I wanted to be a hero but landed behind camera, says Kodandarami Reddy

July 11, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

He plans to hit a century and make more movies

As a child, he bunked school to watch films in the nearest cinema theatre, at Mypadu in Nellore district. His passion for movies developed further as he grew up.

When he turned 18, he could not resist the pull any more and landed in the film industry. “I actually wanted to be a hero but accepted a director’s role that came my way thinking that the desire to be in front of the camera could be fulfilled at a later stage,” recalls veteran Telugu film director A. Kodandarami Reddy.

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of a programme he attended in the city on Sunday, the ace film-maker shared experiences of his long association with the industry.

His first project Sandhya released in 1980 was an above average film. But he followed it up withNyayam Kaavali , a blockbuster which went to become a silver jubilee hit and was made in other languages.

After wielding the megaphone for 92 films, he took a sabbatical ‘for good’. “I earned my place in the sun which continued for many years thanks to people’s affection and support. But now I want to hit a century and I plan to direct a film sometime next year. That will be followed by seven more projects in the next few years,” he announced.

Ask him what is the most difficult part of being a director and he quips: “He is the captain of the ship and has to take care of every single aspect. A director has to be a good actor first; only then he can extract the best from his actors.”

The director, who teamed up with Chiranjeevi in 25 films most of which were super hits, idolised Akkineni Nageswara Rao since childhood. “I was exhilarated when ANR asked me to direct Sriranga Neethulu under Annapurna banner. I was nervous but ANR made me feel comfortable.”

Refusing to spell out specific names when asked about favourites among heroes, it didn’t take much prodding for the director to pronounce his choicest actress. “Sridevi was very matured and well-behaved artist. The grace and profound expressions she exhibits in a dance is rarely seen elsewhere.”

About the young crop of actors, he says they are a talented lot. “Making the best of the technological advances, the youngsters of the day grasp techniques in a jiffy,” he said. “I may feel slightly out of place while working with the present generation artists but I am sure I’ll manage the show once I am part of it,” he says with a chuckle.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – July 11th, 2016

Putting Vizag on the global map

July 9, 2016Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Our focus will be on curbing diabetes, says Lions Club Director

For the first time in the history of Lions Clubs, a city-based person has been elected as the international director to head its global vision and projects. V. Vijay Kumar Raju has catapulted Visakhapatnam to the international map after he was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of Lions Clubs International at the association’s 99 th International Convention held in Fukuoka, Japan, recently.

An active member of the Visakhapatnam Samarasya Lions Club of District 316 A since 1996, he has held many offices within the association. Mr. Raju is the first from coastal AP and second from the State to be a part of the Board of Lions Clubs International. He has also served the Indian Air Force and is presently running nine educational institutions and three private firms. Mr. Raju, who will be in-charge of the LCI’s operations, finance and audit committee, will oversee the organisation’s activities and projects in 64 countries.

During his visit to the city, he explained to The Hindu about the organisation’s mission and future projects during the centennial celebrations of service of Lions Club International.

Our mission

“From a global perspective, our focus will be on curbing diabetes. India will be one of the major areas of work for LCI in this aspect. Our mission is to also address areas like cancer, environment, vision and relieving hunger through sustained activities, projects and expansion works,” said Mr. Raju, also a recipient of the Gallantry Award from the President of India. Talking about the organisation’s projects in the region, Mr. Raju said a dialysis centre was coming up on the outskirts of Vijayawada at a cost of Rs. 7 crore. This apart, the organisation is also looking for a land in Visakhapatnam to set up a dialysis centre for which it has approached VUDA. Similar centres will come up in Srikakulam and West Godavari districts, he said. “We are also upgrading the Lions Cancer Hospital at Seethammadhara with an additional outlay of Rs. 20 crore to include state-of-art equipment and amenities,” Mr. Raju added.

Among its other major projects, a comprehensive eye care hospital is coming up at Salur, which will cater to the neighbouring States of Chhattisgarh and Odisha as well. “The project is being developed at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore and the Outpatient Department will be operational in a month’s time. We intend to make it a state-of-the-art facility along the lines of Shankar Netralaya in Chennai,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Nivedita Ganguly / Visakhapatnam – July 07th, 2016

‘Meals on Wheels’ for the needy

July 8, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Featuresadmin

In a step towards providing free meals to the needy, Vizag Smiles, an NGO that donates clothes, books and other essential commodities to the slum dwellers and the down-trodden, ventured into a new line ‘Free Meals on Wheels’.

It was flagged off by the Commissioner of Police T. Yoganand on Thursday. A customised van that has been moving to various slum areas to donate bags of clothes and other need-based stuff to the residents will now head towards a new direction.

Run by the US-based NRI Raghu Pokala, the initiative aims at catering to homeless or needy people located across the city who cannot afford two square meals a day. As part of the inaugural day, the bus headed to Dwarakanagar, Convent junction and near railway station to serve meals to 75 people.

Mentioning that the ‘Meals on wheels’ was an extension of ‘Donation on wheels’, Mr. Raghu confirmed that it will be held twice a week as of now. Depending on the donors, the number of meals will go up. Those who are interested to contribute to the cause either in the form of donation or volunteering can contact: 7306700700 or log on to vizagsmiles.com

Shortly, the NGO plans to roll out ‘Skills on wheels’ programme where computer skills and spoken English classes, among other lessons will be imparted to persons from economically weaker sections.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – July 08th, 2016

Heritage conservation in Old Town in ruins

July 8, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

Visakhapatnam:

Time and again, there had been elaborate talks on giving the heritage buildings of Old Town a makeover.

Sources had earlier said crores of rupees have been earmarked by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) for revamp and conservation of the Port City’s heritage structures that are badly in need of renovation, conservation, and maintenance. But except some ray of light for the Town Hall, the condition of other derelict structures have worsened.
Sometimes, funds from JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) or from the World Bank was expected to come to the rescue of the heritage structures and include them in the tourism map but nothing materialised. The only positive development so far has been cleaning up of the Town Hall and putting up a notice by GVMC banning all functions at the venue.

There are almost a dozen heritage and colonial era buildings and sites in Old Town such as the Town Hall, European cemetery, Queen Victoria’s pavilion, Queen Mary’s Schools, St John Church and School, St Aloysius School, Lighthouse, Ishaq Medina Dargah, Abu Sarang Street, Lavender Canal and some other heritage buildings. Some of these like the hilltop dargah and mosque dates back to the mid 13th century while most others belong to the 19th and early 20th century.

The 16th century European cemetery, which is covered with garbage and weeds, was cleaned about a couple of years ago by GVMC at the initiative of Intach (Indian National Trust for Culture and Heritage) but is now back to its former state. M Janaki, the then additional commissioner of GVMC, had taken a lot of initiative in clearing the cemetery and had even allocated Rs 12 lakh for its renovation. The three century old burial ground has around 50 graves.

Intach member Jayshree Hatangadi said, “When I visited the cemetery this week, I found the wall broken towards its left and has been encroached upon by surrounding houses. Garbage has been thrown inside and the weeds and bushes have regrown to such an extent that stepping inside is almost impossible. Only the Town Hall has been cleaned and ‘No functions to be held here’ notice pasted on the door, which is a good move by the GVMC in protecting the building from all the damage and litter, which happens every time some function is held there.”

GVMC’s chief city planner Venkata Rathnam said, “Both the European cemetery in Old Town and the Dutch cemetery at Jagadamba Junction are in a bad shape, with broken compound walls and our municipal commissioner has personally inspected the sites. Hopefully, some renovation and cleaning works would be taken up for the cemeteries.”

Not only the cemetery, but the Victoria Pavilion and the Queen Victoria statue, which got a makeover around two months ago, is in a mess. “The statue is again covered with coal dust, which can’t be helped because of the pollution is the area. But worse, the workers have left the cleaning job incomplete. They have left brushes, brooms and clothes, but removed the signage. Even if there’s some renovation, the maintenance aspect is totally ignored,” added Hatangadi.

The century-old Queen Mary’s Girls High School (QMGHS) is also in a rickety state, especially the tiled roofs and wooden staircases are all creaking and crumbling and in urgent need for renovation. But it seems the government is waiting for it to crumble further and then pull it down altogether so that it meets the same fate as the Kurupam Market structure, which was surreptitiously demolished in November 2013 by GVMC officials. According to government sources, Rs 32 lakh was sanctioned by the state education department for construction of a new school building in the existing premises but the money was diverted to other “needy” schools. The building, which now houses the school, was earlier a medical school and even before that the old collectorate, dating back to the early 19th century.

When asked about the plans and funds for renovation of Old Town heritage structures, GVMC Commissioner Pravin Kumar replied, “Except Town Hall, all other structures belong to different management and trusts. GVMC will work together with the respective management to give a facelift to them as has been done for the Queen Victoria Pavilion.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Sulogna Mehta / TNN / July 08th, 2016

AP ties up with US varsity to increase Ongole Bull population

July 6, 2016Agriculture, Education, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinionadmin

Hyderabad :

Efforts are being made by the state government to increase the population of ‘Ongole bull,’ the pride of Prakasam district, which is on the verge of extinction. The state government tied up with University of Pennsylvania to achieve this objective.

As part of the Milk Mission project of the University of Pennsylvania, the university will make efforts to increase the population of ‘Ongole bull’ and ‘Punganuru cow’ through artificial insemination (IVF) procedures, special chief secretary (Animal Husbandry department) Manmohan Singh has said.

“The breed of Ongole bull is on the verge of extinction, hence the government had joined hands with Pennsylvania University,” he added.

The Punganuru cattle, a popular dwarf cow breed, which are being reared mainly in government livestock farms, are also on the verge of extinction, with some 60 odd animals remaining. The University of Pennsylvania team will also work towards increasing the population of this rare breed of cow.

The government, which had recently entered into an agreement with the Milk Mission project of the University of Pennsylvania, on Tuesday formed a six-member experts’ panel headed by Andhra Pradesh Livestock Development Agency (APLDA) CEO Dr PD Kondala Rao.

The panel will work in coordination with the Pennsylvania University for implementing the project in the state.

According to officials of the animal husbandry department, the university will help the state in enhancing milk production and cattle population in the state. As per the agreement, the university experts will impart training to farmers to enhance milk production, livestock population and transfer technology to increase cattle population.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / July 06th, 2016

Alluri Jayanthi celebrated as state fest for the first time

July 5, 2016Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Visakhapatnam:

The 119th birth anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju, the martyred nationalist and freedom fighter who had waged a guerrilla war against the British in Visakha Agency, was celebrated in a grand manner here on Monday. A number of district administration officials and state ministers as well as Union civil aviation minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju took part in the celebrations across the district. The main celebrations were held at Pandrangi village near Visakhapatnam, where the freedom fighter was born.

During a public meet in Pandrangi, the Union minister observed that Sitarama Raju had fought the British till his last breath. Later, local school children performed a ballet portraying the life and struggle of the freedom fighter. The state ministers and district officials also visited the house where Sitarama Raju was born.

Meanwhile, state information and public relations minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy along with Vizag MP K Hari Babu, zilla parishad chairperson Lalam Bhavani and all the district officials paid tributes to the great revolutionary and observed that it was one of the most glorious struggles for India’s freedom.

However, members of the Alluri Walkers Association led by M Suresh Babu and Ommi Appa Rao accused the state government of denying livelihood to tribal people and other weaker sections of society and said it was not appropriate for them to celebrate the birth anniversary of a freedom fighter, who had laid down his life fighting for the rights of the weaker sections of society.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / July 05th, 2015