Gulf Mappilappattu Awards

By KK Moidu
Winners of the prestigious Gulf Mappilappattu Awards 2008 (GMA) were announced at a press conference held at Sagar Hotel, Bur Dubai. The winners are selected by the jury committee headed by Khaleelulla Chemnad on the basis of thousands of SMS votes from the UAE audience. The cash awards and memento will be presented to the winners on Oct. 31, at Dubai Al Nasr Leisure Land, said one of the organiser Jamsheer C of Time Pass Entertainment. Other organisers and sponsors of GMA, Shamsudheen, managing director, Nellara Food Products, Razak Kochanoor, Dubai Gate managing director and chairman and Nasar Mannur were also attended at the press conference. The lifetime achievement award for senior male singers category will be given to two Mappilappattu veterans, Moosa Eranjoli and Peer Muhammad. Yesteryears leading female singer’s Ramla Beegam and Vilayil Faseela were chosen for the lifetime achievement award for the senior female singer’s category. Best lyricist and best music director awards went to Bappu Vellipparambu and Kozhikkode Abubaker respectively. Mappilappattu lovers have selected Kannur Sharif as the best male and Rahana as the best female singer. Nenjinullil Neeyanu is the most popular song and Snehamaanu Sundari is the popular audio album. The best newcomer male singer award was won by youngster’s favourite Shafi Kollam. The winners were selected through SMS votes from the UAE audiences for the first time in the history of Mappilappattu, said Khaleelullah Chemnad, chairman of the award committee. He also said “Mappilappattu is just five years older than the Malayalam literature itself but it has been neglected over the years and it couldn't achieve the expected progress. The GMA 2008 is playing an historic role by remembering the artistes and their favourite songs. These artistes played an important role in the high popularity of natural Mappilappattu.” Their valuable contributions will never be forgotten and GMA will honour the talents who sacrificed for finding the roots of Mappilappattu and its rich culture. GMA 2008 is directed by Basheer Changaramkulam. Dr BR Shetty and actor-director Cochin Haneefa will be the chief guests of the programme. The organisers guarantees the ishal night will be a different treat for the audience by the performance of prize winning artistes, violin maestro Bala Bhasker and a variety of entertainment programmes like Oppana, Kolkkali, Duffmuttu etc. GMA 2008 is only a beginning and the awards will be distributed in the coming years said the organisers.

European films to hit UAE screen

By KK Moidu

THE European Movies Eighth Season (2008/2009) offered by nine European embassies in the UAE will screen quality films from Europe at Grand Cinemas in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain. Andreas Maager, deputy head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland, Abu Dhabi announced on Monday at a press conference held at the residence of Consul General of Switzerland in Al Barsha, Dubai. The last seven seasons were great success and the eighth season will have another feast of quality European films, the organisers say. The films also provide the audience with an opportunity to explore different areas of European cinema production and history. Under the patronage of Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the embassies of nine countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland), the organisers of the European Movies Eighth Season, are offering something more which would not be normally available in the region. Cine-goers will get an opportunity to watch 14 films of renowned directors from the past and the most recent releases produced in the nine European countries. The 14 films to be screened in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain are, Pas de Panique directed by Denis Rabaglia and Nordwand directed by Philipp Stolzl (Switzerland), the recently released Absurdistan, Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei directed by Hans Wiengartner, Auf der anderen Seite directed by Faith Akin (Germany), superhit Le Petit Lieutenant and Mademoiselle directed by Philippe Lioret (France), Los Otros directed by Alejandro Amenabar and Lo que se de Lola directed by Javier Rebollo (Spain), Geboren in Absurdistan directed by Houchang Allahyari (Austria), Zelary directed by Ondrej Trojan (Czech Republic), Katyn directed by Andrzej Wajda (Poland), Simon directed Eddy Terstall (Netherlands), Mediterraneo directed by Gabriele Salvatores (Italy). The films will be screened in original languages with English subtitles and the screening schedules of Abu Dhabi Grand Cinemas, Abu Dhabi Mall every Sunday at 8pm, Dubai Grand Cinemas Mercato Mall, every other Tuesday at 8pm and Al Ain Grand Cinemas, Rotana, Oasis City, every other Saturday at 5pm and 8pm. Season tickets for 14 movies will cost Dhs 200 and can be purchased at the Grand Cinemas in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Mall), Dubai (Mercato) and Al Ain (Rotana). Tickets are also available at the Embassy of Switzerland in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Dubai.

Gulf Mappilappatu Awards to be distributed on Oct. 31

KK Moidu
The best talents in Mappilappattu (Muslim songs) will be honoured at a stage show "Gulf Mappilappattu Awards 2008", which will be held at Al Nasr Leisure Land Ice Rink, Dubai, on Oct. 31. The winners will be selected through SMS votes by the UAE audiences for the first time in the history of Mappilappattu. The fans of Muslim songs are getting an opportunity to select their favourite artistes, said Basheer Changaramkulam, Jamsheer and Nasser of Time Pass Entertainment, which is one of the organisers of the event. The awards will be given in different categories. The awards will be given to senior male and female singers for their valuable contribution to Mappilappattu. The other categories of the awards include the best lyricist, the best music director, the best male singer, the best female singer, the best male newcomer singer, the best popular song, the best audio album and the best song, said PT Saleem, managing director, Green Advertising and Shamsudheen Nellara, managing director, Nellara Food Products, which are the other organisers. Mappilappattu lovers can select the best senior male and female singers for their total contribution from the top ranking four singers. The male singers are Peer Muhammad, VM Kutty, Moosa Eranjoli and KG Sathar. The leading female singers are Kannoor Zeenath, Vilayil Faseela, Ramla Beegum and Sibila Sadanandhan. The best Mappilappattu lyricists will be selected from OM Karuvarakundu, Bappu Vellipparambu, Kanesh Poonoor and Baker Panoor. The top runners for the music director category are KV Abootty, M Kunhi Moosa, Kozhikode Abu Baker and Joy Vincent. The audience will have a tough time selecting the best male singer from Kannoor Sharif, MA Gafoor, Marcos and Ashraf Payyannoor, and the best female singer from Sindhu Prem Kumar, Rahana and Nazeem, said the organisers. The best newcomer male singer will be selected from four youngsters Afsal, Tajudheen Vadakara, Kollam Shafi and Salim Kodathur. The last date for SMS voting is Oct. 25 and the number is 7782 GM[space]. Businessman BR Shetty and actor-director Cochin Haneefa will grace the occasion as chief guests of the programme. The show will start at 7pm. Tickets are available at selected outlets in the UAE.

Dumping cleanliness instead of garbage

By KK Moidu

Residential areas in Sharjah have garbage bins placed at right locations and the municipality has put a system in place to clear them promptly. Surprisingly, carelessness on the part of some residents is leaving waste to be deposited around the garbage boxes, instead of inside them.

"A few people carelessly throw waste bags outside the garbage bins and their irresponsible act not only increases the workload of the cleaning workers who  empty the garbage boxes daily but also causes environment and health problems to the public," complained a resident at Al Wahda Street. 

A resident, living with his family at the ground floor of a building in the Yarmouk area in Sharjah said: "The garbage box is very near to my flat and I am watching everyday that several people are depositing the waste from their houses carelessly outside the box. Some families have left the task of throwing the garbage with their children. These children cannot put the garbage in the boxes and instead just leave the bags outside and disappear."

A cleaning worker from the municipality said: "Most of the people are dropping the waste bags in the boxes, but a few irresponsible people do not even close their waste bags properly and throw them strewing all wastes outside the boxes."

Though the municipality workers clean the area, it's of no use as the stinking waste dumped around the box makes the place greasy and difficult to walk.

The garbage boxes are seen overflowing with wastes on public holidays and weekends as some residents leave their old furniture and other unusable household goods outside the boxes.

Although the workers of municipality start their work early morning next day, more garbage after weekends and holidays increase their workload.

"It's time the residents understood their own responsibility and keep the area clean and green," said a longtime resident of Yarmouk area.