public life.
The tribute has drawn wide applause across Tamil Nadu .
A chef from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, has crafted an extraordinary birthday tribute for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, preparing exactly 76 food items and carving lifelike portraits of the Prime Minister on watermelons to mark his 76th birthday on 17 September. The gesture, rooted in culinary artistry and personal admiration, has drawn wide appreciation across the state.
The Culinary Spread
Selvakumar, head chef of a popular restaurant in Tirunelveli, built the entire spread around the theme of 'no-cook cuisine' and healthy natural food. The 76 varieties break down into 24 salads made with different vegetables and fruits, 26 salads prepared with sprouted pulses, and 14 salads crafted from root vegetables and tubers grown underground. According to Selvakumar, every item is laced with natural ingredients and designed to promote good health.
The Watermelon Portraits
Beyond the food display, Selvakumar carved two portraits on watermelons — one depicting Prime Minister Modi across different stages of his life, from his younger days to his present-day appearance, and another honouring his late mother Heeraben Modi. The carvings, executed with precision, add a deeply personal dimension to the tribute.
The Chef's Message
Speaking to reporters, Selvakumar said the 76 varieties were prepared to demonstrate that a healthy lifestyle is achievable through natural foods that benefit the body. He added that he made the food items and portraits to express his fondness for the Prime Minister and his wish that Modi remains in good health and continues serving the public for many more years.
National Birthday Celebrations
The tribute from Tirunelveli comes as events are lined up across the country on 17 September. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers are set to organise a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan' to mark the Prime Minister's years of public service. A large number of BJP leaders, workers, and volunteers plan to light 'Aashirvaad ka diya' at their homes as a gesture of gratitude, commemorating 25 years of Modi's public life. Selvakumar's unique culinary salute has already caught widespread attention and is earning applause from across Tamil Nadu.
Point of View
Which has cultivated personal loyalty well beyond the BJP's traditional base, including in Tamil Nadu, a state where the party has historically struggled electorally. Selvakumar's choice of a health-focused, no-cook tribute is also a subtle alignment with the Prime Minister's own public messaging around wellness and Ayurveda. Whether such grassroots gestures translate into political capital in the south remains an open question, but their media resonance is unmistakable. The BJP's structured 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan' running alongside spontaneous individual tributes suggests a well-calibrated two-track birthday communication strategy.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Selvakumar and what did he do for PM Modi's birthday?
Selvakumar is the head chef of a popular restaurant in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He prepared 76 varieties of healthy, no-cook food items and carved portraits of PM Modi and his late mother Heeraben Modi on watermelons to celebrate the Prime Minister's 76th birthday on 17 September.
What are the 76 food items Selvakumar prepared?
The 76 items consist of 24 salads made with different vegetables and fruits, 26 salads prepared with sprouted pulses, and 14 salads crafted from root vegetables and tubers. All are natural, no-cook preparations intended to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Why did Selvakumar carve portraits on watermelons?
Selvakumar carved lifelike images of PM Modi — depicting both his younger days and present-day appearance — and his late mother Heeraben Modi to convey personal birthday wishes and express his admiration for the Prime Minister.
How is the BJP marking PM Modi's 76th birthday nationally?
The BJP has organised a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan' to celebrate Modi's years of public service. Leaders, workers, and volunteers are also lighting 'Aashirvaad ka diya' at their homes to mark 25 years of his public life.
When is PM Modi's 76th birthday?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday falls on 17 September 2026. Events and tributes have been planned across India, ranging from the BJP's national service campaign to individual gestures like Selvakumar's culinary tribute in Tamil Nadu.
