Latest news with #Warrier
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
V.S. Achuthanandan was a delight for caricature artistes, says Jayaraj Warrier
V.S. Achuthanandan was more than a political leader for eminent caricature artiste Jayaraj Warrier — he was a subject rich with rhythm, expression, and dramatic flair. Warrier says Mr. Achuthanandan's distinctive style often reminded him of Chakyarkoothu, the classical art form known for its unique blend of satire and performance. 'His speeches had a unique cadence — the pauses, the emphasis, the way he stretched certain words — it was all very performative,' says Warrier, who has portrayed VS in more than 4,000 stage performances. 'Whether it was intentional or not, there was something theatrical like Chakyarkoothu in the way he addressed people.' Exaggeration and humour were the vehicles used by VS to communicate with people, says Mr. Warrier. 'VS' way of speaking, his body language and expressions often carried a touch of humour,' Warrier notes. 'His style had a huge scope for caricature performance. So he was always caricature artistes' delight.' 'VS had a particular skill in communicating with people from all walks of life. He chooses his words and modulations carefully. That was his craftsmanship as a speaker. It was deliberate — he wanted his message to stay with the listener, especially among workers and the less formally educated,' Warrier points out. Even when addressing corruption or social issues, his speeches were characterised by a direct, unpretentious style. It was this blend, Warrier says, that kept the audiences engaged. Warrier first met Mr. Achuthanandan in 2003 after years of performing his caricature across stages. 'He laughed when he saw me and asked, you're making money off us, aren't you?' Warrier chooses not to rely on costumes or makeup to portray public figures. Instead, he focusses on voice, gestures, and body language. 'What matters is capturing the essence — not the look, but the feel of the person.' (as told to Mini Muringatheri)
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
P.K. Warrier remembered on his 4th death anniversary
Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala observed the fourth death anniversary of P.K. Warrier, the legendary Ayurvedic physician, on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Syed Rasheedali Shihab Thangal, former Wakf Board chairman, stressed Dr. Warrier's tireless efforts to foster communal harmony and bridge cultural divides. 'Through Dr. Warrier's inspired stewardship, Kottakkal emerged as the embodiment of Ayurveda. Under him, Kottakkal became a synonym for the ancient healing art,' said Mr. Thangal. In his keynote address, Sanskrit scholar K.G. Poulose praised Arya Vaidya Sala for garnering goodwill under Dr. Warrier's leadership. He said Arya Vaidya Sala's lasting legacies were the pioneering will of its founder P.S. Varier and the immense goodwill generated by his successors. Dr. Poulose credited Dr. Warrier with revitalising Arya Vaidya Sala's Kathakali institution PSV Natyasangham and steering it away from decline. Presiding over the function, Arya Vaidya Sala managing trustee and chief physician P. Madhavankutty Varier underscored Dr. Warrier's punctuality and unique approach to patients. Arya Vaidya Sala chief executive officer K. Harikumar welcomed the gathering. Trustee K.R. Ajay proposed a vote of thanks.
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
The Emergency, 50 years on: A father's fight to ensure son's death wasn't lost in the darkness
'Let at least my invisible son know that his father never shut the door.' T V Eachara Warrier, who made that plaintive appeal, held true to his word — he never shut the door, and ensured his son Rajan, who died incognito, could not be rendered invisible. Warrier's search for what happened to Rajan, followed by his fight for justice against those responsible for his death in custody during the Emergency, led to the first habeas corpus in such cases after the provision was lifted, the ouster of a chief minister, an award-winning book, and a film that won national and international accolades. Rajan, a final-year student of Regional Engineering College (REC, now NIT), Calicut, is believed to have been picked up by police in the early hours of March 1, 1976, during a manhunt in the wake of a suspected Naxal attack on a police station. Located 40 km from the REC at Kayanna in Kozhikode district, the police station had been attacked in the early hours of February 28, 1976, and the coalition government of the CPI and Congress was desperate to catch the culprits. Active in cultural activities at the REC, Rajan was attending an arts festival at Farook College at the time. He was reportedly arrested just near the entrance of the REC as he made his way back. As per reports that emerged later, Rajan was taken to a camp in Kakkayam set up by the police team probing the Kayanna attack. His hands were tied behind his head, and he was laid out on a bench, and interrogated endlessly. Unsatisfied with his replies, police beat him up and rolled a pestle-like object up and down his thighs, even as senior officers looked on. The authorities admitted later that Rajan did not survive the beating. His body was quietly disposed of, with all evidence of him being brought to the camp removed. On hearing that his son had been taken away by police, Warrier, a professor at Arts and Science College in Kozhikode, rushed to the Kakkayam camp. In his autobiography, Oru Achchante Ormakkurippukal (Memories of a Father), Warrier wrote that he tried to meet DIG Jayaram Padikkal at the camp but could not. (Padikkal later figured as one of the accused in the custodial death of Rajan.) A police personnel told him 'Your son is safe', Warrier wrote. But when he asked to meet Rajan, he was denied permission. Warrier returned, still hopeful Rajan would come back soon. But with no news still of his son, on March 10, he petitioned then home minister K Karunakaran, beginning his battle to find Rajan. When he got no reply from Karunakaran, he wrote to others higher up in the government, including then Chief Minister C Achutha Menon, whom Warrier knew personally. He also wrote to other politicians, MPs and MLAs, and went to several prisons in Kerala, hoping for clues. As the hunt kept hitting a dead end, Rajan's mother Radha slowly lost her mind, while Warrier's daughters Ramadevi and Shanthini fought ineffectually to offer solace. In January 1977, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced Lok Sabha elections, taking the country by surprise. In Kerala, the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls were held simultaneously, and unlike the North where the Congress was routed, the party won both the polls in the state. Karunakaran now became the CM. Still, Warrier did not lose hope. When political prisoners were released after the Emergency was lifted on March 21, 1977, he thought it was a matter of days before Rajan came home. But with no news of Rajan again, on March 26, 1977, Warrier filed a habeas corpus petition in the Kerala High Court, the first such suit after the Emergency ended. Karunakaran was impleaded as he was the home minister when Rajan went missing. On May 24, 1977, The Indian Express carried a front page report confirming Rajan's death in police torture. Quoting from affidavits filed by Karunakaran and Padikkal, among others, before the Kerala High Court, it said that Rajan 'died while in unlawful police custody at the Kayakkam police camp on March 2, 1976, as a result of continuous torture with iron and wooden rollers'. In their affidavits, the respondents also claimed that they had come to know of Rajan's death only a week earlier, when investigating officers submitted a report. Karunakaran had earlier filed an affidavit saying he had no knowledge Rajan was in police custody at any time. Warrier moved another petition in court seeking action against Karunakaran and others, including police officers, for perjury. The court observed that 'it was expedient in the interest of justice to lay a complaint against Karunakaran before (an) appropriate court'. This led to Karunakaran's resignation as CM barely a month after he assumed the post. Police, however, never linked Rajan's arrest to the police station attack. Instead, they claimed he was involved in extremist activities. Warrier now had eight cases filed in connection with his son's disappearance, and moved in and out of courts fighting them. The case registered in connection with the torture and murder of Rajan was tried at a district court in Coimbatore, 200 km from Kozhikode, at the request of the accused officers. Referring to the long hours of trial, Warrier said in his autobiography that the cross-examinations and questions only strengthened his resolve. Eventually, the police officers were convicted of torture and sentenced for a year, but the murder charge against them was not proved. Finally, even in the torture case, the police officers got relief from the high court. In the civil case Warrier lodged, seeking compensation for Rajan's death, he filed a pauper suit (filed by one who cannot pay the court fees). He was awarded Rs 6 lakh as compensation, of which around Rs 1 lakh went as court expenses. Warrier used the rest of the amount to establish a critical care ward at Government General Hospital, Ernakulam, and made endowments at Rajan's REC. CPI(M) Central Committee member and former minister T P Ramakrishnan, who was himself kept at the Kakkayam camp and says he was tortured, recalls hearing about a death at the time. Only later he and the others connected it to Rajan. 'On February 28, when the Kayanna Police Station was attacked, I was already under arrest for protests against the Emergency. Police thought the station attack was in retaliation to our arrest. I was at the camp when Rajan and the others were brought. We were all subjected to third-degree torture,'' says Ramakrishnan, who was already associated with the CPI(M) by then. Calling Rajan 'innocent' and 'a victim of the cruelty of an autocratic system', the CPI(M) leader adds: 'Those who killed him never regretted their actions nor disclosed what happened to his mortal remains. His parents died without getting that answer.' In 1989, acclaimed director Shaji N Karun made the Malayalam-language movie Piravi (The Birth), telling the story of a father's endless wait for his missing son, inspired by the Rajan case. It picked up several awards, including Cannes's Caméra d'Or — Mention Spéciale. In his autobiography, Warrier wrote about spending long hours, while it rained, listening to Rajan's singing on a cassette recorder. 'I am trying to retrieve a lost wave with this tape recorder,' he wrote. 'The good earth is getting filled with songs till now unheard by me, this crude man. My son is standing outside, drenched in the rain… I still have no answer to the question of whether or not I feel vengeance. But I leave a question to the world: why are you making my innocent child stand in the rain even after his death? I don't close the door, let the rain blow inside and drench me. Let at least my invisible son know that his father never shut the door.'' In 2004, Oru Achchante Ormakkurippukal won the Kerala State Award. Two years later, having ensured Rajan an indelible space in one of Indian history's darkest chapters, Warrier passed away at the age of 84. In January this year, Rajan's story again reverberated when students of his institute NIT-Calicut claimed that the authorities had made them drop a video featuring him from a college festival that, ironically, claims to be 'inspired' by him. There was no official word from the NIT-Calicut authorities on the matter.
Business Standard
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Manju Warrier Joins Hands with GRB Ghee to Celebrate Kerala's Rich Culinary Heritage
Kochi, 16 June 2025 – GRB Ghee, a name synonymous with purity and authenticity, proudly unveiled its latest integrated brand campaign featuring the icon of Malayalam cinema, Manju Warrier. The collaboration is not just an endorsement but a heartfelt celebration of the deep-rooted food values cherished by Malayalees. For Keralites, food is more than just nourishment. It is a cherished ritual, an expression of love, and a celebration of family. The creative narrative draws on this emotional connection Malayalees have with ghee—seen in moments like the aroma of a grandmother's dosa, festive biryanis, Onam feasts brimming with flavour, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones. The film featuring Warrier taps into this insight, showing how GRB Ghee evokes the feeling of home and authenticity across generations. 'For us, Kerala represents not just customers, but connoisseurs of heritage,' said Mr. Bala Karthik, Director at GRB. 'Malayalee consumers don't just buy products—they embrace experiences that reflect their cultural identity. The state is home to evolved, discerning consumers who value authenticity, purity, and quality. At GRB, we have always respected these expectations and worked to exceed them. This campaign featuring Manju Warrier is our sincere tribute to the refined culinary sensibilities of Kerala.' As part of its strategic brand initiative, the campaign underscores GRB's continued commitment to delivering culturally relevant and market-specific messaging, while fostering a deeper emotional connection with consumers across India. "GRB Ghee is more than a kitchen staple—it represents purity, trust, and a deep emotional connection to our way of life,' said Manju Warrier. 'I'm proud to associate with a brand that understands the emotions behind everyday meals and the cultural significance of food in Kerala.' The campaign has been rolled out across television, digital platforms, and social media—reaching homes across Kerala and resonating with consumers who value authenticity and emotional depth in their food choices. About GRB: Established in 1984 by Mr. G.R. Balasubramaniam, GRB Dairy Foods started as a humble ghee venture and has today evolved into India's largest distributed ghee brand, built on a foundation of uncompromising quality, trust, and innovation. At the heart of GRB lies a commitment to blending tradition with cutting-edge technology. The brand proudly operates one of the most advanced food production facilities in the country, equipped with state-of-the-art automated systems that ensure consistency, hygiene, and tradition. Every batch of GRB Ghee undergoes rigorous checks at its NABL certified advanced scientific laboratory, ensuring rigorous testing and global compliance at every stage. GRB's portfolio has grown to include traditional Indian sweets, instant mixes, and traditional south Indian snacks - TOWN BUS, each crafted with the same dedication to purity and tradition. Today, GRB exports to over 50 countries.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Manju Warrier joins hands with GRB Ghee to celebrate Kerala's rich culinary heritage
GRB Ghee , a name synonymous with purity and authenticity, has unveiled its latest integrated brand campaign featuring the icon of Malayalam cinema , Manju Warrier . The collaboration is not just an endorsement but a heartfelt celebration of the deep-rooted food values cherished by Malayalees. The creative narrative draws on this emotional connection Malayalees have with ghee—seen in moments like the aroma of a grandmother's dosa, festive biryanis, Onam feasts brimming with flavour, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones. The film featuring Warrier taps into this insight, showing how GRB Ghee evokes the feeling of home and authenticity across generations. Bala Karthik, director at GRB said, 'Malayalee consumers don't just buy products—they embrace experiences that reflect their cultural identity . The state is home to evolved, discerning consumers who value authenticity, purity, and quality. This campaign featuring Manju Warrier is our sincere tribute to the refined culinary sensibilities of Kerala.' The campaign underscores GRB's continued commitment to delivering culturally relevant and market-specific messaging, while fostering a deeper emotional connection with consumers across India. Warrier said, 'I'm proud to associate with a brand that understands the emotions behind everyday meals and the cultural significance of food in Kerala.' The campaign has been rolled out across television, digital platforms and social media—reaching homes across Kerala and resonating with consumers who value authenticity and emotional depth in their food choices. Watch the video here:
