Kumar Sanu is a very popular singer in India, and in a career that spans over two decades, he has rendered voice for songs in various languages from Tamil to Bengali. However, until now, the singer has not made his Mollywood debut. According to the latest updates, Kumar Sanu is all set to enthrall the Mollywood audiences with a song in the movie Al Karama.

Sanu who is known for his versatility will be singing a song in Al Karama, and this melodious track is being composed by debutante Nazar Malik.

Al Karama marks the directorial debut of Rafey Muhammed. The film has Sreenath Bhasi, Sudhi Koppa, and Balu Verghese in the lead roles. According to reports, the film will be exclusively shot in the United Arab Emirates, and it will narrate the story of migrant Indians.

It should be also noted that Al Karama will be the first Mollywood movie that will be shot in a foreign location post the lockdown.

The script of the movie is written by the director himself. Ravi Chandran will be handling the cinematography of this film, while the editing will be taken care of by Ayoob Khan. The pre-production work of this movie is progressing steadily.

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After days of anxious wait, the makers of Minnal Murali have released the official teaser of this flick on August 31, 2020. Interestingly, the teaser of Minnal Murali was released just a few hours after the premiere of Tovino’s ‘Kilometers and Kilometers’.

In the initial moments of the teaser, the director introduces the character of Minnal Murali. The initial scenes reveal that Minnal Murali is a masked man, who is also performing some heist activities.

Later, Tovino Thomas graces the screen in style, and he looks absolutely charismatic. With a clean shaved look, Tovino literally resembled the boy-next-door, and in all probabilities, the character of Minnal Murai will elevate his stardom in Mollywood.

In the final moments of the teaser, audiences come to know that Minnal Murali is not an ordinary man, and he possesses some special skills, which make him a desi superhero.

Basil Joseph, who has previously helmed movies like Kunjiramayanam and Godha is directing Minnal Murali. The director is a master in crafting commercial entertainers, and audiences expect the same from Minnal Murali as well.

Sophia Paul who has previously bankrolled for films like Bangalore Days and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol is producing Minnal Murali, in the banner of Weekend Blockbusters. An official announcement regarding the release date of this movie will be unveiled in the coming days.

Click here for the video

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Anjaam Pathiraa, directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, was a huge blockbuster at the box-office. This film which narrated the story of a serial killer starred Kunchako Boban, Unnimaya Prasad, Sharaf U Dheen, Jinu Joseph, and Remya Nambeesan in the lead roles. Now, director Midhun has confirmed that the film will be soon remade into Bollywood, and this upcoming flick will also mark his debut in the Hindi film industry.

The news of Anjaam Pathiraa’s official Hindi remake has been confirmed by director Midhun Manuel Thomas himself. In his recent Facebook post, he revealed that this Ashiq Usman who bankrolled the original will be co-producing this movie with Reliance Entertainment.

“It is official.. !! We are going to Hindi.. !! My Hindi debut. Ashiq Usman co-producing with Reliance Entertainment..!! Details soon,” wrote Midhun on his Facebook page.

However, several film critics believe that a remake movie will not work in this world, where audiences, irrespective of language have access to OTT platforms. It should be noted that Anjaam Pathiraa has received highly positive reviews from audiences upon its online release, and it was also watched by several people in the Northern States.

As films such as Anjaam Pathiraa is primarily dependent on the suspense factor, it is still unclear how the movie will impress the audiences, especially considering the fact that most of the people who follow South Indian movies are aware of the lead antagonist.

An official announcement regarding the cast and crew of this upcoming Bollywood movie will be made in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates.

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In Kerala they say during Onam, ‘Even if you have to sell your most valuable things, you have to relish Onam feast’ (Kaanam vittum Onam unnanam’). This time another saying would come to their aid, ‘Enjoy Onam with what you have’ (Ullathu kondu Onam pole). Onam 2020 will be like no other in recent memories.

Malayalis rush home to Kerala from all corners of the world if they can to celebrate the harvest festival of Onam. This year, Onam for Malayalis across the world would be a much subdued affair. Gone is the rush to the bazaars on Uthradom day to stock up for the feast during Onam days. With social distancing the norm, and COVID-19 playing truant, Malaylis can’t come together to revive the old memories at their ancestral home this year. Some have planned an Onam online. Even as the government claim that the death rate and infection rate is way below the average, this unusual times call for vigil and caution.

Even Kerala Tourism has taken the grand celebrations online. Its 10-day festival started on August 22 and will draw to a close on September 2. The Tourism Department’s ‘Onam Fest Kerala’ features a bouquet of heritage arts and celebratory rituals alongside new-age cultural programmes—all of it online. Of the events beamed so far, the Panchari Melam ensemble alone earned as many as one million eyeballs.

Grand feasts, enthralling boat races, traditional art forms and a pookalam in each courtyard, #Onam is #Kerala at her prettiest. #HappyOnam pic.twitter.com/3QrH2LPDJi

— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) September 4, 2017

On the day of Thiruonam (August 31) is a Kathakali show, followed by a live band performance and an Onam theme film the subsequent days. On August 29 was Family Onam Celebrations and Job Kurian’s music show (is on Sunday). All programmes are at 7 pm.

The ‘Sadya’ banquet was up on social media on the afternoon of August 27, with a row of people in ethnic Kerala dress sitting cross-legged on floor-mats and eating with the hand an array of dishes for the rice served on banana leaves. The classical value of different types of curries, fried vegetables, rounded pappadams, pickles, chutneys and two courses of payasam desserts came to the fore with the anchor explaining (in English) the order and manner of serving each dish, besides a brief on their ingredients and recipe.

A message Kerala Tourism’s Facebook page says is quite relevant during this testing times. ‘This Onam, let us relive the good times when Mahabali ruled the land and people lived in peace and harmony’.

For the past three years, various natural disasters have struck this small piece of land on the southern tip of India. Legend has it that Lord Parashuram threw his axe and the seawater receded to reveal the land that is Kerala. The past three years have seen the verdant land struck repeatedly by floods throwing normal life out of gear. As if the waters are claiming back what is rightfully theirs.

Each time when it overcomes misfortunes and tragedy and gets into a celebratory mood, misfortune strikes the land and the people again. It is in the midst of this that Keralites are celebrating Onam 2020. Donning new traditional clothes (shirt and dhothi for all men and traditional Saree for women) and relishing the Onam feast is de rigueur for the Malayali anywhere in the world. Be it in Kerala, anywhere in India, in the Arab world or the western nations, the Malayali has to don their traditional dress and sitting down on a mat on the floor, they eat from a plantain leaf, considered the most traditional way of celebrating the festival.

While the preparations for the feast start a day earlier, the food itself is cooked and laid out by afternoon in most houses in Kerala. And any guest who walks in on the day of Onam is considered as Mahabali, the Asura king who is believed to have ruled this beautiful land, and is offered a full meal in all houses. Such incidents have been recounted by old timers.

The ten-day long floral carpet or the athapookalam is another ritual that was an integral part of Onam celebrations for children and there were often competitions held by various organisations for the best floral carpets. This is another custom that has been observed in a subdued manner this time round.

Even though Kerala’s Onam celebrations have sort of transformed into a communal affair with successive governments spending huge amounts to hold various programmes for over three decades now, Onam 2020 would be the most subdued one in recent memory. Onam celebrations had also transformed into more of a tourist attraction with lots of foreigners making a beeline for God’s Own Country come August-September. The elephant pageantry and the various cultural programmes organised across the State were huge attractions for tourists both Indian and foreign. This year all such celebrations have been cancelled and few tourists were seen in the cities of Kerala.

A shocking change from the past is in the Malayalam cinema industry. COVID-19 had stopped the movie industry on its tracks and departing from tradition no Onam releases have been announced, that too during a season when cinemas of Malayali heartthrobs Mammooty and Mohanlal become huge grossers. OTT releases have been planned but crowds at the cinema halls will be missed and the huge earnings from this industry that feed thousands won’t materialise pushing many into hardship.

Like they say, changes are inevitable and all these new precautions, hygiene standards, and health protocols would hopefully pave way for a new society that is more caring and mindful of others in the community. We will hopefully enjoy a more vibrant Onam next year that harks back to the past glory of this wonderful land.

The post Celebrating Onam in the shadow of a pandemic appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan greeted Suresh Gopi MP on his birthday. Mr. Gopi had visited Raj Bhavan for the inauguration of the Drinking water project at Vattavada in Idukki district. The project was completed with aid from MPLAD fund of Mr. Gopi. On June 26, Suresh Gopi turned 61.
The Koviloor drinking water project worth Rs.73 lakhs was inaugurated by the governor via video conference. The actor, S Rajendran MLA, Idukki Collector H. Dineshan and Devikulam Sub-Collector S. Prem Krishnan attended the function.
The project will provide drinking water to more than 900 families in five wards of Koviloor in Vattavada panchayat.
The project is being implemented by taking water from Choolakkalu in Vattavada to Kulathumatta in Koviloor and then filtered and distributed.
A water tank of 1.6 lakh litre capacity has been installed at Kulathumatta. The pipe connections to houses and the water tank at the source Alankalachi was installed by the panchayat.

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