Having received the Kannada Rajyotsava Award this year, fashion and textile curator Prasad Bidapa reflects on his journey in reviving traditional textiles.
“A decorative mirror work covering made for a camel’s hump, sarees for my mother, block printing, mirror work, a lot of lehariya dyeing and bandhini – I picked up small, not very consequential pieces but I still treasure them,” says fashion and textile curator Prasad Bidapa, remembering how his love for traditional textiles began as a 17-year-old studying at the National Institute of Design. For someone who had grown up as an Army kid, the richness of the art he was encountering was instantly captivating. What followed was a career as a fashion stylist and choreographer that repeatedly pulled him into working with handloom textiles and reviving them, which the Karnataka government recently recognised by conferring Bidapa the Rajyotsava Award. “My first reaction was disbelief. It only truly sank in when I saw the government gazette notification,” says Bidapa, adding, “For me, this award is not personal, it represents recognition for Karnataka’s artisans and textile heritage.”
While most may know him for discovering and training top model-actors like Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Lara Dutta and more, one of Bidapa’s first major projects was for Mysore Silks in the 1980s, starting his long and continuing relationship with Karnataka’s coveted fabric. “The government sent me to Delhi to put up a fashion show showcasing all the diverse beauty of Mysore silks, and that’s when I realised how much promotion was needed. Later on, I worked on the same project with the former Maharaja and Maharani who were very interested in reviving silk and especially the Gandaberunda motif. Weavers of Mysuru were specially commissioned to make these very beautiful ombre-dyed sarees with the gold motif,” he recalls.
Since then, Bidapa has worked with several states, putting together the Rajasthan Heritage Week for five years, connecting top designers with artisans to breathe new life into traditional designs. Recently, he recreated a similar concept with Ashtalakshmi, an initiative by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), showcasing the region’s diverse textiles
“Top designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Abraham & Thakore and Rohit Bal chose a particular textile in Rajasthan and worked directly with artisans to create something new. It started a movement which continues till today, a lot of contemporary designs in Kota Doria were invented because artisans started creating new designs themselves. Sarees which used to be sold at ₹8,000 are going for ₹80,000 today – their real worth,” he says.
Right here in Bengaluru, Bidapa curated the Festival of Handmade. Being in the fashion space since the ’80s, Bidapa notes that the awareness and use of handloom has grown drastically but more could be done, and the answer, for him, lies in tourism. “Individuals and organisations like The Crafts Council of Karnataka, people like Pavithra Muddaya and Prasanna Heggodu have done stellar work. But you cannot expect the private sector to shoulder this responsibility entirely. The government must charge the textile and tourism departments to revive and create a tourism attraction with these awesome products. Textiles represent Indian luxury, rarity and centuries-old skills. We need to monetise and promote this heritage,” he says.
With this award, he hopes to push for a project weaving travel and Karnataka’s silk production process together to further draw attention to the craft. He shares, “Something I would very much like to create is a travel experience down Karnataka’s silk route (Ramanagara, Channapatna, Srirangapatna and Mandya), bringing tourists to see how silk is farmed, spun, woven, dyed and embellished. So many people would come from all over the world!”
Weaves of wonder
When it comes to Karnataka’s diverse textiles, Bidapa has three recommendations for pieces that every woman should own: the Ilkal saree, Molakalmuru saree and Dharwad cotton saree. He says, “An Ilkal saree is woven using a three-shutter loom. The body is made of cotton and the pallu of silk; it looks so beautiful. One of the unsung textiles of Karnataka is the Molakalmuru, similar to Kanjivaram but different, having an extremely heavy weave. Finally, the cotton sarees of North Karnataka are soft and lovely for summer.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Mahima Nagarajan / November 02nd, 2026
Kalanithi Maran built one of India’s biggest media empires. Yet the woman standing beside him has shaped much of its success from the start. Kavery Kalanithi (also known as Kaveri Maran) is far more than the wife of the Sun Group chairman. She is Executive Director of Sun TV Network, the force behind its content strategy, and one of the highest-paid executives in Indian corporate history.
Here’s a clear, up-to-date look at her life, work, and family.
Kavery hails from Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka. She married Kalanithi Maran in 1991. At the time, Kalanithi was still shaping his vision after returning from an MBA at the University of Scranton in the United States. He had seen the explosion of television channels there and wanted to bring something similar to South India.
Kavery joined the journey almost immediately. When Sun TV launched in 1993, she stepped into a hands-on role. What began as a single Tamil channel grew under the couple’s combined leadership into a network of more than 30 channels across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi. In 2024 the group even entered the Hindi market with Sun Neo.
Their partnership has always been professional as well as personal. Both ranked among India’s highest-paid executives, each drawing packages in the tens of crores in earlier years. Kavery’s remuneration has consistently been reported around ₹87 crore in recent financial years.
Her Role in Building the Sun Empire
Kavery oversees content across the network. She watches competing channels closely and believes feedback is essential—something her husband instilled early. Under her watch the group expanded beyond South India and strengthened its overseas presence among the Tamil diaspora.
Key contributions include:
Driving content that keeps Sun TV dominant in Tamil Nadu (often around 40% viewership share).
Expanding into Marathi and Bengali markets.
Supporting the group’s move into digital streaming through Sun NXT.
Helping maintain the network’s strong film production arm, Sun Pictures.
She rarely seeks the spotlight. Colleagues and industry watchers describe her as focused, detail-oriented, and quietly decisive. While Kalanithi handles the broader business vision, Kavery has long owned the creative and content side.
Family Life and the Next Generation
The couple has one daughter, Kavya (also spelled Kaviya) Kalanithi Maran, born in the early 1990s. Kavya is Executive Director at Sun TV Network and heads the group’s cricket interests—Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20, and Sunrisers Leeds in England’s The Hundred.
As of October 2026, Kavya is preparing to marry music composer Anirudh Ravichander. The wedding reception is scheduled for 21 November 2026 in Chennai. Kalanithi and Kavery have already begun inviting political leaders, including meetings with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
The family maintains a relatively private profile despite their public business roles and political connections (Kalanithi is the grand-nephew of the late M. Karunanidhi and son of former Union Minister Murasoli Maran).
Quick Facts Table
Detail
Information
Full Name
Kavery Kalanithi Maran (Kaveri Maran)
Hometown
Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka
Marriage
1991 to Kalanithi Maran
Profession
Executive Director, Sun TV Network
Key Responsibility
Content strategy across 30+ channels
Daughter
Kavya Kalanithi Maran (SRH CEO)
Notable Salary (reports)
Around ₹87 crore in recent years
Current Focus (2026)
Content, digital growth, family milestones
Why Kavery Matters in Indian Media
Kavery represents a quieter style of leadership. She entered the business at its foundation and stayed through every expansion, from a single channel to a multi-language powerhouse that reaches over 140 million households. Her consistent presence has given Sun TV stability and a strong content identity.
In an industry often dominated by louder personalities, her approach—watch the product closely, expand carefully, and let results speak—has proven effective for more than three decades.
Conclusion
Kavery Kalanithi is not just Kalanithi Maran’s wife. She is a co-architect of one of India’s most successful regional media groups. From the early days of Sun TV in 1993 to the network’s current scale and the family’s next chapter with their daughter’s wedding in November 2026, she has remained a steady, influential presence. Her story shows how behind-the-scenes leadership can shape an entire industry.
source: http://www.gmdcalibration.in / GMD Calibration / Home / by gopalkumarjha111991@gmail.com / October 18th, 2026
Scientists have discovered and described three new centipede species in the genus Rhysida from Southern India, bringing the country’s total to 23. Led by researchers from the Western Ghat Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India in Kozhikode and Malabar Christian College, the find highlights the extraordinary, yet undiscovered biodiversity of the region.
Researchers uncovered the specimens through morphological examination of unidentified centipede specimens housed in the National Zoological Collection at the Zoological Survey of India. They used microscopes and digital cameras to analyse fine anatomical structures, such as tarsal spurs, coxopleural spines, body segments, and antennal counts, and compared them with established taxonomic records in global databases like ChiloBase 2.0.
The newly discovered species are named after their unique physical traits or geographical origins. The first species, Rhysida quadrispinosa, gets its name from the Latin-derived term quadrispinosa, highlighting its unique biological feature: the presence of four ventrolateral spines on its ultimate leg prefemur. The second species, Rhysida coorgensis, is named after Coorg in Karnataka, where researchers first collected the specimen. Similarly, researchers named the third species, Rhysida neyyarensis, after the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, where they discovered it.
Each species possesses distinctive physical characteristics that separate it from other known centipedes. Rhysida quadrispinosa features 18 antennal articles, unique body segment margination starting from tergites 7–11, and a distinct arrangement of spines on its ultimate legs. Rhysida coorgensis stands out due to specific paramedian suture starting points on its back plates and unique coxopleural spine configurations, closely resembling R. ikhalama but differing in internal structural details. Meanwhile, Rhysida neyyarensis is distinguished by its specific pattern of tarsal and tibial spurs, possessing two tarsal spurs on legs 1 through 19, alongside its own distinct spinal formula on the ultimate legs.
The discovery underscores the vital ecological importance of the Western Ghats, a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot teeming with unique and vulnerable ecosystems. By uncovering these three distinct macroarthropod predators, the research deepens our understanding of invertebrate evolution, soil ecology, and regional endemism, emphasising the urgent need for continued conservation efforts in South India’s vanishing natural habitats.
Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna inaugurates the `4.84 crore power project at Cheeni Hudlu Haadi in Kodagu district. (Photo | EPS)
Located on the forest fringes of Thithimathi, these four tribal settlements are home to over 185 families across three tribal communities: Jenu Kurubas, Paniyera Yeravas, and Panjari Yeravas.
Madikeri :
For as long as anyone can remember, sunset marked the end of the day for the tribal settlements near Thithimathi in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district. For generations, darkness was not just the absence of light in the village; it was a way of life. This narrative, however, changed forever this week after a 4.84 crore power project was inaugurated, finally lighting up the tribal settlements of Jungle Haadi, Ayur Suruli Haadi, Cheeni Hudlu Haadi and Chombu Kaadu Haadi.
“We never thought we would live to see our homes shine like this. All of us were jubilant when our houses lit up with the flick of a switch,” said Paniyeravara C Ramu, a resident of Cheeni Hudlu Haadi. He said that although the project was completed four months ago, the inauguration was delayed. “While we were always in the dark, we could not keep calm after the completion of the project. We persuaded our MLA to inaugurate the unit, and you should have seen the happiness on all our faces when our houses received electricity,” he added.
Located on the forest fringes of Thithimathi, these four tribal settlements are home to over 185 families across three tribal communities: Jenu Kurubas, Paniyera Yeravas, and Panjari Yeravas.
Having lived here for generations, residents say they are only now witnessing real development. “Earlier, we used to light diyas with kerosene received through our ration cards. But kerosene supplies stopped after the forest department started providing LPG, leaving us struggling to light lamps in our houses,” explained Ramu.
He noted that while the settlements later received solar lights, they failed because they were not durable. The children in the settlements struggled to study, but the arrival of electricity has now resolved these major hardships.
Yeravas, however, in the settlement still wait for permanent shelters, as many continue to live in tarpaulin huts now equipped with electricity meter boards. According to Ramu, Jenu Kurubas, classified as an indigenous Adivasi community, receive government facilities on a priority basis from the ITDP department. In contrast, Paniyera Yeravas and Panjari Yeravas, who were previously under the ITDP department, were shifted to the Valmiki Corporation and are now under the Alemari Corporation.
“While Jenu Kurubas receive facilities on priority, the Yerava community in the settlement is still waiting for permanent houses. Over 25 houses sanctioned to Yeravas in 2012 remain incomplete. Running from one department to another, we feel like true ‘Alemaris’ (nomads) even to this day,” he concluded.
Nevertheless, Ramu said the settlement has seen considerable progress, including good roads thanks to the current MLA’s efforts, and he hopes permanent shelter, like electricity, is no longer out of reach.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / October 13th, 2026
Madikeri MLA Dr Mantar Gowda visited the residence of international athlete Machhettira Poovamma in Mangaluru and felicitated her for bringing glory to India and Karnataka through her historic gold medal-winning performance at the Asian Games.
Congratulating Poovamma on her remarkable achievement, Dr Mantar Gowda praised her as a proud daughter of Kodagu and said her exceptional contribution to the field of sports had brought immense pride to the entire region.
During the interaction, the MLA also extended a warm invitation to Machhettira Poovamma to attend the prestigious Madikeri Dasara celebrations as the chief guest.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Karnataka / by DaijiWorld Media News Network – Mangaluru (NJC) / October 03rd, 2026
India finally ended its wait for an athletics gold medal as the women’s 4×400 mts relay quartet of Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya Ramaraj produced a composed run to clinch the gold at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya in Japan.
The Indian team clocked 3:29.69 in the final to finish first, with Bahrain taking silver in 3:30.21 and China claiming bronze in 3:31.02. The victory was India’s first athletics gold of the Games and came after the country had collected a string of silver and bronze medals in track and field.
The quartet held its composure in a closely contested race, with Bahrain and China staying in contention before India pulled clear in closing stages. The victory underlined the depth of India’s women’s quarter-mile programme.
Poovamma of Kodagu brought considerable experience to the quartet, while Kiran, Prachi and Vithya combined to maintain the pressure through the four legs. Poovamma and Vithya had earlier been part of India’s mixed 4×400 mts relay silver-medal winning team, making yesterday’s gold another significant achievement for the two runners.
The women’s 4×400 mts relay triumph finally put India atop an athletics podium at Aichi-Nagoya and provided a fitting highlight to a day of multiple track and field medals.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / September 30th, 2026
Karthamada Shama Appanna, wife of Karthamada Dicky Appanna and a resident of Trendz Apartment in Bogadi, Mysuru, has won ‘Amritha Cinecrafts – Mrs. India Women of Substance-Season 9’ held at Sheraton Grand Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Bengaluru, on Sept. 27.
Originally from Ponnampet, Kodagu, she is the daughter of Chowrira Bopaiah and Sharada.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / September 30th,2026
The Indian duo won a bronze medal in the squash mixed doubles at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar secured a bronze medal in the squash mixed doubles event at the Asian Games. | Photo Credit: RV MOORTHY
Indian squash mixed doubles players Joshna Chinappaand Velavan Senthilkumarsecured a bronze medal at the ongoing Asian Games2026 at Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday.
The duo lost went down to Hong Kong China’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong 1-2 (10-11, 11-2, 10-11) in the semifinals.
Tamil Nadu chief minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a cash prize of INR 30 lakh for the two athletes.
“My heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to squash players Joshna Chinnappa and Velavan Senthilkumar, who have brought pride to India and Tamil Nadu by winning the bronze medal in the Mixed Doubles category of Squash at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan,” he said via a statement on X.
“In appreciation of the great achievement of these heroes, the Tamil Nadu Government will provide a high incentive of Rs. 30 lakhs each. Their victory will give new inspiration and hope to the young generation of athletes of Tamil Nadu,” he added.
Vijay had earlier announced cash rewards for athlete Baranica Elangovan, badminton player A. Hariharan, cricketer G. Kamalini, and relay runners Vishal T.K. and Vithya Ramraj.
source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Asian Games 2026 / by Sportstar News Desk / September 26th, 2026
Dr. Vani C Raghavendra (hailing from Chammanamada family in Kodagu and currently residing in Mysuru) has entered the Guinness World Records for her participation and contribution to the “Largest Reading and Listening Competition,” organised by Ebek Language Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India.
Dr. Vani achieved this milestone and received the official Guinness World Record certificate by actively completing all stages of the competition and accurately answering the quiz questions within the required time limits.
This achievement stands as a testament to her dedication, hard work and profound passion for education.
As an educator at Sadviveka School, Dr. Vani is committed to building self-confidence and essential life skills among her students.
Believing that education brings both knowledge and the power to transform lives, Dr. Vani shared that this record is a dream realised through the support of her mentors, family, friends, colleagues and students.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 24th, 2026
The forty-year-old is competing at the Asian Games for a remarkable seventh time; the veteran, still chasing gold, is keen to add to her tally of five medals at the quadrennial showpiece.
Joshna is still going strong. | Photo Credit: PTI
For nearly a quarter of a century, Joshna Chinappa has stood like a colossus on the squash court. At 40, Joshna doesn’t seem to have lost her fighting spirit and tenacity.
She knows she is ageing, has tweaked her training module accordingly and has remained one of the finest players in the country a good 24 years after she made her Asian Games debut in Busan in 2002.
Taking part only in the women’s team and mixed doubles (with Velavan Senthilkumar) events at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Games, the veteran from Chennai is more than eager to bag another medal.
Seeded third in mixed doubles, the Velavan-Joshna duo will take on the fellow Indian pair of Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in the round of 16 after having received a bye in the first. In the women’s team event (Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna and Shameena are her teammates), the No. 3-seeded India has been drawn in Pool C alongside Japan, China and Iran.
On the PSA World Tour, Joshna’s career has overlapped with three generations of elite squash players. Most of her contemporaries — Nicol David (43), Laura Massaro (42), Jenny Duncalf (43), Alison Waters (42) and Annie Au (37) — have long retired, underlining her remarkable longevity.
Placed 73rd in the chart, Joshna is India’s third-highest ranked woman behind the 18-year-old Anahat Singh (World No. 17) and Tanvi Khanna (World No. 71). A winner of 11 PSA titles, she continues to perform at a high level and is determined to make another significant contribution at the Asian Games. Everyone who has followed Joshna’s career knows how meticulous and disciplined she is in her preparation.
Saurav Ghosal, a former men’s top-10 player, perhaps perfectly summed up her longevity. “First and foremost, she really, really loves the game. She’s immensely talented, but she has also worked tirelessly on every aspect of her game to remain at the top for as long as she has. I hope that she comes back from the Asian Games with quite a few gold medals.”
In this interview with The Hindu, the five-time Asian Games medallist reflects on her longevity, debut at the 2002 Asiad, most cherished memories from the continental showpiece, and the motivation that continues to drive her at the highest level. Excerpts:
You are competing at the Asian Games for the seventh time, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to achieve the feat…
I honestly didn’t think I would make a seventh Asian Games appearance. I just focused on my training and tournaments. It definitely feels great to be a part of the Indian team again.
You have won five medals at the Asiad, but a gold remains elusive. What are the chances of clinching the yellow metal?
We have a strong team and yes, it would be great to win another medal. I have always taken my matches one at a time, so I am as prepared as I can be.
Looking back, which was your best Asian Games?
Performance-wise, 2018 would probably be the best I played (singles bronze and silver in women’s team).
How special was it to be on the Asiad stage as a teenager?
As a 15-year-old, it was amazing to see so many superstars of Indian sport in one Village. There is one memory that stands out from my first Games in Busan in 2002. We are usually given our official India clothing and I would obviously wear that to play and train. But in my down time at the Village, I wore a personal T-shirt at the food hall a couple of times, and legendary hockey player Dhanraj Pillay told me that I had to be in my India clothing. It’s something we should always be proud of. It was inspiring for me because it made me aware that I am always representing my country at the Games on and off court… that has stayed with me till now.
You were part of the top 10 in the PSA rankings thrice. When you got there for the first time as a 29-year-old in July 2016, how did you feel?
The top 10 is a special place. It took a lot of effort, especially coming back from my ACL surgery, and years of work with my team.
There were top players like Nour El Sherbini, Raneem El Welily, Nouran Gohar, Camille Serme and Massaro. So how difficult was it to get or stay there?
I definitely played with a bunch of incredibly talented and hardworking women who were greats of the game. Playing with them, beating some of them and making it to the top 10 was one of the best moments of my career.
What did the win over Nicol — an eight-time World champion — in the 2018 Asian Games women’s team semifinals mean to you?
It meant a lot because I have always looked up to her and admired how humble she is as a champion. I really wanted to do it for the team. She is one of the greatest of all-time. Coming in from the disappointment of losing singles and making the team final after beating a strong team like Malaysia was amazing!
You had a on-court rivalry with Dipika Pallikal but shared a bond and went on to bag medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games…
We have had some amazing wins together for India and I will always think of my time competing with her and playing alongside her as inspiring and motivating.
You have won 11 Tour titles. You had to wait 10 years to earn your latest crown, at the Japan Open in 2025. Why did it take so long to end the drought?
I didn’t expect to win in Japan. It felt great to win after ages, especially since I beat girls who were in their early 20s and were ranked way higher than me. The difference now is that I am a lot more relaxed towards competing and I am more performance-oriented than result-focused. Maybe it just helps me enjoy and appreciate these moments more and play better squash.
Every title I have won has come at different times of my life: they all have come after years of training and preparation. Each one has been rewarding.
How have you been able to sustain at this level for nearly quarter of a century? Is it down to mental sharpness, your focus on fitness, outlook towards life or all three?
The main reason I am able to still compete today is my parents. My team, including my coach, strength and conditioning trainer, physios, nutritionist and sports psychologist, has been amazing. The support from my sponsors, the State government, Central government and Squash Rackets Federation of India has been great. It takes a lot to compete at the highest level and it’s only possible because of the amazing people I work with. I do work a lot on the mental and physical side of the game besides recovery. I really appreciate and worship my body, which has been so incredibly supportive.
Joshna took to the sport after playing with her father at MCC. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
How much has the sport evolved since you began playing?
So much! At the international level, the game has become so much more physically demanding, faster and skilful. Domestically, we have many players playing, and the level has improved a lot. Seeing so many PSA (World Tour) events happening in India is wonderful because many of our players benefit tremendously by playing in them and watching the top players competing here in India.
Squash will make its debut at the 2028 LA Olympics…
Such exciting times ahead for squash. India has a great chance to do well.
You had knee injuries/surgeries in 2011 and 2023? How challenging was it physically and mentally to come back from those?
I tore my ACL on the right knee in 2011 and was out of the game for a year. I was encouraged to quit playing and get into coaching. I had no financial support but I moved to Bombay (Mumbai) and worked with a really good Egyptian physio and trainer — Ahmed Youssef. When I got back to playing, coach Ritwik Bhattacharya helped me. Some of my best victories came after that surgery because I believed I had a lot more to offer to the game and I really wanted to play for India again.
And in 2023, during the last Asian Games, I found that there was no cartilage in my right knee and it also needed a surgery. But I did the surgery more for quality of life as it was painful to do basic things like driving, getting out of bed comfortably and jogging. My surgeon, Dr. Jagdeesh, who did my ACL surgery, also did my cartilage surgery and told me that I would be able to compete again. So I moved to Bengaluru and worked with Yash Pandey at Peak Performance. I got back on court after five months of rehab. I decided to train and play for a couple more years to see if I could play the Asian Games.
How big a support has your father been and what are your memories of playing with him at Madras Cricket Club?
My dad is the main reason I am here today. He introduced me to the game as he was a squash player himself. I have the best memories of tagging along with him to the MCC and playing squash with him, other MCC members and my friends. He was my coach and motivator for a very long time, especially when I was a junior.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by K Keerthivasan / September 24th, 2026
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