Hema Malini Inaugurates BMC’s Be A Tree Parent MEGA Vriksha Campaign

The recent cyclone Tauktae has battered the green cover of Mumbai, with 2363 trees being uprooted and innumerable others losing their branches. A survey revealed that 70 per cent of the trees lost were non-native species. After studying the local agro-climatic conditions, including soil quality, humid weather, the BMC prepared a list of 41 native trees that can be planted in Mumbai and are part of the trees in the Konkan belt. These are Wad, Pimpal, Umber, Kanchan, Kadamba, Gunj, Palas, Nim, Mahogany, Moh, Bahawa, Sag, Arjun, Ain, Kinjal, Sita Ashok, Undal, Nagkeshar, Champa, Shivan, Shirish, Karanj, Bakul, Bell, Taman, Hirda, Behda, Coconut, Amla, Khair, Tetu, Mango, Putranjiva, Wild Almond, Bibba, Parijatak, Rita, Sandalwood, Phanas and Chafa among others.

On the eve of World Environment Day, the BMC’s K West Ward Asst Commissioner Mr. Vishvas Mote along with Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation started the ‘Be A Tree Parent - Adopt A Fallen Tree Pit’ Campaign to involve societies and residents to adopt one of the 348 fallen tree locations in K West Ward and re-plant the same with an identified fast growing tree species.

Keeping in mind the above and to restore the green cover, Asst Commissioner Vishvas Mote avered, “The aim of this campaign is to involve citizens and societies to adopt and take care of a tree at the location of a fallen tree, that will be planted in consultation with the Garden department. It also aims to create awareness among citizens about different native species of trees, their blooming seasons and growth patterns and to build a sense of ownership among residents for green cover in the city.”

Added Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Founder, Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation, “The trees we are planting in conjunction with the Garden department of BMC include flowering plants Tamhan, Jamun, Badam and such other native species. We have water levels that are high. Hence the roots do not go very deep in search of water, which is why we think it best to grow species that do not grow above 30 feet. We are requesting the locals to become a tree parent and adopt the trees. Any guidance or help they need at any time, we are there to handhold them. Vishvas Mote ji has always been in the fore for causes that protect the environment. We are very glad we can involve the community to protect our greens. Our future depends on the green footprints we leave behind.”

The inauguration of this campaign was done by planting a Tamhan plant at a pit where a 45 foot tree once stood, at the hands of Hon MP Smt Hema Malini ji along with Local Councilor Smt. Renu Hansraj, Asst. Commisioner MCGM K-West Ward Shri Vishvas Mote, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer of Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation and Shaan Lalwani of Vriksha and Nodal Officer of Adopt A Fallen Tree Pit Shri Yogendra Kachhawa and Municipal Staff of K-West Ward. Actor Esha Deol also lent support by gracing the occasion. 

"Each of us must strive to preserve our environment. Our lives are intertwined with Mother Earth and it is our duty to save her. Adopting a Tree is one step in that direction," averred Hema Malini as she launched the campaign.

CINTAA DOES INDIA PROUD! 63 countries vote CINTAA representing India to The International Federation of Actors Executive Committee!

The pandemic has put a full stop to the Indian entertainment industry that had been at an unprecedented pace otherwise. CINTAA has been in the forefront, aiding and standing up for actor rights even through pandemic.

Now, CINTAA makes global news again with 63 countries voting the Indian actors’ body to The International Federation of Actors (FIA) Executive Committee!

For the uninitiated, The International Federation of Actors (FIA) is a global federation of performers’ trade unions, guilds and professional associations. Founded in 1952, it represents several hundreds of thousands of performers with some 90 member organisations in more than 60 countries around the world. FIA’s main purpose is to voice the professional interests of actors (in film, television, radio, theatre and live performance), broadcast professionals, dancers, singers, variety and circus artists and others.

 

CINTAA has always stood up for the well-being of its members.  In 2016, Senior Joint Secretary & Chairperson -- Outreach Committee, CINTAA, Amit Behl, at the FIA meeting in Brazil, was involved in two very important motions. CINTAA's views and motions since then have always been respected and accepted by FIA and the same goes for this Congress as well.

Now, half a decade since its affiliation to FIA, for the first time in the history of the International Federation of Actors, CINTAA, representing India, has been elected to the executive committee of FIA. With over 150 members, representing 81 countries and with 63 countries exercising voting rights, this marks a landmark step for the Indian actor fraternity, especially since CINTAA has been fighting for the need for performer rights to be heard for the actors in the subcontinent. 

CINTAA, with the belief that “The entertainment industry is a global industry with global issues. The response should also be global,” has always been lauded for its progressive thought at the congress.

“There is a huge diaspora of second generation, Asian, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi actors working in the United States of America, in East Africa, in South Africa, in Fiji, in the Caribbean islands, in the UK, in Australia, in New Zealand, in fact, so many other countries, and apart from Japan, which has primarily got more of animated content, since we have so much of content not only in Hindi, but other regional languages as well, with original as well as dubbed and subtitled content. And now it's being streamed across all the streaming platforms and etc. So the need for India to be part of the executive was expressed by the FIA presidium, and we were almost unanimously elected,” elaborates Amit Behl. 

More power to CINTAA!

Vivek Anand Oberoi distributes ration for slumdwellers

 Thanks to the benevolence 9f  Actor-social activist  Vivek Anand Oberoi, organisations Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation and Rajneeti ki Paatshaala could distribute food to the slumdwellers at  Nehru Nagar slums, Juhu. Along with Vivek Oberoi director Anusha Srinivasan Iyer of Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation, Social activist Ajay Pandey of Rajneeti Ki Paatshaala and Sr PI Shashikant Mane, Juhu.

Respect actors like Frontline Workers, follow government guidelines and save lives: CINTAA

Kush Shah and 3 more test positive on Taarak Mehta sets… Anupama Actor Sudhanshu Pandey to Shoot from Home After Getting COVID-19… Aniruddh Dave shooting in Bhopal for webseries critical… Actor-anchor Shripradha dies due to COVID Complications… Marathi actor Abhilasha Patil dies due to COVID complications… The first three days were horrible, says Anupama actor Tassnim Sheikh, who tested positive for COVID-19… These are a few of the myriad current headlines that have come as a shock to the actor fraternity. Everyone from Akshay Kumar to Govinda to Alia Bhatt to Katrina Kaif to Vicky Kaushal to Bhumi Pednekar to Aamir Khan to R Madhavan to Manoj Bajpayee to Ranvir Shorey have all been affected by Covid.  

The prime example of the kind of lapses that have occurred was of the shoot of Major Bickramjeet Singh who unfortunately expired. He and two other actors who travelled from the airport, lived in different hotels and travelled back to the airport separately had two things in common. They shared a vanity van in Lucknow.  And brought home COVID to their spouses and families. Unfortunately one of them paid with his life. This is just one of the many casualties to COVID-19 we have faced in this difficult time.

Cine and Television Actors' Association (CINTAA), while appreciating the efforts of the Producers and production houses to continue work beyond the boundaries of Maharashtra, has taken a serious note of many of their artist members succumbing to death due to COVID while they were shooting outside Maharashtra and has immediately asked for all health and safety protocols to be strictly followed and a copy of SOP to be shared with them by their members, in order to examine any negligence that would have a severe impact on whole units.

CINTAA has also asked for the SOP designed as per new strain of virus which might show negative in the 1st RT-PCR and thus it means isolating cast and crew before and after shoot.

Also asking for protocols for one-two day character artistes, CINTAA has also expressed that there is a need to make sure that they are shooting in the vicinity of medical emergencies or have made arrangements on the set, and that actors have to undergo RT-PCR tests before going to the shoot on an outdoor location.

 "It is wonderful that TV shoots are shooting in a bubble, with necessary precautions, but we are worried that a secure bio bubble of the IPL has been breached, it will not take long for this disaster to strike TV shoots. There is a traffic of actors travelling to and from shoots, using flights and airports and the danger of infection is tenfold," stated the CINTAA spokesperson.

CINTAA also expressed the need to be in the know if all producers have adequately covered the health and life of actors and technicians. “With medical costs sky rocketing, it is only prudent that expenses are completely covered with no burden to our members," averred CINTAA Spokesperson strongly urging that the 30 days payment is followed in the current situation till the pandemic is over to ease the financial position, CINTAA expressed displeasure on payment arrears since years to as low as Rs. 3000 even by the reputed houses.

Citing that actors who are not comfortable in shooting during the current phase of pandemic are being replaced overnight without any discussions further, CINTAA insisted that they be compensated.

"Most of the producers are saying that cine workers are frontline workers, we would like to point out that if any category that actually comes in the shape of frontline workers are the actors, who have to perform their scenes without masks. Who have to come in close contact with the Make-up artists, stylists and so on.  So, they are most prone and susceptible to COVID infections. Hence, we are appealing to all the stake holders that we want to know on whom does the moral responsibility lie: If the actor contracts COVID who is going to take care of the entire hospital/medical expenses, the insurance, injury cover, death cover, etc. Is the broadcaster taking the onus, studio taking the onus, or the producer association or individual producer is taking the onus, that is what we wish to know," questioned  CINTAA.

Urging the need to work in a healthy eco-system,   CINTAA understands the problem of the stakeholders and the economics also, but would like the Association to be consulted because “this current wave of pandemic which is far more dangerous than the first wave and we are now most probably entering the 3rd wave of COVID 19 crisis. The pandemic has compelled us to distance ourselves socially but we stand united in our combat against the pandemic and we stay optimistic that our collective show of strength will bring in normalcy soon."

The Executive Committee of CINTAA also applauded Yashraj Films' endeavour to request the Honourable Maharashtra CM Shri Uddhav Thackeray for Covid 19 vaccination of 30,000 registered workers of FWICE Mumbai, and pointed out that Actors, whether or not members of CINTAA, should be included in the drive, along with the 30000 registered workers.

Reacting on the news of Salman Khan to donate Rs 1,500 to 25,000 film industry workers amid the second wave of COVID-19, CINTAA lauded the move, but expressed concern and helplessness on  no CINTAA member  actually being a beneficiary.

 This CINTAA stance of coming in the open for its members marks a welcome change for the one-two day actors whose plight is worse than the film workers during this pandemic. If they are at home they will die of poverty and hunger and if they are at work without vaccination and adequate protection or instance, they will expose themselves to death due to pandemic.

Sadly, actors have nowhere been included in the various charities being offered, in spite of maximum casualties to this fraternity being at maximum risk at all levels including their unsure livelihood. This move by CINTAA is thus of utmost importance.

For further details contact Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Naarad. 9820535230

 9082798384.

Meet Kabir Duhan Singh, the Raavan of Kunal Kohli's forthcoming Ramyug on MX Player

Kabir Duhan Singh is a award-winning global  actor who is essaying the character of Raavan in Kunal Kohli's Ramayan and is the antihero opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Bole Chudiyaan, both upcoming releases. He is also the lead negative actor in the  Bangladeshi-Turkish film Netri The Leader. He has made his presence felt down south with over 38 Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films with IIFA awards and  nominations including Jil, Vedalam, Pailwan, Supreme, Rekka, Kanchana3, Aruvam, Action among others. He is a mixed martial arts expert and a fitness buff among others.

Excited about his forthcoming release,. Kabir confesses, " villains have always excited me

 And I dreamt to be one with innumerable shades. Kunal Kohli the magician made me into the Raavan who has multitudinous shades. It is an amazing role that is a dream for any actor."

Kabir's physique and martial,arts training were always a plus. But he combined his grandmother's stories with the knowledge of the  books on Raavan that read up. "Raavan is an amazing character to essay. There is so much to him the world does not know and I am glad I am playing him."

 Fantastic videos from MXPlayer

[Ramyug | Trailer | Releasing On 6th May 2021] https://www.mxplayer.in/show/watch-ramyug/season-1/ramyug-trailer-releasing-on-6th-may-2021-online-fa1678cfaa50c894fd45ed92e67ea00c?utm_source=mx_android_share

When Culinary Art Meets Music!

 

Renowned chef, chocolatier and cake sculptor Harneet Jolly surprised composer Bickram Ghosh and veteran playback singer Hariharan for their star-studded launch of ‘Ishq – Songs Of Love’, bumping up the larger-than-life celebration with delectable cakes, a beautifully crafted violin made out of chocolate, and edible photo frames fuelling the much needed celebratory emotion post pandemic!

The industry DOYENS including Anupam Kher, Shankar Mahadevan, Sanjeev Kapoor, Roop Kumar Rathod, Kavita Seth, Lesle Lewis, Kaavya Jones, Sandip Soparrkar, Sharbani Mukherjee, Salim Merchant, Akshay Hariharan, Karan Hariharan, Shilpa Rao, Pratibha Singh Baghel, Purbayan Chatterjee, Gurneet Jolly, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Yogesh Lakhani among others made their presence felt for the EP launch at Tap, Juhu, where renowned chef, chocolatier and cake sculptor Harneet Jolly’s live sculpture cake added more energy to the musical evening!

“It’s always nice to have your work appreciated, especially when it is coming from the world’s most acknowledged artists. Bollywood is everyone’s fantasy in India. It is bliss to have my work acknowledged here. I have grown up watching these artists. Being artists, even though from different art horizons, they could deeply relate to my art,” avers Chef Harneet Jolly.

On being appreciated by Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at the launch, Harneet shares, “It was a grand feeling hearing praises from the top-tier talent in the industry. I had a vision for my sculpture cake and he connected with it. It’s way beyond just the technicalities of it.

It was very reassuring that I am on the right track. We spoke about my cake sculpture, our future plans, and my upcoming book on desserts. I respect Chef Sanjeev ji for holding his legacy for 3 decades and the person he is.”

 

सलमान‌ खान और हिमेश रेशमिया के गाने 'दिल दे दिया' के जरिए मंत्रमुग्ध करेंगी पायल देव!

 

सलमान खान और जैकलीन फर्नांडीज पर फिल्माए गये फिल्म राधे के गाने 'दिल दे दिया' की रिलीज़ के साथ ही गायिका पायल देव भी आज एक बार फिर से इतिहास रचने जा रहीं हैं. 'राधे' के इस गाने को हिमेश रेशमिया द्वारा संगीतबद्ध किया है तो वहीं पायल देव ने इसे अपनी सुमधुर आवाज़ से सजाया है.

आज की तारीख में पायल देव की पहचान एक बेहद ही व्यस्त संगीतकार के तौर पर होती है. यूं तो पायल ने अपने करियर की शुरुआत एक सिंगर के तौर पर की थी मगर अचानक कुछ ऐसा हुआ कि फिर वो एक गायिका के साथ एक संगीतकार के तौर पर भी पहचाने जाने लगीं.

उल्लेखनीय है कि अपनी बेहद अलहदा आवाज़ के लिए जाने जानेवाली और हर तरह के गानों को गाने को बहुत ही आसानी से गाने की काबिलियत रखनेवाली पायल देव देखते ही देखते सभी कम्पोजर की पहली पसंद बन गई हैं.

पायल देव कहती हैं, "हर गाना अपने आप में अनूठा होता है और इसे अनूठा बनाते हैं इसके कम्पोजर और अरेंजर. ऐसे में एक सिंगर से उम्मीद की जाती है कि वो उम्दा तरीके से उन्हें गाये. हर बार जब मैं किसी गाने को मधुर अंदाज में गाती हूं तो वो मेरे लिए जीवन को बदलकर रख देनेवाला अनुभव साबित होता है."

'राधे' के 'दिल दे दिया' गाने के बारे में पायल कहती हैं कि ये गाना उनके लिए इसलिए भी बहुत अहम है क्योंकि इसके सलमान खान और हिमेश रेशमिया की जोड़ी भी जुड़ी हुई है जिसके लिए उन्होंने अपनी आवाज़ दी है. वो कहती हैं, "हिमेश रेशमिया मेरी आवाज़ के टेक्सचर से अच्छी तरह से वाकिफ़ हैं. एक कम्पोजर के तौर पर वो अच्छी तरह से जानते हैं कि उन्हें क्या चाहिए. उनके लिए किसी गाने को गाना बेहद आसान होता है और इसी सहज तरीके से वे एक सिंगर को किसी गाने को गाने के लिए निर्देशित करते हैं."

पायल आगे कहती हैं, "किसी भी गाने की ख़ूबी उसमें अंतर्निहित मूड में होती है. इस गाने का मूड 'जुम्मे की रात' गाने जैसा है.‌ मैंने 'गेंदा फूल' और रेस 3 में 'सासें हुईं धुआं धुआं' भी गाया था. जैकलीन के लिए ये मेरा तीसरा तो वहीं सलमान के लिए ये मेरा चौथा गाना है. इस गाने को बेहतरीन अंदाज़ में गाने के लिए मैंने पूरी तरह से हिमेश भाई के निर्देशों का पाल‌न किया है. उन्होंने मुझपर पूरा भरोसा था कि मैं इस गाने के साथ न्याय करूंगी. मुझपर उनका यूं यकीन करना मेरे लिए बहुत मायने रखता है. उन्हें मेरी आवाज़ का टेक्सचर बहुत पसंद हैं और वो मेरी आवाज़ के नये आयामों के साथ प्रयोग करते रहते हैं. वो मेरी आवाज़ के अलग टेक्सचर, अलग टोन, अलग तरह के फील के साथ गाने को एक अलग ऊंचाई पर ले जाते हैं. ये एक डांस ट्रैक है और जब आप इस तरह के गाने गाते हो तो उसके एक लिए एक ख़ास तरह का मूड होना मेरी लिए बहुत ज़रूरी होता है. एक सिंगर के तौर पर जब आप गाने के मूड को अच्छी तरह से समझ जाते हो और फिर उसे अपने अंदाज़ में गाते हो तो फिर जादू होना स्वाभाविक होता है. ऐसा ही कुछ 'दिल दे दिया' है गाने के साथ भी हुआ है.

याद दिला दें कि जब पायल का  पहला सुपरहिट गाना 'तुम ही आना' रिलीज हुआ था तो एक‌ कम्पोज़र के‌ तौर पर उनके पास गानों के ऑफ़रों का अंबार लग गया था. तब से पायल ने एक के बाद एक क‌ई हिट जाने दिये हैं, फिर चाहे वो फ़िल्मों के गाने हों या फिर वो गाने डिजिटल रिलीज़ से जुड़े हों.

बेहद कम समय में ही उन्होंने अपने फैन्स और चाहनेवालों की बदौलत एक कम्पोजर और गायिका के तौर पर अपनी अलग पहचान बना ली है. पायल ने अपने करियर की शुरुआत मुम्बई में तमाम ब्रांड्स के एड्स फिल्मों, डाक्यूमेंट्रियों और कॉर्पोरेट्स के लिए फिल्मों के जिंगल्स को गाने से की थी. उन्होंने ग्रांड मस्ती का टाइटल सॉन्ग भी गाया था जो बेहद सुपरहिट साबित हुआ.

इनके अलावा पायल ने बाजीराव मस्तानी, रेस 3, दबंग 3, स्टूडेंट ऑफ द ईयर आदि कई फिल्मों‌ के लिए गाने गाये हैं. अगर इंडिपेंडेंट गानों की बात की जाए तो उनमें पायल ने 'गेंदाफूल', 'दिल चाहता है', 'क्यों', 'बारिश', 'बेपनाह प्यार' आदि शामिल हैं. बात चाहे गाने की हो या फिर गानों को कम्पोज़ करने की, पायल को नये साउंड और स्टाइल को एक्सप्लोर करना बेहद पसंद है जिसमें पॉप, वेस्टर्न, जैज़, ग़ज़ल, हिपहॉप, रॉक आदि का शुमार है.

पायल सही मायनों में संगीत की पूजा करती है. उनके लिए हर गाना उस बच्चे की तरह है जिसे वो बड़ा कर उसकी पूरी क्षमताओं तक ले जाने में यकीन करती हैं ताकी वो सही मायनों में अपने फ़ैन्स को अपनी आवाज़ से मंत्रमुग्ध कर सकें.

 

Song link : https://youtu.be/e1Bj4tMGh64