Latest news with #Mohiniyattom
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- The Hindu
HC quashes proceedings in defamation case against Mohiniyattom dancers
The Kerala High Court has quashed proceedings before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Thiruvananthapuram, in a defamation case filed by dancer Kalamandalam Satyabhama against Mohiniyattom dancers R.L.V. Ramakrishnan and U. Ullas. A Bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath quashed the case following a petition filed by the two dancers. Ms. Satyabhama had alleged that Mr. Ramakrishnan recorded a phone conversation he had with her, and edited and published it in a different media. The dancers edited and posted it on social media platforms, an act punishable under Sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, she contended. Refuting this, the dancers contended that they cannot be prosecuted since the alleged defamatory statements had not been reproduced in the complaint, nor did the petitioners produce a copy of the publication that contained the alleged defamatory statements. Ms. Satyabhama's counsel said the publication could be produced during trial. The issue pertained to a dance contest hosted in Abu Dhabi by a Malayali association, where Ms. Satyabhama was a judge. Contestants whom Mr. Ramakrishnan had trained did not win any prize, after which he telephoned her and questioned her on the propriety of her decision. She reportedly told him that many of the 'mudras' of the contestants were wrong and that even experienced dance teachers committed mistakes. She approached the court, stating that the duo recorded the conversation and posted it on social media, portraying it as a statement against her dance 'gurus'. Since the complainant had failed to produce the alleged defamatory publication, the offence under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code cannot be attracted against the petitioners. Taking these into account, the court quashed further proceedings in the case.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Giving up was never an option for me: Actor Maniyanpilla Raju
His next-door-neighbourly charm has been alluring to Malayali audiences for the past 50 years. His stint as a producer too was equally successful with many hit films including Aye Auto and Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu to his credit. In an interaction with TNIE, Maniyanpilla Raju opens up about his journey filled with ups and downs, close ties with the 'Big Ms' of Mollywood, how the industry has changed over the years, how he happened to identify talents like Rahman and Prithviraj, and how he survived cancer. Excerpts: How do you reflect on your 50-year-long film career? I hail from a non-artistic background, but my passion has always driven me. After being rejected by the Pune Film Institute, I went to the Adyar Film Institute where I was selected as the first Malayali acting student. K Balachander and M N Rajam chose me for the screen test, marking the true beginning of my journey. I graduated in 1975 and started off with Mohiniyattom, directed by Sreekumaran Thampi. I was never ready to give up and that has made me what I am today. At the time, few pursued acting as a formal study. Did your family support your decision? I have been passionate about acting since school and viewed it as my path forward. My father used to tell me that I wasn't good at studies, so I should enrol for LLB (laughs out). During my time at the film institute, I managed with Rs 100 a month. Initially, I stayed in a good hostel in Madras, then moved to Uma Lodge in Kodambakkam. I shared a small, sweltering top-storey room with another person for Rs 45. Mallika, my classmate from Model School, introduced me to Sreekumaran Thampi. When I met him with my portfolio, he bluntly said I wouldn't make it in an industry dominated by Adoor Bhasi and Prem Nazir. 'Have you ever checked your face in the mirror?' he asked. He even advised me to return home by the evening train. But soon after, he called to offer me a small role in Mohiniyattom... and that became my cinema entry.
