Flower Recycling | Indian Startups | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryFlower Recycling: These startups are giving India’s floral waste a new lease of life

Flower Recycling: These startups are giving India’s floral waste a new lease of life

Written by: Global Indian

(February 22, 2022) Heaps and heaps of rotting marigolds, roses, jasmine, carnations, orchids etc often dot the garbage dumps outside places of worship and function halls. What once adorned deities and hallways is soon turned into a pile of rotting mush. In a country where flowers add a splash of reverence to places of worship and a dash of glamour to significant life events, the amount of floral waste generated can’t be escaped. According to the Journal of Cleaner Production, Elsevier, at least 300 tonnes of flowers are wasted after just a “single use”. Another research by the International Journal for research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology states that annually as much as eight million tonnes of floral waste is dumped into India’s rivers and water bodies leading to clogging of its water ways, pollution, and environmental degradation.

However, there’s a new crop of social entrepreneurs who’re diving headlong into recycling flower waste to help cut down pollution and give discarded blooms a new lease of life. The cherry on the cake is that it also creates livelihoods.

Turning flower into power

One such young entrepreneur is Ankit Agarwal, founder and CEO of Kanpur-based HelpUsGreen, a social enterprise that keeps river Ganges from becoming a victim of worship induced waste. His organization collects more than 2.4 tonnes of floral waste every day and recycles it into organic products like charcoal-free incense, biodegradable organic styrofoam, and animal-free leather while providing livelihood to marginalized women. Recognised by Forbes, Fortune, and Stanford review, HelpUsGreen is the world’s first lean solution provider to the monumental temple waste problem.

Ankit Agarwal, Founder, HelpUsGreen

“When we started questioning our centuries-old religious practices, people thought that it was really nuts. I took it upon myself as a challenge that it can be done and today, we sell a pack of incense sticks every minute. We turn the flower into power,” says Ankit in a video shot by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

“Every year more than half a billion Hindus go to temples and worship with flowers. Later these sacred flowers are dumped into water bodies like the river Ganges. The pesticides that are used to grow these flowers mix with the river water making it highly toxic. Why not have a solution which is simple, scalable, and effective? The whole thing has now circled back into the economy giving us a new purpose,” Ankit adds.

His efforts have earned him awards and recognition like United Nations Young Leader for Sustainable Developmental Goals 2018, United Nations Momentum of Change Award, Poland 2018, Fast company world-changing Ideas 2018, Forbes 30 under 30 2018, Unilever Young Entrepreneur award 2017, Gifted Citizen 2017 by Ciudad le das Ideas Mexico, and UNEP Young Champions of Earth 2017 (Asia-Pacific) to name a few.

Flower recycling creates livelihoods

Making waste beautiful

Maya Vivek and Minal Dalmia’s HolyWaste which is a niche offering of their startup Oorvi Sustainable Concepts Pvt Ltd. based in Hyderabad gives floral discards a new lease of life through a process they call FloRejuvenation. “We wanted to get into a business where women and the environment could benefit together. Waste management was a huge area where we could explore possibilities and floral waste seemed niche and full of opportunity. Any problem in the environment affects a woman’s life first. So, she is best suited to think of solutions for that,” Maya tells Global Indian.

Maya Vivek and Minal Dalmia, Founders, HolyWaste

Though they had begun experimenting since November 2018, they launched their organization in April 2019. “Once we were ready with the prototypes we went ahead and registered the firm,” informs Maya. HolyWaste has been partnering with places of worship, vendors, event planners, decorators, and just about anybody that generates floral waste. When they began, they had just one temple on board. Today, they have grown operations to more than 40 temples. The discarded flowers are recycled into natural fertiliser, incense sticks, incense cones, and soaps by the organisation.

When they first began operations, HolyWaste was functioning out of the village community hall provided to them by the sarpanch of Gundlapochampally to benefit women of the locality. Now, they have moved to a rented space in the vicinity. The startup has won the Best Green Startup award 2019 under Eco Ideas of Green India Awards.

Making waste beautiful

Putting flowers to good use

Another flower recycling venture is Aaruhi Enterprises that was started in 2019 by Poonam Sherawat and Pinky Yadav. “At temples, I’d often see flowers being offered to the deity being dumped almost immediately. It was disturbing, especially when we are taught that whatever is offered to God should not be wasted. That made me realise the monumental amount of waste being generated across temples in the country,” says Poonam in a conversation with Global Indian.

Poonam Sherawat, Founder, Aaruhi Enterprises

Poonam and Pinky operate from Gurugram. The duo has placed containers in temples to collect discarded flowers from temple authorities. “Initially, the flowers in our container would be accompanied by other waste like milk packets, banana peels, and empty incense packets. We would then segregate the flowers and recycle the rest. Once our first batch of products was ready, we donated them to the temples where we’d collected the waste from,” smiles Poonam, adding that they didn’t need to segregate waste thereafter.

The entrepreneurs have been making dhoop-baati, idols, decorative pieces, and even fresheners from garland threads. Aaruhi currently employees five women and has trained 500 others to make floral products. “We have trained Kashmiri migrants in Jammu, Gurgaon self-help groups, and even people under the government’s skill development programs,” informs Poonam.

As these social entrepreneurs continue to make headway into what is a mammoth industry, the floor is open for several more to join in and begin making a difference. Given the scale of flowers being used across India every single day, the opportunity floral discards present to budding entrepreneurs is manifold.

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Published on 22, Feb 2022

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Guitar Prasanna: Blending strings of tradition with beats of innovation in music

(September 6, 2024) In the world of music, where tradition and innovation often find themselves at odds, one man has managed to harmonize the two opposing poles easily. Prasanna Ramaswamy, widely known as Guitar Prasanna, is a name that resonates with music aficionados across the globe. A pioneer in playing Carnatic music on the guitar, Prasanna's journey is a masterclass in dedication, passion, and the relentless pursuit of one's unique voice. Having worked with some of the stalwarts in the musical world, including the likes of AR Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja, the maestro has always pushed boundaries with his work. Musical Roots Prasanna's story begins in Tamil Nadu, growing up in small towns including Mettur and Ranipet before moving to Chennai at the age of seven. His early life was steeped in music, albeit not from professional musicians. His sister learned Carnatic vocal and Veena, and his brother was an enthusiastic singer of film songs. This familial environment, though not professionally musical, laid the groundwork for the maestro’s future. "I was playing professionally from a young age, performing Carnatic music on the guitar and playing with top rock bands," he recalls. The maestro’s academic journey followed a conventional path, leading him

natic music on the guitar and playing with top rock bands," he recalls.

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

The maestro’s academic journey followed a conventional path, leading him to IIT Madras, where he earned a B.Tech in Naval Architecture. After graduating from IIT, he worked as a software engineer, but his heart was always in music. With the unwavering support of his family, he made the decision to pursue a full-time career in music.

Unique musical identity

The musician is renowned for his pioneering efforts in bringing Carnatic music to the guitar—an idea that was almost inconceivable before him. His distinctiveness quickly became his signature, a hallmark that set him apart in a world crowded with guitarists.

Growing up, Prasanna was influenced by the music of legendary Indian film composers like Ilaiyaraaja and R.D. Burman. Alongside this, he developed a deep love for rock and metal, genres he began exploring with various bands during his teenage years.

But it was his immersion in Carnatic music that truly defined his musical journey. "I was the only one that I knew who was playing Carnatic music, heavy metal, and Indian film music all at the same time," he reflects. This eclectic blend of styles made him a unique figure in the music world, capable of seamlessly transitioning between genres and integrating them in a way that had never been done before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uxweBLTnZ4

The American Dream

In 1994, Prasanna made a bold move that would change the course of his life—he relocated to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music. This decision was driven by his desire to deepen his understanding of jazz and Western classical music, genres that required formal study and rigorous discipline. However, the transition was not without its challenges. "When I came to Berklee, I was shocked to find over 1,000 guitar players studying at the school," he says, highlighting the competitive environment he had entered.

Undeterred, the musical genius focused on honing his skills, not just as a guitarist but also as a composer and arranger. His time at Berklee was spent mastering the intricacies of jazz and classical music, equipping himself with the tools necessary to create his unique musical signature. "The goal was a single-minded focus towards learning everything that I can," he says, a focus that has undoubtedly paid off.

Prasanna's journey was fraught with challenges, particularly from critics who doubted the authenticity of playing Carnatic music on the guitar. However, he remained steadfast. "I had to block out the criticism and focus on what I knew I could achieve," he says. His determination was fueled by a deep belief in his vision and the realization that he had the potential to create something truly special.

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

His success has since silenced the critics. Today, the musician is recognized worldwide for his contributions as a guitar player and composer, having released 18 albums, scoring the music for the Oscar-winning film Smile Pinki and the National Award and Filmfare Award-winning Tamil film Vazhakku Enn 18/9, and scoring for numerous dance theater productions all over the world.

His work is not just about blending genres but about mastering them, understanding their depths, and creating something entirely new.

Role of tradition in a modern world

Despite his modern and innovative approach to music, Prasanna remains deeply rooted in the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara, the teacher-disciple tradition that is central to Indian classical music. "As far as learning Carnatic music goes, this is what I subscribe to," he affirms.

The stalwart believes that the relationship between the guru and the shishya (disciple) is essential for the transmission of knowledge and the preservation of tradition. He is ‘grateful for the blessings’ of his Carnatic Gurus Tiruvarur S. Balasubramaniam, with whom he studied for six years, and the great Violin Maestro A. Kanyakumari, with whom he studied for over 25 years.

As a teacher, the virtuoso is not just imparting musical skills but mentoring his students in every aspect of their growth as musicians. "Producing my students' albums is a big part of where my focus is now," he says, underscoring his commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians.

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

In 2024, four of Prasanna’s talented students are releasing their debut albums: singer/songwriter Shruti’s modern pop album Desire, guitarist Rohit H. Sivaram’s progressive metal album Unearth Prophecy, multi-instrumentalist Neil Nayyar’s world music album Breaking Barriers, and guitarist Archish Sadeesh’s jazz and carnatic album Sounds from Thin Air.

Prasanna arranged and produced Shruti’s, Neil's, and Archish’s albums and co-produced Rohit’s. His student Maya Neelakantan, an eleven-year-old guitar prodigy, has become a global sensation after her performances at America’s Got Talent Season 19 with her Carnatic-infused renderings of Last Resort by Papa Roach and Master of Puppets by Metallica.

A global citizen

Even though the musician has spent nearly three decades in the United States, his connection to India remains strong. He frequently performs across India in venues ranging from formal concert halls to edgy rock clubs, and he participates in the December Carnatic music season in Chennai. "India has always been a huge part of my concert trips," he says, emphasizing his continued engagement with his homeland.

Outside of his musical career, Prasanna leads a fulfilling personal life. His wife, Shalini, is an accomplished singer across many genres and an integral part of his musical journey. Their high school-going daughter is passionate about horse riding and competes in equestrian events. As a family, they enjoy hiking, traveling, and other outdoor activities. Prasanna also has a keen interest in chess, a game he credits with making his music "much more radical."

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

Guitar Prasanna’s journey is one of passion, dedication, and the courage to pursue a unique path. His ability to bridge diverse musical traditions and create something entirely new has made him a global icon. As he continues to explore new musical horizons and mentor the next generation, Prasanna remains a true global Indian—rooted in tradition yet constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in music.

Follow Prasanna Guitar on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

Indian American Aruna Miller on her way to being Maryland’s Lt. Governor

(July 30, 2022) "Wow, they're throwing confetti for us." Aruna Miller was seven years old when she first entered the United States with her family. Ensconced in her father's arms, the young girl's first emotion was one of exhilaration. "I thought everyone in the airport was waiting for us to arrive, that they were throwing confetti," she said in a recent interview, soon after she was chosen as the Democratic nominee for Lt Governor of Maryland. As it turned out, the confetti was snow. "I had never seen snow before," said Aruna (née Katragadda), who spent the early years of her life in her hometown, Hyderabad. "That day, I was so pumped to be in the country and I'm still pumped to be here. It has provided so many opportunities to immigrants like me," she added. Aruna Miller will be the second Indian-American woman to enter the House of Representatives after Pramila Jayapal. She is the running mate of bestselling author Wes Moore, who will contest the upcoming gubernatorial election as the liberal party's candidate. A civil engineer by profession, she spent over 25 years as a transportation engineer in Montgomery Country. Aruna's family relocated from Hyderabad in 1972, as

[caption id="attachment_27525" align="aligncenter" width="644"] Aruna Miller | Global Indian Aruna Miller. Credit: Facebook[/caption]

A lifetime of public service

By the time she graduated, she knew beyond doubt that she wanted to be a public servant, to "pay it forward" for the country that had given her so much. Aruna then moved to Montgomery County, where she lived for 25 years with her husband and their three daughters. There, she spent the entirety of her time working at the Department of Transport. Her career as a public servant has been dotted with many milestones - she has batted for issues like paid family leave, transportation policies, stood against domestic violence and emerged as a proponent of STEM education.

She first dabbled in politics in 2006, when she was elected to serve as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, a position she held until 2010. She then became the first Indian American woman to be elected to the Maryland Legislature in 2011. Soon after she made history by entering the legislature, one of her first acts was to co-sponsor the Marcellus Shale Act of 2011, which laid the foundations for Maryland's fracking ban. She has also stood for education and was the lead sponsor of a bill that made it mandatory for high schools to offer at least one, high-quality computer science programme. Local schools were also encouraged to introduce computer science for younger students.

As one of ten lawmakers named to the Maryland Business Climate Work Group, she was part of the team that made recommendations and developed long-term plans to streamline business regulations. They also encouraged innovation and helped develop public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure.

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Also in 2011, Aruna returned to India with a delegation of 100 members that included business leaders, educators and state officials. Their first stop was her hometown - Hyderabad. The delegation went on to visit Mumbai and New Delhi, in a bid to strengthen business and cultural ties between India and the state of Maryland. The trip was fruitful, resulting in nearly $60 million in business deals for the state of Maryland.

In 2018, she raised around $1.47 million for the Congressional race. She went on to win, becoming the second Indian-American woman to enter the House of Representatives, after Pramila Jayapal.

A fateful tete-a-tete with Wes Moore

"In Aruna Miller's crystal ball," as she puts it, "There was no indication that I was going to be running as a lieutenant governor on anyone's ticket. She did, however, often hear the name 'Wes Moore' - friends and colleagues would often ask if she had met the man. At that point, she had not.

In 2021, Aruna and her husband met Wes and his wife in Baltimore. Only a month earlier, her husband had bought her Wes' book, The Other Wes Moore as a birthday present. "I completely OD'd on Wes Moore', she told Maryland Matters in a late 2021 interview. One month later, the two had teamed up for the gubernatorial race.

"I looked at his remarkable resume - he has a very compelling life story." Wes, she thought to herself, was an "engaging speaker and more importantly, an engaging listener." She came away from that meeting with a strong sense that she had met the next governor. "I have never had that gut reaction to anyone before but I did with Wes," she remarked.

[caption id="attachment_27526" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Aruna Miller | Global Indian With gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore. Source: Facebook[/caption]

If she wins, Aruna Miller intends to hit the ground running, taking on three major issues - education, the climate and the economy. Investing in public education and job creation is a top priority, she says, it is also a means to create safer public spaces. "The Moore-Miller administration will continue to invest in public education," she said. They also intend to tackle climate change on a war footing - in 2021, schools in Maryland were closed due to the extreme heat.

As for Wes, he's all praise for his running mate. "I have found someone who is a loving mom who has raised three remarkable young women here in Maryland and someone whose own immigration story has inspired her to a life of public service," he said, adding, "This is someone who I just truly admire."

Follow Aruna on Facebook and Instagram

Reading Time: 6 mins

Kishore Indukuri: The US techie who founded a thriving dairy farm

(July 10, 2022) "Sid's Farm has given me everything that I have ever wanted." Kishore Indukuri, the founder of what is one of Telangana's most successful dairy farms, speaks straight from the heart. "It wasn't a typical business, but it pushed me to my limits. It showed me what I was capable of enduring to survive. That's what I truly cherish." What began as a means to ensure his two-year-old son was drinking fresh and pure milk, a small operation that started with 20 cows on a piece of leased land in Shamshabad, is a leading dairy brand today, with an annual turnover of Rs 65 crore. Named Sid's Farm, after Kishore's son, Siddharth, the company distributes over 25,000 litres of milk a day. Fresh, raw milk is procured each day from local farmers and put through a series of stringent tests, "an average of 6,500 daily," Kishore says, during an interview with Global Indian. "The emphasis is on purity - no antibiotics, no hormones, and no preservatives." From Massachusetts to Telangana, polymers to pasteurisation [caption id="attachment_26759" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Kishore Indukuri[/caption] Always a bright student, Kishore chose the conventional, much-revered Indian Institute of Technology route to building a career. After

e-26759" src="https://www.globalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RAJ03087.jpg" alt="Kishore Indukuri | Sid's Farm | Global Indian" width="614" height="409" /> Kishore Indukuri[/caption]

Always a bright student, Kishore chose the conventional, much-revered Indian Institute of Technology route to building a career. After he graduated from IIT-Kharagpur, he took the full scholarship he was offered at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and moved to the United States for a master's and Ph.D. "Everything was paid for and I enjoyed my research," Kishore recalls. "But all the while, I felt something was missing in my life."

Kishore stayed in the US to work at Intel for the next seven years. "It was an amazing time, I got to travel to countries like Japan, South Korea, and Canada. Still, I needed to do something more. I knew that. I just didn't know what it would be." One day, he knew he had to take the leap. He walked up to his boss and announced that he was moving back to India with his wife and their infant son. "We sold the house, packed up, and moved back."

Got Milk?

Back in India, he tried his hand at several business ideas, including providing coaching for competitive exams like the GRE. And every day, he wondered if the milk his son was drinking was safe and pure. The answer wasn't clear. The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India has strict guidelines on dairy and its affiliate products, but "how far are these implemented?" Kishore asks.

[caption id="attachment_26754" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Kishore Indukuri | Sid's Farm | Global Indian Kishore Indukuri[/caption]

"India has done so much good work. You can walk to any shop and get a packet of milk," he adds. "We are the largest producers of milk and we consume all of it." In this pursuit of plenty, however, the emphasis on quality took a backseat.

As he did his research, Kishore found that India's dairy industry continues to thrive, recording an annual growth of 12 percent CAGR. Having grown up in an agrarian household, he felt a natural affinity for the industry. "I also learned that dairy had lots of potential as a business venture," he recalls.

The trial-and-error business model

With two degrees in industrial chemistry and polymer science and engineering, as well as a doctoral thesis on the "squalid mechanics of polymeric materials," Kishore entered the dairy business as a rookie. So he did what he knew best - hit the books. A veterinarian friend, Ravi, helped him choose his first batch of cows. "He told me, 'you have to look at the cow's beauty'. I had no idea what that meant," Kishore laughs.

He and his wife visited numerous farms across India, learning everything they could. They hired staff to milk the cows and started in the wholesale market. The plan didn't work. "We were selling at Rs 15 per litre when the cost of production was anywhere between Rs 25 and Rs 30," he says. So, they decided to sell directly to customers. It meant visiting them personally, distributing pamphlets that his wife designed, explaining the benefits of milk that contains no preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, or thickening agents.

[caption id="attachment_26757" align="alignnone" width="1370"] Kishore Indukuri | Sid's Farm | Global Indian Graphic courtesy: Sid's Farm[/caption]

"Milk doesn't take a break," Kishore says. "We were transporting fresh milk twice a day, 730 times a year, starting 2013." The obstacles were many, especially on the distribution side. There were accidents and numerous untold delays. "It doesn't matter how good the milk is, if the customer didn't get it in time for his morning coffee, he will go elsewhere." Eight years later, they do 16,000 deliveries a day and have separate apps for customer interaction as well as delivery. "We didn't even stop during COVID," he says.

He recalls another occasion when the staff, who would milk the cows threatened to go on strike, demanding more money. The team was at a loss, the cows needed to be milked. Local farmers took pity on their plight, milked their cows, and then came to help them. "That's how we started working with farmers, we sell their milk for them."

Put to the test

Fresh, raw Indian milk is among the best in the world, Kishore remarks, sourced from smaller farmers who keep grass-fed, free-range cows. However, with little implementation of the regulations, thickeners, preservatives, hormones, and antibiotics are a common presence. Making sure their dairy farm produces pure and unadulterated is a point of pride for Kishore, who has never held back from spending on the best equipment. "A lot of the technology is available in India because of our thriving dairy industry," he says.

Kishore Indukuri | Sid's Farm | Global Indian

First, raw milk is tested for thickeners, using an ultrasound pulse. Salts, sugar, urea, and maida are commonly used thickening agents, to help the sellers get more value for money. Hormones are also commonly found and used to increase milk production. "When antibiotics are given to a cow, they go from the bloodstream to the milk," he says. Consuming trace amounts of antibiotics causes microbial drug resistance within the human body - when the medicines are needed, they will not work.

"Preservatives are commonly added too. Nature designed milk to be drunk immediately, but we don't do that. Bacteria feed on the milk and convert the lactose into lactic acid. The thinking seems to be, if you add a base like hydrogen peroxide or caustic (to neutralise the acid), or modify the pH levels, it won't go bad." The answer to this is effective chilling systems - and Kishore insists on the best. "Antibiotic testing alone costs us up to Rs 4 lakhs a month," he says.

The journey so far

The dairy farm has grown tremendously over the last decade, branching out over the years into other dairy products like paneer, ghee, (made with lemon juice, not synthetic chemicals), curd, and butter, all made in-house. Cow milk and buffalo milk are processed and sold separately. Kishore also hopes to expand to other states soon.

As our conversation draws to a close, Kishore smiles, adding, "There's one more thing. When we bought this land, there was nothing on it. We have planted over 500 trees in 10 years. We also harvest rainwater to recharge the groundwater table."

Follow Sid's Farm on Instagram or visit their website

Reading Time: 8 mins

Shreya Sharma: Pioneering online legal access in India through Rest The Case

(November 29, 2023) Shreya Sharma, founder of Rest The Case, has combined her international education and entrepreneurial spirit to make legal services accessible in India. Her experiences at Cardiff University and Harvard University inspired her to bridge the gap in online legal assistance. Rest The Case, an online legal aggregator, reflects her commitment to simplifying legal complexities and ensuring that legal help is a basic right available to all. Down Memory Lane Sharma grew up in Pune, Maharashtra in a large family of nine. She remembers going to the office with her parents when she was still in school and observing them at work. “I was interested in how passionately they solved problems and I saw them working hard on a business they were growing from the ground up. That inspired me to do something of my own,” she tells Global Indian. She went on to study law at Cardiff University in the UK, and then did a course at Harvard University Summer School for International Relations. “These experiences changed my perception about growth and learning,” she reminisces. [caption id="attachment_47112" align="aligncenter" width="611"] Shreya Sharma[/caption] Excited about Entrepreneurship Watching her parents at work at close quarters, gave her entrepreneurial zeal and

[caption id="attachment_47112" align="aligncenter" width="611"] Shreya Sharma | Global Indian Shreya Sharma[/caption]

Excited about Entrepreneurship

Watching her parents at work at close quarters, gave her entrepreneurial zeal and Shreya knew that when the time came, her path would be one that makes a difference to society. As she studied law at Cardiff, she realised that India didn’t have too many options for people seeking legal help online, even if the help itself is actually available. “Being a lawyer, I have witnessed how troublesome getting legal help could be in India. Today we strive to make the law accessible to everyone, one day at a time and that is where the Rest The Case’s roots come from,” Shreya explains. After interning in Cardiff University’s Pro Bono Cell, she came back to India and started working on her own entrepreneurship journey. As CEO and the founder of Rest The Case, she has immersed herself in learning the nitty gritty of the business world.

Legal Path

Rest The Case offers legal information in their knowledge bank and verified lawyers (who the team cross checks before putting on the website). A client can filter these lawyers based on location, experience, gender, and if required specialisation so that they can find an apt lawyer, ready to use document templates that a client can fill up and use (these documents are created by experienced lawyers). Apart from this they also offer legal news and bare acts so that you can be completely informed when you require help. “We understand how difficult it can be to trust someone with something so sensitive and we aim to keep proving that we are a trustworthy place for everyone who requires the help of law in whatever way big or small,” she explains. All the listed lawyers are divided into niche categories and filters so that when a person is looking for a lawyer, they know exactly who they are connecting with. They can filter lawyers by pin code, to deliver customised results. Rest the Case also offers an extensive legal resource library, which explains complicated legal terms and makes them easy to understand. This content is written by legal experts and lawyers and therefore making it content that you can trust.

Shreya Sharma | Global Indian

Business Acumen

Starting a business straight out of college came with its own challenges. One major hurdle, Shreya says, was that people didn’t trust her easily because she was so young. “But I continued to show them what I had created and why I had created it. I have always believed that actions speak louder than words and I think when I could actually show people what Rest The Case was creating they trusted us more,” she explains. Outside work she likes to play tennis and go to the gym every day, staying active and including a sport in her schedule eases her mind. “I feel fresher and more active after I have done any of the two. I also like to read and I get very excited when I have a new book. I think it is important to unwind. I do however love to put my effort and mind at work because I really enjoy working, but these things keep me active to keep going,” she avers.

Shreya Sharma | Global Indian

Looking Ahead

Her advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs is simple. “I think what I have learnt is that you should believe in yourself and your work. Only when you believe you can do something will you be able to do it. Same is for the business you are creating; you must believe in your idea and know why you are creating whatever it is you are creating. When you think and believe that your idea will solve its purpose you will be able to create something to resonate with that idea,” says Sharma. Looking ahead she believes that being dynamic and agile in the changing times is the need of the hour. “We wish to incorporate newer variations of the law so that our clients can get the best of what our legal system has to offer. Mediation is a growing field in our legal system today and is slowly becoming a mandate that courts impose on cases. We are designing a mediation feature on our platform to help clients to take up mediation in a systematic and organised manner. We are creating a podcast that will help people understand the nitty gritty of legal information along with our lawyers that are part of Rest The Case. This will help people know about what is happening in the country and what the law says about those things,” she concludes.

Follow Shreya Sharma on LinkedIn and check their website for more

We would love to hear from you, dear reader. Write to us at editor.gi@globalindian.com and tell us your Global Indian story.

Reading Time: 5 min

From Hyderabad to the World: How Telugu cinema is winning hearts globally

(May 26, 2023) "There was only one wish on my mind. ... RRR has to win, pride of every Indian, and must put me on the top of the world," is how music composer MM Keeravani accepted his Oscar for Best Original Song Naatu Naatu. But this wasn't a speech, instead a rendition of the popular 70s pop hit Top Of The World by the Carpenters that he crooned to a full house. This is how the first-ever Oscar for a Telugu film, RRR, was accepted amid a thunderous applause and a standing ovation. The epic moment has now turned into a beautiful memory for Telugu cinema lovers forever, thanks to director SS Rajamouli. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYt_srWx_V8 Pushing the envelope and scripting history has become synonymous with the filmmaker whose epic action drama RRR got a deafening response at the 96th Academy Awards. So much so that even Steven Spielberg, who Rajamouli calls the God of filmmaking, couldn't help but laud the film. "I thought your movie was outstanding. I couldn’t believe my eyes, for me, it was like eye candy," he said, adding, "It was a beautiful visual style and extraordinary to look at and experience." Shot in 320 hours across

d extraordinary to look at and experience."

Shot in 320 hours across three years, the three-hour long Telugu action drama caught the attention of American viewers in the summer of 2022, when it got a US-wide release in over 100 theatres. Dylan Marchetti of Variance Films (the distributor of the film in the US) told a daily, "With more than 250 films coming out of India annually, RRR could be a gateway drug." And it did emerge as one.

The visuals, impressive storytelling, songs, dance and jaw-dropping action turned out to be West's introduction to not just Indian cinema but Tollywood. "This happened to be the film that broke all of the barriers," Ram Charan told Deadline about the film, which has found a new level of global success which only strengthened with the release of the Hindi-dubbed version on Netflix with English subtitles. Such has been the admiration that it helped Rajamouli win Best Director at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, and later bagged a Golden Globe and an Oscar for the song Naatu Naatu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBVtSwb5G7M

Swiftly, there has been a new wave of awareness in the West about Indian cinema's artistic potential. While Bollywood films like Dangal and Bajrangi Bhaijaan have been popular overseas, it's a first for Telugu cinema to break the glass ceiling. Telugu cinema's global appeal can be attributed to its exceptional craftsmanship, breathtaking visuals, and soul-stirring music. Filmmakers have masterfully blended entertainment with thought-provoking narratives, addressing social issues and stimulating meaningful discussions.

Evolution of Telugu cinema

The roots of Telugu cinema can be traced back as early as 1921 when the first Telugu silent film, Bhishma Pratigna, by Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu (known as the father of Telugu cinema), was released. The industry grew steadily, and by the 1950s, Telugu cinema had established itself as a major film industry in India. The emergence of iconic actors and directors such as NT Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and BN Reddy contributed significantly to its growth.

[caption id="attachment_39173" align="aligncenter" width="271"] Mayabazar | Telugu Cinema | Global Indian The poster of Mayabazar[/caption]

Over the years, Telugu cinema underwent several transformations, adapting to changing trends and incorporating technical advancements. The introduction of sound in the 1930s revolutionised the industry, leading to the production of talkies. The 1980s witnessed a shift towards commercial cinema, with larger-than-life storytelling and high-energy performances. This era saw the rise of superstars like Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, who garnered a massive fan following.

Scaling global heights

It was in the early 50s that Telugu cinema had its first tryst with international film festivals, when the talent and stories of Tollywood were showcased at global platforms. Films like Patala Bhairavi (1951), Mayabazar (1957) and Nartanasala (1963) were appreciated at the Indonesian Film Festival, followed by the 1976 film Seeta Kalyanam that enthralled audiences at the London Film Festival. In the 80s, Telugu cinema landed at Cannes Film Festival and Moscow Film Festival with films like Meghasandesam (1982) and Swayamkrushi (1987) taking the baton forward.

[caption id="attachment_39174" align="aligncenter" width="829"] Baahubali | Global Indian A still from Baahubali: The Conclusion[/caption]

But it's in the recent years that Telugu cinema has garnered significant attention on the global stage, owing to its grand-scale productions, compelling storytelling, and technical brilliance. The axis tilted in 2015 when SS Rajamouli presented Baahubali: The Beginning to the world. It made the global audience sit up and take notice of the creative potential that Telugu cinema holds. This was exacerbated by the phenomenal response to the 2017 film Baahubali: The Conclusion which brought Telugu cinema to the forefront of international recognition. The franchise shattered box-office records and captivated audiences worldwide with their stunning visual effects, gripping narratives, and powerful performances. Interestingly, Baahubali: The Conclusion became the first Indian film to cross ₹1000 crore at the box office, thanks to its release in countries like the US, Canada, New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia, Russia and China.

The impact of Telugu cinema

The success of Baahubali franchise opened doors for Telugu cinema to reach wider audiences across various languages and cultures. Its massive international success showcased the industry's potential to create content with universal appeal.

[caption id="attachment_39175" align="aligncenter" width="755"] SS Rajamouli with Steven Spielberg SS Rajamouli and MM Keeravani meet Steven Spielberg[/caption]

RRR further solidified the global impact of Telugu cinema. The film, set in the pre-independence era, struck the right chord with the audiences worldwide for its gripping storytelling, powerful performances and exceptional production values. Interestingly, it was the long duration, songs and dance which kept the Westerns away from Indian films for the longest time, and now it's exactly these things that brought them to RRR. "Some Indian filmmakers came to understand the power of song and dance, if it makes the story go forward, rather than stopping the story. Very few Indian filmmakers have figured out how to do that, but when that happens even Westerners will enjoy it," SS Rajamouli told The New Yorker.

That's why Naatu Naatu winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe can be easily called a watershed moment for Telugu cinema. It highlighted the industry's ability to create music that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. This recognition not only celebrated the talent of the composers, lyricists, and singers but also served as a testament to the global reach of Telugu cinema.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgBoMJy386M

Over the years, Telugu cinema's impact has gone beyond just box-office numbers and awards. It has inspired filmmakers around the world to explore new possibilities and push creative boundaries. The success of films like Baahubali and RRR has instilled a sense of pride and enthusiasm among Telugu filmmakers and audiences alike, fostering a vibrant and innovative film ecosystem.

In conclusion, Telugu cinema's impact on the world is undeniable. Its ability to captivate the mind and heart of a global audience through its captivating storytelling, memorable characters, and powerful emotions is a testament to the industry's creative brilliance. With its continuous evolution and growing international recognition, Telugu cinema is poised to shine even brighter, inspiring and enchanting audiences around the world for years to come.

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