Latest news with #MJ
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Meet Padmakumar Nair, once Thiruvananthapuram's own Michael Jackson
Those who have watched Moonwalk may not forget the police officer, SI Saji, who takes the young dancers to task and makes them cut their long hair short at his station. He is Padmakumar Nair, Thiruvananthapuram's own Michael Jackson. Cut to 1988-91, when he was a student of Mar Ivanios College. 'Once I got wet in the rain and then a friend remarked that I looked like MJ. Till then I hadn't followed him that well. To start with, I watched 'Bad' and started imitating him. I started growing my hair as well. But, someone commented that even though I looked like him, I couldn't dance. So I took a VCR on rent and watched 'Thriller' repeatedly to learn the moves. That was the beginning. Later I choreographed 'Billie Jean' and performed at the college,' he remembers. He was always on his own and did not perform with any group. 'I have no background in dance. I just did what I liked. I designed the costume and did my make-up.' He tried his hand at singing MJ's songs as well. He never did any shows outside the college and stuck to MJ's moves only. However, once he moved to Bengaluru [then Bangalore] to pursue MBA, he performed at a few five star hotels there. In 2010, he moved to the US and returned in 2019 after working as a banker. 'A memorable moment was when I danced on the streets of New York in 2010. It was a dream-come-true occasion.' Acting was a passion for him and he did small roles in a few films and acted in serials before moving to the US. 'After coming back, my first audition was for Moonwalk. It felt good to act as a police officer after playing a goonda in several films.' He also won family audience with his police character in the daily soap, Kudumbavilakku. He has acted in 10 films, which include Satyameva Jayathe, Nammal Thammil, Krithyam, Kappa, Rani, A Ranjith Cinema etc and his forthcoming release is Thimingalavetta. Recalling his first shot for Moonwalk, Padmakumar says, 'It was the scene in which the boys are whizzing past me on their bikes. That was pretty nostalgic since I used to go on such a bike to college.' During the pre-release promotions of Moonwalk, he put on the dancing shoes again. 'I am fit enough to do the moves and remember most of the steps,' he says.
GMA Network
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Kiefer Ravena says MJ Lastimosa played cupid in love story with Diana Mackey
Kiefer Ravena and Diana Mackey would not have ended up with each other if not for MJ Lastimosa. The newly married couple guested on Monday's episode of 'Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,' where they talked about their love story and married life. According to the basketball star, MJ, their common friend, played cupid in their love story. 'We have our cupid eh. Common friend eh. Si MJ Lastimosa,' Kiefer shared. According to Kiefer, he asked MJ for help in pursuing Diana. 'I've been good friends with MJ for a very long time. Sabi ko sa kaniya, 'Uy MJ, sabihin mo naman kay Diana mag-reply siya,'' he recalled. Diana later revealed that Kiefer had slid into her DMs multiple times, but she did not reply, explaining that she was not interested in dating a basketball player. ''Di ko pinapansin kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko before na I would never date a basketball player. Ayoko talaga. Kasi siyempre there's a stigma 'di ba about their reputation,' she said. 'Nakikita ko 'yung messages niya. Parang fina-follow niya ako then ina-unfollow ulit. Mga ilang beses din 'yon, mga five times,' she said. Responding to his wife's revelation, Kiefer said that he did that move as a way to get her attention. After several tries and with a little help from MJ, Diana finally responded. 'Sabi niya [MJ], 'Feeling ko out of pure awa na lang, nagreply na siya.' Kasi sabi ko kay MJ sabihin mo naman kay Diana magreply siya, imemessage ko siya ngayon. Tapos ayun, sinabi siguro ni MJ sa kaniya, 'Uy replyan mo naman 'tong kaibigan ko!'' Kiefer shared. Once Diana finally responded to his messages, things began to take off between them, and they eventually met in person. 'That's how it started, and then we talked for maybe a week or so before we actually had a time to meet through a friend's opening ng isang bar resto,' he said. Diana and Kiefer hard launched their relationship in October 2024 by posting photos from their Siargao trip. Shortly after, the couple announced their engagement. According to the couple, it was during their trip to El Nido, Palawan, when they realized that they are each other's 'the one.' 'After the Siargao trip, we actually just had a couple of days to stay in Manila then me and my mom alongside her best friend went to El Nido, Palawan. So sabi ko, may plus one ako ha because I wanted to ano eh para malaman agad if it will work or it will not kasi I was on my way back to Japan,' Kiefer shared. 'Then I brought her there, and then everything else followed smoothly. As in. They have a good vibe with my mom. Everything else was so smooth and fun. Eventually, that's when I found out na this is gonna be the one,' he added. Recalling their El Nido, Palawan trip, Diana shared that Kiefer casually joked about them getting married while there, which she agreed to. 'Noong nasa Palawan kami he was joking pa nga when we were there. Parang randomly he would say pakasal na tayo.' Parang ako, I was down for it. I don't know, it just felt right. It felt right. Malalaman mo 'yon eh. It was so easy,' she said. Diana and Kiefer got married earlier in June. They will be holding another wedding in August in Palawan. In March, Diana and Kiefer announced on social media that they were expecting their first child. In the same 'Fast Talk' interview on Monday, the couple revealed that they lost their baby due to a miscarriage. —Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News
Black America Web
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
B-Side Bangers: Michael Jackson
Michael Ochs Archives The world may never know a talent as great as Michael Jackson, the globally-recognized superstar that almost 20 years after his tragic death on June 25, 2009 is still considered the undisputed King Of Pop. In the many years since we lost him, this week specifically has become an almost annual tribute to his memory where you'll hear much of his classic hits on the radio and music videos being shared in clips across all social media platforms. It's for that reason and so much more that we had to explore some of the deep cuts of his extensive career for our latest 'B-Side Bangers.' RELATED: B-Side Bangers – Mariah Carey A musician like Michael Jackson transcends time, particular given his long trajectory in the game starting from the ripe age of six singing lead in The Jackson 5 well into those very last days as a 50-year-old man — he died a mere 18 days before his planned This Is It comeback tour was scheduled to begin. From the group to his solo work, there is just something truly amazing about the way MJ's voice matures before our very eyes without ever losing that signature soothing tone that helped him evolve from an R&B prodigy into a worldwide icon. It might seem like an oxymoron to say 'MJ deep cut' when every song he's touched feels like gold — Thriller essentially is an album of number ones! — but there's definitely a few rare gems and often overlooked classics in his catalogue. Even in 2025, his musical imprint finds a way to continue through the recent success of MJ the Musical . Since opening in 2022, the Broadway show based on his life and greatest hits has grossed more than 265 million dollars, garnered multiple Tony Awards and the cast album even received a GRAMMY nomination for 'Best Musical Theater Album.' We will never forget Michael Jackson and the music he gave us for any and all occasions. As you remember the times with the rest of the world, enjoy these rarities that will hopefully make you hear The King Of Pop from a whole new perspective. Collaborations with The Notorious B.I.G. and Stevie Wonder? Scat-rapping over a rock-tinged Isley Brothers sample? The original reference song for 'Thriller' with a whole new song title and chorus?! There was nothing MJ couldn't do! 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool' (1972) Album: Ben 'This Time Around' (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.) [1995] Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I 'Superfly Sister' (1997) Album: Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix – SEE ALSO
Pink Villa
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Tom Holland Spoils Spider-Man: Brand New Day with New Clip to Fan Announcing MCU Filming Plan, Here's All We Know
Tom Holland surely knows how to keep his fans happy. The actor recorded a video, sending best wishes to a fan from him and Chris Hemsworth. While in the clip that went viral on the internet, Holland also dropped a major update about his upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While addressing a fan in his personalized video, the actor revealed that he will be starting the shoot for the MCU movie soon. According to the reports, the cast and crew of the upcoming film will be headed to the U.K. in mid-August to get the camera rolling. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is one of the highly anticipated movies, as not only is it expected to bring Peter Parker and MJ together, but the fans can also expect to witness the superhero fighting new and deadlier villains. What can be expected from Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth movie of the franchise, and while the film will be released almost five years after the previous one, the makers are expected to continue with the storyline. In the final scenes of the 2021 movie, Parker is forgotten by everyone, including MJ and his best friend Ned. In the upcoming release, the fans will witness how Holland's character will rekindle his romance with MJ, while also fighting the new villains. According to the media reports, Silver Samurai and Vipra will join the anti-hero clan. The characters previously appeared as variants in the 2013 movie, The Wolverine. Moreover, it is confirmed that Jon Bernthal has joined the cast of Spider-Man 4. He will reprise his role of The Punisher in the movie, helping Holland beat the bad guys. As for the cast members of the upcoming film, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon will reprise their roles. The new joinees include Bernthal and the Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31, 2026.
Business Insider
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Moonveil Confirms $MORE Token Generation Event on June 27 With Multiple CEX Listings
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, June 26th, 2025, Chainwire Layer 2 gaming chain Moonveil has announced the launch of the $MORE token, which is set to go live at 12 PM UTC on June 27, in a Token Generation Event (TGE). The rollout of the $MORE token will give the public an opportunity to acquire the native asset that will play a pivotal role in the expansion of Moonveil's gaming ecosystem. The $MORE launch on June 27 will be featured on Binance Alpha, followed by listings on a string of leading CEXs, allowing Moonveil's global user base of gamers to acquire the token. Exchanges confirmed to be listing $MORE include Gate, MEXC, Bitget, KuCoin, BingX and LBank. $MORE will power activity across the multi-layered ecosystem that Moonveil is developing. It supports seamless blockchain and gaming interactions while incentivizing community development and driving deep interoperability. Moonveil founder MJ said: 'The launch of the $MORE token builds upon everything we've been working on to date. It adds a powerful economic layer that will align incentives between game developers and players, supporting true interoperability and adding value to every onchain interaction. By anchoring user identity on Moonveil's L2 while remaining chain-agnostic at the application layer, $MORE is capable of going wherever the players are.' In addition to serving as the governance token of Moonveil's game-centric Layer 2, $MORE is the key to unlock seamless gaming experiences. Players can effortlessly handle transaction fees, purchase in-game items, and exchange assets, simplifying token management and ensuring an immersive gaming journey. The launch of the $MORE token arrives at a time when activity across the Moonveil ecosystem is heating up. A number of games have already been released including AstrArk, Bushwhack, Flaming Pets, Puffy 2048, Puffy Miner, and Puffy Match. The AstrArk Marching Test in late 2024 drew over 871,000 unique wallets, demonstrating strong user traction and clear product-market fit. On the infrastructure side, Moonveil's Layer 2 testnet has recorded 1.3 million unique wallet interactions. Powered by AggLayer integration and upcoming node operations, it's laying the foundation for a scalable, high-performance network optimized for gaming. The Moonveil community is also expanding rapidly, with over 1 million players engaged through its loyalty program and strong user adoption across Asia, South America, and the CIS region. The launch of the $MORE token will catalyze growth while unlocking new opportunities for global gamers. Moonveil is a full-stack Web3 gaming ecosystem that combines in-house/third-party products, publishing capabilities, and L2 infrastructure tools to solve fundamental problems in gaming. Moonveil takes a product-first, utility-driven approach with deep Web3 integration, anchoring user identity on our own L2 while remaining chain-agnostic at the application layer—going wherever the players are. Contact
