Will Kaala decide Rajinikanth’s political future? 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | S. MURARI

Published Jun 6, 2018, 6:12 am IST

As Rajini is banking on his film popularity to succeed in politics, the stakes are high. 


Rajinikanth

Chennai: Superstar Rajinikanth's latest film Kaala set for release on June 7 is eagerly awaited by his fans and others to see whether its success will embolden him to take the political plunge by floating his own party. As Rajini is banking on his film popularity to succeed in politics, the stakes are high.

If teaser trailers are any indication, it is going to be a hit as it is yet another in the series of gangster movies which have always clicked with the masses.

Rajini, 67, is playing the role of Dhiravayam Naidu, a Dharavi slum lord much like Vardaraja Mudaliar or Vardha Bhai loosely based on whose life Mani Rathnam made Nayakan in which Kamal gave one of his career best performances.

As both the leading stars of Tamil cinema and are now political rivals, comparisons are bound to be made. But then, Rajini has his own style of acting and his own mass following.

It is the second time that Rajini is doing the role of a Mumbai don. The earlier one, Badshah, directed by KS Ravi Kumar, was a runaway success. Kaala will also be compared to Badshah.

But then Badshah was released at a time when Rajini teased his audience with so- called punch dialogues about his impending entry into politics, only to say later it was just a publicity stunt. Now that he has taken the decision to enter politics, but hesitating to formally launch his own party, the response to Kaala will help him know where he stands in public esteem.

It is said that even bad publicity is good publicity for a film. That way, Kaala has run into controversy over Rajini's comments on Thoothukudi violence and on Cauvery.

His remark that the Thookudi mass agitation was hijacked by anti-socials, leading to violence and resulting in police firing in which 13 persons died, has angered the people, more so ultra-nationalist Tamil leaders like Vel Murugan and Seeman as well as Makkal Adhigaaram and Revolutionary Youth front. Even mainstream political parties, except the AIADMK and the DMK, have taken exception to his failure to condemn the firing and his assertion that he would not countenance any violence against uniformed forces.

Ironically, his innocuous remark that Karnataka should abide by the Supreme Court order and release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has invited the wrath of Kannada chauvinist leader Vattal Nagaraj, who has threatened to disrupt Kaala's release in that State. Of course, Rajini's son and producer Dhanush has moved the Karnataka High Court and got an assurance from the State Government that it would provide security for the film's smooth release. It shows Rajini is opposed by both Tamil and Kannada extremists. As Kaala is the first major film of Rajini's after his decision to enter active politics, there is so much hype. In the next few weeks Rajini will know which way the wind is blowing.
Ends

End of Rajini mania? No super opening for Kaala 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jun 7, 2018, 5:50 am IST

In city there was not much ‘Rajini money’ in form of posters, cut-outs and merchandise. 


Kaala

Chennai / Hyderabad: The response to the Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala, releasing in over 1,800 screens worldwide on Thursday, has been lukewarm, leading to doubts about how much of a factor he will be in Tamil Nadu politics. Kaala is Rajinikanth’s first film after he jumped into the political arena.

The usual hype about a Rajini movie was just not there even in Chennai, the hotbed of Rajini fan clubs, or in other centres where he is traditionally strong.

In Hyderabad, there was not much “Rajini money” in the form of posters, cut-outs and sale of merchandise. In Chennai, theatres were booked only for two days which is unusual for a Rajinikanth film.

The response to the film could be an indicator as to how Rajinikanth the politician could fare. The lack of traditional buzz could be the result of people taking a stand on his utterances including on the Cauvery dispute with Karnataka and the Sterlite agitation.

Rajinikanth has largely avoided getting into political controversies earlier. Taking a stand on hot issues this time could have divided fans and cleared the aisles of those who were disappointed with his utterances. This could tell on the Thaliavar’s political acceptance and the impact he could make on the elections next year.

In Delhi, the Supreme Court refused to stall the release of the film. “Everybody is waiting for Rajinikanth’s Kaala,” Supreme Court judges said.

Theatre owners optimistic Kaala bookings will pick up in Tamil Nadu
With Kaala set for release on Thursday, social media has been abuzz with reports that ticket sales for the Rajinikanth-Pa Ranjith venture has been lukewarm.



Published: 06th June 2018 04:29 AM | 

 

Promotional poster featuring Ambedkar and Che Guevara for Rajini starrer Kaala, in Tiruchy on Tuesday | M K Ashok Kumar

By Arunkumar Sekhar

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With Kaala set for release on Thursday, social media has been abuzz with reports that ticket sales for the Rajinikanth-Pa Ranjith venture has been lukewarm. Unlike the duo’s previous outing Kabali, which was released in over 4000 screens, Kaala is being released in 2000-2500 screens, 600 of which are in Tamil Nadu and about 1000 in North India. Theatre owners broadly agree that the advance bookings, while good, have not been as good as expected for a Rajini film. This is being attributed to the low-key promotions, Rajini’s political career, and the release date, even as theatre owners express cautious optimism in bookings improving.

“The Kaala trailer is subtle unlike Kabali, which was overhyped and backfired spectacularly. I would say that the bookings are really good for an ordinary film, but considering this is a Rajini sir film, the bookings are nowhere close to Kabali or Endhiran. Kaala has received only 50 per cent of the bookings of those films. I strongly feel the audience is waiting for the reviews,” said Rakesh of Vetri Theatre, who also believes that the Rajini-Ranjith combo didn’t go well with the audience. He adds that Rajini’s political entry may have fractured his fan base.

Nikilesh Surya, owner of Rohini cinemas, believes that the release date is to blame for lower than expected advance bookings. “The film would have gotten a much better opening if it had been released during the summer holidays as initially planned. We are expecting a 70-80 per cent occupancy on the weekends. Kabali had massive advanced bookings and the tickets for the weekend were sold out days ahead of release,” he said. Tirupur Subramaniam, who is distributing the film in Coimbatore, is optimistic about the film’s success. “We didn’t get a lot of repeat audiences for Kabali, but we are sure Kaala will get repeat audiences as is usually the case witha Rajini film,” he said.

Ambedkar, Che ‘pose’ with rajini

Tiruchy: Promotional posters for Rajinikanth starrer Kaala featuring BR Ambedkar and Che Guevara have evoked laughter among the public and activists, who point out the actor-politician’s recent remark that protests would turn Tamil Nadu into a graveyard. Though there are many posters with politically charged slogans and the superstar’s stylish pictures, a certain 20-foot-long poster is turning more heads as it features the Dalit icon and the Argentine Marxist revolutionary. Ariyamangalam M Jagadeeshwaran, whose team of Rajini fans pasted the posters, sought to explain, “Kaala is about revolution by the oppressed. So it reflects the stance of Ambedkar and Che. That is why we put their images.”

Supreme Court allows reservation in promotion to SC/ST employees
The top court took into account the Centre's submissions that entire process of promotion has come to a "standstill" due to the orders passed by various high courts.



Published: 05th June 2018 03:09 PM |


The Supreme Court of India (ANI Twitter Photo)
  By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Centre to go ahead with reservation in promotion for SC/ST employees in accordance with the law. A vacation bench of judges Adarsh Kumar Goel and Ashok Bhushan accepted the Centre’s submission that the entire process of promotion has come to a standstill due to the orders passed by various high courts and the apex court.

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh told the bench that there were separate verdicts by the high courts of Delhi, Bombay and Punjab & Haryana and the apex court had also passed different orders on appeals filed against those judgments.

“How the promotion is taking place as of now?” the bench asked. “They are not. It is all standstill. This is the problem. I am the government and I want to give promotion as per constitutional mandate,” the ASG replied. To this, the court said, “We will say you (Centre) can go ahead with promotion in accordance with law.”

The Centre cited the apex court’s 2006 judgment in the M Nagaraj case, which had said creamy layer cannot be applied to SC/ST for promotions in government jobs.

Singh said another bench of the apex court had earlier said a five-judge Constitution bench would examine whether the M Nagaraj judgment needs to be reviewed. He also referred to Article 16 (4A) of the Constitution, which enables the state to provide for reservation in matters of promotion to SC/ST employees, which in its opinion were not adequately represented in the services.

SC battle on medical seats 

Shuchismita Chakraborty Jun 05, 2018 00:00 IST 
Telegraph

Patna: The health department is planning to move the Supreme Court against the Medical Council of India, which has disallowed admission on 250 MBBS seats in three medical colleges of Bihar.

The apex regulator of medical education has denied admission on 100 seats each at the Government Medical College, Bettiah, and Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, and on 50 additional seats at Anugrah Narayan Medical College in Gaya.

"The MCI conducted inspections at the colleges in February. Manpower and some infrastructure deficiencies have also been pointed out, but mostly it is about manpower," said Sanjay Kumar, the principal secretary of the health department. "Since then, the government has met the deficiencies but for some reason, the MCI didn't quite agree. We are moving the Supreme Court now, requesting it to give the medical colleges some time. We will also request the court to ask MCI to conduct inspection again."

Sources pointed at 35-50 per cent of faculty shortage at the colleges that are faced with crises in library, laboratories and diagnostic facilities.

"There is around 36 per cent faculty shortage at Government Medical College, Bettiah. Teachers from microbiology and medicine departments have either resigned or taken voluntary retirement at the start of the MBBS course but their posts have remained vacant. Admission started in 2013 while the college had received approval in 2008. How long can the MCI overlook these things?" asked a source.

  Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences principal Dr J.K. Das said: "There is around 33 per cent faculty shortage in the medical college. On the day of the MCI's inspection, around 10-15 per cent faculty members were unfortunately absent for different reasons. We had pleaded with the MCI but they didn't listen."

A source at the Pawapuri college, around 90km from Patna, however, claimed it has 50 to 70 per cent faculty shortage. "There is lack of assistant and associate professor, senior residents and paramedics also," the source said.

Another source in the health department said doctors had given a proposal asking for special incentive packages for medicos working in remote medical colleges to stop migration of doctors.

"The department agreed in-principle to provide Rs 80,000 incentive to professor and Rs 50,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively to associate and assistant professor besides their salaries but the plan was dropped later. Doctors don't want to work in medical colleges in interiors of the state," the source said.

Former IMA-Bihar president Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, said: "The MCI has not taken care of the fact that geographical equilibrium of the production of doctors is highly limited to south and north India, and eastern India is ignored. There will be complete paucity of doctors in the whole of the eastern India."

HC convicts former Minister, wife in 21-year-old assets case

June 07, 2018 00:00 IST  the hindu

Subsequently, the DMK assumed power in the State and on August 22, 1996, DVAC lodged a First Information Report against the former minister and his family members for having amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income during the period between 1992 and 1996.

According to the prosecution, the convicts’ wealth was assessed to be just Rs. 1.65 lakh at the beginning of the period in question, but had multiplied exponentially to Rs. 83.01 lakh by the end of the period. Further, they had spent Rs. 31.28 lakh during the period though their known sources of income during the period was only Rs. 29.32 lakh. After completing investigations in the case, DVAC filed a chargesheet against the two convicts and five of their relatives on November 3, 1997, accusing them of having committed offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. However, the lower court acquitted all of them, leading to the present appeal.

Not in agreement with the decision taken by the trial court, Justice Jayachandran said: "On analysis of evidence and findings of the trial court, this court finds that the trial judge was unreasonably bent upon readily accepting all and sundry explanations offered by the defence to justify the accumulation of wealth beyond their legally known sources."

Wondering how the trial court could have "tinkered (with) the valuation statements to an extent that the accused were found with deficit balance," the judge said the act of the trial court of accepting certain documents relied upon by the defence but without any probative value, rendered its findings unsustainable.

He said the arithmetic of the trial court in arriving at a fabulous figure of Rs. 36.21 lakh as the income of Chandra during the period, through sale of prawns from her aquaculture farm, only reminded him of the fable ‘The milkmaid and her pail’ in which a milkmaid dreams of amassing wealth by exchanging milk for chicken but ends up dropping the pail.

Pudukottai Medical College to get 25 more faculty members 

C. Jaisankar 
 
TIRUCHI, June 07, 2018 00:00 IST

‘It will enable the college to function with full strength’

The State government has sanctioned 25 more faculty posts at the newly opened Pudukottai Government Medical College.

S. Saradha, Dean of the college, told The Hindu that the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) had approved the proposal to create 25 new posts. Most of them would be in the level of associate professors. It was expected that it would get the financial approval of the government soon. It would enable the college to function with full strength as per Medical Council of India (MCI) norms for handling second year MBBS classes, which begin in August.

She said the college, which was started in 2017-18, had anatomy, physiology, bio-chemistry and clinical surgery. Each department had about eight faculty members including professors and associate professors. In addition to it, it had been proposed to create four more departments such as pharmacology, pathology, micro biology and socio-preventive medicine. These departments would play a key role for the students stepping into second year from August.

Dr. Saradha said it had taken a number of steps to fulfill the norms of MCI for renewal of Letter of Permission to admit 150 students for 2019-20. The college had all required facilities for in-patients, out-patients, para-medical staff members, laboratories, classrooms, lecture halls and residential and residence quarters for second year students. The college had a 700-bed hospital.

There were 150 staff nurses in the college. A proposal had been sent to the government to increase their strength to 300. Similarly, there was a proposal to increase the number of paramedical staff too.

She said the MCI team was likely to visit the college in September to study the infrastructural facilities including class rooms, laboratory, lecture halls and residential quarters.

The college would have required faculty members, staff nurses and new departments before the visit, she added..