Latest news with #Karunakaran
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Governement media should inform citizens, not glorify leaders': K Kunhikrishnan
How were the initial preparations? I told Mr Karunakaran that it would take at least six months. He told me the entire government was at my disposal and asked me to speed it up. He wanted it to be a gift to Kerala by the Union government on New Year's Day. I was willing to take the risk. I had to organise a lot, meet several Kerala ministers for infrastructure. The engineers worked in a ramshackle studio. We got an OB van from Jalandhar and four low-band, picture producing cameras. The key lay in attracting talent... television faces... announcers, news-readers, comperes, etc, with almost all of them garnering popularity with the viewers. Have heard that E K Nayanar cried inconsolably in the DD studio while saying the condolence message after Indira Gandhi's assassination… Oh, yes. Many leaders were called to render condolence messages. The first to be called was Nayanar. He was the Leader of Opposition then. I knew him from my Madras days. While recording his condolence message, Nayanar began to cry inconsolably. We were all stunned, but we kept recording it. Later, he told us about his last meeting with her where he was angry and spoke agitatedly. When he was about to leave, she stopped him and said: 'Mr Nayanar, please stay on for a minute. I have come to know that you have some health issues, and are under medication. Is there any way I can be of any use to you?' Nayanar was stunned because it was for the very first time that a political leader had asked about his health. When he began crying, there were about 10 people in the studio. All were moved… That was one of the most touching moments of my television career in Kerala. Other challenges? Television is known by its onscreen faces. Telegenic faces with broadcast-worthy voices, correct pronunciation, poise, effective delivery styles, etc had to be selected. I initially received around 4,500 applications, but not even 400 came close to fitting the bill. The inauguration was telecast live from Tagore theatre. We needed a microwave link from Tagore to the TV tower. That came from Madras. Equipment came from Mumbai. Everyone was willing to help. The challenges were something we cannot even imagine. With the advent of mobiles, all of us stay connected now. Back then, there was nothing of the sort. Your experience of working with television faces of those days… We didn't have a news editor at first. Delhi told me not to start news telecasts before the news editor and assistant news editors were posted. I asked: 'If there's no news telecast in Kerala, then what's the point in having television?' News culture is ingrained in Malayalis. Back then, we needed teleprinters because PTI and UNI were our only news sources. Delhi used a pool copy of AIR, which had so many bulletins.
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Where myth and nature come alive on canvas
The ongoing exhibition 'Divinely Feminine' at Gallery Ekami, Kannur, invites visitors into a world where myth, memory, and nature come alive on canvas. It features the works of the late C.N. Karunakaran, an artist whose visual language blends Kerala's mural tradition with a deeply personal style rooted in femininity and the grace of nature. Known for his delicate lines and stylised figures, Karunakaran's work stands out for its distinctive portrayal of the female form. A student of the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai, Karunakaran trained under renowned artists such as D.P. Roy Choudhury and K.C.S. Paniker. However, he soon moved beyond the framework of the Madras School, drawing inspiration from Kerala's rich mural tradition. His paintings avoid realism, favouring flat compositions, vivid colours, and bold lines that reflect the traditional two-dimensional style. 'His work draws inspiration from the past, but he never imitates it,' said art critic P. Sudhakaran, a member of the curatorial team. 'He reimagined tradition in a way that feels fresh and deeply personal. The women in his paintings are powerful yet gentle — part of nature, not apart from it. That close relationship between women and nature is what gives Karunakaran's art its lyrical quality. His trees, flowers, and figures seem to grow from the same root, blending into one another with effortless rhythm,' Mr. Sudhakaran added. The exhibition captures the essence of Karunakaran's work. 'We wanted people to see not just the paintings, but the world within them,' said Mahesh Ottachalil, the gallery's managing partner. 'Every line and colour carries emotion — an inner world shaped by reverence and imagination,' he added. The exhibition will conclude on July 12.
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
GV Prakash lends his voice for a love break-up song in Life Today
While the Tamil version is written by Karunakaran, the Kannada version is expected to be sung by either director Prem or singer Kailash Kher. Life Today, produced by Pradeep under the Meghana Production banner, features a cast of newcomers and marks the debut of Kiran Aditya. The film also stars Lekha Chandra, Ratharva, Tabla Nani, Apurva, Cockroach Sudhi, and Jaggappa of Comedy Khiladigalu fame. Cinematography is by Guruprasad MG. With post-production work nearing completion, Life Today is aiming for a September release.
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
How Rajiv Gandhi's Visit Turned Vizhinjam From A Fishing Village To Deepwater Port
A popular phrase in India, 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari', has become a transformational reality. Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Jammu & Kashmir's Vande Bharat train and inaugurated the world's highest rail bridge over Chenab, today, in Kerala, 75 km from Kanyakumari, the Vizhinjam deepwater seaport received the world's biggest container vessel, MSC Irina. Projects in India have long gestation periods. The Kashmir rail link had been envisaged by the British. The planning for it began in 1983-84 and has finally taken shape now. Similarly, the idea for a deepwater sea port in Vizhinjam germinated in the days of the Travancore State in the British era. It was revived during a visit by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - who incidentally had gone there to inaugurate houses for fishermen - in 1985. Veteran Congress Chief Minister Karunakaran pushed the project in 1991. Further thrust came during the regime of Oomen Chandy of the Congress, in whose tenure the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd was started in December 2015. The completion took place under CPI(M) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in May 2025. A Rocky Journey The project weathered several political storms, including stiff opposition from the Sonia-Rahul Gandhi family, who were opposed to the choice of the Adani group by the Kerala government (headed by Congress leader Oomen Chandy) for implementing the project on the DBFOT (Develop, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer) model. Regimes changed in Thiruvananthapuram, with both CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opting for the Adani group, though both sides at several points had a slugfest over the project as well. Work began in 2015, and in May 2025, PM Modi inaugurated this prestigious project of the Kerala government. This writer had accompanied Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on some of his trips across the country and was present when he visited Vizhinjam on September 6, 1985, on what was the second day of his three-day sojourn to Kerala. The visit was to study the implementation of various welfare schemes. We reached Vizhinjam in the twilight hours. It was a sleepy fishing village that traced its history to the second century BCE, a fact well-known today thanks to the discovery of pottery finds by archaeologists. Vizhinjam apparently had been part of the Indian Ocean trade route in ancient times. 'Something Is Fishy' The reason for Mr. Gandhi's visit was to review a housing project for fishermen. Rows of newly constructed houses were being shown to him. He noticed that the houses were unoccupied. On enquiry, it emerged that tensions within the fishermen community, which comprised people belonging to Muslim and Latin Christian communities, had spilt over from fishing rights to allotment of houses. Mr. Gandhi was furious. ' Kuchh to gadbad hai '(something is fishy), he muttered. Chief Minister Karunakaran, who was also the minister for fisheries, gestured to an official, who said the allottees had not moved in. The Prime Minister told former Chief Minister A.K. Anthony, who was accompanying him in his capacity as party general secretary, 'Anthony, can you locate an allottee in the crowd? I want to talk to him.' The bluff had been called. The incident was televised on Doordarshan that evening. While Mr Gandhi was infuriated, an unexpected advantage of the visit was a discussion on the history and potential of Vizhinjam. The ball was set rolling. Why Vizhinjam Is Important Vizhinjam, though a project of the Kerala government, is a port of national significance. It is the only transhipment terminal in the Indian subcontinent. Being the pioneer deepwater transportation hub, it contributes to revolutionising India's blue economy. The port has a natural depth of 20 metres and is located strategically within 10 nautical miles off the international shipping lane. Before the commissioning of Vizhinjam, India had no deepwater port, and it had to depend on ports abroad, primarily Colombo (Sri Lanka), to dock Ultra-Large Container Vessels (UCLVs); cargo containers were transported to smaller vessels and shipped to Indian ports. Before Vizhinjam, India thus had to forgo an estimated revenue of about $220 million (approximately Rs 1,990 crore) annually due to this transhipment. The natural depth of 20 metres also ensures that Vizhinjam will not have to spend on seasonal dredging. This, too, will contribute to the health of the blue economy. A New Era In India's Blue Economy With the docking of MSC Irina, which coincides with the first anniversary of the Modi 3.0 regime, a new era is being ushered into India's blue economy. MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company, a Swiss-based container shipping giant) Irina is the biggest container vessel and can carry more than 24,300 standard 20-foot shipping containers stacked up to 22 decks. It measures 399.99 meters in length and 61.3 meters in beam. With the docking of Irinam, Vizhinjam will be competing with international ports like Colombo, Salalah (Oman), Jebel Ali (Dubai-UAE), as well as Singapore. Vizhinjam's strategic location in the international shipping route connects Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East. It is proximate to the East-West shipping axis, which accounts for a substantial quantum of global maritime trade. While Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd., which is tasked with running the port, has developed its infrastructure, road and rail connectivity to the place, located 20 km from Thiruvananthapuram on National Highway 66, is still under development. Nonetheless, Vizhinjam will bring substantial savings as it removes India's dependency on ports abroad.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tamil script weaves a new identity in fashion
1 2 3 4 5 In Tamil Nadu, language has always been a hot topic. Now, it's haute as well. Case in point: Chennai-based designer Vivek Karunakaran's latest collection Idam (Tamil for 'place'), which debuted in Feb at the FDCI India Men's Week in Jaipur, featuring the Tamil script as individual letters and complete Thirukkural couplets. Karunakaran says the collection began as a tribute to the city, but from there, the thread of the narrative evolved into a celebration of identity, "an unapologetic expression of who we are and where we come from". He adds that the collection is being expanded to include women's wear. "It's declaration of pride." In one look, Karunakaran has a verse of the Kural block-printed on a jacket paired with Korean pants. "We've gone beyond just printing the alphabet to creating meaningful designs," says Karunakaran, whose clothes are priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 60,000. Designers from outside Tamil Nadu too are scripting the language into their couture. In Mumbai, actor Sonam Kapoor was recently spotted in a cream saree designed by Masaba, which had the Tamil letters, 'th', 'na' and more in black and gold. "The Tamil script has a unique visual ap peal," says Karthiknathan S, a graphic designer who specialises in Tamil lettering. "With almost 216 distinct characters, there is a lot of visual diversity." He adds that when Tamil was adapted into a font, ascenders and descenders were adjusted for visual consistency. "As a result, words and sentences form patterns with varying heights and depths. Depending on the preceding or following letter, ascenders or descenders are altered, creating intriguing patterns. It pushes the possibilities of what can be done with the Tamil letter". This, perhaps, explains why Tamil-script clothes have been well received, even by those unfamiliar with the language, says Dubai-based designer Vino Supraja, who has incorporated it into her collection 'Purisai', named after the Purisai Nadaga Pairchi Palli, a therukoothu school founded by Kannapa Sambandhan Ayya, who was awarded the Padma Shri this year. She adds that the appeal is so universal that most of her clients for the collection are Emiratis and Singaporeans, not Tamilians. "After our London Fashion Week show, the script became a conversation starter. It gave us a chance to discuss Tamil language, therukoothu, and Purisai's cultural richness. The Tamil script is the visual anchor," says Supraja, who grew up in Vandavasi, 10km from Purisai, where her father served as a doctor. Supraja also wore a saree featuring the school's name in her handwriting when she received the Glob al Sustainable Trailblazer Award recently at the House of Commons. Mayank Bhutra, a designer from Rajasthan raised in Erode (which is why he has named his brand Erode), says using the Tamil script in his clothes is about celebrating the place where he grew up. "We're in the process of developing our own typeface for the clothes, blending Tamil and English in a contemporary design," says Bhutra, who adds that as a child, he saw Jamakalam weavers at work and was fascinated. When he returned to the craft as an adult, he realised that despite years of tradition and a GI tag, there were no new designs or patterns. And that, he adds, was when he decided to help script Jamakalam a "contemporary identity".
