Every great brand has a story. But some stories are not written—they are lived.

My name is Lal Karinkada, born in 1976 in a humble village in Kerala called Karinkada. I grew up like many others—barefoot, free-spirited, and full of dreams. I was raised by a loving family: my father, mother, a brother, and two sisters. My mother believed deeply in karma, god, and goodness, and I followed her light. She always said I had a special line in my hand—a spiritual line—that meant I was protected by something greater.

After finishing my college degree in  arts, I went looking for work, like any young man would. I worked in a hotel in Kovalam, then went  to Varkala, where I started my first coffee shop. It was a tiny space, but my dreams were large—and life moved fast. From one coffee shop, I built two hotels,house boats ,Restaurants etc., and soon I was deeply involved in Kerala’s tourism scene.

Then came 2004, the year the tsunami hit  my life as well . One evening, a girl from Austria came to my restaurant for dinner. I served her with a smile, not knowing she would change my life. We fell in love, and I moved to Austria—alone at my own wedding, but full of hope. There, I built a new life from scratch. Though I had never studied Ayurveda, I poured my soul into it. we started the Kerala Ayurveda Shop, and it grew into one of the most successful Ayurveda centers and online shops in Europe.

I thought that was my path—until life changed everything.

In 2021, during the Covid pandemic, I experienced a personal tragedy caused by a decision made under pressure. Four days later, my body shut down. I became numb. Ice cold. My health collapsed. My nervous system was in chaos. Pain, confusion, burning sensations, and total numbness took over. I visited countless doctors, took endless tablets, and was even hospitalized—but nothing helped. The side effects stayed still suffering every second of life .

In 2022, I returned to Kerala to seek traditional treatment. One day, riding my bike down a private road, I used my front brake—because of the numbness, I couldn’t feel it. I crashed hard. After a four-hour emergency surgery, I lost my right shoulder bone. Today, it’s filled with screws and metal. I cannot move my arm like before. One side of my body burns in pain. The other side is paralyzed. I was broken—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I questioned everything I believed. Ayurveda, karma, purpose, Spirituality, My mother words  Everything.

But I had two things that refused to die—my faith and my children.

There was a voice inside me that kept saying:
“Lal, you were born to win. Every downfall in your life is a set-up for a comeback.”

It was during the construction of a small temple in Karinkada that an old friend  appeared. We spoke. He gave me the idea to start something new. Something bold. That day, a seed was planted. I spoke to my nephew, and together, we began building a spirits business —not just as a business, but as a mission.

And that’s how Thuruppugulan was born.

More than a brand. It’s a tribute to resilience.
A celebration of the human spirit.
A spirit born in the soil of Kerala.
Crafted with care in the heart of Europe.

Thuruppugulan is not just liquor—it’s liquid courage. For every person who has been knocked down. For every soul still fighting. For every heart that chooses to rise again.

 

We believe everyone is born to win.

So raise your glass.

To Thuruppugulan – Born to Win.