Kondapalli to be promoted as rural creative economic hub
2
Vijayawada: As part of its ongoing efforts to position Kondapalli as a rural creative economic hub by promoting its famous wooden toys, the NTR district administration is constructing a state-of-the-art Kondapalli Bommala experience centre to showcase the rich heritage, craftsmanship, and cultural value of these handcraft toys.
Kondapalli toys are made by skilled artisans from the village using Poniki wood, a softwood available in Kondapalli reserve forest. These toys are not mere souvenirs — they depict mythological characters, scenes from rural life, and traditional festivals. Their vibrant colours and fine detailing have earned them recognition across India and abroad.
"Kondapalli is not just a village of artisans — it is a living museum of traditional craft.
The experience centre will be a place where the legacy of these toys can be seen, understood, and appreciated by generations to come. We are focused on completing the pending works at the earliest. The beautification efforts, including mural art and the welcome arch, are being fast-tracked to offer visitors a complete and immersive experience," said NTD district collector G Lakshmishah.
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority and the Amaravati chapter of Young Indians have partnered with the district administration to help develop the area as a creative tourism destination.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
This non-financial partnership will support infrastructure, branding, and entrepreneurship opportunities for local youth. "This is a community-driven initiative. We want Kondapalli's youth to see value in their heritage and innovate within it.
Our aim is to make Kondapalli a national symbol of rural creativity and economic self-reliance," added Lakshmishah.
Tourism dept officials confirmed that mural paintings at the experience centre are complete, and other remaining works progressing steadily. Once operational, the facility will offer guided tours, live demonstrations by artisans, and educational exhibits on the toy-making process to visitors.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Hans India
Mani Ratnam in plans to make a love story with Dhruv Vikram!
Celebrated filmmaker Mani Ratnam is set to direct Dhruv Vikram, son of versatile star Chiyaan Vikram, in his next project, according to industry sources. Insiders reveal that the film will be a simple, heartfelt Chennai-based love drama revolving around a cop. 'It's a love story between a police officer and a city girl,' a source shared. Unlike recent big-budget ventures, this project will be made purely in Tamil. However, post-release, the team plans to dub it in Telugu and Hindi to reach a wider audience. Music for the film will be composed by none other than global music legend A.R. Rahman, marking yet another collaboration with Mani Ratnam. Acclaimed cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran will handle the visuals, promising a rich cinematic experience. Production is expected to commence in September 2025, with filming planned to wrap up within 60 days by February 2026. Interestingly, reports suggest this will be the most modestly budgeted film of Mani Ratnam's career, focusing on strong storytelling over scale. Rukmini Vasanth, currently making waves with her role in NTR and Prashanth Neel's action entertainer Dragon, has been roped in as the female lead. With this collaboration, fans can expect an emotionally engaging romance laced with Mani Ratnam's signature storytelling flair.
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
Mini in Bollywood motion: Countryman sets the pace in this upcoming movie
Mini India is shifting gears into high-octane action as it collaborates with Yash Raj Films (YRF) for its upcoming movie, War 2. Set to release across India on August 14, 2025, the film stars Hrithik Roshan, NTR, and Kiara Advani, and features the Mini Countryman in a pivotal, high-speed chase sequence that adds flair and adrenaline to the cinematic by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is the next chapter in the YRF Spy Universe and promises to deliver edge-of-the-seat action, scale, and storytelling. The Mini Countryman becomes an integral part of the narrative, showcased in a thrilling chase scene that perfectly aligns with the film's powered tone. Fans can get a glimpse of the action in the official trailer available on Pawah, President and CEO of BMW Group India, expressed his enthusiasm about the association. "Mini embodies spontaneity, bold design, and a go-kart feeling that makes every drive unforgettable. Our collaboration with War 2 brings these attributes to life on the big screen through a highadrenaline chase sequence that's as thrilling as it is stylish. This partnership seamlessly blends MINI's iconic character with cinematic scale and action, creating a compelling celebration of performance, creativity, and pure driving fun," he said. Echoing this sentiment, Manan Mehta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Merchandising at Yash Raj Films, said, "War 2 will thrill audiences with some of the most ambitious and visually spectacular action sequences ever seen in Indian cinema. The MINI Countryman adds a bold and distinctive edge to the film's high-octane chase, seamlessly aligning with the scale and style of the narrative. From precision stunts to adrenaline-pumping moments, MINI played an integral role in making War 2 not just action-packed, but effortlessly cool. At YRF, we have always believed in crafting meaningful integrations that elevate storytelling and this collaboration with Mini is a perfect reflection of that commitment."War 2 also features actors Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor in key roles. With a gripping story, breathtaking visuals, and the Mini Countryman leading the charge in one of its car used in the movie is the first-generation facelifted Countryman. Mini in India launched the new Mini Cooper S (fifth-gen) and the all-electric Mini Countryman (third-gen) in July, 2024, with the former priced at Rs 44.90 lakh (ex-showroom) and the latter available for Rs 54.90 lakh (ex-showroom). Both models entered the country as completely built-up units (CBUs). Powering the Mini Cooper S is a 2.0-litre Mini TwinPower Turbo petrol engine that delivers 204hp and 300Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch Steptronic transmission. The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 242 km/ electric Mini Countryman features an electric motor producing 204hp and 250Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100kmph sprint in 8.6 seconds. The motor is powered by a 66.45kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a WLTP-certified range of up to 462km. Fast charging from 10% to 80% takes just 29 minutes with a 130kW DC charger, while a full charge using a 22kW AC charger takes approximately 3 hours and 35 to Auto Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Meet Bollywood's first female comedian whose parents were murdered, Dilip Kumar gave her the screen name but she passed away in a chawl with no money for food in her final days
Just as we recall, ' Tun Tun ', a smile appears on most faces as we recall the memory of seeing this actress in movies that made us laugh. She was Bollywood's first female comedian but had quite a tragic life. However, she never showed that in her work. Infact, she made her weaknesses into her strength – for instance her body weight. Born in 1923 in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, her real name was Uma Devi Khatri. Her early life was marked by tragedy, her parents were murdered in a land dispute when she was just a toddler. In an interview with Shishir Krishna Sharma, which was replicated by the Navbharat Times, Tun Tun recalled how she stayed with her relatives after her parents passed away and they didn't allow her to study. 'I don't remember who my parents were and how they looked, I would be two to two and half years old when they passed away. I had a brother, eight or nine years old, whose name was Hari. I just remembered that we were living in a village named Alipur. One day, my brother was killed and I was left to relatives, that time I was four or five years old,' she said. At 23, Uma Devi came to Mumbai nothing. She turned up at the home of renowned composer Naushad and issued a dramatic ultimatum. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 75% off installation for LeafFilter LeafFilter Gutter Protection Get Rates Undo Either he listened to her sing, or she'd jump into the Arabian Sea. He agreed to listen and that audition changed her life. By 1945, she was singing in films. But fame was fragile. Her decision to sing for Chandralekha, produced by rival Gemini Studios, led to a rupture with Naushad, the mentor who had given her everything. Her singing career collapsed almost overnight. Yet, instead of shunning her, Naushad showed her another path - acting. It was Dilip Kumar who gave her a new identity—and perhaps unintentionally, a brand — when he christened her "Tun Tun," a cheeky nod to her size. That name stuck, and with it came a career of comic roles that leaned heavily on physical humour and self-deprecation. She became a staple of Hindi cinema's supporting cast—always present, always the butt of the joke. 'My bulk is my trump card. I don't regret that I am fat. I'm lucky I was born this way,' she said once in an interview. She added, 'However that does not mean that I am not in favour of dieting. I agree dieting is very essential to maintain a slim and healthy body. But where is the need for me to be slim and ravishingly beautiful?' Her final years were marked by poverty and neglect. Once a familiar face on the silver screen, Tun Tun spent her last days in a modest Mumbai chawl and was mostly forgotten. In a Times of India interview, journalist Shashi Ranjan recalled her plight, 'She said that she couldn't walk and had trouble even getting food. I remember she reiterating in the interview that she gave her life for the industry and look at the condition that she was back then. She thanked us for interviewing her and when I requested her, she sang the song Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon. Her specialty was that despite being in such a condition, she didn't lose her sense of humour. She laughed at her poverty, she laughed at the way she was being treated by the world. I liked that very much. Although I felt sad for her, it stayed with me that she didn't lose her sense of humour.' Tun Tun passed away in 2003, at the age of 80.
