Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Appa is proud of me: Dulquer Salmaan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Actor Dulquer Salmaan. Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu
Actor Dulquer Salmaan. Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu

The son of actor Mammootty on his upcoming film release, style statement and more.

It’s a big week for Dulquer Salmaan. And he’s enjoying every minute of it.

This Friday, his film with Mani Ratnam — O Kadhal Kanmani — hits screens. And yesterday, he made many heads turn at the launch of men’s platinum jewellery by Prince Jewellery.

Actor Dulquer Salmaan launching platinum collections at Prince Jewellery, Cathedral Road. Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu
Actor Dulquer Salmaan launching platinum collections at Prince Jewellery, Cathedral Road. Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu

Not many know that this young actor, son of popular star Mammootty, is very much a Chennai boy. “I’ve done all my schooling at Chennai — it’s always home for me,” he told The Hindu Metroplus, “All my growing up years have been spent here and I have really fond memories associated with the city.”

His father, who has been a hot favourite in Malayalam cinema for many years, is very happy with his progress — both as an actor and a person. “He’s very proud and secure. He knows I’m finally doing something worthwhile with life!”

While Dulquer has been active in Mollywood for the past few years, he’s making in-roads into Tamil cinema in a big way now. After a good outing in Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, his biggie with Mani Ratnam has been the talk of the town. So, how did his father react when he bagged a Mani Ratnam project? “He reacted as a father and not as an actor. He knew I was in the best hands possible. He’s proud that I got an opportunity to act in such a prestigious film; he’s just basking in that.”

The young actor is a huge hit among youngsters and enjoys a massive female following. A lot of that stems from his style statement, which is considered simple and elegant. Ask him about that, and he says, “For me, style is all about confidence. What you wear, both in terms of clothing and jewellery, should add to your confidence.” And that’s exactly why he likes platinum.

“It isn’t loud. I might play characters that are loud in the movies, but in real life, I’m not loud in terms of personality. Platinum, I feel, is a bit like that.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Srinivasa Ramanajum / April 15th, 2015

T’puram, Navi Mumbai Tamil Sangams Feted

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Chennai :

Tamil Sangams at Navi Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram have been chosen for the TN Government’s ‘Thamizh Thai’ award for the years 2014 and 2015 respectively. The awards carry a shield, certificate of appreciation and `5 lakh.

The announcement was made on Monday along with other awards instituted after Tamil scholars and poets as well as the Chief Minister’s Computer Tamil award.

For the year 2014, the following scholars have been chosen for the awards: A Lalithaa Sundaram (Kapilar award), Marudhu Azhagu Raja (U.Ve.Sa award), SV Shanmugam (Kambar award), Sudha Seshaiyyan (Sollin Selvar award), J Narayanasamy (GU Pope award) and SM Mohammed Ali (Umaruppulavar award).

2015 awardees : Poet Pirasoodan (Kapilar award), Kudavayil Subramanian ( U.Ve.Sa award), G Selvam (Kambar award), S Sathiyaseelan (Sollin Selvar award), Madurai Ilangavin (M Arokiasamy – GU Pope award), M Sayabu Maraikkayar (Umaruppulavar award) and Nirmala Mohan (Elangovadigal award). Prof.N Deivasundaram has been chosen for the Computer Tamil award for the year 2013 while Virubha Valartamil Nigandu T Kumaresan has bagged it for 2014. All these awardees will be presented with a GOLD medal, certificate of appreciation, a shawl and `1 lakh.

Jaya’s Greetings

AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Monday greeted the Tamils, living across the globe on the eve of Tamil New Year celebrations. Jayalalithaa said, “Let this New Year be a very prosperous one for the people of Tamil Nadu. Let this year bring health and wealth to you all.” She added, “In this new year, let us all vow to work unitedly to thwart all roadblocks and make Tamil Nadu a prosperous State.”

Governor K Rosaiah said “On the occasion of Tamil New Year, Vaisaki, Baisakhi and Vishu, I extend my best wishes to the people.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / April 14th, 2015

‘Glad that Carnatic Land is Open to Hindustani Music’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Nazim Hussain on the tabla with Pandit S Ballesh on the shehnai
Nazim Hussain on the tabla with Pandit S Ballesh on the shehnai

Nazim Hussain, one of the sons of Shehnai exponent Bismillah Khan, is among the renowned tabla players in the country. Recently, for a tribute to his father in Chennai organised by Tansen Academy of Music, the tabla artiste visited the city.

Nazim Hussain, who has trained in playing the tabla since his childhood, solely to accompany his father in his performances, has also played the instrument for films, a major one among them being Sanaadi Appanna – a film considered to be a Kannada adaptation of Thillana Mohanambal. He has played in various concerts at Benares, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai as well. The tabla maestro recounts his experiences to City Express.

First Experience

I have visited the city several times. However, I haven’t kept a track of the number of times. The first time I came here was when I was 16 or 17 years old. It was a Sangeet Sammelan – a gathering of artistes of high calibre such as Pandit Bade Ghulam Ali and Vilayat Khan. I had performed alongside my father, who was playing the Shehnai at the concert. It was a rare and different experience.

Go-to places

Since I usually visit only when there are concerts, I barely step out to see places other than sabhas. However, sometimes I make it a point to visit the Saibaba Temple in Saligramam, because that is near my friend S Ballesh’s residence, where I visit each time I come to Chennai. I meditate there; the space gives me serene vibrations. I also visit the Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane sometimes.

Experiences with Tamil film musicians and Chennai audience

I have played some minor bits for Tamil films, but to recount something memorable, I should mention my recording experience in 1976 in Chennai, I think it was Sanaadi Appanna only. We had recorded in Gemini and Prasad studios for nine days in Chennai along with 100 other musicians. The music director was G K Venkatesh. Ilaiyaraaja was on the keyboard then.

One thing I must mention about the city as such, is the openness of people to Hindustani music. Although deep-rooted in Carnatic music, I like the way they appreciate Hindustani artistes as well.

Carnatic music and musicians

I was brought up listening to Hindustani music, so it was quite a shift being exposed to Carnatic music while on my visits to Chennai. Yes, the style gives more importance to structure and calculations, but one cannot help but marvel at the genius of the artistes. I personally admire the work of L Subrahmanyam for his skill. When he plays the violin, the notes produced elevate the spirit of the singer. The other singer I look up to is Balamuralikrishna.

Future visits to Chennai

There is a dearth of classically-trained tabla players here and I would be more than happy to come down and teach.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Aparna Desikan / April 13th, 2015

In the company of writers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders

NisarAhmedMPOs13apr2015

This photograph was taken in 1984 when the renowned Kannada poet, Prof KS Nisar Ahmed, was the president of  Karnataka Sahitya Academy. A felicitation function had been arranged for Masthi Venkatesha Iyengar, the  Kannada writer who had bagged the prestigious ‘Jnanapeetha Award’ for that year. 

It was a memorable  function in which many prominent writers  had participated. After the function, some of the close friends of Nisar Ahmed, including myself, gathered to congratulate him on arranging the function in a fitting manner. It was then that this photograph was taken.

Nisar Ahmed had started writing poetry in Kannada when he was studying MSc in Geology at the Central College  in the fifties. His poetry had caught the attention of his teacher and Kannada scholar GP Rajarathnam. He happened to read and correct his poetry and got it printed in the magazine of the Kannada Sangha of Central College. Later, poetry became his forte and he brought out one poetry collection after another.

He wrote prose too and translated two of Shakespeare’s plays. But he is recognised as a poet mainly as he has been writing poetry through all the literary movements of Kannada.Though his mother tongue is not Kannada, he has been writing in Kannada only.

Nisar Ahmed had also told the literary critics that he does not need any concession just because his mother tongue is not Kannada. He is also known as ‘Nithyostava Poet because his lyrics appeared in the first cassette of modern Kannada poetry under the same title. Since then, Nisar Ahmed has been a household name as one of the most popular among contemporary Kannada poets.

He was the president of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy between 1984 and 1987 and launched several programmes to take literature to the common people. In order to encourage young writers, many workshops were organised and lectures by eminent writers were arranged. He also organised a literary programme in every district and taluk head quarters and involved the local writers and the people  in creating awareness about the current literary trends. He started the English edition of the Academy’s quarterly journal ‘Aniketana’.

It was devoted to the English translation of Kannada literary pieces. Thus, it enabled the non-Kannada readers also to get an understanding of Kannada literature through translations. I remember that he had organised a seminar as the president of the Academy in Kanakapura of Bangalore Rural District in 1986 on the last quarter century of modern Kannada poetry in which stalwarts of Kannada literary world including Prof M Gopala Krishna Adiga, Prof  LS Seshagiri Rao, Dr Ramachandra Sharma, Dr Kamala Hampana had participated.

In the evening, there was a poets’ meet under the chairmanship of poet Dr Pu Thi Narasimhachar. It is worth mentioning that the seminar was attended by the people of Kanakapura in large numbers and actively participated in the interaction with the speakers of the seminar.

This photograph assumes importance for another reason. Two writers of yesteryears, namely the late Prof VM Inamdar and Prof Venugopala Soraba, are present in it.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Prof. M S Raghunath / DHNS – April 06th, 2015

Katheria pushes for Agra’s less known monuments

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism

Agra :

Agra is a home to around 100 centrally protected monuments. Most tourists, however, visit only the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the nearby Fathehpur Sikri. Union minister of state in the Human Resources Ministry and Agra MP Ramshankar Katheria has now sought that the Centre take steps to promote Agra’s less popular tourist destinations, so that those arriving in the city are also encouraged to stay longer.

Among the lesser known monuments are the tomb of Mariam-uz-Jamani, Rajput princess who married Mughal emperor Akbar and mother of Jahangir. The structure in which the tomb was laid was built originally by Sikandar Lodi in the late 15th century; the tomb was laid in it by 1623, and a crypt was made below the central compartment by the Mughals, who substantially remodelled the structure.

The Roman Catholic cemetery in the Civil Lines area, considered among the oldest Christian cemeteries in north India, is also a little-visited spot of tourist interest. Many early European adventurers and travellers have been laid to rest here. Many of the gravestones date back to the 17th century.

Chini ka Rauza (chini refers to the colourful tiles; rauza is a funerary monument) is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan Mullah, who served as prime minister in the court of Shah Jahan. It dates back to the year 1635. The building represents a milestone in Indo-Persian architecture, and is the first building in India to have the glazed tiles that give it its name.

Kanch Mahal at Sikandra, near Akbar’s tomb, was used, some historians say, as a hunting lodge by Jahangir. This monument too is not very well known to visitors to the city.

Just five km from the Taj is Ram Bagh, the oldest of Mughal gardens in India – laid by the founder of the dynasty, Babur. This garden too does not see as many visitors as it might, if it were better promoted.

Mehtab Bagh, an integral part of the gardens around the Taj, also sees few visitors. The Chhatri of Raja Jaswant Singh – which some claim is the only monument built by a Hindu in Agra in the time of Mughal rule – is also a neglected monument.

Katheria pointed out that the website of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not offer descriptions of the lesser known monuments. Information and photographs of these too should be uploaded, the minister said, in a letter to Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma.

Sources said Katheria was raising this issue as Mahesh Sharma is set to visit Agra on April 8.

Rajiv Tiwari, president of the Federation of Travel Agencies, said, “Many less known monuments are dilapidated, many have become a den for anti-social activities. Travel agents cannot risk allowing guests to include them in their itinerary.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Aditya Dev, TNN / April 04th, 2015

Making of a pigeon racing champ

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports
FLYING HIGH:S. Mohamed Nijamudeen with his trophies in Ramanathapuram.— Photo: L. BALACHANDAR
FLYING HIGH:S. Mohamed Nijamudeen with his trophies in Ramanathapuram.— Photo: L. BALACHANDAR

A hobbyist becomes a racing enthusiast

When S. Mohamed Nijamudeen (38), a local body representative, received a one-month-old racing bird as a gift from his friend a few years ago, little did he realise that it would win him the championship in pigeon racing.

Mr. Nijamudeen, vice-president of Panaikulam panchayat, with business interests in Dubai, developed an interest in rearing pigeons from a young age but often got disheartened when the birds flew away.

When he was about to give up the hobby, his friend introduced him to Racing Homer, a breed with an astonishing homing instinct, bred solely for pigeon racing sport.“I loved the birds more for their homing instinct and began taking part in racing only in the last five years,” he said. He had 60 birds and reared them by appointing a full-time worker and spent about Rs. 15,000 a month. But he suffered a huge setback when he lost 44 birds in a theft in October last.

Four of them, including the ‘gifted bird,’ returned home a few days later.

He took part in this year’s racing conducted by Ramanathapuram Racing Homer Club (RRHC) and won the championship with 17 points.

In the first leg of racing from Chennai to Ramanathapuram (508 km), he drew nil points but his bird came first in the second leg from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh to Ramanathapuram (670 km), second in the third leg from Sillakalluripet (AP) to Ramanathapuram (870 km) and again first in the final round from Kammam (AP) to Ramanathapuram (1,067 km).

In half the time

In the final round, the organisers gave five days’ time for the birds to return home, but his bird returned home within two and a half days. Now, Mr. Nijamudeen has set his eyes on South Indian racing to be conducted in Chennai next year.

Paranthaman, secretary, Madurai Racing Pigeon Club, and Philip Inbaraj, secretary, Tiruchi Club, presented the trophy to the winner at a function here on Sunday. P. Ravi from a nomadic family, who won the RRHC championship last year, came second with 10 points this year.

The RRHC conducted the racing under the guidance of founders N. Ramesh and Marriappan. Mr. Ramesh said they had been conducting the racing event for the past nine years and spent about Rs. 75,000 for it this year, adopting strict guidelines and regulations of the sport.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by D.J. Walter Scott / Ramanathapuram – April 07th, 2015

Off to English teachers’ meet in Britain

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, World Opinion

Two teachers from the district will fly to the city of Manchester in the U.K. next week to a participate in the International English Teachers’ conference being organised by the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), a forum working for linking, developing and supporting English language teaching professionals from across the world.

K.T. Muhammed Hashim
K.T. Muhammed Hashim

“We are the only two from the State to attend the conference this time, as far as we know,” said K.T. Muhammed Hashim, one of the invited teachers. While Mr. Hashim is working with the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Koyilandy, A.K. Syke, is a teacher with the Government Higher Secondary School Chorode, Vadakara.

A.K. Syke
A.K. Syke

The conference will be held from April 10 to 14.th. The teachers will be provided free admission to the conference besides food and shared accommodation. The duo was selected from many IATEFL member teachers who applied for the event after due screening process and presentation of assignments, said the teachers. “Both of us have earlier presented papers at international conferences, including the Teacher Educators’ conference (TEC) of British Council held at Hyderabad,” said Mr. Hashim.

The conference, a major English Language Teaching (ELT) event comprising pre-conference sessions, symposiums, interactive sessions and exhibitions will have over 500 talks, workshops and seminars. “

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Jabir Mushthari / Kozhikode – April 02nd, 2015

Plea to Celebrate Quli Qutb Shah Birthday as State Fete

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism
Voice of Telangana president L Panduranga Reddy and Hyderabad Deccan Democratic Alliance K Chiranjeevi and others paying tributes to Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah at 7 tombs in Hyderabad on Saturday | RVK RAO
Voice of Telangana president L Panduranga Reddy and Hyderabad Deccan Democratic Alliance K Chiranjeevi and others paying tributes to Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah at 7 tombs in Hyderabad on Saturday | RVK RAO

Hyderabad :

Fondly remembering Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad City, on his  449th birth anniversary here on Saturday, several organisations have demanded the state government to give him the due respect he commanded.

“On his birth anniversary, we appeal to the government to build a bronze statue of the ruler at one of the prominent locations in Hyderabad,” K Chiranjeevi, convener of Hyderabad Deccan Democratic Alliance, said.

The members of the organisation also requested the government to declare his birthday as a state festival, to create awareness among the people about the accomplished ruler.

‘’Since the government is planning to change the syllabus of schools from next year, the government should ensure that the achievements of Quli Qutb Shah are also included in the syallabus,” L Panduranga Reddy, president, Voice of Telangana, said.

Organisations such as Voice of Telangana, Hyderabad Deccan Democratic Alliance, 1969 Telangana Movement Forum etc have paid tributes to Quli Qutb Shah at his tombs on the occasion. Remembering the erstwhile ruler, Captain Chiranjeevi said that his period of rule was considered the golden period of Qutub Shahi dynasty.

He modelled Hyderabad on the lines of the then legendary city of Esfahan, Persia.

“He was one of the most secular leaders of the times. His style of ruling attracted great leaders like Akbar who sent their men to his embassy,” he said, further adding, “He took special interest in sketching the design of Hyderabad and also, built Charminar when people started dying of plague.”

Speaking of his poetic skills, Panduranga Reddy of the Voice of Telangana said, “He was an accomplished poet who wrote verses in Urdu, Persian and Telugu under the pen name Mani. His poetry is complied in a book under the name Kuliyat Kuli,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 05th, 2015

Clicking his way to glory

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

SadatAhmadyMPOs02apr2015

Over the last few years, Sadat Ahmedy, a final year mechanical engineering student at Sri Sairam College of Engineering, has slowly but steadily expanded his resume. While most engineering students in their final year have to compromise on extra-curricular activities, Sadat balances out his schedule to fit in all his interests, which include teaching, modelling, fashion photography and cinematography and fashion stage direction.

The 21-year-old says, “My life is balanced. For the past six years, I have stopped relying on my father for financial issues because I wanted to do something different and something on my own. I have a very planned life, where I know what I have to do and when, so I adjust my college timings accordingly. I make sure my extra-curricular activities don’t clash with my college work”

The journey began with a model hunt. “I auditioned for a model hunt, where I was one of the top finalists from Bengaluru. After this, I started working with a designer from the City. I did my first print ad after this for Wrangler and also worked with a few other brands. I was a print ad model for 11 months but then I realised I want to do something innovative, something related to the fashion industry, because it has been so nice and supportive of me. I really wanted to do something big.”

The next ‘big thing’ came to Sadat in the form of his father and a camera. “I asked my father to buy me a camera and I started clicking pictures. Although I submitted my photographs to a few magazines, I wasn’t happy. So I became the official photographer for Megamart where I clicked the profile photos of over 60 models.” He has also worked with Parvathy Omanakuttan.

Talking about his photos, he says, “I started with landscapes and monuments but I’m the seed of fashion so that’s where I ended up. In most pictures, what people portray is plastic. I believe in earthy beauty and I use models who don’t need a lot of make-up and don’t do a lot of post-editing. I want to redefine the word ‘fashion’,” he says.

He says fashion is something that can’t be constrained and evolves at all times. With this in mind, he took to directing fashion shows recently. His first show was in Mysuru, which saw a crowd of over 2000 people.

He proudly says, “In my second show in Chennai, I was called the ‘Youngest Entrepreneur’ in South India.”

Sadat already has plans for another show and he is trying to make it as innovative as possible.

“I want to use models who aren’t normally seen on the runway, not anorexic models. I want it to be completely different and new. We have adapted the Western anorexic culture which needs to be cut down. Beauty, according to me, is what one feels about themselves and not what another person thinks of you.”

On a mission to break change the fashion industry, Sadat sums up by saying, “A plus-sized lady can wear a gown or a stiletto and still look fashionable…we need to break such stereotypes.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Ananya Revanna / Bangalore – DHNS, March 12th, 2015