Jaya Easwar’s Bhoomi Meethu Will Help You Reconnect With Nature and the Environment

Composed by Jaya Easwar Ragavan, Bhoomi Meethu is a song which will either make you tear up or indulge in the soothing voice of both the vocalists. Sreekanth Hariharan & Mufeeda Majeed have pulled a rabbit out of their hat with this beautiful masterpiece and they are definitely one of the most talented and promising young artists today. Their success does not hinder them from sending big and important messages to their audience via songs.
Bhoomi Meethu depicts the correlation between life and nature, that’s absolutely the truth. With such poignant lyrics by Oviya Oommapathy that instil reflection along with the adroit flutist, Panchajaniya Dey. This could be one of the best tunes about nature because of its positive outlook and deeply descriptive lyrics.

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A post shared by Jaya Easwar Ragavan (@jayaeaswarragavan)

Mixed & mastered by Abraham Records, the newly released brand new music has been receiving a round of applause from the audiences. Not to forget the captivating visuals by the editor, Ajai AL who made the enthralling and sophisticated visual treat that perfectly fits the music. If this music video along with the lyrics doesn’t melt your heart right now, then we don’t know what will!
Watch Bhoomi Meethu music video below:

https://youtu.be/Dl76dUvWJP8Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Bhoomi Meethu | Music Video | Jaya Easwar Ragavan | Ajai AL | Sreekanth Hariharan | Mufeeda Majeed (https://youtu.be/Dl76dUvWJP8)

Let’s give a special shout out to the entire team for offering the best music video to the audience. Best wishes on your future endeavours!
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Filed Under Bhoomi MeethuJaya Easwar RagavanOviya OommapathySreekanth Hariharan & Mufeeda Majeed


The Significance Of The Banana Tree In Indian Weddings

Banana is a fruit where every part of it is useful. Hence, no waste strategy can be adequately implemented. Each part of the banana plant is rather therapeutic and helpful to others. In a marriage, the banana tree symbolically suggests that a husband and wife should make sure nothing is lost as they join hands in a marital partnership and launch a new household.
Scientifically, the tree grows even though it has been cut off after its leaves or branches and produces sweeter fruits with a range of medicinal benefits. It signifies both the bride and the husband, even though external influences can interrupt and complicate their partnership or family, meaning that they must stick together, produce and nurture children as sweet and beneficial to society.

Each portion of the banana tree has its own benefits, the leaf is used for dining, the bark is used for preparation and packing, meanwhile, its flower can be cooked and is an important remedy for kidney problems. The fruit has proven to cure a variety of diseases. Thus, further symbolizing the way in which the bride and groom will benefit both their families and community in whatever manner they may be in.
The fruit (Banana)

It is agreed that the newly-married pair should be sweet to each other and to their respective in-laws.
Plantain (Vazhai kai)

As the vegetable is firm, hence, the couple should be firm with each other. Thus, appreciating each other through proper guidance and mannerisms.
On the other hand, the plantain leaf also implies that no matter how many guests visit their home, the couple must see that each guest is well fed with a good meal. This ensures that their family has a strong reputation for hospitality.
Related:  Indian 3: Is Shankar Reuniting With Kamal Haasan Again?The flower ( Vazhai Poo)

The flower represents the duty of the married couple to multiply and keep the family bloodline going.
The trunk (Vaazhai Thandu)

The trunk is a sign of two things. One is no matter what’s going on in life, the husband and wife should be able to rise and soar to greater heights. Second is the vazhai adi vazhai idea, which means that the family name should continue for eternity, with the next generation tasked to carry the family name forward. Make sure you perform enough good deeds so that, karma not only blesses you but the next generation as well.
Banana fiber
In ancient days the banana fiber was used as a paper and the written language was taught to the children (before the olai chuvadi level was reached). It implies that the household would be filled with information and wisdom, and that wisdom would extend to others as well. Banana fiber is often used to produce clothing, the coarse fiber was used to create table cloths, mattresses, etc which were popularly used by the Japanese in the 13th century.

Banana plant is a versatile plant with multiple benefits and it’s a gem of a plant. Plant it in every house hold to reap it’s wonderful benefits.
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Filed Under banana fiberbanana treehusband and wifeindianplaintainvazhai kaivazhai poovazhai thanduwedding


A New Deepavali Tradition For All Of Us!

The pre-Deepavali season has already started. Some have already placed orders for jam tarts and kacang biscuit; while others are slowly starting to contemplate if they could have an open house this year. With all that is going on, I must say, Deepavali will never be the same ever, or at least until they find a vaccine for Covid-19.
For years, the only way my family has celebrated Deepavali is by having an open house. My dad has this built in paranoia that, if we skip one year, then we will have to skip for the other two years and it will happen in a way that the choice won’t be in our hands. True to his words, we had three consecutive deaths in the family and for three years and we only had a small celebration. Can you imagine the terror on my dad’s face when we were discussing this year’s open house situation? I’ll give you a hint; he wasn’t happy!

I don’t know about you guys, but I love the holidays. New Year’s, Christmas, Raya and every other holiday just simply means one thing to me. FOOD and FUN. The holidays are a fantastic way of gathering around, sharing good food and collecting ang pow. Yes, as a true Malaysian, we all call it ang pow. How different will this year’s Deepavali be?
Covid-19 has just simply proven to all of us that with time, things change. Did you ever think we could ever celebrate Deepavali in this manner before? The answer is maybe, but this year is going to be so so different. I foresee a slight progression in our community and I can only hope that we do not start a “Deepavali” wave. Covid-19 is also proof that we can definitely alter the culture that has been passed down to us. Let me share a personal story of mine.
PC: The Indian Express
Growing up, I always questioned the credibility of our teachings, the form of culture and religion. Now, I must say, I DO NOT HAVE a strong knowledge in Hinduism and there are so many parts of our culture that I am yet to explore. However, I can daringly say some of the culture that my family has been practising came off to me as irrelevant to our current times.
My family has always visited the temple in the morning and only after visiting the temple, we could eat breakfast. The idea is that we need to be “pure” while visiting the temple. I never believed in it because of two reasons.

 Our thoughts and intentions are the most important thing.
 That damn mutton curry that is waiting for me at home.

Related:  Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam Receives 'UniteHealth's COVID-19 Influencers Award'Now, how will I ever focus on prayers so early in the morning when all I can think of is the delicious food at home! So, I decided to start my own tradition of eating from the padiyal and thanking god during the home prayers. I will not go to the temple because my personal belief is that god is everywhere. The liberation I felt when I first started doing this was amazing. While this worked for me, it definitely made my dad very upset. But oh well, as we all grow in life, things change. Who knows, I might find another way to celebrate Deepavali in the years to come.

What is this year’s Deepavali looking like?
As the cases are rising, it is evident that having an open house is nearly impossible. One can only hope that they can celebrate it with their family members, and even that we should be really thankful for. I urge you to skip the open house and get on board with a zoom call. Call your friends and family and you can share your funny jokes and laughter digitally. Transfer ang pow money through the many e-wallets that we use daily. It sounds so advanced but trust me, our frontliners are exhausted and we can do our part to reduce their burden.
At the end of the day, all I am saying is that you do not need to follow a certain, fixed way of celebrating a holiday. Embracing the fluidity in life is what I believe in. If you do not give the space for a spontaneous plan, how will you ever know what works for you? Covid-19 is the unexpected plan. Now, regardless of your culture, you have got to abide by certain rules and the SOP set by the government.
” Why is it that it is okay to alter our culture when the authorities set rules; but not okay if as individuals who just want to try out a new way of celebrating?”
The society shames people who want to stand out of the system because they are different. I hope this year’s Deepavali sets a new benchmark for us Indians. May we understand that Covid-19 could be a catalyst of change for us. I hope that we realise the most important thing is to have a bond with our family members and not just do “temple visits” to show how much gold we possess. I hope this year’s Deepavali brings light into our lives in the most simplest way; through FOOD and FUN!
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Filed Under #Deepavali2020covid-19tamils


What Are The Lucky Delicacies Eaten During The Chinese New Year?

First and foremost, a very Happy Chinese New Year to all Malaysians. This year, we celebrate the Year of the Tiger with a roar.
When it comes to celebrations, we must not overlook an important component that plays a significant role: food. Tell me, what is a celebration without food?
During the Chinese New Year, several dishes are prepared for their symbolic significance. During the 16-day festival season, lucky food is offered, particularly during the Chinese New Year dinner on New Year’s Eve, which is thought to bring good fortune for the following year.
Let’s have a look at the delicacies that will be offered during the Chinese New Year;
1. Chinese Dumplings
Image credit: a spicy perspective
According to legend, the quantity of dumplings eaten during the Chinese New Year foretells how much money you’ll make the following year (the more, the better).
2. Tray of Togetherness
Image credit: rotinrice
The round Tray of Togetherness, which is usually divided into six or eight compartments, depicts peace and family harmony. Fill the tray with little snacks such as dried fruit, nuts, or candy, such as this strawberry Lucky Candy. You might also serve these Chinese Almond Cookies, which are baked from scratch.
3. Eight Treasure Rice
Image credit: Omnivore cookbook
This traditional delicacy is created with sticky rice and eight “treasures,” which include a variety of seeds, nuts, and fruits, such as plums, jackfruit, and raisins. In Chinese tradition, the number eight is considered lucky, and consuming desserts on this festival symbolizes sweetness for the coming year.
4. Sweet Rice Ball
Image credit: rotinrice
Tang-yuan (sweet rice balls) are popular during the Chinese New Year for a reason: their circular shape symbolizes unification. Because its name (tang yuan) sounds like the word “reunion” in Chinese, these sticky balls also symbolize harmony and family togetherness.
5. Good Fortune Fruit
Image credit: tiket
Tangerines, oranges, and pomelos are some of the fruits consumed during the Chinese New Year. They were chosen not just because they are exceptionally spherical and “golden” in colour, indicating fullness and richness, but also because they produce a lucky sound when uttered.
6. Prosperity Cake
Image credit: kirbie craving
The split tops of these steamed rice flour cakes (Fa Gao) are well-known. The more slices on the top of your cake, the luckier you’ll be in the new year, according to custom. Fa Gao means “prosperity cake,” so it’s no wonder that these sweets are popular around Chinese New Year.
7. Longevity Noodles
Image credit: framed cooks
These noodles, known as Changzhou mian (which means “long-life noodles”), can be up to two feet long. (Longevity noodles are popular at birthday parties as well.) The longer the noodle, the luckier you will be, according to Chinese superstition. Just be careful not to break one when cooking, as this is bad luck because it symbolizes a life cut short.
8. Spring Rolls
Image credit: redhousespice
Spring rolls are thought to bring money and good fortune since they resemble gold bars. Pork, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, cabbage, and many other vegetables can all be stuffed into these deep-fried rolls.
So there you go… an array of delicious delicacies to enjoy during the Chinese New Year festivities with your loved ones.
Source: Taste of home/ China highlights
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Filed Under 2022Chinese delicacyChinese New Year


Brown Parent Logic – Condemn, Never Compliment

“Ma, look! I got 80% on my mid term exam!” an 8 year old runs to her mother. Instead of beaming with pride, the mother snatches the exam paper from the child’s hands and flips through the pages, scanning each sheet for where her daughter went wrong. “Why didn’t you answer this correctly? It’s something they’ve covered in tuition and I went through it again with you before the exam!”
7 years later, the teenager is celebrating her gold medal in the MSSD badminton championship. In the car ride home, her father begins his lecture, “All this is ok, but you really need to focus on your studies, badminton won’t lead you to success,”
As the daughter celebrates her 28th birthday with the purchase of her new Honda Civic, the mother goes on a rant, “Yeah, just because you have bought a car already, don’t think the world is yours. You still need to work hard to pay the monthly installments, otherwise they will tarik your car!”
Condemn, never compliment

The first instinct for Indian parents when a child returns with an accomplishment seems to be to belittle it. It is as if there is a voice inside them that says, “OMG! I cannot believe my son has accomplished this! But wait, I cannot possibly tell him that I’m proud of him.”
Of course, there are many, many parents who are the paragon of encouragement and are always supportive of their child’s endeavors. To those who are privileged, this piece does not address your experience.
Many of us millenials endure this chiding of achievement every time we share a milestone with our elders, and to be blatant, it just sucks. Celebration, or at least, validation is due for a variety of events, from graduating with first class honors, to earning a good amount from the day’s Grab driving. And it is natural to want to share these moments with the people closest to you, your family. But when your achievement is deprecated, is it worth sharing any more?
Why do Indian parents do this?

Short answer: Because their parents did it to them. Needless to say, we Indians aren’t very good at telling our family members how we really feel, be it good or bad.
It could also be attributed to the ego of an elder, or the irrational fear that telling the kids they’ve done well will make them conceited and big headed. This makes no sense because us children don’t turn lazy the moment we are praised, instead, we will be motivated to do better to earn more praise. While each generation has chipped at this wall of horrible self pride, remnants of it still remain.
Many Indian parents build expectations around their child. And when the child doesn’t tick their boxes, and ticks her own, they find it hard to accept and feel the need to let go a few stingers. This is because we are a collectivist society, meaning some parents are just more concerend about what ‘society will say’ than the happiness of their own children.
Parents do not understand that they are doing one of two thing. Either driving their child away, or making the child overly dependent on them as they enter adulthood, because of their ever critical gaze. I mean, do you really want your adult child to still be looking to you for validation of her work?
So what if they do? I turned out fine.

The effects of this belittlement can be disastrous. It goes without saying that we are raised in a culture where our parents have to be revered, and their wishes and thoughts are what matter, more than our own, most times.
When so much emphasis is put on the parents’ view of the child’s achievements, the child who has accomplished something remarkable will feel incompetent. And this goes on well into adulthood. In some cases, the feeling of incompetence overflows into the individual’s daily life, affecting careers, friendships and relationships.
Of course, it isn’t right to put the rise and fall of your achievements into the narrow gaze of your parents, but can we blame the adult children if this is what they have been indoctrinated with all through?
Yikes. So what do we do?
First things first, adults need to stop putting the merit of their achievements in the reactions of their parents. While this may be hard after years and years of brainwashing, it is possible.
It is also important to remember that your parents did their duty by raising you, and being grateful for that is different from letting them make you feel small. Self love and self acceptance is key for this to happen.
Secondly, those who are becoming parents themselves can be mindful of this. Just because you were caned and turned out fine, doesn’t mean that caning your child will work similarly. You and your child are of different eras.

There is no dearth of information on parenting and positive reinforcement online. Young and future parents, read up on this. Let’s not perpetuate the condemn, never compliment culture our parents brought us up with.
Ultimately, we want to create a society that is able to love and respect themselves as much as they love their elders. Isn’t this an easy first step in that direction?
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Filed Under belittlecondemnindian parentsSociety


Thanuja; A Big-Hearted Ten-Year-Old Helps Underprivileged Students

Well, we won’t deny that kids these days are beyond doubt blessed with creativity, intelligence and a heart of gold. It’s true that sometimes you don’t need a cape to flaunt your heroism. Just a small act of kindness would do the job for you.
Thanuja Kumaran, a 10-year-old has recently stolen the limelight on social media platforms by lending a hand to less fortunate students. The initiative started in the midst of the circuit breaker in response to provide digital devices to underprivileged students. Her Digital Hope initiative, which began in September of last year, has so far handed over 16 refurbished tablets to 22 students (recipients and their siblings).

She strongly believes that education is a fundamental right, and that “digital poverty” should not be a reason to impede it.

Thanuja started to solicit money with a Canvas-created banner that was extensively shared on social media by her friends, relatives, and the SJK (T) Ladang Highlands management. Her cause caught the eye of political parties, business leaders, and non-governmental organisations, all of which contributed reconditioned computers and tablets to the cause.
According to NST, she has stated that assisting underprivileged children has reminded her to be grateful for the opportunity to get a good education.
It’s never too late to help those in need at a young age!
Image credit: NST
“I’ve begun to appreciate everything my parents have done for me so far. With whatever I have, I feel obligated to help the least fortunate people in society. More significantly, I realised that age should never be an impediment to pursuing a worthy goal,” she remarked.
You’re an inspiration to all of us, Thanuja!
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Filed Under 16 refurbished tabletsCanvas-created bannerDigital HopeSJK (T) Ladang HighlandsThanujaUnderprivileged students


Vijay Sethupathi’s ‘Sindhubaadh’ To Be Released Tomorrow?

The producers have reached a settlement over the financial dispute.
The road ahead has been cleared for the release of Vijay Sethupati’s Sidhubaadh which will now hit the screens on Thursday, June 27.
The film has finally found its release date after a delay of almost a month.

“We have completed the settlement and also received the No Objection Certificate (NoC) from them. The film will release on Thursday,” he said.
Sindhubaadh, jointly produced by K Production’s Rajarajan and Vasan Movies’ Shan Sutharsan was originally slated for release in May and then later on June 21.
K Productions bought the theatrical rights for Baahubali for Rs 28 crore and paid Rs 12.5 crore. For the remaining amount, Rajarajan went ahead with a loan agreement with Shobu Yarlagadda which he has failed to repay.
A few releases have been scheduled for this weekend with four films hitting the screens on June 28. These include Yogi Babu’s Dharma Prabhu and Lakshmy Ramakrishnan’s House Owner.
The makers of Sindhubaadh released a sneak-peek on Tuesday that has reached over 2 lakh views so far.
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Filed Under Vijay Sethupathi


Amala Paul Ties The Knot With Bhavinder Singh!

Amala Paul has tied the knot with her boyfriend and singer Bhavinder Singh. Wedding pictures of couple which have gone viral on social media.
It is yet unknown when the wedding took place. Social media was flooded with pictures from the couple’s wedding ceremony after Bhavinder shared the pictures on his Instagram page and later deleted them.
Amala and Bhavinder have been together for two years now. The couple have been living together in Delhi.

She said,
“The person I have become and the way I look at my work, I owe it to him. Only a mother can give unconditional love with sacrifice. This person has also proved that he can be sacrificing and quitting his job to be with me and support me because he knows my passion.”
Last seen on screen in Tamil film Aadai, in which she played a bold role of a girl who wakes up naked in an abandoned building; Amala currently awaits the release of Tamil thriller Adho Andha Paravai Pola.
She was signed to play the lead in one of the segments of Telugu version of Lust Stories which marks Netflix’s foray into the Telugu market.
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Filed Under Amala Paulbhavinder singhcelebritykollywoodwedding


Bigg Boss 2 – Day 4: Things Heat Up Between Mumtaz And Nithya In the Kitchen

It’s day 4 in the Bigg Boss 2 house.
In the round 2 of the luxury budget task, the housemates are divided into two teams. One team will tell a story and the other team has to figure out whether the story is true or false.
The contestants in the storytelling team – Balaji, Nithya, Yaashika Aanand, Mumtaz, Vaishnavi and Mahat – go into the confession room to let Bigg Boss know whether their story is true or not.
Bhalajie and Nithya – who are married but not on good terms – decide to use this opportunity to tell their story. Nithya talks about how she’s a successful single mother, while Bhalajie talks how much he misses his late father. He says that his father could have helped him solve the problem he is facing today.

Mumtaz then speaks to Bhalajie to see if she can help him out with his marriage.
Aside from that, Nithya calls for a house meeting to discuss a problem she has with cooking. She felt that the cooking tasks assigned to her were unfair and that the tasks are not divided properly.
Cooking captain Mumtaz tries to calm Nithya down, but to no avail. Things get heated when Nithya kept on asking Mumtaz why she doesn’t cook in the mornings.
“Despite my condition (joint pain and face numbness) I came out this morning and made chapatis. I even helped with making the sabji. If you have a problem because I asked you to make tea twice in a day, then what about me? I did it throughout yesterday. I will bow down and apologise if I have done something wrong. However, I will not let anyone treat me like this,” Mumtaz said.
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Filed Under Bigg Boss 2


Top 8 Contestants For RAP Porkalam Have Been Announced!

Remember a couple of months ago, ASTRO announced that they will be searching for Tamil rapers around Malaysia! Well guess what, they have announced their top 8 contestants!
The top 8 contestants of RAP Porkalam, Malaysia’s first Tamil rap competition have been shortlisted based more than 327,000 online votes received from 29 January till 4 February 2020, as follows:

Contestant
Number of votes received from Stage 1

Ruben Raj
33,806

CJL
28,618

Silverstate Tamizhan
26,307

Eassya
25,621

Naren Zac
25,443

Kvin
25,051

Taseltech
24,737

Madrasi
23,844

Meanwhile, it was the end of the journey for contestants Tharagai, CJ Satish, Mizta Nesh, Puchi, Raklcc Visun, Lucifer, AK Shoun, and Wheelchair Rapper who did not qualify to Stage 2 by a small margin of votes.
The top 8 contestants will proceed to battle it out in Stage 2 to earn their spot as a finalist of RAP Porkalam. Watch new episodes of RAP Porkalam, every Saturday, 7pm with an encore on Sunday, 9pm on Vinmeen HD on TV (CH231), Astro GO or on demand. For more information, visit astroulagam.com.my/rapporkalam
We cannot wait to hear more of their tracks! Good luck to everyone!
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Filed Under 2020AstroMalaysianrap porkalamTamil


Astro Premiers Locally Produced Indian Telemovies

Congrats to the teams behind these films!
To celebrate this Indian New Year, all Astro customers can enjoy four locally-produced, new telemovies in Telugu, Punjabi, Malayalam and Tamil on Astro Vaanavil (CH 201), Astro GO and on demand. The telemovies for each dialect will premiere on 25 March and
from 13 to 15 April.
Marc Lourdes, Vice President, Indian Channel Business, Astro, said, “This new year we are pleased to bring all our customers four locally-produced telemovies in Telugu, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Tamil.
Astro says that they remain committed to championing local content and talents while supporting the Malaysian Indian film and TV industry which includes the development of language, arts and culture for the community.

Customers can tune in to Astro Vaanavil on:
25 March: ‘Rangulu’, Telugu telemovie directed by Soma Kanthan, premiering on ‘Ugadi’
(Telugu New Year), starring Prakash Rao, Vanishrri Rao, Ravin Rao and Chenipaiyen Blake
Yap
13 April: ‘Rabba Mereya’, Punjabi telemovie directed by Arjin Uppal, premiering on
‘Vaisakhi’ (Punjabi New Year), starring Avinder Singh, Hemant Shergil, Navinder Kaur,
Gurvinder Singh and Malkit Kaur;
14 April: ‘Kanmani Anbodu Kathalan’, Tamil telemovie directed by Kavi Nanthan (director of
‘Venpa’) premiering on ‘Chithirai Puthandu’ (Tamil New Year), starring Kuben Mahadevan
and Pashini Sivakumar;
15 April: ‘Acchammakku oru Vishukani’, Malayalam telemovie directed by Shalini
Balasundram (director of ‘Pulanaivu’) premiering in conjunction with ‘Vishu’ (Malayalam
New Year), starring Datin Shaila Nair, Anandha, and Kirtiga Nair
Enjoy watching them with your families!
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Filed Under acchammakku oru vishukaniAstroAstro Ulagamkanmani anbodu kathalanlocalrabba mereyaranguluTamilvenpa


Arya Cheekily Responds To Trisha’s Tweet About Her First Diving Session

Turns out, actress Trisha is quite the diving enthusiast.
Earlier today, the ‘Mohini’ star posted a picture of herself in a black diving suit, with the caption #firstdiveoftheyear and #trainingsession.
https://twitter.com/trishtrashers/status/951304848691011584
Like all friends do, actor Arya decided to write a cheeky reply to Trisha’s Twitter post.
“I never knew this side of you Kunjumani. Have fun #Inspiring” the actor tweeted.

😍😍😍😍 I never knew this side of you Kunjumani 👏👏👏👌👌👌😘😘😘 Have fun #Inspiring 👍👍 https://t.co/HPFZIZvrAs
— Arya (@arya_offl) January 11, 2018

In reply to that, Trisha hit back at Arya, saying, “I’m kaaa with u now. considering this is 70% of my personality. Thank uuuu Jamu”
https://twitter.com/trishtrashers/status/951309434180984832
Arya and Trisha became close friends after working together on ‘Sarvam’, a romantic tragedy film directed by Vishnuvardhan back in 2009. They continued to remain close friends even almost 10 years after.
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Filed Under AryaTrisha


Former Olympian Sabapathy Sinnayah Passes Away At 75

Indeed a significant loss for our nation.
A well-respected former Olympian Sabapathy Sinnayah, breathed his last yesterday (14th December 2022). He was 75 years old. The source claims that the athlete’s demise came after complications from dementia, which he was previously diagnosed with three years ago.
Sabapathy was a remarkably skilled sprinter in the 1970s who subsequently rose to prominence as a booster of youth development and a guardian of the welfare of national athletes.
IMAGE CREDIT: ASTRO AWANI
Being a late bloomer in athletics, Sabapathy was introduced to the sport by the late Mubarak Ahmad, the father of the late national hurdler Ishtiaq Mubarak. After completing school, Saba stayed with the Mubarak family and accompanied Ishtiaq for training sessions at the Police Depot in Selangor. He resumed his athletics career with the Jets Athletics Club before going on to represent Selangor and Malaysia in sprint events.
He made his athletic debut for the nation at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games as a member of the 4 X 400m relay squad, but although the team won the bronze, he did not run as he was relegated to a reserve.
Then in the Kuala Lumpur 1971 Seap Games, he had the misfortune of pulling a muscle in the 100m race and had to withdraw from the relay squad. It was only at the 1973 Singapore Seap Games that Sabapathy finally tasted glory when the 4 X 400m quartet comprising P.L.B. S. Payadesa, Harun Rashid, Hassan Omar and himself won the gold medal in 3:15.4. Sabapathy also won a silver in the 200m clocking 22.3 to finish behind Thailand’s A. Ratanpol (21.6).
IMAGE CREDIT: FMT
At the 1975 Bangkok Seap, Sabapathy won two bronze medals – in the 4 X 200m running with Peyadesa, Ramli Ahmad and Zainuddin Wahab in a time of 1:26.5 and the 4 X 400m (Marariah Naidu, Peyadesa, Muthiah Dattaya and Sabapathy). The 4 X 200m was won by the Thai quartet of Boontud Somsakdi, Suchart Jaesuraparp, Ratanapol and Paratanavong Sayun in 1:25.0 while Singapore’s quartet of C. Kunalan, Quah Kim Tiong and Yeo Kian Chye won silver (1.25.9). In the 4 X 400m it was Singapore who won the gold.
For the 1972 Munich Olympics, Sabapathy was trained in the US and Germany with his relay mates Peyadesa, Hassan and T. Krishnan who had a final ranking of sixth for a time of 3:13.51.
After his athletic career, Sabapathy was the Federal Territory coach from 1985-1996, the Selangor Sports Council development coach from 1997 to 2006 and the Federal Territory chief coach for a year with the Sukan Teras programme.
IMAGE CREDIT: LEVEL FIELD BLOG
Former national long-distance champion S Sathasivam remarked that Sabapathy epitomized the amateur spirit in terms of developing future athletes and founded the Falcon Athletics Club in 2010 to train talented budding athletes in Lobak for free.
Ten years ago, S Kumari Devi trained with Sabapathy to become a sprinter. She says, “He made running my true passion. My life was changed by the thrill of his coaching and learning new techniques for raising me to new heights.”
In 2019, this dedicated sportsman was honoured with the Paulian of Distinction Award at the St Paul’s Institution’s (SPI) Co-Curricular Excellence Awards as a recognition for his involvement as an athlete and coach at the oldest school in Negeri Seremban.
IMAFGE CREDIT: PRESS READER
“Your contribution will be remembered for a long time coach.”
Source: [1,2,3,4]
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Filed Under 1970 Bangkok Asian Games1973 Singapore Seap GamesFormer OlympianIshtiaq MubarakJets Athletics ClubKuala Lumpur 1971 Seap GamesMubarak AhmadPolice DepotSabapathy Sinnayahwelfare of national athletes.


WATCH: Aku Takut Rona, A Tribute To Our Frontliners By Thrillhoodz Rydahz!

So many of our local content creators are using MCO as an opportunity to create more creative and diverse content! Some try their hands in cooking, baking, up keeping or starting a fit and healthy lifestyle and some to creating positive vibe through music.
Thrillhoodz Rydahz, a Malaysian Hip-hop group, created Aku Takut Rona, not just to pass the time, but to emphasise the importance of fighting the COVID-19 by wearing a mask, social distancing and staying at home.

Harivarmaa Perumal, better known as Hust, 31, and Muhammad Shafie Othman, also known as Young Caddy, 34, make up ThrillHoodz Rydahz. The two have been producing music together since 2015 with the aim to make relatable tunes and channel positivity.
“This song was inspired by all the ‘struggles’ of staying at home,” said the duo on social media. “The song is also a tribute to all our heroic front liners who are referred to in the song as our very own Marvel Avengers,”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keH1bxpXzzQ&feature=youtu.beVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: ThrillHoodz Rydahz – Aku Takut Rona  (Official Music Video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keH1bxpXzzQ&feature=youtu.be)

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Filed Under aku takut ronalocal creatorsmalaysian musicstay homethrillhoodz


Former School Principal, V Chakaravathy, Confronts Education Minister

Things escalated pretty quickly at The Malaysian Education Forum as a passionate former school principal decided to confront Malaysia Education Minister, Maszlee Malik, regarding the regressing state of the education system.
In a passionate exchange of dialogue, Mr V Chakaravathy who taught Maths and Additional Maths in secondary school, decided to lash out at the Malaysian education system, stating that the system had “hit rock bottom”.
Education Minister Maszlee Malik (right) and ASLI chairman Jeffrey Cheah.
V Chakaravathy pointed on the declining qualities of teachers that consequently forced parents to send their children for tuition classes. He proceeded to make comparisons of the Malaysian education system to that of developed nations such as Finland and Japan.
V Chakaravathy at The Malaysian Education Forum
The former principal also suggested that homework was an increased burden to student. Any form of homework should be completed at schools under the supervision of teachers. Currently, the video has been shared over 11,000 times.
WATCH HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h88jdGJmk48Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Ex-principal lectures minister on failings of the education system (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h88jdGJmk48)

Netizens are applauding the bold confrontation made by V Chakaravathy. The Malaysian Education Forum was organised by the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) and had 200 participants join in on the dialogue themed ‘Bridging The Gaps’.
Source: Free Malaysia Today

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Alia Bhatt Is Voted As The Sexiest Asian Female Of The Year And Deepika Padukone For The Decade!

Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has been voted as the Sexiest Asian Female for the year 2019, with fellow actor Deepika Padukone being crowned sexiest for the decade in an online poll released in London on Wednesday.

Topping the annual list, released by UK-based weekly Eastern Eye, rounds off a dream year for Alia Bhatt, which included acting awards as well as starring in India’s official 2020 Oscar entry Gully Boy.
“I’ve always believed that true beauty goes beyond what is seen and that is what really counts,”
“We’ll grow older, our appearances will change, but a good heart will always keep you beautiful and that is really what we should focus on, she said!
The Sexiest Asian Female list is based on online votes, media coverage, impact and heat generated across various social media platforms.

‘Eastern Eye’ entertainment editor and founder of the list, Asjad Nazir, said: There is no one on a bigger role than unstoppable star Alia Bhatt and nothing will prevent her from dominating the next decade of commercial Hindi cinema as the queen of Bollywood.More than a movie star she is a powerful symbol of girl power, who is a representation of the empowered modern day woman.
Padukone, the topper of the 2018 list, comes in at second place for 2019 but holds on to her crown for the decade.The highest-placed TV star Hina Khan is ranked third in the 2019 list.
I am so grateful to all my fans who continue to vote for me every year. This one is for a decade of love, ups and downs, support and magic. I have never considered myself sexy, but I believe when you do you – that’s sexy. And I hope I can continue to do just that, she said.
Related:  Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan Awarded Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema at IIFA 2023The youngest in the list is 21-year-old Bollywood newcomer Ananya Panday (36) and the oldest is 46-year-old Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (39). The highest placed newcomer is YouTube superstar turned TV host Lilly Singh (14).

One thing that connects all the women featured on the list is that they have all become symbols of girl power and are empowering women and girls globally, adds Nazir.
On the list for the decade’s sexiest include Priyanka Chopra (2), Mahira Khan (3) and Katrina Kaif (4). Fifth-place Drashti Dhami bagged the sexiest TV star of the decade title, with the top 10 completed by Freida Pinto (6), Alia Bhatt (7), Anushka Shetty (8), Nia Sharma (9) and Sonam Kapoor (10).
The complete list of the Top 50 sexiest Asian women for 2019 and the decade is published in the ‘Eastern Eye’ newspaper this Friday. Hrithik Roshan was named the Sexiest Asian Male for 2019 and the decade by the newspaper last week.
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Filed Under alia bhattdeepikasexiest asian


Gypsy Trailer – Santosh Narayanan Outshines Jiiva

Gypsy is a soon to be released political thriller starring Jiiva. Directed by the same brilliant mind behind Cuckoo and Joker, Raju Murugan, Gypsy promises an intense drama. The real star of the film, however, doesn’t seem to be Jiiva. It is Santosh Narayanan.
The basic tenet of Gypsy looks to be the usual feel good kaadhal scenes in the first half, followed by drama, violence, self-immolation and police brutality. There appears to be an undercurrent of criticism against corrupt politicians who use religion to divide and conquer.
The real star of Gypsy – Santosh Narayanan
Santosh Narayanan’s music needs no introduction. We are still reeling from the soundtrack of Vada Chennai, the eerie background music piercing our ears at the thought of the film. The music director does it again with Gypsy, and his music is the real star of the two minute long trailer.
Us SaNa fans have already heard the proletarian tune, Very Very Bad from Gypsy. If that and the trailer are anything to go by, it goes without saying that the Tamil music fans won’t be disappointed with this film.
Gypsy is set to hit screens in June.

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Filed Under GypsyJiivapolitical thrillerraju muruganSantosh NarayananVery Very Bad


Make Up Artist Jastina Shares Useful Information For All Expectant Parents

Expectant parents, uncertain about your upcoming delivery? Make up artist Jastina has released two very helpful IGTV video on how she prepared for the arrival of her bundle of joy.
In the first video, Jastina explained the items which should be brought by a mother along to hospital.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JASTINA (@jastina_mua)

Next up, Jastina shares what a newborn would need need in the hospital.

View this post on Instagram

Here’s my second video mummies on what you need for your baby in the hospital. I am no expert this is purely based on my experience. This items are for BABY 🍼 👶 . BABY •diaper •wet wipes •clothings – please bring extra •mittens & booties •swaddle •yuyee oil / skin care / lotions / • towel • white noise machine • bedtime story 📖 book or a prayer book or your prayer essentials Mommies do add your additional items that you had in your bag so it could usefully for others. Thank you Brands :- @offspring.inc BABY •diaper •wet wipes •clothings •mittens & booties •swaddle •yuyee oil •hairbrush #hospitalbag #mombag #deliverybag #pregnantmom #newborn
A post shared by  J ✨B E A U T Y (@jastina_mua) on Apr 21, 2020 at 8:41pm PDT

Apart from doing bridal make up and hair, Jastina also runs her own Master Classes across the globe where she imparts her knowledge on the art of make up.
Thanks for the information, Jastina!
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Filed Under Expectant parentsjastinaProfessional Makeup ArtisteWhat to pack in hospital bags


Here Is A List Of Hotels In KL That Are Now Quarantine Centres!

Yes, you read that right!
Our Malaysian government is using these hotels as quarantine centres for Malaysians returning from overseas. There are 49 hotels in Malaysia used as quarantine centres by the government and 31 hotels in KL. On top of that, the government also uses 488 public and community halls as quarantine centres for COVID-19.
Here is the COVID-19 List of Hotels in KL as Quarantine Centres
1.Best Western Hotel PJ
2.COOP Hotel Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
3.Dorsett Grand Subang, Subang Jaya
4. Four Points by Sheraton Puchong
5. FOX Lite Hotel Dpulze-Cyberjaya
6. Hilton Garden Inn Puchong
7. Hilton Petaling Jaya
8. Palace of Golden Horses, Seri Kembangan
9. Hotel Sunway Clio PJ
10. Hotel Sunway Pyramid PJ
11. Qliq Damansara PJ
12. Dorsett Putrajaya
13. Ancasa Express Pudu KL
14. Cosmo Hotel KL
15. Four Points by Sheraton KL Chinatown
16. Grand Millenium KL
17. Hilton KL
18. Holiday Inn Express KL City Centre
19. Furama Bukit Bintang KL
20. Hotel Royal KL
21. Ibis KL City Centre
22. Ibis Styles KL Fraser Business Park KL
23. Hotel Impiana KLCC
24. J-Hot3l by Dorsett, KL
25. Living at Dsulaiman KL
26. Hotel Plaza Grand KL
27. Hotel Premiera KL
28. Ramada Suites KLCC KL
29. Silka Cheras KL
30. Swiss Inn KL
31. The Pearl KL
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba announced the move yesterday.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 2 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 [Act 342], the minister declares the places specified in the Schedule as quarantine stations,”
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob mentioned that the compulsory 14-day quarantine order for all Malaysians and visitors returning from overseas would be enforced beginning April 3.
Related:  Top 5 Oldest Hindu Temples In MalaysiaAll returning Malaysians or foreign visitors who enter the country will be subjected to the quarantine.
Stay tuned for more updates!
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Filed Under covid-19hotelsMalaysiamalaysian government


Is the K-Slur Being Normalised?

Racial slurs seem to have been normalised in one’s speech in these recent years. Such insensitive remarks without thinking about the consequences of the hurtful words will have a great negative impact on the person who’s been the victim of racial slurs.
One such incident took place at  Politeknik Ungku Omar, a polytechnic situated in Ipoh where a lecturer had allegedly hurled an offensive and discriminatory slur during his class.

https://varnam.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/WhatsApp-Video-2021-11-17-at-2.59.36-PM.mp4
In the video, we can clearly see that the lecturer used the K-slur in a very demeaning way, and that too during his online lesson in presence of several other Indian students.
Saya kata ada pelajar..bengang nak bila saya cakap. Cakap macam keling kan. Itu pelajar india la, pelajar india tu bengang dengan saya. That thing is you, you, you, you, you sendiri.. cakap lain, tulis lain, cakap lain, dengar lain. WOW.
One of the students, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the lecturer was attempting to criticise Indians in general while explaining some assignment concerns.
Clearing assignment doubts in class is fine, but using the K-slur was a very useless blunder by the lecturer that could have easily been avoided for many obvious reasons.
This matter has been brought to the attention of Sadhis Kumar Letchumanan, a member of the MIC youth council, who has also issued a letter requesting that proper action be taken against the lecturer. They have also demanded that the lecturer issue a public apology.
The use of the K-slur appears to be a never-ending cycle, with the more we use it, the more likely this word will become common. What irritates me the most is that this K-slur comes from a lecturer who is supposed to set a good example to his students.
I’m afraid that one day we won’t be able to stop people from using that stigmatising slur. I can only wish that people in this country understand that this word is a serious matter and work to keep this word out of their vocabulary.
To be honest, I’ve heard this slur a lot within my circle of friends, but they always explain that they were just saying it for “fun.” As such, whether the intention was good or bad, using a slur on someone is always a “racist” act.
Especially even though we know this particular K-slur would spark a racial debate among us.
Some would argue in a discussion that this word is not necessarily a bad thing after all. There is no unsubtle reference to a dark past. But, nowadays, is the slur used in such a polite manner that it does not offend Indians?
Consider the video here as an example. Knowing that it is an extremely offensive word to use in a classroom, the lecturer has meaningfully used it to mock the Indians in the class. He didn’t use it to remind us that this K-slur doesn’t have a bad reputation after all. NO!
Even if the word did not have a dark history, it is still a slur that will undoubtedly offend Indians because it is frequently used to mock the race. This K-slur is still used in this country to make Indians feel like outcasts in comparison to their friends, as if they don’t belong here.
The simple solution to this problem is to simply not say it if you can’t reclaim it!
Picture credit: The News Minute
There’s also a 1941 news article claiming that the word “kling” has been equated with the “N-word” — an offensive racist term used against black people. They argued that because the N-word has been “killed” (that it should no longer be used), “kling” should also be a dead word for similar reasons. ”
Sometimes the only way to overcome this problem is to devote ourselves to believing that this K-slur never existed in the first place and to completely refrain from using this racial slur, even in a playful manner.
How would you react if someone used the K-word on you?
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Filed Under Ahmad Sanari Bin Md. Sallehindian discriminationK-slurK-wordkelingklingPoliteknik Ungku Omar


Hearts Of Harris Concert 2023: A Dreamy Night That Truly Came to Live

From the minute one stepped inside The Hearts of Harris Concert Hall, everything felt like a dream- A magical dream come true.
Who else can make such a dreamy night come true other than Malik streams Corporation? Yes, being the first Indian concert happening this year in Malaysia, Malik Streams have once again brought us a memorable lifetime concert experience that will forever stay special.
The Hearts of Harris concert brought to us by MS Gold was held at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on 21 January 2023 and saw a full house of almost about 10,000 people.
Heart Of Harris Full House?
Google is never wrong- Searched Harris Jayaraj’s raining song and Vaseegara was on the first list. Was it just me looping that tune before the concert as it was drizzling or you too?
The crowd started building up by 4 pm despite the light rain showers. There were some people who came prepared with umbrellas. Whereas, those without one, had not to worry as there were vendors on all corners selling raincoats. Apart from that, there were food trucks and even moving vendors selling beverages and foods to keep the people energized.
Malik Streams coordinated the crowd in a very precise way. They segregated the people outside according to the seatings purchased. There were huge and clear signages that were convenient for many to identify their ticket rows. The whole crew and team members did a great job in managing the crowd.
The gate was initially said to be opened at 5 pm but due to some issues, it got delayed to about half an hour. At sharp 5.30 pm when the gates were opened, there were securities thoroughly checking to make sure there weren’t any prohibited items brought in. Tickets were also checked and there were crews in each corner guiding the crowd right until they get to their seats inside.
IMAGE CREDIT: DHIVAGER RATHAKRISHNAN (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Banger
Town’s favorite duo DJ Dasz and DJ Jay took over the hall with their 50 minutes dope track session. Both DJs played amazing beats as the audience slowly filled up the stadium. Many were seen grooving along when they had ‘Yaakai Thirri’ on. What a vibe!
DJ Dasz had his special dance tracks on followed by an interactive flashlight session with the audience. While DJ Jay swayed the whole crowd with his slow mellifluous beats. The crowd got super hyped when the DJs had the Thunivu’s ‘Gangstaa’ on track. Everyone, almost the whole stadium went crazy. Now that is a magnificent opening act.
Special Entry
As the DJ’s opening act came to an end, they wrapped up the session with two special guest arrivals and the arrival of the main man behind the Hearts of Harris Concert.  Present at the concert as a special guest were Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan, Big Boss fame and Tamil star, Shivani Narayanan as well as the main man, Datuk Abdul Malik, CEO of Malik Streams Corporation.
Side note: This is also Shivani’s first visit to Malaysia.
IMAGE CREDIT: DHIVAGER RATHAKRISHNAN (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER)
Local Artist Performance
The show started at 7.30 pm featuring performances from a line of talented local artists. Malaysia’s rising hit producers, Music kitchen along with Sheezay, Arvind Raj, and Amos Paul entertained the crowd with a few hit songs of theirs. From Certified Indian Actresses (C.I.A) right up to sotta sotta, had the whole stadium vibing to it.
“Harris Jayaraj’s Yedho Ondru was the one and only song that brought me to where I am today, shared Amos Paul as he sings it along. The whole crowd sang along when Amos Paul went- “ada rama ivan padu indha penmai ariyadha” – Hats off to all these young local artists.
Legendary Darkkey never fails to be the highlight in all concerts, and yes – he stole the show again. Darkkey and Elan The Keys upped the excitement quotient with their ultimate songs, ‘Akkamage’ and ‘Puli Puli’. Their iconic dance moves and songs verses hyped the crowd and almost everyone in the stadium was engaged and did Darkkey’s signature head-bang.
Bringing you India’s favorite and popular reality show anchors Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Despande. (Deafening screams blew up the stadium)
Laugh Out Loud!
Not just India’s favorite host, but they will always have a huge fan base in Malaysia too. Ma Ka Pa & Priyanka had an interactive laugh-out-loud session with the audience. There was another unexpected artist that made his way and cracked hilarious jokes with the crowd- All’s favorite Cook with Comali fame and comedian Pugazh. (They just have the best sense of humor- thank you for making us laugh our hearts out)
A Whole New World
The moment we all have been dying to witness was just seconds away. As the countdown went by the stadium lights dimmed. Pitch black with glows of light emitting one by one. The aura within the arena was surreal.

3…2…1

Harris Jayaraj got the audience screaming their hearts out as soon as he appeared on stage with his keyboards composing ‘Uyirin Uyirae’ from Kaakha Kaakha. His spellbound music composition teleported the stadium to another dimension- It was that magical!
Related:  Hearts of Harris 4.0: An Electrifying Concert in KL with a record of 4 sell out shows !IMAGE CREDIT: DHIVAGER RATHAKRISHNAN (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER)

If there were about to be four words to describe Harris Jayaraj’s performance as soon as he stepped foot on stage:  exhilarating, melodious, lively, and dreamy.

Every melody he composed on stage hit a nerve, a memory, or a feeling that triggered something different – in the best way possible. Harris Jayaraj captivated the audience with his stage presence and his live composing throughout the night. My personal favorite was when he composed the ‘Thuppakki BGM’ with his keyboard, that honestly gave me goosebumps. And how can one not melt in the feel when Harris Jayaraj composed Vaseegera live on stage? It was a magically emotional moment as the arena was illuminated with swaying flashlights.
Audiences that were all being seated, stood all of a sudden and started screaming their hearts out again and again while dancing when ‘Ava Enna’ from Vaaranam Aayiram was composed.

Anjalai is a word, yen anjalai macha ava is an emotion – Harris Jayaraj made us feel that with his composing that night. Watching the crowd dance and singing it with a feel – I just cannot fully describe with words, it was like stepping into a whole new world.

The setlist then followed in impeccable order, comprising songs from emotional melodies, dance hits, right up to instrumental tracks.
What’s A Night Without The Stars?
Haricharan, Benny Dayal, Vijay Prakash, Karthik, Krishh, Sridhar Sena, Dhivagar, Andrea Jeremiah, Saindhavi, Hari Priya, Vishnu Priya, Srinisha, Sharmila and Samuel Nicholas Jayaraj were the stars that made the night shine even brighter along with the melody king.
Special Note: Samuel Nicholas Jayaraj is the son to the Isai Minnal, Harris Jayaraj. This marks Samuel’s first ever performance in his music career.
Every time Karthik and Krishh came upfront to perform their songs, the ‘girl crush’ screams coming from the crowds had eardrums vibrating. And of course, not leaving out how the boys went uncontrollably when Andrea Jeremiah performed ‘google google’ from Thuppakki. Saindhavi’s voice completed the missing puzzle to the magical night.
IMAGE CREDIT: DHIVAGER RATHAKRISHNAN (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER)
“Vaseegara was my first audition song, that showered me to stardom”, said Saindhavi as she performed that amazing hit of Harris Jayaraj.
Benny Dayal’s spirit never fails to unwind the groovy ambiance. Audiences were also left mesmerised by Haricharan and Vijay Prakash’s soulful voices. Also, Vishnu Priya thank you for giving us the Bombay Jayashree feel.
Local Malaysian artist Dr. Burn and Emcee Jesz also performed along the tracks they sang to Harris Jayaraj’s composition. Dr. Burn’s verse in ‘Hasili Fisiliye’ and Kavithai Gundar Emcee Jesz’s rap in ‘Irumugan Settai’ was dope, especially when witnessing that life on stage. Whereas, Sharmila stole the crowd’s attention when she lively performed the chorus in ‘Hasili Fisiliye’- that was beyond perfect.
There can never be a replacement for the super singer stars and India’s remarkable band of musicians. Huge kudos to them.
The Dreamy Performance
The second half of the show was brought in an emotionally melodious way. ‘This is going to be an expression of music round said Isai Minnal as he had 10 songs composed live on various keyboards.
Samuel Nicholas Jayaraj was the first performer in this round. He performed ‘Iru Vizhi Unathu’ from his dad’s famous album Minnalae and swept our feet off the ground. Followed by:

Suttum Vizhi – by, Srinisha
Asku Laska-by, Vijay Prakash
Unakkenna Venum Sollu- by, Benny Dayal
Annul Maelae- by, Saindhavi
Iyengaaru Veetu Azhage- by, Haricharan
June Ponal- by, Krishh
Poove Vai Pesum Pothu- by, Hari Priya
Aval Ulaghazhagi & Oru Manam- by, Karthik

Now that was a complete teleportation to Harris Jayaraj’s heart- Well, guess that’s why it was named Hearts of Harris after all.
IMAGE CREDIT: DHIVAGER RATHAKRISHNAN (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER)
Lighting And Sound
The excellent sound and music that brimmed through the speakers got the crowd engaged all out. The arena was set up in a comfortable space for one to sit back and enjoy the magic composed by the Isai Minnal. While the lighting was a killer as it added excitement, energy, and emotion to the dreamy night.
Waking Up From The Dream
As the night came to an end, audience members were heard screaming “WE WANT MORE! WE WANT MORE!”.
“Thank you, Malaysia, for all the love and for making this 3-hour show a stupendous success. The amount of love we received today got us thinking is it the audience coming all the way to see us perform or are we coming all the way to witness such a beautiful crowd”, said Harris Jayaraj with love as he wrapped the night with his ‘Manjal Veyil’ from Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.
IMAGE CREDIT: DHIVAGER RATHAKRISHNAN (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER)
Well, it was clearer than ever that Harris Jayaraj’s evolution as a composer is one that shall never end. The story is still being written, and with no end in sight, the Isai Minnal’s timeless value continues to shine.
Thank you, Harris Jayaraj, for giving us a magical dreamy lifetime experience.
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Filed Under Andrea JeremiahBenny DayalDatuk MalikDhivagarDr BurnEmcee JeszHari PriyaharicharanHarris Jayaraj concert in Malaysiahearts of harrisisai minnalKarthikKavithai Gundar Emcee JeszKrishhma ka pa anandpriyanka deshpandeSaindhaviSamuel Nicholas JayarajSharmilaSridhar SenaSrinishaVijay PrakashVishnu Priya


Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Sasikala Devi Subramaniam Promoted To Deputy Police Commissioner

In this fast-growing age, gender equality has not only been acknowledged but more widely embraced in most parts of the world. Hence, limiting opportunities for women have been fewer and has motivated a lot of women to step out and take the chance to pursue their dreams.

Having said that, Datuk Sasikala, on the other hand, has set a shining example and made Malaysian Women proud of her achievement.
The lady hero well known for her bold and brave action for leading the police raid team on former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s home over the 1MDB inquiry has now been promoted to Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) on 19th November 2020.
Sasikala Is now the first Indian female officer who holds a high ranking Position in the police force.
Google
Previously, she served as Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) of Police while holding other posts such as Bukit Aman CCID deputy director.
Google
She was the first senior female officer appointed as Deputy Director of the Commercial Crime Department at Bukit Aman, and currently occupies the rank of Chief Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation and Finance at the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department.
PDRM pix
Her success in the police department is a tremendous inspiration to many women across the country. And we hope to someday see her being promoted to Police Commissioner.
It is indeed a great achievement made by DCP Datuk Sasikala, wishing you all the best!
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Filed Under Bukit AmanDatuk Sasikala Devi SubramaniamDCPFirst Indian Female OfficerSAC


Vijay And AR Murugadoss May Reunite For Thalapathy 65!

Vijay and filmmaker AR Murugadoss, who had previously worked together in Thuppakki, Kaththi and Sarkar, are most likely to reunite for the fourth time.

Over the last few months, names of several filmmakers have been associated with Thalapathy 65, which is the tentative title of Vijay’s next film. From Sudha Kongara to Magizh Thirumeni and Ajay Gnanamuthu, these filmmakers are among the few who were vying for an opportunity to direct Vijay.
However, as per the latest reports, Murugadoss may direct Vijay for the fourth time. Reliable sources close to the filmmaker have confirmed the reunion.
Murugadoss’s last film was Rajinikanth starrer Darbar, which turned out to be a box-office dud. Darbar featured Rajinikanth in the role of an angry police officer with a vengeance to avenge the death of his daughter.
Meanwhile, Vijay currently awaits the release of his forthcoming Tamil film, Master, due for release in April. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Master features Vijay in the role of a college professor and will have a college backdrop for most part of its story. It’ll be the first time Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi will be seen sharing screen space.
Master features Vijay Sethupathi as the antagonist. Malavika Mohanan, who made her Tamil debut via Rajinikanth’s Petta, has been signed to play the leading lady. The film also stars Vijay Sethupathi as the antagonist and Andrea Jeremiah in a key role.
Vijay was last seen on screen in Atlee directed Bigil in dual roles. He was seen playing father and son roles and both the characters were well received by the audiences!
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Filed Under kollywoodmurugadossTamilthalapathy65Vijay


Producer Publicly Threatens Chinmayi For Allegations Against Vairamuthu!

Disgusted!
A few months ago, the #MeToo movement rose to fame in India. The very first Kollywood celebrity to speak up about this was Chinmayi. She made it public about a sexual misconduct allegation against lyricist Vairamuthu. He has denied the allegations and is ready to face a legal battle.
K. Rajan publicly threaten Chinmayi in a film press meet
Ever since, Chinmayi has received endless support and also a tremendous amount of hate. The Chinmayi-Vairamuthu scandal made many kollywood artists to reveal their stories on sexual harassment.
Recently, Chinmayi shared a video in which producer K. Rajan is seen making threats without naming her.  He says that it is wrong for her to tarnish the image of Vairamuthu, who took years of hard work and effort to build his reputation.  In the video, he goes on to warn her that fifty women from his area are enough to teach her a lesson. He further goes overboard by stating that if Chinmayi continues to shred the image of Vairamuthu he has people who would shred her too.
Is it our culture to publicly threaten a woman for her speaking and putting her opinion out there?  This is her side of the story, similarly to him, he denied the allegations. Question is, does Vairamuthu get public threats? Why is there a gender gap when it comes to sexually harassed victims? I just hope Chinmayi does not stop fighting for this because this is important. Not only to set a precedent but to also remind the others out there, to really be mindful before behaving like a mindless human.
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Mixed Reactions Over Reopening of Temples in Pahang

Hindu temple management committees in Pahang seems to be in a quandary over the move to re-open temples located in green zones starting June 10 onwards.
The prominent Sri Marathandavar Aalayam temple in Sungai Jerik, Maran is the only temple in Pahang given permission to reopen next week while other temples that wish to reopen can submit their application online before 3pm on June 7.
Some temples are not in favour of the move as the premises will operate only for two days in a week – Fridays and Saturdays – between 6pm and 9pm while some claim they need to open the doors, as the temple had no revenue and zero collection since the movement control order was implemented on March 18.
Maran’s Sri Marathandavar Aalayam Temple president G. Ramakrishnan said he was unsure about the crowd as the temple will only be opened for three hours in the evening and limited people are allowed in at a time.

“The Maran temple is usually crowded during the mornings till late noon. However, next week we can only operate between late evening till night… since inter-district travelling is allowed, people from other parts of the state might travel here and many would be eager to drop by as they have been unable to go to the temple since March.
“The main committee will hold a meeting this weekend to discuss the Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) stipulated by the Ministry of Unity and Malaysian Hindu Sangam. It is going to be a totally new experience for the management and devotees,” he said when contacted.
Ramakrishnan said the temple will station a committee member at the entrance to record the devotees full details and advice them on the floor markings, and maintaining social distancing during prayers.
Meanwhile, a temple chairman who declined to be named said it was not practical to open the premises for six hours over two days and then close it for the next five days.
“The decision to reopen temples might have been made a little too soon as it would have been better to wait a little longer once the situation further improves Although there is no compulsion for the temples to reopen but temple have also suffered a loss of income.
“Temples have not been doing any cash collection or receiving any donation as all the Thiruvizha (an annual celebration) has been called-off but they still have to pay the priest, helpers and cleaners. Temple managements are in a dilemma if they should reopen or wait till the pandemic situation gets better,” he said, adding the chosen Hindu temples will reopen on June 12.
Meanwhile, Pahang Hindu Sangam chairman N. Athimulam agreed there has been mixed reactions from temple managements towards the move to reopen temples but felt that “something is better than nothing”.

He said as long as temples strictly adhered to the SOP and ensured devotees complied to the guidelines then there should be no issues.
“So far only the Maran temple has received the green light to reopen next week but other temples can appeal and I have sent the forms to the temples located in green zones…it is up to them to decide and the final decision will be made by the National Security Council.
“Temples must follow the SOP including not allowing elderly people above 70-years-old and children below the age of 12 into the premises, ensure devotees wear face masks, provide hand sanitisers and record their temperatures,” he said, adding the approval to operate will be revoked by the authorities if they violate the SOP.
It is learnt that a maximum of 30 people including the priest and his helper are allowed inside the temple premises at a time and upon completing their prayers, the devotees will have to leave the temple area.
Last week, National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, in a letter, announced a total of 84 Hindu temples in green zones nationwide were allowed to re-open on June 10.
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Filed Under G. RamakrishnanMaran's Sri Marathandavar Aalayam TemplePahang Hindu Sangam chairman N. AthimulamReopening of Temples


Cikgu Mary and Cikgu Ilavarasi Receive McDonald’s Anugerah Guru Inspirasi

Teachers Selvamary Lourdesamy and Ilavarasi Kalimuthu are among the 25 recipients of the annual McDonald’s Anugerah Guru Inspirasi. McDonald’s Anugerah Guru Inspirasi is an award dedicated to celebrating and recognizing inspiring teachers that have gone beyond their call of duty to make long-lasting impacts on their students.
Since the awards inception in 2017, McDonald’s Malaysia has awarded 82 teachers for their unique and unconditional efforts for their students and received over 16,000 nominations from Malaysians all over the country with stories of how their teacher has impacted their lives.
This year’s 25 exceptional teachers were recognized for instilling strong moral values, becoming a pillar of strength for students going through the ups and downs of life, and never once giving up on building up students.
Ms Mary

“As a teacher, you don’t expect anything when you help your students. It always feels like it’s part of the job as we succeed when our students succeed,” said teacher Selvamary a/p Lourdesamy of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan USJ 12, Selangor upon finding out she was one of the winners for McDonald’s Anugerah Guru Inspirasi 2020.
Ms. Selvamary was nominated by one of her students that was immensely taken back by the compassion and dedication she had for her students. She was known for her effective notes for Biology and made the subject easy to understand.
She would also stay back for five hours every day to provide extra classes for her students that needed it. Known as a pillar of support for many of her students, they continue to visit her to this day and send her gifts on her birthday or Teacher’s Day long after graduating.
Cikgu Ilavarasi

Another nominated teacher is Mrs. Ilavarasi d/o Kalimuthu from SMK Kuala Ketil, Kedah. She was nominated by one of her students who lost direction in life and given up on her life after the passing of both her grandparents. Mrs. Ilavarasi never gave up on her and continued to motivate and provided her with emotional support.
She even transferred the student to the school she was teaching at. Cikgu Ilavarasi then supported her financially to help her complete her studies. The student has successfully turned over a new leaf and is currently an undergraduate student who will soon be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree.
Each of the 25 winners will receive RM5,000 in cash, a trophy, and certificate of recognition in conjunction with this year’s Teacher’s Day celebration. Nominators will receive RM200 worth of McDonald’s vouchers as a token of appreciation for the contribution of their stories. This year, in compliance with the nation’s Movement Control Order, McDonald’s worked with each teacher’s respective school personnel to surprise the winning teachers with their students via a video call.
Additionally, as a token of appreciation for educators this Teacher’s Day, McDonald’s Malaysia will be offering an exclusive deal available on the McDonald’s app. For RM14.99, get 2 medium iced lattes and 2 Oreo McFlurrys from 15 to 22 May 2020.
Click here to read all 25 stories, which tell moving tales on the efforts of these silent heroes.
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Filed Under ilavarasikedahmcdonalds malaysiaselvamaryteahcers dayusj


The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Review: Dhanush Is the Only Thing Extraordinary About This Film

The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir thinks it’s a whimsical movie about a poor man from the slums of India trying to find his identity, place and purpose within the vastness of this world. In reality, it’s a messy and frankly simple minded motion picture that is made bearable — heck, somewhat entertaining — by its charismatic leading man who’s doing everything in his power to keep the ship afloat. The book in which it’s adapted from, ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe’ was apparently a huge hit in France and sold across 36 countries. I have not read the book, but I guess this is definitely one of those instances where fans of the novel would scoff and say, “screw the movie! The book is far better.”
The movie actually starts off in a rather entertaining fashion. We meet an inquisitive little boy named Aja, who lives in the slums of Mumbai with his single mother. Aja’s mother told him he’s a miracle baby — think Jesus or Anakin Skywalker. But Aja knows she’s bullshitting. This leads to a hilarious gag that runs for about 10 minutes, where Aja keeps pointing towards random men they bump into at the morning market or on the street and wonders if that’s his father. In school, Aja learns about the world out there and realises that he’s poor. Promising never to be poor again and dreaming of travelling the world, Aja becomes a street magician and a pickpocket, mostly conning European tourists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1WASu-s4eAVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir | Official trailer | Dhanush | Ken Scott | 21 June 2019 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1WASu-s4eA)

When his mother passes away, Aja discovers love letters from his estranged French father. So, Aja with nothing but a plane ticket, passport and a fake 100 Euro bill journeys to Paris. I like the scene where Aja realises that he’s getting conned by a chatty French taxi driver who’s driving around in circles just to increase the rate of the fare. Instead of getting angry, he smiles to himself: “For the first time in my life, I’m seen as a rich Indian tourist.” Of course, he later proceeds to hustle the cab driver. Aja goes to Ikea and bumps into an American girl and they hit it off right away. Aja asks a girl out on a date. “Meet me at the Eifel tower, tomorrow night at 7 pm,” he says. Because he has no money, that night, he decides to sleep in one of the Ikea wardrobes.
He wakes up in a cargo truck on the way to England, with a bunch of Somalian refugees.
This is where director Ken Scott and screenwriter Luc Bossi loses control over their vehicle. The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir suddenly becomes a film about the global refugee crisis. Aja and the Somalians led by Barkhad Abdi’s character get caught by the border police. For whatever reason, the officer breaks into song, in one of the most cringe-worthy, tonally jarring, laughably terrible sequences of the year.
Related:  Happy World Music Day: 10 Tamil Songs That You Should Listen On WMD!
And then they get transported to Spain because *nonsense*.
And then there’s something about Karma, or at least a white man with no spiritual knowledge’s presentation of the ancient Hinduism/Buddhism concept.
Later, there’s a subplot about a Spanish actress, the man she despises and the love of her life.
There’s also something on lesbianism.
The problem isn’t just that they’re random subplots. It’s that they’re unfunny, often very exposition heavy, sometimes self-serious, contains no thematic throughline nor character development. They’re just random scenes where everything is said and nothing is felt. The cities too are presented only in stereotypes without much personality. The streets of Mumbai is as colourful as a preschooler’s crayon box, Paris only has the Eifel tower and Barcelona is nothing more than its famous wishing fountain.

A cracking song titled, ‘Madaari’, composed by Amit Trivedi (Secret Superstar, Pad Man) is made dull by bland choreography — better to listen to it on Spotify than to watch it on screen. The circumstances that Aja finds himself in are extraordinary if we list it down in bullet points — getting transported in a wardrobe, escaping a hitman via hot air balloon, etc — but the journey is very, very ordinary.
But I have to say, shining bright like a diamond in a film as bland as your average garden pebble is Dhanush, who delivers a restrained and earnest performance despite English not being his first language. He’s charming and magnetic. Note the scene where he tries to deliver a message to the girl he loves over the phone through her friend. This should’ve been the type of scene where you roll your eyes back because of how cliche and unearned it is, but Dhanush’s nuanced performance makes it a heartbreaking scene of genuine emotion.

For Tamil film audiences who have seen his range of masterful work from romantic movies (Yaaradi Nee Mohini) to heavy dramas (Aadukalam, 3, Mayakkam Enna) to epic gangster thrillers (Pudhupettai, Vada Chennai) to balls to the wall action blockbusters (Maari, VIP), this is nothing new. Putting aside Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan (cause let’s not get into that argument right now), Dhanush is easily the best actor working in Tamil cinema today. My hope is that The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, for all its faults, opens the door for Dhanush to play more roles outside of Indian cinema, preferably meatier characters born out of more delectable screenplays.
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Filed Under DhanushThe Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir


WATCH: Arvind Raj and His Dad Cover the Timeless Tune Poovukellam

Singer and musician Arvind Raj has wowed us yet again with his latest cover for two reasons. Firstly, the song Poovukellam is a timeless tune. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s collaborated with his father to sing it!
The tune, from Ajith’s Uyirodu Uyiraaga was originally sung by Srinivas, KK and Harini.
Arvind Raj has covered the song well, without the need to butcher it by introducing unnecessary ad libs like some of his peers. We’re happy to report that we couldn’t be happier with the outcome!

Keep up with Arvind Raj’s latest on Instagram here.
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Filed Under AppaArvind RajPoovukellamThala Ajith’s Uyirodu Uyiraga


Inspiring Young Inventors Bagged Gold Medals At Poland Innovation Fair

Is creativity the mother of invention?
Yes! Tamil school students have always been in the lead when it comes to brilliant invention especially in field of Science and Technology.
Living up to their call, five pupils from SJK (T) Pusat Telok Datok, Banting represented Malaysia in the E-NNOVATE 2020 which was held in Poland from 6th to 8th of July 2020.
The young inventors, comprising Taarshini Umaparam, Kavinesh Ganesan, Kanieysh Baskaran, Mathangi Palanikumar, and Thayalan Rajasegaran proved their deep passion for science which earned them a gold medal in the E-NNOVATE (International Innovation Fair).
They’ve invented the Domestic Aluminium Can Compactor (DACC). The device is known as an eco-friendly tool that helps to protect the environment and depletion of natural resources. The mechanical properties of the device can easily recycle aluminium cans into small environmentally friendly packages.

The competition saw the participation from 13 other countries and guess what? This is not the school’s first award, the students emerged as winners of a similar competition in Bali, Indonesia last year. The same team had struck a gold medal and swept an amount of RM 296 in the science exhibition.
E-NNOVATE, is the world’s first-ever Virtual Innovation Fair, which brings together innovators on a unified platform. With E-NNOVATE, the traditional expo booth experience is brought to life with our VIRTUAL BOOTH concept which is a fantastic global one-stop-destination for innovators, technology buyers, and enthusiasts alike. E-NNOVATE gives the innovators an opportunity to virtually present and discuss innovations with reputed jury members across the globe.
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Filed Under Kanieysh BaskaranKavinesh GanesanMathangi PalanikumarSJK (T) Pusat Telok DatokStrike gold medalTaarshini UmaparamThayalan Rajasegaran


Must Have Makeup-Artists On Your Special Day To Blush You With A Pop Of Vibrant Perfection!

As much as the mellows of the pandemic is washing over us, wedding bells seems to be chiming everywhere in the nooks and corner of the country, jiggling with brides and grooms gushing over to seal the deal.
Wedding preparations could be a nerve wrecking summersault for most brides, raining with last minute errands, picking on the right sarees to managing to get hold of the perfect make up artist that holds the huge responsibility of adorning the bride’s look for the day that she is to cherish till eternity.
Easing up your pathway, for the ideal “MUA” to shine up the look you have always dreamt of showcasing while walking down the isle, we have listed a number of the best exuberant makeup artists in the country to rock your D- Day fuming in glam!
USHAHAIRANDMAKEUP

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BLUSHBEAUTYANDBEYOND

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STEA_MAKEUP

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KAMALAVAASHNEE

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ARDANAHARANBRIDAL

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AISHUASH51

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THESTYLES_BYSHA

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KANNAN RAAJAMANICKAM

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VICKYMAKEUP_MEHNDI

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YASHMUA_

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JASTINA_MUA

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SEAN_RAJ_MAKE_UP

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MANGAJAGANMOHAN

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R.I.H.A.N.N.A.G

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Dear brides, let’s put a halt to all your endless scrolls on the net for the right make up artist, allowing us to lift off the weight on your shoulders.
Check out all these meticulously hand picked makeup artists that serve their best styles catering to all your needs and wishes, leaving no flaw on your big day!!
*The numbering of make-up artists made in this article was done randomly and not intentionally.*
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Filed Under AISHUASH51ARDANAHARANBRIDALBLUSHBEAUTYANDBEYONDJASTINA_MUAKAMALAVAASHNEEKannan RaajamanickamMANGAJAGANMOHANMust Have Makeup-Artists On Your Special DayR.I.H.A.N.N.A.GSEAN_RAJ_MAKE_UPSTEA_MAKEUPThestyles_byshatop make up artists in malaysiaUSHAHAIRANDMAKEUPVICKYMAKEUP_MEHNDIYASHMUA_


Ocean’s 8: We Finally Get An Indian Girl As A Lead In A Major Hollywood Film

American-Indian actress and comedian Mindy Kaling has been revealed as one of the casts for Hollywood’s all new Ocean’s 8, set to hit theatres in June 2018.
Mindy Kaling – who is of Tamil and Bengali heritage – will be joining a pool Hollywood A-listers like Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Sandra Bullock, and Anne Hathaway in the star-studded summer blockbuster. Bad Girl Riri, Brooklyn-based rapper Awkwafina and actress Sarah Paulson will also star in the film.

Meet the new guys. #Oceans8 is in theaters June 2018. https://t.co/4a9sb0NkL0 pic.twitter.com/j7GVqWZWJD
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) December 14, 2017

Ocean’s 8 is an all-female spin-off of the successful Ocean’s franchise, which featured the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and more.
Apart from Ocean’s 8, Mindy Kaling also has another highly-anticipated movie coming up – she will be playing Mrs. Who in A “Wrinkle In Time”, starring alongside Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Michael Pena, and Chris Pine.
Mindy Kaling (her real name Vera Mindy Chokalingam) is born and raised in America. Her parents Avu Chokalingam is an architect, and her mother Swati Chokalingam is an obstetrician and gynecologist.
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Filed Under Mindy KalingOcean's 8


Pa. Ranjith Blessed With A Baby Boy!

Director Pa.Ranjith of Kaala and Kabali fame is currently busy with the shoot of Arya’s boxing based sports action drama Salpetta. The film is all about the boxing culture existed in North Madras. Salpetta also has Dinesh, Kaliyarasan, John Kokken, and Dushara in important roles.

Santhosh Narayanan is composing the music for the film, Murali G cranks the camera and Anbariv duo is choreographing the stunts for Salpetta.
The latest update on Ranjith is that he has been blessed with a baby boy named Miliran. Pa. Ranjith married Anitha during his assistant director days and they also have a baby girl.
Besides his directorial venture, Pa.Ranjith is also busy with multiple production ventures.
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Filed Under baby boykollywoodPa RanjithTamil


Friendship That Goes Beyond Racial Differences; Ridzuan And Ganesan Set A Good Example

Every university or college graduate’s dream is to celebrate their convocation ceremony with family members and friends.
However, something else happened to this man when his biological family could not attend the convocation ceremony.
But luckily Mohamad Ridzuan Che Mohamad Zin had his Indian adoptive family who were willing to enliven the atmosphere by being there for him on his memorable day, celebrating the joyous occasion with him.

Tamizhar Media Facebook Page
The relationship between his foster family and him began 13 years ago when they Met while working at KTM Berhad Pulau Mutiara, Penang.
“I had just started work. Ganesan was my senior during the on-the-job training. He was always helpful and generous when it came to imparting knowledge,” recalled Mohamad Ridzuan, 36.
Despite the age gap and racial difference, their relationship grew stronger and both families would also visit each other during festive seasons.
Tamizhar Media Facebook Page
Ridzuan said the kindness shown to him by 60-year-old Ganesan and his family had always amazed him.
“When I spent a night at their home, they prepared a sejadah (prayer mat) for me to perform my prayers. When I visit them during the month of Ramadan, they will cook and have the pre dawn meal with me,” said Ridzuan.
All of them also had buka puasa meals together, he said.
Ridzuan added that Ganesan’s family had become his adoptive family.
When Ridzuan graduated from Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah three years ago his aged parents who were living in Kelantan could not make it to the ceremony due to health reasons. He was sad knowing this.
Tamizhar Media Facebook Page
However, Ganesan who was bursting with pride over Ridzuan’s achievement travelled all the way from Penang to Shah Alam, Selangor along with his family for Ridzuan’s convocation ceremony.
“Till this day, I still feel surprised and touched that my adopted family came all the way from Seberang Perai for my convocation ceremony,” said the mechanical engineering graduate when interviewed by mStar.
Tamizhar Media Facebook Page
Ridzuan is married now with a child and had wished to celebrate this year’s Deepavali with Ganesan’s family but the Covid-19 pandemic stopped it from happening. He had been visiting them during Deepavali for the past 12 years.
“Otherwise, I would be there wearing a new jippa suit and catching up with Ganesan and his family,” Ridzuan added.
Source: The Star
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Filed Under friends without racial differenceMohamad Ridzuan Che Mohamad Zinunity


Goodbye Thaali – The New Wedding Tradition

The climax of an average Malaysian Hindu wedding is the thaali tying ceremony. The guests wait excitedly for the nadaswaram to hit that high note, so they can fling the yellow rice (or flower petals) towards the couple, before rushing to the buffet counter. Lately, however, many couples are waving goodbye not to the ceremony, but to the sacred thaali.
The thaali is a golden chain that the groom ties around the bride’s neck in a Hindu wedding ceremony. The pendant of the thaali differs according to affordability, region, and of course, caste. Numerous rituals lead up to tying the thaali, including the ponnuruku, resulting in the idealisation of this chain as the ultimate Hindu wedding symbol. Let’s not even talk about how expensive a thaali is these days, most are north of RM10,000!
Why do some take issue with the thaali?

The thaali tying seals the deal. The moment the groom hooks the clasp of the gold chain around the bride’s neck, the couple is said to be married. What’s more interesting is that the life and safety of the groom is now stored in the gold pendant of the thaali.
the life and safety of the groom is now stored in the gold pendant of the thaali.
To many, the thaali symbolises the man now ‘owning’ his wife. Of course, this can be extended to any form of marital adornment, such as wedding rings. The problem with the thaali is this – there is no reciprocation on the male end. Nothing really changes for the groom in terms of marital insignia. Even his marital toe rings are removed soon after.
It’s a different story for the bride. She is now expected to wear the thaali for a certain number of days before it can be removed, she cannot be seen with vibuthi only, and she gets bonus points if the vermilion sits at her hairline, bang smack in the middle of her forehead. Some cultures require the bride to wear a set of red bangles for a minimum of 40 days, or more.
the new wife is now expected to wear the thaali for a certain number of days before it can be removed, she cannot be seen with vibuthi only, she must wear flowers in her hair, and she gets bonus points if the vermilion sits at her hairline, bang smack in the middle of her forehead.
Perhaps it is more cultural than religious, that married women are expected to be demarcated, while men are not expected to change their appearance whatsoever.
The misogyny of Hindu wedding rituals
Truth be told, the thaali isn’t even the most misogynistic event to take place during the Hindu wedding ritual. There is the controversial act of Kanyadaan. And then there is the part of the ceremony where the bride falls at the groom’s feet, to be blessed. Needless to say, the reverse does not take place.
As a result of all this one-sidedness, many couples have decided to skip the patriarchal traditions altogether. Some opt for a practical registration of marriage at National Registration Department, followed by a reception to appease the elders. Others have had the rituals of a Hindu wedding, just minus the thaali.
A Hindu wedding without a thaali, you say? How is that even possible?

Malaysian women have begun waving goodbye to this misogynistic tradition. Sugeetha*, a medical doctor says, “My husband and I both found it ludicrous that the Hindu wedding ritual was so gender biased. Thankfully, the parents on both sides were very supportive of the fact that we wanted to do something else,”
Sugeetha and her husband tied the knot almost a decade ago, and she tells us what made it special was the fact that the two of them planned their own ceremony, “We had an intimate ceremony that involved the exchange of rings, garlands and touching speeches by our loved ones,”
For Aleesha* and her husband, their motivations were different. “My husband and I have very strong feelings of disdain for casteism,” As a result, they decided not to adhere to the norm of having a Brahmin priest officiate their nuptials. Aleesha’s uncle learnt all the mantras and rituals that a Hindu wedding involved, and the couple sat down with him and omitted the patriarchal practices from the ceremony. “My husband didn’t present me with a thaali, my father didn’t wash his feet and I didn’t fall at my husband’s feet. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!”
“My husband didn’t present me with a thaali, my father didn’t wash his feet and I didn’t fall at my husband’s feet. we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!”
Over in India, reality show contestant Vaishnavi Prasad married her partner, Anjan Kumar in a simple temple ceremony which involved a short pooja before the couple exchanged garlands. There was no exchange of rings nor a thaali. Vaishnavi tweeted that she and her husband have saved themselves lots of stress and money by having a simple wedding ceremony. They plan to use the funds saved to care for animals.
In Tamil Nadu, India, there is a provision for marriages that take place without a priest nor a thaali. They are called self-respect marriages, thanks to a movement led by S Ramanathan and Periyar to achieve a society where backward castes have equal human rights.
“But it’s just a ritual, who cares?”

Others couldn’t care less, it is merely a ritual that would make their elders happy, what could be the harm in that, they ask.
Tax consultant Vani* tells us that when she gets married, she wouldn’t have a problem with the thaali tying ritual. “It is just a part of the ritual, just because my husband has presented me with a thaali, it doesn’t mean that I need to be subservient to him or his family,” She says that what matters is the relationship between the couple is strong enough, and there is an understanding that a mere hour long ritual cannot shake.
Ladies, you are in the driver’s seat!
Ultimately, there is no accounting for taste. It’s impossible to explain why different people can accept and enjoy different things, thaali tying included. The uniqueness of Hinduism lies in the fact that it is a way of life, as opposed to an organized religion. Believers are able to embrace it in their own way.
Because of that, it is so important that a woman can voice out her opinions, and make an informed choice about how she wants to get married, and which rituals she does not want to partake in. After all, marriages are made in heaven – where it is dripping with gold, right?
*Names have been changed to protect privacy
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Knowledge Is Power; S.Umashangari Desires To Help The Blind Community Better Themselves

If one’s impression of the blind is that they’re only capable of selling tissues, working at blind massage parlours and playing music in the streets, then you’re sadly mistaken.
 S.Umashangari, born blind, first learned Braille while she was A standard 1 Student at Sekolah Rendah Pendidikan Khas St. Nicholas, Penang.
 However, she had already run out of things to read at the age of eight due to the limited  production of books in braille.
“It was disappointing for being unable to experience the variety of fictional stories that my friends did. So, I had pledged to translate books into Braille when I grow up, so that no one would ever have to suffer the same disadvantage as I did,” Umashangari, now 33, told Bernama.
Picture credit: Bernama
She believed that having better access to books for the blind would be useful to their development and expand their knowledge.
Umashangari, who came from Taiping, Perak, graduated from Universiti Malaya with a degree in Anthropology and Sociology, but never forgot about her wish and desire to empower the blind.
She is a translator and editor of Braille Reading Materials at the Malaysian Blind Association today (MAB). Ever since holding the post in 2018, she has translated more than 10 books for the benefit of the blind community.
Among them are textbooks for use in Malaysian schools, such as Asas Sains Komputer (Form 2); Bahasa Melayu (Form 3); and Sains for Form 5 students.
Picture credit: Bernama
It is alarming to know, however, that not many blind people in Malaysia are able to read braille.
In Malaysia, only 51,540 of the 780,000 visually impaired are registered with the Welfare Department. Out of thAt, Only 30% of them can read Braille.
Picture credit: The Star
The CEO of MAB, George Thomas, said that most of those who struggled or could not read Braille were those who lost their vision at a later part in life, a result of either an illness or accident.
Whereas people who were blind by birth, easily had the grasp of it. And now, as a result of the pandemic, learning braille has become much more difficult due to the limitation of online classes.
The CEO also explained that producing Braille books is a great deal of work. Almost always a number of problems such as securing copyrights for translations and the high cost of development of Braille reading materials remains a huge concern.
Translating a book into Braille can also be very slow and labour-intensive.
In the meantime, the Malaysian Foundation For the Blind CEO Silatul Rahim Dahman states that the relevance of Braille should be acknowledged by all, as an important means of communication for the blind community.
This is because, during the pandemic, the blind community is completely overlooked. Information on the pandemic and SOPs are not made available publicly in Braille, pushing the visually impaired to depend on those around them for information.
Picture credit: Bernama
Silatul called on the government to revise the Persons With Disabilities Act 2008 to make it mandatory for people with disabilities to be registered, to help enhance the precision of the statistics and to enable the government to channel assistance more efficiently to the community.
Let’s hope that issues are addressed to further develop the blind community’s wellbeing. I truly think that they are capable of many things only if they are provided with the necessary aid.
Source: Bernama
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Filed Under Blind communityBlind people achievementsBrailleMalaysian Blind associationS.Umashangari