Char Minar
Location	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India 17°21′41″N 78°28′28″E / 17.36139°N 78.47444°E / 17.36139; 78.47444Coordinates: 17°21′41″N 78°28′28″E / 17.36139°N 78.47444°E / 17.36139; 78.47444
Established	1591
Architectural information
Style	Islamic Architecture
Minaret(s)	4
Minaret height	46 metres (151 ft)[1]

Night view of the Charminar

View from South

Charminar in Hyderabad, India

A replica of the Charminar built in the Bahadurabad locality of Karachi, Pakistan in 2007

Charminar illuminating at night

Charminar (Telugu: చార్మినార్, Urdu: چارمینار), built in 1591 AD, is a landmark monument located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The English name is a transliteration and combination of the Urdu words Chār and Minar, translating to "Four Towers"; the eponymous towers are ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches.^[1][2] The landmark has become a global icon of Hyderabad, listed among the most recognized structures of India.^[3] The Charminar is on the east bank of Musi river.^[4] To the northeast lies the Laad Bazaar and in the west end lies the granite-made richly ornamented Makkah Masjid.^[1][2]

History[link]

Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty built Charminar in 1591 AD,^[5] shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what is now known as Hyderabad.^[6] He built this famous structure to commemorate the elimination of a plague epidemic from this city. He is said to have prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a masjid (Islamic mosque) at the very place where he was praying. In 1591 while laying the foundation of Charminar, Quli Qutb Shah prayed: "Oh Allah, bestow unto this city peace and prosperity. Let millions of men of all castes, creeds and religions make it their abode, like fish in the water.^{[citation needed]}"

The mosque became popularly known as Charminar because of the two Urdu words char, meaning four, and minar, meaning tower, combined to form Charminar.^[7]

It is said that, during the Mughal Governorship between Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi rule, the south western minaret "fell to pieces" after being struck by lightning and "was forthwith repaired" at a cost of Rs 60,000.[2] In 1824, the monument was replastered at a cost of Rs 100,000.

In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14,000 shops. Today the famous markets known as Laad Baazar and Pather Gatti, near the Charminar, are a favour, of tourists and locals alike for jewellery, especially known for exquisite bangles and pearls respectively.

In 2007, Hyderabadi Muslims living in Pakistan constructed a small-scaled quasi replica of the Charminar at the main crossing of the Bahadurabad neighborhood in Karachi.^[8]

Structure[link]

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golkonda to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the location of the tunnel is unknown.^[9]

The Charminar is a square edifice with each side 20 meters (approximately 66 feet) long, with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that open into four streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, 56 meters (approximately 184 feet) high with a double balcony. Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty petal like designs at the base.

A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times.

There are 149 winding steps to reach the upper floor. Once atop, the solitude and serenity of the beautiful interior is refreshing. The space in the upper floor between the minarets was meant for Friday prayers. There are forty-five prayer spaces.^[1]

Charminar has the signature style of Islamic architecture.^[10] This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance and, as one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity. Charminar looks equally spectacular at night when it is illuminated. Apart from being the core of the city’s cultural milieu, it has become a brand name.

Charminar is a beautiful and impressive square monument. Each of the corners has a tall, pointed minaret. These four gracefully carved minarets soar to 48.7 m above the ground, commanding the landscape for miles around. Each minaret has four stories, marked by a delicately carved ring. Unlike the Taj Mahal, Charminar's four fluted minarets are built into the main structure. The top floor, the highest point one can reach, provides a panoramic view of the city.^[11]

The actual mosque occupies the top floor of the four-storey structure. Madame Blavatsky reports that each of the floors was meant for a separate branch of learning before the structure was transformed by the Imperial British administration into a warehouse for opium and liqueurs.^[12]

A vault that appears from inside like a dome, supports two galleries within the Charminar, one over another, and above those a terrace that serves as a roof, bordered with a stone balcony. The main gallery has 45 covered prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more people for Friday prayers.

The monument overlooks another beautiful and grand mosque called Makkah Masjid.^[13] The area surrounding Charminar is known by same name. A thriving market still lies around the Charminar, attracting people and merchandise of every description.

Tribute[link]

An artistic monument of Charminar made of 50 kilograms of chocolate and taking three days of labor, was on display at The Westin, Hyderabad, India. Lindt chocolatier Adelbert Boucher created the scaled model of Charminar which was on display on September 25 and 26, 2010.^[14]

Commercial Area[link]

Charminar is famous for many things, which cater to all the needs of the people of Hyderabad. The area is famous for Laad Bazar which is very famous for the Bangles, also called "Chudiyaan", mainly worn by women. There is no place for Shopping like the surrounding Charminar Area, and the Traditional Food , like Biryani , Haleem , Mirchi ka salan , Double Ka Meetha etc..The area is also famous for its variety of shops mainly Laxmi Vishnu Jewellers for Gold Jewellery, Agra Mithai Bhandar for sweets and so on. During the season of Sankranthi, the area is completely crowded with vendors selling kites.

See also[link]

• Qutb Shahi dynasty
• History of Hyderabad
• Tourist attractions in Hyderabad
• Hyderabad state

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Charminar

• Photos of Charminar on HyderabadPlanet.com
• Hyderabad on Wikitravel

v t e Notable Mosques in India Adina Mosque Aasfi Masjid Atala Masjid, Jaunpur Babri Mosque Charminar, Hyderabad Chempittapally Cheraman Juma Masjid Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai Nizamat Imambara Goripalayam Mosque Gyanvapi Mosque Haji Ali Dargah Hazratbal Shrine Jama Masjid, Agra Jama Masjid, Bijapur Jama Masjid, Delhi Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri Jama Masjid, Jaunpur Jama Masjid, Mumbai Jamia Masjid, Srinagar Judi Mosque Juma Masjid, Pullancheri Lal Masjid, Delhi Malik Dinar Mosque Mampuram Mosque Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad Mishkal Mosque Moti Masjid (Delhi) Mubarak Mosque (Qadian) Nakhoda Masjid Odathil Palli Palayam Juma Masjid Panbari Mosque Sidi Bashir Mosque Sidi Saiyyed Mosque Sir Syed Masjid Taj-ul-Masajid Thazhathangady Juma Masjid Thousand Lights Mosque Tipu Sultan Mosque Katra Masjid Category Mosques by country

Mahesh Babu
Mahesh Babu at the Univercell store in - 2010.
Born	Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni (1975-08-09) August 9, 1975 (age 36)[1] Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Residence	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1979–1991 1999–present
Spouse	Namrata Shirodkar (2005 - Present)
Children	Gautam Krishna Ghattamaneni
Parents	Siva Rama Krishna Ghattamaneni Indira Devi

Mahesh Babu (born Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni on 9 August 1975) is an Indian film actor best known for his work in Telugu cinema. Born to actor Krishna, Mahesh Babu faced the camera at the age of four as a child artist in 1979's Needa. His first leading role was in the film Rajakumarudu, which was released in August 1999.^[2]

After playing the role of a young Kabaddi player in the 2003 blockbuster film Okkadu, Mahesh continued in this vein, gaining mass appeal and appearing in many successful films such as Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011) and Business Man (2012).^[3] These accomplishments, have established him as one of the most sought after actors in Telugu Cinema.^[4] He was listed at 5th position among Times 50 Most Desirable Men for the year 2011 and at 12th place the year before.^[5][6]

Mahesh Babu has worked in nine films as a child artist and in seventeen films as a lead actor till date. He has won six Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, two Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Awards and two CineMAA Awards. In addition to the films, he also endorses several brands such as Thums Up, Navratna Oil, Univercell, Amrutanjan,^[7] Provogue,^[8] Idea, Vivel, Jos Alukkas^[9] and Santoor Soap in Andhra Pradesh.^[7][10]

Early life[link]

Mahesh Babu was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to prominent Telugu Cinema Actor Ghatamaneni Siva Rama Krishna and Smt. Indira Devi on August 9, 1975.^[11] He is the younger brother of actor turned producer Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni.^[12] He also has two elder sisters, Padmavathi and actress-producer Manjula Ghattamaneni and one younger sister Priyadarshini.^[13] All siblings have the rare honor of having acted in films as child artistes. Mahesh’s childhood was spent mostly in Madras under the care of his paternal grandmother Smt. Durgamma and the rest of his family.^[14] His father made sure all the children spent sufficient time with him on location and on his sets, especially during holidays. Mahesh many times said that this was where his interest for acting began.^[15] The film sets were a second playground and he did not hesitate to face the camera when asked to do a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa at the age of 4.^[15] Mahesh studied at St. Bede‘s School in Chennai while continuing to attend his dad’s filming during holidays.^[16] Few of his schoolmates at St.Bede's were Surya (Tamil film actor) and Vishnuvardhan (Tamil film director).^[17] Mahesh obtained an Honours Degree in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai.^[18] Mahesh Babu acted in seven of his father's films as a child actor.

Personal life[link]

Mahesh dated Bollywood actress and former Femina Miss India Namrata Shirodkar for five years.^[19] She was his co-star in the movie Vamsi. They got married on February 10, 2005 in Mumbai.^[20] They have a son named Gautam Krishna (b. 31 August 2006).^[21]

Career[link]

Early career (1979-1990)[link]

He started his acting career by playing a small role in his brother Ramesh Babu‘s debut film, Needa under Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao's direction in 1979, at the age of 4.^[22] In 1983, at the age of 8, director Kodi Ramakrishna requested him to play a role in the film Poratam since they were having difficulty casting for the role of Krishna’s sibling. This was his first full length feature film.^[23] Producer / Director Dhoondy, one of the early backers of Krishna in his struggling days, watched a preview of the movie and was stunned to find out he was Krishna’s own son and remarked that there was a spark in him and he would become an excellent artist.^[24] True to that prognostication, Mahesh went on to win the hearts of many Telugu film lovers as a child artist through varied roles. In Sankharavam (1987) he faced the cameras with his father directing him for the first time.^[25] Veteran director A. Kodandarami Reddy directed him and his brother Ramesh for Bazaar Rowdy (1988), where he won accolades for his acting.^[26] Mugguru Kodukulu (1988) saw him again team up with his brother and father, the father directing them all this time.^[27] Gudachari 117 (1989) reunited Mahesh with his first film director Kodi Ramakrishna in a James Bond type of flick for which his dad, the lead in the movie, was famous.^[28] Koduku Diddina Kapuram (1989), directed by Krishna again, had Mahesh in a dual role.^[29] Balachandrudu and Anna Tammudu (1990) saw the teenaged Mahesh Babu completing his first innings on celluloid after which he concentrated on his studies and went out of the public eye while letting nature take its course through the awkward adolescent years.^[30]

1999-2004[link]

In 1999, Mahesh was re-introduced as a full-fledged hero with the movie Raja Kumarudu (The Prince).^[31] Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and co-starring Priety Zinta, this movie was a debonair start for his career earning him Nandi Award for Best Male Debutant.^[32] After the movie was released, both fans and the media started fondly calling him Prince Mahesh.^[33] His next release Yuvaraju followed in the year 2000.^[34] Directed by Y.V.S Chowdary, the movie did moderately well at the box office completing 100 days in 19 centers all over AP.^[35] In the same year, another movie Vamsi under the direction of B. Gopal was released and this movie had Namrata Shirodkar co-starring for the first time with Mahesh.^[36] During the movie, the on screen couple Mahesh and Namrata started seeing each other in real life and this relationship later resulted in their marriage.^[37]

In 2001, his successful movie Murari, Directed by Krishna Vamsi and co-starring Sonali Bendre, was released^[38] and earned Mahesh plaudits from all sections of audience and from critics.^[39] He bagged a Nandi Special Jury Award^[40] for his performance in the film. Takkari Donga, produced and directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee was released in 2002, where Mahesh essayed the role of a cowboy.^[41] The role and the movie were meant to honor the legacy of Krishna as the first ever Indian cowboy and also the first Indian cowboy movie Mosagallaku Mosagadu.^[42] His untiring effort in the movie led to another Nandi Special Jury Award.^[43] He had another release in that year, Bobby. Mahesh was paired along Aarthi Agarwal in this movie which was directed by Sobhan.^[44]

Mahesh was next seen in Okkadu directed by Gunasekhar and co-starring Bhumika Chawla, the movie was produced by M.S. Raju.^[45] This movie was released in 2003 and it remains as a landmark film in Mahesh Babu's career. He won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) for this movie.^[46] His next movie Nijam co-starring Rakshita was directed by Teja.^[47] Mahesh‘s performance acquired him the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Actor.^[48] In 2004, he worked with director S. J. Suryaah and had paired with Amisha Patel for the movie Naani.^[49] This movie was produced by his sister Manjula Ghattamaneni.^[50] The same year also had Mahesh again collaborating with Gunasekhar for his next movie Arjun which was produced by his brother G. Ramesh Babu.^[51] He received a Nandi Special Jury Award for his emotional performance in the film.^[52]

2005-2010[link]

In 2005, Mahesh married Namrata Shirodkar after being in a relationship with her for almost 5 years.^[53] The year also saw the first release after his marriage and Trivikram Srinivas’s second directorial venture, Athadu.^[54] He was paired alongside with Trisha Krishnan. Mahesh once again achieved critical acclaim for his performance in the movie and also earned himself the Nandi Award for Best Actor for the second time.^[55] Pokiri, produced jointly by his sister Manjula Ghattamaneni and Vaishno Academy and directed by Puri Jagannadh was the highest grossing Telugu film of the year.^[56] The movie saw him paired alongside with Ileana D'Cruz. Pokiri was a success in AP as well as other states and overseas. The film completed 100 days in as many as 200 centres in Andhra Pradesh and completed silver jubilee in a record 63 centres.^[57] Mahesh earned his second Filmfare award for this movie.^[58]

The year also saw Mahesh working again with Director Gunasekhar and actress Trisha Krishnan for the movie Sainikudu.^[59] In 2007, for his next venture Mahesh embraced corporate film making in Telugu Film Industry.^[60] He collaborated with UTV and with young director Surender Reddy for Athidi which made him the first corporate hero in Telugu Film Industry.^[61] He was paired along side Amrita Rao.^[62] After Athidi, Mahesh devoted more time to family matters with a new toddler to spend time with, supporting and helping Namrata cope with her father’s illness and then his death, followed by Namrata’s mother’s bout with cancer and her death.^[63] In 2008, Mahesh lent his voice for the film Jalsa, directed by his friend Trivikram Srinivas.^[64] In 2009 Mahesh started working on a movie with Trivikram Srinivas as director.^[65]

In 2010, after a 3 year long hiatus Mahesh returned to the silver screen with the movie Khaaleja.^[66] Directed by his friend Trivikram Srinivas, the movie languished in development hell due to production problems^[67] and the telangana agitations.^[68] Upon release, the movie received mixed reviews and also became one of the highest grossing Telugu films overseas.^[69] The year also saw Mahesh embracing social networking site Twitter to interact with his fans.^[70]

2011–present[link]

In 2011, Mahesh's film Dookudu co–starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu was released. Directed by Srinu Vaitla and was produced by 14 Reels Entertainment, it broke many records in the Telugu film industry upon release by taking the largest worldwide opening, earning 21.2 crores in 3 days,^[71] and becoming the highest grossing Telugu film overseas^[72] by earning 1.5 million dollars in the first weekend.^[73] The film set a box office record for the Telugu film industry by collecting a gross of more than 1 billion^[74] and completed a successful run in 312 centers after 50 days.^[75] CNN-IBN for the year 2011, declared him as the Actor of the Year and Dookudu as the Hit of the Year in a survey conducted for Telugu films.^[76] Mahesh began shooting for Business Man co–starring Kajal Aggarwal. The film was directed by Puri Jagannadh and produced by RR Movie Makers, releasing worldwide on January 13, 2012.^[77] Similar to his previous release, it took the largest worldwide opening^[78] by collecting 18.73 crores on the first day^[79] and 62.93 crores worldwide in the first week.^[80] For the first time in his career, Mahesh along with the director Puri Jagannadh lent his vocals for a song in the project.^[81] According to certain reports, Mahesh emerged as the highest paid actor in South India after Rajnikanth.^[82] He was listed 5th in the Times survey of the 50 Most Desirable Men in India, becoming the only South Indian to have been done so.^[83]

His next venture is a multi–starrer Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu under the direction of Srikanth Addala.^[84] Being produced by Dil Raju, it also stars Daggubati Venkatesh in a leading role. The film was officially launched on October 6, 2011 and the filming began on January 18, 2012.^[85] He has also signed up for a role in a film under the direction of Sukumar. The film will be produced by 14 Reels Entertainment and was launched on 12 February 2012.^{[86] [87]} He also hired Hollywood trainer Mike Ryan as his personal trainer.^[88]

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mahesh Babu at the Internet Movie Database
• Mahesh Babu on Twitter