Kerala

Cyber bullying

Actors Srinda, Nimisha Sajayan, Saniya Iyappan, Anna Ben and TV show host Ranjini Haridas too have posted videos supporting the campaign.

TNM Staff

Manju Warrier in a monkey cap with her hair let lose on either side and a grey muffler around her neck

Actor Manju Warrier is the latest celebrity in Malayalam cinema to join Women in Cinema Collective (WCC)'s ‘Refuse the Abuse’ campaign against cyber bullying and harassment. On Monday the renowned actor took to social media to post a video in support of the campaign. Speaking out against misuse of freedom of speech, the actor noted, “India is the world’s biggest democracy. The most special thing here is freedom of speech. But to what extent can this freedom of speech be used - this question arises. A small portion of people at least misuse this freedom. They see this as their right to abuse or hurl personal insults against anyone whom they despise. Such attacks are most often directed at women and this is a fact that nobody can deny.” Manju also added that most times people don’t react to the cyber abuse and this in turn encourages trolls to repeat the abuse. “We have to stop this. All of us, without any gender differences, must stand together against this. The silence we maintain on this issue is also wrong. Refuse the abuse,” she said. Watch: Manju Warrier on cyber bullying Earlier, actors Nimisha Sajayan, Saniya Iyappan, Srinda and Anna Ben too lent their support to the campaign which was kickstarted by the WCC last week. All of the actors put out less-than-one-minute long videos in which they spoke about cyber abuse and cyberbullying. Anna Ben also recounted her experience of being abused on social media by users and how most times, these are fake accounts or profiles which get deleted almost immediately. Television host and model Ranjini Haridas too joined the campaign and posted a video of herself speaking out against cyber abuse. “I always feel like the cyber bullying and abuse cases are increasing because we don’t give a fitting response to the perpetrators. If somebody comes to us and insults us, should we remain silent? Or should we withdraw? No. Silence is not the answer. React. Refuse the abuse,” Ranjini says in her video. While launching the campaign, the collective which aims to promote women in the film field, especially in Malayalam cinema, and offer a safe space for women stakeholders of the industry, called upon several women actors in Mollywood to speak out against online abuse and cyberbullying. Read: Refuse the abuse: WCC urges stars to tell fans to behave responsibly on social media

Rains

The shutters of the Cheruthoni dam will be opened if the water level reaches 2,398.85 feet.

TNM Staff

Idukki dam

As water levels continue to increase in the Idukki reservoir, the district administration has issued a ‘blue alert’. This is the first-degree warning issued for people before the shutters of the dam are opened. The blue alert was issued as the water level in the reservoir reached 2,391.04 feet. There are two more degrees of warning before the shutters can be opened. If the water level reaches 2,396.85 feet before October 20, the authorities will issue an ‘orange alert’, the second-degree warning. If the water level reaches 2,397.85 feet within this time, a ‘red alert’ will be issued, said a statement released by the Idukki District Administration. The shutter of the dam will be opened if the water level reaches 2,398.85 feet, it said. Of the two dams across the Idukki reservoir – the Idukki Arch dam and the Cheruthoni dam, only the latter has shutters. So, if the water level reaches the prescribed limit, the shutters of the dam will be opened, and the water will flow through the Cheruthoni river that passes by Cheruthoni town. Officials have also informed that dam authorities are monitoring the situation closely. A control room has been opened by the district administration for people, which can be reached by calling 9496011994. The shutters of Cheruthoni dam were last opened during the Kerala floods of 2018, after about 26 years. The town of Cheruthoni suffered a lot of damage when all the shutters of the dam were opened amidst heavy rains at the time. Houses which were built close to the Cheruthoni river’s original path incurred major damage. A part of the Cheruthoni bus station was also washed away in the gushing waters. Parts of the state have been receiving isolated heavy rainfall since the past few days. For Tuesday, the Indian Meteorological Department as issued a code yellow warning for 11 districts – Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. A code yellow warning implies that district authorities should stay updated on the weather patterns. The warning is issued for Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod for Wednesday also.

Awards

Nivin Pauly, Anna Ben and Priyamvadha also won Special Jury Awards.

TNM Staff

Collage of Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kani Kusruthi and Lijo Jose Pellissery, winners of Kerala State Awards

The highly anticipated Kerala State Awards were announced on Tuesday. Several critically acclaimed films had released in 2019, with Malayalam films also receiving global attention through prestigious film festivals. With veteran cinematographer Madhu Ambat as the chairperson of the jury, 119 films were reportedly in the reckoning in the 50th edition of the awards. Interestingly, 71 of these films were by debut directors. The Best Film Award went to Vasanthi directed by Rahman Brothers, and produced by Shinoz and Sajaz Rahman. The Second Best Film Award went to Kenjira directed by Manoj Kana. Vasanthi stars Swasika in the title role and also has Siju Wilson and Shabareesh in the cast. Speaking about Vasanthi in an interview with Times of India, Siju had said, “It is an experimental venture and not a mass entertainer, but is definitely a film that is worth a theatre experience. It has gone to a couple of festivals and also during the preview show, the feedback was that it would be appreciated on the big screen. Swasika has done an amazing role, and in fact, the film is driven by strong performances.” Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu won the Best Actor (Male) award for his performances in Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 and Vikruthi. While he played a cranky old man who develops a friendship with his caretaker robot in Android, he played the role of a person with hearing and speech impairment in Vikruthi. Mainly playing supporting and comic roles, Suraj in recent films has risen to playing the lead and has received much appreciation from critics and the audience. Ratheesh won the Best Debut Director Award for the film. Actor Kani Kusruthi won the Best Actor (Female) for Biriyaani, written and directed by Sajin Babu. Kani also won an award for the same film at the Moscow International Film Festival. The film premiered at the 20th Asiatica Film Festival, which was held in Italy in October, 2019. Biriyaani, which hasn’t released in theatres in India yet, is reportedly about the problems faced by two Muslim women in Thiruvananthapuram. The film previously won the Padmarajan Award for Best Screenplay. Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu, which made waves internationally before its release in India, won him the Best Director Award. The film is about a buffalo on the loose and a village’s attempts to catch it. In the process, Lijo makes interesting parallels between man and animal and how quickly civilisation can crumble. The film starred Antony Varghese, Sabumon, Santhy Balachandran, Chemban Vinod Jose and others. Kumbalangi Nights, directed by Madhu C Narayanan, won Fahadh Faasil the Best Character Actor (Male). The film also picked up awards for Best Music (Sushin Syam) and Best Art Direction (Jotish Sankar, who also won it for Android Kunjappan Version 5.25). The film, with Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir, Shane Nigam, Anna Ben, Grace Antony, Sreenath Bhasi and others in the cast, was written by Syam Pushkaran. The film tells the story of a dysfunctional family of brothers and a patriarchal psychopath who is out to control the women in his house. Fahadh played the villain in this widely appreciated film. Moothon, directed by Geetu Mohandas, fetched Nivin Pauly a Special Jury (Male) Award. The film also starred Shobita Dhulipala and Roshan Mathew. The film told the story of a young person who goes in search of his long lost brother, from idyllic Lakshadweep to chaotic Mumbai. Nivin’s portrayal of a gay gangster won him praise from the audience and critics alike. Anna Ben won the Special Jury (Female) Award for survival thriller Helen while Priyamvadha won the same recognition for her role in Thottappan. Here’s the full list of awards: Best Film Book: PK Rajasekharan Best Film: Vasanthi directed by Rahman Brothers, produced by Shinoz and Sajaz Rahman Second Best Film: Kenjira directed by Manoj Kana Best Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery for Jalikattu Best Story Award: Shahul Aliyar for Vari - The Sentence Best Male Actor: Suraj Venjaramoodu for Android Kunjappan and Vikruthi Best Female Actor: Kani Kusruthi for Biriyaani Best Character Actor (Male): Fahadh Faasil for Kumbalangi Nights Best Character Actor (Female) Swasika Mikael for Vasanthi Best Child Actor (Male): Vasudev Satheesh Marar Best Child Actor (Female): Catherine Biji Best Cinematography: Prathap V Nair Best Scriptwriter: Rahman Brothers for Vasanthi Best Scriptwriter Adaptation: PS Rafeek for Thottappan Best Music Composer: Sushin Shyam for Kumbalangi Nights Best Male Singer: Najeem Arshad for a song in Kettiyyol Aanente Malaka Best Female Singer: Madhusri Narayanan for a song in Kolambi Best Lyricist Award: Sujesh Hari for Sathyam Paranja Viswasikkuvo Best Art Director: Jotish Sankar for Kumbalangi Nights and Android Kunjappan Best Dubbing Artiste male: Vineeth (actor) for Lucifer and Marakkar Best Female Dubbing Artiste: Sruthi Ramachandran for Kamala Best Debut Director: Ratheesh for Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 Special Jury Award (Male): Nivin Pauly for Moothon Special Jury Award (Female): Anna Ben for Helen and Priyamvadha for Thottappan

COVID-19

75 people have donated plasma from Valat, which was a COVID-19 cluster in July.

Saritha S Balan

Image for Representation

In a trial that is expected to aid the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala, the state government has been conducting plasma therapy on 25 patients at the District Hospital of Mananthavady in Wayanad. Seventy five people from Valat village in the district have donated plasma. Each of the 25 patients have received two doses as a result, while undergoing treatment for the disease at the hospital. Valat had been a COVID-19 cluster in July after a wedding function turned out to be a source of infection for many. More than 300 cases have emerged from Valat since July. The plasma donors are people who recovered from the disease in the region. “It has been applied on people who have moderate symptoms and only on patients who satisfy certain medical conditions including oxygen saturation and based on certain lab results, following all guidelines of the government. Plasma therapy has been used in the treatment since July 22 and some of the patients were discharged from the hospital after showing some recovery,” Dr Binija Merin Joy, nodal officer of the hospital blood bank told TNM. Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin present in the blood, relative to the amount of hemoglobin not carrying oxygen. A certain level of oxygen needs to be there in the blood, for the body to function efficiently. Plasma therapy refers to using the blood plasma of individuals who have recovered from the disease, who will have antibodies to the virus in their blood. By harnessing the recovery mechanism of the antibodies and introducing them into the COVID-19 patient’s bloodstream, it enables them to fight off the infection. However it’s yet to be studied if the plasma therapy helped directly in the recovery of patients. “The doctors who examine the patients have opined that there is clinical response, more effective on people who have moderate symptoms. We have planned a study on the patients on whom the therapy has been experimented,” Dr Merin Joy added. The Kerala government received permission from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to begin using plasma therapy against COVID-19 in August. Plasma therapy is conducted with the patient’s consent and with the approval of the State Medical Board and institutional committee. The trial is on patients who are above 18. In Wayanad, the district hospital is the only one with component (plasma) storage. Earlier, 32 people had donated plasma for plasma therapy in Malappuram district for treatment of patients at the Manjeri Medical College Hospital. The first plasma bank in the state had been set up at the Manjeri Medical College where the plasma therapy first began on a mass scale. "We had experimented plasma therapy in more than 150 COVID-19 patients and the success rate, as per the study so far, is 73%. A detailed study is needed for more findings on it. The plasma donation and the plasma therapy continue in the hospital," Dr Shinas Babu, nodal officer of COVID-19, of Manjeri Medical College told TNM. Also Read: For the first time in Kerala, a COVID-19 patient recovers with plasma therapy In Kerala's Malappuram, patients recovered from COVID-19 gather to donate plasma

Controversy

The court, however, did not quash the FIR filed by CBI in the alleged discrepancies in awarding the contract for the construction of houses under the Life Mission project.

TNM Staff

UV Jose

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered an interim stay on the CBI probe against the Chief Executive Officer of the Life Mission, a housing scheme for the poor by the Kerala government. The order was issued after considering the plea of the state government against the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) violations. The CBI will probe if the Kerala government violated the FCRA rule by accepting foreign funds for its projects without the approval from the Union government. The stay is valid for the next two months. However, the court did not quash the FIR filed by CBI in the alleged discrepancies of awarding the contract for the construction of houses under the Life Mission project. Reportedly, the court also did not stay the investigation against the Managing Director of Unitac Builders and Developers, the builder of the apartments for Life Mission project and the first accused in the case. The stay is only on the probe against Life Mission CEO UV Jose. CBI started the probe into the alleged discrepancies related to the construction of housing complex in Thrissur’s Wadakanchery for those who lost their houses in the Kerala floods. United Arab Emirates (UAE) based non-governmental organisation Red Crescent had signed an agreement with the Life Mission CEO UV Jose, sponsoring the project for Rs 20 crore, in 2019. Justice VG Arun, who heard the plea via video conference, reportedly said that the case needs to be heard in detail and posted the case for further consideration before the physical bench, reported Live Law. [Breaking] Kerala HC stays CBI investigation for two months against CEO of the LIFE Mission Project of the Kerala Government in the FIR registered by the central agency alleging FCRA violations over receiving foreign donations for the house construction project for flood victims. — Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) October 13, 2020 UV Jose was interrogated by the CBI earlier this month and also by the Enforcement Directorate. Reacting to the court order, Congress MLA Anil Akkara, based on whose complaint CBI registered the case, said that he is satisfied with the court order. “I had anticipated the move. The court has not quashed the FIR. Also, there is no stay on the probe against Unitac Builders,” said Anil Akkara. Meanwhile, Minister for Law AK Balan reiterated the stand of the Kerala government, stating that CBI probe will not stand against the government as there has not been any FCRA violation. Read: 'Certain people trying to sabotage developmental activities': Kerala CM During its arguments in the hearing last week, CBI’s counsel had reportedly quoted a famous Malayalam movie dialogue — ‘CBI is not Central Bureau of Idiots but Central Bureau of Investigation' by actor Jagathy Sreekumar in the CBI series starring Mammootty. Apart from the alleged FCRA violation, it has also come out that there have been discrepancies in how Unitac Builders got the contract of the project. Swapna Suresh, a key accused in the controversial gold smuggling case and a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, had allegedly received a commission from the firm to help it bag the contract. Rasheed Khasmi Ali Musaiqri, Consulate Charge d’Affairs of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, is also alleged to have received a commission for this.

Harassment

Sajana Shaji alleges that the police refused to intervene and help the trans women.

Sreedevi Jayarajan

Trans woman Sajana Shaji crying in a live video

Over the last three months, Kochi based trans woman Sajana Shaji was pulling through the pandemic by cooking and selling biriyani. She had taken loans from grocery stores and meat shops to cook and sell the biriyani. Despite the struggle, Sajana had even managed to offer employment to four other trans women, two women and few youths who had lost their jobs due to COVID-19. However on Monday evening, a distraught Sajana posted a video pleading for help from the public. For the past one month, the group was being relentlessly harassed and abused by shopkeepers in the neighbourhood, resulting in massive loss of business for them. On Monday, Sajana says that she had cooked and packed 150 packets of biriyani and 20 meals, but could only sell 20 biriyani packets. This as a man identified as Gireesh, who sold dried fish opposite to them turned away Sajana’s clients by spreading rumours about the quality of her food. He and other men even beat up and abused the trans women, says Sajana in her video. “Look at the amount of food that has gone to waste. People keep asking us to work and live a decent life, instead of begging on trains and roaming the streets at night. But if the society does not allow us to work respectfully, then what are we supposed to do,” she asks in her Facebook live. What once used to be a thriving business which sold 300 packets of biriyani a day is now reduced to sales worth 20 packets of biriyani, she adds. And even worse, the group alleges that the officers at the Hill Palace police station, where they lodged a complaint, simply refused to intervene and resolve the situation in a timely manner. “We asked the police to come to the place and intervene. They said they cannot come now and that they would come in the evening. When we asked what we were to do with the wasted biriyani, the Sub Inspector of the station callously told us do whatever we wanted with it,” Sajana adds. For two days, women walked in and out of the police station to resolve the tensions, but to no avail. It was only on Monday evening, when Sajana’s video was shared widely, that the issue was highlighted. A First Information Report has now been filed in the Hill Palace police station. Sajana also adds that the state Health Minister KK Shailaja teacher rang her up and promised to take action in the case. However, the group went through considerable trauma before their plight was highlighted by the media. “We used up all our savings including the money I had set aside for my surgery to start this biriyani business. I kept thinking that earning a living was more important and that surgery came later. But now I have no means to continue the business. My associate Theertha, a trans woman who had just undergone a surgery was touched inappropriately. He used a lot of sexist slurs against us, when we confronted him,” Sajana adds. In a Facebook post, Kerala health minister KK Shailaja teacher added that Sajana will be provided with necessary protection and that action will also be taken against the attackers. "I called Sajana on the phone and spoke. Guaranteed that they will provide the necessary help and security. Police will ensure safety. Action has been demanded against the attackers. As a part of the Department of Social Justice, Sajana will be given emergency financial assistance through Kerala Social Security Mission V Care Scheme," Shailaja Teacher's post read.

Gold Smuggling Case

However, Swapna will remain jailed as she hasn't been granted bail in the case registered against her by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

TNM Staff

Swapna Suresh

Swapna Suresh, one of the key accused in the controversial Kerala gold smuggling case, was granted bail in the case registered against her by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday. However, Swapna will continue to be jailed as there is a case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is still under investigation. Earlier this month, Swapna had been granted bail in a case registered by the Customs Department, which is conducting a parallel inquiry into the gold smuggling. Though the ED had recently submitted a partial chargesheet in the case, the Principal Sessions Court in Kochi granted her bail. On Saturday, Customs Department had invoked the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act against Swapna Suresh and another key accused Sandeep Nair. As per this, reportedly, the accused can be detained in prison even if they secure bail. The Act is invoked when foreign exchange regulations are violated and that has a serious effect on the security of the nation. The case pertains to smuggling of 30kg of gold through diplomatic baggage from Thiruvananthapuram airport. Investigation agencies said that the racket, which included Swapna, Sandeep Nair and Sarith PS, a former colleague of Swapna in the UAE Consulate, had earlier smuggled gold in a similar way at least 20 times. Meanwhile, Swapna has also filed a bail application in the NIA case and it will be considered by the court on Thursday. Notably, last week, the NIA court in Kochi had come down heavily on the central investigation agency stating that it cannot continue to believe that there was evidence against the accused to charge Unlawful Atrocities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as the agency had not reportedly given proof for the same yet. The court had also asked the agency to submit the case diary and sought a list with clear segregation of the 30 accused, according to who all are directly involved and those who are conspirators and investors. Also Read: Sivasankar appears before Customs for third time in Kerala gold smuggling case Big twist in Kerala gold smuggling case, accused Sandeep Nair turns approver

Inspiration

Mini Korman works in a single-teacher school and she has been making this long journey every day for the past six years.

Sreekanth Sivadasan

A teacher in blue salwar with her students in the middle of a forest

All images by Sreekanth Sivadasan

The lack of transportation facilities during the six-month lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic did not stop Mini Korman, the lone teacher in a school in Ambumala, a tribal settlement in Malappuram district. The school is among the 270 such single-teacher schools in Kerala. The 44-year-old walks about 16 km from Agambadam (Malappuram) and treks another kilometre through a slippery forest road full of wild boars, tigers and elephants, and crosses a gushing river with a rickety bamboo bridge over it to reach Ambumala. And Mini has been doing this every day for the past six years. The bridge was installed as a replacement to the bridge which was broken twice during the floods that hit the state in 2018 and 2019. Earlier, before the lockdown, there were a few local bus services till the 10th block stop in the area, but the infrequent schedule forced her to walk all the way. “I have always resorted to walking even in my childhood. My ‘ooru’ (village) was in Vendakkampoyil and I did my lower primary schooling in Valamthode school, about 7 km from our village. Then I studied in MES College, Mambad. I had to walk till Agambadam which was 18 km from home to get a jeep till the college. So, this is nothing new for me,” says Mini. The forest path always poses an imminent threat from wild animals like boars, tigers and elephants. “Once I saw tiger cubs on the path. I thought they were kittens but later realized that they were tiger cubs. I turn back whenever I see pythons or tigers in my path,” she says. The path is unreliable during the rains and she has often had to stay back in the Ambumala village as the river rises up during the rains and makes it impossible for her to cross the bridge. Mini got a Trained Teachers Certificate (TTC) in 1993. She then worked as a domestic worker for several years to look after her family consisting of her husband and two children. She joined the Manjeri Court in 1999 and then shifted to the Commercial Tax office, Malappuram, in 2008 as Lower Division clerk. She also worked as a Village Extension Officer from 2010 to 2015. All through these years, she also worked as a Scheduled Tribes promoter of the region, facilitating and extending the benefits of tribal development schemes to the community. However, she left the job after watching the news about an ailing family in Ambumala whose house was in a dilapidated state for eight years. With an aspiration to do something for the community, Mini took the contract-based job in the single-teacher school of Ambumala in 2015. “At first, the students were reluctant to come. It took about six months for me to create a rapport with the children and the families living here,” she says. Now she interacts with them as one of their own, often enquiring not just about the children but also about their parents and other family members. Their job, certificate issues and other problems are concerns of hers too. Ambumala tribal village belongs to the Paniya (Kurinji) tribal community and Mini Korman belongs to the Muthuva tribal community. The people of Ambumala collect honey, gooseberries and other fruits and tubers for a living. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, popularly known as ‘Thozhilurappu’ also ensures employment. 16 students from 1st standard to 4th standard benefit from the school and 28 students go there for attending the online classes initiated by the State Education Department. There was no electricity prior to Mini’s arrival in the village. Drinking water scarcity was a prevalent issue that the villagers faced during summers. They depend mostly on the river water for their livelihood. Mini made electricity her first priority and the school now has an electric connection, and a television which broadcasts the online classes. The education sector is one of the worst hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The universities had to postpone and cancel their examinations and search for alternatives to resume their classes. Almost all the academic institutions have turned to online education as the modus operandi for the coming semester because of the uncertainty of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. But, the unavailability of high speed internet connections and laptops or smartphones for accessing these online classes makes the transition difficult for students from underprivileged sections and particularly for students of tribal communities. The inequal education further expands the gulf of the digital divide. In such a scenario, the efforts of teachers like Mini Korman to bridge the gap despite hardships are vital to the education system. However, irregular salary is yet another difficulty faced by not just Mini but every teacher of the single-teacher school system in the state. Last March, such a teacher from Agasthyarkoodam in Thiruvananthapuram district protested against the irregular salary which saw an immediate intervention from the Education Minister of the state. In spite of this, the plight of such teachers in single-teacher schools remains the same. Single-teacher school teachers are getting paid only twice in a year. “I’m worried about my children and that’s the only thing that makes me carry on,” says Mini Korman, smiling. Watch: Ushakumari teacher rows a boat, treks kilometres to teach a tribal school in Kerala Sreekanth Sivadasan is a student of still photography and visual communication at the Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi

Crime

The vicar was an unauthorised Ayurvedic practitioner and allegedly sexually assaulted the woman during a consultation appointment.

TNM Staff

Kerala Vicar, Fr Reji Palakkadan, Accused of Sexually Assaulting Woman

A Kerala vicar accused of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman was arrested by Adimaly police in Idukki on Monday. The accused, identified as 55-year-old Fr Reji Palakkadan, is the vicar of Panikkankudy church, a Jacobite Syrian church, in Adimaly. According to police, the accused was also practising as an ayurvedic medical practitioner. The woman had gone to him to seek treatment. “The woman accused the vicar of sexually assaulting her during the consultation. Following the incident, the woman, along with her parents, came to the police station to file a complaint. The accused was arrested last night. He was presented to the court and was remanded,” an official of the Adimaly police station told TNM. The official also added that the woman had approached the vicar for treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD). “The woman has complained that he touched her inappropriately under the pretext of examining her,” the official said. Palakkadan has been booked under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354 (A) (1) (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. The police also told TNM that the vicar was not a registered ayurvedic medical practitioner. “It is not clear whether he has any qualifications. We have to probe that. But it is confirmed that he was practising without proper authorisation,” the official noted. This is not the first time that Kerala Christian priests have been accused of sexual assault and rape. Bishop Franco Mulakkal, a Kerala native, is accused of having raped a nun multiple times. He is under bail and is undergoing trial in the case. Robin Vadakkumchery is another Kerala priest who was convicted for raping a minor and impregnating her in 2016. He was dismissed from his priesthood by the Vatican. In July, he moved the Kerala High Court with an outrageous "offer," stating that he would marry the survivor and take care of the child.

Life Mission Project

During the time of his death in 2003, PK Velayudhan was the General Secretary of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.

TNM Staff

House Key being handed over to late Congress Leader's Wife under Kerala Life Mission Project

Late Congress leader and former Kerala Minister PK Velayudhan’s wife Girija Velayudhan on Tuesday received keys to the apartment which the state government constructed for the family under the Life Mission project, LDF government’s housing project for the homeless. Girija who had been struggling to construct a house after the death of the former Minister had approached the CPI(M) led-LDF government seeking help. PK Velayudhan, a two time MLA and Minister during the tenure of former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, had passed away in 2003. The Congress leader had won as MLA from Pandalam and Njarakkal. He held the post of Minister for Community Development from 1983 to 1987. AK Balan, Minister for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes and Backward classes, handed over the keys to the apartment constructed at Kalladimukham in Thiruvananthapuram, built as part of Life Mission project under Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. In the event held in Thiruvananthapuram, Minister AK Balan recalled how it was worrisome to see the wife of a veteran Congress leader approaching him seeking help. During the time of his death, PK Velayudhan was the General Secretary of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also expressed the hardships the wife of a Congress veteran had to undergo after his death. “She had been going through a lot of hardships living in rented houses and even as a paying guest. She had earlier approached the state government during the former government’s tenure, asking for aid but in vain,” said Pinarayi Vijayan. While talking about this, the Chief Minister and Minister AK Balan also hinted about the controversies regarding the Life Mission project, and said that deserving poor people are being affected due to baseless allegations. Life Mission’s project in Thrissur’s Wadakanchery got hit after allegations surfaced that there has been violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) in accepting sponsorship for the project from foreign countries. The Central Bureau of Investigation and Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has registered a case on the alleged discrepancies and is conducting a probe. Also Read: Pollution Control Board issues show cause notice of closure to Flipkart and Patanjali

COVID-19

With 21 more fatalities on Tuesday, the death toll now stands at 1,046.

TNM Staff

Image for Representation

Kerala's COVID-19 caseload crossed the three lakh mark with the state reporting 8,764 fresh cases on Tuesday. The death toll has risen to 1,046 with 21 more fatalities. The total COVID-19 cases in the state touched 3,01,896 with the addition of the new cases, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. A total of 48,253 samples were sent for testing in 24 hours of which 7,723 returned negative. So far, 36,76,682 samples have been sent for testing. The total recoveries have climbed to 2,07,357 while 95,407 are undergoing treatment for the infection. Four districts reported over 1000 cases — Malappuram recorded the highest with 1,139 cases followed by Ernakulam (1,122), Kozhikode (1,113) and Thrissur (1,010). Of the positive cases, 8,039 were infected through contact, 36 had come from abroad and 85 from other states. Seventy-six health workers were among those who tested positive on Tuesday, the CM said. As many as 2,82,000 people are under observation in various districts-- 2,54,841 in home and institutional quarantine while 27,159 are in hospitals. While 11 new areas were added in the hotspots list, 15 areas were removed from it, he added. Meanwhile, in a trial expected to aid the containment of the disease in the state, the Kerala government has been conducting plasma therapy on 25 patients at the district hospital of Mananthavady in Wayanad. As part of the trial, 75 people from Valat village in the district have donated plasma. A total of 25 patients each have received two doses as a result, while undergoing treatment for the disease at the hospital. Valat had been designated as a COVID-19 cluster in July after a wedding function turned out to be a source of infection for many. With PTI inputs Also Read: After COVID-19 cluster in Valat, many come forward to donate plasma in Kerala's Wayanad

NH Development

This is as part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari economic corridor under Bharatmala Pariyojana.

PTI

Highway projects worth Rs 50,000 crore are being developed in Kerala, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said. This is as part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari economic corridor under Bharatmala Pariyojana. He was speaking at a virtual ceremony for the laying of foundation stones for seven highway projects worth Rs 11,571 crore for Kerala and inauguration of a 27-kilometre highway project from Kazhakuttam to Mukkola, built at a cost of Rs 1,121 crore. The Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs minister said that in line with the Prime Minister's vision for a New India, development of world-class transport infrastructure has been prioritised through initiatives such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the country's largest ever infrastructure development programme. In addition, there are plans to upgrade 119 kilometres of port connectivity roads under Bharatmala /Sagarmala Scheme, he said. Flagship corridors such as Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Delhi-Amritsar Katra Expressway, Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway are also being developed as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement."Mumbai Kanyakumari Economic Corridor with a length of 1,760 kilometres is one such corridor being developed as a part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana," he said. He noted that the corridor improving connectivity to the entire western coast of the country from Mumbai to Kanyakumari will greatly enable the economic prosperity of the region."As a part of the Mumbai Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, 23 projects with a length of 650 kilometres are being developed in the state of Kerala at an investment of Rs 50,000 crore," the minister said. He also said that the corridor traversing the entire length of Kerala from North to South is expected to be the lifeline of Kerala. The corridor improves connectivity to major cities/ towns such as Kasaragod, Thalassery, Kannur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. According to the minister, works have been sanctioned and construction is being initiated in another seven projects of length 177 kilometres at an investment of Rs 11,571 crore. It includes construction of a high level bridge at Cheruthoni River, which was damaged/ approaches completely washed off due to natural calamities during southwest monsoon season from June 1 to August 19 ,2018. He said the government is committed to ensure expedited completion of these projects to enable economic prosperity of the state and that the projects will change the face of Kerala. Bharatmala Pariyojana was conceptualised through a scientific study of freight traffic movement between key origin-destination pairs to enable efficient freight and passenger movement. Gadkari said that 35,000 kilometres of national highways are being developed as a part of it in the country and out of this, 1,234 kilometres are being developed in Kerala. Presently, he said that Kerala has national highways of 1,782-kilometre length and 488-kilometre length of national highways have been constructed during 2014-20 period. The expenditure on construction of national highway from 2014-2020 is Rs 3,820 crore while another Rs 671 crore was spent on maintenance of national highways in the state. Gadkari also said that works costing Rs 19,800 crore are targeted for completion by 2024 while 30 projects of an aggregate length of 549 kilometres for an amount of Rs 5,327 crore are under implementation. He asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to consider PPP (Public Private Partnership) model for road development which will bring more capital in building infrastructure. Mentioning about the very high land acquisition cost for roads in Kerala, Gadkari called for making aggregates and sand royalty free and for exempting other road materials like iron/ steel, cement from state GST that will be very helpful to Kerala for reducing the cost of road construction. Gadkari also invited the chief minister for a detailed discussion on these issues. Further, Gadkari asked the state to identify black spots on highways and offered help in rectifying the same. He reiterated that safer roads are important to reduce accidents and save lives. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan complemented the central government for fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the state. Also Read: This Kerala teacher treks 16 km through jungle with tigers to teach in tribal school

NH Development

The Kazhakuttam-Mukkola Bypass in Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday.

PTI

Kerala's newly inaugurated Kazhakuttam-Mukkola NH Bypass

Kazhakuttam-Mukkola Bypass, PC/Pinarayi Vijayan FB Page

Kerala is the only state which has agreed to pay 25% of the cost of land acquisition for National Highway development in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. An amount of Rs 452 crore has already been handed over and the road development projects are going to be a milestone in the state's development of the basic infrastructure, he said, while speaking after the online inauguration of NH Bypass on NH 66 (Kazhakoottam-Mukola road) in Thiruvananthapuram by Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs, Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for seven other National Highway projects in Kerala, an official release said. As a part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, 23 projects with a length of 650 km are being developed in Kerala at an investment of Rs 50,000 crore, Gadkari said. The corridor will greatly enable the economic prosperity of the region.The corridor traversing the entire length of Kerala from North to South is expected to be the "lifeline of Kerala." The problems relating to land acquisition could be resolved due to the good cooperation of Chief Minister, Gadkari said. "The cost of land acquisition is the highest in Kerala. The bulk of the project cost is required for this. Road development in Kerala will be given due consideration.The performance of this state government in the development of national highways was better than that of the previous government and it was very helpful," he added. The NH development in Kerala is being done in 17 packages. The CM also requested the Union Minister to approve the remaining nine packages in this financial year itself and acknowledged his full support to the development of the National Highways. With the completion of 27 km of the Kazhakuttam- Mukkola bypass, the first phase of the 43 km Kazhakuttam- Karode road connecting the Tamil Nadu border has become a reality. The inauguration, on Tuesday, marks the construction of six stretches of NH 66 at a cost of Rs 11,571 crore, including Thalappady-Chengala (Rs 1,981 crore, 39 km), Chengala-Neeleswaram (Rs 1,746 crore, 37 km) in Kasaragod district, and Parole-Taliparambu (Rs 3,042 crore, 40 km) in Kasaragod and Kannur districts. Also Read: Highway projects worth Rs 50,000 crore being developed in Kerala: Union Min Gadkari

Politics

The UDF had in June ousted Jose K Mani’s faction from the alliance over the Kottayam district president tussle.

TNM Staff

The Jose K Mani faction of Kerala Congress (M) party has joined the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala on Wednesday. It is the first time since 1982 that the faction has decided to join LDF. Jose K Mani said that the LDF is best to beat communalism. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed the move. "Kerala Congress (M) decided to join the alliance as they realised that LDF was right. LDF will call a meeting and will decide on further things," the CM said. There were reports that the faction delayed its entry to LDF over Pala the Assembly seat. Mani C Kappan, NCP leader, and Jose K Mani had locked horns on Sunday over the Pala seat before the former emerged the winner. "I managed to win from Pala constituency in my fourth attempt. If Pala is the wife of KM Mani, it's my heart and soul. I will not give it up," Mani C Kappan, whose NCP is also part of the LDF, said. Jose K Mani, however, appeared in no mood to compromise at the time of joining LDF, stating that it was KM Mani who gave Pala a name. KM Mani had represented Pala for 52 years, winning 13 elections since 1965. After the Jose K Mani faction of the Kerala Congress (M) joined LDF, Mani C Kappan told the media that NCP will continue with the LDF and further decisions on who will contest the seat in the 2021 Assembly Elections will be decided later. In June, United Democratic Front had ousted the faction led by Jose K Mani, who is the son of the late veteran leader and founder of Kerala Congress (M) KM Mani. Sebastian Kulathunkal, a leader of the faction was the president of Kottayam district panchayat. As per an agreement with the UDF, he had to step down and hand over the charge to another person from Kerala Congress's PJ Joseph faction. But Sebastian did not hand over the charge. Following which the UDF gave notice to the party and ousted the faction from the front. While announcing the entry to LDF on Wednesday, Jose K Mani said that he was ousted with a clear agenda by the UDF. He said that his dignity will not be sacrificed. Though the BJP Kerala unit had invited the group to the National Democratic Alliance, Jose K Mani did not choose to join them.

Police

As per reports, police have listed 532 places to raid and 40 people were added to the police goonda list.

TNM Staff

Police official searching for gangsters in Thrissur

After a series of clashes between gangs leading to eight deaths, police have been conducting raids and search operations in Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts since Wednesday early morning on a lookout for local gangsters. Several of them are already in police custody and many weapons were also seized from them. A police team headed by Thrissur Range Deputy Inspector General of Police S Surendran, have been conducting the raids. As per the reports police have listed 532 places to conduct raids. 40 people were added to the goonda list of the police. The mission was named Operation Ranger by police. "Accused in many cases are hiding in some places. We collected information about these hide outs and are conducting raids. We have seized many weapons and some drugs from these places. We have also arrested three persons who were absconding. We will also make a new goonda list," DIG S Surendran told the media. Police took this immediate action after 8 people were killed in Thrissur in the last two weeks. Most of the murders were due to gang rivalries according to the police. On October 1, a person named Shameer was attacked while he was in remand custody in jail. He was reportedly attacked by some jail inmates. On October 4, Dr Sona, a dentist, died while on treatment after she was stabbed by her friend in the last week of September. On the same day a Communist Party of India leader Sanoo was also hacked to death. The party had alleged that it was a political murder. On October 6 a person named Rajesh who was living in a rented house was found dead. His friend Arun was arrested two days later. Next day a POCSO case accused Thirumani Satheesh who was out on bail was killed. Accused was arrested later. Police claim that some personal vengeance caused the murder. On October 9 another person who went for a morning walk in Ollur Sasi was killed after some dispute. On October 10, Nidhin, an accused in a murder case, was hacked to death in Anthikad of Thrissur. Two days later another person Rafeeque and his friend Faisal were attacked at a rented house. Rafeeque died and Faisal is currently undergoing treatment. Police suspect that a connection with drug peddlers resulted in the murder.

Body 2:

Court

The court also rejected the CBI counsel’s argument that Life Mission would fall under the categories under the FCRA rule, which is prohibited from accepting foreign funds.

TNM Staff

In a notable observation, the Kerala High Court has said that Life Mission, the housing project for the poor by the LDF government, has not received any foreign funds directly from the Red Crescent. The Kerala High Court made the observation on Tuesday while considering the plea filed by UV Jose, CEO of Life Mission, against the charge made by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the alleged discrepancies in an ongoing project of Life Mission in Thrissur’s Wadakanchery. The HC’s remark has come as a breather to the state government which has been in a tough spot after allegations of discrepancies were raised on its ambitious housing project for landless and homeless people of the state. The CBI is probing the alleged violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by the builders of Life Mission project in Wadakanchery and ‘unknown officials’ of Life Mission, in accepting nearly Rs 20 crore from UAE based humanitarian organisation Red Crescent which sponsored the project. Assessing the arguments laid out by the CBI counsel, counsel for Life Mission and the accused builder in the case, the court observed that, “undisputedly Life Mission has not received any foreign contribution directly from the sponsor”. The court also rejected the CBI counsel’s argument that Life Mission would fall under the categories under the FCRA rule, which is prohibited from accepting foreign funds. “The contention that Life Mission would fall under section 3 (1) (c) (of FCRA -- Public servant, judge, government servant or employee of any corporation or any other body controlled or owned by the government) is liable to be rejected on a plain reading of section and by applying the ‘ejusdem generis’ rule. Hence Life Mission or the builders do not fall under any of the categories enumerated in the section 3(1),” said the HC. Making the remark, the High Court on Tuesday stayed any further proceedings against UV Jose, CEO of Life Mission, who is a ‘probable accused’ in the case for two months. Read: Kerala HC orders interim stay on CBI probe against Life Mission project case Meanwhile, the court rejected the plea filed by first accused in the case Santhosh Eappen, managing director of Unitac Builders and Sane Ventures LLP, builders of the project at Wadakanchery, stating that there is no need of an interference of the court at this stage.

Protest

The fishermen allege that the Adani group has failed to keep the promises given to them as a part of the compensation scheme announced when the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport project began.

Saritha S Balan

Fisher folk in Kerala’s coastal village of Vuzhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram began their protest against the construction of the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport project by Adani Enterprises Ltd on October 5 for the second time. The fishermen say that the construction activity and the debris due to dredging, has impacted their ability to find fish in the area, thus affecting their livelihood and of those who sell fish at the local markets. The fisher folk allege that the Rs 296.6 crore compensation package announced for the farmers in 2015 has not been disbursed adequately, leaving many of them out of the compensation scheme. The first protest was held in 2016, followed by a one-day agitation in 2019. With no proper response from the government, the fishermen have begun the protest again, which still continues. Four fishermen sit down in protest at a time, near the construction site, in order to follow the physical distancing norms. “Unscientific dredging” and loss of livelihood “One of the major promises made to us that we would get jobs. There have not been any jobs. The fishermen who engage in fishing without venturing far into the sea have no income because we can’t find fish here anymore because of the dredging and piling activity due to the construction. This has affected the women fish vendors who buy fish from the fishermen too,” said Pani Adima, who has been in the forefront of the protest. The fisher folk claim that the dredging has affected the natural habitat of the fish located closer to the shore, especially in Vizhinjam and nearby regions like Muthalappozhi. “This has been caused by the unscientific dredging. This has also in turn affected fishing and the livelihood of fishermen,” Pani Adima says. However an official with the Port implementing agency said that Rs 83 crore of the compensation had already been disbursed and the government is in the process of compensating the rest of the fishermen. “No one is against giving the people the benefits they deserve, but there are certain criteria set by the government. There is a committee headed by the Revenue Divisional Officer and another headed by the District Collector in which Fisheries Director and Matsyafed Managing Director are members to redress the complaints of the people. Rs 83 crore has been dispersed as compensation. Those who are left out are those who didn’t present documents,” the official said. The official further stated that a decision was made to distribute free kerosene to the fishermen and it was distributed for two years. However, for the last 10 months, the distribution stopped as the price of kerosene rose. “Compensation should be within the limit of the amount that has been fixed,” the official added. Damage to property The protesters claimed that the drilling activity has resulted in damage to several houses in the village. Pani Adima said that 242 houses have been damaged so far but no compensation was given to the home owners. “The compensation package was announced in September 2015 and it has been years now. It has not been disbursed properly. Affected people haven’t been rehabilitated, no jobs have been given for those who lost their livelihood, no compensation has been given, affected people haven’t been rehabilitated, no colleges were built, no new courses were introduced and schools were not upgraded as promised,” Pani Adima added. However the official denied the protesters claims that their houses were damaged and said that an inspection team had found “crack” on several houses. “There was a test done before the work began and there were cracks on houses. A team of experts examined the cracks but found that the piling vibrations were well within the permissible limits, which couldn’t have caused the cracks. But compensation has been given to them and they are not happy with the amount. There is no stepping back. Only genuine concerns of the people will be addressed,” the official said. Also Read: Adani’s Kerala port project stalled as local residents launch protest

Human Interest

R Vinod of Panavally is perhaps the only man in Kerala with a rain gauge for his own personal use.

Saritha S Balan

Kerala Man Vinod in Alappuzha who has set up a rain gauge at his home.

PC/Screengrab

On rainy days, friends and family of R Vinod, who lives in Panavalli Panchayat in Alappuzha, do not have to rely on news reports to know how much rainfall their region will receive. Instead, they obtain this information via ‘good morning’ messages that he sends them on WhatsApp. Vinod is perhaps the only private citizen in Kerala to have set up a rain gauge for personal use. Vinod, who is 55 years old, currently works as a driver in the office of the Chief Engineer (Generation), Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEB), at Moolamattom in Idukki. He has been working in Idukki since 2003. During his long tenure there, seeing an employee of the KSEB measuring the rainfall in the area had piqued his interest. This led him to set up his own private rain gauge in Alappuzha in September 2019, which grabbed people’s attention as the region had been experiencing heavy rainfall since July. “It was a sheer passion. I had always been curious why rain is measured in millimetres and how it’s measured,” Vinod told TNM. Rainfall is measured for 24 hours, starting from 7 am. “Setting up a rain gauge is simple, it’s a unit that costs Rs 7,000. The rain is measured by collecting rain water of 200 centimetre-square area. There should be a minimum of this square area to set up the gauge,” he said. From 2007 to 2017, Vinod worked in the dam safety unit in Idukki. “During those ten years I used to go with the engineers while they measured the rain and got the knowledge on how the gauge works during those days. This is a job done by engineers. There are rain gauges set up at scores of points in the catchment area of the Idukki dam. I cleared doubts with an Executive Engineer of the department, and hence am confident of doing this,” he said. “The official rain gauges measure rain in .22 mm accuracy. But I measure in .11 mm accuracy for convenience. The availability of rain is not even in all districts and is different in even different parts of a taluk. But recently Kerala received almost uniform rain in all districts. On the days when there are heavy rains, I check my measurement with the official one made by the KSEB to check the accuracy, and they are almost the same. On July 29, the rain availability was a whopping 440 mm in 24 hours, which led to waterlogging in our village. This made more people believe in the rain measurement,” Vinod said. “He has done this because he has experience in Idukki. He doesn’t follow all specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards. But the rain gauge gets a reasonable reading compared to that of the Indian Meteorological Department, though there are slight variations. It has been a fair attempt to create awareness,” KSEB Executive Engineer (Civil) PN Biju told TNM. “This has made me more accountable and I now keep record of the measurements so that I can answer people’s queries," he added. Vinod’s ‘good morning’ messages on WhatsApp with rainfall updates began to evoke interest in his friends and acquaintances, who gradually started taking the exercise seriously. Malayalam dailies have reported on Vinod’s rare mission, and the people's response has made him more passionate. “I never thought this would get wide attention,” he chuckled. Vinod plans to give lessons on how his rain gauge works to children, once schools are reopened. Also Read: Relief for LDF govt as Kerala HC says no foreign funds received directly by Life Mission

Interview

The theatre and film actor won the Kerala State award for her performance in the film ‘Biriyaani’, dedicates it to PK Rosy.

Cris

Black and white photo of Kani in a kurthi wearing a bindi and her long straight her tied and thrown to one side

The sound of an apple bite comes through the phone as she picks up an afternoon call. In 24 hours, Kani Kusruti has hardly eaten. There has not been a moment to think about the Kerala State Award she’s won the day before – for best female actor. Biriyaani, the film that won her the award, comes about 20 years after she began acting. That first time had been on a stage, when she was a school going teenager. There have been hundreds of stages after that, and much less frequently, a film. “Something I missed telling in interviews is about the many theatre actors who have always taken acting so seriously. These are people who have gone to acting schools, trained themselves and dedicated whole lives to acting. The award is definitely a motivation. And it puts you in the limelight. But there are so many really talented and trained people who are little recognised,” Kani says. People may be talented but like all talents, grooming an actor helps. Even those who don’t go to an acting school may have their own methods of learning – observation of others or else home schooling, Kani says. Surabhi Lakshmi, who won the 2016 National Award for best female actor, too came from theatre. In recent years there have been more theatre actors gaining recognition. Anil Nedumangad, Sujith Shankar, etc. are often spotted playing character roles in films of Dileesh Pothan, Rajeev Ravi and others. Kani points out that there is a certain typecasting of these actors. But she can’t say so for sure if it is only for theatre actors. “If a certain role clicks, there is a tendency to give an actor the same kind of role again. This does not mean if you play a teacher once, it is typecasting to play a teacher again. No, I don’t mean the role of the character, but how they are presented in the film. I have often been offered ‘avasha aaya’ (tired) characters. But I like doing comedy and I rarely get offered to do that, there was a bit in Cocktail. In theatre, you get all sorts of character,” she says. Besides Cocktail, she acted in a segment of Kerala Cafe, North 24 Kaatham, Oru Indian Pranayakatha, and most recently as a woman with mental illness in Oolu, among other films. There have been some Tamil films too. But it is for the first time that a full length character is out there, through Biriyaani, she says. In 2010 she had got a full length character in a film by Baburaj. There was also an offer from a Srilankan Tamil film some time ago. But the first to finally materialise is Biriyaani. The film premiered last year at the Asiatica Festival in Rome. After winning awards at various festivals it was featured at the Imagine Film Festival in Spain, where too Kani won the Best (Female) Actor award. The film is about a young woman and her mother who have to leave their hometown and go to live in another place due to certain difficulties. Kani plays the young woman called Khadija. “I didn’t have the conviction that Sajin Baabu (the director) did. I was on a personal break when he first told me about the film and I had suggested that maybe he should look for other actors. He did but then we met again after a few days and decided to do the film together,” Kani says. She has famously dedicated the award to PK Rosy, the first woman actor of Malayalam cinema who was chased away for being a Dalit woman playing a dominant caste character. “She’s an actor we have disrespected so much that nothing will make up for the humiliation she was put through. I dedicated the award to her since even now equal opportunities are not coming to everyone, despite there being a lot of talented artistes. Caste discrimination still exists,” Kani says. Read: PK Rosy's story: How Malayalam cinema's first woman actor was forced to leave the state In her moment of recognition Kani also thinks of the woman actor who survived an assault three and a half years ago in Kochi. “She’s on my mind,” Kani says. She had recently played a prominent character in Rajesh Rajamani’s short film The Discreet Charm of the Savarnas which also takes on the issue of caste. She and two other men play filmmakers of privileged castes looking for an actor to play a Dalit character. It is important to them that the actor ‘looks like’ a Dalit character. Read: ‘The Discreet Charm of the Savarnas’: A funny and incisive take on caste stereotyping “There have always been fights against caste discrimination. So many people wrote about it, held strikes against it and spent their whole lives fighting it. The reason we are able to have this phone conversation is fruit of the work that they had all put in. But films taking on this cause get more attention because of the popularity of the medium. Such fights always existed, it is not a recent phenomenon,” Kani says. Watch: Interview of team behind The Discreet Charm of the Savarnas

Social

On Monday, Assam BJP leader Satya Ranjan Borah blocked the main gate of the Guwahati zoo while vehicles carrying beef for tigers were trying to pass.

TNM Staff

Image for representation only

Earlier this week, a bizarre incident in Assam triggered a fresh spurt of hilarious memes on beef policing. On Monday, hardline BJP leader Satya Ranjan Borah protested against tigers in the Guwahati zoo being fed beef. The right wing leader gathered a group of beef protesters and blocked the main gate of the zoo when vehicles carrying beef for the tigers were trying to pass. Even worse, he added that the carnivores can be fed the surplus Sambar deer in the zoo, instead of beef. Sambar deers are, however, among the protected species under the Indian Wildlife Act. As the fresh controversy on Hindutva beef policing made headlines, down south in Kerala, meme makers set out to create rib tickling content on the incident, using Malayalam cinema and pop culture references. Take a look at our best picks which we think are a laughter riot: A meme from the 2015 film Amar Akbar Antony depicts Jayasurya as the disillusioned tiger who says, “I am not going to continue eating food which doesn’t have beef. I am going to leave this place.” To this, the pashu (Malayalam) or cow depicted by Indrajith says “Eda Kadu nee serious aano? (Hey Tiger are you saying this seriously?” and the Tiger says “Yes, I am serious,”. This is followed by the punch dialogue where Indrajith (Cow) says “Then can I take your position as the national animal?.” Most Malayalees will remember this funny scene from the 1998 fim Harikrishnans, where Juhi Chawla cooks the spiciest food for Mohanlal and Mammootty. The meme shows Juhi Chawla asking Mohanlal if the ‘spice in the sambar is okay?”, to which he responds that it is balanced. She then asks Mammootty if the “salt in the yogurt is fine,” to which he responds “it is balanced. Both Mammotty and Mohanlal faces have photoshopped heads of Tigers - Tigers eating Sambar and curd as they can no longer eat beef. This meme shows Mammootty and Sreenivasan who are portrayed as two tigers engaged in a serious conversation on food. The year is 2040 and the tigers and Sreenivasan is the Grandpa Tiger. Mamootty - the tiger cub - asks Sreenivasan “what did you eat in your childhood?” to which Grandpa Tiger says “Nothing specific. We used to kill and eat Buffalo or goats,”. To this the cub replies “what a weird life, wasn’t it?” This shows Gopika, a dying zoo keeper, on her death and attempting to speak to the Tiger (Suresh Gopi). Gopika (zookeeper) manages to say “Bee” and the tiger asks “Beef?”, to which Gopika replies “Beetroot fry and rice.” A meme from the 1993 classic Meleparambil Aanveedu, the picture shows Jagathy, Vijayaraghavan, Narendra Prasad and Jayaram sitting down to eat dinner. They are served chilly instead of meat. This picture depicts Cochin Haneefa as the young tiger who has escaped the zoo and reunited with his parents in the wild. Tiger Dad (depicted by Narendra Prasad): Son, we have cooked your favourite deer. Please Eat. Young Tiger (Cochin Haneefa): “I have relinquished all this father.” Tiger dad: “What?” Young Tiger: “I adopted the Gandhian life in the zoo. I have given up on fish and meat. Now I am vegetarian.” A scene from the 2005 comedy Pandippada, the first frame shows a man (portrayed as Hindu anti-beef activist) saying, “There will be no beef served here anymore. Only pulses, sambar, curry will be there.” To this the tiger (Cochin Haneefa) says, “Only pulses and sambar? Is this Adyar Ananda Bhavan hotel? Then give one glass of buttermilk also.” Another meme shows Suraj Venjaramoodu as a lion watching a picture of raw beef on his mobile screen and crying and eating grass (joke is that cats are no longer served beef in zoos now). A meme from the 2001 film Ravanaprabhu shows Innocent as a cat owner who buys a cat for Rs 5 lakhs off the internet. He gets a Tiger cub instead and says “oh this is profitable.” A scene from the hit 1990 film In Harihar Nagar shows Kaviyoor Ponamma as the Tiger. She sees a silhouette and excitedly shouts “Beef Fry”, only to be disappointed to see a soybean (Suresh Gopi) walking upto her.

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Rainfall updates with ‘good morning’ messages: This Kerala man has his own rain gauge

‘Many trained talented artistes are unrecognised’: Kani Kusruti interview

Sambar and curd for tigers? Funny memes from Kerala after Assam leader says no beef for zoo tigers