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Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sandra Thomas slams male monopoly in producers' body; vows to lead with reform
Producer Sandra Thomas made a striking appearance at the Film Producers' Association office as she arrived draped in a full veil—an act she described as both personal and symbolic. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Based on my past experiences, I felt this was the most appropriate attire to wear here today,' she told the media, as reported by Manorama News. By veiling herself, Sandra signaled her critique of what she describes as an unsafe and exclusionary space for women within the organization. Allegations against current leadership Sandra didn't mince words as she pointed directly at the existing leadership. 'Those with police charge sheets are the ones currently heading this association,' she said, alleging that the Producers' Association had become a male-dominated stronghold. Hridayapoorvam - Official Teaser 'It's no longer a safe space—not just for women producers, but for women in general,' she added. According to Sandra, the same group of 10 to 15 individuals have controlled the association for decades, creating a monopoly that she believes has stalled progress. 'Any space that gets monopolized by a few will eventually rot,' she said bluntly, arguing that the association is lagging behind other film organizations due to this entrenched control. 'I'm contesting to break the monopoly' Sandra declared her intention to contest in the upcoming election, with a mission to disrupt the status quo. 'I'm contesting to break the monopoly within the association. I will be submitting my nomination today,' she confirmed while speaking to the media. Her critique extended to the organization's operational failures as well, especially in financial transparency and accountability. 'The way it handled the film profit-and-loss accounting is a failure,' she said. 'Those who hide behind stars shouldn't be leading the organization.' If elected, Sandra promises a leadership that prioritizes inclusivity and real progress. 'If I become president, I will bring in meaningful, positive change,' Sandra Thomas concluded.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vincy Aloshious confirms Mammootty suggested her name ‘Win C': 'I have proof on my phone'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actress Vincy Aloshious has clarified once again that it was none other than Mammootty who originally suggested her now-viral screen name "Win C." After being trolled for weeks and having earlier claimed it was a misunderstanding, Vincy has now doubled down, saying she has concrete proof — including screenshots — that the megastar did send her the message. 'Hi, isn't this Win C?' In an interview with Silly Monks Mollywood, Vincy said, 'He responded to my message saying, 'Hi, isn't this Win C?' I was overjoyed. From then on, I kept him posted about my work.' Earlier, in a post-award interview to Manorama News, Vincy had admitted she may have been misled and believed mistakenly that Mammootty had called her Win C, attributing the confusion to someone else's manipulation. The admission led to an online meme fest, with netizens mocking the incident and Vincy's statement going viral. 02:05 Soothravakyam - Official Trailer 'Did I really ask you to change your name? But Vincy has now revisited the events with clarity: 'Later, I received another message from the same number, asking me to keep the name Win C. I replied sarcastically, and the person wrote back, 'Did I really ask you to change your name?' I was confused and even wondered if he was joking.' She said she took a screenshot of the chat and sent it to a person named Georgettan, who confirmed that the number did belong to Mammootty. Blame it on disappearing messages? The actress says the reason for Mammootty's denial might be due to the disappearing messages setting enabled on his phone. 'He had no memory of it. When I told him I changed my name because of his messages, he looked genuinely surprised. But I have all the proof on my phone. Even so, people might once again think I'm just making it up,' she said. Meanwhile, Vincy Aloshious' recent outing is the Shine Tom Chacko starrer 'Soothravakyam'.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Filmmaker Aisha Sulthana reveals marriage to former Lakshadweep deputy collector Harshit Saini: "We just knew we were in love"
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Aisha Sulthana , the first female filmmaker from Lakshadweep, has officially confirmed her marriage to Harshit Saini, the former deputy collector of Andrott and Agatti islands. Speaking candidly in an interview with Manorama News, Aisha shared that she and Harshit bonded over their common goal of working for the welfare of Lakshadweep's people. 'We never said the words 'I love you' to each other,' Aisha reflected. We simply got each other. Our desires aligned, and that quiet understanding naturally led us to marriage.' A quiet ceremony, A planned celebration The couple had already registered their marriage quietly, planning to host a grand reception in December after Aisha's mother returns from Umrah. However, the couple's private moment was thrust into public view after news of their marriage leaked via WhatsApp groups. Aisha Sulthana's directorial debut 'Flush' trailer out now 'We wanted to announce it after our reception,' Aisha explained. 'He was at an official event and stepped out briefly to complete the registration. His team had everything arranged. We signed the papers and parted ways that day.' "I've decided to put that project on hold' Aisha also touched upon her upcoming directorial project titled 124 A, inspired by the Indian Penal Code section related to sedition—a subject deeply personal to her, given her past legal battles for speaking out against Lakshadweep's administration. 'After seeing what happened to films like 'Empuraan' and 'JSK', I've decided to put that project on hold,' she admitted. Aisha Sulthana had previously been charged with sedition for her remarks about former UT administrator Praful K Patel. She has also worked as the assistant director in the movie 'Kettiyolaanu Ente Malakha'.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘It was my dream': Fearless Kerala officer on rescuing 18-foot king cobra in viral video
A forest officer who was recently filmed fearlessly rescuing an 18-foot king cobra in Kerala has said that it was her dream to rescue the reptile and it took her only minutes to achieve the brave feat. In the daring video, Forest Beat Officer G S Roshni was seen picking the enormous snake(X/@Autokabeer) In the daring video, Forest Beat Officer G S Roshni was seen picking the enormous snake, known to be one of the most venomous reptiles on the planet, with a snake-catching stick out of a stream in the Paruthipalli Range. Talking to Manorama News, the brave officer opened up about the rescue that earned her widespread praise online. "It was my dream to rescue a king cobra. All snake rescuers are interested in this. King Cobras are far and few in Thiruvanthapuram district, it is a shy variety of snake. It is usually not interested in coming out from the interiors to places where there is human habitation," she said in Malayalam. Roshni said she is part of an RRT (Rapid Response Team) that specialises in rescuing all types of wild animals. "I have sometimes wanted to go to places like Pathanamthitta, where many King Cobras have been rescued. It felt like yesterday's King Cobra was kept for me. I am very happy. I rescued it very safely and released it," she said, adding that it only took her six minutes to grab the snake and put it safely inside a bag. Watch the video of the dramatic rescue here: The video, which gained thousands of views on social media, was flooded with comments praising the officer for her fearless rescue. "Salute to brave forest officer Roshni ji,' said one user while another added: '18 feet long cobra—that's insanely huge.' Many others heaped praises about her dedication and skills. "Really a dangerous attempt by Forest Officer. Officials should reward her. Daring officer. Kudos madam," said one of them.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Prithviraj's mother Mallika's life ‘would have been ruined if Sukumaran hadn't married her' after failed first marriage: ‘He had only Rs 4,695 in his account, but…'
While nepotism continues to plague most film industries across the country, offering star kids with little to no talent one substantial project after another, there have also been moments, though few and far between, when nepotism gifted Indian cinema with genuine talent. Among the finest examples are the power couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Malayalam cinema, at the same time, has rarely accepted nepo babies without them proving their artistic ability. Those who did make it through, after enduring multiple rounds of rigorous competition, became valuable additions to the industry's rich tapestry. Among such rare examples are the sibling duo Indrajith and Prithviraj, sons of the late Malayalam superstar Sukumaran and actor Mallika Sukumaran. Although it has been 28 years since Sukumaran passed away, Mallika still fondly remembers him at every opportunity, thus keeping his memory alive. In one interview, she candidly stated that her life would have been completely ruined had he not come into it. For the unversed, Mallika was initially married to actor Jagathy Sreekumar, but the marriage ended soon, after which she tied the knot with Sukumaran. 'It would have been a mess,' she said during a 2022 interview with Manorama News, when asked how her life would have turned out had she not met Sukumaran. 'For Mallika to have an identity again, my father and my family would have had to call me back,' she said, recalling her marriage to Jagathy against her family's wishes. 'Afterwards, I might have gotten remarried and gone on a different path. But for sure, I couldn't have thought of staying in the film industry. Besides, that mental anguish from the first marriage would have always been with me in life. Without making me feel any of that, Sukumaran looked after me like a princess.' Describing him as a gem of a person, Mallika admitted that, at first, she thought he was a bit of a brawler. While he was short-tempered, she said, there was so much goodness in his heart, which the film industry never truly got to see. She also noted that the one thing Sukumaran hated most was lying, particularly since he didn't know how to flatter people. Recalling facing accusations that she married Sukumaran for his money, Mallika said it was he who gave the more fitting reply, backed by proof. 'He married me when he had only Rs 4,695 in his Canara Bank account in Vadapalani. At the time, he lived in a rented house shared with director IV Sasi, Murali Movies Ramachandran and actor Kuthiravattam Pappu,' she said. She also recalled how Sukumaran played a key role in re-establishing her career by helping her land the opportunity to dub for actor Seema in Avalude Ravukal (1978), a landmark film in Malayalam cinema. It was shortly after this that the two got married, and she eventually retired from acting. Malayalam cinema 6-month report card | Disappointment of most hyped movie, tables turning between superstars and more Sukumaran passed away in 1997 at the age of 49 following a sudden heart attack. After his death, it was Mallika who raised Indrajith and Prithviraj. Speaking about his mother, Prithviraj once said, 'I believe my mother's life story is remarkable. It's natural for children to see it that way, isn't it? She faced numerous challenges. Her first marriage failed. And yet, she faced difficulties in returning home… Difficulties in presenting this matter to the family. During that time, like a fairy tale, Malayalam cinema's biggest star (Sukumaran) fell in love with Amma. Thus, she navigated through a new life, remarried, settled down, and enjoyed 23 years of marital bliss.' He added, 'But my father's sudden passing caught us all off guard. None of us expected that he would leave so soon. One day he was there, and the next day he wasn't. Overnight, I saw a woman, who had spent 23 years as a devoted mother and wife, taking control of everything. I was just starting Class 10, and my brother was about to enter engineering college. If my mother had faltered, perhaps my brother and I wouldn't be where we are today.'
