47 minute read
Connections-Connecting
Connections-Connecting with Rinku Razdan
By Poonam Naik
Are you new to Australia? About to come to Australia or if you have lived here for long and really looking for information on those first things like tax file number and how to do it, how to look for work, rentals and buying house or just about transportation in your area – you can download an app called Connections on your smartphone.
Connections is Australia’s first ever multilingual app to serve migrants and different communities. The brainchild behind Connections is Rinku Razdan. Connections Australia is a Not-for-profit service helping migrants navigate a new country through the app called Connections.
How was Australia when you came here 17 years ago?
Rinku mentions she came here as a young bride and after a brief unworkable marriage period and a 3-year-old son in tow, she had to leave home with only a suitcase and a job. Rinku reveals there was not much support for her in times of struggle. For whatever support she got from the local grocer is something she will always be humbled about.
What inspired you to design this app?
Rinku is a technical guru and is a data nerd. She is also a management consultant to many data driven large organizations. With the new technological infrastructure and opportunities in our times, designing and launching Connections was the most natural step for her. Her own struggles from the days and the stark lack of support systems compelled her to launch Australia’s first migrant onboarding app – Connections.
Rinku believes it will make life a lot easier for the newbies as well as the already established migrants. ability, and location. It ‘s free to apply for jobseekers and free for employers to post job opportunities.
What has been the social impact of the app?
Rinku states that innovation is the heart of everything they do to drive cultural integration. The impact tracking by way of numbers is very encouraging. 3000 people have so far benefitted from the settlement information and guides been provided in the app. 150 job opportunities were created through the Connections app. 6000 clicks of community engagement and Rinku feels this is just the beginning for her social initiative.
What are the current features on the app?
Connections is Australia’s fastest growing data driven platform connecting you to jobs, communities and settlement. There is a tile for guidebooks which has different reading and referral guides from how to apply for tax file number etc. The near me tile will open options for the nearest medical, banking, transport, dinning and education choices to explore. Things to do shows up various community events, shows and concerts happening in your region. Places to live shows numerous rental and accommodation options in your area of choice. You can also sign up for Connections Careers to receive and apply for job notifications. Connecting workers to employers based on experience, avail-
What is the buzz about Next Generation Entrepreneur Program Grant?
Rinku is excited about this new project. Connections Australia + Multiconnexions + InQ Innovation have recently won the Next Generation Entrepreneur Program Grant. It is a collaboration to help migrants and refugees launch their business in Australia and expand globally. She states the collaboration will help migrant founded start ups to incubate, scale and launch their projects globally.
We believe migrants are resilient and natural problem solvers, hence having the right program will enhance their skills whilst further integrating them into Australian community and commerce, added Rinku.
The Next Generational Entrepreneur Program is a structured, curated program for entrepreneurs and start-ups with migrant founders to validate and be groomed through bootcamps, start-up ecosystem expert masterclasses, mentorship, advisory support, and industry and investor connects to assist participants to grow their concept into globally scalable and sustainable businesses.
Businesses, start-ups, and aspiring entrepreneurs interested in registering for the program can stay updated through their social media, website – connectionsaustralia.com or newsletter until the program officially launches in March. Connections invites all migrant founders to join the program and establish their businesses with the support of a like – minded community.
Connections Australia aims to smooth the transition process, Rinku said. We are so passionate about making life easier for migrants, so others don’t have to struggle.”
Now feeling settled in Australia, Rinku and her team are busy taking up new projects.
Good luck Rinku. Your story has left many people a great deal of inspiration to fall back on during times of crisis.
“Trikone” – Breaking the stigma around LGBTQAI+ from the South Asian Community background at Mardi Gras 2021
In 2007 a bunch of friends sitting around a dining table decided to start an organization for LGBTQAI+ community from South Asian background and since 2010 this organization is represented at the annual Sydney Mardi Gras Parade.
That small group has now 1000+ community members from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Myanmar, Mauritius and even Tibet. Together these are called the ‘Trikone Australia.’
Sadhana, co-founder of this organization says that it was quite unbelievable to them that the parade is actually happening. Not everyone was
comfortable in disclosing their identity atr first so they kept their theme masquerade,where the masks were the part of the costumes.
The first event they organized was a bollywood theme night where they expected not much of a crowd. “It was jam packed”, says Sadhana. With the ball rolling, trikone started organizing more serious events like Moonlight stories where people share their experience of life or Let’s talk where people can release their emotions.
We had many students coming up to us and sharing how hard it is to accept their sexuality. Mostly they did not come out to their families so we made it a point not to click pictures or record anything and make them feel safe at Trikone.
Over the years Trikone aims to break the stigma around LGBTQAI+ from the south asian countries. Trikone has also joined hands with other organisations like Australia Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACON) and raised awareness around issues like HIV-AIDS.
What’s different this year? In 2021 the parade was held at Sydney Cricket Ground.
“I was a bit apprehensive before the Parade, as this was the first time we were marching in a stadium setting. Marching on the streets had a protest-like significance, where we were showing the world that we’re queer and we’re here,” Kunal Mirchandani, Chairperson of Trikone, revealed. “But to me, a ticketed event meant that we were preaching to the converted.”
Kunal was about the event because they not only felt the true meaning of pride but also felt validated by the allies in the audience.
As I was walking up the entrance to the stadium, I felt a thrill of energy. It was a jolt of electricity that I hadn’t felt before – similar to the one portrayed in sports films just before their big game. It was an experience that I wouldn’t readily forget.
“Watching rows upon rows of LGBTIQ+ supporters felt like vintage Mardi Gras, where we felt validated for who we are; not just showing off for folks who were there to watch the freak show,” he express
This year the theme was ‘Rise”, pertaining to overcoming the catastrophes that took place in 2020 and rising above all with support, love and compassion for each other.
23,000 tickets went up on sale to watch the 2021 Mardi Gras parade at the SCG Stadium.
“Everyone who watched the parade has said that our performance was full of vibrancy and energy, which is to be expected, considering we represent South Asia’s beautiful colours,” Kunal mentioned.
Haathi in the Room Inc. held its third Photovoice Exhibition and Workshop on Saturday 28 February 2021.The focus of the Exhibition and Workshop was mental health amongst older adults in the South Asian Community. The Forum provided an opportunity for participants to exhibit their photos and provide their perspective on this issue. The Forum also comprised of speeches from senior NSW Government representatives, mental health professionals and a group discussion, where the audience had an opportunity to share their insights and discuss this issue in detail. This Project was funded by NSW Government.
There is no question that COVID has had a profound and lasting impact on the mental health of Australians. For most of us, 2020 marked the year of lockdowns, not being able to freely move around the community as much as we used to, delaying our plans to travel to India and overseas and adopting the rules of ‘social distancing’. Not having the freedom to see those we love the most as much as we would like has taken a toll on us all. On the whole, it has been widely documented that the pandemic has amplified levels of stress, anxiety and depression faced by the general population.
Older adults, those aged fifty or above, make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce. According to the World Health Organisation, over fifteen percent of those aged over sixty suffer from some form of mental illness, with the
most common being depression. Oftentimes, mental illness amongst older adults remains undiagnosed and untreated.
The mental health of older people may also be affected by losing the ability to live independently, experiencing bereavement (particularly with death of a life partner), other co-morbidities and a drop in income following retirement. These factors can lead to social isolation, loneliness, loss of independence and increased psychological distress. The restrictions of living in a COVID world has exacerbated these factors even more for those aged over fifty.
Haathi in the Room’s vision is to start the conversation, and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness in the South Asian community. We wish to give a voice to the “Haathi in the Room” – Mental illness is the ‘elephant in the room’ that is rarely acknowledged or spoken about in our community. We hope to encourage our community to recognise the importance of early intervention and the need to provide support to those experiencing mental illness just as we do for those with physical health conditions.
Haathi in the Room used Photovoice as the method of discussion at the Forum. Photovoice is a powerful photographic and storytelling technique – as they say a photo tells a thousand words. Through their photos, participants brought their insights and perspectives on the topic of mental illness amongst those aged over fifty. The narratives from the photos were then be used for the group workshop that sought to understand triggers, reduce community barriers and help develop effective solutions and programs to address the identified issues and concerns.
The Forum was a great way to start the conversation and raise awareness of the social context surrounding mental health and wellbeing within our community. It helped identify the triggers in our community – how do attitudes within our community and lack of understanding of mental health and wellbeing impact people’s ability to cope with the stressors in their life? What more can we do to support those who have or are experiencing mental illness?
The NSW Mental Health Commissioner, Catherine Lourey, was a key note speaker at the Forum. As Commissioner, Catherine is focused on whole-of-government strategic planning to collaboratively set priorities for improving mental health. She has more than thirty years’ experience leading and improving outcomes for people with lived experience of mental illness. Catherine highlighted the important role grassroots community initiatives (such as the Haathi in the Room’s Photovoice Exhibition) play in shaping the Government’s response to mental health and ensuring the Government provides tailored support and services to meet the needs of the community.
Other speakers included the Director of the South Western Local Health District (SWLDHD), Katina Valeris, and Northern Beaches Mental Health Services Nurse Specialist, Ranjit Bhalru. Ranjit provided a clinicians perspective on the topic of mental illness amongst those aged over fifty, including the types of mental health conditions that are prevalent amongst older adults, warning signs and symptoms to be aware of and the treatment options available.
Michael Camit, Health Literacy Manager, SWLDHD Multicultural Services was also instrumental in supporting Photovoice participants in the lead up to the Forum. Michael facilitated two workshops prior to the Forum where he explained the concept and application of Photovoice, provided ongoing feedback and support to participants.
Supported organisations included SEWA International, Sri Lanka Association of NSW Inc., Matham Group, Sri Om Foundation Ltd and Vision 2020. The Forum was well attended and the Haathi in the Room team received exceedingly positive feedback from attendees.
Haathi in the Room team members are: Nitasha Bhatia, Vidhisha Khetwani, Monica Das and Sue Advani.
For more information please visit Haathi in the Room Facebook page: www.facebook.com/haathiintheroom
For mental health help reach out to: Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14, Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 and NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
Pink Sari Inc.
launches new vital health programs for the South Asian community
Pink Sari Inc proudly launched two new projects namely ‘Beyond Pink’ and ‘Cervical Screening for Survival’ through a digital event on Friday January 29th, 2021 funded by the Cancer Institute NSW.
Pink Sari Inc. President, Ms Shantha Viswanathan, said she wants people in her community to know how important it is to participate in screening programs. “Early detection is crucial, it improves treatment options and gives people the best chance of survival.”
“We are incredibly grateful to NSW Government and the Cancer Institute NSW for their support. Their investment will allow Pink Sari Inc. to change the life of many women who would not otherwise have discovered their diagnosis until it was too late,” Ms Viswanathan said.
Acting Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors & Veterans, Geoff Lee said he supported initiatives which will save women’s lives.
Mr Lee said, “We know culturally and linguistically diverse communities experience unique challenges when it comes to accessing health information, advice and culturally appropriate care and support. Pink Sari Inc. is a group of dedicated community volunteers undertaking incredibly important work to help women in their communities access the screening and the support they need.”
Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor David Currow was pleased to launch the initiatives and said working with trusted community organisations such as Pink Sari is key to improving culturally appropriate care and support.
“We know that cancer is an incredibly complicated and emotional topic at the best of times. These programs will improve health outcomes for communities at risk and will be delivered by trusted organisations with the necessary relationships, skills and expertise,” Professor Currow said.
The ‘Cervical Screening for Survival’ project, a partnership between Pink Sari Inc. , the Australian Indian Medical Graduates Association and the Australian Medical Aid Foundation, will focus on raising awareness amongst Indian and Sri Lankan women in Western Sydney and South Western Sydney about the importance of early detection of cervical cancer and the National Cervical Screening Program.
‘Beyond Pink’, a partnership between Pink Sari Inc. and NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, focuses on the primary and secondary carers of cancer patients, cancer patients undergoing treatment, those in remission and survivors. It aims to empower carers with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to better support the people they are caring for as well as to take better care of themselves.
Director of the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS), Lisa Woodland, said that working in close partnership with dedicated community led organisations such as the Pink Sari Inc is one of the best strategies to ensure that we are able to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to the multicultural communities.
“We are proud and honoured to continue working side by side with Pink Sari Inc, to effectively address the needs of carers through an evidenced approach to provide them support with the delivery of much needed resources and services”
About Pink Sari Inc.:
Pink Sari Inc is a volunteer-based, grass roots, not-for-profit organisation whose vision is to provide South Asian communities with information and support to improve their knowledge and ability to lessen the impact of certain types of cancer.
Meet the Author - Rubaroo with Rekha Rajvanshi
By: Poonam Naik
Today’s rubaroo is with Rekha Rajvanshi – a prominent Hindi literary figure in Sydney. Rekha came to Australia as an immigrant in 2001, when Hindi was offered in a few community schools and was limited to translation and interpretation purposes only. By profession, Rekha is a Learning and Support Teacher, who is passionate about promoting our language Hindi. She taught Hindi at various levels in Sydney – from children in community school to Australian adults at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. She is also a well-known Hindi writer, poetess, also a radio presenter. To promote our language, literature, and culture in Australia, Rekha founded the Indian Literary and Art Society of Australia (IILASA) in 2010.
Let us talk with multitalented Rekha Rajvanshi - What is the importance of learning and knowing another language?
According to my proficiency in other languages opens new doors for us. Today’s world is interconnected, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill to engage with the world in a meaningful way. Hindi bonds all Indians across the world very easily. Many of my Australian students wanted to learn Hindi to know more about India, Indian films, Indian culture, Indian Arts, religion, and Yoga. Some of the Universities and companies encourage their students and employees to learn a new language. Some studies have shown that knowing two or more languages reduces risk factors for Alzheimer’s or you may experience a delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms.
When did you start writing? And why you chose to write in Hindi?
I started writing poetry when I was at school. My father used to write as well and used to recite those poems to us all. I also studied Hindi, English, and Sanskrit Literature at the college level. Hindi being my mother tongue, highly influenced me. Although I have been writing in English in community papers but when it comes to creative writing we can express the best in the language we think. It’s not the same when we think in Hindi and write in English. We lose essence in Translation.
Tell us something about your books, especially about your new story book.
I have authored 6 books so far, edited 3, and translated Aboriginal Dreamtime stories from English into Hindi. So this is my 9th but first storybook. The book is published by the renowned publisher Kitabghar in Delhi. The title of the book is ‘Australia se Rekha Rajvanshi ki Kahaniya.’
This 144 pages book consists of 21 stories altogether. Most of the stories are based in Australia, my characters live in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and other cities. They are contemporary, inspired by real incidents. Some of the themes are the COVID situation, LGBTI, and euthanasia. Some stories project a bold image of women. One of my stories ‘Gori Dayan’ was published in a magazine a few years ago and readers gave me good feedback. Escorts is another story where a rich and beautiful girl comes to Sydney to study and later decides to become an escort to earn money.
What is unique and fresh about your style of writing?
My writing style is considered as different. I believe in using simple and colloquial Hindi, which readers can understand and relate with. India in the past few years has changed. I have seen my children growing, I have observed their lifestyle and thinking. They think differently than us. Which made my outlook towards things modern and not that traditional. When I was in Delhi, I wrote some stories for All India Radio, when I read them now, they are quite traditional.
We need to change, I have seen other immigrant authors who still are nostalgic and their work is based on Indian background. There is no harm in that but my stories reflect on modern Australian society. Australian culture, lifestyle, history, food, and culture in general. I draw my inspiration from ‘our lives here.
How and where can we buy your book?
The book is available on Amazon India. I am getting some copies too. If someone is keen on reading they can either get it from India or buy it from me.
It was very inspiring to talk to Rekha. The book cover is very attractive, beautiful yellow ochre cover page is designed by Rekha herself. A mystical woman with a red lipstick with Aboriginal art borders truly echoes her writing style to be embedded from our lives here in Australia. Rekha’s collection of stories is a true reflection of what it means to be a migrant and how Australian multicultural society influences our thinking and lifestyle.
Congratulations on your new book, Rekha.
‘Green Light’ from the NSW Government for Sikh Grammer Australia-first dedicated Sikh and Indian school
A Multicultural school for multicultural Australia
The first Sikh School is going to be created in north-west Sydney and construction has also been approved by the NSW government. By making Sikh School, it will help in nurturing future Indian-Australian judges, politicians, and sports stars. The school is going to be built in Rouse Hill as Sikh Grammar School which will welcome students of all backgrounds and denominations but mostly the children having Indian heritage said by Kanwar Jeet who is one of the volunteers behind the project. It will cost $200 million, funded by members of the Sikh community. It is going to be a school for everyone, said Mr Jeet. It will help to give the kids that kind of culture that will inspire them to be the best. Strong support was signified by the liberality of donations, the school website said, which came from not only Australia but also from America’s, Asia and Europe.
Mr Jeet said that Sikhism has three main principles which are hard work, spirituality and service. Sikh values are han values no discrimination, nor defeating. The school would be built near Tallawong metro station, on the north-west line. This will be the first Sikh School dedicated to Sikhism teachings. This new school will provide state of the art learning environments for 1,260 students from kindergarten to year 12 near Tallawong metro station, Mr Stokes said.
Members for Riverstone Kevin Conolly said the new school will be great for the local community and was looking forward to 2023 when the school is expected to be up and running. Construction of the new facility will have many benefits for Western Sydney including the investment of more than $167 million into the local economy and the creation of 280 new construction jobs and 120 working jobs once up and running, Mr Conolly said.
Construction on a 10 acre site will be done in stages over the next decade to ensure infrastructure keeps up with demand. The new school will also feature an early learning centre for 86 children, boarding settlements for staff and students, large indoor and outdoor sporting facilities as well as a library and place of worship. Western Sydney will be a home to Australia’s first dedicated Sikh and Indian school after receiving approval from the NSW government for construction.
The students will have the latest electronic gadgets that can dock to the range of settings as well as access to high speed WiFi so that one can connect from anywhere. Digital transformation, machine learning and artificial intelligence are some of the tools students will be attached to. Modern libraries, science labs and other provided infrastructure will develop the overall personality of the students to prepare them for the future.
Academically, the school will attempt to better the results currently secured by NSW selective schools. It will also attempt to provide coaching and other facilities to increase the sporting skills of students so that they are selected in the club, state and national sporting teams. The site will also house a Sikh Gurudwara where the school community will get spiritual encouragement.
Sikh Grammar School Australia is pleased to offer a range of premium business sponsorship, advertising, and product placement packages that can be changed to suit one individual requirements and budget. These packages present a once in a lifetime opportunity for supporters for this worthy cause.
The schooling system in Australia is divided into two parts. Government schools provide free education to all students while non-government schools take students on a fee basis. The majority of the Sikh and Indian population in NSW (New South Wales) have settled in western Sydney.
Aiming towards Light & Hope – Harman Foundation’s 8th Annual Fundraising Dinner
Harman Foundation hosted its 8th annual fundraising dinner ‘Light and Hope’ on February 28, 2021 at Bowman Hall, Blacktown. The event was attended by a number of parliamentarians including Federal MP Michelle Rolland from Greenway, State MP Kevin Conolly representing Riverstone, Tony Bleasdale –Mayor from Blacktown City council including many councillors.
It was an insightful evening organised to support women and children affected by family and domestic violence.
Harinder Kaur, CEO and co-founder of Harman Foundation said, “Harman foundation has been always upfront to help the individuals and families stuck in vulnerable circumstances. We have grown into a big family with 250 volunteers who have their own expertise and offering different services to the community.”
Maninder Singh, Chairman of Harman Foundation while addressing the audience said
“To sustain our ongoing projects and for future projects, we are focusing on partnerships, collaborations and searching grants/ donations/sponsorships
The dinner night raised over $40,000 including an auction to support women’s shelter nicknamed ‘HER House’ (Harman Foundation Empowerment & Refuge House). It provides transitional housing for women and children affected by domestic violence.
Choose To Challenge – Choose To Change
“We have to shape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.” Beyonce
By: Poornima Menon
Women are key to economic growth and studies show that if women play an identical role in labour markets as that of men, as much as US $28 trillion could be added to global annual GDP by 2025. Countries and communities that offer better socioeconomic opportunities for women not only have a better, faster and equitable growth, but they also see a massive reduction in poverty with better environmental sustainability. Studies have shown that the participation of women in the economy has far reaching affects as they devote more of the household budget to education, health, and nutrition than men. A child born to a mother who can read is 50 % more likely to survive and every year of education beyond grade four that a woman receives, reduces the risks of her child dying by 10%. Whether in bustling cities or rural villages, women’s income contributes to families, communities and societies.
Unfortunately, the disparity of women unlike many other global issues is not isolated to developing countries. In horror stories from around the world, women are being wounded and mutilated for men think that to break a woman’s spirit, they have to scar her external beauty. It only shows how shallow they are! It is assumed that a disfigured woman will stay indoors. And added to these are the shocking cases of abuse and unnatural deaths. As long as men consider women as their possessions, their property, there can be no light at the end of this dark tunnel. Even in this day and age, a woman is identified by the various roles she plays – that of a daughter, a wife and a mother. She is not seen as an individual, independent of all these roles. Will this world ever get closer to emancipating women or will we continue to be remorseful about the less fortunate, get momentarily indignant about the atrocities and let it fade away into oblivion until another incident jogs us out of our slumber? If the society continues to be patriarchal, there is very little hope for gender parity or equality. But women have stood up and fought against all odds and have won. They have more resilience than they give themselves due.
Every year March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day and every year the slogan chosen calls for gender equality and parity. But even today, we
continue to live in a world where daughters are not valued as much as the sons are or encouraged to a make the same meaningful contributions to the world. Equal rights for women is still a debatable subject. It seems like this world is in need of constant reminders for women have been fighting for their rights to better wages and better working conditions since 1909 and the fight is still on. So, is it then wrong to assume that parity is still a steep climb ahead? For more than 100 years, women around the world have been working hard to attain gender equality, but even today women continue to earn less and have fewer assets. Seventy-five per cent of women’s employment in developing regions is informal and unprotected and they spend more than twice as much time on unpaid care and domestic work than men. And the sad reality is that many men land up in jobs because they are not ‘women’ So, in 2021, let us choose to challenge - choose to challenge stereotypes and mediocrity, choose to challenge fears and apprehensions and finally choose to challenge ideas and ideologies that are impediments to our growth as a community.
This year the Saree Enthusiasts of Sydney observed the day with a celebration of themselves and everything they hold dear. On 7th March,120 ladies got together at Madison Function Centre, looking beautiful and resplendent in their beautiful sarees. Jodi McKay, the leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of NSW attended the function and as always, her address was meaningful and inspirational. The tables were named after words that define womanhood and the International Woman’s days of the past. These were, challenge, transform, change, progressive, choice, determined, strength, courage, perseverance, smart, empower, innovative, resilience, authentic and beautiful. Each of the 15 ladies who participated in the fashion show, chose one of these words and after showcasing their beautiful sarees, proceeded to tell the audience what their chosen word meant to them as a woman. The ladies took home with them a piece of inspiration in the form of a fridge magnet. It was great to see women support and encourage each other. A special shout out to all the men who stood on the sidelines supporting their women and ensuring that the event was a successful one.
#choosetochallenge #choosetobedifferent #choosetostandup
Raaz ki baat
-Live your dream: if you think you can, you can!
A back story of an inspired effort
In my passion for music, that has usually ranged from bathroom singing to performances on and off stage, I have often been toying with What Next. My pursuit of performing arts has been a passion rather than a profession. My attempt was to choose between one school of thought where you’re told by the wise and the learned that one needs to first better one’s skills and only then showcase one’s – errrr – talent to the world, to the voice from the heart that said if you can reach out to people and touch their hearts, if you can take them on a journey with you and you’re having fun in the process then go for it, it’s all part of enjoying the journey rather than await the destination. The voice of the heart made better sense to my limited brain.
As an artist I could spend my entire life learning and yet not have reached a stage of perfection where I would be seen as learned enough to be able to go out there and share what I love to do, but as a performer I could do so at any given point. It’s all very relative anyway. I concluded that sharing my attempts as an artist or an entertainer and the resultant acknowledgement and appreciation from the audience does inspires me to do better. This, coupled with the Life is short and zindagi na milegi dubara syndrome took over and I decided to create that one unforgettable music video, something I could cherish in the years to come. When I watch it in future as a more evolved artist who is just a drop in the vast ocean of music, I would hopefully look back with pride at the fact that I took a step towards following my passion and in the process have a wonderful memory to look back at.
Thus, the concept of singing the song aapke pyar main started taking shape. I love this Alka Yagnik number from the film Raaz and wanted to sing to a custom-made track which I felt would make the
experience more refreshing. I was going to sing it in my own way in any case without drawing any comparisons to the original rendition, so why not have a track that’s unique too. A few discussions later an amazing and catchy track created by Pakistan based artist Suleman Raheemani was sent to me. I thoroughly enjoyed recording the song to this track.
It was then time to move on to the planning of the actual shoot. Fond of heights and having sky dived a few year ago taking a leap of faith from 15000 ft, and to my what next question back then, I was told I could go to the US for a HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jump of 40k feet wearing an oxygen mask. That didn’t sound like it was going to be feasible, the only halo I was familiar with was the one around the head that lesser mortals such as I are unlikely to have. I then decided to shoot this song standing tall at a height so I still get the feel. Looking up the net for something doable, given the method to the madness had to include a crew too, I settled for Lincoln’s Rocks at the Blue Mountains as being logistically possible. My limitless imagination, that knew no bounds, then wanted to make the most out of the beautiful Blue Mountains area and Jenolan Caves was added to the agenda. A song shot amidst the stalactites and stalagmites appealed to me tremendously, it would certainly add an element of mysticism to my project, never mind the halo.
Pankaj Upadhayay, our wonderful DOP from Euphony Films, suggested the Raaz song required a male presence for me to sing to. And he gave me some very convincing answers to my asking why, adding he had the right actor for this in mind. He explained that the girl featured in the original song professes her love to her man, the lyrics are as such and hence the song necessitates one. Needless to say, I was convinced and quashed any thoughts of how to sing to someone I have never meet, leave alone profess any love.
Having decided not to replicate the original storyline the song was based on, knowing the actor in me may not do much justice to the rather raunchy – for want of a better word – shots from the actual film, I instead came up with living the story via the man’s eyes, and the song unfolding as a flashback. My not being there in the present and leaving what became of the protagonist to everyone’s guess tickled my fancy.
Having booked accommodation in the Blue Mountains a day prior made sense to get us Sydneysiders over accordingly and Pankaj, along with the male actor Munish, was happy to join in. Two of my friends Tasneem and Dharsha also dived in to help out, much to my gratitude. The crew thus expanded and so did the possibilities as well as the
storyline. This worked out well as we could shoot some bits and pieces at night, creating visuals that would lend themselves well to the story.
The best was saved for a rainy day, literally and figuratively. We were forewarned that it can rain often in Blue Mountains, and much as I hoped the weatherman’s report turns out to be wrong, as it sometimes happens in Sydney, it wasn’t the case.
We woke up to a cloudy and a windy morning. Being a group of people that got along very well and already having fun through the journey from Sydney to the shoot so far, this was certainly not going to deter us. Having spent two hours on getting hair and make-up done, a newfound liking for wind blown hair formed in my mind just as I hoped the make-up was water proof, well it wasn’t. Whoever said beauty lies in simplicity won instant brownie points from me on the big day.
We were blessed to have Matt Gould, the friendly drone operator from UAV Unlimited who was not the least stressed despite the weather conditions. He’s based in the Blue Mountains area and I had been dreaming about how beautiful the valley would look if captured from a drone. Having sent him the locations I wanted to shoot in, I received a text from him in the morning on the day of the shoot, stating he was going to buy rope from Bunnings, to facilitate the shoot before he meets us. This didn’t make much sense to me so I dismissed it concluding he probably had not had enough sleep. It was yours truly who had barely slept for four hours the previous night as I had to be up very early to get ready. He came to meet us at our Air BNB accommodation, the kindest man ever. A trial shot of the drone and he announced it crashed, hawk hit. He explained the hawks were very territorial and they could take a drone as a bird intruding their territory. Thankfully the drone was still working.
We bid goodbye to the beautiful home we stayed in and stepped out with umbrellas and rain jackets, heading to Lincoln’s rock. Tennysson’s poetry was being rewritten in my mind: into the Wentworth Falls rode the light brigade…..
We got to Lincoln’s Rocks, and I felt like an instant celebrity as people stopped by multiple times to take pictures, checking out my outfit and asking what our plans were; some even asked if we were visiting from Bollywood, much to my amusement. It was quite windy though and Matt wasn’t sure how the drone visuals would turn out as they may be shaky. A few shots later light drizzle started and I spotted Tasneem running around helping pick up the props and things. Time to leave Lincoln’s Rocks soon but Matt took us to the second spot I had earlier indicated interest in, adding we should be quick lest a heavy downpour starts. My shock when we got there was apparent as I saw a rope dangling down from some rocks. He added very matter-of-factly, that I needed to climb the rock using the rope as support, to get to the spot I wanted to shoot in. I noticed our crew giving are you serious kind of looks to each other. I was full of admira-
tion for Matt’s efforts as not only did he buy the rope but had reached the venue earlier to secure it, proving knots for me to hold on to. I had to give this a go. Off came my fancy footwear to be replaced by thongs that were meant to stay and I couldn’t help laugh at the sight, not to speak of the plight. The site had a narrow path we were standing on. What if I slip was not bothering me a much as how would a Behind the Scenes shot look with my fancy gown, thongs and climbing a rock did. Matt assured me he won’t let me fall, and he and Tasneem took it upon themselves to push me up, literally. Having climbed a bit, in what seemed like eternity it started to rain and I wasn’t sure I would make it all the way up. The rest of the crew, more in their senses than I was – in a state of frenzy to not miss the shot – rightfully advised I should climb down before it starts pouring. We had to abandon the site and make our way to Jenolan Caves. Matt was ahead of us shooting B-rolls (supplemental footage) for us wherever he could stop and shoot, despite the rain. Meeting him en route, I couldn’t stop admiring his spirit, he was fully drenched but was continuing with whatever footage he could source for us.
We were met with charming Cory at the Jenolan Caves who by then knew me as well as I knew her, thanks to our numerous conversations around the shoot as part of the booking. She was only too happy be our guide and took us to into the Temple of Baal, one of the numerous caves in the area. My desire of running into the caves finally took shape, it so turned out it had to be bare feet though, as the ground was wet due to rains. I was amazed at the limestone formations, the cave looked surreal, I loved every bit of the shoot there. Not only myself but even my outfit seemed like it was part of it. An hour passed in what seemed like just minutes but we got the footage we wanted. Pankaj did his best to shoot with minimal lights, I think the feel a song such as this requires came through beautifully for this very reason; the dim lights adding to the enigma. The natural formations left us spellbound as we bid adieu to Cory and the Jenolan Caves. I was missing not having been able to shoot to my heart’s content at Lincoln’s Rocks earlier in the morning given the rains. Pankaj quipped saying he had enough shots to cover three cover songs should I so desire. I still wanted to return there. We struck a deal that if rain were to stop, we would stopover too.
On the way back through the rainfall, there was a sense of fulfilment and yet
Lo and behold, it stopped raining just as we were about to get back to Katoomba so the entourage took a detour to Lincoln’s Rock and we were able to shoot for a bit longer, getting some of the most magical shots in the golden light as we made it around sunset time. Standing there looking out at the valley, I felt a sense of joy and abundance, as if I was one with the universe. It was remarkable to observe how my outfit merged with the rocks I was sitting on; the contentment I felt can’t be expressed in words. This was meant to be so and despite the glitches posed by the weather conditions, it all unfolded just the way it was meant to. The memories made during this shoot will last me a lifetime. Later in the evening we parted ways, friends for life.
Pankaj has done a fabulous job with this shoot, given his passion for photography and Suleman Raheemani – the video editor – is now adding final touches to it. The crew added tremendous value to bringing this project to fruition. The end product would be one to look out for.
– Lalitha Chellappan
4K PROJECTORS AND WHAT TO CHOOSE?
Picture coutesy epson.com.au
By: Sarang Vengurlekar
Adecade ago, Projectors were counted as a luxury item and now they have become so affordable that all the new homes now have a dedicated Media/Home Theatre room. This means the owners are scrambling to buy projectors to watch their favourite movies or sports with their family and friends. 4So, what constitutes a good projector? 4Is it the brand that you need to look for? 4Do I need a 4K?
These are all the general questions we all have in our minds. There are some tech savvy people who would know exactly what to buy and on the other hand there are people who would love to get a bit of assistance in find the right projector for their needs.
So, let’s begin the journey by understanding the technical terminology surrounding projectors and what are the questions you could probably throw at the salespeople.
Most of the time when you visit a retail store such as Harvey Norman or JB Hi-Fi you will see terms like DLP, or LCD thrown around quite a bit. These normally refer to the technology used within the Projector to project picture on to the wall.
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display which generally uses three transparent LCD panel with three main colours which are Red, Green and Blue. This type of projector is great for office use and great at displaying your PowerPoint presentations as well as fancy graphics. These LCD projectors may at times produce a term known as ‘screen door effect’, which means the projected image may have very faint mesh like texture and some people can notice this very easily. This is normally very noticeable on large screens so always get a demo of the projector you would like to buy and see for yourself. which generally uses mirrors to project the picture on the screen. Generally, the more mirrors used the better the resolution of the projected image. DLP Projectors cause a rainbow effect which is caused by the coloured wheel and the use of single chip. The rainbow effect is like a trail of green, blue red sweeping across the screen. It is usually very noticeable in a high contrast scene. It is said to be non-distracting, but some people may be more sensitive than others and may find it annoying after a while.
Again, make sure you get a demo of the same projector before you buy. In reality both projectors are great with their own sets of faults but there is no such thing as
hundred percent.
Once you have decided on a particular technology then there are many brands to choose from. In my experience I have always preferred the Sony, BenQ and Epson. This is my purely my personal preference, but all the major brands are very close together in quality. It is all price and budget dependent.
Before you lock in the deal be sure to ask the sales guys the lumens output of the projector. The higher the number the brighter it gets. If you are going to be watching movies during day light you will require higher ANSI Lumens, so the picture is still visible. Generally, a good figure to keep in mind is 3000 ANSI Lumens. This purely refers to lamp brightness.
Also ask about the lamp life and the replacement bulb cost as this is something that will be required after few years of usage. Most of the bulbs are long lasting and can range from 2500 to 7500 hours. In terms of resolution then always choose a 4K projector instead of 1080p HD. All the streaming media is generally 4K now a days. This is a long term investment and will be with you for at least the next 5 years on average hence paying that extra bit may be worthwhile.
It is also wise to look at the connections on the projector and ensure that there are multiple HDMI ports, USB, Ethernet/WiFi, as they will all help while connecting devices.
So now you have your projector... so where should you mount it?
The most common answer to this question is ‘Ceiling mount’. Yes, this is the most preferred option. Ceiling mounted projectors are safe as people are not touching it at all times nor walking in front of it. It is best to get this mounted by a professional as they will need to check the distance which affects the size of the screen. The projected image gets smaller if you move the projector closer to the screen and the projected image gets larger if the projector is moved away from the screen.
This distance determines the size of the screen. Once professionally installed it is ready to be enjoyed by everyone in the family.
Picture Coutesy: Digitalinstalls.com.au
The next question is: Do I need a projection screen, or can I project on to a white wall?
Projector screens are great specially the motorised ones as they can hide in the ceiling if you get a recessed screen. It will only come down once you are ready to watch a movie. This ensures the screen is always clean and is not exposed to dust all the time.
A plain white wall is always exposed to dust and no matter how clean – will deliver reduced picture quality and will overall affect sharpness, highlights, contrast, and saturation.
A home theatre is there to enjoy so ensure you have chosen the best you can within your budget. It can be an investment that you will cherish one day while enjoying with your family.
If you like this article then please do not forget to send me any feedback on sarang@vengurlekar.com
Picture courtesy epson.com.au
Picture Courtesy westinghouse.com.au
20 years old Adelaide student, Shrutika Mane, is Miss India Australia 2020
Shrutika Mane, 20 years student of Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced) at the University of Adelaide has been announced as the Raj Suri Miss India Australia 2020 winner.
Born in UK and brought up in India and Australia, Shrutika has a unique understanding of people and cultures from across the globe. In addition to English, Shrutika can speak Hindi and Marathi. A National Award winning debater, aspiring actor and dancer and selected TEDx speaker all by the age of 20.
Due to Covid 19, the 2020 Miss India Australia winner and the 7 finalists were selected via online auditions and interview process on the basis of their overall personality and talent performances with real casting experience and group training and mentor session by Australian Indian talent mentor Raj Suri.
Miss India Australia 2020 will officially represent Australia in the 29th Miss India Australia Worldwide 2021 week at the Lalit Hotel, Mumbai, India fin October 2021 (subject to covid restrictions at the time). The grand finale is on Sudnay, 3 October 2021 in the same hotel in Mumbai.
Indian entertainment industry professionals are expected to attend including many Bollywood celebrities.
Also representing at the same time will be the 4th Mrs India Worldwide 2020.
The Mrs India Worldwide Aus-
tralia 2020 was taken out by Mrs Anumeha Tomar, 29 years old post graduate in management and a working professional and content creator from Melbourne.
The 7 Miss India Australia 2020 Finalists, represented from around Australia are: RABIA Gill (NSW), RADHE Bavada – (NSW) AMANDA Shalau (NSW), NANSITA Cha-
ran (NSW), SHRUTIKA Mane (SA ), RADHIKA Botre (NSW), KIRTHI Dodla (VIC)
The Miss India Australia 2020 finalists who showcased their talent ranging from dancing and public speaking.
https://www.missindia.com.au/missindia-australia-2020-finalists/
The Miss India Australia 2020 titles announced are:
SHRUTIKA MANE - Miss India Australia 2020
RADHE BAVADA - Miss India Australia 2020 Photogenic and Best Talent
RABIA GILL - Miss India Australia 2020 Professional
AMANDA SHALAU - Miss India Australia 2020 - Social Impact
RADHIKA BOTRE - Miss India Australia 2020 Popular Choice
NANSITA CHARAN - Miss India Australia 2020 - Best Student
The Miss India Australia 2020 Winner will being trained, mentored by Sydney based image and personal development mentor Raj Suri and will be exclusively represented via Raj Suri associate talent office globally with the media firm, Karigar Australia.
MissIndia.com.au was established in 2001. The first Miss India Australia was announced in 2003. It is more than just a contest, it celebrates Australian diversity and cultivates Indian Australian role models. Founder Raj Suri conducts women empowerment workshops helping with self confidence and image, career coaching and cross culture integration for young women in Australia.
Past Workshop as featured on SBS Movies.
About Miss India Australia (est.2001)
- Founded in 2001 by photographer/ media/film producer Raj Suri, the Original Miss India Australia is the first ever-national talent search in Australia for women of Indian origin, affiliated to the Miss India Worldwide which will be celebrating its 29th year in 2021 represented by over 20 countries. “Miss India Australia embraces the best of Australian and Indian culture presenting a unique opportunity for Australian women to engage with and celebrate rich heritage with contemporary Australian identity. Miss India Australia does not follow a minimum height or weight criteria in women. It truly celebrates the “real woman” - the Indian Australian diversity.
The Miss India Australia by Raj Suri is now evolved into the platform of choice for the young culturally aware Australian women especially to make inroads into the Indian Films (Bollywood), Fashion industries and most importantly
to cultivate role models to inspire diverse young women of Indian original in Australia and across the globe.
Sukhmani (Zenia) Khaira -
Miss India Australia 2016
Sakshi Singh -
Miss India Australia 2018
Over the years below are some of the known Miss India Australia WINNERS and Finalists in the Indian Australian Film and TV and Modelling Industries:
Vimala Raman -
Miss India Australia 2004
Sharon Johal -
Miss India Australia Photogenic 2004
Pallavi Sharda -
Miss India Australia 2010
Zenia Starr -
Miss India Australia 2013
Nabidita Pal -
Miss India Australia 2015
There are many other former Miss India Australia finalists and or subtitle winners who are pursuing successful careers in varied fields and professions and continue to inspire Indian Australian women from all walks of life.
