Unseen untouchability is more dangerous: Dinesh Amin Mattu
Ambedkar youth festival inaugurated at Udupi
Udupi, December 23: "The intensity of untouchability has reduced little bit not because of the conversion the mindset of people, but because of the force of law entitled by the Constitution. The untouchability which is visible in the society has its structure and colours. But the casteism existed in the society is still alive. Interestingly, this invisible untouchability is more dangerous. Nowadays, the society has been practicing the new kind of untouchability by creating inferiority complex among the beneficiaries of reservation", said senior journalist and scholar Dinesh Amin Mattu.
Inaugurating the Ambedkar youth festival, organised by the Udupi Ambedkar Yuva Sene at Bannanje Narayanaguru Kalyan Mandir here on Sunday, he said that the reservation was facing a threat due to privatisation. The country has just 2 per cent government employees employed under reservation. Now, efforts were on to snatch such reservation employment opportunities through privatisation. So efforts should be made to ensure reservation in private sector along with reservation in government sector, he said.
"There's non-vaidic tradition beyond castes and religions in the coastal region which a cradle of pluralism. Unfortunately, fanatics have been creeping into that non-vaidic tradition. There is a continuous onslaught of vaidic tradition on the deities with whom we speak, we quarrel and we touch. Such invisible cultural politics is more dangerous", he said.
"We are getting protection due to the Constitution. We will be safe till the Constitution is safe in this country. Even if Hundred Modi's came, they can't change the Constitution. Another revolution would happen if the Constitution is touched. But efforts are on to weaken the Constitution by bringing in amendment to it", he said.
Ambedkar was unable to write the Constitution as he wanted. He had said that the Constitution has to be burnt if the devils entered into the Soudha of democracy instead of god. The Constitution would not have any meaning if those who oppose the Constitution entered into the temple of democracy. If demands, only we have the right to burn the Constitution and not the anti-dalits or anti-Ambedkar", he said.
Those who oppose Ambedkar were trying to finish him through negligence, appeasement and adoration. Ambedkar had brought in the reservation to remove the casteism and not to strengthen it. The reservation could eliminate the economic imbalance and not social discrimination, he said.
Barukolu paper editor BR Rangaswamy garlanded the portrait of Ambedkar and inaugurated the blood bank. Ambedkar Yuva Sene president Harish Salian Malpe presided over it.
Malpe SC Fishermen Association president Radha Thottam, leaders Shashikala Palan Thottam, Dinesh Moodubettu, Anil Ambalapadi, Sampath Gujjarabettu, Ramesh Maben Ammunje, Manjunath Kappettu were present. Dalit scholar Jayanthis Malpe spoke on the occasion. Before it, Ambedkar rally was taken out from Kappettu and passed through Brahmagiri, Ajjarakadu, Double Road, KM Road, Service City Bus Stand and converged at Bannanje.
Pejawara Swamiji is mentally imbalance
Pejawara Swamiji is suffering from mental imbalance due to his age. He speaks whatever he wants every now and then. There is no need to take his statements of constructing Ram Mandir and changing the Constitution so seriously. So she should be pardoned because of his age. When Udupi Chalo was conducted, his shishya (disciple) spoke about purifying Udupi. What should we tell about the Swamiji who has such a disciple, Dinesh Amin Mattu said.
Dalits could not achieve anything if they were made priests in temples. Instead of this, the temples which practice untouchability should be boycotted. No one should go to Udupi Mutt which denies mass meals, he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
JioHotstar to invest Rs 4,000 crore for South Indian content push; unveils 25-title slate
Chennai (PTI): Streaming service JioHotstar on Tuesday announced that it will invest Rs 4,000 crore over the next five years to strengthen South India’s creative economy, unveiling a 25-title slate as part of a major push for regional content.
In one of the biggest announcements by an Indian streaming platform for the southern markets, the company showcased its “South Unbound” vision at a high-profile event here.
Sushant Sreeram, Head – SVOD Business & Chief Marketing Officer at JioStar, said the investment forms part of a broader collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government.
“Earlier today, JioHotstar formalised a Letter of Intent with the Government of Tamil Nadu in the presence of the Chief Minister M K Stalin. This outlines a shared commitment to invest in talent, expand infrastructure and build a future-ready creative economy from the South.
"As part of this vision, JioHotstar will invest Rs 4,000 crore to nurture creators, strengthen the production ecosystem and build a pipeline of stories that are ready for India and ready for the world,” he said.
Calling South India the “heartbeat of Indian storytelling”, Sreeram said the investment signalled the platform’s long-term commitment to local creators.
"JioHotstar started as a dream — to build entertainment rooted in India’s storytelling heritage and powered by cutting-edge technology. The resplendent storytelling traditions of the South motivate us to keep championing authentic, rooted narratives while offering greater accessibility and choices for every viewer," he said.
The event was attended by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, veteran actor and MP Kamal Haasan, senior state officials, and leading stars and filmmakers from across the southern industries.
Deputy CM Stalin said the partnership will generate “1,000 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs”.
“Cinema in Tamil Nadu has always been a force for social change. OTT is not replacing cinema; it is expanding it. Today, a filmmaker in Madurai or Salem can upload a story and reach audiences across the world. The cultural and economic impact of this partnership will be massive," he added.
aasan said Indian media and entertainment was undergoing a fundamental transformation driven not by technology alone, but by the audience itself.
“We gather at a moment when India’s media and entertainment is not merely growing, it is transforming. For the first time, this shift is not driven by device or format, but by the audience itself,” he said, adding that storytelling today is “screen agnostic”.
“Regional is becoming the new national, and ethnic the new international. Stories born in Madurai, Malappuram or Machilipatnam are no longer regional cinema; they are national cultural events,” Haasan said, giving the example of movies such as “Kantara”, “Drishyam”, “Baahubali”, “Pushpa” and Tamil hits like “Vikram”.
The event was also attended by Mohanlal, Nagarjuna, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Aishwarya Rajesh and others -- along with directors Jeethu Joseph and Ahammed Khabeer
The streamer's ambitious content slate, unveiled as part of its “South Unbound” initiative, includes sequels to blockbuster franchises, new long-format shows, films, adaptations, and high-engagement reality formats.
The Tamil slate features a mix of returning favourites and new originals, led by "Bigg Boss Tamil", now hosted by Vijay Sethupathi, and "Good Wife S2", the legal drama starring Priyamani.
The lineup also includes "LBW – Love Beyond Wicket", a relationship drama; the family comedy "Cousins and Kalyanams"; the psychological drama "Resort"; and "Heartbeat S3", which brings back Anumol, Karthik Kumar and Deepa Balu.
Other Tamil offerings include "Lingam", an action-drama; "Love Always", a multigenerational love story; the marquee title "Kaattaan" starring Vijay Sethupathi and Milind Soman; and "Second Love", a non-fiction relationship series.
In Telugu, the platform returns with "Bigg Boss Telugu" hosted by Nagarjuna, alongside new originals such as "Moodu Lantharlu" starring Aishwarya Rajesh; the police procedural "Vikram on Duty"; "Varam", a mystical relationship drama; and the hit comedy-drama "Save The Tigers S3" with Chaitanya Krishna.
The slate further includes "Vishakha", the Telugu adaptation of "Aarya" led by Kajal Aggarwal; the relationship-based non-fiction format "Mad for Each Other"; and the Telugu debut of the iconic adventure franchise "Roadies".
From Malayalam, the platform brings back "Bigg Boss Malayalam" hosted by Mohanlal; "Kerala Crime Files S3" featuring Aju Varghese; the mystery drama "Secret Stories: Roslin"; "Anali", "1000 Babies S2" with Neena Gupta and Rahman; and the hard-hitting drama "Pharma" starring Nivin Pauly.
The Kannada lineup includes "Bigg Boss Kannada" hosted by Kichcha Sudeepa; "Batchmates", a nostalgic friendship drama; and the food-and-humour-based non-fiction series "Comedy Cooks".
Across languages, the platform also announced new films such as "Lucky The Superstar", featuring GV Prakash, Anaswara Rajan and Meghna Sumesh, and "Kenatha Kaanom", positioned as broad-appeal mainstream entertainers.
