Which Place Is Known As The Butter Capital Of India?

Butter is something most of us keep in the fridge without giving it much thought. But in one small town in Tamil Nadu, butter is more than just a breakfast spread. It is a local speciality that has been made the traditional way for generations and has become closely tied to the town's identity. So, which place is known as the Butter Capital of India? Let's find out.

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Uthukuli Is Widely Regarded As The Butter Capital Of India

Photo: Unsplash

The answer is Uthukuli, a town in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district. For decades, Uthukuli has been associated with a traditional variety of butter called Uthukuli Vennai. Made using age-old churning methods, this butter has earned a loyal following for its distinctive taste and texture. Its popularity eventually gave the town a unique title: the Butter Capital of India.

What Makes Uthukuli Butter Special?

Unlike the glossy, factory-made butter commonly sold in supermarkets, Uthukuli butter has its own character. It is known for its soft texture, mildly sour flavour and natural appearance. The taste develops from the traditional way milk and cream are handled before the butter is churned. Many local producers continue to make it in small batches, helping preserve the qualities that make it different from commercial varieties.

How Is It Made?

The process begins with fresh milk. After the milk is boiled and cooled, the cream is collected over time. Once enough cream has been gathered, it is churned until the butter separates from the buttermilk. Traditionally, this churning is done using a wooden churner. The butter is then washed and worked into the desired consistency before it is ready to be used or sold. While modern production methods are faster, this labour-intensive process remains an important part of Uthukuli's dairy heritage.

A Tradition That Has Stood The Test Of Time

Photo: Unsplash

Butter-making has long been linked to dairy farming in the region. Over the years, local producers and dairy units have helped keep the tradition alive, turning Uthukuli butter into one of the town's most recognised products. Today, the butter is sold well beyond Uthukuli and can be found in different parts of Tamil Nadu. Efforts have also been made to promote and document its unique identity as a regional food speciality.

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Butter Capital Vs Butter City: What's The Difference?

The nickname can sometimes cause confusion because another Indian town is also associated with butter. Bardoli in Gujarat is popularly known as the Butter City of India, a title linked to its strong dairy industry and its role in the cooperative milk movement in South Gujarat. Uthukuli, meanwhile, is widely regarded as the Butter Capital of India because of its long-standing tradition of producing its famous local butter.

So, while Bardoli is known as the Butter City, Uthukuli remains the place most closely associated with India's traditional butter-making heritage.

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Treesa-Gayatri Lose Semi-Final, Clinch Maiden BWF World Championships Bronze

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's extraordinary run ended with a fighting three-game loss to world No. 1 and defending champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the women's doubles semifinals at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi on Saturday, as the Indian pair signed off with a maiden bronze medal. The unseeded Indians produced a sensational start to pocket the opening game but could not sustain the pressure against the mighty Chinese pair, going down 21-18, 13-21, 8-21 in an hour and 11 minutes. India last won a BWF World Championships medal in women's doubles in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze in London.

The Indian pair didn't have a favourable head-to-head record against the Chinese, having lost six times with just one to show in seven meetings so far.

However, Treesa and Gayatri raced to a 7-2 lead to put the Chinese pair under early pressure. Liu and Tan quickly fought their way back with a series of sharp rallies. Six straight points from the Chinese pair turned the match around as they moved ahead.

The Chinese made effective use of angled returns, forcing the Indians into errors, with several shots finding the net. A nine-point run took Liu and Tan to an 11-7 lead at the interval.

The rallies were generally short, averaging around 15 shots, but the Indians began to regain their rhythm after the resumption. Treesa ended the Chinese run with a well-executed point.

Another attack at the front court forced the Chinese long, before a 31-shot rally brought the Indians level at 12-12. A fabulous exchange followed, ending with a cross-court winner from Treesa as India moved ahead.

The Indians' attack was becoming sharper. Gayatri, however, was punished for a short lift as the Chinese regained the advantage at 15-13. Treesa then produced a superb return of serve to leave the Chinese pair stretched, cutting the deficit to 14-16. A fired-up Treesa followed it with a jump smash and another aggressive play at the front court as India drew level again.

The Chinese responded with relentless attacking play and moved to 18-16, but the Indians won a video referral to make it 17-18. Treesa then produced a crouching defensive return during a flat exchange to level the scores at 18-18.

Another superb rally ended with a scathing cross-court winner from Treesa as India moved to 19-18. The unseeded pair then earned two game points after Tan found the net. They converted on their first opportunity when the Chinese pair sent a shot long, sending the home crowd into raptures.

The ecstatic home crowd roared Treesa and Gayatri on.

After the change of ends, the Chinese opened up a 3-0 lead. A short serve gave India its first point, while a lucky net cord made it 4-1 before Liu found the net. The Indians responded with a cross-court, cross-body combination and excellent follow-up play. An effective flick serve and counter-attack helped them close the gap to 4-5.

Gayatri then went long to make it 6-4. The Indians tried to put pressure on the Chinese with pushes towards the backline, but a few errors crept in, with Treesa sending one long to make it 7-4. Gayatri's attacking shots from the back court began forcing the Chinese wide.

Treesa's cross-court drop made it 6-8, before a Chinese smash into the net reduced the deficit further to 7-8. Treesa found the net, but followed it with another tricky cross-net shot to make it 9-10. India drew level at 10-10 before taking the lead when the Chinese defence produced two errors.

However, Liu and Tan wrested the lead back at 12-11.

A 49-shot rally followed, but Treesa eventually found the net. A tumble serve set up the next point for the Chinese, who opened a 14-12 lead. The Indians then sent another shot wide, followed by two net errors from Gayatri, allowing China to move to 17-12.

Another precise shot onto the backline made it 18-12, before Gayatri's long lift gave the Chinese a 19-12 advantage. Treesa then found the net as the Chinese earned eight game points. Liu and Tan converted their second opportunity to take the match into a decider.

The third game began with intense rallies, with India winning a 56-shot exchange to make it 2-2. The Chinese then changed the pace effectively to move 4-2 ahead. The Indians appeared slightly passive in defence, and Liu targeted Treesa with a body return to make it 6-2.

The Indians continued to fight, but errors began to hurt them. A net shot stayed inside, leaving Treesa disappointed, before another Indian error and a shot wide allowed China to take an 11-5 lead at the interval.

Treesa and Gayatri didn't dial up the same intensity as the first game as the Chinese moved to 12-5 before a flick serve took them to 14-5. It was a one-way traffic as the Chinese moved to 17-7. Eventually a perfect cross-court winner gave Liu and Tan 12 match points, and they sealed the contest with a cross-court shot.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BWF Championships: Treesa-Gayatri Enter Semi-Finals, Assure India Of A Medal

BWF World Championships Highlights: India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand assured themselves of a medal at the World Championships with a come-from-behind win over China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in the women's doubles quarterfinal in New Delhi on Friday. The Indian unseeded pair, which is on a comeback trail after Treesa recovered from an injury, toiled for one hour nine minutes to produce one of the biggest wins of their career, a 16-21 21-15 21-13 triumph to cruise to the last four stage and be assured of at least a bronze medal. India last claimed a BWF World Championships medal in women's doubles in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the bronze in London.

BWF World Championships Highlights:

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Preparations Complete For Imran Khan's Transfer From Jail To Islamabad Hospital

Preparations have been completed for the possible transfer of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, with security tightened around the facility, according to local Pakistani media reports.

A heavy deployment of police and Rangers was reported outside the hospital as authorities finalised arrangements for Khan's possible transfer. Senior police officials also visited the facility to review the security plan.

Khan is expected to enter the hospital through Gate No. 1, according to the reports. Multiple media reports said that security was stepped up on Thursday night as the deadline approached for the transfer of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder for medical treatment under a Supreme Court order.

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Roads around the hospital were cleared of vehicles, while senior Islamabad police officials inspected the arrangements. Pakistani media reported that Khan's sister, Aleema Khanum, also reached Adiala Jail.

The Supreme Court had ordered Khan's transfer to a hospital for treatment for several days and directed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family.

The government subsequently approached the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the scope of the order, arguing that some aspects could have wider implications for the prison healthcare system.

Pakistan Today reported that Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government had until midnight to implement the transfer order and that the Islamabad administration was working on the arrangements.

In the Senate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government would ensure that Khan received the treatment required under the court's directive. He said that if the necessary facilities were unavailable at a government hospital, treatment could be arranged at Shifa International Hospital or another better-equipped facility.

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“There is no intention to oppose or create hurdles in the provision of necessary medical treatment,” the minister said.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed the government had withdrawn its review petition after objections from the court's filing branch and demanded immediate implementation of the order.

PTI Central Information Secretary Waqas Akram, meanwhile, urged supporters not to create obstacles to Khan's treatment, saying his health should take priority over political activity or public gatherings.

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'Gangnam Style' Has 6 Billion Views On YouTube. How Much Money Has It Made?

Remember 'Gangnam Style'? The K-pop song by South Korean artist PSY, released on July 15, 2012, became a worldwide phenomenon, powered by its wacky music video, trademark horse-riding dance, and addictive chorus. The video became a cultural sensation, inspiring thousands of imitations, parodies, and dance videos around the world. It also made YouTube history by becoming the first video on the platform to cross 1 billion views.

14 years later, Gangnam Style remains one of YouTube's most-watched music videos, with around 6 billion views. Its enormous audience has also raised questions about just how much money the video has generated for PSY and its rights holders.

When one user on X asked Grok to estimate the video's YouTube revenue, the AI chatbot said the exact lifetime figure was not publicly available. It pointed to Google's disclosure in 2013 that Gangnam Style had generated more than $8 million in advertising revenue when it had around 1.2 billion views. Based on current view counts and typical music-video advertising rates, Grok estimated that the rights holders could have earned tens of millions of dollars from advertising over the years.

"With 6.03B views now, using typical music RPM rates of $1–3 per 1,000 views, the rightsholders have likely earned in the low-to-mid tens of millions from ads alone over time, plus additional Content ID income from parodies and covers," Grok said.

See the tweet here:

Exact revenue isn't publicly disclosed. In early 2013 Google said the video generated over $8M in ad revenue at ~1.2B views (creators keep roughly half).

With 6.03B views now, using typical music RPM rates of $1–3 per 1,000 views, the rightsholders have likely earned in the…

— Grok (@grok) August 18, 2026

Meta offered a similar answer, noting that YouTube earnings are not fully disclosed and that advertising rates can vary significantly. Estimates also differ depending on whether they include only YouTube advertising or revenue from downloads, endorsements, licensing, and other sources connected to the song. 

Impact of the song

The song propelled PSY to worldwide superstardom and proved that a song sung in a language other than English could break through to mainstream audiences on an unprecedented scale.

Its success also made a larger impact on the music industry. The huge impact of YouTube views and online streaming demonstrated the importance of digital audiences in measuring a song's popularity, prompting Billboard to include streaming and YouTube data in its chart methodology.

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Vijay Wants To Shift His Office. BJP Alleges Corruption In Tender Process

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's plan to shift to a new office has landed him in the middle of a raging political controversy, with the Opposition alleging irregularities in the tender process.

Vijay intends to shift the Chief Minister's Office from Fort St. George to Namakkal Kavingar Maaligai in Chennai to provide more workspace for his staff. According to reports, construction is already underway.

Recently, a Rs 5.5-crore tender was floated by the government for the shifting.

Levelling the first-ever corruption allegation against the three-month-old government, the Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that the tender had been released a month after construction commenced.

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"In stark contrast to all the tall claims made by the new TVK government about bringing in transparency to the government tender process, a news article by a leading daily today has openly alleged many discrepancies in the tender process in connection with the new chief minister's office for Vijay. The article states that the tender work is worth about Rs 5.5 crores, and that there have been multiple irregularities in the tender process. It has been only 100 days since the TVK government came to power, and already the government is under the scanner," said BJP leader CR Kesavan.

DMK MLA EV Velu also reacted to the row.

"Shifting his office is his personal choice. We can't interfere in it. Even we are happy in a way with the chief minister shifting his office, as that building was constructed by Kalaignar Karunanidhi. But an Indian newspaper report says there are irregularities in the tender, which was not floated online either. We seek clarification from the government. You speak about purity in tenders. But news reports say the tender has been invited after works began for the office," he said.

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TVK Reacts

Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna has refuted the allegations. 

"The news reports are false," he said.

"The chief minister feels that just like him, everyone else who's working with him should also have a comfortable workspace. His officers and staff are now working in a space that's not even 100 sq ft. That's why we are planning a temporary shift of his office. Our chief minister is naturally down-to-earth and flexible...During campaigns, he'll even be okay with resting in a simple hotel or a van," he added.

He further said that former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa wanted to establish a new secretariat but could not due to political circumstances.

"We have had the same building for over 100 years. The office hasn't changed in consonance with the change in administration. Hence, we need to update it," he added.

He assured that the tender process will be transparent.

"No benami companies will be used. We will ensure no leakage to the government's treasury," he added.

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Ayush Shetty: India's Badminton Star Who Stunned World No. 1 At World C'ships

India's 21-year-old badminton star Ayush Shetty stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in the BWF World Championships 2026 Round of 64 clash. The youngster, who hails from Karkala in Karnataka, looked in sensational form as he came up with brilliant smashes and terrific defence to pull off a stunning win in front of the home crowd in New Delhi. This was his first-ever win over Shi Yuqi after three successive losses, including a straight-game loss in the final of the Asia Badminton Championships earlier this year.

Ayush was off to a flying start with a 21-14 win in the first game and although he dropped the second game, the youngster did not give up. He fought back brilliantly and was able to finish the match in style.

Who is Ayush Shetty?

Shetty found himself in the headlines earlier this year after he became the first Indian men's singles player to reach the Badminton Asia Championships final in 61 years. While he was defeated by Shi Yuqi in the final, he pulled off a brilliant win over Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-final. It was a result that truly announced his arrival on the global stage.

He comes from the small town of Sanoor near Karkala in Karnataka and was introduced to badminton at the age of 8 by his father, who coached him in their backyard. The family later relocated to Bengaluru in order to provide proper training to Shetty and under the guidance of coaches at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, he honed his skills.

Shetty's breakthrough came in 2025 when he won the US Open title after beating Brian Yang in straight games. It was his maiden BWF World Tour title. He followed it up with wins over top-10 players like Li Shi Feng and Chi Yu Jen at the Asia Championships.

Earlier, he won the bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Spokane, USA, won the Denmark Junior International in 2021, and reached the finals at the Odisha Masters Super 100 (2023), the Bahrain International Challenge (2023), and the Dutch Open (2024).

(With IANS inputs)

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