Guru Ratnam follows in Viveik's steps

Viveik Oberoi's mentor, Mani Ratnam, has joined the actor in his social service initiatives. Last month, the filmmaker single-handedly put up a musical, titled Netruindrunaalai (meaning cinema down the ages) for The Banyan, a local NGO and shelter for mentally ill and homeless women.

Channels interested

Says co-founder Vandana Gopikumar, "Mani Ratnam volunteered to help us, as he strongly felt for the 400 women we have in our shelter. He has been working for over six months to develop the content for the musical, and getting a proper platform for the event.

It was a fundraiser in the true sense of the word, and there's so much awareness right now that channels across Malaysia and Singapore have approached us to get telecast rights for forthcoming events." Star Vijay has the rights for this project.

Last year, the NGO organised a seminar on the portrayal of personal and mental illnesses by the media.

Speakers included Mani Ratnam, Viveik Oberoi and N Ram, editor-in-chief of The Hindu. Adds Gopikumar, "We started off as a humble NGO and our office was in a rented premise.

Now, we have expanded, with various programmes on our itinerary — rural plans and rehabilitation and vocational training programmes.

It's always a big support when responsible people like Mani and Viveik come forward and respond to the needs of the organisation in a bid to secure a normal life for our women inmates."