50% rule opens space for small budget films
Ajith fans were eagerly looking forward to celebrate Pongal through Valimai. But the release was put off owing to the 50% restrictions imposed by government on cinema theatre occupancy. The head of the cinema halls owners association, Tiruppur Subramaniam, had said that since Valimai is a big...
S G Kittappa and Sundarambal: A match made in heavens didn’t last on earth
Hailed as the Queen of Indian Stage, Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal was a class apart from her contemporaries. The relationship or love affair between Sundarambal and her husband S G Kittappa was brief but it was a perfect match. Sundarambal’s troupe was conducting dramas in Sri Lanka and the...
Potter father forbade it. But Commerce prof now thrives on earthern ware
During the day Balasubramanian, a Ph D degree holder in Commerce, is an Assistant Professor at Dharmapuram Adhinam Arts and Science College at Tharangambadi. After his work hours, he dons the hat of a potter and sits before the wheel, skillfully making pots and earthenware. He has clients in...
60 years ago, an Irular leader fought for all tribals
After the film Jai Bhim was released, the oppression that Irular tribes face has come into the public eye. But, the Irulars had a leader more than 60 years ago who fought for their rights and that of other tribal people. His name was V R Jagannathan. Well educated, Jagannathan must have written...
From a hut in a TN village to a flat in Scotland, a software architect’s journey
Penury stalked Thangakittu all through his childhood. Growing up he lived in a house without electricity and struggled to pay the nominal fee the village school was collecting. But Thangakittu managed to stay ahead. At 29 now, he works as a software architect in Scotland. Thangakittu’s family...
Did switch to organic farming trigger food crisis in Sri Lanka? Expert weighs in
Sri Lanka is struggling with a severe food crisis. The food prices have skyrocketed and people are struggling to manage food inflation. Talks are rife that the country’s decision to switch to organic farming from the conventional farming methods of using chemical inputs caused the crisis. There...
Row over preserving records of Tamil inscriptions ends
The Archaeological Survey of India has given its nod to move the estampages of Tamil stone inscriptions from its Mysore office to Chennai in its order dated Jan. 6. With this order, the row over estampages of Tamil inscriptions has come full circle ever since it started in 2006. The row erupted...
Why lockdowns fail to deliver
At the end of nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasises a simple safety protocol against the virus: avoid close contact with people at a conversational distance, keep off poorly ventilated, crowded indoor spaces, and do not touch your face after...
Why can’t Simbu have a doctorate?
Ever since Vels University announced a honorary doctorate for T R Silambarasan, popularly known as Simbu among his fans, the online space is buzzing. Simbu’s fans are excited but a section questions the sanctity of such degrees given to actors, in the context of Simbu. The actor is likely to be...
Why TN should fix power sector before shooting for trillion dollar economy
India as a nation entered the trillion-dollar economy club in 2007. India set a goal in 2018 to become a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25. Amid this, a few states in India have set a vision of becoming trillion-dollar economies. But this seems overly ambitious even though it is a reflection...
