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The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
The silence in the room
There is a particular kind of silence that sits heavy in Indian homes. It is the silence that knows something is wrong but does not have the courage to name it. It is the silence that grows thicker at dinner tables, in curt nods, in the brushing off of tears with a quick nod. In our households, there is no space for sadness that lingers. One may cry when a relative dies, but crying in the middle of a regular day is treated with suspicion. The idea that someone could be sad without a visible reason feels absurd. And so, it begins, the great hiding, the act of tucking away sorrow like a shameful object, behind half-closed doors and fake smiles. Mental health is like the family secret everyone knows but refuses to say aloud. Depression is Lord Voldemort. It is He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named. The fear is not of the condition itself, but of what it might imply. That something has gone wrong in the family. That we, in all our discipline and duty, have failed to raise someone who is 'strong'. Ask around in any middle-class neighbourhood and you will hear the same script. 'He has everything. Why would he be depressed?' 'She just needs to get married, then things will settle.' 'Don't talk nonsense. In our time, we didn't have the luxury to be depressed.' That last one stings more than the rest. It carries the weight of generations which were told to suppress their pain, swallow their tears, and continue to walk like nothing happened. It is said with a certain pride, as if endurance is the highest form of character. And perhaps it was, once. But the problem with untreated wounds is that they fester. What is passed down is not only land or jewellery, but also silence. The unspoken grief of our mothers, the frustrations of fathers who never learnt to say they were hurting, the quiet suffering of grandmothers who cried in kitchens and then wiped their faces before anyone noticed. Trauma is inherited, even when we don't speak of it. Especially when we don't. I remember a classmate from school. Always cheerful, always laughing. When we heard, years later, that he had taken his life, there was disbelief. Then came the murmurs. 'But he was doing so well.' 'He should've just talked to someone.' Someone. That elusive figure we all believe is out there. But how does one talk when the walls themselves seem to frown upon such conversations? The truth is, we have made it nearly impossible. A boy who cries is mocked. A young man who seeks therapy is laughed at for being too 'modern'. There is still a prevailing belief that anything related to the mind can be willed away. As if sadness is a guest you can shoo out with a broom. As if sleepless nights, the crushing weight in one's chest, the endless thoughts of worthlessness, all of it can be silenced with a walk in the park or a few spoonfuls of ghee. To be fair, it isn't always cruelty. Sometimes, it's ignorance wrapped in affection. Mothers offering turmeric milk, thinking it might cure the emptiness. Fathers suggesting a change of city, hoping it will change the mood. These are attempts at help, even if misplaced. The tragedy is that many people genuinely don't know what depression looks like, not because they haven't seen it, but because they've seen it so often that it has become normal. We all know someone, and sometimes, we are that someone. The way forward is not grand. It begins with smaller things. Listening without interrupting. Letting someone cry without asking them to stop. Not labelling every difficult feeling as weakness. Allowing space for people to say, 'I am not okay,' and not following it up with advice, but with presence. We do not need to pretend to have all the answers. Most of us don't. But we can begin by saying the name. Depression. Anxiety. Loneliness. Words that should not sound foreign in our homes. Words that should not be whispered behind closed doors. There is no shame in feeling. There is only shame in forcing people not to. Until we speak, the silence will keep winning. And in that silence, too many stories will end before they were ever told. annamariya010@
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Who will play Voldemort in the new Harry Potter TV Series? Here are 11 actors tipped to play the Dark Lord
It's now been nearly 14 years since the eighth and final part of the Harry Potter film series hit cinema screens – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was released in 2011. Could one of these actors be set to land the role of Lord Voldemort in the new Harry Potter television series? | Getty Images And it's a remarkable 24 years since the first film in the series was released, introducing the world to the then little-known acting trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Since then three parts of the ' Fantastic Beasts ' series, starring Eddie Redmayne , have been added to the Potterverse. But now fans of the boy wizard have something new to look forward to, with a Harry Potter television series in the works. Streaming service Max (formerly HBO Max) will be making it and last year had an open casting call for young actors from the UK and Ireland to play Harry, Ron and Hermione. It's expected that, as with the film series, the three main roles will be filled by currently unknown acting talent. And a number of the grown-up parts are now filled - with Nick Frost playing Rubeus Hagrid, John Lithgow cast as Aldus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer taking on the role of Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu tackling Severus Snape. Some smaller parts are also taken, with Paul Whitehouse and Luke Thallon playing Argus Filch and Professor Quirinus respectively. But there are plenty more big parts up for grabs, including the Dark Lord himself - Lord Voldemort. Here are the 11 actors tipped to success Ralph Fiennes (including Ralph himself) according to 1 . Cillian Murphy - 1/2 The 1/2 hot favourite to play the Dark Lord is Cillian Murphy, who last year won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in 'Oppenheimer'. He would certainly be a real coup for the casting team. | Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Rhys Ifans - 7/4 Welsh star Rhys Ifans is the 7/4 second favourite to land the plum role. He's experienced in fantasy films, having appeareed in 'House of the Dragon', and is already part of the Potterverse, having played Xenophilius Lovegood in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'. | Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . Christian Bale - 2/1 Another Oscar winner (he won for 'The Fighter') is third favourite - Christian Bale is priced at 2/1. He's shown he can play evil well as the fearsome Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho'. | Getty Images, Photo Sales 4 . Matt Smith - 5/2 Former Doctor Who Matt Smith was fairly monstrous in 'Last Night In Soho'. He might fancy another role as a baddie, and is a 5/2 shot to play Lord Voldemort. | Getty Images Photo Sales
Fox News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Harry Potter' star, 62, shows off dramatic body transformation in shirtless photos
British actor Ralph Fiennes has dramatically transformed himself through his fitness journey. The "Harry Potter" star known for his portrayal of Lord Voldemort in the popular film series, showed off his bulked-up physique in shirtless photos. Fiennes flexed his muscles in the new pictures, showcasing the work he'd done to portray Odysseus in 2024's "The Return." The 62-year-old's transformation has sparked widespread praise, and many fans applauded his commitment to physical health and fitness. Several fans reacted to his impressive photos with humorous plays on words referencing his "Harry Potter" character. One fan dubbed him "Swoldemort." Another wrote, "Lord Voldemort is ripped and ready for a rematch with Harry Potter." "Well done, M," another fan commented, referring to his role in the James Bond movie, "No Time to Die." Others wanted to know how he managed to develop his impressive form in his 60s. "This is wild at 62 would be really cool if you let us know the full regimen. Supplements, routine, etc." The British actor previously detailed his fitness journey in an interview with The Guardian alongside "The Return" director, Uberto Pasolini. The outlet reported that "Fiennes underwent five months of physical training to get the muscular yet wiry frame of Odysseus." "Uberto was very clear. He didn't want me to have a sort of bulked-up gym body," Fiennes said. He added that he told his personal trainer, Don Avasilcai, that his character "should look like a bit of old rope." Two and a half months before Fiennes started filming, he "embarked on a regime of weight training and running and a diet rich in proteins, complex carbohydrates and vegetables to lose pretty much all the fat he had on his body." The director admitted he was worried Fiennes' physique wouldn't fit his role, but he appeared to later approve of his fit figure. "At the beginning, I have to confess, I was slightly suspicious that there was so much protein going in and so much exercise that we would have a body that looked exercised instead of a body that was consumed, a lived body. There is no gym in ancient Greece." Fiennes isn't the first celebrity to dramatically transform his body for a role. "Magic Mike" star Channing Tatum previously shared that he refuses to book "fat roles" in Hollywood. Tatum, 44, recently posted his body transformation over the years in a candid Instagram post. He revealed a 30-pound weight fluctuation for different film roles. "1st photo is today 205. 2nd photo 235 for a movie called Josephine," Tatum added, as he showed off his journey through different weight classes. "Then went to 3rd photo which is 172 for a movie Roofman." The Hollywood heartthrob credited his ability to transform his physique to a dedicated team of professionals but admitted that the toll on his body has become too much to handle.
