Indie Meme’s 5th Annual Film Festival will go virtual in May. The decision was unanimously taken by the Board to showcase the best of South Asian cinema online over two weekends, May 1-3 & May 8-10, 2020. The aim is to provide the Indie Meme community the opportunity to see many of the films painstakingly curated for IMFF2020 in a safe way.

The Virtual Indie Meme Festival 2020 will present all films on a digital platform for registered members, followed by discussions with filmmakers and, or the cast and crew. The festival welcomes international filmmakers including Prakash Saini, Priya Krishnaswamy, Prateek Vats, Tanuja Chandra and Bhaskar Hazarika, amongst others for an online post screening interaction with the audience.

Over 10 fiction and documentary films along with short films will be included in the virtual festival of which many have won multiple international nominations and awards. The Tale of Rising Rani won Best Indie Feature at the Oniros Film Award (Family/Children Film), The Orphanage, bagged Best Film at the Reykjavik International Film Festival, Aamis was nominated for the Best International Narrative Feature- Tribeca and Eeb Allay Ooo was awarded the Golden Gateway award for Best Film at the Mumbai Film Festival. For complete official selection & more information about each film visit: https://www.indiememe.org/imff2020-films

Virtual IMFF is free for all Indie Meme members. Registration is required for members to receive details on how to attend the virtual festival: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-imff-2020-tickets-102926706550
Schedule updates will be posted on: https://www.facebook.com/indiememefilmfestival/

To experience the diverse flavors of South Asian cinema become a member here: http:// https://www.indiememe.org/membership. Separate badges or tickets will not be sold for this event.

PRESS INTERVIEWS with filmmakers are available by phone and IP including Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Google Hangouts – the next best thing to meeting in person.

At Indie Meme, the community comes first. Your virtual experience will be similar to a real Indie Meme screening from the comfort of your own home. The team at Virtual Indie Meme look forward to sharing this unique experience together. Get your popcorn, sit back and enjoy Virtual IMFF 2020.

For the latest developments, visit the official site (IMFF2020) of the Indie Meme Film Festival http://indiememe.org.

Indie Meme Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/indiememe
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Twitter: twitter.com/indiememe

IMFF 2020 is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin, Economic Development Department.

Gambling laws vary wildly around the world, and Asia is no different in this respect, with certain countries across the continent taking a liberal approach to sports betting, games of chance and online play, while others impose tight restrictions or even outright bans.

Here is a quick rundown of how gambling legislation differs throughout the major Asian nations to give you a better idea of what to expect when you travel between them.

India

While there are some centrally-implemented laws relating to gambling in India, the most potent of which dates from the late 19th century and bans the running of public casinos and bookmakers, today it is up to individual states to decide how they control this pastime.

In most places, gambling is heavily restricted, with only the availability of wagering on horse racing slipping through the net and being permitted. There are exceptions, specifically in the states of Sikkim, Daman and Goa, where land-based casinos have been granted licenses in recent years.

Sikkim is one of the most forward-thinking states when it comes to legalised gambling, especially in an online context. It has been pushing for domestic web-based casino operators to be supported for over a decade and has its own online lottery.

More broadly, it is not explicitly illegal for any Indian to play on an online casino, with ambiguities in the law meaning that states either ignore this type of activity altogether or do not choose to pursue the few cases that are raised. Indeed this is why more and more overseas operators have been targeting the Indian marketplace, with sites designed specifically for customers from this part of Asia and support for deposits and jackpots in the local currency.

China

Gambling is technically not permitted by law in China, although there are some exceptions and caveats that are worth noting.

For example, the government operates a pair of lotteries which are exempt from these restrictions. There are also major land-based casino resorts in both Hong Kong and Macau, as these special administrative regions do not have to adhere to legislation which impacts the mainland.

Macau alone makes billions in gambling revenue each quarter, with customers hailing from overseas as well as from other parts of China. It is also the only place in China where it is legal for citizens to play best on online casino sites, even if it is not possible for the sites themselves to be based locally.

Japan

Gambling has been a much-discussed issue in Japan for some time, with the practice being outlawed entirely in most conventional senses until relatively recently, when the relaxing of rules allowed land-based casinos to open their doors. As such there are now a total of three casino resort licenses up for grabs, with the ultimate outcome set to be that this pastime is both legitimised and encouraged in certain regulated contexts.

There are also sporting events which are legally open to betting, although this only covers four examples including horse racing, cycling, boating and motorbike-based competitions. These are all controlled by local authorities and so the government takes a cut of the revenues to fund other public projects.

One of the more complex aspects of the Japanese gambling ecosystem is pachinko, a game of chance which is similar to traditional slot machines but adapts elements from pinball in order to sidestep gambling regulations and remain legal. Players do not win cash, but instead get tokens for successful stints of pachinko which are then either exchanged for a prize or taken to a nearby store where they are purchased by the owners of the pachinko parlour.

A couple of great performances can actually turn an utterly mediocre film into okay stuff, you realise watching Irrfan and Deepak Dobriyal in “Angrezi Medium”.

Homi Adajania’s follow-up to Saket Chaudhary’s 2017 comedy hit “Hindi Medium” is a standalone story that bears no link with the first film by way of plot or characters and is, quite frankly, not a patch on the original. There are the sporadic brilliant scenes and the random bursts of humour, but the overall storytelling simply falls short, faltering every now and then. It’s almost as if the writers were not quite sure how to push the narrative beyond a point, especially in the second half.

The film begins by introducing Irrfan as Champak Bansal, owner of one of two Ghasitaram sweet shops in the same locality of Udaipur — the other belonging to his brother Gopi (Deepak Dobriyal). The two brothers are normally busy bickering over whose shop represents the ‘real and original’ Ghasitaram brand. Champak is a single parent, taking care of his teenage daughter Tarika (Radhika Madan). The girl has a big dream. She wants to pursue higher studies at a top university in the United Kingdom.

The film tries setting up adequate drama using that premise, as the narrative moves from Udaipur to London. In the process, the story also tries creating space to talk of too many issues. There is the obvious theme of the young generation’s fetish for foreign universities, and the question of how expensive world-class education continues to be. The screenplay also talks of teen rebellion and generation gap. A cameo by Dimple Kapadia is used to highlight loneliness among the aged.

Somehow, all of these comments don’t add up to much, owing to weak writing. As the minutes pass, you sense the classic ‘Sequel Syndrome’ taking over — it is almost as if this film was made because the idea worked the first time, and it seemed lucrative enough for a second outing.

The urge to squeeze in too many sub plots and characters takes its toll as the film, after an engaging build-up in the first hour, meanders in the post-interval portion before reaching a rather insipid ending. What rescues the film from sinking are the three performances that matter. Irrfan, Deepak Dobriyal and Radhika Madan are first-rate.

Towering above all with a simply flawless performance, Irrfan proves once again why he will always be special for Bollywood buffs. He clearly relishes every bit of being Champak, bringing alive the nuances that define the goodnatured, smalltown businessman’s quirks with ease.

Perhaps his performance would have seemed incomplete without the comic-melodramatic chemistry he shares with Radhika Madan, as Champak’s daughter Tarika. “Angrezi Medium” is primarily a father-daughter story and Radhika matches Irrfan’s screen presence admirably to light up the screen in their scenes together.

Deepak Dobriyal is a delight to watch as ever — if only Bollywood had more imaginative roles for him than the hero’s sidekick. To his credit, Dobriyal finds a zillion ways to reinvent that stereotype, you realise watching him go in “Angrezi Medium”.

Pankaj Tripathi elicits a few laughs in a cameo, Kareena Kapoor was quite honestly never needed in this screenplay, and Dimple Kapadia could have done with a stronger role. Ranvir Shorey and Kiku Sharda bring alive their roles with innate talent.

What amazes you is that Adajania has employed a battery of four writers — Bhavesh Mandalia, Gaurav Shukla, Vinay Chhawall, Sara Bodinar — to come up with such an aimless script that offers utterly half-bakes characters to a cast that seemed awesome in the opening credits.

We would perhaps have ended saying “Angrezi Medium” is a good idea gone waste — except that as the storyline slips with every passing minute – you begin to wonder if there was an idea to begin with. (IANS)

Primitivism and Modern Indian Art Features Over 70 works by Most Significant Figures of Art in India, Including Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil, Ramkinkar Baij, and Madhvi Parekh

DAG today announced the U.S. debut of Primitivism and Modern Indian Art, bringing together over 70 works by Indian modernist painters to explore the stylistic influence of primitivism and its motifs in non-Western contexts. Opening March 14 and curated by Dr. Giles Tillotson—a leading scholar in Indian art and architecture— the exhibition showcases works by some of the most recognized Indian masters, juxtaposing vastly different interpretations of the genre to demonstrate the breadth of primitivism in India. On view through June 6, Primitivism and Modern Indian Art builds on DAG’s ongoing commitment to representing the expanse of Indian art practice through the presentation of museum-quality exhibitions globally.

“The works featured in Primitivism and Modern Indian Art defy any common visual link with each other, demonstrating each artist’s own language of expression,” said Ashish Anand, CEO & Managing Director of DAG. “However, taken together, the works explore the evolution and overarching language of primitivism within art practice in India. Building on our previous exhibitions in New York, we’re pleased to present this highly-researched exhibition and series of masterworks that contribute important scholarship and new perspective on how this originally Western artistic movement manifested in such a unique manner within the realm of Modern Indian art.”

Primitivism and Modern Indian Art explores how a range of Indian artists incorporated primitivism into their own work in the 20th century, attaching a different range of values and meanings in the Indian context based on their artistic practices. The exhibition also explores the key elements that defined the primitivist style in modern Indian art, including a shift away from intricate and traditionally “sophisticated” stylistic elements, as well as the incorporation of visual elements drawn from folk art. The exhibition also demonstrates how Indian artists sought inspiration from primitive imagery drawn from within Indian culture.

Three artists featured in the exhibition—Rabindranath Tagore, Sunayani Devi, and Madhvi Parekh—were self-taught artists, who came to primitivism and included it in their work outside of a formal artistic education, representing a natural incorporation of primitivism in their practice. Additional artists, who had formal art educations honed at elite institutions—including Amrita Sher-Gil, George Keyt, and Jamini Roy— were trained in what was considered a more sophisticated style in the 20th century, but actively chose to adopt a more ‘native’ form of practice. The exhibition also features work by modernist sculptor Ramkinkar Baij and painter J. Sultan Ali, both of whom chose to incorporate singular elements of primitivism in their work.

Other artists featured in Primitivism and Modern Indian Art who eschewed recognizable tropes from modern Indian art in the 20th century to create a unique visual language hearkening back to primitive imagery, in spite of the sophistication of training at their command, include M. F. Husain, F. N. Souza, K. G. Subramanyan, Jogen Chowdhury, and Rabin Mondal. Primitivism and Modern Indian Art is accompanied by a comprehensive publication and is currently on view at DAG’s Mumbai gallery.

ABOUT DAG

DAG (formerly known as the Delhi Art Gallery) was established in 1993 in New Delhi, and over the past 25 years, has built a reputation for the quality of its collection that represents the expanse of Indian art practice. This extensive collection charts a historic continuum, from the early works of academic artists trained in Bengal and Bombay, to modernists from Baroda, Delhi and beyond, and includes artworks by some of India’s most celebrated artists, including Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Sher-Gil, Jamini Roy, S. H. Raza, M. F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta, F. N. Souza, Avinash Chandra and Chittaprosad. With the aim of taking Indian modernism to a wider audience, DAG now has gallery spaces in the historic Kala Ghoda in Mumbai, and the iconic Fuller Building in Manhattan, New York, in addition to its gallery in Delhi. It regularly participates in international fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Armory New York, Art Dubai, Masterpiece London and India Art Fair.

The mandate of taking art to the people has led to museum-quality exhibition collaborations with stellar art institutions such as the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai, The Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, New Delhi, the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, Chandigarh and the Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur. The most recent and monumental collaboration has been with the Archaeological Survey of India—with the Drishyakala museum at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Red Fort being inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister on 23 January 2019.

With the democratisation of Indian art as its core aim, DAG consistently hosts outreach programmes for students of schools and colleges, and also runs a pioneering programme for the visually impaired by allowing them to experience art through tactile aids.

Love rises where the sun sets. The dome hides the dying embers of the day as Sultan Shahjahan and his Queen, always inseparable, rise from their graves to spend one final night together at their palace. What words will we hear whispered through the moonlit halls of their Taj Mahal? Will the lovers recount their memories? Will they hold each other silently and gaze into each other’s eyes until the eyes they see staring back at them have become their own? Or will they weep into each other’s arms — one final night in the face of ephemeral love?

In the legendary 1967 album, “A Night At The Taj,” Ustad Vilayat Khan and Ustad Imrat Khan answer this age-old question: what would we do if we had one more day with the person we love? Vilayat Khan voices Queen Mumtaz on his sitar and Imrat Khan replies as Shah Jahan from the deep notes of his surbahar. The final conversation between the Sultan and his Queen comes to life, as the dewdrops dry and the gift of timelessness fades with the rising sun.

Love has intrigued us since the dawn of time. From Helene to Eleanor, love has ravaged empires. Love has led armies to war and emperors to abandon throne. Love has inspired the Bhakti and Sufi movements, volumes of soul-stirring poetry, and an endless collection of passionate music. And love will continue to intrigue us. It only makes sense to extend the ethereal journey undertaken by the two late maestros and to continue to find the stories of love that mark our human condition.

On this fateful night, we will explore love and its many prisms. We will capture the angles at which love reflects, refracts and intersects. We will see the endless shapes of love reflected on the wall of a dimly lit cave. We will sing these shapes into existence. We will tell stories about these shapes through Dastangoi, the lost art of Urdu storytelling. We will listen in awe as TM Krishna, Hidayat Husain Khan, Danish Husain and Marina Ahmad undertake the voyage across this limitless sea to bring us pearls to relish the supreme and eternal human condition. We will experience an evening of exhilarating musical renditions, jugalbandis interspersed with storytelling and conversations, and the intimate mehfil-baithak will give rise to a unique theatrical experience. Like ‘A Night At The Taj,’ this will be a night to remember!

Set in 1930’s India, DRAUPADI UNLEASHED centers on sixteen-year-old Indira, who finds herself torn between true love, her duty to follow through with an arranged marriage and the powerful allure of a mysterious guru. Through her heartbreaking journey to self-discovery, long-held secrets are brought to light, and Indira discovers the strength within herself to break free. In a story that mixes magical realism and gorgeous surroundings with the harsh realities of a patriarchal society, this beautifully-told tale of a young woman at a crossroads in her life offers a rare look at aristocratic Indian society in the early part of the 20th Century – one that will resonate with audiences today.

Based on the novel by the same title by Nisha Sabharwal (also co-director), DRAUPADI UNLEASHED is written for the screen and directed by Tony Stopperan, produced by Hello Desi and distributed by Passion River Films.

The cast includes: Salena Qureshi as Indira; Dominic Rains as Amar; Cas Anvar as Manu; Anna George as Amma; Azita Ghanizada as Masumi; Melanie Chandra as Sita; Paras Patel as Pran; Pooja Batra as Mohini; Taaha Shah Badusha as Gautam; and, Abi Bais as Chandar.

Known for his genre-bending edgy, and envelope pushing content cinema, acclaimed film-maker Dibakar Banerjee has now directed and produced a thriller, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, that is set to release on March 20.

The film will see Arjun play the role of a Haryanvi cop, while Parineeti essays the role of an ambitious girl from the corporate world whose lives suddenly intertwine. Dibakar is presenting Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra in an all new avatar and the trailer reveals how audiences will be presented with numerous and totally unexpected edge-of-the-seat twists in this gritty film.

Produced by Dibakar Banerjee Productions, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar is being released worldwide by Yash Raj Films. Watch now : https://youtu.be/vHiLZkR6rSg

MELA Arts Connect is once again bringing the vibrancy, emotion, and heart-pounding beat of Hindi cinema with ‘Bollywood Boulevard: A Journey Through Hindi Cinema.’

With over 50 songs spanning a century from the likes of A.R. Rahman and R.D. Burman; choreography that captures the countless dance styles and moves of Helen and Hrithik Roshan; and romantic leads based on classic heartthrobs like Raj Kapoor and Nargis, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, this live music, dance, and multimedia production takes audiences on a journey from the birth of India’s famous film industry to Bollywood’s present-day blockbusters.

Co-produced by Heena Patel, executive director of the MELA Group and Rushi Vakil, who is also the music director and composer, the production is beginning its spring tour later this month. Since its premiere at Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors in 2017, “Bollywood Boulevard: A Live Journey Through Hindi Cinema” has performed at prestigious venues across the U.S.

The production is choreographed by Rohit Gijare, a New Jersey native, known for bringing together Indian classical and folk dance forms with modern western dances.

The tour will be accompanied by a travelling exhibition, supported by the India Center Foundation. The exhibition will explore the cultural phenomenon of Bollywood, its influences and impact on trends over a 100 plus years of Hindi cinema.

“Whether you are a die-hard fan or Bollywood Boulevard, there is something for you in this show. It’s non-stop entertainment for the whole family,” Patel says.

Tickets are on sale now at individual venues. Group sale tickets are also available upon request to venues. For more information on Bollywood Boulevard, please visit bollywoodblvdshow.com.

Yash Raj Films’ much awaited Bunty Aur Babli 2 will pay homage to the first film by keeping the same logo for the sequel! This move is definitely going to soar the nostalgia factor big time because the prequel was tremendously loved and the film also went on to become a blockbuster! The makers, today, revealed the logo of the film and also announced the release date of this summer entertainer as June 26, 2020!

“For whole of India, Bunty Aur Babli is and will always be part of cinema that we watched while growing up. It is truly a much loved film and has huge nostalgia value attached to it. When we were designing the logo of Bunty Aur Babli 2, we were certain that we will keep the original logo as it pays a perfect homage to the first film that is part of India’s pop culture history. I’m guessing this move will be much loved by cine-lovers as it evokes a big sense of nostalgia,” says Varun V. Sharma, the director of the film.

Bunty Aur Babli 2 will introduce an incredibly fresh pair as the new talented conmen. Siddhant Chaturvedi, the Gully Boy hunk who played the role of MC Sher with elan, is the new Bunty and YRF is launching a new heroine to watch out for with this franchise. Babli will be played by Sharvari, a stunningly gorgeous girl that YRF discovered two years back and has been grooming her since then!

The film, in an exciting casting coup, also reunites Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji and will present them as the original Bunty Aur Babli in the film! Saif and Rani were a blockbuster Jodi as they delivered big hits like Hum Tum and Ta Ra Rum Pum and were celebrated as a pair to watch out for given their infectious chemistry.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, Bunty Aur Babli 2 is being directed by debutant Varun V. Sharma, who worked as an Assistant Director in YRF’s biggest blockbusters Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai.

Two of the top five nominees for the best song of the year for the Radio Mirchi Music Awards, the Indian equivalent of the Grammys, in the Non-Film/ Independent category are from Anuradha Palakurthi’s Jaan Meri Album, Boston-based music and video production company Juju Productions announced today.

Ustad Nishat Khan, a scion of one of the oldest Gharanas of Hindustani music and one of the top sitar players in the world, composed the album Jaan Meri. Lyrics were written by Bollywood’s Manoj Yadav. The album was officially released in March 2019 at MIT’s Kresge Auditorium in Cambridge, MA.

“We are very excited that not one but two songs from the Jaan Meri Album are among the top five nominations for a Radio Mirchi award,” said Manisha Jain, CEO of Juju Productions, which produced the Jaan Meri album. “We think Anuradha is the first Indian singer from outside India and definitely the first Indian-American singer to be in the top five for this prestigious award.”

The annual Radio Mirchi awards are the highest recognition of music in India, and this is the first time that two songs from one album have found a place in the top 5 – and also one of the rare occasions of an American citizen’s work featuring amongst the best.

“It is heartwarming to have two songs picked by a jury of great musicians and it is a tribute to the exceptional composition of the maestro Ustad Nishat Khan. We made this album as a labor of love,” said Indian-American singer Anuradha Palakurthi. “I am particularly gratified that our usage of the old-world method of recording a live band of 70+ musicians was recognized.  I thank all those musicians and the recording team of Vijay Dayal and Kamlesh Bhadkamkar.”

Ms. Jain said that grand awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2020 in Mumbai, India.

“Be prepared to see and cheer some local faces in the audience of the grand awards ceremony planned for Feb 19 in Mumbai. This will be covered by live TV, details of which we will share soon,” said Ms. Jain. “I would like to thank Radio Mirchi for recognizing the work of Independent musicians who are creating content in non-film channels – and am so delighted that our first Album has been recognized amongst the best. Onward we march.”

Anuradha has been recognized as the top-rated singer of Indian origin by industry legends. She has performed live with Bollywood singers like Kumar Sanu, Suresh Wadkar, Deepak Pandit and Bappi Lahiri across the United States. Anuradha has recorded a duet with Hariharan for Ekal Vidyalaya – composed by guitarist Prasanna with drummer Sivamani and a group of 14 multiple-Grammy winning musicians from across the globe. She sings in six Indian languages and has recorded playback for South Indian films.

Juju Productions is a Boston-based music and video production company. It creates music that attracts global audiences, transcends national and cultural boundaries while rooted in evolving Indian traditions. For more information, visit: www.jujugaana.com

Please click on the link below for Radio Mirchi nominations:

http://www.mirchimusicawards.com/hindi-2019/nominations-hindi-2019/

Ever since the characters posters for Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur’s Malang were released, the hype for the movie has increased tenfold and now, the makers of Malang have finally dropped the trailer of the movie and it looks like a completely mysterious and pimped up package of action, entertainment, and drama.

Even with the trailer, the makers of the movie have managed to keep the intrigue and mystery of the movie high with bits and pieces of information that will certainly increase the buzz more than it already has. The trailer overall has a high raving vibe and is full of a high adrenaline rush that will leave the fans wanting more.

Sharing the scintillating trailer of the film, the makers ‘Luv Films’ took to their social media and shared, “Unleash The Madness, #MalangTrailer Out Now. http://bit.ly/MalangOfficialTrailer @AnilKapoor #AdityaRoyKapur @DishPatani @kunalkemmu @mohit11481 @MalangFilm @luv_ranjan @gargankur @itsBhushanKumar @jayshewakramani @TSeries”.

Aditya Roy Kapur looks menacing and mysterious as ever and his pairing with Disha Patani could easily be touted as the hottest couple in B’-Town right now. Anil Kapoor and Kunal Kemmu, both have unique characters with little detail revealed about them.

Director of the film, Mohit Suri shares, “I am excited to share the trailer of Malang with the audience today. With this movie, I am essentially returning to a space that I enjoy the most, which is intense, edgy and mad. I hope it is as thrilling and exciting an experience for the audience as it has been for each of us.”

Earlier today, the makers of the movie released yet another poster of all four major characters in the movie and it was the perfect set up for the high-on-energy and full of mystery and madness trailer.

Malang is directed by Mohit Suri. Produced by T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Luv Films’ Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg, and Northern Lights Entertainment’s Jay Shewakramani, the film will release on 7th February 2020.

Swati Bhise is a history buff – Indian and British history to be precise. Add to that her mastery in abhinaya (acting), choreography, music and detailing, and the result her directorial debut, “The Warrior Queen of Jhansi,” which released Nov. 15. Bhise calls it an historical and visual delight.

She told media she was motivated to do the film because she wanted to bring the story of Rani Laxmibai on the global platform. “This is such an incredible subject to think that a young woman took it upon herself to embark on a journey that very few would have the courage to do,” Bhise said. “Her single-minded path of following in a direction that she chose was incredible.”

Bhise, who co-wrote the script, along with her daughter, Devika Bhise, who plays the lead role in the film, said in today’s world it’s important for young girls and women that “there have been women like Rani Laxmibai who in the 1850s accomplished so much without having any royal upbringing.” Hence she said it’s important that we don’t just celebrate her life but use her life as an example.

To convey that essence of Rani Laxmibai, Bhise said she did a “very thorough and detailed” research to make sure the treatment to the film was authentic. She said she wanted to highlight lesser known facts like Rani Laxmibai was a Maharashtrian who became the queen of Jhansi, which is in Uttar Pradesh now. “When we do not present facts to the world, the wrong things become history,” she said, adding that she hasn’t compromised on the storytelling or the detailing. “I have not taken any artistic liberties,” she said, and added that she has “backed the story with historical reference.”

Also incorporated in the film is music with a Maharashtrian flavor and though the film is in English, Bhise says she has given natural touches like the use of Marathi and Sanskrit by the characters “when needed.” She said she needed her story to be told “not from a patriotic or mythical or mystical manner but about a vulnerable young woman then and what she must have undergone and what it made her and how she left a legacy.”

A trained Bharatnatyam dancer, Bhise has directed dance-dramas in the past and choreographed Broadway shows, hosted and scripted the talk show “Spotlight on Culture” and directed performers. She has also acted in the TV series “Mahanagar” with Shekhar Kapur in the late 1980s, and was also featured in the American musical opera “Daddy Meets Durga.”

She has worked as an executive producer on ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’, a 2015 British biographical drama film about the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan starring Dev Patel and Devika Bhise.

The first-time filmmaker also talked about the challenges she faced while making the film, which was completed in eight weeks. She admitted that it’s difficult to break into the industry as a woman; she said she got bullied initially, but then she quickly learned the ropes and after that “it was her way or the highway.” Talking to filmmakers like Ashok Amritraj also helped she said. “I couldn’t have done the film without the pitfalls they told me about,” she said. She acknowledged the hard work of her cast and crew both in the U.S. and in India.

Despite having the same subject as “Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi,” starring Kangana Ranaut, a commercial Bollywood film which was released earlier this year, Bhise is hopeful of the film’s success because of the interest and discussion it has created. “I would hope that the Indian audience looks at what kind of films we need to make to bring out our stories for a global audience,” she said.

Her film was completed before the Bollywood film but they had to take a break from screening it publically in 2018 because of Bhise’s ill health. She had to spend a few weeks at NYU Hospital on life support and a few months recovering. She says she hasn’t seen Ranaut’s film, but her friends who have seen it have told her that the two films are different. Her film focuses on the East India Company on a very large scale canvass; has five big western actors who have played crucial characters in the film and is also devoid of songs and dances, unlike the Bollywood film.

It may have been six years since we saw Frozen, but its sequel takes place three years after the predecessor with the usual suspects Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristin Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Sven and Olaf (Josh Gad) embarking on yet another adventure to save the kingdom of Arendelle. A strange voice seems to be calling Elsa, and takes her and the gang all the way to Enchanted Forest that has been locked out by a thick mist because of what happened there 34 years ago.

Frozen 2, the sequel feels a trifle dark for kids, a jokey Olaf notwithstanding, but packs in enough sentiment for adults to wallow in.

Elsa has to get to know the origin of her magical icy powers and use them to undo the damage and set things right all over again, for not just Arendella but also its supposed foe Northuldra. It’s all about Elsa finding the fifth element to get air, water, fire and earth back in harmony.

In Frozen, the moot point was whether Elsa’s powers were too much for the world to handle; now the question is if they are enough.

Hollywood animated films tend to have a blueprint of their own. The artwork, design and special effects dazzle ceaselessly in film after film. As they do here with Elsa’s magic making the fantasy soar even higher and further. The sequence involving Elsa riding the choppy waves and the phantom of a horse can put action scenes in many a live-action film to shame. Add to that the music, the usual emotional wallop, generous shots of humour, the twists and turns, a family mystery at the heart of darkness and a feel good end and you have a film that manages to hold you in its grip despite all the foresee-ability.

Frozen 2

Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Starring: Computer animation with voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk

Run time: 103 minutes

Storyline: The kingdom of Arendelle is in danger again and Elsa has begun to hear a strange voice calling her. So she embarks on a journey with sister Anna, Anna’s boyfriend Kristoff, his reindeer Sven and the much-loved snowman Olaf to Enchanted Forest that has been locked out by a thick mist. Will she get to know the origins of her ice powers and be able to figure how they can be used to save their world?

Frozen 2 also comes with the added baggage of comparisons with the much loved Frozen. Forget the films, can even a new song like Into The Unknown hold a candle to Let It Go from the past? The jury might still be out on that, but the characters in the sequel continue to throb with lives of their own, sporting distinct personality traits and identities, be it the leader-like Elsa or the forever encouraging Anna.

Eventually it all boils down to feelings and how they are rendered tactile. You can sense the joy of a loved ones’ cuddles in Anna’s big expressive eyes. A lot of us would have experienced the warmth of a mother’s love long after she’d have left the world; in her scarf that we’d wrap around ourselves in moments when we were desperately seeking certainty and comfort.

As is usual with most animated films, the seemingly simple story meant for children comes with deeper, more complex and mature messages for adults to grapple with. In fact, Frozen 2 feels a trifle dark for kids, despite the jokey Olaf. The notion of embracing the unknown, of dredging out memories and answers from the past and finding one’s own self may not quite be of their interest. Ditto for the grown up themes of change, loss, grief, reconciliation and moving on: that hope might be gone but you must go on, find a new way out and do the right thing. As a song in the film goes, “When you are older, everything makes sense”. Not quite kid-friendly stuff, but it’s definitely a most simple, basic reassurance for the adults to be told that, “When all is lost, then all is found”. Or, perhaps, nothing or noone is ever lost; eventually it’s all just shape-shifting.

Then there is the political allegory itself. How strategic betrayals may create rifts between nations but the spirit of forgiveness and humanity of the people can break the walls and build bridges. Peace can be brokered even after 34 years of deadlock. In the words of the film itself it’s all about “land and people connected by love”. If only the real world would pay heed to that.

The first-ever New York City South Asian Film Festival (NYC SAFF), presented by Toyota, will kick off on Friday, November 15th at the Altman Building (135 W 18th Street in Chelsea) with the world premiere of Rohit Karn Batra‘s mafia family drama, LINE OF DESCENT, starring Abhay Deol and Brendan Fraser (both in attendance). The festival’s centerpiece film on Saturday, November 16th is the New York premiere of Gitanjali Rao‘s animated Bollywood film BOMBAY ROSE. The festival will close out its programming with the North American premiere of Tannishtha Chatterjee’s directorial debut, ROAM ROME MEIN, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui (both in attendance). 

22 shorts, documentaries and feature films comprise the inaugural NYC SAFF, along with after parties, networking sessions and panel discussions, all taking place over 48 hours! Film synopses, trailers, entire lineup and ticket information are available on the festival’s website, www.nycsaff.com.

Opening Night Schedule (Friday, November 15th):

• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Media check-in for red carpet assignments
• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Red Carpet + Cocktail Reception
• 7:45 p.m. – Welcome Remarks by Manny Bansi, Vice President, Toyota Logistics Services, Toyota Motor North America
• 8 p.m. – World Premiere of LINE OF DESCENT + Q&A
• 10 p.m. – VIP After Party with DJ Ashu Rai + Catering by Chef Gaurav Anand

Talent Walking Red Carpet & Attending Festival:

LINE OF DESCENT: Feature

• Rohit Karn Batra (director)
• Abhay Deol (actor)
• Brendan Fraser (actor)

PROOF: Short

• Sonny Chatrath (executive producer)
• Nora Jaenicke (director)
• Robert Wilson (actor)
• Preeti Gupta (actress)
• Jacopo Rampini (actor)

FRACTURED SOULS: Short

• Eliezer Vergara (director)
• Asim Farooki (actor)

THE UNEXPECTED: Short

• Rishi Kumar (director)

FREAK: Short

• Siraj Huda (producer, director, actor, writer)

AGENCY: Short

• Omar Rahim (director)
• Ami Sheth (actor)
• Saks Afridi (actor)
• Sadiq Samani (actor)

SUPER SONIC: Short

• Saleem Gondal (writer/director)

LOVESICK: Documentary

• Priya Giri Desai (co-director)

KHEJDI: Feature

• Ashish Sharma (actor)
• Archana Taide Sharma (producer)

DARLING: Short

• Mahak Jiwani (producer)

THE LEAST OF THESE: Feature

• Victor Abraham (executive producer)

MAI GHAT: Feature

• Usha Jadhav (actress)

ROAM ROME MEIN: Feature

• Tannishtha Chatterjee (actress/director)
• Nawazuddin Siddiqui (actor)

The first-ever New York City South Asian Film Festival (NYC SAFF), presented by Toyota, will kick off on Friday, November 15th at the Altman Building (135 W 18th Street in Chelsea) with the world premiere of Rohit Karn Batra’s mafia family drama, LINE OF DESCENT, starring Abhay Deol and Brendan Fraser (both in attendance). The festival’s centerpiece film on Saturday, November 16th is the New York premiere of Gitanjali Rao’s animated Bollywood film BOMBAY ROSE. The festival will close out its programming with the North American premiere of Tannishtha Chatterjee’s directorial debut, ROAM ROME MEIN, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui (both in attendance).

Twenty four shorts, documentaries and feature films comprise the inaugural NYC SAFF, along with after parties, networking sessions and panel discussions, all taking place over 48 hours! Film synopses, trailers, entire lineup and ticket information are available on the festival’s website, www.nycsaff.com.

Opening Night Schedule (Friday, November 15th):

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Media check-in for red carpet assignments

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Red Carpet + Cocktail Reception

7:45 p.m. – Welcome Remarks by Manny Bansi, Vice President, Toyota Logistics Services, Toyota Motor North America

8 p.m. – World Premiere of LINE OF DESCENT + Q&A

10 p.m. – VIP After Party with DJ Ashu Rai + Catering by Chef Gaurav Anand

Talent Walking Red Carpet & Attending Festival:

LINE OF DESCENT: Feature

Rohit Karn Batra (director)

Abhay Deol (actor)

Brendan Fraser (actor)

PROOF: Short

Sonny Chatrath (executive producer)

Nora Jaenicke (director)

Robert Wilson (actor)

Preeti Gupta (actress)

Jacopo Rampini (actor)

FRACTURED SOULS: Short

Eliezer Vergara (director)

Asim Farooki (actor)

THE UNEXPECTED: Short

Rishi Kumar (director)

FREAK: Short

Siraj Huda (producer, director, actor, writer)

AGENCY: Short

Omar Rahim (director)

Ami Sheth (actor)

Saks Afridi (actor)

Sadiq Samani (actor)

SUPER SONIC: Short

Saleem Gondal (writer/director)

LOVESICK: Documentary

Priya Giri Desai (co-director)

KHEJDI: Feature

Ashish Sharma (actor)

Archana Taide Sharma (producer)

DARLING: Short

Mahak Jiwani (producer)

THE LEAST OF THESE: Feature

Victor Abraham (executive producer)

MAI GHAT: Feature

Usha Jadhav (actress)

ROAM ROME MEIN: Feature

Tannishtha Chatterjee (actress/director)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui (actor)

Berklee College of Music will present an honorary doctorate to world-renowned tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain at a historic concert celebrating his life and music on Friday, November 22, at Harvard Business School’s Klarman Hall in Allston, Massachusetts.

John McLaughlin, guitarist, composer and a long-time friend of Hussain will participate in bestowing the honorary doctorate to the tabla maestro. Hussain’s visit to the college is part of a five-day residency beginning Monday, November 18, in which the legendary musician will present a master class and record a music video with the Berklee Indian Ensemble.

“This is my first doctorate and I think you have to get to a certain age where you qualify for something like this, your ‘retiring age’,” said Hussain in a statement. It isn’t possible for me to even consider that I’m deserving of this honor, the reason being because we are born being students and we will die being the same. There isn’t any point in trying to be a master, there’s never an end, you can never reach your goal. You’re always trying to take another step forward and for me to reach a point where I deserve accolades of the highest honor is not something I’m highly convinced of.”

The Grammy Award-winning artist is being honored for his immense contribution to global musical culture. “It definitely is a pat on the back from my peers, colleagues, and elders recognizing a spark in me. I hope I’ll be able to live up to the confidence they’ve shown in my ability, whether it’s a doctorate or a well done from a teacher,” added the maestro.

The evening’s concert, produced by the Berklee India Exchange—a Berklee Institute launched in 2013 to establish a platform for cultural conversation about Indian music through artist residencies, musical collaborations, and performances—will feature Hussain as well as an international cast of students and faculty performing reinterpretations of his compositions and original tributes.

“Ustad Zakir Hussain is a living legend and witnessing him receive an honorary doctorate from Berklee is a dream come true. He is a trailblazer who has made Indian classical music “cool”,” says Clint Valladares, managing director, Berklee India Exchange. “Mr. Hussain’s fearless, innovative approach to diverse musical styles will inspire young musicians for generations to come.”

Through the Berklee India Exchange, Berklee College of Music is harnessing the global power of the Indian music industry to foster a richer learning environment for all of its students. The Berklee Indian Ensemble is itself a global viral sensation with over 152 million hits for their music videos.

Under the tutelage of his father and teacher, Ustad Allarakha, Hussain was inclined towards tabla from a very young age. He began touring by the age of 12, and together, he and his father elevated the status of the Indian percussion instrument across the globe.

Widely considered a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement, Hussain’s contribution has been unique both as a performer and composer, with almost 150 albums to his credit and numerous collaborations with artists such as George Harrison, Yo Yo Ma, Chick Corea, Van Morrison, and Béla Fleck, as well as choreographers Mark Morris and Rennie Harris.

A frequent collaborator with English guitarist John McLaughlin, the two, along with Indian violin player L. Shankarand Indian percussionist T.H. “Vikku” Vinayakram, founded Shakti in 1974, an acoustic fusion band which combined Indian music with elements of jazz. Hussain’s most recent projects include a trio album with bassist Dave Holland and saxophonist Chris Potter, Good Hope, released on October 11, and a guest feature on McLaughlin’s upcoming sixth album, Is That So?, with Shankar Mahadevan, one of India’s most prolific vocalists and composers.

TWENTY FOUR shorts, documentaries and feature films will premiere at the first-ever New York City South Asian Film Festival (NYC SAFF), presented by Toyota, between Friday, November 15 and Sunday, November 17, 2019, at various locations around Manhattan. The festival boasts FOUR world premieres, THREE North American premieres and 17 New York City premieres.

Timely and relevant themes such as immigration, surrogacy, police brutality and the aftermath of HIV/AIDS will be explored; under-represented communities such as transgenders, deaf and hard-of-hearing and outcasts will be acknowledged.

“Our programming team has worked incredibly hard to strike the right balance and showcase the most current, ground-breaking, topical independent cinema from various parts of South Asia at our inaugural festival,” said Jitin Hingorani, Founder and Festival Director. “We have focused our efforts on really engaging the millennials (Generation Z), as they are the future filmmakers, cinephiles, producers and investors, who will, ultimately, support film festivals like ours; so, it is our inherent responsibility to educate them about world-class cinema that is beyond Bollywood.”

OPENING NIGHT – World Premiere: Rohit Batra’s LINE OF DESCENT

Synopsis: Rohit Karn Batra’s directorial debut explores a dysfunctional mafia family in Dehli, as three brothers fight for control of their father’s legacy. When a mysterious American arms dealer (Brendan Fraser) becomes embroiled in the family’s internal war, a respected veteran cop (Indian actor Abhay Deol, in attendance) investigating the family tries to stop their tragic downfall. Watch the trailer HERE.

CENTERPIECE – NYC Premiere: Gitanjali Rao’s BOMBAY ROSE

Synopsis: Amidst the struggle of survival in a big city, a red rose brings together three tales of impossible loves. Love between a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy. Love between two women. Love of an entire city for its Bollywood stars. Painted frame by frame, the depiction of urban reality has a documentary style, whereas the intricate dream worlds are inspired from the rich and varied folk art styles of India. Watch trailer HERE.

CLOSING NIGHT – North American Premiere: Tannishtha Chatterjee’s
ROAM ROME MEIN

Synopsis: Raj (played by Nawazuddin Siddique, in attendance) goes to Rome in search of his missing sister. In his search he meets some magical characters who take him through his own journey of self realization. Does he find his sister in the end? This is actor Tannishtha Chatterjee’s directorial debut.

In a series of Youtube channels being launched by Bollywood celebrities, Madhuri Dixit Nene is the latest to join the gang. Madhuri launched her channel today, October 24, revealing that she had been waiting to explore the platform for a long time. The channel will give glimpses of her personal and work life.

Making the announcement, Madhuri told IANS, “Youtube is a platform that I’ve been wanting to explore for a long time. I love interacting with my fans in new & interesting ways, and a YouTube channel was an obvious choice. It’s going to be all things personal & candid with sneak peeks into my personal & work life. I’m really excited. Looking forward to a great experience.”

She took to Instagram to announce the launch of her channel. She wrote, “I’m so excited to share my first video on @YouTube, which is a BTS from @IIFA. Enjoy.” Her first video, like she says, is a behind-the-scenes video of her performance at IIFA this year. It is also a tribute to her guru and Bollywood choreographer, Saroj Khan.

Madhuri Dixit is one of the most acclaimed actors and Kathak dancers Bollywood have ever witnessed. Born in a Marathi Brahmin Koknastha family to Mr. Shankar and Mrs. Snehlata, Madhuri Dixit has two sisters Rupa, Bharti, and brother Ajit. She performed well in her academics and aspired to become a Microbiologist which made her pursue the subject from Mumbai’s Sathaye College, formerly known as Parle College; but within six months she opted out from college to pursue her career in Bollywood.

Though she debuted with ‘Abodh’ in 1984, it’s with ‘Tezaab’ (1988), a romantic thriller caste opposite Anil Kapoor, where she started garnering fame and popularity. She earned her first nomination of Filmfare Best Actress with this movie and it was also the highest grossing film in that year. Her performance in ‘Ek Do Tin’ made every heart groove to the beats of the song. During this time, Madhuri also got featured on Debonair and she was also featured as the cover girl on 1986 Filmfare edition. Since then she has graced more than 72 movies with her stupendous performances.

In (2019) she was seen reunited with Anil Kapoor after 17years on screen in a comedy, action and adventure movie ‘Total Dhamaal’ the third sequel of ‘Dhamaal’ (2007). In the same year, she also a part of Dharma productions ‘Kalank’ a period drama film directed by Abhishekh Varman starring along with Sanjay Dutt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Alia Bhatt, and Sonakshi Sinha.

Madhuri Dixit is also associated with various philanthropic activities. She is associated with UNICEF since 2014 to advocate the rights of children, prevent child labor and child trafficking. She was appointed as the brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign by the Government of India in 2015 that aspires to create awareness and upgrade the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls.

Now Playing in Theaters

Housefull 4 is coming to confuse you, put you on a laughing riot and take you through the grandeur of 1419 with a spark of 2019.

When 6 lovers are parted because of an evil conspiracy and revenge in the era of 1419, they cross paths once again in 2019. However, in the present life the 3 boys fall in love with the wrong women and are about to marry their sisters-in-law. As destiny would have it history repeats itself when the 3 couples land up in Sitamgarh once again, where it all began. Will they remember their past lives in time for marriage or will they be stuck with the wrong lovers forever?

Akshay Kumar has had audiences rolling in the aisles laughing with his latest hit comedy HOUSEFULL 4 which has quickly become one of the highest-grossing films ever for the actor in both India and North America after just one week in theaters. The popular star sat down to talk about his latest project in this special interview.

Interview with HOUSEFULL 4 Star Akshay Kumar

Q: Just like Virat Kohli is considered the run-machine for the Indian cricket team, you are considered the run machine for Bollywood. What is the secret behind taking films that cross the 100-crore mark at the box office each time?

A: I know you wouldn’t believe me, but I believe that luck has an important influence to play. There is no substitute for hard work but luck does contribute to seventy percent of your success.

1. How was your experience working with the cast of the film?

A: I don’t remember how many films Riteish and I have worked together in. He is more than a co-actor; a very close friend and we often sit together and share our highs and lows. The same is true for Bobby Deol, this is our fifth film together. And these pretty women who I am working with for the first time, have been an absolute pleasure to work with. Not to forget Chunkey Pandey aka Aakhri Pasta who is an indispensable part of the franchise, he is the pasta to our plate of sauce. He always has jokes up his sleeve to entertain us.

Q: Nowadays comedy films and the comedy genre have reduced, coming with a unique concept and playing two roles, how difficult is it for the actor?

A: Firstly, you need a big heart to make such a film and we are lucky we have the backing of Fox and Sajid Nadiadwala. Obviously, it is tough and there are a lot of hurdles that come in the way with such a large star cast as well but credit to our technicians and the whole team of the film who made the whole process very smooth. The film was completed 9 months ago but VFX took some time because it is a lengthy process, but we completed the film between 60-70 days.

Q: What are the similarities between a present-day barber and a king of a bygone area?

A: According to the film there is only one similarity I can think of – that one didn’t have hair and the other one was cutting other people’s hair and making them go bald. But it is very confusing, I myself got confused while reading the script and while hearing the screenplay. But when I saw the film everything was clear to me. It is going to be a one-of-a-kind film where reincarnation will be seen in comedy.

Q: You have cemented your place as an actor taking up social causes in movies such as Padman, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha. Housefull on the other hand is an out and out entertainer, what made you get back to this genre?

A: I enjoy this genre, I wanted to do a role without any stress and pressures and be completely open and lose all the respect I’ve earned with my previous few films (laughs). But on a serious note, I want to tell everyone that slapstick comedy isn’t usually valued in India but it’s one of the most difficult genres to play on screen. No matter how good your punchline is, if your comic timing is off, the audiences won’t like it.

With a deep passion to expose mainstream and Diaspora audiences to Indian arts and culture and a board of directors committed to cultivating and promoting Indian-American artists, The India Center Foundation (ICF) is quickly becoming a premier arts destination for South Asians around the country because of its innovative programming and ground-breaking collaborations.

Founded in 2016 by a group of friends and colleagues who noticed a gap in the Indian-American cultural scene, ICF is quickly becoming the epicenter of cross-cultural collaborations, curated salon events and quirky, artist pop-ups. Founding Director and Board President Raoul Bhavnani states: “There are so many talented artists living and working in the U.S., particularly in the New York City area, and we felt many were not being noticed and supported by the community-at-large. Artists from India already have a lot of organizational support; thus, we created the India Center Foundation to fill that void for Indian-American artists and cultural organizations and serve as a platform to encourage their creativity and help them build share of voice and influence on a larger stage.”

Priya Giri Desai, Founding Director and Board Secretary, adds: “To date, there has not been a single, stand-alone organization in this country dedicated to the cultural life of Indians in America. ICF’s mission is to create and foster programming that speaks to Indian-Americans in a vocabulary and context they understand and that resonates with younger generations.  We are also seeking to galvanize the next generation of philanthropy to support this vibrant sector.”

ICF’s programming centers around conversations and collaborations between artists, institutions and experts, as seen at their recent string of events: a book reading in conjunction with the New York Public Library with author Chandrahas Choudhury in conversation with noted journalist and author Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan; a studio tour with Assam-born artist Natasha Das in conversation with Darielle Mason, Department Head of South Asian Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and a storytelling, musical production held at a rooftop in Downtown Brooklyn with Kavita Das, writer and author of Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar and the STARR Ensemble, an ensemble of talented women musicians.  ICF has also had long-running collaborations with presenting organizations like The Lincoln Center, Museum of the Moving Image, Asia Society and The Rubin Museum.

Future initiatives include one-of-a-kind pop-up events, the development of new musical work and a partnership with the inaugural New York City South Asian Film Festival (NYC SAFF). ICF is also launching a web series titled, The Road Less Traveled, which is a series of short films on interesting and emerging South Asian leaders in creative fields.

For more information about these and other events, please visit theindiacenter.us and follow us on social media @theindiacenter.

After the roaring success of the 5th annual Dallas-Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFW SAFF), Toyota Motor North America presents its second film festival in the United States, the New York City South Asian Film Festival (NYC SAFF), gearing up to make its debut in mid-November at various venues around Chelsea in Manhattan.

“Cultural diversity is something we celebrate every day at Toyota,” said Vinay Shahani, vice president, integrated marketing operations, Toyota Motor North America, in a statement. “After the success of our partnership with DFW SAFF, we look forward to continuing the celebration of storytelling at the first-ever NYC SAFF, and we hope that festival-goers are inspired by the films.”

Produced by Jingo Media, a NYC and Dallas-based events and public relations company, the inaugural, three-day festival boasts world, U.S. and New York City premieres of more than 25 shorts, documentaries and feature films focused on the unique stories of the South Asian Diaspora and those of our brothers and sisters back home. Jingo Media is also the parent company of DFW SAFF, which was conceptualized and created in 2015.

“We are so proud to create yet ANOTHER platform for world-class independent cinema from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives,” said Jitin Hingorani, CEO/Principal of Jingo Media, a public relations company that launched in New York City in 2010. “We’re coming full circle with this festival because Manhattan is where it all began for us almost 10 years ago. We are certain that the community-at-large will embrace us and celebrate our joyous homecoming.”

NYC SAFF has also partnered with The India Center Foundation (ICF), a New York City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the study of the Indian subcontinent, the promotion of its cultural life and the unique relationship between India and the United States.

“To partner with NYC SAFF means that ICF is reaching the audience we wish to serve: contemporary, aware, woke desis and lovers of Indian and Diasporic creativity and storytelling. As a filmmaker whose film was so lovingly received at DFW SAFF, I know we are working with a staff who is dedicated and eager to give New Yorkers the film experience they deserve when it comes to screening South Asian cinema. We are looking forward to partnering on great conversations and panels around the films we see together,” said Priya Giri Desai, Founding Director of ICF.

NYC SAFF’s exclusive music partner is JioSaavn (founded in 2007 as Saavn), the online music streaming service and a digital distributor of Bollywood, English and other regional Indian music across the world.

“Music has always been an integral part of South Asian culture. We have all experienced a range of it in classical Indian cinema to contemporary Bollywood to  regional films to completely new and independent genres. We look forward to the next generation of visual arts conceived in the South Asian Diaspora, and that’s why JioSaavn is proud to partner with NYC SAFF and ICF to help create more awareness of their artists’ creative work and engaging stories,” said Vinodh Bhat, Co-Founder, President and Chief Strategy Officer.

The inaugural NYC SAFF will take place from November 15 to 17, 2019. The opening night film, red carpet and VIP party will be held the Altman Building (135 W 18th, between 6th and 7th). The film screenings on Saturday and Sunday will be at the AMC 34th Street (between 8th and 9th). Centerpiece party will be held at Tailor Public House (505 8th Avenue), and the closing night festivities and awards ceremony take place at the brand new Rumi Event Space (229 W 28th, between 8th and 9th). The entire festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled in mid-October at www.nycsaff.com, according to a press release.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has almost completed two decades in the industry, says she was born to act and that she will hopefully do it till the end of her life. Kareena made her acting debut with “Refugee” along with Abhishek Bachchan in 2000.

Since then, she has been part of some of the most successful films like “Jab We Met”, “Udta Punjab”, “Veere Di Wedding”, “Chameli” and “Asoka”.

“It has been an amazing 20 years. It has been a fabulous journey working with some amazing people. I was born to act because I feel that’s where my passion is and I will hopefully act till the end of my life.”

Now, Kareena is looking forward to working with Aamir Khan for the third time in “Laal Singh Chadha” and has hailed the superstar a cinematic genius.

“I can’t talk about the film because it’s very special but when the time is right we will definitely talk about it. It’s going to be an absolute honour for me to be in the same frame with Aamir because I am always been a huge fan of Aamir,” Kareena was interacting with the media at the Elle Beauty Awards 2019 on Saturday here.

Kareena has previously shared screen space with Aamir Khan in Reema Kagti’s “Talaash” and Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots”.

“It’s always been a dream come true moment whenever I work with him. He is a cinematic genius and sharing a frame with him again would be an absolute dream come true moment for me,” she added.

“Laal Singh Chadha” is an official remake of the Hollywood classic “Forrest Gump”. It is written by Atul Kulkarni, directed by Advait Chandan and co-produced by Viacom18 Studios with Aamir Khan Productions.

The movie is slated to hit theatres during Christmas 2020.

The actress is returning with the second season of her radio chat show “What Women Want”, and it seems she is getting even more personal this time.

Kareena will have husband Saif Ali Khan as one of the first guests of Season 2.

“Finally, we have Saif (Saif Ali Khan) also on ‘What Women Want’. In the show, he will be talking about modern marriages. I think season one was such a big success and people talked so openly about different matters of their life in it.

“I am very happy because this time we have some amazing and exciting guests. We have shot with my mother-in-law (Sharmila Tagore), so I think it’s going to get better than season one.”

A minor planet, traversing the cosmos between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, has been named after classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj. Discovered on Nov. 11, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) named minor planet 2006 VP32 (number -300128), as ‘Panditjasraj’.

With the honour, the Padma Vibhushan recipient belonging to the Mewati gharana, became the first Indian musician to join the galaxy of immortal composers like Mozart, Beethoven and Tenor Luciano Pavarotti, to receive the honour. “Blessed… in this honour one can experience only god’s grace,” said the 89-year-old maestro from the US.

“It was made official by IAU on September 23, followed by a citation,” his daughter Durga Jasraj told PTI. The citation reads,”Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj is an exponent of Indian classical vocal music. A life dedicated to music, Jasraj is recipient of many awards, honours and titles. His distinctive voice traverses remarkable four-and-a-half octave.”

As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by IAU’s Minor Planet Centre. The Panditjasraj minor planet can be seen on their official website with the number 300128, his date of birth in reverse order.

The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC)’s 11th Erasing Borders Dance Festival was held over three days this past weekend. The festival consisted of two shows in Queens and Manhattan boroughs of New York City and four workshops. The artists came from a variety of dance backgrounds from classical to contemporary.

On September 15th, the main show was held at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre in New York City with inaugural addresses by Sunil Hali, IAAC Executive Director, Dr.Nirmal Mattoo, IAAC Chair, Festival Director Deepsikha Chatterjee and Curator Uttara Coorlawala. The opening performance by Radhe Jaggi, a graduate of Kalakshetra Foundation, disciple of Leela Samson and also daughter of Sadhguru, enthralled the audience with a Bharatnatyam piece Sankara Srigiri choreographed by Leela Samson. This was followed by IndianRaga trio of Isha Parupudi, Swathi Jaisankar and Sophia Salingaros who performed a medley of their works – Shiva Shambho, Mohanakalyani Thillana, Depression and Kaa Vaa Vaa.

Brinda Guha brought in her group Kalamandir Dance Company to perform urbanJATRA, a contemporary piece drawing from Kathak & other Indian Classical movements. In Parijat Desai’s Pardon My Heart, which was the final performance, the choreography weaved together dance with recitation of contemporary verse and with Hindustani khayal and tarana music.

Post performance, the talk back was moderated by Parul Shah, dancer, choreographer and one of the curators at the festival. On the agenda were gender issues and contemporary interpretations as compared to classical dance forms.

The prior evening, on September 14th, the first of the two shows opened to welcoming crowds at the Community center in Flushing. This was the first time the event had extended to Queens bringing the festival to a wider audience. The post show talk back, moderated by Uttara Coorlawala, IAAC dance curator, revealed an interesting gap in audience expectation and performers’ ambitions. Upon learning how the audience had difficulty understanding the contemporary vocabulary of dance, artist Brinda Guha who was one of the performers that evening, demonstrated how she combined different forms, from folk to Kathak and Manipuri to Western African drums in her work. This garnered appreciative applause from the audience.

With the intention of giving back to the dance community, this year IAAC also held four workshops, two at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre on September 15 from 1:30PM to 4:30PM and two at Barnard College, New York City from 1:10PM to 5:25PM. The first session “Growing your company, Fundraising and Grants” had panelists Aparna Ramaswamy of Ragamala Dance Company and Nolini Barretto who most recently was Co-Curator of Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center.

IAAC dance curator Sruthi Mohan moderated the conversation. A very informative session, it had participants who came from various parts of the country such as Arizona, Texas and Colorado, to attend, learn and network with the dance community. This was followed by a workshop in Body Scripting: An approach to Choreography presented by Tamar Rogoff who had one advise to the aspiring and emerging dancers “Be original and let your spirit come through in your work.”

On Monday September 16, IAAC Curator Uttara Coorlawala moderated a session on “Dancing Identity/Dancing Indianness” with artists Brinda Guha, Parijat Desai, Isha Parupudi and Radhe Jaggi in attendance. Students of dance at the Barnard College of Columbia University participated in the very engaging dialogue and were very receptive during the question and answer session. The second session was a dance workshop led by Radhe Jaggi in Bharatnatyam.

Sunil Hali, IAAC Executive Director, noted there was positive feedback about the festival. “The way the community responded to this event leading to a sold out show is very heartening” he said. “We want to grow strength to strength by showcasing the best and finest Indian dance performances to the New York community.” he added.

For photos and videos Click here
https://iaac.us/erasing-borders-dance-festival/#photos
https://iaac.us/erasing-borders-dance-festival/#videos 

Aicon Contemporary is delighted to invite you to the Opening Reception & Press Preview for Inappropriated – The Toy Gandhi on October 2^nd 2019, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. The exhibit will show new sculptural work by the Kolkata based Debanjan Roy, and coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi has been appropriated by all comers. Civil rights activists have marched on Washington wearing his signature cap. Apple has put Gandhi on their advertisement encouraging buyers to “Think Different”. Dictators have issued postage stamps with his picture on it. Restaurant owners have named their all-you-can-eat-buffet establishments after him, Indeed, the organization his assassin belonged to, has co-opted his legacy. Gandhi, the icon, if not the man, has become all things to all people, a veritable toy.

The opening will also feature a lecture by Prof. Sumathi Ramaswamy, the James B. Duke Professor of History, and Chair of the History Department, Duke University. Prof. Ramaswamy is a cultural historian of South Asia and the British Empire. Her research over the last few years has been largely in the areas of visual studies, the history of cartography, and gender. She has studied and written extensively about Gandhi and his role in India’s visual culture.

Zoya Akhtar’s “Gully Boy” has been selected as the official entry from India for the 92nd Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

The film, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, is set in the Dharavi slums of Mumbai. It follows the journey of an aspiring rapper Murad Ahmed who is fighting against the odds to follow his dreams. “Gully Boy” was inspired by the lives of Indian street rappers Divine and Naezy.

It was written by Akhtar and Reema Kagti, and produced by Tiger Baby and Excel Entertainment. The film, a box-office success also featured Siddhant Chaturvedi, Kalki Koechlin, Amruta Subhash, Vijay Varma and Vijay Raaz. Gully Boy went on to be the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2019 and the year’s highest-grossing Bollywood film overseas.

The film’s co-producer Farhan Akhtar took to social media to share the news. “#GullyBoy has been selected as India’s official entry to the 92nd Oscar Awards. #apnatimeaayega Thank you to the film federation and congratulations #Zoya @kagtireema @ritesh_sid @RanveerOfficial @aliaa08 @SiddhantChturvD @kalkikanmani & cast, crew and hip hop crew,” he wrote.

India has been submitting to the category formerly known as foreign language film since 1957.

The country has been nominated three times, beginning with its first entry “Mother India” in 1957, followed by “Salaam Bombay” in 1988 and “Lagan” in 2001. It is yet to win the category.

Last year, Rima Das’ Assamese film “Village Rockstars” was selected as India’s official entry to the 91st Academy Awards, but didn’t make it to the nominations. Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma” won the award last year.

Yash Raj Films action entertainer War, the biggest action spectacle of Bollywood, released it’s first song, Ghungroo. The party track of the year featuring the best dancer of India, Hrithik Roshan, and Vaani Kapoor is a groovy dance number that will surely be a chartbuster! Hrithik and Vaani will be seen scorching up the screen in this lavishly pictured number and their infectious chemistry is sure to be the highlight of Ghungroo. Vaani has also proven her superb abilities to dance in her earlier films and in Ghungroo, she will be seen pushing her body to the hilt to pull off breath-taking and risky acrobatic choreography.

Ghungroo has achieved a unique feat by being the first Hindi song ever to be shot at the luxurious Amalfi Coast. Composed by Vishal-Shekhar, Arijit Singh and Shilpa Rao have sung this out and out dance track. Fun and foot tapping, Ghungroo is set to become the party anthem of this festive season.

War is a high-octane action entertainer that promises to be the biggest action spectacle of all times. It has two of the biggest action heroes of our country Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff pitted against each other in a massive showdown. Produced by Yash Raj Films, the film is set to release in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu on the big national holiday of Gandhi Jayanti (October 2nd)! Watch here: https://youtu.be/qFkNATtc3mc

Kavita Das, writer and author of Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar and the STARR Ensemble (an ensemble of talented women musicians), in partnership with the India Center Foundation, brings you “Lakshmi Shankar: A Musical Evolution in One Night,” a storytelling musical production that features curated readings from Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar and musical pieces that immersively trace Shankar’s artistic evolution and expansiveness.

Shankar was born into a South Indian family in a small town in India, flouted social conventions to learn Bharatnatyam and dance as a teenager in the country’s most innovative dance troupe, lent her voice to the award-winning film Gandhi, and earned a Grammy nomination for her Hindustani classical music and legions of fans the world over. Her story offers a new perspective on the journey of Indian music to the West, – that of an Indian female musician. And her more-than-seventy-year career, spanning both South and North Indian musical traditions, as well as pop and fusion, offers the chance to explore Shankar’s evolution as an artist and how these varied traditions came together in her.

STARR Ensemble (Sisterhood of Trina, Amali, Roshni, and Roopa) consists of talented women artists from the South Asian Diaspora including violinist Trina Basu, vocalist Roopa Mahadevan, tabla player Roshni Samlal and cellist Amali Premawardhana. Taking from their rigorous training in Indian classical, jazz, western classical, folk and other genres, they bring to their music an emotional sensitivity, authentic approach to improvisation and openness to new forms. They are part of the Brooklyn Raga Massive Music Collective, as well as several other groups and solo music projects.

Kavita Das writes about culture, race, feminism and their intersections. Nominated for a 2016 Pushcart Prize, Kavita’s work has been published in Tin House, Longreads, The Atlantic, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Washington Post, Kenyon Review, NBC News Asian America, Guernica, Quartz and elsewhere. Her first book, Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar, is a biography about the Grammy-nominated Hindustani singer who played a pivotal role in bringing Indian music to the West (Harper Collins India, June 2019). Kavita has taught nonfiction writing focused on social issues at The New School and Catapult and is a frequent panelist, speaker and reader at various literary and journalism events. For more information about her, please visit www.kavitadas.com.

Rani Mukerji’s edge of the seat entertainer Mardaani 2 is set to release this year with YRF announcing that the much-awaited cop thriller will release on 13th December. Rani is reprising the role of the fearless and committed Superintendent of Police, Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 2. She had delivered an outstanding performance in the superhit and hugely acclaimed prequel, Mardaani, in which she took on the kingpin of a child trafficking racket.

In Mardaani 2, Rani will be seen pitted against a 21-year-old menacing villain who can be called pure evil. There is a lot of anticipation on who her villain will be and the crime that Rani will try to solve in the sequel. One thing is for certain, Aditya Chopra is set to launch a new face as the antagonist. The film marks the directorial debut of Gopi Puthran, the writer of the first Mardaani film. Produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 2 was shot extensively in Jaipur and parts of Rajasthan. This will be Rani’s next release after the global blockbuster Hichki that delivered 250 crores worldwide.

Rani Mukerji’s internationally acclaimed blockbuster Hichki has been winning hearts worldwide. Hichki has grossed over 250 crore worldwide and has also been winning top awards at several international film festivals. Now, Hichki has won big at the 49th Edition of Giffoni Film Festival in Italy and bagged the Gryphon Award for the Best Film!

Giffoni has a special segment called Elements +10 where jurors range between the ages of 10 to 12. The jurors who voted for the films in the Elements + 10 category were over 1500 children. With seven feature films competing here from diverse nations like China, Germany, Sweden, Australia and the Netherlands, Hichki won the top honour in this section! This recognition is a testament to the universal connect and emotional bond that Rani’s Hichki has built with audiences from all over the world.

The heart-warming and inspiring film had a progressive message of beating stereotypes and featured Rani as a determined school teacher who changes the lives of innocent students from economically backward strata, while dealing with her own nervous system disorder – Tourette Syndrome.

Producer Maneesh Sharma says, “Hichki is truly a universal film that has resonated with audiences across the world. The fact that children have voted Hichki as the Best Film of the festival just goes to show that the film’s story of overcoming odds and finding your own success is relevant to cinema lovers even in this age group. We at YRF are absolutely thrilled that kids have celebrated the message of Hichki in Italy.”

Guitar Rockstar Prasanna, Indian American Singer Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju, and a 10-Piece International Band to Kick Off a Six-City “Bollywood Reloaded” Concert Tour Indian-American singer Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju, guitar genius Prasanna and a 10-piece international band with members from four continents will launch a “Bollywood Reloaded” concert tour across the United States, Juju Productions, LLC, a Boston-based music and video production company, announced today.

The concert will kick-off with a performance in Saratoga High School Auditorium in Saratoga, CA, on Aug. 25, followed by a performance on Oct. 5 in Boston, MA, and on Dec. 14 in Atlanta, GA – and is expected to be in other cities.

 “I have specially re-arranged golden songs by Illayaraja, R.D. Burman, Madan Mohan, A.R. Rahman, Shankar Jaikishan, Vishal Shekar and other Indian composers with the amazing and versatile Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju on vocals and a new world fusion sound and together with my world class band, together we can’t wait to lift your spirits with music that we will all take back home with joy and pride,” said Prasanna.

Prasanna and Anuradha will present the endearing legacy of Bollywood by taking songs that have been the soundtrack of our lives and injecting them with a new world urgency of live music sound that define our global times.

Charged by the soaring and soulful voice of Anuradha, Prasanna’s band of musicians hailing from India, Bulgaria, Suriname, Israel, USA, Colombia, Switzerland and other countries will take viewers and listeners on a wild but compassionate journey that will paint contemporary India’s imagery with a sound that blends everything from Brazilian Samba and Classic Rock stylings, Carnatic music and Gypsy Folk Styles, Raw Funk and African dance styles, Heavy Metal and Ghazal-like sensibilities – creating a one world experience that will bring us all together through the unifying spirit of Bollywood.

Known as a fearless innovator with a unique guitar sound that sweeps across genres like Carnatic music, rock, metal, jazz, reggae, funk and many more, Prasanna has garnered a legion of followers across the globe enchanted by his musical ability to capture the 21st century’s pan-cultural landscape. The guitar is his ‘All Terrain Vehicle’ on which he takes listeners on a journey across various aural landscapes like a poet or a painter.

Anuradha has been recognized as the top-rated singer of Indian origin by Indian music industry legends. She has performed live with Bollywood singers like Kumar Sanu, Suresh Wadkar, Deepak Pandit and Bappi Lahiri across the United States and in India. She has recorded a duet with Hariharan for Ekal Vidyalaya – composed by Prasanna. She sings in six Indian languages and has recorded playback for South Indian films.

“Music knows no boundaries,” said Anuradha, “In this event, audiences will be transported musically across the globe ensconced in popular Hindi, Tamil and Telugu tunes. I am excited to present the show with Prasanna – one of the most creative geniuses of our times.”

About Juju Productions

JuJu Productions is a Boston-based music and video production company. It creates music that attracts global audiences, transcends national and cultural boundaries while rooted in evolving Indian traditions.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan informed via his Instagram posts on Saturday that his daughter Suhana Khan has graduated from college. He shared pictures, recalling how four years have gone by in a flash. Now, fresh pictures of Suhana from her graduation party at Ardingly College in Sussex, England have surfaced online. Needless to say, Suhana looks stunning.

In one of the pictures, Suhana can be seen posing with other students, wearing a white tube top paired with a pencil skirt. Other students too appear in colour-coordinated clothes. Shah Rukh and his wife Gauri flew off to London to attend their daughter’s graduation ceremony on Friday.

Sharing a picture with the three of them together, Shah Rukh had said how school ends but learning continues. He wrote: “4 yrs have flown by. Graduating from Ardingly. Last pizza…last train ride…and first step into the real world…school ends…learning doesn’t.” He shared another monochrome picture of himself with Suhana and wrote “Last day at school. To adding new experiences and colours to your life ahead….”

Actor Priyanka Chopra and her singer husband Nick Jonas set new couple goals as they walked the red carpet together at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. They were clicked arriving at a movie screening in style.

Nick held out the umbrella for her as it was raining at the French Riviera. The former Miss World shared pictures on Instagram with the caption “Mon amour (my love).” She shared another picture of the two posing together at the grand stairs and captioned it, “Riviera romance”.

The two were twinning in white for their first red carpet appearance in Cannes as they arrived for the screening of French film The Best Years of a Life (Les plus belles annees d’une vie). While Nick wore a white suit, Priyanka chose a ruffled off-shoulder Georges Hobeika gown accessorised with diamond jewellery and her hair tied in a ponytail.

Their fans couldn’t praise them enough for their lovely chemistry. An Instagram user commented to one of the pictures, “I love how Nick steps back for his wife to shine.” Another wrote, “I just extreamly love the fact that your husband is always with u like ur shadow. I love the love between u two.” One more user wrote, “This is how I want my husband to be”

Priyanka had made her Cannes debut in a shimmery black Roberto Cavalli gown on Thursday as she attended the screening of 5B. She was spotted in a white caped pantsuit earlier on the same day. She was joined by Nick on her second day and the two went around meeting their fans and clicking pictures. Priyanka had worn a light blue silk maxi dress paired with a hat while Nick was in a khaki suit.

The two then attended the Chopard Love party on Friday and engaged in a lot of PDA at the event. Nick was even clicked fixing Priyanka’s silver jewellery which she wore with her lavender Fendi dress. She also shared a small video of her kissing Nick in a car on her Instagram stories.

Apart from Priyanka, Deepika Padukone, Hina Khan and Kangana Ranaut have also walked the red carpet at the festival. Huma Qureshi and Diana Penty, too, made their presence felt as they attended the Chopard party on Friday. Cannes regulars Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai will be arriving in France soon for their annual appearance at the French Riviera.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas looks beguiling in her breathtaking custom Ralph Lauren wedding gown on Vogue Netherlands’ inaugural Love & Wedding Issue.

In the cover, she is seen sporting the Ralph Lauren gown she wore for her Christian wedding to American actor-singer Nick Jonas. She looks beautiful as she sees through her stunning veil.

“My fairytale, thank you Vogue Netherlands for making me your first cover girl of the Love and Wedding issue,” the caption read.

Photographer Jose Villa shot the “Isn’t It Romantic” actress at the Western-style Christian ceremony on December 4, 2018, during her three-day Indian nuptials to Nick.

Priyanka tied the knot with Nick in two extravagant ceremonies at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur.

For the Christian wedding ceremony, the couple opted for stunning Ralph Lauren outfits, and for the Hindu wedding, Priyanka wore a red Sabyasachi Mukherjee lehenga coupled with diamond jewellery.

On the Bollywood front, Priyanka will be seen in “The Sky is Pink” which also stars Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim. The film is directed by Shonali Bose.

The Indie Meme Film Festival (IMFF) joins the Austin community for the fourth year in a row. Over a period of four days, the festival will showcase carefully  curated, critically acclaimed, socially relevant bold & inspiring features, documentaries, and shorts from South Asia.

The event will include youth films and have  local, international, and US based filmmakers   in attendance. Complete with  red carpet, opening & closing night galas, audience discussions and networking events , the 4th Indie Meme Film Festival promises to be a spectacular community event.

IMFF kicks off Sunday, April 14, and continues April 26-28. The opening night includes  The Last Color, a directorial debut by Michelin star chef, renowned restaurateur, celebrity TV host & author Chef Vikas Khanna .  The film, featuring Neena Gupta and set in Banaras, India is on restoring the life of dignity for widows expected to be forgotten in a colorless existence. Vikas Khanna will be in attendance at the screening.

“With  25  films over 4 days, including 11 features, 9 shorts, and 5 youth films spanning across 7 countries in 9 languages with over 6 filmmakers in attendance, IMFF will be an exceptional world cinema event to resonate with global audiences ,” shared Tripti Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, Indie Meme Org & IMFF Austin. “We will have amongst us a Celebrity Chef who is a first time filmmaker.”  she continued, “Everyone, including the children will have something new to experience at the Indie Meme festival. We urge you to gather your community to celebrate the South Asian culture through films with us.”

The  kickoff event on  April 14th  includes the family film  Chuskit  which is the story of a feisty paraplegic girl who locks horns with her tra­dition-bound grandfather – to chase her dream of going to school!

The Centerpiece,  Her. Him. The Other  (Sri Lanka/Fiction/Drama/1hr56min/Sinhala & Tamil) is from Three Sri Lankan filmmakers renowned for their  internationally acclaimed films  based on the Sri Lankan civil war, join in to make one film to express their views on post-war reality.

The Closing night film is,  Kaamyaab  (India/Fiction/Comedy-Drama/1hr 53min/Hindi). On being made to go through his own IMDB page, Sudheer, a washed up side actor from the heydays of  Bollywood , realizes that he ‘retired’ on the verge of a rare milestone – he had featured in 499 Hindi films! Now at 63, against the wishes of his daughter, he decides to come out of retirement to complete the round figure of 500 and get that one substantial role for which he will be remembered forever.

Half Widow  (India/ Fiction/Drama/ 1hr 31 min/ Kashmiri & Urdu) is a featured film. Amid the backdrop of the Kashmiri conflict, a young woman must come to grips with the disappearance of her doting husband and embark on  harrowing journey of self-discovery.

Mangesh Desai,  The Sound Man,  (India/Documentary/1hr53min/Hindi) is featured amongst  top 10 sound mixing engineers of the world  by New York Times, Mangesh Desai was a genius and regarded so by the Indian film community. With unparalleled understanding of the craft & technique of sound, Desai’s dynamic range of work goes from the artistic extremes of Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal’s art films to the blockbusters by the likes of Manmohan Desai, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Gulshan Rai, Yash Chopra with films including Deewar, Kabhi Kabhi, Sholay – the list goes on! A true tribute to a true hero.

Badges, bands, and individual tickets are available now and can be found along with the full line-up and schedule of films at  https://www.indiememe.org/imff-2019

The annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) is excited to announce its showcase films for Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night. NYIFF, North America’s longest-running, and most prestigious Indian Film Festival will be held on May 7th – 12that the Village East Cinemas in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (181-189 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003).

 Festival Director Aseem Chhabra stated, ‘We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India. This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty, power and glory of film story telling at its best. Our audience will be excited by the protagonists and fall in love with their journeys.’

Chairman Dr. Nirmal Mattoo said, ‘The 2019 NYIFF selection is the culmination of a global search process by our festival director and curators. We will present award winning releases.  We will showcase for the first time, regional movies which present the depth and breadth of India. Original, fresh, transformative dramas will give the audience the deep immersive experiences that they seek. The audience will join us in giving critical acclaim and recognition to the artists who give us so much.’

Opening Night Film: SIR

KALANK

Global Release Date: Wednesday, April 17

Director: Abhishek Varman

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, and Aditya Roy Kapur

Official Site: https://www.facebook.com/foxstarhindi/

Subtitled Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Z_ueeT_XQ

 SYNOPSIS:

‘Kalank’ is an epic romantic drama of six enigmatic, esoteric and wistful characters entangled in search of love but separated by the dichotomy between the two worlds of Husnabad, a town in North India. The elite, opulent and solemn world of the Chaudhry family, and the wild, mysterious and musical underbelly of the town, Hira Mandi, clash when Roop Chaudhry encounters Zafar, a daredevil from Hira Mandi, unleashing deep-buried truths, secrets of betrayal and affairs that threaten to bring the both worlds crashing down. Set in 1945, in Pre-Independent India, ‘Kalank’ is the story of a vivid and ethereal world, lost when the fire of Partition engulfs the city and the country. It’s the story of the shades of Reds in their lives as they yearn for hues of love while Husnabad gets soaked in the reds of violence and revenge.

Date: Tuesday, May 7th

Director: Rohena Gera

Cast: Tillotama Shome, Vivek Gomber, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Rahul Vohar, Ahmareen Anjum

Post Screening Q&A with Rohena Gera

Synopsis:  A prosperous young Indian man falls in love with his servant, a widow with the dream of becoming a tailor. “Sir” is an award-winning film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (Critics’ Week).

Centerpiece: PHOTOGRAP

Date: Friday, May 10th
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra

Post Screening Q&A with Ritesh Batra

Synopsis: A struggling Mumbai street photographer pressured to marry by his grandmother convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancée during a family visit. Despite vast cultural differences, the pair develops a surprising connection that challenges their worldviews in a wistful and funny romance from Ritesh Batra (“The Lunchbox”). “Photograph” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was shown at the Berlinale as a Special Gala presentation.

Photos and press materials can be downloaded here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/op5taqpdtz1jwbu/AACjCl7KceIUdauoefTHeT2ca?dl=0

Closing Night Film: The LAST COLOR

DATE: Sunday, May 12th

Director:  Vikas Khanna

Cast: Neena Gupta, Aqsa Siddiqui, Princy Sudhakaran, Rudrani Chettri, Aslam Sheikh

Post Screening Q&A with Vikas Khanna

Synopsis: Nine-year-old fearless tightrope walker and flower seller, Chhoti, savors her dream to save Rs. 300 ($ 4), so she can attend school. “The Last Color” traces Chhoti and her best friend Chintu’s daily struggles for survival on the streets of the ancient city of Banaras, India.  Chhoti befriends Noor, a white-clad widow who suffers a life of total abstinence and is disallowed from taking part in any festivities, especially Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Over time, Chhoti and Noor’s friendship and uplifting spiritual bond breaks through the barriers of the social system. “The Last Color” is a story of promises kept and promises broken, a friendship that knows no bounds, and the freedom and victory of the human spirit.

Photos and press materials for Last Color can be downloaded here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kU35ZIknOmGvFucCVKl5EYTaHDhpL0FB

The festival’s complete lineup will be revealed soon!

Tickets are available online and can be purchased on: https://www.iaac.us/nyiff2019/index.htm

The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) is the oldest, most prestigious film festival screening premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of, and about the Indian subcontinent in the Independent, arthouse, alternate and diaspora genres. Seven days of screenings, post-screening discussions, industry panels, award ceremony, special events, nightly networking parties, red carpet galas, media attention and packed audiences build an awareness of Indian cinema, entertain & educate North Americans about the real India, and add to the amazing cultural diversity of New York City. For more information, please visit the website HERE.

The IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. We work cooperatively with colleagues around the United States to broaden our collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources and funding. Our focus is to help artists and art organizations in North America as well as to facilitate artists from India to exhibit, perform and produce their work here. The IAAC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.

For further information, visit  www.iaac.us

Mumbai, April 12, 2019 – Graphic India, one of India’s leading character entertainment companies, announced today that the hit animated series, Baahubali: The Lost Legends has released the epic 4thseason with an additional new 16 episodes available starting today on Amazon Prime Video.

Produced by Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks, Baahubali: The Lost Legends initially launched in 2017 and created by S.S Rajamouli and Sharad Devarajan, is based on the blockbuster film franchise, beloved by millions of fans across the world. Season 4, brings the series to a total of 55 action-packed episodes for the country’s millions of Baahubali fans.

Baahubali: The Lost Legends is set before the Kalakeya invasion depicted in the first movie, when Baahubali and Bhallaladeva are still both young princes of Mahishmati.  Two brothers competing to rule the greatest kingdom of its age and the epic adventures they must endure to prove they are worthy to one day wear the crown. Under the watchful eye of Sivagami, and the warrior, Katappa, one shall rise to be King of the throne, while the other shall become King of the people.

“When we look at Baahubali and Bhallaladeva, the warring brothers, what we see in the film is just a minor part of their lives. In the ‘Baahubali Universe,’ there is so much more worth knowing about them. The same applies to other characters too,” said Baahubali creator and filmmaker, S. S. Rajamouli. “

“Season 4 is filled with political intrigue, betrayal, war, action, adventure and even more twists and turns as we take fans deeper than ever into the events that shaped Baahubali from a young prince into a legendary hero,” added Graphic India Co-Founder, Sharad Devarajan.

In the new season, Mahishmati and its protectors face their greatest challenge yet and find themselves the targets of a mysterious new force seeking revenge on the legendary kingdom. The season features new, never before revealed stories about the characters from the film including Prince Baahubali, Bhallaladeva, Kattapa and Sivagami as well as all new characters that expand the world of Baahubali.

1. S. Rajamouli, Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni and Sharad Devarajan are Executive Producers on the series along with Jeevan J. Kang, Graphic’s EVP Creative and the lead character designer, and Ashwin Pande, Graphic’s lead writer.

Experience the untold stories of India’s greatest cinematic hero. The legend of Baahubali continues!

Men sometimes act less interested in sex — in order to get it

“The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story” director Aneesh Daniel says the movie, which documents the tragic death of an Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his sons in Odisha, is very relevant in the current socio-political situation in the country.

The film is based on Staines, who worked among the underprivileged and leprosy victims in Odisha. In 1999, he was burnt to death along with his two sons allegedly by members of a hardline Hindu organisation inside his station wagon in Manoharpur village in Kendujhar district of the state.

“The story holds relevance even today and we should not forget the history. In fact, at the time of the general election, it holds most relevance,” Daniel told IANS when asked why he decided to make a movie on the incident that took place years ago, and release it before the general election this year.

“Because at this moment, people are throwing mud at each other…People to people friendship is getting hampered because of their different political views. I believe this is the time we should talk about forgiveness,” he added.

In 2003, Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh was convicted of the murders and sentenced to lifetime imprisonment.

However, Staines’ widow Gladys forgave him, and continued to live in India and served leprosy patients till 2004.

Daniel said: “People should forgive each other like how Gladys forgave the killers 20 years back.”

The English language film, starring Sharman Joshi, Stephen Baldwin, Shari Rigby, Manoj Mishra, Prakash Belawad, released on Friday.

Daniel says he started working on the film in 2007 when his team got approval from Gladys.

“It is just that it’s divine timing. Andrew (Matthews) our scriptwriter came to India twice to research and we also spoke to a number of people who (then) witnessed the incident. We tried to find the right cast for the film, so that the film looks authentic. In fact, the driver who acted as Staines’ driver (in the film) is the real person who used to drive Staines and his kids around for a number of years,” the director said.

The film was shot in Araku Valley, a city in Andhra Pradesh.

“We shot in Araku Valley because I wanted to give the same feeling of the beauty of Manoharpur. The leprosy home we used is the real leprosy home where Staines served for many years.”

Over 600 people packed MIT’s Kresge Auditorium on Saturday to watch the live release of “Jaan Meri” music video album by Indian-American singer Anuradha Palakurthi-juju who was accompanied by Ustad Nishat Khan, one of India’s finest musicians and a virtuoso sitar player, who composed music for the “Jaan Meri” album.

The six-song album features the talents of 70 musicians and over 450 people involved in the production of the videos that were filmed across the globe from Hollywood to Bollywood to Baku in the Central Asian nation of Azerbaijan. The album cover was designed and produced by Bappa Lahiri and his team in Mumbai. Lyrics were penned by Mehboob Kotwal, Manoj Yadav, Bullesha and Boston’s evocative poetess, Sunayana Kachroo.

“The title song ‘Jaan Meri” took my breath away,” said Anuradha. “Unlike most songs these days that have programmed music that is played in a loop, Jaan Meri has a huge string section. The Mumbai orchestra is playing in it. It has fantastic violins and the arrangement is quite grand. I feel it is operatic.”

Anuradha said that Ustad Nishat Khan first had to create the melody for the Jaan Meri song, then she had to fit the lyrics in the right meter into that melody.

“The location for the title song is also quite grand: an opera house in Baku Azerbaijan,” said Anuradha. “Photographer Sanjay Gupta treated it very grandly with some grand photography and angles and I love the passion dancer Ankita Maity brings to the video.”

Other songs of the music video are:

Kabhi Humne Sarko Jhukaliya Kabhi Humne khud ko Manaliye, Shikvey kiye kabhi chup rahe Yun mohabbat ko Nibhaliya.

Taang Mahi di Jaliyaan Kaag udaanwan Khaliyaan.

Ishq ne kaha Mujhe..Tu mera Ishq hai Pooch le khuda se tere Dil ke tu kareeb hai.

Tatoo.

Dhool hatakar dekha to.

Jaan Meri.

During the release ceremony, Ustad Nishat Khan formally introduced Anuradha to the audience as one of the greatest singers and told the audience: “You truly have an international artist in Boston.” Anuradha thanked her crew, audience and her husband, Prashanth Palakurthi, a Boston entrepreneur and philanthropist who has been one of her biggest fans and supporters.

Among the audience were some of the crew members, Bappa Lahiri, cinematographer Yash Bhatt and poetess Ms. Kachroo, who wrote lyrics of two songs in the album. “I have collaborated with Anuradha on three songs before Jaan Meri. In this album, we collaborated on two songs: Tattoo and Dhool hatakar dekha to”.

“Tattoo” is a fun dance number, more of a banter between two lovers. “This was a little bit of a challenge for me because Ustad Nishat Khan saab had already composed the tune for this piece. I had to write on the tune, create a narrative from words that match the flavor of the tune as well as use phrases that are relevant in current times,” said Ms. Kachroo. “This is how Tattoo came about. Anuradha has sung it very differently, this is where her versatility comes into the play. The age of the characters on the video and the tonality of her voice are absolutely aligned. Lagta hai unki hee awaz hai.” Kachroo, who also is a filmmaker, said “Dhool hatakar dekha to” is actually a poem.

“While we were discussing various ideas about the kind of content that we should create. Prashanth wanted to create something that reflects Anuradha’s Journey as an artist, the demands on her time as a caregiver and a nurturer, yet keeping her dream alive,” said Ms. Kachroo. “Sometimes it is not about the lack of support or the wrong choices but it is about ‘Timing’ and the struggle to keep your dream alive..pulsating ..until Sahi waqt aata hai  . This song is very heavy on imagery ..Zevar ke dabbe mein tevar, Hausle kee do boondein, Khwaab dupehri nachata raha.. leading upto Meri parvazon ki zidd pe asmaan ne bahein kholi….”

Rajiv Gangurde, a Boston singer, said that describing her own musical journey through poignant imagery, the highlight of the album, ‘Dhool hatakar’ won audiences over for the sheer magic of Anuradha’s voice and the elegant tapestry of words woven together by Boston’s very own lyricist, Ms. Kachroo.

“Besides the rediscovering of one’s own dreams captured so eloquently by Sunayana and expressed remarkably by Anuradha, the album features five other songs, each with its own unique flavor,” Mr. Gangurde said.

Ketki Tanna, who attended the release of Jaan Meri release, was touched by the Palakurthis.

“I also had tears in my eyes when Anuradha emotionally acknowledged Prashanth. I told the people I was with that it is heartwarming to see a husband appreciate and understand all his wife’s sacrifices while he was building his business to now dedicate his time and energy to her passion,” said Ketki Tanna, who attended the show. “It’s her time to shine now and he is doing everything he can to make that happen. That’s true love.”

Another couple Bipin and Meera Parekh who attended the video music release said that Palakurthis have created a unique musical video and produced a never before seen video album.

“The two-part program featured Ustad Nishat Khan sitar concert followed by Anuradha Palakurthi and Nishat Khan taking us through the making of the video and gave us a glimpse of the enormous amount of creative work that culminated in the production of an amazing video of mellifluous renditions by Anuradha, superb composition by Nishat Khan, tuneful musical arrangement, nice lyrics, pleasant dance choreography and performances by talented artists, masterfully sound mixing to produce a never before seen video album,” said Parekhs.

During the program, both Anuradha and Ustad Nishat Khan fielded questions from the audience about various aspects of the videos’ production.  “I personally liked the discussion of incorporating classical raagas in contemporary and upbeat sounding tunes,” said Mr. Parekh. “The Jaan Meri team deserves our appreciation and compliments as they spent a great deal of creative energy scoping out the selection of locations, art design and direction, coordinating and bringing out the best aptitude from over 500 individuals.  We are fortunate to have witnessed such an iconic program.”

The music video album Jaan Meri was produced by Juju Productions, LLC, a Boston-based music and video production company. Manisha Jain, CEO of Juju Productions, which earlier this year also launched “Music Room” with veteran Bollywood singer and composer Bappi Lahiri and his son Bappa Lahiri on Zee TV Americas, served as emcee of program.

Anuradha has performed many live music concerts with Bollywood singers across the United States and has been recognized as the top-rated singer of Indian origin by industry legends. She has performed live with Bollywood singers like Kumar Sanu, Suresh Wadkar, Deepak Pandit and Bappi Lahiri across the United States. Anuradha has recorded a duet with Hariharan for Ekal Vidyalaya – composed by guitarist Prasanna with drummer Sivamani and a group of 14 multiple-Grammy winning musicians from across the globe. She sings in six Indian languages and has recorded playback for South Indian films.

About Juju Productions

Juju Productions is a Boston-based music and video production company, where artists and singers work with Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju work to produce creative, innovative musical endeavours. It creates music that attracts global audiences, transcends national and cultural boundaries while rooted in evolving Indian traditions

Juju Productions, LLC, a Boston-based music and video production company, has released its “Jaan Meri” new music video album globally on Saturday, March 23, 2019. The album features the talents of 70 musicians and over 450 people in the production of the music videos filmed across the globe from Hollywood to Bollywood.

“Jaan Meri” album is released at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kresge Auditorium in Cambridge, MA, in front of a packed audience and music lovers, and will feature Indian-American singer and producer Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju.

Ustad Nishat Khan, one of India’s finest musicians and a virtuoso sitar player who composed the “Jaan Meri” album, will also give a live performance at the event. “I am doubly delighted to release my six compositions in “Jaan Meri,” a Music Video Album at the event with the singer and producer Anuradha Palakurthi,” said Ustad Khan. “Her unmatched versatility found a great home for the range of styles in these compositions. Over 70 musicians were involved in recording the songs – and almost 450 people were involved in making the videos – making the album one of the most spectacular ever.”

The video album consists of 6 songs, directed and filmed in locations spanning the globe, from Hollywood in Los Angeles to Mumbai, India to Baku in Azerbaijan. “It will be a spectacular visual and musical experience with live music,” said Manisha Jain, CEO of Juju Productions, which earlier this year also launched “Music Room” with veteran Bollywood singer and composer Bappi Lahiri and his son Bappa Lahiri on Zee TV Americas.

Anuradha, who has performed many live music concerts with Bollywood singers across the United States, said she is looking forward to the release of her video album “Jaan Meri.”

“On March 23, audiences can watch song-films made by great directors and teams in Mumbai, Hollywood and Baku, Azerbaijan,” said Anuradha. “Be prepared to be surprised at some faces in the videos. Lyrics were penned by Mehboob Kotwal, Manoj Yadav, Bullesha and Boston’s own evocative poetess, Sunayana Kachroo.”

The March 23 also kicked off MIT Heritage of the Arts of South Asia (MITHAS)’s first concert of the 2019 spring season. Anuradha has been recognized as the top-rated singer of Indian origin by industry legends. She has performed live with Bollywood singers like Kumar Sanu, Suresh Wadkar, Deepak Pandit and Bappi Lahiri across the United States. Anuradha has recorded a duet with Hariharan for Ekal Vidyalaya – composed by guitarist Prasanna with drummer Sivamani and a group of 14 multiple-Grammy winning musicians from across the globe. She sings in six Indian languages and has recorded playback for South Indian films.

For more information on the album or this event, please contact Upendra Mishra at mishra@mishragroup.com or Manisha Jain at manisha@jujuproductionsllc.com

Dead men quell no tales. You cannot defame the dead, and they aren’t around to disagree. Sujoy Ghosh’s Badla features a slick, relentlessly twisty cat-and-mouse game played with both cat and mouse sitting in the same room, strategising across a table. A woman has been accused of murdering her lover, and a lawyer wants to get to her truth in order to defend her. Neither believes in the other, and both will do anything to uncover the truth of the other — even lie.

A slavish remake of the 2017 Spanish thriller Contratiempo (The Invisible Guest), Ghosh’s efficiently assembled film keeps tension at a boil through twist and counter-twist, but the finalé is easy to see coming, principally because we expect certain actors to have the last laugh. Still, there is something to be said for this briskly paced thriller that doesn’t slow down to spoon-feed its audience. Badla never loses grip.

Truth is a many narrator-ed thing, and while Naina (Taapsee Pannu) and Badal Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan) are the accused and her lawyer respectively, there are times their conversations sound like a meeting between a scriptwriter pitching a story and an overpaid script-consultant. “In your story, people keep turning into whatever the story needs them to become,” complains Gupta. “I’m not paying you to find loopholes in my plot,” fires Naina.

A woman is found in a hotel room with a dead body. She swears she isn’t the murderer, but nobody else has gone in or out of the room. The puzzle sounds a bit like Edgar Allan Poe’s Murders In The Rue Morgue, but then — to jump to the diametrically opposite end of the thriller spectrum — it becomes a bit I Know What You Did Last Summer. As the story goes on, it gets pulpier still. Credit to Ghosh and his actors for keeping things tight. Besides Bachchan and Pannu, Amrita Singh stands out as a mother with a missing son.

The film is set in Scotland, and this considerably enhances the look and feel, as cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay highlights telling details with unmistakable sharpness. That said, the characters operate in an entirely Indian milieu, being questioned by Indian policemen and interviewed by Indian journalists — who show up, laughably enough, to appointments dressed in the same clothes as their ID badges.

Some technicalities get in the way: the newspapers (with banner headlines) look astonishingly fake; smartphones are used as timers, while recording devices remain exasperatingly analog. I shouldn’t say more. Badla remains an engaging film, and while we can blame Ghosh for casting Bachchan and somewhat spoiling the climax, he can’t possibly be blamed for casting that man in a role that requires a lot of talking. Amitabh Bachchan has been in the movies for fifty years now, and whatever he says, we’re listening.

Badla movie review: Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu’s efficiently assembled film keeps tension at a boil through twist and counter-twist, but the finalé is easy to see coming.

Badla
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu
Rating: 3/5

Just three weeks ago, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti delivered one of the best Hindi movies in recent memory with Gully Boy. There was a lot to adore about the film, ranging from the stellar performances to the great music. However, it’s biggest strength was its refusal to lean on the overused tropes that we have all come to expect from films ‘made in Bollywood’.

If Gully Boy had been any other film, made by someone else who believes in playing by the rules, Murad would have been the one to get arrested on the day of audition and not Moeen, losing out to his mentee would have caused a rift between Sher and Murad, and Sky would have pressed charges against Safeena for breaking her skull. However, none of it happens. The writers knew that Murad doesn’t need any more help from the universe for making things worse. Sometimes, things turn out well without any bumps along the way.

And this thought is reapplied in Zoya and Reema’s second release in less than a month, Made In Heaven.

Amazon Prime’s latest Indian original follows the story of two wedding planners in Delhi. Through their scheming, lying, and, at times, brave and selfless ways, they help join the rich and affluent South Delhi types and their princesses, in holy matrimony.

These two — and the brides and grooms they are serving — often lie to get their way. But like most of us who also lie, cheat or deceive to get by in life, they too do not always get their comeuppance and guilty consciences do not always find closure. Again, much like real life.

Made In Heaven presents the seemingly perfect face of rich Delhi wedding scene, but look beneath the gold and glitter and it is all dauntingly dark. There are parents looking for pure and pious brides for their sons, sons organising beauty pageants to search for brides, brides building their marriages on lies and marriages being bought in exchange for builder flats in Sainik Farms. Everyone is out to score the biggest score, love be damned, justice be damned and self-respect be damned.

The nine episodes, divided episodically between four directors, are told as an anthology with the planners facing a new, peculiar couple and their parents every time. Meanwhile, the protagonists, Tara and Karan (played by Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur) and their own struggles with a failing marriage and closeted sexuality make for the thread on which the 9 stories are beaded.

Tara was once an insignificant office secretary who married into a rich South Delhi family. She leaves her life in the ‘gutter’ behind for a world of cheese and wine tastings but it all starts seeming worthless to her as she begins suspecting her husband (Jim Sarbh) of cheating on her. We want to tell her to leave him but in the first episode itself she tells an agitated bride to bear with it all for the in-laws will die soon and the love will fade away sooner but the fortune she will inherit is forever. “Don’t be an idiot,” she tells her. And we guess she is not going to be an idiot either.

Karan is a gay man in 2018 Delhi, living life one unattached hook-up and one monthly loan instalment at a time. He is one police complaint away from spending his life in jail for ‘loving someone from the wrong gender’ and the people he keeps around him do not always make things easier.

While Sobhita and Arjun, Kalki and Jim do a stellar job of keeping the momentum going through the series, other guest actors leave a big impression as well. Deepti Naval paints a warm and hurting picture with her portrayal of a mother wanting to see her disapproving children at her wedding. Manjot Singh’s angry young Sardar makes us root for him, moments after we see him wield a hockey stick to assault a man. Shweta Tripathi’s seemingly shallow bride shows bravery in a moment that few could imagine. There is no dearth of incredibly talented actors like Neena Gupta, Vijay Raaz, Vikrant Massey and others making last impressions with their tiny roles.

However, the kudos that each episode builds up in its hour-long runtime, is marred by an on-the nose internal monologue by Shashank Arora on the depressing state of weddings in India, using heavy terms that would usually hear in a Political Science or Literary Theory lectures. He delivers the moral of the story as he snobbishly snobs away through his camera lens. The whole episode does a good enough job of driving the point home and there is no need to get so literal. It makes every ending cringeworthy.

That little complaint aside, Made in Heaven is a show that will keep you hooked for all its nine hours. Not once did I even want to skip the opening theme but a big credit for that goes to whoever created that stunning piece of music.

The show explores the stories of several recurring and guest characters with a hazy filter on all scenes. Was it a metaphor for the veil that separates their life from ours? That they are the rich and the crazy, the insiders, while we look at them from the outside, judging them silently for marrying their daughters to trees. Judging them and still pinning all their pictures on our Pinterest moodboard, hoping to put it to good use should a crazy, rich millionaire decides to pop the question to us too? Maybe. Or maybe the haziness was simply Delhi’s polluted air.

Made In Heaven review: Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s new show will keep you hooked as it unveils the not-so-pretty faces of the crazy rich few and the big fat lies at grand weddings the whole nation is obsessed with.

Made In Heaven
Creators: Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti
Cast: Arjun Mathur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh
Rating: 4/5

Sara Ali Khan, the much relatable star loves couture and affordable fashion at the same time. Here are the top looks from the actor’s wardrobe.

From subtle traditional wear to casual wear, Sara Ali Khan style evolution in a couple of years has come a long way. She doesn’t shy away from exploring the experimental territory of new trends like neons, sequins, flared trousers, multi-coloured ensembles, bold jewellery and overall, an unapologetic look.She is gorgeous and her elegant demeanour speaks of her royal lineage but the most significant trait that puts her above the rest is her free-spirited self that we all got to see on talk shows, interviews and events. The millennial style icon is as real as it gets and she exudes newness, untamed charm and she seems like one of us.

Sara’s choices of traditional clothing has always been a perfect one as she pulls them off with utmost grace and panache. She keeps it simple and beauty-wise , she keeps it natural and to the point and of course, blessed genetics.

Her choice of midriff crop tops to embellished textured blouses are quite a hit apart from her gym wear looks and tonal dressing. Her choice of prints and structure always makes her stand out unlike her contemporaries. There is a sense of comfort and distinctive style in the way she carries it. The Simmba actor doesn’t play safe and is a trendsetter in her own right. She is versatile and loves to try new textures, patterns and silhouettes. Be it short dresses or jumpsuits, co-ords and voluminous apparels, Sara knows what works best for her. In terms of accessories, Sara likes a mixed bag of quirky, traditional, statement and minimal as well. Her sling bags, chunky earrings, rings and the ideal mix and match of traditional and contemporary elements is a ten on ten. A master of tonal dressing, the youth style icon always gets it right. She loves colours and colors love her back.