Malayalees Have Many Movies to Choose from for This Onam; Five Releases Lined Up

Onam is round the corner and it’s that time of the year when everyone is in a mood to rejoice. Malayalees are all set to welcome Mahabali with colourful pookalams, sadya and payasam. To add an extra punch to the festivities, Mollywood is also ready with Onam releases to provide a visual treat to the public.

Five releases have been lined up for this Onam – Priyadarshan’s Mohanlal starrer Oppam, Kunchacko Boban’s Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho, Jeethu Joseph’s Oozham with Prithviraj in the lead, Sundar Das’s Welcome to Central Jail starring Dileep, and Jude Anthany Joseph’s Oru Muthassi Gadha.

Director Priyadarshan has experimented with a different subject this time and has come up with a thriller. The audience can expect something more than the usual Priyadarshan movies from Oppam. However, this time also the director has cast his lucky star Mohanlal, who appears as a visually challenged lift operator in the movie.

Entertainment, Movies

September 8, 2016

Dr. Lekshmi Nair’s New Outlet in Thiruvananthapuram Is Every Foodie’s Paradise

Dr. Lekshmi Nair is a household name in Kerala. Almost all homemakers in the State have tried the recipes of the lip-smacking dishes she demonstrates in her cookery shows. This multifaceted personality has many achievements in her kitty. Amid the hectic schedule as the principal of Kerala Law Academy, Dr. Lekshmi also manages her catering business, presents cookery shows, travelogues, and is also an author.

Her expertise in cooking stems from the catering business she has been running for about 20 years. Now, she has taken her love for cooking to the next level by launching a new counter in the food court at Pothys Super Store in Thiruvananthapuram. The counter promises to provide homemade Kerala food right from Dr. Lekshmi’s magical kitchen.

“Whatever be the changes in the eating habit, Malayalis will always love the authentic taste of their homeland. So, I have planned that the menu at our counter will comprise typical vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes from the State. However, as people also prefer fried rice, we have included that as well in the menu,” says Dr. Lekshmi.

Food

By Vidya Nair

September 7, 2016

How Kerala Has Become the Best Place to Die

Kerala is popularly known as God’s Own Country for its breathtaking beauty, which makes it a favourite destination among tourists. Lush green landscapes, beautiful backwaters, coconut trees, rubber and tea plantations, beautiful beaches and mouth-watering cuisine are the unique features of the State.

Of late, the situation has changed. Increasing pollution of the water bodies, decreasing greenery and other serious issues like water scarcity, the stray dog menace and political complications etc., have made God’s Own Country a less preferable place to live in. However, it would come as a surprise to many that Kerala has been ranked the best place to die in India.

According to a report – ‘Quality of Death – Ranking end-of-life Care Across the World’ – from the Economist Intelligence Unit, commissioned by Lien Foundation (a philanthropic organisation in Singapore), though other States in India have bagged a poor position in the overall ranking, Kerala has set a contradictory example. All thanks to the palliative care units in the State. The report considered 80 countries across the world.

Culture

By Vidya Nair

September 6, 2016

These Law Students Started ‘CodeRed’. A Campaign That Gives Underprivileged Girls Access to Sanitary Napkins.

At a time when people complain that too much online socialising among teenagers will create a generation that can’t communicate face to face, three friends – Prithishree Dash, Ayushi Dangre and Sara Fathima from National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi, – are using social media for doing good. They are using it as a platform to start various campaigns in order to help people who are in need of basic amenities.

The latest campaign Prithishree and her friends have started is ‘CodeRed’. Through this campaign, they aim to raise funds to provide sanitary napkins for girls of an orphanage named ‘Santhwanam’.

Culture

By Vidya Nair

September 5, 2016

How Schools in Kerala Are Still Teaching the Ancient Language of Syriac

Sanskrit, despite being considered the primary sacred language of Hinduism and the language in which the Vedas have been written, has lost its sheen in India. It has now been reduced to a language that the academicians use. If this is the plight of Sanskrit in a country where there are a significant number of Hindus, there is no hope for other languages to flourish.

This is what has happened to Syriac – one of the most ancient languages in the world – as well. A dialect of Aramaic, which Jesus Christ is said to have spoken about 2,000 years ago, Syriac, was also the official language of the Persians.

From Syriac evolved the two geographic scripts of West Syriac and East Syriac. Both of these have the same grammar, but the pronunciation and the script differ. The Syriac writing system lent its vocalisation system to Hebrew and Arabic in the 7th Century, before which Semitic languages were written using consonants only. The Arabic invasion in Persia and the downfall of the Sasanian Empire led to the decline of Syriac. In a sense, Arabic had overpowered Syriac.

Culture

By Vidya Nair

September 4, 2016

This Family from Kottayam Shares a Special Bond with Mother Teresa

When P.M. Joseph, popularly known as Calcutta Joseph, a native of Kottayam, and his wife Mariamma Joseph gave out the courtyard of their home in Kolkata to a nun who wanted to start a school for the destitute, little did they know that this would turn into a lifelong blessing.

For the nun, the school at 16, Bedford Lane was one of the first ones she started in the city. The Josephs’ random act of kindness led to a lifelong bond of friendship and love between the nun – who went on to become the world-renowned Mother Teresa – and the family. The couple, their children and grandchildren consider this to be the best blessing and fortune God has bestowed on their family.

Mr. Joseph’s grandchild Chacko Simon, who is an advocate, spoke to The Kochi Post. Ahead of the Canonization of Mother Teresa, when she will be proclaimed a saint, Mr. Chacko shared some of his memories about the family’s association with Mother Teresa.

People, Religion

By Vidya Nair

September 2, 2016

Here’s Why Panampilly Nagar Residents Want Commercial Establishments to Shut Shop

Despite being the abode of many celebrities and VIPs, Panampilly Nagar, which is considered to be one of the posh areas of Kochi, is also a place that houses some of the most stylish boutiques and eateries of the district. This area has a unique elegance that makes it stand out from other housing societies and has evolved into a favourite business hub.

Commercial spaces that comprise branded shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants and hotels have flourished in Panampilly Nagar over the last two decades. Praanah, the boutique owned by celebrity fashion designer and actor Indrajith’s wife Poornima Mohan; Dejavu, the boutique owned by fashion designer and actor Jayasurya’s wife Saritha; Tamanna; Salt Studio; Thread Clasilks, etc. are some of the noteworthy boutiques in the area. Also, eateries like Waffle Street and French Toast need no introduction.

Of late, the situation has changed with the residents filing a complaint against the increasing commercial spaces in the area. Fourteen residents of the area have filed a petition demanding the eviction of offices and shops from Panampilly Nagar. They are of the opinion that there are many commercial establishments that are operating from residential buildings and that too without any licence.They argue that Panampilly Nagar, which is a typical residential area built by Greater Cochin Development Authority, has a dedicated shopping complex and that the commercial establishments should also be restricted to operate from there.

People

By Vidya Nair

August 28, 2016

‘Jewels of Vintage’ to charm ladies of Kochi

Be it the Chandbalis or Polki Necklaces and Jhumkas of Mughal period or the Palaka Mala and Nagapadam worn by the Thamburatis of Kerala, every girl dreams of owning a quintessential piece of jewellery, which will make her stand out in a crowd.

If you have the fetish for traditional jewellery and want to own a unique piece that when teamed up with a classy Kanchipuram sari will indeed grab you the spotlight in a function, ‘Jewels of Vintage’, the exhibition-cum-sale of classic jewellery being organised by Mary Alapatt is something not to be missed.

Mary is Design Head at Alapatt Heritage Gold and Diamonds and married to the partner, Antony Alapatt. The exhibition, inspired by timeless Indian tradition is being held at the Alapatt’s flagship store near Madhava Pharmacy Junction on M.G. Road, Kochi.

Culture

By Vidya Nair