Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Chennai’s Senate House opens its doors to the public

Senate01CF27feb2019

The beauty of its Moorish-themed walls and exquisite high ceiling is no longer hidden behind shuttered windows — Senate House is one of the venues of Chennai Photo Biennale

It stands at the site of what was once the Nawab of Arcot’s artillery park. From its shady boulevard guns were fired to greet visitors. Today, Senate House stands a silent sentinel gazing at the Marina as students mill about its grounds, pigeons roost in its eaves and visitors throng the Chennai Photo Biennale’s exhibition held in its ornate halls.

Shuchi Kapoor, founding member, CPB, who was also instrumental in getting permission for venues, says, “We had heard about how beautiful Senate Hall was and how it would lend itself to the Biennale. We started work on getting permissions to host exhibitions in 2017 and through The Hindu, Goethe Institut and the Head of the Department of Journalism were able to access the office of the Vice Chancellor. It took us a year to get the permission. It had been renovated recently but hadn’t been used. Despite low maintenance it was impressive when opened up and we knew it would make for a perfect venue. We hope this will push our ‘adopt a venue’ programme, going forward, that will involve corporates lending support to upkeep these lovely spaces.”

Senate02CF27feb2019

Senate House was completed in 1879. The library and teaching departments were built in similar style to lend it continuity. The fragile beauty of Senate House was the result of the genius of Robert Fellowes Chisholm who as a young engineer at 21 won a contest and was chosen to design Presidency College and a building to house the offices of the University. Chisholm is also credited with designing the Lakshmi Vilas Palace and the Museum in Baroda, Lawrence school in Ooty and the Rangoon Cathedral. In a way, he changed the skyline of Madras and by the end of his tenure in India in 1902 was considered the master of Indo-Saracenic architecture .

The main door of Senate House faces the Centenary buildings and opens to the Great Hall (150 feet long, 60 feet wide and 50 feet high from boarded floor to ornate, canvas ceiling). It was here that convocations were once held, here that students in robes and academic caps celebrated in jubilation before the University expanded and convocations were held at the Centenary auditorium across the road. When the first Assembly was constituted in 1937, it was here that it met.

Senate03CF27feb2019

Light from the evening sun filters through the arcaded verandahs supported by stone capitals with Indian figurines. The red hand-pressed brick is firm to the touch and cool despite the searing heat. Broomhall’s tiles cover the roofs from where pigeons fly out to wheel over the Bay and back. Windows — shuttered, vertical and circular — covered in stained glass and woodwork lend it the solemn air of a cathedral. Mooresque colours dominate the walls and lecture halls on the floor above are accessed through grand stairways. The minarets and porches lend it a fabled feel. From the star-embossed stone porches one can see the almost-forgotten statue of Queen Victoria seated shrouded under a canopy of wild bushes. Gazing at the sea and the cars parked in front of it with its back to Senate House is the statue of S Subramania Aiyar, first Indian Vice Chancellor.

On the day I visit, work is in progress for the Biennale. The clickety-clack of a typewriter from the Publications office on the ground floor echoes through the hall. Workers erect installations and artists are at work. Dust dances in the sunbeams that light up the floor and lends Senate Hall a touch of fast-fading old world grace. Go before its doors close and its beauty blushes unseen.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Society> History & Culture / by Deepa Alexander / February 26th, 2019

Chennai college honours under-35 female achievers

The second edition of Yuva Sammaan Awards was held on Saturday evening with pomp and show at the MOP Vaishnav College for Women.

The awardees were given a citation and `1 lakh each  D Sampathkumar
The awardees were given a citation and `1 lakh each  D Sampathkumar

Chennai :

The second edition of Yuva Sammaan Awards was held on Saturday evening with pomp and show at the MOP Vaishnav College for Women. The Awards were initiated last year by the college to recognise and appreciate female achievers under the age of 35 in the fields of performing arts, sports and entrepreneurship. The awardees were given a citation and Rs 1 lakh each.

College principal, Lalitha Balakrishnan delivered the welcome address. Kumaravel, founder of Naturals Salons; Rohini Rao, a competitive sailor, and Priyadarsini Govind, a classical dancer, were the chief guests. “I have not only empowered women, but I have been benefitted because of it. I believe that the ability to think differently is the essence of good entrepreneurship. I want all of you to look at every problem as an opportunity to provide a solution,” said Kumaravel.

The jury comprised Ranjini Manian, CEO of Global Adjustments; S Venkatraman, senior consultant in the education sector of UNESCO; S Vaishya Subramaniam, writer; and Thangam Meghanathan, chairperson of the Rajalakshmi Education Trust. Thirty-five nominations were received by the college. Sruti Harihara Subramaniam, director of ‘Harmony with AR Rahman’, founder of Goli Soda and MOP alumna, won the award in the Entrepreneurship category. The other nominees in this category were Varthika Neethi Mohan of Farm@Home; Barkha V Mehta, specialising in advertising and marketing; Mathanghi Kumar, chef and partner at the Summerhouse Eatery; Savitha Chandrasekaran, specialising in robotics and product development; and Prasitha Sridhar, founder of Shopzters.

In the sports category, squash player Deepika Pallikal Karthik bagged the award. She is the first Indian to break into the top 10 in the PSA Women’s ranking. The other nominees in this category were Anitha P, basketball player and gold medalist; K Shamini, table tennis player; Sai Samhitha, tennis player; and MD Thirushkamini, cricketer.

Charumathi Raghuraman, carnatic music violinist, won the award in the performing arts category. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her family ‘for being a support system’. Carnatic vocalist and playback singer Saindhavi Prakash, Bharatanatyam dancer Vaidhevi Harish, and playback singer S Mahasri were the other nominees. Three MOP alumni — Janani Hamsini, carnatic singer; Kavyalakshmi Muralidaran, dancer, and Sudha RS Iyer, violinist/vocalist, — were also nominated.
Super Singer Junior 3 finalist Anu AP performed two songs, The band ‘One Note Stand’ rendered a mash-up of AR Rahman songs.

Performances by students
As part of the event, MOP students performed garba, a contemporary dance performance to the remix of the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, and a thillana.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 25th, 2019

M.N. Nambiar: on-screen villain and real-life hero

A legend with legends: M.N. Nambiar with Sivaji Ganesan; and right, with MGR. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A legend with legends: M.N. Nambiar with Sivaji Ganesan; and right, with MGR. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa penned the foreword for a book authored by his grandson, to be released on March 7

The title, Nambiarswami: the good, the bad & the holy, encapsulates the personality of M.N. Nambiar, on and off the screen. He played the villain in films, but was a good man off it, leading a spiritual life as a staunch devotee of Lord Ayyappa and making a pilgrimage to Sabarimala more than 200 times over a 70-year period.

The book, by the late actor’s grandson M.N. Dipak Nambiar, will be released on March 7, on the occasion of his birth centenary. Late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who starred with Nambiar in a number of films, had written the foreword, describing him as ‘pure-hearted’.

The book will also be released in Tamil in a couple of months. The publisher is Harper Collins.

“The inspiration for the title came from the western classic: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and I have slightly altered it,” said Mr. Dipak, a software professional who started writing the book in 2004 when Nambiar was alive.

He prefers to address his grandfather as Nambiarswami, as he first took him to Sabarimala when he was seven. He continues to make the pilgrimage regularly — 42 times to date and counting — despite losing his left leg in an accident four years ago in the U.S.

Mr. Dipak, the son of Nambiar’s daughter Sneha, had the opportunity to see the life of a great person up-close, since he grew up in his grandfather’s house. Nambiar would reminisce about his early childhood, his struggle during the drama days, his entry into films, his best friend MGR, and the person who was the most important to him and whom he loved the most — his wife Rugmini. “She truly was the epitome of the proverb ‘Behind every successful man there stands a woman’,” Mr. Dipak said.

Besides capturing the vignettes of Nambiar’s life and the funny anecdotes that he recalled from his 71 years in Tamil films, the author has interviewed industry stalwarts to know their experiences with him.

Friendship with MGR

While MGR and Nambiar were known for the intense hatred they had for each other in films, they cherished an envious friendship in real life. It was MGR, who accompanied Nambiar to “see” his bride Rugmini.

“She walked in, escorted by her sisters. I had learned to control my emotions as an actor, but I leaned over and whispered to MGR that though I liked the girl, I thought one of her sisters looked prettier,” Mr. Dipak quotes Nambiar as saying.

Another incident explains the bond between MGR and Nambiar. “MGR was the best man for the wedding and he could not make it on time because it was raining heavily and the transport was running late. The muhurtham time was elapsing fast but I refused to tie the thaali till I saw MGR. Luckily, a completely drenched MGR ran into the hall with a few seconds to go, gesticulating with an upward motion of his hands to say go ahead,” Nambiar said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by B. Kolappan / Chennai – February 24th, 2019

Hark back in time

MooreMarketCF22feb2019

The newly launched Moore Market in Velachery takes visitors on a trip to the past with its collection of books and antiques

A doorway made entirely of books welcomes you into the newly launched Moore Market, a bookstore/café/antiques marketplace at Grand Square in Velachery. As you step inside, there are rows and rows of books flanked by two cafés and coffee tables that invite you to sit down and spend a leisurely afternoon sipping some fine brews from Coorg and read a book.

But it’s the ceiling that truly captivates me. There are books of all kinds — paperbacks, hardbound and graphic novels — suspended from the ceiling, some even doubling up as lamps with naked bulbs speared through them.

The brainchild of Zarook Shah, owner of Grand Square, the store takes visitors back in time with its impressive collection of antiques. There are rows of records, coins, telephones, cameras, camel bone walking sticks, grandfather clocks, utensils, armchairs, radios and other knick-knacks to choose from. “I wanted to recreate the nostalgia of the iconic market that was once everyone’s favourite shopping destination in Madras,” says Zarook.

In fact, the launch of the space last weekend treated audiences to screenings of Laurel and Hardy, and Charlie Chaplin movies played on a vintage film reel projector. The launch also saw two book signings and an auction kept people on their toes. The auction began as low as ₹1 and the item that sold for the most amount was an ancient seal for ₹30,000. “Going forth, the auction will be a regular affair,” says Zarook, who is keen on keeping the memory of the iconic market alive.

As a child, Zarook would make it a point to make that weekly trip to Moore Market, behind Chennai Central, with his siblings and cousins. The halls and corridors of the imposing colonial structure would be buzzing with activity as hawkers and vendors would sell everything from books, clothes, antiques to even pets of all kinds. Behind the market was a lily pond and the zoo (which has now moved to Vandalur). And it was in this area that the annual Jumbo Circus would be held, another draw for Zarook.

“Moore Market was where we went for entertainment. There were no malls and cafés back then and we looked forward to our weekly trips to the market. I was an avid reader and books were my best friends. It was there that I found several page turners — Aesop’s FablesAmar Chitra KathaHardy Boys and National Geographic,” he says. “But we would make it a point to ask our driver to park the car some distance away and walk to the market. Because, the vendors would quote different prices to those coming on foot and those coming by car,” he laughs.

In fact, Moore Market was the favourite shopping destination for most people in Madras till it burnt down in 1985. The fire that changed the face of Central Chennai, also led to a new complex for the vendors of the market, albeit without its colonial charm and flavour. “But it just isn’t the same any more,” says Zarook.

The jeweller-turned-businessman admits that he’d always dreamed of opening a bookstore with a café in it and when the opportunity finally presented itself, he decided to give his plans a twist by incorporating some history into it. While the antique collection will be changed every other week by Bidfe, whom Zarook has partnered with, the space will also host events to encourage upcoming artistes and entrepreneurs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Ranjani Rajendra / February 21st, 2019

Sangam literature: Select verses’ translations released

The select verses have been translated into Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi.

Chennai :

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has released translations of select verses from ‘Pathinenkilkanakku Noolgal’ (18 Lesser Texts) part of the Tamil Sangam literature and Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture K Pandiarajan received the first set of books. The select verses have been translated into Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi.

The CM released these translations at the secretariat on February 19 and also presented `one lakh cheque each to Rajalakshmi Seenivasan (Hindi), KK Chandrasekaran Nair (Malayalam) and LR Swami (Telugu).  The State government had allocated `15.30 lakh for the translation and other works.

Palaniswami handed over a cheque for `1 crore towards establishing the MGR Arts and Social Development Research Chair in the International Institute of Tamil Studies (IITS) at Taramani to G Vijayaraghavan, Director (in charge), IITS.

Meanwhile, the CM handed over the key for the vehicle, meant for selling the publications of the IITS, and inaugurated the MGR centenary library building constructed at a cost of `2.30 crore besides the hostel for research students at IITS at Taramani.

New taluks inaugurated

The Chief Minister also inaugurated new taluks, Thiruvattar and Killiyoor (Kanyakumari dt), Vathirairuppu (Virudhunagar dt), Gujiliyamparai (Dindigul dt) and RK Pettai (Tiruvallur dt) and declared open new buildings for RDO and taluk offices as well as residential quarters for the employees, constructed at a total cost of `11.87 crore.

Craft treasure award

The CM presented the living craft treasure awards to seven craftsmen, Poompuhar State awards to 10 craftsmen and three best silk grower awards for 2018-19. The craft treasure award carries `1 lakh, one-sovereign gold medal and citation.  The Poompuhar State award carries `50,000, half-sovereign gold medal and citation.

EPS, OPS to garland Jaya statue on Feb 24

Chennai: Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam will garland  the statue of the late leader J Jayalalithaa at the AIADMK headquarters on February 24, to mark her 71st birth anniversary. They will release a souvenir on the occasion. AIADMK functionaries and cadre will organise blood donation camps, present educational materials to students, feed poor and inmates of orphanages and distribute  sarees and dhoties. Party functionaries will organise public meetings for 5 days from February 24.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 22nd, 2019

Harish Natarajan: A ‘human debater’ who beat a robot

Harish Natarajan | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani
Harish Natarajan | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani

Meet Harish Natarajan, a champion debater who recently triumphed over IBM’s AI debater

Harish Natarajan loves arguing. It has helped him win debates against his parents at dinner table conversations when he was young. It has helped him scale heights in debating circles — he holds the world record for most debate victories. And recently, it helped the 31-year-old triumph over IBM’s artificial intelligence debating system, affectionately dubbed ‘Miss Debater’.

His victory has been celebrated across the globe, thanks to the recent emphasis on man-vs-machine clashes. At his nondescript house in Chennai’s bustling T Nagar, where he is for a day for his grandfather’s birthday celebrations, a jet-lagged Harish is nonplussed about all the worldwide attention. “Before the clash, part of me thought that a machine couldn’t be as good as humans in debating. But then, I knew that a machine had beaten chess champion Garry Kasparov in the past. So, winning against the AI was somewhat of a relief. Maybe in a couple of years, if IBM continues developing the debating side of AI, I’d be happy to have a go at it again… and then, that would be real achievement,” he says.

_____________

Who’s Harish Natarajan?
  • A 31-year-old, settled in the UK, and among the world’s best debaters
  • He recently defeated IBM’s AI-powered debating system in a live face-off
  • Is currently involved in coaching people from less developed debating circuits

_____________

The topic given to the two was about pre-school subsidies, and Harish went about treating the clash like he would with any human. “The first 30 seconds, of course, were strange — I realised I was up against this giant ballot box. But after that, as the AI was making arguments, I kept noting what my responses ought to be. At times, it was putting forth points that I couldn’t really deny. But I was always thinking: How do I use its words against it?”

One of the reasons Harish was able to outsmart the machine in the 25-minute rapid-fire exchange was the emphasis he gave to ‘emotion’ during his arguments. “Emotion elevates the importance of what you’re saying. There were moments when even the machine was trying to evoke emotion. But I did have an edge because, when I talk about experiences, it comes across as more genuine partly because… well, I’m not a machine.”

Point of the matter

His parents are both from Chennai, but Harish was born and brought up in the UK, and has been debating since he was 16. “I was relatively good at school, but I discovered I wasn’t up there once I went to the bigger debating world.” His time at Cambridge helped him put a lot more effort into this side of things. “I realised that I enjoyed debating and had the aptitude for it. Eventually, with practice, I got better.”

Today, he has participated in more than 2,000 debates and is among the world’s best, but Harish has never been too happy with his performances. “That’s why I never re-watch any of my debates, because I am always thinking what more I could have done,” he says.

There have been times when Harish has been caught off guard. At one debate, the topic in front of him was: commercialisation of feminism. “I remember thinking that I had no idea what it was. But I got back home, and read a lot about it. So, a few months later, when a similar topic came up in another debate, I knew a huge deal about it and my teammates gave me looks like: ‘why do you know all this?’” he laughs.

He’s always reading something or the other. “There are things that I don’t care about much, but I know a great deal about. I’ve read so much about academic feminism and elements of climate science in my life. Personally, I like reading about economics and international relations, but as a debater, I have to absolutely keep reading everything under the sky.”

All this reading has helped Harish incorporate debating into his everyday life. “If I read an article in a newspaper, I always think: what is the underlying argument here? With respect to anything I read, I’m always debating within myself. It has now become a way of thinking.”

Out in the world

When he’s not out there debating or attending to his day job — he works as Head of Economic Risk Consulting at AKE International — Harish loves watching football or catching up on a show on Netflix. He loves travelling as well.

“There’s a big difference between having knowledge about a place and actually experiencing something there,” he says, “My last big trip was to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. What shocked me about the city was that it looks different from anywhere else in world. It looks empty, but there are giant buildings everywhere.”

Currently, Harish is involved in coaching people from less developed debating circuits. “In April, I’ll be in China. A few years ago, I was part of World University Debating Championships right here in Chennai. India has a vibrant school circuit, a good educational system and the parental pressure on children to succeed is huge… and so logically, should be among the best debating countries in the world. Debating at the school level has developed a lot of late and I predict Indian students to be among the best in the next few years,” he wraps up.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Srinivasa Ramanujam / February 20th, 2019

Madhan Karky among 56 chosen for Tamil Nadu awards

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced the names of 56 personalities who have been chosen for the various awards instituted by the State government for 2018.

Lyricist Madhan Karky (Photo|facebook.com/Madhankarky)
Lyricist Madhan Karky (Photo|facebook.com/Madhankarky)

Chennai :

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced the names of 56 personalities who have been chosen for the various awards instituted by the State government for 2018. V Madhan Karky, lyricist and Tamil computing researcher, will receive the Tamil computing award for 2017. The Chief Minister will be presenting the awards at a simple function to be held at the secretariat on Tuesday (February 19).

The names of those chosen for various awards include Bhubaneswar Tamil Sangam (Thamizh Thaai award), Poet M Kasuman (Kapilar award), Nadana Kasinathan (UVeSa award), Avadi Kumar (Sollin Selvar award), KK Chandrasekaran Nair (GU Pope award), S Naseema Banu, Silampoli Su Chellappan (Ilango Adigal award) and P Veeramani (Singaravelar award), Bhubaneswar Tamil Sangam will get Rs 5 lakh and a shield while others will be presented with Rs 1 lakh, a gold medal and a citation.

As many as 10 scholars including Dr Akbar Kausar will receive the best translator award which carries Rs 1 lakh and a citation.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2019

Govt to build memorials, celebrate birth anniversaries of revolutionaries

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced establishment of memorials for many late leaders and that their birth anniversaries would be celebrated as State government functions.

Chennai :

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced establishment of memorials for many late leaders and that their birth anniversaries would be celebrated as State government functions.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said a memorial and a library for poet Kavimani Desika Vinayagam Pillai would be built at Theroor in Kanyakumari at a total cost of `1 crore.

A memorial for King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar would be established in Tiruchy district at a cost of `1 crore. Similarly, a memorial for late Dalit leader Rettaimalai Srinivasan would be established at Kozhiyalam near Madurantakam.

The Chief Minister also  said that the government would build memorials for VK Palaniswami Gounder, who was instrumental in implementing the Parambikkulam-Azhiyar dam project; Justice Party leader and former finance minister of the erstwhile Madras Presidency AT Panneerselvam; Ondiveeran, the commander-in-chief of King Pulithevan who fought against the British forces  in Tirunelveli; and a dome for Allala Ilaiya Nayakar at Jedarpalayam.

Palaniswami also announced that the birth anniversaries of Colonel John Pennycuick, Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan, freedom fighter Veeran Azhagumuthukon, Tamil scholar Ma Po Sivagnanam and former Assembly Speaker SP Aditanar would be celebrated by the governmen.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 15th, 2019

Spotlight on printing technology

A thematic library on the subject is coming up at Devaneya Pavanar District Central Library

A thematic library will be accommodated on the premises of Devaneya Pavanar District Central Library, AnnaSalai. It promises to provide visitors with a huge collection of books and journals on printing technology, covering its history and evolution.

District Library Officer S. Elango Chandrashekhar says the facility is being established at a cost of ₹46,46000.

The “thematic library” is expected to see the light by the second week of March. Spread over 3,900-sq.ft. and provided with air-conditioning, the facility will have more than 1,000 books, journals and magazines. Besides, visitors will get to watch a 20-minute audio-video presentation about printing technology.

“The Education Ministry issued an order in 2018 to establish eight ‘thematic libraries’ across the State.

The others are: A library on folk arts, in Madurai; on ancient Tamil medicine, in Tirunelveli; on Indus Valley civilisation, in Sivagangai; on ancient science and mathematics, in Tiruchi; on astronomy, in Coimbatore and a library on the life and culture of tribal people, in Nilgiris,” says Elango.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by L. Kanthimathi / February 15th, 2019

Karadi Tales shortlisted for London Book Fair award

Chennai-based children’s publishing house Karadi Tales has been shortlisted for the Audiobook Publisher of the Year Award.

The award will be presented at the 48th annual London Book Fair, on March 12.

Karadi Tales was a pioneer in the children’s audiobook industry in India, with stories narrated by acclaimed theatre and film personalities, and set to professionally performed music. The award has been attributed to the content of its books and partnership with the Karadi Path Education Company.

The picture books and audiobooks of the publishing house, founded in 1996, have featured in The New York Public Library’s Best Children’s Books, White Ravens, IBBY, the Amelia Bloomer list and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program.

Translation rights

The translation rights for its books have been sold around the world. Karadi Path was founded in 2010 as Karadi Tales’ partner company to bridge the English literacy gap in the country by using stories and immersive learning and is part of the curriculum in over 3,000 schools.

Karadi Path has partnered with government programmes such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the State Council of Educational Research and Training, and schools for tribal children, girl children, and minorities, and has been recognised by USAID and the San Francisco-based Project Literacy Lab for its effectiveness in environments with limited infrastructure and for first-generation English learners.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 16th, 2019