Priyanka Chopra – the 500 crore heroine
Establishing herself as a force to reckon with ,Priyanka Chopra couldn’t be more excited as her recent release Krrish 3 makes its way into the 200 crore club ,making this her 4th film to surpass the 100 crore mark.
While Don 2 went on to garner an approximate 107 crores in the domestic market, Agneepath grossed over 133 crores and Barfi! had cash registers ringing to the tune of 175 crores worldwide, her recent Krrish 3 has raked in Rs 255 crore worldwide just in 12 days and is still going steady at the ticket windows, reiterating the fact that Priyanka Chopra – the 500 crore heroine now stands one of the most sought after actresses in the industry given her tryst at the box office.
Says a source, “Apart from working with some of the biggest actors in the industry,Priyanka has already proved herself as a powerhouse actress and her mettle at the box office.Taking into consideration the business 4 of her films have done in the last 2 years – She is one of the most bankable stars in the industry not to mention amongst the most successful.”
Says Priyanka Chopra, “It’s a great moment. I feel very proud of being a part of such successful films. Box Office is the King”.
It’s been a busy week for Priyanka,apart from being flooded with congratulatory calls for Krrish 3,her recent special song in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram-Leela titled Ram Chahe Leela has also been well appreciated. Having topped music charts,the song that sees Priyanka impress with some killer moves has also turned out to be amongst the most popular this season
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Vivanta by Taj – ‘Divas Of Rock’ presents
International pop icon ‘Lenka’ in Mumbai
~ Musician, actress, and singing Diva – Lenka will perform in the city on November 23rd at Blue Frog from 9pm onwards~
Mumbai, November 18, 2013: Giving all music enthusiasts a reason to rejoice, Vivanta by Taj is back with its annual property ‘Divas of Rock’ in association with VH1, Sony Music and Blue Frog.
The property, in its third year, is designed to provide a unique platform to showcase potential and promising talent and encourage emergent female artists to exhibit and enhance their skills. This year, Divas of Rock bring to you Australian Alternative Pop Diva, singer-songwriter, and actor Lenka Kripak. Lenka shot to fame with her debut album ‘Lenka Lenka’ and now after three albums and multiple hit singles, the artist enjoys a huge Facebook fan base. Lenka will be showcasing her talent to the Mumbai audience for the first time at Blue Frog on November 23, 2013 from 9pm onwards.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Veer Vijay Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Vivanta by Taj – Hotels & Resorts said, “The idea behind introducing this initiative and naming it the Divas of Rock was to encourage young and fledgling female talent and offer them a platform to showcase their abilities to the right audience.” Divas of Rock” debuted successfully 2 years back. The brand Vivanta by Taj is evolving rapidly. Vivanta hotels host a large number of women. This unique initiative finds a perfect fit with its distinctive values and future plans.”
Commenting on the association, Mr. Shridhar Subramaniam, President India & Middle East Sony Music Entertainment, said, “We have been a part of Divas of Rock since its inception as we believe in the core value of the brand. In its third year we bring to you our Australian pop icon Lenka who has a tremendous following in India across age groups. This multi city tour will give fans an opportunity to listen to her up close and we are confident she will be a great live act.”
It is a known fact that the music industry is considered a major component of the media and entertainment market that can be further enhanced with the appropriate involvement of female artists who possess a wide variety of astounding aptitude. Women artists find it difficult with limited resources and restricted avenues to optimally utilize their gift. Divas of Rock is a streamlined medium through which female artists stand an equal chance to be noticed by showcasing their skills through a road show performance format, supervised by a panel of experts, across different cities.
Divas of Rock is one of the many endeavours undertaken by Vivanta by Taj that will portray its core values of creativity, radiance and vibrancy. The name ‘Vivanta’ draws inspiration from the term ‘bon vivant’, signifying sophistication and appreciation for the good things in life and also from the attributes of vividness and vivacity.
Vivanta addresses multiple personas of sophisticated and urbane travellers, be it masters of corporate theatre, gastronauts and exploding taste buds, urban crusoes or 21st century princesses.
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Discover Vivanta
Work hard and play hard. Relax and energize. Ideate and confer. Evolve and transform. Revel in a spirit that presents the normal with an unexpected twist. Stylish and sophisticated, Vivanta by Taj delivers premium hotel experiences with imagination, energy and efficiency. Currently comprised of 28 hotels and resorts in India and the Indian Ocean region, Vivanta by Taj is represented across key metropolitan capitals as well as popular holiday destinations like Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Vivanta by Taj offers an imaginative, vivacious and stylish take on ‘cool luxury’. With innovative cuisine, energetic spaces, unique motifs, the smart use of technology and experiences that seek to constantly engage, invigorate and relax, it appeals to the cosmopolitan world-traveler immersed in a sensory lifestyle.
For more information, contact:
Takshila Chheda | Takshila.chheda@edelman.com | +91 7710002295
Vivanta by Taj – President, Mumbai
90, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 Maharashtra, India
Telephone Number: 91 22 6665 0808 Fax Number: 91 22 6665 0365; Email address: www.vivantabytaj.com
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FDCI announces dates for Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2014 and Spring-Summer 2015
Mumbai / New Delhi, November 18, 2013: The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the apex body of fashion, in India, announced the dates for the 23rd edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2014 and 24th edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring- Summer 2015 to be held between 26-30 March, 2014 and 8-12 October 2014, respectively. The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2014 will be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
WIFW, a bi-annual event organised by the FDCI has grown both in popularity and participation over the years. The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week is also seen as a springboard by upcoming designers, who get an opportunity to showcase their designs to a discerning audience.
Talking about the new season of WIFW, Mr. Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, “We are delighted to announce the dates for the upcoming seasons of WIFW, as we weave together a coveted list of talented designers, who will showcase their creativity on this prestigious platform.”
ABOUT FDCI
A non-profit organization, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is the apex body of fashion design in India, represented by over 350 members. Founded on the premise of promoting, nurturing and representing the best of fashion and design talent in the country; its prime objective is to propagate the business of fashion.
Website: www.fdci.org
Thanks & regards,
Srilatha Nair
T +91 22 4031 1200 M +91 98197 32608 E snair@webershandwick.com W www.webershandwickindia.com
Wing B, 3rd Floor-304, Prathmesh Tower Co-op. Society Ltd., Raghuvanshi Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013, INDIA
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The Holmes Report 2012 Global Agency of the Year
PRNews 2012 Digital PR Firm of the Year
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Introducing: St. James’s Court, A Taj Hotel, London
Mumbai, 18th November 2013: From January 2014, The Taj Group will re-launch St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London, while Taj’s existing London hotel, 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences will be renamed Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, Suites and Residences, following a phased renovation plan and introduction of enhanced luxury standards.
Over the past two years, both hotels have received significant investment and undergone extensive upgrades. Several rooms at St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel have been re-modelled and a streamlined design, clean lines and vibrant colours have been introduced. The remainder of the rooms continue to undergo refurbishment to offer a fresher, cleaner appearance, but with a ‘classic’ feel.
Given its celebrated past, St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel is now being repositioned as a contemporary hotel that celebrates its British heritage. It offers storied craftsmanship, service refinement with higher levels of customisation, as well as a distinctive and unique visual identity. Perfectly placed between Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London will have a contemporary, informal feel. With a distinguished pedigree shaped over more than a century, this discreet Victorian masterpiece with its famous Shakespearean Courtyard typifies the elegant yet concealed charm of one of Britain’s finest hotels.
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, the marquee of the Taj Group in Europe, has also undergone refurbishments, including the addition of two signature suites. The world’s first Jaguar Suite opened at the hotel in 2011 and followed by the launch of the Cinema Suite; a 1,832 square foot, two-bedroom suite created by acclaimed Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, in 2012.
The program of hotel upgrades will continue into 2014, when Indian visitors to the UK can look forward to ‘home away from home’ luxury experiences with the Taj such as the India Guest Prgram, Kids@Taj program, access to the premier Golden Keys Concierge service and the Taj Inner Circle Awards. At both hotels, guests can also benefit from specially tailored treatments at the Wellness Centre and a host of on-site dining options, including Michelin-star cuisine at Quilon.
Commenting on the re-brand of the Taj London hotels, Yannick Poupon , COO- Luxury International Hotels said: “The success of 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences has provided Taj with the impetus to consolidate and expand its brand in the UK. This is in line with the company’s strategy to develop and consolidate strong brand presence in all of its key source markets. The move demonstrates our confidence in the buoyancy of the luxury hospitality market in the UK, in London as a tourism market and specifically the area around Victoria, which is undergoing significant investment, growth and development.”
In order to present these exciting changes to the Indian hospitality market, the Taj Group, in partnership with British Airways, is hosting a road show in Mumbai and Delhi on the 14th and 15th of November 2013. Over the two days, 250 high-profile industry guests will learn more about the development of the Taj brand in UK, while being treated to an ‘evening of London chic’. Entertainment will be provided by three British singers from ‘Incognito Artists’, an international portfolio of talented stars, who have all had leading roles on Broadway, the West End or in the world of opera. The company has performed for the likes of Sir Elton John, Victoria and David Beckham, Nelson Mandela and HRH’s Prince William and Prince Charles. At the Taj road show, singer and dancer Emma Clifford is joined by Wayne Perry and Adrian Grove who between them have performed in musical theatre productions including Chicago, Starlight Express, Bombay Dreams as well as at the BBC proms.
Mr. Digvigay Singh, General Manager, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences and St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London, mentioned that, “India has always been a significant market for the UK. We are delighted to be here in India to showcase a flavour of what the magnificent city of London and our hotels can offer. I am here to invite each one of you to be our esteemed guests and enjoy the enhanced experiences our team has put together for you.”
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About The Taj Group of Hotels:
Established in 1901, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia’s largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 105 hotels in 63 locations across India with an additional 17 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. For over a century, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the iconic flagship has set a benchmark for fine living with exquisite refinement, inventiveness and warmth. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India’s premier business house.
For further information contact Rediffusion / Edelman:
Rashmi Biswas – 9920220230/ rashmi.biswas@edelman.com
Yohanna Irani – 8879019688 / yohanna.irani@edelman.com
Rashmi Biswas
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With love from New York, Doctor & Singer Biba Singh visits India bringing a hit new track Akhiyan’ch tu vasda
Biba who was found by the legendry Bollywood and Bhangra
singer, Daler Mendhi who pushed her to release her first pop album in 2009
titled ‘Biba.’ The album was produced by Bollywood music director Santokh
Singh (Channa Veh Ghar Aja), and launched in India by Bollywood singer Mika Singh. The album hit the charts across the globe bringing overnight success to this young starlet. She then went on to releasing her second album in 2011 ‘Biba For You’ this was launched by Bollywood maestro singer Bappi Lahiri in Mumbai. Since then Biba Singh has toured around India, USA, Canada and opened for acts like RDB, Imran Khan and Bollywood Singers. She was born and raised in New York, but very often travelled back to the UK and India.
Her forthcoming release Akhiyan’ch tu Vasda a rendition from Late Surinder
Kaurs folk classic this song touch a chord with Biba and decided to re sing
it. The song produced by Mandeep Dhaliwal, from Calgary, Canada, he has
released multiple albums of his own with Jugni records, great musician and
singer himself. Akhiyan’ch tu vasda also has a remix produced by – Sorin
Pavelesco, extremely talented and part of BTB music productions from New
York and features rapper Mr. Bolly who is also a well-known upcoming artist.
In the video look out for a toally different concept directected by Hemant
Thavathia and shot in USA
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Regards,
Parul Chawla
Picture N Kraft
Hand Phone: 9833577407
Email ID: parul@picturenkraft.com
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Nakash Aziz’s song ‘Sari ke fall sa kabhi match kiya re’ got more than two million views on YouTube!
Nakash Aziz who sang the song ‘Sari ke fall sa kabhi match kiya re’ for the film ‘R…Rajkumar’ is already playing at ever corner of the streets and its official video on YouTube has been viewed by more than two million in just 3 weeks.
Nakash has made his presence felt in Hindi film industry. Songs like the title track from ‘Aisha’, ‘Pungi’ from ‘Agent Vinod’ and ‘Second-hand Jawani’ from ‘Cocktail’, ‘Phata Phati’ from ‘Barfi’, ‘Dhating Naach’ from ‘Phata Poster Nikla Hero’, etc has contributed in making Nakash dear to his listeners & fans. This talented singer has also assisted as music composer to none other than A R Rahman in films like ‘Delhi 6′, ‘Rockstar’, ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, ‘Raanjhana’, ‘Olympics Song 2012′ (Danny Boyle). Nakash has also given his voice for A R Rahman in Tamil film ‘Maryan’ and in the theme song of the Commonwealth Games and many more. He has also assisted Pritam as music composer.
The Mangalorean boy has never set limitations for him and his deeply love for music has leaded him to try and prove his mettle in the field of music whether it’s as a singer or as a music composer. And Nakash has geared up for future recordings as well as music composition & production. He is also planning to do music videos for YouTube and considering the amont of viewing he is getting for his new song of the film ‘R…Rajkumar’ one can only say, All the best Nakash!
H. S. Communication
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Sunburn ends day 2 with a spanking new property and an electrifying experience with ‘Afterburn’
Bringing its 2 day festival to a close, Headliners Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike along with Adam Beyer left Mumbaikars spellbound
Mumbai, 18th November 2013: Day 2 of the Sunburn festival in Mumbai brought a spectacular end to the music extravaganza in the city. The festival gave way to high energy sets as Mumbaikars bore witness to a brand new property presented by Sunburn- ‘Afterburn’ which truly elevated the festival experience to the next level.
Straight from the sands of Goa and into our own city, the Sunburn Festival Mumbai gave Mumbaikars the ultimate festival experience no less than its Goa counterpart. Day 1 ended on a crescendo and only left fans wanting more. A massive turn- out was seen on day 2 as fans thronged the Mahalakshmi Race Course for the ultimate festival experience.
Premiering for the first time, Sunburn’s new property- ‘Afterburn’ goes beyond mainstream EDM and provides the evolved music lover with a range of some of the best in underground music. It has been launched with the aim to develop a space to showcase the highest levels of artistic talent in this specific music genre, giving fans a mind blowing experience with cutting edge visual and installation art. Day 2 of the Mumbai festival launched this massive property through the ‘Afterburn’ stage with the bang, hosting some of the best global and local talent in the underground music space such as Adam Beyer, Josh Wink, Jitter, Kohra and Arjun Vagale. Fans, took to the stage in hoards as Kohra and Jitter set the tempo for the ultimate underground/ techno experience.
Another first for Sunburn Mumbai, Resident DJ’s at the Tomorrowland festival, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike premiered their ‘Smash the House Stage’ exclusively at Sunburn, featuring music power house Tom Staar and Wolfpack. The crowd foot stomped for hours at a stretch and left the stage completely entertained with Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike’s antics to get the crowd going.
As the final sets played in the background, bringing the Sunburn Festival Mumbai to a close, Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director, Percept Ltd, said, “The premiere of our new property- ‘Afterburn’, saw crowds reach a new level of euphoria. Sunburn has always been for the fans, of the fans and by the fans, this holds completely true with the different dimensions of music and experiences that the crowd at Sunburn Festival Mumbai experienced. We can’t wait to do this again next year!”
The 2 day festival experience inclusive of adventure sports, flea markets and an unbeatable line up of artists is sure to leave Mumbaikars counting down the days till the next Sunburn Festival in their city.
About Sunburn
Sunburn is Asia’s largest electronic dance music brand , ranked as the 4th Best festival in the world (inthemix.au). Inaugurated in 2007, as a 3 day music festival, Sunburn is an eclectic mix of music, entertainment, experiences, celebration and lifestyle that has seeded music tourism in India starting with Goa. In the past six years of its existence, Sunburn has brought together renowned Indian and International artists to entertain hundreds of thousands of dance music lovers through its various formats that reach out to fans across the India & Asia. . Sunburn caters to a wide Indian and International audience and it showcases India as a Dance Festival destination to the world.
Sunburn has extended and diversified beyond the festival in Goa in cities like Mumbai, Delhi & Bangalore. Other formats under the Sunburn umbrella include Arena gigs, Club gigs, Campus gigs and the newest edition called ‘Sunburn Reload’ which are specially designed and customized to cater to as many dance music fans, giving them a piece of Sunburn in their very own town. Reaching out to all the yearning fans across the nation, Sunburn is all set to give its fans the best experience of their lifetime over and again.
About Percept Live
Percept Live is a division of Percept Limited, an entertainment, media and communications company founded in 1984. With capitalized billings of about INR 31.40 billion (FY’12).Percept, today, is at an enviable leadership position with a team of over 1,000 people and 62 offices across India and the Middle East.
Percept Live business includes all Intellectual Properties created and owned by the Percept Group, which include IPs in Live Entertainment, Sports, Celebrity Management, Digital and Media space. Percept Live comprises the following IPs:
· Sunburn – Asia’s biggest and most desired Electronic Dance Music Festival;
· Fight Nights –India’s first ever indoor boxing bouts between leading Indian and International boxers
· Bollywood Live – The first multi-city Bollywood Dance Music Festival
For further information, please contact:
Genesis Burson Marsteller
Siya Belliappa
+ 91 981 999 5578
Siya.belliappa@bm.com
pr@sunburn.in
Padma Rao
+91 9833180409
Padma.rao@bm.com
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Evelyn Sharma’s bikini dance moves with Yo Yo Honey Singh!
Aishwarya Rai did it in Dhoom. Priyanka Chopra did it in Andaaz, Don, Dostana and for Pitbull. Katrina Kaif did it in Boom and in Spain with Ranbir Kapoor (wink). Deepika Padukone did it in Cocktail.
This holiday season, actress Evelyn Sharma has got a pretty good reason to join the Bollywood bikini brigade with a sizzling beach song. The gal will hit the silver screens in a scorching hot two-piece bikini for the first time ever with superstar Yo Yo Honey Singh’s song Paani Paani for her next movie Yaariyan; the directorial debut of T-Series’ head honcho Bhushan Kumar’s wife Divya Khosla Kumar.
Laughing off the recent rumours that plastic surgery must have gotten Evelyn her perfect figure, the young actress says: “I love to dance! In movies, on stage and to stay fit! Dance is a great workout too! It keeps your body toned and stamina high!”
To the question if she felt uncomfortable in a two-piece, she winks: “What’s better to wear on the beach than a swimming costume! The song is full of fun, sun and yaariyan! I really enjoyed the shoot with Divya ji! She knew exactly how to make us feel comfortable and get our energy going with every take!”
Evelyn surprised the audience with her sweet Seeta role and cabaret like song Dil Ki Toh Lag Gayi earlier this year in the hit movie Nautanki Saala opposite Ayushman Khurrana; and went on to showcase her dancing skills to Ooh La La, playing a vivacious character alongside Ranbir Kapoor in Ayan Mukherji’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani; one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Attagirl!
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Candy Brar takes her revenge with Vivek Mishra the Gatecrasher
Party crashers or Gate crashers are the one who comes to the party as uninvited guests and disturbs the mood of the event or party. Many famous celebs had become gatecrashers at many events and had reached places uninvited. Vivek Mishra has turned another to add his name in the list of gatecrashers. Vivek Mishra recently thrown out of the party of Sunburn which was organised by Showman entertainment and Percept ltd. Model-turned-corporate professional Candy Brar who handles Business Marketing of Showman Entertainment thrashes Vivek out of the party who was trying to enter in VIP area of Showman lounge. Vivek Mishra had maligned Candy’s reputation during his stay on Bigg Boss7 and commented on her personal life without knowing her personally.
Candy Brar said, “Vivek Mishra is not a kind of person. He doesn’t know how to respect women’s. He spoiled my image and said thing which is not real. He is not capable to stand in front of me, he is really an irresponsible person. He is good for nothing, he just wants to get fame by using people’s name.”
Candy had entered Bigg Boss7 just for clearing her stand on allegation of Vivek Mishra. Now Candy and Vivek is out of the house finally she get a chance to take revenge with Nude Yoga Guru Vivek Mishra. “He is not a Yoga guru. He is really a fake person I have seen in my life”, says Candy.
Vivek Mishra was thrown out by Percept Live Owner Harindra Singh and Candy Brar.
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Media Contacts:
Scribes INC- The PR Company
Satish Reddy
Mobile : 09167115564
Email : sateshreddey2013@gmail.com
Abhishek Dubey
Mobile : 09699384240
Email : abhiscribesinc@gmail.com
Nilofer Ansari
Mobile : 07666989939
Email : niloferscribes@gmail.com
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Amar Chitra Katha announces the launch of Valmiki’s detailed Ramayana in graphic format, launches Bala Kand this Diwali
Amar Chitra Katha, India’s favourite storyteller, presents Bala Kand, the first chapter of Valmiki’s Ramayana, in its inimitable graphic format and style.
Valmiki’s Ramayana is divided into seven volumes (Kand), and the first volume (Kand) of the series, ‘BalaKand’, was released by Amar Chitra Katha, in November during Diwali. Making for an interesting read for both children and adults, Amar Chitra Katha’s BalaKand will be available at all book stores and stands in November @Rs. 295. The title can also be purchased online on www.amarchitrakatha.com
Since 1967 Amar Chitra Katha is known for its authentic storytelling with credibility and experience in mythology & epic genre. Amar Chitra Katha’s latest storybook on the first chapter of Valmiki’s Ramayana highlights India’s ancient epic with extensive glossaries & fact notes, while rendering the story in the authentic Amar Chitra Katha comic style.
“The story of the Mahabharata was done by ACK in 42 individual comics in the early years of Amar Chitra Katha by Late Anant Pai. Smaller versions of Valmiki’s and Tulsidas’s Ramayana have also been done. Now, based on requests from our readers and also our own analysis, we felt it was time to do a detailed version of Valmiki’s Ramayana”, said Mr. Manas Mohan, COO, ACK Media. “This is a long project which we have broken up into volumes (kands), similar to Valmiki’s Ramayana. Each volume is a Kand or book. This epic lends itself beautifully to every medium of story-telling, and most certainly the comic medium. We will be covering the whole story in 7 volumes that will cover the 7 kands of the Ramayana. BalaKand is the first Kand in the series and is being released in the market this November”, he further added.
Being the first one to encapsulate Valmiki’s Ramayana in graphic format, Amar Chitra Katha’s BalaKand is the first book in the Ramayana series. Comprising of 132 pages BalaKand narrates the story of Rama’s boyhood. It begins by relating how Valmiki composed and launched his great poem. In this book, we meet King Dasharatha of Ayodhya and his queens, Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. In time, four glorious sons are born to them – Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Devoted to each other, the four princes grow up happily in the palace. But the Gods have destined Rama to be a hero. His thrilling adventures begin when Rishi Vishwamitra comes to Ayodhya to seek his help against the rakshasas who are harassing the rishis in the forest. Bala Kand beautifully captures Rama’s and Lakshmana’s fight with the Rakshasas and their tutelage from the great rishi to learn the duties of the Kshatriya and the secret mantras of all kids of weapons. It also narrates fascinating tales about the people and the places they see on their journey to Mithila to see the great bow of Shiva where they meet King Janaka.
“It has been a wonderful learning experience for the entire team to read and try to convey simply the thoughts and deeds of Valmiki’s immortal characters. It took us over one and a half years for the research, scripting, illustrations, colouring and production. We wanted to create a comic which tells the story of the Ramayana in a visual format and are easy to read and understand. BalaKand, the first Kand in the series is not just for children, it is meant for every age group”, said Ms. Reena Puri, Editor Amar Chitra Katha. “Amar Chitra Katha’s Balakand has an extensive glossary and special pages that have notes by the author on subjects relevant to the main story, like ancient weapons, gods and demi-gods, Vedic food amongst others”, she further added.
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Warm regards,
Pallavi Khandelwal
PRaxis Media
+91 7776016310
pallavik.praxis@gmail.com
Sadashiv Peth, Pune
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TENNIS says NAMASTE INDIA with AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2014!
In shining form, World No. 8 Stanislas Wawrinka confirms participation in Aircel Chennai Open 2014
Major backing by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the tournament
CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 18, 2013: Current World Number 8, Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, today confirmed his participation in the 19th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open, India and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour tennis event, scheduled to be held at Chennai’s SDAT Stadium from December 30th 2013 to January 5th 2014. The event, one of three tournaments held in the opening week of the season, promises to give the subcontinent access to a week of scintillating tennis action, featuring some of the best names in the highly competitive world of international tennis.
Last year, Wawrinka wowed onlookers when he partnered Frenchman Benoit Paire to lift the tournament’s 2013 doubles title in a thrilling match that lasted less than an hour. The Olympic doubles gold medalist will be participating in the tournament for the sixth successive year and is looking at doing his best to start the season on a winning note like in 2011 when he captured the singles title.
The 28-year-old has had a terrific 2013, qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and giving his opponents a tough fight for the title. In his debut, the Lausanne native reached the semi-finals of the season finale and though he fell to winner Novak Djokovic, he finished the year on a high, compiling a career-best 51-23 match record on the season – including nine wins against Top 10 players.
In September 2013, Wawrinka proved his class at the US Open yet again. He reached the quarterfinals for the first time in three years after a four-set win over Tomas Berdych and followed this by defeating defending champion Andy Murray in three sets for a first Grand Slam semifinal appearance. While he experienced a five-set loss against Djokovic, Wawrinka impressed the tennis world with his confidence and proficiency.
Prominent among the 27-year-old’s greatest achievements have been winning gold for his country in the men’s doubles event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, partnering multiple Grand Slam winning compatriot Roger Federer.
He also cemented his position as one of the top ten players of the world, rising to No.10 in the Emirates ATP Rankings a few months earlier for the first time since May 2008; his semi final appearances at the US Open and Finals appearance at Madrid have been noteworthy achievements during the year.
Commenting on his presence at the tournament, Wawrinka said, “I am glad to say that Aircel Chennai Open 2014 will mark my sixth visit to Chennai to participate in a tournament I have grown to respect and love. As always, I am really looking forward to experiencing, once more, the excitement and support of the people. I still remember the exciting atmosphere during our doubles final last year. I’m looking forward to being back in that great stadium and hope to enjoy many more victories in front of my Indian fans. I congratulate the organizers for running a wonderful tournament year after year.”
Mr. M.A. Alagappan, President of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association said, “We are pleased to announce the 19th edition of the tournament in India, something which would have not been possible without the ardent support of the Government of Tamil Nadu and all our sponsors with whom we have had a warm and longstanding relationship. I would like to wholeheartedly thank the Govt of Tamil Nadu for their continued support, Aircel and all the other sponsors. Wawrinka is a player adored by fans in Chennai and we are glad to announce that he will be seen in action this year as well. He has had a fantastic playing year and we congratulate him on his stupendous performance at the ATP World Tour Finals. The Aircel Chennai Open has been growing in popularity thanks to players like him. We thank Wawrinka for this support.”
Ashu Jindal, Chief Operating Officer, IMG Reliance, said, “The Aircel Chennai Open is an integral part of Chennai’s sporting culture. Over the years, the tournament has grown in stature and continues to provide a perfect platform for the world’s finest tennis players, supporting and encouraging top Indian talent at the same time. It is our pleasure to welcome Wawrinka to India. He is among the world’s leading tennis players and it will be a pleasure to have him back – for the sixth consecutive year. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association and our sponsors who have relentlessly extended their support to the event.”
The Swiss man was ranked 17 when he played at the Aircel Chennai Open last year. At No. 8 now and raring to go, Wawrinka is ready to begin the new season in India. He started 2013 on a strong note in Chennai, and after that played the longest ever Davis Cup first round match lasting 7 hours and 1 minute. He then contested his first ATP World Tour final since winning the Aircel Chennai Open in 2011, falling to David Ferrer in a three-set Buenos Aires final. In May, he won his fourth ATP World Tour title at Oeiras defeating Ferrer.
The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by Govt of Tamil Nadu and a consortium of sponsors.
About Aircel Chennai Open 2014:
The USD 450,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated and organised by IMG Reliance, is India’s and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, the event has completed successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India. Winner of the prestigious ATP’s Player Services Award of Excellence (2006) for its outstanding organization and wonderful hospitality towards the participants and ATP’s Best Marketing Award (2008), the tournament has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The 19th edition of the event in India and 18th in Chennai will be held from December 30, 2013 to January 5, 2014 at the SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and is organised with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).
About IMG Tennis:
For nearly four decades, IMG Tennis has led the industry in the areas of player representation, tournament management, tour marketing, television-related initiatives, and teaching academies. The company’s rich heritage in tennis dates back to 1968 with the signing of its first tennis client, Rod Laver, by Mark H. McCormack. IMG Tennis anticipates the trends, nurtures the talent, and maximizes the opportunities for players, organizations, corporate marketers, and fans of tennis. IMG represents many top players on both the WTA and ATP Tours, along with a bevy of future stars poised to make their mark on the professional game. IMG also prides itself on representing many of the legends of the game. IMG’s roster of tennis clients includes Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Mary Joe Fernandez, John McEnroe, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams.
About IMG Reliance:
In 2010 Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest and most recognized private sector company, and IMG Worldwide (IMG), the world’s leading sports marketing and management company, announced the formation of an equal joint venture to develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India. The joint venture company, IMG Reliance Pvt. Ltd., will create and operate major sports and entertainment assets in the country. In its first initiative, IMG Reliance entered into an agreement with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to create a new professional basketball league and manage all aspects of the commercial rights to the game in India. IMG Reliance signed a 15-year agreement with the AIFF, to improve, popularize and promote the game of football throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional level. IMG Reliance has also created a scholarship program to identify and train talented young Indians from sports including – basketball, soccer and tennis–at IMG’s world-class sports training facilities at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida.
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Actor Anil Kapoor has developed a new fan base all together. He is now being addressed as agent Jay Singh Rathod by his newly developed fan following.
The veteran actor is being loved by the kids who have been glued to his character in his TV show 24. His role in the show comes out to be so realistic, that children have started addressing him as agent Jay Singh Rathod which is his character’s name.
The actor who plays an agent from the Anti Terrorist unit in the show is continuing to perform his best and has received immense appreciation for his performance.
Anil has been working round the clock to make sure that the episodes of the show are shot in time as unlike films, TV has a complete different nature of working.
The show has made the audience curious with each of its episodes.
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Raj Kumar Hirani is known to be extremely good at everything he does. However, people who are close to the director know for a fact that there is one thing he is not good at.
Raj Kumar Hirani struggles to say NO. He hates turning down requests or actually saying no to anyone who has approached for anything.
He can’t say a point blank no, even to his far off acquaintances or people he has met once.
In fact, even if the director has work in abundance he still goes out of his way to accommodate and do what is asked of him.
Raj kumar Hirani spokesperson says, “Raju sir rarely says no. He tries and accommodates as many people as possible.”
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Veena Malik plans to get married in 2015
Veena Malik was spotted a few days ago at the Mumbai Airport. The star was beaming, talking on the phone with someone. Just back after receiving the award of the most highest stature, Achievement Award. But, the reason for her happiness is something else it seems. Though, Veena is dating Umar Farooq, a businessman, is not a big secret. It`s out in the spotlight, but she might get married soon is the real news.
According to the sources, both may tie the knot by 2015. Having met in March 2013, through a friend in Dubai, the long-legged starlet, instantly fell in love with him. And Umar too, secretly had a thing for her. And they began meeting more often, with or without friends. And after a few meetings, he couldn`t contain himself and he finally proposed to Veena. Since then, the couple has been together, away from the vigilant eyes of the shutter-bugs. But, Veena being a very famous face, it inevitably had to come out. It` a very serious relationship, where both of them want to be tight-lipped. Farooq, himself is very reserved guy, and does not crave for any attention. He is an earnest lover, very possessive and serious about Veena.
A few weeks back, she was having dinner with a few close friends at Atlantis Dubai. There, a few pics were clicked and some of their photos got leaked. It`s now out for everyone to see. Since then, both of them have been taking extra measures to keep their relationship between themselves, and trying hard not be transparent to the whole world. Veena has already expressed her desire to be hitched by 2015 and the announcement might be a few months away.
Recently, Veena was declared as the most beautiful woman in the world by, an internet survey. She was rated above many Hollywood hotties. Also, FHA nominated her as the 26th most beautiful woman leaving behind a number of beauties red faced.
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Anil Kapoor along with the Pen team presented the theatrical trailer of the animated movie Mahabharat.
The movie have assembled a vast talented cast to give the voice for the iconic characters of Mahabharat.
The varied cast include Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Ajay Devgn, Vidya Balan, Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, and many more.
Anil Kapoor who has given voice for Karan also presented Karan’s character trailer.
Anil Kapoor even shared his experience while making the movie and working with Amaan Khan the director.
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India Bike Week 2014 presents ‘Shoot Your Journey’
~a unique initiative for biking enthusiasts to showcase their riding chronicles~
Mumbai 18 Nov 2013: Stories are for legends to tell and when it comes to biking legends, each one of you can be one!
India Bike Week is all set to thrill bikers with a unique competition- Shoot Your Journey that invites bikers everywhere to put on their creative hats and send in a short video of a motorcycle journey that is close to their hearts. The Shortlisted videos will be screened at the Ladakh tent and on the Big Trip Cinema during IBW 2014. Furthermore, few outstanding videos will also get the chance to be included in the IBW episode, that will be aired on Fox Traveller and win its creator a GoPro camera. The initiative which began recently will continue to showcase rider’s journeys who covered huge portions of land on their 2-wheels. Videos can be shot and edited at will, and must not exceed 5 minutes in length or be shorter than 2 minutes. These videos are submitted via email, and will be uploaded on IBW’s social media platforms for peers to judge. Judging will be done by members of the brotherhood themselves closer to the date of the festival.
With great biking come great stories, stories that are built while discovering untraversed roads and mysterious hills. India Bike Week 2014 brings you a unique opportunity through ‘Shoot Your Journey’ to share those memorable and adventurous biking stories that are yet untold. Let the world know about the madness that touched you while biking, the enthusiasm and passion that kept you going, those little experiences that still make you smile and the proud feeling you get being a biker. Who knows, your experiences might create a spark among the new generation of bikers and encourage them to create their own stories!
This unique initiative aims to continue creating momentum around India Bike Week 2014, marking the beginning of an epic biking journey in India which will lead up to the formal event in Goa on 17-18 January 2014. Modelled on the ‘Sturgis Motorcycle rally’ in South Dakota that attracts thousands of bikers every year, India Bike Week 2014 potentially aims to be the largest gathering of bikers in India’s history. From Café Racers to Scramblers, Cruisers to Superbikes, this annual event celebrating the Brotherhood of Indian Biking will bring together over 10,000 fans including some of India’s biggest biking celebs to Goa, soaking in Indian and international biking trends, new bike launches, products and accessories, music and entertainment.
Martin da Costa, CEO of 70 EMG said “One of the amazing things about India Bike Week 2014 is the Journey that thousands of bikers take across India to get to Goa. For a full week prior to India Bike Week, the roads of India are chock full of guys and girls on bikes meeting each other, riding with each other: from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Bikers take over the country, help each other out, make new friendships. Their Road to Goa, like all rides across this spectacular country is almost as exciting as the event itself. ‘Shoot Your Journey’ is going to generate wonderful footage and incredible stories. It’ll be a one hell of a ride!”
Mr. Keertan Adyanthaya, MD- FOX International Channels said, “Mr. Keertan Adyanthaya, MD- FOX International Channels said, “At Fox Traveller we celebrate journeys with as much vigour as we celebrate destinations. And this in essence is what the bikers also believe – love the ride, love the road, and celebrate once you get there. We want to encourage ‘Shoot your journey’ so that we can have a varied and rich repertoire of such stories that can then be shared at IBW 2014. This is something that all bikers would love to see and share, and at Fox Traveller, we would love to shown”.
India Bike Week celebrates the spirit of the Indian Biker and will be held in Goa on 17th & 18th January 2014.
About India Bike Week:
India’s largest Festival planners the SEVENTY Event Media Group, together with the #1 Travel and Lifestyle channel FOX Traveller present the most important Festival of Bikers, Bikes, Music & Mayhem in Indian history.
India Bike Week is the greatest congregation of Bikers in India’s history. From Riders to Scramblers, Cruisers to Superbikers, India Bike Week will bring together at least 12,000 fans with the best in Indian and international biking, music and brotherhood this year.
Modeled on the ‘Sturgis Motorcycle rally’ in South Dakota that attracts over 500,000 bikers every year, India Bike Week, celebrates the spirit of the Indian Biker and the first edition was held in Goa on 2nd & 3rd February 2013. India Bike Week is about the brotherhood of Indian Bikers, gives you the best live music & entertainment, showcase amazing new bikes, legendary bikers, products and accessories.
For media related information, please contact:
Shanu Vaid: 09873089693, shanu.vaid@bm.com
Ridhi Jain: 0971 715 3029, ridhi.jain@bm.com
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Yash Birla, Talat Aziz, Candy Brar, Aarti Chhabria, Tina Dutta and Ali Merchant At Sunburn DJ Party
Showman Entertainment Mohammad Fasih and Percept Live Harindra Singh bring back the Sunburn party to Mumbai for the second time in 2013. People have experienced the unique popular electronic dance music fest in the city. The stage was set for Sunburn Mumbai 2013, the lights were lit up with the massive LED screen and the ambience and the audience looked pretty impressive. More than 10,000 Mumbaikers was seen shaking their legs and enjoyed the electronic dance music fest. Fans were not just from the city but even from nearby Pune, Nagpur, Baroda and other cities of India. Bigg Boss7 contestant Candy Brar came in red hot avatar to dazzle the night and was seen enjoying DJ Night with her friends. She said, “Mumbai is a party place and we’ve chosen not just popular genres but a mix of house, trance and techno. There were two stages each with a rather eclectic line-up. The fest is for pure music lovers who enjoy the underground music scene combined with cutting edge visual and installation art.”
Actor Aarti Chhabria was seen raising the temperature high with the music. Yash Birla was seen tapping his foot on rocking music and said, “It was a great night and I enjoyed a lot. World’s top DJ’s rocked the event”. Sofia and Harindra Singh were seen grooving on the music. Singer Talat aziz was seen enjoying the DJ music night with his friends. Tina Dutta and Ali Merchant were seen shaking and moving their bodies in different array of music. Actor Arjun Bijlani was seen chatting with Shama Sikander about the awesome music.
Others present at the event were Designer Rehan Shan, Sarah, Sonia Birje, Aliza Khan, Satish Reddy and many more. Aptly themed ‘Party in a Concrete Jungle’, the two-day fest which was held on November 15-16 at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and was seen a notable line-up with artistes such as Paul Van Dyk, Fedde Le Grand, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Adam Beyer, Wolfpack, Lost Stories, Anish Sood and Kohra among others.
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Media Contacts:
Scribes INC- The PR Company
Satish Reddy
Mobile : 09167115564
Email : sateshreddey2013@gmail.com
Abhishek Dubey
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Nilofer Ansari
Mobile : 07666989939
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Punit Malhotra has all praises for Shraddha Kapoor
Shraddha kapoor who plays a important role in Gori Tere Pyaar Mein has impressed karan Johar and Punit Malhotra.
Shraddha who was to shoot a very difficult scene of the film barely took a few takes and the scene was shot they were very impressed with her.
The day Shraddha was to shoot was co incidently her Birthday she came all prepared for the shoot The shoot was taking place in banglore
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Director Punit Malhotra says:he had only Shraddha in mind when her character was written. “We had a casual chat about the role and she took the script home to read over the weekend,” he recalls, adding, “She said she’d do the film. Most of her scenes were shot in Bangalore. She’s easy to work with, be it emotional scenes, serious ones or comedy Lengthy dialogue was not the only challenge she faced while shooting for the scene. She had to stand in the sun wearing a heavy costume and lot of jewellery. “Though it would take her three hours to get ready, Shraddha was chilled out and performed well. She is very spontaneous.
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Eros International & Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela wows industry.
Eros International & Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela released worldwide this Friday only to create a splash at the domestic and oversees B/O. The magnum opus that several critics tout a masterpiece has also gone on to floor fellow-industry mates.
The romantic-drama painted across a vibrant canvas also saw adulation from the industry who took to a popular micro-blogging site to voice out their praise for director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the film’s leads Ranveer and Deepika .
Said Priyanka Chopra, “Just saw Ram Leela..Sanjay sir is such an artist..such sensitivities portrayed with such flair..Beautifully mounted with super performances.”
Said Hema Malini, “Saw Ram leela with family . Beautiful . Ram,leela & Sanjay were superb . Where was Sanjay leela in 70′s & 80′s ?”
Said Madhur Bhandarkar, “Wonderful film. Such a visual treat! Passionate, energetic performances by Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh”.
Said Aanand Rai, “Brilliant brilliant brilliant 
:) Ram leela !!! Speechless and sleepless thank you bhansali sir for such a treat. God bless.”
“Watched the magnum opus #ramleela. Ranvir and Deepika are magical. Woot!” added Ayushmann Khuranna.
Said Ken Ghosh , “ RamLeela is Bhansali version 2.0, a bit of classic Bhansali with a new feel. Every frame a painting. Deepika,Ranveer and the entire cast SHINE”
Said Simi Garewal , “ Deepika- Ranveer chemistry explodes in #RamLeela! Get set 4 top awards DP! @ SLB I thought u canttop Devdas. Bt u just did! I salute u!”
Eros International & Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela released 15th November 2013.
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Sanjay Gupta’s first book on Short Stories
In 2008, Sanjay Gupta under his banner White Feather Films had made Dus Kahaniyaan which was the first feature length film in India to have ten short films within it. It had stars like Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Sanjay Dutt, Manoj Bajpayee amongst a host of others.
Sanjay Gupta’s love for the short story format continues as he has just started writing a series of short stories to be published as a book.
Says Gupta – ‘I’ve finished writing the first three and to be honest am quite enjoying the process. My cinema is essentially dark and nourish, but I am consciously moving away from that space and making my films brighter now. So this is the obvious platform for me to release all the dark stories I still want to tell and to tread fearlessly in telling these stories. It’s a luxury you do not have when writing for the screen. Also I am in talks with a major publishing house that we have been working in the past with.”
Can we expect another Dus Kahaniyaan? He says – “Certainly not with these stories as they are extremely dark and graphic and would find it impossible to pass through our censors.”
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Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest awards New Writers!
Chetan Raj Shreshtha & Ananya Vajpayee receive the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award
~Awards given in two categories, Fiction and Non-fiction~
Mumbai, November 17, 2013: Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2013, today, announced the winners of the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award, an annual award to encourage, recognise and celebrate first-time writers in English, in the Indian literary space across the fiction and non-fiction genres.
Chetan Raj Shrestha, a 34 year old architect from Sikkim, Gangtok, was declared winner in the fiction category for his debut novel, ‘The King’s Harvest’, published by Aleph Book Company. In the non-fiction category, Ananya Vajpeyi, a senior fellow with the American Institute of Indian Studies, won the coveted award for her book, ‘Righteous Republic’, published by Harvard University Press.
Presenting the award along with a cash prize of 1 lakh, each, to the winners, Dr. Mukund Rajan, Brand Custodian, Tata Sons said, “Tata Literature Live! First Book Award is a platform to encourage and discover new literary talent, and in the process bring new readers to these writers. At the Tata group, we are delighted to play our role in preserving, sustaining and in some cases even reviving art, culture and traditions. Our congratulations to Chetan and Ananya for their outstanding debut efforts, and we wish the very best to them for their future works.”
Works were judged for excellence, originality and accessibility, as well as promise. This year, the jury, comprised of the veteran author, Sir Mark Tully; social commentator, Mr. Santosh Desai; senior journalist, Mr. Dileep Padgaonkar; COO, Landmark, Mr. Ashutosh Pandey; and Festival Director, Mr. Anil Dharker.
“The first book is an initial step towards your literary career. Tata Literature Live! First Book Award is an initiative by us to encourage authors on this path and to recognise and reward their efforts,” said Mr. Dharker. “This year the selection that made it to the final list was quite magnificent. The bar was raised like never before this year and as a jury while it was a tough job to select just one book, it made me immensely happy to see such mature writings from a set of new authors.”
Chetan Raj Shrestha has set the story in his native land Gangtok, Sikkim in his debut novel ‘The King`s Harvest’. Shrestha is a trained architect, specialising in conservation architecture. His literary skills makes the picturesque region of Sikkim come alive and the thrill of human emotions are so well etched out in the story, that one lives vicariously as one reads the story. The book traces the story of a woman called Kamala who hacks her husband into forty-seven pieces, then walks to the nearby police station and turns herself in. The mystery unfolds to reveal a world full of deceit by the cop in-charge of the investigation, Dechen. The story showcases Chetan’s enormous gifts as a storyteller. Magical, gritty, nerve-wracking and stylish in equal measure, this is an exceptional debut.
What India’s founders derived from Western political traditions as they struggled to free their country from colonial rule is widely understood. Less well-known is how India’s own rich knowledge traditions of two and a half thousand years influenced these men as they set about constructing a nation in the wake of the Raj. In ‘Righteous Republic’, Ananya Vajpeyi furnishes this missing account, a ground-breaking assessment of modern Indian political thought.
Taking five of the most important founding figures—Mohandas Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru, and B.R. Ambedkar—Vajpeyi looks at how each of them turned to classical texts in order to fashion an original sense of Indian selfhood. In ‘Righteous Republic’, a portrait emerges of a group of original and cosmopolitan thinkers who succeeded in braiding together two Indian knowledge traditions, the one political and concerned with social questions, the other religious and oriented toward transcendence. A Rhodes Scholar, from University of Oxford, Ananya is currently working on a book on the life of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Thrilled with her debut win, Ananya said, “I am an academic by profession and a historian by temperament. With this book both of these have come together with my love for writing. I am thankful to the jury members for appreciating my work and giving me this honour.”
Chetan, who could not be here, messaged saying, “I know how to write but I don’t know what to say. I would just like to thank everyone who has given me this prestigious award”.
Apart from the winners, the other authors on the shortlist of Tata Literature Live! First Book Award 2013, in the Fiction category, were Shovan Chowdhury, a Delhi-based amateur humorist, for ‘The Competent Authority; and Srikumar Sen, ex-journalist from The Times for ‘The Skinning Tree’.
The Non-Fiction category saw names like Saba Naqvi, political editor of Outlook magazine, for ‘In Good Faith’; and Peter Smetacek, an authority on Indian butterflies and moths, for ‘Butterflies on the roof of the world’ in the competition.
Last year, there was only one category, where the author of ‘Breakout Nations’, Ruchir Sharma, won the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award.
The four day festival saw a range of interesting panel discussions, book launches, open house conversations, poetry readings and straight talk with celebrated authors, publishers and literary agents.
The Tata group is the title sponsor for the festival, supported by Landmark and Tata Steel.
The festival website, www.tatalitlive.in
Facebook: www.facebook.com/litlive
Twitter: @tatalitlive
About the Tata group:
The Tata group comprises over 100 operating companies in seven business sectors: communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. The group has operations in more than 100 countries across six continents, and its companies export products and services to 150 countries. The total revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $96.79 billion (around Rs527,047 crore) in 2012-13, with 62.7 percent of this coming from business outside India. Tata companies employ over 540,000 people worldwide. The Tata name has been respected in India for more than 140 years for its adherence to strong values and business ethics. Every Tata company or enterprise operates independently. Each of these comp