Nidhi Subbaiah, who started her career in Sandalwood, surprised many with her decision to take part in Bigg Boss Kannada this season. Known for having acted in films like Anna Bond and Pancharangi, the actress has now revealed in an interview that her main intention to participate in the reality show was to let people know that she is right here and not in Mumbai.
Nidhi told Cinema Express, “I came back last year before the lockdown. Before that, I was in New York. I am currently in Mysuru and plan to shift to Bengaluru to stay closer to the film industry.” For the unversed, the actress had moved to Mumbai a few years ago after she got an opportunity to work in a handful of Hindi films.
Nidhi added in her interview that Bigg Boss Kannada 8 has given her a different kind of fame as people across Karnataka have connected with her on a personal level. She also shared that the show has given her seven good friends, with whom she plans to stay connected with.
On being quizzed about some key takeaways from her BB experience, Nidhi said, “Bigg Boss house has taught me some life lessons — how to deal with pressure, anger and frustration. I learnt to be disciplined — sleeping and waking up on time, something that had gone haphazard previously. I’ve also learnt to cook and eat simple food without having to order in junk food all the time. It has made a difference to my lifestyle, and I hope to continue these habits.”
Nidhi, who was last seen alongside Shivarajkumar in Ayushman Bhava, is now looking forward to her next project. She has signed her horror film, which is being bankrolled by Lohith H’s Friday Films. The yet-untitled film is being helmed by debutant directors Pavan and Prasad.
source: http://www.filmibeat.com / Filmi Beat / Home> Kannada> News / by Waiz Ahmed / May 19th, 2021
Out-of-favour Team India batter Robin Uthappa has revealed how former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad inspired him to make a comeback to the national side back in 2007.
The right-handed batter from Karnataka has represented his country in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is since making his debut in 2006.
Uthappa made it to the Indian side on the back of consistent performances in domestic cricket. He was soon rewarded with a place in the Indian team as a replacement for Virender Sehwag in the final ODI against England. He made the most of the opportunity by scoring 86 runs, the highest by an Indian on debut at the time.
That conversation with Venky helped me regain focus and get runs: Robin Uthappa
However, he soon hit rock-bottom and was left out of the squad after bagging a duck against West Indies. Robin Uthappa returned to domestic cricket for Karnataka, who was coached by former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad back then.
During a chat with the Grade Cricketer, the 35-year-old revealed how a conversation with the coach helped him regain his focus and regain his form again.
“I scored a 50 in the first innings of the second game of the season and I was very happy with myself,” Robin Uthappa said during a podcast with the Grade Cricketer. “And then he called me to his room and he said, ‘Rob want to have a conversation with you.’
“He showed me the highest run-scorers list of that season. He said you are number 47. He said, ‘you are an Indian cricketer who has had a great start to international cricket but you are at 47th place. Is that where you want to be when the season ends?”
That kind of keyed me in to really focus and get runs. I got a hundred in the second innings and ended up scoring 850 runs in the season – top scored in the country with 4-5 hundreds and simply because of that one conversation with Venky (Venkatesh Prasad),” Robin Uthappa said.
That season, Robin Uthappa racked up 857 runs from just seven matches, making it impossible to keep him out of the national side. He was also part of the squad that won the World T20 in 2007. However, another poor patch in 2008, in which he only managed 179 runs from 11 matches, led to his downfall in international cricket.
He went onto make a comeback in 2014 following another dream run in domestic cricket but failed to replicate it on the biggest stage. The veteran batter was recently seen in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) plying his trade for Chennai Super Kings. He had to warm the benches in the presence of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis at the top of the batting order.
source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Sports Keeda / Home> Cricket> News / by Ankush Das / May 20th, 2021
The coffee tree flowering process begins in late March ahead of the rainy season. The process takes between three to four days. (Supplied)
The coffee tree flowering process begins in late March ahead of the rainy season
Jeddah :
Coffee farms in the mountainous governorates of the Jazan region were covered in white after the flowering of the coffee trees, exhibiting signs of abundant production during this year’s season.
Coffee production is an important economic sector in the region, and enjoys special care by the Kingdom’s leadership. It is part of the Jazan region’s heritage, and is a crucial source of income for the residents of the mountainous areas, which are the homeland of the Khawlani coffee beans, whose production has increased by 70 percent in recent years.
The Saudi Press Agency’s camera caught pictures of the agricultural terraces in Al-Dayer Bani Malik blossoming with white coffee flowers that have a wonderful smell among the magnificent backdrop of the mountainous landscapes.
The coffee tree flowering process begins in late March ahead of the rainy season. The process takes between three to four days.
The flowering process is completed and coffee beans are formed and enter a six-month period until being harvested. This is considered a crucial period, as the coffee trees need to be irrigated with rainfalls in a timely way, while receiving adequate care from the farmers.
The flowering period is critical as it provides the farmers with an indicator about the volume of crops, according to the strength or weakness of the trees and the intensity of flowers on the branches, which entails further consideration by farmers, to ensure having abundant crops during harvest.
source: http://www.arabnews.com / Arab News / Home / by SPA / May 21st, 2021
A Bengaluru organisation is building a multimedia archive of tribal music in Karnataka, starting with the Kudiyas of Kodagu.
Still from the video: Who are these Kudiyas?
Bengaluru :
A life without songs sung to the beats of drums is probably unimaginable for the Kudiya people of the Western Ghats. “We sing about the plants and trees in the forests, the roots, stones, snakes, and elephants… There is a rhythm to each song, and we play the drum to that rhythm,” Kudiya musician Sharada Somaiah says in an interview with Bengaluru-based Gobal Kulture, which is taking the first steps towards building an archive of tribal music in Karnataka.
On April 13, Global Kulture released a 2.50-minute video titled “Hidden Sounds: Who are these Kudiyas?” on its YouTube channel. They’ve started with the Kudiya community, but Arun Sivag, percussionist and founder of Global Kulture, says the idea is to collect audio and video recordings of songs, interviews and dances of artistes from 40 communities (the state government lists 50 Scheduled Tribes), and compile it into the Budakattu Music Archive, a partial multimedia ethnography of tribal music and culture.
“It took one-and-a-half years of research to figure out how to go about this,” says Arun. This includes conversations with several people – including playback singer and co-founder of Global Kulture, Sangeetha Ravindranath, and Sumanto Mondal, who is editorial and communications partner at the organisation. However, the idea of the archive comes from Arun’s own experiences, and thoughts about music and musicians. “I always saw musicians on the street, and wondered why they weren’t on stage. Folk artistes are not given a stage, but they are the torch-bearers of music,” says the 29-year-old.
pic: a shot
In 2019, he began visiting government offices looking for a list of tribal musicians, and realised that the government didn’t really have one. But the idea stuck, and he came in contact with folk and tribal art expert Srinivas Murthy, who worked with Sharada’s father decades ago. With the little footage they collected in February at Sharada’s house in Tora village (Virajpet, Kodagu), they know they’ve barely scratched the surface. “One would need a whole life to understand their music. We are doing what the government is supposed to do,” says Arun.
The Kudiyas’ culture is oral — their songs and stories are the historical record of their existence. “They sing songs while working, after getting back from work, when there is a birth or a death, during festivals… They even have a song about the daughters of the tribe and how they wish the best for them,” says Sangeetha, who is working on translating the songs from Kodava to English.
The archive will also have interviews of the artistes, such as the one in which Sharada talks about the community’s origin story, and why they call themselves Kudiyas, says Mondal, who is translating her interviews from Kannada to English. They are looking for institutional funding that will allow them to retain creative independence. But for now, they are using their own resources to fund the project. Arun put in the stipend he got from OneBeat, a US government fellowship.
A part of that was used as honorarium for the artistes. “We are artists too. We want to pay them for their work. Right now, the only opportunities they have are annual performances at Vidhana Soudha and Ravindra Kalakshetra (auditorium in Bengaluru). When the government calls, these are the people who get the peanuts,” Arun says. Sharada’s earnings are paltry and not steady, like many artistes.
She pretty much kept the music of her community alive by teaching younger generations, but knows survival is at stake without economic opportunity. In the trailer, Sharada talks about her “biggest dream”. “…If our art is to survive, the government and other organisations must help us get a good platform, give us respect. Only if this happens will our music become a livelihood for us and for our children, and only this way will our art survive.”
Arun too has big dreams. He eventually wants tribal musicians to get the recognition and remuneration they deserve. “We want to build a not-for-profit artist management system for them. They should be treated just like any other artiste.”
Preserving history Global Kulture aims to collect audio and video recordings of songs, interviews and dances of artists from 40 communities and compile it into the Budakattu Music Archive.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Anisha Sheth, Express News Service / May 23rd, 2021
Medical help is pouring in for Kodagu, not just locally but also from overseas, for its fight against COVID-19.
With medical oxygen becoming vital for saving the lives of those battling the infection, Chottera Shobha Tuttu, a psychiatrist of Kodagu origin who is settled in New Jersey, and the United States’ gofundme.org have joined hands to support the battle against the virus in the district.
The 5-litre and 10-litre oxygen concentrators donated by Dr. Tuttu and gofundme.org were handed over to the district COVID-19 hospital in Madikeri on Sunday. Cariappa, Dean of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Sunnavunda Kaverappa of Napoklu village, and doctors from the institute were present when KIMS received the equipment.
It was thanks to the efforts of retired IAS officer K. Monnappa that Dr. Tuttu, who belongs to Guyya village in Siddapura, offered help to Kodagu.
In a note released by the Information Department, Madikeri, Dr. Kaverappa said doctors in the U.S., including Dr. Tuttu, had created a WhatsApp group and discussed with the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner ways to help the district. Accordingly, the oxygen concentrators were donated.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – May 23rd, 2021
The 30-bed dedicated free COVID healthcare centre established by Lopamudra Medical Centre (LMC) and Karuna Trust at Gonikoppal in South Kodagu has been receiving donations in kind from donors and philanthropists.
Mysuru-based Skanray Technologies has donated critical high-tech equipment to treat virus-infected patients at all the 30 beds of the hospital. Managing Director of Skanray Vishwaprasad Alva got to know about the noble cause and has voluntarily come forward with donations and has been a pillar of strength for this zero-billing facility, said Dr. Mukkatira Amrit Nanaiah, Head of Lopamudra Medical Centre.
The Puthari Farmer Producer Company Limited has come forward to offer free food to the patients till their stay in the hospital.
The food will include three meals a day and snacks. “They have agreed to provide all the materials required to supply healthy and nutritious meals to patients and have also offered to provide their vehicle for our use till the pandemic lasts. These contributions made by the company President Subaiah, Board of Directors, CEO and team are worth emulating,” Dr. Amrit Nanaiah added.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 17th, 2021
Nidhi Subbaiah, who started her career in Sandalwood, got an opportunity to work in a handful of Hindi films.
Sandalwood actress Nidhi Subbaiah
Nidhi Subbaiah begins her day with a song, which has been her ritual post waking up. This is something she has got used to after staying in the Bigg Boss house for 72 days.
The main intention to participate in the reality show for the actor, who has acted in films like Anna Bond and Pancharangi, was to let people know that she is right here and not in Mumbai.
“I came back last year before the lockdown. Before that I was in New York. I am currently in Mysuru and plan to shift to Bengaluru to stay closer to the film industry,” says Nidhi, adding that the Bigg Boss Kannada show has given her a different kind of fame, and people have connected with her on a personal level.
“It is overwhelming to hear from people across Karnataka calling me the ‘Pancharangi Girl’.”
“Especially in Kodagu, they now consider me as ‘Nangada Nidhi’ (our girl). Moreover, this Bigg Boss house has taught me some life lessons — how to deal with pressure, anger and frustration. I learnt to be disciplined — sleeping and waking up on time, something that had gone haphazard previously. I’ve also learnt to cook and eat simple food without having to order in junk food all the time. It has made a difference to my lifestyle, and I hope to continue these habits,” she says, adding that the show also gave her seven good friends, whom she hopes to stay connected with.
The actor, who started her career in Sandalwood, got an opportunity to work in a handful of Hindi films.
However, Nidhi says that she was never attracted by Bombay and the only reason for her move to Hindi films was because she wasn’t getting the kind of work she wanted in Kannada.
“When I was shooting for Anna Bond in Bangalore was when I signed two Hindi films. I felt Bollywood was calling, and as an actor, I thought I should give it a try. I did 6 to 7 films, which helped me expand,” she says.
Back to Sandalwood, Nidhi — who was last seen in Shivarajkumar- starrer Ayushman Bhava that featured her in a pivotal role — is now waiting to begin her next project. This will be her first horror film, which will be bankrolled by Lohith H’s Friday Films, and will be helmed by debutant directors Pavan and Prasad.
“It is a fantastic script, and can’t wait to begin,” says Nidhi, adding, “Staying inside in the Bigg Boss house, I had no idea about the Covid goings- on. I was planning to begin shooting post my exit from the house. We were in for a shock when we were shown clippings of what’s happening. Now, we have to wait for the situation to come under control to start any entertainment activities,” she says.
Nidhi, who loves acting, says given an opportunity she would like to sign 100 films and act till she can.
“I love acting, and the time between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is like a moment of meditation for me. It is my favourite time when I forget everything and get into the skin of the character,” says the actor.
“I hope to be a part of the role that Taapsee Pannu plays in Thappad, or Pink,” she adds. The audience as well as the film fraternity have watched Nidhi up and close in the Bigg Boss house. Will it make a difference to the kind of roles she will be offered from now on?
“My director friends who watched me on the show say I was bold, straightforward, and didn’t use tactics. That’s how I am in real life — frank and bold. Now that people have seen me, directors too know what I am capable of. This might help fetch roles that fit my personality,” she says.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by Express News Service / May 18th, 2021
Lopamudra Medical Centre, Karuna Trust, donors and volunteers make the much-needed facility a reality
Mysore/Mysuru:
A 30-bed dedicated COVID Healthcare Centre has begun functioning at Lopamudra Medical Centre (LMC) at Gonikoppal in South Kodagu. COVID patients will be treated here free of cost. This Hospital will prove a boon to patients in South Kodagu who were earlier forced to travel either to Mysuru or Bengaluru that are already under pressure due to mounting infections.
The facility was inaugurated last evening by Kodagu District Minister V. Somanna who holds the Housing portfolio. He assured the Hospital authorities that he would take measures to give 30 oxygen cylinders to 30 beds and an additional stock of 60 cylinders as a back-up.
The COVID Healthcare Centre has been established by Karuna Trust, a Charitable Trust that has enabled integrated rural development and empowered the masses, Kodava Koota in the US, Kodava Deenabandhu Charitable Trust, Kodava Samajas and a dedicated team of volunteers, donors and various organisations, who have spared no efforts in making the COVID Centre a reality.
Businessman Jammada Aiyanna, Dr. Kalyatanda Gautham Subbaiah from University of Florida, Brigadier (Retd.) Maletira Devaiah, Kokkanda Pavan Aiyappa, Cheppudira Geetha Chengappa, Karuna Trust Joint Secretary Venkat Chekuri, Ponnampet Kodava Samaja President Chottekmada Rajeev Bopaiah and several others have made invaluable contribution to the facility.
They have raised funds alongside the Karuna Trust for infrastructure and also equipment and even many residents of Kodagu have contributed to the noble cause. The centre officially began functioning on May 15 under the leadership of Mukkatira Amrit Nanaiah, Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, and is located on the third floor of the LMC at Athur village, two kilometres from Gonikoppal.
Minister Somanna, MLA K.G. Bopaiah, Dr. Amrit Nanaiah, Dr. Sudarshan and hospital staff during the inauguration last evening.
Apart from Madikeri District Hospital and the Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences there is no hospital in Kodagu to treat COVID patients. Thanks to the negligence of the Government and elected representatives who did not bother all these years to set up an advanced hospital. In this direction, the COVID Healthcare Centre at LMC will help save lives at the time of crisis.
The COVID Healthcare Centre will have 15 beds with piped oxygen, five beds with oxygen concentrators and 10 beds with BiPAP machines, a sort of a ventilator that is used to treat chronic conditions that affect breathing. The centre will have a pharmacy and lab facility and will be a high dependency unit. Separate entrances have been made to facilitate the entry of COVID patients so that other patients who come to the LMC are not affected in any way.
The LMC administration and the Karuna Trust will take care of providing doctors and nurses including consultations from doctors who are working in foreign shores. Donors are contributing to purchase oxygen, medicines including life-saving ones and also free food to the patients. On an average, a COVID patient has to spend lakhs of rupees for treatment and this healthcare centre provides free treatment and quality care.
The centre will treat moderate COVID patients, who will be referred by the Kodagu District Administration and Deputy Commissioner Charulata Somal has assured full support. The authorities are providing ambulance facility to the centre and the administration has assured to provide hassle-free oxygen supply from Mysuru.
A 200 Kilo Litre oxygen unit will be installed at the LMC facility by Karuna Trust. Well-known social worker and tribal activist recognised for his work with the Soligas in B.R. Hills Dr. H. Sudarshan is a guiding force behind the COVID Healthcare Centre and he is also the founder and Honorary Secretary of the Karuna Trust.
Dr. Mukkatira Amrit Nanaiah
‘Committed to treat patients’
The hospital has become a reality, thanks to the efforts of Karuna Trust. We have an aim to provide the finest care and are committed to treat patients in complete transparency and the centre is a zero-billing facility. Our intention is to come to the rescue of patients who are in need of medical care. The COVID Healthcare Centre has been created in such a way that it is bifurcated from the other treatment units of the hospital.
Dr. Kalyatanda Gautham Subbaiah, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, who has treated over 1,000 COVID patients in the US, will guide doctors at the facility.— Dr. Mukkatira Amrit Nanaiah, head of Lopamudra Medical Centre
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 16th, 2021
The group carried the dead body to the estate – nearly 0.5 km away – for cremation. “The path was slippery and we had to cross a farm to reach the spot,” said a member, a photojournalist.
Team Madhyama Spandana seen here in PPE kits for the last rites of a COVID victim in Kodagu. (Photo | Special Arrangement)
Madikeri :
Till recently, volunteers were the only ones risking their lives and undertaking the cremation of Covid victims in Kodagu. But on Sunday, with volunteers unavailable, a group of journalists took over and performed the last rites of a Covid victim.
The cremation took place after an 85-year-old resident of Balamuri village in Kodagu succumbed to Covid at his residence on Sunday. He had initially been hospitalised before being discharged a week later.
The family of the deceased, who had also tested positive for Covid, wished to carry out the cremation at an estate located half a kilometre from their residence. But as they were Covid positive, none of the villagers were willing to help them.
The son of the deceased man then reached out to a group of volunteers in Napoklu town, which is over 10 km from the village. The volunteers in turn requested the family to shift the dead body to the crematorium at Napoklu.
Helpless to do this as they had tested positive, the family turned to the Maadhyama Spandana group – a social service group started by a few journalists in the district to help the needy during the time of the pandemic.
“Through the Maadhyama Spandana group, I received a call and we immediately swung into action to help the family,” shared Pappu Thimmaiah, a photojournalist. He, along with journalist Rejith Kumar roped in three other friends from outside the media group – Praveen, Aneesh and Sherin. All of the donned PPE kits and headed to help the distressed family.
“We wore PPE kits and left from Siddapura to reach the victim’s residence. The dead body of the victim was also unpacked and we packed it in a PPE kit,” Rejith explained.
The group then carried the dead body to the estate – nearly 0.5 km away. “The path was slippery and we had to cross a farm to reach the spot,” said Pappu.
They then lit the pyre after ensuring that the cremation was carried out following the proper rituals.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Pragna G R, Express News Service / May 17th, 2021
Robin Uthappa recently shared an intriguing anecdote from his international cricket days where Shoaib Akhtar had threatened the batsman not to play one of his trademark ‘walking shots’. The speedster had said that he might even bowl a beamer in response if he sees Uthappa walking down the pitch again.
India won the 5-match ODI series in 2007 against Pakistan by a margin of 3-2, and Robin Uthappa was part of India’s ODI set-up at the time. The batsman recently spoke about the threat he received from Shoaib Akhtar for playing one of his ‘walking shots’.
“We were playing a game in Guwahati. And since it’s in the east of India, it gets dark there early. Back then, we did not have two new balls. After 34 overs, we used to get a ball which used to be 24 overs old but slightly better. Shoaib was bowling and Irfan and I were batting. I think we needed 12 to win off 25 balls or something like that.
“I remember he bowled a yorker to me. I missed it from the arm and only saw it coming straight into the blockhole. I stopped the ball dead there. That was 154 something clicks. Next ball was a low full toss and I hit the ball for four. So after that, we needed 3 or 4 runs to win and I told myself, ‘Man, I have to walk out to Shoaib Akhtar and hit him. How many times will I get that opportunity.’ He bowled a length ball and I did it; it took the edge and it went for four. We won the match,” Robin Uthappa said on ‘Wake Up With Sorabh’ YouTube channel.
Adding further to the story, the Karnataka batsman said:
“We went to Gwalior for the next game (4th ODI) and I remember we all were having dinner together. I think we hung out in someone’s room and having a meal. Shoaib bhai was there as well. He came to me and said ‘Robin… well played. Good game’. And then he said ‘One more thing… you walked out and hit me today. If you do that again, even I don’t know what will happen… you might get a beamer directed at your head.’ After that, I didn’t even dare walk out to him.” Robin Uthappa said.
Happy birthday to Robin Uthappa! He was a part of India’s successful 2007 @ICC Men’s
#T20WorldCup campaign and was among their top five run-scorers
Nov 11, 2020
________________
Robin Uthappa didn’t have the best of times in the 2007 ODI series against Pakistan, scoring only 31 runs across 4 innings. Yuvraj Singh was the star of the show for India, winning the Man of the Series award for his performance against the arch-rivals.
Robin Uthappa didn’t get a game for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021
The 35-year-old was part of the 2021 edition of the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings. However, before the tournament was postponed, Robin Uthappa failed to get a game for the Chennai outfit.
With Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis showing impressive form at the top of the order, the veteran batsman could not break into the playing XI.
The batsman’s best days in the IPL came in KKR’s jersey when he won the Orange Cup during the 2014 season and helped the Kolkata franchise win their second title.
source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Home> Cricket> News / by Ayush Chaurasia, Analyst / May 16th, 2021
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ur masks cause it’s high time.
