Rainy day Ramen fix: OKO's festival brings the best of Asia's flavors to one table
We sit under warm lights, antique statues lining the walls — from chairperson Jyotsna Suri's art collection from her travels in the '80s — as the slow guzheng tune hums in the background. A warm cup of jasmine tea welcomes us. Our meal begins with a tarty pomelo salad tossed with crunchy peanuts and cashews, and a tangy dressing of tamarind and chilli paste — a perfect start, balancing texture and citrusy zing.
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The Hindu
a minute ago
- The Hindu
A flight of stairs where intense scenes unfold
The flight of stairs at Rajaji Hall on the Omandurar Government Estate has borne witness to some of the most iconic moments in Tamil cinema, ones that remain unforgettable to date. It is on these stairs that actors Mammootty (cast as Devaraj) and Amrish Puri (Kalivardhan) share a subtle yet intense exchange in the presence of Rajnikanth (Surya) in Mani Ratnam's Thalapathi, and even prior to that, it is on these stairs that the character played by actor Karthik is shot dead in broad daylight in front of the character played by actor Revathi as she waits for him to arrive for their wedding, in another of Mani Ratnam's hits Mouna Ragam. The Rajaji Hall, with its grand colonial-era architecture, makes for a popular shooting locale in the heart of the city. Featured in several Tamil films, the building, which was constructed in 1802-03 and served as a public hall attached to the Governor's residence with its wide staircase, iconic columns, and imposing facade, has been the go-to place for scenes involving places such as government offices and courtrooms. In yet another protagonist-antagonist sequence, actors Vijayakanth and Prakash Raj meet on the stairs in the 1996 film Alexander, in which the former plays a Central Bureau of Investigation officer. 'A location like no other' There was no place like Rajaji Hall in Chennai, says director A.M. Nandakumar, who has worked on 38 movies, including ones with directors such as P. Vasu. 'I liked Rajaji Hall for its large working space. Scenes of several movies were shot here. For instance, the Sathyaraj-starrer Rickshaw Mama, in which I worked as an assistant director, had scenes shot there. Some scenes of Walter Vetrivel, Idhu Namma Bhoomi, Sethupathy IPS, and Vaimeiye Vellum were also shot here,' he recalls. In 2000, a grand song sequence was shot here for his movie Kodiesvaran (which is yet to see a theatrical release), featuring actors Eby Kunjumon and Simran. 'We created a set measuring 40,000 here. We had 120 dancers on a stage and nearly 1,000 junior artistes. Such was the grandeur of the place,' he said. In fact, Mr. Nandakumar, who went on to work on a Japanese film Nattu Odoru! Ninja Densetsu, says that their search for a palace setting brought them back to Rajaji Hall. 'We visited some places, including Mysuru, but Rajaji Hall was the best fit. A set for a huge palace was created for the film,' he added. Actor Mohan V. Raman, who played a role in the Japanese film, recalled that Rajaji Hall had then lacked proper amenities for actors. 'Caravans were brought in, and the film crew had put up tents for actors,' he said. The hall, which commemorates the victory of the British over Tipu Sultan, was constructed in the style of a Greek temple. It was remodelled between 1875 and 1895. Currently, the Public Works Department is in the process of renovating the hall and plans to complete the work soon.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Netflix has a China problem, and it is called "China's Netflix"
Netflix may be staring at a huge problem, and it is China. Chinese streaming giants are reportedly quickly gaining ground on their American rivals in the booming Southeast Asian market. According to a report in Nikkei Asia, companies like iQiyi and Tencent are making major plays, shifting their focus to producing original content tailored for local audiences. Referred to as " China's Netflix ," iQiyi, a subsidiary of Baidu, has been expanding across Southeast Asia since 2019, with a strong presence in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The company has attracted 36 million monthly subscribers in the region by offering a mix of free ad-supported viewing and affordable subscription fees. In Thailand, iQiyi's library features over 9,000 titles, with more than 60% being Chinese productions. iQiyi hosts a plethora of content from Chinese period dramas to blockbuster Hollywood films. Moving forward, iQiyi is investing heavily in local content, says the report. The company plans to spend up to 1.54 million dollars ($1.54 million) per production and release four to six Thai titles annually, specifically targeting popular genres like "boys' love" and "girls' love" dramas. In Indonesia and Malaysia, iQiyi is partnering with local studios and carriers like Telkomsel to produce original content for the carrier's 170 million subscribers. iQiyi vies with Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to rank among the biggest video-streaming platforms in China, with an estimated 400 million-plus monthly active users. Tencent's approach: WeTV and original productions Tencent launched its WeTV service in Southeast Asia in 2019 and is also prioritizing original content. Since 2024, the company has been producing local idol programs, which has led to the formation of successful groups like the seven-member boy band NexT1de. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo iQiyi to open theme park Earlier this year, iQiyi said that it plans to open its first theme park this year, based on characters from its own shows. The forthcoming 'iQiyi Land' is set to open in the city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu province, just over two hours from Shanghai by high-speed train. iQiyi's market share and regional dominance While U.S. services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video entered the region around 2016 and hold a dominant share in some areas—nearly 60% in Singapore—Chinese companies are rapidly closing the gap. In Thailand, Chinese providers command about 40% of the market, surpassing the roughly 30% held by U.S. services. This is partly attributed to the large ethnic Chinese population in Southeast Asia and the popularity of Chinese content. The fierce competition in the domestic Chinese market is also a driving factor for this expansion. With domestic revenue and profits falling, Southeast Asia's young population and rising incomes present a significant growth opportunity. The region's streaming market is projected to reach 6.8 billion dollars by 2030, a 49% increase from 2024. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma to receive lifetime achievement award at IDSFFK
Thiruvananthapuram: Noted documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma was chosen for lifetime achievement award of 17th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from Aug 22 to 27. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a sculpture and a certificate of recognition. The award recognises Sharma's significant role in transforming the Indian documentary scene, his steadfast commitment to social justice, and his fearless filmmaking. Selected documentaries by Rakesh Sharma will be screened at the festival. Rakesh Sharma is considered one of the uncompromising voices in Indian non-fiction cinema and is best known for his 2004 documentary Final Solution. This documentary deeply analyses the 2002 Gujarat riots and investigates the rise and growth of extreme Hindutva politics. It was screened at over 120 international festivals. Initially denied screening permission, the Censor Board was compelled to grant a certificate to the documentary without cuts following public protests. Previous recipients of the IDSFFK lifetime achievement award include Anand Patwardhan (2018), Madhusree Dutta (2019), Ranjan Palit (2021), Reena Mohan (2022), Deepa Dhanraj (2023), Naresh Bedi and Rajesh Bedi (2024). Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
