Chennai, Feb 26 : A. R. Rahman who won Oscars for best original score and best original song in the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' has said that the Slumdog kids sharing the platform with Hollywood actors like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is a bigger statement than him winning two Oscars.

Rahman returned to his home in Chennai to a rousing welcome early on Thursday morning.

Forty-three-year-old Rahman was received by friends and fans.

The names of seventy artistes who will revive Kalaimamani awards presented by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram were announced on Tuesday. These people have been selected for their contribution in the field of art and literature in 2008.

22-yr-old Suyog Sonawane won gold in championship held at Salem, Tamil Nadu

Airoli resident Suyog Sonawane has won gold medal at the World Martial Arts Championship that was conducted at Salem in Tamil Nadu. The championship was conducted by the World All Martial Art Federation in which 39 countries participated. There were two forms of Karate which were competed in the championship - Kumite and Kata and Suyog won the gold medal in Kumite, which is a form of fighting.

Coastal Energen's 1,200-mw power plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu will see financial closure in two months, co-promoter Coal & Oil Group said.

Ahmed A R Buhari, founder president and chief executive officer of Coal & Oil Group, said a consortium of 19 banks, led by State Bank of India, has agreed to lend to the project. The first phase of the coal-fired thermal merchant power project, with a capacity of 1,200 mw, will need investments of Rs 4,500 crore, of which the debt component is Rs 3,450 crore. "The equity component of Rs 1,050 crore will come from accruals and investment from parent companies," Buhari said.

Chennai, Feb. 24 : Protesting Chennai lawyers have demanded immediate action against police officials who carried out Thursday‘s baton charging on lawyers in the Madras High Court premises.

Members of the Madras High Court Bar Association have decided to go on a two-day hunger protest besides submitting a petition to the State Human Rights Commission to demand appropriate action against the police for the incident.

Chennai, Feb. 24 : Protesting Chennai lawyers have demanded immediate action against police officials who took part in Thursday`s lathi charge on the Madras High Court premises.

Members of the Madras High Court Bar Association have decided to go on a two-day hunger protest besides submitting a petition to the State Human Rights Commission to demand appropriate action against the police for the mayhem.