Madras celebrates as its very own star has turned 70

Madras celebrates  as its very own star has turned 70

Cult classic: Kamal did Aboorva Sagotharargal (Appu Raja

in Hindi), playing the dwarf character with elan.

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Madras Memories

The cherubic boy in Kalathur Kannamma has turned 70, and yes, time does fly. Kamal Haasan, a five-year-old back then in 1960, has been defying the conventional norms of celluloid, adding a dash of magic, pushing the bars of excellence, and has left his imprint across categories. Acting, directing, choreography (he was an assistant dance master in Malayalam films), production duties, singing, lyric and screenplay writing, are all part of his vast repertoire.

And just as he clocked 70 last Thursday (November 7), wishes poured in and the release-announcement teaser of his Thug Life, helmed by Mani Ratnam, dropped in the digital space. The two, joining hands after the masterly Nayagan (1987), have understandably set expectations on fire. In the duopoly of Tamil movies, the Rajini-Kamal combine has set a high benchmark, for the movies they headline, the profits that accrue, and the dignity that they lend to their enduring friendship.

An interchangeable label

The laziest thing would be to label one as the star and the other as the actor, but both have proved that it is interchangeable. Rajini’s acting chops were evident in the poignant Mullum Malarum (1978), while Kamal’s box-office charisma was obvious in Sagalakala Vallavan (1982). In the Madras of the 1980s and 90s, the two held sway, and they continue to do so even now. It is a tribute to their longevity and the ability to stay relevant within a changing fan-demographic and evolving viewership tastes.

Kamal often did the commercial-Indie split or the action-comedy segregation while offering his bouquet of films over the years. Back in the 1990s, a few movie-halls were associated with specific actors. Albert at Egmore was deemed a Rajini bastion, but Kamal’s laugh-riot Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) ran to packed houses at that theatre. A year earlier, he did Aboorva Sagotharargal (Appu Raja in Hindi), playing the dwarf character with elan. The box-office went into overdrive and an impressed DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi penned a note: Kalaiye un marupeyar thaan Kamalo?(Art, is thy alternate name Kamal?)

Incremental value

It is a tribute to Kamal that even his films that didn’t exactly keep the cash-registers ringing have acquired an incremental value. Guna’s Kanmani anbodu song proved to be the emotional spine that held the recent Malayalam hit Manjummel Boys together. While Meiyazhagan currently draws in appreciation, people immediately recall the Kamal-Madhavan bromance and innate philosophy in Anbe Sivam (2003). Be it the sad Moondram Pirai (1982) climax or the all-guns-blazing denouement in Vikram (2022), Kamal has held his space while the years race by and he does the balancing act between the arts and politics.

Delhi Ganesh, who acted in around 400 films, dies

Delhi Ganesh, who acted in around 400 films, dies

Delhi Ganesh

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai 11.11.2024

Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh, who excelled in supporting roles, died in Chennai on Saturday night. He was 80, and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

He is known for having effortlessly played the role of a mridhangam player, Gurumoorthy, in Sindhu Bhairavi; Iyer in Nayagan; a cook, Palghat Mani Iyer, in Michael Madana Kamarajan; Sethurama Iyer in Avvai Shanmugi; a psychiatrist, Panchabootham, in Thenali; and a villain, Francis Anbarasu, in Apoorva Sagodhararkal. He had acted in around 400 films.

His involvement in theatre during his days in Delhi had given him a strong foundation in acting. Three years after foraying into the film world, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his role as a rickshaw puller, Muniyandi, in Pasi in 1979.

In Middle Class Madhavan, he played the role of Prabhu’s father. His acting upon seeing Vadivelu break a coconut in the film tells a lot about his calibre.

“Ganesh worked in the Indian Air Force, and later as a stenographer in the Food Corporation of India in Chennai, before pursuing acting full-time. He was active in the Delhi-based theatre troupe, Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha,” said K. Venkatachalam, a Tamil film historian.

While working in Chennai, he joined director Kathadi Ramamurthy’s troupe. His role as Kuselar in the play Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame drew the attention of director K. Balachander, who offered him a role in Pattina Pravesam. Balachander changed his name to Delhi Ganesh (from his original name Ganesan). He played the lead role in Engamma Sabatham. Ganesh used to say that his roles in Kamal Haasan-starrers earned him popularity.

Mr. Haasan had encouraged him to do a comedy role in Avvai Shanmugi.

Condolences pour in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Ganesh, and called him an illustrious film personality.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the death was a huge loss to cinema. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin too expressed his condolences.

Minister Ma. Subramanian said the actor made a mark not only in films but also in television serials. VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan said Ganesh earned the love and respect of the people.

Former AIADMK Ministers D. Jayakumar and P. Benjamin paid floral tributes to the mortal remains.

Actor Rajinikanth said, “My friend Delhi Ganesh was a wonderful human being and an excellent actor. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.” Mr. Haasan said Ganesh was a rare character artiste who handled comedy with a lot of nuance.

Actor and TVK chief Vijay said, “His [Ganesh’s] death is a huge loss to the Tamil film industry...”

Actor Y. Gee. Mahendra said, “He [Ganesh] had performed several serious and character roles, but he was a very jovial person...”

Mr. Ramamurthy recalled how he introduced Delhi Ganesh to Tamil theatre through the play Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame . “He continued acting in many of our plays,” he said.

Actor Sivakumar recalled Ganesh’s “excellent” role of a mridangam artiste in Sindhu Bhairavi. Filmmaker Chitra Lakshmanan said Delhi Ganesh was warm and affectionate to everyone.

Medical colleges to submit student data for new year

Medical colleges to submit student data for new year

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesofindia.com BANGALURU 10.11.2024 

New Delhi : Aiming to rule out any irregularities in MBBS admissions, National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges to verify and submit details of all students enrolled for the academic year 2024-25. This includes admitted students’ entrance exam (NEET) roll number, marks obtained in 10+2 (physics, chemistry, biology), merit number, date of birth, sub-category (SC/ST/ unreserved), and fees charged from them annually among others. Officials said this was done to ensure that all MBBS admissions are strictly in accordance with merit and not above the sanctioned intake capacity. 

“Earlier, the last date for submission of details was Nov 8 but many colleges have not filled or partially filled the required information. Thus, we have given a final deadline of Nov 23 to medical colleges to provide the required information,” B Srinivas, secretary, NMC told TOI. Last year, NMC carried out an informal exercise to double-check that MBBS admissions made by colleges were in accordance with the regula tions. It was found that there were instances, at least 30-40 of them, where the admission was inconsistent with the rules. For example, sources said, students who obtained less than 50% marks in 10+2 (physics, chemistry, biology) were granted admission. The NMC secretary said they have, for the first time, developed an online monitoring system to ensure faithful adherence to norms of admission and to further promote transparency and accountability in medical education. There are approximately 1.20 lakh undergraduate medical seats across govt and private medical colleges in the country. Srinivas said while granting admission in MBBS courses, medical colleges are required to ensure it is not beyond their sanctioned intake capacity. 

Also, colleges must make sure that the students meet eligibility requirements regarding age and qualifying marks. All students who are admitted in MBBS course are supposed to have qualified NEET-UG with the required percentile; 50th percentile and above 

Times of India ePaper bangalore - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-bangalore.cms 1/2 for general category, 45th percentile and above for physically handicapped and 40th percentile and above for reserved (SC/ST/OBC) candidates

Don’t keep MBBS seats vacant for candidates: SC

Don’t keep MBBS seats vacant for candidates: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com 10.11.2024

New Delhi : Supreme Court has disapproved of HC interim orders to keep a MBBS seat vacant in a medical college for a candidate alleging unfair denial of admission and said such a direction can be passed only in exceptional circumstances when a candidate presents a strong prima facie case. 

The order was passed by a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan who faced a piquant situation when two colleges approached SC saying HC, which had kept seats reserved for candidates, dismissed the petitions later and as deadline for admission was over, the seats will now remain vacant for the entire course period (five years), causing huge loss to them. 

Writing the judgment, Justice Viswanathan said, “Only if there is a cast iron case for the petitioner and the petitioner is bound to succeed in cases where error of the respondent is so gross as to negate any other conclusion, interim orders keeping seats vacant could be made.” The bench said courts certainly have the power to keep a seat reserved for candidates who have proved a prima facie strong case for their admission to a college, but the court must do so with “great caution and circumspection”. “In appropriate cases, even where the said exceptional criterion as set out above is met, the court will be justified in directing the petitioner to provide security, to the college-institution concerned where the seat is ultimately directed to be kept vacant or on whom ultimately the liability of the vacant seat would fall,” the bench said.

Medical colleges asked to submit details of students for new academic year

Medical colleges asked to submit details of students for new academic year

DurgeshNandan.Jha @timesofindia.com 1011.2024 AHAMEDABAD 

New Delhi : Aiming to rule out any irregularities in MBBS admissions, National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges to verify and submit details of all students enrolled for the academic year 2024-25. This includes admitted students’ entrance exam (NEET) roll number, marks obtained in 10+2 (physics, chemistry, biology), merit number, date of birth, subcategory (SC/ST/unreserved), and fees charged from them annually among others. 

Officials said this was done to ensure that all MBBS admissions are strictly in accordance with merit and not above the sanctioned intake capacity. “Earlier, the last date for submission of details was Nov 8 but many colleges have not filled or partially filled the required information. Thus, we have given a final deadline of Nov 23 to colleges to provide required information,” B Srinivas, secretary, NMC told TOI. Last year, NMC carried out an informal exercise to double-check that MBBS admissions made by colleges were in accordance with the regulations. 

It was found that there were instances, at least 30-40 of them, where the admission was inconsistent with the rules. For example, sources said, students who obtained less than 50% marks in 10+2 (physics, chemistry, biology) were granted admission. The NMC secretary said they have, for the first time, developed an online monitoring system to ensure faithful adherence to norms of admission and to further promote transparency and accountability in medical education. There are approximately 1.20 lakh undergraduate medical seats across govt and private medical colleges in the country. 

Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-ahmedabad.cms 1/2 11/10/24, 12:01 PM Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - 

Canada stops fast-track visa, decision will also impact Indian students

Canada stops fast-track visa, decision will also impact Indian students 

TIMES OF INDIA AHEMADABAD 10.11.2024

Ottawa : In a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students, including from India, Canada on Friday ended with immediate effect a popular fast track study visa programme. Under the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which was launched in 2018, the processing time for eligible post-secondary students from selected countries, including India, was significantly shorter and approval rates higher. “Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits,” the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday. Canada’s goal is to “strengthen programm e integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience,” it added. 

However, the IRCC said prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit stream. The move comes amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada. According to the Indian high commission here, India is the largest source country of foreign students with some 4,27,000 Indians studying in Canada. According to a news portal, immigrationnewscanada.ca, the SDS was launched with the goal of simplifying and expediting study permit processing for students from selected countries. The streamlined process allowed eligible applicants from countries such as India, China to enter Canada faster, typically within a few weeks, rather than waiting for the standard processing time, which could take several months, it added. 

Under SDS, Indian students’ applications were processed within 20 business days and now it may take up to eight weeks, said the moving2canada.com portal. PTI

NEWS TODAY 7-8-9.11.2024