CHENNAI: A 30-year-old police constable died of injuries sustained after jumping from the second floor of his brothers apartment onto an iron grill on the compound wall in KK Nagar on Friday night. According to police, Selvakumar was working as a constable at the Sembium police station. He was living with his elder brother Perumal, an official in TNEB, and sister-in-law Dhanalakshmi, a judge in the Chengalpattu mahila court. On Friday, Selvakumar allegedly consumed alcohol and got into a fight w

CHENNAI: A 31-year-old woman allegedly slit the throats of her two sons aged four and one-and-a-half, before attempting to die by suicide in Kilpauk on Saturday. While the younger son, Punith Kumar, succumbed to his injury, Divya and Lakshan Kumar are receiving treatment at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC). According to the police, Divya married Ramkumar, an employee of a private courier firm, in September 2019. They had some differences and the woman along with their two sons, moved out from their

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has floated tenders for the maintenance of 595 parks across the city. The contracts, divided into three packages, cover 122 parks in the northern, 215 in central and 258 in southern regions. The estimated cost for maintenance over next three years is Rs 46 crore. The move comes after the earlier contracts expired some months ago. The initiative aims at elevating the parks by integrating advanced technology, eco-friendly practices and proper maintena

CHENNAI:A 26-year-old man in Chennai allegedly died by suicide after spending money meant for his mothers cancer treatment on an online rummy game, police said on Saturday. The deceased, Akash, was a resident of Saidapet. He was employed in the food industry after completing a course in catering. He lived with his mother and brother. His father had died around eight years ago. According to the police, Akash had used Rs 30,000 that his mother had saved for her cancer treatment and spent it on the

CHENNAI: The habits, practices, and lifestyles individuals adopt significantly affect their physical and mental well-being. Despite reasonable caution, several overlooked behaviours can lead to compulsive activities that compromise cardiovascular health. Sedentary work life Prolonged periods of sedentary behaviour, particularly due to excessive screen time, can severely hinder blood circulation and elevate cholesterol and blood pressure levels. This sedentary lifestyle weakens cardiac muscles an

Chennai: Chennai residents and the Alliance for Incinerator-Free Chennai (AIFC) members filed a petition to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner on Tuesday demanding the scrapping of the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incinerator plant in Kodungaiyur. Over 200 residents, civil society organisations and environmentalists endorsed the representation letter . The proposed WTE plant will process 2,100 tons of mixed garbage daily in an area that already hosts 36 red-category factories a

CHENNAI: Just look outside your window. What do you see? The blue sky, some trees, and that classic metropolitan traffic of course but you forgot the protagonist in your urban landscape. Pigeons. Not one, not two, but oh, so many! Droppings here, droppings there, dropping everywhere. Well, pigeons are beautiful creations of Mother Nature but what if allergenic proteins from their feathers or droppings are making you cough, sneeze and gasp for breath? Needless to say, allergies caused by pigeons

CHENNAI: In the alleys of Tamil indie music, Kaber Vasuki has always been more of a phenomenon than a conventional artiste. Hes the kind of musician whose songs seep into your soul during long midnight drives, his lo-fi charm unspooling stories of vulnerability, and rebellion. For ten years now, since the brilliance of his debut album Azhagu Puratchi, Kaber has been crafting a soundscape that feels as intimate as it is experimental. With his new album Kaalame Kalipputhaan, a four-track EP featur

CHENNAI: In a world thats always in a hurry, we rarely stop to notice the stories in an old temple pillar, the quiet message in a painting, or the feelings tucked into a line of poetry. Art asks us to slow down, take a breath, and reconnect with the things that make us human. For Bharatanatyam exponent Lakshmi Ramaswamy, this is what her forthcoming performances aim to achieve. Returning to the stage after a hiatus, Lakshmi invites audiences into a world where dance, music, and visual art conver

CHENNAI: The famed Kodambakkam overbridge and the Doraiswamy Subway that have carried loads of Carnatic rasikas towards RK Salai (Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, etc.) or T Nagar (Vani Mahal, Krishna Gana Sabha, etc.) for many years may feel relieved due to some unloading, thanks to SASTRA Satsanghs foray into the multi-dimensional space of Art & Culture. Started in 2019, and after a COVIDian blip, SASTRA Satsanghs (SS) year-long activities from 2023 have been a big hit among residents of Koda

CHENNAI: Amid criticism over the proposed power station expansion, the state government has said that the move is aimed at ensuring a sustainable future. With a target to generate 100 billion additional units of electricity by 2030, the state is focussing on solar, wind, pumped storage, battery energy systems, biomass and co-generation to achieve 50% renewable energy-surpassing Indias national target of 43%, a release said. As the first state to adopt wind power in 1986, Tamil Nadu currently ran

CHENNAI: Despite severe opposition, the public hearing for the 660MW Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) expansion project was held in Ernavur on Friday. Political sloganeering and chaotic scenes marred the event. Political cadre, cutting across party lines, including TVK, dominated the proceedings while general public voices were muffled. The choice of venue was also criticised as it was a small marriage hall that could seat only around 200 people. The public hearing started at 11 am in an unru

CHENNAI: Hundreds of commuters, including college students and office-goers, faced huge inconvenience after the suburban train service was disrupted for nearly 90 minutes in the Chennai Central- Gummidipundi section on Friday morning. As many as six suburban trains queued up one after another in both directions in Athipattu Pudhunagar - Ennore section resulting in hundreds of people being stranded at the stations. Railway officials from the Chennai division attributed the delay to a power failur

CHENNAI: A couple, carrying a baby, is making an offering in a temple hundi; to their shock, the baby falls into the offering box; when approached, the temple authorities refuse to give the baby back, claiming whatever is there in the hundi is an offering to god. These are the scenes from a 2000 Tamil flick Palayathu Amman. At times, reel life comedies will come true, as is the case with D Dinesh, a devotee from Vinayakapuram in Ambattur who visited Tiruporur Kandasamy temple three months ago.

CHENNAI: The body of the driver who fell into the sea along with the car at Chennai Port on Tuesday night was recovered on Wednesday night. I Mohammad Shahi (33) had lost control of the car while driving it on the jetty there. The police are inquiring whether a tyre burst led to the accident. We suspect that the body was stuck in the mud and slush underwater. A ship came to the harbour on Wednesday night, and its movement must have disturbed the ocean floor as the body floated to the surface som

CHENNAI: To condemn Union Minister Amit Shah for his alleged comments against BR Ambedkar and to demand an apology, a large number of cadres and leaders of the DMK staged demonstrations across the state, including various locations in Chennai. Following the DMK leaderships call for a protest, hundreds of cadres from the South Chennai West district unit gathered near Valluvar Kottam under the leadership of the district secretary. DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi, spokesperson TKS Elangovan, a

CHENNAI: Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has introduced electronic payment option for patients, after it was found that the staff at the hospital were charging patients from other states and countries exorbitant fees and pocketing it themselves. Two record clerks at the admission counter were recently arrested after the hospital filed a complaint. According to officials, the hospital has introduced electronic payment options at four places - the admission counter, hospital stoppage coun

CHENNAI: The Chennai Seaport Customs on Monday seized Rs 1.5-crore worth illegal Chinese firecrackers smuggled in from China in a container at the Chennai Port and arrested the Maharashtra-based importer, sources said. The cargo had been declared as artificial flowers. However, based on intelligence, Customs officials checked the container and found around 14,000 pieces of fireworks, sources said, adding that this was the first time the importer had made such an attempt. Smuggling of Chinese fir

CHENNAI: Every single day, across India, married women suffer. Not all that should go without saying. But many. Many experience emotional abuse, as well as financial constraints and restrictions on time, energy and freedom of choice. Some experience physical violence. Some are raped (but marital rape is not illegal). Some are murdered, either outright or in a phenomenon known as dowry deaths, involving mysterious kitchen incidents or else by suicide as a result of an inescapable situation. The

CHENNAI: There are many ways in which we discover traditional games, but at the end of the day, once I have a thread, we identify people who have actually played the game and that becomes the core of my research and knowledge. People have played the game, they know the quirks, they know the challenges and it helps to define the rules. True, sometimes people dont remember all the rules. Then, we end up talking to numerous people with faint memories and piecing the rules together. However, of all

CHENNAI: The music landscape of the 70s was a bubbling cauldron of new sub-genres of rock, birthing some of the most iconic musicians of the time. Referred to as the glorious period in the West, its concerts were often pictured with a young crowd clad in bell bottoms, beady necklaces and tie-dye prints, revelling in the riffs of artistes like Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Pink Floyd. It was in the same decade that the genre had spread its tentacles to India, giving way to a similar hoard of young

CHENNAI: As time races and the world changes at a rapid speed, a calendar urges us to pause and look back. These 12 pages occupy very little space on our desks but are extremely assistive. They help us keep track of important dates and events. What if, along with these advantages, the sheets also educate us on our Tamil culture, tradition and language? In 2025, it might be possible. SOL 2025 designed by the Art Brew Creative Company, a design and tech solutions company documents one Tamil word

CHENNAI: Tamil literature is a treasure trove on a variety of topics from age-old systems of society and the changing landscape to celebrating the geography of Tamil Nadu. Tamil literature defines landscape into five: Ainthinai Kurunji, Mullai, Neidhal, Marutham, and Palai. More than 100 poems have been written based on these classifications, points out Meenakshi Devraj, a historian. Now, picture the tough mountains, dense forests, green farmlands, widely spread desserts, and chilly coasts wov

CHENNAI: Come December, Chennai sheds its usual guise of traffic chaos and sultry weather, donning a festive, almost spiritual air. This is Margazhi season a month devoted to music, devotion, and the delicate art of kolams. In the early hours, the city awakens to a symphony of devotional hymns, the clink of brass utensils, and the rhythmic sweep of women creating intricate kolams outside their homes. For Chennaiites, Margazhi is far more than just another month; it is an immersive cultural expe

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday sanctioned an additional Rs 400 crore to the Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam Scheme (KKI) in addition to the already sanctioned Rs 1,051 crore to expedite the construction work. The government had sanctioned Rs 1,051 crore for building one lakh concrete houses during the current financial year. An official release on Wednesday said that with the additional allocation, the government is taking steps to complete the construction of all one lakh houses within

CHENNAI: A day after a complaint was filed by a man on being kidnapped and robbed of Rs 15 lakh, Triplicane police on Wednesday arrested four people including three officials from income tax department and a special sub inspector (SSI). Police recovered a car, two wheelers and the stolen cash from them. The arrested men are I-T inspector Damodharan, I-T officer Pradeep, I-T superintendent Prabhu and SSI Raja Singh of Triplicane police station. The issue came to light when H Mohammad Ghouse of Wa

CHENNAI: As a first step in its efforts to tackle the severe air pollution in industrial areas in the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation has placed monitoring devices to assess air quality parameters at two locations with high footfall in Manali and initial readings are being recorded. The pilot project will study and identify air pollutants in the industrial zone using monitoring devices, following which air purification systems will be installed to improve the ambient air quality, by the en

CHENNAI: The Regional Meteorological Centre has revised the heavy to very heavy rainfall alert for Chennai and its surrounding districts for Wednesday, downgrading it to a heavy rain alert. According to the latest forecast, heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts on Wednesday. Light to moderate rain is expected at a few places over North Coastal Tamil Nadu and at one or two places in other parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Earlier, th

CHENNAI: The month of Margazhi has always been about rains, storms and lots of classical music in Chennai. Nevertheless, the concerts have hardly been stifled by the inclement weather. Chennais very own Margazhi Sabha Season is a month-long festival, featuring hundreds of classical dance and music performances all over the city, with melophiles thronging from all over the world, to witness them. Originating in the 1920s, the month stands as a testimony to honouring music and dance to this day. A

CHENNAI: A mans soft voice breaks as he shares the age-old wisdom of living completely in the present moment as he begins his session on mindfulness and meditation. TS Narayanan, the founder of Atma Gnana Yoga Centre, was teaching the route to inner tranquillity to the Brakes India employees assembled at the Estell Resorts in November. In this two-hour-long session, Narayanan briefed the attendees on the importance of Pranayama, good food habits, mastering the art of living, the benefits of medi

CHENNAI: Karnataka cuisine is believed to be one of the oldest in India. Geographically blessed with hilly areas, coasts and fertile plains, there are indigenous ingredients, and unique cooking techniques bringing a flavourful amalgamation. The dishes are influenced by the neighbouring states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Under this tapestry, there are multiple cuisines of various regions and communities like Udipi, Mangaluru, Kodava, Dakshin Kannada, Saraswat Brahmin,

CHENNAI: Stories, like old songs, have a way of resurfacing, finding new audiences and fresh contexts. On the evening of December 14, Chennais Art on Terrace transformed into an intimate haven for such a tale, as author Renuka Narayanan breathed life into Mahadev, her 2019 book. Though it was published years ago, Renukas storytelling session proved that some narratives arent bound by time; they ripple forward, carrying their wisdom into every new listening ear. Mahadev is a collection of stories

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is looking at the possibility of redeveloping Loop Road near Marina Beach into a vibrant public space prioritising non-motorable traffic (cyclists and pedestrians) that is also ecologically sustainable. A tender has been floated by the special projects department of GCC, inviting consultancy services to prepare a DPR at an estimated cost of Rs 17.7 lakh. The consultants scope, as outlined in the tender, involves conducting topographic survey, land u

CHENNAI: Passengers fancying quick departure formalities but unaware of the DigiYatra option will soon be assisted by specially-trained personnel at the Chennai airport. By February 1, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will deploy more than 60 trained staff named Digi Buddies at the departure lounge of the domestic terminal (T1 and T4) to help passengers use DigiYatra, which is a facial recognition system that speeds up airport entry and check-in processes, without having to wait in regular

Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, percussionist and Padma Shri recipient I consider it my good fortune, a blessing, to have had the opportunity to perform with him. I am among the few, perhaps the only percussion artist, from Kerala to have had this privilege. I first met Zakirji in Thiruvananthapuram during the pre-production stage of Vanaprastham (the National Award-winning film directed by Shaji N Karun). Zakirji composed its music. When Shaji and actor Mohanlal introduced me as a chenda vidwan,

CHENNAI: As a picky eater, my worst nightmare was seated at the looming dinner table, with an unfinished plate of now-cold rice and poriyal. I resorted to dashing away, hiding underneath beds, and depositing morsels into pockets. Paatis first remedy for my stomach was a hushed thinly veiled threat in folklore format, that if I didnt finish eating, the mosquitoes, scorpions, and other poochies would assemble, steal my food and grow large, and sneak into my bed when I was asleep. Her second remedy

CHENNAI: The first moments of The Little Theatres Christmas Pantomime Bratman, staged at the Museum Theatre, offer a playful promise: the city of Gotham is aglow with festivity, only for its cheer to be upended by a mystery that threatens to derail Christmas altogether. In a blaze of energetic music, dazzling costumes, Bratman unfolds as a spectacle, blending slapstick comedy with sly social commentary. The plot anchored on Bratman and Robins mission to recover the citys stolen Christmas presen

CHENNAI: The rain poured heavily outside, drumming against the windows in a relentless rhythm. Inside the auditorium, however, the air was alive with the sound of nadaswaram.The vidwans, poised with their instruments, played with a serene intensity. The Brahma Gana Sabha commenced its 23rd Edition of the December Art Festival on Thursday at the Dakshinamurthy Auditorium, Chennai. The festival, a highlight of Chennais cultural calendar, celebrated the vibrancy of classical arts, honouring stalwar

CHENNAI: Kizhvelur (Keevalur), a village near Thiruvarur, has a Siva temple, wherein the principal deity (Siva Lingam) is worshipped as Akshayalinga Svami and Kediliyappar. This temple is a Padal Petra Sthalam or shrine praised in the Tamil verses of the Nayanmars or important Siva devotees, totally numbering sixty-three. Appar and Thirugnanasambandar, the famous Nayanmars visited this temple in the 7th century CE. The Sthala-Puranam or traditional story of this temple records that Subramanya wo

CHENNAI: Bakiyam T, a sweeper at a health clinic, earns Rs 6,000 a month and Rs 4,000 from it goes towards rent. With the remaining amount, the 37-year-old is faced with the impossible task of covering the education expenses of her two children and bringing food to the table. Bakiyams back-breaking struggle for the familys bare subsistence began in August 2022, when 229 families from Mahalakshmi Nagar and Kudusai Pagudhi, located in Manali New Town, were evicted by authorities for construction o

Acres of agricultural land in Ekanapuram village have been inundated shortly after spells of heavy rain brought by the North-East monsoon in the northern and coastal Tamil Nadu. The state received record rainfall from Cyclone Fengal which made landfall on November 30 and from the recent low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. The rain brought several parts of the state to its knees, disrupting daily routine and causing huge damage to properties and lives. Ekanapuram, a village in the northern part of

CHENNAI: As new weather system may bring more rains to the city between December 16 and 18, the total quantum of discharge from reservoirs supplying water to the city has gone up by 2,000 cusecs. Water Resources Department (WRD) increased the discharge from Chembarambakkam reservoir from 4,500 cusecs to 6,000 cusecs as of Saturday noon, and from Puzhal lake from 500 to 1,000 cusecs. A senior WRD official told TNIE, The storage in the six reservoirs supplying water to Chennai stands at 10.901 tmc

CHENNAI: The master plan for 126 sq.km Chennai Outer Ring Road may be completed by end of December or early next year, said the consultancy that won the contract for preparing a detailed development plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. Prabhakar Kumar, business head - government services, Delhi-based Rudrabhishek Enterprises Private Limited (REPL), told TNIE that the company has identified four growth nodes Minjur, Red Hills, Poonamallee and Vandalur. The nodes have varied c

CHENNAI: Chennais major drinking water reservoirs, including Chembarambakkam, Poondi, and Red Hills (Puzhal), are nearing full capacity as of Friday. To manage the rising water levels, 16,500 cusecs of surplus water from Poondi have been released, with 4,500 cusecs from Chembarambakkam and 500 cusecs from Puzhal. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected the Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoir on Friday and instructed officials to prioritise public safety. A flood alert has been issued

CHENNAI: The road on Kuppusamy Street near Anna Salai in Chinna Porur has caved in just 15 days after it was newly laid. The cave-in was caused by damaged underground metro water and sewage pipelines. As a temporary measure, tankers have been deployed to meet water needs of residents. On Sunday a small pit appeared after a burst in the pipeline and metro water officials repaired the leak and filled the site with sand. However, on Tuesday, the road caved in and exposed major damage to the undergr

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Thursday busted an outrageous mode of gold smuggling exploiting an apparent loophole at the Chennai International Airport by two passengers and an airport ground handling staff. All three were arrested and 2 kg of 24-carat gold worth Rs 1.5 crore was seized. According to sources, the first passenger arrived at Chennai from Dubai via Colombo at around 9:30 am in the arrival area which is at the same level as the departure lounge and is sep

CHENNAI: Shock advertising has always been a thing. Whether through titillation or provocation, brands as well as individuals aspiring to have brand-like identities and recognisability have utilised various staged and paid means to capture attention. The controversy that may occur is a chosen risk, and sometimes beneficial - sometimes it backfires. Lately, in lieu of advertising, strategic social media posts intended to garner online engagement and free publicity have been the medium of choice.

CHENNAI: Walking away with the Best Character Artist award in the annual Kartik Fine Arts Kodai Nataka Vizha is not a new feat for Viswanathan Ramesh. This septuagenarian is keen on getting back into his familiar arc after a two-year sabbatical, come April. Viswanathan credits his theatre journey to his mentor, the late Poornam Viswanathan. From the time I joined in 1980, everything has fallen into place as if it had been programmed that way. From an actor to scriptwriter and later, plunging int

CHENNAI: Come December, the Chennai sun softens its glare, the sultry air gives way to a refreshing coolness, and the breeze whispers through the streets. At night, under the shining silver moon, the city flourishes with stories of joy, music, and the melody of life. This month, according to the Tamil calendar, is Margazhi. The 30 days are spent celebrating every art form in grandeur. Margazhi magic has been around for centuries. And I am grateful that we are adding to that magic, shares Laasya

CHENNAI: Stagnant rainwater, stench from the garbage strewn around, and infestation of mosquitoes these are what people who come to the Velachery burial ground have to endure. Residents said the burial ground, which is situated in a low-lying area, has no provision to drain out water. The pathways are also in a poor condition, affecting access to the cremation area. When TNIE visited the spot, there was stagnant water around the tombstones and garbage strewn all over. Residents said family memb