Samantha and Sharwanand to recreate 96 in Telugu

Tamil film, 96, which recently took the box office by storm is all set to be remade in Telugu. The much-acclaimed film will be starring Samantha Akkineni and Sharwanand in its Telugu remake. C Prem Kumar, who directed the film in Tamil, will be at the helm of the affairs in Telugu as well.

The Telugu remake will be produced under Sri Venkateswara Creations banner of producer ‘Dil’ Raju. The first look of this yet-untitled-film was released recently.

“Happy to announce our Production No. 34 starring Sharwanand and Samantha Akkineni. Directed by C. Prem Kumar. Shoot starts this March,” ‘Dil’ Raju shared on social media.

96 featured Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha Krishnan in the lead roles. The film struck a chord with audiences of all languages and stood out as one of the best films that released last year. While a few had gleaming smiles on their faces, others had tears rolling down their cheeks while walking out of the cinema. 96 is also being remade in Kannada with Ganesh and Bhavana set to essay the lead roles.

It may be noted that actor Sharwanand’s recent film, Padi Padi Leche Manasu didn’t fare well at the box office. The actor will be hoping to score form with this much-hyped remake.

Gully Boy Review: Twitterati calls the Ranveer Singh starrer the best Hindi film in recent times

Director Zoya Akhtar’s much-awaited flick, Gully Boy has hit the screens on Thursday. The Ranveer Singh starrer, which generated quite a buzz with its trailers and songs, seems to have translated the hype at the ticketing windows too. Reportedly, the film has opened to a good response in theatres and has been receiving thumping reviews on social media.

If early reports are anything to go by, Gully Boy seems to have struck a chord with the cinema-goers. From hailing Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt for their performances to commending Zoya Akhtar for her directorial skills, the reviews on the internet have certainly set the ball rolling in Gully Boy’s favour.

“Akka, @deepikapadukone what a volcano of talent is this mad man @RanveerOfficial  #GullyBoy,” tweeted Kubra Sait of Sacred Games fame.

4 reasons why Rushikonda beach is special for Visakhapatnam

The “beach saga” in Visakhapatnam isn’t just about RK beach. Rushikonda beach, among others, is another popular destination for the denizens and tourists in Visakhapatnam who love spending quality time by the sea. Located close to popular colleges and a hub for many tourist activities, Rushikonda beach is special and here are 4 reasons that prove the same.

#1 The drive

The mesmerizing drive to Rushikonda beach, along the spotless beach road, is something that we can never get tired of. From enjoying the bewitching views of the sparkling sea to stopping by for selfies, there are plenty of reasons why this drive doesn’t stop alluring us day in and day out.

#2 The “down” noodles

Soft, spicy and appetizing, the Yippee/Maggi noodles here are all you could ask for to rejuvenate your spirits. Topped with finely chopped onions, the “down” noodles, as they’re famously called, have a signature flair and are best rejoiced while retiring by the gushing waves of the evening beach.

#3 Water Sports

Rushikonda beach plays gallery to a number of water sports. From jet skiing to the upcoming hovercraft rides, this beach in Visakhapatnam is where the adventure junkies, from local tourists to international cricketers, flock the shore generally.

#4 The seclusion

Unlike RK beach in Visakhapatnam, Rushikonda beach isn’t located close to the heart of the city. The beach is comparatively less crowded and with all its seclusion, comes as a perfect getaway option from the hustle and bustle of the city.

A new store to delight the foodies in Visakhapatnam

Offering an exciting range of North Indian savouries and sweets, Chhappan Bhog is the new namkeen store in Visakhapatnam.

Chhappan Bhog, in Hindi, translates to 56 sweets offered to Lord Krishna. Likewise, this new store too, claims to offer similar number of delicacies at the least to treat the customers walking in.

With three classes of sweets made from ghee, kova and chena, the display here is filled with a vivid range of delicacies to select from. Be it the good old Rasgulla, Rajbhog and Rasmalai, or the signature Kacha Gola, Coconut Barfi and Coconut Laddoo, sweets here represent the vivacity of the Indian cuisine.

The store also has a dedicated section for the typical North Indian street food delights. While the Aloo and Paneer Parathas, served with curd and pickle, are delights to gorge upon, the Amritsari Chola Kulcha, Chola Batura, and Makki ki Roti with Sarson ka Saag come as the star attractions at the store. Varieties of samosas and kachoris form the other savouries on offer. An outer chaat counter, serving Pani Puri, Sev Puri, Raaj Kachori, Tokri Chaat, Samosa Chaat and Papdi Chaat, is another place catering to the street food cravings of the customers in the city.

Chhappan Bhog even offers Punjabi Thali, Pulao and Dal Makhni and few other combos for lunch and dinner.

You can even pick your favourite namkeen from a whole lot that is on offer. The popular pickings at the store, however, are the “wafer-thin” potato chips, Methi Mathri and roasted kaju.

Soon, the store also plans to introduce more options in the Chinese and Desi sections of its menu.

Where: Asilmetta, Visakhapatnam

Contact: 9652530577

Timings: 9 AM-10 PM

A new entrant into the buzzing food truck scene of Vizag

A recent bus-trip to Lambasingi was a memorable one for many dwellers from the city. This jolly tour, organised by a young troop named as Straight Outta Vizag, not only delighted the participants with the quintessential pleasures of the chilly hamlet but also forged a long-lasting impression on them with the delicious food that was in store.

A new entrant, in the buzzing food truck scene in the city, Straight Outta Vizag, offers authentic continental delicacies, with the promise of being healthy and fresh.

Anupam Pilli, the truck’s founder, worked as a key member at one of the local brewery kitchens in Australia. The experience of managing the menu, and getting the financial know-how of a restaurant, played a major role in fuelling his long-time ambition of setting up a business in the food industry. An engineering graduate with a strong bent towards the food business, he joined hands with his childhood friend, and fellow foodie, Kiran Pinipey, to get the fancy-looking truck rolling on the roads in 2018.

While Anupam and Kiran manage the in-truck jobs, the former’s mother and sister handle the other important roles involved within the business.

From catering to the local fares, such as Dibba Rotti (for breakfast), to laying out tacos, pancakes and falafels, as the continental specialties, the food truck has been offering a decent range to choose from. Quirky delights, such as Gongura Mutton Burger and Strawberry Ice-cream (made with strawberries sourced from Lambasingi) have stood out as the truck’s signature dishes to impress multiple foodies across the city.

As a six-month-old entrant, that has been receiving heartening feedback, Straight Outta Vizag looks forward to trying out newer menus in its attempt to serve the best to the city. The “truckers” also hope to attract a larger spectrum of food lovers in the coming days. “The trip to Lambasingi was just one of our many ideas to gain momentum. We are planning to organise similar crowd-pulling events to make a mark for ourselves,” says Anupam.

A look back at the Election Results of Visakhapatnam in 2014

As evident from the rising political temperatures in the state, the election season this year promises to be nothing less than a battlefield. Multiple parties have been busy chalking out strategies to hoist their flag successfully for the coming five years. As is the case each year, Visakhapatnam would continue to play a key role in determining the Assembly election results. A look back at the election results in Vizag in 2014 just points out why.
The district has 3 Lok Sabha constituencies that include Anakapalle, Araku Valley and Visakhapatnam. It also has 15 Assembly constituencies which include Visakhapatnam (East, West, North, and South) constituencies, Anakapalle, Bheemili, Chodavaram, Yelamanchili, Madugula, Narsipatnam, Paderu, Pendurthi, Payakaraopeta, Araku Valley, and Gajuwaka.
To state some facts of the previous elections, Nara Chandrababu Naidu led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had won the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Winning 102 seats of the 175 constituencies from the state, the party had defeated Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) to assume the charges of the ruling party.

Big Boss 2 winner Kaushal Manda faces backlash from Kaushal Army

As proved time and again, the world of fame can be quite tricky. From shooting someone instantly into the limelight to decimating careers within a flash, the world of glitz and glam has seen it all. The latest instance testifying the tradition seems to be that of Kaushal Manda, who walked away with the title of Big Boss 2 last year. Not only did the reality show witness Kaushal mark a mercurial rise as a famed celebrity but had also helped him gain a massive “fan” base, christened as “Kaushal Army”.

The Kaushal Army was seen to be everywhere with walkathons and social media engagement, thereby playing a huge role in deciding the show’s fate. However, the tables seemed to have turned rather quickly for the Big Boss 2 star. In an unexpected turn of events, Kaushal Army has expressed severe displeasure over the actor’s deeds and has made several allegations against him.

In a TV debate show held recently, members of his fan community have accusedKaushal Manda of fraud in the name of Kaushal Army Foundation. The members claimed that the Big Boss 2 winner had misused the funds raised in the name of the Foundation. They further alleged that Kaushal, who hails from Vizag, would often make his fans bear the outdoor expenses of his trips and would later snub them when questioned.