2013-09-25

Mumbai, September 24th: Do you believe you were born to dance??? If yes, then the wait is finally over! The days and nights you spent rehearsing and getting every move just perfect will finally pay off. The biggest and the baap of all dance reality shows is back and this time it’s going to be crazier than ever before! Zee TV announces the return of the dance mania – The brand new season of ‘Dance India Dance’ – DID Season 4! Zee TV’s hunt for the ultimate dancers gets bigger and better as the auditions for DID 4 will be held across 19 cities and its happening in Hyderabad on 28th September, at Don Bosco High School, Chandavarkar Rd, Ashok Nagar, Borivali west, Mumbai, MH 400092 9 am onwards.

With Zee TV kicking off an aggressive blitzkrieg of multi-city auditions all through August and September, it’s time for talented dancers across India to come to their nearest centre / cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Baroda, Raipur, Indore, Patna, Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Dehradun, Chennai, Kolhapur, Imphal, Rajkot and Bangalore to gear up, put on their best dancing shoes and land up at the audition venues!

While the first 3 seasons have unearthed some exceptional dancers like Salman, Shakti, Dharmesh, Prince, Rajasmita, Raghav, Siddhesh and Jai Kumar Nair to name a few, the upcoming season promises to showcase the ultimate dancer who will set the stage ablaze with original choreography, immaculate timing, never-before-seen passion and a universal appeal. Dance India Dance has introduced new dance forms like locking-popping, b-boying, cha cha cha, rumba, jive, contemporary, afro jazz, etc in the last four seasons and in this upcoming series, the passion, the frenzy, the camaraderie, the rehearsals, the victories, the disappointments, the hosts, the judges and above all, the spectacular talent will return with RENEWED VIGOUR!

‘Dance India Dance – Season 4’ is undoubtedly a golden opportunity coming to your city to discover hidden talent. It’s the ultimate platform to showcase the talent and personality of very gifted dancers chosen from all corners of India! Eminent jury members will arrive in the city on the audition day to identify the best talent who will then be invited to the mega-auditions in Mumbai. So, put your best foot forward and prove that you were BORN TO DANCE.

About Dance India Dance

Dance India Dance is a path-breaking show which changed the way Dance reality shows are perceived in our country. With Grandmaster Mithun Chakravarty on the hot seat and judges like Remo D’Souza, Terence Lewis, Geeta Kapur, Farah Khan, Marzi Pestonji, Rajiv Surti and Sandeep Soparkar, the show has reached a notch higher in popularity not only for its supreme talent but also for its unique format.

DID, as it is popularly known, is a nationwide talent hunt to discover potential dancers who will be proving their mettle in front of the best choreographers of the industry. Dance India Dance is an unmatched opportunity for those people, who aspire to make it big but do not get an appropriate platform to showcase their talent. Zee TV has been a pioneer in the field of music with a legendary show like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and it has now made television history with Dance India Dance being the No 1 dancing show in India!

About Zee TV

Zee TV, the flagship channel of Zee Network was launched in October 1992. With a reach of more than 167 countries and access to more than 500 million viewers globally, Zee TV has created strong brand equity and is the largest media franchise serving the South Asian Diaspora. With over sixteen years of its launch, Zee TV has driven the growth of the satellite and cable industry in India.

The popularity of Zee arises from its understanding of Indian culture and beliefs which are depicted in its programming. Realizing its strength in programming and the need for Indian entertainment in the overseas market, the company launched Zee TV in the UK / Europe (1995), the USA (1998), Africa (1998) and today is available across five continents.

Today the channel has a multi genre offering again and is living up to its image of being a socially conscious channel. With path breaking shows like Hasne aur Hasane Ka Tonic Ladies Special, Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Aapki Antara, Pavitra Rishta, Shree, Maayka, Ghar ki Lakshmi Betiyann and Hero Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs, the channel has established icons such as Laali, Archana, Antara, Lakshmi and Saraswati to name a few. Zee TV also carries the proud tag of being the pioneer of the musical game show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Dance India Dance.

Media Contact

Nupur Kothari Anuj Talpade

nupur.kothari@zee.esselgroup.com anujt@zeenetwork.com

09833830728 09819589828

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‘UFF YOO MAA’- a special show for a cause capturing 100 years of Bollywood

at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Fundraiser for underprivileged children suffering from cancer at Tata Medical Center in Kolkata

Eminent Bollywood personalities like Kajol Mukherjee Devgan, Sonam Kapoor, Tanuja Mukherjee, Waheeda Rehman, Shabana Azmi, Asha Parekh, Javed Akhtar, Vishal Bharadwaj, Usha Uthup will interact with the audience

Mumbai, September 25, 2013: As Indian cinema celebrates a milestone of centenary; The Taj Group of Hotels along with Tata Medical Centre encompasses a nostalgic show ‘UFF YOO MAA’ that will bring together all the iconic elements of 100 years of Bollywood cinema in 100 minutes. The play will be staged at Crystal Room at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai on 5th October, 2013 and the money raised for this event will be donated for a laudable Rs. 350 crore worth world class not-for-profit hospital, built by the Tata Group.

This enthralling play will be interspersed with film songs from the last 10 decades. For the first time ever Bollywood royalty like Kajol Mukherjee Devgan, Tanuja Mukherjee, Waheeda Rehman, Shabana Azmi, Asha Parekh, lyricist Javed Akhtar, fashionista Sonam Kapoor, filmmaker and music composer Vishal Bharadwaj and the inimitable Amin Sayani, amongst others will come together and share a common platform. The evening will also witness stalwarts recalling lesser known anecdotes from the past; while music and dialogues of the times will recreate the aura of every decade. Zee – Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winners will sing a medley of songs from the last 10 decades while renowned singer Usha Uthup will sing her most memorable songs at the event.

The Gala dinner planned by Chef Hemant Oberoi, Grand Executive Chef at The Taj Mahal Palace will serve an exceptional menu inspired from Bollywood. The carefully crafted menu will include delights such as Chennai Express (South Indian cuisine) to Delhi Belly (Delhi’s famous street food), Chandni Chowk to China (Chinese food) and Pardesi (international desserts) that will surely tantalize the taste buds of the guests.

Tata Medical Center (TMC) was formed to provide world class cancer care to the patients from Eastern and North-Eastern regions in India that sees higher registered cases of cancer. TMC is working towards offering a spectrum of services including prevention, diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation of the cancer patients. The proceeds from the play will contribute towards the expansion of the center’s hospital in Kolkata to treat underprivileged cancer patients in East and North East India. For the past few years TMC have been raising money through very special fundraisers such as Oh My God, which took place last year to support the expansion of Tata Medical Center, a comprehensive Cancer Care Center from the Tata Group at Kolkata.

With an ambience reverberating of the charm and glamour of Bollywood, the evening promises to be one that awes you bringing entertainment and a noble cause together.

Venue:

Crystal Room – The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Date:

October 5, 2013

Time:

7pm onwards

Passes:

INR 10,000 per head

To be a part of this noble cause and attend the dinner please contact 022 – 66653366 / 66653187 or email on nikhila.palat@tajhotels.com

About The Tata Medical Center

The Tata Group has gifted a Rs. 350 crore non-profit (approx. £46 million), world-class cancer hospital in Kolkata, to the people of East India. The Tata Medical Center was inaugurated by Mr. Ratan Tata on 16th May 2011. The hospital provides the entire spectrum of services from prevention, diagnosis and therapy to rehabilitation and palliative support for patients. 50% of the beds in this hospital are reserved for the underprivileged and the hospital currently houses 167 beds and we are planning to increase it by another 200 beds. It is equipped with modern facilities and currently has 35 specialist doctors.

About Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces

Established in 1901, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia’s largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 104 hotels in 64 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 any further information please contact Rediffusion/ Edelman:

Yohanna Irani – Yohanna.Irani@edelman.com / +91 8879019688

Rashmi Biswas – Rashmi.Biswas@edelman.com / +91 9920220230

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15TH MUMBAI FILM FESTIVAL UNVIELS AN IMPRESSIVE LINE UP AND EVENTS

· Over 200 films from over 65 Countries to be screened

· USD 220,000 to be awarded as cash prizes

· Costa Gravas and Kamal Hassan to be conferred with Lifetime Achievement awards

· Leading talent such as Bruce Beresford, Asghar Farhadi, Leos Carax, Siddiq Barmark, Nathalie Baye, Masato Harada to attend

· 15th MFF will pay homage to Shri.Yash Chopra, Shri.Rituparno Ghosh and Shri. Pran

· Celebration of Spanish cinema | spotlight on Cambodian cinema | 6th Rendez-vous with French cinema | Kabul Fresh :New voices in Afghan cinema |Experimental films |Costa Gravas retrospective |Leos Carax special tribute

· Mumbai Film Mart will be held from 18-20 October and with new initiatives such as India Project room and Filmy Room

· Special Master Classes by Industry veterans such as Bruce Beresford, song composer Ilan Eshkeri, editor Jill Bilcock, and filmmaker Leos Carax

· Special panels to be conducted by the Academy of Motion picture arts and sciences

Mumbai, September 25, 2013: The 15th edition of the Mumbai film festival presented by Reliance Entertainment and organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) will be held from 17-24 October 2013 at Liberty Cinema, Metro Big Cinema, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Versova as the satellite venue.

The 15th Mumbai film festival’s impressive line up of 200 movies and other highlights were revealed today at the curtain raiser press conference held at the Taj Mahal hotel in the presence of Mr. Shyam Benegal, Filmmaker and Chairman, MAMI, Mr. Amit Khanna, and Mr. Ramesh Sippy, Trustees, MAMI, Mr. Srinivasan Narayanan, Director, Mumbai Film Festival along with various dignitaries from the Indian Entertainment industry.

This year too the festival has announced new initiatives as part of the Mumbai Film Mart (Filmy Room and India Project Room) and a brand new Experimental film section to the festival. These new initiatives will be in addition to the other competition sections such as the ‘International Competition’, ‘Celebrate Age’ and ‘Dimensions Mumbai’. The total prize money at this year’s festival is USD 220,000.

The 15th Mumbai film festival will also host a celebration of Spanish Cinema organized in tandem with the Embassy of Spain in India. This celebration package will also include classics such as El Verdugo, Seven Days in January, Carmen amongst others.

15TH MUMBAI FILM FESTIVAL UNVIELS AN IMPRESSIVE LINE UP AND EVENTS

· Over 200 films from over 65 Countries to be screened

· USD 220,000 to be awarded as cash prizes

· Costa Gravas and Kamal Hassan to be conferred with Lifetime Achievement awards

· Leading talent such as Bruce Beresford, Asghar Farhadi, Leos Carax, Siddiq Barmark, Nathalie Baye, Masato Harada to attend

· 15th MFF will pay homage to Shri.Yash Chopra, Shri.Rituparno Ghosh and Shri. Pran

· Celebration of Spanish cinema | spotlight on Cambodian cinema | 6th Rendez-vous with French cinema | Kabul Fresh :New voices in Afghan cinema |Experimental films |Costa Gravas retrospective |Leos Carax special tribute

· Mumbai Film Mart will be held from 18-20 October and with new initiatives such as India Project room and Filmy Room

· Special Master Classes by Industry veterans such as Bruce Beresford, song composer Ilan Eshkeri, editor Jill Bilcock, and filmmaker Leos Carax

· Special panels to be conducted by the Academy of Motion picture arts and sciences

Mumbai, September 25, 2013: The 15th edition of the Mumbai film festival presented by Reliance Entertainment and organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) will be held from 17-24 October 2013 at Liberty Cinema, Metro Big Cinema, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Versova as the satellite venue.

The 15th Mumbai film festival’s impressive line up of 200 movies and other highlights were revealed today at the curtain raiser press conference held at the Taj Mahal hotel in the presence of Mr. Shyam Benegal, Filmmaker and Chairman, MAMI, Mr. Amit Khanna, and Mr. Ramesh Sippy, Trustees, MAMI, Mr. Srinivasan Narayanan, Director, Mumbai Film Festival along with various dignitaries from the Indian Entertainment industry.

This year too the festival has announced new initiatives as part of the Mumbai Film Mart (Filmy Room and India Project Room) and a brand new Experimental film section to the festival. These new initiatives will be in addition to the other competition sections such as the ‘International Competition’, ‘Celebrate Age’ and ‘Dimensions Mumbai’. The total prize money at this year’s festival is USD 220,000.

The 15th Mumbai film festival will also host a celebration of Spanish Cinema organized in tandem with the Embassy of Spain in India. This celebration package will also include classics such as El Verdugo, Seven Days in January, Carmen amongst others.

Anshu Ahuja

Crisscross Communication

9987 423 546

anshu@crisscross.in // anshu.crisscross@gmail.com

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92.7 BIG FM AND HAJMOLA HUNT FOR COMIC TALENT IN UTTAR PRADESH WITH ‘HAJMOLA CHATPATA NUMBER 1’

STAND-UP COMEDIANS TO BE AUDITIONED ACROSS 80 CITIES STARTING 27th SEPTEMBER

WINNER GETS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SUPERSTAR AJAY DEVGAN

KANPUR, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013: India is a country that has no dearth of comic talent. 92.7 BIG FM and HAJMOLA are now on the quest to handpick the best and the funniest from Uttar Pradesh! India’s largest FM network 92.7 BIG FM and Hajmola present a campaign to honour stand-up comedy talent across UP with a property titled Hajmola Chatpata No.1.

The rollicking journey begins this September when 92.7 BIG FM along with Hajmola will scout across 80 towns in Uttar Pradesh to handpick the best who can tickle your funny bone. Starting 27th September, the audition booths will travel across cities like Allahabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly etc. registering people and showcasing their best in comedy. Going by the success of previous on ground initiatives hosted like Close-up Antakshari, BIG Disha etc. , participants are expected to throng the booths. A stringent scanning process will be followed, to select the top 10 finalists who will compete at the grand finale in Kanpur in November.

This month long campaign will be supported by RJs from 92.7 BIG FM’s radio stations across Uttar Pradesh which include Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Jhansi, Kanpur and Allahabad stations. The finale will witness comedians from Bollywood as judges who will help select the one to be crowned Hajmola Chatpata Number 1. The winner also has a Golden chance to meet Bollywood Superstar Ajay Devgn.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Vineet Mittal, Business Head, BIG LIVE said, “With Hajmola Chatpata No 1, we remain committed to providing entertainment to our listeners, along with offering them with a platform to showcase talent. Some of the most brilliant talent comes from our emerging markets and we are happy to partner with Hajmola on this initiative. This initiative guarantees a whole lot of laughs to audiences, along with offering marketers an excellent property to reach relevant audiences in the region.”

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Ajay Singh Parihar, Category Head Digestives, Dabur India said, “Hajmola, a tasty, fun-filled confectionery brand, is available in interesting formats like tablets and candies. A tasty mix of traditional Indian culinary herbs, spices and edible salts, Hajmola is the leading player in the branded digestive tablets market in India and comes in five variants – Regular, Imli, Pudina and Nimbu & Anardana. It has a continuous presence among top brands in Brand Equity Survey. Brand is widely distributed in 18 Lac outlets as per AC Nielson Survey. Hajmola’s huge success can be gauged by the fact that over 2.5 cr. Hajmola tablets are consumed in India daily.

Hajmola over the years have been endorsed by stars from various fields like Mr Amitabh Bachhan & Mr Kapil Dev. Last year the brand roped in Mr Ajay Devgn as their new Brand Ambassador. “Hajmola and Ajay Devgn have a lot in common; both are hugely popular among both young and old, and have delighted their consumers for several years. This year the brand has tasted success in its latest launch of Anardana Variant with a successful campaign with Mr Ajay Devgn. As we all know that Hajmola has an unique Irrestible Chatpata taste hence Hajmola Chatpata No. 1 to scout for the most Chatpata Talent of Uttar Pradesh along with 92.7 BIG FM.”

The campaign will see a multi-media campaign across radio, print, onground and digital.

About Reliance Broadcast Network

Reliance Broadcast Network Limited is a media entertainment conglomerate with play across radio, television and television production. The company houses the following verticals: 92.7 BIG FM – India’s largest FM Network with 45 stations, reaching over 4 crore Indians each week; BIG CBS Networks – a joint venture with CBS Studios International offering English Entertainment Channels – Love and Prime (which is available in dual feeds of English and Hindi), as well as a regional General Entertainment Channel for the Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh (PCHP) region called Spark Punjabi; BIG RTL THRILL – a dual feed channel from the Company’s joint venture with Europe’s RTL Group, targeted at male audiences and positioned as the ultimate action destination; BIG MAGIC – a General Entertainment Channel featuring family dramas, crime shows, sitcoms, reality shows and weekend blockbuster movies. The Channel has expanded further and launched BIG MAGIC Bihar and Jharkhand, with specially created programming for the market. BIG MAGIC has also expanded into the United States, Canada and Australia under the brand name BIG MAGIC International; BIG PRODUCTIONS – the television content production division caters to the creative needs of the diverse Indian television landscape. Reliance Broadcast Network also distributes Bloomberg TV India, the country’s premier business news channel as part of its television bouquet. For more information log on to www.reliancebroadcast.com



Ruchi Malviya – Client Executive

Concept Public Relations Limited

Registered Office: Queen’s Mansion | First Floor | Prescott Road | Next to Cathedral School | Fort | Mumbai 400001

O: 022.40558900 (extn – 957) | M: +91-9769869935 | F: 022.40558901

www.conceptpr.com

____________________________________________________________

Concept PR, Queen’s Mansion, First Floor,Next to Cathdral School,Prescot Road, Fort, Mumbai-400001, India. www.conceptpr.com

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World Tourism Day, celebrated on 27th September was declared in 1980 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Tourism affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide, and is celebrated all year round at Taj Safari.

Taj Safaris is built on decades of fine expertise in operating luxury jungle safari lodges coupled with responsible tourism. The Company firmly believes in investing in sustainable conservation development and community empowerment, and follows the mantra of “Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People.”

In line with this philosophy, Taj Safari implements innovative and empowering community projects at its four lodges while providing guests with the ultimate interpretive wildlife experience. On the occasion of World Tourism Day we give you an insight into the Taj Safari ethos of sustainable ecotourism:

Water for Life: conservation, storage, and recycling:

The Pashan Garh naturalist team created a water recycling system to reprocess the grey water from the staff village. The lodge’s water recycling system passes grey water from the showers in the staff village through a sand filter, producing 3,000 litres of water a day. The recovered water is further used for the kitchen vegetable garden.

A jungle home: Eco friendly architecture

Built on raised structures, the tents at Banjaar Tola allow for natural undergrowth and drainage. With pressed bamboo wall panels and natural bamboo floors, the locally crafted furniture, Bastar artworks and well-crafted bell metal figurines adds to the rustic ambience. With a light footprint, the accommodation is expressly designed to protect the environment as opposed to the conventional use of concrete and brick. Double layers of canvas with insulation materials and air gaps keep the tents cool in the summers, whereas hot water is piped under the insulated bamboo floor for warm, cozy winters. The Pashan Garh lodge was awarded the Eco-tourism award 2010 -11 for Best Eco Friendly Lodge/Resort granted by the Madhya Pradesh Eco-tourism Development Board. The award was won on various parameters like ecofriendly design, minimum use of land and no trees cut during construction as well as the promotion of rain water harvesting via an artificial lake.

Smokeless Chulhas for a healthier life

Madhya Pradesh consumes fuel wood worth approximately INR 25 million as per the Forest Department. The women use a traditional one burner stove to cook which consumes a lot of fire wood and is unhealthy due to the amount of smoke inhaled during cooking. Taj Safaris replaced the traditional chulha with an improvised smokeless chulha supported by a blower. The newly introduced model has two burners, allowing womenfolk to cook two items at the same time without using additional fuel wood. The initial figures suggest that the consumption of fuel wood has gone down by 40 to 45% with reduced cooking time and healthy conditions. There is a significant reduction in cooking time, while also ensuring a far healthier, smokeless environment.

Through these small and sometimes big initiatives, the Taj Safari lodges conserve wildlife on a sustainable basis and are constantly on the lookout for ways to give back to their neighboring communities traversing education & functional literacy, health and nutritional support, skill training & local enterprise development.

Regards,

Aneesha Singh

Account Executive

Edelman India Private Limited

903, One Indiabulls Centre, Tower 2-B, 9th Floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013, India

T: +91 22 6151 3331 | F: +91 22 4353 0264 | M: +91 98207 41240| E: aneesha.singh@edelman.com

Daniel J. Edelman India Group

Great Places to Work – Great Places To Work Institute Survey 2013

Indian Consultancy of the Year 2012 – The Holmes Report

South Asia Agency of the Year 2012 – Campaign Asia Pacific

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Day 2 at the Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai 2013 ensues with fervor

Following a grand opening ceremony and consequent celebrations to mark the commencement of the six-day long cinematic extravaganza, the second day of the Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai 2013 began with much enthusiasm amidst an army of devoted cinephiles eagerly awaiting the screening of the day’s first film – 200 Pounds Beauty.

Showcased under the category World Panorama, 200 Pounds Beauty, was a Korean film of 120 minutes Directed by Kim Yong-Hwa. It was a beautiful story of an overweight phone sex employee Hanna, who’s also a ghost for a famous pop singer. The film dealt with Henna’s insecurities, which lead her to attempt suicide but got interrupted by a phone call that changes her entire life. The film was highly appreciated by the cinephiles. The second film of the day was Hassan Benjelloun’s 108 minute Arabic film ‘The Red Moon La Lune Rouge’. The film, which came all the way from Morocco, was a fiction based on the biography of a great musician, who overcame the bitterness of infirmities, material deprivation and human cruelties by an unshakable faith. It was about the permanent challenge of artistic creation, inspired by an exceptional love. The never-dying spirit of this character had motivated everyone.

Regarded as one of the top 10 films showcased at this festival, The Children’s Republic was the next in line. Directed by Flora Gomes, this English film from Portugal was set in the West Africa. It was the story of a small country, which every adult had abandoned. But the children get organized and make the Children’s Republic a stable and prosperous country; however, they no longer grow up. In this 78 minute film the director had beautifully shown the power of children to change the world. Other films showcased in this category were Ricky Rijneke’s Hungarian film ‘Silent Ones’ and Lars Kraume’s German film ‘Meine Shwestern’ (My Sisters), also labeled as one of the top 10 films showcased at the festival. This 85 minute film was the story of a 30 years old Linda suffering from a congenital heart disease. On sensing her near death she made an attempt to come closer to herself and her two sisters – Katharina and Clara for once more.

The Indian Showcase category began with Kamal Hassan’s critically acclaimed film Vishwaroopam. Made in Tamil and Hindi, this 147 minute film was the story of Vishwanathan, a Kathak dance teacher in New York, and his rather happy marriage with Nirupama who was a nuclear oncologist. She hired a detective to keep a watch on her husband, who apparently ended up in a wrong place that revealed Vishwanathan’s true identity. In the afternoon of the day, the audience enjoyed some great Indian regional feature films such as Rajeev Kumar’s Punjabi film Nabar, Niranjan Thade’s Gujarati film Saptapadii (The Businessman’s Wife) and Gajendra Ahire’s Marathi film Touring Talkies. These films were appreciated by both Hindi and regional cinema lovers. All the films screened in this category also formed the part of the competition.

Some Indian classics, along with one Korean, were also screened on this day, under the Jagran Classics category. These were Girish Kasaravalli’ Ghatashradha (Kannada), Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand (Hindi), Ritwik Ghatak’s Meghe Dhaka Tara (Bengali), Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali (Bengali), and Kim Han-Min’s War of the Arrows (Korean).

Master Class, a panel discussion by LA Film Council on Co-productions marked the beginning of the Jagran Shorts segment. This open forum for interaction witnessed a panel discussion that featured illustrious participants from the film industry. Through the discussion they provided an insightful perspective on Co-productions. In the later half of the day, Cyrus Dastoor introduced cinephiles to some great national and international short films. Ara Arush’s The Hunter (Russian), Yacine Bouaziz’s Al Djazira (English), Dan Carrillo’s Zero Hour (English), Valentin Gagarin, Shujun Wong and Robert Wincierz’s Reverie-Day Dream (Animated, Silent from Germany), Gaurav Shimpi’s Chumbak (Marathi), Jean-Bernard Marlin’s La Fugue (French) and Chema Carcia Ibarra’s Misterio (Spanish) were some of those films. Beside these, MS Sathyu’s Garam Hawa (Hindi) and Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap and Karan Johar directed Bombay Talkies (Hindi) were also screened in this segment.

The forthcoming days at the festival will host many more special segments dedicated to National and International cinema – screening numerous feature and short films across genres, directed by debutants as well as some eminent cinematic personalities from around the globe.

The final edition of the Jagran Film Festival is scheduled from the 24th – 29th September, 2013 at Fun Republic, Andheri West, Mumbai.

For further details about the festival, please log onto: to www.jff.co.in

For further information, please call Crisscross Communication

Tejal Daftary | tejal@crisscross.in | 98204 04 621

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Cast of Desi Magic shoot in Patiala

Patiala, September 20, 2013: Ameesha Patel Productions maiden venture Desi Magic*s shoot is running in full swing, directed by Mehul Atha. The principle cast – Ameesha Patel, Zayed Khan and Sahil Shroff are currently shooting in Patiala, one of the Heritage cities of India.

Ameesha on the sets, *The city is beautiful and an important part of our film. The people are very warm and welcomed us with open arms. I play a Punjabi kudi in the film and the role that I am essaying is something that I have never played before on screen. Shooting here has been a wonderful experience which I will cherish forever.” Taking extra special care for her clothes, Ameesha confessed, “I love the Patiala salwars that are worn here. Most of my costumes have a lot of Patiala salwars with a lot of Phulkari work on the kurta, bringing out the textile richness of Punjab.*

While Zayed Khan, who plays a suave sophisticated guy, is on a eating spree. He said, *Our line producer has got the most fantastic local caterer who sets up a tandoor for lunch. So from the hot kulchas to the various tangdi kababs and reshmi tikkas, it has been a gastronomical experience. And yes, the hot, crispy jalebis with rabdi are what we call the malai of Indian desserts.. I have had to work out extra hard in the gym, so that we maintain continuity with my weight.*

Zayed and Ameesha are joined by model turned actor Sahil Shroff, who just landed from Mumbai a day before. The actor revealed, *For a performer, the first shot of a new film will always remain special and today I gave my first shot. Hence, Patiala will always remain very close to my heart.*

The film is in its second schedule. On its completion, the cast and crew will proceed to Europe for the final schedule. The cast will be stationed in Patiala for two weeks. The film is all set to release on February 28, 2014.

Below is the full detail of the team:

· Banner: Ameesha Patel Productions

· Producers: Kuunal Goomer & Ameesha Patel

· Director: Mehul Atha

· Cast: Ameesha Patel, Zayed Khan and Sahil Shroff

· Supporting Cast: Randhir Kapoor, Lillete Dubey, Ravi Kishan

· Genre: Comedy / Family Entertainer / Drama

· Screenplay : Ameet Mehta

· Script Doctor : Sanjay Gadhvi

· DOP: Aseem Bajaj

· Music: DJ Aqeel and Ankit Tiwari

· Costumes: Manish Malhotra, Shahid Amir

· Choreographer: Raju Khan

· Music on: T-Series

Contact Person:

Kushal Sampat

Kamakaze Entertainment

9820401942 / kamakaze.pr@gmail.com

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Is Ranbir’s Besharam piggy backing on Katrina and Salman’s popularity?

zoOm has always been the first to break the news with the developments on Besharam. Reported earlier by zoOm, Ranbir had strongly recommended his lady love for the role but this time the actor has gone one step further! The actor may not have gotten his way with the director but it seems like the film’s PR machinery is leaving no stone unturned while banking on her fame and name! That’s not all; the team has also added the Dabangg Khan’s name to the list.

Keeping track of the social media promotions of the movie zoOm found out that the active social media team posted, “Neta Hoge Beimaan, Sheila Hogi Jawaan, Naahi Jiger Se Hoon Salman, Hoon Main Bada Shaitaan, Bhaago Public Besharam Hai Mera Naam”. With Ranbir playing the lead why does the film require additional starry names to promote it? Like most of the questions revolving his film, it is possible that Ranbir would cleverly dodge the queries to this as well.

Is Ranbir’s street smart image failing to impress his fans unlike his previous hits? Or is the film’s PR machinery trying to prove that Katrina’s casting would have been the cherry on the icing? To know more, tune into Planet Bollywood News every day at 7 pm on zoOm – India’s No. 1 Bollywood Channel

Gitanjali Khatau

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GITANJALI KHATAU

PROJECT EXECUTIVE

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1. Tell us about how you went about the film, how you finalized the casting?

> I needed actors who are very good performers as they had to play double roles. Gulshan Grover and Amrita Raichand were already in the mind as I knew their capacity as an actor. Ali’s past works on big screen and his theatre background amazed me a director. I was relaxed because I had my lead man in place. So that’s how they came on board. We finalized Anisa after several auditions. She was a good choice as heroin, fresh yet very talented.

2.Main cast and the exciting experience of this quest that you would like to share?

> Filmmaking itself is an incomparably exciting process…there is no bigger high than creating a piece of art…shooting a film is always a roller coaster ride.

> 3 .The story is funny yet emotional and is a romcom… Tell us more about it…

> “Baat Bann Gayi” does not have single dull moment…at one place you will be touched by the soulful romance; at another, you will laugh your heart out…The beauty of the film is that it explores contrasting facets of human nature.

> 4. Any interesting anecdotes with Gulshanji, Ali Fazal, Anisa and others…

> This is the first time that Gulshan Grover in his long span of career has played the double role…He is one of the veteran actors in the industry who has portrayed most diverse range of characters on the screen but he never got a character with double role, I think I was destined to cast him in this role.

> 5.. Have u had any experience with twins that brought in this thought,or is Bollywood’s angoor forever green and meetha?

>

> I will not prefer to draw any comparisons to these classics I grew up watching and enjoying. I have tried to give something refreshing to the audience and I hope my film will hit the right note with its simplicity and conviction. Here you see a new man bringing you a fun film … here I come!!!

> 6.What do you feel is the hook or USP of Baat Ban Gayi?

> Unlike the comedy films being made at present, “Baat Bann Gayi” does not use any kind of double meaning jokes to make people laugh and most importantly after a long time a full-fledged double role comedy is on the block…it’s a complete family entertainer.

> 7.. Anything else you would like to add ?

> Just one thing….make sure you see it.. It’s a labor of love. I would love to describe my core team in one liners.

> Presenters & Producers – fortunate enough for having their blessings and complete creative freedom.

> DOP – Captured stunning visuals which made romance and fun alive on big screen.

> Music Director – has crafted mesmerizing sound which is actually the soul of my film.

> Actors – Astonishing performances from Gulshanji to Ali Fazal to even smallest characters of my film.

> 9. What next to expect from Shuja Ali?

> Another film from Shuja Ali and his team that touches your heart with its honesty and conviction…..see you at Movies!!

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TiEcon Delhi 2013 to be a starry event!

New Delhi, September 24, 2013: Stars are surely pouring in this year’s TiEcon 2013 Delhi-NCR; a premier entrepreneurial platform in this country. And this is sure to get their entrepreneurs excited! The self-made men will be present at the TiEcon Delhi this year to share their rocky and yet successful journey with the budding entrepreneurs in the country.

Delhi chapter of TiE; a global network of entrepreneurs and professionals, established to foster entrepreneurship and nurture entrepreneurs is organizing its annual flagship event, TiEcon Delhi on October 4-5 at the Taj Palace in Delhi.

TiEcon is held every year and witnesses participation from business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs from varied backgrounds. This year, the 2 day mega event will be hosting a number of Bollywood stars including Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO, MD, Studios, Disney UTV, Madhur Bhandarkar, Film Director and renowned personalities from the sports world, such as Harsha Bhogle and Baichung Bhutia will be a part of the event to encourage entrepreneurship in the country.

Extremely successful in their respective fields with a huge fan base, these eminent personalities resonate the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country. Through their sessions at the TiEcon Delhi 2013, the stars will be engaging with an audience full of aspiring entrepreneurs, hungry for advice and the trick to make it big.

The successful entrepreneurs will be sharing their success stories, sharing with them their own personal experience and lessons learnt from their entrepreneurial journey. Their sessions will also revolve around encouraging budding entrepreneurs to celebrate failure. Failure is considered to be one of the biggest fears of any entrepreneur. The sessions will help entrepreneurs understand what it takes to be where these stars are now.

About The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE): The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global not-for-profit organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship. TiE helps budding entrepreneurs by way of advice, guidance and assistance from successful & experienced entrepreneurs and professionals. TiE provides a platform for mentoring, networking & education, to entrepreneurs & professionals. Each location of TiE offices is called a chapter. TiE has grown into a prominent, global, not-for-profit organization, which is inclusive and transparent in its governance and operations.

Press Contacts

Parekhit Bhattacharjee

Genesis Burson Marsteller

+ 91 999 938 0203

parekhit.b@bm.com

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Latest collection of Angry Birds and Mr. Men Little Miss T-shirts to launch this festive season

Mumbai: It’s time to add some zest to your wardrobe with a distinctive range of Angry Birds and Mr. Men Little Miss T-shirts. Priced at Rs. 599, this trendy collection will be available during the upcoming festive season. The deal was put together by Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd., a premier Indian licensing firm with rights to represent some of the most iconic brands in the world like Angry Birds, FIFA, WWE, DreamWorks among others.

This latest collection zeroes in on the popularity of the online game that took the world by storm and is one of the most successful licensing programs to hit India. Mr. Men Little Miss, on the other hand, has a great connect among both kids and youth through self expression.

This exclusive range of T-shirts is available at more than 175 large format stores across India; Lifestyle and Shoppers Stop to name a few. Those who prefer shopping on the web also have a reason to cheer. Leading e-commerce websites – www.flipkart.com, www.jabong.com, www.myntra.com among others have these T-shirts for sale online.

Available is vibrant hues and prints, at affordable prices, all you need to do is step into a store closest to you and pick your favourite tee.

About Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd: Dream Theatre is a brand management and licensing agency that creates and manages iconic brands in the kids and youth space in South Asia. Dream Theatre represents Warner Bros. Consumer Products & Sanrio’s Hello Kitty for core portfolios of Promotional Licensing, Food and Beverages and Personal Care. In addition, for all licensing categories and portfolios, Dream Theatre represents Rovio for Angry Birds, DreamWorks Animation, World Wrestling Entertainment, Saban Brands for Power Rangers Samurai, Sanrio for Mr. Men Little Miss and the Discovery Enterprises portfolio for Animal Planet, Discovery Kids, Discovery Channel, Discovery Expedition, LA Ink, Miami Ink and American Chopper. Dream Theatre’s latest forays are with fashion brands like Von Dutch, sports brands like FIFA & Indian superhero Krrish.” For further information, please visit the website: www.dreamtheatre.co

For further queries, please call: Crisscross Communication

Sonal Salvi | sonal@crisscross.in | 9769690588 || Tejal Daftary | tejal@crisscross.in | 9820404621

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PANASONIC STRENGTHENS ITS MOBILE OFFERINGS IN INDIA – LAUNCHES NEW SMARTPHONES: P11, T21, T11

New Delhi, 24th September, 2013: Encouraged by the tremendous success of its P51 smartphone launched earlier this year, Panasonic, global leader in consumer technologies, today unveiled three new smartphones: P11, T21, and T11. These smartphones are designed to deliver on Panasonic’s brand promise of “Smart solutions for Smart people”, and come with compact and sleek designs, loaded with innovative software features to deliver superior performance thus making it an ideal companion for everyday life.

The newly launched smartphones are a unique combination of stylish design, cutting-edge technology and innovative convergence capabilities redefining the smartphone experience for the Indian mobile phone consumer. These new smartphones run on Android 4.1 (jelly bean) that promises superior quality graphics, multi-tasking and improved application performance. Priced between Rs. 9,790 to Rs. 16,490, all the three devices come in multiple screen sizes with IPS and High Resolution display. Quad-Core and Dual-Dual Core technology ensures impressive speed and graphics performance. All phones come pre-loaded with popular Apps such as ToI & ET news application, Hungama music application, WeChat Instant messenger, CamCard & CamScanner utility applications. The smartphones will be available to consumers in India from third week of September, 2013.

Expressing his pleasure on the launch, Mr. Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Panasonic India said “With the launch of these devices, we are yet again raising the bar for innovation. Smartphone is a reflection of who you are, and since we are all different, it is imperative that we do not adopt a ‘one size fits all approach’. Panasonic’s new offerings will deliver a remarkable mobile experience to our consumers and set a new standard in premium smartphones. It syndicates great functionality and design, accompanied by a comprehensive system of applications that reliably address the needs of our evolving customers. We are positive that our consumers will yet again repose their faith in Panasonic.”

Panasonic has partnered with Broadcom and Qualcomm to quickly bring smartphones with advanced features including multi-core processor, vivid graphics and dual-SIM capabilities.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and engineering of electronic technologies and solutions for customers in residential, non-residential, mobility and personal applications. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates over 500 consolidated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.85 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2012. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company strives to create a better life and a better world for its customers. For more information about Panasonic, please visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net/.

About Panasonic India

Panasonic makes available in India its wide range of consumer electronics, home appliances like LCD & Plasma TVs, DVD players, Home Theatre Systems, Smartphones, Cameras, Camcorders, Car Audio Systems, Air Conditioners, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Microwave Ovens, Automatic Cookers, Vacuum Cleaners and a wide range of system products including communication ones like Mobile Phones, High Definition Videoconferencing, Professional Audio Video products like Broadcast Cameras, Projectors and Displays, Business Solutions including Printers, Whiteboards and Security Solutions. The company currently has a workforce of about 12,500 in India. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand in India, please visit http://panasonic.co.in.

Issued by Panasonic India | For media queries, please contact:

Panasonic India | Richa Sethi | +91 9560498765 | richa.sethi@in.panasonic.com

Genesis Burson-Marsteller | Nitin Shukla | +91 9873985197 | nitin.shukla@bm.com

Note to Editors:

cosmoAbout Panasonic P11 Smartphone

Panasonic P11 is a premium AndroidTM Smartphone, Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200 Quad Core processor. Panasonic P11 has a streamline Curved Edge Design with changeable back covers in multiple colors. It comes with a 5 inch IPS HD resolution display. P11 is priced at Rs. 16,490.

Key features of P11:

Processor

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200 processor | Quad Core 1.2 GHz

Platform

Android 4.1(Jelly Bean)

Memory

1 GB RAM

Storage

4GB Internal | Expandable up to 32GB

Dimensions & Weight

143.9mm (L) x 73.3mm (W) x 9.7 mm (T) | 160gm

Display

5 Inch HD IPS; 1280 x 720 pixel resolution

Network

GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz

WCDMA 900/2100 MHz

Dual SIM; HSPA

Connectivity

3.5 jack stereo audio jack Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, GPS, Micro SD Card Slot

Sensors

Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor

Camera

8 MP camera Auto Focus with Flash | 2.0 MP front camera

Battery

Rechargeable Lithium Battery | Capacity: 2000mAh

About Panasonic T11 Smartphone

Panasonic T11- new buzz in the town has a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200 Quad Core processor @ light on pocket pricing. Panasonic T11 is a premium AndroidTM smartphone with IPS display screen. T11 is priced at Rs. 9,790.

Key features of T11:

Processor

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200 processor | Quad Core 1.2 GHz

Platform

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Memory

1 GB RAM

Storage

4GB Internal | Expandable up to 32GB

Dimensions and Weight

112.5mm (L) x 63.8mm (W) x 9.2 mm (T)| 120 gm

Display

4 Inch WVGA IPS | 800 x 480 pixel resolution

Network

GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz

WCDMA 900/2100 MHz

Dual SIM; HSPA

Connectivity

3.5 jack stereo audio jack, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, GPS, Micro SD Card Slot

Sensors

Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor

Camera

5 MP camera Auto Focus with Flash | 0.3 MP front camera

Battery

Rechargeable Lithium Battery | Capacity: 1500mAh

About Panasonic T21 Smartphone

Panasonic T21 is a premium 4.5 inch Android Smartphone, it brings a whole new experience via its IPS HD screen packed with 326 PPI thus rendering Clear View Display. Panasonic T21 brings up true HD Experience through its 1080p Video Recording and Video Playback capabilities. Dual-Dual Core technology of Processor and VPU helps in superior graphics with advanced gaming performance. T21 is priced at Rs. 13,990.

Key features of T21:

Processor

Broadcom 28145 | Dual Core 1.2 GHz with , Dual core VPU

Platform

Android 4.1(Jelly Bean)

Storage

4GB Internal | Expandable up to 32GB

Dimensions and Weight

132mm (L) x 66mm (W) x 9.8mm (T)| 140 gm

Display

4.5 Inch HD IPS; 1280 x 720 pixel resolution

Network

GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz

WCDMA 900/2100 MHz

Dual SIM; HSPA+

Connectivity

3.5 jack stereo audio jack, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, GPS,, Micro SD Card Slot

Sensors

Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass, Ambient Light Sensor

Camera

8 MP camera Auto Focus with Flash | 2.0 MP front camera

Battery

Rechargeable Lithium Battery | Capacity: 1700mAh

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Sony Music to launch Ajay Singha’s

‘In Rahon Mein’

India’s first for the road album

~ Album features collaboration with eminent musicians including Ash King, Meiyang Chang, Raman Mahadevan, Shriram Iyer, Mohit Pathak and Trisca Fernandes ~

September 2013: Sony Music India, promises to present listeners with new music with each of its release, is proud to launch India’s first for the road album ‘In Rahon Mein’. The album is composed by the multi-faceted singer composer and producer Ajay Singha (Miko) featuring popular voices of Ash King, Meiyang Chang, Raman, Mahadevan and Shriram Iyer. The sound of the album is acoustic with plenty of live playing sessions weaved through its recurrent theme of journeys.

The title track ‘In Rahon Mein’ also has a video featuring TV personality Ruslan Mumtaz which was premiered at the album listening session. The evening also witnessed performances by Chang, Ajay Singha,Shriram Iyer, Raman Mahadevan, Mohit Pathak and Trisca Fernandes who enthralled the audience and kept them wanting for more!

An album of and for the road, is designed for listening contentment while driving or when in a relaxed environment. Starting from the Indian semi-classical and rock fusion opening track (Teri Yaadein), to Pahadi folk combined with country rock track (In Rahon Mein), it is a confluence of different musical genres. The 7 track album also explores genres like Sufi rock, Pop rock, Funk and Jazz fusion, Folk rock.

Commenting on the same, “Sanujeet Bhujabal, Marketing Director Sony Music India said, “We see great deal of potential in Ajay’s music. He has the creativity to intertwine genres & discover new forms of music. This is our first association with him and we are certain that his work will be appreciated by the music enthusiasts.”

‘’In Rahon Mein is a musical collaboration of various genres of music along with soulful voices from the best in the industry. The compositions in the album take you through the journey of memories.’’, says Ajay Singha who began his career with singing and jamming with rock bands and was one of the first to introduce blues and jazz rock to the Mumbai music circuit.

Whether you’re driving across the country or just getting out of town, this compilation is just the push you need for a smooth trip. A must have for all travel-buffs!

Catch the video for In Rahon Mein at:

For Further Info contact

Shivangi Jadhav – 09167106693

Zaheer Chauhan – 09920202720



Shivangi Jadhav | Consultant |

Mangalam House, 38 Walchand Hirachand Marg,

Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400001

Office : (d)+91 -22 -4042 5523

(m) +91 -9167106693

http://www.ketchumsampark.com

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India’s gets its first martial arts comedy Local Kung Fu

Jackie Chan once explored comedy within the action genre and won the hearts of millions. Now India is attempting a similar feat, starting off with a humble beginning.

This week, the country will get its first own full-blown ‘martial arts comedy’ in the form of Kenny Basumatary’s Assamese feature film Local Kung Fu which boasts of some fabulously choreographed action sequences amidst rip-roaring humour.

What’s more! This is one of the most inexpensive action films ever made, with a budget less than a lakh of rupees! The film’s team neither had a great budget nor the need to use trickery-like wires etc to execute their fights. All the fighters of Local Kung Fu are genuine martial artists who’ve trained for several years.

Kenny Basumatary has not only written and directed the film, but also plays the main protagonist along with other cast comprising Utkal Hazowary, Sangeeta Nair, Bonny Deori, Bibhash Sinha, Ronnie Deori, Johny Deori and AS Deori.

Come September 27 and Local Kung Fu will release in seven prominent cities in the country with English subtitles for audiences outside Assam. The film will be screened by PVR in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Chennai, apart from an independent release in Assam.

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SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE AUTHOR TO JOIN 100 CHILDREN FOR “TORCH OF UNITY” LAUNCH

The Unity of Faiths Foundation Launch on Friday 27th September Coincides with the Annual Free Festival to Unite London on Sunday 29th September

18th, September 2013, London: Vikas Swarup, diplomat and the author of the international bestseller Q & A, which was adapted into the multi-BAFTA and Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire, will be joined by 100 children for the Launch of The Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF), a UK based non-profit, secular organisation that recognises the importance of inter-community dialogue and acceptance as the bedrock of community cohesion and understanding.

Taking place in one of London’s most diverse areas, Southall, on Friday 27th September 2013, Vikas Swarup will participate in a procession uniting over a hundred students from various schools across London to carry the first Torch of Unity. The event reflects TUFF’s 2013 focus on Youth, with the core belief being that in order to sow the seeds of respect and mutual understanding for each other early, it is vital to connect with the younger generation – the ‘voices of tomorrow’.

Vikas Swarup’s debut novel, Q & A, tells the story of how a penniless waiter in Mumbai becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history. Critically acclaimed in India and abroad, this international bestseller has been translated into 43 different languages. It was also shortlisted for the Best First Book by the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and won South Africa’s Exclusive Books Booker Prize 2006, as well as the Prix Grand Public at the 2007 Paris Book Fair. It was voted winner of the Best Travel Read (Fiction) at the Heathrow Travel Product Award 2009.

The book, and later its film adaptation, was testament to the fact that certain social situations in society such as stratification leads to pressures amongst the youth. Speaking about his participation in the launch of TUFF, Vikas Swarup says: “This is a very worthwhile project and I am absolutely delighted to have been invited”.

The launch coincides with the third annual Unity of Faiths Festival, taking place on Sunday 29th September 2013 in Southall Park. With over 30,000 individuals expected to attend, the festival provides London’s multi-cultural community from all backgrounds and age groups, an opportunity to connect, break the barriers of misunderstanding and prejudice. Individuals will unite together against a backdrop of free entertainment, food, drink and social engagement; building up a groundswell of support to the message of UNITY and thus creating ‘Awareness’ about the concept of having FAITH in each other.

As part of TUFF’s ‘Reach Out’ programme, long term and sustainable initiatives are being considered with Schools and Universities to discuss the Unity of Faiths concept with plans to invite learned speakers to converse with and inspire the younger generation. TUFF will also hold a unique International Conference later this year, to be attended by international thought-leaders in the fields of empowerment, humanity and social cohesion, advocators of political and social dialogue for positive change, and personalities across entertainment, sport, popular culture and business. The purpose of the event is to provide a unique platform for ‘Dialogue’, to convey and share ideas and set actions for Unity in communities. Details of forthcoming programmes will be announced during the Festival weekend.

A response to the increased dissonance, cultural and religious divide that has estranged communities nationally and globally, TUFF, acknowledged by President Barack Obama and HRH The Queen, was launched with the mission to UNITE people and communities through the common factor of Faith, irrespective of religious belief, cultural or social backgrounds, and to subsequently create a more stable, tolerant and cooperative future for all. TUFF was the pioneering vision of the founders: Ms. Anna Prior, a former art dealer from Mayfair; Dr. Shamender Talwar, a Social Psychologist from West London and Mr G.S. Malhi, a successful entrepreneur from Southall, who joined them later.

Speaking about the launch of TUFF, the Founders say: “We believe through setting up initiatives at a community and grass-root level, we can build up a groundswell of support and action to the concept of having Faith in each other.

This launch will not only witness the lighting of the inaugural Unity Flame, but will also set alight the conscious Flame of Unity to unite minds all around; igniting and launching various grass root projects for social cohesion and Unity in the Community”.

The TUFF Torch Ceremony on Friday 27th September takes place at The Centre, 1 – 23 Merrick Road, Southall, London, UB1 4AU. The Unity of Faith Festival, a completely free event, takes place in Southall Park on Sunday 29th September.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:

Natasha Mudhar

Sterling Media

T: +44 (20) 7801 0077

E: natasha@sterlingmedia.co.uk

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Baat Bann Gayi music moves Sonu nigam to tears

The music launch of Jaypeeco India Pvt Ltd’s Baat Bann Gayi, directed by Shuja Aliand produced by Sayed Asif Jah and Megha Agarwal, took place at Hard Rock Cafe, Andheri.

Sonu Nigam, Kailash Kher, Lesle Lewis, Salim, Javed Ali, Mudasir Ali, Roopkumar Rathod, Kuldeep Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Sardar Ali and a host of others stood hand in hand with composer Harpreet Singh for the release.

Other than the cast including Ali Fazal, Gulsan Grover, Anisa, Amrita Raichand, Razzak Khan and Akshay Singh, director Shuja Ali, presenter Vibhu Agarwal, producers Sayed Asif Jah and Megha Agarwal, a host of Bollywood celebs including actor Inder Kumar, and IMPAA President TP Agarwal thronged to be part of the festivities.

Talking about the film, Baat Bann Gayi is a romantic comedy enriched with the classical plot of ‘duals’, which depicts the comedy of errors when look alike of characters encounter each other. Unexpected, hilarious situations arise because of mistaken identity.

Said Sonu Nigam, “as a singer, you sing many songs, but this song of Baat Bann Gayi brought tears to my eyes.”

Added Gulshan Grover, “there is something beautiful about the film and the energy of director Shuja Ali is contagious.” Amrita Raichand agreed that “it had caught on to all of us.”

An emotional Vibhu Agarwal talked about how he started off small in Lucknow and grew to become the steel magnate he is today and that Bollywood was the next step in the right direction.

IMPAA President TP Agarwal, whose Capital Films is distributing Baat Bann Gayi who was moved by Vibhu Agarwal’s words, expressed his support in making Baat Bann Gayi a success. Kailash Kher added that more such differential entrepreneurs will make Bollywood only stronger.

Sonu Nigam, Javed Ali and Sardar Ali’s voice resonated the hall. And the sound of music was simply soul-stirring.

But the best compliment young composer Harpreet probably received was when his father, veteran composer Kuldeep Singh said honestly, “I like the song more now. It is good,” as he watched the video. Harpreet, not minding the audiences, sought his father’s blessings by touching his feet.

These precisely are the values that Baat Bann Gayi brings about as well.

Produced by: Jaypeeco Infotainment & ASR Media, Jaypeeco India Pvt Ltd presented Vibhu Agarwal’s Baat Bann Gayi, Directed by Shuja Ali, is all set for an October 11 release.

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