जहांगीर आर्ट गैलरी में रूपकुमार राठौड़, लेस्ली लुईस, काव्या जोन्स ने संजुक्ता अरुण की इनटू द दीप की शोभा बढ़ाई

प्रसिद्ध कलाकार संजुक्ता अरुण कहती हैं, "यह मत भूलो कि पृथ्वी आपके नंगे पैरों को महसूस करने में प्रसन्न है और हवाएं आपके बालों के साथ खेलने के लिए लंबी हैं," जिनकी वर्तमान प्रदर्शनी 'इनटू द डीप' 30 अगस्त से 5 सितंबर तक जहांगीर आर्ट गैलरी, काला घोड़ा में आयोजित की जा रही है। प्रदर्शन पर श्रृंखला प्रकृति की सुंदरता और महत्व को सामने लाती है और धरती माता को बचाने के लिए, वेक-अप कॉल में भाग लेने की आवश्यकता होती है।

"हमारे पर्यावरण के बारे में जागरूकता पैदा करना अत्यधिक महत्व का है क्योंकि यह औद्योगिकीकरण, प्रदूषण और आधुनिकीकरण के कारण ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के कारण होने वाले विनाश के कारण होने वाले नुकसान को कम करने में मदद कर सकता है," एट अल संजुक्ता को दर्शाता है।

 "मेरी वर्तमान श्रृंखला अपने असंख्य रंगों में प्रकृति की सुंदरता पर केंद्रित है। यह समय है कि हम महसूस करें कि हमारा अस्तित्व पूरी तरह से इस बात पर निर्भर करता है कि हम अपने ग्रह की देखभाल कैसे करते हैं।"

संजुक्ता अरुण की प्रदर्शनी में नफीसा खोराकीवाला, डॉ हाबिल खोराकीवाला, रूपकुमार राठौड़, विजय दर्डा, लेस्ली लुईस, काव्या जोन्स, डॉ अनिल काशी मुरारका, पृथ्वी सोनी, पद्मनाभ बेंद्रे, राजेंद्र पाटिल, विनोद शर्मा, अजॉयकांत रुइया, अरुण अरोड़ा, विजय लाजर, नयना कनोजिया, विजय कलंत्री, रूपा नाइक, पपिया दास, बनमाली दास, सुनीति कुकरनी, रेणु आर्य के आलावा और भी कई आर्टिस्ट शामिल थे ।

अभिनेत्यांचे हक्क आणि हक्कांची अंमलबजावणी सुनिश्चित करण्यासाठी CINTAA कामगार आयुक्तांची भेट घेते

  भारतातील कोविड-19 च्या तिसर्‍या लाटेच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर नियमांमधील बदलांबाबतच्या चिंतेवर चर्चा करण्यासाठी आणि कलाकारांसमोरील अनेक आव्हानांना तोंड देण्यासाठी, सहसचिव संजय भाटिया, सचिव, कामगार विभाग श्रीमती विनीता वेद सिंघल -I a s.
  प्रधान सचिव. सीईओ सतीश वासन आणि कार्यकारी समिती सदस्य हेतल परमार यांच्यासह CINTAA मान्यवरांनी कामगार भवन, बीकेसी येथे कामगार आयुक्त शिरीन येस लोखंडे यांची भेट घेतली.



  माननीय कामगार आयुक्तांनी संबोधित केलेल्या प्रमुख समस्या पुढीलप्रमाणे होत्या:

  • जे अभिनेते एका महिन्यात सात दिवसांपेक्षा कमी काम करतात त्यांना कराराखाली आणले जाईल आणि 30 दिवसांच्या आत पैसे दिले जातील.
  • मुलांनी दिवसातून 8 तासांपेक्षा जास्त काम करू नये आणि योग्य मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वे असावीत.
  • अभिनेत्यांना लवकरात लवकर कंत्राटी कागदपत्रे देण्यात यावीत.

  • शुटिंग शिफ्टच्या विचित्र तासांच्या बाबतीत जसे की खूप लवकर कॉल टाइम्स आणि रात्री उशिरा पॅक अप अशा महिला आणि बाल कलाकारांना त्यांच्या घरातून पिक-अप आणि ड्रॉप-ऑफ प्रदान करा.
  • एकसमान करारासाठी विनंती.  आणि ब्रॉडकास्टरचा पक्ष करार म्हणून समावेश करा.

 • अतिरिक्त आयुक्त तयार असले पाहिजे जेणेकरुन पेमेंटमध्ये होणारा विलंब आणि चूक करणाऱ्या उत्पादकाच्या गोष्टींवर लक्ष ठेवता येईल.

 कलाकारांना प्रथम निर्मात्यांनी कराराची अनैच्छिक प्रत दिली पाहिजे.  दोन्हीकडे कराराची प्रत सारखीच असायला हवी यावर भर दिला पाहिजे.

 अभिनेत्यांना लवकरात लवकर न्याय मिळावा, त्यांचे हक्क मिळावेत यासाठी कामगार आयुक्तांना लेखी निषेध पत्र देण्यात आले.

Ram Gopal Varma’s Tribute to Bruce Lee – Releases Trailer of Indo-Chinese Production Ladki: Enter The Girl Dragon

Scaling the Great Wall with the Indo-Chinese production, veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is back with his most ambitious and, incidentally, also the most expensive film of his career with Ladki: Enter The Girl Dragon. 

The first Indian film to release in China after the Galwan standoff between the two superpowers, Ladki: Enter The Girl Dragon is proof enough that martial arts and cinema have reunited India and China. 

RGV who becomes the first filmmaker to scale the Great Wall and release his film on the other side of the border along with releasing it in India and abroad put out the trailer of the film called Ladki in Hindi and Dragon Girl in Chinese on his official YouTube channel. The trailer has been garnering awe and appreciation from audiences and film industry members alike!

"Like Sarkar was my tribute to The Godfather, Ladki - Enter The Girl Dragon starring Pooja Bhalekar is my Tribute to the greatest martial arts film ever made in history Enter The Dragon starring the iconic Bruce Lee," said RGV.

Ladki will be the first Indian film to release in China after the Galwan standoff between the two countries proving that martial arts and cinema have reunited India and China.

Produced by Artsee Media and the Chinese Production Major Big People, Ladki is an Indo Chinese Co Production filmed in Mumbai, Goa and China.

Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-v1HO4JiWY

राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स की अगली फ़िल्म के लिए साथ आये राजवीर देओल और अवनीश बड़जात्या

राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स  की पहचान देश के एक अग्रणी और प्रतिष्ठित फ़िल्म प्रोडक्शन हाउस के तौर पर होती है। इस प्रोडक्शन हाउस को एक से बढ़कर एक पारिवारिक और लोकप्रिय मनोरंजक फ़िल्मों के लिए जाना जाता है।

बड़जात्या परिवार के नेतृत्व में 74 साल से चल रहे इस प्रोडक्शन हाउस की चौथी पीढ़ी अब इसकी गौरवशाली परंपरा को आगे बढ़ाने, और इसकी कमान संभालने को तैयार है। ग़ौरतलब है कि राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स द्वारा बनाई जा रही अगली फ़िल्म का निर्देशन अवनीश बड़जात्या करेंगे। उल्लेखनीय है कि इस फ़िल्म के माध्यम से एक डायरेक्टर के तौर पर डेब्यू करने जा रहे अवनीश निर्माता/निर्देशक सूरज बड़जात्या के बेटे हैं। इतना ही नहीं, राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स की इस 59वीं पेशकश का लेखन भी अवनीश ने ख़ुद ही किया है। अवनीश की इस पहली फ़िल्म में सुपरस्टार सनी देओल के छोटे बेटे राजवीर देओल बतौर हीरो अपना डेब्यू करेंगे।

यूके में रंगमंच से संबंधित अध्ययन करने के बाद, राजवीर ने असिस्टेंट डायरेक्टर के तौर पर भी काम किया है। राजवीर ने रंगमंच के मशहूर निर्देशक डायरेक्टर फ़िरोज़ अब्बास ख़ान के मातहत प्रशिक्षण भी हासिल किया है। ऐसे में पूरी तैयारी के साथ राजवीर राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स की अगली फ़िल्म में डेब्यू करने जा रहे हैं।

राजवीर के बारे में अवनीश कहते हैं, "राजवीर अपनी आँखों से बहुत कुछ बयां कर जाते हैं। वे बहुत ही मेहनतकश शख़्स भी हैं। जैसे-जैसे हम इस प्रोजेक्ट को लेकर एक-दूसरे से चर्चा करते चले गये, मुझे इस बात का एहसास होता गया कि राजवीर ही हीरो के तौर पर मेरी फ़िल्म के लिए पूर्णतया उपयुक्त शख़्स हैं।”

इस फ़िल्म में एक आधुनिक लव स्टोरी को दर्शाया गया है। इस फ़िल्म‌ में अवनीश और राजवीर की ज़िंदगी का अक्स नज़र आएगा जिसमें आज की दुनिया में प्यार और रिश्तों के मानी समझाने की कोशिश की जाएगी। उल्लेखनीय है कि इस फ़िल्म‌ में राजवीर के अपोज़िट हीरोइन का किरदार निभाने वाली लड़की की तलाश अभी भी जारी है‌।

उम्मीद के मुताबिक ये फ़िल्म इस साल जुलाई महीने में फ़्लोर पर जाएगी और इसे अगले साल यानि 2022 में देशभर में रिलीज़ किया जाएगा।

राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स की अगली फ़िल्म के लिए साथ आये राजवीर देओल और अवनीश बड़जात्या

राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स  की पहचान देश के एक अग्रणी और प्रतिष्ठित फ़िल्म प्रोडक्शन हाउस के तौर पर होती है। इस प्रोडक्शन हाउस को एक से बढ़कर एक पारिवारिक और लोकप्रिय मनोरंजक फ़िल्मों के लिए जाना जाता है।

बड़जात्या परिवार के नेतृत्व में 74 साल से चल रहे इस प्रोडक्शन हाउस की चौथी पीढ़ी अब इसकी गौरवशाली परंपरा को आगे बढ़ाने, और इसकी कमान संभालने को तैयार है। ग़ौरतलब है कि राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स द्वारा बनाई जा रही अगली फ़िल्म का निर्देशन अवनीश बड़जात्या करेंगे। उल्लेखनीय है कि इस फ़िल्म के माध्यम से एक डायरेक्टर के तौर पर डेब्यू करने जा रहे अवनीश निर्माता/निर्देशक सूरज बड़जात्या के बेटे हैं। इतना ही नहीं, राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स की इस 59वीं पेशकश का लेखन भी अवनीश ने ख़ुद ही किया है। अवनीश की इस पहली फ़िल्म में सुपरस्टार सनी देओल के छोटे बेटे राजवीर देओल बतौर हीरो अपना डेब्यू करेंगे।

यूके में रंगमंच से संबंधित अध्ययन करने के बाद, राजवीर ने असिस्टेंट डायरेक्टर के तौर पर भी काम किया है। राजवीर ने रंगमंच के मशहूर निर्देशक डायरेक्टर फ़िरोज़ अब्बास ख़ान के मातहत प्रशिक्षण भी हासिल किया है। ऐसे में पूरी तैयारी के साथ राजवीर राजश्री प्रोडक्शन्स की अगली फ़िल्म में डेब्यू करने जा रहे हैं।

राजवीर के बारे में अवनीश कहते हैं, "राजवीर अपनी आँखों से बहुत कुछ बयां कर जाते हैं। वे बहुत ही मेहनतकश शख़्स भी हैं। जैसे-जैसे हम इस प्रोजेक्ट को लेकर एक-दूसरे से चर्चा करते चले गये, मुझे इस बात का एहसास होता गया कि राजवीर ही हीरो के तौर पर मेरी फ़िल्म के लिए पूर्णतया उपयुक्त शख़्स हैं।”

इस फ़िल्म में एक आधुनिक लव स्टोरी को दर्शाया गया है। इस फ़िल्म‌ में अवनीश और राजवीर की ज़िंदगी का अक्स नज़र आएगा जिसमें आज की दुनिया में प्यार और रिश्तों के मानी समझाने की कोशिश की जाएगी। उल्लेखनीय है कि इस फ़िल्म‌ में राजवीर के अपोज़िट हीरोइन का किरदार निभाने वाली लड़की की तलाश अभी भी जारी है‌।

उम्मीद के मुताबिक ये फ़िल्म इस साल जुलाई महीने में फ़्लोर पर जाएगी और इसे अगले साल यानि 2022 में देशभर में रिलीज़ किया जाएगा।

Mumbaikar is the Lucky Mascot for Actors Vikrant Massey & Vijay Sethupathi

Mumbaikar has braved the pandemic and made headlines all through its making. But this Santosh Sivan-helmed film has also proved to be lucky for its actors. Vikrant Massey has signed back to back movies post Mumbaikar! Vijay Sethupati, on the other hand, has been signed by Sriram Raghavan and two Hindi mega web-series and is touted to be one of the highest paid actors in the Hindi OTT space. In the meantime, the ace director-cinematographer Santosh Sivan-helmed Mumbaikar, completed its shoot schedule, non-stop, at the busiest city, despite the pandemic wave with 200 plus blessed crew and shooting day-night with multiple cameras and multiple locations on every single day from start to finish. The film has captured the spirit and the never-say-die attitude of Mumbai, in a full-fledged commercial and flavourful avatar.

This edge of the-seat action thriller has an ensemble cast of glittering stars like Tanya Maniktala, Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey, Sachin Khedekar, Brijendra Kala and the promising new face Hridhu Haroon, is another lucky star in Mumbaikar, who is also working in a prestigious Amazon web series and has also been signed by a leading filmmaker for another Hindi film.

Insiders swear that Mumbaikar will be a different theatrical experience, both in terms of content narrative and its unique Santosh Sivan style of filming.

Hopefully, Mumbaikar will be very lucky for our film industry, as till date, any movie fully shot in Mumbai, has always raked in the mega bucks, and set the box office ringing!

Dolly Thakore, Shaina NC & Arzoo Govitrikar Grace the Release of Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka's Biography, Uncommon Dreams Of A Common Man

Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka wears many hats! An industrialist, educationist, environmentalist and a philanthropist, he has generously and selflessly contributed to the society through his social awareness organisation, Ample Missiion, with which he works tirelessly to bring a meaningful change in the lives of the underprivileged.

As billionaire Warren Buffet says, “If you’re in the luckiest 1% of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%.” Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka’s actions are inspired by the same! As the MD of Mirachem Industriies, he always strives create a positive impact on peoples’ lives. For his invaluable efforts, he has been conferred upon with an honorary doctorate for the same!

With blessings of the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, actors Boman Irani and Dalip Tahil and comedian Raju Srivastava, Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka had officially released his biography, ‘Uncommon Dreams Of A Common Man’ for online distribution. Today, in the presence of theatre veteran Dolly Thakore, fashion designer-social worker Shaina NC and actress Arzoo Govitriker at Crossword Bookstore, Kemps Corner, the book became available for distribution in bookstores across India. The illustrious biography is published, marketed and distributed by Times Group.

Under his Social Enterprise - Ample Missiion, Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka has organized and lauded several heroes who have had the courage to do what is necessary while exhibiting extraordinary feats! In Awards Zindagi Ke, brave martyrs and true unsung heroes of the Indian Armed Forces were felicitated. With ‘Bharat Prerna Awards, those have risen above their condition, whether it be a physical disability, a mental illness or sensory deprivation, and shown extraordinary feats of courage were lauded. With Shoorveer Awards, common people who have done uncommon things were honoured for the same. All in all, a lot has been done by the Ample Missiion to recognize our national heroes.

This man, as his book’s apt title, has lived the uncommon dreams of a common man. “Philanthropy can be our greatest asset, if we let it!” signs off Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka.

A Star Studded Launch For Hariharan & Bickram Ghosh’s Ishq – Songs Of Love!

Composer Bickram Ghosh and singer Hariharan have teamed up to bring to audiences myriad shades of Ishq, the much needed emotion post pandemic. With music by Maestro Bickram Ghosh and set to vocals by Legendary playback singer Hariharan, Ishq – Song Of Love features music video directed by Arindam Sil and lyrics by Sugata Guha. It features Abhisek Mallick on the Sitar and, interestingly, features Bickram Ghosh himself for live percussion and Tabla.

Known for critically acclaimed hits like Chants Of India with Ravi Shankar and George Harrison, The Music Room with Sonu Nigam, Pulsating Drums with Zakir Hussain and Taufiq Qureshi, and several other iconic tracks with Pandit Ravi Shankar, Bickram Ghosh – arguably one of the greatest Tabla exponents of all times and the composer of Ishq, talks about the album. “The idea of love changes over generations of time. We keep hearing people say, ‘woh puraane zamaane ke gaane hai’ (those are songs of the old times). I’ve really wanted to make an album of love songs with different nuances of love,” avers the Tabla maestro.  “These have been difficult times! Unexpectedly, we’ve achieved something musically. During the pandemic, we’ve completed an entire album as well as the videos,” he adds!

Speaking about the same, veteran playback singer Hariharan shares that he has been super excited to see the album get ready for release as, he adds, creating an album is a lot of hard work taking hours, days and months of an artist’s time! “Here, we have six songs with six stories! The kind that tells its own story. The nuances behind each song are as different as the stories behind them. All in all, the outcome of love is different.”

Interestingly, the song ‘Baaton Baaton Mein’ already crossed millions of views on YouTube. It is available on other platforms including Apple Music and Spotify as well!

The industry DOYENS including Anupam Kher, Shankar Mahadevan, Sanjeev Kapoor, Roop Kumar Rathod, Kavita Seth, Lesle Lewis, Kaavya Jones, Sandip Soparrkar, Sharbani Mukherjee, Salim Merchant, Akshay Hariharan, Karan Hariharan, Shilpa Rao, Pratibha Singh Baghel, Purbayan Chatterjee, Gurneet Jolly, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Yogesh Lakhani among others made their presence felt for the EP launch at Tap, Juhu. Besides celebs of the likes of renowned chef, chocolatier and cake sculptor Harneet Jolly’s live sculpture cake added more energy to the musical evening.

Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoor avers, “Hariharan and Bickram Ghosh are phenomenal musicians and it is a pleasure for Bright to be associated with ‘Ishq – Songs Of Love’.”

Need we say more!

Neena Gupta-Vikas Khanna come together to make history at Varanasi Ghat

 

Actor Neena Gupta was excited that finally the lighting classes at the National School of Drama helped her look all radiant with no makeup and just a kajal and lipstick. The actor who is part of the virtual edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) this year on Insider.in with her film The Last Colour, along with her director, celeb chef Vikas Khanna, expressed her happiness to be part of the festival that is on with all its resplendence despite the pandemic. Neena Gupta was as excited about the festival as she was for her film.

"I love the feel of getting back to normalcy,” she expressed her wish to be at the festival physically next year.

Expressing her connection with art, Neena Gupta spoke of her favourite piece of art, Lalita Lajmi's painting, that is, the piece of art in her house that she purchased as it touched her heart, Neena expressed how she loves it. Vikas Khanna spoke of how he has a museum of old vessels in Manipal with over 10000 vessels.

The duo spoke of how they met at a flight, and Vikas Khanna talked about how his grandfather spoke of Neena Gupta as he watched Mirza Ghalib because of her and felt that she had an amazing ‘noor’ (aura). 

Noor, incidentally is the character of Neena Gupta's name. Vikas Khanna confides that she had an amazing light on her face though she wore no makeup in the film."

Vikas Khanna confided that he took Anupam Kher's advice on how to approach her. Anupam Kher told him “Go approach. She is an emotional actor. She will tell you what she thinks without mincing words.” An early morning narration to Neena Gupta who after a night shoot gave him time, and then gave the nod.

"If I love a script and love my role, I say yes immediately. Some films are very close to me. It has made me sad. As some stop midway, others don't get the release they deserve. Like Woh Chokri, where I won a National Award for Best Supporting Actress but it did not get its due. But I never look down upon any one as we carve our own destiny with our work!"

Vikas expressed how he decided to take the risk and take up a story of a little untouchable child who asks a widow on Varanasi ghat to play Holi with her!

"Nothing teaches you the way you work on the sets. And Neena ji's experience as director helped me."

Vikas Khanna who has made over nine documentaries on food and religion before, expressed that his discipline as a chef helped him let Neena Gupta to rest and look radiant despite using no makeup on the sets.

Neena Gupta spoke of the time she made baigan bharta and Irish Coffee at Prithvi Theatre to make ends meet. And hence the cooking connection between the duo.

An interesting experience indeed.

KGAF Makes Virtual Horse Sense! Kala Ghoda gallops head and shoulders ahead of the pandemic, goes virtual! Adds e-stalls this year – bringing artisans online!

 

THE EQUESTRIAN statue of the Black Horse stands tall yet again. Even the novel Coronavirus could not keep the mother of all art festivals down!

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, one of the premiere iconic arts and crafts festivals of Asia, will now take on a digital avatar from February 6-14 this year, commencing as always on the first Saturday of February, and closing on the second Sunday of February, refusing to let the cacophony of the pandemic drown the annual cultural awakening which will include 70 programs!

For the first time ever, the festival is also set to take its stalls (a huge attraction at the festival every year), online. The Marketplace will open on 6th February, but will go till the end of the month- 28t February. A showcase of an eclectic collection of handicrafts and other products, the Marketplace can be accessed at www.kgaf2021.com

Says Brinda Miller, Honorary Chairperson of the Kala Ghoda Association, “Kala Ghoda Arts Festivals has kept its date with Mumbai for the past 21 years. This 22nd year again, we are celebrating art and culture through a different medium that has spurred us on to ‘unlock’ the entire festival and make it virtual, including the much sought after KGAF stalls. Our partners, artistes and collaborators, who have worked with us through the years, have stepped forward this year too, to make this festival a ‘virtual reality’. What is encouraging is that we have well-wishers from around the world who are excited to be part of our festival this year. This has been an opportunity for us to reinvent the wheel!”

Organised by the Kala Ghoda Association (KGA), a non-profit organisation, the festival to be hosted on Insider (www.kgaf2021.com) will reach out to embrace global audiences with discussions, workshops and demonstrations about dance and music, visual arts, theatre, cinema, literature, book launches, tributes to famous personalities -- in short, the festival presents plenty of events which reflect the rich history of art in Mumbai.

Emphasizing on having something for each and every  attendee, the festival showcases numerous programs in films and filmmaking, arts and crafts, prose and poetry, culture, music, dance, storytelling, culinary arts, martial arts and theatre among others.

The 2021 schedule brings forth nine days of programmes and contests, under categories such as Workshops, Panel discussions and Talks, for children and adults alike. Themed under KGAFunlocked and Funlocked, the general and children’s programmes, respectively, promise a week of edutainment for our patrons.

The Kala Ghoda Spotlight features entertaining performances and talks by Leslee Lewis, TM Krishna, Usha Uthup, Ankur Tewari, Rahul Mehrotra, among many biggies, brought by various collaborators including Teamwork, Mahindra Kabira Festival, Team Rewind, Kommune, MAMI and Sula Wines among others, with the highlighting session with #AamhiKon?, a concept that promotes lyrical Marathi Hip Hop and showcases MCs , poets and writers from Maharashtra.

Unlocking Heritage  takes us through the city and its renowned architectural precincts; in association with Art Deco Mumbai Trust and Khaki Tours thought Heritage Walks.

Key Conversations promises engaging conversations with luminaries including Ruth Padel, Devdutt Patnaik, Ranjit Hoskote, Prem Chandavarkar, Swiss-Romanian novelist Dana Grigrocea, TM Krishna, Perumal Murugan, Pankaj Udhas with Kavita Krishnamoorthy, Tahira Kashyap, Neena Gupta and Vikas Khanna, Padma Shri Shubha Mudgal, Shilpa Rao, Dia Mirza with Licypriya Kangujam, and Talat Aziz with Pratibha Singh Baghel, Vikas Khanna and Neena Gupta.

UpSkill features workshops by the Arzan (scissorhands) Khambatta, musicians Gino Banks, Rakesh Chaurasia, Ojas Adhiya, Purbayan Chatterjee, Team M N M Talkies on podcasting, Unlocking Anxiety with Sonali Gupta.

In a similar vein, Shake a Leg features workshops with renowned international dancers such as Bea Dabrabant (for Tai Chi), Laura Kenyon (Flamenco), Tommaso Petrolo (contemporary), Naima Yazbek (Brazilian Samba) and Natya Kalari by Dr. Sreejith TR of Dancity India. Other Indian names include Ashley Lobo.

Laugh Out Loud, as the title suggests, brings forth the best in the business of comedy including Atul Khatri, Aditi Mittal, Sorabh Pant, Vir Das, Rohan Joshi, Sonali Thakker and Kashyap Swaroop.

Kitchen Secrets focusses on culinary specialists’ demos and features Saransh Goila, Zeba Kohli, Pooja Dhingra, Tara Deshpande and Michelin Star Chef Fabio Mazzolini from Italy.

KGAF Specials this year also include a section titled Artists’ Studio that will take audiences into the workspace of artists including Arzan Khambatta, Paresh Maity, Ajay De, Madhvi Subrahmanian, Brinda Miller, Sameer Kulavoor, Sunil Padwal, Dhruvi Acharya, Seema Kohli and Rekha Rodwittiya.

Kashish International Film Festival will also be showcasing cinematic works, both Indian as well as International, and will also be hosting a panel of trans artists in the cinema world!

Funlocked, the children’s section, includes an exciting workshop by Harun Robert, storytime with Kahaani Online, Anand Neelakantan and Shabnam Minwalla, celebrated authors both. Meera Warrier's The Treasure Chest with Maya brings alive the story of the Kala Ghoda for kids, and the talented team at Amar Chitra Katha shares the story behind some of their iconic characters!

This year, KGAF’s partners include KOMMUNE, Kashish, MAMI, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Bangalore International Centre, Nehru Science Centre and Amar Chitra Katha, as also cultural embassies including the  Institute of Italian Culture, Consulate General of Switzerland, the Italian Cultural Centre (Mumbai), the Brazilian Consulate and the Consulate General of Sweden.

The proceeds from KGAF are used for restoration projects in the Kala Ghoda precinct. In the past few years, the Kala Ghoda Association has funded restoration of iconic structures such as the Elphinstone College building, the Institute of Science, the Khyber Restaurant wall mural, the Cama Hall exteriors, garden of the David Sassoon library, the Bomonjee Hormusjee Wadia Clock Tower (located at Perin Nariman street), the Seth Gangalal Nandlal V Mulji Pyav located at the entrance of the Horniman Circle Garden and the Ruttonsee Muljee Jetha water fountain, among many others. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Vaastu Sangrahalaya (The Prince of Wales Museum) ,Elphinstone College,Rhythm House and the Asiatic Library have also been recipients of the Association’s funds and support.

KGAF 2021 will be hosted on Insider. Schedules will be on www.kgaf2021.com

Registrations open on Jan 29.

Can water kill Coronavirus?

It can de-grease a kitchen. It can clean windows. It kills athlete’s foot. And now, this elixir is brought to India to replace the toxic chemicals used to kill COVID. Electrolysed Oxidising Water, the patented technology brought to India by the country’s pioneering water technology platform, Amazing Ambrosia Pvt. Ltd. under the name Amazing Hygieia and HygieiaDent, is hailed as ‘El Liquido Milagroso,’ or the miraculous liquid, a substance that scientists aver is powerful enough to kill any lethal virus without harming people or the environment.

Used as a sanitizer for decades in Japan and Russia, Electrolysed Oxidising Water is safe, inexpensive, cuts costs and cuts employee injuries from chemicals. It is prepared by employees on-site and is ten times more effective at killing bacteria than bleach and is available in a convenient powder form in a 3.2 gram sachet that gives up to 10 litres of disinfectant.

Says veteran water technologist Dr. BK Sharma, “Amazing Hygieia is green, saves money and is the right thing to do. In Japan, people spray it on sushi to kill bacteria and replace chlorine with EO water in swimming pools. Doctors treat bedsores with EO water. In Russia, EO water is used to kill microbes in oil wells, while Europeans use it to treat burn victims and have developed treatments for chronic wounds with EO water. It is only a matter of time before our patented technology becomes mainstream in India.”

Entrepreneurs Sidharth Sharma and Rahul C. Mehta add: “When we founded Amazing Ambrosia guided by doyens Dr. BK Sharma and Mahendra N Patel, we wanted to identify India’s water and sanitation problems and solve them by adapting world-class technologies and innovating and manufacturing them locally. We brought in Amazing Hygieia and HygieiaDent for that purpose. The unforeseen pandemic struck then and the need for a new, innovative way to sanitize frequently touched surfaces and aerial disinfection of high footfall places with lowest toxicity and least bio burden became priority.”

Opines Mahendra N Patel: “The timing of the launch of our product was such that it was nothing short of miracle water. Globally, this technology has effectively demonstrated excellent cleaning ability in public places such as malls, metro stations, gyms, restaurants, movie theatres, airports and above that also in dairy, poultry and produce industries, making it ideal for general use in retail food establishments. Replacing conventional cleaners in mop buckets, sprayers, foggers and toxic cleaning chemicals with this electrolyzed oxidising water is a simple solution. In addition, Amazing Hygieia has no odour, nor does it produce foam, making it ideal for use in food production.”

Amazing Hygieia/ HygieiaDent is the only stable EO water available in pH of 5.5 to 6.5 with zero chlorine gasification. Electrolyzed oxidising water is approved and certified by the Ministry of Health, Japan as a food contact product as well as the only product safe for aerial disinfection permitted by INMAS DRDO, USA FDA, US CDC and US EPA. Both Amazing Hygieia and HygieiaDent are winners of the Economic Times Industry Leader Awards for Pathbreaking Technology resulting in Exemplary Contribution To Society.

THE DRIVE IN HER...

Took her places. Literally. Pretty Purnima Lamchhane makes her mark on the silver screen as  turns director with Tina Ahuja-Mudit Nair starrer Driving Me Crazy on Zee5.

She is a diehard romantic who wears her heart on her sleeve. She is journalist-animal activist Purnima Lamchhane, who has now turned director with her short film Driving Me Crazy.

The slice-of-life romance speaks of online dating apps and the ishq vishk that follows. Purnima who admits finding her soulmate through the app speaks of the online and offline personas of the youth that pours their hearts out on the app, and still conveniently forgets to mention basic facts of their life. "Sometimes, the connect you have with the person drives you crazy. But is the chemistry going to be the same as the one who makes your heart go wild peels one layer after another," grins Purnima, who has aptly cast Tina Ahuja, the pretty daughter of actor Govinda and television heartthrob Mudit Nair of Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein fame.

"Both of them were just the perfect fit. Tina's histrionics are inherited, she is pretty, vivacious and her smile lights up the room. Mudit has a contagious energy about him..and the story could be of you or me. It is so relatable," avers Purnima, whose film is being talked about for its narrative.

Watch out for Driving Me Crazy, directed by Purnima Lamchhane, produced by Surendra Bhatia under the banner Glimpses, the film boasts of Cinematography by Nigam Bomzan, editing by Anurag Singh, music by Satya Kashyap starring Tina Ahuja and Mudit Nair in principal role. Only on Zee5.

Baiju Mangeshkar’s Familial Tribute With Malhaar Baithak’s ‘The Mangeshkar Legacy’, A Digital Baithak

September seems to be a rather cherished month for the illustrious Mangeshkar family of India. Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, who is fondly referred to as the Queen of Melody while Padma Vibhushan Asha Bhosle, arguably the most versatile playback singer in the history of the Indian film and music industry. Interestingly both the sisters were born in the month of September! Asha Bhosle, who just celebrated her birthday in a familial celebration at Lonavala, while the family gears towards celebrating Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday on the 28th in the coming week! What grabs our attention is what Baiju Mangeshkar, their nephew has in store for us! A musical treat celebrating the legacy of the Mangeshkar family.

Baiju Mangeshkar, the new generation torch-bearer of this illustrious musical family, has been invited to make his presence felt by the Malhaar Baithak to share some interesting anecdotes and back stories! The musical troupe, composed of students from the U.A.E., will pay an endearing tribute to this musical legacy and the family’s famous classical compositions in an interactive session with Baiju! “I am delighted to be invited as a guest to witness such an honourable tribute to my aunts, my father and the entire family,” he avers.

Yours to witness is the digital baithak live on the official handles of Malhaar UAE on Facebook as well as YouTube on the 25th of September, 7:30 PM IST.