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Tag: A.R. Rahman

  • Lights, camera, recognition! CNN-News18 to honour top entertainers at Indian of the Year 2023

    Lights, camera, recognition! CNN-News18 to honour top entertainers at Indian of the Year 2023

    Mumbai: In the rich fabric of India’s culture, entertainment plays a pivotal role, with cinema holding the lion’s share in uplifting the nation’s spirits. CNN-News18, the number one English news channel in India, is back with news television’s biggest awards, CNN-News 18 Indian of the Year (IOTY) 2023. The awards will honour individuals who have brought pride to the nation with remarkable contributions in their respective fields. Recognizing excellence across seven categories – Entertainment, Business, Sports, Youth Icon, Rising Sports Star, Social Change, and Climate Warriors, IOTY 2023 promises to be a celebration of India’s finest achievers.

    In a year that witnessed the Indian film industry scale new heights, the entertainment category of ‘Indian of the Year 2023’ promises to be an electrifying showcase of talent and success. Here are the luminaries who will be contending for the ‘Indian of the Year – Entertainment’ title:

    1. Shah Rukh Khan – Two biggest Hindi blockbusters of all time, ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’ gave Bollywood the much-needed break from its longest box office dry spell, re-affirming SRK as the one and only king of Bollywood.

    2. Mani Ratnam – The years 2022 and 2023 saw Ratnam’s spectacular take on the revered novel of Ponniyin Selvan, which he adapted for the big screen in two parts ‘PS-I’ and ‘PS-II,’ respectively, captivating the audience worldwide.  

    3. Sunny Deol – He witnessed a career-defining moment in 2023 after he reprised his iconic role as Tara Singh in Anil Sharma’s ‘Gadar 2’. The film recreated the magic of the original movie and helped Deol make the biggest comeback of his career.

    4. Deepika Padukone – In 2023, she stunned everyone as a true-blue action star in Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan. Deepika’s Rubina Mohsin has set a new benchmark for her contemporaries in Bollywood. Deepika also performed a stellar cameo in Jawan, which is the highest grosser of 2023 so far.

    5. Manoj Bajpayee – His most recent releases ‘Gulmohar’ and ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ were described by critics as the most hard-hitting films of 2023. The actor’s terrific portrayal of an upright advocate fighting against a rape-accused godman in ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ easily puts him in the topmost league of actors in Indian cinema.

    The winner will be revealed at the star-studded grand finale celebrating luminaries in Indian entertainment at The Indian of the Year 2023 award ceremony.

    The ‘Indian of the Year’ Awards have been a beacon of recognition for exceptional talent across various fields. Past winners in the entertainment category include legends like Amitabh Bachchan, A R Rahman, Irrfan Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Aamir Khan, Allu Arjun, and Rajkumar Hirani, to name a few.

    This year, the winner selection process will combine expert judgment and public voting, with 50% of the decision-making power given to the audience and the remaining 50% entrusted to the jury. Online voting will remain open throughout November. To cast your vote for your favourite Indian and for more details regarding the awards, visit www.indianoftheyear.com

  • Spotify’s new Premium campaign is about feeling the music

    Spotify’s new Premium campaign is about feeling the music

    Mumbai: Spotify Premium has launched ‘Feel The Music’, a campaign that brings listeners closer to their favourite artists by bringing the moments of music creation to the forefront. There are over 35 local and global artists whose behind-the-scenes footage of recording and performing songs will be a part of the campaign.

    “Music making is an art that takes numerous hours, practice sessions, artists, instruments, and emotions. As listeners, we come to love that music and artist, but often do not know the effort that went into making that song – the passion, the hard work, the love, the pain. The new Spotify Premium campaign,‘Feel The Music’, is about that creative process, so that listeners truly feel connected to the songs in the best way possible”, said Spotify marketing director Neha Ahuja.

    The first film to go live today is one that features Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for Dil Chahta Hai. Released in 2001, the song and film score sounds still as fresh today, and the video takes the listeners through how the trio brought the title track together. Over the coming weeks, Spotify will release more films that will be featured on digital platforms and in movie theatres, and static creatives that will feature on outdoor media.

    Embed: first film

    The artists who feature in the campaign, include:

    1.   Alan Walker
    2.    Anirudh Ravichander
    3.    Anuv Jain
    4.    Arijit Singh
    5.    Armaan Malik
    6.    A.R. Rahman
    7.    Asees Kaur
    8.    Badshah
    9.    BTS
    10.    Coldplay
    11.    Diljit Dosanjh
    12.    DIVINE
    13.    Doja Cat
    14.    Ed Sheeran
    15.    Harry Styles
    16.    Jasleen Royal
    17.    Jonita Gandhi
    18.    Jubin Nautiyal
    19.    KING
    20.    K S Chithra
    21.    Manoj Muntashir
    22.    M M Keeravaani
    23.    Neeti Mohan
    24.    Nimrat Khaira
    25.    Post Malone
    26.    Pritam
    27.    Sachet-Parampara
    28.    Salim-Sulaiman
    29.    Selena Gomez
    30.    Shakthisree Gopalan
    31.    Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
    32.    Shreya Ghoshal
    33.    Sunidhi Chauhan
    34.    Yuvan Shankar Raja
  • TCM Platform to craft Tata IPL 2022 closing ceremony; AR Rahman and Ranveer Singh to perform

    TCM Platform to craft Tata IPL 2022 closing ceremony; AR Rahman and Ranveer Singh to perform

    Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed TCM Platform as the agency that will conceptualise and execute the Tata IPL 2022 closing ceremony at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 29 May. The closing ceremony of the IPL makes a comeback after a gap of four years.

    AR Rahman, Ranveer Singh, singers and over 500 supporting dancers and cast will be a part of the ceremony. The entire field of play will be used for the ceremony and it will be broadcast from 6.30 p.m on 29 May.

    “It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be given this mandate in this very special year,” stated TCM Platform director Chanda Singh. “Cricket is deeply embedded in the fabric of our nation and creatively we bring the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence and the history of our cricketing achievements together. This is also the year that two new teams have joined the league – truly representative of the diversity of the nation with a singular passion for cricket.”

    “We have mapped every second of our thirty minutes event to entertain, enthrall,  delight and pay tribute to the country, to the game that we are so passionate about and to the legends that define its history,” said project lead of the ceremony Ria Agnihotri.

    Ranveer Singh will be the headliner of a high-impact performance that captures the flavour of the 10 playing teams and the cities that make up the league.  The sequence will be choreographed by Shiamak Davar and 300 folk dancers from across India will join his dance troupe to give a montage of the rich texture of our nation, said the statement.

    Oscar winner and music composer AR Rahman will pay tribute to 75 years of legends and cricketing history. “For the first time we will use broadcast Augmented Reality to bring alive the different eras of cricket. Along with AR Rahman, this will be a befitting homage to the 15 years of IPL and to game that has given us so much” – said the content director of the ceremony Arati Singh.

    The BCCI had invited event and entertainment companies and the mandate was awarded after a multi-level screening and selection process by a committee. “TCM Platform won the mandate with a strong concept, backed by superb talent choices and a reputation for perfection in execution. We thank The BCCI for this opportunity and we hope to make this a benchmark event in this very special year for our nation,” said TCM Platform MD Lokesh Sharma.

    TCM Platform is a JV venture between Twenty First Century Media, XP&D and the Zoo Media Network.  The new-age company said that it champions the narrative of offline sportainment and online digital engagement.

  • A R Rahman roped in as BAFTA Breakthrough India ambassador

    A R Rahman roped in as BAFTA Breakthrough India ambassador

    MUMBAI: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that applications are now open for BAFTA Breakthrough India, supported by Netflix. The initiative marks BAFTA‘s first steps into India, showcasing and supporting the next generation of creative talent in film, games and television globally alongside the UK, USA and China.

    It also named A R Rahman as the ambassador for BAFTA Breakthrough India 2020-21. This association with Rahman marks the continued development of creative relationships between the UK and India, enabling and supporting collaboration between the two nations and showcasing the incredible talent India has to offer across different regions on a global scale.  

    BAFTA Breakthrough ambassador and composer A R Rahman  said: “I am happy to be working with BAFTA to discover some of the amazing talent that India has to offer in film, games and television. This is a unique opportunity for promising artists to be supported by a world-renowned organisation, to not only make connections with other talented creatives across the world but to be mentored by BAFTA winners and nominees. I am looking forward to seeing the brilliant talent chosen from India to be showcased on a global stage.”

    “We are absolutely delighted to be opening Breakthrough applications in India for the first time,” BAFTA chief executive Amanda Berry OBE added. “I am also incredibly grateful for the invaluable support of our brilliant ambassador A R Rahman, an industry leader in his creative work and someone who shares our passion for identifying and nurturing new talent.  He is well positioned to support the initiative, with his broad spectrum of work drawing recognition across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu films, which will help BAFTA to appeal to a wide section of the industry.”

    As part of BAFTA Breakthrough India, a jury of British and Indian industry experts will select five talents from across India to take part in the year-long mentoring and guidance program. The chosen participants will receive one-to-one mentoring, global networking opportunities, free access to BAFTA events and screenings for 12 months, and full voting BAFTA membership. The chosen talent will also connect with and learn from some of the best in the British and Indian creative industries, share their expertise with peers around the world, gain access to opportunities beyond geographical borders, and be promoted as BAFTA breakthrough artists globally.  

    BAFTA Breakthrough selects talent through a cross-industry jury of leading professionals, hand-picked to ensure a diverse selection of experienced voices. Jurors for the UK & US cohorts included Fiona Shaw (actress), Paapa Essiedu (actor), Edward Enninful (editor-in-chief – British Vogue), Jodie Azhar (game developer) and Kate Townsend (director) to name a few. The 2020 Jurors for Breakthrough India are still to be announced.

    BAFTA Breakthrough, launched globally in May 2020 and previously known as Breakthrough Brits, has been running in the UK since 2013 and in China since 2019, but this year marks the first time the initiative is recognising talent globally across the UK, US, India and China.

    This year’s BAFTA Breakthrough global participants will be celebrated and showcased together in 2021. The initiative will continue to use digital communications in the coming months to enhance cross-cultural networking across the globe.

    Netflix is the official supporting partner for BAFTA Breakthrough, in the UK, USA and India, providing integral support in the global expansion.

  • IRAA 2019 announces appointment of Mujeeb Dadarkar as Awards Director

    IRAA 2019 announces appointment of Mujeeb Dadarkar as Awards Director

    MUMBAI: Indian Recording Arts Academy (IRAA) governing council consisting of Anil Chopra, Founder & Director, PALM Expo and Founder & Executive Chairman, IRAA, Pramod Chandorkar, Founder & Director of Soundideaz Academy and Honorary Chairman of the IRAA Award Committee 2019and Ramesh Chetwani, Exhibition Director, PALM Expo have appointed  esteemed Sound Engineer Mujeeb Dadarkar as Award Director of IRAA Awards 2019.

    Mujeeb Dadarkar, a renownedrecording engineer and technical consultant to the Audio/ Video industry since 1983 is experienced in multiple fields such as Sound Engineering, Studio Design, Computer Hardware, Live Sound Engineering and Systems Integration as an independent consultant.

    His role as a sound engineer has spanned numerous documentaries, advertising and feature film projects. In addition to the above, he has extensive Live sound experience for celebrated artistes like UstadZakirHussain, whom Dadarkar has assisted as FOH engineer during concert tours like “Masters of Percussion” as well as several other concerts.

    As the IRAA Awards Director he will oversee the growth of Awards. His role would involve the translation of his vision into increased entries and selection of the best music and recording from studios across the country. His duties include evaluation and judging process, ensuring that all entries received are reviewed and judged fairly to ensure the awards are conducted in a scrupulous manner.

    Pramod Chandorkar, expressed “I am very happy Mujeeb accepted the post of award director of IRAAAwards. His seniority and vast experience in the field of sound will be very valuable for the whole IRAA team. This year we plan to take the awards to the next level as we expect to double the entries this year than the previous year. I thank the jury for agreeing to be with us again and help us sustain the mission.”

    The IRAA Awards which recognizes work of distinction and exceptional achievements in the field of Sound Recording has been critically acclaimed and recognised by Indian recording engineers aspiring for recognition in their technical art. In its 13th consecutive year IRAA will continue to applaud those who exhibit the courage and creativity to bring about a transformation in the world of sound recording.

    Anil Chopra, Chairman welcomed Mujeeb Dadarkar as Award Director, “IRAA gained tremendous reputation in past few years with a diligent and methodical selection of recordings for which we indeed need thank the jury headed by the Award Director. Mujeeb has been standing strong with IRAA as jury member since long. I am confident as Award Director Mujeeb will go the green mile in building participation by the entire recording fraternity across the country. IRAA endeavors to bring together on stage in 2019 the creative artistes as well, to applaud the art of recording that creates chart busting music in India”.

    Aditya Modi, Vice chairperson of Audio Engineering Society India, Member of CEDIA and IRAA Awards Director 2018, conveyed his best wishes to Mujeeb Dadarkar and said, “I would like to graciously transfer over the post of Director of IRAA for the year 2019, to my dear friend and extraordinary acoustician, sound engineer & Human Being – Mujeeb Dadarkar. I thoroughly enjoyed this post last year and it was a landmark year for IRAA as we shared the dias with Mr.A.R.Rahman himself. All the best Mujeeb! May you take IRAA to the next level.” 

    Commenting on his appointment as IRAA Awards Director 2019, MujeebDadarkar said, “IRAA awards have always been special to audio professionals because of the opportunity to connect with and be recognized by their peers. I am happy to be appointed as Awards Director for 2019 and would like to reiterate the jury's commitment to honour and encourage excellence in the field."

    Nominate now and send in your entries for the 2019awards. Log on to http://iraa.in/registration.aspxand be among the first to nominate and be recognised by the jury. 

    Nominations for soundtracks and albums released between 1st January and 31st December 2018 are eligible for consideration.

    The winners will be announced at the IRAA award ceremony which will take place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai on 1st June, 2019, 4 pm onwards.

    Smita Rai, Project Head – Features & Marketing, PALM expo 2019, is managing the coordination of IRAA 2019 between the Chairman, Director and Jury and overseeing the entry and nomination process and production of the award ceremony.

    For more information, please contact Smita Rai at srai@palmexpo.in or 9820943398

  • Heineken collaborates with Sony Music for a first of its kind VINYL POP-UP

    Heineken collaborates with Sony Music for a first of its kind VINYL POP-UP

    Mumbai: The sheer simplicity of playing a Vinyl and enjoying the rich, warm sounds that follow make Vinyl music listening experience personal and extraordinary. Recognising that it’s the only physical format of music that has consistently seen a rise in demand, global music giant, Sony Music offers you an opportunity to start or add to your collection on this International Record Store Day (Saturday April 21) with a one-day Vinyl Pop Up at The Quarter – Royal Opera House Mumbai. Collaborating with Sony Music, is leading beverage brand Heineken.

    “We are super excited to be associated with such a unique event. Live Your Music with Vinyl Pop Up as it will be a day well spent amidst the best experience” – Prashant Patwardhan, GM Marketing Heineken

    With over 2000 + imports of limited edition Vinyls and exclusive Record Store Day Releases, the Vinyl Pop Up is a must go!

    Collectors will be seen rummaging through crates of the best-known, rare and wide offering.  From classics like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Miles Davis, Pearl Jam, Eagles, The Doors, Santana, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Boney M, A. R. Rahman to the modern day Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and many more! The range includes iconic box sets in limited numbers and autographed Vinyls. Audiophiles can also spend their day at the BYOV Session (Bring your Own Vinyl), a DJ Scratching Workshop, Vinyl Listening Sessions, Curated Wine & Dine Experience and vinyl-only sets by DJ Uri and DJ Skip!

    Says Shridhar Subramaniam, President India and Middle East – Sony Music, “The renewed interest in Vinyls is very encouraging as Vinyl Collectors and owners are music buffs and lifelong fans of artists and music. We are seeing increased interest in India and with The Vinyl Pop Up we are giving the music lovers of Mumbai a rare chance to go through a first of its kind experience. The range is massive with some rare collectibles thrown in. Our plan it to roll out this initiative a city at a time and we are hoping that young fans discover the charm of listening to Vinyls and building a collection.”

  • Celebrate Republic Day special with ‘Beats of India’ only on MTV Beats

    Celebrate Republic Day special with ‘Beats of India’ only on MTV Beats

    This Republic Day, MTV Beats is set to hit the patriotic notes with ‘Beats of India’. The channel will be playing a song every hour as a part of ‘Beats of India’ to intensify the patriotic vibes. From the inspiring ‘Vande Mataram’ by ‘A.R. Rahman’ to the energetic ‘Rang De Basanti,’ and from ‘Chak de India’ to ‘Aisa Desh Hai Mera,’ these songs are sure to emphasize on the importance of freedom and evoke your love for India with some of the most nationalistic Indian songs.

    Show: Republic Day special- ‘Beats of India’

    Date: 26th January

    Time: 8 AM – 11AM & 5 PM – 7PM

  • Star Bharat’s Dusshera campaign shows why Dhoni, Mithali and Devgn advocated ‘Burn your Fears’

    Star Bharat’s Dusshera campaign shows why Dhoni, Mithali and Devgn advocated ‘Burn your Fears’

    MUMBAI: Star Bharat has unveiled a campaign to further communicate the channel philosophy and inspire the nation to be fearless. Maestro A.R. Rahman’s signature music for Star Bharat is used in these films adding further weight to the thought, Bhula de Darr.

    Leading the movement “Burn your Fear” are icons of the natio — MS Dhoni, Mithali Raj and Ajay Devgn who come together in the campaign produced and directed by Star India’s creative team in association with Leo Burnett who thought of the idea and drafted script. It shows these icons taking the first step and revealing how they overcame their fears and fulfilled their potential and dreams. Their act of proclaiming their deepest fear and “burning it” sends the message that on the other side of fear lies glory, thus encouraging Indians to overcome fears, roadblocks and limitations.

    “As a society we instill fear from childhood right up to adulthood,” says Star India entertainment CEO Amit Chopra, “Of course, this is disguised as caution, prudence or even concern. But the fact of the matter remains that this fear holds us back from achieving our dreams or, maybe even dreaming. “Burn your Fear” inspires people to conquer their fears, unleash their true selves and chase their dreams. Just like the icons in our brand film. The campaign which culminates this Dussehra will be all about burning one’s fears.”

    In the promo film, Dhoni talks about how he had to grapple with the security that his job with the Railways entailed and his dream of being a cricketer. “Cricket mein bhi career na bana, aur ye naukri bhi haath se gayi toh?, he says. “Agar life mein kuchh alag karna hai. Toh iss darr ka saamna toh karna hi padhega. Yaani iss darr ki wicket toh giraani padhegi.”

    Mithali Raj was dissuaded from pursuing cricket. “Jab maine cricket ko apna career banaane ka socha, toh sabne kaha main bahut badhi galti kar rahi hoon. Women’s cricket kaun dekhta hai, she notes in the film. “Per cricketer banna tha, toh banna tha.” Today, she is an inspiration to millions of girls and boys alike.

    Ajay Devgn’s debut film involved a stunt with two bikes. In the promo, he talks about how people around tried to stop him from undertaking this dangerous act. “Sabne samjhaya bevakoofi mat kar. Kuch gadbad ho gayi toh tera career shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho jaayega, he reminiscences. “Jhoot nahi bolunga, darr toh bahut laga tha. Kahin meri pehli film meri aakhri na ban jaye. Par uss din, agar main darr se darr jata, toh jo aaj hoon vo kabhi na ban pata.”

    Actor Sidharth Malhotra along with the other Bollywood personalities will be seen joining the campaign later.

    The brand campaign will go live across Star India network along with social media; encouraging the nation to share their fears and take the first step towards overcoming them in the journey to achieving their dreams.

  • Brands hop on to pre-IIFA events, Rahman & Sushant join in

    MUMBAI: The enthusiasm is palpable across the world as preparations are well underway for the 18th Edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), to be held from 13-15 July 2017 in the host city of New York. To highlight the upcoming IIFA Weekend and Awards in the Big Apple, the legendary musical genius A.R. Rahman was joined by Bollywood youth icons Kriti Sanon & Sushant Singh Rajput at an official IIFA press conference held in PVR Director’s Cut, Ambience Mall in New Delhi.

    The 72 hours extravaganza, IIFA Weekend and Awards will feature string of events and unique associations: Myntra presents IIFA Stomp, “Shuruaat” Gala Dinner in association with tGELF and The FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum 2017.

    The awards will air exclusively live on Colors with the title sponsor Nexa, powered by Vivo, Cause Partner- Woosh Washing Expert, styled by Myntra, official airline partner – Air India, Knowledge Partner – Vedanta, Brand Partner – Closeup, Carnival and Ease My Trip, Jewellery Partner – Gitanjali, Outdoor partners – Bright Outdoor Media and JR Creations, Multiplex Partner -PVR, Radio Partner- Red FM, Print Media Partner- Rajasthan Patrika.

    Times Square is all set to be abuzz with a free-for-all public entertainment at Myntra presents IIFA Stomp to be held on 13 July. Another interesting facet to the 18th edition of the IIFA Weekend and Awards, is a the introduction of the first-of-its-kind Shuruaat Gala Dinner, a charity fundraiser organized by IIFA in association with The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF) on Day 1, 13th July at the The Pierre in New York.

    A business networking platform is to be held on 14 July at the Asia Society Auditorium in New York, the FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum 2017, which will see powerful minds coming together to address global issues. The FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum supported by Asia Society and US- India Business Council (USIBC) aims to be a space for the growth of business between India and USA focusing on the central theme of “India and United States: Partners in Progress for the World”.

    A treat for the fans worldwide, International Indian Film Academy Awards launches the brand new line of Official IIFA Merchandise partnered with New York based Easy Partners, a boutique licensing and merchandising company. The eye-catching IIFA Merchandise includes a diverse range of T-Shirts, Caps, Key Rings, Hooded Sweatshirts, Tote Bags, Magnet, Ticket Holders stylized with IIFA’s logo and Mugs showcasing IIFA 2017 in New York available exclusively on the IIFA website as well as at the famous MetLife Stadium during IIFA Rocks on July 14th and IIFA Awards on July 15th.

  • Palm Expo 2017 calls for nominations

    Palm Expo 2017 calls for nominations

    MUMBAI: The Indian Recording Arts Academy to be hosted on 3 June alongside PALM Expo 2017, announces that online submissions are currently being accepted for the prestigious Eleventh Annual IRAA Awards. The entry deadline is 15 April, 2017.

    Soundtracks and albums released between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 are eligible for nominations. The list of categories which include Film as well as Non-film are available on the IRAA website – www.iraa.in

    Audio files accompanying the entries can be submitted to a dropbox link provided on the website.

    Since 2006, the annual IRAA awards, honours and recognises exceptional talent in music, soundtrack recording and mixing in Indian music for albums and movies. The aim of the award is to recognise innovation in music composition and tracks that define independent and popular music culture. The awards honour talent of studios and engineers, while keeping an eye on the skill in adopting new technology, trends and proving expertise in the use of new methods. Gaining aspirational value through the years, the IRAA awards reflects industry’s credibility and has become an eagerly looked forward annual event.

    There are very few award ceremonies that honour the technical expertise behind song and music production with most others restricting themselves to popular categories. The IRAA Awards are the first ever music awards in India that recognizes the regularly forgotten technical fields of music recording and engineering talent in India; it recognizes those who exhibit the courage and creativity to bring about a transformation in the world of music.

    In its previous editions, the Awards have been conferred upon reputed names of the music and recording industry like A. R. Rahman, K J Singh, Aditya Modi, Daman Sood, Avinash Oak, Ram Sampath, Mohit Chauhan, Eric Pillai, Sonu Nigam, Shantanu Hudlikar, Vijay Benegal, Pramod Chandorkar, Baylon Fonseca, Julian Mascarenhas and Shreya Ghoshal among others.