Latest news with #Chandu
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chandu Salimkumar slams Vinayakan: 'Same person who praised my father now criticises him'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) A Facebook post by actor Vinayakan has triggered sharp reactions in the Malayalam film industry, particularly from Chandu Salimkumar, son of veteran actor Salim Kumar . Vinayakan, in a now-deleted post shared on the last day, said against individuals who speak out against drug abuse, mocking them as 'alcohol addicts' who have 'ruined all their organs' yet preach to the youth. His controversial post equated alcohol, cannabis, and even women as intoxicants, questioning the credibility of those attempting to raise awareness. Vinayakan also called such people 'dead bodies' who should stay away from public platforms and claimed cinema itself was a drug, accusing others of trying to push their children into the industry for profit. Soon after the post went viral, and later deleted, the netizens started speculating whether the 'Jailer' actor was aiming at Salim Kumar. Vinayakan steps into controversy over 'Who is Oommen Chandy' statement Chandu Salim Kumar's response - 'When Vinayakan first met me…' Chandu Salimkumar hit back directly in a Facebook thread. Recalling a personal interaction, Chandu wrote, 'When Vinayakan first met me, he said, 'These so-called senior actors always kept me at a distance. But your father… he was the only one who stood by me.' That's the kind of person my father is. And now, the same person is saying all this.' Chandu called out Vinayakan's contradictory behaviour, noting that his current stance disregards the compassion once shown to him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo He added that people battling addiction and striving to recover deserve to speak about their experiences and spread awareness. 'Only those who've lived through it know its true impact,' he wrote. 'If someone made a remark about your mother or sister…' Chandu also took issue with the implications of Vinayakan's messaging at public events. 'You can't go to community programs and say, 'Everyone go drink and ruin your liver like I did,'' he said. He emphasized that people are trying to rebuild their lives and that condemning their efforts sends a dangerous message. Chandu questioned whether speaking against drug use is now considered a crime and closed his rebuttal with a pointed analogy: 'If someone made a remark about your mother or sister at home, would you say it's just the language? You wouldn't. Then why make light of this?' On the work front, Vinayakan will be next seen in Mammootty's 'Kalamkaval'. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Rise and rise of RCB captain Rajat Patidar
AHMEDABAD: As Rajat Patidar got down on one knee and smashed Musheer Khan into the New PCA Stadium stands, leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru into the 2025 IPL final, he had become a part of an elite club of captains to achieve the feat. Patidar joined Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori and Virat Kohli — they are the ones to have led RCB to previous IPL finals — in taking the franchise with a massive fan base to their fourth summit clash in 18 years. At this point, it is well established that RCB Director Mo Bobat asked Patidar whether he would be interested in taking the leadership role and from coming back into the team as an injury replacement in 2022 to leading the franchise to the 2025 IPL final, he has had a meteoric rise. And so is the fact that he was all set to get married during the IPL season before being called in as an injury replacement for Luvnith Sisodia. However, it wasn't the first time Patidar was asked if he wanted to be captain. In fact, when the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association and head coach Chandrakant Pandit offered Patidar the Ranji captaincy four years ago, he wished to focus on his performance. "Initially, when we offered Ranji captaincy, Chandu sir asked him, and he was reluctant. He said, 'No, I want to concentrate on my batting',' MPCA secretary Sanjeev Rao recalls. And he did concentrate on his batting. Patidar had two stellar seasons with the bat, averaging over 80 in red-ball cricket during the 2021-22 and 2022 seasons. In the season after, he went on to accumulate 884 runs and soon reaped the rewards with an India call-up. After two seasons with RCB, he made his ODI debut in 2023 and then played Test cricket for India next year. With all the experience and exposure he had since the captaincy offer when Pandit took over as head coach, when Bobat asked the question, Patidar wanted to give it a go in domestic cricket. He went to MPCA and Pandit and asked if he could lead the white-ball sides. 'He volunteered himself this year in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 'Chandu sir, I'll lead the team.' He said, 'Since Shubham Sharma was our Ranji captain, and he is doing well, he shouldn't be disturbed.' When Chandu sir offered him T20 captaincy, he readily accepted,' says Rao. As fate would have it, things fell into place for Patidar and MP. He led the state side to the final of the domestic T20 tournament — the knockouts were played in Bengaluru. Patidar smashed 428 runs at 61.14 average and 186.08 strike rate, taking the team to the summit clash. However, they fell short in the final hurdle against the Shreyas Iyer-led Mumbai. During these knockout games, Patidar and Bobat spent a lot of time talking about captaincy and his leadership. Bobat, too, gave him confidence that he could succeed as captain.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
1 from T among 31 Maoists killed in Karreguttalu encounter
Hyderabad: Out of 31 Maoists killed in 21 days in the recent anti-Maoist operations along the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border in Karreguttalu, at least four are linked to the Telangana State Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist), though only one was from the state. Sadhanapalli Chandu (23), also known by his alias Ravi and Niraj, hailed from Eturu village of Kannaigudem Mandal in Mulugu district and carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh. A trained lab technician, Chandu joined the Maoists around 2021 after completing his Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology in Bhadrachalam. He was employed at a private hospital before going underground. Police sources said Chandu worked closely with Damodar, a senior Maoist leader in charge of Telangana State Committee, and was part of the outfit's medical team. He was killed in the encounter at Karreguttalu during a major push under " Operation Kagar ". His body was handed over to his family by Chhattisgarh police after his identity was confirmed. The other three, though not natives of Telangana, were in key positions within the Telangana State Committee. They include Sodi Narsinga Rao alias Ramesh, linked to the technical wing and listed as a Divisional Committee Member (DCM); Lalsu alias Punem Kodiya, who handled communications as a DCM; and Dugga Venkal alias Soma, a party member affiliated with the same unit. The anti-Maoist intelligence sleuths of Telangana are also verifying reports of two other women Maoists with Telangana Committee links being killed in the same operations. The recent encounters, particularly the one at Osuru police station limits in Bijapur district, are considered one of the most significant blows to Maoist infrastructure. It is believed that top Maoist leadership is hiding in parts of Karreguttalu that are still untouched by police. A cop involved in the operations said, "During the India-Pakistan conflict, there was a brief break, and some paramilitary forces were pulled out. Now, the forces may return to continue the operation to clean the area."
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
This Mother's Day, dive into love and justice with 'Court – State vs A Nobody'
The cast of the compelling legal drama, 'Court – State vs. A Nobody'. Image: Supplied It's Mother's Day, and spoiling the special woman in your life takes centre stage. However, once the celebrations wind down, I would suggest some downtime on the couch, watching 'Court – State vs. A Nobody' on Netflix. It's a powerful underdog courtroom drama, centred on family, a mother's unconditional love, and justice, underpinned by a love story. Unpacking powerful themes of misogyny, corruption, poverty, and politics, this Telugu movie is presented with English subtitles. Written and directed by Ram Jagadeesh, who makes his filmmaking debut, the film follows Mettu 'Chandu' Chandrasekhar (Harsh Roshan). Chandu's life is upended when the family of his 17-year-old love interest, Meruvalli Jabilli (Sridevi), falsely accuse him of statutory rape, leading to legal repercussions. With his fate almost sealed, his friends plead with Surja Teja (Priyadarshi Pulikonda), a junior lawyer working under the legendary Mohan Roa (P. Sai Kumar), to help. To gain his mentor's approval, Surja accepts a case, but he soon discovers that the evidence incriminating Chandu is false. The elaborate corruption, he learns, is orchestrated by Jabilli's powerful politician uncle, Mangapathi (Sivaji). Chandu's parents, played by Surabhi Prabhavathi and Rajasekhar Aningi, appeal to Mangapathi to withdraw the charges against their son. Despite knowing Chandu is innocent and a victim of a setup, their lower social standing leaves them unable to contest the community leader's accusations. Since they live in a close-knit community, word of Chandu's arrest gets around. Mangapathi's efforts to bribe Surja into losing the case are unsuccessful, leading him to use incriminating evidence that makes Surja doubt his client's honesty. The script is wonderfully written with plenty of thought-provoking situations that amplify the dramatic tension. The casting is also spot-on with the actors sublimely executing that roles, covering a wide gamut of emotions. 'Court – State vs. A Nobody' tugs at the heart with its raw storytelling and, despite the overwhelming hopelessness, leaves streamers invested in the underdog's fate. Rating: 4/5 **** a standout film with exceptional qualities.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Access to funds and affordable treatments remain key challenges in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy care in India
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a rare disease, is the most common form of childhood muscular dystrophy. It is a progressive genetic disorder that primarily affects boys, leading to gradual muscle degeneration and loss of motor function. In addition to physical symptoms, DMD is associated with brain-related comorbidities, including intellectual disability and attention deficit disorders, affecting a significant number of affected individuals. Mutations in the DMD gene, which encodes the dystrophin protein, disrupt muscle function and can also impact brain development and function. While more research is needed, these comorbidities highlight a significant unmet need for improved diagnosis, treatment, and support for patients and families, according to a study published in Nature. Challenges in DMD care and the urgency of early diagnosis Despite ongoing research and growing awareness, families of children affected by DMD in India continue to face major challenges in accessing timely diagnosis, affordable treatment, and consistent government support. According to Chandu P.,neurologist and epileptologist, Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi, early signs of DMD include delays in walking, toe walking, stiffness, frequent falls, needing to 'walk' their hands up their legs to rise from a lying or squatting position due to difficulty using their hip flexor muscles -- known as Gower's sign. Symptoms typically begin before the age of one, but diagnosis is often delayed due to lack of awareness and widespread screening. A simple blood test for elevated Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) levels followed by genetic testing can confirm the condition, but such protocols are not consistently implemented across the country. Dr. Chandu, highlighted the urgency of early diagnosis, stressing that muscle loss in DMD, once begun, is irreversible. Without proper intervention, most children lose the ability to walk between ages eight and twelve, and many face life-threatening complications in their teenage years. Treatment remains inaccessible Current treatment focuses on slowing disease progression using steroids, physiotherapy, and respiratory support in later stages. However, emerging genetic therapies such as exon skipping and gene therapy offer hope --though at a cost that remains out of reach for most Indian families. 'These treatments are all imported and cost anywhere from ₹5 crore to ₹26 crore per patient. Nothing is manufactured in India yet,' said Arun Shastry, chief scientific officer of the Bengaluru-based Dystrophy Annihilation Research Trust (DART), a parent-driven research initiative. DART, which began in 2012, represents the model of how patient families have taken the lead in addressing the research gap for DMD in India. What started with no government support or clear policies has now progressed to clinical trials for an Indian-developed therapy. 'We had no choice. There were no institutional efforts to create treatments for DMD, so parents stepped in to start research themselves. Now, we've managed to develop a therapy and obtain trial approvals. But to take this further, we need government and industry support for manufacturing and distribution,' Dr. Arun said. Need for better data, funds and multidisciplinary treatment India also lacks comprehensive data on the condition. While DMD affects about one in 3,500 male births globally, its prevalence in India remains unclear due to inadequate reporting. The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has initiated an Integrated Biobank and Genome (IBG) registry, but participation remains incomplete, with around 75% of institutions contributing. This gap hinders policy planning, clinical research, and resource allocation. Additionally, The National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021, developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), provides financial assistance of up to ₹50 lakh per patient for treatment of rare diseases at designated Centres of Excellence (CoEs). While this policy aims to support patients with rare diseases, including DMD, the ₹50 lakh limit may be insufficient to cover the extensive and lifelong treatment needs of individuals with DMD. In response , Dr. Chandu emphasised the need for a separate national DMD programme that address these challenges and focus on early screening, awareness among general physicians, funding and structured family support. 'We need dedicated government support, not only in policy but in practice,' he said. At present, many families struggle financially, emotionally, and logistically to care for affected children. The high costs of imported treatments, absence of Indian-made alternatives, and delayed or missed diagnoses compound their burden. 'My main concern for DMD patients is that they require multidisciplinary care, involving paediatric neurologists, physiotherapists, respiratory physicians, and metabolic bone specialists,' said Tarishi Nemani, consultant- paediatric neurology, Narayana Health, Bengaluru. 'However, accessing these services in one place is difficult, and the cost is prohibitively high' she said. Dr. Tarishi also calls for faster translation of Indian research into accessible therapies, as well as insurance and public healthcare systems that cover rare diseases like DMD. While scientific advancements bring new hope, experts stress that without timely access to affordable treatment and sustained funding, children with DMD in India will continue to be left behind.
