Latest news with #ManoramaOnline
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Malayalam star, known for her glamorous roles, was murdered at 24 along with her mother; decomposed bodies were discovered days later
The world of cinema appears glossy and alluring from the outside, but it has also borne witness to the shrill cries of many. While some survived to tell their stories, quite a few were stripped of that chance; plucked before their bloom. South Indian actor Rani Padmini, predominantly known for her work in Malayalam cinema, was one such star who vanished like dew at dawn. Though she was active in the film industry for only five or six years, Rani Padmini captured the attention of many, particularly because of her lack of inhibition in taking on glamorous roles and her absence of 'no-go' zones as an actor. However, in retrospect, it is hard to say definitively whether her continuing fame stems more from her movies or from the cold-blooded and tragic way her life was cut short. Born in 1962 in Anna Nagar, Chennai, to Chowdhary and Indira Kumari, Rani Padmini's fate in cinema had been written even before she was born. Despite her own aspirations to become a movie star and relocation to Madras (now Chennai) in pursuit of that dream, Indira Kumari never managed to achieve it. While working as a dubbing artiste, she grew close to Chowdhary and gave birth to Rani. Rani was born and raised entirely in Chennai. Although Indira kept trying her best to enter cinema, she was unsuccessful. Thus, the dream that her daughter should achieve what she herself could not became Indira's driving motivation. According to Manorama Online, by the time Rani was a teenager, Indira moved with stunningly beautiful daughter to Mumbai. The goal was for Rani to shine as a lead actor in Bollywood. However, despite their efforts, she did not receive the opportunities they had hoped for. Indira then brought her daughter back to the South and began looking for roles here. Soon, Rani made her Malayalam debut in director Mohan's Kathayariyathe (1981). That same year, she appeared in films such as Thenum Vayambum, Thushaaram and Parankimala. However, it was Sangharsham (1981), which featured a controversial scene where her character is brutally raped by the villain, played by Balan K Nair, that brought her some attention. Between 1981 and 1986, Rani Padmini acted in about 61 films, in Tamil and Kannada as well. Reportedly, as Indira spread word among directors that her daughter was willing to 'expose herself' in any way required, opportunities began to pour in. Once they amassed enough wealth and fame, the mother-daughter duo rented a luxurious bungalow on 18th Avenue in Anna Nagar and moved there. Feeling secure financially, they decided to hire household help, without knowing that this decision would change their lives forever. They advertised in leading newspapers for three workers to take on the positions of watchman, cook and driver. The first to join was Jebaraj, who became their driver. In the subsequent days, according to The Hindu, two more people joined, Lakshmi Narasimhan and Ganeshan, who took over as watchman and cook, respectively. While she was flying high, Rani Padmini and Indira Kumari were found murdered on the afternoon of October 19, 1986. Tragically, their bodies were discovered in a highly decomposed state, as the incident had taken place days earlier. Apart from their murders, an imported Nissan car that Rani had bought in Mumbai was also missing from the garage, and so were the driver and another househelp. The incident occurred just as she and her mother were gearing up to purchase the bungalow and were about to finalise the deal. Tragically, their bodies remained in the general hospital mortuary for 10 days, unclaimed, until Indira's brother arrived. During the investigation, the police concluded that Jebaraj, along with Lakshmi Narasimhan and Ganeshan, committed the brutal murders for monetary gain. The actor and her mother had hired them without any proper background checks, and Jebaraj was connected to many vehicle theft cases. Aside from that, Indira had reportedly slapped Jebaraj for misbehaving with Rani and told him not to come to work again, which created animosity and allegedly led him to conspire with the other two. On the day of the murders, Rani and Indira had withdrawn money from the bank for the bungalow deal. The three accused, learning about this, reportedly decided to kill them and share the money and the jewellery. Indira and Rani, Manorama Online reported, had the habit of drinking, and on that fateful night too, they drank before going to bed. The next morning, Rani woke up feeling hungry and went to the kitchen. Seizing the opportunity, Jebaraj, who had been hiding, stabbed Indira to death. Although Rani came running at her mother's screams, she was horrified by the sight. She tried to escape but was overpowered. Rani's body bore 12 stab wounds to the stomach, neck and chest; her mother's had 14. Although the accused initially fled, they were eventually apprehended. In March 1989, a district sessions court sentenced them to death for murdering Rani Padmini and her mother. Later, the Madras High Court acquitted Lakshmi Narasimhan and Ganeshan and reduced Jebaraj's death sentence to life imprisonment. However, the Supreme Court eventually restored Lakshmi Narasimhan's conviction for murder, though it commuted his sentence to life. Ganeshan disappeared after he was acquitted by the HC. Eventually, Lakshmi was released, as by 2008 he had served seven years in prison, making him eligible for premature release under a state scheme. Jebaraj reportedly died in prison. Rani Padmini was one of many female actors whose existence was toyed with by both cinema and life.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Minu Muneer gets bail in defamation case filed by actor Balachandra Menon
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Malayalam actor Minu Muneer was granted bail on July 1 in a defamation case filed by renowned actor-director Balachandra Menon. The case, which dates back to 2024, stems from a series of social media posts allegedly made by Muneer that Menon claims were defamatory and personally damaging. As reported by Manorama Online, according to the complaint, the posts not only questioned his professional conduct but also carried language that he felt hurt his long-standing image in the Malayalam film industry. Court denies anticipatory bail, actor arrested Earlier, the Kerala High Court had dismissed Muneer's anticipatory bail plea. Following that, the Kochi cybercrime police arrested her, interrogated her, and later released her on bail. While Minu Muneer has remained silent in public since the arrest, the investigation continues. Sources reveal that the police are closely examining her digital footprint and are expected to submit digital evidence as part of the official charge sheet. 05:15 'He Kissed Me Forcefully': Actress Minu Muneer's Bold Claims Against Top Malayalam Actors What's was the actor's allegation? In September last year, Minu Muneer made serious allegations against filmmaker Balachandra Menon, claiming that he had compelled her to witness a disturbing incident in his room back in 2007. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo According to her statement to India Today, she said, 'There were several men present, watching. Inside the room were three women and him, engaged in inappropriate acts. I immediately walked out. He had asked me to stay and watch.' Muneer also accused other individuals, including actor Jayasurya and Mukesh, of subjecting her to both physical and verbal abuse. Jayasurya had earlier responded to this by sharing on social media, "False allegations are easy to make for anyone who to my personal commitments, my family and I have been in America for the past month, and during this time, two false allegations on the grounds of sexual harassment were made against me. Quite naturally, it has shattered me, my family and everyone who has held me close.' lacks a conscience. I only hope one realises that facing a false accusation of harassment is just as painful as the harassment itself. A lie always travels faster than the truth, but the truth will prevail."
India.com
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Drishyam 3 BIG update: One thing that will not change in movie is...; Ajay Devgn's shoot to start from...
Drishyam is the biggest franchise and has become the highest-grossing film of all time, be it Malayalam or Hindi. In Malayalam (original), Mohanlal plays the role of Georgekutty, and in Hindi, Ajay Devgn plays the role of Vijay Salgaonkar. Ever since Drishyam 3 was announced, there have been numerous reports about the film's shooting schedule. The latest updates reveal both the expected shooting and release dates. There was also some confusion about whether the film would follow an original script or be a remake of the Malayalam version. It was reported that the makers were working on an original draft as well. However, Jeethu Joseph has now cleared up all the speculation. BIG update on Ajay Devgan's Drishyam 3 Giving an update on Drishyam 3 , Jeethu Joseph said that the film will be released simultaneously in Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. The main storyline of the film will be different from each other. It has been said that things will be different according to the elements, narrative and audience. But almost the same storyline will be seen in the part of the film. Talking to Manorama Online , 'Still writing the script, the release date will be the same', says Jeethu Joseph, who helmed the first two parts of the acclaimed thriller. The director further said the final script is yet to be handed over. 'They are waiting for the script to be finished,' Joseph said. He continued, 'Once the script is complete, I'll hand it over so each team can tweak it to better suit their respective audiences, just like we did with the first two films. But the main storyline will still be mine.' 'It's nearly impossible to get all the lead actors' dates aligned,' the director said, mentioning that even actor Mohanlal's availability may not line up with actors Ajay Devgn and Daggubati Venkatesh (in Telugu version).
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Drishyam 3' UPDATE! Jeethu Joseph says simultaneous filming is impractical, but a common release is on the cards
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) The anticipation around 'Drishyam 3' is steadily building, and director Jeethu Joseph has now addressed some of the swirling rumours — especially about whether the film will be shot in Malayalam, Hindi, and Telugu simultaneously. Talking to Manorama Online, the filmmaker cleared the air, calling the idea of a simultaneous shoot 'impractical,' but shared that a common release date for all versions is definitely being considered. 'Still writing the script,' says Jeethu Jeethu Joseph, who helmed the first two parts of the acclaimed thriller, revealed that he's still in the process of finalizing the script for 'Drishyam 3'. While many assumed that production across all languages was about to kick off, Jeethu clarified that the final story is yet to be handed over to the respective language teams. Mohanlal Confirms Drishyam 3 Release |Georgekutty Is Back 'They are waiting for the script to be finished,' he said. "Once the script is complete, I'll hand it over so each team can tweak it to better suit their respective audiences — just like we did with the first two films. But the main storyline will still be mine." Simultaneous shoot? not feasible Jeethu was also clear that shooting the movie in three languages at the same time isn't a feasible option — mainly due to scheduling conflicts. 'It's nearly impossible to get all the lead actors' dates aligned,' he said, mentioning that even Mohanlal's availability may not line up with actors from the Hindi or Telugu versions. That said, fans needn't worry — the plan is still to have the same basic story across all languages. Plans for an unified release date While a multi-language shoot is off the table, Jeethu confirmed that the team is exploring the idea of releasing all versions on the same date. With the widespread reach of OTT platforms, he noted, viewers now watch multiple versions — and staggered releases could affect the visibility of each film. Jeethu also revealed that Hindi director Abhishek Pathak recently visited him in Kochi to discuss timelines for the script handover. Jeethu Joseph said that there will be always speculations, but he is focused on getting the right story at this point. Meanwhile, Jeethu Joseph's previous directorial outing was the court drama film 'Neru' which turned out to be a superhit.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lissy stuns with yoga pose at 58 on International Yoga Day, says 'Yoga is the art of awareness'
(Picture Courtesy: Faceb Veteran Malayalam actress Lissy took to social media on International Yoga Day to share an inspiring glimpse of her fitness journey. The 58-year-old actress, known for her grace and charm during the 1980s, posted a picture of herself performing a yoga pose. The actress also shared an inspiring note along with the snap. "Yoga is the art of awareness " In her caption, Lissy noted, 'Yoga is the art of awareness on the canvas of body, mind, and soul." The post quickly gained traction online, with fans lauding her flexibility and dedication to wellness even at this stage of life. One commented, "Awesome oru cheriya kushumbu." Another one commented, "Happy International Yoga Day." A third one commented, "Perfect Saravangasana." Kannappa - Official Kannada Trailer Fans applaud Lissy's fitness and flexibility at 58 While many actresses fade from the public eye after stepping away from films, Lissy continues to command attention — this time not for her acting, but for her fitness. As reported by Manorama Online, now settled in Chennai, Lissy owns and operates a state-of-the-art dubbing studio. Suresh Gopi's fitness mantra Meanwhile, in a recent event Suresh Gopi shared his fitness journey. He said, "Earlier, I used to do a few yoga postures just on Yoga Day. But from last July, I began taking yoga seriously. I practiced consistently for about 45 minutes to an hour every day until February this year, when I had to stop due to illness. Still, during that time, I felt my body becoming remarkably comfortable and flexible." On the work front, Suresh Gopi will be next seen in the court drama 'JSK' which is set to release on June 27. The expectations are quite high for the film.
