Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The queen of the screen

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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Tribute to yesteryear star Rajasulochana who passed away on March 5

One of the most successful stars in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam movies, Pilliarchetty Bhakthavatsalam Naidu Rajeevalochana (her original name) born August 15, 1934, passed away in her home in Madipakkam in Chennai, during the early hours of March 5. Thanks to her father being promoted as PA to the General Manager of M&SM Railway the family moved to Madras from Vijayawada and settled in Triplicane, where she went to school. The school authorities recorded her name as Rajasulochana, and that’s how she continued to be known….

As a young girl, she showed interest in classical dance and had her early lessons at Saraswathi Gana Nilayam in Triplicane; her first guru was Lalithamma who taught her Bharatanatyam. Later, she learnt from K.N. Dandayudhapani Pillai (Bharathanatyam), Acharyulu and Vempati Chinna Satyam (Kuchipudi), Krishnakumar and Vishnu Vysarkar (Kathak) and Kalamandalam Madhavan (Kathakali).

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    MULTI-TALENTED Rajasulochana in “Vanangamudi”.

Those were the days when middle-class families did not encourage girls to perform on stage, and, much against convention, Rajasulochana had her arangetram in Madras, which was presided over by the famed music scholar, lawyer and judge of the Madras High Court and Supreme Court of India, T.L. Venkatarama Iyer.

Not surprisingly, movies beckoned her, and she took her bow thanks to the celebrated Kannada stage and screen maestro H.L.N. Simha. Gunasagari (Sathyasodhanai in Tamil), produced by the Kannada cult figure Gubbi Veeranna, marked her screen debut.

She entered Tamil cinema in the early 1950s with Pennarasi, a costume drama produced by M. A. Venu, written by A.P. Nagarajan and directed by K. Somu. It was made at the famous Central Studios, Coimbatore. Her songs and dances drew enormous attention, and her fame spread far and wide.

Rajasulochana has acted in hundreds of films in many languages. Though it is not possible to list all of them, mention must be made of some that created history. Not many are aware that she was cast as the heroine in the cult film Parasakthi. But she had to opt out of the film because of her pregnancy. It was only then that Telugu actress Sriranjani Jr. was brought on board.

Rajasulochana’s most successful film, according to critics and moviegoers, was Thai Pirandhaal Vazhi Pirakkum with S.S. Rajendran, written, produced and directed by the Tamil scholar-turned- filmmaker A.K. Velan. A raving success, the film had melodious music by K.V. Mahadevan. Many songs such as ‘Amudhum thenum etharku nee aruginil irukkayiley’ became hits and are still remembered. It was remade in Telugu as Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu with N.T. Rama Rao playing the lead. The film was directed by her husband, noted writer-director C.S. Rao.

Rajasulochana had the privilege of acting with all the superstars of South Indian cinema such as M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Rajkumar, S.S. Rajendran, A.P. Nagarajan and M.N. Nambiar.

Her other films worth mentioning are Gulebakavali, Vanangamudi, Nallavan Vaazhvaan,Mangalyam, Rangoon Radha, Pennarasi, Kavalai Illaadha Manithan and Ellam Inba Mayam (all Tamil); Pellinati Pramanalu, Raja Makutam, Jayabheri, Santhinivasam, Mahakavi Kalidasu, Iddaru Mitrulu, Tiger Ramudu, Valmiki and Thatha Manavudu (a super hit and the debut of ace filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao) (all Telugu); Bedara Kannappa, Valmiki (Kannada); Chori Chori (Hindi, a Raj Kapoor-Nargis-AVM movie she was cast with Bhagwan); and Manasakshi (Malayalam).

In the movies she starred in, she spoke the dialogues herself. This is an interesting feature, especially today, when actors hardly speak in their own voices. Her only regret was she did not receive a college education.

One of her twin daughters, Devi, who lives in Chennai, is a talented dancer. Her other daughter, son and grandchildren live in the United States.

A recipient of many awards, Rajasulochana founded her dance school ‘Pushpanjali Nritya Kala Kendram’ in 1961 in Chennai, which celebrated its silver jubilee in 1986.

A good friend of this writer for over three decades, she was warm, friendly and humble with no starry airs. The artiste is gone but her movies shall live forever…life is short but art is immortal ….

Photo caption has been corrected for an error.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Features> Cinema Plus / by Randor Guy / March 05th, 2013

Seminar held on ergonomics in interiors

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

The Interior Design and Décor Department of Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Arts and Science College, Parrys, organised an international seminar on ‘Current Scenario of Ergonomics in Interiors.’ The seminar was inaugurated by Rani Vedamuthu, Dean, School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University.

The souvenir of the seminar was released by Oliver Finn, Photographic Argentique and Art Matics, The Liege Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium, and the first copy was received by Pabbisetty Sreeramulu. The technical sessions were chaired by Chitra Prakash, Professor, Department of Resource Management, Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore; K. Kanjana, Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore; K.S. Pushpa, Professor and Head, Department of Home Science, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul; and Kavitha Prasad, Design Associate, Architectural Management Services, Chennai. Alphanso Arul Doss gave the valedictory address and distributed certificates to the participants.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / March 02nd, 2013

Tamil scholar from France gets award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinion

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Professor Gros receiving the Kural Peedam award in Puducherry on Friday| G Pattabiraman

In recognition of the untiring and eminent services rendered to Tamil language, eighty-year-old Professor Francois Gros was handed over the Indian President’s Kural Peedam award for the year 2008-2009 for Classical Tamil studies at a function organised at the French institute in Puducherry on Friday.

The award carrying a citation and `5 lakh, was handed over to Gros by Gnanamoorthy, director-in-charge of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai, in presence of the Consul General of France in Puducherry, Pierre Fournier.

Prof Gros, a researcher at the French Institute of  Pondicherry (IFP) was earlier presented the award in absentia by the President Pranab Mukherjee on December 21, 2012, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, which he could not attend owing to health reasons.

Later, addressing the gathering Professor Gros said that classical Tamil needed to be kept alive in modern age to understand tradition, culture and value.

The function was attended by French Institute director,  Dr Pierre Grard and staff.

Gros was closely associated with the activities of the French Institute (l’Institut Français) of Pondicherry over a long period of time in Tamil classical literature.

He was involved in the translation of ‘Paripatal’, a text of ancient corpus called Sangam, (Prix Saintour 1969 of l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres) and Livre de l’Amour de Tiruvalluvar (1992), and Tamil Saiva devotion in its various aspects.

He also studied and translated poetry and iconography of Karaikkalammaiyar, Tevaram (1984, edition under the patronage of UNESCO), Periya Puranam (2001), fundamental text of medieval literature, and the works of Arunagirinatar (1980), lyrical expression of a bilingual regional culture, Tamil and Sanskrit.

He was deeply interested in integrating archaeology and study of monuments with history, through epigraphy and environment. In the year 1970, he produced a monograph on Uttaramerur.

In the year 1980, he launched a multidisciplinary project on Tiruvannamalai mobilising the resources of Pondicherry and his associates for fifteen years, and later in 1985 he launched a project on the Kaveri valley.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Puducherry / March 02nd, 2013

Keep our folklore alive, urge experts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

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Performers at the National Conference on Folklore and Literature at the Women’s Christian College.

What happens when around 1600 languages and dialects are submerged into roughly 22 ‘official’ languages in India? It results in the loss of an intangible cultural heritage which resides in the minds of the people said Dr Deborah Thiagarajan, chairman and founder, Madras Craft Foundation. Speaking at a National Conference on Folklore and Literature at Women’s Christian College recently, she said if there is no recognition of the wisdom, abilities and skills embedded in folklore and folk traditions, our culture will be submerged and lost. The process has already begun with the aspiration of small, rural communities having to model their lifestyles along urban lines, she added.

Folklore is a ‘once lived reality’ said Dr Muthukumaraswamy, director, National Folklore Support Centre, adding to the theme.  Literature engages the reader only with the text itself, written as it is by a ‘lonely author with an anonymous audience’, while folklore and performance engages the community. The audience participates, interjecting with their own critical comments or interpretations, hauling up the actors for forgetting parts of the narrative  and becoming part of the narrative themselves as for instance, when the cattle they have driven home from work form part of the setting for a cattle fight on stage.

In a sharing of perspectives, theatre practitioner,  activist and academician Dr Padma (Mangai) reiterated that classical forms had taken off from folk forms. She cautioned, however,  against adopting a protective attitude towards folk culture and suggested a critical approach as folk tales come with a feudalistic agenda and a built in gender bias. “Take it, question it and make it your own,” she said.

Eric Miller, Director, World Storytelling Institute, and Sambamurthy, theatre practitioner and entrepreneur, shared their perspectives on the occasion. Students and delegates from city colleges and universities and also from Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Thiruvaroor presented papers on a wide spectrum of folklore and literature.

The finale of the conference, organised by the Department of English, was a slew of vibrant folk performances by professionals from Dakshinachitra, who set a reverberating tone with their thappattam and drew the participants into joining them in a lively rendition of folk dance.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / February 28th, 2013

Float festival lights up Cuddalore port

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The backwaters and the sky above at the Cuddalore port were lit up by serial lights and fireworks as fishermen performed ‘Theppotsavam’ in a grand manner as part of Masi Magam festivities on Monday night.

Residents of at least six fishing villages, including Sonankuppam and Akkaraigori, gathered in large numbers to witness the event.

Fishermen tied up trawlers to serve as floats for carrying processional deities in the backwaters. Two floats illuminated with colourful serial lights set on bamboo frames in the form of the processional deities – Sri Venkatesa Perumal from Sonankuppam and Goddess Marriamman from Akkaraigori – stood 110 ft high and 40 ft wide each.

Both the floats proceeded from opposite directions and met at the midpoint of the backwaters. Non-stop fireworks for about two hours were a delight to spectators.

Kaviarasan of Sonankuppam said that at in this annual event, usually six processional deities from as many places of worship would participate in the Theppotsavam.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> National / by Special Correspondent / Cuddalore, February 27th, 2013

First Westin in Chennai, India, opens

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Chennai, India’s first hotel under Starwood Hotels’ upper-upscale Westin brand has opened.

The 215-room Westin Channai Velachery has three restaurants and a pool as well as almost 13,000 square feet of meetings space.

The hotel is the sixth Westin-branded hotel in India.

Starwood now has five hotels in Chennai, which is located on the southeastern coast of India, about 225 miles east of Bangalore.

Follow Danny King on Twitter @dktravelweekly

source: http://www.TravelWeekly.com / Home> Topics> Hotels & Resorts / by Danny King / February 26th, 2013 

Of divine deeds & dance

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, Uncategorized

     Jayalalithaa with her mother Sandhya.

My scanning eyes are now penetrating beyond the political frame of Ms J. Jayalalithaa as she celebrates her 65th birthday. Seldom do we come across a personality in the terspicorion galaxy of international popularity glittering with multi-faceted talent and achievements. My father, film director K. Subrahmanyam, had featured her beautiful mother Sandhya and her aunt Vidya in his films. Our families were quite close and though I am five years older than her, there were many occasions when we enjoyed playing together in the garden outside the shooting floor of Pioneer Studios in Mysore, as the shooting went on. Her elder brother also acted in a minor role but ‘Ammu’ (as we used to call her) was like a sweet little Barbie doll whom I kept company. When she had her Bharatanatya arangetram, my father presided, and I remember she was amazing.

She was a brilliant student in Church Park and her passion was education; but God willed that she had to soar high in the film field with no ordinary achievements. She learnt music and could memorise dialogues running to quite a few pages as she was having her make-up on — that, too, by listening to someone reading it to her. She would complete the shot in a single take without forgetting a word or fumbling. Such was her grasp even in her teens.

She is a voracious reader even now and has an excellent library at home. She prepares her speeches by herself on any subject and delivers them with conviction in impeccable English or Tamil. She is also well-versed in other languages like Hindi, Kannada and Telugu.

Our dance school Nrithyodaya celebrated its golden jubilee 20 years ago and diamond jubilee 10 years ago. She graced both occasions when she was in power. During the diamond jubilee, we had requested her to release my research magnum opus ‘Karanas — Common Dance Codes of India & Indonesia’ — in three volumes. She commented about the cover page carrying my photo as “stunningly divine” and asked who sponsored these costly volumes. When I said I approached none, she graciously took my permission to announce that her government would reimburse the entire cost for it was of historic importance to Tamil culture. I gratefully agreed and wondered at her unity of thought, word and quick action. The cheque for Rs 7,00,000 reached through a special messenger the very next day.

In my speech, I mentioned about the need to protect Asian culture and its age-old connectivity with India, particularly seen through the worship of Bharatamuni, the aadi-guru of performing arts. I said it has been my dream for the past two decades to build a memorial shrine for this great sage and create a pan-Asian research centre and develop it as an Asian cultural corridor. Ms Jayalalithaa — a multi-faceted artiste and rare intellectual responded on the dais and declared that she “shares this dream and will allot the land for this project”. This was also offered without my asking for it.

Jayalalithaa did not stop with the allotment of five acres near Mahabalipuram. Even after the government changed, she invited me to her residence and voluntarily gave Rs 27,00,000 for this project as her personal donation.

I am ever grateful to her for these kind gestures which were done with no axe to grind. The actual Bharatamuni memorial, which will be the pivot of this research institution, will be built with her donation with due acknowledgement. She always appreciated me as an artiste with no political interests. I am no one to comment on her political acumen.

As a childhood friend and her dear ‘Paddhukka’, I only pray to Lord Almighty to ever bless her with a long healthy life and tranquility of mind in the midst of the innumerable complex situations that she is compelled to face. May God grant her many more years of glory and grace true to her name.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC, February 25th, 2013

MCC observes World Mother Tongue Day

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Dignitaries at the event

International Mother Tongue Day was observed by the ‘Tamil Peravai’ of the Madras Christian College, here on Thursday.

Every year,  February 21 is being observed as ‘International Day of Mother Tongue’ since  2000.

The day is observed every year to promote and create awareness on linguistics, cultural diversity and multilingualism. MCC, which has students from all the 28 States of the country and 17 countries in the world, observed the day for the first time on its campus.

The function was organised by the Department of Tamil, under its Tamil Peravai.

Various literary personalities such as writer Lena Tamilvanan, poet Alandur Mohanarangan and Ravindranathan of Kannadasan Ilakkiya Mandram, Paris, were present as chief guest in the occasion.

In his address, Lena Tamilvanan said, “Even Tamils in Tamil Nadu are reluctant and unable to speak in their mother tongue. But Tamils displaced and living as migrants in other countries like France, Mauritius, South Africa study Tamil and teach the Tamil language to their children through transliteration”.

Ravindranathan said, “Since Sri Lankan Tamils were displaced in other countries like France during the ethnic war in the island nation, many of them had abandoned their mother tongue. But to save our mother tongue Tamil, we started a radio, through which we spread Tamil literature such as Thirukkural, Tholkappiyam, among others.”

Alandur Mohanarangan recited a poem lauding Tamil language. During the event, students from other States and countries spoke about their mother tongue, in transliterated Tamil.

Principal R W Alexander Jesudasan and Moses Michael Faraday, Head, Department of Tamil, were also present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Services- Chennai / February 23rd, 2013

Blood donations mark Jaya b’day

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

Chennai:

 It was a tie between artist Sh­ihan Hussaini and transport minister Senthil Balaji. Huss­aini collected blood from 32 ar­chery students and froze it to create a bust cast of chief mini­ster J. Jayalalithaa on the eve of her birthday. Minister Balaji went the extra mile and initiated a massive blood donation dr­ive across the state, roping in 18,215 state transport employees.

All the participants donated a minimum of 350 ml blood and the samples were sent to the nearby district GHs. The blood donation camps were held in 75 centres and most of them gave blood after finishing their duty, Mr Balaji told this news-paper.

“Initially, we wanted to rope in 16,500 staff and create a new record beating the previous feat of students where 13,000 of them donated blood in a single day. The record has been made on the eve of Amma’s birthd­ay,” said the beaming minis-ter.

According to AIADMK party sources, all the major blood banks in the state have been alerted about the drive seeking their coordination and the collected blood was sent to the banks for segregation into pla­telets and other components.

Mr Hussaini, who first disclosed to DC about his feat of sculpting the CM’s burst with frozen blood, was also busy the whole day giving final touches to his work.

While blood donation camps were organised at 65 places in the city, party legislators organised medical camps. Saidapet MLA G. Senthami­zhan announced the distribution of welfare aid to the public for 65 days and to organise poor feeding to mark the AIADMK supremo’s birthday.

Senior party member, finance minister O.Panneerselvam and Chennai mayor Saidai Duraisamy pulled Goddess Kalikambal’s silver chariot, praying for the long life and more laurels for their leader.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC, Chennai – by S. Thirunavukarasu / February 24th, 2013

Rs 10 lakh arch in memory of man responsible for Kumbabishekham of the famous Vanducherkuzhali Seshapureeswarar temple

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

A Rs 10 lakh arch in memory of the man instrumental in conducting the Kumbabishekham of the famous Vanducherkuzhali Seshapureeswarar temple at Thirupamburam, 26 km from here, was inaugurated here today.

Natarasundaram wanted to build an arch for the temple, but passed away before it could be done. His wife undertook the task and sold her private property to get it constructed.

The Executive Officer of the temple Murugaiyan presided over the inauguration.

Special poojas were performed on the occassion. Vedic pundits recited slokas and prayers were offered after which the arch was declared open

The arch has three stone inscriptions and is built depicting Rahu and Ketu with the icons of Raghu on one side and Ketu on the other. Both are depicted in full form on the top of the arch with Sivalingam, temple sources said.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> PTI / Kumbakonam / Friday, February 22nd, 2013