K Balachander was a uniquely gifted film maker. His films earned him the epithet ‘ Iyakunar Sigaram ’ (Peak among directors). But for his mentoring, Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth would have become screen idols. With his realistic portrayal of characters in realistic life-settings with a lot of imagination, he took cinema beyond hero-centric creations and held it as ‘a mirror up to nature”. He broke tradition and cast his female characters as ‘individuals in their own right’. A living legend, Balachander made many immortal films which in turn have immortalised him.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

The passing away of IyakkunarSigaram director K Balachander has left a big vacuum in the Tamil film industry. His career spanned over five decades, where he was associated with over 100 films either as screenwriter or director, where every movie bore his unique stamp of excellence. Many of his movies had a social message which inspired people and also championed women empowerment. Like the name “Balachander” which means young and fresh moon, he steadily grew bigger and shone brightly among the stars. May his soul rest in peace

TS Karthik

Chennai

Too much of scrutiny is bad

The last government was ousted from power due to rampant corruption, total inaction, and people were fed up with dynasty rule. They gave a chance to Modi and his party because they felt he was keen on ‘action’, ‘development’ and may bring down corruption.

I feel this government has not done anything contrary to the expectations, though there is always scope for improvement.

However, of late, some utterances by religious organisations, or any mishap or untoward incidents in any part of the country are given undue coverage and importance. Fatwas, conversions, have happened earlier also, but were never accorded this much of publicity. Never before in the history of the nation, has a newly installed government has been put to such a great scrutiny as the present one.

It is the duty of all well meaning citizens of this country, as well the opposition parties, to support, motivate, and co-operate with the government to give its best to the nation, rather than creating hurdles at each and every step.

V Srinivasan

Bangalore

A coming of age?

The J&K elections have brought the BJP to a decisive political juncture. The party must now pursue development in the state with a unified and inclusive theme. This perhaps is a tall order for a parivar that has been too eager to air disparate views. This may well emerge as the measure of the true political coming of age of the BJP and Modi the PM, in particular.

R Narayanan

Ghaziabad

A legitimate demand

The central and state governments give wage hike to its employees by setting up successive Pay Commissions and now they earn fat pays sans much work. The general public do not open their mouth when their work in government offices are delayed and the government sector wages are hiked. But when bank employees make a genuine demand for wage settlement, everybody speaks of profit, loss, bad loans and so on.

Losses and non-performing assets in the banking sector is due to the connivance of politicians, bureaucrats and top-level bank managements in giving loans to corporates and wilful default by these corporates who curry favour with those in power. How is the bank employee responsible and accountable for these? The real accountability lies with the government director and the RBI director in bank boards, who are attending every board meeting of banks and doing nothing.

N Krishnan

Poonithura, Kerala

Social spends

I fully agree with ‘Do the math’ (December 24) wherein it is rightly pointed out that CSR expenditure not be regarded as business expenditure and hence not deductible under income tax act. The govt can come forward later by amending the income tax, allowing the CSR expenses as business expenditure.

D Suresh Babu

Hyderabad

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