Super Star Rajini's Fight Taken Up By Fans

India Rajinikanth and his fan following is hard to describe because it has no limits. And whatever he says is like a command from god to them. Recently Rajini celebrated his birthday and addressing his fans at the YMCA ground in Chennai he came up with a message which has become a movement. Rajini revealed how when he was a bus conductor he used to drink and was a chain smoker. He also added that his kidney and lungs got affected by that but after quitting them he has felt a lot better. To end with, Rajini urged all his fans to quit smoking and fight against it. These words came like direct instructions from the superstar and the fans have reportedly taken it upon their shoulders to carry on an anti-smoking campaign and movement. As part of that, they also set fire to many cigarettes. Let us see how strong this movement will shape into.

Sexy Actress Ruthika Says :Sorry Maa Aayana Intlo Unnadu

DTS mixing works are in progress for Ruthika starred Sorry Maa Aayana Intlo Unnadu directed by Harish and produced by Shankar on the banner of Jyothi Film Factory.

Producer says, “We shot the entire film in a single
schedule. Each scene was shot in a very interesting manner by the director. A girl from a middle-class family dreams a lot about her married life. But her marriage takes places quite opposite to her dreams. What kind of circumstances she faced during her marital life is the basic plot of the film. The film could be said to be a triangular love story. The film has a lots of entertainment and at the same time, it has a very good message imbibed in it. Ruthika’s performance would be the special attraction. The combination scenes involving Shakeela and Suman Shetty would be very interesting and entertaining. We will complete all the post-production formalities as soon as possible and release the film very soon.”

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Victory venkatesh to break stomachs into pieces.

Victory venkatesh always remained as a special hero to look after in Tollywood. After “Chintakayala Ravi”, venkatesh has taken a bit of break and finalized the project of Srinu Vaitla that is “Namo venkatesha.”

Srinu Vaitla was confident of the release of this “Namo venkatesha” for Sankranthi and also hitting the box office so strong. Srinu Vailta said that, “Namo venkatesha” would become the highest grosser in his career and same was felt of venkatesh even.

Movie stars venkatesh and Brahmanandam in the lead, say few sources. As both these actors are known for their extra ordinary comic timing, let us wait to break our stomachs into pieces till Sankranthi.

cinema news, Latest Telugu cinema news,

Gayathri Raguram files for divorce

Marriages in south Indian film industry seem to be falling apart like a house of cards these days as we see more and more actress filing for divorce. Following in the footsteps of her nemesis from Kollywood, Telugu and Malayalam film industry Gayathri Raguram, the choreographer-turned-actress is splitting with her husband.


The daughter of renowned choreographer Raguram, Gayathri shot to fame with her on-screen debut in Charlie Chaplin followed by Whistle. Later, Gayathri got married to Deepak Chandrasekhar in the year 2006 and got settled in the USA.

But recently, the actress shocked everyone by filing a divorce petition in the Chennai family court. Apparently, Gayathri has split up with her husband due to difference of opinion and now wants legal separation.

The year 2009 has seen a lot of divorces of many prominent South Indian actresses including Kavya Madhavan, Arti Agarwal and Sonia Agarwal, to name a few.

No more goody two-shoes:Kamalini Mukherjee

She may be Bengali by birth, but Kamalini Mukherjee is one actress who always played the role of a homely Telugu ammayi to the tee. However, tired of the “sari-clad” roles she has been essaying, Kamalini is now all set to shed her “goody two shoes” image for an edgier, more glamorous look.
Blaming her typecast image on the role of the good girl she played in her debut Anand, Kamalini says, “My role in Anand has definitely given me great fame, but both the audience and the filmmakers have typecast me in that one character. It is a great responsibility and is also tiring to live up to that image of the character. Because of this role, I never got to play any glamorous roles. I have only played characters that don’t have negative shades. The few different films I have done like Bramhanandam Drama Company and some others either never saw the light of day or weren’t successful. I’m so bored of miss goody two shoes and I’m conscious about the roles I pick now.”
With a new perspective in place, the actress is ready to experiment with a new look too. Kamilini, who is all for “skin show” and “size zero” says, “It is nice to see that young actresses today are able carry themselves so well, be it in a saree or a swimsuit. I am ready to sport a glam look if the story demands it. Actors are a reflection of what’s happening in the world and you have to keep up with the trends today.”
With her Tollywood career too looking up, the actress who has a couple of films in her kitty insists that she won’t do any more blink-and-miss cameos, which she was getting famous for.
“I won’t do any more guest roles since I’m focussed on my upcoming films. But if my friend Shekar Kammula offers me a guest role, I can’t refuse. In his film Happy Days, I did a cameo as a lecturer as it was an integral part of the story. In my next movie Police Police, I am doing a cameo again, but my character marks the turning point in the film, says Kamalini.
In fact, critics claim that Kamalini’s scarcity of films is because she always stuck to the Shekhar Kammula camp. “I don’ t stay in Hyderabad and I am not aware of any camps in the industry. I only choose my films based on the role I will be playing and its importance in the story. I have refused many movie offers with big stars and directors because I didn’t like the role they offered me,” she defends.
When she is in Hyderabad, the actress hangs out with her “few” buddies from the industry. “Shekhar Kammula, Sumanth and Sharvanand are my good pals. I’m not an extrovert and I’m not seen out too often, I like to keep to myself,” she adds.

‘I am the master of my decisions’

Chirpy Genelia carved a niche for herself in Tollywood by playing meaty roles even in star-centric films.

Close on the heels of her award-winning performance in Bommarillu, she tickled the funny bones of the audience in Ready. But in her last release Sasirekha Parinayam, she boldly walks out of her marriage fixed by her male chauvinist father, without her consent. “The character is forced to take a call and she does it with ease,” says the actress. Having showcased her versatility, she is now charting a new course by doing a female-centric film Katha. “It’s a new experience altogether,’ she quips. Reportedly, she is playing a school teacher and the film revolves around her character. Is it difficult to carry a film on her slim shoulders? “I don’t think so, though my role is central to the film, it’s backed by a solid script,’ she reasons. Now that she’s joining the band of actresses doing female-centric roles, will she stop doing star-centric films? “I like to do a good mix of solid roles and the song and dance routine as well,” she avers. Apparently, she will be teaming up with hotshot Ram Charan Tej for her next film. “It’s a cute love story revolving around just three characters and will be shot entirely in the US,” she informs.

Besides Tollywood, she’s made a mark in Bollywood and Kollywood too. In Bollywood she had to contend with a blockbuster Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa together with the dud Mere Baap Pehle Aaap in quick succession in 2008. “I have four more Hindi films in the pipeline,” she says. However, she is excited to talk about one of her films Life Partner with actor Fardeen. “I play the role of a super rich, haughty girl and it was difficult portraying alien emotions,” the actress confesses. Alien emotions? What exactly do you mean? “Personally, I couldn’t relate to that egocentric character,’ she explains. Was she able to relate to her other roles? “Of course, since many of the roles reflect a part of my personality,” she elaborates. Is she a bubbly, cheerful person who lives life on her own terms? “I am the master of my decisions and no two ways about it,” she explains. Even her endorsements reflect the same spirit. “I have got the best from both worlds without planning for it,” she quips.

She was on a high when folks praised her good looks. But before you jump to a conclusion, we are not talking about her flirtiest co-star but about a bunch of kids who are sharing screen space with her in Katha. “It was the best compliment I ever got. I have been appreciated by directors and actors but this one’s special since it’s straight from the heart of tiny tots,” says the actress, not without a hint of satisfaction.

Coming to the personal front, she rubbishes rumours about her link up with Rithesh Deshmukh. “I am still single and I understand that public figures are bound to be under the scanner, but we need to look beyond,” she shoots back.

Ten kissing commandments

"Our date was extremely romantic, until I offered to seal the night with a kiss, which unexpectedly turned out to be quite awkward. While, I
The 10 kissing commandments
The 10 kissing commandments (Getty Images)
was gravely ashamed, she never came back," shares 23-year-old, Rishi Gulati (name changed on request), a sad victim of a kissing-faux-pas.

Well, the misfortune of a bad kiss can fall upon any of us. Consider yourself lucky if your kiss left your partner craving for more. And keep your fingers tightly crossed for no one plans a kissing blunder, it simply happens! And mind it, you are hardly left with anything to mend the embarrassment caused by a 'dud kiss.' If a perfect kiss can register success in your relationship, a kissing bummer is good enough to bring your love journey to a dead end even before it starts.

Follow our '10 commandments of perfect kissing' and you'll never be tagged as a 'poor kisser'...

1. Thou shall not be a stinking fish
Nothing can kill a kiss like foul breadth. So, the first commandment keeps you off kissing, if your mouth is stinking due to hygiene issues, food, tobacco or excessive smoking. If you don't want your partner to remember the kiss for all the wrong reasons, try to look out for solutions. Dr. Kamal Bisht, a general physician suggests, "Begin by brushing your teeth before you go out on a date, irrespective of the time. Cleaning your tongue is also important as it removes bacteria. Avoid kissing if you have just had smelly food products like garlic, onions etc. Keep a breath spray handy and use it periodically throughout the day." Last but not the least, if you are a smoker, the pleasure of smooching your partner can be your motivation to kick the butt!

2. Thou shall open your mouth with care
"My girlfriend has this habit of opening her mouth very little while kissing, which does not allow me to enjoy a passionate kiss to the fullest," avers Rajdeep Bhawmik, a Delhi-based architect.

While, there's no accurate rule for opening the mouth, it's generally seen that a deep kiss using tongue is a huge turn on. Equally terrifying are gulpers who open their mouth wide open while kissing, ready to swallow their partner. The trick is to keep one's lips lose enough to let the lips of both the partners glide smoothly over each other making it a yummy kiss. Also, “start with a lip-to-lip kiss and gradually taste the depths of pleasure," suggests sex expert, Dr. Rajan

Kissa kiss ka

Hollywood hottie Denise Richards loved locking lips with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar so much that the actress has branded him the sexiest man in India.

The former Bond girl shot a passionate kissing scene with the Khiladi for their upcoming film Kambakkht Ishq, which is set to release next week in theatres across India.

The actress was very impressed with Akshay’s kissing skills and is adamant that no man in Bollywood can match his skill.

“Akshay was so down-to-earth and very genuine. He made me feel very comfortable, plus he’s a good kisser! I can see why he’s India’s sexiest actor!” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

Richards also admitted that she struggled with the language barrier while filming her first Bollywood movie, but got a helping hand from her co-stars.

“I couldn’t believe how kind everyone was and they were so passionate about the film,” she said.

“All the actors were very sweet and gorgeous! They helped translate when I needed to understand something. I had a great experience and hope to do another Bollywood movie,” she added.

The film also stars other Hollywood stars including Sly Stallone and Brandon Routh.

Katrina sheds glam image

One has seen Katrina Kaif in a variety of roles, but the actress is hopeful that New York, will give her fans a chance to see her in a completely different light — something similar to what she is in real life.

The actress who has already grabbed attention with her de-glamourised look in the promos, reveals that she had asked Aditya Chopra to give her a different role and the producer obliged. “When I was offered this film I told Adi (producer Aditya Chopra) and Kabir (director Kabir Khan) to give me a film which is more like me, like a Namastey London. Adi told me that if I do this film, I will understand that this role is more ‘me’ than any of the other characters that I have played till date. And he was right,” says Katrina.

She further adds, “Kabir told me my character is the only sunshine in the dark film.”

Talking more about her role, the actress says, “Kabir didn’t give me much of a brief as to what the character should exactly be like. He just said that Maya is like any other woman. She is the girl-next-door or the classmate in college. She is a part of the group and not the star of the group. It has been an interesting experience to be a part of a film which allows me to be myself.”

The actress confesses that she enjoyed playing a college girl. “I never went to college as I started working early. This was my chance to play what I would have probably been like if I was in college,” she says.

He’s seen them all, now wants to be an actor

At first glance, anything and everything that anyone thinks about this guy would end up being wrong. If one thought he was just another tall, lanky, rich-looking party animal, the assumption would only be half-right. Yes, he does like to unwind after a hard week, but no, he does not like to be tagged as a P3 personality.

Rana Daggubati, grandson of movie moghul D. Rama Naidu and son of film producer Suresh Babu has moved on in his short life (he’s just 24 years old). As a 17-year-old, he took to a Canon still camera like a fish to water, dabbling in fashion photography and producing advertising shoots. Then as is logical, he moved to making ad jingles too. Very soon, after a year’s course in still and movie photography, he turned technocrat, starting Spirit Media.

Two years of this, working on animation and special effects, he decided he had enough and sold his company to Fx Lab Studios, also serving on its board as director.

Ask him why he sold his company and he says, “I realised that there was nothing much I could do running a company and just adding the head count, while the margins were continuing to be at the same level.”

Having seen enough, this 6’2” tall hunk set his eyes on an acting career, for after all his whole life has revolved around movies. “The concept credits to the director apart, an actor is ultimately an intellectual property, right?” Ask him how and he responds, “Yeah, every expression and every nuance of an actor’s body language is as individualistic as it comes and that’s why I say it is intellectual property,” he says.

His debut promises to be one that will serve as a good launch pad, for its being directed by Sekhar Kammula. Typical of Kammula, although over 50 per cent of the movie has been canned, the ace filmmaker is not revealing any details. All the best, Rana!

Half Yearly Report: Tollywood 2009

It was with great hype and positive anticipation that the year 2009 was looked forward to by the Tollywood fraternity. They were looking at scoring some very good hits by the middle of this year so that they would make up for the setbacks the industry has been facing over the past three to four years.

However, things have not been that great now that the month of June has arrived and the financial reports reveal that it has been a discouraging year so far. On the brighter side, films like ‘Arundhati’ ‘Akasamantha’ and ‘Kick’ have been declared super hits and ‘Arundhati’ came to be the one and only proper blockbuster.

Then came movies like ‘Sasirekha Parinayam’ ‘Maska’ ‘Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam’ which turned out to be average fares at the box office. The offbeat and masala movies like ‘Mental Krishna’, ‘Srisailam’, ‘16 Days’, ‘Nenu Devudni’ could not impress the B and C centre audiences too. Some of the biggest disappointments have been ‘Drona’ with the famous bikini act of Priyamani, Allari Naresh and his much hyped ‘Fitting Master’, Dasari Narayana Rao’s political satire ‘Mesthri’ that bombed miserably at the box office. Then there were movies like Naa girlfriend baaga rich, Manorama which had expectations but could not perform. Even the big banner movies like Billa, Ananda Thandavam, Adhineta, Veedokkade, Mitrudu, Pista having the likes of Nandamuri Balakrishna, Suriya, Vishal, Jagapathi Babu, Tamannah were not able to get any response from the audience. On the B,C banner, there were the regular Rajavari Chepala Cheruvu, Target, Diary, 18,20 Love Story, Sontha Ooru, Bank that scampered without a trace.

Also, the election season and the IPL cricket tournament have been two major reasons why the summer season was not capitalized to the fullest. Now, the summer has passed and the academic year has begun and so have the flood of movies.

Now, there are literally three to four releases each Friday and at the same time, the multiplexes and producers issue at Bollywood also worked in favor of the Tollywood movies. Movies like ‘Diary’ ‘Kavya’s Diary’ ‘Ride’ have been getting a somewhat decent talk and in the pipeline are movies like ‘Current’ ‘Boni’ ‘Evaraina Eppudaina’ that are being presented with a lot of expectations. What kind of impact they will create on the box office is something we would know in just a few days time.

For now, the message is clear that the audience wants to see nice story oriented movies and though crores are spent on the presentation, if there is no content, then the film is sure to fail. On the other hand, even if budgets are low and storyline is good then nothing can stop it from making it big at the box office.

Let us hope the second half works on those lines and makes up for the setbacks in the first half.


www.greatandhra.com

Priya Mani sizzles in Arumugham

Director Suresh Krishna (of Annamalai and Baasha fame) now returns to Tamil cinema with a commercial potboiler Arumugham.

Starring Bharath and Priya Mani, this movie has Bharath playing the role of a road-side idli shop owner. Veteran actress Seetha plays Bharath’s mother and Ramya Krishnan portrays a multi-millionaire whose character has shades of grey.

The story revolves around how a small time eatery owner decides to teach a rich industrialist a lesson because the latter humiliated his mother in public. Apparently, when Suresh discussed the script with ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth, the actor was all praise for the story and said it had mass appeal.

Produced by Kool Productions, Arumugham’s music director is Deva, and the lyrics for the songs are written by director Perarasu and Pa. Vijay.

The audio was released recently and the shooting for one of the romantic songs, Yamini Yamini, written by Pa. Vijay, was canned in the deserts of Dubai.

In this song, Priya Mani sizzles in a black chiffon sari, and Bharath flaunts his abs in a bare-bodied scene. Speaking of the title of the film, the lead actor, Bharath, reportedly is extremely happy about the title’s appeal.

This filmmaker wants to make women cry

I want all the Indian women to cry when they watch my next film,” remarks French film-maker Olivier Lorelle, who was in the city recently to talk at the Chennai International Screenwriting Workshop held at IIT Madras. “The film is titled Red Sky – it’s the love story of a French boy and a Vietnamese girl. I hope it makes the Indian women cry and love it,” he adds. The workshop was an initiative by actor Kamal Haasan and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Lorelle, who won an Oscar for his script for the movie Indigenes, is all praise for the participants of the workshop. “It is difficult to find such a dynamic bunch of students. I found the workshop extremely interesting. Though I’m not sure why Kamal Haasan wanted a Frenchman here, I’m glad I made the trip,” he says. This established film maker admits that he is a huge fan of Satyajit Ray’s films and reveals that he likes watching Indian movies for their song and dance sequences. “This song and dance format in Indian films is something that is characteristic of this country and hasn’t been seen anywhere else,” he adds.
“This is my first visit to Chennai, and I haven’t really had an opportunity to see the city yet. I’m staying back here for a few days to explore the city and get the real taste of it,” he adds.

No kissing please: Gajini Girl Asin

Nayan or somebody else may did it, but not me, says ‘Gajni’ girl Asin She said that, ‘ I am strictly against lip lock scenes, but if the Director use graphics or trick photography to create such scenes without my contribution , then I have no objection to act in such films. She said also told the media that she will never act in bikini scenes, because I am in quite comfort zone in the film industry. I have number of films in my hand and nobody so far demanded me to act in bikinis.’
When she is not feeling guilty to allow the Directors to show her kissing heroes with trick photography, then why not she allow the Director to show her in bikini with the same technique?

‘I am waiting to watch Sultan’

‘I am waiting to watch Sultan’


IIT Madras was recently the venue for a conglomeration of great minds from the world of Indian cinema, who had converged at the venue for a screenwriting workshop under the aegis of Kamal Haasan. One of the cinematic heavyweights —Shekhar Kapur, director of the Oscar-winning Elizabeth, was also present on the occasion. Shekhar, who was once close to Rajinikanth says, “Rajini and I have had quite a few inspiring conversations when he used to come to Mumbai for his yesteryear films like Hum. But we have lost touch for some time now. Nevertheless, I am keenly looking forward to see his daughter Soundarya’s animated film Sultan - The warrior.”

He struck an instant chord with Chennai’s unending water woes when he reveals, “I am currently working on a film called Paani, which is set in a not so distant future and is centered on the battles which will be fought for drinking water.”
The multi-faceted director is hooked onto blogging and loves to track the comments his readers post on his blog. An advocate of free propagation of ideas, Shekhar says, “I am thinking about putting up my forthcoming scripts online for free download by netizens across the world. My plans are to challenge them to make a better film with those ideas.”
Shekher is also the doting father of an eight year-old and he explains, “My daughter was born at a very late stage in my life and I have fears of not being around when she’s 20. So I have taken it up as a personal assignment to put my life and my thoughts on my blog so that she could get to know who her father really was. I know for sure that most of us have an impression that our parents were perpetually old people. But the fact is we never saw them in their youth.” The constant traveler adds, “Now home for me is somewhere on an aeroplane and it’s ironic because I fantasised of traveling all over the world as a child.”
So what about his other interests? Unknown to many, Shekhar is actually working on his very first installation art that will be exhibited at the Swarovski museum in Austria. The work is based on his short film Passage. The director also has two Hollywood films in his kitty, which he was not able to speak on due to contractual agreements.
When asked about the sequel to his yesteryear hit Mr India, which is a concept in the making, Shekhar says, “I have scripted it but I am not directing or producing it. I don’t think that anyone else can play Mogambo as well as Amrish Puri did.”

‘T’wood changed my life totally’

She is all of six films old, but Shraddha Das who made her debut in Sidhu from Srikakulam is already being touted as the next big thing in Tollywood. With several big banner films in her kitty and Arya 2 lined up for release, this Bengali babe who hails from Mumbai now plans to take it easy.
“I’ve been shooting for films back-to-back for the last 10 months. I have made a mark now, so I think I can slow down a bit and be a little more selective when it comes to signing films,” she says.
After her stint in Gladrags, Shraddha was flooded with ad film offers and corporate shows. But once she landed her first Tollywood role in Ramesh Raja’s Target, there was no looking back, she says. “Target was supposed to be my debut film. The release was delayed however, and Sidhu... hit the screens first.” Surely, Shraddha must thank her stars for the turn of fate as Sidhu proved to be quite a hit!
While she loves the stardom she enjoys in the city, Shraddha confesses, “Tollywood changed my life totally. I don’t belong to a star family nor am I former Miss India, yet I’ve been accepted by the audience and that is a great thing.”
Did the fact that she didn’t speak Telugu ever pose a threat to her career. “Never. On the contrary, everyone was extra helpful. Initially, I did have problems with the language, but then my assistants and make-up artistes helped me with the basics. Gradually, it got easier and now although I cannot converse fluently in Telugu, I can understand it pretty well. In fact, the audience have accepted me like one of their own and my role in Mantra 2 was widely appreciated,” she gushes.
Shraddha attributes her success to her supportive parents. “They have been by me all along. The only condition my father ever placed was that I complete my education before stepping into films,” says this journalism graduate.
While the Telugu audience welcomed her with open arms, the girl is yet to make Hyderabad her home. Currently shuttling between her hometown Mumbai, and “second home” Hyderabad, she says, “I don’t mind the the travelling one bit. I’m passionate about films and it has all been worth it,” says Shraddha.
Rubbishing rumours that claim she is looking for greener pastures in other film industries, especially in Mumbai, Shraddha quips, “I’m very comfortable here. In case a good offers comes along, I’ll consider doing a project or two, but I’m not actively auditioning for Bollywood films. I’ll take it as it comes.”

No Nag films for this year?

It is known news that Yuvasamrat Nagarjuna has a sentiment to release his films in the month of December. He has a strong belief that all his films released in December will be big hits.

After the film king was released in December there was news that he has signed up for a film with a new director and the movie will be hitting the floors in the month of May.

However, all that seems to be just a buzz as recently Nag was said to be sharing his thoughts and he mentioned that he has not been able to get even one good story so as of now, there is no movie that he has actually signed on.

This would mean that Nag fans have to be disappointed as they were all pumped up after the super success of his ‘King’.

Kids are not so safe at home

The tragic death of Mike Tyson’s four-year-old daughter Exodus, who lost her life due to a freak accident at home, might have come as a shocker to parents across the world. But city doctors point out that this is no isolated case.

Statistics show that “a majority of child accidents across the world happen while children are ‘safe at home.’ And it’s no different in our city either, where many of these accidents have proved to be fatal. children in the age group of four and eight are the most vulnerable as they are too young to be left alone, and too old to be under constant supervision.

Thankfully, young parents in urban India are finally waking up to the importance of child safety at home and warming up to the once-alien concept of baby proofing homes. Paediatricians too are doing their bit by educating new parents who approach them with doubts.

Dr Krishna Swarup Reddy, paediatrician, Apollo Hospitals says, “whenever parents come to us for a check-up, we insist on them adopting safety measures around the house to prevent tragedies. One will be surprised at how frequently accidents occur at home. Your toddler is sleeping and you cushion him/her with extra pillows thinking you can slip away for two minutes. That’s all it takes for things to go wrong.”

The significance of accident prevention involving children can never be emphasised enough, believes Dr Nageshwar Rao, chief paediatric cardiologist, Care Hospital. Recollecting a recent case, he says, “There was a case of a baby who was thirsty. With no one to give her water, she drank kerosene from a jar. She was rushed to the hospital after developing a condition we call chemical pneumonia. She was critical and had to be put on a ventilator to help her breathe. Thankfully she survived the worst. Such accidents occur out of sheer carelessness.”

Baby-proofing, though hitherto approached in a casual, haphazard manner, if at all, is now becoming de-rigeur with young, aware parents planning a secure home for their child.

Amita Raj, architect, says, “Previously, the concept of child-proofing the house didn’t exist. But it’s changing now. basic safety measures like furniture with rounded edges, grills with smaller gaps etc., are being followed keenly.” Besides vigilance, Dr Rao says that an important step in preventing accidents is that “children have to be made to understand that certain things are not to be handled or had. Toddlers are quite smart and if emphasised upon, they are bound to obey rules and regulations.”

Mom Speak
Namrata Bhattacharya, employee with an NGO

Outside, we’re on guard thinking accidents can happen but at home we tend to relax and that’s where things go wrong. I have rounded off all furniture edges and cleared everything within my son’s reach so that he isn’t harmed in any way.

Anju Nitin Rajan, homemaker

every room in the house has to be made safe for the child. We now have basic safety measures like protective flaps on switch-boards in place. We also removed glass-topped tables from the house. But still, toddlers can be a handful. Only yesterday I saw my son chewing on a glass bangle. keeping things out of a toddler’s reach is important.

Dr Niharika Nath, Dentist

I have a toddler and know what it means when they say kids can be a handful. It’s not possible to keep an eye on him every second, so baby-proofing the house was definitely our priority. We placed latches out of reach, kept wires out of the way and followed other safety measures that can be taken.

courtesy : deccan chronicle

Chiru Fans To Fight Among Themselves?

Though elections are over, megastar Chiranjeevi has got lots of challenges ahead. This time, it could be from his fans only. Incidentally, during the election time, there was also a buzz that many of Chiru’s fans were seeing holding opposition party flags and this happened in Tirupati and Palakollu alike.

Now, the time has come when the Chiru fans will be seen during the arrival of the film ‘Magadheera’ and they might want to tie the banners. However given their political differences, it could spark new tensions between themselves so this will be another challenge for Chiru.

Many are predicting this and it has to be seen how tranquility will be maintained among Chiru fans now.

Rare plants to adorn Rock Garden

Very soon, one will be spared of the trouble of travelling all the way to Golconda Fort to have a glimpse of Baobab tree.

Buddha Purnima Project of HMDA is planning to introduce into the Sanjeevaiah Park, a host of Baobabs sharing their genus with the 700-year-old ‘Haathion ka Jhaad’ (Adansonia digitata) near Golconda Fort. Of the eight existing species, six have already been acquired to be part of the Rock Garden being developed inside the park.


“We have acquired Baobabs as part of our collection of Pachycauls in the rock garden. They include, apart from digitata, grandidieri, madagascariensis , perrieri, fony, and za. Most of them originate from Madagascar Island while digitata belongs to Africa. We are trying to bring the missing two, gibbosa from Australia and suarezensis from Madagascar, which are very rare. All belong to Adansonia genus, better known as baobab,” informed an official from BPP. Pachycauls, also known as caudex, are the desert succulents, typified by thick, swollen stem and leafless, short branches.
Aura

They promise special aura to the rock garden by enhancing the simulated look of desert. “Apart from Baobabs, we brought other such kinds including Pachira, Brachychiton, Cochlospermum and Bombax, among others. Another attraction will be Lithophytes, ficuses stemming from the rocks,” informed the official.

The eight-acre rock garden, the one of its kind in the whole of South India, will have 600 species of plants. About 400, mainly constituting cacti and succulents, have already been acquired and planted.

Pachypodium, Firmiana colorata, Hura crepitans, Operculicarya, Commiphora and Boswellia are some other interesting pachycauls. They all came from plant collectors at Delhi and Bangalore, who obtain seeds from Bangkok’s famous plant market Chatuchak, and propagate them.

“We found a patch of natural rocky terrain upon scouting the park for theme-park locations. We immediately decided to have a rock garden there. For six months, we have been collecting various species of flora, indigenous and exotic, for it. The garden is likely to be inaugurated in a month,” informed the official.

Moonlight Garden, with theme colour as white and Nandanavanam, the garden of sacred plants are the other attractions being developed in the park.