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I do not deserve Padma Sri – Rajamouli
Government of India had announced the prestigious Padma Awards the other day. Tollywood’s most happening director, SS Rajamouli is conferred the Padma Sri award. However Rajamouli said he feels like he do not deserve the award. “I dont know what to say. It is quite a mixed feeling. Very frankly I don’t feel I deserve the honour.
This is not humility. I am quite aware of my achievements. But I haven’t created any artistic brilliance that deserves this honour,” Rajamouli posted in Twitter. However he added that he feel it a previlege to share the occasion with Legends like Rajinikanth and Ramoji Rao.
“Awarding Ramoji rao garu and Rajanikanth garu with Padma Vibhushan is so apt. Their work created a lasting impression that will reflect even on generations to come. It makes me even more humbled to share the occasion with such stalwarts. But cant deny that it also makes me so happy and proud to be with them,” Rajamouli said.
‘Vote For TRS’ Posters In Amaravati
Recently, TRS minister KTR joked that his party has a decent following in Andhra and that he will contest from Bhimavaram in the next elections. Even though KTR’s made his comments in a lighter vein, going by the the admiration being showered by some Andhra leaders may well make his joke come true for real.
Several local leaders are putting up banners and flexies in Gudlavalleru mandal of Krishna district requesting the Andhra settlers in GHMC region to vote for TRS.
Explaining about this new found admiration for TRS, the leaders said that since TRS is the ruling party in Hyderabad, it will surely look after the welfare of the Andhra settlers if voted to power.
This new feat by Andhra leaders gain more prominence since the TRS gave its party tickets to 15 Andhra leaders to contest in the GHMC polls. In the party’s election campaigns, leaders like KTR and others have been assuring Andhra settlers of a hassle free livelihood under TRS’ rule.
Rakul, Tollywood’s New Fashionista
Until a couple of years ago, gorgeous Punjabi kudi Rakul Preet Singh was not a name to reckon with in Tollywood. However, the surprising hit of Venkatadri Express changed her fate and a series of wise decisions in selecting the right films catapulted Rakul into the top league of actresses in no time.
Today, Rakul is one of Tollywood’s highest paid actresses and also has a huge fan base for her cute looks and impressive acting abilities. But it is Rakul’s fashion statements in several film and social events that brought her an image of a fashionista in Tollywood.
Be it on screen, her films’ audio launches, promotional interviews, award shows and any other high profile events, this former beauty queen decks up as a true blue fashion icon and her ease in effortlessly pulling off some really innovative styles in trendy, traditional and totally experimental designer wear is winning all the praises.
Rakul keeps on experimenting with new designers who design her wardrobe, jewellery and accessories and this helps in keeping away the monotony in her styling. Well, there is no fixed horizon when it comes to fashion and this assures all the fans of Rakul several more fancy treats from the beautiful lass even in the future.
Srimanthudu Takes Over Baahubali
Superstar Mahesh Babu’s Srimanthudu took second slot in Tollywood’s highest grossing films list; however the film dominated Baahubali at International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Utsavam in Tamil category. Ace director SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali bagged as many as 6 awards at IIFA Utsavam in Tamil category.
Many thought, the Prabhas and Rana starrer would get much more awards in Telugu segment. Surprisingly, Srimanthudu took over Baahubali and grabbed six awards out of 12 categories.
Srimanthudu won awards in the categories such as best lead role male (Mahesh Babu), best lead role female (Shruti Haasan), best supporting role male (Jagapathi Babu), best music director (Devi Sri Prasad), best lyricist (Rama Jogayya Sastry), best playback singer male (Sagar).
After receiving the award Mahesh Babu stated, “Srimanthudu is best film in my career.” Interim, Baahubali won 5 awards including best film, best director (SS Rajamouli), best negative role (Rana Daggubati), best supporting role female (Ramya Krishna) and best playback singer female (Satya Yamini).
Comedian Vennela Kishore bagged best comic role award for Bhale Bhale Magadivoy. Telugu actor Sai Kumar won best supporting role male in Kannada for his performance in super hit Rangi Taranga which won 8 awards in total.
Akshay Kumar to join 2.0 sets in March
The first schedule of Superstar Rajinikanth and Sensational director Shankar’s sequel, 2.0 concluded in December. The second schedule will begin only after the completion of Rajinikanth’s Kabali.
We are said that the makers have fixed ‘Chitti 2.0’ as the title of the film and they have also registered the title with the film chamber. Bollywood Star Hero Akshay Kumar was roped in to play an important role. Akshay Kumar will join the movie shoot in March.
Oscar Award Music Director AR Rahman will be composing music for the film. Rest of the crew include crew cinematographer Nirav Shah, Art Director Muthuraj, VFX Supervisor Srinvas Mohan, Editor Antony and Rasool Pookutty handling the Sound Designing.
Never before seen business for Sardaar Gabbar Singh
Sardaar Gabbar Singh is the most awaited film in Tollywood this year. The movie is a hot cake in trade and it is witnessing never before offers from trade. As per the trend now, the movie’s pre-release business is likely to touch 80-90 Crore (with out satellite) which is very huge.
Eros International bagged all rights of the film for a whopping 72 Crore which is very huge back then but still they are likely to end up with superb table profit. The movie is being planned for May release. The shooting is currently on in a special village set erected in Banjara Hills.
The audio release event of the movie will take place on March 12th. Power fame Bobby is wielding megaphone for this film. Devi Sri Prasad will be composing music.
China moves to deepen its footprint in Iran
Rising from the yellowish, treeless plains so typical for central Iran stands a square, three-dimensional labyrinth of pipes and conveyor belts, topped by a silver chimney that glitters in the summer sun. Sanctions against Iran failed to halt the construction of the complex, a steel mill that went into operation in September and now churns out ingots and billets. The sanctions also did not stop Sheng Kuan Li, a wealthy Chinese businessman, from pouring $200 million into the project.
Mr. Li is one of many Chinese investors who in recent years worked around the sanctions imposed on Iran by the U.S. and other Western powers over Tehran’s nuclear programme. His steel mill and other similar endeavours are the result of a strategic pact that gives China a much-needed western gateway to West Asian markets and beyond, and that has saved Iran from international isolation and economic ruin. On Saturday, both countries agreed to increase trade to $600 billion in the coming decade. That agreement was made during a meeting between Iran’s leaders and China’s President Xi Jinping, who late last week became the first foreign leader to visit Iran after most international sanctions were lifted. China has relied on Iranian oil and views the country as a vital link in Mr. Xi’s so-called Silk Road strategy, an ambitious agenda that seeks to extend China’s economic influence westward.
The deep Chinese footprint in Iran does not only manifest itself in the tens of thousands of inexpensive cars that have flooded the streets of Tehran in the past few years. Investors like Mr. Li, who has built two other factories here, as well as Chinese state companies, are active all over the country, building highways, digging mines and melting steel. In Tehran, the Chinese have been involved in the construction of a huge elevated expressway and the building of the Niayesh Tunnel, one of the longest urban tunnels in the world. The city’s metro system was built from scratch, starting in 1995, with Chinese capital and Chinese engineers. The train cars that run on it are Chinese, too.
“Westerners visiting the capital often wonder how we managed to pull off such ambitious projects during the heaviest sanction regime in history,” said Mohammad Reza Sabzalipour, Iran’s World Trade Center representative. “Well, we did it with the help from our Chinese friends.” Thirst for cheap crude oil and enthusiasm for the Silk Road project, which incorporates the goal of unlocking China’s isolated western provinces, brought the Chinese to Iran, the only country in West Asia where the U.S. had no presence. Iran had long welcomed the relationship, but after sanctions started to squeeze the economy at the end of the last decade, the country gained a special status, and China’s slow but steady advance here began.
“We are Iran’s biggest trading partner for six years in a row,” Mr. Xi wrote in an open letter to the Iranian people, Xinhua, China’s state news agency, reported on Thursday, a day before his arrival on a West Asian tour that would also take him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. During the Iran-Iraq war, China sold weapons, including Silkworm missiles, to Iran. China looked the other way when the Iranians sought to advance their missile technology, and assisted in developing the country’s nuclear energy programme.
“After the revolution we exchanged the Western frowns with the smiles from the East,” said Asadollah Asgaroladi, one of Iran’s wealthiest businessmen and the head of the Iran-China chamber of commerce. “They continue to smile at us.”
Hillary’s dilemma: Change or continuity?
On Monday night, when Democratic frontrunner for presidential nomination Hillary Clinton faces off with her increasingly formidable rival Bernie Sanders in a town hall debate, her biggest dilemma will be in scripting her own image that is now conflicted between representing change and continuity. She is not a natural claimant for an attribute that catapulted the other three top contenders in the race for the next U.S. President – ‘anti-establishment.’ Mr. Sanders within the Democratic Party, and the two Republican frontrunners, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, all claim to be more ‘anti-establishment’ than the others.
I am the change, she says “Are you the establishment?” an interviewer asked Ms. Clinton last week. After explaining that Mr. Sanders has been a lawmaker longer, she declared, “I am the change.” But that change to being the change cannot easily come to someone who has been in the limelight of U.S politics for the last four decades – as First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the U.S, Secretary of State and Senator. Ms. Clinton has 12 Governors, 40 Senators, and at least 150 Representatives endorsing her against two Representatives who endorse Mr. Sanders. I am anti-establishment: Sanders “We are bringing in a revolution. We are against the political, economic and corporate establishments in this country. Therefore they are all supporting Secretary Clinton,” Mr. Sanders said on Sunday, explaining why he is getting no endorsements from Democratic leaders.
Ms. Clinton’s statements and interviews through last week betrayed her confusion about what she wants to be seen as – the change or the seasoned. Not only that it is not easy for her to shake off the establishment tag, Ms. Clinton would also be worried about the desirability of that approach. Because she has a quality that others in the race do not have – experience. Asked on Sunday whether she considered her long resume a burden now, she shot back: “It matters when you are choosing a commander-in-chief.”
Her speeches ‘dear’ for corporates But the way she has literally cashed in on her experience, by doing paid speeches, continues to haunt her. She charged up to $2,25,000 for a single speech – that is more than four times the U.S median family income – from corporates. According to a New York Times report, she and her husband Bill Clinton together received $125 million as speaking fees since 2001. Why would companies pay so much money for a speech? “Because American businesses wanted to known about a complicated world from a former Secretary of State,” she said on Sunday, adding that it never stopped her from supporting policies that reined in big businesses.
Trump: Cruz disliked by all If Ms. Clinton is trying to sound sufficiently anti-establishment, on the other side of the fence, Mr. Trump is trying to play down that image a bit, now that his lead appears unassailable. He has turned around and accused his closest rival Mr. Cruz of being incapable of finding common ground with others and get things moving. “We have to get things done, you know,” Mr. Trump said declaring his willingness to cut deals with opponents if elected President. “He is too strident. He is not liked by anybody,” he said of Mr. Cruz. ‘Trump a donor for Clinton Foundation’ Mr. Cruz now accuses of Mr. Trump of being the establishment. “Trump won’t change the system. He’s what is wrong with the system,” Mr Cruz’s latest ad declares. Among the proof that Mr. Cruz is touting around is Mr. Trump’s past as a political donor, which includes a contribution of $ 100000 to the Clinton Foundation.
Ms. Clinton has the tough task of being the change and continuity at the same time. A flurry of commentaries that compare the current situation with the 2008 Democratic race in which Barack Obama upended her plans with the ‘change we can believe in’ campaign is hardly comforting her. Then too, she had more endorsements than Mr. Obama, to begin with. The question that American commentators are increasingly asking is — could Mr. Sanders be the new Obama?
First Kamal, Now Nani!
Remember the Kamal Haasan movie ‘Tenali’ in which he plays the role of a man scared of a hundred different things in life. The comedy caper shows him taking treatment for his different phobias and the results that follow. The movie was a huge success in both Tamil and Telugu.
Only Kamal Haasan could have pulled off a role like that because traditionally, our heroes are invincible. They only know how to mete out justice and not cringe in fear. Even if they are shown as normal folks for a while, they have a flashback that brings out the fire in them.
The trailer of Nani’s upcoming film ‘Krishna Gadi Veera Prema Gadha’ is indeed interesting. The impression conveyed is that Nani plays a role of a highly timid person which is not the norm in the film industry. He played a different role as well in ‘Bhale Bhale Magaadivoy’ too. The young actor is apparently not averse to taking a risk or two.
No Place For Danam In Cong Campaign In GHMC
Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president Danam Nagender, who was forced to stay back in the party following the ill-treatment he had received in his attempts to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, had to face the humiliating experience in the Congress party as well, as he was left out of the party’s campaigning committee in the GHMC elections.
With just a week left for the polling, the Congress on Monday announced a 10-member campaigning committee for the GHMC elections with Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao as its chairman. Former union minister Sarvey Satyanarayana, MPs Nandi Yellaiah, Renuka Chowdhary and M A Khan, former ministers P Sabita Indira Reddy, M Sashidhar Reddy and G Prasad Kumar, former MP M Anjan Kumar Yadav and MLC P Sudhakar Reddy are the other members.
Nagender, who was hoping to spearhead the campaign in the capacity of GHCC president, is obviously disappointed. His recommendations for tickets to his followers, but for a few, were also not honoured by the party. One has to wait and see what his next moves are after the elections.
Naidu Opens Pandora’s Box
The British managed to rule India by pitting the Hindus against the Muslims and the various princes against one another. They may have left but their policy of divide-and-rule is still being perpetuated by our politicians. Solely with the objective of gaining power, Chandrababu Naidu promised to include the Kapu community in the list of backward communities. 18 months after coming to power, he is yet to act on it and the Kapus are now demanding that Naidu fulfill his promise. They are justified in this because they promised by Naidu. But this is a really deplorable policy by Naidu.
Making use of castes and communities merely for attaining political power will create civil unrest and destroy the social fabric of the nation. There are many communities below the poverty line and who go bereft of reservation. But they probably do not appeal to Naidu because their numbers are not significant enough to put him in the CM’s chair. Why only the Kapu brothers and sisters? As the Chief Minister, is it not his responsibility to ensure the all-round development of the whole of Andhra Pradesh?
Had Hari Rama Jogiah, in his autobiography, not hinted at Naidu being behind the murder of Vangaveeti Ranga Rao, then Naidu would probably not have bothered at all about delivering on his promise. Now, the AP State BC, OBC Employees’ Association has asked the state government not to include the Kapus in the BC list as they feel that it is a conspiracy to deprive the existing BC’s of their rightful share. The Akhila Bharata Yadava Mahasabha too echoed the same view. Thus, Naidu’s election gimmicks have now resulted in pitting communities against one another in the name of caste.
Telugus fighting against Telugus while the likes of Naidu and KCR enjoy the privileges of power and enrich their own communities. Undoubtedly, they are two of the worst politicians, the Telugus have ever seen.
Why Rajamouli Got Padmasri In Karnataka Quota?
Noted Telugu director S S Rajamouli has made the entire Telugu film industry proud by making magnum opus Baahubali in international standards. Truly, he deserves the Padmasri award, which was announced on Monday.
But what has not come to the notice of the people is that Rajamouli got the Padma award in Karnataka quota, rather than from Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. Apparently, his name was recommended by Karnataka government for the Padmasri award and not by the Telangana or Andhra government.
This is rather shameful for the Telugu people. Rajamouli has made just one film Kanteerava in Kannada and as such, he is not known much in the Kannada film lovers till he made the blockbuster Baahubali. In fact, he became a national and international figure only after this film, which was obviously made in Telugu. As such, the Telugu government should have recommended his name for the Padma award and not Karnataka government.
In the past, too, reputed film directors meted out humiliation by the Telugu governments. Renowned film director Bapu got the Padma award in his fag end of his life only after the Tamil Nadu government recommended his name, though he produced out and out Telugu films with local nativity and deserved the award much earlier.
NRI’s tributes to Late Shri. Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga
USA: The 27th death anniversary of Late Sri. Vangaveti Mohana Ranga Garu was held in Richmond (Virginia), Detroit (Michigan), California and in several cities across USA by Telugu NRI’s and VM Ranga Fans recently. The event started at 6:00 PM in Richmond, Detroit and California with the songs of memories of Shri. Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Garu. There were over 200 people attended the event across Richmond, Detroit, California and several other places across USA from all walks of life.
Mr Madhu Dasari, Mr. Srikanth Mannem, Mr. Narendra Kumar Sammeta, Mr. Srinivas Gandepalli, Mr. Bhaskar Akiri, Mr. Priyatham Kodeboyina, Mr. Hari Arava and Mr. Venkat Sirigineedi the core members of VMR Fans Club Organized the event in Richmond, Virginia and Mr. Deepak Gopalam, Mr. Ram Mandava, Mr. Vamshi Yedidha, Mr Anand Sudhabattula, Mr. Venkat Yenumula, Mr. Ramesh Kilari, Mr. Lalith Vadlamudi and Mr. Kiran Ravula Organized the event in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Narendra Sammeta garlanded VM Rangs’s photo and lighting the lamps, followed by many Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Fans from Richmond lighting the candles in respect of their beloved leader.
Speaking on this occasion, Many of VMR fans recollected the memories and spoke in length and breadth on how MR. Vangaveeti Mohan Ranga Rao became a great leader in Andhra Pradesh with his services to the poor and needy people irrespective of religious and communities. They also said that Sri V.M. Ranga always in front row to fight against the injustice done to the people by the government. With this, his popularity increased exponentially day by day in all sections of people and unable to compete with his great services and not able to digest his growth, he was assassinated by the then corrupted, cunning government and cruel politicians while doing the indefinite fast in Vijayawada against the government’s atrocities and injustice done to the poor people.
Within the hours of his death, unable to digest their loved leader’s death, whole state burnt live and with the wrath of this the then government lost the power immediately in 1989 elections. Many of the current and past MLA’s and Ministers are the followers of the Great Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Garu. If he is alive, we would have seen the better Andhra Pradesh with the equality among all sections of the people rather than these casteist politics playing by the political parties. Even he died 27 years ago, he is still alive in the hearts of his followers, fans and poor people of all sections.
Many speakers from the Richmond, Detroit and from California expressed Mr. V.M. Ranga’s great services and Speaking on this occassion Mr. Showry Prasad Kocherla garu recollected his memories with VMR and his services to the poorest groups of workers, rickshaw pullers, cobblers and he remains as their beloved leader and earned permanent place in the hearts of the people of Vijayawada and all over the state as bebbuli Ranga and Tiger Ranga. Mr. Manchala Sudhakar Naidu Garu, CMD of No. 1 News spoke in video conference on this occasion and shared his memories about VM ranga’s services to poor and how he contributed for the welfare of all sections of the people and provided the education for many students who couldn’t afford across the State of Andhra Pradesh and Mr. VM Ranga garu gave the political career to many people and made them as true leaders. He also said that everyone should work together to achieve the goals and objectives of Mr. Vangaveeti Ranga Garu and serve the poor and needy people.
Among the many who participated in the event were Mr. Showry Prasad Kocherla, Mr. Srikanth Peddireddy, Mr. Vijay Kocherla, Mr Brahma Kolagani, Mr Sumanth, Mr Suneel Palla, Mr. Anil S, Mr Srikanth R, Mr. Mani kanth S, Mr Chinmaya Manchala, Mr Krishna Samala and Many VMR followers and fans. The event ended with dinner and Madhu Dasari garu delivered the thank you note to all the sponsors and VM Ranga fans who made this event possible.
