Latest news with #Jithin
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Man who 'lost 35 kg naturally at home' shares top 6 vegetarian Indian salads to eat for flat belly and glowing skin
Instagram user Jithin V Suresh keeps sharing diet and workout tips on his Instagram page based on his weight loss journey. Jithin, who 'lost 35 kg naturally at home', took to Instagram on May 31 and shared a list of salads to try if you are 'struggling to eat right'. Also read | How to lose weight with South Indian diet, according to fitness coach: 'Avoid idli and dosa, switch to low calorie...' According to him, these salads are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients that can help support a flat belly and glowing skin. Jithin wrote in his post, 'Want glowing skin and a flat belly? Start with these salads.' Here are his top six salad ideas that can help you: A post shared by Jithin VS (@jithin_vsuresh) ⦿ Why it works: 'Beetroot purifies blood, orange gives glow through vitamin C,' Jithin said. ⦿ Recipe: Boil and dice 1 small beetroot; peel and segment 1 orange; add fresh mint leaves; dress with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Chill and enjoy fresh. ⦿ Why it works: 'Vitamin C from mango boosts collagen, moong sprouts detox the skin,' Jithin added. ⦿ Recipe: Finely chop 1/2 cup raw mango; add to 1/2 cup sprouted moong, 2 tbsp grated coconut, green chilli (optional), salt, jeera powder; temper few curry leaves and mustard seeds in coconut oil; mix all and top with tempering. ⦿ Why it works: Jithin said, 'Hydrating, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants for clear, glowing skin.' ⦿ Recipe: Mix well and chill for 5-10 minutes 1 grated carrot, 1 chopped cucumber, 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds, 1 tsp lemon juice, pinch of black salt, chopped coriander. ⦿ Why it works: 'Protein-packed and skin-friendly, balances hormones too,' he said. ⦿ Recipe: Boil 1/2 cup white chickpea, mix with 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped tomato as well as coriander, lemon juice and roasted jeera powder and garnish with mint. ⦿ Why it works: Jithin said, 'Healthy fats from avocado and flaxseeds nourish skin deeply.' ⦿ Recipe: Dice 1/2 ripe avocado, and chop 1 small cucumber. Toss gently with 1 tsp roasted flaxseeds and add a dressing of olive oil, lemon and a pinch of salt. ⦿ Why it works: He added, 'Spinach gives iron, apples give fibre and walnuts give omega-3 for skin repair.' ⦿ Recipe: Blanch 1 cup of fresh spinach and add thinly sliced 1/2 apple and 5-6 crushed walnuts to it. Make a dressing of 1sp olive oil, 1/2 tsp honey and lemon juice. Toss gently and serve fresh. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Malayalam filmmaker Manu Swaraj on his directorial debut, ‘Padakkalam', a sleeper hit at the box office
Manu Swaraj was heartbroken when his directorial debut, Padakkalam, opened to not-so-positive reviews. But over three weeks into its release, he is a happy man, with the movie, a fantasy entertainer, emerging a sleeper hit at the box office. Padakkalam is the story of four close friends who are engineering students — Jithin (Sandeep Pradeep), Kannan (Saaf Boi), Ramsad (Arun Pradeep) and Nakul (Arun Ajikumar). The fantasy element kicks in when Jithin, an introvert trying to get over a break-up, discovers that one of their professors, Renjith TS (Sharafudheen) has a superpower which he uses to control his professional rival, Shaji KK (Suraj Venjaramoodu). Jithin too becomes a prey to Renjith's power. As the four friends set out to solve this, things go out of hand, leading to a laugh riot. 'They are frontbenchers,' Manu says. 'We have so many films that talk about the backbenchers and mostly about their mischief or unlawful activities. The world we created did not resonate with some of the reviewers. Thankfully word-of-mouth publicity brought in more viewers for the movie.' Manu, 30, specifies that the idea was born on February 23, 2023, while he was working out in a gym! He shared it with Nithin C Babu, his classmate, who has co-written the film. 'I prefer to call him the writer and myself the co-writer. The thought came at a time when our script pitches were getting rejected. I felt that this might be our last chance and so we decided that even if we did not get a producer, we would make the film somehow. We were that excited about the concept,' says Manu, who hails from Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram. Manu and Nithin have used some of their character traits in the film. 'For example, Jithin's mannerisms in the first half are Nithin's and the second half, mine.' Manu, an engineer, used to make short films even while in school. 'I did engineering because I wanted a degree and the subject interested me. But there was no plan to go along that path further.' The turning point was when he submitted one of his short films, Corridor, to an inter-college festival, while in his first year of engineering. 'I was not enthused about taking part in the contest. But the fact that my film will be projected on a big screen excited me. That decision changed my life,' he says. 'Basil Joseph, who had by then established his credentials with his short films and was assisting Vineeth Sreenivasan in Thira, was a judge of the competition. He appreciated the work and even suggested introducing a new award category — one for best upcoming talent and I won that honour. He also asked me to get in touch with him. When I called him, he asked if I was interested in assisting him in his debut film, Kunjiramayanam. That was an offer I couldn't resist.' Since Basil insisted that he finish his course before joining films, Manu did not work in his sophomore film, Godha. In 2019, Basil called him to assist in Minnal Murali. Even though Manu was asked to join as an assistant in the art direction team, he eventually 'worked in almost all the departments for the next two years. It was exciting, especially working with the VFX and special effects team. Those two years were like a film school. Working closely with Basil chettan helped me understand his process and approach to cinema.' It was Basil who was instrumental in greenlighting Padakkalam. 'Once the script was almost ready, I realised that it was a structure I learnt from Basil chettan and I was sure he would say yes to the project. I wanted him to play Renjith. Even though he loved the story, he couldn't do it because he had no dates. He was the one who told us that the project would need a big production house. He helped us get in touch with (producer) Vijay Subramaniam who brought in his close friend and producer, Vijay Babu. That helped us a lot because Vijay Babu came to our rescue on occasions when the shoot had almost got stalled.' Arriving at the cast Manu says Suraj was the only choice to play Shaji. 'The Malayali audience has given the license to do mad-cap comedy to a few actors and he is one of them.' There were several choices to play Renjith until Sharaf said yes. To play Jithin, they had approached 'a marketable actor', but that did not materialise. 'However, casting Sandeep for the role was the right decision. He understood the script and nuances in the first sitting itself. As for the other three boys, I chose Arun (Pradeep) after watching his YouTube videos. The character was curated for him. Saaf Boi and Arun (Ajikumar) impressed us with their rapport on and off the screen.' Discussing his approach to comedy, Manu says, 'The film worked because we did not deliberately generate laughs. It is the irony that created humour. I learnt it from Basil chettan. There is irony in the premise and we tapped into it. The biggest advantage we had were actors such as Suraj chettan and Sharaf ikka who can make comedy from thin air.' Manu notes that he is disappointed that not many makers are keen about making comedy films. 'If a comedy film flops that is a serious thing and that is why many filmmakers refrain from taking that risk. The golden era of Malayalam cinema has had some amazing comedy movies and I wish to see more such films.' That Manu is a die-hard comics fan, read DC Comics, is a given once you watch the movie. 'Nithin and I are hardcore DC fans. I am an atheist, but I always say that DC is my religion and Batman is my God! In fact, our actors had no clue about the DC characters and so we created a WhatsApp group, DC Boys, to educate them!' And the highpoint post release? Meeting Rajinikanth in Kozhikode where he was shooting for Nelson Dilipkumar's Jailer 2. 'We met him because of Suraj chettan who is acting in it. I still have not processed what all happened when we met him in his caravan. After watching the trailer, he said in the typical Rajini swag, Intha padam hit appa (This movie is a hit buddy)!' Before signing off, Manu says that he plans to make movies of all genres except 'first world, feel-good movies.' Padakkalam is running in theatres.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Padakkalam movie review: A college supernatural flick that's not the fantasy comedy it wants to be
Whenever a movie is set on a college campus with a group of friends and some professors as the key players, you can expect that there will be a lot of laughs, some action and perhaps, mystery as well. Padakkalam, helmed by debutant director Manu Swaraj, aims to be just that except that it is meshed with a supernatural element, a la Indiana Jones and the desi 'parakaya pravesha' (body swapping). Jithin (Sandeep Pradeep) is in love with his engineering college classmate Jeevika (Niranjana Anoop) but she suddenly decides to break up with him citing personal differences. While a heartbroken Jithin is trying to brainstorm with his friends - Ramzad (Arun Pradeep), Kannan (Saaf) and Nakul (Arun Ajikumar) - on what do, a college strike is on with Jithin's department demanding that their HOD be replaced as he got the job with fake documents. Now, senior professor Shaji (Suraj Venjaramoodu) is eyeing the post as is a younger, student-friendly Renjith (Sharafudheen). Shaji gets elevated as HOD naturally as he is senior but Jithin and his friends discover something is amiss when Shaji starts behaving strangely and their suspicion falls on Renjith. They believe that Renjith has used some supernatural power and/or black magic to control Shaji and start to investigate this. They shockingly discover that he can control people through some means and are worried what his main objective is. And they get into a major issue. What has gone wrong? What does Renjith do? How does this situation get resolved? While the premise of the story - the supernatural and body swapping element - is interesting, the entire aspect of setting it in a college and using it in the context of a professor who eyes an HOD chair is extremely flimsy. The story is weak from the beginning and while the four students, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Sharafudheen have been used to elicit laughs using situations, mannerisms and dialogues, it's only partly effective. It is the performances of Suraj Venjaramoodu and Sharafudheen (especially after the body swap occurs) that stand out and it is thanks to them that the movie keeps the audiences engaged for the most part. However, this is just not enough to make the movie totally fun ride. The female characters in the movie - Jeevika and Shaji's wife (Pooja Mohanraj) - hardly have no major role to play and that's unfortunate. On the whole, Padakkalam is a decent attempt by director Manu Swaraj to give the audiences a clean campus supernatural fantasy comedy but it is the poor writing that lets down the film.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram: In a first, two women to be part of ‘pandi melam'
THRISSUR : Throughout the 228-year history of the Thrissur Pooram, women have had a very limited role in either organising the festival or in its various performances — which has invariably come in for criticism from various corners. This year, however, two women are set to script history by participating in the Jithin Kallatt-led pandi melam performance for Kanimangalam Sastha temple. Playing the chenda slung over their shoulders, Aswathy, Jithin's wife, and Archana will look to hold their own in an event that was hitherto the sole preserve of men. 'We have memories of the Thrissur Pooram from childhood. The rhythms of the melam and festivities have always been part of our lives. I never had a chance to learn 'thalavadyam' as a youngster. I thought of taking it up when my son started attending classes. It was the fulfilment of a dream,' Aswathy, who has been learning percussion for seven years, told TNIE. Archana's journey also started when she sent her child for chenda classes under Jithin. 'I saw Aswathy there, and I was intrigued. I started taking lessons and that has led me to this,' she said. Archana has been learning to play the chenda for less than two years. With the opportunity to perform at the pooram, the two are excited to be part of the festivities as percussion artists, rather than watching proceedings from the sidelines. Their pandi melam performance will be set to the valamthala beat. Jithin, who has completed 10 years as a performer at the pooram, is also proud to be presenting his two female students in what promises to be a momentous occasion.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Jamshedpur FC beats NorthEast United in sudden death, enters Super Cup 2025 semifinals
Jamshedpur FC (JFC) made it two knockout wins in two against NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) after triumphing in sudden death in their Super Cup 2025 quarterfinal at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. After the regulation time ended goalless, JFC edged NEUFC 6-4 in the penalty shootout, with defender Asheer Akhtar missing the decisive spot kick. Both teams made their attacking intent clear in the opening minutes, with NEUFC's Guillermo Fernández and JFC's Javier Siverio testing the goalkeepers with efforts from outside the box. But as the game progressed, the Highlanders had clearer sights at goal. Indian Super League's (ISL) top-scorer this season, Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who was kept quiet by the JFC's defence in their previous meeting, nearly opened the scoring with a free kick in the 14th minute. The Moroccan's shot floated over the wall and seemed to be heading into the side netting, until Albino Gomes scampered across the goalline to get his fingertips on the ball and push it onto the right post. At the other end, NEUFC's midfielders Mayakkannan and Mohammed Ali Bemammer stuck like glue to their counterparts Javi Hernández and Siverio, intercepting passes and giving them no space to breathe and create chances. Ajaraie, who was given the liberty to freely roam around the pitch, kept switching wings with Jithin MS in an attempt to shake things up. The plan almost bore fruit close to the half-hour mark, when Ajaraie played Jithin through into the box, where he lashed his left foot at the ball from a tight angle. Once again, Gomes kept his eye on the ball and stood his ground to punch the ball away from danger. Super Cup 2025: Chhangte winner helps Mumbai City beat Inter Kashi 1-0, enters semifinals The two combined again in the dying seconds of the first half, with Jithin turning provider this time. He curled the ball into the middle from the right, where Ajaraie rose the highest to meet it before sending it just wide of the top right corner. Jithin almost scored a stunner six minutes into the second half after a clearance from Rei Tachikawa dropped into his path. The winger caught the ball sweetly on the volley, but ended up sending it whizzing past the left post. JFC's best chance of the game came in the 73rd minute when Hernandez broke away from Mayakkannan on the right before putting in a teasing delivery into the six-yard box. Jordan Murray did well to reach the ball but failed to generate power in his header, allowing Gurmeet Singh to gather the ball easily. As the minutes ticked by, the game became a scrappy affair played in the middle of the pitch with neither team coming close to a winner. In the subsequent shootout, both teams missed two penalties each out of the designated five, sending the game into a sudden death where Asheer ended up skying his penalty to send JFC into a third consecutive Super Cup semifinal. The Men of Steel will take on Mumbai City FC in the final-four clash after it beat Inter Kashi 1-0 earlier in the day.
