Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Coimbatore is the surname for this family of 300

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Coimbatore :

“Each one of us in the family has a common surname- Coimbatore,” says CB Karthikeyan a software engineer at the family reunion of more than 150 family members at Thudiyalur. He says that this must have been attached with their names as the name of the place.

Karthikeyan was participating in the family get-together of three generations of 94-year-old, T Subbalakshmi. All children, their spouses as well as their grandchildren put together a number more than 300. This is the 9{+t}{+h} time they are organising their family reunion.

T Subbalakshmi, a retired teacher from a government school near Gandhipuram had 22 children out of which 17 remain. All of them have Coimbatore as their surname. “This has been so for a long time in the family,” she says. But for her this is one of the many reasons special for her family.

“Nowadays there are hardly any joint families. I too live with one of my sons and his grandchildren at Kovaipudur. But all of them coming together for a family get-together is an achievement,” she says with pride. From one of her granddaughter who came all the way from Malaysia  to the youngest child of the family, many of them have showed up for the get-together. C Priya Suresh, who is a special educator in Malaysia, says that they had organised the get-together on Christmas as it is a holiday and every family member could be a part of it.

From kabadi to ‘Murugadi’, where the blindfolded participants compete to break a pot and talks on cultural values, all where done according to Subbalakshmi’s wishes. Subbalakshmi who was a second grade science and history teacher says the present generation has many things to learn from the older generations. “Unity and cultural heritage are aspects which today’s generation does not know,” she says.

Even at this age she reads newspapers and books without using spectacles. She attributes this to the healthy food of those days and the long miles she used to walk to her farm everyday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / December 26th, 2012

Churches plan their Christmas specials

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Chennai :

This Christmas will be extra special for Reverend Father A M Chinnappa because it is his last as archbishop . After seven years as the head of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore , 75-year-old Fr Chinnappa will retire and the new Archbishop Father George Antonysamy will take over from January. “This will be the last Christmas message that I give at the San Thome Basilica ,” says Fr Chinnappa.

“I will talk about caste issues and how it is more dangerous than terrorism or the electricity shortage ,” he says. With Christmas just a day away, churches  across the city are preparing to celebrate and pray. But for some, this Christmas is just a little bit more special than those that came before. At St Theresa’s Church in Nungambakkam, which celebrates 100 years this December, this will be the first Christmas inside the newly restored and expanded church. A new bell tower, ramps for the elderly, and LCD monitors have been installed. A church official says they will be filling the church with flowers this year to mark the special day. If it’s flowers in Nungambakkam, for Mylapore its extra services. A new tradition will begin at the almost 500-year-old Our Lady of Light Luz Church in Mylapore — an extra 9pm English mass on Christmas, New Year and Easter.

“The church was declared a shine in 2010. So, we are trying to include more services,” says  Parish Priest Father LC Raynna, who adds that an extra noon mass has been introduced on all weekdays. Christmas is likely to be a quiet affair at the St Mary Armenian Church in Parrys, which turned 300 on December 18.

As there are no Armenians left in the city, there will be no service at the church. The caretaker, Alexander, will open up the church, one of the oldest Armenian churches in India, to the public as usual but there will be no mass or special prayers. St George’s Cathedral near Anna flyover, which will mark its 200th anniversary in a couple of years, started off a little early. The Christmas celebrations were heralded in with a special fun and spiritual campfire on Saturday evening.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / December 24th, 2012

Charminar Biryani – As good as it gets!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Food lovers in Chennai will already be knowing about the Charminar Restaurant in Gopalapuram, a place of fine dining which has received rave reviews in both print and social media in a relatively short timespan. Talking to City Express, Vidya, a promoter of the restaurant, says “We have carved a niche for ourselves for probably the best served Hyderabadi biryani in town and also for introducing exotic dishes such as sholay murgh, loose prawns and more, to food lovers in Chennai.” “We believe these reviews have been possible only because of our unwavering commitment towards quality and taste. We use only the best ingredients and never add additives, hydrogenated vegetable oil or other unhealthy alternatives. Most importantly, we make the Hyderabadi biryani the authentic way in the dum cooking style where the food is not exposed to direct flames, and hence gets slowly cooked — absorbing all the flavours of the special spices and juicy meat,” he adds.

Charminar has recently set up a takeaway kiosk chain called ‘Charminar Express’ to cater to its customers across Chennai. Vidya says of the new restaurant, “After seeing the tremendous response to our store, and with regular patrons coming from faraway places such as Tambaram and Ambattur, we decided to take our Biryani to other localities. We came up with ‘Charminar Express’ which will serve our signature Hyderabadi biryani and delectable kebabs, packed in high quality packaging to retain their distinctive aroma and taste, as well as ensure heat and hygiene. The first Charminar Express kiosk has been opened at the New Sekar Emporium compound, on Arcot Road in Kodambakkam.”  Charminar has a competition in store for its patrons this festive season. As a small token of appreciation, Charminar is running a lucky draw with prizes including gold coins, cellphones and gift coupons for all its customers who order biryani by the kilogram until the 1st of January.

The restaurant is also hosting ‘An evening with Santa @ Charminar’ — an event filled with fun, snacks and goodies for the children of the Life Giving Home Charitable Trust. The event will be held on December 23rd at 4.30 pm. For more information,call Charminar on 28111007, 95000 55001.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / December 22nd, 2012

A glorious moment for Jeevana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

The runner-up of The Hindu Young World quiz C. Sam Victor and Siddhartha Rao of Jeevana School. — PHOTO: S. JAMES

First from Madurai region to enter finals last year

For Jeevana School, it will be a glorious moment to be remembered. Siddharth Rai Tharkeswar and Sam Victor, ninth standard students from the school, were the first from Madurai region to emerge the first runner-up in the 13 edition of The Hindu Young World Quiz, held in Chennai recently.

This is the first time that Madurai region found a place among the winners in the history of The Hindu Young World Quiz. Incidentally, Jeevana School was the first from Madurai region to enter the finals last year.

It has been nearly two weeks since Siddharth and Sam won the trophy for the first runner up and a cash prize of Rs. 40,000, and their excitement is still intact. Speaking to The Hindu, the two students recalled interesting moments from their journey to the finals of the quiz competition. “From the beginning we were confident that we will reach the finals. Young World Quiz was something we looked forward to every year”, said Siddharth, who had been a part of the quiz for the past three years.

“We learnt how to be patient as we took part in the several rounds of quiz. Besides, the questions that were asked by Mr Ramanan were comprehensive from all the subjects and made us read extensively. The whole thing was challenging, yet exciting”, Sam added.

Siddharth and Sam had a breezy win at the regional finals held in Madurai on November 20. For all those who witnessed it in Madurai, the team’s cool composure was something that was appreciated.

The team did falter in the beginning rounds of the finals in Chennai, but managed to get a grip from the fourth round.

“We were very nervous in the beginning of the finals. We did know the answers to most of the questions, but the team from Trivandrum was swift in answering”, the students said. Nevertheless the modest boys remarked that the team from Loyola School in Trivandrum deserved to be the winners. And the students could not stop raving about the refreshing manner in which Quiz master V V Ramanan conducted the show. “Whether it was the regional finals, the semi finals or the finals, Mr Ramanan ensured that the quiz was interesting. Identifying the people hidden behind the matrix, questions on Google doodles and then the anagrams were riveting”, said Siddharth. However, he confessed that the team found most of the questions on western music quite difficult. “We will guide our juniors next year. They will hopefully bag the trophy next year”, he added.

“We are extremely proud of our students. God has been extremely kind to us in the past two years. We are humbled”, said Nirmala Visveswaran, Principal of the school.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by M. Vandhana / December 22nd, 2012

Epigraphy students from PSG find megalithic structure in Udumalpet

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

Coimbatore :
An ancient box-like chamber made of crude stones believed to have been built in the megalithic period was discovered recently in Kongal Nagar Village near Udumalpet by a set of epigraphy students from Coimbatore. Known in archeological circles as dolemnoid cist, the chamber may have been built as early as in 5000 BC, according to epigraphy diploma students of PSG College of Arts and Science in the city and their teacher, who identified the cist.

Lecturer S Ravi and his team of 75 students went to the site after being told by a few local residents that they get old urns and pieces of earthen ware while digging or ploughing the land. The students spent three days in the village and found the cist accidentally amidst bushes in a corner of the village. “People worshipped at some of these burial  sites and they were unaware of its archeological importance. The place also contains slab cists which indicate that the area had ancient settlements. Even though the place has been mentioned as a megalithic site, there has been no proper study or the region’s importance so far,” said Ravi.

According to Ravi, materials that date back up to the megalithic period lie scattered over 300 acres of land in the village. While students found one cist almost intact, they also found stone pieces of many crushed cists in other parts of the village. In slab cist sites, stone slabs are normally found underneath the earth with chambers to keep metals or wares.

They normally indicate the prosperity of the habitation. However, dolemnoid cists are normally above the ground and used to keep dead bodies or skeletons. They are mostly devoid of valuables. “The dolemnoid cist indicates the early years of megalithic period when people mostly led a nomadic existence. Even though people of megalithic period used urns apart from red and black wares and metals, the dolemnoid cist found in Udumalpet did not have these things. It further confirms it was built during early megalithic period,” said Ravi.
The dolemnoid cist could have been built as a mark of respect to an important person in the group who died while safeguarding them from external attacks. Or it could be a tomb of a respectable member of the clan. The newly found dolemnoid cist has a port hole, a round opening with a diameter of 25 cm and thickness of 6cm.

The cist has a port hole since people then believed that spirits lived on even after death. Nomadic groups often offered prayers at such sites. Generally, dolemnoid cists are found in large numbers in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts in Tamil Nadu. However, the port hole is either on the eastern side or western side. “The most important finding of the dolemnoid cist found in Udumalpet is that it has the port hole on the northern side. This is something very interesting and the site needs to be studied by the archaeological department,” said Ravi.

V Jagadishan, a former epigraphist with Tamil Nadu  State Archeology Department, said the area is already identified as a megalithic site. The new findings must be researched further, he said. “Dr K Rajan, professor of history at Pondicherry University, had mentioned about the site in his research work. However, it is not sure whether there is a mention about this particular dolemnoid cist in his work,” said Jagadishan.

S Chinnasamy, president of Kongal Nagar Panchayat, said residents of the village have in the past got metal and earthen ware while digging the ground. However, no one knew the importance of it and many have been destroyed. “No study was ever conducted here. It is only when students and the teacher from PSG College came here we got to know the importance of the site,” he said. “We are planning to set up a committee to safeguard these ancient sites,” he added.

Students who were part of the study are naturally excited about what they have discovered. E Sangavi, an epigraphy student, said that it was an exciting trip for all the students. However, it was unfortunate that people were unaware of their importance which has led to many of the sites getting destroyed.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Coimbatore / by C.P. Sajit, TNN / December 20th, 2012

Three-day cultural fest in Srirangam

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

It will be held from December 21 to 23 at West Chitra street from 5 p.m. every day

Regional Centre for Art and Culture, the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, Tiruchi District Kalai Manram, and Tiruchi District Welfare Committee will jointly organise a cultural festival from December 21 to 23 in Srirangam in connection with the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival.

The cultural programmes will be held at West Chitra street at 5 p.m. every day.

The festival will commence with mangala isai by the students of Government Music School at 5 p.m. on December 21, followed by Tamizhisai by Rasika Prasad troupe, Srirangam Sugaritha sisters respectively and bharatanatyam by Sivathanu Kalakshetra troupe. On the second day, Srirangam Abirami Bhajan Mandali troupe will present songs, followed by Tamizhisai by Kashyap Mahesh, bharathanatyam by Sri Chakram Music School students, and by Mayur Natyalaya Devika Sukanthi troupe.

The third and final day’s programme will commence with layakolam programme by the students of Government Music School led by Swaminathan, followed by bharathanatyam by Sri Puranthari Dance School’s Srividya Sundaresan troupe, nathalaya nattiyam by Dindigul Nathalaya Nattiyakuzhu. The festival will conclude with a dance drama by Revanath Muthuswami troupe. In a release on Wednesday, the Collector Jayashree Muralidharan called upon the people to witness all the programmes.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli /  by Special Correspondent / Tiruchi, December 20th, 2012

Elay Keechan tops the charts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

The track features Gautham Karthik (left) on a boat. Madhan Karky (right) has penned the lyrics of the popular song.

The teaser of the song features Gautham Karthik on a boat, racing across the choppy sea waters.

‘Elay Keechan’ from the movie ‘Kadal’ was released as a single track on December 10. A week later, the entire soundtrack of the film ‘Kadal’ was released, but, ‘Elay Keechan’ has still managed to be a chart topper.

Composer A. R. Rahman has crooned this number, which has lyrics penned by Madhan Karky. The song which has been excessively downloaded online, has been widely acclaimed by music lovers across the nation too. Madhan, who was associated with the Mozart of Madras when he wrote ‘Irumbile oru Idhayam’ for ‘Endhiran’, is ecstatic about having bagged an opportunity to pen his second song under ARR’s composition.

He says, “On December 31, 2011, I was in ARR’s studio to write the song. So I spent my New Year’s eve along with ARR and Mani Ratnam sir. 2012 started with Elay Keechan and it’s ending with the release of the same song.”

Madhan has carried out extensive research to pen the lyrics, including words used by people in Thoothukudi.

Overwhelmed by the response received, he says, “Full credit goes to ARR for the brilliant composition and Mani sir for the unique concept.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Kollywood / by Deepika Ramesh / Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

One hundred (and thirty) years of a Tamil firebrand

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

 Subramanya Bharathi, a legend unto himself

Tamil poet Subramania Bharathi with his wife Chellamma.

Subramanya Bharathi is a phenomenon.

Over the last century, his words and his attitude came to redefine the identity of the Tamil-speaking world.

Not only was he a poet who transformed the genre, he was the first Tamil cartoonist, among the earliest short story writers in the language and an excellent journalist, who wrote for The Hindu and Swadesamitran simultaneously.

Even if one removed poetry from the equation, Bharathi’s contribution to Tamil prose and journalism would by itself define him as a legend. To commemorate his 130th birth anniversary, we spoke with three persons who have, in distinct ways, carried on his legacy. Like all poets after Bharathi, lyricist Vairamuthu has been influenced by his verses, often adopting his persona in person and on paper.

Filmmaker K. Balachander drew deeply from Bharathi’s social consciousness. His films, many of them trendsetters, explored themes of societal change and empowerment of women. For Rajkumar Bharathi, the poet’s great-grandson, the legacy was more of a challenge. He embraced and transcended it by giving ardent devotees of Bharathi something priceless – songs, in tunes the poet had composed.K. Balachander

The history of Tamils can be split into ‘before Bharathi’ and ‘after Bharathi’. Such is the impact of that poet. Bharathi is my superhero. As a boy, I was awestruck by his patriotism, devotion, active social awareness. The effect he had on me percolated into my cinema.

The strength and refreshing pride my women characters portrayed were imbued from his verses. Poverty never mellowed his fire or dampened his ideals. His used his words as weapons against injustices. Bharathi is needed now more than ever. As corruption and avarice run riot, who among us does not wish he were with us?

For a video, go to http://thne.ws/bharathi- balachander

 

Vairamuthu

A good poet draws inspiration and sustenance from the time or age he lives in. A great poet, a ‘Mahakavi’, transforms the time he lives in.

After Kamban, Tamil waited for 800 years for a void to be filled. Until Bharathi arrived, Tamil was a tool for entertainment, for mundane worship; it was a jumble of sound. Bharathi wielded it as a weapon against oppression, made it a language for the future, a conduit for development. With it, he transformed devotion into patriotism.

For a video, go to http://thne.ws/bharathi-vairamuthu

 

Rajkumar Bharathi

What is the ideal tribute to the indelible verses of Subramanya Bharathi? It is to understand, assimilate and put them to practice.

Today, there is palpable love for Bharathi, but a chasm still exists between society and his dreams for it. Until that chasm is bridged, there is no next step.

His sense of responsibility, his repeated call for love, for an undivided India, is relevant to this day.

He wielded the strongest pen for the uplift of women. I am lucky to have been born in this lineage.

As a boy, everyone glorified him and so did I. It was only over the last 10 or 15 years that I began to truly understand him.

The grandness of his vision, his impatience, his anxiety — I get that now. Bharathi was ahead of his times. He remains ahead of ours, too.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> TamilNadu / by Anand Venkateswaran / Chennai, December 12th, 2012

Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust Silver Jubilee celebrations

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The Silver Jubilee year of the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust commenced on August 29. The celebrations that will formally begin on December 15 will go on till August next year, according to a release.

B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra, will be the chief guest. D. Sarath Chandran, managing trustee, Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust, will preside. Tamilmagan, writer, will be the guest of honour and deliver the special address on modern Tamil literature. Ragupriya Musical Waves, Coimbatore, will perform a music concert.

An art exhibition will be held from December 15 to 23 from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Various painting workshops, artists’ camps, Kala mela, and competitions, will be held throughout the year.

For details, contact M. Kuppuraj, manager of the Trust on 0422-2574110.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Staff Reporter / December 09th, 2012

Corporation dishes out siddha food

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Chennai :

Chennai Corporation’s canteen has gone herbal. Providing a haunt for the city’s health conscious, it now follows the motto ‘food is medicine and medicine is food’. Making the whole package at Ripon Buildings even more mouth-watering is the subsidized pricing.

The menu boasts of traditional south Indian food items which have been given a twist with some exotic medicinal plants and herbs. The canteen serves avarampoo (Cassia auriculata) idli, avarampoo dosa, tail millet idli, mudakathan keerai (balloon vine) dosa and thoothuvalai (purple-fruited pea eggplant) dosa. “The avaram flower prevents diabetes. Eating it once a week in any form will reduce the sugar levels in your body, ” says Dr Veerababu, who runs the canteen.

Kezhvaragu dosa and manathakkali dosa are the other specialities. “Manathakkali cures stomach ulcers. Thoothuvalai prevents phlegm formation in thebody,thus preventing cold and cough,” reads a poster in the canteen. The canteen also serves herbal tea, herbal soups, juices and ginger buttermilk.

However, the one dish that caught everyone’s attention was the vegetarian omelette. “This helps people who have recently turned to vegetarianism or veganism,” says Dr Veerababu.”Itis madeof neermulli which has the properties of egg. The mixture is beaten with vegetables on a pan and made into an omelette,” he says.

Every one may like the pricing. The idlis are priced between 2 and 5, paniyarams, omelette anddosas at 5 and meals at 15.”The aim is to draw daily wage labourers to eat healthy foodinsteadof cholesterol-ridden food from unhygienic stalls,” said a corporation official. The idea to set up a siddha food canteen struck the mayor when he opened Dr Veerababu’s siddha food restaurant in Saligramam six months ago. While the canteen drew huge crowds on Wednesday, some remained sceptical about the venture.

“Eating healthy food is alright once a week, but we would want to eat plain dosa and idli daily. These don’t appear on the menu,” said a staff member. A counter outside the canteen also sells banyan branches to clean teeth.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Chennai / by Pratiksha RamKumar, TNN / December 06th, 2012