Tears, smiles and a Dh30 million near-miss: Tamil Nadu man opens up about struggles and a stroke of luck.
Dubai: Wiping away tears before breaking into a wide smile and leaping with joy as golden confetti rained down on him, UAE Lottery’s first Dh5 million winner, Murugananth Govinthan, has a message for anyone facing hardship: one day, everything can change.
In an emotional video interview shared on social media by the UAE Lottery hours after revealing his full identity on Wednesday, the Indian expat spoke openly about his struggles, his modest beginnings in Dubai, and how he selected the six numbers that ultimately transformed his life.
“I’ve had many difficult days in life. After pushing through those hardships, I reached a new level, and it gave me the belief that those who struggle can rise one day. No matter how tough life gets, it can always turn around,” he said.
43 years of struggle
Murugananth described the win as the culmination of a lifetime of quiet perseverance.
“All day, I kept thinking about my past struggles. That belief was strong in me — especially when I reflected on how hard the last 43 years have been, my marriage, my children’s education and all the responsibilities,” he said.
Originally from Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, he had been working in the southern Indian state before deciding to pursue opportunities abroad.
“At that time, I attended many interviews and eventually secured a job in Dubai,” he said.
He arrived in the UAE just months ago.
“I first came to Dubai on May 25, 2025. I joined work the very next day. I consider that date auspicious, and I truly believe it changed my life,” he said.
He has been living in Dubai for the past ten months.
Numbers behind the win
When it came to choosing his lottery numbers, Murugananth did not leave it entirely to chance. Instead, he drew inspiration from some of the most meaningful dates in his life.
“My engagement was on November 7, so I chose numbers based on that. My daughter was born in 2015, so I selected 15. Those were my first three numbers,” he explained.
A first-time participant in the UAE Lottery, Murugananth has been revealed as the inaugural AED 5 million second-prize winner. Sharing a single ticket with a close friend, six carefully chosen numbers aligned — turning an ordinary decision into a life-changing moment.
The next three numbers were selected by his close friend and co-ticketholder, Babu Rao.
“For the last number, we were deciding between 5 and 6 — and we chose 6,” Murugananth said.
So close to Dh30m
It was a decision that paid off handsomely, though it came with a tinge of regret.
“If we had chosen 3, we could have won Dh30 million,” he said, pausing to reflect on what might have been.
The Dh5 million second prize from the UAE Lottery will be split equally between Murugananth and Babu Rao. The two friends had shared the cost of the Dh50 ticket from the outset — a small investment that turned into a life-changing reward.
“The first time I logged in using my ID, we bought a Dh50 ticket. From that very ticket, we won Dh5 million. The two of us are going to share this money,” he said.
Inspired by Dh100m winner
Murugananth said he was encouraged to buy tickets after watching a video of Anilkumar Bolla, the UAE Lottery’s Dh100 million winner.
He had only been purchasing tickets for a short time before luck smiled on him.
“Last week, I logged in with my ID and bought a ticket — and that’s when I was selected as a winner,” he said.
As previously reported, Murugananth won the Dh5 million second prize in Lucky Day draw number 260214, held on Saturday, February 14, after matching all six numbers in the ‘Days’ category. His winning numbers were 11, 19, 28, 15, 31 and 7.
The UAE Lottery, operated by Game LLC and regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), holds the Lucky Day Draw every Saturday at 8.30pm.
The weekly draw features a Dh30 million grand prize and a Dh5 million second prize, along with the Lucky Chance Raffle, which awards Dh100,000 each to three winners.
