Kapil Sharma, David Dhawan, Madhur Bhandarkar lend support to FWICE's initiative to help film industry workers

FWICE made a big announcement of housing plan for the film industry workers to make houses available for them at lower prices than the market rates.

Elaborating on the housing plan, FWICE Treasurer Gangeshwar Srivastav said, “Under Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna we are building 50,000 houses in Shelu near Karjat, for those member workers of the film industry who don’t have a home. The members will be able to buy homes at prices much lower than the market rates.”

FWICE also distributed free groceries to those workers who don't have work anymore. The Federation also announced insurance policies worth rupees 3 lakh each for its members.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar who was present at the event said, "It's a great initiative and I think more people from the industry should come forward and help this initiative. Although, there are some stars who provide support to these unions but don't make a big show-off about it."

Echoing Bhandarkar, FWICE President BN Tiwari said, "We had approached Amitabh Bachchan to come for this event but he couldn't make it because of prior commitments. But he has assured that he will provide help to the federation whenever they need it."

Other celebrities who attended the event were comedian Kapil Sharma, music composer Salim Merchant, and veteran filmmakers David Dhawan and Subhash Ghai. They launched the mobile cardiac ambulance that will go to film shoots and do medical checkups of workers.

Rahul Tewary of Swastik Productions who donated the cardiac ambulance said, "All the name and fame we have received would not have been possible without these workers' support. So, we have to support them back in whichever way possible."

David Dhawan said, "It's time that successful artists and technicians give back a token of appreciation to the industry workers by supporting this initiative."

Subhash Ghai praised the initiative saying, "There are about 5 lakh workers in the industry. I appreciate FWICE's efforts of providing affordable houses, mobile ambulance, insurance to them. With the start of this initiative the entire film industry will wake up and come together to support such initiatives."

The event was organised by office bearers including FWICE President B.N. Tiwari, General Secretary of Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union and Treasurer of FWICE Gangeshwar Srivastav, and General Secretary of FWICE and President of AIFEC Ashok Dubey.  

The man behind the Tiktok trend of song 'Chann Vi Gawah' - Madhav Mahajan

Madhav Mahajan, a doctor turned singer who has introduced a new wave in Punjabi Industry with his chartbuster Songs, 'Mann Baawreya' and ‘Chann Vi Gawah’. He is a young singing sensation who has lured fans all over the India. Madhav's song 'Chann Vi Gawah' became a tiktok trend. On YouTube, the song has garnered over 42 million views.

"I connect my life stories with the songs I make. This is how I create my music," says Madhav Mahajan, who never took any kind of professional training. He learned how to play the guitar, harmonium, and other instruments all by himself. By the time he reached towards making his third song 'Mann Baawreya' he knew how to produce music for himself.

Realizing his style of composition to differ from the mainstream, Madhav ventured into music production himself as he wants to create music that’s soft and soothing to hear. "My songs are a mixture of traditional and urban music and can connect with the audience. I wasn't sure whether songs like this will do good. But when I made 'Chann Vi Gawah,' the audience gave a fantastic response to it," says the talented singer-composer.

Madhav Mahajan's song 'Chann Vi Gawah', went on to become an instant hit. It went viral and reached millions of people online. This is how Madhav Mahajan's song trended online and numerous TikTok videos were made on the song," says the singer who also adds that ONE Music uploaded a video collage of the top 50 TikTok videos.

Madhav Mahajan has had his share of hard times! Suffering his share of a major setback, he struggled with the vocal nodule and had to get it operated, yet he didn’t want to take that risk of surgery. "I was on 'Maun Vrat' and did meditation for a year after which eventually things started falling in place," he comments.

Undoubtedly, he is a young singing sensation who is ruling the Punjabi music industry and is all set to step his foot in Bollywood Industry.

Chann Vi Gawah’s Official Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmQjSQ9DGw4

Ranvir Shorey Nominated For ‘Best Supporting Actor’ For Sonchiriya At The 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards

Known for his presence in cutting-edge cinema, actor Ranvir Shorey’s body of work is dotted with fashionably unconventional yet culturally resonant choices. An actor par excellence, who inhabits every character without any sign of strain, Ranvir Shorey has recently been nominated for the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his role of Vakil Singh in Abhishek Chaubey’s Sonchiriya at the 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards. Pegged to be one of the most memorable performances of his career, Ranvir Shorey who had prepared extensively for the character’s semantics, enthuses, “I am very happy that Sonchiriya has been nominated for the Filmfare Awards in the critic’s choice section and I am happy that the film is getting the acknowledgement it deserves, which it probably didn’t get as much at the box office. And I’m equally happy that I am nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category. It’s a happy surprise for me! But most of all, I am rooting for Sonchiriya because it is one film that I am very proud of and always will be.”

This year, and as always, the Filmfare Awards will honour the skillset and talent bundle of Bollywood’s finest. With films of the likes of Sonchiriya, Gully Boy, Article 15, Kabir Singh, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, and War among others, the prestigious award function is all set to dazzle the audiences and the film fraternity alike!

When quizzed about awards and accolades, if they matter, the character-driven actor quips, “I guess they matter more to people who get less of them and less to people who get a lot of them, just like everything else in life!” Ranvir Shorey has recently bagged the Best Actor Award (Male) for Halkaa at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Awards and Best Actor Comedy (Male) for Metro Park at Gold Awards, the Best Actor Award (Critic’s Choice) for Titli at IFEFA, Australia and the Best Actor Award at Iconic Achievers’ Awards among others. “Awards and accolades do have their place in the ecosystem, and for me too, they do hold a special place. It feels nice to be recognized, and particularly so, if it’s an audience-polled award or a critic’s choice award. But awards are not everything, one works for so many other things as well,” he signs off.

Besides Ranvir Shorey, Diljit Dosanjh has been nominated for the same category for his film Good Newwz, Gulshan Devaiah for Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Manoj Pahwa for Article 15, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Vijay Verma for Gully Boy at the 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards 2020 which is slated to be held on 15 February, 2020 in Assam.

Hollywood’s Grandeur Descends on Mumbai, Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge screening – A Star-Studded Affair

A crime-thriller that follows a military veteran returning home to take up work in law enforcement is where Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge takes over the cinema go-ers mind! Executive Producer Tel K. Ganesan tapped Emmy nominated director Sam Logan Khaleghi to helm the filming of the unique supernatural crime thriller. Starring Nashville’s very own and South India’s favourite Nepoleon Duraisamy, Jesi Jensen, Bobby Laenen, John C. Forman, Grover McCants in stellar roles along with Jesse Dean as the Nain Rouge, the film also features Nathan Mathers, hip-hop czar Eminem’s younger brother, who makes his feature film debut as Detective Liam while Multi-Platinum recording artist Swifty McVay of D12 stars as well as contributes towards the original music. The Mumbai premiere of Tel K Ganesan's film Devil's Night: Dawn of Nain Rouge at Cinetheque, Hotel Sahara Star, saw in attendance celebrities of the likes of Bappi Lahiri, Hiten Tejwani, Ishita Chauhan, Writer - Director Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Mudasir Ali, Sahil Multy Khan, Dr. Farhad Vijay Arora, Maslova Maria and Khrul Ivanna among others.

Nepoleon Duraisamy who portrays Dr. Kadir, is best known as Nepoleon has acted in over 150 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films in a rewarding career spanning nearly three decades, eventually humbly bowing out from the world of glamour and settling in Nashville! Nepoleon marks his American debut with Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge.

The glamourous screening of the Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge was attended by the who’s who of the Indian film industry. “We have stories to tell, and what better a centre than the film capital of India, Mumbai! Being a film producer is no easy feat. I believe that with a creative vision and a strong passion, everything is possible,” said an excited Tel K. Ganesan, Executive Producer, Kyyba Films. Guests included dignitaries from the Indian filmmaking world including -- among others.

Directed by Sam Logan Khaleghi, Kyyba Films’ helmed Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge is a crime thriller, executive produced by Tel K. Ganesan and co-executive produced by G.B. Thimotheose

Mukkti, Sahakari Bhandar & Reliance team up to pledge mukkti from plastic

With the motto to get rid of plastic use and a bid to save our environment, social activist Smita Thackeray of Mukkti Foundation inaugurated Rebot, an automated plastic recycling machine at Mukkti Foundation in Andheri West. Corporator Devendra Bala Amberkar also attended the inaugural event. With the tagline, ‘Paryavaran Bachao – Plastic Se Mukkti Pao’, Smita Thackeray averred, “the safety of the environment is the need of the hour and this is just a small step towards it. There are many more to come!”

In today’s date, approximately 72 million tonnes of hazardous waste is generated annually, requiring, at the current rate, one square kilometer additional landfill space each year to accommodate this waste. Thirty million tonnes of this waste takes hundreds of years to breakdown. Not being able to contain the said waste, we can already see that the plastics have started to enter our food chain.

To curb this damage, “an automated PET bottle recycling machine, Rebot, allows the user to insert a bottle in the bottle insertion slot, following which the machine will crush the bottle. Furthermore, the user will get an option to choose a reward coupon or to donate to the cause. The crushed plastic is then recycled by us to make by-products, thereby reducing landfill usage and increasing the recycling rate,” concluded Smita Thackeray. Previously, similar machines were inaugurated by Nita Ambani and Aaditya Thackeray.

More power to such initiatives!

महान गीतकार गुलज़ार ने किया रीवा राठौड़ का पहला सोलो एल्बम 'साया तेरे इश्क का' का अनावरण

मंगलवार, २१ जनवरी को मुंबई के प्रसिद्ध पांच सितारा होटल सहारा स्टार में प्रतिभाशाली गायक रीवा राठौर के पहले एकल एल्बम का अनावरण महान गीतकार गुलज़ार ने किया। इस भव्य आयोजन में गुलज़ार, रीवा राठौड़, रूपकुमार राठौड़, सुनाली राठौड़  के अलावा टाइम्स म्युझिक की गौरी यादवाडकर, डार्विन प्लॅटफॉर्म के चेयरमन और मॅनॅगिंग डायरेक्टर अजय हरिनाथ सिंह, व्हिडिओ डायरेक्टर मधुर श्रॉफ, संगीतकार कल्याण बरुआह और फिल्ममेकर अनुषा श्रीनिवासन  अय्यर ने भी अपनी उपस्थिति दर्ज कराई।

साल २०१८ में  गुलझार वैशिष्ट्यीकृत 'मौला' (वन अबाव)  और साल २०१९ में 'सांवल' जिसके संगीत निर्माता थे जाकीर हुसेन और  मायकल मेननर्ट  इन समीक्षात्मक हिट्स के लिए प्रसिद्ध गायिका - संगीतकार- पियानो वादक रीवा राठोड एक बार फिर उनके प्रशंसको के दिल पर राज करने को तैयार है नए डेब्यू सोलो एल्बम 'साया तेरे इश्क का' के साथ। ख़ास बात यह है कि इस एल्बम के गीतो के बोल खुद गुलज़ार ने लिखे हैं! रीवा इस कार्यक्रम के दौरान अपनी ख़ुशी व्यक्त करती हुई  गुलज़ार के बारे में कहा, "गुलज़ार साहब ने मुझे अपने दिल का अनुसरण करना, खुद पर विश्वास करना और 'साया तेरे इश्क़ का' के साथ अपने सभी डर को दूर करना सिखाया।"

दादा के रूप में स्वर्गीय पंडित चतुर्भुज राठौड़, रूप कुमार राठौड़-सुनाली राठौड़ माता-पिता के रूप में, और संगीत निर्देशक श्रवण राठौड़ (नदीम-श्रवण) चाचा के रूप में यह कहना गलत नहीं है कि संगीत राठौड़ परिवार की रगों में बहता है। रीवा राठौड़ ने ६ साल की उम्र में पश्चिमी शास्त्रीय पियानो का प्रशिक्षण मिस शांति सेलडन से प्राप्त कीया | इसके बाद कर्नाटक शास्त्रीय संगीत प्रशिक्षण प्रसिद्ध गुरु टी. एस. बालमणि से लिया गया। उन्होंने बनारस घराने के पंडित राजन और साजन मिश्रा द्वारा हिंदुस्तानी शास्त्रीय गीतों का प्रशिक्षण लिया। पंडित हृदयनाथ मंगेशकर और उनके पिता रूपकुमार राठौड़ से संगीत बारीकियों से सीखा ।

रीवा के माता-पिता रूपकुमार राठौड़ और सुनाली राठौड़ जो अपनी बेटी पर गर्व करते हैं, इस मौके पर वो फूले नहीं समां रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा , "हमें यह जानकर खुशी हुई कि हमारी छोटीसी परी रीवा का पहला सोलो एल्बम के गीत के बोल लिविंग लिटिल लीजेंड गुलज़ार साहब ने  लिखे है,,"  आगे रूपकुमार राठौड़ ने कहा,"  “रीवा अपने गीतों पर जितना ध्यान और निष्ठा देती हैं, वह वाकई सराहनीय है। अब तक जो भी उसने हासिल किया है उससे मैं बहुत खुश हूं। इस बार उसके कंधों पर एक बड़ी जिम्मेदारी है क्योंकि एल्बम में गुलज़ार साहब का नाम शामिल है और मुझे यकीन है कि वह इसे सफलतापूर्वक पूरा कर पाएगी। "

शीर्षक गीत 'साया तेरे इश्क का' अमेरिकी निर्माता-इंजीनियर-मिक्सर ब्रायन मालोफ़ द्वारा एक कलात्मक  मिश्रण है। प्रतिभाशाली विदेशी  कलाकार ने इससे पूर्व किंग ऑफ़ पॉप माइकल जैक्सन, क्वीन, मैडोना, पर्ल जैम और स्टीव वंडर जैसे अंतर्राष्ट्रीय कलाकारों के साथ काम किया है। रीवा द्वारा इस एल्बम का शीर्षक गीत पारंपरिक जैज़ और आधुनिक पॉप का संयोजन है। डीजे रविन ने भी इस एल्बम में ट्रैक मिश्रित किया है। ब्रायन और डीजे रविन के अलावा, कल्याण बरुआ और ध्रुव घानेकर जैसे प्रशंसित संगीतकारों ने भी इस एल्बम के निर्माण में बहुत महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया है।

" 'साया तेरे इश्क का' मेरे लिए बहुत खास है क्योंकि इसने मुझे एक नयी रीवा से परिचित कराया है। इसका संगीत सीधा दिल से है और मैंने इसे यथासंभव मूल रखने की कोशिश की है। मैंने अपनी ऊर्जा के प्रत्येक औंस को इसमें डाल दिया है, और किसी भी कृत्रिम चाल से दूर रखा है। मेरे पास गुलज़ार साहब को धन्यवाद देने के लिए शब्द पर्याप्त नहीं हैं और मुझ पर भरोसा करने के लिए मैं उनकी बहुत ऋणी हूं। और इस पूरी परियोजना के पीछे वो रीढ़ और शक्ति थे, “रीवा  ने अंत में कहा। गुलज़ार द्वारा लिखित और रीवा  द्वारा गाया गया यह गीत 'साया तेरे इश्क का' टाइम्स म्यूजिक पर जारी किया गया है।

From Music To Food, Acing It Always

Aaditya Thackeray inaugurates Hridaynath Mangeshkar and family's restaurant Sarjaa; restaurant to serve a special handcrafted menu dedicated to Lata Mangeshkar

It’s a known fact that the mellifluous Mangeshkar family is no stranger to restaurateurship! Following Sarjaa’s launch and grand success at Pune’s very own Aundh in 1996, Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar and the Mangeshkar family recently gifted Pune with yet another restaurant named Sarjaa – Restaurant and Bar in Wakad, Pune. While Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray inaugurated the restaurant, the ceremonial grandeur was attended by the who’s who of the Marathi cultural universe including singers Usha Mangeshkar, Roopkumar Rathod, Sunali Rathod, Reewa Rathod and Saleel Kulkarni among other celebrities and dignitaries.

An excited Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar proudly chuckled, “Gavaiye khavaiye hote hai…,” literally paraphrasing to musicians are either gourmet chefs or they generally love to eat or feed!

Delighted by the idea, a relative avers, “Baba himself is a controlled eater but he understands peoples’ palettes. He lives to make people eat, and that makes him a great host.” Adds Hridaynath Mangeshkar, “It is an extremely exhilarating feeling to feed people food they relish. Sarjaa is all about all that savoury goodness followed by a dessert-y goodness!”

Famous for their delectable Indian, Oriental and Chinese cuisines, Sarjaa in Wakad is all set to surprise Lata didi’s fans! With a special menu dedicated to the legendary songstress, exclusive to Wakad, a special thali will be offered in vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian options.

Sarjaa, meaning the rising sun in Marathi, christened by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar herself, the restaurant is adorned by rare memorabilia of the Mangeshkar family for the fans to see, spicing up the décor and the lively ambience! With 440 regale dining seats unfurled over an expansive 12,000 square feet property in the prime locale of Wakad makes Sarjaa Restaurant & Bar a wholesome yet familial atmosphere. Not just that, there is also a lavish banquet space for those in need to luxe-up their celebrations.