Ajai: Galloping all his way to glory

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports

Ajai Appachu started his winning streak in competitive riding in 1996. | EPS
Ajai Appachu started his winning streak in competitive riding in 1996. | EPS

For the son of an army man, taking to tough sports and adventure is second nature. Coorg lad Ajai Appachu is no different. Being based in Bangalore, Ajai was attracted to horse riding and took to equestrian events like ducks to water in 1995. He took part in local events and then graduated to bigger events. He started his winning streak in competitive riding in 1996 when he was adjudged the best rider in the zonal championships at Kolkata.

There has been no looking back for Ajai, whose parents Maj Gen Cheppudira Jai Appachu and Gita, have given him all encouragement and opportunities to excel in it.

A truly gifted rider and an extremely successful instructor, Ajai has won innumerable equestrian accolades in India, South Africa and Australia in every field of equestrian sport, whether dressage, show jumping or eventing.

Ajai has been trained under world-class instructors and is now the guiding force behind the Embassy International Riding School competition yard.

His students reflect his ability and the EIRS team for the Junior National Equestrian Championship is a force to reckon with, having achieved the highest medal tally at national level since 2003. The young rider has a long list of achievements under his belt.

Just sample this:

*Won the Individual Gold (1.30 mt) at the recently held KRA Cup, Seoul, South Korea. Also, won the Team Silver for Jumping.

* Qualified for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in the year 2010.

* Won FEI World Jumping challenge Category A in Meerut (2011).

* Won the FEI World dressage challenge held at Embassy International Riding School in 2008.

* Won Team Gold in show jumping at the Junior International (1999)

* Best Rider at the Tollygunj Horse Show (1997-98)

* Junior National Champion at Bangalore (1998)

* Represented India in South Africa where the team won a gold and three bronze medals

* Represented India for the 4th time in the International Tent Pegging meet (2000)

* Won the gold in the Lance and silver in the Team Sword events.

Ajai’s recent success in the World meet has given him immense confidence “I will be participating in a eventing meet in Germany.

My target is the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Ajai, for whom, his mentor and coach Maj Ahluwalia is the know-all and be-all of equestrian.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by S. S. Shreekumar / ENS – Bangalore / July 06th, 2012

Agarwood a boon for plantation owners

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Nature

Agarwood trees grown in Dakshina Kannada | Express Photo
Agarwood trees grown in Dakshina Kannada | Express Photo

Plantation and coffee estate owners in Kodagu, Hassan, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada finally have a reason to cheer despite the decreasing prices of their produce.

For the last five to six years, a wonder plant agarwood has replaced the conventional silver oak in many coffee estates bringing handsome dividends to growers.

Agarwood is a high value commercial crop which is in great demand in national and international markets.

The tree is used to make ittar (natural perfume oil) and perfume.

The outer part of the stem, which is of low quality is used to make incense sticks and in paper manufacturing industries.

An agarwood sapling is easy to grow as its maintenance is inexpensive and it gives yield in eight years.

Traditionally, almost all coffee growers in India plant silver oaks as an intercrop providing shade to other plants. Recently, coffee plantations in Western Ghats and Malnad region have started planting agarwood. The origin of the tree can be traced to the evergreen forests of Southeast Asia.

Agarwood was first introduced in South India by Vanadurgi Agarwood India Limited (VAIL) which was formed with its shares distributed among planters, promoters and Vanadurgi Flavours and Extracts (P) Limited.

The company is exclusively involved in the planting, processing and marketing of agarwood.

VAIL Managing Director K N Dharmendra Kumar told Express that the company has distributed more than one million agarwood saplings to 5,000 plus growers across eight districts in Malnad region.

The company has entered into a buy-back agreement with farmers to provide good seedlings, technical guidance, artificial inoculation, setting up of processing units and purchase of their inventories.

He said that 150 to 200 agarwood trees can be planted in one acre plot of coffee, arecanut or coconut plantation.

Anil Ponnappa, a progressive coffee planter in Madapura said he has planted 600 agarwood trees supplied by VAIL in his coffee estate. Another agarwood grower N Vishwanath in Sagar, Shimoga district said he has planted 15,000 saplings on his dry land a year ago. “Agarwood is a good alternative to other crops whose prices are falling these days,” he added.

Agarwood is costlier than sandalwood in the international market as it is in great demand in Gulf countries.

A sandalwood tree takes at least 25-30 years to fully grow while an agarwood takes tree takes only 8-15 years.

The inner stem (resinous) of agarwood is valued at `10,000 per kg while agarwood oil costs Rs 10 lakh per kg in the international market. Agarwood is priced according to the density of wood, resin, purity, aroma and colour.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Coovercolly Indresh / ENS – Somwarpet / December 02nd, 2012

When fitness regimen sows seeds of entrepreneurship

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Chennai:

Rohit Kuttappa was a budding bowler who played first division cricket in Chennai for over eight years. But a knee injury during six years ago led him to take up cycling as a part of the rehab programme which later sowed the seeds of an entrepreneur in him.

What started as a personal exercise became a group activity and later bloomed into a sports management company in 2009. “Initially, my brother, a college-mate and I used to cycle as a part of my fitness regime every weekend,“ recalls the 27 year-old who did his Master’s in economics from Loyola College in Chennai.

This attracted a lot of queries which later became a cycling group on Facebook called Chain Reaxion.

“But when the group of four grew to 150, we saw a business opportunity that could also activate people to take up cycling as a sport,“ reveals the first generation entrepreneur hail ing from a coffee planter family in Coorg.

“There was no motive to set up a structured business team and I had always wanted to do something with sports and when corporates as TI cycles approached us to host cycling events, we floated a fullfledged sports management firm,” adds the MD of CRX Sports Ventures.

Today, CRX hosts all major cycling events in the city including the 2013 Chennai Cycling event that saw about 4,700 people participating and even the 2012 International BMX tour of India that saw riders from across the globe joining.

Impelled by the success that came its way through the Internet and following queries from clients on helping them choose the right kind of bikes, CRX now has added two web portals to its portfolio — choosemybike.com and choosemybicycle.com.

“The idea is to promote a user-driven review portal which could also service corporates providing consumer insights,” says Rohit who completed his part-time MBA in marketing alongside.

Cricket and cycling apart, CRX is also focused on hockey and conducted the World’s largest hockey tournament in Coorg in 2012 that saw 220 local Kodava team taking part.

“It’s time to do something for our national game,” says Rohit who is now training for the first division league of Chennai Hockey Association.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Business/Tech / by K. Sreedevi, DC / May 07th, 2013

Bengaluru tracks its winged visitors

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Bar-headed geese seen in a lake on the outskirts of the city —Clement Francis
Bar-headed geese seen in a lake on the outskirts of the city —Clement Francis

Bengaluru:

Bengaluru counted its birds on Sunday as part of International Bird Day and also to create a national data base on avi-fauna. Bird enthusiasts flocked to lakes, hills and grasslands to count the number and species of birds.

The concept of creating a national data base on avi-fauna was mooted by the Delhi Bird Watching Society (DBWS) which invited the bird watching community across the county to conduct a bird count in their areas on Sunday and submit the number of species they sighted till evening. The event was named Big Bird Day and about 200 teams and individual bird watchers took part in the counting.

“We had tremendous response from all over the country. The bird watching groups submitted their numbers till evening. We were flooded with 100 plus messages at 6 pm on Sunday from all over the country. We have team sightings of 100-120 birds on an average and we are still waiting for the counts from out-station. The report on the count will be ready in a week,” said writer and birdwatcher from New Delhi, Bikram Grewal.

In Karnataka, bird-watching enthusiasts took an early morning walk to count the birds in different parts of the state. A bird watching team in Kodagu, led by bird expert Dr Narasimhan, counted 120 species of birds in one single day.

Manjunath Prabhakar, a wildlife photographer who took part in the count, said the bird counting was a great opportunity to record research on bird diversity as many species that were not thought to exist in urban areas are being sighted. “We sighted close to 60 bird species atop Nadi Hill during the count and we managed to sight two birds from the Western Ghats,” Mr Prabhakar said.

Harish R Bhat, a bird expert and researcher from the Indian Institute of Science said that he was able to sight 110 bird species in Bijapur. “I happened to be in Bijapur for a lecture and I decided to count the birds here. Due to the presence of the Alamatti backwaters, the presence of birds is large around Bijapur city,” Mr Bhat said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Amit S. Upadhye, DC / February 25th, 2013

Coorg – A Hidden Gem in Southern India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

If you are planning on traveling to southern India and want to get a different perspective on Indian culture, consider traveling to Coorg. This area is unlike any other area in south India and you will find that it is a land of surprises and mystique. The locals of Coorg have their own distinct culture and customs, so a visit is sure to produce some enriching experiences.

The people of Coorg are known as Coorgs, but locally they are called Kodavas. While they are Hindu, they practice ancestor worship known as “Karana” which takes priority over traditional worship of Hindu gods. Coorgs usually keep images or idols of ancestors that have passed. These items are traditionally made out of wood or clay and are offered prayer and obedience. Along with the worship of ancestors, the Coorgs also worship nature and consider the Cauvery River to be holy.

As you might guess, Coorg culture also has different values when compared to other areas in India. Coorgs are the only race in India that are free from the Indian Arms Act and are allowed to possess guns without a license. The locals have become very close to their weapons and they even have a festival called Keil Podh which is dedicated to weapons. Even some family traditions have weapons involved. When a family has a newborn son, a gun is shot into the sky as a welcoming to the little one. When a Coorg passes away, two gunshots are fired into the sky to notify others of the passing. While the Coorg people are fond of their weapons, there is no need to be nervous as they are renowned for their hospitality.

Coorg is definitely a place that honors tradition yet finds a way to make its own way. A visit is sure to open your eyes to a different way of life in India.

source: http://www.bigfive.com / Big Five Tours & Expeditions / Home> Travel Blog / March 18th, 2013

Joshna’s journey resumes

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

THAT'S THE SPIRIT Joshna Chinappa / Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu
THAT’S THE SPIRIT Joshna Chinappa / Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu

After a year or so off-court following a knee injury, Joshna Chinappa is back to doing what she loves best — playing squash. The former national champion says her focus is now on fitness and participating in more tournaments

Grit and patience… these are the key factors behind any sportsperson’s achievements. Joshna Chinappa, former national squash champion, is a prime example of this. Having seen the highs and the lows of competitive squash, she’s now keen on a career that’s on an upward trajectory — one that is as satisfying as it is productive. Currently she has touched her career best rank of 25.

There was a time, not long ago, when this Chennai girl had the distinction of being almost invincible. None in India could match her. Reaching the final of the World junior singles was the highest level of achievement as a junior. And when she completed her graduation from Ethiraj College and decided to pursue squash seriously, her only aim was to “keep playing as long as I enjoy myself, let’s see what comes of it all later.”

No sacrifice too big

She had no hassles about following a strict diet, besides regular visits to the gym and being away from home and parents. Nothing seemed like too big a sacrifice. But somehow her progress never seemed as fluent as during her junior days. The transition was not easy.

But then, Joshna was always a star when she played under the country’s banner in Continental competitions. The senior pro knew her strengths and was a source of encouragement to her colleagues. Yet the highest she went in terms of the WSA ranking was 28, a number long surpassed by her friend and rival Dipika Pallikal, who at 15 is the highest ranked Indian in the professional circuit. As luck would have it, a little over a year ago, in a tournament, Joshna sprained her right knee so badly that she knew the worst had happened. Medical tests confirmed her fears: a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. Surgery and rehabilitation followed and that meant nearly 10 months off the professional circuit and her ranking tumbling to 71!

But then Joshna’s confidence was not something that would fall apart easily. Grit is her other name, and true to it, she clawed back. Her comeback story began at the Otters club where physical training and sparring sessions restored her to fighting fitness. Thanks to former national champion and good friend, Ritwik Bhattacharya, Joshna could get quality playing time at the club. Then followed a training stint at the Indian Squash Academy, Chennai, where National Coach Cyrus Poncha and Consultant Maj (retd) S. Maniam along with a host of other coaches and players offered help. In London, she was ably guided by Malcolm Willstrop. Suffice to say, Joshna was back to winning or at least was in a position to make an impression. The ten-odd tournaments she took part in proved satisfying; she even won one — the Chennai Open.

Mantra for the future

“To stay fit and keep improving” is her mantra for the future. “If I keep myself fit and remain that way, I am sure my ranking will take care of itself,” Joshna responded to a query on what her aims are for the year ahead. Still she is not averse to revealing what her goal is: to be in the top 12 by year-end. Just a little over 26 now, Joshna believes her best days are still coming. Can the former World junior runner-up rise up to expectations? Only time will tell but, as of now, her focus is on the tournaments ahead, including the prestigious British Open.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports /by S. R. Suryanarayan / April 17th, 2013

Pride of Coorg Bicycle race

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

Some nice Coorg climbs
Some nice Coorg climbs

Date: 11th May, 2013
Distance: 80 km (including climbs)
Route: Somwarpet to Virajpet (via Madikeri and Murnad)
Location: Coorg, Karnataka

Prizes
1st prize: Rs 50,000
2nd prize: Rs 30,000
3rd prize: Rs 20,000
Malay Raja (King of the Ghat): Rs 11,000
4th prize: Rs 10,000
5th prize: Rs 7,000
6th prize: Rs 5,000
7th, 8th, 9th, 10th position: Rs 2000 each

Riders are expected to report on 10th May. Briefing will be done on the evening of 10 May.

Accommodation will be provided for the entire day and night of 10th May.
Lunch and dinner on 10th May and breakfast and lunch on 11th May too will be provided.
Those who wish to stay on after the race, can do so, on their own expense.

source: http://www.blog.bumsonthesaddle.com / by Rohan Kini / May 09th, 2013

80.82 p.c. students clear II PU exams in Kodagu

Education

4,005 students out of 4,955 have passed

Kodagu has recorded 80.82 pass percentage in the II PU examination, finishing fourth in the State, according to information received here on Tuesday. Of the total 4,955 students who wrote the examination, 4005 have passed.

In the Arts section, V.R. Shalini from the government junior college, Ponnampet, finished first in the district scoring 544 marks (90.66 per cent) followed by P.L. Poojitha from the same college with 538 marks (89.66 per cent) and S.I. Noufia of the Vigneshwara PU College in Shanivarasante with 534 marks (89 per cent). In the Commerce section, N.N. Sonia from the St. Annes PU College Virajpet and K.M. Prema from the St. Michaels PU College in Madikeri emerged joint toppers scoring 581 marks at 96.83 per cent. K.R. Poojitha from the Coorg PU College in Gonicoppa scored 580 marks (96.66 per cent) followed by S.E. Anjali from St. Joseph’s PU College in Madikeri with 576 marks (96 per cent).

Science stream

In the Science category, C.B. Subbaiah from the Coorg PU College in Gonicoppa and B.K. Hemavathy from the Vidyaniketana PU College, also in Gonicoppa, scored 584 marks (97.33 per cent) to share the top place. B.D. Riya of the Vidyaniketana PU College and J.J. Spandana of the St. Joseph’s PU College in Madikeri scored 577 marks each (96.16 per cent) to become joint second. A.P. Ponnanna from the Vidyaniketana PU College in Gonicoppa scored 571 marks (95.16 per cent) to finish third.

100 per cent results

St. Joseph’s PU College in Madikeri, Aishwarya PU College in Kushalnagar, Sampaje PU College in Sampaje and Bharati PU College in Maragodu secured 100 per cent results.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Madikeri – May 08th, 2013

Travel: To Explore, Experience and Have A New Way of Seeing Things – Part 2

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

www.yaatrika.com
www.yaatrika.com

“We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.”
~ T. S. Eliot

Exploring to enrich ourselves and experiencing something new like you never have before. The next few places are known best for their greenery.

Kumarakom

Kumarakom is a tourist village situated in Kerala. It is a cluster of small islands on the Vembanad backwaters. What I did like most when I visited was the lush greenery that the place had. It was pleasant and not overwhelming. I would say that one drives down to the place so as to enjoy the best of nature.

Kumarakom enjoys a well-balanced tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 16 and 37.7 Celsius. These temperatures would mean having a cool, quiet vacation. The Monsoon season is from early June to early August and I say that it is a lovely time to visit. However slight drizzles do persist until early November.

You can get to this place by air, road or train. By air, you would have to take a flight to Cochin and from there travel either by car, bus, or train (75 Kms). By car from Cochin International Airport is around 2 hours. Buses are easily available from Kottayam and Cochin as well. By train it is around 16 Kms from Kottayam. When in Kumarakom, you could visit the Bird Sanctuary and the Bay Isalnd Driftwood Museum. Or you could always take a backwater boat ride or even hire a Boathouse to stay in. While there, I advise you to take a stroll around when not drizzling or raining to enjoy Kumarakom at its best.

Coorg

Also known as Kodagu, Coorg is known for its hospitality and the beautiful scenery. Tourists often visit Coorg for its picturesque natue and the mountain ranges that attract a lot of tourists every year.

When you are at Coorg, visit the Raja’s Seat (it is said that the kings of the yore used seat here and it also offeres fantastic views of the valley), Bagamandala (a temple is situated here; this is where Cauvery River confluences), Talakaveri / Talacauvery, Madikeri Fort, Mandalpatti- View point, Iruppu Falls and Dubare Elephant Camp. While there, you could also trek and walk around to catch a glimpse of local life as well the nature.

If you travelling by plane, you will have to fly in to Bangalore or Mangalore and then rent a cab or take a bus ride to Coorg. When you arrive at Coorg, you can hire a cab or retain the one that you travelled in to travel in to visit all the tourist hotspots.

Manali

Manali is a beautiful, quaint Hill Station located at the Northern end of Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It is a beautiful place to visit during the summer as well as in the winter (although it will be very cold). Manali is a popular tourist spot for Indians during Summer and in winter it becomes a beautiful snow-capped hill-station.

When in Manali, you could visit the Rohtang Pass which is at an altitude of 13,050 feet above sea level, Bes Kund – an igloo shaped temple, Hot water springs, Monasteries and temples of Tibetan Buddhist lineages which is located between old and new Manali. You could also walk into the town to experience life there and also try out some of the local food there.

One can reach Manali by Bus or car on the road from the Delhi or Bhuntar (Kullu) if you are coming in by plane; by train, Ambala Cantonment (200 km) or Chandigarh (250 km) from Indian Capital New Delhi.

While you are at these places, it is best that everyone sticks with their group or family – safety in numbers after all. Ensure that you are equipped with appropriate clothes according to the weather and time of visit to the place and more importantly dress according to the place that you would be visiting (for example – although it may seem conservative, you can’t visit a temple while wearing shorts and sleeveless). Pack just enough clothes and ensure that you keep your money and cards safe.

Like Francis Bacon said, “Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.” So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and travel to these places!

source: http://www.coolage.in / Cool Age / Home> Lifestyle / by Pooja Svathi Mahesh, Jyoti Nivas College – Bangalore / May 07th, 2013

Bangalore girls who promise to rock the Kannada screens this year

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

If 2012 saw more of Ramya, Radhika Pandit, Ragini Dwivedi and Sindhu Lokanth, the year 2013 will see a host of ‘relatively’ new stars who will make a splash with a lineup of films. BT first put together a list of Bangalore-based actresses who have debuted over the last year or so, and shortlisted that to the top five (based on their hits, projects that they have signed up for, their popularity and of course, their looks). We then got filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh, fashion guru Prasad Bidapa and photographer Waseem Khan to comment and rate the top five on a scale of five. Here’s a look at the results…

Deepika Kamaiah
After a five-year-stint as a model, Deepika Kamaiah won several beauty contests before taking the plunge into Sandalwood. She made her debut opposite Darshan in Chingari. After a six month break, the actress signed her second film Neene Bari Neene, and also replaced actress Chaitra in Auto Raja. This year, will mark Deepika’s Bollywood debut, as she’s done a cameo as a village belle in the Shahid Kapur-Ileana D’cruz-starrer Phata Poster Nikla Hero.
Indrajit: I’ve seen some of her clippings and I am surprised by the confidence the actress portrays. She’s one south actress, who has the potential to make it big in Bollywood. 4/5
Prasad: She’s got a pan Indian look, which will work for south as well as north. If she works more on her Hindi, she can make a cut in Bollywood too. 4/5
Waseem: Suave, sophisticated, articulate and not a cliche’d dumb starlet. Deepika has a lot of potential and I believe she will be the girl who will outlast most of the film stars of the south film industry. 4.5/5
Total: 83.3%


Shwetha Srivatsav
Shwetha Srivatsav comes from a theatre background and getting into films was a natural progress. After working for a television serial, the actress made her Kannada debut with Cyber Yugadol Nava Yuva Madhura Prema Kavyam. Even before her debut hit the screens, Shwetha signed her second project Simplag Ond Love Story opposite Rakshit Shetty. The film that saw a release recently is doing well at the BO.
Indrajit: I’ve seen some of the promos from her recent release and I must admit that she is a good actress. In fact, she’s a better actress than the rest. She’s very expressive and has a lively face. 3.5/5
Prasad: Shwetha has got lovely features and it will work well for south Indian films. Her expressive face also makes her a good actress. 3/5
Waseem: I haven’t seen much of her work. I am waiting to see her take up more projects. 3/5
Total: 63.3%

Kavya Shetty
The former Femina Miss India contestant made her entry into Sandalwood with a small budget film I Am in Love. But the actress has got lucky with a Tamil-Telugu thriller Shivani. She also plays one of the lead roles in Preetham Gubbi’s youth flick, Nam Duniya Nam Style.
Indrajit: Though I’ve not seen much of her work, as a model she looks stunning. Kavya’s got great height and good body and we need such actresses in our industry. 3.5/5
Prasad: Kavya has worked with me on a couple of shows and I’ve trained her for the pageant as well. She’s well-groomed and her westernized looks will work well in the south film industry. 4/5
Waseem: Sweet personality, but probably a bit too sweet for the big bad world of filmdom. She will make it big if she plays her cards right. Nevertheless, she works the camera superbly and shoots like a dream. 4/5
Total: 76.6%

Kriti Kharbanda
Bangalore girl Kriti Kharbanda made her debut in a Telugu film Boni, opposite Sumanth. She took up her next project in Kannada with Chirru, which marked the Sandalwood debut for both Chiranjeevi Sarja and herself. He next break was Prem Adda opposite Prem, which got her more yet-to-be-released films like Googly opposite Yash and Sakhatagawne opposite newbie Karthik. She’s also worked on Telugu films like Ongole Githa with Ram Pothineni and Theenmaar with Pawan Kalyan.
Indrajit: I find Kriti pretty, off the camera. She’s got a face like Bhavana Ramanna, where she’s more lively off screen than on screen. Nevertheless, choosing the right scripts will help her get to a better place. 4/5
Prasad: She’s got a very sweet and innocent face. She has the girl-next-door looks that will work wonders for her at the BO. 4/5
Waseem: She’s another smart girl who surprised many, including me, when she joined the south film brigade. She has the potential to score some mega hits. 3.75/5
Total: 78%

Soundarya Jayamala
Daughter of former actress Jayamala, Soundarya’s entry into films was predictable. While there were many speculated debuts, the actress made entered showbiz with Godfather, opposite Upendra. After several months of her debut, the actress took time to zero in on her second film, Paru w/o Devdas opposite Srinagara Kitty.
Indrajit: Being a famous actress’s daughter, Soundarya has got everything it takes to make a mark. However, her debut saw mixed responses. She needs to prepare herself better for upcoming films. 2.5/5
Prasad: She comes from a good lineage and has a lot of potential to make it big in the film industry. In fact, she’s promising as an actress when compared to the rest. 4.5/5
Waseem: She’s got tremendous oomph, sex appeal, charisma and has that X factor. In my opinion, Soundarya is the next superstar in the south. 5/5
Total: 80%

Debutants to look forward to this year
Here’s a list of promising Bangalore-based actresses who’ll be making their debuts this year
Milana Nagaraj: Brindavana and Nam Duniya Nam Style (Kannada)
Rajshri Ponnappa: Paru w/o Devdas (Kannada), Pithavinum, Puthranum, Parishuddhathmavinum (Malayalam), Aram (Tamil-Malayalam)
Nikki Galrani: Ajith (Kannada), Yagavarayinum Naa Kakka (Tamil)
Rachita Ram: Bul Bul (Kannada)
Jahanvi Kamath: Parari (Kannada)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Regional> Kannada / by Sharanya CR, TNN / March 14th, 2013