Latest news with #Kodavas
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CNC advises Kodavas to obtain ethnic certificate for gun exemption
M adikeri: The Codava National Council has advised Kodavas to obtain a Kodava ethnic certificate to secure a gun exemption certificate instead of relying on Jamma certificates. In a press statement, CNC president NU Nachappa suggested that an ethnic certificate will help protect the rights of the Kodava community. He said that a Kodava ethnic certificate will be helpful in safeguarding the rights of the Kodava community. An ethnic certificate will protect the gun exemption rights of the community as a religious ritual under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. "A Kodava ethnic certificate is needed to maintain the integrity of the traditions and rights of the Kodava community. The ethnic certificate will strengthen the right to gun exemption without relying on the certificates of Jamma holders," he said. He stated that non-Kodavas must be prevented from using the gun exemption facility that can be claimed by purchasing Jamma land. He explained that the Kodava community's legal system and indigenous mono-ethnic identity should be strengthened. It should be ensured that eligible members of the Kodava community are receiving gun exemption certificates, he stated. He alleged that some individuals from outside the Kodava community purchased Jamma land in Bhagamandala and obtained gun license exemption certificates on the pretext of Jamma land exclusive ownership.
News18
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rashmika Mandanna Faces Backlash For Claiming She's 'First Actress From Coorg': 'People Were Judgy'
Netizens took to social media to correct her claim, pointing out that several actresses from Coorg, including the popular Kannada star Prema, preceded her. Rashmika Mandanna has found herself in hot water after a recent statement where she claimed to be the first actress from Coorg to enter the film industry. In an interview with Mojo Story, the Pushpa star opened up about her early struggles, saying, 'Conversations back home when I got my first paycheck weren't easy. Because, you know, in the Coorg community, nobody has ever entered the film industry. I think I am the first one in our whole community to have entered the industry. People were extremely judgy." While Rashmika may have intended to reflect on her journey, the remark quickly went viral and sparked criticism online. Netizens took to social media to correct her claim, pointing out that several actresses from Coorg, including the popular Kannada star Prema, preceded her. Another wrote, '@iamRashmika Have you ever heard the name of actress #Prema? You weren't even born at that time when she was ruling Kannada film industry! Have u heard of #DaisyOonnanna, #ShwethaChengappa, #NidhiSubbaiah, #AshikaPoonaccha, #ReeshMananaih? Dude you seriously lack sense! Get it fixed." "When I got my first paycheck, it wasn't easy… because no one from my Coorg community had ever entered the film industry. I think I'm the first one from my entire community to step into it."– #RashmikaMandanna — Whynot Cinemas (@whynotcinemass_) July 6, 2025 The comment also drew strong reactions from the Kodava community, who accused the actress of being unaware of their cultural and cinematic contributions. Veteran actress Neravanda Prema, who was among the first from Coorg to earn mainstream recognition, also responded to Rashmika's comment. Speaking to a news portal, she said, 'What is there for me to say? The Kodava community knows the truth. You should ask her (Rashmika) about her version of the statement. What can I say about it?" Prema added, 'Before me, there was an actor, Shashikala from Coorg, who played supporting roles. Then I entered the film industry, and later many Kodavas have done well." As of now, Rashmika Mandanna has not issued a clarification regarding her statement. First Published: July 08, 2025, 00:13 IST
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Rashmika Mandanna faces flak from Kodava community for claiming she's 1st Coorgi actor: ‘Forgot Prema, Gulshan Devaiah?'
A simple Google search for 'actors from Coorg' reveals a list of artists who have made it big in the film industry—from Prema to Varsha Bollamma and Gulshan Devaiah. This is why people from the Kodava community are miffed at Rashmika Mandanna for claiming she's 'probably the first actor' to enter this industry from Coorg. People were quick to correct her, as was actor Neravanda Prema. Rashmika Mandanna and her family hail from Coorg in Karnataka and she recently claimed to be the first actor from her community. What did Rashmika Mandanna say? In an interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story last week, Rashmika spoke about how her family reacted when she told them she wanted to be an actor. She said, 'Conversations back home when I got my first paycheck weren't easy. Because, you know, in the Coorg community, nobody has ever entered the film industry. I think I am the first one in our whole community to have entered the industry. People were extremely judgy.' Nervanda Prema says Kodava actors paved the way for Rashmika Mandanna As per a Koduga Express report, famous Kannada actor Neravanda Prema, who was famous in the 1990s and early 2000s, responded when asked about Rashmika's statement, 'What is there for me to say? The Kodava community knows the truth. You should ask her (Rashmika) about her version of the statement. What can I say about it?' However, she also pointed out that long before Rashmika's entry into films, others had paved the way for her. 'Before me, there was an actor, Shashikala from Coorg, who played supporting roles. Then I entered the film industry, and later many Kodavas have done well,' said Prema, who is known for her successful career in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam cinema and is a recipient of the Karnataka State Film Award and Filmfare Best Actress awards. Internet calls out Rashmika Mandanna's ignorance Her statement also triggered a barrage of comments on YouTube and other social media platforms, with people pointing out her ignorance. 'She is not the first frm kodava community ...before that many artist have acted like prema, nidhi subbaih, harishika poonacha, tanisha kuppanda,' pointed out one person. 'She is only the actress who tell lie in front of media and people … Statement ' she is the first actress who came from Coorg city… '100% false statement…Thr was more then 5 to 6 actress who came from coorg …. Even she not born when 'Prema madam ' act in OM Kannada movie who from Coorg,' wrote another. A miffed fan wrote, 'Rashmika maybe you are the only one who thinks u made it big. Yes definitely but u have also forgotten Gulshan devaiah too has made it big.'
India Today
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Why Rashmika Mandanna's ‘first Kodava actor' claim has angered her community
Actor Rashmika Mandanna has faced several controversies in her career. But, this time, she has earned the wrath of her own community, popular known as the Kodavas. Courtesy, a tall claim that she made in a recent interview. During the media interaction, she claimed that she was the first actor from the Kodava community to have entered the film history suggests DID RASHMIKA MANDANNA SAY?In a recent interview with Mojo Story, Rashmika Mandanna said she believed that she was the first person from the Kodava community to have stepped foot in the film industry. "No one from the Kodava community has entered the film industry before me. I believe I'm the first," she said. While this might look like a pat on her back for making it a big hit in the Indian film industry, her claim, which is factually incorrect, has caused an outrage among people, especially among the artistes belonging to the Kodava who are the Kodavas? They are an ethnic group of people belong to Karnataka's Coorg region. They are known for their unique customs and traditions with great performers in various fields, ranging from sports to Mandanna, in the past, has flaunted her Kodava roots. However, this gaffe seems to have landed her in trouble yet KODAVA COMMUNITY LASHED OUT AT RASHMIKA MANDANNAVeteran actor Neravanda Prema, who rose to fame in the 90s and early 2000s, told the media that the Kodava community knows the truth about the artists who have made their mark in the film industry. She said, "What is there for me to say? The Kodava community knows the truth. You should ask her (Rashmika) about her version of the statement. What can I say about it?" she also talked about actors who were already part of the film industry long before Rashmika entered filmdom. "Before me, there was actor Shashikala from Coorg, who played supporting roles. Then I entered the film industry and later many Kodavas have done well."Prema made a mark not just in Kannada films, but also in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. She has won Karnataka State Film Award and Filmfare Best Actor awards in her illustrious Nidhi Subbaiah, who has worked in Kannada and Bollywood films, belongs to the Kodagu community as well. She said that she couldn't understand why Rashmika made that that this controversy shouldn't be blown up, she said, "It might've been a joke, but just because she said it doesn't make it true. This should not be a serious issue at all. We should ignore it. She is doing well, and I wish her all the best. Prema is a superstar from our community. We always remember her. I don't know why Rashmika made that comment."advertisementActor Tanisha Kuppanda, too, listed many actors from the Kodava community who have made a name for themselves in the industry. "If that's true, Rashmika must be two decades old," she Daisy Bopanna and Harshika Poonacha some of the most celebrated actors from the Kodava community, she stated, "Some people want to talk about Kannada sometimes, and other times about their hometowns, just to appear perfect. But in doing so, they end up contradicting themselves."Actor Harshika Poonacha expressed her support for Rashmika and said that it must have been a genuine mistake. She urged people not to cancel her, but correct her."Maybe Rashmika meant she was the first Kodava to reach No 1 in Telugu or Hindi cinema. But the Kodava community doesn't judge - we've had legends like Field Marshal Cariappa, Prasad Bidappa in fashion, and icons in sports, politics, and yes, cinema. Rashmika just needs to think a little before she speaks. We all make mistakes. Let's not cancel, let's correct," she JUST KODAVA COMMUNITY, FANS QUESTION RASHMIKA'S CLAIMA clip from the interview is now going viral with members of the Kodava community expressing their frustration over Rashmika Mandanna's slip-up. Many shared their thoughts with the hashtags #NotTheFirst and #KodavaPride on are some reactions: Rashmika Mandanna's gaffe has made headlines, with many criticising her for misappropriating facts and history. The actor is yet to react to the controversy.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru's long relationship with its 280 lakes
Recently, I saw the premiere of 'My Otter Diary' by acclaimed wildlife filmmaker and National Geographic Fellow, Sugandhi Gadadhar and her producer-husband Rana (Raghunath) Belur. Filmed over five years, the film explores the symbiotic relationship between otters and the river Kaveri. Otters, says Sugandhi, are to the river what tigers are to a jungle: they are apex predators who preserve and enhance the ecosystem that they belong to. The worst time for our lakes was in February 2017 when Bellandur Lake caught on fire, thanks to the large amount of toxic waste released into it (File photo) The screening was held at Shankar Nag theatre in MG Road and the entire wildlife community was in attendance. Through the film, I got to know the river Kaveri in all her glory. Kaveri looms large in the minds of this city and state. For Kodavas in particular, Kaveri is their home and reigning patron goddess. Which made me wonder, is it because of the river Kaveri that Bangaloreans love their lakes so much? Lots of things fail in civic activism in our city, but stray dogs and lake restoration command passion, witness the rejuvenation of Puttanahalli lake and others. Why do Bangaloreans love their lakes so much? Architect Naresh Narasimhan has a nifty narrative to explain this. He says, Bengaluru is perhaps the only large city in the world that has developed on a plateau with nary a natural object nearby. Most civilisations were established beside rivers. Ditto for large cities of the world: the river Seine flows through Paris, the Hudson through New York and the Nile through many great African cities. Bengaluru, on the other hand, became a city because it was at the crossroads of trade routes. This is why, says Naresh, the old city area or Pete (pronounced pay-tay) is full of trading communities including Marwaris, Settys and Mudaliars. To protect the Pete, Bengaluru's erstwhile rulers built a kote (ko-tay) or fort. Once Bangalore thrived, the rulers began building thottas or gardens including Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park. In order to water the gardens, they established lakes or keres. This nifty pete-kotte-thotta-kere model of Bangalore's development is something Naresh speaks about often. Bangaloreans love lakes because we built them. They are all man-made with bunds holding the water in, and sluices to connect one to the other. Civic evangelist V Ravichander quotes the legend of Kempe Gowda as an additional reason. The story goes that when Kempe Gowda decided to establish his dream city on the plateau with hillocks where Bangalore exists today, his mother is supposed to have told him: 'Keregalum kattu, maragalum nadu' or 'Build lakes, plant trees.' Kempe Gowda did just that, building hundreds of lakes and gardens. By some accounts, Bengaluru used to be a city of a thousand lakes – one crowdsourced initiative put it at 1521 lakes. What is more reasonable is that we used to have some 280 lakes of which only 80 currently remain under the ambit of the Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Even calling them lakes is a misnomer. In an evocative 2014 paper by Professor Meera Baindur, titled 'Bangalore Lake story: reflections on the spirit of a place,' she talks about a holy man who used to come and sit under a tree beside a kere to conduct rites and rituals. This tight and daily connection that Bangalore's early people had with the kere in their neighbourhood does not exist anymore. In public presentations and in paper, researcher Rohan D'Souza has stated that a kere refers to an ecosystem rather than a mere water body. It is literally larger than life in the Kannada imagination. The good news is that Bengaluru's keres are slowly making a comeback, thanks mostly to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) that have taken it upon themselves to improve the ecosystem. The worst time for our lakes was in February 2017 when Bellandur Lake caught on fire, thanks to the large amount of toxic waste released into it. Cut to 2022 when the 'Lakeman of India,' a Bangalore resident, Anand Malligavad, helped to restore Kyalasanahalli Kere. As an aside, let me ask if part of the problem is the fact that most of these lakes have long, barely pronounceable names? Malligavad, even today, continues to be at the forefront of lake restoration. D'Souza documents how government bodies treat water bodies such as Rachenahalli Kere, thus making them accountable. Civic activism has also kept real estate developers away from lakes, not always and not always successfully, but not for nothing either. What next? As an immigrant to Bangalore, although one who has lived here now for nearly 20 years, I remain fascinated by the hold that these lakes have on the city's collective imagination. But in order for lakes to revive or even survive, people need to have a connection with it that goes beyond just morning walks. Unless people are able to relate to each kere as a living ecosystem that gives them something, why would you want to save it? (Shoba Narayan is Bengaluru-based award-winning author. She is also a freelance contributor who writes about art, food, fashion and travel for a number of publications)
