Latest news with #MSasikumar
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Officials in a fix on how to map uncontacted, secluded tribes in Andaman and Nicobar
The recent notification for the national census has left officials in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar seeking answers to three questions: One, how to count the Sentinelese, given the administration's decision to stay at least 5km away from the North Sentinel island that is their home? People belonging to Great Nicobar's Shompen tribe in an undated photo.(Anthropological Survey of India) Two, how to count the Shompen of Great Nicobar, who live in near-unreachable corners of the island? And three, does it even make sense to insist on counting the number of Sentinelese and the Shompen? This is the first census being conducted after the Andaman and Nicobar administration's decision, in December 2014, to not go near the island or disturb the Sentinelese. The 2011 and 2001 census were based on extrapolated numbers after census officials sailed close to the shores of the island. Since 2014, they have not done that, not even to retrieve the bodies of at least four intruders killed by the islanders and buried on the beaches of the island in the last 11 years, according to A&N police officials. That includes an American missionary who tried to illegally reach the island and preach Christianity to the indigenous tribe. 'In December 2014, the administration decided to strictly follow an 'eyes-on and hands-off' policy. Until then the UT administration would regularly sail around the island, stay at a distance(where the arrows of the Sentinelese people could not reach them),' said a A&N government official who asked not to be named. 'Currently only the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel keep an eye on the island from a distance to ensure that poachers or intruders do not go near it. We have to see how the census can be conducted,' he added. According to the 2011 census, the island is home to 15 people, 12 male and 3 female. The 2001 census put the number at 39, 21 male and 18 female. Unlike the union territory's other tribes such as Jarawas, Shompen, Onges, Nicobarese and Great Andamanese, who have been contacted through the autonomous tribal welfare body, Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS), the Sentinelese prefer their privacy on their 59.67sq km island. They hunt and they fish; little else is known about them. 'We have always respected their privacy. There was an incident of fire reported from the island in 2014, so a government team circumnavigated the island. But since then none have been near the island. There have been talks of using certain technology to map their population but it is not clear if this will give an accurate estimate or whether it is even ethical to conduct such an exercise,' said M Sasikumar, joint director of the Anthropological Society of India, who was part of the team that had circumnavigated the island in 2014. His reference is likely to speculation that drones could be used to count the Sentinelese, but the fallout of this on a tribal society could be significant (and catastrophic). Sasikumar said that till 1997, the government attempted friendly missions to the island. 'Teams landed on the shores and offered gifts such as coconuts to the islanders. But this too was stopped considering the dangers of infections that could be transmitted to the islanders.' But it may not even make sense to count the Sentinelese, said an expert. Protecting the islands 'I think trying to do a census of the Sentinelese is pointless. Even an extrapolation is only an extrapolation. It is much more important to protect the livelihood resources around the island like the reef, the sea resources and the island itself from external interference and incursion. The government has been trying to do that but can do so much better. Local fishermen still exploit marine resources for the export market such as lobsters and commercially important fish,' said Manish Chandi, former member of research advisory board, Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute. The Shompen of Great Nicobar pose another challenge. Some populations of the Shompen in Great Nicobar remain uncontacted. 'The Shompen living very deep inside the forests on the west coast do not come this side (Campbell Bay). Only the Shompen from Laful (name of area) come to Campbell Bay sometimes for ration etc. They speak in their own dialect but they are approachable on some occasions. You have to trek very far through the forests to reach them and they do not like outsiders,' said Barnabas Manju, chairman of the Little and Great Nicobar Tribal Council. The 2011 census counted 229 Shompen people with 141 male against only 88 females. Sasikumar highlighted that it is important to track the risks facing the Shompen but admitted that the administration has not been able to reach all groups. 'It is a very difficult task to reach the Shompen. The East-West road collapsed after the Tsunami. You may reach 10 km inside but most Shompen groups may be beyond the 27th km. The Shompen are not a homogeneous group. The Shompen groups may fight or avoid each other. We do not know very well how they are doing. If you go by the previous Census data the male-female ratio is very worrying. The number of females is very low.' There are fears that the Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project could impact the Shompen and the forests they depend on. The Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project has four major components: an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICCT); an international airport; a power plant; and a township. There is also a Trunk Infrastructure Road that will cut through Great Nicobar Island. The total cost is estimated at ₹81,800 crore. The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot and cover the western half of the Indonesian archipelago. 'Before mapping the population, it may be important to consider why you would do the census? There are policies and welfare schemes for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups but it is important to assess implementation. There is documentation of what the Shompen's views are on loss of forests and development projects, but what has been done with their views? It is also important to review how much money has been spent on the welfare schemes for them and for what?' said an anthropologist who has worked in the islands, asking not to be named.
News18
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Bhool Chuk Maaf To Get Away: 5 Films To Watch On OTT Platforms This Weekend
Last Updated: Planning a cosy weekend indoors? This week's film lineup promises to keep you entertained all weekend long. The month of June is nothing short of a mini buffet for cinema lovers, with a diverse range of films lined up for release across streaming platforms. From family comedy to high-octane action and romance drama, there's something for every kind of audience. Planning a relaxed weekend indoors? The lineup of films releasing this week will keep you hooked all weekend long. Here we have compiled and list of what and where you can watch them. Tourist Family – Jio Hotstar The Tamil-language comedy-drama is a perfect blend of humour and heart. Starring M Sasikumar and Simran, the film marks Abishan Jeevinth's directorial debut. It follows the story of the Eelam Tamil family who flees Sri Lanka's economic crisis and starts fresh in India. Yogi Babu, MS Bhaskar and Ramesh Thilak play the supporting roles, adding to the intriguing factors of the film. Single – Prime Video In this rom-com, Sree Vishnu stars as Vijay, a man who ends up in a love triangle with Purva (Ketika Sharma) and Harini (Ivana). Directed by Caarthick Raju, the film is a feel-good, pan-India entertainer with a supporting cast featuring Vennela Kishore and VTV Ganesh. The music of the film has been composed by Vishal Chandrasekhar. Bhool Chuk Maaf – Amazon Prime Video After a successful theatrical stint, Bhool Chuk Maaf has now made its digital premiere on the OTT giant. The rom-com features the fresh pairing of Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi as the lead roles. Directed by Karan Sharma and backed by Maddock Films and Amazon MGM Studios, the film blends quirky romance with comic elements. In the film, a small-town man, Ranjan, secures a government job to marry his love, Titli, but finds himself caught in a twist of fate on the final day of the wedding. Jaat – Netflix In this adrenaline-packed action drama directed by Gopichand Malineni, Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda face off each other, setting the stage for a thrilling ride. The story follows a mysterious passenger who takes him to a small village in Andhra Pradesh being oppressed by Ranatunga, a former labourer turned crime boss. The supporting star cast of the film includes Regina Cassandra, Jagapathi Babu, and Ramya Krishnan in key roles. The thrilling film about a terrifying survival story stars Nick Frost, Aisling Bea, Sebastian Croft and Maisie Ayres in the lead roles. It chronicles the struggle of a family trying to escape a remote island after discovering that a serial killer is on the loose. First Published:
Mint
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Tourist Family OTT release: Tamil comedy drama movie is FINALLY online, check where you can watch it
Tourist Family, the Tamil family drama starring M Sasikumar and Simran, is now available online. The movie, released in cinemas on May 1, has received a warm response from critics and audiences alike for its emotional depth and relatable characters. Fans had been eagerly waiting for its debut on OTT, considering the confusion around its release date. Earlier slated to release on May 28 or May 31, the Tourist Family OTT release was postponed to June 2. The movie followed a standard four-week gap from its theatrical launch. Fans can now catch the movie on Jio Hotstar. The digital streaming platform offers Tourist Family in several languages, including Hindi. Tourist Family is set against the harsh backdrop of Sri Lanka's economic crisis. It follows the journey of a Tamil family striving to survive, hoping for a better future. Produced by Nazerath Pasilian, Magesh Raj Pasilian, and Yuvaraj Ganesan, the film was released in theatres on May 1. Besides earning positive reviews, the film also proved to be a commercial success. It became the 5th Highest Grossing Tamil film worldwide this year. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Tourist Family made a business of ₹ 86.54 crores worldwide in 33 days, fetching the coveted title as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2025. It joined big releases like Vidaamuyarchi, Dragon, Good Bad Ugly, and Retro in the list of 2025's highest-grossing films. The film earned ₹ 20 crore in its first week. It saw a big surge in its second weekend. It earned ₹ 5.25 crore on Day 10 (Saturday) and ₹ 6.15 crore on Day 11 (Sunday). The movie was praised by none other than Superstar Rajinikanth. The living legend called up the director and said that the movie was 'extraordinary'. "Couldn't believe this phone call had actually happened. Got a special call from the superhuman," the director shared on social media. The movie had the privilege of becoming the 'FIRST-EVER 'small' Tamil film to land a prestigious SUPERSCREEN show in the UK'. According to producer Ahimsa Entertainment, the honour is 'usually reserved exclusively for the biggest tier-1 stars'.
India Today
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Tourist Family OTT Release: When and where to watch Sasikumar-Simran's film
After a successful run in theatres, the emotional Tamil drama 'Tourist Family' is set to release on OTT. According to the reports, the film will be streaming on JioHotstar from May 31, there is still no official confirmation from the platform, the release date follows the usual 4-week gap after its theatrical release, as per the usual norm in Tamil film popular actors M Sasikumar and Simran, the movie hit theatres on May 1, and received positive reviews for its emotional story and strong performances. Directed by Abishan Jeevinth, 'Tourist Family' tells the story of a Tamil family forced to leave Sri Lanka due to political issues and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film shows their struggles as they try to settle in India and adjust to a new film received high praise from none other than Superstar Rajnikanth, who personally called the director and described the movie as 'extraordinary'.Made on a budget of Rs 16 crore, the film became a box office hit. It started with Rs 2 crore (nett) on Day 1 and picked up over the weekend, earning Rs 3.75 corer (nett). In its first week, the film collected Rs 20 crore (nett), and in the second weekend alone, it made over Rs 11 crore (nett), even while competing with big releases like Suriya's 'Retro' and Nani's 'HIT 3'. Its total worldwide collection is around Rs 43.15 (nett), making it a hit. 'Tourist Family' is the first-ever Tamil film to land a prestigious SUPERSCREEN show in the UK (Photo Credit:X/ahimsafilms) advertisementIn a remarkable achievement, 'Tourist Family' became the first-ever small-budget Tamil film to be showcased in the prestigious SUPERSCREEN format in the UK, a platform typically reserved for top-tier star-driven films, according to distribution firm, Ahimsa film also features well-known faces like Yogi Babu, MS Bhaskar, Ramesh Thilak, Bagavathi Perumal, and Elango Kumaravel in key Watch
