Gulaab Gang Music Launch: Madhuri crusades for womens rights in the spiritual capital of India

Anubhav Sinha’s, Benaras MediaWorks and T-series released the music of the much awaited film ‘Gulaab Gang’ on Friday, the 24^th of January in the spiritual centre of the country, Varanasi. Starring actresses, Madhuri Dixit- Nene and Juhi Chawla in all new avatars, the film comes with the hard hitting message of women empowerment and will premiere on International Women’s Day - the 7^th of March, in screens across India.

Keeping in mind the spirit and fervor of the film, the makers put together an event in the interiors of the country emanating the true flavor of India befitting the film. The film’s music was presented by producer Anubhav Sinha, director Soumik Sen, Mushtaq Sheikh and the dazzling actress, Madhuri Dixit- Nene in front of thousands of fans donning the gulaabi-topi.

More than Twenty thousand people packed the grounds and showed their support by turning up wearing gulaabi (pink) caps. Female students from various schools and colleges performed at the event with dance’s and drama’s adding a punch to the film’s social message. The highlight was a rally by students which shouted out slogans and were joined by the crowd gathered vibrating the whole arena. 

Playing Rajjo Devi a tough activist crusading for woman’s rights in the film, Madhuri fleshed out her character as she took a pledge in favour of every daughter of the country in front of an eager audience. On popular demand, Madhuri even crooned “Rang di saari Gulaabi Chunariya re” a soulful number from the film giving a glimpse of the striking music, from the equally striking film.

Madhuri Dixit-Nene commented “A daughter keeps the balance intact in a family. There should be a sense of equality between a man and woman present in the society. My character Rajjo in the film is fighting for the same cause. The character maybe different from Madhuri as a person. But Madhuri agrees and stands with Rajjo. The story of Gulaab Gang is a piece of my heart. It make’s me very happy and proud to see the support people have given the film and its message”               

Speaking on the launch in Benaras, Anubhav Sinha said “I am honoured by the love and support shown by the people of my hometown, which is very close to my heart. Gulaab Gang is sure to strike a chord in the hearts of millions and I am equally assured by the response I have got from the music launch here today. Women’s empowerment is a pressing issue in our country and Gulaab Gang is just a step towards addressing it.”

Yash Raj Films’ GRACE OF MONACO Starring Nicole Kidman to Open The 67th Cannes Film Festival This Year!

GRACE OF MONACO starring Nicole Kidman has been selected to open the world renowned Cannes Film Festival on May 14. YRF Entertainment and Stone Angels produced the film.

The film will screen out of competition in Cannes’ Official Selection and the opening ceremony will be broadcast to a number of participating cinemas.

Directed by Olivier Dahan and Produced by Uday Chopra, Pierre-Ange le Pogam and Arash Amel, who also wrote the screenplay, GRACE OF MONACO will be released worldwide. The Weinstein Company will distribute the film in the U.S.

An ecstatic Uday Chopra said about the thrilling news “I knew from the moment I read the wonderful script, penned by Arash Amel, that we had something special in GRACE OF MONACO and watching Nicole bring that character to life only increased my excitement about the project. I guess today, after viewing the film, The Cannes Film Festival agrees with our belief in the movie and shares in our excitement. I feel proud that YRF Entertainment in its first release in Hollywood has managed to reach this milestone. My only regret is that my Dad is not alive to see this happen.”

GRACE OF MONACO tells the story of efforts by the late Princess Grace of Monaco (the former Grace Kelly, played by Nicole Kidman) to make peace between her adopted country and France. Grace, just 33 years old and having just given up an acting career to become Monaco’s First Lady, maneuvered through a political minefield to resolve the situation, as detailed in the film.

Among other projects, YRF Entertainment is also producing Arash Amel’s follow-up to GRACE OF MONACO. This is an adaptation of Chris Greenhalgh’s SEDUCING INGRID BERGMAN.

About YRF Entertainment:

YRF Entertainment is the U.S. division of Yash Raj Films, a 41-year-old studio in India founded by Yash Chopra, father of YRF Entertainment CEO Uday Chopra. YRF Entertainment, based in Beverly Hills, is a production and financing company focused on developing, financing and producing feature films for the U.S. and global marketplace.

The most successful Country Duo ever The Bellamy Brothers to tour India

The Bellamy Brothers have received nearly every music award there is to have, and they even hold the record in both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association for the most duo nominations.  They’ve written countless worldwide hits, crossed the globe like their music has crossed genres, brought reggae to the Grand Ole Opry, and recorded 45 albums will be on the maiden visit to India, their first ever tour on the sub-continent.

 The Bellamy Brothers, Howard and David continue to prove that the trail they’ve ridden to fame has been as unique as their music itself - music that is now celebrating 30 years of success.  Commenting on their tour to India, the brothers states:

David Bellamy  -  “We have our fans and with this tour I am sure we will make more…” 

Howard Bellamy  - “We will play all our hit tracks and will get the crowds to move…”

Along the way, Howard and David created a patent on the newly cool “duo” category in country music.  In the era of the 2000’s, The Bellamy Brothers hold the record in both the Academy of Country Music Association Awards (CMA) for the most duo nominations.  Numerous Grammy nods have also been directed toward the brothers Music (ACM) and the Country.

The details of the tour in India is as follows:

Venues & Dates:

4th Feb, 2014 at Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana, Santacruz, Mumbai

5th Feb, 2014 at Quinta de Valadares, Verna, Goa

Time: Gates open at 6pm 

About the Bellamy Brothers:

The road that started on the pop music charts in the ‘70’s, took a winding turn into country music in the ‘80’s. The brothers first official gig was in 1968, playing a free show with their father at the Rattlesnake Roundup in San Antonio, Florida.  They honed their early skills playing black clubs throughout the south, and singing backup for artists such as Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, and Little Anthony & The Imperials. 

Within a few months, the brothers moved north, immersing themselves and their rock/country sound in the Atlanta market. The Bellamy's music picked-up the hard driving edge that bespoke the times.  Songwriting had become David Bellamy’s drug of choice during the long road gigs he and Howard were regularly pulling bodies and equipment to and from.  It was his songwriting that was posed to soon provide the duo a national breakout.

 The break came in the form of the hit, “Spiders & Snakes,” written by David and recorded by Jim Stafford.  The song became a smash, eventually selling more than three million units worldwide.  It became the catapult that rocketed the brother onto the L.A. music scene. 

The Bellamys officially lifted off the launch pad in 1976 when their single, “Let Your Love Flow,” became an instant smash in both the U.S. and Europe.  It stayed on the international charts long enough to build a huge international fan base for the hip young brothers that endures to this day.  In Germany alone it perched at #1 for more than two months. The love was indeed flowing as The Bellamys jammed for audiences on their sold-out concerts.

By the late ‘70’s The Bellamys were emerging on the country charts with another bona fide smash. “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me),” originally scrawled on a dinner napkin by David, rocketed them to the top of the country charts the way “Let Your Love Flow,” had done in the pop market just a few years earlier.  It proved to be the first of a string of fourteen #1 singles in the U.S. alone.

Success followed success: “Dancing Cowboys,” “Sugar Daddy,” “You Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie,” “Lovers Live Longer,” “Do You Love As Good As You Look,” “Redneck Girl,” “For All The Wrong Reasons,” “I Love Her Mind,” “I Need More Of You,” “Old Hippie,” “Too Much Is Not Enough,” “Kids Of The Baby Boom,” and “Reggae Cowboy” and “Crazy From The Heart,”…all have lined the corridors of the Bellamy’s musical history and their walls with platinum and gold.

Official Website: www.bellamybrothers.com

FB page: facebook.com/bellamybrothersindiatour

Mayur Narvekar bags GiMA Award for electronic dance music

 

Mumbai born Ahmedabad bred Mayur Narvekar recently brought fame to his mix Gujarati-Marathi upbringing when he emerged the only one from his city to have brought home a GiMA 2014 Global Indian Music Academy Award.

He won the award for his brand Bandish Projekt in the Electronic Dance Music, beating fellow independent artiste nominees Blot, Kohra, Arjun Vagale, Dualist Enquiry.

Talking about the track that won the award, Mayur says, “From my EP, I Am Not Alone, the track Trap is one of my favourites. At some time or another, everyone feels lonely and we want to be assured that we are not alone. This track is a reassurance of having a sense of belonging of not being alone.”

Mayur is an alumnus of the famous classical music gharanas like Delhi gharana, Ajrada gharana, Punjab gharana and was part of a band while graduating at Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad. He is a music composer, DJ, Remixer and performer. After having mastered tabla, he self-learned music production and now specializes in the Electronic Dance Music genre.

At GiMA, Mayur represented the younger contemporary music brigade that is doing futuristic music work worldwide. He was present amongst India’s world renowned celebrity musicians like Asha Bhonsle, L Subramanium, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Rekha Bhardwaj, Udit Narayan and others.

Fresh from his GiMA win, Mayur will showcase his other brand Black Ink in UK in February besides his other national and international tours.

Katrina Kaif rules the endorsement circuit.

Apart from being one of the most sought after actresses in Bollywood,Katrina Kaif is also the most popular face on the small screen courtesy her kitty of endorsements that include everything from a soft beverage brand, to products in the cosmetic line right down to a jewellery brand.

Katrina has carved a niche for herself as one of the most bankable Bollywood stars, with brand equity on par the top male actors of Bollywood given the success the brands have seen post her association with them.

H&R Johnson (India) CO0 Sushil Matey said: "The Johnson brand continues to be the most trusted name in the Home Lifestyle category...Johnson's association with Katrina reinforces the very values Katrina stands for, namely, her global image, freshness and contemporariness."

Akira Morikawa, CEO, Line Corporation said: "With the help of our marketing partnership with Katrina Kaif, along with other partnerships with entities in India, we are confident that we can easily surpass 20 million users by the end of the year."

The mere fact that Katrina has endorsed a total of 20 brands in the year 2013, goes on to show that when it comes to product endorsement, Bollywood’s lucky mascot at the box office is also a force to be reckoned with on the brand front.

Not surprisingly, the actress was announced “Brand Endorser of the Year – Female” at the International Advertising Association Awards earlier this year. Not too long ago, Katrina Kaif was also voted the most powerful celebrity endorser, in a celebrity-brand association recall study conducted by Ormax Media.