K Muthukumar came to Chennai, from a small village in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, in search of a livelihood.
He first worked as an assistant to a film director, and then did a stint in a TV serial. He also worked in Pennai Nee, a woman's magazine run by Pattali Makkal Katchi founder Dr S Ramdoss's daughter Kavitha.
On the morning of January 29, Muthukumar went to Shastri Bhavan in Nungambakkam, Chennai. 'Save the Tamils in Sri Lanka', he shouted outside Shastri Bhavan, which houses several Central government offices. He also chanted slogans against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Then Muthukumar, 26, doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire.
Image: Many people attended K Muthukumar's funeral
Text: A Ganesh Nadar | Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj
Also Read: 'Mullaithivu is a ghost town'