Rajini’sDarbar to release in 4,000 screens across India

The ₹200-crore Pongal release has tie-ups with 15 brands

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,CHENNAI

The film is expected to open big as it is releasing solo for the Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19. File Photo

Actor Rajinikanth’s next film, Darbar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and releasing on January 9, will be screened in 4,000 screens in India alone, said R. Kannan, COO, Lyca Productions.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kannan said that the film, rumoured to be made on a whopping ₹200-crore budget, is also scheduled to release in places where Tamil films have not released yet.

“The film will release in 7,000 screens across the world. We are planning to release it in a few islands to reach out to the maximum number of people,” he said.

“We are spending ₹7-8 crore to promote the film. The marketing investment for this film is one of the highest in Tamil cinema,” he said, adding that the trade is expecting a super hit.

Mr. Kannan said that around 15 brands such as SpiceJet, Cadbury’s, BookMyShow and Airtel have tied up with the film.

With recent films such as Karthi’s Thambi and Sivakarthikeyan’s Hero declared flops, exhibitors are expecting this film to bring audiences back to theatres. Udeep Reddy, managing director, Mayajaal, said that the film would eventually open big as it was releasing solo for the long Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19.

“It looks like the film will do well for everyone in the trade,” he said.

JNU students, staff want V-C removed

Blame game begins between ABVP and JNUSU over violence on the campus that left 34 injured

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

United in protest: JNU students staging a demonstration on the campus on Monday against the brutal attack by masked goons on Sunday night.R.V. Moorthy

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Monday demanded the immediate removal of JNU Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar following the brutal attack by masked goons on the university campus on Sunday night.

Under fire for allowing the violence to continue, the Delhi police said an FIR had been registered against “unknown persons” for rioting and damage to property. No arrests have been made so far.

34 treated for injuries

Thirty-four persons injured in the attack, who were brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Sunday night, were discharged after treatment. One teacher was taken to Safdarjung Hospital and later discharged, an official said.

“Several students had broken limbs and head injuries. They were discharged after first aid,” said a senior official at the AIIMS.

“I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on the campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the march and attacked me with iron rods,” said JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh at a press conference, her arm in a cast and bandages on her head — she required at least 15 stitches following the attack.

The BJP’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), denied it was behind Sunday’s attacks, as alleged by both the JNUSU and the JNUTA.

The outfit, in turn, blamed Ms. Ghosh’s left-wing union for orchestrating the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but did not present any to the media.

The JNUSU and a number of faculty members have accused the Delhi police of being bystanders to the violence and allowing the attackers to leave the premises after going on the rampage for several hours.

‘A shameful episode’

“The violence that happened on Sunday is the result of the desperation and frustration of the V-C and his cronies. But the chronology of events that unfolded is a shameful episode for the Delhi police who gave a safe passage to ABVP goons imported from outside. For days now, the administration has been unable to break our protest. Since 4th January, ABVP people were directed as henchmen of the V-C to come and beat up students. They used lathis and pipes on that day,” JNUSU alleged in a statement.

In a separate development, the JNUTA has written an open letter to President Ram Nath Kovind on the connivance between the attackers and the JNU administration.

Singapore to be placed on destination wedding map for Indians

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.01.2020

Singapore Tourism is looking at attracting more visitors by promoting the island as a destination for weddings, cruises and overseas excursions this year.

G B Srithar, regional director, India, Middle East and South Asia of Singapore Tourism Board said, “We will focus on these elements to encourage more visitors. We used to promote school excursions years ago.” Destination weddings are becoming a thing among Indians, he said, adding, “We want people from Tamil Nadu to hold their weddings in Singapore.”

In a bid to promote educational institutions to take up excursions, Singapore tourism will encourage travel agents to offer incentives, he added. Singapore Tourism Board conducted a roadshow in the city where officials interacted with around 100 travel and tour operators.

“South India is an important region for us with direct flights available from nine cities, including Chennai, Trichy and Coimbatore,” he said.

Cruise tours are a great hit among Indians as they’ve hopped aboard cruises to the island most. “This makes it important for us. Indian cruise travellers are the youngest, with an average age of less that 30 years against the global average of 40. A good number of people who take cruise tours also stay in Singapore.”

Similarly, Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018.

Till October 2019, 1.19 million tourists from India visited Singapore.

Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018

Rail to link Velachery with Tambaram soon

U.Tejonmayam@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.01.2020

Residents of areas between Tambaram and Velachery may soon have a faster and comfortable mode of transport for daily commute, with the government planning a transit system, most probably a metro rail or a light metro line. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), which now operates a 45km rail network in the city, will conduct feasibility studies and prepare a detailed project report.

In his customary address on the floor of the assembly, on Monday, governor Banwarilal Purohit said, “To address increasing traffic congestion on the Tambaram-Velachery corridor, the government will establish a rail-based transit system for a total of 15.5km and Chennai Metro Rail Limited will prepare a feasibility report.” Sources said the line will come up along Velachery Main Road, which was one of the routes proposed to be linked by monorail between Velachery and Vandalur via Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Medavakkam, Selaiyur and Tambaram. “These localities are fast developing and if this link is connected, commuters can reach Tambaram to travel to Guduvanchery and beyond,” an official said.

Centre participation for phase-2 project sought

However, the decision to operate a rail service may depend on the investment the government is ready to make as well as the potential passenger traffic along the corridor.

The feasibility study will involve collecting extensive data on public transport users and private vehicles on the route. Based on the existing passenger traffic, a forecast for the coming decades and peak hour traffic will be assessed before the type of rail system suitable for the stretch is decided.

CMRL had earlier proposed lining a part of Kathipara-Poonamallee corridor, suggested for monorail, to the 118.9km metro phase-2. While Kathipara is linked to Alandur in phase-1, the remaining areas like Porur, SRMC Hospital, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadu and Karayanchavadi are now part of phase-2.

The decision to build a metro rail network on the planned monorail route was made after CMRL conducted a comprehensive study on the passenger flow along the route and found that the high traffic density between Porur and Poonamallee could only be handled by metro rail.

The governors said the state had decided to extend the metro rail corridor by 15.3km from Chennai Airport to Kilambakkam, where a new mofussil bus stand is coming up.

On the three-corridor 118.9km phase-2 project, which is estimated to cost ₹69,180 crore, the governor said JICA had agreed to fund a stretch of 52.01km and the first tranche of the loan agreement has been signed. Multilateral assistance from Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank is being availed of for the remaining stretches. “I urge the Government of India to accord early approval for their participation in the phase-2 project on a 50:50 equity sharing model adopted for phase-1,” he said.

He also said the phase-1extension line up to Thirvottiyur/ Wimco Nagar will be completed by mid-2020.

SC: Govt can regulate selection of students in minority institutes
‘Art 30 Is Not An Absolute Right’

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:07.01.2020

In a ruling with significant implications for minority institutions, the Supreme Court on Monday held that Article 30(1) does not confer an absolute right to them to run their affairs as per their choice as they need to regard merit while selecting students and teachers.

The SC said government has a role in ensuring quality of education in a case regarding a West Bengal law setting up a commission for appointing teachers to madarsas which receive government funding. The law was struck down by the high court but the decision has now been reversed by the SC. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit said any such regulative measures is not only in the interest of the minority educational institution, but of the public and nation as a whole. Such measures must necessarily apply to all educational institutions, whether run by majority or minority communities, even as it added that government regulations cannot destroy the minority character of an institution.

9-judge SC bench to hear Sabari case

A nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear from January 13, the issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple along with other contentious issues of alleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women. Last November, a five-judge bench in a 3:2 verdict had referred to a 7-judge bench, the pleas seeking review of its 2018 ruling allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. P10

Merit must be the governing criterion: SC

The bench said, “The decision in TMA Pai Foundation case, rendered by eleven judges of this court, put the matter beyond any doubt and clarified that the right under Article 30(1) is not absolute or above the law and that conditions concerning the welfare of the students and teachers must apply in order to provide proper academic atmosphere, so long as they did not interfere with the right of the administration or management.” Article 30 says that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

The question of procedures and appointments has arisen frequently in the context of the state’s role when it aids such institutions.

Referring to another verdict of the apex court, Justice Lalit, who penned the judgment, said merit-based selection is in the interest of the nation and this strengthens national welfare and must not be ignored.

“Selection of meritorious students has been accepted to be in national interest. A minority institution cannot in the name of right under Article 30(1) of the Constitution, disregard merit or merit-based selection of students as regards professional and higher education. The right to take disciplinary action against the staff has also not been accepted to be an unqualified right,” the court said.

The court said excellence and merit must be the governing criteria in national interest if the right has not been accepted as absolute and unqualified. “Any departure from the concept of merit and excellence would not make a minority educational institution an effective vehicle to achieve what has been contemplated in various decisions of this Court.

Further, if merit is not the sole and governing criteria, the minority institutions may lag behind the non-minority institutions rather than keep in step with them,” it said.

“An objection can certainly be raised if an unfavourable treatment is meted out to an educational institution established and administered by minority,” it said.

Centre’s panel gives nod for four new govt medical colleges in Tamil Nadu

The new colleges at Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Kancheepuram districts will each have 150 MBBS seats once the executive committee gives its approval. 

Published: 06th January 2020 03:19 AM

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Union health ministry’s technical evaluation committee (TEC) has given its nod for four new government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, at its meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

The new colleges at Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Kancheepuram districts will each have 150 MBBS seats once the executive committee gives its approval.

With this, the number of government medical colleges in the State will increase to 37. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of government medical colleges in the country.

An official source told Express that TEC has sent the file to executive committee, a meeting of which is scheduled for this week.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on December 2 had announced that the State had applied with Union Health Ministry for four more medical colleges and it was Amma (the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa)’s vision to establish one medical college in every district.

In October last, the Centre had approved six new medical colleges at Tirupur, The Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Namakkal, Dindigul and Virudhunagar districts.

In November, it gave nod to set up three medical colleges in Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Krishnagiri districts, taking the sanction of new medical colleges in the State to nine in one year.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh, Director of Medical Education (in-charge) R Narayanababu and other senior officials attended the TEC meeting in New Delhi and convinced the committee with a detailed report seeking sanction of four new medical colleges.

The State Government is planning to lay foundation for the first sanctioned six medical colleges soon.

Where are the colleges?

The colleges are to be built in Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Kancheepuram districts.

They will have 150 MBBS seats each, once the executive committee approves. With this, the number of medical colleges in the State will increase to 37

A taste of Tiruchy in Chennai

We were at the inauguration of Cholan Mess, a restaurant brand that traces its origin to the 1950s in Tiruchy.

Published: 06th January 2020 04:12 AM 

Cholan Mess was inaugurated at OMR on Sunday (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: On an overcast Sunday morning at Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, the beats of western snare drums and trumpets met the grooves of traditional Karagattam, and the scrumptious notes of Tamil Nadu mess food met vintage aesthetics.

We were at the inauguration of Cholan Mess, a restaurant brand that traces its origin to the 1950s in Tiruchy.

As we stepped into the eatery covered with checkered flooring, popular Tamil songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s blared through the retro loudspeakers.

Walls caked in warm mustard yellow and refreshing teal adorned illustrative portraits of women in Tamil households from a bygone era.

Adjacent to a swinging door that looked right from a Mexican cantina, a vibrant wall tastefully painted with posters of Tamil blockbuster films including the 1964 classic Server Sundaram, Aayirathil Oruvan (1965) and Vasantha Maligai (1972) caught our attention.

“To recreate the 1980s era was our main goal. Everything — from the interiors to the menu — has been curated in such a way that it evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth in customers,” said Praveen Antony, founder and MD, adding that the brand has only been “refound”.

“Cholan Mess was originally established in 1953. The Mess has a strong presence in Tiruchy and after so many years, it’s still tasting success. After the idea to start an eatery in Chennai took different shapes, I decided to narrow it down and bring Cholan Mess to Chennai,” said the restaurateur who opted to keep the origin story of the brand under wraps.

Praveen opened the first outlet of the Mess in Mogappair in September 2019. The brand will soon open its doors in Ashok Nagar too.

After a low-key inauguration, the restaurant was all set to serve the customers a virundhu (feast) of delicacies from down south — from seeraga samba biryani, nalli fry, prawn thokku, goli soda to milk sarbath.

“The seeraga samba biryani is our specialty. We follow heirloom recipes for all our dishes and being authentic is our USP. We serve food in banana leaves,” he added.

The eatery boasts a sizeable menu comprising wholesome meals, biryani, tiffin, drool-worthy gravies, and Indo-Chinese options. The restaurant doesn’t serve idli or dosa for breakfast, instead, they serve a traditional Neeragaram or Pazhaya soru served with chinna vengayam, chilli, more milagai, maavadu and maasi karuvadu.

“We will be adding more traditional dishes to the menu in the future. The idea is to make the brand national,” he shared.

The dishes start from Rs 20 onwards. Cholan Mess is located in HIG-I-104, Nolambur Main Road, Mogappair West, TNHB Phase I, Nolambur, Ambattur Industrial Estate, and Vinayak Avenue, First Main Road, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, OMR.