5 FAQs on International Women’s Day

Unless you have been living under a tempurung (coconut husk), you would have seen at least one advertisement or Instagram post about International Women’s Day. To make things easy, we’ve come up with a short list of everything you need to know about this day.
1. When is International Women’s Day?
This year, International Women’s Day falls on the Sunday, 8th of March. It is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements while calling for gender equality.
The day is not affiliated with any one group. In some countries, International Women’s Day is marked with multiple events like performances, talks and rallies, while elsewhere, it is ignored completely.
2. What is the theme?
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #EachforEqual. This is in hopes of recognising all of the actions we can take as individuals to challenge stereotypes, fight prejudice and celebrate women’s achievements.
UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women has expanded on this issue to create their theme this year, I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.
3. Do we still need to celebrate International Women’s Day?
The short answer to this question is HELL YES. It may be 2020, but the world is still very far from gender equality. A pay gap persists across the globe. Let us put things into perspective for you. In 2019, women in Britain effectively worked “for free” from November 14 until the end of the year because of the gender pay gap.
women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. Even the recent turmoil of Malaysian politics, how many women were really involved? None.
Figures show that globally, women’s education, health and violence towards women is still worse than that of men. And let’s not even get started on how sexual harassment allegation fare in our part of the world.
4. What’s happening in Malaysia?
Malaysia will be celebrating International Women’s Day with the Women’s March Malaysia. The organisers have outlined seven demands for the government.

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✊?✊?✊?✊?✊?✊?✊? #WomensMarchMY #WomensMarchMY2020
A post shared by  Rape Watchdog (@rapewatchdog) on Feb 2, 2020 at 10:00pm PST

The march will begin at Sogo, Kuala Lumpur at 10.00am on the 8th of March. Look up the hashtag #WomensMarchMY for more events taking place this weekend.
5. Why is every business doing something for International Women’s Day?
Well, it is only natural for businesses to want to jump on the bandwagon when there is a day like this. Just like any other day of celebration, this one is commercialised to no extent. But there are some who remain genuine in doing this. What can you do as a consumer? Be smart about the International Women’s Day offers you take up.
Does the business really want to do better for women? Are they already doing something to help women in need? Is the money you pay being channeled to achieving what International Women’s Day stands for? If your answer to these questions is a mere shrug, then perhaps it is time to question why you are supporting this International Women’s Day ‘offer’.
For more information on International Women’s Day in Malaysia, click here.
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Filed Under international women's day 2020women empowermentwomen's march mywomens aid organisation


Retro Rahman 2.0: Have The Organizers Lost Their Mojo?

Mojo Projects are seasoned concert organizers who have been quenching Malaysians’ thirst for quality live Tamil music for the past four years. Over the weekend, the organizers held their first concert of 2019, Retro Rahman 2.0. Featuring veteran singers like Mano, Srinivas, Sadhana Sargam and Harini, along with Sathyaprakash and pianist Anil Srinivasan.
The night was divided into three segments. The first segment featured the singers taking turns to perform Rahman’s classic hits. The second segment was Anil Srinivasan’s, and the last segment was possibly dedicated to Rahman’s biggest hits by those present. However, Retro Rahman 2.0 felt like something was amiss.
What Mojo Projects did right
The lineup was brilliant
To be fair, Mojo did get a few things right. The selection of artists was commendable. Powerhouses like Mano and Srinivas have come to Malaysia for bigger concerts with AR Rahman in the past, but their visibility during those concerts was limited. But with Retro Rahman 2.0, the audience received a good dose of the two veteran singers.

Sadhana Sargam was in a league of her own, and her vast stage experience really shows. As for Harini, she may have been in the industry for a good 25 years and done numerous stage shows, but she did look uncomfortable on stage. Her singing, however, was unparalleled. Sathyaprakash’s stage presence and charisma shone bright that night, and he injected an element of youth to the show.
Anil Srinivasan did three beautiful things that night. He had a flute-piano battle with flautist Nikhil Ram, a keyboard-piano battle with keyboardist Karthik Devaraj and a lilting unplugged set with all five singers. The acclaimed pianist performed an instrumental version of Strawberry Kanne in tandem with Karthik that blew the audience away.
Could not have picked a better band
Mani & Band serenaded these singers through the night, and they deserve a special mention. The arrangement and execution of the tunes were superb. Bassist Mani along with Venkat on tabla, Ranjith on the drums, Dickson on the percussion, Karthik Devaraj on keyboard and Sundaresan on lead guitar were the unsung heroes of Retro Rahman 2.0.
Flautist Nikhil Ram effortlessly switched between flute and saxophone, leaving the audience craving for more of his solos.
Very good song selection during the first and second segments

It was nice to hear Mano sing beautiful classics like Aatangara Marame, Kannum Kannum Kollai Adithaal, Swasame and Sevvanam Chinna Penn. Srinivas, on the other hand, performed his tunes – Azhage Sugama, Ennavale, Mulumathy and Sotta Sotta among others. While Srinivas was notably breathless at times, it is understandable. Performing live is nothing like being in a recording studio.
Sadhana Sargam blew us away with her rendition of Snehithane, Kaalai Dhinamum and Vennilave. Harini drove the crowd crazy with her intro of Telephone Manipol, and she continued to mesmerise the audience with her other hits like Netru Illadha Maatram.
Sathyaprakash was the dark horse of the night. His impersonation of Udit Narayanan during the song Kadhalikum Pennin was on point, and he did justice to the tunes Vellai Pookal, Soniya Soniya and Enna Solla Pogirai, although he isn’t the original singer of the songs.
Srinivas, Mano and Sathyaprakash performed the tune Pennalla Pennalla in the style of AR Rahman’s concert in Chennai, with each singer taking turns for each verse. This was absolutely surreal.
No time wasting emcees
The organizers also removed the annoying fillers in between each singer. The singers performed the first and third segments round-robin style. The emcees came out only for brief announcements, and that was sufficient. It was a breath of fresh air to not have to sit through 15 minutes of the emcee trying to engage the audience and often failing. Thank you for doing away with that, Mojo Projects.
But has Mojo Projects lost its mojo?
The dilapidated venue
KWC Fashion Mall may be one of the more affordable venues in the city, but the dilapidated mall seems to have seen better days. A gaggle of concert goers were seen moving from one lift lobby to another, looking for an elevator that actually works.
The ticket holders were made to queue in a car park, between parked vehicles to exchange their printed ticket for a wristband.
Concert goers were instructed to go to the 14th floor (which happens to be a car park), and were greeted by a long, snaking queue to the ticket redemption counter. While the printed ticket from Airasia Redtix does state clearly “This is your ticket”, concert goers are forced to queue in the car park of the mall to exchange their printed tickets for wristbands.
Related:  Hearts of Harris 3.0 & 4.0 Amazing Artist LineupIt was a little disconcerting to have the concert goers queue through parked cars, fanning themselves with their printed tickets. Perhaps multiple counters were needed for the larger seating zones. While inside the venue, things were otherwise fine for most of the night, up until the end of the concert, when it got unbearably stuffy.
StarXpo, KWC Fashion Mall has worked well for Mojo Projects’ concerts in the past, they may have outgrown the venue.
Sound system lari

Retro Rahman 2.0’s sound system was a little disappointing. While the music came out perfectly, a few of the singers, especially Harini and at times, Mano, were just not audible.  Multiple times, unless the singers were reaching a crescendo, we found ourselves straining to hear them over the music.
Srinivas too, seemed to be having a tough time with the sound system. His rendition of Minsara Poove was marred by the horrid sound of speaker feedback that lasted 30 seconds. This resulted in him singing intro verse once more, after the song was over.

There also seemed to be many issues with Srinivas’ in-ear monitor during the unplugged session. This was not only distracting to the audience as he kept calling the stagehand to rectify it, he also could not engage properly with what pianist Anil Srinivasan was saying.
There was later a moment where the emcee’s microphone was so loud, that it momentarily deafened the audience.
It was almost impossible to hear the singers during parts of the songs Swaasame, Chillalava, Manna Madurai and Malaithuli Mannil Sangamam. While it is difficult to execute a show of this level without a hitch or two, there were one too many issues with the sound system of Retro Rahman 2.0.
And this isn’t the first time we have experienced sound issues at a Mojo Projects concert, which begs the question, could the less than perfect sound system be Mojo Projects’ Achilles heel? This is their seventh concert, after all.
Alcohol sales coupled with distracted security personnel
Mojo Projects also decided to sell alcohol at Retro Rahman 2.0. Most of those who chose to consume alcohol in the audience did so without any issues. Unfortunately, there were a few groups that let the alcohol get the better of them, which resulted disruptive screaming and cheering, to the point that the other audience members could not hear what was going on on stage.
There were security personnel on ground, but they were more interested in pointing laser beams at those who are trying to record the songs on their phones. The disruptive group that was seated in Zone A was not warned, nor removed, in spite of numerous security personnel patrolling the aisle. Isn’t it more important to remove the hooligans than to stop people from recording?
Finale segment lacked upbeat dance numbers.

The song selection for the final segment of the night could have been improved. The finale is usually when everyone is ready to dance, especially those in the Rock Zone, the mosh pit that housed the standing crowd. However, the organizers chose the wrong tunes to end the night. It is not possible to expect the audience to dance to Kicku Eruthe, Malaithuli Mannil Sangamam, Thillana Thillana and Enuyire Enuyire.
The organizers chose to save the best song for last – Muqaala. The crowd went wild.  This would have been perfect closer, if it was not followed by an unrehearsed rendition of Tamizha Tamizha, accompanied by unrelated yells of ‘Saya Cinta Malaysia’ and ‘Malaysia Boleh’ from the two Malaysian emcees.
Overall, Retro Rahman 2.0’s flaws were masked by the singers and musicians’ magnificence. As Srinivas and Sadhana Sargam sang Snehithane, us long time Mojo Projects concert attendees are taken back to the first ever MILFF concert in 2016, where Masala Coffee performed the same tune. Mojo Projects has come a full circle, now that they have brought over the original singers of the tune for a sold out concert – that is pretty remarkable.
Nevertheless, Mojo Projects didn’t fulfill the bare necessities when it came to Retro Rahman 2.0 – a good sound system, among other things. Will they rectify this before their next show?
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Filed Under Anil SrinivasanconcertHariniManoMojo Projectsretro rahman 2.0Sadhana SargamSathyaprakashSrinivas


Paarvai; A Thought-Provoking Short Film That Delves Deeper Into Sexual Assault

Remember the notorious and brutal Delhi gang rape in 2012 which caused the death of medical student Jyothi Singh?
Attempts to rape women in moving vehicles has always and is still common, especially in India. At the same time, sexual assault on women in public transportation has also been on the rise. A short-film to highlight the dangers faced by women all over the world, Paarvai (The Look) was made in hopes to educate men on the after-effects women face after being assaulted.
This short-film has a powerful message and don’t be surprised if you continue re-watching it again and again! Its that addictive, such films although short can have a great impact on the audience.

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A post shared by Mathan Amuthan (@s.mathan_21)

With the mission to create awareness, the very talented director S.Mathan has penned and directed this heart-wrenching short film to offer the audiences a new perspective in a clever way. The film tackles a subject that many people still consider a taboo.
The short flick revolves around the pain of a woman who went through a tragedy in her life and how it made her feel worse by the way society views her while she tries to lead a normal life after the tragedy.

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A post shared by Mathan Amuthan (@s.mathan_21)

Not to forget the main character who plays the lead role gives the other perspective – of how ignorant men are about sexual assault. In a simple way, she took us on an emotional ride throughout the entire short film. It is imperative that men understand the humiliation that women go through. Only then will society truly make an effort to change.
The talented cast include Sutha Uthayakumar, Deva, Annamalai, M.Logan, Lohan, C.Mogan, Prema, Dharamjit Mann, Mano, Priyah, Kala Rani, Kaay, Loshni, Sasi, Yashni and many other talented casts as well.
The film is a reflection of our society, and the ending allows us to make our own conclusions and consider how we may be involved in the perpetuation and upholding of rape culture. There isn’t a single shot in the story that seems abrupt or out of place.
One of the many thoughts I had while watching the flick was, “Can we have more of such short film genres on YouTube?”
Watch the full short film below:

https://youtu.be/RsuYnaiJxFgVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Paarvai (The Look) | Award Winning Tamil Short Film | S.Mathan | 4K (https://youtu.be/RsuYnaiJxFg)

Kudos to the entire crew who shed their tears and sweats to produce a great film.
Produced by : Vegneshan Subramaniam
Cinematography: Nanthakumaran Rajavijayan
Editing & Colorist: Dineshwaran Bole Ar Seng
Music: Lingges (DJB Records)
Asst. Director 1: G.Yuvan raj
Asst. Director 2 : M.Logan
Asst. Camera Woman : Deena Pravinah Nagaratnam
Production Manager : Deepa Chandaran
Singers : Lingges, Dev.G (DJB Records)
Lyricist : Vajra (DJB Records)
Flute Secessionist: Sesatre Bansure
Song Mix & Mastering : Boy Radge (Abraham Records)
BGM Mix & Mastering: Dev.G (DJB Records)
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Filed Under AnnamalaiC.MoganDevaDharamjit MannKaayKala RaniLohanLoshniM.LoganManoPaarvaiPain of womanPremaPriyahS.Mathansasisexual assaultThe talented cast include Sutha UthayakumarYashni


Get Ready For A Netflix Show Based On Baahubali’s Sivagami

Yes, it’s true!
When Baahubali and Baahubali: The Conclusion hit cinemas, it smashed the the box office. The S.S. Rajamouli brainchild was a huge success all over India and it was the most talked about movie when it was released. The film was also dubbed into several other languages.
If both the movies left you wanting more, we have good news for you. There will be a band new Netflix show based on the prequel book, The Rise of Sivagami. The three-season series, Sivagami, will be directed by S.S. Rajamouli and co-directed by Prasthanam director, Deva Katta.

“The Baahubali series made a huge impact with its unique way of storytelling. This prequel promises to amp up the excitement of all the Baahubali fans. I am really honoured to be part of this project and be able to work with Rajamouli sir,” Deva Katta said.
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Filed Under Baahubali


En Ithayame; The Perfect Encapsulation Of Fated-Love

With a good visual as the song itself, IK’s recent album entitled En Ithayame is a smooth-voiced ballad that is a must-add to your playlists of romantic songs.
The music video that features Vierosh Mohan is composed by IK and was produced by Vel Manoharan, and sung by Shan Selvaraj. The pleasant, melody tune was penned and helmed by IK himself.
It feels like eavesdropping to a love story being told while listening to the lyrics, yet there’s something that captivates you as you listen long enough to the song.
Purvagini Takksha, Thirunavokkarasu, the Barathanatyam dancer that caught netizens attention dances to classical Indian music instruments played by Kulal Indran, Kumaresh Indran, and Veenadhari Shuwetha.
Watch the full video below:

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Filed Under En IthayameIKKulal IndranKumaresh IndranPurvagini Takksha ThirunavokkarasuVeenadhari ShuwethaVel ManoharanViroshan Mohan


Kiran + Nivi: Twins Go Viral For Their Outstanding Song Covers Infusing Carnatic Music

Talents are abound at every nook and corner of the world. More of such gifted individuals have used social media platforms to showcase their talents and thousands have found success in doing so. No regrets as social media is seen as a tremendous platform to be given that big break.
Today we have an incredibly talented pair of twin sisters who started to use Tik Tok in a stroke of sheer luck to post their singing videos. Their sheer talent helped in making them viral on the platform, and are now releasing their original track on their YouTube channel.

 @kiranandnivi
This was way too hard #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #snowman #sia #viral #xyzbca #duo #duet #twin #music #singing #carnatic
 ♬ original sound – Kiran + Nivi

Kiran and Nivi (Tik Tok @kiranandnivi) have been ruling the Tik Tok platform with their amazing song covers with a beautiful South Indian style of Carnatic music touch to it. This duo creates their own rhythmic swaram sequences to blend with the English songs they are covering, and the end effect is nothing short of blissful to the ears.

 @kiranandnivi
This song 🔥#dojacat #vegas #hiphop #hounddog #singing #harmony #duo #duet #fyp
 ♬ original sound – Kiran + Nivi

Some of them will be their acapella, duet, and cover songs, but regardless of how they were posted, they sound pleasant and their voice is just exquisite. They have performed covers of singers like Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Adele, Imagine Dragons, Sia, and many others.
Many netizens have showered their love and adoration for the twins with heartfelt messages in the comment section for their harmonious covers.
The 22-year-olds even caught the attention of big-name artists like Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor, and even Jason Derulo who joined hands to make a Tik Tok video with the twins.

 @kiranandnivi
This is a DREAM COME TRUE moment @jasonderulo 🥺 #lovenotwar #jasonderulo #tampa #fyp #foryoupage #foryou #viral #xyzbca #singing #music #carnatic
 ♬ original sound – Kiran + Nivi

Even legend Michael Bublé has made a duet video singing Tonight You Belong To Me. (It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G)

 @michaelbuble
#duet with @kiranandnivi I love all the amazing talent I find on TikTok. My fave part of the app !!! #iwantmore #challenge #singers
 ♬ original sound – Kiran + Nivi

To date, these ladies have 2.2 Million followers on Tik Tok with 34 Million likes and have a verified account on Instagram with 323k followers.
Here’s a video that will make you blow your mind with their astounding vocal range and synchronization:

 @kiranandnivi
WAIT FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT 🦋 IB: @Joel Sunny #middleofthenight #BookTok #indian #fyp #darkacademia #xyzbca #singing #harmony #foryou #duo
 ♬ original sound – Kiran + Nivi

There’s More Fam!
Moreover, the twin sisters have taken their passion to greater heights by releasing a few amazing singles on their official YouTube channel. Such is the amazing vocals of the two young lasses. Not only are they great singers but these sisters also possess a talent for songwriting.
Kiran and Nivi have written their own original track, including “1 Last Bye,” which is jam-packed with hypnotic singing and enticing vocals.
Check the girls out, who completely dominate the song with their strong yet attractive vocals:

https://youtu.be/NwNOsu0KUZ0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kiran + Nivi – 1 last bye (Official Video) (https://youtu.be/NwNOsu0KUZ0)

Best of luck to Kiran and Nivi on their upcoming endeavours.
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Filed Under carnatic musicKiran + Nivikiranandnivitik tokviral


Anbenum Moochile; A Brand New Track From The Award Winning Short Film, NEYAM

Get ready to fall deeper in love with the lyrics!
Anbenum Moochile; a brand new track is out for our listening pleasure which is certainly tender and sweet to listen upon. The blissful song from the award-winning short film entitled NEYAM will captivate your soul and eventually enlighten our day as well.
Composed, penned and sung by Mega along with his co-singer Amneswary, the song has incredibly stunned  netizens with their incredible voices. Starring a few talented casts namely Augustus, Sathis_Skm, Kanapathy, Sri Jegannath, Arvind, Yugesvaren, Dilip and James Maniam, the music video turns out well and it’s in my current playlist now!
Released under FUTURME YouTube channel, the music video been receiving a lot of positive feedback from the netizens.

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A post shared by Sri Jeganaath (@sri_jeganaath)

There can be a million different narratives that can be woven around every single thing in this world. However, music has the power to make you feel as close as it can get to any masterpiece. One thing is certain: the tune interacts with other elements of emotion in such a way that you’ll want to listen to it often.
All I can say is, their music gives me goosebumps!
Watch the full music video below:

https://youtu.be/sJolkwvFROQVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Anbenum Moochileh OFFICIAL MV | NEYAM | Sri Vitthyatharan | Mega & Amneswary (https://youtu.be/sJolkwvFROQ)

Under the direction of Sri Vitthyatharan, NEYAM; the brand new short film revolves around a young man who has a brash and arrogant kind of character. Things get more intriguing right after both of them began sharing their perspectives about life and people in detail. Featuring Augustus Philip and Kanapathy Sundram, the short film leaves a huge impact in our daily life.
The short film has been selected for a number of local and international film contests including MMM Short Film Competition 2021 (Malaysia), ZeeReel Film Festival 2021 (India) and Berlin Flash Film Festival Jan 2021 (Germany).

A precise storyline along with a simple yet powerful message will elevate your mood and give you that boost to make whatever you are doing extraordinary.
To those who have missed the award winning short film, no worries. Check out the short film below and let’s show the young talents our support.

https://youtu.be/Jzs0dAft6W0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Award Winning Short Film – NEYAM | Malaysia 2021 (https://youtu.be/Jzs0dAft6W0)

Let’s give a special shout out to those who have shed sweats for making this video outstanding:
Technical : Nithiya Sri, Sri Sutharsanan
Dubbing Artis  : Sasitharan Madhavan, Sangeetha Subramaniam, Yogeswaran Selvaraj
Publicity Design: Mohana Priya Gobi
DI Colorist : Hasunesh Menon
Production Manager : A.S Arvindcran, Sri Jeganaath,
Assistant Director   : A.S Sasnitha
Music & SFX : Megananthan
DOP , Editor , Co – Screenplay & Direction : V.U Kartik Kumar\
Bass & Guitar – Stephen Elijah
Flute – SarathFlutrix
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Filed Under Anbenum MoochilearvindAugustusBerlin Flash Film Festival Jan 2021Dilip and James ManiamKanapathyMegaMMM Short Film Competition 2021NEYAMSathis_SkmSri JegannathSri VitthyatharanYugesvarenZeeReel Film Festival 2021


Aishwarya Rai Is The Voice Of Disney’s Maleficent In Hindi

Okay.. after watching the teaser, we must say that now Disney needs to make the entire film with Aishwarya Rai instead of Angelina Jolie.
The 2014 Disney’s Maleficent told the story of the supposed antagonist in popular fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. The film offers a postmodernist revision of the character appeared as the protagonist in the 2014 live-action film Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie. Five years later, the sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, was recently released in cinemas worldwide.
To much delight, Bollywood superstar, Aishwarya Rai shared that she is the voice of the Maleficent in Hindi for Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil. The news was shared on her social media with a teaser video showing the former Miss World in an all-black ensemble.

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A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan (@aishwaryaraibachchan_arb)

Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil stars Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Harris Dickinson, Ed Skrein, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville. The film will be released on October 17, 2019.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan Awarded Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema at IIFA 2023
Filed Under AishwaryaAishwarya RaibollywoodcinemaDisneyfilmhindimaleficentMaleficent: Mistress Of Evil


New Law for Businesses Who Refuse to Refund Clients after Cancellation of Weddings & Events

The much-awaited of a new law to deal with businesses who refuse to refund their clients after the cancellation of events such as weddings during the Movement Control Order (MCO) will be tabled next month at the Dewan Rakyat.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this at a press conference on Friday.
However, Ismail Sabri did not mention the name of the bill. This bill is expected to not only cover the MCO but also other control orders such as the enhanced, conditional and recovery.
Ismail was responding to a question on complaints by a number of Malaysian couples, whose weddings had to be cancelled due to the MCO.

The complaints among others were that many wedding hall operators and makeup artists refused to return the deposit money to couples who made plans to get married before the Covid-19 outbreak began.
“I understand there are a lot of cases like this where their deposit was not returned even though they had to cancel the weddings because they were complying with the rules made by the government and not because they cancelled it on purpose.
“Due to this, the government will introduce a new Act regarding Covid-19-related issues.”
“The Act will be tabled in Parliament and if we get to pass the bill and gazette it, such issues can be resolved,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Source: New Straits Times

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Filed Under Covid-19-related billDatuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakobdewan rakyat


Thalaivi; Massive Missteps That Causes Doom Spell In Jayalalithaa’s Biopic

Jayalalithaa’s life makes for an interesting narrative. The bold woman’s life has been marked by spectacular highs and tragic lows. She was a misfit in an unforgiving career who evolved into an iron-fisted politician. Director AL Vijay’s Thalaivi has consistently made headlines, partly thanks to Kangana Ranaut, who plays the late politician and keeps the hype alive.
Thalaivi, depicts the life of an actor-turned-politician, Jayalalithaa (Kangana Ranaut), along with her relationship with the renowned M. G. Ramachandran popularly known as MGR played by the legend Arvind Swami and her turbulent climb to prominence as Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister.
Jaya had everything except respect in the initial stage of her political career, as she was seen as the ‘other woman’ in MGR’s life, who got things easy as she was his blue-eyed girl. She marches on with her head held high despite being surrounded, slut shamed, and humiliated on several occasions. The film’s central theme is her unwavering determination to earn her position in society.

“The story we all know, the life story we don’t know.”

Kangana, who portrays the eponymous role, harnesses her inner rebel and uncompromising self-assurance to make a point: no one comes second to her. In a manner, her movie role imitates her real life in this situation. She gives a stunning performance as a lovelorn lady who continues rising from the ashes like a phoenix.
With calm resolve and a commanding presence, she transcends the formulaic screenplay, deftly not imitating Jaya but nailing the tone and subtleties of her role. She is remarkable as a woman rejected for loving boldly and profoundly.
It’s likely that we’re missing Jaya’s empathic nerve because it lacks a feminine vision. When it comes to addressing the thoughts behind the rumours that circulate when a female superstar enters a male-dominated political zone, the film appears to be superior. However, bringing attention to Jayalalithaa’s tribulations is simply a verbal act.

On the other hand, the film features a number of excellent performances. Nasser and Thambi Ramaiah did an excellent job in their roles, but this is more of a MGR-Jayalalitha narrative with RN Veerappan on the other side of the triangle. Samuthirakani does an excellent job as RNV, however I wish the character had been fleshed out more in the middle, rather than just the beginning and conclusion.
When Kangana is on screen, the background score is ear-splittingly loud and dramatic, and it constantly plays triumph music, which is a bit superfluous.
Is Kangana’s performance in Thalaivi her finest to date?
No. However, it chronicles the life of a leader whose path has been inspirational (and occasionally questionable) for a generation unfamiliar with Tamil Nadu and its politics.
Thalaivi depicts Jayalalithaa’s life in broad strokes. The best elements include some dramatic moments and outstanding performances from the key actors. However, it devolves into a hagiography and becomes a skewed biography.
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Filed Under AL VijayBiopic journeyjayalalithaaKangana RanautM. G. Ramachandran (Arvind Swami)Massive MisstepsMGRNasserRN VeerappanSamuthirakanithalaivi


‘Work for it’: Sirisha’s Background Resonates With Trailblazing Women’s Achievement

Yet another Indian-born woman who has dared to dream big and reach the stars, and we are immensely proud of her!
The Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla broke the proverbial glass ceiling and made history by becoming the second Indian-born woman flying into space, alongside Virgin Galactic’s billionaire founder Richard Branson in the company’s fourth crewed test space flight on 11th July (Sunday).
Image Credit; Virgin Galactic’s Twitter
Born in the Guntur district of India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the vice president of government affairs and research operations at Virgin Galactic will be playing a significant role of a researcher experience. The Virgin’s VSS Unity space flight was launched from New Mexico’s southern desert and it will travel beyond the edge of the earth’s space.
After Kalpana Chawla, who succumbed in the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy in 2003, the 34 year-old is the fourth Indian descent to ever achieve the feat after Rakesh Sharma, Chawla and Sunita Williams.
According to a CNBC-TV18 report, the Unity 22 mission will be VSS Unity’s twenty-second flight test and it’s the company’s fourth crewed spaceflight. It will also be the first to have an entire crew in the cabin, with two pilots and four mission specialists.
Image Credit: Virgin Galactic’s Twitter
Sirisha felt enthralled after receiving such shocking news and took to her Twitter to share the fantastic news;

 “I am so incredibly honoured to be a part of the amazing crew of Unity 22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all.”

I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all. https://t.co/sPrYy1styc
— Sirisha Bandla (@SirishaBandla) July 2, 2021

Ahead of her journey, let’s delve into Sirisha’s background;
Raised in Houston, Texas, United States, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and completed her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University. However, her poor eyesight issues held her back and she couldn’t fulfil the qualifications to become a pilot or astronaut, derailing her high-school ambition to join the Air Force and then NASA.

Sirisha discovered her interest in space at a young age and went on to fulfil her studies in the field before joining Virgin Galactic in 2015. The Andhra Pradesh native had also worked as an aerospace engineer in Texas before embarking on a new journey in Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) to specialise in space policy.
In the months preceding up to the launch, Srisha had spoken about the lack of diversity in the space industries—and space itself.
Based on her interview with Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship, a program that assists undergraduate students in entering the commercial spaceflight business, she stated that, “You don’t see many women or minority groups… I haven’t seen many students in this field who look like me yet”. The majority of astronauts have been white, male, and military in the past.

“Due to lack of visibility, there weren’t any girl astronauts. So even having some female astronauts speaking to them, it resonates in a different way.”

On top of that, NASA chose the first non-white and female astronauts in 1978, as the agency sought applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds for the Space Shuttle program.
Image Credit: Newsweek
Work hard. Sirisha believes that it all comes back to that in the end. And once your work ethic delivers the results, don’t stop there.
We wish Sirisha the best of luck on her intergalactic adventure!
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Filed Under ChawlaKalpana ChawlaMatthew Isakowitz FellowshipNASARakesh SharmaRichard BransonSecond Indian-bornSirisha BandlaSunita WilliamsVirgin Galactic


Dubai Dream Team Vadivelu & Parthiban To Work Together Again

Vadivelu and Parthiban are an uncanny pair, but boy do they have some insane chemistry. Even the most sophisticated Tamil film critique will have a hard time keeping a straight face with the duo’s comedy in the 2000 film Vetri Kodi Kattu. They have also starred in Kundakka Mandakka, Kaakai Chirakiniley and Kadhal Kirukkan. A recent interview has revealed that the two talented actors may just be working together on an upcoming film!
Parthiban revealed in an interview that a famed producer has already given him and Vadivelu an advance payment for their yet to be titled project. The film, however, is facing some delays as there have been complaints against Vadivelu.
This is where it gets juicy. There have been numerous complaints against Vadivelu for not showing up for shoots. 2.0 director Shankar registered a complaint with the Tamil Film Producers Council (TPFC) against the actor as he just did not show up for the shooting of Imsai Arasan 2. Shankar was producing the film.

Actor-producer RK has also lodged a similar complaint last year when Vadivelu failed to turn up for his horror comedy, Neeyum Naanum Naduvula Peyum. RK went on to say that he has paid the actor in full, but he was MIA when it came to the shooting. Another non compliance complaint was filed with the TPFC.
Parthiban clarified that once these issues have been resolved, he and Vadivelu will begin work on their film.
At this point, it is hazy if this film will materialize. Until then, have a laugh at the duo’s performance in Vetri Kodi Kattu.

https://youtu.be/aQeHdyyMBjQVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: துபாய்க்கு பிலைட்லேயே டிக்கெட் எடுக்கல ||  Vadivelu Parthiban Comedy (https://youtu.be/aQeHdyyMBjQ)

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Filed Under comedyImsai Arasan 2kundakka mandakkaparthibanTPFCupcoming movievadiveluVetri Kodi Kattu


Ministry Announces Implementation of Maximum Price Scheme For Deepavali 2022

This whole week is frenetic as everyone is busy running here and there to prep for Deepavali which will be celebrated next week (24th October). During this festive month, it’s difficult for us to keep up with the budget, particularly for groceries.
IMAGE CREDIT: MALAY MAIL
To ease the burden of everyone, the government implements the Deepavali 2022 Festival Season Maximum Price Scheme which will be enforced from 20th to 26th October 2022. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has listed eight items under the Deepavali 2022 Maximum Price Scheme.

Imported boned mutton
Tomatoes
Red chilli
Coconut (*Maximum price at a wholesale level only)
Grated coconut (*Maximum price at retail level only)
Small red onion (Indian)
Imported large shallots
Dal beans (Australia)

The secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof said “This control period is in accordance with the current situation, which is to create a win-win situation for consumers and traders. This price scheme will be enforced through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 which allows price determination to be made at the producer, wholesaler and retailer levels,”
Meanwhile, Azman said chicken and chicken eggs remained as price-controlled items since 12th October.
IMAGE CREDIT: FMT
Among the items under the maximum chicken and egg price determination implementation period are live chicken, standard chicken (slaughtered and cleaned with legs, head, liver and gizzard, or any part thereof), super chicken (slaughtered and cleaned without legs, head, liver and gizzard) and grade A, grade B and grade C chicken eggs.
The implementation period is for 7 days and effective 4 days before the festival, 1 day during the festival and 2 days after the festival.
Furthermore, he also urged those with information regarding errant traders to report to the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-2794317/019-8488000, e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my portal, 1-800-886- 800 toll-free line, email at e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my or through the Ez ADU smartphone application.
You can check the price through the ministry’s website by clicking HERE.
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Filed Under Datuk Azman Mohd YusofDeepavali 2022Implementation of Maximum Price Scheme For DeepavaliKPDNHEPMaximum Price SchemeThe Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs


Shruti Haasan Shares Her Amazing Underwater Photoshoot!

Actress Shruti Haasan has kept herself busy during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. Recently, she has shared her underwater-photoshoot, and it has shown us a glimpse of the glamorous beauty, flaunting herself underwater.
Shruti who was last seen in Hindi Devi film. Her upcoming ventures include the Telugu film Krack directed by Gopichand Malineni and the Tamil film Laabam directed by SP Jananathan.
Check out the stunning photos of this pulchritudinous actress!

Keep up with Shruti Haasan on Instagram here
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Filed Under photoshootshruti hassanunderwater


Thalaivar’s Birthday Special With His Top 12 Famous Dialogues

First things first! Happy Birthday Thalaivar! Superstar Rajinikanth who rules the south Indian cinema fraternity actually needs no introduction. Even a child will sing praises to him because he is just a born superstar.
As a treat for our beloved Rajinikanth’s fans, we have compiled his all-time top 12 best dialogues.
Ithu epdi irukku?

This dialogue is from 16 vayathinile where he acted as a villain and it is one of his first movies along with Kamal Hassan and Sri Devi.
Seee-viduven!

It is Kalaiyan’s epic dialogue in the whole movie, Murratu Kaala. This movie will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this 20th December.
Maalai da, Annamalai!

Annamalai was released in 1992 and was a blockbuster hit that it ran for 175 days in theatres and was the highest-grossing film in Tamil cinema until 1995.
Aandavan solran, Arunachalam mudikiran!

This dialogue for Arunachalam with the bangle gesture was just so charismatic and this movie went on to win three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, including an award for Best Film.
Vashi! Black sheep, Mehhhhh…

Well, this dialogue is a common one amongst Rajini‘s fans. Enthiran marked the debut of Legacy Effects studio (which was responsible for the film’s prosthetic make-up and animatronics) in Indian cinema.
Pere keta chumma adhuruthuleh!

Sivaji; The boss was converted into 3D and released on 12th December 2012 as Sivaji 3D for his birthday. The runtime of the 3D version was shorter than the original, cut to 155 minutes, and released amidst moderate fanfare and fared positively, critically and commercially.
En vazhi, thaani vazhi sindathey..

This dialogue is from Padayappa and apart from our Superstar’s performance, Ramya Krishnan‘s performance was praised, winning her a Filmfare Award under the Best Actress category. The film also won five Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
Naa oru thadava sonna, nooru thadava sonna maathiri!

Well if you think, which movie broke Annamalai’s record? It was another Superstar hit, Bashaa that ran for nearly 15 months in theatres. Rajinikanth won the Filmfans Association Award and the Cinema Express Award for Best Actor for his star-studded performance.
Gatham-gatham, Mudinjadhu mudhinjipochi!

Did you know? The “Baba symbol” which was so famous back then was not just any symbol but a hand position called Apana Mudra in yoga which stands for “detoxification and purification”.
Owwizzit?

Rajinikanth‘s English line “How is it?” (pronounced “Owwizzit?”) in Veera became immensely popular, as did the response “Super” (pronounced “Soopar”). What? Do you still come across this dialogue among your friends?
Kya re? Setting’a? Vengai maave vothaile nikke, thill iruntha motthamaa vangele!

Kaala was the first Indian film ever to be released in Saudi Arabia, following the country lifting its ban on public theatres in December 2017.
Naa vanthutenu sollu, thirumbi vanthutenu, Kaabali da!

Kabali was released on 22nd July 2016 and was released in the Malay language on 29th July 2016, a week later. It is also the first Indian film to be released in Le Grand Rex in Paris, France, the world’s largest movie hall which has a seating capacity of 2,000.
Rajinikanth’s dialogues have inspired the masses over the years. Today, 12th December 2020 marks Thalaivar’s 70th birthday!
We wish our beloved superstar with the best of health that would enable him to hit the screens with impactful movies embedded with style and pomp!  You will always be the one and only SUPERSTAR Rajini Sir!
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Filed Under Dialogues of RajinikanthHappy Birthday Thalaivarajinikanth 70th birthdayTop 12 rajinikanths dialogue


Enga Veetu Mapillai: Stop Forcing Me To Hug & Kiss You, Arya Tells Abarnathy

Three girls; Abarnathy, Kuhashini, and Agatha each won a special date with Arya on this episode of Enga Veetu Mapillai.
Abarnathy won the date after Arya correctly guessed her voice during a challenge where he couldn’t see the girls – he had to guess who they were from just listening to their voice.
During the date, Abarnathy tried her best to be a more matured version of herself, but it didn’t last very long. She went back to asking questions like “How much do you like me”, “Can I have a kiss,” and “I want to sit on your lap,”.

Arya was not too comfortable with those requests. While he’d usually give in, he stood his ground this time and said “no” to her every requests.
“You shouldn’t be asking for hugs and kisses. I will do it when I feel like it,” Arya told Abarnathy. To which she replied, “Why don’t you feel it?” Arya then told her that she needs to be more loving and romantic if she wanted him to feel those things. It’s not going to come from pushing or threatening him.

“At this point, I don’t care if I hurt her. I think she has to learn. You cannot be so pushy with someone,” Arya said.
However, Abarnathy being Abarnathy kept on insisting that she wanted to sit on his lap, and that forced Arya to bring the date to an end and he escorted her back to Sangeetha.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Tamil Movies Releasing In Theatres This June 2023
Filed Under AbarnathyAryaEnga Veetu Mapillai


Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan Tamil Novel Series Is The New Addiction For Avid Readers

Following Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus ‘Ponniyin Selvan-1’ theatrical release worldwide, the buzz around the movie has piqued interest among audiences in buying historical literature books.
Reading is the finest habit a person can develop in their life because, as the saying goes, you become what you read. Every person’s life is enriched by the presence of books.
As the saying goes, The Book Box and Jaya Bakti have finally added the special edition of Ponniyin Selvan novels, and since the movie hits the big screen, the book sales around the bookstores have rapidly increased.
Check out their latest edition below!
The Book Box:

Jaya Bakti:
Penned by the freedom fighter, nationalist writer, and journalist Kalki Krishnamurthy, Ponniyin Selvan (The son of Ponni, or the river Kaveri) was serialised in the early 1950s. Running into five volumes and with approximately 2,200 pages, the novel is a historical fiction set in the Chola dynasty with a narrative that amazes us and looks fashionable to describe as the ‘Tamil Game of Thrones’.
It deals with the life and times of Rajaraja Chozhan, set against the backdrop of tenth-century peninsular India. Interestingly, while it is widely known that Kalki’s book is not entirely factual, historians stated that the author had beautifully blended many widely known events from the pages of history into his novel. Touted to be a classic/historical Tamil literature novel, since the teaser/trailer of the movie was released, it has been praised widely for drawing out the culture and heritage through a narrative set in the Chola Kingdom.
Related:  Literary Reflections on Tamil Life in MalaysiaLet’s take this opportunity to learn about our Tamil thalassocratic empire – one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history, and share the knowledge with the upcoming generations so that they won’t miss out on one of the most important elements in the Indian culture and heritage.
Well, it’s never too late for us to grab the book and delve into the Chola Kingdom to gain some knowledge before heading to watch the movie at the nearest cinemas.
Those who are keen to purchase the epic literature book, kindly do it so at The Book Box and also Jaya Bakti at reasonable price.
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Filed Under Chola kingdomJaya BhaktiKalki KrishnamurthyMani RatnamnovelPonniyin Selvan-1Rajaraja ChozhanTamil literaturethe book box


New SOPs Proposed For Thaipusam 2021

Thaipusam 2021 celebration were contemplated severely due to the SOPs required by the government.
Thaipusam is a yearly celebration practiced by the Indians where devotees pay their respects and vows part of an annual pilgrimage commonly held at the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam Temple.
The National News
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many strict rules and orders have been proposed by the chairman of the temple Tan Sri R Nadarajah to the Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) for the safety of the devotees and to combat the spreading of the deadly virus, whilst paying their respective vows.
The Proposal Proposed Are:

Non Stop Chariot Procession from KL Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to Batu Caves Temple, Through and From.

No Archanai, Thanner Panthal Booths and etc Throughout Chariot Routes.

No Shops Within Batu Caves Compound and Outside The Temple Area.

Only 2 Persons Allowed To Accompany Paalkudam and Kavadi.

No Ear Piercing and Tonsure Within Batu Caves Temple Premises.

There Will Be Temperature Screening At The Entrance With Sanitisers Installed and Devotees Made Compulsory To Wear Face Masks.

Thaipusam falls on 28th January next year, but devotees would make preparations as early as three months prior to the day to fulfil their vows to deity Lord Murugan. Due to the on going pandemic many are hesitant to pay their visit to the Batu Caves Temple this year and are on a serious look out on updates pertaining to this.
Hopefully, MKN would approve the proposal made for devotees to pay their yearly vows.
Source For Images: The National News
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Vaikasi Visakam: Significance And Rituals Of This Tamil Festival Dedicated to Lord Muruga
Filed Under Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam TempleKavadiKL Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to Batu Caves TempleNew SOPs Proposed For Thaipusam 2021PaalkudamThanner Panthal Booths


WATCH NOW: Dhanush In Maaya Bazaaru From ‘The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir’

Just a few days after the release of ‘Engleesu Lovesu’ from Dhanush’s upcoming film, The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir or Pakkiri, Zee Music has released another song from the film. The song is titled ‘Maaya Bazaaru’ and is sung by Benny Dayal and Nikita Gandhi.

Dhanush is seen busting some quirky and fun dance moves in the song that is set in a nightclub. Dhanush plays a street journey who sets on a journey to Paris to find his father and ends up having an extraordinary journey under the direction of Ken Scott. This French-English film, that has also been dubbed in Tamil and Hindi, is an adaptation of the novel by Romain Puertolas titled The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe.

Dhanush celebrates a triumphant 17 years in cinema this year and said this during a recent interview about stardom, “You’ll get kicked in your face. You cannot afford to snooze, not even a bit. You have to be updated, on your toes, always thinking what to do, what people want. “That’s the million dollar question: what people want from your films and you. If only you can master that , things would be easier and simpler”.
The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir will be distributed in Malaysia under Malik Streams Productions and Distribution on 21 June 2019.
WATCH Maaya Bazaaru here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5tPuKU0DYYVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Maaya Bazaaru – Pakkiri | Dhanush | Benny Dayal & Nikhita Gandhi | Amit Trivedi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5tPuKU0DYY)

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Filed Under DhanushPakkiriThe Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir


Malaysians Bag Multiple Awards At The Global Humanitarian Award 2020!

A big shout out to the Malaysians who won big at The Prestigious Global Humanitarian Award.
The World Humanitarian Drive (WHD), takes pride in honouring two Indians and an Indian veteran association in Malaysia with the prestigious Global Humanitarian Award; Stars of COVID. This prestigious award ceremony was held over the internet on 28th June.
 Excellence in Business (Great Dynamos): Dr Florance Manoranjitham Sinniah

Excellence in Social Work (Best Societal Spirits): R. Naraesh Pillai

Excellence in Social Welfare (Pillars of Society): Malaysian Indian Armed Forces Veteran Penang

As part of ‘Honouring The Honourable’ initiative of World Humanitarian Drive (WHD), Founder Abdul Basit Syed said these stars got into action and were helping humanity fight against the deadly Covid-19.
“The major objective of this award was to show gratitude and honour the incredible volunteers who have always been contributing to the betterment of humanity especially during this crisis of Covid-19.
“When the entire world was shut down and afraid to step out, these stars lent a helping hand to the world out there that was battling the coronavirus.
“WHD takes pride in honouring them and these stars who are promoting the best for humanity,” he said in a statement.
Congratulations to the Stars of COVID Awardees!
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Filed Under Dr Florance Manoranjitham SinniahMalaysian Indian Armed Forces Veteran PenangR. Naraesh PillaiThe Prestigious Global Humanitarian Award; Stars of Covid


Man Behind Racially Motivated Remark On Shuttler Kisona Apologises To Malaysians

While we speak highly of the term KELUARGA MALAYSIA, advocated by our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, racial slurs continue to ring in the country.
A Facebook user Borhan Che Rahim, who is also Bersatu’s Deputy Chief for its Pasir Puteh division in Kelantan has landed himself into hot water after his racially-charged remark toward our national women’s singles shuttler Kisona Selvadurey sparked anger amongst fellow Malaysians.
The user’s remarks on social media were followed with a photo of the national shuttler in action during the Sudirman Cup 2021 semi-final match in Finland, when Malaysia lost 1-3 to Japan and failed to qualify to the final.
Check out the post below:

According to a Malay Mail news report, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) released a statement condemning the racist remark allegedly made on social media by the man, who had uttered racially disparaging phrases to Kisona.
“BAM is outraged by the racial insults hurled against S. Kisona, our national women’s singles player. As the country’s governing organisation, we have zero tolerance for any type of bigotry or prejudice, therefore we strongly condemn the statements and will always defend our athletes.”
“Aren’t we Malaysians?” Kisona was born and bred in Malaysia and has brought so much of honour to our homeland. Despite all her sacrifices, does she deserve this kind of humiliation?
Borhan has stepped up and apologised for the inflammatory remarks which were made towards Kisona yesterday (4th October 2021) via his social media platform.

It’s a disgrace that we allow politicians to make disparaging statements and use race and religion for their own benefit. Such a heinous comment is uncalled for, and all Malaysians should denounce such a senseless act. Remember, the 21st century is the era to proclaim yourself an anti-racist. We must address race disparity rather than shoving it under the rug and denying its existence.
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Filed Under Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri YaakobKELUARGA MALAYSIAKisonaNational Shuttlerprime ministerRacially-chargedRemarkSudirman Cup 2021


EXCLUSIVE: Eswaran Mohan, Renuga Nair & Arun Mohan – Snapchat’s First Official Lens Creators in Malaysia

Remember when people had so much fun discovering how they look as the opposite sex? Well, it was thanks to the gender swap lens on Snapchat. Can you imagine how one would look as a nasi lemak – with extra sambal?
Thanks to Eswaran Mohan, Renuga Nair and Arun Mohan, Snapchat’s first Official Lens Creators in Malaysia, many have done so.
Arun Mohan, Renuga Nair, and Eswaran Mohan of ExAR
Eswaran and Renuga co-founded ExAR Technologies, and they’ve utilized Snapchat’s Lens Studio platform to create fun, augmented reality (AR) experiences that are loved by many. The trio also successfully turned their common interest into a business, creating sponsored Lenses for brands that are tapping into AR advertising.
The Varnam team catches up with Eswaran to discuss his journey with technology and augmented reality and how it is used as a tool for self-expression.
For all us Snapchat noobs, share with us what the Lenses are about.
Snapchat Lenses (often mistakenly called Filters) are Augmented Reality experiences that transform the world before you. They can be used to add 3D effects, objects, characters, and transformations when you create Snaps.
It allows you to express yourself in creative ways with images and colours. The best part of using these Lenses, is that you can interact with them by raising your eyebrows or waving your hand, for example, and that makes it fun!
Oh, and fun fact – On average, more than 70% of Snapchat’s Daily Active Users play with or view a Lens every day.
The ExAR team tests a new Lens they developed
Growing up, did you always gravitate towards technology?
I have always been a fan of technology that allows everyone to create cool experiences in the shortest amount of time. In my late teens, I used to make short films with my brother and the idea of creating started there. This was how I developed a passion for technology, especially when I noticed how a lot of work could have been completed easily if I knew how to use the right software.
As I learned more about technology during my internship at a robotics company, I developed a chatbot. Since then I’ve also learnt coding and I’m currently focused on Augmented Reality.
Tell us a little about your company, ExAR and your teammates.
My partner Renuga Nair and I started ExAR in 2018 while we were in our final year in university at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Renu’s actually a Chemistry Graduate while I’m a Mechatronics Engineering Graduate.
A few months after we started ExAR, we brought in our latest member, my brother Arun. He was studying Industrial Design at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, and we decided to bring him in to be in charge of animation and 3D modelling.
Renu and I started working together when we were developing a chatbot called ‘Panda Family’ that acts as a little friend that reminds youngsters to keep a healthy mind at all times. This project made us realize that we had a great team dynamic: while I was more of a technical person, Renu was more creative. Combined with Arun’s design skills, ExAR became complete.
Renuga writing down ideas for new Lenses. Image credit: Archetype
My team and I joined an AR competition at the end of 2017 where we created a virtual fitting app that allows people to try clothing before purchasing them. Renu then had the idea of doing a virtual fitting for people who would want to try out jewellery online.
We were both excited. I went back to my room and did some research before discovering a desktop app called Lens Studio by Snap Inc. which allowed us to create AR experiences on Snapchat. From that point, we explored and tried different features available with the software.
How did the ExAR team begin working with Snap Inc on the Lenses?
I noticed that people creating Lenses could apply to be certified as an Official Lens Creator. Back then, I didn’t really know a lot about the program, but decided to fill in the application form and register us as a team.
A few weeks later, I received an email from the Snap team requesting an interview. During the interview, the Snap team took time to understand our aspirations in Lens creation. It was certainly an open and insightful discussion, which eventually led to us becoming part of the Official Lens Creator community. This was one of the most memorable moments for me and my team.
Tell us a little about AR technology.
AR technology is not the future, but the present; it’s already here. People all around the world use it for both fun and practical applications. As creators, this is a perfect opportunity for us to grow and be a part of such a limitless, exciting industry.
With Snapchat having the camera at the center of communication between you and your closest friends, it is no surprise that augmented reality is weaved into the mix. With the different augmented reality Lenses available, we as Snapchatters are able to have a more authentic conversation with our closest friends.
What does it mean to be Snapchat’s Official Lens Creator and what are the benefits of the program?
It means the world to us! You don’t often see global brands like Snap showing this level of commitment to the creative industries they serve and helping creators like us from all around the world to build a business, enhance our skills and connect with our community.
The benefits of the program include opportunities to work with brands, regular meetings with the team and feedback sessions – all of which have really helped us get to where we are today. They also practice what they preach and take feedback from Official Lens Creators seriously. Many of the features of Lens Studio were suggested by Official Lens Creators like us and it makes us feel like an important part of the community.
Eswaran creating new Lenses on Lens Studio
What would you say to other young creators wanting to move into lens creation?
Practice. We did not start out as coders or designers. Renu has a degree in pure chemistry while I’m a mechatronics engineering graduate. Meanwhile, Arun is still in his third year of university studying Industrial Design; everything that we do now was achieved through a lot of trial and error. All you need to have is the willingness to learn and to commit. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier.
Don’t focus on the business part of it when you’re starting out as that shouldn’t be your main motive. Focus on your growth as a creator. With the huge support we have received from organizations like Snap Inc., we have had more opportunities than you can imagine.
Lens Studio is super forgiving to beginners and you can only get better at it as you use it more. The support and community are great as well!
Work on something you enjoy creating
Some additional advice I’d give is to not create for the masses – don’t make something solely because you think a lot of people would like it. Work on something you enjoy creating, something you can enjoy with your friends. If you create with that mindset, I’m sure others will love what you end product.
Well done, Eswaran, Renuga and Arun! Check out ExAR’s official profile page on Snapchat here.
You can now donate to the United Nations Foundation’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the WHO with Snapchat. When a Snapchatter views a currency such as the RM10 note (among 22 other currencies globally) in the Snapchat camera and taps on it, an AR experience will trigger. It will show how a potential donation could support the World Health Organization’s immediate response efforts, which include tracking the spread of Covid-19, ensuring patients get the care they need and providing frontline workers with critical supplies. This will then direct Snapchatters to the donation page.
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Filed Under arun mohaneswaran mohanexarrenuga nairsnapchatsnapchat lens creatorsnapchat lensessnapchat's first official lens creator


Homegrown Inspiration: 5 Indian Trailblazing Women Who Made Us Proud!

Malaysian Indian women have come a long way! Be it in the areas of literature, sports, entertainment, science or military!
Having broken the proverbial glass ceiling through various stereotypes, they have proved their mettle for our nation. We are sure that if we start counting their numbers, we will run out the space. So, for the sake of brevity, here’s a list of 5 amazing women who have served the nation, yet their stories are often forgotten or ignored.
Datin Paduka Mother A. Mangalam

Datin Paduka Mother A Mangalam A/P S Iyaswamy Iyer was born on May 17th, 1926 in Singapore. In 1948, she came to Malaya, where, upon passing her teacher training course, Mother Mangalam started teaching in a Tamil school in Bangsar where the students were mostly from poor families.
Mother Mangalam is a co-founder and the life chairman of the Pure Life Society. She is known as the “Malaysian Mother Teresa”. She has been widely recognised for her charity work among disadvantaged children. She was initiated into the Pure Life Society in 1949 with the title ‘Sister’ and was bestowed the title ‘Mother’ in the year of 1985, for taking on the role of a mother-figure to orphaned multiethnic children over the years.
The late Tun Fatimah Hashim, visiting the children at the orphanage, accompanied by Mother Mangalam.
Mother Mangalam received the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di- Pertuan Agong in 2003 and a Pingat Jasa Kebangsaan (PJK) from the Sultan of Selangor in 1955. She was also honoured with the Tun Fatimah Gold Medal from the National Council of Women’s Organisations in 1977.
Datuk Rasammah Bhupalan

Rasammah Bhupalan, 86 is one of the first female fighters who fought for the independence of Malaya. She joined the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the Indian National Army and served in Burma during World War II at the tender age of 16. After graduating from University of Malaya, she started her teaching career at the Methodist Girls School and it was in that school that she co-founded The Federation of Malaya Women Teachers Union (WTU) in 1960.
The WTU was formed to pursue equal pay for women teachers of all races and ethnicities, who were not paid the same amount as men at that time. In 1964, they succeeded in achieving equal pay.
Rasammah, the young female volunteer soldier of the INA’s all-female Rani of Jhansi (‘Queen of Jhansi’) Regiment.
Some of her famous quotes:
“I’ve never had a reason to be upset. As a leader, there are times when one has to be a loner to maintain integrity, accountability and honesty.
But then, I have never been the type to keep quiet when there is a need to speak up.”
Known as the co-founder of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO) over 50 years ago, Rasammah also campaigned for minimum wage, better pension terms and an end to domestic violence and rape. Her efforts led to the enactment of the Law Reform Act (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 that protects women against polygamous marriage and reformed custodial proceedings.
Datuk Ramani Gurusamy
Picture Credit: Ramani Gurusamy
As the deputy president of the National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO), Ramani is a veteran fighter for women’s rights and development in Malaysia. With focus on the professional front, social and community work to promote women empowerment, Ramani fought for giving women equal pay, medical, housing and other benefits in the 1960s.
Making a drastic change alongside Rasammah was Ramani who has spent the past four decades advocating for women’s rights and development in the country for the last 35 years. She was influential in advocating equal pay for work of equal value, focusing on giving women Permanency and Pensionable status ensuring the right to equal pay, medical and housing.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah presents the Tun Fatimah Award from National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO), to Datuk Ramani Gurusamy.
She enrolled in the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO) for more than 20 years, during a very poignant moment when the organisation made the conscious effort to change the way rape cases were managed, pension rights for women, advocating awareness of breast cancer with men as partners in helping women and also custody rights when it comes to divorce or separation cases.
Tan Sri Devaki Krishnan

Tan Sri Devaki Krishnan is a member of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and was the first woman to be elected in public office in Malaya after winning a seat on the Municipal Council in Kuala Lumpur in the year 1952. She has made her mark in Malaysian politics and community welfare. The Sri Lankan born was educated at St. Mary’s School, Kuala Lumpur, and soon after graduating, became a school teacher.
In 1949, Devaki became an active member of the Selangor Indian Association and the Women’s International Club. Devaki was nominated by her community and approached by Datuk Onn Jaafar to stand for election at the Kuala Lumpur Municipal elections under the Independence of the Malaya Party in 1951. Apparently she became the first Indian women to win the election in Malaya then.
Devaki (left) and Tunku Onn Jaafar (second from left) who had a fondness for eggplant and dried fish curry during Hari Raya parties like this one at his home in Penang.
Devaki joined the MIC and rose to fame through the ranks, first as Wanita MIC Secretary and then as Deputy President. At the same time, she continued to teach, chair the St. John’s Ambulance Association and campaign for women’s rights with the National Council of Women’s Organisation, which later named her Tokoh Wanita.
Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan

You may know her as the wife of the late Tun V.T. Sambanthan, but Toh Puan Uma has made a name for herself by being an activist and social worker, raising the status of women, especially in rural areas. She was also one of the founders and formal president of the NCWO. Toh Puan Uma also held the position of general-secretary of the Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Society, which she co-founded in 1960.
In the 1950s, she was actively involved with various women’s groups to raise the status of women. Toh Puan Uma sought to challenge conventional social barriers regarding women as she was a firm believer of women being in positions of leadership.
Toh Puan Uma Sambanthan’s Social Contributions
By working together with women from all races, she was able to address such social imbalances. The role of women became more significant in a democratic society both politically and socially. From the last quarter of 1956 till the 1970s, Toh Puan Uma worked with the National Association of Women’s Institute (W.I), organising proper nutrition and healthcare for kampung (rural) children, reviving local recipes and income generation, in general.
Toh Puan Uma passed away on January 31, 2020 at the age of 90.
May we never forget the contributions made by these pioneer women leaders who helped shape Malaysian women to reach their fullest potential.
Let’s join hands and carry on their legacy.
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Filed Under 5 Indian Trailblazing WomenDatin Paduka Mother A. Mangalam Datuk Ramani GurusamayDatuk Rasammah BhupalanInspirationTan Sri Devaki KrishnanTToh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan


The Many Vijay Films Accused Of Plagiarism

Of late, Vijay films seem to be synonymous with accusations of plagiarism. There seems to always be a person who claims that this was their story, and the director of the film has done them wrong by using their intellectual property. The outcome of these accusations, however, have been varied.
It began with Kaththi

Minjur Gopi, the director of Aramm, claimed he had met Kaththi director AR Murugadoss thrice after the director offered to produce his script, to discuss the story of Kaththi. Nothing materialized from these meetings.
When Gopi heard that Murugadoss was starting a film with Vijay in Kolkata, he suspected that it could be his script, as he wrote about a protagonist who comes to Chennai after escaping from a prison in Kolkata. Gopi then filed a case with the Chennai City Civil Court.
Responding to the issue, Murugadoss said that he was neither aware of Gopi nor that his story was a copy, further citing the allegation as a tactic by the plaintiff to garner free publicity. He, in turn, requested the court to dismiss the petition. In late September 2014, the court declared the case in Murugadoss’s favour, citing lack of proper evidence found against him.
And then it was Mersal

From the day Mersal was released, there were whispers that the film was reminiscent of Rajinikanth’s 1982 hit, Moondru Mugam. Others said that Mersal had hints of Kamal Hassan’s Apoorva Sagodharargal all through. But all of that is okay, movies do have a tendency to have similar storylines, and remakes are not unheard of.
The problem was someone had already acquired the remake rights of Moondru Mugam. Film producer Five Star Kathiresan bought the Rajinikanth film’s remake rights from Satya Movies and accused Mersal director Atlee of theft. A notice was sent to the Tamil Nadu Producers’ Council alleging plagiarism.
Kathiresan had bought the remake rights in order to redo the film with Raghava Lawrence in the lead, but his plans were stalled by the release of Mersal.
Director Atlee
The producer demanded 30% of the remuneration received by Atlee for Mersal as a compensation. He also screened a 30-minute video which had scenes from Mersal being similar to that of Moondru Mugam. Atlee, however, denied it all, saying that though the template of the film may be similar, the writing is purely based on his own thought processes.
Kathiresan has since sought legal action. The issue has been escalated to the Madras High Court. A hearing was held on the 21st of February this year, and legal proceedings are still ongoing.
Related:  Vijay's Birthday Special: Release Of Leo's First Single, 'Naa Ready'The infamous Sarkar row

In 2007, writer Varun Rajendran registered his piece, Sengol, with the South Indian Film Writers Union.
Rajendran then claimed that AR Murugadoss’ Sarkar has been plagiarized from Sengol. He has filed a complaint with the South Indian Film Writers Association. The association then investigated his claim and concluded that Sarkar and Sengol have identical story lines. As a result, Rajendran approached the Madras High Court to stall the release of the movie, until he is given due credit in the film’s title card. He is also demanding ₹30 lakh (RM170,763.00) from the filmmakers as compensation for infringing his copyright of the story.
The filmmakers later agreed to honour writer and co-director Varun Rajendran via a special message in the credits.
And now, Thalapathy 63

This upcoming sports flick, tentatively titled Thalapthy 63, is directed by Atlee, and will star Vijay alongside Nayanthara and Jackie Shroff.
Again, Atlee is facing serious allegations of plagiarism. Aspiring director Shiva has accused Atlee of plagiarising his short film which is based on a women’s football team. Shiva has filed a complaint with the South Indian Film Writers’ Association.
Shiva claims that he has narrated his story to many leading producers in the industry. He suspects that one of the producers must have leaked the story to Atlee, who then developed it into a feature film.
In a bizarre turn of events, the Writers’ Union say they cannot look into this issue because Shiva is a new member. The union rules state that a member has to be with them for at least 6 months before they can take up any complaints from them.
Atlee himself is frequently accused of plagiarism. His film Raja Rani was notably similar to the 1986 hit Mouna Ragam. His other Vijay directorial, Theri, was said to be ripped from the storyline of Mani Ratnam’s 1990 film, Chatriyan.
But.. Why?
Whether the accusations of plagiarism were met with justice or not, the common outcome is that more hype is garnered for each film, prior to its release.
With the exception of Puli (which nobody wanted to take credit for, understandably), every Vijay film since 2014 has been faced with allegations of copyright infringement to various degrees.
All of which begs the question, are these accusations mere gimmicks to create the hype his films need?
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Filed Under AR MurugadossatleekaththiMersalplagiarismpuliSarkarThalapathy 63theriVijay


As Her Income Dries Up, Yasotha Rajendran Scrambles For Funds To Stay Afloat

Reading is the finest habit a person can develop in their life because, as the saying goes, you become what you read. Every person’s life is enriched by the presence of books.
Women who were previously self-sufficient are now the new face of poverty in Malaysia as the pandemic has definitely had an impact on their income and capacity to care for themselves and their families.
Mrs. Yasotha Rajendran makes a living by selling Tamil language and literature books to Tamil school teachers and the general public. However, due to the pandemic, she shed light on both the financial instability of her business and the severe impact COVID-19 had on her in the weeks after the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 that began on 1st June.
Image Credit: Sai FM’s Facebook Page

“To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.” — A.C. Grayling

Most of her books are imported from India. She sells Tamil fiction and non-fiction books for both kids and adults. Without a doubt, our mother tongue conveys wisdom. Currently, she’s facing an immense financial problem and due to late payments, she is unable to proceed with selling books having all her stocks stuck in India.
Image Credit: Sai FM Facebook Page
Let’s double up our efforts by helping small business owners such as this enterprising woman who is feeling the pinch of this horrendous pandemic. Those keen to buy books at the same time support Yasotha’s business, kindly contact her at +60 17-447 6316.
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Filed Under Financial problemMrs. Yasotha RajendranScrambles For FundsSmall businessTamil language and literature books


What Makes Mersal An Awesome Mass Movie? Wait, What’s A Mass Movie?

I initially wanted to write a regular review of Mersal, starring Vijay, which I found myself enjoying more and more with each repeated viewing. And that’s saying something because I am not a fan of Vijay at all. But a conversation with my cousin inspired me to pen something else. “Why is it OKAY when Vijay stars in a mass movie, but not Ajith?” he asked me. It is important to note that at this point in our conversation, I was shitting all over Ajith’s previous movies like Vedalam, Veeram and his most recent abomination, Vivegam. As you probably figured out, my cousin is a huge fan of Ajith.
But first…
WTF does a ‘mass movie’ mean?
source: comicbook.com
The term ‘mass’ movie or more commonly known as a ‘masala’ movie does not refer to the spices you would put in curry. In the Indian film industry, these terms pretty much mean popcorn blockbuster. What differs from the Hollywood and Indian cinema landscape is that Hollywood pop culture generally revolves around franchises and giant properties – Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel Cinematic Universe, etc – while Indian pop culture, for the most part, revolves around the MOVIE STARS. Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Vijay, Ajith, etc.
Even the deep animosity that runs between fans are similar. Star Wars fans and Star Trek fans have been fighting for galaxy supremacy since the dawn of time. And just like fans of the DCEU and MCU, Vijay fans and Ajith fans beat each other to a pulp send angry tweets to one another on a daily. And if you’re a fan who points out flaws of your own beloved properties/star, then you’re deemed a traitor and will be stoned to death or at the very least, kicked out of your family’s hypothetical Rajnikanth fan club. #thanksdad
Whether it’s Hollywood or Bollywood, popcorn blockbusters are usually a mixture of larger than life characters and a middle finger to real-world science. How is Rajnikanth able to singlehandedly beat the living crap out of 52 people? I don’t know, ask John Wick.
I have no problem suspending my disbelief and accepting the fact that a magician is also quite possibly a ninja, just like I have no problem accepting the fact that a radioactive spider bite could turn you into a superhero. It’s AWESOME. But if you watch Fast and Furious 6 and find Vin Diesel jumping from his car to catch Letty mid-air, more annoying than awesome, then don’t bother watching any Indian masala movie, too.
But don’t get me wrong…
Being a masala movie DOES NOT excuse poor logic.
via: Hindustan Times
I know, it sounds like I just contradicted everything I wrote above. Hear me out. Every movie/franchise, regardless of how over the top it is, needs to establish certain rules or a sandbox if you will. The sandbox can be completely batshit crazy, but within the batshit crazy sandbox, things have to be CONSISTENT. Within the batshit crazy sandbox, characters and their motivations need to make sense.
Mersal for the most part, does not suffer from this problem, but it is not void of it. The final action sequence standouts in particular. The unspoken rules that the movie establishes at the start is:

Maaran is the doctor. Sure, he may push a few security guards away to save a person’s life, but he’s generally not someone who would engage in a fist fight.
Vetri is the magician/badass/ass-kicker.

In fact, there is an awesome action scene that takes place midway through the movie where Vetri beats the crap outta the villains and saves Maaran. It makes perfect sense. However, in the final action sequence, Maaran tells his injured brother, Vetri, “Who says a doctor can’t fight? Now watch me kick some bad guy butt.” While the action sequence that transpires immediately after is fun to watch, it somewhat devalues whatever that happened before. If Maaran can fight, why did Vetri need to save him? And if Maaran can fight, why then did he and his brother Vetri need to switch their clothes before the cops arrived?
Also, the entire back and forth Maaran has with his adopted mother (Kovai Sarala) concerning his parentage does not make an ounce of sense.
Having said that, these inconsistencies do not make me frustrated. Okay, that’s a lie. It does make me frustrated a little. But there is enough good stuff in this movie to make me forgive that minor error.
What does annoy the crap outta me is when Vijay’s character in Bairavaa gives a girl flowers and professes his love for her, immediately after she tells him a story of how her best friend got raped by a corrupt businessman.
Her: My best friend got raped and murdered.
Him: Oh, I love you.
Me: KILL ME.
I experienced the same kinda frustration watching Thor: Ragnarok recently. Why is Thor cracking jokes while talking to the fire demon, Surtur? It’s a comedy. I get it. But the Thor movies have never been comedies. And Thor has never been a comedian. Are you telling me that after Loki “died” in Thor: The Dark World, Thor went for comedy classes to cope with his sadness? Hmm, now that I think of it, it kinda makes sense.
 The meat behind the Masala.

Mersal is first and foremost a revenge thriller, but at the same time, it is also an explicit commentary on the medical landscape in India. I’m not saying a movie needs to have a MESSAGE to be good. On the contrary, when it comes to popcorn blockbusters, more often than not, the simplest of approaches is usually the best. But time and time again, popcorn blockbusters try to be something MORE. When it works, like in the case of Mersal, it’s awesome; when it doesn’t (which is, most of the time), it comes off as pretentious.
Rajnikanth’s Kabali comes to mind. There are flashbacks in Kabali that TRY to comment on the struggles Indians in Malaysia had to face prior to the country’s independence. Only, the entire arc feels completely forced. It’s as if the movie pauses and goes, “Okay guys, this is where we insert our completely-irrelevant-to-the-story message,” and then turns into a sappy love story?
In Mersal the message is delivered in an organic way. We’re treated to a fantastic flashback in which we see Vetrimaaran (Vetri and Maaran’s dad, also played by Vijay) and his wife (Nithya Menen) get screwed over by a corrupt doctor. All those years later, Vetri is avenging his father’s death. While the message is as obvious as it gets, it doesn’t feel like the movie is trying to shove the message down your throat. Because we understand why the characters are doing what they’re doing. Even when Vetri delivers a speech right at the end, providing facts and figures about the medical industry, it works.
Songs that tell stories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waTDxRZ93QcVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: La La Land – "A lovely night" scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waTDxRZ93Qc)

Just like how being a popcorn blockbuster does not excuse a lapse in logic, being a musical does not mean you can throw in as many songs as you like for no reason. Does the song add anything to the movie? Does the movie deteriorate if the song is removed?
Take La La Land for example. I love the movie and it is still one of my favourite movies of the year. But is the opening number really necessary, though? It does a good job of letting people know that it’s going to be a musical, but would the movie be any different without the song? No.
Mersal comes with four songs. Two of which are just there for the sake of having a hot chick dance. Don’t get me wrong. The songs are nice and I wouldn’t complain if they’re playing on the radio. But how does Maacho and Neethanae add anything to the movie? I might give Maacho the slight pass because at the very least there was some manipulation going on, on Vetri’s end during the song sequence – like him bribing the Russian lady. But Neethanae is completely pointless.
Love songs only work if romance plays an important part in the movie. Sirukki Vaasam works perfectly in Dhanush’s Kodi and A Lovely Night in La La Land.  With that said, the other two songs in Mersal – Mersal Arasan and Aalaporaan Thamizhan – are EXCELLENT. In fact, I will even make the bold statement that it’s some of AR Rahman’s best ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XmrZaVVUpcVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Mersal – Aalaporaan Thamizhan Tamil Lyric Video | Vijay | A R Rahman | Atlee (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XmrZaVVUpc)

Look guys, I’m not saying Mersal is a perfect film, far from it in fact. The flaws are easy to spot. The flashbacks take up a large chunk of the runtime and Sathyaraj is completely wasted as the police officer – he’s nothing but a plot device to transition to the flashbacks. However, together with screenwriter K.V. Vijayendra Prasad (Baahubali 1 & 2), director Atlee has crafted a thoroughly enjoyable film with a strong emotional core and protagonists we can get behind.
Even the overabundance of Vijay worshipping that happens throughout the movie isn’t as annoying as many of his other films because he’s a DOCTOR. Heck, this movie won me over the moment Dr. Maaran speaks Tamil at an international press conference and all the non-Indian people in the crowd used earphones that are attached to a translating device. Believe it or not, in most Tamil movies including VIVEGAM, the Americans/Europeans can all somehow understand and speak Tamil fluently.
To answer the question that started this entire piece, “Mass” is not a measure of quality. Calling a movie MASS, does not indicate whether a movie is worth watching or not. There are good popcorn blockbusters and there are bad ones. There are also shitty ones, which Ajith has been acting in recently.
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Filed Under Mersal


Fitness Junkies Take To Social Media During MCO

Social media has become a powerful tool during this movement control order (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian government. While it does remain a double edged sword, many now find themselves turning to social media for nuggets of information, even when it comes to fitness.
Admittedly, fitness isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But if it is yours, then keep on reading about the many fitness junkies you can look up on Instagram for your daily home workout.
Kesavan
Online fitness coach Kesavan does this for a living, MCO or not. In his post, he cleverly utilises items found around the house to complete his workout. Yup, you don’t need an entire set of dumbbells.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kesavan | Online Fitness Coach (@kesavan70)

Anuradha Kanasan
Anuradha is a yoga teacher who conducts virtual Hatha Yoga classes. Having taught yoga for four years, this teacher shows no signs of waning, despite the MCO. Check out her profile to join!

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A post shared by Anuradha Kanasan (@anuradhayoga)

Varhoon Vystra
If you do have dumbbells, however, you could check out Varhoon Vystra’s profile for a few simple workouts. The 22 year old has an entire series of workouts that are easy to follow thanks to his clear explanation. We absolutely loved his at home treadmill!

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A post shared by Vystra (@varhoonvystra)

Kirtanraj
Another online coach, Kirtan Raj, uses water bottles, water jugs and even a rice bag in place of weights. His workouts are not only easy to follow, they’re quite fun to do as well!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-J4dPLl3wW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Vityalayaworldwide
This page is run by Kavi Vitya, a yoga teacher who also conducts classes online. She focuses on mental health and stress management, which are key during this MCO period. What we absolutely love about her page is that she routinely collaborates with other fitness enthusiasts to bring the best content to her followers. Well done!

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A post shared by vityalayaworldwide (@vityalayaworldwide)

Letch Sina
Letch is a fitness enthusiast and trainer at Relevation Republic. Her comprehensive at home workouts are inspiring, probably because she never stops pushing herself. From skipping to weighted exercises, Letch has it all, including a warm up and cool down routine.

View this post on Instagram

You feel me…🤣🤣 WOD: Painstorm XXI 30 Burpees 30 Deadlits 30 Burpees 30 Clean 30 Burpees 30 Strict Presses 30 Burpees 30 Push Presses 30 Burpees 30 Jerks 30 Burpees 30 Swings 30 Burpees 30 Sumo Deadlift high pull 30 Burpees 30 DB Snatches (L) 30 Burpees 30 DB Snatches (R) 30 Burpees 30 Manmaker
A post shared by  Letch Sina (@laxmisina__) on Mar 28, 2020 at 8:01pm PDT

All of us are dealing with the MCO in our own way. If fitness is your path, so be it. But if it isn’t, that’s okay. Mental health is key in a time of grave uncertainty like this. Take care of that too!
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Filed Under Anuradha KanasanfitnessHome workoutKavi vityaKesavanKirtanrajLetch Sinamalaysian indianVityalayaworldwideVystra


M Khambeswaran Helps Malaysia Get Closer To The Bullseye

National archer M Khambeswaran has done the nation proud at the Asian Archery Championships in Bangkok, giving fresh hopes for Malaysia in the sport at the upcoming SEA Games.

Juwaidi Mazuki finished on top at the end of the ranking rounds for the men’s individual event with 707 points at the end of 72 arrows, behind him teammate Zulfadhli Ruslan, who finished with 706. Kambeshwaran, who turned 20 this year, garnered 689 points and was ranked 24th, while Syahrizan Jafar was 28th with 680.
As a result of the team effort, Malaysia ranked third in the team event with 2,102 points behind joint leaders India and South Korea.
The SEA Games will begin on the 30th of November. Phillipines will be hosting the biennial regional multi sport event that will feature our Malaysian archery team. The sporting event for archery will be held at Clark Parade Grounds, Mabalacat.
Khambeswaran (extreme left) and his teammates at the tournament in Bangkok
Khambeswaran made headlines earlier this year when he could not participate in the national selection for the World Archery Youth Championships. Instead, the bowman chose to participate in the National Youth Archery Tournament, organised by National Archery Association of Malaysia in April. As a result of Khambeswaran’s efforts, Pulau Pinang raked in two gold medals at the national tournament.
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