Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The old world charm

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

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When a 140-year-old quaint and beautiful house near Lalbagh was passed down to City-based designer Latha Puttanna’s husband, she didn’t give up the opportunity to create a retail space for her brand Shrishti.

Having been in the industry for the past 23 years, she decided to forego her previous business model of exhibitions and orders and worked with two interior designers to spruce up the heritage home.

“Siddapura used to be a village and S Kempanna, who built this house, was the Patel (head). He was from my husband’s paternal lineage and it’s now been passed down to the fifth generation. It’s sad not to utilise old homes like this, so I decided to start an in-house manufacturing and design unit here.

But seeing the rising demand for retailing, I opened it as my flagship Bangalore store last year. I’ve tried to keep it modern but with a vintage touch,” shares Latha, elaborating that though the old tiles, well and courtyard have been retained, objects like antique mirrors and cupboards have been added to enhance the look.

Asked how the place makes her feel, Latha replies, “I’m very sentimental as a person and the old-world charm of this house complements the clothes I design, which largely work with the revival of dying techniques like ajrak, kalamkari and ikat. And it isn’t only me — when visitors come down the street and find the store, they are instantly charmed by it.”

Shrishti includes a range of exquisite saris, blouses, kurtis, churidars, salwars and Indo-Western wear in various cuts, styles and colours.

It is located at 102, 2nd Cross, Lalbagh, Siddapura.

For details, call 26567349.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / DHNS – Bangalore, April 19th, 2014

An awesome fashion show by Lissome models

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
Actor Bhuvan Ponnanna and Harshika Poonacha walk the ramp along with designer Jayanthi Ballal in city last evening.
Actor Bhuvan Ponnanna and Harshika Poonacha walk the ramp along with designer Jayanthi Ballal in city last evening.

Mysore :

The sharp showers last evening did not deter the enthusiasm of fashion lovers who gathered at Jayachamarajendra Golf Club here yesterday to witness the fashion show organised jointly by Fashion Designer Jayanthi Ballal and Country Inn.

The catwalk and sashaying of lissome models was delectable to watch. The combination of male and female models attired in black dress received a good applause by the discerning gathering of fashion lovers of city.

The star attraction of the show was actor Harshika Poonacha and Bhuvan Ponnanna who came on the ramp together. The models comprised college students from city and Bangalore.

Most of the fashion shows usually play western tunes to enthuse the models during catwalk. To beat the monotony, old Hindi songs were played during the ramp show to arrive at a new trend without compromising on glamour and glitter.

Speaking on the occasion, Harshika opined that compared to Hollywood and Bollywood, a good platform was rarely available in the South for fashion shows despite the presence of promising models here. She commended Jayanthi Ballal in hosting a good show opening vistas for upcoming models.

Addressing the gathering, Jayanthi said that she has been arranging fashion shows for the last three years in city to provide a platform for budding models and fashion designers. However, she opined that the people of city were still a bit conservative and situation should improve gradually. She said that it was heartening that some parents were willingly encouraging their children to participate in fashion shows. She reiterated that it was a wrong notion that modelling and fashion shows would drive youngsters astray.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 20th, 2014

5-day national workshop on Tribal and Folk arts begins

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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Mysore :

A five-day national workshop on National Tribal and Folk Artistes and Traditional Dances began at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Southern Regional Centre, Wellington House on Irwin Road in city this morning.

Dr. T.T. Basavanagouda, Director, Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute, Mysore, inaugurated the workshop by lighting the lamp.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Basavanagouda said India is a multi-cultural country with diverse practices and customs.

Pointing out that ours is a country very much known for unity in diversity, he said there were nearly 700 tribal groups across the country, with 50 of them in Karnataka.

These tribal groups have their own identity, practising their customs and traditions inherited since ages, he remarked. Expressing concern that tribal traditions are getting lost in the face of modern lifestyle, Dr. Basavanagouda stressed on the need for conserving the rich heritage of tribals and maintained that workshops like these will go a long way in the conservation of ancient tribal culture.

V. Ashok Vardhan, Museum Associate and others were present.

The workshop features a demonstration of creative craft forms by artists from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, Gujarat and North-Eastern States.

The workshop is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm on all the five days of the workshop, which concludes on Apr. 24.

For details, contact 0821 – 2448231.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 20th, 2014

Epigraphy throws light on culture, history and heritage : VC

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Epigraphist R. Sheshashastri (2nd from right) is seen releasing the ‘Epigraphia Carnatica - Volume 25’ at KIKS premises in Manasagangotri. Others seen are KIKS Director N.M. Talwar and Mysore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa.
Epigraphist R. Sheshashastri (2nd from right) is seen releasing the ‘Epigraphia Carnatica – Volume 25’ at KIKS premises in Manasagangotri. Others seen are KIKS Director N.M. Talwar and Mysore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa.

Mysore, (KCU&MK) :

“Epigraphy throws light on history, culture and heritage of the State,” opined Mysore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa.

He was presiding over a programme organised by Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies (KIKS) of Mysore University at its premises in Manasagangotri here yesterday to mark the release of ‘Epigraphia Carnatica – Volume 25.’

Prof. Rangappa said that epigraphy would be a beacon for the next generation. He lauded the effort of KIKS in coming out with the invaluable book and said that the government had provided a fund of Rs. 40 lakh for the making of the Epigraphia.

He added that out of 25 volumes of Epigraphia Carnatica, 15 volumes have been released and the University would provide assistance to publish the remaining 10 volumes.

Releasing the book, Epigraphist R. Sheshashastri opined that the number of epigraphists was dwindling day by day and Mysore Varsity has done a commendable job in that context to uphold the importance of the subject.

Editor of the book Dr. H.S. Gopala Rao, KIKS Director N.M. Talwar, litterateur Aravind Malagathi and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of  Mysore / Home> General News / April 17th, 2014

New association to promote theatre among rural youth in Mysore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Mysore :

To impart knowledge on traditional arts like theatre among youths, a group of like-minded people has set up Pouranika Rangachavadi. It will be inaugurated at Sri Rajendra Bhavan in JSS Hospital premises at 6 pm on Saturday.

Association president A S Nagaraj has said that electronic media has sidelined traditional arts. “The association provides youths a platform for youths to showcase their talent in theatre and encourages traditional arts,” said Nagaraj.

To educate people on traditional arts, the association collects and exhibits data, documents and other information pertaining to theatre and traditional arts. “We will also conduct programmes across the state to encourage rural talents,” Nagaraj said.

Speaking on their activities, Nagaraj said that they will conduct training programmes for students in rural places. “Government has been providing benefits for rural artistes, but not many of them are aware about the benefits. We will work for the welfare of theatre artistes,” he claimed.

Renowned music director Hamsalekha will inaugurate the association on Saturday, while Karnataka Yakshagana Academy president Belagallu Veeranna will preside over the inaugural function.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore / TNN / April 12th, 2014

Vijay Mallya’s stint in fashion to be brought on screen by Madhur

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

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Mumbai: 

When it comes to depicting reality on celluloid, Madhur Bhandarkar has an edge over a lot of filmmakers. Time and again he has proved it with films like ‘Chandni Bar’, ‘Page 3’, ‘Corporate’, ‘Traffic Signal’, ‘Fashion’ and more recently ‘Heroine’ which highlights the real and harsh side of the industry. While he is working on a film tentatively titled ‘Madamji’, he will first begin work on ‘Calendar Girls’ based on the life of models.

A friend of Madhur revealed, “The team of writers has done an in-depth research on the hot models posing for calendars. They have spent a lot of time with them understanding what they go through, the selection criteria and other aspects of their professional life.Interestingly, Madhur has also taken some inspiration from Vijay Mallya and his life in the world of fashion. The liquor baron’s Kingfisher calendar is one the most popular calendars highlighting glamorous faces every year. Buzz is that some portions of the film will have Vijay’s life, who is also known as king of good times.”

The friend said, “ Some inspiration has been taken from Vijay’s life. The important traits of his character and his journey in the field of fashion have been very carefully written. It plays a very important part in the script.”

Deccan Chronicle sent a text message to Madhur but he didn’t respond.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Mehul S. Thakkar / April 08th, 2014

Mavalli Tiffin Rooms now in Bur Dubai

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion
The Mavalli Tiffin Room's masala dosa is a must-try . / Satish Kumar - The National
The Mavalli Tiffin Room’s masala dosa is a must-try . / Satish Kumar – The National

“Thick, crusty dosas, tangy bisibele bhaat and freshly ground ‘filter’ coffee are nearly impossible to find at one place in the city,” says the 39-year-old Vikram Maiya, who craved authentic Karnataka cuisine whenever he visited Dubai.

Maiya is the managing partner of Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR), a popular Bangalore-based chain of restaurants with a branch in Singapore.

Call it craving or conceit, but his desire to find bona fide Kannada food in the UAE has resulted in the expansion of MTR to Bur Dubai, where a new branch opened on Friday.

A question of quality

Set up for the first time in the Lalbagh area of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, in 1924, MTR is now an integral part of the city’s heritage. Step into any of the seven branches there any day of the week and you’ll find them doing brisk business.

In fact, the Dubai outlet will replicate the same model, and a band of veteran cooks has even been flown in to set up the kitchen here.

“Urad dal [black gram], a key ingredient in idli, dosas and vada [crêpes and deep-fried doughnuts made with fermented rice and lentil batter] will be sourced from Bangalore, along with the special masalas and coffee beans, which are all essential to good taste,” Maiya says.

And perhaps the best thing is that MTR focuses only on Karnataka cuisine, without the popular Indian favourites such as butter chicken or lamb biryani.

The lunch special

Try the lunch thali (platter), consisting of 16 items and unlimited servings, all for Dh25.

A freshly prepared fruit juice is served before the meal and paan (betel leaf) to end it. In between, there are curries, salad, veggies, sambar, rasam and raita served with puri (deep-fried dough discs) and several kinds of rice including pongal, bisibele bhaat, vangi bhaat and curd rice, in succession.

Three sumptuous desserts are also served; two with the main course and one at the end.

• Mavalli Tiffin Rooms opened at Al Tawhidi Building, opposite Apsara Super Market, Bank Street, Bur Dubai, on Friday. Open on all days except Mondays, from 7.30am to 10pm. Call 04 327 5909 or 056 206 7321 (prices are subject to change)

artslife@thenational.ae

source: http://www.thenational.ae / The National / Home> Lifestyle> Food / by Priti Salian / April 07th, 2014

Karnataka Sangh Qatar to organize Vasantotsav, Cultural Extravaganza at Al Ghazal Club on May 2

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion

Doha/Qatar ;

Karnataka Sangh Qatar (KSQ) will be staging Vasantotsav, cultural extravaganza at Al Ghazal Club, here on Friday May 2 at 4.30pm (gate opens at 4.00pm).

The cultural extravaganza includes comedy and live orchestra. The renowned Kannada comedian, sandalwood actor, dramatist and celebrity chef Sihi Kahi Chandru, RJ Mayur of 92.7 Big FM Unplugged with Mayur fame,   Ajay Warriar,   Sinchana Dixit and their orchestra team with well known musicians from Karnataka will be performing live in Qatar.

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The entire programme is dedicated to visiting artistes.  A nominal entry fee of Qatari Riyals 50 per person for above the age of 5 years will be charged.  The dinner packet will also be served.  Limited seats are available on first-come-first-served basis.  The entry passes are available with Maaza Restaurant, Hotel Maharaja, Aryaas, Canara Jewellery, Royal Udupi Hotel and Akshaya Jewellery.

For entry passes contact:

Mahesh Gowda: 66013225
Subramanya Hebbagilu: 55641025
Nagesh Rao: 55812324
Deepak Shetty: 66262477

source: http://www.bellevision.com / Bellevision.com / Home> News> Media Release / Doha-Qatar,  April 07th 2014

Theng Ravi – A magnificient coconut plucker and a fine stage artiste

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment

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by Phalgunn Maharishi

Marakke naanu hedralla buddhi! Ave nange hedrathve” (I am not afraid of trees Sir! But they are afraid of me), is what one would frequently hear from Ravi, a young lad of 27 years, who comes all the way from Kalanhundi village of Chamarajnagar district to Mysore every day early in the morning and work in the city plucking tender coconuts from trees, gardening, washing vehicles, cleaning homes and also driving cars when needed.

Truly, a multi-faceted personality is what best describes Ravi who is popularly known among his regular customers as “Theng Ravi” (Coconut Ravi). He climbs nearly 80 trees every day to pluck tender coconuts. He has a long list of regular customers in Mysore and some in Bangalore too who wait for him to get tender coconuts plucked from their trees.

While speaking about when and how he entered into the profession, Ravi said, “I was in my 7th grade when I had come out of the exam hall with a blank answer sheet making a firm decision of quitting my studies. My parents then started forcing me to learn something to lead my life and hence, I learnt what my father was doing.” Yes! Ravi’s father was in the same profession; plucking tender coconuts and selling them. But Ravi is for sure a hand more than his father!

Ravi started climbing trees when he was just 15 years. He cannot read and write, yet his style of picking the phone and talking with his customers in Kannada with some English words added here and there, fixing appointments, working on first come-first serve basis and finally postponing some of his works for a day or two due to insufficient time, surely makes our lower jaws go lower! A person hailing from a village without education managing his profession so neatly in cities like Mysore and Bangalore is something really applaudable.

But that’s not it for Ravi. From his hard earned money through his profession, Ravi has recently joined hands with his friend and started agriculture in a five acre land on contract basis near the borders of Tamil Nadu. Ravi also helps his father Basavanna in cultivating their ancestral property near Kalanhundi village. Ravi is married to a supportive wife and blessed with a daughter recently. He has enough from his ancestors to lead his life peacefully, yet he believes in sweating hard and earning bread for himself and his family.

“Eight years ago, I came to Mysore for the first time to find some work. I had then turned my back with an empty hand and a sad face and started stepping towards the railway station. But then, a person from Ashokpuram approached me to pluck coconuts from a tree in his home. Later on, my profession slowly developed as days passed and today, a big list of my regular customers has been developed!”, commented Ravi while explaining his experiences when he started his work in the city. He then added, “Now people call me to fix their taps, clean their sumps and compounds, drive their cars, paint walls, cementing floors, along with plucking tender coconuts. They have made me an ALL-IN-ONE. And I am happy.”

Ravi is not just a magnificent worker who pours his sweat in the hot sun but also a fine artiste on stage who entertains residents of his village and the nearby people. He owes his talent of acting to his Guru, Shri Shivakumara Swamy of his village, with whom he has joined hands from 2007. Ravi, along with the group ‘Sri Basaveshwara Kala Sangha,’ has staged plays in front of thousands of villagers. He has acted as an antagonist in plays like Bhoomi Thookada Hennu and Thande Thaayi Aththige to name a few.

“I act in theatre because it is a refreshment which blows away my worries and headaches which I face whole day climbing trees and plucking tender coconuts in the hot sun. I enjoy entertaining the viewers,” said Ravi while speaking about his hobby of acting in theatre. He also added, “We are a group of twelve people who are from various professions who join together with our Guruji, select a novel and practice it for nearly two months and then present it in front of the people in our villages. A big gathering can be seen who enjoy our acts.”

Ravi even commented that he, along with his group mates, bares expenditures of the shows they act and present and the only returns they get is through the desired amount given to them by the viewers. Such hard working village people like Theng Ravi who are trying to keep alive the art of theatre acting even in their villages are in need of more encouragement by the people and the government.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles  / April 15th, 2014

Mysore artist G.L.N. Simha’s works at museum of sacred art in Brussels

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion
Seen in the picture are (from right) Artist G.L.N. Simha, Writer Dr. S. R. Ramaswamy, Bhaskar Kalale, Vice-President and Head India Ops - Theorem (USA), D. Ram Singh, Chairman, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana, at Kalaa Dhaaraa art exhibition at Pratima Gallery in city on Apr. 13.
Seen in the picture are (from right) Artist G.L.N. Simha, Writer Dr. S. R. Ramaswamy, Bhaskar Kalale, Vice-President and Head India Ops – Theorem (USA), D. Ram Singh, Chairman, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana, at Kalaa Dhaaraa art exhibition at Pratima Gallery in city on Apr. 13.

Mysore :

Several works of spiritual art by Mysore artist Gopalachar Lakshmi Narasimha, more widely known as G.L.N. Simha, have been acquired by the Museum of Sacred Art in Brussels, Belgium recently.

This was disclosed by R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana, at the fourth talk of Kalaa Dhaaraa, a mega exhibition of Contemporary Art initiative, held on Sunday at the Pratima Gallery in Nazarbad.

This exclusive museum devoted to sacred art is located in Brussels’ Baronial Castle which has a church attached to it. This church is now called Hindu Art Museum.

Stating that works of artists B.K.S. Varma and Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat are displayed at Kremlin in Russia and the Victor and Albert Museum in London respectively, R.G. Singh said now an exclusive museum dedicated to scared art has acquired the works of G. L.N. Simha. It is a matter of pride that Kalaa Dhaaraa has the opportunity to showcase Simha’s works, he added.

Earlier, Dr. S.R. Ramaswamy, well-known scholar, writer, critic and editor of Utthana, delivering the fourth talk ‘Mantra Mukura – Artistic Incantations of G.L.N. Simha,’ took the audience on a scholarly journey along path where art diverged into Oriental and Western art. What may be perceived as beautiful by the Western mind, the eastern mind may well see spiritual intonations in the same. It is in this context that one should perceive the unique art of Simha, said Dr. Ramaswamy adding that it would be noticed by the viewer of the paintings on display that there is religious narrative that underlies each painting.

The chief guest of the evening, Bhaskar Kalale, Vice-President and Head, India Ops of the US-based THEOREM at its Mysore campus, spoke of the relevance of art in a person’s life.

The fourth edition of the talk series began with a Vedic invocation by Raghu Dharmendra, Curator and Art Historian of Ramsons Kala Pratishtana.

A few of the gems from Simha’s extraordinary oeuvre on display at Kalaa Dhaaraa are the Swarnamba which creates a contemplative vision of Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Shakti, the Shristhi series from the Kalika Purana, the Shree Sukta of the Rig-Veda which depicts the innate connection between man and divinity by the divinities emanating from the sacred flame of the Yagnya and the one of the Bhairava series that provides a pointer to modes of contemplation.

Senior journalist M. B. Singh, former Editor of Sudha and Mayura and adviser to the Ramsons Kala Pratishtana Trust , was also present.

The works of 15 new artists were introduced to the works already on display: Anil Devadiga (Mangalore), Ashok Vaidikar (Gulbarga), B.C. Devaraju (H.D. Kote), Jayavanth Shettigar (Manipal), N. Kantharaj (Bangalore), N.B. Kaverappa (Mysore), Manjunath Wali (Bangalore), B.R. Naveen (Mysore), M.R. Pavanje (Mangalore), Purushotham Adve (Udupi), N. Rajesh (Mysore), H.B. Raju (Bangalore), Ramesh Rao (Udupi), D.K. Ranganath (Bagalkot) and S.S. Shimpi (Gulbarga).

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 15th, 2014