Veteran Kannada filmmaker Joe Simon dies of heart attack at 80
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran Kannada film director and actor Joe Simon passed away on Friday following a heart attack, industry sources said. He was 80 years old.
Simon suffered a cardiac arrest at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce in Bengaluru, where he had attended a meeting this afternoon. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead at around 4.30 pm, sources added.
The filmmaker had directed several popular Kannada films, including 'Sahasa Simha', 'Snehada Kadalalli', 'Simha Jodi', and 'Mr Vasu'.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar described Simon’s death as an "irreparable loss" to the Kannada film industry.
"Joe Simon, who hailed from Mandya, was active in Kannada cinema for decades. He had worked as an actor, director, and lyricist in more than 100 films," Shivakumar wrote on 'X'.
Expressing grief over his passing, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka recalled Simon’s contribution as an actor, director, and dialogue writer, highlighting his successful films, including Vishnuvardhan’s 'Sahasa Simha'.
Simon had also served as the Vice President of the Kannada Film Directors Association, Ashoka added on 'X'.
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Yenepoya University conducts autism awareness campaign in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The Department of Occupational Therapy at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) conducted a community-based Autism Awareness Campaign at Fiza Mall and Ullal Beach in the city.
The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness, inclusion, and early identification of autism, in line with the global theme, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.”
The programme was led by Dr. Dhayanithi K and Dr. Ananya Jana as organising chairpersons, with Dr. Anas, Dr. Amanda S. Phillip, and Dr. Ansu V. David served as organising members.
Students of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme participated in conducting the campaign.
The event included activities such as flash mobs, street plays, face painting, mehendi, and direct interaction with the public.
These activities focused on highlighting early signs of autism, the need for early intervention, and the importance of inclusion and acceptance of individuals with autism.
The campaign reached around 300 to 500 members of the public. It also provided students with practical exposure to community-based rehabilitation and public health education.
As part of the initiative, QR-based digital resources were introduced to help the public access reliable information on autism.
“Awareness is the first step towards inclusion, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes,” the organising team said.
The department thanked the university for its support in organising the campaign. It also acknowledged the cooperation of the management of Fiza Mall and the Ullal Beach Police Department in facilitating the event.
