International cricketer Mohammed Siraj of the Indian cricket team from Hyderabad, and international boxer Nikhat Zareen are among the recipients of the NSI Global Council awards which were presented in Hyderabad on March 18, 2023. Home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali presented the awards to all the recipients at a function at Hotel Taj Deccan.

The awards have been instituted by NSI Global Council chairman Nawab Shaik Ibrahim who is also the Trade commissioner, India Tunisia Trade Council in association with Mohammed Imran (Kabeer Khan), national secretary, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Forum, with headquarters in Delhi.

The “International Legendary awards” are being given to honour those individuals who have made the country proud with the significant achievements,” Nawab Shaik Ibrahim said. “The awardees were picked and chosen based only on their merit and achievements,” Kabeer Khan said.

Home minister Mahmood Ali who presented the awards lauded the organisers for instituting the awards to recognise those individuals who have made significant contribution in their sphere and field of activity. “The choice of names shows how meticulous the organisers have been in identifying the recipients for their work,” senior actor Suman Talwar said. Suman has been in the film industry for 45 years portraying roles as a hero, protagonist and important roles in major films.

“I am happy to have been selected for the award. It is a privilege indeed. I am unable to be physically present at the awards due to my prior commitments. I thank the organises for selecting me for this award,” Indian team cricketer Mohammed Siraj said. Siraj’s brother received the award on behalf of his brother. Boxer Nikhat Zareen’s award was received by her father on her behalf.

“It is indeed a matter of great honour to have been chosen for this award. This award is valuable as it comes on the occasion of my 35^th years in journalism,” Journalist Chilkuri Sushil Rao, one of the recipients, said at the function.

Tsiory Randriannarivony of the Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar and Bohleoki Tlhaku Morojele from the High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho in India, and Prof (Dr) Diwakar Sukul, founder-director Kamkus Clinic, London were also among those who were honoured on the occasion.

The awardees on the occasion include: Suman Talwar, actor, Asif Bhamla, founder and chairman of Bhamla Foundation, Vibhuti Jain, Founder, Touch a Life Foundation, Rina Hindocha, Co-founder, Touch a Life Foundation and yoga professional, Shanoor Begum, actor, Nikhat Zareen, boxer, Danish Iqbal Sabri, actor, playback singer, lyricist and acclaimed Sufi singer, Chandni Bhagwanani, actor, Divya Suku, psychologist, director, model and actor, A Saraswathy, social activity, Karunya Welfare Society, Dr Kotha Krishnaveni, social activist, Sujeet Marc, fashion designer and entrepreneur, Kaishi Gupta, writer, poet and social activist, Syed Osman Azhar Maqsusi, social activist, Syeda Falak, Karathe athelete, and Dr Kaushal Ippili, neuroendoscopy consultant and neurosurgeon.

Shahnawaz Shaik, co-founder of Red Boys Foundation and Zakir Khan, founder-president of Red Boys Foundation, Chilkuri Sushil Rao, Journalist, Mohammed Siraj, Indian international cricketer, Dr Chaitanya Singh, senior journalist and strategist, Prof G Mallesham, Professor and head, Department of Electrical Engineering, Osmania University, Dr Savitha Rani, underwater yoga expert, rifle shooter, classical singer and a black belt in Karate, Richa Vashisth, chairperson, RMS Group of companies, member-railway advisory committee, Government of India, and President, Maa Foundation, Jitender Chawla, CEO of SMEBIZZ, Lead generation expert, branding, sales, brand building and business growth expert and marketing expert, Inayat Hussain, marketing consultant, business growth hacker, chairman of LinkX SkillVarsity and Founder of BrandGills and Deepika Rawat, Digital marketing trainer and consultant, co-founder LinkX SillVarsity and BrandGills.

Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary “Swapnika” wins special award at 7th Indian World Film Festival in Hyderabad

Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary film titled “Swapnika” has won international recognition at the 7th Indian World Film Festival-23 held in Hyderabad on March 19, 2023. In the festival organised by MiniBoxOffice, Greater Noida, National Capital Region, nearly 200 entries in different categories were received from across the globe. 

The documentary “Swapnika” was awarded with the “Certificate of Excellence – Special Festival Mention”. The award was given away by D C Singh, chief advisor and Rambhul Singh, festival director. 

The film festival had entries from several countries including Spain, Argentina, Sweden, US, UK, India, Switzerland, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, South Korea, Denmark and Germany which won awards. 

Another short documentary made by Chilkuri Sushil Rao titled “Nostalgia” has been given a ‘Certificate of Excellence” at the IWFF-23. The film is about a friendship and bond that lasts for decades among school friends and their gratitude to their school and teachers. The documentary is based on the ‘Nostalgia’ day celebrations organised by the alumni of  the 111-year-old St Patrick’s High School in Secunderabad. T-Hub CEO M Srinivas Rao, an alumnus of the school was the chief guest in January 2023. 

Music director Beno Joseph provided the background score for the documentary “Nostalgia” and the film was co-edited and presented by Elijah Emmanuel. The title song was sung by Chilkuri Nishan Sampreeth.

“Swapnika” is about a girl from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, India who is an inspiration to all around her. Swapnika’s both hands had to be amputated due to an electrocution accident when she was a child. Not being discouraged with her physical impairment, Swapika pursued her education and has completed her degree. She is also an artist and is popularly known as ‘Mouth artist Swapnika’.  The documentary is about how she manages and succeeds overcoming difficulties. 

“While I am happy my documentaries receiving recognition at the Indian World Film Festival organised in my city, I am delighted that the life of ‘Swapnika’ has been show cased on a global platform and she has won acclaim,” documentary filmmaker Chilkuri Sushil Rao said.

Two documentaries “Swapnika” and “Nostalgia” made by documentary film maker Chilkuri Sushil Rao have been selected for the 7^th Indian World Film Festiva -23  in Hyderabad on March 19, 2023.  The two films will be screened during the film festival.

Festival director Rambhul Singh informed that the event will take Best Western Ashoka at Lakdikapul, in Hyderabad. During the film festival, feature films, documentaries, short documentaries and videos will be screened. The festival is being organised by Mini Box Office, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR.

The documentary ‘Swapnika’ made by Chilkuri Sushil Rao is about a girl by the name Swapnika. She hails from Andhra Pradesh. She lost both her hands as a result of an electrocution incident when she was a child. With her determination and never-give-up spirit, Swapnika completed her degree studies. This documentary highlights that despite a physical impediment one can rise and conquer situations, as Swapnika has shown.

Another documentary made by Chilkuri Sushil Rao titled “Nostalgia” is about how old students celebrated coming together for a day of ‘Nostalgia’ at the 111-year-old school St Patrick’s High School in Secunderabad. The alumni are in important positions in various fields including in the defence. Music director Beno Joseph provided the musical score and Elijah Emmanuel is the presenter and editor of the Film. Nishan Sampreeth Chilkuri is the playback singer.

Both the documentaries have been produced and directed by Chilkuri Sushil Rao.

Chilkuri Sushil Rao has been a journalist for the last 35 years. He is a gold medalist from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Osmania University, Hyderabad. He is a documentary filmmaker. He has done a course offered by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad. He has done a certificate course from IIT Madras on Film Studies. He has done a course in Film Appreciation from the University of Kerala. The 55-year-old Chilkuri Sushil Rao is currently also pursuing what is called a ‘Cinepreneur’ course offered at T-Hub in Hyderabad. The course is in collaboration with MEE School.

In December 2022, Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s “India’s GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana” won the Best Jury Award at the Telangana International Film Festival held at Prasad Labs, Hyderabad. This documentary has also been accepted at the Cannes International Film Festival, French Riviera, France.

A still from the documentary "Swapnika"

Chilkuri Sushil Rao, Hyderabad, India| FB: Ch Sushil Rao |

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 A documentary titled “India’s GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana” directed by Chilkuri Sushil Rao of Hyderabad, India, has moved up into the semi-finalist category at the Cannes World Film Festival to be held at Cannes, French Riviera, France on April 17, 2023. The entry is in the best director – documentary short. The documentary was earlier accepted as a submission for the film.

In the Telangana International Film Festival (TIFF) held in December 2022 in Hyderabad, the documentary won the Special Jury Award and was screened at Prasad Labs Preview Theatre as part of the festival.

Another documentary made by Chilkuri Sushil Rao titled “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” on the tree that saved 150 lives during the 1908 Musi River floods in Hyderabad was selected as an official entry at the 11th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival in December 2022.

A documentary titled “On Trail of the Genetic Code” made by Chilkuri Sushil Rao has been submitted for the prestigious  “Festival de Cannes”. The 76^th Cannes Festival – 2023 will be held from May 16-27, 2023.

Profile of  Chilkuri Sushil Rao, Journalist. 

Chilkuri Sushil Rao from Hyderabad has been a journalist for the last 35 years.  He has been with The Times of India, Hyderabad since its launch in Hyderabad from the year 2000. He is Editor-Special Reports and focuses on covering Defence, Indian diaspora across the world, the Telugu film industry, socially relevant subjects and Telangana state. He has covered several elections during his career as a journalist, including interviewing national leaders and doing investigative reports.

He began his journalism career at the age of 20 in 1988. He is a gold medalist in bachelor’s in Communication and Journalism from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad. He also did his Master’s in journalism from the same department.

In the socially relevant stories that he has written, Chilkuri Sushil Rao wrote reports highlighting the plight of women trafficked to various countries. Through the intervention of the then Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, many could return home to Hyderabad. His writings on the abduction of Indian seafarers by pirates in Nigeria and stranded sailors on ships in various parts of the globe have had a positive impact. The Government of India took measures to rescue them.

Through his writings, Chilkuri Sushil Rao highlights the heroic deeds of common people and highlights their achievements. His focus is also on the under privileged and the helpless highlighting their difficulties so that they receive help. He also does video reports and podcasts for The Times of India where he is currently working.

As one interested in the art of filmmaking, he has educated himself in the subject. He has done an introductory course on films from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. He has also cone a course on ‘Film Appreciation’ from the Central University of Kerala equipping himself with the knowledge of filmmaking for film criticism. 

Chilkuri Sushil Rao has also authored four books. He is also invited as a guest speaker at different functions, including to give talks in universities.

In his career in journalism spanning 35 years, he has worked for five newspapers and has also done television reporting during its infancy in 1996-97. He was also a web journalist right from its initial stages in India during 1998.

Chilkuri Sushil Rao has equipped himself with the knowledge of film-making. He has done a course in Film Studies from IIT Madras. In addition, he has done a course in Carnatic music from IIT Madras. Presently, he is pursuing a course in Hindustani music from IIT Madras. He is also studying a course in Incubation and Entrepreneurship from IIT Bombay.

The 55-year-old Sushil Rao continues to pursue studies even as he is engaged in his work as a journalist. He has studied a course in Philosophy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, US. He has also completed a study in “The Threat of Nuclear Terror” from Stanford University, California, US. He has also done a Stanford University Lead Preview course on “Neuroscience and the Connection to Exemplary Leadership.”

Currently, Sushil Rao is part of a ‘Cinepreneur’ programme at T-Hub in Hyderabad where start-ups are incubated. The ‘Cinepreneur’ course is on the practical aspects of filmmaking. 

A documentary film that he made titled “Kafeel Mujhe India Jaane Do” on the trauma of women trafficked from Hyderabad to the gulf countries was screened at the Paidi Jairaj Preview Theatre at Ravindra Bharathi by the Department of Language and Culture. He has made several home video documentaries since 1998. 

Chilkuri Sushil Rao lives in Hyderabad with his wife Maria Clara, a Batik and Kalamkari artist. His son Nishan Sampreeth Chilkuri lives in London working for The Daily Mail newspaper as a video journalist. Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s family hails from Wangamarthy village in Shaligouraram mandal of Nalgonda district. The village is 20 km from Nakrerkal town in Telangana. 

Born in Hyderabad in 1968, Chilkuri Sushil Rao studied at St Patrick’s High School, Secunderabad, Wesley Boy’s High School, Secunderabad, Wesley Boys’ Junior College, Secunderabad, Badruka College of Commerce, Kachiguda, Hyderabad and at Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad. 

A documentary titled “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” on the tree that saved 150 lives during the 1908 Musi River floods in Hyderabad was selected as an official entry at the 11th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival in December 2022.  His documentary “India’s GreenHeart – Dusharla Satyanarayana” won the special jury award at the Telangana International Film Festival in Hyderabad in December 2022.  His short documentary “The Great Indian Tamarind” tree was selected as screened as part of the Lift-Off Film Sessions in the UK. 

Chilkuri Sushil Rao.

Email: sushilrao1@gmail.com

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Jamuna was a strong-willed woman. Beautiful. And Courageous. I recall a conversation I had with her.

When I went to her house at Banjara Hills – this was more than two decades ago – I could hear some commotion. I was at the gate, wondering whether I should enter or not, though she had asked me to come over for an interview. I stood at the gate for a couple of minutes. It was a hard decision to take. Was I there at the wrong time? I could hear shouts and shrieks. I chose to take a few steps back.

A well-known actress, Jamuna was not just known for her sterling performances in her films. To borrow Christopher Marlowe’s description of ‘Helen of Troy’, Jamuna’s face could launch a thousand ships. She had done films with the reigning heroes of her time – N T Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageshwara Rao. When she was 16 years old, Jamuna made her screen debut with the film ‘Puttillu’ in 1953. Wikipedia which mentions that she was active in acting in films till 1983.

Back to Jamuna’s house. I rang the doorbell. There was no response. I knew for a fact that she was very I much at home because I could hear her scream. After a little while, I rang the doorbell again. I was ushered in to the living room. And there I got to know the reason for the ruckus. Jamuna was laughing uncontrollably. Her daughter Sravanthi had pulled a prank on her! I looked at Sravanthi. The mother and daughter seemed to be having a whale of a time!

“She does that very often. She pulls pranks on me. And every time, it is a different prank, something that I least expect her to do,” Jamuna said as she asked me to make myself comfortable in a sofa. She narrated another prank that her daughter had played on her. “She called me on the phone and introduced herself as my fan and that she loves my films and acting a lot. I continued with the conversation little realising that my daughter had changed her voice and was talking to me,” Jamuna recalled once again bursting into laughter.

I thought the issue of pranks was settled. It indeed was. Jamuna, however, did not settle down for an interview. She sat in the sofa on the opposite side and started singing a song. She was watching television and one of her old films was being shown. She was singing watching herself sing the song in the film.

She was full of live. Full of enthusiasm. An interview did not mean just talking to the person. Watching Jamuna gave me a complete picture about how she was so satisfied with her work as an actress and how much she loved reliving those moments.

Sravanthi too an interest in getting into filmdom, she told me. She also said a certain producer had also shown inclination to casting her as a heroine and giving her a break on the big screen. She had followed it up with the producer a couple of times. “It is not right to push too hard,” she said explaining a bit of her philosophy. Sravanthi did get into television but I am not sure if she had done any films.

Jamuna’s attention got diverted again. This time, as she watched herself dance in the film she was watching, she was all excited. “I watch all my films whenever they are telecast,” she told me.

We spoke about the film industry, the way it functions and if she had any difficulties and if so how she overcame them.

It was to this question that Jamuna turned serious. “Yes, I had difficulties. It was too difficult to overcome them,” she told me. A certain film personality had imposed an unofficial  ban on her. He made it clear to producers that he would not act in a film if Jamuna was the heroine.

“Not only that, he even influenced certain other heroes not to agree to a film if I was being cast in it as a heroine,” Jamuna recalled.

I was curious to know what happened. She minced no words in explaining about it.

While shooting for a film, the hero in question had said something that Jamuna did not like. “It was objectionable,” she said recalling the incident. Jamuna had a choice – to ignore and forget the remarks or the person and take everything in her stride. Or fight it.

Jamuna stood her ground. What was objectionable was objectionable. And she made it abundantly clear. She lost on several films with two top heroes of the day. That is because she stood on her convictions. She was a hero in real life, standing strong against the current. She was a hero in real life, unshakeable despite the conspiracies against her. She was a hero in real life, taking on heroes who were, as she said, unreasonable and unprofessional in their behaviour.

“I bear no ill-will against them but I am satisfied that I have been shown myself to be a strong woman,” Jamuna said.

(Jamuna passed away today (January 27, 2023) at her residence in Hyderabad. She was 86. She acted in several films in Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. )

Remembering dining with Nizam V111, Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur

There was something about him. His Royal Humility. His Royal Simplicity. The only time Nawab Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur chose to go public was on one particular occasion in Hyderabad. I was more than happy to be part of his cavalcade when this happened.

There was something about his persona. It spoke more for him than the few words that he would utter.

There was more to him than just being Nizam, the V111. Being the titular successor to the last Nizam V11, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the grandson did little to either flaunt his title or his wealth.

The only time Nawab Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur chose to go public was on one particular occasion in Hyderabad. I was more than happy to be part of his cavalcade when this happened.

Mukarram Jah married the beauty queen of Turkey, Manolya Onur in 1989. The former Miss Turkey, Manolya Onur sat by her husband’s side in the car during a visit to Hyderabad.

Sadruddin Jhaveri and his wife Sherry Jhaveri were managing Mukarram Jah’s financial affairs and properties at that time. Sherry Jhaveri asked if I would like join the in the short journey that the royal couple would undertake. From Banjara Hills, they would proceed to Barkas where a dinner was planned.

It was during the Ramadan period and Mukarram Jah hosted ‘Iftar’ at Barkas for the local people there who had turned up in large numbers.

I sat in another car behind Mukarram Jah and his wife Manolya Onur. There were many other cars in the cavalcade. It was a royal cavalcade.

Mukarram Jah, from what I have seen of him, has a certain disposition. He is royal. He knows it. He knows people know it. Therefore, he has to do nothing to signify his importance or flaunt himself. Whatever he did or not do, and whatever he would say or not say, would do little to change the fact that he was Nizam, the V111.

Mukarram Jah was a man given a few words.  If he choose to live an ordinary life as a royal, it was supposed to be ordinary because he was like any other citizen. The title to his name as Nizam, the V111, was official as he was coronated so after the death of his grandfather, Nizam, the V11, Mir Osman Ali Khan. The Government of India too had recognised Mukarram Jah with his title.

As he drove from Banjara Hills, it was not supposed to be a grand affair. What was evident was that no public was mobilised was give the ‘Prince and Princess’ as I shall refer to the couple here, a grand welcome or cheer them. En route, people who noticed the royal couple waved to them or greeted them with respect.

Mukarram Jah, as I noticed, was not someone who would display his emotions. Whatever he felt was what was within himself. He would have a straight face all the time – not intentionally serious but that was how he was.  Manolya too was not overly expressive when she saw the adulation but the fact that she was mighty pleased was evident. Simplicity as Mukarram Jah’s hallmark. He would do nothing to call attention to himself as we saw in the years to come. During his visits to Hyderabad from Turkey, he would go to a mosque to offer prayers. Those who recognised him would greet him.

Coming back to our ride from Banjara Hills. It was a royal ride indeed to Barkas where there was a lot of activity. Several tables and chairs had been arranged in a line for the ‘Iftar’ that Mukarram Jah and his wife Manolya were hosting to the local people there. The crowd was thrilled. Their respect for Mukarram Jah showed in the way they greeted him. Needless to say, and natural as it was, many wanted to come closer to the Prince and greet him.  The crowd was regulated.

I sat to the right side of the couple, a few meters away, at another table. After the Iftar, we returned. The Prince and Princess left an indelible impression.

We were to meet the Prince on another occasion more than 30 years ago. This was at the Chiraan Palace inside the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy national park. He was to speak to the media about some allegations that trees in the national park was being cut. As we sat in the palace waiting for the Prince to arrive and speak, word came that the Prince would not speak. Instead, his staff gave a note on his behalf to say that no trees were being cut down. As one noticed, there was indeed no sign of any trees having been cut down. Perhaps, that was what the Prince wanted everyone to see for themselves instead of him saying it.

Mukarram Jah was a man of few words, from what I knew of him. He was also a sensitive man. He chose his lifestyle – away from all adulation and attention. He chose to be an enigma.

And an enigma he will remain.

(Nawab Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jah Bahadur H E H The eight Nizam of Hyderabad passed away in Istanbul, Turkey on January 14, 2023 at the age of 89. Monolya was his third wife. He married Jamila Bourlarous, a Moroccon beauty queen after his divorce with Manolya. His fifth marriage was with Ayesha Orchedi of Turkey. His first wife was Esra Birgin of Turkey and his second wife was Helen Simmons. The body of Mir Barket Ali Khan Walashan Mukarram Jahn Bahadur will be brought from Turkey to Hyderabad today, that is on January 17, 2023 for the funeral which will take place here.)