Sunday, January 9 2005 11:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Cuddalore: Bollywood hero Vivek Oberoi who has adopted the tsunami-devastated Devanampattinam village seems to have pulled off a real 'hit' in Cuddalore with his star image drawing huge amount of relief material but much to the chagrin of nearby villages.

The adopted village is abuzz with activity with a community kitchen serving meals four times a day and students from local polytechnic and women's college working day long to clear the debris.

Oberoi family's spiritual guide Swami Chidanand Saraswati Maharaj is playing the dual role of a counsellor to the traumatic people and as well as the driving force behind the rehabilitation projects.

The village, which is seeing a steady stream of "volunteers" and people interested in donating relief materials, has suddenly captured the fancy of private organisations, corporate houses and NGOs owing to the presence of the star who is freely mingling with the locals.

However, local relief workers in the neighbouring villages like Sonankuppam and Kallai say Oberoi's "larger than life image" is drawing too many contributors to Devanampattinam while other affected villages feel deprived.

"Funds are not available in abundance at these places despite the equal need to set these tsunami-hit places on their feet. Everyday scuffles break out in Sonankuppam over the relief material that is available there," Swami Parameshwarananda of the Bharat Sevashram told sources in Cuddalore.

Rubbishing this version, Oberoi says, "People had not even heard of me before I came here. I visited the Collector quietly so as not to attract attention."