INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE, MOVIES : The 12th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2022 (BISFF): Short films, big impact

With 250 short films selected from over 90 countries, the ongoing Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2022 offers two new categories on women-centric movies, and disabilities.

Brevity, experimentation and different varieties of storytelling in the visual medium often grips the audience quicker. Bengalureans are watching some of the best films in the 12th edition of the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) which will continue till August 14.

The festival is dedicated to master filmmaker Satyajit Ray to celebrate the Oscar-winning director’s birth centenary, as the poster of Pather Panchali pays homage to his legacy. More than 3,000 submissions poured in for the prestigious festival from across 90 countries, of which around 250 films have been shortlisted. Among the directors, 23 per cent are women.

The platform has been coveted by young and amateur filmmakers to make a mark in the hearts and minds of discerning audiences, and more importantly, mingle with the achievers of the field, to absorb constructive criticism and feedback. BISFF has come a long way in identifying and nurturing young and talented filmmakers. “It’s been a good reception.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL RECORD BREAKER: SPORTS, AQUATICS: Dhinidhi Desinghu 12-year-Old Bengaluru’s Little Swimming Champ Breaks 13-year-old Swimming Record

Bengaluru’s Dhinidhi Desinghu has been making waves in the swimming circuit. The 12-year-old rose to prominence last year when she set national records in the 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley at the Junior and Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championship.

This year, she has kept up her gold-winning performances, bagging three gold medals in the Karnataka Mini Olympics in May and following it up with three more golds at the Karnataka Junior and Sub-Junior Aquatic Championship, including a recording-breaking effort in 100m freestyle (59.64 seconds) that rewrote a 13-year-old record.

The youngster has the tough task of balancing her academics and swimming commitments. “Since school timings have changed after the easing of the pandemic restrictions, it is a bit more stressful and my academic workload has increased since the previous year. But I am able to cope,” says Dhinidhi, a Grade 7 student at Kendriya Vidyalaya DRDO in CV Raman Nagar.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY: Women Members of Kanara Entrepreneurs (KE) Collaborate, Celebrate at 2nd Meet

The women members of Kanara Entrepreneurs (KE) gathered for their second meet on July 22 at Hotel Iris, to celebrate the central theme of the evening – Collaboration.

Following the KE prayers led by lead member, Reshma Saldanha, Leena Lobo, mentor of the KE women entrepreneurs group aptly set the tone for the evening by lauding the members present for being bold and beautiful – for having the courage to take on the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship and for being beautiful inside out through all their relationships and phases in life.

Inspired by the welcome note and encouragement to participate whole heartedly in the meets, KE member, Laveena D’Souza facilitated an enjoyable ice breaker helping everyone get to know each other better by adding a short but memorable professional adjective to their names. It was gratifying for members to have their businesses and work seen, heard and acknowledged.

The elegant emcee for the evening, KE member Ranjeeta Greta Chatterjee deftly led to the guest speaker, Cherian Kuruvilla introduce by KE member, Uma Maheshwari. With over 4 decades of corporate experience and as an eminent coach and business mentor, Cherian succinctly shared powerful insights on the idea of #WeCommerce and Collaboration.

With active audience input, Cherian, delivered key collaborative ideas through mnemonics and prompts. He stressed on the importance of adjusting, adapting and leveraging each other’s strengths to successfully collaborate. Interestingly, he broke down the word, ‘Collaborate’ to include a host of values within it:

KE member, Manish Michael of Siel Blu India and his team energized the gathering with a demo of their adaptive fitness session using balloons as the prop of the day. Activities involved building lung capacity from blowing up the balloon, core strength, dexterity and balance through effective fun that hardly felt like exercise.

The table activity of the evening was prompted by an impromptu collaborative fun project that had initiated in the KE women entrepreneurs WhatsApp group a few weeks prior. The women members came out in high spirits and a giving attitude to offer their services to support a fellow member’s wistful desire for a beautiful wedding. KE member, Luvena Rangel, the bride in question, skilfully facilitated the ideation to develop a project using the resident businesses at every tables and present their business proposals. Projects that surfaced included an integrated event solution, a stress-free bridal package, a project bearing the initials of the businesses involved as well as one which focused on mental wellness.

Ranjeeta took the next few moments to highlight the achievements of the women members:

• Janice Pearl D’souza – Accredited as a professional facilitator with BYLD
• Luvena Rangel – Appointed as India chair for communication and advocacy for G100
• Vilina Sequeira – Honoured by Barkur Association of Bangalore for her contribution in recruitment in the hospitality industry.

Additionally, Laveena D’Souza was also acknowledged with a special prize to highlight her contribution towards the meet as the Best Networker Award.

The concluding bit on the agenda was a moment of warmth and gratitude where many women members took the opportunity to express their thanks to other members for both business leads and a listening ear. It is heart-warming to state here that the ripples of those shared words are echoing in the Women Entrepreneurs WhatsApp group even now.

The evening drew to a well-timed end with Leena’s closing message urging bonding and inviting more women to join KE. The strong ask for better participation from members in future events also made a resonant impact.

Needless to say, Friday evening was completed with a thorough celebration of collaboration with KE women entrepreneurs – a streamlined and focused agenda put together by the organizing committee that was well received and much appreciated

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: New Book ‘Vasane’ by Indu Antony takes the Reader on an Olfactory Journey of Bengaluru Through the Nose.

City-based artist and author Indu Antony’s book Vasané, takes readers on an olfactory journey of Bengaluru.

You  must have heard that scents are more closely linked to our memories than pictures or sounds. The smell of the filter coffee you shared with your friends after an exhausting lecture, remembering the perfume your first love interest wore, or remembering home every time you smell your mother’s signature dish being cooked, all trigger memories. It’s not only our fondest memories that are drenched by smells, but so is our city.

In her book Vasané (smell in Kannada), artist and author Indu Antony captures the many smells that make up the city of Bengaluru.

“Every city has its distinct smell. Mumbai, Goa, all these cities have smells that characterise them, but with Bengaluru, there are so many smells that make up this city,” says Antony about her 70-page book. “Because of Covid, our sense of smell was lost. Not just by those who had it, but wearing masks also restricted our ability to smell things around us,” says the author.

According to Antony, this project published by Mazhi Books, connects with the city beyond the visual, about associating smells with the city. She collaborated with Avinandan, a perfumer whose family business, Sathyanarayana Traders, is a wholesale retailer of sandal, oud, and musk perfumes. Together, the duo created 12 unique smells in 1 ml bottles each, which readers get with the book, so that they can apply them to the pages and experience the city through the olfactory sense.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORDS: MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT / ARTS & CULTURE : Musician Vanil Veigas Receives Prestigious International Grammy Award

Vanil Veigas, a musician from Mangaluru, received the prestigious Grammy Award.

Vanil is a resident of Permannur. The award was announced in April earlier this year.

He had won the Grammy for the album song ‘Divine Tides’ by Ricky Kej. The song was produced during the pandemic.

Along with Vanil Veigas, PA Deepa also won the award.

Vanil was the musician for the ‘Divine Tides’. Since 15 years, Vanil has been working with Ricky Kej on movie soundtracks, over 3,000 commercials, and 16 studio albums which include 3 Grammy-winning albums.

Vanil was born in Permannur to Isaac Veigas and Daisy Pereira. He is the brother of well-known Konkani actor-director Nellu Permannur. He is married to Diana D’Silva and they have a daughter, Alline Veigas, who is also learning music at a young age.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS, ARTS & DANCE: Mangalorean Renessa Walder to Represent Oman at World Hip Hop Dance Championship in USA

Nine dancers from Oman will represent the country at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship – Varsity Division – in Phoenix in the southwestern US state of Arizona from August 6 to 13.

Over 4,000 of the world’s best dancers are expected to participate in World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2022 which is one of the most celebrated and toughest dance competitions in the world, and also called the ‘Olympics of Dance’. Mangalurean Renessa Walder is one among them.

Renessa is the eldest daughter of Ajith and Naina Walder, currently studying in Grade X at the Indian School, Al Wadi Kabir in Muscat, Oman.

Ajith Walder is a well-known community leader and the former president of MCCP, Muscat – Oman. He has his roots originated in Loretto-Bantwal.

The other eight in the group are Rishab Gupta, Shrika Shaji, Divit Kashyap, Sneha Buddhia, Rezwin Geordi, Leando Rayner, Anaida Shokrekhoda, Vaidehi Rastogi and and Nia Bailwad. The team is called ‘The Arab Teens’. The team’s performance at the competition will be choreographed by Prasanth Shinde, while Shiv Gupta and Nadeem al Balushi are directors of the group.

Tejas Udani Gupta, team leader of Arab Teens said that theirs is the only team from the Gulf to be at the prestigious event for a two minute slot.

The calibre and prowess of Renessa in dance landed her a spot in the World Hip Hop Dance Championship. Her innate multi-faceted talent was showcased at a tender age of 6 and her various awards winnings speaks for herself. Renessa’s most prestigious award is the ‘Student of the year 2020’ from RADA Dance Academy-Mumbai. She has been endorsed by all who got a glimpse of her amazing talent, as the one who could storm the dance industry.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SPORTS, KHO-KHO: University of Mysore Wins the ‘All India Inter-University Women’s Kho-Kho Championship 2021-22’

University of Mysore won their maiden title by beating Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, in the final by 3 points (10-7), in the All India Inter-University Women’s Kho-Kho Championships 2021-22, conducted by University of Mysore at the University Gymnasium Indoor Hall here on Thursday.

Excellent play by K.R. Tejaswini for University of Mysore who displayed excellent dodging skills and played for 8 minutes in the first innings and 2.30m in the second innings, paved the way for the University’s maiden triumph.

B. Chaitra (5.20m and 1 point) and L. Monika (7 points) also played well. Neeta Devi (1.50m, 3.30m and one point) played well for the loser Lovely Professional University.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL RECORDS: KARNATAKA RECORDS: ARTS, CULTURE & PAGEANTS: 21-year-old Sini Shetty Crowned ‘Femina Miss India World 2022’

Sini Shetty from Karnataka was on Sunday announced the winner of Femina Miss India World 2022 title at the grand finale of VLCC Femina Miss India here.

At the ceremony, hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre, Rajasthan’s Rubal Shekhawat emerged as Femina Miss India 2022 first runner-up and Shinata Chauhan from Uttar Pradesh was named Femina Miss India 2022 second runner-up.

Actors Neha Dhupia, Dino Morea and Malaika Arora, designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, choreographer Shiamak Davar and former cricketer Mithali Raj were part of the jury panel for the evening.

The pageant in its hybrid format had launched a nationwide hunt to find prospective talents from all corners of the country through virtual auditions. The extensive scouting drive and subsequent interview rounds culminated with the shortlisted selection of 31 state winners, a note from the organisers stated.

“These shortlisted finalists arrived in Mumbai and underwent rigorous training and grooming sessions, mentored by the best in the industry, to compete for the coveted Femina Miss India World 2022,” the note further read.

source/contents: thehindu.com (headline edited0

NATIONAL RECORDS: KARNATAKA, SPORTS, AQUATICS: 12- year-old Girl Alyssa S Rego Bags 3 Medals (Gold & 2 Silver) in the National Swimming Competition at ’38th Sub Junior National Aquatic Championship’, Rajkot, Gujarat

Alyssa Sweedal Rego clinched gold in the 100m freestyle event.

Twelve-year-old Alyssa Sweedal Rego from Mangaluru has won a gold and two silver medals in the individual swimming events at the 38 th Sub Junior National Aquatic Championship held in Rajkot between June 24 and June 26.

Ms. Rego, a Class 6 student from Ladyhill English Primary School, clinched gold in the 100 metre freestyle event in which she clocked 1:07.81 minutes. She won a silver medal each in 50 metre butterfly and 200 metre freestyle events respectively. She was also part of the Karnataka team that secured bronze in the 4X50 medley relay event.

This is the second national event that Ms. Rego has participated. It was her performance in the individual and team events at the state level swimming competition in Belagavi between May 26 and 29 that led to her selection for the national event in Rajkot.

The young Ms. Rego started swimming at the age of three, when she accompanied her brother Alaister Samuel Rego, a Class 10 student from St. Aloysius School and a national level swimmer, to the swimming pool. The two are being trained by Lokraj Vitla of We One Aqua Centre at the St. Aloysius Swimming Pool.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL RECORDS: MIDDLE EAST, UAE : ARTS, CULTURE & PAGEANTS: Karnataka’s Dechamma Poonacha Wins Mrs. Fitness Queen at Mrs. UAE International at the Radisson Red, Dubai

Dechamma Poonacha(Dechamma A.P) has won the Mrs Fitness Queen Title at Mrs UAE International by ‘Being Muskaan’, a leading UAE based brand launched by Meena Asrani, focused towards women empowerment.

The contest was held on June 26th at Radisson Red, Dubai Silicon Oasis and was open to all nationalities residing in UAE.

Mrs. Dechamma is currently a home maker. She is a former student of Rotary English Medium School Moodbidri and also was the student of the first batch. 

She further continued her high school an PU education at Jain highschool and PU college Moodbidri.

She pursued her graduation at Sri Bhuvanendra College Karkala where she won Miss. Bhuvanendra in 1997 and Miss. Jaycee Kulyadi queen, Karlala in 1998.

She was born in Coorg but was raised in Moodbidri.

source/content: english.varthabharati.in (headline edited)