Latest news with #Nasreen
India Today
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Gayathri lifts Super Singer Junior 10 trophy, wins villa worth Rs 60 lakh
Gayathri lifted the trophy of the Super Singer Junior 10 held on Sunday in Chennai. She was presented the key to a luxurious villa worth Rs 60 lakh. Kamal Haasan and AR Rahman were the chief guests for the grand finale of Super Singer Junior 10. Nasreen was chosen as the first runner-up while Aadya and Sarasruthi shared the third comes from a music family, where her father and forefathers played musical instruments at temples. She was emotional after she was crowned the winner and so was her the photo: Nasreen was the first runner-up and took home a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. Aadya and Sarasruthi shared the second runner-up position and Rs 5 lakh cash prize. Lynet took home a cash prize of Rs 3 grand finale saw performances from current and former Super Singer contestants paying tribute to Kamal Haasan. Five-year-old Sri Varshini sang 'Kanmani Anbodu' and 'Jinguchaa' along with Kamal Haasan, which became one of the most memorable moments of the my heart70 year old kid and 5 year old kid#KamalHaasan #supersingerjunior Shakthi (@Stargirl117519) May 25, 2025advertisementKamal Haasan shook a leg to his iconic 'Yen Jodi Manjakuruvi', sung by contestant Lynet as a part of her final When @IKamalHaasan sir bursts into an impromptu dance we know we are in for a grand treat with #Thuglife! #ThugLifeFromJune5 #KamalHaasan Kamal Haasan's Diehard Kamalians (@DiehardKamalian) May 25, 2025The singing-based reality show was judged by singers Mano, KS Chithra and music director Imman. Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande were the hosts of Super Singer Junior 10. The show was aired on Vijay Television and JioHotstar.
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
INALA – An immersive performance telling the SA story
Show celebrates South African heritage and talent. The much-anticipated gala event will take place on 22 May 2025 at the Mandela Auditorium, Joburg Theatre. Picture: Instagram/joburgtheatre London's award-winning creative company, Sisters Grimm, is set to bring the globally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated musical Inala to South Africa for its official premiere. The much-anticipated event will take place on 22 May at the Mandela Auditorium, Joburg Theatre. It celebrates the return of a cultural phenomenon with a night of artistic excellence. The original plan was for a once-off, but due to overwhelming demand there is a second performance the following day. Special moment This special moment marks the global relaunch of the show ahead of its permanent residency as one of the premier West End shows in London, hosted at the House of Sisters Grimm. With meaning in their eyes and determination in their voices, the cast of Inala is telling the South African story through dance and song. WATCH the preview of INALA ALSO READ: Nasreen's the thinking Swiftie's kind of music Performers INALA, meaning 'abundance of goodwill' in Zulu, celebrates South African heritage and talent, featuring music co-written between 2009–2014 by the legendary Joseph Shabalala, of the world-famous Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Ella Spira MBE. The 2025 production features the voice of Ndaba Mandela and choreography by Mark Baldwin OBE. London's award-winning creative company, Sisters Grimm, is set to bring the globally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated musical INALA to South Africa for its official local premiere #INALA @joburgtheatre Vids: Supplied May 22, 2025 World recognition To date, the show has graced some of the world's most prestigious stages, including the Royal Albert Hall and Hampton Court Palace in London and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and has played for royalty on multiple occasions, consistently earning standing ovations. Following its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2014, Inala received widespread critical acclaim, including a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album in 2016 . With millions of views worldwide and outreach programmes that have benefited over 12 000 children, the production reflects Sisters Grimm's commitment to social empowerment through the arts. In recognition of Inala's global success and significant impact on international trade and the creative industries, King Charles awarded MBEs to the founders – creative producer and former Royal Ballet ballerina Pietra Mello-Pittman and painter and composer Ella Spira. ALSO READ: Actress Zikhona Sodlaka celebrates 20 years in the industry with masterclasses
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Bangladeshi women's rights activists rally against anti-feminist wave
Dhaka [Bangladesh], May 16 (ANI): Thousands of Bangladeshi women's rights activists on Friday gathered on Manik Mia Avenue near the Parliament building in Dhaka to demand equal rights and dignity for women. The rally, held under the slogan 'A march of solidarity at the call of women' (narira dake maitri yatra) aimed to protest against attempts to deprive women of their rights in the name of religion. The protest follows a wave of anti-feminist sentiment in Bangladesh, sparked by controversy over the interim government's Women's Reform Commission recommendation to recognize sex workers as laborers. Hardline Islamist groups opposed the move, making derogatory comments about women. The activists condemned recent statements that demeaned women and demanded equal rights and dignity. They expressed solidarity with the protest, emphasizing the importance of protecting women's rights. Bangladesh Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power in a student-led uprising in August last year. Hasina fled to India and an interim government led-by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. 'The interim government had formed a Women's Reform commission. When the commission recommended recognizing sex workers as labour, hardlines Islamist political parties and groups opposed it. The made derogatory comments about women,' a transgender activist told ANI. 'I have come to express solidarity with this protest for everyone's rights,' the activist added. Women danced and sang to protest discrimination against women. After the iron fist rule of Sheikh Hasina came to an end, women's reforms took a back seat. Talking to ANI, Bangladeshi writer and activist Taslima Nasreen strongly criticized the interim government, highlighting atrocities against women and the rise of Islamic terrorism. She called for quick elections and questioned the legitimacy of the current government. 'It's not just violence against women in the country. Theft, robbery, terror, rape, murder is all going on. That means law enforcement is not doing anything. So I think elections should be held quickly and the political party that comes into power is in power. It's good that they run the country. Because this government is illegal, and this government has no right to run the country,' she said. Voicing against religious extremism and emphasising values of secularism, women's rights and freedom of speech, she has been at the receiving end of extremist elements in Bangladesh. Nasreen alleged that Islamic terrorism is targeting not just women but also those associated with the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League. Nasreen said that apart from women, the 'Islamic terrorism' is torturing everyone belonging to Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League. 'Not just women, but the entire country is being attacked- like the Islamic attack. So it's not just women. [It's] kind of Islamic terrorism. So there's not just on the women, but also those who were in Hasina's party,' she told ANI. (ANI)
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Taslima Nasreen free to move anywhere in India, confirms Union Ministry
Writer Taslima Nasreen is free to move anywhere in the country, the Union Government has informed BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya, who had demanded in Parliament that she be allowed to return to West Bengal. In response to a Rajya Sabha parliamentary query, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has confirmed that the exiled Bangladeshi author has been granted an Indian visa of appropriate category and duration, allowing her the freedom to move anywhere in India, including Kolkata. The assurance came in a letter addressed to the Rajya Sabha MP by Union Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, dated May 5, 2025. The response follows Mr. Bhattacharya's intervention during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on March 17 when he demanded the safe return of Ms. Nasreen to Kolkata. 'Taslima Nasreen wants to come back to Kolkata. This city is like a city of life to her. She wants to compose her work in Bengali,' Mr. Bhattacharya added. He also said that Ms. Nasreen wanted to live and compose her work forever in West Bengal and should be allowed the freedom. Mr. Singh, in his written reply, stated: 'We have taken note of your concerns… She is free to move anywhere in India within the terms of the existing rules.' Ms. Nasreen had accused the West Bengal government of 'forcefully' removing her play Lajja from the State's theatre festivals. Lajja is one of the most popular and most controversial books by the author which has evoked mixed reviews across the globe. The development assumes significance as Ms. Nasreen has lived in exile since mid-1990s, after facing threats from Islamist groups for her outspoken writings on women's rights and religious extremism. She has openly voiced her concerns over the extremisms of Islam and has been criticised by many for her writings and opinions against the religion. Though India has periodically renewed her visa, her stay has often been restricted to Delhi, sparking debates around freedom of movement and human rights of the author. Her long-standing desire to return to Kolkata — a city she once called home — has been a recurring issue raised by civil society and rights activists. Many a time BJP MPs have backed her up, including in the issue over her play. Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar had publicly voiced his support for her. The Environment Ministry's letter has also been sent to officials at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, indicating a coordinated administrative follow-up.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'Punish terrorists, what's our fault': Pakistan nationals who are forced to leave India over Pahalgam attack
Pakistani nationals leaving India via the Attari-Wagah border condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people but expressed despair over their exit from the nation. "Terrorists should be punished. Why are we suffering because of this?" one of them asked. In its response against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the central government has asked all Pakistani citizens to leave India. Officials said that over the last six days, a total of 887 citizens returned to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border. Follow Pahalgam attack news live updates A Pakistani national, who has been living in India for the past 41 years, said she had no idea as to why they were being asked to leave. The woman, who hails from Karachi, asked, "A terrorist attack took place in Kashmir, but why are we being punished?" "I have been staying here for the last 41 years. Whatever is happening is not right. We don't stand with them. Their (terrorists') legs should be broken and they should be hanged...I appeal to the government that whatever is happening with us is not right," she told ANI. Nasreen, another Pakistani national, said she has spent 15 years of her life in India, living in peace and "working to build our future". She told news agency PTI, "It took us 15 years to get settled. Now they are asking us to leave. It would mean that we will have to start afresh. We will have to answer the questions that our children pose to us." Mufzala, another Pakistani national, hails from Muzaffarabad. She got married in Baramulla six years ago. She said that both her kids were born in India. "We have been filling out our application for the last three years, but it has never been accepted. The day before yesterday, we were suddenly asked to leave the country. What happened in Pahalgam was a terrorist activity. Innocents have lost their lives in the attack. The terrorists should be punished. Why are we suffering because of this? We want to go back to our home," she told ANI. Another citizen returning to Pakistan, Osama, said that he has studied Class 10 and 12 in India, adding that he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree. Speaking to news agency ANI, he expressed his wish to appear for job interviews after his exams. "Whatever happened there (Pahalgam) is wrong. I condemn this incident. It is a very shameful act...I have completed my class 10th and 12th here, what will I do there? What is my future there?" he asked.
