Kollywood, Political Playground

Tamil tinsel world’s association with politics has early origins. Film star MGR became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu four years before Ronald Reagan could become the President of United States. With such star-studded political scenario, the ruling DMK’s stranglehold over Kollywood is all set to become a poll plank in the upcoming Assembly elections if recent rhetoric of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa and that of DMDK chief Vijayakanth are any indication. In the build-up to the 2011 Assembly elections, the role of chief minister M. Karunanidhi’s family members in Kollywood has become a talking point. While speaking at the Madurai rally of her party, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa took up the cause of two leading young heroes of Tamil film world in a bid to attract the mass fan following of the stars. “A leading actor who refused to perform at functions organized by the DMK government free of cost was called to Karunanidhi’s house and was scolded. Another popular actor who expressed his political ambitions was compelled to act in films produced by chief minister’s family members,” said the former chief minister at the Madurai rally of her party on October 18. The opposition leader also alleged that the popular actors are being intimidated by the chief minister’s family. “It has become the work of Karunanidhi’s family members to turn heroes into zeroes and to turn zeroes in the family into heroes,” she added. DMDK chief Vijayakanth who has made it clear that defeating the DMK in 2011 polls is his sole aim has also lashed out at the reported influence of the ruling DMK on Tamil cinema. “The cinema theatre owners are asked to toe the line…..why should the cinema theatre owners be afraid….how many cinema theatre licences will they cancel….the owners should stand up and say that they won’t obey,” advised Vijayakanth at a function in his party headquarters. The influence of the ruling DMK’s first family in Kollywood will be one poll issue according to insiders in the AIADMK and the DMDK. Whatever be the alignment of political forces during polls, Jayalalithaa and Vijayakanth have already taken the political battle to Kollywood.

Today's Reading

He created the heavens
And the earth
In true (proportions):
He makes the Night
Overlap the Day, and the Day
Overlap the Night:
He has subjected
The sun and the moon
(To His law):
Each one follows a course
For a time appointed.
Is not He the Exalted
In Power - He Who forgives
Again and again?
--
He created you (all)
From a single Person:
Then created, of like nature,
His mate; and He
Sent down for you eight head
Of cattle in pairs:
He creates you,
In the wombs
Of your mothers,
In stages, one after another,
In three veils of darkness.
Such is God, your Lord
And Cherisher: to Him belongs
(All) dominion : There is
No God but He : then
How are ye turned away
(From your true Lord)?

(Holy Quran : 39: 5 and 6)

Third Wedding Anniversary for Peer and Shuba

And Among His Signs
Is this, that He created
For you mates from among
Yourselves, that you may
Dwell in tranquility with them,
And He has put love
And mercy between your (hearts):
Verily in that are Signs
For those who reflect.

(The Holy Quran:30:21)

A prayer for the Holy month of Ramzan

Our Lord! pour out on us
Patience and constancy, and take
Our souls unto Thee
As people who bow to thy will.

(Quran: 7:126)

Tamil magazine apologizes for carrying visual purportedly representing Prophet Muhammed

Chennai, April 4: After Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaat (TNTJ), a Muslim outfit, protested publication of a drawing purportedly depicting Prophet Muhammed in a Tamil weekly, the magazine's publisher apologized profusely. The magazine Mutharam from Kungumam group of publications was reportedly taken off newsstand shelves immediately. The publisher apologized in the next issue for hurting religious sentiments.

Hundreds of volunteers of TNTJ thronged the weekly’s office in Mylapore here last fortnight after the magazine carried what is purportedly a drawing of Prophet Muhammad along with a three-page life story of him written by one Athanur Chozhan. The publication of the drawing had created furore among sections of Muslims across the state.

“We immediately contacted the magazine office and expressed displeasure over publishing such an image along with distorted information on the Prophet who is revered by Muslims across the globe as God’s messenger,” said Mr Ansari, headquarters secretary, TNTJ told this journalist.

As hundreds of volunteers gathered in front of the magazine office, the representatives of the magazine has assured them that the distribution of the magazine in the market was already stopped.

“Realising our mistake, we immediately stopped the distribution of the magazine in the market. We have assured the protestors that an apology would be carried in the next issue of the magazine,” said one of the editorial committee members of the magazine.

In an apology letter given to the TNTJ, the magazine editor has said that it was an inadvertent mistake and would be rectified by carrying an apology in the forthcoming issue.

Some Muslim outfits in Thanjavur and other parts of the state agitated against the magzine. As the magazine is more subscription-based, the outfits have insisted on carrying an apology in the next issue.

The magazine lived up to its promise and carried a profound apology in its next issue on the edit page.

Chennai in 2009

Chennai, Jan. 1: Chennai cityscape has undergone tremendous changes in the year gone by. The landmark Central Jail is razed to make way for the annexe of government general hospital. The landmark Kalaivanar Arangam is razed to make way for a modern auditorium. Padi flyover, Pallikaranai flyover at two different ends of the city and other new flyovers have made commuting easier for Chennaiites. Nearly 230 parks have been renovated, expanding the city’s lung space.
People were allowed to visit the 172-year-old Central Jail before it was demolished in July to accommodate extension of government general hospital. The 35-year-old Kalaivanar Arangam was demolished in December and a new auditorium is coming up at the place as part of the upcoming new Secretariat complex.
Marina beach got a make-over just at the end of the year, redefining the experience of the visitors to the second longest beach in the world. The city’s bus stops sported a cosy look and the process is yet to be completed.
Three platforms at the Central railway station in the city got expanded to accommodate 24-coach trains. New subways near Saidapet, Thillai Ganga Nagar and airport and new flyovers in Padi, Pallikaranai, M.K.N. Road, Cenotaph road made traveling easier.
The city’s waters got its first private leisure boating service. The works for connecting port with national highways started. The process of cleaning up Cooum river started with the setting up of Chennai River water authority.
The city’s traffic islands are decked up with fiberglass sculptures of traditional Tamil images such as Poikkal Kuthirai, Puliyattam, Therukkoothu. 42 more such sculptures at traffic islands will alter the cityscape and A vestige of British era, King George V’s statue was removed from public space, and landed in the government museum at Egmore.
Just one year into the project, the restoration of Adyar Poonga in 58 acres near Adyar estuary is progressing well ahead of its target. It is already looking green and inviting migratory birds to the heart of the city.
The city is looking forward to have a world-class Secretariat, Asia’s second biggest library and a world-class airport in 2010 and many more flyovers. Despite continuance of garbage burning at different parts of the city, efforts are on to make the city cleaner and more livable.