Bruno Soares, left, and Sania Mirza pose for photos with the championship trophy after defeating Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez in the mixed doubles final of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament
New York:
Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza clinched her third mixed doubles Grand Slam title as she and her partner Bruno Soares overcame a few anxiuous moments in the Match Tie break to win the US Open, here today. The top seeded Indo-Brazilian pair squandered five straight championship points before scoring a 6-1 2-6 11-9 win over Abigail Spears from the USA and Santiago Gonzalez from Mexico in exactly 60 minutes.
Spears sent a backhand volley long after making it 9-9from 4-9, as Sania and Soares heaved a sigh of relief. It was first time that Sania and Soares were playing together as a pair.
“Playing with him is a lot of fun. He did not play withme all these years not sure why?,” Sania gushed after the win and confirmed that the pairing will continue for the
Australian Open. Sania’s previous titles came with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi. They won Australian Open in 2009 and French Open in 2012.
The 27-year old had reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final this year also but ended runners-up with Romanian partner Horea Tecau. Sania played well in the women’s doubles also, making the semifinals with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black.
Charminar, the symbol of Hyderabad | (File Photo/EPS)
Hyderabad :
Charminar — the symbol of Hyderabad — is the most searched historical site in the city on Google.
Google search trends analysis for the past six months reveals Charminar as the most searched historical site in the city, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Charminar has been searched the most in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. “Interestingly, there is a rising interest on the builders of Charminar as it remained as one of the top most queries on Google.”
The city of pearls, which emerged as hot favourite among Indian netizens during 2013, continues to captivate the spirit of tourists and netizens offering a fascinating panorama of the past, with a richly mixed cultural and historical heritage.
Golconda Fort, one of the famous landmarks of Hyderabad is the second most searched historical site in Hyderabad. It has been searched the most in Andhra Pradesh followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Salar Jung Museum, the third largest museum in India, is also the third most searched historical site in Hyderabad. This museum which has the largest antiques collection in India has been searched by Andhra Pradesh followed by Karnataka.
Significant searches were also made on Falaknuma Palace. This palace which showcases a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture has been searched largely by Andhra Pradesh.
Purani Haveli, the official residence of Nizams in the past did attract a lot of queries majorly emerging from Delhi and Maharashtra.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by IANS / September 03rd, 2014
Hyderabad through art’ is Mandakini Rao’s solo art exhibition. Her first show was ‘Project 48’ where she painted 48 frames in 48 days.
Mandakini for now is a tour guide, taking visitors on a tour through the city. Sometimes at Charminar, sometimes at Qutub Shahi tombs, sometimes on the foot steps of a mosque or at times to a busy market area all through an artist’s eye.
A painting by Mandakini Rao / The Hindu
‘Hyderabad through art’ is Mandakini Rao’s solo art exhibition. Her first show was ‘Project 48’ where she painted 48 frames in 48 days. On display at Muse Art Gallery, the self-taught artist has painted 30 frames of sights and scenes around the city.
Are they an outcome of a trip to capture the city’s mood? Or was she, like other artists, inspired to present the beauty of the city from a different angle? Reality turns out to be something else. “My works are a reproduction of what I have seen and perceived around my surroundings. They are also at times inspired from photographs and images, but no, they are not replicas. Each frame has been infused with my signature style. I have used acrylic but given the water colour effect. Some of my frames are like a dream melting away. This I have done with the colours spilling and bleeding to give that effect,” explains Mandakini.
The artist however doesn’t stick to one style or medium. The effects depend on how I want my final product as I proceed to complete it. Born in the city, Mandakini Rao is a freelance graphic designer by profession and she quit her studies to take up art. “It wasn’t the best deal with my parents. They wanted me to do MS and courses like that, but seeing my interest in art I was allowed to pursue my dream in little doses. Finally they let me do a course in Visual FX and Graphic Designing in 2012 and I worked in a few places after that, but I still wanted to paint. My interest got stuck there, she says. She worked as a Creative Head/UI Designer with an iOS, Android apps company and also in an advertising agency.
Brush strokes: Painter Mandakini Rao. / The Hindu
Mandakini also teaches art at a hobby centre on weekends; with her back to back art assignments, she is pressurised to take a break. “My friends and family have warned me, so yes, it is a break for a week after my show,” she says.
source:http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Events / Prabalika M. Borah / September 02nd, 2014
At 54, Nina Reddy is busier than ever. Photo: R. Ravindran / The Hindu
Savera Hotels managing director Nina Reddy, who is planning the 13th anniversary celebrations of her fitness studio O2, says there is never a dull moment in her day.
It’s a Saturday afternoon in Hyderabad and the sun isn’t being particularly kind. There are lessons to do and chores to finish, but for the 25 children who live in the majestic white house in Barkatpura, this is hardly of any concern.
Even as their parents and staff at the house, tell them to get back to work, they look towards the gate expectantly. When they hear the sound of an approaching car, they spring up, shrieking with excitement.
“Ninamma ochundhi!” exclaims the driver’s daughter even as the children race through the cherry and guava trees. They startle some cows as they dash past the servant quarters. They jump over the pond, run past gargoyles spouting water and stop just short of the entrance, panting.
The guard manning the gates is on his feet, to welcome six-year-old Nina Reddy with a salute, as she drives through the gates of her grandparents’ house. “From Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, till I’d go back to my parents’ house, it used to be a riot,” recalls Nina Reddy.
The weekends spent playing hopscotch and making music with the staff’s children is not something Nina often thinks about 48 years later. Yet, she somehow seems to know that the maid’s visually-challenged son, Venkatram, is now a professor in Hyderabad.
Even today, as she bustles about managing the affairs of Savera Hotel, Nina stops to enquire after her employees — she asks her public relations manager if her son’s cold is any better and listens, nodding sympathetically, when she says that it’s only become worse. “I’m a people’s person,” Nina needlessly explains. Nina often sends young female employees scurrying into the powder room, insisting they put on some lipstick or touch up their make-up. Grooming is important, she says.
Known for her impeccable sense of style, Nina has always been chic. Even in college, when the nuns who ran St. Francis College for Women gave her disapproving looks, she wore the jeans, shorts and shirts that pleased her. “When you say Reddy, you typically expect conservativeness. Mum was not like that, she brought us up differently,” Nina explains. None of that, however, took her away from her traditional roots.
When Nina was still in college, her parents announced that a young man from Madras was coming to see her. Her first reaction, understandably, was to burst into tears — she was still in her teens and hadn’t even completed her college education.
When she met young Vijay Kumar Reddy, however, everything changed. “He was extremely shy, he still is,” she smiles. Soon, he was calling her every night post-10 p.m., because that’s when the STD call rates were cheaper. Yet, staying on the call till the wee hours of the morning ensured that he drew up a huge bill. They wrote each other love letters, long ones, which filled up every inch of the inland letter. For her wedding shopping, when Nina came down to Madras on her way to Kancheepuram, he took her to Marina beach, after a quick stopover at Savera Hotel to pick up a packed picnic lunch.
When 19-year-old Nina married into the Savera family and moved to Madras in 1979, she found the city welcoming. Still, she was a stranger here and the language posed a major challenge. For a while, she walked around referring to Vijay Kumar as ‘Namma husband’, till she watched enough Tamil movies and picked up enough of the language to stop doing it.
She dabbled in every course available in the city, making many friends along the way. She organised exhibitions and car rallies, took part in kitty parties and Round Table meetings, started The Duchess Club and fitness studio O2, took over operations at Savera and started revamping the look of the hotel. When her two daughters came into her busy life, she’d plop them on her hips, with a baby bag swinging from her shoulders and take them along wherever she went.
There was never a dull moment, nothing slowed her down and that’s just the way Nina liked it. Because, “Life is not stagnant, it’s dynamic.” And Nina’s dynamism is what makes her who she is.
Today, at 54, Nina feels that age has slowed her down physically. But, that’s hard to believe. As the clock strikes 4 p.m., most people would be itching to head home. Nina, however, fulfilling her role as the president of the National Association of the Blind, has to be present at a function. After a few hours there, she has a dance practice scheduled — she’s dancing to ‘Dhol Baje’ as part of O2’s 13th anniversary celebrations. Post that, she needs to come back to Savera, wrap up work for the day and squeeze in an hour of exercise. Once all that is done, she gets to go home, have dinner with her husband and play with her dogs.
Even with a schedule that hardly gives her time to breathe, she says she doesn’t need a vacation. “There’s no deprivation at any level, even in terms of time,” says Nina, who enjoys every activity she does. Her philosophy in life is not just to exist, but to live. And Nina lives her life quite large.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fitness / September 02nd, 2014
Ice seems to be melting between Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman Prof M Kodandaram if his appointment to two committees — to make Telangana history and culture part of school curriculum at all levels in the State — is any indication.
The development is significant since Kodandaram, after leading the Telangana movement, is sought to be roped in to help the State make radical changes in the school curriculum. After the installation of the TRS government, Kodandaram has gone back to teaching.
The Telangana government issued orders on Thursday constituting two separate committees to review and suggest changes for Telugu and Social Studies textbooks of all classes. “The committees are being set up to review Telugu language and Social Studies textbooks to reflect Telangana culture, history and literature in view of the State bifurcation,” the orders read. Former MLC and educationist Chukka Ramaiah and poet and CM’s OSD D Srinivas are also part of the panels.
Though Kodandaram clarified he was not consulted prior to his appointment, he said, “Telangana culture and history were never given the place they deserve. I welcome the government’s move.” He said it was important to capture past glory.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 29th, 2014
Hyderabad Sunrisers may have barely given you a moment to cheer, but there’s another city team that is certainly worthy of your attention — meet the Hyderabad Skykings. The city’s very own American football team.
After playing American football in India in February, they are all set to match their skills against professional footballers in the US. The team of 10 players, aged between 22 and 27, is now heading to the US to play against Oklahoma City Thunder, and are certainly kicked about it.
Sai Santhosh Sandri, the 22-year-old BCom student and the youngest player of the team, says, “It is a great opportunity for our future. Since Thunders is a professional team, we will learn a lot of new things there and get a global experience. There’s an India vs Pakistan match lined up in August, so this experience might enhance our chances of getting selected in the team.”
Naveen Kumar Kunku credits the growing popularity of contact sports in India for his interest in the game. A former rugby player, who started playing American Football three years ago, Naveen says, “More and more people are ditching cricket to be part of other sports like boxing, rugby and others. Since this game is very similar to rugby -the only difference being you can go for forward passes in rugby — I moved into this.” For many, the game’s aggression is a big draw. Sudheer Yadav Boini says, “This game is all about aggression that is what I love about it. All we need to play this game well is agility, strength and speed.” But since the game is full of aggression, injuries are frequent.
“Yes, but that is common in all other games too. Even Sachin Tendulkar and Sania Mirza get hurt. So, there’s no need to stop yourself from playing due to fear of injuries. We have protective gear like helmets, shoulder pads and other equipments,” says Sudheer.
There are also precautions taken to minimise chances of injuries.
Ashok Pentatiah Kunku, physiotherapist of the team says, “It is a high-octane sport so players have to practice a lot. Muscle soreness and spasms are quite common. So, we make sure players warm up properly before and after the game as it helps in preventing injuries.”
Though the game is still in its nascent stage, it is certainly gaining popularity. Coach Praveen Kumar Reddy Chintala says, “The game is getting popular in Hyderabad as well as India. When we last played at Gachibowli stadium in February this year, we got a huge crowd for the game. So, the fan base is expanding.” And if you aspire to be part of the team, there’s a chance for you too.
“Every month, we do a selection for freshers in different categories depending on their skills. We prefer people who have some sports background like handball throwers, runners, wrestlers, and more,” says Praveen.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / Charu Sharma, TNN / August 16th, 2014
Elections to the top post being held after a gap of 50 years, following an amendment to the association constitution
Arshad Ayub / V_V_SUBRAHMANYAM
It will be a straight contest for the post of presidentship between former India off-spinner Arshad Ayub and incumbent chief G. Vinod when the Annual General Meeting and the elections will be held to various posts in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) on September 7.
G. Vinod / The Hindu
With the withdrawals coming to an end on Saturday, the presidential battle has a tinge of history. Former HCA secretary P. R. Man Singh reminds this will be the first time there will be an election for the president’s post after 1964. “Then, the battle was between Maj. N. K. Guruswamy and J. Ramakrishna Rao, the latter being one of the youngest (in late 20s) to contest the post which the former won,” recalls Man Singh in a chat.
Interestingly, after that 1964 elections, the HCA constitution was amended stating the senior most vice-president will automatically be the next president and it continued till 2012 when another amendment made a contest mandatory for presidentship. By coincidence it was Mr. Vinod who was declared elected president after Mr. Ayub withdrew from the race just before the election day.
“I am fortunate, I can say, that I was there in 1964 elections and now will be a witness to the September 7 polls. Incidentally, I along with Mr. Ramakrishna Rao and Mr. K. S. Iyengar, are the only survivors of that AGM,” recalls Mr. Singh.
For the secretaryship, it will be another straight fight between incumbent joint secretary Seshadri Venkateshwaran and John Manoj. Others in the fray for posts include ex-MP G. Vivekanand, M.V. Sridhar for the post of vice-presidentship from the ruling panel.
Following is the final list of contestants left in the fray for some key posts: Arshad Ayub group: president – Arshad Ayub, secretary – John Manoj, treasurer – Devaraj, joint-secretaries – Purushotham Agarwal and Vijayanand, vice-presidents – Narender Goud, P. Yadgiri, Prakash Chand Jain, Surender Agarwal, Moizuddin.
Ruling group: president – G. Vinod, secretary – S. Venkateshwaran, treasurer – Naresh Sharma, joint secretaries – Basavaraju (commercial taxes) and Gerard Carr, vice-presidents – G. Vivekanand, M.V. Sridhar, E. Venkatram Reddy, T. Seshnarayan, Kishen Rao.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 31st, 2014
St. Jude Child Care Centres inaugurated their first facility in Hyderabad to help the families of the children suffering from chronic ailments.
The centre will accommodate 19 paediatric patients, who are being treated at Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institutes of Oncology, Basavatarakam Indo American hospital and other local cancer treatment centres.
Located in Banjara Hills, the centre is being supported by the family of Premlata Vandravan Shah and Dr. Reddy’s Foundation.
During the inauguration, Usha Banerji, CEO, St. Jude’s Centres, said, “It is our goal to provide a safe environment and holistic care to every child. The centre will provide free accommodation along with nutritional support and transportation to children and their parents.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – August 28th, 2014
Seventy-four is just a number for Bhaskar Shewalkar, the septuagenarian veteran of Hyderabad as much as 109 is—all multi-lingual plays in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu within four decades, staged on countless stages all over the country by his company, Rangadhara Theatre Stream.
His repertoire is as vast as his accomplishments—translations, adaptations, experimental plays as well as conventional theatre. Now, Shewalkar is one of the curators of the city’s most sought after theatre venues, the Lamakaan—which is perhaps the Nizami answer to Prithvi Theatre of Mumbai—which has seen a dramatic surge in plays being staged by local and outstation groups, after it was launched as “an open, cultural space” in March 2010.
Presently, Shewalkar, is busy directing the Hindi adaptation of the Marathi work ‘Nata Samrat’ by noted writer Vi. Va. Shirwadkar (an adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear) which won him the Jnanpith Award in 1987. This will be staged in August at Hyderabad, Shewalkar’s 110th production.
Two things stand out in the impressive body of work that the doyen has put together during these years. First, he has been steadfast in maintaining propriety in respecting the intellectual property of the creators whose works he has adapted. He has put on stage no play without seeking the approval of the original writer. Flashing a letter written in French which authorized him to adapt the famed Samuel Beckett play Waiting for Godot in 1973, in which he played Godot, he says: “It did 12 shows” at a time when foreign adaptations were unheard of in Hyderabad. Secondly, even if it involves a token royalty, he has never defaulted on paying up.
The sweep of time has changed quite a lot, impacting events in its own way in the drama circuit of Hyderabad. In the 1970s, there were about 70 theatre groups of the Marathi community in Hyderabad, and it was not uncommon to have 15-20 of them putting up the works of literary giants. “We celebrated the centenary of Marathi theatre in 1943 in Hyderabad,” Bhaskar reminisces. Today, its presence is scanty, with just three or four diehard enthusiasts, including Shewalkar, espousing the cause.
Shewalkar is still busy carrying the priceless works from his mother tongue to the mainstream Hindi speaking audience; more than half his total plays staged are Hindi adaptations, played in the twin cities and elsewhere in India. “It is only the grey-haired, nostalgia-loving folks who still enjoy regional language theatre” Bhaskar sighs.
His group is known to have pioneered the absurd play concept, a grimmer version called black comedy. Their advertisements were unique. He remembers the ad campaign of his 1972 play ‘Ek Nari Char Brahmachari’ which ran thus: ‘Those who don’t laugh during this play will have their ticket money refunded’. There were no claims.
What gives Shewalkar the greatest pleasure of late is his pioneering work—a monologue called ‘Main Rahi Masoom’ which has succeeded beyond expectations. After being the only entry from Hyderabad to have been selected for the 12th Theatre Utsav (Bharat Rang Mahotsav) organized by National School of Drama out of the final 40 selected at the national and international levels, it will be on a global tour to UK and USA in August.
Theatre in Hyderabad, with maestros such as Shewalkar doing their bit with English adaptations and Hindi translations, is vibrant, truly alive and kicking. And it’s not a monologue.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / K. Naresh Kumar / August 30th, 2014
Memorable meet Inaganti Amarnath with former world champion Anatoly Karpov. Photo: By arrangement. / The Hindu
For Inaganti Amarnath, officiating at the recent Chess Olympiad in Norway was a special experience.
Even as India bagged a historic bronze medal in the recent Chess Olympiad in Norway, a genteel physically challenged Hyderabadi, Inaganti Amarnath, scripted his own piece of history by being the only arbiter from Telangana and only one of the three from India (the other two being highly respected Anantharaman and Gopa Kumar) to have this rare privilege.
For the silver medallist in the 2011 World championship for disabled which fetched him a job in the South Central Railway, the nuances of the sport at the highest level are nothing new. He also trained Dasari Minu, former Asian under-eight champion and Manogna (national under-8 champion) and happens to be the first FIDE trainer from the State.
“It is a lifetime experience no doubt,” insists the only FIDE arbiter from the State.
“A great honour given the fact that I am also the general secretary of the International Physically Disabled Chess Association, promoting the sport amongst the 183 member countries,” he adds. “Meeting the cream of world chess is the ultimate experience and am playing my own bit in officiating. This is an unbelievable experience,” the 37-year-old Amarnath says to a query. “This assignment taught me key aspects in the art of time and people management and in fact is lot easier than smaller events,” he says with a big smile.
“The major challenges have been the language of the players, their rage sometimes. You need to be extremely calm, composed and fully aware of the FIDE rules to handle any crisis,” he says.
“The most memorable experience of Olympiad was meeting some great players like ex-world champions Anatoly Karpov, Vladimir Kramnik,” he points out.
“Most importantly, being part of the Indian contingent after winning that historic bronze is unforgettable. Hats off to the coach R. B. Ramesh for guiding the team with such class and efficiency without a couple of big names of Indian chess,” says a delighted Amarnath.
“Unlike in Chennai or Kolkata, there are no designated venues easily accessible for all chess players from our state to hone their skills. I request the State Government to take up this cause and promote the sport at the district level in a big way. There is abundance of talent,” says Amarnath.
“I am putting in my personal efforts to make chess a part of the Paralympics. And, also using all support systems and avenues to promote chess in schools, orphanages and prisons,” he concludes.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / August 27th, 2014
