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June 2004
Madhavan in a Malayalam-English bilingual
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Madhavan in a Malayalam-English bilingual Subhash K Jha After working in Mani Ratnam's bilingual, Aayutha Ezhuthu (Yuva in Hindi), Tamil star Madhavan is working on yet another. This time, it is the Hindi version of his Tamil film, Nala Damayanti, and the film is titled Ramji Londonwale. "I can't figure out why this [him working in bilinguals] is happening," grins Madhavan. Just back in India after a month-and-a-half-long schedule of Ramji... in London, he says, "Eighty-five per cent of the film is complete. Actually, the London schedule started on a disastrous note: half the crew got to London, while the other half was still waiting for their visas. But once everyone joined us, it was as if the Gods had smiled on us. The weather became bright and sunny, with 14 hours of sunlight every day. We managed to complete everything on time. The turning point in our London schedule was when music composer Vishal Bhardwaj sent us three songs in London." The reason why many films are now being shot in London, he says, is because the British government is offering many concessions and advantages. He adds, "The Tamil version cost less, but the Hindi version is far superior in terms of plot and treatment. Besides, London is more romantic than Australia, where we shot Nala Damayanti. And the music in the Hindi version is phenomenally superior." Madhavan says he enjoys the challenge of remakes. "Earlier, I appeared in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, the Hindi version of my Tamil hit, Minnalae. But that was a faithful remake. Ramji Londonwale is an adaptation. Since we have translocated the original character from Tamil Nadu to Bihar, the entire dialect changed. And since I am originally from Bihar [he grew up in Bihar], the Bihari language was not a problem. Coincidentally, most of the supporting parts in the film are played by Biharis, including walk-on parts by Indians in London." Madhavan has returned to India with two Tamil hits, Aitheree and Aayutha Ezhuthu. He is particularly protective of the latter. "I know how hard Mani Sir worked on the film. I prayed for both the Hindi and Tamil versions to do well. I am very happy for the acclaim Yuva got Abhishek [Bachchan, who essayed the role of Lallan Singh in Yuva, to Madhavan's Inba]. He deserves every bit of it. Both of us scored basically because we had such well-written roles. I also liked Kareena [Kapoor, who played the free-spirited Meera] in Yuva. She was brilliant." Madhavan adds, "I am off to New Mexico this week to shoot a Malayalam-English film. This is my first film in both languages. It is directed by Rajeev Anchal, who directed the Malayalam-English hit Guru. It is about two people who meet in a suicide ward after trying to end their lives. It isn't a depressing film. It is a celebration of life. Neha, a new girl, plays the lead opposite me. But I must tell you Samita Bangargi, who stars opposite me in Ramji London-wale is just too good. This film will make her a star."
Kerala to be first state to go for photo electoral rolls
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Bangalore: The Election Commission has begun preparing electoral rolls containing photos of voters, Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy has said. ''The first state to go for photo electoral rolls is Kerala, where election work has been done exceedingly well,'' he said while speaking at the 'National Conference on Electoral Reforms' organised by the Centre for Public Policy and the Association for Democratic Reforms here. ''Photo electoral rolls will be prepared in constituencies where photo ID cards have been issued to 80-90 per cent (of voters). We have started with some constituencies and will gradually extend it throughout the country,'' he said. Besides Kerala, the other states that came in for praise from the CEC included Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Expressing ''deep concern'' over deficiencies in voters lists, Krishnamurthy said removing these lacunae was the top priority of the Election Commission. ''We do realise that our system requires improvement, and we will do it. We are very keen to demonstrate to the voters that the Election Commission is deeply concerned.'' Though it was not possible to have 100 per cent perfect electoral rolls, it was the EC's intention to make it at least 95 per cent perfect, he said. He said to minimise the deletion of names from voters' lists, the Election Commission had issued instructions that a name should be removed only after consent by at least two officials. Stating that the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharasthra was a test case, he said the Chief Electoral Officer had been directed to open a permanent help-desk to help citizens obtain photo ID cards or have their names included in the voters list. Also, starting in Maharashtra, electronic filing of Form Six for inclusion of names in the voter list had been permitted. Post offices had been co-opted for the verification of electoral rolls, he said.
Hindu rites for late comrade Nayanar
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
: He was a diehard Communist for nearly four decades, but when it came to post-funeral rites for late Kerala chief minister E.K. Nayanar, his family decided to immerse his ashes the Hindu way. Nayanar had passed away last month in Delhi and was given a funeral by his Communist Party of India-Marxist that was replete with Marxist slogans. But on Monday, in what was a family affair, his ashes were immersed in the waters off Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu in a typically Hindu religious way. At 5.30 a.m., the entire Nayanar family was present at Kerala House in Kanyakumari. With the help of a Hindu priest, prayers were conducted after which Nayanar's eldest son Krishna Kumar immersed the leader's ashes. Several CPI-M legislators, when asked if it was proper for the post-funeral rites of a Communist icon to be conducted in the Hindu religious way, said it was a personal affair of the family and the party had nothing to do with it. Kodeyeri Balakrishnan, the CPI-M deputy leader in the Kerala assembly, said the funeral of Nayanar was done by the party, but not the post-funeral rites. "What happened in Kanyakumari was purely a family affair and the party had no role in it," said Balakrishnan. When asked if it was proper to observe Hindu religious rites for a Communist, he said: "We will have to look into the issue in detail." While Nayanar himself was a devout Communist, his children and wife are not. In fact his wife Sarada is very religious and eyebrows were raised when she visited a Hindu shrine in Sabarimala during Nayanar's reign as chief minister. At that time the party defended her visit by saying it was not the leader but his wife who had visited Sabarimala. Defending Monday's rituals was former health minister and Left Democratic Front ally A.C. Shanmugha Das. Das said for most Hindu devotees from north Kerala, the practice was to immerse ashes of their dead either at the Thirunelli or Thirunavaya. "Kanyakumari should not be classified along with the other two places. It is a place where three seas meet and there is nothing wrong in what Nayanar's family did," said Das. Varkala Kahar, a legislator of the rival Congress party, however, found the incident ironical. "Nayanar had a funeral where party slogans were raised and everything was done in a typically Marxist manner. What happened Monday is therefore interesting, though the party will certainly have some way of defending that too," said Kahar. Except for a vehicle from the CPI-M headquarters provided to the family, there was nothing official about Monday's event, the party insisted.
Jt meeting of film industry organisations held
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
A joint meeting of various organisations of the Malayalam film industry was held here tonight to discuss issues plaguing the industry. The indefinite cinema bandh, which entered the fourth day today, was also discussed at the meeting, called by the Kerala film chamber of commerce. Chamber sources said the government had so far not called the Chamber for any discussion to settle the issue.
Trouble again brewing in Congress' Kerala unit
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Trouble again seems to be brewing in the Kerala unit of the Congress with veteran leader K. Karunakaran's faction preparing to hit out at his arch rival, Chief Minister A.K. Antony. The first signs of another rebellion came Monday when Congress leaders P.P. George and Savithiri Laxman went hammer and tongs against Antony in the assembly as they criticised the running of the government. "Isn't the assembly the place where we are supposed to speak about the policies of the government? What I said yesterday was nothing but constructive criticism. Laxman maintained. To forestall further criticism, the names of two Karunakaran loyalists, T.V.Chandramohan and Maleth Sarala Devi, were removed from the list of Tuesday's speakers. This angered Karunakaran, who has summoned his followers for a meeting here Wednesday. It's an open question whether his son K. Muraleedharan, who was largely instrumental in brokering peace in the party in February, would attend the meeting.
Kerala asks Rs 8.7 billion for health projects
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Kerala asks Rs 8.7 billion for health projects New Delhi, June 29 Kerala today sought a Central assistance of Rs 8.7045 billion for implementing projects in the Health sector. "The state had apprised the Union Health Ministry about various programmes to be taken up in the state and in our representation presented to the Minister we have asked for Rs 870.45 crore for implementing these," Kerala Health minister Kadavoor Sivadasan told reporters here. Sivadasan, who met Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramdoss, said he put forward various proposals, including setting up of an institute on AIIMS model, Trauma Care centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Trauma care centres along the National Highway and a Medical University. "We have also asked the Minister to help state owned medicine manufacturers in the state. We have specifically pointed out the need to help Oushadi, a state owned Ayurveda medicine manufacturer," he said. He also brought to the notice of the Union Ministry the Homeopathic medicine manufacturer Co-operative Pharmaceuticals in Allapuzha. While the state has asked for Rs 150 million for setting up Medical University, another Rs 4 crores had been asked for setting up the proposed AIIMS model institute in Kerala. Pointing out that Kerala is one of the most accident prone state, he said the government has asked the ministrty to provide another Rs 4 crore for a trauma care centre in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. Sivadasan also said that a World Bank team will visit Kerala in July to hold discussions about the proposals submitted to the funding agency.
World Youth Chess Olympiad in Kozhikode from July 2
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Kozhikode, June 29 Hosts India will field six teams for the seven-day World Youth (under-16) Chess Olympiad scheduled to begin here on July 2. Prominent among those who would be representing the country are Arun Prasad, G N Gopal, Nikhilesh Kumar and Parimarjan Negi, FIDE Vice-President P T Ummer Koya told a press conference here today. India finished third in the Turkey edition last year. The tournament, to be played on Swiss system, would also witness the participation of holders Hungary, China, Iran, Kazakhistan, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Malaysia, he said, adding in all 11 countries would put up 20 teams comprising boys and girls. Each team would consist of five players with one of them being the reserve. While the top three teams would receive gold, silver and bronze medals, individual champions would also be awarded a trophy by the World Chess Federation. The tournament would be inaugurated on July 1 when the managers and players would also meet to decide the playing slots for the event. PTI
Aruna Kesavan to be appointed Centre's brand ambassador
Monday, June 28, 2004
Kozhikode: A CBSE topper from Kerala, Aruna Kesavan, has been selected by the Centre as the country's brand ambassador for their 'Women Empowerment' and 'Save the Girl Child' campaigns. Aruna, a student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Chevayur, here, achieved this rare honour by securing an aggregate 487 out of 500 marks in the XII examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, results of which were declared recently. Aruna, the daughter of Punjab National Bank chief manager S Kesava Iyer and Mohana Kesavan, also has the distinction of being the first student from Kerala to top the CBSE XII examination. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry's decision to appoint Aruna as the brand ambassador for the campaigns for the year 2004-05 has been announced by the Ministry's representative Rakesh Bhatia personally. With this, she is required to spearhead campaigns by endorsing advertisements, video shots, posters and other multimedia messages aimed at empowering the girl children and against the evil of dowry, among other things. The ambassadorship, with a cash award of Rs five lakh, will be formally announced at the Population Run/Rally to be flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on July 11.
Kakkakarumban
Monday, June 28, 2004
Movie Kakkakarumban Director M.A.Venu Music M.Jayachandran Cast Siddharth, Meenakshi, Jagathy, Nedumudi Venu Siddharth wanted to emulate his father, late director Bharathan, by following his footsteps and becoming a good director. But fate had something else in store for this young man when Kamal signed him to do Nammal which turned out to be super hit. It was a perfect launch for Siddharth and he was flooded with offers to play the tennybopper in campus love stories. But somehow Siddharth was not interested to ‘romance and run around trees’ and was waiting for the right role to do his second film. Now he is the hero in Kakkakarumban with an offbeat director M.A.Venu, who had earlier done Chakoram based on Lohithadas script that went on to bag a few awards. Kakkakarumban is a teenage love story set in a village milieu and Siddharth plays a very challenging role of Ramesan who is an illiterate introvert. Ramesan (Siddharth) is an orphan, dark as a crow with a big black mole on his cheek. That why people in the village call him ‘kakkakarumban’. His childhood was also as dark as his looks as he lost his mother at a very young age and had to bear the atrocities of his step-mother. He had to discontinue his studies and work hard for livelihood. Into his dark life enters Meenakshi (Meenakshi) and she changes his life. After the success of Vellinakshatram Menakshi is looking forward to this film where she has a meaty role. Issac Thomas (Riyaz Khan) also has an important role in the film. The cast also has Jagathy, Sai Kumar, Asokan, Kochupreman, Ambika, Ponnamma Babu and others. Script is by M.A.Venu and editing is by P.C.Mohan. The songs written by Girish Puthenchery are tuned by M.Jayachandran. The film is distributed by ‘Swargachitra’ Appachan and shot in and around Pattambi.
Kunchakko Boban announced his marriage
Monday, June 28, 2004
Kunchakko Boban has finally announced his plans to get married. In fact he had been evading the local press who were bombarding him with questions about his marriage. But with a charming smile he always tried to convince them about his first preference to make it big in films before settling down. And recently in an interview he had disclosed about his love affair with someone who is not connected to the film industry. But now he has made it public that the girl is Priya, a student at the Kothamangalam College for Engineering. Priya hails from Trivandrum and is the daughter of Samuel and Omana who have no connection with the film industry. Chakkochan as he is called by friends was waiting all these years for the green signal from his parents who have now agreed for the marriage. Said Chakkochan: ``Marriage is a very personal affair and both me and Priya are not interested in publicity. Please leave us alone.``
MACTA election results
Monday, June 28, 2004
In the elections to MACTA (the association of directors and technicians) a fierce electoral battle took place among Kerala film makers. The battle was between Sibi Malayil led group which has been backing KFC and the Lohithadas group backed by superstars and AMMA. The elections were held amidst tight police security as tension prevailed in the atmosphere at Bharath Tourist Home in Kochi. The results were announced on Sunday (27 June) night and came as a big blow to AMMA. The KFC chief, Siyad Kokker’s right-hand man Sibi Malayil and his panel polled 244 votes while Mohanlal backed Lohithadas panel could get only 175 votes. The new office bearers are Kamal (General Secretary), Ramachandra Babu and Lal (Vice-presidents), Hari Kumar, Jose Thomas, Sabu Pravada (Secretaries) and Kaloor Dennis (Treasurer).
Chandy conveys revamp''shortcomings' to Sonia
Sunday, June 27, 2004
PTI NEW DELHI: After a belligerent K Karunakaran, whose faction was sidelined in the revamp of the PCC effected by the high command, Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony's confidante Oommen Chandy on Saturday expressed disenchantment over the reorganisation, saying it was made "without necessary consultations". There were some "shortcomings" in the KPCC revamp. "Such an important decision appears to have been taken without necessary consultations," Chandy, who is also the Convener of the ruling UDF, told reporters after meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and in-charge of the party in Kerala Ahmed Patel. He said he conveyed the "feelings" of party workers on the revamp to Gandhi. Chandy said he respected the "well-intended" decision of the high command and had only pointed out the "shortcomings". He said all those, who have found place in the revamp deserved the posts, "but there are complaints that many, whose presence would have energised the party in the state have been left out." Asked if he was referring to any particular faction, he said the grievance was general. To a query, Chandy said "we have not put any conditions before the high-command, but hope our concerns will be taken note of." On replacement of P P Thankachan as KPCC President, Chandy said "he had been working impartially above all groups." Chandy also met AICC General Secretaries Ambika Soni, Vayalar Ravi and Mukul Wasnik and Secretary Ramesh Chennithala. Meanwhile, Kerala Finance Minister K Sharnakaranarayanan said the high command's decision needed to be respected by all and warned that "the party will not be able to go forward in any state without discipline." Shankaranarayanan, who was here to attend a meeting of the Empowered Committee on VAT, also took a swipe at the Left parties saying they were following "double standards" "While there were protests over the fuel price hike in Kerala, where the Communist Party was in opposition, even West Bengal where they are ruling was kept out of the strike," he said. "West Bengal could receive loans from Asian Development Bank, but Kerala could not have it," he said and sought to know why the Communist party was not allowing Kerala to adopt the same approach to private sector as was being done by the West Bengal government. On the meeting of the Committee, the Minister said he had reiterated Kerala's concerns at the new system, switch-over to which would result in a loss of atleast Rs 300 crore to the state. Stressing that Kerala would implement VAT only if all other southern states also agreed to join, he said the various states had also asked the Centre to compensate the losses by allocating them a portion of the service tax collected by the Centre. Kerala has also requested that local products like coir and banana leaf be kept out of VAT's purview besides reduction in tax on tea and coffee, he said. Centre should also take steps to allay the apprehensions of the concerns of the trading community before implementing VAT.
About 1100 cinemas continue to remain shut
Sunday, June 27, 2004
PTI KOCHI: About 1100 Cinema houses in Kerala continued to remain shut, as the indefinite 'Cinema Bandh' protesting the state government's "indifferent attitude" towards the problems of the film industry, entered the second day. Film shooting, Production and distribution of Malayalam films has also come to a standstill. At least 10 films which were in the various stages of completion, have been affected due to the bandh called by the Kerala Film chamber of Commerce. Government has not made any initiative so far to call them for discussions to solve the issue, chamber president Siyad Kokker said. The state exchequer was suffering at least Rs one crore loss a day due to the bandh. The agitation has been called by the Film chamber to protest the state government's 'indifferent attitude' to its various demands, including slashing of entertainment tax from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, and legislation to curb large-scale circulation of pirated video CDs.
Electronic meters: Complaints to be looked into
Sunday, June 27, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Consumers' complaints regarding recently installed electronic meters to record domestic power consumption would be looked into, Kerala Power Minister Kadavur Sivadasan said here on Saturday. Sivadasan, who holds additional charge of Electricity, said the Kerala State Electricity Board authorities had been instructed to examine the complaints and take steps to return the excessive charge paid by the consumers due to meter fault. Authorities had been asked to take decision within seven weeks on receipt of complaints. If it was found that the consumer had to pay excess charge due to meter fault, the amount would be adjusted in the next bill, he said. Electronic meters were introduced on a direction from the Centre. So far, about 28 lakh meters had been installed, he added.
NSS opposes Narendra Panel Report
Sunday, June 27, 2004
PERUNNAI: Nair Service Society will protest the Kerala state government's policy on self-financing educational institutions. NSS general secretary P K Narayana Panicker said the present policy of self-financing educational institutions would only help the rich in society. He opposed the implementation of Justice Narendra commission report which had called for job reservation for the backward classes in the state. "There is no need for any discussion with Muslim league in this regard," he said.
Fire destroys leather items worth Rs 20 lakh
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Kochi, June 26 : Leather goods, including footwear and bags, worth Rs 20 lakh were destroyed in a major fire that broke out in a business establishment at Broadway in the city. About 15 fire tenders from the city and suburbs, including that of the Navy, Kochi Refineries and the FACT, fought for about three hours to extinguish the fire which had reportedly spread from a generator, Assistant Division Fire Officer R Prasad said. The building, where the fire mishap took place today, had been recently reconstructed following a similar fire incident that had taken place a few years ago.
Fire destroys leather items worth Rs 20 lakh
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Kochi, June 26 : Leather goods, including footwear and bags, worth Rs 20 lakh were destroyed in a major fire that broke out in a business establishment at Broadway in the city. About 15 fire tenders from the city and suburbs, including that of the Navy, Kochi Refineries and the FACT, fought for about three hours to extinguish the fire which had reportedly spread from a generator, Assistant Division Fire Officer R Prasad said. The building, where the fire mishap took place today, had been recently reconstructed following a similar fire incident that had taken place a few years ago.
Akale
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Akale Cast - Sheela, Prithviraj, Geethu Mohandas, Tom George and others. Director - Shyam Prasad The Producer - Tom George The Story This is yet another screen adaptation of a wonderful classic named the Glass Menagerie written by Tennessee Williams, the American playwright. The story is narrated by Neil, the character played by Prithviraj in the film. It begins in the 70?s. Sheela plays Margaret Evans, an Anglo Indian widow who raises her two children Neil and Rose, played by Geethu Mohandas. Margaret?s husband was with Navy but disappears mysteriously in the sea during one of his trips. Margaret has a tough time raising her kids with small jobs here and there. But, Neil grows up and gets employed in a nearby factory. Rose, the daughter, is slightly mentally retarded. Margaret?s greatest desire is to get her daughter married. Neil has his own dreams of becoming a writer, but, for the sake of his mother and family, he sets the dream aside and takes up work in the factory. However, years later, he does succeed in becoming one. Margaret compels Neil to bring home his co-worker Freddy as a probable alliance for his sister. He does. But, turns out, he is already engaged to be married to someone else. This, along with other incidents worsens Rose?s mental stability. She is admitted to a mental asylum, where she breathes her last. Years later, as a middle-aged writer, Neil narrates the story. The Good- Just about everything about the film is good. The subject has been handled with sensitivity without compromising on anything. Sheela, as a boisterous Anglo Indian mother of two grown up children Geethu Mohandas with her subtle expressions and performance Prithviraj as ?Neil? The music The cinematography?
'Cinema bandh' begins in Kerala
Saturday, June 26, 2004
PTI KOCHI: The indefinte 'cinema bandh', called by the Kerala Film Chamber, began on Friday with theatres stopping screening of films and shooting, production and distribution of Malayalam films coming to a standstill across the state. The agitation has been called to protest against the state government's 'indifferent attitude' to the industry's demands, including slashing of entertainment tax from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, and legislation to curb large scale circulation of pirated video CDs. Malayalam film industry had been facing an "unprecedented crisis" in film production, distribution and exhibition and no efforts had been made by the Government so far to find a solution, industry sources said. The rate of entertainment taxes was the highest in the country and it should be brought down at least by 20 per cent, they said. The industry is on a warpath with the government 16 years after it first launched a similar agitation. There were 1,450 theatres in the state then which had come down to 800 because of the crisis.
Kerala film industry on strike
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Film industry in Kerala went on an indefinite strike on Friday to protest against a slew of taxes levied by the state authorities. Apart from studios and film fraternity based in state capital Trivandrum, more than 800 cinema halls across the state have joined the strike. Theatre owners say high entertainment tax levied by the state government has almost crippled the industry, already reeling under a sharp decline in audiences. Their other demands include supply of electricity to theatres on cheap industrial rates. "Our first problem is that the electricity charges are too high. We spend almost 145,000 rupees per month. Secondly, the entertainment tax at 35 percent is also very high. These are the main reasons for the strike," said Shekaran Pillai, a theatre owner. Theatre owners also blamed rampant piracy and easy availability of pirated CDs for the plummeting audiences. In addition, the owners are particularly miffed at the state government for giving preferential treatment to multiplexes that enjoy tax breaks due to lower capacity screening halls. The strike left movie buffs disappointed. "I have come here to see "Day after Tomorrow." I went to two-three theatres but all of them were closed. I am very disappointed," said Salim. In March, earlier this year, over 900 cinema houses in Maharashtra went on strike, protesting against the hike in taxes.
Karunakaran outburst to seek favours: Congress leader
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 25 : Congress veteran K. Karunakaran's outburst against Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony and the central leadership is being seen by some leaders here as an effort at garnering more favours. "Karunakaran's outburst Thursday was his way of getting the party provide further benefits to him and his children," T. Sarathchandra Prasad, a former Karunakaran aide who has now turned against him, told reporters here Friday. Ending the uneasy pre-general election truce, a furious Karunakaran said Thursday he had expected the party to at least inform him before the central leadership's announcement of a new 25-member committee for the state. The new committee has Karunakaran and his son K. Muraleedharan -- who are permanent invitees -- but no other loyalist of the veteran leader. Muraleedharan also hit out against the decision and said he would not take part in any of the ruling United Democratic Front meetings. Though most Congress leaders are unhappy after the revamp, no one else has openly criticised it. Most of them are hopeful of obtaining a ministerial berth and have decided against protesting before the Aug 5 state cabinet revamp.
Natwar Singh to visit Kerala to address NRI issues
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Indo-Asian News Service External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh will arrive here July 10 on a two-day visit to address issues facing the 1.6 million Keralites living abroad. "He will have wide-ranging discussions with the Kerala government on issues concerning the problems of Keralites living abroad and he will also tell us about the centre's views on them," said M.M. Hassan, state minister for non-resident Keralites (NRKs). "He will meet Chief Minister A.K. Antony and officials who deal with this segment of the community," Hassan told. This will be Singh's first visit to Kerala after assuming office. "His visit to the state within a short time of taking over as external affairs minister shows the central government's keen interest in the various memorandums we have submitted on the welfare of NRKs," said Hassan. The state, on its part, is also gearing up for the visit. The non-resident Keralites affairs department (Norka), along with Niyama Sameeksha -- an NGO working on legal issues in the state -- is organising a one-day seminar at Kozhikode Saturday to evolve a common programme to be presented to the external affairs minister. "Three former ambassadors to the Middle East, senior police officials, legal experts, judge K.Sukumaran and several organisations of NRKs and ex-NRKs are taking part in the meeting (Saturday)," Hassan said. According to the minister, the meeting will discuss ways to help the community, which has been a major contributor to the state's economy for almost two decades. About 90 percent of NRKs settled abroad are in various Middle East countries and they regularly send money back home, helping the state's economy. The latest official figures released by the state-level bankers' committee revealed that NRKs have contributed significantly in boosting non-residents' rupee deposits in Kerala banks, which were up from Rs.286.96 billion ($6.25 billion) in March 2003 to Rs.301 billion ($6.56 billion) in March 2004. This amount accounts for over 45 percent of the total deposits of Rs.659.61 billion ($14.38 billion).
CIAL declares eight percent maiden dividend
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) Thursday declared its maiden dividend of eight percent on the paid up capital of Rs.1.48 billion ($32.34 million). CIAL is the country's first airport outside the ambit of the Airports Authority of India and was floated as a public limited company five years ago. "This is the first company in the country's infrastructure sector to declare a dividend and we are extremely pleased to thank all the share holders and the employees who made this a reality," Chief Minister A.K. Antony, who is also the CIAL chairman, told reporters here after a meeting of the board of directors. The airport was dedicated to the nation May 25, 1999. Since then, traffic has picked up from a mere 76 flights a week in 1999 to a record 166 flights this year. The number of passengers has also gone up from 496,000 in 1999-2000 to 1.33 million in 2003-04. CIAL saw its operational revenue increase from Rs.568 million in 2002-03 to Rs.793 million for the year 2003-04. The airport also earned a net profit after tax of Rs.211 million during the year 2003-04, up from Rs.125 million in 2002-03. The airport was brought under a public limited company with equity participation from the state government and a large number of NRIs, of which a majority are based in the Gulf and are from Kerala. The present share holding pattern reveals that the state holds 35.56 percent while other directors holds 37 percent, the rest of the shares are distributed among nationalised banks and public sector units like Air-India (10.61 percent), NRIs and the public (14.63 percent) and other commercial banks (2.20 percent). The chief minister said that talks are going on with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) to convert their loan amount of Rs.550 million into equity. "We are ready to convert it but HUDCO is still not decided and we hope they would do the needful," said Antony. Another reason for the excellent performance has been the manner in which the interest burden of CIAL, which was Rs.400 million in 2001-02 has been brought down to a mere Rs.119.2 million this year. "The next annual general meeting of CIAL is scheduled for August this year and we are planning for a major upliftment of the airport by having a second terminal and providing a lot of amenities for passengers," Antony said.
Kerala doctor wins top UK award
Saturday, June 26, 2004
H S Rao in London Koshy Eapen, a medical doctor from Kottayam, Kerala, currently doing his MSc Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has been awarded the London University's 'Excellence and Achievement Award 2004'. According to Professor Colin Bundy, deputy vice-chancellor of the university, 29-year-old Eapen was chosen from among 145,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in all subjects from all 30 constituting colleges of the university. The award is given for "scholastic and extraordinary achievements" and includes a certificate, a citation and a cash award from the bookstore chain Waterstone's. Eapen was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Indian of the Year Award 2002 for his services in geriatric care in India. He was the first Indian doctor to be awarded a full Cambridge Commonwealth Scholarship. He has also won full prize awards from the Johns Hopkins University, North Carolina University in the US and the Erasmus University in Holland for research purposes. Before joining the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on a Mountbatten Scholarship, Eapen did clinical training at the University of Oxford. Eapen said on Wednesday night that he would return to Cambridge on a PhD scholarship in March next year followed by a year of research at the Johns Hopkins University. Interestingly, Eapen, who holds the unique distinction of having studied all his life on full scholarships, has launched what is considered to be the largest private medical education charity in India, to fully fund 50 students throughout their studies. He completed his schooling from Pallikkodam School in Kerala before qualifying in medicine from the Mahatma Gandhi University. He was a lecturer teaching medical students in Kerala before proceeding to Cambridge for higher studies.
Sun targets end-July launch of Telugu music channel, Malayalam movie channel
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Indiantelevision.com Team MUMBAI: The Kalanithi Maran headed Sun Network is set to launch two more channels - one each in Telugu and Malayalam. Sun TV vice president, programming, Hansraj W Saxena told Indiantelevision.com that Aditya, a 24-hour music channel, would be launched in Telugu while Kiran TV would open its account as the first dedicated movie channel in Malayalam. Both the channels will be launched by end-July. These two channels and the upcoming Telugu news, cable channels would take the total number of satellite and cable channels Sun Network owns to 14. As already reported on Indiantelevision.com, Sun is coming up with its 24-hour Telugu news channel Teja News and a local cable television channel Gemini Cable Vision. Currently, Sun Networks has its Telugu presence in Gemini TV and Teja TV. While Gemini is dedicated to soaps and entertainment, Teja TV brings its viewers movies and film-based programmes. Sun's sole player now in Malayalam is general entertainment channel Surya TV.
Ordinance on fee approved
Thursday, June 24, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday approved with some technical changes, the ordinance on fee structure and admission in self-financing professional colleges, which was was returned by the Governor for some clarifications, Chief Minister A K Antony said here. Considering the importance of the issue involved, the revised ordinance would be sent to the Governor for assent, though the assembly was scheduled to commence its sitting on June 25, Antony told reporters after a cabinet meeting. The Governor, seeking certain clarifications, had returned the ordinance, that gives college managements the freedom in admission and fixing of fees in 50 per cent management quota and fixed the government fee rates to the remaining open merit quota in these colleges. The ordinance also stipulates that these institutions will have to admit students in the open merit quota from the common entrance list of the government and follow the reservation pattern. It also bars the institutions from collecting any capitation amount.
R L Bhatia sworn in as Kerala Governor
Thursday, June 24, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Union minister R L Bhatia was on Wednesday sworn-in as Kerala Governor. Bhatia was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Kerala High Court N K Sodhi at a simple function at the Raj Bhavan here. Chief Minister A K Antony, his cabinet colleagues, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahmed, Assembly Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman and senior officials were present at the function. The Governor's post fell vacant following the death of Sikander Bakht in February last and since then Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi had been holding additional charge of Kerala. Earlier, on his arrival, Bhatia was received by Antony, his cabinet colleagues and senior officials.
Go for self-introspection: Antony tells partners
Thursday, June 24, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reacting sharply to the criticism that his police policy was one of the major causes for the Congress-led United Democratic Front's rout in the Lok Sabha polls, Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony said there were shortcomings in the functioning of all departments. Asking all ministers in the cabinet and UDF partners "to go for self-introspection", he said there was no point in blaming the police alone for the electoral defeat. "No one is going to escape by blaming police force", Antony said while replying to reporters query on the UDF partner IUML's charge that police policy was one of the major factors that contributed to Front's defeat in the polls. "Of course there are some lapses in police functioning and efforts are on to rectify the same," he said, but asserted he did not agree with the view that police functioning was the major cause for the defeat. The overall functioning of the Government was not satisfactory and that was the warning the people gave through the poll verdict, he said. All UDF partners should understand this and work accordingly, he added. Antoy said he was ready for any changes that would improve the functioning of the Government. In the this regard, he said he would hold talks with his cabinet colleagues to work out ways to improve the Government functioning.
Efforts on to bring back workers from Iraq: Kerala Govt
Thursday, June 24, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government's Non-resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA) Department has begun efforts to bring back Keralites trapped in the war-torn Iraq. An official press release here said requests had been sent to the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and diplomatic officials in this regard. The Centre had informed the state that it was closely monitoring the developments in Iraq, the release said. The External Affairs Ministry had given instructions to provide necessary assistance to Indians who want to return home, the release said.
Pillai made Kerala PCC chief
Thursday, June 24, 2004
PTI NEW DELHI: Thennala Balakrishna Pillai was on Wednesday made the new Kerala PCC President in place of P P Thankachan, a nominee of K Karunakaran, amid indications of a major cabinet reshuffle in the state soon after the assembly session scheduled to begin on June 25. The announcement was made by senior Congress leader and political secretary to the Congress President, Ahmed Patel, who is also the incharge of Kerala. Senior leader A C Jose has been made Vice-president in the new Kerala PCC setup which will have three General Secretaries. The revamp in the organisation came in the wake of the party's unprecedented rout in the state in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections. Chief Minister A K Anotny was recently in Delhi during which he had a series of meetings with party Chief Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders including Patel. After these meetings, Antony had said whatever decision the high command would take for strengthening organisation in the state would be acceptable to him.
'Kerala needs urgent steps to recharge groundwater'
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
'Kerala needs urgent steps to recharge groundwater' Thiruvananthapuram, June 22 : If Kerala does not take immediate steps to artificially recharge groundwater, droughts could be a permanent affair, said Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) director Sunita Narain here Tuesday. Speaking at a seminar on rainwater harvesting, Narain painted a grim view of the future if steps were not taken to address the situation in the state, which witnessed one of its worst droughts some months ago. "From studies and reports, it is now clear that droughts like these could be a permanent affair," Narain said. She said the natural recharge potential in Kerala was very poor compared to other parts in the country. "In Kerala, it is a mere three to 12 percent while in the rest of the country it is above 20 percent. Kerala has to immediately work out programmes for artificial recharge of water and see that mining of sand from rivers and lakes stops immediately," the CSE director said. The state has to ensure that sanitation improves drastically so that contamination of existing water resources is avoided. Close to 27 percent of the 4.5 million wells in the state are polluted. A major programme for recycling water also has to be undertaken. Narain said Singapore is the best example of rainwater harvesting as 50 percent of the land is used for the purpose. The need of the hour in Kerala is to have a water literacy movement and the buzzword should be to catch water where it falls, she said. K.J. Alphonse, director of Kerala Land Use Board, also spoke at the seminar. Alphonse, who heads a massive campaign for conserving rainwater, said Kerala's water problems could be solved through a sensible approach. "We can easily conserve and preserve water and completely rid ourselves of the present problem of drinking water shortage in Kerala," he said. "Studies have shown that water falling on one acre of land in a year if stored could lead to 12 million litres of water, and Kerala could as well be selling potable water. "Each household should now start conserving rainwater. If one household collects 10 days of rainwater, it would be enough for them to use for five months," he added. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development is ready with schemes for financing rainwater harvesting projects. Technology to construct special tanks of ferrous cement to collect rainwater that falls on rooftops through pipes now exists. Special filters would filter the rainwater before it enters the tank. A tank that can hold
Kerala to benefit from UPA govt: Antony
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony said on Tuesday the state stood to benefit from the UPA government whose response to its long pending developmental proposals had been quite positive. Antony, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a number of central ministers in Delhi last week, told reporters that the Centre's attitude towards the developmental needs of Kerala was quite encouraging. He said it was also important that a majority of Kerala's members of Parliament supported the government. Antony had last week submitted a detailed memorandum to the Prime Minister featuring a wide range of proposals to be included in the Union and railway budget. The state had also sought changes in the Exim policy for the benefit of its farm produce.
Malayalam author stakes claim for entry in Guinness Book
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 22 Malayalam children's books author V Balakrishnan has claimed a place in the Guinness Book of Records for having the maximum number of printed pages. Talking to newspersons here today, he claimed that he was the only person in the world to have 1,15,528 printed pages in D 1/8 size to his credit, from all the books published in his name. He said he had written to the Guinness Book of Records two months ago seeking the inclusion of his name. In response, he was told his claim was being scrutinised, he said. Mr Balakrishnan claimed he had also received a positive reply from officials of the Limca Book of Records to a request seeking recognition of his feat. The septuagenarian author, hailing from Katappattoor area in Kottayam district, said he had authored 293 titles, of which 250 were originals. He had written books on various subjects, including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. He also had various children's novels, dictionaries, encyclopaedias and translations on the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishds to his credit. Mr Balakrishnan said he had started his career as a writer in 1960 at the age of 30 with a book for children titled 'Idhu Nammude Nadanu'. He had penned the maximum number of 67 titles in children's literature. ''I feel this is a feather in my literary cap,'' he said about a book 'Amir Hamsa-2003', which contains 1,148 pages with 500 illustrations.
Voltage of protest peaks
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
THOPPUMPADY: Even as strong opposition to the newly introduced electronic meters is mounting among various sections of society, a few residents of Thoppumpady have turned down the new meters questioning the precision of the readings being recorded on them. The rationale of the decision of KSEB authorities to replace the existing meters has also been questioned. Following stiff resistance from the consumers, the workers employed by the KSEB had to go back without carrying out their job. K.G.Sudheer, a resident of Thoppumpady, questioned the rationale of the KSEB. ‘‘The new meter being thrust upon the people is not certified by a responsible government authority such as Legal Metrology Department. Any device of measurement being used in the State, including water meter and the ones used in autorickshaws, is supposed to be approved by Legal Metrology Department. Why should these meters alone be exempted from such a process of certification?’’ Sudheer asked. Orders for nearly 80 percent of the total number of meters needed for the State have already been placed with firms outside the State, it is pointed out. The electrical inspectorate, which was set up under the power department, is supposed to certify the meters to be introduced by the KSEB. But the electrical inspectorate is not at all involved in this process, sources said. ‘‘At present the KSEB authorities are certifying these meters on their own,’’ they added. When contacted, Ramachandran Achary, deputy electrical inspector at the Electrical Inspectorate, Ernakulam, said the supplier, be it the KSEB or anybody else, has the legal liability to convince the consumer of the quality and precision of the instrument. Though the electrical inspectorate is supposed to certify the meters, the KSEB has not approached us so far. If an order in this regard is placed with us, we are ready to do it,’’ Achary said. He also informed that if any consumer has any doubt about the meter, he could get it verified at the Inspectorate. A.K.Joshi, assistant engineer, KSEB, Thoppumpady, said the decisions in this regard were taken at the higher level. However Joshi said that he was not aware of people refusing to accept the electronic meters. ‘‘It is not practically possible to show an order to all consumers,’’ he said.
Private bus operators opt for one-way system at Kalamassery
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
ALUVA: The Aluva unit of Private Bus Operators’ Association (PBOA) has decided to ply their buses in Aluva-Ernakulam route in one-way system at Kalamassery from June 24. The PBOA district secretary K.A. Makkarkunju, in a press conference held here on Monday said the private buses to Ernakulam from Aluva would proceed, as usual, to HMT Junction and TVS Junction and turn left to NH to proceed to Ernakulam. These buses will not touch South Kalamassery. The private buses from Ernakulam proceeding to Aluva will touch South Kalamassery and TVS Junction and enter NH, taking deviation to the left to proceed to Aluva. The buses from Ernakulam will not touch HMT Junction. The PBOA has urged the officials to set up a bus stop, opposite the social hospital on NH to facilitate the HMT Junction-bound passengers from Ernakulam. The one-way system is proposed to avoid vehicular accidents at TVS Junction and university Junction on NH. The new system will also reduce traffic congestion at these junctions, PBOA unit president Nazeer Karippayi said. The bus operators will be forced to cease the service in Aluva-Ernakulam route if any antisocial elements try to attack the buses and crew once the one-way system is implemented on June 24, pointed out unit secretary B.K. Emil. A meeting of the members of Aluva unit of PBOA held on Monday discussed their operational problems at Kalamassery and the attack on buses and crew last week. Unit president Nazeer Karippayi presided over the meeting. Kerala State Bus Operators’ Federation president Khalid Mundappilly and district secretary K.A. Makkarkunju also attended the meeting. According to them, the bus operators had brought the issue regarding frequent accidents at TVS Junction on NH at Kalamassery to the notice of the department authorities several times. But the pleas and suggestions had fallen on deaf ears. The public and officials have always blamed private bus operators for all vehicular accidents, PBOA lamented. PBOA recalled that the number of accidents was reduced considerably when vehicular traffic was completely diverted through NH at Kalamassery. Later one-way system was introduced for private buses plying between Aluva and Ernakulam. But it was cancelled, reportedly ignoring the strong and practical recommendation of traffic assistant commissioner, due to the alleged influence of elected members, political parties and Kalamassery Merchants Association, alleged PBOA. The one-way system would have saved the running time of the buses, brought down competition among the vehicles, reduced accidents and loss of revenue. Only very few passengers would be affected by the proposed system, PBOA pointed out. PBOA also stressed that some anti-social elements and hired goondas had attacked the buses and crew for operating in one-way system. PBOA noted that while other vehicles including KSRTC buses operated through NH, private buses alone could not avail of this facility. PBOA has approached motor vehicle and police departments to redress their grievances and allow operating the services in one-way system immediately. Meanwhile, the Cochin City Motor Thozhilali Union affiliated to the CITU has called for introducing one-way system in South Kalamassery to resolve the traffic crisis in the region. In a statement issued here on Monday, the union president T.S. Shanmughadas pointed out that bus route was through South Kalamassery before the new rail overbridge and the highway was built. In the changed scenario, a one-way is essential to prevent accidents, he pointed out. As there are two traffic signals on this stretch, buses lose out on running time and resort to speeding which could result in mishaps, he said. The union has suggested that buses coming from Ernakulam side should pass through South Kalamassery and buses coming from Aluva side should use the highway via TVS Junction. This system would benefit passengers boarding from Cochin University and from South Kalamassery, union pointed out. The union has asked the District Collector and officials concerned to introduce the system as quickly as possible.
Kerala police probing Javed's links: Antony
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
PTI NEW DELHI: The Kerala police are inquiring into charges regarding Javed, one of the four alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed in an encounter with the Gujarat police, Chief Minister A K Antony said here on Monday. "The inquiry is in progress," Antony told reporters when referred to reports that Javed Gulam Mohammed Sheikh alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, who was shot dead in the encounter originally hailed from Allepey district. Asked whether the state police had failed to trail him despite his frequent visits to Kerala, Antony said he could not say anything more on the issue "off hand" as it was "sensitive".
'Cong cannot fight CPI-M in Kerala'
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
PTI PALAKKAD: Senior BJP leader O Rajagopal on Sunday said the Congress in Kerala could not fight the CPI-M since the Manmohan Singh Government at the Centre "relied heavily" on the Left parties. The Congress would no longer be able to carry on with its traditional role of opposing the Marxists. Only the BJP would be able to fight the CPI-M in Kerala, the former Union Minister told a press meet here. The propaganda that the BJP was in the grip of severe internal dissension was the creation of anti-BJP forces and a section of the media, he said.
And now an ayurveda houseboat sets sail
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
And now an ayurveda houseboat sets sail Alapuzha (Kerala), June 21 : Another innovation to attract tourists to Kerala was floated Monday as a mobile ayurveda clinic on a houseboat set sail on the backwaters here. The boat from the Alapuzha-based Pulickattil Tourism Group is equipped with all the facilities for ayurveda treatment, as famous as Kerala's beaches and its backwaters with tourists. Booked on the maiden voyage in the 85 ft long, 15 ft wide houseboat are four European tourists. The company charges Rs. 2,000 per person for a 22-hour boat ride, which begins from Alapuzha and goes through the backwaters. "The package includes treatment, basically two sets of facial massages and a body massage, using oil and ayurvedic powders. We also offer packages for tourists travelling on other houseboats too," said Tomy Pulickattil of the company. The moving ayurvedic hospital has two spacious rooms, one for treatment and the other for resting. The team on board comprises an ayurveda doctor and three masseurs. The group, which has tied up with the famous Arya Vaidya Pharmacy for this venture, had started the first moving conference hall on a houseboat last December. "During the elections, we did 11 package tours taking tourists to poll meetings and making them spend a few hours with candidates in Alapuzha and Chiryankil constituencies," Pulickattil. The innovation was a success, with 64 foreign tourists getting a first hand experience of the Indian elections, and the company is planning similar tours during elections to local bodies and the assembly polls due in May 2006. Pulickattil has come up with another idea of experimenting with coir though he is careful not to reveal any details. "I have already worked out a package to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Coir Board in August. It is something exciting, you just wait and see," he said. The company has invested Rs. 10 million in eight houseboats.
Global Malayalees meet in Bahrain next month
Monday, June 21, 2004
DUBAI: Keralites from 25 countries will attend a four day global conference next month in Manama, capital of the Gulf state of Bahrain. The meet which begins on August 18 is being organized by the World Malayalee Council (WMC) for the first time in West Asia and has won the patronage of the Bahrain Ministry of Information and sponsorship from Gulf Air. Former Maharashtra Governor and Rajya Sabha member Dr P C Alexander is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, the Bahrain Tribune reported. Organisers say the conference will be an opportunity for Malayalees across the world to network and strengthen the common bonds of culture, language and tradition and update themselves on the changing social structures. More than 10 million Keralites are expected to view the conference proceedings through local and international media coverage. This is the fourth biennial meet organized by the WMC. The last one was held in Hamminkeln, Germany in August 2002. The delegates at the Manama conference would include ministers, government officials, industrialists, entrepreneurs and state government agencies.
Three kids among four killed in boat capsize
Sunday, June 20, 2004
KASARGOD: Four persons, including three children, were drowned when the small canoe they were travelling capsized in the Mogral River on Friday. Four others who were in the canoe were rescued. The mishap occurred at 9.30 in the morning. They met with the accident while on their way to see the oil barge which had drifted ashore in Mogral on Thursday. Though the victims were rushed to the Kasargod Institute of Medical Sciences, they died on the way. The deceased have been identified as Ummu Kulsu, 32, wife of Abdulla who is working in the Gulf, her son Salman Haris, 5, Jaseela, 12, daughter of Abubacker of Azad Nagar and Safreena, 10, daughter of Shafi of Choori. Jaseela was a student of the Government High School, Mogral Puthur. Those who were rescued include Dainabi, 42 and Niha, 9 both belonging to Mogral Puthur. They have been admitted to the hospital. Local people conducted the rescue operation with the help of police. There was a huge turnout of people in the beach to see the oil barge. People had been flocking the beach since on Thursday morning. Since the barge was lying in the estuary, the victims were proceeding to the spot on a canoe.
Antony meets Sonia, no hint on revamp
Sunday, June 20, 2004
NEW DELHI: In what appears to be another slow-motion Congress action, Chief Minister A K Antony met party president Sonia Gandhi here on Saturday but gave no indication of an immediate reshuffle of the Cabinet. The meeting lasted for just 10 minutes. Antony told the media that he was ready to obey whatever the high command suggested. "The uncertainty continues," he said adding that he did not know the plans of the party leadership. According to party sources, an elaborate reshuffle of the Cabinet was unlikely before the Assembly session on June 25. However, Antony may give the charge of the Electricity portfolio to one of the I- faction ministers. With AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Ahmed Patel indisposed, there was little action on the proposed re-organisation of the KPCC too. As the 'I' group mounted support for Acting President P P Thankachan, the idea of a new PCC chief has got hurdled. Antony, who has made peace with the 'I' group, has also not demanded the removal of Thankachan, it is learnt . Earlier, several names including that of former AICC secretary Ramesh Chennithala were in circulation for the PCC chief. Antony said that the recent report by the AICC probe panel - former Union Ministers Margaret Alva and R L Bhatia - did not figure in his talks with Sonia. "I told Sonia that the defeat in Kerala has been devastating and I am ready for any corrective step," said Antony. He gave a similar version to Sonia just after the electoral rout last month.
Antony to visit a foreign country first time in 30 years
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Antony to visit a foreign country first time in 30 years New Delhi, June 19 Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony will undertake his first visit to a foreign country in 30 years! Mr Antony, who has been toying with the idea of visiting the Gulf countries to see for himself the problems being faced by the Malayalees there, announced today that he would undertake the trip during September-October this year. Mr Antony, known as "Mr Clean" in Indian politics, has so far declined all invitations from Malayalees in foreign countries as a matter of principle. His decision to go to the Gulf was to remove the misgivings that he was not concerned about the Malayalees, whose remittances formed the mainstay of the Kerala economy. The three-time Chief Minister had not gone on a foreign trip even when he was Union Minister in the Narasimha Rao government. Mr Antony's only visit to a foreign country was to Moscow in the early 1970s, when he was asked by the AICC to be its representative in the Parliamentary committee.
Kerala seeks increased budget allocation
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Kerala seeks increased budget allocation Thiruvananthapuram, June 19 Kerala has sought final clearance for the proposed international container and LNG terminals at Kochi and adequate provisions in the Union budget for the projects. In a detailed memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at New Delhi today, Chief Minister A K Antony said the projects would have significant impact on the economy of the State. The memorandum said the announcement of the results of the final bid of the container terminal project was held up only due to the code of conduct during the general elections. It would be in the fitness of things if the final clearance was announced through the Union budget. Though the proposal for the development of a LNG terminal was started in 1997 along with a similar project at Dahej in Gujarat it is yet to take off even though the sister projects had already been commissioned. Allocation of the required land from the Cochin Port Trust has been made and different clearances obtained. Taking into account the need for clean and relatively cheaper fuel for power generation and other purposes in the Kochi-Kayamkulam and Kochi-Palakkad region as well as in the Coimbatore-Tirupur regions of Tamil Nadu and even of Southern Karnataka, the setting up of the LNG terminal at Kochi was long over due, the memorandum said. It also sought clearance for a power project in the Kochi Refineries, ship repair facilities at the Kochi port and the setting up of an international bunkering terminal there. The memorandum sought provisions in the budget for replantation of old coconut, cashew, pepper, tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom plantations through various Commodity Boards. Launching of a credit policy for homestead farms, setting up of a Cashew Board and an agro-export zone for medicinal plants, expansion of the coconut technology mission and setting up of a national plantation development bank were the other demands raised in the memorandum. It urged the Centre to set up an IIT in Kerala and a medical institution on the pattern of the AIIMS considering the leadership of Kerala in the fields of higher education and health care.
Thousands pay farewell to Metropolitan Benyamin Joseph
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Thousands pay farewell to Metropolitan Benyamin Joseph Pathanamthitta, Kerala June 19 Thousands of faithful and people from all walks of life bade a tearful adieu to Benyamin Joseph Mar Osthathios Metropolitan, the head of 'Simhasana' churches of Jacobite Syrian Church, at Manjanikkara, near here today. The solemn funeral service was conducted at Manjanikkara Dayara church, in which, apart from devotees, a large number of people from social, cultural and political fields took part. The funeral service was preceded by a tri-mass, the chief celebrant of which was Catholicose Basalius Thomas I. Amid the funeral rites, a condolence meeting was also held, in which speakers paid glowing tributes to the departed Benyamin Metropolitan. At the end of the rituals, the body of the Metropolitan was interred in a 'crypt' adjacent to the tomb of St. Mar Elias II. Before the burial, the body of the Metropolitan in a sitting posture was raised by Bishops and Clerics towards four directions, three times, each. The funeral was attended by Metropolitans of Jacobite Syrian Church Joseph Mar Gregorios, Thomas Mar Themothios, Yuhanon Mar Philexinos, Yuhanon Mar Milithios, Kuriakose Mar Savarios, Geevarghese Mar Policarpus, Kuriakose Mar Theoforus, Geevarghese Mar Athanasios, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Pheelipose Mar Chrisostem Marthoma Metropolitan and Dr Joseph Mar Coorilos, besides former Union Minister P C Thomas MP, UDF Convener Ommen Chandy and MLAs.
Sabarimala temple closed till July 15
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Sabarimala temple closed till July 15 Pathanamthitta, Kerala, June 19 The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala was closed today after the conclusion of 'poojas' performed in the Malayalam month of 'Mithunam.' Apart from customary 'poojas,' special prayers like 'Leksharchana' and 'Sahasrakalasam' were held today under the guidance of tantri Kantraru Rajeevaru. The 'Sannidhanam' (sanctum sanctorum) witnessed heavy rush of pilgrims despite monsoon rains. Melsanthi Gosala Vishnua Vasudevan closed the sanctum sanctorum after the 'Athazha pooja' in the evening amid chanting of 'harivarasanam.' The hill-shrine will be reopened on July 15 for 'poojas' of the Malayalam month of 'Karkidakam.'
Shocked Pillai household claims Javed innocent
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Alappuzha, June 19 A pall of shock and grief hangs over the Pillai household in Noornad village in this Kerala district as the distraught father of Javed Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh, one of the four persons killed in the Ahmedabad encounter on Tuesday, asserts that his son is innocent. An active Congress worker, M R Gopinathan Pillai, the father of Javed alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, declares that he would write to the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Congress chief asking for an independent probe into the ''encounter''. Expressing strong conviction that his son fell victim to foul play, Gopinathan Pillai said he came to know about Javed's death when he saw the photograph of the encounter victims in newspapers. The police had not officially informed him, but only asked him not to leave the house, as a team of Gujarat Police was expected to come here to question them. Pranesh Kumar had converted to Islam and taken the name of Javed to marry his sweetheart Sajida. He had left his native village long ago to work in Pune as an electrician. He also had a stint in the Gulf. According to his father, he was in a sound financial condition even after he returned from the Gulf and took up cable work in Pune. ''I cannot just bear the sight of my son's body riddled with bullets that I saw on Doordarshan yesterday. It was really horrible. I pray to all gods that no father be put in such a torment situation,'' Pillai said. Javed had last visited his native village two months ago. His neighbours and other villagers also described him as a helpful person. The family members of Mumbai-based Ishrat, who was among those killed in the Ahmedabad encounter, had also contested the Gujarat Police claim that she was a Lashkar-e-Toiba activist on a mission to kill Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Asserting his belief that his son was innocent, Gopinathan Pillai said '' If my son was really a terrorist he deserved punishment. But, if he were innocent the truth should be brought to limelight''. The Tata Indica car in which the four people were killed during the early morning encounter near Ahmedabad airport on Tuesday belonged to Javed. His father and other villagers question why would Javed take his own car to carry out a terrorist mission. ''A lot of questions have to be answered. There is a need for a CBI investigation,'' his father said.
Transport strike affects normal life in Kerala
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 19 Public transport, including buses of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), went off the roads in the state today in response to a dawn-to-dusk strike call given by various trade unions to protest the hike in the prices of petroleum products. The strike had affected life in almost all parts of the state with government offices and industrial establishments reporting thin attendance. Despite the KSRTC's announcement to operate services, no long-distance services were operated for want of police protection. The strike had disrupted movement of petroleum products from the Kochi Refineries and container traffic to the Kochi port. The striking motor transport employees staged demonstrations in Thiruvananthapuram and other centres. Call for the strike was given by a Joint Action Council of various organisations affiliated to the INTUC, CITU, AITUC, BMS and STU.
TN to release water for Chittur basin
Saturday, June 19, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tamil Nadu has promised Kerala to take steps for release of water for agricultural purposes in the Chittur basin area. This assurance came during the talks Kerala Water Resources Minister T M Jacob had with his Tamil Nadu counterpart O Panneerselvam in Chennai on Friday, Jacob said in a release here. The two states would examine the progress on the matter at the ministerial level talks on inter-state water issues to be held in the second week of August. Kerala wanted Tamil Nadu to keep as reserve stock the quantum of water required by the Chittur basin as reserve stock in the Aliyar dam. Jacob expressed Kerala's concern over "continuous breach of Parmbikkulam Aliyar pact by Tamil Nadu," while bringing to the notice of the neighbouring state the great difficulty faced by farmers in the Chittur basin due to paucity of water.
Kerala CEO holds talks with Collector
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Chennai, June 18: Kerala Chief Electoral Officer P J Thomas who is enquiring into the complaints regarding the mass deletion and omissions in the electoral rolls during the general elections today held discussions with Tiruvallur District Collector Kumar Jayanth. Thomas also met the officials who were in charge of the elections process and preparations of electoral rolls. Later this evening, he is meeting Tamilnadu Chief Electoral Officer Mritunjay Sarangi at the Secretariat here. The AIADMK has sought an appointment tomorrow with Thomas to represent the party's views on election issues including the deletion and omissions of voters names. The Kerala CEO has already held enquires in Kanyakumari and Madurai districts. Meanwhile in a informal chat with reporters, Sarangi said the schedule of the enquiry by Thomas in Chennai district was likely to be decided soon. Sarangi said that till 14 June, 20,654 complaints had been received from individuals on their deletion and omission from the electoral rolls. In Chennai alone, 5,043 complaints had been lodged with the District Collector and CEO's office. In Madurai district, the number of complaints stood at 1828, while in Coimbatore 1,408 persons had lodged their complaints. In Kanchipuram, 1,008 complaints had been registered. The least number of complaints received was from Nilgiris district (66).
London-Sydney car marathon back in India
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Cochin, June 18 : One of the world's most adventurous motorsport, the London-Sydney car marathon on Friday entered its India leg from Cochin. The rally, which commenced earlier this month from London, would traverse through 1,200 kms covering Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka before proceeding to Sydney. The marathon is coming back to India after a gap of 11 years. "We have spent two years planning the Indian leg of the marathon. It's very important leg for us. Traditionally, the original London-Sydney Marathon which started in 1968, also ran through India," Nick Britian, the event director, said. A special track through thick plantations, narrow roads and dangerous hills, has been laid out for the 61 participants as they move from the plains to the hills of Munnar, 7,000 feet above sea level. Besides the hills, the ralliests will run on gravel across a windmill farm and miles of humid grasslands. Charged and eager to go, the participants are looking forward to taming the rugged Indian terrain. "We just have to see how it goes. We just have to go through it. It's a long way to go yet. We have got 15 days to go and we are on our way," Paul Wilson, a participant, said. On June 22, Russian Antonov cargo planes would lift the cars to Sydney, while the drivers would be taken by a chartered flight.
Dawn-to-dusk 'motor strike' in Kerala tomorrow
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 18. : People of Kerala are bracing for tomorrow's dawn-to-dusk 'motor strike' called by major transport unions which are demanding roll-back of petrol and diesel price hike. Workers in the entire transport services industry, including private buses, taxi and autorickshaw services, trucks and light commercial vehicles, would join the strike, according to union sources. Essential services like hospitals, milk supply and media have been exempted from the strike. The state Public Service Commission has extended the examinations scheduled for June 19. The unions are also demanding that rates of taxes on petroleum products be cut and petrol and diesel be supplied at subsidised rates for autorickshaws and light vehicles. Central trade unions including INTUC, CITU, BMS and HMS have pledged support to the strike.
Antony in Delhi to expedite clearance for all pending projects
Friday, June 18, 2004
Antony in Delhi to expedite clearance for all pending projects New Delhi, June 18 Complaining that all successive governments at the centre have not done justice to Kerala, Chief Minister A K Antony is now in the capital city taking up with the new government all the pending projects which are crucial for the state's development. Mr Antony, who arrived here last night, began his hectic schedule today with a meeting with Shipping and Surface transport Minister T R Baalu. He also met Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh. "In all I have 53 items to be taken up with different ministers," he told newsmen and added he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram before returning to Thiruvananthapuram. Mr Antony said he requested Mr Baalu to take the initiative for laying the foundation stone for the Vallarpadam Container terminal project before September this year. The project has been pending for nearly 25 years. The Chief Minister said he got an assurance from Mr Aiyar that he would take the intiative for removing all differences between his ministry and the power ministry with regard to the Rs 1,600 crore LNG Terminal project at Kochi. He brought to the notice of the minister the need for the terminal as the expansion of the NTPC at Kayamkulam and the Kochi Refineries depended on it. Mr Antony said he requested Mr Arjun Singh to sanction one IIT to the state by taking into consideration its enviable position in the area of higher education. He said he requested Mr Lalu Prasad to expedite the works on doubling of rail lines and electrification in Kerala. He demanded introduction of a tourist train to Kerala.
Record earnings from tourism in Kerala
Friday, June 18, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 17 : Kerala earned Rs. 59.38 billion ($1.3 billion) from tourism in 2003, an 11 percent growth from the Rs. 49.31 billion earnings from the sector in the year before. Foreign exchange earnings through tourism reached a record Rs. 9.83 billion, a 39 percent jump from 2002. Likewise, tourist arrivals also reached an all time high with 294,000 foreigners and 590,000 Indian tourists visiting the state. And authorities are hopeful of sustaining the growth with new projects and more investment into the state famed for its backwaters and beaches. "The growth in the last year is unprecedented. We estimate that Kerala can easily sustain an 11 percent growth rate every year," said T. Balakrishnan, tourism secretary. He added that figures indicated that the state had also received the maximum investment in the sector in 2003. State Tourism Minister P. Sankaran said Kerala expected new tourism projects worth about Rs. 3.5 billion to be cleared. "We have submitted proposals for 27 projects to the union government and to HUDCO. While the centre's assistance is in the form of grants, we expect that what comes from HUDCO would be as loans," Sankaran told. The state government has also taken steps to develop a cultural village at Irinjal at Kozhikode to take it back to what it was in the 16th century. "It would reflect the ethos and ambience of the period and showcase the socio-cultural traditions of 16th century Malabar," added Sankaran. He added that steps were being taken to streamline the manner in which Ayurveda was being promoted by introducing a system of checks and balances. "We do not want to take a chance. If anything goes wrong, it could affect tourism. We are planning to introduce a system of proper checks and balances. "This is an area where things could be misused and we want to ensure that such a thing does not happen," the minister said.
Fishermen oppose ban, allege discrimination
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Fishermen in Kerala have staged a protest against a 45-day ban on trawlers, saying they were being discriminated against as foreign trawlers are allowed to fish. Trawler boat owners in Quilon district have decided to intensify their agitation, threatening to defy the ban if the foreign vessels with onboard engines and using banned nets, are permitted to go sea for deep sea fishing during the ban period. Fishing in shallow waters off most of the coastline is banned for 45-days during the monsoon season as the traditional boats with outboard engines would damage the fishes during their breeding period. The ban has been in force for the last 16 years. James, the leader of boat owners' association, said that the foreign agents influenced the state authorities to impose the ban in order to take away the sea products which are unique. "The sea products which are available here are unique and won't be available anywhere else in the world. And the foreign agents who want to loot this, they have pressurised the government to impose the ban on the local trawlers. That is why the foreign agents are here," he said. Fishermen think that the government is not going to benefit from the ban, instead the foreign trawlers stand to gain from the entire episode. "We do not think government gets any advantage from the ban. But we have many difficulties because of that. Now the big ships go and fish while the smaller boats are forced to stay ashore. The foreign trawlers also are allowed to fish. Only they are benefitted," said Jacob, a fisherman. Pushpa, a fisherwoman, said that the 45-day ban will tell upon their income as their lives depended on fishing. "Our family lives on this income (from the selling of sea products). Due to the 45-day-long ban, we are left with virtually nothing. We do not have money to buy food, clothes and for paying the fee for our children. We are in great trouble," she said. The main purpose behind the ban during this period, according to scientists, is that, as the fish lay eggs during this period, fishing would destroy the eggs bringing loss to the sea wealth.
Antony to discuss party revamp, state economy in Delhi
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 : Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony will leave for Delhi Thursday to seek better economic package for the state and discuss revamping of the state Congress with the central leadership. "I would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior ministers to see that Kerala gets a good deal when the new EXIM (export-import) policy is prepared and also when the annual budget is presented," Antony said here Wednesday after a cabinet meeting. He will meet the ministers for railways, finance, civil aviation, external affairs, agriculture, non-resident affairs, commerce and industry. Accompanying him will be state Finance Minister K. Sankaranarayanan and state planning board Vice Chairman V. Ramachandran. He will also meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the rejuvenation of the state party. The entire state organisation is likely to undergo a revamp. An ad-hoc committee to oversee the conduct of the party elections, which have not taken place for almost two decades, is likely to be constituted. With the assembly session scheduled to begin June 25, it is unlikely the party central leadership would agree to major changes in the state cabinet without speaking to the ruling United Democratic Front allies. However, a new electricity minister has to be inducted as K. Muraleedharan resigned following his election defeat. Antony is hoping for better sops for his state after the return of a Congress-led government at the centre.
Kerala gets excess rainfall, loadshedding goes
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram: With Kerala receiving excess rainfall of 44 per cent since the outbreak of the South West monsoon, the state was on Tuesday relieved of 30-minute peak time loadshedding for household users, enforced about two years back. The decision to bring an end to the nocturnal switch-off was taken by Chief Minister A.K. Antony last week after the storage position in hydel reservoirs appreciably went up, with the initial spells of South-West monsoon bringing bountiful rains to all parts of the state, including the catchment areas. The state had received deficient rainfall in the last two years, rendering its predominantly hydel-based power scenario precarious. According to the Director of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), M.D. Ramachandran, considering the copious pre-monsoon showers received by the state, the excess rainfall since January this year stood at an impressive 58 per cent. "From January one to June 14, Kerala received 117 cm of rainfall against the normal 74 cm," Ramachandran said. The rainfall received since the onset of South-West monsoon on May 18 showed an excess of 44 per cent. The state had received 66.7 cm of rainfall against the normal of 46.2 cm during the period, he said. Last year, rainfall during the South-West monsoon was deficient by 26 per cent and the year before it, a rather huge 35 per cent, he added.
Common woes bind Tamil Nadu, Karnataka farmers
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Chennai, June 15 : Distraught farmers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka only have each other to lean on in these hard times. Tens of thousands of cultivators in Tamil Nadu had hoped that the coming to power of the Congress party in New Delhi would force the Congress-led Karnataka government to release Cauvery river water to them. The hopes, it seems, have been belied. "It seems the conducive political climate has not helped much. Only people-to-people contact can now resolve the Cauvery crisis," said M.S. Ranganathan, secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association. And so, members of the Cauvery Farmers' Family, a body of farmers from the two states, are now visiting each other's fields to "see for themselves each other's distress". Hopes of an early settlement to the Cauvery crisis were dashed after Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh announced he would not release any more water to Tamil Nadu in the coming days. Tamil Nadu's farmers are struggling with their summer rice crop, with the Stanley reservoir in Mettur -- where water released from the Cauvery in Karnataka is stored -- having just about 11.3 TMC ft of supply. The farmers need at least 50 TMC ft of supply at this time of the year to tide over the cultivation season. But Karnataka says its release of 3.4 TMC ft earlier this month was more than it can afford. A federal monitoring committee has found that Karnataka's four Cauvery reservoirs currently hold only about 24 TMC ft water -- way below its own requirement. Under the terms of a 13-year-old tribunal, Karnataka is supposed to release 137 TMC ft water on June 12 every year to Tamil Nadu. But the last time this happened was three years ago. Political lobbying is on. An all-party team of Tamil Nadu MPs met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week. Another high-level delegation, comprising three Tamil Nadu ministers and top bureaucrats, is likely to meet Karnataka ministers Wednesday to impress upon them "the plight of Tamil Nadu's farmers". Expectations are also high from the Cauvery River Authority and its chairman, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Rehman Khan, the central minister from Karnataka, said: "The prime minister is sure to find an amicable solution to a crisis getting complex day by day."
Awards for Vikram, Yesudas, Vijayashanthi
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Chennai, June 15 : The 51st Manikchand Filmfare Awards for the south was not only too long an event but also saw tried and tested film personalities bagging most honours. It was a late night affair over the weekend at the Nehru indoor stadium in Chennai and therefore the media left it out of the headlines. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to singer Yesudas, the mellifluous Malayali who made it big in Tamil cinema as well. In the women's category, the same award to veteran Telugu actress Vijayashanthi who described how difficult it had been in the last 25 years to find a place in the sun in a male-dominated industry. In Tamil, "Pithamagan" stole the show, winning many awards - for best film, best director (Bala), best actor (Vikram), best actress (Laila), best actor in a supporting role (Surya) and best supporting actress (Sangeetha). Vivek was chosen as best comedian for his role in "Saamy". Jeevan was awarded best villain for "Kaakka Kaakka" and Haris Jeyraj was declared best music director for his score in the same film. The special jury award went to the film "Anbe Sivam". The Tamil film "Kaakka Kaakka" got the best cinematographer (Rajasekhar) and choreographer (Brinda) awards. The best playback singer was Chakri for "Sathyam". In Telugu, most awards went to "Okkadu" - best film, best director (Gunasekhar), best actor (Mahesh Babu) and best music director (Mani Sharma). The best actress award went to Asin for her role in "Amma Naana O Tamil Ammayi". The best supporting actress for the same film was Jayasudha. In Kannada, the best film was "Paris Pranaya". The best actor (Sudeep) and the best actress (Meena) were awarded for their roles in "Swathi Muthu". The best music director was R.P. Patnaik for "Excuse Me". The best Malayalam film was "Manasinakkare". The best director for the same film was Sathyan Anthikad. The best actor was Jayaram and the best music director for the same film was Ilayaraja. Meera Jasmine bagged the best actress award for the film "Kasturimaan". The awards ceremony attracted very little attention because the winners had been announced months earlier. What put people off most, it would seem, was that each of the winners reminded the audience of how many times he or she had won in the past.
6 new films
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
All is well that ends well. Slowly, new pictures have started to get launched. 6 new films are likely to be launched this month alone. We have a list here of the names and stars of these films ‘Naaturajav’ Starring Mohanlal, Meena and others Directed by Shaji Kailash Producer- Antony Perumbavur ‘Rain Rain Come Again’ Director- Jayaraj Starring- Jassie Gift ‘Kaaicha’ Starring Mammooty Director- Blessy ‘Junior Senior’, Starring Kunhako Boban and others, Director- Shrikantan ‘Greetings’, starring Jayasurya, Kavya Madhavan and others, Director- Shahjun Karyal A yet to be named film by director Rajasenan, starring newcomers ‘Pouran’ starring Jayaram, Geethu Mohandas and others, Director- Sundardas ‘Violet’ starring Biju Menon, Kalabhavan Mani and others, Director- Anil ‘Shambu’ starring Vijayakumar and others, Director- KB Madhu
6 new films
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
All is well that ends well. Slowly, new pictures have started to get launched. 6 new films are likely to be launched this month alone. We have a list here of the names and stars of these films ‘Naaturajav’ Starring Mohanlal, Meena and others Directed by Shaji Kailash Producer- Antony Perumbavur ‘Rain Rain Come Again’ Director- Jayaraj Starring- Jassie Gift ‘Kaaicha’ Starring Mammooty Director- Blessy ‘Junior Senior’, Starring Kunhako Boban and others, Director- Shrikantan ‘Greetings’, starring Jayasurya, Kavya Madhavan and others, Director- Shahjun Karyal A yet to be named film by director Rajasenan, starring newcomers ‘Pouran’ starring Jayaram, Geethu Mohandas and others, Director- Sundardas ‘Violet’ starring Biju Menon, Kalabhavan Mani and others, Director- Anil ‘Shambu’ starring Vijayakumar and others, Director- KB Madhu
‘Perazagan’ reaches Kerala
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
The Tamil version of ‘Kunhikoonan’ is making its appearance in Kerala. Surya has given a splendid performance in the film ‘Perazagan’, the role that was played by Dileep in its original version. Sashi Shankar himself had directed the Tamil version of the film. This is the story of a physically deformed man falling in love with a beautiful blind girl. For the sake of glamour, Jyothika had been offered dual role in the film- one as the blind girl and the other as the second Surya’s girlfriend. Even if you don’t want to watch it for Surya, you might as well want to watch it for Jyothika’s sake.
Amma-Film Chamber row returns
Monday, June 14, 2004
Hardly a week after the truce reached between the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), the Chamber has once again made it to the warpath alleging that some of the clauses in the agreement, which led to the settlement of the row, are being violated. At a press meet convened here on Saturday, Chamber president Siyad Koker warned that his organisation would be forced to return to its earlier position regarding its approach towards AMMA if the agreement was not fully honoured. Also, in the absence of a meaningful response from the State Government on the representation it had submitted, the Chamber decided go ahead with its decision to paralyse the entire industry from June 25 onwards. As part of the proposed stir, no new releases will be allowed from the next week onwards, Siyad said. Contrary to the understanding reached between AMMA, there has now been a move to telecast the stage show, `Mohabet,' on Asianet, Siyad alleged. The channel has already announced it. ``If it is telecast, the Chamber will deny NOC to the films featuring the artistes who appear in the stage show,'' Siyad said. Also, there has been a secret attempt to isolate those artistes who signed the agreement with the Chamber before the settlement of the row, Siyad alleged. ``It was mutually agreed upon that no action would be initiated against anybody in the aftermath of the row,'' he said. Siyad informed that the Chamber would write to AMMA seeking clarification on these points at the official level. He also denied reports that it was the formation of the new organisation, Friends of Cinema, which forced the Chamber to end its standoff with AMMA.
AMMA meets in Kochi amidst new row
Monday, June 14, 2004
A crucial general body meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) took place in Kochi today. Amidst the row between AMMA and film chamber erupting once again. The meeting is expected to discuss many issues including the controversial decision by AMMA executive to issue show cause notice to ten cine artists for their stand against AMMA during the last crisis. Veteran film actor Thilakan who has landed in controversy following his criticism of AMMA leadership, arrived at the venue of the meeting under police escort. On Saturday, Thilakan had appealed for the police protection as he said that his 'life was in danger and he was receiving anonymous threatening call'. The decision of the meeting is expected to be announced at a press conference latter in the day.
Muslim women praying at college mosque brews debate
Monday, June 14, 2004
A controversy is brewing in Kerala over Muslim woman students offering prayers at a college mosque. Every Friday many Muslim students at the Unity Women's College at Manjeri in Malappuram district pray at the shrine. But now the Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) says the practice of women offering Friday prayers inside a mosque is against Islam. The federation has said it would stage a protest march to the college June 17, demanding that the authorities stop the practice. The federation is led by the brother of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) chief Panakkad Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal. As per the practice among Mujahid Muslims in Kerala, women from the sect are allowed to offer prayers in a separate hall. But Sunni Muslim women are barred entry at mosques. The Mujahid Girls Movement has said there were vested interests behind the controversy and it would oppose those trying to take away the freedom of worship granted to women. College principal P.N. Muhammed says the students have been offering prayers at the college mosque for quite some time. "There is no compulsion on our part. Students who wish to go for prayers can go and those who do not need not go. It is their own personal choice and we have no role in this," said Muhammed. E T Mohammed Basheer, a senior IUML leader and former education minister, said the issue should not be turned into a controversy and his party should not be dragged into it either. "A solution to it has to be found by religious scholars and I feel a team should be selected for this. There is no point in taking this issue to the streets," he said. This debate is, however, expected to heat up in the coming days.
Now, cargo boats being converted to house boats
Monday, June 14, 2004
Alleppy (Kerala), June 12 : Cargo boats, which were rendered usless due to construction of roads, are being converted to house boats in Kerala. This is serving a two-fold purpose of providing both employment to carpenters and giving a boost to the state's tourism industry. The face-lift is quite amazing. Simple wooden planks that were once used to float in the backwaters of Kerala, are now being used to create houseboats with posh interiors, sit-out and modern kitchens. With an improvement in roads and the cargo boats being rendered useless, the state's tourism department conceived the idea of converting the latter into house boats ala Kashmiri style. "In the recent times, the cargo boats have been in demand, which were lying useless for some time owing to the construction of roads. House boats have become popular in Kerala's tourism. Hence, many people are buying the old Cargo vessels, converting the same into house boats. It may cost them around 10 lakhs or more", said Satheeshan, a dock owner. According to Joji Mathew, Director, Rainbow Cruise, "We came into house boat operation in the year 2000. At that time there were no quality house boats. Kerala Tourism came up with the classification of house boats. We come under the Boat Star Category. We started giving more aqua-friendliness to the back waters." "We have AC and non-AC boats with all modern facilities. Now we are coming up with five more boats which won't spill a drop of sewage into the back waters and it will protect the backwaters." The space in a cargo boat is enough to construct two rooms with an attached toilet. More than 600 boats have been converted to house boats so far with the facilities of AC rooms and conference halls. Around 25,000 tourists occupy the houseboats every year during the months from September to April. Tourism industry in Kerala is highly dependable on the success of these houseboats.
E Ahamed leaves for Jeddah and Jordan
Sunday, June 13, 2004
New Delhi, June 12 As the first representative of the Manmohan Singh Government to visit the Gulf countries, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed is leaving here tomorrow on a week-long tour of Saudi Arabia and Amman aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations and renewing the Haj agreement. Accompanied by a three-member Haj Committee delegation and senior officials of Civil Aviation Ministry, he will hold talks with Saudi ministers and officials in Jeddah on Haj arrangements. An agreement on the Haj will be signed between ministers of India and Saudi Arabia on June 15. He will also hold discussions with other ministers on matters of bilateral interest. Mr Ahamed, who is the first minister to visit a Gulf country after the new government was formed, will also visit Amman from June 16. During the three-day visit, he will hold discussions with the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of that country. The thrust of their discussion will be to reassure the Arab countries about India's continued support and cooperation in economic and other fields.
IT tool to identify accident-prone areas in Kerala
Sunday, June 13, 2004
IT tool to identify accident-prone areas in Kerala Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 12 As part of the World Bank-aided Kerala State Road Transport Project, a unique software tool called GeoKAMS will be introduced in this district on a pilot basis. The software, developed by IBS Software Services, is an ''accident management solution'' which would facilitate efficient recording and analysis of accident data, including the ability to plot accident data on digital maps, IBS Managing Director V K Mathews said in a statement here today. GeoKAMS would be used to identify and monitor accident-prone areas and track the effectiveness of road safety programmes. It would be deployed in Thiruvananthapuram initially and then rolled out to the rest of the state in phases. The software is designed to be compatible with the International Road Traffic and Accident Database of countries in Europe and would also cater to the reporting requirements of the National Crime Records Bureau and the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, IBS said.
Conference of IT professionals at Kochi
Sunday, June 13, 2004
PTI KOCHI : Kerala Industries minister P K Kunhalikutty will inaugurate a one-day conference of Information Technology Professional Forum (ITPF), Kerala unit, here on Sunday. The ITPF was set up in March this year to provide a common forum for those in the Information and Communication Technology to interact and exchange professional ideas and to bring about positive changes in the sector in tandem with government and non-government organisations, ITPF sources said. ITPF is affiliated to the Union Network International , a global body of professionals headquarterd in Switzerland . K G Girish Babu, CEO, Infopark, Kochi , Christopher Ng, Regional Seretary, , will be among those who will be addressing the conference. Delegates from the southern states are also taking part.
IOC to invest Rs 150 cr in Kerala in 2004-05
Sunday, June 13, 2004
PTI KOCHI : Indian Oil Corporation proposes to invest about Rs 150 crore to Rs 160 crore during 2004-05 in Kerala, a top company executive said here on Saturday. Of the amount, IOC would be utilising about Rs 60 crore for setting up new retail outlets and modernisation this year and another Rs 35 crore will be used for modernisation of LPG plant, Dr N G Kannan, Director (Marketing), told a press meet. The corporation would be commissioning a Dockline at Kochi at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore, which is expected to be completed in this August, to facilitate transportation of products from the port to the Irumpanam terminal. This would also help in lifting products from other states and even from abroad, he said. Work on the auto LPG station at Thiruvananthapuram was in progress and two other stations would come up at Kochi and Kottayam soon. With a 38.2 per cent marketshare in the sale of all petroleum products, Indian Oil rules the skies in Kerala with a 63.3 per cent market share in the sale of Aviation fuel. IOC was the market leader in the sale of SERVO, a 'super brand' with a 62.5 per cent market share, he said. IOC had registered a growth of 13.5 per cent in Kerala for all products.
BJP flays Kerala Govt on Marad issue
Sunday, June 13, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP in Kerala on Saturday charged the Congress-led UDF government in the state with surrendering to Muslim "extremist elements" by deciding not to go in for a CBI probe into the conspiracy angle of last year's violence in Marad in Kozhikode district that claimed nine lives. Addressing a press conference here, state BJP President PS Sreedharan Pillai alleged that the decision was part of efforts by Congress and IUML to regain the lost ground in the wake of the Lok Sabha poll rout. Terming as "a fraud on people" the Government's decision to "go back" from the agreement entered into during the talks held between various Hindu and Muslim organisations and Gandhi Peace Foundation respresentatives to settle the issue, Pilla said BJP had decided to extend full support and co-operation to steps taken by Hindu organisations on the issue. Countering the Government's justification that it had decided against a CBI probe as per the advice of the Advocate General, he said as per the information available to the party, there was no legal bar in ordering a CBI inquiry to unravel the conspiracy angle of the incident. Referring to the inclusion of 'tainted' ministers in the UPA Government, he said BJP would organise protest meetings and rallies in the state from June 15 to 21 as part of the party's nationwide agiation demanding removal of the ministers from the cabinet.
Objection to Muslim women praying at college
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : A controversy is brewing in Kerala over Muslim woman students offering prayers at a college mosque. Every Friday many Muslim students at the Unity Women's College at Manjeri in Malappuram district pray at the shrine. But now the Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) says the practice of women offering Friday prayers inside a mosque is against Islam. The federation has said it would stage a protest march to the college June 17, demanding that the authorities stop the practice. The federation is led by the brother of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) chief Panakkad Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal. As per the practice among Mujahid Muslims in Kerala, women from the sect are allowed to offer prayers in a separate hall. But Sunni Muslim women are barred entry at mosques. The Mujahid Girls Movement has said there were vested interests behind the controversy and it would oppose those trying to take away the freedom of worship granted to women. College principal P.N. Muhammed says the students have been offering prayers at the college mosque for quite some time. "There is no compulsion on our part. Students who wish to go for prayers can go and those who do not need not go. It is their own personal choice and we have no role in this," said Muhammed. E.T. Mohammed Basheer, a senior IUML leader and former education minister, said the issue should not be turned into a controversy and his party should not be dragged into it either. "A solution to it has to be found by religious scholars and I feel a team should be selected for this. There is no point in taking this issue to the streets," he said. This debate is, however, expected to heat up in the coming days.
Things are easier for today's actors, Sheela
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 : Yesteryear's heroine Sheela, who made a comeback to Malayalam cinema last year after a gap of close to two decades, has said things are much easier for today's crop of actors. "When I started out in films at the age of 13, acting was a difficult ball game but in today's circumstances acting is very easy and simple," she said. "Today one doesn't even have to learn dialogues. In the earlier days, one was prompted and had to concentrate on hearing that and then act, which was difficult. Today there are a number of takes and retakes, which help one to improvise," said Sheela. She was interacting with reporters here Friday after "Akale", her second film since her comeback, hit screens across the state. Sheela said she decided to leave the industry about two decades ago after she felt the need to explore life in all its facets. "I'm really happy that I took a long break and I'm equally happy that I'm back. I'm not competing with anyone today because I am certain of what I have in mind. Despite several offers, I have decided to be choosy," said Sheela, who holds the record of appearing with hero Prem Nazir in over 400 Malayalam films. In a career that began in the 1960s, Sheela has acted in close to 1,000 films. "Of course I do really miss all my yesteryear heroes like Satyan, Nazir and Ummer," she said. All three actors are now dead. Sheela made her comeback in "Manasinnuakkarae", a hit in which she played the role of a typical central Travancore Christian lady. "One role which I would like to do is that of an AIDS patient and roles which are not stereotyped. I really want to do something new and I would only do roles that are as important as that of the heroes, irrespective of who the hero is," said the actress, who is popularly known as "Chemeen Sheela" after the national award winning Malayalam film "Chemeen". Commenting on the current crop of heroines, she said: "They all appear very wise. They come, make waves, make money and after acting in a few films, get married and lead a settled life. "Is it right because there are lady doctors, teachers and ladies in several other profession where they continue even after marriage? The present lot of heroines like Meera Jasmine, Navya Nair and Geetu Mohandas all are immensely talented." Sheela is currently doing a film directed by Esthapan that is yet to be named. "This is my second film of the year and I really don't know if I will get even two films in the next year because I have decided that I won't take all offers."
AICC emissaries to submit report to Sonia
Saturday, June 12, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid speculations about an imminent cabinet reshuffle and revamp of the party in the state, AICC emissaries Margaret Alva and R L Bhatia, who wound up their marathon discussions with the party leaders on the possible measures to strengthen the Congress, today said they would submit their report tomorrow. At the end of the three day discussions with 300 leaders, including Chief Minister A K Antony, PCC president P P Thankachan and veteran leader K Karunakaran, the emissaries told newspersons here that the party high command would take appropriate decision on the state matters and there would not be any delay this time. Party president Sonia Gandhi sent the two leaders to the state to study the reasons for the party's poll debacle. The infighting within the party, leading to the wordy duel between senior leaders was said to be one of the main cause of the party's washout. After a meeting with the AICC delegates, the chief minister expressed the hope that the high command would take an appropriate and judicious decision to strengthen the party as well as the ruling coalition. However, he evaded a direct reply to a question on whether he discussed the issues of cabinet reshuffle and organizational revamp with them. "A solution acceptable to all will emerge," he added.
Minor fire in Kerala Express
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Chennai: A minor fire broke out in the rear SLR, luggage-cum-brakevan coach, of the New Delhi-bound Kerala Express between Gudiyatham-Kavanur at Jolarpettai-Katpadi section early Friday. The guard stopped the train immediately and the passengers in the SLR coach of Train No 2625 were shifted to other coaches, a release from the Southern Railway said here. Local fire brigades were pressed into service to extinguish the fire. During the course of shifting, a woman passenger slipped on the ballast and fell down, it noted. She was administered first aid and later admitted to the CMC hospital in Vellore. The train left the spot after a four-hour detention. Train services on the Jolarpettain-Katpadi section were affected during that period. Normal service had, since then, been restored and the cause of the mishap is under investigation, the release added.
Incorrect picture; concocted stories, says IIM-K
Saturday, June 12, 2004
KOZHIKODE: Chief Administrative Officer of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K) has clarified that the institute had conducted regular inspections to inquire about the living conditions of the labourers working on the campus. Reacting to reports that appeared in a section of the media about the `inhuman treatment' meted out to the workers, the IIM-K said the construction work on the campus has been entrusted to different contractors. ``The Institute's responsibility as the principal employer is to provide and impress upon the contractor to ensure that the contractors are providing living accommodation to the labourers as provided in the labour acts and regulations,'' a press release said. The release said after seeing the report the authorities have conducted a detailed inquiry and found that the roof of the sheds in which labourers were living was damaged in the rains. The release said human rights activists and panchayat representatives visited the site and took photos ``in such a way as to depict an incorrect picture.'' ``All other stories about the officials getting angry or unable to give proper reply etc. are concocted,'' the release said. ``The Institute has been functioning in a professional way with due regard and respect to labour and the environment in which we are situated, and the public in Calicut knows it too well,'' it added.
Antony gets the go ahead from his party
Saturday, June 12, 2004
THIRUVANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony has got an apparent thumbs up from his party with only a handful demanding a change of guard in their meetings with emissaries of the Congress' central leadership. Congress party leaders R.L. Bhatia and Margaret Alva have been here for the last two days, holding close discussions with about 150 leaders from the party. But, barring about half-a-dozen leaders, nobody demanded a change in leadership. That must be good news for Antony, who has been smarting under the party's worst-ever electoral performance with the Congress failing to win even one of 20 Lok Sabha seats this election. Besides, his efforts to project that dissidence was a thing of the past came to an embarrassing naught last week when goons suspected to be hired by K. Muraleedharan, son of K. Karunakaran, beat up two senior party leaders. However, the party clearly seems to be in a forgiving mood standing solidly behind Antony now. There is the feeling though that corrective steps need to be taken to pull the party out of the morass of defeat and dissidence. "What the Left Democratic Front (LDF) got in the Lok Sabha elections was not a pro LDF vote but an anti United Democratic Front (UDF) vote. So, the need of the hour is corrective steps and wholesale changes in the party's organisational set up. "The next elections are two years away and there is enough time for our party to regroup, putting aside all factional issues. We see the defeat as a positive outcome for the future," said senior Congress leader M.I. Shahnawaz. Organisational elections have not taken place in the party for about two decades and posts have been divided on the basis of factions in the party. In this new decisive mood, that could also change. "Haven't I expressed my mind on the dividing of party posts on the basis of the various factions as the root cause of all problems. Merit has always been sidelined and I hope that leaders in the party now realise that things have to change," said speaker of the Assembly Vakkom Purushothaman after meeting the two emissaries. With all leaders speaking the same language, Antony appears to have paid heed, as was evident Thursday when he rolled back several measures taken two years ago. Apart from reinstating certain benefits of 500,000 government employees, he has decided to concentrate more on agrarian sectors and not on IT and biotechnology, his pet subjects. He has also decided to lift power cuts. The next hurdle for Antony is the cabinet reshuffle, which he said Thursday would take place before the assembly session scheduled to begin on June 25.
Ilayaraaja returns to Malayalam
Friday, June 11, 2004
After winning the Filmfare awards for best music composition in Malayalam, Ilayaraaja is back in Malayalam! ?Manasinakkarae? was his previous film. Ilayaraaja has now been brought in to compose music to director KK Rajiv?s latest film. KK Rajiv is a well known entity when it comes to TV soap operas. This would be his debut film as a director. The film is going to be produced by Premnath, an actor-producer. The film hasn?t been named yet, but initial reports say that it is going to be about high-school love. Premnath?s son is expected to act in this film. The rest of the cast too comprises mostly of newcomers.
Kochi ‘sky city’ project approved
Friday, June 11, 2004
KOCHI: The much-hyped Rs 725 crore dream project of a ‘sky city’ in Kochi is now close to becoming a reality with a high-level meeting accepting in principle, the project which envisages raising an 8.5 km skyway from Thevara junction, the southern tip of the city, to Edapally bypass junction at the north. The entire project cost would be realised by sale of buildings and godowns coming up as part of the project, thus relieving the government of the burden of raising the huge funds. The project could be completed in the next three years. The meeting, held at Thiruvananthapuram, and chaired by local administration minister Cherkalam Abdullah, was attended by Kochi City Mayor C.M. Dinesh Mani and senior officials. The flyover, with a width of 38 metres, will pass through areas where there are no tall buildings and have parking facilities on both sides. Besides ample sidewalks, the three-storeyed buildings could accommodate shops, hospitals and offices while the underneath space could be used for godowns and auditoria, chief architect A.R.S. Vadhyar said. Roads would be linked to the aerial pathway at main nodal points while stairs were envisioned for passengers to reach the skybus. State-of-the-art facilities for waste removal, water supply, electricity, telephone and other utility services would free the roads from frequent digging, as per the project. The ‘sky city’ would have elevated transit system, skybus and multi-storeyed shopping malls. |
