Anand Mahindra to build home for Coimbatore's 'Idli amma' The Mahindra Group Chairman tweeted his support for the octagenarian M. Kamalathal who has been feeding people in need a meal of idlis, sambhar, and chutney at Re.1 an idli through the pandemic 0 claps Share on If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that heroes are often found in the unlikeliest of places. M. Kamalathal first came into the spotlight for selling idlis at Re 1 during the pandemic. The 87-year-old has been making idlis in her small kitchen on a single wooden stove for over three decades. Despite the limited capacity of her kitchen, she would sell over 600 idlis each day, at Re 1 per idli with the standard 'sambar' and 'chutney' accompaniments. She said that her idlis are priced to feed daily wagers so they can afford to eat while saving money for their families. She first appeared in the headlines in September 2019 when