Calling All Who Did Well in SPM!

Did you or someone you know do well in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations? We’d like to hear from you!
Varnam Malaysia wants to feature Malaysian Indian students who have excelled in the SPM examinations that were held last year.
All you need to do is to drop us an email at newsdesk@varnam.my with the following details.

Name of student
School
SPM results
Picture of student (optional)
Contact number

More students have scored straight As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2019 examinations than the year before.
Of the 389,498 students who sat for the examinations, 8,876 candidates scored A+, A and A- in all subjects, education director-general Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim said. “This is an improvement of 0.13%,” she at a press conference when announcing the SPM 2019 result analysis earlier today.
The National Average Grade (GPN) improved, with a score of 4.86 compared to 4.89 in SPM 2018.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Malaysia Becomes The First Country to Launch a Multilingual Aathichudi Book in The World
Filed Under malaysian indianmalaysian indian studentsijil pelajaran malaysiaspm


SP Bala Is Returning To Malaysia For ‘Illaya Nila’ Featuring Ilayaraja Hits

SP Balasubrahmanyam is returning to Malaysia for another concert.

After the sold out show ‘Mettu Podu’ in Kuala Lumpur last year, SP Bala returns for a full fledged concert with 100% Exclusive Hits by Maestro Ilayaraja for Raaghav Productions’ ‘Illaya Nila’. ‘Illaya Nila’ will be happening at the Plenary Hall, KLCC on 31 August 2019.
SP Bala and Ilayaraja creating magic
Fans will be serenaded with songs like ‘Mandram Vantha Thendral’, ‘Ilaya Nila’,’Nilave Vaa’ and many more evergreen tunes.
On top of that, teen piano prodigy, Lydian Nadhaswaram, who recently won popular American reality talent show, ‘World’s Best’, will be performing with SP Bala for the first time ever on stage! They will be accompanied by the world’s renowned Symphonies, The Sunshine Orchestra from KM Music Conservatory (Founded by AR Rahman).
Prodigy pianist, Lydian Nadhaswaram
With so much to look forward to in the upcoming show, Varnam Malaysia is pleased to announce that we are the official media partners for ‘Illaya Nila’. We will be sharing all the highlights and exclusive insights in preparation for the spectacular evening.

Tickets to ‘Illaya Nila’ are available from 25th March onwards on GALACTIX ASIA.
https://www.galactix.asia/. For information, contact DK @ 0104071526

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Director Pa. Ranjith on how Ilayaraja's Music Influences his Art
Filed Under IlayarajaLydian NadhaswaramSP BalasubrahmanyamSPBSPB Live In Concert


Malaysian Indian Candidates Who Made The Win at GE15

Yesterday (20th November 2022), the Malaysian political sphere attempted to put together a coalition government after the election resulted in an unexpectedly hung parliament, in which no party could claim a majority.
Today (21st November 2022), Yang di-Pertuan Agong has extended the deadline for the political party and coalition leaders to submit their proposed coalition to form the new government and submit the name of the Prime Minister candidate until 2 pm tomorrow.
Aside from that, now let’s look at Indians who successfully gained and secured their seats at this 15th General Election.
P051 Bukit Gelugor was won by Ramkarpal Singh (PH) with a majority of 63,112 votes.
The Malaysian politician and lawyer successfully retained his Bukit Gelugor seat that he won with a majority vote in the 2018 General Elections.
IMAGE CREDIT: MALAYSIA KINI
P062 Sungai Siput won by S Kesavan (PH) with a majority of 1,846 votes.
S Kesavan retained his seat at Sungai Siput. In the 2018 General Election, he won with a majority vote for this seat too.
IMAGE CREDIT: BERITA HARIAN
P065 Ipoh Timor was won by M Kula (PH) with a majority of 56,667 votes.
IMAGE CREDIT: AIR TIMES NEWS NETWORK
P066 Batu Gajah was won by V Sivakumar (PH) with a majority of 53,836 votes.
V. Sivakumar has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Gajah since May 2013. In the 2013 general election, Sivakumar contested and won the parliamentary constituency of Batu Gajah in Perak. He successfully retained the seat in this GE15 with a majority vote.
IMAGE CREDIT: MAJORITI
P072 Tapah was won by Datuk Seri M Saravanan (BN) with a majority of 5,064 votes.
Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan has been retaining this seat (P072 Tapah) since 2008.
IMAGE CREDIT: YAHOO NEWS MALAYSIA
P106 Damansara was won by Gobind Singh Deo (PH) with a majority of 124,619 votes.
Gobind Singh Deo maintained his stronghold in Damansara with an unbelievable majority of votes. He created history with a higher vote of 142,875 votes.
IMAGE CREDIT: UTUSAN BORNEO ONLINE
P107 Sungai Buloh was won by Ramanan Ramakrishnan (PH) with a majority of 2,693 votes.
Ramanan secured the ‘hot seat’ with a 2,693 vote majority, defeating the heavyweight candidate Khairy Jamaluddin (BN) in the 15th General Election.
IMAGE CREDIT: FMT
P110 Kapar was won by Ganabatirau Veraman (PH) with a majority of 91,801 votes.
Ganabatirau bagged this big win by winning a majority vote of 70. 49%.
IMAGE CREDIT: SELANGOR KINI
P115 Batu was won by Prabakaran Parameswaran (PH) with a majority of 22,241 votes.
Prabakaran Parameswaran successfully defended his seat in the Batu Parliament with a total of 45,716 votes. He garnered a majority of 22,241 votes to defeat nine other candidates.
IMAGE CREDIT: VULCAN POST
P140 Segamat was won by R Yuneswaran (PH) with a majority of 5,669 votes.
IMAGE CREDIT: R.YUNESWARAN (FACEBOOK)
(DUN) N30 Buntong was won by Thulsi Manogaran PH (DAP) with a majority of 19,155 votes.
With her electoral debut, Thulsi Manogaran sealed the N30 Buntong State Assembly seat in the 15th General Election with a majority of 19,155 votes.
IMAGE CREDIT: MALAYSIAN MUST KNOW THE TRUTH
(DUN) N54 Hutang Melintang was won by Wasanthee Sinnasamy PH with a 11,924 votes.
IMAGE CREDIT: WASANTHEE SINNASAMY (FACEBOOK)
(DUN) N57 Sungkai was won by Sivanesan Achalingam PH with 9,549 votes.
IMAGE CREDIT: SIVANESAN ACHALINGAM (FACEBOOK)
(DUN) N41 Malim Nawar was won by V. Bavani Shasha PH (DAP) with 10,905 votes.

(DUN) N35 Sabai was won by V. Arumugam PH (BN) with 4,444 votes.

With that being said, let’s hope that we will be getting a new Prime Minister and Government soon.
#betterMalaysia
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Filed Under #betterMalaysia15th General Election.2013 general election2018 General ElectionBatu GajahBatu ParliamentBukit GelugorBuntongDamansaraDatuk Seri M. SaravananGanabatirauGanabatirau VeramanGE15Gobind Singh Deohot seathung parliamentIpoh TimorKhairy JamaluddinM KulaMalaysian Indian CandidatesMalim NawarMember of ParliamentMP)P051PHPrabakaran Parameswaranprime ministerR YuneswaranRamanan RamakrishnanRamkarpal SinghS KesavanSabaiSegamatSivanesan AchalingamSungai BulohSungai SiputSungkaiTapahThulsi Manogaranutang MelintangV SivakumarV. ArumugamV. Bavani ShashaWasanthee SinnasamyYang di-Pertuan Agong


Janani Iyer Is A Busy Bee This Year

Janani Iyer shot to fame after her stint on television reality show Bigg Boss Tamil 2 which ended last year. The actress is now a busy bee with multiple releases this year.
Thegidi team reunited

Janani will be starring alongside her Thegidi co-star Ashok Selvan in an upcoming untitled murder mystery. The Sandeep Shyam directorial will see the actress play the role of a writer.
In an interview with the Times of India, Janani says “I play a character who is bold and straightforward. And yes, I play a writer in the film, a character that is integral to the script,” According to the actress, the filming is almost complete, with just a few days of shooting left. The film is shot in Coimbatore and Ooty.
Thollaikatchi
Ashwin Kakumanu, the hunk from the film Mankatha will be headlining this upcoming Tamil film with Janani. It is said to be a romantic comedy with Subbu Panchu, Manobala and Mayilsamy in supporting roles. Thollaikatchi completed filming some time back and is set to release later this year.

The actress also has a string of movies where she plays minor roles, like upcoming films Ugramm, and the comic caper Dharmaprabhu.
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Filed Under ashok selvanashwin kakumanuBigg Boss 2dharmaprabhuJanani Iyerthegidithollaikatchiugramm


Santhanam’s Server Sundaram Gets Delayed Again

Renowned comedian Santhanam is the hero in this brand new film, Server Sundaram.
The trailer for Server Sundaram was released last year in May, and it immediately got everyone excited. The trailer showed Santhanam as a college student and an aspiring chef who gets by with humour. It was well received by all his fans.
However, the release date for the movie keeps getting postponed due to several unknown reasons. The film was supposed to hit cinemas worldwide this Friday (6th July), but then it got delayed yet again.
Director Anand Balki took to Twitter to assure all fans that the movie will see a grand release soon. We sure can’t wait for it!
Watch the trailer here:

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Filed Under SanthanamServer Sundaram


Vaashi; An Engaging Courtroom Love Drama With The Towering Performances Of Thomas & Keerthy Suresh

Netflix lovers are thirsty for more courtroom dramas to watch!
Thank god, a brand new court drama flick aptly titled, Vaashi came to the rescue by giving us cinematic moments that are built to be as tense and dramatic as possible to fit the life of a married couple as a lawyer as they play out on screen.
Directed by Vishnu Raghav, the courtroom drama genre was penned by Janiz Chacko Simon and Raghav himself.
image Credit: Netflix
Vaashi revolves around the story of Ebin ( Tovino Thomas ) and Madhu (Keerthy Suresh), two lawyers in the forge with their judgments and resolving personal conflicts. The two friends, who also happen to become partners along the course of the story, are startled by a case that puts them both on opposing sides of the courtroom. Ebin and Madhu are the prosecution and defense in a case that not only alters the path of their client’s life but also has profound due unavoidable effects on them.
The battle of ego and authority at its core brings liberal reforms by showing us characters who are rigid yet empathetic and a case where there is no right or wrong.
What shines the best in Vaashi?
The screenplay was rationally and carefully penned out. With a well-woven screenplay, Vaashi’s trailer got us thinking and wanting to know who will win the case at the end of the drama.

A scene set in the climax deserves applause!

From the writer’s perspective, Vaashi can be said to be one of the most mature movies. When the EGO wins, it comes with a loss. Letting down your ego doesn’t make you weak but it makes you even stronger as an individual.
Related:  On Subverting Agony to Power: A Maamannan Album Review“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” —Robert A. Heinlein
Besides assuming ego can always be satisfying, it might also destroy your happiness. But in a relationship, being equal is the most important factor, no matter who you are.
The director and scriptwriter have made the storyline more beautiful by emphasising the important elements which one needs to prioritise in a relationship. A special mention to both lead roles as the duo has taken the cake throughout the entire drama by giving spellbinding performances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm5Io4NcJScVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Vaashi – Official Trailer |Tovino Thomas,Keerthy Suresh|Vishnu G Raghav| Kailas| Revathy Kalamandirr (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm5Io4NcJSc)

How should a relationship look alike? Well, you gotta watch this brand new drama to fill in the blanks.
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Filed Under Ebin ( Tovino Thomas )EgoJaniz Chacko SimonKeerthy SureshrelationshipvaashiVishnu Raghav


Mohanlal Is Charged After Seven Years For Ivory Possession!

This is disappointing!
The Kerala Forest Department on Friday filed a chargesheet against popular actor Mohanlal for alleged possession of four elephant tusks. This was after it was pulled up in April by the Kerala High Court for delaying the chargesheet by seven years after the case was registered.

Officials had seized four tusks from the actor’s residence in Thevara in Ernakulam district during an income tax inspection in 2012. The special licence for keeping the tusks was in the name of two others and not Mohanlal.
The actor claimed to have bought the tusks from one K Krishnakumar for Rs 65,000 in 2010. The possession and transfer of ivory were punishable under the Wlidlife Protection Act.
Though the state forest department filed a case, it was withdrawn later. The state government also allowed the actor to keep the ivory after modifying the existing law. An activist later challenged the forest chief conservator’s order granting ownership of the ivory to Mohanlal in the Kerala High Court.
The HC, while hearing the plea, observed that the actor could be charged with Section 39 (3) of the Wildlife Protection Act and pulled up the forest department for delaying the charge-sheet.
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Swag It Like Thalaiva As Superstar Rajinikanth Struts Signature Walk in Annaatthe

The wait is finally over! Thalaiva is back with a big time bang hitting our screens, cracking it right.
In fact, it is a double treat for the fans as the film makers have shared a glimpse of the Superstar’s upcoming flick, Annaatthe. Helmed by Siruthai Siva, the two-minute trailer depicts Rajinikanth confronting a number of people who have mistreated the village he represents. The visuals are vibrant, with Rajinikanth styled in a rustic manner.
It appears that his character goes out to exact vengeance on a few people, where a series of bizarre events unfold. Produced by Sun Pictures, Annaatthe features an ensemble cast comprising names like Khushbu, Meena, Keerthy Suresh, Prakash Raj and Soori in pivotal roles.

The much-awaited #AnnaattheTeaser is here:
▶ https://t.co/MPUZxEvDnw@rajinikanth @directorsiva #Nayanthara @KeerthyOfficial @immancomposer @prakashraaj @IamJagguBhai @khushsundar #Meena @sooriofficial @actorsathish @AntonyLRuben @dhilipaction @vetrivisuals #Annaatthe
— Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) October 14, 2021

Vera level Thalaivaaa 💥💥 Full on Mass ! Thalaivar Rage 😎#AnnaattheTeaser https://t.co/2mF0u56cdw@rajinikanth @sunpictures @directorsiva
— Sakshi Agarwal (@ssakshiagarwal) October 14, 2021

The best part is it does with good dialogues and a resounding background score that seems just apt and fitting for the theme the film is going for.
However, a portion of the audience has begun to voice their discontent with the teaser’s tacky visual effects and the absence of any of the female stars.
Watch the full teaser below:

Annaatthe is slated to hit screens on the 4th of November, on the occasion of Deepavali.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  D Imman: Reminiscing His 21 Years of Musical Journey In The Film Industry
Filed Under annaattheDeepavali feastKeerthy SureshkhushbumeenaPrakash RajPromisingSoorisuperstar rajinikanthteaser


Grandmaster N. Mooralitharan Honoured With Two Malaysia Book Of Records Title

With numerous graceful agile moves, Silambam Porr Kalai Grandmaster N. Mooralitharan chalked another milestone recently by gaining an entry into the Malaysia Book of Records for the Longest Non-Stop Silambam Performance Relay 2022 and Longest Silambam Stick Rotation By An Individual (24hrs).
Majlis Silambam Porr Kalai Malaysia has shared this wonderful piece of news via their official Facebook page:

To date, grandmaster Mooralitharan has trained numerous young lads and lasses to restore the traditional art all over the nation. His diligence and enthusiasm in preparing the children to achieve more than what they deserve has garnered the attention of our community.
Silambam, fondly known as the traditional martial art of Tamil Nadu which is an ancient weapon-based martial art in which the weapon is swirled and struck with a seething rage and lightning speed. Silambam always throws up a gripping show for the spectators.

Congratulations Master. Many more mind-blasting records to come!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  The Youngest To Release A Tamil Single In YouTube: Thanisya Rethina Naidu Has Successfully Engraved Her Name In Malaysia Book Of Records
Filed Under GrandmasterLongest Non-Stop Silambam Performance Relay 2022Longest Silambam Stick Rotation By An Individual (24hrs)Majlis Silambam Porr Kalai MalaysiaMalaysia book of recordsN. Mooralitharan


Devotees Spark Outrage As Local Burger Outlet Gives Out Free Burgers During Thaipusam In Batu Caves

Well, here we are again with some nonsensical gesture by a local burger owner!
In conjunction with the recent Thaipusam celebrations, individuals from a local burger chain, Aris Burger (@arisburgerofficial) landed in hot water after distributing free chicken burgers around Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves.
Since the video went viral on social media platforms, it has sparked indignation among Malaysian netizens especially Hindu devotees who have been following a vegetarian diet and fasting before fulfilling their vows.
Watch the full video here:

The burger-distribution video has subsequently been removed from the burger chain’s TikTok account, and has apologised for the split caused by the ideas which were implemented in distributing free chicken burgers. They also said the interview took place a day before Thaipusam.
According to the representative, they went there to interview the Malaysian Hindu community about how they celebrate Thaipusam, and they gave away free burgers to those who did.
https://youtu.be/M2nbi6wZNhA
In addition, lawyer Usha Veerasenan responded to the recent controversial news via TikTok and stated that Hindus come to Batu Caves during Thaipusam to pray, “This place is for prayers, this place is not for you to promote your (products),” and she also added “Please respect our religion, as a Malaysian.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@usha_veerasenan/video/7054382968764255514
Source: Hype
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Filed Under Aris BurgerChicken burgerLocal burger chainMalaysian Hindu communityOutrageThaipusam


Shaadi Story’s Thina Has Some Suggestions For Creatives Struggling During The MCO

Thina, the brains behind Shaadi Story has come up with some great ideas on what people in the creative industry who are affected by the Movement Control Order can do during this period.
Posted on his personal Instagram account, Thina’s seven suggestions on what creatives can do range from creating an online portfolio to selling one’s images. And we have to say, all of them are completely doable.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thinakkaaran Thamilchelvam (@thecameraholic)

Well done, Thina! As part of the creative collective, we thank you for your efforts.
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Filed Under Shaadi Story CompanyThinaWedding photographer


Children Aged 5-11 Are Now Eligible For Their Pfizer Jab

After two years of being surrounded by the coronavirus and its never-ending emerging variants, including natural disasters, this year appears to be less kind than we hoped for, as Omicron cases have been on the rise recently.
Leaving all of that aside, the good news is that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children aged 5 to 11.
Image credit: The straits times
The Covid-19 Comirnaty vaccine, developed by Pfizer, has been given conditional approval for the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old, according to health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
According to Malay Mail, this decision was taken during the 368th meeting of the Drug Control Authority (DCA) on 6th January.
“The Comirnaty 10mcg Concentrate for Dispersion for Injection has been approved for Covid-19 immunisation to children aged five to 11.”
The Comirnaty (Tris/Sucrose) 30mcg dose with a novel formulation for Covid-19 vaccination of persons aged 12 and above was also authorised at this meeting.
Image credit: malay mail
According to Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the new formulation did not require dilution before administration and had a 10-week shelf life compared to the current formulation, which had a one-month shelf life when stored at 2°C to 8°C after thawing.
He informed Malay Mail that the conditional approval still required information on the vaccine’s quality, safety, and efficacy to be monitored and assessed by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) on a regular basis using the most up-to-date data.
The booster shot might be given three to six months following the initial dose of the same vaccination.
Malaysia, which has one of the highest immunisation rates in Southeast Asia, reduced waiting periods last week in an effort to encourage more people to be vaccinated against the highly contagious Omicron strain of the coronavirus.
Image credit: daily sabah
According to official data taken from government statistics, the majority of individuals in our nation have received both doses of vaccine, with 98 percent of adults and 88 percent of teenagers aged 12-17.
Children, like adults, can spread the coronavirus to others if they are contaminated, even if they show no symptoms. The Covid-19 vaccination can protect the kid and others, lowering the risk of spreading the virus to others.
Prepare to get your Pfizer shot, kids.
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Filed Under COVID-19 Booster Shotscovid19 vaccineDrug Control AuthorityPfizer vaccineTan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah


Four New Confirmed Covid-19 Cases From PJ Old Town Market!

Four people from Pasar Jalan Othman here have tested positive for Covid-19. The results were based on the test carried out at the market on Wednesday (April 29) for the selected 151 traders, council workers and cleaners who works at the market.
Credit: The Star Malaysia
Petaling District Office has decided to carry out screening and tests for all traders and their assistants at the market also known as PJ Old Town market. All the 150 traders in the market to come to Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya for their screening and testing starting Friday (May 1).
The four who tested positive are a food trader, two fishmongers and a Petaling Jaya City Council cleaner.
Petaling District Office has also urged people who visited the market between April 4 to 18  to do screening by filling up the online form at https://bit.ly/2y35hll. The market will be closed until further notice.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam Receives 'UniteHealth's COVID-19 Influencers Award'
Filed Under covid-19Malaysiamcooldtownpjwet market


Mugen Rao & Geritharan Appointed To The Board Of Directors of IBP Studios

Great news and decisions indeed!
Mugen Rao, the singer-actor and the title winner of the popular reality show Bigg Boss Tamil has been appointed as the new Patron & Director and along with the multi-talented gem, Geritharan Subramaniam as the Managing Director of IBP Studios Sdn Bhd.
The announcement on the new appointment was officially made by Dr. Edwin during IBP’s Press Conference which took place on Wednesday (15th June).
Image credit: IBP Studio
Dr. Edwin, a prominent figure in the music industry and also the Founder of Malaysia’s leading Tamil record label, IBP Studios Sdn.Bhd has revamped the organisation structure by passing the baton to both champs.
Mugen Rao; A name that needs no introduction!
In the year 2019, almost everyone’s phone screen and social media platforms were flashed with the face of our homeboy after he emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss Season 3 in Tamil Nadu. Perhaps he has earned a name for himself for his exquisite masterpiece “Sathiyama” sung in the house and his humble demure.
Image Credit: WikiMyLinks
As he evolved into the cine world upon Bigg Boss, movie offers to star alongside prominent actors and actresses came to his doorstep by renowned industry directors. The offers that were made available to him bountifully were taken up by Mugen.
Let’s delve into IBP Studio’s background!
Established in 2009, IBP Studios was spearheaded by Coruz Hooks, a passionate vocalist, songwriter, engineer, and producer, who caters to Malaysia’s native talent. IBP have been operating for the past 13 years and currently managing 9 Malaysian talents which are signed under several divisions within the record label as singer-songwriters, composers and actors. Till date, IBP has produced, published and digitally distributed more than 250 song titles.
Image credit: IBP Studios
Wow, the entire team deserve a pat on the back. Congratulations on your appointment Mugen & Giri!
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Filed Under Board of directorsCoruz HooksDR. EdwinGeritharanIBP Studios Sdn bhdMugen Rao


Sid Sriram’s First Song as Music Director is Here, and It’s Amazing!

One of the most popular Tamil singers of our time, Sid Sriram has taken on the role of music director for the upcoming film Vaanam Kottatum. The first song from the film, Kannu Thangom, was released yesterday. And we daresay, it is bloody amazing.
Sung by Sid himself, along with Shaktisree Gopalan, Kannu Thangom is a slow jam, with lyrics that betray a village setup for the film. The lyrics have been penned by Siva Ananth.
AR Rahman launched his blue eyed boy’s tune on Twitter yesterday.

Happy to launch @sidsriram’s debut song as a film composer #KannuThangom. All the best to the whole team. @Dhana236, @bagapath & @MadrasTalkies_ #vaanamkottattumhttps://t.co/ndhNOoxsT3
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) November 15, 2019

The film, written by Mani Ratnam and directed by Dhana (Padaiveeran), stars Sarathkumar, Radikaa Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, Aishwarya Rajesh, Madonna Sebastian, Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, Nandaa, Amitash, Balaji Sakthivel and Madhusudhana Rao.
Vaanam Kottatum is set to hit the screens towards the end of 2019.
Sid has done a brilliant job with Kannu Thangom. Shaktisree’s vocals harmonise with his perfectly, leaving no room for error in the meticulously composed 3 minute tune. The haunting tune has his stamp all over it. And we Sid Sriram fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check out Kannu Thangom here, and tell us what you think!

https://youtu.be/DoUMcM9yHJsVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Vaanam Kottattum – Kannu Thangom Lyric | Mani Ratnam, Dhana | Sid Sriram (https://youtu.be/DoUMcM9yHJs)

https://varnam.my/movie/2019/14061/first-look-of-mani-ratnams-vaanam-kottattum-released-a-warm-family-drama-story/
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Filed Under Aishwarya RajeshAmitashBalaji SakthivelMadhusudhana RaoMadonna SebastianNandaaR Radikaa SarathkumarR. SarathkumarShaktisree GopalanShanthnu BhagyarajSid SriramVaanam KottatumVikram Prabhu


‘Alex In Wonderland’ Raises Over RM217,000 For Education Through Laughter, Love & Music

“How does one sit through a 120-minute long comedy show?”
Alexander Babu live in ‘Alex In Wonderland’, Malaysia
Those were some of our initial thoughts going to the show but these doubts were quickly put to rest. Alex made it clear that you indeed CAN sit through and laugh your hearts out for 120-minutes straight.
We arrived at Galaxy Banquet Hall, HGH Convention Hall, 15 minutes before the show. Crowds were already gathered in the hall and seated while some were still lingering (including us) at the foyer where an F&B social enterprise called Masala Wheels had set up a booth serving Briyani, snacks and one of THE BEST Masala tea (we have ever tasted) in the world. The guests were ushered to their seats in an orderly manner with the help of a delightful group of volunteers and event organisers.
HGH Convention Hall Turned Into A Wonderland for Alex In Wonderland Photo: Barathan Amuthan
The hall was packed to the brim and the setting of Galaxy Banquet Hall, with purple LED lights and screens and a ceiling full of stars, it actually did feel like stepping into Wonderland. Popular radio announcer, Aanantha, was the Master of Ceremonies and made sure the audience felt welcome and settled right into their seats before the show began.
Alexander Babu: A Great Thinker First, Then, A Comedian
To say that Alexander Babu is multi-talented is an understatement. Rather, Alex is best described as a multi-faceted person. In the many facets of his life, through perseverance and positive attributes, Alex has managed to pave his way to the pinnacle of these different facets. Alex has thrived in his previous career as an IT engineer and even worked for Amazon in San Francisco. Taking a leap of faith when he turned 40, Alex decided to take a different career path and walked down the comedy aisle.
Alex playing the Thavil during his show in Kuala Lumpur | Photo: Barathan Amuthan
In this show, Alex shares his journey through different careers, finding his passion and daring to walk the uncertain and volatile path of entertainment. Besides being an excellent speaker, it was also important to note that Alex presented honest conversations in his comedy. There was no belittling, discrimination, profanity nor slapstick humour, and Alex proved that he can still entertain the masses regardless of age and socio-ethno-economical backgrounds. It was also important for audience members to understand Tamil and Tamil music as there were generous references to the both in his show.
Alex had an honest way delivering humour. He picked up on things like the poignance in Malaysia Vasudevan’s voice, the projection and vocal strength of Sirkazhi Govindarajan, the airy AR Rahman vocals and the ‘fed up’ chorus singers in Ilayaraja’s songs. He gave the audience an alternate point of view, while cooking up some hilarious scenarios from the depths of his imagination. The kind of content that Alex delivered doesn’t come without deep introspection and having a critical view of the world.
“An introspective comedian” | Photo: Barathan Amuthan
Alex added the human element to otherwise ‘God-like’ figures in the Tamil music & film industry. He pointed how the most revolutionary part of AR Rahman’s music journey was perhaps the fact that he decided to list the names of ALL his chorus singers in his first cassette and how Sivaji Ganesan just used breathing to deliver the performance of his lifetime during the climax of the 1964 ‘Karnan’ film. He paid tribute to the greatest musicians and actors and played homage to the music.
What More Can You Do Alex?
We are just going to list the things that Alex was doing on stage during his recent show in Malaysia titled ‘Alex In Wonderland’. Alex was doing standup, mimicry, singing, playing the double bongo, cajón, harmonium, thavil and mukhavina.
Alex playing the Cajon | Photo: Barathan Amuthan
Audience members were not only treated to a standup comedy, but also a musical show. In the beginning, Alex sang AR Rahman’s ‘Nallai Allai’ from the film Kaatru Velliyidai and then he changed the words to match different religious phrases, “Hallelujah, MashaAllah, Hare Rama, Hare Krishan”. When the crowd sang along with him, there was a feeling of transcendence and togetherness in the hall. Alex made a point that we are all different rivers that flow into the same sea and different lights that unite to one truth. Throughout the show, Alex performed many songs including ‘Ullathil Nala Ullam’, ‘Humma Humma’, ‘Balleilakka’ and many more, but he brought the audience back to the “Hallelujah, MashaAllah, Hare Rama, Hare Krishan” rendition at the end of show, wrapping the show up with a nice bow of unity and inclusivity.
RM217,000 And More For Education
Asia Weaves Raised More Than RM217,000 For education | Photo: Barathan Amuthan
We have previously shared about the ambitious conquest of Shivanee Selvaratnam, a lawyer turned social enterprise, who has been raising money for education through entertainment. Following the previous success of her show with Super Singers Live In Malaysia, Shivanee decided to stage Alex In Wonderland in hopes of hitting her target of raising RM250,000 for the human value-based school. A mock cheque of RM217,002 was presented to the school but Shivanee said that they have met their target of collecting RM250,000 after tabulation of all ticket sales.
When asked about the future, Shivanee said, “I am hoping that more corporations and individuals join in on our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and tie in as long term partners. There are so many possible ways to enable education for these children and I’m looking forward to doing the same in the nearest possible time. Asia weaves will be announcing our next ventures on social media. Stay close”.
We thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey with Asia Weaves and Alexander Babu. If there is room for improvement, we hope that the next venue will be one with tiered seating so that the whole arena will have a good view of the performer. On to the next show…

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Filed Under Alex in wonderlandAlex the comicAlexander babuasia weavesstandup comedy


Why We Aren’t Impressed By Anirudh’s Newest Song

Anirudh Ravichander isn’t a name that needs any introduction. Slated to be one of the hottest young composers of our time, the 28 year old has composed music for Rajinikanth’s upcoming movie, Petta, and will be working on Kamal Hassan’s next, Indian 2.
And yet, yesterday, Anirudh decided to release a song with no meaning, accompanied by a music video that would make the Teletubbies cringe in shame. Gum on Groove is his latest single, composed and sung by Anirudh himself.
Lyrics that insult our intelligence

Anirudh may be running out of ideas, and we’ll tell you why. The lyrics to Gum on Groove are penned by a poet who has the ability to make Shakespeare roll over in his grave, Subu. The song is an English one, but each verse is disconnected from the next, and it appears as if the lyricist merely looked for words that rhymed before slapping them on together in a sentence.
What is the Machan searching-u
Brain is only itching-u
Time is the only stretching-u
Every line seems to have the -u suffix. This may have worked for Why This Kolaveri, and made it a huge hit, but this technique fails miserably here. Perhaps Dhanush’s pronunciation was just more believable.
The exaggerated Indian accent

While we understand that the song is a playful jibe at the South Indian accent, it comes of a tad offensive. The pronunciation in Tamil tinged English is exaggerated and unnatural to the point that it’s just downright rude. Most English speakers in Tamil Nadu don’t bear this same accent. Perhaps Anirudh got his target audiences mixed up?
A Chewing Gum Ad?

We aren’t sure what the lyricist is trying to say with it, and the chorus is just about flipping a piece of gum into your mouth. Anirudh tries a Rajini-esque cigarette flip, but with a piece of gum instead. He apparently feels a sense of euphoria and breaks into the trademark dance movie that accompanies each excruciating chorus. We half expected the video to be an advertisement for Wrigleys. What is in that gum, we wonder?
Related:  Thalapathy Vijay's Birthday Special: Leo's First Look And The First Promo For "Naa Ready" Are Out NowRajinikanth has better moves

Speaking of Rajinikanth, he seems to have better dance moves than everyone in the music video combined. The trademark dance move in Gum On Groove is difficult to watch. While Anirudh may not be a professional dancer, he seems to have done the art form justice in his few dance appearances on screen. It was as if the choreographer, Ranju Varghese, tried very hard to train Anirudh, and then gave up, and came up with this right-leg-up-then-left-leg-up routine.
The video itself had a good theme to it, time travel. It was entertaining to watch a bewildered Anirudh teleport from one green screen background to the other, and even to the moon, but it unfortunately had absolutely nothing to do with the song itself.
Hopes were pinned high on Gum On Groove, merely because Anirudh is the same guy who came up with the fantastic Namma Chennai Chancey Illa. Come on Ani, you can do so much better!
Check out the video here, but be warned, you are about to endure an excruciating 2 and a half minutes.

https://youtu.be/4CSg2b__AuwVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: GumOn Groove – Official Video | Anirudh Ravichander (https://youtu.be/4CSg2b__Auw)

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Filed Under AnirudhGum On Groove


Kutty Story; A Love Themed Anthology Featuring Vijay Sethupathi To Be Released On 12th February

Vijay Sethupathi fans out there, get yourself ready as you’re about to see your Kollywood heartthrob in an upcoming anthology; Kutty Story where he acts in a completely different dramatic character style after the release of Master.

Happy to share the First Look of #KuttiStory, An anthology Produced by @VelsFilmIntl @IshariKGanesh Dir by #NalanKumaraswamy#KuttiStoryFromFeb12#ItsAllAboutLove #KuttiStoryFirstLook @AditiBalan @sreekar_prasad @Ashkum19 pic.twitter.com/gfj4BhJS5d
— VijaySethupathi (@VijaySethuOffl) February 1, 2021

The star shared this anthology’s first look poster, which has gone viral over social media, making the fans really enthused.
The first look poster of Kutty Story also states that this anthology will have its official theatrical release on 12th February. It is not confirmed, however, whether it is a worldwide release or only in India.
Picture credit: Vijay Sethupathi Official Twitter page
There are a total of four episodes in the film based on the theme of love, produced by Dr Isharik K.Ganesh. Four distinct directors who are recognised with some amazing projects have directed this film; Venkat Prabhu, Vijay and Nalan Kumaraswamy, and Gautham Vasudev Menon.
One question has also lingered around, apart from the anticipation of the film. Will this film also be released to the global public on any OTT platform?
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Filed Under Kutti love story Gautham vasudev MenonKutti story Vijay SethupathiNew tamil anthology


Petta’s Poongodi Hits Back At Moral Policing Trolls

Malavika Mohanan, the actress who played Poongodi in the Rajinikanth starrer Petta, has hit back at the trolls who were policing her dressing on social media.
It began when the actress posted a picture of herself in shorts, to which the Indian culture guardians felt it was imperative that they have a say in the actress’ dressing. Some even had the audacity to ask her about her motives behind dressing that way.
The next day, Malavika posted another picture from the same shoot, with a caption to shut the trolls up.

View this post on Instagram

So many comments and opinions about how “a respectable girl should dress”. On that note, here, take one more picture of me sitting very respectably wearing whatever the hell I want to wear :) . . ? @rahuljhangiani Makeup @nittigoenka Hair @akshatahonawar Styling @triparnam Public Relations @theitembomb
A post shared by  Malavika Mohanan (@malavikamohanan_) on May 13, 2019 at 12:46am PDT

One would think that this post would be sufficient to shut the culture guardians up. Will the donkeys ever stop braying?
Malavika, you go girl!
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Filed Under culture guardiansmalavika mohananmoral policingmoronspetta


Kajal Agarwal Is Getting Hitched! Who’s The Man That Stole Her Heart?

Every social media platform has been buzzing on the news bursting with Kajal Agarwal’s marriage announcement that has been going viral on Twitter. The marriage is expected to be held on October 30th 2020. The actress parents desire was to see the 35-year-old settle down and start a family soon.
Over the past few months, they have been searching high and low for the right fit for Kajal and have seemed to have found the ‘one’ for their daughter, a lucky businessman Gautam Kitchlu.

♾ pic.twitter.com/3qjCX9hAe1
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) October 6, 2020

She is one of the industry ‘s bustling actress, and has worked on Tamil , Telugu, and Hindi films. Almost 16 years have passed since Kajal entered into the dazzling Indian cinema.

The actress that dons the simplicity and elegance of Tamil Nadu has made quite a notable name for herself in the industry for her pleasant and surreal acting on the screens. Kajal made her first debut in the Hindi movie Kyun! Ho Gaya Na … Ho Gaya Na in 2004. Later in 2007, she premiered her first Telugu film, Lakshmi Kalyanam and later starred in the box office hit Chandamama in the same year, which won her fame.
A tipping moment in her career, gaining her rave reviews, was the 2009 historical fiction Telugu film Magadheera where she garnered many prestigious awards, including Filmfare, and earned her Best Actress nominations.
Upon her public announcement regarding her marriage that was made via Twitter and Instagram, friends and fans from every walk of life took the time to acknowledge the wonderful happy news by spamming her with their heart felt wishes!

Thank you lovely ❤
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) October 6, 2020

Thank you ❤
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) October 6, 2020

Thank you 😊
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) October 6, 2020

Thank you ❤
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) October 6, 2020

Thank you my soul sister! I love you.
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) October 6, 2020

Currently, the stunning actress is making a remarkable vital role in Kamal Haasan’s ‘Indian,’ directed by Shankar, on the job front. The actress has also shared that despite engaging into marriage, she is always open to be casting in films nevertheless!
Congratulations On Your Marriage And Our Best Wishes As You Embark Onto The World Of The Married, Kajal Agarwal!
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Filed Under gautham kitchlukajal agarwalkajal agarwal and gautham kitchlukajal agarwal gets married on OCT 30kajal agarwal's wedding dateupdates on kajal agarwal


Priyanka Chopra’s Dress at the Grammys Evokes Mixed Responses

Priyanka Chopra stole the spotlight at the Grammys for not just accompanying husband Nick Jonas, who performed at the awards night, but also for her plunging white gown.

While many loved her look on the red carpet, many also criticised the actor. Some felt it was ‘too much’!
While Priyanka herself didn’t reply to the trolls, actor Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and Canadian TV actor Kaitlyn Bristowe of The Bachelorette fame gave it back to the haters on social media.
Designer Wendell Rodricks had commented on Priyanka’s appearance on Instagram. He wrote, “@priyankachopra nailed it at the Grammys 2020. Truly the bold and beautiful in this @ralphandrusso couture fringed gown where the neckline goes all the way from LA to Cuba. Love it.”
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi wrote a long note in response to Wendell Rodricks post about Priyanka’s dress.
She wrote, “Was so upset to see this post on insta by Wendel Rodrigues who’s work I otherwise have a modicum of respect for. I think the fact that Priyanka is not trying to hide her belly with her clutch is what makes this pic so beautiful. Makes her the rockstar she is. Her confidence an inspiration to every woman. Women have been so enslaven by men’s opinion of how women should look this photograph of Priyanka to me at the world’s most publicized event is the height of liberation. You go girl and keep rocking it. I was never a fan of the lady but this pic has surely made me one.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B71Sk8iJqyI/?utm_source=ig_embed
She added, “So dear men. We are not ur pre pubescent hipless perverted fantasy or your teenage gay boy flat chested contortion. We are real women, we have breasts, we have fat we have water retention and we rock and roll.
Because …we are finally allowing ourselves as God intended us to be. Not how men fantasized us to be. We are flesh and blood and and glorious rolls of it. It gets even more beautiful when we have babies and the rolls grow – in direct adverse proportion to the dark areas in your primitive brain. So ***tiya ugly men get this. We are not our bodies. We are our abilities. We are our talent. We are our own rock stars. Would anybody have dared comment on a mans belly or appearance like this? God knows we see grotesque images of them everyday and all the time. More power to you #PriyankaChopra. I’m going to flash my flabby baby stretch marks with confidence tomorow thanks to you. And may every girl and woman in the world grow your confidence too . Bless you.”
Kaitlyn responded to the trolls on People magazine’s social media post, which appreciated the look of the wives of the Jonas Brothers – Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Turner and Danielle Jonas at the awards ceremony. Kaitlyn wrote,
“Beautiful powerful women. Disgusting comments from sad women.”
Priyanka found immediate support on Instagram as many of them showed solidarity with Kaitlyn’s comment. A reader wrote,” “yes!! They look beautiful and I agree so much with this!! Its sad to see women criticize other women so much. For what?! So many negative people out there just saying something rude on social bc they can hide behind their phones. Its sadly expected… but, gorgeous wives indeed!”
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Filed Under grammys 2020Nick JonasPriyanka Chopra


LISTEN: Anirudh’s Valentine’s Day Single, “Julie” Is Here!

After weeks of suspense, music composer Anirudh Ravichander has finally released his highly anticipated Valentine’s Day single, “Julie”.
The 27-year-old singer made the announcement on his official Twitter account, after releasing the official posters the day before. “Julie” was released to coincide with Valentine’s Day.
Fans of Anirudh tried to crack the code on Julie, trying to figure out if the composer/singer has found a special lady. However, Julie turned out to be a complete surprise.
“Valentine’s Day is not only for humans! #Julie” Anirudh’s caption read.

ValentinesDay is not only for humans!#Julie 🐶 Saavn- https://t.co/12po66vX2qJio- https://t.co/5CvI2ru9AEHungama- https://t.co/YLH07G6U1p
— Anirudh Ravichander (@anirudhofficial) February 14, 2018

The song has released on several digital platforms like Saavn, Jio, and Hungama. It is also available on YouTube.
Listen to the song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvrM5xM1DeE
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Filed Under AnirudhJulie


Mugen Rao In Bigg Boss Elimination List For The First Time In 7 Weeks

The bed-punching Mugen has finally landed himself in the bottom tier after enjoying weeks of zero eviction vote.

Last week was a dramatic one for Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3 as situations escalated between Mugen, Sakshi and Abhirami. In a fit of anger, Mugen punched and damaged a bed frame in the house. The host of Bigg Boss, Kamal Hassan, had to clarify things between Mugen and Abhirami. When asked about their relationship, Mugen and Abhirami admitted that they were best friends. Mugen even went on to say that he has a girlfriend outside of the Bigg Boss house.

By the end of the week, Sakshi was eliminated from the reality show after Fathima Babu, Vanitha Vijayakumar, Mohan Vaidya, Meera Mithun, Reshma and Saravanan. Mugen has found himself in the bottom tier with Abhirami, Kavin, Losliya and Madhumita.
Will he be shown the door? Only time (and your votes) will tell.
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Filed Under Bigg Bossbigg boss 3bigg boss season 3bigg boss tamilbigg boss Tamil season 3Mugen Raomugen rao mgr


Radikaa Sarathkumar: “Chinmayi Must Be Supported In #MeToo”

Nothing warms my heart more than seeing a woman standing up for another woman! Remember ladies, for aeons, men have successfully pit women against each other. Time is up!
When singer Chinmayi named lyricist Vairamuthu as part of the #MeToo movement and alleged that he’d sexually harassed her and several others, it set the ball rolling for conversations around workplace sexual harassment in the Tamil film industry.

However, it has been over a year since then, and while Vairamuthu continues to get work opportunities and platforms to air his views, the price Chinmayi, a successful singer and a voice-over artiste, has had to pay has been very dear.
Actor Radikaa Sarathkumar in a recent interview with NDTV has now expressed solidarity, even if a year later, with Chinmayi for what she has been going through since the #MeToo movement began.
Interestingly, Radha Ravi, Radikaa’s brother, is at war with Chinmayi for sharing an anonymous sexual harassment allegation made against him on Twitter.
“To each his own. It was Chinmayi who spoke about it after a very long time. The veracity of it was questioned because of the timeline. But what she has gone through is what she has gone through. It is for all of us to support what she has voiced out,” said Radikaa to NDTV news channel’s J Sam Daniel’s question on Kollywood’s reaction to the allegations.
Of the many insensitive questions that Chinmayi had to answer on the topic, she’s been repeatedly asked why she did not immediately speak up when the alleged harassment took place.
Related:  Literary Reflections on Tamil Life in MalaysiaAsked about her view on people choosing to work with those accused of sexual harassment, Radikaa said,
“That is not where we come in. It depends on each person’s perspective, on how they hire people. It is a tough road to travel and she has taken it. It will have challenges and it is for us to support and help them during this time.”
Chinmayi has spoken about dwindling work opportunities ever since she named Vairamuthu and became an important voice in the movement. She was also axed from the dubbing union, headed by Radha Ravi, for posting allegations about him. This is a move that she is still fighting in court.
Vairamuthu, on the other hand, has been invited to several film and book related events, including the celebrations for Kamal’s 60 years in cinema. While he was initially brought on board Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan, his role is now unclear, with the credits for the film leaving out the lyricist’s name.
Watch the video here.
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Filed Under #metoochinmayiradhika sarathkumarTamilvairamuthu


EPF Provides Advance Payment Of Up To RM1,000 For i-Sinar Category 2

An announcement was made by Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, during the Pakej Bantuan Khas speech on Monday (18th January).
An advance payment of up to RM1,000 for the i-Sinar Category 2 facility application would be provided by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
Picture Credit: Harian Metro
The initiative is to improve the i-Sinar facility, especially for those facing different challenges due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) as well as flood disasters, said Muhyiddin.
The advance payment process for i-Sinar Category 2 is also simplified as members only need to declare themselves to meet the requirements and submit supporting documents online.
Picture credit: TV3
The government has also asked EPF to facilitate and make the advance payment process convenient, which will take effect from 26th January onwards.
“More information will be announced by EPF in the near future,” said the Prime Minister.
Source: Astro Awani
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Filed Under elf payment advancement 2021epfI-sinar category 2kwsp


Apara Ekadashi 2021; The Importance And Its Timings In Malaysian Timezone

Fasting is not only common among Hindus, but it also has a significant health benefit for those who participate. Fasting during the ‘ekadashi’ dates is not only associated with religious significance, but also with physical well-being.
Without further ado, let us begin with the hidden meaning and significance of this auspicious day. According to Sadhguru, Ekadashi is the 11th day after the full moon and the 11th day after the new moon. This year’s falls on Sunday (today), June 6th, according to the Purnimanta calendar.
Picture credit: Rudraksha Ratna
In a year, there are 24 different types of Ekadashi, each of which is associated with a different incarnation of Lord Vishnu. During the fast, each is accompanied by certain food rules that must be followed in order to direct mental energy in the right direction and avoid bad deeds.
Lord Krishna explained the significance of Apara Ekadashi to Pandava king Yudhishthir, according to Hindu mythology. Apara means limitless, and devotees are said to receive limitless blessings from Lord Vishnu by fasting on this day.
Picture credit: Hindu devotional blog
People who take a dip in the holy river Ganga during the month of Kartik receive moksha; it is also believed that fasting on this day provides the same benefits.
This fast, when combined with good deeds, will grant the opportunity to donate cows and perform yajnas. Furthermore, the fast frees the guilty of committed sins. Lord Vishnu will bestow wealth and success upon them. As a result, devotees will be protected.
The day of Apara Ekadashi is observed today, 6th June. The Ekadashi tithi began at 6.37 am on 5th June and ended at 8.49 am on 6th June. Finally, Hindu devotees can break their fast between 7.53am and 10.40 am on 7th June. These times have been adjusted to Malaysian time.
Picture credit: Tasting Table
The fasting for Apara Ekadashi lasts almost two days and ends after sunrise on the 12th day. Devotees must wake up early on the Ekadashi tithi and take a bath in order to keep the fast.
Devotees must meditate after taking a bath and make a resolution that they are going to observe the Apara Ekadashi fast with sincerity.
Devotees are allowed to eat fruits and milk only once during the day. During the fasting period, devotees are expected to donate and chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
Picture credit: Rgyan
If you’re one of those fasting on this auspicious day, please tell us more about it and share your experience with other devotees.
Varnam Team  wishes you a joyous Apara Ekadashi. May Lord Vishnu grant you all the strength you need to do the right thing and erase all your bad karma through your good deeds.
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Filed Under Ekadashi 2021Ekadasilord KrishnaLord VishnuMalaysian ekasashi timePandava king Yudhishthirsignificance ekadashi


8 Non Indian Lads We Enjoyed Watching on the Big Screen

In a time where actresses like Amy Jackson continue to thrive in the Tamil movie industry with substandard acting skills and zero knowledge of the language, it is strange to note that there is not one non Indian lead actor in recent history. We have compiled a list of foreign male actors who have graced the Tamil screens in various supporting actor or villainous roles. And the nominees are;
Danny – Singam 2

The best part of Singam 2 was not Surya’s over the top acting, it was the villain, Danny. Staying true to the shortage of names in the Tamil film industry, the actor, Danny Sapani plays an international drug lord who specializes in the trafficking of cocaine, while living exclusively at sea. The Brit executed his role well, and won accolades from the Tamil audience. In an interview, Sapani revealed that he was surprised to be approached for an Indian film, but threw himself at the opportunity. “I had never heard of director Hari, nor Surya and I couldn’t understand what a Tamil film would want with an English actor!” he shares. “I had to concentrate on creating a super villain to match Surya’s super hero. A man without limits, without a heart, lacking any morality, and an African,” We bought it, Danny! Good job.
Detective Anderson – Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu

Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu is fondly remembered for many things. Daniel Balaji as the spine chilling, nefarious baddie. Jyothika as the struggling single mother with a beautiful name, Aaradhana. The Ragavan instict. And of course, NYPD Detective Anderson. Played by actor Lev Gorn, Anderson and Ragavan work well together, and eventually uncover a mini graveyard of rape and murder victims. Gorn has appeared in numerous TV shows, including Law & Order SVU, Madam Secretary, NCIS and Blue Bloods. He has even worked with Robert de Niro in The Good Shepard! Gorn later shares his thoughts on the Tamil film production with The Hindu, “One day we were shooting a scene in which both me and Kamal Hassan were running with a helicopter flying very low. Both Goutham (Menon) and Ravi were literally hanging below the helicopter and shooting the scene. Not many would do it in the U.S. They would have got some of the best visuals instead,” We may forget how you look, but we will never forget your character, Anderson!
Dong Li – 7am Arivu

The name Dong Li needs no introduction. Vietnamese actor Donny Tri Nguyen goes above and beyond and does this character justice, making him one of the most unforgettable villains in Tamil film history. The introductory scene which involves him poisoning a stray dog is just as memorable as the finale fight sequence between him and Aravind/Bodhidarma (Surya). In fact, Nguyen is loved so much that he was hired to play the baddie again in Irumbu Kuthirai, opposite Atharvaa and Priya Anand. Fans of this South East Asian hottie can rejoice, as he is reported to be a part of Vijay’s upcoming blockbuster, Sarkar.
Winston Chao – Kabali

The Taiwanese actor Winston Chao played Tony Lee, a Godfather like character who is the head of the Malaysian gangster crew ’43’. Chao has been behind a string of successful Taiwanese television shows ans movies. His magnum opus, however, remains to be Kabali.
Related:  Jyotika to Return to Bollywood After 25 Years?Dagbeh Tweh – Maryan

Boy did we hate this guy by the end of the movie. Playing the character Dog in the troop of Sudanese terrorists, Dagbeh Tweh was perfection at his role. Not much is known about him except that he has starred in two movies other than Maryan. Tweh plays a prominent role in the American war drama film, Beasts of No Nation and a French-Liberian war film, Johnny Mad Dog. We certainly hope to see more of this talented actor on the big screens.
Datuk Rosyam Nor – Kabali

While we would have loved to see this Malaysian stalwart play a bigger role in Kabali, it was quite satisfying to see him in a fight scene with the Superstar. Kabali is just one feather of many in his cap. Datuk Rosyam has won numerous awards in Malaysia and has even bagged the Best Actor Award in the Asia Pacific Film Festival in 2006 for his movie Bilut.
Bentley Mitchum – Little John

This movie holds a special place in the hearts of us Jyothika fans. Not only was it a fantasy filled spectacle, we absolutely loved the music, the cinematography and the all rounded entertainment factor the movie had to offer. Bentley Mitchum plays John Mackenzie, an American student who comes to live with Vani’s (Jyothika) family while researching the Mookuthi Amman Temple. Mitchum is one of the few non Indian actors to have played the protagonist in a Tamil movie, and much of the success of the movie is owed to his charm and likability. Mitchum shares with The Hindu how he was in awe of the song and dance sequence in Indian movies, “I thought it was bizarre. There are two people talking in a restaurant and suddenly they are dancing under a waterfall! I told Mr. Rao (director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao) that I was not wearing the right clothes and that there was no continuity from the previous scene. But I soon realised that that is how it works here.”
Aaron Aziz – Tik Tik Tik (2018)

Of course we had to save the best for last! Okay, he may be Singaporean, but he has starred in enough Malaysian productions to be a household name. To see a local face in the Jayam Ravi space themed flick was out of this world! In spite of a neck injury that he sustained a few years ago, Aziz soldiered on and refused to use a stuntman for his scenes. The scenes were shot in Chennai, India and Aziz shares that it was quite an experience. “I was scared at first. I didn’t understand what was going on. I can’t take photos on set. The director was shouting. So, it did feel a bit chaotic. But once I got the hang of it, everything just went smoothly,” he tells The Star. His acting was excellent, as usual. And he was (and still is) easy on the eyes. We want more!
The Tamil film industry may give men an incredible amount of screen time and leeway. But it isn’t the most inclusive when it comes to actors of other ethnicities. Yes, Tamil males are fiercely territorial in the film industry. We wonder why…
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Filed Under 7am arivuKabalilittle johnmaryansingham 2Tik Tik Tikvettaiyaadu vilayaadu


Jyothika & Revathi Hit The Jackpot

Jyothika and veteran actress Revathi’s soon to be released Tamil film has just got a title, Jackpot.
The first look poster of Jackpot was released earlier this week, and the duo are seen in police uniforms standing against each other, with celebratory confetti in the background. It is unclear whether the ladies will be portraying police officers in the film.
Directed by Kalyaan, Jackpot will be produced by Suriya’s production house, 2D Entertainment. The film will also feature popular comedian Yogi Babu in the main cast. Suriya took to Twitter to release the first look posters of Jackpot.

Presenting the first look of #JACKPOT get ready for an action packed fun ride! It’s a Jackpot for us to have both #Revathi & #Jyotika on board ??@DirKalyan @iYogiBabu @Composer_Vishal @anandakumardop @editorvijay @2D_ENTPVTLTD@rajsekarpandian @SF2_official@SonyMusicSouth pic.twitter.com/cpb4NXC8F0
— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) April 30, 2019
Kalyaan is a young director who has tasted success with his previous film, Gulaebaghavali in 2016. Jackpot seems to already have the ingredients of a hit film. Both Jo and Revathi are established names in the industry with loyal fans. But will it reach the heights that Gulaebaghavali did?
The release date for Jackpot has not been announced. More updates to come.
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Five Reasons Why You Should Watch ‘Andhagaaram’

‘Andhagaaram’ is a movie which you can’t afford to have any distractions in between because even if the movie is considered quite long approximately with a 2 hours and 51 minutes duration, the details of the film itself have elevated the film to a whole new level.
This movie is written and directed by V. Vignarajan, in his directorial debut. It is produced by Priya Atlee (wife of Atlee) under his A for Apple Productions, alongside Sudhan Sundaram and Jayaram under their banner Passion Studios and K. Poornachandra’s O2 Pictures.
Many would have come across a couple of reviews and ratings of this movie and might have taken a step back if it is worth watching the movie despite its length. My answer is YES! It is definitely worth watching especially for movie buffs out there.
And here are the reasons why you should watch ‘Andhagaaram’:
Not a typical horror film.

Horror movies have recently become very predictable in Kollywood, and if you watch a movie, the plot is very much similar for every movie. However this film is a supernatural thriller instead. It’s not just everywhere jump-scare.
The aspect of horror is there but only where needed. There is also no ghost element. It’s quite hard to pull off this kind of genre without having those elements, but it worked however.
No dramatic sequence of songs
Isn’t it surprising to hear that there is no song sequence where the movie will just cut-fly to a different country or place? There is a total of four tracks which goes along with the storyline and it doesn’t interrupt the content for the viewer.
Phenomenal acting of all characters
The director was very particular about choosing his main characters for the movie. He could have gone with the well established actors as his options. But no, instead he choose the actors that had done great justice to the characters during their respective auditions.
Related:  Jyotika to Return to Bollywood After 25 Years?Many are intrigued to see Vinoth’s character as a blind person. His character was just incredible that we forgot the fact that he actually can see. This reflects how passionate he was in playing his character.
Arjun Das, on the other hand who is so famous for his deep manly voice is also no less than other actors in this movie. In the film, he reveals how the rage of the character often prevails over his other feelings, leaving him vulnerable.
A brain-cracking movie
This movie contains many metaphoric plotlines and the details added to this movie requires your full own concentration. All the necessary storyline mentioned is not really in the dialogue but in the visuals.
This movie’s storyline also doesn’t go according to a specific timeline. So the audience will have to figure out by himself on why and when the character is performing a specific action.
It is not all straight forward. All these subtle metaphorical things is one of the many specialties of this gut-wrenching movie.
Impactful message
In parallel to the supernatural, there are also psychological elements inserted. Andhagaaram, which means darkness, reveals both the life of the main character. This almost 3-hour film may be rather tiresome, as it may be sluggish and lengthy, but with a powerful framework and an impactful dialogue, it is all worthwhile.
The final scene on the bridge where he actually realises and sees the light from the dark is the highlight of the film, I’d say.

Like the movie states, there’s no doubt Andhgaaram was a movie with so much evil within with so many details. So if you can, don’t bother about the duration of the movie. Sometimes a good storyline and content is worth watching no matter what.
Share your thoughts about the movie in the comment section below!
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Filed Under AndhaagaramAtlee productionbest tamil movie to watchsupernatural thriller


Mohanlal to become director with 3D film Barroz

Mohanlal will make his direction debut with a film called Barroz- Guardian of D’Gama’s Treasure. His directorial debut will be an upcoming 3D film called Barroz – Guardian of D’Gama’s Treasure.
Mohanlal made his acting debut as a teenager back in 1978 with Thiranottam.
The actor said that this is the beginning of a new journey. He said that he will go behind the camera for the first time in his career. He went on to reveal that the film will be shot in 3D. He also said it is a kind of film that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. It’s a story set in Portugal.
The actor decided to go behind the camera for the first time.
He revealed how the whole idea of him directing a film took shape. Apparently, the idea was born when he and filmmaker TK Rajeev Kumar had decided to make a 3D show and had met Jijo Punnoose, the director of India’s first fantasy 3D Film My Dear Kuttichathan.
The film will be predominantly shot in Goa. The cast will include many international actors and the casting process will begin in the coming few months.
More updates to follow.
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Filed Under 3DdebutMohanlal


Not A Single Tamil Secondary School In Malaysia… Time to Establish One?

There are a total number of 2439 Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan (SMKs) schools in the country including Chinese Independent schools. But, have you ever wondered why aren’t there any Tamil secondary schools? A crucial thought to ponder.
It is a noted fact that Tamil School students are winning more state, regional and global awards than their national school counterparts.
The proposal of setting up Tamil secondary schools has been a long standing one among the Indian community. Tamil primary schools in Malaysia were established more than 100 years ago during the British occupation and even survived the Japanese occupation. Tamil primary schools have come a long way since its inception with 527 schools nationwide with a total of 80,569 students to date.

Tamil education in Malaysia started with the very first Tamil primary school which was established in Penang back in 1816. As the rubber estates grew in numbers by the end of the nineteenth century, the estate managements and the British government built more Tamil primary schools.

The one and only Tamil Secondary School in Malaysia, was Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Vivekanda in Brickfields. Established in 1958, SMK Vivekananda is the oldest school in Brickfields and was officiated by then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. However, the school is now no longer a Tamil school and has been transformed from a vernacular school into a non-vernacular school.
This school welcomed the very first female headmistress in the year 1962. Efforts were made to ease the transition from English to Malay medium of instruction, starting with the first batch of students from Vivekananda Secondary School Brickfields sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in 1981.

Associate Professor Sivachandralingam Sundara Raja, conducted a research based on this topic. In 1850, a group of planters established Tamil schools voluntarily in their rubber plantations. The plantation workers were obliged to set up Tamil schools, but most of the schools were off poor standards. Sadly, the plantation workers children were categorised as disadvantaged students with the lowest education achievement levels.

The reason was partly because of the prevailing attitude among planters that Tamil plantation schools served mainly to attract new labourers and to preserve the children of labourers for future supply. Hence, the very few Tamil schools in rubber plantations were constantly undermined by various problems.

Firstly, most of the schools lacked proper infrastructure and teaching facilities, which led classes to be frequently held in the school’s verandah which eventually was crafted and implemented into micro-classrooms following the concept of Thinnai Pallikoodam. Other major shortcomings was the shortage and lack of highly qualified teachers and the rigidness of the Kangani (foreman) system, a form of Indian labour recruitment that started in India’s south during the British rule, which was then incepted into Malaya when a group of Indian labourers mainly from Tamil Nadu were brought in to work in the rubber plantations.
Students from the Tamil schools then were provided with a very limited curriculum comprising of four to five years of primary education focusing on reading, writing, arithmetic and rudimentary natural sciences. These problems were compounded by Indian labourers themselves who considered it more worthwhile to bring their children to assist them in the estates.

In 2013, politician Lim Guan Eng had sent proposals to the government in requesting for Tamil secondary schools in Penang. The reason the then Chief Minister of Penang came up with the idea was because the actual population of Indians in Penang stood at 24% as per statistics. Thus, the existence of a Tamil secondary school on the island would be very helpful and beneficial for the Indian community.
The Malaysian Indian Network of Entrepreneurs (1MINE) proposed an idea to build one Tamil residential school similar to Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) or Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA). The idea came about as an effort to assist low-income earning Indian parents to provide an opportunity for their children to access a decent education. However, the application was rejected by the government since there is no law pertaining for the establishment of a Tamil secondary school.

There has been a mix reaction though among parents in the community on the establishment of Tamil Secondary Schools. While some feel that this move is long overdue; a handful of them feel it’s unnecessary and making Tamil language as one of the core secondary subject should suffice. Some of the concerns were the lack of jobs that utilises the Tamil language, the lack of resources such as textbooks and the teaching syllabus itself which will require the intervention from the Ministry of Education and a change in the Education policy.
In a nutshell,  It requires a thorough and holistic study to obtain long term solutions!
So, YES, it’s much much harder than you think to establish a Tamil Vernacular Secondary School! No matter how noble or what your intentions are, the school will require a lot of money to start off and may not be self-sufficient for years.
We welcome your thoughts on this ..is it a Yay or Nay?
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Filed Under No OneSekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Vivekanda in BrickfieldsTamil Secondary SchoolWhy


VIDEO: Rajinikanth & Kamal Haasan’s Helicopter Entry At The 2018 Natchathira Vizha

It was big night for us last Saturday!
Throngs of A-list celebrities from India flooded the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on the 6th of January, much to the delight of local fans.
The likes of Superstar Rajinikanth, Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan, including other big names like Surya, Arya, Sivakarthikeyan, all graced the Malaysian soil with their presence. The celebs were all down for a grand fund-raiser in Malaysia.
Source: CNN
But of course, the majority of the crowd was there to get a good look at the Superstar, who will soon put a stop on acting to focus on his political career. Rajinikanth still has two movies due this year, Enthiran 2.0 and Kaala.
The Superstar made a grand entrance in a helicopter, together with Kamal Haasan on his side.
Watch it here:

[Video: Hervin Raj]
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Filed Under Rajinikanth


Arya Did Not Choose A Winner For Enga Veetu Mapillai

The most awaited episode of Enga Veetu Mapillai turned out to be a let down.
Actor Arya has said that he is unable to choose a girl from the Top 3; Agatha, Susanna and Seetha Lakshmi. He said he needs more time to contemplate and make a decision.
According to Arya, if he chooses one person, the world will choose to focus on the two girls who got rejected – instead of the girl who actually won.
He also said that he can’t bear to break the girls’ hearts and disappoint their parents after everything they have been through on the show.
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Filed Under AryaEnga Veetu Mapillai


Karthika Nair Returns To Tamil Films After A 4 Year Hiatus

Karthika Nair is set to return to Tamil films after a 4 year hiatus, with her upcoming flick, Vaa Deal.
When she made her Tamil debut with Ko, Karthika set tongues wagging not because she is the spawn of veteran actress Radha, but because she performed really well in the film. Karthika was a red blooded 18 year old at the time who carried out her role of a twenty something journalist with the finesse of a senior artiste.

Vaa Deal is an action film shot by Rathina Shiva and will feature Arun Vijay opposite Karthika. The shooting for the film was completed 6 years ago, but the filmmakers are facing lots of difficulties to release Vaa Deal.
Her last Tamil outing was with Arya and Vijay Sethupathi in Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai in 2015. Two years later, Karthika made her television debut with the Hindi series Aarambh, aired on Star Plus. In the series she played the role of Devasena, a warrior queen. The show’s last episode aired on 10 September 2017.
Thesedays, Karthika appears to be based in the United States of America. She is pursuing her MBA in Business Studies there, and also serves as the director of UDS Hotels, her family owned hotel chain in Kerala.
Will Vaa Deal pave the way for Karthika to do more films in Tamil? Only time will tell.
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Filed Under Arun Vijaykarthika nairradhavaa deal


V2K Group On Telegram Exposed For Posting Women’s Nudes!

Since the bloom of the digital age, the use of digital mechanisms such as computers and smartphones have increased rapidly. This development has beyond a doubt led a shift from traditional lifestyle approaches to a one that is very convenient and fast paced.
This digital birth, however, has also gone down a different road, triggering a spike in social moral panic. The number of people involved in this catastrophe is growing exponentially, regardless of age or gender.

Recently, a viral news has been up all over social media. It has come to our attention that a telegram group called V2K or also known as Vitamin4Testicles has been sharing unsolicited photos and videos of girls; also selling child pornography to its users.

The chat group previously had around 38,000 users but the numbers have been declining after details of the group and names of certain members went viral. Not long after that, they created a new backup group, “V2K Backup”, which has garnered over 1,000 members.
Source: Malaysiakini
According to Malaysiakini, police are probing and investigating the Telegram group that allegedly spread photos of women without their consent.
“I received the information yesterday so I asked my officer to investigate this issue. There is no police report but we have taken the initiative to investigate the matter,” claimed the Assistant Director of Sexual Investigation Women and Children (D11) Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Bukit Aman, Superintendent Siti Kamsiah Hassan.
She added that they will be working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commision (MCMC) to further investigate the matter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MCMC (Official) (@skmm_mcmc)

Following the revelation, users around the internet are outraged and disgusted by the existence of such groups.
https://twitter.com/dhiviena/status/1311274984782749702?s=20
https://twitter.com/exusiah/status/1311610942040416256?s=20
Although steps have been carried out to close the group, the members of this nasty group seem to have a back-up link if the main Instagram account is blocked.

Telegram, a social networking application that has greater security and identity protection than most networks out there has now become an app present with vice activities.
Just this year alone, the country has already seen issues of toxic masculinity amongst young men resulting in fatal consequences for women. A 17 year old girl committed suicide on August 3, as a result of online sexual harassment by a 20 year old man, who threatened to make her pictures viral if she did not have sex with him. A 20 year old woman hung herself in her room on May 19 when she was cyber bullied by a male perpetrator online, who still has not been caught by the police or MCMC.
Don’t be afraid to call out or take action against people you know that engage in such activities. These act’s shouldn’t be tolerated nor ignored. Please contact the Malaysian organisations listed below and seek help if you are a victim of sexual assault:

WOMEN’S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-79563488
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter

ALL WOMEN’S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Weekdays (9.30am – 4.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: telenita@awam.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Act before its too late! This is a crime alright!
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Filed Under policepolice in v2kTelegramunconsented videoV2KV2K Telegram groupviral group


Renowned Educator Datuk Anthony Reynolds Peter’s Take On Government’s Special Education Channel; DidikTV

The government’s recent move to establish the DidikTV special education channel is commended by former educator Datuk Anthony Reynolds Peter.
With an exceptional experience of over 60 years in teaching, he strongly believes that such an initiative has paved the way for students to continue their studies, especially those who are under home schooling (PDPR).
The retired teacher who is now 82 years old said;
It not only supplements, but also enhances PdPR through careful preparation and execution.
This ensures that education and teaching can truly reach and have the desired impact and effect on as many children as possible.
So for me, such an initiative and effort by the government and the Education Ministry is commendable because not every Malaysian family or household has Internet access, smartphones, gadgets, desktop computers or laptops.
The government and the Education Ministry are trying their level best to do what is right for the students.
DidikTV is a means to make learning available to all because it has a wider reach compared to online learning.
In 1959, Anthony and his wife, Datin Theresa Jane Peter, completed a teachers training course at the Brinsford Lodge.
He was awarded the highest honour in 1995 when he was appointed as the principal of SM Stella Maris, Kuala Lumpur. He received the Tokoh Guru Kebangsaan Award at the age of 80 for his tremendous contribution in the education field.
Picture credit: New Straits Times
Anthony affirms that, unlike the old TV Pendidikan channel, DidikTV should provide a better learning experience as education programs focus on major subjects.
In this regard, he said that teachers still play an essential role in adapting to the current dynamics of learning and teaching.
The educator also says;
It will be even tougher on teachers, who not only have to carry on doing online classes, but also those who will be involved either directly or indirectly with DidikTV.
Teaching encompasses various different tasks and responsibilities, so this will be an added scope to their already long list of duties, and remember that teachers are human beings, too.
I hope that despite all the pressure and weight of expectations, the teachers can persevere and step up to teach to the best of their abilities.
Parents, too, have to play their part and monitor their children’s learning progress.
Children will be children, so they have to be supervised by the parents, especially when having to remain indoors for such a long time.
I believe our children’s future is dreary due to our present state. The recent DidikTV viral video certainly brought more chaos and it must alarm the government that they should start taking the correct steps to implement wholesome teaching as quickly as possible.
“The challenges are there, but they are only temporary challenges.Online learning will flourish..” – Philip Regier
Source: NST
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Filed Under Datuk Anthony Reynolds PeterDidikTv respondDidikTv viral videoGovernment special channel for students


R. Madhavan Meets Canadian PM Justin Trudeau In Star-Studded Party

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was hosted in a star-studded party that aimed to foster a better relationship between the Canadian and Indian film industry.
The party was packed with A-list stars like Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan, actor Aamir Khan, actor-director Farhan Akhtar, South Indian star R.Madhavan, and more.

Tonight, we celebrated stronger ties & new co-production opportunities between Bollywood and the Canadian Film Industry. And who better to help than @iamsrk himself… Great to meet you! 🇮🇳🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/1OcwsA9lMS
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 20, 2018

“Tonight, we celebrated stronger ties & new co-production opportunities between Bollywood and the Canadian Film Industry. And who better to help than @iamsrk himself… Great to meet you!” the Canadian PM posted.
South Indian actor R.Madhavan also had a chance to selfie with Justin Trudeau.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by R. Madhavan (@actormaddy)

“Such a pleasure and honour meeting you sir.” Madhavan posted on his official Instagram account.
“Your relatability, grace and charm was most endearing and its easy to see why you are the Pride and toast of Canada.Have a lovely rest of the tour.??” he added.
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Filed Under Farhan AkhtarJustin TrudeauMadhavanShah Rukh Khan


EXCLUSIVE: Moganasundari Mahalingam, Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2014 Shares Her Lessons Learnt From The Pageant

When Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2014 was televised shortly after the event, one finalist stood out. She was clearly brilliant, confident and articulate on stage, but we had written her off. There’s no way she would win, she is as dark skinned as we are. And we all knew which shade the television preferred. As we waited with bated breath, she began to be a part of the dwindling finalists. Then it was announced. Moganasundari Mahalingam had won Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2014.
Moganasundari, fondly known as Mogana, talks to Varnam about how the pageant has moulded her and her experiences still continue to guide her.
She credits the pageant for her personal growth

“My personal growth has been immense since Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2014. I was 21 at the time, still figuring out life in college. But with the crown came new lessons every day during my reign and even after,” Mogana tells us.
Miss MalaysiaIndian Global is unlike any other pageant, as it does not focus on the physical attributes of the contestant, but on her empowerment. Termed a personal development pageant, the non governmental organisation churns out finalists who have undergone weeks of workshops and clinics that aim to equip the young Indian lady to be herself in a society that expects her to check a certain number of boxes.
“The pageant, particularly the founder, Mrs Pushparani (Mrs Rani) fine tuned me. In fact, I sometimes find myself navigating internally thanks to her guidance,” the Seremban lass tells us.
She found her calling – social work

“For me, personally, my biggest passion is social work. The pageant helped me cultivate that,” Mogana reveals that Tamil schools are her calling. “I learnt that my heart is with the children of our Tamil schools, and that was what I wanted to work on,”
“I owe my passion for Tamil school pupils to my parents. They used to organise motivational camps for the Tamil schools in the plantation estates in Negeri Sembilan. The camp will be held in Port Dickson over a long weekend, with plenty of games, beach activities as well as motivational and leadership modules. I used to participate in these camps, and as I got older, I began assisting my mum with the planning,”
Her passion to help Tamil schools was rekindled with the pageant

“After I won Miss MalaysiaIndian Global, I went back to Seremban for my community service project,” The top 5 finalists of Miss MalaysiaIndian Global are contractually obligated to organise and execute a community service project. Mogana tells us, “I organised a project with the pupils of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (T) Jalan Lobak. It was lovely, because Tamil schools are naturally very community centric,”
Mogana adores Tamil school pupils. “They just don’t look at you as a stranger. Within the first five minutes of meeting you, they are already so warm and they want you to be a part of their lives,”
She now loves her dark skin

“When I joined the pageant, Mrs Rani told me was that they don’t ascribe to skin lightening products, and I was shocked, because in my mind, how can that be beautiful?”
Mogana says that growing up, her dark skin tone was constantly pointed our by everyone, as if she didn’t have access to a mirror. This resulted in her wanting a fairer skin tone, “My father, however, banned all skin lightening products from my house, and he told me that even if I were to receive them as gifts, he would discard it all,”
She tells us that she slowly unlearned all the societal conditioning and began appreciating herself the way she is. “It still makes me feel good when people talk about the year I won, and they have fond memories of that. So many people have told me “Thank goodness you won that year!””
She is a fierce advocate of colourism

“It is so important for the children of our community to realise that your skin colour is not going to hamper you from achieving great things. What surprised me was that the message transcended age, and even adults had a light bulb moment upon hearing this,”
Mogana tells us that during one of the Tamil school programs organised by Miss MalaysiaIndian Global, one of the male discipline teachers in the school told Mrs Rani in passing, “I heard one of your queens on the radio, and she was talking about how being dark skinned shouldn’t deter you from doing what you love to do. She’s right, and I only realised that after listening to her,”
“That was so powerful, because here is a middle aged man, who has come to this realisation that his dark skin will not hamper him from doing what he wants,” she gushes.
Her win taught her how important media representation is

“After my win, life went back to normal. I used to walk along Petaling Street to get to my college, and there is a sweeper aunty whom I often chat with. One morning, I stopped by to talk to her, as usual,”
“She said, “I need to tell you, I watched this show on the television, it was a beauty pageant and the winner looks exactly like you!” My response was naturally, “Yeah, that was me, I know it’s funny, but I thought I would give it a shot,” And you wouldn’t believe it, this lady starts crying, in the middle of the road!”
“I asked her what was wrong. Her reply was, “I’m almost 50, and my daughter and I, we have have never felt beautiful until we saw you win,” She went on to tell me that it was unbelievable to see dark skinned women like us be called beautiful, and win beauty pageants,” Mogana tells us that this was one of the most humbling points in her life.
“It was after this incident that media representation made so much sense to me. And mind you, this was way before dark skinned models like Vanizha Vasanthanathan were endorsed by large makeup corporations,”
She chose law to aid her path to her passion

“People often inquire why I am not acting or in the media line. To be honest, it isn’t because I don’t like it. It’s just that my passion has always been social work.” Mogana shares that this was her motivation to pursue law. “Until today, I enjoy reading law tremendously. That may be why I didn’t focus on the glam life!”
Mogana is currently doing her chambering in Kuala Lumpur, but her busy schedule hasn’t distracted her from her volunteering. “I have been volunteering with the pageant actively since I passed the crown on. It has been a really good journey,”
Her name is her mantra

Mogana tells us how the pageant helped her overcome the disdain for her name. “For the longest time, I hated my name. I felt like it was ridiculously long to be put into forms, and so difficult for some of my non-Indian friends to pronounce!”
“During the personal empowerment workshops prior to the pageant finale, Mrs Rani always told us that our names are our mantras. I ignored it at first, until she asked a poignant question, “How do you want your name to be announced on the stage?” I didn’t have an answer,”
Mogana went home, thought about it, and told herself that she needs to give this a shot. “When my name was announced during the introduction, I decided that for the next two hours on stage, I need to define who Moganasundari Mahalingam is. All this while, I had been defined by my family, my hometown, my education and so on. But that night, I defined who I was, and it was a spectacular feeling”
It didn’t end there, Mogana tells us, “That yearning to define Moganasundari Mahalingam went on even after I brought home the crown. For the year of my reign, it was like what kind of queen will Mogana be, what value am I going to give this crown, as me?”
She now knows that life isn’t limited to the rat race

“I’m pretty sure I speak for all the finalists when I say that we learnt that life is not limited to the rat race or the commercial cartwheel. There is so much more to you than all of these labels,”
“The trouble with the rat race is that you often forget what makes you you. Mrs Rani, the founder of Miss MalaysiaIndian Global, ensures that all of us contestants don’t allow our passions to be overshadowed by the societal expectations of us,” Mogana shares. “I may not be a billboard, but I can say with conviction that I am not afraid to attempt a lot of things that patriarchal society told me I cannot do. That in itself is an achievement!”
She strongly believes in the sisterhood of Miss MalaysiaIndian Global

“The sisterhood that Miss MalaysiaIndian Global offers is beautiful,” The pageant has been around for two decades. According to Mogana, the former contestants comprise of women across the board in terms of age. “We come from all walks of life, from all over the country,”
“Any girl who joins the Miss MalaysiaIndian Global sisterhood knows that if they have a problem, there is an Akka who has gone through that and we will get her in touch with you. There is no obstacle that you cannot overcome because of this support system, and that’s pretty amazing,” she tells us.
The finals of Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2019 will be held on the 22nd of September. To sponsor or attend the event, please email mmicareassoc@gmail.com. Until then, keep up with the pageant updates on Instagram here.
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Filed Under miss Malaysia Indian globalMiss MalaysiaIndian Global 2019Moganasundari


Chandra Grahan 2023 (May 5): Be Aware of These Dos And Don’ts

Learning about the solar system and eclipses really does trigger an in-depth interest in everyone. Today, May 5, 2023, marks a penumbral lunar eclipse that will begin at around 11.15pm in Malaysia. This is said to be visible across parts of India, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and the Antarctic.
The occurrence of a penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the sun, earth, and moon are imperfectly aligned. In this instance, the Earth blocks some of the sun’s direct light from reaching the moon’s surface and completely or partially casts a shadow on the moon’s surface.

Despite the fact that astronomical phenomena are captivating, eclipse occurrences are often deemed important events in Indian astrology and Vastu Shastra. It is also believed that they have a substantial influence on our lives.
A well-known astrologer, Pankaj Goel, has unveiled a comprehensive list of some dos and don’ts that one must keep in mind during the lunar eclipse phenomenon happening today (May 5).
Dos:
1. Meditate: Lunar eclipses are powerful moments for reflection and spiritual development. Utilise this time to meditate to build a connection with your inner self. Your life will become more clear to you as a result of this.
2. Donate to charity: Donating to charity during a moon eclipse is auspicious. This kind gesture is thought to invigorate you and bring good fortune into your life.
3. Chant mantras: During the moon eclipse, reciting mantras can help you align your energy with the universal force. In this period of change, this can assist you in remaining composed and focused.
4. Take a bath: Bathing is advised before and after a moon eclipse. You can purify your body and mind and let go of any negative energy by doing this.
Don’ts:
1. Avoid eating during the eclipse: According to Vastu Shastra, eating during a lunar eclipse may be harmful to your health. Avoid eating anything during this time if at all possible.
2. Avoid making any significant decisions: Lunar eclipses are times of transformation and change. Since it can be challenging to see things clearly at this time, it is best to avoid making any significant decisions.
3. Refrain from travelling: Moon eclipses can impede travel. Avoid travelling during this time if at all feasible.
To sum up, the lunar eclipse happening today can be a potent period for transformation and personal growth.
“You may make the most of this celestial event and attract positive energy into your life by adhering to these dos and don’ts.” Pankaj Goel remarked.
Source: [1,2]
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Filed Under Chandra Grahanindian rituallunar eclipsemantras


Kadhal Mattum Vena: A Movie Based On The Delhi Bus Gang Rape Incident

In 2012, 23 years old physiotherapist, Jyoti Pandey Singh, was brutally raped and tortured by 6 men in a bus in Delhi. The men, including 2 minors, believed that they had to teach the Jyoti ‘a lesson’ for being out with a guy friend late at night. After 14 days and 5 surgeries, Jyoti died from brain damage and sepsis in Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital. The incident caught global attention with protests, literary work and documentaries.
Jyoti, widely known as Nirbhaya (The Fearless)
7 years later, Director Sam Khan has decided to make a film based on the Delhi bus gang rape incident. In the upcoming Tamil film Kadhal Mattum Vena, Sam Khan will also be starring as the lead, alongside Elizabeth, Divyanganaa Jain, and Hamida Khatoon. The film is produced by Meboob Ali Khan for Luckky Studios.
Watch the TRAILER here:

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Filed Under 2012 delhi bus gang rapekadhal mattum venasam khan