The film, which begins with a narration, might come across more like a movie than a documentary, and Karumbaiah says it was a deliberate effort.
Bengaluru :
Thashwini Karumbaiah’s documentary film Kodavas – The Highlanders is a deep insight into the rich culture and heritage of Kodavas, renowned as a warrior clan. Hailing from the same community, the filmmaker wanted to document it in some way.
As a passion project, the film took more than two years to be made. “When the British came, they changed the name to Coorg, it is actually Kodagu,” says Karumbaiah adding, “As a Kodavati, I wanted to preserve our culture and attire and thought the best way to document all of it was in the form of a film.”
The film, which begins with a narration, might come across more like a movie than a documentary, and Karumbaiah says it was a deliberate effort. “I wanted to experiment with the documentary. Usually, documentaries are shot in a very different way but I come from a background where we do films and serials, so I wanted to make it cinematic. At one glance, people might feel there is a story behind every chapter. But it is a documentary,” says Karumbaiah about the film that was co-produced by Vaishno Studios.
Hailing from Kodagu, Karumbaiah has heard many stories in the family about the community.
However, the research for the film helped her discover many things that she had not known. “For example, when we started talking about battles that happened in Kodagu, we realised that a lot of them have gone unnoticed. It’s only orally been passed down from the older generations. We came across some of these stories which were interesting,” she adds.
Although the film started as a passion project with no commercial idea in mind, Karumbaiah is hoping to screen it at an international film festival next year.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Monika Monalisa, Express News Service / September 20th, 2023
India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee. (Supplied)
India, the world’s sixth-largest coffee grower, on an average produces about 3.2 lakh tons of coffee every year of which 75 percent are exported to countries like Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium and Turkey. Today, India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee.
The journey of coffee to India has a vivid Arab connection. A devout pilgrim hailing from Chickmagalur, a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state, Hazarat Shah Janab Magatabi, fondly known as Baba Budan, on his return journey, around 1600 AD via Yemen brought with him seven Coffee Arabica seeds by strapping them to his chest under his tunic.
Bababudangiri Hills in Chickmagalur where coffee was first planted in India. (Supplied)
Legend has it that Arabs were extremely protective about their coffee industry and taking the seeds outside was not allowed. The saint had known that they were magical seeds for making refreshing beverage as he had tasted the kahwa (Arabic for coffee) in Mocha, a port city of Yemen that overlooks the Red Sea.
Besides being a trading hub for coffee, Mocha was the source of the popular Mocha coffee beans. After reaching his native place, Baba Budan sowed the seeds in his hermitage garden near a hill cave at Chandragiri and the rest is history.
Chickmagalur is a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state. (Supplied)
The coffee plants gradually spread as backyard plantings, and later on to the hills. The hills are now called Baba Budan Hills after the him. Today Chickmagalur, the birthplace of coffee in India, is filled with coffee plantations throughout its length and breadth.
Besides Chickmagalur, the charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. Coffee cultivation grew and thrived in India during the British rule and beyond.
A fall amid coffee plantations in Chickmagalur. (Supplied)
The Dutch began to harvest coffee in the Malabar region, but a major transition happened when the British led a relentless drive to set up Arabica coffee plantations across the hilly regions in South India, where the climatic conditions were more favorable for the crop.
Grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Indian coffee quickly spread to non-traditional areas like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on the Eastern Coast; Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in the North East. Despite many states growing coffee, Karnataka and Kerala, accounting for nearly 90 percent of total production.
The charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. (Supplied)
In India, based on region of production, 13 regional coffees are classified: Anamalais, Bababudangiris, Biligiris, Araku Valley, Brahmaputra, Shevaroys, and Pulneys (for Arabica) and Wayanaad and Travancore (for Robusta). Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nilgiris and Manjarabad are famous for both Arabica and Robusta.
Apart from these 13, there are three Specialty Coffees classified based on their international popularity. They are Monsooned Malabar, Mysore Nuggets and Robusta Kaapi Royale.
Stall owners are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee. (Supplied)
During a recent visit to Baba Budan hills, this correspondent spoke to stall owners and few tourists who still are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee.
One stall owner who sells cool drinks and snacks on the hills overlooking the shrine summed up, “It is because of Baba Budan that India got coffee so early and the credit for discovering coffee goes to Arabs who invented and discovered hundreds of stuff including the coffee.”
Little wonder then a small cup of coffee has so much history behind it.
source: http://www.english.alarabiya.net / AlArabiya News / Home> Features / by Aftab Husain Kola / October 07th, 2018
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 33 ties, winning a total of 23 matches including 13 in doubles.
Rohan Bopanna celebrates after winning the doubles match against Morocco’s Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi at the Davis Cup World Group-II, in Lucknow, on September 17, 2023. ) | Photo Credit: PTI
Rohan Bopanna brought the curtains down on his Davis Cup career with a comfortable straight set win alongside Yuki Bhambri before Sumit Nagal won his reverse singles as India sealed the World Group II tie against Morocco 3-1, in Lucknow on September 17.
The 43-year-old Bopanna, coming out to play his 33rd and final tie, and Bhambri raced to a 6-2 6-1 win over Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi in one hour and 11 minutes at the Mini Stadium.
India’s number one singles player Sumit Nagal outgunned Yassine Dlimi 6-3 6-3 in the first reverse singles to seal the home tie. The inconsequential fifth rubber was not played. It is only the second time that Nagal has won both his singles matches in a Davis Cup tie. He had achieved a similar result against Pakistan in 2019 in Kazakhstan. Nagal earned early breaks in both the sets, leaving Dlimi playing catch-up.
The win takes India to next year’s World Group I play-offs.
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 50 matches in 33 ties, winning 23 rubbers, including 13 in doubles.
Watched by his family and friends, Bopanna acknowledged their and fans’ appreciation and blew kisses towards the stands.
About 50 of Bopanna’s family and friends flew to Lucknow to watch the Coorg player in action one last time in Davis Cup.
They were wearing T-shirts that had a tri-colour-waving Bopanna picture printed.
Younes could not hold his serve even once in the match while the Indians faced just one break point when Bhambri served and saved that too.
The Indians drew the first blood when they broke Younes. On a Bhambri backhand return at 30-15, Younes netted the volley. Bhambri smashed a volley winner on Younes’ return to earn the first breakpoint.
Benchetrit went for an angled volley winner on a Bhambri return but the ball went out as Indians led 3-1. Bopanna came out serving the next game at love to make it 4-1.
Younes’ serve came under attack once again in game eight. Bopanna found a winner at 15-15 and the Morocco player served a double fault to be down by two break points.
Yuki converted the set point with a volley winner on a feeble Younes return. The first set ended in a jiffy, just 34 minutes as the Indians lost five point on their serve.
Bopanna’s big serve was at work in the second set too as he began the proceedings with a comfortable hold but Bhambri’s serve came under pressure in the third game when at 30-all, his half-volley pick up flew out of the court.
The Indians, though, saved the break point.
Younes was up 40-0 on his serve in game four but lost his way, serving double fault and making a lot of unforced errors to lose his serve for the third time in the match.
Bhambri served out the match.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Tennis> Davis Cup 2023 / by PTI / September 17th, 2023
The taluk administrative officials, advocates, teachers and students of Somwarpet taluk came together and worked hard on the paddy farmland on Sunday. It was a field day as officials and others took a break from their office work and enjoyed themselves on the field.
This event was organized by the Young Indian Farmers Association of Kodagu in order to call up youngsters and others to shower their love towards agriculture. This event was hosted for the fifth time by the association.
Revenue department officials, foresters, lawyers, teachers, people’s representatives and students including the tahsildar of Somwarpet taluk gathered at a private farmland in Belur village here and planted paddy seedlings across the field.
The president of the association, Srinidhi Lingappa said, “The association has been organizing this event for the past five years with an aim to create awareness about the need and importance of taking up agriculture.”
Inaugurating the formal function, tahsildar S N Naragund opined that there is an immediate need to create awareness among young Indians about the importance of agriculture.
Former MLA Appachu Ranjan said that, “Nowadays, youngsters and children are taking up jobs in cities and often neglect the need to take up agriculture. As a result, agriculture is unable to achieve the desired progress.”
Forest department Kushalnagar division ACF Gopal and Belur G P representatives also took part in the event.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> News / by Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (SJM) /September 18th, 2023
The Mysuru Kodagu Gowda Samaja will be celebrating ‘Kail Muhurtha’ get-together at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar II Stage at 9.30 am on Sept.17.
Traditional Ayudha Puja will be held and it will be followed by cultural programmes.
On the occasion, meritorious children of the Samaja members who have scored high marks in SSLC and PUC (2022-23) and achievers from various fields will be felicitated. Also prizes will be given to the winners of various sports events.
Kodagu Gowda Samaja President Thotambylaya E. Manohar will be preside.
Kodagu Gowda Vidya Sangha – Madikeri President Ambekallu Naveen Kushalappa, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, MLA K. Harishgowda, former MLAs Vasu and L. Nagendra, Corporator K.V. Sridhar will be present on the occasion, according to press release from the Samaja Hon. Secretary.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / September 15th, 2023
By paying the amount through e-payment at any post office, devotees can receive e-prasada at their doorsteps.
Post offices in Karnataka. (Photo | Special Arrangement)
DAVANGERE: People need not rush to Talakaveri on the “Tula Sankramana” day to get the Kaveri Theerthodbhava, the gushing of Cauvery water from ‘Brahma Kundike’ at Talacauvery. India Post in association with the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department will be delivering the ‘Sri Talakaveri Temple Prasada,’ at your doorsteps through the post at just Rs 300.
By paying the amount through e-payment at any post office, devotees can receive e-prasada at their doorsteps. The prasadam is handed over to any of the remotest houses through the branch post office network of India Post.
Speaking to TNIE Superintendent of the Post offices Davanagere division, Chandrashekhar said, “Under the diversified business undertaken by the India Post, we are supplying the prasad to the devotees’ doorsteps. Understanding the importance of the auspicious ‘Tula Sankramana’, India Post has taken the initiative of supplying Kaveri Teertha to the devotees,” he added.
Further, he said that the devotees need to come to the nearest sub-post offices or Davanagere head post office for booking for the E-prasada after which our postmen will deliver the Prasad to their homes.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by G. Subhash Chandra / Express News Service / September 15th, 2023
According to an estimate, all the discovered inscriptions belong to a timeline of 7th century AD – 18th century AD.
A heroic stone in broken condition, was discovered in Chikka Aluvara village of Kushalnagar taluk. Credit: DH Photo
The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage has discovered 69 new stone slab inscriptions in Madikeri, Kushalnagar and Somwarpet taluks. The work on the transcription of the text is in progress.
Somwarpet tops the list with 34 stone slab inscriptions, followed by Kushalnagar with 18 slabs and Madikeri with 17.
Since these stone slab inscriptions have not been documented to date, they are considered rare.
According to an estimate, all the discovered inscriptions belong to a timeline of 7th century AD – 18th century AD.
During the course of the survey, the department has also found other stone slab inscriptions which have been documented in its publications earlier. Rekha, the curator in the department, has visited 406 villages from 2020 till date, discovering 69 stone slabs in the process.
During the period, apart from the stone slab inscriptions, she found other monuments dating back to the period of the Stone Age.
She said the newly discovered stone slab inscriptions were found during the village-wise survey work. The inscriptions are being studied by scholar H M Nagaraj of Mysuru, with the transcription to be available soon.
She meanwhile stressed the need to preserve the palaces in Kanthuru and Aikola, the Mahavishnu temples in Kaggodlu and Singatturu, Ishwara temple in Kundacheri, Neelyatu Sarthavu temple in Kokeri, Sri Durga Bhagavathi temple in Bavali and Sri Vishnu temple in Kuyyangeri, among the 175 memorials in Kodagu district.
Rekha said the 12 ‘heroic stones’ (Veeragallu), 11 ‘Sati’ stones, 21 ‘kole’ stones are peculiar to the region. She added that five other stone sculptures discovered in Kushalnagar taluk are in need of protection.
As many as 246 ‘kole’ stones are found in Somwarpet taluk. The monuments in the 15 villages of the taluk are vulnerable to danger, she wrote in a report submitted to the government.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by K S Girish / September 14th, 2023
The 21st Annual Get-together and Annual Meeting of Ramakrishnanagar I Block Kodava Welfare Association was held recently under the Chairmanship of Kodandera Pushpa Machaiah at The Roost Hotel in city.
On the occasion, the Association felicitated Poodrimada Somaiah, Retd. Captain, Indian Army, in recognition of his service to the nation and Kattera A. Nanaiah, Retd. Professor and one of the Founder-Members-cum-Advisor of the Association, for environment conservation and his service in many organisations while Mr. & Mrs. Chodumada Appaiah were feted for their social service.
Top scorers in various degree examinations were given cash prizes.
Mundiyolanda Nanda rendered the invocation. Association Secretary Kenjangada Kariappa welcomed. Maletira Ganapathy, Vice-President, proposed a vote of thanks. Codanda Swagath, Joint Secretary and all other Committee Members were present at the programme compered by Kotrangada Shruthy Ashwath.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 14th, 2023
Allana explains how it became one of the largest coffee exporters in India and caters to the needs of all types of buyers: specialty, single estate, and commercial-grade coffee.
When the Allana Group began trading in agricultural commodities in 1865, Founder Abdulla Allana and his family had no idea that the company would receive so much uptake that it would need a dedicated coffee division, nor that it would become one of the largest coffee exporters in India. But it did.
“Allana is a very entrepreneurial company. Despite earning a position of prestige in the Indian commodities market, the founding family allow us the freedom to input ideas, creating a stimulating working environment,” says Allanasons Director MP Devaiah.
“Through more than 158 years of inspired leadership, the Allana Group has emerged as a multi-product conglomerate of companies with wide-ranging interests. The company exports coffee, wheat, processed food, frozen buffalo and sheep meat, and is also making strides in the edible oils segment, along with a host of other products in the domestic market.”
After forming the subdivision, Allanasons, in 1973 to manufacture and supply processed food products, the company decided to diversify into coffee exports in 1982 and create the Coffee Division, based in Bangalore.
“The divisional office is situated in the heart of the city in close proximity to the Coffee Board of India. With the state of Karnataka producing 70 per cent of the coffee grown in the country, it is ideally located,” Devaiah says.
“Headed by a team of professionals well versed in the field and backed by the support of Allanasons, the Coffee Division soon made its presence felt, and found itself at the forefront of the industry.”
To complement this activity and gain control over the curing of the coffees sourced, Allanasons acquired its own curing factory in 1992.
“Gradually, this coffee curing unit, which was strategically located in Hassan in Karnataka and situated midway between the two major coffee growing districts of Chikkamagaluru and Coorg, became one of the hubs of activity in the industry,” says Devaiah.
“In turn, this required the expansion of the facilities and modernisation of the plant and machinery to meet the additional requirements of the Coffee Division. It also boasts an in-house cup-tasting facility for evaluating the characteristics of coffee.”
Allanasons owns two large warehouses at the port cities of Cochin and Mangalore where cargo is unloaded prior to shipment, ensuring that all operations come under its effective control. The company exports all grades of washed and unwashed Arabicas and Robustas, and owns and operates a dedicated facility in Mangalore where coffee monsooning is carried out.
This is the 12- to 16-week process of spreading beans across the warehouse floor during India’s monsoon season, allowing the beans to absorb moisture, swell in size, change colour, and shed their acidity.
“We are a supplier of quality coffee known for fulfilling commitments on schedule,” says Devaiah.
“In recognition of the Coffee Division’s performance, the Coffee Board of India has awarded Allanasons many accolades. Allanasons has won the APEDA Golden Export Trophy each year since 1992, reflecting its premier position in the export of agricultural products and processed foods. The Government of India has recognised Allana as a Premier Trading House, the highest achievable export performance recognition in the country.”
“We hold the distinction of being the country’s leading exporter of green coffee for a number of years consecutively, with exports in the range of 24,000 to 30,000 tonnes per annum.”
According to Devaiah, Allana sources beans directly from coffee plantations, enjoying preferential status with many growers who offer the best of their harvest in view of reliable transactions and assured uptake.
“The lush green hills of South India provide the world with much more than scenic beauty. They are the home of India’s largest coffee plantations and situated in the hills of Baba Budan, Biligiri, Kodagu, Mysore, Nilgiris, Palani and Shevaroy. These plantations produce fine coffee grown under natural forest shade,” he says.
“We value our associations with buyers and growers which have been nurtured over a four decade period. Trust and confidence in Allana is due to dedicated customer service, with instant round-the-clock response systems.”
Devaiah continues that the favourable climate, fertile soil, scientific cultivation – much of it organic – and stringent quality control, all contribute to producing the finest mild coffee in the world today — rich, smooth, and full of flavour.
“Over the years, we have gained expertise in dealing with all the major specialty coffees from India, including Monsooned Malabar AA and Monsooned Robusta AA,” he says.
“We have also developed two specialty coffees under our own brand name. Allana Mild Plantation AA and Royal Robusta Cherry AA. In addition, we are now offering our own exquisite signature coffees Arabica Monsooned Malabar AAA Screen 19/20 and Robusta Monsooned AAA Screen 19. We also provide buyers with customised special coffees to suit their needs.”
Devaiah looks forward to Allana remaining at the forefront of green bean coffee business in the Indian coffee market.
“Our strong network in sourcing the finest beans as well as our inhouse quality control differentiate and bring out the uniqueness in our coffee,” he says.
Devaiah says over the years coffee has become a mainstream consumer drink, especially amongst the vibrant young generation in India.
Keeping this in mind, Allana is also moving into downstream products.
“Our foray into the domestic coffee market is our commitment to provide one of the highest grades of coffee to our consumers. Being a veteran player in the industry, our extensive experience and expertise along with our world class infrastructure, we aim to create a superior and healthy domestic coffee market in India,” he says.
Devaiah says Allanasons is a trusted name, and the best bet for any requirements of quality coffee.
“We aim to grow through partnerships and maintain an uncompromising approach towards excellence which includes teaching an indomitable drive, a relentless determination and a persistent delivery standard in every aspect of the business,” he says.
A look into actors Bhuvann Ponnannaa and Harshika Poonacha’s Kodava-style wedding in Coorg
Actors Bhuvann Ponnnannaa and Harshika Poonacha at their wedding in Coorg on August 24(Instagram)
Long-time sweethearts, actors Bhuvann Ponnannaa and Harshika Poonacha , tied the knot on August 24 in a traditional Kodava ceremony in Coorg. Since the big day, the couple has been on the move, shares Ponnannaa. “We are in the USA right now, before which we were in Mexico. We had to rush to the States immediately after our wedding because our friend was getting married. Since the night of our wedding, we have been country-hopping and are yet to complete all the rituals, so our parents are mad at us!” he quips.
Talking about the wedding, Ponnannaa recalls the stress that came with planning out the big day. “We got really held up in the last-moment invites as well, so there was literally no time to plan. Our parents and a couple of our friends took up various responsibilities leading to the big day,” he shares, adding that the completion of the construction of his farmhouse in Coorg also had him stressed. “The interiors of our new apartment in Bengaluru were also being done and I was trying to get our new car delivered before the wedding. Along with that, we were trying to manage our work,” the actor exclaims.
Ask him how it was on the big day itself, and the Randhawa (2019) actor tells us, “I reached Coorg from Bengaluru at 7am. I checked all the venue arrangements and by the time I wanted to get some sleep, the festivities had started. So, I meditated for a bit and left. When I reached the venue and saw the whole place all decked up, like a dream wonderland, it made all the hard work just so worth it.”
Telling us about the traditional Kodava-style wedding, the 33-year-old says, “Kodava weddings are very unique, so we could not plan too many extra functions because there already were a lot of rituals to complete from morning until midnight. But we were very particular about the food — it had to be traditional along with a couple of our favourites, like fresh mango curry in jaggery sauce, mutton keema, ghee ragi dosa, noolputtu and koli curry, Coorg-style liver fry, chicken ghee roast and mutton biryani!”
Looking forward to married life, Ponnannaa says nothing much is expected to change in the couple’s equation. “But of course we will work harder together for ourselves. Harshika is also going to be the producer for my next film,” the actor says, adding they are yet to decide on their honeymoon.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> News> Htcity> Cinema / by Aayushi Parekh / September 12th, 2023
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