Sharjah: When Indian immigrant Jeevan OV last saw his childhood friend Ismail Ponnan Ibrahim Kutty, he was in a coffin at an embalming center in Sharjah on Thursday evening, 11 days after he was stabbed to death in what has been described as a ‘TikTok fight’ that escalated into a street fight.
“He looked different…It’s been 11 days. It was painful just thinking about his family waiting for his body,” Jeevan told Gulf News after paying his last respects to his friend.
To the world, Ismail has become a name associated with a shocking story: a 40-year-old Indian immigrant from Kerala who was allegedly stabbed to death in broad daylight on a Sharjah street on May 31 after a heated argument in a live TikTok session.
As Gulf News first reported, multiple suspects were arrested within hours, and the case has since been transferred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation.
But for Jeevan, a senior graphic designer and artist based in Sharjah, the reports that emerged only told part of the story.
“The Ismail we know was not of that character,” he said.
“He’s never been a troublemaker. If not, he’s always been the one to step in to solve problems, not cause them. I’ve never heard him fight.”
The voice that brought the paintings to life
The two men grew up in the same town in Kerala and studied together for three years in high school. Even after they both moved to the UAE, they stayed in touch.
When Jeevan started painting Theyyam, the elaborate ritualistic art form of northern Kerala, and posting videos of his work online, Ismail offered to do the voiceover in Malayalam.
“I liked his voice,” Jeevan said.
“I was more than happy when he was ready to voice my ‘Theyyam timelapse’ reels. Many people asked me who had done the voice in my videos,” he recalled.
Example of common harmony
The duo also set an example of communal harmony through their joint work as Theyyam is associated with Hindu temples and Ismaili was a Muslim.
Ismail recorded voiceovers for more than 35 Jeevan reels despite his working schedule at a food joint in Dubai’s Karama. Of the more than 60 paintings that Jeevan has completed, Ismail had given voice to more than half of them. The rest were still waiting.
“He gave life to my paintings. He had to do the rest. Now he won’t. I’m very sad.”
‘Peacemaker, not warrior’
Jeevan was keen to separate the man he knew from the circumstances of his death. He said Ismail had been at loggerheads with people who allegedly attacked him on behalf of another friend.
He believes Ismail was trying to stand up for someone else, not pick a fight for himself. He even felt that the voice in the video clips that have been shared online does not sound like Ismail’s.
“I hope the authorities will reveal the real story soon,” he said.
Dozens of people came out on Thursday to pay their respects to Ismail: friends, neighbors from his hometown and some relatives living across the UAE. Many offered the funeral prayer for Jenaz before his remains were sent home.
