Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Black and Gold Rolls Royce, This Fashion event’s showstopper!

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

This is the first time the Rolls Royce team is personally coming down to hand over the keys at this intimate gathering.

Hyderabad :

Sudha Reddy wears many hats. The director of Megha Group of Industries and on the board as director of TruJet airlines, identified ‘Áction Against Hunger’ (a 38-year-old Paris-based organisation that leads the global fight against hunger) and ‘Breast Cancer Research Foundation as recipients, she is also known for her charity work.

Sudha is now all set to put together a unique fashion show in Hyderabad this Saturday, November 24 at Hitex which will feature international fashion designers from Los Angeles, Dubai and Europe to showcase their collections. She chats with us and gives us insight into her perspective of the fashion world that she is so acquainted with. Sudha is roping in three international designers including Italian designer Giambattista Valli for the event and host of top models to showcase it. The day also happens to be Sudha’s 40th birthday and she is hosting a sit-down formal dinner for 300 select guests. Indian celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia will oversee the dinner. Sudha is going to wear Harry Winston jewellery.

Juggling so many balls and excelling in all the fields you step in? It isn’t easy balancing so many roles of a businesswomen, a mother and a fashion icon. What is your secret?
Well, it’s not easy. For one thing, you do not possess a natural gift for a certain job, because specific natural gifts don’t exist in my opinion. You are not a born CEO or a chef or chess grandmaster. You cultivate your interests through an enormous amount of hard work over many years and that dedication and wholehearted passion is what keeps me going.

How has the response been for the fashion event so far?
Fashion is something which connects the entire world. The showcasing of different couture and culture makes every fashion show unique and interesting and the response is also so over whelming wherever these shows are held. I believe fashion has the ability to create change in the world through it’s strong appeal that crosses boundaries and brings people together.

Fashion with humanitarian work?
Yes, it’s my passion for both of them which makes it easy for me. My personality, keen attention to detail and dedication to my chosen causes, helps me connect with like-minded people who are willing to use their position, power and talent to make a difference. The biggest influence on me are women of high character, like, Princess Diana. With a generous and empathetic heart for philanthropy, I have been able to successfully carve a strong niche in being a voice for the underprivileged through my charitable contributions over the years, and I hope to continue doing the same.

A specially-commissioned Black and Gold Rolls Royce will appear in the show, how have you managed to bring in such a unique twist to a fashion event?
My loving and generous husband, Krishna Reddy, has gifted me one of the worlds most luxurious cars. The bespoke design team from Goodwood took our brief and has done a fabulous job translating it to reality. Couture and luxury automobiles are all under the large gamut of luxury and the art of appreciation. I think they blend very well together so it was honestly easy to get the Rolls Royce and fashion designers teams to share my vision for this event and come on board. This Rolls Royce Ghost is a limited edition- iconic, custom- crafted, masterpiece, by the Bespoke Team of Rolls – Royce Motor Cars.

This is the first time the Rolls Royce team is personally coming down to hand over the keys at this intimate gathering.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Srividya Palaparthy / Express News Service / November 19th, 2018

Saving an ancient art form from extinction

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Senior artistes and State government come together to train youth to save Oggudolu and Oggukatha

In order to preserve the ancient art of Oggukatha and Oggudolu, a traditional folk form of singing and dancing with drums, the Telangana State Language and Culture Department, in association with the district Oggubeerla Artists’ Welfare Association, has embarked upon an ambitious task of teaching the Oggudolu art to the younger generation.

With senior Oggudolu artistes unable to perform due to old age and the younger generation not keen on pursuing it, the government and the district Oggudolu artistes have launched a 19-day training programme for youngsters to preserve the age-old folk music form to entertain people. Training is being imparted at the Sri Beerappa temple on the outskirts of the town amid serene atmosphere.

Ancient art form
Oggudolu training is being provided by Erla Mahipal, an Oggudolu artiste and native of Tadijerri village of Gangadhara mandal. An MBA graduate, he had left his call centre job to take up the art as his profession and teach the art form to the younger generation in the district.

Earlier, Oggudolu artistes confined themselves to storytelling about the Hindu gods Mallanna, Yellamma and Beerappa etc. Now, they have changed the format, adding dance performance for entertainment of the audience, says Mr. Mahipal. “We have added adugulu and dharuvulu (steps and beats) to traditional drum beats and performing 32 varieties of drum beats and dance forms including acrobatics, sivathandavam, teenmaar, paanchpataka, omkaram, kolatam, etc,” he said.

New elements
During the training, the drum beaters are being trained in rhythmic beating and dancing to attract the audience, he said and added that they were also training the students on formation of pyramids and beating drums. Further, tips are given to the trainees on the importance of storytelling to captivate the audience.

Oggukatha is still popular in rural areas. Mr. Mahipal says they were invited to perform in functions and during a death in the villages. Moreover, with elections round the corner, Oggudolu artistes are in much demand. “Politicians hire us for taking out rallies and during the electioneering, to add glam to the campaigning,” he said.

The executive-turned artiste said he would continue training the younger generation on a regular basis to protect the ancient art from extinction.

Response from the younger lot, including school and college students, is encouraging as they are showing interest in learning Oggudolu performance. Mahesh, a trainee, said it is helpful as they are learning different forms of drum beats and dance to entertain people.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by K.M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – November 12th, 2018

Legendary Telugu wordsmith Kapilavai Lingamurthy passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Kapilavai Lingamurthy, Telangana literary giant of our times, passed away due to illness here on Tuesday.

Hyderabad :

Kapilavai Lingamurthy, Telangana literary giant of our times, passed away due to illness here on Tuesday. He was 90. A renowned poet, prosaist, astrologer, historian and teacher—all moulded into one— Lingamurthy was a gifted man hailing from a rather backward Palamuru district.

He was born on March 31, 1928, in Jinukunta in Balmuru mandal in the then Achampet Taluk of Mahbubnagar district. Lingamurthy joined as a Telugu pandit in a school in Nagarkurnool and later joined as history lecturer in Sri Venkateswara Oriental College in Palem before retiring in 1983.

While continuing in the government service, he exhibited many talents in various literary aspects including Satakams, Dwipada Natakams, legends associated with prominent places and children’s literature. He also commented on the old literature written on the ancient palmyra leaves. An expert in the toughest literary methods of Telugu like­—chita padi, chitra bandhamu—several of his works were published by Telugu University and TTD. At least 25 of his written works still remain unpublished.

Interestingly, as many as six persons got honorary doctorates from various university for researching on Lingamurthy’s works. Lingamurthy was a prominent writer and researcher in Telugu and his services continued to be in demand three decades after his retirement. He got various awards and was felicitated by Chief Ministers NT Rama Rao and YS Rajasekhara Reddy as well.

Lingamurthy graduated from Osmania University-Hyderabad with a Master of Arts in Telugu literature. Well-versed in both Telugu poetry and prose he has written more than 100 books in the Telugu language.
Among his books, the most popular are: Arya Satakam, Srimath Pratapagiri Khandam, Someswara Kshetra Mahatyam, Padya Katha Parimalamu, Palamoor zilla Devalayalu, Salagrama Sastram, Sri Rudradhyayamu and many more. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao condoled the death of Lingamurthy. The literary world lost a towering personality, he said in a message.

KAPILAVAI LINGAMURTHY’S WORKS
Satakamulu – 8
Dwipada Kavyalu – 6
Samkeerthanalu – 3
Charitralu – 6
Kshetra Aavirbhava
Charitralu – 8
Udaharanalu – 4
Sampaaditaalu and Parishkrutaalu – 18
Unpublished – 28

The master and his works
An expert in the toughest literary methods of Telugu like­—chita padi, chitra bandhamu—several of his works were published by Telugu University and TTD, 25 of his written works still remain unpublished.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / Hyderabad – November 07th, 2018

Two worlds, one voice

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / PIO's, World Opinion

Manisha Eerabathini glides across the beautiful location in her new music video in which she sings the cover of Sada Nannu from Mahanati.

Hyderabad :

Manisha Eerabathini glides across the beautiful location in her new music video in which she sings the cover of Sada Nannu from Mahanati. Released on Sunday, the video has already garnered over two lakh views. It also features Manisha matching the beat with her Bharatanatyam moves. Yes, the US-born young woman is adept at Carnatic and Bharatanatyam as well. Here’s what we find about her ever-juggling life.

Born and raised in California, singer Manisha Erabathini found home when she followed her calling and moved to India four years ago. However, the shift only enhanced her opportunities and led to her traveling back and forth but this time for work. Popular for not just her Telugu chartbusters, but also her mashups online, Manisha is growing in leaps and bounds and is putting that to use for the Telugu music-lovers here and abroad. Though she now calls Hyderabad home, she travels across the country often for the demand she has garnered as a performer.

For someone who grew up in the States to change their lifestyle, career and home suddenly is jarring. Manisha says that was exactly how she felt. “I actually felt a bit of an identity crisis when I moved here. Now I am familiar and accustomed to the Indian lifestyle and culture but I also grew up amidst the western culture. Both these worlds are two ends of the spectrum and despite both of them being a part of me I wasn’t able to put them together and see myself as a whole. As time passed I got comfortable with both these sides of me and learnt to be open to and accept the differences of these cultures that inhabit me,” she explains.

Manisha’s popularity shot up with the 2017 hit, Arere Yekkada from the film Nenu Local which topped the charts in the Telugu states. Although she was exposed to the playback arena since her stint in the reality show Paadutha Teeyaga, it was only after years of hard work that she found a footing. Once she made a name, offers to perform for a live audience grew. “Whether it is here in Hyderabad or in a small-town in Andhra or in the USA, the Telugu audience find a certain appeal towards live music concerts,” she says. The kind of songs that the audience may expect from me might differ in India and the US. For instance, the people in the US attend these concerts as a weekend soiree and want to unwind and relax. So they prefer soothing music, not necessarily melodies but the usual favourites. Audience here on the other hand are there to have a good time. They prefer peppy numbers, the hits; and sing and dance along with you. The energies are different in both the countries but the love for music is the same,” adds the young singer.

Manisha observes that most people who have settled in the States try their best to hold on to their roots and do everything they can to stay connected to home. “As I was growing up, learning Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music or speaking Telugu were all a part of the household. It wasn’t uncommon with the other Indian families that we were friends with. This is their way of making sure their culture isn’t lost despite being miles away from home,” she says.

Preferences of the audiences doesn’t only differ in genre she admits. “Western music is predominantly independent while here it relies heavily on cinema. When I perform for the audience abroad I keep in mind that there is a mix of youngsters, children and first generation NRIs. So I ensure that I drop some English pop or mashups into the set as well so that the younger ones aren’t bored to have been dragged down to watch a Telugu music concert,” she quips.

Event organisers flock to book her dates to perform abroad, particularly the Telugu associations who bring the community together. Having traveled to the US thrice in just one month for singing gigs, Manisha makes an interesting observation. “NRIs here want to hang on to the culture and what reminds them of home which is why these concerts and even festivals are celebrated in grandeur. There are millions of Telugu people in the USA and to keep them entertained with anything that is close to home has opened up opportunities for many artists and there is certainly more where that came from,” she says signing off.

— Srividya Palaparthi / srividya.palaparthi@newindianexpress.com / @PSrividya53

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Srividya Palaparthi / Expres News Service / November 27th, 2018

The ‘padwomen’ of Telangana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
Successful venture: Adivasi women working at the sanitary napkin unit in Bhadrachalam, Telangana

Sanitary napkins made by adivasi women of the State are in great demand.

In Telangana’s tribal belt, since February this year, adivasi women have been running four small units that produce sanitary napkins for free distribution to students in the tribal welfare hostels and ashram schools. Now, the region is set to get four more sanitary napkin production units, thanks to the demand for pads among young women in the adivasi community.

While the State has four such units currently running in Bhadrachalam, Utnoor, Mannanur and Eturnagaram, with a collective production capacity of 6,000 to 7,000 pads per month, the facilities in the pipeline are expected to increase the total production of napkins to 40,000 per quarter.

All the existing units were commissioned under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA). Christina Z. Chongthu, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare, has already consulted with the ITDA to support the proposed units. As per the Commissionerate of Tribal Welfare in Hyderabad, talks are on with NGOs and commercial sanitary napkin units to support adivasi youth in sanitary napkin production in districts where tribal population is high.

Expansion plans
Speaking to The Hindu, N. Vijaykumar, deputy general secretary of the Girijan Cooperative Corporation, which distributes the pads among the adivasi students, said, “With the new units, we will be able to produce 40,000 sanitary napkins per quarter.” The napkins will then be supplied to women in the adivasi community who live in the tribal pockets near each manufacturing unit.

As per the 2018 report of the National Family Health Survey, 62% of women use cloth instead of sanitary pads. In most of the adivasi villages in Telangana, women were found to be using cloth or ash for menstrual protection. The pad-making units were set up primarily to support adolescent girls and young women enrolled in schools.

The decision to start more units came after demand for the pads increased, officials said. Once funds are sanctioned for starting the units, the four existing units will also undergo a technological upgrade. While the units in operation do not make the extra safe winged variety of pads, the new technology that is set to be introduced will make it possible.

The units have provided jobs to around 30 women in each unit, with altogether 120 adivasi women employed in the four facilities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Nikhila Henry / Hyderabad – October 15th, 2018

DD-Hyderabad turning 41

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology

Doordarshan Kendra-Hyderabad will be inviting film and TV artists, who made their debut through the channel, and felicitate them on its 41st Formation Day celebrations on October 23 at its premises.

DD in Telangana has a viewership of over 1 crore, claimed channel head M. Vijay Bhagwan on Sunday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 21st, 2018

A flourishing trade centre revisited

About Telangana, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

A bird’s eye view of Peddabonkur village of Karimnagar district.


Coins, terracotta beads, pearls, semi-precious stones unearthed at Peddabonkur village of Karimnagar

The Hussain Miyan Vagu, a tributary of Godavari, flows beside the largely agriculture village of Peddabonkur in Karimnagar district. But 20 centuries ago, it was a flourishing trade centre.

“The vagu (stream) might have been a source of water for the village that flourished in the 1st and 2nd century. The village had flourishing trade centre during Satavahana rule and later in Chalukya times,” says N.R. Visalatchy of the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DAM). The Satavahanas ruled between 1 BCE and 2 CE in a region that now stretches over Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra while the Eastern Chalukyas ruled between 7th and 12 century.

The DAM recently finished excavation of the Satavahana era site and a vast trove findings about 922 artefacts were discovered in one layer. The excavation throws a new light on the Satavahana era and the trade links of the village in the interiors of Karimnagar. The coin hoards unearthed include punch marked coins dating to pre-Satavahana era, variants of Satavahana coins, Eastern Chalukyan coins, Pallava coins and one Chola coin. “The coin collection makes me believe that the village was continuously inhabited for a long time and had trade relations with many places in the country,” says Ms. Visalatchy who led the excavation team. Besides agricultural produce and cattle trade; the village had a tradition of textile manufacture. Needles, knives and nails have been uncovered at the site.

It is not just the trade links that formed a key part of the findings at Peddabonkur. Among the artefacts are 500 terracotta beads. “We recovered 50 tiny pearls from the site. The pearls are very small and the technique for drilling a hole through them and stringing them would be worth researching,” said Ms. Visalatchy.

Among the other findings from the site are jade, jasper, shell bangles besides crystal and semi-precious stones. The findings also include amalkha gold foil work, the ribbed shape of amla, for ear rings.

From a historical perspective, this was one of the biggest finds during the archaeological season for the DAM. A report cataloguing the finds as well as the historical context has been sent to the Government of India.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – October 20th, 2018

Washable sanitary pads in Hyderabad soon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Days for Girls is a global movement breaking menstrual stigma while improving access to quality, reusable menstrual care products.

Happy Smiles Foundation and Days for Girls International say they are partnering to forge change around the issue of MHM. (Photo| EPS)

Hyderabad :

In celebration of the UN International Day of the Girl on October 11, Happy Smiles Foundations, in partnership with Days for Girls International (DfGI), is inaugurating a social enterprise in Hyderabad to provide affordable, environmentally-friendly menstrual health solutions for women and girls.

The group is launching the enterprise this month. DfG Founder and CEO, Celeste Mergens visited Hyderabad recently and met with various organizations and government officials to discuss menstrual health management (MHM) and the needs of Indian schoolgirls and women when managing their menses. Days for Girls supplies empower women to make a choice that supports the Swachh Bharat initiative.

Days for Girls is a global movement breaking menstrual stigma while improving access to quality, reusable menstrual care products. The US-based nonprofit organization has a 10 year history of delivering menstrual supplies and health education to women and girls around the world; to date, they have reached over 1 million women and girls in over 120 countries with Days for Girls Kits, which include comfortable washable sanitary pads that are eco-friendly, and designed to manage menses without stigma or shame.

In India, more than 40% of women report lack of access to sanitary pads, and many social and cultural taboos leave women and girls feeling uncomfortable discussing their menses or purchasing sanitary products.

One in five girls drops out of school after starting menstruation. India has recently seen a surge in efforts to address this issue from local NGOs, community leaders, and government officials, especially as menstrual health management has become recognized as an important barrier to gender equality, women’s health, and girls’ education. DfG uses a multi-tiered approach to menstrual health challenges that involves a global network of over 50,000 volunteer Chapters and Teams. DfG has more than 80 Social Enterprises globally, like the one launching in Hyderabad, with a mission to increase access to menstrual care and
education.

Happy Smiles Foundation and Days for Girls International say they are partnering to forge change around the issue of MHM and ‘act as a catalyst for local leaders to continue speaking out and creating solutions to this taboo subject.’ Celeste Mergens, Founder, Days for Girls International and team members Stephanie Stewart Schmid, Starry Laurie took part in the city event.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / October 10th, 2018

Sneaking into the Guinness Book in a Gandhi garb

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinion
School children dressed as Mahatma Gandhi gather in an attempt to qualify for the Guinness World Record, in Nalgonda on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Singam Venkataramana

5,500 students gather in a record-breaking bid in Nalgonda
Gandhi’s iconic garb — a loincloth, khadi shawl and a stick — to identify himself with the poor, is meant to teach students the simple way of life the Mahatma preached and practised.

But organisers of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi in Nalgonda, went a step further, to create a record, teaching schoolchildren Gandhi’s practices — truth and non-violence — in a demonstration.

Bare-chested, with bald head caps, round glasses, watercolour moustaches and sticks, thousands of students reached the N.G. College Grounds here, for what they were told will be, “a historic exercise”.

Record-breaker
Organising the ‘largest gathering of people dressed as Mohandas Gandhi’ in the town, members from the Gandhi Global Family and Gandhi Gyan Prathishtan said the event was breaking a Guinness world record, of 4,605 students dressed as Bal Gandhis in Bengaluru in 2015. An organiser announced that the official count for the record on Tuesday was 5,500 students, all between age six and 14. “This is not only an attempt to get into the Guinness World Records (GWR), but to tell students to walk in Gandhi ways,” chairman of GGF G. Rajender Reddy said. He later read the ‘Gandhi pledge’ to the gathering. While no one from from the Guinness World Records was present, the organisers were meticulous in hiring a lot of photographers, videographers and a drone camera to record the event.

No Gandhigiri this
However, for parents who were at the venue, organisers teaching the students ahimsa or non-violence and truth, through the event was just ‘going overboard’, and was aimed only for a record.

“Like all parents, I dropped my son in school at 7.30 a.m. Why should they stand in the sun for four hours, for a ten-minute song and video recording for their competition? How will this help them learn about Gandhi?” P. Vara Prasad, a parent questioned.

Another parent pointed that all the 5,500 students were photo and videographed individually, for evidence, with numbered tokens, and then allowed into enclosures, causing the delay. Many were seen holding umbrellas and water bottles for their children in the 35 degree Celsius temperature, and some feeding them. By the end of the programme at 12 noon, tens of students were down due to dizziness, and were helped by volunteers.

Speaking to The Hindu, a member from the GGF justified the waiting. “If they are unable to be like Gandhi for four hours, how will they serve the country in future?” he asked. He eventually expressed regrets for missing out on amenities for some students.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by B. Pradeep / Nalgonda – October 02nd, 2018

Bathukamma saree production gathers pace

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Collector appoints special officers to oversee production

With less than two weeks for the distribution of Bathukamma sarees to commence, production work in Sircilla has picked up pace with powerlooms operating round-the-clock to meet the target.

In a bid to provide regular employment to powerloom weavers of Sircilla, the State government had placed orders for 90 lakh Bathukamma sarees and blouses measuring 6 crore metres of fabric at a cost of ₹280 crore. A total of 16,000 weavers are working on 20,000 powerlooms to produce the sarees.

Last year, the weavers could not achieve the targeted production of sarees, forcing the State government authorities to purchase sarees from Surat, Gujarat. However, following the supply of poor quality of sarees, the government faced the wrath of womenfolk. So, this time, it has taken up saree production as a prestige issue.

Collector P. Venkatarama Reddy is overseeing the daily production and has appointed 10 district officials as special officers with another 77 officials inspecting the powerloom units. So far, 4.21 crore metres (74 lakh sarees) have been woven.

Officials are ensuring that 12 lakh metres are woven on a daily average. They have also dispatched 34 lakh sarees to various districts for the distribution among beneficiaries from October 12. The weavers are producing two varieties of sarees in 80 colours — one for the elderly and the other for younger women.

Officials have also decided to conduct exhibitions by displaying the 80 colours of Bathukamma sarees from October 2 in Rajanna-Sircilla, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Siddipet, Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Kamareddy and other districts.

Mr. Reddy said the production of sarees has gathered considerable pace following supervision by special officers and added that the production of fabric has increased from 7 lakh metres to 12 lakh metres a day.

The Collector exuded confidence that the target would be achieved in time.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by K.M. Dayashankar / Rajanna-Sircilla, October 01st, 2018