Latest news with #Prabakar
Hans India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Coolie' Craze: First Show Tickets Hit ₹4,500 as Fans Travel Across States for Early Screening
Coolie mania is on, with first-day, first-show tickets being sold at prices up to ₹4,500. It could be the excitement of advance bookings or the eagerness to see the Rajinikanth starrer at the earliest, but the demand is unprecedented not just in Tamil Nadu but in the rest of the country and even in foreign countries. Fans have been voicing their displeasure at the exorbitant pricing of FDFS coolie early screening, in parts of South India at least. On the condition of anonymity, sources tell India Today Digital that a popular theatre in Chennai has priced the tickets for the Coolie ticket price 4500. In Pollachi, a theatre employee was caught on camera, selling tickets for the first-day, first-show at the rate of ₹400. This is against the directives by the Tamil Nadu government, but theatres, especially single screens, along with fan clubs are trying to cash in on the demand by selling tickets on the black market. Prabakar, a die-hard fan of Rajinikanth, who was trying to buy tickets to the first Coolie movie show, told India Today Digital, "I have tried my luck at all the popular theatres in Chennai. Prices range between ₹600 and ₹1,000 with the costliest seats pegged at ₹4,500. Buying tickets for the first show online has been almost impossible since they are either blocked or sold out in most cases. Fans are heading to theatres where Coolie is being screened in the hope of buying black market tickets and, in some cases, waiting until later shows to buy tickets at the government-approved pricing. Movie buffs in these states are also looking forward to getting the nod from the authorities to go ahead with large scale celebrations. The two states also allow special ticket price changes and allow early morning shows in such cases.
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Coolie mania: Rs 4,500 for first show, fans cross states to watch early screening
The 'Coolie' craze has hit an all-time high with tickets being sold for as high as Rs 4,500! Be it the advance booking or the urge to catch the first-day first-show (FDFS) of the Rajinikanth-starrer in theatres, 'Coolie' is witnessing an unprecedented advance booking not just in Tamil Nadu, but across the country and the international market. However, a section of genuine fans are shocked at the exorbitant prices being quoted for the FDFS shows across South to sources, on the condition of anonymity, a popular theatre in Chennai has priced the tickets at a whopping Rs 4,500. In Pollachi, a theatre staff member was caught on camera selling the first-day first-show tickets for Rs 400. While this is against Tamil Nadu government rules, many theatres (especially single screens) and fan clubs are exploiting the situation to sell the tickets in black for unreasonable prices. Prabakar, an ardent fan of Rajinikanth, who wanted to buy tickets for the first show, told India Today Digital, "I have tried my luck at all the popular theatres in Chennai. They are all priced at Rs 600, Rs 1,000, with the highest being Rs 4,500. I am not able to book tickets through the ticketing apps for the first show, as they are either blocked or sold out. Fans like me have no other choice but to buy the tickets in black or wait till the first shows are over to watch the film by paying government-authorised rates." For fans who have lived in Tamil Nadu or any state in the South, this might not come as a shock. But, for those who are unaware of the craze for a Rajinikanth film, this is the norm in the state that houses him. Not just Tamil Nadu, the ticket rates have soared high even for dubbed versions of 'Coolie'. 'Coolie' is releasing in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in Tamil and Telugu. Fans are patiently waiting for the government orders for the film, so they can plan the celebrations accordingly. The two states allow early morning shows, with increased ticket an IT employee and a Chennai resident, said, "It's a working day, and we are a bunch of Rajinikanth fans who catch the FDFS no matter what. We're planning to drive to Nagari in Andhra Pradesh, as it is just a few hours away from Chennai to watch the show and celebrate Thalaivar. We could drive down and go to the office as well. We're just waiting for the booking to open."advertisementBefore 2023, the Tamil Nadu government allowed selected theatres across the state to hold early morning shows (1 am, 4 am and 5 am). However, in 2023, during the 'Thunivu' vs 'Varisu' clash, a fan died outside Rohini theatre in Chennai during the celebrations. Thereafter, the TN government denied permission for the early morning shows. Hence, fans have resorted to travelling to the neighbouring states to watch the morning shows are usually preceded by celebrations where fans will burst crackers, dance till they drop and celebrate the arrival of their favourite star's film. Not just outside the theatres, it is a celebration inside the theatres too. Theatres turn into concert halls with enthusiastic fans dancing and enjoying the occasion together. Fans throw confetti in the air, scream and cheer for their favourite actors. Every release, especially for actors Rajinikanth, Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Kamal Haasan, is a carnival in planning in-house celebrations to travelling to another state to watch the early shows, fans leave no stone unturned to hype up the actors, who enjoy a demi-God status among them. For 'Coolie', which has an ensemble cast representing each film industry, the craze seems to be skyrocketing with each passing and Karnataka will host 6 am shows for 'Coolie' and the pre-sales have hit the roof. With fans running and pushing each other to secure tickets, the 'Coolie' mania is taking over the audience. While Mumbai has 5 am shows, Tamil Nadu shows will begin only at 9 single screens, tickets are being sold for as high as Rs 2,000 in Bengaluru. Tickets in Bengaluru are priced at Rs 500 in multiplexes, while 'Coolie' ticket prices range between Rs 250 to Rs 500 in Mumbai theatres. At the time of publishing this story, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana theatres hadn't opened the booking as they were awaiting government orders. Looking at the obsession with watching the first-day first-show of 'Coolie', the Rajinikanth-starrer is likely to cross Rs 150 crore on Day 1, according to trade experts. If there was one man, at 74, who is capable of sending fans into a frenzy with every release of his, it is the one and only Rajinikanth - The Superstar of Indian cinema. Thalaivar for a reason!- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TNPSC to debar question setters for politically controversial or communally sensitive questions: Chairman
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) will debar question setters of competitive examinations for including questions that are politically controversial or communally sensitive, said TNPSC Chairman S.K. Prabakar. Speaking to the media at Egmore Presidency Girls Higher Secondary School ahead of the Group IV examinations on Saturday (July 12, 2025), Mr. Prabakar said: 'The TNPSC had already instructed professors who are technical experts not to frame questions that are politically controversial or communally sensitive. However, some question setters have not followed these instructions. The Commission will remove them from the panel.' Pointing to the rising number of vacancies, he said the number of candidates to be selected through the Group IV exam held on Saturday is expected to exceed 4,000, up from 3,935, as the number of vacancies across various departments between July and December 2025 is projected to be 4,318. 'The notification for Group II and IIA is expected next week. The total number of candidates recruited during the period from January 2024 to December 2024 is 10,701, while 11,027 candidates were recruited during the period from January 2025 to June 2025,' he said. According to the Group IV notification issued on April 25, the TNPSC announced that 3,935 vacancies across 25 different posts would be filled. These include 215 posts of village administrative officers, 1,678 junior assistants, 1,100 typists, 368 steno-typists, 112 forest guards, 145 forest watchers, and 239 junior revenue inspectors. The educational qualification required for Group IV is SSLC. As many as 13.89 lakh candidates, including 94,848 in Chennai, have received hall tickets for the Group IV examination. Women candidates outnumber men, as 8.63 lakh women candidates and 5.26 lakh men have been permitted to appear for the Group IV examination. Stressing the need for simplified processes, including a simplified OMR in competitive examinations, Mr. Prabakar said errors in the TNPSC Group I examination have decreased this time, as the evaluation of answer sheets under the new simplified system is under way. The evaluation of Group I preliminary exam answer sheets is expected to begin next week, and the results will be declared within a month. 'The results of the Group IV examination are expected to be declared in three months. The question papers have been found to be safe, following reports of controversy at a Madurai centre ahead of the examination,' he said. A few candidates who arrived late at the examination centre in Egmore on Saturday were denied permission to appear for the test. Several of them reportedly relied on the public transport system in Chennai.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 2 lakh candidates take up TNPSC exam, says official
A total of 2.4 lakh candidates have registered to write the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) Group 1 exams that were held on Sunday, said TNPSC Chairman S.K. Prabakar. Speaking to the media after inspecting the exam halls in Chennai, he said: 'This year, we have simplified the instructions on the OMR sheets for the candidates. Previously, there were some complications as the unclear instructions led to the candidates losing time during the exam. There were complaints regarding the calculations of the questions answered, so we have made this easier for them.' The TNPSC Group 1 exams are being conducted for 72 posts, including Deputy Collector. The exam is being held at 44 centres across the State. The results of the preliminary exam will be released in two months, Mr. Prabakar said. Stating that the TNPSC is trying to make as many selections as possible, Mr. Prabakar said: 'We are also trying to conduct the most important exam first so that there are no overlaps of qualifications for the candidates, and the opportunities remain the same.'
The Star
02-06-2025
- The Star
Jail for Thai man who tried to bribe two auxiliary cops in Singapore when caught urinating in public
Thai national Nanjaijumpa Kham-Ai was sentenced to 10 days' jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of offering corrupt gratification. -- ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A foreigner who urinated in a drain tried to evade a fine by attempting to bribe two auxiliary police officers who caught him in the act in December 2024. But by offering the S$7 bribe to the pair – who rejected it – Nanjaijumpa Kham-Ai, 54, landed himself in jail instead. On June 2, the Thai national was sentenced to 10 days' jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of offering corrupt gratification. A similar charge was taken into consideration for his sentencing. The court heard that Nanjaijumpa has worked in Singapore since 2017. The incident happened at about 7pm on Dec 17, 2024. Nanjaijumpa was employed as a farm worker in Lorong Semangka in Sungei Tengah, a district near Choa Chu Kang. On that day, he had just ended work and cycled to a place near Sungei Tengah Lodge. He parked his bicycle near a shop, where he sought repairs for his malfunctioning cellphone. Upon realising he did not have enough cash for payment, he decided to cycle back to the farm to get money. Before he got back on his bicycle, he urinated into a nearby drain. Two auxiliary police officers employed by Certis Cisco and deployed to the National Environment Agency, Ong Seng Hock and Prabakar Hisparan, were on patrol nearby and saw Nanjaijumpa's act. They approached him and told him he had committed an offence. Subsequently, they asked for his identification in order to prepare a printed summons requiring him to pay a fine. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tung Shou Pin said: '(Nanjaijumpa) was in a rush to collect the money and pay for his phone repairs before the shop closed, and wanted the (officers) to let him go quickly.' Nanjaijumpa told Ong that it was 'common for people to urinate there', and asked the latter to 'let the matter go' in Hokkien, DPP Tung added. Prabakar similarly rejected the bribe when Nanjaijumpa repeated the same offer to him. Seeing that both men refused the cash, Nanjaijumpa put it directly into Prabakar's sling bag. Ong immediately asked Nanjaijumpa to take the money back, explaining that they were public servants and could not accept bribes. Prabakar called the police and Nanjaijumpa was arrested. DPP Tung said there would be considerable damage to Singapore's reputation if the officers had accepted the gratification. Nanjaijumpa, who did not have a lawyer, apologised to the court during his mitigation. He said via a Thai interpreter: 'I promise not to do it again.' For corruptly giving gratification, Nanjaijumpa could have been jailed for up to five years and fined up to S$100,000 (RM330,000). - The Straits Times/ANN
