Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Prodigy by birth. Creative by choice

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

SaiKrishnaTELAN21jun2016

Hyderabad :

U Sai Krishna, aka Nani Krish, is an example of how genes play a major role in one’s talent. Children inherit not just physical resemblances from their parents but also some passion, talent and skill, which buried in the plasma of the blood. Born to late maestro Mandolin Srinivas, Krish is innately blessed with a few skills, which is uncommon among his peer group.

At eight, he played with graphics. At 16, he made a spoof of Eega; at 19, he could come up with a documentary on his dad and now he has come up with VFX sci-fi mythological short drama Oppera. Krish’s mom is equally accomplished. Rajashri is a painter and a sculptor.

According to Krish, he is a keen observant. He always watched his mom closely when she used to work on flash animation.

“I was just eight when I had developed an interest in animation and graphics. I started working on it slowly. I used a few tools to get a hang on the subject. I had decided my profession when I was hardly nine,” he smiles.

Krish was an active kid. To channelise his restlessness, and focused on animations and other Youtube sensations. “I am interested in making short films with subtle social messages, using graphics and animations to harness my skills and in the process I have tried doing a remake of a song from a popular Telugu movie Athadu. I post my work on Youtube and it effortlessly goes viral. It’s a kind of motivation,” he adds.

Krish became a overnight star with the path changing spoof on Eega. “I was 16, when Rajamouli’s Eega had released. I was inspired by the movie and the VFX work in it. I started my first short film by taking Rajamouli sir as my inspiration and I made a spoof on it called Eega Spoof by Kids. I did not expect that to go viral. I couldn’t believe when people were all praise for it,” he exclaims.

How he stands out from others is that he has no godfather nor does he have a mentor. He is his own trainer. He is looking forward to take up specialised training to polish his innate talent.

Though he got separated from his famous dad at a tender age, Krish wanted to pay a tribute to him. “Being a son of a man, who is one of the rulers of music, I thought I would do something for him. I have no memories with him and hence I thought I would document videos of those legends, who share unforgettable moments with him. I made a documentary which not just had bytes of famous musicians and directors but also my dad’s videos. I had released that documentary last October,” he informs with a sense of pride.

Krish feels blessed to share genes with people like his dad and down -to-earth mom. He is attached to his grandparents who are also equally inclined towards carnatic music. He has unconditional support from his grand mother. He says his entire family supports him in every step. Funds in his projects and also bought him numerous gadgets. His idols? Steven Spelberg, Shankar and SS Rajamouli.

TheOperaTELAN21jun2016

This St Mary’s commerce student is currently working on a sci-fi mythological epic drama The Oppera. “I’m making this short film with great determination and focus under my own channel SSK ARTS. When I had narrated the story to my friends, they were instantly in love with the script. It involves dragons and robotics and it is slated to release on the channel in a couple of months,” he concludes.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / Purnima Sriram / June 21st, 2016

Chaitanya, Subba Rao win Sahitya Awards

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

ChaityanyaTELAN18jun2016

Hyderabad :

Chaitanya Pingali, a journalist and grand daughter of freedom fighter Pingali Venkaiah, who designed the National Flag, has won the 2016 Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar (Telugu) for her contribution to Telugu literature.

Meanwhile, Alaparthi Venkata Subba Rao, better known as ‘Balabandhu’, won the Bala Sahitya Puraskar.

‘Chittagong Viplava Vanitalu (2013), a well researched work on revolutionary woman who participated in Chittagong uprising, has fetched Chaitanya Pingali the Yuva Puraskar.

She is the first Telugu girl to get Akademi’s Yuvapuraskar.

Alaparthi Venkata Subba Rao won the Bala Sahitya Puraskar for his poetry collection ‘Swarna Pushpaalu’.

The Sahitya Akademi rewards authors annually for their literary contribution in all the major Indian languages.

Dr K Srinivasa Rao, secretary, Sahitya Akademi, said that winners of Yuva Puraskar and Bala Puraskar will receive a cash award of `50,000 and an engraved coper-plaque.

Awards will be presented on a later date.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / June 17th, 2016

Telangana: Pride of place for Perini

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence

The onus now is on the Telangana government to declare ‘Perini’ as the official state dance.

“Andhra has Kuchipudi, Tamil Nadu has Bharatanatyam, Kerala has Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, and states in North and North East too have their own styles, though they are all called Indian dances.

What do we Telanganites have, to represent our culture?” is the question that arose in cultural circles in Telangana.

Until the state was bifurcated, this region was part of Andhra Pradesh and was promoting all forms of art, even north and south.

Exponent of Kuchipudi and Perini Andhra Natyam Guru Nataraja Ramakrishna Photo: P. V. Sivakumar
Exponent of Kuchipudi and Perini Andhra Natyam Guru Nataraja Ramakrishna Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

Padmasree recipient Nataraja Ramakishna developed Tandava dance named ‘Perini’ that originated from the time of Kakatiya dynasty in the 11th century.

The Veera Saiva cult prevalent then and practiced by the rulers, saw the practitioners taking out processions in celebratory mood chanting the name of Lord Siva on festival days.

Young dancers perform Perini Shiva Thandavam dance Photo. Thakur Ajay Pal Singh
Young dancers perform Perini Shiva Thandavam dance Photo. Thakur Ajay Pal Singh

Perini was born out of it. Jayapasena (chief of elephant brigade of Kakatiya kings) conceptualised nritta based dance and called it ‘Perini’. The word Perini was born out of the word ‘Prerana’, according to Nataraja Ramakrishna who streamlined it some five years ago. Prerana here means ‘encouraging or motivating’the army that was set to go to war.

The focus now is on ‘Perini dance’ reconstructed by Nataraja Ramakrishna as part of his research oriented works for revival of the art.

Youngsters perform Perini Shiva Thandavam
Youngsters perform Perini Shiva Thandavam

It is now being felt that the state government should recognise Perini and Lasya styles as official dance of Telangana.

Now the job of projecting a comprehensive picture to Lasya penning compositions rests on Ramakrishna’s disciples like Kalakrishna, who had close proximity to the guru. The general order can start with Nrutta part like other nritta numbers, like Jatiswaram, replacing it with Perini jatis to give it an identity as wholesome number.

Other numbers related to nritya and abhinaya parts of the drama that follow should be specially written by some Telangana poets.

Youngsters perform Perini Shiva Thandavam
Youngsters perform Perini Shiva Thandavam

The lasya part of Perini can be traced to the characters like Parvathi, Lord Siva’s consort. Compositions on Vinayaka and Kartikeya both sons of Siva keep the dance connected to Saivam, if one wants to be so. ‘Daksha Yagnam’ is another Siva related number. That can be reshaped a bit to associate it with Kakatiya dynasty.

Even the yakashaganas being presented by Telangana troupes have rich sahitya that can provide scripts for solo numbers that can be conceived into classic presentation. The original texts of Yakshaganas should be tapped into for this purpose.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review> Dance / by Gudipudi Srihari / Hyderabad – June 16th, 2016

Historic tank to come back to life

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All, Travel

Tourist spot:Collector Yogitha Rana and MLA Bigala Ganesh Gupta inspecting the locations around Raghunathalayam, in Nizamabad on Sunday.– Photo: K.V. RAMANA
Tourist spot:Collector Yogitha Rana and MLA Bigala Ganesh Gupta inspecting the locations around Raghunathalayam, in Nizamabad on Sunday.– Photo: K.V. RAMANA

Raghunathalayam atop the Quilla Indur in Nizamabad will be developed to attract devotees

The Raghunathalayam, atop the Quilla Indur dating back to the 10th century, will be developed to attract devotees from across the State as part of the Mission Kakatiya works undertaken at Boddemma cheruvu abutting the Quilla. A park would be built on three acres, and 12 acres would be allocated to the Kendriya Vidyalaya coming up nearby, according to MLA Bigala Ganesh Gupta.

Mr. Gupta, who inspected the works on Sunday to give shape to the tank as a mini tank bund, told reporters that an action plan would be prepared with proposal of funds required to develop the historic location. Collector Yogitha Rana and Joint Collector A. Ravinder Reddy, who accompanied the MLA, said that a detailed survey would be conducted to know about government land available around it.

They said that Quilla Indur and the Boddemma cheruvu would become important public recreational spots for the residents of the district headquarter town in the coming months. The government had sanctioned Rs. 6.28 crore and works were launched under the second phase of the Mission Kakatiya project. The bund strengthening work is almost complete.

Plantations and railings on both sides of the bund, as well as parks, would come up as part of the project. The 4.5-kilometre bund would be raised on a height of 8 metres with the same width, enabling passersby to move freely on it. Benches would be put up too. Nizamsagar main canal, which brings water into the tank and is one of the drinking water sources of the town, would also be strengthened with revetment.

“I request the government to revise the original plan as the amount sanctioned initially would not be sufficient to complete all works,” the MLA said.

Since it is meant for drinking water purpose, the only one sluice that exists for the tank may be removed. There is no clarity on it, but locals want it to continue. Raghunathalayam irrigation tank gradually became a drinking water source, with the ayacut under it having disappeared with the expansion of the city.

The tank is one of the major centres where Bathukamma is hosted during the nine-day celebrations. The tank will provide a panoramic view with lush green surroundings if water fills to the brim this monsoon.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by P. Ram Mohan / Nizamabad – June 13th, 2016

Bobbing and weaving at Rasoolpura

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Sports

Yerrolla Prasad, a resident of Rasoolpura, sailing in the Hussan Sagar lake in Hyderabad. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu
Yerrolla Prasad, a resident of Rasoolpura, sailing in the Hussan Sagar lake in Hyderabad. Photo: G. Ramakrishna
/ The Hindu

The slum is a nursery of sporting talent, and it’s in boxing that many of the youngsters show their punch.

This report is the third of a 12-part series on the changing face of the Indian slum, chronicling stories of new social and economic trends in our impoverished neighbourhoods

What makes them so athletic? Not a day passes without Rasoolpura’s young sportspersons making a dash for the track and field. Many vault into the boxing ring. A few go as far as the lake to tame the wind and sail. Girls hike to the ground for athletic training and handball practice.

A yen for sports, especially boxing, pervades the slum. Proximity to the Gymkhana Grounds, the famed cricket ground of Secunderabad, has stoked and preserved the passion.

Take Yerrolla Prasad, who has fallen completely in love with water but also occasionally spar. For this shy, soft-spoken 16-year-old, born and raised in a 7X7 tenement, sailing is a passion. If the wind keeps away, he leaps into the water for kayaking.

N. Shyam Prasad, who finished first-year B.Com., is saving up for a trip to Haryana to perfect his pugilistic skills, win the gold at the national level and join the Indian Air Force — his dream of years.

“All my friends abandoned sailing, overawed by the waters of Hussain Sagar Lake, despite their training in swimming. I never had any fear, and loved sailing. I hope it will help me get into the police service,” Yerrolla Prasad says.

The eldest of three children of a Dalit daily-wage earner, he snagged gold in the junior category of the Monsoon Regatta of the National Optimist Coastal Championship in 2014. Sponsored by the Yacht Club of Hyderabad, he participated in sailing events in Pune and Chennai. He was one of the 14 children from the slum trained in swimming by Bhumi, a youth-volunteer non-profit organisation, before being sent to the Yacht Club three years ago.

Shyam is now busy at a bakers’. “Four or five of us are working during summer holidays, so that we can save up for the trip and training in Haryana,” he says.

The Hyderabad District Sports Authority is coaching more than 10 youngsters from the slum at the Gymkhana Grounds. “We encourage youth to take up sports. The idea is to dissuade them from ‘gutkha’ and substance abuse. We ran a gym for three years, but had to shut it for lack of funds,” says Sheik Nayeem, convener of the Kriya Sangh Society, a community group trained by Bhumi before it left the slum.

N. Ramya, Shyam’s sister, wears her brother’s boxing shorts and shoes and trains with her friend K. Sandhya at the grounds for a summer camp.

“Initially, we could not cross our locality wearing shorts. There would be catcalls and jeers. Now, we wear trousers underneath and remove them after reaching the grounds,” says A. Bhavani, a Plus Two student.

Bhavani is into running, long jump, high jump and basketball, apart from handball. Introduced to sports during her schooldays, she was selected for training by the District Sports Authority and went on to participate in State-level handball and judo tournaments. Her brother A. Sai Kumar is into hockey.

“I studied in a private school, and though it didn’t have a ground of its own, the teachers took us to Gymkhana Grounds for games. It has become a habit,” Bhavani says.

Though parental aspirations are high about their wards’ education and career, that do not come in the way of sports.

Y. Bhaskar, Yerrolla Prasad’s father, has decided not to enrol his son in a private educational institution despite repeated calls from multiple colleges, as that would hinder his sailing aspirations.

“I want him to become an IPS officer. I hope his training as a sailor does help him get through,” he says, while his wife, Parvathi, nods in agreement.

“There are 130 to 140 self-help groups in this area, offering women loans at low interest rates. When it comes to school fees, loans of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 come in handy,” Mr. Nayeem says.

“My daughter studied up to Class IX in a private school, after which they asked us to take her away as the school lacked recognition. I sent her to another English-medium school far off, though the fee is very high,” says Padma P., a domestic help. (With inputs from Rohit P.S.)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swathi Vadlamudi / May 30th, 2016

‘Amma Odi’ to transport new mothers home

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel

Hyderabad :

We are aware of emergency 108 services that transport pregnant women to government hospitals. However, post-pregnancy, women are left to fend for themselves, and carry their newborns to their destinations with utmost care.

This would be a thing of the past now. Health minister Dr C Laxma Reddy announced on Tuesday that the government will soon launch vehicles that would assist a newly-delivered woman in reaching her house safe and secure.

“For this, we are going to launch a service – 102 – on the name of ‘Amma Odi’. Forty such vehicles will be launched soon,” he said. These vehicles will be kept available at remote areas, villages and agency areas and will arrive at government hospitals with just a phone call. The service would be free of cost.

Meanwhile, the government would also introduce a fleet of 50 vehicles that transport the bodies of poor people who die in government hospitals to their respective homes or to graveyards. The vehicles will be kept at Gandhi, Osmania and Niloufer hospitals in Hyderabad and two vehicles each will be kept at all the district headquarter hospitals.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / June 01st, 2016

Heroes back home after Everest conquest

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Travel

Adventurous spirit:Additional Superintendent of Adilabad district G.R. Radhika and D. Bhadraiah, a contract labourer, two of the five members who scaled Mount Everest, in Hyderabad on Saturday.— Photo: K.V.S. Giri
Adventurous spirit:Additional Superintendent of Adilabad district G.R. Radhika and D. Bhadraiah, a contract labourer, two of the five members who scaled Mount Everest, in Hyderabad on Saturday.— Photo: K.V.S. Giri

Three Telugus were part of a five-member team that scaled the world’s tallest peak.

One is a woman police officer working as Additional Superintendent in Adilabad district, G.R. Radhika, while the other is a contract labour on Andhra Pradesh Transco projects, D. Bhadraiah. Fatigued but beaming with pride, they flew back here at the end of a 50-day expedition after scaling the world’s tallest peak under the guidance of an ace mountaineer.

The three Telugu-speaking members of the expedition were part of an 8-member team, of which five actually breathed the shallow, but fresh air atop Mt. Everest a few days ago. They landed at Shamshabad airport to a warm welcome and loads of bouquets. When contacted, the expedition leader Shekhar Babu Bachinepally who runs the Bhongir Rock Climbing School in adjacent Nalgonda district seemed to have run out of words, describing his happiness at the success of the team he had trained.

The three others in the expedition who conquered Mt. Everest are an Indian Police officer of the Maharashtra cadre Suhail Sharma, an Indian Forest Service officer of Karnataka cadre, S. Prabakaran and Balan Shivaraman who works in a private company in Dubai. Apart from Mr. Shekhar, the two others who did not touch the peak included the team’s doctor Vimal Jaiswal and Ashok Munne who complained of pain and was advised by the Team Leader to give up this time.

Distinction

After Mr. Shekhar Babu himself scaled Mt. Everest first in the year 2007, he got the distinction of being the first civilian from South India to do so. Again, in 2014, he repeated his feat, with Poorna, a student of Class IX of Pakala village in Nizamabad district and Anand a student who is doing his graduation from the Nizam College here.

Poorna became the youngest girl in the world to climb the peak.

Speaking to The Hindu , Ms. Radhika, a police officer selected from Group I services in 2007, hailing from Anantapur district, said that if she could afford it, she wanted to do what is typically called ‘One Degree Skiing’ in Antarctica.

“I have been lucky and tough enough physically to conquer Mt. Everest but if it happens, I would like to realise my dream of ‘One Degree Skiing’ on the ice in Antarctica,” she said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – May 29th, 2016

Telangana chief secretary reviews plans for fish prasadam at Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Nature

Hyderabad :

The state government is making all arrangements for the distribution of ‘fish prasadam’ for asthama patients in the city.

At a review meeting on the arrangements for the fish prasadam at the Secretariat here on Thursday, chief secretary Rajiv Sharma instructed the officials to install CCTVs, provide proper lighting, erect strong barricades and temporary sheds for patients, more counters and provision of adequate water tankers for storing fishlings.

The fish prasadam will be distributed at Exhibition Grounds on June 8 and 9 in the city. Security will be provided to Bathini Harinath Goud family. The chief secretary also stressed on maintenance of sanitation, garbage clearance, regular cleaning with bleaching powder.

As many as 110 special RTC buses would be operated from bus stands and railway stations to the exhibition grounds for the convenience of the patients. Usually over a lakh people from across the country attend the event.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / May 27th, 2016

200 artistes to perform Perini dance

About Telangana, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

The heat is on:A policeman gulps down water during the rehearsal for Telangana Formation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.- Photo: K.V.S. Giri
The heat is on:A policeman gulps down water during the rehearsal for Telangana Formation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.- Photo: K.V.S. Giri

One of the highlights of cultural programmes in connection with State Formation Day celebrations on June 2 will be Perini dance of Kakatiya period by 200 artistes at Lalita Kala Toranam.

The sequences in the dance reminisce preparation for war by the army based on a book ‘Nrutya Ratnavali’ written by Jayapa, the commander-in-chief of the Kakatiya army. It will be the first of its kind dance to be presented along with drumbeat, said Director of Culture Mamidi Harikrishna whose department will organise the event. A Telangana cultural carnival will be held at Tank Bund with 500 artistes performing folk arts, including Gussadi, Kommukoya, Lambadi dance, Puliveshalu, Bonalu, Kolatam, Pidathala Ramayanam and Batukamma. Noted gazal singer Talat Aziz will present Sham-e-Gazal at Lal Bahadur Indoor Stadium.

The other programmes during the day include performances by artistes of Telangana Sanskrutika Saradhi, the cultural wing of the Government, at People’s Plaza, Qawwali at Qilwat Grounds, Buddhist, Jain and Christian programmes at Harihara Kala Bhavan and all India Mushaira at Quli Qutb Shah Stadium. The Ravindra Bharati Auditorium will see classical dance and ballet on the theme “naa Telangana, koti ratanala veena”.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 28th, 2016

Senior journalist passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

A senior journalist and advocate Thotla Venkatnarayana (63) passed away in Melbourne city in Australia on Wednesday. He is survived by wife Gouri and sons Prem Chand and Stalin.

Having recovered from a brief illness, Mr. Venkatnarayana left from here for Australia along with his wife, daughter-in-law and grandson on May 14. He worked as a senior reporter with Prajashakti and Vaartha . He edited a bi-monthly titled Legal Reporter for a couple of years and also practiced law in local courts. He was also active in the Human Rights Forum. Journalists, advocates, friends and relatives mourned his death and expressed heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family. Venkatanarayana’s funeral will be held in Australia on May 27, according to family sources.

He worked as a reporter with Prajashakti and Vaartha and edited a bi-monthly

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – May 26th, 2016