Coimbatore Book Festival to be held from July 18 to 27
The Coimbatore district administration and the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) will organise the ninth edition of Coimbatore Book Festival next month in the city.
District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar told the media on Tuesday the fair to be held at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex from July 18 to 27 will have over 280 stalls. More than one lakh titles will be on display and the organisers expect close to one lakh visitors.
The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and entry will be free. The organisers have made arrangements for the government school students to visit the fair.
Some of the special events at the 10-day fair will be presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to a Tamil literary personality. The award will carry a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh and a citation. Three literary personalities will receive Young Writers Award in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry categories. The publisher of these works will also receive a cash prize. Applications for this award should be submitted by June 15.
Further, a short film competition will be organised under the topics : Being Human, Save Nature, Old is Gold, Breaking Stereotypes, and Gratitude and Empathy. Directors Lingusamy and Saran will be the judges for this contest.
The Collector added that this year, women's day will be celebrated for the women visiting the fair, and cultural programmes will be organised every day. Competitions will be conducted for school and college students, he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Rapper Tommy Genesis faces backlash for dressing as Maa Kali in explicit music video
Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis, born Genesis Yasmine Mohanraj, has come under fire for appearing as Maa Kali in a series of explicit music videos. The visuals, shared as part of her latest promotional material, have sparked widespread backlash from those who see the portrayal as a form of cultural appropriation and a blatant disregard for Hindu religious have called on the artiste to stop appropriating Hindu culture and show greater sensitivity toward religious sentiments. The controversy erupted after Tommy Genesis shared visuals promoting her new track 'True Blue', in which she appears in blue body paint, adorned with gold jewellery and a bindi, while holding a Tamil and Swedish descent, Genesis's imagery drew sharp criticism from both Hindu and Christian communities, many of whom found the portrayal deeply offensive. Watch a video here: The videos have sparked widespread disappointment on social media, with many users demanding greater respect for sacred traditions. Several Hindu users criticised the portrayal as deeply disrespectful, calling it 'pathetic' and urging the artist to take down the members of the Christian community also voiced objections, particularly over the use of the crucifix in a provocative another clip: 'True Blue' is a track from the rapper's upcoming album Genesis, with the music video released on Saturday. In the controversial visuals, Tommy Genesis appears in a gold bikini and stilettos, adorned with gold jewellery. At one point, she is seen licking a crucifix and performing a 'namaste' gesture with folded hands - imagery that many found provocative and backlash was swift and vocal. One user wrote, 'Appropriating Hindu culture has become a trend among these so-called Westerners. My culture isn't your aesthetic (sic)." Another wrote bluntly, 'Doing all this just for the music to f***g sk (sic).'A Christian viewer shared their frustration, saying, 'Man, I'm so disappointed with what you did with that cross in the video. That's just straight-up disrespectful - and I'm not only talking about the licking (sic).' Urging the artist to remove the content, another user simply stated, 'Disrespectful AF. Delete this (sic).'Read all the comments here: Photo: Instagram/Tommy Genesis Photo: Instagram/Tommy Genesis Photo: Instagram/Tommy Genesis Photo: Instagram/Tommy Genesis Genesis is yet to respond to the backlash.


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
This 3-episode crime series will leave you numb, 18 women were hunted by..., climax will send chills down your spine, series is...
OTT platforms keep dropping a bunch of web shows, films, and a few docuseries every now and then, and we are here to help you binge-watch them. And today, we will be sharing another docuseries that will crawl under your skin and stay there. Some stories aren't just disturbing; they're nightmarishly real. Indian Predator: Beast of Bangalore, released in 2022, is one of them. An unflinching look into the twisted life of Karnataka's most feared serial killer: Umesh Reddy. Once a man in uniform, Umesh turned predator, hunting and brutally murdering women between 1996 and 2002. While 18 lives were reportedly lost to his savagery, he was convicted in just nine cases. Bengaluru's years of fear Reddy's crimes weren't just about murder—they were layered with horrifying details: sexual assaults, the chilling pattern of stealing women's clothes, and multiple escapes from police custody. He didn't just commit crimes—he haunted an entire city. His most infamous act? The 1998 murder of a widow in Peenya gripped Bengaluru in a wave of panic. The docuseries captures the fear and chaos through testimonies from victims' families, journalists, and police officers who witnessed the horror unfold firsthand. About the docuseries Directed by Ashwin Rai Shetty and produced by Vice Studios, the three-part docuseries uses dramatic reenactments to immerse viewers in the tense atmosphere of late-'90s Bengaluru. While some viewers felt the dramatisations lacked punch, the series succeeds in tracing Reddy's deeply disturbed psyche and the institutional lapses that let him slip through the cracks more than once. Streaming on… Each episode runs about 40–45 minutes and is available in multiple languages, including Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. With a modest IMDb rating of 6.2, it may not be flawless, but it's a hard-hitting chronicle of crime, fear, and a city held hostage by one man's monstrous instincts.


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Experience Coimbatore: A Journey Through Walls That Speak Volumes
Coimbatore is also known as 'the Manchester of South India.' It is a city that has a perfect balance of modern and historical culture. This city is situated in the heart of the Western Ghats with greenery all around. It is famous for its textile industry, engineering skills, and culture. However, beyond the crowded marketplaces, calm temples, and busy industries, lies another mesmerizing side of it – the city has an unexplored layer of beauty which is waiting to be revealed through its streets and walls. In the past few years, Coimbatore has changed greatly. It has started acting as a canvas where every ordinary wall has been transformed into an amazing piece of art. Rise of Street Art in Coimbatore Street art used to be considered rebellious or an act of vandalism, but now it is embraced in many places. It is used to express oneself, make social statements, and even engage with the community. In Coimbatore, this phenomenon has been observed and adopted over the years, starting from a very shallow ground. Local artists in the area recognized the potential of unused facades and blank walls. The movement from small murals scattered around town turning into everything being used as a canvas was indeed astonishing. The movement turned entire neighborhoods into open-air galleries. Art for Change and urban canvas, along with a few others, initiated projects that worked closely with the residents and local government to transform unappealing urban areas . They did not only improve the appearance of the city, but also engendered the feeling of ownership among citizens. Now, to walk through the streets of Coimbatore is like reading a visual novel; each street is a different story. and Custom In the historical sections of the town close to the Perur Patteeswarar temple or the Koniamman Temple , you will come across wall paintings that show the history and culture of Tamil people. Common here are scenes showing ancient rituals, Bharatanatyam classical dances, and other elements of temples. A particularly stunning mural depicts the region's famous filter coffee in its Kumbakonam degree coffee. While these murals illustrate the lifestyle of filter coffee, they at the same time act as a quintessential reminder of Coimbatore's legacy. and Sustainability Coimbatore's identity is heavily influenced by nature because of its location near the Western Ghats. Street artists across the city have used their art as a tool to raise awareness about sustainability and environmental preservation. One such example is a mural along Avinashi Road that depicts endangered species from the region while conveying the need to protect wildlife. Another example is a mural near the Siruvani Waterfalls entrance that showcases the beauty of the surrounding forests and reminds people of the importance of conserving natural resources. Such art highly resonates with the residents of Coimbatore most of whom rely on agriculture and eco-tourism. Causes and Empowerment In the Gandhipuram area, one of the most famous murals include a series of paintings showing women breaking boundaries and achieving goals in man-dominated fields. These women include scientists, entrepreneurs, athletes, and artists, which inspires change and celebrates womanhood. Further, a wide variety of other social issues are addressed through murals, including mental health, education for all, and inclusivity. These murals, while tackling very sensitive topics, foster empathy within the community. Contribution To Economy And Society: Humor And Everyday Life Each story translates to a form of art, and not every story needs to be deep. Some aim to paint a smile on one's face. If you stroll around the suburbs like R.S Puram or the SaiBaba Colony, you will find many amusing sketches that depict life as it is. There is a grandmother's sketch teaching her grandson to make idlis, another one displays children playing cricket on streets, and there's even a sketch portraying a naughty squirrel taking fruits from a vendor's cart. These humorous depictions of day-to-day life serve to endear the city even more to those who live in Coimbatore and bring warmth to the city itself. Engagement: Art That Unites The peculiarity of Coimbatore's street art is the participatory nature of the local community. Many of the initiatives that are done here are bottom up as opposed to other places. In Coimbatore, there is a cooperation between artists and the targeted communities. The residents are able to make real contributions in the form of ideas, personal interviews, and even come and be part of the painting sessions. When these people are included in the work, the art is guaranteed to capture real life and help the nearby community feel pride and ownership. For instance, at the time of erection of a mural wall painting at Tatabad, shopkeepers and pupils worked together with professional designers in order to give a fitting expression to the spirit of the neighborhood. The product? A colorful mosaic of business, education, and friendship blended in a way which captures the essence of Tatabad. Art Gallery which is not restricted by walls In present Coimbatore, one can say to be moving through a living gallery which keeps taking a new shape owing to the emerging stories. Whether you are a stranger looking for inspiration or a local looking to reexamine the 'known' area, there is something for every one of the city to offer. Its walls speak of stillness and observation, not only of the art, but the layered feelings and experiences of the art of the city. So, the next time you're in Coimbatore, abandon the set paths of tourist attractions. Make your way to the numerous winding streets where stories covered in paint await you. My city is one where all the walls whisper secrets, hoping to share memories worth savouring with dreams shared through the strokes of a brush. Final Thoughts Coimbatore, known as 'the Manchester of South India,' blends modernity with history. Its vibrant street art movement transforms urban spaces into open-air galleries, reflecting local culture, nature, and social issues. Community engagement in art fosters pride and ownership, making the city a living gallery filled with stories waiting to be discovered.