Latest news with #Kovai
Mint
30-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Keep these three smallcaps on your watchlist
Last month, we shared some thoughts on how we could navigate the investment landscape during these uncertain times, especially with all the noise around tariffs. While the immediate threat seems to have been pushed aside, the story isn't over yet. Tariffs may not directly hit India as hard as other nations. However, if the US – a major market for many global companies – dips into a recession, there will be ripple effects. Instead of trying to guess who might win or lose from these trade and tariff games, it's better to focus on companies that can stand strong through it all. And here's the silver lining on tariff clouds— recent market corrections have brought down the prices of many quality stocks. This makes it a great time to build a watchlist of companies that have solid foundations and long-term potential. Here are three such businesses to keep an eye on: DB Corp, one of India's leading newspaper companies, might not scream 'growth stock" at first glance. After all, we live in a digital world, and print media has been losing ground for years. But DB Corp is adapting. They've built a news app that's already a front-runner among Hindi and Gujarati users. Despite the headwinds facing the print industry, DB Corp has managed to grow both its circulation and ad revenues — beating the industry trend. Even excluding the recent election bump, they're seeing steady mid-single-digit growth, thanks to ad spending from sectors like education, healthcare, real estate, and more. Financially, the company is in a healthy spot: Next on the list is Kovai Medical Center, a Coimbatore-based hospital that does more than treat patients. With satellite centers nearby and even a medical college under its wing, this is a healthcare company with strong roots — and serious growth ambitions. The best part? Healthcare doesn't get tossed around by global politics. Tariffs or no tariffs, people still need hospitals. And the demand will only grow. Kovai has become one of the top names in organ transplants and is now expanding into Chennai. This reduces the risk of relying too much on one location and opens the door for future growth — especially with India's medical tourism on the rise. Last but not least, we have BLS International — a company that's carved out a niche in the global visa processing space. It operates in over 70 countries around the world. Only about half of all visa processing is currently outsourced, which means there's still a lot of room for growth for the company. But BLS isn't stopping there. It's also building a strong digital services arm in India, offering a range of solutions to citizens and businesses at the grassroots level. Financially, it is in a decent shape. Of course, there are a few risks — like changes in visa rules by different governments, and how well the company handles its new acquisitions. But for now, the numbers look promising. Do note that these are just the names for watchlist. Today's discussion does not imply any view on the stock. Like any other business, each of these comes with some inherent set of risks that one should dig further into. We are not trying to predict the next big winner from global trade tensions or political drama. Rather the focus is on strong, well-run businesses that are built to last — whether times are good or tough. These three companies may not be the flashiest names on the stock market, but they've got the right mix of resilience, financial strength, and future potential. And in a market, that's seen some heavy corrections lately, that's exactly the kind of businesses to keep on your watchlist. Happy Investing! Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from
Mint
22-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Tariffs, tumbles & turnarounds: Three smallcap stocks to watch amid global trade jitters
The immediate tariff flare-up may have faded, but the global trade story is far from over. With the US economy at risk of slowing, the knock-on effects could be felt far and wide—including in India. For investors, the smarter play is to sidestep the noise and focus on businesses that can thrive through volatility. The recent market pullback has made a few of them more affordable—and these three stand out. DB Corp, one of India's leading newspaper companies, might not scream " growth stock " at first glance. After all, we live in a digital world, and print media has been losing ground for years. But, DB Corp is adapting. They've built a news app that's already a front-runner among Hindi and Gujarati users. Despite industry-wide challenges, DB Corp has outperformed peers by recording growth in both circulation and ad revenue. Even without the recent election-driven boost, it is clocking steady mid-single-digit growth—driven by ad spends from education, healthcare, real estate, and other key sectors. Financially, the company is in a healthy spot: Also read: World's biggest economies are at war again—here's how to keep your investments battle-ready Kovai Medical Center, a Coimbatore-based hospital, is doing more than just treating patients. With satellite centres nearby and even a medical college under its wing, this is a healthcare company with strong roots - and serious growth ambitions . The best part? Healthcare doesn't get tossed around by global politics. Tariffs or no tariffs, people still need hospitals. And, the demand will only grow. Kovai has become one of the top names in organ transplants and is now expanding to Chennai. This reduces the risk of relying too much on one location and opens the door for future growth - especially with India's medical tourism on the rise. Here's what's working in its favour: Also read: Is this sector the ultimate defence against markets crashes and economic turmoil? BLS International has carved out a niche in the global visa processing space. It operates in over 70 countries around the world. Only about half of all visa processing is currently outsourced, which means there's still a lot of room for growth for the company. But, BLS isn't stopping there. It's also building a strong digital services arm in India, offering a range of solutions to citizens and businesses at the grassroots level. Financially, they're in a decent shape: Of course, there are a few risks - like changes in visa rules by different governments, and how well the company handles its new acquisitions. But for now, the numbers look promising. A quick reminder: these names are simply ones to watch—not investment recommendations. Today's discussion isn't a call to action, nor does it reflect a definitive view on any stock. Like all businesses, each of these companies carries its own risks, and investors should always do their due diligence. We're not in the game of predicting who wins the next round of trade turmoil or political shake-ups. Instead, we're looking at strong, well-managed companies with the resilience to weather both good times and bad. These may not be the flashiest tickers on the board—but with solid fundamentals, financial strength, and long-term potential, they stand out in a market that's recently corrected. Add them to your watchlist—and, as always, happy investing! Also read: Can Infosys weather this storm better than peers? Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Stories that break the shackles
Among the leading lights of Kovai Tamil theatre, B Anantha Subramanian holds an exalted place. An actor and director, Mani, as he is known, was trained by two of the illustrious peers of the stage — Kovai Anuradha and Kaniyuran. The septuagenarian beams that for the last five decades, he has been encouraging artistes in stage, music, and Namasankeerthanam , which has reached global heights, of late. Showcasing a plethora of awards in his well-stacked cupboard, Mani says his first salvo was in the play of Kaniyuran. 'Soon, I gained his confidence and was a permanent member of his well-orchestrated troupe. I was the stop-gap man for any artiste who failed to turn up in time due to the congested peak evening traffic, mainly in Chennai. Media appreciation meant the world to me as another prominent artiste, KRS Krishnan, took me under his fold. A total of 2,300 stage shows are stamped in memory. My day is made when my contemporaries heap eloquent praise on various platforms. These days have restricted my acting, and the focus is duly on spotting and grooming the young talents,' he shares. Following this, Mani formed the Chamber of Arts troupe in the early 70s. The play Foreign Return Parasuraman shot him to instant fame. Penned by the famed writer Vimala Ramani, the high point of the play was in the scene-stealing act of Kovai Sarala. Recalling how he roped her in, Mani says he had been fascinated by the style with which Sarala dished out the Kovai slang. 'The play was a huge hit with a repeat audience clamouring for a sequel. In an era where travelling to other cities was not the norm, the play visited cities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.' One success led to another, and the play, Asadugal Ayiuram , penned by him had an instant admirer in Sarala. 'The moment she heard the script, she said the content is right down her alley. Even as she got busy with movies, she put her life and soul into the play, and unmistakably it touched the chord of an audience, starved of quality fare and content. That Sarala had the lion's share of the two-hour play was a conscious decision to draw the crowd, and the idea worked wonders,' he says. For Mani, the keepsake moment of his long career was the impact his short film Moola Natchatram had on the discerning audience. A girl born under the Moolam star had been considered a bad omen for the near and dear ones of the family, including the prospective groom. Determined to set aside that misconception, Mani walked the extra mile to get the facts right. 'I harped on the fixed mindset of the audience that all imagination is only in the mind and showed a few illustrious facts to substantiate my reasoning,' he adds. The audience accepted his reasoning, told with facts. 'Rama was born on Navami , Krishna on Ashtami (both considered inauspicious days), and Anjaneya's birth star is Moolam . If Gods have no control over such things, how can human beings help their time of birth or the star they are born under,' he explains. His powerful lines went a long way to give substance to the message through his character Chandran, who questions his mother after she rejects Abirami as a daughter-in-law because of the so-called inauspicious tag to her star. It was a huge victory for the team, abolishing the myth that girls born under the star are doomed to a life of joylessness because the moola nakshataram could bring death to the father-in-law and untold misery to the mother-in-law. Well, to a large extent, the belief was bust and emboldened by the audience reaction, a point hitherto not noticed was brought to light that penmoolam signifies nirmalayam, which is purity. Such was the popularity of the short film that All India Radio deemed it fit to make Moola Natchatram as a 30-minute play in 1983 during the celebrations that marked the founder of KRS drama troupe, Krishnan's 50 years on stage. It bagged as many as 11 awards at the drama competition hosted by Puduchery Cultural Troupe. 'Getting my award for astute screenplay and direction from Puduchery chief minister Rangasamy gave the award an added sheen. The CM spent time with the cast and crew after the show to get an insight into the efforts behind the success,' he says. Mani's mentor, Kaniyuran, shares that he saw the innate talent of the youngster when he joined his troupe, Stage Arts, as a 12-year-old. 'I was left in awe at his maturity with which he handled a seemingly difficult character in his first play, Vazhkai Azaikurathu . He was a permanent member of my troupe, and for the record, he acted in 25 consecutive plays I helmed. Mani's silver jubilee play Suyarupam showed the facets of the mind of a selfish person, missing out on the joy of sharing with others what an individual has. Actor Sivakumar, presiding over the play, was magnanimous in his lavish praise of Mani, deeming his character the USP of the play,' says Kaniyuran. From theatre to short films to movies, Mani has seen the audience leave one form of entertainment for another. But the media's support helped him send across hard-hitting messages through his play to the doorstep of the reluctant ones who had abandoned theatre for movies. 'The stage became poorer when brand names like SV Sahasranamam, VS Raghavan, Sivakumar, and a few others of their ilk found their moorings in movies. True, one cannot make a living on stage, but the likes of me who had a job could balance,' he notes. Decades later, he can fathom why youngsters are not making a beeline for the theatre. 'At best, the stage could only be a pastime with a secured job to bank on. Unlike the 70s when the stage paved the way for movies, there is little guarantee in the present scheme of things. My friends and I are prepared to groom passionate youngsters. The lack of patronage has resulted in only a few sabhas in circulation in Kovai. But then, this is the city that gave Sarala and Anuradha to the world of movies,' he says.
