Chennai

The Hindu Bureau CHENNAI September 30, 2022 21:18 IST Updated: September 30, 2022 21:18 IST The Hindu Bureau CHENNAI September 30, 2022 21:18 IST Updated: September 30, 2022 21:18 IST Referring to reports of inundation in Chennai’s localities such as Kodambakkam, Velachery, Sholinganallur, Triplicane and T. Nagar following an hour-long rain a few days ago, the AIADMK’s former coordinator, O. Panneerselvam, on Friday expressed concern over the likely situation in the coming weeks after the onset of northeast monsoon. In a statement, Mr. Panneeselvam raised doubts over the completion of flood-mitigation work prior to the monsoon’s arrival, given the volume of the balance work. He called upon Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ensure that the work was expeditiously carried out and preventive steps were taken where roads had been dug, as part of the execution of the flood mitigation works. Dhinakaran slams govt. Meanwhile, in a series of tweets, … [Read more...] about Panneerselvam expresses concern over slow progress of flood mitigation work in Chennai

Judgment and rights The judgment by the Supreme Court of India recognising the abortion rights of unmarried single women is progressive (Page 1, September 30). The patriarchal mindset prevalent in the country has shackled women for too long and the time has come to liberate women. This judgment breaks one of those shackles. Abortion should be an absolute right of any woman subject only to the condition that it does not endanger her life. There are many cases of single women being exploited and facing distress. This judgment comes as a life saver to them. The Court has also protected the absolute right of women over their bodies. Further, the observation on marital rape is another instance of progressive thinking. One cannot help contrasting this judgment with the recent judgment of the U.S. Supreme Court on abortion rights of women in that country. Kosaraju Chandramouli, Hyderabad Women are vulnerable in what is basically a man’s world. More rights to women is the way to … [Read more...] about Letters to the Editor — October 1, 2022

Curator Ashvin Rajagopalan of Ashvita Art Gallery has spent the last couple of years collecting vintage dolls. And he is not alone. This year, even as people return to celebrating Navratri, the nine-day long festival of dolls, with enthusiasm, there is more introspection as a result of the two pandemic years, when the world was forced to slow down. As a result, instead of investing in new dolls, more people are looking towards their grandmother’s attics and antique stores to recapture the joys of the past. The tradition of a golu at home during Navratri is unique to South India, where papier mache dolls are displayed thematically on steps (usually 3, 5, 7 or 11) with sacred food offerings every day. This is a time for reunions, for inviting friends to gather and admire golu arrangements, and traditionally dolls are passed on from generation to generation. Visual artist Anbukathir Jacob worked with the doll makers of Kanchipuram, to develop golu dolls with papier mache … [Read more...] about What’s new for this Navratri? My grandmother’s doll

While the renewed thrust laid by the Union government on maritime infrastructure development is being appreciated, there are some projects craving for its attention to make a headway long after being kept on the backburner. One such critical project that will be of tremendous help in economical movement of cargo to and from the greenfield port that is in the process of being established at Machilipatnam is the railway line connecting Machilipatnam (Krishna district) with Repalle (Bapatla district). According to reliable sources, bidirectional movement of freight is essential for Machilipatnam port to achieve its commercial objectives, and it aids in the overall economic development of the region. The proposed line will facilitate faster movement of goods towards Vijayawada, and it connects to Guntur and from there to Karnataka and Kerala through Tirupati. Incidentally, Guntur city is well connected down south via Tenali to Chennai, Guntakal etc. while the Nadikudi - … [Read more...] about Andhra Pradesh: Proposed railway line between Machilipatnam and Repalle makes no headway

Ponniyin Selvan is a fictional novel, inspired by the history of the Chola Dynasty which ruled southern India in the mid-900 AD. Written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, who serialised the story in his Tamil highly-regarded magazine, Kalki, from October 1950 to May 1954, it was released as a five-volume book in 1955. At 2210 pages, with a huge number of characters, Ponniyin Selvan (also translated into other languages, including English) was a lucid piece of work penned with precision. It was enormously popular largely because it evoked Tamil sentiment about a great dynasty whose rule saw the rise of literary excellence and architectural grandeur. Not an easy task to have adapted the mammoth and masterly novel to the screen, which Mani Ratnam has, and especially so because the plot is highly complex with a motley group of characters whose names are virtual tongue twisters. Ratnam himself had attempted to film it earlier; so did M. G. Ramachandran, the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. There … [Read more...] about Ponniyin Selvan 1: Mani Ratnam Handles a Complex Plot with Motley Group of Characters

Around Tinsel Town >> India submits ‘Chhello Show’ for Oscars 2023, not ‘RRR’ Contrary to popular opinion, the Film Federation of India chose not to submit SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster film ‘RRR’ to the 95th Academy Awards under the Best International Feature Film category. Instead, Pan Nalin’s semi-autobiographical Gujarati drama ‘Chhello Show’ was selected as India’s official entry . The decision opened the gates to a huge online uproar, with some supporting the decision and some continuing to route for RRR in hopes of the film getting a golden Oscar run. But, can RRR still go the Oscars? Yes. Here’s how ‘RRR’ can still make a splash at the Oscars 2023 The debate also opens to the question of what the future of indie films look like . >> Woody Allen ‘announces’ retirement...oh wait! He didn’t On September 18, multiple western media outlets quoted Woody Allen telling the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia that his upcoming film ‘Wasp 22’ will be … [Read more...] about First Day First Show | India’s submission for Oscars, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ interviews