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  • Five regional centres of India’s premier drama school to open in other parts of country

    Five regional centres of India’s premier drama school to open in other parts of country

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi-based National School of Drama, which has formed the training ground for some of the best television and film personalities, is to get five regional centres in different parts of the country, Parliament has been told.

    This follows the recommendations made by the Broad Based Committee for opening up of five regional centres across the country.

    The NSD Society proposes to establish one regional centre each at Kolkata, Mumbai/Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, and the North-East besides upgrading the existing Regional Resource Centre (RRC) at Bengaluru to become a full-fledged regional centre.

    Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said these regional centres are to be established in consultation with the concerned State Governments who were required to provide accommodation for the purpose.

    So far, only Karnataka has allotted land for the purpose at Bengaluru. NSD has started one year teaching training programme in the Bengaluru Chapter commencing from academic session 2014-15.

    In addition, under consolidation of Out-reach Programme in the North-East Region, NSD has opened its Centres in Sikkim and Tripura. 

    Several actors like Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Nadira Babbar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and others and filmmakers like M S Sathyu have made major contributions to the NSD, many of them beginning their careers here.

  • Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    NEW DLEHI: Japanese director Naomi Kawase, whose film Sweet Bean (An), had been the opening film of Un Certain Regard last year, is to preside over the Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for its 69th edition of the Festival de Cannes. 

    A statement from the Festival said: “There are some directors whose careers are constantly intertwined with the Festival, much to its delight. The story with Naomi Kawase began back in 1997 when aged 27, she became the youngest winner of the Caméra d’or for her film Suzaku (Moe no Suzaku). The promise of this early discovery has since been reaffirmed time and again – as borne out by the selection in Competition of a whole series of her feature films: Shara (Sharasojyu) in 2003, The Mourning Forest (Mogari no Mori) in 2007, Hanezu (Hanezu no tsuki) in 2011 and Still the Water (Futatsume no mado) in 2014. In 2013, as a member of the Feature Film Jury, Naomi Kawase played a key role on the Croisette alongside Steven Spielberg”.

    In her films Naomi Kawase uses limited budgets and prefers non-professional actors – a sign of the director’s beginnings in the documentary genre, which first brought her to prominence after she graduated from the Photography School of Osaka. 

    When her appointment was announced, Naomi Kawase said: “Films enrich people’s lives, and their worlds inspire new possibilities. It is a little over 100 years since the advent of films, and their potential is ever expanding. They are exceptional media that can embody the diversity of world cultures, and their stories are like another life that enchants the audiences who see them. Short films are exceptionally difficult as they face the question of how much of a story can be experienced in their short duration, while they also contain myriad possibilities yet unseen. And among films created by students there will be the discovery of hidden brilliance like a gemstone, which makes me very much look forward to participating in this jury, a journey of adventure.”

    Renowned producer and director Gilles Jacob added: “From her Japanese roots, Naomi Kawase (Caméra d’or 1997) takes her extreme delicateness, refined manners and moral elegance. Her pointillist talent has helped generate a cinematic intelligence and a subtle art full of poetic mystery and graceful simplicity, conveyed through the great emotions of life and the tiny gestures of everyday existence. This year she will join a long line of great presidents of the Cinéfondation and Short Film Jury, from Martin Scorsese and Abbas Kiarostami, to Jane Campion, Hou Hsiao Hsien, John Boorman and the Dardennes brothers.”

  • Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    Naomi Kawase to preside over Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for Festival de Cannes

    NEW DLEHI: Japanese director Naomi Kawase, whose film Sweet Bean (An), had been the opening film of Un Certain Regard last year, is to preside over the Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for its 69th edition of the Festival de Cannes. 

    A statement from the Festival said: “There are some directors whose careers are constantly intertwined with the Festival, much to its delight. The story with Naomi Kawase began back in 1997 when aged 27, she became the youngest winner of the Caméra d’or for her film Suzaku (Moe no Suzaku). The promise of this early discovery has since been reaffirmed time and again – as borne out by the selection in Competition of a whole series of her feature films: Shara (Sharasojyu) in 2003, The Mourning Forest (Mogari no Mori) in 2007, Hanezu (Hanezu no tsuki) in 2011 and Still the Water (Futatsume no mado) in 2014. In 2013, as a member of the Feature Film Jury, Naomi Kawase played a key role on the Croisette alongside Steven Spielberg”.

    In her films Naomi Kawase uses limited budgets and prefers non-professional actors – a sign of the director’s beginnings in the documentary genre, which first brought her to prominence after she graduated from the Photography School of Osaka. 

    When her appointment was announced, Naomi Kawase said: “Films enrich people’s lives, and their worlds inspire new possibilities. It is a little over 100 years since the advent of films, and their potential is ever expanding. They are exceptional media that can embody the diversity of world cultures, and their stories are like another life that enchants the audiences who see them. Short films are exceptionally difficult as they face the question of how much of a story can be experienced in their short duration, while they also contain myriad possibilities yet unseen. And among films created by students there will be the discovery of hidden brilliance like a gemstone, which makes me very much look forward to participating in this jury, a journey of adventure.”

    Renowned producer and director Gilles Jacob added: “From her Japanese roots, Naomi Kawase (Caméra d’or 1997) takes her extreme delicateness, refined manners and moral elegance. Her pointillist talent has helped generate a cinematic intelligence and a subtle art full of poetic mystery and graceful simplicity, conveyed through the great emotions of life and the tiny gestures of everyday existence. This year she will join a long line of great presidents of the Cinéfondation and Short Film Jury, from Martin Scorsese and Abbas Kiarostami, to Jane Campion, Hou Hsiao Hsien, John Boorman and the Dardennes brothers.”

  • Lemon bags silver at Flame Award for Dabur’s Real School of Nepal

    Lemon bags silver at Flame Award for Dabur’s Real School of Nepal

    New Delhi: Lemon Pvt Ltd  (LPL) bagged a silver award in the prestigious Flame Awards Asia 2016 under Integrated Marketing Campaign for Dabur’s “Real School of Nepal”. The awarded campaign is an annual national level school competition, which provides children the platform to showcase their talents.

    LPL MD Ujjwal Shakya said that this achievement boosted the morale of his team whose immense efforts have led it to the silver. Being the first award to be received by a Nepali agency in the international arena has challenged his team to perform much better in the days to come. He said the client had been very supportive from the beginning on this project and had motivated Lemon to widen its reach across the country every year.

    “This should motivate both advertisers and agencies in Nepal to work harder because this proves that even the work we do for Nepal can make a mark and get international recognition if you are able to showcase outstanding work” said Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN) vice-president Ujaya Shakya. 

    “Winning the Flame Award in the Integrated Campaign category competing with the region’s best players is actually a great achievement for all of us. It is a kind of an assurance that our team has done a good job and would like to congratulate and thank everyone who has made this Real School of Nepal successful”, Dabur Nepal head of marketing Abhaya PrasadGorkhalee said.

    The Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI) instituted the Flame Awards in 2006 to recognize excellence in marketing, promotion and initiatives across rural markets of India and immediate sub-continent. It is considered the most prestigious award programme that celebrates the best of the best in marketing and communications in presence of the region’s leading marketing and agency professionals.

  • Lemon bags silver at Flame Award for Dabur’s Real School of Nepal

    Lemon bags silver at Flame Award for Dabur’s Real School of Nepal

    New Delhi: Lemon Pvt Ltd  (LPL) bagged a silver award in the prestigious Flame Awards Asia 2016 under Integrated Marketing Campaign for Dabur’s “Real School of Nepal”. The awarded campaign is an annual national level school competition, which provides children the platform to showcase their talents.

    LPL MD Ujjwal Shakya said that this achievement boosted the morale of his team whose immense efforts have led it to the silver. Being the first award to be received by a Nepali agency in the international arena has challenged his team to perform much better in the days to come. He said the client had been very supportive from the beginning on this project and had motivated Lemon to widen its reach across the country every year.

    “This should motivate both advertisers and agencies in Nepal to work harder because this proves that even the work we do for Nepal can make a mark and get international recognition if you are able to showcase outstanding work” said Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN) vice-president Ujaya Shakya. 

    “Winning the Flame Award in the Integrated Campaign category competing with the region’s best players is actually a great achievement for all of us. It is a kind of an assurance that our team has done a good job and would like to congratulate and thank everyone who has made this Real School of Nepal successful”, Dabur Nepal head of marketing Abhaya PrasadGorkhalee said.

    The Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI) instituted the Flame Awards in 2006 to recognize excellence in marketing, promotion and initiatives across rural markets of India and immediate sub-continent. It is considered the most prestigious award programme that celebrates the best of the best in marketing and communications in presence of the region’s leading marketing and agency professionals.

  • Zee Action lines up blockbuster movies in ‘Action ka Punchnama’

    Zee Action lines up blockbuster movies in ‘Action ka Punchnama’

    MUMBAI: Zee Action, India’s one stop destination for action movies, presents a terrific line-up of action films titled Action ka Punchnama starting from 20 March at 8 pm. Airing every night, the week filled with thrill and adventure will end on 26 March 2016.

    The festival commences with Vidroh – Let's Fight Back on 20 March at 8 pm. The movie stars the very pretty Kriti Sanon and Naga Chaitanya in lead roles. The action crime film revolves around a conman in urgent need of a lump sum amount of money and a policeman to catch him red handed. The next in line is Bal Brahmachari, a murder mystery starring Karisma Kapoor, Deepak Tijori and Puru Rajkumar on 21 March. On 22 March catch Mera Krodhstarring Ravi Teja in a lead role. The romantic action drama revolves around three close friends and a complicated love story with twists and turns. Khalnayak on 23rd March with Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff and Madhuri Dixit in pivotal roles is sure to entertain the audiences. This blockbuster is about the escape and attempted capture of a terrorist criminal Ballu by Inspector Ram and his girlfriend, officer Ganga. The next action flick is Police Police on 24 March. The movie starringRavi Teja is about four buddies who accidentally get selected in the Police Academy, but face a series of obstacles before they reach their destination. It will be followed by Pandav – The Punch on 25 March starring Arya and Pooja revolving around Rudran, who was left behind by his parent in Varanasi to become an Aghori. Action ka Punchnama will conclude on 26 March with Phool Aur Kaante starring Ajay Devgn and Madhu in lead roles. Ajay Devgn's entry in the film became very popular where he appeared standing and balancing on two moving motorcycles and similar stunts have been repeated by him in various films thereafter.

    Action Ka Punchnama Film Festival schedule:

  • Zee Action lines up blockbuster movies in ‘Action ka Punchnama’

    Zee Action lines up blockbuster movies in ‘Action ka Punchnama’

    MUMBAI: Zee Action, India’s one stop destination for action movies, presents a terrific line-up of action films titled Action ka Punchnama starting from 20 March at 8 pm. Airing every night, the week filled with thrill and adventure will end on 26 March 2016.

    The festival commences with Vidroh – Let's Fight Back on 20 March at 8 pm. The movie stars the very pretty Kriti Sanon and Naga Chaitanya in lead roles. The action crime film revolves around a conman in urgent need of a lump sum amount of money and a policeman to catch him red handed. The next in line is Bal Brahmachari, a murder mystery starring Karisma Kapoor, Deepak Tijori and Puru Rajkumar on 21 March. On 22 March catch Mera Krodhstarring Ravi Teja in a lead role. The romantic action drama revolves around three close friends and a complicated love story with twists and turns. Khalnayak on 23rd March with Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff and Madhuri Dixit in pivotal roles is sure to entertain the audiences. This blockbuster is about the escape and attempted capture of a terrorist criminal Ballu by Inspector Ram and his girlfriend, officer Ganga. The next action flick is Police Police on 24 March. The movie starringRavi Teja is about four buddies who accidentally get selected in the Police Academy, but face a series of obstacles before they reach their destination. It will be followed by Pandav – The Punch on 25 March starring Arya and Pooja revolving around Rudran, who was left behind by his parent in Varanasi to become an Aghori. Action ka Punchnama will conclude on 26 March with Phool Aur Kaante starring Ajay Devgn and Madhu in lead roles. Ajay Devgn's entry in the film became very popular where he appeared standing and balancing on two moving motorcycles and similar stunts have been repeated by him in various films thereafter.

    Action Ka Punchnama Film Festival schedule:

  • Ratan Thiyam bags Lifetime Award, Mein Huun Yusuf aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai bags four awards at annual Theatre Awards

    Ratan Thiyam bags Lifetime Award, Mein Huun Yusuf aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai bags four awards at annual Theatre Awards

    NEW DELHI: National School of Drama Chairman Ratan Thiyam was conferred the lifetime achievement award at the 11th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) last night.

    The annual awards, which recognize excellence in theatre nationally, celebrate the intrinsic diversity and rich cultural traditions of India.

    META is India’s most comprehensive award and a premier honour for the theatre fraternity, awarding on-stage and off-stage talent across 14 award categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

    The glittering award night saw the presence of Kalki Koechlin, Shabana Azmi, Lillete Dubey, Ira Dubey and performance by Niazi Nizami Brothers, Shabnam Virmani and Goura Prema. The META Awards Night was hosted by Kabir Bedi and Shivani Wazir

    Mein Huun Yusuf aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai stole the limelight, bagging four awards (Best Direction, Best Production, Best Light Design, Best Sound/Music Design) and a Jury Special Mention for Best Actor in a Lead role (Male).

    Noted theatre guru and Padma Shri recipient Ratan Thiyam receive his award from Shabana Azmi. The Lifetime Achievement Award carries with a prize money of Rs. 5 lakh.

    Thiyam said, “I feel deeply honoured by this prestigious award. It’s a kind of gesture of encouragement for us who are working in the field of theatre. I am happy.”

    The 2016 META Jury comprised author Kunal Basu, actor Kusum Haider, director and theatre and film actor M.K. Raina, dancer- choreographer Tanushree Shankar, and actor-director Sushma Seth.

    Plays in diverse Indian Languages shone at the META Awards Nights this year with Shantanu Ghosh and Dyuti Ghosh of the Bengali play Haoai – The Eleventh Planet bagging the META for Best Actor in Supporting Role – Male & Female respectively for their portrayals of the shy Polu and the excitable Mrinmoyee.

    The Best Original Script was won by Kannada play Akshayambhara with its unique amalgamation of modern theatrical tools and the traditional Yakshagana dance theatre creating a contemporary narrative raising questions on female representation and male ownership. Prasad Cherkady, who plays a male actor in streevesha as Draupadi inAkshayambhara, won the Best Actor in Lead Role (Male).

    Sayalee Phatak won the Best Actor in Lead role (Female) for her depiction of the aggressive but troubled Mitra in search for her sexual identity in the play A Friend’s Story, an English adaptation of Vijay Tendulkar’s brilliant Marathi drama, Mitrachi Goshta.

    Malayalam play The Balcony was awarded the Best Costume Design for the authenticity of the costumes which transported the audience into the world of the production and Tamil play Kuhaimaravasigal bagged the Best Choreography Award for the rustic quality of the movements which were well in tune with the symbolism depicted all through the play.

    A unique stage adaptation of the 1920’s German silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari – set inside a rundown warehouse space featuring distinctive on-stage elements – won Best Stage Design.

    The Best Ensemble was presented to 07/07/07 based on the legal battle to save Reyhaneh Jabbari from the gallows.

    A spate of performances celebrated theatre’s big night and enthralled the audence including Qawalli by the Niazi Nizami Brothers, Shabnam Virmani’s spiritual musical journey through an exploration of Kabir’s poetry, a contemporary meets classical dance performance by Goura Prema and the Natya Nectar Dance Company and award-winning actress Kalki Koechlin’s chilling rendition of her poem The Printing Machine.

    Jay Shah, Head of Cultural Outreach, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., said, “Every passing year of META strengthens our commitment to theatre. Seeing the astonishing levels of talent in our country and playing a role in bringing this to the nation’s notice fills the Mahindra Group with immense pride and satisfaction. This year was no different – it deepened our admiration for both theatre folks and audience.”

    Over the past few days, theatre enthusiasts in the capital were treated with a feast of 10 nominated productions from across the country, which were showcased on the META stage this year. The bevy of topics included contemporary interpretations of mythological texts, prostitution, molestation, false executions, human-like obsession, jealousy, betrayal and search for redemption.

    Commenting on META 2016 Teamwork Arts MD and Producer META Sanjoy Roysaid, “With every passing year META has witnessed trend-setting plays which have reflected the diversity of India and shone a light on the many issues that continue to challenge the world in these times.” 

  • Ratan Thiyam bags Lifetime Award, Mein Huun Yusuf aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai bags four awards at annual Theatre Awards

    Ratan Thiyam bags Lifetime Award, Mein Huun Yusuf aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai bags four awards at annual Theatre Awards

    NEW DELHI: National School of Drama Chairman Ratan Thiyam was conferred the lifetime achievement award at the 11th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) last night.

    The annual awards, which recognize excellence in theatre nationally, celebrate the intrinsic diversity and rich cultural traditions of India.

    META is India’s most comprehensive award and a premier honour for the theatre fraternity, awarding on-stage and off-stage talent across 14 award categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

    The glittering award night saw the presence of Kalki Koechlin, Shabana Azmi, Lillete Dubey, Ira Dubey and performance by Niazi Nizami Brothers, Shabnam Virmani and Goura Prema. The META Awards Night was hosted by Kabir Bedi and Shivani Wazir

    Mein Huun Yusuf aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai stole the limelight, bagging four awards (Best Direction, Best Production, Best Light Design, Best Sound/Music Design) and a Jury Special Mention for Best Actor in a Lead role (Male).

    Noted theatre guru and Padma Shri recipient Ratan Thiyam receive his award from Shabana Azmi. The Lifetime Achievement Award carries with a prize money of Rs. 5 lakh.

    Thiyam said, “I feel deeply honoured by this prestigious award. It’s a kind of gesture of encouragement for us who are working in the field of theatre. I am happy.”

    The 2016 META Jury comprised author Kunal Basu, actor Kusum Haider, director and theatre and film actor M.K. Raina, dancer- choreographer Tanushree Shankar, and actor-director Sushma Seth.

    Plays in diverse Indian Languages shone at the META Awards Nights this year with Shantanu Ghosh and Dyuti Ghosh of the Bengali play Haoai – The Eleventh Planet bagging the META for Best Actor in Supporting Role – Male & Female respectively for their portrayals of the shy Polu and the excitable Mrinmoyee.

    The Best Original Script was won by Kannada play Akshayambhara with its unique amalgamation of modern theatrical tools and the traditional Yakshagana dance theatre creating a contemporary narrative raising questions on female representation and male ownership. Prasad Cherkady, who plays a male actor in streevesha as Draupadi inAkshayambhara, won the Best Actor in Lead Role (Male).

    Sayalee Phatak won the Best Actor in Lead role (Female) for her depiction of the aggressive but troubled Mitra in search for her sexual identity in the play A Friend’s Story, an English adaptation of Vijay Tendulkar’s brilliant Marathi drama, Mitrachi Goshta.

    Malayalam play The Balcony was awarded the Best Costume Design for the authenticity of the costumes which transported the audience into the world of the production and Tamil play Kuhaimaravasigal bagged the Best Choreography Award for the rustic quality of the movements which were well in tune with the symbolism depicted all through the play.

    A unique stage adaptation of the 1920’s German silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari – set inside a rundown warehouse space featuring distinctive on-stage elements – won Best Stage Design.

    The Best Ensemble was presented to 07/07/07 based on the legal battle to save Reyhaneh Jabbari from the gallows.

    A spate of performances celebrated theatre’s big night and enthralled the audence including Qawalli by the Niazi Nizami Brothers, Shabnam Virmani’s spiritual musical journey through an exploration of Kabir’s poetry, a contemporary meets classical dance performance by Goura Prema and the Natya Nectar Dance Company and award-winning actress Kalki Koechlin’s chilling rendition of her poem The Printing Machine.

    Jay Shah, Head of Cultural Outreach, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., said, “Every passing year of META strengthens our commitment to theatre. Seeing the astonishing levels of talent in our country and playing a role in bringing this to the nation’s notice fills the Mahindra Group with immense pride and satisfaction. This year was no different – it deepened our admiration for both theatre folks and audience.”

    Over the past few days, theatre enthusiasts in the capital were treated with a feast of 10 nominated productions from across the country, which were showcased on the META stage this year. The bevy of topics included contemporary interpretations of mythological texts, prostitution, molestation, false executions, human-like obsession, jealousy, betrayal and search for redemption.

    Commenting on META 2016 Teamwork Arts MD and Producer META Sanjoy Roysaid, “With every passing year META has witnessed trend-setting plays which have reflected the diversity of India and shone a light on the many issues that continue to challenge the world in these times.” 

  • Laurent Lafitte to be Master of Ceremonies at 69th Festival de Cannes

    Laurent Lafitte to be Master of Ceremonies at 69th Festival de Cannes

    New Delhi, 11 March: Actor Laurent Lafitte has agreed to be Master of Ceremonies throughout the 69th Festival de Cannes being held from 11 to 22 May under the presidency of Australian director George Miller.

    The actor and comedian will host the Opening Ceremony on 11 May and the prize giving during the Closing Ceremony on 22 May.

    A pensionnaire of the Comédie-Française since 2012, Laurent Lafitte began his career in the 1990s. After a triumphant one-man-show entitled “Laurent Lafitte, comme son nom l’indique”, he embarked on a career in film and theatre. In 2011, he was Master of Ceremony for the 25 Nuit des Molières.

    He has excelled in a range of registers from comedy (The Other Side of the Tracks, 16 ans… ou presque, Papa ou maman, etc.), to drama and arthouse film (Little White Lies, Bright Days Ahead, Tristesse Club, Boomerang). 

    Having appeared in Love Punch in 2013 alongside Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson, he has just finished filming Elle by Dutch director Paul Verhoeven and is currently working on Albert Dupontel’s latest film Au revoir là-haut. Lafitte will also star with Uma Thurman in the cast of Marjane Satrapi’s next film – an adaptation of novel by Romain Puértolas: “The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir who got Trapped in an IKEA Wardrobe”.

    Laurent Lafitte succeeds Lambert Wilson who emceed in Cannes in 2014 and 2015. The ceremonies are produced and broadcast on free-to-air Canal+.