Film producer Archana Kalpathi picked for panel to select HR&CE temple trustees in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Film producer Archana Kalpathi Aghoram, daughter of producer Kalpathi S Aghoram, has been appointed a member of the reconstituted Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department committee for appointing non-hereditary trustees to temples with annual incomes of over Rs 10 lakh.

The six-member committee, constituted for two years from July 24, follows the expiry of the previous panel's tenure. It is headed by Thavathiru Sivagnana Balaya Swamigal of Bommapuram Adhinam, Mayilam, with retired District and Sessions Judge K Ramanathan as deputy chairman.

Retired IAS officer PR Sampath, M Sumathi Sree and folk singer T Velmurugan are the other members.

Archana, who is the CEO of AGS Cinemas and a creative producer at AGS Entertainment, becomes the latest film-industry personality to be appointed to a public position since the TVK government assumed office.

Her appointment comes after film producer K Venkata Narayana, associated with Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, was appointed Special Representative of the Tamil Nadu government in New Delhi. The appointment had drawn criticism from political circles over the significance of the post in the national capital.

The government had also appointed cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa as chairman/president of the MGR Government Film and Television Training Institute in Taramani. Paramahamsa has worked on films including Nanban, Beast and Leo, all featuring Vijay.

Archana Kalpathi has also been closely associated with Vijay professionally, having served as producer/creative producer for his Bigil and The Greatest of All Time, both produced by AGS Entertainment.

Earlier, the appointment of Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister (Political) was withdrawn following opposition from political parties. Jagadish Palanisamy, a longtime manager and close aide of Vijay, was subsequently appointed Private Secretary to the Chief Minister (Political).