DhimTANA has been one of the greatest platforms in the TANA Convention enabling individuals to showcase their talent in the areas of singing, dance, beauty pageant, and (starting this year) as couples in the couples contest. It has been a tradition to hold the DhimTANA contests every time in the run-up to the TANA Convention. Last time, due to Covid-19, the TANA event had to be skipped. With four years of forced gap, the participants were waiting to participate in the event this time with gusto. And that's what they did.
This year, the DhimTANA competitions were held in four categories in 18 cities across North America with great fervour. Malathi Nagabhirava (Chair), Sri Lakshmi Kulakarni (Co-Chair), Sohini Ayinala (Co-Chair), Poolani Jasti, Pallavi Doppalapudi, Aarthika Anne, and Priyanka Gaddam (Members) oversaw the elaborate edition this year. They worked under the aegis of Anjaiah Chowdary Lavu (President) and Ravi Potluri (Co-Ordinator).
The categories in which the competitions were held are Solo Singing (Classical, Filmy and Folk), Group Dance (Classical, Filmy and Folk), Beauty Pageant (Miss Teen TANA, Miss TANA, and Mrs TANA), and Chilaka Gorinka (which was the best couple contest). The finals were held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, July 7th & July 8th with 342 participants, 21 judges on 2 stages.
For the first time in the history of TANA, the DhimTANA committee mobilized the funds it needed by itself. The national Grand Sponsor was Jubilance Sasha Homes, while the Silver Sponsors were Octave, Splash BI, Shoora EB5, and Pooja Wadhwani. The DhimTANA team donated around USD 3,000 per city towards trophies, crowns, and media coverage. This is the first time in the history of DhimTANA that the national team has funded at the city level. Never before was there such a contribution by the national team to city units.
Centralized registrations (through a website supported by the DhimTANA team to help process registrations from all cities, with advanced reporting analytics and capabilities), the conduct of events in multiple cities, and coordinating various aspects were ensured with passion. Trophies, crowns, sashes, and other paraphernalia were put in place. The first program was held in Atlanta on April 30. The program culminated in the finals during the TANA Convention. The Couple Contest (read Chilaka Gorinka), which was held for the first time, received a particularly thumping response.
Tollywood celebrities, talented individuals drawn from different walks of life to act as judges, and dignitaries made it to the finals of DhimTANA.
Greg Rothman (the state senator for Pennsylvania's 34th District), former US Ambassador Carla Sands, Oscar award-winning Telugu lyricist Chandrabose, Nata Kiriti Rajendra Prasad, Rajitha, Surekha Vani and Others attended and awarded winners in the finals.
The sponsors, the local and national-level TANA leadership, Awe Raw Photography Ratna, media personnel, judges and participants were sincerely thanked on the occasion. The DhimTANA organizers were felicitated on the occasion for ensuring that the DhimTANA was conducted successfully and with fanfare despite their being busy in their personal lives. They were lauded for taking their time out for the event for weeks on end.
Classical Dance Judges - Dr.Rajesh Adusumilli (Dallas), Neelima Gaddamanugu (Atlanta), Sree Sudha Palepu
Filmy/Folk Dance Judges - Kavitha Thotakura (New Jersey), Shaila Mandala (New Jersey), Dr. Rajesh Adusumilli (Dallas)
Classical Music Judges - Aishwarya Daruri (India), Dr.Sarita Bangarala (Denver), Anjali Jayaram (Philadelphia)
Filmy/Folk Music Judges - Prasad Simhadri (St.Louis), Kumar Rani (Philadelphia), Lalitha Rani (Philadelphia)
Beauty Pageant judges - Gowri Sri Yadlapati (NRI Global 2022-23), Deepti Tati (Mrs ATA 2022), Meenal Manikandan (Mrs Bharath USA 2021, Mrs Bharath New York 2021, Mrs SouthAsia World Fasionista 2020, Mrs India Global Trendsetter 2020), Sanjana Uppaluri (Miss Bharath 2018,Miss TANA 2015 runner up), Kishore Tatikonda (Movie Producer Atlanta)
Chilaka Gorinka Judges - Anusha Vangara (Atlanta), Kishore Tatikonda (Movie Producer), Bhavya Sri Vuppalapaati (Tollywood Actress)
