63 minute read
Spotlight on Indian Textiles and Craftsmanship
Exhibition to explore water through various art forms at India Habitat
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Jagannath by Tanmay Mohapatra. By Sukant Deepak
‘Pravaah-A Journey’, a group art show will be held from August 17 to 21 at the Open Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi during the Shravan month of the Hindu Saka calendar. Artists displaying their works include Manisha Jha and Manoj Choudhary in Madhubani; Purna Chandra Moharana and Tanmay Mahapatra in Pattachitra; Prakash Joshi in Phad and Anil Wangad and Sarita Vanjara in Warli.
Warli by Sarita Vanjara
Madhubani by Manisha Jha
Announcing the art show, Pragati Agarwal, Founder- Art Tree said, “One of the most vitalizing and life-preserving sources of life, water is the most precious natural resource and supports all human, plant, and animal life. Manifesting itself in various forms, water from the seas and rivers remains a recurring theme in Indian mythological art and culture.’ Pravaah- a Journey’ is an endeavor to bring forth the various attributes of Water that the eclectic mix of artists will be bringing out in their works. We are very happy to have found a motley mix of artists belonging to different art forms who offer us extensive and varied creations from their oeuvre.”
Spotlight on Indian Textiles and Craftsmanship
Preview for “Sutr Santati” curated by Lavina Baldota
Sutr Santati, an exhibition, brings together various textile traditions from around India methods, and materials employed in the specifically commissioned fabrics shown here through the to commemorate 75 years since the country became independent. It was planned and produced by some of the nation’s most renowned artisans, craftspeople, designers, and artists. They see the topics, prism of innovation. By doing this, they emphasise the role of fabric, a significant legacy of Indian nationalism, in defining the nation’s modern cultural scene and advancing its inventiveness.
Embroidered tapestry By Chanakya School of Craft
Sutr Santati literally translates to “yarn consistency.” The title of the show serves as a metaphor for the continuing conversations that define Indian culture and society and unite the past and present. This, its second version, is built on the principles of ecological preservation and workmanship. The first, which debuted in 2018–19 and celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday, was titled Santati Mahatma Gandhi: Then Now Next and honoured his progressive viewpoints on sustainability and circular industries via textiles, fashion, and design. Textiles made by hand weaving, embroidery, resist dyeing, printing, painting, and appliqué, among other techniques for modifying yarn and fabric, are on display. Local fibres including Kandu and Kala cotton, mulberry and wild silks, camel and sheep wool, goat and yak hair, as well as lotus, banana, and water hyacinth, are used in these commissions. The exhibition’s curatorial vision is to advance the concepts of organic and slow consumerism in defining a country’s self-worth, such as India, as well as the inherent group and collaborative efforts that are necessary to advance such objectives. The rural and the urban, the historical and the modern, and most importantly the local and the designers, craftspeople, artists, textile revivalists, organizations/ NGOs, and design institutions—are on show.
global, come together on this road.
Contemporary Lambani Embroidery by Anshu Arora cheriyan and Porgaiartisans
The Abheraj Baldota Foundation is hosting the Lavina Baldota-curated exhibition. Nearly 75 participants from a variety of backgrounds— including fashion and textile
Ashiesh Shah_Naga Chair_(Cast Aluminium _ Elephant grass) with Cushion_ Cast Aluminium finished in Dark Bronze
The opening ceremony could be seen as the mirror of the cultural exchange
The Korean Cultural Centre India hosts an art exhibit “Synthesis of Difference.” The exhibition unites the works of four South Korean artists who represent their country and six Indian artists to depict the fusion of traditional and contemporary, analogue and digital, static and kinetic, through new media art, paintings, animation, video art, installation, and performances. H.E. Chang Jae Bok, the ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, Adwaita Gadanayak, the director general of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Jaya Asokan, the
Adwaita Gadanayak, the Director General of National Gallery of Modern Art, said, “The artwork is like meditation, a synthesis of time and space that has been done in layers, and once you start peeling this layer you discover the hard director of the India Art Fair, Mahinder Sehgal, the programme director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, as well as the artists and curators, started the opening ceremony. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, said, “Through this exhibition, art lovers and you will have a unique opportunity to appreciate rich artistic traditions of Korea and India, realize the subtle similarities and differences in out two countries’ artistic creations and develop mutual understanding”, rightly summing up the essence of this exhibition.
work everyone has put in.” Jeong Heon Ki, the curator of this exhibition said, “Koreans have India on their bucket lists. Through this exhibition, I hope there will be more art exchange between Korea and India in the future as well.”
The contemporary era of humanity is observing a critical indifference state in which the unpredictable and crisis-ridden paths of time are thrown into an undifferentiated abyss where
everything disintegrates. Therefore, “difference” refers to a break from the rhythmic modalities of survival and the synthesis of created time that synchronises our lives and experiences.
I’m disturbed by new threats made against me: Taslima Nasrin
By Sukant Deepak
Even as images of author Salman Rushdie being stabbed multiple times on stage in New York by Hadi Matar, suspected of being sympathetic to Shia extremism, continues to haunt, another author Taslima Nasrin against whom several fatwas shave been issued for her “anti-Islamic remarks” says that she is extremely disturbed after a religious leader, addressing a rally of thousands in Pakistan yesterday called for her to be assassinated. Known for her writings on the oppression of women and criticism of religion, several of her works are banned in Bangladesh, the country of her origin. She has been living in exile since 1994. After living for more than 10 years in Europe and the US, she moved to India in 2004. “While I have had several fatwas issued against me in the past, this is the first time that someone has announced my name in front of such a huge gathering and demanded that I be killed. Who will not be disturbed by this? Look at my Twitter handle, there are so many comments saying that after Rushdie, it is now my turn. I am still confused about whether to delete or retain those tweets. Maybe I should not, if something happens to me, people should get to know... Of course, I do have protection, but anyone will feel insecure after what happened to Rushdie, no?” she tells IANS. Talk to her about the peculiar silence of moderate Muslims whenever violence manifests in the name of Islam, and she asserts that have a very “different character”. “While some progressive Muslims are against violence, they are afraid to speak as that might put their lives in danger. But then, silence is of two kinds -- one that emerges from fear -- and the other that comes from supporting them without speaking a word.” Stressing that while many religions have slowly evolved, changed with the times, and started considering men and women equal, one can still face dire consequences if Islam is criticized, Nasrin adds: “If I scrutinise Islam, rest assured, I will be attacked. Sadly, it has been exempted from criticism. Let us not forget that Islamic rule has been used for political purposes as well. “Instead of laws based on equality and justice, they have rules against them. Children are being brainwashed to become fundamentalists and terrorists. So how do you expect to change?” she concludes.
‘Valli’ turned out to be a requiem for the forest: Author Sheela Tomy
Translations pave way for the readers to new horizons
There is a certain quiet that underlines the whole novel. A rhythm that finds itself at peace with the enigmatic green all around. Even the violence has a precisely sculpted beauty around it. When she writes about her land, Wayanad, it is with awe, and then -- with gratitude. Author Sheela Tomy’s delicate and ferocious glance in ‘Valli’ (HarperCollins India), her latest novel that recently hit the stands, comes from the fact that she grew up listening to the music of the forest and stories about the fight for the survival of her ancestors. “The story of Valli begins on a February morning in 1970, on the day Comrade Varghese was shot dead, throwing light into the socio-political situation of the time. Major incidents in Valli take place in the 1970s, during the national emergency period and after the Naxal uprisings in Wayanad,” she tells IANS. The book, that received the Cherukad Award for Malayalam literature had been in her mind for more than a decade, with her father, a school teacher who used to tell her to write about the land, which has a distinct cultural history and geography, rich in myths and folklore. However, it was only after his departure that those stories took shape and became the book. She wrote the plot on three pages in her diary which was developed into ‘Valli’ in three years. “In the attempt to capture the pulse of the land that made me who I am, I didn’t know where my characters were leading me to. The main characters are migrants from Thiruvithamkur who came to Wayanad. I wanted to show that the people of the land who once fought for Valli (wages) are still fighting for vall (earth), their piece of land, and farmers are still on the brink of suicide. Narrating the story of four generations, their love, hope, and resistance, it turned out to be a requiem for the forest. The forest became a main character unknowingly,” she says. Interestingly, Tomy wrote this debut novel while she was (and still is) in the Middle East. Believing that distance worked for her, she says, “While writing ‘Valli’, I was a migrant in a desert land. I have felt the losses of my land so intensely that I started to write about it. Had it been written sitting in my homeland, the story and content could be the same, but the soul and song of Valli may have been different.” Also a short-story writer and screenwriter, Tomy is more comfortable with the novel genre as it has a broader canvas and, “Writing short stories gives me much strain as I never get satisfied and keep on
Sukant Deepak
editing.” Stressing that working with Jayasree Kalathil, who translated it from Malayalam into English was sheer pleasure, Tomy says it was her dream that someday the world would hear the untold stories of her forest village and was delighted when Jayasree came forward to translate it. “I knew that a person who could conceive the music, rhythm, and the politics of the land only could do justice to the story. I found Jayasree so involved in it and she was living with my characters the same way I did. I believe, was far beyond a literary re-creation. She was even rethinking the idea of the original text.” “It is a world of versatility. My early readings had great influence from translations from Bengali literature. All languages have gems, but translators should be brilliant and skillful to do justice to the original text.” “The editing never ceases. I am never content. For a novel, it is a long but enjoyable process. Once I decide to write about a theme I live with it for months or years. I begin even without having all the characters or plot in mind. It develops gradually as I write.” Before she started writing ‘Valli’, the author spoke to elders in the community and went into Adivasi settlements to understand their lives. As the story of Valli takes place in a Christian migrant village, the dialect of the Christian communities was used. “In fact, her second novel -- ‘Aa Nadiyodu Peru Chodikkaruthu’ (Do not Ask the River Her Name) is set to be released later this month. It stands with people who are under siege and those who are forced to run away from their homeland. Background of the novel is the Middle East, particularly Jerusalem and Palestine,” she concludes. must realize that translations of classic works of Punjabi literature are an element of soft power. When they promote and project Punjabi culture to a wider audience and help in building an understanding of the state. Besides, that also expands our literary heritage. Some states take this aspect quite seriously and it is time that Punjab also supports such endeavours.” Considering he translates the works of his grandfather, Suri admits that he did feel pressure while working on ‘Pavitra Paapi’ (‘The Watchmaker’). “I was a bit hesitant about how members of our own extended family and others would view it. Now I am confident that I can do justice to at least some of his novels,” he adds. Currently working on Singh’s ‘Agg di Khed’, the sequel to ‘Hymns in Blood’, he may also translate works including ‘Ik Myan do Talwaran’, the author’s classic on Kartar Singh Sarabha and the Ghadar movement. While he has no plans to write fiction at the moment but may consider a book on foreign policy, Suri says that the Pandemic-induced locked downs gave him the time and space to concentrate on translating ‘Hymns in Blood’. “But of course, it was heart-rending to see the plight of those who were less fortunate than us,” he concludes.
He feels that while we celebrate the many achievements of India in the 75 years since independence, it is also worth pausing for a moment to reflect on the terrible price that was paid to get there. “The Partition of Punjab and Bengal were among the bloodiest chapters in our history. Millions died and many more were uprooted from their ancestral homes. The shadow of 1947 lingers over us till today and it is important to understand and remember that history,” says Navdeep Suri, translator, Distinguished Fellow at ORF (Observer Research Foundation) and former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. Suri, who has recently translated his grandfather, legendary Punjabi writer Nanak Singh’s ’Khoon de Sohile’ written 75 years back as ‘Hymns in Blood’ (HarperCollins Publishers India) coinciding with the country’s 75th year of Independence Day, insists that the book is as relevant to this day as when it was written. ‘Hymns in Blood’ recounts the horrors of the Partition and the exodus of Hindu and Sikh communities from a village near Rawalpindi that they had inhabited for generations. It is unsparing in its narrative of the trauma of violence and pillage. “Through the storyline and the characters, this novel pushes the message that commitment to humanity is more important than religion itself. And it has an enduring message for these times: Beware of leaders who rouse religious passions and try to divide the nation into communal lines. Beware the inferno that communal passions can unleash. Because once it begins, it leaves a trail of destruction in which there are no winners. Just mourning communities... Also, some of the strongest characters in the book are Muslims who stand by their Hindu and Sikh neighbours, willing to sacrifice their own lives to protect them. ” says Suri, whose last translation was ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ by Nanak Singh, who has to his credit 59 books including 38 novels, each talking about social change and boasting powerful narratives that have found readers across generations. Singh wrote ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ post surviving the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Its translation was published to coincide with the centenary of the massacre in 2019. Thrilled that major works from across Indian languages are being translated into English and thus inviting a universal readership, Suri smiles that his grandmother would always say that Nanak Singh would have been a celebrity if he had been writing in a language other than Punjabi. “My endeavour is to bring his works - and his message - to a wider audience through the medium of translation. This is clearly a golden moment for translation and the fact that Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tombs of Sand’ - a translation from the original in Hindi - has won the International Booker Prize, speaks volumes.” He feels that the state government in Punjab can play an important role when it comes to translating Punjabi literature into English and other languages. “To start with, they
Chase the Monsoon with these delightful releases!
Curl up with these reads
As the rainy season engulfs everything around you, we
Live Your Best Life: Understanding Menopause for a Wiser, Happier and Healthier You by Dr. Amrinder Bajaj
One thing that bonded Mona, Meera, and Sheila was their evening walks. This was the time they talked about their families and work, responsibilities, and challenges. Then slowly things began to change, and it was not long before they began talking about hot flashes, heavy bleeding, sudden weight gain, and other scary symptoms. They thought these were issues that they need to live with as they age.
From physically taking care of oneself to mental adjustments, she changes their perception from the fear of Menopause to treating it as another phase in their lives. bring you some delightful monsoon reads to motivate, inspire, and
Equal, Yet Different: Career Catalysts for the Professional Woman by Anita Bhogle
Equal, Yet Different is exactly how women want to be treated and need to be treated. We now have a large and growing pool of highly talented and professionally qualified women. This book talks about the catalysts that are required for women to reach peak potential conditions, people, or even mindsets at home, at work, and in the ecosystem. Anita Bhogle draws from the professional experiences and wisdom of a large number of women leaders and experts, and this book will benefit all those interested in women’s careers-women themselves, their spouses, bosses, and even HR folk.
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enticing reads that will cheer you up as you watch the rain fall, take a look at our latest releases!
India’s Most Fearless 3 by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh
An army medic who went beyond the call of duty amid a frenzy of treacherous bloodletting in Ladakh’s Galwan while his fellow soldiers fought the Chinese to death; the crew of an Indian Navy destroyer that put everything on the line to rescue hundreds from Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea; an Indian Air Force pilot who ejected from his doomed fighter less than two seconds before it hit the ground, only to find he was missing a leg. This book presents their accounts, or of those who were with them in their final moments. India’s Most Fearless 3 features ten true stories of extraordinary courage and fearlessness, providing glimpses of the heroism Indian soldiers have displayed in unthinkably hostile conditions and under grave provocation.
Writer Rebel Soldier Lover by Akshaya Mukul
Sachchidanand Hirananda Vatsyayan ‘Agyeya’ is unarguably one of the most remarkable figures of Indian literature. From his revolutionary youth to acquire the mantle of a (highly controversial) patron saint of Hindi literature, Agyeya’s turbulent life also tells a history of the Hindi literary world and of a new nation-spanning as it does two world wars, Independence and Partition, and the building and fraying of the Nehruvian state. Mukul reveals Agyeya’s revolutionary life and bomb-making skills, his CIA connection, a secret lover, his intense relationship with a first cousin, and the trajectory of his political positions, from following M.N. Roy to exploring issues dear to the Hindu right, and much more. Writer, Rebel, Soldier, Lover features a formidable cast of characters: from writers like Premchand, Phanishwarnath Renu, Raja Rao, Mulk Raj Anand, and Josephine Miles to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad, and actor Balraj Sahni. And its landscapes stretch from British jails, an intellectually robust Allahabad, and modern-day Delhi to monasteries in Europe, the homes of Agyeya’s friends in the Himalayas, and universities in the US. This book is a magnificent examination of Agyeya’s civilizational enterprise.
From magnificent mountain peaks to wild coastal beaches and vibrant urban centers,
New Zealand is a photographer’s dream in every way. Year-round, majestic vistas and evergreen forests present numerous possibilities for capturing stunning imagery. The diversity of the landscapes that can be captured here is unlike anywhere else on earth – the photo opportunities are endless. In summer, take advantage of the long days and warm, golden light. As summer turns to autumn, the crowds disappear leaving open countryside with clear crisp blue skies. Snow-capped mountains, misty landscapes, and flowing waterfalls are the hallmarks of winter. In spring the return of warmer weather brings a stunning display of wildflowers mixed with frolicking wildlife. Here are some great tips for photography in New Zealand through their majestic seasons:
Frame the auburn leaves captured during Autumn (Mar-May)
Autumn in New Zealand is a beautiful time of year to capture some beautiful tones of red and yellow. The deciduous trees turn from green to red, orange, and yellow, and the ground is blanketed in different shades of autumn leaves.
Capture the snow paradise during winter (Jun - Aug)
Crisp, clear blue skies, snow-capped hills as far as the eye can see, and icy blue lakes describe winters in New Zealand. New Zealand’s North Island is characterized by its geothermal activity, and its famous The small gold mining settlement of Arrowtown, in the Wakatipu Basin near Queenstown, is arguably the best spot in the country to capture the changes in the autumn season. Beautiful, traditional wooden storefronts characterize the main
volcanoes include Mt Taranaki, Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe, and Mt Tongariro. A visit to the Chateau Tongariro in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tongariro National Park gives an opportunity to street of Arrowtown, alongside the majestic poplars shedding their spring and summer leaves as the temperatures fall.
photograph the unique architecture of the Chateau, with the backdrop of snow-covered volcanoes, and we don’t think there’s anything quite like it anywhere else on Earth.
Capture the warmth of the pleasant summer breeze during spring (Sep - Nov)
Spring is one of the perfect seasons to click images that carry a pleasant summer breeze. Spring in New Zealand is a great time for photography, and there are a number of different interesting subjects to point your camera at. Photos of New Zealand in spring will often feature the lupin – a beautiful blue/ purple flower abundant in many of our national parks. New Zealand has around 200 species of fern, the fern ‘koru’ is often photographed – this is the tightly rolled spiral shape of new fronds or leaves. Another popular subject amongst photographers visiting in spring, is the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. The phenomenon is visible quite often in winter and spring, and with the temperatures rising, spring is a more pleasant time to stand outdoors with your camera late at night.
Station Amstelveen, Amstelveen, the Netherlands
Summer in New Zealand sees the Fiordland crested penguin returning to Milford Sound on the South Island’s lower West Coast. New Zealand fur seals and several species of dolphin can also be spotted there at this time of year, so it is recommended to grab your camera and test out your eye for a wildlife snap in Fiordland National Park. The great thing about photography impressive on the planet. For those who like their subjects a little more adventurous, why not go find the rope swing at Lake Hayes, or ‘Little Thailand’ on Lake Wakatipu, and snap people throwing themselves bravely into the refreshing waters of the lakes around the Queenstown area?
Brij Gaj Kesri in Bikaner opens in October
Polki, a vegetarian restaurant with a newly created menu and chef specialties, Brij Gaj Kesri, and Coffee & Co. are all options to savour the flavours of recipes that have been passed down through generations of The Rampuria family
In addition to providing authentic local experiences throughout India, Brij Hotels is getting ready to open another outstanding hotel in Rajasthan. Beginning on October 1st, Brij Gaj Kesri in Bikaner, Rajasthan, will welcome visitors to enjoy the brand’s gold standard hospitality. Brij Gaj Kesri, is a contemporary manor house on 16 acres, with 41 rooms and suites and is a testament to the Rampuria family’s love of art and architecture. The hotel is a tasteful fusion of traditional Bikaneri architecture, local red stone, traditional jaali craftsmanship, and jharokha, all painstakingly saved from ruin and brought back to their in a setting as beautiful as Milford Sound is that if the wildlife aren’t playing ball, or you can’t get close enough, the sheer cliffs of granite, plunging into the dark depths of the sound make for some incredible and equally rewarding captures. In picturesque Queenstown, keep an eye out for the warm light of the long days in the Wakatipu Basin, sunsets there are often amongst the most
former splendour. The hotel will be completely rebranded by the end of this October and features artwork that blends classic and contemporary amenities to give our guests a memorable stay. Large-scale to intimate destination weddings, group meetings, and romantic dinners are all perfect occasions to use the property’s expansively beautiful grounds, private sections that have been particularly designated, and different venues. The Rampura family of Bikaner has long supported the regional artistic scene. They established the Rampuria School of Fine Arts in addition to reviving the centuries-old Bikaneri art of Usta. A striking permanent exhibition of modern art and antiquities is also housed at the hotel. “Our new hotel Brij Gaj Kesri Bikaner is another magnificent gem in Rajasthan and we are delighted to announce that it will open its doors
to guests from 1st of October. The property has been renovated by our team of experts. Its ultra-unique aesthetic has been retained along with design upgrades that seamlessly integrate the property and service to our brand’s purpose, which is to connect the traveller to the place he/she has travelled to. We look forward to welcoming travellers who desire a combination of old-world comforts in a luxurious contemporary setting and those who would like to explore & immerse themselves in the various dimensions of Bikaner with our trademark hospitality” - Udit Kumar, Co-founder of Brij Hotels
New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS): A little known spyware company, Intellexa, is now competing with Pegasus developer NSO Group, offering its services to hack into Android and iOS devices for a fee of $8 million (around Rs 64 crore). Malware source code provider Vx-underground found documents representing a proposal from Intellexa, offering services that include Android and iOS device exploits. “Leaked documents online show the purchase (and documentation of) an $8,000,000 iOS Remote Code Execution zero-day exploit,” it tweeted. The offer includes 10 infections for iOS and Android devices, as well as a “magazine of 100 successful infections”. According to Security Week, the documents, “labeled as proprietary and confidential”, revealed that the exploits should work on iOS 15.4.1 and the latest Android 12 update. Apple released iOS 15.4.1 in March, which suggests that the offer is recent. “Specifically, the offering is for remote, one-click browser-based exploits that allow users to inject a payload into Android or iOS mobile devices,” the report mentioned. Intellexa is based in Europe, with six sites and R&D labs throughout the continent. “We help law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the world to close the digital gap with multiple and diverse solutions, all integrated with our unique and best-in-class Nebula platform,” the company posted on its website. Last year, a Citizen Lab report mentioned Intellexa, on Cytrox’s predator iPhone spyware being used to target a Greek lawmaker. Citizen Lab said Cytrox was part of the Intellexa Alliance, described as a “a marketing label for a range of mercenary surveillance vendors that emerged in 2019”. Apple filed a lawsuit last year against NSO Group to ban the company from using its services and devices. As state-sponsored cyber attacks with government spyware like Pegasus grow, Apple is offering Lockdown Mode this fall with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. This mode offers specialised additional protection to high-profile users who may be at risk of highly targeted attacks from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. In India, the Pegasus panel said this week that the presence of controversial Israeli spyware Pegasus was not conclusively established in 29 mobile phones examined, and the government did not cooperate in the probe. The top court-appointed panel said five out of 29 mobile phones were possibly infected with some malware, but that does not mean it was Pegasus spyware.
Google wants you to chat with its AI chatbot at your own risk
New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS): Google has opened its experimental artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for the public and you can now register to chat with the AI-driven bot trained on the company’s controversial language model. Google has already warned that early previews of its LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) model “may display inaccurate or inappropriate content”. ‘AI Test Kitchen’ by Google is an app where people can learn about, experience, and give feedback on Google’s emerging AI technology. “Our goal is to learn, improve and innovate responsibly on AI together. We’ll be opening up to small groups of people gradually,” said the company. According to Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, ‘AI Test Kitchen’ is “meant to give you a sense of what it might be like to have LaMDA in your hands”. The ability of these language models to generate infinite possibilities shows potential, “but it also means they don’t always get things quite right”. “And while we’ve made substantial improvements in safety and accuracy in the latest version of LaMDA, we’re still at the beginning of a journey,” said Google. “We’ve added multiple layers of protection to the AI Test Kitchen. This work has minimised the risk, but not eliminated it,” it added. Both Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) have unveiled their AI conversational chatbots, asking the public to give feedback. The initial reports are scary as the Meta chatbot named BlenderBot 3 thought Mark Zuckerberg is “creepy and manipulative” and Donald Trump will always be the US president. Meta said last week that all conversational AI chatbots are known to sometimes mimic and generate unsafe, biased or offensive remarks. “BlenderBot can still make rude or offensive comments, which is why we are collecting feedback that will help make future chatbots better,” the company mentioned in a blogpost. Last month, Google fired an engineer over breaching its confidentiality agreement after he made a claim that the tech giant’s conversation AI is “sentient” because it has feelings, emotions and subjective experiences. Lemoine also interviewed LaMDA, which came with surprising and shocking answers.
Sony India unveils shotgun microphone for vlogging
New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS): Sony India on Wednesday introduced a new shotgun microphone -- the ECM-G1 -- that is said to be highly portable and perfect for content creators to capture high-quality audio. Priced at Rs 10,290, the ECM-G1 features a large-diameter microphone capsule that collects clear sound while suppressing noise. “The ECM-G1 is the perfect microphone for vlogging and interviews. It captures voices clearly, contains a wind screen to reduce wind noise when shooting outdoors, and has an optimised frame with anti-vibration dampers to suppress vibration noise,” the company said in a statement. “The cableless design avoids cable-transmitted vibration noise when attached to a Sony camera with the Multi-Interface (MI) shoe,” it added. The company claimed that ECMsuper-cardioid G1’s pick-up pattern emphasises clear sound collection from in front of the camera, with ambient noise minimized to ensure only wanted audio is caught -- ideal for selfie shooting. Even when shooting indoors, the ECM-G1, which is available across online and offline stores, reduces echo pickup from walls and voice reverberation, resulting in clear conversation sound capture, it said.\ Sony mentioned that a recording cable is included, and the microphone jack is compatible with a wide range of devices, such as cameras and smartphones, giving users the ultimate flexibility for various shooting requirements.
YouTube Shorts arriving soon on smart Android TVs
New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS): Googleowned YouTube is set to launch its short-form video app Shorts on its smart TV platform called YouTube TV. The company has told its partners about the support for YouTube shorts to YouTube’s app for Android TV and Google TV, reports Protocol has learned. YouTube Shorts has reached 30 billion daily views, and is growing exponentially. According to the report, YouTube TV is also planning to let viewers watch up to four live streams simultaneously via a new feature called “Mosaic Mode.” YouTube isn’t the first service to bring short-form vertical videos to the TV screen. TikTok has been experimenting with smart TV interfaces for some time. “YouTube TV will gain something called Mosaic Mode, which will allow subscribers to watch up to four live feeds at the same time by dividing the TV screen into quadrants,” said the report. At least one of the new features could arrive in an update “in the coming months.”
Zuckerberg not qualified to run metaverse: Musk’s ex-girlfriend Grimes
New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS): Elon Musk’s former singer-girlfriend Grimes has questioned the ability of Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s capabilities of making his $10 billion Metaverse dream a success, calling him “wildly under qualified”. The Canadian singer, born Claire Boucher, slammed Zuckerberg in a Twitter post, saying that if Zuckerberg oversees the metaverse, “it is dead”. “People who care about art and culture are building something else. Also this is bad art,” she mentioned, as Zuckerberg recently faced severe criticism on his poorly-designed metaverse avatar. Grimes said that “the quality of this image alone speaks to how wildly under qualified he is to build alternate reality, literally every indie game looks better”. “Aesthetics aside, they have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt they are not ethically capable of running something so powerful and should not have the power they have now,” she posted. Last week, Zuckerberg posted a screenshot of his digital avatar standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. However, the social media world did not like his pretty basic image, and bombarded him with memes. “I know the photo I posted earlier this week was pretty basic -- it was taken very quickly to celebrate a launch. The graphics in Horizon are capable of much more -- even on headsets -- and Horizon is improving very quickly,” he had said. Recently, Musk and Grimes revealed that they welcomed a second child, a girl named Exa Dark Siderl Musk, via surrogacy in December. The on-again, off-again couple welcomed their first child, X - A-12 (pronounced “X AI Archangel” and nicknamed “X”), in May 2020. Y is the second child for Grimes and Musk’s eighth. His first child, son Nevada Alexander with former wife Justine Wilson, died at 10 weeks of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids) in 2002.
Original, unpacked 2007 Apple iPhone sold for Rs 28 lakh
San Francisco, Aug 24 (IANS): An unopened first-generation 2007 iPhone in a sealed box has been sold for $35,000 (nearly Rs 28 lakh) in an auction in the US. On January 9, 2007, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone -- a touchscreen mobile phone with an iPod, camera and Web-browsing capabilities, among other features -- at the Macworld convention in San Francisco. The device had a touchscreen, a 2MP camera, visual voicemail and a web browser. The iPhone was released in the US in June 2007 at the price of $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB model, both requiring a two-year contract. Now, the fully-packed original iPhone (8GB) has been sold for $35,414 at an auction, reports ZDNet. The auction house, RR Auction, said that the iPhone box features a life-size image of the iPhone with 12 icons on the screen. The device was up for auction as part of RR Auction’s curated “Apple, Jobs, and Computer Hardware” auction, which featured more than 70 items up for bid, and closed on August 18. The auction also featured an Apple-1 circuit board, hand-soldered by Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak, that was sold for $677,196. Additionally, an unopened first-generation original Apple iPod (5GB) sold for $25,000, the report noted. Apple is now set to launch the iPhone 14 series along with other devices and products on September 7.
NASA’s Webb telescope captures Jupiter’s faint rings, Great Red Spot
New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS): NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured new stunning images of Jupiter that will give scientists even more clues to the planet’s inner life. With giant storms, powerful winds, auroras, and extreme temperature and pressure conditions, Jupiter has a lot going on. In the standalone view of Jupiter, created from a composite of several images from Webb, auroras extend to high altitudes above both the northern and southern poles of Jupiter. The auroras shine in a filter that is mapped to redder colours, which also highlights light reflected from lower clouds and upper hazes, NASA said in a statement. A different filter, mapped to yellows and greens, shows hazes swirling around the northern and southern poles. A third filter, mapped to blues, showcases light that is reflected from a deeper main cloud. “We hadn’t really expected it to be this good, to be honest. It’s really remarkable that we can see details on Jupiter together with its rings, tiny satellites, and even galaxies in one image,” said planetary astronomer Imke de Pater, professor emerita of the University of California, Berkeley. The Great Red Spot, a famous storm so big it could swallow Earth, appears white in these views, as do other clouds, because they are reflecting a lot of sunlight. “The brightness here indicates high altitude - so the Great Red Spot has high-altitude hazes, as does the equatorial region,” said Heidi Hammel, Webb interdisciplinary scientist for solar system observations. In a wide-field view, Webb sees Jupiter with its faint rings, which are a million times fainter than the planet, and two tiny moons called Amalthea and Adrastea. “This one image sums up the science of our Jupiter system program, which studies the dynamics and chemistry of Jupiter itself, its rings, and its satellite system,” said Thierry Fouchet, a professor at the Paris Observatory. The $10 billion Webb telescope is an international programme led by NASA, European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. The telescope’s aim is to solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it.
By Paddy Krishnan
Yama the Hindu God of death also represents Dharma (a concept that is hard to define precisely but can be said to a mixture of ethics, religious injunctions and social practices that describe righteousness.) This appears to be a direct contradiction, as Dharma is all about living and not about death. However, as living a Dharmic life has an impact on the after-life, it is not surprising that Dharma and death are closely intertwined. The word Yama has two potential origins. The first is from Yam meaning control or self-restraint and is used in Patanjali’s Yoga. This word is related to Dhr (the root of Dharma) meaning to hold firm. Yama also means twin referring to him and his sister, Yami or Yamuna. Yamuna, a major river, is associated with life. But it is also associated with death. This again emphasises the dual nature of life and death. Yama is the son of Vivasat (the sun God Surya) and Saranya (also called Sandhya) the daughter of the creator God Tvatsr (also called Vishwakarma or the architect of the world). Yama is the brother of Manu who defined the laws governing human behaviour. Yama is said to have sacrificed his immortality to be the first human who became the main restrainer (or King) of the Yamas in Yoga. Yama plays an important role in the discussions on the origin of the human race. If he is the first human along with his twin Yami (who also became a human), incest is the only way to create a species. In fact incest is necessary in any theory that starts with a single pair. In all the scriptures, Yama is opposed to incest which perhaps lead to other theories involving multiple Prajapatis who are the agents of creation. The discussion on incest, the origin of the species and death is perhaps one of the initial moral and philosophical debates. The notion of death arose with Yama. He was the first human. There was no need for death before as the Gods were all immortal. Yama is personified as riding a buffalo which is a metaphor of a wandering mind. Yama riding the buffalo signifies that one must learn to control the mind to overcome death. This is consistent with the initial thoughts in the Vedas which were to avoid premature death. Yama holds a Danda (or club) in his right hand. The Danda represents Yama ability to punish others as well as the ability to smash obstacles. He also carries a snare/noose to capture the souls of those who have died. The snare is also used to bind anyone who causes difficulties to others while they are living. These symbols are interpreted both to support Dharma as well as death. Yama is also associated with Kala or time. This relates the passing of time with the cycle of life and death. Advertisements Yama was initially described as a ruler of the dead, guiding the dead on how to live in the after life. Initially, Shiva was the God who was associated with death. Thus Yama was under Shiva’s control. But soon Yama became the God of death. But Shiva still, as a God, could control death. The story about Markandeya who was due to die young but was protected by Shiva is well known. Yama was almost killed by Shiva for attempting to take Markandeya’s life. Shiva revives Yama after Yama agrees not to take Markandeya’s soul. In another story Yama is also almost killed by Kartikeya on Shiva’s orders but revived by Nandi. In this case Yama’s messengers wanted to take the life of a righteous person called Shveta. But Shiva wanted Shveta to ascend directly to heaven without going to Yama’s kingdom. This resulted in a fight between Yama and his supporters with Shiva and his supporters. This is the reason Shiva is called Kalantaka (one who can control Death), Mahakala (the great controller of time/death), or Mrtyunjaya (one who is victorious over death or Yama). As noted in an earlier article, the initial Vedic rituals were aimed at overcoming death. Towards this, the God of death (Yama) had to be appeased. Living a Dharmic life was a way to achieve this. This resulted in combining Yama and Dharma into one God. As the idea of Moksha developed, the importance of adhering to Dharma to avoid the cycle of birth and death was emphasised. By teaching about Dharma, Yama can help the soul of the dead (preta) to attain a better life. Yama, as a human, initially represented impermanence. He was then was promoted to the role of punishing people so that they could learn about Dharma. Thus Yama became associated with Samsara (the cycle of life and death). In this role he was a spiritual teacher to Nachiketa in the Kathopanishad. He offers the choice between destruction (if one is born one has to die) and salvation. Thus the God of death can also teach about immortality. It is interesting that Kunti summons Yama or Dharma (after the Sun as father of Karna) as the father Yudhishtra, the eldest of the Pandavas. Although Yudhishtra is his son, Yama/ Dharma tests him on Dharma at various stages of his life. It is important to note that Yama is not collecting the dead souls. He wants all of them to be ultimately liberated. This is the main reason why Yama teaches Nachiketa how to attain liberation. He does not view teaching Nachiketa as potentially losing a soul that can be captured or imprisoned. Yama does punish undesirable behaviour but he also liberates those who are spiritually accomplished. That is, any one who is a Jivanmukta needs to die to be liberated from the body. Death is an equaliser where the application of Dharma (via Karma) is enforced. One needs an impartial judge in the after life who knows Dharma. The God of death and Dharma became the same. The two sides of life and death is also reflected in the Manikarnika ghat in Varanasi. It is said to be the first place where Shiva created the universe at the beginning of time. But it is also the place where one’s corpse is burned at the end of one’s time. Procreation implies that death will occur; one cannot choose one without the other. As the Skanda Purana states, Yama is the God of death for the evil-doers and Dharma for those who lead a righteous life. The Yama vandana (prayer to Yama) explains that Yama, the controller, also implements the laws of the universe that includes death and dissolution. All beings oscillate between life and death which finishes only when Brahman is realised. Dharma, as the eternal law of the universe, governs this cycle. In both instances, Dharma and Yama are regulators where Dharma imposes an order and Yama acts as a judge and determines whether the order has been obeyed. If one believes in Karma and Dharma, Yama’s actions are related to how to enforce the rules in both life and beyond. It is important to note that, although Yama is the God of death and Dharma, Shiva can override Yama.
Paddy Krishnan is a computer scientist, who got his BTech degree from IIT-Kanpur and PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Being very interested in Hindu philosophy, he maintains a blog at www.goldcoasthindu. wordpress.com
Yoga, Meditation an added feature to Kathak Dance form
By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
New Delhi, Aug 29: It is tough to comprehend how yoga and meditation can be included in Kathak Dance, which is a completely different form. However, it is possible, believes Paramita Bhattacharyya, an internationally famous Kathak exponent with several accolades from India, the United States, and London, who is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Bhattacharyya, is passionate about introducing Indian Classical Dance Form ‘Kathak - Storytelling Art’ to the world arena, tells IANSlife, “Both dance and yoga are ancient Indian cultural forms entwined as complementary to one another. When a practitioner reaches a certain stage, dance becomes meditative.” Continue reading to learn why and how she views Yoga and Meditation as an addition to the Kathak Dance discipline.
How have Yoga and Meditation influenced Kathak Dance?
Paramita: The daily practice of Kathak takes us through all eight stages of Yoga namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyan, and Samadhi. In Kathak, almost the entire gamut of asanas are performed. Finally, we reach a stage when we start hearing music within ourselves and get completely oblivious to our surroundings, then when we are on way to reaching the seventh and eighth stages, comes a complete meditation stage.
What are the primary styles of Yoga & Meditation Kathak classical dance? What distinguishes it from traditional classical dance?
Paramita: There is no difference since Kathak belongs to the ancient classical dance forms with inexplicable movements and Yoga, on the other hand, is also an ancient meditation practice. The combination of the two practices results in Kathak Yoga, a perfect union of mind and body. Each cell and nerve of the body is engaged during this form. Performing Kathak Yoga also involves a lot of breathing patterns, similar to meditation.
How does Yoga help to enlighten Indian Classical Dance ‘Kathak’?
Paramita: I have been practicing Kathak Meditation with yoga for over twenty-five years now. I start my day with at least eleven rounds of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama practice. Pranayama is best seen in Kathak in the practice of epadhant’ rhythmic utterances by the dancer herself immediately after performing a strenuous energetic rhythmic pattern where a lot of energy has been expended. One has to recite the next rhythmic pattern without any trace of panting.
How does a dancer or yogi channel their body craft to bring healing, happiness, body-soul harmony, and oneness with the Supreme?
Paramita: Yoga definitely helps in channelizing energy by keeping the body healthy and calming the mind. The use of breath and linking breath to movement helps in keeping physically fit while different pranayama-breathing techniques and dhyana-meditation make it centered and calm, which is essential for any person who is in the field of art and creativity. The yogic lifestyle provides immense energy, which brings the mind into eyes’ mode and this positive outlook makes one successful in all endeavors. Personally, I feel that my creativity is honed due to Pranayam and Dhyan, not only in the dancing field but in music too. Yoga helps in exploring the source of untapped energy and unexplored talents and above all makes one in sync with the supreme power.
How does kathak yoga transform the practitioner’s mental and spiritual wellness if it is included into daily sadhana?
Paramita: I start my day with at least eleven rounds of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama practice. Yoga definitely keeps the body healthy and calms the mind. The use of breath and linking breath to movement has helped my dance practice immensely. In addition, yoga has improved my flexibility and mental balance over the years. Regular practice helps in developing mental clarity, calmness, alertness, and enthusiasm and also sharpens concentration. My students learn basic asanas as part of their dance training.
Is it accurate to state that kathak yoga encourages practitioners to pursue spirituality?
Paramita: Yes, of course, Dance with yoga and meditation or Kathak yoga whatever you want to call it, this is an art that gives peace or Anandam to the soul created by Lord Shiva. Kathak Yoga requires a lot of practice. Once you ace this, the journey that you are on will make you in complete harmony with your inner self. While you practice this wonderful art, it acts as meditation in motion. Imagine this, you have worn your ghungroo, the sound attracts you, and at the same time, you are singing the melody with tihais. The entire time you perform this, you are in rhythm, and you are balanced, it acts as a oneness of body and mind. An hour of Kathak Yoga will help you perspire, and release toxins from the body, you start feeling light-hearted, & this transition takes you to a meditative state and prepares you for healing.
Please share insights from ancient history on Yoga & Meditation Kathak Dance Form.
Paramita: Historically, both yoga and Indian classical dance traditions share Vedic roots in the ancient texts of Patanjali Yogasutra and Natyashastra, respectively. Their connections range from mudra to mokshya. For both, the body is a temple and the dance/ asana is one’s prayer.
(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians. in)
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Kangana to sue Filmfare for nominating her in Best Actress category
Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS): Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has decided to sue Filmfare for nominating her for her work in biopic ‘Thalaivii’, in the upcoming edition of the Filmfare Awards. The ‘Queen’ actress took to the story section of her Instagram and wrote a lengthy note stating the reason behind the decision. She wrote, “I have banned unethical, corrupt and totally unfair practices like @filmfare since 2014, but since I have been getting many calls from them for attending their award function this year as they want to give me award for ‘Thalaivii’ (sic).” “I am shocked to know that they are still nominating me. it is beneath my dignity, work ethics and value system to encourage such corrupt practices in anyway, that is why I have decided to sue@filmfare ... thanks (sic),” Kangana added. Kangana, who has four National Film Awards to her credit, is known for her straightforward attitude and speaking her mind. Recently, the first look of actress Mahima Chaudhry from ‘Emergency’ was unveiled. The film will mark Kangana’s return to direction after ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’. The actress will double up as the lead character of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film.
Tollywood actress Lakshmi Manchu makes it to 100 Most Beautiful Faces global list
Hyderabad, Aug 18 (IANS): Of late, South Indian film personalities have been going places. Now, popular actor, producer, and host Lakshmi Manchu has been nominated in the 100 Most Beautiful Faces List by TC Candler. The list includes personalities from all around the world, covering over 40 countries having actors, TV personalities, internet sensations, K-pop artists, etc The list is more inclusive and diverse. The 100 Most Beautiful Faces List is released by TC Candler and The Independent Critics annually since 1990 and is an internet sensation. This global list includes artists like Ryan Reynolds, Beyonce, Tom Hardy, Shawn Mendes, Sebastian Stan, Taylor Swift, Mahira Khan, Ram Charan, Manushi Chillar and many more. Lakshmi Manchu has had a successful career as an actor and producer across industries. Lakshmi is currently dabbling in multiple projects including a Telugu film where she is playing a cop. She is also working with her father Mohan Babu as an actor-producer in ‘Agninakshathram’. She is now all set to make her big Malayam debut with superstar Mohanlal. Apart from being an actor-producer Lakshmi has been a philanthropist and has lent her support to many organisations. Her organisation Teach For Change works for the betterment of the education for children. Lakshmi has also enjoyed a successful stint as a host with shows such as ‘Coming to Life with Lakshmi Manchu’ and ‘Aha Bhojanambu’.
Mridula Oberoi left a banking career to pursue her acting dreams
New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS): Actress Mridula Oberoi, currently seen playing a negative role Nimmi in Ektaa R Kapoor’s show ‘Appnapan’, shares a few memories as she completes five years in the industry. The actress recalls arriving in Mumbai to fulfil her dreams. She says: “I remember, I landed in Mumbai only with three things: conviction, belief and a purpose in life leaving behind everything, my family, my kid, financial security, comfort, luxurious life which is not easy to get out of but I believed in myself and dared to follow my inner voice.” She goes on to say: “I still remember the day I landed, it was raining while waiting for my cab. I called home and said to my dad that this is the place I was searching for in so many years of life. The city has surely made me a better person. I have evolved, outgrown my fears of life and have gone limitless.” Hailing from Pathankot, Punjab, the actress left her banking career to pursue her dreams in acting. She says she got a lot of opportunities after coming to Mumbai but initially it was not so easy for her and she had to work hard on her acting skills. “It was like learning on the sets only since I came from a banking background. Like you say, hands-on practice makes you learn quicker. And then I luckily got so many popular shows and the audience loved my skills.” She worked in Bollywood movies like ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’, ‘Love Aaj Kal 2’ and did a number of TV shows such as ‘Kumkum Bhagya’, ‘Naagin 6’, ‘Bhagya Laxmi’ and many more. “I also remember my first show, Beyhadh, where I did a cameo for 12 days and hardly spoke 5 lines in all those days. Since it was a very popular show I was recognised,” shares the actress while referring to her journey in the entertainment industry.
People have ‘rejected’ B’wood because of its ‘arrogance’, says Vivek Agnihotri
New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The war of words between Anurag Kashyap and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has intensified with ‘The Kashmir Files’ director issuing a detailed statement in response to “Bollywood running a campaign against his film being submitted for the Oscars”. Kashyap, whose latest release, the Taapsee Pannu-starrer ‘Dobaara’, had a lacklustre opening on Friday, August 19, recently said ‘The Kashmir Files’ must not be chosen over S.S. Rajamouli’s blockbuster, ‘RRR’, as India’s official entry for the best foreign feature film award. The selection is made by the Film Federation of India (FFI), the apex body of film producers, distributors, exhibitors and studio owners, and since 1957, when Mehboob Khan’s ‘Mother India’ lost by just a vote, all of two Indian films -- Mira Nair’s ‘Salaam Bombay’ (1988) and the Aamir Khan-starrer Lagaan (2001) -- have made it to the Oscar nominations shortlist. Neither Satyajit Ray, with three FFI nods, nor Kamal Haasan, seven of whose films have been nominated to represent India at the Oscars, made it to the coveted shortlist. And Lagaan, the last Indian film to be in contention for the award, was pipped by a movie from Bosnia and Herzegovina. So, the present debate seems to be much ado about nothing, but still, Agnihotri has reasons to feel offended. In his lengthy statement, Agnihotri referred to the present drought in the Hindi film industry and said: “Bollywood is suffering today because you are trying to pass on your own failure to an individual because his films work.” He added: “Go to any middle-class, urban, semi-urban household and interview them and you will find how people hate the arrogance, glossy lifestyle, and the disconnect of Bollywood with real-life audiences.” Agnihotri said that people have seen through “all this hypocrisy, arrogance, and this flashy, flamboyant lifestyle, paid organised publicity campaigns ... and now they are not willing to accept it, which is a good thing, which has made Bollywood rethink the ideology they follow”. Agnihotri then pointed out how the Bollywood establishment had “boycotted my ‘Buddha in a Traffic Jam’.” And how Bollywood critics and most theatres “boycotted” ‘The Tashkent Files’. He said: “They are still running a campaign against ‘The Kashmir Files’ Oscars submission. So, they are experts on this. It is a serious topic and I take it very seriously. If people are boycotting their films it is because of the anger of the audience. There is a disconnect between the Indian middle class and the producers and stars because of their arrogance.” In an emotional attack on the powers-that-be in Bollywood, Agnihotri said: “I have a question. Why does no one speak or raise their voice against corruption and moral decay in Bollywood, or the exploitation? Everyone surrenders to these things and still talks about standing up against powerful people. He then raised a point that may resonate with many cinema-goers: “Do you think common people are so foolish that they won’t be able to see through this hypocrisy? The people have seen through it and now they are saying, you give us good content, then only we will watch it. You cannot fool us with this Diwali release or that Eid release, or his film or her film. That is the (popular) verdict.” Referring specifically to Kashyap, he said: “I will tell you why I have tweeted on Anurag Kashyap’s comment. I make my films very passionately and I can also protect them passionately. We sacrificed a lot to make our films.”
Kriti Sanon wants Vijay Devarakonda, Kartik Aaryan, Ryan Gosling at her swayamwar
Mumbai, Aug 16 (IANS): From Vijay Devarakonda to Kartik Aaryan, Aditya Roy Kapur and even Ryan Gosling, Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon wants them to be at her swayamvar. Kriti in a conversation talks about her interest in organising a swayamwar for herself and also shared who all should be a part of it. During a live show on Roposo, Kriti said: “Vijay Devarakonda is good looking and he sounds sensible to me. I have seen some of his interviews too and he seems to be very real and sensible. He could be in the Swayamwar. Kartik Aryan could be in it and Aditya Roy Kapur too. Is there anyone else who is single?” The actress added: “I would love to work with Ryan Gosling and I would also like him to be in my Swayamwar.” On the work front, the 32-year-old actress, who made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with ‘Heropanti’ starring Tiger Shroff, has a gamut of films lined up for release. Kriti, who has a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, will be seen in movies such as ‘Bhediya’, ‘Ganpath’, ‘Adipurush’ and ‘Shehzada’.
Ahead of ‘Liger’ release, Ananya seeks blessing from Vijay’s mum
Hyderabad, Aug 17 (IANS): Ahead of the release of their upcoming film ‘Liger’, actress Ananya Pandey attended a pooja and sought blessings from her co-star Vijay Deverakonda’s mother at his residence here. Ananya took to Instagram, where she shared three pictures from the pooja kept for their film ‘Liger’. Ananya captioned the images: “Blessings from Vijay Deverakonda’s amma and a pooja at his home in Hyderabad for ‘Liger’. #thankful #grateful #blessed thank you auntyyy.” Vijay too shared the picture on his Instagram story and wrote: “This whole month touring across India and receiving so much love already felt like God’s blessing! but mummy feels we needed his protection. So pooja and scared bands for all of us. Now she will sleep in peace while we continue our tour.” ‘Liger’ is directed by Puri
Nawazuddin pushes creative envelope, dresses up as a woman for ‘Haddi’
Mumbai, Aug 23 (IANS): Trust Nawazuddin Siddiqui to bowl the audience over with his work and dedication to his character. Keeping up with the legacy, the actor has left the audience gasping in disbelief with the motion poster of his upcoming film ‘Haddi’ where he can be seen dressed as a woman. The motion poster of the film was unveiled on Tuesday and it shows Nawaz donning a metallic graphite coloured gown with a ring and an arm-gear matching his gown, thereby leaving the viewers intrigued. Commenting on the occasion of the motion poster release, Nawaz said: “I have portrayed different interesting characters but ‘Haddi’ is going to be a unique and special one since I will be sporting a never-seen-before look and it will also help me to push the envelope as an actor. Looking forward to starting shooting the film.” ‘Haddi’ is a noir revenge drama directed by Akshat Ajay Sharma and has been co-written by Akshay and Adamya Bhalla. Talking about the film, Akshat Ajay Sharma, who has worked as a Second Unit Director in popular web series ‘AK VS AK’ and ‘Sacred Games’, said in a statement, “It’s going to be a double whammy, as ‘Haddi’ gives me the opportunity to collaborate with Nawazuddin. Our team is hoping that the motion poster piques the audience’s interest as we are excited to be diving deep into a new world. Can’t wait to start filming”. Produced by Zee Studios, Anandita Studios (Raadhika Nanda, Sanjay Saha), the film will be shot in areas around Western Uttar Pradesh, including Noida and Ghaziabad, and is scheduled to release in 2023.
TV actress Kanishka Soni draws inspiration from Kshama Bindu, marries herself
Mumbai, Aug 19 (IANS): Television actress Kanishka Soni, who is known for her work in ‘Diya Aur Baati Hum’, has married herself in India’s second reported autogamy after Kshama Bindu from Gujarat did the same. Taking to her Instagram, she posted a series of pictures where she can be seen dressed in casuals and wearing sindoor in her forehead and a ‘mangalsutra’. She penned a long note in the caption where she shared with her fans that she believes in Indian culture and marriage is not about sex, it’s about love and honesty. She wrote, “Married to myself since I fulfilled all my dreams my own & the only person I am in love with is MYSELF answer to all questions I am getting I don’t need any Man Ever .. I am happy always alone & in solitude with my guitar I am the goddess, Strong & Powerful, Shiva & Shakti everything is inside ME, Thank you (sic).” In a separate post, she talked about her point of view and decision of marrying herself. She wrote, “I know you guys have been raising lots of questions on my #selfmarriage decision, I truly believe in indian culture & here is my POV that why I chose to live in solitude marriage is not about sex it’s about love and honesty one seeks for & I have lost that faith & believe.” She continued in the caption, “So it’s better to live alone and love myself than seeking it in outside world when it’s difficult to find, but thanks a lot for making my post on #google #trending & in #news though.” Shutting down the trolls, she said that she has taken the decision after thinking it through, “It wasn’t my intention & also some people said I must have got drunk or have ganja while putting that post but let me tell you that I m so Indian by heart that I have never tried alcohol or any other stuff even after staying for long into film industry, it is a decision made by my full heart & soul with full conscious mind and I am happy that I am in USA now & focussing on my career into HOLLYWOOD (sic).”
Raghuvir Yadav to star in comedy drama ‘Hari-Om’ about father-son relationship
Mumbai, Aug 19 (IANS) Acclaimed actor Raghuvir Yadav will be seen starring alongside Anshuman Jha in ‘Hari-Om’, a comedy drama based on a father-son relationship. Raghuvir will be joining the lead cast of the film as the father, Hari. Director Harish Vyas said: “I believe that casting is half the battle. In ‘Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain’, Sanjay Mishra, Anshuman and Pankaj Tripathi were the perfect mix. And with ‘Hari-Om’ it is a dream come true for me to get Raghuvir Ji and Anshuman together. It is a father-son story like none other.” The film goes on the floors next month in Bhopal and will wrap up the shoot November end as Anshuman will be taking a month off for his wedding in October.
Aishwarya Sharma’s take on 5-year leap in ‘Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin’
Mumbai, Aug 24 (IANS): TV actress Aishwarya Sharma, who is seen playing the role of Paakhi in the show ‘Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin’, says after the five year leap, her role is now more positive in the daily soap and audience can look forward to many twists and turns. Aishwarya shares: “I’m really excited about it. First of all, I was playing the role of Paakhi in a very different way than I am now, and it’s a whole new experience. Now, I have to show her in a positive and more mature manner.” Aishwarya was portrayed in the positive light in the beginning of the show. Later, she was seen trying everything to create a rift between Virat (Neil Bhatt) and Sai (Ayesha Singh). She also became a surrogate mother for them. Though the situation changed and Sai herself gave birth to a baby boy Vinayak, she was forced to leave the house and lost her baby too. Later, Sai gave birth to a baby girl and started taking care of her as a single mother. In the five year leap, Virat and Paakhi are shown married. Aishwarya said, “There are so many twists and turns coming up, and I’m waiting for my entry in the show. Also, I’m really excited to work with kids. Let’s see what happens next. It really feels like a totally new show.” ‘Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin’ airs on Star Plus.
Goa Police writes to forensic dept to appoint panel for Sonali Phogat’s post-mortem
Panaji, Aug 23 (IANS): Goa Police have written to the Department of Forensic Medicine at Goa Medical College for appointing a panel of doctors for conducting the post-mortem of social media influencer, actor and Haryana BJP leader Sonali Phogat (42), who died following a cardiac arrest here on Tuesday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi told IANS that a case of unnatural death has been registered in connection with Phogat’s demise. “The post-mortem will be conducted on Wednesday,” Dalvi said. “At 9 am on Tuesday, information was received from the St. Anthony Hospital in Anjuna that Sonali Phogat was brought dead there. Preliminary inquiry has revealed that she had come to Goa on August 22 and was staying at a hotel in Anjuna. Early on Tuesday morning, she started feeling uneasy following which she was rushed to the hospital where she was declared brought dead,” Dalvi said. Stating that the statements of the relevant witnesses are being recorded, Dalvi said, “Anjuna Police have written to the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Goa Medical College for appointing a panel of doctors for conducting the post-mortem.” Phogat, who thrived on social media, had posted pictures and updates about herself on Instagram hours before she breathed her last. Phogat was a TikTok star and ‘Bigg Boss 14’ contestant in 2020; she played the wife of a don modelled
after the infamous Haji Mastan in the Zee TV serial ‘Amma’ opposite Nawab Shah; she appeared in a Bhojpuri film with Ravi Kishan, now the BJP MP from Gorakhpur; and she lost to Kuldeep Bishnoi, who was then in the Congress, in his family pocket borough of Adampur in the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections, contesting on a BJP ticket.
Mahima Chaudhry to play Indira Gandhi’s cultural czarina Pupul Jayakar in ‘Emergency’
Mumbai, Aug 20 (IANS) Actress Mahima Chaudhry has been roped in to play the role of cultural activist and author Pupul Jayakar. She revealed that Pupul Jayakar was Indira Gandhi’s childhood friend so her scenes are the ones where you get to see the non-political side of the great leader. In the film, Kangana Ranaut will be seen playing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and actor Anupam Kher, the revolutionary leader J.P. Narayan. Shreyas Talapade will essay the role of late politician Atal Bihari Vajpayee who has served three terms as the country’s Prime Minister. Mahima, who plays Pupul Jayakar, said: “Working with Kangana is an experience because she wears so many hats with such great ease. She is playing such an important political character, Mrs Indira Gandhi.” She added: “She is directing it herself and producing it. I get a lot of strength looking at her and the way she functions. Pupul Jayakar was Mrs Gandhi’s childhood friend so my scenes are the ones where you get to see the non-political side of this great and controversial political leader during the time of Emergency.” “They are very open and honest with each other. You see a very different side of Mrs Gandhi. It’s very interesting to play this character and it’s been a wonderful experience working on this.” Talking about this character, Kangana says: “Pupul Jayakar was an author, a very close friend of Mrs. Gandhi and has also written her autobiography. Mrs. Gandhi confided in her about everything. If there is one thread that runs through the film and connects the audiences to the inner world of Mrs. Gandhi, then it’s the character of Pupul Jayakar.” “Even though the film is a first-person account, it is not a film where somebody is the narrator. Mrs. Gandhi’s interactions with Pupul are the most soulful. She added: “They shed light on how she confided her deepest darkest secrets to Pupul Jayakar. This makes her character an important person in the film called ‘Emergency’.” Manikarnika films presents ‘Emergency’, which is written and directed by Kangana Ranaut. The film is produced by Renu Pitti and Kangana Ranaut. The screenplay and dialogues are by Ritesh Shah.
