Tribhanga; Kajol’s Performance That Is Winning Hearts And Empowering Women

How often do we see an all women tale on-screen, especially based on modern day Motherhood with a touch of feminism? We can only count on the number of such movies being premiered on our screens, right?
But, this time Tribhanga; a 90-minute short film combines many aspects to explain the sour dynamics between the core characters, such as sexual harassment, domestic abuse and career ambitions. The strength of the subject matters highlighted and addressed that are deemed sensitive ends up undermining the otherwise genuine plot.
Kajol quips that motherhood, constantly studying on the move, is like becoming an intern forever. What they think the viewer will take away from the film is the feeling that women deserve to be respected as human beings, whether they are mothers or not. To add on, a value of a woman nor a woman’s success is not in its entirety based on having children but rather on her own personal pursuits in living her dream, her way, to ideally be a non-conformist.

Helmed and penned by Renuka Shahane, the short film depicts a young woman who finds comfort through the Indian classical dance Odissi. The intensity and sense of conviction that the three women characters are going through is not tangible.
It delves deep into their chaotic lives form the matriarch (Azmi), her daughter (Kajol) and granddaughter (Palkar). A searing drama about a fractured family of women from three separate generations. Renowned Bollywood starlet Kajol alongside Mithila Palkar, Tanvi Azmi, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, and Kanwaljit Singh make a splendid team in this short film.
Related:  Happy World Environment Day! To Celebrate Mother Nature, here are 5 Soothing Tamil songs about the Environment.Watch the trailer below:

Tribhanga – Tedhi Medhi Crazy is now premiering on Netflix.
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Filed Under kajolKanwaljit SinghKunaal Roy KapurMithila PalkarNetflixTanvi AzmiTribhangaVaibhav Tatwawaadi


Samuel J Dass’ Fusion Band, SwarAsia, Goes on a Nationwide Concert Tour

Just looking at an image of the band SwarAsia is enough to give us goosebumps, thanks to the immense talent on display. Spearheaded by internationally acclaimed Malaysian sitarist Samuel J Dass, SwarAsia has made a name for themselves in the genre of Carnatic fusion music with a Malaysian flavour.
The best news has come upon us, SwarAsia is going on a concert tour across the country! Prepare yourselves for SwarAsia – Live 2020 Tour as they will be in Johor on the 7th of March, in Penang on the 14th of March and their finale concert will be in Kuala Lumpur on the 28th of March.

SwarAsia features Malaysia’s favourite carnatic violinist, Hariraam Tingyuan Lam, Cuban musician Marco Alonso on the guitar and vocals as well as guitar and bass player Eliezer Enan.
The latest Malaysian Tamil sensation, Santosh Logandran is also part of SwarAsia. The composer-singer who is guilty or redefining the genre will be on the percussions and vocals of SwarAsia.
Konnakol, the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music, or Indian scat singing, will be performed by Malaysian tabla maestro, Prakash Kandasamy.
The insane amount of talent in one picture. From left: Hariraam Tingyuan Lam, Santosh Logandran, Eliezer Enan, Samuel J Dass, Prakash Kandasamy and Marco Alonso. Image credit: SwarAsia Facebook
We have a chat with Samuel J Dass on the band’s upcoming concert tour across the nation. “This is the first time we are launching a concert tour in three cities, and we are looking forward to it,” he says.
The band shares a remarkable respect for each other, Samuel tells us. “It is always a pleasure to work with people who I am comfortable with. I’ve worked with these guys before, we have done a few shows together and we just click,” he explains. “While some are from different bands and backgrounds, it is nice that we could all come together to share the joys of SwarAsia,”

The members of SwarAsia cut across various age groups and they may appeal to different crowds, but Samuel says that it is just a coincidence, “Ultimately, all of them are so talented. We are looking forward to putting up a good show for everyone,”
Samuel also tells us that the main reason he is doing this is for Swara Community Arts Centre (Swara CAC), a non governmental organisation in Petaling Jaya that conducts classes in the arts for all age groups. “The funds that we raise from this series of concerts will go towards the Swara CAC, to help run the centre so we can continue to impart knowledge of the arts to all who are willing to learn,”
“The funds that we raise from this series of concerts will go towards the Swara CAC, to help run the centre so we can continue to impart knowledge of the arts to all” – samuel j dass
As for the concert itself, Samuel says that this is a first for SwarAsia too. “We haven’t really done a tour across the country, so it’s our first time as well. We are kind of in the dark, but excited to give it our all,”
Samuel doesn’t want to reveal the feel of the concert yet, but he does promise that there will be a few surprises in store for the audience.
For tickets to SwarAsia’s concerts, scroll up to the poster and contact the numbers listed there. If you’re still not convinced, give them a listen on Spotify here.
 Keep up with SwarAsia on Instagram here or on Facebook here.
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Filed Under eliexer enanHariraam Tingyuan Lammarco alonsonationwide concert tourPrakash KandasamySamuel J Dasssantosh logandranswarasiaswarasia live 2020 tour


Amala Paul Congratulates AL Vijay On His Second Marriage!

Yes, you read that right.
Amala Paul and AL Vijay got married in 2014 and got divorced in 2017. His second marriage to Aishwarya, who is a doctor by profession was held last week.

Amala Paul with so much of elegance wished him on his new journey.
Amala Paul has said that her ex-husband AL Vijay is ‘a fantastic human’ and wished him the best on his second marriage.
“Vijay is a very sweet man. A fantastic human. I wholeheartedly wish him a happy married life and wish the couple lots of babies,”
Though both of them agreed on disagreements, neither Amala nor Vijay blame each other for their failed marriage.

Keeping things classy! I like!

Amala Paul is awaiting the release of her upcoming film, Aadai, which will hit screens on July 19. AL Vijay, who had two releases this year — Watchman and Devi 2, is currently involved in the pre-production work on the biopic of late chief minister Jayalalithaa that he is making with Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut.

This is something our people should learn. It is okay to walk out of something, after knowing that it is not good for you. Having that mindset of ‘what people would think’ would not take you far in life. It is amazing to see two very popular figures behaving so well, despite their differences. Fantabulous!

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Filed Under AL VijayamalaMarriage


15 South Indian Celebrities Whose Real Names We Never Knew

It’s always fascinating to discover unknown facts and details about celebrities.
Oh well, do you know most of the celebrities out there are using their fake names for their profession? It is true. To become a household name, there are many steps to take. One of those that the celebrity chooses is coming up with an appealing and catchy name so that it sticks in everyone’s mind.
Today, let’s discover the real names of 15 South Indian celebrities that we never knew of:
Rajinikanth – Shivaji Rao Gaikwad
IMAGE CREDIT: TELEGRAPH INDIA
Arya – Jamshad Cethirakath
IMAGE CREDIT: GULTE
Sri Devi – Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan
IMAGE CREDIT: THE ECONOMIC TIMES
Nayanthara – Diana Mariam Kurian

Dhanush – Venkatesh Prabhu

Sneha – Suhasini Raja Ratnam Naidu

Suriya – Saravanan Siva Kumar

Revathy – Asha Kutty

Kamal Hassan – Parthasarathy Srinivasan

Anushka Shetty – Sweety Shetty

Vikram – Kennedy John Victor

Jeeva – Amar

Nani – Naveen Babu Ghant

Silk Smitha – Vijaya Lakshmi

Prabhas – Venkata Satyanarayana Prabhas Raju Uppalapati

Source: [1]
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Filed Under AryaIndian ActressIndian celebritiesmovie reviewRajinikanthSouth Indian CelebritiesTamil movies


Dushara Vijayan Will Star Opposite Arya in Pa Ranjith’s Film!

Actor Dushara Vijayan, who recently made her debut via Tamil film Bodhai Yeri Budhi Maari, has been paired opposite Arya in Pa Ranjith’s upcoming Tamil film on boxing.

The film, which marks the maiden collaboration of Ranjith and Arya, will see the latter play a boxer. The actor has undergone drastic physical transformation in preparation for his character.
Arya recently took to Twitter to share two looks of his unbelievably chiseled body. In the pictures, Arya appears to have knocked off lot of kilos for his role of a boxer in the movie. Not long ago, rumours emerged that the project could be the Tamil remake of Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz, a story of a boxer from the backward community.
It’s worth mentioning that Anurag and Ranjith had met a few months ago in Mumbai. The former has publicly admitted that he’s a fan of Ranjith’s work and that he eagerly looks forward to his films.

However, as per the latest reports, the movie is a story set in North Chennai, a setting that Pa Ranjith had explored previously in his film Madras, which featured Karthi. This film will revolve around boxing clubs in North Chennai.
Reports suggest Ranjith had originally planned this movie with Suriya. For reasons unknown, the plan didn’t materialize and Ranjith went ahead and roped in Arya, who is one of the fittest actors in Tamil cinema.
Arya was last seen on screen in Magamuni, in which he played dual roles. The film, directed by Santhakumar, saw him play a hitman as well as a pious teacher practising Brahmacharya. Santhakumar returned to direction after eight years with Magamuni, which also featured Mahima Nambiar and Induja in crucial roles.

Arya currently awaits the release of children’s film Teddy, which also stars his wife Sayyeshaa. Teddy, which is centered on a talking teddy bear and its relationship with a police officer, has been directed by Sakthi Soundarajan.
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Filed Under Aryaboxingdushara vijayankollywoodPa Ranjith


‘Why There’s A Delay In Vinosiny’s Autopsy Report?’ Lawyer Manoharan Questioned The Higher Authority

It has been six weeks since the passing of the 21-year-old undergraduate student, Vinosiny; however, it came to our surprise when the family revealed that they have yet to receive any response in regards to the autopsy report from Kedah police and attorney-general Idrus Harun.
Taking this matter into serious consideration, Manoharan, the family lawyer has raised the question of why there must be a delay in revealing the autopsy report. Besides sending an official letter on 17th June to the Kedah Police Headquarters and attorney-general Idrus Harun to get the current update about the 21-year-old death case, there’s no favourable response from their side, The Rakyat Post reported.
Image Credit: Manoharan Malayalam’s Facebook Page
Questions have been swirling among our Malaysian netizens since the sudden passing of Vinosiny. Being devastated by the news of the sudden passing of her lovely daughter, Sivakumar filed a police report alleging the university’s Sintok campus authorities of negligence on 27th May 2022.
On 21st May 2022, the 21-year-old undergraduate student was found dead in her hostel room at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). The death of the second-year Bachelor of Accounting (IS) with Hons student came to light after her roommate found Vinosiny’s lifeless body in the room while she was seen wearing headphones connected to her laptop.
Image credit: Universiti Utara Malaysia Facebook
Certainly, the sudden and unexplained death of Vinosiny has deeply affected the family. As per Sivakumar, he has filed the report as he was displeased with his daughter’s death and to ensure the students’ safety precautions are well-managed.
More updates to follow!
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Filed Under Autopsy ReportIdrus HarunLawyer M ManoharanUniversiti Utara MalaysiaVinosiny


Review: Mughal-e-Azam, the Mother of all Bollywood Stage Productions

This Bollywood show had it all, a passionate love story that defied all odds, parents who emotionally blackmail you, social status and even a war. Only difference, it was a theatre production! Mughal-E-Azam was staged at Istana Budaya last weekend, and we are still reeling from the pomp and grandeur of the production.
Mughal-E-Azam is an adaptation of the 1960 cult classic of the same name, directed by K. Asif. Mughal emperor Akhbar forbids his son Salim from marrying the love off his life, the gorgeous Anarkali who is of a lower social class. The lengths to which he goes to do this make up the rest of the story, culminating in an unexpected ending. In spite of being half a century old, this tale is one that all generations can relate to, as not much has changed in terms of Indian parents imposing their ideals onto their spawn.
Directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, Mughal-E-Azam is an enthralling experience. Three hours flew past the audience as we enjoyed the lovely Urdu dialogue. The actors’ pronunciation was on point, and the delivery remarkable. The dialogue really imbibed the syncretism of the Mughal era. Themes of social class, gender inequality, parental expectations, and duty to one’s nation as well as the perils of war were well delivered in song and prose alike. The director has taken up the monumental task of taking this classic to the stage, and he executes it to perfection, with detailed precision.
Source: Rentak Sejuta
This production is easily comparable with a Broadway musical simply because it is so well packaged and engrosses the audience to the actors’ acting and singing prowess. The lead actresses doubled up as vocalists and did justice to all the songs. Neha Sargam and Aashima Mahajan were brilliant as Anarkali and Bahar left the audience wanting more with each tune.

The Kathak dancers deserve a special mention. They held the show together with their well choreographed moves. Their beautiful skirts cleaved the air in a perfect circle as they twirled, and that is a sight that the audience might never forget.

Manish Malhotra’s costumes are a treat for the eyes. The cast also manages to undergo multiple transitions in very short intervals, which we were in awe of. The art direction is superb and augments every inch of the story, without letting any one element overpower the central plot. The stage, the pillars, the beautifully crafted Mughal archways that fill the recesses the gorgeous, intricate lattice screen, all of the details simply added to the Mughal-E-Azam experience.

To say that Mughal-E-Azam was fantastic would be an understatement. We hope that this musical paves the way for many more South Asian stage productions to come to Malaysia, the audience is certainly ready for it!
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Filed Under Mughal-E-Azam


Dhanush’s Karnan Is Set To Conquer The Screens Worldwide In April 2021

Karnan would be Dhanush’s new release for this year along with his other projects; Atrangi Re, Jagame Tantram and more. This news was anounced offcially via their twitter handles while also releasing the teaser of Karnan.

Karnan release announcement. https://t.co/WKYC5PXxn8 pic.twitter.com/hW37A3Y2o2
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) January 31, 2021

The shooting of the film was completed by Dhanush and the entire Karnan team in December 2020. Kalaipuli S Thanu is producing the film.
Dhanush climbs a hilltop in the teaser and strikes with a big sword in his hand. The entire teaser was set in black and white format.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcjORa8MhPoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Karnan Release Announcement Teaser | Dhanush | Mari Selvaraj | Kalaippuli S Thanu|Santhosh Narayanan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcjORa8MhPo)

This could be an obvious sign that this movie is an old rural drama tale.
The makers of Karnan also released a brand new poster of Dhanush standing on a hilltop with a sword in his hand similar to the teaser. Additionally, it also shows hundreds of people looking at Dhanush standing below.
Picture credit: Dhanush’s official twitter page
The composer will be Santhosh Narayan and Karnan features Gauri Kishan of 96 fame, and the popular Mollywood star Lal is also part of the upcoming Kollywood film.
The whole team of Karnan is very much excited to bring this Kollywood rural drama to the audience and so are we!
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Filed Under Dhanush KarnanDhanush new movieMarri SelvarajSanthosh Narayan


Rapist M. Kirubakaran Charged With Murder Over Death Of Chinese Woman

M. Kirubakaran, a cow herder was charged with murder over the death of a Chinese woman, Lee Ling Tee at a double-storey house in Taman Seruling Emas, Sungai Jawi in Nibong Tebal on 28th August.
The 40-year-old woman was believed to have suffocated to death when the incident took place, in a case that has sparked outrage in Malaysia. The 29-year-old nodded when the charge was read to him before Magistrate Aziana Azib. No plea was recorded from the accused.
According to South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Lee Chong Chern, the crime took place about 3am after the suspect took Syabu with his friend. Later on, he borrowed his friend’s motorcycle for a ride to the victim’s house through the back lane and broke in via a window.
Image Credit: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
He caught her asleep in bed and raped her continuously without any sympathy. She screamed as much as she could but unfortunately none of her neighbours heard her scream.
According to NST, a friend of Lee had dropped by her house since they had scheduled a meeting at 3pm. When the friend arrived at the house, she noticed a man on a motorbike was hurrying to leave the victim’s home. Due to suspicion, she quickly informed the victim’s elder sister and also the nearest police station.
On reaching the spot, police found that Lee’s house was in shambles and her body was found under a bed in a ground-floor room. Besides that, her belongings were thrown into the river near the Changkat area.
The man who had five prior criminal and drug convictions was charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries a death sentence if found guilty.
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Filed Under Chinese womanCowherdDrug OffenceLee Chong ChernM. KirubakaranMagistrate Aziana AzibmurderrapeSouth Seberang Prai OCPD Supt


Denes Kumar Plans To Bring Malaysian Film Festival To India

Denes Kumar has suggested taking the Malaysian Film Festival to India as an initiative to enhance the local film talent in addition to encouraging industry players to extend their film making expertise.
The 38-year-old actor and producer said he is encouraging local filmmakers to move outside the local market, as the festival could inspire various ideas on film making aspects.

The aim of taking Malaysian Film Festival to India is to inculcate people’s interest in Malaysians’ diverse culture through the various lingual films mainly Malay, Chinese and Tamil, which would reflect our cultural diversity to the world’s eye.
A collaboration with the world’s largest film producer such as India would be an encouraging platform for our local film directors.
If this joint venture were to take off, local film producers would be inspired to create more quality films that could be released to a larger audience.
Denes, a well known local talent in Malaysia said, “Malaysia has many technical experts who are willing to work with experienced Indian movie crew in addition to providing a range of interesting locations that could captivate the Indian filmmakers to shoot their films here.
“I want to take our local team to collaborate with professional experts from the Indian film industry.”
Denes who heads the Indian Content and Indian Subcontinent Market Committee under Finas told Varnam he foresees this collaboration materialising only sometime next year due to the impact of COVID 19 pandemic.
Kudos Denes Kumar!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Lokesh Kanagaraj Says He Will Quit After Directing 10 Films
Filed Under Denes KumarDirectorFilm makingfinasIndiaMalaysian Film Festival


Nayanthara & Vignesh Shivan Are On A Romatic Getaway In Santorini, Greece

Kollywood’s Lady Superstar is on vacay mode!
South Indian actor Nayanthara and her beau director Vignesh Shivan are on a romantic sojourn in Santorini, Greece. The duo have been sharing photos and videos of plane tickets and luscious views on their social media platforms.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiEuI6BR0b/
The couple posted a photo of Nayanthara with a reflection of Vignesh in the window captioned as “Us” and added a ring emoji in it. The two connected while working together on the movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan and the rest was history. The duo are spending their time at a romantic luxury resort called Cavo Tagoo that costs up to RM8,000 a night.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vignesh Shivan (@wikkiofficial)

On the work front, Nayanthara’s next movie is Chakri Toleti’s KolayuthirKaalam and Vignesh Shivan is busy preparing the script for his next film starring Sivakarthikeyan.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Shah Rukh Khan's Update on His Upcoming Film 'Jawan," Directed by Atlee
Filed Under NayantharaVignesh Shivan


Unnikrishnan To Release Single Produced By Malaysian Composer

Legendary singer Unnikrishnan was recently in Kuala Lumpur for the Retro Rahman: A Tribute concert, held at the Hotel Istana. The concert was organised by Mojo Projects.
At the sell-out concert, Unnikrishnan belted out some of his classic hits like “Roja Roja”, “Ennavale”, “Poovukkul”, “Kaatre En Vaasal”, and more. He performed alongside his equally accomplished contemporaries, Unni Menon and Harini.
In an short interview with Varnam.my, Unnikrishnan revealed that he has many singles lined up for release – and one of them is a single he worked on with a Malaysian composer.
“There are a lot of singes on the way. Also, I did one song with Malaysian composer, Tiban. It should be out very soon,” Unnikrishnan said during the interview.

We contacted Tiban to find out when will the single be released. The Malaysian composer did not give us an exact date, but he said it should be out some time in August!
Unnikrishnan also thanked Malaysians for being such an incredible audience during the concert. He definitely hopes to come back in the near future for more performances!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  In Celebration Of Unnikrishnan's Birthday, Here Are Top 5 Of His Songs
Filed Under TibanUnnikrishnan


SP Balasubrahmanyam; A Versatile Legend Who Inspired Generations with His Music!

Noon, 25th September 2020, the whole world shuddered and mourned with an immense amount of sadness reminiscing the legend, who was the epitome of grace, dedication, versatility, love and music! A powerhouse of Indian music had fallen.

The versatile singer that Was always cherished and held a place in all our hearts for his comforting and MELLIFLUOUS voice, departed the world on Friday, 25th September 2020 at 1.04 in chennai after testing positive for covid-19.

Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam, or commonly known as SP Balasubrahmanyam, SPB or Balu,  donned many hats as an Indian musician, playback singer, music director, actor, dubbing artist, and film producer.

This icon beholds the title for the highest number of songs sung, setting the bar so high by singing on exceptional notes that is yet to be done nor beaten by anyone, and needless to say, has always held his head low with utmost modesty and humbleness. Widely recognised as one of the world’s finest singers, SPB sir has received numerous awards and international accolades.

He earned the GUINNESS World Record for the highest number of songs ever sung by a singer, as much as 42,000 songs in 16 languages!

Source: Sakshi Post – SP Bala with his wife, son SPB Charan and daughter Pallavi
SP Bala was raised in an upright orthodox Telugu Brahmin family in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. P. Sambamurthy his father was an artist from Harikatha who had also made a name in the film industry.
Source: Sakshi Post SP Bala In His Young Age
His son SP Charan inherited similar vocal coordination as his father and has also successfully reached the limelight as a renowned singer, actor and producer from the very same South Indian industry.
SP Bala with his entire family and grandchildren

SPB started his career as a playback singer in 1966, in the movie Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna, a Telugu film by his protege, S. P. Kodandapani. His first Tamil track, Athaanodu Ippadi Irundhu Eththanai Naalaachu, was recorded as a duet with L. R. Eswari under M. S. Viswanathan for Hotel Ramba, a film that was never released.
SP Bala learnt how to play the musical instruments by watching his father play

SP BALA has a remarkable capability of being able to record up to 15-20 songs in a day and in a matter of just a few hours!

He has even been awarded some of the nation’s highest honours in India, including the 2001 Padma Shri and the 2011 Padma Bhushan. He was conferred the Indian film icon of the year in 2016 at the International India Film Festival, Goa.
SPB has made APPEARANCES in almost 50 films that was very dear to us like Priyamaanaval, Mithunam,Thiruda Thiruda, Keladi Kanmani and Kadhalan.

Just before the Covid-19 pandemic swept him on with it’s wave, the euphonious vocalist sang a beautiful song praising the humanity and sacrifices made by the frontliners.
The wonderful tribute was entitled “Bharath Bhoomi” composed by Ilaiyaraaja as a homage to individuals such as Members of the police Force, doctors , nurses, janitors and Journalists who had worked profoundly In the Midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Ilaiyaraaja officially launched the video song via his official YouTube account in both Tamil and Hindi languages on 30th May 2020.
“Many times his voice has been the essence of comfort during our happiest, or saddest moments. Some even lived through his songs building their life around his musical repository as it is said to be like a Mother’s lullaby, comforting and full of emotions!”
He may not have seen or been there physically with all his fans but his songs and voice has definitely affected and played a very prominent role in many people’s lives.

SPB is remembered for some of his best hits and singles including Ilaya nila from the Tamil film Payanangal mudivathillai, this classic is highly revered as one of his best, a song with a combination of Carnatic and Western musical influences. Critics have also described this song as “one that proved we could have idli with jam.”

Another treasured evergreen melody that most of can sing along to anytime is none other than Sangeetha Jadhi Mullai from the Tamil film Kadal Oviyam. This song has left a greater mark on our hearts and minds in comparison to the movie itself. The movie which did not do well at the box office became a hit due to the song’s popularity.

It was also learnt that SPB had requested a statue of himself, sadly the musical maestro breath his last, unable to see the complete work of sculptor Raj Kumar Vadayar.

source: TV9, Telugu.com

The warm and very hospitable demeanor of his, combined with his dulcet voice, made people seek refuge in his music. SP Balasubrahmanyam was one in a zillion. The childish laugh in between a happy song, that breathlessness in between a sad song, that powerful vocal’s during a Thalaivar’s entry song, and the list goes on, SPB sir has done it all. The world mourns him today because he sang from his soul for each and one of us.

May we always remember this musical genius for generations to come! Your musical kingdom and legacy will forever live!

In tribute towards the legendary singer, we at Varnam through our very own Varnam FM will play some all time SPB favourites. Stay tune and enjoy his timeless masterpieces here.

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Filed Under Singer SP Balasubrahmanyamsp bala statuesp bala tributesp bala's deathsp bala's legacy in musicSP Balasubrahmanyamthe legend of music


Employee From MBSB Bank Confirmed With Covid-19; Branch Closed

The Covid-19 case is blooming rapidly all over the nation with almost from everyone high and low contracting the virus unprecedently!
Now, an employee from the MBSM Bank has tested Covid-19 positive and is believed to have contracted the virus from a close family member.
The news was highlighted to the public through their official Facebook page-

The bank has just released a statement;
“MBSB Bank Berhad confirms that one of its employees, who did not deal with customers directly… at Kenanga International, Jalan Sultan Ismail, has tested positive for Covid-19. All MBSB Bank employees from Kenanga International have been asked to revert to working from home. Those with direct contact with said employee have also been asked to work from home,” it said, adding that contact tracing is being conducted.”
The bank has also made further announcement on it’s social media handle stating that 6 of it’s branches have been closed during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Netizens have been assured that despite the crisis, it would not interfere with any of its operations and that it would continue to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of its customers and workers.
All employees at the bank’s KL branch have been told to ensure their safety by following the SOP’s implemented!
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Filed Under Covid-19 Malaysiakl places with covid-19malaysia's covid-19 casesmbsb bank


Dr Magaret Sivapragasam Is The First Malaysian Scientist To Receive IUPAC Honour

The periodic table and atomic numbers were a pain to memorise in school. To add a little (more) colour to the table of chemical elements, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is creating a ‘Periodic Table of Younger Chemists’ in celebration of IUPAC 100th anniversary of IUPAC and of the 2019 International Year of the Periodic Table. The ‘Periodic Table of Younger Chemists’ features a group of 118 young chemists from around the globe to highlight the diversity in careers, creativity, and dedication.

Congratulations to the new 10 elements (Tm, Ho, Yb, Ga, He, In, Tl, Rb, Cs, Ru) awarded in the #PTChemists! #IUPAC100 pic.twitter.com/28om6uJpAn
— International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) (@IntlYoungerChem) February 12, 2019

One of the ‘elements’ featured in the ‘Periodic Table of Younger Chemists’  is Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) postdoctoral research scientist at the Centre of Research Ionic Liquids, Dr Magaret Sivapragasam.

Dr Magaret has won multiple awards and honours in the past for her incredible body of work in science. This includes the Stage Two of the Shell Ideas 360 Innovators Challenge and honourable mention in the Yale University Green Chemistry Challenge for one of her projects to remove dye from industrial wastewater produced by the batik-dyeing industry in Malaysia. In 2017, Dr Magaret received the prestigious Science Finder CAS Future Leader award by the American Chemical Society.

DR Magaret has spoken at many international conferences and champions the involvement of women in STEM. hopes that her achievement will inspire young minds, especially young women, to believe in themselves and always strive for more, as well as encourage them to show interest in, and take up, science-related courses.
In response to her appointment, Dr Magaret said: “It is really humbling to receive the award and a great honour to be part of the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists. I am thrilled to put Malaysia and UTP on such a distinguished global platform.”
“We need more women in science roles to make scientific innovations, and more importantly, address global challenges. Institutions like UTP create a nurturing and inclusive environment to ensure that women have the opportunity to develop their scientific interests and abilities as well as research capabilities,” she added.
As a champion of female scientists in Malaysia, she works towards ending the stereotyping of women scientists and has even started a discussion forum on Twitter at #scientistscanwearmakeup
Source: Bernama

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Filed Under iupacMagaret SivapragasamPeriodic Table of Younger ChemistsstemUniversiti Teknologi Petronaswomen in stem


Police Officer Harethaess Charged For Distributing Ecstasy Pills

A Lans Koperal (L/kpl) policeman and a teenager was charged at the Johor Magistrate’s Court here for distributing 181.95 grams of ecstasy pills in late September.
Accused, C. Harethaess, 27, and P. Darshan, 19 nodded after the charge was read to them before Magistrate Suhaila Shafiuddin. There was no plea made and no bail was granted.
Image credit: Mstar
According to the charge sheet, both of the accused reportedly committed the crime at a car park near a healthcare centre in Jalan Persiaran Southkey 2, Kota Southkey. The act is an offence under Section 39B (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and is punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Based on a MyStar report, DPP Nur Aina Syakira Muhammad Syafiq Sim led the prosecution. Darshan, was represented by Muhammad Firdaus Adnan, Muhamad Wafiq Hadie, and Amer Ashrhaf Azuddinilan while Harethaess, who was with the Labu police station in Negeri Sembilan, was unrepresented.
The court set 5th December for mention.
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Filed Under DPP Nur Aina Syakira Muhammad Syafiq SimDrug TraffickingHarethaessP. DarshanPolice officer


Can You Handle This Line-Up At The MILFF 2018?

This is it – the culmination of it all!
After 3 epic concerts by Mojo Projects, we’re on to the final event – the MAIN STAGE – the Malaysia Independent Live Fusion Festival (MILFF) 2018. MILFF 2018 will feature a burst of local talents, independent artists, complemented by world-class acts.
Throwback to MILFF 2017…
First, let’s recap what went down at MILFF 2017. Indian heartthrob Sid Sriram was down with his band, and they belted out hits like “Thalli Pogathey”, “Maruvaarthai”, “Yennai Maatrum Kaadhale”, and more.

Vijay Prakash and band took the stage and sent the crowd into a frenzy with an all-time favourite, “Hosanna”. They also sang “Om Shivoham” and “Kadhal Anukkal”. Another heartthrob, Aalaap Raju, serenaded the crowd with his signature “Ennamo Edho”, and then with “Akhila Akhila” and “Engeyum Khadal”.

Aside from that, carnatic rock band Agam took the stage and riled up the crowd, followed by Jatayu featuring Sooraj Santhosh who put up an explosive performance.
If you attended MILFF 2017, then you’d know that this year’s main event will be bigger and better.
On to MILFF 2018…
Are you ready? Can you handle this line-up? Let’s go:
Local hip-hop and rap label #PU4LYF will open the night with a live band performance curated by Rabbit Mac himself. The performance will feature an ensemble of talent from his label – and it will be beyond upbeat rap and free styling, something that’s never been done before!
Also, we’re going to let you in on a secret – there will be a surprise performance by veteran star, Sasi the Don!

The crowd will also be pumped up by the exuberance of Satya Prakash and Pooja V – fresh out of their successful Vijay TV Super Singer run.
This duo will be paired with Rajhesh Vaidhya – the world famous veena maestro and his eclectic band of musicians.

Things will then kick up a notch with “Sean Roldan Live”, featuring brand new sounds from singer and music director Sean Roldan and his band. Lookout for some of his own BGM and songs from renowned movies, including some big hits from his collaboration with Anirudh.
After that, brace yourselves to get hypnotised by the infectious energy of sassy Andrea Jeremiah and her band. The accomplished actress and singer will be doing a full band and live performance for the first time in Malaysia.

The night will culminate with the multi-talented musician Benny Dayal and his band. Benny Dayal & The Funktuation band have touring and performing all over the world – but this will be their first time in Malaysia. Sounds like a real treat, doesn’t it?
Here are the details for MILFF 2018:

DATE: 8th September 2018
VENUE: Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara (View Map)
TIME: 5.00 pm

Don’t miss out on being part of the biggest musical event this year – get your tickets now at Airasia RedTix.
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Filed Under MILFF 2018


Enga Veetu Mapillai vs The Bachelor: Which One Makes More Sense?

16 years ago, when The Bachelor made its debut on American network ABC, the world was in awe. How else to make a reality show more interesting, but to add love to the already treacherous mix. At this time, Arya was working as an assistant software engineer in Chennai. He was only discovered by director Jeeva the following year.
Not one person would have guessed then that Tamil Nadu, one of the more conservative states in India, would come up with their own version of The Bachelor, featuring Arya who later on morphed into a hunk in his own right. Enga Veetu Mappilai has become the latest enga veetu reality show, filling the gap that Bigg Boss has left in our hearts.

While The Bachelor is still going strong 22 seasons later, it is interesting to note that the Tamil audience are just getting accustomed to the idea of a reality show to find love, and eventually marriage.
Both shows share a few similarities, namely the glaring premise that the show is about. A man looking for love (or marriage, in Enga Veetu Mapillai‘s case) and a host of beautiful women trying to win his heart. The bachelor and the ladies go on dates, both group dates as well as one on one dates. Needless to say, the dates on Enge Veetu Mappilai aren’t as racy as those on The Bachelor.

Every week, the somber elimination day bids goodbye to one of the ladies. Occasionally there are double eliminations. Both shows also have contestants who have withdrawn on their own accord. As the number of contestants whittle down to 4 or 5, the bachelor visits the girls’ homes. This is where the viewer really gets to know the women on the show, as prior to this, there is a lot of focus on the bachelor himself. In Enga Veetu Mapillai, we learnt about the backgrounds the girls came from. It was heartwarming (and slightly surprising) to see the families welcome Arya with open arms.
However, that is where the similarities end. The Bachelor usually begins with 25 contestants, whereas Enge Veetu Mappilai began with Arya fumbling with the names of the 16 contestants on the show.

In Enga Veetu Mapillai, the women were given tasks every day, and the winner would receive either a token of love (a bracelet flaunting the logo of the show granting immunity from elimination) or special time (a date) with Arya. The tasks were sometimes interesting, and others downright demeaning to women. An episode featured the ladies attempting to identify types of lentils and millet while being blindfolded, to see who is the ‘ideal homemaker’ for Arya. The Bachelor is devoid of such belittling tasks.
The elimination on both shows also differ. In The Bachelor, the host, Chris Harrison leaves it to the bachelor to do the talking, and a single rose is given to the contestant with whom he feels a connection with. In Enga Veetu Mapillai, Arya appears mute as host Sangeetha Krish does all the talking, even asking the contestant “Do you wish to continue this journey with Arya?” We never really understood why Arya needs a spokeswoman to ask such a pertinent question, but he seems content to quietly smile, hug and pass on the bouquet of flowers to the contestant of his choice.

One episode that we feel Enga Veetu Mapillai could have added is the ‘Women Tell All’ episode. On The Bachelor, as we near the finals, there is usually an episode where all the contestants are brought back to stir up some controversy and discuss their thoughts about the bachelor and fellow contestants. Yes, we love conflict, especially when we know there is a common enemy who threw a silly tantrum when asked to leave the show.
The final two contestants on The Bachelor usually meet the bachelor’s family separately. Be that as it may, Seethalakshmi, Susanna and Agatha met Arya’s family (sans his mother) all on the same day. Another interesting difference is noted with the absence of a getaway between the bachelor and the contestants.
On The Bachelor, each of the three remaining women travel to an exotic location with the bachelor for a series of one-on-one dates. At the end of the date, the bachelor offers the contestant the key to a fantasy suite which allows the couple to spend the night together, minus the cameras. This OBVIOUSLY did not take place on Enge Veetu Mappilai. The Tamil audience is probably a few decades (or perhaps almost a century) away from such ‘uncultured’ and non Tamil behaviour.

It is interesting to note that out of the 22 seasons of The Bachelor, only one couple has tied the knot and are living in wedded bliss (if there really is such a thing). In fact, the show The Bachelorette India: Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika, featuring stunner Mallika Sherawat which was based on the same premise, also resulted in the couple calling it quits. “There was no promise of marriage, not once during the show,” said Mallika in response to the public outcry.

A stark difference between the two shows is the reference to marriage.
Enga Veetu Mapillai has not only promised a wedding from day 1, but it has carried out the pre-wedding photo shoot and the mehendi ceremony already. The show is a squeaky clean, Dettol-wiped version of The Bachelor, tailored specifically for the Tamil audience. Nevertheless, there was some uproar initially that the show goes against the sterile Tamil culture that the audience propagates.
It looks like the producers didn’t have a choice but to culminate the show with a wedding that would justify all that has been said. To echo the classic Tamil audience, “How dare anyone look for love if they aren’t planning to get married?”
Good luck, Arya!
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Filed Under Enga Veetu Mapillai


Up The Ranks: Captain Rajalingam & Tan Sri Dr. Palan Are Making Big Waves In Malaysia

Malaysian maritime giant shipping, MISC has recently announced the new appointment of Captain Rajalingam Subramaniam as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) replacing the current group president and CEO Yee Yang Chien, effective from 1st Oct 2022.
With an array of accolades to his name, the 56-year-old began his career at sea and came ashore in 1996 and has since held various positions in the MISC group, which included various posts such as vice president, fleet management services of MISC in 2008 before being appointed as the president and CEO of AET Tanker Holdings Sdn Bhd in 2016.
According to MMS, besides serving as the group chief operating officer since February this year,  Rajalingam serves the global marine industry in various positions, including as a board member of Gard P&I and an executive committee member of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners.
Having said that, it came to our surprise that he is also honorary commander in the Royal Malaysian Navy, a position he has held since 2009. Perhaps he was also awarded the National Seafarers Icon 2017 by Malaysia Marine Department and 2018 Tanker Shipping & Trade Industry Leader Recognition.
Image Credit: MMS
On the other hand, University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) announced the appointment of its new chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. R. Palan effective from 1st June 2022.
According to Cyberjaya University’s official website, he began his career as a lecturer in management studies and subsequently became a management trainer. A former corporate trainer, he has authored over 15 books and numerous articles to date. In 2016, he was conferred the prestigious Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) which carries the honorary title “Tan Sri” from the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah at Istana Negara.

UMSC would like to congratulate and welcome the appointment of YBhg. Tan Sri Dato' Dr. R. Palan as the Chairman effectively 1st June 2022. pic.twitter.com/HjPzdqAd9v
— UM Specialist Centre (@UMSC_UM) June 3, 2022

Congratulations on your new appointment Captain Rajalingam and Dr Palan!
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Filed Under CaptainCEO Yee Yang ChienDarjah Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM)MISC groupRajalingam SubramaniamTan Sri Dato’ Dr. R. Palan


Ferocious Friday Movie Night To Wrap Up Your February

Everyone should confess that, compared to horror genres, thrillers are getting more focus as the stories are not only very intriguing, but have also been said to keep the audience at the verge of their seats.
the filmmakers are Also keeping On track of making the thriller as suspenseful as possible today.
All the heightened feeling of tension and villain-driven plots is what really makes movies out of the norm these days. Hats off to the directors who dive deeply into this type of genre because it’s not at all easy to pull off.
So here’s the final five ferocious thriller movie suggestions to wrap up your February;
Game over

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY-R6NcnkbEVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Game Over| Hindi Official Trailer | Taapsee Pannu| Ashwin Saravanan | Y Not Studios | June 14 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY-R6NcnkbE)

A video game programmer, wheelchair bound and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder must defend herself and her home against a mysterious intruder. One way to look at Game Over is from a gamer’s viewpoint. It’s largely set in a fictional world, where the events that unfold in the narrative are the actual plots of a video game.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE
Vellai Pookal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGEsh-2gWb0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Vellai Pookal Trailer| Vivekh, Charle, Pooja Devariya| Vivek Elangovan | Indus Creations| Tentkotta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGEsh-2gWb0)

Vellai Pookal is a thriller based on the story of a retired Indian cop who travels to the USA to meet his son and finds himself trapped in a web of disappearance, death and deceit. He happened to be the one who unraveled the mystery of the kidnappings in his neighborhood.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE
Psycho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZCXPBYHY0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Psycho – Trailer (Tamil) | Udhayanidhi Stalin | Ilayaraja | Mysskin | Aditi Rao Hydari, Nithya Menen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZCXPBYHY0)

Psycho opens up in Coimbatore in a frightening room in which a young girl is tied to a table begging for forgiveness as the Psychopath beheads her, blood rushing out of the headless neck filling the screen. The plot gets interesting when a blind man goes on a daring venture to save his love.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE
Thupparivaalan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSDUhmOn6bYVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Thupparivaalan – Official Trailer | Vishal, Prasanna, Andrea Jeremiah, Anu Emmanuel | Mysskin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSDUhmOn6bY)

Detective Kaniyan Poonkundran, who is inclined to solve an unusual case, faces a major challenge while resolving the mystery of a simple dog murder case that leads him to capture a complex rival who proves to be a fitting opponent for him.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE
Kolaiyuthir Kaalam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_2aYwAX1BoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kolaiyuthir Kaalam Tamil Movie | Official Trailer | Nayanthara | Chakri Toleti | Trend Music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_2aYwAX1Bo)

Shruthi is a deaf and mute girl who grew up in Chennai’s orphanage. However, impressed by Shruthi’s character and natural talent, she is adopted by a millionaire from the United Kingdom who also declares her to be the legal heir. But things are not going as expected. So how does she defend herself against a slasher, all alone in her palatial estate?
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE
All of these movies listed above are not of a particular order, but they are definitely impressed by many. Thriller movies are not just interesting, but sometimes they tend to unravel the darkest and deepest truths that actually exist in reality. Now isn’t that scary?
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Filed Under amazon prime tamil thrillernetflix tamil thrillerpsychosuspense thriller tamilthriller movie tamilthupparivalanVellai pookal


Dhanush Excites Fans On News Of Upcoming Movie; Naane Varuven

In films like Thulluvadho Ilamai, Kadhal Kondein, Pudhupettai, Mayakkam Enna and Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Dhanush and Selvaraghavan have previously worked together and they nailed it!

#S12 pic.twitter.com/bzl7Rz9dXR
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) January 12, 2021

On Wednesday, the title and first look of the next anticipated Dhanush film with his brother and director Selvaragahavan were released. Kalaipuli Thanu will be producing Naane Varuven. Yuvan Shankar Raja will make music for the movie.
He Shared the first look poster of his upcoming movie, ‘Naane Varuven’ on social media.
Lately, Dhanush has been giving us news after news about his upcoming work. Indeed, he is lined up with projects for the coming years.
https://twitter.com/dhanushkraja/status/1349355616851030025?s=20
It began with Ayirathil Oruvan 2, AO2, and now the actor has joined the cast of The Gray Man, the forthcoming action thriller by Netflix. After 2018’s The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, this film marks Dhanush‘s second international project.
Dhanush‘s ventures keeps us curious and we wish him all the very best!
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Filed Under DhanushNaane VaruvenS.ThanoSelvaraghavan


Thaneermalai & Kallumalai Temple Among 174 Places of Worship to Open on June 10th

A special ministerial meeting has given the green light for 174 non-Muslim places of worship to reopen under strict Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) from June 10.
The approved places are only those within Covid-19 green zones which means churches and temples in Southern places such as Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are still not allowed to open.
Based on a 13-page list issued by the National Unity Ministry, approval was given to one Buddhist place of worship (Ipoh Buddhist Centre), three Roman Catholic churches, 64 Evangelical churches, 84 Hindu temples, eight Sikh gurdwara and 14 Taoist houses of worship.
The ministry said in a statement Thursday (May 28) that according to the SOP, the maximum number of people allowed during a service at one time is 30 and depending on the size of the approved house of worship.

The ministry also said marriage ceremonies at temples, churches or religious associations have been postponed to July 31, based on a letter by the National Registration Department director-general dated May 12.
As for the reopening of other places of worship, the ministry said applications must be made through their respective religious bodies after June 10.
“Applications that are made will be brought up by the ministry to the special Cabinet meeting, which will issue approvals from time to time, ” the ministry said.
Check out the complete list of places of worship scheduled to open on the 10th of June here.
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Filed Under 174 Places Of Worship OpenNational Unity MinistryThaneermalai & Kallumalai Temple


Relaxation On Restrictions Announced By The Government That You Should Know

Netizens who have received both vaccine doses have been waiting for a relaxation of restrictions, and the government made some announcements about it yesterday.
Beginning Tuesday (10th August), the government will relax quarantine and travel restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals across the country, with the relaxation applicable to all phases of the National Recovery Plan (PPN).

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A post shared by Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital (@kkdigital_gov)

The prime minister stated that for two-dose vaccines such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac, an individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving their second jab.
The vaccine recipient will be considered fully vaccinated 28 days after receiving their jabs for single-dose vaccines such as Johnson & Johnson and CanSino.

 Fully vaccinated married couples who live apart may cross district or state borders to reunite.
 Parents who are fully vaccinated are also permitted to cross district and state borders to see their children under the age of 18.
 Fully vaccinated Malaysian travellers and non-citizens with homes in Malaysia (including Permanent Residents and Malaysia MY Second Home participants) are permitted to return to the country and will be issued a digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MAJLIS KESELAMATAN NEGARA (@mkn_rasmi)

In response to public requests to attend prayers at mosques and suraus, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stated that the government has agreed to allow only fully vaccinated worshippers to participate in prayer activities, which applies to all phases of the PPN.
According to Bernama, Muhyiddin stated that the mosque and surau management should implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) on public health protocols such as wearing face masks and physical distancing, and that worshippers should leave immediately after performing their prayers.
“Those who turn up to perform prayers must show its personnel the COVID-19 digital certificate as vaccination proof that they have been fully vaccinated.
”This facility is also granted to non-Muslims to attend (prayers at) their houses of worship, and it is subject to the state religious authorities and National Unity Ministry for houses of worship other than Islam,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA
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Filed Under covid-19ease of restrictionfully vaccinatedkerajaan Malaysiarental Negeri


“I Was Once A Victim Of Snatch Theft” – Denes Kumar Opens Up About Vedigundu Pasangge

Denes Kumar and Dr. Vimala are back with yet another highly-anticipated movie, Vedigundu Pasangge.
The movie stars Denes Kumar in the leading role, along with Sangeetha Krishnasamy, Kuben Mahadevan, Alvin, Seelan, Magen Vikadakavi, and more. It is all geared up to hit cinemas nationwide on the 26th of July.
Vedigundu Pasangge centers around snatch-theft and other social problems that are plaguing the Indian community in Malaysia. According to director Dr. Vimala Perumal, the movie is meant to just highlight what’s going on in society and not to send out any particular message.

“I just wanted to show what’s happening in the society right now. I’m not trying to send out any particular message, but if people watch this movie and learn something, then I’ll be very happy,” Dr. Vimala said during the press conference.
Lead actor Denes Kumar added that snatch-theft is quite a serious problem in the country right now, and that even he was not spared.
“I was a victim of snatch-theft before. Someone snatched my chain in Brickfields, and no one came to help because they thought it was part of a (film) shooting,” Denes said.
“It’s upsetting, and it’s a real problem. I even tell my wife not to wear her thali out in public anymore – because I’m so worried,” he added.

Vedigundu Pasangge will be out in theatres starting 26th July.
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Filed Under Denes KumarVedigundu Pasangge


NEW: Steps To Register Booster Dose Appointment Via MySejahtera App; Kicks Off Today!

Some good news, FINALLY!
Thanks to the brilliant minds who came up with such drastic initiatives, even though it’s quite late to implement the booster appointment via MySejahtera as cases have continued to sore all across the country.
Those who have yet to receive their COVID-19 booster shots, this is specially for you where all the appointments can now be made via the MySejahtera app from TODAY. The public may use the app to select their preferred vaccination centres (PPV), as well as the date and time of their booster dose vaccination.

Wondering how the latest version for booster booking via MySejahtera App works?
Fret not, as the writer has listed down some simple steps to make your booking process as smooth as possible.
With that said, scroll down to follow the guidelines to pick a date, time and venue for your booster dose appointments.

 Go to the MySejahtera app home screen and tap on COVID-19 vaccination.
 Select the link ‘Click here to book your appointment’.
 Find your nearest PPV centre and address.
 Select the available vaccination slot (date and time). Click ‘See more’ for the appointment slots.
 Before clicking ‘Confirm’, ensure that the details are correct (i.e. type of vaccine, place of vaccination, date and time of vaccination).
 A confirmed vaccination slot will be reflected accordingly.
 Obtain your booster dose at the selected PPV on the location and appointment slot selected.

Image credit: KKM Portal MyHealth
ProtectHealth Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Dr Anas Alam Faizli stated that this idea came about to ensure that the transition to the endemic phase on April 1st can be implemented safely, the focus is to foster community awareness and individual responsibility.
“Unvaccinated or ‘unboosted’ elderly folks with comorbidities have a higher risk of dying if they contract Covid-19. Hence, this will expand access to existing vaccination programmes, especially for senior citizens.”
You may also choose your nearest PPV centre for the booster vaccination on the ProtectHealth website ‘Find Vaccination Centre (PPV)’ as a reference list. Worry not, as the list of PPVs will be updated on a regular basis.
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Sarath Kumar And Radha Ravi To Be Arrested Soon?

Vishal, the secretary of the Nadigar Sangam had alleged that former president and secretary of the Sangam, Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi, had manipulated certain documents and sold a property belonging to the union.
That is a strong accusation but then again why am I not surprised?
The petition came up for hearing a few months ago. The court had ordered that Vishal can file a case if there is enough material to support his claims.
The case came up for hearing again recently, and the court has ordered the Kancheepuram Crime Branch that if needed, the alleged persons can be arrested and interrogated in connection with the issue.
Now speculations are rife that Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi may get arrested soon.
More updates to follow!
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Filed Under Nadigar SangamRadha Ravisarath kumarVishal


Virtual Storyteller Rames Harikrishnasamy is now on Etsy!

Rames Harikrishnasamy is a name that needs no introduction. With a gorgeous Instagram grid of pictures depicting Hindu deities in unique and often adorable scenes, Rames is a self taught Photoshop Concept Artist. The virtual storyteller’s prints are now available on Etsy, the e-commerce website focused on arty items.

Rames took to social media to make the announcement, and his fans and followers have already begun snapping up their favourite pieces. The reasonably priced prints all depict the Hindu deities as toddlers in various adorable scenes.
Well done, Rames!
Check out Rames’ art on Etsy here, or follow him on Instagram here.
https://varnam.my/featured/2019/7141/rames-harikrishnaswamy-is-a-malaysian-digital-artist-who-brings-hindu-deities-to-life/
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Taapsee Returns To Tamil Films

Taapsee Pannu was making waves in the Tamil film fraternity back in 2013. She had a string of successful films including Arrambam, Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam, Kanchana 2 and Vai Raja Vai. The actress is set end her Tamil film hiatus and make a comeback with Game Over this year.
This psychological thriller is being directed by Ashwin Saravanan and will be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

The minute and a half long teaser reveals Taapsee as an avid gamer who is troubled by something. Several dark snippets later, she is confined to a wheelchair, and bad things continue to happen.
We particularly enjoyed the numerous video game references in the trailer, from figurines of Tetris to Pac Man to a Virtual Reality headset, Game Over has it all covered.

Game Over is one of those thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat, glued to the screen. And Taapsee is the perfect fit for the role. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap announced that he has joined hands with Reliance Entertainment and Y Not studios to present the Hindi version of Game Over.
There is an interesting caption, “You only have two lives. The second one begins the moment you realize you only have one,” Preach!
Game Over hits screens on the 17th of June.

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Filed Under Game OvergamerTaapsee


19 Tamil Movies To Look Forward To in 2019

Hello 2019! New year, new Tamil movies to bash! I mean, watch. Here are 19 movies we are looking forward to this year, in no particular order.
Petta

Okay here is what we know about Petta so far. Rajinikanth is a happy go lucky hostel warden who had a shady past with an interesting moustache. Simran’s character is his beau. Vijay Sethupathi seems to be playing a classic Vijay Sethupathi character, Bobby Simha is the leader of a group of bad guys. We aren’t sure what Nawazuddin Siddiqui is doing but we are eagerly awaiting his Tamil debut. Petta hits the screens in 6 short days!
Adho Andha Paravai Pola

Amala Paul is stuck in a dense forest and has to make her way out. Directed by debutant Vinoth KR, Adho Andha Paravai Pola is set in the Western Ghats, but has been filmed predominantly in the jungles of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Viswasam

This Ajith starrer is a rural drama set in Theni. Nayanthara is the village belle. The bad guy is a city dweller. Need we say more?
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
https://youtu.be/vH1AL0GMurY
Starring heartthrob Madhavan, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is based on the life of ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan. The film will be a Tamil-Hindi-English trilingual flick. According to Madhavan, Rocketry is about how the nation wronged a talented scientist like Nambi Narayanan, who was charged with espionage in 1994.
The Iron Lady

Director Priyadarshini helms The Iron Lady, a biopic on the late J Jayalalithaa. Nithya Menen will be playing Jayalalithaa and the rest of the cast has not been revealed. The film will concentrate on Jayalalithaa’s political journey and the challenges she underwent during her tenures as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Kadaram Kondan

This Kamal Hassan production stars Vikram and Akshara Hassan and is touted to be the action thriller of the year. The film was shot entirely in Kuala Lumpur late last year. In one of the film posters, Vikram is even wearing a Malaysian ‘Polis’ vest.
Naragasooran

The brilliant youngster that brought us Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru is back with another thriller, Naragasooran. This Karthik Naren film features Aravind Swamy, Shriya Saran, Sundeep Kishan, Aathmika and Indrajith Sukumaran.
Ennai Noki Paayum Thotta

This Gautham Menon directorial has been delayed for two years now. The filmmakers teased the audience with two Sid Sriram tunes, Visiri and Maruvaarthai, without once announcing the release date. Ennai Noki Paayum Thotta features Dhanush, Megha Akash, Sunaina, Sasikumar, Rana Daggubati and Anushka Sharma.
Dhruva Natchathiram

Dhruva Natchathiram is an espionage flick written and directed by Gautham Menon. This film stars Vikram, Ritu Varma and Aishwarya Rajesh, with Harris Jayaraj composing the music. Parthiepan, Simran and Raadhika also play important roles in the film.
Super Deluxe

Vijay Sethupathi as a transgender, Samantha chopping someone’s head off, Fahadh Faasil and Ramya Krishnan. This films is one of those stories of how four people who are unrelated end up having their lives intertwined.
Sarvam Thaala Mayam

This A R Rahman musical is going to be amazing. Written and directed by Rajiv Menon, the man behind Kandukondain Kandukondain, Sarvam Thaala Mayam will be released as Madras Beats in a few countries. The film stars G. V. Prakash Kumar, Aparna Balamurali, Nedumudi Venu, Vineeth, Santha Dhananjayan and Kumaravel.
Related:  Ajith Kumar Launches New Motorcycle Touring Company : Embrace The Twists, Turns, And Open Roads AheadNGK

Suriya takes on a very Che Guevara look in this political thriller. Sai Pallavi and Rakul Preet Singh join him on screen while Yuvan Shankar Raja has composed the music. Hopes are pinned high on this film, being a Selvaraghavan directorial. Will it be a hit?
Maha

Another thriller that is set to hit the screens this year, directed by UR Jameel starring Hansika and Srikanth. Finding itself in controversy even before the trailer, Maha is set to do well, simply because of the first look posters released. Hansika was seated on a throne, dressed like a sage smoking a chillum. This didn’t go down well with the traditionalists of the Tamil audience. The next poster featured the actress in a Muslim prayer position. It will be interesting to see what Maha is really about, and if Hansika has the chops to carry it out.
Vanangamudi

This film features an ensemble cast comprising of Arvind Swamy, Simran, Ritika Singh, Chandini Tamilarasan, Nandita Swetha and Ganesh Venkatraman. The film is an action drama directed by Selva, and with music by D Imman. Arvind Swamy will play the role of a police officer.
1818

Another thriller from Trisha, 1818 is a story inspired by the events of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The film has been in the works since 2015, and Trisha was signed on only in 2017. The film is set to release this year.
Saaho

This action films stars Prabhas, Shraddha Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Lal, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Mandira Bedi and Evelyn Sharma. Saaho is shot simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. The film was shot in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Romania and other parts of Europe. Saaho is set to be a blockbuster release, with action sequences never seen before in Indian cinema.
Indian 2

Okay, we have to be honest. Nobody knows if this film will release in 2019, as the movie will only begin shooting on the 18th of January , but no harm done being hopeful right? Indian 2 is set to be Kamal Hassan’s last film before he focuses on politics full time. The film also stars Kajal Aggarwal, and it will be a sequel of the 1996 blockbuster, Indian. The Shankar directorial will feature Anirudh composing the music.
Aadai

The poster of this movie gave us chills. Amala Paul is seen crying while holding onto a rusted piece of plumbing with her clothes in tatters and wounds on her face and body. Aadai is touted to be a dark comedy aimed at mature audiences.
Vijay movie with 16 actresses

This untitled flick is directed by Atlee and will feature 16 actresses alongside Vijay, who plays a football coach.
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Filed Under AadaiAdho Andha Paravai PolaDhruva NatchathiramEnnai Noki Paayum ThottaIndian 2Iron LadyKadaram kondanMahaNaragasooranNGKpettaRocketrySarvam Thaala MayamSuper DeluxeViswasam


Check Out Jyothika and Arvind Swami in Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Photo

Everyone is looking forward to Mani Ratnam’s multi-starrer venture, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. The film stars Simbu, Vijay Sethupathi, Arun Vijay (the villain from Yennai Arindhaal), Arvind Swami, Jyothika, Prakash Raj and many many more. Over the past couple of days, the film’s marketing team has been introducing some of its characters through first-look posters.
Check out the photo of Jyothika and Arvind Swami below:

Here's Chitra! #ChekkaChivanthaVaanam #CCV #ManiRatnam #Jyotika @thearvindswami @LycaProductions #Simbu #STR #VijaySethupathi @arunvijayno1 @prakashraaj @aditiraohydari @aishu_dil @DayanaErappa @salamsir21 @arrahman @santoshsivan @ekalakhani #MansoorAliKhan #Jayasudha pic.twitter.com/IyYlnwooSm
— Lyca Productions (@LycaProductions) August 21, 2018

Most of the details concerning the film are still kept under wraps. As of right now, all we know is that the film is reportedly a crime-thriller. But even in that regard, there seem to be conflicting reports — it’s billed as a drama on IMDb. That said, from the photo above, we can deduce that Jyothika and Arvind Swami will be playing partners in the movie, most likely husband and wife.
Chekka Chivantha Vaanam is helmed by industry veteran Mani Ratnam (Thalapathi, Nayakan) and will be lensed by industry veteran Santosh Sivan, who has worked on films like Thuppakki and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. This cinematographer previously collaborated with Mani Ratnam on Raavan and Raavanan. A.R. Rahman will be the film’s musical composer. The film is set to hit the big screens on September 28 2018.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Is Actor Simbu Reuniting With Mani Ratnam For STR50?
Filed Under Arvind SwamiChekka Chivantha VaanamJyothikaMani Ratnam


This Is Why Rajinikanth’s Mural Was Removed From The Bigg Boss House

The third season of Bigg Boss Tamil began on Sunday and the highly controversial show has managed to rope in Rajinikanth into its web of conspiracy.
Prior to the contestants moving into the Bigg Boss house, the media and a few social media influencers were allowed a tour of the newly renovated premises. This season, the team that designed the house appear to have taken the theme South Indian Colourful Crayon Box.
From murals of Ravana (both one headed and ten headed versions) to a floor to ceiling painting of Kamal Hassan’s pastoral avatar, Virumaandi, the house is so overdone with colour that the contestants must feel like they are living inside the Super Deluxe film.

One particular influencer noticed that there was a mural of Rajinikanth painted on one of the two walls in the house, opposite that of Kamal’s Virumaandi. This however, was missing when the first episode of the show aired. He obviously tweeted about it.
This was a Code Red Superstar emergency, and the Rajinikanth fans didn’t take it lightly. They even resorted to hurling accusations towards Kamal Hassan for forcibly removing his nemesis’ picture.

Having stayed at #BiggBossTamil3 house for a day last week, I am surprised that @rajinikanth portrait painted on the wall has been removed now. @vijaytelevision
— bharathnt (@bharath1) June 23, 2019

Reports are now rife that Kamal was not behind the devious attack on Superstar. A source has confirmed, “Rajini’s image shows him smoking a cigarette. That’s one of the reasons why the creative team of the show decided to remove it. However, the fans took it personally.”
Related:  Kamal Hassan Excited To Work In Nag Ashwin's Project KOf course, how can they encourage smoking to 14 sane adults who are aware of the pitfalls of the habit? Oh wait, there’s 15 of them, 1 person was in the smoking room next door.
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Filed Under bigg boss 3Kamal HassanRajinikanthsmoking


Actor Sathish Gets Married!

Popular Tamil comedy actor Sathish got married to Sindhu, director Chachi’s sister, weeks after the couple got engaged.

Sathish, known for his roles in Ethir Neechal and Remo alongside Sivakarthikeyan and other films like Kaththi, Thamizh Padam 2 etc, started out working under Crazy Mohan in his theatre group, honing his skills in writing scripts and acting. He has also acted in Chocolate Krishna, one of the most popular plays of Crazy Mohan’s troupe. He has also worked with AL Vijay as a co-dialogue writer for the movie Poi Solla Porom.
Recently Sathish got engaged to Sindhu in a private ceremony in Chennai. As per reports, director Chachi got to know Sathish during the filming of Sixer, and the couple’s wedding was arranged by their parents.

Sathish had recently posted pictures of him meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and inviting him for the wedding on December 11. The couple’s star-studded wedding reception took place on December 10. Actors Vijay Sethupathi, Sathyaraj, Jiiva, Sivakarthikeyan, Udhayanidhi Stalin, Gautham Karthik, Manobala, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, Mansoor Ali Khan, Vaiyapuri, Senthil, GV Prakash Kumar, director AR Murugadoss, speaker Dindigula Leoni, etc attended the reception and wished the couple.

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 satishsindhuTamil


Is Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya The Greatest Love Story Ever? No It’s Not.

While the entire world thinks that Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya is one of the best love stories of all time, for some inexplicable reason, I can’t see it that way. Maybe I’m crazy, maybe I have a distorted version of reality, I don’t know. But here’s what I think:
Most of my friends think that Trisha’s introduction scene in VTV is the best scene ever. The way Simbhu, or rather, Karthik, saw Jessie and instantly fell in love is apparently so romantic and so beautiful. Really?
All I saw was a boy hanging out at the gate, sees an extremely beautiful girl, and then suddenly he’s claiming that he’s crazy about her and that she’s now the love of his life. Wow, Karthik, you decided all that in 5 seconds? Based on what, exactly?
I’m sorry, but love at first sight is bullshit. He was just obsessed with her beauty. She literally did nothing but walked past him – and he fell madly in love? If that is what true love is, then true love is shit.

Then, he starts following her. He finds out where she works and randomly shows up wherever she is. When she found out he had feelings for her, she quickly warned him that it’s not going to work because of their religious differences – and that they should remain as friends. But of course, our hero will not take “no” for an answer, like most heroes in most Tamil movies.
When they were traveling together in the train, he takes advantage of her friendliness and starts touching her feet and hands. Even though she swatted his hands away a couple of times, he kept on doing it. Eventually, she relented and allowed him to kiss her. And Karthik later used this as an excuse to claim that she must be in love with him.

Even after that incident, Jessie tried to tell him (AGAIN) that things will NEVER work out between them – in the nicest way possible – and that it’s best if they just remained friends and continue to hang out. This is where Karthik says a few things that really riled me up.

“I touched your feet in the train and you didn’t stop me. Isn’t that love?” (Bro… really?)

2. “I kissed you and you didn’t stop me” (Actually she clearly told you that she’s never been so close with a guy before, so maybe she just wanted to know what it feels like to have guy kiss her on the cheek? Also, you keep trying and trying and trying so maybe she felt bad lah!)
3. “You want to hang out with me and spend time with me, but then you say you’re not in love with me? That doesn’t make sense!” (Um, yes it does. That’s exactly how friendship works – when you like hanging out and spending time with someone.)
Related:  Hearts of Harris 4.0: An Electrifying Concert in KL with a record of 4 sell out shows !4. “I’m crazy about you. I’m f*cking mad about you” (Yeah that’s great, but love is a two-way street. She needs to be mad about you too.)

Okay so you all can argue that she was attracted to him from the start – just that she wasn’t brave enough to say it. I think he just wore her down. She’s a shy girl who’s never really spoken to guys all that much, and then here comes a cute guy who keeps pursuing her and saying that he’s mad about her. He makes grand gestures and gives her butterflies in her stomach. Of course she’s going to give in eventually.
But even then, she kept telling him time and again that they should just be friends, so much so that even I got tired of hearing that from her. I felt like yelling at the screen saying, “SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS, KARTHIK, ARE YOU DEAF??”
When Karthik goes to confront Jessie one last time, Jessie says “I’m your problem, Karthik. Without me, your life will be easier.”
NO JESSIE NO, you’re not the problem. Karthik is the one with the problem, he can’t handle rejection and he can’t take “no” for an answer. You told him to stay away from you a million times, he never listened. You warned him from the start that your father will never agree to this, he never listened. You told him that you two will be better off as friends, and he never listened. On top of that, he got into a fight with your brother. So how are you the problem? Why are you apologising to him?

This part of the movie reminds me a lot of Tom from 500 Days of Summer. He falls in love with Summer and thinks he has found his soulmate. Even though Summer clearly told him that she doesn’t believe in love, he keeps pursuing her, thinking that one day she’ll change her mind and fall in love with him. She gives in for a bit and they start going out, which made him fall for her even more. Eventually, she leaves him, and he blames her for being so cold and cruel. But here’s the thing – SHE TOLD HIM FROM THE START THAT SHE DOESN’T WANT THIS AND HE DIDN’T LISTEN!
Karthik and Jessie were never meant to be. And if there’s one person who caused Karthik all that pain, the blame is on Karthik himself.
If anything, I’m glad that this heartbreak inspired him to write and direct his first movie – and he realised his dream of being a successful filmmaker. Aside from that, I honestly don’t know what is so great about VTV.
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Filed Under Gautham MenonJessieKarthikSimbhuTrisha


Mojo’s Triple Treat Review: Stephen Devassy & His Keytar The Highlight Of The Night

Triple Treat, a part of the Mojo Concert Series organized by Mojo Projects took place over the weekend. We could not contain our excitement as we walked into Hotel Istana. Who wouldn’t be? Agam, Naresh Iyer AND Stephen Devassy were scheduled to perform that evening!
Excellent Opening By The Malaysians

A local band comprising of crooner Arvind Raj, Abimanyu, Music Kitchen opened the show with Adiye, a crowd favourite. They proceeded to sing a few mashups before ending their opener with a bang. Their version of Varaha Nadhiharai melded well with Where Is The Love. Arvind Raj’s deep, throaty voice did the songs justice, and Abimanyu (of Ola Bola Musical fame) made sure to add in his signature ad lib singing to the tunes. We must add that the two harmonized beautifully, especially during their rendition Kau Ilhamku.
While the boys were very energetic and sung their hearts out, it was difficult to hear their voices over the music. We assumed it was because they were the first on stage and the sound engineers would have done the needful to prevent it from happening again. We were wrong.
The Dream We Will Always Remember

It was mighty kind of the organizers to allow for a 30 minute buka puasa (breaking of fast) interlude before everyone’s favourite carnatic progressive rock band, Agam, took the stage. And boy, did they command the stage! They first performed Brahma’s Dance. Whether it was to invoke the divine or not, Agam definitely invoked something in the audience.
They stole our hearts with the sensuous, seductive and soulful in song such as Swans of Saraswathy, to the raw, raucous and rebellious of Rangapura Vihara. Kudos to Sivagami for performing a solo traditional dance to Mist of Capricorn.

The crowd goes wild as Harish Sivaramakrishnan coaches the audience to sing along to the chorus of Kooth Over Coffee. Something marvellous happens as the song ends. A group in the audience start chanting the chorus of The Boat Song. The chant grows and soon enough, the entire audience is singing “Thitithaana Thithithai…” Taking the cue, Harish and team launch into the peppy Malayalam number next.
Agam ended their hour with a solo from all the band members on their instruments, and a fantastic drum off between the drummer and percussionist. Agam deserved the standing ovation they received, and the audience was overwhelmed by their sheer talent. To top it off, Harish then belts out a few lines from the classic, Nila Kaigiradhu when interviewed by host Anantha. The audience sat in silence as he made magic with his vocal prowess.
The A R Rahman Prodigy

The Navneeth Sundar Ensemble then take the stage, as they begin to play their music, we quickly notice that they’re an 8-piece band armed with a string trio of two violinists and a cellist! Naresh runs in singing the lines “Iru Pookal Kilai Mele”, the catchy gut wrenching song from Uyire. He graces the stage with a few more of his classics and new songs like Roobaroo and Yaayum Yaayum.
The real crowd-pleaser, however, was his evergreen Mundhinam Parthene. Naresh then proceeded to sing Kannukul Kanne with a brilliant rock twist, and the violinists did it justice. He then flowed into Munbe vaa, where the cellist, Mr Shekhar, might have been the actual star of that song.
Related:  Hearts of Harris 4.0: An Electrifying Concert in KL with a record of 4 sell out shows !
Naresh then blew us away by singing Kanne Kalaimaane, totally didn’t see that coming bro! The band sans Naresh then performed two instrumental numbers, both of which left the audience wanting more. The closer was what got the audience dancing, Vena Machan Vena, the spirited, chauvinistic number even had Naresh bust some moves on the dance floor with his fans!
The Keytar That Stole The Show

Stephen Devassy was next and his entry was spectacular. He appears in the back of the hall, the spotlight on him with his signature keytar, playing one of his own compositions, as he walks through the now hysterical audience towards the stage. The only thing that matches Stephen’s talent is his charisma, and he oozes it. In spite of being a musician and not a vocalist, Stephen was incredibly engaging and got the crowd singing along to the classic Tamil hits, like Veetukku Veetukku Vaasapadi, Mustafa Mustafa and Humma Humma. The audience went crazy when he played Maanguyile Poonguyile and sang along even louder.

Together with the Solid Band, Stephen blew our minds that night. He appeared to be thumping randomly on his keytar but what came out was glorious music. Stephen also had two singers perform with his band, Sham Prasad and Ramya. The latter did justice by the song Adiye which was reminiscent Sid Sriram’s performance at the Mojo Concert in 2017.
As the concert reached its climax, Stephen’s violinist, the zany, magnificently talented Francis, did a rendition of Engeyum Eppothum with Sham Prasad. Imagine the “kattazhagu ponnirukku vattamidum kaathirukku..” verse done completely with the crescendo of a violin! This was one of the many times that night that the music out-shined the singer. Needless to say, there were fans on the dance floor from the start to the end of Stephen Devassy’s performance!

There’s Room for Improvement
The Navneeth Sundar Ensemble were exceptional. But the string trio were barely audible throughout the performance. In fact, Naresh was also heard giving instructions to the sound engineer while he was on stage.
Aside from that, Agam and Stephen Devassy are stadium sized artists and perhaps a ballroom is not the best choice to showcase their music.
Verdict: Excellent performers all round. Luckily, there was so much talent showcased, that by the end of the night, we forgot all about the sound glitches. Big thanks to Mojo Projects for bringing world-class musicians over! :D
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Filed Under AgamMojo Concert SeriesMojo ProjectsNaresh IyerStephen Devassy


MP Suspended In Dewan Rakyat For Making Fun Of ‘Vibuthi’

A Barisan Nasional MP was suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for two days after linking ‘vibuthi’ worn by RSN Rayer on his forehead to the ashes of communist leader Chin Peng. It began when Tajuddin Abdul Rahman asked Rayer if he was wearing Chin Peng’s ashes on his forehead.

Seriously, people wonder why sometimes some of our Malaysians do not know how to behave. I have a clue..  Maybe they could have learnt it from our insensitive, ignorant politicians!
Rayer then told Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof that it was an insult to the Hindu community.
“Ask him to apologise,” he added.
“The YB from BN insulted the Hindus.”
He was supported by another MP, who agreed that Tajuddin’s remarks were an insult to the Hindu religion.
Several BN MP’s told Rayer to not link up the stament but he said that he would not retract it. Tajuddin subsequently retracted his remark, but said that he was merely asking a question.
Ramkarpal Singh then asked why Rayer had been asked to retract his statement when, in fact, Tajuddin had mocked Rayer over the holy ash worn on his forehead.
He said he was raising the issue based on Standing Order 36 (6) which states that no member shall impute improper motives to any other member. Ramkarpal urged the speaker to take action against Tajuddin, after which the speaker suspended Tajuddin for two days.
Making an insensitive remark on someone’s culture is uncool and disgusting. There is no need for us to judge other people’s religious practice and beliefs, if and unless it is hurting someone. Seeing our politicians behave this way, gives everyone a free pass to condemn the politics of our country. Can you blame them?
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Filed Under bndewan rakyatmalaysian politicsrayer


Singapore Crooner, Shabir Honoured With Prestigious Artistic Excellence Award

Without any scepticism, the multiple award-winning singer-songwriter, music producer, and performer Shabir Tabare Alam is swaying his way up to the international level, and we couldn’t be prouder of his achievements.
With that being said, Shabir has added another coveted award to his hat by bagging the Artistic Excellence Award at the Compass Awards Presentation ceremony on 25th September 2022.
Image Credit: Shabir’s Facebook Page
The first Independent Music Artist & Film Composer of Indian and Tamil descent was awarded the Singapore Youth Award, the highest national honour given to young achievers by the Singapore Government.
Highly regarded as one of the most prolific music artists in Singapore, he works prolifically in the Tamil cinema industry with 7 films in his repertoire and has published many albums gaining him a loyal following across Singapore, India and Malaysia.
It’s notable that Shabir’s Dejavu and Nagara Vaytai, were the first Tamil music videos to be aired on MTV Asia.
One of his songs Yaayum, from the thriller flick Sagaa, garnered over 105 million collective views on YouTube, causing the Indian media to hail his debut as a music director. In addition, Shabir co-wrote and lent his vocals to the title song of Kollywood Superstar Chiyaan Vikram’s ‘Kadaram Kondan’ film.

In conjunction with its 25th-year annual award presentation, it serves to recognise local musicians and songwriters for their outstanding achievements. Tabulations for the royalty-based categories are for works performed in 2020 and assessed in 2021.
Congratulations Shabir!
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Filed Under Artistic Excellence AwardCompass Awards Presentationndependent Music Artist & Film ComposerShabir Tabare AlamSingapore Youth AwardYaayum


“They Didn’t Give Local Talents Enough Airtime!” – Sree Sonic On Launching FIRST 100% Local Tamil Channel

Unless you have been living under a rock, Sree Sonic has probably already become a household name. Sporting that signature handle-bar moustache, Sree has an acquired taste for pranks; taking pleasure in the temporary misfortune of another being and finding humour in it, in the name of some good old-fashioned entertainment.

Sree sneakily crept into our hearts and homes with his variety shows on ASTRO called Pettikulle Enna and Eneke Vaa. Both of his shows went on to win Edison Awards, bagging the Best Comedy and the Best Prank Show award, respectively. In all his success, Sree noticed a big gap in the local Malaysian Indian entertainment scene; there was not enough LOCAL CONTENT!
Sree observed in utter disgust and frustration, like the rest of the society, when Malaysian media giants would spend thousands to fly in talent from India to be featured on local shows instead of providing the platform that homegrown talents needed. When push came to shove, Sree realised that if it was up to him to single-handedly revolutionise an entire industry, then so be it.
Two months ago, Sree Sonic and his team of creatives set up camp and launched their very own online channel that is the FIRST 100% local Tamil channel. With a head full of dreams and a heart full of hopes, Varnam decided to catch up with the men himself, to get an exclusive preview of his new channel, Sree Sonic.

Shangkharee: As Rome was not built in a day, so is not any self-made person. Tell us how was ‘Sree Sonic’ built?
Sree: Just an island boy with big dreams.

I was born and raised in Pangkor Island and my love for photography started at a very young age. At 15, my parents abandoned me and I was raised singlehandedly by my grandmother. I think photography was my way of expression and a form of escapism. As soon as I finished school, I packed my bags and traded the sand and sea for this concrete jungle and a promise of a better future.

Moving to Kuala Lumpur at 18, I learned the knacks of photography and story-telling, with a side of hard-knocks. The digital age had not yet dawned upon us and I would be seen wondering with my film camera at weddings and parties, trying to make a career out of it. With years, I slowly moved into creating more corporate content before taking the leap to join TV.
The first video content I released gained lots of traction online. I decided to prank popular Malaysian RJs, Aanantha and Uthaya, in a mock gun-point robbery. Their reactions were priceless and the video spread across the internet like wildfire. Somehow, this video caught the attention of Christopher from Chris Films and he gave me first break on TV. Within no time, I found 2 of my variety shows, Pettikulle Enna and Eneke Vaa, on ASTRO.

Shangkharee: You have an incredible talent at creating highly-engaging content for TV and digital in the past years. How do you come up with such ideas?
Sree: Content is a psychological game.
It is heavily dependent on your ability to observe and draw conclusions from societal interests and habits. You have to understand what people are passionate about. It can be something that they love or hate.

If you understand the people around you, coming up with content won’t seem like a chore. At the same time, I think it so important to be open to suggestions from others. I never shoot down any ideas brought up by my team or the people around me. If you never try, you will never know.
Shangkharee: As a rebel of sorts, you are planning to revolution content in the local Tamil entertainment industry with the first 100% local content channel. What can we expect from your new channel?
Sree: We launched our channel on Youtube called Sree Sonic about 2 months ago and it has been received very well. Right now, we have uploaded smaller content as a ‘warmup’ for what our audience can expect in the months to come.
We are planning to create content that has the quality of television and the freedom of digital. Everything ranging from fashion, food, travel, comedy will be available on the channel and some content will go up to 50 minutes. We even have a kids show on Tamil nursery rhymes for our younger members.

After testing the market with our content, we realised that in the second month, our biggest content consumers come from India, followed by Malaysia, Singapore and USA. So, we are also planning a cooking show that will cater towards our viewers in India. Usually, we are the ones who consume the content from there, but this time it will be the reverse.

Shangkharee: I am keen on what will be your signature content on this channel.
Sree: I have many plans for the content I will put out, but the one I am most excited about is my cooking show. A lot of my followers on social media are every engaged when I post videos of me cooking for my wife and children. We will be taking the same concept and create a show around it. In the first episode, my family and I will having a picnic at a waterfall and I will be demonstrating how to make Guinness Stout Chicken.

Shangkharee: Everyday there are hundreds of new channels being launched online. How do you stand out in the crowd and ensure this channel becomes successful?
Sree: Let me explain this to you in words that I know. So, with lots of content creators online it also means there will be more ‘kuppe (rubbish) content’ too. The good ones will always shine against the rest. I think it also important to create high quality, engaging content that will stand the test of time, instead of just banking on sensational and viral topics. Top that with a healthy effort for technical optimisation, we will definitely become successful.
Shangkharee: What are your hopes for this channel?
Sree: I want to produce content that is made locally with a global appeal. The channel is aiming to develop and incubate as many fresh faces and talents. We want to hold space for the next generation of entertainers, actors and hosts in Malaysia. Within a few months, the Sree Sonic channel will also be open to accepting brands that wish to advertise with us for a wider reach of audience in the  digital landscape.

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Filed Under Eneke VaPettikulle EnnaSree sonic


‘Tamizhedu’ To Raise Awareness and Foster One’s Interest In Tamil Arts & Culture

Have you always been interested in writing about Tamil arts and culture?
If yes, the Tamil Language Society of Universiti Malaya (TLSUM), is all set to organise the highly anticipated project aptly titled ‘Tamizhedu’.
So, what is ‘Tamizhedu’ all about?
‘Tamizhedu’ is a project that focuses on publishing a magazine related to Tamil arts and culture. It’s an initiative aimed to spread knowledge of Tamil arts and culture to students and the public. In the modern era, Tamil, which also happens to be one of the world’s oldest language is slowly losing its heritage values.

The students of University Malaya, readers of this E-magazine and experts from local & international arenas  are welcome to join the online event. To curb the spread of COVID-19, ‘Tamizhedu’ will be launched via virtual platforms.
Check out the project details:
Date : 18 September 2021
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Venue: Tamil Language Society of Universiti Malaya (TLSUM) Facebook Page
In addition, the ultimate online project will encourage the younger generation to explore the arts and culture of the dwindling Tamil community. With this project, the society hopes to foster love for the language and the need to treasure the Tamil language, at the same time preserve one’s knowledge of Tamil arts and culture, in hopes that it will be widely recognised both locally and internationally.
For further inquiries and bookings, do drop an e-mail to artsculture62tlsum@gmail.com.
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Filed Under ‘Tamizhedu’ projectDravidian languageTamil arts & cultureTamil Language Society of Universiti Malaya (TLSUM)Virtual event