Malaysian Chinese boy wins over the Internet with fluent Tamil

A clip featuring Mr Kartik Suresh and Kai Kai discussing in Tamil how to make mango lassi has chalked up more than two million views. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM KARTIK_SURESH/TIKTOK

A Malaysian Chinese boy has won over the Internet with his ability to speak Tamil fluently.

Videos of the boy, who is known as Kai Kai, have gone viral on TikTok after his neighbour Kartik Suresh posted them.

A clip featuring Kai Kai discussing how to make mango lassi with Mr Suresh in Tamil has clocked more than two million views since last Friday.

In the video, he suggests to Mr Suresh that adding apples and grapes to the drink would make it sweeter. He then asks Mr Suresh’s mother if she has any apples at home, addressing her affectionately as “Amma”, the Tamil word for mother.

He continues his conversation with Mr Suresh in Tamil, making jokes and giving suggestions as they prepare the lassi with the juice blender together.

The boy has impressed many netizens with his Tamil-language skills.

One TikTok user, who is of Malay and Indian heritage, said Kai Kai speaks Tamil better than he does.

Another user commented on the “wonderful” interactions between the neighbours of different ethnicities, while a third said: “Love my country Malaysia. This is beautiful.”

Some users urged Mr Suresh to post more clips of Kai Kai.

Mr Suresh previously introduced the boy’s family to his 73,000 followers in 2022.

Kai Kai appears to have two older siblings. His age is not revealed.

Kai Kai is also very close to Mr Suresh’s mother. In a video posted in July 2022, he is seen complaining to his “Amma” when Mr Suresh declined to give him a drink and pizza.

The heartwarming clip garnered more than 2.7 million views.

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