The History Behind Our Historical Batu Caves Temple!

The temple situated in the heart of a lime stone cave, accommodating it’s visitors for decades as they perform their vows, with a landmark statue greeting us even from miles away, is none other than the famous Sri Subramaniar Batu Caves Temple.

Batu Caves always holds a special place for many localites due to the annual Thaipusam festival. Funfairs, lights, devotional songs hailing from every corner, the crowd of people in yellow clothes carrying pots of milk and parades of colourful kavadis dancing away like a show performed by beautiful peacocks, is a sight to not miss.

There have been many myths in relation to the temple’s history and establishment, but one thing is evident, this temple holds tales of the happenings which took place hundreds of years ago engraved in each limestone, forming the establishment of the deity we have today.
With limestones said to be as old as 400 million years old, Batu Caves used to be known for providing shelters to the Temuan People; a tribe of Orang Asli before being known as an attraction to tourists and a place of devotion to the Hindu community.

In 1860, Chinese settlers would collect guano, the excrements accumulated by bats living in the caves, to be used as fertilisers for their vegetable patches. However, Batu Caves only became popular in 1878, after being recorded for its limestone hills by colonial authorities, Daly and Syers and an American naturalist, William Hornaday.
The history of Batu Caves does not end there, if anything, it was merely just the beginning to many many years of celebrations that would come after.
For if it weren’t for K.Thamboosamy Pillai, an indian trader, we would not have known nor had Batu caves as we do to this day.
K. Thamboosamy Pillai was intrigued by the entrance to the main cave, which was shaped like a “Vel” and decided to dedicate a temple to Lord Murugan within the walls of the said cave with wooden steps leading up to Him in 1920.
Hence the inception of the Thaipusam Festival since 1892 during the Tamil month of Thai, Which usually Falls in the month of  January/February Is A Festivity Honoured By Hindus from Malaysia and Neighbouring Singapore as theY converge to BAtu Caves.
The wooden steps were reconstructed in 1920 and replaced with 272 concrete steps. In 2018, the stairs were then painted in various colours, becoming an attraction to many, eventually recognised as Malaysia’s must visit tourist spot. The colourful Batu Caves steps also happens to serve as a wonderful spot for picture worthy shots!

Did you know there are three caves incorporated under the huge entity of THE Batu Caves TEMPLE?
Batu Caves is also a tropical habitat to many unknown species of flora and fauna. There is a cave specifically preserved and maintained due to it’s diverse unique living things present in the cave and is used as a educational site by the Malaysian Nature Society.
The cave is known as the Dark Wet Cave and human entrance is strictly forbidden to preserve the existing ecology.
Batu caves has now earned the entitlement as a pivotal place of worship for many. It has devotees worldwide come by every year to perform their special vows and prayers. This temple is definitely a must visit destination in Malaysia, just for it’s mesmerising beauty and breath taking nature!
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Filed Under balasubramaniam templebatu caves temple's myth and historyhistory of batu caves


Arav’s Next Film Has Begun Shooting

Arav Nafeez, the winner of Bigg Boss Tamil has signed on his next film, Market Raja MBBS. Directed by Saran, the film has already begun shooting and looks to be an action-fantasy-thriller.
Saran made his name by directing 4 Ajith blockbusters – Amarkalam, Kaadhal Mannan, Asal and Attagasam. He is excited to work with Arav on this flick, and he assures the Tamil audience, has nothing to do with Kamal Hassan’s Vasool Raja MBBS. Arav is set to play Market Raja, the titular character who is a local don.

Tamil newcomer Kavya Thapar will be introduced in this film, and she is reportedly the 18th heroine Saran is introducing to the industry. This will be the actress’ first Tamil movie, but she has starred in Telugu movies Ee Maaya Peremito and Tatkal.
Market Raja MBBS will also feature Radhika Sarathkumar, Nasser, Sayaji Shinde, Pradeep Rawat and Yogi Babu. The music will be composed by Simon King. The crew is currently shooting at the late veteran actress Aachi Manorama’s home in T Nagar, Chennai.
Arav’s first Tamil film as the lead actor, Raja Bheema, is slated for release in the first quarter of 2019.
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Filed Under AaravKavya ThaparMarket Raja MBBSSaran


Amala Paul Surprises Fans After ‘Aadai’ Movie

Amala Paul’s Aadai has been receiving great reviews by movie goers and film critics. The team has been heavily promoting the film through interviews, radio calls and the on ground activities.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QfC77j4Ju/
In a recent Instagram post, Amala is seen standing outside of cinemas, hiding her face under a cap, to ask fans about their review from watching the movie. Fans were  surprised to see the star herself present at the cinema and they gave fantastic feedback about the thriller film directed by Rathna Kumar and produced by Viji under the production banner V Studios.

Amal shared the video on Instagram with a caption that read, “Aadai – Amala Paul pranks her fans. Kamini is back at it! It was lovely interacting with my fam, their love for Kamini is crazy.”
WATCH the video right here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0PyD4tjeRE/
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Filed Under AadaiAmala Paul


Women’s Aid Organisation Launches Collection Drive To Help Domestic Violence Survivors

Everyone has been in one way or another affected by Covid-19 over the past two years. While the pandemic hit hard, so did concerning matters pertaining to domestic violence which affected many women and children.
Cases involving domestic violence has been on the rise, with over 900 cases reported in the first four months of 2021. Until then, the ministry of women, family and community development reported a whopping of 7,468 incidents last year.
According to FMT, Amnani Abdul Kadir of the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) said “we expected the numbers to fall as a result of the leniency in SOP enforcement, but this has not been the case”.
Apart from needing to expand their employment in 2020 to keep up with the increase in cases, the non-government organisation’s costs have skyrocketed to cover survivors’ quarantine in hotels, Covid-19 tests, transportation, food, and other expenses.
Taking into consideration, the WAO has initiated a collection drive for domestic survivors at its Petaling Jaya shelter, asking for donations of food and personal hygiene supplies. Any spare products will be sent to those in need outside the shelter, including single mothers.
Mobile phones are mentioned as important items, according to Amnani, because most women flee their attackers empty handed. As a result, owning it will make it easier for them to communicate with any social service authorities for immediate assistance.
The organiser also stated that cases of child abuse, between March 2020 to last year reported in Selangor alone was 1,910, according to the social welfare agency. Thankfully, new childcare centres opened in April, will accommodate young survivors soon and the collected funds will also be used to furnish the place.

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A post shared by (WAO) Women's Aid Organisation (@womensaidorg)

Volunteers are welcome, to fill in with responsibilities including office work, face checking research, procuring products for the shelter, and supporting survivors with job placement.
Those interested can attend a volunteer induction session hosted by Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) on Saturday, June 25 between 10 am to 11.30 am.
These are the essential requirements for preparing food for the women and children on daily basis;
Image credit: Women’s Aid Organisation
Image credit: Women’s Aid Organisation
Image credit: Women’s Aid Organisation

The organisation anticipates that the entire community will join together to assist the survivors.

Contact Ames at 017-6149189 or email at ames@wao.org.my to contribute products or register for WAO’s volunteer induction programme. You can also sign up as a volunteer by filling out the application form.
Women’s Aid Organisation, Maybank account 512334321741 or CIMB account 8002382997, accepts cash donations. (If you spend more than RM50, you will receive a receipt for tax redemption)
Visit WAO’s website, as well as it Facebook and Instagram profiles, for more information.
Source: [1]
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Filed Under Amnani Abdul Kadirdonationfood drivevolunteerwomens aid organisation


463 Areas In Selangor and Putrajaya Will Be Facing Water Disruption Again

It’s no more a surprise that in recent years, Selangor has had the most severe water supply problems in Malaysia. Get your buckets ready because water will be cut again!
On 16th December, Air Selangor announced around 463 areas in Selangor and Putrajaya will be experiencing unscheduled water supply disruptions due to odour pollution that was detected at Sungai Semenyih.
According to Air Selangor, the Sungai Semenyih water treatment facility had to shut down yesterday, impacting Sepang (194 areas), Petaling (172 areas), Hulu Langat (54 areas), Putrajaya (23) and Kuala Langat (20).
The Emergency Response Plan (ERP) has been activated by Air Selangor in order to give out emergency water supply to impacted residents.
About 81 water tankers will be dispatched to the affected areas and emergency locations to supply water.
If you’re a Selangorian, you undoubtedly are already aware of the yet again constant water disruption, where living without water has become part of the routine for us.
Here are some of the areas that will be facing water disruption:
Image credit: Air Selangor/Facebook
Image credit: Air Selangor/Facebook
Image credit: Air Selangor/Facebook
Information will be provided by Air Selangor on a regular basis via all of their official communication channels, including the Air Selangor app, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or by calling the Air Selangor Contact Centre at 15300.
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Filed Under air selangorSungai SemenyihWater Disruptions


Swara Wishes All a Happy Chinese New Year with a Beautiful Sitar Tribute

Renowned music and dance school Swara Community Arts Center has released a very special video in conjunction with Chinese New Year. Featuring 10 sitarists playing the iconic Gongxi Gongxi song, the video has now gone viral on all social media platforms.
We speak to Satya Subramaniam, one of the sitarists in the video. “All 10 of us are Master Samuel J Dass’ students. We are learning the instrument under him in Swara Community Arts Centre,”
Sitarist Samuel J Dass. Image credit: Photographer Vickneswaran
Samuel J Dass is an internationally acclaimed Malaysian sitarist. Interestingly, Samuel is seen playing the acoustic guitar in the video.
“We honestly didn’t expect this to go viral,” Satya says. “We met up and decided to give it a go, since we already knew the tune. The support we’ve received has been amazing, and it is so encouraging,”
The team had practiced for about a week before recording the video on a mobile phone.
One of the sitarists is an adorable young boy who is smiling directly at the camera as he strums his sitar. Young Harishan Sri Prakash is only 11, but is very enthusiastic about the instrument, and it shows.
Well done to the entire team behind this heartwarming video. We cannot wait to see what else you have in store for the future!

https://varnam.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/10000000_633629414073696_7340205707245707997_n.mp4
Keep up with Swara Community Arts Centre on Instagram here.
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Filed Under Samuel J Dasssatya subramaniamsitarswara community arts centre


Small Businesses Shine Bright At The Indian Trail 5.0

“We are so lucky to have all these vendors here!” gushes Saratha, the organizer of pop up marketplace, The Indian Trail 5.0. The event that was held over the weekend at Ruang Subang.
People began pottering about from 10 am on Sunday at the venue, perusing the items on sale from the 16 vendors present. The booths were carefully laid out, ensuring there is sufficient space for the customers to move about. “A few of our vendors are alone here today, so I will be helping them out if it gets too busy at their booth,” Saratha tells us as she gestures towards a saree vendor who nods gratefully. This is in spite of the fact that Saratha’s own saree line, Neta Weaves, is present at the event.
One of Neta Weave’s gorgeous handloomed Patur sarees on sale at The Indian Trail 5.0
This gesture is what The Indian Trail is all about – empowering small businesses, and giving them the exposure needed to reach greater heights. Being the fifth installment of the pop up marketplace, this round is a special one for two reasons. Not only is it themed Diwali Dhamaka, in time for Deepavali, but Saratha who resides in Australia, was able to attend the event. “I wasn’t able to make it for the last two events, as I had personal commitments to attend to, I am so happy to be here this time!”
This gesture is what The Indian Trail is all about -empowering small businesses, and giving them the exposure needed to reach greater heights.
Here are the vendors who were present at The Indian Trail 5.0
A one of a kind clutch by Izarre
Izarre, helmed by The Indian Trail organizing committee member Yaalini, was present with a beautiful array of ethnic inspired clutches and bags on display.
Fellow committee member Poornima’s line of children’s ethnic clothing, Weavetrail, was a real hit with parents.
The handmade jewelry of Vipra Collection on display
Vipra Collection was present, with business owner Ranjita readily putting on her beautiful accessories onto potential clients. Many were pleasantly surprised to learn that she even offers classes to those interested in jewelry making.
Manasa of Mudra Magik at their first ever pop up store.
Manasa made the trip all the way from India to be a part of The Indian Trail 5.0 for her first ever pop up booth. Mudra Magik is not a new player to the handloomed saree scene, and her cotton and Mangalgiri sarees were selling like hotcakes.
Sri of Proppy Kuala Lumpur pictured with the colourful range of socks they offer
The Indian Trail stands out from other pop up marketplaces because they don’t just focus on one category of items on sale. Sri and Murali from Proppy Kuala Lumpur were present at the event, with an array of playful socks for both men and women. Sourced from the Phillipines, Sri talks to us about their best seller, men’s ankle length socks. “These may look playful but they actually look really good with formal shoes and office wear,”
Also present at the event was Theeba Saree Petticoat. The business has revolutionized the saree petticoat, and offers a range of saree shapewear that is wallet friendly, and won’t leave those annoying red marks on the saree wearer’s waist.
The entrepreneur behind Singing Bowl Tree enjoying a moment before her booth got really busy.
Singing Bowl Tree‘s beautiful handmade sarees had customers attracted to their booth like bees to a honeypot. Rightly so, her sarees were snapped up really quickly.
Pretty clutches by The Golden Tijori
The Golden Tijori had a range of gorgeous statement clutches and shoes. These pieces were so intricate that it could even make a plain black dress pop.
Customers excitedly looking through the array of colourful ethnic wear on sale by CottonSpice Boutique
Another popular booth was CottonSpice Boutique. This vendor had many gorgeous ethnic pieces, and they were sporting enough to provide on site discounts for those who liked their social media pages.
Who would have thought of ethnic block printed T-shirts and umbrellas? Hastha, of course. Another vendor from India who is spreading their wings into Malaysia for the first time, their T-shirts were a real hit with men and women.

Sue Ann of Cheeky Cupid had an adorable assistant who was helping her promote her baked treats, which included diabetic friendly muffins, brownies and madeleines. “My father was diabetic, and I decided to try my hand at baking without using any sugar,” Sue Ann tells us that her diabetic treats are made with stevia and honey only.
Fans of Jacob’s Corner Achar were buying bottles of the Homemade 3 Leaf Achar, Homemade Roasted Garlic Achar and Homemade Bentong Ginger Achar. The company has now ventured into catering, and customers had a chance to taste one of their signature coconut bowl meals.
MS Handicrafts’ decorations bring a whole new meaning to the term ‘rambang mata’
Paper marigold streamers outlined the ornate wooden and acrylic rangoli designs at MS Handicrafts‘ booth, while earthen and wooden candle holders filled the empty spaces. There were even decorations for the base of a kuthuvilakku!
Nandini of Dauscheavasa set up a one of a kind photo booth with large paper flowers, for the customers to take pictures. The former architect painstakingly handcrafted each of the flowers on display.
The official photographer of the event was the team from Rajendaran Photography. The team had a booth as well for customers to peruse through their work.
A customer looking at Neta Weave sarees.
This review would not be complete without Saratha’s own line of handloomed Patur sarees, Neta Weave. She explains that she often talks to her weavers about colours of the threads. “White is a colour the weavers shy away from, because they stain easily. White and black are also considered inauspicious colours in their culture. But I have been trying to get them to do more of both colours, or at least ombre colours where white blends into a light pink hue and so on,” Needless to say, the Neta Weave sarees were one of the fast moving items at The Indian Trail 5.0.
The organisers cleverly arranged for a kids’ corner where the little ones could get their faces painted, to keep them occupied. A saree styling workshop was later conducted by saree sifus, Sumitra Selvaraj and Roovaa Lijuan.
Sumitra Selvaraj (left) pictured with Saratha, the organizer of The Indian Trail 5.0. The duo are standing at Dauche Avasa’s photo booth. Image credit: Rajendaran Photography
It is always special to meet the person behind the brand of products that you are buying, to have a chat with them and hear their stories. The organizers of The Indian Trail 5.0 have honed their passion for helping small businesses with this event, and we, the customers, couldn’t be happier.
Saratha, however, wasn’t the only one who felt lucky on that day. Every vendor we spoke to told us how lucky THEY are to be a part of the event. Looks like a job well done, Saratha and team!
Follow The Indian Trail on Instagram here for updates on their upcoming pop up.
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Filed Under deepavali 2019The Indian Trail


WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan Offers Bleak Assessment of Challenges Ahead

The Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Soumya Swaminathan has said that containing coronavirus pandemic could take 4 to 5 years.
Several factors impact the timeline in which we can control the virus, including containment measures, if and how the virus mutates and of course whether we discover a vaccine, said Dr. Soumya.
She added that a vaccine appeared to be the best way out at present but warned there were lots of ifs and buts about its safety, production and equitable distribution to over 7 billion of people.

The pandemic could potentially get worse in the future if there’s no vaccine yet to be found, she said. The development of an effective vaccine and successful confinement measures were both among the factors that would ultimately determine the pandemic’s duration, she added.
In a recent event, the executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program Dr. Mike Ryan, warned COVID-19 may never go away. Ryan said, “It is important to put this on the table: This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away. I think it is important we are realistic and I don’t think anyone can predict when this disease will disappear,”
He added that trying to control the virus would require a “massive effort,” even if a vaccine is found.
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Filed Under Chief ScientistDr RyanResearchSoumya SwaminathanvaccineWarns About COVID-19World Health Organisation (WHO)


Sasikumar Volunteers With Cops In Madurai!

Actor-director Sasikumar took to the streets of Madurai to ensure that people are abiding by the lockdown rules.
He joined hands with Madurai Police Department and spent an entire day volunteering with them in a motive to curb the spread of the deadly disease. The actor was seen advising people on the streets to stay indoors and explained to them why it’s important to do so.
 He also pointed out how doctors and police officials are working tirelessly, away from their families, in order to protect the lives of the commoners.
On the professional front, Sasikumar is in talks to play the lead in the Tamil remake of hit Malayalam film, Ayyappanum Koshiyum. The film was about an ego clash between a police officer named Ayyappan Nair, played by Biju Menon, and a retired havildar named Koshy Kurien, essayed by Prithviraj.
He has also completed shooting for a film titled MGR Magan, directed by Ponram. The film was supposed to release in April. However, it got postponed due to the crisis.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Viral: Two Malay Girls Vibing To A Local Tamil Song Went Viral On TikTok
Filed Under covid-19lockdownmaduraiSasikumarTamil


Happy Birthday Simbu: Top 4 Ultimate STR Moments

Love him or hate him, you sure can’t ignore him!
Silambarasan, also known as Simbu or STR, has been actively involved in the film industry since the tender age of 1. Thanks to his father’s (T. Rajendar) strong influence in South Indian Cinema, this multi-award winning actor has made the film industry his playground, experimenting on and off screen in diverse production roles.

The stink of controversy follows Simbu everywhere he goes and has been the reason for many of his wide spread publicities. In celebration of STR’s 36th birthday, we have narrowed down the most ‘RIDONCULOUS’ moments in ultimate Simbu fashion:
1. Cauvery Crisis & A Cup Of Water
We have tried, time and time again, to understand why two neighbouring states would fight over a river. In a dispute that dates back to 1892, there seems to be no winners, only dry land, dehydrated people and dead crops and animals. No one party seems to be ‘winning’ this crisis.
Then, came Simbu, trying to bridge the gap.

In a passionate speech, Simbu used emotional appeals and the ‘Amma sentiment’ to coax the two states to end this ridiculous crisis. STR requested folks from the neighbouring states to give a cup of water to the other as an act of protest over this dispute.

While some mocked his initiative, the campaign was a success with Kannadigas and Tamils engaging in this act of unity. The #uniteforhumanity was used to document this campaign on social media. Simbu did that!
2. To Milk or Not To Milk: Cutout Edition
Ahead of his upcoming movie, Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven, Simbu got us caught up in a rollercoaster ride. First, he banned all his fans from performing the Paal Abhisegam (milk bath ritual) on his posters and cutouts. Then, he challenged everyone to have an exuberant celebrations and use galloons and galloons of milk on his cutouts. Then, he got in legal trouble.

In India, the Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers’ Association filed a complaint against Simbu for the message he sent out. Simbu quickly got to his senses and delivered a non-sensical apology speech that made a fool out of his fans and members of media.
At least, we know, he milked all the publicity he could get just before his movie release!
Related:  Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir Trailer; Vijay Sethupathy With a Message3. The Beep Song
If we wrote a song that said,
‘Evandi unna pethan pethan pethan pethan pethan pethan,
Kaiyila kedhcha sethan sethan sethan sethan sethan sethan
Evandi unna pethan pethan pethan pethan pethan pethan,
Kaiyila kedhcha sethan sethan sethan sethan sethan sethan’
we wouldn’t admit to being the lyricist.
STR has embarrassed himself on multiple occasions in the music industry. But don’t be too quick to judge. Before you underestimate his writing abilities, please know that Simbu has an immensely wide vocabulary in sexist cuss words. He even showed off his skills in the 2015 ‘Beep Song’.

Anirudh and STR were on the receiving end of feminist wrath after the explicit song was leaked. Simbu admitted to composing and writing the lyrics to the song because he was ‘too depressed after a break-up’.

After almost being arrested for this song, Simbu has learned that the next time he goes through a break up, he will just put on a sappy Adele song and eat ice-cream.
4. Walking Out of Jodi No 1
In the dawn of the era of reality shows in India, Simbu and Pritheevaraj gave us the exact taste of reality TV that we were not ready for.

Simbu, who was a guest judge on Vijay TV’s Jodi No. 1, was caught in a verbal brawl with television actor Prithviraj. The exchange of words became so intense that Simbu left the sets of Jodi No. 1 and cameras trailed him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcs2V0NqGnc
In a viral footage, Prithviraj did not take criticism from Simbu well and voiced his opinions. After Simbu walked away from the sets, Prithviraj also stormed off stage and did not bother to wait for the official marks announcements.
Their TRP ratings went off the roof and reality TV spread like wildfire in South India.
Despite all the controversies and tiring whirlwind of events, we still look forward to Simbu’s next move. He has starred in some spectacular films such as Gautham Menon’s  Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada  and Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam.
Thank you for all the movie, moves and mokkes! We love it all!
Happy birthday, STR!

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Filed Under beep songCauveryCauvery crisisChekka Chivantha VaanamSilambarasanSimbustrVantha Rajavathaan Varuven


Shruti Haasan Celebrates Her Birthday In London!

Happy Birthday Shruti Haasan!
Shruti Haasan was away from films for about two years so that she could concentrate on her musical career. The actress is all set to make a comeback in Tamil and Telugu with Vijay Sethupathi’s Laabam and Ravi Teja’s Krack respectively.
Shruti rang in her 34th birthday with her close friends in London. She took to Instagram to thank everyone who made her birthday a memorable affair.
Shruti broke into a crazy dance on the streets of London stating that she feels loved, happy and thankful. She shared the video and wrote a long caption where she thanked her fans, family, friends and industry colleagues who wished her on her special day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shruti Haasan (@shrutzhaasan)

She also shared a photo of herself with a bouquet of flowers which were sent by her father Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan. She captioned the photo, “Thank you for my lovely roses @ikamalhaasan (sic)”
Here’s the photo:

Recently, Shruti Haasan rendered a beautiful melody track for her upcoming film Laabam, in which she is paired opposite Vijay Sethupathi. She has wrapped up the film’s shooting and is waiting for it to hit the theatres this year.
Meanwhile, the actress is looking forward to a short film titled Devi, which also features Kajol, Neha Dhupia, Neena Kulkarni, Mukta Barve, Sandhya Mhatre, Rama Joshi, Shivani Raghuvanshi and Yashaswini Dayama. The short film is based on the story of nine oppressed women who are living in a small room.
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Filed Under birthdayShruti Haasan


Enga Veetu Mapillai: Girls Enjoy Exclusive Pre-Wedding Shoot With Arya

It was like a fairy tale unfolding into reality on this week’s episode of Enga Veetu Mapillai.
Arya decided that it was about time to test out a pre-wedding photoshoot with all the ladies. He invited his renowned photographer-friend, Karthik Srinivasan to fly to Jaipur to help him out with the task. Both Karthik and Arya decided that they would go a different wedding concept with different girls; including Tamil style wedding, Malayalee style wedding, Christian church wedding, and more.
The results were simply stunning:
Susanna had a dream church wedding. Arya even asked the Karthik Srinivasan to leave some space for her son, Naidan.

Kuhashini and Arya had a royal wedding shoot.

Arya and Swetha enjoyed a breezy, outdoor wedding shoot.

Sita Lakshmi and Arya had a Malayalee wedding shoot, and they kept it casual and talked the whole time.

Shreya channeled her inner model and directed the entire photoshoot, giving specific instructions to Arya and photographer Karthik Srinivasan.

Agatha was excited to have a fairy-tale wedding with her Prince Charming.

Arya and Navena had a rooftop setting for their wedding shoot.

Abarnathy was all smiles and blush as she posed for a Tamil wedding shoot with Arya.

We have never been more jealous of anything in our entire lives.
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Filed Under AryaEnga Veetu Mapillai


Hansika Fans, Here’s Your Chance To Meet Her In KL

If you ever wanted to meet the likes of Tamil cinema heroines like Hansika, Andrea, and Amala Paul – here’s your chance!
Gulaebaghavali heroine Hansika will be making an appearance in Kuala Lumpur for the ‘Dazzling Tamizhachi” event – set to take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The all-women show will be happening on the 3rd of February, 7.30 pm.
Aside from Hansika, other A-list stars like Andrea, Laxmi Rai, Amala Paul are also confirmed to be making an appearance at the show. Super Singer star Praniti will also be gracing the stage with her performance, alongside comedienne Aarthi.

Ticket prices start at RM99 for Silver category, RM 199 for Gold, RM 299 for Platinum, RM399 for Diamond, and RM899 for VIP.
Head over to MyTicket Asia to book your tickets now!
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Filed Under AndreaHansikaLaxmi RaiPraniti


Saalumarada Thimmakka; The 109-Year-Old Woman Plants Banyan Trees As A Form Of Resistance & Empowerment

This beautiful picture tells the story of an amazing woman!
Image Credit: decanherrald
There are a few remarkable women in history that we recognise as soon as their first name is spoken. Meet Thimmakka, the environmentalist who began a movement to re-forest her village’s road by planting over 300 Banyan trees and won approximately 50 awards for her role in preserving the environment.
Since her town lacked adequate educational facilities, Thimmakka started working as an unskilled laborer at the age of ten and married into another poor family.

“It was my fate to not have any children. Because of that, we planned to plant trees and raise them and receive blessings. We have treated the trees as our children.”

Image Credit: decanherrald
Thimmakka’s husband was enthusiastic about her intention to plant trees and devotedly assisted her until his death in 1991. She has discovered a new way to bring life into the universe after 25 years of attempting to conceive a child with her partner, Sri Bikkala Chikkaiah. She started planting trees, hundreds of them, in long rows stretching for almost four kilometres.
Despite the laurels, awards, media coverage, organisations honouring her and foundations or groups named after her, she lived in poverty for most of her life. Thimmakka’s fame never translated into a fortune. She lived in a hut till the Karnataka State government built a house for her in 2014.
Image Credit: decanherrald
Thimakka is the story of a woman who had to cope with a culture that devalued women and instigated abuse (not necessarily physical) as a result of their inability to reproduce. Thimakka was fortunate to have a supportive husband who vowed to stand by her side and accompany her on this journey.
She would plant the saplings along the way while Chikkaiah dug the well. Thimakka was left alone after his death, and her life was wretched. Their immediate family harassed her until she sold the small plot of land she and Chikkaiah had cared for until his death.
The 109-year-old woman has gone from being referred to as an “illiterate woman that environmentalists love” in 1999 to a “infertile woman” who was treated by trees in 2016. Since then the husband-wife duo saw the trees as their offspring.
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Filed Under 109 years oldBanyan TreesPlantsSaalumarada ThimmakkaSri Bikkala Chikkaiah


Sivapackiam Shanmugam’s Priceless Dedication In Ensuring Safety At Sungai Buloh Hospital

While we see frontliners like doctors, medical staff, and police officers carrying out their daily responsibilities to protect the nation from the spread of the deadly virus, some individuals’ roles are being overlooked, and we should take this opportunity to acknowledge their time and effort in playing a critical role in such trying times.
Meet Sivapackiam Shanmugam, a Sungai Buloh native and one of the many security guards at Sungai Buloh Hospital, the main infectious disease centre treating the novel coronavirus.
Picture credit: New Straits Times
If you think her job as a security guard is simply to keep an eye on patients and staff as they enter and exit the compound, you’re mistaken.
Here’s what the 46-year-old had to say about the functionalities and responsibilities of her job to the New Straits Times. She worked as a grass cutter at the Kelab Rahman Putra Golf & Country Club for 27 years before becoming a security guard.
She usually stands for long periods of time at her workplace and walks around to ensure that patients are served in a timely manner.
She said;
“The security company that I work for provides more than 50 security guards to the hospital and we are rotated on 12-hour shifts from 7am to 7pm and from 7pm to 7am seven days a week.”
It is her responsibility to ensure that only those with legitimate reasons, such as staff who work at the hospital or patients who require medical attention, are allowed to enter the building.
According to Sivapackiam, the guards have always been committed to ensuring that patients and visitors follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
“We also make sure that the public follow all the necessary rules and SOP while they are here such as wearing face masks, sanitising their hands, taking body temperature readings, practise physical distancing and scanning the MySejahtera app.”
Sivapackiam is firm in upholding the rules when necessary, despite her warm and friendly demeanour. And as long as she completes her job and performs to the best of her ability, the day would end on a positive note.
The accountable security guard also stated that she enjoys working at the hospital, despite the fact that it is currently the primary hospital for treating COVID-19 patients, particularly the most serious ones.
“The role we play as security guards may go unnoticed, but we take pride in what we do because we are contributing towards the hospital being able to function, receive and treat so many patients every day.”
Her husband, on the other hand, has kidney problems and thus is unable to work. As a result, when she returns home, she will be extra cautious because she does not want to endanger the lives of her husband, who is prone to infection, and her three children.
Picture credit: New Straits Times
She further said;
“I am not in good health as well as I have been diagnosed with thyroid and back problems, but since my husband is in a far worse shape, I decided to work and earn a living for us.
“The hospital’s staff are all very exhausted as they have been working non-stop under extremely strenuous conditions and demands, so we are glad to help in any way apart from doing our usual job.”
She has nothing but praise and appreciation for the staff at the hospital.
Sivapackiam stated that she prays every day for Malaysians to band together and follow the SOP, having witnessed far too much pain, heartache, despair, and grief at the hospital.
“If people could see, hear and experience what I have seen here at the hospital since the pandemic broke early last year, I’m sure everyone will abide by the rules and do whatever it takes to get rid of the virus once and for all.”
Source: New Straits Times
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Filed Under FrontlinersSecurity GuardsSivapackiam ShanmugamSungai Buloh


Bazaar Ramadans Are Now Allowed To Operate Within RMCO & CMCO Areas!

From 19 to 31st March, the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, and Kelantan has been extended for another two weeks.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Minister, claimed three states previously under the CMCO, Kedah, Perak, and Negri Sembilan, will now be under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) for the same tenure.
Since most of the localities are now designated as red areas, Selangor remains under CMCO. All of Kuala Lumpur’s districts remain red zones, with a total of 103 cases registered per day.
According to senior ministry for security Ismail Sabri, Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri bazaars will be permitted to operate this year under strict health and safety standard operating procedures.

He noted that the National Security Council has approved congregational Terawih (evening) prayers and other religious activities such as Al-Quran recitals at mosques, but that this will be subject to state governments’ approval.
SOPs for bazaars and religious events, such as location and number of visitors permitted at one time, would be announced later, he added.
According to Ismail Sabri, 134 suspects were arrested yesterday, with 127 being given compounds and seven being remanded for disobeying the Standard Operation Procedures (SOP)s.
Hence, despite the loosening of the Movement Control Order, citizens would have to strictly abide to the SOPs imposed such as scanning through the MySejahtera app upon entering into any premise, wearing a face mask at all times and practising safe social distancing.

The compound that will be issued for breach of law will be a strict unnegotiable amount of RM10,000! Be aware folks!
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Filed Under bazaar ramadan 2021CMCOcovid updatehari raya aidilfitri 2021ismail sabri yaakobrmco malaysia


Leon James Makes Us Swirl In Love With His New Romantic Piece; Suzhaluren!

Suzhaluren is a mystical love song composed and sung by Leon James, an irresistible piece that has a catchy pop sound penned by Ko Sesha, starring Ko Sesha & Vishakha Dhiman, conceptualised and directed by Rajath Ravishankarar.
Catch the full video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtHTc9G5PkoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Leon James – Suzhaluren [ Official Music Video ] | Latest Tamil Pop Song 2020 | (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtHTc9G5Pko)

Leon James rose to stardom after the success of his hit Vaaya En Veera, in Kanchana 2 when Raghava Lawrence was determined to have him compose a romantic tune for him upon hearing his delectable beats on Youtube. His hit ultimately came as a major breakthrough as he forayed into the industry.
All his songs had definitely drawn multiple attempts of many recreating the beautiful pieces in their own special way!
Yet again, Suzhaluren by Leon James blew us away with his catchy beat and of course the captivating chorus that keeps us humming throughout the song. This charmer surely knows ways to capture the hearts of his fans, swirlin’ them beguiled with his musical creations!
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Filed Under Kanchana 2Ko SeshaLeon Jamesraghava lawrenceRajath RavishankararSuzhalurenVaaya En VeeraVishakha Dhiman


Santosh Narayanan’s Tune In Jiiva’s Gypsy Dedicated to ‘Anti Indians’

Jiiva’s upcoming film Gypsy sees the actor take on the role of a wanderlust, whose best friend is his horse. The trailer of the travel themed romantic film was released earlier this year, to rave reviews mostly because of the music director of the film.
Santosh Narayanan doesn’t resort to the tried and tested breezy music we are used to hearing when we see the Himalayas in the background. The tunes of Gypsy are earthy, and it works wonders.

But, the first song released from the film tells us a different story. The jailhouse tune, Very Very Bad is addictive, and may just be the gaana song to look out for this year.
Very Very Bad is an interesting song. The portraits of Karl Marx, Ambedkar, Periyar and Velupillai Prabhakaran are seen inside the prison cell, behind bars. As Santhosh Narayanan is escorted by the police into his cell, the inmates along the way question him on what he has done to deserve incarceration.
The inmates aren’t just extras. They are all activists who have been jailed in the past, for voicing their dissatisfaction with the government, and fighting for their causes.

The lyrics to the tune also talk about the oppression of these activists, and how their voices are almost always silenced. Very Very Bad blatantly questions the arrests of social and political activists in Tamil Nadu since the take over by the current state government. At the end of the song, we are reminded that it is a dedication to those who are ‘anti-Indian’, a term used on those who question the state government’s policies.
Related:  Karthik Subbaraj's Jigarthanda Double X Releasing This DiwaliGypsy director Raju Murugan, the brains behind Cuckoo and Joker, assured the press that the film isn’t a political one, but will have elements of how the administration of the government trickles down into the everyday person’s life.
Gypsy is set to release in February.

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Filed Under GypsyJiivaSantosh NarayananVery Very Bad


Rukmini Vijayakumar Dances Bharathanatyam To Rap About Discrimination

Dance is a form of bodily expression that transcends tune, language, race and nationality.
And Rukmini Vijayakumar has proved it to us once again.

Rukmini Vijayakumar is one of the biggest names in the classical Indian dance fraternity. After performing in almost all the major cities worldwide, countless performances and workshops, TV show appearances and movie roles, Rukmini is set to challenge herself even more with what she can do with dance.

Trained in ballet, jazz, tap dance and Bharatanatyam, the dancer was inspired by 2012 ‘Same Love’ by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert. Rukmini, who was on set working on a different project, planned an impromptu shoot to the song with a lush green forest as the backdrop.

She penned down her thoughts on discrimination on Instagram, saying, “I think we have all faced discrimination in some way or another. Based on gender, age, sexual orientation, skin colour. The list goes on. The worst part is that this discrimination is based on factors that are not in our control. We judge people based on parameters that we set with no reasoning, just prejudice that is cultivated and perpetrated through generations. I was very moved by the lyrics of this song written by Mary Lambert and Macklemore and have danced a short bit. Will probably make a full version soon…. Thank you for the beautiful song @marylambertsing @macklemore
 I listened to the song repeatedly one day…. and I just decided to dance to it yesterday when I was dressed for something else….. I hope everyone begins to have kindness and love for everyone, it is alright to disagree… but empathy is necessary for us to be better humans”.
WATCH the video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rukmini Vijayakumar (@dancerukmini)

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Filed Under BharatanatyamdiscriminationMacklemoreRukmini VijayakumarRyan lewissame love


WATCH: Trisha’s 60th Film Trailer, Paramapadham Vilayaatu

Trisha’s 60th film trailer was released over the weekend, and fans have been going crazy about the upcoming thriller, Paramapadham Vilayaatu.

The actress will be playing the role of a doctor who is tending to an affluent political figure. She is also a mother to a hearing and speech impaired child. As the trailer progresses, Trisha lands in trouble for meddling with the politician’s affairs.
“For the first time, I’m doing a political-thriller. It’s very interesting and we had a lot of fun making it. We’ve shot inside a forest and the film is high on action and adventure,” Trisha revealed on Twitter about Paramapadham Vilayaatu.

Birthday girl @trishtrashers talks about #ParamapathamVilaiyattu and why the film is special for her. The trailer of this political thriller was released earlier today. https://t.co/z4vOSoRY75 pic.twitter.com/qjppHE8sks
— Haricharan Pudipeddi (@pudiharicharan) May 4, 2019
Directed by K Thirugnanam, Paramapadham Vilayaatu stars Nandha, AL Azhagappan, Vela Ramamoorthy, Richard and Chaams. Amrish will be composing the music for the film.
Unfortunately, the trailer of Paramapadham Vilayaatu fails to excite us. Which is surprising, because it seems to have a good story line and a big name tagged onto it. It could be the amateurishly shot scenes, combined with sub par editing, along with Trisha’s mediocre acting.

Yes, we know that Trisha is a big name in Tamil films, and while she does emote well in the lovey dovey scenes, and her crying is quite believable, this writer feels like her acting prowess is limited to those two emotions. Physical pain and anger are not in her wheelhouse, as evidenced by performances in Thoongavanam and Kodi.
Also, why does every Tamil political film feature people setting themselves on fire? Is self immolation so entrenched in Tamil Nadu politics?
Related:  Thalapathy's "Leo" Charged With Police Complaint For Drug PropagandaIt is unclear when Paramapadham Vilayaatu will hit the screens.

https://youtu.be/Tna0aUW4AlAVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Paramapadham Vilayattu | Official Trailer | Trisha  | Nanda | Richard | Amrish |  K. Thirugnanam (https://youtu.be/Tna0aUW4AlA)

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Filed Under Paramapadham VilayaatuPoliticsthirunganamthrillerTrailerTrisha


I’m A Darkkey Fan In Real Life Too: Rabbit Mac On His Role In ‘Atcham Thavir’

Atcham Thavir is the latest local Tamil movie to make waves in the local film scene.
The movie revolves around 5 carefree friends who live their lives with little concern, until something happens one night and it changes everything. The film stars renowned local icons like THR’s Geetha, Aanantha, Uthaya, Revathi, rappers Rabbit Mac and Sheezay, Vikadakavi, Kuben Mahadevan, Gana, Alvin, and more.

One character that turned out to be a crowd is Rabbit Mac’s character who is a die-hard Darkkey fan. In the movie, Rabbit is obsessed with everything that is related to Darkkey – he is often seen blasting the legend’s music and drowning out everything else.
Source: Punnagai Poo Geetha
“I’m actually a huge Darkkey fan in real life too. So when they told me about the role, I was super excited,” Rabbit revealed while going live on Instagram yesterday.
Aside from that, another interesting fact about Rabbit’s character is that he suffers from a condition known as gynophobia – the fear or dislike of women. How does that affect the other characters? Find out by watching Atcham Thavir in your nearest cinemas now!
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Filed Under Atcham ThavirDarkkeyRabbit Mac


Deepavali 2020; Government To Make An Announcement Today

The worrying Covid-19 cases with many outbreaks resonating from multiple clusters, has definitely increased our fear on the air-borne virus!

In an announcement made by government officials yesterday, the authorities are currently contemplating on the status of one of the country’s upcoming festivity, Deepavali!

As Deepavali is just around the corner, celebrations have already started among netizens with many bazaars being set up in every nook and corner in the country, attracting a mass number of crowd.
Hence, pertaining to this issue, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob made a declaration stating, a meeting would be held among ministers to discuss on whether there would be any Deepavali celebrations.
“In three weeks, the Indian community will be celebrating Deepavali. During previous years, there will be bazaars organised ahead of the celebrations. I believe the matter will be raised (during the daily special ministerial meeting) tomorrow or the day after. I will subsequently announce a decision whether the government will allow the celebrations to proceed or otherwise after the matter has been discussed.”
Watch The Announcement Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u1_EpZbNNc&feature=emb_logoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: DEEPAVALI | Dirai Atau Tidak Akan Diputuskan Esok (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u1_EpZbNNc&feature=emb_logo)

Despite the daunting escalating Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, localites are still buzzing up the Deepavali bazaars that are spreading in every state as their one stop shopping center.
This is becoming a serious worrying matter, as it may lead to an outbreak especially due to the on going ‘Super- Spreader Event”.
In addition to that, a report in India has stated that Covid-19 cases in the country could spike up to 7 million entirely due to the upcoming Deepavali festive!
This is definitely a thought to ponder folks! I believe, the only matter that has to be taken into consideration on the rising pandemic, is our life and the life of our dear ones.
We shall not jeopardise our health with the deadly virus solely due to the need for having a jolly good time as we usher in the celebration of lights.
What is your take on this folks? Do share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below!
On the other hand, stay tuned to Varnam as we bring you news developments!
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Filed Under 2020 deepavali malaysiaCovid-19 Malaysiadeepavali news 2020festivals of malaysia


Dengue Cases In Malaysia Are In Alarming Situation

Without realising it, as more attention is paid to COVID cases, the number of dengue cases is also rising along.
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia(KKM) has recently updated the number of dengue cases in Malaysia. It is reported that there is a tremendous increase in dengue cases.
As per the  47th Epidemiology Week (20-26 November 2022), there is an increase of 8.9% cases. The number of cases recorded during week 46 which is 1593  increased to 1734 on week 47.No deaths were recorded during this period. Selangor holds the highest record of dengue cases which is 824 cases. The continuous increase has set an alarming rate since the end of the MCO.
Below is the data accumulated by KKM as per the 47th Epidemiology Week (20-26 November 2022).

According to the statement by KKM, recreational parks and playgrounds are considered the hotspot of becoming a source of dengue fever infection. This is due to the improper environment management that leads to abandoned garbage and containers.
The practice of throwing used containers everywhere, including in empty lots, can threaten health through infections such as dengue fever and affect the sustainability of the environment. Therefore, every household needs to cultivate the culture of keeping the environment clean.
 KKM has suggested individuals that carry out activities at parks to utilize personal protection such as wearing repellant on the skin especially during the peak mosquito hours. To stay away from dengue, KKM has also stated the time that individuals should be careful when conducting activities or leisure at parks- 5 am to 7 am and 5 pm to 7 pm is seem to be time that should be alerted of.
Related:  Top 5 Oldest Hindu Temples In MalaysiaStay updated with KKM to get the current dengue news and stay safe.
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Filed Under 47th Epidemiology Weekalarming alertdengueDengue hotspotdengue statisticMalaysian Health Ministry (KKM)Rise in dengueSelangor


Punnagai Poo Gheetha Stars Alongside Shriya Saran in Sandakari

Malaysian radio personality and film producer Gheetha Ammasee, better known as Punnagai Poo Gheetha, will be starring alongside Shriya Saran in the upcoming Tamil film Sandakari.

Sandakari is a remake of the popular Sandra Bullock film, The Proposal. Directed by R Madhesh, the film also stars Vemal, Prabhu, Sai Kumar, KR Vijaya and Rekha.
This isn’t Gheetha’s first foray into Tamil films. In 2005, Gheetha established film production studio SG Films, and went on to bankroll Arinthum Ariyamalum. She struggled to release the film as the Tamil film industry refused to back a female producer, who is also a foreigner. Gheetha released the film on her own, and it fared excellently in the box office in India and around the world. Arinthum Ariyamalum became a cult classic.

She then funded the hilarious film Kundakka Mandakka, starring Parthiban, Laxmi Raai Vadivelu. Her following film, Pattiyal also emerged a financial success. Gheetha is an accomplished actress too, having starred in multiple Tamil films in India, such as Oru Nadigaiyin Vaakkumoolam, Kaaval and Sangu Chakkaram as well as the Malaysian Tamil movie, Maindhan.
Sandakari also marks Shriya’s comeback since the disastrous Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan. Since, she has been focusing on films in other languages. Her thriller with filmmaker Karthick Naren, Naragasooran, is yet to hit the screens.
Sandakari is expected to hit screens in the first quarter of 2020. Until then, check out the trailer here!
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Bigil Review: Enjoyable and Empowering But Doesn’t Live Up to its Potential

This Bigil review contains spoilers…
Mersal, the previous collaboration between director, Atlee, and actor, Vijay, opened with a mystery. We see a number of people from the medical field get abducted one by one. Later, police officers burst into the Vijay character’s apartment flat and arrest him. But why? Who exactly is he? We’re made to wonder. The first flashback of the film details how we arrived at this point. And while it contained the usual Vijay-isms, including a comedic fight scene and a couple of pointless arm candies, there was still an underlying urgency to the sequences as well as a sense of importance and narrative flow (the assassination of the Hareesh Peradi character at the magic show added another layer to the “mass” mystery and there was a gut-wrenching story of a little girl as well). The rest of the film is equally as good. Mersal isn’t flawless, but Atlee strikes a good balance between ‘mass’ and ‘message’ to give us a spectacularly entertaining Deepavali bonanza. But I wonder how much of that balance also has to do with K. V. Vijayendra Prasad (Baahubali) who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.
I ask that because this time around, Atlee (who penned the screenplay of Bigil by himself) struggles to find that balance. Here he seems to be engaged in a never-ending tug of war with himself, unable to locate a middle ground between sports-oriented, women empowerment masala ala Dangal and typical Vijay mass. What we end up with is two completely different films — one about a gangster and the other about women’s football — that constantly invade each other’s space, neither able to reach its fullest potential. It’s a seesaw that feels lopsided in the wrong direction (though, I think most Vijay diehards will enjoy the direction it skews towards). But thankfully, the two “separate” stories are both engaging and fun in isolation even if they don’t quite intertwine seamlessly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR-Ui8-V2M0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Bigil – Official Trailer | Thalapathy Vijay, Nayanthara | A.R Rahman | Atlee | AGS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR-Ui8-V2M0)

The first 20 minutes or so of Bigil is purely fan service. But unlike in Mersal, this time, there’s a steep hollowness to all of it. It feels purposeless as if Atlee just included them for the sole reason of giving fans something to cheer about without a care for narrative flow. A tonally serious college riot scene leads right into a comedic fight (a must for those who come out of Shankar’s school of filmmaking) that’s frankly quite deflating. Why not something with a little more blaze, especially since it’s an introduction to a gangster? There’s also the mandatory opening song. While ‘Verithanam’ isn’t a firecracker in the same vein as ‘Mersal Arasan,’ it’s always a pleasure to watch Vijay move and groove on the big screen. The dance number enhanced by G.K. Vishnu’s gorgeously dark cinematography (in parts, you see the backup dancers shrouded in red shadows, while Vijay has the spotlight on him) do a better job than the opening scene in showcasing Vijay as the bonafide STAR he is today. But of course, there’s also the needless comedic romance sequence. A lot of this made me feel a little restless.
But then the story picks up in a big way. We have to slog through deep mud to get there, but once we actually arrive at the part with two Vijays — one father and one son, one ageing gangster and one ring star-footballer — Bigil becomes a lot more enthralling. The origin story of how Michael goes from footballer to gangster is engaging albeit not very affecting because of how quick it is (it deserves to be its own film). Nevertheless, it leads to a heart-pumping interval fight scene that is absolutely Verithanam!
But it’s only in the second half do we get the movie that we actually want to see (or at least the movie that I wanted to see). Michael is appointed the coach of the talented but dysfunctional Tamil Nadu women’s football team. Part of the team: A woman with an eating disorder, an acid-attack survivor who has lost her confidence and spirit, a married woman whose family thinks women belong in the kitchen, not out on the field in shorts, etc. It’s their story, their struggle. Winning the coveted trophy would not only be a victory for them, but a victory for women all across — a symbol of hope and liberation. The training montage soundtrack, ‘Singgapeney’ brought tears to my eyes. The climactic action scene doesn’t involve Vijay dishing out some stylistic beatings against a bunch of goons but the ladies kicking the ball on the football field. Even the ‘massiest’ scene in the picture is given to the overweight footballer, Paandiamma, which received enormous cheers from the packed theatre crowd.

And Vijay? My word is he absolutely terrific as the coach. I believe this is the first time I have ever used the word ‘terrific’ to describe Vijay’s work as an actor, but I mean it. He sinks into his role and fires on all cylinders. Michael is a no-nonsense coach. The way he reprimands the girls after the first match genuinely caught me off guard. There is a controlled sense of ferocity in Vijay’s voice. It’s commanding without just loudly yelling. In the years of watching Vijay movies, I’ve never actually been shaken by his presence. This time I was, so much so that I wanted Michael to be the manager of Arsenal. At times he gives the girls the hairdryer treatment and you feel a little sad for them. But all of it comes from a place of genuine love. He wants them to be the best versions of themselves. There’s one point where he motivates a girl calmly but rousingly, with tears in his eyes. Underneath the ferocity there’s warmth. In this role, Thalapathy delivers a performance that is as convincing as his dance moves. Nayanthara too is elegantly cast. She’s not a dance piece but a physiotherapist with her own moments to shine.
Bigil has all the ingredients to be a genuinely great masala film. The problem is, a lot of the times, it’s dragged at its ankles by typical Vijay-isms. Don’t get me wrong — I love Vijay-isms. I love his two-hand wave, the punch lines, swagger and slow-motion action scenes. But here and especially in the second half, the generic mass sequences feel forced, out of place and come at the expense of developing the women characters. In the Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, we sit with the little girls (and their adult versions), eat with them, listen to their interactions, watch them get repeatedly ridiculed by society, explore their thoughts, witness them be heroes in defeat and egoistic douchebags in victory, explore the dichotomy between daughters and father and the dynamic between the sisters. We watch them grow as human beings.

Here, the ladies represent ideas — ‘angry’, ‘married’, ‘obese’ etc — as opposed to being nuanced individuals with distinct layers. Instead of making an oppressive, conservative family suddenly turn progressive after Nayanthara gives (frankly generic) advice, why not make it an actual subplot? Because Atlee decided to dedicate precious screentime to two one-dimensional villain characters that keep interfering in Michael’s life just so there can be mass-y fight scenes and some one-liners.
The football scenes are a little disappointing as well. There’s no restraint. Every goal is scored spectacularly with bicycle kicks and flying volleys, so much so that after a while, it loses its impact. When everything is spectacular, nothing is. Why couldn’t the writing build towards one blockbuster strike? Perhaps we could’ve had a subplot about a striker who at the beginning of the journey had lost her edge and confidence. Maybe she keeps missing open goals and squandering golden chances, which then makes her more and more frustrated with herself. As the film progresses, we see her eventually find her mojo back and during the final minute of the final match, scores a superb bicycle kick brimming with emotional gravitas. But the film has no time for anything like this because of the needless threads with Jackie Shroff and Daniel Balaji.
That said, when Bigil is good, it’s bloody good! Early in the film, Rayappan tells his son something along the lines of “our community will have a brighter future, not because of Rayappan [me], not because of Michael [you], but because of Bigil.” ‘BIGIL’ isn’t just Michael’s nickname, it’s much more than that. It’s an idea. A symbol of determination and unwavering fighting spirit and an emblem of liberalisation. It’s pride! Honour! Vigour! It’s an incorruptible, untarnishable ideal we should all aspire towards. And at the end of the film, it isn’t Thalapathy Vijay who’s wearing that name on his back, it’s the women of Tamil Nadu’s football team who are on the pitch fighting not with machetes and their fists but through their abilities with the ball at their feet.
Bigil is currently playing in Malaysian cinemas.
The rating was increased slightly after a second viewing.
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EXCLUSIVE: Lechamanan Sunnasamy Shares How He Settled His House Loan Despite Being Visually Impaired

This might be a write-up that most probably makes you reflect and gets you inspired.
Even those with sufficient income are hesitating to buy a house and take loans. However, this visually impaired couple, the sole breadwinner of their family with a RM900 monthly income have successfully repaid off their loan in the given time frame. How is this possible, you might ask?
This brilliant 79-year-old man has proved that being visually impaired is no hindrance in clearing off the debt and owning his dream home.

Speaking to Varnam Malaysia, Lechamanan Sunnasamy who used to work as a telephone operator back in 1993 shared how he managed to settle up his loan with the RM230 monthly repayment with a low salary (RM900/per month).
The father of two went on to further explain, saying how he saves most of his income. He was very conservative and modest with his money.  He will ensure that he saves his money each month. With that, he managed to save up to RM15k.
The drive that kept Lechamanan’s meticulous financial management.
When asked why he keeps his budgeting skills, he responded that his late mother would often tell him, “You must always have your own house.”
That spurred him to work toward his dream of buying a home, and that is when he began to save money.
A home in Shah Alam, part of “Projek Perumahan Rakyat” was priced around RM30k during that time. Despite certain allocations from the government, he still needed a sum of money to pay the rest.
He saved up RM15k, but it wasn’t enough to cover the cost, so he sought for a loan.
He worked absurdly hard to apply for loans but was turned down because of his low income. He was also labelled a very high-risk paymaster since he had no history of repaying loans and was a disabled person.
One day, the fortunate time came.
A colleague took him to MBSB Bank in PJ and they granted him a loan with a repayment amount of RM230 for 7 years.
In 1996, he stepped into his dream house.
In a conversation with his son, Lingesh Lechamanan, claimed that his father paid it all up on time and that he clearly remembers accompanying his father to the bank to complete the final transaction settlement.
Lingesh Lechamanan with his father
“He was very happy and extremely proud that day.” Lingesh expressed that he did not understand the magnitude of that occasion, nor could he appreciate this blind man’s amazing feat.
“But today, I am in absolute awe of what he has achieved. How could he have saved that cash, with such little earnings?” Lingesh expressed on his social media.
“Owning a house in Greater Kuala Lumpur is no easy feat and we are very thankful to MBSB Bank Berhad for making our dream of owning a family home come true,” he said.
Also, his father gave him advice on the value of owning a home, as well as thanks to his father that he was able to purchase a home three years after graduation.
At the time, the monthly payment was approximately half of my wage. My father advised me, “Go and make a commitment; after that, you’ll figure out how to pay it.”
It was a significant burden for me at the time, but now that I have the house, I see that it was a wise investment and a catalyst for my development.
Recently on a post posted by MSSB bank about their new campaigns and events, Lingesh went on to comment saying how MSSB has played a vital role in his father’s life.
The bank got in touch with him after reading the comments and expressed their gratitude and desire to thank his father with a gift. They sent his father a thank-you note and some corporate presents.
Lechamanan is an example that nothing is impossible with the right amount of discipline and determination. I’m hoping that a lot of people will be inspired by this story.
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Filed Under Lechamanan SunnasamyLingesh Lechamananvisually impaired


Pets Do Not Spread Covid-19, Says Veterinary Services Dept

Pets do not spread Covid-19, according to the Department of Veterinary Services.
There is no cause for worry among the public, while pet owners need not take their pets for Covid-19 screening for the time being. “Based on current scientific findings, although pets can be infected with the virus, it is not dangerous as the virus will only cause mild infection in animals,” said the department.

It also explained that while the incidence of Covid-19 in humans is very high, in the case of animals, it is isolated because animals cannot contract the virus naturally. To date, the cause of infection in animals is through human transmission.
“In this regard, the Veterinary Services Department advises pet owners who suspect they are infected with Covid-19 to stay away from their pets.
“Pet owners need to practise good personal hygiene and must not neglect the welfare of their pets,” the statement said.
On Monday, it was reported that a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in the United States tested Covid-19 positive, believed to have been infected by an asymptomatic zookeeper.
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-19Department of Veterinary ServicesPet Not Transmitting Covid-19


Tamannaah & Prabhu Deva’s Devi 2 Will Feature Two Ghosts

If you thought Devi(l) was scary enough with the ghost of Ruby, wait till you watch its sequel, Devi 2. Starring Tamannaah and Prabhu Deva, Devi 2‘s teaser betrays a story about two ghosts instead of one, Ruby and Alex.
Staying true to the prequel, Devi 2 promises to be a horror comedy, and will release in May. The film will feature music by Sam CS. Madhan Karky and Prabhu Deva have penned the lyrics. Devi 2 is produced by R. Ravindran and Ishari K Ganesh. The film is an AL Vijay directorial.
Other than the two stars, the film also stars Nandita Swetha, Kovai Sarala, Nasser, Guru Somasundaram and Jagan. Sonu Sood played a central character from the first film will be making a cameo appearance in Devi 2 as well.
Devi(l) ended with Prabhu Deva’s character getting possessed by a ghost with Ruby promising to make a comeback.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Prabhu Deva's The Next Step: First Ever Dance Concert In Malaysia Happening On 9th September 2023
Filed Under AL VijaycomedyDevi 2horrorPrabhu DevaTamannaahteaser


SHESHA To Release A New Album ‘Bintang’ In December

Music is a field that possess millions of undiscovered bejewels of melodies for talents and artists to submerge themselves in, to rejoice and bring them to life. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many artists have splurged themselves into the benefits of technology using it to birth their musical creations.
SHESHA is a blooming artist in our country’s music industry, whom unleashed himself as a immensely skilled rapper, singer, songwriter & record producer who has collaborated with multiple Malaysian & international musicians & artists on numerous independent musical films.

Sha Zovve or now known as SHESHA has left his imaginations connecting to his inner feelings and created renditions unveiling copious feelings and motions through his soul-filled songs.
In anticipation to release his recent album “BINTANG”, he has exclusively presented amazing deets on his current album.

The ideology behind BINTANG was to spark hope and spread positivity in the hearts of its listeners. Hence, the reason behind the album’s name is for it to shine metaphorically in each of their hearts!
BINTANG actually consists of three special tracks with a variation of tuneful tracks on self-realisation (BINTANG), a smooth love track (RAQQI) and a rocky track (SAMBA SWAG).
This album is a fusion of Hip Hop and Electronic Music with a mix of languages, especially Tamil, English & Malay, in a Malaysian urban style.
BINTANG is a tuneful track with Balan Kashmir (featured in Hey & Rum’s Hola Amigo’s R.Madhesh Mohini song). The song is preposterously written about the inevitable unexpected twists and turns of our everyday lives. This track comes with a superb exciting music video.
Related:  UKM Students Organise Fundraising Concert In Aid Of IJN Foundation To Support Patients At Institut Jantung NegaraNext is Raqqi, a song filled on the notion of love and affection, defined in Arabic as elegant. This song expresses a man’s feelings towards a woman, who both exist in tandem with their own species. This masterpiece is also narrated with a beautiful music video.
Last but not least, Samba Swag is a lit rock track featuring the father of SambaRock genre, Darkkey, famous for Akkamage song. The song describes the meeting and development of the character Slicky Samba Swag between the genres of Samba Rock and Hip Hop.

SHESHA began as an artist with Hip Hop music and subsequently diverged into film and music videos.
According to SHESHA;
It is very important to finish what you have started, although I learnt a lot of things over many years in the industry, there was always this guilty feeling that I did not finish what I  had started. The right time & opportunity came amidst this Covid-19 pandemic & I quickly grabbed it. BINTANG EP is the first step that I am taking, to share my light with the world.
The BINTANG EP Album is set to release this December 2020, with the official poster releasing on 18th November 2020. Stay tuned for more updates folks!
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Filed Under BINTANGDarkkeyRAQQISamba RockSAMBA SWAGSha ZovveSHESHA


Amala Paul Bashes The Makers Of ‘VSP 33’ !

She has alleged that the real reason is the teaser of her film ‘Aadai’, where she appears to have done a nude shot.
Actor Amala Paul in a statement released on Thursday on Twitter, has announced that she is no longer a part of the Tamil movie tentatively tilted “VSP33” (Vijay Sethupathi’s 33rd film).
It is alleged that the makers feel that the actor is not “production-friendly”.
Amala, who is awaiting the release of her much talked about film Aadai, has questioned the nature of such an allegation and in her statement has recounted her many experiences of having to let go her salary because of budget constraints.
Amala Paul, in her statement, has accused the producer of “VSP33”, Rathienavelu Kumar, of throwing her out of the film after watching the teaser of Aadai.
“It’s just a patriarchal, egoistic, traditional mind-set of Chandarra Arts Production (production house of “VSP33”) that this is happening right after the release of Aadai Teaser and my image is sabotaged with multiple baseless rumours that are mischievously being floated around in the industry,” Amala writes.

Calling the makers “pseudo cinema punters” who do not value the emotional investment of an actor towards a film, she further says that Tamil Nadu will have better cinema only if this large set of traditional, patriarchal production houses changed their mind-set.
“It’s time that someone stood up and I am ready to face this behemoth issue that is plaguing us, just as David and Goliath,” the actor adds.
It’s amazing when you see women standing up to these sexist, regressive men! Kudos to you Amala!
Related:  7 Important Valluvar Quotes for Modern-Day Millennial Tamils
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Filed Under Amala PaulTamil


Junga Director Gokul Praises Vijay Sethupathi’s Dedication

Vijay Sethupathi has slowly become one of the most interesting and versatile actors in South Indian cinema. Through films like Iraivi and Vikram Vedha, Vijay Sethupathi has proven himself an incredible dramatic actor as well as one with the flair for comedy too. Now, the director of his latest film, Junga, Gokul has praised Vijay Sethupathi for his hard work and dedication.

In an interview with Firstpost, Gokul had this to say:
While shooting our climax portion in Austria, it was snowing heavily, and it was the last day of the permit to shoot in that location, so we could not push the shoot the next day. I handed him a thirty-eight-page long scene and went to do my work. He gave a stare and took just thirty minutes to get ready for that eight-minute scene. During our Idharkuthane Aasaipattaai Balakumara days, I used to tell him my expectation before shooting every scene. But in Junga, all I did was sit back and watch him perform.
In the same interview, Gokul also goes on to say how much he and Vijay Sethupathi trust each other.
I was always low on confidence to watch the first day first shows of my films because when I invest my heart and soul in a movie, the audience response is a terrifying part. But I trust Junga, and I’ll be definitely watching it. When I mean trust, I meant Vijay Sethupathi. I didn’t narrate him the full script before we started shooting, I just told him the one-liner while I was doing Kaashmora.
Junga is now out in Malaysian cinemas.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir Trailer; Vijay Sethupathy With a Message
Filed Under JungaVijay Sethupathi


EXCLUSIVE: Sujietra, The Leading Pioneer in Malaysian Carnatic Art Shares The Beginning of Sugam Karnatica & Reveals Some Upcoming Exciting Events

Carnatic music is still a quest of a pure aesthetic experience, regardless of one’s background or intentions. Southern India is the origin of the classical music genre known as Carnatic that emphasise love and other social issues, or they centre on the idea that human emotions can be sublimated in order to unite with the divine.
Possessing Carnatic music is something that requires someone to step up to the plate and learn it all the way through. Learning itself looks to be challenging, but an amazing lady here, along with her sisters, have created an empire and been educating hundreds of kids for nearly two decades now.
Meet the brilliant guru, Sujietra Jayaseelan, who has spent years imparting her rich knowledge of the Carnatic music to hundreds of students.
Together with her sisters Sumitra Jayaseelan and Subatra Jayaseelan, she has been running Sugam Karnatica since 2003, and this academy has served about 4000 students. In keeping with its objective to provide affordable and high-quality arts education to all people regardless of their financial circumstances, the organisation has been offering RM20,000 scholarships to children from low-income families every year.
The Founders of Sugam Karnatica;  Subatra Jayaseelan, Sumitra Jayaseelan & Sujietra Jayaseelan
The three sisters are established performers in the Malaysian music circuit and are Gold Medalists of the National Thirumurai Competition in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively.
Furthermore, to ensure that the Sugam student community obtains a complete arts education, Sugam Karnatica has given free creative art courses in Theatre, Visual Arts, Creative Writing, and Tamil Language since 2017.

The organisation’s ability to adapt and alter its operating procedures during the pandemic was one of the many reasons they were named ‘Outstanding School in the Field of Arts and Culture’ at the World Educational Leaders Summit & Awards in 2021.
The same year, Sujietra was bestowed with the “Outstanding Edupreneur” award.
Reminiscing the Start of Sugam Karnatica
“We started this academy in 2003, when our spiritual guru started to ask us to start teaching. We began Sugam Karnatica with the blessing of our musical guru, the late Vaadhya Vidhya Visaaradha Sangeetha Kalaa Booshanam Srimathi Vijayalakshmi Kulaveerasingam.”
“So that is how the entire endeavour began. Even my mother provided the down payment for this project.” said Sujietra.
They have embraced the path with the same passion that their guru showed previously, even when they eventually go into various stages of life, such as marriage and schooling.
They’ve put in a lot of effort up until that point to get where they are.
Currently they are educating more than 500 students.
Apart from receiving the entrepreneur award, she was also awarded with the coveted gold medal by Malaysia Hindu Sangam in the year 1993 in the National Thirumurai Singing Competition. In 2017, she was awarded as a recipient of the ‘100 Most Impactful CSR Leaders (Global Listing)’ by the World CSR Congress in Mumbai.
Speaking about the accolades, the most cherish award for her was the most recent award that she received from the legendary Indian musician, Padmabushan Dr Tripunithura Viswanathan Gopalakrishnan.
Dr TVG presented Sujietra with the  “Acharya Ratna Award” last year September in recognition for to those who were long serving people in Carnatic musical field. She travel all the way to India to receive this coveted award from the legend himself.

“I felt incredibly honoured to get this recognition. I feel emotional accepting this honour because so many others, among other amazing people, earned the same award on the same day.” the humble lady expressed.
Further explaining on this traditional music education, the leading pioneer in the Malaysian Carnatic Musical sphere said  “In the upcoming days, we want to spread greater awareness about Carnatic music among the Indian community in Malaysia because this is a part of our heritage.”
Carnatic music can be started as an extracurricular activity.
The award-winning educator said, “Only by adopting it into your daily life will you be able to succeed in this field.”
To do so, she urges the parents who would like their kids to embark their journey in this Carnatic sector, ask them to start sending their kids to these classes around the age of 4–5.
With that being said, Sugam Karnatica warmly welcomes everyone to be a part of their academy at any time.
Well, Sujietra has exciting news for all Carnatic enthusiasts!
Sugam Culture & Heritage Foundation is organizing Swagatam, a Malaysian Indian Traditional Orchestra with 100 participants from Malaysia under the guidance of Carnatic legend, Sangita Kalanidhi Vidhwan Shri Neyveli Santanagopalan.

This orchestra is the first of its kind which is jointly presented by several institutions and music teachers such as Sugam Karnatica, Vani Nethiar, Forbearance, Laasya Arts, Indian Cultural Centre, Preetha Prasad, Nadhalaya Music Academy and House of Isai Heritaj.
Vidhwan Shri Neyveli Santanagopalan is an Indian Carnatic vocalist and teacher. He has been recognised with several accolades and honorable titles globally. He is also an excellent speaker known for his wit, timing and sense of humour which make him a very wholesome entertainer and performer. Furthermore, his excellent theoretical depth with extensive research of the best approaches makes him a distinctive musicologist. Shri Neyveli has formed orchestras with students all over the world and this is the first time he has trained students from Malaysia.
The orchestra will take place at 4.00pm on 26 February in Shantanand Auditorium.
Happy news, the admission for this divinely event is FREE.
Double Treat!
This event will be followed by a concert by the Carnatic legend himself who will be accompanied by  Deepika Venkataraman on the Violin, Kishore Ramesh on the Mridangam from Chennai, and Jayalakshmi Premkumar on the Ghatam from Malaysia.
The concert will take place at 7.00pm on 26 February 2023.
If you’re keen to be part of this mesmerizing concert, you may secure your seats by purchasing the tickets HERE.
Be a part of this big fam & heritage now.
Sugam Karnatica have variety of programmes such as Music Carnivals, Sugam Super Singer, Sugam Sangeet Sabha, Sugam Talentime, Educational Trip, Sugam Seva and more exciting events.
This would undoubtedly be a wise choice for parents who want to engage their children in wholesome activity.
Students who are keen to join this academy, you may contact:

012 3089356 (Sugam Karnatica) or
Head on to the HQ @ A13, Jalan 17/56, Section 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

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Filed Under Acharya Ratna AwardCarnatic enthusiastsCSR LeadersDr TVGIndian Cultural Centremalaysia hindu sangamNational Thirumurai CompetitionSangita KalanidhiSubatra JayaseelanSugam KarnaticaSujietraSumitra JayaseelanSwagatamVidhwan Shri NeyveliVijayalakshmi Kulaveerasingamworld Educational Leaders


Bhavana Transforms Into An Intriguing Character For Shivarajkumar’s Bhajarangi 2!

Bhavana’s new look for her upcoming film is the talk of the town!
Looks like the actress is getting ready for her most anticipated movie, Bhajarangi 2. Excitement over the sequel to Dr Shivarajkumar’s starrer Bhajarangi 2 has stormed the internet ever since the teaser was premiered on YouTube and fans are loving Bhavana’s  transformation.

The 2-minute teaser begins with the classical poetic shloka and the term ‘Vaidyo Narayano Harihi’ giving us a glimpse of all the characters, including the lead actors Shivarajkumar, Cheluvaraj, Shruti, and Loki. Bhavana can be seen playing a challenging role in the movie, apparent by the way she strides down along a path in the teaser.
The teaser has raised great expectations among the audience and has hit 2.1 million views in just 2 days!

Directed by A Harsha, the Kannada film is produced by Jayanna and Bogendra. The film is a sequel to the Dravidian film Bhajarangi that was released in 2013. On the music front, Arjun Janya is expected to compose and sing for the film’s soundtrack while J Swamy will take on its cinematography.
Meanwhile, Bhavana was last seen in Preetham Gubbi’s 99. The movie, starring Ganesh and Bhavana in the lead, was the official remake of the Tamil film 96 released in 2019.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the release date of Bhajarangi 2 is yet to be announced.
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Filed Under A HarshaBhajarangi 2BhavanaBogendraCheluvarajDr ShivrajkumarJayannaLokiShruti


5 Things You Need To Know About Standup Comedian Aravind SA

Madrasi funny man Aravind SA (actual name: Aravind Subramaniam, he has style-a changed it to Aravind SA) is returning to Kuala Lumpur to leave us in all in stitches with his antics in Aravind SA’s I Was Not Ready Da on the 27 January at PJ Live Arts.

I Was Not Ready Da is about the strange things that has happened to Aravind, from becoming a comic to selling out a comedy show in 8 hours and getting his own special on Amazon Prime. After ripping apart the poorly crafted Lungi Dance from Chennai Express as a tribute to South Indians, Aravind has so graciously given us some belly-cramping, tear-jerking and howling laughs until we said.. “Aiyo, mudiyille Da!”
Unlike Aravind SA, we want YOU to be ready Da! So, here are 5 things you (probably) didn’t know about Aravind SA!
1. He Is One Of The Most Desirable Man In Chennai
We thought it was only us who adored this quick witted, eye candy of a brown boy!
(Confession time: Writer has a serious crush on Aravind)

Aravind was recently listed as one of Chennai Times 30 Most Desirable Men in 2017. Joining the line of hunk and hotties, such as DQ Salmaan, Rana Daggubati and Nivin Pauly, Aravind SA admitted that he was REALLY NOT ready for this accolade.

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A post shared by Aravind – SA (@satired)

Placing at No 29, this is what Aravind’s bio says:
No. 29 Aravind SA
Claim to fame: He’s hot property in the stand-up scene. Best known for his stand-up special Madrasi Da, which has gotten him popular across the globe, he’s ready with the latest one, I Was Not Ready Da.
Relationship Status: Single, and is constantly being advised to get married! Girls, take note.
Desirability Quotient: His wit makes him super attractive
(Psst ladies! Take a number)
2. He Was An Assistant Director Before Comedy
Aravind is a post-graduate in film making from the LV Prasad Film Institute. Till he discovered stand up comedy in 2012, Aravind was working as an assistant director in the Tamil film industry for movies like Arambam. The job demanded loads and paid very little. After noticing his flair for story telling, Aravind was invited to audition for Urban Turban by Bhargav Ramakrishnan of Evam.

3. He Once Broke The Internet With Lungi Dance
We are guilty of grooving to Lungi Dance at every other Desi wedding until Aravind SA happened. His breakdown of how Lungi Dance is such a mindless song crafted as a tribute for South Indians made us hit the breaks and not like the song that much.

Aravind successfully broke the Internet with a Youtube video featuring his comedy performance about the Lungi Dance and gained mixed reactions from it’s 4.3million viewers. Lungi Dance even became trending in South India after his video went viral. Hindi speaking folks were not too happy about his statements but Aravind is completely unbothered.

He even made it on a local daily news channel called News X for explaining the reason why Tamils don’t speak Hindi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBi8VSB4pzoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 'Madrasi Da' beaks stereotypes about Chennai; gets trolled online by 'Hindi' lovers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBi8VSB4pzo)

4. He Loveeeeees Sports Da!
Besides promoting his frequent global comedy shows, Aravind’s Instagram acts as a sports enthusiast’s collage book. He is seen in jerseys and face paints at sport arenas cheering on his favourite teams. In 2018, Aravind travelled across the globe to Russia to watch the World Cup live!

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A post shared by Aravind – SA (@satired)

He sees himself eventually moving into television as a sports presenter due to his immense interest in sports. If he is doing a sports show, we will be sure to tune in!
5. He Is A (Preshow) Tension Party! Jakarthe!
In an exclusive interview with yarloosai.com, Aravind admitted that he becomes nervous and tensed before his shows. He might (or might not) have his claws out before the show, but all is good when he steps on stage to meet his eager audience. His frown turns into a smile and our smiles turns into big, BIG laughs. So, if you want autographs or photo opportunities, do it after his show ok Da!

Between the self-depreciative humour, generous use of Chennai Tanglish and his witty observations of, otherwise, daily dull happenings, we are counting down our days to the I Was Not Ready Da! show in Kuala Lumpur. To catch Aravind live in action and get your tickets, head over to iwasnotreadyda.peatix.com
Source: The Hindu
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Top 5 Oldest Hindu Temples In Malaysia
Filed Under Aravind SAI was not ready daKuala Lumpurstandup comedy


Watch: Local Film Vedigundu Pasangge’s “Vizhiye Kalangathey” Is Top Notch

Vedigundu Pasangge is another local Tamil movie set to hit the cinemas this year, and it looks very promising.
Brought to you by Astro Vaanavil and Veedu Production, the movie stars Denes Kumar and Sangeeta Krishnasamy in leading roles.
The film has been receiving a lot of positive hype, especially after the release of the first song “Vaada Vilayaadu”, sung by the renowned Anthony Daasan, Deneskumar, and Balan Kashmir.
Following up with the success of the first song, Vedigundu Pasange released yet another song from the movie, “Vizhiye Kalangathey”. Powered by the vocals of Satyaprakash and Shakthisree Gopalan and written by KO Sesha, the tragic song revolves around a broken heart.
The song is the brainchild of Indian music composers Vivek-Mervin, the same guys who are responsible for hits songs in movies like Vadacurry and Gulaebaghavali.
Listen to the song here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=36&v=0Uoy34Pf8mkVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Vedigundu Pasangge – Vizhiye Kalangathey Lyrical Video | Sathyaprakash, Sakthisree Gopalan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=36&v=0Uoy34Pf8mk)

Vedigundu Pasange is a film by a film by Dr. Vimala Perumal and produced by Denes Kumar. The movie is set to hit cinemas nationwide on the 26th of July 2018.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Makkal Selvan, Vijay Sethupathi Arrives In Malaysia!
Filed Under Denes KumarVedigundu PasanggeVizhiye Kalangathey


Former Adult Film Actor, Sunny Leone, To Star As A Tamil Politician

When former porn star, Sunny Leone, decided to go down South with her acting career, Tamil cinema welcomed her with open arms. The Canadian actor spends more time in Mumbai now after successfully penetrating B-town and winning her audience over. 37 year old Sunny has been receiving multiple film offers in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil; and one of it is a political themed Tamil film.

Sunny is currently filming a multi-lingual film titled ‘Veeramadevi’ under the direction of V.C. Vadivudaiyan in which she plays the role of an ancient warrior princess.

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A post shared by Sunny Leone (@sunnyleone)

The director of ‘Veeramadevi’, V. C. Vadivudaiyan has announced that Sunny Leone will be playing the lead role in his next movie as well. Sunny will be playing the role of a Tamil Nadu politician and the official announcement of this project will be out soon.
Sunny seems to be having her hands full with South India cinema projects as she has been casted into Rangeela (Malayalam), Ayogya (Telugu) and Mammootty’s upcoming film Madhura Raja.
Source: India Today
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Filed Under Sunny Leone


Breathe – Into The Shadows, First Digital Debut By Abhishek Bachchan and Nithya Menen!

Abhishek Bachchan and Nithya Menen’s makes their first digital debut in Breathe – Into The Shadows, a physiological thriller series. Abhishek has returned to Bollywood after taking a break for almost two years. His last venture was Manmarziyaan, which was released back in September 2018.

The second season of this show includes Amit Sadh, Saiyami Kher, Plabita Borthakur, and Hrishikesh Joshi, holding strong roles.
The much-anticipated trailer of Breathe: Into The Shadows was released on Wednesday with an intense and thrilling effect. In just 19 hours, the trailer has gained more than 1,304,649 views.
The official synopsis reads that a 6-year-old girl is kidnapped by a strange masked individual, who seeks an odd pay-off. To save his daughter, Dr. Avinash Sabharwal would have to kill someone. How far will Avinash go to find his missing daughter?
The sequence to this series with 12 episodes is directed by Mayank Sharma and produced by Abundantia Entertainment. Breathe: Into The Shadows will be released on July 10th on Amazon Prime.
Click here to watch the full trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=181&v=nxE-k2MLQIA&feature=emb_logoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Breathe – Into The Shadows | Official Trailer | Abhishek Bachchan, Amit Sadh, Nithya Menen | July 10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=181&v=nxE-k2MLQIA&feature=emb_logo)

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Filed Under Abishek BachchanBreathe - Into The ShadowsNithya Menenott


Balaji Mohan’s Maari 2 Wraps Up Production!

Click here to check out Dashran’s review of Maari.
Balaji Mohan’s Maari 2, starring Dhanush has finally completed its production stages. Besides Dhanush, the film also stars Tovino Thomas, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Krishna, Robo Shankar and Sai Pallavi as the female lead. If you’re wondering what happened to Kajal Agarwal? Well, does it really matter? It’s not like she had a meaty role to play in the first movie.
Sai Pallavi is a relatively fresh face, having only broken into the industry in 2015 working on some Malayalam and Telugu films. However, she did win the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu in 2017, which suggests that she could be given an important role to play in this movie, as opposed to just being the hot chick who dances.

And that’s a wrap for #maari2 .. loved being maari once again. Can’t wait to be maari again. A character I enjoy and cherish playing. #tharalocal #senjuruven thank you @directormbalaji @omdop @Sai_Pallavi92 @Actor_Krishna @ttovino @thisisysr Robo and Vinod.
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 10, 2018

Taking to his social media page, Dhanush expressed how much he enjoyed reprising the role of Maari.
And that’s a wrap for #maari2 .. loved being maari once again. Can’t wait to be maari again. A character I enjoy and cherish playing. #tharalocal #senjuruven thank you @directormbalaji @omdop @Sai_Pallavi92 @Actor_Krishna @ttovino @thisisysr Robo and Vinod.
It is reported that Maari 2 will be hitting the big screens at the end of the year. Besides Maari 2, Dhanush is also starring in Vetri Maaran’s Vada Chennai and Gautham Menon’s Enai Noki Paayum Thota.
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Filed Under Balaji MohanDhanushMaariMaari 2


Pravin Saivi Thanks the Covid-19 Frontliners in Song

A foe in the form of disease is spreading like wildfire,
Those who choose their duty over anything else will be revered, always.
Singaporean crooner Pravin Saivi decided to give thanks to the many frontliners battling the Covid-19 pandemic through his favourite medium, song.
His latest tune is Uruthi Kondu, originally composed and performed by the island nation’s finest artistes, Mohamed Raffee back in 2003 during the SARS epidemic. The lyrics to this lilting tune were penned by K T M Iqbal.
Uruthi Kondu’s video was released late yesterday by Indian director Venkat Prabhu. The tune, however, took over the airwaves of Malaysian radio stations from several days ago. Pravin’s arrangement and execution of the tune is beautiful ode to the many people who are working out there while the rest of us stay home.
“Amidst these trying times, a sincere gift of gratitude to the frontline heroes of the war against viral diseases,” the singer says. Heroes indeed.

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Filed Under mohamed raffeepravin saiviSingaporesingaporean indianuruthi kondu


Star Vijay’s ‘Lollu Sabha’ To Return!

About 10 years ago, ‘Lollu Sabha’  became one of the most popular spoof comedy show. Many prominent comedians started off their cinema career from this show. Yogi Babu, Daniel Anne Pope, Manohar, Swaminathan and Easter started from this show and today are well know figures in the industries.
Lollu Sabha Swaminathan
Recently, Star Vijay decided to pick up this show  and ‘Lollu Sabha 2’ is getting ready. it Amudhavanan, who acted in Bala’s  ‘Thaarai Thappattai’ who roped the lead role. He can mimic like heroes Ramarajan, Sathyaraj and T. Rajendhar apart from Kamal Haasan, Vijay and Ajith.  He has also won the ‘Jodi Number One’ dance competition and ‘Kalakkapovathu Yaaru’ season three.
Thomson of ‘Adhu Idhu Yedhu’ and ‘KPY” fame will be directing “Lollu Sabha 2”.  Vadivel Balaji and Pazhani Pattalam also playing pivotal roles in this show.
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Filed Under comedylollu Sabhastar vijayVijay TV