With a single, supreme act of sacrifice for his people in February 2009, Murugathasan Varnakulasingham became a revered household name for the Tamils. Outraged by international apathy as tens of thousands of Tamils were being massacred by Sri Lanka’s military, the quietly spoken 26-year-old computing graduate walked up to the United Nations building in Geneva and immolated himself, in a desperate effort to awake the world's conscience. On the second anniversary of the death of Murugathasan Anna, as he is fondly referred to by Tamil activists, memorial events were held in Diaspora locations...
Imperial College London’s Tamil Society staged their annual 'Mega Maalai' entertainment show on January 23 with a blaze of colour, dance and song at the Piccadilly Theatre in the capital’s West End.
London’s Tamil student community held an evening of elegance and fun on Feb 10: a ball. The Valentines Soirée Boat Party was held on the 'Dixie Queen', a stunning replica of a 19th century Mississippi paddleboat and now the largest entertainment boat on the river Thames. Queen Mary's University (QMW) and University College London's (UCL) Tamil Societies jointly hosted the sell-out event. Demand prompted a last minute change to a larger venue, students said. The Dixie Queen can host 500 guests. Embarking at St. Katherine's Pier, Tower Hill, the four hour cruise proved a memorable night for...
‘Thalapathi’, written and directed by Mani Ratnam, stars Rajinikanth, Mammootti, Aravindh Swami, Srividhya and Shobana. It is based on the friendship between Rajinikanth and Mammootti and depicts the circumastances surrounding gang life. Watch some scenes from the film here:
'Thulli Thulli' is a great number from the Kollywood box office smash hit starring Kamal Hassan and Radhika. Sung by the illustrious S.P. Balasubramaniam and S. Janaki, it is a loving lullaby intended for the heroine of the film. Notably, this song was composed by Ilaiyaraaja purely in Madhyamavathi raagam, a raaga which he has very commonly used for his hypnotic lullabies in other films.
The film 'Mouna Ragam' by hit filmmaker Mani Ratnam was a massive blockbuster in the 80's. Often described as Mani Ratnam's breakthrough film, it depicts Revathi as a carefree spirit who unwillingly marries Mohan in order to satisfy her parents. Mohan is forced to face up to Revathi's past and the pitfalls that come with it. Watch a classic scene from the movie:
Mani Ratnam's Pagal Nilavu (1985) is about a carefree youngster (Murali) and his loyalty to a mafia group and his love for a police officer's sister (Revathi). Watch short excerpts from the film.
'Naan thedum sevanthi poo' is a wonderful composition by Ilaiyaraaja from the film Dharma Pathini, starring Karthik and Jeevitha. It is set in the carnatic raaga of Hindolam, although it has a very non-carnatic rhythm and bass pattern, and can therefore be referred to as a semi-classical composition.
Meendum Kokila (1981), starring Kamal Hassan and Sridevi in the leading roles as a lawyer and a housewife, depicts the struggle of a small family trying to overcome the husband's illicit, short-term affair with an actress. Watch the song 'Chinnanchiru Vayathil' from this movie here:
This film, a debut for both the hero (Karthik) and the heroine (Ratha), depicts the love between two people of different religions. The infatuated couple are forced to fight nail and tooth in order to be able to get married. Watch a comedy scene from the film here: