Chennai, Apr 18 : With temperature rising in Tamil Nadu, the sale of watermelons and juices have picked up.

The temperature in Chennai, the state capital, was recorded at over 39.1 degree Celsius with humidity in the range of 69 percent on Thursday. Last year, the maximum temperature recorded was 42.1 degree celsius on May 18, but this year the temperature is inching towards that number in April itself.

Chennai-based Raj Television Network has declared the results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009.

For the period under review, the company said that it has posted a net loss of Rs 30.76 million, as compared to the net loss of Rs 3.42 million during the corresponding period of the last year.

The company’s revenue saw a growth of 84.45% during the quarter to Rs 204.05 million, while the income from operations and net sales was Rs 194.94 million from Rs 86.44 million in the prior year.    

There was a sudden panic among the myriad friends and well-wishers of the movie-making maverick Mani Ratnam when on Tuesday he was admitted into the Apollo hospital in Chennai.

Since Mani has a history of heart ailment, the worst was naturally ,or not so unnaturally , presumed.

However it seems the news from Chennai is heartening and very very encouraging.

So says the poetic genius Gulzar who , as luck would have it, was in Chennai working on a song for Mani Ratnam’s Raavan with Mani and composer A R Rahman when Mani’s health scare occurred.

Well-known film director Mani Ratnam was admitted to a private hospital early this morning after he complained of chest pain and giddiness.

Mani, who is in his early 50s, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Apollo hospital in Chennai.

According to the hospital sources Mani had a slight discomfort in the heart.

The doctors have decided to keep Mani in the ICU for the next one week for observation.

All the family members and close friends of the director rushed to hospital on hearing about his condition.

Chennai-based Polaris Software Lab, a financial technology company, has plans to expand its operation to 40 countries over the next five years.

In addition, the company, in order to strengthen its insurance portfolio business has decided to set up a centre of excellence for insurance near Chennai, with an investment of around Rs 100 crore to develop new solutions and to service company’s insurance clients.

Chennai, Apr 10 : Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko on Friday said that he was not afraid of being arrested for making inflammatory speech.

“I am prepared to face any charges. I am not scared of arrest,” Vaiko said.

His comments came after an First Incident Report (FIR) was issued against him under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Law, for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches in support of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

On Thursday, Vaiko had warned of a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if the LTTE Chief Prabhakaran is harmed.