VARTAK NAGAR Wins big at Jharkhand International Film Festival 2019

‘VARTAK NAGAR’ – a Hindi feature film produced by Amit Agarwal, under his banner Adarsh Telemedia, screened as the opening film at JIFF (Jharkhand International Film Festival), 2019 and film has won 3 prestigious awards at the festival. The film has won Best Motivational Film, Best Director and Best Editor awards at the festival. The awards were presented by Hon. Minister of sports and culture Amar Kumar Bauri and Arbaaz Khan. The film, directed by Atul Taishete, features Jimmy Sheirgil and Raghu Ram in pivotal roles. It is a story of four kids and their friendship against the backdrop of the Bombay Mills strike that took place in the 1980s.

VARTAK NAGAR is ready for release and is on festival rounds at the moment. Already screened at CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL (San Jose, California, USA) and KOLKATA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Kolkata, India) the film got selected as the Opening Film at JIFF – JHARKHAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Ranchi, Jharkhand).

Amit Agarwal started Adarsh Telemedia in 2005 in Kolkata and from a film post-production studio in Kolkata, he ventured into film production. Beginning with Bengali Film ASTRA in 2012, Amit graduated to Bollywood when he initiated as producer the Hindi film M.S. DHONI - THE UNTOLD STORY. Later he produced the film SIMRAN starring Kangana Ranaut which was released in 2017.

He is also the Producer of Hindi Film RAAHGIR being directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker GOUTAM GHOSE. RAAHGIR was entirely shot in Jharkhand (Ranchi surroundings and Netarhat). The film would travel to various film festivals across the globe and thereafter would have its theatrical release.

Amit is also working as the Director of AJOOBA, an animation film in Hindi which has Gulshan Grover, Tisca Chopra and Mukesh Khanna as the lead voice cast.

Amit Agarwal feels that Jharkhand has immense scope of development in this segment. It has very talented artistes and technicians who just need little motivation and support to showcase themselves. Amit also feels that Jharkhand has beautiful natural locations which are very rare and filmmakers around the world should be made aware of this. He is very thankful to Jharkhand Film Development Corporation for coming up with the idea of Subsidy Policy which according to him is one of the biggest opportunities for all genres of filmmakers.

He is also very thankful to JIFF – Jharkhand International Film Festival for starting an event of such a scale, where filmmakers, both national and international are participating to screen their films.

A Muslim woman director’s film on Triple Talaq

“My films attempts to bring to light the three words that damages the lives of millions of women in three seconds,” says an emotional filmmaker Aleena Khan on her film Code Blue all set to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

Based on Triple Talaq, the controversial law that allows Muslim men to end their marriage by stating ‘Talaq’ three times in oral, written or electronic form – Aleena Khan’s film illustrates the impact of the instant divorce prevalent in the Muslim community, many of whom follow the Hanafi Islamic school of law.

The practice of Triple Talaq where the divorce is instantaneous and sometimes for frivolous reasons, and brings to practice Nikah Halala, where the divorced Muslim woman needs to consummate a second marriage if she wants to go back to their first husband.

While Muslim women’s organization Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) has been instrumental in opposing the law, practicing Muslim doctor, Aleena Khan wants t use the medium of movies to bring to light, the lives of such women who find their lives shattered with this instant divorce practice.

Aleena Khan felt traumatized when she encountered cases of women having to endure the mistreatment and misuse of the oral Talaq system. “I once had a pregnant woman whose husband gave her a Talaq for no reason. A Muslim man cannot divorce his wife when she is pregnant. However, the man, with the support of religious representatives, went scot-free and with the belief that his action is approved by the Qur’an and the Hadith,” says an angry Aleena Khan.

“In a highly patriarchal society, it is not easy to live with dignity when you are the victim of an instant divorce and not literate enough to fend for yourself and your children. Such women are victimized easily. But I want every woman to rise and find her true self. Code Blue should inspire millions,” she avers.

Stating the concept of Triple Talaq in one sitting or instant Talaq being alien to Qur’an, Aleena Khan feels that a film would be the best to bring to light the trials and tribulations of the victims. “A Muslim woman today wants legal protection. Instant Triple Talaq takes place though it is unconstitutional and we need it to be criminalized.”

The BMMA survey endorses Aleena Khan’s views as their survey shows that 90 per cent of Indian Muslim women wanted a ban on the unilateral divorce while the governments of Islamic Nations like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia do not recognize Triple Talaq, it still is being practiced despite the Law in India, a nation with the third-largest Muslim population in the world.

It was not easy for Aleena Khan to make the film though. She had face opposition at every step. “But my family stood by me and that is all that matters,” smiles Aleena Khan. “There is no point in speaking of the need for a change. You need to be the change.”

Code Blue, is made in association with Rahat Kazmi Films, and features Alok Nath, Rishi Bhutani, Sushmita Mukerji and Aleena Khan in lead roles. The movie is all set for a World Premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

Is Pyaar Ke Papad a remake of Chameli Ki Shaadi?

Star Bharat’s upcoming show Pyaar Ke Papad is an exceptional rom com show with a never seen before content on Indian television. It is different from the regular Saas Bahu drama; a story of a unique Jodi of Sasur and Damad. The journey of Omkaar will take you to how a banker boy convinces Trilokinath, a temple priest to marry his daughter. Rumour has it that the show is well-inspired from the classic movie ‘Chameli Ki Shaadi’ starring Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh.

As per sources, Pyaar Ke Papad has a similar storyline and the show will bring out a comic take on Sasur-Damad chemistry. After all, the makers have been working very hard to portray the love and hate relationship between this Sasur and Damad in a humorous way.

Kanpur based Pyaar Ke Papad will be a roller-coaster ride of emotions, laughter, love and struggle against the orthodox beliefs of our society. The show will see Aashay Mishra, Swardha Thigale and Akhilendra Mishra in the lead roles.

Watch the light hearted story of Pyaar Ke Papad from 18th February only on Star Bharat

EPIC CHANNEL LAUNCHES ‘SAAMAGRI AUR SAMPATTI’ – AN ANIMATED MINI- SERIES THAT TRAVELS THROUH INDIA’S RICH HISTORY OF TRADE

EPIC Channel launches a new weekly mini-series titled ‘Saamagri Aur Sampatti’ that will air 6th February onwards. The show is presented in a unique conversational format and employs animation to convey the interesting stories of how the trade of manycommodities shaped the world as we know it, and how India played a pivotal part in this process. 

Along with gems like yoga, chess and the number zero; India, since ancient times, also served as a conduit for the global spread of many commodities that we use today. For instance, the history of zinc mining in India goes back centuries, as does the cultivation of sesame, the first seed from which oil was extracted.

EPIC has seen success with the animation format with its show ‘Kissa Currency Ka’, a mini- series that traced the journey of the ‘coins’ of the country and reflected the diverse cultures that inhabited the region. Continuing on the back of the encouraging response of the animated infotainment series, this new series will unfold over nine episodes and showcase the various commodities that found their way to the world through India; revealing the country’s legacy of trade and its global impact.

Speaking on the launch of the new show, Akul Tripathi, Content and Programming Head of EPIC Channel said, “Making content at EPIC is always fun and a great learning curve. This series is a great starting point to how India, through its trade shaped world commerce, politics, and even world history.”

Tune in to EPIC Channel for Saamagri Aur Sampatti, every Wednesday from 6th of February at 10 PM

Special Birthday Suprise for Shamita Shetty

Shamita Shetty who brought in her birthday last night with her close family and friends was in for a special surprise .

The actress and her sister Shilpa Shetty Kundra along with their friends Rajiv Datia,Kiran Bawa,Rohini Iyer,Akanksha Malhotra,Gauri Malhotra Narang and Sarita Madhavan  were swept off to Phuket for a 3-day weekend celebration ,personally organized by Raj Kundra.

A few years ago, doting husband Raj organized a Gatsby style birthday surprise for wife , Shilpa Shetty Kundra, which included flying 30 of her closest friends to Sveti Stefan, a 15th century island in Montenegro and went all out to host this one for sister-in-law Shamita Shetty this year.

The group is living it up and are hosted at luxury villas in Phuket that have a stunning view of the island and the Andaman sea. After spending the afternoon lounging in the  infinity pool ,the celebration kicked off with champagne and live fireshows at the Catch Beach Club ,the hippest night club in town and went on till the wee hours of the morning.

The birthday girl's special day also includes a private birthday lunch curated by one of the best chefs on the island ,jet skiing and a party at Silk , Phuket's most exclusive Thai restaurant.

Says a source quote, " Raj has always been the ideal family guy and after throwing Shilpa a Gatsy style birthday celebration , also surprised Shamita with a trip to Phuket. Nothing was revealed to Shamita and her friends and they were informed about the location only at the airport. From dining at the best restaurants to partying at the hippest nightclubs , it's been a three day celebration of the best food and flowing champagne celebrating Shamita's special day".

It's been a great start to the year for Shamita with the massive success of Khatron Ke Khiladi and this getaway was just the perfect way to celebrate it.