RedMagazine - April-May-2017 by RED MAGAZINE

` 50/APRIL - MAY 2017

HYDERABAD

GENX EVE

PADMA LAGADAPATI

She may be at par with interior ace designers, but helps the deprived

REVIEWS

NEW THRESHOLDS

JAHANPANAH RULERS

Brothers draped in love and bound by traditions

TRADE

TAKSH TREAT

Passion on platter, love on the menu

Cross them to unravel what is in the store, here is the road map

FOCUS

TRENDSETTER Sudha proves marriage is no impediment

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Red Life The graduates elected him to represent them in the State Council and of course, they chose the best. All eyes are now on MLC Madhav who lives by his oath.

38 Red Feature Films may be all about entertainment and enjoyment. But only those who are in the industry know the risks involved. We speak to the key distributors to ﬁnd out how they are facing the day to day challenges.

43 Red Trade Panache presents a complete fashion wardrobe that complements every facet of your personality whether you are at work, relaxed or at a party. A one-stop destination for men’s wear, this chic store tends to champion style and fashion.

Red Haute With most of his films being declared as box office hits, his name suffixes victory. On the eve of completion of his 31 years in filmdom, actor Venkatesh talks about his recently released Guru and reects on his journey.

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Red Focus Building a house for his family is a dream any man nurses. Srinvas Vinay Babu of Terracon tells us how his ﬁrm helps people concretise their dreams.

CRAFTS SHOW, A BIG DRAW The Crafts Council of Andhra Pradesh organised a 2-day exhibition Aakruthi Vastra Visakhapatnam-2017 at The Gateway Hotel to support the craftsmen. The exhibition was inaugurated by Chandralekha Mukherjee, DRM of Waltair Division of East Coast Railways. With 38 stalls and four table spaces for local artisans and weavers, the exhibition saw a footfall of nearly 900 guests. Shobhana Smriti, wife of the collector Pravin Kumar and Sandhya Thakre, wife of Rear Admiral K.O.Thakare were the special invitees.

RAKUL LAUNCHES F45 Actress Rakul Preet Singh’s love for fitness is known to all. Driven by that passion, she took up the franchise of the Australian fitness chain F45 and opened the first branch in Hyderabad. Encouraged by the response, she acquired another franchise of the chain and opened the second branch in Daspalla Hills, above Varun Nexa showroom. Speaking about her love for the city, she said, “Vizag has always been close to my heart. I love everything about this place.” Actors Rana and Akhil Akkineni joined her at the launch of the gym and wished her good luck for the new innings.

WAY TO GO, MAAHI! Maahi Satsangi Sattiraju, an LKG student of Ralla Bella International School, beat all the national ﬁnalists from different states in the Rhymes World Cup National Finals held in Bengaluru. She is selected for the International Title Trophy to be held on 11th June 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This contest is held at different countries only for the kids under the age of six. The children need to recite one to two rhymes in a time frame of 120 seconds or two minutes. The contestants are judged on the basis of their presentation skills, voice modulation and pronunciation. red | april 2017 | 16

GRADUATION CEREMONY AT GREENDALE Greendale organised a Graduation Day ceremony for its UKG students. The tiny tots of Nursery and LKG gave a beﬁtting farewell to their seniors. It was a heartening to see the children as they marched wearing graduation caps and gowns. The event started with a prayer followed by a speech from the Chairman Dr.S.Ravindra and Executive Director Divya Das. The certiﬁcates were conferred to the graduates by the school Correspondent Dr.S.Vijaya Ravindra. Special invitees Jeeja Valsaraj and Vani Murali. Principal P.Mercy Nelson read the annual report. Various cultural programmes were also held.

A SUNNY GESTURE BY RTI 77 Round Table India, under its permanent project Freedom Through Education has built 5377 classrooms, impacting 59 lakh children. Its chapter – Vizag Round Table 77 built 9 schools in the district. In tie-up with Fullerton India Credit Company, the club installed a 2-KW solar power plant at the Vasantha Bala Vidyodaya High School. Tr.Sandeep Choudhari-Chairman Area IX and Tr Shrawan Somani-Chairman Vizag Round Table 77 inaugurated it.

MANYATA INAUGURATED Manyata Boutique was recently inaugurated by Manasi Krishna, Nitya Aradhana and Bhagath Sai, children of the store owners, Teja Swaroopa and Srilatha. This store is located at MVP. “We chose the name Manyata because as per Hindu terminology, it means respect. We deal with exquisite saris and never-seen-before dress materials. We customise blouses, according to the client requirements and give that special touch to their dresses. We even have an in-house tailor, who efﬁciently guides the customers. He can bail them out of their sartorial dilemmas,” said Srilatha. red | april 2017 | 18

TIME TO SAVOUR Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach has revamped the menu of its in-house restaurant Zaffran by introducing the North West Frontier cuisine, the ﬁrst of its kind offering in the state. Various dishes and the spices that go with them were displayed in an unconventional way to give a look-feel-smell experience to the guests. The customers will now receive the menu on a tablet; they can scroll through and choose their preferences. Abhishek Pani, F&B Manager, said, “We wanted to create a royal experience for the guests and are looking forward to their reactions on this fresh concept.”

NOVOTEL JOINS EARTH HOUR 2017 Novotel Varun Beach and Bheemili Resort by Novotel pledged their support against climate change by participating in #switchoff drive. “I pledge” stickers were given to to the guests and the staff. Employees persuaded the guests to pledge their support on the website, via Novotel’s WEB corner on the MAC. The hotel encouraged switching off non-essential lights and hosted candle light dinners. The participating restaurants were Zaffran, Iniﬁnty, Vue bar and The Square from NVVB. Bheemili resort saw Teppanyaki and The Square’s participation. Shikhar Dhawan, ace cricketer, was seen promoting this cause.

FACES TOUCHES THE RIGHT CHORD Faces, The Theatre Club, under the Manthan Street Play Festival, presented a street-play ‘Dhandhe Ki Gudia’ on forced prostitution and trafﬁcking at YMCA. 21 young artistes created fantastic human formations, enthralling the audience. The club’s Vice-President Yogesh G crafted the storyline and Dhanush wrote the dialogues. The play was directed by the club's President Vivek Ranjan and students of the Gitam University. The live stream of the play received a whopping 1.5k views. Encouraged by the overwhelming response, Faces is now planning to open a new chapter in the street plays in the city.

GATEWAY GOES DHABHA WAY To salute the spirit of the traditional dhabas, the Gateway Hotel hosted a nine-day Dhaba Ka Khana food festival at its All Day Dining Restaurant-GAD for dinner. The foodies got a chance to savour various mouth watering and aromatic delicacies that one rarely gets a chance to ﬁnd. Some of the favourites that made to the menu were Chilly Pudina Fish, Chatpata Paneer, Bhuna Gosht, Dhaba Murgh, Achari Vegetables, Bharwan Aloo, Dal Fry, different varities of Rotis, Dosas and desserts along with unlimited beverages. The dishes were prepared using authentic ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.

NOBLE CAUSE BY red Mr.Chandu Tippala, CMD, red magazine, couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have chosen a better movie than Katamarayadu, as the 6th of the series of charity screenings he has taken up under the project red on a mission. The Pawan Kalyan-starrer was shown in association with Big C, Kanthi Pictures, KVR Estates, South India Shopping Mall, Swathi Promoters Pvt Ltd, MVR Mall, Sri Gokul Viswa, Shriram Properties, SK Event Makers and Terracon Projects. The charity endeavour was aimed to raise funds to support physically challenged children. Prominently seen at the show were M.Krishna Reddy, Chairman of Swathi Promoters, Sandeep, CMD of SK Event Makers, Vishwanath, CMD of Sri Gokul Viswa, Sarada Ganta, wife of HRD Minister Ganta Srinivas Rao, Soora Reddy, CMD of KVR Estates, Asha Jasti, Director of SUN College, Ganesh Babu, Inox Unit Head Beach Road, Raju, MD, G.K.Printers besides others. Of course, the gathering could not be complete without the regular movie-buffs Uday, Deepa Kodali, Ajay and Swetha, Sneha and Saurav beside many others.

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SATISH HEADS THE VIZAG 5AM CLUB

6TH SCREENING TO A BIG HIT red magazine organised a special morning show to showcase Pawan Kalyan’s much awaited film Katamarayadu at INOX Vizag. The proceeds of the show will be used for the benefit of the physically disabled children. City’s who’s who were in full attendance to watch the superstar in action and be a part of this noble cause. It is relevant to recall here that the proceeds of the previous 5 screenings were used to provide 66 wheelchairs to the differently abled children. “The successful screening of the earlier movies further motivated us to take up more activities of this kind to fulfil our obligation towards the society,” said Mr. Chandu Tippala, CMD, red magazine.

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The Vizag 5 AM Club members have been taking their daily health walks under the leadership of K.V.T.Ramesh, Executive Director, BNI, who oated the concept. But now the club with 100 plus members formalised its existence, electing a governing body. Privilege of being the club’s ﬁrst President went to Satish.K, MD, F9 Technologies (P) Ltd. Amith (Vice President) Amith, Ashwin (Secretary), Nivas Varma (Joint Secretary) and Ramya (Treasurer) and members too took oath. T.Ravi Kumar Murthy, DCP was the chief guest and Rana Uppalapati, Skating star and renowned businessman, and Poonam Shah Srinath, Founder of Teeny-Boppers were the guests of honour.

BUNNY OPENS D-STUDIO Dance master Bunny’s D-Studio was inaugurated by M.Parasu Rama Raju, a well known BJP leader and Member of Airport Advisory Committee. Choreographer Bunny, has taken part in many reality shows, movie audio functions, besides organising birthday and Sangeet parties and corporate events and jdged many dance contests. “We offer yoga, Zumba and dance classes in the morning and music, drawing and dance classes in the evening. Western, hip hop, contemporary, salsa, Bollywood, lyrical, folk and classical are the genres we offer,” says Bunny. SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA If there is one thing that is consistent about Vizag, it is the lifestyle exhibitions that keep happening at very regular intervals. The recent one to grab the eyeballs was the Styles N Weaves, the 3-day exhibition organised by R.Manjulatha of My Identity Events, at Novotel. As many as 40 stalls showcased handloom, gota patti, banarasi, ikkat saris, casual and semi-casual dresses, party wear collection, accessories like earrings, bracelets, clutches, handbags, footwear, pearly jewellery, home decorative items to name a few. Manju said, “With a footfall of 3000 customers in three days, I can say that the exhibition received tremendous response.”

JCI GESTURES JCI Vizag distributed 200 clay bowls at YMCA, Central Park and Health Arena as a part of their summer project- CareTogether We Can Make A Difference. The measure was to keep water for birds during the summer. The chief sponsor for the event was The Vizag 5AM Club. JC Chandra Mohan Pasari is the Project Chairperson. Yet another initiative of JC Chandra Mohan was celebrating Holi with 140 special children of Hidden Sprouts in Lawson’s Bay Colony. JCI members distributed chocolates, activity books and refreshments to the inmates. red | april 2017 | 26

UGADI PURASKARAM FOR KRISHNA REDDY The state government honoured Krishna Reddy, Chairman of Swathi Promoters by bestowing him with Ugadi Prathibha Puraskaram. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu gave away the award to Reddy at a function organised by the Department of Language and Culture. Reddy was selected for the prestigious award for his welfare activities and the yeoman service he is rendering in various ﬁelds. Reddy said that he was particularly grateful to Chandrababu Naidu for his guidance and support. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad, and Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad, Dr.M.V.V.S. Murthi and Swathi Promoters MD Ramesh Reddy were present at the event.

RAMESH B’DAY CELEBRATED Managing Director of Swathi Promoters, Ramesh Reddy had a memorable birthday, recently, when the entire staff of the company came together to greet him. Surprising their boss not only with ower bouquets and garlands, Swathi staff hosted a party, serving delicious dishes. Reciprocating their warmth, Ramesh hosted a scrumptious dinner for them in the evening. The highlight of the celebration was the release of the oating lanterns by the revellers. An overwhelmed Ramesh thanked the staff and said that he was touched by their gesture.

HOLI KA TADKA Maheshwari Mahila Samiti organised a cultural event to celebrate International Women’s Day and Holi at Fortune Sree Kenya Hotel. Fun games like Holi themed tambola, and dances enthralled the guests. Abha Jhawar, President, said, “A lot of effort went in selecting the gifts, attires and the games. I am glad that all the ladies had a gala time. The entire credit goes to the hard work and dedication of the team.” Alka Jaju was bestowed with the ‘Woman of The Year’ award. The event concluded with a lavish feast. red | april 2017 | 28

SILK AIR HOLDS SPECIAL SCREENING SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, organised an event at Inox CMR Central for Visakhapatnam Trade and Business partners on 10th March 2017. This was taken up to celebrate its association with Dharma productions for the ﬁlm Badrinath Ki Dulhania. The movie starring Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan hit the screens on the same day. Alias’s character in the movie goes through a transformation in Singapore where the story of her involvement with SilkAir unfolds. James Tan, Manager of SilkAir, Visakhapatnam, said that they were happy to host a special screening of the movie to share the joy of being associated with the ﬁrst Bollywood movie, featuring SilkAir.

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EXQUISITE LAUNCH OF TRENDY STUDIO First of its kind, Trendy Studio was inaugurated by Prem Mirpuri of Eastern Art Museum and Ameet Mirpuri of Design Studio. Located in Maddilapalem, this store deals with imported tiles and sanitary, designer mirrors, nitco tiles, oyster bath tubs, steam bath and glass partitions, etc. Ar.S.L.N.Sastry, Chairman of Indian Institute of Architects was the chief guest. S.Ravindra, President of Visakha Tiles and Sanitary Merchants Association lighted the traditional lamp. The owners, V.Kalyan and Badri Prasad were played the perfect hosts.

JCI SMART VIZAG INSTALLED JCI Vizag Port City recently established a new chapter JCI Vizag Smart with Rajesh Babu Guntu as the President at the Park Hotel. The chief guest for the ceremony was M.Shekhar Babu, JC Zone PresidentIV. M.Krishna Reddy, CMD of Swathi Promoters and Chandu Tippala, CMD of red magazine were the guests of honour. Special invitees for the occasion were JC HGF PS Jeevan Nath, Zone Vice-President Region-c and JCI SEN PMG Shankar, National Director-G&D. The event concluded with a lavish spread of delicacies.

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F & LOC S K OK

REVIEW

rom being a professional makeup artist and hair stylist, Sumeera Sharma decided to showcase her talent and started a unisex salon, Sumeera Makeup and Beauty Studio at Pandurangapuram. She says, “We offer makeup services for weddings, parties, portfolio shoots and every other occasion. The price of party makeup is from Rs.2,500 to Rs.5,000. The price range of any hairstyle is from Rs.500 to Rs.1,000. For the complete bridal package, the cost is Rs.18,000. We use famous brands like M.A.C., Bobbi Brown, besides others. We also provide a 20% discount for the bride and the groom in the pre-grooming session.” Sumeera has also taken up the franchisee of The Jawed Habib Salon to attract customers who are brand-savy and get trained staff from the chain. The services provided at this salon include haircuts, facials, waxing, threading, hair spa, treatment for hair fall, dandruff, etc. The price range of facials is from Rs.800 to Rs.3,500. The cost of haircut for babies and men

are Rs.250 and for ladies is Rs.400. The hair spa costs Rs.2,000 for one session. Hair straightening starts from Rs.5,000 and hair global colouring starts from Rs.1,500 (depending on the length). Products of O3, Keratin, Wella, Lotus, Beauty Yoga are offered on sale, as well.

Timings: 9:30am to 9:30pm Contact: 7036030111 (for makeup) 0891-2552388, 7997102030 (for Jawed Habib) red | april 2017 | 32

They have two spacious rooms for facials, one room for makeup and a separate space for manicure, pedicure and hair wash. At any given time, six people can sit at the same time for haircut. She adds, “The response has been great till date. We have repetitive customers. The word of mouth is spreading slowly.”

ALWAYS IN STYLE

REVIEW

ocated at Maddilapalem, besides Automotive, Trendy Studio-Imported Times & Sanitary Ware is sprawled over 1150 sq.ft. A unit of Ronsher Exims Private Ltd, this outlet deals in imported and domestic wall, oor, bath, kitchen, interior and exterior/elevation tiles, nitco tiles, CFS designer tiles, imported and domestic sanitary ware, Oyster branded units like steam bath, jacuzzi, sauna heater and steam generator, shower cabins, showers, glass partitions, imported designer wash basins, Ess Ess branded taps, imported LED mirrors and lots more. Their domestic brand associates are Nitco, Ceramic Fashion Studio, Oyster and Ess Ess. The owners, V.Kalyan and Badri Prasad say, “We finalised Trendy Studio as the name as we found it catchy and registers easily in the minds of the customer. We choose Maddilapalem as it is the heart of the city and our showroom faces NH-16. So, the store enjoys a good connectivity.” Turning their focus on the specialty of their outlet, they add, “We import sophisticated collection of vitrified, porcelain, ceramic and other kinds of tiles from Spain, Italy, China, etc. featuring original designs and materials that integrate beautifully with each distinctive product line. The lush finish and visual textures will breathe life into any environment. Being stain and water resistant, naturally robust against high humidity conditions, they are known for their longevity and easy maintenance. They keep your spaces elegant and bright for years to come. We also offer exceptional service in sales and services to bring joy and pride to builders, contractors, architects, home makers, etc.”

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Timings: 9:30am to 8:30pm Contact: 9849527566

ONE-STOP TRADE DESTINATION

REVIEW

onaxo Group is a multi dimensional international trading company diversiﬁed into various wings like garments and accessories, FMCG, agricultural products, imports and exports. Founder and CEO, Kalyan Reddy says,“Derived from the word ‘sonar’, this 6-letter sounds catchy. It incorporates the letter ‘x’ to create a unique brand.” The garment sector consists of men and women’s wear like t-shirts, shirts, jeans, trousers, coats, blazers, tops, innerwear, etc.; all of top-notch brands. The imported accessories available are caps, watches, belts, wallets, perfumes, cycles, shoes, etc. The price range of t-shirts is between Rs.200 and Rs.3,000. Shirts are available from Rs.600 to Rs.3,000. The cost of the trousers range between Rs.600 and Rs.4,500. The cost of the watches start from Rs.10,000 and go into lakhs and the wallets are available at a range between Rs.700 to Rs.3,000.

They are involved in the trading of FMCG products touching continents like Africa, Asia and Europe. They are engaged in the import and export of goods as per the client’s requirements. A team of certified experts efficiently manage the complexities of imported and exported goods from the process of documentation to addressing radical address contingencies, etc. In the agricultural sector, they export products like white tea, rice, wheat, basmati rice, onions, jellyfish, dry red chilli, capsicum, etc. across the world. The pricing range is subject to daily market scenarios. He adds, “We are now planning to start a new outlet in the city and expanding the textile showroom in AP and Telangana. We are providing franchisee opportunities and are also on the lookout for investors as well. We will be launching our online website www.sonaxoshoppy.com as well.”

Timings: 9:30am to 10:00pm Contact: 9010061395, 08912561395

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REVIEW

Eventful

Journey

onfused about how you are going to handle all the arrangements, the madness, the hypersensitive family members and the over-expectations of the guests? R-Crew Entertainments Company will put an end to all your woes. Established in 2015 and located in Madhavadhara, this leading event management company specialises in weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, etc. A dedicated and diligent team of 25 members essay such unmatched classiness that leaves your guests in awe. Owner Praveen Simhadri says, “R stands for Ramarao, my father. We aptly taglined it ‘Be a guest to your own event’. In addition to our core team, we have a group of 30 to 35 members exclusively for catering. We not only plan the

event, but also take care of all the works that go with it, from photography to decoration to catering to lighting to sound system. We turn each and every event into a grand affair that it stays etched in the mind of your guests.” They have successfully organised 22 to 25 events (small and big) till date. Praveen is planning to start new outlets at East and West Godavari districts. When asked what makes this company special from the others, he says, “For us, no event is too big or too small. Just tell us the budget. With sheer dedication and hard work, we will blend the desires of the client with our expertise and organise a remarkable and an unforgettable event.”

Timings: 9:00am to 9:00pm | Contact: 9951400555 red | april 2017 | 36

L fe

BORN TO By V. Sarada

“Yes, defying my father, I entered public life. Simply, there cannot be any other choice as I opened my eyes to the parents- the father who went underground during emergency and the mother who led an open protest against it.” says Madhav, setting the tone of the face-to-face that unveiled innumerable twists and turns of his political life. Whether he held a post or not, he has always been for the people and with the people. Pursuing welfare activities with zeal and zest, he created his own distinctive image, stepping out of his father’s gigantic shadow.

EXCERPTS Eventful Journey I was brought up amidst a urry of hectic activities, with my father inextricably steeped in politics and my mother single handedly supporting the family. Though she was working as a librarian at BVK College, she sent me to Vijnana Vihara, a residential school located at Gudilova. This school, run on RSS ideology, had adopted 30 surrounding villages and used to send us on tours to create awareness about various issues among the rural folk. I used

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Shoot by Dhana Vijay

his may sound anomalous, but here is a son who followed his father’s footsteps but not his advice. By winning North Andhra graduates’ constituency Mr.P.V.N.Madhav literally got into the shoes of his father veteran BJP leader and Ex-MLC Mr.P.V.Chalapati Rao. It is only beﬁtting to recall that the very illustrious Mr.Chalapati Rao represented the same constituency twice before NTR did away with the Council.

to lead those excursions. Later, I completed 10+2 in Sri Krishna Vidya Mandir. College Life I joined V.S. Krishna College to study B.Com because I loved the subject and also because that was the ground for very vibrant politics, which would help me to pick up political threads. Red Welcome I was greeted by the red ags on the college campus with two left wing organisations -Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) and Students Federation of India (SFI). I stepped into the students’ politics in 1993, with just three supporters holding Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) ag. However, we won the election and became the state

joint secretary ABVP. The Objective My intention was never only to raise voice against government policies and fight elections. I wanted to do things that were different and would benefit the students. My first achievement was to hold a free polytechnic and EAMCET training during the summer holidays. I organised a string of youth fests with specific themes like Vivek 93, YuvaKranthi (1994), Netaji’s Centenary (1996), Alluri Seetharamaraju’s centenary (1997). I held a brilliant academic record and I obtained ICWAI and MBA simultaneously. Caste & Campus I entered Andhra University, the hot bed of student’s politics. But to my dismay, I found it totally

caste-based and the student bodies were run by professors. Those who opposed this pattern were banned from the campus. Going against all these pre-set conditions, I contested as an ABVP panelist, carving out my own path. We lost the election but won many friends in the transaction. The Mumbai Call I had a dream to go full-edged into politics. To reach this goal, I joined Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, shifting base to Mumbai, under the guidance of Sri.Muralidhar Rao, now the National General Secretary of BJP and Sri.S.Gurumurthy, a renowned CA. Later, I joined Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, a Pramod Mahajan’s venture and rendered my services. Then I took up the study of Foreign Institutional Investors and its role in the stock market. Brand Khadi Khadi Village Industries Commission was the only organisation that was involved in Swadeshi activities which followed Gandhian principles. I was

part of the team that popularised Khadi products and brought them into the mainstream market. We roped in Indian Institute of Fashion Technology in this task. I was instrumental in brining two brands, Khadi and Sarodaya products. We held a series of Swadeshimelas across the country, under Centre for Bharatiya Marketing Development. The Return I moved back to Vizag in 2002 for three reasons - to be with my aging parents, to set up my own business and most importantly to give it back to the my own city. I joined BJYM to become the state Vice-President and State General Secretary and ﬁnally the National Secretary. One signiﬁcant activity I took up was ‘Chalo Kashmir’, during which we hoisted the national ag in Lal Chowk. I got arrested in Udhampur and faced lathi charge. After that I was given charge of Kerala where I got an opportunity to study how our people survived in the strong communist bastion and on a very

NAMING MY CAMPAIGN ‘MADHAV FOR MLC’, I DEVELOPED AN APP TO REACH PEOPLE AND HAVE A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT.

hostile ground. Though there wasn’t a single people’s representative of BJP, our men stood their ground. Their commitment and dedication are worth emulating. Yet another occurrence was Shahid Shraddanjali Yatra which took us to the Indo-China border, commemorating 50 years of China war. It was an inspiring journey. Spadework I started working in North constituency in Vizag. We knew we would not make it at the elections. Yet, I wanted to make a mark and invested my energy and time. I contested the 2009 elections. I lost polls but not the hope. Positive Attitude Though I wanted to contest 2014 Assembly elections, I was not given a seat. This upset my father more than me. But I was chosen as the Prasikshana Pramukh (training in-charge) of the state. I prepared efﬁcacious training modules and implemented them successfully. MLC Challenge Justice was delayed but not denied. I was asked to contest the graduates’ constituency. But I had very little time to prepare as the announcement came rather late and I had to cover 3 districts which was a herculean task. We had gone for rigorous enrollments in Vizag, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam. However, the welcome and jubilation to my candidature overwhelmed me. Added to that was the sympathy that I was not given a chance in the Assembly elections. Even TDP accepted me as their own because of my father’s good deeds. Reach & Teach I am greatly inspired by Narendra Modiji’s concept of digital India. Naming my campaign ‘Madhav for MLC’, I developed an app, which was given to selected volunteers in all the mandals. I provided a ‘missed call toll-free’ number on which the voter could give a missed call and I would be connected with him/her. It was the ﬁrst time that such a campaign was carried out. We also started a Google connect. Yes, many people are not well versed with the Internet. I wanted to teach them how to use new technology, as I reached them. I am lucky to garner the support of even ministers (both Union and state), MLAs and local leaders, who had campaigned for me.

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Vision I have very clear goals and well deﬁned objectives. I have seen highs and lows. I know for certain that all of us come with some talent or the other. My target is to explore those talents. For Vizag a) I feel we should explore the potential of North coastal Andhra and showcase it in proper light.

b) I want to arrest the ongoing brain drain from this place by generating enough employment opportunities for the local youth. c) Creating Brand Utthara Andhra, I wish to give boost to handicrafts, handlooms and food products. d) Art and culture of this region have to be showcased. Old temples have to be renovated. Railway Zone Our MP Dr.K.Hari Babu and Union Minister Mr.M.Venkaiah Naidu put in a lot of efforts for the creation of a special railway zone with Vizag as the headquarters. Railway Minister Mr.Suresh Prabhu too is doing his best. My interest in getting the region a separate railway goes back to my schooldays when I launched a letter campaign demanding to change the name of the station from Waltair to Visakhapatnam. It took place. The then Union Minister Mrs.Purandeswari, was impressed by the presentation I made and took me with her to the Chairman of the Railway Board. Hopefully it will be done soon.

“

STUDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF POLITICS, BUT SHOULD BE AWAY FROM IT.

Students in Politics My advice is - be aware of politics, but be away from it. This knowledge is imperative because it is politics that runs the nation. I strongly feel

POLITICAL MILESTONES

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they should not become tools in the hands of the politicians, nor should they work only for a political party. Else, they remain the followers. They should have their own ideology and take active part in welfare, social, sports and extra-curricular activities. Regret I remained a jack of all arts. I should have mastered at least one of them. We should identify and nurture our interests. Second thing I regret to date is I missed all those activities, in which people of that age are generally involved. I missed all the fun in befriending girls. They would look at me as a leader and used to keep their distance. I was inhibited. Role Model I am fascinated by Netaji’s history and Mahatma Gandhi - his personal life not his independence struggle. I am also inspired by Sri Alluri Sitarama Raju, who revolted against the Britishers. An Average Day There is no set pattern. I believe in que sera sera –what will be, will be. Except for a few people in high positions, politicians ﬁnd it difﬁcult to follow a set routine.

Sport Volleyball, kabaddi, kho-kho Attire Kurta Pyjama. I am traditional at heart Car I am using Sedan. I like Jeeps or SUVs Book Philosophical books, especially written by Ramana Maharshi and Osho

F A M I LY C O R N E R

HIS FAVOURITES

Quote Certain things in life have only beginning. Leaning is one of them. Movie Maya bazaar, Mutyala Muggu Actor SVR Director K.Viswanath, Bapu, Chandra Sekhar Yeleti, Chanti Addala Song Patriotic songs. Aye mere watan ke logon by Lata Mangeshkar Place Tanjore. I wonder why it is not showcased properly Hangout in Vizag Beach opposite YMCA Food I am a foodie but right now I enjoy simple vegetarian food Colour Blue

‘HE IS SELFLESS’

‘AN UNDERSTANDING SON’

I did advise him not to come anywhere near politics which had become murky and tough, as I didn’t want him to go through what I had gone through. This leaves no space for personal life. Till he went to college, I didn’t even know what course he was pursuing. The entire household was run by my wife. But I also understand his passion for politics because as the saying goes – “What is the son, but an extension of the father?” Once he entered the arena, there was certainly no way stopping him and to my great delight all these years he served without any strings attached. I urge him to keep the interest of the underprivileged at the heart and work for their welfare. He has an edge over me as he is ﬁnancially better off compared to me. -- Chalapathi Rao, Father

We faced hardships and penury, with my husband quitting a stable job to take the political plunge. As I was the only bread-earner I could not give my full attention to the children. Hence, I sent Madhav to a residential school. He was a quiet boy and never gave me any trouble. Later, I advised him not to get married if he was keen on politics. But he wanted to get married and be a politician too. To be fair to my daughter-in-law, we told her about his intentions even before the marriage and left the decision to them. I am happy that like his father, he makes a difference to the lives of the deprived poor. He is very understanding and knows his responsibilities. –-- Anuradha, Mother

‘HE IS ALWAYS PLEASANT’ It has been a beautiful journey of 11-years with Madhav. As I come from a trade family, I was unfamiliar with the political atmosphere. He helped me settle in the new environs. I was so inuenced by his activities that I even canvassed for him. He is very amiable and never do you see a frown on his brow or anger in his face. Meet him any time of the day, his mood remains the same. He is not the one to rest on his laurels. If he is praised for an accomplishment, he takes it as an incentive and says “I have to live up to their expectations, don’t I?” He is an excellent father to my two boys Keyurabhiram and Krishna Somardhama. He is too soft on them and disciplining them falls to my lot. --Madhuri, Wife

& S E N U T S R K O S I F R Y A D D E I T R A F L U C L CA

t is a proven fact that progress always involves risks. Perils become

all the more pronounced and hard-hitting in the tinsel world, where

mega stars, big bucks and high stakes are involved. All that glitz and

glamour notwithstanding, people whose fortunes are linked with this field live on the edge. Irrespective of the roles they play, producers, directors, actors, technicians and last but not the least distributors keep their eyes riveted on those spools of films that would unveil their fortunes on Friday. Due to a number of factors, the shelf life of a movie is reducing and the cost of film-making is escalating. Caught between the filmmaker and the exhibitor is the distributor, who bears the maximum brunt, if the box office doens’t jingle. We meet region’s established distributors By V. Sarada & Chandrika Mantri

to ﬁnd out what motivates them to go for this high-risk job. Is it pure

Shoot by Dhana Vijay & Dinakar Pamu

passion for ﬁlms or is it the lethal adrenal rush that the gamble called distribution brings? All said and done, it is a wonderful play of light and dark, they say.

N.Ramakrishna Reddy

Chinni

Suresh

Veeri Naidu Vegi

Ch. Satish Kumar

P.Subbaiah Chowdary

GLOWS

N.Ramakrishna Reddy

t may be the days of multiplexes, but the old single-screen cinemas continue to charm audience and draw their loyalists in their own modest way. Kanthi Theatre near Poorna Market is one of them. That is where we meet the owner Mr.N.Ramakrishna Reddy. However, we are not there to talk of him as the theatre owner, but as the distributor with enormous experience and great reputation. This lawyer turned distibutor talks of his own accidental tryst with tinsel world and his thirty eventful years in the field.

Yardsticks you apply to a film? We take the hero, director and producers into consideration, when we choose a film for distribution. Earlier, films were chosen purely on the producer’s name. Now, I go by the director’s past experience.

The first shot I was not interested in films, nor was I connected till it was thrust on me. I come from a business family that deals with fruit. I met with an accident, during a business trip to Chittore and landed in a Chennai hospital, where my brother was running his fruit business. Many of his friends, who were connected with the film industry, used to visit me. They brainwashed red | april 2017 | 44

me to get into film distribution. In 1985, I left law and established Kanthi Pictures. We were distributors for 350 theatres in Vizag, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram. My journey has been rather smooth. We stick only to Telugu. I distributed 600 movies in 32 years. We are loyal to Mega family and producer Allu Aravind. Tell us a little about your theatre. In 1992 we opened Sri Kanthi Picture in Vizag, named after my mother and son.

Pulse of the audience... Finding audience pulse is the prerogative of the director and hero. Not mine. We only look for the director who fetches us mega bucks. If the director takes a wrong step, we too are gone. We have to pay for his mistakes. How do you deal with rivalry? It is a natural phenomenon. There were times when we bagged a film, bidding above the rival and it turned out to be an utter flop, proving that our hunch was wrong. That can be dubbed as the rival’s victory. There were times when we missed good movies. For e.g., we lost the bid on Chiranjeevi’s Gharana Mogudu to a rival and the picture turned out to be a great success. We faced stiff competition for Pawan Kalyan’s Suswagatham and got it for a premium price. On the flip side, I went

out of my way to buy Ram Gopal Varma’s Antam and Govinda Govinda. Both bombed at the B.O. Change in audience’s taste... Highly unpredictable! Their interest is short lived and suddenly they get into rejecting mood. But musical and

sentimental movies always enjoy their support. How did TV impact your business? Initially, TV was responsible for the closure of a number of film theatres. However, now we are seeing people coming back to theatres. Your take on piracy… In a lighter vein, those who bring the crime to the notice of law are made to run around the courts. That is why we keep away. It did impact movies but the comforts provided by the theatres are an irresistible temptation. Did you produce a film too? I produced a movie Kodanda Ramudu. But my efforts did not fetch desired results. Secret of your success? My success story is scripted by the stars of Chiranjeevi family. Allu Aravind is a pillar of strength for me. The stars from

IN HIS KITTY

Chiranjeevi’s stable are keeping the Telugu film industry alive. I am also indebted to director V.V.Vinayak. My journey with him for the past 15 years has been highly fruitful. Risks and challenges... No advice and experience help and it is all about luck. I suffered heavy losses due to a string of flops. I wanted to call it quits after showing Tagore. This super hit put me back in the saddle. The fate of the film... If the film has stuff, it would be a hit whether it is big or small. I saw big pictures becoming small and small ones becoming big. Some pictures like Khaleja and Athadu were not accepted on the big screen but they become great hits on the small one. We can only say that the audience did not grow to the level of such movies during the time of their release. The very same Trivikram went to them with movies like Julayi and Attarintiki Daredi, which are run away hits.

HIGHLIGHTS Best movie: Magadheera, Chanti, Siva, Gabbar Singh and Tagore Big bucks: Tagore kept me got me back on my feet Big business: Gabbar Singh, Katamarayudu Least Profitable 500 out of 600 movies I distributed fall in this list

Advise to aspirants Don’t step in Next movie Mister (Varun Tej starrer) First Movie Nagarjuna’s Vikram, April 1986, Film that ran maximum days Chiranjeevi’s Master (175) and Siva (175)

FAVOURITES Actors: All the stars from Mega family Actress: Rakul Preet Film: Tagore Production House: Geeta Arts Director: V.V.Vinayak Theatre: V Max Song: Any melodious song

K.VAMSI KISHORE

A MARVELLOUS MARCH WITH MOHINI

e are sure most of you must have watched a movie at Mohini Theatres, located in Gajuwaka, or at least heard about it. But how many of you are familiar with the man behind the success of these iconic cinema halls. Meet K.Vamsi Kishore a.k.a. Chinni who is not only a film exhibitor but also the head of Mohini Films, which is into distribution. He has distributed more than 100 films till date (WOW!) and God knows how many he still has in the pipeline. Nope, the list of achievement does not end there. He was the first to introduce Dolby Atmos Sound in two of his theatres, Mohini 70mm and Mohini 35mm, the first of its kind in the state. Not to mention, he is also the Hon.Secretary of Waltair Club. Energetic, jovial, quirky and full of life, Chinni let us into his world of films, films and films. Tell us something about your journey. I studied BBM and MBA from Gitam University. At the age of 18, I started looking after my father’s business, running Mohini Theatre (non A.C.) at that time. I converted it to a fully air-conditioned one and also constructed two more theatres. At present, we run three theatres in a complex in Gajuwaka – Mohini 70mm, Mohini 35mm and Mini Mohini. That experience prompted me to explore the other arenas. Any mandatory procedure to become a distributor? We used to have some rules and regulations, restricting the entry of people into this most crucial revenue-earning arena of the film industry. So, the film chamber did away with the procedure and made it a free-for-all avenue. How do you decide which films to distribute? Earlier, producers used to do two to three films a year. We would travel with them. But now we don’t have that kind of regularity. Now newcomers make a film or two and move on. That professionalism and commitment are missing. Hence, I keep in mind the current rating of the actor, the director and whether the film is a remake or is based on a fresh concept. Moreover, the producer does not even show us the trailer or rushes and we get no clue whether the red | april 2017 | 46

movie will do well or not. It becomes a tricky choice. Changes you found in the audience taste... People prefer to go to big multiplexes rather than the single-screen theatres. This is because of the superior amenities the theatres offer. People used to watch either classy or massy films. Now, they don’t set their foot in the hall, unless they don’t relate to the sentiment of the film. In fact, the audience is smart enough to guess the fate of a movie, going by the promotions. That itself determines the opening collection of the movie. Do you show the films you distribute in your theatres? Well, if my theatres are free, I for sure screen my films

there. Otherwise, I will have to run them elsewhere. In those days, we were not sure about the date of release. It was used to be the last minute decision, creating confusion and clashes of dates. Now, we don’t face such issues as we have many theatres and films have shorter shelf life. Do you have rivals vying for the same film? All the time! In fact, this proves as an advantage for the producer, who will obviously choose the one who offers the best price. Dealing with piracy... We are not able to curtail this menace. There is a cell which keeps a constant check and tries to catch the cyber criminals. Yet, pirated

CDs get released. This happens because some movies are screened overseas. I feel the public still prefers to enjoy the theatre experience. The quality cannot be compared to that of a pirated CD. For example, CDs of Attarintiki Daredi were out two to three weeks before the film’s release. Yet it was a big hit.

Secretary for many years. We look into any monetary issue between the producer and the distributor or the exhibitor and the distributor. We take the support of the film chamber, in case the issue cannot be resolved by us.

Small-budget films vs big-budget ones. That is not true at all. Sathamanam Bhavati was a small-budget movie, released along with mighty Khaidi No.150 and Gautamiputra Satakarni. All the three movies did well. It is not always about the budget; it is about how the audience relates to the film.

Impact of TV... TV onslaught cannot be ruled out. But I have a feeling that it affected the repeat screening. Once upon a time, films used to run for weeks. We have a fiveyear period right to show the movie. But it has no value now because the film is on the TV after 50 days. GST came into vogue- your take? We don’t have any clarity as of now. Already, we are paying entertainment tax. We have no clue how the state is going to implement GST. What is your take on the hike in the ticket cost to Rs.150? This rate has not been provided by the government. In fact, it has fixed the rate at Rs.75. This fare has been introduced by the court on the demands of the exhibitors and distributors. This is a big blow to the common man. However, it is beneficial for the industry because the revenue goes up manifold. Government gets its share in the form of tax. I bet soon the price will be Rs.200.

Are you not venturing into film-making? I will make a movie only when I am not at the mercy of a financial body. That is my policy. What posts and positions have you held? At present, I am the President of Vizag Film Distribution Assocation since five years. I served as the Vice-President of Telugu Film Chamber Of Commerce and as the Joint HIGHLIGHTS Movie distributed in your first year of distribution … Yuvaraju, Badri and Azad in 2000 IN HIS KITTY Best movies of your company… Badri, Simhadri, Priyamaina Neeku, Maryada Ramanna, Maa Annayya, Gorintaku and Hanuman Junction Movie that fetched you big bucks… Simhadri and Sankranti Movie that proved the least profitable… Subash Chandra Bose Movie that played for maximum days… Simhadri (175 days) Next movie… Nothing has been committed yet Advice to aspirants… 90% of movies are flops and 10% are a hit. So, I advise people to think twice before stepping into this field.

FAVOURITES Movie: Magadheera | Genre: Rom-com Industry: Hollywood | Director: S.S.Rajamoulli Production House: Super Good Films | Producer: R.B.Choudary

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B.SURESH

Fanfare W

hat do you call a person who is running fever, but still makes an appearance with a big smile because the ‘talk’ is all about films? Answer is simple- an incurable FAN. That is the only way to describe Mr.B.Suresh of SV Cinemas and SR Cinemas, who is into distribution since four years. “I am obsessed with films right from childhood. I am enamored not only by the stories, but also by the language of cinema. How performances, visuals and sounds could bring out human emotions is nothing short of a miracle for me. I would see movies over and over and try to figure out the mystery behind it. Connecting with them is the only natural fallout.” He seems to have gained a good grasp over the industry. He is all set to share his knowledge in a no holds barred interview. Tell us about your journey We hail from Thadepalligudem and moved to Gajwaka because of my father’s occupation. I studied B.Sc in the local college and joined the family business of running a petrol bunk. My association with my father’s cousin Mr.Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, who has been an established distributor in West Godavari district, fueled my

red | april 2017 | 50

my passion and encouraged me to go to this field. Tryst with distribution? I started distributing in Gajuwaka theatres. I expanded my area of action and now I screen movies in Visakhaptnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, in nearly 100 halls, depending on the film’s capacity. Criteria to choose a film... Hero, director and the banner. Of course, not necessarily in that order. We choose banners that are consistent in their commitment. Taste of the audience... It is as dynamic as the industry. It is impossible to pin down them to one particular kind of films. Even seniors cannot, for certain, say that the audience are going to favour this or reject that. We got some films thinking that they would sweep the audience off their feet. But we found ourselves

falling flat on our faces. There were movies, which we thought would barely scrape through, that became phenomenal hits. Yes, there is a perceptible change in their tastes. They know what they are in for, going by the reviews and are now choosey. But when it comes to front benchers, they don’t go beyond the commercial fare. The flick should have a hero, heroine and villain; a few peppy dances and songs; humour and action thrown in. Coming to the upper class, their mood prediction is simply impossible. Suddenly, you find them raving over movies like Pelli Choopulu, which are small and out of the box. Yet, we cannot vouch for the success of the next movie of that kind. Loyalty? We distribute only Telugu movies. Hindi and English flicks don’t fetch any profits at all.

We have been travelling with PVP banner and distributed an impressive array of films like Balupu, Oopiri, Kshanam, Brahmotsavam and Kabali. I distributed more than 50 movies till date. While some made my day, some made me regret the choice. It is only that irrepressible passion for films that make me go. How does the field work? There are 10 distributors in this region out of which five are pro-active. The game becomes cut-throat, when we vie with one another to bag a film. Producers fix certain rate. Sometimes, they fabricate figures and create artificial demand. There is precious little we can do in these cases. We deposit Non- Refundable Advance (NRA) with them and take the film. We take theatres on rent and screen the movies. If there is any overflow, then the producer gets the profit. In the entire transaction, if there is one party that suffers, it is the distributor. It is a very strange vicious circle. Unlike in other businesses, here we distributors put in crores of rupees, but the returns we get don’t commensurate the investment. For example, Brahmotsavam and Kabali, both released in the same year, left us with great losses. Status of Telugu market? It touched Rs.100 crore-mark with Attarintiki Daredi, Baahubali and Janata Garage. It is a proud accomplishment.

Film making vs distribution... Every field comes with its inherent facilities and problems. It is not enough to make a film. We should be able to market it well. However, I would love to produce a film. I am waiting for the right opportunity.

HIGHLIGHTS Movie that brought in big bucks Raju Gari Gadhi Movie that put you in a spot Brahmotsavam Film in the pipeline Raju Gari Gadhi -2, starring Nagarjuna and Samantha First movie Balupu in 2011 Film that ran maximum number of days Balupu, Pandaga Chesko

FAVOURITES Actors Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun Actress Samantha Film Ye Maaya Chesave Advice to aspirants I won’t advise anyone to come anyway near this field. People did tell me the same. But I turned a deaf ear to them. One has to learn it the hard way and from one’s own experience and exposure.

Production house PVP Director S.S.Rajamoulli & Trivikram Srinivas Theatre Jagadamba Music A.R.Rahman & Ilayaraja

IN HIS KITTY

red | april 2017 | 51

VEERI NAIDU VEGI

PROVEN

POORVI W

e urge him to switch off the A.C. fearing we might freeze, if we sit there longer. Pat comes a tongue in cheek remark, “That is exactly why I have positioned the A.C. vent towards my guests, so that they don’t linger on.” That is enough for us to guess that the ensuing conversation with Mr.Veeri Naidu Vegi of Poorvi Cinemas, a.k.a Veeraju will be witty. Packed with one-liners and humor, his talk gives us the complete know-how of the trade. Of course, we too have no intention tarrying and take you straight to him.

Excerpts Tell us about your journey. You can call it a history of sorts. My grandfather the late Mr. Vegi Veeru Naidu was into the wholesale business of vegetables, under the banner Vegi Veeru Naidu & Sons. Later, my father, Venkat Ramarao ran Sri Ramakrishna Picture Palace and Jagadamba. The theatre became so famous that the junction acquired its name. I had to take the responsibility of the family at a very young age as my father fell sick. I could only complete my 10th standard and took to film distribution in 1995. Why this field? The business was very lucrative and not risky during those days. We had reputed banners, sensible pictures and amazing producers like Shyam Prasad Reddy, R.B.Choudary, M.S.Reddy. So, I thought ‘why not?’ red | april 2017 | 52

How do you select a movie? Firstly, we go by the actor and then the banner. Sometimes, we have to take even small budget films because of our association with the production house. I am involved with Super Good Films and Suresh Productions. What determines the fate of a film? If anyone says that this is the winning formula, I pity them for they do not know what they are saying. One can never guess what clicks. Even we don’t have any inkling as we don’t even get to see the movie before the release! The itsy-bitsy information we get is through trade bodies. We, members, meet and discuss which upcoming film is in the pipeline and decide what is good enough to distribute. Sometimes, producers come to us and show the trailers, movie scenes, songs of their next film. At the end of the day, this business is like a gamble.

The TV impact Earlier, female lead-oriented films used to do well because of the enormous loyal female audience. But TV soaps seem to have won them over. Added to it is the home comfort. You get an easy access to 300 to 400 channels which keeps you occupied, that too without spending an extra penny. Hence, the number of theatres remains the same, despite the rise in population. How do you deal with piracy? Our film chamber takes care of that. Whenever a film gets leaked online, we try our best to block that link. But yes, a picture, well-promoted and with a good appeal, attracts the audience. How did the market evolve? Now, we are making big budget and sensible films. The craze for Hollywood films has come down perceptibly. That indicates Tollywood is coming up with high quality flicks.

spending Rs.1000. Hence, people prefer to spend the same amount on something better. The High Court has asked the lower court to fix a rate that benefits both the trade and the public, on recommendation of the film body. The verdict may come out anytime now. How do you describe the relationship between exhibitors and distributors? I cannot completely call it a marriage of convenience. But it is like a husbandwife relationship. They are inseparable. Chances of divorce can’t be ruled out.

I was the Vice-President of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and worked as the Joint Secretary in the same association. Advice to budding distributors I have lost crores of rupees in this business. What is my locus standi to give a message to new comers? Yet, if you insist, I tell them to think not twice, thrice, but n number of times before they venture into it. There is a lot of uncertainty here and anything can happen anytime.

Posts and positions I was the President of the Vizag Film Distribution Association for 11 years. Film production vs distribution Anyone can make a flop film and lose capital. Film-making is a different ball game and not a one-man show. Earlier, you could easily make a film spending Rs.15 to 20 cr. Even 70 to 80 crores is not considered a big deal now. No takers for small films- your take? Running a theatre is not an easy feat. We pay hefty power bills, salaries, etc. If the theatre doesn’t earn at least Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 per day, it wouldn’t break even. Irrespective of the fact whether it is big or small, the film has to be pulled out, if it doesn’t fetch decent bucks. The GST effect We don’t have any clarity on this issue. The film chamber has requested the government not to change the structure of tax as the industry is not flourishing. Further burden may lead to its collapse. What is your marketing strategy? We release a film in maximum number of theatres. Anyways, people are very much into social media these days. So, the films automatically get promoted. But yes, we do put up publicity hoardings. Your take on the recent ticket hike? It is not a permanent rate. The court has applied it only for one to two weeks for festivals, special films, etc. I feel it is too much. If a family with four members watches a movie today, it ends up

HIGHLIGHTS Best movies in your company Annamayya, Ammoru, Nuvvu Vasthavani and Santosham

Film that ran for maximum days Annamayya (22 weeks in Vizag)

Film that fetched big bucks… Nuvvu Vasthavani

What is your next film? Gajendrudu and Prema Leela Pelli Gola

Film that proved least profitable… Snehamante Idera

First movie distributed? Kurradu Baboi starring Prabhu Deva. It was a big disaster.

Movies that touched Rs.100 crore mark… I did not ask my producers

FAVOURITES Actor Money fetching heros

IN HIS KITTY

Actress Money fetching heroines Cinema Annamayya Production House Super Good Films Director V. V. Vinayak Theatre Melody. I had maximum hits in this theatre Song All songs of Annamayya. I am proud I distributed a film based on Lord Venkateswara

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Undeterred,

goes on

Tell us about your journey. Though I studied B.Tech (IT), I went to work for a publishing firm. With that experience, I floated my own publication company. I had to sell the firm and return to Vizag. At that time my neighbour Mr.Vamsikrishna Srinivas, was contesting polls. I helped him out, but my tryst with him did not end there. I worked in his shipping firm, which I left two months ago. Why distribution? I always had a keen interest in films and Mr.Vamsikrishna too was interested in films. This added fuel to my desire. Till

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Ch Satish

s there anything Mr.Ch Satish of Vigneswara Entertainments can’t do? From starting his own publishing firm to taking keen interest in politics to working in a shipping company to distributing and producing films (Phew!), this man is unstoppable. He has no qualms about taking any risk and is ever-ready to explore new business opportunities. Yep, we caught hold of this ever-busy expert to know more about his speeding journey!

date, I have distributed five films- Kabali, Janatha Garage, Singham 3, Bethaldu and Dora. Did you go for film making too? I too produced two movies- Arya Chitra and Dharma Yogi. The biggest challenge you faced? The challenge is always about money. For Singham 3, I had to raise Rs.40 lakh in one day. Ultimately, the film bombed. How do you select a movie? I am not partial to big banners because sometimes small scale films can work wonders. Look at how Raju Gari Gadhi and Pelli Choopulu smashed the B.O. What determines the fate of a movie? Until Friday morning, no one can say anything. But movies with big stars fall in a safe zone because they garner enough money within three days, which covers the entire production cost. This is what

happened in case of Katamarayadu. Of course, again there are incidents when the movies of super stars flopped and the collection plummeted the next day. This proves that nothing is certain. What genre are you loyal to? We are not particular about a genre or an actor. However, we are travelling with Suraksha Entertainments. What is your marketing strategy? We are only concerned with the local publicity. So, the maximum we can do is put up hoardings in the city. The rest is managed by the movie’s PR team. Pulse of the audience... Earlier, they used to watch movies on the word-of-mouth-publicity. So, if the ‘talk’ for the film was good, they would watch it and even if it was bad, they would go for the film to find out what went wrong and make their own judgments. Today’s public is smart and tech-savy. They

check out the reviews and ratings on the electronic media and then decide whether to watch the movie or to skip it. Changes seen in Telugu market? Some good, some bad. The revenue has grown manifold, but the producers too have raised the cost. So there is a paradigm shift in the risks involved. When more people vie for one film? It happens always. The highest bidder bags the movie. Of course, it depends on the relationship the distributor enjoys with the producer. Big-budget films vs. small-budget. At present, theatres give importance to big-star movies. But they take a step behind, when it comes to showcasing the small ones. Whenever a movie of Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun or NTR Jr comes, there are no takers for small budget ones.

TV Impact and video piracy... TV has definitely not affected us. But yes, piracy did hit us hard. Though I feel fans will definitely come to watch their superstar, irrespective of the fact that the film gets leaked. Production vs distribution- your take I know by experience that producing a film is any day less risky compared to distribution. Well, it may not be a cheap mode but it certainly is not that risky. In fact, my ultimate goal is to invest all the returns from this field into producing a film. I am waiting for the right time. Do you have a Plan-B? Now, I plan to enter the logistics field. The spadework is going on for that. What is your take on the recent hike in the ticket cost to Rs.150? This will definitely escalate the cost of the movies. It is OKAY to some extent for festival and special occasions, but it

won’t work out in the long run. The standard rate of the movie ticket should be fixed at Rs.100 only. That is enough to attract the audience to the theatres.

IN HIS KITTY HIGHLIGHTS

FAVOURITES

First movie distributed… Arya Chitra in 2011

Actor Pawan Kalyan

Movie that fetched big bucks… None till now

Actress Nayantara

Movie that proved least profitable… Singham 3. I had big expectations. But the film bombed

Movie Badri

What is your next film? Shivalinga What did you gain here? Not big money, but huge goodwill and great ties with people. Advice to budding distributers It is a high-risk business. Make sure you are financially established and can afford a gamble.

Production House Dil Raju Director S.S.Rajamouli Theatre Jagadamba Song Tu mile dil khile from the movie Criminal

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CHALLENGES,

A WAY OF LIFE

Tell us something about your journey. Cinema has always been close to my heart and I am taken in by its magic and charm. My tryst with this industry began more than four decades ago when I started working in the theatres that belonged to my cousins. Eventually, I decided to pave my own path. Luck brought me in contact with Varahi Chalana Chitram, a film production house that produced blockbusters like Eega, Legend. I also had the fortune of being guided by Producer-Distributor Sai Korrapati. After working with them, he recommended my name to the late Sri. Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who was impressed by my commitment and gave me the responsibility of handling his office in Vizag. Besides being connected with this field as the distributor, I have been an exhibitor as I was also working with Melody theatre for ten years. What is your professional profile? I only distribute movies that come from the Annapurna stable. Apart from that, I distribute films for some producers like C. Ashwini Dutt, head of Vyjayanthi

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P.Subbaiah Chowdary

aahubali: The Beginning ended on a dramatic note, with the cliff-hanging scene in which Senapati Katappa slays Amarendra Baahubali, giving rise to the oft-asked question - katappa ne baahubali ko kyun maara? Baahubali: The Conclusion indeed promises to unravel the mysteries that fans have etched in their mind since 2015. With just a few days left for the release of this movie, Mr.P.Subbaiah Chowdary, head of Annapurna Studios Private Limited in Vizag, is excited to be associated with the distribution of this film. “Yes, I am sure the euphoria whipped up for this movie itself is going to yield great results and I anticipate very heavy advanced bookings,” says Mr.Choudary. That was the mood in which, we caught him to know more about his journey.

Movies and Sravanthi Ravi Kishore, head of Sri Sravanthi Movies. But I do it only as a goodwill gesture for friends. Why did you choose Vizag? Though it is not my native place, I am attached to this beautiful city because this is where I began my career in real earnest and flourished. This is my karma bhoomi. Predicting fate of a film? It can be assessed only after its release. We engage a few agents to elicit opinions of the audience pouring out of the theatres, after the first screening. The opinions are called ‘talk’ in our parlance. Going by this ‘talk’, we come to conclusions. It is apparent that the good talk enhances the collection, while the bad talk pulls down the film.

Are you loyal to particular theatres in the region? Not at all. We release the movie in any theatre that gives us the opportunity. Marketing strategy? The same old traditional methods like putting up posters, hoardings, flex banners, etc. The rest are handled by the PR people at the headquarters. Dealing with piracy? Piracy has certainly proved detrimental to the films and has become a major threat. The industry has been mulling over ways and means to counter it. One effective way of countering this menace is to release a film in the maximum number of theatres simultaneously.

Previously, a movie used to run for 100 to 150 days. Now we must think that it is a great accomplishment if it runs for two to three weeks. Of course, these days the movies go for simultaneous and multiple screenings. That itself enables the film maker to recover all that money, needed to cover the cost. Has TV made a dent in the film market? Yes, it did deal a big blow to the industry though it is very difficult to assess the damage in terms of percentage. Why would a person who gets the facility of watching the latest movies on TV in his home comfort go to a theatre? Effect of GST on the industry? While GST has been regarded as a game changer for the economy by the experts, we are yet to get a clear picture of how it is going to impact us. All we can hope is that it brings glad tidings and a good change for every one of us, connected with the film world.

fluctuating according to the demand. Yet, we don’t hear anyone cribbing about those changes, nor do we see them opposing them. Come to think of it, nobody even talks about them. But when it comes to the film industry, there is a big hue and cry. The enhanced rates shall help us earn in some fast bucks, which is necessary for our survival. Whatever profit we make is only during the first few days of the release of the movie. The number of theatre-goers has dwindled because people know that the movie gets shown on the small screen within 50 days after its release. There is no compelling reason for people to watch movies in theatres. So, I feel one need not look

askance if there is a marginal hike in ticket rates. In all fairness, the movie rates have to be kept flexible. The exhibitors should be given a free hand in fixing the ticket rates as they rapidly impact their earnings. Advice to budding distributors Don’t even think about venturing into this field! It is way too risky and you need to be well established in terms of finances to go for such risks.

HIGHLIGHTS Best movies your company distributed Soggade Chinni Nayana and Manam First movie distributed… Bhai in 2013, starring Akkineni Nagarjuna

The hike in the ticket cost to Rs.150… Everything related to films gets blown out of proportion and becomes a larger than life issue. Perhaps, that is because of the glitz and glamour attached to it. Any small change or development becomes a hot topic that gets discussed threadbare in every possible forum and circle. Here, I like to ask, people who are fretting over the enhanced ticket rates. Doesn’t the cost of tickets for flights, trains and buses vary from time to time? The tariffs keep

Movie that fetched big bucks… Soggade Chinni Nayana (Annapurna) and Raju Gari Gadhi (Varahi) Movie that proved least profitable… Bhai. It was released during the Srikakulam cyclone

IN HIS KITTY

What is your next film? Baahubali 2 (Varahi) and Naga Chaitanya Akkineni starrer, yet to be titled. FAVOURITES Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna Actress All of them Director S.S.Rajamoulli Song Nothing in particular. I enjoy listening to all

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hen you hear the brand name ‘Raymond’, one automatically thinks of formal wear. But actually,

Raymond clothing is dressed down, yet sharp, casual yet fashionable and preppy without being pretentious. Yes, there is a Raymond ensemble for pretty much any occasion. Well, the credit of bringing this brand to the city goes to Mr. Hameed Khan. His father, the late Janab M.Faizulla Khan, was in the retail trade of men’s wear. Hameed joined the family business under the guidance of his father and his elder brother Ali Khan. They became the authorised dealers of Raymond Ltd in 1971 and subsequently, Hameed went on to establish two outlets in the city. He is supported by his son, Riaz Khan. We got in touch with this dynamic father-son duo, who unfold their unique selling concepts, as they

for Inception of Panache This store came into existence to complement The Raymond Shop and to offer a wide range of imported fabrics which our customers were hitherto missing. The range of suiting and shirting is completely different from what is being offered by Raymond. Product Range We have an exquisite cotton shirting fabric imported from Japan, ﬁne quality Italian suiting, an exclusive range of white shirting and suiting and a wide range of ceremonial wear collection. We have the best ready-to-wear garment brands for formal and informal occasions. The store has a separate section which red | april 2017 | 62

By Chandrika Mantri

houses garments specially manufactured for the extra large sized category. This addition has been a good hit with the customers. Hot Cakes Generally, we see ceremonial designer fabrics for suits, shirts, trousers and ready-to-wear suits, shirts and accessories moving at a fast rate.

Shoot By Dhana Vijay

Hameed Khan

give a detailed account of their journey.

The Power Clothes deﬁne your character and it is a way to showcase your vantage. A good dress sense not only makes you look good, but also helps in boosting your conﬁdence levels. You dress well, you do well! Business Background Yes, it is essential to have some formal education. This certainly helps people hone their skills at business. Business ideas and plans basically remain the same, but these courses prove how effectively they can be executed. Raymond Customer Our customers have the zeal to match the present day fashion and are loyal to the brand and the best thing about them is that they never seek discounts. Fashion Trend in the City Moderate fashion styles are well accepted here, whereas overly fancy stuff is resisted.

Strategy for Longevity Introduction of new products and categories as per the needs of the modern generation, adopting latest communication and networking tools and changing marketing strategies as per the requirements of the market are some of methods we apply. A good rapport with the customer, prompt service, offering best quality product, last but not the least, genuine pricing are the factors that keep us going. The only strategy that works is to give what the customer needs. Motivation My own passion for the business and the immense responsibility that comes with it motivate me. Offering the customers the best fashion available at my store gives me that push.

E-tailing Vs Brick and Mortar The future is going to be omni-channel selling. Yes, the e-tailing is quietly taking away a lot of customers from the brick and mortar stores. Some of them are even coming up with their physical stores. So, we, as individual outlets, need to buck up and be attentive on the online channel of sales. Future of textile – India vs. World India is the second largest exporter of textiles in the world. The consumption of textiles is ever increasing because of the rise in population. The government is also making huge efforts to increase and sustain the industry by introducing and re-engineering various schemes. It is committed to uplift the complete value chain. The government’s inclination towards skill building and ‘Make in India’ branding should create conducive environs for increasing the manufacturing base and as well for large investments in the country. If Not Panache, Then? I am always open to diversiﬁcation. Of course, I am also absolutely sure that I will not move out of my present business. It is my favourite.

A GOOD DRESS SENSE NOT ONLY MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD, BUT ALSO HELPS IN BOOSTING YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVELS.

Challenges Every major man’s ready-to-wear brand in India has its presence here, so for a multi-brand outlet, it is very difﬁcult to compete with the brand’s exclusive outlet. It amounts to a multi-brand man’s outlet competing with a company as a whole. Stay Updated We stay abreast of the trends by regularly going through fashion magazines of international repute and attending textile, garment conferences and trade fairs. Marketing of Panache I ﬁnd event and occasion based promotions have been the most successful. Introduction of new products is being promoted through personal messages and also at group levels. This helps.

YOU DRESS WELL, YOU DO WELL!

Response Very positive! I am expecting it to increase by the day. Future Plans We are planning more branches in the city and if everything falls in place, we will be opening stores in the neighbouring cities as well. CSR Activity I am doing my bit through the Rotary Club. Favourite Fashion Era I change my style following the contours of fashion. To be precise when I change my style that becomes my favourite. I also believe a man cannot get stuck to one era. Change is essential.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

ntering business was a cakewalk for Riaz Khan for he was nurtured to be a businessman right from his formative years. However, he carved out a distinctive niche for himself by oating some innovative concepts that took his family business several notches up.

situations and people at different times. It is all about giving clear instructions and directions to the team, besides being available to them for guidance. I am there when they need me, without waiting for their SOS. I keep a check on them, both formal and inform. Regular follow-ups and unobtrusive pressure application do work. However, we have to give them their space. Clashes in Decision Making My father and I may have different points of view on an issue. But we arrive at a cohesive decision, after a good discussion. Competition I strongly believe you are your own competitor. Hence, we should strive to do things better and get better than what we were. Dissatisfied Customers Yes, we have our own methods of dealing with this kind. We listen to them with rapt attention. If we are at fault, we apologise, that too with a smile. We give them the best

MY FATHER AND I MAY HAVE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW ON AN ISSUE. BUT WE ARRIVE AT A COHESIVE DECISION, AFTER A GOOD DISCUSSION.

Learning Curve The holidays that followed my 10th standard, were spent in gaining trade knowledge. I learnt the art of communication and customer handling, besides picking up some finer points in the trade transactions. After five years of on-the-oor experience, I was allowed to manage the store. It was a great learning curve for me because I was dealing with real-time situations. Joint Decision I was not pushed into it. It was a joint decision. My father has been my best friend. So, I decided to join the business to be with my best buddy. Management Style It is difficult to have one type of management style. Moreover, I feel no style can be dubbed as wrong or right. It is purely about adapting ourselves to different

possible options that would help them arrive at a solution. We work out the win-win situation for both. We refrain from getting into an argument with them. Implementing such strategies may be difﬁcult, but certainly not impossible. Demonetisation We have not faced much problem because we are well equipped for cashless transactions. The step did have a cascading effect and that reected in the controlled and need-based buying.

Success Secret Being sincere, genuine and faithful to our customers and suppliers. Fashion Icon Fashion is very personal; it cannot be justiﬁed by relying on one role model or icon. It is a medium to express who you are. Fashion should improve one’s conﬁdence, stature and scream out loud what he/she is, rather than putting one in a spot of bother. Other Interests There is no downtime for us in this trade. But to unwind, I am involved with Round Table India. ‘Freedom Through Education’ is a mission we took up. We are working towards providing educational infrastructure for the needy kids. I am a member of Waltair Round Table 92, which has the motto ‘service through fellowship.’ Advice to Aspirants I strongly feel that anyone starting business is doing immense good to the society at large. A good entrepreneur does not just generate wealth, but also creates job opportunities, new businesses and improves the conditions that offer a prosperous living to the society. The new employment generated can create a cascading effect or a virtuous circle in the economy. For example, when I sell more fabric, I employ more people through which the tailor gets more orders and he, in turn, employs more people and creates more jobs and generates wealth. Such a small endeavour can make a lot of difference. My advice to those who want to take the plunge is always remember to create value for the customers, employees, suppliers, communities and last but not the least the environment.

A REALTOR ON TERRA By V.Sarada

FIRMA

n a rough and tough realty ﬁeld that leaves very little place for sentiments, Srinivas Vinay Babu, ProprietorPartner of Terracon Projects, certainly comes as a whiff of fresh air. For this smart and savvy young man, the transaction is not about just selling a piece of land to a prospective buyer. He has to add value to the plot, package it with the right infrastructure and tie it with an emotional bond before presenting it to the client. No wonder, hordes of customers are now the members of his humongous family. Yes, we have to call it ‘humongous’ for his ‘empire’ or extended family runs in as many as three statesAndhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. A candid Vinay talks of his experiences in the sector.

PLOTPOURRI The Shift We belong to Vizag, but my father’s business took us to Bengaluru. After completing my schooling here, I moved to Bengaluru to pursue further studies. From IT to Realty Armed with an engineering degree, I wanted to join the IT sector. Yet, the ongoing recession at that time made me choose the well-paved path- my father’s realty business. Yes, I had hands-on training, with my father as my guru. By and by, I could find my feet in this new field. Professional Progress We entered the field, partnering with a company called JPR, but in 2004, red | april 2017 | 66

we oated our ﬁrm in Bengaluru, making it our base. We opened the Vizag branch in 2006. While my father, Mr.Srinivas Venkat Babu heads the ﬁrm, my brother Sanjay and I assist him. We established branches in three states. I take care of the Vizag and Hyderabad units. We have 300 full time workers and 200 working on contingent basis. Projects We have successfully completed 25 projects in Bengaluru, Mysore, Hyderabad and Vizag. Our Terracon Royale, a 48- acre township in Pendurthi and Terracon Residency in Bheemili earned us a very good name in the region. Though we did construct houses in our own plots on the special requests of our

customers, we have not yet made deep forays into that arena. We are taking a serious look at it as we have the support of a well-oiled machinery and well trained team. One Good Lesson This ﬁeld is all about dealing with people of varied natures, moods and aspirations. When a customer buys a piece of a land, he knows he is acquiring a permanent asset. He studies it from every possible angle, besides getting it approved from his family. Then he takes the decision. Hence, we should be patient to deal with them and have to be an out and out people’s persons. Status of the Business After demonetistaion, our ﬁeld was thrown into a turmoil. Yet, it neither impacted the prices of land nor did

Ground Realities There is a great change in the past decade. Realtors and buyers too want the deals in white. With the gap between the government rates and the private rates narrowing drastically, the scope of black money is waning. Challenges Acquiring land is a big challenge. The farmers demand for higher prices is growing day by day. It is an uphill task even to acquire an acre. We need big stretches of land for our projects. The second challenge is getting government clearances. However, I must acknowledge the efforts of Chief Minister Mr.Chandrababu Naidu, who is making things easy for investors by expediting the process. The same can be said about his counterpart the Chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. KCR. Our 60 acre-project in Hyderabad got approved in two months. Green Initiatives Take any of our projects, they are always on the fringes of the cities and towns, without touching the agricultural lands. For e.g., our Terracon Royale is just 2km away from Pendurthi, where farming cannot be carried out. Location Criteria Here a developer has to be a little more farsighted. People often ask us why we choose locations that are away from the city, without realising that these places will, in no time, be bustling hubs. For example, I am doing one more project Terracon Grande, which is

just 500 metres away from the Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy. In the first place, no one ever can dream of taking up farming anywhere near this locality. Secondly, it is going to be a big centre for education. The plots around this area will be developed into residential colonies and townships. Ideology Affordability is our main mantra. Our second priority is to provide high quality infrastructure. The Vizag Scene Vizag is greatly benefitted by the state bifurcation. It has already taken big leaps, earning the Smart City tag. With good road, air and sea connectivity, it attracts industry in a big way. Customer Profile in Vizag There is no population explosion here yet. People who invest here are mainly from outside or NRIs. People are friendly and welcome outsiders with open arms. Land Mafia This is phenomenon is universal. They think realtors are loaded with money. But we only know what pain we go through. Now, things are changing as black money is getting purged from the field after demonetisation. The miscreants expectations too have come down.

accommodations and slums. To mitigate their woes, the state is coming up with a number of schemes. Doing our bit, we offer layouts at lower costs. We have done four projects, offering EMI facility with no interest. Low cost housing will also be keenly pursued in future, I feel. New Act The recently passed Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 is a boon for the real estate industry. This will bring in transparency in the land deals and the customer will be the king. Other Arenas We are into movie production and till now have made 13 movies. Though we generally finance Kannada movies, we tried our hand in Tollywood also producing two films Andamaina Manasulo and Keratam. They did not fare well, so we continued with Kannada movies where luck favoured us. We are coming up with Pataki starring Ganesh. Future Projects We will continue with what we are doing. We will improve our performance and implement new concepts so that we can serve our customers in a better way. Advice to Aspirants This field teaches you a lot of valuable lessons of life. It is not just about money, you also learn to deal with people. Upcoming Projects Our next big project is Terracon Royale Phase-II in Pendurthi. We have a few more in the pipeline in Hyderabad, Mysore and Bengaluru.

Goverment Help The Prime Minister, Mr. Modi’s vision is to provide shelter to each and every citizen. Even now a large number of people live in rented

Shoot by Dhana Vijay

it dampen the spirit of buyers. In our country, we have less land and more population. Hence the demand for land never goes down and there is no chance of its value diminishing.

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gh ff Lau t All O I

tand-up comedy has made an impactful mark on the entertainment scene, not to mention the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large appetite for tasteful humour that is really encouraging. Vizag Komedians recently organised a stand-up comedy night featuring Anuvab Paul, Vaibhav Sethia, Manik Mehta and Ujjwal Bommala at The Park Hotel. The comedians had everyone rolling on the ď&#x20AC;&#x201A;oor with their quirky well-timed digs, witty quips, sarcasm and even a few silly puns. Nearly 100 guests attended the event which was hosted by Raouf Gangjee. Anil Sabharwal, Rajiv Agarwal, Vice Admiral Kishore Thakre, Sanjit Singh Lamba, besides others, were spotted feasting on the snacks and also sipping beverages.

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PERFECT PEARL

HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and his life partner Mrs.Sarada celebrated their 30th wedding Anniversary recently. The couple set the tone of the romantic day by cutting a white cake, embellished with beautiful red hearts. The cake was sent by their son Ravi Teja, who could not make it to the party because of his shooting schedule. Their daughter Pujitha, making the day exciting for the couple, threw a grand party at Daspalla Hotel. While Mrs.Sarada looked resplendent in a gold-colour sari, the minister looked dapper in a maroon kurta. Mr.Avanti Srinivas and Mr.Chadra Mouli Tippala,CMD, red magazine, were prominent among the celebrities to wish the couple.

GAIETY MARKS

TGRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIRTHDAY

Innumerable garlands, bouquets, greetings and hailing denizens turned the Tippala house in Gajuwaka into a perfect platform of festivities. Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who of the region was there to wish ex-MLA Mr.Tippala Gurumurthy Reddy on his birthday. Leaders, transcending the party divide, came to take part in the festivities. Reciprocating their love and warmth, Tippalas served a scrumptious breakfast, selecting Karnatak cusine as the theme. Mr. Reddy cut a huge birthday cake amidst his followers and admirers and set the tone for the day-long celebrations. MP K. Hari Babu, ex-ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao, P.Balaraju, ex-MLAs, Karri Sitharamudu, Karanam Dharmaji, Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, ex-Mayor P.Janardhana Rao, ex-Deputy Mayor Dora Babu, YSRCP leaders Tippala Nagi Reddy, Vamsikrishna Yadav, Koyaa Prasad Reddy, Pasupuleti Ushakiran, Congress leader Behara Bhaskar Rao were a few prominent among the celebrities present. Stating that he was overwhelmed by the love and respect bestowed on him, Mr.Reddy reiterated his commitment to the people.

One Stop Family Store

red | april 2017 | 74

Beauty Services Krasna Professional Salon Service at the comfort of your home for Men and Women. To book an appointment 1800 3000 4848 (toll free) www.krasna.in Download app on Android & iOS.

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ADD A LISTING

HYDERABAD

The

Crew

Editor-in-Chief V.Sarada

Executive Director T.V.Vijaya Kumari

Publisher Chandra Mouli Tippala Dy. Manager - Circulation Faheem Siddiqui

Dy. General Manager - Corporate Affairs Selvaraj Dominic

Accounts & Admin R Chaitanya Kumar

Sr. Executives - Marketing P.Arjun M. V. Raju

Manager - Marketing B. Srinivas Rao

Sr. Manager - Marketing V.Sahiti

Asst. Manager - Advertising B.V.S.Appa Rao K.Niranjan Jagadeeswara Reddy

Feature Writer Chandrika Mantri Sr. Feature Writer Anahita Ahuja Sr. Photographers Dhana Vijay Dinakar Pamu Visualizer K.Shankar Image Processing P.Venkatesh

Publication Consultant K Raghuram Raju

Printed, Published and Owned by Chandra Mouli Tippala. Printed at Kalajyothi Process Pvt. Ltd., 1-1-60/5, RTC X Roads Hyderabad - 500 020. Published at Red Publications D. No. 14-36-9, Vikas Nagar, Pedagantyada, Gajuwaka, Dist. Visakhapatnam, AP. Editor: Tippala Divya Reddy.

General Manager - Corporate Affairs Rajesh Babu Guntu

Design Strategy

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Tell us about yourself My father, Mr.Nirmal Bothra had a transferable job, so we lived in different parts of the country, before he decided to quit and settle down in Hyderabad. It is little wonder that I am used to meeting different kinds of people, making new friends and adapting to new situations. This is the reason why my communication skills are fairly decent. I was in college when my father started his own business and moved here. I picked up the local language, worked for a little while with him and studied together. My father has been a great guiding force in my life and had always encouraged me to take up a lot of extracurricular activities. From elocutions to dramatics, I used to participate in every activity that came my way. I happened to be good at whatever I was doing and before I knew it, I won the best student award in the college, too. Tell us about your marriage. Soon after passing out of the college, I joined my father full time in our tea business. Around that time, he found this alliance and asked me to meet Sanjay, if I was not with anyone else. That is how I met my husband. It was a perfect arranged setup. I opted for it because I knew my father would not choose anything but the best for me. Tell us about your bonding with your father. My father was the one who gave me the conﬁdence to go out into the world and explore various opportunities that awaited me. As expected, he found the perfect

match for me. He was good and broad-minded enough to ask me if I had someone in my life or not. I am also certain that that he would have deﬁnitely respected my decision, had I chosen my life partner on my volition. What about your mother? My mother, Mrs.Dhani Bothra is my role model. I look up to her because she has been at once an excellent working woman and a homemaker too. She taught me how to strike a good balance between work and family.

LIFE DOESN’T STOP WITH MARRIAGE, NOR IS IT A BONDAGE. DON’T LOOK IT AS AN EXCUSE.

I admire her because not only is she a mother, but also a friend, adviser, learner, achiever and above all is famous. She is extremely down to earth. People of her kind are hard to ﬁnd. What about your family now? How supportive are they? Extremely supportive! My husband has made sure that I work since day one because he knows how I enjoy working. I enrolled myself for Miss Asia in March 2015, only because my husband suggested it. He wanted me to take part in the pageant. Even my son Shubh takes immense pride in my achievements. Tell us about the contest. I had cleared the semi-ﬁnals, but had to pull out of the auditions because my father-in-law had passed away. I did not think it was the right time to go ahead

with it and opted out without informing anyone. However, all my relatives were disappointed over the development. What about Mrs.Hyderabad (Gujarat)? It was later that year when this contest came up and because the situation at home had settled down, I took part in it and won. There was no looking back after that. After I won, I started getting invited for other contests to judge. Many brands approached me to be their ambassador, so it all just happened. Life before and after the pageant- your take. Designing was always a passion with me. I used to design diamond jewellery for a few friends and relatives. I was into designing clothes too and I used to run a small boutique. Apart from that, I used to counsel teenagers about life. After Mrs. Hyderabad (Gujarat), I received a lot of modeling assignments and brand endorsement opportunities that keep me busy. I also won Miss Craftsvilla State in 2015 and the South Zone Queen Contest in 2016.

red | april 2017 | 33

leads you towards riches. It gives one the conﬁdence to get rich and handle your status too. What has been your greatest achievement till date? I do not think I have reached that point in my life where I can talk about any great achievement. I believe the best is yet to come and I am waiting for it. Do you have any regrets? No, as all the decisions I have taken have been mine. That particular decision at that point of my life was perfect, I felt. I like taking risks, so the results never scare or bother me.

Is there anything that you like to change about yourself? I wish I was more punctual. Of course, it doesn’t happen with my professional commitments, but when it comes to my personal life, I am quite bad. It would be nice to be on scheduled time. What would you pick- success or riches? Deﬁnitely success, as being successful always

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What is your life’s motto? I believe if the work struggle is converted into learning process, then there will be no complaints left and there is no struggle in life. What is your sign off message? Yes, I want to tell people that modeling is not an easy thing. I too have been through my days of struggle. There was a time no one wanted to give me clothes to model because I was too thin! And today, I am an ambassador for clothing brands. Nothing in life is permanent and it takes no time for things to change.

SHARE OF THEM TOO AND REACHED WHERE I AM.

How do you manage to strike a balance between your personal and professional life? It has not been difﬁcult. I plan my day before I sleep and make sure that I ﬁt in whatever is important. My family tops my priority list. It comes above everything and then come my work commitments. So it is all about prioritising the commitments.

HAS TO GO THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS. I HAVE HAD MY

How would you describe your modeling career over the years? The entire journey has been beautiful. Every day comes with a new lesson and is ﬁlled with adventure. No journey is ever honky-dory, as everyone of us has to go through ups and downs. I have had my share of them too and reached where I am.

NO JOURNEY IS EVER HONKY-DORY, AS EVERYONE OF US

Now besides modeling, I keep myself busy with social work as I am associated with a couple of groups that work for good causes.

If you had a time machine, what part would you relive? That would be my school days. All the fun, the carefree life and that healthy competition that we had way back in school is something I will always cherish and miss too.

What advice would you give to married women who want to get into modeling? Keep yourself healthy and always be conﬁdent. Marriage is just one more beautiful step of life, it is not bondage. So, give wings to your dreams. I believe that one should think big and work towards it.

Shoot by Dinakar Pamu

HYDERABAD

t was nothing but sheer passion for

business, that brought together

Yugandhar Tummala, a doctor who

comes from a political background and Koti Rao to make a foray into hospitality industry. With an ambition to start something of their own, both of them came up with Taksh, a chain of restaurants. In Sanskrit, the word Taksh means 'Son of a King' and also implies 'The Highest Form of Delicacy'. True to its name, the restaurants strive to offer unique cuisines to its guests in the ﬁnest ambience, giving them the right royal treatment. Engaged in a conversation with them, we found out how the brand came about and how it

Shoot by Dinakar Pamu

found its feet in the ﬁeld in no time.

The Start The hospitality industry has a great lure for many people. In our opinion, it has always been the most loved ﬁeld for all. I, Koti Rao, am a hotel management graduate and it was only natural that I opened a facility of this sort on my own. This interest in business is what laid the path. Luckily, my partner, Yugandhar Tummala too shares my love for the hotel industry. This brought us together to open Taksh – a Fine Dine restaurant.

red | april 2017 | 36

Itbedis ofNo

roses By Anahita Ahuja

Koti Rao take that leap of faith. We went with what we thought was right – the rest just followed. The Challenges Nothing comes easy. There were enough challenges at every step and we would be lying if we said there are no issues anymore. We still have a lot of challenges that we work towards overcoming at every step. Biggest one of them would be to keep up the standards, through highs and lows of the business and not compromise on the quality. In our industry, if a guest has a bad experience once, he will not come back. Hence, we need to maintain the standard throughout.

The Concept With a number of eateries opening every where, it is important to have a good concept. That is what attracts the clients. Coming up with something unique is the real challenge. That uniqueness itself can get you business in your ﬁrst few days. However, to actually stay put in the market, the only concept one can adapt is to offer good quality and taste with consistency. Taksh stands for the good quality and taste with a complete dining experience for the entire family. Journey So Far To be honest, the journey has just started. So far, the response has been great and extremely overwhelming and we hope to see it continue in the same lines. God has been very kind to us. It is by His grace and our passion that we have been able to create a chain of restaurants in a very short time. It is a very proud moment for us, but at the same time it automatically gives us more responsibility. The Risks Take any aspect of life, risk is the synonym for success. If one does not take risks, one cannot be successful. It is important to

Hyderabad as Market Hyderabad, in our opinion, is the best market we have ever seen, especially for the hospitality industry. They know

WE DO NOT MEAN TO SCARE

Future Plans We are looking at expansion. If it goes the way it is supposed to be, two years down the line Taksh will be a chain of ﬁne dine restaurants. We hope to open some more branches in AP and Telangana. The Day-to-Day Work The F&B industry is a daily challenge. We have our team of managers and chefs who take care of the day-to-day activities. We make sure that the staff is happy with their work and that our team is able to perform without any hurdles. Piece of Advice It looks very easy to run a hotel, but only when you get into it will you realise what it actually is all about. We do not mean to scare anyone who wants to open a new restaurant by saying this, but it is not as glossy as it looks. We would suggest they stick to the business for at least a year to see the results. Later, they may take up a franchise of a restaurant. This is what a newcomer should do.

ANYONE, BUT THIS INDUSTRY IS NOT AS GLOSSY AS IT LOOKS.

they want nothing but the best. That is why we are compelled to work better. The concept of Taksh is to maintain the quality of food. So, we make sure we do not compromise on it. The others too, are focusing more on their quality, thanks to which, not only is the industry beneﬁtting but also the customer. Hyderabadis are a passionate lot. This helped us grow through their word of mouth. Speciality of Taksh We at Taksh, specialise in carrying the authenticated taste of any dish. We strive to bring back the true avour of each dish when it was evolved and of course, maintain it. We hope that the love we have received will continue. We promise to be loyal to our guests. Yugandhar Tummala red | april 2017 | 37

HYDERABAD

Sumeet & Anitha Rathi

Sushila & Milap Bakodia Poonam & Kavitha

HOLI HAI!

Radhika & Prashanth

Neeraj & Sushmita Totla

Sadhana Singh

he ‘Bang Bang Holi Fest 2017’ at the Novotel Shamshabad, one of the biggest event in the city, saw partygoers having a blast. Actresses Madhushalini and Sanjjanaa Girlani were seen enjoying themselves with all their near and dear ones. Organic colours, live music, kids’ pool and the bubble and balloon ﬁghts made the occasion really special. Koyal and Anup Chandak, Aakaksha, Hansika, Vinni Singh, Bina Singh, Ramesh Patel and Alka were some caught soaked in vibrant colours.

Ishita

Madhu Shalini

Sridhar

Sanjjana Richa Ritu

Anshum

Archana Sourabh & Shradha Sonal red | april 2017 | 38

VENKATESH

t has been 31 years since Victory Venkatesh entered the Telugu ďŹ lm industry and what glorious years they have been! He made us laugh, he made us cry, he fought the bad guys and saved damsels in distress, every once in a while. Whatever the role demands, Daggubati Venkatesh has always nailed it. Of late, he has been breaking barriers by opting for out of the box roles. The actor is on cloud nine as his recent offering Guru, a remake R.Madhavan's Saala Khadoos, has opened with a good response and his performance has been widely acclaimed. Here he is, sharing his views on Tollywood, spirituality, family and moreâ&#x20AC;Ś

THE OFFICE CHOICE I

VICTORY

redhaute

How did you prepare for the role of Aditya in the film? I went to a tough body building trainer in the US. There was a point when I was fatigued and reached out for a bottle of water. The trainer just pushed it away. We included a similar scene in the ﬁlm. I recalled the coach from Whiplash while shooting for this ﬁlm.

Why do you feel that way? I did good ﬁlms like Drushyam, and Gopala Gopala. The roles were not challenging enough. There was a ‘been there, done that’ feeling. Guru broke that mould. With no make-up look, I was glad to keep my salt and pepper beard. I have no qualms about letting my age show. In fact, in Nuvvu Naaku Nachav, there is a dialogue about hair fall. The others in the unit wondered if that line should stay. I told them to let it be.

How did Guru happen? When Sudha Kongara told me the story, I instantly said yes. Unfortunately, I had some health issues and she went on to make it in Tamil and Hindi. I saw Irudhi Suttru. I was overwhelmed with emotions, hugged Sudha and told her that I wanted to do it in Telugu. Guru came to me at a time when I felt that I was getting monotonous.

THROW ME ANYWHERE, I SHALL SURVIVE.

I GIVE MY 100 PER CENT TO WHATEVER I DO.

Did Sudha influence your acting? She studied my performances in my earlier ﬁlms and was very quick in pointing out any repetitive expression or diction. She would urge me to do it in a different way. Ritika, who played the female lead role in Saala Khadoos had the advantage of experience. She had it all on her ﬁngertips, whereas I had to put in a lot more efforts.

Tell us about your journey in the film industry... I must thank my producers, directors, technicians and co-artistes for their support. 31 years went by swiftly and

When were you bitten by this acting bug? The thought of what-will-I-be never crossed my mind. I did schooling from Don Bosco, Egmore, obtained B.Com degree from Loyola College, Chennai and MBA degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, USA. I dabbled in an import-export business, but it did not work. One ﬁne morning my father’s casual call came asking me if I wanted to do a movie. After that, everything fell in place. I have learnt that what you want in life and what you get are totally different. But I give my 100 per cent to whatever I do. Throw me anywhere, I am sure to survive.

Tell us about your singing (Jingidi) experience. I was very apprehensive in the beginning. I wondered if it was necessary to sing at this stage, but I got hooked after listening to the beats of the song and decided to give it a shot. However, I enjoyed the recording sessions.

What is the secret behind your success? Self-discipline, hard work and determination. I have learnt from my father on how to maintain a good rapport with everyone in the industry. So far, I did 71 ﬁlms. A few of them certainly disappointed me. The rest of them were pretty much successful.

What changes have you witnessed in the industry? Enormous! The technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. The equations have now changed in ﬁlm-making. There was a time when the producer was the boss and the director was calling the shots. Now the star and the director call the shots. The producer is relegated to the backseat. There is a shift towards spending more on stars and technicians and less on production. This is not a good sign. 60 per cent should be spent on the production and the rest on technicians and stars.

I am looking forward to the next phase. I accept my age. I can’t and also shouldn’t be doing what I did 31 years ago. I can still dance, but deﬁnitely cannot twist and twirl like younger heroes.

Most of the movies in Telugu are male oriented. Your take? I don’t think so. You will find directors making women-centric movies. It is purely business and it has got nothing to do with sexism. They make what the audience wants. But in films like Pelli Cheskundam Pavitra Bandham, Vasantham, Suryavamsam, the heroines did play an important role. Not to forget in my latest film, Ritika played a very crucial role.

Have you ever felt like hanging your boots? Not till now. If I get that feeling, then the public will not want to watch my ﬁlms. There are some regrets on having missed out a few projects that eventually went to someone else. What is meant for you will land in your hands.

Do you have any particular dream roles? I know that my best is yet to come.I am waiting for the right script and the right director to bring that out. I will even do a villain role if the script excites me.

How do you handle success and failure? I accept the results, keeping emotions aside. My spiritual practice has helped me a lot. I am sincere about my ﬁlms, but I am not serious about them. I follow only one principle - do it, submit it and exit from it. After a certain point, a hit or a op does not really matter.

Your relationship with nephews... I am chilled out with Rana as well as Chaitanya. I can get wilder than them if I want to. Occasionally, when I attend parties, I show them I am a

Amongst the next gen, who do you think is likely to go a long way? Well, that is a difﬁcult choice. You can compare only when people have the same body language, dance steps or are doing similar ﬁlms. Everyone has a distinct style. They are putting up great performances. The only advice I offer to the current lot is that they should take more risks and work on fresh subjects.

IT IS BETTER TO AGE GRACEFULLY.

I HAVE NO QUALMS IN LETTING MY AGE SHOW.

What about your kids? Are they interested in movies? I don’t think any of my daughters have thought about that. I keep telling my son that he has to study well. If he wants to act, he

better dancer on the oor. They both are doing well. I am happy with Rana’s work in Baahubali and I am sure he will shine in the upcoming sequel. I keep telling them that if the audience accepts you, they will embrace you for the next 25 to 30 years and are ready to forgive a few of your ops.

red | april 2017 | 42

How religious are you? I was religious but now I look at it in a spiritual angle. In religion, you are god fearing. In spirituality, you have to pass that level to reach the Advaitic stage, which means that the truth is ﬁnally within us and the truth is you. I felt reborn again after having learnt this. Each of us will ﬁnd our own path according to the karma. Once I wind up my career, I will do a lot of meditation. There will be a lot of self inquiry and pursuit of the self.

Will you enter politics? No. Politics neither attracts me nor do I understand it. In India, there is too much power and less clarity on the objective to be achieved. But I do respect those who are in the system and are taking up the responsibility.

can jump into it. But I want him to face the life outside ﬁrst. Career, anyways, can come later. He is very clever, so he knows he has got to do something. We have never pressurised our children to fulﬁll our dreams. It is like making them live in a prison. We want them to discover what they would like to do.

computer screen for hours at a

Syndrome (CVS).

problems fall under Computer Vision

posture are less than ideal. Such eye

especially if the lighting and their

day at school can even have issues too,

at tablets or use computers during the

who get affected. In fact, kids who stare

Working adults are not the only ones

That can put a real strain on the eyes.

screen adds contrast, ﬂicker and glare.

muscles. To make things worse, the

This puts a pressure on the eye

the papers and then back up to type.

and forth. You may have to look down at

stretch. The eyes have to move back

that require us to stare at the

hese days, most of us have jobs

wellness

• Digital eyestrain is now the most common

Why should we worry?

• Neck pain

• Double vision • Headaches

• Dryness • Blurred vision

• Eye fatigue • Itchy eyes

What are the symptoms?

• General fatigue can occur from staring at screens and straining to see small fonts and images.

• Digital content is created by thousands of pixels. Viewing pixels for longer periods causes stress and strain on the eyes.

• We blink about 18 times a minute. While using a smart phone, tablet or digital device, we only blink half as much.

• Our eyes have to constantly refocus and reposition to process information when we use a digital device.

What are the causes?

• Let the viewing angle not more than

• Dim overhead lights.

Desktop Devices

• Font size and browser settings should be enlarged.

• Screen resolution, contrast and brightness should be adjusted.

• Keep the device at comfortable distance from the eyes.

• Let the viewing angle slightly below the eye level.

Mobile Devices

Health Ergonomics Here is the good news, you can reduce computer-related discomfort by becoming more aware of your body posture during the computer use, adjusting your workstation and viewing habits to avoid these problems. The following tips are designed to reduce the risk of stress, physical injury and computer eye strain from prolonged computer use.

• 72.5 % of the adults are unaware of the potential dangers of blue light to the eyes.

• 1/3 of the adults spend over nine hours a day, using digital devices and are very vulnerable to eyestrain.

• One in four children spend more than three hours a day using a digital device.

computer related repetitive strain injury.

Courtesy

• Certain food items help preserve your vision like courgettes, broccoli, fatty ﬁsh, eggs, garlic, onions, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries and apricots.

• Drink at least 1.2 litre of uid everyday to prevent dry eyes.

• Stick to the 20/20/20 rule; for every 20 minutes you spend on a digital device, take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away.

What is the treatment?

• Position chair support spine which helps to keep the body upright.

• Position keyboard ﬁnger friendly.

• Monitor to be positioned at and directly in front of user with no tilt.

• Place the top-edge of the monitor to just below the eye level.

• Viewing distance needs to be 50-100 cm.

35 degrees from the monitor.

Apr 20-May 20

TAURUS

You have the energy and determination to topple opponents. Don’t wait for opportunities. Don’t get yourself to a flying start. You may bag a promotion or new job. A female acquaintance will contribute to your career growth. You could be a bit too dominating and be sure your partner won’t appreciate it. Ego clashes should be avoided at this point. Stop over-expecting. You need to take care of the health of your spouse.

Lucky for you: Light Pink, 10

Lucky for you: Blue, 19

Jun 21 – Jul 22

CANCER

Lucky for you: Green, 2

You will feel extra sensitive and emotional. You will focus a lot more on how you look and how you are perceived by others. Wanting to be independent, you might think of starting your own business. You will be admired as a boss and as an employee. Don’t shy away from an office romance. You are likely to get a positive reply. Married folks may have a tough time due to some misunderstandings.

Lucky for you: Yellow, 9

GEMINI May 21-Jun 20

ARIES

Caution and determination are the keywords and income and gains top your priority list. You may be firm on getting success, but are flexible in your approach. For singles, this is the time to whisper those three magical words. Married people may face some ego hassles. This is the time to cement the roots of your relationship, probably through a romantic trip. Chances of purchasing a new car, house or renovation are there as well.

Mar 21- Apr 19

You have a desire to succeed and confidence to back up your actions. You will come across new proposals from abroad but caution is advised. Income will grow at a steady pace. Your boss will be cordial but quite demanding. This is a good time to invest in real estate, but keep away from speculation and share market. You might try to pay off a debt. Everything is fine with married people.

Forecast

VIRGO Aug 23 – Sep 22

Lucky for you: Violet, 13

You will take major steps to fulfil your ambitions. Take some time out to pamper and groom yourself. You have willpower, which helps you progress in career. You can rely on the business partner as he or she will certainly be of help, financially as well as personally. You might end up spending heavily to impress your loved one. This extra expense could get you into trouble. You need to cut back on social networking.

Lucky for you: Brown, 20

Jul 23 – Aug 22

LEO

You seem to have courage and charisma. With high stamina and a balanced mindset, you are set to take the world by storm. Your career will rise. New plans and launches may not do well, so wait for some time. You should be alert if you have a business partner. Love life will remain pleasant, provided you keep a watch on your language. While you have a lot of passion and desire, the failure of your partner to meet them could trigger frustration.

Oct 23 – Nov 21

SCORPIO

Lucky for you: Cream, 5

You might become argumentative and know what it takes to win. This tendency would cause a lot of anxious moments. Go for meditation to calm your restless mind. Promotion or pay hike are on the anvil. You may change the job. You need to work hard to maintain your position at your workplace. You will get to spend quality time with your lover and may go out frequently. You will also be able to resolve any issues with your partner.

Lucky for you: Turquoise, 15

Lucky for you: Gold, 17

You should avoid offering unsolicited advices to people. Live and let live should be your policy. Career ride will be a bit bumpy and you may run into some monetary issues. You should be a bit more polite at work. Hold off new business launches for now. A romantic trip could be planned around this time. You may get into an argument with your fiancee. Married folks may face issues due to distrust. Repose trust in your partner.

Dec 22 – Jan 19

CAPRICORN

Lucky for you: Red, 7

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 – Dec 21

LIBRA

Dream big. There will be clarity in your mind which will help you succeed. For business, this could be a crucial time. There is a possibility of a rise in income level, if you work hard enough. Spouse will contribute a lot to the business growth, but keep ego out of the equation. While there will be a few challenges in love matters, together you will tackle them and strengthen your relationship. Singles could look forward to a new relationship towards the end of the month.

Sep 23 – Oct 22

You are likely to gain respect and admiration in social network. You will be enwrapped in peace. The period is not promising for the career, but it will gain the desired momentum. Business partnerships will remain smooth. However, you might face some issues due to payment delays. You will find it difficult to further your ties with your partner. If you are married, expect some distractions. You may even think of double-crossing your partner. Keep your thoughts to yourself.

Feb 19 – Mar 20

PISCES

Lucky for you: Purple, 14

Fortune will favour you. You will also work on your looks and appearance. Friends will be a lot more supportive, but health might give a tough time. This is a good time for debt recovery. If salaried, you will land your dream job. You will do well financially and may also buy a car or house. This time period is also promising if planning to get married. For those already hitched, pleasantness would prevail in the relationship.

Lucky for you: Black, 4

Jan 20 – Feb 18

AQUARIUS

If you plan to lend money, make sure to have proper paperwork in place. You might face headaches and eye related issues. You look for a change as monotony de-motivates you. Foreign deals should be handled with caution. In fact, you should take the advice of your spouse in this regard. Keep an eye on your business partner. Colleagues will favour you a lot, but seniors may not. The married should keep ego out of their relationship. Both should strive to make things work.

PUBLISHER’S

NOTE

father-son duo Hameed and Riaz Khan, has proved. An epitome of

Turn to our Main Feature to learn what they say.

good care of yourselves.

Council podium to take oath as its

Madhav reached the Legislative

father Ex-MLC Mr.P.V.Chalapti Rao,

her own distinct identity. Turn to

entrepreneurship and established

is connected to, she embraced

from political ﬁeld that her family

Walking in the footsteps of his

the rising mercury. Take a very

description perfectly. Walking away

Haute has all the details.

Chandra Mouli Tippala, Publisher

Keep your cool and also an eye on

did. Padma Lagadapati ﬁts this

this popular ﬁeld.

She believed she could and she

Koti Rao tell us how they Trade in

owners Yugandhar Tummala and

eateries in Hyderabad is Taksh. The

Adding to the swelling number of

his spiritual pursuits to talk about.

story in Trade.

and the son together unfold their

best and only the best. The father

business to next level.

and perfect strategy to take this

ﬁnd out how they share a unique

Bukhari. Read the GenX column to

Bukhari and Mohammed Ibraheem

brothers, Mohammed Ishaq

men’s wear, is the brainchild of

coach. Besides ﬁlms and life, he has

stunning performance as a boxing

won millions of hearts with his

salt and pepper look in Guru and

men’s wear, this store delivers the

what Panache, headed by the

touch base with a few distributors.

Victory Venkatesh is back with his

Fashion is all about quality. That is

we turn our Focus to.

reveals a few ground realties, which

realty line to run Terracon. He

Jahanpanah, a one-stop shop for

We Focus on her.

enter IT sector, toed his father’s

Vinay Babu, though qualiﬁed to

it is the most appropriate time to

number of big releases, we thought

hedge these risks. In the wake of a

evolve an effective formula to

distributors. The industry is yet to

the entire transaction are the

the fate of a ﬁlm. The worst hit in

besides the B.O., that determine

Neither marriage nor a mishap

has established it beyond doubt.

to the winning end of the ramp.

pen the new MLC’s Life.

yet the lure of cinema is irresistible.

could dampen her spirits to walk

and ﬂouting rules. Here we brieﬂy

phenomenal. Gamble it may be,

The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. Sudha Jain

path his father treads. Yes, Srinivas

ﬂaunting money, ﬂexing muscles

monetary, involved are rather

Eve on the Hyderabad side.

Yet another son, who has taken the

one can win elections even without

high. Hence the risks, especially

There are a innumerable factors,

member. He has established that

is pleasurable. A gambler makes his living out of hope.

The game is big and stakes are

“

The urge to gamble is universal and its practice

Aditya & Lisa

Karishma Pooja

Prashanth Kumar

Neelima

Sameer & Rummy Azad

HIGH TIMES Call it the ďŹ rst ever Micro Brewery in town. Hope Floats Micro Brewery was launched at Pier 33 with great pomp and show recently. The event was organised by Purple Martini and had the younger lot of the city having a gala time. A whole lot of beer guzzling and chugging was what kept the tempo of the night going. Prominently present at the gala were Shweta Keerthi, Shivaangi Sharma, Nitya Jalan, Guna Jaka, Akhil Khushlani, Drishika Chander and Dhruv Jaisimha.

Kaill & Chin

Megha & Inder Walia

Cindy & Ankur

Meenu

Priyanka & Sahil Gulati

Priyanka, Nitin Meeta, Priyanka & Kunal Jetwani

BUN MAGIC

Medha & Shruthi

The City of Nawabs was given the exclusive honour of being the launch pad of Papparoti. This brand made its presence felt in 32 countries and it boasts of 407 outlets and kiosks across the world. The franchise heads of the country, Kunal and Nitin Jethwani were seen welcoming the esteemed guests. A number of guests were seen munching buns and washing them down with different varieties of tea, the outlet offers.

Manjoor & Samia Alam Khan

Swetha Keerthi

Aamir Javed & Ruba

Sunaina

Meeta Jetwani Ayesha

Riya & Kashish Avnish, Suchita, Neeu, Harish & Sandeep Najaf & Iffat

Umesh Jetwani Ajay & Hina Jetwani red | april 2017 | 18

Kanit & Rajshree

Sanya Alam Khan

Manoj

Hina Chandaranna

Harsh Kumar

DESIGN DIARIES

Paramjeet & Nikhil

Fashion Designer Vijay Rana announced his ﬁrst VR franchise store, featuring life wear collection along with Inspirasia at The Lumbini Amrutha Chambers, Banjara Hills. Actor Harman Baweja launched the store, where models displayed the designer’s collections and added glitz and glamour to the occasion. Bella Menezes, Rekha Reddy, Bina Mehta, Madhavi Narulla, Dolly Lokhwani along with actress Pooja Shree, graced the occasion. Vijay Rana said, “For easy dressing and everyday look ,VR brings life wear collection for today’s modern women, who is independent and follows global trends.”

Zeba Ramya Mallapaka

Sandy

Harman Baweja & Vijay Rana

Menezes Bella Dominic Noynah

Shanti & Lata

Sameer Damani

Richita Ghosh

Dolly

Reema Malik red | april 2017 | 20

Shahaji

Akash & Manju Agarwal

Flavia Valarini

THE BEST OF BRIDAL Jade, a designer brand which was started in 2008 by Monica Shah and Karishma Swali, opened its agship store in Banjara Hills. Renowned socialite Pinky Reddy inaugurated the outlet and was heard singing praises of their collection on display. It is conceived to be an inspirational space, where special clientele, particularly brides, are attended to. The Jade Couture Bridal Studio is a one-stop shop for ethnic wear. Flaunting some ﬁne couture pieces, the models posed for the paparazzi and the guests. Spotted making pretty pictures were Akanksha, Soﬁya Sujad, Nitya Jalan, Shilpa, Gayatri Reddy and Shweta.

Sneha

Sabiha Akanksha

Anu Keerthi

Komal

Meenakshi

ashion designers Ankur and Priyanka Modi, a truly dynamic team have propelled their label AM:PM into a serious fashion force and their newly opened standalone store at Banjara Hills is a landmark milestone in the journey of the brand. At 3,500 sq.ft., over two oors, this is the largest store opened by the brand. With the intention of creating a design language for the store that spelled purity and grace and provide a retail experience illustrating sophistication and luxury, AM:PM comes up with contemporary pieces.

REVIEW

FASHION FORWARD

red | april 2017 | 22

The brand came up with its own outlet to cater to their vast clientele. Pure fabrics, fresh colours and chic silhouettes brewed with subtle prints, surprising embellishments and passionate attention to detail make their designs wardrobe-worthy. They focus on wearability, comfort and style. Fabrics are elegantly tailored, using woven materials. A seamless terrazzo oor with wooden inserts, intensive uses of black metal and luxurious copper elements characterise the store. The concrete oor widely used in Indian homes during the mid-nineteenth century is used, hinting at the tradition AM:PM portrays through its designs. The minimalistic and clean black-metal shelving juxtaposes the contemporary value that the brand also represents. The geometric sensibility of the space is broken by organic shaped tables and surfaces. Following an open ceiling concept, the lighting for the store is mounted from a neatly deﬁned metal trellis. The lighting system with evenly lit merchandise and spots give a playful mood to the store.

Timing: 11:00 am-8:00 pm | Ph: 040-48502045

REVIEW

Father of all Buns

apparoti, the international coffee chain, renowned for its exquisite and delicious buns launched its globally renowned franchise in India. After establishing in over 32 countries worldwide, this brand is now here with its agship café at Jubilee Hills. It chose Hyderabad as the city which is known for its luxurious cosmopolitan culture and unparalleled inclination towards international cuisines and haute couture. Papparoti is also acclaimed for its myriad variety of coffee and beverages. The brand with subtitle ‘Father of all Buns’ serves its signature freshly-baked buns that have a crisp, thin crust topped with a mild coffee-caramel coating and a butterfilled centre. This is sure to nourish, enrich and fulfill the dream of every connoisseur. The signature buns are made with a special recipe that contains our and omega-3 enriched eggs. Take the first bite of the crispy

outer layer of the bun which is derived from a creamy concoctio and you will know what a delicious treat it is. Some of their must-trys buns are almonds with Nutella, Cheese, Caramel, Lotus Biscuit and the Lotus biscuit bun. Walk into the place and a soothing aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread welcome you. With an indoor and outdoor seating option, this eatery will always have something for everyone. Franchisee heads of India, Kunal and Nitin Jethwani shared, “The venue of Papparoti boasts of magniﬁcent otherworldly ambience that resonate with global aura of luxury. The serenity offers priceless moments as you relish the world famous PAPPA buns.”

Timings: 12 noon to 11:00pm | Contact:040-23550049, 9676261704

red | april 2017 | 23

HYDERABAD

eve

Craft & mpsion By Anahita Ahuja

he is a businesswoman, a philanthropist, the Chairperson of FICCI and runs an NGO. Meet Padma Lagadapati, daughter of former Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, the late Mr.P.Upendra and wife of well-known industrialist and politician Mr.Lagadapati Rajgopal. She has aced everything she has taken up in life. In a tête-à-tête with her, we found out more about her work, life, family and charity.

red | april 2017 | 24

The journey so far... My childhood days were spent in Kolkata and New Delhi. I grew up in a household of 3 brothers which was tough, but that made me challenge myself more. We had very humble beginnings, with my father serving as a government employee. He ran a very tight ship. He later went into politics. Growing up in a political household was not as glamorous as it is made out to be. My father was gone most of the time and my grandmother and mother used to take care of us. My brother P.V.K.Mohan joined merchant navy and went on to become a captain. I think, in a way, my father’s early entry to politics, made us grow up faster than our peers.

shift. These days we ﬁnd men taking more and more responsibility at home than they would before. The cornerstone for the success of a woman, in any kind of profession, is a supportive family, band of female friends and drama-free personal life.

education, girl’s hygiene and disability awareness. In a small scale, I have some initiatives that meet at the intersection of the causes, I support.

Chairperson of FICCI I am honoured to have been handpicked as the leader for this prestigious business organisationFICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), Hyderabad chapter. In alignment with national vision, we have committed ourselves to encourage and empower women through workshops, speaker sessions and sharing best practices through networking.

I also have an NGO of my own, by the name ‘HELP’ which was started a few years ago. A few like-minded people joined me in this venture. We take up welfare activities like providing medical equipment to clinics, infrastructure in schools and water plants in villages. We see to it that we complete at least two projects in a year.

Let us talk business I have a design company ‘At Par Interiors’. I run it in the partnership with Prasuna Reddy. Managing the venture would not be possible without her. I have a deep passion for interiors. I am able to utilise my creativity, skills and general knack to get things done. We aim to give a dream home/ofﬁce space to our clients. It is only this ambition that motivates me and keeps me going.

Charity comes first I do not think I do enough, at least not to my full capacity. My interest lies in women empowerment,

Secret of success I don’t think it is any different from what it takes to be a successful businessman. The only difference I see is that as women, we are often saddled with the responsibility of running the household and investing our time in the lives of our children. Even though it is a man’s world, in recent years the society seems to have changed and is heading towards a progressive

We are also engaged in some Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which empower women economically. To reach this goal, we offer training to them in life and job skills such as computers operations, driving. This, subsequently, facilitates them to gain employment in partner companies. Additionally, we have adopted three schools and one village- Muchintal.

The political game I have always kept a safe distance from politics and that is for very good reasons. I like getting things done. For me, service to the people comes first. I am unfiltered and passionate and cannot play the game for the long haul. I am very happy and content with my accomplishments and work that I am currently doing. I have never felt like I have wronged anyone because I over-deliver. In politics, we see those running for office over-promise and under-deliver. I can never do that. I don’t give hope to people and then backtrack on it. The people’s person Most of my work requires me to be around people, but ask anyone who knows me. They are bound to say that I am an introvert to the core. I am not a people’s person, if anything, I tend to distance myself from people without even knowing it. I have set goals, code of ethics and big expectations from me in any role. I rely on my peers to jointly accomplish the tasks at hand. In the process, I sometimes make friends. That is what I call a good byproduct. Personal vs. professional life I have two grown up and independent boys. Before they began on their journey that took them around the world, my life revolved around them. Now that I have more time on my red | april 2017 | 25

RAPID FIRE: Who is your role model? My father, Mr.Parvataneni Upendra. He will remain my role model always. Your happiest moment? Becoming a mother. I have two wonderful boys who are extensions of me, growing to be their own individual selves. Favourite holiday destination? Dubai

Favourite place to shop? New York and Rome Most comfortable wearing? Simple handloom saris What do you fear? That I will not have any legacy and that my work, not my name, will be forgotten. One thing you would like to change about yourself? Want to be more emotionally composed.

FOR ME, SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE COMES FIRST. I AM UNFILTERED AND PASSIONATE AND CANNOT PLAY THE GAME FOR THE LONG HAUL. I AM VERY HAPPY AND CONTENT WITH MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WORK THAT I AM CURRENTLY DOING.

hands. I am ﬁnally able to do things that I have always wanted to and I dreamt of. I have to admit that having amiable family members who are willing to step into my shoes and form a supportive wall for me is probably why I am able to do so much.

Unwinding Since I am a self-diagnosed insomniac, I will not say sleep. I found meditation and activities with Brahmakumari’s immensely relaxing. Otherwise, I take some time off to indulge in some guilty pleasures and be a girl sometimes by indulging in beauty services like facials, manicures and pedicures.

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“

Highlight I think I am yet to see it, since the bar only gets higher as I add more feathers to my cap. I think I will be the happiest when my sons and my two daughters (in-laws) grow to great heights and surpass my husband and me. I have invested a lot into my children. I hope to realise the good gains in terms of their success and accomplishments.

HER THOUGHTS •

Put in your best and leave the rest to God.

•

I do not like cooking and am not apologetic about it! Gone are the days when a woman’s place was in the kitchen. If I was a man, would you have still asked me if I liked to cook?

•

Good words are worth much…..and cost little. Shoot by Dinakar Pamu

Of Br therhood

And Business

ailing from a family that has been in the business for over a century, brothers Mohammed Ishaq Bukhari and Mohammed Ibraheem Bukhari – decided to rebrand and rebuild their clothes range and that was how Jahanpanah was born. The motive simply is to dress men in the finest ethnic wear and turn them into kings. It is only natural their store is a one stop shop for men that houses a wide range of pathani, kurta pyjamas, stylish Indo-Western outfits. Trying to understand them more, we caught up with the brothers to know about their field of work and the relationship that they have been sharing.

The Inception Jahanpanah comes from the house of well known Mohammed Cap Mart, which is into business since 1902. Having a rich legacy of serving the people of the city for over a century, we do find an instant connect with the local people and lay our hands straight on their pulse. In order to keep in step with the changing trends, we have diversified into different verticals and felt the need to rebrand ourselves. That is where the idea of Jahanapanah actually comes from. It was in 2012, when we had the soft launch of the outlet and then in 2013, we opened our first agship store at Abids. The Background Thanks to our family, we did get quite a lot of grooming. One cannot change the fact that the retail trend is fast changing and to keep abreast with the new trends, one has to upgrade. Though the background of

Shoot by Dinakar Pamu

HYDERABAD

By Anahita Ahuja

handling a single store did help us, we have many struggles because managing a chain of stores is a different ball game. Concept When we decided to rebrand this outlet Jahanapanah, our main objective was to highlight the rich culture and heritage of Hyderabad. Our city is known for its Ganga Jamuna tehzeeb. We represent a perfect amalgamation of all the rich cultures with a slight modern touch in terms of fashion.

There is a steep growth in organised ethnic retail and that is where we see a void which Jahanpanah can fill. We intend to give the customers the assurance of our brand and the worth of tradition. If things go as they are planned in the next five years, we will establish 250 stores across India. Brothers-cum-Partners We both work as a team and distribute our work load. While one of us handles the vendors, inventory and the finance department, the other takes care of the marketing and administration along with scaling. We have different working style and have very different tastes. While one is classy and sober, the other is a bit colourful and fun loving. And this mood reects in our work and selection. That is how we complement each other. We work together as a team in each department, discuss the day to day operations and the work schedule.

The USP Our brand carries fashion with a good mix of modern and traditional traits. It is a perfect place for those who want to stay traditional with a dash of the western inuence. We are also known for focusing on customer services. We are an exclusive boutique, offering an ethnic wear for men and boys for any occasion or special event.

about. No matter how huge the online market grows, the ethnic textile industry works well in a brick and mortar store. Yes, it does inuence the customer as it helps them in making up their minds.

Our Target Clientele We cater to the commoner as well as the creme-de-la-creme of the society. The primarily focus is on people who are looking for value for money and the brand conﬁdence. Since, we are known for our fusion wear, we cater to those who go for a mix of fashion and culture. Influence of the Online Market The products we sell are all through touch and feel – that is what they are

Mohammed Ibraheem Bukhari

Future Plans We are going for metro city expansion plans along with tier one cities in both company owned and franchise formats ﬁrst throughout South India. Eventually, we will be going pan India.

COMPATIBILITY METER: I ADMIRE THE WAY HE WORKS: ISHAQ He is my younger brother. We are like two sides of the same coin. It is quite simple to work together as we have it all well segregated. I handle the back end operations, while he deals with the marketing angle of it. We are like friends and take all decisions jointly. I love him a lot and we share a very special bond that I treasure. He is hard working, disciplined, prompt and spontaneous. He sets certain targets for himself and achieves them, meeting deadlines because of his perseverance.

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ME: IBRAHEEM Bhai and I share a very special bond. The foundation of our bond is respect. I feel that it is the backbone of any relationship. We are more friends than brothers. The way he lives, works and for the person he is; everything he does inspires me always. Ishaq bhai is very determined and goes to any extent to realise his dreams. HIS FAVOURITES

Mohammed Ishaq Bukhari

Car: Mercedes-Benz C-class HIS FAVOURITES:

Food: Hyderabadi biryani

Restaurant: Barbeque Nation

Holiday Destination: He has travelled everywhere. He likes to visit new places, but a quick break to a resort with his family is what he loves the most.

Holiday destination: Switzerland

Actress: Kareena Kapoor

Car: Ferrari or Lamborghini Food: Kebabs

Actress: Katrina Kaif Actor: Hrithik Roshan red | april 2017 | 29

HYDERABAD

Ramp is no Walk

Cakewalk By Anahita Ahuja

udha Jain, a lady who has achieved everything she ever dreamt of, is an inspiration for all those married women out there, who want to follow their dreams and make a name for themselves. Director of the Shery Group, this PYT has won Mrs.Hyderabad (Gujarat) 2015, Miss.Craftsvilla State 2015 and the South Zone Queen Contest 2016. Here is more from her lifeâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Red Eve Padma Lagadapati is the daughter of a politician and married to a politician. Yet, she keeps a safe distance from the ﬁeld and insists that there are paths other than politics to serve people.

24 Red GenX Men’s ethnic wear is now a genre in itself, making its mark. Mohammed Ishaq Bukhari and Mohammed Ibraheem Bukhari founded Jahanpanah. It cater to this gender. We take a look at how these young tycoons go about it.

Red Focus Sudha Jain says ramp walking and bagging glamorous awards are not all that easy. You need the right bend of mind and determination to do it. Read on to know more about this beauty queen.

Red Haute After completing 31 years in the industry, Venkatesh is full of contentment and overowing with gratitude. This actor is open to challenging roles, even if they are not glamorous. From his recent ick Guru to his spiritual learning, he gets candid about his chat.

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32 Red Trade The city is buzzing with eateries, cafes and what not! One more addition to the hospitality sector is Taksh. Yugandhar Tummala and Koti Rao strive to offer an aunthentic fare and avours.

FESTIVE FERVOUR This Ugadi, Manepally Jewellers introduced an exceptionally rare wedding and festive diamond and gold jewellery collection for its clients. Actress Mannara Chopra graced the event to showcase some of their ﬁnest pieces. Top models too aunted pieces from this opulent range. Murli Krishna and Gopal Krishna, Directors of the brand said, “We are a brand crafted on the highest quality of excellence. This year, we proudly present our most lavish and specialised creation through this wedding and festive diamond jewellery collection. This collection is indeed a testament to our legacy and recognition.”

Srividya

Furhung Singh

Ruchika Sharma

Kam

A PERFECT BEGINNING The Westin, Hyderabad and Allure Art and Events presented Abintara, an art exhibition, to provide a proper platform to the budding talents. Curated by Furhung Singh and hosted by Dietmar Kielnhofer, the exhibition showed works of Anjum Art, Nivedita Acharya, Virendra Shah and Sreeranjiny Ganesh. Namita Prasad, Sailaja Reddy, Khaleequr Rehman, Abdul Rahman, Geet Gupta, Kishore Singh, Anika Khera, Raunaq Yar Khan and Guneet were prominently present.

Virender Shah, Nivedita, Anjum & Sreenjiny Ganesh

RAISING THE CURTAIN The IIFA Utsavam Awards hosted a press conference at the Park Hyatt, to kick-start its celebrations. The awards acknowledging the contribution of four ﬁlm industries, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, had actress Pragya Jaiswal speaking for them. She briefed the media on the upcoming celebration that would take place at the HICC and about its line-up performances, sponsors and everything that was in store for the crowd.

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Ajitha Reddy

Mallika & Veena Reddy

Karishma Seth & Neelu Bagga

ADDRESS FOR LUXURY Giving luxury a new and perfect address was fashion designers’ Ankur and Priyanka Modi’s brand AM:PM. They established their ﬁrst agship store in the city. Well-known event organiser Archie Paranji ensured that the inaugural event buzzed with action. Shweta Malpani, Swathi Kilaru, Shilpa Reddy, Namrata Shirodkar, Dr.Kamala, Parvathi Reddy and Pinky Reddy were seen catching up with each other over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Ankur & Priyanka Modi

Anirudh

Pratiba

Ashwini

Parvathi Reddy Anju Jain Dr Kamala

Raksha

Vasavi Reddy

Kirti Reddy Aria

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Meghana

Sana

Aashna Tejdeep Kaur Neeru Mohan

Richie & Sandeep

Alok Reddy

FLOWER POWER Khaliquer Rahmen Ramesh & Maya Patel

Palak

BELLISSIMO OPENS IN THE CITY With the launch of Bellissimo, a premium family salon, the fashionistas now have a new place to go for some great hairstyling, makeup, spa and skin care. The launch party of the salon, which belongs to hair and makeup artist Neeru Mohan, was attended by the who’s who of the city. With an objective to ﬁll in the gaps the market is showing, the Bellissimo Family Salon promises to offer nothing but the best to its clients. Seen prominently at the event were Sushila Bokadiya, Sudha Jain, Ananya Simlai, Chetna Parikh, Ronak Yar Khan, Ramesh Patel, Preeti Awate and Anika Khara.

Keerthi Reddy, owner of the luxury gifting portal OneRoze, opened her exclusive store recently. The beautifully done up boutique was inaugurated by Pinky Reddy and saw the swish lot of the city in complete attendance. This premium brand that underscores an experience with every order of roses it sends out ﬁnally has an address in Hyderabad. The evening celebrated just that. Spotted admiring the one-of-a-kind ower were Shilpa Reddy, Archana Rao and Moni Agarwal among many others. Deepa

Sana

Mansi

Nymisha

Mohib

Manisha Kapoor

Ishna

Nikky

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Rounak

Shaheen & Sikander Daredia

Dr Sohail

Malaika Arora Khan Sharon

Faheem & Naaz

Varsha

Daredia Constructions hosted a grand inauguration of two of their properties under the names of ‘Sky Garden’ and ‘Urban Ville’ recently. These properties, located at Kompally, were inaugurated by the brand ambassador of Daredia Constructions, Malaika Arora Khan. A perfect amalgamation of beauty and brain – these residential projects vouch for their high quality and comfort. The event was followed by a scrumptious lunch, which was hosted by the Founder and Chairman of the company, Sikander Daredia. The guests had a gala time.

Sohel Mateen

REDEFINING COMFORT

Sahil & Nihal

FOR THAT GREAT LOOK Farida

The sleek unisex world-renowned Toni & Guy launched its multinational hair dressing salon at Road No.12, Banjara Hills. The salon was inaugurated by actor Rana Daggubati and the event saw a lot of Page 3 regulars. With various services like body massages, scrubs, foot spas, foot reexology, head acupressure, facials, under eye treatments, haircuts, colouring, straightening and perming, hair extensions, skin care services and body polish, this place has something to offer for everyone. Rajeev & Sonal Doshi

Meenu

HEAL THE WORLD Bonnya Lahiry Chattopadhyay did her bit by organising an initiative, ‘Earth Hour-2017’, in association with the Helping Hands Foundation to save the planet from global warming. People came together at the People’s Plaza in Khairatabad to join hands for this cause and to promote and support it. Spotted at the event were Mohammed Khaleequr Rahman, Mohib Baig, Abdur Rahman, Syeda Azra, Jaya Hiranandani, Neeru Mohan, Bharathi Rajwani Kuttoor, Zia Husam, Danish Khan, Syed Aasim Hussain, Supriyo Chakraborty and Neeta Ritu Narang. It was a grand success. red | april 2017 | 12

Mrudula

A CUT ABOVE One of the leading gold and silver bullion traders of India, Caps Gold unveiled their agship outlet, Kalasha Fine Jewels, at Banjara Hills. Actresses Tanya Hope and Payal Ghosh with a couple of models showcased the exclusive jewellery line at the gathering. Director of the brand, Abhishek Chanda exclaimed, “Kalasha is a glorious store which houses the most exceptionally intricate designs of gold. diamond, jadau, platinum and other jewellery. The pieces are skillfully reﬁned by the best and the most gifted designers of the country, thereby magnifying and enriching metal with vision, purity and unparallel perfection.”

Jagapathi Babu Bela

Gireesh Malpani

Chanda Abhishek & Sowmya

Satpala Reddy

Sridhar

Kousthubha Atin & Payal

Sonali & Piyush

Reema

Tanya Hope Sangeeta red | april 2017 | 14

Brinda & Vamshi

Ramani & Prashanth

Adarsh

Prathuyusha Sharma

MOVIE MAGIC

Yamini Bhaskar Vamshi Siva Balaji & Swapna Madhuri

Naveen & Vasasri

Jhansi

Shashi Preetam

Srikanth & Sangeeta

Mani Ratnam is one of the most celebrated directors and his movies have always created a buzz at the box ofﬁce. His latest one Cheliya, the dubbed version of the Tamil ﬁlm Kaatru Veliyidai, was released recently. Its special screening was hosted by Bisket Srikanth. Known as the king of movie screenings, Srikanth ensured that his guests reached their seats in time, armed with snacks. His wife, Sangeetha Soma, was seen playing a perfect hostess, as she welcomed each and every one personally.

Sowmya Venugopal

Priya

POWER PACKED!

Sri Vidya

Keeping the trend alive of hosting movie screenings, Srikanth Soma yet again organised one for the much awaited Pawan Kalyan starrer Katamarayudu. Fans were seen hooting and whistling as the Power Star made the entry. Pawan Kalyan’s screen presence was enough to turn the show into a lively celebration. The guests enjoyed the movie while nibbling popcorn and sipping colas. Director of the movie Dolly, Actors Sowmya Venugopal, Yamini Bhasker, Chaitanya and Shivabalaji graced the event. Srikanth & Sangeeta red | april 2017 | 15

Shilpa Chowdary Ashwini

Ashu Gauri

Aanchal

Bobita

Ravi Khandelwal, Gaurang, Kamal goel, Neeta Lulla & Kamini Saraf

FASHION FOR A CAUSE

Bina Mehta

The evening was set; the backdrop was the majestic Chowmahalla Palace and the ladies in their best attire, set the ramp on ďŹ re. Some of the city's most prominent personalities in the social circuit were present at the fundraising event. The Rotary Club, with the support of Angasutra and fashion designers Neeta Lulla and Gaurang Shah, organised the event. The proceeds went to upgrade the Rotary Blood Bank and also to support 37 Thalassemia affected children. Pragya Jaiswal and Sandhya Raju were the showstoppers. The fun-ďŹ lled event was followed by cocktails and dinner.

Sirisha Dr. Smita

Pragya Jaiswal, Neeta Lulla & Satish Sandhya Raju

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