When Big B Met SB!

 

Veteran singer Sudesh Bhosale recently met Superstar Amitabh Bachchan for a tete-a-tete at the actor’s office, Janak, in Juhu. Expressed Sudesh Bhosale, “Meeting Amit ji once again was nothing short of pleasure... As such, we always keep meeting each other at shows and events, but it has been after many moons that I had the chance to sit and talk to Amit ji at length.”

 
For the uninitiated, Sudesh Bhosale is the inimitable Voice of Amitabh Bachchan, with one too many chartbusters like Jumma Chumma, Sona Sona, Say Shava Shava, Meri Makhna -- the list goes on!

Amitabh Bachchan, who is humility personified, actually wishes the singer on his birthday, at 12:01, every year, making the birthday most memorable for melodious Bhosale!

It is a lesser known fact that Sudesh Bhosale is the son of veteran poster artist, the Late NR Bhosle, and has a penchant for art and sketching since his school days. In fact, the singer gifted Big B sketches of him that he had created. The Superstar appreciated the gesture as the duo chatted about life and times over decades. Says a visibly touched Sudesh Bhosale, “these are moments I’d cherish for life.” Indeed!

Bridging The Gap JOSH Foundation’s Hearing Impaired Children And Mithibai College Students Join Hands For A Human Chain Ahead Of World Deaf Day

JOSH Foundation, an NGO helmed by Dr. Jayant Gandhi and Audiologist-Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal, in association with Kshitij, SVKM’s Mithibai College’s International Intercollegiate Cultural Festival came together for the cause of hearing impairment, ahead of this World Deaf Day. In this unique initiative, JOSH Foundation’s students battling hearing impairment and normal hearing students formed a human chain, hand-in-hand, to showcase solidarity and societal equality. The event witnessed participation from over 400 students in all, with over 150 hearing impaired children from various Schools for the Deaf across Mumbai.

Held at Jashoda Rang Mandir in Vile Parle, thirty hearing aids worth Rs. 10 lacs were donated to kids and fit in by Devangi Dalal and the JOSH Foundation team.

That’s not all! Actors Johnny Lever and Rohit Roy made their presence felt and pledged their support towards the cause. JOSH Foundation’s children and celebrities were also seen practicing Yoga and gorging on delicious snacks and beverages.

For the uninitiated, hearing impairment refers to a condition where people suffer from partial or total inability to hear. The prevalence of deafness in India is fairly significant and around 20 lakh children currently battle this every day.

More power to this initiative!

A PAGEANT WITH A DIFFERENCE

Aiming to provide women with a platform and enabling them to make a difference, India Brainy Beauty 2019 pageant is back with its finale. Brought to the scene by Florian Foundation, the India Brainy Beauty pageant was held at Jade Ballroom in Nehru Centre, Worli, and is the brainchild of President Archana Jain and trustee Rabia Patel, the women behind this pageant.

Touted to be the first pageant that empowers women across all walks of life, the India Brainy Beauty pageant is unique as weight, height and language are no barriers for the participants. “The mission of the pageant is to nurture and support aspiring women along their path to personal and professional growth and contribute to the public at large. The mission of Florian Foundation is to empower women and also help them share their success stories,” avers Archana.

“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of much more than you imagine,” says Rabia. “Don’t let others tell you what you can’t do. Don't let the limitations of others limit your vision. If you can remove your self-doubt and believe in yourself, you can achieve what you never thought possible,” adds Archana.

The guests of honour included Mickey Mehta, Dolly Thakore, Barkha Nangia, Afeefa Nadiadwala, Rakesh Agarwal of Elegant Marbles, Vikash Mittersain – President of IBG Group and Global Wellness Ambassador Dr. Rekha Chaudhari among other such dignitaries. “We had stories where people cried and told us that even under a veil and the burkha, women can do so much…” reminisce the heavy hearted Archana and Rabia.

The India Brainy Beauty 2019 Grand Finale was won by two of the participants, Sakshi Pandit and Khanjana Mota. Hosted by Simran Ahuja, the contestants of the pageant will have an exclusive portfolio made especially for them along with designer clothes, grooming and styling tips from industry experts. That’s not all! The winners and other suitable finalists will get a chance to showcase themselves at various platforms. Aiming at creating role models and empowered women wishing to create a unique identity, India Brainy Beauty will help them achieve new heights in the world of glamour and fame. So shine bright and let the crown fly high!

Immortal Milo Na Tum is a sure shot chartbuster – Govinda

With the whole new music remake scene taking over, the latest music video remake on the block is Hitendra Kapopara’s Milo Na Tum, sung and composed by Gajendra Verma, also starring the singer-composer along with actor Tina Ahuja. Tina’s father, superstar Govinda made his presence felt to support his daughter’s latest project!

Govinda avers, “Apart from Tina, I knew singer-composer Gajendra Verma, director Aman Prajapat and producer Hitendra Kapopara from before. I knew that the project will be a good one. But, I admit, when I saw the video, I was floored. Milo Na Tum is diametrically different from the albums you see on the television today. Most of them are so similar that they could well belong to the same family.

Milo Na Tum is an immortal classic with evergreen lyrics and a sure shot chartbuster. The video is international. The performance is good and the song and composition grows on you. Hitendra Kapopara has not scrounged on the budgets. He has also styled project very well, and the styling comes across effortlessly. Tina looks very good and has performed very well. I am not saying this just as a father.”

It is not an unknown fact that Govinda has been a part of the film fraternity for over three decades. He has also worked with the who’s who of the industry. All these experiences have helped him in his career. I only involve myself with quality projects, says the superstar as he eagerly looks forward to the success of Milo Na Tum…

Brass Impressions

Tabla maestro Taufiq Qureshi, Deepika Varde Qureshi,  global sculptor Arzan Khambatta, actor Bharat Dabholkar, Ameya Naik, audiologists Devangi Dalal,  singer Madhushree, actor Rehaa Khann inaugurated artist Reena Naik's exhibition Brass Impressions at Nehru Centre, Worli. The inauguration also saw hearing impaired children from Josh Foundation sharing colourful moments enjoying the exhibition.

The colour of brass and the contours have always excited artist Reena Naik, who brings to life, 14 beautiful works of art, works that spell divinity. In other words, Reena Naik’s Brass Impressions promise to leave an indelible mark in your hearts.

Krishna playing the flute, young Govinda is atop the snake Kaliya, Ganesha seated in a conch, the rose petals form an essential patterns in her devotional offerings – God’s come live on Reena Naik’s canvas.

“I love the colours and contours of brass. It is a pious metal and impressions are forever. The paintings depict realistic impression of the different God’s we worship,” elaborates Reena, a former award-winning HR professional who chose to follow her heart and make her passion her profession.

Adopting the style of hyper realism on canvas with oil colours, Reena says the process is simple. “I just use my brush on a blank canvas without the use of a pencil,” says Reena, who believes that she is just discovering the talent gifted by the Almighty. “I simply let the positive energy flow through me and let it come on the canvas. All I do is, to keep the path clean.” Depending on the detailing, it takes over fifteen days to a month to finish an artwork. 

Reena did not have it easy! Due to an accident, she developed carpal tunnel syndrome and was asked to not use her right hand by the doctors. “I thought my career in the Art field is finished before it even started. After a few months of therapy, I recovered and started to paint.” Despite poor health and frequent hospitalizations, she completed fourteen of the fifteen artworks she had plans of exhibiting for her current show. Reena is also associated with ArtDesh Foundation, as CEO, and is supporting artist and promoting art. She is involved in government projects of art development. 

Yours to visit artist Reena Naik’s first solo show, Brass Impressions, an exhibit of fourteen exquisite, hyper realistic, oil on canvas paintings of brass sculptures of God. Surely worth a dekko!

अस्लम खान के नये म्युजिक वीडियो 'फिट्टे मुँह' में दिखेंगे विन राणा और अँजेला क्रिस्लिंझकी

ईश्ना प्रोडकशन्स अँड इंटरटेंनमेंट प्रस्तुत हिंदी-पंजाबी हिपहॉप फ्युजन शैली के नये गीत 'फिट्टे मुँह' के साथ फिर एक बार 'नयी पडोसन', 'वेलकम बॅक', 'रफूचक्कर' और सोनी सब शो 'दिल दे के देखो' प्रसिद्धी प्राप्त अस्लम खान ने वापसी की है । इस गाने की निर्माता  अनुराधा सिंह और सह निर्माता है प्रितेश झटाकिया। इस म्यूजिक वीडियो का प्रोडक्शन दानिश काक के फ्यूजन इव्हेंट प्लानिंग के तहत  हुआ है।

पुरस्कार प्राप्त गायिका और 'पल्लो लटके' फेम ज्योतिका तंगरी के साथ इंडो-कॅनेडियन हिप-हॉप सेन्सेशन इश्क बेक्टर ने इस गाने को गाया  है। डीएच हार्मोनी ने 'फिट्टे मुँह' को संगीत दिया है। इस म्यूजिक व्हिडिओ में भारतीय अभिनेता-मॉडेल ‘१९२१’ फेम अँजेला क्रिस्लिंझकी लोकप्रिय टीव्ही स्टार विन राणा के साथ इस गाने में जलवे बिखेरते हुयी दिखेंगी।  स्टार प्लस चैनल पर प्रसारित होने वाले 'महाभारत' और 'एक हसीना थी' जैसे शो के साथ अपने हुनर का परचम लेहराने के बाद विन राणा फ़िलहाल ज़ी टीवी चैनल पर 'कुमकुम भाग्य' में पूरब खन्ना की भूमिका और कलर्स टीवी के 'कवच महाशिवरात्रि' में एक अलौकिक थ्रिलर में कपिल की भूमिका में दर्शको को एंटरटेंट कर रहे हैं।

अँजेला क्रिस्लिंझकी और विन राणा के साथ काम  करने का अनुभव साझा करते हुए अस्लम खान ने कहा, “इस गाने को सिर्फ अँजेला और विन की ही ज़रूरत थी। इसमें उन्होंने बेहद अच्छा काम किया है। ये एक अद्भुत अनुभव था।”

'फिटे मुह' यह अस्लम खान का छब्बीसवा डीरेक्टेड वेंचर हैं। एक निर्देशक के रूप में उनकी उपलब्धियों के बारे में पूछे जाने पर और कैमरे के सामने और पीछे काम करने के बारे अनुभव साझा करते हुए उन्होंने कहा, “ मेरा पिछला निर्देशित गाना 'अधूरे अधूरे' एक चार्टबस्टर साबित हुआ था। साथ ही, ऑन-कैमरा और ऑफ-कैमरा दोनों बिट्स में काम करने का अनुभव शानदार रहा ।  एक अभिनेता के रूप में, मुझे पता है कि एक निर्देशक को सभी बारीकियों का ध्यान रखना पड़ता है, और मैं इसे बहुत सावधानी के साथ पूरा करता हूं। "अंत में, एक मशहूर कहावत को साझा करते हुए कहा," अंत भला तो सब भला।"

DIFFERENT STROKES! NEETU CHANDRA, PREETI JHANGIANI, PARVIN DABAS & TINA AHUJA INAUGURATE NOTED ARTIST SANJUKTA ARUN’S SHOW IN AID OF CPAA

As she sits by her window, the sea simply waves to her. Cresting on the soothing sound of the waves, Sanjukta Arun’s works captures the myriad moods of Nature on to the blank canvases, bringing to life, the brilliant blooms, the unstoppable waves, the green covers… Sanjukta captures the essence of life emerging from the sea’s love-play with the skyscrapers in her latest exhibition, Sangam, which also happens to be her 45^th exhibition across India and the globe.

The inauguration of Sanjukta Arun’s show saw a bevy of celebrities and artists who walked in to cheer the noted artist and the children from CPAA. Actors Neetu Chandra, Preeti Jhangiani, Parvin Dabas and Tina Ahuja, Audiologist-Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal, Anita Peter of CPAA, lensman Pradeep Chandra, artists Padmanabh Bendre, Devyani Parikh, Madhusudan Kumar, Ami Patel and Amisha Mehta among others were spotted at the do. Children from CPAA, between the ages of 8 to 14, were involved in a unique workshop, prior to the inauguration, where Sanjukta Arun was seen guiding the brave-hearts on how to unleash their imagination on canvas through sketch and colours. It was a treat to watch the children at work, against a backdrop of 16 large format works by Sanjukta, created with multiple layers of brush strokes, knife work, stippling work and texture. Interestingly, the proceeds from Sangam will go towards the well-being of children from Cancer Patients Aid Association [CPAA].

पाइपिंग हॉट रेस्ट्रो बार में 'मिलो न तुम' के लॉन्च के मौके पर मीडिया से रू-ब-रू हुए सुपरस्टार गोविंदा, टीना आहूजा, कम्पोजर गजेंद्र वर्मा, निर्माता हितेंद्र कपोपारा

नये-नवेले मल्टी-स्पेशियालिटी रेस्टो-बार पाइपिंग हॉट ने अभिनेत्री टीना आहूजा, सिंगर/कम्पोजर गजेंद्र वर्मा, निर्माता हितेंद्र कपोपारा, सबके चहेते गोविंदा, म्यूज़िक वीडियो डायरेक्टर अमन प्रजापत को शानदार अंदाज में होस्ट किया, जहां सभी ने बेहतरीन किस्म के रीमेक गाने 'मिलो न तुम' को लेकर मीडिया से बात की। इस गाने में सुपरस्टार गोविंदा की बेटी टीना आहूजा ख़ुद गजेंद्र वर्मा के अपोज़िट  एक अलग ही अंदाज़ में नज़र आएंगी!

इस बेहतरीन वेन्यू में सभी मेहमानों और प्रेस के लोगों को अन्य व्यंजनों के अलावा स्वादिष्ट स्नैक्स और वेलकम ड्रिंक का स्वाद चखने को मिला। आजकल गानों के रीमेक का चलन काफ़ी बढ़ गया है। इसी कड़ी में अब डायमंड जुबली हिट फ़िल्म 'हीर रांझा' के एक गाने का नाम भी जुड़ गया है। 'मिलो न तुम' का निर्माण किया है हितेंद्र कपोपरा ने जबकि इसे रीकम्पोज़ किया और गाया है गजेंद्र वर्मा ने। सऊदी अरब के ख़ूबसूरत लोकेशन्स पर शूट किये गये 'मिलो न तुम' वीडियो का निर्देशन किया है अमन प्रजापत ने। उल्लेखनीय है कि कास्ट और क्रू के लिए इस गाने की‌ शूटिंग करना बेहद ख़ुशनुमां अनुभव साबित हुआ।

शूट के लोकेशन पर मौजूद रहकर अपनी बेटी टीना आहूजा का हौसलाअफ़जाई करने पहुंचे गोविंदा ने कहा, "ये मेरी ख़ुशकिस्मती है कि मुझे अपनी बेटी को इतने शानदार अंदाज़ में शूटिंग करते देखने का मौका मिला। पूरी टीम की तरह ही इस वीडियो के लिए उसने भी काफ़ी मशक़्क़त की है, जिसका नतीजा सबके सामने है।"

इससे बड़ी बात भला और क्या हो सकती है कि कम्पोज़र ख़ुद ही लूप पर हो! बेहद उत्साहित नज़र आ रहे गजेंद्र वर्मा ने आगे कहा, "मुझे अपने ही गाने से इश्क़ हो गया है, जिसे मैंने लूप पर रखा हुआ है। टीना जैसी प्रतिभाशाली अभिनेत्री के साथ काम करना मेरे लिए किसी सपने के साकार होने से कम नहीं था।" वहीं टीना ने कहा, "रेगिस्तान में शूटिंग करना इतना आसान काम नहीं होता है, मगर जब आप देखते हैं कि आपके गाने पर विभिन्न देशों के लोग थिरक रहे हैं, तो आप में भी जोश भर जाता है।"

पाइपिंग हॉट रेस्तरां विले पार्ले में स्थित है, जो इस गाने के लॉन्च के लिए एक उत्तम वेन्यू साबित हुआ। इस रेस्तरां की ख़ासियत है कि यहां शहर की तमाम ख़ासियतों के मुताबिक व्यंजनों का सेवन किया जा सकता है। यहां इंडियन, पैन एशियन और कॉन्टीनेंटल फ़ूड के अलावा मुम्बईकरों की फ़ेवरिट और मुंह में पानी लानेवाली स्वादिष्ट पाव-भाजी फॉन्डू, वड़ा-पाव फॉन्डू आदि भी उपलब्ध हैं। नॉन-वेजीटेरियन लोगों के लिए यहां पर कीमा-पाव फॉन्डू भी मिलता है।

स्वादिष्ट खान-पान और जश्न के बीच हितेंद्र कपोपारा ने कहा, "मक़सद इस गाने को एक अलग आयाम देना था, इसका ऑडियो पहले से ही सुपरहिट है। ऐसे में हम चाहते थे कि इसका वीडियो भी उतना ही शानदार बने। यही वजह है कि हमने लोकेशन के तौर पर दुबई को चुना। गजेंद्र किसी रॉकस्टार से कम‌ नहीं है और टीना में टैलेंट की कोई कमी नहीं है। आज की तारीख़ में रीमेक्स को काफ़ी पसंद किया जा रहा है और लोगों पर उनका प्रभाव भी जबर्दस्त होता है।"

वरिष्ठ गायिका आशा भोसले ने अपने परिवार और प्रशंसकों के साथ दुबई में अपना ८६ वां जन्मदिन मनाया। विशेष रूप से उन्होंने १७

साल के अंतराल के बाद अपना जन्मदिन मनाया। उनके जन्मदिन पर उनकी इच्छा के बारे में पूछे जाने पर उन्होंने कहा, "मैं चाहती हूँ कि दुनिया के सब गरीब अमीर बन जाएँ!" इसके संबंधित चित्र देखें।

Author Aabid Surti's latest book launched by Director Sriram Raghavan Shridhar Raghavan, Rajshri Deshpande, Gurmeet Chowdhary, Atul Kasbekar and Annie Zaidi at Aabid Surti's Sufi - The Invisible Man Of The Underworld book launch

Mumbai-based National Award Winning author Aabid Surti, who among many other things is also an incisive environmentalist and accomplished artist, is back in full force. The author of many bestselling books, some of which have even courted controversy, has revisited one of his autobiographical tomes titled 'Sufi – The Invisible Man of The Underworld' and updated it to make it more current. Sriram Raghavan, Shridhar Raghavan and Annie Zaidi were present at the launch.

“Sufi,” begins Surti, “is the story of two boys who grew up in the 60s and 70s’ Mumbai’s infamous Dongri area. The first of them, Iqbal Rupani rises through the ranks to crown himself underworld kingpin, on one hand, and becomes extremely pious, on the other hand. While he through his puritan stance becomes well-known as ‘Sufi’, the story catches up with the other boy-turned-man, Aabid Surti, that’s me as well,” avers the master story-teller with a smile.

The real story of the two boys who start at the same line and then flow so divergently away in life, is one of massive scale and told by one of India’s beloved wordsmiths. “The changes have been made to make the story flow better, and to edit out dated legal information,” Surti informs.

Speaking about Surti, popular filmmaker Sriram Raghavan states, "As I got pulled into the book I wondered if all that he was saying was fiction or could it be real? It actually felt like a fascinating Eastman colour movie that he had mounted."

Well-loved scriptwriter Shridhar Raghavan said that he has known Surti since he was 8 years old. "When I first met him he was the 40 year old creator of Bahadur and I was a fascinated 8 year old, and today the tables have turned. I am a 40 year old while he feels like an energetic 8 year old."

Mentioning that he seared through the book yesterday in a single seating, he exults how Sufi is "a fascinating chronicle of a Bombay of prohibition and gold smuggling, of Haji Mastan growing up and Dawood, still a toddler."

Noted writer Annie Zaidi says simply that, "I started reading Sufi yesterday and it's completely unputdownable."

Worth a read, wouldn't you agree?