Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

“Yoga helped me cope during my Teenage through Motherhood ”

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Sports, World Opinion

Says dancer & yoga exponent Yamini Muthanna

Niranjan Nikam in conversation with Yamini Muthanna.
Niranjan Nikam in conversation with Yamini Muthanna.

Mysuru is the Ashtanga Yoga capital of the world, a sobriquet which is music to the ears of Mysureans, after the cleanest city tag for the second time. The city has also produced two of the finest yoga exponents in the world, B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois. However, there is one more Guru, who is quietly doing his bit on whom many discerning yoga practitioners swear — it is B.N.S. Iyengar.

Bengaluru-based Yamini Muthanna, dancer and yoga exponent, is one such. She was in city recently to participate in the launch function of her book “The Power of Yoga” at Dhvanyaloka Open Air Theatre.

After the book launch, organised by the Mysore Book Club, a first-of-its-kind experiment in Mysuru, Yamini, who gave a breath-taking yoga demonstration, shared her views on how the book shaped, the power of yoga, the undue importance for competitions and why everybody should practice yoga, with Senior Journalist N. Niranjan Nikam. Excerpts. — Ed

by N. Niranjan Nikam

SOM: We just saw your demonstration of yoga. I was thinking all the time, aren’t children the best yogis because their body is so flexible. How is it that we lose all that and only when we see people like you, we say to ourselves, “I wish I was like her — flexible, elastic and graceful.”

Yamini Muthanna: Children are natural Yogis. They are so free in their mind and body so the Asanas are easy for them. They do not have points of resistance either in their body and mind due to stress or tension that an adult might have. Therefore, I personally feel that flexibility in a Yoga Asana practice is a product of freeing the body and mind rather than putting in a lot of imposed effort. Anybody can train to be flexible with proper training of the body and freedom in mind. Yoga Asanas are patterned so beautifully that the body can be slowly animated into an Asana with proper judgement and care.

SOM: Yamini, you started yoga at a young age and you have come a long way. What made you write “The Power of Yoga?”

Yamini: My practice of Yoga has been extremely beneficial for me in all circumstances of my life. It helped me cope during my teenage through motherhood. I have been in constant touch with my body and mind and Yoga has helped me to be always aware. Once I started teaching from 2001 onwards, I noticed it was helping my students also to deal with situations better than how they used to handle things before they started practice. I started documenting their progress and started prescribing need-based specific practice sessions. It was helping my students and, therefore, I decided to share it for a larger group of yoga enthusiasts. My message in the book is you can choose your daily practice according to your day’s needs and have tried to explain how it works.

SOM: I learnt a little bit of yoga about 25 years ago from a Guru here. Later, I practiced for quite some time with the book, “Light on Yoga,” by B.K.S. Iyengar. Your book is equally interesting as you make it look very simple, how far have you come?

Yamini: Guru B.K.S Iyengar’s book is my Bible for my personal Asana study. He has set the benchmark of perfection in the Asanas and I am yet to come across another book equal to that of “Light on Yoga.” The book has been my Guru ever since I started personal practice. I did personal practice from 1996 to 2001 before I started to teach. I did a thorough study of the book, summarised by Guru B.N.S. Iyengar’s teachings and built up my practice, experimented my understanding and documented them in a way which would be easy for a Yoga Practitioner to comprehend. My book is not about loads of information but it is a guide to delve deeper in the practice by triggering a curiosity.

SOM: Yamini, you were talking to me about angles and Trikonasana which is the cover page that has caught you in action is such a perfect pose. Share a little about angles and sequences with our audience.

Yamini: I have a strong understanding that Yoga Asanas are geometric patterns from the Sri Chakra Yantra. I do not want to go to the details of it as I do not have proof and specific information about it. Just as Guru B.N.S.Iyengar mentioned in his speech earlier that the body will get chiselled into a fine cut diamond with perfect glitter in the body with the practice of Asanas and Pranayama. I would like to add that perfect geometry exists in pyramids and prisms also creating certain beneficial energy source forming specific benefits in the universe. It is in the same lines I personally feel that Asanas are also patterned to generate specific benefit to the body. Therefore, it is very important to maintain perfect lines in an Asana construction.

SOM: You have talked at length about asanas, chakras, mudras, pranayama and their benefits, all with photographs and you yourself doing each one of them. However, you have not mentioned time needed for each asana, or have I missed it?

Yamini: No I have not gone too much into the details of these deeper practices of Hatha Yoga as I do not want practitioners to try them on their own with the help of a book as they could be dangerous. It is very important that their first instruction comes from a Guru. I have just mentioned them as an information guide into the future practice.

SOM: You said that you do not believe in giving certificates. I would like to share my experience — I had written a story about yoga talking to a teacher about four years ago titled “Posturing ‘Olympics’ (op)position.” I had read an article in Deccan Herald about a move to include yoga performance in Olympics. The yoga teacher had opposed this idea and I had even quoted that B.K.S. Iyengar was also not in its favour. You yourself and a few noted yoga exponents including Sharath Jois, grandson of Pattabhi Jois, whom I met the other day does not favour it. When I sourced this article of mine which I had promptly forgotten, after four years, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were 39 comments on it but all blasting me away to glory.

Yamini: I do not agree that Yoga Asana be treated as sports. Yoga is all about a personal well-being routine rather than challenge or competition. Your practice is your personal journey and you don’t need to get a medal or stand on a victory stand to announce your success. You silently practice yoga and reap the glory of the practice by using it in life and your routine mundane activities. It’s not sports.

SOM: But you yourself had participated in competitions earlier. In fact that is how you started your tryst with yoga.

Yamini: I did go for two competitions in 1986 and 1987, won the championships and understood it was a mistake. Master was also not too pleased by it. I did not inform him before entering the contest, because I knew he would not let me. I was sorry for a long time for that mistake.

SOM: What is the difference between a Nadia Comãneci’s perfect ten and yoga postures is the question many ask? Can you highlight the difference?

Yamini: Well, I am going to answer this in brief. Gymnasts use a lot of kinetic energy in their postures and expel a lot of force and energy to get into their perfect positions. Yoga uses potential energy with holds and binds in the asanas conserving energy. So some of the postures look the same but the benefits and the source of construction are different in both Yoga and Gymnastics.

SOM: Yamini you are a Kodava — and Kodavas are slim, tall, elegant, beautiful, handsome, rugged and with wiry bodies. The trouble sometimes is, we stereotype people. Did you turn a vegetarian when you started practicing yoga?

Yamini: I am a proud Kodavathi rooted in my Kodava culture and tradition. I have not given up anything at all. But my personal development has adopted various principles from my study of the two classical disciplines. They are my personal principles that do not interfere with my home culture, which is Kodava. [Daughter of Chendrimada Raja (late) and Sundari, Yamini is married to Kotera C. Muthanna].

No I did not turn vegetarian when I started practicing Yoga, though I changed a lot of principles to suit my practice. However, I am not a great fan of non-vegetarian food. You can call me a “No-fussytarian.” I eat whatever is healthy.

SOM: How much of your yoga has influenced your dance?

Yamini: A lot, in terms of energy and health. Breathing especially gets regulated when we do rigorous dancing. It has helped me keep my body agile and supple and less injury-prone.

SOM: What are your future plans and why the word ‘Power’ in the title of the book?

Yamini: Future plans — I shall keep doing what I am doing with more passion and conviction. I shall keep replenishing my knowledge in these two subjects. With the blessings of my Gurus, I have no doubt in accomplishing this; I will need their support and guidance always. I have already started my next book on Yoga, which would be exclusively for women from 18 to 80. The contents are just shaping up. I feel it will give an interesting perspective on woman’s body and how Yoga could benefit maintenance.

“Power,” I can’t think of a better term for Yoga. Yoga is a source of Power to better your life. As one adapts Yoga into his/her lifestyle, it becomes more and more obvious. I am using the term to emphasise this fact… It’s been my personal Power.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Niranjan Nikam / February 24th, 2016

The Cuisine of Coorg: Pandi Curry, Puttus, Kachampuli and More

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Pandi Curry, kadambuttu and Akki Roti: Image via Prarthana Bidapa
Pandi Curry, kadambuttu and Akki Roti: Image via Prarthana Bidapa

A few months ago, I was foraging for food near Wicklow village, about an hour away from Dublin. This was not some desperate attempt to find survival food but a structured walking tour to hunt for food in the woods engineered by Chef Evan Doyle, one of Europe’s champions of Wild Food, who also runs one of the only organic restaurants in Europe. Restaurants like his Strawberry Tree and the iconic Noma in Denmark have made foraging one of hottest food trends of the 2010s. In just a couple of hours I returned to his kitchen with a rich bounty that included wild mushrooms and wild garlic. Closer home there are many communities who have traditionally hunted for food and made the best of locally available resources long before foraging became cool.

Coorg’s Pandi (Pork) Curry might be its most emblematic dish but not many outside the region know that this dish was originally crafted with wild boar. The Kodagu (Coorg) district that shares its Southern borders with Kerala is not just one of the most scenic regions in Karnataka but boasts of its unique culture, language and above all one of India’s most distinctive cuisines. For a brief while (1947-1956), this district was a separate state before it merged with the Mysore (Karnataka) state. Spread over 4,100 sq kms Coorg’s delectable cuisine evolved with its unique landscape where farms and forests merged almost seamlessly.

Until recently most local farm owners supplemented their produce with bounties from the forest like wild pig, wild fowl, venison, wild yams, bamboo and colocasia leaves. Quite a few vegetables were not cultivated and animals were not actually reared. Much of that has changed with Coorg’s changing 21st century landscape but it’s still not unusual for wild mangoes and bamboo shoots to find their way to kitchens around the region even today.

Foraging for Food

For centuries Coorg was quite inaccessible – a landlocked region, making it almost essential for the locals to make the best use of local ingredients and spices, that spawned a cuisine like no other. Yoga Acharya Shanthala T Medappa grew up in Coorg before moving to Chennai where she set up Old Mercara that specializes in home-style preserves and ice creams. Her range is season-specific and completely natural akin to her culinary roots in Coorg where flavours are natural, spices are used judiciously and the food is light. A contrast to what Indian food has become in some parts – an overkill of spices and masalas that literally drown the meat or vegetables.

Image via Prarthana Bidapa
Image via Prarthana Bidapa

Authentic Kodava cuisine retains the natural taste of its key ingredients – bamboo shoots for instance are allowed to sour in its own waters. Fat is also used sparingly, mostly to temper the food. According to Shanthala, seasons dictated what the Kodavas ate and when. Kitchens focused on food that produced thermal warmth during the cold and wet monsoon season. The preserved game meat was traditionally in wooden slatted frames placed horizontally over the cooking fire that didn’t just keep the meat dry but also enhanced it with a wood-smoked flavour.

Another unique ingredient that you will find in most Kodava households is Kachampuli, their own version of a Balsamic vinegar (just much more tastier!) that is extracted from the ripe fruits of the Kodambuli fruit (the ripe fruits of the garcinia gummi gutta tree). These fruits are usually placed in baskets over large vessels to allow the juice to gently drip down (over a few days) as the fruit gradually becomes pulp. The extract thickens over time, this souring agent is typically used towards the end of the cooking process in many Kodava dishes (including the Pandi curry) and accentuates the flavours of the meat.

Image via Prarthana Bidapa
Image via Prarthana Bidapa

The Coffee County

Coorg might be a coffee county, but it’s also known for rice – this is where the river Cauvery originates, and rice is the major staple and used for a number of preparations, whether it’s the traditional steamed puttus or their payasams. The steamd puttus come in many forms – the Kadambuttu (ball-shaped puttus), Thaliya Puttu (flat puttus steamed in plates), Paaputtu (cooked with milk and shredded coconut), Nooputtu (thread puttu, pressed into noodle-like threads with a mould similar to the idiyappam) and Koovale Puttu (made with ripe bananas or jackfruit).

Coorg might be flanked by regions rich in culture and cuisine – like the Malabar region in Kerala, Mysuru and the Dakshina Kannada region in Karnataka, but their influence on Coorg’s cuisine is quite minimal. While its possible to recreate some of the region’s signature dishes like the Bamboo Shoot Curry (with canned bamboo available at many supermarkets and gourmet shops) and the Meen (fish) Curry, it doesn’t quite taste the same without locally sourced ingredients. For that you have to dine in one of the Kodava households or be invited for a Kodava wedding in Coorg – the ultimate showcase of the region’s cuisine. Quite a few homestays in Coorg or boutique properties are a great starting point to explore Coorg cuisine too. And before you get there, try your hand at making Coorg Pandi Curry.

Coorg Pandi Curry

(Recipe and Image Courtesy: Shanthala T Medappa – Yoga Acharya and owner Old Mercara)

Cusine04KF24feb2016

Ingredients:

1/2 kg pork (preferably with bones) cut into medium-sized pieces
1/2 tsp Kachampuli or 1 1/2 Tbsp thick tamarind pulp
A few curry leaves
1-2 tsp oil

For the marinate
1-2 tsp salt
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder

For the dry masala
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp fenugreek
2 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp coriander seeds

For the wet masala
2 onions, sliced
6 ginger cloves (1-inch in size)
6 garlic
6-8 green chillies
A small bunch of coriander leaves

Method:

1. Marinate the pork with salt, turmeric and chilli powder, and leave it aside for 30 minutes.
2. Heat a little oil in a pressure cooker or a flat-bottomed vessel, and fry the curry leaves.
3. Make the ‘wet masala’ by grinding together onions, ginger, garlic, green chillies and coriander leaves. Add it to the pan and saute for a few minutes.
4. Add the pork and mix well. Continue sautéing for 5-6 minutes.
5. In a separate pan, dry roast the whole masalas – cumin seeds, fenugreek, black pepper and coriander seeds – on a medium flame until aromatic, then grind to a powder. Add it to the pork and mix well.
6. Add half cup of hot water and pressure cook the pork until done or let it slow cook on an open flame, stirring constantly.
7. Uncover the lid, add the Kachampuli and cook for 2-3 minutes, till the gravy thickens.
8. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

About the Author:

Ashwin Rajagopalan is a cross cultural training expert and lifestyle writer. When he’s not writing about food, he thinks about gadgets, trends and travel experiences. He enjoys communicating across cultures and borders in his weekday work avatar as a content and editorial consultant for a global major and one of India’s only cross cultural trainers.

Disclaimer :

The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

source: http://www.food.ndtv.com / NDTV Food / Home> Food & Drinks / by Ashwin Rajagopalan / February 23rd, 2016

Polling peaceful in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru districts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

The zilla and taluk panchayat elections held in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts were peaceful on Saturday.

The polling received a lukewarm response in plateau region in Chikkamagaluru district till afternoon.

Twenty-three per cent polling was recorded at Karthikere in Kuruvangi zilla panchayat constituency at 11 am. The polling percentage similar at Kalasapura in Ambale constituency at 11.30 am.

A 95-year-old Jayamma was carried to the polling booth by her son Siddalingappa at Pillenahalli.

The labourers left for their work after exercising their franchise in Malnad. The political parties had even arranged vehicles to ferry the voters to the polling booths at a few places.

District Congres Committee President D L Vijaykumar exercised his franchise at Balegadde polling station.

Report from Kodagu

Elections were held in 29 zilla panchayat and 50 taluk panchayat constituencies in Kodagu district.

A total of 117 candidates are contesting in the zilla panchayat election and 169 candidates are in the fray in taluk panchayat election.

Technical glitch was experienced was an elctronic voting machine at Athooru polling station at Somwarpet taluk. There was brisk polling since morning in the district.
Women and men were seen standing in long queues to exercise their franchise at Kedakal, Suntikoppa, Guddehosur, Nanjarayapatna, Kambibane, Chettalli, Nelyahudikeri, Siddapura, Ammathi, Moornadu, Mekeri and other areas.

Ninety-six-year-old Ponnamme arrived to exercise her franchise at Kedakal polling station.

Krithika, who excercised her franchise for the first time at Suntikoppa, said, “I am feeling happy that I have excercised my franchise for the first time. Voting is a sacred right.” Jayalakshmi, a first-time voter, expressed similar views at Guddehosur.

People were seen discussing about the election in groups outside 100 metre radius of a few polling booths in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Meer Anees Ahmmed visited Kadagadalu, Abhyathmangala, Chettalli, Nelyahudikeri, SIddapura, Makkandoor, Madapura, Athooru, Guddehosoor and other polling booths. The counting of votes will be held at 8 am on February 23.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Chikkamagaluru – Kodagu / DHNS – February 21st, 2016

Two Back-to-back B-town Releases for Nidhi

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

Nidhi01KF21feb2016

Having featured in seven Sandalwood films, most notably Pancharangi,Krishnan Marriage Story and Anna Bond, Nidhi Subbaiah knew that her destiny was not to crawl about in a fenced comfort zone, but to soar through clouds of limitless ambition, even if it meant enduring the storms.

Nidhi Subbaiah
Nidhi Subbaiah

Having opted to make her debut in Bollywood with a cameo in the blockbuster Oh My God! and progressing to the grab the lead role in the tanked Ajab Gazab Love, Nidhi has battled odds. She now awaits two back-to-back B-town releases this month — Direct Ishq, releasing next Friday, and Love Shagun, which releases on February 26. Speaking to City Express about her journey in Bollywood, the actress who has made Mumbai her home since 2012 says she is four films old now with another film releasing in May. “I didn’t have a godfather in Sandalwood but still made a mark and it is the same belief that I carry in B-town too. Of course, it is tough, but talent does not go unrecognised. After seeing so many people who are still trying to make it to B-town, I feel lucky to have made it,” she says and adds, that she is gifting herself two films for her birthday on February 16.

According to her, it is her belief of utilising one’s potential to the maximum that has taken her so far. “Bollywood is big and if you have been accepted as a fish, why limit yourself to a pond when there is an ocean. Everyone wants to be part of Bollywood, and if they say otherwise, they are lying. I have seen a lot of Kannada actresses coming to Mumbai and trying their best to make it. I am glad to know the cremede la creme of Bollywood, who also recognise me,” Nidhi says.

Talking about her role in Direct Ishq and Love Shagun, she says, “I play a character named Dolly Pande in Direct Ishq, where I am paired opposite Rajniesh Duggall, who is born and brought up in Banaras. It was fun for me, a South Indian, playing this UP girl. I had to attend workshops before I got into the character and perfected the slang. I also play a rockstar, which is another shade of mine in the film.”In Love Shaguan, she plays a party going girl running a boutique in Goa, who knows the importance of moral principles. “Thankfully, I play the solo lead in both films, which demands a lot of effort towards acting. And, at times, the directors were surprised I could pull off a role on my own. I am open to challenges and don’t hesitate to experiment,” she says.

As of now, Nidhi is open for films in Sandalwood and and Bollywood. “Right now, I am doing a Kannada film, Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe, and it is a brilliant story. I like to be at a place, where directors feel that I can perform and fit into a role, irrespective of whether it is Hindi or Kannada,” she says.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by A Sharadhaa / February 13th, 2016

Harshika, Harirprriya turn up the heat

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

HarshikaKF21feb2016

Shanvi Srivastava returns to the big screen with the Sumanth Shailendra-starrer Bhale Jodi.

Adding to the glam quotient are actresses Hariprriya and Harshika Poonacha.

While Hariprriya plays the second female lead, as she has a couple of scenes as well as a song, Harshika appears in a guest role. Watch the chemistry unfold on screen shortly.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / February 09th, 2016

A sport in the heart!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

ShubraAiyappaKF22fev2016

It seemed like actress Shubra Aiyappa was going through an identity crisis at the sixth edition of the Celebrity Cricket League. The actress who portrayed ground-breaking roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada industries was spotted cheering for ‘Telugu Tigers’ and ‘Karnataka Bulldozers’ when the latter played against ‘Chennai Rhinos’ recently. From being a travel junkie to having a penchant for belly dancing, Shubra recently confessed her love for sports at the League. She said that she is excited to see how all the matches play out and which team will walk away with the trophy.

It’s an open secret that the actress is biased towards the Telegu industry for she made her debut there. She says that she loves shooting in Hyderabad as people are very warm and welcoming there. However, coming back to Bengaluru, her birthplace, and cheering for her home team is equally special for her.

She says, “I was born here and studied in Baldwin Girls High School. It was in school that I was initiated into cricket. I started by playing with my brothers and classmates and have swung a bat or two since then. I love being in this stadium and the Karnataka players, under Sudeep sir, are doing extremely well and making their
State proud.”

Though she had to go to Mumbai for a shoot, Shubra has put that project on hold and took the weekend off to watch the match.

She is also hoping for an all-women’s celebrity cricket team soon and hopes to be the captain of that team.

“I share my birthday with the legend, Sachin Tendulkar, and cricket means much to me as much as cinema. So I should have some cricket blood in me and really hope to play for my team if there is a women’s celebrity league. I think the marriage between cricket and cinema is exciting because both of them offer entertainment to the masses. The craze people have for these two forms and the way people relate to cricket and cinema is actually overwhelming in our country.”

Coming to her movies, Shubra is waiting for the release of ‘Yevvanam Oka Fantasy’ a Telegu romantic comedy where the actress is paired opposite Arvind Krishna.

The two play a young married couple and the film is about how a young girl who gets married to a rich actor changes his life. She recalls that she enjoyed the shooting and felt comfortable with Arvind on sets.

Shubra has also recently appeared in ‘Sagaptham’, a Tamil film and also made her Kannada debut with ‘Vajrakaya’, where she starred opposite Shivarajkumar and played his dream girl.

The hit song ‘No problem’, that was sung by Dhanush, was especially written for her and contains references to her height.

She recalls, “I felt really special that the song was written for me. It was fun and a good break in the Kannada film industry. It also made the movie that much more special for me.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Anushka Sivakumar / DHNS – Bengaluru, January 27th, 2016

Just Two Tickets For 2.5 Lakh Adivasis

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Mysuru :

The adivasi (primitive tribe) community is largely sidelined by political parties in the panchayat elections.

In spite of their population of 2.5 lakh in nine districts, the community is given only two zilla panchayat tickets.

The JD(S) has fielded one adivasi candidate in ZP Gonebeddu constituency in Mudigere (Chikkamagaluru district) and a primitive tribal is the Congress nominee in Hanagodu constituency in Mysuru district.

The BJP and the JD(S) have fielded one candidate each in taluk panchayat constituencies.

Adivasis have to be content with just six tickets in taluk panchayat elections.

The community is scattered over Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Chamarajnagar, Kodagu and Ramanagara distrricts.

Heggadevanakote has a population of 20,000 adivasis, Chamrajnagar about 15,000, Kodagu 40,000 including 25,000 in Virajpet taluk and Ramanagaram 15000.

Their leaders Dr Made Gowda and Konare Gowda and others knocked on the doors of big political parties seeking at least eight zilla panchayat and 30 taluk panchayat tickets. But their efforts have not yielded expected results.

Though, there was scope to field adivasis in Lokanahalli, Kawdhahalli, Haradanahalli in Chamrajnagar district, they were not considered.

All the three major political parties have given a good number of tickets for scheduled tribe constituencies to the dominant Nayaka community.

In Kodagu P K Muthu, a tribal leader is contesting in a general constituency and the JD(S) has fielded Muthappa in taluk panchayat polls.

Vivekananda Foundation Director Mallesh said the only consolation is that JD(S) has fielded a tribal for Yaragambahalli seat.

Development Through Education (DEED) president Sreekanth said non-forest tribes have managed to get a lion’s share of ST constituencies as political parties prefer dominant, financial strong and political active communities.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by K. Shiva Kumar / February 09th, 2016

Nidhi Shot In 53 Degree Temperature For Her ‘Direct Ishq’ Introduction Song – Ganga Maiyya

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

NidhiKF18feb2016

In Bollywood, Nidhi Subbaiah was last seen in the romcom outing Ajab Ghazab Love. From playing a cool chic, it was time for her to move into a rustic zone with Direct Ishq, a film which has been set in Banaras. In an author backed role where she plays the part of a wannabe rock-star from the holy city, Nidhi knew that she had to look and act the part.

However, she wasn’t prepared for the hardships that were on the way to glory.

“You make it sound really scary, though trust me, I enjoyed every bit of it,” say Nidhi, who is said to have delivered her most ‘bindaas’ performance ever in the romantic musical entertainer, “Yes, Direct Ishq is by all means the toughest role of my life. The weather conditions were really tough.”

Considering the fact that she also had to be seen in rockstar attire for a major part of the film, leather pants and boots were everyday outfits.

Laughs Nidhi, “Yeah, and I got a dose of that pretty early in the day once I was called to shoot for my introduction song – Ganga Maiyya. Swati (Sharrma) has sung it really well and I had to make sure that I get that energy on screen as well. I had to be the kind of rockstar that Dolly Pandey (name of my character) is supposed to be in the film.”

The first step in this direction was to prepare for the role, which means developing the kind of body language that goes with a rockstar.

“I went to YouTube and checked out many videos of live performances. I kept referring to notes for almost 25 days of the shooting. I designed a particular look for myself too. However, if this required good work, there were excruciating weather conditions to deal with as well. With the temperature touching 53 degrees, you can well imagine how it must have felt to shoot outdoors,” sighs Nidhi.

It was all in good time though for Nidhi.

“Not just ‘Ganga Maiyya’, I had to stress myself for Mera Kissa as well. I must have given my body so much pain while shooting these rock tracks that my neck was sprained in a matter few days. However, when I look back at the results, it was all worth it,” she says.

One looks forward to the results on screen once Direct Ishq, with Rajniesh Duggall and Arjun Bijlani as the leading men, releases all over this Friday.

source: http://www.movietalkies.com / MovieTalkies.com / Home> Bollywood News / by Shalini Burman, MovieTalkies.com / February 15th, 2016

6th National Science Film Festival : EMRC wins Two Awards for Documentary Film

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Syed Kaleem, Senior Producer of EMRC
Syed Kaleem, Senior Producer of EMRC

Mysuru :

Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC), attached to University of Mysore, won two national awards for the documentary film titled ‘DGWT – A cause for Concern,’ in the recently held 6th National Science Film Festival organised in Mumbai. The institute won the Silver beaver award which carries a trophy, a citation and Rs. 50,000 cash prize and also the best graphics award carrying a trophy, a citation and Rs. 30,000 cash prize.

The documentary was directed by Syed Kaleem, Senior Producer of EMRC, Mysuru and Former Director of EMRC, Odisha. This is the second National Award won by Syed Kaleem. The first one was in 2001 for the film on the life of Kodava’s titled ‘Kodavas, The highlanders.’

The best graphics award was received by Chandra Kumar, graphic artiste of EMRC, Mysuru. The film was photographed by Keerthi Kumar, sound effects by Badrinarayana and Somashekar was the Technical Director. The narration of the film was done by Beliappa.

The film highlights the grave danger caused due to depletion of ground water and its long time impact on ecology and environment.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / February 15th, 2016

Capturing Wildlife Needs a Trip to Wild, He Makes it Happen

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Nature
(From left) A kingfisher bird in flight; tourists clicking wildlife; Bopanna Pattada, and a rare sight of flying owl
(From left) A kingfisher bird in flight; tourists clicking wildlife; Bopanna Pattada, and a rare sight of flying owl

Bengaluru :

Photographing birds, especially the rare ones in the wild, and spending time outdoors are Bopanna Pattada’s passions. He quit his job as software engineer at Wipro to make his passion a profession. When he realised that he is not the only one in love with birds and Nature, he decided to start India Birding Adventures. Now, Bopanna finds places where photography enthusiasts can get good wildlife and avian shots and arranges trips to these locations. His clients vary from engineers to doctors to businessmen. “I plan one-day trips around Bengaluru. Sometimes we also go on longer trips to Ooty, Masinagudi, Bandipur, Mysuru, Nagarhole and Coorg,” he says. He also takes nature enthusiasts to places like Corbett National Park and Pangot at the foothills of Himalayas.

The best places to spot birds in Bengaluru according to him would be Nandi Hills for winter migrants, Hoskote lake for waterbirds, Ramdevarabetta for vultures, Bannerghatta for forest birds.He doesn’t take more than three to four members at a time. “Firstly, with smaller groups, it is easier to give personal attention and secondly large groups scare the birds away,” he says.

“As a trained photographer and naturalist, I instruct people on photography – what settings to use in which situation, and also help them in spotting birds and wildlife.” The job, for him, is an escape from a sedentary life.

“It takes me closer to nature,” he says. It can be challenging to click birds in flight. Bopanna suggests that the best time to click pictures is either in morning or evening, when they are most active. “Birds tend to be shy. They don’t let you get very close for photographs. Part of my teaching is on how to get closer to birds to take better photographs and also how to position yourself so that the photograph has a nice backdrop.” Bopanna’s images were featured in Sanctuary Asia Magazine and Bombay Natural History Society calendar-2015.

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He specialises in photographing birds flying or in action.

Photography enthusiasts can reach Bopanna through his website www.indiabirding.com or bopannap@gmail.com

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Pratima Shantaveeresh / February 10th, 2016