Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Mysuru Kodava Samaja To Celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary Of Appacha Kavi On June 10

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Mysuru:

To mark the 150th Birth Anniversary of Haradasa Appaneravanda Appacha Kavi, Akhila Kodava Samaja, Kodava Samaja, Mysuru and Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru, are jointly organising an event on June 10 (Sunday) at Kodava Samaja premises in Vijayanagar I Stage here at 9.30 am.

Haradasa Appacha Kavi has done notable contributions to Kodava language and literature and his works are evergreen. He wrote about Kodava culture in the 19th Century and most of his poems and dramas sprang from his experiences and based on studies conducted by him on the Kodava community. Appacha Kavi was born on Sept. 21, 1868 and he was not only a poet but also a social reformer. He wrote about social issues and rose to be an ‘Amarakavi.’

Kodava historian and scholar Bachiraniyanda P. Appanna will be the chief guest. President of Akhila Kodava Samaja Mathanda C. Monnappa will deliver the introductory address. Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa, Ittira Parvathi Cariappa and Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah will speak on Appacha Kavi.

Kodava folk artiste Chenanda A. Uthappa will speak on Appacha Kavi’s play ‘Yayathi’ and theatre artiste Addanda C. Cariappa will speak on Appacha Kavi’s poetry. President of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, Ballyamanda M. Nanaiah will preside.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 08th, 2018

They say models can’t act; I hope I’ve done justice to my role: Dayana Erappa

When the cast of Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (CCV) was announced, everyone was surprised to know that a new face (at least for Kollywood), Dayana Erappa, was to play one of the leads.

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Dayana is a Coorgi lass, an international model who has been in the fashion industry for more than five years; brought up in Bengaluru, but moved to Mumbai for modelling assignments… and now, a Kollywood actress, too!

But acting was never on her mind until Mani Ratnam’s project came by, she says. “I didn’t know if I was the right fit in cinema as I am tall and dusky. So, acting never crossed my mind. I was busy with my modelling assignments and even went to Milan for a couple of months.

One day, I got a call from Mani Ratnam’s production house asking me if I’d be interested in acting. Initially, I thought it was a prank call. Later, I tried to locate the person who spoke to me on FB and found that he was working in that production house. They asked me if I spoke Tamil and Telugu. Now I am fluent only in Tamil, not Telugu, but still, they asked me to send my pictures.

After three months, they said that their team will be in Mumbai to conduct auditions. I met Siva (co-writer of the film) sir and Shaad Ali (director and associate of Mani Ratnam). They gave me a script, I did an audition. Again, after a few months, they asked me to come for another audition, this time, in Chennai. Mani sir was supposed to be present for this one. I was super nervous, but he made me comfortable. Later, I was told that I am a part of the film. But it was only when they announced the title and cast officially, that I came to know that I was one of the leads,” says Dayana.

Then followed an acting workshop in Chennai for 15 days, and then, the shoot.

Dayana says her role is a stylish one. “We shot in Serbia — that was the schedule which we wrapped up recently. I was very nervous. Since I had a lot of time in between, I attended theatre workshops in Mumbai. I have no background in acting and I wanted to ensure that I when I go for the shoot, I am good. But the shooting was pretty smooth. Mani sir would say, ‘Kanna, do this’, or ‘do that’. He was really kind and knows exactly what he wants from an actor. I had a lot of doubts, but Mani sir said I shouldn’t be too technical in acting. Simbu is my co-star, and he, too, helped me on the set.”

So, what next? “I never thought I could be an actor until this movie happened. I am waiting to see the audience reactions. They say models can’t act, but I hope I have done justice to the role. So, let’s see.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Tamil Nadu> Movies> News / by Sharanya CR / June 07th, 2018

AGM Of Kodava Federation Held: Kodava Apex Body To Take Up Issues With Kodagu DC

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Madikeri:

The Federation of Kodava Samajas, Balagodu, Virajpet taluk, held its Annual General Body Meeting for the year 2017-18 on June 5, 2018 at its head office in Balagodu.

The meeting was attended by about 140 members. Federation President Kallichanda Vishnu Kariappa presided.

The President said that the membership drive in three categories namely, Kodava Samaja membership, Donor Membership and Kodava Okka (Family) Membership drive is pursued vigorously in order to strengthen the Federation.

The President said the Federation had received a letter dated 25.5.2018 from some members jointly requesting the Federation in its General Body of 2017-18 to discuss the issues mentioned in the letter and take appropriate decisions or pass resolutions. Among the issues mentioned in this letter were as follows:

1. To set up a Secretariat with an able Administrator to receive complaints and petitions from the members for solution with the guidance and help from the Federation. The Secretariat will interact with various Government Departments, if necessary, and report to the General Council or the President or the Secretary.
2. Federation to take up the cause of getting the Linguistic Minority status.
3. Make efforts to get Scheduled Tribe status for Kodavas.
4. Federation to ensure that no new places of worship are constructed near important temples of Kodavas like Sri Padi Igguthappa Temple at Kakkabe, Bhagandeshwara Temple at Bhagamandala, Mruthyunjaya Temple at Badaga etc. in order to protect the sanctity of these ancient temples.
5. Federation to take up the issue of Caste Certificate to be issued to Kodavas. At present, the Tahsildar is issuing the certificate saying ‘Kodagaru’ instead of ‘Kodava.’ This is causing problems wherever Caste Certificate is required to get benefits under Government schemes.
6. Federation to discuss with the concerned Government Department to complete the remaining 600 mts. road work from Pukola, Birunani, to Virajpet via Kotiyala, which will reduce the distance to Virajpet taluk headquarters by about 28 kms for the villagers.
7. Federation to discuss with the Government to withdraw cases filed against those who participated in the agitation against the high tension power lines going across South Kodagu to Kerala.

The President told the General Body that the Governing Council had discussed these issues at a special meeting inviting the representatives of all Kodava Samajas and would soon be meeting the Deputy Commissioner to discuss the matter and find solutions.

Raising the issue of the proposed Railway line criss-crossing Kodagu district, a senior member of the Federation expressed surprise that the massive protest march which was launched under the initiative of Mysuru Kodava Samaja, in association with some of the Kodava Samajas in Kodagu, should have been first discussed by the Federation which is the apex body of all Kodavas and led by the Federation. However, the President said that since it was done in a hurried manner the Federation could not take the leadership.

The Annual General Body Meeting concluded with a vote of thanks followed by a lunch.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 06th, 2018

Going the Parsi way

Parsis of the south: Scenes from the centenary celebrations of the Kodava Samaja Bangalore earlier this month. Photographs by Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint.
Parsis of the south: Scenes from the centenary celebrations of the Kodava Samaja Bangalore earlier this month. Photographs by Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint.

Fair-skinned, educated and Westernized, they are the Parsis of the south. And their numbers too are declining— from 175,000 in 1992 to 125,000 in 2010 (Bureau of Economics and Statistics). Kodavas, or Coorgis, are concentrated in Coorg, Karnataka, which the British turned into a major district of coffee plantations. The land is also known for its mist-cloaked hills scented with honey, cardamom and oranges.

Kodavas are more numerous than India’s Parsis, Bahá’ís and Jews but that’s no solace. “We might vanish by 2030,” says Chepudira M. Thilak Subbaiah, president of the Kodava Samaja Bangalore that held its centenary celebrations in early November. “Young Kodavas are educated workaholics and don’t care about families. They don’t want more than one child.” According to Subbaiah, Bangalore has the largest population of Kodavas (35,000) after Coorg (70,000).

“The concern is not so much of losing at a numbers game,” says Sarita Mandanna, whose debut novel Tiger Hills was set in Coorg at the turn of the 20th century, “but the risk of losing an entire way of life, and the land as we once knew it.”

Kodavas are warrior-caste Hindus but their festivals and rituals are different. They have no priest, no holy fire and no dowry in weddings. They are great pork eaters. They worship Kaveri, the river that originates in Coorg. With a literacy rate estimated at 80%, their vocabulary is a mix of Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. Almost everyone has an estate—it could be 1 acre or 500 acres. Some say they migrated from the Kurd region in West Asia, others claim they are descendants of Alexander’s army. Traditionally a martial race, they have produced army icons like K.S. Thimayya and K.M. Cariappa. Other notable Kodavas are athlete Ashwini Nachappa and VJ Nikhil Chinappa.

Explaining the reason behind the dwindling numbers, the Bangalore-based author, Prof. P.S. Appaiah, says: “Until 1950, families had at least half a dozen children each. After the government introduced family planning, the Kodavas showed the most enthusiasm. General Cariappa himself would tell us not to go beyond two children. He said that we couldn’t afford to make India a jam-packed stadium.”

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The Kodavas have been known for their well-knit joint families. “With better education and exposure, Kodavas are opting for smaller families, a trend that’s evident in most of educated India,” says Mandanna. “With land no longer jointly held within a family, but being parcelled into smaller acreages, it’s no longer viable to support a large brood of children.”

Young people are moving to cities like Bangalore, Mysore and Mumbai, where many have found their calling in the IT industry. “Many Kodavas are finding it hard to find suitable life partners within Kodavas, which forces them to marry non-Kodavas or stay as singles,” says Kishor Cariappa, moderator of KodaguCommunity.com, a site where people discuss topics ranging from marrying outside the community to Kodava cuisine.

A woman married to a Kodava is not considered a Kodavathi, but the children of the marriage are Kodavas. “Not so if a Kodava woman marries outside, in keeping with traditions observed in most of the country,” says Mandanna, whose sister married a Tamilian Brahmin. “Marrying within the community has its advantages in terms of a shared cultural background, but it is no guarantee of happiness, and I think a lot of the older Kodavas have come to recognize that.”

Despite the alarmists, there is no scare of extinction yet. “We are not going down like the Parsis,” says Mumbai-based art director Dipti Subramani, a Kodava who married outside her community. “I think we can maintain our present numbers.”

How can they be increased?

“We’re asking people to have more babies,” says Subbaiah. “Instead of criticizing young people marrying non-Kodavas, we must open our arms to people from other communities and not treat them as ‘outsiders’,” says Cariappa. However, some have other concerns. “If the Kodava population too goes up,” says Appaiah, “imagine what will be India’s fate.”

source: http://www.livemint.com / LiveMint / Home> Live / by Mayank Austen Soofi / November 25th, 2011

Signature campaign against smoking zones begins

The Consortium for Tobacco Free Karnataka (CFTFK) launched the ‘One million signature campaign’ as part of the World No Tobacco Day on Thursday.

Bengaluru :

The Consortium for Tobacco-Free Karnataka (CFTFK) launched the ‘One million signature campaign’ as part of the World No Tobacco Day on Thursday. The campaign will demand strict regulation policy on the sale of tobacco products and removal of ‘smoking zones’ in restaurants and bars across the state to safeguard non-smoker’s health.

A memorandum with 10 lakh signatories will also be submitted to the state government demanding appropriate measures to protect children from easy access to tobacco products and exposure to tobacco advertisement and to protect the health of non-smokers.

International athlete and Arjuna awardee Arjun Devaiah launched the campaign which is likely to continue for next eight months.To spread more awareness about the risks associated with tobacco use, CFTFK also launched information kiosks at crowded public places.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / May 31st, 2018

Fashion, celebs and haute couture on the BGTFW red carpet

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The red carpet of the Blenders Pride Magical Nights Music CDs presents Bangalore Times Fashion Week was abuzz with high fashion and celebrities. Fashion was seen on the ramp as well as off it.

We spotted many faces from the local film industry, including Suraj Gowda, Meghana Gaonkar, Anupama Gowda and Chandu B Gowda, as well as some of the regular party peeps.

The two-day affair saw some good shows with the who’s who in the front rows cheering for the designers, as top models walked the ramp. As a befitting finale to the event, there was a rocking after party, where everyone let their hair down and partied together.

Prasad Bidapa Associates produced the glitzy event.

“The BGTFW was a superbly staged experience showcasing the works of star designers like Archana Kochhar and Rina Dhaka. Bengaluru rarely gets to see events of this stature and it was wonderful to see the excitement and buzz of the audience as they enjoyed these lovely shows. I am proud to be associated with the event and look forward to more seasons of fabulous fashion with them,” says Prasad Bidapa, Driven by knowledge partner INIFD MG Road — The Design Centre, the stylish affair saw the institute’s students take on the reins of responsibility with élan.

Speaking about the success of the event, Jane Pereira, Centre Head, INIFD MG Road — The Design Centre, says, “Our students’ involvement in the fashion week is a unique attempt to integrate knowledge sharing between the leaders of the fashion business and the future of fashion in India.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Bangalore News / May 31st, 2018

Model Dayana Erappa joins the ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’ crew

The shoot of Mani Ratnam’s most awaited film ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’ is going at a brisk pace after the Kollywood strike. The crew recently shot a schedule in Dubai.

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The film which boasts of a star studded cast has been joined by popular model and former Miss India finalist Dayana Erappa. This will be her debut film and she has revealed in an interview that she will be playing one of the lead roles in the film.

The film’s cast include Simbu, Arvind Swami, Arun Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, Jyothika, Aishwarya Rajesh and Aditi Rao Hydari .

Actors Arvind Swami, Arun Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, and Aishwarya Rajesh have completed their portion of the shoot already.

The film which is titled ‘Nawab’ in Telugu has music by Isai Puyal AR Rahman and cinematography by ace cinematographer Santhosh Sivan. The film is being produced by Madras Talkies.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Entertainment> Tamil> Movies> News / TNN / May 30th, 2018

Mammoth Convention Of Ex-Servicemen Held At Gonikoppal In Kodagu

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Gonikoppal (Kodagu) :

Lieutenant General Dewan Rabindranath Soni, the current General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Command of the Indian Army, has called upon Ex-servicemen to come forward to find employment under Prime Minister’s Skill Development Project.

He was addressing a massive rally of ex-servicemen of Indian Army’s Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area Command at Cauvery College in Gonikoppal, South Kodagu yesterday.

Listing out various schemes introduced by the Union Government for re-settlement and welfare of ex-servicemen, Lt.Gen. Soni appealed ex-servicemen to encourage their wards to join the Army. Stressing on the need for ex-servicemen to maintain physical, mental fitness and health, he said that ex-servicemen should keep their knowledge updated on various Government schemes such as pension, land grant, reservation for children of ex-servicemen and the like.

He also highlighted that ex-servicemen will get cashless treatment at ECHS Hospitals across the country.

Maj.Gen. Sanjeev Narayan, in his address, said that ex-servicemen should properly utilise the pension scheme and other welfare schemes of the Government.
Lauding the contribution of Kodavas in armed forces, he called upon ex-servicemen to maintain values and discipline advocated by the Army. Emphasising on the need for ex-servicemen to have official ID cards issued by the Sainik Welfare Department, such cards will be crucial for getting benefits and facilities extended to them by the Government.

He called upon ex-servicemen and their dependents to visit Sainik Welfare Department at their respective district headquarters to get complete information on the whole range of Government facilities and benefits extended to them.

Sainik Welfare Department Joint Director Lt.Col. Geetha said that ex-servicemen and their dependents can apply online for availing various benefits and facilities, which include reservation for children in admission to educational Institutions, job reservation, student hostel admission in big towns, ECHS hospitals, land allotment, housing etc.,

Pointing out that more than 400 applications seeking land remained pending in the department’s district office, Lt. Col. Geetha said that these applications will be disposed off in stages in the days to come after consulting the concerned authorities.

Lt.Gen. D.R. Soni presented mementos to ex-servicemen and their dependents.

He was accompanied by his wife Colonel Suman Soni (retd.), who served in the Army as a gynaecologist for twenty-two years.

Field Marshal K.M. Subbaiah, Convenor Maj.B.A Nanjappa, Gonikoppal Cauvery College Secretary K.G. Uttappa, Principal Prof. Pattada Poovanna, Tahsildar Govindaraju and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 28th, 2018

Rashmika Mandanna Will Play A Cricketer In Vijay Deverakonda Dear Comrade

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Kannada Actress Rashmika Mandanna will now star in ‘Dear Comrade’ that also has Mahanati fame actor Vijay Deverakonda in the lead. In the film, she will be seen essaying the role of his love interest. The actor shared the first look poster on social media on his birthday and captioned it “Mythri Movie Makers. Big Ben Cinemas. & Your Man @Thedeverakonda. Bring you an action drama you will not forget – #DearComrade directed by Bharat Kamma. Shoot starts this June.” Well, we certainly can’t wait for the film to hit screens. However, given that the film is still in the pre-production phase, there’s time for that to happen.

The buzz is that Rashmika Mandana is going to be seen in an interesting role in the movie. Rashmika will be seen as a cricketer and playing for Telangana cricket team. Rashmika Mandana is said to be taking training in cricket right now so that she is close to naturality. Apparently, she is taking training in Hyderabad cricket club and the makers are going to begin the regular shoot very soon.

The actress is currently busy shooting for Kannada action entertainer titled Yajamana featuring popular actor Darshan. She made her debut Kannada movie, Kirik Party. Earlier, the director Bharat rubbished all the rumours about Dear Comrade being a remake of Dulquer Salmaan’s Mollywood movie, Comrade in America (CIA).

Dear comrade is the film produced jointly by Big Ben Cinemas and Mythri Movie Makers. The film is directed by a newcomer called Bharath Kamma.

source: http://www.pressks.com / PressKS / Home> Entertainment / by Shiva / May 15th, 2018

District Assembly Training By Rotary Tomorrow

The District Secretariat, Rotary Mysore and Rotary International District 3181, India, have organised a function for the inauguration of Spoorthi, the District Assembly Training on May 26 (tomorrow) at 3 pm in Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja Sports Club on Lalitha Mahal Road in city.

The programme will be inaugurated by Past Dist. Governor, RI District 3181 R. Vasudevamurthy. Past Dist. Governor, RI District 3020 Sam Movva will deliver the keynote address.

District Governor 2017-18, RI Dist. 3181 M.M. Suresh Chengappa will preside.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / May 25th, 2018