Latest news with #Nazir
News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Delhi: Wanted criminal held; involved in over 100 cases across Mumbai, Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) The Delhi Police arrested an inter-state criminal, wanted in over 110 criminal cases across Delhi and Mumbai, including five in which he had been declared a proclaimed offender, an official said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Nizam alias Nazir (38), a resident of Jahangirpuri in Delhi, was apprehended from the same locality on Monday following a tip-off. 'The accused had been evading arrest and trial for the last year in five burglary and Arms Act-related cases in the national capital. He also operated in Mumbai, where he committed at least 11 burglaries in locked residential flats," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam said. Nazir was wanted in five separate FIRs lodged at police stations in Kalkaji, Rajouri Garden, Mangolpuri and Maurya Enclave under Sections related to burglary, theft, criminal conspiracy and the Arms Act, the officer added. During interrogation, Nazir revealed that he was a fifth-grade school dropout who began his criminal career in 2008, allegedly with a case of preparation for dacoity registered at the Jahangirpuri Police Station. Since then, he has been involved in crimes such as theft, burglary, and Arms Act violations. 'He operated alone to avoid detection and never shared the stolen proceeds," the DCP said, adding that he frequently moved between Delhi and Mumbai to evade police action. Currently, Nazir is listed as an active Bad Character (BC) at the Jahangirpuri Police Station. PTI BM BM MPL MPL view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 18:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Malayalam cinema's ‘Marilyn Monroe' launched #MeToo against industry bigwig decades before the movement; ‘died by suicide' at 21
From the legendary Silk Smitha and National Award-winning actor Shoba to Bollywood stars Sushant Singh Rajput and Jiah Khan, the list of Indian celebrities who allegedly died by suicide is, unfortunately, long. The price many have paid for the fame and fortune that show business offers is their mental health, and, at times, even their lives. While conspiracy theories and investigation reports continue to speculate on what drove them to take the extreme step, we may never know the real reason. Only they could have revealed what truly pushed them to the edge. Vijayasree, known as the 'Marilyn Monroe of Malayalam', was one such actor who ended her life at the peak of her career. In a short span of just five years, she appeared in over 60 films, winning audiences over with her breathtaking beauty and acting skills, though the latter was largely underutilised as she was typecast as a 'sex symbol' early on. Half a century after her tragic death, the world still doesn't know what drove the young actor to end her life at just 21. Born on January 8, 1953, in Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, to Vasu Pillai and Vijayamma, Vijayasree made her acting debut at the age of 13 in the Tamil film Chitthi (1966), starring Padmini and Gemini Ganesan. She soon began receiving offers from Telugu and Kannada cinema as well. As she was slowly carving her space, Vijayasree got her first offer from Malayalam, to play a small role in Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair's Prem Nazir and Sheela-starrer Poojapushpam (1969). It didn't take long for the industry to notice her striking beauty and stellar potential, and she quickly began landing lead roles. In 1970, she starred opposite then-superstar Prem Nazir in Rakthapushpam, directed by 'Hitmaker' Sasikumar. The Nazir–Vijayasree pairing became an instant favourite, opening the floodgates to numerous opportunities. 'She is the most beautiful woman I have ever met,' legendary filmmaker Bharathan once told his associate Jayaraj, who himself later became a renowned director and paid tribute to Vijayasree in his movie Naayika (2011). 'People went to the theatre to see her, and that is something that has not happened before (her time). She was as much a crowd puller as a hero,' Jayaraj told The Hindu in 2016. Despite successful screen pairings like Nazir–Sheela and Nazir–Jayabharathi dominating this era, Vijayasree's chemistry with Prem Nazir became a hit. In most of her Malayalam films, she was paired opposite Nazir, and almost all of them became hits. From Othenente Makan (1970), Marunnattil Oru Malayali (1971), Lankadahanam (1971), Taxi Car (1972), Aadhyathe Katha (1972), Pushpanjali (1972), Postmane Kananilla (1972), Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka (1972), Manthrakodi (1972), Aromalunni (1972) and Thaniniram (1973) to Pacha Nottukal (1973), Thenaruvi (1973), Thiruvabharanam (1973), Ponnapuram Kotta (1973), Pavangal Pennungal (1973), Veendum Prabhatham (1973), Padmavyooham (1973), Ankathattu (1973) and Ajnathavasam (1973), all their films earned massive reception. She also appeared alongside other stars like Madhu and Raghavan, achieving immense stardom at a young age. Tragically, she was found dead at her residence in Madras (now Chennai), reportedly after consuming poison. On the day of her death, a producer had visited her to finalise her next film. She was reportedly cheerful not just on that day, but for several months. No one suspected she was struggling with anything grave enough to prompt such an act. After the producer left, Vijayasree went to her bedroom. When she didn't come out for a long time, her mother went in and found her lying on the bed, with blood and froth at her mouth. Though rushed to Madras General Hospital, she was declared dead on arrival. The post-mortem revealed that a large amount of poison had been ingested. A container with the poison was later found in the family's prayer room. Her final hours puzzled many. She had spent time chatting with neighbours' children — she loved kids — in the garden and seemed genuinely happy. Could someone so visibly joyful take their own life all of a sudden? That was the haunting question. According to Manorama Online, Vijayasree appeared mostly happy during that era, particularly because her marriage had been arranged with a doctor settled abroad. For someone eager to leave the dark world of cinema, this was a hopeful turn. But behind her glowing smile, she had been hiding a bleeding heart, deeply scarred by exploitation within the industry. Her beauty had become a commodity. Producers and directors saw her body as a ticket to boost their films' sales. In one movie, a molestation scene involved an actor nearly tearing off her clothes. A still from that very scene was prominently displayed in the film's poster as well. This had caused her significant distress. But the incident that reportedly broke her heart the most occurred during the filming of Ponnapuram Kotta, directed and produced by Kunchacko, then a major figure in Malayalam cinema. In the period drama, there was a scene where Vijayasree was shown bathing in a stream. Since set in a bygone era, she was portrayed wearing only a white, transparent mundu with no undergarments. The makers allegedly ensured the scene was shot in a tasteless way that gratuitously highlighted her body. In the middle of the shoot, her garment accidentally came undone and fell into the water. Instead of helping her save her dignity, the makers took advantage of the opportunity and captured her complete nudity on camera. Upon realising this, Vijayasree sobbed her heart out, begging the director not to use those shots. Although he agreed, she was extremely stressed, knowing well the industry's dark side. No Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) came to her rescue, and the visuals were approved. The film was released with the shots that she had clearly asked not to use. This became a good selling device, and people thronged to the theatres to see Vijayasree's nudity, contributing to Ponnapuram Kotta's massive success. Meanwhile, after it became a controversy, the filmmaker slowly withdrew those shots. But the damage had already been done. The scar that it left on a 20-year-old Vijayasree must not have been small. Although she knew very well how powerful those who wronged her were, Vijayasree was not ready to let things slip by like that. Later that year, she reportedly gave an explosive interview to a major film magazine, detailing the exploitations she faced. She named people and spoke of her trauma in what could be seen as a #MeToo moment decades before the movement actually happened. The interview hit the industry like a storm. The producer responded by filing a defamation case against the magazine, painting himself as the victim. Vijayasree, aware that she couldn't match his power and resources in court, chose not to file a counter-case. Was this the incident that shattered her completely and drove her to suicide? Nobody knows. At the time of her death, she was at the height of her stardom. Her two unfinished films, Youvanam and Vandikkari, were later merged and released as one movie posthumously. Starring Raghavan as the male lead, that film too became a success. But Vijayasree's story didn't end there. Kunchacko's production empire soon collapsed, with his films failing one after another. His family allegedly incurred debts amounting to crores. The once-mighty banner slowly disappeared. Many referred to this downfall as 'Vijayasree's curse'. Some even believed her spirit haunted the studio, according to filmmaker Alleppey Ashraf. Even after his death, the debts lingered, haunting subsequent generations too. Though his successors tried to sell the studio to repay the debts, no one came forward. Even five decades later, the building lay abandoned, consumed by wild vegetation, like a ghost house.
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Rangers official booked for alleged murder of cop
A paramilitary Rangers official has been booked for allegedly murdering a police constable posted at the Gulshan-e-Maymar police station. The FIR was registered at the Site-A police station on the complaint of the victim's father, Sub-Inspector Nazir Hussain. According to Nazir, his 30-year-old son, Waseem Akhtar, was serving in the Sindh Police as a constable. Around 9:30am on Thursday, Waseem left home for duty on his motorcycle. At around 1pm, Nazir received a phone call informing him that a message circulating in a WhatsApp group claimed that his son had been killed. When he tried calling Waseem's mobile phone, the call was answered by SHO Site-A Imran Afridi, who asked him to rush to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Nazir was taken to the mortuary, where he identified his son's body. Nazir said that Waseem had gunshot wounds on his right arm and chest. Nazir said his son was riding his motorcycle on Manghopir Road, in the SITE area, when he was stopped by an armed motorcyclist, who reportedly opened fire without provocation, striking Waseem in the chest and arm. Waseem returned fire in self-defence and is believed to have injured the assailant in the leg. Nazir further stated that he later came to know through media reports that the shooter was identified as a paramilitary Rangers soldier named Noman. He alleged that Noman fatally shot his son without any known reason. Police registered FIR under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
New Paper
15-06-2025
- New Paper
'I lived on Pulau Samulun, now Jurong Shipyard': Musician remembers life before reclamation
Jurong Island, home to energy and chemical firms with their glittering network of complexes, is not always remembered as such. For musician Mohd Nazir Dolah, it is a lost cluster of islands where the 74-year-old was raised in harmony with a sea teeming with life. Much of his childhood was spent diving in the azure waters off Pulau Samulun and Pulau Merlimau, where he lived, with goggles fashioned from wood and rubber bands by his father, and sailing around on a small boat known as the kolek. Pulau Samulun was turned into Jurong Shipyard, while Pulau Merlimau is one of 14 islands reclaimed by the Government for its vision of a regional chemical hub. With the sea in his backyard, Mr Nazir said in Malay that "since I was six, I had been eager to swim in the sea whenever I had the chance". As Singapore's offshore islands were developed by the Government, Mr Nazir was among scores of villagers who were relocated to the mainland. On June 14, they gathered for a festival, named Hari Orang Pulau (Islanders' Day), at West Coast Park to celebrate their heritage and history through workshops, performances and talks. At the day-long event by ground-up initiative Orang Laut SG, researchers urged attendees who once lived on the islands to record their stories, noting that the dwindling numbers in the community treasure these memories. Visitors milling about the various booths during Hari Orang Pulau held at West Coast Park on June 14. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The sea was more than a playground for the islanders, recounted Mr Nazir. It was a cornucopia of fish, crabs and shrimp that his family depended on for a living. "I loved to eat raw prawns when they fell off the net. My father didn't get mad at me," he said with a smile. "They were very sweet, very tasty." The clear waters off the reclaimed island of Pulau Samulun were particularly plentiful with catch, he added. "My mother would say, 'We are not rich, but we are happy.'" By the time he turned 13, the village chief had told the villagers that the Government wanted to take the island, offering each family a house and a few thousand dollars in compensation, he said. There was even an offer from Malaysia to move to Pahang, where they would get a plot of land to grow oil palms. Some islanders contacted a lawyer as they felt the money was insufficient, while others simply did not want to move. But his family followed the village chief's instructions and moved to Pulau Merlimau, where his father worked for JTC Corporation as a surveyor. It was there that Mr Nazir started to pursue his dream of appearing on radio and television with his family band that specialised in ghazal, a genre of traditional Malay music. The band was so popular that they would travel by boat to Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sudong and other islands in the south to perform at weddings and competitions. But life on Pulau Merlimau soon came to an end. At the age of 20, Mr Nazir and his family moved to the mainland when Pulau Merlimau was reclaimed for the creation of Jurong Island. When asked how he felt now that the islands of his youth were gone, he said: "It is just memories now." After moving to the mainland, Mr Nazir would tell others he was from Jurong Shipyard, because hailing from the islands was seen as a source of embarrassment. The leader of the family band Orkes Melayu Mutiara said: "It was sad that people looked down on us for being island people, but we couldn't run away from that reality." Mr Mohd Nazir Dolah performing with Orkes Melayu Mutiara, an intergenerational ensemble made up of islanders and descendants from Pulau Samulun, during Hari Orang Pulau at West Coast Park, on June 14. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG His mindset changed only recently, through a movement by descendants of islanders, like his daughter Irma Yanti and Orang Laut SG founder Firdaus Sani, who view their roots as a badge of pride. Said Ms Irma, 43, a vocalist for the band: "Even though I have never been (on the island) before, I feel that we have this sense of history because of my father." Ms Irma Yanti performing as a child with the family band led by musician Mohd Nazir Dolah. PHOTO: COURTESY OF IRMA YANTI On June 14, Mr Nazir, his daughter and the rest of the band helped revive another tradition from the islands here by leading an upbeat two hour-long set accompanying the Joget Dangkong. The communal dance was once a staple at weddings in Singapore's Southern Islands and continues to be practised in Indonesia's Riau archipelago. These days, when asked where he is from, Mr Nazir has a different answer: "I lived on Pulau Samulun, now Jurong Shipyard." He told The Straits Times: "Now, I am proud... we have a day for island people so everyone knows where we come from." People partaking in Joget Dangkung, a traditional communal dance that has roots in the Riau Archipelago, during Hari Orang Pulau on June 14. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Straits Times
14-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
‘I lived on Pulau Samulun, now Jurong Shipyard': Musician remembers life before reclamation
SINGAPORE - Jurong Island, home to energy and chemicals firms with their glittering network of complexes, is not always remembered as such. For musician Mohd Nazir Dolah, it is a lost cluster of islands where the 74-year-old was raised in harmony with a sea teeming with life. Much of his childhood was spent diving in the azure waters off Pulau Samulun and Pulau Merimau, where he lived, with goggles fashioned from wood and rubber bands by his father, and sailing around on a small boat known as the kolek. Pulau Samulun was turned into Jurong Shipyard, while Pulau Merimau is one of 14 islands reclaimed by the government for its vision of a regional chemical hub. With the sea in his backyard, Mr Nazir said in Malay: 'Since I was six, I was eager to swim in the sea whenever I had the chance.' As Singapore's offshore islands were developed by the Government, Mr Nazir was among scores of villagers who were re-located to the mainland. On June 14, they gathered at a festival, named Hari Orang Pulau (Islander Day), at West Coast Park to celebrate their heritage and history through workshops, performances and talks. At the day-long event by ground-up initiative Orang Laut SG, researchers urged attendees who once lived on the islands to record their stories, noting the dwindling community harbouring these memories. The sea was more than a playground for the islanders, recounted Mr Nazir . It was a cornucopia of fish, crabs and shrimp that his family depended on for a living. 'I loved to eat raw prawns when they fall off the net. My father didn't get mad at me,' he said with a smile. 'They were very sweet, very tasty.' The clear waters off the reclaimed island of Pulau Samulun were particularly plentiful with catch, he added. 'My mother would say, 'We're not rich, but we're happy'.' By the time he turned 13, the village chief told the villagers that the Government wanted to take the island, offering each family a house and a few thousand dollars in compensation, he said. There was even an offer from Malaysia to move to Pahang, where they would get a plot of land to grown palms. Some islanders contacted a lawyer as they felt the money was insufficient, while others simply did not want to move. But his family followed the village chief's instructions, and moved to Pulau Merlimau, where his father worked for JTC as a surveyor. It was there that Mr Nazir started to pursue his dream of appearing on radio and television with his family band that specialised in ghazal, a genre of traditional Malay music. The band was so popular that they would travel by boat to Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sudong and other islands in the south to perform for weddings and competitions. But life on Pulau Merlimau came to a swift end. At the age of 20, Mr Nazir and his family moved to the mainland when Pulau Merlimau was reclaimed for the creation of Jurong Island. When asked how he felt now that the islands of his youth were gone, he said: 'It's just memories now.' After moving to the mainland Singapore, Mr Nazir would tell others that he is from Jurong Shipyard, because hailing from the islands was seen as a source of shame. The leader of the family band Orkes Melayu Mutiara said: 'It was sad that people looked down on us for being island people, but we couldn't run away from that reality.' His mindset changed only recently, through a movement by descendants of islanders, like Orang Laut SG founder Firdaus Sani, and his daughter Irma Yanti, who view their roots as a badge of pride. Said Ms Irma, 43, a vocalist for the band: 'For me, even though I have never been (on the island) before, I feel that we have this sense of history because of my father.' On June 14, Mr Nasir, his daughter and the rest of the band would help revive another tradition from the islands here by leading the Joget Dangkung. The communal dance was once a staple at weddings in Singapore's Southern Islands and continues to be practiced in Indonesia's Riau archipelago. These days, when asked where he is from, Mr Nazir has a different answer: 'I lived on Pulau Samulun, now Jurong Shipyard.' He told ST: 'Now I am proud. 'Now we have a day for island people, so everyone knows where we come from.' Additional reporting by Hadyu Rahim and Amirul Karim Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
