Latest news with #Naicker
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Revisiting Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's Nayakan, not as a gangster epic, but as an existential melodrama in disguise
Rarely in cinema does a man weep after revenge. When he does, it is often framed as relief, a final letting go. A wound closed, the audience applauds. Justice, they think, has been served. But Nayakan refuses such ease. When Naicker (Kamal Haasan) kills the policeman who murdered his foster father, he does not feel triumph. There is no music to lift him, no silence to dignify the act. Instead, he walks to the policeman's house. The widow sits in grief. And there, in the wreckage of a family broken by his hand, Naicker sees the child. The child who does not know, cannot know that the man standing before him ended his father's life. He walks up to Naicker, unaware, and says only this: 'My father is dead.' Naicker breaks. He does not cry for the man he killed. He cries for the boy. For the knowledge that vengeance, even when justified, is never clean. That violence does not end with the act; it seeps and spreads. That the blood of the guilty leaves the innocent stained. This moment does not ask for sympathy. It does not moralize. It simply shows that in the world Naicker inhabits, every gain is a loss, every justice a wound, every act of power a compromise. This moment is the soul of Nayakan. It is where Mani Ratnam's vision breathes deepest. It is where the film stops looking outwards and turns inwards. For the first time, Naicker begins to question the single belief that carried him through life. As a boy, he is told by his foster father: 'Anything that helps others is not wrong.' The line strikes him not as advice, but as truth. No wonder, from that point on, the film moves with an inevitability. The next time we see him, he is grown. He has aged, both in years and in belief. That one sentence has become the axis of his world. Through it, he finds purpose: to stand against the systems that wronged him, to protect the people around him, to rewrite the balance with his own hands. So when he kills the policeman, he does more than avenge his father's death. He removes a figure of power who brought fear and violence to his community. In that act, Naicker becomes Nayakan — the people's hero. Also Read | Why Mani Ratnam's Nayakan remains a magnificent mob epic So he becomes the law himself. Not through power alone, but through presence. Through a kind of authority the city cannot name but must obey. He rises up the ladders of survival and influence. Yet he never leaves behind the words that gave him direction. Nor the people he sees himself in, Tamils, scattered at the edges of Bombay, caught in a city that never lets them forget they do not belong. He becomes a don, yes. But also a figure people turn to. A woman with a dying child comes to him, not the state. It is Naicker who brings her to the doctor. It is Naicker who forces care into a system built on neglect. It is Naicker who adopts the very child who made him pause, the son of the man he killed. He ensures the boy and his mother are taken care of, as though by doing so he might contain the fracture within himself, he might redeem himself. But life is not that simplistic. It does not resolve so neatly. He can bend the world outside to his will, but not the one within. That one keeps returning, without warning. It happens again. His wife is killed in a gangland crossfire. Another cost, another silence. And this time it is his daughter who stands before him. She does not accept the world he has made. She questions it. And in her eyes, he sees again the doubt he thought he had buried. Once again, he breaks. And once again, he has no words. Because heroism, as the film insists, is a distant construction. From afar, it can look clean. Up close, it is compromise, pain, and solitude. It carries a weight the hero cannot set down. It asks more than it gives. Once again, he turns away, not out of indifference, but out of fear. He sends his children away from him. Not only to protect them from the world he inhabits, but to protect himself from seeing who he's become through their eyes. Perhaps that's why he never wanted his son to follow him. He wanted the cycle to end with him. He believed he could carry it all alone, that his choices would contain their damage within his own body. But fate is not so obedient. Life does not bend to the logic of sacrifice. It is only fitting that the life he built, the power, the protection, the violence consumes what he most hoped to preserve. His son is lost to the very world Naicker once vowed to fight. His bond with his daughter splinters under the weight of all that has gone unspoken. He believed that by sending her away, he could silence the questions. That distance could shield them both, from each other, from the past. But truth does not wait at the door. It finds its way in. And in the film's most searing moment, (where Ratnam pays homage to Yash Chopra's Deewaar), his daughter stands before him, questions him about the kind of life he has lived? About what kind of justice leaves bodies in its wake? Naicker, like Vijay in Deewaar, reaches for justification. He speaks of pain, of oppression, of the choices he had to make. He insists it was for others, for those who had no voice. But, like Ravi, she does not accept this. She sees through the worn narratives. She knows that no amount of suffering gives a man the right to remake justice in his own image. That the cost of such power cannot be passed on to others. Also Read | Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's Nayakan is not timeless, nor has it aged well; let that sink in However, the tragedy of Naicker's life is that it has already happened. The tragedy is not that he failed, but that he believed he could control where the consequences would land. The story of Nayakan remains suspended between two truths: that he lived by a principle meant to help, and that it slowly consumed him. That he rose for his people, and in doing so, lost his place amongst them. That he tried to end a cycle, and could only delay it. Hero. Don. Father. Fugitive. All of them are real. But none of them are enough. And it's here that Mani Ratnam reveals what the film has always been. Not a gangster epic. Not a Tamil Godfather. Not a collection of nods to Salim–Javed. All of that is perfunctory. The real story is something else. It is the story of a man's gradual collapse. A man who believed he was saving others, only to realise too late that all along, he was trying to save himself. From guilt. From doubt. From the unbearable silence within. No wonder the film begins with Naicker as a boy, asking his father what is good and what is bad. No wonder it ends with his grandchild asking him the same question. No wonder the story begins with a child killing a policeman for killing his father. And ends with a policeman's son killing a gangster for the same reason. No wonder, we call it poetic justice.
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
UKZN's youngest PhD graduate 'unlocks secrets of gravity'
At 26 years old, Dr Shavani Naicker was the youngest doctoral graduate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) during its 2025 autumn graduation ceremonies — an achievement earned with a PhD in applied mathematics, specialising in astrophysics. Naicker's academic journey has been entirely home-grown, completing her BSc, BSc Honours and MSc degrees at UKZN — all summa cum laude. UKZN said her doctoral research, conducted under the guidance of Prof Sunil Maharaj and Dr Byron Brassel through the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC), delved into the intricate theories of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity, part of Lovelock gravity, a higher-dimensional extension of Einstein's General Relativity. 'Lovelock gravity introduces higher-order curvature terms into the equations of gravity,' said Naicker. 'Studying these helps us understand gravitational interactions in extreme conditions, such as near black holes or in the early universe. My work contributes to uncovering the gravitational dynamics of astrophysical objects in higher dimensions, which could address some of the unresolved questions in cosmology and quantum gravity.' UKZN said her work produced new exact solutions to complex field equations — earning praise for its potential to shed light on how stars and black holes behave in extreme conditions. Maharaj, director of the ARC, called her research 'critical in understanding gravitational phenomena' and said it offers 'deep insights into the behaviour of stellar models'. Brassel, who taught and supervised Naicker over the years, described her as 'an astute student' and said he hopes their collaboration continues. Naicker is now a postdoctoral fellow at the ARC, supported by the National Research Foundation, and aims to one day become its director. Her work aligns with major scientific projects such as the MeerKAT and Square Kilometre Array telescopes. 'Obtaining a PhD in applied mathematics with a specialisation in relativistic astrophysics is the realisation of a lifelong dream,' said Naicker. 'It stands as testament to years of hard work, resilience and an enduring curiosity about the universe. I hope my journey inspires others — especially young women — to explore the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.'
The Citizen
28-04-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Childline calls on Durban North for toys and hygiene products
Childline KZN is calling on nursery schools in the Durban North area to donate pre-loved toys and educational items in support of vulnerable children. Also read: Northglen 50+: uMhlanga festival evolves over the decades The school which set the ball rolling was Jungle Cubs Nursery who organised a collection drive for essential hygiene items, resulting in the creation of comfort packs for young visitors to Childline's offices. These comfort packs were filled with sanitary pads, soap, toilet rolls, and other personal care products. They are encouraging schools to organise similar collection drives, asking each child to donate just one hygiene item. 'These packs offer more than just physical relief. For children facing difficult circumstances, access to basic hygiene items is a lifeline, restoring dignity, providing emotional comfort, and helping them feel seen and cared for during an often traumatic time,' said Adeshini Naicker, director at Childline KZN. 'The impact of such a donation cannot be overstated. Small acts of kindness like this truly make a world of difference in a child's life.' Childline KZN plays a vital role in the province, offering protection, advocacy, and support to children at risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Each year, the organisation assists hundreds of children through its programmes and services, providing them with a safe space and the help they desperately need. However, the organisation emphasises that the need for support remains great. 'Together, we can ensure that every child who walks through our doors receives the care, dignity, and comfort they deserve. A small gesture from many can create lasting change for children in need,' said Naicker. For those interested in contributing or learning more, Childline KZN invites the community to reach out via email at director@ For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Luxury brands under fire: the made in China controversy
DAYS after US president Donald Trump slapped a 125% tariff on Chinese imports, China took to social media, 'exposing' the location where luxury brands, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Coach and Jimmy Choo and many more are manufactured. Chinese content creators, influencers, and even factory workers took to TikTok to 'expose the lie' about overpriced luxury brands. 'Some say as long as there's a tag saying 'made in China', the bag can never be luxury. 'However, in fact more than 80% of the luxury bags in the world are made in China. But those luxury brands just won't acknowledge that they take finished bags from China factories back to their own factories and just do a repackaging, and logo installation, that way the bags will appear at their boutiques as 'made in Italy' or 'made in France'. 'You know those sophisticated European countries that make you feel mysterious and luxurious.' The content creator 'Bagbestie1' went on to say that many people considered something 'made in China' less prestigious as compared to European countries. 'Welcome to the real world. Now you see those bags are 'made in China' by our intelligent Chinese artisans, let's not be poisoned and misled by the market campaign any longer,' said the creator. After the video went viral on social media, many South Africans have been left wondering about their expensive luxury brand 'investments'. Theshen Naicker, an actor and entertainer, said he found it difficult to believe the online claims. 'Don't believe everything you see on social media. We need to take into consideration the timing of these allegations, which is the tariff war with China vs US, which makes one question the validity of the statements made. 'I love luxury bags and I have a collection of my own which consists of Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel. These brands made only 100 bags in each design for the global market, so economically it does not make sense that it would be mass produced in China,' said Naicker. He said the history of the brand's journey sealed the deal of authenticity for him. 'A lot of people buy fake bags, and I have nothing against that but I carry authentic bags because I love the brands. It's such a disrespect to these brands, for statements to be made against the authenticity of their products. 'We as buyers, immerse ourselves in the journey of these brands and we know their history, such as the factory and design process. So it's hard to believe that these statements by China could be true,' he said. Naicker is on a database of clients who buy luxury bags. 'There are a few of us, and we receive messages when new products arrive. When we buy our bags we receive receipts of validity. These bags start from R100 000 and go to as much as R400 000. 'What's disheartening about these allegations is that we work hard to buy these luxury brands. I know my journey started 15 years ago, and it was difficult to even be able to afford a single tie. But that's how I started my collection of luxury brands. If it turns out that the allegations are true, I will be shocked and upset. But for now, we should wait for the brands' official statements,' he said. Abigail Nadar-Nepaul, an attorney and TV personality, said she was not worried about the claims. 'I have been gifted many luxury bags over the years and they were all bought in India. I love the bags. I wear them proudly, but what I appreciate about them is that they go up in value every year. 'I have watched the TikTok videos about China 'exposing' yhe many luxury brands and the fact that these bags are made in China. I have always known that there are different levels to the manufacturing process and that the chances are very high that these bags were made in China and then shipped off to the different high-end cities to have the different labels attached to them. But this was never confirmed," said Nadar-Nepaul. Now that it has been confirmed, she saw no problem with the claims as it meant that luxury bags could be made available to the broader public. 'People who are also deserving of these beautiful bags and pieces and accessories. So I'm very happy about that. I also look forward to my next shopping spree in China because now I'm not just limited to one luxury purchase. I could shop for quite a lot more and so can more people. So it really just evens out the long field and makes luxury accessible to a lot more people. 'I think with the news coming out, that is the universe's way of saying everyone deserves good things in life. Here you go. If you have been waiting for a bag like this for a very, very long time and possibly saving up for it, you may now already have the money to buy not just one, but more than one luxury item,' she said. Nadar-Nepal said she was glad to see China 'expose' the claims. 'This makes me very excited, I stand with this entire exposure. It really is levelling out playing fields, not just physically, but spiritually as well. I think God is saying, let's give more people a chance at a better life and that works for me,' said Nadar-Nepal. Asharia Parsad, a businesswoman and TV personality, said she had no issues with luxury products being made in China but took exception to the expensive brands hiding the facts. 'As a general consumer I'm aware that most items we purchase are made in China, and have no issue with it. Having items made in China does not mean it's of inferior quality to me. 'However, as a Louis Vuitton connoisseur, I am aware that the luxury bags and items are marketed to be crafted in France. The lack of transparency displayed is what I have an issue with. If a bag I purchased is marketed as 'made in France', it should not be otherwise - especially for the above premium price. This controversy highlights broader concerns about transparency and fairness in the luxury goods market,' said Parsad.
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Human error causes alarming rise in cybersecurity breaches in SA
Human errors is increasinly leading to data breaches in South Africa. Experts say that cybercriminals are becoming more smarter with the help of AI. Image: Supplied HUMAN error has emerged as the leading cause of cybersecurity breaches in South Africa, and experts have warned that even a single careless click can lead to the downfall of an advanced digital system. As cyber threats continue to escalate at an alarming rate, available data shows that at least 34.5 million accounts were breached in South Africa in the first quarter of 2024. Nikita Naicker, PI Tech and Cyber Underwriter at SHA Risk Specialists, says the key difference between a data leak and a data hack or breach is intent. 'A data leak happens when an internal party or source exposes sensitive data, usually unintentionally, whereas a hack or breach is orchestrated by a cybercriminal who intentionally and unlawfully breaches a network to steal data or hold that company ransom for lucrative gain,' she said. Naicker explained that cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and AI is playing a growing role in executing advanced attacks. Despite this, businesses don't necessarily need to invest in expensive new technologies. 'Instead, they should create a culture of cyber awareness, strengthen IT infrastructure, and maintain stringent internal governance. These are effective ways to mitigate risk and are a good starting point for a company,' she said. 'Given that cybersecurity is very specific and niche, it is very important for companies to reach out to experts in this area for guidance and assistance. There are many cybersecurity firms and consultants which can be relied on. From a cyber insurance perspective, lead cybersecurity firms offer 24-hour incident response, ransom negotiation experts and qualified expert legal counsel,' said Naicker. She said staff training and awareness are key to avoiding devastating data leaks and legal consequences, which can be mitigated by having robust cybersecurity protocols and governance in place. 'A threat actor will use manipulative tactics in order to gain access to an entity or organisation, and if they are unsuccessful in doing so via the IT infrastructure, the next biggest vulnerability in an organisation is the workforce.' Naicker noted that South Africa has the second highest number of data breaches on the continent. Citing Fortinet's 2024 Security Awareness and Training Global Research Report, she said 70% of South African businesses are currently exposed to growing threats due to a lack of even basic cybersecurity awareness. She warned that the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is a significant piece of legislation that places increased responsibility on companies that collect and store personal information - and holds them accountable for its misuse. 'In the context of a cyber breach or hack whereby data has been stolen and held at ransom, it places the company which has been breached exposed to third-party liability claims, as the data subjects whose information would have been stolen could be in the hands of a cybercriminal and used for other reasons. The regulator then may in turn impose fines, penalties or prison time for a failure on the part of the company to adhere to Data Protection Regulation,' said Naicker. According to global research by Sage, keeping abreast of new threats is the biggest challenge for 51% of SMEs, followed by ensuring employees know what's expected of them (45%). Some 56% of SMEs want cybersecurity companies to do more to educate and support them, while 45% believe the responsibility lies with governments, and 43% with trusted tech partners. Philip Meyer, VP Product Engineering HR & Payroll at Sage Africa and Middle East, said small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly caught in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. 'With large enterprises ramping up their spending on cybersecurity, hackers and malware authors are focusing their attention on smaller businesses,' said Meyer. 'These are more vulnerable to attacks because they have less human and financial resources to dedicate to protecting their infrastructure. It is hard for them to make informed risk management choices about which tools to invest in and what risks they can live with in the absence of reliable advice and affordable technology,' he added. Meyer said the issue highlighted the need for small businesses to get the basics right, especially given the reputational risks of data breaches, the cost of business interruptions, and mounting evidence that regulators are losing patience with organisations that fail to comply with data privacy laws like POPIA. Ben Aung, Chief Risk Officer at Sage, said a resurgence of ransomware and cyber extortion attacks would dominate the cybersecurity agenda this year. 'Businesses should strengthen defences by continuing to focus on the highest impact security measures, such as patching, endpoint detection tools, multifactor authentication, privilege access management and employee awareness.' Aung warned that generative AI would increasingly be used in phishing attacks, allowing cybercriminals to craft highly convincing communications that are more difficult to detect. 'Companies must ensure their employees are educated about these new and evolved risks and can spot attempts and report them quickly.' He added that supply chain risks would also come under greater scrutiny, as attackers begin targeting critical vendors to gain leverage.
