The New Indian Express News

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The suspense over who will be the next mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram corporation continued on Sunday, even as councillors took oath amid keen public and political interest. While the ceremony drew several leaders and supporters, the question about the partys mayoral choice prevailed among those present. Several senior BJP leaders had expected the party to announce its mayor before the oath-taking ceremony. When asked, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar told TNIE that

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Promising a visual treat, the annual flower festival Vasantholsavam at Kanakakkunnu Palace will begin on Wednesday. This edition plans to feature a wide variety of flowering plants, making it the grandest flower show ever held in the state capital. The 12-day festival will come to a close on January 4. Vasantholsavam, along with the annual light festival, is being organised by the State Tourism Department and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), in collaboration wit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left-backed syndicate members of the Kerala University have called for the resignation of chancellors nominee Vinod Kumar from the syndicate. A staffer of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Vinod Kumar was recently removed from the post of principal scientist in the institution. A statement issued by Adv G Muraleedharan said Vinod Kumar should either resign or the Governor should withdraw his nomination in the wake of the develo

You have been actively taking up the cause of farmers. Are you too from a family of farmers? Yes. I come from a farming family that migrated from Travancore to Malabar. There was a large migration from the Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district during my grandfathers time, when land in Travancore was controlled by feudal landlords. These migrants settled in Malabar, bringing with them their faith, lifestyle, and farming traditions, which gradually shaped the region. Since they were primarily farme

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pankaj Bhandari, chief executive officer of Chennai-based Smart Creations, and Govardhan, a Ballari-based jeweller, had a key role in Sabarimala gold theft case and their involvement was revealed by the key accused Unnikrishnan Potti, the remand report said. The remand report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) before the Kollam Vigilance court said evidence revealing the involvement of the duo in the subterfuge were accessed during the course of the probe. The two

THRISSUR: The family of Palakkad mob lynching victim Ramnarayan Bhayar on Sunday refused to accept his mortal remains until all those involved in the incident were brought to book. The family also demanded that the police invoke murder charges and provisions of the SC/ST Atrocity (Prevention) Act against the accused. Ramnarayans wife, two children, brother and mother-in-law arrived at the Government Medical College mortuary to identify his body. Ramnarayan, from Bilaspur in Chattisgarh, came to

PATHANAMTHITTA: As part of the annadanam initiative, a traditional Kerala sadya has begun being served to pilgrims at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam. The sadya includes parippu, sambar, rasam, avial, achar, thoran, pappadam and payasam. While the varieties of avial and thoran will change daily, one among moru, rasam or pulissery will be included each day. A different variety of payasam will also be served daily. The Kerala sadya will be offered on alternate days in the coming period. At noon, Devasw

KOCHI/PATHANAMTHITTA : The Kerala High Court has nullified key stages of the land acquisition process for the proposed Sabarimala greenfield airport, ruling that the state government failed to determine the minimum extent of land required for the project as mandated by law, and directed the authorities to restart the process after a fresh assessment. On December 30, 2022, the state government issued an order granting sanction for the acquisition of 2,570 acres of land, comprising the Cheruvally

KOCHI: Sreenivasan s residence in Kandanad, near Tripunithura, swarmed with mourners from Sunday morning as people from the movie industry and fans gathered in their thousands to pay their last respects to the veteran actor and writer who passed away on Saturday. Among those who paid tributes was Tamil actor Suriya, who travelled from Chennai to visit the family. I am a fan of Sreeni sir. I have followed his work, his writings, and his contributions. I pray for his soul, Suriya told reporters. A

MALAPPURAM: The famed Nilambur teak, which holds a cherished place in the forest departments history, fetched record price at a recent auction. Two logs together realised Rs 31,85,828, including tax, at an auction held at the departments Aruvakode central depot in Nilambur. The timber, estimated to be more than 100 years old, was felled after it posed a threat, near the Punchakoli tribal hamlet within the Nellikuthu forest station limits of Vazhikkadavu range. The logs were later transported to

ALAPPUZHA: Naveen Harikumar, a native of Thiruvambadi in Alappuzha, has been honoured with the prestigious Rising Star award by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The award acknowledges his outstanding patient care, exemplary mentorship to colleagues, and innovative contributions to nursing practice. His achievement is a pride and inspiration for hundreds of Malayali nursing professionals working across the UK. The 32-year-old Naveen currently serves as a Clinical Practice Educator at Northwick

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a report with the state government, seeking tougher action against Prisons Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) M K Vinod Kumar, against whom the state government agency has filed a case for corruption. The officer, who is set to retire next year, has been accused of receiving kickbacks from inmates to help them get parole and facilitating their illegal acts within the prison, including smuggling of drugs and alcohol. The

KOCHI: Its a digi-tell all! In a clear pivot from cash, Kerala is increasingly taking to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) figures reveal that 444.9 million UPI transactions were processed in the state in November, marking a 29.6% year-on-year increase. The value of these transactions rose 28.6% to `59,793 crore. Per capita usage climbed to 12.7 transactions a month, up from 9.8 a year earlier, indicating not just wider adoption but also more fre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC has shifted into high gear with its premier revenue earners, particularly the new premium superfast AC services that stop at fewer stations and generate higher earnings per kilometre (EPKM). Despite operating on fewer routes, the premium services have significantly boosted collections. KSRTC recorded its highest-ever single-day revenue of Rs 11.53 crore on December 15, nearly Rs 3 crore more than last year. Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar attributed the rise to impr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pointing out major inaccuracies in the inclusion of voters in the uncollectable forms category as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, majority of the recognised political parties in the state have demanded extension of the SIR enrolment time-frame at least till the end of December to rectify the anomalies and enrol more voters. The demand was raised by representatives of political parties, except the BJP, at the weekly meeting chaired by Chief Ele

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Special poojas were conducted and offerings made to mark the 31st day of murajapam ritual at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here on Saturday. As part of the ritual held once every six years, vedic scholars also recited devajapam and sookthajapam to mark the occasion. The temple was decked up to mark the occasion. Pooyam Tirunal Gouri Parvathy Bai, Aswathi Tirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bai and Aditya Varma of the erstwhile Travancore royal family visited the temple during the vedic r

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Goas liberation from the clutches of Portuguese through Operation Vijay marked a highpoint in the feeling of patriotism and nationalism in the country, said Governor Rajendra Arlekar. He was speaking after felicitating 24 families of the state who participated in the Goa Liberation movement of 1961. The governor said that it took nearly 14 years since Independence for Goa to be formally integrated in the Indian Union. Indias Independence of 1947 remained incomplete until Goas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Alleging that he was brutally assaulted by police personnel of Mannanthala station, a 46-year-old autorickshaw driver has raised a complaint. The complainant, Dastakeer, a native of Nalanchira, alleged that he was beaten up by the police initially at his house and later at the police station on Friday. He claimed that he was taken to the station and moved to an area without CCTV and beaten up on his back and thighs. Dastakeer, who is diabetic, also claimed that he was not eve

KOCHI: In a significant move towards modernising Keralas road infrastructure, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to evaluate a proposed National Highway corridor connecting Kottayam and Kochi, with a strategic link to the upcoming Angamaly-Kundannoor bypass. The decision follows a draft report earlier submitted by Kottayam MP Adv K Francis George, highlighting the urgent need for a high-speed alternative to th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid criticism of the CPMs significant losses in the local body polls in Malabar, particularly in Malappuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the LDFs relationship with the Muslim community cannot not be judged solely on the basis of electoral outcomes. He made the remarks while inaugurating the reception to the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulamas Sandesa Yatra, organised as part of the Sunni Muslim bodys centenary celebrations. The yatra, which began in Nagercoil on

Sreenivasan was an honest person who always stayed true to himself. He had the rare courage to speak the truth. Embodying a unique personality, he never hid or covered up his feelings and thoughts, even if they were brutal. His way of presenting and addressing issues was different, and that made him and his work special and stand out. Sreeni was widely respected within the industry, and his death is a great loss to Malayalam cinema. He is an irreplaceable figure in the industry. To me, Sreeni wa

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after the declaration of results of the city corporation elections , the BJP which emerged as the single largest party is gearing up to announce its mayoral candidate by Wednesday. The delay in the announcement, with multiple contenders in the fray, has triggered discussions and criticism in political circles. The oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected councillors will formally mark the beginning of the new councils term on Sunday, while the election to the post of

KOCHI: Sreenivasan enjoyed punctuating the tale with hearty amusement. Arriving in Thiruvananthapuram for what he believed was an acting assignment in a film by Priyadarshan, the twenty-something sought to know the nature of his role. The directors reply was blunt... as it was life-altering: There is no script. If Sreenivasan wanted to act, he would have to script it. With nothing to do back home, he stayed on the set and began writing. Both Priyadarshan and Sathyan Anthikad pushed me into the d

KOCHI: Malayalam film industry came together on Saturday to pay rich tributes to actor, screenwriter, and director Sreenivasan, whose satirical films reshaped popular cinema. Fans, film lovers, artists and filmmakers gathered in their hundreds at the Town Hall in Kochi -- where his body was kept for public homage from 1 pm -- to pay their last respects to the actor-screenwriter whose films made generations laugh. The ceremony, which was scheduled to conclude by 3 pm, was extended to 3.30 pm. Aft

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: How political was he? Or apolitical for that matter. Veteran writer- actor- director Sreenivasan 's political screenplays traverse mostly through wafer-thin margins of both the political and apolitical, even at times, merging the two. A master storyteller, he succeeded in capturing the subtle hues of the Malayali psyche via his scripts that almost always reflected Kerala society in its entirety, through a career that spanned almost five decades of stellar creative output. As

KOCHI: Sathyan Anthikad had spent the entire Saturday morning with the grieving family. Sitting next to the mortal remains, while the public paid homage, he broke down, as fellow mourners struggled to console the filmmaker. For Anthikad, Sreenivasans demise was a personal loss. He had lost one of his closest friends. We shared a close bond. I used to visit him every two weeks to rejuvenate him. He had been suffering from various ailments for several months. But I never thought he would leave us,

I first met Sreenivasan on the sets of Samvalsarangal in 1985-86. The shoot was in Ernakulam. Back then, I was not part of the film industry as an actor. I was just a cinema lover, someone who went to film sets driven purely by passion, trying to understand how cinema worked. It was a phase when love for cinema alone could take you to any set. What I saw then was a man constantly on the move, running from one set to another -- an extremely busy Sreenivasan. Even at that time, his perspectives we

KOCHI: Born into a middle class family in Kannur, Sreenivasan had the opportunity to witness the absurd, farcical ideologies and the pretensions of lo cal-level leaders who tried to impose their progressive thoughts on society. The film Sandesam , a political satire written by Sreenivasan and directed by Sathyan Anthikkad in 1991, humorously depicts the clashes between two brothers supporting two ideologically different political parties. The movie remains relevant as it highlights how politics

KOZHIKODE: As Kerala mourns the passing of veteran actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan on Saturday, for the residents of East Hill in Kozhikode, he will always be remembered was the man who turned their quiet neighbourhood into a lasting landmark of cinematic history. While the film fraternity honours his sharp satire and literary brilliance, the people of East Hill hold a special place for him as the creator of one of Malayalam cinemas most iconic comedic moments. The legendary scene from the film Vell

Its a deeply personal and irreparable loss for me. We worked together in the 2010 film Oru Naal Varum, which was a fulfilling collaboration. I first met Sreenivasan on the sets of the 1984 film My Dear Kuttichathan. We shared a profound moment that marked the beginning of our friendship. Sreenivasan was a true human being, whose films consistently reflected humaneness, political consciousness, and social responsibility. For him, cinema was not just a profession, it was a passion. A sincere and c

Veteran actor and MLA Mukesh on Friday shared deeply personal memories of his 43-year-long relationship with actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan, who passed away on Saturday, calling him irreplaceable both in cinema and in life. When I started my career, I never dreamed of stardom but the only desire was to be around great minds, share jokes and carry those moments back home. Looking back today, what gives me the greatest happiness is not success or longevity, but the joy of sharing lov

After the outlandish energy and cult success of Kadaseela Biriyani (2021), filmmaker Nishant Kalidindi returns with Theatre, a quieter and deeply observant second feature that marks a shift in both form and temperament. Premiering at the International Film Festival of Kerala in the Indian Cinema Now section, the film was screened to packed audiences, once again underscoring Nishanths assured craft. Set in the traditional urban quarters of Puducherry the filmmakers hometown Theatre unfolds with

The season of choosing a star for the home, checking whether a string of lights glows white, yellow or multi-coloured, and decking up a Christmas tree is here. With just four days left for Christmas Eve, Thiruvananthapurams markets are preparing to see a heavy rush over the coming weekend. The market comes alive mainly in the evenings, once offices close, and schools let out. Families arrive together, taking their time to walk through the rows of shops. White Christmas trees continue to be popul

KALPETTA: A tribal head was killed in a tiger attack in Wayanad on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Kooman (65), the tribal head of the Pulpally Vandikadavu Devargadda Kattunayaka Unnati. The attack occurred around noon when Kooman went into the forest to collect firewood along with his sister. While she managed to escape, Kooman was dragged deeper into the forest by the tiger and mauled. Forest department officials rushed to the spot after receiving information from residents and launch

My journey in cinema began almost at the same time as Sreenivasans. I passed out from the Adyar Film Institute in 1975, while he completed his training at the Film Chamber, nearly simultaneously. From the very beginning, our lives ran parallel shaped by struggle, persistence, and an unshakeable love for cinema. Those early days were not easy. Survival itself was a challenge. I can still see him coming for dubbing work for just Rs 50, while I would take acting assignments for about Rs 100. That

Sreenivasan - the name evokes laughter and contemplation at the same time. The multifaceted actor, screenwriter and director is no longer with us. But he has left behind his works for us to remember him forever. He was a complex character, unlike many of his movies. On April 2023, he sat with team TNIE for an interview. Excerpts from the interview is reproduced below. Your films, for example Sandesham , lampoon politicians of all parties. Are all politicians to be made fun of? Isnt that wrong? C

KOCHI: Vijaya, eda namukkentha ee budhi nerathe thonnathathu? The conversation between Dasan and Vijayan, played by Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in Nadodikkattu , remains popular and deeply relatable among Malayalee youngsters even after more than three decades. The line is so familiar to Malayalees that it invariably brings a smile. Through characters like Dasan and Vijayan, Mohanlal and Sreenivasan became the faces of a generation grappling with unemployment, migration dreams, and middle-class asp

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran filmmaker, actor and screenwriter Sreenivasan, describing his death as an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema and Keralas cultural life. In a condolence message, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sreenivasan was a rare, multifaceted talent who left an indelible mark on every sphere of filmmaking, including story, screenplay, direction and actin

KASARAGOD: Director Mani Ratnam, actress Manisha Koirala and cinematographer Rajiv Menon, the crew of the movie Bombay , visited the Bekal fort on Saturday morning and lived through their Bekal experience once again. The song Uyire in Bombay movie, released in 1995, has put the historic Bekal fort on the tourism map. Rajiv Menon has captured the beautiful fort in its monsoon glory for the film. Incidentally, the Kerala government established the Bekal Resort Development Corporation (BRDC) in 199

KOCHI: Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker Sreenivasan passed away on Saturday at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital in Kochi. He was 69. Suffering from prolonged health issues, Sreenivasan was being taken to Amrita Hospital for dialysis when his condition deteriorated on the way. He was rushed to the Tripunithura hospital, where he breathed his last. Sreenivasans death marks the end of an era in Malayalam cinema. Over a career spanning nearly 48 years, he emerged as one of the mos

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mandatory licensing of pets and microchipping for vaccine compliance were among the proposals mooted by the State Animal Welfare Board in its first meeting on Friday, as it set in motion a comprehensive action plan to address the stray dog issue, strengthen animal welfare and improve shelter infrastructure across the state. Chaired by Minister J Chinchu Rani, who is also the board chairperson, the meeting also proposed stricter penalties for abandoning pets and establishment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to restore its lost charm and revive tourism at Kovalam, which was once Keralas most sought-after beach destination, tourism stakeholders including resort owners and hoteliers have launched a beach dining initiative at the iconic Lighthouse Beach. The move comes following prolonged apathy from the tourism department and the state government that has left the destination in a state of neglect. Poor infrastructure, lack of street lighting, police-imposed time restricti

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Drawing a clear line between central agencies probe against Congress leaders and those involving CPM leaders, AICC Media and Publicity Department chairman Pawan Khera on Friday said that catching the ED and CBI red-handed in the National Herald case against Congress leaders does not mean that every investigation conducted by agencies can be dismissed or used as a shield by others. Khera was responding to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans allegation that Congress was adopting d

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Expressing strong objection to the VB-G RAM G Bill, brought in by the Union government to replace MGNREGA, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to refrain from implementing the new legislation in its current form. Going by the current proposal, Kerala would incur annual fiscal loss of about Rs 3,500 crore due to the new provisions, the CM pointed out in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Terming the proposed bill regressive and counter to the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state Congress Core Committee, the highest decision making body constituted by the AICC, has assessed that while strong anti-incumbency against the state government benefited the UDF in the recent local body elections, two key factors, significantly enhanced its performance- the polarisation of Hindu votes in the old Travancore region and Muslim votes in Malabar region. This helped the UDF surpass the LDF after over a decade, it said. According to party leaders, the Sabar

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday quashed the preliminary sanction given to Oasis Commercial Private Ltd to establish an ethanol unit in Kanjikode, Palakkad, to produce extra neutral alcohol and other liquor products. However, this will not preclude a fresh consideration of any application, by the government, if made, said Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P Krishna Kumar. Various factors which weighed with the government while issuingthe order, are not factually correct in its entirety. Th

MALAPPURAM: For many women in the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the recent local body elections marked a long-awaited moment of political visibility and recognition. Hundreds of women particularly from the Youth League and Haritha secured victories across local bodies, signalling a historic expansion of female representation within the party. However, the celebratory mood was short-lived, as the milestone coincided with a deepening internal crisis triggered by both AP and EK factions of S

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking a swipe at the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said attempts to kill the film festival through censorship were countered by the decision to screen the films in question. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram. The chief minister said the state government, through that particular decision, ensured it stoo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Japanese film Two Seasons, Two Strangers bagged the Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant Award) for Best Film at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the award along with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh at the closing ceremony of IFFK at Nishangandhi on Friday. Directed by Sho Miyake and adapted from Yoshiharu Tsuges Manga, the film follows a scriptwriter named Lee as she moves through two seasons of emotional cha

KASARAGOD: The 12-day Bekal International Beach Festival will commence from Saturday. Tourism Minister Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate the event at Bekal Beach Park at 4pm. The ceremony will be presided over by Udma MLA C H Kunhambu, the organising committee chairman. Director Mani Ratnam, actor Manisha Koirala and cinematographer Rajiv Menon, the crew of Bombay, the film that featured Bekal fort in the song Uyire (Tu Hi Re in Hindi), putting the spot on the cinema tourism map. The festival is org