Tamil Live News

Showcases recently launched New Honda City in Chennai

Chennai:

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Indian market while outlining its growth roadmap through 2030. The company highlighted that India is among Honda’s top three priority markets globally and will play an important role in driving the company’s future growth.

As part of its long-term strategy, Honda will focus on strengthening its competitiveness through a robust product pipeline and enhanced cost efficiencies. The future portfolio will feature a mix of global SUVs and India-focused products. The company has announced it will introduce new offerings in sub-4-meter SUV and mid-size SUV segments from 2028 onwards, catering to evolving customer preferences and expanding market opportunities.

The roadmap also includes the launch of Honda Cars India’s first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in the second half of FY 2026–27. Road testing of the model has already commenced in India, marking a significant milestone in Honda’s electrification journey.

The company also showcased the newly launched New Honda City, featuring a refreshed sporty design, enhanced premium features, advanced safety technologies, and a choice of Petrol and Strong Hybrid powertrains. In addition, Honda shared details of the All-New Honda ZR-V, the company’s newly introduced global premium hybrid SUV.

The company also emphasized the strategic importance of key markets such as Tamil Nadu which continue to play a key role in driving the company's sales performance.

Commenting on the company’s plans, Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd., said “Honda is entering an exciting phase in India, backed by a strong long-term vision and a robust product pipeline. As one of Honda’s top three priority markets globally, India continues to play an important role in our future growth strategy, with six strategic launches planned this year."

He further added, "Tamil Nadu is one of our key markets in India, contributing approximately 12% to our overall domestic sales. The state continues to be an important pillar of our growth, supported by a strong and loyal customer base that has consistently appreciated Honda’s products and technologies. Models such as the Honda City, Honda Elevate and Honda Amaze have received an encouraging response from customers across the region, reflecting the trust and affinity that customers have built with the Honda brand over the years. We are confident that the New Honda City, with its refreshed sporty design, enhanced premium features, advanced safety technologies and strong hybrid option, will further strengthen Honda’s presence in Tamil Nadu and continue to resonate with customers in this important market. We look forward to welcoming many more customers to the Honda family.”

New Honda City – ‘All New Vibe’

The New Honda City builds on its iconic legacy with a refreshed sporty design, enhanced premium features, advanced safety technologies, and Honda’s signature engaging driving dynamics. Based on the concept of ‘Sharpen’, the model combines sporty styling with modern sophistication to deliver pride of ownership and driving pleasure.

Key highlights include a redesigned front and rear exterior featuring Signature Blade Eye LED lighting, connected front light bar, sporty alloy wheels, and a new Crystal Black Pearl colour option. Inside, the sedan offers premium dual-tone interiors, a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, and USB-C charging ports.

The New Honda City is equipped with Honda SENSING ADAS, featuring Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System, Lead Car Departure Notification, and Auto High Beam.

The New Honda City is available with two powertrain options:

●   Honda’s original Self-charging Two Motor Strong Hybrid e:HEV system with e-CVT delivering Combined Max Power of 126 PS power, Max Torque of 253 Nm @ 0 – 3000 rpm and outstanding fuel efficiency of 27.26* km/l, while seamlessly switching between EV, Hybrid and Engine drive modes. 

●   1.5L i-VTEC Petrol engine paired with a 6-speed MT or 7-speed CVT, producing 121 PS @ 6600 rpm and 145 Nm @ 4300 rpm, while delivering fuel efficiency of 17.77* km/l (MT) and 17.97* km/l (CVT).

To ensure complete peace of mind, New City will come with a 3-year unlimited kilometre standard warranty, extendable up to 7 years, along with an Anytime Warranty ^Ω of up to 10 years/120,000 km. The Honda City e:HEV comes with benefits from an 8-year/160,000 km warranty on the Lithium-ion battery and a 5-year/100,000 km warranty on hybrid system components.

Price in INR (Ex-Showroom, Chennai):

-       Additional price applicable on Pearl Exterior Colours

V Creations- Mysskin-Vijay Sethupathi's action thriller 'Train' gears up for August release with a grand Audio & Teaser Launch

The audio and teaser launch of 'Train', produced by V Creations' Kalaipuli S. Thanu and directed by Mysskin, was held in a grand manner with a replica of a train set designed at Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai.

The film stars Vijay Sethupathi, Shruti Haasan, Ira Dayanand, Preethi Karan, Malavika Sundar, Diya Sharma, Nassar, K.S. Ravikumar, Sampath Raj, Narain, Kalaiyarasan, and several others.

The event was graced by renowned filmmakers Madonne Ashwin, P.S. Vinothraj, Tamilarasan Pachamuthu, Arun Matheswaran, Ameer, Vignesh Shivan, Sasi, R. Parthiban, Ram, Vetrimaaran, along with the cast and crew of the film.

Speaking at the event, producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu described the occasion as a memorable day and said he has immense faith in director Mysskin. He revealed that Train is one of the rare films for which he did not insist on hearing the script before production, owing to his complete trust in the filmmaker. Thanu also shared that an elaborate eight-compartment train set was specially constructed for the film, the first of its scale for one of his productions. Praising Vijay Sethupathi's dedication and the performances of the entire ensemble, he confirmed that Train is slated for a theatrical release in August.

Director Mysskin delivered an emotional speech, recalling his long association with Thanu and Vijay Sethupathi. He revealed that he had written the script exclusively with Vijay Sethupathi in mind, stating that no other actor could have portrayed the role the way he did. Calling Sethupathi an "extraordinary human being" and "a volcano of talent," Mysskin praised the actor's instinctive performances, adding that most scenes were completed in a single take. He also expressed his gratitude to producer Thanu for his unwavering support and thanked everyone who stood by the film during its journey.

Vijay Sethupathi thanked all the filmmakers, technicians, and well-wishers who attended the event. Recalling his admiration for Mysskin's work, he said collaborating with the acclaimed filmmaker had been a long-awaited dream. He fondly shared memories from the shoot, describing Mysskin as someone who constantly motivates his team with kindness, encouragement, and generosity. Promising audiences an engaging thriller, Vijay Sethupathi said Train also carries a deeply emotional core.

The film's leading ladies Shruti Haasan, Ira Dayanand, Preethi Karan, Diya Sharma and Malavika Sundar thanked Mysskin and Kalaipuli S. Thanu for the opportunity and shared their memorable experiences of working on the film. Ira Dayanand, who will be making her Tamil debut as the female lead described Train as her dream project and expressed her gratitude to Vijay Sethupathi and the team for making her feel comfortable throughout the shoot.

Veteran actors Nassar and K.S. Ravikumar praised Mysskin's unique filmmaking style, professionalism, and his ability to extract remarkable performances from actors. Nassar highlighted the director's passion for storytelling, while K.S. Ravikumar described the experience of working under Mysskin as both enriching and inspiring.

Actors Narain, Ganesh Venkatraman, Ajay Rathnam, Yugi Sethu, Singampuli, Janani, Selva, Shaji, Suresh Menon, Anbu Raja, cinematographer Fowzia Fathima, and several members of the cast and crew also spoke at the event, sharing their experiences and expressing confidence that Train will offer audiences a fresh and memorable cinematic experience.

Several leading filmmakers, including Ameer, Vetrimaaran, Ram, R. Parthiban, Vignesh Shivn, Sasi, Arun Matheswaran, Madonne Ashwin, P.S. Vinothraj, Tamilarasu Pachamuthu, and Ramkumar Balasubramanian, lauded Mysskin's distinctive filmmaking voice, Vijay Sethupathi's versatility, and Kalaipuli S. Thanu's commitment to backing ambitious cinema. They wished the team grand success and expressed their excitement to watch the film on the big screen.

The teaser, unveiled amidst loud cheers from fans and industry members, received a tremendous response, further raising anticipation for 'Train', which is all set to hit theatres this August.

Sony Pictures Entertainment India presents

EVIL DEAD BURN

CURTAIN RAISER

It was Sam Raimi who created this famous horror thriller franchise that showcased five films! The main plot was basically about the war waged by the principal characters as against the demonic forces that were unleased by some evil powers! The trilogy of films that set the franchise function successfully were Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead 2 (1987) & Army of Darkness (1992). Evil Dead (2013) was a new reboot which was a new instalment of the Evil Dead franchise! Based on its potential, the franchise was decided to be continued! Evil Dead Rise (2023) came up! Evil Dead Burn (2026) is a standalone sequel to the Evil Dead (2023) & the 6^th instalment in the Evil Dead franchise! Watch out for the 7^th instalment in 2028!

SYNOPSIS-

Touted to be most terrifying horror-ride till date, the screenplay is about a woman who opts to shift to the secluded home of her in-laws following the passing away of her husband! But things are not what she thought of and it turns into a family reunion from Hell…

CREDITS –

Directed by Sebastien Vanicek

Cast –Souheila Yacoub, Tandy Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Errol Shand etc.

Cinematography- Philip Lozano        Music –Double Danger

CC                                      Sony Pictures Entertainment India Release in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu 

Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet Performs World’s First Catheter-Based treatment for failing Aortic and Pulmonary Valve 

Chennai: 

Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, has successfully treated two failing heart valves in a patient without repeat open-heart surgery, in what is believed to be the world's first reported completely catheter-based treatment following a Ross procedure.

The procedure was performed on a 58-year-old man who had undergone a complex heart valve operation nearly 25 years ago. He had previously undergone the Ross procedure, in which the patient's own pulmonary valve is moved to replace the diseased aortic valve (known as an aortic autograft), while the pulmonary valve is replaced with a donated human valve (known as a pulmonary homograft). Although the Ross procedure provides excellent long-term outcomes, both valves can deteriorate over time and may require further intervention.

The patient presented with severe aortic regurgitation, severe pulmonary regurgitation with moderate pulmonary stenosis, severe pulmonary hypertension and moderate mitral regurgitation. He had repeated admissions for heart failure with severe swelling of the legs and abdomen, impaired kidney and liver function, and severe breathlessness. He was unable to sleep comfortably and was in New York Heart Association Class III–IV heart failure.

He had consulted multiple centres where repeat open-heart surgery was considered prohibitively high risk because of the complexity of a second operation. Even a catheter-based approach was considered extremely challenging.

Following a detailed evaluation using three-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac CT imaging, the multidisciplinary heart team at Kauvery Heart Institute identified the possibility of treating both failing valves through a completely catheter-based approach without repeat open-heart surgery. Since no similar case had been reported in the published medical literature, the treatment strategy was reviewed extensively by the hospital's heart team led by Dr Rajaram Anantharaman, Director of Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies and an international panel of experts before proceeding.

The pulmonary homograft was initially prepared by placing covered stents, followed by balloon dilatation, before implanting a Medtronic Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve. The failing aortic autograft was then treated with an Edwards Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia balloon-expandable valve. As there was no calcium within the valve to help anchor the replacement valve, the procedure required meticulous planning and precise execution, with AI predictive modeling with virtual Valve implant. It was performed in a hybrid operating room under general anaesthesia with continuous transoesophageal echocardiography guidance.

The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged after a short stay in the intensive care unit. At his two-week follow-up, his symptoms had improved markedly. The swelling had completely resolved, he had returned to New York Heart Association Class I functional status, was sleeping comfortably, and was able to walk for 20–30 minutes without any limitation.

Dr. Rajaram Anantharaman, Director for Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies Kauvery Heart Institute, Alwarpet, said:

"Patients with failure of both the aortic autograft and pulmonary homograft after a Ross procedure have very limited treatment options because repeat surgery carries considerable risk. Careful imaging, meticulous procedural planning and close collaboration across multiple specialties enabled us to successfully replace both valves using a catheter-based approach without reopening the chest. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a completely percutaneous double transcatheter Ross rescue strategy in the published world literature. This case opens the possibility of treating carefully selected high-risk patients who otherwise may not have a viable treatment option."

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, added:

"Advanced structural heart interventions are transforming the way complex valve diseases are treated. Performing a procedure of this complexity requires experienced clinical teams, advanced imaging, hybrid operating room facilities and seamless coordination across specialties. This achievement reflects the advanced expertise and infrastructure available at Kauvery Heart Institute and our continued commitment to bringing the latest evidence-based treatment options to patients in India."

Real Estate Industry Advocates Balanced Framework for Wetland Conservation and Community Development in the Pallikaranai Ramsar Zone

Chennai: 

The real estate industry has reiterated its commitment to environmental conservation while urging the Government to adopt a balanced, scientific and consultative approach to implementing regulations around the Pallikaranai Ramsar site. Industry representatives have expressed concern that the recent demarcation, which includes an additional 550 hectares of land added without clear identification and not following due procedure and a consequent 1 km development freeze around the Ramsar site, has affected more than one lakh patta landowners.

The economic impact, in the 1 Km zone of influence, is also significant. As per the figures presented, approximately ₹51,735.88 crore in business value has been affected. The total direct and indirect revenue and economic impact is estimated at ₹19,790.48 crore. These figures reflect a conservative figure of the real estate impact in the affected area. The larger impact across patta holders, industries and the public may be wider. Thousands of job opportunities linked to construction workers, suppliers, MSMEs, transporters, service providers, professionals and local businesses are also likely to be affected.

Industry representatives state that there are two issues to be addressed

1. The identification of the additional 550 hectares of land comprised in the 1248 hectares of land designated as Pallikarnai Ramsar wetland

The Pallikaranai Swamp Reserve Forest, spread across about 698 hectares, was notified in 2007 and is already legally protected. This protected core area is not under dispute. The present concern relates to lands outside this protected core, including the additional area of about 550 hectares which has not been clearly identified and where survey number demarcation (ground truthing) has not been done yet.

Pallikarnai Marsh / Reserve Forest was designated as Ramsar site in 2022 wherein the additional 550 hectares were added. It is 4 years & till date the Environment, Climate Change and Forests department has not completed the due process of ground truthing, public consultation and notification as contemplated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules.

Industry representatives have requested the authorities to expedite the process and ,complete scientific survey number demarcation (ground truthing), publish clear maps, seek public opinion and issue notification by following due procedure as laid out in the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules at the earliest so that the exact Ramsar extent and boundary is clearly established.

2. The fixation of the Zone of Influence around the exact extent of land identified as the wetland 

Only once the exact extent of the wetland is identified, can the zone of influence be fixed.

As per the wetlands (conservation and management) rules, "the zone of influence of a wetland is not a fixed or uniform area but is determined based on-site specific factors such as local hydrology, topography, drainage patterns, and adjoining land use. Therefore, the extent of the zone of influence, which varies from one wetland to another, must be delienated accordingly using scientific methods including digital elevation models and field-level verification.

The Care Earth IMP, quoted in the NGT order, clearly says that though the zone of influence has been delienated as 1 Km, due to the presence of patta lands and high urbanization of land surrounding the Pallikarnai marshland, it would be prudent to delineate the zone of influence based on the inlet and outlet channels and satellite wetlands foumd in the catchment area that can be managed and have a significant effect on the marshland.

Hence applying a uniform 1km zone of influence is not scientific especially in the context of a wetland in the midst of a highly urbanized area. A relevant precedent will be the example of the East Kolkatta wetlands which is also in the midst of a highly urbanized area and a 0 km zone of influence has been fixed for the same.

Interestingly when an RTI was sent to TNSWA, the reply stated that the Care Earth Trust Integrated Management Plan was still at the draft notification stage, was under scrutiny by NCSCM, and would be disclosed to the public only after approval by the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority.

Hence application of a uniform 1 Km Zone of Influence around the Pallikarnai Ramsar area, which itself is still not clearly identified, is not scientific and is highly arbitrary.

The industry noted that the current demarcation could have far-reaching implications for lakhs of homeowners, businesses, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and infrastructure projects, in addition to impacting future investments, employment generation and the overall economic growth of the region.

Many ordinary families with valid pattas are unable to build homes, secure housing loans, redevelop old houses, sell their land or obtain clear answers from banks and authorities. Homebuyers are also facing loan delays and uncertainty even in cases where approvals already exist.

Public infrastructure is also present within the 1 km zone. The CMRL Phase II stations and 2 existing MRTS locations fall within this area. This shows that the area is an already urbanised part of Chennai with important public assets. The CMRL is proposing a major transit hub at Sholingnallur integrating retail and office spaces. The planning freeze will also affect their plans. The 1 km zone also includes several government and civic facilities such as VAO offices, corporation offices, health centres, government hospitals, schools, utilities, post offices, TNEB facilities, Metro Water facilities, research institutions and other public services.

Real Estate Industry’s Requests to the Government:

Review the Uniform 1 km Development Freeze: Withdraw the blanket 1 km planning freeze until the wetland’s influence area is scientifically delineated, finalised and officially notified.

Complete Scientific Demarcation: Undertake comprehensive scientific demarcation through ground-truthing, hydrological studies, drainage analysis, adjoining land-use assessment and survey number validation.

Approve and Notify the Integrated Management Plan: Complete the statutory process, including public consultation, stakeholder engagement and the publication of maps and regulatory guidelines to ensure transparency and clarity.

Ensure Continuity: Continue processing existing planning approvals, renewals, No Objection Certificates, individual plot applications, housing and project loans, and developments in the highly urbanized 1 Km influence zone, ensuring that citizens, businesses and ongoing projects are not adversely affected during the transition.

KadhaiClub Launches Vertical Micro Film Contest; Invites Creators to Tell Powerful Stories on Digital Arrest Awareness

Chennai: 

KadhaiClub, the vertical cinema community by Kadhaishorts that aims to educate, empower and build an ecosystem for creators in the emerging vertical storytelling space, today announced the launch of its *Vertical Micro Film Contest – Digital arrest awareness vertical short film*

The initiative aims to raise awareness about the growing menace of digital arrest scams in India while providing aspiring and experienced filmmakers an opportunity to explore the creative possibilities of vertical storytelling and showcase their perspectives through the power of short-format content.

As part of the contest, participants are invited to submit a 60-second vertical micro film that highlights the theme of Digital Arrest, bringing alive stories around how individuals fall prey to online scams, the emotional and financial impact of such frauds, and the importance of staying vigilant in an increasingly digital world. Interested participants can register using the following link and the entries can be submitted to 98400 15719 on or before 15 July 2026.

The winning micro film will receive a cash prize of ₹50,000, along with an opportunity to showcase their storytelling skills on a platform dedicated to the future of vertical cinema.

The contest builds on KadhaiShorts’ commitment towards creating socially relevant content through micro storytelling. The platform recently launched its micro-drama series ‘The Outlaws’, which explores the issue of digital arrest and portrays how unsuspecting individuals can become victims of such scams. Continuing this focus on awareness and responsible storytelling, KadhaiClub is bringing together creators to present their perspectives on this critical issue through the vertical format.

With mobile-first content consumption transforming the way audiences engage with stories, vertical cinema has emerged as a powerful storytelling medium that enables creators to connect with viewers through immersive and accessible narratives. Through initiatives like this contest, KadhaiClub aims to nurture the next generation of vertical filmmakers while using the medium to highlight conversations that matter.

About KadhaiClub: KadhaiClub is the vertical cinema community by Kadhaishorts, created to educate, support and empower creators in the evolving world of vertical storytelling. The platform provides opportunities for filmmakers to experiment with the format, build their craft and be part of the growing vertical entertainment ecosystem.

'LOVE OH LOVE' TEAM RECEIVES AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE AT SKYONE AMPA MALL PROMOTIONAL EVENT

The team of the much-awaited youthful entertainer LOVE OH LOVE, produced by Dinesh Raj under the banner of Zinema Media & Entertainment Ltd. in association with Creative Entertainers & Distribution, kick-started its promotional campaign with tremendous enthusiasm at SkyOne Ampa Mall, Chennai, where the film's cast and crew engaged with hundreds of movie lovers in an energetic and entertaining evening.

The event featured vibrant dance performances inspired by the film's chartbuster songs, creating an electrifying atmosphere that attracted a massive crowd. The cast interacted extensively with fans, participated in fun activities, clicked pictures with the audience, and shared memorable moments from the making of the film. The audience's enthusiastic participation made the event a grand success.

One of the biggest highlights of the evening was the overwhelming response received for the recently released trailer of LOVE OH LOVE. The trailer has already crossed 2 million views on YouTube alone and has garnered over 1 crore views across all digital platforms, reflecting the growing excitement surrounding the film. Audiences appreciated the film's youthful appeal, entertaining moments, refreshing visuals, soulful music, and impressive performances, with many expressing their eagerness to watch the film on the big screen.

Following the phenomenal response at SkyOne Ampa Mall, the LOVE OH LOVE team is planning more exciting promotional activities in the coming days. The team will soon embark on a road trip and mall promotional events across Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, and several other cities to interact with audiences. The detailed promotional schedule will be announced shortly.

Written and directed by Magesh Rajendran, LOVE OH LOVE features Pavish Narayan, Naga Durga, Selvaraghavan, K.S. Ravikumar, Vanitha Vijayakumar, Ramya, Ashwath, Soundarya, Adithya Kathir, and an ensemble cast. The film's music is composed by Foxn, with cinematography by P.G. Muthiah and editing by N.B. Srikanth.

LOVE OH LOVE is all set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on July 10, and with the trailer generating phenomenal response and promotions gathering momentum, the film is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated youthful entertainers of the season.