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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Nitish Bharadwaj: Playing Krishna taught me great life lessons
The year is 1988. You eagerly plop yourself in front of your first TV set, a luxury for the times indeed, and tune into Doordarshan. Soon, you will witness an epic come to life before you. The elders around you devotedly mouth the two Bhagavad Gita verses that are sung at the start of the episode, but you are too eager to see him… he, who is the eighth avatar of Vishnu, embodying compassion, patience, and forgiveness — Lord Krishna, played flawlessly by actor Nitish Bharadwaj in BR Chopra's Mahabharat. Nostalgic, isn't it? And on June 8, he is coming to Hyderabad's Shilpakala Vedika to be Lord Krishna again, this time in writer-director Atul Satya Koushik's Hindi play Chakravyuh, so a whole new generation can also witness Kanhaiya's glory. 'In 1988, I was skeptical about playing Lord Krishna because I believed that the Chopras needed a more experienced actor to play the God,' reveals Nitish. But producer BR Chopra and his son, director Ravi Chopra, thought otherwise, believing that the young actor was the best fit. And Nitish accepted. He recalls why: 'Growing up, I was exposed to versions of the Mahabharat, the Gita, and Gyaneshwari, along with vast amounts of Marathi literature. I also enjoyed Marathi plays about Lord Krishna. All this had given me a strong understanding of Krishna's life, and so I accepted the role. Once I did, it was only about giving my best to it. The blessings of Ma Bhagwati, Krishna, and my parents helped.'
India Today
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
BJP Minority Morcha chief claims ‘muslims are descendants of Ram'
The national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Minority Morcha, Jamal Siddiqui, speaking to India Today, on Wednesday claimed that Sanatan Dharma is the foundation of Indian civilization and that Muslims who do not acknowledge Lord Ram and Lord Krishna cannot be considered true Muslims.'Sanatan Dharma came much before Islam. It is the foundation of our civilization,' Siddiqui said, emphasising the ancient roots of Indian culture. He further argued that Islamic teachings support the idea of shared heritage, pointing to the belief in multiple Islam, we believe in not just one prophet but many. The Quran mentions only 25 prophets, but Hadiths and Islamic tradition say there were 1,24,000 prophets sent to different parts of the world. How can we say Lord Ram and Lord Krishna were not among them? They may well have been our messengers of God,' he further explained. Siddiqui's remarks extended to a bold claim that 'All Muslims are descendants of Lord Ram.'He elaborated, 'We changed our method of worship, not our culture. Our identity is still Sanatani.'Must Watch
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
ASI all set to launch third round of exploration at Dwarka during winter
NEW DELHI: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is preparing for a third phase of exploration at the ancient submerged sites of Dwarka and Beyt Dwarka, located along the coastal region of Gujarat. These sites are associated with Lord Krishna and hold significant mythological and historical importance. The round of underwater excavation and site cleaning is tentatively scheduled to begin around October–November, a period when the sea conditions are relatively calm, making it conducive for marine archaeological work. ADG Professor Alok Tripathi and head of Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of ASI said that exploration activities in Dwarka were on halt because summers are not an idle situation to carry on the work. 'In summer, the sea is rough. In winter, the sea will be calm. We will undertake a survey of the whole area and may go for excavation thereafter. We will need to clean the site because vegetation has grown and sand is pressed,' said Tripathi. Meanwhile, the survey has initiated outreach to archaeology departments, museum authorities, and other institutions engaged in archaeological exploration and research to encourage participation in its underwater archaeology training programme. The selected participants after completing the training module will be roped in the investigation of submerged sites in Gujarat. According to the officials, many people have expressed their interest in field work led by UAW but finding suitable persons is always a challenge. 'There are divers, one from the army. They are keen to work. There are other independent people, want to come and join. But a lot of people have sea sickness. The situation is different when one is exposed to the sea,' said officials. The ASI is focused on training the next generation of archaeologists in underwater exploration techniques.
The Print
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Miss World contestants showcase their brilliance in Talent Grand Finale, Miss Indonesia tops contest
Miss Indonesia, with piano music, topped the contest, followed by Miss Cameroon (singing) and Miss Italy (balllet dance), an official release said. From piano music to the Bollywood hit number 'Dhol Baje', the beauty contestants captivated the audience with their brilliance during the event. Hyderabad, May 22 (PTI) The Miss World 2025 contestants lit up the stage with their mesmerising performances during the Talent Grand Finale event on Thursday. Miss India Nandini Gupta stole the show with her performance of the 'Dhol Baje' song from the film 'Ram Leela'. The 24 contestants dazzled the audience by performing a Telugu song 'Ranu Bombayki Ranu'. Earlier in the day, the Miss World contestants got a taste of Telangana's rich cultural heritage during a visit to state-run 'Shilparamam' arts and crafts village here, where they immersed themselves in traditional art forms such as pottery, painting, and folk dance. Nestled in the heart of Hyderabad's bustling IT hub, Shilparamam is a unique crafts village envisioned to preserve and celebrate India's diverse artisanal legacy. Created as a haven for traditional arts, crafts, folklore, and cultural performances, it offers a harmonious blend of rural charm and environmental architecture. The Miss World delegates explored the vibrant artisan stalls and took a curated walk through the Village Museum, which displays life-sized models of traditional Indian homes and rural lifestyles. The breezy morning provided the perfect setting for the visit, with melodious flute and mridangam performances by local artistes adding to the festive atmosphere. While some participants tried their hand at pottery and painting, others interacted with children dressed as Lord Krishna and his Gopis (companions). Other contestants immersed themselves in the intricate process of Cheriyal mask painting – a vivid and rare folk-art tradition unique to Telangana. A few participants opted for basket weaving using natural fibres and learning age-old techniques passed down through generations. These 10–15-minute sessions offered the delegates a rare, tactile connection to India's enduring craft heritage and highlighted the precision, patience, and artistry that define each medium. Several beauty queens also joined local women, grooving to Kolatam, a folk art typically performed during temple festivals. One of the most touching moments of the visit was a brief but joyful participation in 'Bathukamma', the floral festival intrinsic to Telangana's cultural identity. The contestants joined in the traditional dance around carefully arranged flower stacks, celebrating the essence of womanhood and community. Adding a meaningful dimension to the visit, the delegates interacted with the members of women Self Help Groups (SHGs), who have been empowered through skill-based livelihoods centred around indigenous crafts. A brief presentation showcased the impact of these women-led initiatives in sustaining traditional crafts and uplifting local economy. As a gesture of appreciation and cultural exchange, handcrafted gift hampers were presented to each contestant. The visitors were also introduced to 'Haridasus', folk singers in distinctive attire who sing devotional songs during the harvest festival of Sankranti. Later, the Miss World contestants visited the Telangana government's social welfare residential school at the Victoria Home here, a Nizam-era palace, and interacted with the students there. The contestants exhorted the students to dream big and work hard to realise them. They joined the students in the cultural programmes performed on the occasion. The Miss World 2025 pageant kicked off with a grand ceremony in Hyderabad on May 10 and will continue until May 31. Leveraging the event, the Telangana government devised an elaborate action plan to showcase the state as a hub of tourism and investment. As part of this vision, the contestants toured major attractions across the state, including the iconic Charminar here, UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district, famous Narasimha temple in Yadagirigutta and a 700-year-old Banyan tree in neighbouring Mahabubnagar district. PTI SJR SJR KH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Dhunkapada villagers oppose mining on hill
1 2 3 4 Berhampur: Several villagers of Dhunkapada in Ganjam district's Polasara block have opposed mining on Dahi Mundia hill in the village as it is home to many endangered species and they organise Giri Gobardhan puja on the hill every year to worship Lord Krishna. A private mining company was granted permission to extract decorative stones from 57.667 acres on Sept 19, 2022. Due to the strong opposition from villagers, the company could start work only recently. The villagers have written to officers, including the Ganjam collector, mining officer, and divisional forest officer (DFO), to stop the work to protect the hill and animals. "There is an ancient Shiva temple and a water body (Duanaghai pond) near the hill. The hill area is also the habitat of several endangered animals like blackbuck, spotted deer and peacocks. The animals roam freely in the area and use the water body for drinking purposes. Mining has not only affected the religious sentiments but also destroyed their habitat," said Arati Devi, former sarpanch of Dhunkapada. She alleged that the company does not have the environment clearance for mining and did not take the opinion of villagers by holding a gram sabha. "We demand the mining lease of the company be cancelled and it be directed to stop mining activities," added Dhruba Charan Mohanty, a villager. Collector (Ganjam) Dibya Jyoti Parida said the company obtained all necessary documents for mining in the hill area. "Despite it, I have directed the tehsildar of Polasara to inquire into the allegations of the villagers," he said. "If we find the allegations to be true, we will move to cancel the mining lease of the company," Parida said. DFO, Ghumusar South forest division, B K Acharya said they had earlier written a letter to the mining officer about the concern of the villagers and requested them to take appropriate steps.
