Category Archives: Records, All

Big FM announces Big Tamil Entertainment Awards 2013

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

Chennai:

92.7 BIG FM’s biggest attraction in the south is back again this year with The BIG Tamil Entertainment Awards.

The annual entertainment awards show catering to various fields such as Tamil Cinema, Music, Dance, Theatre, Television and Sports was conducted in 2011 and 2012 and was a phenomenal success, witnessing an array of celebrities across multiple fields of entertainment. This people’s award has in the past received an overwhelming response and is driven through on air and on-ground activations by the radio network. Taking the initiative a notch higher, this year, the Awards’ have south superstar Dhanush as its face!

Keeping in mind the technical aspects of entertainment and all the work that takes place behind the scenes, the awards property has crafted a holistic approach to itself, not only recognizing the stars but also honouring the people who help promote entertainment. With an aim to promote technology and innovation, the property for the very first time has also included categories such as Best Promoted Movie, Best Entertaining YouTube Video (Regional) and the Best Entertaining Movie Trailer among other categories.

Commenting on the occasion Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, North and South, 92.7 BIG FM said “The talent prevalent in the Southern Entertainment Industry is enormous. We wanted to seize this opportunity to establish a platform for talent across various fields to be promoted and honoured. The Southern entertainment industry has grown into a global phenomenon and we want to promote and leverage its power through the BIG TAMIL Entertainment Awards.

The show will be promoted through an integrated and high-decibel marketing plan ranging from on-ground, television, and radio, digital enabling marketers to increase and maximize their brand visibility and target wider audiences for their products providing a long term presence in the market.

source: http://www.medianewsline.com / Home> Media Buzz and Happennings / January 07th, 2013

Tamil musicians recognised at Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

It was recently announced that thirty six artistes from across India, in the fields of Music, Dance, Theatre and Puppetry have been selected for an Indian National Award – The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2012.

The legendary South Indian music composer Ilayaraja will receive an award under the section of Creative & Experimental Music. The 79 year old maestro has composed over 4500 songs in various Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and Marathi.

The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi held its meeting held on 21 December 2012 where it elected three eminent personalities in the field of performing arts for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowship.

Grammy Award-winning percussionist T. H. Vinayakram from Tamil Nadu is one of the three personalities. He is the first South Indian musician to be awarded the Grammy for Best World Music Album for his participation in Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum, in which he played ghatam and morsing.

The honour of Akademi Fellow has been conferred since 1954 and Akademi Award since 1952. They not only symbolize the highest standard of excellence and achievements on a national basis, but also recognize sustained individual work and contribution to the practice and appreciation of the arts through performance, teaching and scholarship.

The full list of Akademi Fellows and Akademi Awardees for the year 2012 are listed below.

Akademi Fellow (Ratna)

Smt N. Rajam

Shri T. H. Vinayakram

Shri Ratan Thiyam

Akademi Awards (Puraskar) for the Year 2012

 

Field of Activity – Music

Shri Rajashekhar Mansur (Hindustani Vocal)

Shri Ajay Pohankar (Hindustani Vocal)

Shri Sabir Khan (Hindustani Instrumental – Tabla)

Shri Bahauddin Dagar (Hindustani Instrumental – Rudra Veena)

Shri O. S. Thyagarajan (Carnatic Vocal)

Shri Mysore M. Nagaraja (Carnatic Instrumental – Violin)

Shri K. V. Prasad (Carnatic Instrumental – Mridangam)

Shri Illayaraja (Creative & Experimental Music)

Shri Bhai Balbir Singh Ragi (Other Major Traditions of Music – Gurbani)

 

Field of Activity – Dance

Smt Priyadarsini Govind (Bharatanatyam)

Shri Vijay Shankar (Kathak)

Shri Vazhengada Vijayan (Kathakali)

Shri Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry (Kuchipudi)

Smt Sharmila Biswas (Odissi)

Shri Jai Narayan Samal (Chhau)

Shri Painkulam Damodara Chakyar (Kutiyattam)

Shri Jwala Prasad (Music for Dance)

Smt Aditi Mangaldas (Creative & Experimental Dance)

 

Field of Activity – Theatre

Shri Arjun Deo Charan (Playwriting)

Smt Tripurari Sharma (Direction)

Shri Waman Kendre (Direction)

Shri Parvesh Sethi (Acting)

Smt Nirmal Rishi (Acting)

Shri Purisai Kannappa Sambandan (Acting)

Shri Murari Roychoudhury (Music for Theatre)

Shri Ghulam Rasool Bhagat (Major Traditions of Theatre – Bhand Pather)

 

Traditional/Folk/Tribal/Dance/Music/Theatre and Puppetry

Shri Goru Channabasappa, Folk Music, Karnataka

Shri Kinaram Nath Oja, Suknani Ojapali, Assam

Shri Prem Singh Dehati, Folk Theatre, Haryana

Smt Sulochana Chavan Lavani, Maharashtra

Shri Mattannur Sankaran Kutty Marar Thayambaka, Kerala

Shri Govind Ram Nirmalkar Nacha, Chhattisgarh

Shri Heera Das Negi Mask Making, Himachal Pradesh

Shri Prafulla Karmakar Traditional Puppetry, West Bengal

 

Overall Contribution / Scholarship in Performing Arts

Smt Nandini Ramani

Shri Arun Kakade

source: http://www.Thamarai.com / Home> News /

Tiruchi college awarded for training 1,000 students

Education, Records, All

K. Ramakrishnan, chairman, K. Ramakrishnan College of Engineering, receiving the award from Governor K. Rosaiah. / Photo: Special Arrangement .

The special award was given as part of the St. John Ambulance’s Iyarkai Mission 2012 programme

K. Ramakrishnan, chairman, K. Ramakrishnan College of Engineering, received a special award from K. Rosaiah, Governor, for enrolling and imparting training to 1,000 students as volunteers of St. John Ambulance (India), Tamil Nadu.

Vijaya Ramakrishnan received a similar award on behalf of K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology.

The special awards were distributed as part of St. John Ambulance’s Iyarkai Mission 2012 programme of creating volunteer force in the colleges and imparting training to them.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / December 28th, 2012

Coimbatore is the surname for this family of 300

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Coimbatore :

“Each one of us in the family has a common surname- Coimbatore,” says CB Karthikeyan a software engineer at the family reunion of more than 150 family members at Thudiyalur. He says that this must have been attached with their names as the name of the place.

Karthikeyan was participating in the family get-together of three generations of 94-year-old, T Subbalakshmi. All children, their spouses as well as their grandchildren put together a number more than 300. This is the 9{+t}{+h} time they are organising their family reunion.

T Subbalakshmi, a retired teacher from a government school near Gandhipuram had 22 children out of which 17 remain. All of them have Coimbatore as their surname. “This has been so for a long time in the family,” she says. But for her this is one of the many reasons special for her family.

“Nowadays there are hardly any joint families. I too live with one of my sons and his grandchildren at Kovaipudur. But all of them coming together for a family get-together is an achievement,” she says with pride. From one of her granddaughter who came all the way from Malaysia  to the youngest child of the family, many of them have showed up for the get-together. C Priya Suresh, who is a special educator in Malaysia, says that they had organised the get-together on Christmas as it is a holiday and every family member could be a part of it.

From kabadi to ‘Murugadi’, where the blindfolded participants compete to break a pot and talks on cultural values, all where done according to Subbalakshmi’s wishes. Subbalakshmi who was a second grade science and history teacher says the present generation has many things to learn from the older generations. “Unity and cultural heritage are aspects which today’s generation does not know,” she says.

Even at this age she reads newspapers and books without using spectacles. She attributes this to the healthy food of those days and the long miles she used to walk to her farm everyday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / December 26th, 2012

A glorious moment for Jeevana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

The runner-up of The Hindu Young World quiz C. Sam Victor and Siddhartha Rao of Jeevana School. — PHOTO: S. JAMES

First from Madurai region to enter finals last year

For Jeevana School, it will be a glorious moment to be remembered. Siddharth Rai Tharkeswar and Sam Victor, ninth standard students from the school, were the first from Madurai region to emerge the first runner-up in the 13 edition of The Hindu Young World Quiz, held in Chennai recently.

This is the first time that Madurai region found a place among the winners in the history of The Hindu Young World Quiz. Incidentally, Jeevana School was the first from Madurai region to enter the finals last year.

It has been nearly two weeks since Siddharth and Sam won the trophy for the first runner up and a cash prize of Rs. 40,000, and their excitement is still intact. Speaking to The Hindu, the two students recalled interesting moments from their journey to the finals of the quiz competition. “From the beginning we were confident that we will reach the finals. Young World Quiz was something we looked forward to every year”, said Siddharth, who had been a part of the quiz for the past three years.

“We learnt how to be patient as we took part in the several rounds of quiz. Besides, the questions that were asked by Mr Ramanan were comprehensive from all the subjects and made us read extensively. The whole thing was challenging, yet exciting”, Sam added.

Siddharth and Sam had a breezy win at the regional finals held in Madurai on November 20. For all those who witnessed it in Madurai, the team’s cool composure was something that was appreciated.

The team did falter in the beginning rounds of the finals in Chennai, but managed to get a grip from the fourth round.

“We were very nervous in the beginning of the finals. We did know the answers to most of the questions, but the team from Trivandrum was swift in answering”, the students said. Nevertheless the modest boys remarked that the team from Loyola School in Trivandrum deserved to be the winners. And the students could not stop raving about the refreshing manner in which Quiz master V V Ramanan conducted the show. “Whether it was the regional finals, the semi finals or the finals, Mr Ramanan ensured that the quiz was interesting. Identifying the people hidden behind the matrix, questions on Google doodles and then the anagrams were riveting”, said Siddharth. However, he confessed that the team found most of the questions on western music quite difficult. “We will guide our juniors next year. They will hopefully bag the trophy next year”, he added.

“We are extremely proud of our students. God has been extremely kind to us in the past two years. We are humbled”, said Nirmala Visveswaran, Principal of the school.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by M. Vandhana / December 22nd, 2012

Google Doodles Srinivasa Ramanujam on his 125th birthday

Amazing Feats, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujam is being honored the Google way on his 125th birthday with a doodle. Born on December 22, 1887 in Madras, now Chennai, Ramanujam was mathematical wizard and his birthday is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in India.

Google’s Doodle shows an Indian child scribbling mathematical geometric figures in the formation of the word Google.

http://www.bgr.in/news/google-doodles-srinivasa-ramanujam-on-his-125th-birthday/

Ramanujam was introduced to formal education at the age of 10 and by the time he was 12 years old, he had covered advanced trigonometry and went on to discover his own theorems. As a teenager he carried out research on Bernoulli numbers and the Euler-Mascheroni constant.

While he was a mathematical genius he consistently failed examinations in other subjects that led him to change his college. He then took up a job and then sent samples of his work to the University of Cambridge.

At Cambridge, English mathematician GH Hardy called him to work alongside him. He went on to become a fellow of the Royal Society and a fellow at the Trinity College in Cambridge. He came up with 3900 results in mathematics. Most of these theorems were called unconventional at the time, but later have proven to be true. Prime examples of his work are the Ramanujam Theta Function and the Ramanujam Prime.

He passed away at the ripe age of 32 on April 26, 1920 in Chennai.

source: http://www.bgr.in / Your Mobile Life / Home> Google> News/ by Sahil ‘Bones’ Gupta / December 22nd, 2012

Elay Keechan tops the charts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

The track features Gautham Karthik (left) on a boat. Madhan Karky (right) has penned the lyrics of the popular song.

The teaser of the song features Gautham Karthik on a boat, racing across the choppy sea waters.

‘Elay Keechan’ from the movie ‘Kadal’ was released as a single track on December 10. A week later, the entire soundtrack of the film ‘Kadal’ was released, but, ‘Elay Keechan’ has still managed to be a chart topper.

Composer A. R. Rahman has crooned this number, which has lyrics penned by Madhan Karky. The song which has been excessively downloaded online, has been widely acclaimed by music lovers across the nation too. Madhan, who was associated with the Mozart of Madras when he wrote ‘Irumbile oru Idhayam’ for ‘Endhiran’, is ecstatic about having bagged an opportunity to pen his second song under ARR’s composition.

He says, “On December 31, 2011, I was in ARR’s studio to write the song. So I spent my New Year’s eve along with ARR and Mani Ratnam sir. 2012 started with Elay Keechan and it’s ending with the release of the same song.”

Madhan has carried out extensive research to pen the lyrics, including words used by people in Thoothukudi.

Overwhelmed by the response received, he says, “Full credit goes to ARR for the brilliant composition and Mani sir for the unique concept.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Kollywood / by Deepika Ramesh / Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

DRDO scientist selected for National Design Award

Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai, Dec 14 (PTI)

A city-based senior DRDO scientist has been selected for the prestigious ‘National Design Award 2012’ by the Institute of Engineers.

P Sivakumar is the Director of DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment in Avadi near here. The award will be conferred on him by the President of Institute of Engineers (India) in the presence of the President of India in a function in Delhi.

CVRDE is involved in the development of armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, automotive electronics among others.

Source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / Home> News> Wire News / PTI / Friday, December 14th, 2012

PTI DSJ RC TRK

The Handwritten Story

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

Chennai-based The Musalman, considered the only surviving calligraphic newspaper in the world, is being archived in the Netherlands

In a nondescript building on Triplicane High Road, the oldest neighbourhood of Chennai, there’s an unusual newsroom. There is no din of the printing press or the frenetic urgency of “breaking news”. Instead, as the ceiling fan rotates without a noise, a group of four men and women sits on wooden desks with large sheets of paper in front of them. Using calligraphy pens, they carefully script the news of the day in Urdu. This is the office of The Musalman, possibly the only handwritten paper in the world, whose story has been featured in a recent documentary The Musalman: Preservation of a Dream. Not only this, the newspaper has also found a place at Tribal Perspectives in Netherlands, an organisation that archives ancient and rare publications from around the world.

Conceptualised and directed by Delhi-based Ishani K Dutta, the 10-minute film traces the legacy of The Musalman, a name that has survived 85 years of political, social and communal turbulence in India. From Syed Azmathullah who founded it, to Syed Arifullah, his grandson who currently heads it — the newspaper cherishes calligraphy, which has kept the 1927-born establishment together.

“I’ve been thinking of making a film on The Musalman for very long but had no sponsors. Then I approached the Ministry of External Affairs, who gave their support and we set off to make the film in 2010,” says Dutta. The task, however, was made difficult by Arifullah, who is exceedingly reserved and refused to talk to the crew. “But once he opened up, he had a whole treasure to reveal,” she says.

As the documentary concisely breezes through first-hand accounts of people who are part of The Musalman, the legacy is made clear by one visual — that of the dingy 800 sq ft office, which seems frozen in time. “There may be a few changes here or there, but largely, things have remained the same. You’d think you have been transported to 1927,” says Dutta. The film nevertheless sticks to the core of the publication — calligraphy, something they call “the heart of The Musalman”, and the respect and loyalty it has earned them.

The documentary, within three weeks of being uploaded on YouTube, received widespread positive response. “It was all over the social networking websites and many people called us to get in touch with Arifullah. People wanted copies of The Musalman and offer donations,” says Dutta. Arifullah, however, remains nonchalant to all this.

With a meagre salary of Rs 80 per day given to the ‘katibs’ or calligraphers, The Musalman is carefully penned word-by-word by them, most of whom have been working her for over 20 years. Interestingly, the chief reporter belongs to the Hindu community, and has been working there for over 30 years.

The paper gives crisp and ample space to international, national, local as well as sports news. While a blank slot is kept aside everyday for last-minute changes, a segment is also devoted to verses from the Quran. Its masthead, despite the shift in India’s political and communal landscape over the years, did not have to be changed. Explains Dutta, “While talking to them, I got the impression that this is because of the reverence the effort of calligraphy has garnered from loyal readers. Secondly, their content is balanced.”

Earlier this year, Dutta was approached by Tribal Perspectives, to whom she had sent a copy of the publication. It was followed by the organisation recently adding the newspaper to its collection of rare and ancient documents from the world over. There is, however, a faint doubt that laces everyone’s mind. How long will it last? “There is monetary pressure and there are very few loyal patrons left who give advertisements and buy the paper. It’s just the passion and pride of these people that keeps the newspaper going. I don’t think they know it yet but in its own small way, The Musalman has made history,” says Dutta.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / Home> IE> Story / by Pallavi Pundir / Saturday, December 01st, 2012

Vani Jayaram to get Bharathi Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Acclaimed playback singer Vani Jayaram at an event in Visakhapatnam.  / Photo: K.R. Deepak / The Hindu 

The Annual Bharathi Festival will be celebrated from December 9 to 11 at Bharathi Memorial, T.P. Koil Street, Triplicane.

Subramanya Bharathi’s songs will be rendered by eminent singers; scholars will give speech; dance, debate, quiz and other programmes will be organised during the festival. The highlight will be ‘Jathi Palakku’ (palanquin procession of Subramanya Bharathi’s idol) on December 11 morning and conferment of Bharathi Award in the evening.

This year’s Bharathi Award will be conferred on Vani Jayaram, playback singer, who has sung in all the 18 languages referred by Bharathi.

The award will be presented by musicologist Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. Film director Dr. K. Balachander will felicitate Vani Jayaram.

source:  http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Downtown / Chennai, December 01st, 2012