I watched the movie Jai Bhim whose theme is the plight of Irulars. The suffering that a section of people undergo has been portrayed artistically in that movie. Jai Bhim has kicked off a debate. Writers, representatives of marginalized groups, as well as people holding positions of power and...
Rajinikanth and his style continues to have much market value. Producers still want to trade in that value. Rajini’s fans are still eager to see their star – he might be 70 years old, so what? – on screen. But gone are the days when people would watch a movie only for Rajini. In truth, those...
Ever wondered why the MRP rate printed on the shiny box of fireworks is somewhere over the roof but the trader is ready to give it away at throwaway prices? The MRP may show even Rs 5,000 but you can still get it at half the listed price or even cheaper. In short, that MRP rate is not meant for...
The Tamil Nadu Assembly has hit a century. Its history began as Madras Legislative Council on 12.1.1921. The council met at the Council Chamber at Fort St George from then to 1937. On July 14, 1937, a Congress ministry headed by Rajaji took power. And the legislature became bicameral. While the...
This year’s Deepavali is upon us. Though Covid is looming, this Deepavali promises a more prosperous time ahead. The gloom is almost gone and we are ready to celebrate as we used to -- with new clothes, firecrackers and food. In the past, idly was a Deepavali indulgence for the poorer...
The context was different but the events were similar. In the film Jai Bhim, an innocent Irular man is tortured for hours in the police station after he is held on a false charge of theft. Finally, a stomp on his chest by a police boot turns fatal and the man dies. As Tamil Nadu chief minister...
So, what’s the movie Jai Bhim about? It’s a gripping courtroom drama. It’s a human story of a tribal woman’s fight for justice. It’s about an idealistic lawyer and his equally idealistic associates. It’s about police brutality, or rather criminality. It’s about the uncaring and cynical ways of...
The first part of the article traced the history of government control of temples in Tamil Nadu. This article deals with the fairness argument. Questions are often raised on why temples are being administered by government when Islamic religious establishments are run by Muslims. The truth is...
In Tamil Nadu, the word Sooran has an interesting connotation. The word rhymes with Veeran, the brave, but Sooran is not just brave but also skilled, talented and brainy. Tamil Wiktionary says Sooran excels in the intellect. Sooran can also refer to a dog, a lion, a cock, a bear, fire and the...
Records and gramophones were everywhere once. Now they are antique pieces found rarely. Old timers recalls them while others don’t care. For P Thirunavukkarasu, who trains people in short filmmaking and edits film magazine Nizhal, collecting and preserving records and gramophone boxes is a...
