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Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Maaman OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Soori and Aishwarya Lekshmi's Tamil action drama online
Maaman OTT Release Date: Soori recently headlined this Tamil film alongside Aishwarya Lekshmi, which, despite mixed reviews, emerged as a commercial success. Directed by Prasanth Pandiyaraj, from a story written by Soori himself, Maaman is now ready to make its digital debut. According to Sakshi Post, Maaman will be streaming on ZEE5 starting June 20, 2025. Maaman's cast and crew Produced by K. Kumar under Lark Studios, Maaman also stars Rajkiran, Swasika, Bala Saravanan, Baba Bhaskar, Viji Chandrasekhar, Master Prageeth Sivan, Nikhila Sankar, Geetha Kailasam, Jayaprakash, Kalaivani Bhaskar, Melvin and Tamilselvi among others. This Hesham Abdul Wahab musical is cinematographed by Dinesh Purushothaman and edited by Ganesh Siva. Maaman's plot overview Maaman is a family drama about Inba (Soori), a devoted uncle whose world revolves around his nephew Laddu, the son of his sister Girija. Inba treats Laddu like his own child, but things take a turn when he marries Rekha (Aishwarya), a doctor who soon realises her husband is emotionally distant and fully consumed by his bond with Laddu. Laddu, used to being the centre of Inba's life, sees Rekha as a threat and starts acting out. From ruining their honeymoon to constantly interfering in their private moments, his disruptive behaviour creates tension. Rekha feels isolated in a family that refuses to see the problem, while Inba struggles to balance his loyalty to Laddu with his responsibility to his wife. Maaman's review The Times of India rated the movie 2.5 out of 5, and a part of their review read, 'Maaman touches on interesting potential themes. The strain of integrating into a close-knit family, the subtle power dynamics, and even a child's need for boundaries. But it rarely commits to exploring them with any real depth. Instead, it often defaults to another scene of the nephew being, well, a lot.'
Time of India
23-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
When no one is watching you
'If you want to feed a person for a day give him a fish, if you wish to feed him for a lifetime, teach him how to fish.' Dr Ajit Varwandkar is a Career Psychologist and a Thought process Transformation Expert by profession. He is working on enhancing employability through career guidance and training. Just capacity development is not his motto; enabling youth is the intent. He started his career as a mechanical engineer and eventually went into clinical psychology, management and doctoral research. He is an avid trainer of Thought Engineering for corporate and educational institutes. He is a music lover and plays the Indian classical percussion instrument – Tabla. He is the author of the book Think Success and Be Successful. He loves to write inspirational blogs on self-improvement and career development issues. He believes in living life at zero complaint level and is always keen to focus on solutions than on excuses. LESS ... MORE Let's begin with a simple exercise. Sit quietly, close your eyes, and answer this question in at least ten sentences: 'Who am I?' Done? Now for the next step, close your eyes again and respond to this question: 'Who am I when no one is watching me?' If you did this sincerely, chances are the two answers didn't match entirely. For most people, there's a considerable gap between their public and private selves. This gap represents the split in the energy we carry – one version that we display to the world, and another we keep hidden, sometimes even from ourselves. In my coaching sessions, I often encourage participants to engage in this exercise. The range of responses is eye-opening. Here are a few that frequently surface: I am a go-getter vs. My life is full of struggles I don't care what others say vs. I feel depressed when criticized I am smart vs. I don't look good I am a winner vs. I haven't achieved anything noteworthy I'm always honest vs. I've deceived people multiple times Each of these examples reflects a dichotomy we live with, often unknowingly. While one side is what we aspire to be, the other is what we actually are in our most unfiltered moments. The problem arises when we invest more effort in protecting this façade than in addressing the misalignment. Let me tell you about Laddu Pinto, a young man from a small town with big dreams. Laddu would walk into any room full of confidence, charm, and ambition. People admired him for his drive and eloquence. But behind closed doors, Laddu was gripped by self-doubt. He would often stare at his ceiling late at night, questioning his worth, rethinking every word he had said, and fearing rejection. One day, Laddu joined one of my workshops where we discussed this very topic. He was deeply moved. 'Sir,' he confessed, 'I think I've been living two lives. One that earns applause and another that silently cries for help.' That was his turning point. Not because he suddenly became perfect, but because he acknowledged the disconnect. He began to work on becoming one person, not two. Today, Laddu is no longer at war with himself. He's not faking confidence, he's growing into it. You see, putting up a doctored version of yourself before the world might win you some moments of acceptance, perhaps even admiration. But if sustained too long, it chips away at your core. You begin to doubt even your genuine capabilities. The more you act like someone else, the further you move from your own potential. Ironically, true confidence doesn't come from success. It comes from authenticity. A person who wins by being fake may still feel empty. But someone who puts in an honest effort, however small the win, stands tall. This phenomenon shows up starkly during my student counselling sessions. Let me give you an example. A student terrified of mathematics was once brought to me by her parents. They were determined to 'fix' her fear by pushing her harder, comparing her to other kids who had 'overcome' the same challenge. I gently asked them to pause. 'What if we first listen to her?' I suggested. To everyone's surprise, the girl wasn't actually afraid of math, she was afraid of failing the expectations that came with it. She wanted to pursue art, but feared disappointing her parents. Her fear wasn't intellectual; it was emotional. When we allowed her to acknowledge her true self, not only did she feel lighter, but she also started exploring math with less resistance, because now it wasn't a battle to prove her worth. This is true in every walk of life. Whether you're a corporate leader, a homemaker, a student, or an entrepreneur, trying to be someone you're not is a heavy burden to carry. It's okay to evolve, but that evolution must begin from a place of honesty, not denial. The world may celebrate your polished version, but your inner peace depends on your raw truth. Ask yourself, what would it feel like to be the same person on the outside as you are on the inside? When you stop pretending, you begin living. Look into the inner mirror, and be what you see! Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
From excuse to excellence
'If you want to feed a person for a day give him a fish, if you wish to feed him for a lifetime, teach him how to fish.' Dr Ajit Varwandkar is a Career Psychologist and a Thought process Transformation Expert by profession. He is working on enhancing employability through career guidance and training. Just capacity development is not his motto; enabling youth is the intent. He started his career as a mechanical engineer and eventually went into clinical psychology, management and doctoral research. He is an avid trainer of Thought Engineering for corporate and educational institutes. He is a music lover and plays the Indian classical percussion instrument – Tabla. He is the author of the book Think Success and Be Successful. He loves to write inspirational blogs on self-improvement and career development issues. He believes in living life at zero complaint level and is always keen to focus on solutions than on excuses. LESS ... MORE What if I told you that everything you achieve in life, your happiness, relationships, and success is a direct reflection of your thoughts? How would you react? It's true—your thoughts are the architects of your reality. The quality of your life hinges not just on what you think, but also on what you choose to tolerate, and more importantly, on what you consciously decide not to think about. In my journey as a coach and observer of life, I've seen people who don't just live with excuses, they embrace them. These are the ones who settle into mediocrity, or worse, spiral down into chronic failure. Laddu Pinto was one such man. He had big dreams, but his life was stuck in a loop of poor choices and constant justifications. When I met Laddu, I made a simple suggestion: 'Stop tolerating substandard thinking.' That one piece of advice struck a deep chord in him. That very moment, he made a life-altering decision; he resolved that anything less than his dream destination was simply unacceptable. And friends, I want you to know that from that day forward, Laddu began a complete transformation. Within eight years, he built a life most only dream of. You see, success isn't an external event – it's an internal decision. Look around your social circle. You'll find numerous people who've overcome challenges simply through the power of elevated thinking. They didn't have more resources or better luck; they had better thoughts. And yet, what pains me is how many people quietly convince themselves that they're not meant for greatness. Deep down, they know they deserve more. But still, they settle. They create ceilings for themselves, and then decorate those ceilings with excuses. Let me share a truth I've learned: Most people don't fail because of a lack of talent or opportunity. They fail because they've accepted that they don't deserve more than what they already have. They shrink their dreams to fit their self-doubt. If you're one of those people who has ever settled for less – ask yourself, Why? The secret to breaking free lies in your willingness to demand more from yourself. Set non-negotiable standards. Adopt a discipline that becomes your DNA and not just a box you tick on your to-do list. Success is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice backed by commitment. I recall another story: a man who wanted to regain his fitness. He consulted a professional coach, paid the fees, got a perfect plan, and… nothing happened. Three months later, he looked the same, except for a lighter wallet. His problem wasn't the plan. It wasn't even a lack of effort. His real downfall was the way he spoke to himself. 'It's okay,' he'd say, 'Diseases are a part of life. I'm just not the kind of person who can be fit again.' That inner dialogue became his reality. This is not just his story, it's the story of countless entrepreneurs, dreamers, and students who want big things but don't believe they can achieve them. Their own minds stop them long before the world ever does. Friends, if you truly want to transform your life, don't start by changing your actions; rather, start by changing your thoughts. Don't just hope to succeed, decide that you will. And when you do, your journey will begin to align with your destiny. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Maaman movie review: Soori-starrer is underwhelming and overdependent on family sentiment
In the last few years, comedian Soori has proved that he is a highly competent actor, having showcased his talent in films like Viduthalai and Garudan. Maaman, a family drama helmed by director Prashanth Pandiyaraj and written by Soori himself, tries to show another facet of the Tamil actor to his fans and the audience. Moving from the role of a comedian to a full-fledged hero is not easy as the actor should be able to pull off the protagonist easily in a riveting story. Maaman (Uncle) sees Soori play Uncle Inba to his nephew Nilan aka Laddu (Prateesh Sivan). Inba's married sister Girija (Swasika) has prayed for years for a child and after a decade, she is blessed with Nilan whom the entire family dotes over. Inba and Laddu become inseparable and the uncle becomes the much-loved father figure in Laddu's life despite having a dad. Inba meets gynaecologist Dr Rekha (Aishwarya Lekshmi) and love blossoms. It is when the two get married that problems start cropping up due to Laddu's inability to live without his uncle, especially at night. Rekha and Inba start facing issues and family tension rises thanks to Laddu. How do these family problems get resolved? The main story here revolves around a child, his uncle and the somewhat unhealthy relationship they share that affects numerous families. While it's commendable that Soori has chosen this as the core, the treatment and the story are a lot less desirable. For instance, the scenes involving the practices a married woman, especially in rural areas, goes through when she is childless, could have been shown as regressive rather than reinforce them. Inba, who is there for everyone in his family, neglects his wife and this character reinforces the patriarchal mindset which modern society is fighting against. When Rekha suggests that Laddu needs counselling, the mother jumps in and says her son is not mentally ill. These inappropriate societal stereotypes and attitudes have been embellished in the story in the name of family sentiment and this is a let down. As for child himself, Laddu is overly pampered because he is born late to his parents but the fact that no one bothers to discipline him as he is growing up, shows the lack of parenting skills - despite his mother being a teacher! Rekha - who is a doctor by profession - ends up being ridiculed by people with unscientific beliefs and less educated than her. Thus, more than the child, it is the adults in this family that all have serious issues that needed to be addressed. Maaman flits through a variety of topics surrounding a family but hingeing it on an uncle-nephew relationship and throwing in plenty of sentiment and drama doesn't really work. For instance, the child's non-existent relationship with the father was a good point to explore as was the his need for counselling. The complexity of that relationship should have been explored in depth or the film could have been turned into a light-hearted comedy with the child's antics at play. When it comes to performances, Soori, Aishwarya Lekhmi, Swasika and Prateesh Sivan have done commendable jobs. Raj Kiran is apt as the 'Lion' and the elderly man in the family and Bala Saravanan comes through with comic relief. Music director Hesham Abdul Wahab, who has delivered some fantastic gems in Malayalam and Telugu cinema, makes his Tamil film debut with Maaman. The songs in this film are par for the course and don't stand out sadly. On the whole, this Soori Tamil drama is underwhelming and overly reliant on family sentiment.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
MM Hills declared alcohol-free zone
The State government has declared the M.M. Hills as an alcohol-free zone in view of its importance as a centre for pilgrimage. The decision was taken at the meeting of Shree Malai Mahadeshwara Swamy Kshethra Development Authority (SMMKDA), chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday. A release stated that until now, alcohol sales were banned within the authority's jurisdiction on the hill. Going forward, bringing alcohol from outside will also be prohibited. The officials were instructed to eradicate the illegal sale of liquor on the hills. A decision was also taken to use Nandini ghee for making Laddu prasada at the M.M. Hills temple, similar to Tirupati and also improve the quality. It was also decided to distribute a 100 gm laddu for ₹35 on festival occasions. Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh, Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa, Saluru Seer Shantamallikarjuna Swami, Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag, and others were present.
