Monday, September 20, 2010

Maharashtra's Bharatnatyam exponents to perform in Tanjavur

Over 60 Bharatnatyam exponents from Maharashtra will be participating in the mega event 'Brhan-Natya-Yagna', a grand offering by 1000 dancers to commemorate the 1000th year at the Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu on September 25.

The temple, also known as 'Rajarajeswaram', was built by King Rajajaja Chola in 1010 AD in Tanjavur and is the world's first complete granite temple.

"A thousand dancers will perform in unison at the temple premises for 10 selected verses from 'Karuvur Tiruvisaippa', a divine musical poem composed in Tamil by Guru Karuvur Thevar of Raja Chola who built the Brihadeeswara Temple," Jayashree Rajagopal, director of city-based Nrithyodaya told PTI.

'Brhan-Natya-Yagna' is organised jointly by Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) and the Brhan Natyanjali Trust, Thanjavur and the exponents from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai include those from Nrithyodaya, Nritya Geethanjali and Takshashila Dance Academy.

"It is an exciting and great opportunity for several exponents of Bharatnatyam as everyone will be performing the same dance tuned to 'Pancha Ghana Ragas' -- Nattai, Gowlai, Aarabhi, Varali and Sriragam and choreographed movements by Padma Subramanyam, president of ABHAI," Rajagopal said, who is
also in charge of 'Bharatnatyam Rajarajeshwarm-1000' for
western India.

"Subramaniyam, who conceived the programme has prepared a DVD with the dances to be performed on September 25 and send it to all the Gurus of different schools of Bharatnatyam in the country and abroad so that they all can practice," she said.

Rajagopal said this mega event will be performed at 'Nandi Mandapam', the space around the huge sculpture of Nandi (bull) within the temple complex and will last for 30 minutes.

"Although it was conceived by my Guru Padma Subramanyam, the Tamil Nadu government later took interest and will host the entire two-day programme for music and dance to celebrate the 1000 years of the living tradition and offer 'Shodho Upachara' (pay obeisance to Lord Shiva Brihadeeswara) and the king Rajaraja Chola," she said.

Gayatri Subramanian, director of Takshashila Dance Academy from Navi Mumbai said, "A call received in the last week of June to dance at the temple was like a magic wand. I was engulfed with an absolute sense of gratitude, bliss and a sense of completion. It felt as if the invitation had come from the Lord himself."

Jayashree Rao, a senior disciple of Rajee Narayanan of Nritya Geethanjali here said, "It is once in thousand year opportunity and we are looking for this great day."

A student performer Kruttika Raman said, "It was like a dream come true when I got the news that I am going to be a part of the troupe of 1000 dancers from all across the globe, as I would perform for the first time in my native place that too as an offering to the Lord of Dance!!!"

Tamil Nadu government will provide accommodation and food to all artists, she said, adding more than 60 performers are going from Maharashtra of which 50 are from Mumbai, and others are from Pune, Nashik and Navi Mumbai.

Dancers from New Delhi, the southern states, and from Singapore, Malaysia and the US will also take part.

Padma Subramanyam said the whole purpose of bringing 1000 performers at one place to kindle an awareness among dancers about the connection between the temple and the dancers in olden times.

It is a Brhan-Natya-yagna, a grand offering by dancers to pay obeisance to Lord Brihadeeswara and to show their gratitude to the great king Raja Raja Chola, on the completion of 1000 years of the Brihadeeswara temple, she said.

The Brihadeeswarar Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil is a brilliant example of the artistry and architecture of the 'Vishwakarmas' in temple architecture.

"It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron Rajaraja Chola I. It is one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture and is one of our most prized architectural sites and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the 'Great Living Chola Temples'," she said.

The Vimaana or the temple tower is 216 ft (66 m) high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

5 cops among 10 injured in clash between Dalit groups

Ramanathapuram (TN), Sept 11 (PTI) Ten persons, including five police personnel, were injured in a clash between two groups of Dalits during a procession to pay homage to Immanuel Sekar, a Dalit leader, at Paramakudi in the district on his death anniversary today. As the procession reached Burma Colony locality, where backward Thevar community people were living, the rallyists were asked not to burst crackers. While one group of Dalits supported it, the other opposed, resulting in a clash between them, police said. Police said one group, loyal to Puthia Tamizhagam leader S Krishanswamy, damaged ten houses in the locality. Five members of a family, including three children, were injured in the violence. Two Sub-Inspectors and three constables received serious cut injuries in the melee, they said. The violence had erupted despite deployment of 1,500 policemen, led by six superintendents of police, on security duty for the anniversary. Earlier this morning, Tamil Nadu Minister Suba Thangavelan and DMK MP Ritheesh Kumar paid homage at the samadhi of Immanuel Sekar. Police reinforcements had been sent to the Paramakudi area where security had been tightened further. The situation had been brought under control, DIG of Police Amal Raj said. The injured had been hospitalised, police said.

Friday, September 10, 2010

'Sycophants at airport terminal opening'

CHENNAI: Janata Party president Subramaninan Swamy strongly condemned the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for brazen display of sycophancy in the proposed inauguration of the new airport terminal building at Madurai on September 12. He said the list of guests of honour for the occasion included mainly the Congress-DMK leaders.In a statement, he said the AAI, in a display of narrow partisanship, has sought to curry favour with the Congress-DMK personages and reduced the occasion to a cheap show.He recalled that the new airport terminal was first proposed by him in 1998 as an MP representing Madurai. “It was accepted by the NDA government in 2001 when Sharad Yadav was civil aviation minister. Record of parliamentary proceedings proves this,” he pointed out.“Thereafter I proposed and got the Centre to accept that the airport should be named as Muthuramalinga Thevar (freedom fighter and an associate of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose) International Airport,” he added.Swamy said the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the civil aviation ministry officials agreed and Cabinet gave assent to his proposal recently. Yet, there is no announcement of renaming, Swamy said and added this because the leaders do not wish to displease the local anti-Thevar chieftains of the Congress and DMK, who never liked Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Murali’s death a big loss to Southern film industry




Murali hailing from Karnataka was a darling of Tamil films for nearly 26 years. He acted in films of Shivaji Ganesan, Mammootty, Sarathkumar, Vijayakanth and others. He took to Tamil films when there was tough competition and when there were so many stars in the industry. With top stars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijaykanth, Sathayaraj, Karthik and scores of others in Tamil industry during the 80s, Murali’s selection of subjects and choosing roles of one among the masses earned him laurels even in remote villages of Tamil Nadu.

Murali’s first film in Kannada was Prema Parva directed by his father Siddalingaiah. After completing Prema Parva, he boarded a train to Chennai to act as hero in Poovilangu, his first Tamil film. But it was Porkalam that gave him recognition as an actor. Murali was in Bangalore last month to introduce his son to Kannada film media. Sitting with his father and son, he spoke on various topics, recollecting his younger days. He also shared memories about being teased for his dark complexion. He planned to return in October this year to introduce his son in Kannada films.

Murali’s well known Kannada films are Ajeya, Prema Gange, Thayikotta Thali, Sambavami Yuge Yuge and Ajay-Vijay. But his Tamil film Idayam with Heera lingers in the minds of many. His role in Idayam touches all with a subtle romantic touch.

Murali was popular for his simple and beautiful manners. He was all set to come back in En Raasi Nalla Raasi (My star is a good star). But death intervened in the plans of this great actor who was born on 19th May 1964. Murali’s death at age 46 is really shocking. This dark charmer was a romantic hero with no action image, a simple person with millions of fans. His death is a great loss for Southern film industry.

The last function Murali attended was the wedding of Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya.


WHO IS THEVAR....BHARATHI KANNAMMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N3oJSwsKQY

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Karthik in advertisement



Consumer brand endorsements have always been a lucrative option for many film stars. A few days work and a remuneration of a film. No wonder most of the stars are bitten by the advertisement bug.

Actresses were the usual choice for advertisements until a few years ago. Of late even the top male stars are showing great interest in doing commercials. Suriya and Madhavan are the kings of endorsements already. Vijay is selective but gets reputed brands. Even Vikram has finally fallen for advertisements.

If the young stars are opted for particular kind of products, senior actors like Sarath Kumar, Jayaram. Vijayakumar are chosen for value products. Now the latest to join the advertisement wagon is veteran Karthik.

Heartthrob of the eighties Karthik will soon be seen in commercial advertisements promoting a dhoti brand. Karthik plays a respectable man and ‘Naadodigal’ Shanthini Theva plays his wife in the commercial. The campaign will break next week.