Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Kodagu boy Suhail among 22 chosen for National Bravery Awards

Amazing Feats, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Madikeri, Jan 19:

Suhail K M, a 17-year-old Kodagu boy, who without knowing swimming, had jumped into overflowing Cauvery River to rescue his classmate, who was about to drown, is among 22 children chosen for the National Bravery Awards-2012.
It was raining cats and dogs on November 3, 2011. The Cauvery River at Bhagamandala in Kodagu district had turned into a fast-flowing torrent.

A group of Class 8 students from the Sri Cauvery Junior College at Bhagamandala in Madikeri taluk attempted to cross the river via a bridge.

One of the boys, Faruq, stopped to clean his muddied trousers. Losing a toe-hold on the bank, he slipped into the water and the current carried him downstream. Faruq, who did not know how to swim, cried for help, the water entering his mouth and nostrils with each cry.

Seeing this, Suhail, who also did not know swimming, immediately jumped into the water and made his way towards Faruq. Reaching the ailing boy, he somehow managed to get to the shore and safety.

Suhail’s act of courage has rendered him suitable for an award from the National Awards for Bravery in 2012. Suhail is a resident of Ayangeri village near Bhagamandala. He wants to become a medical doctor.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present the awards to children prior to Republic Day and all children will participate in the parade.

Apart from giving each awardee Rs 1 lakh cash prize, the government will also ensure that they pay no education costs till the graduate level. Awardees will also get a scholarship, which will allow them to study professional courses such as engineering and medicine.

source: http://www.CoastalDigest.com / Home> News / CD Network / Saturday, January 19th, 2013

For Bangalore, by Bangalore

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

You know Manish Malhotra. You know Rocky S. But do you know who Shalini Subramanian or Saunak Sen is? They are fashion designers, working right here in the city and trying to make a difference as far as Bangalore’s fashion identity is concerned. And starting today, they and few more designers are going to be making a point — Bangalore can be in the middle of a fashion revolution after all.

Stylist, fashion and image consultant or choreographer — call him what you will, but Prasad Bidapa has been part of the action for a while and now he’s all set to pay a homage to the city and its fashion fraternity with the Prasad Bidapa Fashion Week. “It has been a longstanding dream of mine to present Bangalore designers and brands on a platform that could become an event that celebrates the talent and diversity of our designers. Bangalore designers need to make their presence felt on a national and international level and PBFW will make every effort to present our designers in that perfect light,” says Bidapa, of the event.

According to him, after Delhi and Mumbai, Kolkata became a very important centre in fashion. “It was relatively upsetting, considering how Bangalore has always been known for its vivid interest and high sense of what is and can be ‘fashion’. So after years of mulling it over, it’s Bangalore’s turn to make the same statement and ensure that our designers take centrestage,” he adds.

The fashion week will feature a host of designers including Nimirta Lalwani, Runa Ray, Sanchita Ajjampur, Jason and Anshu, Anjali Sharma, Shoba Nickham, Saunak Sen’s House of Three, Sneha Satyaprakash, Namrata G, Rony Dutta, Pallavi Foley, Amanda Bachalli, Shalini Subramanian, Seema Malhotra, Manish Saksena, Deepika Govind, Lokessh Ahuja, Anu and Susan, Ritu Pande and Raj Shroff. “I am showcasing my Spring-Summer 2013 collection that I recently showed at Wills India Fashion Week in Delhi.

Staying true to the monochromes, I am focussing on a chic and plain look in mulmul and cotton. I generally design only for women, but I’ve also added a few special pieces for men, especially for this fashion week. They stay true to the look of the rest of the collection too,” shares Raj Shroff.

“My collection will be a sequel to my Ode to Sindh collection and I’ve decided to call it Sindh Contemporary. Staying true to the soul of Sindh, this collection will be in white and will focus on chiffons and georgettes for women and linen and khadi for the men,” explains Namrata G.

Nimirta Lalwani is also excited about her Spring-Summer 2013, where she will focus on the silhouette she loves the most — the evening gown. “I am staying minimal and trying to bring in classical elements. I’ve experimented with colour blocking, different kinds of layering and laser cutting and have ensured that I play with different kinds of fabric,” Nimirta concludes.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> LifeStyle> Report / by L Romal M Singh / Agency: DNA / Thursday, January 17th, 2013

I am spiritual, but I do not believe in God: Biddu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Nri's / Pio's

Dressed casually in tees and track pants with his trademark long hair, iconic composer singer Biddu wears his years lightly. The Grammy Award winning musician, who grew up in Bangalore, now divides his time between Spain, London, and India, and insists he leads a relaxed life, and has the full day in which to get things done. TOI caught up with him during his recent visit to the city…

It all began in Bangalore for you, didn’t it? Bangalore has indeed shaped my musical destiny. I started young at the age of 13, so it’s been 55 years since I have been earning a living professionally. I left Bangalore for the first time when at the age of 16 I went to Kolkata to sing at night clubs. I credit Bangalore’s Anglo-Indian community for my initiation into music. The Catholic Club and the Bowring Institute are where I used to sing at music competitions. I had two ambitions when I was a boy. One was to become a Hollywood actor, and the other was to make it big in the world of music. The second one was easier!

Just two years shy of 70, you look remarkably well preserved…. Thank god you said well preserved and not pickled. Well, I guess it is in the genes. All of us siblings look fairly good for our age. Also, we maintain high levels of activity. My sister, who’s played tennis for India, still plays tennis every day, come what may. I swim five days a week, and then there’s yoga and a walk. However, when it comes to food, I eat all the wrong things. Chocolates, pizza and donuts. But no matter whichever part of the world I am in, I start my day with papaya. I am, however, not obsessive about exercising or maintaining routines. I don’t want to be like Madonna. My looks… it could be the makeup too! I kid, of course!

Aao naa pyar karein is being adapted for India’s first zombie film… How did that happen? Luke Kenny called me up last year. He asked me if he could use the song and adapt it for his upcoming film The Rise of Zombie. I like Luke. He seems like a nice guy and his team is a bunch of enthusiastic kids. John Lennon said give peace a chance; I say give the youth of India a chance.

Any parting pangs for a song that was a rage in its day? None at all. If you do that, you’ll never be able to cross the threshold. Nothing is so sacrosanct that you can’t let go of it.

Have you heard the rearranged song? Yes, I’ve heard two versions of it. In the first, Luke has given it a David Guetta kind of style, which I liked immensely. And the second one has a trancy technoish feel to it. I told Luke that the second one may tie in better with the zombie genre.

You became famous with Qurbani… How did it come about? I was famous much before that in the west with my albums with Carl Douglas (Kung Fu Fighting) and Tina Charles, among many other successful projects. I didn’t think I’d have anything to do with Hindi music. I had failed my Senior Cambridge because my Hindi was abysmal. Hindi has always been a foreign language for me. It still is. Director Feroze Khan had heard about all the stuff I had done in the west. He wanted me to be associated with the project. I was hesitant, but he coerced me.

Coerced? No, it was more like blackmail. You know the You-are-from-Bangalore-and -I-am -from-Bangalore kind of talk, and I was on.

You are a card-carrying atheist I am spiritual, but I do not believe in God. I don’t put religion and spiritualism in the same box. Spiritualism is a way of life you create, whereas religion is what others force upon you. I don’t believe that God made man, I believe man made God.

Your favourite songs from your body of work? My perennial favourites are Disco Deewane and Made in India. My other songs have earned me a thousand times more, but these two I can listen to over and over again and never tire of them. I get goose flesh each time I listen to them.

Indian singers you admire? Frankly, I am not clued into the music scene here at all. I know very little of what is happening, musically speaking. But I think Shreya Ghosal has a fabulous voice. I also like Sonu Nigam, and have done an album with him. Even Shaan, he’s got a nice voice.

You were disappointed when you finally came face to face with your childhood idols, The Beatles. Yes, it was disappointing. They were my heroes. At that age, you expect your heroes to be these larger-than-life figures. You know the six-foot-six types. And then I see John Lennon, with his dirty canvas shoes and unkempt straggly beard. The only Beatle who made somewhat of an impression on me in the way he was turned out was Paul McCartney that guy should give up now. All artists must call it a day when they hit 65.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Entertainment> Music /by Purba Dutt, TNN / January 16th, 2013

City to miss Ashwini Ponnappa as she shifts base

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Glamour girl of Indian badminton Ashwini Ponnappa, who not long ago made Hyderabad as her ‘second home’, has decided to shift her base to Bangalore — a decision which could trigger intense speculations. However, 23-year-old Ashwini on Monday insisted that since her parents had shifted to her hometown, she too had decided to join them. “But, whenever the national camps are scheduled in Hyderabad, I will be coming here,” said Ashwini, who along with Gutta Jwala, has become the first pair from India to win a bronze medal in the World Championship last year.

Ashwini told ‘The Hindu ’ that she would be training at Thomas John’s Academy in JP Nagar in Benguluru where the other national players.

“I love Hyderabad. It gave me so much in life and in sport. And, it was a pleasure to train with Arif Sir (Dronacharya S.M. Arif). I always look forward to train under him,” the champion shuttler said.

“There is no animosity with anyone. I am grateful for all the support I got in the city and the reason for shifting base to Benguluru is I prefer to be with my parents,” she pointed out. Asked if Jwala taking a six-month break from badminton after the 2012 London Olympics could have been a reason, the doubles shuttler replied in the negative.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad, January 08th, 2013

Curtain raiser to a fashion fiesta in Bangalore

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

South India has always boasted a rich heritage when it comes to fashion. Bangalore leads the pack, with the right mix of the contemporary and the traditional. This is what The Gitanjali Prasad Bidapa Fashion Week 2013 intends to celebrate.

The curtain raiser to the fashion fiesta had some of the city’s top models showcasing garments and accessories crafted by various designers who will be showcasing at the event.

(Prasad Bidapa and Hari….)

Kick-starting the mini show at the curtain raiser, Prasad Bidapa said, “While Kolkata seems to be taking away the title of the country’s third fashion capital, I’m hoping that we can help Bangalore surge ahead by showcasing the eclectic mix of talent the city offers.”

While the colours, fabric and design wowed those present, the special attraction was the new launch of the Valentine collection from Nakshatra, available at JewelSouk. The collection offers a range of earrings, pendants and rings, along with specially-crafted diamond couple-bands. The range celebrates love in all its splendour.

At the fashion week starting from January 18, Gitanjali will showcase True Platinum, Envi by Gemfields, Nizam and Nakshatra.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Life & Style> Parties / TNN / January 12th, 2013

Rampage of a haute kind

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


Is the city in for an overdose of fashion this January or will be it be “the more the merrier?”

Just when the Bangalore Fashion Week dates were getting set for announcements on January 25, Prasad Bidapa announced his dates for The Prasad Bidapa Fashion Week.

Are we getting set to becoming the pret-a-porter capital of the country? We speak to both the organisers on whether there’s any rivalry brewing or is it all fair in the world of fashion.

Prasad Bidapa will be presenting his first ever fashion week in the city. After three decades of working behind the scenes, we wonder why the fashion guru who has launched many famous faces didn’t think of a fashion week earlier. We questioned him whether it was a tad too late, “Everything has a time. I realised that Bengaluru designers don’t have a platform of their own to showcase their talent and we thought what better way to kick off the year.

The three-day extravaganza from January 18 to 20 will present the fashion history of Bengaluru, right from the days of Royal Mysore to present day by the city’s talented designers. We have Amanda Bachalli, Anjali Sharma, Calantha, Deepika Govind, Jason & Anshu, Lokessh Ahuja, Manish Saksena, Namrata G, Nimirta Lalvani, Pallavi Foley, Raj Shroff, Ritu Pande, Rony Dutta, Royal House of Mysore, Runa Ray, Sanchita Ajjampur, Seema Malhotra and Shalini Subramanian.”

Commenting on the reason that triggered this “fashion week” of his own, Prasad explains, “I have been thinking of it for a while now. The other fashion week (read Bangalore Fashion Week) has random designers. Bengaluru has enough talent to flaunt. I don’t have anything against anyone. It’s a big city and has space for everyone. If my fashion week is a week before theirs, fashion overdose is not my problem.

My designers are different and I will have top notch models like Bruna Abdullah, Indrani Dasgupta, Acquin Paes, Smitha Rao, Dayana Erappa and other models. I have no problem if my models do other shows, as long as they don’t bring the standards down.”

In its eighth phase, Dream Merchants also announced its Eighth edition of Blenders Pride Bangalore Fashion Week that will be held from January 25 to 28. Nisar Ahmed, casting director for BFW says, “I don’t understand the relevance of having another fashion week in the city, as we are already recognised. I think it will be an overdose of fashion. Now more people will come up and start their own fashion weeks.

They wanted to register themselves as Bangalore Fashion Weekend, but have gone ahead and done it in the name of Prasad Bidapa. I have never seen any fashion show in anyone’s name. We have made a name and are also going global this year with a show in Bangkok in March. This year, we have big designers like Ritu Kumar, Rina Dhaka, Abhishika Dutta and Niki Mahajan apart from other designers.”

Roshan Issac, a model who works for Prasad Bidapa feels, “PBFW is the first fashion week that will have only city designers of repute.” Question the organisers of BFW on the same and they say, “The reason why we didn’t have a lot of local talent was that we wanted to show the city talent from other cities.”

Sajad Mahajan, CEO, Dream Merchants reiterates, “We have also brought in several innovations like our BFW tunes.”

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Lifestyle> Fashion / DC, Namita Gupta / January 11th, 2013

Game time

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Rohan Bopanna on brand promotion and tennis

“I am glad to be here today, at the unveiling of Rado’s HyperChrome Collection. I’m pleased that Rado is the new official timekeeper for the Aircel Chennai Open, and am happy to be launching its latest collection,” said well-known tennis player Rohan Bopanna. a watch from Rado’s HyperChrome Collection while playing at the Open. “Its light weight and sturdy. It’s a watch fit for all occasions.”

When asked how he felt on joining Andy Murray as the other tennis player to sport Rado’s HyperChrome, he said; “I’m honoured to have joined the list of international sportsmen and celebrities who have represented this brand.” On his thoughts about the upcoming Chennai Open, Bopanna said that he’s looking forward to it; but refused to answer any questions related to the game. He said he would be looking to start his new season on a positive note; and also revealed that he has a collection of around 32 watches from various watch manufacturers.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Life & Stylye> MetroPlus / by Ashwin Jacob / December 31st, 2012

Tech wiz is ‘Coorg person of the year’

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Science & Technology

Google offered to buy his company, which he turned down

Vineet Devaiah, founder of a technology company which is set to offer tough competition to the controversial ‘Google Street View’ project is ‘Coorg Person of the Year, 2012’.

In fact Google had offered to buy out his company TeliportMe, but the Cornell educated CEO of the Palo Alto California-based start-up refused the offer, though Vineet had many a sleepless nights before turning down the once in a lifetime chance because “once you have said no, you cannot go back and ask them again.”

According to well-known technology website techcrunch.com, the Google buyout offer was in the range of $15-20 million, though Vineet is not prepared to comment on the amount.

He was selected ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ in a poll conducted by www.coorgtourisminfo.com, Kodagu’s first news portal, promoted by senior journalist P T Bopanna, said a release from the jouranlist.

Vineet, 26, son of Theetira Subramani and Latha, hailing from Kutta in Kodagu district of Karnataka State, has developed an Android application which focusses on creating virtual tours using 360 degree panoramas. Users can not only capture high-resolution 360 views, but can also share their images on Facebook and Twitter.

New application

Vineet likens his new application TeliportMe to Google Street View. “It is what TeliportMe will be in the next 5 to 6 years. The only difference between the two companies is that Google is paying billions of dollars to create it and we are getting it done for free… It’s kind of Wikipedia or crowd source imagery by people,” he noted.

Among the others who were nominated for this year’s ‘Coorg Person of the Year 2012’, include Commonwealth Games badminton gold medalist Machimanda Ashwini Ponnappa and noted environmentalist Col C P Muthanna, who has been waging a relentless battle to save the Western Ghats from the forest mafia in Kodagu. said the release.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Mysore, DHNS / December 30th, 2012

CM to inaugurate Koodige Sainik School building today

Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence

The building of Koodige Sainik School which is the second of its kind in Karnataka, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on December 18.

The most awaited project was initiated by the collaboration of State and Central Governments in 2007, in the memory of Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General Thimmaiah.

The school was started in the campus of Agricultural Department and the new full-fledged building of Sainik school has been constructed at a cost of Rs 31.8 crore, in a land spreading over 62 acre, near Koodige farm.

The school imparts training to 456 cadets from sixth to 12th standard, as per the syllabus recommended by the Central government. The military training includes information on the military activities and daily physical exercise and code of conduct of Koodige sainik school has become a model to the other sainik schools.

Koodige Sainik School Principal Capt Ramesh said that the first phase of the newly built Koodige Sainik School includes administrative, academic block along with mess hall, dormitory for the cadets.The CM will also lay foundation for the second phase of the development work. The government has released Rs eight crore towards the second phase of the work.

He said that the work on an auditorium will be taken up in the second phase. The staff quarters building will be constructed in the third phase.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Kushalnagar, DHNS / December 17th, 2012 / DH News Service

Kodava Academy spots an artiste living in oblivion

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

When there is a talk of degeneration of cultural values and all aspects associated with it, the 65-year-old Medara Taani’s name crops up as an exception. He is struggling to keep a vanishing tradition of beating drums during festivals in Kodagu that sets a rhythmic Kodava ‘kolatt’ in motion lending a special aura to the festival and raise it to dizzy levels.

Medara Taani, who has been chosen for the Kodava Sahitya Academy Award.—/ PHOTO: NANDA KUMAR / The Hindu

The sounds of ‘dol’ and ‘pare’ the traditional music instruments have their own special place in Kodagu. And Taani has over five decades of experience in playing them. It is apt that the Madikeri-based Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has picked him as one of the persons contributing to the Kodava culture for this year’s award.

The dwelling of Mr. Taani in the Tadiyandamol Hills, the highest peak in Kodagu, is the only platform where he mastered the art. He is credited with producing a number of musical sounds emanating from the dol and pare during the Puthari festival held in Kodagu. Playing dol and pare is a must to the accompaniment of Hutri Kolatt, a dance performed by the Kodavas swinging reed sticks in hands, and gyrating in a set path around the ‘mand’, a place revered for the presence of niche of deities.

The musical instruments are a legacy of his father who pursued the avocation successfully. Mr. Taani has travelled to places such as New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mysore to play his musical objects in the past. But his sojourns did not help him get the better of his imperceptible background. However, his ordeals in life too never appear to end. The poor artiste walks the distance to fetch water every day. His dwelling does not have electricity. He does not possess land but has no qualms about it.

Son of Subbaiah and Seetamma from Nelaji village in Madikeri taluk of Kodagu, he is one of the nine siblings in the family. Mr. Taani, who speaks Kodava, ekes out a living with his wife by weaving baskets and other household items out of bamboo. The cash award of Rs. 10,000 which would be given to him with a citation by the academy might not change his life, but certainly send a message that artistes and art never die. And, the academy deserves kudos for spotting him from a state of obscurity. His humility came to the fore, reacting to the recognition by the Academy when he said that credit for his award should go to the people of his village.

Taani, who beats traditional drum, lives in abject penury.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by K. Jeevan Chinnappa / Mysore, December 14th, 2012