Thaipusam 2022; Devotees Pleased With The Smooth Vow-fulfilment Process

We all know that Thaipusam was much more joyous and lively before the Covid-19 pandemic, with colourful Mayil Kavadis, Urumi Melam music, and mouth-watering Indian delicacies.
We’ve been celebrating Thaipusam in a low-key manner for the past two years. For the safety of the public, this year’s Thaipusam was held with tight Covid-19 SOPs.
Image credit: Malay mail
Some believe that these SOPS have made the procession more difficult, while others believe that they have made the entire vow-fulfilment process easier.
According to Kathiran Mahalingam, a devotee from Bahau, the time it takes to carry “Paal Kudam” (milk offering) up and into the temple has shortened.
“While carrying Paal Kudam or Kavadi, there are no massive queues or hours of waiting in the crowd.” He added, “everything is faster and smoother.”
Parameswary, a devotee from Puchong who successfully completed her vows by carrying the “Paal Kudam” with her family, said she acknowledged the SOPs and is grateful to have been able to accomplish them safely this year.
Parameswary with her family/ fmt
In spite of the tremendous situation with Covid-19 and all, she was relieved to be able to fulfil her commitment to this year’s Thaipusam by carrying the Paal Kudam.
She told FMT, although the festive spirit is not as boisterous as previously, she believes that the devotees will be able to peacefully fulfil their vows and pray comfortably this time around because there will be no overcrowding.
She wishes that things will improve and that more people will be able to renew their vows next year, but in the same peaceful and relaxed manner.
Related:  Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam Receives 'UniteHealth's COVID-19 Influencers Award'A devotee from Tampin, Kunalan Manogaran, expressed his appreciation to the government and relevant authorities for allowing devotees to fulfil their vows safely this year.
Kunalan Manogaran / fmt
“He was overjoyed and grateful that they are able to renew their vows securely this year, despite the absence of the typical setting and crowd.
“Thaipusam in Batu Caves is known for having a big gathering of devotees, notably the Kavadis, fulfilling their vows to Lord Murugan. He hopes that things will go back to normal next year, and we’ll be able to see the traditional Thaipusam celebrations,” Kunalan said.
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Filed Under covid-19Kunalan ManogaranParameswaryThaipusam 2022


Trisha May Have Replaced Nayanthara In Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan?

Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan has become one of the most talked about films.  He is a master-craftsman and usually takes time to give out a terrific output making sure the audience experiences a wonderful film.
When the Thalapathy director announced that he will be making a film of Tamil literature’s classic Ponniyin Selvan, speculations began on whom he would be casting in his film.
The confirmed names are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Keerthy Suresh, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Chiyaan Vikram, Parthiepan and then Ashwin Kakumanu now. It was earlier confirmed that Nayanthara was a part of this magnum opus. However, due to various reasons unknown, it has been reported that the actress is out of the film.
But, here’s another biggie,  Trisha has been roped in for Ponniyin Selvan. Yes, Trisha is now very much a part of this two-part film, confirm sources close to the team.

However, Mani Ratnam has been holding back all the required announcements since he has always believed in complete preparation before he kickstarts. He is currently planning various training sessions and activities for the actors and his team as a part of his pre-production preps.
An official announcement is soon to come!
The film is being bankrolled by Lyca productions and will have two parts much like the Bahubali series.
Trisha, on the other hand, is currently shooting for Raangi, Sugar alongside Simran and Paramapadam Vilayattu. She has also signed two other big films like the one with Mohanlal in Jeethu Joseph’s next and is also getting her big break in Tollywood after years alongside Megastar Chiranjeevi in Koratala Siva’s next produced by his son Ram Charan and Niranjan Reddy.
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Filed Under ponniyin selvanTamilTrisha Krishnan


Raashi Khanna’s Three Big Films This Year

Raashi Khanna may have just been introduced to the Tamil film industry last year, but she looks to be a busy bee already.
Fresh off the success of Adanga Maru, the actress is working on three upcoming films this year, all slated to be big releases.
Ayogya

Remember that film poster that was slammed for Vishal holding a beer bottle? Yup, that’s Ayogya.
Raashi will be starring opposite Vishal in the upcoming movie Ayogya. The film is a remake of the Telugu blockbuster hit, Temper. Ayogya will also feature R. Parthiban, K. S. Ravikumar, Sachu, Vamsi Krishna and Pooja Devariya in supporting roles.
The Sam CS musical is directed by newbie Venkat Mohan, who was AR Murugadoss’ former assistant.
Ayogya is set to be released later this month.
Shaitan Ka Bachcha

Nope, this isn’t a Hindi film. Shaitan Ka Bachcha features Raashi alongside Siddharth, Vamsi Krishna, Karunakaran, Thambi Ramaiah, Yogi Babu and Ganja Karuppu. This is an action comedy that will be graced by Santosh Narayanan’s music.
Karthik G Krish, the man behind the beautiful 2014 movie Kappal will be directing Shaitan Ka Bachcha. Will he repeat his success?
Maanadu

Raashi will star in Venkat Prabhu’s next movie, Maanadu which will begin shooting on the 3rd of February. Also starring Simbu, this film is set to release in the third quarter of 2019.
Maanadu will also feature the actor accused of sexual harassment, Arjun. The allegations against him evidently didn’t bruise his acting career, and life has returned to normal for him.
Raashi will be working with Premgi Amaran for this first time in this movie. The music is said to be composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Related:  High On U1's Phenomenal Artist Line UpFor an actress who is relatively new to the Tamil industry, Raashi is doing very well. We hope to see her in strong roles in her upcoming movies.
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Filed Under adanga maruayogyaMaanaaduRaashi khannashaitan ka bachchasiddarthSimbuVishal


Malaysian Indian actress Sangeeta Krishnasamy attends the Cannes International Film Festival in France.

Our beloved Sangeeta Krishnasamy has attended the internationally revered Cannes Film Festival all the way in France. Much like French cinema, Malaysian cinema is also a vibrant, eccentric, and experimental medium. The French have contributed immensely to pioneering new wave cinema, and to be in the midst of not just French influence but also that of other internationally renowned celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson, and many more is a huge honour.

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A post shared by Sangeeta Krishnasamy (@sangeeta_krishnasamy)

Sangeeta Krishnasamy is a celebrated Malaysian Indian actress and model who starred in locally produced superhit films like Vetti Pasanga and Vennira Iravugal. Her work in Vennira Iravugal is particularly noteworthy, as the film garnered such international reception that it received a special jury award at the Norway Tamil Film Festival. It is not lacking in importance to state that Sangeeta is a proud jewel of Malaysian cinema. Sangeeta, from the onset of her career, has always been a highly accomplished artist. In fact, her debut film was the much-celebrated Indian-Tamil filmmaker Venkat Prabhu’s Goa.

“It’s a wonderful and healthy environment; everything is so vibrant, and everyone just wants to talk about film and collaboration.
Sangeeta Krishnasamy, in an interview with Sinaran Daily, talks about how the Cannes Film Festival is a great opportunity for collaboration and inspiration.

Sangeeta went into great length in her Sinaran interview on how Cannes is a terrific learning opportunity for her, especially as a woman in production and filmmaking. She spoke not just for her individual growth but for the growth of the entire Malaysian film industry itself. Sangeetha shows keen interest and passion for learning about the entire film industry from all the great film makers, producers, and distributors all around the world. And there is no better place to gain these vital insights than Cannes, which is an internationally respected film festival.
It is safe to say that the Malaysian film industry is on the right track with devoted and talented folks like Sangeeta Krishnasamy on its side.

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A post shared by Sangeeta Krishnasamy (@sangeeta_krishnasamy)

Source: Sinar Daily
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Filed Under Cannes Film FestivalGOAkollywoodmalaysian indian abroadMalaysian Indian Artist'Malaysian indian CommunityMalaysian Talentmalaysian tamil cinemaSangeetha KrishnasamyVenkat PrabhuVennira iravugal


Sivagami Selvarajan Through Dance & Sarees – Women Of Impact 2019

Imagine waking up in the wee hours of the morning on weekends just to travel 3 hours to Kuala Lumpur to learn Odissi. That was Sivagami Selvarajan’s reality since she was 4 years old. Her mother was determined to give her the best dance education and the duo would travel from Sitiawan, Perak to learn from the revered Malaysian dance guru, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim.
Sivagami Selvarajan | Photo By Barathan Amuthan
Sivagami has an illustrious dance career, one that has taken her to countries such as India and the United States of America to perform. In 2018, she danced to Manavyalakinchara (Mist of Capricorn) on stage with popular progressive Carnatic rock band, Agam, when they performed in Malaysia. Currently, Sivagami is pursuing a Masters Degree in Dance at Universiti Malaya.
Sivagami has amassed a following of over 75,000 people on Instagram and is always working on creative projects with talents from Malaysia and India. She runs an Instagram page dedicated to empowerment of women through sarees called #KeepCalmAndSareeOn . The page received much deserved global attention that she was invited by popular South Indian actress, Samantha Ruth Akkineni, to attend a saree forum in India.
WATCH our chat with Sivagami to learn about her love for sarees and dance and how she sails through the unforgiving social media landscape effortlessly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDO8O7yeIU&t=149sVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Sivagami Selvarajan – WOMEN OF IMPACT 2019 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDO8O7yeIU&t=149s)

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Filed Under Sivagami SelvarajanWOMEN OF IMPACT 2019


Kallapart: Arvind Swami’s Next Movie Is An Emotional Thriller

Arvind Swami has had one of the most incredible career comebacks in Kollywood. After a 7 years hiatus following an accident that left him paralysed waist down, Arvind Swami has demonstrated true fighter spirit when he returned to the scene with his impeccable acting in Thani Oruvan.

In his upcoming film Kallapart, Arvind Swami plays a hardware engineer under the direction of Rajapandi. The film has been described as an “emotional thriller” that revolves around the themes of friendship and betrayal by Director Rajapandi. “When I approached Arvind Swami for this story, he liked and agreed to do it. He has played many roles in various films. But this one will be different from all. You will see a new version of Arvind Swami in this movie”.
The ‘Kallapart’ team during the film’s Pooja
Actress Regina Cassendra and Baby Monika of Ratsasan fame join the film’s cast as well. The film is set to be released in April 2019. Arvind Swami has also completed ‘Sathuranga Vettai 2’ costarring Trisha and ‘Naragasooran’ directed by Karthik Naren.
More updates coming soon.
Source: Indiaglitz , Silverscreen
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Filed Under Arvind SwamiArvind swamykallapartRegina Cassandra


SP Bala’s FB Post On PM Modi Goes Viral!

Veteran singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who was one of the guests at PM Narendra Modi’s special meeting with the members of Indian film fraternity. He has said that while their phones were taken away by security personnel, Bollywood celebs managed to click selfies.

In a Facebook post, he said how can the Bollywood stars managed to take selfie with the PM when phones of others were not even allowed inside the venue.
“I am grateful to Ramoji Raoji, (Eenadu), because of whom I was able to attend a reception hosted by our Hon. Prime Minister at his home on the 29th of Oct. Upon entering the premises, we were asked to leave our cell phones with the security personnel and were given tokens for the same. But I was bewildered at the STARS taking selfies with the PM on that day. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM? (sic),” he wrote.

Last month, PM Narendra Modi hosted a ‘Change Within’ meet to promote the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi. The event saw leading Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, among many others, in attendance.
The meeting reportedly saw no big representation from southern film industry. Telugu producer Dil Raju was the only representative from south apart from SPB. Recently, entrepreneur Upasana Konidela, wife of actor Ram Charan, in a Twitter post expressed that the meeting saw no representation from south film industry and she requested PM Modi to look into the issue.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  7 Important Valluvar Quotes for Modern-Day Millennial Tamils
Filed Under filmhindipm modiSPBTamil


WATCH: Samuthirakani’s Next Film Trailer Is Here

Director Manimaaran will be teaming up with character actor Samuthirakani for Sangathalaivan. Television anchor Ramya also plays the lead in this movie alongside Karunas and Sunu Lakshmi of Aram fame.
Check out the poster of Sangathalaivan

The story of the film is adapted from a Tamil novel ‘Thariyudan’ penned by Bharathinathan. It talks about the issues pertaining to the textiles industries across western districts of Tamil Nadu.
The filmmaker will focus on the lives of handloom weavers and the struggles they face on a daily basis. Srinivasam cranks the camera while Robert Sargunam will be composing the music.
Check out the Sangathalaivan trailer below:

More updates to follow!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Vetrimaaran Came Up With "Vaadivaasal" Update And Something Exciting Is Brewing
Filed Under KarunasManimaaranSamuthirakanniSanga ThalaivanSunu LakshmivetrimaaranVJ Ramya


Maha Sivarathiri; Astounding Facts About The Night of Awakening

Maha Shivaratri, the day devotees all around the world have been waiting for, has finally arrived. Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival commemorating Lord Shiva, one of the holy Hindu trinity’s gods.
Maha Shivratri is a major celebration commemorating the marriage of Shiva and Shakti. Mahashivratri is also significant for those who are spiritually driven.
Image credit: timesofindia
On this day, people fast and keep a 24-hour vigil. In addition, the devotee reads about Shiva’s glories and chants his name throughout the night.
Let’s take a look at some of the interesting facts regarding this holy day that you should know of;
1) Maha Shivaratri literally means “Great Night of Shiva.”
2). Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival that commemorates the marriage of Shiva and Shakti, the two major forces in the Universe.
3) This day marked the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
4) Lord Shiva did the Shiva Thandavam, which is the dance of all creation and destruction, on this auspicious night.
Image credit: wikipediacommon
5) It’s a special night for single women looking for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is the epitome of a loyal husband.
6) On Maha Shivaratri, married ladies pray to Shiva for the well-being of their spouses.
7) Nishitha Kala refers to the time when Lord Shiva emerged as the Lingam on Earth. The most essential period for Shiva pooja is at night.
8) Poojas, fasting, abhisheka, and an all-night vigil, as well as meditation and prayer, are all part of Maha Shivaratri rituals. On the day before Maha Shivaratri, devotees practice a fast where some people only eat once a day, while others stick to a fruit and milk diet.
Image credit: times of india
9) On Maha Shivaratri, pooja for Shivalinga is an essential ceremony. Honey, milk, butter, sugar, Ganga jal, black sesame seeds, and other products are used to immerse the Shivalinga. The application of sandalwood paste and rice comes next. Fresh fruits and flowers are presented as offerings.
10) It is widely believed that worshipping Lord Shiva on this night and fasting for the whole Maha Shivaratri fast can help to eliminate undesirable thoughts such as wrath, hate, greed, lust, and so on.
Image credit: twitter
Some of you may not be able to participate in this auspicious viratham ritual, don’t worry.
Lord Shiva will continue to bless you for your good deeds on a regular basis.
Source: hindustantimes / astroved
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Filed Under great night of shivahindu trinityLord ShivaMaha Shivarathiri 2022Maha ShivaratriThe Night of Awakening


Actor Suriya Tests Positive For Covid-19; Strictly Under Home Quarantine!

In these uncertain times, fans of well-known actor Suriya across the world are in a state of melancholy worrying about the health of one of Tamil Nadu’s leading actor.
Suriya has been confirmed to have contradicted the deadly virus of COVID-19!
This devastating news was shared by the actor himself on his personal Twitter account and is currently undergoing intensive care battling the effects of the lethal virus.

’கொரோனா’ பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட்டு, சிகிச்சை பெற்று நலமுடன் இருக்கிறேன். வாழ்க்கை இன்னும் இயல்பு நிலைக்கு திரும்பவில்லை என்பதை அனைவரும் உணர்வோம். அச்சத்துடன் முடங்கிவிட முடியாது. அதேநேரம் பாதுகாப்பும், கவனமும் அவசியம். அர்ப்பணிப்புடன் துணைநிற்கும் மருத்துவர்களுக்கு அன்பும், நன்றிகளும்.
— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) February 7, 2021

Before the outbreak of this announcement, fans have gone berserk flooding the comment section, pouring their hearts out with their deepest prayers and wishes hoping for a speedy recovery for the veterinary actor.
Prior to receiving attentive care from being hospitalised, Brother Karthi has just announced that Suriya is back home safe yesterday and will be in home quarantine for a few days.

Anna is back home and all safe! Will be in home quarantine for a few days. Can’t thank you all enough for the prayers and best wishes!
— Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) February 11, 2021

However, in regards to the shooting front, the actor has completed his shoot for Mani Ratnam’s Navarasa, a Gautham Menon direction, and is scheduled to make an OTT release on Netflix.
The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on the entire nation.
 Currently, in Malaysia, we have recorded a total of 3,384 cases and 13 deaths yesterday with a total of 252 thousand cases, 198 thousand recovery, and 923 deaths in total! Whereas in India, there is confirmed of 10.9 million positive cases and a recovery of 10.6 million with 15.5 thousand deaths!
The pandemic is not over, hence, stay safe and cohere strictly to the SOP’s imposed. #kitajagakita
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Filed Under actors in india positive with covidcovid updates in malaysiasuriya with covid


EXCLUSIVE: Aravind SA, We Are Ready For You Da!

If you haven’t heard of Aravind SA, you obviously haven’t been exposed to the wonderful world of Chennai stand up comedy. One of the founding fathers of the stand up comedy scene in the city, SA, as he is affectionately addressed, uses his distinct Chennai-ness to his advantage and boy, has it paid off.
Aravind SA talks to Varnam about his journey in stand up comedy, the evolution of audiences and what lies ahead for him.
“I am just a sheep hiding in wolf’s clothing, pretending to be a wolf!”

SA is modest about his accolades. He claims that his foray into stand up comedy was just about being in the right place at the right time.
“I can’t take credit as being the forefathers of stand up comedy! Honestly, I tried it out just to see where it goes. In 2011 there was no real platform for stand up comics in India, let alone in Chennai,” he shares. “I was just in the right place at the right time. And i decided to put in sustainable efforts,”  According to SA, India woke up to stand up comedy only in 2014 as a result of YouTube’s popularization of the comics’ clips. Even then, it wasn’t easy.
“We had to build the idea of people paying for stand up comedy,”

“In the beginning there was no money and no public interest,” SA explains how the few stand up comedians in Chennai tested out their material on each other, before even thinking of performing for the public. It was hard to book a venue and commit to a show with 30 minutes of material. To make matters worse, it was something that the public did not know they wanted, simply because they weren’t exposed to it. A demand had to be created, according to SA, “It wasn’t overnight stardom!”
“I worked hard at it, put in sustainable efforts and it paid off. Honestly, the same principle applies with anything in life,”
Now, things are different for the comic. “I can walk into a cafe and a slot will be created for me!” And yet, he is humility personified. “This privilege I have is incredibly humbling,” he tells us. For a guy who has just completed a world tour through 8 countries and 70 cities, SA has his feet planted firmly on the ground.
The appeal of stand up comedy in India is different
“It’s important to remember that the stand up comedy audience is barely 1% of the people. They are the anglicized, urbanized, privileged elite,” he shares. “To pay to watch, is not a big deal for them,” SA tells us that because stand up comedy is not mainstream in India, the audience is very small and insulated from the rest of the entertainment industry. “Even so, the numbers have increased exponentially. Every batch of college students that graduate and start working, we have a new audience in them.”
“In Tamil cinema, there are no first world problems.”

“This urbanized group gets almost no representation in mainstream entertainment,” he tells us. “For certain reasons, Tamil films and serials almost always focus on those from a lower socioeconomic background. And while these are fun, they are also geared towards the masses. That is where stand up comedy is different,”

“Even people who are absolute virgins to stand up comedy gravitate to it easily, because it is an anglicized common ground,”

“I mean, we are all exposed to western influences by way of media and social media and it is only natural for us to gravitate towards that,” he deduces. “Everyone just craves representation, that feeling of, hey this guy sounds like me, or like the guy next door when i was growing up!”
SA also tells us that he enjoys the seclusion of stand up comedy in the metropolises of India right now. “I am able to make jokes about political parties, laws, things like that. The same cannot be done in Tamil films. The stand up space is sacred and insulated form the mainstream entertainment, and that’s what’s amazing,”
It is very rewarding in the sense that anti-establishment material gets one more followers, says SA. “Also, it is good to enlighten people on what they commonly miss with mainstream entertainment that’s always painfully politically correct,”
“I Was Not Ready Da is an innately human compendium of embarrassing stories”

“My previous show Madrasi Da was a very Chennai heavy show. You would need some prior knowledge of Chennai, either lived there or visited to really get the nuances,” he explains. “I Was Not Ready Da is a very pan-Indian piece, and a very accessible show. It is relatable to every person out there. I have even performed it to a sold out crowd in Noida and Gurgaon in India, they can be labelled the least Tamil places in the world, and the audience loved it,” he gushes.
On whether he sees himself being accessed by other demographics

“The natural next step is to move beyond Tamil and make it Indian,” hence I Was Not Ready Da was conceptualized. “But i will never be able to shake off my Tamil English style of presenting, its just who i am,” says SA. “I can’t be an Aziz Ansari or a Romesh Ranganathan, who are both Tamil but have been brought up in the US and the UK respectively. They have sold out shows full of non Indians, and their material is accessible to everyone, and yet they have their own well defined styles,”
SA’s Tamil-English trademark delivery style, his body language, his generous usage of the word ‘da’ in his performances are not put on. He stays true to himself to see the funny side of things, and it is a formula that works wonders for the Chennai lad. He believes that his material is accessible to non Tamil speakers just as well. Even if he didn’t, he wouldn’t imagine doing it any other way.
“Don’t try to move away from who you are. Be who you are and be accessible to the world,”
SA talks about Gabriel Iglesias, and touches upon how he maintains his trademark delivery but has gone viral, the world over. “My family Whatsapp groups are full of Gabriel Iglesias’ videos, even mine don’t make the cut!”
“I really was not ready da!”

I Was Not Ready Da shattered records across India, having sold 2,400 tickets in less than 30 minutes, an achievement that SA playfully claims he was not ready for. “The support is really amplified by this,” says SA. “I know that i have a huge responsibility towards the audience, because with this intense ticket sales, comes very high expectations,” He keeps his creative process the same, always staying true to himself. “My accessibility to people is really the positive reinforcement that I need,”
The royalty of Chennai stand up comedy, Aravind SA, will land on Malaysian soil in a month’s time. The comic will perform his latest piece, I Was Not Ready Da.
The show will feature local stand up comic Prakash Daniel as the opening act. SA also promises that there will be a song at the end of the show, reprising the success of the Lungi Dance parody last year.
Presented by the good people who brought him over earlier this year, Phoenix PR, I Was Not Ready Da will be held at PJ Live Arts on the 27th of January 2019, from 8pm onwards.
The bronze category is already sold out, and the other seats are selling fast. Click here to get your tickets now.
Aravind SA, we are ready for you da!
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Filed Under Aravind SAStand Up Comedy


EXCLUSIVE: Kaameshaa Ravindran Opens Up About Feminism, Family and Films

Actor Kaameshaa Ravindran has come a long way since she stepped into the Malaysian film fraternity. From hosting live shows to her breakout platform Oh My English!, this law graduate doesn’t mince her words when it comes to the topics she is passionate about – feminism, family and films.
Kaameshaa opens up to Varnam on her passions for her first ever interview.

Varnam: Thank you for being with us! Malaysians young and old look up to you thanks to your charm and lovable personality. Tell us about your journey and how it all began.
Kaameshaa: Thank you! To be frank, I don’t know why people look up to me, I really am nothing compared to so many people out there! But I am glad that I’m an example to the youngsters.
When I was 9, I did my first hosting program with MiTV. From there I hosted a few live stage shows before I began working on a documentary by RTM. I entered the Malaysian Tamil movie industry when I was 12. Director K Annan got in touch with me, as he was looking for a girl of my age to play Ammani in his upcoming film Yantra.
Yantra released in 2007, and everyone had their eyes on the little girl who played Ammani. Kaameshaa’s excellent timing and dialogue delivery in the film put her in the forefront of the Malaysian Tamil film industry. This opened up many doors for her, and she worked on the local film, Uruvam. She was also in high demand for many locally produced Tamil serials.
I then began working with Astro. I initially worked on a few fillers for TVIQ. I heard that they were casting for Oh My English! and was encouraged to audition for the role of Anusha. I was 17 when I auditioned for Oh My English!, and ended up working on the show for five years. I believe that my platform was created there, and people began to recognize me from Oh My English! compared to from Yantra or Uruvam.
That means you literally grew up on the film sets. Are you very comfortable in the limelight now?
You’d be surprised, this is actually my first interview! I’m a little apprehensive only because what I say may be perceived wrongly. At 17, when I first tasted fame, it was a lot of fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now that I am 24, reality is kicking in!
I am a very private person by nature, so it is really intimidating to put myself out there! Especially because when you’re in the limelight, every small error you make is amplified and blown out of proportion. I’m quite careful in that sense.

You are one of the few Malaysian Indian actors who has worked on productions in different languages. Do you have a preference for which industry you enjoy working in?
Honestly, every industry has their pros and cons. Personally, I really enjoy working in the Malay entertainment industry. They treat the talent well, and have excellent work ethic. Every member of the team does their job to their best ability, and as a result of that, things go smoothly, even with agreements and payments.
And what about the Malaysian Tamil industry?
There is room for improvement in the local Tamil industry, they sometimes don’t see talent as talent. Personally, I don’t like incompetence. And it is hard when people do not take their jobs seriously.
Also, in our community, some quarters cannot take it if a female who’s younger than them is vocal. My petite frame doesn’t help either! (laughs)

I have been in a situation where we had to do multiple takes because the extras on set forgot their dialogues when the main cast has already memorized theirs. I told them to buck up, and they didn’t take that very well.
That’s just downright disrespectful!
It’s just the tip of the iceberg. We have artists who are privileged enough to be on screen and they just don’t have a good work ethic.
I once worked on a project that had a call time of 7.00 am. I was there at 7, and the rest of the cast walk in leisurely TWO HOURS later, at 9. And this isn’t a one time affair, it happened every day! This really frustrates me, because you are disrespecting everyone else’s time by showing up late daily.
“people are watching you, act like an artist if you call yourself that.”
Do you always voice your discontent out while on set?
Always! As I mentioned earlier, I really cannot take incompetence. So I always tell it like it is on set. Of course, not everyone will take it in stride.
The thing is, I have worked with people who are competent, like on this one Malay series, and things were so smooth! So it really irks me when people don’t know what they’re doing and cannot take things seriously.
But I have learnt to accept that everyone has their own perspective, and if that is something I don’t agree with I’ll just walk away.

You mean you unfollow them in real life?
(laughs) Yes I do! In my mind, I’m like, “Okay, that’s your view, it’s good to know that there are people who think the way you do,”
After all, it is a different perspective, and that means it is one more thing to learn. I may not agree with you, but now I know that there are people on this planet who think like you! I mean, there is no harm in having your perspective, but I don’t support it, so I will make my exit.
Speaking of social media, you are an influencer with a sizable number of followers. Does this get you into a tizzy sometimes?
Social media is an easy platform, and it is one that I am grateful for.
It is sad that this platform has been abused in a way that it shouldn’t be. Ultimately, every person who’s an influencer needs to know where he or she stands.  It is easy to let the number of followers get to your head. So it’s important to remember that just by having thousands of followers on Instagram, you don’t garner a face value.
Being a human is the most important thing for me. Everything else – you status, job, money, followers – all of that comes later on.
“No matter how high you fly, your feet have to be firmly planted onto to ground.”
Congratulations on graduating with your degree in law! What was the reason you chose to pursue law while working as an actor?
Thanks so much! I want to talk about feminism. That’s the reason I chose law in addition to acting. Law gives me the knowledge I need about that pillar of our country, and acting gives me the platform for my voice to be heard.
When you are nothing, even if you are saying the most intellectual thing, nobody will listen to you. But if you are in the limelight, whatever you say is the gospel truth, whether it makes sense or not. So I want to bring that knowledge to this platform and hopefully do it justice.
Related:  The Highly Anticipated Tamil Fantasy Rom-Com ‘Jeeyum Neeyum’ Premieres Today On Astro Vinmeen
We know that you adore your mum, tell us a little about your relationship with her.
Actually, both my parents have been the best support I could ever ask for. My father has been my number 1 fan from the start.
As for my mum, she is my world. Everyone knows how much I love her. She knows my temper, and she knows how to calm me down when I have an outburst. She often advises me to control it as well, lest it be the reason for my downfall.
“Both my parents are my backbone.”
My parents have never stopped me from what I want to do. They both constantly encourage me to do better.

That sounds like a beautiful family!
My family doesn’t end there though! I have my girl gang, my five closest girlfriends. They have been the most supportive, encouraging women I have ever known. I am beyond grateful for them.
My other family is Charley Annae and Shevan Maama – Rabbit Mac and Sheezay. They are my fam! I will run to them no matter what, and pour my heart out to them, and they’ll advise me accordingly. They keep me grounded.
All of these people mean the world to me!

You really are blessed! Being of a different generation, is it easy for your parents to comprehend your feminist views?
Well, coming from a Malaysian Indian family, they don’t always get my feminist views. I have always been the rebellious one in the family, unlike my elder sister. But what I appreciate is that they don’t mock my beliefs. If it’s something that’s really out there, they’ll say, “Give me some time, I’ll think about it, and I’ll come back to you on that,”
But it feels like their love transcends their occasional inability to accept my views. My mum offered to help me with an upcoming project on LGBTQ rights, in spite of not fully comprehending the topic. How sweet is that?

That really is something else. Your parents aside, do you think our Malaysian Indian community will be able to accept men and women as equal?
I doubt it. Especially among those of the older generation, I really doubt it. People don’t see women as a source of power. There is a closed mindset that girls are all about drama and looking pretty. They don’t care to know what our struggles are. And what’s worse, some men are so entitled that they dare touch a woman or hold her waist without her consent. They don’t even know what consent is!
“some people (men & women) feel that men are superior to women and because of that, women don’t deserve to be taken seriously.”
Do you think the films we are releasing plays a big part in this warped line of thought?
Very few Tamil movies that are released locally bear an empowering message to women. I’m not saying it has to be preachy, but there probably should be more strong female characters portrayed on screen. India has taken the first step with movies like Aramm and Ratchasi. This has yet to happen in Malaysia. It’s the same old love story, the same horror story, and there is nothing new.

The filmmakers add to the problem by staying in the safe story bubble…
I mean, it is risky, and I would salute any director who is willing to rise up to the challenge. It’s sad, because ultimately, everyone wants to make money, not make a social statement. But they easily forget the weight they carry in the society and the power of a film as a platform to deliver a message.
At the same time, we cannot blame the local filmmakers either. They need to put food on the table as well. We can only do what we are doing and get the message out there.

How do you react when women are told how to do and how to be?
Yen vaai summa irrukathe! (laughs) I get very irritated when people tell me how a woman should be, and I will just tell them off. Let her be whoever and do whatever she wants to!
“her gender doesn’t grant you the permission to tell her how to live her life.”
People have come up to me and said, “I respect your view, but this is my view, lets sit down and talk,” and that’s fine! I am more than willing to discuss the matter if it is broached with respect. But it is utterly wrong to shove your view down someone’s throat.
I couldn’t agree more!
Right? And it doesn’t end with women. It really makes me so mad when when people tell boys that they cannot wear skirts, or put on makeup on, or do threading, come on lah! Everyone is in this world living their own life, let guys do whatever they want. Why do you have to tell people how to live?
People always forget that everyone has their own opinions, and their own way of doing things. So you really cannot expect everyone to behave in a way that’s comfortable to you. This is something I need to remind myself of also at times.

But there is hope for gender equality among the millenials, you’re saying?
Yes, surely. Today’s 18 year old has a higher level of maturity than I did when I was 18. Millenials are surrounded with information, and everything is literally at their fingertips. The ideology of feminism has penetrated this generation much easier as a result of this.
What is your truth, Kaameshaa? Tell us what you live by.
“Do what you want to do, whatever makes you happy, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else,” That’s the slogan I live by.
It goes without saying that there will be one person or other who will be hurt by your actions, and that is just their nature, and it cannot be helped. In your heart, you will know that this is the right thing to do.

Kaameshaa ends the interview with a poignant few words about her dream, “I want to be so successful, that my voice is heard. Not for the simple things like what I wear, what I do, or who my friends are. I want my voice to be heard for things of substance. To open up at least one person’s world view,”
Well there you go, Kaameshaa. You’ve done just that.
Keep up with Kaameshaa’s views on her Instagram profile here.
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Filed Under Feminismgender equalitykaameshaa ravindranmalaysian indianuruvamyantra


Banana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & Culture – The Must-See Art Exhibition This Deepavali

Forget the Deepavali bazaars, there is an art exhibition in conjunction with the festival of lights this year! Banana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & Culture will be held from the 4th to the 20th of October at GMBB Kuala Lumpur.
This one of a kind project is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed Malaysian artist, Ruby Subramaniam. “Banana Leaf seeks to champion the arts for Malaysians of Indian origin. It is a project consisting of a visual arts exhibition by more than 20 artists and writers, as well as the children from Sivananda Ashram,” Ruby tells us.
Some of the artwork that will be on display during Banana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & Culture
Ruby, along with Goodkids Malaysia, have taught the children of Sivananda Ashram art for the past year and a half. According to Ruby, the children are being guided to discover their own art styles, while narrating their personal stories.
Banana Leaf is not merely an art exhibition, it is a movement of social change, and a coming together of artists and creative leaders who drive important issues of our time – to create deeper engagement around our social, cultural, and humanitarian causes in Malaysia.
Ruby assures us that the selection of visual images displayed will be vibrant and empowering. “The artists are briefed to take inspiration from ancient practices such as “kolam”, discuss the significance of its cultural process, and apply it to concerns of today’s world,” The richness of Indian culture will be demonstrated through the medium of art through Banana Leaf.
Some of the artwork that will be on display during Banana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & Culture
Banana Leaf will also feature 3 documentaries by Freedom Film Festival, along with other videos reflecting on the theme, with 5 photography series on display. It will be accompanied by literary and research works in Malay.
Among the highlighted artists are Blank Malaysia, a fine-art artist exhibiting internationally as well as Rames Harikrishnasamy, Abode’s Creative Ambassador who thrills us with his digital art of Hindu deities. They will be joined by multidisciplinary artist Veshalini Naidu, doing what she does best – merging poetry, visual arts and theatre.
Malaysian documentary photographer Mogan Selvakannu will be exhibiting at Banana Leaf. He will presenting his project, Skeletons of Empire, a look into decolonisation of photography in the post-colonial era. Mogan has been featured on BBC Creative’s Photography exhibition this year.
Pic: Mogan Selvakannu
The other creative minds who will be a part of Banana Leaf are Adeline Shatsala, Akasha Visuals, Belveen Singh, Catherhea, Chunky Munky, Daniel Adams, Devendiran Param, Dhinesha Karthigesu, Ivan Gabriel, Kumar Nagalingam, Lingeswary Kailappan, Malah, Melizarani T.Selva, Mona KV, Mogan Selvakannu, Olafool Art, Sayla, Shanjey Kumar Perumal, Thevasree Krisnan, Thinakkaran Thamilchelvam, Thineswari Govindasamy, Uthaya Sankar SB and Vincent Paul.
Banana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & Culture is the brainchild of Malaysian artist Ruby Subramaniam. Image: Thevasree Krisnan
Ruby is no stranger to the international art scene. She has been acknowledged by World Humanities Conference in 2017, as one of the 50 global movement of artists reflecting on their impact in societies and the importance of local implementation. Her art project, ThisBodyIsMine has gone viral, garnering more than 2 million views online. Her next piece of work, Antidote: Uncovering Skin & Soul won the Krishen Jit Astro Fund
and INXO Art Fund in 2018. Ruby is also the founder of Art Battle Malaysia, a live art show hosted in over 50 cities worldwide.

https://varnam.my/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/finalBL7202.mp4
Varnam.my is the official media partner for Banana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & Culture. Stay tuned for detailed updates on the art exhibition, or click here for more information on the event.
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Filed Under Adeline ShatsalaAkasha Visualsartart exhibitionBanana Leaf: A Celebration of Malaysian Indian Arts & CultureBelveen Singhblank malaysiaCatherheaChunky MunkyDaniel AdamsDevendiran ParamDhinesha KarthigesuGoodkids MalaysiaIvan GabrielKumar NagalingamLingeswary KailappanMalahMelizarani T.SelvaMogan SelvakannuMona KVOlafool ArtRames Harikrishnasamyruby subramaniamSaylashanjey kumar perumalThevasree KrisnanThinakkaran ThamilchelvamThineswari GovindasamyUthaya Sankar SBVeshalini Naiduvincent paul


Dr Sasi Kumar’s Sudden Death Caused By Cardiac Arrest, Not COVID-19

As we all know, the death of Dr Sasi Kumar made headlines after Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah took to social media to express his grief.

My deepest condolences to Dr Sasi’s family. A great loss for the pulmonology fraternity and country. A very passionate and dedicated pulmonologist, brilliant in his work and humble in his approach to his patients. pic.twitter.com/Cv1IUzy6zs
— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) August 4, 2021

Right after the post, Malaysians had started making assumptions by spreading and even going to the extend in creating fake news about the death of the late doctor. Hence, Kuala Muda district deputy police chief Supt Anuar Abdul Rahman stepped up to clear the air on speculations over his passing.
Dr Sasi who worked as a pulmonologist stationed in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar died on 3rd August after he collapsed in front of his house.

According to the post-mortem report, the 37-year-old doctor died on his way to the hospital and it was not due to COVID-19 or exhaustion but cardiac arrest.

The COVID-19 test was done on the late doctor and it turned out to be negative. It’s been only eight months since Dr Sasi started his job at the hospital. The late doctor was very much liked by his colleagues, patients and the community. He was passionate about his field of specialisation and losing such an amazing doctor in such an unexpected way is saddening indeed.
We at Varnam urge Malaysians to stop speculating on the passing of the doctor and respect the privacy of his family members.
May your soul rest in peace Dr Sasi.
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Filed Under Anuar Abdul Rahmancardiac arrestDr Sasi KumarHospital Sultanah BahiyahKuala Muda district deputy police chief SuptTan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah


The Toxicity Of Indian Male Conditioning!

In these recent weeks, we have yet again seen another popular case of domestic abuse. Though the entire nation was shocked, there were many who defended the abuser. This just simply shows that there are members in our society who are ignorant towards domestic abuse.
What is conditioning you ask? It is basically opinions or viewpoints that exist in our community and how this affects the decisions and choices you make. This conditioning happens to all genders and I will address the female conditioning in my upcoming article. There are many aspects to this conditioning that we speak off. Let’s start with emotional vulnerability. From the get go, many men are taught to view vulnerability as a weakness. ‘Be strong’, ‘man up’ and ‘win at all costs’ are common phrases in our society.

A real man is someone who is not afraid to pick up a fight and get physical. If he feels that verbal resolution is better, then his manhood is questioned!
A real man is always physically, emotionally and mentally strong. They are not allowed to cry or god forbid, that might be the end to their social life, as they will be bullied by other people. Phrases like, “ Don’t cry like a girl” or “Don’t be a pussy” have become so common that people do not realise saying these only means that you are subscribing to patriarchy.
A real man is authoritative, dominant and emotionally retarded, because it is cool to be insensitive.
A real man will put a woman in her place and does not believe in equality. Yes, I went there. So, in our society, if a woman is more successful than her chauvinistic husband, then he has to take a leadership role in the relationship by playing the, “ I am your husband, and you will do as I say” card!
A real man will not show affection to other men. If a straight man is seen kissing another man on his cheek or just showing affection in general, he will still be ridiculed for that.  This is a common phrase,

“Bro, don’t act like a gay or bapok”.
There is so much fear for some men when their male friends show affection to them. The question is, why is it so hard for straight men to show affection to each other?
These are just a few stereotypes that I am aware of. Some people would argue that many indian men from our B40 community lack the education to know better, but the argument is flawed. You don’t have to be an educated male to not be an abusive person, because this behaviour happens in all different levels in our society.

So many Indian boys might have been exposed to physical violence growing up or our Tamil movies do a very good job in perpetuating the existing stereotype. There could be a few scenarios on how this turns out. The common ones are these;

 Karthik sees his dad hitting his mother so he will hit his wife in the future.
Karthik sees his dad hitting his mother and he does not want to repeat the same cycle because he knows it’s wrong. But if he is provoked, then he might remind the wife that she is lucky to be married to someone who won’t hit her.
This would be the most ideal scenario. Karthik is an empowered individual who will not take abuse lightly. He grows up to be a man who knows how to respect a woman without thinking he is some big deal. Remember, you are not doing anyone a favour by showing basic courtesy and manners. It’s called basic for a reason!

However, to break free from this, the intention and mindset is the key point. There is no point if Karthik tells his wife this, “ See, you should be lucky, I did not hit you. My dad used to hit my mom. Don’t provoke my anger”. The crux is the mindset and that is flawed.
Men like Karthik are not even aware of this conditioning we speak off because they lack the leadership of questioning the system. They are too comfortable with the privilege that has been given to them. This just means that they are so used to this behaviour and their mind blocks any new potential growth. The lack of fluidity shows in their character and speech.
I believe that, people do mess up. However, it is in how you handle the mess up and your following actions. Abusive behaviour can be treated with the correct anger management training, but the real question is, would a privileged man let go of their abusive behaviour?  Because the alternative is very different. The alternative, is them being feminists, and realising that men and women are equal and no one is going to take abuse or bad behaviour.
We are all flawed, but how is it that so many men out there are fantastic role models for people? Everyone is different in their own way but this falls under the category of basic manners and character. No one should ever be applauded for not being an abusive person. The standards need to be set higher.

Krishnan is an example of a male feminist. Fun fact, his character is based on Gautham Menon’s own father.

Do you know of other forms of conditioning men go through? Please comment in the comment section below. The only way forward is to help bring awareness and understand the magnitude of this conditioning we speak off.
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Filed Under abuseconditioningmale toxicitysexism


Nauraj Singh; The National High Jump Champion Brings Home A Gold Medal

Nauraj Singh Randhawa our National Superstar Champion is convinced that his win at the Hungarian Grand Prix (GP) champions of the Tatabanya Series will help pave his way to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

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A post shared by MAJLIS SUKAN NEGERI JOHOR (@riseupjohor)

The 29-year-old athlete managed to jump 2,27 metres, his best record this year at the sporting event held at Grosics Stadium.
According to My Metro, Nauraj on his win said;
“I’m ‘hungry’ for the 2.27m (jump) in Hungary! Very grateful for all the support given from coaches, wive, family and all fellow athletes around the world.”
Vasillious Konstantinou from Cyprus came to face the challenge with 2.23m in seconds placing him in the second spot.
During the 2,20-meter jump, Sylwester Bednarek from Poland emerged third. Nauraj’s record is close to its 2.30m national record set at the Singapore Open 2017.
Picture credit: Navraj Singh Instagram
Nauraj will have to make the 2,33m jump for the International Amateur Athletics Federation to qualify for the Olympics for the second time, following his first appearance in Rio 2016. (IAAF).
Last January in Austria, Nauraj broke his national record with a 2.20m jump that surpassed his previous record of 2.19m at the Vienna Hall Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Source: My Metro
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Filed Under Navraj Singh RandhawaTokyo Olympics


Anirudh’s Glow in the Dark “Once Upon A Time Tour” Is Happening in KL On September 17, 2022

Are you ready for the Arabic Kuthu wave?
As social media continues to be exploding with postings and videos about Anirudh’s upcoming concert in Malaysia, MC Entertainment has waved the green signal announcing the official launch of the rockstar’s concert yesterday (19th July) in affiliation with Tourism Malaysia.
Anirudh Ravichander, popularly known as Anirudh, is an award winning Indian music composer, playback singer, producer and instrumentalist, best recognized for his work in the Tamil film fraternity. He made his debut as a music composer in 2012 at the age of 21 for the film 3. A song from the movie, “Why This Kolaveri Di” became India’s most-watched YouTube video and a global online sensation. In a career spanning over 10 years, he has composed multiple albums, which include chartbusters like Vannakam Chennai, Velaiyilla Pattathari, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, Petta, Beast and Vikram. He is now set for his full-fledged debut in Bollywood, composing music for the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-Atlee film ‘Jawan’.

The amazingly talented singer and composer, rockstar Anirudh Ravichander will be making his comeback to Malaysia with his “Once Upon A Time Tour” concert.

The back-to-back hitmaker will get up close and personal with all his Malaysian and regional fans on 17th September 2022 at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
During the launch, Anirudh along with the Guest of Honour, Tuan Syed Yahya Syed Othman, Senior Director of Strategic Planning from Tourism Malaysia launched the Official Concert Trailer today at Marriott Hotel Putrajaya.

This concert will be the first ever ‘glow in the dark’ concert ever done by an Indian artist in Malaysia.

To further enhance the ‘Glow-In-The-Dark’ experience, all concert attendees will be given programmable LED wristbands designed to create a stunning light show during the concert, quoted Edwin Raj, Creative Director of MC Entertainment. There will also be many exciting surprises lined up that undoubtedly will provide a mind-boggling party atmosphere to pump up attendees before the main concert event.
Carnival Mode
What’s more is that they will be hosting a carnival outside the concert venue featuring various booths such as food and beverage, games, photo booths, glow-in-the-dark face painting and a deejay booth. (For those who didn’t get to go to carnivals during the pandemic phase, this will make up for it)
With the events and entertainment sector just opening up post the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, MC Entertainment hopes that this concert will be an avenue to provide business opportunities to SMEs and to help revive the Malaysian tourism industry.
Tickets for “Once Upon A Time Tour” by Anirudh will be launched on 25th July 2022, with an announcement on ticket pricing made by the Organizer closer to the ticket launch date.
During the launch event of the concert, Anirudh exhilarated everyone by performing the most cherished song this year, ‘Arabic Kuthu’ from Thalapathy’s Beast movie. He literally gave the audience a mini convert vibes while interacting with the attendees.
Check out the official launch of the Once Upon A Time Tour:

https://youtu.be/dm54jo-mvQgVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Anirudh's “Once Upon A Time Tour 2022” Press Conference In Malaysia (https://youtu.be/dm54jo-mvQg)

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Filed Under Anirudh RavinchanderArabic KuthuAxiata ArenaGlow-In-The-DarkMC EntertainmentOnce Upon A Time Tour”Tourism MalaysiaTuan Syed Yahya Syed Othman


Check Out These 7 Stunning Photos Of Vanizha Vasanthanathan For GLAM Malaysia

If you don’t already know it, we are huge fans of this homegrown dusky, elegant model, Vanizha Vasanthanathan. She recently (once again) took our breaths away with her spread on the July version of GLAM Malaysia.
Inspired by a painting completed in the early 1900s, Vanizha poses as The Lady in Gold: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt. In 2006, the painting was sold for a whooping $135 million and a 2015 film ‘Woman in Gold’  was made to narrate the  story of Maria Altmann’s escape from Austria and repossession of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer
Under the art direction of Mahirah Nadzlim, the shoot is styled by Aizat Aidid, the fashion director of GLAM and photographed by Aaron Lee. The vision was created by  Sahir Sabri and @ckayliow.
Check out these 7 STUNNING images!

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Filed Under glam malaysiaPortrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer Ithe lady in goldVanizha Vasanthanathan


Perananti Receives Malaysia Kalai Ulagam Award (MKU) Book Of Records For Her Dexterity In Playing The Piano Blindfolded

“Everyone has talent. What’s rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.” ― Erica Jong
Perananti Velo, a 19-year-old teenager has definitely made heads turn globally after playing the keyboard whilst being blindfolded! Now, that’s absolutely mind-blowing folks!
She has earned the limelight that she truly deserves for acquiring such astonishing skills by receiving the Malaysia Kalai Ulagam (MKU) Book Of Records recently!

Her motivation behind this venture, was when she was constantly slammed with criticism, critics making fun of her talent, claiming it was nothing spectacular despite playing the keyboard with utmost flair.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ZLJDHjhjO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Driven by force to stand out from the crowd and make a name for herself, she decided to challenge herself and play the keyboard all while being blindfolded.
she practiced hard until she perfected the craft, beating all odds She encountered along her journey, She Reaped what she sowed.
Each practice took her days and many hours, entirely dedicated towards her keyboard practice whilst becoming familiar with keyboard keys at the same time juggling her studies as a software engineer in a polytechnic based in Balik Pulau, Penang.
Perananti’s prompt hardwork eventually paid of with numerous notable accolades showering upon her beautiful renditions!
Aiming to roar high up the success ladder with her exquisite keyboard skills, she also intends to educate others via her Instagram handle where she shares on her experiences on becoming a keyboardist and how even without a physical keyboard we could learn the methods needed to develop our skills by just using our phones! Amazing ain’t it!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDnsioFDGYf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
She conducts free online classes and aspires to open up her very own musical school under her name; Ananthi Studios Foundation.
In the current concrete world where we are all dwelled in, everyone is merely interested in running after fame and fortune, often forgetting our talents and skills, seldom coming across people whom are motivated to invest and embrace their god-given talents in finding and attaining their true passion, ultimately living a purpose driven life.
Let’s support and uplift young talents like Perananti by providing them with a good platform for them to explore and bring their talents to life!
Well Done Perananti, Truly Amazing!
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Filed Under best key board players in malaysiablindfolded keyboard artistkeyboardistmalaysian's talentsperanantiperananti veloyoung talented artist


EXCLUSIVE: 18-Month-Old Prodigy, Diiyaash Dev Earns An Impressive National Record

If we taught babies to talk as most skills are taught in school, they would memorize lists of sounds in a predetermined order and practice them alone in a closet.      ~ Linda Darling Hammond ~
According to a survey from Toddler Talk, the average number of words that an 18-month-old usually says is between 20 – 200 words. Defying the statement, one of our little boy has successfully spoken more than 500 words and even has his name written down in the history book.

Diiyaash Dev, an 18-month-old toddler has been certified by the Malaysia Book Of Records as being the ‘Youngest To Speak Expressive Vocabulary’ which is more than 500 words at the age of 1 year 8 months 6 days. (Undoubtedly impressive)
Varnam Malaysia had the pleasure to catch up with Diiyaash’s 32-year-old parent, who shared about the little prodigy’s journey of being able to speak up a massive number of vocabularies.
“They said between 7 to 12 months, the baby will start to talk their first word. But surprisingly, at just 4 months Dev already started to utter ‘Mama’, ‘Dada’, and ‘Tata’. Around 11 months, he starts to identify the words such as vehicles and animals,” said Kanageswary, the mother of Dev.
“Since the day Dev was born, we already started talking to him by sharing with him our daily activities. For example, during the diaper change, I’ll show and tell him what I’m doing” said the former educator of an international preschool, who emphasises that this is the starting point that Dev has started to seize more words into his memory.
Related:  SJK (T) Masai Marks Their Entry In The Malaysia Book of Records
Kanageswary further explains that “During the monthly check-up of the baby, the doctor informed us that Dev possessed advanced language ability which we couldn’t believe at the moment. Soon, Dev reached the 14th month, we realised that he owns this incredible ability when he starts to speak sentences,” which left both of the parents baffled seeing their son’s super-fast improvement.
Upon discovering the kid’s keenness to learn new things, she and her husband, Mohan Raj Francis decided to shower him with more words by practising two-way communication. Furthermore, they taught him through flashcards, rhymes, and storytelling. With that, Dev promptly grasps more vocabulary day by day.

Being a first-time parent, Kanaga advises new parents and parents-to-be to daily communicate with their children. This is because children watch and learn things that their parents are doing.
“Even if you start talking to your kid at a young age and receive no response, don’t worry. They will eventually start responding as soon as they grow. Don’t give up and start practising verbal communication with your toddlers” the proud mother wrapped.
Congratulations and best wishes for your next adventure! Much love to you lil’one!
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Filed Under 'Youngest To Speak Expressive Vocabulary'Diiyaash DevKanageswaryMalaysia book of recordsMohan Raj FrancisToddler Talkyoung prodigy


Vilangu; A Solid Grip Watch With Pulse-Pounding Thrills That Channels Misery

Well, we wouldn’t deny that crime thriller are always a treat to watch!
Vilangu; Penned and helmed by Prasanth Pandiyaraj, this 7-episode series can be classified as a fast-paced screenplay, which offers adequate scope for characters to perform.
A sub inspector (Vimal), been struggling to balance his work-life and wife’s pregnancy-related health issues as he has a tough time in dealing with a gruesome murder case. The case becomes complicated when more people are found dead in a mysterious way. Will he be able to apprehend the culprit and continue his career?

So, what are our real thoughts about Vilangu?
Well, the entire squad deserves special recognition for producing a web series in accordance with international quality standards. All of the episodes have been precisely crafted and produced in a proper manner.
The plot has several links, which features disparate incidents and victims who dropped by to the police station. It feels like the information is too thickly packed at certain points, making it impossible to see the light. But, the director eventually joins the dots and provides a fairly gratifying jigsaw puzzle. While the camera does not veer away from showcasing the violence of police force, and we also get to witness the pressure that the whole team went through to solve the crime case.
Vilangu’s merit is its script, which, despite its fast-paced nature, provides great scope for a well-drawn character to shine. The filmmaker literally devotes sufficient time at the beginning of the film to introduce the characters and their surroundings to the audience.

Having said all this, Vimal, Balasaravanan, RNR Manohar, and Munishkanth deliver strong performances that enhance the screenplay to the climax, allowing viewers to empathise with the characters’ struggles and feelings.
In a nutshell, the seven-episode miniseries is truly deserving of the title “riddle.” At one point, when you look back at these episodes, you begin to understand that some of this was by design. Like being given pieces to a complex puzzle, it’s not meant to make sense or stand on its own.
Definitely, worth a watch!
The slow-burn murder mystery requires time and patience to unveil the whole vision which it’s been hiding since the beginning, with scattered pieces scattered around. But as the names and events start getting a context, we get handcuffed to Vilangu and its plot.
Watch the sneak-peak of Vilangu below:

https://youtu.be/gbvpEWPqMaMVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Vilangu | Official Trailer | Vimal | Bala Saravanan | Ineya | Streaming Now On ZEE5 (https://youtu.be/gbvpEWPqMaM)

Vilangu is currently streaming on ZEE 5!
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Filed Under BalasaravananCrime ThrillerInvestigativeMunishkanthMurder casePrasanth PandiyarajRNR ManoharVilanguVimal


Tony Fernandes’s AirAsia Marks A Record-Breaking 500k Seats Sale Within 48 Hours

While celebrating its rapid comeback as all airlines are flying sky high once again, AirAsia launched five million FREE seats big sale on the 19th of September to mark the milestone proving as always, AirAsia is Asia’s low fare leader, enabling everyone to fly.
For travel between 1st January and 28th October 2023, bargain hunters have until September 25th to take advantage of great airfare discounts across ASEAN and beyond. In this light, AirAsia achieves a significant milestone by selling an astounding 500,000 seats on both short- and long-haul flights in just 48 hours.

After almost three years of lockdowns and travel restrictions, the incredible record-breaking sale marked the greatest number of seats sold daily since the beginning of COVID-19 and the travel sector.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the record-breaking sale that has been achieved through traditional media, surpassed the airline’s pre-Covid daily sales record of 230,000 in January 2020.
“I am thrilled that our support of traditional media that has always been there in AirAsia resulted in record-breaking daily sales. It was emotional for me to see today’s achievement, having gone through almost three years of hellish times to see us surpass our pre-COVID record daily sales record of 230,000 in January 2020,” Tony expressed.
IMAGE CREDIT: BUSINESS INSIDER
“I want to thank my unsung heroes in the commercial, branding and communications department for their constant and unwavering support and the can-do attitude to bring us back to our previous heights,” he remarked.
In a statement, he said value seekers have been snapping up free seats by the minute to their favourite short-haul destinations, a few most visited tourist spots in Malaysia with the likes of Langkawi, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.
Related:  Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam Receives 'UniteHealth's COVID-19 Influencers Award'The FREE seat promotion is available exclusively on the AirAsia Super App and website, until 25th September 2022 for travel between 1 January 2023 and 28 October 2023 by clicking on the ‘Flights’ icon on the AirAsia Super App or website.

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You may follow AirAsia’s official Instagram for more updates.
Source: [1]
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Filed Under AirAsiaairlinesASEANAviation fieldcovid-19Tan Sri Tony FernandesTony Fernandes


National Audition For Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 Is Happening In August And Here Is What You Need To Know!

Have you always dreamt of participating in a beauty pageant? Do you want to represent Malaysia on the international stage?
A National Audition for the next Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 is happening this month end.
Ambitious young women who meet the requirements in becoming the next Miss Universe
Malaysia 2020 can register their details online from now till end of August 2019 at
https://mumo.com.my/registration/form/.
Miss Universe Malaysia Audition Details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 24th – Sunday, 25th August 2019
Time: 11AM – 5PM
Venue: Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, 25 Jalan Kamunting, 50300 Kuala Lumpur.

In order to qualify, one must meet the requirements set by the Miss Universe Malaysia
Organization (MUMO). This competition is open to non-Muslim, Malaysian female citizens who have never been married or divorced or have had children.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and under 27 years of age before 1 January 2020 in the year that they wish to compete, and measure a minimum of 168cm and above in height.
Apart from the ability to communicate in either English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin or Tamil, she must also be able to personify all the values and attributes of Miss Universe Malaysia. This includes possessing confidence, strong work ethics, commitment, professionalism, talent, grace and beauty.

For candidates planning to attend the National Audition, they must be well-groomed with make-up and high heels, and bring the original and photocopy of their MyKad, along with three photos, each showing their face, a full-length shot and a mid-length shot respectively.
The winner will have opportunities to network with prominent, influential figures all over the world and work with leading industry players, and at the same time, be challenged emotionally, mentally and physically.
More importantly, the crowned winner will have an opportunity of a lifetime to travel abroad and represent Malaysia at the international Miss Universe pageant to be held in 2020. She will also receive a cash prize of RM50,000, sponsored prizes and a full education scholarship from HELP University.
The Next Miss Universe Malaysia 2019 Winner, Shwetajeet Kaur. Image credit RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Qualified young women who are up for the challenge are invited to register and attend the
National Audition for a chance of winning the most prestigious title in the pageant world.
If you have further enquiries regarding the competition guidelines, you can email the organizers to contact@mumo.com.my.
Follow their official website; www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my to stay updated.
Facebook MissUniverseMalaysia
Twitter @MissUniverseMY
Instagram missuniversemalaysia
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New Heroine Roped In For Rajinikanth-Karthik Subbaraj Film?

The most awaited movie of the year – Kaala – is hitting cinemas worldwide tomorrow on the 7th of June. But let’s not forget about the Superstar’s upcoming movie with young director, Karthik Subbaraj.
We have been constantly teased with details and updates for the movie that has yet to be titled. So far, we already have confirmation that Vijay Sethupathi will play a pivotal role next to the Superstar. Anirudh Ravichander has also been confirmed as music director.

Sananth Reddy, Simran, Bobby Simha, are all being considered for supporting roles in the movie.
The newest name to be linked with Thalaivar’s next film is Megha Akash, who is also acting in Dhanush’s in Gautham Menon’s Enai Nokki Paayum Thotta. However, no official statement has been made regarding Megha’s addition to the film – so we’re still waiting!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Top 10 Songs that Symbolises Thenisai Thendral Deva’s Music
Filed Under Karthik SubbarajRajinikanth


Azhagamma: A Mother’s Love Transmitted Through A Musical Video

Azhagamma, a soul-stirring song, is beautifully sung by Punitha Raja and directed by Shan De Souza, a well-known make-up artist.

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A post shared by Black Pepper Records (@blackpepperrecords)

This song is dedicated to all Mothers around the world. Shan De Souza who is always tied to women’s feelings and contributions, especially mothers’, wanted to convey that all mothers are perfectly beautiful just the way they are and special to their children.
Kaabil Raaj, the song’s composer, also penned the song’s lovely lyrics.
Mothers are self – sacrificing angels who would never put themselves first; instead, they value their surroundings so much that they forget about themselves. They, too, require attention from time to time in order to appreciate their own charm.
Anyone who experiences the visuals will be able to connect to it. The way a mother combs her child’s hair, feeds them, and generally makes them feel safe and protected. Nothing can be compared to a mother’s love, not money or materialistic things.
Have you watched the music video? Click the link below to watch a music video about mother’s love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiqmlEESyBAVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: AZHAGAMMA OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO | PUNITHA RAJA | KABBIL RAAJ | SHAN DE SOUZA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiqmlEESyBA)

Music Producer: @composerkabbilraaj
Lyrics & Singer: @punitha_raja
Recording & Mixing: @taakaleestudio
Mastering: CL Toh
Digital Partner: @blackpepperrecords
Video Producer: @kohgulan_777
Director: @shan_de_souza
Visuals & Cuts: @beardman_photography_
MUA: @diva_hairstylist_mua
Boutique: @amodiniboutique2018
Accessories: @sriganeshacollection
Suprise Gift & Cake: @royal_gift_studio
@thevaguru
@sainttfc @thereal.anjali@bavindhran_7521@vickynadarajah23
@ruban_officialdance@shan_de_souza_touch
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Filed Under azhagammaPunitha Rajashan de Souza


Nayanthara Will Play Ajith’s Love Interest In ‘Viswasam’

After various rumours about who will play the leading female role in Ajith’s upcoming flick, we finally have a confirmation.
Multiple online sources have confirmed that actress Nayanthara will be playing Thala’s love interest in Viswasam. This will be the fourth time that the two megastars will star alongside each other – having been paired before in Billa, Aegan and Arrambam.
Not much information is known about the movie as of now, except that Ajith will be playing a don based in North Madras.
Source: Indian Express
The film – scheduled for a Diwali release – will be directed by Siva and produced by Sathya Jyothi Films. Musical genius Anirudh Ravichander has been chosen to score music for the film.
Shooting for Viswasam is expected to start in February and to be completed by August.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  D Imman: Reminiscing His 21 Years of Musical Journey In The Film Industry
Filed Under Ajith KumarNayantharaViswasam


Madhavan Looks So Hot In This Pic; Making His Fans Cry!

R Madhavan is known for setting his fans’ hearts racing with his pictures and he has done it again. Actually, he did it again almost two years ago.
A fan shared a stunning black and white picture of the actor and said he moved her to tears. “He’s so hot, I wanna cry. Why you be so hot,” she asked him in a tweet. Madhavan shared a hilarious reply to her tweet. “2 year old pic my lady.. I wanna cry too. Damn I need to get back to that look,” he wrote.
Madhavan is one of the country’s biggest heartthrobs. He recently got a marriage proposal from an 18-year-old but dodged it quite gently and easily. He had shared a photo on social media in July and wrote about the journey on his film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.

2 year old pic my lady.. I wanna cry too 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Damn I need to get back to that look.. https://t.co/kiUtVdKw68
— Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) September 18, 2019

“Editing is so much fun and exhausting:. Enjoying and fearing it..End of long travel day. Definitely getting older ..” the actor wrote. He flaunted a salt and pepper look in the pic and one fan wrote, “Is it wrong that I am 18 and wanna get married to you.” Madhavan responded, “Ha ha God bless you, you will find someone way more worthier.”
What a gentlemen!
Madhavan’s colleagues were also fawning at his good looks in the comments. “Getting older never seemed so good!!!!!And much excited for your venture,” wrote actor Shalini Pandey. Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra also wrote, “Have you been using fair and handsome?”
Madhavan’s debut as a director, Rocketry is based on the life of Narayanan, who was in-charge of the cryogenics division at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In 1994, he was falsely charged with espionage and arrested. The charges against him were dismissed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 1996, and the Supreme Court declared him not guilty in 1998.
The film’s major portions were shot in three languages — Hindi, English and Tamil. It is shot extensively across India, Princeton, Scotland, France and Russia.
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Vishal Donated For TN Farmers Through The Profits Of ‘Ayogya’!

Vishal has always been very vocal about his actions. Through talk shows and charity drives, he has helped so many families and people!
His recent film ‘Ayogya’ has won praise for his different style of acting and is running successfully all over.

Vishal has announced that he would be donating rupees one from every ticket sold for ‘Ayogya’ to the Tamil Nadu farmers.
The actor will be giving money from his own pocket and not from the producer of the film.
Previously, he did the same thing by donating 10 lakhs from his ‘Sandakozhi 2’ film.
To give is to receive!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Kamal Hassan To Play a Farmer in his Next Film With H. Vinoth
Filed Under ayogyakollywoodTamilVishal


Primary Schools Might Not Resume Until 2021

The long interruption in schooling could last until next year for most students as the education ministry prepares to announce new guidelines to help teachers and students cope with Covid-19 containment measures, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported .
A source close to discussions on the reopening of schools nationwide said only secondary school students facing critical examinations could see a return to physical classrooms.
“The plan is to suspend schooling for primary schools until next year,” the source told FMT. They have not been able to verify this with the relevant authorities.
Source: Facebook
Education Minister Radzi Jidin indicated that only Form 4 and 6 students at some 3,000 secondary schools nationwide could be affected by the reopening of schools.
Schools in the country which closed for first-term holidays on March 14 have remained closed due to the movement control order imposed on March 18.
In April, the education ministry announced the postponement of two major secondary school examinations, SPM and STPM, as well as the cancellation of the Year 6 UPSR.
This year’s SPM examination – considered the most critical test in schooling life – will be held in the first quarter of next year.
Radzi said the school reopening management guidelines, jointly drafted with the health ministry and the National Security Council (NSC), would be distributed tomorrow, detailing how students’ movement could be controlled in the school compound to fulfil social distancing requirements.

“We issued these guidelines to see which methods need to be done in the context of school reopening and proper preparations to ensure that whenever we announce the date, they will be ready.
“The ministry has always discussed any room for improvement with the schools… what is important is for everyone to play a role in the management of schools, teachers and parents. For example, if the child has symptoms then the child should stay at home,” he told Bernama.
Radzi also said parents should not worry about sending their children to school although no date has yet been fixed.
“Once the health ministry and the NSC feel it is time to reopen schools, we will make an announcement two weeks ahead of time. Thus far we have yet to set a date for school reopening,” he said.
News credit: FMT news
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Filed Under Dr Mohd Radzi Md JidinNational Security Council (NSC)School to be extend till 2021


Hanging in Limbo – The Tamil Concerts Scheduled For This Year

Remember the pre-corona days? The many nights of dining out, ad hoc travel plans and all those concerts. The new normal has now taken over, with every event and travel taking a back seat thanks to the virus that is ravaging lives.
Not many know what our lives will be like when the Movement Control Order (MCO) ends, which leads to another question. What is going to happen to the many Tamil concerts planned for the rest of the year here in Malaysia?
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said earlier this month that the government will probably discourage mass gatherings for the next six months or one year. However, no directive has been issued thus far.
So far, three concerts scheduled for March have been postponed.
Rajhesh Vaidhya Live in Kuala Lumpur

Organised by Petaling Jaya based Carnatic music school, Swara Layam, Rajhesh Vaidhya Live in Kuala Lumpur was scheduled to take place on the 15th of March this year.
Five days before the concert, the organisers took to social media and various media outlets to announce that the event has been postponed to the 25th of July.
It was clearly stated in their press releases that Swara Layam will refund those who are unable to make it on the new date.
Anand & Priyanka Up Close & Personal

This concert featuring Super Singer talents Anand Aravindakshan and Priyanka NK was scheduled to take place on the 29th of March at the Shantanand Auditorium, Kuala Lumpur. After the government announced the Movement Control Order (MCO), the organisers, Asia Weaves, postponed the event to the 9th of August. The concert is scheduled to take place at the same time and venue.
With the postponement announcement, the organisers offered full refunds to those who could not make it.
Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Live in Kuala Lumpur

Purported to be the biggest concert of the year, Mojo Projects’ Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Live in Kuala Lumpur had the attention of all us Tamil music fans from the start of 2020. Come 14th March, it wasn’t just the legendary composer, we would also be entertained by SP Balasubrahmanyam, Mano, Haricharan, Shweta Mohan, Usha Uthup, Surmukhi, Vibhavari, Madhu Balakrishnan, Mukesh, Priya Himesh, Bhavatharini and Anitha.
Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Live in Kuala Lumpur caught our attention for another reason. Never before had we seen tickets for a concert reach figures as high as RM1800. The venue of Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Live in Kuala Lumpur, was slated to be Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), which has a capacity of 47,700 visitors. The number of people expected to attend the concert is unclear.
It seemed as if everything was on track, with Shweta Mohan posting an image of the troupe rehearsing with Illayaraaja days before the event.
Late at night on the 11th of March, Mojo Projects broke the news that the concert has been postponed to the 20th of June due to Covid-19 concerns. Along with a video of the Maestro himself saying the same, the organisers issued a statement saying all purchases for the concert will be honoured for the rescheduled date in June.
For some strange reason, they have kept up the illusion of ticket sales on AirAsia Redtix. Tickets cannot actually be bought, as clicking the Buy Ticket button will only lead the user to a dead end.
Ever since they announced the postponement, Mojo Projects’ social media handles appear to have morphed into a Covid-19 advisory page. From advice for e-hailing and taxi users to the A-Z of the virus itself, they are taking the pandemic very seriously.
Related:  Sid Sriram’s Heart and Soul 3.0 concert to hit KL this 7th October, Tickets on sale June 1, 11AMInterestingly, there was no mention of a refund for those who could not make it. Replying to a comment on the topic, Mojo Projects said that refunds will be studied on a case to case basis and they will have more information soon.
SPB Live Concert Kuala Lumpur – Mettu Podu 2

Announced bang smack in the middle of our first MCO, SPB Live Concert Kuala Lumpur – Mettu Podu 2 is scheduled to take place on the 22nd of August 2020. Keeping with the organiser, Raaghav Productions’ trend, the event will take place in KLCC’s Plenary Hall. The event will also feature Drums Sivamani and Suresh Peters.
The tickets to this event are already on sale.

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A post shared by RAAGHAV PRODUCTION (@raaghavproduction) on Mar 24, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

The organisers have assured concert goers that tickets purchased will receive a 100% refund if the show is cancelled. If the show is postponed, the same ticket purchased can be reused, according to Raaghav Productions. They have yet to release any statement on refunds in the case of postponement.
Sid Sriram Live in Melbourne & Sydney 2020

Why are we bothered about a concert that’s being held on another continent, you ask? The organisers of Sid Sriram Live in Melbourne & Sydney 2020 are the Malaysian events company, Woodmark Events. The two concerts are slated for September 2020, but tickets have not gone on sale just yet.
In limbo
Our hearts go out to these organisers, some of whom have heavily invested in these events. But as consumers, we need to put ourselves first.
Many of us have purchased tickets to watch these big names perform, but when the organiser mentions nothing about refunds, it puts us on the edge. This adds to the anxiety that has already built because we are unsure if we will have our jobs in the next few months and that money spent on a concert earlier this year seems to be better channeled towards necessities.
With the many restrictions on mass gatherings that are going to come about in the next couple of months, the fate of these concerts is in limbo. We can only assume that most of them have taken the wait and see approach before calling off or further postponing the concerts.
It isn’t just the mass gathering to consider, it is also bringing over the artist from another country along with their team. Will non essential travel be possible?
It goes without saying that this is an unprecedented situation. It is a waiting game for all of us. A word of reassurance from the organisers about the event and the refunds would be a welcome respite in these tough times.
A word of reassurance from the organisers about refunds would be a welcome respite in these tough times.
As we look for an Illayaraaja tune on Spotify to ease our anxieties, we cannot help but wonder. Will we return to the ease attending a concert without worrying if the person beside you is infected with a deadly virus?
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Filed Under Anand & Priyanka Up Close & Personalasia weavesChitraillayaraaja live in klMojo ProjectsRaaghav Productionsrajhesh vaishya live in klSid SriramSP Balasubrahmanyamswara layamwoodmark events


Malaysian Model, Vanizha Vasanthanathan, Will Be Walking At Jakarta Fashion Week 2020

First of all, let’s take a moment to gaze at this spell-binding beauty.
International model, Vanizha Vasanthanathan
Vanizha Vasanthanathan is a Malaysian Indian model and Odissi dancer who has paved an illustrous career internationally. She is known for breaking barriers and beauty stigma by continuously expanding her horizons into newer territories. The model has walked for world-renowned designers at Lakme Fashion Week, Beijing Fashion Week and China Fashion Week. In 2018, Vanizha modelled for Farah Khan at her show in Halcyon Gallery, London and she was even featured on the spreads of Vogue magazine.
Vanizha at China Fashion Week
Vanizha for Farah Khan in London
Now; the tall beauty has another achievement unlocked!
Vanizha who was recently seen attending auditions for Jakarta Fashion Week 2020 (JFW 2020) has announced that she has been confirmed as one of the models for this prestigious fashion event. She shared the exciting news on a social media post captioned, “Your girl made it in JAKARTA!”

Vanizha confirmed the news with Varnam Malaysia and is elated by this new achievement. Jakarta Fashion Week 2019 was held from October 20 to October 26, 2018 at Senayan City featuring 208 fashion designers from Australia, Pakistan, England, Japan, South Korea, France and India alongside local Indonesian designers. The official announcement for Jakarta Fashion Week 2020 will be released soon.
Congratulations, Vanizha!

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Filed Under Jakarta Fashion Week 2020Vanizha Vasanthanathan


Amala Paul Is A Forensic Pathologist In Her Next Film

Amala Paul’s next film is based on a book by a famous forensic surgeon in Kerala, Dr Umadathan. The film Cadever that is inspired by the book titled Oru Police Surgeonate Ormakurippukal will see Amala Paul acting as a forensic pathologist.

As part of her preparation for the film, Amala Paul met Dr Umadathan and spoke to him about his work. The film is directed by debutant Anoop Panicker and stars Athulya, Harish Uthaman and Ramesh Khanna.
Amala Paul, who is also producing the film, will not be having a romantic pair in the movie. When speaking about the film, she said, “The script demanded a certain kind of budget as it has to be shot on a lot of sets and locations. It is also somewhat dark and intense, and I felt that creative freedom was important if we were to make it that way. These are the kind of subjects that I firmly believe in, and if I don’t support the kind of films that I believe in, then, who will?”

More updates to follow.
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Filed Under Amala Paulcadever


Rap Porkalam Season 2 Champion Awarded With RM20,000 Cash Prize

After an intense salvo-staging battle in Rap Porkalam Season 2, we finally have a winner!
Following a riveting battle between the top five finalists, Og Bangerz was announced the winner of Rap Porkalam Season 2 during the grand finale yesterday, taking home a RM20,000 cash prize.
Sheran G, DarCiva, Vethen and Dave Evad came in second, third, fourth and fifth places, respectively. The grand finale was aired on TV via Astro Vinmeen (Ch 202) and Astro GO.

Prem Anand, Vice President, Indian Customer Business, Astro, said, “It’s been a rewarding journey witnessing the growth of these local talents guided by some of the best in the local Tamil rap landscape via Rap Porkalam. We are happy to provide Malaysians with more platforms such as this to showcase their talents. We congratulate all finalists, especially Og Bangerz on their well-deserved success.”
Og Bangerz, Champion, Rap Porkalam Season 2, said, “It feels like my 13 years of consistent hard work had finally paid off. I’m extremely happy to be the champion of Rap Porkalam Season 2, especially in the presence of my idols, Yogi B, Emcee Jesz, Saint TFC and Sheezay.”
“I will cherish this moment as my lifetime achievement. I’m happy that I was able to make it through despite this being my debut stage performance, proving to audiences that hardwork will always pay off. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to all my supporters. I look forward to their continuous support in time to come.” the champ remarked.

The second place winner was awarded RM10,000 in cash, while the third and fourth place took home RM2,000 cash and fifth place with a cash prize of RM1,000.
Fans can stream all episodes of Rap Porkalam Season 2 now via Astro GO and On Demand.
For more information, visit astroulagam.com.my/RapPorkalamS2 .
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Naamastay Hip Hop Was a Banger & A Top-Tier Tamil Hip Hop Music Fest for Malaysia
Filed Under ‘Rap Porkalam’ Season 2astro GOastro vinmeenDarcivaDave EvadEmcee JeszOg BangerzSaint TFCSheezaySheran GVethenyogi b


Who Will Arya Marry? Get To Know The Top 3 Girls On Enga Veetu Mapillai

We are so close to the finale!!!
Arya made house visits to the Top 5 girls’ homes – Abarnathy, Swetha, Agatha, Seetha Lakshmi, and Susanna. The house visits were meant to help him get to know them, their family and friends on a more personal level.
On the latest episode of Enga Veetu Mapillai, it was time for Arya to make another round of elimination.
We were all on the edge of our seats as we watched the five remaining girls try their hardest to remain calm and collected in the midst of so much tension.

Susanna was the first girl to get called. She was joined by Agatha, but only after Arya said goodbye to Swetha. Arya decided to eliminate Swetha as he felt that they would be better off as friends.

Both Abarnathy and Seetha Lakshmi were in the bottom two. Although the episode ended there, the teaser trailer for the next episode showed Abarnathy throwing a tantrum – so we’re guessing Arya finally decided to eliminate her.
Based on that assumption, the Top 3 finalists for Enga Veetu Mapillai are Susanna, Agatha, and Seetha Lakshmi.

Susanna a.k.a Sound Saroja

Susanna is a radio therapist from Canada. She always appears to be calm and composed during show, even when given a daunting task. Susanna is divorced and has a son named Naidan. Her divorce often becomes a topic of discussion as some of the girls question why Arya would want to consider marrying a ‘complicated’ person.
When Arya was asked about this, he simply responded with, “I think everybody deserves a second chance and a new beginning.”
He has also reiterated many times that her divorce is not a problem for him. In fact, Arya revealed that he himself almost got married once!
https://varnam.my/2018/1402/enna-veetu-mapillai-susana-shows-arya-pictures-of-her-son-during-hot-air-balloon-date/
Arya has expressed great interest in Susanna, giving her a total of 3 Tokens of Love and bringing her on a hot air balloon date. In one episode, Shreya even complained that Susanna advanced too easily, sometimes without even trying.
Varnam’s Verdict: We like Susanna’s elegance and composed nature. She also seems to be the most matured one among all.
2. Agatha a.k.a Maggie

Agatha is an actress and freelance video editor from Bangalore. She is a hopeless romantic who believes in true love and finding her soulmate (very much like this writer ;) ). Arya and other contestants often describe her as a dreamy person because she is constantly day-dreaming about a fairy tale kinda love.
https://varnam.my/2018/1131/enga-veetu-mapillai-agatha-scores-date-arya-winning-challenge/
It’s no surprise that Agatha made it to the Top 3; she has been Arya’s favourite from the start of the show. She won the first ever challenge and scored a special dinner date with Arya. It’s plain to see that Arya has a soft spot for her.
Related:  New OTT Films To Binge Watch Over the WeekendArya even planned a trip to the Taj Mahal just to surprise her. The moment they got there, he said, “I’ve always wanted to bring my girlfriend to the Taj Mahal.” Wait what now?!

However, she doesn’t speak up as much as the other contestants and mostly just agree with whatever they say. In one episode, host Sangeetha asked her who she wanted to see eliminated from the show. Agatha replied with, “I don’t want anyone to get eliminated,” which sounds very much like she’s just trying to get into everyone’s good books.
Varnam’s Verdict: We think Agatha is slightly immature and possibly even just faking a front to impress Arya. However, we know that Arya likes her a lot, and that alone is enough for her to win.
3. Seetha Lakshmi a.k.a Kunju

Seetha Lakshmi is 25-year-old bank manager from Kerala. She appears to be very traditional and old fashioned. She made her debut on the show by presenting a coconut to Arya, making a promise that they will break it in a temple one day if all goes well. She also constantly talks about the moon and how it represents her love for Arya.
Honestly, we’re quite surprised that she made it this far. She is the only one in the Top 3 who has never won a Token of Love – which means she never won a challenge – and never scored a special date with Arya. However, Arya seems to enjoy her company (and innocence) so decided to let her stay and get to know her better.

Seetha Lakshmi got her first date with Arya only when they were down to six girls and all the girls got to plan a special date for him. The two also enjoyed a romantic moment when he visited her place – they read a Paulo Coelho book by a lake, accompanied by hot coffee – and then it started raining and Arya held the umbrella for her. How sweet.
Varnam’s verdict: In the presence of Susanna and Agatha, we think that Seetha Lakshmi is going to have a hard time even making the Top 2 – let alone winning.
Final Verdict :-
Winner: Susanna
1st Runner Up: Agatha
2nd Runner Up: Seetha Lakshmi
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Filed Under AgathaAryaEnga Veetu MapillaiSeetha LakshmiSusanna