Indo-American News: May 26, 2023

‘7 Letters to My Daughters’: A Book Launch by Houston’s Rani Puranik

By Pramod KulKarni

Houston: An elegant book launch was staged Wednesday, May 24 at the Julia Ideson building of the Houston Public Library for first-time author Rani Puranik.

Puranik has written an autobiographical novel of her personal emotional, spiritual and corporate journey in the form of letters written to her two daughters, Bhakti and Sharayu, divided into seven, seven-year chapters of her life. Puranik is the owner, Executive Vice President, and Global CFO of

Worldwide Oilfield Machinery (WOM).

Headquartered in Houston, WOM has manufacturing and service facilities in Scotland, Singapore, and Pune, India. The company was founded by her father Sudhir Puranik. The family also operataes an Indian restaurant “Mahesh’s Kitchen” in Sugar Land’s Town Centre.

The book launch was attended by about 100 friends and well features. The guests were treated to champagne, winer and hors d’oeuvres before Rani’s interview on stage by NPR’s host Ernie Manouse.

During the interview, Rani spoke candidly about how she was bracketed by her gender and her upbringing in the Indian culture to take on the roles of daughter, sister, wife, and mother, but was able to withstand life’s difficult decisions “repectfully and politely” and has now achieved spiritual growth and corporate success.

In a foreword note to her well-

wishers who had purchased the book, Rani said, “I am humbled by the opportunity to share my thoughts and my imagination with you and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your

support. My grateful wish is for these words to touch you soul and for you to discover something profound about yourself.”

The book is published by Morgan James Publishing, NY.

Akshaya Patra Houston Chapter Hosts Community Outreach Luncheon

sugar land: On Saturday, May 20th, 2023, the Akshaya Patra Houston Chapter organized a Community Outreach Luncheon at Telfair Central Hall in Sugar Land. The event served as an opportunity for the Houston chapter to express their gratitude to the compassionate and caring Houston community for their remarkable support in 2022. The community’s generous contributions enabled the sponsorship of nutritious midday meals for over 50,000 students throughout the entire school year.

Geeta Rai, the Development Director from Akshaya Patra USA, delivered an insightful presentation on the Akshaya Patra program, highlighting its mission and accomplishments. Attendees were moved by the organization’s efforts to alleviate hunger in school-age children in India attending government schools.

Janardan Thakkar, an advisor to the Houston chapter, emphasized the importance of expanding the chapter’s reach to further spread Akshaya Patra’s mission and its programs. Mr. Thakkar also shared inspiring details about his and his wife Linda’s commitment to funding a mid-day meal kitchen in the Bangalore area of India, which will provide meals for 35,000 children. He called upon all those present

to join the Houston team in their noble cause. Sanjeev Yamdagni and Ashok Shah provided detailed information about the various activities and initiatives undertaken by the Houston Chapter.

The luncheon featured an engaging question and answer session, allowing attendees to further understand the impact of their contributions. The event concluded on a delicious note with a delightful

lunch for all participants. Numerous community members attended the event, reflecting the Houston community’s strong support for the cause.

Looking ahead, the APUSA Houston chapter plans to organize additional community outreach sessions across various parts of the metro Houston area. Those interested in hosting a program in their local community are encouraged

to reach out to the Houston team for more information.

Akshaya Patra is a renowned non-profit organization that has been providing hot mid-day meals to millions of school children in India for over 20 years. The organization’s commendable work has gained recognition from prestigious platforms such as Time Magazine, BBC World News, and other social media outlets. The ini-

tiative aims to combat the unfortunate reality faced by many children from low-income families who are often deprived of education due to being forced into menial jobs to support their families.

Akshaya Patra’s main objective is to ensure that these children have access to mid-day meals, which often serve as their only meal of the day, enabling them to attend school and receive an education. Presently, the program feeds and educates over 2 million children, empowering them to build a brighter future.

One striking fact highlighted during the luncheon was that a mere $20 can provide meals for a child in India throughout an entire school year, underscoring the tremendous impact that even a small contribution can make. For those interested in getting involved and making a difference, please reach out to apusa.houston@gmail.com

With the continued support of the Houston community, Akshaya Patra remains steadfast in its mission to nourish young minds and foster a better world for generations to come.

Rani Puranik being interviewed at the book launch by NPR’s Ernie Manouse.

Earlier last week, Rani was honored at the Houston Symphony gala with a Community Award and her own star at the event featuring a Hollywood theme.

Navroze 2023 Celebration at Zoroashtrian Association of Houston Center

By teHmi dastoor

Houston: The ZHCC’s 25th Salgirah and Navroze celebration was a grand success on all counts.

The proudly paraded gaaras and daglis (traditional Parsi outfits), delicious Parsi cuisine catered mainly by Naushad Mehta, and a local dance band headed by DJ Farrokh Firozgary, all contributed to a memorable gala evening.

However, the icing on the cake undoubtedly was the Parsi naatak, BAWA MANE PANNAAVO.

A typical, farcical Parsi Gujarati/ English play; it revolved around a family’s desperate effort to find a bride for their middle aged son.

The play was the brainchild of Jasmine Mistry. Rather than spend around 10K on out of town entertainment, and in an effort to keep the cost per person to a reasonable figure, she took it upon herself to try her hand at writing a Parsi play. That gave birth to a naatak that Jasmine created, wrote, produced, and directed.

The chips soon fell into place. The invitation to participate was extended to the entire community. Local actors came forward to showcase their talent, local backstage engineers sprung forth to offer their expertise; and before long, a complete naatak took shape.

Characters in the play were fash-

ioned after considering the talents and personalities of the individuals who made a commitment to act. This was a unique concept. With different work schedules and family responsibilities, it was a marathon task to coordinate the practices. However, the commitment and team spirit shown by the cast and

crew of 30 members was truly remarkable. Kudos to Jasmine who embodied in her, all the qualities of good leadership coupled with the patience of a saint! She was the caring and smiling shepherd who kept the whole flock together. Ever ready to imbibe ideas from different cast members, the play

became a team effort.

The final day was filled with reasonable tension and great anticipation. The common mindset of all was to make the play successful at all costs.

The cast performed with aplomb before a full house of 375 cheering, laughing, and whistling spec-

tators. Many were taken back to their days in India and Pakistan, where watching a naatak on Navroze was a welcome tradition.

Jasmine had put her heart and soul into the play and the participants stepped up to her expectations.The camaraderie among the group made it a happy family which one hopes will continue into the future. The play remains a sweet memory in the minds of those who were part of it and those who watched it.

Jasmine, we the play members, applaud your spirit, and thank you for inviting us to join you in translating your vision into a reality.

CAST MEMBERS: (In alphabetic order of Last Names)

Scheherazade Aresh, Natasha Atashband, Diana Balsara, Persis Behramsha, Tehmi Dastoor, Barjor Dastur, Khursheed Dastur, Khursheed Hormuzdi, Percy Master, Naushad Mehta, Zubin Mistry, Zubin Mory, Afreen Pargaonkar, Bomanshah Sanjana, Nazanin Sarkari, Anita Thakore, and Parynaz Vimadalal.

BACKSTAGE HELP: Percy Behramsha, Noshir Bhathena, Aban Chhor, Edul Chikhliwala, Tanaaz Chikhliwala, Khursheed Dastur, Jamshed Dudha, Yezdi Engineer, Zubin Mistry, Jidina Mory, Khushrav Nariman, Aderbad Tamboli, and a few Sunday School parents and kids.

Chemical Engineers: Req. BS Chemical Engineering w/3 years specialty chemical mfg. experience

Chemical Engineers:

Batch Process Req. 3 yrs. Chemical batch process exp. Process Tech Certification not required.

Batch Process

Operators:Operators:

Analytical Chemist:

Analytical Chemist: Req. BS Chemistry, w/3 years basic knowledge, exp w/ analytical equip. (GC, GC/ MS, HPLC, FTIR, AA)

Bench Top Chemist:

Bench Top Chemist: Req. BS Chemistry w/3 years exp. bench formulations & analytical techniques w/3 yrs. specialty chemical mfg. exp.

Email resume to:

baycityapply@chemicalsinc.com Great pay and benefits. EOE/AAP

Salman Rushdie Denounces Book Banning in First Appearance after Attack

By teHmi dastoor

new yorK: Novelist Salman Rushdie roundly denounced book bans May 18 at PEN America’s annual gala at the American Natural History Museum in New York, his first public appearance since he was brutally attacked last fall.

The writer was awarded PEN’s Centenary Courage Award at the star-studded evening event, which featured Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost, and comedians John Mulaney and Fred Armisen. Television producer Lorne Michaels and jailed Iranian writer Narges Mohammadi were also honored at the event.

Mohammadi has been imprisoned in Iran since November 2021, on charges of “spreading anti-state propaganda” and defamation. She received PEN’s Barbey Freedom to Write Award, which was accepted by her husband Taghi Ramani, who has also spent time in prison for his writing.

All of us who have been involved with PEN have spent a lot of our lives fighting on behalf of writers in other countries,” said Rushdie in a brief speech at the gala. He served as PEN America’s president from 2004-2006.

The attack on books, the attack on teaching, the attack on libraries in Florida has never been more dangerous, never been more important to fight,” said the acclaimed writer, who himself faced a book ban in several countries in 1988, when his seminal novel, The

Satanic Verses, was published.

Rushdie has carried a $3.3 million bounty on his head for 34 years. The late Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie in 1989; the author spent several years in hiding. Iran has since distanced itself from the fatwa, but it nonetheless remains, along with the bounty.

A day before the gala, PEN America and Rushdie’s publisher, Penguin Random House, jointly announced that they were suing Florida’s Escambia County School District and School Board for its ban on several books discussing race, racism, and LGBTQ identities.

The lawsuit states that the ban is unconstitutional, as it violates First Amendment freedom of speech

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state-level policy, noted PEN.

“What we are seeing now is a real polarization and a real heightened escalation of what should and should not be available, according to some,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read Program Director at PEN America, in an April 24 interview with Ethnic Media Services.

“Let’s hope we win. We need to win. I want to salute everybody working at PEN, working for this cause, the cause of free expression,” said Rushdie at the PEN gala.

ported by medical helicopter to the UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania.

His agent Andrew Wylie said Aug. 12 evening: “The news is not good. Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.” Rushdie has spent months in recovery, and still does not have use of one eye.

In his speech, Rushdie praised Henry Reese, co-founder of City of Asylum Pittsburgh — which hosts persecuted and exiled writers — and others who immediately jumped on to the stage to fend off Matar.

rights. The ban also allegedly violates the Equal Protection Clause of the constitution: the books being banned are written primarily by non-white and/or LGBTQ authors, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in US District Court in Pensacola, Florida.

During the first half of the 20222023 school year, 1,477 instances of individual books were banned, affecting 874 unique titles, according to the report “Banned in the USA,” released April 20 by PEN America. More than 130 books were removed from library shelves each month during that 6-month time period, noted the report.

Book bans were most prevalent in Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina, driven by a confluence of local actors and

“Could The Satanic Verses be written today?” queried Akhtar. “The answer is yes, if that writer is Salman Rushdie.”

“He continues to stand for what this organization is fundamentally all about: freedom. Freedom to think, freedom to speak, freedom to inquire, freedom to make sense of reality without deference to dogma, irrespective of the consequences. He has enlarged the world’s imaginative capacities and at such great cost to himself,” said Akhtar.

On Aug. 12 morning at the the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York, 24-year-old Hadi Matar allegedly rushed onstage and stabbed Rushdie at least 10 times, including once to the right side of his neck. Rushdie was trans-

“Henry, a man in his 70s, ran at my assailant, who was 24 years old and carrying a knife, and tackled him to the ground. Immediately after that, a substantial number of people in the front of the audience ran up to help him and jumped on top of my assailant and held him down Pinned him to the ground.”

“And if it had not been for these people, I most certainly would not be standing here today. So I accept this award. Thank you very much. But I accept it primarily on behalf of those who came to my rescue and saved my life.”

“I was the target that day, but they were the heroes. The courage that day was all theirs,” said Rushdie.

“Victory City,” Rushdie’s latest novel, was released in February by Random House. The book is set in the fictional city of Bisnaga in South India, inspired by the 14th-

832-766-6662

WEDDINGS

Sushain Cherivirala Weds Snigdha Sharma

By JawaHar malHotra

Houston: It was a case of two high achievers meeting at freshman orientation at Carnegie Melon University. Though they were in different colleges – he in Computer Science and she in Engineering – chance meetings developed into serious dating and slowly the relationship blossomed over a space of seven years.

But it wasn’t until Sushain graduated from Stanford University with a Master’s in Computer Science -he finished it in one year (after he had completed his BS in an incredible two-and-a half years) - that his parents realized there was something between them when Snigdha Sharma showed up at the graduation ceremony. “We knew then they were deeply attached to each other,” said Sushain’s father, Ramesh Cherivirala. Then, last May, on a trip to the British Isles, Sushain proposed. That immediately set off both sets of parents into planning the wedding events. Snigdha’s extended family hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India while her parents Gyanesh, a software engineer at Oracle and Renu, an elementary school teacher, live in Seattle. They held a religious engagement ceremony in Varanasi last November 24. The next day, Ramesh and Anuradha Cherivirala threw a reception in Hyderabad, Telegana

for their extended Indian family.

Six months later, on May 15, 2023, the young couple tied the knot in a traditional Hindu ceremony at The Springs Event Venue in Cypress, just northwest of Houston.

The following day, the Cheriviralas hosted a wedding reception for the newlyweds at the GSH Events Center in Houston. The foyer was jam packed with appetizers and cocktails while the finishing touches were being put on inside the enormous Grand Hall which was set up for 600 people. The décor was spectacular and the ceremony included dances, speeches, entertainment and loving tributes by many of the extended families and friends from far and near. The desserts table, set up in the second foy-

er, was likewise mobbed by eager guests, who also got their paans at a separate booth.

Ramesh is well known in the Indian community in Houston for his volunteer work, spearheading many charitable causes and running for political office as well as being a leading insurance agent. Many guests included many prominent Indo-American community leaders, as well as everyone’s favorite “mama”, my mother, the 95year-old Mrs Shakuntla Malhotra.

A touching moment came when Sushain’s middle school health teacher Regina Crafter, (a former Ms. Texas America 2015) reminisced glowingly about his experiences and accomplishments. In her speech, Crafter, who is a cancer survivor, said that she had prayed

that she would be alive to attend Sushain’s wedding. She fondly calls him “son”, attended his college graduation in Pittsburgh and does not want to miss any of the milestones in his life.

After a honeymoon in Taiwan, the newlyweds will make their home in the Bay Area where Sushain, 26, works at Stripe while Snigdha, 25 is a software engineer.

IAN has reported on Sushain’s accomplishments over the years starting from the winning of Bevan Scholar for a perfect score in SAT in the 7th grade. This led him to be invited to IBM’s office in Poughkeepsie, NY, where he was celebrated for being the youngest “Master the mainframe” contest winner (https://www. indoamerican-news.com/ students-bring-new-bloodto-venerable-ibm-units/). He was also the only Google codein contest winner from Fort Bend ISD (https://www.indoamericannews.com/cherivirala-wins-second-google-code-in-grand-prize/

ILLNESS

NOT A CRIME

Chinmaya Mission Houston Celebrates its Balavihar Class of 2023

By uJwala BHat

Houston: On May 20, Chinmaya Mission Houston was a proud witness to a beautiful graduation ceremony for the outgoing Class of 2023. At the beginning of the ceremony, the students took part in the pooja at Saumyakasi Sivalaya led by the priest Sri Ganeshji. After invoking the blessings of the almighty in the temple and later prostrating to the pratima of Shri Gurudeva Swami Chinmayananda in the foyer of Chinmaya Prabha, they walked with folded hands into Chinmaya Smriti hall led by their beloved teachers of the 12th grade. The melodic wishes of the bhajana students added to the joy on this memorable occasion.

In her opening remarks, the Emcee, Smt.Radhika Koppanur, a Balavihar teacher and a proud mom of a graduating senior, was visibly emotional while she shared the experience of 14 years of most of the graduating seniors attending Bala Vihar in Chinmaya Mission Houston, learning the essence of the Hindu scriptures. She emphasized how the Balavihar environment provides children from Pre-K to 12th grade a safe space to learn values. Imparting a sense of pride about their ancient Hindu culture, Balavihar gives parents an assurance that their children will not feel culturally displaced.

Smt.Sneha Sandhane is our newest Vedanta Teacher, then delivered the convocation address with her discourse on the ancient Vedic graduation milestone called ‘Samavartana’ as described in the Taittriya Upanishad where the Acarya- teacher instructs the graduating students on a core set of principles to follow in life. Instructing the students to pursue Dharma, Artha, and Kama to the best of their understanding and capabilities along with self-care. Smt. Snehaji explained the main principles as set forth in the Upanishad, some of which are:

“Never err from Truth, never err

from Dharma; never neglect your well-being and your prosperity; never neglect Svadhyaya (Selfstudy) and Pravachan (listening to discourses).”

Snehaji also spoke about the true spirit of charity and of giving with faith, as explained in Taittriya Upanishad.

At the end of her address, blessings were sought from Pujya Acharya Darshana Aunty who sent the message, “With Guru Ajnya (command), bloom like a lotus” along with Acarya Gaurang Nanavaty’s congratulatory message. The students then offered their Gurudakshina to Snehaji and

took her blessings.

The Special Guest of honor for this occasion, Mr. Vivek Shah, a successful entrepreneur and Houston native, addressed the graduates and shared his experience on how spirituality shaped and enriched his life. He emphasized, with many practical and light-hearted examples, the importance of following Dharma as he outlined noteworthy tips that students must inculcate to become successful.

As each of the graduates went on stage to receive the memento inscribed with their names and Pujya Gurudeva’s quote, “Always learn to put your mind where your

hands are working,” a snippet of their achievements, their chosen field of study, and their favorite memory from all the years in Bala Vihar was read out loud.

The graduating students presented an insightful video which summarized their learning from PreK to Grade 12, from the curriculum painstakingly set and revised over three decades by Acarya Darshana aunty.

As the graduates of the Class of 2023 gleefully gathered on the stage in their traditional Indian attire, the assembled audience were enthralled by the meticulous planning and execution of this ceremony. A sense of gratitude dawned in the hearts of all for this opportunity provided at Chinmaya Mission Houston to fill the void that second and third generation Indians experience from their cultural roots. The happy celebration concluded with the Chinmaya Graduation song “Abhinandanam,” the Chinmaya Mission Pledge, and the Universal peace prayer, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.”

For more information about Chinmaya Mission Houston, Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and its activities please visit www.chinmayahouston.org, www.saumyakasi. org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233

Chinmaya Mission Houston Balavihar Class of 2023. Photo by Bharath Rao.

TRAVEL

If You’re a Car Enthusiast, Don’t Miss the Toyota Kaikan Museum

By BHuPinder singH

toKyo: Toyota Kaikan Museum, in Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya, Japan is not just a tourist destination for engineers and auto enthusiasts, but also a must to visit place for people of all ages from children to old, men and women.

Toyota for the last 40 years or so has ranked amongst the top car manufacturers in the world, and this museum showcases their spectacular rise as the leading manufacturer of automobiles along with their vision of the future of this industry.

The museum, which opened in 1977, is becoming not just a place for the lineup of latest models of automobiles but also a place for showcasing concept cars as well as the new developments in the automotive industry

The Toyota company had started out as a manufacturer of textile machinery and entered the auto market only in 1937. It is a remarkable feat that the company has climbed to become a world leader in the auto industry.

The floor space of the museum is divided into five sections as under based on the Toyota Philosophy:

Eco and Emotion

Here a visitor can learn, and experience firsthand Toyota’s approaches to addressing the ecological, environmental issues as well as how the new technology of electric vehicles world is shaping up.

The spotlight of the exhibit was Toyota LQ model, which the company is projecting as

“making friends with you via its onboard AI”. One could also see the model of Mirai car which generates power by combining hydrogen with oxygen from the outside air. There is full scale display of the working of Hydrogen Cell power train.

Besides Hydrogen cell automobiles one can also see Hybrid (HEV), Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), All-Electric (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric (FCEV) vehicles on display.

Toyota is now planning to issue 10 new EV models by 2026. Through the videos and interactive games the visitor can feel the heavy footprint of the hydrocarbon fuels being used now and appreciate the need to switch to cleaner energy to power the vehicles.

Safety and Freedom

In this section we can see how the Toyota team of engineers are working on the aim of achieving a world free of traffic casualties.

There is a display of a safety stimulator and cutaway body of car with the passive safety features. The car seatbelts, airbags have become an indispensable part of vehicles and other features as reverse assist cameras,

blind spot warning signs on side mirrors are becoming more prevalent in the newer vehicles.

The driverless vehicles also called Autonomous Vehicles are newer areas of research to free the drivers from most of responsibility and the associated stress of driving the vehicles.

Simulator along with the Training Videos through virtual reality enables one to experience common weather-related accidents and appreciate the role of technology in mitigating the numbers and severity of accidents.

Production and Creation

Toyota’s vehicle production system called “lean manufacturing system,” or a “Just-in-Time (JIT) system,” has been a wellknown proven system, which has been studied worldwide is highlighted here. The Toyota Production System is known by the acronym of TPS. The TPS starts by building and improving systems by hand until they are reliable and safe. Next through an incremental continuous improvements process steadily simplifies its operations. The feel of the roles of robots cannot just be imagined and envisaged,

but here through the display we can see how it is actually executed on the production floor.

Company and Society

The company’s mission statement is that its mission is to produce happiness for all, and its vision is to create mobility for all. This vision is reflected in their three-wheeler mobility vehicles on display, called C+Walk.

The tree display at the museum is to highlight the company’s mission and activities. The tree symbolizes Toyota’s vision of from “roots to fruits”. The tree symbolizes a useful, long-lasting entity which continues to grow and flourish for a very long time which they have envisaged for their vehicles. The other highlight on the display is the company’s social contribution activities.

Showroom

The normal car dealership is a showroom plus a lot full of cars. But this showroom is essentially a lineup of latest models of Toyota and Lexus brands automobiles as well as in-house brand racing vehicles. Besides the four-wheel vehicles the other mobility options are also on display.

In addition to these five sections as above, there is the Mu-

seum Shop where besides refreshments, one can also buy souvenirs ranging from metal and plastic car models to various branded accessories for vehicles, logoed apparel, books, pens, pencils are also available for sale. Next to the Museum Shop there is an area for special exhibits for children, making it a special attraction for the kids. Overall, the tour of the museum is an exciting and an entertaining experience for the visitors. Besides hopping into the current model’s lineup, one is free to take pictures by sitting at the steering wheel of vehicles. Thus, one can have the pleasure and luxury of experiencing state of the art vehicles without owning it. Sitting at the steering wheel one is in awe with technological advancements, research and developments that have enabled the development of these models and safety features. For the author, whose first own brand-new car was a Toyota and present vehicle is also from the Lexus lineup, the tour of the museum was dream come true.

Museum Website: https://www. toyota.co.jp/en/about_toyota/facility/toyota_kaikan/

IAA Presents ‘Dil Se ... A Musical on A.R. Rahman’ by Niche Entertainment

Houston: Milind Oak and Niche

Entertainment are no strangers to Houston, having performed many brilliant and highly entertaining shows for IAA Houston, over the years.

On Friday June 2nd, IAA will present ‘Dil Se Rubaroo’ with A.R. Rahman … the story of a generation By Niche entertainment., 7:30pm at the Stafford Centre.

‘Dil Se’ is is an audio-visual infotainment on living legend

A.R.Rahman!

Rahman, rightly known as ‘Isai Puyal- A musical storm’, recently completed 30 awe-inspiring years in the Indian music industry as a film-music composer. We feel truly privileged to be a part of this journey.

‘Dil Se... Rubaroo with A.R.Rahman’ narrates a story of

the musician and a generation that thrived on his music, experiencing varied transitions in the areas of music, technology, globalization, films, and human lives.

Dil Se..is an audiovisual infotainment program in Hindi with a confluence of Music, Drama, Dance, AVs. It holds a promise to take you through the maestro’s treasures, his prized possessions, and bringing back precious memories!

Visit IAAHouston.org for tickets.

Join IAA to get prime seats and receive deep discount with no service fees on tickets to upcoming shows:

Mika Singh on June 10 and Mughal-e-Azaam, July 14-15

Call IAA at: 832.315.6586 or visit IAAHouston.org

Allah Rakha Rahman born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer, songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in international cinema, as well as an arrangement of the 20th Century Studios fanfare for Star Studios. He is a winner of six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, fifteen Filmfare Awards and seventeen Filmfare Awards

South. In 2010, the Indian government conferred him with the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian award.

Rahman initially composed scores for different documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels. With his in-house studio Panchathan Record Inn, Rahman’s film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja.

Following that, he went on to score several songs for Tamil language films, including Ratnam’s politically charged Bombay, the urban Kadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda, and S. Shankar’s debut film

Gentleman. Rahman’s score for his first Hollywood film, the comedy Couples Retreat (2009), won the BMI Award for Best Score. His music for Slumdog Millionaire (2008) earned him Best Original Score and Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards. He was also awarded Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2010 Grammy Awards..

Rahman has also become a humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for a number of causes and charities.

‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hain’: Courtroom Drama

By dHaval roy

Story: Inspired by real-life incidents, this is the story a Sessions Court lawyer in Jodhpur, who fights a five-year-long battle to bring justice to a minor girl sexually assaulted by a powerful godman.

Review: When a revered selfstyled godman is in the witness box for the sexual assault of a minor girl, you know the courtroom drama will be more than just a battle of wits. The proceedings will be fierce and furious, and props to director Apoorv Singh Karki for ensuring that the gripping tale keeps you hooked throughout. Tremendous responsibility rests on the writer to effectively pull off a film that largely relies on dialogues (arguments in this case), which Deepak Kingrani aces in, whether inside the courtroom or outside. The one person who holds it all together firmly is Manoj Bajpayee, just like the protagonist he portrays.

being taken for a medical examination after the police complaint, and when she covers her face up with her dupatta, your heart goes out to her as it conveys the shame is trying to hide. Or the scene when the case is won, and Nu stands by the window—her patly lit-up face seems to depict the hope and the scars together.

Sangeet-Siddharth Roy’s background score heightens the drama, but in many instances, it gets overbearing and takes the attention away from the dialogue.

The film is a biopic on a humble lawyer from Rajasthan, Advocate PC Solanki, who single-handedly brought justice to the minor girl under the POCSO Act in the much-publicised self-styled godman’s sexual assault case. While lawyers in courtroom dramas are portrayed to be larger-than-life, Advocate PC Solanki (Manoj Bajpayee, ) is a simple man living with his mother and son in Jodhpur. He takes on his contemporary defence attorney (Vipin Sharma) with great confidence, but it’s endearing to see him starstruck and nervous when he faces colossal names from the legal world during the court proceedings.

Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai boasts of outstanding performances, whether Adrija or Jaihind Kumar and Durga Sharma as Nu’s hapless but supportive parents, Vipin Sharma as the defence lawyer (he acts exceptionally well in the scene he’s grilling Nu and is ashamed to ask her about the crime in detail). But the star here is undoubtedly Manoj Bajpayee. He shows prowess, especially in adapting his mannerisms while interacting with

The film must not be missed for the exceptional storytelling, drama, and dialogues but, above all, for Manoj Bajpayee’s extraordinary performance. You will cheer for him and Advocate PC Solanki. -- Indian Express

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Last Week’s Solution

Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is a well-researched story where the viewer will be filled with admiration at the due diligence on the public prosecutor Solanki’s part, especially in proving that the survivor Nu (Adrija) is a minor and that the case must be tried under the POCSO Act no matter what, or other legal nitty-gritty.

The movie, where only Advocate Solanki’s name remains unchanged, while other characters are given screen names, handles the narrative with great sensitivity, even in the scenes when the defence asks Nu pointed questions about the incident or how mindfully the police handle the case. It does not sensationalise the event while ensuring it’s gripping. Arjun Kukreti’s cinematography complements the tight direction and writing. The chase scene in the bylanes of Jodhpur when goons attack Solanki is well-shot. Nu is

Kaushika Shah

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Recent Winners

Kumud Athavale, Krishna R. Vuddagiri, Sanchali Basu, Yudhveer Singh Bagga, Prabha Barvalia, Arup Gupta, Ramesh Shah, Pothiraj Bethanasamy, Aadhya Pantam, Taranjit Singh, Mihir Kumar Chakraborty, Ramana Vadrevu

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ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE CELEBRATING Mo�th

A deeply rooted history, a diverse community and a vibrant culture. This month, we recognize the countless contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as we highlight some of our Asian American-owned brands.

MR. KOOKS SAUCES

AUTHENTICALLY SPICED SIMMER SAUCES

Our family has been blending spices in India for over one hundred years, and we wanted to share our homeland’s beautiful flavors with the world. That’s how Mr. Kooks Indian cooking sauces were born! Mr. Kooks is made with spices and natural ingredients that bring the authentic Indian flavors from our kitchen to yours.

GALLIVANT MAWA ICE CREAM

LUXURIOUS INDIAN-STYLE DESSERTS

I was unable to consume dairy-based desserts and in 2018, I put my 15 years of experience as a Food Safety Scientist to work as I learned how to create mawa ice creams. I did this by keeping Ayurvedic principles of Dairy Farming and Processing in mind and after 18 months, I launched Gallivant® Mawa Ice Creams!

Learn more about these products and other Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander-owned brands at heb.com/bethechange

Snehee Chaplot Founder

Anish and Dimple Patel Founder