Lohithadas - "The Tearful adieu to master storyteller"

Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas (A. K. Lohithadas) (10 May 1955 – 28 June 2009) was a prolific screenwriter, director, and producer in Malayalam cinema, known for his rich, detailed, and realistic screenplays. Thaniyavarthanam, Kireedam, Bharatham, Amaram are the possibly the masterpieces among his screenplays, while Boothakannadi, Kasthooriman, Arayannangalude Veedu standout in his directorial ventures.

* Biography

Early life

Lohithadas (or 'Lohi', he is often referred to) was born on 10 May 1955 in Chalakudy, Kerala. He showed an initial interest in short-stories, but failed to make a mark in that genre. He soon moved into Malayalam theater in 1986 when his debut script was accepted for the stage by the legendary theater personality Thoppil Bhasi. Bhasi's CPI party backed drama troupe, the highly successful 'Kerala People's Arts Club', produced the play, leading to a state award for Lohithadas.

Career

Fresh with the play's commercial and critical success, Lohithadas moved to Malayalam Cinema by writing for director Sibi Malayil. His first movie screenplay Thaniavarthanam was directed by Malayil and went on to be a success. The Sibi Malayil-Lohithadas combination would later produce several memorable Malayalam movies. His screenplay works for Sibi Malayil are Thaniyavarthanam (1987), Kireedam (1989), His Highness Abhdullah (1990), Bharatham (1990), Kamaladalam (1992), and Chenkol (1993). Sasneham (1990) and Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal (1999) for Sathyan Anthikkad and Amaram (1991) for Bharathan. He later turned into a filmmaker and made films such as Boothakannadi (1997), Karunyam (1997), Kanmadam (1998), Arayannangalude Veedu (2000), Joker (2000), Kasthooriman (2003) (which he himself produced), and Nivedyam (2007)[1]. Most of his works were critical and commercial sucess. His works were recognised from his very first venture Thaniyavarthanam which brought him Kerala State Film Award for Best Story .

Death

On June 28, 2009, in the morning he felt chest pain and uneasiness at his home at Aluva near Ernakulam and was immediately taken to the Lisy Hospital, Kaloor, Ernakulam where he was declared dead from a heart attack at 10:50

Awards

• 45th National Film Award for Best film - Bhoothakannadi (1997)
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Story - Thaniyavarthanam (1987)
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Film - Bhoothakannadi (1997)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for 2nd Best Film - kasthoorimann (1997)
• Film Critics award for Best script - Thaniyavarthanam (1987)
• Film Critics award for Best script - Dasaratham(1989)
• Film Critics award for Best script - kireedom(1990)
• Film Critics award for Best script - Bharatham(1991)
• Film Critics award for Best script - chenkol(1993)
• Film Critics award for Best script - Chakoram(1994)
• Film Critics award for Best script - Sallapam(1995)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Thoovalkottaram(1996)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Bhoothakannadi(1997)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Ormacheppu(1998)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Joker(1999)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Veendum chila veetukaryangal(2000)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Kasthooriman(2003)
• Film Critics award for Best script- Nivedyam(2007)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Bhoothakannadi(1997)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Joker(1999)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Kasthoorimann(2003)
• Film Critics award for Best Director- Nivedyam(2007

Michael Jackson - The King Of POP

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut on the professional music scene in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5. He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group and was referred to as the "King of Pop"[4] in subsequent years. Jackson's 1982 album Thriller remains the world's best-selling album of all time,[5] and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and History (1995).

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form — helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists across several generations.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records — including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" — 13 Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide.[6]

Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations, charity singles, and support of 39 charities .Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy which damaged his public image. The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s along with conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and brought up three children, actions which caused further controversy. Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 but the investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of similar allegations.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson was found unconscious in his bed by his personal physician and was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm PDT (21:26 UTC) on the same day. At the time of his death, he was preparing and rehearsing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held in London beginning July 13, 2009

NEERMATHALAM POOTHA KALAM ORMAYAYI............

Biography

She spent her childhood between Calcutta, where her father was employed as a senior officer in the Walford Transport Company that sold Bentley and Rolls Royce automobiles, and the Nalappatt ancestral home in Punnayurkulam, south Malabar. region.

Like her mother, Kamala Das also excelled in writing. Her love of poetry began at an early age through the influence of her great uncle, Nalappatt Narayana Menon, a prominent writer. However, she did not start writing professionally until after she married and became a mother. When Kamala wished to begin writing, her husband supported her decision to augment the family's income. She would often wait until nightfall after her family had gone to sleep and would write until morning:"There was only the kitchen table where I would cut vegetables, and after all the plates and things were cleared, I would sit there and start typing".^{[citation needed]} This rigorous schedule took its toll upon her health. ^[3]

She was noted for her many Malayalam short stories as well as many poems written in English. Das was also a syndicated columnist. She once claimed that "poetry does not sell in this country [India]", but her forthright columns, which sounded off on everything from women's issues and child care to politics, were popular.

Her eldest son, M D Nalapat, is married to a princess from the Travancore Royal House. He holds the UNESCO Peace Chair and Professor of geopolitics at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He was formerly a resident editor of theTimes of India.

On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital in Pune. Her body was flown to her home state of Kerala. Thousands lined the route of the funeral procession from Kochi to Trivandrum, throwing flowers on the hearse. Her funeral, at PalayamMosque in central Thiruvanathapuram, saw an unprecedented coming together of all faiths on the welcoming grounds of the Mosque to honour Kamala. She was buried in a grove on the Mosque grounds. Two trees were planted either side of the grave by her youngest son.^[4][5]

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Writings

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English

Das' first book, Summer In Calcutta was a promising start. She wrote chiefly of love, its betrayal, and the consequent anguish. Ms. Das abandoned the certainties offered by an archaic, and somewhat sterile, aestheticism for an independence of mind and body at a time when Indian women poets were still expected to write about fantasies of eternal, bloodless, unrequited love.^{[citation needed]}

At the age of 42, she published her autobiography, My Story, which was later translated into many foreign languages.^{[citation needed]}

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Malayalam

Kamala Das wrote about a range of topics, often disparate, from the story of poor old servant (Punnayoorkulam) or about the sexual disposition of upper middle class women living near a metropolitan city or in the middle of the ghetto. Some of her better-known stories include Pakshiyude Manam, Neypayasam, Thanuppu, and Chandana Marangal. She wrote a few novels , among which Neermathalam Pootha Kalam, which was received favourably by the reading public as well as the critics, stands out.

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Awards and other recognitions

Kamala Das has received many awards for her literary contribution. Some of them are

• Asian Poetry Prize
• Kent Award for English Writing from Asian Countries
• Asan World Prize
• Ezhuthachan Award
• Sahitya Academy Award
• Vayalar Award
• Kerala Sahitya Academy Award
• Muttathu Varkey Award^[6]

She travelled extensively to read poetry to Germany's Essen, Bonn and Duisburg universities, Adelaide Writer's Festival (Adelaide, Australia), Frankfurt Book Fair, University of Kingston, Jamaica, Singapore, and South Bank Festival (London),Concordia University (Montreal, Canada), Columbia University (New York), Qatar, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, etc. Her works are available in French, Spanish, Russian, German and Japanese.

She has also held positions as Vice chairperson in Kerala Sahitya Academy, chairperson in Kerala forestry Board, President of the Kerala Children's Film Society, editor of Poet magazine^[7] and Poetry editor of Illustrated Weekly of India.

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Conversion to Islam

Born in a conservative Hindu Nair (Nallappattu) family having Royal anscestry,^{[citation needed]} she embraced Islam in 1999 at the age of 65 and assumed the name Kamala Suraiyya. Her conversion was somewhat controversial, in among other social and literary circles.

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Politics

Though never politically active before, she launched a national political party, Lok Seva Party, aiming asylum to orphaned mothers and promotion of secularism. In 1984 she unsuccessfully contested in the Indian Parliament elections. ^[8]

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Bibliography

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English

• 1964: The Sirens (Asian Poetry Prize winner)
• 1965: Summer in Calcutta (poetry; Kent's Award winner)
• 1967: The Descendants (poetry)
• 1973: The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (poetry)
• 1976: My Story (autobiography)
• 1977: Alphabet of Lust (novel)
• 1985: The Anamalai Poems (poetry)
• 1992: Padmavati the Harlot and Other Stories (collection of short stories)
• 1996: Only the Soul Knows How to Sing (poetry)
• 2001: Yaa Allah (collection of poems)

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Malayalam

• 1964: Pakshiyude Maranam (short stories)
• 1966: Naricheerukal Parakkumbol (short stories)
• 1968: Thanuppu (short story, Sahitya Academi award)
• 1987: Balyakala Smaranakal (Childhood Memories)
• 1989: Varshangalkku Mumbu (Years Before)
• 1990: Palayan (novel)
• 1991: Neypayasam (short story)
• 1992: Dayarikkurippukal (novel)
• 1994: Neermathalam Pootha Kalam (novel, Vayalar Award)
• 1996: Chekkerunna Pakshikal (short stories)
• 1998: Nashtapetta Neelambari (short stories)
• 2005: Chandana Marangal (Novel)
• 2005: Madhavikkuttiyude Unmakkadhakal (short stories)2x
• 2005: Vandikkalakal (novel)

Kamala Suraiyya (Malayalam: കമലാ സുരയ്യ) aka Madhavikutty (Malayalam: മാധവിക്കുട്ടി) (31 March 1934 – 31 May 2009) was an Indian writer who wrote in English as well asMalayalam, her native language. Her popularity in Kerala is based chiefly on her short stories and autobiography.

Born as Kamala Das (Malayalam: കമല ദാസ്) in Punnayurkulam Thrissur District in the state of Kerala, she was the daughter of V. M. Nair, a former managing editor of the widely-circulated Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, and Nalappatt Balamani Amma, a renowned Malayali poetess.

Das openly and honestly discussed and wrote about the sexual desires of Indian women, which made her an iconoclast of her generation.^[1] On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital inPune.^[2]

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