Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Tata Starbucks celebrates International Coffee Week with Brewtober

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, World Opinion

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Mumbai:

Tata Starbucks in India is taking its coffee heritage and inspiration to celebrate International Coffee Week this year with coffee-forward experiences and special promotions across its stores.

Recognised in delivering consistent, authentic in-store experiences, rooted in high-quality Arabica coffee, Tata Starbucks is celebrating the art of coffee from heritage to brewed innovation over a seven-day celebration titled ‘Starbucks Brewtober’, beginning October 1.

To celebrate coffee, Starbucks stores, which bring to life the Third Place experience, will feature seven international whole bean coffees handpicked from seven different parts of the coffee belt, allowing customers to ‘Travel the World in Seven Sips’ this International Coffee Day- October 1.

Other experiential activities during the week include ‘Farm to Cup’ story – an immersive coffee tasting experience that brings to the fore Starbucks’ commitment to ethically sourced coffee and its 47-year old legacy of coffee processing and roasting; ‘Starbucks Coffee Experience Bar’- a masterclass into the art, craft and science behind different cups of coffee and ‘Latte Art’ – a showcase of the craft of Starbucks partners.

On October 6, Starbucks Brewtober brings ‘Starbucks 100’ – a day Starbucks shares coffee love with all its customers by offering them any short/ tall Starbucks beverage at only Rs 100 across all its stores in India.

Continuing with the celebrations, Starbucks is also offering My Starbucks Rewards Gold Members an exclusive offer on October 7.

“At Starbucks ,we take great pride and joy in partnering with customers on their journey of coffee exploration and are committed to delivering an unparalleled coffee experience. With ‘Starbucks Brewtober’, Tata Starbucks commemorates coffee with a week-long celebration. ‘Starbucks Brewtober’ offers coffee lovers a unique way of celebrating coffee, starting with various immersive coffee experiences to the big day of ‘Starbucks 100’ – a day when Starbucks shares coffee love with its customers by offering all its short/ tall handcrafted beverages for only Rs 100,” said Veetika Deoras, Head – Marketing, Category, Digital and Loyalty at Tata Starbucks Limited.

“We hope to celebrate coffee and the spirit of Starbucks through the week and look forward to welcoming our customers in our stores,” she added.

International Coffee Week will be celebrated across all Starbucks stores in India from October 1 to 7, 2018.

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SOURCE: ANI

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home / by Syed Qayam Ali / September 26th, 2018

Gulshan Devaiah’s film shines bright at TIFF

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

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Gulshan Devaiah is getting all the praises at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2018 for his performance in the upcoming Vasan Bala directorial ‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’ (‘The Man Who Feels No Pain’). The actor’s film which premiered at the TIFF 2018 has gone on to win the Grolsch People’s Choice Midnight Madness section award after beating big-budget Hollywood franchises like ‘Halloween’ and ‘Predator’.

Gulshan is playing a double role in the film — a mysterious Karate Master named Mani and his psychotic twin named Jimmy. His dual performance is being lauded by the critics and audiences with Gulshan being called “an irreplaceable component to the film who brings great energy to every scene he is in”.

“Vasan and I worked again after his first film ‘Peddlers’. Vasan is a fabulous talent. I am so happy for him that ‘MKDNH’ was so widely appreciated by the audiences and critics in Toronto where they were demanding a sequel. I am so overwhelmed by what people are saying and writing about our film and my performances,” says Gulshan.

‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’ is Gulshan and director Vasan Bala’s second collaboration after the 2012 crime thriller film ‘Peddlers’.

source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Entertainment / by FPJ Bureau / September 25th, 2018

Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Statue Unveiled Near Bengaluru Kodava Samaja

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

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Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, who unveiled the statue of Field Marshal K.M.Cariappa at Miller’s Road Junction near Kodava Samaja in Vasanthnagar, Bengaluru, this morning, is seen with Bengaluru Mayor Sampath Raj, Samaja President Ravi Uthappa, Advocate M.T. Nanaiah, former Karnataka Media Academy Chairman M.A. Ponnappa and others.

It may be recalled, a life-size bronze statue of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, was unveiled at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai during June 2018 by his son, retired Air Marshal K. C. Cariappa.

Also, Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat had unveiled the bronze statues of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya at Cauvery College in Gonikoppal, Kodagu district, in November 2017.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery> Photo News / September 26th, 2018

On a Shoestring to Coorg by Dervla Murphy-Review

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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Title: On a Shoestring to Coorg

Author: Dervla Murphy / Publisher: Speaking Tiger
Pages: 255 / Price: 450

Best known for her 1965 book Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle, adventure writer and eternal tourist Dervla Murphy is a legend of travel documentation and Irish cycling. On a Shoestring to Coorg is a thrilling account of her second visit to India, with her 5-year-old daughter Rachael.

The travel is thrilling because Murphy travels to India with little money, no concrete plans on where exactly to go and by which way, and no one to call her own in the alien land. She makes friends on the way — each one unique in his character and habits, made more so by her descriptions born out of keen observation of their idiosyncrasies and incongruities; travels to the most adverse and remote locales in south India, explores uncharted paths walking, moving on carts and buses and boats and notes down everything with piercing clarity and objectivity.

She loves India, which draws her repeatedly to her, but the love is not imbued with dramatic sentimentalism leading to heaps of unstudied praise. She loves India as she would love her own country — being critical where it needs to be, and also praiseful in places where it deserves. This lends the book a balance not always found in writers who are inundated by an overflowing sympathy for a foreign people or an alien culture. Often writers cross the threshold of restraint in their show of generosity for a different culture and exaggerate even the mundane chores of daily life to something quaint and exhilarating when actually they are not so.

Objectivity is the hallmark of a great writing and Murphy is a master of that, even to the extent of being disparaging at times of certain Indian ways which are obnoxious and irksome to one inured to a different standard of civility in the western world. She is wary of the intrusiveness of Indians in the personal space and their definition of cleanliness at times surprises her. But beyond individual stupidities or cultural drawbacks, Murphy sees the larger picture that is India — her glorious history and heritage, the simplicity and naturalness of life against western showbiz, the varied topography and climatic diversity, the capacity of the people to endure the hardships of life with resilience and equanimity, and the spirit with which they accommodate and accept an outsider as their own. These unique attributes of India are what stand out in this book and make it an informative and valuable document for both Indians and outsiders who want to have a view of India from a different perch and perspective.

Behind all her critical takes on India, lies Dervla Murphy’s deep love for the country and a deeper connect she feels with her that gives her the strength to embrace the difficulties of life here voluntarily, with a kind of persistence and gumption not naturally expected of a foreigner in the 1970s India, when travel and staying facilities, especially in the hinterlands, were largely rudimentary and unsavoury.

But if objectivity is her strength, brevity is not. The book is lengthy when gauged against the limited spatial dimension it covers and the detailing too minute and intricate to sustain patience. Many of the insignificant incidents which could have been dropped for the sake of pith make the book unnecessarily weighty and delay the more important turns and twists in the journey which are of greater interest to the reader.

Dervla Murphy has the eye of a cinematographer which forgets that its medium is not the camera but the printed letter, which needs a different idiom of expression.

source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Book Review / by Diptiman Chakraborty / September 23rd, 2018

Birth Anniversary Of Poet Appacha To Be Observed As ‘Kodava Sahitya Dina’

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

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Gonikoppal:

The birth anniversary of ancient poet of Kodagu Haradasa Appaneravanda Appacha (Sept.21) will henceforth be celebrated as ‘Kodava Sahitya Dina’ in recognition of the poet’s immense contribution to Kodava literature.

A decision to that effect was taken at a function organised jointly by Shivamogga Agriculture and Horticulture University, Ponnampet College and Kodagu Rangabhoomi Pratisthana to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Haradasa Appacha Kavi at Forest College auditorium in Ponnampet on Friday.

A declaration to that effect was released by M. Asha Mandanna, Chairperson, Appacha Kavi College Management Council, Ponnampet.

Inaugurating the programme after offering floral tributes to a portrait of poet Appacha, Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy recalled that Appacha had come out with many poems on spirituality and wished that the poet could have written a few poems on reformation of the social system for which the poet had enough knowledge and strength. He contended that theatre and poetry were powerful tools to correct society.

Releasing a book of Appacha, Akhila Kodava Samaja Working President I.K. Biddappa expressed happiness that Kodava literature had gained importance and popularity despite a thin population of Kodavas.

Speaking on the occasion, Kendra Sahitya Academy Member A. Cariappa recalled that the then Chief Minister of Kodagu ‘C’ State C.M. Poonacha had conferred the title of ‘Varakavi’ on poet Appacha who popularised Kodava literature using Kannada script.

Kodagu Rangabhoomi Prathistana Chief Convenor Anitha Cariappa welcomed the gathering. Former College Dean Dr. C. Kushalappa and others were present. Cariappa and other artistes presented a programme ‘Amarakavya’ featuring poems of Appacha Kavi.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 23rd, 2018

Simple ‘Kail Muhurtha’ At Kodagu Gowda Samaja On Sept.30

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

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Mysuru:

With Kodagu devastated by floods and landslides, the Mysuru Kodagu Gowda Samaja will be celebrating ‘Kail Muhurtha’ get-together in a simple manner at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar II Stage at 9.30 am on Sept.30.

There will be no sports meet and cultural programmes this year.

However, meritorious children of the Samaja members who have scored high marks in SSLC and PUC (2017-18) will be presented pratibha puraskar on the occasion.

Eligible students may applying by Sept.25, according to a press release from Samaja Hon. Secretary Kuntikana S. Ganapathy.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 24th, 2018

I thought I was being pranked: Dayana Erappa on how she bagged Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam

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

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When you’ve successfully built a modelling career, what do you do when you get a call from Mani Ratnam’s production house?

When you’ve successfully built a modelling career, walking for the biggest designers and working with international brands, what do you do when you get a call from Mani Ratnam’s production house? “I thought I was being pranked! I really didn’t think it was real,” says Dayana Erappa, one of the leading ladies in Mani Ratnam’s multi-starrer Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. But it really was Madras Talkies reaching out to her, asking if she knew Tamil and Telugu.

Dayana, who’s from Coorg, said she was fluent in Tamil and Kannada, and sent over her portfolio and forgot all about it. Two months later, she was called for an audition in Mumbai, for a project with Mani Ratnam. When it was time for her to meet the man himself, Dayana had no idea what to expect. Describing the meeting, her voice still has a starstruck quiver, “On the entire flight to Chennai, I was thinking about what I would do when I finally faced him. I grew up watching and falling in love with his movies, how could I be anything but excited?”

The meeting went well. A chat, a script reading with him, and a few weeks later, she got the call confirming her part. “I knew nothing about the role or the character, but I had zero worries. Women have been depicted beautifully in all of Mani sir’s movies, so I knew I was in good hands.” In fact, she says she had no idea she was one of the leading ladies in the movie until the film’s cast poster was released.

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With no previous training or experience in acting, Dayana attended a few acting workshops to prepare herself. “When I found out I’d be acting opposite Simbu, I was quite nervous because I’d heard how talented he is. I’d also seen his movies and I wasn’t sure if I could match up to him.” And the first day on set she told Simbu exactly that. But he was supportive, telling her not to worry even if she needed 10 takes to get it right. “Sometimes it did take 10 takes,” she says laughing, but it was the encouragement she received on set that gave her the confidence to pull through. “From the actors to the ADs and stylists, it felt as though the entire crew was rooting for me.”

The transition from a successful model to an actor could not have been easy, but she says, “Even modelling is not something that you learn in a day or two; you work at it every day. So I was prepared to put in the hard work necessary to act from the get-go.” It also helped that she was surrounded by veteran actors. “I got to learn from just being around all that experience. Everyone was easy to talk to. No one treated me like a newcomer.”

Get her talking about her director and she switches to fangirl mode, “Mani sir is a patient craftsman and definitely a man with a vision. He works with you in a way that puts you at ease; so he gets the best performance out of his actors. His movies like Kannathil Muthamittaal and Thalapathi are my favourites. Now I see where the magic comes from.”

Ask her about Chaaya, the character she’s playing, and she won’t say anything more than that she’s a fun and adventurous girl, quite like herself. With a dream début in her hands, Dayana says she will continue modelling while she works on her acting skills, in case an interesting script comes knocking.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by Anugraha Sundaravelu / September 24th, 2018

Rs 50,000 to be handed over to distressed families in Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All

With donors from across the state contributing to CM’s Relief Fund, exclusively released to Kodagu district, over Rs 62 crore has been collected as on September 20.

Madikeri :

Following the natural disaster in Kodagu district, the numerous families that had lost houses and other properties were handed over Rs 3,800 – Rs 1,800 for clothing and Rs 2,000 for utensils and other household goods (per family)- under SDRF/NDRF guidelines.

Since the damage has been severe and the process of permanent rehabilitation will take some more time, the district administration including Deputy Commissioner Sreevidya P I and Kodagu District Minister Sa Ra Mahesh had proposed a request to the State government to increase the amount from meagre Rs 3,800/- per family to Rs 50,000, in a letter dated 28 August.

While the State and National Disaster Fund guidelines do not allow any changes to be made to the gratuitous funds, the state revenue department had stepped into people’s aid and had forwarded the proposal of releasing Rs 50,000/- each for the distressed families from the Karnataka Chief Minister Relief Fund-Natural Calamity 2018. The proposal, which was forwarded to CM H D Kumaraswamy was later forwarded to the Cabinet Committee for approval, which has now been sanctioned.

With donors from across the state contributing to CM’s Relief Fund, exclusively released to Kodagu district, over Rs 62 crore has been collected as on September 20. As many as 1,156 families have been directly affected by natural disaster and 186 houses have been damaged completely, 530 houses have been damaged severely and 404 houses have undergone partial damage.

While Rs 320 crore has been allotted to Karnataka under SDRF, an additional state fund of Rs 400 crore is provided to the state.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / September 22nd, 2018

Alka Marala is Miss India Connecticut 2018, Other CT Pageant Winners Announced

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion
Rekha Gopal - Mrs. India Connecticut 2018 (Left), Alka Marala - Miss India Connecticut 2018 (Middle), Nikitha Kikanamada - Miss Teen India Connecticut 2018 (Right)
Rekha Gopal – Mrs. India Connecticut 2018 (Left), Alka Marala – Miss India Connecticut 2018 (Middle), Nikitha Kikanamada – Miss Teen India Connecticut 2018 (Right)

Cromwell, Conn.(USA):

Alka Marala has been crowned as Miss India Connecticut 2018. Other winners in the state pageant, which was held last week and directed by Sumathi Narayanan, were: Nikitha Kikanamada, Miss Teen India Connecticut; and Rekha Gopal, Mrs. India Connecticut.

The winners will go on to compete at the national level pageant hosted by Dharmatma Saran, Chairman of IFC, for the title of Miss, Teen, and Mrs. India USA.

Sumathi Narayanan
Sumathi Narayanan

“We are so proud of the beautiful, talented, and successful women of Connecticut, and we’re excited to see how they further their causes and missions in this upcoming year by using the platform given to them,” said Narayanan, president of Sumathi Narayanan Realty, owner of Swaagat Collections in Shrewsbury, MA, and State Director of Miss India Connecticut Pageant. “We also encourage all women to continue to pursue their dreams and seize these opportunities.”

Miss Marala is a student at University at Buffalo and is currently finishing up her second major. She was elected as vice president of Finance for The Women in Management organization at her university. She is a part of UB Zeal, an inter-college competitive dance team. She is also a Kuchipudi dancer, and is fortunate to have her mother as her guru. She loves to travel the world, try different foods and learn about different cultures.

The Connecticut pageant, which was held on Saturday in Cromwell, CT, was directed by Ms. Narayanan, featuring three categories: Miss, Teen, and Mrs. A total of 23 contestants participated in the pageant and confidently portrayed Indian culture, unique talents, and American pride with grace and elegance.

“The pageant was not just about outer beauty, but also valued inner beauty, intelligence, and ambition of the young women of Connecticut,” Ms. Narayanan said in statement.

State Director Sumathi Narayanan along with all 2018 Winners and 2017 Winner Prachi Shah.
State Director Sumathi Narayanan along with all 2018 Winners and 2017 Winner Prachi Shah.

Miss India Connecticut is associated and part of IFC, a pioneer in organizing Indian pageants and fashion shows in USA, and aptly called the ‘Mother of all Indian Pageants in USA.’

The Connecticut pageant event started with an opening dance choreographed by P&P Dance Crew of Connecticut, in which all the contestants performed energetic and graceful introductory dances alongside the reigning Miss India CT 2017 and 1stRunner Up of Miss India USA 2017: Prachi Shah.

The opening dance was then followed by the ethnic wear round, where each contestant proudly displayed their Indian culture. Next was the talent round, in which contestants displayed their talent through dance and musical performances, acting, martial arts, crafts, and even magic shows. The contestants then gave their introduction in the evening gown round. Lastly, the finalists amazed everyone with their wits in the question and answer round.

The judges of the pageant were accomplished patrons of the arts from the New England area. The judges’ panel included: Tirthankar Das, a filmmaker and music composer from New Jersey; Sankar Gangaikondan, a singer and musician; Shaila Verma, Artistic Director of Shaila School of Dance in Massachusetts; Dr. Kavita Pattani, Mrs India USA 2017; and Namita Dodwadkar, Mrs India USA 2014 and Mrs India Worldwide 2016.

The crowned winners of each category are:

Miss India Connecticut – Alka Marala

Miss Teen India Connecticut – Nikitha Kikanamada

Mrs. India Connecticut – Rekha Gopal

1stRunner Ups:

Miss India Connecticut 1stRunner Up – Daman Brar

Miss Teen India Connecticut 1stRunner Up – Archita Mundrathi

Mrs. India Connecticut 1stRunner Up – Vidhi Dave

2ndRunner Ups:

Miss India Connecticut 2ndRunner Up – Radhika Rathore

Miss Teen India Connecticut 2ndRunner Up – Athulya Narayanan

Mrs. India Connecticut 2ndRunner Up – Mamatha Puttaswamy.

Here are some other subtitles given in each category, including Miss/Teen/Mrs. Social Media – Radhika Rathore, Athulya Narayanan, Debashree Rupalin. Miss/Teen/Mrs. Congeniality – Radhika Rathore, Nikitha Kikanamada, Mamatha Puttaswamy. Miss/Teen. Talent – Alka Marala, Athulya Narayanan. Miss/Teen/Mrs. Photogenic – Alka Marala, Dhruvi Patel, Nidhi Sinha and Miss/Teen/Mrs. Viewer’s Choice – Alka Marala, Archita Mundrathi, Mamatha Puttaswamy.

source: http://www.indianewengland.com / India New England News / Home> Lifestyle / by The New England News / September 18th, 2018

Mangaluru: St Agnes College felicitates Poovamma

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

Mangaluru:

With a view to empower and encourage young women achievers, St Agnes College (autonomous) organized a felicitation programme for Poovamma, an Indian spinster who hails from the district.

The programme was held on September 14 at St Agnes College.

Sr Dr M Jeswina AC principal St Agnes College, Sr Dr Venisssa AC, vice principal St Agnes College, Malavika, dean administration and Vasudha, physical education directress were present for the programme.

Vasudha, the physical education directress of the college welcomed the gathering.

Ladleen Monteiro introduced Poovamma to the gathering who was then felicitated by the dignitaries on the dais. Poovamma addressed the gathering and said that with hard work and determination, one can surely achieve great heights.

This was followed by a short message by the principal Sr Dr M Jeswina AC wherein she encouraged the students to take inspiration from Poovamma’s life.

Vijayashree, the sports secretary proposed the vote of thanks.

The programme concluded by singing the college anthem.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> CampusBeat / by Media Release / Mangaluru – September 18th, 2018