Imran Abbas contributed Rs.4 lakh to an NGO that helps cancer

Imran Abbas, who is shooting for Muzzafar Ali’s next Jaanisaar, recently pleasantly surprised all by showing his magnanimous side during the film’s shoot.

Recently, on the sets, one of Imran’s friends introduced him to a representative of an NGO that works towards helping cancer patients.

Moved by the organization’s aim and effort, Imran, who’s popularity amongst the masses has significantly been enhanced by his latest TV show ‘Dil-E-Nadan’, offered monetary help to the NGO concerned.

A source says, “His Pakistani TV shows are on air in India and are doing well. As a result, a lot of his people recognize him and, therefore come to see his shoots. Recently, one of Imran’s friends brought a person along with him to the sets. He told the actor about the NGO and that it also helps the cancer patients’ families earn a livelihood if needed.”

Touched by the stories he heard about the NGO, Imran asked the representative to meet him the next day. That’s when he donated money worth Rs. 4 lakh to the NGO.

Confirming the story Imran said, “At that point, all I thought about was saving a life. I did what I felt was right as a human being.”

QYUKI ARTIST SHWETA SUBRAM BECOMES THE YOUNGEST INDIAN VOCALIST AT CARNEGIE HALL

Shweta Subram become the youngest vocalist of Indian origin to perform at the Carnegie Hall with her performance at the prestigious venue with The Piano Guys. An Indo-Canadian playback singer, she primarily sings in Hindi, though she has also lent her voice to other languages. Shweta is the recipient of multiple awards including the North American Best Singer award.

Her recent performance at the Isaac Stern Auditorium was lauded by the ecstatic audiences trailed by innumerable requests for a follow-up concert. The concert was recorded live for a 2015 album of The Piano Guys whose rendition of Swedish House Mafia’s ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ has crossed 10 million views on YouTube. Along with the performance at Carnegie Hall, Shweta toured with The Piano Guys for sold out shows in Toronto, Montreal, Reading, and Syracuse.

 Shweta has umpteen reasons to smile this year having recently made her foray into Bollywood as a playback singer with Ayushmann Khuraana for Hawaizaada, lending her beautiful vocals to the song Dil-E-Nadan. In addition, her acapella tribute showcasing the evolution of Bollywood music has received a phenomenal response across various media, including the BBC Asian network. Shweta has also composed and sang for the background score of Salman Khan’s first international production, Dr. Cabbie. Shweta’s latest masterpiece is a cover of Jeena Jeena from Badlapur, with the talented composer Aakash Gandhi. Shweta’s notable performance from the past includes a feature at the IIFA Awards along with Bollywood maestros Salim-Sulaiman.

 Shweta is part of the Qyuki network, a digital broadcast network/ MCN co-founded by Shekhar Kapur, Samir Bangara and AR Rahman. Qyuki works with creators to build their fan following by producing and distributing videos across Youtube and other networks with the aim to create enduring intellectual properties. Qyuki also connects brands with their audiences through unique content marketing initiatives in collaboration with Qyuki artists.

About Qyuki : 

Qyuki, a multichannel network founded by Shekhar Kapur, Samir Bangara and A. R. Rahman and global youth media company Fullscreen, today announced an exclusive alliance that becomes one of India’s largest multichannel networks. Indian creators in the Qyuki-Fullscreen network will receive greater opportunities to develop, monetize and distribute their content and leverage technology, production and optimization services from both networks. This partnership, built to enhance talent and content development in India, expands Fullscreen’s footprint within the fastest-growing video consumption market in the world.

 

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY SOUNDTRACK TAKING OVER THE CHARTS

Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do" has become the fastest-selling single of the year. Even though the film has been banned in India, Indian fans can still enjoy the OST album of the first film of the trilogy. The official soundtrack for the film has become the fastest-selling multi-act soundtrack in a decade. Featuring original music by Beyoncé, Sia, The Weeknd, and Ellie Goulding, the album, released by the Universal Music Group, sold more than 428,000 units in its first two weeks, according to Nielsen Music, and this week sends two hit singles to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” No. 3; and The Weeknd’s “Earned It,” No. 9).

While both the book as well as the movie have been cast in a less than favorable light by critics, the soundtrack has been incredibly well received as a success both artistically as well as commercially. The album has been a roaring success internationally as well as in India! It’s been held the #1 position now for over a week and has been in the Top 3 on the iTunes overall Albums chart.

The album is available on physical as well as digital formats in India under Universal Music Group.

Highway, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Udann and Beti project honoured at Elevate 2015

Imtiaz Ali's movie Highway, the Star Plus daily soap Diya Aur Baati Hum, Colors social message show Udann and Anu Ranjan's NGO Beti fighting for the cause of the girl child, were honoured with felicitations at The Third Eye's program Elevate 2015, the second annual conclave held at The Club, Mumbai, this week.

In partnership with The Club, the event was marked by panel discussions and felicitations of various network and studio teams, Bollywood film and television writers, producers and directors, whose projects have made a profound impact on audiences.

Coinciding with the International Women's Day, Garry Lyons of the University of Leeds, UK, along with activist-filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, presided over the conclave. Ms Vinta Nanda, CEO and managing director, ACEE The Third Eye gave the opening address.

Prominent speakers including Amit Khanna, Ketan Mehta, Deepa Sahi, Sudhir Mishra, Dr. Sanjiv Badhwar, Sanjay Tripathy, Dr. Nikhil Datar, Anu Ranjan, Suhail Tatari, Dr. Lata Shenava, Bhawana Somaaya and Gajra Kottary.

Dignitaries at the event included The Club's Mr Dinesh Khanna, Comall Sunjoy Wadhwaa (of Balika Vadhu fame), Deeya Singh (of Hamari Sister Didi fame), Selvaggia Velo (of River to River; Florence Indian Film Festival in Italy), filmmakers George Mathew, Manish Gupta, Aijaz Khan and designer Salim Asgarally.

Elevate 2015 was organized as part of The Third Eye program; a free-on-demand resource centre for information on sustainable development, climate change, health, legal and rights issues for filmmakers and creative communities, leading in the business of media and entertainment in India.

The Third Eye is a partnership between the 'Asian Centre for Entertainment Education' (ACEE), India, and 'Hollywood, Health and Society' (HH&S), Norman Lear Centre, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. The 'Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation', among others, funds the program.

Upen Patel recently refused to endorse a skin-whitening cream as he feels the fair skin obsession in our country needs to be discouraged

Bollywood actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Randeep Hooda refusing to endorse fairness creams, as they didn’t want to encourage racist stereotypes. And the latest actor to join the list is actor-turned-reality-show-star, Upen Patel. 

Reliable sources confirm that Upen recently refused an offer to endorse a fairness cream brand.A reliable source says, “Upen was recently approached by a skin care brand asking him to endorse a skin-lightening product. But apparently, he turned down the brand.” The source further adds, “He refuses to endorse anything that puts a value or discriminates a person based on his skin colour, taking a stand similar to what Nandita Das had done a few years 

ago.

”Confirming the news, Upen says, “This fair skin obsession has to be discouraged. It’s so regressive and problematic to put a value, negative or positive to skin colour. It’s actually the seeds of racism and only promotes low self-esteem. For me, I believe in loving yourself just the way you are. Dusky, dark or wheatish, you are perfect.”

The actor was last seen enacting a negative role in the film I, for which he won several accolades.