Chilkuri Sushil Rao

  Profile of   Chilkuri Sushil Rao, Journalist.  Chilkuri Sushil Rao from Hyderabad has been a journalist since 1988.  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 and has completed 36 years in journalism in 2024. 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...

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 ran...

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 ...

Noted authors Sangishetty Srinivas and Mercy Margaret were honoured with a “Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition” by the alumni of University College of Arts and Social Sciences, Osmania University, Hyderabad.  The certificate to Sangishetty Srinivas was presented in the presence of writer and historian Dr Anand Raj Varma, former principal, Anwar Ul Uloom college who was a student of OU in 1958, and Veda Kumar Manikonda, heritage activist and  chairman of Forum for a Better Hyderabad and Chilkuri Sushil Rao, alumni of OU.  The certificate to Mercy Margaret was presented by Sangishetty Srinivas and Chilkuri Sushil Rao. The presentation of certificates took place at the 35 th  Hyderabad National Book Fair on December 31, 2022.

  Chilkuri Sushil Rao awarded a ‘Certificate of excellence’ at the 11 th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival. The recognition was for the entry of a short documentary titled “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree”.   “El peso de la quietud’ made by Manuel Ojeda of Cuba was adjudged best documentary film. ‘Kara – Star of the world’ directed by Daniel Mark Bendell of the US was given the Best documentary (Jury) award. The film festival was held in Mumbai on December 11, 2022. I would not attend the festival in person. All the entries in various categories were screened at the film festival. It was a small recognition as my entry was accepted to be screened at the festival for which I was given a ‘Certificate of excellence’. I dedicate this first small recognition to noted filmmaker B Narsing Rao. I went to his house in Hyderabad and expressed my thanks and gratitude. My thanks and gratitude to B Narsing Rao because the very first film that I watched in my life was ‘Maa Bho...

                                        Chilkuri Brothers performs Burrakatha, a Telangana traditional folk art form on Christmas day Chilkuri Burrakatha Brundham performed Burrakatha, a traditional folk art form on Christmas  day Three Chilkuri Brothers who form the “Chilkuri Burrakatha Brundham” staged a Burrakatha performance on the Biblical story of “Samson and Delilah” at a programme held on Christmas day on December 25, 2022 in Hyderabad. The performance was given for an exclusive gathering at Kowkur near Bolarum. Chilkuri Vasanth Rao was the main performer with his brothers Chilkuri Shyam Rao and Chilkuri Sushil Rao being co-performers. It was in 1978 that the first performance was given by the folk artistes. The story of ‘Samson and Delilah’ was performed at more than 60 places during the initial years itself. The places include apart from several places in Hyderabad, at ...

                       Meeting Sesanka, the man who introduced me to the internet in 1997                                   We met after 25 years. Sesanka Pemmaraju works for the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, as Director, Information Technology. At his office room, I noticed a poster. It read: It’s about PEOPLE Not just Technology. This poster aptly defines Sesanka. Let me use this space to mention something related. Comet Hale Bopp, described as the ‘The Great Comet of 1997’ was visible to the naked eye having faintly be seen and observed the previous year. It is said by scientists that the comet had previously made its appearance 4,200 years ago (source: Wikipedia).   The other details are technical with more scientific explanations but I am not going to delve more into it here. However, the comet had caught my fascinatio...