Hanan: I am strong, I will continue to sell fish no matter what people say

I am tired, believe me I am not faking anything,” pleads Hanan in a frail voice. Her life, according to her, is surrounded by both well-wishers as well as hate mongers now. “I have been struggling since my class VII and have done many odd jobs. I have attended auditions to be a TV anchor and to be part of films. After exhausting all such options, I decided to sell fish.All I am doing is to try and survive,” she explains.
For Hanan, the girl who broke the internet on Wednesday through a picture showing her selling fish in her college uniform, it should have been the happiest moment in her life as she has bagged a role in Arun Gopy’s Pranav Mohanlal movie Irupathiyonnam Noottandu. But Hanan sobs every now and then even as she tells us her story. “I am really upset about the way people are treating me on social media. I have no intention to seek publicity. Please stop trolling,” cries the little girl before telling herself, “I shouldn’t cry. I am a very strong girl and I will continue to do my job and take care of my family no matter who says what.”

A third-year chemistry student at Thodupuzha Al Azhar College, her day starts at 3 am. After studying for an hour, she rides to Kochi’s Champakkara market in her cycle and returns to Thammanam with a basketfull of fish. At 7.10 am, she leaves for college which is 60 km away in a bus. After her classes, Hanan rushes back to Kochi at 3.30 pm to sell the fish that she has procured in the morning, not losing any time even to change her uniform. Till six, she sells an average of 20 kilos of fish every day.

It is only recently that she has started selling fish in Thamanam. Earlier, she had been selling fish along with two men in Kalamasserry. Without realising this, Doubting Thomases of the social media went to town describing her story as fake, pointing out that she has been portraying herself falsely as a fish vendor. College authorities and fellow vendors in the earlier market confirmed that she has been selling fish for a while.

Even as she juggles classes and job, she studies flute at Kalabhavan, Kochi. She sings well, writes poetry, dubs for films whenever she gets a chance and is crazy about dubsmash. Hanan has done minor roles in a handful of films including Takeoff. She was also part of the late actor Kalabhavan Mani’s stage show troupe.
After reading about Hanan, Ramaleela director Arun Gopy, who is currently directing Pranav Mohanlal for his forthcoming movie, called her up to ask how he could be of help. “Hanan asked me for a role and I agreed. I was in Chennai when I spoke to her but will be meeting her in person soon. After that I can decide which role would be offered,” he says, adding that he is disappointed with the hate messages she is getting. “It is unfortunate. I wonder where has our empathy gone,” he says. While social media has been full of congratulatory messages on her undying spirit, some people have questioned the veracity of her story while others have found fault with her for not wearing a veil.

Hanan, who is recovering from an ear surgery is happy that she has landed a role in Arun’s film. “Even if I get more chances in films, I will continue to sell fish. When there was no other means of living, it was this job that sustained me.”
Hanan grew up in an affluent family, but she saw her world going upside down after her dad’s business plummeted and her parents fell out with each other. Since then, she has been virtually on her own, doing all kinds of jobs including one at a call centre, selling fried chicken at college canteen before zeroing in on her current job. “The struggle is unending but I shall overcome it some day,” she says with confidence