RICKSHA: A Brand New Banana Leaf Eatery To Open In Bangsar!

Since the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into effect, Malaysia’s economy spiralled downwards drastically. The Food and Beverage (F&B) industry has been gravely hit too with many workers being laid off from their jobs as restaurants were ordered to close during the lockdown period.
This led to thousands of Malaysians losing their jobs during the MCO.
Having to pay bills and put food on the table, many enterprising Malaysians started diversifying by setting up online businesses, food delivery businesses and many more.
A brand new banana leaf restaurant in Bangsar “RICKSHA” recognises this problem and is willing to help those who have lost their jobs during the MCO period by welcoming them to apply for available positions at their new and upcoming restaurant.
 Interested in becoming part of their team, kindly contact “Ricksha’s” manager  Mr. Maran on his mobile, 011 1873 3115 or send in your resumes to ricksha.bangsar@gmail.com by 25th of August.
“RICKSHA”  is in the midst of putting its finishing touches to their restaurant, which has been designed and renovated in exactly 30 days and is tentatively opening its doors for business in the first week of September. Operation hours of the restaurant are slated to be from 7am to 9pm daily.
“RICKSHA” presents you with an array of South Indian cooking that will specialise in dishes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The menus’ are still left unrevealed and will be introduced at the restaurant’s grand opening.
According to Maran, he is adding some interesting elements to make the restaurant showcase a homely look. The team is preparing a dining concept that is made of wood to create a natural style and present a different ambiance to its customers.
“Normally, we purchase wood-like furniture for our homes, but it’s the first time for a restaurant to incorporate that look,” he added.
Mr. Maran added that their in house barista is an ex hotelier who whips up some interesting variants of coffee (being a coffee addict, this news just made our day and we are so eager to try their coffee’s with a twist).
Are you curious about the restaurant’s interior and food? Satisfy your curiosity by dropping by the restaurant at 9A, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar. We can’t wait for the opening of “RICKSHA” and to indulge in some delish banana leaf meal!
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Filed Under banana leaf restaurantbangsarinteriorjob vacanciesopening soonRicksha


Santhanam Apologises For ‘Dagaalty’s’ First Look!

The actor had recently revealed two of his amazing looks from his upcoming film, Dagaalty.
However, his first look in which he can be seen smoking in the poster had created a mixed opinion and the actor has taken to his social media and wrote, “”Dacalty” first look poster was inadvertently uploaded. Have realised that it may promote smoking which is injurious to health. Will ensure my future films will never carry such posters.”

"Dacalty" first look poster was inadvertently uploaded. Have realised that it may promote smoking which is injurious to health. Will ensure my future films will never carry such posters.
— Santhanam (@iamsanthanam) June 8, 2019

How many times are actors going to endorse posters like this? And then say sorry, and expect for things to change? Grow up! It would have taken more than just one person to create the first look of a film.

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Filed Under dagaltykollywoodSanthanamTamil


Indian National Detained by Bukit Jalil Immigration Authorities Dies in Custody

Zeeawdeen Kadar Masdar, an Indian national who was detained by the immigration authorities in Kuala Lumpur on 8th May died in the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot. The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur confirmed the news yesterday.
The visa documents of the 67-year-old showed that he entered the country on March 17, a day before the movement control order was imposed. He was due to return to Chennai on March 20th, but instead, he languished in detention for more than a month before he was found unconscious in his cell.

A test after Zeeawdeen died showed he was Covid-19 positive, but he was not infected before he was detained, a Health Ministry document showed. The family has appointed a family friend to collect the remains and arrange for a funeral, but the man has not been able to gain access to the body or Zeeawdeen’s personal possessions.
According to Health Ministry letters, Zeeawdeen and his son, Jamaludeen were both declared Covid-19 negative on 4th May. However, they were separated on the 8th of May. This was the last time the family had contact with him.
On June 14th, the Health Ministry announced the death of the Indian citizen at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot.
“My family is in extreme sorrow. My mother had a heart condition and she is now in hospital after hearing about my father. I want to lodge a complaint to the Human Rights Commission because what happened to him is not fair. I want to know why the police and immigration acted with no sympathy, especially when it was Ramadan,” his son, Jamaludeen said.

But when contacted, Immigration Department director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said Zeeawdeen is not the man who died in immigration custody on 12th June.
“Those in detention are undocumented or overstayed. They entered before January 2020. This is not the man who died,” he said when shown Zeeawdeen’s e-Visa document, showing he entered the country on 17th March.
This directly contradicts what the Indian High Commission said. It informed the family on June 15th that Zeeawdeen was the man whose death was announced by the Health Ministry the day before.
More to follow
Source: Malaysiakini
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Filed Under Bukit Jalil Immigration DepotDies in custodyJamaludeenZeeawdeen Kadar Masdar


Mugen Rao’s Heart Wrenching Note On His Father’s Passing

Malaysian singer Mugen Rao, the winner of Bigg Boss Tamil 3 recently has lost his father, Prakash Rao, to a cardiac arrest. He passed away last Thursday. Mugen has penned an emotional note for his late father on social media.
“If you have heard me sharing the tough part of my life, this is definitely the toughest. The man whom I got my genes, traits, talent, look, skills, and life from. My dad is no longer with us and has departed to the almighty.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who poured your condolences, concern, care and wishes. Can’t express how deeply grateful I am for all your love and strength.
I love you Dad, and will always be your grateful and humble son. Difficult but will soon move on as I’ve got work to accomplish with your blessing.”
Mugen also shared pictures of himself with his late father. Malaysian netizens have been flocking to his social media page to leave tonnes of messages of love and support.

Stay strong, Mugen.
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Here’s 7 Valuable Life Lessons I Have Learned From Amala Paul

We live in an era where Tamil movie actresses are subjected to merely looking pretty, and acting cute to play the perfect damsel in distress. Amala Paul, on the other hand, is busy shattering stereotypes, one at a time.
Here are 7 life lessons this actress has taught her fans:
We all have to start somewhere
Source: India Today
Who remembers the movie Sindhu Samaveli? One of Amala Paul’s first movies, she plays a wife who ends up having an illicit affair with her father in law. The movie didn’t fare well in the box office, and Amala was the recipient of numerous curses and even death threats. It is sad that the Tamil masses cannot differentiate a role played in a movie to that of a real life person. Regardless, Sindhu Samaveli and her movie Mynaa, released the same year were incredible stepping stones for her.
Love your body, and own it!
Source: Kollywood Today
The Tamil movie industry is overflowing with imported North Indian (and even Caucasian) actresses. All of whom are revered for their milky white skin, in spite of not being able to speak a word of Tamil. Amala, however, has stood her ground and is one of the very, very few actresses to speak Tamil and to own her dark skin.
Screw society!
Source: TheNewsMinute
Celebrity divorces enthrall us solely for the reason that it humanizes them. Amala was romantically linked to director AL Vijay while working on the sets of Mynaa. In 2014, they tied the knot. However, their marriage ended two years later. Reports say that this was due to a disagreement between her and her in-laws, pertaining to Amala’s acting career. Knowing the stigma attached to being a divorcee in an Indian society, she chose to follow her heart. We adore her for showing the middle finger to society and staying true to herself!
Never lose sight of your passion
Source: Pinterest
Through her separation and eventual divorce, Amala has been starring in various Tamil and Malayalam movies. Critically acclaimed Amma Kannaku was filmed during this tough period. Amala’s passion for acting never wavered, she carried the role of a mother returning to school with her adolescent daughter with such grace. The same year, she bagged the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – South for her performance in the Malayalam drama film, Mili.
Always stand up for yourself
Source: Cinema Express
Earlier this year, Amala reported an incident of sexual harassment against her. Amala alleged that a man had made sexual advances at her while she was at a rehearsal for a show. Amala immediately lodged a police report in the T Nagar police station in Chennai. The police have made an arrest in the case. This sent shock waves through the Tamil entertainment industry, as we rarely hear of actresses standing up for themselves in situations like these.
Give and thou shalt receive
Source: Scroll India
Very recently, Amala has established a foundation to spread awareness about being an eye donor. Aptly named Amala Home, this foundation will also generate funds to conduct eye transplants for the needy. Practicing what she preaches, the actress herself has pledged to donate her eyes.
Be brave and venture out of your comfort zone
Source: Colombo Tamil
Amala will be playing a young woman lost in the jungle in her upcoming movie, Atho Antha Paravai Pola. The story will be set in the western ghats and it will be a first of this kind for her. She is also set to play the part of a villain in an upcoming Telugu movie directed by Nizar Shafi. Most Indian actresses shy away from negative roles because it isn’t as glamourous as that of a heroine’s. Also, the Tamil audience of today generally like their women in movies portrayed as beautiful, docile, dumb creatures.
Kudos to Amala for being brave enough to dip her toes into the unknown!
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Filed Under Amala Paul


Laila Returns To Tamil Films!

Popular actress Laila will be reentering Tamil films with the upcoming thriller Alice. The film will be headlined by Raiza Wilson. Sources say that Laila will be playing a supporting role.
Alice is Yuvan Shankar Raja’s second production, his first being the incredibly successful Pyaar Prema Kaadhal, also with Raiza Wilson. Alice will be directed by Mani Chandra, who was a co-director on Pyaar Prema Kaadhal.

Recently, a picture of Laila and actors Prasanna and Karthik Kumar with director Priya went viral on social media, with the team hinting at a sequel to their 2005 romantic comedy, Kanda Naal Mudhal.
Laila took a break from acting after her marriage to Irani businessman Mehdin in 2006. Looks like Laila is making a full fledged comeback into the Tamil film fraternity, and we couldn’t be happier for her!

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Filed Under Alicekanda naal mudhallailaRaiza WilsonYuvan Shankar Raja


P. Sanmuggam Receives Honour From Governor For His Services As Penang Hill Cleaner

Penang Hill is flocked by thrilled tourists who want to enjoy a scenic bird’s eye view of the city, lower temperatures and colourful blooms.

One person who has been making sure that Penang Hill is well maintained and clean is  61 year old cleaner P. Sanmuggam. For the past 39 years, Sanmuggam has been working for the Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) as a cleaner. He rides the 6.30AM funicular train to the top of the hill and cleans the area before the tourists start coming in. His day ends at dusk and he will catch the 6PM train back down the hill.
This has been his routine for almost 4 decades. To honour workers for their involvement in 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs), seven employees of MBPP and three others from the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) received the Pingat Jasa Masyarakat (PJM) and Sanmuggam is one of the recipients.
Sanmuggam received the award during the investiture ceremony to mark Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas’ 81st birthday at Dewan Sri Pinang in Penang.

Picture credit: The Star

When asked about his job, Sanmugam said, “It may seem like a tiring job as I finish only at 6pm, but the satisfaction from the job is worth it.”
Thank you for your services!

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Filed Under Penang hillPingat Jasa MasyarakatSanmuggam


The First Tamil Comedy On Sperm Donation To Feature Harish Kalyan In The Lead

Harish Kalyan will be starring in the Tamil remake of Hindi film Vicky Donor, a film that has themes of sperm donation and infertility. This will be the first Tamil film to touch the topic of sperm donation.
The film will be titled Dharala Prabhu, and is being directed by Krishna Marimuthu. Harish will be reprising the role done by Ayushmann Khurrana in the original.
A still from Vicky Donor
Vicky Donor went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at the 60th Indian National Film Awards. It was remade in Telugu under the title Naruda Donoruda with Sumanth and Pallavi Subhash in the lead roles.
Harish Kalyan is currently busy filming Dhanusu Raasi Neyargale. The full cast and crew of Dharala Prabhu will be released soon.
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Filed Under dharala prabhuharish kalyaninfertilitysperm donationvicky donor


Soundarya Rajinikanth to Tie the Knot Next Year

Rajinikanth is about to get a new family member! Nope, nobody is pregnant. Soundarya Rajinikanth will be tying the knot with actor Visagan early next year.

The groom to be has acted in Vanjangar Ulagam earlier this year. By day, he runs a pharmaceutical company. The couple hosted a private engagement ceremony, which only family and close friends were a part of earlier this year. Their wedding is scheduled to be held in January 2019. Soundarya is divorced and has an adorable 3 year old son, Ved.
The youngest daughter of Rajinikanth began her career as a graphic designer. She worked on films like Baba, Sivaji, Sandakozhi and Chandramukhi, among others. She made her directorial debut starring her father with India’s first motion capture film, Kochadaiyaan. Last year, she directed Velai Illatha Pattathaari II, with her brother in law, Dhanush, in the lead role.

The Varnam team would like to wish the newly engaged couple the very best on their upcoming journey together!
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Filed Under Soundarya Rajinikanth


Susanna’s New Instagram Photo Suggests She May Still Have Feelings For Arya

First things first, none of us are happy with the way Enga Veetu Mapillai ended.
After over two months of investing all of our time and energy into the show, Arya walks away without choosing a bride for himself. His reason was not very convincing as well – he said he didn’t want to hurt the other two girls by choosing only one girl, and he couldn’t face another elimination round.
He also tried to justify his decision by saying that the world would focus on the two girls he denies, and rather than the girl he actually picks. Which is of course a terrible excuse, because we were all dying to know WHO HE’D GET MARRIED TO.

We cannot imagine how the Top 3 girls must have felt – especially after spending all that time with Arya and introducing him to their family members. Of course they appeared to be okay onscreen, but are they really?
Well, we know Susanna is perfectly fine and holds no grudge against Arya. She recently posted a photo on Instagram with the caption “you make my heart smile…” The photo was posted on the 25th of April.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiAsBr3HZI9/?taken-by=sanaxxvii
The photo appears to be a screenshot from her time spent on Enga Veetu Mapillai, donning a traditional attire and holding a bouquet.
What do you guys think? What does this photo mean?
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Filed Under AryaEnga Veetu MapillaiSusanna


November Story Season 1; A Mind-blowing Crime Thriller To Raise Your Suspense

November Story, is a seven-episode Tamil web series featuring rich narratives and flashbacks spanning time frames that unfold in the aftermath of a murder. Helmed by Indhra Subramanian and produced by Ananda Vikatan Group, this series boasts an ensemble cast of brilliant performers, including Pasupathy, GM Kumar, Aruldass, and Vivek Prasanna in prominent roles.

There are two things that matter in the web space which is you have to connect with the protagonist and to be curious about what’s going to happen next.

Each series begins with a sepia-tinted flashback before moving forward in time to meet Anuradha (Tamannaah), and her father Ganesan (GM Kumar) known as a crime author who is battling Alzheimer’s. When Anu takes on the system to defend her father’s innocence in a murder case, the scriptwriter has smoothly blended crime and policemen into the proceedings, making it appear rather natural.
However, police officers appear to have a greater influence on this front than the protagonist, and this is a pervasive issue in the series, which is framed as Anuradha and Ganesan’s major conflict. We don’t get to witness much of their true hardship.
With her riveting depiction of Anuradha, who is known as an ethical hacker goes on a journey to solve this baffling case and save her father. This would be her first time adding multifaceted abilities to the series. At this point, the director wants us to dwell more on the murder’s motive, and he succeeds in keeping the mystery intact until the ending.
He succeeds in making us overlook the numerous coincidences, such as the hacker who has hacked into the police’s servers linked to the killer who Anu is seeking. Only the last few scenes feel bloated, and we have tropes like the key character rushing off on her own to arrest the murderer despite the cops being on her side. Rather than forcing him to make the inference, we get sequences that actually spell out the mystery’s interconnections.

Surprisingly, the gore isn’t excessive.

This thriller series will keep audiences on the edge of their seats and hooked till the end as the mystery behind the murder is unraveled.
Dedicated police, apiece with their own issues, who are clearly workaholics and ensure that no one goes home until the crime is uncovered. Several police officers assigned to the investigation provide some dark humour. A parallel plot (or is it?) about a rape case in college. This may be predictable for viewers of crime thrillers, but the slick production will undoubtedly add to the cool factor of watching it.
Not to forget, Pasupathy makes the most of a multi-layered character by portraying him both sympathetic and repellent.
From Vidhu Ayyanna’s cinematography to Saran Raghavan’s background soundtrack, there is enough quality to add all the intrigue. The director continues feeding us bits of information in each episode that seem to be related and forces us to figure out the links even as the story unfolds in front of our eyes.
Watch the full trailer below:

November Story is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar VIP.
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Filed Under AruldassCrime ThrillerDisney+ Hotstar VIPGM KumarIndhra SubramanianNovember Story Season 1PasupathyVivek Prasanna


Priyanka Chopra Off To Ethiopia For Unicef Commitments After Cannes!

After making a spectacular debut in Cannes, Priyanka Chopra landed in Ethiopia for Unicef work.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxrnM-Wh-b_/?utm_source=ig_embed
Priyanka Chopra is off to Ethiopia for a Unicef function.
The actor took to Instagram stories to post special message for her fans about her trip.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka_france♡🇫🇷 (@priyanka_chopra_fr)

On May 17, Priyanka made her debut on the red carpet at Cannes when she attended the premiere of the film Rocketman.
Priyanka, who was last seen in Hollywood film Isn’t It Romantic, has completed shooting for Shonali Bose’s Bollywood film The Sky Is Pink, which also stars Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim.

Later in the year, she will start shooting for her film with Hollywood stars Mindy Kaling, which is reportedly based on big, fat Indian wedding.
She is one heck of a woman!
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Filed Under cannes2019childisachildethopiaPriyanka ChopraUN


Vijay Sethupathi Will Be Playing The Antagonist In Allu Arjun’s Next Film!

Actor Vijay Sethupathi has been signed to play the antagonist in Allu Arjun’s next yet-untitled Telugu film with director Sukumar. Allu Arjun revealed that Vijay Sethupathi plays the baddie in his next project.

Vijay Sethupathi started playing negative roles from Rajinikanth’s Petta. In Master, he’s rumoured to be playing a gangster who locks horns with Bigil star Vijay.
What can’t Vijay Sethupati do!
Dubbed as AA 20 and to be produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Arjun’s film is expected to go on the floors in a few weeks. It will be Arjun’s third outing with director Sukumar after Arya and Arya 2.
The makers are yet to reveal the complete cast and crew. But it has been confirmed that Rashmika Mandanna has been signed to play the leading lady.Sukumar, whose last film Rangasthalam set new box-office records, is currently busy with the pre-production work on the project.
Arjun also has a project titled Icon in the kitty apart from a pan-India project with AR Murugadoss. If everything goes as planned, Murugadoss’s film might mark Arjun’s Bollywood debut.
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Filed Under allu arjuntelugutollywoodVijay Sethupathivillain


Aadai: What the Film Gets Wrong About Feminism

A couple of months ago, I decided to rewatch Padayappa for the first time in quite some time. This was Superstar Rajinikanth at the most electrifying stage of his career, coming off fantastic genre-defining films like Annamalai and Baasha. As a whole, Padayappa is still as entertaining as it was 20 years ago. But I also noticed something about the film, something that made me cringe, something that I hadn’t paid much attention to watching it as a kid nor a teenager: Padayappa, both the film and the character is terribly misogynistic. This is of course highlighted in the scene — a scene mind you, that’s designed to garner claps and cheers — where Padayappa (Rajinikanth) lectures Neelambari (Ramya Krishnan) on how to be a “proper” woman.
He goes something like…
“A woman should have patience; she shouldn’t get angry.
She should show humility and be submissive; not be hasty.
She should be disciplined and calm; shouldn’t be yelling.”
And then he concludes by saying: “Most importantly, a woman should learn how to behave like a woman.”
It is at this point, where I hid my face in the palm of my hands. Padayappa is a film that presents the educated, confident, outspoken woman as a lustful, vengeful and envious villain while the uneducated, head-bowing, reserved, timid one is presented as the “ideal” lady. This conservative idea of a “proper” woman has been a part of Tamil film pop culture since the early days of black and white films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd6E2XgRowwVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Aadai – Tamil Official Teaser | Amala Paul | Rathnakumar |  Pradeep Kumar, Oorka | V Studios | 4K (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd6E2XgRoww)

That said, over the past couple of years, there appears to be a slight paradigm shift in the way women characters are being written in Tamil cinema. Just compare the women in Kaala to that of Sivaji: The Boss. Not to mention the plethora of Nayanthara and Jyothika movies that have come out in recent months. But films like Raatchasi and Imaikka Nodigal, in which the women are written as educated and highly capable, don’t necessarily push the envelope or shatter the glass ceiling as far as ways in which a female character can be portrayed (at least by global cinema standards).
Which brings us to Aadai, a small budget survival-thriller starring Amala Paul.
Here, our female lead is brazen, outspoken, educated, dresses however she pleases, rides a sports bike, occasionally gets drunk with her friends, casually uses the F-bomb, is the lead host of a popular prank show of a major TV Network, doesn’t necessarily believe in god, occasionally smokes a joint and dates the cute guy of her choosing. In other words, she sounds like most of my gal friends. It’s funny how the most interesting Tamil movie female character in recent memory is one who’s simply normal and relatable.
But writer-director Rathna Kumar doesn’t stop there. Kamini, the Amala Paul character, is also slightly obnoxious, thick-skinned and inconsiderate. Her prank show is distasteful and could very much ruin someone’s day badly, at one point, she locks her colleague in the bathroom and steals her TV slot. She’s also a total dick to a guy who just professed his feelings for her and doesn’t call her mom and inform her that she’ll be coming home late.

All of this is wonderfully established in the humorous and gripping first half. (The scene where Kamini, while under the influence of magic mushrooms, starts stripping in front of her friends is uncomfortable to watch and I mean that as a compliment to the director and Amala Paul’s performance.) After a crazy night of drinking and partying, Kamini wakes up in an empty office building. Her clothes, phone and friends are nowhere to be found.
It’s an excellent set up for a survival-thriller that also doubles as a character study. It reminded me a little of 2014’s Wild, in which Reese Witherspoon’s character goes on a thousand-mile hike alone as a way to self actualize. The question is, stripped away of all her clothes and left to fend for herself, what will we learn about Kamini? What will she learn about herself? More importantly, what sort of transformation will she undergo? Who will emerge on the other side?
This to me, felt like a perfect opportunity to tell a human story. Perhaps, after being completely broken down and shattered in the second act, Kamini would be reborn as a more humble and caring individual. Those ideas present as well. The problem is, director Rathna Kumar bookends his film with statements that revolve around feminism.

Aadai opens with a historical story told through stylistically rendered animation. We see lower caste women protesting against a king who has made a law criminalising women who cover their breasts unless an expensive tax is paid. One of the protestors cuts off her breast and commits suicide becoming a martyr in the process. This theme-setting animation tells us that Aadai is going to be a story that thematically revolves around women’s fight against misogyny and the status quo.
Later, during the climactic scene of the film, Kamini finds herself on the receiving end of a lecture from one of her prank show victims. She says a lot including a line that goes something like: “what is wrong with the women of today? Back in the day, women protested to cover up their breasts, these days with campaigns #FreeTheNipple, women are protesting to bare their breasts.” Kamini then realises the “error of her way.”
We have to ask ourselves, what is Rathna Kumar trying to imply with his opening and closing statements? He seems to indicate that there’s a right sort of feminism (women who fight for their rights to cover up) and a wrong sort of feminism (women who wish to free their nipples). This is very apparent in the presentation of Kamini as a character.
When we first meet her, she’s a T-shirt and jeans kinda gal. At one point, her conservative mother scolds her because her bra strap is showing. She tells her mother that it’s no big deal (here, she’s framed as someone who’s unlikable). At the end of the film, she’s dressed in traditional attire (here, she’s framed as a hero — an investigative journalist who goes undercover and catches sexual offenders in the film industry).
This is why Aadai, despite its good intentions, is rather problematic. Rathna Kumar paints ‘Free the Nipple’ as a vulgar antithesis of the women depicted in the opening historical animation. In reality, they’re both two sides of the same coin, fighting against a patriarchal society to achieve similar goals: the reclamation and autonomy of women’s bodies. In both cases, women are basically saying: “dear men, stop telling us how we should or shouldn’t dress.”  While Rathna Kumar thinks ‘Free the Nipple’ is about Millenials campaigning for the rights to flaunt their “sexy parts”, the campaign is more about equality and de-sexualizing women’s bodies.
Intentionally or unintentionally, Aadai feels more anti-feminist than feminist. At the end of it, Kamini has changed the way she dresses up and we don’t see her cussing, drinking or smoking. The idea is that she’s now transformed into an ideal woman.
Some of you might be thinking isn’t it good that the protagonist quits smoking? Not quite. The problem isn’t with what Kamini does, but how and why she does it. Let’s compare it to the Karthik Subbaraj directed Rajinikanth film, Petta. There, Rajinikanth tells Vijay Sethupathi that he should stop smoking as it’s bad for health. This statement has got nothing to do with the character’s gender. In Aadai, when Kamini’s mother discovers that she drinks, she breaks down in tears. Words like “dignity” and “shame” are thrown around. Here, “drinking” is tied directly to Kamini’s gender (i.e. a woman who drinks and parties brings shame to her family).
Have a look at the two sentences below.
A: Sandra, you should quit smoking. It’s bad for health.
B: Sandra, women shouldn’t smoke. What would people think?
There’s an important difference between A and B, a difference that is unfortunately absent in Aadai. I’m reminded of the ignorant social media comment sections when the trailer of 90 ML first dropped. A common comment: “How can women behave that way [openly talk about sex, drink and smoke]? Feminist movies should be about women striving to be successful in their careers, etc.”
The general reaction towards the 90ML trailer highlighted people’s general lack of understanding of feminism. Feminism is about equality. Equality in the workforce, equality when it comes to access to education, equality in society, equality period. The basic idea is to eliminate the double standard when it comes to the way men and women are perceived by society.

Women should be allowed to be CEOs in companies. Just like men, they should be judged based on their capabilities and achievements.
Women should be allowed to drive. Just like men, they shouldn’t be allowed to if they’re blind.
Women should be allowed to smoke. Just like men, they should only be criticized for killing themselves and those around them as well as polluting the environment.
Women should be allowed to drink. Just like men, they should be judged for mistaking alcohol for mineral water.
Women should be allowed to masturbate. Just like men, they should remember to lock the door and use headphones while watching porn.
Women should be free to express their sexuality. Just like men, they should remember to use protection.

The list can go on and on and on. The point being, if you’re gonna tell your daughter/sister/wife that she should or shouldn’t do something, ask yourself if you’ll say the same to your son/brother/husband?
So, what could’ve been done differently in Aadai?

I go back to Jean-Marc Vallee’s Wild. Pre-hike, the Reese Witherspoon character was an alcoholic, drug-addict and someone with very little self-respect. At the end of the film, we understand that she’s morphed into someone with self-confidence and self-worth. The transformation is nuanced, subtle but immensely empowering.
Aadai would’ve been a much more powerful film had Kamini still maintained a lot of what made her a regular 20-something-year-old woman. If she still dressed the way she did at the start, still indulged in her vices but is a different individual attitude-wise (i.e. caring, humble, polite). If she still drank but called home to inform her mom first.
The problem with Aadai is that it’s unsure of itself and what it’s trying to say. Instead of having Kamini transform just into a better person, Ratna Kumar also transforms her into his idea of a “proper” woman. It feels like a contradiction to the film’s ballsy and mostly brilliant second act (the actual survival part). We see Kamini vulnerable, we see her dig deep unable to find her usual confidence, we see her run away and hide from a perverted man, we see her as an amazonian warrior (the film’s most brilliant piece of imagery) chasing away a pack of hungry dogs (these dogs symbolise men, who see women as nothing but a piece of meat). But because of its opening and closing statements, Aadai fumbles and falls.
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Filed Under AadaiAmala Paul


Malaysia Marks A Historic 70th Birthday For Thalaivar With Wishes Made On Largest LED Billboard!

Every year without fail, our Superstar’s birthday is always celebrated as a grand one, showered with uncountable surprises and tributes marking the birthday of the legendary star! His fans are always part of the joyous occasion yearly with great pride and respect for their dear ‘Thalaivar’.
This year, Malaysia has definitely made a notable surprise for our Superstar by posting a historic 70th birthday wish at the country’s largest LED billboard.
His wishes were a collaborative initiative made by Ricksha Bangsar, Number Twenty One Media and Pocket Malaysia together with the LED Board Company, Visual Retale.

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A post shared by Ricksha Bangsar (@ricksha.bangsar)

This wish on the billboard has undoubtedly stopped vehicles, as we are the only country that has ever displayed an internationally renowned celebrity on a billboard.
The largest digital LED billboard in Malaysia was launched by Visual Retale. On the façade of Pinnacle Petaling Jaya, the highest office tower in the vicinity, is where the largest high-resolution display stands.
The scale of this digital panel measures a huge 110 ft in height and 68 ft in width.  The digital billboard is situated in the heart of Petaling Jaya, on the Federal Highway next to Sheraton Hotel. Sure a head turner I’d say!
CHECK OUT THE FULL VIDEO HERE:

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A post shared by Kalyana Devan (Afro KD) (@kalyanadevan)

According to statistics from Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), the federal highway remains the highway with the highest traffic in the country with an estimated 505,000 vehicles heading to KL and back from 7 am to 11 pm everyday.
The LED displays a face median which can draw passersby attention. The biggest benefit of LED ads is its captivating characteristics, which are perfect for celebrations or events. The bright and dynamic display allows passersby to stop and view the post by captivating their attention even more easily.
Acknowledging the heartfelt wishes showered upon him, the humble and charismatic actor took to his official Twitter handle to thank his worldwide legion of fans.

🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/Jfu22lGsyt
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) December 12, 2020

Once again, Happy Birthday Thalaivar for always enthralling us with your utmost eccentric style! SOOPAR!
#EndrendrumEnggalThalaivar
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  32nd SEA Games Comes to An End Leaving Malaysians Disappointed
Filed Under MalaysiaMalaysia's largest billboardmalaysia's largest LED BillboardNumber Twenty One MediaPinnacle Petaling JayaPocket MalaysiaRicksha BangsarSheraton HotelThalaivarVisual Retale


New Series Alert: Check Out Local Tamil Thriller Series ‘Iraivi Thirumagal Kaadu’

Are you a fanatic of thrillers and sci-fi genre? If you answered yes, then this series is for you!
Astro has unveiled its new spiritual-thriller series bearing the title “Iraivi Thirumagal Kaadu” which will be premiering from tomorrow (3rd March).

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A post shared by Reacch Productions Sdn Bhd (@reacch.asia)

Helmed by talented local director SD Puvanendran, this intriguing series stars Moon Nila, Saint TFC, Cellina Jay, Irfan Zaini, Surrya Prakash, Ratna Gowri, Dhurgashini, Vinoshan, and Yawanesh.
Produced by Reacch Productions Sdn Bhd, Iraivi Thirumagal Kaadu centres around a mysterious and ancient temple in the Iraivi Thirumagal Kaadu village. While the village is experiencing a land issue, the villagers are also dealing with a number of unresolved mysteries surrounding the temple and believe that the goddess of the temple manifests into human form to protect the villagers.
Are you curious about what will happen next? Why not take some time off and binge-watch the 22-episode series every night to feed your curiosity?
You can watch this local Tamil spiritual-thriller series from Monday to Friday at 9pm on Astro Vinmeen HD (Ch 202) and Astro GO or you may also stream it anytime On Demand.
Check out the official trailer for Iraivi Thirumagal Kaadu:

https://youtu.be/046r54ufO6IVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Trailer | Iraivi Thirumagal Kaadu | Vinmeen HD (https://youtu.be/046r54ufO6I)

For more information, you may click HERE.
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Filed Under astro vinmeenAstro Vinmeen HD (Ch 202)Cellina JayDhurgashiniIraivi Thirumagal Kaaduirfan zainiMoon Nila.Ratna GowriReacch Productions Sdn BhdSaint TFCSD PuvanendranspiritualSurrya PrakashthrillerVinoshanYawanesh


Freaky Friday Anthologies Nite Binging You Wouldn’t Want To Give A Pass

Yo folks! Thank God its Friday (TGIF). This surely means you putting the whole long damn week behind and just enjoy some great movie selections that we have selected just for you. So, while you put your feet up, relax, sit back and watch your favourite movie, get your best munchies ready!
In this week’s Freaky Friday Anthologies Nite Binging, I thought of bringing you into the world of anthologies as the scene has been trending.
It’s like a series of short stories which touches on the main points, they are love, hope, faith and the very hash realities of life. It isn’t draggy nor boring.
So now let’s get into business as there are yet again five more intriguing films of these kind worth watching;
SOLO
Netflix

I have to say this must be the most intriguing, baffling Netflix movie and Best Tamil Movies. Solo is an anthology art film based on four different elements: Water, Air, Fire, and Earth, narrating four different people.
 Solo is a film that is shot in a distinct style that you would never have come across, with heartthrob Dulquer Salman as the lead. Four different stories starring Dulquer in four different unique roles are told in the film. The four characters go through all kinds of emotions.
Putham Pudhu Kaalai
Amazon Prime

Putham Pudhu Kaalai, an anthology, brings together five of Kollywood’s top filmmakers for a lockdown project. Sudha Kongara Prasad, Gautham Menon, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Rajiv Menon and Karthik Subbaraj allowed their artistic juices flow and came to Putham Pudhu Kaalai with some pleasant, fun and melodramatic short stories.
 All the characters are stuck at home and have nowhere else to go, thanks to  the coronavirus. The essence of the film shapes how this situation mends certain relationships and how it gives birth to some.
Sillu Karuppatti
Netflix

Sillu Karuppatti is a Tamil anthology film that shows four different stories of love and only love. When the movie is over, you will be left with a smile. The movie is full of positivity and tales of the discovery of love.
The film gained positive reviews and acclaim from all. All the characters in the four stories are beautifully carved to affirm us to believe in love. The ‘feel-good‘ factor that this movie delivers is so high. The film shows that love blooms in every nook and corner of the world, regardless of factors such as age, class and circumstances.
Unpaused
Amazon Prime

Unpaused is sure to be your cup of tea if you are looking for an array of slice-of-life stories that are quirky, funny and adjacent to reality. The anthology features five different segments, filmed during the ongoing pandemic.
There’s a common thread in each story set during the lockdown. While a few try to delve deeply into people’s unfixable misery in the midst of the global crisis, others are stories of hope.
Paava Kadhaigal
Netflix

Last but not the least is Paava Kadhaigal. I had to add this in this list definitely as it consists of four short films that explore, through four intricate and beautiful stories, how love, pride, and honour influence complex relationships. It is a grim reminder of the kind of issues that plague this society. Also, click here to have a plunge at the review of this film.
Let us know which is your favourite among them in the comments below. Happy Weekend Everyone!
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Filed Under Paava KdhaigalPutham Pudhu kaleSillu KarupattisoloTamil AnthologiesTamil Movie suggestionsUnpaused


WATCH: Balachandar Subramaniyan & Family Are Trapped in Wuhan, China

The city of Wuhan in China is under lockdown thanks to the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has now claimed 170 lives in the country and infected 7,731 individuals.
There are 78 Malaysians who are currently trapped in Wuhan, including Balachandar Subramaniyan, his wife and two children. They cannot leave the city.
In a video released by KiniTV, Bala documents the lonely streets of the city, adding the all the shops and markets have been closed. “We don’t know if the shops will reopen or not, and even if they do open, we don’t know if the food and meat will be fresh,” he says. “We are blind,”
Balachandar was with the Geochemical Laboratory Services Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Malaysia. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, majoring in the field of geochemistry.
Balachandar remains hopeful that the Malaysian government manages to negotiate with China to repatriate the Malaysians trapped in Wuhan.

The United States of America and Japan have evacuated their citizens from Wuhan. 195 Americans from the city are now undergoing three days of monitoring at a Southern California military base to make sure they do not show signs of the virus.
210 Japanese citizens from Wuhan landed at Tokyo’s Haneda airport a second government chartered flight. Three of the 206 Japanese who returned on Wednesday tested positive for the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during a parliamentary session.
France, New Zealand, Australia and other countries are also pulling out their citizens or making plans to do so.
Related:  T. Ravichandran Conquers Mount Everest For The Fourth Time, The First Malaysian To Accomplish Such A FeatSource: KiniTV, The Star Online
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Filed Under balachandar subramaniyamcoronavirusMalaysianwuhan


Happy Birthday Rajhesh Vaidhya – 10 Breathtaking Tunes From The Veena Maestro

Highly accomplished veena player and composer, Sri Rajhesh Vaidhya turned 47 yesterday.

Born into a rich musical environment, Vaidhya inherited his indigenous talents from his father Sri K.M. Vaidyanathan, an icon in the world of music, particularly at the mridangam and ghatam.

Rajhesh hails from Tamil Nadu and has performed on stage around the world, including Europe, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Canada, and the United States.
Apart from his blistering speed, in the year 2001, Rajhesh was honored with the title Shree Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Aasthana Vidwan and prestigious Tamilnadu State Award Kalaimamani in the year 2011.
The maestro has churned out super hit tunes from various genre films. On the occasion of his birthday, we recount the 10 best tunes of his in his remarkable series, Do You Have A Minute.
Maya Maya – Baba
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBXHCYvJI5A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Naana Thaana – Thaanaa Serndha Kootam
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBUiPljpbZV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Neeyum Naanum – Naanum Rowdy Thaan
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBPYpYIJtdY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Arima Arima – Enthiran
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBMzzEXJlcV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sa Re Ga Me – Boys
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBKPCIUJwbc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Naa Autokaaran Autokaaran –  Baasha
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHqPPgJcEe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Cheena Thaana – Vasool Raja MBBS
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFFdeepuym/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Kannamma Kannamma – Rekka
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBCgzbKJLFo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Minsara Kanna – Padayappa

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Minsara Kanna #DoYouHaveAMinuteSeries #DYHAMS #DyhamsWeekly #7SongsSeries #RajheshVaidhya @uaudio
A post shared by  RajheshVaidhya (@rajheshvaidhya) on Jun 1, 2020 at 6:31pm PDT

Markazhi Thingal – Sangamam
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1os9KpkDE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Happy birthday, Rajhesh Vaidhya. Here’s to many more years of tugging the strings of our hearts in addition to the veena.
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Filed Under Arima arimaCheena ThaanaKannamma KannammaMarkazhi ThingalMaya MayaMinsara KannaNaa Autokaaran AutokaaranNaana ThaanaNeeyum NaanumSa Re Ga MeSri Rajhesh VaidhyaVeena Maestro


Government To Consider Mandatory Pre-Marriage Courses for Non-Muslim Couples

Pre-marriage courses are designed to provide couples with important information and skills to help them build strong and healthy relationships. Recently we had the government addressing this matter to make it mandatory.
The Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development is considering making pre-marriage courses mandatory for non-Muslim couples.
The Deputy Minister, Aiman Athirah Sabu, announced that the ministry is drafting a proposal paper to form a committee to study the feasibility of this proposal.
According to FMT, Aiman said this when winding up the debate session on the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Negara.
She was replying to Senator Aknan Ehtook, who proposed that non-Muslim couples undergo a pre-marriage course before tying the knot.
During the same session in the Dewan Negara, Aiman addressed the issue of a shortage of officers and staff from the social welfare department (JKM) at temporary relief centers during the recent floods in several states.
She explained that the JKM has taken steps to address this issue by empowering the community. Specifically, the JKM has appointed community leaders, heads of local agencies, school principals, head teachers, and other volunteers from the community as supervisors, committee members, and staff at relief centers.

What is the benefit Pre-Marriage courses?

Provide couples with important information and skills to help them build a strong and healthy relationship
Practice effective communication, conflict resolution, financial planning, and family planning
Identify potential problems before it arises
Promote healthy relationships and reduce the likelihood of divorce

Ultimately, the goal is to promote healthy relationships and strengthen families, which benefits not only the couples themselves but also their children and society as a whole.
What do you think about these pre-marriage courses, will they make any difference?
Source: (1,2)
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Filed Under Aiman Athirah SabuPre-Marriage courses


Five Reasons Behind The Tradition Of Using Copper In Hinduism

Ever noticed the usage of copper in a Hindu household, particularly in the vessels that hold water? I’ve always wondered why the water was stored there, and when my young self asked my mother why, she usually finishes by saying, “It’s good for your health.”
I also noticed that drinking water from a copper bottle tasted much better than drinking water from a regular plastic bottle. It’s so cool and refreshing. Well, I had no idea water could taste better in a copper bottle.
Picture credit: Pinterest
Like any other practice in Hinduism which has a rationale back story to it, this practice has also similar scientific reason.
Water purification occurs naturally when it is stored in a copper vessel
In today’s modern world, where we have UV filters and RO purifiers to purify water, storing water in metal containers may seem archaic and needless. But can you see how advanced we  were in the earlier ages, before the emergence of these technologies?
Helps balance all three doshas (Kapha, Vata and Pitta)
Drinking copper-enriched water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, according to Ayurveda, helps balance all three doshas (Kapha, Vata and Pitta). The energy of movement is vata; the energy of digestion or metabolism is pitta; and the energy of lubrication and structure is kapha. This also ensures the proper functioning of various organs and metabolic processes.
It is capable of killing all microorganisms found in water
Microorganisms such as molds, fungi, algae, and bacteria could be harmful to the body. By storing water in a copper bottle, the Oligodynamic Effect refers to the fact that this water now has the ability to kill harmful microbes, fungi, and bacteria.
It also serves to maintain the body’s pH (acid-alkaline) balance
Failure to maintain a balanced pH value will have serious consequences for your body over time. A pH of less than 7.4 is considered suboptimal, and it creates an ideal environment for bacteria, mold, and viruses to grow. A low or acidic pH causes the body to store acid in our fat cells, leading to the production of more fat cells.
Contributes as an anti-ageing component
Copper is an all-natural treatment for fine lines and wrinkles on the face. It is known for its powerful anti-oxidant and cell-forming properties, which aid in the fight against free radicals, which are one of the primary causes of fine lines. It also promotes the growth of new, healthy skin cells.
Copper is a trace mineral that is necessary for human health. Our lives have recently shifted to a “No plastic” phase, and copper bottles or vessels are a better alternative. However, take into consideration how long you’ll be storing your water. A copper charged water can be made by keeping a copper bottle filled with water overnight (8 hours), according to Ayurveda.
Do you use a copper bottle or vessel at home? Let us know your experience in the comments section below.
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Filed Under Copper history in HinduismCopper scientific reasonUSUsage of Copper


Vishu; Significance and Meaning of The Festival

The most significant occurrence in Vishu celebrations is known as Vishukkani which means – the first thing Lord Vishnu sees after waking up.
Malayalis believe Lord Vishnu is an auspicious object that will ensure a prosperous rest of the year.
Apart from having quality time with family, the preparation of Vishu Kanni has to be the most crucial part of the Vishu celebration. A decorative platter of fruits, herbs, gems, and riches is usually set in front of a mirror during ongoing prayers. Apart from this, it is a customary for people to rise early and look in the mirror and see their faces reflected in all the money and food, which represents the beginning of happier, more hopeful days filled with prosperity.

Vishukaineetam is yet another, and perhaps the most adored, Vishu rite. It refers to elders giving graciously to children in the form of coins, preferably gold coins. It’s a metaphor for the coming new year blessings. Furthermore, it is believed that sharing one’s money with family and friends would bring much more happiness.
A holy book, including the Bhagavad-Gita, is always included in the prayers. The book is both the pramanam—the tool for attaining immortality, non-perishable wisdom—and a sign of that experience.

In every Malayali household, a special feast known as ‘sadya’ is prepared. Rice, sambar, chips, pickle, aviyal, rasam, and a variety of sweets and payasams fill the banana leaf.
Image Credit: Chitrasfood
Festivals are meant to help one understand the meaning of life, and the rituals are meant to purify our thoughts and attitudes toward nature while transmitting positive energy.
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Filed Under Lord VishnuMalayalissadyaSpecial ritualsVishuVishu KanniVishukaineetam


Kanchana 3 Hits Big Screens On 19 April

The successful comedy-horror film franchise under Raghavendra Productions is set to entertain us yet another time with Kanchana 3. The highly anticipated film will hit the screens on 19 April. ‘Kanchana 3’ is written, directed and produced by Raghava Lawrence who also plays the lead role in the movie. The film will be fourth instalment in his ‘Muni’ series and marks the third film in his ‘Kanchana’ franchise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73YoSPWNFfwVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kanchana 3 – Official Motion Poster | Raghava Lawrence | Sun Pictures (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73YoSPWNFfw)

The film is produced by Sun Pictures in association with Raghavendra Productions with Thaman S as the music director of the film. Kanchana 3 stars veteran comedian Kovai Sarala, Big Boss fame Oviya, Vedika, Niki Tamboli, Sriman, Devadarshini and Kabir Duhan Singh in supporting roles.
Watch this space for more updates.
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Nayanthara is All Set for 2019

Actress Nayanthara has been a busy bee. She’s had a fantastic run this year, with both her movies, Imaikka Nodigal and Kolamavu Kokila faring well in the box office. Her Telugu venture that was released earlier in the year, Jai Simha, received positive reviews too.
The actress has just wrapped up shooting for Viswasam, where she will act alongside Ajith. The film is to be released early 2019, in conjunction with Ponggal. Directed by Siva, and released under the banner of Sathya Jothi Films, Visawasam will be the actress’ fourth time acting with Ajith, their last being in Arrambam.

Nayanthara’s next big Tamil release will be Airaa where for the first time in her career, she will be playing a dual role. Airaa will be helmed by a young filmmaker, KM Sarjun, and it will be a Tamil-Telugu bilingual flick. You might remember him, he was the director of Lakshmi, the short film on a woman having an extramarital affair that went viral, upsetting many. Nayanthara’s Airaa will hit the screens come December.

The much talked about Aramm 2 will also begin shooting very soon. Gopi Nainar, the director of Aramm, will be directing the sequel. Nayanthara will be playing the lead in this flick, that takes a political turn and showcases the importance of democracy. Aramm was released exactly a year ago. The film was spectacular, with a compelling story that had the viewer glued to her seat. Nayanthara did her role justice. The actress had grown by leaps and bounds, and it is a joy to watch her carry meaty roles like these. In fact, wouldn’t it be nice if all actresses were given serious roles, and not just ones requiring them to be eye candy?
Related:  Ajith Kumar Launches New Motorcycle Touring Company : Embrace The Twists, Turns, And Open Roads AheadAramm 2 will release in 2019. Is anyone else excited?
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Filed Under AiraaAjithArammNayantharaViswasam


Part 3: Top 6 Slow-Groove Take On Cover Versions That Creatively Transformed The Original Song

There’s an art to pulling off a good cover song. It’s safe to say almost everyone enjoys a good cover. It’s something magical about hearing a popular and traditional song performed in a whole different and unique way. Having said that, I believe it is beyond time for us to give credit to all of the brilliant cover songs that force us to reconsider our musical choices.
Check out Part 3 of cover songs that outdid the original versions:
Arunan Sathiyaseelan – arunan_official
Arunan’s notable cover of Arjit Singh’s Tum Hi Ho song  is as close as it can get to any masterpiece. He creates a magical cover of the hit song and has one of the most soulful voices that makes you want to keep on listening to him sing!
Check out his breathtaking music cover below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI7oimcDCU-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Johnathan Raj – official_johnathanraj
Raagangal pathinaaru by Johnathan with a downtempo vibe that breathes new life into it and reminds the listeners of how amazing it has always been. His gentle, exquisite voice really brings the verses to life and gives the song a sense of dread. It’s a fantastic reinterpretation of a song I felt I’d never heard before. Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan, the song was originally sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam from the movie Thillu Mullu.

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A post shared by Johnathan Raj (@official_johnathanraj)

Pratheban Ganesh – pratheban_
Nobody gave more soul to Yuvan’s song than Pratheban on his cover of Pogathey Pogathey from the film Deepavali. His slow-groove take for this cover version made it hard to guess which was the original and which was the cover song.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7qhY4thY4-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Saktivael Mahalingam – m.shakti97
A great taste in cover songs has always been a trademark for Saktivael, who has done multiple cover songs but Idhu Enna Maayam has grabbed my attention.The talented musician makes a pretty great groove out of it.

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A post shared by Saktivael Mahalingam (@m.shakti97)

Pavi Ravi De’Archer – archer_boy09
It was a real kick to hear Pavi’s voice for Venpa hit song Oru Murai. This song’s fervour has just been cranked to a whole new level. Pavi gave the song new life yet again when he did a cover version with all his soulful goodness.

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A post shared by Pavithran Ravindran (@archer_boy09)

William Sagayaraj – willieboyentertainment
It’s difficult to envision this song any other way after hearing this cover. William gives “Nee Enthan Anbe”an emotional dimension that you didn’t even know was possible. Obviously, the original version is fantastic, but William’s vocals add a layer of ethereal charm that will make your heart melt—in a good way.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI0dfuHhNiB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Did we skip any of the versions of your favourite cover? Let us know in the comments down below.
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Filed Under Arunan SathiyaseelanCover SongsJohnathan RajMalaysian TalentsPavi Ravi De'ArcherPratheban GaneshSaktivael MahalingamWilliam Sagayaraj


Sabesh Manmathan Receives “Rise Singer Award” On India’s 72nd Republic Day

As we all know, our Malaysian born artist has achieved immense recognition and success  in the highly competitive Kollywood scene, most recently with his work on a Tamil blockbuster.
A name that needs no introduction, Sabesh Manmathan who was featured in D.Imman’s collaboration with Jayam Ravi’s 25th Movie; “Boomi”, was awarded the ‘RISE SINGER AWARD’.
He received this award on India’s 72nd Republic DAY from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam People’s Welfare in Puthukottai, Kamaraj Nagar, Ponamarvathy, Tamil Nadu, India.

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A post shared by Sabesh Manmathan (@sabeshmanmathan)

He shared a video on his Instagram stating;
It was an honour to receive this award on the 72th Republic day of India. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents, family and friends for being there always.
Not forgetting, Imman sir for giving me the opportunity to sing for Jayam Ravi sir’ 25th movie, ‘Bhoomi’ which is now out on Disney Plus Hotstar and also Dr Anba and Dr Baskar for organising such an event.
To receive the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s “Rise Singer Award’ is a big thing. Thank you so much to everyone. I hope all of us can reach great heights together one day. Stay safe and Vande Maataram.
He sang the song, Vande Maataram for D.Imman. Congratulations to our Malaysian Star and we for Varnam wish Sabesh Manmathan all the best in his future undertakings.
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Filed Under DImman features a Malaysian singersabesh manmathan featuring in India moviesabesh manmathan jayam raviSabesh Manmathan Receives "Rise Singer Award" On India's 72nd Republic DayVande Mataram sabesh manmathan


10 BEST Fan Reviews About ‘Heart & Soul With Sid Sriram’

Last Saturday, Quill City Convention Centre was packed to the brim with a sea of music enthusiasts who were ready to rock it out to the highly anticipated ‘Heart & Soul With Sid Sriram’. Within 24 hours of announcing the concert, Woodmark Events reported that they sold out 3 zones and the rest of the tickets were sold like hot cakes leaving many eager fans disappointed that they missed the chance to watch the sweet voice of South Indian cinema. The night was filled with the crowd swaying to evergreen melodies, singing along to the greatest cinema hits and indulging in the explorative beats of ‘Entropy’.
We thought they would be no better way To sum up the entire evening than to quote some of the BEST comments that fans shared online.
Here are 10 BEST Fan Comments About ‘Heart & Soul With Sid Sriram’:
‘In the last 7 years of attending various concerts, this is the first time ever the singer was on stage for 3.5 hours without a single break. What an energetic, passionate and crazy man he is. The band equally crazy as well. Extraordinary energy from Tapas Naresh, Leon James, Sanjeev Thomas, Praveen and Hash Bass. Indeed, they put their #heartandsoul into this concert. Thank you Woodmark Events’ – M Sasi Kumar
Image by M Sasi Kumar
‘It was my first live concert, had absolutely no expectations and it turned out to be a magical night. For Sid and the band to perform for 3 hours with no breaks in between with all that energy was just mind blowing. His voice is a God’s gift, loved every minute of it!’ – Divvya Manoharan

‘What a euphonious voice. He brought the entire crowd to different world when he sang Kanne Kalaimane and Thaen Paandhi Seemaiyile. One can close the eyes and travel to a world where only peace and love are the languages. Every song he sings he gives his entire heart in it and soul to the lyrics’ – Gawry

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‘Thank you for such a heartfelt performance from each and every person on stage last night. It was something else. ?? And thank you so much Sid for just being so humble and kind to us, your fans’ – Aurelia De Souza

‘This guy is crazy, he performed for 3 hours non stop. Hell of a show, worth every penny’ – Clement Das
‘After the show was over, the crowd kept screaming for an encore. Even though they had already packed, the band unpacked their instruments again and performed 2 more songs. That is Sid for you. Sooo amazing’ – Dharshamini Kesavan

‘He, then, became one with the music’ – Picture Tales Photography

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‘It’s a DREAM COME TRUE! I have finally met my favourite singer ever, Sid Sriram! His positive vibes and the energy was DAMN! His magical voice is EVERYTHING! I have never failed to listen to his songs everyday! HE IS THE BEST!’ – Pavithra

‘I’m going to make it a point to attend his concerts every time he’s down because it is definitely an energy booster I need every now and then. Until then, I’ll just continue blasting his playlist while I drive. Thank you so much Sid Sriram for showering us with energy and love, that I will never forget. I love you!’ – Meyshna Nair

‘Best night ever! Sid Sriram and the band was AMAZING and it was totally worth the wait and money. Lost my voice and not even regretting it’ – Nirosheni

Till next time!

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Filed Under Leon JamesSid Sriramsid sriram live in klwoodmark events


Motta Maadi Music Live in KL Is Happening in PJ on November 18

~ Music has infinite power to reach the gap between the heart & the soul to create everlasting & inevitable joy ~
Are you ready to get swayed away by a resonant musical act? Bringing the finest music band all the way from Chennai to Malaysia, The Ark Events will be presenting a day filled with heavenly music rendition.
One of the leading bands in Chennai, Motta Maadi Music band is set to spread their heavenly goodness to Malaysians with their incredible musical performance.

Aptly titled “Motta Maadi Music Live in KL” is set to take place at MBPJ Civic Hall, PJ on 18th November 2022 at 8.15pm.
All you can expect is nothing more but the best back-to-back entertaining live musical performance.
The “Motta Maadi Music” band was initially started on the terrace, where a group of friends gathered to sing, holding steaming cups of filter coffee and a guitar. Today, they are all set to take their ‘terrace music’ to Malaysia with an amazing lineup of tracks.

This popular sing-along concept band comprises Badri Seshadri as the lead singer along with Shivaranjini Ramasubramaniyam, Sooryaprakash  Chandrasekaran and Sundram Vasudevan on vocal. Meanwhile, Haritha Raj on the veena, Ashish Venkateswaran on flute, Giridhar Sadagopan on guitar, Pramod Veeravalli and Sankrith Sridhar on lead guitar, Vignesh Thiagarajan on drums and Aditya Kamakshi on percussion respectively.
What can you expect?
Motta Maadi Music will be showering the audience with some popular 80’s and 90’s Tamil hits from Ilaiyaraaja’s songs to AR Rahman’s compositions. Throughout the show, the audience will be experiencing akin to a jam session musical act. You can just sit back, vibe and enjoy the show!
This musical night guarantees that the crowd will have a lot of fun and will be returning home with a feeling of satisfaction.
The tickets are now available for purchase.

Ticket prices start from RM88 (Bronze), RM128 (Silver), RM158 (Gold) and RM299 (Premium) all with free seating. (Excluded processing fees)
What are you waiting for? Hurry up and book your tickets now by clicking HERE.
Get ready to be submerged in an ocean of euphonious musical rendition.
Grab your tickets, mark your calendars, and we will see you at the “Motta Maadi Music Live in KL”!
For updates, you may follow The Ark Event’s official Instagram.
Varnam Malaysia is the official Media Partner of Motta Maadi Music Live in KL 2022.
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Filed Under AR RahmanConceryIlaiyaraajaMBPJ Civic HallMMMMotta Maadi MusicMotta Maadi Music Live in KLmusical performanceThe Ark Event


Penang-Based Developer Has Been Accused Of Cheating A Home Owner

Jayainthy Subramaniam is an administration executive who lost her home after she was informed that her house was being sold off at an auction at the Alor Setar High Court by a Penang-based developer Lunas Garden Sdn Bhd.
Her story travels back to 2001, when Jayainthy started paying a developer for her house in Kulim, Kedah and in 2005 she was so glad to receive the keys to her 1,400 sq ft unit home.
This joy though did not last long as she started to encounter problems regarding her house, and 2009 a bank auctioned it off.
She lost the battle on Wednesday.
Her issues started after she was told that the developer had not paid the money to RHB Bank, which was the financing institution for the project. In order to move the property onto her name, the redemption fee must also be paid.
When she arrived at the bank, she was asked to redeem the property for around RM100,000 with overdue interest and other costs, despite the proof of payments she made to the developer which was collected.
Jayainthy said that the bank has been attempting to sell the property off at least five times since 2009, albeit without any interested buyers.
“It is unjust of the bank to auction the house when I have evidence that I have paid for the house in full. It was the developer who failed to pay the bank. It is my family’s hard-earned money. Is it my fault that I did not know the bank had issues with the developer?” said Jayainthy, showing the receipts she had received for her payments.
“The bank gave the loan to the developer, who turned out to be dishonest and did not settle the dues at the bank. So, why am I being victimised?” she asked.
Free Malaysia Today
Jayainthy said that she went to Lunas Garden Sdn Bhd to request them at least to pay back her money, but she was not able to meet anyone. She said a new review showed that the company was still not insolvent.
In 2015, she met with the National Housing Department to justify that the house was auctioned after the owner charged the entire price. But she said, even after two letters to the developer, there was no reply.
She sent an initial summons in 2017 at the high court in Alor Setar against Lunas Garden Sdn Bhd and RHB Bank, after her pleas to the developer and the bank were unheard. However, the developer did not represent itself.
Jayainthy said that the case was heard in chambers and claimed it was summarily dismissed “without any reason”. Instead, she was ordered by the court to pay RM1,500 in costs to RHB Bank’s lawyers on 13th September 2018.
After her RM78,850 was gone, she said she pretty much gave up on the legal dispute and she couldn’t afford more fees for prosecutors to resolve her case.
Jayainthy filed a complaint with The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), who also did not see any reaction to the correspondence of the party from the bank or other parties.
CAP complaints bureau chief Ravinder Singh said the bank should be big-hearted enough to let Jayainthy have her property back.
He said that the buyer who paid in cash for the property, unlike those who have purchased properties by loans, did not know that a redemption amount has to be charged to claim the house.
“She is an innocent purchaser. The developer did not hand over the redemption sum to the bank after having taken the money in the form of progressive payments,” he said.
A representative of RHB Bank said while sympathising with Jayainthy‘s distress, they couldn’t help her since she wasn’t their client.
The bank said the contract of sales and acquisitions was with the developer, and RHB was not subject to it.
“The complainant’s civil action against the bank was dismissed by the court in September 2018 and the complainant did not appeal against the decision,” said the bank.
It has been more than 10 years since she has been trying to salvage the single-storey home she bought for RM78,850. However all her efforts seemed to be Unvalidated in a legal manner.
Now, Jayainthy is only hoping for some sort of help from somewhere to keep the house which she spent her hard earned money on.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Filed Under House and home cheatingHousing developers cheatedJeyainthy Subramaniamproperty cheating


Kamal Haasan to PM Narendra Modi – Your ‘Vision’ This Time Has Failed

Actor and President of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Kamal Haasan penned down an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his thoughts on the 21-day national lockdown which was implemented by the Central government to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
On 6th of April, Kamal wrote that the method chosen by the Prime Minister to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was wrong. The actor has taken to Twitter to share his opinions.
Here’s Kamal Haasan’s open letter to PM Modi:

My open letter to the Honourable Prime Minister @PMOIndia @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/EmCnOybSCK
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 6, 2020

What are your thoughts?
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Filed Under Actor to politicianKamal Hassanopen letterpm modi


AR Rahman Is The Producer And Writer For His Upcoming Film ’99 Songs’

Speak about pushing limits. For AR Rahman, it is clearly the skies.

The Mozart of Madras has moved his magic from strings to scripts, as he debuts as a producer and writer for his next film called ’99 Songs’. AR Rahman made the announcement on his Twitter account by posting, “I am very excited to announce the release of my very first film as a Producer and Writer, 99 Songs, a young, passionate love story, with music at its soul. My production company, YM Movies is thrilled to have Jio Studios as a partner on this really special venture.
99 Songs will be released in cinemas worldwide in three languages; Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on 21 June 2019. I thank you all for the love, support and encouragement you have showered on me”.

A very special announcement @YM_Movies @offjiostudios @JioCinema @idealentinc pic.twitter.com/iIe6bcsSus
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) April 11, 2019

The film has been bankrolled by Rahman’s production banner YM Movies, Jio Studios and Ideal Entertainment. The film will star newcomers, Ehan Bhat, Edilsy Varghese and Tenzin Dalha who have been receiving training at AR Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory and attending exclusive acting workshops. The film will also see Lisa Ray, Manisha Koirala, composer-drummer Ranjit Barot and Indian Ocean’s Rahul Ram in supporting roles.

We are excited to see how this Oscar-winning music composer will fair as a scriptwriter and producer.
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Filed Under 99 songsAR Rahman


Enga Veetu Mapillai: Robo Shankar Presents “Big Mouth” Award To Abarnathy

It was a major laugh-fest when Arya’s close friend Robo Shankar made an appearance on Friday’s Enga Veetu Mapillai.
His sharp wit and sarcasm ensured non-stop laughter on the show. His bromance with Arya was endearing to watch – as he divulged some hilarious information about the 37-year-old actor.
To make things interesting, Robo Shankar decided to give out some extremely hilarious awards to everyone on the show. The awards are meant to mock all the contestants; including Arya and host, Sangeetha.

The first mock award, ‘My Mouth Is A Big Mouth’ award naturally went to Abarnathy. Sita Lakshmi picked up an award for being obsessed with coconuts, while Susanna won the ‘Sound Saroja’ award for being soft-spoken. Agatha picked up an award for being too dreamy, while Naveena was recognised as the ‘Torture Queen’.
Host Sangeetha was honoured with the “Aiyoyo Ennale Thaange Mudiyileye” award.
Watch the excerpt here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg8Yn41DMGa/?taken-by=engaveetu_mapillai
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Filed Under AryaEnga Veetu Mapillai


Policeman Saves Injured Dog on Federal Highway

An injured dog was rescued by policeman on the Federal Highway on Friday morning.
On their official Facebook page, PDRM said, “Every creature on this earth is of great worth, as we are kind and loving to each other as every living being has the right to enjoy life safely and comfortably.”

According to the official Royal Malaysia Police Facebook page, help was given to the dog so that it could walk again.
The policeman’s action was widely praised saying that the frontliners did not care only for humans but animals as well.
Good job, Tuan!
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Filed Under doghit by vehicleKuala Lumpurrescuing an injured dogsafeShah Alam District Police Headquarters SelangorSmoothTraffic Enforcement Divisiontraffic flowTraffic policeman


Speaker Orders Baling MP To Apologise After Making ‘gelap’ And ‘pakai bedak’ Remarks!

New Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun ordered Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN – Baling) to apologise to Kasthuriraani Patto (PH – Batu Kawan) for offensive remarks he directed at her.
Credit: SAYS Malaysia
The former Election Commissions chief said Abdul Azeez’s description of the ethnic Indian lawmaker as gelap (dark) and recommendation that she pakai bedak (use facial powder) were unparliamentary and offensive.
He said,
“After going through the Hansard, I have made the decision that the words spoken are offensive. I instruct Baling to apologise and to retract that statement,”
Azeez aimed the remarks at Kasthuriraani yesterday and triggered an uproar in the Lower House. Opposition lawmakers accused Abdul Azeez of being “racist” and “sexist” for his words.
After the Speaker’s orders today, Abdul Azeez said he will comply but wished to explain himself first.
Credit: SAYS Malaysia
“I had no intention of calling anyone with a racist slur. I was sitting in that same spot for two years. That area is very dark, it usually doesn’t receive any attention from the Speaker.
“When I said dark, I meant the area is dark, it’s not very visible. I think it’s important for netizens to know that I wasn’t calling any person dark because Allah has made me dark too. So, there’s no reason for me to call anyone dark.
“However, I retract my statement and I apologise,” said Abdul Azeez.
Azhar then reminded the federal lawmakers to avoid sexist, racist, offensive and unparliamentary terms.
Kasthuriraani then stood up and thanked Azhar for his decision but pressed him for a harsher penalty against Abdul Azeez.
She accused the backbencher of being a repeated offender when it comes to sexist and racist statements.
However, Azhar dismissed this and said he needed to continue with the day’s proceedings.
News Credit: The Malay Mail
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Filed Under Baling MPmalaysian politicsracismsexismwithkasthuri


WATCH: Suriya Sizzles in the Soorarai Pottru Teaser

The teaser of Suriya’s Soorarai Pottru  is out! And it has gotten a great response from fans. The teaser begins with a shot of Suriya, as a young man, travelling in a crowded train.
Suriya is seen in different looks in the teaser, with long hair in one and with a crew cut in another. He plays pilot officer Nedumaran Rajangam in this film. Suriya plays the angry young man quite well, and the teaser has gripping moments of a man dedicated to his ambition.

The background score that accompanies the visuals is very powerful and the teaser ends with a boarding call, that’s usually heard inside airports. The film is scheduled to release this summer.
Soorarai Pottru a film based on the life of Captain GR Gopinath – founder of the budget airline Air Deccan. Produced by Suriya’s 2D Entertainment, the film marks the southern debut of well-known Bollywood producer Guneet Monga, who will be co-producing this project.
Veteran Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal, who has predominantly played character and comic roles over his three-decade-long career, is all set to make his Tamil debut with this film.
The Singam star also has a project with director Siva in the pipeline, and it is most likely to go on the floor after the director finishes his film with Rajinikanth.
Watch the trailer here.

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Filed Under soorarai pottrusudha kongaraSuriyaTamilteaser


Why Vijay Sethupathi Was The Master In “Master” ?

As Vijay’s fans waited for the film for almost a year, Master might have been a great treat, but it is a fact to be spotted that it did not fulfil the expectations of everyone.
 It was merely because of the very non-linear flow of the movie.
Some scenes were very unfinished, so it was not a clear-cut one for some. Why didn’t they just go for a one-way-go linear plot? Well, that’s on the director.
The narrative conveyed in this film, however, was something important to society and the performance of the casts were also solid, especially in most of the emotional scenes with Vijay.
I also feel that stories like this should have been much more impactful as the message it brings is one that should not be neglected.
But after all of that, why do I think Vijay Sethupathi was the “Master” in Master?
Having a distinct style of acting
I have come across several movies of his and his acting style is majorly referred to as “coolly distant” when he reacts in a way where it doesn’t actually go along with the plot because it is sometimes silly and absurd. However, the audience seem to like him being this way because that is what makes Vijay Sethupathi special apart from his great acting skills.
Doesn’t mind being the protagonist
Picture credit: The press journal
Vijay Sethupathi is someone who has always experimented with many types of roles, and he doesn’t really mind being the villain. I guess because he knows, no matter what kind of role he plays, the audience will definitely enjoy it. After all, although in this film he was the villain, he is also considered a major role as the plot really revolves primarily around his character.
He can be the hero, the villain and the comedian
Picture credit: Pinterest
Vijay has a great sense of humour and so does Vijay Sethupathi. He is so versatile that he can play both types of character effortlessly; the comedian/hero or the comedian/villain.  Well, for this reason, I guess the producer can sometimes cut costs by casting him.
Even if the Kabadi scene was a full component of the movie’s “mass scene”, what was the whole point? Overall, other characters like Shanthanu and Gouri Kishan could also have given some significance to this movie.
So, what do you think of Vijay Sethupathi’s performance in “Master” ?
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Filed Under master movie reviewmaster vijaymaster vijay sethupathywhy vijay sethupathy is special?


Sardar Review: An Intriguing Spy-Thriller by Karthi

Readers Alert!! This review contains major spoilers, so skip it if you haven’t watched Sardar yet.
The much-buzzed Deepavali release, Sardar deserves all the hype it received for its engaging narration and intriguing plot.

What is Sardar all about?
Helmed by PS Mithran, Sardar is an action thriller flick which starred Karthi in a dual role. Karthi (Vijay Prakash/Viji) who played the Policeman character tries to cover up the name of being ‘the son of a traitor’ by publicizing all the deeds he did as a cop. One day, when he tries to untangle the mystery behind the death of a protestor, it unveils an even bigger secrecy. Following that, the movie starts to fire up as Karthi finds more hints and clues which lead him to Bose aka Sardar. Then, the story will bring you what his father was up to until he was labeled as a nation’s traitor.
IMAGE CREDIT: TOI
Throughout the movie, Karthi has shown how excellent an actor he was, playing a dual role is an easy-peasy task for him. The young version of Karthi was more entertaining to watch where there is a sprinkle of humour touch here and there especially pairing with Munishkanth who played as his uncle in this action flick.
Meanwhile, the older version of Karthi’s acting as a bold undercover spy was impressive whereby some scenes gives you goosebumps. One of them is the Sardar intro scenes in Bangladesh’s prison during a quarrel, it was just marvelous to watch. Overall, Karthi did a fantastic and laudable acting in this film.
Not related to this movie, but I have to say this. Karthi’s performance and acting in all the movies that were released this year was incredibly remarkable. A big kudos to Actor Karthi.
IMAGE CREDIT: KOIMOI
Raashi Khanna, Rajisha, and Laila have done a really good job portraying their characters convincingly despite having limited screen time. It’s also impressive how Chunky Pandey plays the antagonist. A special mention to the little boy, Rithvik who acted so well in this movie with good screen presence.
Related:  Athletics A Healthy Alternative To Drugs, Says Actor KarthiNext, the dialogue, screenplay and narration by PS Mithran was wonderful, most significantly, the in-depth research he did on essential facts about water resources is admirable. Apart from that, another important element that elevates the movie is GV Prakash’s musical touch throughout this movie.
If I had to sum-up Sardar, is indeed a great-intriguing movie that is worth watching with your whole family.
Sardar is distributed by LFS and is running successfully in Malaysian Cinemas.
Check out the full cinema listing here:

Have you watched Sardar? Let us know what you think
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Filed Under Actor KarthiBoseKarthips mithranSardarSardar reviewspy thrillerThriller film


Vishal To Marry Anisha Reddy In October

Popular actor Vishal is set to tie the knot with his fiance, Anisha Reddy on the 9th of October.

Reports have emerged that both families have decided on the date. As for the venue, Vishal promised his fans that he will tie the knot in the yet to be completed Nadigar Sangam building. It is unclear at this point if that is still on the table. A source has revealed that the the construction work will be completed soon, in time for the couple’s big day.
The actor is basking in the release of his film, Ayogya, which hit the screens last weekend after multiple delays. The film is said to be doing well.
Team Varnam wishes the couple the best on their new journey together!
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Filed Under Anisha Alla ReddyMarriageNadigar SangamVishalwedding


Uyireh Maha Helps You Embrace Love While Captivating Your Soul

Uyireh Maha; a brand new track is out for our listening pleasure which focuses on embracing love and somehow happens to be the kind of bliss we all need right now. Released on Freedom Pro Production Youtube channel, the music video been receiving a lot of positive feedbacks from the netizens.
Originally composed by Anbalagan Anpparasan, the song was sung by himself and along with Mazhaiye Mazhaiye fame Sharmila Sivaguru. Sangiry Sivasangar & Anbalagan penned down the lyrics of this soothing song. The feel, emotions, and words were just perfectly matched with the concept of the video.
The young vocalist crooning sweet nothings-that-are-actually-dark-somethings lyrics illuminate and elevate the song.

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A post shared by Anbalagan Anpparasan (@anbamusic)

Helmed by Xavier Thevan, the breathtaking music video has captivating visuals by the editorial team who did an amazing job with the editing. The music video features P. Mahalaxmi, B.Rowenna Ruth, Xavier Thevan, Thinesh Kumar, Yin Jack, and Moses Albert.
Check out their latest music video here:

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Filed Under Anbalagan AnpparasanB.Rowenna RuthFreedom Pro ProductionLove TrackP. MahalaxmiThinesh KumarUyireh MahaXavier ThevanYin Jack


Kolaigaran Review: An Above Average Crime-Mystery

The film opens in black and white. We hear a woman scream her lungs dry. We see the gears of a clock spinning (and indication perhaps, that it’s a film that’ll make our gears spin as well). And then a slit to the woman’s throat by an unknown assailant who’s figure is purposely obscured by an unfocused lens. These are all deliberate stylistic choices. Think of how the blood of the woman slowly coats the white tiles of the floor as we fade into the brilliant opening credits soundtrack. There is more blood, this time dripping down the screen. gradually forming the film’s title: Kolaigaran. The track is sung loudly — it’s a powerhouse of a voice that reminded me of Shirley Bassey belting Diamonds are Forever — and the accompanying imagery has elements of a David Fincher credits sequence. Needless to say, I was hooked.
The opening shot of the film has the camera move slickly from right to left as Arjun walks into frame and picks up the phone (his subordinates are calling him from the police station). The camera pans downwards toward the police station. The way the camera moves as DCP Karthikeyan (Arjun) walks towards the interrogation room where Prabhakaran (Vijay Antony) is held, is smooth. Prabhakaran wishes to confess a crime, which takes us back 44 days. There’s another sleek shot, as the camera glides towards Prabhakaran taking a nap on the couch.
And then…
A SONG??!!

Not a scene-setting song mind you. But an appalling 90s style fantasy-dream-sequence song that not only feels out of place but completely ruins the tone of everything that came before it. The scene wreaks of producers breathing down the neck of writer-director Louis Andrews, telling him that there need to be song sequences (there’s another equally horrible one that happens later) for the sake of pre-release album launches, marketing,  yadda yadda. Or maybe it isn’t the producers. Maybe it’s solely Louis Andrews’ decision, who figured these songs would add a layer of emotion to the final twist in his story. It doesn’t (but more on that later).
What this opening stretch of scenes do is perfectly sum up this mixed bag of a movie. Kolaigaran is an OK movie. From a technical standpoint, it’s actually really good. Andrews has a strong sense of how he wants his film to look. He knows where to place the camera and how to move it in interesting ways. (Mukesh is his cinematographer.) The editing by Richard Kevin is also superb, so much so that a conversation between two people on the phone is a delight to watch. These aren’t techniques that are new or groundbreaking, but it’s certainly not techniques that are usually deployed in Tamil films. There is a wonderfully lit and coloured (neon red) action sequence that takes place at the murder scene, that is worth noting.
Related:  Happy World Environment Day! To Celebrate Mother Nature, here are 5 Soothing Tamil songs about the Environment.
The big issue with the film is the writing. Kolaigaran starts off interestingly and keeps you wondering and guessing. As the film plays out, we soon realise that the crime the police are investigating is a different murder than the one we see in the prologue. There’s a burnt-to-a-crisp body and Prabhakaran has claimed he’s guilty. (So, what about the woman at the start, you wonder?) If the criminal has confessed very early on, then what’s the mystery? But there’s a lot more to unpack. We get introduced to more characters — a mother and daughter living across Prabakharan — and everybody is a suspect.
There are a few types of crime mysteries. The slow-burn character exploration procedural like Zodiac, the hardboiled psychological thriller like Silence of the Lambs, the amusing Whodunit like Murder on the Orient Express or Hateful Eight, among other subgenres. Kolaigaran leans towards the latter, made obvious by its roaring, on the nose but frankly very memorable violin/synth musical score. It’s not meant to be taken too seriously. There isn’t much of a character exploration or a serious tone. In fact, some of the tongue-in-cheek jokes are genuinely really funny. Here, characters are just pieces that tell variations of stories that weave together to form a labyrinth. And that’s fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTWop1q5V54Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kolaigaran Official Trailer 2K | Arjun, Vijay Antony, Ashima Narwal | Andrew Louis | Simon K.King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTWop1q5V54)

However, the maze that takes form isn’t all that interesting. The film doesn’t challenge you to think, because a lot of the goings-on are either too simple or completely far fetched. Loius Andrews doesn’t leave a trail of breadcrumbs that we can either pick up immediately or look back, ponder and smile to ourselves. There are also minor plot threads that are introduced, but later not addressed (I’m thinking about the one where Prabhakaran has bugged the entirety of his neighbour’s apartment).
The first half twist is actually pretty entertaining. But as the director begins to shabbily answer his own questions in the second half, the movie becomes significantly less interesting. And the final twist — the much anticipated big reveal — is so contrived, ridiculous and frankly, superbly bland. All in all, Kolaigaran is alright. It’s the kind of movie that doesn’t make you angry, nor does it make you want to talk about it much afterwards either. It’s a decent enough time-killer, mostly because of the nature of its genre.
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Filed Under ArjunKolaigaran


Enga Veetu Mapillai: Arya Reveals That He Was Married Before

One of the most enjoyable things about Enga Veetu Mapillai is that we get to see a different side of Arya.
The Arya that we see on the show is a more romantic and sensitive Arya, compared to the hot and hunky Arya we see on screen.
On the previous episode of Enga Veetu Mapillai, the contestants got ask Arya ANY question they wanted – and they can do it anonymously – and Arya will have to answer truthfully. Through the questions, a lot of shocking things were revealed about the 37-year-old actor.

The most shocking information was revealed after Shreya read out this particular question, “What is the best and worst part of your 7-year relationship?”
Without hesitating, Arya revealed that the most memorable part about his long term relationship was that he and his then-girlfriend got married. All the girls appeared shocked, including host Sangeetha, who asked him to explain further.
Arya went on to explain that his 7-year relationship was a serious and committed one, and that they were ready to spend the rest of their lives together.

“I went to the registrar office for our marriage registration. I signed my part. The girl had to come over and sign within 30 days, but that didn’t happen because the girl’s parents found out. They didn’t feel like I was the right guy for her. I was still dabbling in cinema, but had nothing solid, and they didn’t quite agree with my career choice,” he said.
Apart from that, Arya also noted that the relationship really scarred him, and he has yet to completely recover from it.
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Filed Under AryaEnga Veetu Mapillai


Kerala’s Sabarimala Case Goes To Supreme Court Again For A Decision Review!

This has been a very sensitive issue and a constant debate in our society.
A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, will deliver its judgement on petitions seeking review of its September 2018 order that triggered widespread protest in the state after menstruating women were allowed to enter the shrine of Lord Ayyappa.

For aeons, women in the Indian community, regardless of race and ethnicity have always been subjected to the issue of entering the temple when they are menstruating. Some imbeciles who live under a rock would say that a woman is dirty and that there is some sort of logic as to why they are not allowed.

Of course, we, the liberals feel that, one should be able to make a choice that they feel is right for them.
A five-judge Supreme Court bench on Thursday decided to refer its ruling on the entry of women to Sabarimala to a larger bench.
The top court has also decided to ask the larger bench to look into other issues related to religion including entry of women into mosques, entry of Parsi women married to non-Parsi and female genital mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra community.
A little more on the background of this story. In September 2018, the top court had overturned the centuries-old ban on girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50 years . The order stated that women of all ages must be allowed into the famous hilltop shrine in Pathanamthitta district.

This verdict angered so many devotees and sparked a series of protests, shutdown and violence and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the Sabarimala shrine. TDB argued that the top court cannot intervene with a century-old belief.
Traditionalists say younger women should not be allowed inside the temple as it is dedicated to a god who is an avowed celibate.
The protest even went to an extend whereby, devotees had physically blocked women when they tried to trek to the temple.  Two people were killed in violence related to the temple protests. However, two women had managed to enter the temple despite the heavy security.

According to reports, there were at least 50,000 protestors who were booked at the height of the agitation against the top court verdict. The protests led to a decrease in the number of pilgrims and revenue.
The Hindustan Times reported that there were as many as 65 petitions—56 review pleas, four writ petitions, two transfer petitions, two special pleas and one special leave petition. These were filed against the verdict that ended the ban on entry for women and girls of menstruating age into the temple and upheld the right to equality of worship.
Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi leaded a five-member constitution bench which reserved its decision on February 6 after hearing various parties. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which had refused to abide by the top court ruling, said later in February this year that it would now abide by the order.
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Filed Under 50000 protestorsKeralalord Ayyapasabarimalasupreme courtTDB