Walkaway… from family, love, values?

(New York, NY – September 17, 2010) The first Indian-American director since the renowned Mira Nair to have a pan U.S. release, Shailja Gupta’s debut feature film Walkaway (2010) will hit theatres on October 29, 2010 through Reliance Cinemas at 26 screens across 18 cities.

• Walkaway is an English-language, independent American film, made with Bollywood flair and influences
•  A light and humorous drama, Walkaway (IMDB), mocks the cliché of social obligations on young Indian Americans professionals settled in New York City
•  Bollywood heartthrob Shahrukh Khan’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment assisted in the post-production, editing and VFX. “As a successful member of our Indian film industry, it is my pleasure to support up-and-coming filmmakers like Shailja,” said Shahrukh

The movie explores the changing shades of the Indian mega-institution of marriage - the now-veiled urban dowry system to the overwhelming compromises demanded of a cross-cultural couple - the film weaves through the lives of four friends who struggle to strike a balance between ingrained family-values with the fast-paced melting-pot that is America.

In this South-Asian male version of Sex and the City, Darius, Vinay, Shridhar and Soham - single, dating, engaged and married - strive to maintain a semblance of sanity while questioning their desires and choices, pitted against the importance of dogmatic traditions. Join them and their loved ones on this journey, traversing ethnic and generational differences, and the pressures of modern relationships and careers. What will they choose to walk away from – family, love, or their values?

Academy Award winner Resul Pookutty (sound mixing for Slumdog Millionaire) has arranged the sound design and mixing for Walkaway. Resul remarked, “I was impressed by the director’s passion and energy, which has resulted in a fantastic product!”


CAST: Manu Narayan, Samrat Chakrabarti, Manish Dayal, Sanjeev Jhaveri, Deepti Gupta, Carrie Anne James, Pallavi Sharda, Ami Sheth


DIRECTOR: After a successful career in new media and Information Technology, Shailja actively pursued her passion for films. Her portfolio compasses role of Global Marketing Manager for Indian National award winner (2003) and internationally acclaimed film Chokher Bali, followed stint as Assistant Script Supervisor for another Indian National award winner (2005) – Raincoat, starring the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Drawing from her Indian roots and urban life as a young South Asian professional in New York City, Shailja wrote, directed and produced her first feature film – Walkaway in 2009-2010.

Shehnaai Unveils High Fashion in Downtown

Shehnaai Couture hosted their Bridal Couture Season Preview at their chic Manhattan studio on Friday, March 5th. Drawing in fashion aficionados, nine of India’s best couturiers collaborated with stylist and owner Shirin Vinayak, to bring out a new collection for the Spring Season. Almost 200 brides and vendors toasted their Cosmopolitans over the brio of ensembles which everyone agreed, has surpassed past collections.

Trump of the evening were the prospective brides, overjoyed at the opportunity to parade their favorite designers’ ensemble, bespoke – color, style and finish – without that irksome journey to India.

“The bride of today knows what she wants. Essentially, we bring her vision to life. Previously, brides needed to travel to India to fetch this luxury, but no more. We bring the designer to you, right here in your backyard. So brides can find the perfect fit while keeping up with the current trends in India,” says Vinayak, now a connoisseur in the field for over 7 years.

The concluding season of 2009 formed a palette of colors and styles flourishing vintage Indian flamboyance at the Lakme Fashion Week in India. As these stolid blacks and browns of winter fade off the racks, newfangled hues for spring – eggplant purples and cobalt blues – drenched on heavy velvets and bejeweled monotones created a spectacular show.

Noteworthy trends were trumpet silhouettes and rouched skirts on sleek georgettes and rich velvets. Of completely contradictory warp and weft, together they formed an astoundingly fabulous combination.

Vinayak’s style sensibilities and love for the wedding syndrome ensures that every brides leave Shehnaai with the wedding ensemble of her dreams, and a long standing relationship with the brand.

“To make this mélange possible, Shehnaai brings the latest ensembles that walk the ramps in India, and then helps you customize it to suit your personal sensibility” squares up Vinayak.

Bollywood stars descend on stage to bring you a hilarious comedy play - The Blue Mug play

A comical theatrical sketch, The Blue Mug play is set to reshape the experience of dramatics across the world. After scintillating performance in ‘Wake Up Sid!’, Konkona Sen Sharma comes on stage in this rib-tickling comedy play with Ranvir Shorey, Vinay Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Sheeba Chadha & Munish Bharadwaj. Mediasphere, a leading marketing and event management firm along with their partner Shailja Productions, chaperons this glittering star crew of contemporary Bollywood actors to their first International Tour in April & May this year, summing up 20 shows traversing three countries after performances in India.

An experimental production from Mumbai’s The Company Theatre, The Blue Mug play, “is a creation of one story of ‘The man who mistook his wife for a hat’ by Oliver Sacks” describes Atul Kumar, founder and artistic director of the group who is at the helm of the production. With no written script, no props, no fancy costumes, this long-running theatre production creates a laugh riot as the artists narrate memories. Atul admits "It wasn't easy in the beginning to have them open up to the audience but the actors are my old friends who have worked with me before." The director adds that slowly the cast learned to play themselves on stage.

Rajat Kapoor wears many artistic hats – actor, director, model, writer – and has made a mark in Indian theatre and cinema which audiences and critics have applauded every time. A three times National Award winner for his Film Direction, Rajat has been pivotal to the changing trends of small budget films in Bollywood. In The Blue Mug play, he goes down the path of personal memories to depict the larger canvas of Indian memory.

One of the finest film actors in India with two National Awards for performances in ‘Omkara’ and ‘Mr and Mrs Iyer’, Konkana Sen Sharma continues to explore the commercial as well as experimental cinema. Konkana has portrayed diverse roles in ‘Luck By Chance’, ‘Life in a Metro’ and ‘Aaja Nachle’, but she is visibly excited about her performance in The Blue Mug play. “It is lovely. I have good fun being on stage,” says Konkona.

Vinay Pathak has never been typecast into any particular role. From essaying the role of the common man caught up in strange situations and managing to show us the funny side of life in movies like ‘Bheja Fry’ to a criminal mastermind in ‘Johnny Gaddar’ to the goofy friend in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, Vinay has essayed a mélange of roles in his career.

Describing his performance in The Blue Mug play, "The fact that we play our own set of characters is exciting." Vinay Pathak who has already won much applause from the audience adds, “I enjoy working in this play a great deal. These guys are great friends and it has been a lot of fun.”

Like Vinay, Ranvir Shorey is a maverick of sorts, and is known for a gamut of roles, each removed from the other. From his portrayal of a common man caught up in the murky world of the underworld in ‘Mithya’ to a goofy sidekick in ‘Bheja Fry’ and the aggressive younger brother in ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’, he has managed to provide eminence to off-beat cinema. Ranvir feels, “A live act is a very different medium as compared to cinema. You face a live audience and do not get the privilege of another take.”

The chemistry between these actors lends fresh wit to the play, something which is rarely instituted in conventional theatre. The Blue Mug play premieres in Mumbai on February 20 followed by shows across India, Dubai, Muscat, Brazil, New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Raleigh until May, 2010.

The Global Promoters for The Blue Mug play, Mediasphere & Shailja Productions are paving a new path in multicultural media, bringing a unique construct of entertainment. Shruti Tiwari, the brainchild of Mediasphere discloses, “We will use social media tools to tap the widespread audience. The Blue Mug play is only an initiatory step of Mediasphere’s expansion in these three countries.”

A one-stop-shop for integrated media and marketing solutions, Mediasphere is the pioneer of exploring South Americas, revealing an untapped market of Indian ethnicity in the region.

To view photos or clips from previous performance, or learn more about the production, please visit TheBlueMugPlay.com.

Rouge Assassin on the Floor

Living Legend Dharmendra in his own style striding the ramp at Sahil Collections fashion show offered an interesting twist to the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation Fundraiser dinner

September 21st New York: The Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation's 28th Annual Fundraising Dinner on September 20, 2009 at Marriott Long Island, New York was a brimful evening of glamour, opulence and extravagance. Fashion-house Sahil's Timeless Fashion Show themed 'Moulin Rouge' perfectly captured the excess and freneticism of 18th Century Paris. Classy silhouettes and elaborate embroidery squired seductive hues and mesmerizing cuts to evoke a celebration of femininity steeped in rich indulgence.

Living legend Dharmendra, who is an iconic Hindi-cinema hero, had the audience in raptures as he walked the ramp for Sahil in tribute to the memory of Nargis Dut on the beats of his most memorable songs 'Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana' from the film Pratiggya playing in the background. The show-stopper was Bollywood actress Pooja Batra, who looked gorgeous in a Pink and Fuchsia dress with black embroidery, as she sashayed with Bhavesh Patel, CEO of Sahil.Sahil Collection soon to open their store by this Diwali in Oak tree road New Jersey.

Extending support for this benevolent cause of cancer health care, the chief guest, Dharmendra articulated, "Today I am here to represent the charitable foundation instituted by Sunil Dutt. This organization was a dream of Nargis Dutt, later materialized into reality by her husband, Sunil Dutt." Brimming with emotion he continued, "Both Sunilji and Nargisji cherished me as a brother; they continue to hold a special place in my heart."

Narrating an account of how the philanthropic Dutt couple played the 'hand of God' in his early days as a struggling actor, "In 1958, I came to Bombay for a talent contest. Sunil and Nargis Dutt selected my photographs in the final selection round and pronounced 'He is the best hero for the industry'. And the rest as you know is history." A notable member of the Indian Parliament, Dharmendra recited a self-authored verse which asserted, "Nurtured with your unfaltering love, I feel young each day."

The honorees felicitated at the Fundraiser Dinner:
- Vikas S. Dhall (IMINDER) for outstanding Business Entrepreneneur
- Atul Kumria - Regional Director of North America (Kingfisher Airlines) for outstanding Business Leader
- Ravishankar Bhooplapur for outstanding Humanitarian
- Rajiv K.Garg, CEO (Wycoff Heights Medical Center) for outstanding service in the field of Medicine
- Dilip V.Patel, MD for outstanding Patient Care
- Inderpal S.Chhabra, MD for outstanding Service

Trishala, daughter of Sanjay Dutt also joined Dharmendra on the stage with his grandfather Mr. Kailash Sharma, also the Honorary President of the foundation, she cited, "This has been the best year so far for the Foundation and we have raised 30% more money from last year." Commenting on participation from common people, Trishala said, " You can be a part of the foundation by attending the gala, donation, or getting involved with the activities of the Foundation. Everyone is free to volunteer if they want to be involved."

Heading way was a dazzling performance of modernized Can-Can dance by Rujuta Vaidya, a leading influence in contemporary Bollywood dance in unison with Pranav Tailor, runway choreographer. Intended to be a little risqué, and somewhat provocative, the flamboyant costumes characterized the culture of belle époque Paris. This medley of Broadway, Tango, Ballet and Jazz together with the stars was the brainchild of Shruti Tiwari of MediaSphere, an integrated PR and Event Management firm.

Links--
Dharmendra on Ramp
Sahil Fashion Show
Sanjay Dutt's Daughter Trishala

Kolkata vexations travel to Toronto

Samrat Chakrabarti who plays Krishna in The Waiting City is centre stage at the Toronto International Film Festival

On September 17, at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, Samrat Chakrabarti will walk the red carpet for the gala premiere of ‘The Waiting City’. A charming and multi-faceted actor, in the movie, Samrat portrays the character of Krishna, a hotel-worker who befriends an Australian couple who have traveled to Kolkata to collect their adopted baby.

As part of this latest offering by Australian director Claire Mc Carthy, starring Radha Mitchell, Joel Edgerton and Isabel Lucas, Samrat said, “I am proud of my work in the movie, and look forward to the premiere show.” ‘The Waiting City’ will have its world premiere screening at the Special Presentations line-up.

The Toronto International Film Festivalis arguably the world's biggest public film festival which drew more than 300,000 film-goers to the theatres last year, apart from 300 critics, and filmmakers from Hollywood and more than 50 other countries.

“Kolkata as a city in West Bengal, India is chaotic and crowded. Set against this exhilarating, epic background, it was impossible not to be affected by the place. As characters of ‘The Waiting City’, we were transformed by the people of the city and their powerful milieu,” confirms Samrat, who parenthetically has strong Bengal descent.

Born in London to immigrant parents from India, Samrat grew up in Boston. His métier as an actor began early, with his first big success as Ahmad in Spike Lee’s ‘She Hate Me’ with Jonh Turturro. This was followed by a string of projects which established him as a notable actor of South Asian Indian heritage.

- Samrat is best known for his role as Amir in Amyn Kaderali’s ‘Kissing Cousins’
- He has acted in diverse movies depicting the Indian experience in the American Diaspora such as Manish Acharya’s ‘Loins of Punjab Presents’ with Shabana Azmi where he plays Trance Sen
- In Sarba Das’s ‘Karma Calling’ which was screened at the Asian American International Film Festival in New York, Samrat played the role of a charming call centre employee in India – Rohit Rao – alias Rob Roy when calling Americans, who dreams of visiting New York.

- His international cinematic roles include ‘Sing Now or Forever Hold Your Peace’ with Molly Shannon and as Rakesh in The Bong Connection with Victor Banerjee.
- Samrat has also done cameo in Yash Raj and Kabir Khan’s ‘New York’ with Bollywood stars John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Samrat is a Masters of Fine Arts for Advanced Theatre Training from Harvard University and has Honors Degree in Theatre from Brandeis University. He has made girriuest appearances on Television in Law & Order, Sopranos and Love Monkey to list a few. Samrat has also been active in stagecraft. His theatre credits include

- Nirad Das in Tom Stoppard ‘Indian Ink’ at The Missouri Repertory Theatre
- Arun in Saman Shad's ‘Lingering Voices’ at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- Desipina 7-11 Convenience Theatre in NYC

A multi-faceted artist, Samrat derives inspiration his from motion art, coupling music with theater. Working in various film industries, international cinema, television and theatre, Samrat's career spanning over 15 years, also has to his credit various national awards for his arrangements and compositions including a US Cara for best original pop/rock song, for his composition, ‘What's It all About’. He is a former member of the a capella group Five O' Clock Shadow. He was also a part of the group The Hyannis Sound. In 1998, he was in the group JYDE, which contained an original song ‘Starving’, written and arranged by Samrat. Most recently, he wrote, composed, performed, and produced the theme song, ‘Dhol Beat’, for the Indian hit film, ‘Loins of Punjab Presents’. He has produced and performed with various international acts (from Boston to Bollywood) and continues to do so.

Clipping of movie

Screening Schedule
- Thursday September 17 6:00PM Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
- Friday September 18 1:45PM Scotiabank Theatre 1
- Saturday September 19 6:15PM Varsity 8

Rupa & April Fishes kindle magic in the South Bay on May 9

Bring out your flip flops, dab on some sunscreen, and get ready to welcome summertime with groovy gypsy folk music. San Francisco-based band Rupa and the April Fishes will present an unforgettable evening that transcends geographical boundaries and aims to unite through the common language of music. The concert is a benefit to support Maitri, a non-profit organization providing for South Asian families experiencing domestic violence.

- Proceeds from the concert will aid operations of Maitri's toll-free helpline and transitional home.
- Maitri has been in operation for 19 years and functions as a bridge connecting needy families to mainstream resources and provides them counsel to make informed decisions
- Maitri’s empowerment based services help South Asian women experiencing domestic abuse charter themselves towards self reliance and self confidence

Today, the Bay Area is home to first, second and even third generation South Asian families. Bestowing honor to this multi-generation community, Maitri is inviting families to attend this evening of delightful music to support peace, safety and a vibrant family life.

Rupa Marya, the lead singer, is of Indian origin, but her music transcends all linguistic barriers. Her multicultural music is a medley of French, Hindi, English and Spanish.

- Her magnetic vocals draw the listener in with its soulful and moving quality.
- A doctor of internal medicine by day, Rupa's musical compositions express the transient, yet precious value of life.
- Her songs reflect the eternal immigrant dilemmas of - home seeking and homecoming - and the universal quest to understand pain, sorrow, love, and loss.

Without exception, Maitri's events have been a distinctive combination of glamour and character, attracting reputed artistes such as Ustad Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Padmabhushan Alarmel Valli, Pria Kataria Puri’s Fashion Show, and Lillete Dubey’s Primetime Theater.

The contemporary melody of desi girl Rupa with the April Fishes will resonate at the Santa Clara Convention Centre on Saturday, May 9, 6 pm onwards. Tickets: $100, $50, $25. For more information, visit http://maitri.org or call 1.888.8MAITRI.

As published on New York Times - www.tinyurl.com/lufthansanytimes

http://www.lufthansawedding.com/news

Lufthansa Launches Indian Wedding Celebration Campaign With Designer Manish Malhotra
Published: April 13, 2009

NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/13/09 -- Wedding bells ring louder each day as the season for wedlock begins. This union will exude class as two style icons, Manish Malhotra and Lufthansa Airlines, ally for a wedding couture with ethnic blends. Designed by the style icon, the ensembles are a celebration of the myriad emotions experienced by the bride and groom tying the knot. The fairytale Indian Bridal collection unveils three wedding ensembles for the to-be brides and grooms in the United States.

-- It interweaves style and extravagance with ethnicity, tallying a perfect score of glamour and tradition.

-- Asserting Manish's signature style, they accentuate glamour and modernity in the traditional Indian wardrobe.

-- The bridal lehengas and complementing sherwani outfits are fashioned with plush fabrics in classy silhouettes.

-- This dream wedding line uses sensual and romantic hues like maroon, burgundy, red, pink and wine shades.

-- The apparels are bedecked with encrusted Swarovski crystals with detailed embroidery of brocade and antique work.

To craft this unforgettable wedding season, Manish is in collaboration the world-class airline, Lufthansa. "I wanted to introduce contemporary Indian fashion in America and Lufthansa was an ideal partner, since they regularly do Bollywood-themed promotions," says Manish. This association with Lufthansa is an opportunity for Indians in America to win outfits from Manish Malhotra's collection.

For the man who personifies style, teaming up with a luxurious airline to unravel his couture wedding range is a venture which has never been done before. Mediasphere, a leading marketing and event management firm, juxtaposed fashion with air-travel in association with Global Advertising Strategies for South Asians planning their Indian Wedding in America.

-- This promotion initiates exploring new markets for Indian fashion brands to reach a global audience.

-- Mediasphere identified areas for the two brands to serve the Indian-Asian community.

-- Mediasphere teamed the brands together to bridge the continental gulf, and give them an edge in the current competitive market place.

The prestigious designer observes, "Working with Mediasphere has been a pleasure since they deliver high quality work. They are a young, hardworking and highly professional media company, which has efficiently added boost to my brand."

Manish's wedding range is enthralling all the future brides and grooms envisaging the most precious event of their life. The design sketches are open for voting now www.Lufthansawedding.com. Vote for your favorite design and post your romantic story to win the most popular wardrobe. Other prizes include tickets to India on Lufthansa Airlines.

Manish Malhotra special part 1 & 2
Vote for your favorite Manish creation