NRI Spotlight

Sports for a Cause

Based out of Melbourne, Australia, Anand Chukka and Praveen Nalla, had two things in common—one was their love for cricket and second, the desire to make a difference in the society. They came together in 2015 to start International Celebrity Cricket League, a non-professional cricket league made up of invited celebrities to support a global cause through sports and entertainment. Hashtag Magazine gets talking to the duo…

It was their quest for higher education that took both Anand Chukka and Praveen Nalla from Hyderabad to Australia in the year 2000. Having settled in Melbourne, both were perusing their successful careers until destiny and their love for cricket got them together. “We wanted to launch a platform that could spread a social message. Since we weren’t politicians or celebrities, we knew it would be difficult to do so easily. While looking at the best way to take this initiative forward, we realised there were three fool-proof platforms that had massive reach—politics, entertainment and sports. We decided to combine two of these ingredients and launched International Celebrity Cricket League (ICCL) a non-professional cricket league made up of invited celebrities to support a global cause through sports and entertainment. Rather than just donating money, we wanted to empower and create a sustainable legacy that could benefit thousands of deserving people,” shares Anand.

Rather than just donating money, we wanted to empower and create a sustainable legacy that could benefit thousands of deserving people.

Having embarked on this journey five years ago, ICCL has now managed to become a wonderful platform for raising awareness that embraces differences and focuses on abilities and not disabilities. This year, thanks to the pandemic, the condition of the disabled cricketers was dire, and hence ICCL stepped-in just in time and reached out to more than 190 players along with the help of Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India. Anand and Praveen share their view, “Abilities and not dis-abilities should be the mantra and every individual has the right to basic entitlement, dignity, respect and opportunity to showcase their talents. We are privileged we got the opportunity to show our gratitude towards our motherland.”

Abilities and not disabilities should be the mantra and every individual has the right to basic entitlement, dignity, respect and opportunity to showcase their talents.

Slowly and steadily ICCL is growing into a force to reckon with, from movie stars to cricketers everyone has come forward to give this initiative a big push. Earlier last month, ICCL launched the Happiness Cup, a platform and tournament that celebrates and supports India’s challenged cricketers. Anand and Praveen have big plans for 2021 with participation from celebs, government and other institutions. “We will be organising this event on a much larger scale. Our event will have eight teams and many differently-abled players will compete nationally to be part of the HAP CUP 2021. We are also looking to collaborate and execute live telecast on mainstream channels. Our philosophy is clear, we believe leaders are not here to lead, but leaders are here for others to grow,” they sign off.

This section is dedicated to NRI’s and their success stories as we believe that it takes a lot of determination and effort to achieve success in a country that isn’t your motherland. Every achievement, whether big or small, deserves to be celebrated and by sharing your story you are inspiring others to follow in on your footsteps. To share your story, mail us at editorial@hashtagmagazine.in

December 22, 2020

#Celebrity, #Community, #Cricket, #NRISpotlight, #SPorts

MAKING HER MARK – MEGHANA REDDY

From doodling on notebooks during class to working on animated films, Meghana Reddy has come a long way. Currently the Lead Concept Artist at Amplify Education, where she collaborates with authors and creates illustrations for children’s books for schools all across North and South America she has been the 2D/ 3D artist for animated films like Elf Pets: Santa’s Reindeer Rescue, Elf Pets: Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale. The Chennai-born artist talks about her journey and how she started her career in animation. Mallik Thatipalli catches up with artist Meghana Reddy who talks about her inspirations, how she chased her dream in a foreign land and more… CHASING HER DREAMS At the age of six, Meghana began painting using watercolours, acrylics, and oils. Even as a child she enjoyed creating and letting her imagination run free on a canvas. No wonder she worked for the award-winning animation company Primal Screen and carved a niche for herself. “Even in high school, I was the kid who would scribble in my notebooks during class.” recalls the 29-year-old, “I chose to take up art lessons after school because there weren’t many design or arts-related subjects offered where I studied. At the time, it was the only creative outlet I had, and it helped to shape what I do now.” “I chose to take up art lessons after school because there weren’t many design or arts-related subjects offered where I studied. At the time, it was the only creative outlet I had, and it helped to shape what I do now.” PURSUING HER DREAMS After a couple of years, the youngster began studying design foundation and gained knowledge about everything, from the history of animation to fine arts, design, packaging, printing, and filmmaking. The Chennai-born artist moved to the US in 2016 and admits that

NRI Spotlight

Shruthi Mukund: One Woman Tour de Force

Hashtag Magazine captures the many facets of Shruthi Mukund, a mother, a danseuse, and a consultant. From Washington DC, USA, in a conversation with Mallik Thatipalli, she spills the beans on her life and more. Living Many Lives A freelance curator, consultant, and speaker, Shruthi Mukund wears multiple hats with elan.After earning a B.S. in Computer Science from Bangalore University, Shruthi moved to the US around two decades ago. Since then, she has worked as a scientific writer for Astra Zeneca and as a Community Outreach Director and Choreographer for Natyabhoomi School of Dance in Gaithersburg, Maryland, amongst other roles. “An arts administrator, a curator of cultural programs for community engagement, mother of two teenaged daughters—my life is a whirlpool of activity,” laughs Shruthi. She adds, “My life represents all things that matter to me. My culture and my Indian upbringing have held me in good stead, ensuring that I live life to the fullest in the US exploring all the facets it has to offer.” Desi At Heart As an Indian in America, Shruthi says that in the last five years there has been a lot of conversation about representation and identity. She explains, “When I came to the US in the early 2000s, it was different from when my aunt came in the 70s, when there was lower representation and fewer people from different cultures. Since then, so much has happened. Today, the first-generation Indians in the US co-exist with say third or fourth generation Indian Americans. The perspective of someone like me who was born and brought up in India is certainly different from those who are born here, but all of us have contributed to the community in our own ways.” Today, as there is more awareness about different cultures in the US, India is known

NRI Spotlight

One Hat, Many Feathers: The Multifarious Life of Tanvi Chandna

A chartered accountant, an entrepreneur with her own dance studio, an actor, and a model, TANVI CHANDNA wears many hats with elan. In a chat with MALLIK THATIPALLI, the 26-year-old outlines her dreams plans for the future, and much more… Dancing to her own tune Having worked with renowned companies like General Electric and KPMG Canada, 26-year-old Tanvi Chandna quit her corporate job last year to pursue her passion for dance and acting. Born and brought up in New Delhi, she moved to Canada in 2013 and has always been a firm believer in following her heart. From CA to dancer and entrepreneur “I think it was a dancer who decided to become a CA in order to become a successful entrepreneur.” laughs Tanvi and adds, “I started dancing when I was 7 years old and have always wanted to open my own dance school one day. However, I also wanted to study accounting in under-graduation. I strongly believe that education doesn’t always have to be directly linked to the profession you end up choosing and I say that because education provides you with a lot more than just a degree that gets you the job.” Having realized her passion for dance, the youngster started her dance school ViDance Studio, a global studio that is travelling across the world, spreading happiness through dance. With her own name making up the studio’s title – Vi comes from the last letters of her name – the studio echoes her own spirit, aiming to be a safe space that enables each dancer to truly celebrate their emotions and express themselves through easy and simple steps. “Like any other art form, dance is an expression of oneself.” The founder explains, “Dance is rarely about the steps. Like any other art form, dance is an

NRI Spotlight

The grace in grooves: Indrani Davaluri

A Bharatanatyam performer, actor, and guru, INDRANI DAVALURI has constantly pushed the envelope with her various activities. Now settled in Virginia, USA, this free-spirited Hyderabadi girl speaks to MALLIK THATIPALLI, about how dance is a passion, her various interests, and her upcoming plans! Dancing like a dream: “I want to perform till the day I drop dead,” chuckles Indrani Davaluri. An actor, a model and chiefly a Bharatanatyam dancer, she began learning the traditional art form at eight years of age and continues till date, all while undergoing two pregnancies (she was back on the dance floor within three months of delivery!) and a debilitating knee surgery in 2009. Armed with a Master’s in Microbiology as well as a distinction-level Bachelor’s in Dance, she is now pursuing her Master’s in Bharatanatyam from the University of Madras. Apart from dedicating her life to dance, she has also acted in mainstream south Indian movies – such as Bidda, Maya Bazaar, and Magane Marumagane, amongst others. The formative years of dance are extremely crucial for anyone… Dance as a passion: Indrani started learning dance at a very young age from the famous Thyagaraja Gana Sabha in Chikadpally in Hyderabad. She later trained under gurus Sri V.S Ramamoorthy and Smt. Manjula Ramaswamy. She recalls, “It was in those years that I understood the importance of a guru. The formative years of dance are extremely crucial for anyone and though my gurus were very exacting, they were loving and generous as well.” The danseuse still recalls her first performance at a Ganesh temple in Secunderabad as a euphoric memory! A form of life: Unlike any other profession or career, dance is demanding and requires a passion beyond the ordinary. It also requires support, states Indrani and adds, “I would like to thank my parents for