Anjali Menon: Cinema treading the contemporary path

Cinema is changing with the shift to the contemporary, and the new media and social  networking sites are playing a larger role to it. Filmmakers also respond to the voice of the people in this realm, filmmaker Anjali Menon has said.


She along with Karthika V K, publisher and Chief Editor, HarperCollins India, inaugurated the two-day UGC-sponsored national seminar on ‘Remapping of Reality Through Visual Technology-Interdisciplinary Engagements’ organised by the Department of English, St Teresa’s College, on Thursday.


Karthika spoke on graphic novels. She said that the first graphic novel to be popular in the US was ‘Maus’. In India though we had Amar Chitra Kathas, real and relevant issues are being related through graphic novels during the last five years.


Dr Seema Khanwalkar, a semiotician and visiting faculty at CEPT University, NID and MICA, Ahmedabad, also spoke.


Meena T Pillai, director of Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Kerala, spoke about the change in Bollywood and how films were moving from the national to the global arena.


Film critic C S Venkiteswaran spoke on ‘New media and the changing contours of cinema’.


Fathima Riyaz, faculty of Krishna Menon Memorial Women’s College, will speak on the graphic novels on Friday followed by discussions and a presentation by C S Jayaram on ‘Remapping Reality’.

Close down Engineering colleges that fare badly: HC

Expressing concern over the quality of  higher education in the state, the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the state government to take steps to close down self-financing engineering colleges which have failed to perform well for the last three years.


A Division Bench comprising Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice Babu Mathew P Joseph passed the order while considering a report on the pass percentage of various self- financing colleges. The court also ordered that steps be taken in this regard within a month and observed that students studying in such colleges could be accommodated in nearby engineering colleges.


The court also directed the state government not to grant NOCs for starting new self-financing engineering colleges in the state.  “All universities in the state have to post the results of engineering examinations of the self-financing colleges affiliated to them on the websites. If the results are posted on the website of the universities, students seeking admission to engineering courses can evaluate the performance of the colleges of their choice,” the court said.  The court ordered the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to take steps to replace the poor-performing faculty in these colleges and to raise the cut-off marks of qualifying marks for admission to engineering courses. The government has been directed to formulate an action plan to improve the standard of education in engineering colleges.

‘Cheat fund’ business thriving

After money chain companies swindled over `1,000 crore from the public in the state, now it is the turn of chit fund companies to make some quick buck.


Crime Branch Economic Offences Wing, which is  investigating money chain cases, has observed that several chit fund companies have started operation in the state without licence and permit.


According to the Crime Branch, many illegal chit fund companies are targeting people in Ernakulam and neighbouring districts.


“Quite surprisingly, many victims of money  chain cases are investing their money with the kuri firms without verifying their  authenticity. There are about 15 such fake financial organisations operating in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. people must wisely invest money without falling prey to the promises of the agents of the companies,” Crime Branch official said.


These companies have also recruited several women agents with a view to targeting the women customers.


“They feel that women can be easily lured into the promises of huge returns for investments. Apart from two or three companies, a majority of the kuri companies are illegal,” the Crime Branch said.






The investigation agency has registered a total of 620 money chain cases from Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Idukki and Kottayam districts. The majority of the cases was reported in Thrissur district with more than 400 cases to its credit. In Kochi and the rural parts of the district a total of 25 cases have been reported.


“Thrissur had such a huge number of cases because Nano Excel case was reported in the district. The total amount cheated by these companies would cross `500 crore in Ernakulam district alone,” Crime Branch official said.


There were 18 money chain companies operating in Ernakulam. The Crime Branch is also keeping a tab on several compaines that are operating on the lines of Nano Excel and Tycoon.


“A total of 487 cases were registered against Nano Excel and 133 cases against other money chain cases. Even though we have not received any complaint against chit fund companies, we are closely monitoring their operations,” the official said.

Salman Khan seeks support of Pak people for Sarabjit's release

MUMBAI: Actor Salman Khan has come forward in seeking support of Pakistani people and the media for Sarabjit Singh's release, who has been on death row in a Lahore jail since 1990.


"Requesting the people of Pakistan to support me to help free Sarabjit who has been in prison since 30 years. Please. Allah ka vasta," Salman wrote on twitter.


"Request the 'awam' of Pakistan, members of the press, government of Pakistan, President Zardari, a humble request. It would be the most amazing gesture, to send Sarabjit back to his family after 30 years. Hope u support me like its your own cause."


Salman also expressed how he felt sad about Sarabjit's family and longed for launching his support for his release.


"Wanted to tweet this for the longest time, saw a picture of Sarabjit's sister, it killed me. Felt real sad for her. Help me help her. It's a personal request to all of you in Pakistan to send Sarabjit back to his family in Punjab, hope you find it in your hearts to help," he said.


Sarabjit was convicted and sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in a string of bombings in 1990.


The Indian government also requested Pakistan to release Sarabjit after Islamabad said it had taken steps for the release of another Indian prisoner named Surjeet Singh who has been jailed for three decades.

Clash in front of Vatakara Court

VATAKARA: A clash broke out in the premises of the court just ahead of the appearance of the arrested Kozhikode district secretariat member P Mohanan in the T P Chandrasekharan murder case, in the court. The clash broke out after RMP activists were attacked by the CPM. CPM activists pelted stones at the police. The police resorted to lathicharge and threw grenade to disperse the agitated mob.

VS asks 10 lakhs more from party to fight cases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has written a letter to the party demanding Rs 10 lakh more from the party to meet expenditure for fighting various cases against corruption in courts.


Party sources said VS has asked for more money from the party to meet the expenditure for palmolein and ice-cream-sex scandal cases in which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and IUML leader and Industries Minister and P K Kunhalikutty, were allegedly involved. Earlier, CPM State Unit Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the money spent for cases against corruption was not being accounted for.


He also questioned the source of income of VS for filing the cases.


Replying to the allegation, VS said noted lawyers like Gopal Subrahmaniam and Shanti Bhushan had never accepted money from him for taking up cases. He clarified that the lawyers never charged him considering his stand against corruption.


Claiming that his battle against corruption began even before Anna Hazare came to the forefront, he said though the party had given him money to file some cases, he invariably paid from his own pocket. 'Though the party had given some money (nearly Rs 10 lakh) for the cases, it was not sufficient. In this situation, the party should provide Rs 10 lakh more for the cases pending in courts,' he said.