Local Teacher Samuel Isaiah Soars To Greater Heights, Becoming A Finalist For The ‘Global Teacher Prize 2020’

Hailing from Kuantan, Samuel Isaiah has made the nation proud by being the only Malaysian in the top 10 finalist list for the Global Teacher Prize 2020.
From over 12,000 nominations and applications from 140 countries, the 33-year-old teacher from SK Runchang, Muadzam Shah, Pahang was shortlisted among the ten finalists.

Sam had also been recognised for his efforts and methods of teaching English to the Orang Asli (indigenous) people which went viral. His hard work eventually paid off after his students from the Jakun Orang Asli tribe who were unable to speak English, managed to score an A in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR). The passing rate at the school for the English subject had risen to 80 percent, compared to 30 percent earlier.
Source: KGM Blogger
He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Albany, New York State University in the United States.
The Global Teacher Prize was established to honour outstanding teachers that have made impressive contributions to the expansion of the teaching industry, at the same time highlighting the significant role played by teachers in society.
The award aims to bring to light the outstanding efforts of millions of teachers around the world by uncovering thousands of such champs who have changed the lives of young people for the better.
Source: Cikgu Halmi
Previously, Samuel was awarded with the Best Teacher Award at the ASEAN-ELT Conference (2018), Best Creative Teacher (2018, awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia), the Star Golden Hearts Award (2019) and the National Hero Teacher Award (2019).
If he is awarded with the Global Teacher Prize, he will use the funds to enhance the musical instruments of the school, purchase advance equipment, and expand more teaching classrooms for the 21st century. He is also aiming to inspire other indigenous groups in Malaysia by focusing on his strategies with like-minded teachers.
Congratulations on your achievements, Samuel!
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Filed Under ASEAN-ELT Conference (2018)Best Creative Teacher (2018)Global Teacher Prize 2020National Hero Teacher Award (2019)Samuel IsaiahStar Golden Hearts Award (2019)


Sai Pallavi Shatters Dhanush’s 7-Year-Long Youtube Record

Sai Pallavi has been making some serious waves in Kollywood, Mollywood and Tollywood with impressive roles and killer dance moves. Next stop: Youtube Domination!
For over 7 years, Dhanush’s ‘Why This Kolaveri Di’ from the film ‘3’ has been the most viewed song from South India on Youtube with over 172,857,100 views and growing.

That’s only till Sai Pallavi came sliding into the scene with her dance moves for the song Vachinde from her Telugu debut film Fidaa. Fidaa, starring Sai Pallavi and Varun Tej, was directed by Sekhar Kammula and was one of the biggest hits in 2017.

With over 174 million views, Vachinde has become the most viewed South Indian song on YouTube, dethroning music composer Anirudh’s ‘Why This Kolaveri Di?’ after 7 years.
Source: The Week, First Post
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Filed Under 3AnirudhDhanushfidaamoonumost viewed South Indian songsai pallaviVachindewhy this kolaveri di


Tamannaah Gains Wrath of Netizens due to Her #AllLivesMatter Post

Many Indian celebrities took to their social media accounts to seek justice for the brutal murder of George Floyd. However, this was not welcomed by netizens who felt celebrities turn a blind eye to the various injustice and discrimination happening in their own country.
One such actor who is being heavily criticized for a “tone-deaf” post is Tamannaah Bhatia.

Your silence will not protect you. Doesn't every life matter, human or animal? Muting any form of creation is against the universal law. We must unlearn and learn to be human again, express compassion and practice love.#AllLivesMatter #WakeUpWorld pic.twitter.com/Ixzq39ueJC
— Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) June 5, 2020

The Baahubali star has taken to her Twitter account to post a monochrome picture of herself with hashtags that read #AllLivesMatter #WakeUpWorld.
The post received heavy backlash from the netizens, who asked her to “educate about the issue first.”

Please educate yourself and stop saying "all lives matter", when it's a dog whistle used by racists to drown out the message of BlackLivesMatter.
— Suresh Singaratnam🎼🎺 (@sureshtrumpet) June 5, 2020

Netizens started questioned her motive behind posting such a controversial post. Some users pointed out that the actress endorsed a fairness cream brand a few years back and demanded an explanation as to why she did the same.

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Filed Under #AllLivesMatter postTamannaah BhatiaTrolled by netizens


Musicians Vishal Chopra and Shaun Vinda Present A Percussive Rendition Of ‘Bella Ciao’

It all started with the criminal genius known as “The Professor” and his recruits who possessed exceptional skills and had nothing to lose. With its red jumpsuits and masks in hand, the Spanish heist drama has taken over the world. We’re nearing the end of the global sensation, when Money Heist Part 5: Volume 1 returns on September 3, 2021, for the grand climax to history’s greatest heist. La banda has returned.
As the series enters its fifth and final season, local musicians Shaun Vinda and Vishal Chopra bid farewell to the series with their own interpretation of the hymn ‘Bella Ciao,’ which translates to “Beautiful Goodbye.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl2q4jfRBEwVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Bella Ciao by Shaun Vinda and Vishal Chopra | Official Video | Netflix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl2q4jfRBEw)

Shaun Vinda is a rising musician noted for his lively and percussive mixes featuring the tabla, a North Indian instrument. You may recognise him from his unique social media videos in which he sings and demonstrates his outstanding drumming abilities. He was one of the top three winners at the recent grand finale of the Harvinth Skin Fans’ Show.
Vishal Chopra, a 19-year-old Penangite, is another exceptional musician who received international fame when he represented Malaysia in the 2018 World Championships of Performing Arts competition held in Hollywood. With an electric guitar in hand, he won three gold medals, one silver medal, and the title of “World Champion” in the instrumental category. He is a multi-talented teen as he also plays the drums, bass, and acoustic guitar.
Psst… something interesting is coming to our Bandar, so keep your eyes opened for a sparkling surprise at Bangunan Getah Asli (Menara) (opposite KLCC) from 3 September onwards. All La Banda kat Bandar updates can be found on Netflix Malaysia’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter sites. Also, do check out the social handles of Vishal Chopra and Shaun Vinda for their other musical covers.
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Filed Under Bella CiaoMoney HeistShaun VindaVishal Chopra


WATCH: Malaysian Singer Poova Delivers Stunning Rendition Of Late Sudirman’s ‘Warisan’!

Once again, singer Poova delivered another captivating performance in conjunction with Malaysia’s 63rd Independence Day. This time she beautifully sang ‘Warisan’ the patriotic single by the late Datuk Sudirman Arshad. The song needs no introduction as it was the hit that rocketed the legendary singer to fame in 1982.
The 39-year-old vocal prowess vowed fans in her latest video clip. The whole production including its recording and shooting session took place in just a day and the outcome was overwhelming and phenomenal.
Poova during an interview said that during discussions on the production of her upcoming single Karya, the songstress alongside her production team thought it would be fun to release a version of Warisan for Merdeka and Malaysia Day. “We all agreed that it was indeed a great song and wanted to produce our version to introduce it to the new generation of Malaysian music fans,” she added.
Source: Poova
Poova is among six talented musicians featured on AXN’s reality talent show Asian Dream, who are competing for a spot on Michael’s Asian Dream tour and represent Subaru as its brand ambassador.

The project was planned very quickly due to the time constraints in the run up to Merdeka. We managed to get some studio time with music producer Rozhan Razman of RiroMuzikXPlayspace Studio along with music video producer Gbam of CST Productions and last but not least, my friend Sharon Chong on piano.”

“The lyrics speak closely to my heart especially during this period of uncertainties when the love for our country is at its most crucial,” said Poovaa in a press release.
Take a look at the breathtaking rendition below as Poova amazes us with every single note!

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Filed Under ‘Warisan’Asian DreamLate SudirmanMalaysia's 63rd Independence DayMalaysian Singer Poova


Vijay Sethupathi’s ‘Sangathamizhan’ Teaser Is Out; A Mass Action Entertainer!

The official teaser of Vijay Sethupathi’s Sangathamizhan was released on Independence Day. This film is his first time collaboration with ‘Sketch director’ Vijay Chandar.
The film’s teaser introduces Vijay Sethupathi’s character as a someone who emerges from the ashes to seek revenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqEwTuNVljUVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Sangathamizhan Official Teaser | Vijay Sethupathi, Raashi Khanna, Nivetha Pethuraj | Vijay Chandar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqEwTuNVljU)

The teaser promises good action and comes with an announcement that the film will hit the screens soon. Sangathamizhan also stars Raashi Khanna and Nivetha Pethuraj in important roles. With music by Vivek-Mervin, R Velraj has been roped in for cinematography while Praveen KL will be editing it.
A commercial family entertainer, Sangathamizhan was announced almost a year ago and filming began from February this year.
Talking about the project to the Times of India, director Vijay Chandar had earlier said:
“I’ve met Vijay Sethupathi a few times, and during one of those meetings, I happened to narrate a one-liner about the film to him, and he was kicked. He has done a variety of roles, and he told that he wanted to do a mass film now. Even I like making mass commercial films, and we thought this script could work for both of us.”
Vijay Sethupathi, meanwhile, will work on a project with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan soon. It may be noted that it was recently announced that Aamir Khan would star in the Hindi remake of the Madhavan-Vijay Sethupathi starrer Vikram Vedha, a neo-noir thriller, which was one of the most successful Tamil films of 2017.
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Scoring A’s In Tasawwur Islam; One Heck Of An Achievement By Dharshini!

M.Dharshini, a form five pupil of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Danau Kota, Setapak obtained an extraordinary 90 percent score in Tasawwur Islam in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Diagnostic Test and has since garnered the attention of Malaysians, including a minister on social media platforms.
The minister in recognition of Dharshini’s achievement, had words of praise on his Twitter account, check out his post below:

Singgah bertemu anakanda Dharshini di SMK Danau Kota, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur sebentar tadi.
Saya dimaklumkan anakanda Dharshini memperoleh markah 89% untuk subjek Tasawwur Islam dalam Ujian Diagnostik SPM. Beliau mengambil subjek elektif Tasawwur Islam dan berhasrat untuk. pic.twitter.com/nx8ORa7wlb
— Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri (@drzul_albakri) September 18, 2020

“I plan to continue my studies in medicine and by chance, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is closest to home. Since I plan to apply to continue my studies there, I chose Tasawwur Islam as an elective subject in the hope of meeting the eligibility requirements set by the university.”
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Seri Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri was impressed by Dharshini’s score in the Islamic subject, and decided to pay a visit and associate with the pupil at her school. The minister moved by her desire and will to study Tasawwur Islam contributed to her education fund.
Well done Dharshini, and we extend our best wishes to you in your studies!
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Filed Under Datuk Seri Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-BakriM DharshiniMinister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs)Score ATassawur Islam Exam


Gowri Arumugam’s Kanmani; A Song of Hope Carries A Perfect Message For Women

Being a woman causes them to bear a lot of emotion, causing them to focus on gratitude and happiness. On that note, music is indeed a great way to convey one’s feelings over something, and motherhood is no exception.
A Varmman Elangkovan musical under Gowri Arumugam’s direction entitles Kanmani; A Song of Hope has left a deep impression on netizens.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gowri Arumugam (@gowrimusic)

Gowri has penned the beautiful lyrics and sang this song along with the adroit flutist Sesatre Bansuri. The lyrics have really captured how it is to hold someone else’s life before your own, experiencing a new love you never knew existed with the support of the husband.
The music video features the singer herself, Seelan Manoheran, Pashini, Nattania Rao, and Kesavan. Not forgetting Nattania Rao, the adorable little doll who captivated our gaze in the music video.
Kanmani received acclaim and praise from the audience for its fineness and beautiful message. It has also garnered 7,000 views within few hours after being released on Gowri Arumugam’s YouTube channel.
You’re going to bawl when you watch and listen to this tune!
Grab the Kleenex now, guys!

A big shout out to the crews who made the Kanmani journey more beautiful:
Producer: @aghampictures
Executive Producer: @vinesmaransivalingam
Director & Editor : @gowrimusic
Cinematographer: @pavetraarumugam
Colouring: @ramsescw
Production head: @vennila_aw
Production asst: @mathuumitha_16 @shoghinaa_22
Make up : @kannanraajamanickam
Asst : @siddhartkumaar@ranjanie_kumarasamy @anithrah_makeup_shine@sharonshairandmakeup
Saree: @rootedintradition_bylaveeniram
Stitched by : @umatailoring21
Blousematerial: @bollyfashionklang
Garland: @veensflowers
Bangles: @mvsecretboutique_jewellery
Accessories: @krbeauty.official
Deco: @karthiknair1092
Kudos to the entire team for showcasing that music can portray a wonderful and endearing relationship between a supportive husband who stands by the side of his wife that is worth the watch.
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Filed Under AghampicturesGowri ArumugamKanmani ; A Song of HopeKannanraajamanickamKesavanNattania RaoPashiniPavetraarumugamSeelan ManoheranSesatre BansuriVarmman Elangkovan


Paadakan; An Unknown Malaysian Crooner Is Capturing Hearts On Instagram

The turbulent start of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) would help these 90’s and 20’s songs stand the test of time, with many artists attempting to keep such great oldies alive through their very own rendition.
Hailing himself as a Paadakan, he was thrown into the limelight after one of his singing video went viral on the Instagram platform. The unknown singer takes on classic tunes to surprise even the most hardcore music snobs. It was hard to say which was the original and the cover of the songs that were posted on the social media platform.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFXM4k3B6q1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
A song will truly recreate the best cover versions, even if they become the definitive records. For our ears, the best cover songs go further beyond an artist doing a faithful rendering of the work of someone else’s to make the music their own. The Paadakan’s cover song has certainly captured the heart of netizens too, especially those that follow him on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEO3JsmhwZk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Keep up with Paadakan’s latest cover song on his Insta page here!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Happy World Environment Day! To Celebrate Mother Nature, here are 5 Soothing Tamil songs about the Environment.
Filed Under 20's songs90'sCover SongsLimelightMalaysian CroonerPaadakan


PART 1: Six Ancient Indian Martial Arts That You Should Know

Did you know there are 13 types of ancient Indian martial arts?
The authentic core of martial arts sprawl in the journey of self-discovery that one undertakes – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. In real life, martial arts are more often associated with karate, kung fu and Shaolin monks.
Embedding back to our roots of Indian martial arts, there are 13 varieties of forms and techniques that you can explore and dive deeper into.
This is the list of Indian martial arts that have persisted through the years in waning light:
Adimurai
Adimurai is a Tamil martial art which is regarded as one of the oldest and most important martial arts to have been practised in the ancient south Indian Subcontinent. It is also considered the origin of certain martial arts techniques. It is a subset of Varmam and it is believed that Adimurai originated from Southern Parts of Tamil Nadu.
IMAGE CREDIT: MEDIUM

Dhanurveda
Dhanurveda derives from the words for the bow (dhanushya) and knowledge (Veda), the “science of archery” in Puranic literature, later applied to martial arts in general. The significance of archery in Indian culture is well-known to everyone who has read Indian literature. Archers were held with great respect in society and this skill was a must for a warrior of those times. Some of the great archers in Indian history are Bhishma, Arjuna, Karna, Rama, Lakshmana, and Bhargava Parashurama.

Malla-Yudha
This is the traditional form of combat wrestling that originated in the Tamizh region in South India. This art is the ancestor of Kushti or Indian mud wrestling. Malla-yuddha incorporates grappling, punching, biting, choking, and pressure point striking. Matches were traditionally codified into four types which progressed from purely sportive contests of strength to actual full-contact fights known as yuddha.

Mushti Yudha
This literally means fist combat. The fighters get into the ring with their bare fists and fight until one of them is knocked out, they are thrown out of the ring, or submitted. This martial art form is the ancestor of many arts like Muay Thai, Lethwei, and also boxing.
Related:  SJK (T) Kinrara And SJK (T) Bangsar Wins Overall Championship In Interschool Silambam TournamentIMAGE CREDIT: INDIANETZONE
Kushti or Indian Mud Wrestling
This art is derived from Malla Yuddha. Kushti became very famous during the times of the Mughals who had brought down wrestlers from Iran as well to conduct competitions. This art requires great amounts of stamina, physical fitness, the ability to lift, and also very quick muscle refluxes. As someone who learnt this art from an orthodox Akhara, I’m proud to say I’m a mud wrestler.
IMAGE CREDIT: FILMIING INDO
Silambam
This weapon-based martial art has been mentioned in literature since the time of the Tamizh gods. Many among the present generation conclude that Silambam is limited only to performances using the staff. There are nearly more than 30 weapons used in this martial art and it is very hard to find people who trained in the vintage orthodox method.
IMAGE CREDIT: GEMPAK
Fact: The first documentation of this great art is the Kamba Suthiram by Sage Agastya.
Come back for Part 2!
Source: [1]
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Filed Under AdimuraiancientDhanurvedaindian ancientIndian martial artsIndian Mud WrestlingKushtiMalla-YudhaMartial artsMughalsMushti YudhaSilambamsouth indianyuddha


Magamuni Review: Arya is Superb in an Interesting Slow-Burn Thriller

Magamuni opens in a manner that announces Santhakumar — who has returned to the helm 8 years after he made his first feature, Mauna Ragam — as a director with vision and a sure pair of hands. We’re in a mental asylum. The colours are drained out and so is a lot of the sound. A single beam of light pierces the greyish texture — light that robes our lead character played by Arya. But this is more than just style. It creates intrigue and curiosity. How did the Arya character end up here, we naturally wonder. A psychiatrist reviews his case files and we’re transported back in time.
When we first meet Maga (Arya) he’s driving a cab on a sardined-packed road. A motorcycle that speeds by knocks down his side mirror, but Maga doesn’t scream or punch his steering wheel in anger. He’s disgruntled but mostly composed. We get the sense that he’s the type of guy that keeps everything bottled up inside, one who emotes inwardly rather than overtly. But the look he wears on his face — scruffy, tired and weathered down — suggests someone who’s seen things or knows things.

Santhakumar has a very interesting way of unravelling situations, one that keeps your gears spinning and eyes locked. Because we then cut to another character, elsewhere. We see a couple of politicians — the Jayaprakash and Ilavarasu characters — talking. Later, the Ilavarasu character has dinner with his wife while an opposing politician delivers a spiteful, defamatory speech about Ilavarasu and his wife, just down the street. When we see Maga again, he’s shaking like someone suffering from a terrible fever. Then, we see him at a doctor’s office. The camera slowly pans around and we see a knife sticking out of the back of his body. There’s an audible gasp from the audience. What had happened to Maga in those few minutes that we cut away? We only find out much later.
Santhakumar continues to build Maga as this mysterious character at a deliberately slow pace. At one point, Maga and his son sit at a bakery. There are some goons creating a ruckus outside. Maga tells his son that those are pretenders; a real gangster wouldn’t behave like a stray dog. Maga delivers these wonderfully written lines in such a self-assured manner that we begin to speculate if he’s secretly Baasha. Eventually, we learn that he’s a thug (who wants out) working for the minister whom we saw earlier.

The intrigue surrounding Maga builds and builds and builds… and then the film transitions to Muni (also played by Arya), a cheery-looking, highly educated village guy. A religious man who spends his time practising yoga, reading books and teaching the neighbourhood kids. The pent-up tension, unfortunately, immediately releases. The transition itself — the camera zooms in on a photo of Maga. When it zooms out, we’re at another house, looking at another photo of Arya, this time clean-shaven, with vibhuti on his forehead — is as graceful as a ballerina spinning on her tippy toes. And for a while, we’re left to guess if we’re watching a flashback (is this Maga’s dad?), a different character of the same time period or an alter ego. In fact, Maga and Muni don’t intersect, only the characters surrounding them do. It’s such an interesting way to converge two separate stories — one told on a political backdrop, the other on caste-relations.
But even as someone who enjoys snail-paced films (i.e. Blade Runner 2049), the timing in which the film initially transitions from Maga to Muni, akin to blowing a balloon to the point of popping only to unceremoniously let the air out, made me restless. There are portions of Magamuni, like Muni’s budding “romantic” relationship with Deepa (Mahima Nambiar), that are a slog to get through. Thankfully, it builds to something legitimately compelling — the scene with a snake and a locked gate is brilliant and Mahima Nambiar is given the room to perform her heart out.

Later, Magamuni morphs into a delicious revenge-thriller that spells karma truly is a bitch! The third act is entertaining, with an action block far more engaging and heart-pounding that the OTT stuff you’ll find in a “mass” movie. Here and throughout the film, tensity is built not just through the writing but via camera movements (Arun Bathmanaban’s cinematography is both gorgeous and mood-setting). Santhakumar’s writing could use some tightening up, but his direction is almost stellar.
The biggest takeaway from Magamuni, though, is Arya, who delivers a restrained performance so gripping, I couldn’t take my eyes off him for a single second. Unlike the multiple Vijays in say, Mersal, here we don’t see two Aryas, rather two completely distinct individuals right down to their body languages, so much so that my lady (who isn’t too familiar with Tamil cinema or its stars) turned to me and asked “Wait… are the two characters played by the same actor?” Arya is phenomenal!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ra1FQUNsYVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Magamuni – Official Teaser | Arya | Santhakumar | Mahima Nambiar, Indhuja | S S Thaman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ra1FQUNsY)

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Hemanth Jayaraman , Takes On A New Position With Malaysia Airlines

Hemanth Jayaraman has been appointed as the Head of Marketing for Malaysia Airlines’ loyalty and travel solutions division.
It is reported that Jayaraman joins the company as the Head of Marketing, aiming Malaysia Airlines’ Enrich programme to increase its membership count by 30% this year from its current four million. In a conversation with A+M last year, a spokesperson from the company said that Enrich is looking to become more of a travel and lifestyle programme, rather than a frequent flyer programme.
As a result, Enrich will continue to form new partnerships with businesses such as hotels in the coming year to provide members with more ways to earn and utilise their points. It is uncertain how closely Jayaraman will engage with the Enrich team.
Glimpse On Hemanth Jayaraman
• 15 years of experience in marketing, brand building, brand management, strategic planning, project management, team building, and corporate establishment based in Malaysia and the ASEAN region.
• Proven track record in driving transformational changes, building organisational capabilities, managing multiple projects, managing partners, agencies, and suppliers as well as efficient P&L management.
• Strong comprehension of business operations to deliver value and in achieving top and bottom-line results and market share gains.
• Believe in using innovative marketing and creative skills as a critical tool for competitive advantage and is central to building successful businesses and brands.
IMAGE CREDIT: MARKETING-INTERACTIVE
Hemanth Jayaraman’s Successful Marketing Journey
He was last the head of DentsuX in Malaysia. He joined Dentsu in May 2021 as part of the media service line executive committee. Prior to Dentsu, Jayaraman was at Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia where he worked in the marketing and commercial department for a little under two years.
Before that, he was at PepsiCo for a little over two and a half years where he was the Tropicana activation lead for the APAC region. Here, he led all the APAC markets and enabled them to grow value, and volume share and deliver profitability for the organisation. Before taking up his role as activation lead, Jayaraman was the marketing and commercial manager for Lipton RTDT for Malaysia, Singapore, and Mongolia.  (Reported Advertising+Marketing)

He also was the founder and brand strategy director of Sw1tch Strategies, a boutique agency that started its operations in 2012. He led the agency till 2017.

According to Advertising + Marketing( A+M ), when reached out to both Malaysia Airlines and Jayaraman for more information on the role, neither responded at the time of writing.
Nevertheless, we are pleased to hear this good news, and congratulations on your new position Hemanth Jayaraman!
Source: (1)
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Filed Under 2023 Head of Marketing for Malaysia Airlines'APAC regionDentsuX in MalaysiaEnrichHemanth JayaramanNew position in Head of Marketing for Malaysia Airlines' loyalty and travel solutions division.pepsico


Young Scientists Made Malaysia Proud By Striking Gold Medal at International Innovation Competition In Canada

Three students from SJK Tamil Taman Melawati, Selangor made us proud again by bagging their fifth gold medal in yet another international competition with their “My soil, my plant” invention which took place on June 30th.

The young scientists Yuvika Mahaganapathy, 10, Kailesh Saravana, 11, and Kavisha Nagarajan, 11, turned stars at International Innovation Competition In Canada via remote participation when the country is undergoing the movement control order (MCO) to contain the spread of COVID-19 outbreak.

R Shanmuganathan has been conducting Young Scientist Classes for the past 10 years and been continuously showering the knowledge in the field of Science. All three little champs managed to defeat the competitors from more than 20 countries.

“My soil, my plant” is an invention that matches plants with the type of soil it is best cultivated on. It is a device, which is linked to a mobile application they also created. Once the device is stuck into the soil, it will list down in the app, the type of plants that can be cultivated on the soil.

“By winning this category, they qualify for another special award, which needs another round of screening,” said R. Shanmuganathan.

This is such an amazing achievement by our Malaysian students!
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Filed Under International Innovation Competition In CanadaKailesh SaravanaKavisha NagarajanSJK Tamil Taman MelawatiYoung ScientistsYuvika Mahaganapathy


Johor Indian Community Offered Financial Assistance To Empower Their Lives In Such Trying Times

The Chairman of the Health and Environment Committee, R. Vidyananthan has made a special allocation to help the Indian community in Johor who are in dire need. The application is open to the public from now onwards till 15th July, 2021.

Applicants have to identify which of the three categories they wish to apply for assistance, as divided below:

Entrepreneurship
Welfare
Education (IPTA/IPTS)

Eligibility requirements for the applicant
The following are the eligibility requirements for the application, divided by category, that must be fulfilled by the applicant:
Welfare Category

The applicant is a Malaysian citizen who has resided in Johor for at least three years.
Households with an income of less than RM2000.
Applicants must provide a bank account statement for the previous month, a salary slip for the previous three months, and an EPF statement, as well as the supporting papers mentioned below.
The applicant’s parents or guardians must acquire a certificate from the Commissioner of Oaths if they are self-employed.

Education Category

The applicant is a Malaysian citizen who has resided in Johor for at least three years.
Households with an income of less than RM2000.
All applications should include a copy of the educational institution’s offer letter confirming the applicant’s admission to the chosen course (for basic education students, diplomas and degrees), and those who are enrolled in school must include a copy of the student confirmation letter.
The applicant’s parents or guardians must acquire a certificate from the Commissioner of Oaths if they are self-employed.

Entrepreneurship Category

The applicant is a Malaysian citizen who has resided in Johor for at least three years and is between the ages of 18 and 60.
The applicant is either running a business or is going to establish one.
SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia) has approved the application.
A single loan for a single family.
The applicant’s monthly salary is less than RM5000.
Applicants must provide a bank account statement from the previous three months as well as a Sworn Declaration Letter.
In addition, applicants must submit a ‘Business Plan Paper.’

Related:  Malaysian Gen Z Team Wins The “Best Entrepreneurship Education Project” in SingaporeREMINDER: The Management Government Officer, Local Community Leader, and Penghulu/Village Head should certify all the copies of documents submitted.

How to apply for the Johor Indian Community Assistance?
Those who fulfil the criteria can continue to apply using the methods outlined below.
INDIAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE APPLICATION FORM

You can download the form based on the category for which you wish to apply.
Complete and submit the application form completely and accurately.
As stated above, prepare the appropriate supporting documentation for each category.
Application forms and supporting documentation must be mailed to the following address:

Email: pkmij2021@gmail.com OR
Post to address:

Johor State Health and Environment Chairman’s Office,
Level 3, Dato Jaafar Muhammad Building,
79555 Iskandar Puteri,
Johor Darul Takzim.
For further inquiries on your application for the special allocation assistance form, you may contact them at 07-2666031 / 07-2666012.
Source:TheSumber
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Filed Under Chairman of the Health and Environment CommitteeeducationEntrepreneurshipFinancial assistanceJohor Indian CommunityR. Vidyananthan


Get Out Of Our Hair During The MCO, Say Malaysian Barbers

The Malaysian government’s move to allow barbershops and salons to resume service during the movement control order (MCO) period has drawn flak from many barbers.
Selangor and Federal Territories Indian Hairstylists Association chairman Ganathiban Murugan said that he was unsure why the government was allowing barbers and hairstylists to operate.
“In supermarkets, people have to stand at least 1 metre away from each other, but to cut hair we have to come into close contact with our customers. How do we keep a safe distance from them?” he said to Free Malaysia Today. “We do not know who has the virus. My suggestion is that we do not open shop for now, it is the wrong time.”
Image credit: Suanie.net
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Hairdressing Association (MHA) has urged the government to reconsider its plan to allow hair salons to operate during the movement control order (MCO) period.

In a statement to the press, the association said, “It is impossible to maintain a distance of one metre during haircutting. Both the customer and hairdresser are in a state of being easily infected by the virus. Haircuts should not be listed as a necessary essential service, no matter long hair or short hair, the most important thing, for now, is to stay alive,”
Haircuts should not be listed as a necessary essential service, no matter long hair or short hair, the most important thing, for now, is to stay alive
In a survey of its members, the association said 91 percent of respondents disagreed that salons should resume operations.
In his daily press conference, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has advised the government to postpone its plan to allow hair salons to operate by two weeks.
Related:  Dr. Magindren is appointed to MDEC's Talent Expert Network PanelAccording to the government’s regulations, hair salons and barber shops are only allowed to cut hair.
Image credit: Cutthroat Junction
Ganathiban said his members were discussing measures they could take, including checking the temperature of customers, allowing only one customer at a time to have their hair cut, and even wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like doctors.
He is unsure about its implementation, however. “Is it possible to implement? I don’t know. We have had to close since March 18, why not wait till after April 28?”
All of this begs the question, if the barbers themselves aren’t keen on working until the MCO is over, who’s bright idea was it to allow them to open? There are many, many other industries that have been pleading with the government to operate in the third phase of the MCO. And yet, here we are.
Today, the Ministry of Health reported 184 new cases of Covid-19 with 3 deaths, bringing the total number of cases to a whopping 4,530, with 73 deaths. Of this number, 1995 have recovered.
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Filed Under barbercovid-19Malaysiamalaysian indianmcomovement control order


WATCH: Sri Suriya Prakash Takes Rajinikanth’s Darbar BGM For a Spin

To say that Sri Suriya Prakash is a talented musician is an understatement. The guitarist’s remarkable skills has bowled us over many times. Just when we thought he was done, we came across his latest cover of the Darbar background music.
Sri Suriya was last seen performing with the Santosh Logandran Ensemble at Projekt Restart where he, along with lead singer Santosh Logandran and violinist Hariraam Tingyuan Lam performed a few songs off the cuff.
The talented guitarist executes the Darbar background music perfectly using a Trigger Finger pad. He easily makes the percussion a visual treat in addition to the conventional aural experience.
The music of Superstar’s Darbar was originally composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
Check it out here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sri Suriya Prakash (@sri_suriya_prakash)

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Filed Under Darbar BGMSri Suriya PrakashTrigger Finger drum pad


MMA Requests Health Ministry To Revise Its Approach In Combating COVID-19

The public and government should pay attention to the fact that there is a manpower shortage in the fight against COVID-19.
Professor Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, said the manpower shortage has worsened, particularly in the Klang Valley, where the number of cases is the highest.
” Currently, the health district officers are tasked with duties of triaging, screening, assessing, contact tracing, monitoring and home-monitoring of category 1 and 2 of COVID-19 patients. Apart from this, they also manage acute and chronic non-COVID-19 cases everyday.
Picture credit: CodeBlue
The ministry, according to Dr. Subramaniam, cannot expect to wait for the situation to get worse.
” The virus has spread within communities and therefore we can expect cases to continue rising in the coming weeks. At this point, the ministry should consider roping in housemen awaiting posting, medical students, nursing students and also medical assistants with basic medical knowledge and training to help on the ground, especially with contact tracing.
Besides enlisting more personnel, the group demanded that the ministry adopt a digitalised-documentation system.
” They should go paperless and digitalise paperwork as much as possible as it can greatly reduce the time staff spends on paperwork. For example, the monitoring of COVID-19 category 1 and 2 cases should be digitalised and linked to the MySejahtera mobile application.
March 26, 2020. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP)
“With proper monitoring and coordination enabled through digitalisation, more private general practitioners (GPs) would be willing to participate in its programme. Especially when more efficient usage is needed at district health offices and government clinics as the number of persons-under-investigation (PUI), persons-under-surveillance (PUS) as well as COVID-19 patients are on the rise.
Picture credit: Focus Malaysia
But since medical personnel are overburdened, he believes pandemic management should be simplified to maintain the highest standard of care.
“For a nominal fee, the non-COVID-19 acute and chronic cases can be outsourced to private clinics or private hospitals. This will allow the ministry to focus its resources on managing COVID-19.
Since the healthcare system is on the verge of collapsing, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is urging the Health Ministry to re-strategise and bring in more people to combat the current manpower shortage issues.
Source: New Straits Times
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Filed Under Dr Subramaniam MuniandyMalaysian Medical Association (MMA)mma


Brigadier-General Suriakala Suriabagavan – The First Non-Bumiputera Female with A Two Star Rank on Her Epaulette

Brigadier-General Suriakala Suriabagavan has made history by being the first non-Bumiputera female army officer to get the coveted two-star rank on her epaulette.
How awesome is that!

She was promoted to major-general at a ceremony in conjunction with the 87th Army Day in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, last week.
Army chief Gen Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi, said that Suriakala was deserving of the promotion, for her astute leadership and top-notch officer quality.
“She is one that needs minimal (or no) supervision and can deliver when it matters most. Suriakala is a very dedicated officer and we are proud and honoured to have someone like her serving not only the Army, but the entire Armed Forces and nation,” he said.
“My family and I are ever grateful to the Army for where I am today and will do my utmost to continue giving my best,” she said
“I hope my achievement will spur other Malaysian women to pursue a rewarding career in the Armed Forces,” Brigadier-General Suriakala
Suriakala joined the Armed Forces in December 1981 and her coursemates includes deputy Army chief Lieutenant-General Hasagaya Abdullah. Throught all these years, she has successfully rose through the ranks and in 2015, she was appointed brigadier-general.
Suriakala has a double Masters degree in management from University of Malaya, and social science (defense studies) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Congratulations to Suriakala and her family! Thank you for doing your part to make our nation a better place to live in.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Malaysia Becomes The First Country to Launch a Multilingual Aathichudi Book in The World
Filed Under achievementarmybrigadier generalmalaysian indiansurikala


Youtuber Lilly Singh Has Come Out As Bisexual

Lilly Singh, also known as Superwoman, is one of the Youtube’s biggest stars with a following of 14 million and growing.
In 2017, Forbes ranked her #10 on the world’s highest paid YouTube stars list. Lilly started making videos from home, staging a satire of Indian households, in which she plays her fictional parents, Paramjeet and Manjeet.
Lilly Singh as her fictional parents, Paramjeet and Manjeet
With the growth of her YouTube channel, many celebrities and world figures have been featured on her channel including President Barack Obama, Will Smith, Priyanka Chopra and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Lilly has helped many A-list Hollywood celebrities get a great start on Youtube by featuring them in her videos.

The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador has many young people looking up to her for inspiration and her recent ‘coming out’ tweet has helped thousands celebrate their own sexuality.

In a tweet, Lilly shared that she is “Female, coloured, bisexual” to her 5.74 million Twitter followers.
The tweet was captioned, “Throughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time. But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers. No matter how many ‘boxes’ you check, I encourage you to do the same.”

Image Copyright @IISuperwomanII@IISUPERWOMANII
Report

Most South Asian households still believe that sexuality is a taboo topic to address. In a monumental event last year, the Supreme Court of India turned over a 157-year-old colonial-era law called Section 377 and legalised LGBT marriages. The historic decision allowing the right for anyone to love was celebrated worldwide.

Many Youtubers and followers hoped that Lilly’s announcement will help young South Asian LGBT people to embrace their sexuality. Lilly who has been a strong advocate for LGBT rights and even tweeted that she hoped she’ll find out that she is bisexual in 2016.

And then there's ppl that call me "gay" as if it's an insult. Like bro I hope I discover I'm bi one day so I can cop your brother & sister.
— Lilly (@Lilly) September 3, 2016

And now, with the combined powers of unicorn magic and superwoman strength, Lily Singh is female, coloured and bisexual, in the most Bawse way possible!

Source: BBC

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Filed Under bawselgbtqLilly singhsection 377superwomanyoutube


This Cute Photo Of Vikram And Dhruv Will Melt Your Heart!

So much love in one photo!
The Tamil remake of Telugu flick Arjun Reddy has been in the news for quite some time. Much has been said about Bala directing it initially with the title, Varma, which had Dhruv Vikram and Megha Chowdhury in lead roles.
Later, the production company wasn’t satisfied with the output and commenced shooting again, with Gireesaaya at the helm. The project was then titled as Adithya Varma. While Dhruv was retained as the lead, Banita Sandhu was roped in as the female lead.
After waiting for a long time, it was recently confirmed that the movie will hit screens on November 8.
A recent picture of Dhruv and Vikram started doing the rounds on social media from Tuesday morning. The duo was spotted at Chandigarh airport taking a nap. Vikram fans and other movie buffs couldn’t be happier seeing the adorable photo shared by Dhruv on his Instagram page with the caption, “Sharing dreams”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3WH4uFHjTy/
This is super sweet! Vikram has been there for Dhruv through out the entire shoot of the film. Dhruv even went on to say that, ” I am nothing like my dad”! It is so refreshing to see a very healthy father-son relationship opposed to the usual crap of tough love and having unhealthy “competition”!
Watch the trailer of Aditya Varma here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kzOQPafU8cVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Adithya Varma | Official Teaser HD | Dhruv Vikram | Gireesaaya | Ravi K Chandran ISC | BanitaSandhu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kzOQPafU8c)

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Chiyaan Vikram Tweets An Intriguing Update About "Thangalaan"
Filed Under chennaiDhruvkollywoodTamilVikram


Breaking: Malaysian Indian Boy, Yaashwin Sarawanan wins 2nd place on Asia’s Got Talent

Yaashwin Sarawanan, who also calls himself the ‘ human calculator’ won second place in season 3 finale of Asia’s Got Talent. The show’s grand finale was held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore where the announcement was made live around 10.30pm on April 11. Yaashwin managed to impress the judges and viewers with his skills at solving rapid-fire math questions during the past few weeks of the competition. However, Eric Chien, a Taiwanese magician won the top prize of US$100,000.
“It was beyond my expectations to be in the top two. From 200 acts, it narrowed down to nine, and today, I was left with Chien,”

Aside from Yaashwin, this year also saw another Malaysian act in the finals. An all-girl vocal group NAMA had wowed audiences in the audition stages, and had been the Judges’ Pick for the finals.
Yaashwin, 15, a student from SMK Bandar Tun Hussein Onn (2) was among the 9 finalists in the competion. Asia’s Got Talent is the 67th adaptation of the Guinness-World-Record-breaking hit “Got Talent” format, currently airs in 186 countries.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Indian 3: Is Shankar Reuniting With Kamal Haasan Again?
Filed Under Asia's got talentindianmath


WATCH: Sasi The Don’s Latest Single, Daddy Don is Finally Here!

Sasi The Don’s highly anticipated new track, Daddy Don has finally released. This song is now on YouTube and all major steaming platforms, including Spotify.
Daddy Don features Ibkinx from Nigeria and Malaysian Gayathri Vadivel. This song is produced, composed and penned by Sasi himself. His longtime friend D’Navigator helped produce the track.
Sasi The Don’s little girl, Shanaiya Lakshmi, and their pet, Kayan, also make a special appearance in this video.
Sasi recently garnered attention from the world music community with his Fathers Day Festival. Big names like Rohan Marley, Maxi Priest, Dr Alban and Apache Indian weighed in to wish fathers everyone on their special day, coming up this weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmMUU4TS0fMVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Sasi The Don – Daddy Don (Official Music Video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmMUU4TS0fM)

Keep up with Sasi The Don on Instagram here.
https://varnam.my/music/2020/23121/sasi-the-don-makes-a-comeback-this-fathers-day-with-daddy-don/
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Filed Under Daddy DonDedicatedFather's DaySasi the Don


Guys, Gautham Menon Has Confirmed That He’s Working On ‘Yennai Arindhaal 2’

Tamil film director Gautham Menon is working on quite the tight schedule this year!
His highly anticipated espionage thriller, Dhruva Natchathiram starring Chiyaan Vikram, Aishwarya Rajesh, Ritu Varma, Simran, Partiban, and Raadhika Sarathkumar is slated to hit the big screens in October 2018.
Source: FilmiBeat
At the same time, the director is also working on Enai Noki Paayum Thota, starring Dhanush, Megha Akash and Ramaguru in leading roles.
However, the shooting of the film has been paused so Gautham Menon can focus on completing Dhruva Natchathiram.
In addition to all that, Gautham Menon also announced in a recent interview that he has plans to reunite with Ajith to work on a sequel to Yennai Arindhaal.
Source: FilmiBeat
“I plan to meet Ajith sir in the next five months with a bound script for Yennai Arindhaal 2. Let’s see what happens.” Gautham Menon was quoted as saying.
“I think right from the get-go, there was always a plan that in case the film does really well and people like Ajith’s character, we could get into a sequel and take this journey forward.”
Source: Browsing Spot
“Satyadev is no longer a police officer, so the story can be devoid of all the police activities. I would like to take up this story and I’m sure Ajith sir will also be interested if I convince him with a good screenplay.” he added.
Yennai Arindhaal follows the story of Sathyadev, a police officer who is determined to track down the person who killed his beloved. At the same time, he uncovers a mass organ trafficking group – run by the same man that he is hunting down.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Ajith Kumar Launches New Motorcycle Touring Company : Embrace The Twists, Turns, And Open Roads Ahead
Filed Under Ajith KumarGautham MenonYennai Arindhaal


Padma Shree Hariharan & Popstar Benny Dayal Sang For Karthik Shaamalan’s Adai Mazhai Kaalam Movie?

The legendary Padmashree Hariharan and Indian playback popstar singer, Benny Dayal have rendered their mellifluous voice to our local Tamil Malaysian movie.
Helmed and written by the ace filmmaker, Karthik Shamalan, the film titled Adai Mazhai Kaalam will be donning the big screens tomorrow – 26th January 2023. This highly anticipated film has already set a considerable benchmark even before its release. This romance genre film has received numerous accolades and appreciation from the international stage.
IMAGE CREDIT: KARTHIK SHAMALAN
Adai Mazhai Kaalam revolves around a tale of a young man and the journey of Love in his life to understand the meaning of eternal love and its purp.
Lesser than we know, this film features many big names in the musical production.
From Padmashree Hariharan, popstar Benny Dayal to our very own Malaysian star singers like Mugen Rao, Dhilip Varman, Psychomantra and more have featured in this movie’s music album. There are five tracks in total in this film, 4 of it was produced by the talented Shameshan Mani Maran. Kudos to Shameshan, who passionately crafted every song soulfully.
Ittana Thavam – Padma Shree Hariharan
Touted to be the Soul of the film, Ittana Thavam, was written by Kavinaayagan Yuwaji, this song is just soothing to listen to with its comfortable lyrics. What can we say, Hariharan’s voice is just so magical and mesmerising in this song. (You should listen to this)
Click HERE to watch.
IMAGE CREDIT: PU4LYF ENTERTAINMENT (INSTAGRAM)
Kaathal Kaachal – Benny Dayal
Through this song, the director of this film, Karthik Shaamalan has shown another side of himself as a lyricist. Benny Dayal’s peculiar voice tone along with Joanne Jeya John‘s vocal, this upbeat euphonious feel-good song will make you groove along.
Related:  Hearts of Harris 4.0: An Electrifying Concert in KL with a record of 4 sell out shows !Click HERE to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjN15oLuckEVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kaathal Kaachal // Adai Mazhai Kaalam OST 2023 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjN15oLuckE)

 Nila Nila – Mugen Rao
Nila Nila is the first single that was released from this album. With his compassionate vocals, our very own singer-actor, Mugen Rao, captures the hearts of the listeners seamlessly. Penned by Oviya Oommapathy, this song features a soulful depiction of heartbreak.
Click HERE to watch.
IMAGE CREDIT: PU4LYF ENTERTAINMENT (INSTAGRAM)
Orey Lovvu – Dhilip Varman, Suganya Jegathesan, Sharmila Sivaguru, KK Khana, Kartikan Vasu, Priyasagi Raj, Sudhanesh
Can you ever imagine all of our favourite Malaysian singers joining hands together, making one song? Well, this happened in this film. Dhilip Varman, Suganya Jegathesan, Sharmila Sivaguru, KK Khana, Kartikan Vasu, Priyasagi Raj and Sudhanesh have sung a mashup song that compiles Tamil hits verse.
Click HERE to watch.
IMAGE CREDIT: PU4LYF ENTERTAINMENT (INSTAGRAM)
Love is in the air ❤
Poketplay Films, the Malaysian distributor of  Adai Mazhai Kaalam, took to social media to announce the cinema listing to fellow Malaysians. The romantic fantasy film will be screened nationwide, in all Malaysian states.
Check the list of cinemas below:
IMAGE CREDIT: POKETPLAY (INSTAGRAM)
If you haven’t watched the Adai Mazhai Kaalam trailer, check it out below:

https://youtu.be/QEh-HPUp1NUVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Adai Mazhai Kaalam – Official Trailer |Karthik Shaamalan |Shameshan Mani Maran| #AMK #K2K #JEIKROM (https://youtu.be/QEh-HPUp1NU)

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Filed Under Adai Mazhai KaalamBenny Dayaldhilip varmanHariharanIttana ThavamJoanne Jeya JohnKaathal KaachalKarthik ShaamalanKarthik ShamalanKavinaayagan YuwajiKK KhanaMalaysian MovieMugen RaoNila NilaOrey LovvuOviya OommapathyPadmashreePadmashree HariharanPriyasagi RajPsychomantraShameshanShameshan Mani MaranSoul of the filmSudhanesh


Meenakshi Sundareshwar; Is There Anything Resembling A Tamil Cultural Film?

Meenakshi Sunareshwar, a Netflix original film, is not about the famous temple in Madurai, which is located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River but about a couple whose names coincidentally match the historic Hindu temple in the city of Madurai.
Meenakshi (Sanya Malhotra) and Sundareshwar (Abhimanyu Dassani) are the film’s main characters, as their names suggests and the plot does not revolve around them falling in love and marrying.
In fact, the storyline and tale begin after the two tie the knot.
Picture credit: Binged
Meenakshi and Sundareshwar’s personalities are quite different. Meenakshi regards Superstar Rajnikanth as God, reads books, is self-assured, and has aspirations to make a difference.
“I want to work in a small firm where I can make a big difference rather than working in a big firm where I make no difference.”
On the flip side, Sundareshwar is an engineering graduate who regards coding as a form of art, movies put him to sleep, and the only thing he does with a book is play “book-cricket.” He is a bit of an introvert, but he believes that his engineering background would make him a good husband.
Having that said,  his time management skills in the movie astounded me to such an extent that I will never forget if someone comes up to me and says anything with “2 hours” or “3 hours” in it. You’d understand if you watched the movie.
Picture credit: FlimiBeat
Their marriage began solely due to Meenakshi’s grandfather’s belief that Lord Sundareshwar himself had come to seek the hand of his granddaughter, Meenakshi.
Well, the plot line was okay for me because it wasn’t too boring, and I have a weak spot for romantic movies. As a result, the plot appeared to be very good to me. However, I found the movie to be far too perfect to watch.
Watching each scene of the movie feels like viewing a well-painted poster; what I see the film lacking is “realism.” Sometimes, imperfection is the key to a piece of artwork, and the filmmakers have chosen to ignore that aspect.
As a Tamilian, I couldn’t really connect to this film. I’m not sure why Bollywood movie makers believe we adore Rajnikanth. There are some south Indian Tamilians who don’t really favour Rajnikanth’s movies.
Then there was Chennai Express, and now there’s Meenakshi Sundareshwar. That’s it, no difference.
I mean, the filmmakers could have completely avoided incorporating the part of Tamilian culture into this movie. Because the plot itself was enjoyable, and I believe many fans of romantic movies would have enjoyed it as well.
But their mistake was basically adding the Tamil culture, and doing so in a very stereotypical way. It appears that they did not conduct proper research on the culture in the real, present world.
According to @inquisitivekidd on Twitter, “South isn’t just Idli Sambar and Rajnikanth movies.”
I completely agree with that statement, and I hope that in the future, when Bollywood filmmakers decide to make a Tamil culture film, they do their research thoroughly or abandon the idea entirely, because they will be roasted regardless of how well the storyline goes.
Finally, I’d also like to touch on bits of the film that I actually liked. Long-distance relationships do not only occur in dating relationships; they can also occur in married relationships.
 I can’t emphasise this enough when Sundareshwars says, “communication is like oxygen for relationships.” Because it is true, and it is what is lacking in today’s relationships.
Sometimes the digital world just kills the essence of proper communication in a relationship, but it can also be a saving factor. In long-distance relationships, however, being digital is the only option, despite the fact that it can be a difficult and sometimes exhausting task. In this movie, they discuss how this issue can be overcome even though it is a digital form of communication.
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Filed Under Meenakshi Sundareshwar reviewnetflix movie


EXCLUSIVE: Actor Madhavan Speaks About His First Directorial Debut ‘Rocketry’

Two weeks after its release, Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is garnering all the praise from the stalwarts of the industry after winning the hearts of the audience and critics alike. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say, this one is a massive success.
The one-man army who pulled this movie has proved himself to be a mastermind with the success of his latest creation and everybody including India’s most underrated scientist, Nambi Narayanan.

Helmed, penned and produced by the versatile actor himself, ‘Rocketry’ scorched the screens with fiery collections worldwide when it was released on 1st July 2022. The movie is released in a wide-ranging reach of languages including Tamil, English, Kannada, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam.
The biographical drama is based on the real-life story of Nambi Narayanan, a legendary Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist who was falsely accused of spying and imprisoned in 1994.
Following the release of his latest directorial debut, promotions are in full swing and Madhavan has been actively going around the world including Malaysia to promote his film.
During a recent meet and greet session which was held in Malaysia, Madhavan in an interview with Varnam Malaysia spoke about his first directorial venture, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
Madhavan had to undergo a physical transformation and wear various looks in order to play Nambi’s character at various ages in the film. In response to a query, Maddy revealed that he didn’t break his jaw as what was mentioned on social media. To change the alignment of the teeth, he had to break the bridge.

“I was actually doing that to look like a guy who looks much better than me,” he said noting that his supportive wife had no complaints rather than being proud of his unwavering dedication.
Further speaking about the film, Madhavan said completing this film is like giving birth to triplets, referring to the multi-roles he held in implementing this film. Talking about what and how he felt before the pre-release of his first directorial film, the versatile actor expressed his exhaustion from being excited and nervous because of the number of roles and works he had played for this film, it can eventually be said that he feels relieved as the D-day approaches.
What prompted Madhavan to take upon the directorial debut path by yielding Padma Bhushan Nambi Narayanan’s life story?
As we all are aware, Nambi Narayanan was arrested for falsely being charged with espionage and imprisoned in 1994, and also went through abusive torture during this time. Noting that, Madhavan said this factor pushed him to delve more into who Nambi Narayanan was.

“When I found out who he was, I knew the purpose of spearheading this into a film,” he expressed saying that he wanted to tell the world we have an extraordinary patriot and achiever like Nambi Narayanan whose contribution to the country is not known, and what he did for India and how we are benefiting from it.
“Any man getting accused for a false reason, by itself is a tragedy. But if you take someone like Nambi Narayanan and put him there in that situation after what he has achieved and done for the country, then you know you’re in trouble,” the 52-year-old actor mentioned adding that the nation had to stand back and re-think how they treat their people, especially those who have the ability to take the country forward in leaps and bounds.
Related:  Happy World Environment Day! To Celebrate Mother Nature, here are 5 Soothing Tamil songs about the Environment.Madhavan revealed what the real Nambi Narayanan had to say about the movie.
Nambi Narayanan sir said: ” Maddy, many people are going to be envious and some are going to be angry. But since what we show is without any fabrication, I feel proud of it. And I’m eagerly waiting for the audience’s reaction.
Image credit: India currents
For his debutant film, Madhavan is seen juggling multi roles on the set. Expressing how he experiences the transition from one role to another role he added, “I rather enjoy being an actor than directing.”
“I was so immersed in the project that I couldn’t think more about it. While everyone has been prepared for the shoot while I was going by instinct. I would actually sometimes not even see the clips of my acting, I will say move on since I got to deliver what I have wanted” he shared saying there is no method when it comes to changing into a different role.
Besides, this dedicated actor shared one of his grateful experiences during the movie’s shooting.
“One of the experiences that we had was during a scene in this film where Nambi sir is seen apologising to his wife” he said.
We usually brief the entire team about what we are about to do before the shoot begins. There were 200 junior artists present during the scene and we provide them with a quick brief of the dos and don’ts when we were live-recording the sound.
Image credit: the cinemaholic
“For example like, I requested them to sellotape their bangles during the shoot, so that when they’re moving, the sound doesn’t capture. Some told me that it’s not necessary for the briefing session stating that it’s a waste of time. But I didn’t listen to all of that,” Madhavan says.
He said everyone who participated in the scene listened to the advice and performed their parts by doing a fantastic job.
“Although the shoot for this specific scene had been planned to last all day, it was completed in only two hours. I was pleased and grateful to them,” he said applauding his junior artists’ understanding.
Madhavan also deliberated about the cancel culture as well as internet trolls and his way of dealing with them.
Addressing the cancel culture, Maddy said “There are millions who are using Twitter, and it’s not even 1.7% of the population. There is the rest of the population, who don’t want to cancel you. They want to encourage you for your choices, orientation, sexuality and more. The world accepts you,”
“However, if you focus on a single area where negativity is harbouring, that’s what your life will become. Furthermore, nowadays people underestimate the value of interpersonal interaction,” he said advising everyone should implement more interaction in the real world rather than being pinned up in the digital world.
He also added that if you want to get over the cancel culture, just leave it and distance yourself from your phone. “I also don’t get offended and angry looking at the trolls. Sometimes when it gets really abusive, you just block them,” Maddy expressed how he ignores all the negativity.
Watch the exclusive interview with actor Madhavan here!

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Filed Under Actor MadhavanFalsely accusedIndian Space Research OrganisationisroMaddyMadhavannambi narayananRocketryRocketry: The Nambi Effect


Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Next Hollywood Film

To some, an enlightened spiritual master, to others, a notorious cult leader.
Osho (far right) and his followers
Osho, or Bhagwan Shree Rajnesh, is the living proof that there are two (extremely polarised) sides to a coin. Netflix, in all the glory of its crime docuseries, released Wild Wild Country,  a series about Bhagwan Three Rajnesh’s following. Behind the empowering quotes by Osho that we furnish with #MondayMotivation, there is conspiracy, poisoning, red robes and ‘The Most Dangerous Man In Human History’.
Priyanka Chopra, who has got the hang of world domination with her Bollywood blockbusters, Hollywood films and dating apps, has set her eyes on her next prize: adapting Netflix’s Wild Wild Country into a feature film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjf1OdAne4oVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Developing 'Wild Wild Country' as a Movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjf1OdAne4o)

Priyanka appeared on The Ellen DeGeneras Show to share the exciting news and announced that she will be playing Osho’s top aide, Ma Anand Sheela. The film will be centred around Ma Anand Sheela who was convicted in multiple attempted murders and the mass poisoning of an entire town.
Ma Anand Sheela, the top aide of Osho
Priyanka is working with Barry Levinson, an Oscar-winning director, to uncover the mind-boggling tales of Osho’s community in Oregon called Rajneeshpuram.
Source: VICE, The Hindustan Times
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Malaysian Football Legend V. Krishnasamy Passes Away At 72

A profound loss to the country!
V. Krishnasamy, a highly-revered former national football player passed away peacefully earlier today at the Penang General Hospital after a long time battle with diabetes. He was 72. His death was confirmed by the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) and family members.

He was a member of the national team from 1967 to 1976 and made his way to the prestigious 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
Born in Penang, Krishnasamy began his football career with the Penang Indian Association and Waterfall Rangers before representing the state in the Burnley Cup where he was spotted by prisons department coach Jalil Che Din.

During the 1970’s he was involved in the match which witnessed Malaysia defeat the US by 3-0 at the Munich Olympics. The legend played for the national team, Penang and Perak. In his latter days, Krishnasamy who had his toes amputated on his left leg due to diabetes retired to a nursing home in Penang, struggling to keep up with his healthcare expenses.
Krishnasamy will be cremated at the Batu Lanchang Hindu Crematorium in Penang at 1.30 pm today.
May he rest in peace.
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Filed Under Malaysian Football LegendMunich OlympicsNational team playerPasses AwayV. Krishnasamy


Enga Veetu Mapillai: Arya Bids Goodbye To Anu & Malaysia’s Jenani

On this episode of Enga Veetu Mapillai, the ladies had to answer compatibility questions to ultimately score a date with their Prince Charming, Arya.
The challenge required the ladies to answer questions like “What is your biggest fear in life?”, “What is the one thing you can’t live without?” and “What would you do if you woke up to a gossip about Arya and another heroine?”
Arya was not able to see the girls, he judged them solely based on the answers given. He picked the winner based on how close their answers were to his. After tallying up the points, Arya revealed the winner: Girl No 14 – Swetha.
The two went on a romantic bike date around Jaipur – much to the displeasure of the other girls. During the date, Swetha revealed that she is not very girly, she grew up as a tomboy with a harsh personality.

However, next to Arya, she was all smiles and giggly, leaning on his arm and blushing unceasingly. Arya also gave her a Token of Love, which means she’s safe from elimination.
In this elimination, Swetha and Shreya were both through to the next round because they had the Tokens of Love. Arya decided to say goodbye to Anu, an engineering student from Kerala, and Jenani, an engineer from Malaysia – two girls felt slightly disconnected with.

We’re now down to just 12 girls. Stay tuned on Varnam.MY for more updates on Enga Veetu Mapillai.
Read more:
Enga Veetu Mapillai: The Ladies Glam Up To Impress Arya With Their Catwalk

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Filed Under AryaEnga Veetu MapillaiSwetha


Kangana is a More Believable Jayalalitha Minus The Prosthetic Makeup

Soon after actor Kangana Ranaut’s first look as Jayalalithaa from her upcoming biopic Thalaivi was released last year, many were quick to criticise the actor’s lack of resemblance to the late leader.
https://twitter.com/Rangoli_A/status/1231755826269868032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1231755826269868032&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewsminute.com%2Farticle%2Fkanganas-no-prosthetic-look-jayalalithaa-thalaivi-released-118789
Dressed in a plain white saree with the AIADMK flag colours on its border, the star’s look with fuller cheeks and a round red bindi on the forehead comes closer to the late AIADMK Supremo than her previous looks. Jayalalithaa’s looks during her political career can be marked by distinct styles and this is one of her earliest looks, having just stepped into politics soon after giving up on her acting career.
While this look of Kangana was shot without prosthetics and special effects, popular Hollywood makeup artist Jason Collins, who has worked on films like Captain Marvel, Hunger Games and Blade Runner, had invited Kangana for a look test last year. Pictures from the look-test, too, were shared online.
This biopic, directed by AL Vijay and produced by Vishnu Vardhan Induri and Shailesh R Singh, marks Kangana’s return to Tamil cinema after Dhaam Dhoom with Jayam Ravi 12 years ago.
Actor Arvind Swami’s look as MGR, too, was released last month, on MGR’s birthday, and received excellent response from fans for the actor’s uncanny resemblance to the late ADMK Founder.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  7 Important Valluvar Quotes for Modern-Day Millennial Tamils
Filed Under Arvind SwamijayalalithaakanganaTamilthalaivi


Mahesh Babu Launches His Own Clothing Brand; Humbl!

WOW!
Mahesh Babu, like Vijay Deverakonda, will launch his own clothing line called Humbl. It will be unveiled on August 7. Mahesh Babu is all set to launch his own clothing brand called Humbl.
It will have its official launch on August 7, according to a statement released by the actor’s PR team.
Mahesh took to Twitter and wrote: “Our Humbl endeavor unveils today. Thank you all for the astounding response. For us, The Humbl Co, is not just clothing, it’s a way of life. We welcome you all to the HumbleCo family. Stay tuned for the launch on August 7.”

Our Humbl endeavour unveils today. Thank you all for the astounding response 🤗🤗 For us, The Humbl Co. is not just clothing, it’s a way of life. We welcome you all to the @thehumblco family. Stay tuned for the launch on 7th August! #theHUMBLco pic.twitter.com/eLAR13jBgt
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) July 29, 2019

The brand comes with the tag – Dress like a Dream, Live Real.

Mahesh will become the second south Indian star to float his own clothing brand after Vijay Deverakonda’s Rowdy wear.
Mahesh is currently busy shooting for upcoming Telugu action drama Sarileru Neekevvaru, which is being directed by Anil Ravipudi.In the film, Mahesh will be seen playing an army officer called Ajay Krishna. The project, to be produced by Dil Raju and AK Entertainments, marks the maiden collaboration of Mahesh and Ravipudi.

Rashmika Mandanna has been signed to play the lead while Jagapathi Babu and Rajendra Prasad will be seen in pivotal roles.
Meanwhile, Mahesh’s last release Maharshi grossed over Rs 200 crore at the box-office. The film, which also stars Pooja Hegde, featured Mahesh in the role of a multi-millionaire who takes up farming for the sake of his best friend.
Mahesh Babu also has a project with Kabir Singh director Sandeep Reddy Vanga in the pipeline. If everything goes as planned, this yet-untitled film will go on the floors from next year.

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Rihanna’s Direspectful Fashion Statement: A Lavender Jade Pendant Of Hindu Deity Ganesha

Rihannna was seen rocking a lavender jade pendant of Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha to match the rest of her outfit. The songstress and beauty mogul paired a lace purple dress over white t-shirt and jeans as she stepped out to attend her niece’s birthday in New York. She wore a Quetsche ‘Hidden Dress’ tulle t-shirt and paired the look with a handful of white and purple accessories.

One accessory that stood out was the Ganesha pendant that she paired with her outfit. Oddly enough, she has not received much flak for appropriating the Hindu religion. Rihanna shared a closer image of the pendant on her Instagram stories and showed that she also had matching nail colours.

Varnam previously discussed cultural appreciation and appropriation and definitely think that is a disrespectful fashion statement by the Bajan beauty.
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Filed Under appropriationcultural appropriationrihanna


Water Disruption Scheduled For 68 Hours Around Klang Valley From 30th March – 9th April!

KL lites and Selangorians brace yourselves for another round of water disruption, this time around to last for 68 hours. According to a statement by Air Selangor, this disruption is scheduled to begin on 3Oth March.

This disruption is done due to maintenance purposes at the mentioned area to avoid further water disruption from occurring in the near future resulting from pipe damages.
First, there will be new pipe shifts and extension works at Persiaran Selangor Section 15, Shah Alam, which will result in a 48-hour water supply disruption from 9am to 9pm on 30th March.
Planned water supply disruptions will occur in 5 areas in the Petaling Region, 14 areas in the Klang Region, and 11 areas in the Shah Alam district. At 9am on 1st April, water supply is scheduled to be completely restored.
Second, valve replacement works in the raw water pipeline from the Klang Gates Dam induced a temporary obligation of the Pineapple and Wangsa Maju Water Treatment Plants, resulting in a 68-hour water supply interruption in 12 areas in Gombak and 46 KL areas.
On 6th April from 9am to 9pm, this valve overhaul work will be carried out. On 9th April beginning 5am, the water supply is scheduled to be completely restored.
As a result, Air Selangor plans to carry out substantial asset maintenance at several water treatment plants, including Cheras Batu Water Treatment Plant 11 on 15th June, the Sungai Langat Water Treatment Plant on 6th July and Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 on 5th October. The execution of planned works, on the other hand, is subject to SPAN consent.
Listed are the areas expected to face the scheduled water disruption:

After receiving SPAN approval, Air Selangor will provide a more detailed list of affected areas and the water supply reconstruction timetable.
Consumers are urged to store a sufficient amount of water and use it sparingly during this time!
More updates to follow!
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Filed Under air selangorWater Disruption Scheduled For 68 Hours Around Klang Valley


Priyanka Chopra Is Working On Her Next Hollywood Film With Mindy Kaling

We think Piggy Chops has the Midas touch. Everything she touches either turns into gold or a successful career run.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has spread her influence in both Bollywood and Hollywood and it seems that Hollywood keeps wanting more of her. In an upcoming project, Priyanka will be starring in a wedding comedy opposite Mindy Kaling. Mindy is a Primetime Emmy Award winning actor and a 2-times New York Times Bestselling author.
Mindy Kaling was known for her role in ‘The Office’
The two Indian women sought after many production houses with the narrative before finally striking a deal with Universal. the film will be shot extensively in Rajasthan and Delhi and possibly a luxury villa in Ranthambore. The yet-to-be-named film is expected to go on floors by November this year.
Priyanka shared her excitement on Instagram by quoting, “Two women with a passion for telling good stories, just got the green light to THEIR story THEIR way. So proud of this incredible partnership with @mindykaling and #dangoor! We are about to show you what it means to be modern, global, and Indian. See you at the cinema!”

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

Priyanka also revealed that she is working with Netflix on her next feature film based on the Netflix original docuseries, ‘Wild Wild Country’.
What is next for Priyanka? Perhaps, an Oscar.
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Filed Under hollywoodMindy KalingPriyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra Jonas


Part 2: Top 15 Malaysian Cover Versions You Need To Hear

Cover songs can be fun to jam out to — especially when the young talents perform the type of songs that you assumewere the original version.
In my previous article, I’ve curated the list of the most hauntingly beautiful cover songs which were sung by Malaysians.
Dhanasegarran Manoharan – mcdhana_97
Dhanasegarran is no stranger to cover songs, and with his very own version of Konjam from M.S. Dhoni movie is nothing short of beautiful. A new wave of jangly guitar is the perfect background for this cover song.

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A post shared by Dhanasegarran Manoharan (@mcdhana_97)

Arulini Ashwiinaa Arumugam – thejourneyofarulini
Arulini completely breaths new life into AR Rahman’s evergreen Tamil song entitle Margazhi Thingal Allava.
Just to round this out, here’s a video of Arulini’s cover song Margazhi Thingal which was originally sung by S. Janaki, Srimathumitha, and P. Unnikrishnan.

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A post shared by Arulini Ashwiinaa Arumugam (@thejourneyofarulini)

Roshini Balachandran – roshini_balachandran
I’m just amazed with the young teen behind the magnificent voice!
Yaen Yennai Pirinthaai is a trademark melody from the movie Adithya Varma which was originally sung by Sid Sriram. Check out the glimpse of her cover song which is available for streaming on her Instagram profile.

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A post shared by 𝐑✨ (@roshinibalachandran_)

Sariga Narasiah – sariga_narasiah
Sariga Narasiah’s version of Vennilave Vennilave is that rare thing; a cover version which captivates our soul. With Manessya’s beatboxing on point, and her timing just perfect for this melodious song. Sariga’s soothing voice is everything to make us feel better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvP5ZuzF-hG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Hashmitha Selvam – hashmithaselvam
Best known for her jaw-dropping cover of Enjoy Enjaami, Hashmitha has captured the hearts of many fans. Her iconic and mesmerising voice is a groovy track that makes you want to simply get up and dance to this hit song.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMZWaHDhFSU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Jeevanraj Venugopal – jeevanraj_venugopal
Jeevanraj Venugopal sounds as good as the original singer of Poongatrile. He has become the voice of this generation, and never shies away from making new cover songs.

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Priya Segaran – priyasegaran_18
You could make an extensive box set out of any playback singers live cover songs, but Priya’s voice was special especially from the Kanmani Anbodu Kathalan’s telemovie. Originally composed by Varmman Elangkovan, Kana Kana was sung by Sri Vithya & Abimanyu.
It is definitely worth a listen!

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A post shared by _𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊_ (@priyasegaran_18)

Darshan Rajan – darshan_26
They may have meant it as a goof, but Darshan’s Margazhi Poove has captivated our hearts with his charming voice!
As one of the most ubiquitous cover songs of all time, most people mistake his version for the original.

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A post shared by Darshan Rajan (@darshan_26)

Thanushan Jeyakumar – thanushan_jk.official
Thanushan takes one of the best-written songs of all time and brings it down several notches to just his vocal. His calm, lovely voice really brings the words to life and gives the album a sense of melancholy. It’s a fantastic reinterpretation of Mun Paniya which I felt that I’ve never heard before.

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A post shared by தணுஷன் ஜெயக்குமார்✨(TJ) (@thanushan_jk.official)

Shatiz Naidu – shatizzzzz
A great taste in cover songs has always been a trademark for Shatiz notable cover of Mano and Sujatha’s Thillana Thillana song is as close as it can get to any masterpiece.

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A post shared by சதீஷ் நாயுடு (@shatish_singer)

Thivyah Vegan – thivyah_veganr.arr
The magnificent cover of Sutthi Sutthi Vantheega from Padayappa is made all the more poignant with a bit of melody in Thivyah’s voice.

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A post shared by Thivyah Vegan John (@thivyah_veganr.arr)

Prieya Vathani – pri3ya
Prieya has a way with her cover songs. Originally sung and composed  by AR Rahman, this acoustic version is just so pretty it will start you off to a beautiful day.

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A post shared by Prieya Vathani (@pri3ya)

PaviCrock – thepavicrock
Pavi Enna put his trademark wails, grunts, and jazz flair on his cover song aptly titled Enna Villai Azhage from the film Kadhalar Dhinam. While incredibly current and perhaps a divisive choice, this song is certainly what good music is all about earning it a spot on our list.

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A post shared by Pavi Crock (@pavi_crock)

Poovindra – ipoovindra
To be honest, I like Poovindra’s voice better — his vocal lines are amazing and he hits every single note. Poovindra’s heartfelt rendition from Vallavan is so adorable and endearing.

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LinggesKs_djbrecords & Mitchellegrace – linggesks & mitchellegrace.francis
Hard to say which was the original and which was the cover of Idhu Enna Maayam song from the Oram Po movie. To be frank, both of them actually make a pretty great groove out of it as they have slowed down the tempo, which brought in the synths and the outcome was pretty good.

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A post shared by M I C H U (@mitchellegrace_djbrecords)

Have we missed any of your favorite cover versions? Let us know in the comments down below.
Stay tuned for Part 3 cover songs sung by talented Malaysians soon!
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Those Stranded In Hometowns Might Risk Getting Fired

People who are now stuck in their hometowns after violating the conditional movement control order to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri are now in a dilemma. Executive director of the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said that private sector employees who committed the offence can be terminated from their jobs if they do not report for work on two consecutive days.
CREDIT: THE STAR MALAYSIA
In the case of civil servants, Public Service Department director-general Datuk Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman was reported to have said that they will face disciplinary action if they do not go back to work after Aidilfitri because they are stuck in their hometowns after violating the no-interstate travel ban.
The penalty for this could be disciplinary action or termination, or if they want to go back to their jobs, they will be imposed a compound.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged the guilty parties who went back for the celebrations not to be afraid of the compound or the legal action. They have to come back, he said, or face the risk of losing their jobs because they are afraid of the compounds, but these are subject to the discretion of the police, as the roadblocks are still being held.
With the emergence of new clusters, it does not seem that the fight against the virus will be ending soon, as it demands full commitment from all Malaysians, not just the frontliners. As Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, the time has come for the people to take on the responsibility of curbing the spread of Covid-19 and giving the frontliners a rest.
Related:  Mrs. Earth International is Taking Place in Malaysia For the First TimeNews Credit: The Star Malaysia
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Filed Under coronaviruscovid-19Malaysiaprime minister


Dr Cecilliann Veronica – The Doctor Who Finds Strength In Womanhood

Dr Cecilliann Veronica always knew she wanted to be a doctor. But what she didn’t know is the number of women she would be inspiring through her work in the Malaysian Organization for Development of Indian Women in Career, Entrepreneurs and Professionals.
“Every woman has a strength. When you let that strength in, it will drive you to become a better person,” Dr Cecilliann tells us an an exclusive interview with Varnam. “I am growing to be a better woman every day.”
The co-founder of the KL Sky Clinic acknowledges that every culture has its restrictions when it comes to what women can and can’t do, but she feels that one’s focus shouldn’t be on that. “If you are willing to go beyond those cultural restrictions and have your goals in mind, that is all that matters,” she tells us.
Check out what Dr Cecilliann has to say about her journey as a woman, a doctor and the legacy she wants to leave behind.

https://youtu.be/KuGuHvUFa9UVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Dr Cecilliann Veronica: Being A Woman Is a Gift (https://youtu.be/KuGuHvUFa9U)

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Why Are Tamil Movies Creating A Generation Of Stalkers & What We Can Do About It

Boy sees a pretty (read: fair skinned) girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl doesn’t like boy at first. Boy starts pursuing girl. He appears to float on the clouds as he catches a whiff of her dupatta flying in the wind. Cue duet. He follows her on his motorcycle, watches her every move. He makes suggestive gestures and comments on her physical appearance. She doesn’t like it, she pushes him away fights him, glares at him and says NO. He, however, is relentless. Girl eventually falls in love with boy, thanks to his persistence.
This is a typical story arc in a Tamil movie, eagerly lapped up by the Tamil society. Why is this a problem, one may ask? This formula has worked for so long, why not keep it going? Well, with the advent of technology we are faced with a new conundrum. The Tamil audience taking things too far by emulating the acts in Tamil movies. More than a few girls have been murdered in Chennai, solely for the reason of rejecting their stalker’s advances. The Tamil audience are a society that is so heavily influenced by the movies they watch, that actors are made into politicians based simply on the dialogues they spew out.
Source: Movie Raja
Knowing that movies play such a huge part on the average Tamil person’s psyche, are the filmmakers doing women justice by telling stories like these? Of course not! Doing women justice doesn’t rake in the big bucks, because that’s not what the audience wants. The audience want to watch heroes do their thing and win the girl’s heart, at any cost. Give the Tamil audience movies like Naachiyaar and Aruvi, meh, they’d rather watch Sivakarthikeyan’s Remo.
Consent? Appadi na?
For the longest time, in Indian society as a whole, women are viewed as objects, possessions that men rule over. Tamil movies have continuously emphasized this. The Indian society tightly controls a woman’s sexuality to the point of it being non-existent. Where then, does consent come in?
In Muthu, Rajinikanth forcefully plants a kiss on Meena after finding out she duped him into asking for a kiss from a few villagers. In Minnale, Madhavan stalks Reema Sen continuously, before he impersonates another man to win her heart. Both movies are cult classics, all-time favourites among movie goers. Both movies negate the woman’s consent, only to have the women fall for the heroes anyway. This sends out the message that women willingly participate in such acts, and that stalking and impersonating is the way to her heart.

There is enough research that shows how this constant portrayal and normalization of the right over a woman who chooses to reject advances, and sometimes even passing it off as ‘romantic behaviour’ feeds into a social order that condones stalking.
How can a woman behave that way?
A large number of the Tamil movies made ask this question, sometimes subtly, which is simply a reflection of the way our warped society thinks.
Related:  Malavika Mohanan: Thangalaan is the Toughest Film of My CareerIn Velaikaran, Nayanthara was chided by the protagonist’s mother for having views on gender equality. “How can a woman say such things?” the lady questions. ‘Kaadhal en kaadhal‘ from Mayakkam Enna is an incredibly catchy but disturbing song that suggests men ‘beat her, kick her and leave her, because we don’t need her,’

Women who are saree clad are always the good ones, and those wearing crop tops deserve whatever’s coming to them.
Women are empowered to be damsels in distress
How do you empower a group of people? By setting an example. There is no dearth of examples for men when it comes to Tamil movies. Men have been portrayed in every career imaginable, even an astronaut.
What about women? Sure, there are a few movies that depict strong, independent women who excel in their field. But it is disheartening when these women succumb to patriarchal ideas and end up as housewives, as Amala Paul did in Thalaivaa. How are women supposed to be empowered when filmmakers continue to portray them as shallow, cute airheads who excel in making cute faces but not as career women or independent single mothers?

What Tamil beauty? We only want North Indian beauty.
If a foreigner were to watch a Tamil movie, he would automatically assume that Tamil women look like Hansika Motwani and Amy Jackson. Creamy, milky white skin with pink lips, coupled with a small build and long wavy hair.

Tamil women look nothing like that! We are proudly brown, and our build ranges from moderate to broad, most of us have a medium bust and our hair is beautifully unruly, and sometimes curly. If only filmmakers would hone the diversity of beauty that Tamilnadu has to offer and not succumb to the white supremacist ways of the older generations!
It’s like that lah, what to do?
What can we, as viewers do? For a start, talk about this! The Tamil movie industry is incredibly one sided in the portrayal of women, and the best way to get the word around is by discussing it.
Secondly, and this might smart a little, it would help if we stopped supporting and glorifying movies that step on women. Filmmakers use ticket sales to gauge what kind of movies the people want to see. While this is a big step for some of us, it will pave the way to change the way women are seen by the millions of Tamil viewers.
Source: Star2
While we are all for the industry thriving, we want good quality movies in the market. We want movies that empower everyone and press on issues of gender equality.
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Filed Under StalkingTamil movies


Datin Sri Shaila Nair Sings Duet With Mervin Solomon For ‘Vedigundu Pasangge’

Only nine days to go before Denes Kumar starrer Vedigundu Pasangge hits cinemas worldwide.
Produced by Veedu Production, Vedigundu Pasangge revolves around the issue of snatch theft that is rife in the country. It also touches on robbery and other illegal acts plaguing young Malaysian Indians and talks about how family influences are crucial in shaping young minds.

One of the biggest selling point of Vedigundu Pasangge is its music director, the renowned Vivek-Mervin duo. Vivek-Mervin are best known for the work in hit movies like Gulaebaghavali and Dora. Vivek and Mervin composed a total of 3 songs for Vedigundu Pasangge, “Vaada Vilaiyadu”, “Love Mood”, and “Vizhiye Kalangathey”.
The song “Love Mood” was voiced by Mervin himself, along with our very own Datin Sri Shaila Nair.
Source: Boggler Blogger
“It felt so amazing to watch the song on screen,” Datin Shaila said after the premiere screening of Vedigundu Pasangge. “We don’t always get this chance to collaborate with a renowned musician from India. It was an exciting experience, and it felt so good to see the final result,” she added.
Are you excited to watch the song on the big screen too? Vedigundu Pasangge will hit cinemas on the 26th of July.
MORE:
https://varnam.my/2018/2260/exclusive-denes-kumar-dr-vimala-talk-about-indian-youth-problems-in-vedigundu-pasangge/
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Filed Under Vedigundu Pasangge


Lilly Singh Is The First Indian-Canadian Woman To Host A Late Night Show On NBC

Popular Indian-Canadian Youtuber, Lilly Singh, has flapped her unicorn wings once again to broaden her empire. Lilly, who has amassed a following of over 14 million subscribers million on Youtube, is now dominating the television broadcast world.

Her show titled “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” will be launching in September on NBC. The network also stated that Lilly is the only female to currently host a late-night talk show on one of the Big 4 networks.
Lilly appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” to make the huge announcement and shared her excitement with her fans online. She was surprised by fellow NBC host Seth Meyers who congratulated her on joining the late night circuit.

On the show, Lilly said, “An Indian-Canadian woman with her own late night show? Now that is a dream come true. I’m thrilled to bring it to life on NBC, and I hope my parents consider this to be as exciting as a grandchild.”

WATCH her announcement right HERE:

Source: Variety
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Filed Under jimmy fallonlate night showLilly singhnbc


We’re Giving Away 20 FREE Tickets To ‘MILFF 2018’ By Mojo Projects!

Well, you know the saying, “Go big or go home!”
After overwhelming responses for the last three Mojo concerts; Madras: An 80s Musical, Triple Treat: Battle of the Bands, and Retro Rahman: A Tribute, we have decided to give you guys something extra special for the finale – the Malaysian Independent Live Fusion Festival 2018.

MILFF 2018 is set to be the biggest, most epic concert this year. The concert will feature renowned local icons like Rabbit Mac, Sheezay, Santhesh, Lawrence Soosai, Sasi The Don, and more. That’s not all, we also have a lot of international stars gracing the stage, so be prepared for the super sultry and talented Andrea Jeremiah, along with Benny Dayal, Rajhesh Vaidhya, Sean Roldan – including Satya Prakash and Pooja V.

Does that sound like a line-up you can afford to miss? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Which is why this time around – thanks to our good friends at Mojo Projects – we’re giving away 20 individual rock zone tickets; exclusively for Varnam readers!
Here’s what you have to do to be in the running to win a ticket for yourself:

Share this article on your Facebook page.
Tell us why we should pick you as a winner for this giveaway. Be creative!
Like and follow Varnam.my on Facebook and Instagram.
Like and follow Mojo Projects on Facebook and Instagram.
Use hashtags #VarnamMY, #MyMojoProjects, #VarnamXMojo, #MILFF2018
Send us the link & the screenshot of your post on FB messenger. Don’t forget to set it to public! Alternatively, you can drop us an email with a screenshot to submit@varnam.my
Contest ends on 31st August 2018. Winners will be announced on the 3rd of September 2018.
Winners will be contacted on FB messenger for confirmation. Should you fail to respond within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Also, make sure you’re available to attend MILFF 2018 on the 8th of September, 5pm at the StarXpo Centre Expo Hall @ KWC Fashion Mall KL.
Good luck :D
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Filed Under MILFF 2018