Latest news with #Jagadeesh
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Two women actors in fray for key AMMA posts
Two women actors — Swetha Menon, and Kukku Parameswaran — are in the fray for the post of president and secretary respectively when the deadline for withdrawal of nominations for the election to the executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) ended on Thursday evening. Ms. Menon will battle it out with actor Devan for the top post. Ms. Parameswaran will face actor Raveendran in the contest for the post of secretary. The election is scheduled on August 15. Actor Ansiba Hassan was elected joint secretary as all others who had submitted their nominations for the post withdrew from the contest. Actors Unni Sivapal and Anoop Chandran will vie for the post of treasurer. Those remaining in the fray for the vice-president posts include Jayan Cherthala, Lakshmipriya, and Nasser Latheef. Baburaj, Jagadeesh opt out The last day for the withdrawal of nominations had all the elements of a potboiler as actor Baburaj, who had filed the nomination for the post of secretary, opted out of the race amidst criticism by a section of the actors that those who are facing allegations of sexual misconduct must stay away from the election. In a Facebook post, he said that he was quitting from all works related to the association. This was not out of fear, he said. Mr. Baburaj said that he was pained by the allegations raised against him by some of the members, despite having worked in the association for the last eight years. 'They could have defeated me after going through the electoral process. That would have been democratic. But I am unable to move ahead facing the allegations,' he said. Actor Jagadeesh opted out of the race for the post of president after he spoke with senior actors, including Mohanlal, Mammootty and Suresh Gopi. It was stated that he decided to withdraw from the fray amid the support from various quarters for a woman president.
News18
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Shwetha Menon, Devan to contest for film body AMMA president post
Kochi, Jul 31 (PTI) Senior actors Shwetha Menon and Devan will contest for the key post of president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in the elections to its governing body to be held on August 15. Of the six candidates who filed nominations for the post, four including senior actor Jagadeesh withdrew their nominations before the last date of withdrawal on Thursday, AMMA sources said. The number of candidates for the post of general secretary were also reduced to two, with four more persons including actor Baburaj withdrawing their nominations. Actors Raveendran and Kukku Parameswaran will vie for the post. Baburaj, in a Facebook post, said he will henceforth dissociate from the activities of AMMA as he was publicly maligned by a section of the association members. Three actors–Jayan Cherthala, Nasser Latif and Lakshmipriya–are contesting for the vice president's post, while Anoop Chandran and Unni Shivapal are left in the fray for the post of treasurer. Ansiba Hassan was elected unopposed as the joint secretary, with 12 other persons who filed nominations for the post withdrawing their nominations. For the 11-member executive committee, four positions are reserved for women. Eight actors, including Joy Mathew whose nomination to the president's post was rejected, are left in the general category for a post in the executive committee, from which seven will be elected. With the frontline stars including former president Mohanlal staying away from contest, there was flurry of activity in recent days, after several persons filed nominations for all the posts. Jagadeesh, who was apparently the frontrunner for president's post, withdrew his nomination reportedly backing Shewtha Menon as a consensus evolved in favour of a woman president, sources said. However, Devan told reporters that he will stick to his decision to contest and it was up to the members of AMMA to choose its president. PTI MVG MVG KH view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 18:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
AMMA election: Actor Jagadeesh opts out of race for post of president in Malayalam film body
Actor Jagadeesh has decided to withdraw his nomination for the post of president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). He was among the six actors who had filed their nomination papers for the top post in the actors' body in the Malayalam film industry. Mr. Jagadeesh had sought the concurrence of actors, including Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Suresh Gopi, before deciding to withdraw his nomination. It was stated that he decided to withdraw from the fray amid the support from various quarters for a woman president. Swetha Menon is the lone woman candidate, who had filed the nomination for the post. Actor Raveendran had withdrawn his nomination on Tuesday, though he had said that he would contest for the post of general secretary. Actor Devan had said on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) that he had no plans to withdraw from the contest for the post of president as he pointed out that he had decided to file his nomination only after senior actor Mohanlal opted out of the race. He said that 'women had every right to assume leadership roles in any organisation. But it should not be at the mercy of men. It would be an insult to actor Swetha Menon, who is contesting for the post of president, if Mr. Jagadeesh has to withdraw from the race for her,' he said. A clear picture on the final list of candidates in the electoral race will emerge by Thursday (July 31, 2025) evening. The deadline for withdrawal of nominations is around 3 p.m. The election is scheduled on August 15.
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Visitors to Bengaluru's Lalbagh can now hop on EV cycles to explore park at own pace
BENGALURU: After a successful two-month pilot, Lalbagh Botanical Garden launched a permanent bicycle and tricycle rental service on Wednesday to allow visitors to explore the entire park at their own pace. The horticulture department, which had initially introduced 10 electric cycles and tricycles in June on the occasion of World Environment Day, extended the trial period to July and expanded the fleet to 15. The department now has 30 electric vehicles - 10 tricycles and 20 bicycles. The service is available at two entry points -- the East Gate (Double Road) and North Gate (main gate). Visitors aged above 18 years can rent a cycle for Rs 100, while those aged between 12 and 18 will be charged Rs 50. Each ride lasts 50 minutes, giving visitors enough time to cover the 240-acre expanse of Lalbagh and also the lesser-visited sections that are usually difficult to cover at once. M Jagadeesh, Joint Director, horticulture department, said these are not conventional cycles. The fleet consists of electric cycles capable of covering up to 40 km on a single charge. To ensure a smooth ride, fully charged backup batteries will be kept ready at all times. Each bike is equipped with a battery indicator, and vehicles will be recharged in advance if needed, he added. Modelled on public cycling systems popular in Germany and Holland, Lalbagh's initiative received an overwhelming response during the trial period and is the first of its kind in any government-run park in India. This will enhance mobility within the garden but also offer a reason for locals and tourists to visit, Jagadeesh added. Guided tour to begin soon The department, which recently launched a guided tour at Cubbon Park, plans to launch this at Lalbagh in August. The 90-minute 'Lalbagh Walks' will cover lesser-known sections of the garden and highlight its ecological richness of the park.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
E-cycle initiative in Bengaluru's Lalbagh to be extended after overwhelming response for pilot project
As many as 1,660 people have taken rides on the e-cycles/scooters provided by the Horticulture Department to explore the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. The initiative, which was announced on June 5, on the occasion of World Environment Day, was launched on June 12. The department had initially procured 15 e-cycles from an organisation called Fetch Mobility. In the first month, between June 12 and 30, a total of 682 visitors took the ride, while in July (from 1 to 28), it rose to 978, indicating an increase in interest. The cycles that run on electric batteries are eco-friendly with zero emissions. 'We have received an overwhelming response to the pilot project, and after the first two months, we have decided to extend it further. We will be procuring 15 more bikes shortly,' said M. Jagadeesh, Joint Director, Parks and Gardens, Horticulture Department. Currently, visitors can take a 20-minute ride for ₹50, and the cycles are available near the Double Road Gate, near Siddapura Circle. The department is now planning to provide cycles near the Main Gate and eventually near the West Gate too. Along with the cycles, riders are also given helmets and knee braces. The project was initiated after observing the success of similar initiatives in countries like Holland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The department plans to eventually introduce the cycles in Cubbon Park too. 'E-bikes have been introduced in Lalbagh to provide greater mobility to people. Lovely way to see plants, trees and enjoy the good weather,' a social media user recently shared on X. 50 trees QR-coded Another programme, where 50 select trees would be equipped with QR codes to provide detailed information, was also announced on June 5. The officials of the Horticulture Department said that the QR coding of all 50 trees have been completed. These codes will provide information about the origin, migration, common name, scientific name, and uses of the trees. 'It is a time-intensive job, and we have installed it on 50 trees. Taxonomical officers are on the job, and the codes will eventually be installed on all trees in Lalbagh,' Mr. Jagadeesh said.
