NEW YORK CITY(TIP): The longest-running, most prestigious South Asian Film Festival in North America, NYIFF, kicked off on May 7 at the Village East Cinemas in the lower east side of Manhattan at 181-189, 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003.
The Festival boasts 78 shorts, documentaries and feature films screened over the period of 6 days.
The Festival continues until May 12 at the location.
NEW DELHI(TIP): ‘Irada’, produced by New York-based Falguni and Chintu Patel, was presented the Best Film on Environment award at The National Film Awards 2018 ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on May 3.
‘Irada’ (meaning ‘Resolve’) also won the Best Supporting Actress award for Divya Dutta.
The prestigious annual awards were presented by India’s President Ram Nath Kovind and Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.
President Kovind said on the occasion, “This is a special moment for all of you.” He added that cinema is “an expression of Indian soft power and has a transcontinental footprint.”
The Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation award for ‘Irada’ was received by Irada Entertainment founder and partner Falguni Patel from the I& B minister, cheered by Chintu Patel, in the august hall of Vigyan Bhavan.
‘Irada’, that also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and New York-born actor Prashantt Guptha, raises the contemporary ecological issues of uranium poisoning, reverse boring, and fertilizer poisoning due to the green revolution and their adverse impact on the people who live in India’s Malwa region, which extends to parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Chintu and his brother Chirag Patel are co-chairmen of Amneal Pharmaceuticals, the fifth largest generics drugs firm in America.
Chintu and Chirag were The South Asian Times Person of the Year 2017 and were felicitated by the newspaper at a gala function in January this year on Long Island, NY.
Pleased with the award for ‘Irada’, the first film from Irada Entertainment, Chintu Patel said: “We will be making more content-based films, making more web series and growing it into certain other media outlets over a period of time.”
NEW YORK(TIP): Parikh Worldwide Media, the largest Indian-American news publishing house in the United States, has acquired the New York City-based 24×7 national cable TV channel, ITV Gold (International Television Broadcasting), the longest running channel in the US catering to the Indian and South Asian diaspora.
ITV Gold is the first-ever 24×7 cable TV channel in the US to deliver news about India, Indian-Americans and South Asians, since it was launched in 1985.
The ITV Gold portfolio includes the signature program ‘Vision of Asia’ that the community is familiar with since 1976, when it was launched by founder of ITV Gold, Dr. Banad N. Viswanath, an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He passed away in October 2014.
With this acquisition, Parikh Worldwide Media is now the #1 media house in the United States, catering to the Indian and South Asian diaspora community.
The New York City-headquartered Parikh Worldwide Media, with offices in Chicago, Bay Area, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, publishes the nationally circulated English weekly newspaper News India Times; regional English weeklies, Desi Talk in New York, and, Desi Talk in Chicago; as well as the Gujarati language weekly newspaper, Gujarat Times. It also publishes an online magazine, Indian American, and a bimonthly journal, U.S. India Global Review, which is affiliated to a think tank based in New York City, the Parikh Foundation for India’s Global Development.
Parikh Worldwide Media was founded by Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a renowned allergist, philanthropist, and decorated community leader.
Dr. Parikh is the recipient of India’s Padma Shri award (2010) as well as Knights of Malta (2012), the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (2006), and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2005). He supports numerous charitable organizations both in the US and India. He has been closely involved with strengthening US-India relations for decades, including bringing the US-India civil nuclear cooperation deal to fruition.
In 2002, he received the National Excellence Award from former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Dr. Parikh was appointed member of the National Leadership Advisory Committee of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans in 1999 by the Chairman of the India Caucus, U.S Congressman Gary Ackerman (D) of New York. He was a Member of American Media Delegation that accompanied President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on their visit to India in November 2010.
Dr. Parikh has led major Indian-American organizations, including the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Indian American Forum for Public Education (IAFPE), where he was instrumental in starting a Congressional Internship Program for second-generation Indian-Americans. Among the charitable organizations he has supported are American India Foundation, Share and Care Foundation, Gujarat Cancer Society, the Nargis Dutt Foundation, and was named the ‘Grand Benefactor’ of the Vraj Srinalhajee Temple in Pennsylvania.
“I had many discussions in the past with Dr. Viswanath about joining hands and while I am saddened that he is not here to witness this union, being the visionary that he was, it is what he would have wanted,” said Dr. Parikh, of his acquisition of ITV Gold. “ITV Gold has solid brand value and a massive following in the Indian-American, South Asian, and Indo-Caribbean market and we plan to give more community news and local events coverage with the combination of print and television connecting viewers to matters that affect them here in the U.S. and in India,” he added.
“This partnership combines the strength of two well established and respected Indian American Medias. It is a launching pad to expand the channel on new platforms across the USA. I look forward to working with Dr. Parikh in building a bigger ITV Gold Network,” said Deepak Viswanath, son of the founder, Dr. Viswanath, in a statement representing his family.
ITV Gold brings 24×7 local and national entertainment and news content to Indian and South Asian diaspora households in the US, with select entertainment and news programs from India as well.
“We want to connect the community in the US to India’s culture and heritage. ITV Gold is already available on cable through Time Warner, Cablevision and RCN. We will strive to take this forward to the next level platform, including digital and satellite, to reach out to even more viewers,” said Dr. Parikh, on his vision for ITV Gold.
“Future plans include to increase healthcare and political round table programs, shows on the second generation Indian-origin and South Asian-origin diaspora, and to increase community and diaspora coverage to have daily community roundup programs,” he added.
Dr. Parikh is also keen to launch ITV Gold in India soon.
“We will have tie-ups with digital platforms in India, to launch ITV Gold, before we penetrate the cable markets there, with informative news shows and programs that will give insight into the Indian diaspora and their issues in the US,” said Dr. Parikh.
(Press Release)
The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) is the leading cultural event that brings visionaries and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment. The Festival champions emerging and established voices; discovers award-winning filmmakers and creators; curates innovative experiences; and introduces new technology and ideas through premieres, exhibitions, talks, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. Now in its 17th year, the Festival has evolved into a destination for creativity that reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities. For more information, visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival
The 9thAnnual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards (TDIA) took place on April 24, 2018 at the Tribeca Festival Hub at Spring Studios, New York, through the continued collaboration of The Tribeca Film Festival’s (TFF’s) co-founder Craig Hatkoff, Disruptor Foundation and Professor Clayton Christensen.
Craig Hatkoff, co-founder of TFF and Disruptor Foundation, introduced the event. It was hosted by award-winning journalist Tamron Hall.
Honorees included Nobel Peace Prize laureate Beatrice Fihn, Atom bomb survivor Koko Kondo, #NeverAgain 11-year-old student-activists Naomi Wadler & Carter Anderson, Hip Hop founder DJ Kool Herc, Samasource & Lxmi’s Leila Janah, Columbia University Professor Howard W. Buffett, Columbia Care’s Nicholas Vita, John Bowne High School’s Steven Perry, multi-instrumentalist Questlove, Ethereum’s Joseph Lubin, Hashtag inventor Chris Messina, Hopeland’s Deborra-lee Furness, Sheila Nevins, Vice’s Elle Reeves, Literary Legend Michiko Kakutani, TransMedics’s Dr. Waleed Hassanein, Civil Rights activist Tarana Burke, innovator-entrepreneur Opher Brayer and Etty Ausch.
About Tribeca Disruptor Awards:
TDIA is a collaboration with Harvard Business School Professor Clayton M. Christensen and helmed by Tribeca co-founder Craig Hatkoff. Christensen’s original Disruptive Innovation Theory was immortalized in the Innovator’s Dilemma. Disruptive innovation explains how simpler, cheaper technologies, products, and services can decimate industry leaders almost overnight, for the betterment of society. TDIA showcases applications of disruptive innovation which has spread far beyond the original technological and industrial realms into the fields of healthcare, education, international development, politics and advocacy, media, and the arts and entertainment.
TDIA unveiled the diverse field of disruptors, revolutionaries, and game-changers whose breakthroughs are creating radical solutions to some of the world’s most vexing problems.
“Last October we held our first awards in Hiroshima, the City of Hope where we presented to the City of Hiroshima a 9-11 survivor tree sapling. In turn, the city of Hiroshima has entrusted us with seeds harvested from amongst its 150 survivor trees—the metaphor for resilience of the human spirit– that still stand and bloom 72 years after the atom bomb was dropped on their city. These seeds will be planted onstage by our honorees including a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, an atomic bomb survivor, an eleven-year-old activist, the father of hip hop, the inventor of the hashtag and many others,” said Craig Hatkoff.
Hatkoff continued, “Over the past decade the awards have become a living laboratory on the frontiers of disruption and innovation. As a society we desperately need to understand and confront the great peril ahead emanating from the ever-widening techno-cultural divide. We are witnessing the unnerving limitations of our capacity to responsibly manage and deploy the infinite fruits of the human imagination in the era of algorithm. The holy grail is “man plus machine” rather than “man versus machine.”
Michiko Kakutani received the Disruptor Award Book of the Year presented by the Harvard Business Review for his book, The Death of the Truth.
Howard W. Buffett, Associate Professor and Research Scholar at Columbia University,received the Adam Smith Prize, alsopresented by the Harvard Business Review.Buffett is co-author of Social Value Investing: A Management Framework for Effective Partnerships. The book analyzes innovative collaboration across sectors and outlines a new methodology to measure social and environmental impact called Impact Rate of Return.
Beatrice Fihn, Nobel Laureate, received the first-ever Hersey Prize, presented by the family of John Hersey, author of Hiroshima, for her campaign to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.
Etty Auschreceived the Fran Lebowitz prize for her work with vulnerable and underprivileged populations suffering from social ostracization.
Opher Brayer received the award for his lifetime of work, Stages,in developing original methodologies to cultivate multi-talented ‘genius’ in young and old, rolled out to students across the Czech Republic. With a focus on evolving human ecosystems, STAGES aims to end global poverty by transforming entire regions through education, employment and the environment.
Deborra-lee Furness, co-founder of Hopeland, most recently awarded the 2017 United Nations Women for Peace Leadership Award, is an internationally acclaimed actress and passionate advocate for vulnerable and abandoned children.
Waleed Hassanein, M.D.,Egyptian-born, founded TransMedics, Inc. in 1998 to revolutionize the important field of organ transplantation for treatment of end-stage lung, heart, liver and kidney failure. Through this invention, human organs can be kept alive and functioning outside of the human body. Hassanein was named 2017 Finalist for the European Inventor Award by the The European Patent Office (EPO).
DJ Kool Herc,raised in Jamaica, the founding father of Hip Hop, is a disruptive and innovative pioneer and creative force in the world of hip hop and rap music. 2018 marks the 45th Anniversary since the first ever hip hop party took place on August 11th, 1973 at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, giving birth to the Hip Hop culture.
Leila Janah is the Founder and CEO of Samasource and LXMI, two companies that go beyond charity to #givework to low-income people around the world using cutting-edge social enterprise models in technology and luxury skincare, respectively.
Koko Kondo is a prominent atomic bomb survivor and internationally recognized peace advocate.Shewas eight months old when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. Koko has spent her adult life working with various organizations to promote peace around the world. She tells stories about Hiroshima and gives lectures at schools for students from elementary to graduate school.
Joseph Lubin is the co-founder of the blockchain platform, Ethereum, and founder of ConsenSys, one of the largest and fastest-growing blockchain companies in the world.
Chris Messina is the inventor of the hashtag for social media. This one simple symbol (#) is a sublime case of a disruptive innovation that has made mass communication simpler, cheaper and more accessible. Its universal usage and simplicity has empowered instantaneous social movements via social media such as #metoo, #NeverAgain and #blacklivesmatter, to name a few.
Sheila Nevins, having radically transformed the documentary film genre into a provocative and indispensable tool for understanding the human condition, Sheila Nevins is an executive producer and former President of HBO Documentary Films.
Steven Perry is the Assistant Principal/Head of the Agriculture Department at John Bowne High School. As an alumnus, Steve accepted began teaching in the Agriculture Department in 1983. He has been instrumental in the 9/11 Memorial Survival Tree Seedling Program, which donates seedlings from the 9/11 survivor tree to 9/11 memorials and communities that have overcome tragedy. These seedlings are housed and cared for by his students in conjunction with Bartlett Tree Experts.
Elle Reeve– Elle Reeve is a correspondent for the Emmy award-winning nightly newscast VICE News Tonighton HBO. In August 2017, Reeve gained critical acclaim for her reporting on the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, VA. for VICE News Tonight.
Nicholas Vita is the Co-Founder and CEO of Columbia Care—the largest medical cannabis product development, manufacturing and dispensing operator in the US. Ensuring the well-being of his mother and son, serve as the foundation for his passion and motivation to bring this novel treatment option to patients.
Questlove is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He co-produced the Grammy award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamiltonand co-wrote a new original song It Ain’t Fairfor the critically acclaimed, Detroit.
Tarana Burke is an African American civil rights activist. In 2006, Burke began using the phrase “Me Too”, to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society.
Naomi Wadler & Carter Anderson are 11-year-old student-activists from Alexandria, Virginia. Friends since Kindergarten, Naomi and Carter led a student walk out at her elementary school in Alexandria, Virginia one month after the senseless shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida. Her school walk out was 18 minutes long, 17 minutes for each student and teacher who lost their lives in Parkland, and one additional minute for Courtlin Arrrington, an African American student who was murdered shortly after the Parkland shooting in her Alabama high school.
Ground Zero to Ground Zero: Hiroshima survivor tree seeds were planted on stage to initiate survivor-tree sapling exchange between New York City and Hiroshima; #seedthechange
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
NEW YORK CITY(TIP): Get ready to dance! The latest song from the upcoming film 102 Not Out has been released – the high energy number ‘Badumbaa’.
The vibrant song is composed by the inimitable Amitabh Bachchan himself and sung by Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor. The video sees the energetic 102-year-old Dattatraya (Bachchan) dancing in the streets as a carnival takes place and encouraging his grumpy 75-year-old son Babulal (played by Kapoor) to join in the festivities.
The quirky song is a fun filled ride full of music and dance, with the video featuring a dynamic collection of festival colors and grooving dance moves. Both Bachchan and Kapoor show that they are more than able to keep up with their animated surroundings.
The song was launched at a special event which saw Bachchan and Kapoor joined by fellow 102 Not Out actor Jimit Trivedi and director Umlesh Shukla.
102 Not Out is a comedy-drama produced by Treetop Entertainment and directed by Umesh Shukla. 102 years young Dattatraya Vakharia (Amitabh Bachchan) lives life to the fullest and wants to break the record of oldest living man- that’s held by a 118 years old Chinese. Dattatraya wants to live a stress-free life in order to become the oldest living man. However, there is only one hinderance- his 75-year-old son Babulal (Rishi Kapoor) who has resigned himself to a life of old age stuck in drudgery.
Dattatraya now must find means and ways to change Babulal’s sad and grumpy demeanor so that he doesn’t become a deterrent in breaking the record.
The ball was set rolling as early as the 2nd-3rdweek of January 2018 to sabotage the show on the issue of nationality of the lead local promoter Jaweria Khan. A very prominent person, “famous” for organizing big shows, personally made phone calls to investors/lenders for Show Biz not to invest/lend money for this show.
At the last moment Pritam’s team made a big hue & cry on the issue of technical rider that there will be less spot lights, rather glaring lights, on Pritam while he will be performing on stage. If Pritam is an artist and was not concerned about the nationality of the promoter Khan, he would have performed by declaring the tech rider deficiencies to the audience. No one would have stopped him from making that announcement. Rather he chose to rope in the local Overseas BJP officials to defend him on the social media via video interviews and blame everything on the local promoters.
We don’t have artists anymore. What we have is synthetic music & vocals, corrected or improved or altered by high tech computers with glaring lights and very loud sound effects. One can hardly notice how well the singer is singing or the quality of the singer’s voice. Then, they have vulgarly choreographed dances with barely or scantily clad dancers trying to take the audience to their fantasy world. In majority of the concerts after 2-3 songs the singers do lip singing only on pre- recorded songs in studio settings.
I challenge Pritam and all the singers in his group to sing non-stop for 1 hour individually without their battalions of so called musicians with high tech gadgets and high-tech computers. They are free to use all or any of the traditional Indian instruments like Harmonium, Sitar, Beena, Sarangi, Taus, Dilruba, Tabla, Dholki, Dhol etc.
It is a waste of time and money to attend the so-called concerts by the likes of Pritam. These concerts have nothing to do with our culture, rich music and traditions. One can safely call such events cheap Bollywood Entertainment, only beyond the realms of real music and real singing.
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, Millburn, NJ, is the recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Todd Schmidt (Managing Director).
The Playhouse is one of the country’s leading regional theaters. It is where American musical theater is celebrated, cherished, and pushed in exciting new directions. A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill has been consistently recognized for the high-quality artistry of its re-imagined classic musicals as well as its commitment to supporting the development of new works and the careers of Broadway’s best talent and emerging artists both onstage and behind the scenes.
The Theater boasts award-winning access services and outreach initiatives as well as performer training programs that impact more than 35,000 students each year.
The Playhouse’s productions have launched national tours and gone on to Broadway—including Disney’s Newsies, 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, Bandstand, The Bodyguard—as well as television broadcasts on Showtime and PBS and original cast recordings.
Paper Mill Playhouse, most recently, won two 2018 Discover Jersey Arts People Choice Awards: ‘Favorite Theater at See A Musical,’ and ‘Favorite Choral Group.’ Accepting the awards, Producing Artistic director, Mark S. Hoebee said, “We’re so grateful for this designation and to be among the top arts organizations in the state. Programs like our show choir, Theatre School, classes for students with autism and other developmental disabilities and our Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory give students a supportive environment in which to study and explore elements of performance and learn essential life skills.”
For more information, visit www.PaperMill.org
Chicago. 1936.Get ready to enter a smoke-filled world of cons and capers, where nothing is what it seems, and no one is who they appear to be. An adaptation of the 1973 Academy Award-winning film, The Sting tells the tale of a pair of con men, small town grifter Johnny Hooker and big-time hustler Henry Gondorff (played by marquee Harry Connick, Jr.), who plot to bring down the city’s most corrupt racketeer. The Sting takes you back to an era where jazz reigns, the stakes are high, and the dice are always loaded.
The world premiere production of the new musical The Sting begins at Paper Mill Playhouse. The musical is an adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1973 film by the same name that starred Paul Newmanand Robert Redfordwho carried it to a best-picture Oscar. The movie won 7 Oscars.
The Tony-award-winning creative team of director John Rando and choreographer Warren Carlyle bring to life this clever screen-to-stage adaptation by Bob Martin (book), and Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (score), with more music and lyrics by headliner Harry Connick, Jr.
The movie’s fans will be delighted with the musical version that retains all the charm and intrigue of the film while adding some exciting touches. The score also has music by Scott Joplin including the classic ragtime favorites, “The Entertainer,” and “The Easy Winners.”
The principal cast stars Harry Connick, Jr. as Henry Gondorff, with Peter Benson as The Erie Kid, Janet Dacal as Loretta, Christopher Gurr as J.J. Singleton, J. Harrison Ghee as Johnny Hooker, Tom Hewitt as Doyle Lonnegan, Richard Kline as Kid Twist, Kevyn Morrow as Luther, Kate Shindle as Billie, and Robert Wuhl as Snyder.
Rounding out the cast are Lucien Barbarin, Darius Barnes, Keely Beirne, Michael Fatica, Luke Hawkins, Tyler Huckstep, Matt Loehr, Erica Mansfield, Drew McVety, Ramone Owens, Tyler Roberts, Angie Schworer, Christine Shepard, Britton Smith, Sherisse Springer, Diana Vaden, Kevin Worley and Lara Seibert Young.
The production team includes set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Randy Hansen, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, make up design by Cookie Jordan, vocal arrangements by Fred Lassen, dance arrangements by David Chase, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, and fight coordinator Robert Westley. The production stage manager is Bonnie L. Becker. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting, Tara Rubin, CSA.
Runtime: 2 hrs. and 25 min.
Weekly Schedule: Wednesday to Sunday
Closing Date: April 29, 2018
Accessibility Performances for The Sting
Paper Mill Playhouse, a leader in accessibility, will offer audio-described performances for The Sting on Sunday, April 22, at 1:30pm and Saturday, April 28, at 1:30pm. Prior to these performances at noon, the theater will offer free sensory seminars. Sensory seminars offer an opportunity for patrons with vision loss to hear a live, in-depth description of the production elements of the show and hands-on interaction with key sets, props, and costumes. There will be a sign-interpreted and open-captioned performance on Sunday, April 29, at 7:00pm.
Free Audience Enrichment Activities for The Sting
Conversation Club: Join the theater’s educational team on Thursday evening, April 19, one hour before curtain for an informal, informative gathering. You’ll learn more about the performance you’re about to see.
Q&A with the Cast:After the matinee on Saturday, April 28, stick around for a lively Q&A with cast members directly following the performance.
For more information or tickets, visit www.PaperMill.orgor call the box office at 973.376.4343.
Facebook.com/PaperMillPlayhouse
Twitter: @paper_mill
Instagram: papermillplayhouse
TheStingBroadway.com
@thestingbway
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality).
NEW YORK(TIP): The soon to be released “Breaking the Bee” documentary that details the rise and dominance of the Indian American diaspora in spelling bees has been accepted into major Film Festival circuits, Daisy Walia of Touchdown Media said, April 3, in a statement to The Indian Panorama.
Starting this month, one can see “Breaking the Bee” at the Cleveland International Film Festival on April 6th & 8th, then on May12th at the New York Indian Film Festival in New York City.
“Breaking the Bee” follows four second-generation Indian-American children, ages 7 to 14, over the course of a year, or “bee season,” as they train to reach (and win) the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. It’s an inside look at studying, family life, competing in qualifying bees, and being a kid with big dreams. Some are in their final year of eligibility while others are just beginning their spelling careers. With expert commentary from CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Fareed Zakaria, comedian Hari Kondabolu, ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi, and past Scripps winners, the film offers an analysis into what drives this trend, while exploring the ups and downs of chasing a dream and pondering just how long this incredible trend can last.
The film is directed by Sam Rega and produced by Chris Weller, both of whom worked at Business Insider when they got the idea to produce the film.
Since 1999, all but four contest winners have been Indian-American, and of the 285-plus children who make it to Scripps each year, roughly 25% come from families of Indian descent. This is something of an anomaly, as Indian-Americans make up just 1% of the United States population.
The perfect storm has been brewing for decades — from the 1965 immigration law that eliminated quota systems for Indian immigrants, thus driving a wave of highly-educated individuals to come to the United States, to the formation of Indian-only spelling bees, to the explosion of mainstream interest in competitive spelling, ever since ESPN began broadcasting the Scripps Bee in 1994.
The film details the South Asian Spelling Bee’s contribution to this phenomenon with expert interviews with its Founder Rahul Walia. The SASB as its fondly known amongst Desis was started in 2008 and has the distinction of being a precursor to the winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Winners of SASB have been winners at Scripps and while Scripps has produced 3 sets of co-champions, SASB has been considered tougher since only one speller ever becomes the champion.
On its Facebook page, one can see 5-star reviews from parents and spellers alike who attribute their overall success to the experience they got at SASB.
“It’s the Gold Standard of Spelling Bee,” says Usha & Ganesh Dasari, parents of the spelling bee duo Shobha and Shourav. Shourav is one of the four spellers “Breaking the Bee” follows.
The SASB is conducted every summer and starts June 16th this year. It will be conducted nationally in 6 major cities and registration is now open at www.southasianspellingbee.com. The series is shown on Sony Entertainment Television Asia and is sponsored by Kawan Foods and Touchdown Media Inc.
Purchase tickets:
Cleveland International Film Festival: (https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2018/breaking-the-bee)
NYIFF: (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breaking-the-bee-tickets-44253493390)
For more information on “Breaking the Bee” and to watch the trailer visit: www.breakingthebee.com.
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/breakingthebee),
Instagram (http://www.instragram.com/breakingthebee)
Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/breakingthebee).
CHICAGO, IL(TIP): Chicagoland’s much awaited dream came true when music maestro, Ilaiyaraaja, performed live with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra from Hungary and Indian Classical Musicians on Saturday March 24 at the Naperville Yard Center. The 55 musicians, 10 singers and 1 legend gave a spectacular performance that rocked music lovers in Midwest. A name synonymous with the Indian Music Industry Raaja is an incomparable genius who totally transformed the perception of people towards film music. Cloud9 events proudly presented the much-awaited concert that enthralled an audience of 4000 plus who were left mesmerized by his memorable musical compositions. The live concert was performed by singers Chithra, Mano, Haricharan and Rahul Nambiar. They were accompanied by a talented orchestra of 50 musicians. They performed a total of 39 songs in both Tamil and Telugu languages.
Ilaiyaraaja’s acumen and knowledge of the aesthetics of music and cinema is what sets him apart from the rest. He is a multifaceted artist and has composed over 6000 songs and worked for 1000 movies. Raaja, as he is popularly known and affectionately called, comes from a family of musicians, and has won five Indian National Film Awards; three for Best Music Direction and two for Best Background Score. In 2010 he received the Padma Bhushan, awarded by the Government of India and in 2018 he was presented the Padma Vibhushan award which is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. The living legend paid an emotional tribute to his audience by singing that he would continue to make music for his fans living seven seas away from their motherland. This gesture deeply touched the audience and made them appreciate his love for music. Over 35 songs sung at the concert included “Janani janani – Thai Mookambigai”, “Om sivoham – Naan kadavul”, “Jagadhanandha kaaraka- Telugu”, “Ram ram salame ram ram-Hey Ram”, “Malaiyil yaaro- Kshathriyan”, “Ninukkori varnam-Gharshana-Telugu”, “Yen Iniya pon nila-Moodu Pani”, “Madai thirandhu-Nizhalgal”, “Abbani theeyani-Telugu”, “Sendhoora Poove- Sirimalle poove-Telugu” and so on.
Cloud9 Events is a group of passionate individuals working together to organize events to promote Indian culture and heritage overseas with the goal to bring entertainment to the Chicago Indian Community. The kind of events Cloud9 aims to organize are Indian classical dance performances, Indian Musical & Dance Shows / Ramana Abbaraju – Member – Event Marketing & Sales Concerts, Book Launches, Literary Events and Indian Trade Bazars. Sudhir Velpula , the Cloud 9 Events Managing Principal along with team members, Gopi Pittala (Planning, Operations and Finance) , Ramana Abbaraju ( Event Marketing & Sales, Raj Addagatla and others coordinated the entire event. The platinum sponsors HR Pundits, Bookstogo, Radhikas Kitchen, Pietsch, Professional Home Mortgage Solutions, Regal Jewels and Hot Breads. Sponsors of the event were Pegasus Knowledge Solutions, Hot Breads, International Legal & Business Services Group, Patel Brothers, Allstate, Pietsch Financial group, Sunrise Indian Supermarket, ebooks2go, some dental group.
De Wayne Williams President of Williams Security & Protection Agency did excellent job to protect all Stars of Ilaiyaraaja Live concert
(Photograph and Press release / Asian Media USA)
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) hosts its 2018 Spring into MusicGala. Tony Award-winning Broadway, film and television star Jason Alexander – world renowned as the iconic George Costanza on Seinfeld– headlines a performance of song and comedy at a gala event that includes cocktails, dinner and a silent auction.
The gala’s honoree is Merck & Co., Inc., Chairman of the Board and CEO Kenneth C. Frazier.
The event on Saturday, April 14, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 4:30 pm, followed by a gala dinner at 6 pm.The evening concludes with Jason Alexander: The Broadway Boy– the NJSO’s 8 pmperformance.
The award-winning Broadway song-and-dance man’s concert with the Orchestra brings a hilarious re-telling of his journey to and on the Broadway stage, featuring a program of great music from the theater along with comedy and audience interaction.
A highlight of the orchestral program is a medley of Bruce Springsteen hits that the NJSO debuted at parks concerts last summer.
More information about the gala and silver and bronze event gala tickets is available at www.njsymphony.org/spring.
More information about the concert program is available at www.njsymphony.org/jasonalexander.
NJSO ACCENTS
Prelude Performance—Sat, Apr 14 at 7 pmand Sun, Apr 15 at 2 pm
Enjoy an entertaining pre-concert set from Casual Harmony, Rutgers University’s award-winning all-male a cappellagroup.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Jason Alexander: The Broadway Boy
Sat, Apr 14, at 8 pm| NJPAC in Newark
Sun, Apr 15, at 3 p.m. l State Theater New Jersey in New Brunswick
Jason Alexander
Bob Bernhardt, conductor
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/jasonalexander.
KENNETH C. FRAZIER
Kenneth C. Frazier is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co., Inc., one of the largest healthcare companies, worldwide. Under Frazier’s leadership, Merck has, besides increasing investment in medicines and vaccines and research including early research, led the formation of philanthropic and other initiatives that build on Merck’s 125-year-plus legacy.
JASON ALEXANDER
Though best known for his award-winning, nine-year stint as the now iconic George Costanza of television’s Seinfeld, Jason Alexander has achieved international recognition for a career noted for its extraordinary diversity. Aside from his performances on stage, screen and television, he has worked extensively as a writer, composer, director, producer and teacher of acting. In between all that, he has also become an award-winning magician, a notorious poker player and a respected advocate on social and political issues.
Alexander began his professional career as a young teenager doing commercials for television and radio. While still in college, his desire to work as a stage actor in New York came to be with his debut in the original Broadway cast of the Hal Prince/Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along.He continued starring on Broadway in the original casts of Kander and Ebb’s The Rink, Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, Rupert Holmes’ Accompliceand his Tony Award-winning performance in Jerome Robbin’s Broadway. Alexander also authored the libretto for that show which went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. After moving to LA, Alexander continued working in the theater, notably serving as the artistic director for the Reprise Theatre Company and starring in the hit West Coast production of Mel Brook’s The Producerswith Martin Short. In 2015, Alexander returned to Broadway to star in the Larry David comedy Fish in the Darkand recently appeared in John Patrick Shanley’s The Portuguese Kid at Manhattan Theatre Club.
His many films include Pretty Woman, Jacob’s Ladder, Love Valor Compassion, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Dunston Checks In, The Hunchback of Notre Dameand Shallow Hal. In addition, he directed the feature films For Better or Worseand Just Looking. He is also a distinguished television director, overseeing episodes of Seinfeld, Til Death, Everybody Hates Chris, Mike and Molly, Criminal Minds and Franklin and Bash.He won the American Country Music Award for his direction of Brad Paisley’s video Online, and he has helmed a number of stage productions including The God of Hellat the Geffen Playhouse, Broadway Boundat the Odyssey, an updated revival of Damn Yankeesand The Fantasticks, as well as Sunday in the Park with George for Reprise and most recently the world premiere of Windfallby Scooter Pietsch for the Arkansas Repertory Theater.
Aside from Seinfeld,Alexander has starred and guested in shows includingThe Grinder, Drunk History, Friends, Two and a Half Men, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Criminal Minds, Monk, Franklin and Bash, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bob Patterson and Listen Up.He was recently seen in Hit the Road,a show he co-created, executive produced and starred in on DirecTV’s Audience network.
He also starred in the television films of Bye Bye Birdie, Cinderella, A Christmas Carol and The Man Who Saved Xmas. Additionally, his voice has been heard most notably in Duckman, The Cleveland Show, American Dad, Tom and Jerryand the children’s animated series Kody Kapow.
For his depiction of George on Seinfeld, Alexander garnered six Emmy nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, an American Television Award and two American Comedy Awards. He won two Screen Actors Guild Awards as the best actor in a television comedy despite playing a supporting role, and in 2012 he was honored to receive the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievementfrom The Actors Fund.
Alexander tours the country and the world performing his one-man show,As Long As You’re Asking, a Conversation with Jason Alexander,” which contains a mix of comedy, music and surprising conversation. He can also be seen in his much-heralded salute to Broadway musicals with some of the finest symphony orchestras throughout the United States. You can stay in touch with Alexander via Twitter (@IJasonAlexander).
BOB BERNHARDT
With 31 years of experience as a music director, 35 years as a pops conductor and 33 years in the opera pit, Bob Bernhardt brings a unique perspective and ability each time he is on the podium.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health and Wellness).
NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): Guests at the Indian Consulate in New York on March 27 were simply electrified to watch the Indian and Peruvian artists performing with superb finesse the dances of India and Peru.
The Peruvian dance was full of vigor and grace. The two female dancers simply bowled over the gathering with their performance. The artist who played trumpet cast a spell as did the drummers and the artist on guitar.
However, the show was completely stolen by the duo of disciple and her teacher. Nandini Chakravorty who is daughter of Sandeep and Taruna Chakravorty, gave an outstanding performance with her Guru Ananga Manjari Malatesta Gonzalez of Peru. Ananga is one of the best known Bharatnatyam dancers and has very lovingly groomed Nandini. One does not come across such superb performance of Bharatnatyam, which is considered to be one of the most difficult dance forms. Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent, or knees flexed out combined with spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes and face muscles.
In his brief welcome note, Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, who grew nostalgic about his tenure as India’s ambassador to Peru underlined the importance of cultural exchanges between different people and nations. He thanked the Consul General of Peru Maria Teresa Merino de Hart for her cooperation in organizing an international cultural evening.
Ambassador Maria Teresa Merino de Hart said it was a great idea to have the artists of various countries coming together too exhibit their cultures. She said she was pleased to be at the Indian Consulate for the cultural evening, with Indian and Peruvian dancers performing.
Guests were treated to delectable Peruvian cocktails, beer and delicious Peruvian food.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Veteran director Shekhar Kapur has been appointed chairman of the central panel of the 65th National Film Awards, sources in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on Wednesday, March 28.
The central panel comprises a chairperson and 10 other members, including five regional chairpersons who head the respective regional panels.
Film writer Imtiaz Hussain, known for his works in films like Astitva (2000) and Parinda (1989) will be the regional chairperson of South I panel. Mehboob, who penned the lyrics for the Hindi (dubbed) version of 1995 Tamil romantic drama Bombay, has been appointed as the regional chairperson of South II panel, the sources said.
Actor Gautami Tadimalla, who is known for her work in Tamil films, is the regional chairman of the North panel, while director Rahul Rawail known for films like Love Story (1981), Betaab (1983), Arjun (1985) and Jo Bole So Nihaal (2005), was chosen as the regional chairperson of the Western panel, they said.
Director P. Sheshadri, a known name in Kannada cinema, is the regional chairperson of Eastern panel.
Other members of the panel include Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, a Bengali and Hindi film director; playwright Tripurari Sharma; dialogue and script writer Rumi Jaffery; Ranjit Das known for the critically acclaimed film Pratyavartan; and film writer, director and producer Rajesh Mapuskar, the sources added.
BRONX, NY (TIP): Bronx Arts Ensemble (BAE) will present on April 7, 2018 at 7.30 P.M. at Lovinger Theatre, Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, Bronx, NY, a concert named East Meets West. Indian artists Amaan Ali Bangash and his brother Ayaan Ali Bangash, along with members of BAE will perform a concert designed to weave together the cultures of the East and West.
According to Ayaan, the aim is to “joyfully explore the common musical ‘DNA’ of both traditions. “The Bangash brothers will perform on the sarod, a large string instrument similar to the sitar; it is a member of the lute family, indigenous to Hindustani classical music. A third player, Amit Kavthekar, performs on tabla, a pair of small, single-headed drums held between the legs. BAE members include violinists Jorge Ávila and Francisca Mendoza, violist Sally Shumway, cellist Eliana Mendoza, flutist Theresa Norris, and bassoonist Atsuko Sato.
The Bangash brothers will perform on the sarod, a large string instrument similar to the sitar; it is a member of the lute family, indigenous to Hindustani classical music. A third player, Amit Kavthekar, performs on tabla, a pair of small, single-headed drums held between the legs. BAE members include violinists Jorge Ávila and Francisca Mendoza, violist Sally Shumway, cellist Eliana Mendoza, flutist Theresa Norris, and bassoonist Atsuko Sato.
All the musicians will perform Samaagam (Sanskrit meaning confluence or flowing together), a new piece composed by the Bangashs. According to Ayaan, “We worked to preserve the essence of both Indian and Western musical traditions so that they can both flow artistically. We used pre-Bollywood Indian orchestration, combined with compatible Western musical stye”
Other works on the program will be performed only by the Bangashs and Kavthekar. Tribute to Tagore utilizes folk music from western Bengal known as Bhatiyali, a type of music sung by boatmen on a river.
It has poetry written in 1905 by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and music composed in the 1960s by Amjad Ali Khan. The message of the poem, entitled Ekla Cholo, is that if no one responds to your call, you must walk on your path alone.
In Classical Indian music there is no written score, so improvisation takes hold once the initial composition is presented. Ayaan points out, “The musicians on stage don’t know what the other is going to do and yet have to perform like a rehearsed orchestra! Our role is really that of three people: the performer, the composer and the conductor.”
Bronx Arts Ensemble brings the power of the arts to neighborhoods across the Bronx through its live music and arts education programs. It presents over 50 live concerts annually to more than 35,000 people, featuring diverse cultures, including classical, Latin, Afro-Cuban, and other world music. BAE’s arts education programs have served over 100,000 Bronx students since 1993 through multi-disciplinary artist residencies during school hours, after-school, and through summer activities that culminate in original auditorium programs and in-school gallery exhibits. For more info: bronxartsensemble.org
Yo-Yo Ma, child prodigy cellist and songwriter returns with his Silk Road Ensemble to NJPAC
A celebration of music, crisscrossing centuries, continents and cultures!
Composed of virtuoso musicians, composers, arrangers, visual artists and storytellers from over 20 countries, Yo-Yo Ma’s exuberant Silk Road Ensemble was founded by him in 1998 to explore and celebrate cultural, artistic and intellectual traditions drawn from the ancient trade routes, The Silk Road (that were for centuries central to cultural interaction originally through regions of Eurasia connecting the East and West).
Yo-Yo Ma attended the Juilliard School, New York and continued to excel throughout his adult life, producing more than 75 albums and winning 18 Grammy Awards.
“As musicians, we transcend technique in order to seek out the truths in our world in a way that gives meaning and sustenance to individuals and communities. That’s art for life’s sake.” Yo-Yo Ma, The Nancy Hanks Lecture, 2013
The organization’s vision is to “connect the world’s neighborhoods by bringing together artists and audiences around the globe.” Since founding the Silk Road Project, Ma has served as its artistic director.
“I realized that everything I practice in music, and this is true of all the performing arts, involves the four qualities necessary for success in the workforce of the 21st century: collaboration, flexibility, imagination, innovation.” – Yo-Yo Ma
“Yo-Yo Ma’s grandly all-encompassing world music band that seeks to find meeting points for musical traditions from China to Europe (to the USA), has proved to be the ever-curious cellist’s most valuable project” writes The Los Angeles Times.
In 2000, Ma was given the opportunity to expand his audience beyond his wildest dreams: Film director Ang Lee asked him to play on the sound track for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which went on to become an astounding success, winning four Academy Awards in 2011—for best foreign-language film, art direction, cinematography and, most importantly for Ma, best original score.
“All the things I love about life outside music have to do with people, and playing the cello allows me to fulfill all those interests through music. – Yo-Yo Ma
For more information on the April 8, 2018 concert and tickets, visit http://www.njpac.org/events/detail/yo-yo-ma-and-the-silk-road-ensemble
Celebrating Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage, Celtic Woman combines finest musical talent with epic stage productions to present a unique, inspiring live experience. From the debut, Celtic Woman has touched the hearts of a huge global audience.
Now, with Homecoming, Celtic Woman brings the next chapter of an extraordinary musical journey. It’s a universal celebration of life. It’s traditional, it’s contemporary. It’s yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Both an accomplished recording ensemble and a world-class performing collective, Celtic Woman celebrates Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage, while continuing its remarkable 12-year-legacy of introducing some of Ireland’s most talented singers and musicians onto the world stage.
Celtic Woman featuring the angelic voices of Susan McFadden, Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon and the breathtaking Celtic violinist Tara McNeill, accompanied by a full ensemble of musicians and dancers — will embark on a four month tour. The 90-city trek will take Celtic Woman across the country before wrapping on June 17 in Rosemont, IL.
About Celtic Woman
Following its debut on PBS in 2005, Celtic Woman has achieved massive success encompassing twelve chart-topping albums, nine DVDs and nine public television specials leading to sales of over ten million albums, with platinum success in nine countries. Each of the twelve CDs—including 2016’s Voices of Angels—has reached #1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. The group has been named Billboard Magazine’s #1 World Albums Artist six times.
Celtic Woman received its first-ever Grammy-nomination in the World Music category for its 2016 release Destiny. As a touring powerhouse, the group enthralls audiences of all ages.
For more information on the Saturday, March 24, 2018 concert at NJPAC and a complete tour schedule and ticket information, visit www.CelticWoman.com.
Busy stand-up comedian Mike Marino – affectionately known to his fans as “New Jersey’s Bad Boy” – brings his hysterical and insightful take on the Italian-American experience to NJPAC with his new tour, Make America Italian Again!
A native of Jersey City, Mike Marino’s material is largely inspired by his own life, from his Italian family roots to his edgy observations about everyday life. His riotous approach to stand-up has taken him from The Tonight Show to sitcoms (including appearances on hits like Frasier and Becker) to major comedy clubs, theaters and casinos from New York to Los Angeles, and around the world. He’s also been a highlight of Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival for seven years in a row.
In 2008, Marino was inducted into the New Jersey Comedy Hall of Fame, and in 2015 he was awarded the USO Bob Hope Comedy Award for his regular performances for the U.S. military. He currently appears on his own DDV Radio show, Live from My Mother’s Basement, and on a new web series, A Marino Moment in History Only on YouTube.
Jon Bramnick holds the title “Funniest Lawyer in New Jersey” after winning contests sponsored by the bar association at Rascals Comedy Club. Jon Bramnick is the New Jersey Assembly Minority Leader. Assemblyman Bramnick was elected by his colleagues in January 2012 to serve as the Assembly Minority Leader, making him the highest-ranking member of the Republican Caucus in the Assembly.
The performance takes place on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM.
For more information on the 3 events or to buy tickets, visit www.njpac.org or the box office or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
For more information on the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), visit www.njpac.org or call 888.go. NJPAC (888.466.5722).
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
Prakash M Swamy
LOS ANGELES (TIP): Los Angeles based Indian-American singer Sowparnika Raghuram is all set for the release of her solo debut EP titled “Faces” being released worldwide on April 6 this year. She is the daughter of popular Tamil hero Karan also known as Master Raghu in South Indian movie circles.
“Faces” is an eclectic display of everything that influences me musically. It was written to show and express every side of me through a wide array of music while bringing out my deepest thoughts and emotions into words, “she says.” A lot of these songs are about relationships, but in different situations, timelines and aspects of these relationships. The part that stands out is how these songs can apply to just about anyone in our lives – a friend, significant other, or even a family member.”
Born in Chennai, Sowparnika began writing songs at the age of 15 as an artistic escape from the regularities of teenage life. Soon, her growing interest in songwriting and live performance pushed her to pursue her musical passion and follow her dreams to L.A. Her songwriting comes from a very vulnerable place as she aims to speak from the heart and write songs that everyone can relate to.
In 2013, she was accepted into the Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) to study under some of the industry’s finest including Dorian Holley, Kasia ‘KC’ Livingston, Tierney Sutton, and many more. Upon receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in 2015, she began performing around L.A. at popular venues such as The Viper Room, House of Blues, etc. and began playing around at street fairs, corporate events, and other musical ventures.
Drawing from her experience of touring locally in India with worship leader Don Moen, she toured as a lead singer with the L.A. rock band ‘The World Over’ in 2017 around America. This helped her improve as a performer and find her love for it. In 2016, to broaden her musical knowledge, she decided to go back to LACM for a bachelor’s degree.
Her voice is often branded as being unique due to her Indian timbre mixed with an American quality. Influenced by a wide array of musical styles and artists, she combines elements to find a sound of her own. She enjoys experimenting with different types of gear to add vocal effects to her sound both live and in the studio. The song order: I’ll Find Me, Seasons Change, Erased, Someday, No Memories and Without You
The song I’LL FIND ME starts off as her doubting her abilities in songwriting but foreshadows a deeper quest as it progresses. The process of discovering her own challenges through the words she writes, through the words she uses to empower herself. It is about the struggles a lot of us face in how harshly we judge ourselves, how we question ourselves unnecessarily and fail to meet our full potential because of it. The journey is reflected in the structure of the song itself as it progresses from a simple folk song into a powerful anthem about finding oneself.
The SEASONS CHANGE is sharing a life with someone we love can be one of the most beautiful experiences in living our lives. But when the relationship ends unexpectedly, finding closure is one of the hardest things as you begin to wonder where it went wrong. This song expresses the pain of losing someone as you try to understand the transition from them being your everything to some random face in a crowd.
ERASED: Being the shortest track on the record, ‘Erased’ stands out for its progressive story line about figuring out that exact moment your relationship fell apart. It’s that instant when you try to wrap your head around the good moments; the moment that you never saw coming, when they tell you it’s over; the moment they leave you for someone else; just that moment you wish you could just numb your heart and erase all the pain.
SOMEDAY is a song that I’m sure most of us can relate to. We often part ways with people in the heat of the moment over things that don’t really matter. When we look back at these moments we often wonder if it was worth losing a friend over it. ‘Someday’ talks about that hope that you can both take it all back, get over it and understand what happened because you care for each other. With an upbeat intro and a loungy vibe, the song brings forth this concept in a light-hearted fashion.
No Memories goes through the process of letting go of the emotions you felt for someone after it’s been a few years. Losing someone is one of the hardest things we go through, whether it be a friend, lover or a family member. With a moody electronic vibe, every beat wishes to leave behind the little things that still sting and remind you of the moments you shared together.
With a very simple concept, ‘Without you’ is a fun, upbeat take on all the toxic relationships we manage to get out of!! It rejoices how much freedom you really get when you cut out the people who just aren’t right for you.
AMRITSAR (TIP): Ustad Pyarelal Wadali, younger brother of Ustad Puran Chand Wadali died in Amritsar on March 9 morning. He was 75.
He breathed his last at Fortis Escorts Hospital in Amritsar where he was admitted on Thursday.
Wadali Brothers, who hail from a village near Amritsar, are famous for their Punjabi Sufi music.
The duo began performing at Harballah temple in Jalandhar. They are adept in various styles of singing including Kaafian, ghazal and bhajan.
The Wadali Brothers, famous for their Bollywood songs such as Aye Rangrez Mere (Tanu Weds Manu; 2011) and Ik Tu Hi Tu Hi (Mausam; 2011), have carried on the legacy of famous saint poets such as Bulle Shah, Kabir, Amir Khusro and Surdas for years.
The SR Socially Relevant Film Festival™ 2018 New York (SRFF 2018) kicks off its Fifth Season at Cinema Village in downtown Manhattan, New York and neighboring venues such as SVA Social Documentary Film Campus and CRS (Center for Remembering and Sharing), March 16 – 22, 2018.
What is SR?
The SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival New York was founded by award-winning actress Nora Armani. Its mission is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant™, human interest stories, across a broad range of social issues. The festival was created as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling in media and entertainment. SR™ believes in the power of cinema in raising awareness towards social issues and promoting positive social change.
Festival Founder and Artistic Director Nora Armani says, “SRFF 2018 is very happy with our fifth year’s selection. We have been able to incorporate films from more (countries) and have been able to hone in on specific social issues in more depth. This year’s festival goes back to basics: the filmmakers, the films, and the issues, with a number of interesting partners and sponsors accompanying us.”
The Official Selection to be screened in the heart of Greenwich Village covers a diverse mix of five narrative features, 15 documentaries, 38 shorts, and more. There will also be a script-writing contest with readings from finalist scripts. The Festival includes expert panels on film industry and social issues. The films represent over 22 countries.
Opening night will take place Friday, March 16, 2018, 7:00 PM with the narrative feature film Lou Andreas-Salomé: The Audacity to be Free (Germany). A stunning period piece on the 19th-century female novelist, poet, and essayist, the film follows Salomé as she shuns traditions in pursuit of intellectual perfection.
Among the other selected narrative feature films are:
Darcy (USA), Find Your Voice (Australia, New Zealand), Hot Country, Cold Winter (Armenia, The Netherlands, Germany).
Highlights from the selected documentary features include Cause of Death: Unknown (Norway), Sands of Silence: Waves of Courage (Mexico, USA), Shiners (Canada, Japan, USA), Stitching Palestine (Lebanon), Talien (Italy), Tampon, Our Closest Enemy (France).
Themes for selected short film groupings include Ageing Gracefully, Dreamers Having a Nightmare, Sustainable Communities, Where is Home? Whose Disability?
Spotlight Panel: Women | Gender Equality | Human Trafficking
Monday, March 19 features a keynote evening event celebrating women, in partnership with Apne Aap – an organization that rescues women and girls in India from sex-trafficking – including a series of films from India and elsewhere that promote empowering women and young girls. A panel discussion follows, lead by Ruchira Gupta.
A number of workshops and panels complement the film screenings as the educational component of the festival, and these touch upon such topics as editing, distribution, pitching for film projects, filming in New York from the Governor’s Office for Film, Low Budget Film Production at SAG-AFTRA, Measuring the social impact of films, and others.
The script writing competition features readings with actors, in the presence of the scriptwriters, from the seven finalist scripts. Other workshops and panels include industry forums, an engaged theatre workshop, a live music performance to silent films, and more.
Presented with Gear VR provided by Samsung, the festival presents cutting-edge VR/360º experiences that push the boundaries of immersive storytelling. Among the six selected pieces is The Great – a VR Great White Shark Experience, which shows firsthand the grace and beauty of this misunderstood and endangered creature.
The festival will close on the evening of March 22 with a glistening Awards Ceremony and screening of the winning films at Cinema Village, and party for the filmmakers at Doux Supperclub featuring appearances from NYC local filmmakers and industry veterans.
The winners of each category are awarded special prizes in the form of trophies created by support from individuals and film industry and professional partners.
Spokespersons and guests of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY include Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Erin Brockovich, Martin Sheen, Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning writer Robert Schenkkan, prolific and best-selling French novelist Marc Levy, Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Award Winner Guy Davidi, American TV commentator and author Gretchen Carlson, and Liaison Officer of Tibet and the Dalai Lama, Kunga Tashi.
Partner organizations and schools receive substantial discounts. Contact ratedsrfilms@gmail.com, if interested.
For more information on the Film Festival, or to purchase tickets, visit www.ratedsrfilms.org.
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) and Music Director Xian Zhang present Mozart’s Requiem, March 15–18 in Newark, Princeton and Morristown. A trio of vocal pieces, including a pair of a cappella works performed by the Montclair State University Singers, open the program.
Performances take place on Thursday, March 15, at 1:30 pm and Saturday, March 17, at 8 pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark; Friday, March 16, at 8 pm at the Richardson Auditorium (RICHAUD) in Princeton; and Sunday, March 18, at 3 pm at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown.
Continuing a multi-year partnership with the Curtis Institute of Music to present its finest student musicians, the NJSO welcomes a quartet of vocal soloists from the Institute—soprano Emily Pogorelc, mezzo-soprano Kendra Broom, tenor Roy Hage and baritone Doğukan Kuran—for Mozart’s masterwork.
The program opens with Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, followed by Joseph Rheinberger’s Abendlied and Ben Parry’s Flame—two a cappella works showcasing the Montclair State University Singers under the direction of Heather J. Buchanan.
NJSO Accents include #ChoraleYou—a “sing in” in NJPAC’s lobby following the March 17 concert, when audience members will get to give their own performance of the NJSO concert’s opening piece—Mozart’s Ave verum corpus. Montclair State University’s Heather J. Buchanan will conduct a brief rehearsal and performance that is open to all ticket-holders. More information is available at www.njsymphony.org/choraleyou.
The Orchestra hosts its annual food drive and will collect non-perishable food donations at all performances. More information is available at www.njsymphony.org/fooddrive.
For more information on the concerts and to purchase tickets online, visit www.njsymphony.org, or call 1. 800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
WASHINGTON (TIP) : Indian American comedian Hasan Minhaj is all set to host his first weekly comedy show on Netflix. Minhaj, a correspondent with The Daily Show, is the first Indian American to host a weekly comedy show.
The comedian marked another milestone last year as his stand-up show Homecoming King debuted as a Netflix Original.
According to the report, Netflix has already ordered 32 episodes of the show, which will start streaming later this year. Netflix, which reportedly outbid the Comedy Central, home of The Daily Show, considers it as an opportunity for Minhaj to explore the modern cultural and political landscape.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Netflix family as the country braces for another election season — and like you, I cannot wait to find out who Putin picks this time,” Minhaj was quoted as saying by Hollywood Reporter.
Minhaj will executive produce in addition to hosting. Prashanth Venkataramanujam, Michelle Caputo and Shannon Hartman of Art & Industry and Jennie Church-Cooper of Haven Entertainment will also join him to executive produce the show.
“I’ve been a big fan of Hasan’s for many years,” Netflix’s VP of Content Bela Bajaria said. “He’s a phenomenal writer with a distinct point of view [and] he is a brilliant performer, who is hilarious both onstage and off. And more importantly, he isn’t afraid to share his thoughtful voice and unique perspective.”
With the introduction of the new show, Netflix aims to expand its global presence, especially to countries like India, where the company started offering its service a few years back.
Minhaj, 31, first gained national attention when he joined the Comedy Central’s Daily Show as a correspondent in 2004.
The next year, he made his Off-Broadway debut with Homecoming King, which is based on autobiographical incidents from the comedian’s experience as a first-generation Indian American.
Minhaj has also appeared on Netflix’s Arrested Development, HBO’s Getting On and Comedy Central’s @midnight, among other shows.
NEW YORK (TIP): Bolstering its debut this past Saturday, Zee TV’s new family quiz show Americas Smartest Family (ASF) has seem to have attracted some of the top advertisers and brand names servicing the South Asian demographic.
A quick look at the show revealed State Farm Insurance as the presenting sponsor, McDonalds as the Co-presenting sponsor, Remitly as the powered by sponsor and Kawan Foods along with St. Judes as Associate sponsors.
This stellar line up of brands bears testimony to the need of local and relevant programming for the community. Zee TV has taken the much-awaited initiative to program locally sourced content for audiences in the US. ASF joins a growing list of local programs developed by Zee TV that include “Married in 7 days”, “Breakthrough”, “Made in America” and “Those who Made It”.
All shows are being developed and produced in the US and contain relevant content designed specifically to target the evolving South Asian demographic.
“For Kawan, it’s important to continually connect with our consumer. The Kawan brand is specifically. Catering to the Desi audience living in the US and it is our endeavor to always support initiatives that drive locally sourced content”, said Tim Tan, Managing Director of Kawan Foods.
Hosted by 23-year-old YouTube sensation Zaid Ali, “America’s Smartest Family” is a unique mashup of the American household favorites “Family Feud” and “Jeopardy,” but with that special ZEE TV twist that celebrates its South Asian heritage. Complete with a diverse set of categories and a buzzer, each episode will feature five challenging in-studio question rounds, testing pre-screened contestants on their ability to answer quickly and more importantly – their ability to work as a team. Only the fastest, most well-rounded family will get to take home the crown.
Round one consists of four questions, with a toss deciding which family goes first. Participants can choose from one of five topics – including science, math, arts, history and geography. Once a category is chosen, it may not be selected for the remainder of the round. During the first round, 100 points will be awarded for every correct answer. There are no deductions for wrong answers until round three and four, when a mistake can cost a team 100 points for every incorrect answer.
As the game progresses, questions become increasingly difficult. By rounds three and four – each correct answer is worth 200 points. During the fifth and final round, the game takes a turn and host Zaid Ali spices things up by offering clues. If the team answers correctly without a clue, a maximum of 1000 points is awarded. If the family choses to get clues, each clue costs them 200 points. At the end of five rounds, scores may vary from -2400 to 5500. In the event of a tie, an extra tie-breaker round will identify the winner.
In the first four episodes of the season, four families will compete against one another, accumulating points for every correct answer. The eight winning teams from those early contents will move onto the semi-finals until just two families remain. The winners of the semi-finals will make it to finals, for the ultimate face-off, where one family will be named “America’s Smartest Family.”
“Nobody will dispute the fact that there is demographic shift in the South Asian Segment in USA. More than 35% of the market now reporting to be born in the United States, it is challenging yet exiting times for Indian programmers that so far have depended upon the first generation for consumption. Efforts like Zee US originals give us that opportunity that not only expands our reach but also engage the existing viewer more deeply.
We are extremely happy and feel privileged to have the support of these brands for the show. They share and support our vision for the community. Also, very proud of our ad sales team for all their smart work,” said Sameer Targe, Head of Americas for Zee TV.
“America’s Smartest Family” is broadcast every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EST; 9:30 p.m. PST; and 9:00 p.m. AST on ZEE TV.
To learn more about “America’s Smartest Family,” visit https://www.zeeoriginals.com/americas-smartest-family/
About Zee Network
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world, with an extensive library housing over 222,000 hours of television content. With rights to more than 3,818 movie titles from foremost studios and of iconic film stars, ZEE houses the world’s largest Hindi film library. Through its strong presence worldwide, ZEE entertains over 1 billion viewers across 172 countries.
About Zee TV USA
Zee TV USA was the first ever Hindi General Entertainment channel to be launched in the US way back in 1998. Since the start of the journey more than 2 decades ago, Zee now has 43 networks and full time dedicated work force across 5 different locations all across the North America and Caribbean. Zee TV USA was the first Asian channel to launch in HD. Zee TV was the first Hindi network to be measured by Nielsen in the US, Zee TV is also the most widely available Hindi General Entertainment network on all major DTH, Cable, Telco and IPTV platforms with availability over 86 million US households.
(Press Release)
Indian American script writer and filmmaker Veena Sud launched her Netflix miniseries Seven Seconds on February 23rd. It is a 10-episode investigative drama series based on the accidental death of a black teen in the days after Ferguson.
Sud, who was born to Indian parents in Toronto and moved to Ohio at the age of two, is better recognized as the director of the American version of The Killing, which was first aired on AMC and later on Netflix.
Seven Seconds is a crime drama series that unveils, through investigation, an accident involving a black teen and a white police officer who was rushing to the hospital with his pregnant wife. The hit and run case is covered up in the aftermath of violent protests that ensued the shooting of an African American in Ferguson.
Sud is touching on a highly contentious subject and her life as the daughter of Indian parents will help her in narrating the story in an unbiased manner.
According to Sud, the plot of the movie flashed in her mind in the spring of 2015 after a series of shooting events involving black Americans and white police officers. It is aforethought about what can happen if another black man or teen gets killed by a police officer.
In 2014 and 2015, America witnessed the murder of Michael Brown, Freddie Gray and Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old kid, all African Americans, in the hands of white police officers. According to Sud, the protests and the anger made her write the series.
“So I wanted to examine race and violence in America, especially as a person of color myself, but I also wanted to look at it in a different way,” she said. “I picked the car accident very specifically … it is not a hair trigger decision about pulling the trigger; it’s making a decision over the course of those seven seconds to leave a child in the snow. It’s really creating that juxtaposition between whose lives matter in America and whose children really matter.”
Seven Seconds will see Clare-Hope Ashitey, Regina King, and Beau Knapp, in lead roles.
Sud, a New York University’s film school graduate, also received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Film and Television program at NYU. After college, she worked as a broadcast journalist in New York before launching a career as a television writer.
Once On This Island is the first Broadway revival of the musical, currently running at The Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street).
The musical is written by the Tony Award-winning team Lynn Ahrens (Book and Lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (Music), and based on the novel “My Love, My Love” by Rosa Guy. This production features new orchestrations by original orchestrator Michael Starobin who is joined by AnnMarie Milazzo.
Bursting with Caribbean colors, rhythms and dance, the story comes to vibrant life in a striking production by Tony Award®-nominated director Michael Arden (Spring Awakening revival) and acclaimed choreographer Camille A. Brown. This production transforms the reality of a tropical village devastated by a storm into a fantastical world alive with hope.
Once On This Island is the universal tale of Ti Moune (newcomer, Hailey Kilgore), a fearless peasant girl in search of her place in the world and who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. When their divided cultures keep them apart, Ti Moune is guided by the powerful island gods, Erzulie (Tony award winner Lea Salonga), Asaka (Alex Newell) , Papa Ge (Merle Dandridge), and Agwe (Quentin Earl Darrington), on a remarkable quest to reunite with the man who has captured her heart.
Additional cast includes Phillip Boykin (Tonton Julian), Darlesia Cearcy (Storyteller), Rodrick Covington (Storyteller), Emerson Davis (Little Girl) Alysha Deslorieux (Andrea), Tyler Hardwick (Storyteller), Cassondra James (Storyteller), David Jennings (Armand), Grasan Kingsberry (Storyteller), Loren Lott (Storyteller), Kenita R. Miller (Mama Euralie), Isaac Powell (Daniel), T. Oliver Reid (Storyteller), Aurelia Williams (Storyteller), and Mia Williamson (Little Girl).
The main producers of the musical are Ken Davenport and Hunter Arnold.
Additional producers include Carl Daikeler, Roy Putrino, Broadway Strategic Return Fund, Caiola Productions, H. Richard Hopper, Sandi Moran, Diego Kolankowsky, Brian Cromwell Smith, Ron Kastner, Rob Kolson, Judith Manocherian, Kevin Lyle, Jay Alix, Una Jackman, Jeff Wise, WitzEnd Productions, Jeff Grove, Wishnie-Strasberg, Mark Ferris, Michelle Riley, Marie Stevenson, Mojgan Fajiram, Jesse McKendry, Silva Theatrical Group, Conor Bagley, Brendan C. Tetro, Invisible Wall Productions, The Harbert Family, Keith Cromwell, and Red Mountain Theatre Company. The associate producers are Kayla Greenspan and Valerie Novakoff.
The creative team also includes Dane Laffrey (Scenic Design), Clint Ramos (Costume Design), Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer (Lighting Designers), Peter Hylenski (Sound Designer), John Bertles/Bash The Trash (Unusual Instruments), Cookie Jordan (Hair/Wig & Makeup Designer), Chris Fenwick (Music Supervisor), Alvin Hough, Jr. (Music Director), David Perlow (Associate Director), Nikki M. James (Assistant Director), Rickey Tripp (Associate Choreographer) and Telsey + Co / Craig Burns, CSA (Casting Agent).
Once On This Island premiered at Playwrights Horizons in May of 1990. The Broadway production opened in October of that year and ran for 469 performances garnering eight Tony nominations including Best Featured Actress (LaChanze), Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Musical. The 1994 West End production won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Once On This Island currently running, has no closing date.
Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
For more information on the musical, visit www.OnceOnThisIsland.com
Follow Once On This Island on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @OnceIslandBway
Tickets for Once On This Island are on sale through Telecharge. Group tickets are available at www.YourBroadwayGenius.com or by calling 855-329-2932.
Audiences will experience the next chapter of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) performing music from the entire film live to picture.
NJSO will perform the magical score live from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.
MSU Vocal Accord, a choir from Montclair State University, will be singing during the performance (there is some featured chorus in the film).
The Harry Potter Film Concert Series, which is another magical experience from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, kicked off in June 2016 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and is scheduled to include hundreds of performances across more than 35 countries around the world through 2018.
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who seems to pose a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse, half-eagle creature known as a Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted dwelling in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry faces a werewolf and must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors. With his best friends, Harry tackles advanced magic, crosses the barriers of time and impacts the course of life changing events for those around him.
Earning an Oscar-nomination for the score, the spellbinding and incredible music composed by John Williams became an instant classic, conjuring beautiful, soaring motifs continuing the adventures of Harry Potter on his magical journey.
This film concert series has been created by CineConcerts, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and will be conducted by its creator and producer, Justin Freer. He explains, “The Harry Potter film series continues to be a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon that delights millions of fans around the world. It is with great pleasure that we introduced for the first time ever an opportunity to experience the award-winning music scores played live by a symphony orchestra, all while the beloved film is simultaneously projected onto the big screen. This will be another unforgettable event.”
Brady Beaubien of CineConcerts and Concert Producer for the Harry Potter Film Concert Series added, “Harry Potter is synonymous with excitement around the world and we hope that by performing this incredible music with the full movie, audiences will enjoy returning to this world, and to the many wonderful characters that inhabit it.”
For more information on the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, visit www.harrypotterinconcert.com.
To purchase tickets, from NJSO visit www.njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476); or, from NJPAC www.njpac.org or by phone at 1.888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
HOLLYWOOD (TIP): Indian American Karan Soni’s os known for his blockbuster movie Deadpool where he played the role of a comedy superhero.
His memorable character ‘Dopinder’, a cab driver, received critical acclamation.
Soni, who completed 55 projects, is an actor known for his scene-stealing roles in comedy but it was after Tim Miller cast him in Deadpool that the world began noticing the Indian American actor.
Now, with Deadpool 2 getting ready for the international launch this May, Soni is ready to climb more ladders of successin Hollywood.
The latest Trailer of Deadpool 2 has Soni in a different look.
In the Valentines day posters of Deadpool 2, released by Marvel, Soni is again featured as Dopinder.
Soni, 29, was born in Delhi and he came to the United States as a student of business at the University of South California. He is currently based in Los Angeles.
According to Soni, it was his professors who first discovered his acting talent and motivated him to apply for the auditions of TV shows and movies. He started attending auditions as a teenager with the help of an agent who was impressed by one of his plays. Soni bagged his first role at the age of 21 – a small role on TV.
Soon after his first appearance on American television, Soni had his first Hollywood experience – a role in the movie Safety Not Guaranteed with Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson, which was screened at Sundance Film Festival.
In a way, Soni paved the way for stars such as Aziz Ansari, Priyanka Chopra and Hasan Minhaj, who have found success in Hollywood in recent years.
He has been in the US entertainment industry for almost a decade through TV shows, ads and now in films.
It seems the actor, who is seen listening to Bollywood songs Mera Joota Hai Japani and Tumse Accha Kaun Hai after the opening credits of Deadpool 1, is a big fan of Bollywood.
According to his official twitter account, Soni will be seen next in the comedy movie Unicorn Store and zombie comedy thriller Office Uprising. He will be also feature in the TV series Miracle Workers, and Misfits and Monsters.
Directed by David Leitch, Deadpool 2 stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, Zazie Beetz as Domino, Josh Brolin as Nathan Summers/Cable, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Stefan Kapcic as Piotr Rasputin/Colossus, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa Carlysle, T.J. Miller as Weasel, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, and Soni as Dopinder.
BROOKLYN, NY (TIP): Cricket fans are in for a surprise as for the first time, Hotstar, India’s largest premium live streaming service, which was launched in the U.S. in September, will be beaming live matches from the Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL), an eight-team game, since its inception in the year 2008.
On February 24 afternoon, Hotstar hosted an event named “VIVO IPL HOTSTAR CRICFEST”, at MatchPoint in Gravesend, Brooklyn, in association with event partner, CricClubs.
Ms Ispita Dasgupta, President, Hotstar International at Star India presented the content and features of Hotstar platform. It was a unique and engaging experience for Indian diaspora cricket fans settled in the USA. Hotstar, a multi-digital platform will allow crickets enthusiasts to see their favorite teams and players in action on their mobile device nationwide anytime, anywhere.
The event was graced by cricket legends Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh “Bhajji” who interacted with the fans and the audience, with the former detailing his experience at the highest levels in England and in the IPL before retiring in 2010; and the latter shedding light on his experience as a cricketer, and who is still actively associated with, and will play in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings though earlier, for 10 years, he played for Mumbai.
The event allowed the attendees to taste street food from each of the eight Indian cities in the league and enjoy live entertainment that included, from kids and adults alike, testing their skills in the batting cage and then getting a virtual experience of a cricket stadium amongst other form of activities.
Hotstar streaming of the IPL that starts in April 2018 is set at $9.99 per month, the first month being free, the viewers can enjoy all IPL matches with commentary in six different languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali. Harbhajan Singh Bhajji, however, suggested including commentary in Punjabi language also, which he said was spoken by a large number of Punjabis in the US and Canada.
This promises for an Immersive Virtual Reality experience that would enable the fans to come closer to the game within the comfort of their homes and would also allow the fans to relive important core moments during any game.
“We are interested in the casual cricket fans here in the USA, and we are constantly innovating to make their experience engaging and immersive”, concluded Ms Ispita Dasgupta, President of Hotstar International.
Sridevi, one of India’s most celebrated actresses, has died according to multiple reports coming in.
The 54-year-old Bollywood icon was attending a family wedding in the Dubai, United Arab Emirates when she suffered a fatal heart attack, the reports said.
Family members confirmed that the actress had passed away on February 24th morning.
“It is true that Sridevi passed away. I just landed here (India), I was in Dubai and now I am flying back to Dubai,” her brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor said.
Born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sridevi started acting at the age of four with a role in the Tamil language film, Thunaivan.
She went on to become a fixture of the Indian film industry, appearing in more than a 100 movies, spanning six decades, and picking up scores of awards for her performances.
Her starring role in the 1987 adventure film, Mr. India, earned her superstar status in Bollywood.
The film was the highest grossing Indian film that year and is widely regarded as a cult classic.
Her death caused shockwaves on social media, with Bollywood fans in India and abroad expressing their disbelief.
“I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved #Sridevi . A dark day,” wrote Bollywood actress, Priyanka Chopra.
“A legendary actress who many of us grew up watching,” wrote Noreen Khan, a British Asian radio presenter.
“Totally shocked by this really sad news.”
May her soul Rest in Peace.
EDISON, NJ (TIP): Bollywood Actor Abhishek Bachchan was in New Jersey on Feb 15 in connection with Magic Bus Fundraiser held at Albert Palace in Edison, new Jersey. Our photographer Mohammed Jaffer who has known Abhishek met and had a photograph with him.