A childhood friend of Kerala expatriate Ismail Ponnan Ibrahim Kutty, who was allegedly murdered in Sharjah over a dispute allegedly related to a TikTok live broadcast, has shared his emotional memories of the man, whose body was brought back to India on Thursday.To the public, Ismail has become the center of a tragic story that allegedly began on social media and ended in a deadly confrontation on the streets of Sharjah.Kutty, a 40-year-old expatriate from Kerala working in the UAE, was allegedly killed during a dispute related to a TikTok Live session, with investigators believing a long-running online feud escalated into a deadly face-to-face clash in Sharjah.But for childhood friend Jeevan OV, the loss was deeply personal: the loss of a trusted partner, a creative collaborator and someone he had never been associated with violence.When Jeevan visited the embalming center in Sharjah before Ismail’s body was flown back to Kerala, he was overwhelmed by the reality that their decades-long friendship had come to an abrupt end.It had been over a week since the incident, and his mind kept returning to the scene of his family anxiously awaiting one last look back home.Both men hail from the same small town in Kerala and spent part of their school days together. Even after moving to the UAE in search of better opportunities, they stayed connected through friendship and a shared passion for storytelling.Over the past few years, Ismail has become an important part of Jivan’s artistic journey.Jeevan’s intricate paintings of Theyyam, a centuries-old ritual art form in Kerala, attracted attention online through a time-lapse video. There is a familiar voice behind many of the videos – that of Ismail.Friends say Ismail had a natural ability to connect with people through his narratives. His voice adds warmth and emotion to Jeevan’s artwork, helping viewers understand the stories behind the colors and traditions that come alive on canvas.Their collaboration also embodies the spirit of cultural harmony in Kerala. Although Theyyam is closely associated with Hindu traditions and temple culture, Ismail, a Muslim, passionately spoke out for the project, arguing that art is something that transcends religious boundaries.According to Gulf News, Jeevan said Ismail was always willing to help, often recording narration around his work schedule in Dubai.Several unfinished projects remain on the artist’s list – projects that were originally supposed to feature Ismail’s voice.“He was never a problematic person,” Jeevan told Gulf News. “If anything, he was the one trying to solve problems rather than create them. I never knew him to be involved in a fight,” he said.People who know him describe him as preferring to resolve differences rather than escalate them. Friends expressed disbelief that a man they remembered as a calm, approachable man could be linked to such violence.While the investigation into the circumstances of his death continues, many of Ismail’s loved ones hope to learn the full story in the coming weeks.For now, however, their focus remains on remembering the people behind the news reports.A devoted family man, Ismail leaves behind his wife and young son, as well as countless friends who remember his generosity, humor and willingness to support others.Jeevan is one of those who decided to honor his friend through art in the way he knew best.Over the next few days, he plans to paint a portrait of Ismail, a tribute to the friend whose voice helped bring dozens of his works to life.Long after the headlines fade, many who knew Ismail want him remembered: not as a victim in a widely discussed case, but as a friend, a father and a voice who left a mark on the lives around him.
