The New Year festivities definitely calls for a grand celebration and catching up with your loved ones. Make the day joyful for your loved ones with these New Year wishes and quotes.
2024 is almost here! With new resolutions and goals, people across the world are set to ring in a prosperous New Year on January 1. The New Year festivities definitely calls for a grand celebration, catching up with your loved ones and levelling up your aspirations.
But first, jumpstart your New Year celebrations by sharing these heartfelt wishes, quotes and WhatsApp messages with your friends and family:
1. In 2024, may you find the courage to embrace change, welcoming new opportunities and adventures with open arms.
2. As the new year unfolds, may your dreams take flight and reach new heights. May success be your constant companion, and may each endeavor bring you closer to your aspirations.
3. Here's to leaving behind the old, embracing the new, and stepping into 2024 with open hearts and open minds.
4. As we bid farewell to 2023, may your heart be light, your days be bright, and your year be just right!
5. Wishing You an Amazing 2024 New Year. May this year bring you endless opportunities and happiness. Share these New Year wishes to inspire your loved ones to chase their dreams.
6. My dearest (parent/sibling/child), I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished this last year. I know you will continue to do great things in 2024. Have a wonderful holiday. Happy New Year!
7. Wishing that you have a truly remarkable and blissful year ahead! Happy New Year to you and your family!
8. Pop, fizz, clink—let’s toast to the future and pour another drink! Happy New Year!
9. This New Year, I wish that you have a superb January, a dazzling February, a Peaceful March, an anxiety-free April, a sensational May, and joy that keeps going from June to November, and then round off with an upbeat December.
10. Wishing you 12 months of success, 52 weeks of laughter, 365 days of fun, 8,760 hours of joy, 525,600 minutes of good luck, and 31,536,000 seconds of happiness.
As the New Year approaches, individuals eagerly anticipate the joyous celebrations that accompany the dawn of a fresh beginning. Surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones, people relish the prospect of new opportunities that the coming year holds. So why not share these quirky, heartfelt wishes with your dear ones to make thier day on January 1.
Nani, Mrunal Thakur and composer Hesham Abdul Wahab elevate debut director Shouryuv’s emotional drama about love and the play of destiny
Nani, Kiara Khanna and Mrunal Thakur in the Telugu film ‘Hi Nanna’, directed by Shouryuv | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Some stories urge us to suspend our disbelief and give in to their charm. Destiny and the power of love drive debut writer-director Shouryuv’s Telugu film Hi Nanna. This tale that introduces us to beautiful people in picture- perfect settings has a few nostalgic tropes such as a pet dog being a catalyst at crucial times. It is cinematic but comfortingly familiar. The leading man, actor Nani, portrays a single father, wearing his heart on his sleeve and making us well up in tears, and Mrunal Thakur revels in the portrayal of her layered characterisation. Hesham Abdul Wahab’s background score is a foil to this tale that sometimes sounds improbable and demands that we set our cynicism aside. Does it work? How much one enjoys this film depends on whether we accept some of the reveals as the narrative progresses and embrace it with its rough edges.
Viraj (Nani) is a celebrity photographer in Mumbai, living with his six-year-old daughter Mahi (child actor Kiara Khanna) in a house that belongs to architecture magazines (production designer Avinash Kolla and cinematographer Sanu John Varghese whip up an aesthetic visual palette). Viraj’s calendar is choc-a-bloc but he tailors it around his daughter’s requirements.
The first few minutes give us an idea of him being a hands-on father. Mahi’s small world with her father, grandfather (Jayaram), pet dog Pluto and Viraj’s friend and colleague Justin (Priyadarshi) looks nearly perfect. However, she is curious about her mother.
Storyline: A single father begins to narrate the story of the missing mother to his child and nothing remains the same
Music: Hesham Abdul Wahab
Shouryuv begins unpacking Viraj’s past in a fairytale manner, in a format that the father uses to tell his daughter bedtime stories, and slowly broaches the bittersweet portions. The writer-director hopes that his audience, too, will patiently listen in and not let the social media-driven short-term attention span get the better of them. He puts Viraj in a spot by making him narrate his past in the presence of Yashna (Mrunal Thakur, voice by Chinmayi), who has befriended Mahi minutes earlier. Slowly, the writer pulls a few tricks from his hat. Events leading up to intermission warrant us to embrace a few old world tropes, particularly about medical conditions and the play of fate.
One can either be dismissive about these trajectories or appreciate how the writer-director uses them to show the contrasting personalities in a relationship. If Viraj is all about hope, his wife has anxiety issues that stem from growing up in a broken home. There are promises made, only to be mocked by destiny. The woman wallows in grief and guilt while the man, also in grief, desperately holds on to a silver lining.
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A sizable portion of the narrative rests on the single father’s resilience. There’s a lovely scene early on between Viraj and his prospective mother-in-law playing out like a been-there-seen-that situation of highlighting economic differences. Viraj counters her in the most emphatic way possible, making us root for him. Nani makes the writing seem even better in the manner in which he portrays the determination and innocence of Viraj who believes in love at first sight and later as the father who will move heaven and earth for his daughter. This is easily Nani’s best in the emotional space since Jersey and he can make you well up long after leaving the hall.
Music composer Hesham Abdul Wahab is a big asset to the film. The songs are hummable and pleasant, but the background score takes the cake. When the strains of ‘Idhe idhe tholisariga…’ play at different points, it is impossible not to be moved. He also uses the calming notes of the waves and silences where essential.
Mahi’s mother’s story unravels by and by. There’s predictability in these portions that show how a strong romance, despite the chinks in its armour, can overshadow everything else. The banter on the beach and the party song (featuring Shruti Haasan) feel overdrawn. More characters are brought into the fray, like the ones played by Angad Bedi and Viraj Ashwin. A cheeky Kuch Kuch Hota Hai reference is thrown in through a line uttered at the mandap.
We know how the tale will end. But in the process, it’s not just Viraj and his wife who get to introspect on their relationship, parenting and destiny. Jayaram’s understated character gently reinforces the beauty of love and responsible parenting for the older generation as well.
Mrunal, who is gorgeously turned out by design, comes into her own in the final act. After Sita Ramam, this film gives her a more complex character and she steps up, giving it her best shot. For Priyadarshi, the friend-colleague part is like a walk in the park. He blends in with ease and in many places, where he rolls his eyes at the turn of events or nudges things in a certain direction, he is us, the rational audience wondering where all of this is headed. Child actor Kiara Khanna holds the drama together with her innocence and vulnerability.
A few minor details make the narrative more authentic. The story that begins in Mumbai, travels back in time to Coonoor and then to Goa, reflects the multilingual, multicultural people of these regions with a smattering of English, Hindi and Tamil.
I wish an episode in the final stretch didn’t rely on convenient coincidences. One can argue that elite Mumbaikars keep jetsetting to Goa and it isn’t a surprise to find well-qualified professionals among them. Shouryuv drops hints when he introduces certain supporting characters and their profession. Yet, it came across as filmi. Nevertheless, the narrative has its heart in the right place and hopes that we embrace it despite its leaps of faith.
Hi Nanna is a heartwarming story of a father, daughter and the mother fighting her demons and believing in love. Such stories don’t go out of fashion, and Shouryuv’s drama is a breather amid larger-than-life action entertainers.
Rat-hole miners on Tuesday made the breakthrough possible in the Uttarkashi rescue operation as Munna Qureshi became the first miner to reach the trapped men.
As the massive 17-day rescue operation in the Silkyara tunnel successfully ended on Wednesday and all 41 workers walked out of the entrapment healthy, the rescuers were in the limelight receiving all the praises for their restless hard work and grit. PM Modi in his message saluted the spirit of all the people associated with the rescue operation and said everyone involved in the mission set an amazing example of humanity and teamwork.
Many government agencies with their huge forces were deployed in the unpredictable terrain of the Uttarakhand tunnel 24X7 though the last mile was achieved by the rat-hole miners. And Munna Qureshi who was the first one to reach the workers has been hailed as the hero of the operation.
Who is Munna Qureshi? The first rescuer to meet the 41 men
Munna Qureshi is a 29-year-old rat-hole miner working in a Delhi company -- a trenchless engineering services company that clears sewer and water lines. He was one of the dozens of rat-hole miners who were brought to Uttarakhand on Monday to remove the last 12 metres of debris.
Rat-hole miners were the last resort of the rescue operation after the US-made auger machine was extracted from the tunnel after it went kaput. Rat-hole mining is a method of taking out coal by digging small pits -- but it was banned in 2014 as a coal-extracting method for being unscientific.
Munna Qureshi said he removed the last rock on Tuesday evening and saw the 41 trapped workers. "They hugged me, cheered in applause and thanked me profusely," Munna Qureshi said.
Monu Kumar, Wakeel Khan, Feroz, Parsadi Lodhi and Vipin Rajout were the other rat-hole miners who reached the trapped men subsequently after their arduous operation. The men inside waiting long for a breakthrough from the other side erupted in joy and lifted the miners. "They gave me almonds," one of the miners said. The miners stayed there for half an hour before the NDRF came to take the trapped men.
Being a foodie is a common trait amongst Indians and so are gastric problems. Indigestion, gas, bloating, hiccups, heartburn, stomach pain, ulcers, and nausea are some of the common features of gastric problems. These are the frequently received rewards of an unhealthy lifestyle, including binge eating, smoking, drinking alcohol, sleep disorders, eating junk, stress, etc. Flaunting these rewards can put one into embarrassing situations.
Owing to discomfort, one cannot leave it unattended. Also, one cannot consult a doctor or approach a pharmacy so frequently for such a general problem.
Some of the most common causes include stress, a diet that is excessive in dairy, an inactive lifestyle and not including enough fibre in your diet. These are apart from medical conditions that may cause gastric problems as a symptom.
Over the past few decades, the city of Dubai has evolved into one of the world’s most architecturally and technologically advanced cities. Those who live in Dubai have a taste for the more luxurious things that life has to offer.
Dubai attracts celebrity vacationers like Robert De Niro, the Kardashians, and pretty much every Instagram influencer out there. The city, which has a GDP of $108 billion, boasts attractions like resorts, marine-life parks, skyscrapers, and artificial islands. The ultramodern architecture contrasts nicely with all of the natural flora and fauna in the emirate.
The people of Dubai are able to indulge themselves in everything from golden desserts to exotic pets. Given the right amount of money, there are not many things that Emiratis are not able to purchase. The following are just a handful of life’s hidden pleasures that one can find in Dubai.
1. Water Cars
Est. Value: $135,000* Produced by: WaterCar
Though WaterCar is an American company that is actually based on SoCal, it is popular in Dubai. WaterCar specializes in manufacturing and developing luxury amphibious cars. The company was founded in 1999 by Dave March, who was so inspired by the 1960s’ Amphicar (another amphibious luxury vehicle) that he developed WaterCar.
The first commercial water car was available to the public in 2013 when WaterCar released the Panther. In having a rather reasonable price tag of just over $135, 000, the more recent model has become a popular accessory in Dubai, and not just amongst the higher class, although Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheik Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum, does own six of these amphibious water vehicles, himself.
While driving into the water at speeds just shy of 10mph, the wheels are retracted by a hydraulic off-road suspension. In under fifteen seconds the transition from a land vehicle into a sea-faring one, and vice versa, can be completed. Once the transformation is complete, these ‘Bond-esque’ vehicles can reach speeds in the water of more than 60mph.
2. Undersea Hotels
Est. Value: $6,295 per night* Produced by: Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Known mostly for its tall buildings and man-made islands, Dubai also has several hotels that allow for their guests to stay in undersea hotel rooms. Most commonly located in the Ambassador Lagoon, the suite’s guests are treated to magnificent undersea views for a hefty price. The most well-known of the underwater suites can be located at Atlantis, The Palm
“Neptune” and “Poseidon”, are the two aptly named underwater suites located in Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. They sport floor-to-ceiling windows which provide an up-close look at the more than sixty-five thousand sea creatures who inhabit the lagoon.
However, if you’re looking to stay in an underwater hotel, be prepared to spend some cash. It costs, at minimum, $314 a night to stay in an underwater Dubai hotel, which is pricier than even some of the nicest hotels in the States. A stay in some of the most luxurious underwater hotels can cost up to $25,000 for just one night.
3. Robotic Camel Racers
Est. Value: $500/Robot Jockey* Produced by: Various Local Shops
Pre-2004, camel racing in the UAE had a plethora of human rights issues including the use of small children as jockeys for the aforementioned races. The Emirates’ answer was to ban the use of all human jockeys in 2004 and replace them with robots.
The robots are aluminum framed and have the capability to transmit the camel’s heart rate and running speed to the race team who are observing from a safe distance. The robots’ operators are driven along the side of the track in separate vehicles while handling the remote control devices.
The use of robot jockeys has prevented numerous injuries and countless human rights violations across the UAE’s camel-racing circuit. Not to mention, they also look cool. The robotic camels have been modified a lot as the years have gone on. Though development began in 2001, it took four years before the first race occurred. The robots had to be modified to survive the tough desert terrain and hot weather.
4. Helicopter Taxis For Cars
Est. Value: Unknown Produced by: Unknown
If there is one thing that automobile drivers around the world have in common, it is the frustration they feel when stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Few things grind the gears of a driver more than staring at the back bumper of the car in front of them for hours on end. In Dubai, they have found an answer to all of one’s traffic problems.
Helicopter taxis can be seen flying around the Dubai skies, transporting the vehicles of the rich and famous from one location to the next. Those who live in the Burj Khalifa can see these heli-car taxis flying across the city on a regular basis.
The project began in 2017, thanks to a German startup, which signed on to be the first airborne taxi service in the world. The eighteen-rotor AATs (autonomous air taxis) were supplied by Volocopter. For a group of six people, a taxi ride costs about $144 per person, so it’s not cheap.
5. Hydroflying Boots
Est. Value: $5,000* Produced by: Flyboard
Adrenaline junkies and water sport enthusiasts in Dubai have almost seemingly endless possibilities when it comes to the ways in which they can occupy their free time. If high-rise tennis courts and pet tigers are not enough to get one’s kicks, they need to look no further than the Persian Gulf to find their next thrill-seeking weekend activity: hydro-flying boots.
