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Mumbai: Renowned California-based musician and producer Sandeep Khurana recently finished his much-anticipated collaboration with iconic Indian singer Padmashree Shri Kumar Sanu for a song, which was recorded in a Hollywood studio in July 2023. In this conjoined effort, Kumar Sanu, who has lent his voice to some of the most enduring melodies from the late 80s and 90s, has sung a patriotic song penned and composed by Sandeep Khurana. Released on the occasion of the upcoming Independence Day, this latest composition by Khurana, titled ‘Vande Mataram, is a rousing tribute to the artist’s motherland and the people of India. The song explores themes of expressing love, regard, pride, and gratitude for the motherland.

Further adding to the star power behind this musical endeavour, the song was produced by Bappa B. Lahiri, the son of the music legend Bappi Lahiri. Representative of Sandeep’s musical repertoire, which strives to blend the best of the Indian and Western musical systems, ‘Vande Mataram’ will also showcase a fusion between the classic Indian melody form and Western orchestration. The song begins with a poem, written and recited by Sandeep, while the core melody is carried by Kumar Sanu and Sandeep’s winning voices. In this composition, a treat for fans of both Khurana and Sanu, the soothing format of the Indian melody has found an awe-inspiring and patriotic undertone with elements of the orchestra, such as strings, beats, pads, synths, and layers of chorus.

Apart from the audio release across streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Gaana, and Saavn, ‘Vande Mataram’ will also feature in a short documentary film by Sandeep Khurana. The film will revolve around India, its rich cultural and spiritual heritage, and how the country has made great progress over the years.

About the collaboration, Khurana said, “I am thrilled to have collaborated with the versatile genius of Kumar Sanu for this one-of-a-kind track, where for the first time an Indian Patriotic song has been recorded in a Hollywood song. As unusual, he has enhanced the composition with his beautiful, textured voice, which, with its emotional appeal, has won our hearts for several decades. Moreover, towards the success of the song, Bappa B. Lahiri, who proudly furthers his father’s legacy, brought to the table his keen sense of fusion between Eastern and Western sounds. I have worked on many projects with Bappa B. Lahiri, and it’s always interesting to be involved in his endeavours.”

Similar enthusiasm was heard when, on being asked about his experience with ‘Vande Mataram’, Sanu said, “I am very happy to sing the song. Sandeep-ji’s composition is very good and melodious, and it’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to sing a melodious song. I am sure when listeners listen to this song, Vande Mataram, they will feel great patriotism and love for India.” On the other hand, as the producer of the song, Bappa B. Lahiri, commented, “It was a great opportunity to be able to back this unique production. Sandeep has always had a great ear for melody, while the legendary talent of Kumar Sanu needs no introduction. Most importantly, I was excited to produce a patriotic song in a Hollywood studio, as that would show how far the soft power of the Indian music industry has traveled.”

Further outlining the inspiration behind the song, Sandeep commented, “India is going through a massive churn, which is set to gear the country in a very positive direction. Thinking of the exciting times ahead and distilling my deep sentiments for my country, I was inspired to pen and compose this song. Further, apart from expressing my deep love for India, the song, in a way, summarises what my life and career represent: a balance between Indianness and cosmopolitanism. The fusion-based soundscape of the composition denotes that as a growing country, India is slowly influencing trends and thoughts across the globe.” On that note, he added, “I mean, look at my career trajectory itself: I was born in Delhi, and today, as a resident of California, I am making music for the world. Similarly, Kumar Sanu and Bappa B Lahiri, who are both deeply rooted in the musical ethos of India, are recording a patriotic album in Hollywood studios, appealing to people all over the world. What better way to show the spirit of modern India? Also, this shows that, regardless of where you are, your love for the country persists. I hope that those who will listen to the song will also feel the deep love and respect for India that I and my collaborators share.”

Apart from the patriotic song, Sandeep created a musical wave amongst his fans with his recent songwriting project, sung and composed by the renowned singers Sadhana Sargam and Bappa B. Lahiri, respectively. The series of his latest releases indicate how dedicated Sandeep is to his craft, and he says that in the coming years as well, he will continue to produce great music. Winner of several notable awards, including Special Jury Awards in music from the UK Songwriting Contest and USA Songwriting Contests, Sandeep has an extensive portfolio of over 100 albums, ranging from new-age, psychedelic, rock, and rhythm-n-blues to world music. An alumnus of the renowned Ali Akbar College of Music in California, Sandeep continuously draws his musical inspiration from various traditions and generates massive traction across streaming platforms with his music. Similarly, attesting to his film-making prowess, he is the proud recipient of accolades such as the Special Jury Award at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2022, the Best Film Awards at the Francisco Arthouse Short Festival, and the Paris Cinema Awards.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KO6U4WNDEW0RjzQL7VuRj?si=S1VLeTjPQqmcmQLaslHjig

Mumbai: Gear up for an extraordinary cinematic treat! Sony LIV is all set to rekindle your love for cinema with the exclusive premiere of Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film – The Fabelmans on 11 August.

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.

The critically acclaimed movie produced by Tony Kushner, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg, stars Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle in pivotal roles. The film will be streaming from 11 August on Sony LIV.

Mumbai: SonyLIV has announced a major change to its streaming services. The OTT platform has confirmed that soon it is going to discontinue Sony live TV channels from the app. Previously, the users were able to watch Sony TV channels through the streaming app, which will now be removed from 30 August 2023.

According to media reports, SonyLIV has sent messages to subscribers regarding the discontinuation of live TV on the app. The message mentioned that the live TV channels will be discontinued from 30 August. SonyLIV has also updated its Term of Use policy to effect the new changes.

OTT platforms, including Hotstar and Zee5, are taking the decision to discontinue live TV channels from their services with an aim to strive for full compliance with regulations, aiming to steer clear of any legal ambiguities.

In September 2022, The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came up with recommendations on ‘Market Structure/Competition in Cable TV Services’. In its recommendations, TRAI said that many MSOs opined that unlicensed video and audio streaming services as well as OTT platforms should be definitely accounted for the purpose of determining market dominance.

TRAI had also contended that broadcasters are supplying signals of linear channels to OTT platforms in a manner that bypasses Clause 5.6 of the Uplinking and Downlinking guidelines for television channels.

According to Clause 5.6 of the policy guidelines issued on 5 December 2011, pertaining to the downlinking of TV channels, a broadcaster shall provide satellite TV channel signal reception decoders only to registered entities such as MSOs (Multi-System Operators), Cable Operators, DTH operators, providers of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services and HITS operators.

Mumbai: The icon is back and she’s here to slay. Kim Cattrall isn’t someone to be messed with and neither is her character Tigger Collins. Back on the digital front with About My Father which is set to stream exclusively on 18 August on Lionsgate Play in India, Kim showcases her versatility by playing a headstrong character with a soft side. Also starring the evergreen Robert De Niro along with Sebastian Maniscalco, Anders Holm, Leslie Bibb and Brett Dier, this heartwarming comedy is a cultural blend of classic Italian and unapologetically American families, promising to make you fall in love, so get ready for galore of hoots and emotions.

Giving an insight into her feisty character, Kim Cattrall said, “I play a Senator from Virginia and she’s got a very bad temper. She likes her own way, very wise, very sweet, very congenial and very polite unless you get on her wrong side and then she’s a tiger.”

Talking about the spectacular cast, director Laura Terruso said, “Casting is the single most important part of making a comedy and to have Robert De Niro and Sebastian Maniscalco playing opposite each other and then to have supporting them, Kim Cattrall – who is one of the funniest women on the planet. David Rasche is a genius in his own right, even Anders Holm, Brett Dier.. Leslie Bibb, is just the ultimate dream woman for Sebastian and they have such incredible chemistry and I think that chemistry is everything in a comedy. This cast has such tremendous chemistry.”

Mumbai: Anand Bhosle and PME Entertainment, the global event management company announced an extraordinary musical extravaganza to celebrate the 90th birthday of the legendary playback singer, Asha Bhosle, in Dubai. “ASHA@90: Live in concert,” marks the grand return of the iconic songstress to the stage in Dubai after over a decade, making it an event that music enthusiasts have eagerly awaited.

Renowned celebrities, including Jackie Shroff, Jamil Saidi, Nitin Shankar, Salim-Sulaiman, Poonam Dhillon, Padmini Kolhapure expressed their unwavering admiration for the legendary Asha Bhosle at a press conference held to celebrate her upcoming concert. These die-hard fans came together to extend their heartfelt congratulations and support as she gears up to grace the stage after a decade for this special event, The event was moderated by RJ Anmol.

The concert is scheduled to take place on 8 September at the prestigious Coca-Cola Arena, known for hosting world-class events that have graced Dubai’s cultural landscape. This once-in-a-lifetime event will be a memorable tribute to Asha Bhosle’s illustrious career, which has spanned over eight decades and produced some of the most memorable melodies in Indian cinema.

“We are honoured and ecstatic to celebrate the 90th birthday of the legendary Asha Bhosle ji with an exclusive concert in Dubai,” said PME founder Salman Ahmed. “Her return to Dubai after a decade will undoubtedly create a nostalgic and unforgettable experience for the audience. This concert is a testament to our commitment to present extraordinary musical events that resonate with our diverse audience.”

“ASHA@90: Live in concert” will be a world’s first of its kind musical Broadway feature a magically curated repertoire with Singer Sudesh Bhosle and others, spanning classic Bollywood hits, soulful ghazals, and evergreen melodies that have left an indelible mark on music history. The concert promises to be an enchanting journey through Asha Bhosle’s musical legacy, paying tribute to her invaluable contributions to Indian and world music.

Sharing her excitement at the press conference legendary singer Asha Bhosle said, “I am filled with immense joy and gratitude as I prepare to return to the stage after over a decade, celebrating my 90th birthday with this extraordinary concert organized by PME Entertainment. Music has been my lifeline, and to share my melodies with my beloved fans once again is an emotional and unforgettable moment. I look forward to creating magical memories together and rejoicing in the power of music.”

Asha Bhosle, the epitome of timeless melodies, has lent her enchanting voice to over 12,000 songs across various Indian languages. Her versatility, passion, and magnetic stage presence have made her an unparalleled music icon who continues to inspire generations of music lovers.

Sharing his excitement Anand Bhosle said,” I can hardly contain my excitement as we eagerly await Asha ji’s mesmerizing concert in Dubai! Her unparalleled voice has the power to transcend time and culture, bringing joy and harmony to every corner of the world. As we celebrate her 90th birthday, let us remember that her music isn’t just a collection of melodies; it’s a symphony of emotions that has touched hearts for decades. Here’s to Asha ji, the eternal melody of life, and to many more years of her enchanting artistry.”

Mumbai: Amazon miniTV’s dance-reality series, Hip Hop India has been infusing enthralling performances and revolutionising the dance culture. Witnessing paraphernalia of art from a pool of raw talent, the reality series has garnered artistic recognition from eminent judges – Remo D’ Souza and Nora Fatehi. From contemporary hip–hop, and lyrical breaking to the Indian classical scene, Hip Hop India dazzled its viewers with vivifying episodes.

Sarthak’s triumphant takeover from Ajay & Vartika’s thunderbolt performance led Nora and Remo to honor her by hanging their boots. Moreover, Rahul Bhagat gave a special performance of the song “Main toh tere pyaar me deewana ho gaya ” which made Remo and Nora applaud him with all their heart

Mumbai Ki Gully Se Divyam and Darsham the melodic “Raanjhanaa” served as the out-and-out backdrop for flawless open-style hip hop — as they danced their way into the judges’ hearts. The friends-turned-choreographers duo and Nora go back to the world cup rehearsal sharing saccharine memories with the actor, fondly reminiscing Nora’s tantalising walk from the World Cup 2022. Showcasing his immense love for Nora, he candidly expressed, “If you would not have been a dancer then you would be a lawyer. Kya aap mere dil ka case laroge?” which left the judges in splits.

Post the unabashedly aggressive performance by the Nupur78 crew on “Kesariyaan Saiyaan Saiyaan” that left the judges stunned, the mega crew sparked the Hip Hop India stage to life. Conveying a climacteric message to the quintessential women artists of today, the Mega Crew team remarked, “Being a girl if you adopt hip-hop culture it is completely fine and great… we need to perform on the world stage and bring the hip-hop culture up.”

The top 12 contestants for the dance reality show Hip Hop India on the streaming service were chosen after four days of intense tryouts, which saw fierce competition amongst SOLOs, DUOs, and Crew’s Teams as well as ‘Gully Se Glory Tak’ prize takeovers. The show also saw talents who can be counted as the best in their categories across the globe. Talented Hip Hop dancer Bboy Tornado a.k.a. Ramesh Yadav and the popular dance troop Yo Highness made their mark with their outstanding performance. Bboy Tornado hails from the gullys of Mumbai and started his dance journey by traveling to cities while using the money he earned to travel. Tornado made it to the top 26 in the 2023 Japan Olympics, and by becoming the first Indian to qualify in the category, he brought unmeasurable honor to the nation.

Helmed by Amazon miniTV in the quest of creating a rampant buzz and garnering an urban street culture revolution, Hip-Hop India is exclusively streaming on Amazon miniTV, for free within the Amazon shopping app and on Fire TV.

Mumbai: 93.5 Red FM, India’s leading private radio and entertainment network proudly presents “Teen Rang Tawang”, a salute to our soldiers of The Indian Army. This initiative aims to celebrate the 76 years of freedom at the second-highest place where the Indian flag is hoisted, in Arunachal Pradesh.

Red FM RJs will embark on a journey to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh to celebrate Independence Day and pay homage to our courageous soldiers. Heartfelt messages and wishes for our army, collected from every corner of the country by Red FM’s spirited radio jockeys, like RJ Malishka, RJ Raunac, RJ Nilam, RJ Pallavi, RJ Swati, RJ Purab, and RJ Dhrumil will serve as tokens of appreciation for the selfless sacrifices made by our soldiers.

During their stay in Tawang, the Red FM RJs will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the region’s rich culture and witness several experiences and excursions. Moreover, they will have the honor of meeting and interacting with esteemed military personnel, including Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, to understand firsthand the dedication and valor that epitomize our armed forces.

RED FM & Magic FM director & COO Nisha Narayanan said, “We are delighted to be joining hands with the Indian Army on their latest initiative Teen Rang Tawang. The campaign led by Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita aims to highlight the second-highest place where the Indian flag is hoisted in the country. While simultaneously our RJs spend some time understanding the stories of our gallant troops and also delivering warm messages from across the country. We are hopeful that the movement will bring to mighty Tawang some indispensable recognition and appreciation.”

Red FM invites everyone to be a part of this incredible initiative and show their support for our brave hearts in uniform. Stay tuned to Red FM for further updates and be part of this memorable journey as we pay tribute to the real heroes of our nation.

Mumbai: Amazon miniTV is slated to launch its eclectic-roster of the month in August for Hindi dubbed international shows under “miniTV imported”. The streaming service has unveiled the alluring promo, driving the excitement across K-Drama enthusiasts, quenching their thirst to indulge in Korean content. Ranging across multiple genres such as romance, drama, thriller and more, “miniTV Imported” will stream some of the most popular K-dramas dubbed in Hindi, which are internationally acclaimed owing to their intricate storylines, melodrama, skilful actors and adrenaline-pumping action. The enticing catalogue on Amazon miniTV for August 2023 is certain to add the flavour of K-drama-fever with shows including Your Honour, Big Issue, and Switch from 9 August onwards.

With the intent to keep its audience entertained and hooked, the streaming service dropped the promo, offering an extensive selection of content with several popular global shows. The streaming service is geared up to provide the best entertainment for August 2023, with content ranging from the tale of a condemned criminal with a twist involving identical twins to the good vs evil struggle of a conman and an alluring tale of celebrity photographers. Romance, drama, thrill and mystery, Amazon miniTV has covered it all with shows like Your Honour, Switch and Big Issue, all dubbed in Hindi. Dashing Men, Daring Stories and Double Dhamaal, this August viewers are in for some engrossing tales of passion and emotions with Amazon miniTV.

Indulge in the experience of intriguing storylines, stellar performances and international settings in a desi avatar with Amazon miniTV. The international shows are streaming in Hindi, exclusively on ‘Amazon miniTV Imported’ for free within Amazon’s shopping app and Fire TV.

Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar brings to audiences another riveting thriller series, ‘The Freelancer’. The series is based on the book – A Ticket to Syria by Shirish Thorat, creator and showrunner Neeraj Pandey, directed by Bhav Dhulia, and produced by Friday Storytellers and is helmed by popular actor Mohit Raina and the veteran actor Anupam Kher. Captured in a hostile environment in the midst of deception and betrayals, how will Aliya escape?

Alongside Mohit Raina, the series also features veteran actors Anupam Kher talented actors Sushant Singh, Kashmira Pardeshi, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik amongst others

Disney+ Hotstar & HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star head – content Gaurav Banerjee said, “Disney+ Hotstar has had incredible collaborations with Neeraj Pandey! Our audiences have loved all the seasons of Special Ops and now Neeraj is back with yet another thrilling and sensitive story, ‘The Freelancer’. This show has powerhouse performances and some incredibly talented performers! We hope our viewers enjoy The Freelancer.”

Creator and showrunner, Neeraj Pandey said, “The Freelancer is a high scale thriller series that unfolds an extraordinary rescue operation of a young girl held against her will in a war-torn Syria. It’s based on Shirish Thorat’s  book ‘A Ticket To Syria’, which narrates the true story of Aliya. The series is driven by a powerhouse ensemble cast with Mohit Raina essaying the role of the Freelancer, Anupam Kher as the analyst Dr. Khan, Kashmira Pardesi as Aliya and other actors portraying unique characters. The series has been shot across multiple locations internationally and recreates a world that’s largely unexplored and unseen. Bhav Dhulia and the entire Friday Storytellers team has worked immensely hard putting this together, and I hope the audiences love it.”

Mumbai: Making a deal with the devil always has its consequences! Lionsgate Play brings you a twisted game of cat and mouse in the thrilling Mindcage, starring the impeccable Martin Lawrence, John Malkovich and Melissa Roxburgh. In an attempt to catch a copycat serial killer, two detectives enlist the help of the original killer, known as ‘The Artist’. What ensues is a psychotic game that makes the detectives question the true motives of their dangerous accomplice. Are they just puppets in an unknown game? Directed by Mauro Borrelli, tune into Lionsgate Play on 18 August to watch the mystery unfold. 

Talking about his inspiration behind the film, director Mauro Borrelli said, “As a director, I want to create a film noir aesthetic and combine it with my love of classical art. I was a painter working in the Italian Museum and reproduced classic works of Titian, Caravaggio, and Raphael. This was my world.” Further adding on, he said, “My hope for Mindcage was to offer a moody experience to the audience and I am overjoyed that we met this initiative. The detective genre has been a constant through the history of cinema and there are challenges to be original, but I feel Mindcage brings original feelings connected with art which other detective stories have not explored.”