'Broken Wings' First Nepali-Hindi Film To Be Made In Darjeeling Post Independence

  Darjeeling-based filmmaker Shenpenn Khymsar makes his directorial debut with the film, Broken Wings, which he says is based on real issues of his land. Khymsar claims that this is the first time in post-Independence India that a Nepali-Hindi language film has been “made in Darjeeling”, though there are many films that have been shot in the hill station.“I am from Darjeeling and I felt it is best to resonate your story and sites of your upbringing in your filmmaking. A lot of people in the Hindi belt and South India aren’t aware that this is a part of India. They know it for the tea and the toy train. Darjeeling is an intricate part of India where Nepali is a spoken language. Nepali is actually also a constitutional language of India,” Khymsar said

CINTAA STATEMENT

 The News Media, an integral part of the Media & Entertainment Industry has been outrageously vehement these last few weeks, in attacking men and women from the Actors fraternity as if they are participants and instigators in an alleged conspiracy that has occupied headlines recently in the public domain. It is important for them to realise that one cannot function as a self-appointed judge, jury & executioner.

 

In an attempt to boost viewership ratings, the catastrophic repercussions are ignored. That itself is reason enough for all to seriously introspect and put an end to the ill-informed debates and personal opinions being voiced by all and sundry. 

Without prejudice, the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA), which represents the Actors Community for over six decades, thought it befitting to break its silence in retaliation to those who are out to defame and slander its members. 

As a fraternity, we too want a fair investigation but till such time that the truth is not unearthed, a persons reputation should not be maligned, their livelihood should not be snatched away, their self-esteem should not be  trampled upon and their integrity should not be questioned.

 

Actors are cultural ambassadors of this great Nation and the countries core values are shared through them with rest of the world.

CINTAA is one of the strongest Unions in the Film Fraternity. Our ideology is truly secular and it fosters true brotherhood, no matter what caste, creed or religion any member belongs to. As the fifth largest member of the International Federation of Actors-Performers Union (FIA) our voices and statements are valued world over.

 For us it is heartening to say that many of our Actors have been a recipient  of the Padma Shri/Padma Bhushan  awards coupled with many National & International citations. We belong to an intelligent, respectful and educated class and our body of work in the world of Entertainment stands second to none, even in the Global Arena. 

 To add, some members from our community are also Members of Parliament and to defame the whole community is far from acceptance. A retired Army officer who has stood on the Borders is  an actor today. A nursing officer who rendered her services much beyond the call of her duty during these pandemic times is also an actor.  In times of any National Adversities the actors fraternity have stood shoulder to shoulder to mitigate miseries of people, be it financially, emotionally or otherwise.

CINTAA, very strongly advocates upholding the Dignity of all women and hence have put in place all the necessary checks and balances at the work spots. Any instances of disrespect to our female colleagues is a matter of serious concern  and we do adopt taking the severest of actions and punishments to the offenders. Pertinent to add that the Me-too movement that emerged for sexual abuse has been very appropriate. 

 

We, therefore reiterate, that the Industry for the larger part, is a safe haven and yes, we would be the first to acknowledge that like in any other sector, there may exist some bad elements and by recognising and weeding them out, we are constantly looking to improve ourselves. 

 

However, stretching beyond one’s wildest imagination, the exuberance showcased by some anchors to capture eye balls is outrageous and without any hard evidence. We deeply condemn such impetuous topics of debate that tarnishes the image of a whole community. 

Let’s remind ourselves that the Entertainment Industry is in existence for more than a century and through the years has remained a worthy place to be in.

 

Regards

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CINTAA

Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh, Mud Mud Ke… Asha Tai turns 87-years-young! And there is only one way for her. To look forward…

The enchanting songstress who has mesmerised Indian cinema for even decades turned 87 tonight. And Asha tai, with her infectious smile and contagious energy, heralded her coming-of-age with announcing that she is going to get the chefs at her restaurant to try out her new veg and non-veg recipes, created by her during lockdown. “I am very fast at what I do. Whether it is singing or cooking. So when I create recipes, others run out of the kitchen, not able to match my speed!”

Biting into a piece of her favourite Fresh Cream Fruit Cake, made of fruits and dry fruits, specially brought in from Mumbai by granddaughter Zanai, Asha Bhosle who has been in Lonavla with her son Anand, daughter-in-law Anuja, grandchildren Zanai and Ranjai, spoke of how it feels complete to be together with family on her birthday. Zanai also got her favourite Japanese and Chinese food brought down from Mumbai despite lockdown, confided the singer with a contented smile.

Talk of her grandchildren Zanai and Ranjai, and Asha tai’s pride is evident in her speech. “Both the kids are very talented. Zanai sings, and in her, I see myself as a child.”

But the child in Asha tai is very much alive and singing, as she reveals that she has a lot to look forward to in the journey from 87 to 88.

“After listening to over 3000 voices for my talent show #AshaKiAsha, I have a very difficult task in hand to choose the best. Young talents from across the globe have sent their recordings. Some of them are very poor and live in harsh conditions, but are truly God-gifted with divine voices. It will not be an easy task to select one. But this is my change to share my 70 years of experience with youngsters and give back to music what I got. And I am grateful to God every single day for that.”

Asha tai also looks forward to her live concerts, and cooking and feeding people, both at home and her restaurants that have expansion plans, and wants to work to generate employment for the women in Lonavla. “I want to help these women stand on their own feet. It has not been easy for the common man during Corona. And it has not been easy for the poor women from here, whom I have seen during the epidemic. I want to do something concrete for them.”

“Looking back, Asha tai has no regrets. I am happy I have lived and loved,” she says. “I have lived an honest life. I am happy that I stood on my own feet as a 10-year-old singing my first song. Today at 87, I am still singing and standing on my own feet. And I have a beautiful family, and an even larger fan-family. What more could I ask for!”

Dil Hai Chhota Sa, Chhoti Si Asha!

  Asha Bhosle beats nepotism and embraces young talents from across the globe offering them her social media platform to showcase the best of talent...

 

Her smile makes the world go wow! The youthful effervescence of her voice is mind-blowing and her enthusiasm is contagious. She is 87 years young and has a career spanning over seven decades with over 1000 Hindi films, several private albums, and is a Guinness Book world record holder as the most recorded artiste in music history. Padma Vibhushan Asha Bhosle also has an amazing repertoire of versatility ranging from Hindi film music, pop, ghazals, bhajans, traditional Indian classical music, folk songs, qawwalis and Rabindra Sangeet in over 20 Indian and foreign languages. 

 

Yet, Asha Bhosle is an icon who keeps reinventing herself. After launching her YouTube channel recently, Asha Bhosle is now coming out with her show titled ‘Asha Ki Asha’. The show seems to be the singer’s musical tribute to the world that gave her the adoration and adulation that she very much deserves. And in this age and era of nepotism and musical shows that thrive on drama more than talent, ‘Asha Ki Asha’ promises to be a show to unearth real talent. “My only interest is in the singers’ musical talent. It is not a show that will highlight his/her life.” 

 

Asha Bhosle has always loved to see talented youngsters get their due. “I’ve always referred young talents to composers, but it is not always that they achieved their dreams.” But lockdown brought with it the big idea. “One day, when I saw my granddaughter singing online with friends and having a blast, it struck me that I could unearth real talent through my YouTube and social media. Hence, I invite aspiring singers to send me two-minute musical videos so that I can review and give a platform to the best."

 

Asha Bhosle is very clear that musical talent is all that she seeks. “I am looking for unique voices. The right pitch and rhythm sense are a must. Looks, dancing talent, age, gender, nationality – nothing matters. But those under 18 need parental consent.”  Also, what's more is that the chosen one will be blessed by Asha Bhosle with 1 lac rupees.

 

Asha Bhosle is humility personified. She suggests that the song be recorded in a place with minimum external sound interference before he/she uploads it on www.ashabhosle.com. The song has to be either in English or Hindi, and the best talent will receive a certificate signed by the ageless diva herself. 

 

Considering that Asha Bhosle faced the mic as a 10-year-old, she is looking forward to guiding many talented youngsters to walk the same path that she did and let the world hear their voice. “The set was very hot and I was singing for the first time, and to add to that, I was acting as well. The temperature and the bright reflectors were so disturbing and exhausting that I fainted.” Asha Bhosle got up and finished the song. Today, she has one advise for youngsters before they pick up the mic to sing for Asha Ki Asha. “This is not a look test. Focus on the song, the pitch, the rhythm and the voice. Sing from your heart. Trust me, the future is yours!”

 

https://we.tl/t-Nn2PtTcBGn  

 

 

“Talented artistes should equally be given their due. If not, then we will only get their support after our death” - Vishwajeet Pradhan

His histrionics are such that he can never escape from his character.  His roles always end up being an intrinsic part of his lifetime. When Vishwajeet Pradhan signs a film, he tries to have an inclination for people similar to his on-screen persona. Hence, when the actor felt that the Hindi film industry wasn’t offering him a tidy career that he enjoyed, he took a brief  hiatus and moved Down Under with his family to explore different avenues. This was five years ago. “I became this other person. My career took off in a different direction,” reflects Vishwajeet.

However, theatre and television kept the passion in him alive.

Then came a Red Chillies film offer followed by the role of Sampat in the gangster TV series Aarya on Disney+ Hotstar. “The maker, Ram Madhwani was sensible and I have an instinct to work with such kind of people. It is in me. I just understand them. It was a good role of an entertainer with amazing shades of grey, albeit on the other side. But I knew that in the grand scheme of things, it would not define my identity. It was not a lead role, no big deal. Yet Sampat, he was the brawn to the brain. He was bad, yet good. He was fearsome, yet comical. And he was humane for a hitman. I have never been the type who poses for a contractually obligated red carpet experience. The call had to be from my heart.”

 The maker, the production values, the script, the character visualisation and the cast including Sushmita Sen and Chandrachud Singh excited Vishwajeet. “Sampat had a certain intelligence and elegance and the ability to deflect uncomfortable situations with humour. He provided a different hue to the creative spectrum of actors.” 

Once facing the arclights for Aarya, Vishwajeet reflected on his paths played and lessons learned over 30 years in Bollywood, the pros and cons of mega-fame, and realised an ironic truth: the first photograph that he left at an ad filmmaker’s office that is Equinox Films, hoping for a revert as a newbie was that of Ram Madhwani. 

“It was like coming a full circle. It took him 30 years to cast me and I told him that!  I decided to go the OTT way with the limited series Aarya.” “Quoting George Clooney,” Vishwajeet grins, “’Every actor wants to be a film actor’ But this show was conceived such that it was no less than a film. In that sense, it was a life changer. The show mirrored Ram Madhwani’s heart, soul and sentiment, and this creative energy channeled a part of me to see what is in front of me. “ 

Vishwajeet broke the spell of his five-year acting hiatus with Aarya. “It was such a departure from what I had set out to do with my life. The flip side was that I would not be held responsible for the show itself, and could afford a loofah on myself, something I could not for a long time.” 

When Vishwajeet basked in the experience of a brilliantly conceived show with Aarya, he made up his mind to stay back and embrace creatively daring passion projects. It was as though destiny agreed with him, and COVID struck, bringing his family back to India. 

“With my family by me, I can take offbeat roles, explore unique characters and experience the exhilaration of being liberated enough to escape the straitjacket of movie stardom today. Admitted, I have worked with an incredible list of brilliant directors, writers and co-actors. But in Hindi films, you are restricted by what you are offered, and television is like running a factory. It is about churning out maximum episodes in minimal time.” 

Vishwajeet confesses that he is once again hopeful and hungry for good roles. “The actor in me is a restless, prowling creature. He is a painter who seeks an apocryphal glow with every role. Never mind the size of the canvas!” 

Adds he, “Acting, to me, is practice of patience. I want to be the dreamer and stop being affected by the hardness and coldness of having a superficial career in an artificial world. The power of audio-visual media is not just entertaining today. It affects social change. And that is something that we both want and need. And as realisation has sunk in, I have come to undeestand that it is best to feel things and not bury them. 

“From the era of Shakti Kapoor, Amrish Puri to the actors who sprung from Anurag Kashyap camp, Bollywood tells a chilling story of actors not being considered or ousted from films over three decades. Today, my maturity does not let me bask in the success of an unexpected twist of fate or bother to filter myself, and happily work out of the mainstream glare, if that means searching for something deeper.” 

Shrugs Vishwajeet, “I know these views may not augur well with a lot of people.  But I prefer to live my life, peeling away layers of nepotism and shoot straight from the lip.

“Nepotism made it extremely difficult for me to function. Thirty years later, the industry is still riddled with the same flaws, and trying to make oneself heard is like pleading your case to a blind judge leading deaf detractors. The social media following of an actor cannot define his craft. Talented artistes should equally be given their due. If not, then we will only get the audience's appreciation after our death."

IFTPC, CINTAA, FWICE, resolve issues for shoots to commence

IFTPC, CINTAA and FWICE have today amicably resolved the outstanding issues which paved the way for the immediate resumption of shootings. These understandings were reached in virtual meeting held between IFTPC, FWICE and CINTAA.
IFTPC agreed to provide two sets of insurance coverage i.e Death Cover of 25 lacs due to Covid-19 and also hospitalization cover of Rs. 2 lacs uniformly across all hierarchy of the cast & the crew.  Apart from the insurance, IFTPC also assured that every precautions as per the government’s guidelines will be put in place to ensure utmost safety for the entire cast & crew.
 Also a decision was taken to reduce the period of credit for cast and crew from  existing 90 days to 30 days for at least the first three months; mutually negotiated pay cuts without actors facing any sanctions, and continued dialogue with all parties for easing working conditions were also agreed to, without delaying the resumption of shootings.
IFTPC acknowledged the contributions of CINTAA and FWICE who in these extra ordinary situations showed exemplary understanding and maturity in the workers and the national interest.  In total solidarity and bonhomie, the stakeholders IFTPC, CINTAA, FWICE and the Broadcasters announced that the shooting will begin immediately and a new saga will unfold in every household soon.
Sajid Nadiadwala, President IFTPC, CINTAA, FWICE and the Broadcasters expressed their gratitude to Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Uddhav Thackeray, Hon. Amit Deshmukh, Minister of Culture, Cultural Secretary Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, & Shri Aadesh Bandekar for their exemplary cooperation.
In the marathon discussion Shri JD Majethia, Chairman TV &Web, Shri Shyamashish Bhattacharya and Shri Nitin Vaidya from IFTPC, Shri B.N Tiwari -President,  Shri Ashok Dubey - Gen Secretary, Shri Gangeshwar Srivastava – Treasurer from FWICE, and Shri Manoj Joshi - Sr Vice President, Shri Darshan Jariwalla - Vice President, Shri Amit Behl - Senior  Joint Secretary, Shri Sanjay Bhatia Executive Committee member from CINTAA participated.

CINTAA Sr VP Manoj Joshi meets Mah Governor to represent senior actor issues

CINTAA's Senior Vice President, actor Manoj Joshi met with the Honorable Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari today. They discussed the issue of senior actors, above the age of 65, not being allowed to shoot. The Honorable Governor assured of necessary co-operation.

The meeting was a dual purpose meeting, reveals Manoj Joshi. The Honourable Governor who has witnessed the freedom struggle wrote an essay on Mahatma Gandhi, participating in the competition organised by the Postal Department as a common man. When he won the competition, he added three times the amount to the prize money and gifted the same to the post office employees for protection against COVID19.

"I had been to his place to congratulate him on this amazing  gesture as well as honour him with a shawl along with State BJP Secretary and  Vice-Chairman, of Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Ltd (MFSCDCL) Amarjeet  Mishra who presented The Hon Governor with an idol of Vithoba and Rukmini."

Manoj Joshi then briefed the Hon Governor on CINTAA, its history, its members, on the senior citizens who are members of CINTAA on whom their family depends for livelihood, and that they already have had no work from three months. He elaborated that the number of working seniors was not very large, but apart from that, there are continuity issues and producers can not replace them. "The Hon Governor gave us a patient ear. It was a good 40 minute meeting. He was very positive and assured that he would help us in the best way possible. He had received the letter from CINTAA that we had sent  him," elaborates Joshi.

CINTAA had also sent letters to the Hon CM Uddhav Thackeray,  Hon Minister Subash Desai and Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis besides the Hon Governor. "We are glad the meeting with the Hon Governor  was an eventful one and are hopeful that the outcome would be a positive one. The meeting was indeed reassuring."

https://we.tl/t-XYlAT1SrXJ