Author: NT Bureau

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday sailed through the confidence motion in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, securing the support of 144 MLAs — comfortably above the majority mark of 118 — in a high-voltage political showdown.

 Minutes after winning the Assembly floor test, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay revoked the appointment of his personal astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (Political), following widespread criticism.

Premalatha Vijayakanth, general secretary of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), on Tuesday alleged that horse-trading and bargaining had taken place ahead of the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the Assembly.

The Centre has increased import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15% with immediate effect, a move expected to push domestic prices of the precious metals even higher.

A star-studded film centred on social justice, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, has been titled System and is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on May 22.

Thaai Kizhavi, headlined by Radhika Sarathkumar, has emerged as a strong performer at the box office, earning close to ₹100 crore worldwide. The film’s steady run in theatres has been driven by positive word-of-mouth and sustained audience interest across urban and rural centres.

Actor Jai has said that his role in the upcoming film Sattendru Maarudhu Vaanilai includes deliberate references to C Joseph Vijay, as his character is portrayed as a devoted fan.

Actor Ravi Mohan was conferred with the Devi Ratna Award at a temple festival in Kerala, recognising his contribution to cinema and his acclaimed performances in recent years.

Actor Rajinikanth recently shared a humorous yet thought-provoking incident from his life, recalling how a visit to a spiritual ashram left him humbled and “crushed his ego.” Speaking at an event hosted by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the superstar reflected on the fleeting nature of fame and the grounding power of spirituality.