Madha Gaja Raja review: Vishal, Sundar C’s film takes you on a nostalgic ride

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Imagine it’s the 2010s. You are back from school, and you switch on the TV, you flip through the channels only to land on one showing comedy clips. You know which movie it is from, the dialogue by heart, and yet it brings laughter every time you watch. Now, imagine watching a typical Sundar C film, which is known for its comedy, 12 years after it was actually made. advertisementMadha Gaja Raja follows the story of Raja (Vishal) attending a wedding at his school teacher’s house, where he reunites with his school gang. One of his friends (Santhanam) is going through marriage issues, while the other two are involved in a case that concerns business tycoon Karkuvel Vishwanath (Sonu Sood).Raja is a man who stands up for his friends. Be it his friend’s marriage issues or problems of life and death, he is just there. When he clashes with Karkuvel Vishwanath, who has crazy connections with politicians, he faces an initial setback. The rest of the story is about Raja’s face-off with Vishwanath and how he manages to defeat him and help his friends.Madha Gaja Raja, directed by Sundar C, should be strictly seen from the 2012 lens. Over several decades, director Sundar C’s films have always entertained fans. The major reason is the effortless comedy by a horde of comedians, who are still part of his movies. Madha Gaja Raja is no different. Comedy is its biggest strength. In today’s times, it could be viewed as regressive and problematic. But, even Sundar C’s latest films face similar problems. Here’s the trailer: The 2012-film has many nostalgic templates that will take you on a trip down memory lane. From jumping to destination songs to a separate comedy track, there’s everything you need in Madha Gaja Raja that will keep you entertained. It is Santhanam who powers through the film with his comedy. It is also a reminder of how he has been sorely missed as a comedian ever since he became a hero. Madha Gaja Raja is nostalgic not just in terms of its treatment but also through cameo roles featuring late actor-directors Manivannan and Manobala. The entire stretch featuring Santhanam and Manobala, reminds you of Magalir Mattum’s Nagesh, will leave you in splits. However, when Madha Gaja Raja takes itself seriously, the film falters. The second half, where audiences are forced to watch Raja and Vishwanath’s face-off, drags as the stakes are low.The heroines in Madha Gaja Raja – Anjali and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, are there to pander to the male gaze. Their roles don’t have much agency either. Madha Gaja Raja, even though outdated and politically incorrect, manages to bring much-needed laughs as it reminds you of the good old days when all you needed was a comedy film to unwind. 2.5 out of 5 stars for Madha Gaja Raja.Published By: K JananiPublished On: Jan 12, 2025

Ganderbal Residents Hope Z-Morh Tunnel Will Boost Tourism

Travel

Z-Morh Tunnel

Sonamarg- Residents of Ganderbal district, living on either side of the 6.5 kilometre Z-Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, are hopeful that the mega-infrastructure project will boost the local economy and help eradicate unemployment in the area.

“It is a good thing that the Z-Morh tunnel will open soon, immensely benefitting the locals. Sonamarg is breathtaking in winter, but the road closure, prevented visitors. We are grateful to the government for this tunnel,” a local shopkeeper, Mohammad Yousuf Shera, said.ADVERTISEMENT

Shera believes the year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg will elevate the destination’s global appeal. “Sonamarg will now be famous not only in the country but around the world. I think foreigners will like this place,” he said.ADVERTISEMENT

Highlighting the strategic importance, Shera said the tunnel will also benefit armed forces.

“There should be facilities for the soldiers who to defend the country at the borders. The tunnel would facilitate the soldiers in terms of better connectivity,” he added.

The Z-Morh tunnel has reduced travel time between Srinagar and Sonamarg allowing vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 70 kilometer per hour compared to the earlier 30 kilometer per hour on the winding roads. The tunnel has a capacity of handling 1000 vehicles per hour.

The project will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, his first visit to the union territory after the assembly polls.

A local, Shabir Ahmad, said the tunnel ensures year-round accessibility to Sonamarg.

“We are happy that now tourists can come to Sonamarg throughout the year. Earlier the region remained cut off for four months due to snow. Now, not just Sonamarg but areas like Drass and Kargil will remain connected,” he said.

“People in this area are poor but this tunnel will provide year-round livelihood opportunities now,” he added.

Echoing the sentiment, a tourist guide Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh said the opening of the tunnel will help in addressing the problem of unemployment in the area.

He said that he has been working as a tourist guide here for the past several years. However, the tourist season was limited to only six months due to road closures caused by snowfall.

Sheikh said the tunnel will bring tourists all year, providing better facilities and more income opportunities for locals.

A group of tourists from Nagpur, who had managed to visit Gagangir on Saturday, lauded the project calling it a great move.

“We are amazed to see that such a beautiful place is in India itself. We have been able to reach here because of this tunnel, otherwise we would have missed this beautiful view,” they said.

“A lot of people are already visiting Kashmir but we will recommend all our friends and family to visit this place at least once,” they added.

The work on the Z-Morh tunnel began in May 2015. It took almost a decade to complete the works as the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), the initial concessionaire for executing the project, stopped work in 2018 due to financial stress.

The project was retendered in 2019 and awarded to APCO Infratech in January 2020, which had emerged as the lowest bidder.

The foundation stone for the Rs 2,716.90 crore project was laid in October 2012 by C P Joshi, then Minister for Surface Transport during the UPA II government, in the presence of his then cabinet colleague Farooq Abdullah, then Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.

The tunnel was initially expected to be completed by 2016-2017.

Review: Aer Lingus Dublin-New York A330-300 Business Class

Business News

My dear readers, some links on this site pay us referral fees for sending business and sales. We value your time and money and will not waste it. For our complete advertising policy, click here. The content on this page is not provided by any companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone.While we were happy to find three seats on saver award level in business class on Aer Lingus, that’s more or less where the joy ended. Prepare for a snarky review. 

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Booking At Saver Level
I covered in another post that Alaska Airlines was capable of booking a connected ticket on Aer Lingus but that the airline itself could not. I know that Avios has some quirks, and books each segment individually, but it still allows you to book connecting flights if you want when choosing British Airways or Iberia. I haven’t booked with FinnAir nor Qatar yet, but I find it absolutely void of logic that a partner has a greater ability to book another airline’s awards than that airline and at a lower rate.
Regardless, we found flights from Manchester to Dublin for 12,300 points plus $153 total for three passengers and an infant in lap. We added a further 155,000 points plus $546 for the Dublin to New York JFK flight. Aer Lingus only operates coach on the Manchester leg. As Aer Lingus is a transfer partner with one of my credit cards, I was able to transfer the points instantly.
I was told by an Aer Lingus phone rep that our bags would be checked through and we could connect airside from Manchester to our New York flight. This was not the case, and while the claim, clear and recheck was a bit of a hurried process, we were able to make our “connection” which also resulted in lower taxes as a benefit by booking two separate itineraries and clearing into Ireland first.

Chinese scientists hope advanced laser will open gateway to new discoveries

Science and Health

China has started building state-of-the-art laser research facilities that will enable scientists to directly observe electrons in action, something they hope will open the way for breakthroughs in fields such as new materials, medicine and energy systems.AdvertisementThe Advanced Attosecond Laser Infrastructure (AALI) will operate from two sites, in Dongguan in Guangdong and Xian in Shaanxi, and will generate light pulses lasting billionths of a billionth of a second.These pulses will act as a super slow-motion camera that can capture the movements of the tiniest building blocks of the universe, according to state broadcaster CCTV.It will become the second laser of its kind following the Attosecond Light Pulse Source in Szeged, Hungary.Of the facility’s 10 beamlines, six will be built in Dongguan, with the remaining four constructed in Xian.Advertisement“Dongguan houses several other large-scale scientific facilities that can collaborate with AALI to advance comprehensive attosecond physics research,” Wei Zhiyi, the project’s chief scientist from the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of Physics told CCTV on Friday.Meanwhile, Xian is home to numerous universities with robust research capabilities and a well-established technological infrastructure, he added.

Revenue from cannabis business tops $80M for NY in latest fiscal year, report shows

Business News

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management released reports highlighting their work over the past year.The annual report goes into detail about the licensing processing, social and economic equity efforts and how they continue to prioritize public health and safety. The report also showed the revenue in New York’s marijuana market.In the report, data showed that over 5,250 licenses, permits and registrations were issued or provisionally approved for cultivation, processing, distribution, microbusiness, and retail.To help improve the licensing process the Office of Cannabis Management implemented a single point of contact licensing review model in October 2024. The model helped to eliminate the previous multi-team system so applicants can have an examiner guide them through the process from start to finish.The report also showed that 54.1% of adult-use licenses were issued to social and economic equity businesses.The Office of Cannabis Management makes social and economic equity central in their efforts. The office works to repair decades of over-criminalization and disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition.Their work is guided by the New York Social and Economic Equity Plan which is a team that ensures the new cannabis market is fair and equitable.Task force targeted the NY illicit cannabis marketThe report went into detail of how access to care for cannabis patients continues to grow. Under New York State’s Medical Cannabis Program the number of registered health care providers grew from nearly 3,900 in 2022 to 4,454 in 2024.When it comes to public health and safety the Office of Cannabis Management continues to make it a priority ensuring their team is monitoring emerging trends such as underage consumption, traffic safety, and preventing accidental exposure and overconsumption of cannabis.In May 2024 the Office of Cannabis Management enforced new emergency regulations such as the Cannabis Enforcement Task Force being launched to combat the illicit cannabis market.With the help of these regulations data showed that 1,300 enforcement inspections were conducted and 450 businesses were padlocked.Weed business brought in $80 million for NYS last yearWhen it comes to revenue, the report showed that cannabis tax, application fee and fine revenue totaled $80.2 million for the state fiscal year 2023-2024. The Medical Cannabis Program generated over $10.7 million, the Cannabinoid Hemp Program generated nearly $1.1 million, and the Adult-Use Cannabis Program made over $68 million.Jamel Young, executive vice president and co-owner of Good Life Collective, acknowledged his awareness of the report and spoke of how their cannabis shop has been doing since setting up in Rochester in April 2024. “Business is going great for us; we’re starting to see marketing really taking effect,” Young said. “We’re not stagnant, but we still try to find different ways to recreate ourselves to provide the best for our community.”Good Life Collective offers a variety of cannabis products that customers can buy for recreational use, medical use or for whatever their need is. Customers must have valid ID showing they are over 21 to enter the shop.Young also mentioned how he is very big on providing a safe environment for the community, ensuring extra security and overnight security is in place. “There is no point in this building where you can enter without having access,” Young said. “We’re still going above and beyond to make sure that we’re secure, not just for our customers, but for our staff and for anybody that comes in.”For more information on the annual report visit https://cannabis.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/12/ocm-annual-report-2024.pdf.— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County. Get in touch at [email protected].

Sri Lanka’s Business landscape to undergo a major transformation in 2025

Business News

By: Staff Writer

January 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Business landscape is currently undergoing a major transformation, driven by a series of strategic initiatives that are positioning the country for sustained growth.

After successfully restructuring its national debt and implementing an IMF-backed economic program, the country is actively attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to strengthen its position as a regional business hub.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka has projected that the ICT sector will reach USD 3 -4 billion in revenues on 2025, signaling significant growth.

The ICT sector, which has become an essential part of the country’s digital transformation, is also poised to become one of the primary contributors to Sri Lanka’s export economy.

 With over 500 companies operating in industries like banking, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, the sector is the country’s second-largest export earner.

The government’s ambitious goal is to elevate the sector to $15 billion by 2030, reflecting the critical role digital innovation plays in the country’s economic future.

Meanwhile, the apparel industry is set to experience steady growth, with projections indicating a 2.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2028.

This growth comes at a time when the country’s real estate sector, especially in Port City Colombo, is seeing significant expansion. The Port City development has positioned itself as a prime location for investment, with real estate growth expected to see a CAGR of 7.5% between 2023 and 2028.

Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development adds another dimension to the economic opportunities available. The government has set a bold target for 2030, aiming to produce 70% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources.

This initiative is not only in line with global sustainability goals but also presents substantial business opportunities in the renewable energy and eco-friendly sectors.

Tourism remains one of Sri Lanka’s largest foreign exchange earners and a key driver of the economy. With over 4% of the country’s GDP generated from the tourism sector, Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage continue to attract tourists from around the world.

The recent resurgence of tourism has been encouraging, reflecting the country’s recovery from past economic challenges.

Port City Colombo plays a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s economic ambitions, acting as a catalyst for business growth.

The development leverages Sri Lanka’s key advantages, including its strategic geographic position as a logistics hub, a rapidly growing modern economy, and a highly skilled workforce. Businesses looking to expand their operations in the region are increasingly drawn to the opportunities presented by Port City.

As digital transformation continues to shape industries globally, Sri Lanka is focused on equipping its workforce with the necessary skills to succeed. In this regard, the government’s efforts to support the establishment of 750 tech companies and 1,500 IT startups by 2024 will ensure the ICT sector’s continued growth. Approximately 600,000 Sri Lankans are already employed in the sector, which remains one of the most promising for the nation’s future economic development.

The business community’s optimism about the country’s economic future has also been reflected in rising business confidence. The latest edition of the LMD magazine notes a surge in Sri Lanka’s Business Confidence Index, which rose 20 points in December, reaching its highest level since January 2020.

 This increase in confidence is seen as a direct result of the new government’s commitment to driving economic stability and growth. Analysts also noted that sentiment regarding sales volumes, both short and long-term, has improved since the election, adding to the positive outlook for Sri Lanka’s economy.

I’ve travelled to 100 countries — never make this mistake when paying by card

Travel

Travellers should be careful when paying with their card (Picture: Getty Images)
Even for the savviest travellers, exploring new countries without overspending can be difficult. While the experiences are often priceless, costs can quickly add up. 
However, there are ways to save money, and one frequent traveller has highlighted a common mistake that could be draining your bank balance. 
Christian LeBlanc, a full-time traveller and YouTuber who has visited over 100 countries, recently shared a video packed with travel tips – urging his followers to change how they pay with their cards on holiday. 
The content creator, who has over 10 years of travel experience, told his 2.18 million subscribers: ‘I could write a novel with all the travel mistakes I’ve made, and that’s why I want to help you avoid them.’
When visiting a new country and making a transaction on a card machine, Christian notes that you might be asked whether you want your withdrawal to be represented in your home currency or the local currency. 
He asked: ‘How many times have you seen the prompt, “Would you like to pay in the local currency or in your home currency?”’

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If shown this message, Christian urged his followers to ‘always choose local currency’. 
He added: ‘If you’re in Bali, pay in IDR [Indonesian rupiah]. If you’re in Dubai, pay in AED [United Arab Emirates dirham].
‘If you choose your home currency, you are going to be paying a savage conversion rate to the ATM.’
According to Christian, travellers are better off paying the transaction fee to their home bank than the ‘random little payment processor’ that the retailer is using. 
Essentially – they will make a profit through inflated exchange rates.
The Post Office advises the same thing, recommending to travellers: ‘If asked, go local.’ According to the Travel Money website: ‘When an ATM or retailer offers you the option to pay in sterling, they are using something known as dynamic currency conversion or DCC. 
‘By using DCC, the provider is able to use its own exchange rate to convert the amount of local currency you wish to withdraw into sterling.
‘The screen you see will vary from one ATM or retailer to another, but typically you will be shown a sterling amount for your withdrawal or payment and be asked if you would like to ‘continue with conversion’, ‘accept conversion’, ‘charge my account in GBP’, ‘withdraw in GBP’ or ‘withdraw in sterling’.

Matt has 10+ years of travel experience and always avoids paying with home currency (Picture: Lost LeBlanc/YouTube)
‘In almost all cases, choosing any of these options will be unfavourable and will cost you money, especially if you have already loaded the currency onto a prepaid currency card.’
While travellers may be faced with this choice in many countries around the world, The Post Office advises travellers to be ‘particularly careful’ when using ATMs in either Spain, Greece, Portugal, Croatia or Thailand.’
Five top travel tips, according to Christian 
Christian shared plenty of travel advice in a recent YouTube video. Here are some of his standout tips:
‘Don’t over travel’ – While Christian says he recognises the urge to ‘try to check as many countries off the list’, he claims it will lead to a ‘less satisfying experience’. He adds: ‘Pick the destinations that are the most important and get to know them well.’

‘Always clap when the plane lands’ – A controversial one that many travellers steer away from out of sheer cringe. However, Christian says: ‘The pilot is expecting it, and everyone around you will love you for doing it.’
‘Scan Google reviews’ – Christian advises clicking on ‘random pins’ on the map and finding the highest-rated places. He explains: ‘Nine times out of 10, the reviews are highly accurate and give us a really good understanding of what’s actually worth going to.’
‘Get on the plane last’ – If you’re travelling in economy and have been dealt the dreaded middle seat. Christian advises getting on the plan last. He explains: ‘It allows me to be a vulture, and I basically look around for those spare window seats or three seaters.’ If lucky enough to find an empty row, Christian will sit in the middle to ward off other vultures.’

‘Carry a hoodie’ – Even if you’re travelling to a hot country, Christian says, ‘you never know’ when you’ll find yourself on a cold bus ride or when you might need it. Plus, he says the huge pocket can be used to hide extra luggage to sneak past airport staff at the gate. 
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Ministry of Tourism beckoning people to visit Prayagraj, explore the mega religious congregation

Travel

It aims to boost domestic and international tourism for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, with initiatives like luxury tents, improved air connectivity, and a special ‘Incredible India Pavilion’ at the event

Published Date – 12 January 2025, 06:37 PM

Tents and pandals put up at Sangam for devotees ahead of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: An ‘Incredible India Pavillion’ showcasing cultural heritage and significance of the Kumbh Mela, luxury tents and enhanced air connectivity, the Ministry of Tourism is beckoning people to visit Prayagraj and explore the mega religious congregation that begins from Monday.
Expected to host over 40 crore devotees from across the globe, this 45-day festival from January 13 to February 26 is also expected to draw a large number of tourists and cultural aficionados aiming to explore what is billed as one of the largest religious gatherings on earth.

The government on Sunday said the Ministry of Tourism is set to make the Maha Kumbh this year a “landmark event” not only for spiritual gatherings, but also for global tourism.
The Ministry is rolling out several initiatives to celebrate this momentous occasion, aimed at boosting both domestic and international tourism with the Maha Kumbh — held every 12 years — set to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions.
“To ensure seamless travel for tourists attending the Maha Kumbh, the Ministry of Tourism has partnered with Alliance Air to enhance air connectivity to Prayagraj from multiple cities across India. This will facilitate easier access for domestic and international visitors, allowing them to reach the event with ease and convenience,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry also shared a schedule of flights operating from multiple cities, including New Delhi, Kolkata, Jabalpur and Dehradun, as per this partnership.
The Ministry also said it is “setting up an ‘Incredible India Pavillion’, a sprawling 5000 sq ft space at Maha Kumbh”, which will facilitate the foreign tourists, scholars, researchers, photographers, journalists, expat community and Indian diaspora members among others.

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