Ali Fazal, Kumail Nanjiani on cloud nine after Oscar nods
Mumbai: Actors Ali Fazal and Kumail Nanjiani are ecstatic as their films "Victoria & Abdul" and "The Big Sick" respectively scored nominations at the 90 Academy Awards.
The Fazal and Judi Dench-starrer bagged two nods in Best Costume Design, and Best Make-up and Hairstyling categories and the actor feels grateful for the recognition.
"And here's to the @TheAcademy for nominating us for Costume Design and Hairstyling and Make up at the 90th oscars this year. It's an absolute honour.
"And my heartiest congratulations to all the other nominees in all categories. Great year and great films to be rubbing shoulders with," he wrote on Twitter alongside stills from the Stephen Frears-directed movie.
Nanjiani's film received one but major nomination in the leagues for the Original Screenplay Oscar, which the actor co-wrote with his wife Emily V Gordon.
The Pakistani-American actor-stand-up comic, who also stars in the biographical film, said the Oscar nomination is surreal feeling for him and he would "never get over" it.
"Emily and I met when she heckled me at a comedy show in the back of a diner in 2006. We wrote a movie about it and 12 years later we're nominated for an Oscar..." he tweeted.
He also praised "The Shape of Water" for scoring the highest (13) nominations at this year's Oscars.
"Also, how cool is it that a Guillermo del Toro monster movie is the leader in Oscar nominations? The answer is very.
It's very cool," he wrote.
"Kobe Bryant and I have the same number of career Oscar nominations," Nanjiani quipped.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who also stars in "The Big Sick", took to social media saying he was proud to be a part of the film.
"Congratulations @emilyvgordon and @kumailn for the #OscarNominations for Best Original Screenplay for @TheBigSickMovie. So proud to be part of this gem of a film," he wrote.
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Iqra aims to create leaders for community: Syed Mohamed Beary at Annual Day in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: “The aim of Iqra is to create leaders for the community,” said Syed Mohamed Beary while presiding over the Annual Day 2026 and Hifz felicitation programme of Iqra Arabic School, highlighting the institution’s focus on leadership and long-term community development.
Presiding over the event, Syed Mohamed Beary, Chairman of the Moulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi Educational and Charitable Trust, Mangaluru, spoke at length about the journey of the institution since its launch in 2000. He recalled the early days of the school and said it was started with a clear vision to serve the community through education rooted in values. He expressed pride in how the institution has grown over the years, both in strength and in its role within the community.
He said Iqra Arabic School was not built only to provide basic education, but to nurture individuals who can take responsibility and guide society. According to him, the institution has consistently worked towards shaping students into capable leaders who can face present-day challenges while staying connected to their roots. He stressed that the focus has always been on building character along with knowledge.
The programme was compered by Moulana Farhan Nadwi, who introduced the vision of the institution and said the school strives to prepare leaders and scholars who can respond to modern challenges faced by the community.
Chief guest Moulana Maqbool Kobatte, Principal, Jamia Islamia Bhatkal, congratulated the students and their parents for completing the memorisation of the Qur’an. He said these Huffaz are part of Allah’s promise of preserving the Qur’an until the Day of Judgement. He described the Qur’an as a guide for life and said while recitation is important, it is equally necessary to practise its teachings. He also noted that in the race for worldly success, people are moving away from values such as humanity, brotherhood and unity.
Taha Mateen, Chairman and Managing Director of ACURA Speciality Hospital, said the community should not forget its Islamic roots and history. He recited lines of poetry by Iqbal: “Kabhi ae nawjawaan Muslim tadabbur bhi kiya tu ne, wo kya gardu tha tu jiska hai ek toota hua taara.” He stressed the need to understand the Qur’an and recognise its importance, and urged students to continue learning across different fields without stopping at any stage. He congratulated the students, parents and the management.
Dr. C P Habeeb Rahman, Chairman and Managing Director o Unity Health Complex, Mangaluru said there is a need for introspection within the Muslim community to understand what has gone wrong and why it has fallen behind despite contributing to global civilisation. He also spoke about the lack of leadership within the community.
Students presented cultural programmes based on Islamic teachings during the event. Two of the books authored by the students of the institution were also released during the event
A total of 18 students who completed Hifz this year were felicitated and presented with mementos by the guests. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Moulana Salim Khalifa, the principal of the institution.
