Latest news with #Arjun
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Anakaputhur, a former weavers' colony, now on the verge of development
Flanked on two sides by the Adyar River, Anakaputhur is a tiny, nondescript place that is now part of the Tambaram Corporation. The area is now poised to witness some fast-paced development. The famous Real Madras Handkerchief, Bleeding Madras and Madras Checks came from the handlooms of this village near Pallavaram. They used to export it to Nigeria for a long time. 'We used to have 5,000 looms at one point. But now there are just a hundred-odd left. After the Nigerian market crashed and due to lack of marketing avenues, we stopped the Madras Checks and switched over to lungies, and then to jute-based products and also to sarees. Some of us make silk cottons and others jute-cottons. The clear waters of the Adyar ensured our colours stayed and did not fade easily. It gave depth to our colours. Now the river is polluted. Unless steps are taken to prevent waste from leather factories near Nagalkeni from entering the river, the quality of the water will not improve,' said C, Sekar, a third-generation weaver who, along with his family, makes cotton sarees infused with banana fibre. Anakaputhur used to be known as Aanai Kattu Puthur or the place where elephants were tied up for the kings of nearby Pallavapuram or Pallavaram, which is nearby. Despite being just 3km away from the Meenambakkam airport, many portions of the locality remain laid back and quiet during non-peak hours. 'The old settlements where homes still have tiled roofs have not yet changed much. Some of those remain empty too as people want modern facilities in homes. Most streets in these areas are muddy and turn slushy during rains. However, areas like Balaji Nagar and Gurusamy Nagar have witnessed slow redevelopment over the years. Housing plots have turned into flats with six or four houses each,' explained S. Arjun, who runs a real estate business in nearby Pallavaram. The widening of the Pallavaram – Kundrathur – Poonamallee Road taken up by the Highways Department and removal of encroachments along the river by the Water Resources Department offer the promise of development. The winding 13 km-long road that runs via Anakaputhur, connects GST Road in the south to Poonamallee High Road in the west. 'This road will offer connectivity to the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur from Meenambakkam. On widening to 24 metres, the road will become safer and allow larger vehicles to take it. Thus, leading to more development,' explained a retired Highways engineer. Residents hope that the upgradation of the Anakaputhur Municipality and merger with the Tambaram Corporation would bring about improvements in the infrastructure. Underground drain works are nearing completion in several places. 'We were a municipality with just 18 wards with no wherewithal to provide basic facilities. Now things are looking better. We were told that our roads would be soon laid,' said Krishnaveni, a resident.
Hans India
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
‘Arjun Chakravarthy' potentials a gripping sports drama
Sports dramas have an undeniable charm, and Arjun Chakravarthy looks poised to join the list of inspiring tales that tug at the heartstrings. The recently released teaser of the film has already made a striking impression, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary journey of a forgotten Kabaddi legend. Vijaya Rama Raju headlines the film in the titular role, portraying the life of Arjun Chakravarthy — a real-life Kabaddi icon who played a pivotal role in India's golden era of the sport during the 1980s. The teaser opens with electrifying intensity and sustains it throughout, blending high-stakes athleticism with emotional depth. Once hailed as a one-man army on the Kabaddi court, Arjun's sudden disappearance from the sport raises questions the film promises to answer — Why did he walk away at his peak? Did he ever return? Rama Raju delivers a performance that's both physically transformative and emotionally resonant. His embodiment of Arjun feels raw and powerful, hinting at a career-defining role. Directed by Vikrant Rudra, the film is crafted with passion and authenticity, capturing the emotional highs and lows of a sportsman's life with finesse. Producer Srini Gubbala has backed the film with top-tier production values. Vignesh Baskaran's stirring background score and Jagdish Cheekati's stunning visuals add cinematic weight to the narrative. With post-production wrapped and an impressive haul of 46 international film awards already under its belt, Arjun Chakravarthy is set to make a thunderous impact in theatres soon.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
How dating apps are leading to emotional burnout in the ENM community
By the time Mira (name changed) matched with her 150th person on Feeld (a dating app for those interested in ethical non-monogamy), she no longer felt curious, but, just numb. What started two years ago as a way to explore ethical non-monogamy (ENM) with her primary partner had become a blur of awkward conversations, ghostings, and mismatched intentions. 'It felt like auditioning for something I didn't even want to be cast in anymore," she said. 'Like I had to sell this curated version of openness that didn't even feel like mine." Mira is not alone. Across ENM communities, especially among queer, neurodivergent, and trauma-conscious users, there's a growing undercurrent of emotional fatigue. On the surface, platforms like Feeld and Pure promise what traditional dating apps can't: space for multiplicity, exploration, and conscious relating. But behind the curated profiles and kink-friendly tags, many users are quietly burning out. WIPE CULTURE MEETS ENM Arjun (name changed), a 33-year-old visual artist, based in Mumbai describes his journey through ENM dating apps as 'a slow erosion of hope." What began as excitement to meet like-minded individuals quickly turned transactional. 'I got tired of being someone's 'first non-monogamous experience' or their 'try-poly for a weekend' fantasy. There was no depth. Just more profiles, more pings, and less connection." Apps like Feeld may have been built for people like Arjun and Mira – those seeking relationships beyond monogamy, with explicit communication and boundaries. But their lived experiences suggest a different reality: one where the same systems that constrict monogamy are simply repackaged under the banner of freedom. 'Most dating apps, even the supposedly open-minded ones, are still engineered like slot machines," says Dr Aman Bhonsle, a consulting psychotherapist in Mumbai. 'Gamified, performative, and designed to spike dopamine. The promise is a genuine connection, but the reality often feels like a social auction." For ENM users, this mismatch cuts particularly deep. Unlike casual monogamous users, who may be swiping to findthe one, ENM users are often managing multiple emotional ecosystems. When these are built on shaky, shallow app interactions, the result is a sense of relational whiplash: too many people, too few anchors. 'Monogamous users usually burn out from not finding one stable bond," Bhonsle adds. 'ENM users often burn out from too many shallow ones." THE MYTH OF LIMITLESS CONNECTIONS Dating fatigue isn't unique to ENM, but its shape is distinct. For those practicing ethical non-monogamy, the illusion of endless choice often backfires. 'It's like a buffet," says psychotherapist Sanjana Prasad, based in Bengaluru. 'At first, the variety seems exciting. But after grazing endlessly, you realise you've consumed a lot without actually feeling nourished." While apps serve up endless 'options," what's often missing is resonance. As Prasad explains, 'Our attachment systems thrive on attunement, not volume. When every interaction feels fleeting, the nervous system doesn't register safety or connection. Just noise." For Arjun, this emotional void came with creeping self-doubt. 'I began questioning if I was asking for too much by wanting honest conversations or emotional care in these dynamics. Everyone claimed to be open, but it felt like a performance, like ENM cosplay." Both therapists agree that performative openness is one of the most corrosive forces in today's ENM dating culture. 'Many people enter ENM trying to sidestep the emotional baggage of monogamy," Bhonsle explains. 'But they end up colliding with a new kind of overwhelm: chronic comparison, attachment confusion, and emotional fatigue." Prasad echoes this, pointing out how even in ENM circles, people can find themselves trapped in new sets of expectations. 'There's often pressure to conform to a particular way of 'doing ENM.' If your version doesn't match the dominant script, often hyper-sexualized and low on emotional accountability, you feel out of place." This dissonance between what people say ENM is and how they actually engage with it creates emotional confusion. 'It's like I was constantly gaslighting myself," Mira says. 'Thinking maybeI'm the one doing it wrong for wanting depth, safety, or softness." WHEN VULNERABLE IDENTITIES MEET FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS For users navigating ENM alongside other layered identities such as queer, neurodivergent, trauma-impacted: the emotional cost is even steeper. 'As a queer woman, I expected ENM to be liberating," Mira recalls. 'But instead, I found myself having to explain my boundaries constantly, or worse, having them ignored." Repeated objectification or shallow engagement can start to warp a person's understanding of what ENM is supposed to feel like. 'If all you're offered is performativity or consumption," Prasad says, 'you start to internalise that as the norm. Over time, it chips away at your sense of self and belonging." Bhonsle highlights how those with attachment trauma or neurodivergent patterns may particularly struggle with ENM in the app world. 'Fast-paced ambiguity and ghosting can be deeply triggering. Without clear relational scaffolding, these users often spiral into self-blame or emotional dysregulation." Another common theme among ENM users is the experience of being reduced to a function: a kink, a dynamic, a role to be filled. 'Sometimes it felt like people were 'shopping' for a third to plug into their pre-written fantasy," Arjun says. 'I wasn't a person, just a variable in someone else's storyline." This kind of objectification can be subtle. It may show up in the way someone frames their availability, their lack of follow-through, or the casual dismissal of emotional needs. But its impact is cumulative. 'Eventually," Bhonsle explains, 'you're not just being objectified by others but you start doing it to yourself. Softening your truth, downplaying your needs, performing a version of yourself that keeps you in the game." GO SLOW, SEEK REAL CONNECTIONS If dating apps are structured to reward surface-level interaction, what's the alternative? Prasad suggests that part of the answer lies in reclaiming slowness and groundedness. 'Therapy helps, yes, but so does community care, nervous system regulation, and reflective solitude. ENM is noisy. You need spaces where your whole self can exist without explanation." Community – be it real, relational, accountable community – is key. But so is discernment. 'Not all ENM spaces are created equal," she says. 'The goal isn't just finding people who share the label, but those who also share your values." For Arjun, the turning point was pulling back from apps entirely and seeking connection through local, in-person ENM meetups. 'It's slower, more awkward, but way more real." Mira, too, has taken a step back. 'I've learned to listen to my nervous system more than someone's bio. If it doesn't feel safe or nourishing, I don't care how 'conscious' they say they are." The promise of ENM was never ease. It was never abundance. It was truth, autonomy, and emotional responsibility. But in trying to digitize it, we've lost some of its nuance. 'ENM requires a kind of emotional infrastructure that most dating apps don't support," Bhonsle says. 'They're wired for novelty, not depth." Perhaps the next evolution of ENM isn't in better technology, but in better conversations. More honest narratives. And the courage to say:I'm tired of pretending this is working when it's not. Until then, users like Mira and Arjun will keep carving out their own slow, messy, imperfect paths, one honest connection at a time. Divya Naik is an independent writer based in Mumbai.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
10 major city roads riddled with potholes
Kochi: Almost 50 stretches across 10 major city roads are riddled with potholes, finds a reality check carried out by TOI. The situation is making daily commuting a nightmare for commuters. Poor repair works, frequent digging by Kerala Water Authority, heavy rains, along with road and Metro construction activities, have worsened the condition, resulting in frequent traffic snarls at these places. Monsoon rains have also worsened the situation. Some of the major roads that are currently in poor condition include Kaloor–Kadavanthra (KK) Road, Palarivattom-Kakkanad Road, Thammanam–Pullepady Road, Edappally-Cheranalloor Road and Stadium Link Road. The Stadium Link Road is particularly alarming, especially in front of the IMA office, where the stretch is riddled with multiple potholes. In a symbolic protest, residents even planted a sapling in the middle of the road, where potholes are filled with rainwater. "The road was in a damaged state for the past two months. There were several complaints and even protests, but the authorities failed to act. One lane was repaired recently, but that too needs urgent attention," said Raju, who runs a restaurant on Stadium Link Road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The boy meets a dog on the street - no one expected what happened next. Women's Method Learn More Undo Benny, who operates a tea shop nearby, echoed the same concern. The ongoing Phase II expansion works of Kochi Metro, combined with continuous heavy rainfall, have further worsened the Palarivattom–Kakkanad stretch. As a result, the stretch experiences long traffic snarls even during non-peak hours. Potholes have resurfaced on several stretches of KK Road, starting right from Kaloor Junction. The situation is the same at Kathrikadavu–Thammanam stretch. The road and a small bridge, which is part of the stretch, are also riddled with potholes. Kathrikadavu–Pullepady Road is no better. Even the portions that were recently repaired are now in a bad state. The Pullepady bridge is also filled with potholes. "The road journey from the city centre to Kakkanad has become a nightmare. During peak hours, it can take up to an hour to cover the stretch," said Arjun, a representative of Kochi Next Forum. "The ongoing Metro construction has severely disrupted smooth traffic flow and the potholes caused by incessant rain have only made things worse," he added. But Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) authorities clarified that the works were progressing at a fast pace and there were proper arrangements to ensure smooth traffic. Pachalam Junction, stretch from Edappally to Kunnumpuram ROB on NH 66, High Court Junction on Abraham Madamakkal Road and Jawahar Nagar Road, Ramankutiyachan Road connecting SA Road with Ernakulam South area, Janatha Road in Vyttila, Kizhavana Road connecting MG Road and Panampally Nagar and Venduruthy Bridge Road near Thevara are also in a bad condition. Goshree Bridge, a vital link connecting Vypeen region to the city centre, has become severely pothole ridden. Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) chairman K Raghuraman, said the road was repaired twice in recent months, especially ahead of former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's visit to the city. However, continuous heavy rains caused fresh damage. "We are planning to carry out repair works in the coming days. The persistent rain forced us to postpone maintenance several times. Once the weather clears, we will begin the repair work without delay," he said. Mayor M Anilkumar assured that road repair works under the corporation's jurisdiction would be resumed once the weather improves. "One lane of KK Road was already repaired. The other lane can only be fixed after the rains subside," the mayor said. He added that nearly 80% of city roads were currently in good condition, while the damaged stretches were mostly due to ongoing pipeline work under AMRUT water supply scheme. "These works are progressing across various parts of the city," he added.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
R. Praggnanandhaa summons his best and shows why Magnus Carlsen sees a lot of himself in the Indian
In the latest World rankings released by FIDE, three of the top 10 are from India. The only other country that has more than one player in that list, published at the beginning of the month by the world chess governing body, is the United States, which has two. R. Praggnanandhaa is ranked fourth, making him the highest ranked Indian; he is followed in fifth and sixth places by Arjun Erigaisi and D. Gukesh, respectively. It is the first time that the 19-year-old from Chennai is the India No. 1. Not a big deal Not that he considers it a big deal. 'I am just [three points] ahead [of Arjun and Gukesh],' he stressed while talking to The Hindu recently over the phone from Zagreb, one of several international cities he has been crisscrossing through of late. He, however, admits he is rather happy with the way he has been playing over the last few months. His current Elo rating also reflects that happiness. It is his career-best — 2779. ALSO READ | Meet Eugene Torre, the pioneering Asian GM who beat Karpov and befriended Fischer He truly seems to have pushed past the disappointments of 2024, which wasn't a great year for him, especially by the high standard he has set himself. Yes, he did play his part in India's stunning triumph at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, but he wasn't as consistent last year as he would have liked. This year, though, he has been playing quite superb chess, some of the best in his career. He has already won three important classical tournaments, including the prestigious Tata Steel at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands. 'It was a very important win for me because I was coming from not a great 2024,' says Praggnanandhaa. 'I had finished the previous year missing a medal at the World Rapid Championship; I was so close. I lost a game from a winning position in the penultimate round. So coming from that, starting the year with such a win certainly gives you confidence.' And Wijk aan Zee was one event he always wanted to win, from the time he was a kid. 'It has so much history, of 87 years, and it was won in the past by several World champions,' he says. 'So winning that tournament was very special for me.' He followed it up by winning the Superbet Chess Classic in Romania and the UzChess Cup in Uzbekistan. 'Tashkent was special because I wasn't thinking about winning it till the last couple of rounds,' he reveals. 'I was one and a half points behind the leader, and it didn't look like I had much of a chance, but things went my way. I managed to take my chances, against Arjun and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, two of the strongest players in the world right now. Then suddenly, I was in the tiebreakers, and I won.' ALSO READ | Should chess be an Olympic sport? In Romania, too, it was through the tiebreakers that he emerged as the champion, overcoming challenges from Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. And it was his maiden title on the Grand Chess Tour. 'Yes, this is one of the best phases of my career,' says Praggnanandhaa. 'I have tried to change a few things about my game, and they have gone my way. I am much more confident and I push myself more in those critical games.' Handling time pressure He is also happy with the way he has handled the tiebreakers. 'I needed to push myself in those games and I was able to do that,' he says. 'They are blitz games and they go down to these few seconds, which can go any way. I did need some luck in some of those games, but pushing myself certainly helped.' He is hoping to continue his form for the rest of the year, which has many major tournaments coming up, including the FIDE Grand Swiss, the Sinquefield Cup and the World Cup, which India will host. 'It is nice that the World Cup is being held in India,' he says. 'It will be an exciting event as there is a lot of interest in India in chess, and people can get to watch such a big tournament. And I am also excited to play the World Cup in India.' Praggnanandhaa is, of course, not going to be the only serious contender from India. He says being part of a group of strong Indian players definitely helps. 'I was following Gukesh's World Championship match in Singapore and his victory over Ding Liren was exciting,' he says. 'Arjun crossing the 2800 mark in Elo rating was also inspiring. With our performances, we all motivate each other. And it is nice to see other young Indian players are also doing well. Nihal Sarin is now playing more classical events, and he is winning tournaments too. And there is Aravindh Chithambaram, too.' ALSO READ | FIDE confirms World Cup in India, host city yet to be announced Gukesh, Nihal, Arjun and Praggnanandhaa have benefited from significant support from corporates. 'Sponsorship is very important,' he says. 'You have to travel a lot for tournaments, and training, too. And these things are not easy, and are expensive. 'For instance, when I prepared for the Candidates tournament, I needed to have a team and have training camps in person. All that requires financial support. I have been fortunate that Adani Group has been supporting me in a huge way. And they were there even when I was not having a good time last year. They were there supporting me throughout.' He is encouraged by the fact that more corporates in India are investing in chess. 'And we need more strong events like the Chennai Grandmasters,' he says. 'I don't mind playing anywhere but playing in India is always special to me.' Praggnanandhaa is also happy to find chess becoming even more mainstream. He will feature in the Esports World Cup, where chess will make its debut on July 29. He has joined Team Liquid, which boasts World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and No. 3 Fabiano Caruana. The Magnus effect He says he is really glad to be part of that team. Carlsen, the five-time World champion from Norway, has often spoken highly of him, and the Indian has scored some memorable wins against the all-time great over the last few years. Last week in Las Vegas, in fact, he beat Carlsen twice inside four days at the Freestyle Grand Slam. During the live stream of that event, Carlsen's wife Ella Victoria made an interesting remark while talking about Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun. 'Magnus did say that Pragg plays the most similar to him,' she said. High praise indeed.
