Latest news with #Lakshman
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Eleven cops suspended for beating, looting truck driver
Kanpur: Eleven policemen, including five head constables, were suspended here for allegedly assaulting and looting a truck driver and his assistant transporting cattle, a senior official said. The incident took place when the police personnel chased the truck and forced driver Lakshman and his assistant Mohd Uzair to give Rs 500 to each policeman, said Additional DCP (South) Yogesh Kumar. A video of the incident went viral, prompting officials to initiate an inquiry against the erring policemen. Those placed under suspension were identified as head constables Rishi Rajan, Ameer Hasan, Pradeep Kumar, Ajay Kumar Yadav and Anand Kumar; constables Hari Om, Atul Sachan, Sonu Yadav, Uma Shankar Dixit; and women constables Rinki Rani and Aaradhna, officials said. The police personnel, including Rishi Rajan, Hari Om and Atul Sachan, had assaulted Lakshman alias Lucky and Uzair and hit on their eyes with a stick and also looted Rs 10,000 cash from them, they said. According to an official statement issued here, the truck carrying cattle was on way to Aligarh via Ramadevi-Bhunti highway from Sarsaul and had hardly reached Barra highway when it was stopped by the police team. Later, a couple of more police vehicles attached with Hanumant Vihar police station arrived there and the policemen demanded money threatening police action. When the driver and his assistant refused to pay the bribe, the policemen pulled out Lakshman and Uzair from the vehicle and thrashed them, the statement said, adding an FIR on charges of cruelty against animals was also registered against the victims. Lakshman and Uzair made their own video and posted it online, the officials said. Assistant commissioner of police (Dial 112) has been asked to initiate departmental inquiry against the erring policemen, they added.
The Print
4 days ago
- The Print
UP: 11 cops suspended for assaulting, looting truck driver transporting cattle
A video of the incident went viral, prompting officials to initiate an inquiry against the erring policemen. The incident took place on Saturday when the police personnel chased the truck and forced driver Lakshman and his assistant Mohd Uzair to give Rs 500 to each policeman, said Additional DCP (South) Yogesh Kumar. Kanpur (UP), Jul 15 (PTI) Eleven policemen, including five head constables, were suspended here on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting and looting a truck driver and his assistant transporting cattle, a senior official said. Those placed under suspension were identified as head constables Rishi Rajan, Ameer Hasan, Pradeep Kumar, Ajay Kumar Yadav and Anand Kumar; constables Hari Om, Atul Sachan, Sonu Yadav, Uma Shankar Dixit; and women constables Rinki Rani and Aaradhna, officials said. The police personnel, including Rishi Rajan, Hari Om and Atul Sachan, had assaulted Lakshman alias Lucky and Uzair and hit on their eyes with a stick and also looted Rs 10,000 cash from them, they said. According to an official statement issued here, the truck carrying cattle was on way to Aligarh via Ramadevi-Bhunti highway from Sarsaul and had hardly reached Barra highway when it was stopped by the police team. Later, a couple of more police vehicles attached with Hanumant Vihar police station arrived there and the policemen demanded money threatening police action. When the driver and his assistant refused to pay the bribe, the policemen pulled out Lakshman and Uzair from the vehicle and thrashed them, the statement said, adding an FIR on charges of cruelty against animals was also registered against the victims. Lakshman and Uzair made their own video and posted it online, the officials said. Assistant commissioner of police (Dial 112) has been asked to initiate departmental inquiry against the erring policemen, they added. PTI COR ABN KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India.com
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Rs 50 crore Ramayana that never happened! Hrithik Roshan was set to play Ram, Amitabh Bachchan as..., film was shelved due to...
Did you know, in the year 2008, veteran filmmaker Sanjay Khan sought to bring the Ramayana to the big screen with a Rs 50 crore project titled The Legend of Rama. Known for his mythological TV successes—Jai Hanuman, Jai Mahabharat, and The Sword of Tipu Sultan—Khan had ambitious dreams of a high-velocity, Shakespearean-style epic. Cast that almost was The project aimed to cast Bollywood royalty: Hrithik Roshan as Lord Rama Zayed Khan as Lakshman Amitabh Bachchan as King Dashrath Zayed himself confirmed to Mumbai Mirror, 'Yes, my father is indeed making the Ramayan. … And who but Hrithik could be the perfect choice for the role?' Co-writer Farrukh Dhondy added, 'When you do a Mahabharat, Ramayan or any other scripture, … I'm trying to rationalise the ways of the Gods. Hrithik is the perfect Ram, and Zayed the perfect Laxman.' Despite a ready screenplay blending mythic grandeur with Lord of the Rings-style dynamics, the film never made it to production. Now, another Ramayana is all set to hit screens Fast forward to 2025, and Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana emerges—with its first glimpse already making waves. Ranbir Kapoor as Rama Yash as Ravana Sai Pallavi as Sita Sunny Deol as Hanuman Ravie Dubey as Lakshman Backed by AR Rahman & Hans Zimmer soundtracks and heavy-duty VFX, the teaser is already drawing praise for outshining even Adipurush. The epic is planned across two parts, releasing Diwali 2026 and 2027. The 2008 attempt by Sanjay Khan remains a fascinating 'what-if' in Bollywood history—an ambitious film that never left the station. Today, with an A-list cast, multi‑crore budget, and next-gen visuals, Tiwari's version might finally bring the Ramayana into the cinematic stratosphere. The epic's eternal appeal Whether The Legend of Rama had materialised or not, its spirit lives on. In every attempt—failed or successful—lie echoes of ambition, faith, and the everlasting allure of a story that shaped generations.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Why the light music industry is facing a decline in Chennai
A light music show usually draws a full house since the musicians fill the air with familiar notes and beats, and the audience warms up to much-loved tunes. Are bands put together by established musicians, or by those who just have an ear for music? How have bands fared over the years? Sankar, whose band is called Saadhaga Paravaigal, is the son of lyricist Ulundurpet Shanmugam. When he was a student in the Government Music College, Chennai, he formed a band with his friends. The college initially did not encourage him. Teachers wanted him to focus on classical music. But when the band began to win prizes in intercollegiate contests, teachers lent their support. His band was christened in January 1988, and the formal launch was in Vani Mahal. 'In the 1980s, there used to be light music shows in cinema theatres in the mornings, and the hall would be packed,' recalls Sankar. Lakshman formed a band with some of his friends while studying in Presidency college. 'We used to rent instruments from Johnny D' Mello in Mount Road. The cost of a guitar was Rs. 2,000, but we were paid only Rs. 1,500 for a concert. So he would insist on a bonafide certificate signed by the college principal. D'Mello also had a small space for rehearsals, and the rent was Rs. 125 rupees a day.' Later Lakshman's band was named Lakshman Sruti. 'For our 200th show in 1989, in just two days my brother Raman ensured that the entire band had uniforms.' Surprisingly, until the 5000th show, Lakshman had not studied music at all. He learnt the piano only after that. 'We used to have programmes throughout the month, but not anymore. To supplement the income, I plan to start a shop selling, renting and repairing music instruments.' U.K. Murali, whose band Udhaya Ragam U.K. Murali Innisai Mazhai is 40 years old, did not have a music background when he entered the industry. He learnt the nuances of light music and launched his band. 'Sabha concerts are not always profitable, but they give us publicity, which brings us wedding concerts and shows abroad, where the payment is good,' says Murali. Some of the musicians, who are part of these bands share how they entered the field and have coped with challenges posed by technology. Flautist Raghu, who has been in the light music field since 1972, says, 'I am 75 now, and still continue to play. Some instruments have taken a hit because of technology. Violin, for example, has disappeared from the stage, because its sound is reproduced on the keyboard. The flute, fortunately, has escaped.' Satish has been a keyboard player for 35 years, and has performed in M.S. Viswanathan's shows for 12 years. He has progressed to having his own recording studio. 'Learning the keyboard helps you try your hand at composing,' says Satish. 'S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and MSV have sung in my devotional albums.' Nagaraj taught himself to play many percussion instruments and can recite konnakkol as well. 'I started as a mimicry artiste. Till the 1980s, in the middle of a music show, there would be 15 minutes of mimicry, but that is no longer the case.' While in school, tabla player Kiran played for K. Balachander's TV Serial Jannal, in which SPB played a role. 'I know how to play electronic pads, but prefer actual instruments. For some songs such as 'Thendral vandhu yennai thodum', it is impossible to produce the perfect tabla sounds on a pad.' Trumpeter's Viji's grandfather, father and uncle used to play the trumpet in the police band. 'They took voluntary retirement to be full time musicians,' says Viji. 'The trumpet can be used to express many emotions, including pathos as in the song 'Veedu varai uravu'. Now brass section instruments are played on the keyboard. What will happen to artistes like me?' Selva, who plays acoustic drums, did a three-year diploma course in mridangam in the Government Music College, Chennai. When he entered the scene in 1994, electronic rhythm machines were rarely used. But by 1996, they began to be widely used and he decided to embrace technology. He learnt how to play rhythm machines and later electronic pads too. Bass guitarist Santosh says, 'Ilaiyaraaja is the one who has used the bass guitar to the maximum. You cannot sing some songs, such as 'Mandram vanda thendralukku' without a bass guitar. In the past, instead of the bass guitar, they used a six foot long instrument called double bass, which is a pure acoustics instrument. Bass guitar is an electronic instrument.' Singer Anusha Kartik learnt both Carnatic and Hindustani music. She says, 'Being in the light music industry is a blessing, because you get to share the stage with renowned playback singers. I have sung with SPB and Yesudas. When I first came to Chennai from Kolkata, I knew only Hindi songs, and had to learn to read Tamil. Today I know more than 300 Tamil songs.' Kavitha became a stage singer and then studied music in the Government Music College. 'During rehearsals, I notate even those songs allotted to someone else, and practise them. The happiest moment in my life was when P. Susheela complimented me for my rendering of the song 'Alaya maniyin' (film Paalum Pazhamum).' Vocalist Sai Vignesh learnt Carnatic music from T.R. Vasudevan, a disciple of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar. 'After I participated in Super Singer, I began performing with various light music bands, and then came the opportunity to sing the super hit song 'Varaha roopam', for the Kannada film Kantara. Classical singers must resist the tendency to improvise when they sing film songs. They must not add unnecessary gamakas.' ''We used to have programmes throughout the month, but not anymore. To supplement the income, I plan to start a shop selling, renting and repairing music instruments.''LakshmanLakshman Sruthi orchestra What is the reason for fewer programmes these days? Satish points out that some musicians like to adopt a freestyle of music, where they don't follow every note of the background score, but produce something similar. 'Freestyle is unacceptable. How can anyone tamper with what music directors have composed?' asks Selva. 'These days, many people go in for DJ's. This too has impacted us,' says Murali. 'Costs, including rent for halls, have gone up. In addition, we also have to pay licensing fees to IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society). By way of abundant caution, some hotels insist that licenses must also be obtained from Novex Communications and PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited),' says Sankar. (While IPRS gives licenses for musical and literary works, the others must be approached for a license for sound recording.) With expenses mounting, the cost of tickets has to be pushed up. But if tickets are pricey, there are few takers. Recently, the Corporation of Chennai has imposed an entertainment tax of 10 percent of gate collection, which will add to the financial burden of bands. 'There are roughly 10,000 musicians who will be affected if the light music industry ceased to exist,' says Murali.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Delving into multiple layers of Tamil identity
The rich repository of Tamil heritage and culture has largely remained invisible to the wider world, said Nirmala Lakshman, Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications, speaking at a discussion on her book The Tamils, at the Bangalore International Centre here. Ms. Lakshman described how it took her four years of multiple journeys across Tamil Nadu, studying, researching and listening to stories of people, to come up with the book. 'I spoke to epigraphists, historians, experts as well as ordinary people who generously shared their experiences, their sense of culture and tradition, and I discovered that multiple narratives coexisted,' she noted. It was during this journey, Ms. Lakshman said, that she realised how a large part of it still remained unknown to the larger world. 'Many expert voices had not been heard outside of Tamil Nadu and Tamil world which led me to realise that the wealth of knowledge of the rich repository of Tamil heritage and culture has not been visible to larger world, and the nuanced and better-informed reading of Tamil history and society as seen through their eyes could be highlighted in my book.' 'Through The Tamils, I hope to convey my personal insights to what I have learned about Tamil culture, history and literature to an audience of not just Tamil people, but also to non-Tamil speaking people everywhere,' she further added. Connection to roots The discussion, moderated by Ranvir Shah, founder of Prakriti Foundation, and introduced by Ramachandra Guha, writer and historian, delved into multiple aspects that have shaped the Tamil identity. 'The Tamil diaspora is as strong in Tamil as people in Tamil Nadu are. In places like Malaysia, there is a thirst to know more about one's roots,' said Ms. Lakshman, who further added that the research for the book was a journey of discovery for her too. According to her, Tamils, as with many other communities, are a complex demographic and carry with them a weight of history that goes back several millennia. Pointing out that there are about 90 million people across the world who identify themselves as Tamil, she recollected how, when she visited places like Malaysia, the diaspora there expressed a strong desire to know more about their roots, despite having migrated at least three generations ago. The essence 'In this book, I tried to find that Tamil essence as I weave through history and story, talking to a wide spectrum of people. So that in that sense it's an anecdotal and personal journey,' Ms. Lakshman remarked while further adding that today, a Tamil in Tamil Nadu is no more a Tamil than a Tamil in Malaysia or Sri Lanka or Canada.
