Mira and Dipha Thiruchelvam, of the award-winning Tamil folk rock band 9 Grader Nord, sat down with Tamil Guardian to speak about their music; life in Norway as second-generation Eelam Tamils; and for Eelam Tamils to find their own voice.

This interview comes as the band has just won the Spellemannsprisen, often described as 'Norway’s Grammy Awards’, for their latest album “Yalpanam”. “Yalpanam” is the historic Tamil name for Jaffna prior to colonialism. The band’s name is a reference to the fact that the coordinates for Jaffna are 9 degrees north of the equator.

Celebrations took place in the North-East to mark Easter Sunday and Good Friday. 

British Tamil teenager Amuruthaa Surenkumar made history as the first professional Tamil cricketer to represent the English national team last week, making her debut in an under-19 match against Sri Lanka.

Imperial College London’s Tamil Society celebrated the 30th anniversary of Mega Maalai, Europes's largest annual Tamil student-led cultural showcase.

The showcase was held earlier this month at the ExCel London, their largest venue to date, and with over 300 performers, the event has reached unprecedented heights, delivering a spectacle of dance, music and fashion.

The Trincomalee Pathirakali Ambal Temple chariot festival, held on March 23, 2024, witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees, marking yet another successful year for the event.

The highlight of the event unfolded at 8:00 am when Amman graced the ceremonial Chariot, escorted by her sons Pillaiyaar and Murugan.

British Tamil youth gathered on the eve of International Women’s Day to celebrate Tamil women in the arts. 

K Manikandan seems to be carving a niche for himself by sensibly selecting well-written and unique indie scripts, which has found him on a deserved hot streak in the industry. Coming off the success of yesteryear’s rom-com darling ‘Good Night,’ Manikandan’s latest release is ‘Lover,’ a romantic drama directed by debutante Prabhuram Vyas. The film also stars Sri Gouri Priya, whose work in the first episode of Modern Love: Chennai ‘Lalagunda Bommaigal’ proved her capability to perform. These two stars shoulder the painful romantic drama deftly between them. 

Nine years since her last film, Aishwarya Rajinikanth returns with ‘Lal Salaam,’ a film that unsuccessfully melds numerous genres. It stars Vishnu Vishal, Vikranth and the director’s father Rajinikanth in an extended cameo. 

On 2 February, Malvern Family Resource Center (MFRC) launched its #MalvernMade campaign to celebrate and recognise Malvern changemakers who have made a positive impact in the community. The event was attended by notable politicians and community leaders including Scarborough – Rouge Park MP Gary Anandasangaree and Deputy Mayor McKelvie.

At Jaffna University's recent Thai Pongal festival, students from all 11 faculties, alongside their union and management, collaborated to boil 108 pots as they collectively marked a new beginning with fresh hopes and aspirations. The event was filled with spirited activities like tug-of-war and pillow fights at the main campus, while the Kailasapathy Auditorium showcased vibrant cultural performances, dance, and theatre.