Sahitya Poonacha

International Business Times

At IBT, I wrote on Karnataka's politics, culture, citizen issues, and Indian cinema from time to time. From features to interviews, that's what I did here. 

International Business Times, India Edition •

Fact-Check: No, K Annamalai did not say this about NEET; beware of Fake accounts

The number of fake accounts parading as real accounts of known individuals has become a considerable problem in the age of social media. However, these accounts largely go unchecked and many fall prey to what's being said by these accounts. K Annamalai was also drawn into such a case recently when an account that sported his name and profile picture. An account made controversial comments on NEET following Tamil actor Surya's statement on the exam. Many in the public weren't sure if the comment
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Can seeds survive 100 years: Agri-researchers begin Arctic experiment

Ever wondered how long seeds in fact live? Well, researchers in the Arctic are taking on the mantle to find out exactly that. As of September, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has become the site of this intriguing quest. 6 global research institutions and genebanks including the Hyderabad-based ICRISAT have contributed seed specimens for the research. This experiment, which will carry on for the next 100 years, will observe the conditions and how long seeds may be preserved. The International C
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Ajitabh left home to sell car via OLX; three years later, still no trace of him

Ajitabh Kumar has been missing since December 18th 2017 after his meeting an OLX buyer in Bengaluru. The young software engineer's family received delayed help from authorities on the matter, having gone from pillar to post from the Karnataka police to CID to the CBI as well. Now, three years later the family has organised a campaign on Twitter on 6th September demanding justice for the missing techie. The 29-year-old Kumar Ajitabh went out to meet an OLX buyer in Whitefield, Bengaluru and sin
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Spider-Man of Bommanahalli: This 22-year-old rescues animals in Bengaluru

You might come across Asrar Khan Usmani scaling walls, trees and every now and then in a well. And, it's all for animals. This young 22-year-old is a self-made animal rescuer who has been saving lives around Bengaluru, which has earned him the title of 'Spider-Man of Bommanahalli'. AK Usmani is a certified animal healer working at Cessna Lifeline Veterinary Hospital in Domlur, Bengaluru. The youngster has been rescuing animals for the past 6 years. For the past 6 years, AK Usmani has been maki
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People missed friends most during lockdown; 10-year-old Ahmedabad boy conducts survey

The lockdown was a tough time for the world, even though different countries went into lockdown and came out of it at different times. Collectively, it was an experience born out of an unanticipated situation that no one could deal with on their own. Slowly now, the world is getting used to the new normal. We're still fighting COVID-19, we're still coping with staying home more than we are used to, but at least we aren't all under lockdown. 10-year-old Aarav Roy from Ahmedabad, used the time d
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Bengaluru youth does his bit; helps provide masks for city police Covid warriors

The fight against COVID-19 has been an uphill battle in the country. It has also, however, shown us, that a little bit of humanity can go a long way. While many wonder what's being done for police force's safety amid the pandemic, there are those who are silently working to help them. 19-year-old Amaan Asim, a resident of Bengaluru and a student at Ashoka University began his own initiative to help procure, design and distribute masks to the city's police force. On Friday, Amaan handed over the
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Three-language formula of NEP won't work in Tamil Nadu; here's why

Language has long since been considered a 'unifier'. In India, it has often been a 'divider'. The New Education Policy, which recently was announced by the central government, is barely a few days old. It has already sparked a debate. On Monday, Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami said he found the 3-language formula 'painful and saddening'. Tamil Nadu, which has been following the 2-language policy, has found the New Education Policy a threat. To understand why Tamil Nadu resists the NEP today
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Buddy Volunteers in Bengaluru are helping make COVID home isolation easier

We hear reports of another ambulance out of reach or another deceased patient. We also hear the daily count of cases, recoveries and other "tolls". Yet, there are snippets now and then of people doing the right things, helping each other out and creating a positive impact on another's life. In Bengaluru East, a few volunteers have come together to help reach out to COVID-19 patients in the zone who are under home isolation. They call them, they assure them and check in on them, they are your 'B
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Fact-Check: COVID victim Dr. Aisha does not exist; fake images, fake story go viral

Catfishing on the internet and accounts that mislead are not new by any means. A new account has now occupied center stage due to the controversial story. You might have heard of Dr Aisha the 'COVID warrior' who lost her battle to the virus. Reports have now emerged on social media that her account might be fake, following which her account was deleted soon after. The internet now is still not sure why the account is fake, and why did anyone have to create an account just to gain sympathy. Eve
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Ancient 'Amazon' myth: Russian researchers unpack 2,500-yo Scythian burial | Know more

Archaeological research has come a very long way in recent times. We as a society hardly appreciate it enough, even if it makes a huge difference to our own history. DNA Analysis is also a big part of this process. In the time that technological improvements and refinement in models and approaches have come in, previous methods could have led to errors that can potentially rewrite history. A study by the Historical Genetics Lab at MIPT has published new path-breaking research that can point us
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Man helps his cook sell Mangalorean crab curry on Twitter, sold out in hours

The pandemic has made everybody apprehensive of ordering food from outside. Still, nobody can deny they miss having those cheat days and those opportunities to call it a day on cooking. Bringing back some of that magic, in Bengaluru, Ankit Vengurlekar introduced residents of HSR Layout to a new initiative. His cook, Saroj Didi is now cooking up local delicacies at affordable rates, open for delivery. Amazingly, 2kgs of the preparations sold out within hours on Friday. On Friday, Ankit Vengurle
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Will Twitter become unaffordable for voiceless; no clarity on subscription model

Twitter has always been heralded as a platform not restricting anyone from joining it, a space to chat and express. However, the whole dialogue on the app might change, even the demography might in the coming months. On July 23rd, the company announced that it is 'exploring' subscription models for its users. This move is a result of the pandemic, which has hit every sector and company hard. Twitter has witnessed a sharp fall in ad revenues. However, this asks a question, what does it mean for
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AAP's 'Nammoora Charche' begins: Citizens raise concerns on BBMP's work in Bengaluru

Bengaluru has a population of over 1.3 crores as a city. However, it has its shares of problems, problems that citizens rarely get enough platforms to address and problems that rarely make it to the media eye. On Sunday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)in Karnataka launched a dialogue series for the citizens of Bengaluru to raise their concerns and complaints as well as suggestions before a panel of experts. During the webinar, citizens raised their suggestions to politicians and experts who have been
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Bollywood's tobacco and alcohol imagery may negatively influence kids; new study finds

Bollywood movies have always claimed that they only fictionalise our present, they shouldn't be taken for reality. How much power a film holds in influencing its audience has been debated for a very long time with mixed views. The reason why we can't be sure of how penetrative Bollywood can be is that there is not enough to provide us with insight. A new study published in PLOS One by researchers from Vital Strategies and Imperial College, London has found that Bollywood is maybe more influenti
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'Social distancing' starter pack: 8 films from the South to make staying home worth it

We've all been forced to stay indoors, the sooner we face reality, the easier it gets. It's a tough time for extroverts, cinema-goers, the ones who aren't used to staying home, rather being forced to stay home. We know this and understand this. So we're bringing to you a list of films you can watch while under lockdown. How much of South cinema have you really enjoyed so far? This is a carefully curated list for those who are new to South Indian cinema. For those who are connoisseurs of films f
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Master Audio Launch: Vijay addresses Coronavirus, raid and Ajith in moving speech

Master's audio launch was a mega event meant to showcase Thalapathy Vijay's upcoming film. While it was about the music, it was also about Vijay himself. The actor delivered a speech to end the event and it was everything and more. Thalapathy Vijay is known as someone who speaks well, with the amount of love and respect he receives. The actor graced the Master's audio launch with a speech that truly summed up the show. Thalapathy Vijay takes over the stage and hearts with his speech Master's
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Love You Pappu teaser released by Rahul Gandhi's ex-aide

We've seen biopics on politicians, we've seen political dramas, and many of us know who we want to see on screen, which characters deserve stories and who do we want to know more. The question is how many think in terms of political characters, Rahul Gandhi is it? Rahul Gandhi is all set to have a film as part of his list of achievements. We're not joking, we're not playing any prank. It's all real. Rahul Gandhi is getting his very own film, 'Love You Pappu'. Love You Pappu teaser is a glimpse
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Top 10 bold roles played by actresses to challenge Bollywood's outlook on women

Nobody in Bollywood has to reinvent themselves as much as actresses. More than the celebrities, it's the roles they play that stick with an audience. At some point, those roles become a part of that image they have built over time. As cinema grows, so is the way women are seen in films. Their roles have now taken centre-stage and are making a lasting impact on audiences. As Women's Day approaches, let's take a look at some of the iconic roles we've witnessed in recent times. There may be thous
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DDLJ 2 on cards? Here's why Gauri Khan wants Shah Rukh Khan to make a sequel

When Trump mentioned DDLJ in his speech he opened Pandora's box, or so it seems from the uproar it has created. In the same vein, Gauri Khan also put out the possibility of a sequel to the 1995 blockbuster. This leaves fans and the general public with so many questions. While at first a sequel to the iconic film seems like a good offering, when we get down to the basics and remove the garb of nostalgia, it loses some of its appeal. While the makers decide whether or not this would be a good ide
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Shivaji Surathkal Review: Indian Sherlock Holmes at work

At the outset, Shivaji Surathkal is a murder mystery rife with all the makings of one. Once you get into it though, it's a lot more than that, a comment on our society today. This film marks the 101st film of actor Ramesh Aravind. The film's plot and setting are a marked departure from romance and comedy which the actor has won several accolades for. Director Akash Srivatsa chooses Madikeri, Coorg as the central location of the film, where the film begins. From the first shot, we're told to exp
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