Tag: Madurai

  • Game of Change: A New Cinematic Blueprint for Education, Leadership & Social Impact

    Game of Change: A New Cinematic Blueprint for Education, Leadership & Social Impact

    In a media landscape dominated by fiction and celebrity, Game of Change is flipping the script. Premiered across Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai, this new-age docufilm series brings real stories, real people, and real transformation to the big screen. But this isn’t just a movie — it’s the beginning of a movement.

    Helmed by Siddharth Rajsekar, digital coach and founder of the Internet Lifestyle Hub, Game of Change blends documentary realism with cinematic storytelling to deliver what mainstream cinema rarely attempts: authenticity. The first installment, featuring eight powerful stories of personal and community-based transformation, is already being hailed as a genre-defining moment in Indian content creation.

    “We’re not here to entertain alone,” said Siddharth Rajsekar at his annual online event Reboot 2025, where he unveiled a video with his long-term vision for Game of Change. “We’re here to remind India how to learn — by returning to purpose, community, and inner alignment.”

    Rewriting the Script of Education

    At the heart of Game of Change lies a critique — and a call to action. The current education system, digital reformer Siddharth Rajsekar argues, is a colonial relic that trains compliance, not creativity. In contrast, the film series draws on India’s ancient learning heritage — from Nalanda, Takshashila, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Nabadwip to Udupi — where knowledge was passed down through community interaction, mentorship, and lived experience.

    The docufilm envisions a modern-day gurukul for the digital age: a hybrid model that fuses storytelling with technology, personal growth with AI-powered scalability.

    From Documentary to Docu-Movement

    The cinematic format of Game of Change is deliberately unconventional. It features real-life individuals — not actors — who’ve risen above circumstances to lead, serve, and inspire. These are stories of educators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who’ve become modern role models in an age of celebrity saturation.

    “Gen Z and Gen Alpha don’t just want to be entertained. They want to see themselves in the story,” said Siddharth Rajsekar. “They’re not looking for fantasy. They’re looking for alignment.”

    Strategic Rollout, Cultural Relevance
    The decision to premiere the film in three major metros wasn’t just for visibility — it was part of a place-based strategy to ignite community-led action. Each screening was followed by emotional applause and discussions, underscoring the film’s power to spark real dialogue and introspection.

    With versions already dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and English — and others like Kannada underway — the creators are preparing for a nationwide theatrical rollout and a subsequent OTT release.

    Cinema Meets Community

    Perhaps the most striking aspect of Game of Change is how it turns viewers into participants. Through its growing online ecosystem — including webinars, learning journeys, and coaching communities — the film invites its audience to move beyond passive consumption.

    “We’re not building fans,” Siddharth noted. “We’re building a family of change-makers.”

    This model aligns with current trends in participatory media, where communities around content become more valuable than the content itself. It also reflects a shift in youth media engagement — from binge-watching to belonging.

    What’s Next: Scaling the Movement

    Building on the momentum, the team announced plans for the next installment of Game of Change — a full-length feature film currently in production. While the current version serves as a pilot with a modest budget of 1.5 CR, the upcoming film will expand on its core themes in a 90–120 minute cinematic journey.

    Looking ahead, Game of Change plans to integrate AI and emerging tech into future installments — not for spectacle, but to explore how technology and ancient wisdom can co-exist. This narrative isn’t about resisting innovation; it’s about humanizing it.

    With this vision, Game of Change enters the rare space where storytelling becomes system-building — offering not just inspiration but infrastructure for social transformation.

  • COLORS Tamil brings celestial wedding of Madurai Meenakshi to homes

    COLORS Tamil brings celestial wedding of Madurai Meenakshi to homes

    MUMBAI: On the occasion of the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi Amman with Lord Sundareswara, COLORS Tamil will exclusively telecast the glorious ceremony held at Madurai, Tamil Nadu for its discerning viewers. COLORS Tamil will air the complete ceremony of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam on Monday, 4 May, 2020, 9 am onwards. 

    The celestial wedding is a part of the two-week-long Chithirai Festival in Madurai. The Chithirai Festival and more specifically the celestial wedding of the god and goddesst that takes place in a grand manner inside the temple is known to attract lakhs of devotees from across the world. Considering the ongoing lockdown with restrictions on devotees to visit the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, COLORS Tamil has made arrangements to telecast the ceremony and give devotees and viewers a ringside view of the complete celebration on their television screens.

    Anup Chandrasekharan, business head of COLORS Tamil, said: "COLORS Tamil has always been a symbol of optimism and celebrations.  Since the lockdown, we have been making constant efforts to ensure that our viewers stay entertained while staying connected with us. The auspicious ceremony of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam draws in lakh of devotees from around the globe who, unfortunately, will not be able to attend it this year. While we are committed to entertaining our discerning audience with innovative and differentiated content, we feel the onus rests upon us to ensure that our viewers are not missing out on this very important cultural event. The telecast of this auspicious ceremony further strengthens our commitment to our viewers. We are hopeful that this divine experience will add a spark of positivity for our viewers during this lockdown.”

    COLORS Tamil is available on all leading cable networks and all DTH platforms – Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO 1555), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553).

  • HistoryTV18 brings ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel of Madurai’

    HistoryTV18 brings ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel of Madurai’

    MUMBAI: HistoryTV18 is adding to its India offering with the new original production, ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel Of Madurai,’ premiering on May 4th, Monday 8 PM. As the world faces an unprecedented challenge, and the government rules out public celebrations, HistoryTV18 brings viewers an immersive experience of the Chithirai festival and the famed Meenakshi Temple, at home on television screens. The one-hour programme premieres on the auspicious day of Thirukalyanam.

    Filmed in 2019, the documentary celebrates the legend of Meenakshi Amman, Mother Goddess, queen, and patron deity of the ancient city of Madurai. The film showcases the first two weeks of the grand celebrations in Tamil Nadu’s second-largest city, taking viewers behind the scenes of key events, along with their back-stories and socio-cultural significance. It presents never-seen-before visuals of the Chithirai festivities, tracing its history, uncovering amazing facts, and delving into fascinating folklore. The narrative also relies on human stories, through characters whose lives are inextricably intertwined with the mother goddess, Her temple, and its most important annual event. The documentary also takes a closer look at the logistics, security, and scale of organising the massive festival.

    The film also explores the historical and architectural significance of Madurai’s glorious landmark, its origins, expansion and present form. High-definition and 4K cameras reveal the incredible art and architecture of the many structures spread over the 14-acre complex, along with insights of experts and temple authorities to provide context and perspective. With a staggering 33,000 intricate sculptures, painted ceilings, mandapams, shrines, and fourteen towering gopurams, embellished with thousands of mythological characters and fantastical creatures, the temple is a feat of artistic genius and geometric precision. The storytelling, with stunning visuals and slickly-edited sequences, shines the light on South India’s indigenous craftsmanship, engineering, and cultural richness.

    The original production, a year in the making, captures the pomp and ceremony of some of the most important days of the Chithirai festival – from ‘pattabhishekham’ the coronation of the goddess,  to ‘thirukalyanam’ the divine wedding, and ‘rathotsavam’ the chariot or car festival.

    Also featuring prominently is the Kallalaghar festivities that honour Lord Vishnu, with lakhs of people arriving at the Vaigai River in Madurai. The event has socio-political significance and is historically significant, in addition to being a breathtaking spectacle.

    The enduring aura of the mother goddess with the recurring theme of divine feminine power or shakti, the love and faith of Her people, the colour and sheer scale of the festival, make for compelling viewing. Top-end production values, characteristic of HistoryTV18’s award-winning originals make the show a must-watch for all.

    Avinash Kaul, MD A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO Network18, says: “At HistoryTV18, we believe in telling stories that are visually spectacular, relevant for our viewers and genre-defining. ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel of Madurai’ is the latest in a set of dramatic documentaries about India’s cultural history that engage, entertain, and inform. It is not just compelling content but also a celebration of our nation‘s rich diversity. The show does a great job of presenting the festival, especially in light of current circumstances, making it possible for everyone to be a part of the celebrations through our channel.”

  • Third edition of Hutch Kalakka Povathu Yaaru on Vijay TV

    Third edition of Hutch Kalakka Povathu Yaaru on Vijay TV

    MUMBAI: Riding high on the popularity of laughter challenge contests, the new season of Hutch Kalakka Povathu Yaaru on Vijay TV is all set to launch on 9 March.This will be the third edition of the show.

    The winner of this contest stands to win a grand prize of 5 million. Since the past series have raked in the popularity; the channel has decided to bring in contestants from across the globe this time around. The show also promises a fresh new line up which will include female contestants as well. Judges on this show include Chinni Jayanth and Madan Bob.

    The first round of auditions to pick a fresh set of talents shall take place on the 11 and 18 February. The first set of auditions will take place in Tirunelveli, Madurai and Coimbatore and at Chennai, Pondycherry and Salem on 18 February.

  • Vijay TV announces ‘fun & irreverent’ Vijay Awards

    Vijay TV announces ‘fun & irreverent’ Vijay Awards

    MUMBAI: Tamil entertainment channel Vijay TV has announced the launch of a Tamil film award property – Vijay Awards.

    Vijay Awards is fun, irreverent, not like other politically correct award ceremonies but distinctively cool, states an official release.

    Stars will be selected on voting methods across multiple platforms and the results announced at an exclusive golden-globe style round the table dinner, attended and performed by some of the biggest names in the film industry. Vijay, Vikram, Surya, Asin and many more stars of the industry to be present for this grandeur Vijay Awards, the release adds.

    Vijay TV GM Ravinath Menon says, “Vijay TV has been successful in entertaining the audiences, with the launch of ‘Sangamam’, ‘Hutch Kalakkapovathu Yaaru’, ‘Airtel Super Singer’, ‘EQ’ and now with ‘Vijay Awards’. We further aim to consolidate our leadership in the weekday/weekend prime-time slot and stay on, with our single-minded endeavor to provide compelling entertainment & content for the viewers.”

    The Awards

    favorite HERO
    favorite HEROINE
    favorite VILLAIN
    favorite COMEDIAN
    favorite DIRECTOR
    favorite MUSIC DIRECTOR
    favorite PLAYBACK SINGER- MALE
    favorite PLAYBACK SINGER- FEMALE
    favorite FILM; and
    SUPER STAR OF TOMORROW
    in addition, 8 SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
    Excellence in CINEMATOGRAPHY
    Excellence in CHOREOGRAPHY
    Excellence in STUNTS
    Excellence in EDITING
    Youth Icon
    Style Star
    Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Films

    An on-ground activity Rasigan Express will be flagged off from Chennai to travel to three zones across Tamilnadu. 14 cities will be covered under four locations per city and two prime locations per city will be selected and voting ballots to be distributed to fans at these locations and fans to drop votes in the ballot box. The route plan will cover the places Chennai, Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai, Dindigul, Palani, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Vellore and Kanchipuram.

    The final announcement of the Vijay Awards winners will be chosen by the people via voting methods. An entertainment of two hour star studded extravaganza to be held at Chennai Convention Centre for a selected audience of 300 people with elegant round table seating to be organized by the channel. The super heroes of Kollywood, the glam dolls will be part of the show. Special performances of actor Shobana – fusion, Srinivas-Karthik memorable melodies and actor Sada’s medley will the highlights. The talented, versatile and extremely funny gentleman Yugi Sethu is to present the show, the release further informs.