Actor Sindhu Loknath speaks about her role in ‘Kaanadante Maayavadanu’
Sindhu Loknath, who was last seen in ‘Heegondhu Dina’, is back with ‘Kaanadante Maayavadanu’, a Kannada film which released this Friday.
In a candid chat with Metrolife, she spoke about her recent film and more.
What about the film impressed you?
I was impressed by the storyline. It’s a love story, which involves a ghost. The whole concept was quite intriguing.
When did you start shooting?
We started in 2016 and it took three years. Uday’s death, who played the antagonist originally, meant that the second half of the film had to be reshot. This caused a delay.
Tell us a bit about your role.
I play the role of Vandana, a girl who works with an NGO. She is always working towards the betterment of society, especially underprivileged children.
How did you prepare for your role?
Though I did not have to do any major preparation, it was quite a different experience for me. I am not at all like Vandana in real life. She is a selfless and mature person, who knows exactly what she wants to do .
My director advised me on how to portray her and I hope I have done justice.
How different was it to work in a thriller?
‘Kaanadante Maayavadanu’ is a fantasy-thriller love story. Every genre is interesting in its own way. However, we faced some challenges while shooting action scenes.
How was it to shoot in Kashmir?
The experience was wonderful. We shot there just a few days before Article 370 was abrogated. The costumes, the background and the cinematography combined to give some mind-blowing scenes.
Did the delay in the release of the film cause you to feel apprehensive?
I was hoping for an early release so that I could get better roles; I didn’t want to repeat the same old characters that I had been doing. When the release was delayed, people even thought that I quit acting.
The audience expects actors to be on screen regularly. They expect actors to do films, whether those are good or bad. I work differently and want to do roles that I will be remembered in the years to come.
What is the kind of films you want to do?
I would love to do a biopic on PT Usha since I am a sportsperson myself. I would also like to play the role of a mentally-challenged person, as I am sure such a role would challenge me as an actress.
You have a business now. Does that mean that you’ll be seen lesser on the screen?
I own a beauty and health products company called ‘Sinfully Myne’, which creates organic products for the hair and face. But, this doesn’t mean that I will be seen any less on the silver screen.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Metrolife> Metrolife Lifestyle / by Tini Sara Anien / DHNS, Bengaluru / January 31st, 2020
City’s theatre repertory assets including sets, costumes, properties, light, sound system and plays being digitised for posterity
Mysore/Mysuru:
Digitisation is profoundly changing the experience of theatre, not only in terms of new technology-based access, production and dissemination, but also in terms of participation and creation.
Be it through smartphone apps, streaming media or 3D effects, digital technology has crept into the modern theatre. Artistes and art directors have been experimenting with technology for years to enrich their work, revitalise theatrical performance and make theatre more relevant to digital audiences.
Following the footsteps of world theatres with regard to going digital, Mysuru’s theatre repertoire Rangayana, led by its Director Addanda C. Cariappa has begun digitisation of all plays staged and theatre festivals hosted by it since its inception over 30 years ago and also the theatre songs for which renowned playwright and Rangayana’s first Director B.V. Karanth has composed music.
Along with digitisation of dramas and assets, all physical properties of Rangayana will also be available in digital format.
Unprotected assets
Speaking to ‘Star of Mysore’ this morning, Cariappa said that Rangayana has assets including sets, costumes, properties, light and sound system. “Over the years, the storage space of these assets had turned a dumpyard with no documentation whatsoever. Digitisation of all the physical assets will enable us to protect them and at the same time transfer them to the next generation,” he said.
Digitisation will enable reuse of assets and it will provide valuable information on the growth of Rangayana in phases. “Also, at present, there is Rangayana Repertoire, Senior, Junior Repertoires and a School. Much has been written on them and we have loads of photos of plays. We are documenting all of them in electronic form,” he said.
A list of plays that have not been digitised so far has been prepared and the digitisation process has begun from today. This is being done to ensure that theatre lovers do not forget old plays with the passage of time. As this is a fresh initiative, artistes will be trained on enacting the old plays, he said.
Theatre Repertoire Rangayana has huge light and sound assets. They are being listed and documented for posterity.
Use of digital technology
Primarily, digitisation is the use of digital technology to project dramas and also to distribute them — from analogue content to online. With digitisation, there is the flexibility of programming which makes it cost-effective and digital content will remain in the same condition year on year, he explained.
“The new initiative aims to encourage an effective exchange of ideas on how theatre (Rangayana) can be brought closer to online communities. Stages can be transformed with technology in order to garner more engagement by both offline and online audiences,” Cariappa added.
After the recording is over, plays will be uploaded on social websites, he said and added that this apart, the songs for which B.V. Karanth has composed music, will be sung by senior theatre artiste Ramachandra Adapa which will also be recorded and digitised.
Electric systems being accounted for so that the assets can be used at a later date.
Theatre Library on cards
Stating that it has been proposed to set up a first-of-its-kind ‘Theatre Library,’ Cariappa said that the Library will feature a well-equipped recording room, a hall and a studio. Asserting that the library is one of the ambitious projects of Rangayana, he said that the modalities will be discussed with artistes and staff, following which a proposal will be sent to the Government.
Over the years, all plays performed at Rangayana were photographed and stored in albums. Now these photos are being digitised.
Over the years, all plays performed at Rangayana were photographed and stored in albums. Now these photos are being digitised.
Planting of saplings
Highlighting the other activities of Rangayana, Cariappa said that they include expansion of greenery and upkeep of all drama equipment, costumes and other paraphernalia.
Noting that it has been planned to plant 100 saplings in Rangayana premises in association with the Forest Department, he said that several rare species of plants are being brought from Kodagu too and planted in the campus.
The costumes, special effects, artworks, pottery, face designs and other paraphernalia being accounted for and digitised
Cleaning, organising theatre properties
“All theatre properties at Rangayana are being cleaned and organised. All decorative equipment are kept at Lankesh Gallery and lighting props are moved to a separate room. Each and every property belonging to Rangayana will be preserved carefully,” said the Rangayana Director.
Reacting on the same, senior artiste Geetha Montadka said, “For many years, properties including CDs and files were not arranged properly. Some properties were also drenched during rains. Hence, taking care of the properties required for Rangayana theatre activities is our responsibility. Earlier, we had to depend on others to keep the Rangayana building clean and to maintain the props by drying and arranging them. Also, to organise files we used to depend on others. But, now for the past two months as there are no activities at Rangayana due to lockdown and all of us artistes unitedly have taken up the cleaning and organising works. This has indeed brought happiness to all of us and also increased our responsibilities.”
[Photos by M.N. Lakshminarayana Yadav]
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / pics by M.N. Lakshminarayana Yadav / June 01st, 2020
I have a confession to make: secretly, I was kinda happy when India went into a total lockdown on March 25. Come on, I was feeling only what your average overworked, stressed out middle-class working woman felt. The disease was bad, but I was happy to take my staycation.
But I was not going to laze through 21 days. I had plans – house cleaning, writing, being the light of my family, getting lighter … all that good stuff.
Day 1: Woke up with a sense of awe. We were witnessing history! Realized that there was no newspaper. Worse, no housemaid. For 21 days. An icy hand clutches my internal organs. A week, I can get by, but three weeks?
Upside: Had a nice long nap in the afternoon. Felt really rested.
Day 2: My mother was absolutely right – housework never ends. No point in slaving, you have to do it all over again … in an hour’s time. New rule: no one allowed to walk on the floor or change clothes. And if anyone wants to eat the rice, sambhar, rasam, veg fry, and curds, they could use their fingers and palms only – no plates allowed.
Upside: Have started watching re-runs of re-runs old shows.
Day 3: A day of realizations.
My neighbor’s baby has colic. My neighbor has a baby. Really? Just exactly, who is this neighbor?
A family that stays at home eats too much. I have to cook often and in large quantities. Ergo, more dishes. Aaarrrrgggh!
Love my family. I just don’t want them around all the time.
Eating healthy when confined to the home – an oxymoron. Also, how long will my stash of snacks hold out
Upside: Discovering the joys of binge-watching.
Day 4: I hate housework. I-HATE-HOUSEWORK. Once this lockdown is over, I’ll burn the house down. Finding it hard to binge-watch Friends and Big Bang Theory while wondering – ‘Who the h**l is doing their dishes and cleaning their apartments when they are at that d***n coffee shop or the Cheesecake Factory?’ This thought sucks the fun out of watching the shows.
Upside: Begun reading a book … more than a page at a time!
Day 5: Going to commit murder. A man in the next building keeps singing off-key and loudly along with his stereo. Hoping his family will do him in themselves. If they can’t, I volunteer.
Hearing about immigrants in cities trying to go home. Terribly sad for them. Okay, I’ll admit – my suffering is small potatoes. By the way, do I have enough potatoes?
Upside: Gave myself the day off. Read a wonderful thriller.
Day 6: Dying of housework. Wiping all the torches, electric lamps and burned out bulbs, even gas stove – but no genie. I now know who I love the most – the maid. If anyone offers to bring my maid back in return for my family … well, I guess that’ll never happen (sob).
Sick of Friends. For just how long did this show run?
Upside: Today, a resident set things up so that we get veggies and milk packets every morning. Yay!
Day 7: Today, my husband went out, as a volunteer for shopping for our apartment complex. I suspect he was just itching to get out of the house. When my hunter-gatherer returned from the mythical land called Outside, I made him give a step-by-step account of the entire half-hour trip. It took 45 minutes. A highlight of today.
Huge Upside: Husband took over the dishwashing duties.
Day mmm-hmm: Missed a few days of journaling. Hell, missed a few days of life – got my dates wrong. I cheered when I found we had a couple fewer days to go of the lockdown. I have gone from being merely grouchy to being depressed as well.
Upside: ?????
Day something or the other: Today, my husband got another chance to escape … needed salt! Bit down hard on a pillow and stay that way to prevent myself from asking him to buy a ton of snacks.
Day sometime-during-week-two: Am all weirded out. Vocabulary stunted as we use only the words Corona Virus, Covid-19, lockdown, self-quarantine, shut up, and how the hell should I know. Still hate housework, but we now have a truce going. I’ll sweep, but the corners have to fend for themselves. If my boss can’t deal with it, she can do the work herself. Oh, wait, I’m the boss. Dang it.
Upside: All of us are healthy. We are all home, we are together. Watching TV footage of all the migrant laborers trying to get home – heartbreaking. Hunger and uncertainty in the camps – scary. And sick people in overflowing hospitals and the deaths … at least we aren’t going through that.
Day end-of-week two: Identified new syndrome – Lockdown-Induced Writer’s Block. Wonder if people will still be interested in the same things post-COVID. Still can’t get over the unreality of the situation. Is this lockdown a waste of time, or the best idea ever?
The mood around town is strange too. Most people are taking it as a time to relax. Some are going out anyway, once or twice a day. There is some seriousness but it’s not all gloom and doom.
Summer is in full swing. The heat is killing. It’s enforcing the lockdown better than the fear of Coronavirus.
Upside: Birds are singing like gangbusters. We’re seeing bulbuls and parrots far more than before.
Week 3 beginning day-(Name starts with M or something like that): Conflicting feelings:
Happy because I’ve Corona eyes – dark circles are completely gone.
Upset, because I’ve Corona hair – shaggy and roots are showing.
Day Wed/Thurs. Week 3: Yay, only one more week to freedom. I am feeling far more upbeat than before.
April 15: India’s lockdown extended until May 3.
Hell, I’m putting all activities on hold as I concentrate on saving my sanity.
Good luck to you too!
Lakshmi Palecanda moved from Montana, USA, to Mysore, India, and inhabits a strange land somewhere in between the two. Having discovered sixteen years ago that writing was a good excuse to get out of doing chores, she still uses it.
source: http://www.indiacurrents.com / India Currents / Home / by Lakshmi Palecanda / May 20th, 2020
Bangalore boy and Indipop pioneer Biddu Appaiah, at 75, continues to groove to the beat of his own drum.
Biddu
A guitar as a present on his 13th birthday set the wheels in motion for the youngster to chase his dream of “making it as a musician in the West”.
Now, all of 75, Bangalore boy Biddu Appaiah, one of the pioneers of disco and Indipop, with millions of records sold worldwide, continues to be counted among the top Indian music producers on the international scene. In fact, he was ranked 34 on British magazine NME’s ‘The 50 Greatest Ever Producers list’.
Today, Biddu can afford to take life easy, dividing his time between homes in London, Spain and India, but his journey to the top was no cakewalk. The pop icon formed a band, The Trojans, at 16 and played at the 3 Aces and small private parties in Bangalore. From then on, there was no looking back. After the group split, Biddu trained his sights on London, the home of rock-n-roll, Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His arduous journey in 1967 on a Haj ship to Mecca and then hitchhiking through the Middle East deserts is now legendary. In London, with just his clothes, his trusty guitar and a dream to make good music, the struggle continued, juggling odd jobs to earn his bread and butter until 1974, when his most recognisable production ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ with Carl Douglas, became a chartbuster.
Towards the late 70s, he collaborated with Tina Charles and soul legend Jimmy James, producing hits such as ‘Dance Little Lady’, ‘I Love to Love’, ‘Now is the time’ and others. All this and the Biddu Orchestra that produced instrumental sensations won him awards, including the Ivor Novello award, the British equivalent of the Grammys.
‘Made in India’
Biddu is also credited with writing the music for two notable movies — The Stud and The Bitch. In 1979, Indian actor-director Feroz Khan got Biddu to compose a track for his movie ‘Qurbani’ and ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ sung by Pakistani teenager Nazia Hassan happened, again a mega hit of the era. Next, Biddu produced a disco album ‘Disco Deewane’ for HMV featuring Nazia with her brother Zoheb that became the largest selling pop album in Asian history, topping the charts in 14 countries.
In 1987, he scored a top hit in Japan for ‘The Look that Kills’ produced for Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. In the 80s, Biddu pioneered a new genre of Hindi music called Indipop, producing ‘Made in India’ with the velvety-voiced singer Alisha Chinai as well as with Shweta Shetty, Shaan, Sagarika and Sonu Nigam.
As the disco boom began fading in the late 80s and 90s, Biddu donned his writer’s hat, churning out three books. The first, ‘Made in India’, his autobiography published in 2010, an eminently readable book with his characteristic humour and honesty, was a bestseller. Next came ‘Curse of the Godman’ and ‘The Abundance of Nothing’, both set in India.
Interestingly, fans can still look forward to more music from the septuagenarian who is currently composing some new songs.
Excerpts from an interview:
You’ve been there done that. Any dreams yet to be fulfilled?
Career-wise, I am happy. I am going through my catalogue of 583 songs and picking half-a-dozen with a view to sending them to new, young singers of today. I am also working on a few new songs. I won’t produce them, but will get someone younger to do so.
Anything special for your 75th? What does this milestone mean to you?
As I said, I am working on a few new compositions. As for the milestone, at 75 years of age, it is more like a millstone!
What’s life for Biddu these days?
Life today is all about breathing, which is one way of staying alive and spending time with the family.
You left India in your early 20s. Why were you so keen to leave India for the West?
I wanted to make it in the West. India in the 60s was a poor country; we were dancing with Russia instead of rocking with the West. I needed to get out of India as my interest was Western pop music; I was never into Bollywood. I left India and walked all the way to Beirut, singing there for six months until I saved enough moolah to get to England. However, I do come to India to see my sister and relatives. I spend a couple of months in Goa in the winter. But, to be brutally honest, I would never come back to live in India. The politics and corruption would kill me, if not the pollution and the chaotic traffic!
How do you see the music scene in India today?
Frankly, I do not know anything about the Indian music scene. I do know that making music in English has a narrow bandwidth (it always had) and from what people tell me regarding Indian film music, melody has given way to beats and rap. There’s not much noise about Indian music in the West. A R Rahman had a moment and Anoushka (Shankar) is fairly well-known, but only among world music aficionados.
Youtube, TikTok, Spotify, basically Internet has changed the game…
This is the way forward. It is the avenue from where young people get their music. We, of the older generation, may not like it or find downloading Apps too complicated, but this is modern life. You can’t stop the waves from hitting the shore.
Your message to young, budding artists who want to pursue a career in music?
Be prepared for a tough slog. The chances of you not making in the music business is considerably more than you making it. There’s so much talent around, but only a few lucky ones make it. It is a tough game.
Your stint as music director for a few Hollywood films was short. Why?
I prefer making records. Firstly, it’s on the go. It doesn’t take a year or years as the case may be. Also, in films, you are being told what to do by the script, the producer/director etc. When you make pop music, you are directed by your own desires; you are the master of your destiny.
Music has been a big part of your life. What has it taught you?
Music has been great for me. I was inspired by the Beatles and Elvis and I had this fire in the belly to make a name for myself in the West. It is this desire that drove me. Doing something you love is irreplaceable. It has shown me how lucky I am to have followed my dream and succeeded in it. Success is not just about talent, but luck and opportunity, although I believe sometimes you make your own luck.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I was never a voracious listener of music. In fact, it is well-known amongst my friends that I don’t have a music collection. I listen to the radio when driving; that keeps me up on the current trends in music. I am a big fan of Ed Sheeran — great voice and great songs.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sunday Herald> Sunday Herald Art & Culture / by Stanley Carvalho / May 31st, 2020
Day-5 of the ongoing Yuva Sambhrama witnessed students from various parts of the State performing to various folk and patriotic songs, forcing the audience groove with them.
The programme started with students from Napoklu Government First Grade College near Madikeri, dressed in Kodava attire, performing the traditional Kodava dance to which the enthused audience present at the Open Air Theatre shook their legs and hips.
This was followed by a performance from Government Pre University College for Girls, Bannur, who dedicated their performance to Mysore Wadiyars.
Later, girls from Maharani’s Arts, Commerce and Science College took the audience on an emotional ride with their performance to Appa, I Love You Appa song from the movie Chowka which highlighted the love of a father to his daughter. Students of Sri Kaginele Kanaka Gurupeeta College of Education dedicated their performance to late Kannada actors Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish, Shankar Nag and Soundarya by dancing to some of their songs.
The dance ballet for Chak De India title song by Government PU College, Mysuru, showcased how the soldiers at the borders laid down their lives for the country and also recreated the Pulwama attack scene where a convoy carrying soldiers was attacked by a suicide bomber resulting in the death of 40 CRPF personnel. Students of Government First Grade College, Periyapatna, through their dance paid homage to soldiers who had attained martyrdom.
This was followed by dance performances of students from Ramaswamy Higher Education Institution, Haranahalli in Hassan; Jnanodaya Institute of Nursing, T. Narasipur; NDRK, Hassan; Nisarga College of Management, Kollegal; Government Arts PU College, Paduvalahippe, Holenarasipura; Government First Grade College for Women, K.R. Nagar and others.
Three-year-old steals the show
While students from various colleges performed on stage for various songs, a three-year-old girl stole the show by shaking her legs to the song Huttidare Kannada Naadinalli Huttabeku rendered by Matinee Idol late Dr. Rajkumar. Seeing her dancing, the audience also joined her and danced along with her.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by September 22nd, 2019
Mebiena Michael, the winner of a popular reality television show Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4, passed away on May 26 after she got into a major car accident.
Mebiena Michael, the winner of a popular reality television show Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4, passed away on May 26 after she got into a major car accident. Mebiena was 22 years old. The accident happened in the evening near Devihalli of Nagamangala Tuluk, Karnataka.
Mebiena Michael died in a car accident
As per reports, Mebiena Michael was heading towards her hometown, Madikeri, when the accident took her life. The 22-year-old’s family and friends are quite shocked by the news of her sudden demise and are struggling to cope up with her untimely death. According to reports, the car in which she was travelling rammed into a tractor while the latter was taking a turn.
Right after the accident, the victims were rushed to the Adichuchunagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, where the doctors declared Mebiena Michael dead. While her friends survived, the actor succumbed to severe injuries. As per reports, a case has been registered in the Belluru police station. On the other hand, Mebiena Michael’s friends are recovering at the hospital.
Mebiena Michael was a Kannada television actor. She rose to fame after being a part of Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4. She also emerged out as the winner of the reality television show
The host of Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4, Akul Balaji expressed his shock over the sudden demise of Mebiena Michael. He took to social media and shared a post on his official Twitter handle. Balaji wrote, “Shock to hear the sudden demise of one of my favourite contestant and winner of phhl 4 ..mebina, soo young and full of life, can’t digest the fact..my prayers for her family to get over the tragedy.”
The 22-year-old Kannada actor started her professional career as a model. Mebiena Michael became popular after emerging as the winner of the television reality show Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4 which was about a bunch of city girls, who attempted to adapt to village life by giving up their lavish lifestyle. The contestants were given several interesting tasks to perform which Mebiena Michael had aced.
source: http://www.republicworld.com / RepublicWorld.com / Home> Entertainment News> Regional Indian Cinema / by Vageesha Taluja / May 27th, 2020
The engagement was held in Kodagu. So far, so good. Newlyweds Yashashmita and Satish Kumar after their nuptuals, on Thursday
Mysuru :
They say marriages are made in heaven. But they can happen on the border too. And no border dispute here. In fact, a roadside Ganesha temple on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border became the venue for the wedding of this inter-state couple on Thursday. And the checkpost staff were their guests.
Yashashmita, daughter of Hombalaiah and Triveni of Kodagu, and Satish Kumar, son of Shakthivel and Latha of Mettupalyam, had fixed the wedding for Thursday at the bride’s place. The engagement was held in Kodagu. So far, so good.
It was considered the best muhurat for both Yashashmita and Satish Kumar. But with the lockdown norms in place, families on both sides had to do a little marry-go-round to see if they could solve this knotty problem. When the authorities refused to give permission for inter-state travel, they didn’t know what to do. As Shakthivel was denied permission to travel to Karnataka, he, along with his son and other family members, reached the inter-state border near Punjanur and met the bride’s family who had come all the way from Kodagu.
There was no time to lose and the couple tied the knot on Thursday morning while following the lockdown restrictions in the small roadside Ganesha temple. There were no guests. The wedding took place in the presence of the parents of both the bride and the groom and the Covid-19 staff working at the checkpost.
However, after the wedding, the couple could not travel together, unfortunately. While the bride turned around to go to her house in Karnataka, the groom and his family went back to Tamil Nadu. The family members and onlookers hoped the lockdown would be lifted at the earliest so that the newlywed couple could live happily ever after.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by K Shiva Kumar / Express News Service / May 22nd, 2020
Noted Malayalam actress Lena, who travels extensively to tourist destinations in India and abroad, recently undertook a tour of Coorg, which unlike her usual long-winding excursions, was a brief one in search of the traditional tastes of the place.
Her travel videos have a large following. The video on her Coorg tour, too, has received wide acceptance. In this video, Lena is appears in the traditional dress of Coorg women. Coorg women drape their sarees in a very unique manner.
Coorg, also known as Kodagu, has a pleasant climate thanks to its geographical location in the Western Ghats. This climate has helped Coorg to win the sobriquet ‘Indian Scotland.’ Coorg with Mysore, Wayanad, and Kannur etc at its borders is famous for its coffee and the hospitality of the simple Kodagu people. Coorg is easily reached from Kerala and its geography is not altogether different from that of our own.
In her ‘taste expedition,’ Lena first visited ‘Coorg Cuisine,’ a restaurant renowned for conventional Kodagu food. Lena vouches that pork is an essential component of the Kodagu cuisine. Lena is a foodie by her own admission and she tries out the local food at the places she visits. She says that ‘Kodagu pork fry’ should necessarily be tasted by all visiting Coorg. Also, for coffee, there is no place in India better than Coorg.
There is more to Coorg than its mouth-watering cuisine. The Madikeri Fort, one of the rare forts in South India which has remained largely intact, is a ‘must see’ location. The Madikeri town spreads outward and around this fort. Talacauvery (Talakaveri), Bylakuppe etc are the other famous tourist centres around Coorg.
source: http://www.travel.manoramaonline.com / OnManorama / Home> Trave> Celebrity Travel/ by OnManorama Correspondent / October 04th, 2019
Stock up on handlooms, eye make-up, and neck and hand jewellery, as post-pandemic life looks set to see a change in style mantras
Bengaluru :
Fashion in the beginning of 2020 was slowly moving towards a more conscious and sustainable approach, and the pandemic has only helped in further validating this cause. The COVID-19 outbreak will redefine fashion and style trends, say experts, with people moving towards natural, breathable fabrics.
“The economic slowdown has been felt by consumers, designers and as well as artisans,” says fashion curator and brand consultant Sarayu Hegde. With the buzz at this point being local manufacturing, Hegde points out that there is newfound pride in wearing the ‘Made in India’ tag now more than ever before. Weaves like Ikat and Uppada are likely to gain even more popularity. “In the recent past, there has been a shift by designers and brands towards using more indigenous material. Also, a lot of plant-based fabrics like banana, bamboo, jute, aloe vera, flax and hemp are currently being used to make sustainable clothing. I would like to see designers creating garments and products with an Indian soul while keeping in mind a more global sensibility,” she says.
Agrees fashion guru Prasad Bidapa who lives in the hope that the Indian customer will now realise that there is nothing as precious as traditional Indian hand-woven textiles. “In this COVID age, a khadi gamchha used as a breathable face mask is infinitely better than any synthetic mask which recycles stale, poisonous air. We need to support the artisanal textile crafts of India,” he says.
Both Hegde and Prasad resonate one thought: the importance of slow fashion. “Fashion will be back in a celebratory manner. Just like in the 1920s, except we hope that people will choose mindful indulgence as opposed to over-indulgence,” says Hegde. “No more impulse buying, but to upcycle our wardrobes and to retain the best of it, to wear again, should be key. We must be prepared to invest in quality, not quantity,” says Bidapa.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Vidya Iyengar, Express News Service / May 21st, 2020
Will ‘at home marriages’ be the in-thing henceforth?
Mysore/Mysuru:
Novel Coronavirus crisis has felled many. And the ‘big fat Indian wedding’ is surely one among them. Thousands gather for dazzling multi-day weddings which are fun, lavish and it fuels a massive industry. Thanks to a Coronavirus-affected world, these weddings are seen now as virus-super-spreader events and many stay away from them.
So, the weddings adopted to a new normal – simple and a small affair with limited guests. While many couples have taken the easy way out and postponed their weddings hoping for better days, many weddings are conducted as spartan affairs with just the couple and their immediate families. And instead of choultries, such ceremonies are held at homes.
Theetharamada Gagan Appaiah and Kuttanda Kavery.
Weddings at homes
The couple, their parents, a few relatives and some close friends can be in attendance at homes and it is possible to do a simple wedding with just 50 or so people as per the Government guidelines. At such a spartan wedding, all guests can wear masks and gloves and social distancing could be maintained at all times, and food could be served carefully to prevent any congestion at the tables.
This is the way weddings are happening in Kodagu district and in Mysuru for the past one month during lockdown which also covered a peak marriage season. Numbers of small marriage ceremonies that have taken place in the districts suggest that more and more people are liking it.
Kunchettira Jayanth Subbaiah, an Officer in the Indian Navy at Karwar, was to get married to K. Prajna at Napoklu Kodava Samaja on May 9 and 10 and had invited over 2,000 guests for a grand ceremony. But due to COVID-19 lockdown, the family elders decided to conduct the wedding in their house and only 20 to 25 close relatives were invited. Social distancing was strictly followed at the small event.
Small but traditional
Theetharamada Gagan Appaiah got married to Kuttanda Kavery (Kirthana) in a simple ceremony on May 6 at their homes in a traditional Kodava ‘single muhurtha’ ceremony. Their wedding was originally planned on Apr. 29 at Palm Valley near Gonikoppal and due to lockdown, the family decided to keep it a small affair.
Gagan’s father Vijay told ‘Star of Mysore’ that only 20 to 25 close relatives participated in the wedding. “Both of our families were comfortable with the small ceremony. But we made sure that all the Kodava traditions were followed and we were happy for our children. It was a simple but traditional ceremony and I am planning a similar ceremony for my younger son Ben Aiyappa,” he said.
Ranjitha and Sreenidhi were to get married on Apr. 29 and 30 and they had booked a Choultry in Mysuru after paying Rs. 90,000 advance. Due to lockdown, both the families decided to perform the wedding at the bride’s home in city. They got married on Apr. 30 at a simple ceremony and only 20 close relatives were in attendance.
No lavish affair
Nayakanda Sona married Karthamada Sunil in a traditional ceremony at one of their elders’ home and over 50 guests participated. Both the traditional Kodava Oorkuduva ceremony and the Dampathi Muhurtha were held at home and all the traditions were followed.
Sanjith, a resident of Mysuru, planned a lavish wedding on May 3 at a reputed Choultry on the Ring Road in Mysuru and had paid an advance of Rs. 1.25 lakh. “Due to lockdown, our families decided to hold the wedding in the first week of June. It will be a small ceremony at home and only close relatives will be invited,” Sanjith said.
Nayakanda Sona and Karthamada Sunil.
Lockdown-forced move
Commenting on many people catching up with a trend of simple weddings at their homes, former President of Mysore Kodava Samaja Moovera K. Kuttappa told ‘SOM’ that it is a lockdown-forced move. “Once the lockdown is lifted, things will be normal,” he said.
“Earlier, all weddings in Kodagu were held at homes and Ain Manes (traditional Kodava ancestral home). Later, we shifted to Kodava Samajas. Now due to lockdown, we are back to home weddings. I am happy that all Kodava traditions are followed. But if you take a larger picture, it is a loss to the Kodava Samajas who have properties, marriage halls and staff to maintain. If weddings are held at Samajas, there will be revenues to support Kodava institutions. If not, it is a loss,” he pointed out.
“Marriages during lockdown are very slim affairs and may not find traction in the society. But we believe a trend has been set to reduce marriages to a one-day affair instead of two days. 100 guests are acceptable from either side and a marriage banquet for 200 people is much more manageable than one for 1,000,” said one of the office-bearers of Ponnampet Kodava Samaja.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Covid-19 / News / May 20th, 2020
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