Hussain succumbed to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis after being hospitalized for two weeks and later moved to the ICU.
In a statement, his family said, “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come.”

Hussain’s manager, Nirmala Bachani, stated that the maestro had been dealing with blood pressure-related issues.
Earlier reports of Hussain’s death had surfaced, prompting his sister, Khursheed, to inform PTI that while he was “very, very critical,” he was “still breathing at the moment.” The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had initially announced his passing on social media but later deleted the statement.
Hailed as the greatest tabla virtuoso of his generation, Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, and was the son of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi.
Hussain’s illustrious career earned him four Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. His award-winning work on Pashto was recognised in the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ category.

The maestro recently announced the As We Speak India tour with fellow Grammy winners Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, scheduled for January 2025. Organized by Perfect Harmony Productions and Panache Media, the multi-city tour was set to feature performances in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

Hussain’s unparalleled contributions to global music and his extraordinary ability to blend Indian classical rhythms with global influences have left an indelible mark on the world of music.

The post Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain dies at 73, confirms family appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The dispute centers on allegations of unauthorised use of clips from Dhanush’s 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, produced under his banner, Wunderbar Films Private Limited.
Dhanush has filed a civil suit against Nayanthara, her filmmaker husband Vignesh Shivan, their production company Rowdy Pictures Private Limited, and two other parties. The suit claims that a behind-the-scenes clip from the film was used in the documentary without prior permission.

According to reports, Justice Abdul Quiddhose presided over the hearing on November 27 and directed Nayanthara, Vignesh, and the other respondents to address the allegations. Wunderbar Films has also sought the court’s approval to file a case against Los Gatos Production Services India LLP, Netflix’s content investment arm in India.
Preliminary arguments were presented by both sides, and the court noted that a significant part of the dispute fell under its jurisdiction. The next hearing will require Nayanthara to formally respond to the legal notice.

Nayanthara Responds with Open Letter
Amid the escalating legal tussle, Nayanthara earlier this week issued an open letter addressing the lawsuit. She accused Dhanush of harboring personal grudges and described the demand for Rs100 million over the use of a three-second clip as a “low” move.
The actress defended the inclusion of the brief footage in her Netflix documentary, stating it was used to provide context to her career and journey. She called the legal action unjustified and expressed disappointment over Dhanush’s approach.

The controversy highlights a growing trend of creative conflicts in the streaming era, as the boundaries of intellectual property usage continue to be debated in courts. The case remains under judicial scrutiny, with the next hearing set to clarify the legal ramifications of this dispute.

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Ponnamma’s family shifted residence to Ponkunnam in Kottayam when she was one year old. Influenced by her father, she started learning music from an early age. She wished to be an accomplished singer like MS Subbulakshmi.
Music director Devarajan invited Ponnamma to sing for plays when she was 12 years old. She sang first for “Mooladhanam”, penned by Thoppil Bhasi. Later, when the theatre group could not find a lead actress for the same play, she donned the grease paint for the first time at Bhasi’s insistence.
Ponnamma went on to become the leading actress of KPAC. She was later associated with other prominent theatre groups, including Pratibha Arts Club and Kalidasa Kalakendram. Her performances in plays such as ‘Puthiya Aakasham Puthiya Bhoomi’, ‘Doctor’, ‘Althara’, and ‘Janani Janmabhoomi’, were widely appreciated.
Ponnamma debuted in cinema at the age of 14. It was at the insistence of Thankappan Master, the dance instructor at Kalidasa Kalakendram. The movie was ‘Sree Rama Pattabhishekam’ of Merryland, and Ponnamma played Mandodari. She first donned the role of a mother in ‘Kudumbini’. In ‘Thommante Makkal’, she played the mother of Sathyan and Madhu.
She later acted in about 1,000 movies, including in the cinemas of prominent filmmakers PN Menon, Vincent, MT Vasudevan Nair, Ramu Kariat, KS Sethumadhavan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, John Abraham, Padmarajan and Mohan.
‘Asuravithu’, ‘Velutha Kathrina’, ‘Cross Belt’, ‘Karakaanakadal’, ‘Theerthayatra’. ‘Nirmalyam’, ‘Nellu’, ‘Avalude Raavukal’, ‘Kodiyettam’, ‘Oppol’, ‘Karimbana’, ‘Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam’, ‘Thriveni’, ‘Nizhalaattam’,  ‘Thaniyaavarthanam’, ‘Naghakshathangal’, ‘His Highness Abdullah’, ‘Kireedam’, ‘Chenkol’, ‘Bharatham’, ‘Santhanagopalam’, ‘Sukrutham’ etc., were her prominent movies.

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In her detailed note, Swara Bhasker expressed deep admiration for the Women In Cinema Collective (WCC), praising their bravery in confronting sexual harassment and violence in the industry. She acknowledged their efforts in urging for an expert committee to investigate and address these issues and for providing support to victims. “A big hug and gratitude to the brave women of the WCC who have consistently raised their voices and sought justice. You are heroes and are doing the work that should have been done by those in positions of power. Respect and solidarity with you!” she wrote.

Swara’s note reflected on the findings of the Hema Committee report, noting that while some details were new, the overall picture of systemic issues was all too familiar. She criticized the entertainment industry as inherently male-centric and patriarchal, emphasizing that the industry’s risk-averse and perception-sensitive nature often sidelines ethical concerns in favor of financial practicality. “Showbiz has always been a male-centric industry, a patriarchal power set-up,” she said. “It’s so much more convenient and financially practical to just carry on, even if it means ignoring ethical issues.”

Swara also questioned whether other regional film industries in India are addressing similar issues, highlighting the need for broader conversations and reforms across the industry.

The post Swara Bhasker Responds to Hema Committee Report: Describes Findings as ‘Heartbreaking’ and ‘Familiar’ appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The decision came after a heated online meeting of the executive committee, driven by allegations of sexual misconduct involving some office bearers. The existing committee will continue as an interim body while an Adhoc Committee is formed. A new governing body is expected to be elected within the next two months.

Mohanlal cited moral responsibility as the reason for his resignation, stressing the necessity for new leadership to renew and strengthen the organization. He expressed gratitude for the criticism and corrections, highlighting the commitment to providing uninterrupted support and maintaining office operations during the transition.

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The Goat Life, directed by Blessy, is adapted from Benyamin’s Malayalam novel Aadujeevitham. It tells the harrowing true story of Najeeb Muhammad, an Indian migrant who endured severe conditions as a goatherd in Saudi Arabia. In the film, Balushi plays the role of a kafeel (sponsor) depicted as harsh and neglectful.

The film has faced backlash online for allegedly misrepresenting Saudi Arabia. Recent rumors suggested that Saudi authorities might have banned Balushi from entering the country due to his involvement in the project.

In response to these rumors, Balushi, who is currently in India, has clarified that there has been no official communication from either Saudi or Omani authorities regarding any travel restrictions. “It’s important to note that this is a work of fiction,” Balushi said. “The film’s portrayal is artistic and should be understood in that context.”

Director Blessy also weighed in on the debate, emphasizing that the film portrays a range of characters, including those who exhibit compassion and empathy. “The goal of the movie was to highlight both the struggles and the kindness experienced by the protagonist,” Blessy explained.

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Minu alleged that she experienced sexual harassment from Jayasurya while working on the film De Ingot Nokiye. She also accused Mukesh of using inappropriate language and pressuring her to comply. Additionally, she claimed that Maniyan Pillai Raju made inappropriate advances, including stating he would visit her hotel room during the shooting of Da Thadiya, and later became hostile at the location.

Minu stated that she was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry due to the persistent harassment and was compelled to move to Chennai to continue her career. She expressed her desire to remain in the industry but said that the abusive environment made it unbearable for her to continue in Malayalam cinema.

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In their letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, the association argued that the committee’s report makes a clear distinction between crimes affecting girls and women, justifying the need for POCSO-related action. P.E. Usha, representing the association, highlighted that paragraph 82 of the report addresses the reluctance of victims to disclose their experiences of sexual violence due to fear of retaliation, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining confidentiality to protect these victims.

The complaint asserts that, per section 19 (1) of the POCSO Act, the police should be notified when such information is available. It urges the Home Department to review the report’s findings and take appropriate action while ensuring the privacy and safety of the victims.

The association stressed that implementing these measures is crucial for ensuring that young women in the arts can work and grow without fear. They called on the government to act swiftly in response to the report’s findings, which were based on direct testimonies gathered by a committee led by a former High Court judge.

The post Althia Women’s Association Demands POCSO Action Based on Hema Committee Report Findings appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Salman Khan, a prominent figure in the Indian film industry, is indeed known for both his substantial earnings and his philanthropic efforts. According to the Times of India, his net worth is reported to be 2900 crores, which places him among the highest-paid actors in the industry. Despite his immense wealth, Salman is known for leading a relatively modest lifestyle in terms of his living arrangements, residing in a one-room apartment.

Salman has been active in charity work through his Being Human Foundation, which has gained significant attention and support. In a recent television interview, Salman clarified that while he does save a portion of his income—around ten percent—the claim that he spends 90 percent of his earnings on charity is not entirely accurate. He acknowledged that while he is committed to charitable causes, his financial contributions are balanced with other responsibilities, such as taxes.

Salman Khan’s lifestyle reflects his personal preferences. Unlike many of his Bollywood peers, he prefers not to indulge in extravagant mansions or bungalows. Instead, he cherishes his 150-acre farmhouse in Panvel. Among his collection of luxury vehicles, his bicycle holds a special place. Salman has a history of using his bicycle to travel to shooting locations, showcasing his down-to-earth nature despite his fame and success.

The post Salman Khan Clarifies Charitable Contributions and Lifestyle Choices in Latest Interview appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Indrans had to stop his education in the fourth grade due to financial difficulties in his family and later worked at a relative’s tailoring shop to make ends meet. It was from this background that he eventually entered the film industry. His current pursuit of education is a testament to his belief that age should not be a barrier to learning.

The exam is being held at the Government Higher Secondary School near Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, the tests will start at 9:30 AM each day, covering six subjects over the two days. Those who pass will be eligible to join the 10th-grade equivalency course directly. A total of 151 individuals are participating in the exam.

The post Actor Indrans, at 68, Takes State Literacy Mission Exam After Overcoming Financial Struggles appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

According to Jubitha, Idavela Babu also suggested that making such adjustments would boost her career in the film industry. Additionally, she accused Harikumaran and Sudheesh of inappropriate behavior, including Harikumaran’s request for her to come to the shooting location the day after acting in his film, and Sudheesh’s suggestion to go on a tour together.

The post Junior Artist Accuses Former AMMA General Secretary of Extortion and Misconduct appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Dr. Poornathrayee Jayaprakash Sharma

KOCHI:

Ganjira Mastreo Tripunithura N. Gopalakrishnan and well-known multilingual lyricist, musicologist, classical dancer and author Dr. Poornathrayee Jayaprakash Sharma will receive the ‘Tripunithura Aasthana Vidwan Puraskaram’ for the year 2023, according to a press release.

The award, being given away for the 10th year, was announced by the Parakkadathu Koyickal Trust, Tripnithura, which is affiliated to the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. The awards will be given away during the 11th Annual celebration of Parakkadathu Koyickal Trust to be held at Kalikkotta Palace, Tripunithura, Kerala on August 20, 2023. The eight-member Award Jury Committee included Sri. Nedumangadu Sivanandan, Sri. Tripunithura N. Radhakrishnan, Sri. K P Raj Mohan Varma, Sri. Tripunithura K R Chandramohan, Smt. Devi Vasudevan Namboothiri, Sri. Edappally Jaimohan, Sri. Tripunithura K Kannan, and Sri. Tripunithura P. K. Sajith Kumar.

The 11th Annual celebrations of the trust will be organised this year in a grand manner along with the International Ganesha Sangeethotsavam, which will be conducted for a continuous 12 hours. Eminent artists from 12 countries will perform at the Sangeethotsavam, which will start at 8 am from Sree Balavinayaka Temple, Kannankulangara, Tripunithura physically and will be organised online from other countries. The concluding session and the award function will be organised at Kalikkotta Palace.

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The big-budget film is produced by C Aswani Dutt, founder of Vyjayanthi Movies. Production house Vyjayanthi Movies shared Kamal Haasan’s casting announcement on its official Twitter page. The tweet read, “Welcoming the greatest actor Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan. Our journey becomes Universal now. #ProjectK.” The announcement video showed several clips from Kamal Haasan’s critically-acclaimed movies and introduced him as Ulaga Nayagan (universal hero), the antagonist in the film.

Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Kamal on board. He tweeted on Sunday, “Welcome Kamal .. great working with you again .. it’s been a while!”

A few weeks ago, there were reports of producer Ashwini Dutt approaching Kamal Haasan with a whopping offer of ₹150 crore to play the antagonist in Project K. A reliable source from the film’s unit had told Hindustan Times that Kamal Haasan has been approached for the film but he denied the news about the ₹150 crore offer.

C Aswani Dutt is backing the project in the 50th year of the production house’s inception. The movie is scheduled to be released in cinemas on January 12, 2024, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

Project K is a science-fiction thriller which is being made on a massive budget and marks the maiden collaboration between Prabhas and Nag Ashwin of Mahanati fame. Some posters featuring Deepika and Prabhas’ silhouettes were enough to hype up the film.

The post Kamal Haasan to act in Project K appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

MUMBAI: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani and her husband Anand Piramal are blessed with twins, informed the Ambani family through an official release on Sunday.

On November 19, Isha and Anand welcomed their twin-baby girl and baby boy.

Ambani family said, “We are delighted to share that our children Isha and Anand have been blessed by the Almighty with twins on 19th November 2022. Isha and the babies, baby girl Aadiya and baby boy Krishna are doing well. We seek your blessings and good wishes for Aadiya, Krishna, Isha and Anand in this most important phase of their life.”

Isha and Anand Piramal, the son of Swati and Ajay Piramal — founder of Piramal Realty, a leading real estate firm in India, tied the knot on December 12, 2018, in a grand ceremony that took place in Mumbai. The wedding functions saw many A-listers from Bollywood, politics and the business world.

In December 2020, Mukesh Ambani’s son Akash Ambani and daughter-in-law Shloka Ambani welcomed their baby boy. Meanwhile, Mukesh Ambani had recently introduced his daughter Isha Ambani as the new leader of his conglomerate’s retail business — a firm he said had achieved a record Rs 2 lakh crore turnover and is among Asia’s top 10 retailers.

The post Isha Ambani, Anand Piramal blessed with twins appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Khatija Rahman and Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed got married in Chennai. Composer AR Rahman’s eldest daughter and musician Khatija Rahman has tied the knot with sound engineer Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed. The duo, who got engaged in December 2021, got married in Chennai, the music maestro announced on May 5

Chennai: AR Rahman’s daughter Khatija Rahman married audio engineer Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed. The music maestro shared a family photo from the nikaah ceremony on his Instagram and wrote, “May the Almighty bless the couple .. thanking you in advance for your good wishes and love.”

In the photo, the newly weds are seen  along with AR Rahman, his wife Saira Banu and the other two children – daughter Raheema and son Ameen. A portrait of Rahman’s mother Kareema Rahman placed at the side is also seen in the picture.

Khatija Rahman also posted a picture with husband Riyasdeen Shaikh Mohamed. “The most awaited day in my life. Married to my man @riyasdeenriyan,” she wrote.

Several celebs and Rahman’s peers blessed the couple in the comments section. Singer Shreya Ghoshal wrote, “Hearty congratulations @khatija.rahman @riyasdeenriyan God bless the beautiful couple.” Harshdeep Kaur and Neeti Mohan also wished Khatija and Riyasdeen.

Khatija Rahman got engaged to audio engineer and aspiring entrepreneur Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed in December 2021. The ceremony was a private affair with only close friends and family members in attendance.

The post AR Rahman’s daughter Khatija Rahman gets married to Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Shah Rukh Khan greeted fans on Eid at Mannat after two years. The actor shared pictures. He also gave his signature pose and clicked selfies with fans

Mumbai : Actor Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday greeted his fans, stationed outside his Mumbai residence Mannat, on the occasion of Eid. Taking to Twitter, Shah Rukh shared two selfies with hundreds of his fans waving as they stood near Mannat. Shah Rukh captioned the post, “How lovely to meet you all on Eid…. May Allah bless you with love happiness and may the best of your past be the worst of your future. Eid Mubarak!!”

Meanwhile, fans of Shah Rukh hooted and screamed as the actor greeted them on the occasion with an appearance at Mannat, after a gap of two years. Several pictures and videos of the actor showed him waving, blowing kisses, wishing them on Eid, bowing and folding his hands. The actor also gave his signature pose, with his arms wide open, as he stood on the iron balcony just at the entrance of Mannat.

Shah Rukh also clicked selfies with his fans stationed outside his home. For meeting his fans, Shah Rukh opted for casuals–royal blue T-shirt, light denims and white sneakers. The actor greeted his fans for several minutes. Taking to Twitter, several fans expressed their happiness. A fan wrote, “A perfect Eidi for us.”

Actor Salman Khan too greeted fans from the balcony of his Bandra home on Tuesday evening on Eid. In a video, shared by a paparazzo account, Salman waved at his fans and flashed a thumbs-up sign to the crowd.

The post Shah Rukh Khan steps out on Mannat’s balcony on Eid after two years. appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

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He was admitted to the hospital on March 30.

The hospital authorities informed that his condition is stable and he is positively reacting to the medication.

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Naming the lawyers, the actress said they were “interfering unprofessional and unethically in this case, since at the very beginning of the trial which started on January 30, 2020.”

Listing out various instances of Dileep’s lawyers’ illegal and unethical acts, the actress alleged that they have forced about 20 of prosecution witnesses to turn hostile.

The post Survivor alleges professional misconduct by Dileep’s lawyers, approaches Bar Council appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Dilip Kumar’s spokesman Faisal Farooqi even shared a video of police personnel draping the evergreen star in Indian Flag.

Several videos and pictures of Dilip Kumar’s last rites have been doing the rounds on the internet, wherein we can also see several mourners gathered to catch a glimpse of the iconic actor for one last time.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek Bachchan and director-producer Subhash Ghai were present at the funeral to pay their last respects to Dilip Kumar, who passed away today after prolonged health complications.

Also, earlier in the afternoon, several Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar, arrived at Dilip Kumar’s residence to offer their condolences to late actor’s family members, especially his wife Saira Banu.

Dilip Kumar, who created magic on the Indian silver screen with movies such as ‘Andaz’, ‘Devdas’ and ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, died at the age of 98.

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