K Balakumar
@kbalakumar
Followers
12,278
Following
706
Media
2,334
Statuses
97,679
Ex-Editor News Today. Humour Writer. Now freelancer, gun for hire on TN, Sports, Films. Written for CricketNext, Yahoo and TechRadar.
Chennai
Joined February 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
CHEER UP ARTIST FOURTH
• 93786 Tweets
#PKAtelier24xZNN
• 46703 Tweets
#ヒロアカ
• 37250 Tweets
PKAW 2024 x NuNew
• 31376 Tweets
花火大会
• 18676 Tweets
オースティン
• 15037 Tweets
ファーム日本一
• 12485 Tweets
WALK WITH ENHYPEN IN GOYANG
• 11653 Tweets
Badminton With Patrick
• 10170 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
Another🧵:
Ever since I wrote this
I have been receiving mails from people surprised that there is a KJ Yesudas Malayalam version of Raaja's show-stopping Ananda Ragam song from Panneer Pushpangal.
2
1
11
For 400 wickets, all bowlers will take a bow.
Ashwin went one step more. He took Archer.
62
908
9K
If it were Tamil Nadu, Kohli and others would have been at Dhoni's place asking Sakshi to take over as the captain.
147
4K
4K
27 yrs ago I came to Chennai on a Pongal day not knowing what I was going to do with my life.
First morning, at Saravana Bhavan, a bowl of Sakkara Pongal came with the food I had ordered. Was told it was free.
The city has been kind and sweet, unasked, to me since then.
40
218
4K
CSK in the finals of the IPL with Dhoni hitting the winning runs is the assurance we needed to realise that normalcy is coming back to the world.
12
562
4K
'19.29 hrs'. We can all agree that the Railway employee in him hasn't retired yet.
16
250
3K
Ian Bishop has consisteny showed what it is to be the voice of your country (in this case West Indies) without being irritatingly partisan or silly. He has the right amount of passion that is evenly tempered with objectivity. Listening to him is almost spiritual.
48
376
2K
81 all out. 49 to get.
Just the right numbers for a 'square' turner.
26
158
2K
The death of well-known industrialist N Sankar yesterday is an apt occasion to talk of one small geographical belt that has thrown up pioneering entrepreneurs from TN: Kallidaikurichi.
47
343
1K
One thing I have noticed as a journo is, it doesn't take much to hoodwink the Indian media. Most edit rooms don't have specialists. In these times of layoffs and understaffed newsrooms, it looks like it's easier to pull the wool over media's eyes. A thread:
79
629
1K
A cancer patient kept herself fortified during her surgery through Ilaiyaraaja's music.
(From the hospital's Insta page).
28
313
1K
TN finance minister seems to have anger issues, and suffers from an inexplicable 'complex'.
86
200
1K
Saw a news clip where a Sun TV anchor casually and needlessly slipped in a reference to 'Mylapore'. The imputation in the context was casteist. Good on
@sumanthraman
, who was one of the panelists, to condemn it and the call the anchor out.
58
151
1K
His name was Sashvath. Swiggy is lucky to have such delivery persons. He operates in Virugambakkam-Valasaravakkam area in Chennai.
@Swiggy_in
@SwiggyCares
13
43
1K
The three matches that CSK has won in this edition of the IPL are ones in which Kedar Jadhav did not get to bat or play at all.
8
98
1K
Ordered food via Swiggy an hour or two ago. The guy delivered on time. But one peep into the pack, I saw the contours of dosai, which I had not ordered.
I ran back after the delivery person and told him that the order had been mixed up.
17
118
924
No matter what, the milk delivery guys do a terrific job. They rose to the occasion during the 2015 floods. And today when it is impossible to get out, they have been heroically at it again.
#Chennai
11
127
896
Someone has taken the mickey out of the Sun TV reporter. 😂😂
21
100
773
That dropped catch has saved, potentially, 10 or 12 runs for RR.
4
36
716
An Editor asked me, "what's your main takeaway from Modi-Xi meet?" He was asking for a story pitch.
I googled a bit, & mostly the menu of the meet showed up.
So wrote back,"Thanks to the meet, I learnt Sundakkai in English is called pea aubergine."
Still to hear from that Editor.
17
145
697
Power outages happen almost every day now. To ask whether there was no power cut during the previous regime is diversionary. To be sure, there were. But not as frequent as it is now. Hence people are pointing it out. Also, this was the fear expressed during poll campaign too.
37
116
632
Chennai stay safe. You know the drills. Thermal inners. Two layers of woollen clothing. Windows and doors shut, and every corner taped. Heater at full blast. We will see this night through as we have thousands of harsh cold nights before.
#ChennaiSnow
34
39
629
You are losing it, man.
Hate and vitriol was what EVR came up with. Full proof for that is all over the social media and books.
It doesn't hurt to actually read them and learn. But ever since you embedded yourself in the Dravidian camp, you have apparently stopped reading.
Sanghi Brahmins’ favourite sport is spotting imaginary contradictions in the Dravidian movement. If it was anyone else, it would be worthwhile pointing out that supporting ���a” decision of the MA to stick to their guns despite the triggering of hate and vitriol against Periyar,
27
3
18
11
130
620
Trivias from history never cease to amaze you. During the last season of controversy in TN over EVR followers breaking idols of Hindu Gods in the past, I chanced upon, in a piece of writing, the name Shanmugam. 1/n
25
277
610
Cheeka's birthday celebrations yesterday with some of his famed teammates. Good to see the 'boys' continuing to have fun.
16
87
618
Why is Twitter character limit pegged at 280?
Because it doesn't want to cross the Laxman rekha.
#281
13
276
596
An open and working Amma Unavugam, which I saw this night when rest of the city had all but closed, was essentially the best tribute to her.
2
654
582
IPL may be carefully-orchestrated, market-driven razzmatazz. But if you have ever been to a CSK pre-season nets at the Chepauk, with raucous fans cheering every move of Dhoni, suddenly you feel you are in a strangely fun religious communion. All rationalisations & cynicism stop.
7
48
570
Dear Ola, I took your cab last night. A few mins into the ride, the driver asked me, "who will win the elections, sir?"
Ola, this is cheating. If our principal sources of election reporting are going to behave so irresponsibly, how do you expect us journos to write our reports?
14
134
519
Had to drive from Vadapalani to Mylapore just now. No traffic. More importantly in the stretch I came --- Arcot Road, Nungambakkam High Road, Radhakrishnan Road --- no water-logging, or uprooted-trees. Good work by Chennai Corporation workers. Well done.
6
57
530
Zomato, which has reported a quarterly loss of around Rs 360 cr, has got approval for its investment of Rs 740 cr in Grofers that last year reported a loss of Rs 637 cr. In a related development, Zomato's shares closed 1.15% up on NSE.
I love modern economics.
25
58
517
Also, if it were just rumour-mongering, something that happens all the time on social media, would the State's Fin Min, who by his own words is always busy, respond with schoolboyish jibes & casteist slur?
Perhaps there was more than a kernel of truth & that probably landed.
🤦🏼♂️Does she have any idea of Chennai property prices? How could ANYONE buy EVERY property over 5 Crore (100s of them)?🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
Such illogical rumor-mongering would be shameful for a journalist (allegedly editor now). But usual wage-work for covert agents😷, especially of certain🧵ilk
606
1K
4K
16
97
511
I am a sucker for bi-lingual puns. They may seem childish and silly to some. But to me, it takes a creative and fun mind to come up with them. Here's a clutch of fwds. No idea as to who thought them up in the first place. Loved them.
#TamilAndEnglish
30
97
518
"...especially of certain🧵ilk".
This is unvarnished hate-mongering and bigotry. But in TN, this is every-day event and passes for liberalism.
But this man is different from others of his ilk. He purveys the cultivated casteist chauvinism in Americanised English & soc med lingo.
🤦🏼♂️Does she have any idea of Chennai property prices? How could ANYONE buy EVERY property over 5 Crore (100s of them)?🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
Such illogical rumor-mongering would be shameful for a journalist (allegedly editor now). But usual wage-work for covert agents😷, especially of certain🧵ilk
606
1K
4K
15
113
505
CSK may not have had a Chennai player in its ranks. But it did play with a spirit that is reflective of the city: Understated, dignified, always hopeful and fun in an old-school sort of way.
13
44
512
This entire SMAT season has been a slap on the face of the CSK management for not playing Sai Kishore in 2020.
15
39
502
I just called my friend working in a senior position in TNEB to know about the possible grid issues arising out of the light off plea by Modi.
My friend gave me a sensible answer: "frankly, in the accounts department, where I am working, we have no idea about these things da."
19
47
502
A commenter on Cricinfo: "Out of 400 overs bowled so far in this match, Ashwin is on the field bowling or batting for 310 of those! What a commitment playing for your country!"
5
59
500
It is time that the usage of 'Mylapore', 'maama', 'maami' in certain contexts is called out for casteism. You will also see a lot of woke ambis resorting to it. They are just looking for cheap validation from the powers that be in TN.
22
74
473
While Dhoni was the cynosure with that sprinting run-out, but man, that Jadeja catch! As the cliché goes, he made it look simple. A satisfying win for the ages.
India on this day 6 years ago, had one of the most craziest final over finish in the T20 World Cup. A game which we thought is sealed by Bangladesh, Pandya defending 2 from 3, the masterclass from MS Dhoni. A night to remember for everyone.
178
2K
10K
7
26
471
TN Krishnan isn't with us any more. But this was him playing Jingle Bells last year at the Music Academy.
#MerryChristmas
14
121
498
The thing about the Air India peeing incident is the reluctance (especially from the liberal set) to call out the underlying issue that is at the core of many such misdemeanours and crimes: Drinking.
47
99
454
When you are eating nethrangai chips, one or two pieces among the lot may sometimes be from a slightly ripened slice. Their unexpected mellow sweetness amidst crunchy saltiness is one of life's underappreciated (ephemeral) pleasures.
13
41
448
Why do they keep erasing the previous day's kolam in this Tamil month?
Because they read it as mark azhi.
#Sorry
15
20
444
Me *hiding under the bed*
Armed Robber: *Hums a tune*
Me: *Silence*
Armed Robber: *Keeps humming the tune* *It's over 3 months now*
Me: *Hums the same tune finally*
Armed Robber: Why did you remain silent for so long?
Me: It's a Rahman tune, takes time to grow on you.
12
80
442
Why is the veena, in this iconic song in Thiruvilaiyadal, painted with a fish? Well, it's the symbol of Pandias, & here Lord Siva is belting out this song to save the honour of Pandias (Madurai). Ergo, fish.
Yesteryear directors plied their skills quietly & smartly without fuss.
14
59
443
Suriya's character is from one of Lokesh's previous movies. Hence he named him: Rolex (role ex).
4
188
407
Kerala vegetarian meals (the Onam Sadhya type) is way overrated. The least appetising among the four southern States' standard veg meals.
What is your unpopular opinion about a food that would put you in this situation?
868
126
1K
62
28
434
CSK should think that they are playing in front of the I, J, K stands at Chepauk. They will get the home advantage that way.
9
54
435
A person well known to me passed away due to Covid-19 today. He was in his 40s only. Full active person and with no known co-morbidities.
The point is don't let your guard down, folks. Stay safe and continue to follow the protocols.
17
99
424
The humble peanut in puliyodharai tastes more agreeable than the boastful cashew in thengai sadham.
#TodaysDiningTableMusing
32
21
434
Wrote on the 60 yrs of arguably the highest selling recorded album in India.
And typically, MS donated all the proceeds to TTD.
10
100
424
This is outright threat. And a call for further violence. Openly says that Brahmins' 'poonal' will be cut.
He brazenly explains how the Dravidian ecosystem came down on Badri Seshadri who merely gave an opinion on Anna.
This hate-filled toxicity is the reality of TN today.
This is the definition of a hate speech, least bothered about such threats from this ideologically impotent guy, what am really worried about is that the CM of the state is so free to spend his time for such mundane issues...
115
286
593
27
160
387
Valid criticism. But this sort of political correctness is applicable only to films, not real life it seems. For, a 72-year-old man, who actually married a 28-year-old woman (the woman reportedly used to call him 'appa') is unironically built as a champion of women in TN.
#EVR
30
97
386
My fav scene from a Tamil film in '17 is from Singam-3. Duraisingam hits a baddie who lands on a weigh scale & in the impact the pointer shoots up to 1500 kg. If you're wondering why 1500 kg, well, that's directorial touch for the "ongi adicha ondra ton weightu da" line
#YabbaDei
14
116
371
Michael Madana Kama Rajan
Holding, Garner, Croft and Roberts.
Name a more iconic quartet, we’ll wait.
692
871
4K
10
45
378
The best tribute to a humorist is not to cry at his death, but think about his innumerable jokes and laugh, and try to feel better at the situation. Go well, 'Crazy' Mohan. Personally speaking, your plays & dialogues shaped a good part of my humour sensibilities. Thanks for that.
6
105
377
The apartment watchman was listening to a song at 5 a.m. I smiled at him amiably on my morning walk. Unasked, he said, "indha maadhiri paatu ellam ippo varadhu illa, sir".
The watchman must be over 60 yrs. The song he was referring to was: Snehidane, Snehidane.
#Unexpected
9
24
380
TN today.
T23 captured in the afternoon.
T20 captured in the night.
2
18
386
Criticism of BJP, Modi, right wing are never issues. They should be criticised. But if you find any Tambrahm talking up EVR then what you see is a textbook case of performative exercise. Absolutely bogus.
12
75
370
Dinesh Karthik made his first class debut for TN in 2002. And for twenty years, he has been there or thereabouts. Always in the reckoning. That is some longevity.
1
20
365
It is good to recall here that CSK paid Rs 7.6 cr for Kedar Jadhav and Rs 1.6 cr for Faf du Plessis.
12
37
353
So far the IPL opening ceremony has reflected the rich cultural history of kindergarten annual day functions.
7
40
360
Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple lit in beauty.
(A WA fwd of last evening's Karthigai festival.)
1
29
353
A few yrs back, when my daughter was a kid, I, like most dads, willingly used to lose in games like ludo to her. Now she is grown up. With her studies & other commitments, she hardly has any free time. But I still play ludo. I still wantedly lose. This time, to my 85-yr-old mom.
8
40
351
A poignant letter from a doc on TN govt allowing full occupancy of theatres from Pongal, what with Vijay and STR movies set for release.
8
167
337
Varalakshmi poojai at home. Golden hues for the goddess of gold.
5
14
351
Bjorn Borg at Mylapore.
#ServeAndVolleyAtKapali
(Ok, he didn't volley much)
(WA fwd, dunno who clicked it).
16
23
346
Says a man who is now embedded in the office of a top Minister in the State. He's part of the cabal that runs the hateful socmed of these parts. The media ecosystem this man represents is as dangerous, if not more, as the one he is caviling against.
8
102
350
Wrote about chess, cricket & Chennai.
And in the passing, also mentioned about how in the prevailing Dravidian ethos, true sons of the soil champions like Anand & Ashwin will be deemed outsiders.
A day of spotlight on Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Anand and Ashwin and, by extension, the city they all hail from.
@kbalakumar
0
25
139
9
72
352
I think the biggest motivation for Faf and Watson must have been the presence of a fully padded up Kedar Jadhav in the dug out.
6
36
347
MS' grandson - Radha Vishwanathan's son - wades into TMK and says the family was deeply hurt and 'utterly dismayed' by his tasteless article on the great singer. The family also respects the artists who are returning the Sangita Kalanidhi award.
11
128
337
😂😂😂
Brilliant one considering the fact that meme bois seldom fall back on older movies. This reference is spot on.
4
49
328
K Balachander's 90th birth anniversary today is a good occasion to talk a bit about why his cinematic association with Kamal Haasan is special and interesting. A thread based on just 3 small scenes from their last movie together.
26
80
327
If you have watched 10 of the 100 Tests of Joe, you have basically watched his square Root.
8
23
323