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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

Malayalam Cinema Caught in the Crosshairs

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Malayalam Cinema Caught in the Crosshairs

Malayalam cinema has long served as a vibrant mirror to Kerala’s society, deeply intertwined with the daily lives of Malayalis. The film industry’s actors are cherished figures across the globe, akin to family members. Thus, when the Hema Committee report shook the industry, the repercussions extended far beyond cinema enthusiasts, affecting the entire Kerala community.

The controversy traces back to 2017, when a leading actress was assaulted by a group of assailants, implicating a prominent actor. This incident spurred the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which petitioned the Kerala government to address systemic issues facing women in the industry. In response, then-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan established a committee led by retired Justice Hema, with veteran actress Sarada and retired IAS officer K. B. Valsala Kumari. The committee was tasked with investigating these concerns.

The Hema Committee submitted its report on December 31, 2019, but it remained unpublished, with no concrete action taken by the government throughout Vijayan’s tenure until July 2024. Following a State Information Commission order on July 6, the Kerala government was directed to release the report, redacting sensitive details. By August 19, 2024, only 233 pages of the report were made public, with several key sections withheld.

The release of the report has led to a flurry of new allegations, including claims against prominent actors such as Jayasurya, Mukesh (a CPIM MLA), Idavela Babu, and Baburaj.

Jayasurya, a self-made star of Malayalam cinema, faces accusations from two complainants alleging that he attempted to hold and kiss them without consent. Allegations against Jayasurya surfaced just as he was tasting success, winning the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and had a major project lined up which purports to be one of South India’s most expensive films to date.

These accusations have overshadowed serious issues like the role of the drug mafia in the Malayalam film industry, underplayed by the Hema Committee. The intense focus on Jayasurya, who is independent and unaffiliated with influential lobbies, has fuelled speculation about ulterior motives.

Unlike others, Jayasurya’s independence from influential lobbies and his spiritual beliefs may have made him a target. Media scrutiny and a coordinated smear campaign, including branding him as a ‘toilet star’ suggest an orchestrated effort to tarnish his reputation. This disproportionate focus on him raises questions about possible ulterior motives or media sensationalism.

A long-standing rape allegation against veteran actor Siddique has resurfaced, while new accusations against filmmaker Ranjith—alleging homosexual assault and the dissemination of compromising photos—have emerged. In response, the government has formed a seven-member special investigation team, and the leadership of the Malayalam film actors association (A.M.M.A.), led by Mohanlal, has resigned amid growing scrutiny.

The women’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami quickly called for a thorough investigation and urged young male stars to take a stand, suggesting an orchestrated effort behind the scenes. The focus on Jayasurya, a celebrated actor with no ties to influential lobbies, has raised questions. The media’s disproportionate attention to his case, overshadowing other serious issues such as the drug mafia’s influence, hints at a potential ulterior motive. Jayasurya’s independence and spiritual beliefs may have made him a target in a broader scheme to discredit him.

This crisis appears to be part of a larger agenda to control Malayalam cinema, with actor Mohanlal—known for his nationalist leanings—emerging as a significant obstacle. The ongoing smear campaign against Mohanlal, alongside new allegations against various actors including Jayasurya, appears part of a broader strategy to undermine his influence and dismantle his support network.

This turmoil seems to echo tactics used in the Jasmine Revolution and other uprisings, combining issues like sexual assault, gender discrimination, and corruption to create widespread unrest. Recent allegations against ADGP Ajithkumar, a close ally of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, further suggest an orchestrated effort to destabilize state institutions and public trust.

This unfolding crisis should be seen not as isolated incidents but as a deliberate effort to provoke societal discord and shift power dynamics within the industry and beyond.

The turmoil within the Malayalam film industry may be a precursor to a larger upheaval reminiscent of the Jasmine Revolution and other recent uprisings. Allegations against high-profile figures and the timing of these accusations suggest a coordinated attempt to undermine public trust in Kerala’s institutions and government.

This scenario calls for heightened vigilance and a serious response to prevent the destabilization seen in other regions.

Kerala, like the rest of India, must guard against these destabilizing tactics. The central government must address the drug mafia’s influence in the Malayalam film industry and halt radical Islamization to ensure a safe, secular, and dignified work environment for all professionals.

(The writer is a journalist and script writer, based in Kochi, Kerala. Views personal)

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