Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Harshika Poonacha works on Re like a newbie

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I have always been a fan of Sunil Kumar Desai and have grown up watching his movies. He was ahead of his time and made experimental movies, which are hot now, back in the 80s and 90s.

So when he personally called me to ask if I would be interested in working in his comeback film, I said yes immediately, without even hearing the narration or asking who my co-stars were,” says Harshika Poonacha, when asked about her upcoming film, Re.

The actress, who plays Paro — an outspoken, bubbly and inquisitive reporter in the movie — says that she prepared herself mentally to feel as if this was her debut film, as she wanted to bring to life her director’s vision.

“Re is a very special movie and one that is close to my heart.

Although I have been in the industry for close to 10 years and have worked in many films, this is my first project with such a senior director.

I like directors who are particular about what they want, and Desai sir is very strict in that sense. He ensures that he gets from his actors what he has in his mind. In the process, he taught me a lot, like about small pauses and dialogue delivery. So, although I had a lot of fun while filming for the movie, I found it challenging to portray exactly what he wanted from me. But at the end of the day, when it was time to pack up, I left the set feeling satisfied at having done a good job. I am a director’s actor and want to be their mirror.”

The young actress shares screen space with senior actors Anant Nag and Ramesh Aravind in the movie, and Harshika says that she has always wanted to work with Anant, but it had somehow never worked out before.

“Apart from starring in Desai sir’s film, being cast with Ramesh sir and Anant sir was the icing on the cake. Since I was 15, I wanted to work with Anant sir, but that hadn’t happened till now.

Everything seems to have fallen in place with this one movie. I spent a lot of time with both of them and it was an amazing experience.

They are both so good at what they do that I got a lot of inputs from them, which I am sure I wouldn’t be able to get from anywhere else. Both of them are so energetic that they can put young actors to shame. Ramesh sir still looks like he is 25 or 26 years old, and is very young at heart.

And Anant sir is the eternal charmer. He is so good looking that he doesn’t need any makeup. He glows and has a presence about him. I would love to be cast opposite him,” she adds.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movie / by Dhwani Desai – Dhwani.Desai@timesgroup.com / TNN / February 02nd, 2016

Nidhi Subbaiah finds riding a bike therapeutic

The ‘Ajab Gazabb Love’ (2012) actress, Nidhi Subbaiah gets a high zooming off for long rides.

Nidhi Subbaiah
Nidhi Subbaiah

In both her upcoming films, ‘Love Shagun’ and ‘Direct Ishq’, she was required to ride the two-wheeler.

The youngster had her share of thrills and spills during the shoot in Goa.

Nidhi is also big time into adventure sports and likes paragliding and cliff climbing. An action flick is right up her alley.

source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day / Home> News> Mumbai News> National> Columnists> Entertainment News> Bollywood News / by The HitList Team / February 01st, 2016

Annual Flower Show at Balyatri Estate near Madikeri, Today, Tomorrow

F. M. Khan is taking a walk in his home garden. Picture right shows Dahlia in full bloom.
F. M. Khan is taking a walk in his home garden. Picture right shows Dahlia in full bloom.

Madikeri :

Former Rajya Sabha member F. M. Khan is holding the annual flower show at his home garden for the public in Boikeri, near Madikeri, on Jan. 30 and 31.

The garden at Khan’s Balyatrie Estate, with more than 100 varieties of flowers — most of them rare — is spread over more than half-an-acre in front of his house.

Multi-hued roses, dahlia, chrysanthemum, jasmine are in full bloom to welcome the visitors.

Addressing media persons here yesterday, he said floriculture helps in the economic progress of the country and urged the government to support floriculture.

Stating that there is a huge demand for flowers at the international market, he said floriculturists should grow flowers in a natural atmosphere.

With the vagaries of nature, one needs to give special emphasis on protection of plants, he added.

Flowers like Jasmine, anthurium, marigold, salvia, Gerbera, Zenia, Dahlia, Cosmos, croton, colin, Plectranthus, Impatiens, Daisy, Gardenia, sun flower, Hollyhocks, Clarkia, Cockscomb, Lupine, Verbena, Fuchsia, pinks, spider flower, oster flower, calendula flowers, cupia, Gazania, Sweet pea, Cineraria, stock flower, love in a mist flower, devil in the bush and others are on display.

The flower show will be open to visitors from 10 am to 5 pm today and tomorrow.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 28th, 2016

Flavour of Kodagu coffee at international contest

‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ is the Indian entry to the Gourmand International (Book) Award this time

The jacket of the book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ written by journalist P.T. Bopanna.
The jacket of the book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ written by journalist P.T. Bopanna.

The Indian entry to the Gourmand International (Book) Award this time is on what until recently was a south Indian addiction: coffee.

With the coffee culture proliferating across India, thanks to chains like Starbucks, Barista and Café Coffee Day, the routine act of consuming the black decoction stirred in milk, as most people do, and with or without sugar – which again is a personal choice – has acquired an uber-cool image among the Gen Y.

Bengaluru-based journalist P.T. Bopanna has brought alive this unique trait in his book The Romance of Indian Coffee , now shortlisted for the Gourmand International Award, where it will vie for the top honours among coffee books from Brazil, France, China, Thailand, and the U.S., to name a few.

Hailing from Kodagu, which is the home of coffee in India, it was natural for Mr. Bopanna to feel inspired to write on the brew which has a universal appeal.

“My earlier works were Kodagu-centric, but I found a wider canvas in coffee which is also related to Kodagu,” said Mr. Bopanna.

“The book traces the history of coffee in India with interesting titbits about the brew and how its cultivation in the shade lends it a unique flavour, unlike coffee grown in the open in most other countries,” explained Mr. Bopanna, who believes that making coffee is an art. Notwithstanding the proliferation of coffee bars, the best filter coffee, he said, was still prepared in the bylanes of Chennai and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu.

The contribution of Ivor Bull, a British planter, who introduced intercropping and is a legend among the locals, has been highlighted in the book as also recipes for making coffee liqueur.

But ironically, he notes that Kodavas, who market home-grown coffee to the rest of the world and have spanned a coffee culture in India, have taken after the British and prefer tea!

There are entries from as many as 64 countries for the Gourmand awards, started in 1995 as a celebration of global cookbook and wine book publishing. The final results will be announced on May 28 at Yantai, China.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru – January 31st, 2016

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa rememberd in city

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Mysuru :

Paying rich tributes to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa on his 117th birthday, Mysuru Kodava Samaja President M. K. Kuttappa today said, “considering the services rendered by Field Marshal Cariappa during the First and Second World Wars, the Government should celebrate the birth anniversary of the warrior as a State festival.”

Speaking after offering floral tributes to the portrait of the Field Marshal at a function organised by the Kodava Samaja at Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa Circle (Metropole Circle) in city, Kuttappa recalled that K. M. Cariappa was the first Chief of Army Staff in India who sent Indian troops to take part in United Nations sponsored missions.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) C.K. Karumbaya, speaking on the occasion, said that Field Marshal Cariappa, who was an epitome of discipline and hard work, should be taken as a role model by the youth.

Kodava Samaja Vice-President B.M. Nanaiah, Hon. Secretary M.P. Kalaiah, Joint Secretary Prema Uthaiah, Capt. Narasimha Sharma, Social Worker Srinivasa Gandhi, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club Vice-President N.M. Thimmaiah, Secretary K.D. Muthappa, Corporators H.N. Srikantaiah & M.J. Ravi Kumar, former Presidents of Kodava Samaja Dr. A.A. Kuttappa, K.A. Kariappa & M.M. Karumbaiah, office-bearers and members of the Samaja and the Club were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 28th, 2016

67th Republic Day celebrated in Madikeri

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The 67th Republic Day was celebrated in a grand manner at General Thimmaiah Stadium on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Food, Civil Supplies and District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “It was a challenge to draft a constitution for a country like India as it had various religions and culture. But Dr B R Ambedkar gave the best Constitution to the country on January 26, 1950. We must live up to the expectations of Ambedkar by following equality and brotherhood.”

MLC M P Sunil Subramani, City Municipal Council President Srimati Bangera, Deputy Commissioner Meer Anees Ahmed, SP Vartika Katiar, Zilla Panchayat CEO Charulata Somal and others were present.

District Armed Police and schools, college students took part in the march past. General Thimmaiah school Guides team and GMP School Seva Dal team and St Micheal School guides team won the first, second and third prizes respectively.

The students of Little Flower School, Madikeri, St Joseph Kannada Medium School, Rajeshwari Vidyalaya, Government Pre-university College High School section and St Micheal Higher Primary English Medium School performed dances to the patriotic songs.

Goravara Kunitha and Dollu Kunitha, organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture, were the highlights of the programme.

Subramani distributed prizes the winners of the marathon competition. The winners are: Class 6-7 category: Dilip-I, Tanusha-I; Class 8-10 category M C Milan-I, M S Suman-II and College category: Manoj-I, Rajeshwari-II and Leena-III.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Madikeri, January 26th, 2016

One more Kodava Capt. B.C. Thimmaiah to lead contingent on R-Day

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Mysuru :

Yesterday, SOM reported that along with the Coffee-bean tableau representing Kodagu and Karnataka at this year’s Republic Day Parade, a Kodava Col. Bommanda Dhiraj Chengappa would be escorting the President to the saluting dais.

Now it is learnt that one more Kodava officer, 28-year-old Capt. Ballyamanda Caverappa Thimmaiah will be leading the MECH Force Contingent (Bees Bahadur) in the R-Day Parade at the National Capital.

Presently posted at Ambala in Haryana, Capt. B.C. Thimmaiah is the son of Col. Ballyamanda Kaveriappa (Retd.) and Pushpa Kaveriappa, residents of Appayaswamy Road in Virajpet, Kodagu.

Capt. Thimmaiah is an alumnus of Army Public School (APS) Delhi, Coorg Public School (COPS), Gonikoppal, Kodagu and M.S. Ramaiah College of Law, Bengaluru.

After a brief stint as a lawyer, Capt. Thimmaiah joined the Services in the year 2013 and his first posting was at Hissar, Haryana.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Monday – January 25th, 2016

President’s Body Guard on the March

The President’s limousine flanked by Col. Bommanda Dhiraj Chengappa (left) at the dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade, exiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan to enter the Rajpath along with other Horsemen.
The President’s limousine flanked by Col. Bommanda Dhiraj Chengappa (left) at the dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade, exiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan to enter the Rajpath along with other Horsemen.

by N. Niranjan Nikam, Senior Journalist

Kodagu, the Coffee Land of Karnataka,’ is the tableau from the State chosen for the 67th Republic Day Parade at Rajpath this year.

However, there is one more Kodagu connection which the Kodavas and the Kannadigas can be really proud of that will be on display at the RD Parade.

I was visiting a Kodava’s house here in the city recently. As I was about to leave, after chatting for quite some time with her and her friend, who had come from Ooty, the lady hesitatingly brought out two photographs. It was of a handsome young man in full military uniform standing tall in the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and in another picture sitting on a horseback in army’s resplendent uniform.

Disguising her pride, she said in a very low voice that the person in the photographs was her nephew. She gave me his mobile number. I called him and immediately a soft, pleasant voice answered. After introducing myself, I asked him whether he was Colonel Bommanda Dhiraj Chengappa and he confirmed that indeed it was him.

He is the Commandant, President’s Bodyguard. “I am going to escort the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee on January 26th, the Republic Day, from the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan to the saluting dais on Rajpath,” said Col. Chengappa, who is the first Kodava to escort the President.

The Bodyguard consists of 46 Horsemen out of which 20 are ahead of the President’s Limousine and 20 in the rear. The Commandant (that is Chengappa) and the second in command will be on either side of the limousine in which the President travels. The trumpeter and the Regimental colours — party of four — will be behind the car, he said.

“On reaching the Saluting Dais, I will present the National Salute which initiates the unfurling of the National Flag, accompanied by the National Anthem and the 21 Gun Salute. The Parade commences thereafter,” explained Col. Chengappa in detail.

The President’s Bodyguard, all of 243-years-old, is the senior most unit in the Army, raised in 1773, on the lines of the Household Cavalry Regiment of the British Army. But to be eligible for this “most prestigious posting” in their careers, the men must meet exacting physical and mental standards. It is said that all of them are strikingly handsome too. During the British Raj, the English had de-abbreviated GGBG (then Governor General’s Bodyguard) as ‘God’s Gift to Beautiful Girls!

Early years: A graduate in Economics from Delhi University, Col. Chengappa’s early schooling was in Bangalore and then he studied in Jodhpur. His father Bommanda Muthanna Chengappa, now residing at Ammathi in Kodagu, joined the Indian Army in 1963 and thereafter was side stepped into BSF on its raising. He retired as the DIG. He was awarded the President’s medal for gallantry, meritorious and distinguished service.

Asked whether he was influenced by his father to join the Armed Forces, his reply, “I was not influenced by my father. I always liked the Army and I joined it in 1993 after my training in Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.”

He is married to Savera Chengappa and has a 12-year-old son Tapan Devaiah. “It is one of the proudest moments in my life to be part of the National Salute watched by the whole nation,” he signs off.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Monday – January 25th, 2016

Hollande to witness coffee making in State’s tableau

A miniature of the State’s tableau on the theme ‘Kodagu: the coffee heaven of Karnataka’ for the Republic Day parade. The French President, Francois Hollande, will be the chief guest at this year’s parade.
A miniature of the State’s tableau on the theme ‘Kodagu: the coffee heaven of Karnataka’ for the Republic Day parade. The French President, Francois Hollande, will be the chief guest at this year’s parade.

The French President will be the chief guest at this year’s R-Day parade

French President Francois Hollande, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, will witness the various stages of coffee making in Karnataka’s tableau.

The State’s tableau this year is on the theme: Kodagu: the coffee heaven of Karnataka. It will depict various stages in the making of coffee, starting from women plucking the beans to processing them and the processed powder being finally turned into the aromatic brew. The tableau depicts Kodava women, wearing their distinctive dress, performing their traditional dance.

Folklorist H.L. Nage Gowda’s book Bettadinda Battalige (From the hills to the cup), on the coffee’s origin, is the basis for the tableau.

Shashidhara Adapa, who designed the tableau, said the work on it has commenced both in Bengaluru and New Delhi. Two sets of artists are working on creating sculptures and fabricating the tableau. “Steam emanating from a cup of coffee will be visible to the audience,” he said. The signature music will be by Praveen D. Rao.

It is for the sixth consecutive time that Karnataka is participating in the parade. Back in 2005, its tableau on the theme of Gomateshwara had bagged the first prize. In the subsequent years, the State showcased Mysuru Dasara, followed by Hoysala and Pattadkal architecture.

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According to N. Vishu Kumar, Director of the Department of Information, the selection process is rigorous. “Only the best are chosen,” he said. Getting an opportunity to represent the State at the parade is an achievement in itself, he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – January 09th, 2016

Coffee Board Confers Export Awards

Students of PG Diploma in Coffee Quality Management during the India Coffee Awards Ceremony in Bengaluru on Thursday | NAGARAJA GADEKAL
Students of PG Diploma in Coffee Quality Management during the India Coffee Awards Ceremony in Bengaluru on Thursday | NAGARAJA GADEKAL

Bengaluru :

The Coffee Board on Thursday conferred the Best Coffee Exporters’ Awards to the best exporters of green coffee, specialty coffee, instant coffee and roasted coffee.

Coffee Board chairperson Leena Nair said the since 1999-2000, the board has been presenting the awards to motivate, encourage and maximise export performances, especially to key destinations.

Indian coffee exports have been good over the past few years, touching three lakh metric tonnes annually. Of the 538 exporters, 128, who actively exported coffee during 2013-14, were judged by a jury for the awards.

Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav, who was the chief guest during the ceremony, said the coffee sector needs to be given a boost to drive the economy of the state in a major way. “Coffee cultivation in the state is threatened by climate change, but proper research should be put in to mitigate the effect and produce top-end coffee,” he added.

India exported 2.99 lakh metric tonnes of coffee during 2013-14 with export earnings of $776 million (Rs 4,594 crore), covering more than 100 countries. Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Turkey and Spain are the top six countries importing Indian coffee.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / January 08th, 2016