Lahari Audio acquires the rights of the multi-lingual film for ₹3.6 crore
Touted as the costliest film made in Kannada, KGF created a records of sorts with Bengaluru-based Lahari Audio acquiring audio rights of the film on Saturday by paying ₹3.6 crore.
According to Tulasiram Naidu of Lahari, popularly known as Lahari Velu in the film industry, his company, which had acquired the audio rights of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion by paying ₹2.25 crore, bought the audio rights of KGF by paying more than that.
“It is a whopping sum of ₹3.6 crore and the highest amount being paid for acquiring audio rights of a film in the history of south Indian cinema,” said Mr. Velu.
“While the Kannada version of audio with six songs and four bit music pieces will be released on November 29, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam versions are set to release in the first week of December,” producer Vijay Kiragandur told The Hindu.
Like Bahubali, which was released in two parts, KGF is also being made in two parts. While the first part is set to release in the last week of December, the sequel is slated for release in mid-next year. In actor Yash’s own words, “With KGF, Kannada films get a new found respect in Indian cinema”.
The much-awaited KGF is being widely talked about in the Kannada film industry for the past three years, as it is showing all signals of becoming a trendsetter.
Mr. Kiragandur has refused to disclose the budget of the film and has maintained that he is not worried about the budget, as making the film is more of a passion for him than a business proposition.
While the film is shot in Kannada, it will be dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi and released simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Mr. Velu is in the process of making a multi-lingual and multi-starrer film on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which is being scripted by K.V. Vijayendra Prasad of the Bahubali fame.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengluru – November 26th, 2018
B.V. Karanth Theatre Complex that has come up at Heggodu in Shivamogga district. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Heggodu complex to house his books, audio-video documents
The dream of the Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth Theatre Trust (BVKTT) to protect and preserve the huge repository of books, musical instruments, posters, and theatre properties collected by the doyen of Indian theatre is finally being fulfilled with B.V. Karanth Theatre Complex coming up at Heggodu in Shivamogga district.
The complex has been developed in association with Nilakanteshwara Natya Seva Sangha (Ninasam), Heggodu, at a cost of ₹65 lakh. Ninasam, established in 1949, had set up a theatre library facility back in 1980, and it has a collection of over 15,000 rare works on theatre. With Karnath’s collection on theatre now added, the library will be further enriched. “Probably, this will one of the very few libraries on theatre in the country,” said Jayaram Patil, managing trustee of the BVKTT.
The former director of the National School of Drama Kirti Jain will open the complex on December 2. In all, the complex will have around 30,000 books and over 1,000 audio-video documents. The complex will be open to students and faculty of Ninasam, besides visiting scholars, theatre enthusiasts, and the public, according to Akshara K.V. of Ninasam.
Music instruments
Meanwhile, the repository of rare musical instruments collected by Karanth during his lifetime, from all over India, are now at the Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village in Manipal, founded by Vijaynath Shenoy.
Musical instruments collected by B.V. Karanth are now at Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village in Manipal. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Karnath had over 150 rare musical instruments. As there is no person to preserve and protect them, our trust decided to donate all the musical instruments, which were stored in Karanth’s house in Bengaluru, to Hasta Shilpa. Karanth himself had agreed to give them to Hasta Shilpa following an appeal from Mr. Shenoy. Now, they are under the safe custody of curators and preserved in an air-conditioned storage facility,” said Mr. Patil.
State project was shelved
A decade ago, Rangayana in Mysuru, of which Karanth was the first director, had planned a theatre library and museum on its premises.
The Department of Kannada and Culture had also shown interest. The late H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, who headed the department, had formed a committee of experts in theatre and architects, headed by the director of Rangayana, in 2007. A facility at a cost of ₹2.5 crore was planned and a plan was sent to the government. The Minister even sanctioned ₹10 lakh as a token honorarium to the trust to part with Karanth’s collection, and preparations were made to lay the foundation stone for the ambitious project.
However, the dream could not be realised with the fall of the coalition government headed then by H.D. Kumaraswamy. “As successive governments failed to take initiative in the museum project to protect and preserve the priceless collection of Karanth, the Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth Theatre Trust, in association with Ninasam, finally found a safe place for the collection,” said Mr. Patil.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – November 26th, 2018
Film director M.S. Sathyu. | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy
He is best known for his partition drama Garam Hawa
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) Bengaluru is offering a rare opportunity for film and theatre enthusiasts to savour the complete creative repertoire of M.S. Sathyu, one of the renowned filmmakers and theatre personalities in India, by organising a week-long festival of his films.
Mysore Srinivas Sathyu, popularly known as Sathyu, is best known for his partition drama Garam Hawa, which bagged several national awards, including the National Integration Award in 1974. He was awarded the Padmashri for his contribution to Indian cinema. At 88, he continues to be active on stage. Last year, he staged his version of fantasy adventure Gulebakavali. With his undiminished passion for film-making, he is still raring to direct a film.
Kahan Kahan Se Guzre, a documentary on the life and works of Sathyu, directed by Masood Akhtar will be screened in the inaugural session. It will be followed by a panel discussion on the relevance of films and theatre dealing with social and political issues where noted cinematographer G.S. Bhaskar, filmmaker Chaitanya K.M. and film critic George Kutty will speak.
Four of his Kannada films — the award-winning Bara, Chitegu Chinte, Ijjodu and Ghalige — will be screened during the festival.
Pratidhwani, a serial based on stories of Jnanapith recipient writer Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, two episodes of Balina Chowkabara and Acharyavanta Ayyangar documentary Nataka Ratna Gubbi Veeranna, directed by Sathyu, will be screened on November 27.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / November 23rd, 2018
Srikanth Bhat, an agriculturist-cum-hotelier in Kanchinabailu in Hirebettu village near Manipal, is an ardent lover of the festive sport.
Udupi :
The owners of Kambala buffalos are busy with last-minute preparations as they consider it a matter of prestige and pride. The buffaloes are the prized possession of the owners who raise them with care and indulgence.
Srikanth Bhat, an agriculturist-cum-hotelier in Kanchinabailu in Hirebettu village near Manipal, is an ardent lover of the festive sport. He rears seven Kambala buffalos at a spacious and well-ventilated shed in his 15-acre garden. The routine diet for them includes 5 kg baked horse gram, hay, half a kg jaggery, and 150 ml of sesame and coconut oil once a week.
The caretaker of Bhat’s buffaloes, Sachin S Kotian, told TNIE that the animals are like family members for Bhat. ‘‘The buffaloes stand whenever Bhat arrives in their shed and flap their ears. This is how they show their love for their owner,’’ he says. Another caretaker, Prasad Kumar, assists Sachin in ensuring that proper care is taken of the buffaloes.
The animals are given oil massage and left under the sun for about three hours every day, before they are taken for a swim and bath in a specially-designed pool. Bhat has two kambala jockeys, Nakre Jayakar Madivala and Nakre Manjunath Bhandari.
The recent incident of sudden death of Rocket Moda, Bhat’s 20-year-old buffalo, has upset the team. The Pairu breed buffalo of Kota origin had created a record in 2014 by completing the 144-metre distance in just 13.40 seconds, along with his partner Kutty. They have decided to venture into the race from November 24 after paying respect to the place where Moda was buried, Sachin adds.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prakash Samaja / Express News Service / November 24th, 2018
Bengaluru ByDesign promises handmade and cutting-edge innovation
Karolina Merska Ola O Smit
Writer UR Anathamurthy was instrumental in Bangalore becoming Bengaluru. In November 2006, when the city symbolically made the shift, his intent, he wrote in an essay, was to give the city “the ability to belong to the world at large even as one is rooted in one’s Kannadaness”. Even as Bengaluru ByDesign takes over the city from November 23, the focus of the 10-day festival will be on transformations, from the handmade to technology and sustainable interventions.
From installations and exhibitions, to workshops and conferences, the festival at multiple venues in the city, hopes to bridge the gap between what is design and what people imagine to be design. Some of the highlights:
Choose Flight Kavya Madappa’s Bluecat Paper presents Unchained Symphony – Birds, a site-specific installation. At the grand marble stairs of UB City, abstract forms of paper birds will rise towards the high-vaulted ceiling and soaring arches of the mall, symbolic of freedom and flight. “We make handmade paper from cotton, coffee and corn husks. We have nearly a 1,000 birds for the 80 steps there,” says Madappa.
Closing the Loop
At St. Mark’s Circle, Total Environment will display its strength in sustainable practices through green installations and landscaping. Designed as a twirling ribbon, the green pods will house various stages of construction, from plumbing to electrical wiring. “As a company that provides experiences in sensitively designed structures, we hope these pods will help people see the craft involved in making a home,” says Founder-Chairman, Kamal Sagar.
Everyday Design
A pop-up called “Museum of Everything” at Kafnu, curated by Sarayu Hedge, will have everything — from origami lamps to recycled cork décor, glass jewellery to organic garments.
Total Recall
London-based designer Karolina Merska honours the traditional pajaki (pah-yonk-ee) paper chandeliers, famous for drawing inspiration from architecture, costumes and flowers. “I will visit Bengaluru’s flower markets and decorate my installation at UB City with fresh marigolds instead of paper flowers,” she says.
It’s a Wrap
Bengaluru’s Town Hall has become synonymous with protests. Festival Founder Suprita Moorthy wants to change that with a makeover that will drape handmade textiles from Aadhyam around its Tuscan columns. “With pure ikats and Banarasi brocades, we will play with colour and contrast. We hope it will direct people’s gaze to its architecture and purpose,” she says.
Rajshree Pathy,
Director of the festival
What are the changes you have seen in the design industry since the inception of the India Design Forum (IDF) in 2012?
When we started IDF in Delhi, it was something very new for the city. People were aware of art but not design and conversations on design thinking were very new. Now there are several design exhibitions, events and talks, all of which is very good for designers as it allows them to present their works outside their own studios.
How has design made a difference to your life?
Design is really a way of thinking about how to make a product or create an experience. Design is not about decoration, it’s about ease of living, minimising wastage and being sustainable and affordable, otherwise design is meaningless. For me, starting IDF has been the most fulfilling experience, as I am passionate about spreading this message and removing the idea that design is elitist or about luxury.
What are the three things to watch out for at the Bengaluru ByDesign festival?
Bengaluru ByDesign is a city-wide, all-inclusive event that makes people stop and think differently about their city and its spaces. It opens up new dialogues on preservation, conservation and celebrates the city for its architecture, craft and so much more. The Town Hall pillars dressed in fabric, the UB city mall stairway clad in beautifully cut paper collage and the workshops everywhere are amazing.
How do you think design can become mainstream?
With the growth of the automotive industry, the real-estate boom, the lifestyle industry like furniture, household products, jewellery, clothing and IT, design is already mainstream, though people are not aware of it. Designers are wanted for all the above businesses. More schools need to come up across India for our fast-growing requirements.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Lifestyle / by Shiny Varghese / November 21st, 2018
One particular stall at the four-day Krishi Mela 2018, which ended on Sunday, drew crowds wi th watering mouths and a fair degree of curiosity.
Rabbits at display at Krishi Mela with a board on why one must consume rabbit meat over other meats
Bengaluru :
One particular stall at the four-day Krishi Mela 2018, which ended on Sunday, drew crowds with watering mouths and a fair degree of curiosity. The stall run by Anand Kumar H, was selling rabbit meat. He owns a restaurant in Benagluru’s Sahakar Nagar, that sells a variety of rabbit meat dishes, which he claims is the first such eatery to dole out specialised rabbit meat dishes in India.
“Rabbit meat is much healthier than other varieties of meat. It is rich in protein and has less fat compared to other meats. It is also tastier,” said Anand, who has named his Sahakar Nagar restaurant as Rabbit Paradise.
Incidentally, for Kumar, getting a licence from Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to set up his eatery was not difficult, but marketing the rabbit meat to the public has been the bigger challenge. It has been three months since the restaurant has been set up, but it has been observed that rabbit meat is not usually preferred over other meat dishes. The restaurant barely gets five to six customers a day. At Krishi Mela, however, he managed to attract a large crowd.
“The restaurant is under loss, and I would have shut down the business had I not invested a huge amount,” said Kumar, explaining that the opportunity offered by the Krishi Mela to make people aware about the benefits of rabbit meat consumption could open avenues for him and his business. At the four-day mela,Anand offered his rabbit meat dishes, which were displayed at the food court. A large number of visitors who were seen at the stall also included young students. Even as they relished the dishes, they enquired about rabbit meat consumption, its safety and health benefits.
Anand, along with nine others, have gotten together to set up a rabbit farm in Chikkaballapur, where rabbits are bred. He gets his supplies for his restaurants from here. To even out the present loss that they have incurred in the last three months, Anand said they are planning to give a boost to his business and improve marketing. The outlet, Rabbit Paradise, has started taking orders on Zomato and Food Panda. He has also planned to include new dishes and improve the taste and quality of them to attract more customers.
Low demand for rabbits
There are very few rabbit farms in the state. Currently, rabbit meat dishes are served at very few restaurants in Bengaluru. Rabbits are known to be fast breeders and the supply of rabbit meat piles up if the demand does not match it. This is the challenge that most rabbit farmers face in the sector — to make people accept a change in preference to up the demand through consumption.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Aarthi M, Express News Service / November 19th, 2018
Kote Venkataramana Swamy temple on KR Road in Bengaluru | Photo Credit: Bhagya Prakash K
All aspects of the temple have been recorded, including body and columns
Before it became an important religious place for Vaishnavas, the place where the over five-century-old Kote Venkataramana Swamy temple stands today in Kalasipalya, housed a small shrine with a Basava (idol of a sacred bull).
This shrine was in a dilapidated condition and the Basava is believed to have been shifted to Mamulpet, and an idol of the main deity (Lord Venkataramana) installed there.
This and many other historical details about the temple, which is a heritage tourist destination, are not very well known.
In an attempt to document the history, patronage and the architectural style of the 17th century temple, historian and architect Yashaswini Sharma has prepared a detailed report, which will be released by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, scion of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, on November 19.
According to Ms. Sharma, very little has been written about the temple in history and architecture books. But, the temple is significant because it is the first example of Wadiyar-style architecture in the city.
“The temple has not been documented as a heritage structure; it should have been. This lack of documentation can hamper preservation and future restoration of a heritage structure,” she said, adding that the documentation will be a preliminary step in its conservation.
Ms. Sharma has taken up the documentation under the EA Samrakshaney project through her architectural firm ‘Esthetique Architects’ in association with the Archaeological Survey of India, the Muzrai Department and the temple trust.
“This is a community initiative. Under this, we have taken up projects such as Janata Bazaar darshana, and this is our third work for the community,” she said.
All aspects of the temple have been documented, including the plinth measurement, body, and the columns.
Along with the documentation, a replica of a Kottanur inscription of Kanteerava Narasaraja Wadiyar II, which credits his father, Chikkadeva Raja Wadiyar, with installing the deity, will be unveiled. “The stone replica will be placed on the temple premises,” she said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / November 15th, 2018
The same bird, along with seven other species, then featured in her company Muuyee’s maiden collection of toys and textiles for kids.
Bengaluru :
About two years back, Shweta Pai took a trip to the jungles of Kerala and Karnataka. At dawn, while soothing her crying infant, she heard a distinct whistling sound. That was her first introduction to the whistling thrush bird. Her curiosity about indigenous species of the Indian jungles was further aroused when she learned more about the unique characteristics of the bird and the other animals in the area.
“I was instantly drawn to their stories and felt a need to document it. Moreover, many of these species may not even be there in the near future, and I wanted their stories to reach out to more adults and kids, through a new medium,” says Shweta.
The same bird, along with seven other species, then featured in her company Muuyee’s maiden collection of toys and textiles for kids. The collection, My Darling Earth, was launched in October this year and focuses on clothes and toys that feature some of the lesser known creatures of the Indian jungles, such as: The Malabar Whistling Thrush, Stone Sucker Fish, The Lion Tailed Macaque, The Cane Turtle, and The Draco Lizard.
“Before jumping into the actual making process, I had to research the animals first. I got in touch with ecologists who helped me understand the animals’ characteristics and habitats,” says Shweta. Each toy comes with a tag that explains who the animal is, where he comes from and what his characteristics are. “We got ecologists to vet this information as well,” she adds.
Each product also comes with a fun ‘surprise’ element: For example, the kurta has a pocket at the back, the cane turtle has a detachable shell, the thrush has a colourful plume of feathers that is unique to each piece.
These clothes and toys, Shweta says, are also free from gender stereotypes. “Most toys for girls seem helpless. The ones for boys seem too violent or aggressive. So, we particularly strayed away from making toys with specific male/female angles to it,” explains Shweta. The clothes too, incorporate more neutral silhouettes and colours, so as to not restrict kids within predefined boxes.
The name Muuyee comes from the Konkani word for ‘ant’. Shweta explains that though small, ants can be powerful in what they can achieve. “There’s strength when you create in a community, which is what we do here at Muuyee. There’s care for everyone involved: from our makers and artisans across India to our users,” she says.
Since its launch, Muuyee has received about eight orders a month The products retail between `300 and `3,000. For Pallavi Kini, a city-based lawyer, the uniqueness of the animals was an instant winning factor. She says, “My child is three and is inquisitive of everything. With the help of Muuyee, I can introduce her to more Indian species and hope that she will take a greater interest in Indian wildlife because of this,” she says.
To buy, log onto muuyee.com.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Simran Ahuja / Express News Service / November 14th, 2018
Historian and iconographist Vasundhara Filliozat at her residence in Mysuru. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
While former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs is credited with renaming the Mysore State as Karnataka on November 1, 1973, according to historians, usage of the word ‘Karnataka’ was in vogue some six centuries ago. They say all of southern India was united under one banner called Karnataka at that time.
They are arguing with empirical evidence that what is referred to as the Vijayanagara empire (1336) was actually called Karnataka Samrajya (empire), with Vijayanagara only being the capital.
Underlining the need to reconstruct post-colonial history, they say there is a tendency to blindly follow Robert Sewell’s (1845-1925) A Forgotten Empire, Vijayanagar, despite Sewell actually mentioning that the empire was called Karnataka.
Jnanpith recipient and playwright Girish Karnad refers to the Vijayanagara region as “Karnataka desha” in his recent play ‘Rakshasa-Tangadi’, which is based on A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761 by Richard M. Eaton of the University of Arizona. “Vijayanagara was not in vogue at that time; the region was referred to as Karnataka,” says Mr. Karnad in no uncertain terms.
Historian, epigraphist and iconographist Vasundhara Filliozat, who has a few significant historical works to her credit, including Vijayanagar, Alidulida Hampe, and Hampi-Vijayanagar: The Temple of Vithala, says the empire was given its present nomenclature by Sewell and Kannada historians such as B.A. Saletore and P.B. Desai only to placate Telugu scholars.
She says inscriptions show that the Karnataka empire was founded in 1336, with scholar Vidyateertha — the teacher of Vidyaranya — instrumental in it. Inscriptions also reveal that Vidyaranya did not exist at the time. The last great Hoysala ruler, Ballala III (1292-1342), started attempting to bring all of south India together, and the move yielded results in the time of Harihara I. “My historical conclusions are based on inscriptions and iconography I studied for nearly a decade. I don’t know why colonial historians glossed over the fact that the region was known as Karnataka and why post-Independence historians blindly followed Sewell. None of them is ready to take the truth head-on,” Ms. Filliozat says.
Srinivas Ritti, another historian, says the empire was never called Vijayanagara. According to him, historians chose the name as it was better known. He, however, believes that historians and scholars in the days to come should think of using the correct names — Karnataka for the empire and Vijayanagara for the capital.
Tipu’s role
Ms. Filliozat also says that Tipu Sultan should be given due credit during Hampi Utsav, which is celebrated yearly by the State government. She says the Nizam of Hyderabad was eyeing Hampi, which was in his dominion, but Tipu wanted Hampi to remain in Karnataka. Because of monetary help extended by Tipu, the Maharaja of Anegundi, who was surviving on a meagre revenue, stayed in Karnataka. “Hampi is now in Karnataka because of Tipu. The Karnataka government has to remember Tipu for what he did during Hampi Utsav.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – November 10th, 2018
Archaeology Department says the tender process is on
A year ago, Krumbiegel Lecture Hall inside Lalbagh Botanical Garden was razed after a portion of the 100-year-old building collapsed following heavy rains. Facing criticism from all sides for failing to restore an important piece of the city’s heritage, the Horticulture Department, which is entrusted with maintaining the garden, decided to erect a memorial for Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, the man who gave the city its green cover. However, a year later, the land where Krumbiegel hall once stood still remains vacant.
In his time, Krumbiegel used the lecture hall to practise his speeches. Over the decades, however, it fell to disuse and conservationists despaired over its neglect. Now the city and Krumbiegel’s family in U.K. are waiting for the memorial to come up.
The State Archaeology Department was roped in, and a plan and an estimate prepared. Officials in the Horticulture Department said that all necessary approvals for rebuilding the memorial are in place and that the Archaeology Department has initiated the tender process. “The tender process is taking long. Once finalised, the work can be completed in six months,” said M.R. Chandrashekar, Deputy Director, Lalbagh.
The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage said it had presented an estimate of the project, which has been approved. “The tender process is on and is likely to take over a month. Meanwhile, we are getting technical approval for the project. The work is likely to start in two months,” said Venkatesh T., Commissioner, Archaeology Department.
Cost estimated at ₹98 lakh
As per the plan, a structure similar to the old Krumbiegel hall is to come up at an estimated cost of ₹98 lakh. “The Archaeology Department will keep the old design in mind to create the new space. The new hall will serve as a space to learn about the history and horticultural richness of Lalbagh. There will be audio-visual aids for tourists. Short films on the Botanical Garden will be played in both Kannada and English,” Mr. Chandrashekar added.
Alyia Phelps-Gardiner Krumbiegel, the great granddaughter of Krumbiegel, said she was eagerly waiting for the memorial to come up. “I’m so pleased to hear that at long last the new Krumbiegel hall is coming to realisation. Karnataka still owns the legacy of my great grandfather. He designed and landscaped his way from Baroda, Ooty, Bombay, Coochbehar, Jamshedpur, Delhi, Hyderabad, Trivandrum,Madras, Mysore and above all Bangalore. He found his home in Bangalore. He and the other four heavyweight superintendents of Lalbagh – William New, John Cameron, Rao Bahadur H.C. Javaraya and M.H. Marigowda – all deserve their own special monuments for their contribution.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Sarumathi K / November 08th, 2018
