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July 2004
Kerala's teenage geek feels heat of success
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Kerala's teenage geek feels heat of success : Kerala, India > Kollam (Kerala), July 30 : Stephen Antony is only 19, but this computer sensation is already feeling the heat of his exceptional programming wizardry. The teenaged Indian geek has a police security net around him as miscreants once telephonically and by e-mail threatened his safety, asking him to develop for them a malicious code to bust bank ATMs. Police in this coastal town, 70 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram, who provided him physical protection for 10 days two months ago, are now listening into all the conversations strangers have with him and scrutinising strangers seeking to meet him. The miscreants believe this undergraduate student can write such a code to make them instantly wealthy as he has already pulled a few programming 'rabbits' out of his brain. Many here believe he has the ability to achieve much more. Antony created one of Asia's first WAP (wireless access protocol, which helps wireless devices like mobile phones access Internet)-enabled educational website. It can be accessed by any WAP-enabled device like mobile phone, wrist-watch, enabled PDA (personal digital assistant) and calculator. This website has become the official website of his college now. Antony is currently a top-rated expert in the programming languages C++ and Pearl (a scripting language for websites). "I have innovated with several new technologies to prevent people from misusing and violating Internet protocols and the most popular among them is software such as e-mail harvester killer, e-mail tracer, Trojan monitor and parent's pal," Antony said. E-mail Harvester killer prevents the cyber fraud of miscreants using a malicious code to collect other people's e-mail addresses. This can help prevent spam mail - unsolicited mail sent out using mass mailing programmes. E-mail Tracer garners details including the geographic location of cyber miscreants who send out e-mail with malicious content. Trojan Monitor watches over the Trojans (malicious codes that infect computers in the guise of some other useful programme) in a system and finds out the beneficiary of its activity, who obviously must have planted it. Parent's Pal, according to Antony, has been the most innovative one, which could help parents and teachers and even cyber police to monitor children's activities on the Internet. "There are other similar child watch software, but mine helps monitor all activities including offline system usage, viewing of movies, music, other software and games. "It has even the ability to send real-time video of the system used by the child to any device the parents or teachers prefer," he claimed. Antony has been into web development since his Class 8. "At present I am concentrating on a new concept," says the teenager. Claiming that he has named his new initiative "The New Face Of Internet", Antony said, "I am trying to find the new possibilities of Internet: how it can be more effectively used as a research tool and how it can help better as a secure day-to-day business tool. I have developed the tools required to keep the Internet secure." Antony is a consultant for several interactive web projects in India and abroad and boasts of a client list exceeding 100. He has won the US 'Superior Coder Contest' thrice. Antony said he is also offering free consultancy for students in Kerala through his website http://keralaprogrammers.home-page.org. Antony's motto is "Knowledge is free and it should be granted free through which our resource increase." "That is why I am free for any one who requires coding help," says this cyber age neighbourhood wizkid.
41 injured in Kerala bus fire
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Pathanamthitta, Kerala, July 30 In all 41 people were injured, eight of them seriously, when a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus in which they were travelling caught fire at Variyapuram near here today. The bus was proceeding from Pathanamthitta to Thiruvalla when the mishap occurred. The fire originated from sparks emanated from friction between a disjointed propeller shaft with the ground and the diesel-tank. The shaft pierced into the tank leading to leakage of diesel which engulfed the rear half portion of the bus. There were 74 passengers in the bus and the billowing smoke created hurdles for them to get out of the burning vehicle. Those suffered burns were mainly women and elderly people. The Fire force and local people battled for more than an hour to bring the blaze under control. Of the seven admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, the condition of six were critical with 85 per cent burns. Twenty-two of the injured have been admitted to Pathanamthitta General Hospital, nine to Thiruvalla Pushpagiri Hospital, three to Pathanamthitta Muthoot Hospital and four to Kozhencherry Hospital. The rest were given first aid. District Collector Rabendra K Agarwal and local MLA K K Nair were among those, who reached the spot to oversee relief and rescue operation.
Kerala cabinet reshuffle certain
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 30 : Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony today said the Congress-led UDF Ministry would be reshuffled after the party high command gave its suggestions in this regard. "A cabinet reshuffle is certain and high command directive in the matter is expected," he said in reply to questions from reporters here. It was the practice in the Congress to carry out cabinet reshuffle with the approval of high command, he said. A change of Congress ministers in the state cabient was on the cards ever since AICC recast the KPCC in the wake of pary's rout in the recent Lok Sabah polls. KPCC President Thennala Balakrishna Pillai had also indicated that a cabient reshuffle was on the cards. In the 20-member UDF Ministry, Chief Miniser and eight others belong to Congress.
Public transport a utility service: Kerala Govt
Friday, July 30, 2004
Kochi, Jul 29 - The Kerala Government informed the High Court that it had already declared the public transport system as a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act. Government pleader produced the gazette notification, issued on March 7, 2004 in this regard. In view of the notification, the Division Bench comprising Justice K A Abdul Gafoor and Justice P R Raman closed the writ petition filed by the Human Rights Protection Forum, Kozhikode, seeking a direction to the State Government to declare the public transport system as public utility service. On February 13,2004,the court had issued a directive to the State Government to consider whether the public transport system could be declared a public utility service. Public transport in the state has been hit for the past three days with private bus operators going on an indefinite strike to demand higher fares.
Waiting to become a minister in Kerala
Friday, July 30, 2004
Waiting to become a minister in Kerala : Kerala, India > Thiruvananthapuram, July 29 : With the state assembly session now over, it is going to be a wait for several Congress legislators who are aspiring to occupy the prime post of a minister. Apart from the chief minister there are 19 ministerial posts, of which the Congress has just eight posts for ministership, with the rest 11 taken by the seven allies of the Congress. And it remains to be seen if there is going to be a wholesale revamp by replacing all the eight or just changing a few. "In order to be just it would be in the best interest of the party to go for a wholesale revamp rather than attempting to change a few. If this happens then the Congress and Antony would be able to also go for a reshuffle of the portfolios and could bring important portfolios to the Congress party", said a senior Congress legislator. Currently the Indian Union Muslim League has key portfolios like education, industry, public works and local self-government. Of the four the ones that have been most people-unfriendly are the local self-government and education ministries. Another lacunae of Antony has been the handling of the agriculture ministry by 85-year-old K.R.Gowri Amma, who can hardly speak properly due to her age. The only plus point for Antony is that while undertaking a reshuffle, his arch rival K.Karunakaran appears to have gone into retreat after the Congress party leadership in New Delhi silenced him by removing him from the Congress Working Committee. Antony expects that this time too party leaders would allow to induct ministers of his choosing. Among the front-runners for getting ministerial posts are current assembly Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman, Aryadan Mohammed, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, K.C.Venugopal, A.Sujanapal, Dominic Presentation, A.K.Moni, Therambil Ramakrishnan, Thampanoor Ravi and B.Vijaykumar. But the one name missing is that of United Democratic Front convenor Oommen Chandy, who is believed to have asked the party leadership not to consider his name. With two senior Congress leaders, Ahmed Patel and Oscar Fernandes, expected to arrive in the state early next week to have direct talks with all the 61 Congress MLA's and leaders of the allies, a final picture would emerge after their interaction.
P.T. Usha: Eternal icon for women athletes
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
: P.T. Usha will forever be an icon for women athletes in India. It does not really matter that she missed out on a medal in the 400 metres hurdles in the Los Angeles Games. The very fact that she went as far as the final of an Olympic event was in itself an achievement. With a bit of luck, Usha could easily have been judged third on that historic evening of August 1984. It was a photo finish for the bronze medal with Usha, Christine Cojocaru of Romania and Ann Loouise Skoglulnd of Sweden all in contention. But when the split came, the medal went to Cojocaru, timed 55.41. Usha was fourth in 55.42 Skoglund fifth in 55.43. It was that close, that narrow, a miss for Usha. The winner was a surprised and unfancied E.L. Moutawakkil from Morocco while Judy Brown of the US claimed the second spot. It was at once a most thrilling moment and heartbreaking occasion for this tall, lithe athlete from India. She had been initiated into the event some six months earlier by coach Nambiar and her first competition was in the nationals in Mumbai. For sheer strength, there was no one to beat her and she won the event easily there. But watching her attack the hurdles, one felt that she had to go a long way before the obstacles became a part of her stride. She was clumsy, often breaking her pace before negotiating the hurdles. Yet, between Mumbai and Los Angeles, she had worked extremely hard. She gained both poise and speed but unfortunately failed to get a medal. It must be admitted here that the Los Angeles Games did not have the best talent available in the world. Like at Moscow four years earlier, this Olympics too suffered from a political boycott. A boycott by the Communist bloc badly affected the Games, particularly in athletics. Most of the leading lights in women's athletics belonged to the Eastern bloc. But with stiffer challenge Usha could perhaps have improved on her timings. She had however done something more. She had revolutionised women's athletics in India. The result of that one single race in Los Angeles is there for everyone to see. Today Indian women's athletics is far ahead of the men's, the standards improving with each passing day, so much so that they bring in more medals at the Asian level than the men do. In fact, even today the lone Indian medal prospect for the Olympic Games in Athens is woman long jumper Anju Bobby George. Though unable to win a medal at Los Angeles, Usha was still in a class of her own at the continental level, where she dominated with a rare degree of comfort. The Seoul Asian Games of 1986 were virtually taken over by her, Usha winning four gold medals, in the 200 metres, 400 metres, 400 metres hurdles and the 4x400 metres relay. In fact, Usha in her career of over a decade, had won more gold medals than any other individual athlete. No other athlete has dominated the national scene as Usha did. And her Los Angles time in the 400 metres hurdles still remains out of reach at the national level even after 20 years. Usha was a phenomenon. There is no other word for this fine athlete who, in a space of six or seven years, blossomed from a raw and unskilled competitor to one of the finest specimens of an athletics machine in the word. It was a pity that she could not convert her talents to win a medal at the Olympics. If anyone deserved it, it was Usha.
Court to hear Kerala college plea on quota:
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
: The Supreme Court will hear on July 29 a petition challenging the validity of a Kerala law limiting management quota seats in private professional colleges to 50 percent. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti and judges G.P. Mathur and C.K. Thakker posted the case for early hearing at the request of Harish Salve, counsel for petitioner Pushpagiri Medical Society, which runs a self-financing medical college. According to the petitioner, the government had fixed a quota of 50:50 of government and management seats for 2002-03. But the Kerala High Court modified it by allowing the management to fill 75 per cent of the seats as its quota, leaving the remaining for the government. The apex court also upheld this order. The petitioner, running a minority unaided medical college, contended that despite this judgment, the state had enacted the Kerala Self Financing Professional Colleges (Prohibition of Capitation Fees and Procedure for Admission and Fixation of Fees) Act, 2004. The act, the college contended, provided for admission on the basis of 50:50 quota, prohibited collection of capitation fees by professional colleges and directed them to collect only the tuition and other fees fixed by the government for both government and management quota seats. The petitioner sought quashing of the legislation, contending that the impugned legislation was inconsistent with the rights of the minorities to administer their educational institutions. The petitioner argued fixing a 50:50 ratio was arbitrary and in contravention of the law laid down in an earlier case. It also sought an interim direction restraining the government from applying the law for this year and to permit the college to maintain the 75 per cent quota for the management and 25 per cent for the government.
Bus strike affects normal life in Kerala
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 27 Normal life in Kerala was badly affected as the indefinite strike by private bus operators entered the second day today. The strike by private bus operators did not affect the commuters only in capital Thiruvananthapuram, where private buses constitute only five per cent of the total bus fleet. The Kerala State Raod Transport Coporation (KSRTC) services operated as usual. However, normal life was affected in other parts of the state. A report from Kozhikode said private buses remained off the roads for the second day causing hardship to commuters, mainly office-goers. Attendance was poor in government and private offices, as people found it difficult to reach their places of work. Despite claims of providing additional fleet, very few KSRTC buses were seen plying, as harried passengers mainly depended on jeeps, mini-buses and autorickshaws for their journey, paying exhorbitant fares. The bus strike severly affected the functioning of some offices in Kannur also where the strike was total. Autorikshaws, jeeps and other mini vehicles, which operated to various places in the district, provided some relief to the passengers. However, as the government declared holidays to schools in view of the agitations by the students' organisations against the government policy on self-financing professional institutions, the strike did not affect the students. It was a field day for taxis and other transporters as commuters had to depend on them. Traders were also affected adversely due to the strike, a report from Kottayam said. Though parallel services were operated in Kochi, they were not sufficient enough to meet the demand of the commuters, a Kochi report said. The indefinite strike was called by the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation and the Private Bus Operators' Organisation to press for various demands, inclduing a hike in bus fare and revision of students' concession.
Safety of foreign tourists will be ensured: Kerala Tourism Minister
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Kerala Tourism Minister P Sankaran today said the government planned to bring in a law to ensure safety of foreign tourists visiting the state. Replying to questions in the state Assembly, Sankaran said the authorities would be instructed to strictly implement the measures to be drawn up in this regard. Keeping clean the environs of major tourist centres and supply of clean drinking water in these places had been given top priority in tourism plans. There were widespread complaints that houseboats carrying tourists dumped human wastes and pollutants into the backwaters. Steps to check this menace would be taken, he said. A long-term tourism development plan - 'Tourism Vision 2025' had been drawn up. A total of 29,461 foreign tourists and 58,71,228 domestic tourists visited the state last year, he said in a written reply.
Kerala,Tamil Nadu CMs to discuss Parambikkulam in September
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 26 - Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are expected to discuss issues relating to Parambikkulam Aliyar Project (PAP) inter-state water-sharing agreement in September. This was disclosed in the Kerala Assemby by state Water Resources Minister T M Jacob during question hour. As a prelude to Chief Ministers' level talks, the Ministers concerned from the two states would hold discussion next month, he said. Jacob ruled out Kerala unilaterally withdrawing from the PAP agreement on the ground that the state had always been a loser. The state would lose further if it pulled out of the agreement.The PAP involved eight dams and two weirs. Of these, Tamil Nadu controlled nine constructions, he said.
BMW team in Kerala for crucial talks
Monday, July 26, 2004
Kochi, Jul 25. : A four-member team from the world renowned luxury car manufacturer BMW will hold discussions with Kerala government officials here tomorrow on the setting up of its manufacturing facility at Kochi. The delegation, led by BMW's international operations senior manager, Wolfram Rehm, will also visit the proposed site for the facility, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) sources said. They would hold talks with the Managing Directors of KSIDC and KINFRA (Kerala Infrastructure Development authority), P H Kurien and Gopala Pillai respectively. The team is here to assess the quality of social infrastructure at Kochi and is likely to visit selected schools, hospitals and factories in the state's commercial hub. The government is understood to have offered about 25 acres of land in the KINFRA park at nearby Kalamassery, and promised uninterrupted power supply and adequate potable water. The delegation, which arrived here late last night, is also likely to inspect the facilities at the Kochi port and hold discussions with the port officials during its four-day visit to Kerala. If the state succeeds in bringing BMW to Kochi, it would be the company's third largest manufacturing facility after China and Malaysia. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are also trying to woo the car major and the team is here after visiting Hyderabad and Bangalore, the sources said.
M. Vinu joins big time Malayalam directors:
Monday, July 26, 2004
V.M. Vinu appears to have joined the league of big time directors with the box office success of his Malayalam venture "Mayilattom" released earlier this month. "I was a bit tense when I began 'Mayilattom' because this was my first film after 'Balaetan'," admitted Vinu while speaking to reporters here Sunday. "Mayilattom" is the eighth film of the 46-year-old director, whose career began 16 years ago as main assistant to ace director Viji Thampi. Vinu struck out on his own in 1996, but it was only in 1999, when he cast superstar Mammooty in "Pallavoor Devanarayanan", that people began to take note of him. Last year, his "Baletan" became a roaring success and saw the sagging career of another superstar Mohanlal being revived. In "Mayilattom", he has cast Jayaram in a double role, which is now bringing the crowds back into theatres in Kerala. Vinu's next venture features Mammooty again in "Vesham", the production of which is expected to begin shortly. "It is not that I want only superstars to act in my films. My prime concern is the story and after going through it several times, I decide the cast. Jayaram, according to me, was the apt person for the double role and I decided to have him," said Vinu. He said he has not yet decided to work for a film with the "Balaetan" team because he was not happy with the story.
M. Vinu joins big time Malayalam directors:
Monday, July 26, 2004
V.M. Vinu appears to have joined the league of big time directors with the box office success of his Malayalam venture "Mayilattom" released earlier this month. "I was a bit tense when I began 'Mayilattom' because this was my first film after 'Balaetan'," admitted Vinu while speaking to reporters here Sunday. "Mayilattom" is the eighth film of the 46-year-old director, whose career began 16 years ago as main assistant to ace director Viji Thampi. Vinu struck out on his own in 1996, but it was only in 1999, when he cast superstar Mammooty in "Pallavoor Devanarayanan", that people began to take note of him. Last year, his "Baletan" became a roaring success and saw the sagging career of another superstar Mohanlal being revived. In "Mayilattom", he has cast Jayaram in a double role, which is now bringing the crowds back into theatres in Kerala. Vinu's next venture features Mammooty again in "Vesham", the production of which is expected to begin shortly. "It is not that I want only superstars to act in my films. My prime concern is the story and after going through it several times, I decide the cast. Jayaram, according to me, was the apt person for the double role and I decided to have him," said Vinu. He said he has not yet decided to work for a film with the "Balaetan" team because he was not happy with the story.
Violent student stir continues in Kerala
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Nearly 25 government vehicles were damaged Saturday in Kerala as a students' stir against the government's education policy, sparked off by a student's suicide, continued for the second day Saturday. The protests sparked off by the suicide of Rajani Anand, a 20-year-old engineering college student apparently unable to pay the high tuition fees in a private engineering college, were led by the students' wing of the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Anand, a third year student belonging to the scheduled caste community, had jumped to death from a seven-storey building here Thursday after she had failed to get a bank loan to pay her college fees. Her father, being a casual labourer, did not have the means to meet the steep tuition fees. Police burst teargas shells after hundreds of student activists blocked the road in front of the official residence of Chief Minister A.K. Antony. The capital city witnessed several instances of students turning violent and damaging close to half a dozen vehicles. Unlike Friday when violence was confined to this city, it spread across the state Saturday. In Kannur, Tourism Minister P. Sankaran's official car was damaged and in Kozhikode a government car was burnt. In Palakkad a state transport bus damaged. In Alappuzha also a few vehicles came under attack. Agitating CPI youth wing workers held on to a top scheduled caste and tribe welfare official for nearly two hours. Police had to arrest and remove them to free the official. Students attacked the offices of Canara Bank and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for allegedly refusing her a loan. The IOB branch near Anand's house kept its shutter down fearing attack. With passions running high and protesting student organisations having called an education shutdown Monday, the government declared holidays for all educational institutions Monday and Tuesday. Antony has announced a judicial probe into the incident following opposition protests in the state assembly.
Sabu Cyril
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Chennai, National award winning art director Sabu Cyril will soon be directing a feature film. The film, on superstition and black magic, was supposed to have been canned in June but a brief strike in the Malayalam film industry delayed shooting. Now work will start Aug 20, said Cyril, adding his aim is to finish the film in 45 days. The story is woven around the life of a young man from Mumbai who visits his village for the religious rites of his mother. The film narrates his rural experiences and his involvement in the happenings of the village. He chose to make his directorial debut with a commercial film though he likes offbeat films, Cyril told in an interview here. Excerpts from the interview: Q: You are quite busy as an art director. How did this idea to direct a feature film start? A: I always wanted to direct a film -- a children's film, to be precise. How this project happened was... I got a call from Raju of "Maniyan Pillai" fame when I was in Mumbai. He said he had bought the cinematic rights of a novel that won this year's award from the Malayala Manorama newsmagazine. He wanted to know whether I was interested in directing the film. Q: Did his call surprise you? A: I asked him, what made you call me? It seems he had read an interview of mine which I gave quite some time back. I had expressed my desire to direct a film if it had lots of special effects, costume drama, etc. I told him, 'Let me read the novel first. If it excites me, I will direct the film'. After reading the novel, I met the novelist. I found the subject of the novel quite interesting. Q: What exactly is the theme of the novel? A: The novel is on superstitions, black magic, etc. But what I liked was the background. So, I decided to weave a love story into it. It is about a young man from Mumbai, who was forced to come to a village to immerse the ashes of his dead mother. The story is about his experiences in the village, how he gets entangled in the happenings in the village, etc. Actually, I was supposed to finish the film early June but because of the strike (in the Malayalam film industry), everything got delayed. Now, I plan to start the film Aug 20. And I plan to finish it in 45 days. Q: Wasn't Meera Jasmine earlier supposed to act in the film? A: Yes, Meera Jasmine was to do the film. Then, she signed six or seven films in Telugu and got quite busy there. Kavya Madhavan will now act in the film. I have also signed Prithviraj. I do not know what will happen now because he has got into some problems with the artistes' association. But at present, it is Prithviraj. Q: Is it going to be a commercial film? A: It will be a commercial film. Honestly speaking, I never thought I would direct a commercial film. And that too -- my first film. I don't plan anything in life. For the last three-four months, I have been working on the script. Q: Did you have to think for some time before saying 'yes' to the offer? A: I found the backdrop challenging, not the story. Anyway, I am making the film for an audience that goes to the theatre. But I will do justice to what I am doing. If it is well made, it will not look like a normal commercial film. Cinema is different from a film or a movie. Cinema is something different, not some run-of-the-mill thing. Q: Don't you find it difficult doing art direction for so many films, and at the same time, planning your own directorial venture? A: It is not difficult. I have always been doing the art direction of four-five films at a time, so I am used to working on various projects and at a hectic pace. Since my childhood, I have been like this. I try to do so many things at a time. My dad used to tell me, 'complete what you are doing and then move on to the other'. I start repairing a radio, and then leave it half way through and start painting, or repairing a torch. I like to do so many different things at the same time. I enjoy working like that. You don't get bored if you work like that! Similarly, today, I may be erecting the set of a jail for a film, but tomorrow, it would be a set for a song. The next day, it would be a hospital. So, you can have three different ways of thinking. Do you know what I am learning now? Psychology. My desire is to do a doctorate -- either in psychology or philosophy. Or, I may even take a doctorate in art direction. But I am sure I will take a doctorate one day. Q: Are you excited about the film you are directing? A: I never get excited over anything. Even when I got the national award, I did not get excited. Seeing my expression, Priyadarshan asked, 'are you not excited'. But that is how I am. I believe success should not go to your head, or failure to your heart. I will direct the film with the same passion that I do art direction with.
Rajani.S.Anand: A martyr to the engineering education
Sunday, July 25, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The parents of Rajani.S.Anand were inconsolable as they were struggling to come to terms with the reality that their brilliant daughter on whom they had invested all their hopes was no more. Sivanandan, the father of Rajani, at his dilapidated hut at Vellarada, 20 km from here, told that his daughter would not have taken the extreme step had the banks or other social organisations or the representatives of people whom he approached for financial help for her studies had not turned a deaf ear to his pleas. Rajani, who was a computer-engineering student at the College of Engineering, Adoor, under the IHRD, ended her life by jumping from the terrace of the Seven-storied State Housing Board complex at Santhi Nagar here on Thursday. The death of Rajani has spread a pall of gloom in Vellarada. People from all walks of life thronged the thatched Pattakudivila Veedu of Rajani to console her father Sivanandan, mother Santha and sister Manju. Her brother Shine Sivan, who had completed Plus-Two, was away at the Medical College Hospital where her body was taken for post-mortem examination. Sivanandan said that despite the financial problems, the family decided to send Rajani to the engineering course on an assurance from the Indian Overseas Bank to give her an educational loan. However, the same bank later developed cold feet when it realised that the family was poor. ‘‘ The IOB branch at Poozhanad near Vellarada offered the loan subject to the condition that a guarantee of two Government employees and land worth Rs 5 lakh should be given as security,’’ said Sivanandan, a daily wage labourer. ‘‘The only security we could have offered is our two-cent land and thatched hut. However, its deed is already pawned to a private financier,’’ he said. Later, I approached local MLA Thampanoor Ravi, Amrithanandamayi’s Mutt at Kaimanam and several local churches. However, none of them was willing to meet the educational expenses of my daughter. Ravi, who earlier denied help, is now offering me financial assistance after the death of my daughter!,’’ he said. Rajani had secured a first class in SSLC and a distinction in Plus-Two, he said. She was forced to discontinue her studies from this academic year as the family could not raise money for settling her hostel dues of Rs 2,400. Later on, the Mary Matha College of Engineering and Technology at Neyyattinkara had offered free education to her. Rajani left the home on Wednesday morning saying that she was going to the office of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations, which is housed in the Housing Board Complex, to check whether there were any vacancies in any other nearby colleges. ‘‘Since she did not return even late in the evening, we made enquiries with some of our relatives who are staying at Neyyattinkara. We came to know of her death last evening,’’ Sivanandan said. The body of Rajani was brought to the house by evening. The body was cremated on the premises of her residence in the presence of a large crowd. Source: newindpress.com
Kerala seeks Rs. 1,277 cr. Central aid to waive loans
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Kerala seeks Rs. 1,277 cr. Central aid to waive loans New Delhi, July 24. : Kerala today sought a Rs 1,277 crore Special Central Assistance to waive off loans upto Rs 50,000 availed by small and marginal farmers in the State. A three-member ministerial delegation from Kerala met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and submitted a memorandum demanding among other things debt redemption package for small and marginal farmers. The delegation, comprising Agriculture Minister K R Gouri, Revenue Minister K M Mani, and Finance Minister K Sankaranarayanan, also met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The Ministers had met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, yesterday. "We have apprised them of the pathetic situation existing in Kerala as a result of the unprecedented drought and fall in prices of agricultural products and the indebtedness of farmers leading to suicides," Mani told reporters. "If we get the Central assistance, we will waive the loans. We will do everything possible to help the farmers and rehabilitate them," he said. The memorandum also demanded Central assistance for providing solatium to the families of the farmers who committed suicide due to crop losses and acute indebtedness. The delegation also sought replantation subsidy for several crops. They include Rs 292.85 crores for coconut, Rs 20 crores each for pepper and cashew and Rs 10 crores for arecanut. Mani said the State Government expected the Centre to release the funds withing a few weeks so that the much-needed relief could be given to farmers.
Jassie Gift's latest album "Rain, Rain Come Again"
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Film: "Rain, Rain Come Again"; Music: Jassie Gift; Lyrics: Kaithapram; English lyrics: Boban Abraham, Thara Thomas; Singers: Jassie Gift, Jyotsna, Karthika and Thara Thomas. Jassie Gift's second venture after the stupendous success of "4 the People" is the Malayalam "Rain, Rain Come Again". And as he has stated from various platforms, he has not tried to breakaway from the "4 the People" mould that brought him so much success. So, when you listen to the music of "Rain, Rain..." for the first time you may feel a sense of déjà vu. The music of "Rain, Rain..." can be termed a blend of several forms of popular world music, taking inspiration from every possible source, be it rap, reggae or our own traditional folk music. There are seven numbers in the album, with one being repeated in female voices, which makes it eight - it gives the listener a whirlwind experience. "Themmadikatte" sung by Jassie himself is the real attraction to buy this album, but it also carries the risk of making you feel disappointed with the rest of the songs when you hear them for the first time. If you are patient enough to come back to the album, however, it is sure to grow on you. The lyrics by Kaithapram give the song the feel of "Lajjavathiye", the cult song from "4 the People". "Themmadikatte" is repeated on B side with the voices of Jyotsna and Karthika lending freshness to the song. "Nillu Nillu" begins like Jassie's own "Annakilli" from his previous film. But, thankfully, the similarity ends there. Being the second song of the album, it succeeds in maintaining the tempo created by the intoxicating "Themmadikatte". Next on the list is "Kanampothi", which is just passable. A child's voice in the beginning of the number gives it an A.R. Rahman feel. "Kiss of Death", a purely English concoction of rap and reggae, is disappointing. The song penned by Boban Abraham may not go down well even with diehard Jassie fans. "Krishna", the song at the end of the album, seems to be influenced by the style of the Colonial Cousins. Jassie lends his unorthodox baritone to every song (except the female version of "Themmadikatte"), which seems to bind this album as a common thread. The connoisseurs may have termed the success of "Lajjavathiye" as a passing phase, but with "Rain, Rain Come Again" Jassie Gift has proved that he is here to stay. Now his challenge would be to produce conventional film songs in the voice of other male singers. On the whole, this album is its money's worth. If you are not expecting anything drastic from the Jassie Gift-Jayaraaj team, you won't be disappointed.
Students get violent over engineering student's suicide
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram: The suicide of a Dalit engineering student, unable to pay her college fees, in Kerala triggered off widespread protests on Friday with students torching several vehicles and attacking banks that turned down her education loan application. Despite Chief Minister A.K. Antony ordering a judicial inquiry into the circumstances that led to the suicide, students went on a rampage in the Kerala capital, setting ablaze three vehicles, damaging scores of others and attacking banks in protest against the government policies in the self-financing professional colleges. Twenty two-year-old Rajani S. Anand, who was forced to discontinue her studies following the failure in meeting the educational expenses, jumped to death from a seven-storeyed building that housed the office of the Commissionarate of Entrance Examination.
Forged ECNR: Two arrested
Saturday, July 24, 2004
NEDUMBASSERY: The emigration personnel at the Cochin International Airport have arrested two Kuwait-bound passengers for possession of forged ECNR (Emigration Clearance Not Required) certificate on Friday. The passengers were identified as Johnson Mathew, 27, of Kallara, Kottayam, and Chinnamma Alexander, 39, Adhikarivalappu, Fort Kochi. The passengers were trying to board Gulf Air flight GF 271 this morning when the emigration personnel intercepted them. The seal and signature of ECNR, reportedly issued by Protector of Emigrants, Delhi, were found forged. The passengers were handed over to the Chengamanad police.
Thousands witness Niraputhari festival at Sabarimala
Saturday, July 24, 2004
SABARIMALA: Thousands of pilgrims witnessed the Niraputhari festival at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple on Friday. The rituals connected with the Niraputhari festival began at 5.40 a.m. when Melsanthi Gosala Vishnu Vasudevan carried the paddy-spikes from near the golden flag-mast to the specially-arranged location at the nalambalam for pooja. The procession carrying the paddy-spikes was accompanied by Thantri Kandararu Rajivaru, executive officer Rajagopalan Nair and administrative officer Dharmarajan. After conducting the poojas, the paddy-spikes were taken inside the Sreekovil for special rituals. On conclusion of the rituals, the Thantri distributed the paddy-spikes to the thousands of pilgrims, including hundreds of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, who assembled at the Sopanam to witness the ceremony and receive the paddy-spikes. Sabarimala executive officer Rajagopalan Nair, administrative officer and Malikappuram melsanthi Govindan Potti were among those who witnessed the ceremony. Sahasrakalasam and Kalabhabhishekam were the special rituals conducted on Friday. Udayastamana pooja, Padipooja and Pushpabhishekam were also conducted at the hill shrine. The Sanctum Sanctorum was closed at 10 p.m. after Athazha pooja and Harivarasanam.
Govt orders judicial probe into student's suicide
Saturday, July 24, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has decided to conduct a judicial probe into the shocking suicide here on Thursday by SC/ST student Rajani Anand of the IHRD College of Engineering, Adoor. Rajani, daughter of a labourer, ended her life unable to pay her hostel bill arrears. Chief Minister A.K. Antony announced the Government decision in the Assembly on Friday after the LDF Opposition insisted on a judicial probe. The LDF which sought to move an adjournment motion in the House earlier on the issue alleged that Rajani's suicide was the result of the commercialisation of education under the UDF Government. Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan said that the first culprit in the shocking incident was the principal of the college who refused to give TC to the student despite her readiness to move to another college. The second culprit was the SC/ST Minister M.A. Kuttappan who took away the free hostel facility of SC/ST students. P.K. Sreemathi Teacher of the CPM who moved the notice for the motion said that only the rich could afford professional education owing to the polices of the Antony Government. Rajani was a brilliant student but that was not enough, she said. Thampanoor Ravi of the Congress said that Rajani, who was a resident of Vellarada in the Neyyattinkara Assembly constituency represented by him, had approached him seeking recommendation for a bank loan. I gave her a letter to be given to the manager of the Indian Overseas Bank and also spoke to the manager over telephone. There is no justification for the denial of loan as she was eligible for a loan without collateral security as per the RBI guidelines, he said. Antony said that the RBI had recently hiked the limit of the educational loan amount without collateral security to Rs 7.5 lakh. But the Government had received several complaints that the banks in the State were not following the guidelines. If any lapse has been found in any one's part in Rajani's case, action will be taken against such people, he said. Antony said that Rajani was eligible for free stay in the college hostel but as she was staying outside she was paid Rs 315 every month for expenses. Rajani had to approach the bank for a loan as the Government assistance was not enough, the Chief Minister said. Though the Chief Minister first offered a probe by the revenue secretary, he changed the decision for a judicial probe when the Opposition threatened to walk out over the issue.
Student stir turns violent
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Protests by student unions against the Kerala government's educational policies turned violent Friday after an impoverished youth committed suicide. The protests were led by student groups affiliated to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the CPI. Police had to fire tear gas shells in several parts of the city to disperse mobs that burnt two government vehicles and even attacked commercial banks. The students were angry about the suicide of 20-year-old Rajani Anand, a third year engineering student belonging to the scheduled caste community. Anand jumped to her death from a seven-storey building here Thursday night after she failed to get a bank loan to pay her fees at a self-financing engineering college. A tense situation prevailed in front of the state assembly when striking students tried to barge into the complex but were stopped and arrested by police. The Kerala assembly also witnessed a stir when the opposition blamed the government for its professional education policy, saying it had led to too much commercialisation. The opposition said the exorbitant fees charged by private institutions had made professional education a distant dream for students from economically backward sections of society. But Antony said a judicial probe would be launched to find the cause of the suicide. Anand's father is a casual labourer and she had been running from pillar to post the whole of last year to get a loan. But after commercial banks refused her, she jumped from the building that houses the office of the Commissioner of Entrance Examination. Students attacked the offices of the Canara Bank and the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). The latter had apparently refused an educational loan to Anand.
Probe will bring out the truth: Soopy
Saturday, July 24, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Education Minister Nalakath Soopy on Friday said that the judicial inquiry ordered by Chief Minister A.K. Antony would bring out the circumstances which led engineering student Rajani S.Anand to end her life. It is not fair for me to comment on the issue since the Chief Minister has already ordered an inquiry, Soopy told this website’s newspaper over telephone from New Delhi. Meanwhile, College of Engineering, Adoor, principal S. Cherian said that Rajani's suicide had nothing to do with non-payment of college tuition fees. In fact, it was for the State Government to pay the fees as she belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. He said that Rajani discontinued her studies as she could not afford the hostel fees. The college did not have a hostel and Rajani was staying in a private hostel, he said. The principal said that the argument that the college denied her transfer certificate was also not true. The policy of the college was to issue transfer certificate to all those who apply in the prescribed format, he said. However, Rajani had not applied for transfer certificate as she had not attended the classes after September 7, 2003, he said.
Lalu, Rabri to attend RJD convention in Kerala
Friday, July 23, 2004
Kochi: Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi will be among those attending the state convention of the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Thiruvananthapuram in the last week of September. Disclosing this here on Thursday, party state president Vijayasekhar said the convention would aim to strengthen the combine of dalits, tribals and backward classes in Kerala. The party also urged the state government to implement the recommendations of the Narendran Commission to ensure removal of the anomalies in job reservations for backward classes. He also announced the appointment of Anu Chacko as the president of the women's wing of the state unit.
Yet another farmer commits suicide in Kerala
Friday, July 23, 2004
Kalpetta, July 22 With the farmstead crisis unabated in Kerala, one more peasant allegedly committed suicide in Wayanad district today, even as the cash-strapped state government was trying to get Central assistance for relief measures. Unable to refund an agricultural loan taken from private financial companies due to crop failure, Anandan(60), allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Meenagandi after consuming poison early today, his family said. With this, 82 farmers have taken the extreme step since January this year, according to unofficial sources. However, the official figure states that 31 farmers had committed suicide during the past three years. Meanwhile, hundreds of farmers took out a protest march to the Collectorate here, demanding that the government take immediate steps to resolve the farmers crisis. As a result, vehicular traffic on the Kozhikode-Mysore highway remained affected for a few hours.
Tax move on NRI deposits to stay: Chidambaram
Friday, July 23, 2004
NEW DELHI: Finance minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday refused to drop the proposal to tax interest earned from foreign currency accounts of non-resident Indians (NRIs). Chidambaram said the new tax exemptions from tax for income up to Rs.100,000 will cushion the impact. "The tax exemption on the interest earned from an NRI account was creating a distortion in the tax system," Chidambaram said in a clarification sought by N.N. Krishnadas from Kerala after his reply to the budget discussion in the Lok Sabha. "NRIs have to pay tax in their host country if they hold an account there. The new tax exemption would save them at least Rs.62,000 a year," he added. The interest will be taxed only when it goes beyond Rs.100,000. "I have explained this in a letter to the chief minister A.K. Antony. I hope he will be convinced by that," Chidambaram said. Kerala MPs as well as the chief minister have demanded a roll back of the proposal that Chidambaram had made in his budgetary speech. Chidambaram has proposed in the budget that the interest earned from a non-resident (external) account and interest paid by banks to a non-resident or to a not-ordinarily resident person on deposits in foreign currency would not be exempt from tax from September 1. The state had expressed its apprehensions that the new decision would affect the inflow of foreign currency to the state, from Keralites mainly in middle-east countries. The total non-resident deposits in Kerala banks during the last fiscal year touched an all-time high of Rs.30.1 billion, up from Rs.28.69 billion in 2002-03. About 1.6 million Keralites work abroad and have been consistently propping up the state economy through remittances for the last two decades.
Kerala MPs demand release of Mahdani on bail
Friday, July 23, 2004
New Delhi: Three MPs from Kerala on Thursday urged the centre to intervene and release the ailing PDP supremo Abdul Nazir Mahdani, languishing in a jail in Tamil Nadu for six years in connection with the Coimbatore bomb blast case. In a letter to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the MPs- T.K. Hamza (CPi-M), Sebastian Paul (CPM independent) and M.P. Virendra Kumar (Janata Dal-secular)- pointed out that Mahdani was suffering from acute diabetics, blood pressure and spondylosis, besides being a severely handicapped person having had a leg amputated four years ago. "We honestly feel ailing Mahdani must be released from jail and the trial by the special court expedited. Whether he is guilty or not must be decided by the court. Even without a conviction by a court, he has already undergone six years of imprisonment and still continues in jail,'' they pointed out , and appealed the centre to get him out of jail by granting bail, pending trial. The MPs said :"For any citizen to be in jail without bail, justice is denied. Imprisonment without trial denies human rights. It infringes on the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution."
'KPCC should change its style of functioning'
Friday, July 23, 2004
Kozhikode: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister K.P. Unnikrishnan said the KPCC should change its style of functioning and go in for a total revamp upto the grassroot levels if the party has to "regain the confidence of the people" in the state. "Congress is still faction-ridden and the state cabinet is unable to take concrete decisions on several crucial matters," he told a press conference here. Stating that Chief Minister A.K. Antony, owning moral responsibility for the party's recent poll debacle, should have offered to resign, Unnikrishnan said whether Antony would do so or not, it was time that serious changes were effected in the party at all levels if it had to give a better account in the days ahead. "The cabinet is totally ineffective and unable to take decisions on a variety of matters as reflected in the state's progress of late," he alleged and added that a new beginning should be made in industrial, agricultural and educational sectors for overall development. It was regrettable that even after a Congress-led Government had assumed charge at the Centre, the state was not in a position to present its case effectively like on the drought issue, he said. Asked if he also blamed the alliance partners in the UDF, he said "everyone in the UDF is responsible for the present crisis."
No to small IT firms in e-governance in Kerala
Friday, July 23, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Industries and IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty on Thursday said it would not be feasible to award contracts to small IT companies in the state for implementing E-Governance programme. Tenders for the project were being invited on a competitive basis and the project required technical expertise as well as financial strength, he told the Assembly while replying to a call attention on simplifying the norms in order to facilitate the IT companies in the state to participate in the implementation of e-governance programme. Kuhalikutty said terms and conditions of the contract were prepared by a committee headed by Chief Secretary on par with the conditions that exist in other states for the same purpose. However, he said the Government would look into the aspect and explore the possibility of changing guidelines for awarding contracts for e-governance. Adoor Prakash (Cong) in his call attention said that only major IT companies in the country could bid for the contract as per the present terms and conditions in the tender notice. He said on the one hand Government wanted to encourage IT companies in the state but on the other it was not giving them chance to participate in the e-governance programme.
Mayilattam
Friday, July 23, 2004
Cast - Jayaram, Indraja, Rambha, Jagadi Shreekumar,Riyaz Khan and others Director - VM Vinu The Producer - Jolly Stephen This is the story of two look-alikes who are poles apart when it comes to their nature- one of them is a good man while the other is not someone you would want to invite home for lunch. Jayaram plays Devan, a man who is the epitome of goodness. He is a hard working farmer who lives with his three sisters and a brother-in-law. Trouble with him is- his sister and brother-in-law are out to bleed him dry of his money. But, he doesn't realize it. His sidekick Jagadi does and he is the one who sees to it that his goodwill doesn't lead him to bankruptcy. Indraja, Jayaram's cousin, is madly in love with him. One fine day, both Jayaram and Jagadi pick up trouble that they aren't able to tackle themselves and run away to Pollachi. That's where they run into Palani (Jayaram again) who is everything that Devan isn't- he is a con artist and is extremely aggressive. Both talk and decide to exchange places. The usual series of comedy and events happen. Rambha falls in love with the good guy Jayaram. But, Palani ends up murdering Indraja. In the climax, everything is resolved and the film ends on a happy note. Music- M Jayachandran The Good - Comedy and a perfect blend of sentiments and comedy. The Bad- Music The Ugly- Nothing
Even Antony can't get HIV positive kids into school
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 21 Even Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony's personal intervention has not been enough to dent the walls of prejudice and get two HIV positive siblings admission into school. Akshara, 8, and her younger brother Anathu, 6, have been unable to overcome the stiff resistance from the local community in Kottiyoor, Kannur district, despite the chief minister announcing immediate financial aid and making arrangements to see that they get back in school. Antony met the two children and their mother T.K. Rema, who is also HIV positive, on July 13 at the assembly here and directed the education department officials to see that the two kids are admitted. The Class 3 student and her brother in Class 1 had to lose an entire academic year when the government-aided SNLP School where they studied expelled them because they tested HIV positive. They are still waiting to get back into the school but the local community has decided to unite against them and the collective might of the government. Though the Kannur collector and officials of the education department acted after Antony's instructions -- even suspending the headmaster for not implementing the directive -- local residents and the parent teacher association of the school met to vote against the move. "Yes, there is a huge outcry in the locality ever since the orders were issued to take them back to school. This is quite natural because people have to be made aware of the impact of HIV and related issues. We are all doing our best to solve the problem," said the local legislator Radha Raghavan. It has been a tragic life for the children, who wait to resume their education. Their father passed away in June 2003 two months after being diagnosed with AIDS. The only silver lining in the dark clouds of despair is that their elder sister, who is 12-years-old, does not carry the dreaded virus. Akshara and Anathu's story has echoes in another pair of HIV positive siblings in the state. However, in the case of Benson and Bency, the chief minister's intervention finally did result in the children getting admitted to a government school near Kollam. Said principal health secretary K. Ramamoorthy: "We all strongly believed that after the success story of Benson and Bency, such incidents would not occur again." "There is urgent need for a massive awareness campaign. If delayed, things could go out of hand," Ramamoorthy told. Akshara and Anathu await the results of the awareness campaign.
3 Mohanlal films with Aroma Mani
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Aroma Mani is getting ready to make the most of the calm that is prevailing in Malayalam cine industry. Already, Mani has taken up the distributorship of the new Mohanlal starrer 'Naatirajavu'. Even before the film has hit the theatres, Aroma Mani has announced that he is going to produce and distribute three new films. The first of the films is 'Nyangal Chandrettan'- this is going to be made by the team that had made 'Balettan' before. Mohanlal-VM Vinu and writer DA Shahid are involved in this project. The name hasn't been finalized yet. The film is going to be launched on the 20th of this month. The second new film is 'Anwar Ali' which again has Mohanlal in the lead. Shaji Kailash is going to direct the film and DA Shahid is going to write the story for it. The third film is going to be written and directed by Ranji Panikker and is going to star Mohanlal again. Initial production works have begun for this film. Aroma Mani and his incredible faith in Mohanlal! Amazing!
They always blame the heroine- Kavya Madhavan
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Kavya Madhavan lashes out strongly at people who blame the heroine each time a film flops. Kavya Madhavan is undoubtedly one of the leading heroines in Malayalam right now. With the near ouster of Meera Jasmine, Kavya's position as the No 1 heroine is all the stronger than ever. 'The success of a film secures the position of the heroine. But, it doesn't have the kind of drastic effect that it has on the career of a hero. If a film does well, credit goes to the hero or the director. But, if something goes wrong with the film, the heroine's star gets the blame. 'There is one more thing you will have to observe. Film makers tend to repeat the formula and the team if it works for one film but the heroine is not usually featured in the repeat formula. Therefore, heroine doesn't usually go through the kind of stress that the hero does. 'The career of a heroine is secured only when she tries to do something better in each of her films.' How about doing Tamil films? 'I did do couple of films in Tamil like 'Kasi' and 'Yen Mana Vaanilae'. When the films were released, I did get some offers. But, I was scared. Malayalam is my base and I don't want to concentrate on anything else,' she said.
Mass-feeding of elephants draws crowds
Sunday, July 18, 2004
PTI THRISSUR: In a majestic spectacle, 70 elephants were treated to a grand feast at the famed Vadakkumnathan temple premises here as part of the annual 'Gajapoja' and 'Anayoottu' on Friday. The jumbos, drawn from different parts of Kerala, were lined-up and fed with huge balls of rice mixed with jaggery and spices, followed by sweet meats, fruits and other delicate titbits. Cutting across religious divide, elephant fans from far and wide thronged the temple town to witness the annual event. The calf Vishu from Chirakkal Devaswom was the first to receive the prasadam and rice ball from the chief priest Narayan Namboodiri. The full-course feast per elephant consisted of 10 kg cooked rice and ground jaggery, 10 kg of banana, five pineapples, sugar cane, cucumber and sheaves of palmleaf. Earlier in the morning, a grand gajapooja to propitiate Lord Ganesh was performed, using 1,008 coconuts and other ingredients. Gajapooja and Anayyoottu were held annually for world peace and prosperity, said C N Viajayan, secretary of the Vadakkumnanatha Kshetra Kshema Samiti. The earliest known reference to Gajapooja is found in the Mahabharat, which was organised by queen mother Kunti, he said. Friday's event was estimated to have cost Rs 2.5 lakh. Part of provisional like coconut and ghee needed for the feast were offered by devotees.
Heroin worth Rs 10 lakh seized
Sunday, July 18, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heroin worth Rs 10 lakh was seized from a Male-bound passenger at the international airport here on Friday and three persons, including the passenger, taken into custody in this connection. Air Intelligence unit of the Air Customs effected the seizure from Muthali Halik Rehman, a native of Ramnad district in Tamil Nadu, an official press release said. An X-ray scanning of the passenger revealed that he had swallowed 36 packets of heroin, weighing 111 gm. Two of his accomplices from Tamil Nadu were also taken into custody, the release said.
Defiant Karunakaran says he has people's support:
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 : Veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran said he was not bothered being dropped from the party Working Committee Saturday since party workers and the common people were with him. "I have been a member of the Congress Working Committee since 1969. I do not know what were the circumstances today, but I have Congress workers and the people with me," a defiant Karunakaran told reporters after receiving the news of the revamp carried out in Delhi. "I want to die a Congressman, but if they won't allow it I would have to think otherwise," he said, appearing indecisive on his next move. Earlier, the Congress central leadership ignored Karunakaran loyalists while revamping the state unit, including only the veteran leader and his son. Declaring the revamped Working Committee would do no good to the party, the 87-year-old former chief minister said, "I am not seeking any positions from Delhi." Karunakaran's successive revolts against the central leadership have resulted in the party losing faith in him. From opposing party candidates during elections to threatening to launch a parallel organisation within the party, his decisions have not been taken kindly by New Delhi. He suffered a further setback with his daughter losing the Lok Sabha poll and his son the assembly election.
Kavya Madhavan versus Meera Jasmine
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Chennai, Kavya Madhavan, who started her career in films as a child star in "Azhakiya Ravanan", has completed 25 films. Incidentally, in both her first and 25th films, she has been paired with Mammootty, the ageing super-star of Kerala. The very young Kavya, though she had the good fortune to act opposite giants like Mohanlal and Mammootty, was catapulted to the top slot through her hit films with Dileep. The Dileep-Kavya Madhavan pair is considered the hottest and most saleable pair in Malayalam films now. Kavya's 25th film is Sanjeev Sivan's "Aparichithan". Sanjeev Sivan is the youngest of the sons of former cinematographer Sivan to enter the film scene. Internationally known cinematographer Santosh Sivan and filmmaker Sangeet Sivan are his elder siblings. Mammootty acts as a wildlife photographer in the film, while Kavya Madhavan, along with girls like Manya and Karthika, acts as a college student. Now that she has completed 25 films, the question that arises is: will Kavya continue to rule the Malayalam cinema scene? She may be a commercially successful star, but there could be competition from Meera Jasmine. One has to only see Meera's award-winning performance in T.V. Chandran's film "Paathham Onnu Oru Vilaapam" to notice the challenge. She has also had a huge commercial hit like "Swapnakkoodu" last year. Even renowned directors like Mani Ratnam see a spark in Meera, and the result is "Aayutha Ezhuthu" where she even delivers her Tamil dialogues commendably. Talent apart, Kavya would need to look after herself better. Already the 19-year-old appears too heavy for her age. She also needs a good wardrobe. Meera carries herself very well in all kinds of dresses and has maintained a lithe body. At the same time, Kavya has been accepted well by the Malayali audience. That, and the demand for Meera in the better-paying Tamil and Telugu film industries, may yet ensure that Kavya continues to reign in Malayalam cinema. Indo-Asian News Service
Thousands offer "bali on "Karkidaka vavu"
Sunday, July 18, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thousands of Hindus offered "bali" (obsequies to the dead) on the Shanghumughom beach here and other parts of Kerala with religious fervour on the occasion of "Karakidaka vavu" today. More than 75 "poojaris", including Kariyam Rajan, who had been conducting the "bali" for the last 31 years on the Shanghumugham beach, assisted the devotees in offering "bali". The state government had declared a holiday yesterday and half-day today in view of the "Karkidaka Vavu". The State Road Transport Corporation operated special bus services for the convenience of the devotees. The Tranvancore Devaswom Board, the Hindu Aikyavedi and other voluntary organisations extended service to the "bali"performers who reached the beach since early morning. Aruvikkara, Karakulam Moodisasthamkode temple, Papanasam beach and Parasuram Temple at Thiruvallom in Thiruvananthapuram district and Aluva in Ernakulam district were the other places where "bali" was offered.
Kerala staff must file dowry affidavit
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 17: In a firm move to end the practice of dowry among the salaried class, the Kerala government has made it compulsory for male employees to file a declaration stating that they had not received dowry. An amendment to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961,notified the other day, has made it mandatory that the declaration, to be submitted by an employee to the head of the department, should also carry the signatures of his father, father-in-law and wife, an official press release said here. The changes, drawn up on the basis of the state Women's Commission recommendations, provided for appointment of Dowry Prohibition Officers in three regions in the state, who could receive complaints regarding violation of dowry rules. The dowry officers could initiate prosecution procedures against the offender if a preliminary probe established a prima facie case. The regional dowry prohibition officers should send quarterly reports to the Chief Dowry Prohibition Officer about complaints received and action taken on them. The director of the Social Welfare Department has been designated as Chief Dowry Officer and three officers in the rank of assistant director as regional officers. (Agencies)
Ramayana month begins in Kerala
Saturday, July 17, 2004
As Karkitakam, the lean month of the Malayalam calendar, dawned on July 16, Hindu homes and temples in Kerala resonated with the recital of the Ramayana. Mornings and evenings, the faithful gather at temples to recite the Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu of Thunchath Ezhuthachan, the father figure of Malayalam literature. The entire text is read in 32 days. As the season neared booksellers reported a heavy demand for copies of the Ramayana. Malayalis believe reading the epic gives them spiritual strength to tide over the hardships of the lean season. The term Ramayana maasam, or 'month of the Ramayana' used to describe Karkitakam, began as informal coinage but printed Hindu calendars have adopted it for generations. Traditionally, heavy monsoon rains during Karkitakam, the last month of the vernacular calendar, interrupted agriculture and forced people to stay indoors. While the affluent depended on stored harvests, the economically backward labour class had a hard deal. With work being scarce, incomes dried up. The damp weather also bred disease. On the eve of the first day of the month, houses are swept clean, disinfected and sanitised. Organic rubbish is bundled into an earthen pot and discarded outside the precincts to the accompaniment of chanting, an act that symbolises the banishment of ill omens. To fortify homes against ill luck, lamps are lit. Sree Bhagavati, the goddess of good fortune, is worshipped. Non-vegetarian food is avoided. Green leafy vegetables are eaten and medicinal broth is brewed to fortify the body against disease. Ayurvedic medicinal potions like kashayam and tonics are consumed to build immunity, and hot oil massages are regularly administered. People gather in groups and read aloud cantos from the Ramayana. The most popular one is the Bala Kanda of Ezhuthachan's Adhyatma Ramayanam, which contains about 2,800 shlokas celebrating Sita's devotion and Hanuman's selflessness. Certain days of the month, determined by the lunar calendar, are auspicious to perform rites for departed forebears at temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Rituals related to the Ramayana month, which had fallen into decadence in the last few decades, are now experiencing a revival. In view of Karkitakam, the Travancore Devaswom Board has made arrangements for Ramayana recitals in major south Kerala temples. In other regions temple authorities and various cultural forums have organised discourses and debates on the Ramayana.
Kerala institute to study impact of emigration
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 : With a considerable number of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) settled abroad and contributing significantly to its revenue, the state is mulling setting up an institute to study the impact of emigration. "The state government has been considering this for some time and with more and more data now available in the form of academic studies, we are seriously thinking of setting up an institute to further study the impact of migration," Minister For Non-Resident Keralites M.M. Hassan told. "There would certainly be an allocation for this in the forthcoming budget and by that time we expect to have a framework ready for the proposed institute," he said. The latest study on emigration has been in the form of a report published here Thursday at the Centre for Development Studies. The research, conducted by demographers K.C. Zachariah and S. Irudayarajan, was carried out among 10,000 households selected at random from the state's 62 sub-districts. In 1999 too, they had conducted a similar survey. The study points out that Kerala's total number of emigrants increased from 1,361,955 in 1999 to 1,838,478 in 2004 and, among them, more than 90 percent is in the Middle East. Remittances collected from such non-resident Keralites have also shot up from Rs.136.52 billion (1999) to Rs.184.65 billion (2004). Figures indicate that the NRKs helped boost the state's per capita income from Rs.16,062 in 1999 to Rs.25,764 in 2004. The latest figures for annual remittances to the state is now seven times what Kerala receives from the central government as budget support, 15 times the receipt from cashew exports and 19 times the receipt from marine exports. After going through the study, Hassan said there are advantages as well as drawbacks of emigration. "It is imperative that an institute be set up to study all aspects of migration because this has to be sustained. Only through regular studies can we make sure that there are no negative implications -- which is there today according to the study," he said. The study found that emigration had a significant role in the rapid increase in the unemployment rate in Kerala when it went up from 1,268,337 in 1999 to 2,389,219 in 2004. As a result of the emigration, migrant workers from other states in India are now working in Kerala accepting low wages and taking away a lot of work that would have otherwise gone to residents.
Shaji Kailash
Saturday, July 17, 2004
"The greatest strength of 'Naaturajavu' is its desire to fill the theaters again," says director Shaji Kailash. "That's the reason why the film has many commercial elements intact. Mohanlal's decision to do an action role again will attract lot of criticism, but we are ready to handle it this time." Mohanlal is seen in the film's posters in dhoti, kurta and rudraksha beads. Is this a continuation of 'Narasimha'? 'Naaturajavu' might look like a continuation of 'Narasimha' because it is getting released after the latter. You cant help it but each time Mohanlal gets down to action, he ends up looking the same. And, we weren't able to do anything different with his appearance either. The role needed the look. The earth shudders when he walks. The cigarette bounces off the ground when he throws it. Anything new in 'Naaturajavu'? There are lots of things new in this film. I need to keep doing something all the time. Some appreciate it. Others make fun of it. I'm ready to welcome both. When will you do something different? Each time a director makes a film, he hopes to make a good one. But, fact is- the audience for good films is decreasing fast. Therefore, priority is to bring in audience to the theatres. I love films and that is the reason why I make such films- to bring the audience to the theaters There are directors who are trying to pull Mohanlal down from the superman image and make him more human in the films. Then, there are directors like you who insist on making superman out of him? I had never tried to portray him as a superman. Getting angered by the situation and deciding to fight back is not something that only supermen do. And, I wasn't the one who had first brought in this theme in the Malayalam film industry for the first time! There are many instances in which heroes get bullet injuries and still go about fighting villains in Malayalam films. But, Shahid (the screenplay writer of 'Balettan') is a sensitive person who feels the pain and struggles of a character when he writes it. He brings these emotions live on the screen too. What is your success formula? You need to understand the marketing technique. That's the only secret of success. The film 'Runway' had crashed during its second week but Sargam Films simply hid the fact and began advertising their film even more and made it a hit film. 'Akalae' was a very good film but nobody bothered to promote it and the film simply didn't draw crowds in spite of being so good. Is the success of 'Runway' a sweet revenge for Dileep on you? It is not true. Dileep wanted me to direct him in an action film, but due to circumstances I was not able to do it. He had asked me to do a film when I was going through a real bad patch of my career. I didn't want to take any more risks. So I had knowingly refused. If the film had bombed, Dileep's career would have suffered more than mine. Why are your films so business-minded? When someone launches a product, he makes it with his market in mind. That's how I think too. Mohanlal is the main attraction for the masses in the film. I have done a lot to make sure that it is. I'm not trying to make a film on the social issues or the changing phase of time. I'm concerned only about the business aspect of the film.
Gulf still favourite among Kerala emigrants
Friday, July 16, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Middle East continues to be the most preferred destination for Keralites settling abroad, says a study here. Kerala's total number of emigrants increased from 1,361,955 in 1999 to 1,838,478 in 2004 and, among them, more than 90 per cent were in the Middle East, according to the study presented on Thursday at the Centre for Development Studies. Remittances collected from such non-resident Keralites have also shot up from Rs 13,652 crore (1999) to Rs 18,465 crore (2004), says the study on the economic consequence of Gulf migration in South Asia. The study, conducted by demographers K C Zachariah and S Irudayarajan, was carried out among 10,000 households selected at random from all the state's 62 sub-districts. In 1999, too, they had conducted a similar survey. "Figures speak for themselves, and today the state's Gulf connection is such that there is every reason to introduce Gulf studies in schools and colleges," said Irudayarajan. "Before (India's) Independence, we studied the geography, history and politics of Britain. Today, this large scale emigration to the Gulf presents a strong case for our students to learn more about the Middle East," he noted. The study found Malappuram district as having the most number of emigrants - 272,000 - followed by Kannur with 202,000, Thrissur 179,000, Palakkad 178,000, Thiruvananthapuram 168,000, and Wayanad 7,704, contributing the least. The data has also proved wrong the perception that a very significant number of Keralites have returned from the Middle East. The figures showed their number has marginally increased from 739,245 in 1999 to 893,942 in 2004. Unconfirmed reports have been doing the rounds for some years now that a large number of non-resident Keralites have returned from the Middle East after new labour laws came into effect there. The demographers noted it is time Kerala had an institute to monitor migration and its impact on society. "Just look at the remittances and see how the figure has gone up", said Irudayarajan.
Farm crisis: Kerala to seek special package
Friday, July 16, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rattled by the spurt in suicides by farmers, the UDF government in Kerala on Wednesday decided to seek a special relief package from the Centre to end the crisis in the farm sector triggered by natural calamities and crop failure. A three-member ministerial delegation, comprising Agriculture Minister K R Gowri, Revenue Minister K M Mani and Finance Minister K Sankaranarayanan, will leave for Delhi on July 22 to press for the state's urgent case. Besides seeking liberal central assistance to overcome the situation created by severe drought and flood, the state's plea would include moratorium on farm loans up to Rs 50,000, interest waiver on farm credits from the public sector banks and refinance facility for cash-starved farmers, Chief Minister A K Antony told reporters after a Cabinet meeting. In April last, the state had submitted a memorandum to the Centre seeking Rs 2,844 crore by way of drought relief assistance. But not a single paise had been sanctioned above the 'meagre' provision from the national calamity fund, Antony said.
Liquor revenue touches new heights in Kerala
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, July 13. : To detect and speed up probe on 'Abkari' cases, a new system called "Excise Intelligence and Investigation Bureau" has become operational in Kerala, State Excise and Fisheries Minister, K V Thomas, told the assembly today. Replying to the debate on demands for grants in the budget for Excise and Fisheries, Thomas said three Zonal and 14 divisional offices were functioning under the bureau. The Government has taken strict meausres to check illicit liquor and arrack trade. About 6000 cases were registered and 3818 persons arrested for illicit liquor trade during 2003-04. Nearly 14 lakh litres of spirit and 32,000 litres of arrack and 17,000 litres of illicit Foreign made liquor were seized in different raids during the period, he said. Due to efficient implementation of the Abkari policy, government's revenue income stood at Rs.663.55 crores, an increase of Rs.7.07 cores compared to the previous year. State owned Beverage Corporation earned Rs.1622 crores through liquor sale during last year, he said. In the first three-months of this financial year, the corporation sold 29.49 lakh cases of foreign made liquor and 8.88 lakh cases of beer and registered a turnover of Rs.490.05 crores, he added.
Law & order situation in Kerala poor, Karunakaran tells PM
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
New Delhi: The intense factionalism in the Congress in Kerala took a worse turn on Saturday with former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, MP, complaining to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the law and order situation in the state ruled by a coalition led by Chief Minister A.K. Antony. Karunakaran, who is still awaiting an appointment with AICC President Sonia Gandhi, met Dr Singh and demanded a fair deal to the state to come out of its acute financial crisis, while emphasising the need for an improvement in the Law and order situation. The 86-year-old Congress leader told newspersons after the meeting that he had brought to the attention of Dr Singh the difficulties of the Government, besides the problem of the farmers and the law and order situation. In this context, he said Chief Minister Antony (the arch rival of Karunakaran in the State Congress) himself had provided to the state assembly the statistics recording the crime in the state. The figures showed that Kerala was top on the list in the matter of crimes. Asked if the police policy of the Antony government was responsible for increasing incidence of crimes in the state, Karunakaran said he was not sure if it was due to the police policy or its implementation. ''There is no meaning in blaming the police officers alone,'' he said, adding that ''there is no way out, without a change.'' Saying that the Prime Minister had promised to sympathetically consider his request for extending helping hand to the state, Karunakaran expressed the doubt if the Antony government would be able to implement all that the centre might give. ''However, I did not make known my doubts to Dr Singh.'' He expressed surprise at Antony being not able to set things right in the administration even after taking over as Chief Minister three and a half years ago. Referring to the disquiet in the State Congress in the wake of the revamping of the Pradesh Congress Committee last month, Karunakaran said his group would be able to cooperate only if there was a change at the organisational and government levels. Karunakaran, who bought peace with Antony on the eve of the May Lok Sabha elections, came out openly against him in the wake of the revamping of the PCC. Karunakaran's complaint was that his loyalists were kept out of the reconstituted PCC on the advice of Antony. Though Karunakaran has been trying to meet Ms Gandhi to personally express his displeasure at the way in which the PCC was revamped, he could not meet her during the past one week. Karunakaran, a member of Rajya Sabha, will leave here for Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Two more peasants commit suicide in Kerala:
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Trapped in burgeoning debt, two more farmers committed suicide in this hilly northeastern district of Kerala, taking the toll to 32 during the last four months. Perturbed over his inability to repay a loan of Rs 50,000 taken from a bank and private financial institutions due to crop failure, Thekkunnath Tadathil Johny (43) allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling of his house in Mullamkolli panchayat yesterday, his family said. Another farmer Vasu(55) of Poothadi panchayat consumed poison and was taken to the Bathery Government Hospital where he died last night, police said. Vasu owed Rs 60,000 to a bank, his family sources said. Nearly 3,500 farmers have reportedly taken the extreme step in the state during the past three years. Members of the Assembly took the government to task for its alleged failure to report the suicide cases to the Centre in the wake of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's statement in the Parliament that no farmers' suicide had been reported from the state.
Pizza Hut enters Kerala market
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
PTI KOCHI: Pizza Hut, the world's leading pizza chain, has entered the Kerala market, opening their first restaurant here on Tuesday. In taking long strides across the country, Pizza Hut would consolidate its position by opening more restaurants in the metros where it was already present, Sandeep Kohli, Managing Director, Indian Subcontinent, Yum! Restaurants International, told reporters here. Moving beyond the metros, Pizza Hut would also foray into over 12 to 13 new markets including Tiruchirappalli, Nagpur, Bhubhaneshwar, Thiruvananthapuram and Pondicherry, he said. The launch of the restaurant in Kochi was also in keeping with the company's strategy to scale up from the present 73 restaurants to 100 in India by the end of 2004, he said. Making foray into India in 1996, Pizza Hut opened its first restaurant in Bangalore and since then it had captured a dominant and significant share of the pizza market and had registered an impressive growth rate of 50 per cent per annum, Kohli said. Pizza Hut's ability to feel the pulse of the Indian customer had played a dominant role in helping the pizza chain achieve success, he said. Pizza Hut, with 48 per cent of the Indian pizza market, is one of the flagship brands of Yum! Brands Inc, which also has KFC, Taco Bell, A & W and Long John Silver's under its umbrella. Pizza Hut is the world's largest pizza chain with over 12,500 restaurants across 91 countries.
No Kerala chicken for Iraq :
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
: Kerala has decided against sending chicken to Iraq after reports of inhuman treatment being meted out to expatriate workers in US military camps there. This means the state-owned Meat Products of India (MPI) will not be able to export chicken products from Kerala to Iraq. A leading Iraqi trader had visited the Meat Products of India factory at Koothattukulam near Kochi some time ago and expressed interest in buying chicken from the state. He had come to India looking for meat supplies after it was found that avian flu had spread to the Asian countries from where Iraq used to source its meat products. A.S. Das, former managing director of MPI, who held discussions with the Iraqi trader, said all arrangements had been made for the export of chicken from Kerala. "We began our preliminary work and even designed the packaging, but after reports of Keralites being ill-treated in US military camps in Iraq, Agricultural Minister K.R. Gowriamma decided to shelve the export," said Das. Kerala has a strong presence in the poultry meat market, having improved its production from 28,000 tonnes to more than 50,000 tonnes in the past decade. The state had earlier said no to a request from the union home ministry to train Iraqi policemen at its police academy. It also turned down a request to send its police officials to Iraq to train policemen there.
Kerala protests tax on NRI deposits
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly, led by Chief Minister A K Antony, on Friday criticised Centre's move to impose tax on interest earned from foreign currency accounts of non-resident Indians (NRIs). Presenting the Budget for 2004-05 in Parliament, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said that interest earned from a Non-Resident (External) account and interest paid by banks to a non-resident or to a not-ordinarily resident on deposits in foreign currency would not be exempt from tax. "Even though the Budget by and large is fine, the decision to impose tax on these accounts would really hurt the large number of Keralites, who regularly deposit money in Indian banks," Antony told the state Assembly. "This is a wrong decision and I would take up this issue with all concerned and demand that there is a roll back." Kutty Ahmed Kutty of the Indian Union Muslim League raised the issue in the Assembly. Both the treasury and Opposition benches welcomed Antony's statement on the issue. Reacting to the new tax on NRI deposits, K P Padmakumar, chairman of Federal Bank, said that the move had come as a shock to the non-residents, especially those in the Middle East. "This is going to affect not only the non-residents but also the banks," he added. The total non-resident deposits in Kerala banks during the last fiscal touched an all-time high of Rs 3,010 crore, up from Rs 2,869.6 crore logged in the year 2002-03. Kerala has close to 1.6 million non-resident Keralites who, for more than two decades, have been consistently propping the state economy through remittances.
Kerala CM intervenes for school admission for HIV kids
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony on Tuesday asked the Director of Public Instruction to direct the authorities of a primary school in Kottiyur in Kannur district to admit two siblings who were denied entry to the school on the ground that they were suffering from AIDS. The Chief Minister issued the instructions to the official after the matter was brought to his notice by North Wayanad MLA Radha Ragavan, sources in Chief Minister's office said. The two siblings were not allowed to study in the school after some parents objected to their admission. The children's father was suspected to have died after he tested HIV positive. The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs 25,000 to the children's mother for their treatment and educational expenses.
Centres urged to start an IIT in Kerala
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly on Friday asked the Centre to take steps to establish an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kerala. A resolution moved by E T Mohammed Basheer (IUML) demanding the setting up of an IIT in Kerala was unanimously adopted by the House. Information Minister M M Hassan said that the demand had been included in the memorandum submitted to the Centre last month. The recently held MPs' conference also had decided to pressurise the Centre for starting up an IIT in Kerala. Education Minister Nalakath Sooppy said that the Centre had approved the proposal in principle during the meeting between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister A K Antony in New Delhi recently
Anwar Ali
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Mohanlal is all set to become Anwar Ali, the name of his new film. Mohanlal is going to be acting in a new film named 'Anwar Ali'. The film is being produced by Aroma Mani. This is Aroma Mani's next film after the massively successful 'Balettan'. 'Anwar Ali' brings back the 'Balettan' team of VM Vinu and DA Shahid, Mohanlal and the producer Aroma Mani. The rest of the star cast hasn't been decided yet. The film's shooting begins at the end of this month. Aroma Mani is busy awaiting the release of his new Tamil film 'Gomathinayakam' which has popular TV star in the leading role. Even the film is named after a very popular TV character. Make money in Malayalam and experiment in Tamil.
"My stand was right"- Sibi Malayil
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Sibi Malayil, the new Chairman of MACTA gave a 'thank-you' speech soon after assuming charge. "I had hurt many. More than this, I was hurt by many. I didn't do anything wrong and I still don't understand why some of my own colleagues falsely accused me of doing all those things. If my biggest crime was the fact that I had raised my voice for the upliftment of the film technicians, then I'm ready to do that crime again and again. "My victory in the election proves that the decisions that I had made as the General Secretary and the stand that I had taken were right. Otherwise, you wouldn't have elected the members who had belonged to that panel again. "It has been more than a week now since I had eaten anything. I had surrendered my body and soul to the Lord before I began contesting the elections. My only prayer to Him was, 'If I had done the right thing, let my panel members be elected again.'" Condolence meetings were also held to mourn the passing away of well known director AD Abu.
Aparichitan, Mayilattam, Agninakshatram and more
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
In spite of the stalemate in the industry, a whole bunch of films are ready to be released. The AMMA-KFC clash had ended but that was not going to be it. Soon came the strike by the Film Distributors Association. By the time a concrete decision is made, another new problem would arise- the Onam wait. All new films' releases would be postponed again. Still, a whole lot of new films are ready to be released. The most important one of course is Mammooty's 'Aparichitan' starring four other heroines. Also on the list are Jayaram's 'Mayilattam', Suresh Gopi's 'Agninakshatram', 'Masanagudi Mannadiar' and Kalabhavan Mani starrer 'Kathayilae Rajakumaran'. The release of the new Malayalam films depends on the good mood of the distributors right now. The only new release in recent times were the Hindi films 'Lakshya' starring Amitabh Bachchan and Hritik Roshan and the controversial 'Girlfriend'.
‘Perazagan’ reaches Kerala
Saturday, July 10, 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.
6 releases in Malayalam Cinema
Saturday, July 10, 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
Trains on Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram section cancelled
Saturday, July 10, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following a landslip near Palliyadi station in the Nagercoil- Thiruvananthapuram section, Southern Railway today announced a partial cancellation of trains running on this section. Among the trains cancelled between Nagarcoil and Thiruvananthapuram for today are the Chennai Egmore- Thiruvananthapuram Central Ananthapuri Express. Mumbai CST-Kanyakumari Express and Nagarcoil-Thiruvananthapuram Passenger. Kanniyakumari- Jammu Tawi Himsagar Express, scheduled to leave Kanniyakumari at 1255 hrs had been rescheduled to leave at 1530 hrs subject to the restoration of the traffic in the Nagercoil-Thirvananthapuram section, it said.
Go down catches fire in Alleppey
Saturday, July 10, 2004
ALLEPPEY: Shangrila Agency's go-down near Irimbupalam which stored consumer articles of a multi-national company was destroyed in fire today. In the fire a double storied house with ten rooms was fully gutted in fire. The loss is estimated at 35 lakhs. The fire is said to have been caused by the electronic meter. Four days back also, fire had come from the meter. The fire started at 2.30 am. The fire force could quell the flames only by 6 am.
Boben Kunchacko is dead
Saturday, July 10, 2004
ALAPPUZHA: Boben Kunchacko (55), father of film star Kunchacko Boben and son of the late Kunchacko, director and producer of several Malayalam films of yester year, died at his residence near Dutch Square in the town on Friday. Anu Isaac and Minu Isaac are his daughters and Moly Boben his wife. Deepu, an engineer, is his son-in-law. The late Annamma was his mother. According to family sources, his end came during the nap after lunch.Æ He would be laid to rest at Mount Carmel Cathedral here, but the time of funeral has not been decided. Boben Kunchacko's only son Kunchacko Boben, who was at the location of his new film 'Junior-Senior' in Kochi reached here in the evening hearing of the death of his father. Boben had made his presence felt on the silver screen as a child artiste, and his roles in old hits like 'Bharya, Unniyarcha, Kadalamma and Durga' are still being discussed by lovers of old Malayalam movies. 'Palattukunhikannan' and 'Aazhi' were his directorial ventures. He has produced a couple of films. Boben Kunchako, who inherited Udaya, one of the early production units in the Malayalam film industry following the death of his father in the seventies, withdrew totally from the film industry when the films he made bombed at the box office. Finally, he had to dispose of the Udaya Studio Complex at Pathirappally near here. Since then he had been leading a secluded life.
Cinema to be declared an industry: Hassan
Saturday, July 10, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Information Minister M M Hassan promised a new film policy wherein Cinema sector would be declared an industry. He was making a statement in the state Assembly today. Poiniting out that the impasse faced by the film industry is mainly due to high entertainment tax , Hassan stated that the government is willing to reduce the entertainment tax. Hassan said that cells would be opened in all districts to prevent the films' pirated CD's from circulating.
Assembly criticises Air-India, Indian Airlines
Saturday, July 10, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The high airfares charged on Middle East routes by national carriers Air-India and Indian Airlines came in for scathing criticism in the Kerala assembly on Friday. The assembly passed a resolution demanding that these airlines reduce airfares on Middle East routes with immediate effect. The resolution, which also asked the centre to immediately intervene in the matter, was moved by Congress legislator T.N. Prathapan. "It is rather sad to note that this exploitation has been going on for the past nearly two decades," said Prathapan. "If one looks at the fares being charged by these two carriers in comparison with other airlines operating to nations like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they are very high." He said the flying time from Sharjah to Beirut and Sharjah to Kochi was the same, but the fares charged by Air-India were much higher. "In rupee terms, a return ticket to Beirut costs Rs.7,292 while to Kochi it is Rs.22,300. Isn't that exploitation? "And it is being done to a section of people (non-resident Keralites) who for long have been the backbone of the Kerala economy. Every year close to Rs.240 billion comes into the Kerala economy by way of annual remittances." Reacting to requests from legislators belonging to the treasury as well as opposition benches, Chief minister A.K. Antony said the issue would be taken up again with the centre. "We will do our best till they mend their ways and reduce the fares," said Antony. Close to 1.6 million Keralites work abroad, of whom more than 90 percent are in the Middle East. Most of them have raised this issue several times but the centre has turned a blind eye to a reduction of airfares. Non-resident Keralite's Affairs Minister M.M. Hassan, however, had some good news to give Friday. He said a long standing demand from the state would be met, with a top Air-India official assuring him that from 2005, it would begin operating budget airlines to select destinations in the Middle East.
Assembly opposes move to tax NRI deposits
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram , July 9 THE State Assembly has made known its collective dissent against the Union Finance Minister's move to tax, from September this year, interest earned on foreign currency accounts maintained by expatriate Indians. The House on Friday urged the Centre to withdraw the newly introduced levy. Airing the concern, the Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, said he would convey the sentiments in this regard to the Centre. The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, had said in his Budget speech that he proposed to withdraw "a few exemptions which have outlived their utility". Hence, from September 1 onwards, interest earned from a Non-Resident (External) Account and interest paid by banks to a Non-Resident or to a Not-Ordinarily Resident on deposits in foreign currency would not be exempt from tax. This, the Chief Minister said, would adversely affect the interests of the State whose economy depended NRI remittances for sustenance. He would take up the issue with both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Airfares to Gulf: The House also passed a resolution expressing strong resentment against the prohibitively high air fair regime prevailing in the Gulf sector. Both the Indian Airlines and Air India were taken to ask for their non-accommodative stance even after the State Government had volunteered to reduce sales tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF). Replying to discussion on a motion moved by a member, the Non-Resident Affairs Minister, Mr M.M. Hassan, said the Air India Board had agreed in principle to introduce `budget airlines'. According to information available, the international carrier would be able to launch the service only by March next. Cinema as industry: The State Government was weighing the option of reducing entertainment tax and declaring cinema as an industry, according to Mr M.M. Hassan, who is also Minister for Information and Parliamentary Affairs. Entertainment has been a contentious issue that has pitted the cinema sector on one side and the Government on the other. A committee that studied the problems of the film sector had recommended reduction in entertainment tax from the prevailing 48 per cent. A Cabinet sub-committee on cinema was examining the report. The committee has suggested reduction of the tax, which alone would save the sector from being blanked out. Its views on the issue would be put before the Cabinet for arriving at a final decision. As for the demand for revision of electricity tariff, the Film Chamber had been told to approach the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Minister added. NH-47 to be four-laned: The Public Works Minister, Dr M.K. Muneer, said that the Cherthala-Thiruvananthapuram stretch of the National Highway-47 would be converted to four-lane traffic. The feasibility study had commenced and negotiations were on with the Bank of Japan for funds for the project, he added. The Aluva-Walayar stretch in the northern stretch of the same highway would also be converted to hold four-lane traffic. Land acquisition procedures for converting the Thiruvananthapuram-Kaliyik- kavilai on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border had commenced. Keltron Counters: The Defence Ministry has been approached with a request to take over the ailing public sector unit, Keltron Counters, at Kazhakkoottam here. Announcing this, the Industries Minister, Mr P.K. Kunhalikkutty, told the House that the company had been manufacturing defence - related equipment, but hit on loss-making streak. It had to be referred to the BIFR, which, in turn, recommended its closure.
Kerala signs MoU for Alappuzha marina
Saturday, July 10, 2004
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mumbai-based Environmental and Consulting Pvt Ltd for setting up a Rs 300-crore marina and recreation harbour at Alappuzha. Mr J. Sudhakaran, The Secretary, Cooperation and Ports, signed the MoU on behalf of the State Government, while Mr Ray Divakar, Director, represented Environmental Consulting at the special ceremony held at the Chief Minister's resting room in the Assembly Complex. The Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, and the Minister for Port and Co-operation, Mr M.V. Raghavan, were present on the occasion. A detailed project report is expected to be made available in six months, an official spokesman said.
NRI interest income in India is taxed
Friday, July 9, 2004
PTI DUBAI: NRI business community and organisations in the Gulf on Thursday expressed disappointment that NRI interest income in India was being taxed. "The budget is growth-oriented and will help lower poverty because of its thrust on agriculture and rural development, but the move to tax NRI interest income was a blow to overseas Indians," Ismail Hukkawalah, president, Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), said. "The move will not only plug flow of funds from abroad to India but NRIs may also move their funds out of India," he said. "Of course because of the strong foreign exchange position, the government may not mind that now, but for NRIs who have stood by their country in the hour of crisis, it is a major blow," he added. Syed Khalil, a prominent businessman, said that overall the budget inspired confidence which was also reflected in the stock market. He said that the budget had paid attention to rural areas, backward states and also agriculture, which was long overdue. Other NRI businessmen echoed similar sentiments. Ram Buxani, a leading member of the Indian business community who was away in Singapore to attend a seminar, hoped the government would not go ahead with the move to tax the NRIs, but lauded the Finance Minister for focussing on the rural sector and education. Buxani said that the new cess on corporates, which would be used for education, would help eradicate illiteracy from the country. Kamal Vachani, director, Al Maya Group, who is also the regional representative of the Electronic and Software Council, welcomed the full excise exemption on computers. But he also felt that the move to tax NRI deposits would discourage flow of NRI funds to India. K V Shamsudheen, director, Barjeel Securities, and chairman Pravasi Bandhu, an NRI organisation, said that the proposal to continue to exempt equity-related mutual fund from dividend tax would be healthy for the stock market. He said that the provision for drinking water, education and healthcare for the poor, allocation of Rs 30,000 crore for water-related projects and aid to SC/ST farmers to start a massive nationwide water-harvesting scheme would all have a salubrious effect on poverty eradication, which was essential for the emergence of a strong nation. However, he, too, felt that the NRIs should not have been taxed as they had always extended their support during forex crises.
Jayalalithaa worships at Guruvayur
Thursday, July 8, 2004
Guruvayur: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa revisited the Lord Sri Krishna temple here on Wednesday after a gap of three years and spent half-an-hour worshipping Lord Krishna, the presiding deity. Accompanied by her personal assistant Sasikala, she reached the shrine around 10.00 a.m. and later returned to Kochi by helicopter on her way back to Chennai. Donning a light green saree, Jayalalithaa also found time to spend a few minutes with the 12 year-old tusker "Krishna" she had offered to the temple during her last visit in July 2001, feeding it with bunches of plantain fruits. She also expressed satisfaction over the sound physique of the elephant and told the Guruvayur Devaswom officials standing by the side of the elephant that " he has grown up" in three years. Krishna is among the 62 other elephants, five of them she elephants, in the custody of the Guruvayur Devaswom, all offered to Lord Sri Krishna by devotees from time to time. The elephant had been brought inside the temple, on Jayalalithaa's request, to enable her to see it. At the temple, she had made offerings of Rs 10,000 worth of "palpayasam" (a sweet preparartion in milk), "Neyvilakku"(lighting of lamps with ghee) around the sanctum Sanctorum costing Rs 1,500, "undamala" (flower garland) and "Thirumudi mala"(garland to be worn around the lord's hair) costing Rs 25 and Rs 10 respectively. Coming out of the temple at 10.30 a.m., she told waiting mediapersons that she was on a personal visit to the shrine. Asked about her reaction to the Railway budget, she said she had already given her reaction at Chennai on Tuesday and declined to elaborate further. Security had been tightened in and around the temple in connection with Jayalalthaa's visit with special securitymen and women of the Tamil Nadu police taking up positions even inside the temple. Devotees were kept off the entrance in enclosures and under rope fencing for the entire half-an-hour period and the steel railings erected at the entrance were removed for the Chief Minister to enter the shrine without hindrance.
Kerala MPs meet PM, demand Rs 1,000 crore package
Thursday, July 8, 2004
New Delhi, July 7 A delegation of Kerala MPs, led by Mr M P Veerendrakumar, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and demanded a special package of Rs 1,000 crore to farmers of Northern Wayanad to save the farming community from a severe financial crisis. In a memorandum, the delegation pointed out to the Prime Minister that farmers of-Wayanad, a tiny hill district is famous for its spices and coffee plantations, was in the grip of acute financial crisis and some 94 farmers had committed suicide during the last three years. Mr Veerendrakumar told reporters the delegation requested the Prime Minister to write off the debts of the farmers and include the special package in the Union Budget, provide them long term interest-free agricutlure loans and also minimum support prize for their products. He said thousands of people, including women, were migrating to neighbouring districts in search of livelihood as they have become victims of the crisis in the agricultural sector. This, he said, was despite the district had earned the country foreign exchange worth Rs 4,192 crore through export of coffee alone. The memorandum, among other things, demanded imposition of adequate tax on imports to protect the prices of agricultural produces, provide one acre free land to all landless adivasi families, two years of free rationing to all poor families and allocate a major public sector institution with high employment. The delgation included Mr A Vijayaraghavan and Mr P V Abdullkutty.
Kerala plans world-class seaport with NRI help
Thursday, July 8, 2004
Indo-Asian News Service After the country's first privately funded international airport at Kerala's coastal town of Kochi in 1999, efforts are now on to build a world class seaport with help from cash-rich non-resident Keralites (NRKs). State minister M.V. Raghavan is working overtime to ensure that the port at Vizhinjam, near the famous Kovalam beach just outside this state capital, becomes a reality. He recently went on a tour of South Africa, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Malta inviting companies to build the port under a build operate transfer basis. "I have asked companies who showed interest in my proposal to come here for discussions. Some companies have been invited for talks later this month," the minister said. Even if nothing comes out of the talks, the government would float a company with NRKs and go ahead with building the port, he said. To be built at a cost of Rs. 45 billion (about $1 billion), with the first phase costing Rs. 15 billion, the Vizhinjam port would be built over an area of 150 acres. The government has given an assurance that local fishing population would not be displaced. Unlike most other ports in the country, the one at Vizhinjam would require no dredging at all. More important, it lies close to the international waters and would put India on a busy trade route. "When complete, this would become the gateway port of our country. As of now, big ships do not berth in any of our ports and move on to Colombo, Singapore and Dubai. The cargo is then transferred to smaller ships that bring it into the country. When Vizhinjam is ready, there would be no trans-shipment," said Raghavan.
Rail budget below expectations for Kerala: CM
Thursday, July 8, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said though the Union Railway Budget was "good in general", it was "below expectations" as far as Kerala was concerned. Speaking on a submission by K C Venugopal (Cong) in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the budget had not considered the railway requirements of the state. State Transport Minister R Balakrishna Pillai would meet Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and again present the state's case, he said. "Our effort would be to persuade Union Railway Minister to make necessary announcements for Kerala during the discussion on the Railway Budget in Parliament," Antony said. Venugopal said the budget had "neglected" the state in alloting funds for doubling of lines, electrification and new trains.
Special team to investigate murder: CM
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 07 - Chief Minister A K Antony told the state Assembly that a special team of the police had been entrusted with the investigation of the murder of a male servant and theft of artificial jem stones, worth Rs one lakh from a house at Manacaud in the city last night. Replying to a notice for an adjournment motion, sought to be moved by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (CPI-M), he said finger print experts had also joined the investigation and the culprits would be brought to book as early as possible. The victim, identified as Shamsuddin (55) from Kayalpattanam in Tamil Nadu, was working as cook in the house Syed Ibrahim, an artefact manufacturer. Shamsuddin was found dead with his mouth gagged and limbs bound with plastic tape. The Chief Minister said the police would investigate whether any inter-state gang was involved in the crime. He said police vigil had been strengthened and night patrolling introduced in all parts of the state to check crimes. Deputy Speaker N Sundaran Nair disallowed the motion after the chief minister's reply. Seeking leave for the motion, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan held police inaction responsible for the spurt in crimes in the state. As many as 637 robberies had taken place in the capital city alone during the past one year, he said.
Mammotty in Supergoods Tamil film
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
After Anandam, Mammootty is once again acting in Supergoods Tamil film. Parthipan also has an important role in the film. This is for the first time that both Mammootty and Parthipan are acting together. The shooting of the film which will be scripted and directed by Gowthaman is said to begin soon. At the same time, the shooting of Renjith's film with Mammootty and produced by Lal creations |
