SP Bala Live In Concert Illaya Nila: Are You Ready For This SPB – Illayaraaja Reunion?

Ilayanila poligiradhe, Idhaiyam varai nanaigiradhe
(As the new moon shines, it cools my heart.)
Little did S P Balasubrahmanyam think as he sung these lyrics for the first time in 1982, that he would be traveling the world over to perform, and that he will visit Malaysia for a concert dedicated to his tunes with Illayaraaja by the same name.
SPB Live in Concert Illaya Nila – Ilayaraja’s Exclusive Hits will be happening on Merdeka Day, (31st of August) from 7pm onwards at the KLCC Plenary Hall in the heart of the nation’s capital.

The organizers, Raaghav Productions, recently held a press conference to highlight the event at Ramada Suites KLCC. The event was attended by SP Bala himself, along with SPB Charan. Other speakers at the event were Ramada Suites KLCC General Manager, Mr Rajesh Daswani and Mr Ratnaguru, on behalf of Raaghav Productions. The event also hosted numerous Malaysian celebrities such as Yogi B, Punnagai Poo Geetha and Ananthaa in addition to the various media outlets.

Although SP Bala began his career with Gemini Gansan, and has received the Padmashri and Padmabhushan awards, he starts off by humbly saying, “Please don’t call me a living legend, it doesn’t make me comfortable. Just call me SP Bala,”
The moment the floor was opened to questions, the attendees of the event were clamouring to gain control of the microphone for a chance to address SPB. The singer, though, had one caveat. “Please don’t ask me questions for which the answers are already known to everyone,”
Here are a few excerpts from the press conference.
On his separation with Illayaraaja

When he was asked how he managed during the phase of separation with his friend Illayaraaja, SP Bala explains what really happened, “In 2017, I was celebrating my 50 years in the music industry, and I was on a world tour. That was when Illayaraaja started asking for royalty. He sent a notice to many musicians, including me. And then he didn’t call me to work,”
SP Bala reveals that it all ended when Illayaraaja invited him to work on an upcoming project, “When he finally did call me to work, I went, and that ended it. When I met him in the rehearsals, it was exactly like how we had been for the past 50 years. There was no animosity at all,”
“These small spats happen in families and friendships, and only then we learn the value of each other.”
And when we bounce back, we do so with more love for each other. We were not together for about 2-3 years, at most. It’s not like we were meeting every day otherwise. He called me up, and we have sorted it out. Things are normal now,”
On returning to acting

SP Bala may be a singer, but he has starred in numerous Tamil and Telugu films. He was asked if he will ever return to acting, to which the singer replies, “If I get a good role to star in, I will not hesitate, provided I have the time for it. In fact, you may soon see me in a Tamil movie!”
He also spoke highly of his co-star, Lakshmi. While she is younger to him, he reveals that he learnt plenty from her,
“If you want to learn, you can learn from anyone. Forget your seniority, get down to earth and you will be able to learn from every element around you,”
On new talent
The singer may be one of the most sought after people in the Indian music fraternity, but he is adamant about upcoming talent, “New singers need to come up, if new singers don’t come up, I wouldn’t be sitting here. You would still be listening to TM Soundarajan and Sirkazhi Govindarajan!”
On singing a full song in one breath

SP Bala also dispels many myths surrounding singing, specifically about singing without taking a breath, “A breathless song is not sung without taking a breath. It is done because of technology. Can you imagine a human being singing that way?”
“On stage also, I reveal that I did not sing it in one breath, we are really cheating all of you, and if you didn’t realize that, you are living in an illusion!” he says as the hall erupts into laughter.
On Kamal Hassan

“Kamal Hassan is my younger brother. He loves and respects me a lot. He made me a producer in Telugu films. People are waiting in a queue outside his house to work with him, and yet he called me to ask to work with him,”
SP Bala reveals that he and Kamal Hassan are more like brothers than friends, “People always ask me why I don’t sing for him, or why I am not going into politics like him. We have our own preferences. We respect each other, and that’s the most important thing,”
On Raaghav Productions

SP Bala reveals that he began collaborating with Raaghav productions thanks to SPB Charan and that is how it all began. Sure enough, Charan performed for Raaghav Productions first show, back in 2017, for a small group of 150 people.
Raaghav Productions have hosted SP Bala in 2018, for SP Bala’s Mettu Podu, a concert dedicated to AR Rahman’s tunes. Referring to this, SPB said, “Last year it was ARR composition. This year, only Illayaraaja. This makes our job so much easier! We don’t really need to think which song from which music composer we need to sing,”
The same organizers also conducted a sold out charity show earlier this year featuring SPB Charan, Swagatha Krishnan and local talents The Banditz. The entire Raaghav Productions team appears to be all geared up for SP Bala’s show in August this year, and the successful press conference was a testament to that
On being an accidental singer

Revealing that he originally intended to become an engineer, SP Bala reveals, “I did not expect to come to this level when I began my career. I started singing to earn some extra pocket money, because I did not want to burden my father who was already supporting my studies,” He goes on to say that he became a singer by accident.
“I owe it all to my fans. But I don’t like to call you my fans. You are my family.”
In spite of his multiple awards and titles, SP Bala is a man with his feet planted firmly on the ground. “If I am not able to sing anymore, I will announce that I am not able to do justice to a song, and then I will retire. By Gods grace, I am still able to sing and I am still receiving opportunities to sing,”
It goes without saying that Illayaraaja is an emotion. And to have a voice like SP Bala delivering those emotions to us over a four hour concert, with a talented bunch of singers and musicians – it is going to be a night that NEEDS to be experienced.
SPB Live in Concert Illaya Nila – Ilayaraja’s Exclusive Hits will also see SPB Charan, Swagatha Krishnan, Lydian Nadhaswaram and the Sunshine Orchestra from ARR’s KM Music Conservatory perform with SP Balasubrahmanyam. The event will be hosted by Priyanka Deshpande.
To get your tickets to SPB Live in Concert Illaya Nila – Ilayaraja’s Exclusive Hits, click here. Alternatively, you could WhatsApp DK at +6010 407 1526
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VIDEO: The Strike Goes On Until Our Demands Are Met, Says Vishal

In case you guys haven’t noticed, there has been no new Tamil movie release since the 1st of March 2018.
The Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TPFC) decided to go an indefinite strike to protest against two digital broadcasters in Tamil Nadu. These digital broadcasters are charging a hefty sum of money to convert films into digital mode before being released in theatres.
Going into April now, it doesn’t look like the situation has improved that much – we’re still not getting any new Tamil movies until all of TPFC’s demands are met.

According to TPFC President Vishal, the strike will continue. “This (strike) will continue until our demands are met. Producers are also like farmers today — a third party is minting money. VPF is just one of our demands,” said Vishal.
Chitramala reported that some of the demands by TPFC are the “call for digital service providers to stop charging VPF, the implementation of flexible ticket pricing, and a reduction of online booking charges, and the regulation of production costs by a body called the Tamil Nadu Film Development Corporation.”
“We think the entire industry is going in the right direction. Theater owners and distributors are slowly understanding our situation. We are expecting a final solution very soon,” he added.
Watch Vishal’s full speech here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j3NStAySEQVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Tamil Cinema Strike will End only if… : Vishal Speech | Press Meet On Kollywood strike (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j3NStAySEQ)

Video: India Glitz
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Filed Under TPFCVishal


Klang MP Charles Santiago Questions Huge Decline On Allocation For Tamil Schools

Malaysia has 527 Tamil primary schools and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Saraswathy in Old Klang Road was the first established Tamil school in the country. This school has been operational for many years till date.
Recently, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Indian community’s welfare is important, however there is a severe 42% drop in Tamil school allocations, said Klang Member of Parliament, Charles Santiago.
The estimated allocation for Tamil schools is just RM29 million compared to RM50 million in the previous years. It is understood that prior allocations were still inadequate, leading to poor maintenance and a shortage of amenities in Tamil schools.

Slashing Tamil School Funds isn’t Becoming of a “PM For All”“Walk the talk”, “practise what you preach”, “actions speak louder than words”: you folks know the meaning, right?Well the Prime Minister and his government don’t. https://t.co/RxG32pBKo0@KemPendidikan @RadziJidin pic.twitter.com/1AcBnJvWVB
— Charles Santiago (@mpklang) December 15, 2020

The politician found out that there are scarce computers in Tamil classrooms, broken chairs and desks, leaking roofs, broken toilets and other maintenance problems. Data collected from the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB) indicates that 13% of Indian students drop out at the primary level, also partly due to the dismal state of these schools.
“On top of this the Ministry of Education (MoE) has not taken the impact of inflation and rising costs of living into account.”
“Most of the Tamil schools in Malaysia were built in the 70s and 80s. Almost 70% of the 527 Tamil schools are located in rural areas and they are in dire need of an upgrade and maintenance,” Santiago further stated.
The Star
On the other hand, the MP claimed that before slashing the allocations, the ministry did not come out with proper research on the status of Tamil schools in the country. It involves the facilities, building protection, maintenance schedule and other related details.
“Education is the only key to eradicating poverty among the B40 Indian families whose children in Tamil schools largely make up the student population,” he said.
Hence, Santiago called on the PN government to increase allocation for Tamil schools from RM50 million to RM60 million instead of finding excuses to slash it.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Filed Under 42% DropAllocationCharles SantiagoKlang MPSekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Saraswathy


This Stunning Photoshoot Celebrates Malaysian Women in Sarees

Tini Design House, an event planner, executed an unique photoshoot in conjunction with International Women’s Day this year. Six women were featured in this shoot, in addition to a team of experts who worked on their look.
Among the many who have worked on this shoot are stylist Yogash, makeup artist Jaynita Ashok, copywriter Deborah Joy Peter, photographer Studio 27, saree drapist Thivyan and Imeldaa Murugan.
The team chose an interesting theme for the shoot, Forged In Toughness. The theme is said to underscore the role each woman plays on a daily basis to challenge stereotypes, fight bias and collectively create a world with broader opportunities for all.
Check out the stunning results of this photoshoot.

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𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝐖𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐍𝐠 𝐘𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐞𝐞 Athlete and Professional Diver 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬. 𝐆𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐲. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝. Athleticism defines me. It took me from a noonday nobody to a powerhouse with pizzazz. In many ways my saving grace, being active fills a void and has removed the word quit from my vocabulary as well as revived my ferocity. I have faced hardships along the way, particularly when it comes to nursing injury upon injury. Still, a deep desire to keep the dream alive remains my truest motivation. Another key driver is a family whose support has never wavered. 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬. Having loved ones bolster my essence when I am weathered is a gift I never take for granted. To be an honest hustler while simultaneously a dream-chaser is no walk in the park. Therefore, smart planning and optimum performance are what it takes to stay ahead of the curve and dominate. Verily these are the pillars which hold me up when all else fails. My two-cents to anyone in search of prestige and purpose is this: be prepared to keep steady and roll with the punches. Milestones: 2-time Olympian, 3-time Asian Games silver medallist, 5-time SEA Games gold medallist Model: @ng_yanyee93 Concept & Ideas: @TiniDesignHouse Coordinating : @Simhisagrahas Styling : @yogashyogg Photographer : @studio27kl Copywriter : @djoypeter Make up artist: @emmanuelhair_makeup Saree : @gflounge.clothing Saree Drapist : @thivyan0125_ #tinidesignhouse #forgedintoughness #styledbyyogash #studio27 #simplicityisbeauty #happyinternationalwomansday #womansday #womansday2020 #conceptualshoot #teammas #seagames2019 #malaysiandiver #olympicsdiver2020 #womandiver #olympicdreams #teammalaysia #seagames #conceptualphotography
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𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝐍𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 | 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐨 Physical Ed Teacher and Karate Master 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧. My passion for karate sprung from childhood. Since those early years and as a person constantly on the go, this martial art extension has been a means to channel my energy constructively and build endurance. For me personally, health is not a luxury to be enjoyed only by an elite few. It’s a free-for-all, and the path there is fitness through pure motion. Thus, Physical Education is a natural progression. The fusion of rigour and perseverance delivers a firm foundation. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐢. I am also an actress who has starred in films including Thigil and Unakkagathane and played either the lead or villain. It is a balancing act trying to clinch it all. Yet, when unbreakable will power is exercised, anything is attainable. Good time management equals productivity. Therefore, constantly breaking boundaries and investing in my self-evolution is my recipe for ardour. These are the self-governing laws by which I direct my existence and control my day-to-day. Milestones: 9 times National Champion / Sea Games Champion Model: @nisha_alagasan Concept & Ideas: @TiniDesignHouse Coordinating : @simhisagrahas Styling : @yogashyogg Photographer : @studio27kl Copywriter : @djoypeter Make up artist: @emmanuelhair_makeup Saree Drapist : @thivyan0125 Jewellery : @yashapalace #tinidesignhouse #forgedintoughness #styledbyyogash #studio27 #simplicityisbeauty #happyinternationalwomansday #womansday #womansday2020 #conceptualshoot #teammas #seagames #malaysiankarate #womankarate #malaysianwomankarate #nationalchampion #teammalaysia #seagames #conceptualphotography #karacardio #nishaalagasan #featurefilm #unakkagathane #malaysianartist #malaysianmovie #karatemalaysia
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𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐫𝐢𝐥 Malaysian Gymnastics Federation RG Coach and Secretary General 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭. 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞-𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝. Rhythmic gymnastics is by no stretch of the imagination for the faint of heart. Having pursued it as my most devoted undertaking for several decades now, I look back on the journey traversed and am often rendered speechless. Though a daunting trail lined with an intense outpouring of blood, sweat, and tears, it has been the ultimate labour of love for me. An illustrious space steeped in prestige, I am proud of the sheer drive and distinction mustered by self to get here. 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐫. 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. The nineteen years I have invested as a coach are indicative of the depth of my commitment in transforming this once monumental ambition into stark reality. In 2018, the greatest honour of my painstaking career was presented to me when I snagged the award for Best Coach. As secretary general for the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation, my primary aim is to develop as well as improve the standard of the sport nationwide and further boost its appeal amongst athletes. Milestones: SPKK A Certificate, Level 2 National Judge Certificate, Level 3 Sports Science Certificate Model: @afritanasril Concept & Ideas: @TiniDesignHouse Coordinating : @Simhisagrahas Styling :@yogashyogg Photographer : @studio27kl Copywriter : @djoypeter Make up artist: @jaynita_ashok Saree : @gflounge.clothing Saree Drapist : @thivyan0125_ Jewellery : @yashapalace #tinidesignhouse #forgedintoughness #styledbyyogash #studio27 #simplicityisbeauty #happyinternationalwomansday #womansday #womansday2020 #conceptualshoot #teammas #malaysiangymnasticsfederation #malaysiangymnastic #womangymnastic #gymnasticcoach #malaysiancoach #teammalaysia #conceptualphotography #gymdaystudio #gimramamalaysia #gimrama
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𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐉. 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 | 𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 Amateur Golfer and Entrepreneur 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥. 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧-𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝. In the thirty-one years I have lived and breathed, my mantra has been what my father impressed upon me as a child—that obstacles are a stepping stone to outsmarting defeat. Whether hustling to get the job done or teeing off to terrific, my unique brand of excellence, as evidenced by my disruptor-style leadership, translates to breaking the glass ceiling. I challenge the status quo, hit the ground running, and fight for my day in the sun because winning is where I dominate. 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫. Sports, martial arts, startup, artistry, interiors: I do all of these and more. Why confine ourselves to boxes when variety is the spice of life? I may possess the youthful exuberance of a millennial but one would be remiss to mistake my zest for misplaced enthusiasm. A seasoned creative, taekwondo black-belter, interiors curator, golfing aficionado, coach, female empowerment advocate, and woman of agency, I celebrate the freedom of choice, voice, and action. No regrets. Milestones: MSSKL, MSSM, SUKMA, MASUM, Malaysian ladies golf tournaments Model: @TiniDesignHouse / Kartini Concept & Ideas: @TiniDesignHouse Coordinating : @simhisagrahas Styling : @yogashyogg Photographer : @studio27kl Copywriter : @djoypeter Make up artist: @annabel_mua Saree Drapist : @thivyan0125_ #tinidesignhouse #forgedintoughness #styledbyyogash #studio27 #simplicityisbeauty #happyinternationalwomansday #womansday #womansday2020 #conceptualshoot #conceptualphotography #womangolf #malaysianwomangolf #eventstylist #malaysianeventstylist #graphicdesigner #graphicdesignermalaysia #certifiedgraphicdesigner #adobe #illustratorteaching
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Kudos to the team behind this brilliant photoshoot!
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Filed Under Afrita NasriDarshini PrithveeKartiniNg Yan Yee (Wendy)nisha alagasanTini Design HouseVithiaa


Gautham Menon Introduces Second Music Video From Film Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha

The second music video from Gautham Menon’s next film Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha has just been released. Titled Naan Un Joshua, the song is sung by singer Karthik while the lyrics are penned by film director Vignesh Shivn, who also wrote lyrics for the film’s first single, Hey Love.
Meanwhile, the filmmaker has surprised his fans by confirming Krishna as the film’s main villain.
Check out Menon’s post below:

https://t.co/qszYuoCIuxIt’s also the time to introduce Krishna as the villain in the film Joshua.. Thank you @Actor_Krishna for agreeing to do this for me! In return, you are looking really good brother😊
— Gauthamvasudevmenon (@menongautham) July 16, 2020

Karthik excels in making exciting and impressive music. Now, the singer is making a comeback after 4 years since composing music for the 2016 action thriller Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum, which was also produced by Gautham Menon.

Starring Joshua and Raahei in the lead, the film is an action thriller produced by Velds Film International. It’s storyline revolves around the romance between a bodyguard and the woman that he protects.
Naan Un Joshua will sure captivate your heart!

The film is set for a tentative late-2020 release after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown eases and theatres re-open again.
More updates to follow!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Dhruva Natchathiram Trailer May Release at Harris Jayaraj’s Concert in Malaysia
Filed Under Gautham Vasudev MenonHey LoveJoshuaJoshua Imai Pol KaakhaKarthikNaan Un JoshuaRaaheiVignesh Shiv


Radhika Sarathkumar’s Narrow Escape From Sri Lanka Bomb Blast

The death toll is rising following the act of terror that shook Sri Lanka on Easter Day. As families and friends gathered for the celebrations, six locations were blasted by a radical religious group called National Thowheed Jamath. Over 500 people were injured from the blasts that took place at St.Antony’s church at Kozhchikade, Shangri-la hotel, Cinnamon grand hotel, Kingsbury Church, St. Sebastian’s Church at Katuwapitiya and other Church located in Batticaloa.
Photos following the Easter Day bomb blast in Sri Lanka
The world is shaken by this act of terror and Sri Lanka is currently in a state of emergency, which gives police and military extensive powers to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders.

Actress Radhika Sarathkumar had a narrowly escaped the recent bomb blasts in Sri Lanka. She checked out just a few minutes before the bomb blasts went off at Cinnamon grand hotel.

Radhika took to Twitter expressing shock over the blasts.
“OMG bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, god be with all. I just left Colombo Cinnamon grand hotel and it has been bombed, can’t believe this shocking.”

OMG bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, god be with all. I just left Colombo Cinnamongrand hotel and it has been bombed, can’t believe this shocking.
— Radikaa Sarathkumar (@realradikaa) April 21, 2019

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Filed Under radhika sarathkumarSri Lanka


Nadigar Sangam Election 2019 Updates!

While Nasser’s Pandavar Ani has filed its nominations for the Nadigar Sangam elections that will be held on June 23 in Chennai.
The opposing team will be headed by K Bhagyaraj. Nadigar Sangam or South India Artistes Association is a union for film, television, and stage actors in Tamil Nadu.

In a press meet that was held on Sunday, Bhagyaraj announced the name of his group, ‘Swami Sankardas Ani’. Also present during the press meet were Ishari K Ganesh, Prasanth, Bigg Boss fame Gayathri and Aarthi, actor Sangeetha and actor Udhaya.
The nominations of the Pandavar Ani lead by Nasser was made public earlier.

Nasser would be contesting once again for the post of President in this elections along with his same team members Karthi and Vishal for Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
For the post of Vice President, actor Ponvannan who is the current office bearer would not be contesting and he would be replaced by S Murugan aka Poochi Murugan. Actor Karunas who at present is the other Vice President would be contesting once again for the same post.
A total of 19 members have filed their nominations for executive committee members from Pandavar Ani including Khushbu, Kovai Sarala and Manobala. Writer Kutty Padmini, Sangeetha, and Nithin Sathya who were previously with Pandavar Ani have now sided with Bhagyaraj’s team this time. Disappointment over the functioning of the present team and noncompletion of the ambitious and long-delayed Nadigar Sangam building are being cited as the main reasons for the formation of the new team.
It is also interesting to note that Bhagyaraj had supported Pandavar Ani during 2015 elections. This time, during the press meet on Sunday he remarked, “I want to make sure the sangam does not split any further.”
Related:  Literary Reflections on Tamil Life in MalaysiaMore updates to follow!

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Filed Under chennaikollywoodNadigar SangamTamil


Dr Burn Fires Up With New Track ‘Sollisai Cypher. Volume 1’; Sure To Get Your Groove On

Born Ruben Manoharan or fondly known as Dr Burn, is a household name that needs no introduction when it comes to the Tamil rap music scene. Our rapper extraordinaire’ has launched a new track and is taking the industry by storm.
Dr Burn has taken our mother tongue, the Tamil language as his lyrical weapon. Musically brilliant, Naduvan was the album that made Dr Burn a name rendered for its musical ingenuity.
The track entitled Sollisai Cypher. Volume 1  features Devoid, Mathura Bashinii, BLK, Marvellous Vish, DJ Prinze and Secular with a snapback of their T-shirt’s in true hip hop style, rapping to the verse and gently grooving to the tune. It’s not just poetry and rapping that seems to come to them easily, but even in front of the camera as well. They are naturals!

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A post shared by Dr. Burn (@drburn)

Produced and directed by Dr. Burn, the music video has garnered attention and positive compliments from netizens.
The rap version is nothing but perfection, but do you know that there’s often a very meaningful message behind the lyrics? Can you wonder what it might be about?

What amazes us is the amount of zeal by upcoming young artists featured in the music video. Just watching the music video alone, proves that our Tamil local music scene is thriving really well.
With the likes of Mugen Rao, Roshan Jamrock, Balan Kashmir, Dr Burn and many others, there has certainly been an explosion of ground breaking hits that has made the Malaysian music industry proud.
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Filed Under BLKDevoidDJ PrinzeDr Burnmarvellous vishmathura bashiniisecularSollisai Cypher. Volume 1


After ‘Jagat’ and ‘Rise Ini Kalilah’, Director Prem Nath Directs Irul

Local film director, M.S. Prem Nath of ‘ Rise Ini Kalilah’ fame directs and writes his next venture, ‘Irul’.  The film will be produced under Kuman Pictures. The theme of the film seems to be a horror as it was hashtagged as #IrulGhostHotel, however we cannot confirm it.

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A post shared by M.S. Prem Nath (@m_s_prem_nath)

M.S. Prem Nath worked on Jagat, a critically acclaimed film that garnered a pan Malaysian audience. ‘Rise Ini Kalilah’ was a film inspired by the GE14 elections, starred Remy Ishak, Sangeeta Krishnasamy and many other actors from mixed background, to highlight the true Malaysian spirit.
The cast of the Irul were not revealed by the director or producer but local actor, Vicran Elanggoven who is also in another local film, ‘Biishman’, thanked the director for the opportunity to work on the film.
The team of Irul did their prayers before starting the shoot, which is yet to be announced.
Irul movie clapboard
More updates to follow.
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Filed Under horroriruljagatlocalfilmprem nathriseinikalilahtamil film


What Happened To Jean Perera Sinappa? A Baffling Unsolved Murder Mystery That Gripped The Nation!

Among all the crimes that make breaking news, gruesome murders especially the unsolved ones have chills run down one’s spine and are sometimes too horrific to understand.
If you recall, approximately 42 years ago, Malaysia was shaken by the grotesque and mystifying murder of a former beauty queen-turned-teacher, Jean Perera Sinappa which to date remains unsolved.
Image Credit: SundayStar
On 6th April, 1979, the ex-beauty queen who hails from Negeri Sembilan was found dead with numerous stab wounds to her chest and still strapped to the seat of a white Fiat 125 which was driven by her brother-in-law, Karthigesu Sivapakiam who was found lying unconscious face down on the ground next to the vehicle.
The case was covered by both local and international media as it not only concerned a former beauty queen and was cloaked in mystery, but it was also revealed that there was a potential love triangle that required deceit, manipulation, envy, and treason.
Image Credit: Iluminasi
The police were skeptical at first but after Karthigesu awakened to consciousness, his first words were that he had not killed Jean. However, in more than twenty romantic love letters from a certain Dr. Narada Warnasurya found in Jean’s possessions, the court found that he must have had plenty of reasons to kill her.
Despite being Jean’s lover, Karthigesu had a crucial time to justify why his sister-in-law had been found murdered in his car. His tale was that he had stopped by the side of the road to relieve himself, and someone he could not recognise had knocked him unconscious from behind.
It took almost four months for the police to halt the investigation and the murder trial lasted 38 days, with 58 witnesses called. Karthigesu was arrested on 26th April and charged on 9th May 1979.

He was taken to the court and somehow the tribunal came to a halt. There were no urine indications on him, as he may have been trapped and knocked down while he was relieving himself, nor had there been any signs of injuries. There were no blood marks, though, and it was impossible to picture a person violently stabbing someone more than ten times in the tiny confines of a vehicle without being splashed with blood.
Bandhulanda Jayathilake appears to be heading for yet another twist!
Karthigesu was found guilty by the result of the trial and convicted of murder and spent two years in jail until the defendant’s primary witness and family member, Bandhulanda Jayathilake, came forward and renounced his prior evidence that Karthigesu had committed the crime by confiding in him that she deserved to die.
This case left insufficient evidence for the judge and court and no option but to let Karthigesu free. On 20th May, 1981, after enduring two years, one month, and four days behind bars, Kartigesu walked away as a free man.
Image credit: MemyselfandI.blogspot
Now Karthigesu is said to have settled down after being convicted and to have continued to live somewhere in Klang. However, Bandhulanda Jayathilake, who was sentenced for perjury to a 10 year jail term , died after two years while serving his prison sentence.
Young Jean was left widowed after her husband, Sinappa Sivapakiam, a chemist, died on New Year’s Eve in a road crash in Petaling Jaya. After the passing of Sinappa, the mother of three children Damendra, Rohini and Malini moved into her mother-in-law’s house with Karthegisu, located in Klang.
Police maintain the cold case remains unsolved due to lack of evidence, with no new leads or headway.
Feature Image Credits:Iluminasi.com
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Filed Under 1979Bandhulanda JayathilakeCaseEx-Beauty QueenJean Perera SinappaKarthigesu SivapakiamRemains MysterySinappa SivapakiamUnsolved Murder


Rajinikanth’s ‘Kaala’ Won’t Be Released In Karnataka Because Of Something He Said

Superstar Rajinikanth’s Cauvery comments has angered a number of people in Karnataka – who are now calling for the boycott of Kaala.
According to NDTV.com, Rajinikanth asked Karnataka Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to release its share of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, as mandated by the Supreme Court. As a result, the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) has decided not to screen Kaala in Karnataka.
“A decision has been taken that Rajinikanth’s movie will neither be distributed nor screened anywhere in Karnataka,” said KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu.

“The ban will remain because neither will he apologise for his statement nor are we going to pardon him,” he added.
The KFCC president also added that this ban is not only limited to Kaala, but will be imposed on all of Rajinikanth’s movies from here on.
Kaala is scheduled to hit cinemas worldwide on the 7th of June.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Actor Sarath Babu Passes Away; The Film Industry Mourns the Loss of A Versatile Actor
Filed Under KaalaKarnatakaRajinikanth


STR Birthday Special: Simbu’s Top-Ranking IMDB Films

Happy 40th Birthday SIMBU!
Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar known well as Simbu or STR turns 40 today (3 February 2023). Simbu has been active in his acting career since young. And today, he has acted in amazing films that have gained a tremendous fan base. Recalling his past, Simbu had a dark past, and his comeback shook the industry.
Check out some of his films that were top-rated on IMDb:
Maanaadu

Maanaadu is one of Simbu’s comeback hit films that holds a record of 8.3/10 on IMDb in recent times. The film revolves around the day of a public conference by the state’s Chief Minister. This is also where Simbu and SJ Surya play the time loop role and gets stuck in it. Simbu’s mission throughout this loop is to save the Chief Minister. What happens next? Don’t miss out on this cool loop film of his.
Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya (VTV)

Simbu’s highest-rated film is Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya, which has an IMDb rating of 8.1/10. The plot revolves around an aspiring filmmaker who experiences highs and lows in his romantic life after falling in love with a Christian girl who only wants to be friends with him. The film was directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and starred Trisha Krishnan.
Manmadhan
IMAGE CREDIT: MOVIESAVAILABLEON
Manmadhan holds a rating of 7.1/10 and is definitely a must-see Simbu film. The story revolves around a mentally disturbed brother who transforms into a serial killer. He then takes revenge by killing girls who cheat in relationships. The film stars Jyotika, Atul Kulkarni, and Sindhu Tolani.
Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada
IMAGE CREDIT : INDIA TODAY
Simbu’s other film that is worth watching is Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada. The movie is Simbu’s one more collaboration with Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya director, Gautham Vasudev Menon. The romantic drama revolves around a young man who plans on a road trip with his lady love. The two come across an accident that turns their lives upside down. The film has been rated 6.4/10 by the audience.
Simbu has many blockbusters hits to his credit and a huge fanbase that admires his growth and life journey. In conjunction with his birthday,  his upcoming film Pathu Thala has released a new song entitled Namma Satham composed by the one and only A.R. Rahman. The song has also been sung by the composer along with Yogi Sekar, while the lyrics are penned by Vivek. Silambarasan was spotted rustic and fierce in all-black attire in the glimpse of the song video, and the choreography looks interesting as well. The music video reached about 2 million views within 15 hours when viewed by the writer.
Check out the music video below:

Happy Birthday, STR!

Source: (1)
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P. Pavitra, The 15-Year-Old Bentong Girl Found ‘Safe and Well’ In Kajang Residential Area

P. Pavitra, who has been reported missing on Thursday (10th February) has been found ‘safe and well’ at a residential area in Kajang. The 15-year-old girl was last seen at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ketari in Bentong, Pahang and her sudden disappearance creates a buzz around social media sites as cases of missing children have been increasing rapidly.
Her father realised she went missing when he received a call from the 60-year-old van driver when his daughter failed to take the ride home.
image Credit: SinarDaily
According to Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar, a police team from the district’s Criminal Investigation Department found P. Pavitra along with a 17-year-old female companion at a bus stop at about 3.30am yesterday.
“Upon checking their identification documents, one of them was identified as Pavitra while the other person is her 17-year-old friend.

Pavitra left Bentong in an e-hailing car and stayed at a friend’s residence in Kajang for nearly eight days.  The police team brought the girl back to Bentong and sent her to the Bentong Hospital for a health check-up,” he said in a statement today.
Zaiham encouraged students to communicate with their parents on a frequent basis if they were encountering any issues and to refrain from making hasty decisions that may put them or their parents in trouble.
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Filed Under BentongBentong police chief SuperintendentFoundP.PavitraSafe & WellSchool GirlZaiham Mohd Kahar


The Ganesan Family Honours Kamal Haasan For Completing 60 Years In Cinema!

It must take more than passion to be in love with the same profession for 60 years!
Kamal Haasan was felicitated by Tamil actor Prabhu and family for completing 60 years in cinema, on Friday. The family of Prabhu honoured Kamal Haasan with a plaque and a heartfelt letter at Annai Illam, the house of Sivaji Ganesan.
“It has been 60 years since you ruled acting. May you rule the world and the city and be happy for 100 years,”
Seen at the felicitation were Prabhu, Shruti Haasan, Vikram Prabhu and his wife Lakshmi Ujjaini among others.
Kamal Haasan appreciated the gesture through a tweet. “Had a delicious feast at Annai Illam. As usual, a lot of love and affection was exchanged. The letter that Prabhu read out moved me to tears. My heart is full,” the actor said in his tweet on Friday.

அன்னை இல்லத்தில் அறுசுவை விருந்து. வழக்கம் போல் நிறைய அன்பும் பரிமாறப்பட்டது. தம்பி பிரபு வாசித்து அளித்த பாராட்டு மடலின் வாசகங்கள் என்னை கண் கலங்க வைத்தது. மனது புன்னகைத்தது. pic.twitter.com/cKo8B6HXah
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 18, 2019

Kamal, who made his acting debut as a child artist in Kallathur Kannamma in 1959, completed 60 years in the industry in August earlier this year. The actor, who recently wrapped up his hosting duties for Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3, will next be seen in Shankar’s Indian 2.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  Is Actor Simbu Reuniting With Mani Ratnam For STR50?
Filed Under 60 yearsganesanKamal HaasanparbhuTamil


TPT: Shalini Balasundaram Recalls The Times She Experienced Theft & Robbery

Two years ago, Shalini Balasundaram gave us her debut film, Geethaiyin Raadhai, which ended up a major hit among the Malaysian audience.
Now she’s back with another movie, Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey (TPT), a heavier venture compared to her romantic debut film. TPT centres around theft and robbery and why it’s plaguing Malaysian Indians.
But what inspired her to write such a script? Turns out, Shalini Balasundaram has experienced theft and robbery at least 3 times in her life.

“When I was six years old, my house was broken into. They broke in through the window. Since then, I developed a fear for windows. I also became afraid of the dark,” Shalini confessed during the TPT audio launch.
“I was 19 years old and on the phone with my mother. She was on her way to visit my grandfather in the hospital. And then I heard a cry – and it’s a sound I cannot forget until today. They snatched my mom’s thali,”
“And then I was 21 years old, then our house got robbed again. I witnessed the whole thing. At that time, I had just completed writing Geethaiyin Raadhai and we were about to start shooting. My mom lost everything in that robbery, everything she saved for me. My fiancé was there too – but he couldn’t do much because everyone was armed,”

“We lodged a police report, and as we walked out of the police station, the idea for Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey was born,” she explained.
Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey will hit cinemas nationwide on 16th August.
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Filed Under Shalini BalasundaramThirudathey Papa Thirudathey


Sonakshi Sinha ‘Arrested’; Part Of Mission Mangal Film Promo?

The extent some people would go for marketing or promoting a film can be bizarre. The hashtag #AsliSonaArrested started trending on Twitter after a video of actress Sonakshi Sinha wearing handcuffs went viral.

In the video doing the rounds on social media, the actress is cuffed, with her hands behind her. “You can’t arrest me like this. Do you know who I am? I have not done anything. How can you arrest me like that?” She screams in the video.

While Sonakshi’s face is not clearly visible in the 10-second clip, which focuses only on her hands, the voice shouting “How can you arrest me like that?” is clearly hers.
The video left the actress’ fans confused. While many took to social media, wondering what was going on, and if the video was genuine, some actually started speculating if the ‘Dabangg’ girl was in trouble and needed help.
All through, Sonakshi chose to stay silent, and the hashtag #AsliSonaArrested kept trending on Twitter. The authenticity of the video, too, is yet to be confirmed at the time of going to press.

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A post shared by @varindertchawla

Recently Sonakshi shares a story on her Instagram platform in which she has mentioned; Hey guys, I know there are some concerning videos doing the rounds. It is me , but then that’s not the entire truth. I will share everything in detail with you all soon.

This is defo part of Mission Mangal’s film promo.
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Filed Under hindimission mangalsonakshi sinha


Malaysian Artists, Mugen Rao And RK Arvin To Be Featured In A.R. Rahman’s Maajja

We would like to congratulate and give a huge round of applause to our beloved home boys, Mugen Rao, and also RK Arvin, for successfully landing a spot in A.R. Rahman’s Maajja.

Glad to announce our initiative @joinmaajja and its first major project @yaallfest. Our primary focus is to amplify the voices of artists and spread the joy of music.https://t.co/cdZC36VBA8
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) January 26, 2021

Our local music industry is flourishing day by day and this platform is clearly a game changer for Malaysian talents.
Maajja is a platform which aims to amplify the voices of independent musicians from South Asia.
Along with our Malaysian artists, the announcement video also features several other independent artists and bands from South India, including Siennor, Leon James, Maalavika Sundar, Karthik Devaraj, Shan Vincent De Paul and Yanchan, Pradeep Kumar, Tenma and Gaana Muthu, Two’s A Company, The Casteless Collective, NXT Sister Duo, Sathyaprakash, Sakthi Amaran, Sarika, Contra and Eboshi of Cartel Madras, Pravinin and Eboshi of Cartel Madras.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKujjbFWt6c&feature=emb_logoVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Join The Cultural Renaissance | maajja | A. R. Rahman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKujjbFWt6c&feature=emb_logo)

Rahman also launched Yaall, a global music festival in Chennai, as a maiden initiative under Maajja. The initiative is called “a cultural renaissance” by Rahman.
A.R. Rahman hopes to “elevate the world class talent” to a global scale. For us, it’s indeed a proud moment as our boys Mugen Rao and RK Arvin are teaming up with the legendary A.R. Rahman.
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Filed Under Ar Rahman MaajjaAr Rahman MajjaAr Rahman yaalar rahman yaallChennai music festMugen RaoRK ArvinYaall Maajja


Suzhal-The Vortex; Five Reasons Why This Crime Thriller Web Series Should Be Your Weekend Binge-Watch

‘Suzhal – The Vortex’ would be your newest crime obsession. Graced by Bramma-Anucharan, the intriguing thriller film was produced, penned and created by Vikram Vedha fame Pushkar-Gayatri.
Image Credit: IMDB
Touted to be a crime-thriller, the series is trapped in a strange situation around Tamil Nadu. The 8-episode series is set in a small village where everyone in the small village is familiar with each other. Shanmugam (R Parthiban) and Inspector Regina Thomas (Sriya Reddy) experienced absolute chaos in their lives since the farmer’s daughter, Nila (Gopika Ramesh)was kidnapped.
But, who’s the kidnapper? Did the police manage to find out the kidnapper or find Nila in the end?
To answer those questions, you’ll need to watch the series!
Since the trailer of the series dropped on 7th June, it has created a lot of buzz amongst moviegoers and critics. Team Varnam got a sneak peek at ‘Suzhal – The Vortex’ and based on that, we share FIVE REASONS why you should look forward to watching the series this weekend.
Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video
Intriguing Plot with Gripping Scenes
If the trailer was anything to go by, then this one can be super confident about the show’s gripping storyline. Keeping the intensity intact, Pushkar-Gayathri narrates the story with a twist and you just can’t wait to find out who is the real suspect behind the chilling mystery. With a well-woven structure screenplay, the two-minute trailer got us thinking and wanting to unravel the mystery.
Spellbinding Performance From The Entire Casts
FJ (Adhisayam) and Gopika Ramesh (Nila) – the duo have really taken the cake throughout the entire series by giving mind blowing performances. Among the casts who play the pivotal role are Parthiban Radhakrishnan, Sriya Reddy, Kathir, and Aishwarya Rajesh. The plethora of emotions that they have displayed throughout the entire series really need to be praised. They pull off the characters very well. And all four of them get their moments to shine, and they make the most of them. Apart from the main characters, Prasanna Balachandran, Indumathy, Prem Kumar, Harish, Soundarya and many more leave an amazing effect on us.
Image credit: Filmbeat
Essence of Human Being
Despite the attention to mystery, the unseen images or the hands of the human feel show what we are capable of. It left the audience’s feeling and response to understand the part of the human race, what we are capable of and what long for after this film experience. Witnessing the essence of the human errors in our daily lifestyle, it’s also relatively easier to relate to these characters due to their earnestness.
Best Music Score in Crime Genre
With Sam CS’s background score, it actually amps up the tension and lends an edge-of-the-seat vibe to the proceedings.
Technical Elements (Editing, Cinematography, and etc)
From keeping the mystery tight, Mukes‘s cinematography have also do the trick. Trust us, we feel that tho!
At its core, the writer gives a special shout out to the brilliant technical team who have successfully taken the entire film to the next level. Every visual element of the series especially visuals of the small village stands out. On the other hand, Richard Kevin managed to maintain the colour palette to a minimum which suits the series tone.
Image Credit: HubHD
Suzhal: The Vortex does live up to the expectations by not having big shootouts. Where this series twists and turns from here, you’ll never predict, so paying light attention is not an option. The 8-episode web series proves what suspense thrillers are made of. Right from the word go, the series keeps you hooked to an extent where you want to shriek!
It makes for a perfect binge worthy series that you should watch now on Amazon Prime Video HERE!
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Filed Under Crime ThrillerFJ (Adhisayam)Gopika Ramesh (Nila)Inspector Regina Thomas (Sriya Reddy)pushkar-gayathriShanmugam (R Parthiban)Suzhal: The Vortex


10 Photos of Kuala Lumpur Through The Years: 1884 – 2019

1 February marks a day when everyone who works in Selangor become envious of their big city friends who get the day off despite the close geographic proximity.
It is also known as the Federal Territory Day in Malaysia.
Federal Territory Day is a public holiday in all federal territories in Malaysia, which includes Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. We thought that besides enjoying the quieter roads in the city you’d also enjoy a walk down memory lane as we take a look at photos of Kuala Lumpur through the years.
1. Kuala Lumpur, A Panorama
This is the oldest photo that we managed to trace on the internet. It is a panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur with Kampung houses and trees.

Kuala Lumpur, current day
2. Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad
Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad was completed inaugurated in 1897. The building housed British colonial administration offices. In 1974, it was renamed after Selangor Sultan, Sultan Abdul Samad.
Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad c. 1897
Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Present Day
3. Masjid Jamek
Masjid Jamek is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur and was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback. The mosque was officially opened to public on 23 December 1909.
Masjid Jamek, early 1900s
Masjid Jamek, Present Day
4. Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
The first railway station build in Kuala Lumpur was called the Resident Station. However, Resident Station was demolished shortly after the completion of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station in 1886.
Kuala Lumpur Railways Station c. 1860
Kuala Lumpur Railway Station c. 1950

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Present Day
5. Central Market
The Central Market first opened it’s doors to public in 1888. Now, it is a popular tourist attraction for souvenirs and Malaysian delicacies.
Central Market, 1920
Central Market, Present Day
6. Dataran Merdeka
On 31 August 1957, the Union Jack was lowered and the Jalur Gemilang was raised at this monumental site. Dataran Merdeka was previously known as Selangor Club Padang.
Related:  Malaysian Silambam Porr Kalai Athletes Win Big At The Indonesia's 3rd Invitational Global Silambam ChampionshipDataran Merdeka in 1920

Dataran Merdeka, Present Day
7. Federal Highway
The Federal Highway is one of the busiest highways in Malaysia, particularly during rush hour. The highway was built to connect Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang (previously known as Port Sweetenham) in 1977.

Federal Highway, current day
8. Petaling Street
KL’s Chinatown is a bustling and colourful street of shops’ restaurant and hawker stalls. Petaling Street is a popular tourist attraction, with speakeasy bars and street art that attempts to retrieve the glories of old Chinatown.

Petaling Street, current day
9. Petronas Twin Towers
It took 7 years and 1.6 billion dollars to construct the Petronas Twin Towers. The Petronas Twin Towers were inaugurated on 31 August 1999 and were the tallest buildings in the world between year 1998 to 2004.
Petronas Twin Towers construction site

Petronas Twin Towers, Present Day
10. Hotel Majestic
Hotel Majestic was designed by Keys and Dowdeswell in 1932. During the Japanese Occupation, the hotel was used as a transit camp for Japanese soldiers. When the Japanese surrendered in 1945, a Japanese soldier killed himself in Room 48. Hotel Majestic is under the management of YTL Hotels since 2012.
Hotel Majestic c. 1932
Hotel Majestic, Current Day
Source: Bercutilah Di Malaysia
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Filed Under klKuala LumpurMalaysia


Kartik Ganason Praises Digital Business Platform In Keeping Restaurant Alive

These are unprecedented times as the global pandemic, the deadly and nasty Covid-19 hit many business owners hard, citing cash flow and the inability of continuing the business as the main reason for many of such enterprises shutting down their operations for good.
One thing the pandemic has taught us is the very brutal, harsh and genuine fact that only the fittest survive. Individuals that are able to adapt and enhance their skills and resources are the ones that go against all odds and come out stronger defeating tough situations brought about by the pandemic.
Struggling to keep his business alive, Kartik Ganason who owns Restoran Citra Maju decided to take the restaurant online and signed up for Maybank’s Sama Sama Lokal after being approached by the service. The platform was of great help during the movement control order (MCO) period which provided him with the opportunity of continuing his business through the online platform, and ultimately keeping his staff in their jobs too.
The 33-year-old restaurant owner was left with no other option but to take his business online. It took Maybank approximately a week to get the restaurant completely set up with its online platform subsequent to getting the organisation enrolment number, address and menu.
Picture credit: FMT
“I was in a state of depression. I didn’t know what to do because we could not open for business,” said Kartik, whose Restaurant Citra Maju was Started by his father in 1987.
Since going digital, Citra Maju’s business has improved by 50% and the shop serves nearly 150 more customers every week. The system gives him an additional income stream and allows the menus to reach a wider customer group. This has attracted customers near and far to his restaurant since it reopened for dine-in.
Kartik sees the digital platform as a big opportunity for his business expansion. In the meantime, fans of Citra Maju found the restaurant through Sama Sama Lokal have also requested for event catering.
Picture credit: Citra Maju Facebook
After experiencing business growth and success through the Sama Sama Lokal platform, Kartik intends to join the eUsahawan programme, an initiative developed by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to help local entrepreneurs in digital marketing.
Having seen the manner in which the shop has developed in such a brief period of time, Kartik has no desire to desert the business, and invests heavily in dealing with the business and proceeding with the family inheritance. Truth be told, he is now hoping to extend the Citra Maju brand as his dad once did, with two new outlets planned for 2021.
“Before I came back, I was away from my family for the first 10 years of my career. I missed everything. I couldn’t be there for them during the good and bad times. But now, I’m not leaving them. I need to be there for them.”
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” a popular song-lyric sung by American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson came to my mind as I penned this article, only as a self-reminder that one on the brink of defeat can come out tougher and emerge victorious.
Kartik who just a few months ago, desperate to keep his business going, took a leap of faith when an opportunity was offered to him to revive and sustain his business. And bring it back to life did he!
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Filed Under Digital Business PlatformKartik GanasonRestoran Citra MajuSuccess


Suriya’s ‘NGK’ Is Going To Be The First Tamil Movie To Release In South Korea

There has been so much buzz around Suriya’s next film, ‘NGK’ or Nandha Gopala Kumaran. The film is touted to be an action political thriller and is produced under the banner of Dream Warrior Pictures. Suriya, who was last seen in ‘Thaana Serntha Kootam’, will be starring in the film with Rakul Preet Singh, Sai Pallavi, Jagapathi Babu, Ilavarasu, Bala Singh, Ponvannan, Thalaivasal Vijay, Vela Ramamoorthy and Ramkumar Ganesan.

The film, that will be made in Tamil and Telugu, has achieved another milestone even before its release. NGK will be the FIRST Tamil film to release in South Korea. In a controversial theory that dates back to 1905, studies have suggested a genetic link between the Dravidian-Korean languages. The theory suggests that Tamil and Korean languages have many similarities due to migration of Tamil speakers to Korea hundreds of years ago. Perhaps, the similarities in language and taste for drama will allow NGK to have its own audience in Korea.

Suriya and director Selvaraghavan

Actor Suriya was last seen in ‘Thaana Serntha Kootam’, is currently also working on ‘Kaapaan’ with KV Anand and ‘Yaanai’ with Hari. NGK will be the first time Suriya is working under the direction of Selvaraghavan. NGK will hit big screens on 31 May 2019.
Watch the trailer right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OkwCLakC_4Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: NGK – Official Trailer Tamil | Suriya, Sai Pallavi, Rakul Preet | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Selvaraghavan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OkwCLakC_4)

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Filed Under NGKSelvaraghavanSuriya


Safecity; An App Specially Designed For Women To Report And Avoid Sexual Assaults In Malaysia

Safecity mobile app, an initiative that enables women to talk and share experiences on sexual harassment, has just been launched in Malaysia with upgraded features by Red Dot Foundation (Global) in collaboration with Engender Consultancy and Sisterhood Alliance.
In the last eight years, the forum has grown to include several of the ideas obtained from the public. With the latest launch of its revised edition in Malaysia, members of the public can now report sexual assault and gender abuse cases via the app from anywhere in the world.
Source: Safe City
In making the report, victim information is private while sensitive information is obtained and stored in the application. It’s also user-friendly and filling up information on a potential suspect and nature of harassment or rape takes less than five minutes.
 The Safecity app takes to public places the perspectives of sexual harassment and assault. It has been the largest public map of gender abuse and sexual assault in Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Nepal since it was first made available in December 2012 in India.
The platform works out the best and safest way for a women to go, marking the areas on a map and using colors to identify the locations with more reports (as usual, red indicates a more dangerous area). The database is also useful in helping local groups and agencies track and tackle crime against women. This will ensure them to focus on the solutions that needs to be sorted out for women.

In a nutshell, Safecity since its inception has become a secure space for women to express their stories and a place where their voices are heard. This concept raises consciousness of a topic that in contemporary culture all too frequently goes unreported, or even overlooked or unrecognised (primarily by individuals who have internalised it as something normal).
For further enquiries, kindly visit their website here!
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Filed Under and NepalCameroonEngender Consultancy and Sisterhood AllianceKenyanigeriaRed Dot Foundation (Global)Safecitysexual harassment


Honouring Malaysian Tamil Transwoman Icon: Asha Amma

She is the goddess who gave us life. She is our teacher. An intellectual. She is our treasure.
– A Thirunangai at Aasha Amma’s Funeral
In commemoration of Pride Month, the month that brings awareness to the struggles and joys of the global LGBTQ community, let us remember the beacon of the Malaysian-Singaporean Tamil Thirunangai (transwomen) Community, M. Asha Devi Amma. She was the proud matriarch of Chow Kit, not only to other trans women but to the marginalized communities throughout her area. The legacy of Asha Amma should be remembered with the likes of American trans and gay liberation pioneers Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera, who led the fight for LGBTQ liberation during the Stonewall Riots (in New York) of June 1969, which brought forth Pride Month to be celebrated across the globe. This month is to bring awareness to the still horrendous and horrifying conditions LGBTQ people all over the world live through. Nevertheless, the legacy of Asha Amma is one of hope and faith, for that is what she lived by, all her life.
Born on July 2, 1944, Asha Devi Amma was the first transwoman in Malaysia to get sex reassignment surgery in the 1970s. She was also the oldest living transwoman in all of Malaysia at the time, a great triumph in itself for a woman of her background. Asha Amma had travelled to India to get her surgery done and even got to change her gender on her IC to female, something which is prohibited for trans people in Malaysia at this time. Asha Amma was seen as the great backbone of the Malaysian-Singaporean Thirunangai Community, she was respected, revered, and treasure by her people. No matter what corner of the country a transwoman was in, she knew that she could come to Asha Amma for protection. Asha did not just provide food and shelter for the Thirunangais; she gave them wisdom. She taught them how to be brave, how to be independent, and how to care for themselves. She guided each and every young Thirunangai to be strong-willed individuals. Young Thirunangais that had grown up under her care profess how they are eternally indebted to all that she has done for them.

Asha Amma fell in love, married a wealthy man, and adopted children with him. Even though she lived a comfortable life, she always used her power to provide for those in great need. After the passing of her husband, she supported herself by running a food stall. She tragically passed away at the age of 68 on August 7, 2012, from a heart attack. Her funeral was attended by nearly 1000 people, most of whom were Thirunangais; some had travelled as far as Switzerland to pay their last respects. The funeral attendees were also other men and women that Asha Amma had helped in her lifetime.

A legacy of stories is still to be uncovered about Asha Amma and her contribution not only to the Thirunangai Community of Malaysia-Singapore alone, but also to the many poor and marginalized folks of Kuala Lumpur. Her revolutionary spirit should be remembered and respected by all. She remains an enigma in the memory of Tamil Thirunangais all over the world. Let us strive to keep her revolutionary history alive in honour of the great life she has lived.
Sources : Thanuja Singam, Bued India, Smithsonian, Malaysia Now
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Filed Under Asha DeviSuccessful transwomanThirunangaitranswoman


“I Can’t Act To Save My Life,” Balan Kashmir On His Cameo In Vedigundu Pasangge

When renowned local icon Balan Kashmir made a cameo appearance in Vedigundu Pasangge, he didn’t expect the entire cinema hall to burst into cheers and a roaring applause. Balan appeared for a mere 30 seconds during his rap bit in the opening song, “Vada Vilaiyadu”, and it received so much support and love from the audience.
“I was super grateful when it happened. I went for the premier as a regular movie goer with my wife. I was really excited to see myself on the screen for the first time. I only appeared for 30 seconds and everyone cheered for my part, I didn’t expect that to happen. I feel like all my hard work has paid off,” Balan told Varnam.my.

Composed by renowned musical duo Vivek-Mervin, “Vada Vilaiyadu” is also powered by the upbeat vocals of Folk Marley Anthony Daasan. You may recognise Anthony Daasan as the man who sang “Sodakku Mela” for Suriya’s Thaana Serntha Kootam. Of course, we asked Balan it felt like to work with someone of Anthony Daasan’s stature.
“We actually did the recording over Skype and phone. Vedigundu Pasangge’s lead actor and producer Denes Kumar and music directors Vivek-Mervin were actually guiding me all the way from India while I recorded here. We made some changes and tweaking here and there – and we nailed it in an hour. I spoke to Anthony sir afterwards and he said, “Good luck, heard your music and it’s very refreshing!””
 As refreshing as it sounds, we’re sure it must have been quite a challenge to fuse rap into a traditional thiruvizha song. Having said that, we all know that Balan Kashmir is no stranger to thiruvizhas – which also happens to be theme of his current hit song!
“The verse I wrote for ‘Vada Vilaiyadu’ is one of my earliest Tamil verses, ‘Kondattam’, and it fit like a glove! So we used that verse but made some changes in the front and back. The last two lines are actually Denes’ idea, because we wanted the rap to be in sync with the friendship theme of the movie. And voila, we created something that will hopefully stand through the test of time,” Balan added.

Now that he’s made his cameo appearance and saw the overwhelming support it raked, we were wondering if Balan, well, has any plans to venture into acting.
“Haha, Denes has spoken to me about this before, so let’s see where that shall lead my career. I’ve written a script but I won’t act in it because acting is a profession that needs serious commitment. But if any director is willing to give me a chance, sure why not. But as of now, I can’t act to save my life,” Balan concluded with a laugh.
Vedigundu Pasangge is in cinemas nationwide now.
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Filed Under Balan Kashmir


Brutally Assaulted Elderly Man Thava Sagayam Dies, MP Wants Perpetrator Charged With Murder

The brutal attack of an elderly man left unconscious near the swimming pool at Menara Majestic Condo in downtown Ipoh has shocked the nation amid a swirl of video snippets and social media posts across the internet.
Thava Sagayam, who worked as a security guard at the condominium, had succumbed to death on 27th August 2021(Friday) due to complications of the brain.
The 63-year-old elderly man was assaulted by Ahmad Noor Azhar B Muhammad while on duty on 29th December, 2020. Initially, the accused was charged under Section 324 and he was detained for two days before appearing at the Ipoh magistrate court on 6th January, 2021 under Section 335 with a minor case. On the same day itself, the accused was out under bail and freely roaming around without any form of guilty consciousness.

According to Thava’s relative Piriaya, a man came into the swimming pool area of the condominium along with his son on that unfortunate day. Despite knowing and being fully aware that the swimming pool area was closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the man stubbornly refused to adhere to the rules and allowed his son to play in the pool for more than 45 minutes.
Thereafter, the security guard rushed to the management office to report about the incident and the Manager stepped in to deal with the man, but he declined to listen as well. The man who was enraged with Thava  brutally attacked him without sympathy. Thava was beaten twice with the table in front of the little kid, who forcefully shoved him to the ground.
Image credit: Bala Punes
Despite undergoing eight surgeries at Ipoh’s Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Thava was bedridden for seven months due to severe head injuries following the initial incident that took place until his last breath last week.
In the aftermath of the victim’s death, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran has requested the public prosecutor to prosecute the man who violently attacked an elderly security guard at an Ipoh condominium last year with murder.
“As the victim has succumbed to death due to the injuries sustained, I urge the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) to request the police to do a thorough investigation again and reclassify this case on a murder charge.
“In view of changed circumstances namely the death, the earlier case in court need to be withdrawn and the aggressor be possibly be charged for murder. Nobody is above the law and no one should take the law into his own hands,” said Kulasegaran in a statement.

Kulasegaran in the video above stated:

“Let us all stand up and denounce this heinous crime!”

The accused was prosecuted on 6th January and is expected to be sentenced on 9th September for the initial charges under Section 335 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing grievous hurt on grave and sudden provocation.
Based on a Bernama report, the police will refer the investigation paper to the Perak deputy public prosecutor’s office for further instructions based on this latest evidence.
More updates to follow!
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Filed Under Ahmad Noor Azhar B MuhammadDeputy Public Prosecutor (DPP)Hospital Raja Permaisuri BainunIpoh Barat MP M. KulasegaranMenara Majestic Condomurder chargeThava Sagayam


WATCH: Theyvekgan Asks Society to Get Rid of the Taboo Surrounding Menstruation

Theyvekgan, a radio presenter with Minnal FM has has released an IGTV video on the importance of talking about menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
He talks about the importance of menstrual health while trying to eliminate the taboo that exists in our society. This video was released in conjunction with World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Theyv calls out the many men who ignore the women in their homes’ menstrual cycle, and tells them that they need to step up as partners and family members.

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A post shared by தெய்வீகன் | Theyvekgan (@rj_theyvekgan)

Well done, Theyv!
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Filed Under Minnal FMTheyvekganWorld Menstrual Hygiene Day


‘The Basics’ by Naresh Kumar Is Bestowed With The Title of “First Mirror Writing Book”

The author of “The Basics,” Naresh Kumar, has earned the title of “First Mirror Writing Book” in the Malaysia Book of Records.
Picture credit: ashwinpaul
This book, which was released in early March, has received widespread acclaim, and receiving this honour from Malaysia’s most prestigious organisation would have been a source of great pride.
While holding the title firmly in his hand, the author stated;
This accomplishment is not something that I did alone, and there are many others who deserve to share this award with me. I would like to thank my editor, Santhya Vijayakumar first of all.
I would also like to thank my friends and family for their love and support throughout this journey of mine and many other adventures.
According to a previous article on Varnam, the author also noted that he believes it is critical for each person to live up to his or her own belief system and to constantly improve one’s self-confidence and self-motivation in order to comprehend one’s own skill in achieving one’s goals and dreams.
Picture credit: ashwinpaul
It’s a thoughtful move on the Malaysia Book of Records part to recognise an emerging talent like him. Rewarding this type of upcoming talent will not only encourage him to do better, but will also inspire others to strive towards their goals.
At the end, Naresh Kumar also offered a small piece of advice to his fellow followers
Remember – if my work can make a difference, so can yours. Nothing is impossible.
Congratulations Naresh Kumar, on your outstanding accomplishment. Continue to inspire us!
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Filed Under Naresh KumarThe basicsThe first mirror writing bookThe Malaysia book of records


Reexamining Kabali: Superstar Rajnikanth’s Extremely Disappointing Film

I am a huge fan of Superstar Rajnikanth and have been since I was a kid (courtesy of my dad). I remember following my dad to line up for Padaiyappa tickets when I was six. That was way back in 1999. Last year, 17 years later, I stood (and sat on the floor) in line, for seven hours to purchase opening midnight tickets to Kabali.
I walked into the cinema with my excitement and expectation levels sky high. I walked out with my blood boiling. What a load of horseshit, I thought to myself, fuming. My dad loved it, though. So, was it just my expectations? Maybe lining up for seven hours wore me out.

Yesterday, more than a year after its release, I decided to give Kabali another shot. The movie works so much better on the small screen than it does on the big. This isn’t a compliment. On the small screen, the flaws are not as obvious. And boy, does this movie have a lot of flaws. But none of which has to do with Rajnikanth himself.
Rajnikanth is great in this movie, as always. Say what you want about the man’s “acting” chops — I get it, he isn’t as transformative as Kamal Hassan — but when it comes to charisma and bonafide star power, he is one of the best and biggest in the world, right up there with Clint Eastwood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bruce Lee and Amitabh Bachchan.
The introduction to Kabali is excellent. We see him in prison — it’s been 25 years since he got arrested — reading My Father Baliah, a book about a Dalit family in South India, written by YB Satyanarayana. This is an interesting detail that director Pa. Ranjith chose to include. It gives us an idea of what the movie is going to be about (Or at the very least, what Pa. Ranjith wants us to think the movie is about).
Before walking out of his prison cell, Kabali does a pull-up. It is a scene so clearly designed to get audiences cheering. Why did he need to do a pull-up? Would Francis Ford Coppola have shot a scene of Don Vito Corleone doing a pull-up? Would Frank Costello from The Departed do a pull-up?
Pull-ups suggest physical strength. I would think a gangster as eminent as Kabali would make his enemies shit bricks without needing to show off his physicality. What annoys me more than the pull-up, is how the scene is cut. It is so poorly edited that it highlights more than it hides Rajni’s inability to actually do a pull-up.
Source: The Indian Express
But the movie recovers immediately. As Kabali walks away from his prison cell, the convicts applaud, in a beautifully shot sequence that will send shivers down your spine. This is how you highlight a don with POWER. Kabali suiting up is another great moment. We get the impression that this will be a very different version of our Superstar that we’ve seen in Muthu, Arunachalam, and Sivaji. Indeed, we later learn that the suits he dons are not so much for style (though, he does look mighty stylish in em), but rather, a symbol of oppression that he has overcome.
But every time the film does something impressive, it follows it up with something else that will make you wonder if this is a first-year film student project. Kabali’s interaction with his longtime friend Ameer (John Vijay) outside of the prison is cringeworthy. John Vijay’s line delivery is embarrassing and he has zero chemistry with Rajni, a recurring issue in this movie.
Tony Lee is the name of our villain. He supposedly represents a class of society that play an active role in the oppression of Indians in Malaysia. That is the idea, at least. In reality, he’s just another poorly written, depthless villain. One who resembles a mashup between a James Bond baddie from the 70s and made in China Elvis Presley. His loud suits can’t compensate his lack of personality or purpose. Winston Chao, who plays Tony Lee seems to be in a different movie. He constantly overacts in an outlandish manner, reminding me of Elizabeth Banks in this year’s Power Rangers.
Yogi (Dhansika) and Jeeva (Dinesh) give a good performance throughout. Dinesh, especially, gets lost in his role. Nassar is solid in his brief appearance, too, as one would expect. But everyone else is borderline terrible. As in bloody effing terrible. So terrible, I can’t help but wonder if they were cast simply because they’re friends with some important people who were financing the movie.
Source: The Indian Express
Santhosh Narayanan’s opening number is a thing of beauty. It is one of the best opening numbers in a Rajnikanth movie. Yes, joining the ranks of classics like Naan Autokaaran, Vanthenda Paalkaran, and Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu. While these songs are exciting dance anthems, Kabali’s Ulagam Oruvanukka grabs your hand and raises it up in the air. It tells you to soar as high as you can; the sky is the limit. It reminds me of Eminem’s Not Afraid.
Here, Rajnikanth doesn’t dance at a quick pace like he usually does. He plays his age.  When he busts a move at the end of the song, I shed a tear. This is our Superstar, at 67 years of age, still magnetic as ever.
The one weak point of the song involves Kabali using a sword to cut his cake. It is a moment that feels out of place — one that highlights Pa. Ranjith’s lack of confidence. He seems to be unsure if he wants to tell a smaller story or pander to Rajni diehards. Wouldn’t it have been a more effective moment to see the usually extravagant Rajnikanth simply and ordinarily blow the candles?
Pa. Ranjith’s nervousness extends throughout the movie, with glaring tonal inconsistencies from start to finish. It is disappointing, considering the quality of his first two films — Attakathi, starring Dinesh and a Karthi starring Madras — yet understandable, as those films do not come with the enormous pressure, that one would imagine, is ever present when making a Rajnikanth blockbuster.
But no film is above criticism. And I am writing this with the hopes that a few months from now when Pa. Ranjith’s next Rajni film, Kaala, hits the big screen, I can look back at this article and smile at how far this young director has come.
With that said, the screenplay also by Pa. Ranjith is loose. This is a movie that moves from scene to scene like a headless chicken. Does Pa. Ranjith want to tell a gritty political drama, emphasizing on race and castes, or is this a mass masala, in which Rajnikanth will singlehandedly go on a killing spree, ALA John Wick. It does not have to be one or the other; the key is finding the right balance.
The themes are there: Racial politics, economic disability, oppression, and kinship. The execution of the themes is lackluster. We’re told through expository dialogue that the Indians are oppressed. Show me. Make me feel the pain and sufferings. We’re told that the Chinese had it easier. But it isn’t explored. Pa. Ranjith should’ve dug deep into it and showed us both sides of the coin. Show me, through the narrative how oppression and poverty can lead to gangsterism. SHOW, don’t TELL.
I get the impression that Pa. Ranjith is afraid. Afraid that he might rub people the wrong way; Afraid that in telling a completely bare and honest story, it would’ve have been too controversial; Afraid that had he really painted a grime and gritty picture, it would’ve alienated certain groups of people, which could’ve resulted in a lower box office gross. Perhaps. But it would’ve been a BETTER movie and isn’t that the damn point?
Source: Onlookersmedia
The entire angle with Kabali’s wife does nothing but bog down the movie. There is a place for romance in a story like this. Again, we must look at The Godfather Trilogy, particularly Part II. The romantic relationship between Michael (Al Pacino) and Kay (Diane Keaton) is compelling. Not only does the relationship serve the overall story, it also provides us a deeper understanding of the kind of man Michael is.
Here, Pa. Ranjith TRIES to do that, but it is so Kollywoodized, it loses any sense of depth or realism. The romance starts in melodramatic fashion, ends in melodramatic fashion and in between there is a weird sequence in which Kabali travels around India looking for his thought-to-be-dead wife. The entire sequence goes on and on and on and on. It lasts 30 minutes but feels like nine hours.
I wonder what compelled Pa. Ranjith to write such an aimless side story? What is the purpose of this so-called twist? When it’s revealed that his wife is alive, Kabali walks onto an open field in front of his house and drops to the ground. It is a moment that literally made me flinch. It is that  Even Rajnikanth who is usually flawless, cannot save this scene.The movie would have flowed better if Kabali’s wife, played by Radhika Apte, remained dead.
 Speaking of arbitrary twists, what on earth is up with the scene in which Yogi reveals herself to be Kabali’s daughter? Are we supposed to be mindblown? Because my mind has never felt less blown in my entire life. The pointless twist is made worse by the amateurish directorial efforts.
Yogi screams “Appaaaaaa” out of nowhere and the action sequence that follows plays in slow-motion, with IN YOUR FACE melodramatic music. I could feel Pa. Ranjith clenching me by my collar and screaming, “This is where you feel shocked and emotional!!!” Nope. This is where I wondered if I’m watching a Kollywood Masala or one of those shitty Tamil serials old people watch during their free time.
Source: NDTV Movies
Kabali is an ugly film. It is poorly shot and poorly edited. Besides the prison sequence that takes place very early on in the film, there isn’t a single frame that is composed well. Everything looks cheap and lacking in standard. And I won’t accept “production budget” as an excuse. Vetri Maaran’s Visaranai, another 2016 film, is a wonderfully shot almost-masterpiece that has a mere budget of $USD 314 000. Kabali, on the other hand, has a budget of $USD 15 million.
There is also a serious lack of attention to detail. In an early scene, Rajni visits the school that he funds. His friend shows him a glass cabinet where all confiscated gangsterism related items are stored. We see a gun and right beside it, we see… Playboy wristbands. Wait, whaatt? How on earth are Playboy-branded wristbands related to gangs? These are rubber wristbands you can buy in any random ass accessory shop in shopping malls.
There are also a couple of scenes where important moments take place on the road, and the roads are EMPTY. You expect people to believe that roads in the middle of Kuala freaking Lumpur are EMPTY?? Couldn’t there have been extras driving around to make it look realistic?
Kabali has a lot of scenes that are quite obviously inspired by Baasha, which is in and of itself not a problem. It becomes a problem when those scenes come off as cheap imitations rather than inspirations. The flashback scene in Baasha that details the rise of regular joe Manickam to big-time don, Baasha is a well-executed arc that is emotional, riveting and MASS. Here, it barely grazes the surface. The scene where Tony’s men lose confidence in him and leave the table also mirrors a scene in the 1995 epic. In Baasha, it is a fist-pumping scene; here it is poorly acted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mdJV5-eiasVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kabali Tamil Movie | Official Teaser | Rajinikanth | Radhika Apte | Pa Ranjith (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mdJV5-eias)

There are moments of greatness in this film. Like the aforementioned opening prison sequence. Or the scene where Kabali talks to a group of his men at a restaurant. Or the jaw-dropping, gruesome sequence where Jeeva gets beaten to a pulp by Tony’s men. These are some of the better scenes not just of this movie, but of any Tamil movie in the past 20 years. It is Pa. Ranjith at his most confident, showing us that he has the potential to be the next Mani Ratnam, down the line. But a film isn’t about a few great moments. It is about the overall narrative. It is about characters’ journey. And in that regard, Kabali is a giant disappointment.
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Filed Under Kabali


Simran And Trisha To Play Sisters In Their Next Film

In all its glory, Karthik Subbaraj’s Petta did serve some disappointments to us too, especially when Trisha and Simran were not given equal screen time in the movie.
We have our hopes high again today after production company, All In Pictures, made an official announcement that Simran and Trisha will be in Sumanth Radhakrishnan’s next multi-starrer film.

We are happy and proud to announce our next venture #Productionno4 featuring @trishtrashers and @SimranbaggaOffc – An Action Adventure directed by @MemyselfSRK … Further updates to follow soon!#SimTrishsNxT. pic.twitter.com/Ju9EAdHkBB
— All In Pictures (@All_In_Pictures) February 13, 2019

The duo last appeared on screen together almost 20 years ago, when Trisha made a cameo appearance in the 1999 film Jodi as Simran’s friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PthDDvuJFwVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Trisha in Jodi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PthDDvuJFw)

Simran and Trisha will be playing the roles of sisters in this action adventure film. Sumanth Radhakrishnan previously made Sadhuram 2, a remake of the movie Saw, in 2016.
When asked about his next Simran-Trisha film, Sumanth said, “This is a unique script, with water playing a big part in this adventure film. When I wrote the script, I felt I needed to cast leading actresses, who have mutual admiration for each other. Then it struck me that I can cast Trisha and Simran. They both like each other and share an easy camaraderie on the set. I first went with the script to Simran. She really loved it and gave me a lot of references. Trisha, too, liked the script a lot. And that’s how they came on board. Trisha and Simran will play siblings. This is not a drama, but a commercial outing with special stunts”.
Related:  Top 10 Songs that Symbolises Thenisai Thendral Deva’s MusicThe shooting of this film will commence in March. More updates to come.
Source: Times of India
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Filed Under jodiSimranSumanth RadhakrishnanTrisha


EXCLUSIVE: Rapper Yung Raja Says “I Am Going To Explore How Far This Can Go”

The smashing jaw-droppin hit ‘Mami’ only came out a month ago but ‘Mami fever’ is still going strong, credit goes to its addictive chorus, “Mami mami mami…”
The release of ‘Mami’ by Yung Raja and Alamo Records, home to some of the hottest hip-hop acts like Lil Durk and Smokepurpp, marks the start of Yung Raja’s venture internationally.

Infusing his trademark English and Tamil lyricism, the Singaporean lad creates another addictive offering rich in cultural references.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNc2FTOhw1i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The rapper is seen surfing on dollar bills, climbing on stacks of sarees and jewellery, and partying in district locations, all in a psychedelic daze. So, what does the whole ‘Mami’ concept mean?
Yung Raja’s unique ability to bridge and amalgamate all cultures is highlighted in “Mami.” The use of the word “Mami” has a long history in hip-hop party anthems and across languages.
On that note, let’s get into the specifics of ‘Mami,’ as well as the 26-year-old rapper who was named on the NME’s 100 list, becoming the first Singaporean to be featured on the platform’s coveted “artist to watch” list.
He’s droppin it like its hot! ain’t he?
Varnam: As one of Singapore’s most well-known young rappers, how did you get the opportunity to be featured in international records like ALAMO RECORDS in the US, and what does it feel like to be an international talent now?
Yung Raja:  To be honest, I have no idea how all of that happened. It is in fact a very difficult thing to unpack because when I first started off with ‘Poori Gang’, it was just an experiment to see if people would like Tanglish rap. It was started off purely as fun, i mean it still is but I never expected it to become a full time career.
To just know that people love and support what I am doing is just mind blowing, so sometimes it will just get very overwhelming with all these amazing, wonderful new things. But I am just very excited to put in the work to level up with every project and every release.
Varnam: Have you ever felt the pressure that comes with being a part of the rap industry, or is it just “healthy competition”?
Yung Raja: Yeah, definitely! Because at the end of the day, it is still a job right? You gotta make sure that you’re constantly working on yourself, constantly thinking of the next thing that you have to do.
So the pressure is always there and also to be a part of a major label system and to be on an infrastructure where you have a team and you have people working with you around the clock to make sure everything runs smoothly.
If I were an Indie artist, I would have to be accountable for myself because i would have to do everything by myself. But I am not an indie artist, I have so many people on my team and that puts a healthy amount of good pressure on me.

Varnam: Do you ask your music producers to have live sound elements in the music? How much importance do you give, to live sound, in your music?
Yung Raja: Well so far, with all the songs we’ve put out, I don’t think we have recorded any live instruments. But as of the last couple of shows that I had the chance to perform, I have tried to include certain live instruments. I had the Dhol in the most recent show that I performed so I rapped with the bhangra dhol. It was very interesting.
But moving forward, we are definitely looking at adding indian classical instruments as part of the Sonic production because hip hop production is very hip hop. So ever since mustafa came out we’ve been trying to figure out how to tastefully hip hop sonic production with indian classical, especially south indian musical instruments.
Because there’s a very grey area here and some people tend to over do it just because they’re indian artists but I don’t want to do that. I want to do it in a way where it is tasteful and properly curated. So, I am waiting for the right opportunity to explore live instruments for a hip hop production.
Related:  Contest Alert: Win Tickets To Naamastay Hip Hop Happening on 20th May 2023Varnam: ’Mami’ celebrates the beauty and the female form in all its gold-embroidered splendour,” you said in Timeout. Is there a deeper meaning behind this whole concept, or did you just come up with it on the spur of the moment?
Yung Raja: Yeah it is pretty random. ‘Mami’ has different meanings, in Tamil ‘mami’ means a whole different thing, in Spanish it also means a whole different thing. And, since day one, it has always been a fun process to explore the duality in certain words. Especially, an English word that has a different meaning in Tamil or a Tamil word that has a different meaning in English.
That’s where I hit it on the nail, I have the most fun with the creative expression and the creative exploration of the creative expression. So, ‘Mami’ came out like that realising it has two different meanings. However, this song is just me talking about girls in a very fun way. It is a cheeky song where in the chorus I said ‘Mami’ a whole bunch of times.
We actually made this song in 2018, and were waiting for the appropriate time because we made it around the time we did ‘Mustafa’. So, Mustafa and Mami have a similar club vibe to it. Now, all the clubs are closed so we bring the club to homes.

Varnam: Considering your first single, Young Mustafa, has crossed 2.3 million views on YouTube in slightly over 2 years, would you consider that to be a benchmark for any of your music video releases?
Yung Raja: Well, Mustafa was my debut single which did very well and it is quite impressive for a debut single. All the support that I received from everybody gave me a boost for a newcomer, that was unreal to be honest.
With that being said, I don’t want to keep that as a benchmark because now there’s a lot of ships. At that time, we didn’t know that America or India would like what we are doing. We just thought it is pretty much within the region. But now, three years later, it has grown and it has changed.
Now, is a whole different ball game already. We are getting involved with markets that previously we did not even imagine. Because of these new changes and strategies, I would like the benchmark to be way higher.
They say aim higher, so we’re aiming for the stars!
Varnam: You keep referring to your team, how much of input do you give Yung Raja as a brand musically and visually?
Yung Raja: The team synergy is built from those days that is why I talk about it all the time. I am grateful for the place that I am at. To know that a tamizhan is getting this much love not just from my city but from different countries, there are no complaints!
I am living my best life. I have the best people around me. I am going to do everything that I can within my power so that I protect this and grow this. I am grateful, proud and I am dedicating every ounce of my life force to making sure that this time with the people that I am here with, is taken to the maximum height that it can possibly be taken to.
And i am going to explore how far this can go!
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH YUNG RAJA

https://youtu.be/HQRufRALnW0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: EXCLUSIVE: Rapper Yung Raja Says "I Am Going To Explore How Far This Can Go" (https://youtu.be/HQRufRALnW0)

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Filed Under MamiUniversal musicVarnam interviewYoung Mustafayung raja


Prabudass Krishnan Smashes His Own Record By 29 Seconds

Prabudass Krishnan, congratulations on smashing Malaysia’s national record in the Men’s Half Marathon at the Hokkaido Sapporo Marathon Festival 2021!
Picture credit: Mike Azrail Instagram
 He broke his own record by 29 seconds, clocking 1 hour and 7 minutes in this marathon.

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A post shared by Prabudass Krishnan (@prabudassk)

The 31-year-old said;
Felt so good to compete again after more than year. Thank you @coach_jp__for the great 8 days programme

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A post shared by Coach JP 🇨🇵 (@coach_jp__)

In a post on 6th May, his coach also mentioned that;
With all of these covid tests, he couldn’t leave the hotel for a few days and could only eat burgers and fries. Today was cold and very windy, he was still shivering 45 minutes after his race.
Prabudass who hails from Negeri Sembilan finished 49th, breaking his previous best record of 1:07:29 set in Gold Coast, Australia in 2019.
In an interview with Astro Awani, he stated that he was scheduled to compete in the Malaysian Grand Prix in April but had to withdraw due to a viral fever. He was hospitalized for four days in a row and had to miss two weeks of training.
So, when he found out about the competition in Japan, he only had 7 days to train and prepare. Hence, he actually did not set out to break the record because his coach advised him to compete in order to gain experience.
However, he happened to break his own record, which filled him with joy and fueled his desire for his next run.
Prabudass, the 2017 SEA Games 5,000m silver medalist, will now turn his attention to the track in order to qualify for the Hanoi SEA Games at the end of the year, where he hopes to compete in the 5,000m and 10,000m events.
Picture credit: Prabudass Krishnan Instgram
It is a truly proud moment for all of us because he not only carried his name, but also the name of the nation. Best wishes for your next quest for the Hanoi SEA Games, Prabudass Krishnan!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news. Related:  K. Prabudass Renews His Half Marathon National Record In Gold Coast
Filed Under Long runMarathonPrabudass Krishnan


WATCH: Kollathedi Music Video by Keru and Pixel WPH

The Malaysian music seems to level up with every release, and here’s one more to add to it. Kollathedi, a single by singer-songwriter Keru was released earlier this week. The official music video was produced by Pixel WPH.
Kollathedi is a gut wrenching song about a man who is sorry for his actions and wants his partner back in his life. This was depicted beautifully through the video directed by V. G. Ravyn Manogaran.

The music video is well thought out. Scenes of Keru singing in a cluttered dimly lit studio that represents his tormented mind are interspersed with flashbacks of him and his partner.  It is usually difficult to watch the lead pair act out intimate scenes in local Tamil productions. But the chemistry between Keru and female lead Vaisha was fantastic.
Logen Mangoran’s cinematography does the story justice, and it gave the music video that painful feel needed to empathize with the lead character. The excellent bathtub scene has really set the bar high for local music videos. And if you’re wondering why the song is stuck in your head, it’s because Kollathedi was composed and arranged by Lawrence Soosai!

Kollathedi is a brilliant offering by some very hardworking people. Kudos to the team behind the music video. Pixel WPH revealed that they are working on another music video for a local artist at the moment and we are ecstatic. We cannot wait to see what else is in store on the Malaysian Tamil music front!
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Filed Under KeruKollathedi


Atcham Thavir: Playing ‘Sanchey’ Is Very Challenging, Says Kuben Mahadevan

Atcham Thavir is the latest local Tamil movie that is the talk of the town.
The movie revolves around 5 carefree friends who are forced to face their fears after the events of one fateful night.
The film stars renowned local icons like THR’s Geetha, Aanantha, Uthaya, Revathi, rappers Rabbit Mac and Sheezay, Vikadakavi, Kuben Mahadevan, Gana, Alvin, and more.
We were excited to see what role will funnyman Kuben Mahadevan bring to life this time, and we were not disappointed. Kuben took all of us by surprise when he was introduced on screen as Sanchey, a staunch vegan. We expected him to play a role where he’s crazy about food, but this turned out to be a complete opposite.
Source: The Rakyat Post
“Basically Sanchey is a vegan. He may come across as a spiritual man, but he’s actually just selfish,” Kuben told Varnam.my when contacted.
“It was quite challenging, mostly in terms of body language. The way he speaks is quite stiff and serious,” he added.
Want to watch Kuben Mahadevan in action as a vegan in Atcham Thavir? Head over to your nearest cinemas now!
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Filed Under Atcham ThavirKuben Mahadevan