Mukkti, Sahakari Bhandar & Reliance team up to pledge mukkti from plastic

With the motto to get rid of plastic use and a bid to save our environment, social activist Smita Thackeray of Mukkti Foundation inaugurated Rebot, an automated plastic recycling machine at Mukkti Foundation in Andheri West. Corporator Devendra Bala Amberkar also attended the inaugural event. With the tagline, ‘Paryavaran Bachao – Plastic Se Mukkti Pao’, Smita Thackeray averred, “the safety of the environment is the need of the hour and this is just a small step towards it. There are many more to come!”

In today’s date, approximately 72 million tonnes of hazardous waste is generated annually, requiring, at the current rate, one square kilometer additional landfill space each year to accommodate this waste. Thirty million tonnes of this waste takes hundreds of years to breakdown. Not being able to contain the said waste, we can already see that the plastics have started to enter our food chain.

To curb this damage, “an automated PET bottle recycling machine, Rebot, allows the user to insert a bottle in the bottle insertion slot, following which the machine will crush the bottle. Furthermore, the user will get an option to choose a reward coupon or to donate to the cause. The crushed plastic is then recycled by us to make by-products, thereby reducing landfill usage and increasing the recycling rate,” concluded Smita Thackeray. Previously, similar machines were inaugurated by Nita Ambani and Aaditya Thackeray.

More power to such initiatives!

ज्येष्ठ गीतकार गुलजार यांच्या हस्ते रिवा राठोड यांच्या पहिल्या सोलो अल्बम 'साया तेरे इश्क का' चे अनावरण

मंगळवार, दिनांक २१ जानेवारीला मुंबईच्या प्रख्यात पाचतारांकित हॉटेल सहारा स्टार मध्ये रिवा राठोड या प्रतिभावान गायिकेच्या पहिल्या सोलो अल्बमचे अनावरण लेजेंडरी गीतकार गुलजार यांच्या हस्ते झाले. याप्रसंगी गुलजार आणि रीवा राठोड, रूपकुमार राठोड, सुनाली राठोड यांच्याव्यतिरिक्त  टाइम्स म्युझिकच्या गौरी यादवाडकर, डार्विन प्लॅटफॉर्म चे चेयरमन आणि मॅनॅगिंग डायरेक्टर अजय हरिनाथ सिंह, व्हिडिओ डायरेक्टर मधुर श्रॉफ, संगीतकार कल्याण बरुआह आणि फिल्ममेकर  अनुशा श्रीनिवासन अय्यर यांनी या भव्य आयोजित म्युजिक लाँचला आपली उपस्थिती लावली.

 २०१८ सालचे गुलज़ार वैशिष्ट्यीकृत 'मौला' (वन अबाव)  आणि साल २०१९ मधले 'सांवल' ज्याचे संगीत निर्माता होते जाकीर हुसेन आणि मायकल मेननर्ट  याच्या समीक्षात्मक गाजलेल्या हिट्ससाठी प्रसिद्ध गायिका - संगीतकार- पिनिस्ट रिवा राठोड पुन्हा एकदा त्यांच्या फॅन्सच्या मनावर राज्य करायला सज्ज  आहेत. त्यांच्या नवीन पहिल्या सोलो अल्बम सोबत ज्याचे शीर्षक आहे 'साया तेरे इश्क का'. मुख्य बाब म्हणजे ह्या अल्बमची गाणी स्वतः गुलज़ार यांनी लिहिली आहेत! रीवा ह्या समयी गुलजार बद्दल आभार व्यक्त करत म्हणाल्या, "गुलजार साहेबांनी मला माझ्या हृदयाचे अनुसरण करणे, स्वतः वर विश्वास करणे शिकवले आणि 'साया तेरे इश्क का' सह माझे सर्व भय दूर करण्यास मी शिकले."

स्वर्गीय पंडित चतुर्भुज राठोड आजोबा म्हणून, रूपकुमार राठोड -सुनाली राठोड माता -पिता म्हणून, आणि संगीत दिग्दर्शक श्रावण राठोड (नदीम-श्रावणातील) काका म्हणून, पाहिले गेले तर असे म्हणण्यात हरकत नाही कि, राठोड घराण्यात  संगीत नसा -नसातून वाहते. रीवा राठोड यांनी मिस शांती सेल्डन अंतर्गत वयाच्या ६ व्या वर्षीपासूनच पाश्चात्य शास्त्रीय पियानो प्रशिक्षण घेतले व त्यानंतर कर्नाटक शास्त्रीय संगीताचे प्रशिक्षण प्रख्यात गुरु टी.एस. बालामणी  यांच्याकडून घेतले. तिने हिंदुस्थानी शास्त्रीय गाण्याचे प्रशिक्षण बनारस घराना यांच्या संयुक्त विद्यमाने पंडित राजन आणि साजन मिश्रा यांच्याकडून घेतले. पंडित हृदयनाथ मंगेशकर आणि तिचे वडील रूपकुमार राठोड यांच्या अंतर्गत तीने संगीताची बारकावे शिकले.

आपल्या मुलीबद्दल अभिमान बाळगणाऱ्या आई-वडील रूपकुमार राठोड आणि सुनाली राठोड यांना त्यांचा उत्साह मावेनासा झालाय, “आमच्या लहान परी रिवाचा पहिला सोलो अल्बम लिविंग लेजेंड असे व्यक्तिमत्व गुलजार साहब यांनी लिहिलेला आहे हे जाणून आम्हाला धन्य वाटत आहे,” रुपकुमार राठोड पुढे म्हणाले,  “ती आपल्या गाण्यांकडे जे लक्ष आणि निष्ठा देत आहे ते अत्यंत कौतुकास्पद आहे. आतापर्यंत तिने जे काही मिळवले त्याबद्दल मी खूप खुश आहे. यावेळी तिच्या खांद्यावर एक मोठी जबाबदारी आहे कारण गुलजार साहेबांचे नाव अल्बममध्ये सामील आहे आणि मला खात्री आहे की ती ती यशस्वीरीत्या पार पाडण्यात सक्षम होईल. "

'साया तेरे इश्क का' हे  शीर्षक गीत अमेरिकन निर्माता-इंजिनियर -मिक्सर ब्रायन मालॉफ यांनी मिक्सिन्ग केलेली सॅनिटमय कलाकृती आहे. यापूर्वी ह्या प्रतिभावान परदेशी कलाकारानी मायकेल जॅक्सन, क्वीन, मॅडोना, पर्ल जाम आणि स्टीव्ह वंडर या आंतरराष्ट्रीय कलाकारांसोबत काम केले आहे. रिवा यांच्या ह्या अल्बम चे शीर्षक गीत पारंपारिक जाझ आणि आधुनिक पॉपच्या सुंदर धुनात मिश्रित असे हे संयोजन आहे. डीजे रवीनने सुद्धा या अल्बममध्ये ट्रॅक मिसळला आहे. ब्रायन आणि डीजे रविन व्यतिरिक्त कल्याण बरुआह आणि ध्रुव घाणेकर यांच्यासारख्या प्रशंसनीय संगीतकारांनीही या अल्बमच्या निर्मितीत मोठे योगदान दिले आहे.

" ‘साया तेरे इश्क का’ म्हणजे माझ्यासाठी खूप खास आहे. कारण यामुळे माझी मला पुन्हा एकदा नव्याने ओळख झाली. याचे संगीत थेट हृदयातून आहे आणि मी ते शक्य तितके मूळ स्थितीत ठेवण्याचा प्रयत्न केला आहे. मी माझ्या उर्जेची प्रत्येक स्रोत त्यात घातली आहे, आणि कोणत्याही कृत्रिम युक्तीपासून दूर ठेवले आहे. गुलजार साहेब यांचे आभार मानण्यासाठी शब्द पुरेसे नाहीत आणि माझ्यावर विश्वास ठेवल्याबद्दल मी त्यांची अत्यंत ऋणी आहे. या संपूर्ण प्रकल्पामागील ते माझा कणा आणि शक्ती होते आणि आहेत, ” रिवा शेवटी म्हणाली.

From Music To Food, Acing It Always

Aaditya Thackeray inaugurates Hridaynath Mangeshkar and family's restaurant Sarjaa; restaurant to serve a special handcrafted menu dedicated to Lata Mangeshkar

It’s a known fact that the mellifluous Mangeshkar family is no stranger to restaurateurship! Following Sarjaa’s launch and grand success at Pune’s very own Aundh in 1996, Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar and the Mangeshkar family recently gifted Pune with yet another restaurant named Sarjaa – Restaurant and Bar in Wakad, Pune. While Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray inaugurated the restaurant, the ceremonial grandeur was attended by the who’s who of the Marathi cultural universe including singers Usha Mangeshkar, Roopkumar Rathod, Sunali Rathod, Reewa Rathod and Saleel Kulkarni among other celebrities and dignitaries.

An excited Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar proudly chuckled, “Gavaiye khavaiye hote hai…,” literally paraphrasing to musicians are either gourmet chefs or they generally love to eat or feed!

Delighted by the idea, a relative avers, “Baba himself is a controlled eater but he understands peoples’ palettes. He lives to make people eat, and that makes him a great host.” Adds Hridaynath Mangeshkar, “It is an extremely exhilarating feeling to feed people food they relish. Sarjaa is all about all that savoury goodness followed by a dessert-y goodness!”

Famous for their delectable Indian, Oriental and Chinese cuisines, Sarjaa in Wakad is all set to surprise Lata didi’s fans! With a special menu dedicated to the legendary songstress, exclusive to Wakad, a special thali will be offered in vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian options.

Sarjaa, meaning the rising sun in Marathi, christened by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar herself, the restaurant is adorned by rare memorabilia of the Mangeshkar family for the fans to see, spicing up the décor and the lively ambience! With 440 regale dining seats unfurled over an expansive 12,000 square feet property in the prime locale of Wakad makes Sarjaa Restaurant & Bar a wholesome yet familial atmosphere. Not just that, there is also a lavish banquet space for those in need to luxe-up their celebrations.

Saroj Khan, brand ambassador - Cine Dancers Association, addresses media on Ganesh Acharya's formation of a parallel dance association

Bollywood’s oldest association for dancers the Cine Dancers Association (CDA) and the newly formed All India Film Television Events Dancers Association (AIFTEDA) have been at the loggerheads for few months now. Since senior choreographer Ganesh Acharya formed AIFTEDA in spite of CDA’s existence, both the associations have been criticising each other.

 Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has been appointed as the brand ambassador of CDA whereas Ganesh Acharya serves as the general secretary of IFTCA (indian film and television choreographer association)and acharya is taking advantage of his post and instigating other choreographers to use AIFTEDA members not CDA.According to the senior members of CDA, Ganesh Acharya who once said that he would support CDA all his life, suddenly opened AIFTEDA.

Some dancers from CDA have also alleged that there is pressure from the rival association, and whoever are joining AIFTEDA have been asked to sign an affidavit agreeing to whatever payment given by Ganesh Acharya. Acharya can be seen explaining why this new association was needed in some videos on YouTube.

When asked about the controversy, veteran choreographer and the brand ambassador of CDA Saroj Khan said, “Ganesh Acharya and his father were also part of Cine Dancers Association then why the attempts of breaking the association are being made? It will affect the livelihood of so many workers.” When asked about the show Ganesh Acharya is planning to do with Bollywood stars and its funds to be used for AIFTEDA members’ welfare, Saroj Khan said, “I was called for an Iftca meeting after I became CDA Brand Ambassador. In the meeting I said that why the show’s money is going to your foundation and not CDA which is the oldest association of dancers?”

CDA has previously questioned how the money generated from the star-studded event will be monitored. CDA has a proper wage chart that is honoured by all producers and dancers are paid INR 4500 per shift. The CDA is fully functional, the dancers are getting paid on time and all their issues are getting addressed by CDA.

CDA Brand Ambassador Saroj Khan addressed the media along with Zahid Sheikh - President, CDA, Ravi Kanwar - General Secretary, CDA, Janet Nazareth and Varsha Kapkar, Committee Members, CDA on Ganesh Acharya's formation of a parallel dance association about the Ganesh Acharya and AIFTEDA controversy in a press conference at a suburban location.

Veteran Writer Rakesh Bharti, original writer and right holder of Laxmi Agarwal’s lifestory, moves HC against 'Chhapaak' in copyright violation case

Veteran writer Rakesh Bharti has approached the Bombay High Court against Deepika Padukone-starrer "Chhapaak", claiming he originally penned an acid attack survivor's story on which the film is based.

 The petitioner, Rakesh Bharti, has sought that he should be given credit as one of the writers of the film.

 The suit filed by Bharti claimed that he had conceived an idea/script for a movie, tentatively titled 'Black Day', and got it registered with the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) in February 2015.

 Bharti said since then he has been working on the script and approaching several artists and producers, including Fox Star Studio, for narration.

 "However, the project could not commence due to unavoidable circumstances. The plaintiff had narrated the idea to Fox Star Studio, which is the production house for 'Chhapaak'," the plea said.

Bharti's advocate Ashok Saraogi said the plaintiff later came to know that an identical film is being produced by the defendants (Fox Star Studio and others) and directed by Meghna Gulzar.

 Bharti submitted complaints to the producers but did not get any reply following which he approached the high court.

 In his plea, Bharti has sought that he be given credit as one of the writers of the movie 'Chhapaak' and the film's release be stayed until due credit is given to him.

 He has also sought for an expert to be appointed to compare his script and that of 'Chhapaak'.

 Saraogi said the plea will be heard by a vacation bench of the high court on January 7.

 'Chhapaak', based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, stars Deepika Padukone and Vikrant Massey. It is slated for release on January 10, 2020.

Sudesh Bhosale Wins Big At India Voice Fest

Veteran playback singer and acclaimed voice actor Sudesh Bhosale’s contribution to the world of music is not unknown. However, few know that his mastery in voice acting has earned him accolades and appreciation from the industry.

Recently, Sudesh Bhosale was felicitated by the India Voice Fest for his exemplary contribution to the craft of voice acting. Held at Rangsharda auditorium in Bandra in its second edition, India Voice Fest  is backed by an association of all-India voice artists, dubbing artists in radio, films or TV who help those ‘behind the curtain’ per se.

“Often, some actors do not do their own dubbings. We voice the actors,” says Sudesh Bhosale, adding that “Amol Sen, Harish Bhimani were part of the jury that chose me this year for my contribution to the world of dubbing and voice artistry.”

On receiving this honour, Sudesh Bhosale shared, “It felt really good. I met senior artists as well as artists from the young generation.” With the youth present at the felicitation wanting his advice, he averred, “Don’t just stick to behind-the-curtain work. Try coming out to the front. Don’t always remain behind the camera. You will earn your name, fame as well as make more money.”

Not everyone is aware that after veteran actor Sanjeev Kumar’s sudden demise, it was Sudesh Bhosale who saved the day! He dubbed 5 films of the late actor. And that’s not all! He also dubbed Anil Kapoor’s voice in Tezaab. Apart from Sanjeev Kumar and Anil Kapoor, the versatile singer often dubs for Amitabh Bachchan in regional languages.

More power to voice artists and Sudesh Bhosale.

ET Rising Indian Anusha Srinivasan Iyer Wins Big At Perfect Achievers Award 2019

Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, a Writer-Director-Media Strategist, TEDx Speaker, Life Coach, Social Entrepreneur, Gender-Animal and Environment Activist won big at the Perfect Achievers Award of 2019, a one of a kind award function recognizing and empowering women. Held at Country Club, Andheri, the pageant where 15 finalists from all over India, was organized by Gurubhai Thakkar, Dr. Khooshi Gurubhai and Dr. Geet S Thakkar. The other winners included Aalisha Panwar, Angela Krislinzki, Aasiya Kazi, Chahatt Khanna, Mohit Malhotra, Karan Sharma, Dilip Sen, Vaishnavi Macdonald, Sonalika Pradhan, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Shrusti Maheshwari, Sonali Gupta, Sangeeta Kapur, Feroz Khan, Paras Madan, Himanshu Shukla, Jhyothi Tommaar, Bhakti Rathod, Jeet Soni, Amita Choksi, Golden Guyys Sunny Waghchoure-Sanjay Gujar, Preeti Soni, Kiran Golani of the Super Women Group and MLA Dr Bharati Lavekar.