Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad national award-winning filmmaker’s experiment with zero budget

Ranjith Arvapally used the lockdown to show the world that it’s indeed possible to make a film
with worldclass VFX without spending a penny, by crowdsourcing talent

A still from ‘Mars – The Unexpected Journey’

Hyderabad : 

Ranjith Arvapally’s WhatsApp status proudly proclaims ‘Made world’s first short film on Mars.’ And that too at zero budget, he adds. This short film director who has made 30 such so far from says that the biggest problem that any filmmaker faces is his inability to showcase to aspiring producers on what he/she can do with a script.

“But with this concept called zero-budget filmmaking, we can make movies that will help us show our talent and bag big movies,” says this young filmmaker from Yousufguda in Hyderabad.

His new movie, Mars – The Unexpected Journey, he says is “an experiment in the above concept.”

This BTech graduate who hails from Medak claims that he has donned the roles of director, writer, DOP, lyricist, VFX editor, actor, photographer and with some help from friends, has made what he calls the world’s first short film on Mars.

His friends and family helped him out by enacting a few roles but the movie essentially runs on Visual Effects (VFX) “I worked as an Associate Director for a Telugu film directed by Anil.

he says worked well for this filmmaker

But we all filmmakers know that we all have to first prove talent to get offers and to do that one needs tons of money. “I decided to use my Nikon DSLR and edit it and complete it using my mobile and editing apps. It took him seven days to shoot this movie which has 95 pc VFX about Mars.

“If I can make a movie worth Rs 8 lakh in one week without spending money, that should really speak of what one can do with money and more talent,” he says.

For now, Ranjith has been trying to garner attention by tagging top producers in social media and passing the word around.

“I had previously produced a science fiction and message-oriented zero budget movie and have applied for Guinness Book of World Records,” he says.

He also won a national award for Bhisham short film and the best love story for Meenakshi c/o Krishna at the Indian Inclusion short film fest.

He believes in the mantra: Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. The 20-minute movie is now on YouTube with subtitles in Telugu Hindi, Tamil and English.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Manju Latha Kalanidhi / Express News Service / September 01st, 2020

Biryani magic! Hyderabad declared ‘creative’ city in gastronomy category by UNESCO

Hyderabad is one of the two cities from India, among the total 66 smart cities selected by the UNESCO across the globe.

Image of biryani used for representational purposes.

Hyderabad :

The city of Hyderabad has been adjudged as ‘Creative City’ in gastronomy category by the UNESCO on the occasion of World Cities Day on Thursday.

Hyderabad is one of the two cities from India, among the total 66 smart cities selected by the UNESCO across the globe. The other city from India, Mumbai has been selected as a smart city in the film category.

Municipal administration and industries minister KT Rama Rao expressed happiness over Hyderabad’s ranking.  “It is a great effort by principal secretary municipal administration Arvind Kumar and his team,” Rama Rao said.

It may be mentioned here that Hyderabad has a number of starred restaurants and known for the delicious “Hyderabad Biryani”. The city of pearls is also famous for its rich food culture and heritage.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Express News Service / October 31st, 2019

A pivot to success

In 2016, Raju decided that they had to pivot their business to survive.  Hence started Way2News.

Hyderabad :

Remember when we used to have a limit on how many text messages we could send our friends? Most of us tech-savvy Hyderabadis then had a cheat code to send unlimited SMSs through the internet before the era of Whatsapp. That was Way2SMS. It was a portal where you could send your message from your mobile number as an SMS to your desired number through the internet without a limit. As Whatsapp took over along with the various chat apps, the service turned irrelevant. The Hyderabadi startup headed by Raju Vanapala still didn’t lose hope. With the help of the userbase that they already had with Way2SMS, they pivoted to Way2News and are now going strong.

In 2016, Raju decided that they had to pivot their business to survive.  Hence started Way2News. “We wanted to put to use the strong userbase we had generated through Way2SMS. From a messaging service we turned to an information portal.  

Way2News is a hyperlocal short news app based in Hyderabad provides personalized news in short-summarized format in eight Indian languages – Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Guajarati, Kannada and Bengali. The reason why we expanded into vernaculars is that we needed to have a USP in comparision to the other information portals or apps cropping up in the market,” says Raju. In just three years, the company has over 20 million downloads and about 2 million active users. Ask him what his USP was and Raju says, “The simplicity of our design and usability is what is keeping our users hooked. It works with just a swipe and doesn’t need one to understand too many functions. Our news is hyperlocal and is targettedtowards the local audience keeping it more relevant and closer to the info needs of the user.”

He also proudly adds, “ Our professional editors, work round-the-clock curating credible, informative, time critical and trusted content for its users.  With the use of Artificial Intelligence, users are exposed to relevant and interested personalized stories from more than 140 categories.First-hand crowdsourced content, catering to the regional audience has been one of the prime focus.” The company currently serves more than 1000 brands. It has published 1,40,000 plus short news stories covering 1,10,000 villages of the 6 lakh plus villages in India. And it flaunts more than 4.5 billion screen views per month.

— Srividya Palaparthi
srividya.palaparthi@newindianexpress.com @PSrividya53

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Srividya Palaparthi / Express News Service / October 31st, 2019

Nagarjuna and Amala announce Film Heritage Foundation’s Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop

Sudhanshu Vats, the group CEO and MD of Viacom18, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Nagarjuna and Amala Akkineni   | Photo Credit:  Nagara Gopal

Announcing the Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop 2019 in Hyderabad, actors Nagarjuna and Amala underline the importance of film preservation

Hyderabad is home to one of the largest film industries in India. But how many of the old film negatives or contemporary films shot in digital mode, are being preserved for posterity? “My father (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) acted in more than 200 films but many of his films have not been preserved. I have acted in more than 90 films and realised that none of them have also been preserved well,” says Akkineni Nagarjuna, speaking on the sidelines of the announcement of the week-long Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop to be held in December in Hyderabad.

The actor admits that he wasn’t aware of film preservation methods, not only of the older ones shot on film negatives, also of the fickle nature of digital data, “We assume that since digital data is safe since it’s stored on hard disks, but we risk losing it if there’s a virus attack or a hard disk crash. Digital data needs upgradation to keep pace with technological advancements. We have lost all records of silent films and the earliest Telugu talkie. I’ve heard my father talk about silent films and how there would be narrators as the films were screened. We can at least do something to preserve what we have.”

Making preservation and conservation of film and allied material possible is the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), founded by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. From December 8 to 15, the FHF in partnership with Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation (TFF), the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), Viacom18 and Tata Trusts, will conduct a workshop in Hyderabad. The faculty will include film conservation and archival experts from institutes across the world.

The workshop will be held at Annapurna Studios in classrooms of the Annapurna International School of Film and Media (AISFM). Extending her support, Amala Akkineni, the director of the institute added, “We look forward to hosting the hands-on sessions during the week-long workshop in 20 of our classrooms.”

In its previous editions, the film restoration workshops have been held in Pune, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur recalled how Mani Ratnam entrusted the FHF to preserve all his recent films. “But sadly, his films from the 80s and even Roja are in bad shape,” he shares.

Leading up to the announcement of the workshop, Shivendra had been in touch with directors, studios, producers and film labs in Hyderabad. Amitabh Bachchan, who is a strong support to FHF, sent out a video message to the Telugu film fraternity urging their support to preserve cinema.

The FHF’s workshop in Mumbai had the support of director Christopher Nolan and a one-of-its-kind round table featuring some of the most prominent members of Hindi cinema, to discuss film preservation. Taking a cue, Nagarjuna stated that he is keen to have a similar round table in Hyderabad.

The event witnessed the support of Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and MD, Viacom18 and Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Government of Telangana.

Applications for the workshop will be available from August 25, on www. filmheritagefoundation.co.in and fiafnet.org.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / August 22nd, 2019

Harimohan Paruvu’s biography on Dr MV Sridhar highlights the winning attitude

Harimohan Paruvu   | Photo Credit: WSubrahmanyam

In the biography of ‘Doc’ MV Sridhar, Harimohan Paruvu captures the essence of why the late cricketer was loved and respected by all

Former cricketer Harimohan Paruvu was in a dilemna when Dr M Pushpa came to him with a request to write a biography on her late son, the former Hyderabad cricket captain and cricket administrator, Dr MV Sridhar. Harimmohan was not keen on writing biographies, but when she said, ‘Youngsters could learn from his life and be inspired,’ he saw reason enough to take it up.

The book The Renaissance Man – ‘Doc’ MV Sridhar released recently, narrates the life story of the late cricketer.

Interspersed with photographs and anecdotes, the book focusses on the man and the way he excelled in different roles —as a doctor, a Hyderabad first-class cricketer, corporate executive and cricket administrator.

Being his junior, Harimohan Paruvu had known Sridhar from his school days. “I knew a lot of his schoolmates and teachers too but when I interviewed 64 people for the book, several new facets were revealed to me — his passion, his humility, his focus, concentration, his intelligence. So many people had been so deeply impacted by him,” he shares.

Chronologically divided into different chapters, the book narrates his childhood, schooling at All Saint’s High School, his jazz years, getting high runs for Hyderabad, family bond, corporate stint, cricket administration and BCCI stories. His medical college days not only make for a fascinating chapter but were also arguably the ‘best phase in Sridhar’s life, full of fun and friends’. When Sridhar entered a room, people’s faces would light up; he would make everyone laugh with his jokes.

Being a cricketer had been Sridhar’s dream, but his grandfather was keen that he study medicine; Sridhar accepted the decision without any protest. “Without complaining or cribbing, he studied medicine and the best thing was he focussed only on studies for five years,” says Harimohan. The author recalls how he was surprised to learn of Sridhar’s dancing skills. “He was in the singing team; He was not a trained dancer but had a great sense of rhythm. He would write scripts and stage plays in college and excelled in all of these.

With a foreword written by VVS Laxman, the book documents interesting facets of his life. He was a Hyderabad Ranji cricketer, doctor and turned into a corporate when he joined Satyam and then finally became a cricket administrator. Sridhar’s mother shares how people would enquire about the hospital he was working for.

People recall that Sridhar had always been a team player who kept his problems to himself. At the same time, he wouldn’t talk about any of the problems he faced or worries he had; he would only become thoughtful and take responsibility for it. His way of handling a crisis was just to move ahead, taking along everyone in the team — whether in the corporate company he worked in, or in the cricket team he captained. He had a tremendous ability to understand people, without judgement. He was the glue that held people together”

Most of Sridhar’s friends discuss how he pushed them out of their comfort zone to excel, but was always around when they needed help. In the last chapter ‘A star returns to the Pavilion’, Dr Pushpa pens her shock and pain on her son’s death. “We picked up his best qualities and constructed his life so that others can imbibe them,” explains Harimohan.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Biography / by Neerja Murthy / August 19th, 2019

Space Museum opens at Birla Science Centre

Children having a look at an exhibit at the Space Museum at Birla Science Centre in Hyderabad on Friday.

‘Museums are mirrors which reflect the country’s heritage’

The city got its first private Space Museum at Birla Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute, which celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan inaugurated the museum. The museum is associated with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Addressing the gathering, Narashimhan said that museums are mirrors which reflect the country’s heritage. “They are reminders of where we come from and a visit to the museum gives us immense pleasure which also satisfies our inner urge to see what we are missing in this modern era,” he said.

The Space Museum has a host of exhibits including replicas of satellites such as Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE), Chandrayan-1, Mangalyan and launch vehicles like GSLV MK III and others. As part of the 50-year celebrations, the BACRI will invite Nobel laureates, organise symposiums, seminars, workshops and exhibitions.

ISRO lauded

Speaking at the event, Nirmala Birla, president, BACRI said: The Space Museum that has been inaugurated today is a big step forward in this journey. I hope that everyone who visits the museum enjoys the experience and are inspired by newer horizons that the ISRO through space science is opening for India.” She pointed out that BACRI has a strong record for excavation, conservation of temples, publications, numismatics, museums and promoting science. She said that so far 30 Nobel laureates had delivered lectures.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – July 27th, 2019

The Hindu lensmen bag prizes

This photograph has been selected second prize in the Press Club Hyderabad Photo contest this year. Women from a nearby village walk between huge pipes used in the construction activity at Mandadam in the core capital region near Vijayawada of AP,   | Photo Credit:  CH _ VIJAYA BHASKAR

The Hindu photographer at Vijayawada, Ch.V.S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, won second prize in the third edition of photo contest for photo journalists conducted by the Press Club of Hyderabad on the occasion of the club’s foundation day celebrations.

The first prize went to Sakshi Nalgonda photographer K.B. Prasad and the third to Bhaskar Reddy of V6 Velugu daily in Siddipet.

The first three prizes carry cash award of ₹ 15,000, ₹ 10,000 and ₹ 5,000 respectively.

The consolation prize winners were K.V.S. Giri (The Hindu – Hyderabad), A. Ramachandra Rao (Andhra Bhoomi – Vijayawada), V. Peddi Raju (The Hindu – Vijayawada), G. Ramu (Eenadu – Hyderabad), Gunti Vinod (Namasthe Telangana – Wanaparthy), J. Azeez (Sakshi – Machilipatnam), N. Rajesh Reddy (Sakshi – Hyderabad), K. Bajrang Prasad (Sakshi – Nalgonda), A. Yakaiah (Sakshi – Suryapet) and S. Ravinder (Eenadu – Suryapet).

All of them will get ₹ 2,000 each.

The prize distribution will be held at Press Club Hyderabad on June 9.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad June 01st, 2019

A doctor like no one


Gynaecologist M. Vijaya Lakshmi distributing medicine to a patient at a medical camp in Karimnagar. 

Vijaya Lakshmi treats patients free of cost every day between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

At a time when her peers did not feel it wise to work in rural areas, she moved to Karimnagar and opened Sanjeevani Hospital with the help of her husband Naveen Kumar, a surgeon.

Gynaecologist M. Vijaya Lakshmi, who was born and brought up in Hyderabad, studied medicine at Osmania University in 1984 and DGO in 1988. Dr. Lakshmi, popularly known as amma here, treats patients free of cost between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day.

She also conducts free medical camps for pregnant women every month at all the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under Pradhan Manthri Surakshith Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA).

For her services under PMSMA, District Collector Sarfarz Ahmad even felicitated her with an appreciation letter during Republic Day celebrations on January 26 this year.

She runs Sanjeevani Charitable Trust under which she conducts medical camps across the district, and she performs surgeries free of cost on some occasions when patients cannot pay for the same. Also, she provides free breakfast to the in-patients at the hospital and distributes sarees as gift to pregnant women after their delivery. Dr. Lakshmi has launched an ambitious programme called Mogga to educate adolescent girls on the important of health and hygiene by visiting government schools and colleges.

Talking to The Hindu, Dr. Lakshmi said, “I received everything from the society and it’s time for me give back and I am doing that in small ways possible. Conducting medical camps is a part of that”.

She said she was planning to intensify her campaign to educate adolescent girls and added that she was planning to install automated sanitary vending machines at government educational institutions soon.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by K. M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – May 05th, 2019

Global acclaim for Anshul’s 2-min ‘eco-comedy’ film

Hyderabad :

Hyderabadi film maker Anshul Sinha’s two-minute film, ‘Waterman’ is garnering appreciation in film festivals all over the world. The almost-silent film gives water a human form to highlight the issue of water scarcity.

“We wanted to make a humorous film that could communicate the message on a global platform,” says Anshul, adding that the lack of dialogues gives it a universal appeal, beyond the barriers of language. The narration was kept light as people often tend to disregard films on environmental issues. One of the challenges was that it took them a month to figure the characterisation of water as human. The film stood second in the eco-comedy video competition in the 8th edition of the International Environment Film Festival, in Washington DC, out of the 250 film submissions.

“We won The Infocus National Film Festival, Hyderabad,” said Anshul recounting the awards won for Waterman, which total up to 8 till date and have nominations in 12 other international film festivals. Anshul has been making documentaries since 2012.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Aakanksha Madhavaram / Express News Service / May 01st, 2019

Women’s exhibition: ‘Taruni Fair’ begins at all-women metro station in Hyderabad

A village zone reflecting Telangana Rural life is created with children’s play area with amusement rides, food courts, etc.


HMRL MD NVS Reddy and Shikha Goel, Additional Commissioner of Police, at the inaugural ‘Taruni Fair‘ held at Taruni Madhura Nagar Metro Station in Hyderabad on Saturday | Express

Hyderabad :

An exclusive women’s exhibition called ‘Taruni Fair’ was opened at Taruni Madhura Nagar Metro Station on Saturday. The exhibition, with as many as 150 stalls, will be open for the next two months, everyday between 5.30 pm and 10.30 pm. Entry is free.

HMRL Managing Director, NVS Reddy, Director of Municipal Administration, Telangana, T K Sreedevi, GHMC Zonal Commissioner of Serlingampally zone, D Harichandana, Additional Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad city, Shika Goel, Managing Director of Fernandez Group of Hospitals, Evita Fernandez, Foundation for Futuristic Cities, Karuna Gopal, Granules India, Cofounder, Uma Chigurupati and others were present.     

A village zone reflecting Telangana Rural life is created with children’s play area with amusement rides, food courts, etc. HMRL looks at the Hyderabad Metro project not as a simple transportation engineering project but as an instrument to promote many wider socio-economic goals. As a part of this vision,  Taruni Madhuranagar metro station along with the two-acre open area around the station is being made a hub of activities to promote women empowerment and gender equality, NVS Reddy said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home>Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / April 21st, 2019