"I used to tell my producers give me the advance amount first, I will learn thes language in no time."A veteran in the cinema field, Lakshmi has acted with all top stars of the South Indian film industry. She talks about her film career and also her recent work in the small screen.
I keep a distinct line between my personal and professional life. Anybody can ask me about my films. But when it comes to my personal life, I would not like to reveal or react to anything. I would not like to share my privacy with anybody.
When I was doing my schooling I did my first film "Jeevanamsam" (1968). The day I travelled in a bus I realised that I was a star as passengers turned around and stared at me. But I see acting only as another profession.
I aspired to become a Supreme Court lawyer. I did not know how I got this idea. I always wanted to be independent and stand on my own legs. But in those days such ideas were not acceptable to the people, especially in a Brahmin community.
My first Tamil film "Jeevanamsam," my first Telugu film "Baandhavyaalu," produced by actor S.V. Ranga Rao in which Savithri acted as my mother, and my first Kannada film "Goa Dalli C.I.D. 999" with Rajkumar were all released on the Deepavali day in 1968. It was a record for a debut actor. It is like a cricketer scoring 300 runs on the first innings of his debut.
I have done more than 500 films in all the South Indian languages, Hindi and Sinhalese. Majority of them are from Tamil and Telugu. I insisted on dubbing my own voice in all the languages I acted. It was always easy for children and women to learn languages. I used to tell my producers give me the advance amount first, I will learn the language in no time.
If at all I want to show my films to my great grandchildren I would probably recommend all of them. I have done mainly heroine roles. A few of them in Tamil would be "Samsaram Oru Minsaram," "Sirai," "Silanerangalil Sila Manidhargal" and some 10 films in Telugu.
I adore all the artists I worked with, particularly Savithri, Sarojadevi, Padmini. Jayalalithaa is a bundle of beauty and brains. In this generation my favourites are Revathy and Preity Zinda. The actors include Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan and Brad Pitt.
In the small screen, I started off with "Kathaialle Nijam" in Vijay Television and then moved to `Achamillai Achamillai" in Jaya TV.
Every day is a learning experience. Whatever role has come my way, I have tried to do a good job of it. There is the satisfaction of having given my best.
I must thank almighty, my parents, producers and directors and my well-wishers who have stood by me. I must also thank my husband Siva Chandran who is more like a good friend for 20 years and my daughter Samuktha for being with me in pleasure and pain.
I keep a distinct line between my personal and professional life. Anybody can ask me about my films. But when it comes to my personal life, I would not like to reveal or react to anything. I would not like to share my privacy with anybody.
When I was doing my schooling I did my first film "Jeevanamsam" (1968). The day I travelled in a bus I realised that I was a star as passengers turned around and stared at me. But I see acting only as another profession.
I aspired to become a Supreme Court lawyer. I did not know how I got this idea. I always wanted to be independent and stand on my own legs. But in those days such ideas were not acceptable to the people, especially in a Brahmin community.
My first Tamil film "Jeevanamsam," my first Telugu film "Baandhavyaalu," produced by actor S.V. Ranga Rao in which Savithri acted as my mother, and my first Kannada film "Goa Dalli C.I.D. 999" with Rajkumar were all released on the Deepavali day in 1968. It was a record for a debut actor. It is like a cricketer scoring 300 runs on the first innings of his debut.
I have done more than 500 films in all the South Indian languages, Hindi and Sinhalese. Majority of them are from Tamil and Telugu. I insisted on dubbing my own voice in all the languages I acted. It was always easy for children and women to learn languages. I used to tell my producers give me the advance amount first, I will learn the language in no time.
If at all I want to show my films to my great grandchildren I would probably recommend all of them. I have done mainly heroine roles. A few of them in Tamil would be "Samsaram Oru Minsaram," "Sirai," "Silanerangalil Sila Manidhargal" and some 10 films in Telugu.
I adore all the artists I worked with, particularly Savithri, Sarojadevi, Padmini. Jayalalithaa is a bundle of beauty and brains. In this generation my favourites are Revathy and Preity Zinda. The actors include Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan and Brad Pitt.
In the small screen, I started off with "Kathaialle Nijam" in Vijay Television and then moved to `Achamillai Achamillai" in Jaya TV.
Every day is a learning experience. Whatever role has come my way, I have tried to do a good job of it. There is the satisfaction of having given my best.
I must thank almighty, my parents, producers and directors and my well-wishers who have stood by me. I must also thank my husband Siva Chandran who is more like a good friend for 20 years and my daughter Samuktha for being with me in pleasure and pain.
AIADMK, DMK clash in Assemby
CHENNAI: The State Assembly on Wednesday witnessed noisy scenes with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, supported by its allies, and the main Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam crossing swords on the issue of political interference in police administration.
Trouble started when Pattali Makkal Katchi leader G.K.Mani said the police, under the previous Government, arrested M.Karunanidhi, who was then in the Opposition, resorted to lathicharge on presspersons, attacked then Union Minister Murasoli Maran and foisted cases on Opposition leaders.
Leelavathi murder
Denying political interference in the police administration under the previous Government, the AIADMK recalled the murder of Leelavathi, a councillor of the Madurai Corporation, during the earlier DMK rule. The AIADMK alleged that the police had harassed its activists.
Intervening, Mr.Karunanidhi said a DMK activist was arrested in the Leelavathi murder case on the same day of the incident.
The then regime also agreed to the demand that instead of Government counsel, that of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would appear in the case.
Responding to Dalit Panthers of India leader K.Selvam's appeal, the Chief Minister said the Government was prepared to help him seek justice from court.
Panel sought to monitor police officers
Mr.Selvam said the Central Bureau of Investigation had said that three of the four cases registered against him were baseless and in the remaining one, legal opinion had been sought. Pleading with the members not to politicise the issue, he asked the Government to appoint a panel to monitor the activities of the "bad police officers."
`Frequent transfers demoralised officers'
Deputy leader of the AIADMK O.Paneerselvam recalled various measures undertaken by the previous Government to modernise the police. Frequent transfers had demoralised police officers, he said.
Denies charge
Denying that the previous AIADMK Government had given concessions to a particular IMFL manufacturing unit, Mr.Paneerselvam said it was following the same procedures right from 1998 for purchasing IMFL. During 2001-2006, the State earned Rs.9,229 crore more than the revenue earned during 1996-2001 through excise duty, he added.
Trouble started when Pattali Makkal Katchi leader G.K.Mani said the police, under the previous Government, arrested M.Karunanidhi, who was then in the Opposition, resorted to lathicharge on presspersons, attacked then Union Minister Murasoli Maran and foisted cases on Opposition leaders.
Leelavathi murder
Denying political interference in the police administration under the previous Government, the AIADMK recalled the murder of Leelavathi, a councillor of the Madurai Corporation, during the earlier DMK rule. The AIADMK alleged that the police had harassed its activists.
Intervening, Mr.Karunanidhi said a DMK activist was arrested in the Leelavathi murder case on the same day of the incident.
The then regime also agreed to the demand that instead of Government counsel, that of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would appear in the case.
Responding to Dalit Panthers of India leader K.Selvam's appeal, the Chief Minister said the Government was prepared to help him seek justice from court.
Panel sought to monitor police officers
Mr.Selvam said the Central Bureau of Investigation had said that three of the four cases registered against him were baseless and in the remaining one, legal opinion had been sought. Pleading with the members not to politicise the issue, he asked the Government to appoint a panel to monitor the activities of the "bad police officers."
`Frequent transfers demoralised officers'
Deputy leader of the AIADMK O.Paneerselvam recalled various measures undertaken by the previous Government to modernise the police. Frequent transfers had demoralised police officers, he said.
Denies charge
Denying that the previous AIADMK Government had given concessions to a particular IMFL manufacturing unit, Mr.Paneerselvam said it was following the same procedures right from 1998 for purchasing IMFL. During 2001-2006, the State earned Rs.9,229 crore more than the revenue earned during 1996-2001 through excise duty, he added.
Community college system in focus
Recognition as alternative education demanded
CHENNAI : The community college system must be accorded recognition as an alternative education system in the country.
This demand was discussed at the fifth national consultation on the Indian Community College System and its future on Wednesday.
There are 96 community colleges across the State, including 20 in Chennai coordinated by the Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (MCRDCE).
About 240 delegates gathered at M.O.P Vaishnav College to review the Document Indian Community College System and recommend feedback to the University Grants Commission (UGC). Community colleges aimed at providing job-oriented education. Women constituted about 75 per cent of the candidates trained in various vocational skills.
Inaugurating the two-day programme, David T.Hopper, U.S. Consul General, Chennai, spoke about the community college system in the U.S. that was attended by 45 per cent of undergraduate students.
Pointing out that India and U.S. shared experiences about educational systems, he said that a group of community college presidents from the American Association of Community Colleges and the Community Colleges for International Development would visit India, including Chennai, in March next year to learn about the community college system.
Higher education
While Indian students pursued higher education in U.S, Americans visited India to learn about the education system and success in producing several graduates in engineering and maths. About 80,000 Indian students had enrolled at themselves in American educational institutions, he added. K. Alaudiapillai, former secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, said the new entrants to workforce must be imparted vocational training for high productivity.
Quoting from a report on `India Vision 2020' , he said only five per cent of the country's labour force in the age group of 20-24 had undergone formal vocational training.
Xavier Alphonse, Director of MCRDCE, said the programme would also discuss the modalities for lateral entry into regular colleges and discuss the demand of scholarships and stipends for weaker sections. The candidates could be provided with one-third of the fees as scholarships.
The report would be presented the UGC and the Human Resource Development Ministry.
The organisation, which was upgraded to Indian Centre for Research and Development of Community Education, would be inaugurated on Friday. Nirmala Prasad, MOP College principal, also participated.
This demand was discussed at the fifth national consultation on the Indian Community College System and its future on Wednesday.
There are 96 community colleges across the State, including 20 in Chennai coordinated by the Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (MCRDCE).
About 240 delegates gathered at M.O.P Vaishnav College to review the Document Indian Community College System and recommend feedback to the University Grants Commission (UGC). Community colleges aimed at providing job-oriented education. Women constituted about 75 per cent of the candidates trained in various vocational skills.
Inaugurating the two-day programme, David T.Hopper, U.S. Consul General, Chennai, spoke about the community college system in the U.S. that was attended by 45 per cent of undergraduate students.
Pointing out that India and U.S. shared experiences about educational systems, he said that a group of community college presidents from the American Association of Community Colleges and the Community Colleges for International Development would visit India, including Chennai, in March next year to learn about the community college system.
Higher education
While Indian students pursued higher education in U.S, Americans visited India to learn about the education system and success in producing several graduates in engineering and maths. About 80,000 Indian students had enrolled at themselves in American educational institutions, he added. K. Alaudiapillai, former secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, said the new entrants to workforce must be imparted vocational training for high productivity.
Quoting from a report on `India Vision 2020' , he said only five per cent of the country's labour force in the age group of 20-24 had undergone formal vocational training.
Xavier Alphonse, Director of MCRDCE, said the programme would also discuss the modalities for lateral entry into regular colleges and discuss the demand of scholarships and stipends for weaker sections. The candidates could be provided with one-third of the fees as scholarships.
The report would be presented the UGC and the Human Resource Development Ministry.
The organisation, which was upgraded to Indian Centre for Research and Development of Community Education, would be inaugurated on Friday. Nirmala Prasad, MOP College principal, also participated.
MMC includes yoga in preventive cardiology
Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery golden jubilee on September 1
CHENNAI : Yoga's medical benefits have prompted Madras Medical College to include it in its preventive cardiology programmes.
"A calm Indian way of life with yoga and meditation is an ounce of prevention which is better than tonnes of cure," R. Veerapandian, Medical Superintendent of the Government General Hospital said.
The MMC Dean, Kalavathi Ponniraivan, said that considering the importance of yoga for good health, programmes are being organised for the first year students in hostels. "It is optional at present, but soon I am planning to make it mandatory," she said.
K. Harsha Vardhan, head of the department of Cardio Thoracic Surgery, said that a stressful life, increasing habit of eating fast foods rich in cholesterol and smoking were the main causes for heart ailments. By 2010, India will be on the top of the list of countries of people with heart disease, he said quoting a study.
Meditation
Prevention according to him was the solution. "Yoga and meditation have taken the world by storm. It is incorporated in allopathic treatment the world over," he said.
With regular physical exercise, a healthy diet and meditation, heart ailments can be avoided, the doctor said.
The doctor said that 80 per cent of the cases that came for treatment at the department involved rheumatic heart disease. The treatment was mainly by prevention at the school level itself and introducing a chapter on health education, Dr. Harshavardhan said.
The Cardio Thoracic Surgery department has around 100 patients on the waiting list; 400 open heart surgeries are done in a year at the super speciality department with five units. Awareness programmes are being conducted at the Taluk and District headquarter levels on prevention of heart diseases, Dr. Harshavarshan said.
He said that children and adults have to be watchful when they get a throat infection and attend to it immediately. "If it is a bacterial infection, it causes severe pain of the joints and slowly leads to heart failure," he said stressing that school children have to be screened for a healthy heart. The other ways of preventing heart diseases is by avoiding consanguineous marriages. The mother should take care of her health consciously during the period of the first trimester when the most important parts of the baby is being formed.
The golden jubilee of the Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery of the Madras Medical College is being held at the Madras Medical College Open Air Auditorium on September 1.
Tamil Nadu was the first State to start the department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery in 1956. The Government has allocated funds to upgrade the quality of heart care in Government hospitals. "This will drastically reduce the long list of patients waiting for heart surgery," Dr. Ponniraivan said.
Union Ministers including Dayanidhi Maran and Anbumani Ramadoss will participate in the celebrations.
"A calm Indian way of life with yoga and meditation is an ounce of prevention which is better than tonnes of cure," R. Veerapandian, Medical Superintendent of the Government General Hospital said.
The MMC Dean, Kalavathi Ponniraivan, said that considering the importance of yoga for good health, programmes are being organised for the first year students in hostels. "It is optional at present, but soon I am planning to make it mandatory," she said.
K. Harsha Vardhan, head of the department of Cardio Thoracic Surgery, said that a stressful life, increasing habit of eating fast foods rich in cholesterol and smoking were the main causes for heart ailments. By 2010, India will be on the top of the list of countries of people with heart disease, he said quoting a study.
Meditation
Prevention according to him was the solution. "Yoga and meditation have taken the world by storm. It is incorporated in allopathic treatment the world over," he said.
With regular physical exercise, a healthy diet and meditation, heart ailments can be avoided, the doctor said.
The doctor said that 80 per cent of the cases that came for treatment at the department involved rheumatic heart disease. The treatment was mainly by prevention at the school level itself and introducing a chapter on health education, Dr. Harshavardhan said.
The Cardio Thoracic Surgery department has around 100 patients on the waiting list; 400 open heart surgeries are done in a year at the super speciality department with five units. Awareness programmes are being conducted at the Taluk and District headquarter levels on prevention of heart diseases, Dr. Harshavarshan said.
He said that children and adults have to be watchful when they get a throat infection and attend to it immediately. "If it is a bacterial infection, it causes severe pain of the joints and slowly leads to heart failure," he said stressing that school children have to be screened for a healthy heart. The other ways of preventing heart diseases is by avoiding consanguineous marriages. The mother should take care of her health consciously during the period of the first trimester when the most important parts of the baby is being formed.
The golden jubilee of the Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery of the Madras Medical College is being held at the Madras Medical College Open Air Auditorium on September 1.
Tamil Nadu was the first State to start the department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery in 1956. The Government has allocated funds to upgrade the quality of heart care in Government hospitals. "This will drastically reduce the long list of patients waiting for heart surgery," Dr. Ponniraivan said.
Union Ministers including Dayanidhi Maran and Anbumani Ramadoss will participate in the celebrations.
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