Governor Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari inaugurated the Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Award 2020 Trophy.

The Trophy for Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Award 2020 was inaugurated by the Honorable Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan. The award show will be on 24th November at Peninsula Grand Hotel, Sakinaka , Andheri East  where the film industry's honorable artists, technician team, media person, NGO and others will be awarded with trophies . And for the first time, Lightmen and Spot Boy will receive the award . Well-known social worker of Mira Road, Dr. Ajay L. Dubey , businessman Sushil Yadav , actor Bheru Jain and Founder of Award Kalyanji Jana met Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari and discussed the details of Award .

Time to rewrite weak animal cruelty laws: Raveena Tandon

Actor-wildlife photographer Raveena Tandon has always been a voracious animal activist. This time around, she is joining hands with actor Ayesha Jhulka to ensure that animal cruelty does not go unpunished. "We have progressed immensely as a nation, when it comes to upliftment of the downtrodden, in causes of the environment, and are steadily progressing towards a global economy. But there is a need to relook at the weak laws that need to be strongly rewritten to protect the interests of the voiceless," echoes Raveena, who has joined the movement by Ayesha Jhulka and Nitesh Khare through SAS India, in association with Pawsitive Farm Sanctuary.

Says Ayesha who is still fighting the battle when her rescue dog, Rocky was brutally killed by her caretaker, "Rocky is the voice of every Indian streetie,  mutely screaming for justice in an uncaring world. Only when laws change will it make the real difference."

Avers activist Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, "Animal cruelty can not be dismissed as crime against an animal. The criminal escalates and when the escalation burns us, we as a society are collectively responsible."

Adds Nitesh Khare, SAS India, "We activists are a minority. This rally is our forces unifying to make our voices heard. The laws have to change to aid the voiceless. This movement is a step in that direction."

When Bollywood admitted to a short driving 'em crazy!

Manoj Bajpayee has lately presented a  short film Driving Me Crazy, calling it "little gem",

Raveena Tandon feels that it is "a mastmast short film,"  Sunil Shetty admits to the film taking him "on a rollercoaster of emotions," while Kailash Kher, celebrity photographers Munna Singh and Vicky Idnani swear by it.

We are talking of Purnima Lamchhane's short Driving Me Crazy that premiered on Zee5,  and is taking the OTT platform by storm.

Starring Tina Ahuja and Mudit Nair on lead roles, the flick takes a look at the online dating romance that makes or breaks hearts, albeit with a beautiful narrative that tugs at your heartstrings.

Considering that Purnima Lamchhane lives in the world or pixies and fairies, her offering has a generous amount of pixie dust that glitters as well. In this case, all that glitters surely has the Tinseltown bowled!

द एटीजी - लेस्ली लुईस आणि रैपर ओमर गुडिंग निर्माता तेल गणेशनच्या हॉलिवूड चित्रपट 'ट्रॅप सिटी' साठी आले एकत्र

हॉलिवूड चित्रपट निर्माता-उद्योजक आणि कॅय्यबा फिल्म्समागील प्रेरक शक्ती  तेल के गणेशन यांचा जन्म भारतात झाला.  ख्रिसमस कूपनचे निर्माता, सेलिब्रिटी क्रश, डेव्हल नाइट: द डॉन ऑफ द नैन रूज आणि आता 'ट्रॅप सिटी' या चित्रपटासह पुन्हा एकदा तयार आहेत आपले मनोरंजन करायला. या चित्रपटाची अजून एक खास गोष्ट म्हणजे गायक-संगीतकार-कलाकार द एटीजी, लेस्ली लुईस आणि रॅपर ओमर गुडिंग यांना एका खास फ्युजन गाण्यासाठी एकत्र आले आहेत.  ब्रॅंडन टी जॅक्सन या चित्रपटात दिसेल. सत्तेचा गैरवापर आणि यातून सामान्य माणूस कसा खरा ग्रस्त आहे यावर आधारित कथा आहे.

द एटीजी-लेस्ली लुईस-ओमर गुडिंग यांची या फ्यूजनसाठी  निवड का केली? ह्या बद्दल सांगताना  दिग्दर्शक-गीतकार रिकी बुर्चेल  म्हणाले, “ट्रॅप सिटी चित्रपटातील 'अवन्त्रोराझ' (Entourage)' हे खास फ्युजन गीताचे बोल आणि हे गीत चित्रपटातील पात्र देशावन (ब्रॅंडन टी जॅक्सन) कॊणत्या स्तिथीतून जात आहे यावर याआधारित आहे. जेव्हा आपण सेलिब्रिटी व्हाल, तेव्हा असा खास लोकांचा गोतावळा आपल्यासोबत असेल.या गाण्यातील पात्र या गोंधळाच्या मध्यभागी आपल्या खास मैत्रिंणीसोबत  काही रोमांचक ‘एकटया’ क्षणांच्या प्रतीक्षेत आहे असे दाखवले गेले आहे. संगीत आणि सादरीकरणाला खूप मजा आणि रोमांचक अनुभूती येते."

संगीतकार-संगीत निर्माता द एटीजी गाण्याच्या मूडवर सांगतात, “अवन्त्रोराझ' (Entourage) हे एक समकालीन हिप हॉप / पॉप गाणे आहे. हे गीत ध्वनी आणि प्रॉडक्शन या दोन्ही वेगवेगळ्या संगीतमय प्रभावांचे निवडक सार आहेत. माझी हेतुपुरस्सर निवड म्हणजे क्लब रेकॉर्ड बनविणे, तरीही हे गाणे अजूनही संगीतामध्ये समृद्ध आहे. लेस्ली, ओमर आणि मला एक नाहक मजेशीर ऐकण्याचा अनुभव सुनिश्चित करायचा होता ”

वरिष्ठ गायक लेस्ली लुईस सांगतात ते  प्रत्येक गाण्यातून काही ना काही शिकतात आणि ह्यात हॉलिवूड गाण्याने आणखी एक शिकवणीची भर टाकली. “तेल के गणेशन पूर्णपणे सहभागी होते आणि प्रत्येक दृष्टीने ते एक सर्जनशील निर्माता आहे. दिग्दर्शक रिकी बुर्चेलची दृष्टी त्याच्या संवादामध्ये आणि गीतांतून प्रतिबिंबित होते, तर संगीतकार-संगीत निर्माता एटीजीने सहजपणे  रॅपचा भाग सांभाळला आहे. सर्जनशील त्रिकुटातील संक्षिप्त तितकेच आवडले होते जितके ते मनोरंजक होते आणि मी अवन्त्रोराझ' (Entourage)'चा अविभाज्य भाग आहे याचा मला आनंद आहे. "

ओमर गुडिंग यांना असे वाटते की हे गाणे त्यांच्यासाठी एक रॅप कलाकार म्हणून चरितार्थ आहे, “मी गाणे पूर्णपणे ओळखतो कारण मी ज्या प्रकारच्या जीवन जगलो  त्याचे प्रतिनिधित्व करते. लेस्ली लुईस यांच्याबरोबर गायाला मिळाले याचा  मला खूप आनंद झाला. लेस्ली लुईस आणि बिग ओ यांचे एकत्र जोडीने येऊन काम करणे हे प्रेक्षक देखील शोधत असतील असे  काहीतरी आहे.

गणेशन म्हणतात, “ही पूर्व आणि पश्चिम यांची सांगड घालण्याची एक छान सुरुवात आहे. अशा अप्रतिम कलाकारांसह आणि जागतिक प्रेक्षकांसाठी जागतिक उत्पादन करण्याच्या प्रवासाचा भाग होण्यासाठी मी उत्साही आहे. हा एक परिपूर्ण आणि मजेदार प्रवास आहे. मला अधिक काही नको! ”

द एटीजी म्हणाले, " हे गीत गायणापासून ते उत्पादनापर्यंत अनेक भिन्न शैलींचे मिश्रण आहे. माझ्या मते  क्लासिक डिस्को रेकॉर्ड्ससारखेच लेस्ली यांचा आवाज आकर्षक आणि गमतीदार होता. अशाच प्रकारे, ओमरने निश्चितपणे कॅलिफोर्नियातील एक अतिशय सुंदर क्लासिक प्रवाह आणला. त्याच्या आवाजात नक्कीच त्यांच्याबद्दल कुतूहल आहे पण तरीही ते त्यांच्यासाठी एक मजेशीर वातावरण आहे. लेस्ली आणि ओमर यांचे आवाज / गायन  नक्कीच वेगळे आहेत, परंतु निर्विवाद हिट आहे."

कॅय्यबा फिल्म्स ’रिअललिस्टिक म्युझिकल 'ट्रॅप सिटी' विषयी. ब्रॅंडन जॅक्सन यांनी ड्रग किंगपिनसाठी काम करणारा एक तरुण रॅपर साकारला आहे  आणि त्याने रेकॉर्ड केलेले गाणे होते. त्याची प्रसिद्धी त्याच्या गुन्ह्यामुळे अजून वाढते,  त्याला तुरूंगात जाण्याची आणि आपली कारकीर्द नष्ट करण्याचा किंवा दुस ऱ्यांदा अपयशी ठरणार नाही अशा धोकादायक गुन्हेगाराच्या विरुद्ध साक्ष देण्याच्या धोकादायक परिस्थितीचा सामना करावा लागतो. यात ब्रॅंडन जॅक्सन काय करतो , ट्रॅप सिटीमध्ये त्याचे भविष्य ठरवते.

After Bollywood conglomerate, Sachiin Joshi to sue media who support malafide rumourmongers

Livid at the false malafide news of an alleged arrest and malicious rumours  connecting him to Tollywood drug scandal  being spread in a bid to defame him,  actor-entrepreneur Sachiin Joshi is suing self-proclaimed critic KRK and Spotboye among others who are responsible for spreading this vicious false news.

Joshi who landed in Mumbai from abroad was called for questioning in a totally unrelated case to Hyderabad. The actor who was rushing to Goa to be with his wife Urvashi Sharma and kids to herald her birthday at their Resort had to delay the celebrations by a day, and recorded the statement and left to meet his family.

Sachiin Joshi's legal counsel stated, "Certain malicious elements are trying to defame our client by putting out false stories in the media. Anyone who supports such elements will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. Our defamation notices to KRK and Spotboye will be a strict warning to anyone who tries to defame our client with malfide intent.

"The statement was in a completely unrelated manner. 

To connect his name to any drug scandal is not only defamatory, but also completely false an incorrect and has been spread with malicious intent."

Joshi, in the meantime, is on his way to Goa spend quality time with his family. Never mind the detractors!

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

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

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

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

Kamala Harris’s rise sends a message of hope to young girls of colour and every immigrant in the US: Tel K Ganesan

US State Senator, politician, lawyer and Vice-Presidential running mate Kamala Devi Harris has scripted history by being the first Indian-American or African-American woman to be appointed as the Vice-Presidential running mate. 

It is a known fact that Kamala Harris has a huge support base in the Indian-American community. Indian-born Hollywood producer, philanthropist and serial entrepreneur Tel K Ganesan is excited at the power push for the senator as it “sends a message of hope to young girls of colour, and any immigrant, for that matter.”

Ganesan, who met Harris at Detroit, Michigan during her political run for the primary race of the Democratic presidential ticket, avers that Harris is “high energy, positive, upbeat and a bubbly person.” Ganesan had an instant connect with her. “We shared wonderful, happy moments. She is very friendly. It is much like talking to a friendly neighbour.” Both Ganesan and Harris’s mother Shyamala Gopalan hail from Chennai. “We very briefly spoke in Tamil – vanakkam and nandri. We did talk about sambar,” he grins. 

Though Harris considers herself black, she has also spoken of her Indian roots. Harris has worked in international development around the world and return to live in villages throughout India in the mid-90s. Her matrilineal family of strong South Indian women has always been her inspiration. Her mother is a Tamilian from Chennai, and had moved to the US for higher studies. Her father is Donald Harris, of Jamaican descent. Ganesan is very proud of Harris’s achievement. “As an immigrant, it is a great inspiration. She already has a track record of breaking barriers. She started off as the first person of color in the office of the district attorney in San Francisco as a tough prosecutor and later as California Attorney General before winning the Senate seat four years ago. Harris is also the first person of Indian descent to ever get on the presidential ticket. Harris amassed more than $35 million over 11 months despite challenges that black women candidates face in raising money.  If the Biden-Harris ticket wins, Harris will be the highest-ranking female US official in the country’s 244-year history. And it is not just that, Biden who would be 78 if he wins, might only serve a single four-year term, instantly making Harris a leading 2024 Democratic Presidential contender. She serves on several high-profile committees in the Senate including the Intelligence Committee and the Judiciary Committee.”

Ganesan believes that such a historic move is only possible in a country like the United States. "Hope fuels life and hope fuels opportunities. This will address the bottom-line issue of under-representation of women and minorities on US public company boards and will match the changing demographics we are experiencing in the country today."

Statistics reveal that 42% of women in the US have faced gender discrimination at work. Even in the military, women represent 16% of the enlisted forces and 19% of the office corps. "Kamala Harris’s rise opens up the dream of women and minorities sharing the same power, privileges, rights and opportunities as the privileged and is a giant stride for women in politics. India and Pakistan have had women in political power, but for the US, this is a first. A person born of immigrant parents running for the second highest position in the land, shows us the impossible is possible. It reinforces that the American Dream is still alive and well.”