50-672: Vazhachal Falls is situated in Athirappilly Panchayath of Thrissur district in Kerala on the southwest coast of India . Located on the west-flowing Chalakudy River near the Vazhachal Forest Division and at the edge of the Sholayar ranges, it is just 5 km from entrance of Athirappilly Falls . It is located 36 km from Chalakudy . Kodungallur Kovilakam This article related to
100-761: A location in Thrissur district , Kerala , India is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This waterfall -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Athirappilly Athirappilly is a first grade Grama Panchayath with 489.00 km area in Chalakudy Taluk, Thrissur district in Kerala , India . It is located 60 km from Thrissur city, 70 km northeast of Kochi city, 55 km northeast of Cochin International Airport , and 30 km from Chalakudy town. The Athirappilly Falls
150-465: A national park, he points out. The Wildlife Trust of India says it represents one of India's best elephant conservation efforts. "Any disruption to this fragile ecosystem will spell disaster," says Vijayan. Athirappilly is popular among tourists. Athirappilly Falls is one of the best places to visit in Kerala . Another popular waterfall to visit is the Vazhachal Falls . Athirappilly Falls
200-480: A polyester manufacturer, even a fictitious one. But director Mani Ratnam has done so with Guru , an epic paean to can-do spirit and Mumbai capitalism." The New York Post gave it three out of four stars, and the Los Angeles Weekly called it the best Hindi film since Lagaan (2001) . Richard Corliss of Time compared the film to Frank Capra 's It's a Wonderful Life and said that one of
250-419: A three star rating and cited " Guru is a film that enthralls you for most of its running time as it traces the life of the uncannily forward seeing bumpkin from Gujarat who turns every disadvantage into an advantage. With Guru , Bachchan has finally learnt the nuances of the grammar of cinema, in what will very likely be his defining film". Sify gave its verdict as "Very Good" and stated "Mani Ratnam’s Guru
300-565: A twin project such as AHEP at 120MW installed capacity and Poringal Right Bank hydro electric project. It was to include a dam 23 metres (75 ft) high and 311 metres (1,020 ft) wide on the Chalakudy River in the Vazhachal Forest Division about 5 kilometres (3 mi) upstream of Athirappilly Falls and 400 metres (1,312 ft) upstream of Vazhachal Rapids (Vazhachal Falls). However, environmental groups and people's collectives opposed
350-418: Is Rai. There is a silent grace, quiet nobility to her performance, which I have to admit I've never seen before. Of course, the film belongs to Bachchan, the protagonist, Guru himself. And in all honesty, Bachchan rises to the challenge like never before." The Sunday Times stated "It is certainly one of the best Bollywood movies you will see. Performances attract admiration: Bachchan does a De Niro, piling on
400-426: Is a 2007 Indian Hindi -language drama film directed and co-written by Mani Ratnam . It stars Abhishek Bachchan , Aishwarya Rai , Mithun Chakraborty , R. Madhavan , and Vidya Balan . The score and soundtrack for the film were composed by A. R. Rahman . The film was rumored to be a biopic of the industrial tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani , but Ratnam refuted the claims, clarifying it was a work of fiction. The film
450-473: Is a part of Chalakudy river and it is approximately 80 feet in height. Athirappilly is easily reachable from Chalakudy by taking a vehicle for rent or by bus from the Chalakudy private bus terminal. Proper precautions are taken on site to prevent mishaps while swimming and a police camp is always positioned there. Athirappilly is situated on SH-21 highway connecting Tamil Nadu and Kerala, night driving
500-420: Is fuelled by a slew of strong performances. Bachchan owns the movie, forcing audiences to sit up straight as it begins and making us laugh and applaud as he carries on. He's impressive in every frame, as he ebulliently takes over an alien room by hopping onto a chair, or when he's trying to be ever so slightly slimy, polishing his spectacles and showing off his smarminess". Daily News and Analysis reviewer gave
550-407: Is not advised. But you can enjoy the adventurous drive in the middle of jungle. Noted Tamil film director, Maniratnam , has a huge fascination for this spot that a lot of his movies are shot here. Raavanan was almost fully shot in this location. The movies Dil Se.. , Kannathil Muthamittal , Iruvar , Guru have songs shot here. "Arjuna Arjuna" song featuring Sarathkumar and Namitha
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#1732798032086600-540: Is situated 1000 ft above sea level on the Chalakudy river, at the entrance to the Sholayar ranges of the Western Ghats, Athirappalli is a scenic combination of forests and little streams. Falling from a height of 80 feet, this is one of the largest waterfalls in the state. Many endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna are found in the forests of the Athirapilly-Vazhachal area. This area
650-472: Is that, the role of R. Madhavan is based on Swaminathan Gurumurthy , who along with Ramnath Goenka worked to expose Reliance Industries. The title is speculated to be an acknowledgement of this fact, where in his name is playfully swapped with Ambani's character. In real life, Gurumurthy has twin daughters much like the Guru character in the movie. Guru opened well upon release, gaining momentum over time. In
700-576: Is the only place in the Western Ghats where four endangered hornbill species are seen. The Western Ghats is one of the most important biodiversity hot spot in the world. This valuable natural world is already degraded by mining and hydro electric projects. Environmentalists claim that Athirapally is a one-of its-kind riparian ecosystem in Kerala. V.S. Vijayan, Chairman of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board and former Director of
750-476: Is to politics. For the discerning viewer, satisfaction is guaranteed.. and some more. Rai is marvellous, handling complex scenes with grace and empathy. Above all, the enterprise belongs to Bachchan. He is astonishingly nuanced and unwaveringly forceful in his career-best performance after Yuva (2004)." Critic Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama gave a four star rating and claimed in his review that " Guru ranks as one of Mani Ratnam's finest efforts and one of
800-434: Is truly in its unpredictability. Few filmmakers can translate their personal vision onto screen the way Mani Ratnam can. So that's two thumbs up for Guru – it's a must-watch for all. Of the film's cast, Chakraborty playing the ruthless newspaper baron, deserves mention for the dignity which he brings to the part, one that's clearly inspired by Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka. The actor in this film who truly blew my mind,
850-415: Is undoubtedly a gutsy and outstanding film. Outstanding performance is extracted from everyone in the cast." The Hindu cited that " Guru is vintage Mani Ratnam. It encapsulates his characteristic canniness about human nature, specifically relationships. This is considered Abhishek Bachchan's role of a lifetime." Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave four stars explaining "The beauty of Mani Ratnam's cinema
900-456: The 18 eco-sensitive localities in the state. A former member of KSEB with generation project, K Radhakrishnan, opined that WGEEP report was biased and the project was eco-friendly doing minimum damage to environment and forests, and with the lack of computational model when rainfall is decreasing by the effect of El Niño . Electricity Pensioners Welfare Association a forum of senior power personnel of Kerala headed by K Radhakrishnan viewed
950-507: The Gadgil panel report as unproductive and overly concerned about environmental issues. Of late The Central Water commission has given approval to the project if the project doesn't affect the ecological balance, could maintain a flow for the waterfalls without defacing it or doesn't bring out any socio-cultural disputes. In 2016, Kerala Chief minister and Minister for power, Pinarayi Vijayan has indicated that they will consider implementation of
1000-693: The Hindi dialogues. Filming took place in Mumbai , Madurai , Turkey , Badami and Melkote (both in Karnataka ), as well as in Chennai , Pollachi , Chettinad region Tamil Nadu , and Athirappilly in Kerala. Much of the film was shot on the Express Estates, the former home of The Indian Express and Dinamani . The music is composed by A. R. Rahman , with lyrics by Gulzar . Cinematography for
1050-640: The Kadar tribal community of the area and also no comprehensive study had been carried out so far on the natural riparian forest vegetation along the Western Ghats. On 14 June 2011, Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said his ministry would not grant approval to the Athirappilly hydro electric project. The Minister also stated "When states are denied such projects on larger and long-term environmental considerations, they are entitled to some sort of green bonus," The first part of WGEEP report
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#17327980320861100-721: The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, has been quoted in Down to Earth magazine as affirming that the Vazhachal forest division is the second most biodiverse area in the State. The International Bird Association has declared it an "Important Bird Area" and the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation has recommended that the area should be declared a sanctuary or
1150-622: The United States, Guru, opening on a limited release, registered good collections in its opening weekend, fetching ₹3 crore during this period, with a high screen average. By its seventh week, the film had netted ₹41.65 crore in India, collecting ₹13 crore in the US and the UK. As of 23 February 2007, Guru , having released 12 January, has grossed more than ₹83.67 crore across the world and
1200-521: The best to come out of Hindi cinema," and praised actors performances writing "Reserve all the awards for Bachchan. No two opinions on that! His performance in Guru is world class and without doubt. From a sharp teenager in Turkey to the biggest entrepreneur of the country, Bachchan handles the various shades his character demands with adroitness." Raja Sen from Rediff gave a three stars said that " Guru
1250-647: The clearance and ordered another public hearing. The debate continued the following years. On 29 January 2011, the chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) Madhav Gadgil opined that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Athirappilly hydel power project was not properly carried out and 70% of it is bogus. The panel, appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,
1300-532: The commissioning of a 2000 MW super thermal power station, which uses an environment-friendly super critical boiler. 1200-MW Cheemeni Power Project is such a stalled project pending implementation studies and lobbying central government with development requirements. Reports and public polls is in consensus with seeking alternative sources for achieving a semblance of self-sufficiency in terms of electricity requirements than investing time and money on nonstrategic myopic hydel projects. Guru (2007 film) Guru
1350-445: The dosas to show the ageing and overweight Guru and he is, surprisingly, impressive. Rai sheds her usual doe-eyed expressions and is endearing as the supportive but fiery wife, who looks and dances like an angel. Chakraborty and Tamil superstar Madhavan shine equally brightly in underwritten supporting roles". BBC reviewer Jaspreet Pandohar gave it a three star rating and noted "Ratnam's absorbing screenplay ensures that Guru rises above
1400-419: The feasibility of the project was also negative like the report in 2007 by B S Vijayan, Kerala State Biodiversity Board also pointed out that the power project would adversely affect the ecology of the area. Jairam Ramesh , Former Environment Minister said this decision to be a "perfect recipe for ecological disaster." According to a KSEB member and former executive engineer Augustine Xavier opined that ideally
1450-409: The film is handled by Rajiv Menon . Several scenes were deleted from the final theatrical version, including a scene in which Sujata first gives birth to a stillborn child and a scene in which Guru becomes angry with his wife for visiting Manik Dasgupta. Guru has others involved in the production as a film that is reflective of a man's desire for ambition and success, and how times have changed from
1500-560: The implementation of the Athirappilly hydroelectric project for long has welcomed the decision. Power Survey Report estimate the state's power requirement to reach at 6500 MW by 2022. Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest T M Manoharan, who was the Chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Board opposed the project citing the harm it could cause to the environment and ecology of the area. Other studies for
1550-434: The largest in India, he ruthlessly pursues success, engaging in activities such as smuggling machine parts for his polyester mills, illegally manufacturing goods, and manipulating stocks to make a higher profit. However, when Nanaji learns that Guru's means of success are not always honest, he, along with a reporter of his newspaper, Shyam Saxena, decides to expose Guru's increasingly corrupt ways. The stress of his battle with
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1600-427: The main highlights of the film was its climax. This Guru is more like a fine polyester. He further noted, "Ash's film eminence remains a mystery. No question she's pretty, but she's more an actress-model than a model-actress. In Guru , she's mainly ornamentation". The Hindustan Times reviewer gave it a three and half stars and noted " Ratnam and Bachchan Jr have given you a film that’s as close to life as say, business
1650-464: The meanings of excise duty, customs, and sales tax. All he knew was his business; however, the corrupt system made sure that a villager doesn't become a rich businessman. As a result, he had to indulge in corrupt practices. This forces the government to clear him of 27 of the 29 charges against him. He is charged with a fine of ₹6.3 million (equivalent to ₹100 million or US$ 1.6 million in 2016) and ₹96,000 (equivalent to ₹1.6 million or US$ 24,000 in 2016) for
1700-497: The name "Shakti Corporation." "Nanaji" Manik Dasgupta, who publishes the newspaper "Swatantra" ("The Independent"), treats Guru as his son. Guru looks upon him as a father figure who supported him during his early days of struggle in Bombay. He also develops a strong friendship with Meenu, the granddaughter of Nanaji. Meenu develops multiple sclerosis as she grows up and begins using a wheelchair. As Guru's business grows into one of
1750-434: The newspaper causes Guru to have a stroke , and he is paralysed on his right side. Meanwhile, Meenu, who is now married to Shyam, is slowly weakening from her illness and eventually dies. In the end, Guru is brought before a private government inquiry on 16 October 1980, to defend himself against the charges pressed against him. However, the next day, he tells the press that he is an ordinary villager who doesn't even understand
1800-522: The period immediately after the country's independence to the present. Some reports have speculated that this film is a biographical film of, one of India's biggest industrial tycoons, Dhirubhai Ambani . Like Guru, Ambani also had roots in Gujarat as the son of a schoolteacher, went abroad to work for the gas company Shell, and returned to India to import polyester. Ratnam has described Guru as inspired by stories both past and present. The less known fact
1850-432: The project disregard of the public opinion that rises from emotional sentiment. Environmental activists opposing the project and even by Left sympathizers, criticized the government's proceedings, for making public announcements in the cabinet without any consensus on the issue and it shouldn't be based on winning any previous grudge or proving judgmental validity. When first the project came forward Communist party of Kerala
1900-603: The project on grounds that it would damage the environment, infringe on human rights, and threaten tourism. Though it was not their main concern, critics also noted that if the entire course of the river were diverted to make electricity, the Athirappilly-Vazhachal waterfalls could dry up. To avoid damaging the falls, the KSEB proposed adjusting the water releases to maintain the falls. The debate continued in 2007. Environmentalists also expressed concern over whether
1950-556: The proposed hydroelectric project at Athirappilly waterfalls would lead to displacement and eventual extinction of the primitive tribal group, `Kadars,' in the area. In 2005, the Kerala Ministry of Environment and Forests approved the project on the basis of a report by Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Ltd. (WAPCOS), an environmental impact assessment (EIA) agency. In 2006, the Kerala High Court quashed
2000-469: The respective two charges, which are proved, and is allowed to return to his company. The movie ends with Guru telling Shakti's shareholders that his father was proven wrong as he said dreams don't turn true, but they all are now a part of India's largest company. Guru asks them if they should stop. Shareholders refuse and resolve to be the largest company in the world instead. Guru was written and directed by Mani Ratnam , while Vijay Krishna Acharya wrote
2050-520: The same title while in Telugu with the title Gurukanth . The beginning of the film is set in 1951 in the small village of Idar in Sabarkantha district , northern Gujarat , where a young man named Gurukant Desai dreams of making it big someday. His father Kantilal, the headmaster of the village school, tells him not to dream and that dreams never come true. Guru decides to go to Turkey and enter
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2100-415: The spice trade, followed by a blue-collar job with Burmah Shell ; later, he is promoted but refuses the job, as he wants to work for himself. Guru returns to his village; he marries Sujata, mainly because of the dowry she brings him. Along with Sujata and her brother Jignesh, Guru migrates to Bombay and starts trading in cloth. Gradually, he expands his business and sets up manufacturing units of his own under
2150-408: The state's annual per capita consumption should be 5000 units (kWh). For this to be achieved, the state power consumption should increase to 1,65,000 million units yearly. At the moment, the state's yearly consumption is just over 23,000 million units. In this scenario a mere 200 million units will be like a drop in the ocean. M. Sivasankar, KSEB chairman and MD said the crisis could be amended through
2200-400: The usual rags to riches story, by weaving in meaty subplots involving the protagonist's complex relationships with his loyal wife (Rai), friends and foes". The soundtrack for this film is composed by A. R. Rahman. For his work in this film, A. R. Rahman received awards for Best Music Director and Best Background Score at the 53rd Filmfare Awards as well as the 9th IIFA awards . According to
2250-520: Was against this project and surveys conducted among people by television channels also polled negative response. The hydel project is also reported to be anti-people and only would harm the state's interest when it takes away water from an existing irrigation system, which covers 20,000 acres of farmland downstream and about 5 lakh people reportedly depend upon the river for drinking and irrigation purposes. But experienced and retired inclined members of KSEB like K. Radhakrishnan, who have been campaigning for
2300-653: Was asked to look into and give recommendations on various projects in the Western Ghats such as the hydroelectric projects in Gundiya in Karnataka and Athirappilly in Kerala and the overall development projects in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra. Gadgil said that the proposed Athirappilly hydro-electric project cannot be approved until the Forest Rights Act is implemented in its true spirit for
2350-408: Was declared a "hit" at the box office. In the United States, it was a blockbuster. Guru has received positive reviews from critics. Abhishek Bachchan received widespread praise for his performance. The film has a rating of 85% at the review website Rotten Tomatoes . The New York Times said of the film "You might think it would be difficult to fashion an entertaining account of the life of
2400-819: Was released on 12 January 2007 with its première at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, Canada, on Thursday, 11 January 2007 by Roger Nair , making it the first Indian film to have a mainstream international première in Canada. Roger Nair Productions acquired the rights for Canada and held a premiere with most of the cast and crew flown to Toronto, Canada. The film was premiered in the Tous Les Cinemas du Monde (World Cinema) section of 2007 Cannes Film Festival . The film had also been dubbed and released in Tamil with
2450-434: Was shot in this location. The rain song ("Adada Mazhaida") Tamil movie featuring Karthi and Tamannaah, was shot at the Athirappilly waterfalls in Kerala. Punnagaimannan and captain prabakaran also shot here. Karthi and Anushka Shetty movie Alex Pandian ’s Anushka Shetty kidnap scene was shot in Athirappilly. The history of Athirappilly Hydro Electric Project dates back to 1982 when the Kerala State Electricity Board proposing
2500-531: Was submitted to the Ministry on 31 August. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), on 6 September 2011 recommended to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests against granting permission to carry out any construction activities at the sensitive Athirappilly-Vazhachal region. The panel, which submitted its report to Union Environment Minister Jayanti Natarajan in the Capital, named Athirappilly as one of
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