Harshika Poonacha, who is gearing up to make her Bhojpuri film debut shortly, is set to make inroads in that industry.
The actress, we hear, has signed up for two more Bhojpuri films that she will start shooting for after the release of her debut. “My first Bhojpuri film is complete and is ready for release. I will start shooting for my two new projects thereafter,” says Harshika, adding that after a rather lackluster 2020, she is looking at this year with a lot of positivity.
“I am grateful that things are happening for me. I just had two very rough years, first with losing my dad and soon after with the pandemic and, now things are slowly back on track,” she says. Her Bhojpuri films apart, Harshika is also looking forward to her two Kannada projects , in which she says she has challenging roles.
“I have bagged two Kannada film projects and both are romantic thrillers.
Om Prema will see me as a boss lady who is the CEO of a company and gets the job done. She knows how to succeed in the corporate world and take care of her employees,” she says. The other yet-to-be-titled project has her playing a journalist who is extremely critical and curious by nature. Speaking about the character Harshika says, “I play a journalist who looks at every morsel of information with microscopic precision and has a very inquisitive nature. The script has been written well and I have already shot for a few days for the film,” she says. The actress will resume shooting for this film in April.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Kannada>Movies / by Joyeeta Chakravorty, TNN / March 21st, 2021
Using social media as their tool and selfie culture as a weapon, this couple is urging the residents across the state to keep aside a bowl of water for the birds during this summer season.
‘Hakkigondu Gutuku’ (a drop to the birds) campaign is receiving an optimistic reaction from many residents across the state including children. (Photo | EPS)
Madikeri (Karnataka):
A couple in Kodagu has started a unique campaign to protect the non-migratory birds during the peak summer season.
Using social media as their tool and selfie culture as a weapon, this couple is urging the residents across the state to keep aside a bowl of water for the birds during this summer season.
‘Hakkigondu Gutuku’ (a drop to the birds) campaign has started from March 10 by Gautham Kiraganduru and his wife Sumana, which is receiving an optimistic reaction from many residents across the state including children. Known for their social works, the couple established ‘Namma Pratishtana’ firm in the district and is promoting various eco-friendly activities.
“Birds are an important part of the ecosystem and they ensure balance in the environment. There is a need to promote and preserve the bird species. Hence, to protect the birds during the summer season, we have started this initiative where we have requested the participants to set up a DIY arrangement to feed birds. The residents have to keep some water and grains for the birds and then click a selfie alongside this setup. We will pick the three best pictures and honour the winners with prizes,” explained Gautham.
The initiative that is making noise across social media has gained attention from not just the residents of Kodagu, but also from the residents across the state including Davanagere, Uttara Kannada, Dharawad, Bellary, Hassan, and Shivamogga among others. “We have received numerous selfie photographs of people setting up the bird feeders. Also, international kickboxer Girish R Gowda has extended support to this initiative,” added Gautham. He explained that numerous trekkers are also participating in this initiative and are setting up feeders across several spots.
Last year, this couple had gained attention after they signed up for body donation during their wedding ceremony. Instead of distributing wedding invitation cards that have low shelf-life, they printed Kannada books with works of unrecognized writers and shared them as wedding invitations. They had also grown over 1,000 different saplings and distributed the same as wedding gifts to the guests.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prajna GR / Express News March / March 18th, 2021
Dr Priya Atwal, a historian, took to Twitter and spoke about the little-known life of Princess Gouramma of Coorg who was adopted by Queen Victoria as one of her godchildren.
The history of Princess Gourumma of Coorg was shared on Twitter by Dr Priya Atwal.
While Meghan Markel’s revelations into the British Royal family has once again triggered the debate of race in UK, a historian from India has claimed that Meghan is probably not the first woman of colour to be a part of the monarch family. While there is mention of Queen Charlotte’s (1744-1818) black ancestry, Queen Voctoria had her imperial godchildren too, according to the Victorian historian. Dr Priya Atwal took to Twitter amid raging debate about Meghan’s acceptance in the Royal family and spoke about the little-known life of Princess Gouramma of Coorg.
“Princess Gouramma (1841-64) was brought to Britain in 1852 by her father, the deposed Rajah of Coorg. The Rajah campaigned to win back his family wealth from the East India Company, but also asked Victoria to adopt his daughter, believing the Queen would give her a good life (sic),” Atwal wrote. It was Princess Gouramma’s father, Rajah of Coorg, who offered her to the Queen after baptising her with the hope that she would be brought up with “aristocratic guardians and secure her a good marriage”. Victoria readily accepted the idea and adopted Princess Gouramma. But princess of Coorg wasn’t the only one. Queen Victoria had several ‘godchildren’ whom she adopted from royals from the empire.
Duleep Singh and Sarah Bonetta Forbes were among these godchildren of the Queen.
_______
Dr Priya Atwal@priyaatwalAs a historian of Victorian royalty, I am fascinated by some of the parallels between #MeghanMarkle’s current situation and the little known story of Princess Gouramma of Coorg. A thread
1/12
_________-
But facing racial attacks never stopped for the Queen’s godchildren even after being adopted. Atwal says their lives weren’t easy. Duldeep and Sarah ‘were both feted and treated as racialised others in Victorian Britain’. “And their lives were pored over in a newly-emerging popular press,” Atwal writes. “As I’ve found in my research, for her it was a good way to learn about her new territories and project a benevolent image of her family.”
_______
Dr Priya Atwal@priyaatwal·The Hindu Rajah offered up Gouramma to be baptised as a Christian & hoped Victoria would bring her up as an adopted daughter with aristocratic guardians and secure her a good marriage. Incredibly, Victoria was keen about the idea & readily agreed. 4/12
Victoria took multiple young royals from around the empire as wards/godchildren – inc. Duleep Singh & Sarah Bonetta Forbes. As I’ve found in my research, for her it was a good way to learn about her new territories & project a benevolent image of her family. 5/12
_________
Gouramma faced a different struggle. She was pressured to become the model Anglicised princess. Even though the Queen had accepted her into the family, she had banned Gouramma from maintaining any contact with her family. The curtailment of ties again had racial undertones. According to Atwal, this was supposedly to prevent her from slipping into “native” or “heathen ways”. “She was moved from foster family to family as her caretakers struggled with the cost and demands of raising a royal ward.” The struggle of a new life was too much for the young princess who even tried to run away many times. It was the unwanted attention and being under scrutiny all the time that added to her woes. “In this I find her parallels with Meghan most intriguing: Gouramma often spoke of dearly wishing for more privacy & living independently – even to become a household maid – so she could be free of scrutiny. Yet her actions were attributed to her “innate Oriental weakness (sic),” Atwal writes.
Meghan too has spoken about the unwanted attention from media that has deprived her of any privacy in personal life. Meghan, who married Prince Harry in 2018, said she told the royal family she was struggling and needed professional help but was told “that I couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution.” She even suggested that the Buckingham Palace was “perpetuating falsehoods” about her and Prince Harry. Asked by Winfrey how she felt about the Palace hearing her speak out, Markle replied: “I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there’s an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.”
Litterateur Kechamada Subbamma Thimmaiah (Pullangada), wife of late Kechamada Thimmaiah, a senior Kodava litterateur and a recipient of ‘Chutuku Ratna’ State Award, passed away yesterday. She was 91.
A native of Kanur village and a retired teacher, she was the Chairperson of the 12th District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Ponnampet.
She has written many books in Kannada and Kodava languages. She leaves behind two sons and a host of relatives and friends.
Last rites were performed at Kanur village yesterday, according to sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obiturary / February 14th, 2021
Fermentation techniques that involve anything from fruits to alcohol are giving the brew a new high.
If you want to educate yourself on all things coffee, a visit to Sidapur Coffee and Culture Museum at Evolve Back in Coorg, will take you on a journey of discoveries.
From whisky barrel-aged coffee to fruit-fermented beans and innovative experiments in farming, fermentation and drying the fourth wave of coffee is set to spring a surprise. The brew is going artisanal. There is an increased focus on how it is grown, nurtured, processed as well as how it is being roasted. Sunalini Menon, Asia’s first woman professional coffee taster, and President, Coffeelab Ltd, Bengaluru, says: “Artisanal coffees are unique in taste and are always available in micro quantities.”
Such coffees are identified with sustainable practices in cultivation and prepared with care, precision and high-quality roasting.” Something like this is happening at Baarbara Estate, currently managed by the fourth generation of coffee growers from Chikmagalur, Karnataka.
Through their brand The Caffeine Baar, they are seeking to serve many coffee explorations to enthusiasts. Poojya Prasad, the co-founder, says, “We have worked on a unique fermentation process involving pineapple, which has given good results. To start with, pulped coffee beans are mixed with pineapple for a select number of hours.
The natural juices and the skin of pineapple, ferment the coffee beans. This process is monitored in a controlled environment. Once it’s complete, the mixture is dried on raised beds over several days. The coffee is monitored at each interval, resulting in batches with varying depths and notes of flavours.” Roasters are having a field day. Take for instance, Maverick and Farmer Coffee Roasters, who have introduced new coffees that unlock more than what species, terroir or roasting can offer.
By intervening in the growing, processing, drying, blending and roasting stages of coffee (without any artificial additions), the endeavour is to explore different kind of tasting notes Indian coffee can offer. “We work on micro-lot coffees,” says Ashish D’ábreo, the founder-partner at Maverick and Farmer Coffee Roasters. Last year, they began work with fermentation and used ingredients such as fruit, yeasts, and cultured bacteria for the fermentation process. Abdul Sahid Khan, the training manager at Lavazza Training Center, India, adds, “Being passionately connected between coffee products and a need for eco-consciousness, have coffee roasters sourcing whole beans in small batches through direct and fair trade.
Many of the coffee roasters and importers today partner with handpicked farmers, and even reinvest into the farmer family’s land/business.” Research is at the cornerstone of these innovations. Located in Sakleshpur in Karnataka, Harley Estate, an extension of Harley Plantation Research Institute (HPRI), Asia’s first private research facility dedicated to coffee, is a lab where coffee-related experimentation goes on round the year. The purpose is to improve plantation management techniques and develop unique processing methods.
“We have, over the last couple of years, created over 50 processing methods, each bringing out different aspects of the coffee. We also conduct educative sessions for those who are in the coffee business,” says Chandini D Purnesh, Director, Classic Coffees. Coffee also has a health angle that is often overlooked.
Green coffee, for instance, is different from regular coffee and is the natural unroasted form of Arabica Coffee grains, said to have three times more antioxidants and lesser caffeine compared to black coffee.
“It boosts metabolism and provides support and strength to achieve health and fitness goals, that serve you in the long-term,” says Amit Tyagi, Founder and CEO, Neuherbs India. So the next time you sip on a cup of coffee, don’t forget that the long journey of the bean to cup has had several turns and twists to create that perfect flavour you love.
Sidapur Coffee and Culture Museum “If you want to educate yourself on all things coffee, a visit to Sidapur Coffee and Culture Museum at Evolve Back in Chikkana Halli Estate, Coorg, will take you on a journey of fascinating discoveries. The museum has different sections that talk of the story of the founding Ramapuram family, the history of coffee in Coorg, how coffee is cultivated globally and how to brew the perfect cup of coffee. This also features the culture of Coorg and its close association with coffee cultivation. Our hugely popular programme, Coffeeology, is a daily live session on the art and science of gourmet coffee, where visitors can observe and experience the making of an assortment of coffee preparations from around the world.” Jose T Ramapuram, Executive Director, Evolve Back
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Lifestyle> Food / by Bindu Gopal Rao / Express News Service / March 07th, 2021
A two-day Kodava Cultural and Learning Festival, Koyime, began yesterday at Appachakavi Vidyalaya premises in Chikkamunduru village of Ponnampet taluk. The event is being organised by Connecting Kodavas Trust.
The festival has been organised to bring together talents of Kodava community who have achieved a name in culture, tradition and art forms, literature and sports. It is also a platform for budding talents from the community. Both elders and youngsters participated in the event.
Participants rekindled the cultural glory through attractive dance and other folk display. Kodavas give major importance to their tradition and cultures. This comprises of dress, language, customs, festivals, songs, dance etc. The culture followed by the community is unique and the two-day festival reflected that aspect.
Senior member of Ajjikuttira family Ajjikuttira Bheemaiah inaugurated the temporarily built ‘Padipu Kayyale’ at ‘Balyamane’. Vice-President of Bengaluru Kodava Samaja Mallengada Meera Jalajakumar also joined him by placing the lit lamp in ‘Nellakki’. Trust Convenor Chokanda Suraj Somaiah offered prayers to Gods to protect the Kodava community by symbolically sprinkling grains of rice.
Kodava men wearing traditional costumes including Kodava ‘Kupya’, ‘Chele’, ‘Mande Thuni’ and ‘Peechekathi’ and Kodava women wearing Kodava saree, and jewellery including ‘Jomale’, ‘Pattak’, ‘Kokkethaati’ and ‘Karthamani’ participated in the event at the ‘Balyamane’.
Fight for constitutional rights:
President of Codava National Council (CNC) Nandineravanda U. Nachappa addressed the gathering and demanded constitutional measures to safeguard Kodava language, culture and traditions. He regretted that there has been a systemic destruction of Kodava culture and folklore.
“It is regrettable that Kodava community members are forced to launch a constitutional struggle to protect their cultural and social identity and have to raise their voice against the very Government that is supposed to safeguard a unique culture from diminishing,” he said.
He called upon the crowd to not only highlight infrastructure issues like roads and drainages whenever a Minister or an MLA visits a particular area but also make a point to convey to them that Kodava culture has to be preserved from extinction. “They must be compelled to formulate policies and programmes to save such special communities by granting constitutionally-enshrined rights,” he added.
United Kodava Organisation (UKO) Convener Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa also spoke on the occasion and said that it is inevitable for Kodavas to unite and put up a united front and fight for their rights.
He called upon the community members in villages to continue the tradition of ‘Kodava Thakkame’. ‘Thakkame’ (the right to speak for) is the traditional, hereditary role of elders for a region or a shrine assigned to an okka (family). ‘Thakkas’ (headmen) were responsible for resolving disputes at different levels.
Jabbhumi Convenor Chottekmada Rajiv Bopaiah presided over the event. Journalists Ulliyada Dati Poovaiah, Balladichanda Nanjappa and others were present. Chendanda Shammi Madaiah of Connecting Kodavas Trust and other youngsters participated in the event.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 07th, 2021
A view from the top of Tadiyandamol Hill in Kodagu.
Tadiyandamol, the highest cliff of Kodagu, is known for nature’s bounty and attracts trekkers. Tadiyandamol roughly translates to ‘tall, broad hill’ in the local dialect.
It is the highest peak in the Kodagu district and the third highest in Karnataka after Mullayyanagiri and Kudremukh.
To embark on the trekking adventure, trekkers have to trail through lush green plantations and here and there water bodies cross the path. The path does not make one feel tired as one looks at the beauty of the surroundings.
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the trekking activities were suspended for a few months.
Trekking activities resumed
When the trekking activities resuming, people from all age groups have started their trekking adventure.
The number of people during the weekends and holidays is on the rise.
Trekkers from not only Karnataka but also from outside the state and country visit Tadiyandamol.
With verdant valleys in all directions, the views all around from the top mesmerise the trekkers.
The trekkers enjoy a whiff of cool breeze at the top with the clouds playing hide and seek. Trekkers visit the spot even during winter and summer.
Distance and height
Tadiyandamol cliff is 48 km away from Madikeri. The height of the cliff is 1,717 metres and one has to cover 10 km to reach the cliff via Nalkunadu palace in Yavakapadi.
One can enjoy the beauty of nature while traversing the trekking trial via Kabbinakadu.
After reaching Kakkabbe via Napoklu, one must locate Yavakapadi village. Jeeps are also available for rent from Kakkabbe. After driving for six to seven kilometres, the rest of the way can be covered on foot.
Panoramic view
The panoramic view of Tadiyandamol during monsoon is totally different. One come across several waterfalls cascading down the hillock en route.
Several researchers also visit the cliff to study biodiversity.
To check the pollution, the forest department has laid down a few restrictions on the trekkers.
The trekkers have to pay Rs 100 and ensure that they do not dump plastic and other waste en route.
“Tadiyandamol is a paradise for the trekkers,” said Prof Pattabi of Mangalore University, who had trekked along with a team recently.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Napoklu / February 27th, 2021
Time to help is now, says popular DJ Nikhil Chinapa, who is moderating a fundraising concert for daily-wage workers affected by the pandemic
Nikhil Chinapa | Twitter Photo
Bengaluru:
Every ’90s kid will remember being a fan of VJs. One such name that people never forget was Nikhil Chinapa, who was a popular face on MTV. While he may be living in Mumbai now, at heart, he still considers himself to be a “Bangalore boy”. “I still support RCB over Mumbai Indians,” says Chinapa, who is busy gearing up to moderate the Open Up India Fundraising Campaign, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is for sanitation workers and migrant workers.
The concert will be taking place virtually on March 13. The concert will have performances by Vasu Raina, Raghav Meattle and Lucky Ali, to name a few artistes. With things going back to the way they were before the pandemic, one might question the need for a fundraiser. To this, Chinapa says, “The impact of the pandemic has been so huge that it will still take time to recover, especially for daily wage workers. This is the time we can come together to help as possible,” says Chinapa, who believes the youth of the country must find innovative ways to overcome this crisis.
“They can come up with new ideas,” he adds. One of India’s most popular DJs, Chinapa has missed playing for a live audience but he is choosing to not sweat the small things. “Lockdown was a low phase but I have nothing to complain. I’m grateful I got to spend more time with my wife and daughter, who turned 3 this year,” says Chinapa, who married fellow DJ, Pearl Miglani, in 2012, and to whom he credits his DJing skills.
Chinapa’s career as a television personality started when he won the MTV VJ Hunt in 1999. He has also been a part of shows like India’s Got Talent 2, MTV Splitsvilla, MTV Mashups, Fame X etc. Agreeing that people’s taste in music and the way they consume entertainment has changed drastically, Chinapa says the secret to staying relevant is to understand the change and to pursue what you love with passion.
He explains this with the example of the upcoming concert, which will be streamed digitally, which was something that not many considered some years ago. “As the style of music and the way the industry functions has its own limitations, the only way to go about this is to do things with the same passion you felt on the first day,” says Chinapa. For details about Open Up India Fundraising Campaign, UNDP India, check Insider.in
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Monika Monalisa / Express News Service / February 28th, 2021
Nidhi Subbaiah is all set to enter the house of Bigg Boss Kannada season 8. Here is a general trivia about the actress to prepare you to watch her on the show.
Nidhi Subbaiah is all set to enter the house of Bigg Boss Kannada season 8 and thus fans are eager to know more about the contestant.
Nidhi Subbaiah entered the industry through television advertisements and small roles in films, She rose to fame through movies like Pancharangi and Krishnan Marriage Story.
She made her Bollywood debut in 2012 through Oh My God and bagged a lead role in 2012 released Ajab Gazabb Love.
Below is a list of things fans need to know about Bigg Boss Kannada’s Nidhi Subbaiah.
Who is Nidhi Subbaiah?
Nidhi marked her debut in 2009 with the movie Abhimaani which turned out to be a box office failure. She later appeared in movies like Chamkaysi Chindi Udaysi, Veera Bahu, Anna Bond, and Ayushman Bhava. She gained popularity among the Kannada audience through her commercials.
Nidhi Subbaiah general trivia
Bigg Boss Kannada’s Nidhi Subbaiah’s age is 35 years old, born on the 16th of February, 1985. She married her long-time boyfriend Lavesh Khairajani. Their wedding ceremony was a beautiful mix of traditional South-Indian, Sikh, and Sindhi cultures.
Nidhi Subbaiah achievements as a sportsperson
Nidhi Subbaiah pursued her education in Mysore in Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering.
She proved her potential as a sportsperson by winning gold medals at national level spots in sailing.
The actress has an impressive record of winning three national gold medals in the same year at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and at Chilka Lake in Orissa.
Adding to her list of achievements, Nidhi was also a Naval NCC Cadet and won the best cadet award in 2004.
What is Nidhi Subbaiah’s net worth?
Working as a model and actress in the south Indian film industry, Nidhi garnered quite a lot of net worth throughout the years. She made her earnings through advertisements and roles in Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi movies. Nidhi Subbaiah’s net worth is estimated to be around 85 crore rupees, according to a report by thepersonage.com.
A peek into Nidhi Subbaiah’s photos on Instagram
Nidhi Subbaiah often shares photos of her daily moments on her social media to interact with her fans. In a recent post, the actress shared a picture of herself cradling her dog and wrote ‘Little Pablo!’. Nidhi Subaiah’s photos on Instagram let her fans get a glimpse of her daily life as the actress consistently updates her fans.
source: http://www.republiworld.com / RepublicWorld.com / Home> Entertainment News> TV News / by Princia Hendriques / March 01st, 2021
President of Sri Kavery Kodava Association, Mysuru, P.S. Devaiah (fourth from left), Association office-bearer P.M. Praveen Chengappa (standing behind P.S. Devaiah), Treasurer K.M. Chengappa (extreme right) and other office-bearers of the Association seen greeting the newly-elected Mayor Rukmini Madegowda and her husband Madegowda at the Mayor’s residence in Vidyashankar Nagar in city this morning.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / February 28th, 2021
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
