Veerappan's wife claims her husband was poisoned Tuesday, January 31, 2006 | Nayan
Muthulakshmi, wife of the slain brigand Veerappan, has approached the Madras High Court with a claim that her husband and his associates were poisoned to death by Special Task Force personnel. Claiming that one Subramani of Kathiripatti, near Mettur, had mixed cyanide in buttermilk, she said the "treachery" became public after Mr. Subramani confessed to an astrologer that he had done it at the behest of the STF. She said the STF had filed false affidavit in court and made "highly questionable" claims that Veerappan had been killed in an encounter. Maintaining that some people who had participated in the conspiracy were ready to narrate the truth, she wanted the court to order protection to them by a Central Government agency. She prayed for departmental and criminal proceedings against the STF personnel and the doctors, besides revocation of awards and promotions given to them in recognition of their achievement.
Kushboo filed complaint against magazine Tuesday, January 31, 2006 | Nayan
Actress Kushboo filed a complaint with Greater Chennai Police Commissioner R. Nataraj, seeking action against a magazine which carried a picture of her face superimposed on someone else's body. Ms. Kushboo said she was planning to file a defamation case against the publisher.
Autograph hunters for Nayanatara Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
Nayantara is so busy that she has no time to see her Telugu hit, Lakshmi. And guess what she did? She had the film cans brought to Chennai and saw the movie at a preview theatre. She too is a professional when it comes to acting. She doesn’t use the company car for transportation. She has brought her own car from Kerala. Earlier she was staying at Park Hotel near the Gemini flyover but, now she has moved to another hotel in T. Nagar, Chennai. This hotel is a frequent joint for Andhra political VIPs. A group of VIPs recently spotted the diva in the lounge and cried instantly in a chorus Jai Nayantara ji. Some even sought her autograph. Nayanatara in Kamal's film: Nayanatara is the second heroine in Kamal Haasan’s Vettayadu Vilayadu, a bilingual in Tamil and Telugu. Starting with Sarath Kumar and then shifting to Rajinikanth, she is now acting in a Kamal film and has Jothika for company. After Chandramukhi, both the girls are great friends. Kamal plays a dual role in the film directed by Gautham Menon.The film is produced by Roja Combines and has cinematography by Jeeva and music by Harris Jayaraj. Everyone is amazed at the rapid speed at which Nayanatara’s career is growing. Nayanatara has a film with director- hero S J Suryah, Surya, Jeeva and Simbhu too.
Direct negotiations required to resolve Siachen dispute; V.R.Raghavan Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
Negotiations at the highest political level and a pullout of troops without prejudice to the position of both countries and an understanding that neither side would occupy the region again could end the Siachen dispute between India and Pakistan, said president of the Centre for Security Analysis Lieutenant-General (retd.) V.R. Raghavan. Addressing a gathering on 'Siachen: Myth and Reality'at Chennai, Mr. Raghavan said. Only political will at the highest level, and not just military pullback, can ensure a lasting solution to the problem, he said.Ruling out the possibility of India pulling out from the Siachen region unilaterally and Pakistan occupying the glacier, the retired Lieutenant-General said, "There is no military danger. No self-respecting sovereign nation can allow such a thing."
Travel Agents will be one-stop shop for best travel deals Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
If the Travel Agents Association of India has its way, their members would soon move from being mere ticket providers to "consultants," offering a slew of services for the customer. At the managing committee meeting of TAAI held in Chennai, the team decided to facilitate the shift from being travel agents to travel consultants. " Until now, 90 per cent of our total earnings came from booking tickets. We want to reduce that to about 30-40 per cent and do other things for the benefit of the customer," TAAI president Ashwini Kakkar said. Among other services, agents will now be encouraged to offer customers insurance packages, hotel and taxi bookings, Mr. Kakkar added. The agent, will therefore, be a one-stop shop for the best deals for travel and tourism. Currently only 10 per cent of the 11,000 members of the TAAI were doing this, he added.
Paramasivan has proved to be a success: Ajith Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
Film Star Ajith's Paramasivan is doing well at all centres and running to packed houses. He thanked the audiences who have responded so strongly and spontaneously: "Paramasivan has proved to be a success because I was calm throughout during the shooting, and was able to deliver my best efforts. I hope to continue like this in future also and maintain my inner harmony, without speaking ill about anybody. Right from my first movie Amaravathi to Paramasivan, I have taken all roles seriously, chosen scripts carefully, and have tried my very best to meet the wishes of fans. I prefer to act in life like drama and sentiment movies rather than action movies. I signed every movie with the hope of each movie becoming a success, but this has not always happened, there have been many disappointing flops which I did not expect. But I have always bounced back with full confidence and vigour to star in the next movie in a professional manner, hoping this will be more successful. I am happy to give what my fans expect from me, and I request and pray that I continue to have their love and adulation. I acknowledge the assistance given by my team members, manager Suresh Chandra and PRO V.K. Sundar."
Actor Pandirajan Re-entry as director Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
Do you remember Actor Pandirajan... He starred in Aanpavam. Pandirajan has made his re-entry as a director in the film Kai Vantha Kalai. He introduces his son Prithivirajan as the hero in this film. Prithivirajan is right now a eleventh standard student. But he is pretty confident of meeting his father’s expectations. Pandiarajan himself looks after the story, screenplay, dialogues and direction. This film comes under the banner of G.V films. Pandiarajan is very confident that this film will make his son’s cinema career.
Chennai theatres packed with Aamir Khan's "Rang De Basanti" Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
Everyone wants to see an Aamir Khan movie. Because they’re sure to find something amazing in each of his movies. Chennai is Aamir’s stronghold. And it looked like everyone WAS there to see Rang De Basanti, with all cinema halls running packed. Only difference is, it isn’t just an Aamir Khan movie; it’s an Aamir Khan plus a whole bunch of talented actors with powerful roles type of movie. Rang De Basanti: Rang De Basanti is a beautiful blend of a gamut of emotions and stories and inspiration. It’s a story of the re-awakening of youth today; of how a group of young men with not a care in the world learnt from the life of 4 dynamic Indian revolutionaries during the British Raj – Bhagath Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ashfakulla and Ramprasad Bismil. Cast:Alice Patten, Soha Ali Khan Pataudi, Aamir Khan, Sidharth, Atul Kulkarni, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Om Puri, Anupam Kher, Kiron Kher etc., Producer: Ronnie Screwvala for UTV Music: A.R. Rahman Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Photography: Binod Pradhan Story : Kamlesh Pandey Lyrics/ Dialogue: Prasoon Joshi
Pancharatna kritis rendered by V.L.Sudharshan Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
The Pancharatna kritis of Purandhara Dasa, the five selected kritis of the saint composer, were rendered by V.L. Sudharshan and his team of musicians at the Kannada Sangha hall at Chennai. Similar to the Pancharatna kritis of the saint composer Thyagaraja, these kiritis were set in the order of ragas Nattai, Gaula, Arabi, Varali and Sri ragam. Though the Sahityas were rendered by Purandhara Dasar, considered Pithamha of Carnatic music, who lived in (1484- 1564), they were set in these ragas in Adhi tala similar to Thyagarajar's compositions by Mr.V.L.Sudharshan, violinst and reader in the Annamalai University.
TNCC President G.K.Vasan in Cabinet Sunday, January 29, 2006 | Nayan
President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and son of late G K Moopanar, G K Vasan today inducted along with six others into the Union Cabinet as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, undertook a major expansion of portfolios.G K Vasan achieved what his father could not by becoming a Minister at the Centre. Vasan was a greenhorn in Tamil Maanila Congress, which he had formed in 1996 against Congress alliance with the AIADMK. The 42-year-old Vasan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu after his party merged with the Congress. Appointed as the Working President of the state unit of the party first, he later made it to the Upper House. Vasan is said to have helped his father when Tamil Manila Congress was formed.
Documentary film: The Time After Tsunami Friday, January 27, 2006 | Nayan
After the initial hullabaloo, nothing has changed much for the tsunami affected. Although the tsunami relief efforts received extensive coverage in the media in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, not much was really said about the dismal state of rehabilitation efforts in India.K.P. Sasi's The Time After Tsunami, a 38-minute documentary produced by Visual Search and Actionaid India in association with Voices from the Margins, seeks to set the record straight. The documentary is largely based on the testimonials and findings gathered by the People's Tribunal on Post Tsunami Challenges and Responses, which included eminent persons such as retired Justices H. Suresh (former judge of the Mumbai High Court) and D. Sreedevi (former judge of the Kerala High Court), former Chairperson, National Women's Commission Dr. V. Mohini Giri and Dr. Gopal Guru (professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University) and was assisted by a 13-member expert panel. Irrespective of this minor failing, however, K.P. Sasi's The Time After Tsunami is an excellent film, beginning where the mainstream media and the interest of the nation left off.
Madurai Kamaraj Univesity plans centers in Sharjah, Melbourne and America Friday, January 27, 2006 | Nayan
After getting the Potential for Excellence recognition from the University Grants Commission, Madurai Kamaraj University is considering opening its distance education study centres in Sharjah, Melbourne and a few places in America. The possibility of opening a centre in Melbourne would be explored during the Vice-Chancellor's visit to Australia in April to attend the Commonwealth Universities Vice-Chancellors' conference. "We are now seeing a visible difference to our brand image. Owing to the UGC's recognition, there are many requests from outside the country. However, the university will be careful," Dr. Maruthamuthu said.
MDMK Vaiko meets Karunanidhi Friday, January 27, 2006 | Nayan
MDMK general secretary Vaiko called on the DMK president M.Karunanidhi at his residence at Chennaiin the backdrop of reports of fissures in the Democratic Progressive Alliance. Mr.Vaiko's comparison of his party to an "O" positive donor forced the head of the seven- party DPA, Mr.Karunanidhi, to seek a clarification from the MDMK leader. "I asked him about it," Mr.Karunanidhi told with media , when he was asked about the meeting. Mr.Vaiko explained that he has been using the universal donor analogy for "at least two-three years," Mr.Karunanidhi said.
Kamal Hasan action is superb: Hollywood actor Thursday, January 26, 2006 | Nayan
Lev Gorn is a specialist in weapons training, martial arts, boxing and horsemanship. He can play tennis, soccer and he is a professional photographer. For him this is his first Indian film outside Hollywood. He has worked with the likes of Robert De Niro in "The Good Shepherd". He has also worked in more than eight feature films before being selected to do an important role in the Seventh Channel Productions' "Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu" directed by Goutham Menon. "I was asked to come and see the representative of the Tamil film to be shot in New York. Only later I came to know I was to work with Kamal Hassan. After working with him for nearly 30 days in the U.S., I came to know that he is much loved in Tamil film industry but also a superb actor. Now I can assert, he is on a par with any international star. He even discussed on how I can do certain stunts without getting hurt." In `V.V', Kamal Hassan dons the role of an Indian investigating officer who comes to the U.S in search of a murderer. He gets help from the local police force and Lev Gorn is deputed to help Kamal Hassan.
Cable TV Bill was tabled at Assembly Tuesday, January 24, 2006 | Nayan
An amendment to the Bill introduced to take over the administration of the cable television network was tabled in the Assembly. According to the sources the amendment makes it clear that the provisions of the Bill were not discriminatory and that the State was well within its powers to act.The amendment enlarges the scope of the Bill to take over cable TV distribution operations in Salem (Polymer), Coimbatore (SCV, Thamizh Thai), Madurai (SCV, Jai, People's Cable Network), Tiruchi (SCV) and Tirunelveli (Karan) apart from those in Chennai (SCV, Hathway, Baba). There is also an amendment to the statement of objects and reasons: "The pith and substance of this legislation is acquisition which falls in Item 42 List — III of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution in addition to the other related powers."
UPA willl make Tamil as official language: Karunanidhi Tuesday, January 24, 2006 | Nayan
DMK president M.Karunanidhi has said that DMK had been making the demand for giving Tamil the official language status for many years and it had adopted a resolution in this connection in its Tiruchi conference. He also traced the history of party's struggle against the imposition of Hindi and saluted those who had sacrificed their lives in the struggle.He also said that he was confident that the official language review committee, included in the common minimum programme of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre, would be set up soon and its first recommendation would be making Tamil as an official language. Mr.Karunanidhi said that he was also for making all national languages in the country as official languages.
Asin's Success Saturday, January 7, 2006 | AA
2005 was a great year for Asin as she shot up to the top position in Tamil filmdom with films opposite all the main Heros of Tamilnadu. She received many awards including all majour TV awards of Tamilnadu. She is a receipient of the best actress award for the year 2005 by the Tamilnadu Cinema Kalai Mandram, Untited Artist award for best actress and Jaya TV best actress 2005 gold medal. She also received the Young Acheiver Award given by Vijay TV and the Bharath Cine Awards for best actress.
Raj Bhavan is now online Saturday, January 7, 2006 | AA
Raj Bhavan, the Governor's office of Tamilnadu is online now at www.tnrajbhavan.gov.in The Tamilnadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala launched the website on 3rd January. The site contain information about the history of Raj Bhavan, photo gallery related to Raj Bhavan, information about past governors and also the listing of events at the Governor's residence
Jaya criticises Minister for blocking desalination plant Thursday, January 5, 2006 | AA
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today charged Union Environment and Forests Minister A Raja with ''surreptitiously blocking'' the 100 MLD desalination plant proposed by her government to find a permanent solution to the drinking water problem in Chennai city.
