This Janmashtami singer "Vandana Somaya "pours her heart out in a musical rendition Bhakti Vandana composed by maestro Anup Jalota

The word devotion is often described as religious worship or love and loyalty towards a higher being. My devotion to music is synonymous with that of a devotee to the Lord, and it is from this sentiment that Bhakti Vandana has been conceived.

My yearning to learn and perform Hindustani vocal was apparent from a young age. My father, Mansukhlal Kotak, who is an accomplished harmonium and vocal artist, had a prominent name in the London network, and this presented me with a wealth of opportunities to perform and cultivate my talent. I would perform at live shows and competitions as a young girl but over time, as with any woman’s life, my priorities shifted and I devoted many years to being a loyal wife and mother. My thirst to become an accomplished singer remained inside of me, so with the support and encouragement of my family, I was able to follow my passion.

I began the pivotal part of my musical journey a decade ago, where I would leave my husband and two daughters behind weeks at a time in order to come to Mumbai in search of the right Guru to pursue my passion. The feeling of loneliness and being away from home was like no other, but with the focus, discipline, and devotion inside me, I continued on my chosen path. I was fortunate along the way to meet some very senior and inspirational personalities within the field, who have helped to guide me and open up a plethora of opportunities for me to perform and grow as an artist. Of notable mention is Padmashri Anup Jalota-ji, who has taken me under his wing to give me the most selfless mentoring and support. It is with his creative flair and deep rooted knowledge of hindustani classical music that we are presenting the Bhakti Vandana album.

Bhakti Vandana is a special dedication to my husband and two beautiful daughters, and to those that have a burning desire to follow their dream but circumstances or society rules may act as a hurdle. So there is only one thought I shall part with….

"To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” Anatole France

Hundreds Of Student ‘Superheroes’ Take To The Streets To Fight For Child Rights With CRY

In a unique initiative, students from more than 35 colleges in Mumbai including Xaviers, Andrews, Jai Hind, Hinduja, BJCC and KJ Somaiya, along with members and volunteers of CRY participated in a superhero march to pledge their support for child rights. Hosted by the young and ambitious students of Wilson BMS the initiative aimed at raising awareness for a social cause. The march saw the participation of close to 30 colleges from across Mumbai who walked the mile from Wilson College to Mafatlal Building and back with celebs Nakuul Mehta, Disha Parmar (Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara) and model Rochelle Rao (Extraaa Innings).

“The reality today is that children are forced into labour all across this country, every single day. CRY has been fighting for child rights for the last 35 years and when a college like Wilson asked us to join in a campaign that fights for these very rights; we were honoured to partner with them. The young will take this fight forward and it’s reassuring to see so many youngsters stand up with such conviction for the rights of a child,” said Kreeanne Rabadi, Regional Director — West, CRY.

The Superhero Mile was an event that was created around the idea of raising awareness about the atrocities faced by children in India on a daily basis. The young are energetic and this call to being a hero for a child resonated positively among the youth.

“Every 15 seconds a child is abused across the globe. It’s our duty to safeguard the sanctity of our children today. We believe that there is a superhero in all of us to safeguard humanity and this walk was aimed at awakening that superhero,” said Zuleika Homavazir Sattha, HOD, Bachelor of Management Studies, BMS Wilson.

“The recent rape of a 6-year-old in Bangalore depicts the pathetic and sadistic mentality of today’s society. It’s high time we raise our voices against the heinous crimes committed against children in our country, almost every day,” said Vyankatesh Kharage, a student of BMS Wilson.

Nakuul Mehta, who represented CRY at the event said, “Child Rights and its relevance in today’s world is far too important to ignore. The atrocities being committed every single day against children are terrible and there is a need for a voice. Organisations like CRY do as much as they can, but it is up to each and every one of us to also respond to this call for action. I am reassured when I see college-going kids taking an active interest in such activism and I know that if this is the mood of today’s youth, India sure does have a better future.”

“Partnering with a cause so close to my heart makes me even more enthusiastic about this march. That, and the fact that this Superhero Mile represents today’s youth and their genuine concern towards the injustices around them. This was a call to action and I responded... and I am very excited to be associated with both the BMS department at Wilson College and CRY for this initiative,” added Rochelle Rao, who was also present at the event.

Iftar Party on the sets of Main Na Bhoolungi

The cast and crew of Sony Entertainment Television’s romantic thriller Main Na Bhoolungi recently celebrated their EID together. On the occasion of this special occasion the makers of the show threw an Iftar party for their cast and crew members. It was a small celebration with some yummy delicacies followed by some fun moments. Talking about it Nigar Khan who plays the role of Madhurima in the show says, it was really sweet of the makers to throw an iftar party for us. Due to shoots we couldn’t celebrate much so even this small gesture meant a lot to all of us. I am quite blessed to have such an amazing crew who are extremely thoughtful.

Well that’s really sweet, don’t you think? We wish EID Mubarak to all of them!

Entertainment, Shopping And Puppy Love This Season At Shop With Heart

A special sale of garments worn by the stars of the movie Entertainment in support of Youth Organization in Defence of Animals (YODA) 

Starring Akshay Kumar and a gorgeous Golden Retriever who plays the title role in Entertainment, this year’s August release by Tips Industries doesn’t just promise to be a mega entertainer, but is also contributing to the cause of our loyal furry friends! In what promises to be an event full of fashion, fun and lots of love, the 2^nd Shop with Heart sale will present to you the wardrobe of the stars from Entertainment (Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah, Sonu Sood, Krushna Abhishek & Prakash Raaj) along with personal pieces from Akshay Kumar, the lovely Twinkle Khanna, and Varsha and Ramesh Taurani.

In a first of its kind initiative, a Bollywood and fashion collaboration will create a platform to help the cause of the animals that have featured in the film. Entertainment joins hands with Shop with Heart founded in 2013 by two friends - Varsha Taurani of Tips Industries & Shanti Sivaram of Bling Entertainment Solutions, in collaboration with Rachana Nakra of Fuffabulous. Shop with Heart aims to bring to you a sale of the finest pre-owned fashion at accessible prices with all of the proceeds going to a charitable cause. The first sale event raised funds for In Defence of Animas (IDA), which were used to conduct repair work at their Deonar centre.

This season, all the proceeds will go to the non-profit animal welfare group YODA (Youth Organization in Defence of Animals). YODA was born out of the minds of 5 young visionaries who were newly exposed to the harsh realities of how animals are treated in India. In particular, animal mills, where the female species are bred over and over until death to produce puppies for monetary gain. 99 percent of the commercial breeders in this country are full-fledged puppy mills. YODA’s method of working towards reducing the number of puppy mills is via adoption, direct action and education. They want to gently alter the Indian mindset towards animals and hope to make our country a safe place for them one day.

Akshay Kumar who is an avid animal lover says, “Animals are no different from us and are entitled to as much care and affection. I have two dogs as pets at home and it is a beautiful relationship full of love. This film is very close to my heart because of Junior who has the title role in the film. His presence on the sets was a total treat! Working with this amazing dog day and night made my feelings against animal cruelty even more pronounced. The work YODA is doing is truly inspiring. It is today’s youth who can bring such a serious issue to light and I am glad to do my bit for the animals.”

If you are looking to ramp up your wardrobe, grab some serious fashion at amazing prices, while doing a good deed then come be a part of Shop with Heart. The racks include brands like Louis Vuitton,Gucci, Balenciaga, Reiss, Karen Millen, Paul Smith, Gant, Armani Exchange, Bebe, Diesel, Masaba Gupta, Neeta Lulla, Nishka Lulla, Asos, River Island, Aldo and many more.

At Woodside All Day Bar & Eatery, New Link Plaza, Near Oshiwara Police Station, Oshiwara, Andheri (W) on August 2^nd from 10.30 am to 6 pm.

And you have a chance to meet the man himself! Akshay Kumar will be at the event supporting this cause. Now, you really have every reason to come!

Recommerce Partner: www.facebook.com/fuffabulous and visit www.fuffabulous.com

YODA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yoda.mumbai/

AFFORDABLE LUXURY APPAREL LABEL “ZINNIA”

Zinnia launches its brand of high fashion ethnic wear for women at J W Marriott, Mumbai on 1^st and 2^nd August 2014, which will be followed by another exhibition at Cache Art Gallery in Bandra, on 10^th and 11^th August 2014.

Drawing inspiration from a plant cultivated for its bright showy flowers in vibrant colors, Zinnia presents its collection of stylish and exquisite salwaar suits, sarees, tunics and Dupattas created from natural fibres – cotton, silk, linen and blends.

Zinnia brings to the Indian woman smart ways to wear traditional Indian treasures without too much fuss. The Anarkali, an eternal favorite is presented in an affordable price range, in understated elegance, achieving the fits with circular cut patterns which complement the Indian body perfectly. Handloom Sarees and Dupattas have been given the Zinnia touch with embellishments, block prints, cutwork and appliques to make each piece a unique visual delight, a sparkling line of vintage-inspired designs that retain a touch of contemporary India.

Keeping in mind the essence of the festive season, glorifying Indian heritage and offering a fun yet trendy take Zinnia offers affordable luxury in its range of ethnic styles.

Zinnia being the brainchild of Deepa promises to be one of city’s sought after exhibitions, Deepa mentions, “We wanted to come up with something that would suit everyone’s budget & that’s how Zinnia came into existence. Our range would float between 5000- 25000, hence offering affordable luxury. We have really strived to put everything together under one roof & looking forward to all the brides to be as Zinnia is their one shop destination.”

Zinnia’s brand charter involves presenting exhibition cum sales for this festive season in Surat and Baroda in October and other cities thereafter.