ABC Show “Namaste Yoga” Selected For Maoriland Film Festival

The ABC Me and iView short film “Namaste Yoga” created an astounding sense of resonance for many Indians and South Asians living in Australia when it was released in late 2022.

Now Aotearoa (NewZealand) is in for special treat as Warrior Tribe Films, the production company behind Namaste Yoga,announces the film has been selected for the Maoriland Film Festival (15-19 March 2023). The Maoriland Film Festival is now the largest Indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere andshowcases Indigenous films from around the world.

The beautiful and heart-warming film, wonderfully executed incredible nuance and artistry of its authentic depiction of not just the Hindu diaspora but mastery of experiencing racism, cultural appropriation and traumas of assimilation, particularly for young children.

Namaste Yoga is about Shiv, a 10-year-old boy living in Australia who is ashamed of being Indian, and when he gets into a fight at school, the only way to avoid suspension is by doing mandatory lunchtime yoga classes. Cue Miss Blanche - home room teacher and self-proclaimed yoga “guru”.

Namaste Yoga is about the effect cultural appropriation can have on young Brown kids and their self-worth, when their Culture is appropriated, commoditised and sold back to them. The themes,characters and messages are hitting home to create much needed conversations in families that have remained in the shadows for generations.

Ravi Chand (producer/writer/director) explains “It has been an incredible privilege to create something like this. I’ve received so many messages from people I’ve never met to say, they have watched it with their family and it’s the first time they have every felt seen on screen. Parents have told me teachers in schools have asked their kids to watch it, so they can discuss the themes in class. Many parents are also recalling conversations with their kids, using Namaste Yoga as an ice breaker and their kids recounting similar traumas which parents were never aware of”.

Chand’s work is receiving recognition from arguably the toughest critics, the IndianAustralian media.

Some of the reviews of Namaste Yoga include:

“It is difficult not to tear up through this masterpiece. Simply put, it touches your heart and you can’t avoid it” - Bharat Times.

“One of the most authentic portrayals of Hindu life in a Western country” - Desi Australia.

“An incredible and beautiful film” - Hindu Council of Australia.

“This exquisite level of detail could not come from someone outside of the culture”Bharat Times.

“An honest discussion around the cultural appropriation and colonisation of yoga” –G’Day India.

Namaste Yoga is achieving wonderful things as children understand the beauty of their Culture that lives within themselves. Nurturing them not be ashamed of who they are and opening up conversations for parents that bring them closer to their children. The exciting part about all of this is that Chand has much more to come. If you haven’t seen it on Facebook, look up his pitch presentation for “Five Year Grandma”, which is now being developed into a docu-series.

Chand is also working with Elders and scholars around the world on several other TV series and a feature film. All anchored in a deep decolonised lens of his Culture and fascinating life. Work is currently being done to get Namaste Yoga seen around the world, which will undoubtedly be embraced internationally as it has in Australia. One thing is for sure. Namaste Yoga is a must watch and Ravi Chand’s work is one to definitely track.

You can stream Namaste Yoga on ABC iview: www.iview.abc.net.au/show/namasteyoga

Aotearoa (New Zealand), audience can watch Namaste Yoga at the Maoriland Film Festival in person or online at: www.maorilandfilm.co.nz

Youth Ambassador for Indian Women Empowerment

Sagarika, is a dynamic and driven young girl who has made her mark in both academics and the arts arena.

At just 13 years old, this Year 8 student has already proven that with hard work and dedication, one can excel in multiple arenas.

“Don’t have your hands on too many things as you can’t excel. cus on your strengths and work on them to achieve success.” says Sagarika.

Sagarika started learning Bhartanatyam from age of four from her mother and guru Smt. Manjula Vishwanathan who herself is a renowned dancer and teacher. By the age of eight she started devoting more time to learning and practising what she has learnt so far and at the age of nine she gave her first solo performance and the second one at the age of 11 which left the audience awe-stuck and there was one question on every lip “How could someone so young perform with such depth and maturity?”

Now Sagarika is preparing to present her Arangetram –this definitely is not her first solo debut, but a deeper journey in Bharathanatyam which she will explore on 5th March 2023 at Riv erside Theatre.

Sagarika will be the Youth Ambassador for IWE - Indian Women Empowerment on her arangetram day.She will dedicate the evening of her arangetram to raise awareness to Indian Women Empower ment. IWE’s vision seeks to inspire and empower all Indian Women in Business, various Professions, Housewives and others to address some of the challenges of our times such as domestic and family violence, unemployment, underemploy ment, or gain meaningful employment