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Donor heart airlifted from Thanjavur to Chennai
Plea filed in Madras HC against allowing non-veg feast on Thiruparankundram hill
Cops arrest history-sheeter in Andhra
Heart For Transplant Flown From Thanjavur To Chennai, Saves 33-Year-Old Man
Taking organ donation and transplantation to a new high, a harvested heart from a brain-dead donor in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur was airlifted by a special chopper and successfully transplanted into a critically ill patient in Chennai.
Two held for smuggling red sandalwood, gutka
Law student booked for abusing cop
Gang attacks BJP functionarys home
Dravidian model DMK govt will not allow communal politics in Tamil Nadu: Stalin
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Rinku Helps UP Thrash Chandigarh; Shoreys Hundred Helps Vidarbha Beat Hyderabad
Vijay Hazare Trophy: India batter Rinku Singh smashed an unbeaten century as Uttar Pradesh crushed Chandigarh by 227 runs in their Elite Group B encounter of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 season in Rajkot on Friday. Rinku struck 106 not out off just 60 balls, while wicketkeeper-batter Aryan Juyal anchored the innings with 134 off 118 deliveries as Uttar Pradesh posted a formidable 367/4. Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel contributed with a brisk 67 off 57 balls in a commanding batting display. Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari claimed his second successive four-wicket haul with figures of 4-29 as Chandigarh were dismantled for 140 all out in 29.3 overs. Fellow spinners Vipraj Nigam (2-35) and Prashant Veer (1-11) provided support in a clinical bowling performance. Juyal's century featured eight sixes and seven fours as he paced his innings shrewdly. Rinku, who is in Indias squad for the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, provided the late acceleration with 10 boundaries and four sixes to hit his second List A century. He initially partnered with Juyal before joining forces with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) new recruit Prashant Veer, as the pair added 63 runs off just 35 balls to propel Uttar Pradesh beyond 350. The performance will encourage India's selectors ahead of the T20 World Cup, with Rinku being the designated finisher for the team in the shortest format. Meanwhile, Dhruv Shorey equalled N. Jagadeesan's record for most consecutive centuries in List A cricket as his unbeaten -109 powered Vidarbha to an 89-run victory over Hyderabad. Shorey's fifth consecutive List A hundred, struck off 77 balls with nine fours and six sixes, guided Vidarbha to 365/5 in 50 overs. Captain Harsh Dubey then led a disciplined bowling effort by picking three wickets as Hyderabad were dismissed for 276. Shorey built on a solid 148-run opening stand between Aman Mokhade (82 off 78 balls) and Yash Rathod (68 off 82 balls). After Nitin Yadav broke the partnership by forcing Mokhade to hole out at deep cover, and Rathod fell five overs later, Shorey took charge alongside R. Samarth (63 off 46 balls) to stitch a blistering 140-run stand off just 95 balls. He reached his eighth List A century off 73 balls with a lofted six, with Harsh and Nachiket Bhute providing late impetus to push Vidarbha past 350. Hyderabad maintained a brisk scoring rate early in their reply despite losing opener Tanmay Agarwal for 21. Varun Goud top-scored with 85 off 68 balls, striking four boundaries and four sixes, before being stumped while attempting an aggressive shot. Rahul Singh Gahlaut received two reprieves in the deep but eventually succumbed to Yash Thakur's short-ball tactics in the middle overs, as the target proved to be beyond Hyderabads reach. Left-arm seamer Raj Limbani claimed his maiden five-wicket haul as Baroda dismissed Bengal for 205 before cruising to a four-wicket victory with 11.1 overs to spare. Baroda captain Krunal Pandya set the tone with figures of 3-39, including the prized wicket of Abishek Porel, to restrict Bengal's scoring. Limbani then completed the job with his first five-wicket haul in List A cricket as Bengal failed to utilise their allotted overs. Krunal anchored the chase with a measured 57 off 63 balls at number four as Baroda completed the chase to register their second consecutive victory in the tournament. In another match, former Tamil Nadu leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin claimed his maiden List A five-wicket haul as Jammu and Kashmir defeated Assam by a massive 142 runs. Yawer Hassan's century powered J&K to 341/7 before Ashwin's spin bowling dismantled Assam's chase, as they were bowled out for just 199. Brief scores: Uttar Pradesh 367/4 in 50 overs (Aryan Juyal 134, Rinku Singh 106 not out; Taranpreet Singh 2-74) beat Chandigarh 140 all out in 29.3 overs (Manan Vohra 32; Zeeshan Ansari 4-29) by 227 runs Vidarbha 365/5 in 50 overs (Dhruv Shorey 109 not out; Kartikeya Kak 3-87) defeated Hyderabad 279 all out in 49.2 overs (Aelgani Varun Goud 85; Harsh Dubey 3/39) by 89 runs Uttar Pradesh 367/4 in 50 overs (Aryan Juyal 134, Rinku Singh 106 not out; Taranpreet Singh 2-74) beat Chandigarh 140 all out in 29.3 overs (Manan Vohra 32; Zeeshan Ansari 4-29) by 227 runs Also Read: Live Cricket Score Jammu and Kashmir 341/7 in 50 overs (Yawer Hassan 138; Denish Das 2-46) beat Assam 199 all out in 36.1 overs (Sumit Ghadigaonkar 53; Murugan Ashwin 5-34) by 142 runs. Article Source: IANS
Watch: Tamil Nadu fisherfolk mark 21 years since devastating 2004 tsunami
Families of tsunami victims gathered along Tamil Nadus coast to mark 21 years since the 2004 disaster that claimed more than 8,000 lives in the State. Fisherfolk held prayers and silent tributes in Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Cuddalore and Chennai, the worst-hit districts.
Renovated library at Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore inaugurated
It is part of the hospitals initiative to strengthen academic excellence and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
CBFC demands extensive cuts in Sivakarthikeyan`s Parasakthi
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Chennai has asked filmmaker Sudha Kongara to remove certain scenes and dialogues from Sivakarthikeyan`s upcoming film Parasakthi. The filmmaker has decided to approach the revising committee
AIs playing doctor, but all is not well
Last year, we told you AI was the doctors best friend. This year, its playing doctor to risky effect
Hardik to lead HIL governing council squad in 2026
Hardik Singh will lead the HIL Governing Council team in the Hockey India League. The tournament begins January 3 in Chennai. The team features experienced players and promising youngsters. The league will have eight franchises competing in a single round-robin format. Playoffs and the final will be held in Bhubaneswar. The league aims to provide continuity for players.
Nisha Rajagopalans concert moved seamlessly across composers and bhakti-laden kritis
Nisha Rajagopalan began and concluded her performance with compositions on Anjaneya.
Airports witness 7% surge in passenger traffic during November 2025 over same period last year
NEW DELHI: Airports across the country have recorded a 7% increase in passenger traffic during November 2025 as compared to the same month last year, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Air Traffic data for last month has just been released by the Authority. Over 3.79 crore flyers were recorded in the country last month, of which a little over three crore were domestic flyers. The overall international growth in the month was 7.5% (70,60,493 vs 65,69,934) while the domestic growth was 7% (3,79,51,054 vs 3,54,52,122) over the compared month last year. The domestic passenger traffic in relatively smaller airports has been in healthy double digits highlighting the aspiration for air travel among the non-metro population. Despite the negative publicity for Goa due to its taxi monopoly, overpriced hotels and overcrowded beaches, international patronage to the tourist haven has shot up by 31. 4%. A total of 20,479 flyers travelled last month as compared to 15,581 flyers in November 2024. Its domestic patronage has taken a beating with a 10.5% dip in flyers with just 5.4 lakh passengers from other States visiting it last month. The number was 6.1 lakh visitors in November last year. While the biggies have seen moderate growth, relatively smaller airports have recorded a growth of over 30% international passengers in November this year over the patronage witnessed in the same month last year. Bhubaneswar has seen a growth of 30.5% (14,220 flyers) Tiruchirappalli has 39.9% (19,402 flyers), Varanasi 40.4% (16,070 flyers) and Mangaluru 35.4% (76,579 flyers), Indore has doubled its patronage with a 99.9% growth (8,902 flyers as compared to 4,454 earlier) while Pune has seen a 49% patronage with 30,633 flyers. Among the major airports in the country, Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport continues its steady international growth with 6,42,647 passengers, a 27.3% increase in November 2025 vs November 2024. Hyderabad too has seen significant patronage with a 21% growth (4,86,126 flyers). Mumbai has seen a 6.5% (14,61,956 flyers) Chennai 6.1% (5,03,589) growth while Delhi has seen a 3% increase (19,07,845). Domestic picture On the domestic front, these airports have recorded a substantial growth with the patronage figure in the bracket Agra 77% (26470 flyers), Kozhikode 34.3% (16,90,918 flyers); Tiruchirappalli 50.9% (65,297); Tirupati 30.7% (1,08,441); Kannur 35.8% (35,637), Gaya 38.7% (27,862), Belagavi 32.1% (32118) and Indore 26.6% (27862). Hindon airport has seen a 2998% growth! It is 1,22,381 flyers versus 3,950 last November. Adampur (Jalandhar) has seen a 319.7% surge with 13,595 passengers, Rewa has recorded 179.9% surge (949 flyers) Jaisalmer 121.5% growth (43,971) while Bhuj has seen a 110% growth with 26,687 flyers. The Air Traffic Movements (Arrivals and Departures) have seen an increase of 7.3% with 40,909 ATMs recorded in November 2025 over November 2024. The freight growth too is a healthy 15.6% with 337.45 thousand tonnes versus 291.84 thousand tonnes in the compared period.
Sanjay Subramanyans Season of experiments continues
His concert at The Indian Fine Arts Society saw the Carnatic vocalist skirt heavyweight ragas, spotlighting Suryakantham and Hemavati.
Man arrested for murdering his wife in Ashok Nagar
IndiGo flights cancellation 26 December: Winter fog grounds several flights across the nation
IndiGo has cancelled numerous domestic flights on December 26th due to persistent winter fog and poor visibility impacting operations across North India. Several cities, including Varanasi, Chandigarh, and Guwahati, experienced cancellations due to forecasted bad weather. Major hubs like Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata also saw grounded flights as visibility dropped.
Chennai cops take on revellers, seize 24 vehicles for rash driving on Christmas eve
CHENNAI: As part of a special enforcement drive on Christmas eve, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) seized 24 vehicles for rash and dangerous driving across the city. The late-night operation was carried out on major arterial roads following instructions from the commissioner of police, Greater Chennai Police, with additional personnel deployed to curb speeding and illegal bike racing. The police said the special drives are being conducted during weekends and festival nights to rein in the growing menace of rash driving in the city. The GCTP urged motorists to celebrate festivals responsibly and adhere to traffic rules, warning dangerous driving will invite severe consequences. Members of the public were also advised to report incidents of rash driving through the GCTP helpline at +91 90031 30103.
Quack runs clinic in Thoraipakkam for 10 years, held
CHENNAI: A 38-year-old man, who studied only up to class 12, was arrested in Thoraipakkam on the outskirts of Chennai for posing as a doctor and providing medical treatment. The suspect, Vijayakumar, was running a clinic under the name Vijay Clinic and Home Visit Service at Okkiyam Thoraipakkam. The arrest followed a surprise inspection by a medical team led by Meenakshi Sundari, joint director of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services, after several complaints were received by the health department. During the inspection, the officials found Vijayakumar had neither studied medicine nor registered with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council, but had been treating patients for nearly a decade. The police also seized a forged MBBS certificate that Vijayakumar showed the officials claiming that he had studied medicine in West Bengal. Based on a complaint lodged by the health officials, the Kannagi Nagar police registered a case and arrested him.
Two college students die as govt bus rams bike waiting at signal near Chengalpattu
CHENNAI: Two college students died on the spot and another sustained serious injuries after a state government bus rammed the bike they were riding from behind at the Mahindra City signal near Chengalpattu on Wednesday evening. The police said the bike was waiting at the red signal when government bus heading towards Madhavaram from Villupuram crashed into it. The deceased have been identified as Lokesh (20) of Madurantakam and Sahith Saran (20), both students of a private university at Potheri. Another student who sustained severe injuries is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The police registered a case and sent the bodies to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital for postmortem. Meanwhile at Kancheepuram, a woman was killed late on Wednesday night when a government bus collided with a car on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway near Vellaigate in Kancheepuram. The car, driven by Praveen from Arakkonam in Ranipet district, hit a tanker lorry that cut across the road, following which a speeding Chennai-Dharmapuri government bus rammed into it, crushing it between the bus and the lorry. In the accident, Praveen escaped with injuries, but his wife Pinky was trapped and critically injured. Fire and rescue personnel could pull out her body from the mangled remains of the car only after 30 minutes. She died enroute to the Kancheepuram district government headquarters hospital. The police seized the tanker and the bus, cleared the wreckage with a crane. The traffic along the road was hit for almost half an hour.
Chennai third in number of dark stores in India
CHENNAI: Chennai has emerged as one of Indias most active quick-commerce markets, with about 190 dark stores a small, local warehouse set up exclusively to fulfil online orders occupying roughly one million square feet as of October 2025, placing it third nationally by store count, according to a report by Savills India. The scale of Chennais footprint underscores the rapid expansion of quick commerce infrastructure in large, consumption-driven urban centres. The dark stores in the city are largely concentrated in well-connected suburbs and secondary micro-markets, allowing operators to optimise delivery speed while keeping real estate costs in check and extending coverage to fast-growing suburban catchments, according to the report. When a customer places an order on a quick-commerce app, the order is routed to the nearest dark store, where the staff pick items from shelves and hand them to delivery partners. Savills notes that Chennai also ranks among the leading Tier-II growth markets for dark stores, supported by rising e-commerce adoption and growing consumer demand for ultra-fast delivery of groceries, daily essentials and higher-value categories such as premium personal care and lifestyle products.
Chennai construction workers seek housing allotment within city limits
Madhavaram Lake becomes first to offer jet ski rides in Chennai
Bounty of skipjack tuna at Kasimedu, but fishers gutted on price by middlemen
Medavakkam residents wade through sewage as SWD work remains incomplete for six years
GCC plans biomining of waste at Athipet dumpyard
On December 26, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13,946 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 12,766 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 2,34,100 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
Redevelopment of railway stations under ABSS project progressing fast
Chennais top railway stations parched as water vending machines lie defunct
Bizman cheated of gold by two men promising to remove curse
AIADMK forms poll manifesto committee
TN freedom fighters pension does not guarantee Central pension: Madras HC
DMK team to use AI to crowdsource public opinion, build poll manifesto
Madhavaram, Manali lakes to get boating facility by Pongal
TTDC has completed the feasibility study to introduce boating services, and has conducted trialsto determine whether the waterbodies have enough depth to allow the operation of motorboats
Insurance fraud: HC tells DGP to file 308 new FIRs
T Nagar to get new parking management system: GCC
Two persons held for stealing car at a petrol bunk in Chennai
You can now visit Victoria Hall
Road mishap: Woman killed, husband jumps off car, lives
Cops look for Santa Claus who did bike stunts on bypass road
Auto drivers trap bike taxi riders, hand over to cops
Essential phone, web services unavailable since BSNL fire
Hoax bomb threat to Bdesh dy high commission
Two students crushed to death by govt bus at signal
There are attacks on minorities in other places, but not in TN: Archbishop
TN leaders mark Christmas with calls for compassion, unity
Purasawalkam residents lament crumbling civic infrastructure on Bricklin Road
GCC has not taken sustained action against encroachments and several civic violations, says resident; Corporation cites lack of support from police in taking action against illegal structures
Toy industry in the State is now worth around 1,000 crore
December witnessed two significant developments one involving Funskool, the Chennai-headquartered toy manufacturer, and the other emerging from the temple town of Madurai. Funskool announced its foray into the electronic toys segment with the launch of a new product range, while Madurai-based Rigwheels, which began operations in 2024, unveiled its debut product the Vande Bharat toy train
110 kg of ganja seized in Sholinganallur
Man arrested for running illegal clinic in Thoraipakkam
AIADMK forms panel to formulate manifesto for 2026 Assembly poll
Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced the constitution of a high-level committee to prepare the party manifesto for next years Assembly election. The panel comprising ten former state ministers under Natham Viswanathan will tour Tamil Nadu to obtain views from people before formulating the poll manifesto. Also ReadPiyush Goyal meets Palaniswami, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
KANIMOZHI INTERVIEW: WHEN ELECTION COMES, BJP BRINGS ICE
No seat-sharing talks held in Chennai, says BJP State president
Tamil Nadu Startup Data Voucher Scheme draws 150 applications
The first tranche of reimbursements is expected to be released during Umagine TN 2026 in Chennai
Private capital reshapes Chennais public bus services in three years: World Bank
The government procured 1,025 electric buses and associated services awarded through competitive bidding
Tamil Nadu achieves new milestone in solar power generation and grid absorption
Sand lorry owners federation raises concern over poor quality of M-sand in T.N.
The Federation noted there are about 4,000 M-sand manufacturing units in the State. Of this, only 478 M-sand manufacturing units were approved for quality by the Public Works Department
In this episode of Focus Tamil Nadu, we look back at a year that reshaped the states political landscape. From a massive voter list purge and a deadly stampede to a legal battle over a sacred hill, 2025 raised urgent questions on democracy and communal harmony. Delimitation fears and fierce alliance battles further defined this pivotal year.
Study indicates need for integrated centres for assessment of breast cancer
The analysis by the Chennai Breast Centre revealed that when tests are conducted across multiple centres in a fragmented manner, a significant proportion of breast cancer diagnoses is missed or misdiagnosed
Rock nostalgia, live in Chennai by the 55-year old legacy band The Blue Bird
Classic rock, timeless energy, and The Blue Birds
Madras HCs list for new judges fundamentally flawed, says PIL
A public interest petition challenges the legality of the Madras High Court collegium's recent recommendation of 13 advocates for judgeship. The petitioner argues the collegium was flawed by excluding Justice J Nisha Banu, who was still technically part of the court when recommendations were made. The plea also alleges political interference in the selection process.
Phone left in SUV helps cop nab car-lifters in hours
CHENNAI: A phone accidentally left behind in a luxury car turned out to be the undoing of two vehicle lifters, helping the police track and recover the stolen car within hours on Wednesday. The car, belonging to a state-level Congress functionary, was intercepted near Puzhal following a high-speed chase. According to police, Melvin (36), a resident of Vyasarpadi and state secretary of the Congress partys human rights division, had stopped his car at a petrol bunk on Melpatti Ponnappan Street to refuel. When Melvin stepped out to settle the bill, leaving the engine idle and his mobile phone on the seat, two persons jumped into the car and quickly drove the away. Melvin immediately alerted the Vyasarpadi police. A team led by Inspector Rajinikanth utilised the GPS tracking feature on the stolen mobile phone to monitor the cars real-time movement. Finding themselves cornered, the suspects abandoned the vehicle which had a deflated tyre, and tried to flee. Following inquiry, police arrested Surya (25), a bike mechanic from Kodungaiyur, and his associate Bharath (28) of Manali in this connection. The duo has been booked for vehicle theft and remanded in judicial custody.
8,000 cops deployed for Christmas security in Chennai
CHENNAI: On the occasion of Christmas, a total of 8,000 police personnel have been deployed across Chennai to ensure a peaceful celebration. Special security arrangements will be in force from Wednesday night till Thursday, with intensified security across the city, particularly around churches expected to draw large congregations. The deployment is being carried out under the supervision of senior police officers, with Home Guards assisting field personnel. Around 350 churches will be covered through rotational patrolling, with additional law and order, crime and traffic police posted at high-footfall locations such as Santhome Basilica, Besant Nagar Velankanni Church, St Antonys Church at Parrys, St Georges Cathedral on Anna Salai and Chinnamalai Church. Public address systems will be used to issue safety advisories and prevent overcrowding. CCTV and drone surveillance, plainclothes policing, intensified patrols and special vehicle checks at key junctions are part of the plan. At Marina, Santhome, Besant Nagar and Neelankarai beaches, police will prevent people from entering the sea and monitor the area using all-terrain vehicles. Traffic police have made special arrangements for smooth flow of vehicles, parking and strict enforcement against drunk driving, speeding and other violations, aided by ANPR and CCTV cameras.
Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT probe extended to TN, Karnataka
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Still clueless over the fate of the gold that was stolen from Sabarimala artefacts, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the gold theft cases have fanned out its probe to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The sleuths visited various locations in Chennai in a bid to collect more evidence against Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari. Another team of officers conducted another round of search at Roddam Jewellers in Ballari in Karnataka. Roddam Jewellers is owned by Govardhan, who is in judicial custody along with Pankaj after the SIT arrested them for allegedly being part of the subterfuge. The sleuths had earlier recovered about 470g of gold from Roddam, but sources said investigators could not verify whether it was part of the missing gold from Sabarimala artefacts. The Chennai-based probe of the SIT has got another dimension as well. A businessman based abroad had allegedly testified before the SIT about the suspected involvement of international rackets engaged in antique trafficking.
Foot over bridge at Chromepet and Taramani to get escalators
The Highways Department has placed orders for five pairs of escalators at a cost of around 7.5 crore
Tamil Nadu highway crash: 9 dead, 10 injured as Chennai-bound bus rams 2 cars
A Chennai-bound bus in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district veered off the road and collided with two cars after a tyre burst, resulting in nine fatalities and at least 10 injuries. The accident occurred near Thittakudi, blocking traffic on the national highway. The Chief Minister announced compensation for the victims' families.
Breaking News Live Updates: Nine killed in road accident on Trichy-Chennai National Highway
On December 25, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13,894 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 12,736 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 2,33,100 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
The Dig: A deep dive into the past
A phone call regarding a long-form article she had written eight years ago sparked the beginning of this book, Sowmiya Ashok recalls. A writer said that it had a story to tell, a potential to be a book. For the Chennai-based journalist, the news of the Keeladi excavation sparked her fascination with Harappan sites in Pakistan, and it was thrilling to learn that an excavation was underway right next to Madurai, a place closer to her home. She thought the quest might answer questions like who we are. On December 21, this journey of discovery, in the form of a book, The Dig: Keeladi and The Politics of Indias Past , was launched by an eminent archaeologist V Vedachalam. An informative conversation filled with curiosity and humour, between writer Sowmiya and Shabbir Ahmed, senior news editor with The News Minute , was a walk through the process of creating the book. An evening with a coterie of book enthusiasts and well-wishers gathered at Ashvitas a small space reflecting coarseness and elegance with splashes of paintings around. Something so intentionally raw about the room made it the perfect space for a discussion on archaeology and the old remnants. Writing a book, for Sowmiya, was about preparations and frequent journeys. Her philosophy was to show up everywhere, be it an archeology conference, a talk of a script, meeting people, or visits to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archeology or the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). She calls it the process of trial and error. The journalistic impulses nudged her to keep showing up. As Shabbir pointed out, Keeladi has become a political flash point. He alluded to the political scenario of biased interpretations and conflicting opinions while Sowmiya was writing the book. But the book, he remarked, is far from the political narratives that we have heard over time. Sowmiya said, I stuck to chronology. Its a difficult story to tell, and there were a lot of narratives; everybody had a stake in the game. Anybody who ventured into this, who is not an archaeologist or an epigraphist, sometimes had reasons to say the things they were saying. As someone who believes that archaeology is so politicised in our country, she didnt want to document this excavation site with political narratives. Sowmiya had a clear idea that she wanted to make the book about people who are working despite politics, despite the lack of funds. I spoke to people as wide as I could go. The voices and diversity are what I wanted to capture, she said. But she also shared that this made the story even more complicated, because our origins themselves were complicated. These excavations trace back to the past, where one can see more cultural exchanges and different parts of the subcontinent. There were comparisons made with Harappan sites and the Indus Valley Civilization. She reasoned, Ever since Independence, and we lost these big sites to Pakistan, theres been a quest to find parallels of the Indian sites. Sowmiyas work ethic echoes the words of Vedachalam, who said, An archaeologist should remain balanced. Every site is the same for an archaeologist. Her extensive research not only included conversations with archeologists and experts but also delved into literature. I needed to understand what the literature was if I was writing about a site that relied so much on the references in the literature. This meant digging up the Sangam literature, and the poems that described the physical aspects of the old Tamil region. With layers of excavation, some of the definitions of what constitutes urban is also what Sowmiya writes in her book. What is a marker of urban doesnt have a concrete answer they arent just remnants of structures and materials, she emphasised. More excavations lead to more understanding, and thats what I have tried to say in the book as well, she shared. For her, the process of writing was both exciting and transformative. It was a space for her to understand her own origins, which she says, is more complex than I thought. Every day was a learning experience be it lengthy conversations with experts or close interactions with the locals. Sowmiya recalled her long conversations with K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the then ASIs superintending archaeologist, who initiated the excavation at Keeladi. When asked about the people who are pushing the Archeology Department forward, Sowmiya said that, be it the Archeology Minister or the Commissioner of the Tamil Nadu State Department, there is a political push that stems from their personal passion for history and archaeology. The launch concluded with a reading session, where she presented excerpts from the book. With a tone so light and hearty, words swollen with keen observations, and humour, Sowmiya led the audience to the excavation site. True storytelling indeed.
Blending graphite art and 'kutcheri'
While Margazhi remains rooted in tradition, the way it is being experienced is evolving. Across the city, artists are responding to the season with interdisciplinary projects that integrate music, visual art, and performance, reflecting a growing desire to engage with classical forms beyond conventional concert formats. It is within this evolving Margazhi that Rag Rekha, a three-day art exhibition by Carnatic vocalist and artist Jayakrishnan Unni, finds its place. Featuring over 100 hand-drawn pencil portraits of Indian classical musicians and dancers, the exhibition is to be held from December 26 to 28 at CP Arts Centre, Alwarpet, offers a quieter counterpoint to the seasons sonic abundance. Presented by Faber-Castell along with Poorvi, and supported by ACHEVE Foundation (USA), Rag Rekha positions itself as an invitation to immerse rasikas into multidisciplinary art this season. The show is the culmination of Jayakrishnans works that he has been creating over the last five years. For him, the coming together of music and visual art feels natural rather than experimental. Although these are of different facets, ultimately it is from the same person, he says. Everything that we do will have some taste that unites it, although the other things might be quite diverse in nature. Painting, sketching, music and rhythm, inevitably intersect because they stem from the same artistic impulse. The portraits themselves are rendered either in graphite on white paper or white pencil on black. While the medium may appear minimal, the intent is anything but superficial. Each portrait is not just the face. Its about them (the artists) exploring a raga , exploring a line, exploring a swara , he says, adding that he attempts to capture the inner world of performance. Many of these works took shape during the pandemic when Jayakrishnan returned to pencil after years of working with acrylic and oil. Working in pencil gives me a sort of meditative feel, he says. What began as an occasional exercise soon became habitual, especially as he started drawing portraits to mark remembrance days or significant moments in musicians lives. As musicians, we are always grateful to the great masters who have given us so much. They are our heroes, he says. The decision to stage Rag Rekha during Margazhi was deliberate. This is the time when the air in Chennai is filled with music, he notes, adding that the exhibitions resonance is inseparable from the city. During Margazhi, musicians are like superheroes. Nobody is looking at you strangely if youre holding a tambura and walking down the street. Outside Chennai, he feels the works would still be appreciated as portraits, but the deeper musical recognition comes alive here. The gallery space is designed to reflect this confluence. Portraits line the walls, while live Carnatic concerts unfold at the centre. We are trying to bring a confluence of art and music, he says. Its not just about looking at the paintings, its also about feeling the music that is there. Visitors can move and view the works or sit through performances surrounded by faces of musicians who have shaped the art form. Concerts form a key part of the exhibition, with performances by Sooryagayathri, Kalyanapuram Aravind, Sriranjani Santhanagopalan, and Jayakrishnan, with an interaction with dancer Meera Srinivasan on the creative process, on December 27. Ultimately, Jayakrishnan sees Rag Rekha as an offering to rasikas as much as to artistes. Quoting his guru , he says, For a lamp to be seen, there should be eyes. Otherwise, however much light the lamp spreads, there is no use.
Cumta drafts a code for city streets, roads
Life imprisonment for Assam man accused in Arambakkam child rape case
IGP Asra Garg says close coordination between the investigation and prosecution teams brought justice to the survivor and her family within five months of the crime
Rehabilitation aid is capital, not taxable income, says HC
SHRC disposes of 12,608 cases in 3 yrs
1,000 nurses to be regularized; protest called off
Guest worker gets two life terms for raping 8-year-old
Now scanQR code to gain entry to Vedanthangal
7 IAS officers promoted to chief secretary rank
Stamp duty, regn: New order to curb double payment for homes
Students receive 35.70 lakh in sports participation incentives
Last week I took a fascinating trip through the temples of Salem and Namakkal. I spent my time happily documenting games etched on the floors of temples and monuments while my friends watched, amused. They did have a very pertinent question for me. If I already knew about a game, why did I photograph every instance of its appearance on these floors? The answer is simple. Most traditional games belong to the oral tradition, and there is very little evidence about their presence, popularity, or geographic spread, as they were often drawn on sand with a stick or with chalk on stone floors. These are the only tangible and physical evidence we have. As I have spent a couple of decades documenting them and visiting many temples, I see patterns emerge. This is not unlike the Pensieve in Harry Potter books, where Dumbledore remarks, I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from ones mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at ones leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand when they are in this form. While I do not have a Pensieve, I do examine the photographs at my leisure to notice links. For example, multiple boards of the same game in a single temple could give clues to its popularity. A game that has no local presence could indicate migrant craftsmen. Simple patterns repeated in numerous temples could be clues to forgotten games. The list goes on. Sometimes, games can provide deeper insights. One example of this was at the Tharamangalam temple. While most etchings of games are executed with lines, I saw a very interesting style in the temples of the Hoysala period. Many of the games were executed by a series of cup marks little depressions to indicate the points where game pieces could be placed or moved. As these are usually at the intersection of lines, one could visualise the board. I mentally started associating this style with the Hoysalas. Imagine my surprise when I encountered a game etched with cup marks on one of the platforms of the temple. While I am no history scholar, I was surprised to find this style in Salem and reached out to a historian. What I learned was fascinating. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Tharamangalams epigraphs is the presence of Hoysala dynasty inscriptions. Two records (dated 1254 CE and 1279 CE) cite Posala Mannan Veera Ramanatha Devar referring to Vira Ramanatha, a Hoysala prince-turned-king. These inscriptions provide evidence of the Hoysala empires incursion into the western Tamil country and their patronage of local temples. Vira Ramanatha was a Hoysala ruler who, after 1254 CE, governed the southern part of the kingdom. His father, King Vira Someshwara, split the empire between Ramanatha and his brother Narasimha III. Ramanathas dominion included the Tamil territories conquered by the Hoysalas. Essentially, from the 1250s to 1290s, there was a Hoysala presence in Tamil Nadu, in rivalry and conflict with the Pandya dynasty. Historical records note that Ramanathas inscriptions (1257-1294 CE) are all in Tamil and found across his Tamil territory. The Tharamangalam inscriptions are a perfect illustration of that: even though he was a Kannada monarch, the records here are composed in Tamil, the local tongue, to address the local population and priesthood. The use of the term Posala (Tamil for Hoysala) in the inscription underlines that identity. While it was documented history, one humble etching by a player hundreds of years ago gave us a clue to the history of the region. Such is the power of games.
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