2 arrested for German tourist's rape at Mamallapuram

The police have arrested two men on charges of raping a German woman in Mahabalipuram area in Tamil Nadu.

A 25-year-old German national lodged a complaint with the All Women Police Station at Mamallapuram on Sunday night that she was raped near the beach.

She had come down to India on vacation. When she was sunbathing near Tiger Cave on Sunday afternoon, a three-member gang dragged her into a nearby casuarina grove and repeatedly raped her. The culprits were said to be in an inebriated condition.

According to police, five German nationals had reached Chennai a couple of days earlier and had proceeded to Mamallapuram on Saturday.

On Sunday, the women in the group had proceeded to take a sun bath on the resort's private beach. The victim told others that she wanted to take a stroll along the coast.

However, she strolled too far away from the private beach and, according to the police, had dozed off.

Soon after the incident was reported, the police detained has two suspects and several others are being questioned. Police have also formed a special investigation team to look into the matter in detail.

Selvaraghavan's Nenjam Marapathillai gets UA

Selvaraghavan’s first horror thriller Nenjam Marapathillai has been censored with UA certificate.

According to sources, the director is super excited with the output and now the film is all set for May release.

Nenjam Marapathillai is a gothic horror film written and directed by Selvaraghavan and produced by Gautham Menon for Ondraga Entertainment and P Madan for Escape Artists Motion Pictures.

The film features S. J. Surya, Regina Cassandra and Nandita Swetha in the lead roles. Music is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja and cinematography by Arvind Krishna.

Nenjam Marappathillai began production in January 2016. In late December 2015, Gautham Menon announced that he would be producing a musical horror comedy film project to be directed by Selvaraghavan, which would feature S. J. Surya in the lead role.

The project was officially launched on 28 January 2016 in Chennai. Music Composer Santhosh Narayanan was replaced by Yuvan Shankar Raja during April 2016 thus collaborating after a long time with Selvaraghavan.

Vivegam teaser to be delayed?

Earlier, it was said that the teaser of Ajith's much awaited Vivegam will be released on Tamil New Year's day (April 14).

However, it is now learnt that the teaser would be unveield on May 1, which happens to be the birthday of the 'thala'.

he shoot of the film is currently happening in Belgrade and it will continue till May second week.

This means Ajith will be celebrating his birthday on the sets of Vivegam with director Siva, actors Kajal Aggarwal, Akshara Haasan and Vivek Oberoi.

Principal photography of the film commenced at Slovenia in August 2016 and the movie is scheduled for a worldwide release in 10 August 2017.

Anirudh Ravichander is the music composer for the movie. Vetri had signed to handle the camera and Ruben will be editing.

Anu Vardhan, who had worked with Ajith in Billa (2007), Aegan (2008), Arrambam (2013) and Vedalam (2015) will be designing his costumes in this movie. K. Ganesh Kumar, Silva and Kaloyan Vodenicharov will be the stunt directors in this movie.

VJ Ramya won Gold in the ‘District level Power Lifting’ competition

As all know earlier, the pretty and talented VJ Ramya is more passionate in fitness and power lifting too. In the month of February, she has bagged the Bronze medal in 5th Tamilnadu State Unequipped Bench press, and now the fitness freak has lifted the gold medal in the Chennai district level power lifting competition that held in Kottupuram recently.  This competition has got both men and women participants of all ages. Ramya has participated in 70 kg power lift, 75 kg power lift and 80 kg power lift respectively and won the gold medal for the same.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hindus welcome Catholic Boston College showcasing Hindu dance-drama

Catholic Jesuit research university Boston College (BC) organized “On Devi” (On Goddess), a song-dance-drama event, on March 26 which reportedly sang about Hindu gods and goddesses.

According to reports; “On Devi: A Kuchipudi Dance Performance” included songs about Hindu gods and goddesses and it started with invocation to Saraswati; Hindu goddess of knowledge/learning, music, art, language/speech, and poetry. It consisted of “Bhama Pravesham” and “Palukuthenala Thalli” pieces; which included references to Lord Krishna and Lord Venkateswara and songs about goddess Alamelumanga,

Kuchipudi dance-drama performance has its roots in ancient Hindu Sanskrit treatise on performing arts Natya-sastra, attributed to sage Bharata-Muni. This free and open to the public event in Gasson Hall was sponsored/presented by the Music Department of BC.

Welcoming the performance showcasing Hindu gods and goddesses in this well-known Catholic-Jesuit university, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, urged all the public-private US universities/colleges to frequently organize Hinduism focused music-dance-drama performances; thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education and sharing the rich Hindu music-dance-drama heritage with the rest of the world.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such performances would make US university/college students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

Rajan Zed indicated that the elements of musical theory were first found in ancient Sama-Veda and by the end of 11th century, there were several hundred distinct schools of Hindu music (one authority gives the specific number at 784).

The tradition points out that dance was invented by Lord Shiva, who first danced the cosmic tandava, Zed added.

BC seeks “to fulfill its Jesuit, Catholic mission”; its roots “lie in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ”, and it is grounded “in the ideals that inspired our Jesuit founders”. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and stated to be “the first institution of higher education to operate in the city of Boston”, it has about 14,250 students. Claimed to be “among the nation's foremost universities”; John F. Fish, William P. Leahy and Michael Noone are Trustees Chair, President and Music Department Chair respectively of BC in Chestnut Hill (Massachusetts).

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Hindus welcome zestful Penn State Holi celebrations, which included elephant

Hindus have welcomed Pennsylvania State University (Penn State, PSU), a major public research-intensive university, for supporting the Hindu “festival of color” Holi, reportedly celebrated with gusto in University Park campus on March 25, with an elephant present.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, describing PSU celebrating Holi as a step in the positive direction, urged all US public-private universities/colleges to sponsor Holi festivals on campuses.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that it would be a positive thing to do in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students at university/college campuses around the country, as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils.

Rajan Zed also welcomed the presence of elephant at the celebrations as elephants had played an important role in Hindu religious ceremonies. Elephant-headed Lord Ganesha was worshipped in Hinduism as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and was invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. Elephant Airavata emerged from Churning of the Ocean (samudra-manthana). There were ancient manuals written on the elephant, like Hastyayurveda and Matanga-lila. Moreover, Hindus traditionally loved, respected, cared for and looked after the welfare of the elephants and other animals.

Zed commended efforts of Penn State South Asian Student Association (SASA) and the campus Hindu community for keeping the religion-culture alive in Penn State by organizing such celebrations; and thanked PSU President Dr. Eric J. Barron and PSU Trustees Chairman Ira M. Lubert for university support to Holi festival.

Rajan Zed further says that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. Many US higher education institutions—Georgia Southern University, Missouri State University, Penn State Harrisburg, University of Texas at Austin, Colorado State University Pueblo, University of New Orleans, International American University, etc.—already had Holi celebrations; while many—University of Arkansas, Wagner College, Oakland University, etc.—are planning to host the celebrations in the near future.

Awareness about other religions thus created by organizing festivals like Diwali and Holi on the university-college campuses would help make nation’s students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow; Zed indicated.

Joie de vivre festival of Holi welcomes the beginning of spring and starts about ten days before the full moon of Phalguna. Besides color play, ceremonies also include the lighting of the bonfires, during which all evils are symbolically burnt. Holi also commemorates the frolics of youthful Lord Krishna; and celebrates the death of demoness Putana, burning of demoness Holika, and destruction of Kama by Lord Shiva. Holi fell on March 13 this year.

Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

SASA’s “Holi 2017” announcement, scheduled from 11 am to four pm in HUB lawn of the Penn State campus and where the colors were provided, included live DJ and performances by dance teams—Penn State Sher Bhangra, Penn State Ghaamudyaz, Penn State JaDhoom, R.A.M. Squad; and cultural booths. This was reportedly the first time for an elephant to be present at the Holi celebrations, which were dubbed as “a great celebration full of friends, colors, music, and of course an ELEPHANT!!!” SASA was reportedly created in 1960 “to promote South Asian culture”.

PSU, founded in 1855, claimed to be ranked as one of the world's top universities, has 24 campuses with around 100,000 students. It offers about 410 doctorate, graduate, baccalaureate, associate and professional degrees.

Centre gives 'Y' security cover to OPS

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has been accorded a VIP security cover by the Central government in view of potential threats to him.

Quoting officials, reports said the Union Home Ministry has sanctioned the category of 'Y' security cover of central paramilitary forces.

Panneerselvam will be provided security by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two-three personnel will provide round the clock cover to him.

Eleven MPs met union minister Rajnath Singh at the latter’s 17, Akbar Road residence on March 21 and requested him to enhance Panneerselvam’s security as he faced “grave threat” to life following his revolt against the Sasikala camp.

They said a recent incident of hurling of stones on the vehicle of Panneerselvam, who has revolted against the leadership of ruling AIADMK, in the Theni district of the state and few other similar developments prompted a security audit by central intelligence and security agencies.

V Maitreyan, who led the team, saidm “Ever since Panneerselvam revolted against Sasikala, he has been getting repeated threats to his life.