Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

INTERVIEW: Chikkarangappa S: Winner, PGTI Kashmir Master

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

‘Hospitality of Kashmiris will drive me to visit this place again and again’

ChikkarangappaKODAGU24jul2014

Chikkarangappa S could well be mistaken for a literature student. He talks with a poised fluency that matches his play on a golf course. The Bangalorean isn’t bad either with what has turned to be his ultimate career option.

At 24, he has teed off himself to be one of the most sought after professional golfer in Indian circuit, having already pocketed three Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) titles. His latest triumph came at the scenic Royal Springs Golf Course Srinagar, ensconced in the lap of picturesque Zabarwan Hills. His PGTI-Kashmir Masters victory was all skill, stamina and steady progress that has seen Chikka-as he is fondly known among his contemporaries- surge ahead of the established golfers in Jyoti Randhawa and Rashid Khan. Such was Chikka’s dominance; he was at the top of the leaderboard three times in the four-day event.

Chikka caught up Kashmir Reader Sports Editor after his winning show to talk about his victory, overall scenario of the sport in the valley and how Kashmir treated him.

KR: First things first, it must be one of your most cherished victories? Piping the likes of Jyoti Randhawa and Rashid Khan isn’t all that easy?

Chikka: There is no doubt the PGTI-Kashmir Masters title is something I will cherish whole life. To win the event where your opponents are some great golfers of India is very special. I grew up watching Jyoti Randhawa and to win the tourney he was participating in will be something I remember my whole life.

What made the win sweeter was the way I held my own for all of four days. I didn’t let others to have better off me.

KR: Going into the tournament, did you expect dominating show like the one you exhibited during the course of four days?

Chikka: Honestly, winning the tournament wasn’t in my mind. I didn’t have encouraging stint at the Pahalgam tourney, but found some form in the later stages of the event.

I had set certain goals for myself. I wanted to hit under-4 at least, but as the tournament progressed, I got better and better and even shot under-seven.

KR: It is your second trip to the Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar, you must have noticed a huge improvement in the overall quality of the venue.

Chikka: I came here in 2012 as an amateur and did well at that time as well. The facilities were excellent then and now things have improved to another level.

The greenness of the grass here is excellent. The natural beauty brings calmness and freshness in the overall setup. And, temperature here is fantastic to play in.

KR: You have played in Delhi, Bangalore and other leading venues of India, it must be refreshing to play here with temperatures always under 35 Degree Celsius?

Chikka: Obviously, it is fantastic to play in this part of the world. The temperatures aren’t that energy sapping as we see in Delhi or other venues. Players remain fresh throughout the day and mental and physical tiredness is taken care of by the lovely breeze that goes across the Royal Springs all the time.

The very location of the venue is soothing to the eyes and natural arrangement of the things here is something that will make you visit this place again and again.

KR: Lot is read in the Delhi based media about the dicey situation of the Valley, how did Kashmir treat you?

Chikka: I didn’t find any problem in walking around here in Srinagar. I could walk here as I do in any state of India. People here are loveable and hospitality here is something that will drive me to visit this place again and again.

KR: You coming back to Kashmir to visit and compete again?

Chikka: Most definitely, yes. I am looking forward to visit this place again and compete at one of the most beautiful golf courses in Asia.

KR: Kashmir is yet to produce a top professional golfer, how would that trend change?

Chikka: I feel there are lots of amateurs in Kashmir. They need to play with the professional more and more. Talent is definitely there but needs a proper coaching and direction.

Young golfers should come to watch the professionals play to pick up their mind and skill level from them. I am sure things will be better in coming years.

source: http://www.kashmirreader.com / Kashmir Reader / Home> Sports / Thursday – July 24th, 2014

M.C. Nanaiah, as I know him

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

NanaiahKF14jul2014

by K.B. Ganapathy
Former Law Minister and JD(S) leader M.C. Nanaiah, Merianda Chengappa Nanaiah to give him his full Kodava name, bid adieu to Karnataka Legislative Council when his six-year term ended on June 30, 2014. Many MLCs have spoken in the past when their terms in the House had ended. In keeping with that tradition, M.C. Nanaiah too made his oration; but that was a class apart from what I have heard others speak before. In Nanaiah’s speech there was much food for thought for all those who swear by Democracy and Secularism.

If Democracy works best ONLY where there are checks and balances, where there is synthesis of various shades of opinions, where there is dialectical debate and discussion, then there also must be a House in the form of a Rajya Sabha (Upper House) at the Centre and a Vidhana Parishat (Legislative Council) in the States to act as a sieve to further filter what is processed in the Parliament or the Legislative Assembly. After all, law-makers are not Solomons, nor above reproach in their thinking and conduct. It is obvious Nanaiah has realised this deficiency, lack of maturity and haste on matters of Bills deliberated in the Parliament or the Assembly and therefore, in his farewell speech, he devoted much time on the need for making the institution of Legislative Council mandatory by amending the Constitution.

At present, the Constitution allows only Rajya Sabha to be a permanent house but not the Vidhana Parishat. As a result some States have abolished the Council. Hence Nanaiah’s concern. He may also have apprehended that such a doomsday may overtake Karnataka Legislative Council too at a future date and hence his appeal to the Speaker to take up the issue as an amendment to the Constitution to make the Legislative Council mandatory for all States. Tamil Nadu for example had a Legislative Council for many years. However, it was abolished by M.G. Ramachandran Government on Nov. 1, 1986.

In his impassioned oratorical flourish, as is his wont whenever on his feet to deliver a speech, he said the existence of the Legislative Council is imperative in view of the seriousness with which Bills have to be debated before passing them into Law.

In order to corroborate his point, he gave the example of the system prevalent in the United States where the US Congress (their Lower House equivalent to our Lok Sabha) always appreciated the role of the US Senate. Nanaiah said that in US the members of the Congress used to say that the Senators “Pour the Legislation into the Senatorial saucer for cooling.” And the Legislations (Bills) vetted by the Senators were the only ones that could be considered as Law. Let us hope our politicians heed Nanaiah’s words of wisdom distilled after over 40 years in State politics.

M.C. Nanaiah is Mr. Clean politician of Karnataka who survived in the “cesspool of corruption” without blemish, like a lotus in the murky waters. I know him since 1956. He was one year senior to me in the then Government First Grade College in Madikeri, Kodagu, now Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College and in law college at Bangalore. Loud with a silver tongue, he would stand out in any group of students. He was assertive and daring in speech but some students thought that he was a master manipulator. I had no occasion to test this allegation which I thought was made by those who envied his dash and drive.

A.K. Subbaiah, Ajjikuttira Kariappa Subbaiah to give him his full Kodava name, who also became famous as a politician like Nanaiah, was one year junior to Nanaiah like I was. I don’t know about the age though. I remember Nanaiah defeating Subbaiah in the 1957-58 college elections. Later in life as both marched like knights-in-arms to fight the political battle, it was Nanaiah who made it once to the Legislative Assembly, then as MLC and finally to the State Cabinet. He was Forest Minister and then, many years later, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister for five years with the additional charge of Information Ministry.

In contrast, Subbaiah only made news, acquiring the epithet in Kannada as “suddi maduva Subbaiah,” which means “Subbaiah who makes news.” Some even called him as “Five day Lawyer, weekend Crusader.” If ego and hubris destroyed Subbaiah’s political opportunities (of which he had so many as a BJP Leader), as for Nanaiah it was the gift of the gab and indeed the intelligent persuasive ability and manipulative skills that took him to the acme of State Political Office via Legislative Council as he was not able to win Assembly elections except once.

After Kodagu got integrated with the then Mysore State, (now Karnataka) following the State reorganisation (1956), two persons who came on the political horizon of Kodagu are M.C. Nanaiah and A.K. Subbaiah, separated in their political ideologies as sharply as oil and water. If Nanaiah was a leftist, Subbaiah was a rightist. Nanaiah was into Congress, a change over from his Communist beliefs and Subbaiah was into Jan Sangh. Nanaiah then switched to JD(S) and became an achiever; but in contrast, Subbaiah followed his saffron brothers into BJP and almost came out as an achiever, but no. Soon he committed political harakiri because of hubris after winning some 18 Assembly seats under his leadership in the year 1983. It was a case of the time-tested maxim “pride goes before the fall.” Subbaiah was so presumptuous he thought without him BJP in Karnataka could not survive. He was unable to grasp the importance of a national political party in a democracy where individuals come and go but the party goes on. He was unceremoniously ousted from the BJP and despite changing political parties thereafter, rather shamelessly, he became a political pariah. His political career was doomed once and for all. In contrast, Nanaiah played his political cards well even when he was dealt with bad cards. Once he joined the JD(S), he became its loyal worker, nay soldier. Naturally, he rose to the rank of a General – Minister !

When Nanaiah was in Congress, political churning was taking place in Karnataka’s Congress Government led by D. Devaraj Urs, following the defeat of Indira Gandhi in the post-Emergency election. Nanaiah was inducted into Devaraj Urs ministry as Forest Minister. R. Gundu Rao, who had by then moved too close to Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi derisively called Nanaiah as a “Peppermint Minister.” Soon Devaraj Urs was dethroned, dumped from Congress and Gundu Rao became the Chief Minister. Thanks to Sanjay Gandhi. Being old friends, Gundu Rao urged Nanaiah to join Congress. But Nanaiah’s loyalty to Urs did not allow him to renege. For a time he was in political doldrums, but soon found himself a place in Janata Party and then the JD(S). If politics is the “art of possibilities,” Nanaiah indeed has mastered that art. It was a case of discovering the truth of the Kannada proverb “thaalidavanu baaliyanu.” He who has patience will survive. Speaking to media recently, Nanaiah has said, “politics is a strange coincidence of incidents.” Indeed true in this game of ‘snake and ladder’ which is politics.

Yesterday morning, I was speaking to Nanaiah to express my appreciation for his “hurrah” speech in the Legislative Council and mentioned of what the former Chief Minister and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy has brought upon himself unwittingly, by demanding Rs. 40 crores for a MLC seat etc. Of course, those who know how these “tickets” are given by all political parties were not surprised but Kumaraswamy was caught on tape and got huge negative publicity. Responding, Nanaiah recalled his friendly talks with MLAs on the subject some six years ago. Indeed, some MLAs opined that they being the voters in the MLC election, they must get a share in the money collected from the candidate by the party. After all, these MLAs claimed that they too have spent a fortune to get elected as MLAs.

However, Nanaiah asked them what if a candidate like him who has no money to pay to the party and is given the ticket on merit. The good MLAs told Nanaiah, “Then there is no problem. We don’t make any demand.” Nanaiah got smart and told the MLAs: “Well then, go and tell Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy that you would not ask for money if the ticket is given to me” and Nanaiah became the JD(S) MLC six years ago to retire on June 30, 2014.

e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra .. / by K.B. Ganapathy / July 09th, 2014

Kodagu & Chikmagalur RCFs constituted to strengthen research on coffee

Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Bangalore :

The Coffee Board has included enterprising and eminent growers along with associations in its Regional Consultative Forums (RCFs) in order to strengthen research on coffee.

Jawaid Akhtar, Chairman, Coffee Board, told Business Line that these RCFs have been formed covering all the major coffee growing regions in the country.

Following have been nominated for regional consultative forum for Kodagu district of Karnataka.

Enterprising/ Eminent Coffee Growers – N Bose Mandanna, Subramanya Estate, Suntikoppa, Gautham Basappa, Madapura B Estate, Madapura, Sampath, Senior General Manager, Tata Coffee Ltd. Pollibetta, B.B.Chengappa, Palthope Estate, Srimangala, B.D.Manjunath, Manasavana Estate, Kumboor, Madapura post, S.B.Jayaraj, Panya Estate, Suntikoppa, N.M.Subbanna, Yelneergundi Estate, Sanivarasanthe, P.D.Khalista, Flora Estate, Abbur village, Somwarpet taluk, P.S.Subramani, Sajjan Estate, Kothur village and Post, Near Ponnampet, A Ponnappa, Group Manager, M/s BBTC Ltd., Sidapur.

Scientists/ Experts in the field of agriculture – Director, Central Horticulture experimentation station Chettalli, Associate Director, College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Deputy Director, Cardamom Research Station, IISR, Appangala and Joint Director (Horticulture), Govertment of Karnataka, Madikeri.

Growers Associations – president, Coorg Planters Association, Madikeri, Representative of KGF Kodagu District, President, Kodagu District Small Growers Association, Siddapur.

Invitees – Chairman, Coffee Board – Permanent Invitee, Board Members from Coorg district and Director of Research, CCRI

Convener and Deputy Director -Research, CRSS, Chettalli.

For the Regional Consultative Forum for Chikmagalur & Hassan districts following are the members nominated.

Enterprising / Eminent Coffee Growers – H.B.Rajagopal, Kerehucklu Estate, Balehonnur, H.M.Deepak, Kanachur Estate, Hanthur PO, Mudigere taluk, Dr Anand Titus Pereira, Kirehalli Estate, Sundakere post, Saklespur, H.T.Mohan Kumar, Dimbada Estate, Hurudi post, Saklespur taluk, Ashok Kurian, MD, Balanoor Plantations & Industries, Bangalore, Dr M S Sreenivasan, Advisor, M/s.ABC Plantations, Mudigere, The General Manager, IBC Group of Estates, Saklespur, B.M.Mohan Kumar, Malleswara Estate, Balupet, Saklespur taluk, Ajay Thippaiah, Kerehaklu Estate, Aldur, Tousif Ali, Coffee Planter, Aldur.

Representative of Growers Associations – Chairman, Karnataka Planters Association, Chikmagalur, President, Karnataka Growers Federation, Saklespur, President, Hassan District Planters Association, Saklespur

Scientists/ Experts in the field of Agriculture – Associate Director, Zonal Agril.Res.Stn. (UASH, Shimoga) Mudigere, Dy.Director, Regional Spice Res. Stn., Donigal, Saklespur, Jt.Director (Horticulture), Govt. of Karnataka, Chikmagalur,

Invitees – Chairman, Coffee Board – Permanent Invitee, Board Members of Chikmagalur & Hassan districts, Director of Research, CCRI

Convener, Joint Director (Research), CCRI and all Divisional Heads of Research Dept. and JDE, Hassan, DDE, Hassan & DDE, Chikmagalur will attend to the RCF meetings to be held at CCRI and make presentation of their findings.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Markets> Commodities / by Anil Urs / Bangalore – July 03rd, 2014

Gulshan Devaiah to play a character inspired by naval commander KV Nanavati

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

Gulshan Devaiah to play a role loosely inspired by naval commander KV Nanavati and his infamous murder trial in Soni Razdan’s upcoming film

Gulshan Devaiah
Gulshan Devaiah

Mirror was the first one to tell you that Arjun Rampal will play a character inspired by the slain Prem Ahuja in Soni Razdan’s Love Affair-a fictionalised account of the infamous Nanavati Murder Case of 1959. Now, we’ve learnt that Gulshan Devaiah, who was last seen in Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela, has been finalised to play the naval officer modelled on Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, who in a crime of passion, shot his wife’s lover Prem Ahuja, and became the fodder for multiple films and books over the decades.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Hindi> Bollywood / by Ankur Pathak, Mumbai Mirror / June 30th, 2014

Nidhi Subbaiah gets adventurous

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

Nidhi Subbaiah made the transition that many actors dream of. The pretty Sandalwood actress made it big with the Kannada film Pancharangi in 2010, for which she even nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She debuted in Bollywood in 2012 with the film Ajab Gazabb Love, in which she was paired with rumoured boyfriend Jackky Bhagnani. And from her tweets, it looks like the pretty young thing is all set for a new movie.

Nidhi Subbaiah
Nidhi Subbaiah

“Off to a new place.. A new movie.. A new adventure.. Winds of change… Wonder what’s in store… Excited..” read a post that Nidhi posted online. Now where she is off to, which movie has she signed, and what the changes and adventures are, only Nidhi can reveal. But sources have told Bangalore Times that Nidhi has signed a Bollywood film under a big banner. We wish her all the best on her new adventure!

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / June 251st, 2014

Shubra’s gearing up for Bollywood

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

Model-turned-actor Shubra Aiyappa’s on a high with her debut film, Prathinidhi (in Telugu), doing well. Already working on her second movie, this time opposite Arvind Krishna, Shubra’s now ensuring her career takes the right course.

“I have been taking some time to sign the right films, now that my first film has done well,” says Shubra. Meanwhile, she’s also brushing up her skills for Bollywood. “I don’t have anything concrete to comment on yet, but yes, I’ve been taking lessons in acting and Hindi diction whenever I have the time, like currently, since I’m on a break between schedules,” says Shubra.

The actress is clear that career is her priority right now. “With so much on my plate, I’d say I’ve no time for a relationship,” she laughs.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / by Sunaina Suresh, TNN / June 25th, 2014

Deepika Kamaiah roped in for Bigg Boss?

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

DeepikaKF28jun2014

The glamour quotient for Kannada’s Bigg Boss season two seems to be going higher. After names like Harshika Poonacha and Neethu being tossed around as confirmed contestants, the latest one to join that list is dusky Coorg lass and model turned actress Deepika Kamaiah.

Deepika, who entered Sandalwood with Darshan’s film Chingaari that was directed by choreographer and filmmaker A Harsha, has been a part of some critically acclaimed films in both Tamil and Kannada. Her first tryst with tinsel town was a Tamil film titled Aanmai Thavarel.

The actress even had a breezy visit ton Bollywood when she had a blink and you miss it role in the initial minutes of Rajkumar Santoshi’s comic caper Phata Poster Nikhhla Hero, which had Shahid Kapoor and Ileana D’Cruz in the lead roles.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> TV / TNN / June 27th, 2014

Uthappa, Rahane Guide India to 7-wicket Win Over Bangladesh

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Ajinkya Rahane, left, plays a shot, as Bangladesh's captain Mushfiqur Rahim watches during their first one-day International cricket match in Dhaka | AP
Ajinkya Rahane, left, plays a shot, as Bangladesh’s captain Mushfiqur Rahim watches during their first one-day International cricket match in Dhaka | AP

Mirpur :

Fine half centuries from Robin Uthappa and Ajinkya Rahane guided India to a comprehensive seven-wicket win (Duckworth-Lewis) over Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here Sunday to help the reigning World Champions take a 1-0 lead in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series.

Chasing a stiff target of 273, India were cruising at 100/1 in 16.4 overs when the skies opened up. Post the rain delay, the visitors were set a target of 150 from 26 overs which they achieved with seven balls to spare. India are playing this tournament without top stars like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Virat Kohli among others.

Playing his first ODI in six years, Uthappa (50) slammed his sixth half century on his return to the national fold. The exciting right hander, who found his way back in to team after finishing as the highest scorer of the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), hammered three boundaries and sixes each in his 44-ball knock.

He was well supported by Rahane (64) and the duo gave India the start they needed with a 99-run opening wicket partnership. But soon after Uthappa was found leg before wicket, it started raining heavily.

After play resumed, India required 50 runs from 9.2 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara immediately got out for a duck but man of the match Rahane continued his knock before getting out with India only 15 runs away from the target. Ambati Rayudu (16 not out) and captain Suresh Raina (15 not out) finished things off for India.

Earlier after electing to bat, the hosts put up a competitive total despite a slow start with good performances coming from the middle-order.

Bangladesh suffered an early blow with opener Tamim Iqbal perished for a duck after playing 11 deliveries. Mominul Haque (6) also followed soon but other opener Anamul Haque (44) and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (59) forged a partnership to steady their ship.

After the two got out, with the score at 134/4, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (52) and Mahmudullah (41) joined hands to take Bangladesh past the 200-run mark and also upped the run rate.

Lower down the order Nasir Hossain (22), Mashrafe Mortaza (18) and Abdur Razzak (16 not out) kept the momentum going with a few lusty blows to take them to 272/9.

Indian pacer Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, clinching 3/48 while leg spinner Amit Mishra took 2/55. Debutant spinners Parvez Rasool (2/60) and Akshar Patel (1/59) together scalped three wickets.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 272/9 in 50 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 59, Shakib Al Hasan 52, Anamul Haque 44; Umesh Yadav 3/48, Amit Mishra 2/55, Parvez Rasool 2/60) lost to India 153/3 in 24.5 overs (D/L) (Ajinkya Rahane 64, Robin Uthappa 50, Ambati Rayudu 16 not out; Shakid Al Hasan 2/27, Mashrafe Mortaza 1/25).

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cricket> News / by IANS / June 15th, 2014

Squash: Dipika-Joshna win women’s doubles title in Malaysia

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Kuala Lumpur:

India bagged their second title at the Tri-Nation squash doubles tournament here on Thursday when Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa emerged winners in the women’s doubles final.

Pallikal and Joshna rallied to beat New Zealand’s Joelle King and Amanda Landers Murphy 8-11, 11-5, 11-1 at the National Squash Centre.

Hosts Malaysia were the other country to participate in the three-day event, seen as a warm-up to the next month’s Commonwealth Games.

It was Pallikal’s second title in as many days after she won the mixed doubles with Saurav Ghosal.

The Indians put up a commendable show considering they are busy playing singles for major part of the season.

Pallikal said it was good practice for the Glasgow Games beginning July 23. “I am glad to have won the doubles too. We started off slow today but got better as the match progressed. Joshna played some amazing shots to shock our opponents,” Pallikal told PTI.

She alongside Joshna stunned the mighty Malaysian pair of Nicol David and Low Wee Wern in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

“The win here does a lot of good to our confidence going into the Commonwealth Games. Winning there is our main aim and this tournament helped us understand where we stand in the pecking order. Among top Commonwealth nations, only England and Australia were not here. It was a good test overall,” said the singles World No. 10.

How tough is it switch to doubles while playing singles on the professional tour?

“It is tough but you have to switch off, switch on when necessary,” Pallikal added.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / IBN Live / Home> Sports> Other Sports / Press Trust of India / June 19th, 2014

Biddu: Composing Pop music is for young and not young at heart!

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

Who can forget the sex siren Zeenat Aman dancing and singing to the sensational disco beats of ‘Aap Jaisa Koi…’ in Feroz Khan’s super hit movie QURBANI in the 80’s. Wanna know who composed this all time hit song? Well the music was composed by Biddu Appaiah, popularly recognized as Biddu, the Indian-born, England based music composer who is regarded as a pioneers of Disco, Euro disco and Indi-pop around the globe.

Zeenat-AmanKF20jun2014

Winner of the prestigious Gramm Award and ranked 34 in the 50 Greatest Producers Ever list of New Musical Express (NMI), Biddu after five decades of career in music has moved to writing and has penned a fictional novel ‘The Abundance of Nothing’ published by Times Group Books.

Speaking about his switch from music to writing he confessed, “I have been regarded as the king of Pop music but truly speaking producing pop music is purely for the young, just being young at heart does not qualify to compose pop music. Hence I decided to silently shift gears from music to my other passion writing.”

Few know that QURBANI had music by famous Bollywood music director duo Kalyanji Anandji but Feroz Khan happened to hear the disco beats of Biddu in London and was so impressed that he hired him to compose just one song for his movie.
BidduKF20jun2014

Initially Biddu declined the offer as he was busy in the West but when he found Feroz Khan to be serious and willing to pay an enormous amount he gave in.

In an interview Biddu had said, “I am the first person to introduce disco in India thanks to Feroz Khan. It was his obsession that made me compose the song. Before ‘Aap Jaisa Koi…’ the disco fever was nonexistent in India, however the song became such a craze that after ‘Aap Jaisa Koi…’there was a literal flood of disco songs and no Bollywood movie was released without (at least one) disco song

Like today’s item numbers, disco songs had become a permanent fixture till the late 90’s.”

source: http://www.indiaglitz.com / IndiaGlitz / Home> IndiaGlitz> Bollywood / Tuesday – June 10th, 2014