Actor Mohanlal looked comfortable in his Army uniform as he was received as a commissioned officer at the station of the 122 Infantry Battalion here on Thursday to undergo his post-commission training.
It was a different kind of experience for the officers and jawans of the battalion, the only Territorial Army (TA) unit in the State, to welcome the superstar as one of them at the TA station here in the afternoon for the training. The actor had been commissioned into the TA unit after he was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He looked impressive in his olive green military attire as he was taken in an open jeep from the entrance of the battalion station here to the barracks.
The performance of the band troupe of the battalion gave a ceremonious ambience to the event that marked his formal reception to the TA unit to which he was commissioned for undergoing the training. Battalion Commandant Col. Davidson Kolath received Lt. Col. (Hon.) Mohanlal at the station. Other officers and jawans of the unit were also present.
The actor would be the centre of attraction of a public event being hosted by the civil administration to honour the battalion at the Municipal Jawahar Stadium here on March 27 evening. In addition to the training programmes for the actor, the battalion would also organise a number of events in which retired officers, junior commissioned officers, jawans and civilian dignitaries would be present.
The reception ceremony on the first day also included a cultural programme attended by the jawans and their family members. He also offered pooja at the temple inside the battalion station.
In addition to the training programme including weapons handling and firing, among others, he would also be introduced to the duties and tasks he was expected to perform as a brand ambassador of the battalion, battalion officials said. Mohanlal's joining the TA unit is expected to highlight the achievements of the battalion in operational duties in Jammu and Kashmir and non-operational activities.
