Category Archives: Arts,Culture & Entertainment

Film to showcase panchayat’s past glory

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

Kochi :

Rayamangalam, one of the earliest panchayats in the district, has embarked on an innovative mission to teach its Generation Next – the history and culture of the village. And it is doing it the digital way.

The home to famous sons-of-soil like Kerala’s ninth chief minister P K Vasudevan Nair, noted communist P Govinda Pillai, and Dr D Babu Paul, former IAS officer and writer, Rayamangalam panchayat is proposing to make a documentary film, ‘My Village’, at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh.

The panchayat has decided to produce a 45-minute documentary to shed light on the historical and cultural significance of the village as many of its younger generation are ignorant of its past glory and the famous personalities who lived there,” said K K Mathukunju, panchayat president.

Rayamangalam, situated in Kunnathunadu taluk, was the first village to be declared the total pension panchayat in the state.

“The Kuruppampady market in our village was once famous for lemon grass oil for its quality and hill produce. But with passing of time and people switching over to other farming activities, it lagged behind other markets. The Lemon Grass Oil and General Marketing Co-Operative Society Ltd is the only society in the state for the development of lemon grass oil,” Mathukunju said.

The panchayat has invited tenders for producing the film. The 1,600-year-old St Mary’s cathedral in Kuruppampady, Koottumadam temple, Kallil temple which is a Jain temple will be featured big time in the film. One of the attractions is a rock statue of a woman, Velathipara – which is being protected in the regional poultry farm.

The controversial plywood factories and the pollution caused by them will also be highlighted. There are 95 plywood factories, 12 crusher units and around 100 wood factories functioning in the panchayat, says Mathukunju.

Well-known ancestral homes in the village, how they came into existence and interesting anecdotes of former panchayat presidents will also be featured in the documentary.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / by T C Sreemol, TNN / July 06th, 2014

Proposal for country’s first elephant hospital in Kerala

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar. File photo
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar. File photo

Thrissur:

Groups of elephant lovers have submitted a proposal to the central government to set up the country’s first elephant hospital and a diagnostic laboratory here.

The proposal was submitted this month to Minister of Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar when he visited the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor near here.

Elephant veterinarian Jacob Cheeran said that such a hospital would be the first of its kind in the country. He said the medical facility was necessary as the majority of the over 500 captive elephants in Kerala will soon be over 50 years of age.

“The proposal suggests a treatment facility for 10 elephants at a time which is required to treat elephants affected by chronic diseases like foot rot and so on.” Cheeran said.

“The diagnostic laboratory is to support the field veterinarians in early diagnosis of specific diseases like tuberculosis and infections in elephants,” he added.

Temple authorities in Thiruvambady, Paramekkavu and Guruvayoor and the Kerala State Elephant Owners Multipurpose Cooperative Society joined hands to support the proposal.

The proposal also suggests that both the hospital and the laboratory should be located on a five acre plot of land at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus at Mannuthy near here.

Thrissur district has the maximum number of captive elephants in Kerala, with the famed Guruvayoor temple alone having 59 elephants.

Cheeran said that in recent years there has been a drastic decline in the number of captive elephants in Kerala due to increased death rate of the elephants and the restrictions in import of captive elephants from the north-eastern states.

The elephant hospital is expected to cost Rs.10 crore including the running costs for three years.

“Even though many field veterinarians are engaged in treating elephants in almost all districts in Kerala, there is no centralised specialist healthcare support,” Cheeran said.

” Since Thrissur is centrally located, transporting sick elephants from any place in the state is also easy,” added Cheeran, who has been to elephant hospitals in Thailand and other parts of the world.

State Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said that they will do their bit to take up the proposal with the central government.

source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / ManoramaOnline / Home> News> Kerala / by The Correspondent / Thursday – July 10th, 2014

Laser Park set for inauguration

Agriculture, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature
The Greater Cochin Development Authority’s Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan to be inaugurated in August.— Photo: Vipin Chandran
The Greater Cochin Development Authority’s Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan to be inaugurated in August.— Photo: Vipin Chandran

Mayor cries unauthorised construction

As the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is all set to inaugurate its laser show project at Rajendra Maidan, the Kochi Corporation has termed it an unauthorised construction.

N. Venugopal, GCDA chairman, said that the project would be inaugurated in the last week of August.

At the same time, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany said that the Kochi Corporation has not issued permission for setting up the Laser Park at Rajendra Maidan.

For any project to be approved by the Kochi Corporation, the project proponent should submit the documents pertaining to the ownership of the land along with the project details. In this case, the GCDA has not produced any documents to prove the ownership of the land, he said. The Authority has not obtained the permission from the Kochi Corporation, he asserted.

At the same time, Mr. Venugopal maintained that the Authority had submitted the documents pertaining to the ownership of the land. The Government had assigned the land to the Authority earlier. The Authority proceeded with the work after the expiry of the mandatory time for clearing the application. The municipal laws say that one can proceed with the work if the local body fails to respond within a specific time, Mr. Venugopal said.

An inspection by the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation had earlier revealed that the Authority was proceeding without the mandatory permission from the local body. Hence, it was a case of unauthorised construction, said a member of the Committee. Meanwhile, the CPI (M) leadership in the Corporation council said that it will fight any move to usurp the public space, especially Rajendra Maidan.

K.N. Sunilkumar, the Parliamentary Party secretary of the CPI (M), said that the party was for protecting the public spaces in the city. The Kochi Mayor had earlier assured the council that all documents pertaining to the project will be placed before the council. Mr. Venugopal maintained that the free access to the site would not be curbed and the laser show will be held only after 8 p.m., the closing time of the park.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>  Cities> Kochi / by  K. S. Sudhi / Kochi – July 11th, 2014

Seven, Including Five-yr-old,Selected for Bravery Awards

Amazing Feats, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan
Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram :

Seven boys, including a five-year-old who rescued his younger sister from drowning and a sixth standard student whose presence of mind saved the life of his ten-month-old brother, have been selected for the bravery awards instituted by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare for the year 2013.

The winners are Muneer Mohammed, 14, of Manippuzha, Kottayam; Shalef Shaji, 9, of Panambukad, Ernakulam; Akhil Biju, 9, Subin Mathew, 10, and Yadukrishnan V S, 13 of Erumeli, Kottayam; Girikrishna, 5, of Kumarakom, Kottayam; and Abhaykrishnan, 11, of Kowdiar in Thiruvananthapuram. Social Justice Minister M K Muneer announced the winners here on Thursday.

Muneer Mohammed won the award for saving the life of Immanuel aka Appu, 72, who was grievously injured in a road accident on the Sabarimala route. When motorists ignored the accident victim, Muneer had run to the middle of the road, waved down a vehicle and rushed Immanuel to hospital. This tenth standard student of St Thomas High School, Erumeli, is the son of Mohammed and Aseena of Venkurinji Keecheri Purayidom, Manippuzha.

Shalef Shaji, a fourth standard student, was selected for the award for saving the life of Alna, the four-year-old daughter of Antony, Panambukad Veliyil, who fell into the backwater while playing with her friends. Shalef had jumped in and holding on to the ropes of a stake net, swum up to Alna and rescued her.

Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan
Abhaykrishnan, Akhil Biju, Girikrishna, Muneer Mohammed, Shalef Shaji, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan

Shalef is a student of the St Joseph’s LP School, Panambukad.

Akhil Biju, Subin Mathew and Yadukrishnan V S saved Kalimuthu, 39, who got trapped in an eddy while bathing in the river.  Ten-year-old Akhil jumped in first, but he couldn’t get a hold on Kalimuthu. Yadu dived in next and they managed to reach the drowning man. Subin threw them a towel, and grabbing it, the boys managed a miraculous rescue. All three are sons of daily-wage labourers.

Akhil is the son of Biju and Lekha of Kannimala Puthuvelil and is a sixth standard student of St James UP School, Kannimala, Erumeli. Subin, who is his schoolmate, is the son of Mathew and Sheeba of Kattupurachakal House, Kannimala.  Yadukrishnan is the younger son of Sasidharan Nair and Sajini of Vattaparmbil House, and is a ninth standard student of St Joseph’s High School, Kannimala. He is also a recipient of the President’s award for bravery in 2013.

Girikrishna, aged 5, won the award for saving his four-year-old sister Gowri from drowning in a canal near their home. Although he could not swim, he jumped in and dragged young Gowri to the bank. Girikrishna is the son of Satheesh and Babitha of Peedikachira, Kumarakom. He is a first standard student of SKM Public School.

Abhaykrishnan of Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram, won the award for saving the life of his ten-month-old brother Adidev.

A huge tree had fallen on to their home in the heavy rain, and their mother, seeing the roof crashing down, tried to shield them with her body. But she collapsed, hit on the head by falling tiles and wood. Abhaykrishnan frantically dragged Adidev and sought cover under a cot.

All three were dragged out of the debris by the neighbours. Abhaykrishnan is the son of Sreenivasan, who is personal assistant to the Chief Secretary, and Sunanda. The award carries Rs 10,000 in cash, a plaque and certificate.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / July 11th, 2014

When Basheer’s women met each other

Arts,Culture & Entertainment
A scene from the solo docudrama ‘Soja Rajakumari,’ featuring 10 female characters from Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s novels, staged at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in the city on Saturday. / Photo:S. Gopakumar / The Hindu
A scene from the solo docudrama ‘Soja Rajakumari,’ featuring 10 female characters from Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s novels, staged at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in the city on Saturday. / Photo:S. Gopakumar / The Hindu

They were all living their sometimes magical, sometimes sad, and, at other times, quirky lives inside the pages of different books.

That was until Saturday evening, when ten of Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s memorable female characters came together at the koothambalam inside Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan to commemorate 20 years of the Beypore Sultan’s passing.

Soja Rajakumari, a solo docudrama directed by P.C. Hareesh, took back viewers to the time when they read each of those classics.

The first to arrive was Sainaba from Mucheetukalikkarante Makal, who engaged the audience in some friendly banter, at times touching upon even the rising prices.

The drama was so structured that the audience was very much a part all through, although things could have livened up a bit more had there been a glimmer of a response when the characters tried to involve them.

Bhargavikutti from Neelavelicham arrived in typical ghostly fashion, appearing first on a swing outside the koothambalam. If not for the posse of photographers around her, that would have been a bit more eerie. This being the 50th anniversary year of Bhargavi Nilayam, much of the drama’s time was put aside for Bhargavi, in sequences interspersed with songs and dialogues from the film.

Then there was a sequence between Suhara from Balyakalasakhi and Kunjipathumma fromNtuppuppakkoraanandarunnu. Kunjipathumma’s mother Kunjithachumma too peeked in for a minute. Pathumma from Pathummayude Aadu played out one of the famous conversations with her brother, the author himself, asking him to buy her ornaments.

Jameela Beevi from Poovanpazham took audience interaction to another level by actually distributing plantain to members of the crowd as she was exiting the stage.

Saramma from Pranayalekhanam remembered the classic love letter from Keshavan Nair while Devi from Kamukante Diary laid claim for being the writer’s true love.

The drama ended by reminding us of the pain of Narayani from Mathilukal.

Pooja K.Nair, a ninth grade student of Guruvayur Little Flower Convent High School, switched seamlessly from one character to the other and garnered the crowd’s applause.

The docudrama was staged by the Nataka Padana Kendram, Kozhikode.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by S. R. Parveen / Thiruvananthapuram – July 06th, 2014

Shaji N Karun showed monuments to Preisner for ‘Gaadha’

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion
File photo: Shaji N Karun
File photo: Shaji N Karun

New Delhi:

National-award winning director Shaji N Karun, who is making bilingual film ‘Gaadha’, has roped in internationally acclaimed musician Zbigniew Preisner to compose music for the film.

Karun says he took Preisner to various old monuments across the country before he set out to work on the Hindi and Malayalam film, which is inspired by T Padmanabhan’s short story ‘Kadal’.

“I showed him various old monuments for the music required in the film. I thought he will be able to set the tone of the music right. He is the best for symphony orchestra,” the filmmaker told PTI.

Preisner closely worked with noted Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski on his films ‘Dekalog’, ‘The Double Life Of Veronique’, ‘Three Colours Blue’, ‘Three Colours White’ and ‘Three Colours Red’ besides giving music to films like ‘It’s All About Love’,’Effroyables jardins’ and ‘Un secret’.

Though the cast of the film is not finalised yet, Shaji said he hopes to start shooting the film in few months.

source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / Manorama Online / Home> Entertainment> Entertainment News / by Agencies / Monday – July 01st, 2014

Transcending musical borders at will

Arts,Culture & Entertainment
Santosh Chandran / The Hindu
Santosh Chandran / The Hindu

The musical journey of Indo-flamenco pioneer

Santhosh Chandran is like a rolling stone. In his musical career spanning a few decades, he has shifted genres effortlessly a mindboggling number of times. Even as he scales new heights in Indo-flamenco, a genre he has pioneered, he is thinking of composing a purely western classical album in the future.

Though he was destined to be a musician, guitar was nowhere in the picture when he took his baby steps into the music world as an eight-year-old. Living in a house where the Kathakali music of his grandfather blended seamlessly with the Carnatic music of his father, a variety of genres seeped into his mind.

“I was sent to learn tabla but I became fascinated with guitar and started learning from Badarudeen sir,” says Mr. Chandran, who is in the city for a two-day guitar workshop at Technopark.

By the age of 12, he was accompanying various professional artistes. Following his schooling, more exploration of genres happened as he shifted base to Bangalore where he discovered rock and metal. “There I joined the band ‘7th Galaxy.’ Before long, I was back in Kerala, playing with drummer John Thomas. I also played with 13 AD when their lead guitarist left.”

The years spent in Muscat saw him moving closer to his current genre of choice — flamenco, though it came after a few years of playing jazz with pianist John Hardie.

“One of the best things was the four years I spent with the African jazz singer Salha Abusaidy. We toured non-stop and played in places such as Lebanon. The Indo-flamenco style was developed during this time, though I did not call it that. Remo Fernandes called up one day and said he likes my Indo-flamenco style and thus that genre got a name.”

Following this, the call from the band Motherjane came when their guitarist left and it was time for Santosh to explore progressive rock. Along with it, he has been performing as a session guitarist for musicians such as M. Jayachandran, Deepak Dev, and Bijibal.

“Right now, I am working on my solo album ‘Take 9’ and also dabbling in some teaching at my school, Guitarra Academy”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by S. R. Praveen / Thiruvananthapuram – July 06th, 2014

Award for Perumbavoor G Raveendranath

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Thiruvananthapuram  :
Perumbavoor G Raveendranath was on Wednesday announced as the winner of the M G Radhakrishnan Award 2014, instituted by the M G Radhakrishnan Foundation, in the memory of the music director who passed away in 2010. The fourth edition of the award comprises a cash prize of Rs 25,000 as well as a plaque designed by artist Bhattathiri and a scroll of honour.

Raveendranath, Carnatic musician and composer, was selected by a jury comprising K Omanakutty, Poovachal Khader, B Arundathi and Pradeep Panangad.

Raghavan Master, Kavalam Narayanapanicker and O N V Kurup were the recipients of the award in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The award will be distributed during Ghana Shyama Sandhya, a programme held to commemorate Radhakrishnan, at the AKG Hall here on July 29. A winner of the Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award and State Film Awards, Raveendranath was also a colleague of Radhakrishnan in Akashvani. “A special award would also be given to K J Joy during the occasion for his contribution to the world of music,” the foundation said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram /  Express News Service   / July 03rd, 2014

The glass palace

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion
In a rare honour, stained glass artist Prabhakaran’s works were featured in this year’s magazine issue of ‘International Contemporary Artists’ | EPS
In a rare honour, stained glass artist Prabhakaran’s works were featured in this year’s magazine issue of ‘International Contemporary Artists’ | EPS

He creates wonders on glass-ancestral Islamic designs, cathedral works, etchings, three-dimensional art works. Stained glass artist Prabhakaran Kanichar has carved a niche for himself in the art scene by mastering and propagating an art that is less known in India. The artist who has introduced the European classical art to Kerala, owns another credit. His works have found a place in this year’s issue of ‘International Contemporary Artists’, a globally renowned magazine. Prabhakaran is the first stained glass artist from the Indian subcontinent to get this rare honour.

Glass, in its unalloyed and transparent form has always enticed Prabhakaran. The artist who has diligently dedicated his life to glass art since the past 25 years, whose works adorn the walls of mosques, churches and government buildings in many Gulf countries says, “Stained glass art is an ancient art form, that has been around even before the reformation period. Many of the ecclesiastic designs found in the European cathedrals are drawn on stained glass.”

The artist who was born in a remote village, Kanichar, in Kannur has come a long way from his humble beginnings. After his formal art education from Chennai, he worked as an art director in several ad agencies in Chennai, Mumbai and Kochi after which he went to Oman. “The beauty of the intrinsic glass works beckoned me. I learned the Arabian art from there.”

“Outside India, the status of stained glass art has grown a lot from being only a Biblical art. While earlier only ecclesiastic designs were made, now the art has entered the drawing rooms of homes. It has become more secular. Now there is demand for custom based designs, as well,” he says.

However Prabhakaran rues that in India the art is yet to pick up. “Here the status of this art is degenerated to the level of glass painting which is not actually an art by itself. While there are professional courses on this art abroad, here people are not even aware what it is.”

The artist who runs his gallery, ‘Fantasies on Glass’ near Cherthala says, “It is not an easy task to create these glass pieces. The hand made coloured glass that are antique pieces have to be cut and fabricated, which is a strenuous process.”

His long-cherished dream is to create a ‘glass art museum’ in New Delhi. “The glass museum will reflect the historical events of the country, its achievements in art, literature, science and technology.” Prabhakaran has already received the copyright for the project, and hopes he will soon get permission to begin the work.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Parvathy Nambidi / August 20th, 2012

Exposing history through coins

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

A rare expo of coins concludes tomorrow

BaburajKERALA03jul2014

Mysore :

A rare three-day exhibition of ancient coins titled ‘India through 2,600 years: A glance at history of numismatics’ has been organised by K.B. Baburaj, a philatelist and numismatist from Palakkad, Kerala at Kamyaka Mahal on Ashoka Road here, which will conclude tomorrow.

The expo features about 136 rare and unique coins with the oldest dating back to 400 BC and named ‘Karshapana’ and ‘Mashana.’ They were said to have been minted during the period of Saurasena Janapada of Saurashtra. Another attraction is the world’s smallest gold coin called ‘Bele’ weighing just 0.75 gram and belonging to the period of Harihara II (1376-1404) of Sangama dynasty. Also on display are gold coin ‘Fanam’ of Tipu Sultan period and coins of the era of Guptas, Kadambas, Tughlak, Sikh, Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Vijyanagar Kings, British Monarchy and many more.

Inaugurating the expo yesterday, Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, Commissioner, Archeaology, Heritage and Museums, opined that exhibition of coins was a rare event and was very educative too for people. He hoped that such exhibitions would be organised at all museums.

The expo is open to public from 10 am to 8 pm. Baburaj speaking to SOM said that there was no commerical angle for the expo and it was an educative one and people interested in numismatics may contact mob:98434-48548.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 28th, 2014