Asianet Newsable

It's like living in North Korea: Kashyap on Udta Punjab storm

PTI — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:11:21 +0530

Anurag Kashyap, one of the producers of Udta Punjab, has compared the ongoing censorship regarding his upcoming film to the dictator-controlled regime of North Korea.

The Bombay Velvet director said there is no sense of freedom here.

"I always wondered what it felt like to live in North Korea... Ab to plane pakadney ki bhi zaroorat nahin... (now, I don't even have to board a plane to go there)," he posted on Twitter.

The 43-year-old filmmaker's tweet came after Censor Board had purportedly raised certain objections regarding references to Punjab following which the movie may have to go through some changes.

Udta Punjab, starring Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh in a pivotal role, deals with the substance abuse in Northen part of the state and its effects on the youth.

"There is no film more honest than UDTA PUNJAB... And any person or party opposing it is actually GUILTY of promoting drugs," Kashyap added.

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the film is slated to be released on June 17.

Pakistan plane crash: 47 PIA passengers feared dead near Abottabad

Johnlee Abraham — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 21:13:10 +0530

The PIA passenger plane PK 116 was enroute to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral, when it lost contact with the air traffic control.

"PIA's ATR-42 aircraft operating as PK-661, carrying around 40 persons lost its contact with the control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short while ago," PIA spokesman Daniyal Gilani tweeted.

"All resources are being mobilised to locate the aircraft."

A PIA aircraft has lost contact with control tower. Plz see statement below.

— Danyal Gilani (@Danyal_Gilani) December 7, 2016

Pakistani media - Geo News and Dawn News have reported that there 47 people were on board the aircraft.

The plane reportedly lost contact with civil aviation authority at around 4.30pm (11.30 GMT).

Hrithik posts throwback photo of his fan moment with Big B

PTI — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:17:37 +0530

Calling the picture as his "fan moment", Hrithik says every actor is inspired by the 73-year-old Piku star.

"Sweet! Who found this! my fan moment as a kid! I think der's a little bit of Bachchan in every actor since. Agree?," Hrithik asked his fans on Twitter.

The Bang Bang star, 42, and Bachchan have shared screen space in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... and Lakshya.

Hrithik is currently gearing up for his much-awaited release Mohenjo Daro, an epic adventure-romance set in the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro, Sindh, Pakistan in the era of the Indus Valley civilisation that dates back to 2600 BC.

The film will hit the screens on August 12.

Will President Trump now deliver on these 'six' promises?

Johnlee Abraham — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:27:24 +0530

Donald John Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States on Tuesday. During his presidential campaign, he pledged to "Make America Great Again."

The 45th President of the Unites States will be sworn in on the steps of the US Capitol at noon on January 20, 2017. He will take over the reins from current President Barack Obama, till then Trump will be addressed as the President-Elect.

Below are some of Trump's signature promises, his supporters expect him to deliver on when he takes office.

1. Ban Muslims from entering the United States.

2. Suspend immigration from "any nation that has been compromised by terrorism." He has proposed to bring a proper vetting process in place.

3. Build a wall along the US-Mexico border. Trump had then said that he will make Mexico pay for it.

4. Stop illegal immigration. Phenomenally increase the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

5. Deport over 11 million unauthorised Mexican immigrants, along their children — even if they were born in the United States. The deportation will start with those who have committed serious crimes.

6. During the campaign, he had promised that he would appoint a special prosecutor to examine Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state. He had remarked that she would "be in jail" if he were president.

Watch: Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead on live TV

ruma r — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:55:02 +0530

A Turkish police officer assassinated Russia's ambassador to the country at an art gallery in Ankara while shouting about recent Aleppo crisis and Syria's civil war.

According to witnesses, the lone gunman shouted 'God is great!', 'don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria' and reportedly wounded three others in this attack targeted towards Andrey G. Karlov, the Russian envoy.

The security officers shot down the attacker who has been identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22-year-old off-duty police officer.

The leaders of both the countries have called this a provocative terrorist attack and the Russian President Vladimir V. Putin called the incident as “despicably killed” which is aimed at sabotaging ties with Turkey.

Syria is witnessing one of the most destructive civil war in recent times from past six years and Russia since the beginning has been supporting the government of Syria recognised by the international community. Last year, the Russian military intervened in the civil war and the country has been accused of large civilian casualty and human rights violation.

WARNING: Graphic Video

GST Bill: What happens next

Team Asianet Newsable — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:23:52 +0530

The following is a round-up of the bills chequered past, the road-ahead for the bill and some recent comments by senior parliamentarians according to a report in NDTV. "Tax evasion will lessen, there will be no tax on tax or a cascade of taxes and ease of doing business will improve," said Finance minister Arun Jaitley, stating that India's major tax reform will see the Centre and states "pooling their sovereignty to reap the many benefits that will ultimately lead to India's progress". The minister thanked political parties for uniting in support of the reform to ensure it was passed in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority. That support came after long negotiations. The Congress, which stalled GST for months before agreeing to support it in the upper house after winning concessions, reminded the government today that it had pushed through the bill in the Lok Sabha last year by the sheer dint of its numerical strength and not consensus. "After suppressing the opposition in the Lok Sabha, you went and got stuck in Rajya Sabha, and you finally had to come down. If you would have shown more cooperation in Lok Sabha to begin with, this would have been a far smoother ride," said the Congress' Veerappa Moily. The main opposition party has pledged support to the bill but is likely to again ask for a categorical assurance from the government that it will not introduce the next GST-related bills as money bills, which don't need the Rajya Sabha's clearance. After the Lok Sabha passes the 122nd constitutional amendment bill today, it will be sent for the President's assent which the government hopes to secure in a day or two. The bill will then be sent to the states. At least 15 or half of India's 29 states must ratify the amendment in the constitution and the government targets getting that approval within 30 days as it chases an April 1, 2017 deadline for GST implementation.Several states will have to call for special sessions to clear GST in the next 30 days. A GST council will be formed after that with states and the Centre as members. This council will recommend rates and other modalities for GST, which will replace a raft of different state and local taxes with a single unifivalue-addedded tax system turning India into world's biggest single market. Parliament will need to clear two more GST-related bills and each state will have to pass its own law. To meet its deadline the government will push to get this done in the winter session of parliament.

Trump's victory: Why is Russian President Putin so happy?

fleme f — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 21:13:00 +0530

Throughout the US election campaign 2016 there was one shadow in the room which everyone was nervous about – Russia. Hillary Clinton’s approach towards the Russians has always been aggressive. Donald Trump, on the other hand, played to the Russian galleries – praising Russian President Vladmir Putin and also by making promises to mend relations between the two countries. He also stated policy ideas extremely favourable to Russian interests. Was that enough to make Putin happy? It is a start definitely.

Here are some reasons why Putin is happy with Trump’s win:

Previously Barack Obama and former US presidents had been opposed to Putin’s annexation dreams – especially Crimea. Trump believes otherwise. He has agreed to ‘look into’ this!

One of Putin’s primary concerns has been the US intention of building a missile defense shield over Europe and it was clearly something which was proving to be a roadblock in Russia’s dreams. Trump has been critical US alliances like the NATO and has suggested that the organisation is obsolete and that its members should start paying for their own defense if they want US to help them in case of a war or attack from Russia. This has been a clear blow to the other states who had been wary of Russia’s plan of emerging as a superpower in the region. The NATO members may now have to foot the bills or face the Russian threat.

Destroying the iron-clad NATO guarantee might turn out to be an early Christmas gift for Vladmir Putin. Till now American presidents have never been accepting of Russian plans. It will allow him to move full steam ahead with his main foreign policy goal — bringing back the Russian-Soviet era domination! And with NATO out of the way and the US supporting their foreign policy with relation to Syria, Putin can literally control Eastern Europe.

With infighting in the US and erosion of US influence in Eastern Europe, Trump’s hands will be full and their attention towards world domination and other places of Russian interest will reduce giving Putin free rein to unravel his master plan.

We leave you with what Putin had to say when he congratulated Trump on his electoral win. A win in which he is said to have engineered through cyber attacks on Hillary Clinton. “Russia wants to and is ready to restore full-length relations with the United States. I repeat we understand that this will not be an easy route, but we are ready to walk our part in it, and do everything to return Russian American relations to a stable and sustainable developmental track.”

Kochiite crowned 'Tod Little Miss Universe'

Lekshmy Vijay — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:58:43 +0530

Like most little girls of her age, Kanmani loves dressing up, putting on makeup and taking catwalks imitating her beauty idols. But what makes her unlike other girls is the fact that she has made won the 'Little Miss Universe' title in the age category of 4 to 8 at the Little Miss Universe 2016 pageant held in Georgia.

Kanmani also won three other titles in the contest 'Best Model Little Miss Universe 2016', 'Miss Internet Voting 2016' and 'Tod Little Miss Universe' and qualified to represent her country in the King and Queen 2016 contest to be held in Bulgaria this year.

True to her name Kanmani, which means 'apple of the eyes', she is the darling of the house. Two years ago, when she was all of four, Kanmani's father Anoop Upasana, a photographer, discovered his daughter's fondness for camera and fashion.

Soon she walked the ramp for two major events in Kochi and won the titles. After winning the 'Little Miss Universe Indian’ contest held in Kozhikode, there was no looking back.

Kanmani, who has acted in five Malayalam films and appeared in several ad films credits all her achievements to her parents and her mentor and choreographer Arun Ratna.

"We are grateful to Arun Ratna, an international pageant trainer and choreographer for grooming Kanmani to win the title," said Manju, mother of the 'Little Miss Universe.' "Next, Kanmani will go to Bulgaria to attend the World King and Queen, Prince and Princess pageant this August," she added. The little princess is a class- I student of Campion School, Ernakulam.

As she flashed across a million-dollar-smile while balancing her tiara with elan, we know she is a future beauty queen in the making.

Eight school children killed in Kanataka road accident

Team Asianet Newsable — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:37:37 +0530

Eight school children were killed in a major accident after the vehicle carrying them was involved in a head-on collision with a private transport bus on Tuesday morning at Tarasi village of Kundapur taluk, Udupi district.

The accident took place near Tarasi NH 66 under Gangolli police station limits, The Hindu reported.

According to preliminary reports, there were 16 children between the ages of seven and 13. The kids were on their way to school in Tarasi village in an Omni van when it crashed into a speeding bus.

It is said that the bus was coming from Bhatkal and going towards Kundapur. The accident took place at a junction just a few metres away from the school, eyewitnesses said.

Eight children were killed on the spot. Six children are currently undergoing treatment at the paediatric ICU in Kasturba Hospital at Manipal. The driver of the Omni van is being treated at the trauma centre in the same hospital.

Social media activism won't change society, says Mollywood actress Parvathy

Team Asianet Newsable — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:40:13 +0530

Though the power of social media is hard to ignore, attacking venomously at each other through social media platforms will not bring any change in society", says the award winning Mollywood actress Parvathy. You can not change the society by sitting glued to social media and making big speeches online or by trolling others, she said.

"As women, we are going through a frightening phase and the only way we can be safe is by being alert and aware. Staying immune to things happening around and sitting inside a cubicle and attacking each other through social media will lead to more hatred. Instead, educate ourselves and be aware of everything around," said the actress addressing students of St. Theresa's College at Kochi.

The young star, who won the best actress award at Kerala State Film Awards, recently appeared in a short film titled Bodhini to create awareness on online violence against women.

Ambani brothers unite against Jio's rivals

shuchi srivatsava — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 21:15:32 +0530

Sharp differences have emerged among telecom operators over call termination charges with Ambani brothers opposing the levy, while rivals Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone maintained it is needed to encourage investments mainly in rural areas.

In response to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) consultation paper on review of interconnection usage charges, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, Anil Ambani-promoted RCom and Videocon have asked the regulator to abolish call termination charge, arguing that it makes phone call rates expensive for consumers and advent of new technologies are reducing cost of operations.

"Continuance of IUC, which is only a subsidy for inefficient network, will prevent operators from moving to the newer technologies besides keeping the cost of service at a very high level which only results in higher cost to the consumer," Reliance Jio said in its submission.

On the other hand, dominant players -- Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Airtel, Aditya Birla group firm Idea and Indian arm of British telecom major Vodafone have favoured levying of call termination charge to encourage investments in the country specially rural area where people spend less.

"We support a cost-based termination charge, enabling all TSPs to recover the legitimate cost of the termination of a call on their network from other operators. Such a regime is essential to protect and increase network investments," Airtel said.

Interconnection is must among telecom networks for transmitting phone calls from one network to other. At present interconnection charges (IUC) are paid by one telecom operator to another for connecting call made by its subscriber to dialled number. These charges add up to determine phone call rates. IUC is determined based on the cost incurred by telecom operators in transmitting a call.

At present, the termination charges for a mobile to mobile local and national long distance call is pegged at 14 paise per minute while the termination charges for international incoming call to wireless and wireline stands at 53 paise per minute. "Any change from a cost based regime will adversely impact our huge investments in the rural areas and belie the promise of cost based approach on the basis of which these investments have been made," Vodafone said.

Cryogenics: British teen wins death wish to return from the dead

fleme f — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 21:02:29 +0530

“I don’t want to be buried underground. I want to live and live longer and I think that in the future they might find a cure for my cancer and wake me up. I want to have this chance. This is my wish.” This was why a 14-year-old British girl, suffering from cancer, wanted to be frozen for future using the controversial system of cryonics.

Cryonics is an effort to save lives by using temperatures so cold that a person beyond help by today's medicine might be preserved for decades or centuries until a future medical technology can restore that person to full health.

Containers are finally immersed in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196°C for long-term care. Pic source:alcor.org

The teenager was asked the reason for her death wish and the girl, known only as JS, is said to have a written a letter answering the query. She said, “I have been asked to explain why I want this unusual thing done. I’m only 14 years old and I don’t want to die, but I know I am going to. I think being cryo‐preserved gives me a chance to be cured and woken up, even in hundreds of years’ time."

The decision was not an easy one to make as it faced opposition from the child’s father, while the mother was in support of the procedure. The girl asked the court to rule that only her mother can make decisions regarding disposal of her body, the Telegraph reported. Her parents are divorced.

JS’s parents could not afford to pay for the cryonic process, which costs from £37,000, but her maternal grandparents raised the money. The body has been taken to a storage facility in America - one of only two countries, along with Russia, that has facilities for storing frozen bodies.

Further, a report in states Dennis Kowalski, president and CEO of Cryonics Institute in Michigan, has admitted patients may be left with no memories even if they are successfully woken up. And he added that he only had a “50-50” belief that people enclosed in the freezing chambers would ever be revived.

The scientific community is divided over whether cryonics, which was pioneered by Dr Robert Ettinger, the institute’s founder and - as of 2011 - one of its patients, will actually work. The method has raised questions on its implications –legal, scientific, religious and economical.

Dubai airports ban Samsung Note 7

aditya a — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:56:37 +0530

The Dubai Airports issued a statement on Wednesday morning banning Samsung Galaxy Note7 on all flights from Dubai.

In a statement issued to Asianet Newsable, a Dubai Airports spokesperson said, "Dubai Airports can confirm that following advisories from various regulatory bodies and airlines, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 devices are now prohibited on all flights leaving Dubai International and Dubai World Central.

"We strongly advise passengers not to bring these devices to the airport, as they will be confiscated prior to boarding."

Low-cost airline FlyDubai along with national carriers Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways have already issued a complete ban on Samsung Galaxy Note7.

Earlier the national carriers had issued a temporary ban on the Note7 asking passengers not to turn on or charge the battery on board or check them in.

In a statement posted on their official social media platforms, FlyDubai announced, "Please note that effective immediately we are unable to accept the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 personal electronic device on board our aircraft or in checked baggage. We thank you for your understanding."

Emirates Airline also confirmed the same.

In an e-mail statement to Asianet Newsable, Emirates spokesperson said, "As advised by various aviation regulatory bodies, Emirates can confirm that all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones are prohibited from all Emirates' flights, including being brought on board in person, as well as in carry-on or checked-in baggage, with immediate effect. Emirates apologises for the inconvenience caused, however the safety of our ‎customers and crew is of utmost priority."

In a series of tweets on their official handle, Etihad Airways posted, "Following the global recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, #EtihadAirways is enforcing a total ban on these devices.

"Some Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones have been installed with faulty lithium batteries, which present a risk of combustion and fire.

"Guests must not carry Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in their checked-in baggage, in cabin baggage, or on their person.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused. However, the safety and security of our passengers and staff is of the utmost importance."

Samsung had to issue a complete ban on the production and sale of Note7 following reports of battery explosions after the second recall.

Obama: 10 Pictures of the ‘coolest’ and the most ‘romantic’ US President

Vipin Vijayan — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 12:15:09 +0530

A look at the moments from Barack Obama's tenure as United States president

Five-year-old Jacob Philadelphia touches President Barack Obama's hair in the Oval Office on May 8, 2009.

The Obama family was introduced to a prospective family dog at a secret greet on a Sunday. After spending about an hour with him, the family decided he was the one. Here, the dog ran alongside the President in an East Wing hallway on March 15, 2009

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama share a private moment in a freight elevator at an Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. January 20, 2009

President Barack Obama puts his toe on the scale as Trip Director Marvin Nicholson tries to weigh himself during a hold in the volleyball locker room at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, on August 9, 2010

President Barack Obama greets children at a daycare facility adjacent to daughter Sasha's school in Bethesda, Md., following her 4th-grade closing ceremony, June 9, 2011

Image: October 26, 2012: "The President pretends to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets Nicholas Tamarin, 3, just outside the Oval Office. Spider-Man had been trick-or-treating for an early Halloween with his father, White House aide Nate Tamarin in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. I can never commit to calling any picture my favourite, but the President told me that this was HIS favourite picture of the year when he saw it hanging in the West Wing a couple of weeks later."

Image: May 15, 2015: President Barack Obama is seen joining BB King to sing 'Sweet Home Chicago' in 2012

Image: February 22, 2009: "This was the first formal function at the White House in the administration: the Governors Ball. The President dances with his wife while singing along with the band Earth, Wind and Fire."

Image: June 4, 2015: "At the President's insistence, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes brought his daughter Ella by for a visit. As she was crawling around the Oval Office, the President got down on his hands and knees to look her in the eye."

Image: June 17, 2015: "The President carries the twin boys of Katie Beirne Fallon, Director of Legislative Affairs, into the Oval Office just a few months after they were born."

Survival Guide: Things you should do if a stray dog attack

Richa Barua — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:27:41 +0530

Keep yourself safe by staying calm and taking some measures to diffuse the situation. Here are ten guidelines to know how to deal with a stray dog when it attacks you out of nowhere:

1. Stay calm and walk away.

Do not run, as the dog will catch you and will be encouraged to bite. Don’t panic as it is not a pleasant situation to be in, agreed, but the calmer and more confident you are, the better. Many dogs naturally know how to "take down" a runner so search for something to climb onto and call for help.

2) Freeze:

If a dog is growling or barking at you, just stop and stand still. Depending on the situation or how you feel, you could slowly sit or even lie down. But if you move they will further growl and bark, so do not do anything and wait.

3) Distract the dog with another object:

You should carry treats or toys when traveling in areas known to be home to dangerous dogs. If threatened by an angry dog, throw your treats away from you. The dog may go after these instead of you. Like this, you may distract him enough to give yourself time to escape.

4) Avoid eye-contact: Never, yes never, stare at the dog and do not look him directly in the eye – that is aggressive behaviour. Instead, lower your eyelids, look at the ground.

5) Send calming signals:

Remember that the majority of stray dogs are afraid of humans. There are easy ways you can signal to a dog that you have peaceful intent. Yawning, licking your lips, standing sideways to the dog, letting them approach and sniff you can help you in calming them. FYI, don’t raise your hand while they sniff you; they might get surprised and bite.

6) Ask locals for help:

Locals are a big help when dealing with stray dogs. The stray dogs will know them, and the people will know how to handle them. If people are not around and you don’t know what to do to avoid injury, just yell for help.

7) No petting a tied dog:

Do not approach a dog that is tied up or reach through a car window or fence to pet a dog.

8) Give them privacy:

Never disturb a stray dog that is sleeping, eating, gnawing on a bone or caring for puppies.

9) Avoid confrontation with packs:

If a dog pack is just lying about sleeping or acting friendly, you’re most likely ok. But, if a pack feels threatening even if no one is barking, don’t chance it. Walk away and find another way around even if it’s a long one.

10) Pretend to pick up a stone or rock:

Pick a small rock and aim at them, remember, just pretend. This is a gesture that all dogs all around the world have learned to recognise because it causes pain, which unfortunately says a lot about the abuse they often receive. Yes, it will make the dogs more aggressive, but they kept a respectful distance.

Blood samples of Kerala tribe smuggled out for pharma companies

Team Asianet Newsable — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 19:06:39 +0530

Kerala police have started their investigation into reports that blood samples of members of the Cholanaykars tribe - one of the most primitive in Kerala that live still in caves and crude huts deep inside the forests near Nilambur - were smuggled out for foreign pharmaceutical companies.

'Mangalam,' a Malayalam newspaper, quoting Intelligence Bureau (IB) inputs, said that the blood samples of the members of Cholanaykar tribe were trafficked for foreign pharmaceutical companies three years back. A research scholar, who was studying the community had alerted the state government about the trafficking two years back. She had complained to the Chief Minister and the Tribal Welfare Minister, the report said

The newspaper reported that the blood samples of the community members were collected by some individuals who entered the forests under the guise of volunteer work. The blood-trafficking lobby could not have done it without the help of government officials, it said.

It is still not clear why the pharmaceutical companies would want the blood samples. One theory is that the ‘unadulterated’ blood of the primitive tribe is valuable in pharmaceutical research and would fetch good money. The tribal community that live deep in the forests, without much external contacts, are also not used to modern medicines. The blood samples of such tribes are much in demand for medical experimentation, the report said. Depending on forest for food and medicines, Cholanaykars are known to be immune to various diseases.

Even though the police started investigation, the officials confessed that it would be a tough task to track the incident that took place before 2014. The police will have to record statements of police and forest department officials who worked in Nilambur area in that period. Malappuram Special Branch DYSP D Ashok Kumar, who is in charge of the investigation, said that most of the officers have shifted to other places.

The blood was allegedly collected by two doctors who were working in the tribal area. There are reports that one of them died, making it more difficult for the police to move further. Meanwhile, an activists have approached Kerala High Court, requesting it to take action based on media reports.

Attingal twin murder: story of a blood chlling conspiracy

Team Asianet Newsable — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:39:05 +0530

The police succeeded in solving the sensational Attingal murder case within 24 hours after the crime and charge sheet was filed on the 83rd day of the crime. The prosecution presented 64 witnesses, 66 documentary pieces of evidence and 42 pieces of material evidence before the court. Other than murder, conspiracy, attempt to destroy evidence and theft, a case of transmitting obscene material in electronic form was also charged against IT professionals Nino Mathew and Anu Shanthi.16 April 2014: Omana, 60, a retired government employee, and her son's daughter Swastika, 3, was found murdered at their home. Lijeesh, son of Omana, however, escapes the murder attempt.

Police arrest Nino Mathew from his home at Kazhakuttom on the same day based on Lijeesh's statement. Mathew confesses to the crime and based on his statement, Anu Shanthi, wife of Lijeesh, was also arrested on the same day.

17 April 2014: Police raid the house of Mathew and seize weapons used for the murder - a machete, a sawn-off golf club and bloodstained clothes apart from gold ornaments worn by Omana and Swasthika. Further evidence proving the illicit relationship of Mathew and Shanthi was also recovered from his laptop.

21 April 2014: Mathew brutally attacked by the employees of Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram when police take him there for collecting evidence. The mob gathered in front of the building kicks and slaps him soon after he was brought out.

22 April 2014: The police take both Shanthi and Mathew to the crime scene for collecting evidence.

11 July 2014: Police file a charge sheet under Sections 109, 115,120(b), 302, 307,449,380,201 and 34 of Indian Penal Code and 67(a) of IT act against the two accused based on the investigation that lasted over a year.

16 April 2016: The Principal Sessions Court pronounces Mathew and Shanthi guilty of murder, criminal conspiracy and attempt to destroy evidence. They were also found guilty of criminal trespass, attempt to murder, theft and transmitting obscene material.

18 April 2016: Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court awards death sentence to Mathew and Shanthi was sentenced to double life imprisonment.

Rajkumar was a great yogi, left his body eight times: Yoga teacher

Johnlee Abraham — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 21:17:09 +0530

Those who have seen ‘Kamana Billu’(1983) know that Kannada film industry legend Dr.Rajkumar is not only an actor but also a yogi.

‘Kamana Billu’ director Dattaraj remembers shooting for a scene one particularly chilly morning. “We were taking some shots of yoga postures of Dr. Rajkumar in the early morning. The whole team was shivering with cold. But Dr. Rajkumar, who was only wearing a loin cloth, went on calmly doing yoga, without even a hint of a shiver”.

For Dr Rajkumar, Yoga was a passion – a way of life. However, not many know that the Kannada star was drawn to yoga only in his 50s. It is said that Rajkumar, who even a decade after his death still continues to rule the hearts of Kannadigas, used to practise his asanas for five to six hours a day.

There is a strange story behind Dr. Rajkumar’s fascination towards Yoga. HP Naikar, who is considered to have been Dr Rajkumar’s Yoga guru, believes that the Kannada cine star was great yogi in his previous life

After this incident Naikar had to wait for 20 years to meet Dr. Rajkumar, even though he travelled several times to Chennai his visits never were fruitful.

Dr. Rajkumar overheard this discussion and came out to meet me, he said.

The actor then explained his physical illness to Naikar. From that very first meeting Naikar started teaching Yoga practice to Dr. Rajkumar and within a few days his physical ailments disappeared.

After starting yoga, Rajkumar, who used to be a regular at the gym stopped all those exercises completely devoted himself to yoga. With Yoga Dr. Rajkumar not only started gaining physical strength but also mental calmness and experience of spiritual throb.

In the beginning Rajkumar under the guidance of Naikar used to start his yoga practice every day at 2.15 am and continued till 8 a.m. But Rajkumar was not satisfied, he wanted to experience the ultimate levels of yoga. Dr. Rajkumar often told his yoga teacher that he wanted to reach the level of siddhis.

“He wanted to experience Parakaya pravesh siddhi (entering into other’s body), ateendriya jnaana (telepathy). He would tell me, 'I have been practising for 20 years but I am not reaching to those goals”.

"These siddhis are not actually the goal of yoga practices. In the path of yoga experience, siddhis may happen or may not happen," he says. However, Naikar then adds, in the final phase of Rajkumar's life he achieved whatever he wanted.

“People say that I have taught yoga to Rajkumar for 28 years. But I know that I have not taught anything to him. In these 28 years I exposed and revealed to him whatever I had learnt from him in the previous lives. In this life he is equal to my father and equal to my guru,” concludes Naikar.

Moral Police! No leggings, jeans in medical college in Kerala

ranjith r — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 21:52:19 +0530

No jeans, no leggings and no noisy ornaments. Short tops, NEVER!

The dress code of the Govt. Medical College at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has raised many eyebrows with its conservative and discriminatory stand.

The circular signed by the Vice Principal of the college on 20 October 2016 clearly states that MBBS students, both male and female, should not come to the college in Jeans and Tees, or any other casual dress for that matter. The circular insists that the students should wear a neat and clean dress.

It also urges higher ups to take necessary steps to make students follow the dress code that amounts to gender discrimination by insisting that girl students should wear "Churidar or Saree with hair put up." No hairdo code for boys. But chappals, jeans, Tees and casual dress are not appreciated, irrespective of gender. (Interestingly, the third gender does not come within the purview of the circular!)

The 'leggings' had taken the social media by storm with netizens debating the issue threadbare a few months back in Kerala after writer Babu Kuzhimattom posted a slanderous tirade against women in leggings on his Facebook Wall. Noted singer Yesudas had also invited criticism for urging girls to shun jeans.

Some private colleges had banned it, igniting a heated debate on the attempt to impose moral concerns of a section of the society on others. A College run by Muslim Education Society at Kozhikode in Kerala banned leggings, jeans and purdah last year.

Kavalam Narayana Panicker, doyen of indigenous theatre, is no more

Team Asianet Newsable — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:37:46 +0530

Kavalam Narayana Panicker, one of the pioneers of Malayalam indigenous theatre, passed away on Sunday night at Thiruvananthapuram. He was 88.

Ailing for quite some time, the veteran who is also a much-revered poet and lyricist breathed his last at his home in Thiruvananthapuram at around 9.40 pm on Sunday.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Panicker drew his inspiration from both Sanskrit and folk theatre forms and copiously mixed the Dravidian, the classical and the modern.

Hailing from the backwater village of Kavalam in the scenic Kuttanad, he inherited the rhythm of river songs and the simplicity of ‘Njattupattu’ or the songs sung by paddy workers.

Kavalam Narayana Panicker

Born on 28 April 1928 at Kavalam in Alappuzha
Famous plays included 'Avanavan Kadamba', 'Daivataar', 'Kaikkuttappad', 'Ottayaan'.
Appointed secretary of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy from 1961.
His famous work 'Natakachakra' received Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 1975.
Penned songs for Malayalam movies Thambu, Aaravam, Aham, Sarvakalashala, Ayirapara, Aaroodham, Kannuezhuthi Pottum Thottu etc.
Received State Award for best lyricist for 1982 for the 'Marmaram'.
Sangeetha Nadaka Akademi Award in 1983.
Sangeetha Nadaka Akademi Fellowship in 2002.
Was bestowed Madhya Pradesh government's Kalidas Samman in 1994.
Honoured with Padma Bhushan in the year 2007.

The inimitable blend of the folk and the classical in his theatre works was inspired partly by the legendary CN Sreekandan Nair, who initiated a new genre of 'Thanathu Nadaka Vedi' that can be loosely translated as Indigenous Theatre in the late 1960s.

Prompted by writer writer Asok Vajpayee, Panicker turned to Sanskrit theatre in the 70s and brought to stage the classic plays of Bhasa and Kalidasa. His efforts to adapt and reenact these works were widely appreciated.

The nation honoured him with Padmabhushan in 2007. He headed the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy for a decade since 1961 and contributed immensely in showing the way forward for the Academy. His book ‘Nadakachakram’ won the Kerala Sahitya Academy award in 1975. In 2014, Kerala Sahitya Academy honoured him by bestowing honourary membership.

Born to Godavarma and Kunjulakshmi of Chalayil family in 28 April 1928, Narayana Panicker started his career as a lawyer. Soon, he realized that it was not his cup of tea and quit it to fully dedicate himself to theatre, music and drama and into writing.

His cremation will take place at his home village of Kavalam on Tuesday. Watch Malayalam Interview with Kavalam Narayana Panicker: