Latest news with #Manickam
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First Post
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Thug Life movie review: Kamal Haasan oozes swag & charm in Mani Ratnam's stylish action-thriller
Thug Life marks the reunion of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after their previous film Nayakan, which was released in 1987 read more Star cast: Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf, Sanya Malhotra, Mahesh Manjrekar and Baburaj Director: Mani Ratnam The legendary duo Ulganayagan Kamal Haasan and filmmaker Mani Ratnam have reunited after 38 years for Thug Life. Their collaboration after Nayakan (1987) has created a humongous excitement among the cinegoers. While the promotional materials including trailers and songs have impressed the audience, does it live up to their sky-high expectations? Let's find out… STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thug Life starts with a powerful narration of an old Rangaraaya Sakthivel ( Kamal Haasan ) where he speaks about how the world has known him as a gangster ever since his existence and his hide-and-seek game with the god of death. Cut to 1994 in Delhi, where Sakthivel and his brother Manickam (Nasser) are having a meeting with Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar) to sort out all the conflicts which have led to gang war between them. While Sadanand shakes hands with Manickam, he double-crosses them as police officers are waiting for Sakthivel, Manickam and their gang members. As there is a shootout between police and Sakthivel's members, Manickam kills one local newspaper distributor so that there is a distraction and they can escape. Sakthivel picks the newspaper distributor's son Amar as a shield and later adopts him. Amar grows up (Silambarasan) and handles the majority of his gang work. Sakthivel gives responsibility of the gang to Amar while going to jail and tells every member he is now in charge of the gang. While Manickam smiles and accepts his decision, he is jealous and upset that Sakthivel has given the power to Amar over him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Manickam now creates a rift between Sakthivel and Amar by telling the latter that it was Sakthivel, who killed his father despite knowing that he was a newspaper distributor and not a cop. Shattered Amar plans to execute Sakthivel with the help of Manickam and two other gang members at Hilsa (Nepal). Sakthivel is shocked and shattered to see his close ones attacking him. They throw him from the snow-capped mountains and Amar declares himself the boss of the gang with Manickam being his partner. So, will Sakthivel make a comeback and take revenge and get all the answers from his close ones turned enemies? Mani Ratnam has presented the 90s style of cinema in a modern battle with his engrossing storytelling and gripping narrative. Mani has always enhanced his film with brilliant technical aspects and Thug Life is no different as Ravi K. Chandran's camera work is stunning with A. Sreekar Prasad's sharp editing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Talking about the performances, Kamal Haasan carries the film with his pure charisma and rules the screen as Sakthivel. Right from emotional scenes to fight sequences, the legend shows his acting mettle with ease and finesse. Silambarasan wears an attitude with Amar and manages to make his screen presence count in front of Kamal Haasan. Abhirami and Trisha Krishnan have done their roles to T. Nasser also makes an impact with his portrayal of Manickam. On the whole, Thug Life is a massy affair, which can be enjoyed on the big screen. Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars) Thug Life is playing in cinemas
CNA
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: New Jurong Central SMC sees straight fight between PAP's Xie Yao Quan and RDU's Kala Manickam
SINGAPORE: The new Jurong Central SMC will see a straight contest between the People's Action Party (PAP) and Red Dot United (RDU), as both parties confirmed their candidates after nominations closed on Wednesday (Apr 23). PAP will field Mr Xie Yao Quan, 40, the former MP for the Jurong Central division under Jurong GRC. First elected in 2020, Mr Xie has also chaired the Jurong-Clementi Town Council for the past five years. Challenging him is RDU's Kala Manickam, 52, a single mother with a background in continuing education and training. She is also a former Progress Singapore Party (PSP) member. She ran in Nee Soon GRC during the 2020 General Election. Her membership was terminated in December 2020, and she sued the party in late 2021. Ms Manickam was previously expected to run in Jalan Kayu SMC but arrived with the rest of the RDU team for Jurong-East Bukit Batok on Wednesday morning. In his speech after the candidates were confirmed, Mr Xie said it has been the "greatest honour" of his life to serve Jurong Central residents for the last five years. "I ask for your support to let me serve you again for the next five years. Together, let's make Jurong Central better and better." In her speech, Ms Manickam said, "the issues are clear" as she highlighted concerns over housing affordability and job security. "We must feel like first-class citizens in our own country. It's the only hope we have." Speaking to the media, Ms Maickam addressed her switch from being fielded in Jalan Kayu SMC to Jurong Central SMC. "The principle is we – all opposition – are working together, and in no way we want to go and fight with each other," she said. She added that even though RDU had done one-and-a-half months of groundwork, it "doesn't matter" because the voters in Jalan Kayu who had pledged their votes to RDU would still vote for the Workers' Party. "Our groundwork will go to the Workers' Party." Jurong Central SMC has 29,620 voters and is one of six new single-seat wards created in the latest review of Singapore's electoral boundaries. The constituency was carved out of Jurong GRC and Yuhua SMC as part of a wider reconfiguration aimed at maintaining a consistent MP-to-voter ratio. At the same time, Bukit Batok SMC as well as sections of Jurong GRC, Hong Kah North SMC and Yuhua SMC were merged to form the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
Business Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
GE2025: PAP facing off against Red Dot United in newly formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC
[SINGAPORE] Minister for Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu and her five-member People's Action Party (PAP) team in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC is squaring off against the opposition Red Dot United (RDU) at the May 3 General Election. Fu's team is unchanged from what was announced on Apr 14. It includes Ministers of State Murali Pillai, 57, and Rahayu Mahzam, 44. It is rounded out by political newcomer and The Majurity Trust's director of philanthropy David Hoe, 37, as well as Lee Hong Chuang, 54, who contested in the Hougang seat in the 2015 and 2020 elections. RDU's team includes Osman Sulaiman, 50, and Liyana Dhamirah, 38 – both of whom have political experience. Sulaiman contested under different banners in the past three elections, while Dhamirah was an RDU candidate for Jurong GRC in the last election. They will be joined by first-time candidates – contemporary artist Ben Puah, 48, marketing agency director Marcus Neo, 33, and principal software engineer Harish Mohanadas, 39. Candidates from both parties successfully filed their nomination papers at Nan Hua High School on Wednesday (Apr 23). BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC was formed after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's latest report was released in March. The five-member constituency absorbs all of Bukit Batok SMC and parts of Yuhua SMC, which was helmed by PAP's Fu, 61, as well as Hong Kah North SMC. The new GRC has 142,753 voters. In the past two general elections, the former Jurong GRC – led by current President Tharman Shanmugaratnam –delivered the strongest results for the PAP, securing 79.3 per cent of the vote in 2015 and 74.6 per cent in 2020. The Jurong Central single seat ward will see a face-off between PAP's Xie Yao Quan and RDU's Kala Manickam. Manickam was a last-minute switch with Emily Woo who was originally announced to contest in the SMC. He had been pulled out of Jalan Kayu SMC to make way for the Workers' Party's candidate. Xie has been serving the Jurong Central ward within Jurong GRC since he was elected in 2020. Manickam contested Nee Soon GRC under the Progress Singapore Party in GE2020, losing to the PAP team led Minister for Law K Shanmugam. Both candidates also filed their nomination papers at Nan Hua High School on Wednesday. The Jurong Central ward, which has 29,667 voters, is one of the six new SMCs resulting from the latest electoral boundaries review. It was carved out of Jurong GRC and Yuhua SMC. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite.
Times of Oman
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Financial sustainability will be a challenge for Indian schools in remote areas: Dr. Sivakumar
MUSCAT: In a candid conversation, Dr. Sivakumar Manickam, the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, reflects on his leadership journey over the past few years. A passionate advocate for academic excellence and the growth of the education sector, Dr. Manickam's leadership has shaped the Indian School system in Oman over the past three years, navigating significant challenges while pioneering initiatives that continue to impact the community. With over 30 years in education, his focus on fostering quality learning environments and providing accessible education remains a hallmark of his career. In this candid conversation, he shares his perspectives on the future of Indian Schools, the role of technology in education, and the impact of community-driven schools on the Indian diaspora in Oman. Here are excerpts from the conversation: Q: What were the key priorities when you first assumed the role of chairman, and how have they evolved over your tenure? A: When I took over as chairman in April 2021, Indian Schools in Oman were still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate priority was to address the academic disruptions and the financial challenges schools and families faced. We were fortunate to have the Indian Schools Virtual Learning Environment (ISOVLE) already in place, which allowed us to swiftly transition to online learning and minimise academic losses. Simultaneously, we worked with our stakeholders to ease the financial burden on families by offering flexible fee payment plans, recognising the difficulties many were experiencing. Throughout my tenure, the focus was always on improving the quality of education while making it accessible to the largest number of students, regardless of their background or financial capacity. At the time of my takeover, the Indian Schools were already a major force in the region's educational landscape, catering to over 47,000 students across 22 schools in Oman. This success, I believe, is a result of the collective efforts of many - teachers, parents, and the community - who have worked tirelessly to provide an inclusive and affordable education for every child. We owe a great deal to the wisdom of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, whose vision for the educational sector laid the foundation for these institutions, and to His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik for continuing to uphold this legacy. Together with the Ministry of Education in Oman and the Embassy of India, we've been able to navigate challenges, particularly those brought about by the pandemic, and continue to offer high-quality education. Q: What are the most significant achievements of the board under your leadership? A: During my time as chairman, the board launched several key initiatives designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking - skills essential for the 21st century. Programmes such as the Indian Schools Talent Fest (ISTF), Indian Schools Film Fest (ISFF), and Mon Avis have become vital platforms for our students to showcase their talents and broaden their horizons. We also prioritised technological advancements, with ISOVLE enabling Indian Schools to integrate digital learning long before the pandemic, and capacity-building workshops for teachers to enhance their teaching skills. Additionally, our Psychometric Assessments for Career Path Selection have supported over 10,000 students in making informed decisions about their futures. Q: What challenges did you face as chairman, and how did you navigate them? A: One of the most significant challenges was addressing the diverse needs of the Indian community in Oman, which spans a wide spectrum of economic backgrounds. To overcome this, we worked closely with school management committees to ensure that every child's educational needs were met, regardless of the school's size or location. We also faced the task of providing quality education in remote areas, which led to the establishment of Indian School Duqm, the 22nd community school. This school now serves children from diverse nationalities, reinforcing our commitment to providing equitable education across Oman. Q: What lessons have you learned about effective governance in an educational institution? A: Effective governance in education requires a collaborative approach. Engaging all stakeholders - teachers, students, parents, and the wider community - helps in building a shared vision and maintaining transparency. It's crucial to adapt to changing circumstances, whether due to technological advances, policy shifts, or emerging educational needs. Ultimately, the key is data-driven decision-making, ensuring that actions are based on evidence and lead to measurable improvements. Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the school(s) in the coming years? A: The biggest challenges ahead will be embracing technological changes while ensuring that students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds have equal access to these advancements. Additionally, fostering inclusivity will remain critical as schools work to accommodate students with varying needs and abilities. Financial sustainability will also be an ongoing challenge, especially for schools in remote areas with limited resources. Lastly, we must continue to prioritise the mental health and well-being of students, ensuring that schools provide a supportive environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally. Q: What's next for you after stepping down from this role? A: I look forward to continuing my journey in academic leadership, focusing on research and contributing to higher education, particularly in the field of educational technology. I am committed to sharing my experiences and knowledge to support the growth of educational systems and to help shape the future of learning.
