Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Get a taste of Chettinad cuisine

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Located in a quaint corner off one of the busiest roads in T Nagar is Sre Chinnadurai Hotel that offers authentic Chettinad cuisine. 

Get a taste of Chettinad cuisine
Get a taste of Chettinad cuisine

The place has all the trappings to give it the Chettinad ‘look’, with a thinnai, marble flooring, Chettinad carved pillars and heavy furniture. The ambience is that of an old village style house that reminds one of a simpler life without all the gadgets surrounding us. Welcoming everyone at the table is one small glass of ‘milagu rasam’ or pepper soup, garnished with garlic, ginger and a few select spices. It is refreshingly warm and goes down the throat without qualms.

Their menu is what separates them from other outlets offering Chettinad cuisine. All their spices are homemade (they use their own spices) and for things that they cannot find here, they source it out from authentic Chettinad regions of Tamil Nadu. The chefs behind the hand-crafted menu are Chef Balu and Chef Vimal who take turns to dish out the sumptuous food at the hotel. Apart from the menu that they have every day, the everyday specials change to give the customer that surprise element. Their chefs are professionals blessed with excellent taste and creative bent of mind. The restaurant has a royal kitchen open to serve customers with love and affection.

The signature Chettinad specials in the menu occupy a whole section of the menu and offer a gastronomic journey into the Chettinad heartland. It is a mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with the non-vegetarian items occupying more space. Some of the dishes are Chinnadurai chicken dry. Chinnadurai chicken curry, kozhi vepudu, Karnataka chicken curry, Niligiri which gives you a choice of mutton, chicken or vegetarian, Malabar chicken curry and crab puttu. They use only shell-less crabs for all their preparations. Hot and crisp, blackened prawns — called karuvepulle yera — turn up on a banana leaf-lined plate. Crisp and tasty on the outside and juicy on the inside, the prawns are dipped in a mix of curry leaf batter and deep fried.

The menu is exhaustive and a non-vegetarian lover will definitely be left spoilt for choices at this restaurant.

For vegetarians who like their food with a hint of Chettinad spices, vaazhai poo vadai (banana flower vadai) and murungakkai soup (drumstick soup) is a cut different from the rest. One can also try the vazhakai kola urundai when feeling experimental.

Apart from Chettinad, the menu also features tandoori and Chinese dishes for all those who like to be in their comfort zone and not experiment much. They also have a party hall at the venue that can accommodate about 70-90 people comfortably. They are also into outdoor catering and can craft a menu according to the requirement.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India/ Home> Life & Style> Food / TNN / March 08th, 2014

Jayalalithaa declares open Nesamony memorial

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurating a memorial for “Marshal” A. Nesamony through video-conferencing from the Secretariat on Thursday./ The Hindu
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurating a memorial for “Marshal” A. Nesamony through video-conferencing from the Secretariat on Thursday./ The Hindu

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday declared open a memorial for “Marshal” A. Nesamony (1895-1968) in Nagercoil through video-conferencing from the Secretariat. The memorial had been constructed at a cost of about Rs.48.7 lakh, according to an official release.

Hailed for his role in integrating the district of Kanyakumari [which was originally with the erstwhile Travancore princely state] with Tamil Nadu, Nesamony was an advocate by profession.

He held various positions including the post of chairperson of the Nagercoil municipality (1943-47); Member of Travancore Legislative Assembly (1943-47) and that of Travancore-Cochin State (1948-52). As leader of Travancore Tamil Nad Congress Party, he won from the Nagercoil parliamentary constituency in 1951 and later, as a nominee of the Indian National Congress, he was re-elected from the constituency in 1962 and 1967.

Nesamony was declared unopposed from the Killiyoor Assembly constituency in 1957.

As a mark of tribute to him, the Chief Minister has given a direction that on November 1 [the day on which Kanyakumari was transferred to Tamil Nadu], floral homage should be paid to the statue of Nesamony in Nagercoil.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 28th, 2014

Conclave of classicism

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Malavika Sarukkai. / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu
Malavika Sarukkai. / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu

The Yaksha music and dance festival, in Coimbatore, saw some of the best talents take the stage.T.K. GANAPATHY

The open-air theatre at the Isha Yoga Centre, with the backdrop of the Linga Bhairavi shrine in the verdant Velliangiri hills in Coimbatore, came alive with the opening of the seven-day Yaksha Festival of Dance and Music.

It began with a Bharatanatyam recital by Malavika Sarukkai. Dedicating her performance to her good friend, the late Francis Waczing, Malavika’s dance was a triumph of creativity. Her obeisance to Lord Siva, the cosmic dancer and the following invocation to the Goddess in Nilambari were a combination of enchanting music, sensitive abhinaya and skilful footwork. Her angika abhinaya was an arresting spectacle.

Malavika’s depiction of ‘Mareechavadham’, drawn from Tuslidas’s Ram Charit Manas, with the appearance of Maricha and his pursuit of the golden deer, Rama’s shooting of the animal and the gods showering the petals, was done with panache. The repeated imagery and hand gestures accompanied by precise footwork invested her recital with an abstract quality.

Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Ennathavam Seidanai’ (Kapi) portraying the Yashoda’s relationship with Lord Krishna, whipped up the dancer’s devotional frenzy. The lilting thillana in Brindavanasaranga was a sight to behold!

Music by Murali Parthasarathy and Bagyalakshmi’s was delightful as were the accompanists that included Srilakshmi Venkataramani (violin), Sreelatha (nattuvangam) and Nellai Balaji (mridangam).

The violin trio concert of V.V.Subramaniam, V.V. Ravi and V.V.S.Murari with vocal support from Raghava Krishna, was a concerted effort to create a symphony.

Adhering meticulously to the time factor, the instrumentalists shone as they played time-tested numbers in sync and yet maintained their individuality. Commencing their recital with a special Sanskrit composition in praise of Dhyanalingam in Shiv Kalyan, their renditions of ‘Ekamresanayike’ followed by ‘Nadhathanumanisam’ created a rapport with the listeners. The alapana of Purvikalyani for the kriti, ‘Anandanadamaduvar’ was replete with proficient passages.

The trio’s raga delineation of Anandabhairavi for ‘Oh! Jagadamba’ and their proficiency in the swaras exchanges after a feisty niraval, was admirable display of timing and arithmetic acumen.

The percussion group of Narendran (mridangam) and Radhakrishnan (ghatam) efficiently favoured the main artists with adequate decibel interventions, including a vibrant tani. The creative finesse and sense of balance in the vocalist’s support was enjoyable.

Hindustani vocalist Pt. Venkatesh Kumar’s husky and vibrant singing style had the rasikas absorbed in his music. An exponent of the Gwalior and Patiala Kirana gharanas, he commenced his session with a vilambit ek taal in Raag Purvi. After a brief alap, the gat, ‘Tum Bi Na Aur Kaun’ was arresting. The Kirana Gharana style of khayal stood out in his akara and sargam delineations.

This was followed by a teen taal gat ‘Muraliya Mohana Re Tum Aa Bhaje’ with niraval on these lines. The composition, ‘Theeratha Karo Sab Kare Deva Puja Karo’ in vilambit jhap taal in Tilak Kamod offered a sober and contemplative spell.

The hymn in Durga, vilambit ek taal, ‘Sakhi More Ruma Roopa’ followed by ‘Jai Jai Jai Durgaji Mata Bhavani,’ was reminiscent of the late Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and was presented with devotional fervour. Pt. Venkatesh Kumar concluded with two light bhajans. His disciple, Basavaraju, provided solid vocal support, while Samar Saha (tabla) and Vyasmurtikatti (harmonium) were fine accompanists.

Known for his uncompromising stand, Vijay Siva to give quality music on the fourth day of the Yaksha fest. He presented ‘Nadahathanumanism’ with aplomb followed by ‘Innum Paramukhameno’ (Begada) with pleasing niraval and swaras. His sketch of Anandabhairavi for the Syama Sastry composition, ‘Mariveregathi,’ with methodical and systematically arranged sancharas drew audience appreciation.

Vijay Siva’s rendition of Dikshitar’s ‘Jambupathe’ in Yamunakalyani with niraval, was rhetoric of spontaneity. Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Nadamadum Deivam Nee’ was pleasing to the ear. Siva brought out the raga bhava and the emotional appeal of Hindolam in Tyagaraja’s ‘Manasuloni.’

Violinist Chandramouli provided valuable support in the alapanas, niraval and swara sallies. Manoj Siva (mridangam) proved to be asset to the cutcheri with his tonal variations in the tani.

(krishangan@gmail.com)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review> Dance / by T. K. Ganapathy / Coimbatore – February 27th, 2014

Jayalalithaa unveils memorial for Nesamani

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders

Chennai:

A memorial established for the late freedom fighter Nesamani, fondly called as “Marshal” Nesamani, in Kanyakumari district was inaugurated by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday.

Through a video-conference facility from here, Jayalalithaa unveiled the memorial set up in Nagercoil at a cost of Rs 48.70 lakh, an official release said.

Nesamani, a prominent local figure, among the locals also served as Municipal Chairman in Nagercoil District and as the Member of Parliament, it said.

Jayalalithaa issued orders to celebrate the day of Kanyakumari District’s merger with Tamil Nadu in memory of Nesamani as a government function, it said.

Labour Minister K T Pachamal, Information and Special Programme Implementation Minister K T Rajendhra Bhalaji and senior government officials participated in the function, the release added.

PTI
source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Z News / Home> State News> Tamil Nadu / Thursday – February 27th, 2014

People throng special medical camp

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technologies

Trichy :

It was similar to a full-fledged hospital operating out of a college premises. More than 3,000 people belonging to all walks of life thronged the Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College premises on Saturday for a special medical camp organized to mark chief minister J Jayalalitha’s 66th birthday which falls next week.

The special camp was conducted by the Chennai-based Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital. A team of 117 doctors and support staff came all the way from Chennai for the purpose.

Special vehicles from important points in the city such as the central and the Chatiram bus stands ferried people to the camp where all medical facilities are available under one roof. Even high-end equipment such as scanners are installed at the venue.

At the neatly arranged stalls patients were first registered and screened. Thereafter, they were taken to the concerned department by volunteers. Doctors of various specializations provided free consultations. Basic diagnostic tests were done free of cost. To add to this, medicines were also provided free of cost for one week. Spectacles and hearing aids were given to poor patients. Medicines worth Rs 7 lakh were disbursed at the counters, said the doctors.

Serious cases were referred to the nearby hospitals or to the Chennai hospital, said the doctors. Two cancer and cardiac-related cases were found.

Totally 3,100 people attended the camp on the first day. The special camp, which will conclude on Sunday, was inaugurated by the minister for khadi and village industries T P Poonachi in the presence of district collector Jayashree Muralidharan here on Saturday.

“We are getting good response for the special camp. It is as if we have shifted our hospital from Chennai to Trichy and a new branch has emerged here,” said Dr S Anandan, dean and professor, Sri Ramachandra Medical University.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / TNN / February 23rd, 2014

Well, the Kinatru Theru is named after a potent deity

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

Madurai  :

A couple of streets in Madurai are named after wells. Of these, Thottiyan Kinatru Theru has a few interesting tales behind its evolution.

The wide street which runs from Maravar Chavadi in South Masi Street to South Avani Moola Street is named after a well which existed in the locality till about a quarter century ago. A century back Thottiyan Kinatru Theru was known as Maravar Chavadi Street, said K Ganesan, a 64-year-old retired corporation employee. The street later acquired the current name after the local deity, Thottichi, enshrined in a small tank-like structure at the end of the street.

Many Maravar households existed in the locality. Marvars were mainly employed as soldiers in the armies of several dynasties that ruled Madurai. It was at Maravar Chavadi the Marvars used to assemble before marching to Kavalkooda or Kavalkotta Theru where the army post existed. “As the worship of Thottichi – the local deity – gained prominence in the last few decades the street came to be known as Thottiyan Kinatru Theru,” Ganesan explained.

Local residents say the deity is powerful. R Arumuga Perumal, who runs a petty shop near Thottichi’s shrine, narrated about a ritual on the street. People will anoint the deity with milk after child births in their homes. “She is a powerful deity who fulfils the prayers of her devotees. She demands milk from households in case of child birth. It is believed the new-borns develop trouble during sleep if the milk is not offered to the deity within 30 days,” the 49-year-old said.

Perumal recalled the existence of the well 25 years ago. “People entering into Meenakshi Temple through the south gate used to wash their feet with the water fetched from the well. Such wells existed in all four entry points into the temple area,” he said. However, the wells disappeared over a period, Perumal said.

R Shivakumar, author of Neerindri, a booklet on water bodies of Madurai said wells were water bodies shared by the community. While the wells within the city catered to drinking water needs and domestic purposes, the wells on the outskirts of the city were used for agricultural purposes. “Rapid urbanisation has eaten away these structures and the numerous borewells sunk in later periods depleted the water table in the city,” he remarked.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / February 23rd, 2014

River Linking Walk Enters Fort City

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All

Members of the Krishnagiri-based Indian Rivers Knit Movement (IRKM), an NGO creating awareness about the need for inter-linking and networking of rivers, who are on a ‘paadayatra’ from Hosur to Chennai to meet Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, passed through Vellore on Tuesday evening.

They were received by the members of the National Waterways Development Technologies, another Vellore-based NGO, led by president K K Sridhar and secretary Venkatesan.

The paadayatra has been undertaken to highlight the importance of the inter-linking of rivers and the protection of farmers, said Sardhar, director of the IRKM who organized the event.

Floods and droughts plaguing India, drive farmers to commit suicide and the only solution, to ensure protection to the farmers, is to link all the rivers, he said.

The NGO would appeal to the CM to come up with a policy to set up waterways by linking the rivers in the country.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Vellore / February 20th, 2014

Reading it in style

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All
A.J. Rufina Amreen of Cauvery College for Women bagged the first prize in the book review competition held at Urumu Dhanalakshmi College./ The Hindu
A.J. Rufina Amreen of Cauvery College for Women bagged the first prize in the book review competition held at Urumu Dhanalakshmi College./ The Hindu

Chetan Bhagat ’s ‘Revolution 2020’ was reviewed

The intercollegiate book review competition organised by the GC Pattabiraman Book Club of Urumu Dhanalakshmi College here on Friday brought to the fore the fact that given an opportunity, students can do anything in style.

The 24 book-reviewers from 12 colleges reviewed Robin Sharma’s ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’, Chetan Bhagat ’s ‘Revolution 2020’, and Shiv Khera’s ‘You Can Win’.

It was evident that the students had closely read the texts and proved their mettle by enthusing the listeners to read the books , said Prof. R. Panchanadhan, Director, Talent Consultancy, chief guest-cum-judge. He congratulated the college for organising the event and gave away the prizes to winners.

A.J. Rufina Amreen of Cauvery College for Women secured the first place winning the cash award of Rs.1,000. The second prize of Rs.750 went to Josephin Shamini of St. Joseph’s College, and the third prize Rs.500 was bagged by A. Vinodhini of Cauvery College for Women.

Cauvery College for Women won the over-all team championship, followed by St. Joseph’s College, and Holy Cross College.

S.Sekar, principal, Urumu Dhanalakshmi College, presided.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Syed Muthahar Saqaf / Tiruchi – March 01st, 2014

Women snake catchers unleash their charm

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
Members of Tamil Nadu Snake Research and Wild Animal Rescue Trust with a snake at an awareness programme in the city. / Photo: S. James / The Hindu
Members of Tamil Nadu Snake Research and Wild Animal Rescue Trust with a snake at an awareness programme in the city. / Photo: S. James / The Hindu

They are on a mission to create awareness among the public

As P. Manimegalai stealthily takes out a snake from a bag and shows it to the group around her, a collective gasp of fear is heard. “This snake is like a baby. It will not harm you,” she states confidently as she pulls out another snake from her backpack.

The founder of Tamil Nadu Snake Research and Wild Animal Rescue Trust, this 27-year-old woman from Ramanathapuram is one of the few female snake catchers in the State.

Ms.Manimegalai, along with R. Nagarathinam, M. Selvakumari, Katheejal Begum and S. Amutha, run the all-women members trust that has been attending calls from people who spot snakes and ask them to be caught. The trust also conducts regular programmes for college and school students as well as housewives.

“It has been ingrained in most of us that all snakes are poisonous and we immediately react with fear and end up killing them. But most of them are harmless and in the long run if people continue to keep killing them, everything from the food chain to the ecosystem will be thrown out of balance,” says Ms.Manimegalai. “We also talk to people about first aid to be administered in the event of a snake bite and teach them how to differentiate between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes”, she explains.

The members of the trust say that out of the 65 types of snakes that can be found in the district, only four types are poisonous.

“If not harmed or disturbed, they will just slither away and not cause any harm but people get together in groups and beat them up. We offer to catch snakes when called and either hand them over to the Forest Department or release them safely in a forest area,” explains R. Nagarathinam, a member of the trust.

The women from the trust also rue the false notions propagated through mass media and popular culture. “Snakes don’t wait for their prey, nor do they remember people across generations and take revenge as depicted in movies,” they say.

At an awareness programme that the trust conducted on Wednesday for a group of residents in Anaiyur, many women who were first hesitant to touch the snakes that were being shown slowly mustered courage to do so after they were told about the species. M.D. Lakshmikantham, a resident of Anaiyur drew applause from the crowd when she put the snake around her neck.

“If my message reaches at least 10 other people like her who will be calm when they spot a snake and not kill it, it will do a lot for the conservation of the species,” concludes Ms.Manimegalai who stays in Vilangudi.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by S. Poorvaja / Madurai – February 15th, 2014

1,600 women employees to help roll out chapathis

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

With chapathis to be served in all the Amma Unavagams, more than 1,600 women employees have begunworking in the canteens to roll out chapathis.

More than two lakh chapathis were prepared by them on Friday. Nearly eight more women will be working in each canteen.

Later, machines which were purchased for the purpose would be used, according to an official of Chennai Corporation.

A plate of two chapathis and dal is priced at Rs. 3.

Tree planting scheme

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday launched a scheme for planting 66 lakh banyan saplings. This is to mark Ms. Jayalalithaa’s 66 birthday, which falls on February 24.

The Chief Minister planted a sapling on the premises of the office of Director General of Police here. In each of the districts, as many as 2.06 lakh saplings would be planted by the Forests Department. Totally, the scheme would cost Rs. 49.18 crore, according to an official release.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai /  by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 22nd, 2014