Latest news with #Ahammed
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Cinematographer-writer Bahul Ramesh on scripting the second season of the web series, ‘Kerala Crime Files'
Bahul Ramesh, who joined the list of cinematographers-cum-scriptwriters in Malayalam cinema with Kishkindha Kaandam, the acclaimed slow-burning thriller by Dinjith Ayyathan, is back again as scenarist with the second season of the web series, Kerala Crime Files: The Search for CPO Ambili Raju. Directed by Ahammed Khabeer, the series is being discussed for its taut screenplay, nuanced character arcs and novel themes. The action is set in the fictitious Kaniyarvila police station limits in Thiruvananthapuram. The officers posted there are being transferred because of their alleged nexus with criminals. When, Ambili Raju (Indrans), one of the cops, goes missing, the newly-appointed officers, Circle Inspector Kurian (Lal) and Sub Inspector Noble (Arjun Radhakrishnan) and their team start the investigation, which eventually leads to shocking revelations about Ambili and his special bond with an ex-convict Ayyappan (Harisree Ashokan). But as the narrative move towards the climax, more truths emerge, eventually leading to apprehending the culprit. In a free-wheeling conversation with MetroPlus, Bahul says that he did not put pressure on himself thinking it was the second season of a successful show. 'Ahammed ikka (Ahammed Khabeer, director of both seasons of KCF) contacted me in September 2023 asking if we could work on the new season. I had just finished Kishkindha Kaandam. He had only a month to pitch the story idea to the streaming platform. It is difficult for me to arrive at a thread just like that, my stories usually develop only once I start writing. I also wanted to give Ahammed enough time to find another story/writer if my idea did not work. However, he was confident and his only request was to include a few characters from the first season so that the viewers are reminded of the franchise,' Bahul says. Bahul became friends with Ahammed at LV Prasad College of Media Studies, Chennai, where he studied cinematography and Ahammed had done an internship. 'Even though he had interned much before I joined, we met through mutual friends. I looked forward to working with him, irrespective of the format or my designation. Jithin Stanislaus, the series' DOP, is also a senior,' he says. The writing for KCF did not involve a lot of research as many would think. 'I have put down the basic things I know, corroborated by what I read in the newspapers, saw on social media, or heard from others. There was no reference for the police characters. Once I finished the script, I fact-checked with experts and consulted a police officer who had helped Ahammed ikka in the first season. It was he who gave us the term passport adichu kitti, a phrase that the police use for transfer orders.' Bahul's expertise, when it comes to character development, is on show in KCF as it was in Kishkindha Kaandam. The way he peels layers of the characters is a mainstay of the story. However, Bahul stresses that it is not deliberate. 'I don't design my characters. The focus is on writing original dialogues and when I do that, the layers show as a byproduct of the process. I don't finalise the story and then write. The narrative develops as I work scene by scene,' he explains. In the context he mentions the scene where Ambili asks his daughter to go to Ayyappan's house and enquire about him. 'Her reluctance to go there hints at tension between the two characters. At the same time, I did not want the daughter's character to be one-dimensional. It was only after establishing this premise that I worked out the relation between Ambili and Ayyappan.' Bahul stresses that he was not concerned about adapting his writing to the web series format, especially arriving at a cliffhanger after each episode. 'I didn't follow that template. I wanted to keep it organic, without gimmicks. It was about pushing the envelope and arriving at a situation naturally, as I travelled with my characters.' In fact, he had 'an interesting way' to fix the duration of each episode. 'Ahammed ikka said that five episodes could be of 30 minutes, and the last one slightly longer. So, once I wrote the 40-page first episode, I gave it to my father to read. It took him 25 minutes and I gauged that it could be the approximate running time of that episode. That is how I got the meter to anchor my syntax. As I wrote each episode, I took it towards a conclusion, keeping that duration in mind, without twists or cliffhangers. Thus, each episode had an organic ending.' Now that deliberations are on about the 'show, don't tell' approach in the series, especially the climax, Bahul avers that he did not want to take the obvious route. 'It does not have an open ending. We have laid to rest all doubts, without stating the obvious. The answers lie in the final scene when Noble smiles, seeing the pack of dogs, thus declaring that his speculations were right.' Interestingly dogs are integral to the storyline and his exploration of the human-animal bond is heart warming. 'Their roles became important as I started working on the script. We had an expert who helped us execute scenes with the dogs. It was, obviously, difficult to make them act on demand. The director and DOP were patient enough to get the right shot.' About featuring a dog with a cognitive disability, Bahul says that he came across a scenario at a friend's house. 'They had a visually impaired dog. It was disturbing. But that's where I got the idea that a dog with a disability would be an interesting material for the series,' he says. Becoming a writer was a dream Bahul chose to keep on the back burner. 'I knew that scripting films was a gamble. Your story could get rejected and if chosen you don't know when it would become a film. So I decided to focus on cinematography, settle in that space, and then start writing scripts.' That opportunity came during during the lockdown, 'since there was nothing else to do. My first script was based on the theme of lockdown which Dinjith Ayyathan was keen to make into a film. That's when I came up with the story of Kishkindha Kaandam and he felt that we should make that first.' Bahul points out that he does not lose sleep over whether people like his scripts or not. 'I follow my instincts, my intuitions. I am open to correcting my mistakes. This attitude comes from parental conditioning. Thanks to my parents who never forced me to study. I have never been under pressure to perform well. They were happy with whatever marks I got. Once, on the eve of my Plus 1 exam, I was so nervous that I thought I would fail. I told my father this and asked if we could go watch a film. He was game and we watched the late evening show of In Ghost House Inn, which was the only movie playing in theatres then!' He is open to criticism as well. 'I want people to express their opinion, be it negative or positive. It is encouraging that they are at least thinking about it. I believe that such observations help in the growth of the content. Sometimes they surprise me with findings that I had never thought of. It is motivating when someone points out that I have tried to do something different. I never wanted to fall back on something that was easy, convenient or formulaic.' Meanwhile, he has finished the shoot for Dinjith's next movie, starring Sandeep Pradeep, due for release later this year.
Hans India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Malabar Group earmarks Rs 150 cr to scale up CSR activity
Hyderabad: Malabar Group, has allocated Rs150 crore in 2025-26 for scaling up its CSR initiatives focused on healthcare, education, hunger &poverty alleviation, women empowerment, environment protection and housing for less privileged. Under its flagship CSR initiative 'The Hunger Free World', the Group has committed to distribute 70,000 meals daily in India and Zambia to the under-privileged, totalling2.50 crore meals in 2025-26. This represents a significant leap from its cumulative achievement of 2.5 crore meals served over the past 3years and signals a deepened commitment to the cause of food security for underserved communities. The initiative is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger. At an event held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi on May 28, which also marks the World Hunger Day, Dr Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog & G-20 Sherpa launched the next phase of the Group's CSR programmes. Other dignitaries included MP Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group; KP Abdul Salam, Vice Chairman, O Asher, Managing Director of India Operations, Group Executive Directors Nishad A K and K P Veerankutty, Group Director PA Abdulla Ibrahim, THANAL Daya Rehabilitation TrustChairmanDr. Idrees V, Zonal Head North Jishad N Kand other management officiates. Commenting on the initiative, MP Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group said, 'We dedicate May 28 as our annual CSR day; we reaffirm our pledge to stand with the underserved through sustained and impactful action. Our CSR initiatives are a reflection of that enduring commitment. While we are doing our utmost, a greater impact can be achieved if more organisations join this mission. With 295 million people globally facing acute hunger (as per UN data), immediate action is non-negotiable.'
United News of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Malabar Group allocates Rs 150 crore for CSR in 2025-26
New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Malabar Group, one of India's leading business conglomerates and parent company of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, has announced a substantial allocation of Rs 150 crore for its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes in the financial year 2025-26. The fund will be deployed to expand initiatives across healthcare, education, hunger and poverty alleviation, women empowerment, environment protection, and housing for the underprivileged. On World Hunger Day, the Group reaffirmed its commitment under the flagship 'Hunger Free World' project to distribute 70,000 meals daily across India and Zambia, amounting to a total of 2.5 crore meals in 2025-26. This marks a significant increase compared to the 2.5 crore meals served over the past three years since the programme's inception. The initiative aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger. Dr Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog and G-20 Sherpa, inaugurated the next phase of the Group's CSR activities. Present at the event were MP Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group; KP Abdul Salam, Vice Chairman; O Asher, Managing Director of India Operations; Group Executive Directors Nishad AK and KP Veerankutty; Group Director PA Abdulla Ibrahim; Dr Idrees V, Chairman of THANAL Daya Rehabilitation Trust; Jishad NK, Zonal Head – North, and other senior officials. Commenting on the initiative, Ahammed said, "At Malabar Group, CSR is an integral part of our culture and we believe in giving back to society. May 28 is dedicated as our annual CSR day, where we reaffirm our pledge to stand with the underserved through sustained and impactful action. "While we are doing our utmost, a greater impact can be achieved if more organisations join this mission. With 295 million people globally facing acute hunger as per UN data, immediate action is non-negotiable. Our Hunger Free World initiative reflects this urgency, focusing on meal distribution alongside efforts to boost food production, create jobs, and foster sustainable economic growth." Currently, the Hunger Free World project distributes over 60,000 nutrient-rich meals daily through 167 centres across 20 states in India. In Zambia, the Group partners with the government to serve 10,000 meals daily to students in three schools. The kitchens operate with modern equipment and are staffed by trained culinary and hygiene personnel. In addition to hunger alleviation, the Group's educational initiatives include 716 micro-learning centres providing primary education and nutrition to street children across India. Over 32,000 children have enrolled, with 9,000 integrated into formal schooling, in collaboration with THANAL. Scholarships have been awarded to 1,14,000 girls to support their education. The Group's 'Grandma Homes' initiative offers free shelter and care to destitute women, with operational centres in Bengaluru, Kerala, and Hyderabad, and plans to expand to Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. On healthcare, Malabar Group plans to establish non-profit medical stores offering subsidised medicines across 140 locations in Kerala, with 27 stores already operational. The 'Uyirppu Project' supports higher education for children affected by last year's Wayanad landslide, providing financial aid to 134 students. Since inception, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has consistently allocated 5% of its profits towards social welfare programmes. UNI BDN GNK
India Gazette
28-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Customers shifting to 18-carat jewellery from 22-carat as gold rates rise: Malabar Gold
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): There has been a shift in preference by gold jewellery buyers with the rising prices of the yellow metal. Talking to reporters on Wednesday in the national capital, O Asher, Managing Director of Indian operations for Malabar Gold and Diamonds, said, rising gold prices are driving customers to shift from 22-carat to 18-carat jewelry. While the overall value of gold jewellery sales has increased, the per-customer volume has declined, he said. 'We are creating lighter-weight jewelry while maintaining the same designs to keep pieces within our customers' budgets,' Asher explained. 'If someone has a budget of one lakh rupees, they cannot increase it, so we've adapted our strategy. By keeping designs identical but reducing weight slightly, we ensure customers' aspirations aren't compromised,' Asher added. 'In some regions, we have observed customers transitioning from 22-carat to 18-carat jewelry.' Publicly available data showed that international gold prices rose at an unprecedented pace in 2025, soaring over 25 per cent. Over the past year, they have risen about 45 per cent. Analysts say that buyers are staying away from purchasing gold jewellery or investing in the metal, owing to an unexpected rise in prices. Gold prices, both in India and worldwide, are trading at their all-time highs or nearabout, due to its safe-haven appeal amidst ongoing trade uncertainties. The uncertainties surrounding Trump's reciprocal tariffs plan and counter-tariffs also came as a shot in the arm to international gold prices. Coming back to Asher, asked about the Federation of Indian Export Organisations' (FIEO) projections of USD 1 trillion in exports in 2025-26, he emphasized the target was reachable. 'Our focus is to manufacture in India and market to the world. We operate in 13 countries, and if businesses work in line with our Prime Minister's vision, I am 100 percent confident we will achieve the USD 1 trillion export target.' Today, MP Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group, has provided insights on market conditions. 'Gold prices remain unpredictable, with no clear indication of future direction. However, recent surges stem from US President Donald Trump's tariff policies and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Rising jewelry prices actually boost consumer confidence, as we've witnessed consistent price appreciation over the past 25-30 years,' Ahammed said. Gold has become a preferred global reserve asset, with governments and central banks worldwide increasing their holdings. The share of gold maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its foreign exchange reserves has almost doubled since 2021. According to a report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves by the Indian central bank, the gold share in forex kitty, in dollar terms, rose from 5.87 per cent in March 2021 to 11.70 per cent in March 2025. In September 2024, the gold's share was at 9.32 per cent. Historically, gold, as an asset, is considered to be a haven as it typically manages to retain or appreciate its underlying value in times of turbulence. (ANI)
Mint
28-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Malabar Gold & Diamonds weighs entry into lab-grown diamond segment
New Delhi: Malabar Gold & Diamonds is exploring an entry into the lab-grown diamond market with a distinct branding strategy, joining a small but growing list of large jewellery retailers eyeing the nascent segment. The company is studying consumer interest in lab-grown diamonds and evaluating how best to position its offering, said M.P. Ahammed, chairman of the Kerala-headquartered group. 'We want to come in with a different proposition with a separate identity and not mix it with natural diamonds, as customers are different. We will formalize something,' he said on the sidelines of a press conference in Delhi. Malabar has not yet set a timeline for its venture. 'Malabar is always open to understanding customer needs. Lab-grown is definitely in the market…We are still doing the research and understanding whether consumers like it. We don't want to do anything with a short-term view,' added O. Asher, managing director. If it moves ahead, Malabar would be among the few national jewellery chains in India to enter this space. Last year, Senco Gold Ltd began piloting lab-grown diamonds under a sub-brand called Sennes. India's overall diamond market is estimated at $6.2 billion in FY25, with lab-grown diamonds accounting for just $0.4 billion, according to Wazir Advisors. Both segments are expected to grow, with natural diamonds projected to reach $8.6 billion and lab-grown $0.6 billion by FY28. While India and China have emerged as major producers of lab-grown diamonds, retail adoption in both markets has been slow, executives said. Lab-grown diamonds are typically priced at a significant discount to natural ones and have found takers among a mix of jewellery startups and traditional family-run jewellers looking to diversify. Malabar, which primarily caters to the wedding segment with gold jewellery as its mainstay, also retails solitaires and engagement rings. The company operates over 390 stores across 13 countries and reported an annual turnover of $6.2 billion calendar year 2024. The company is also responding to the impact of high gold prices, which have weighed on consumer demand. In April, gold touched a high of ₹ 96,875 per 10 grams, prompting a visible correction in volumes, as per industry executives. 'Consumers with a budget of ₹ 1 lakh cannot increase their spending, so we have seen a correction in volumes,' Asher said. 'We are trying to take more market share by coming up with different programmes and categories of products. We are also offering jewellery in various carats.' 'Due to a jump in gold prices, consumers with a budget of Rs1 lakh cannot increase their budget, so we have seen a correction in volumes. What we are able to do—we are trying to take more market share by coming up with different programs and different categories of products. We are also coming in various carats (of gold). So it's a different business plan we are coming up with so consumers can still afford gold jewellery," he said. Malabar plans to introduce more 18-carat and 14-carat designs to offer value-conscious customers more options, mirroring a shift seen across the organised jewellery sector. 'We are trying to explore a little bit in 18 karat,' Asher added. 'We have come up with various innovations to reduce the budget without reducing the look.' The company aims to open at least 50 new stores in India this fiscal as it expands its retail footprint.
