Aruna Raje bags Rashtriya Gaurav Award

One of the most prominent women directors of Indian film industry, synonymous with parallel cinema, Aruna Rajesh received Rashtriya Gaurav Award from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on the 20th January and was felicitated as the ‘First Lady’, among fifteen women who excelled in their respective fields. The multiple award-winning director has been one of the first female technicians in the film business.

Being an alumnus of FTII and having helmed films such as Rihaee, Shaque and Gehrayee, the National Award-winner is continuing with her contribution to cinema by currently directing highly anticipated Marathi movie, Firebrand, bankrolled by Priyanka Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra’, Purple Pebble Pictures.

Spearheaded by Raje, Firebrand is a contemporary story about relationships and the highs and lows people deal with in their lives.

On earning the award Raje said, “I am delighted to receive the recognition for being the first woman technician in the Indian film industry.

Women have extraordinary capabilities and I personally believe that nothing is impossible for them. It is great that women are breaking new ground every day. For me, I love challenges & 'the sky is not the limit'!”

Sonam Kapoor champions hygiene and health among girls

Awaiting the release of her highly anticipated film starring Akshay Kumar, PadMan, Sonam Kapoor was approached by PVR Nest for She's Ambassador Program launched by Dr. Nadir Patel, Canadian High Commissioner.

Based on hygiene, health and well being and using cinema as a medium for learning, the program is in tandem with the actress’s to-be-released movie. In its endeavour to felicitate young girls who have championed the spheres of health and hygiene and honouring them with Pretty Powerful PadMan Award, PVR Nest fittingly invited the gorgeous actress to grace the initiative. 

Only recently, Sonam along with the director R. Balki and Twinkle Khanna visited schools to interact with school girls and distributed packets of sanitary pads among them. Furthering the cause of raising awareness about menstrual hygiene, the diva along with others mingled with young 'Health Ambassadors' across Mumbai, presented them awards and in her address inspired the girls to be confident and unashamed of their biology. 

Sonam say's- These young girls who have championed the cause of health and hygiene deserve to be recognized for their contributions and I hope this sets an example. 

Shilpa Shetty Kundra wins HT's Most Stylish Author award

Versatility is the name of the game for Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who enjoys donning many hats. The author, entrepreneur and actor was awarded 'HT Most Stylish Author' at HT Most Stylish awards, that honor the most prominent, glamorous and talented people in the country today. Engaging fitness enthusiasts from across the world with her popular YouTube channel, Shilpa Shetty Kundra is synonymous with health and fitness. The wellness entrepreneur has penned her second book titled, ‘The Diary of a Domestic Diva, after the success of its predecessor, The Great Indian Diet

“Main Amar Ho Gaya” a tribute to the Martyrs : Apara Mehta

Bollywood patriotic songs have always been liked. These songs are inspired by the martyrs who gave their lives for the country and introduces the youth with splendid diversities of the country and sometimes awakens the inner zeal towards patriotism.

On the occasion of 69th Republic day of the country, a patriotic single “Main Shaheed Ho Gaya” is having a grand launch in Mumbai attended by Guest of honor known actress Apara Mehta along with Bhavesh Bhanushali, Hiren Bhanushali, director Sudhir D. Tandel and music director Shivram . This song is dedicated to the martyr’s soldiers, who lost their lives while protecting our country on the borders and it’s a tribute to them from the Bhavesh Bhanushali and Hiren Bhanushali.

Singer and actor Bhavesh Bhanushali have also acted in this music video. He will be seen in a very promising role in the song. Famous actress Sudha Chandran, Hiren Bhanushali and Bhavesh Bhanushali have also acted in this music video.

In this song, Sudha Chandran would be seen as a mother of a soldier who gives away his life while fighting the war to protect the country and Hiren Bhanushali is playing the role of the soldier. It’s a very emotional video in which there is a prosperous and happy family feels proud of their soldier son and one day receives tragic news of martyrdom of their son. Martyr’s mother, father, sister and wife feel proud of him for giving away his life to protect the country but they are also sad from inside as they have lost their son, a brother and a husband for forever. In this video Hiren is trying to consol his family that he is not a martyr but became an immortal. Lyrics of the songs are very beautiful, they talk about memories of childhood of Hiren when he is growing in the lapel of his mother and father, mischief’s and sharing jokes with sister and also some romantic moments with his wife.  All the members of the family become emotional while remembering all those moments but Hiren is trying to explain his family that he had to lay down his life for the country and he is not a martyr but he became an immortal. He has left the lapel of his mother and now resting in peace for the sake his country.

Emotional lyrics of the song “I am immortal” are written by singer Sanjay Mishra and musician Shivram. Music video is directed by Sudhir D. Tandel and edited by Chaitanya. On the grand launch of this song, Bhavesh Bhanushali said, ‘this is an endeavor to tribute the brave soldiers. Soldiers also have their own family and happiness, but they leave everything and give away their lives to protect the country. I salute to our country’s brave soldiers.”

Nimrat Kaur shares a heartfelt message in this open letter

This RepublicDay, find inspiration through her words and go live your dreams! 

I was born, in a small town named Pilani in Rajasthan, to the second son of three, in a farmer family hailing from a remote village in the neighbouring region. But that for me, wasn’t the interesting part of this story. What however I could never have enough of, was how, my then, Captain of a father, distributed “peydaas” (a stamp of celebratory sentiment) among not one or two families, but the entire colony! Much to the shock among many back in his family and village. I used to love the idea of being a celebration for doing something I had no part to play in, being born. 

However, as life, society and experience happened, that story took over a different meaning once I began to read the subtext. People back in his village weren’t shocked about him being able to afford “peydaas” for the whole colony, but about him doing so for me. My father was an exception to the norm which didn’t approve of his joy over the birth of a girl child for his first born. And I belonged to a statistically shocking minority of girls who enjoyed that privilege. 

I don’t know how drastically has that statistic changed, but I do know that not very long ago, a young girl hailing from the same region as my father’s village, became the first ever woman commando to be indicted in the BSF, a 51 year old establishment. She stood tall and beaming with her arm around her father, who couldn’t have smiled a wider smile. Each time I come across a similar success story about a woman excelling in the field of sports, services, entertainment, banking, politics or any arena where she blossoms alongside or outside of her biologically expected domain; I begin to dream of a world where this won’t be an anamoly anymore.  

This year as we celebrate the 69th Republic Day of India, I wish for a future that nurtures, encourages and protects every young girl who’s aspirations aren’t curbed due to her gender. Who isn’t told that going to school is of no use as all she needs to grow up to be is a wife or a mother. I wish for every man and woman in a place of authority and responsibility to realise the imperative urgency of every girl child being assured of just and equal opportunities. A reality which stirred me by existing in an unexpected walk of life, when in late 2016 I was made aware of women not being allowed to serve in combat roles in the army up until February that year. 

Eversince, The Test Case, hinging on that subject, which I have had the deepest privilege of being attached to, has compelled to me to share what I took away from this entire journey. In its creative attempt not just at provoking the ideologies or the politics of defence, and addressing the globally rampant struggle of gender discrimination; being a hyperbole it’s a story aimed at reminding any and everyone watching, about a basic fact, that the only way a woman can be held down from her flight of fantasy is if she’s denied the right to earn the same license as a man. 

I hereby, salute and applaud all the loving, nourishing and kind men and women who’ve made mine possible, both on and off screen. Here’s wishing the same for every girl reading this. 

Happy Republic Day and Jai Hind.