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Tag: Abu Metha

  • AR Rahman unveils Headhunting to Beatboxing at 77th Cannes Film Festival

    AR Rahman unveils Headhunting to Beatboxing at 77th Cannes Film Festival

    Mumbai: The Bharat Pavilion at the 77th Cannes Film Festival witnessed a momentous occasion as Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman unveiled the first look and teaser of his latest venture, a groundbreaking feature documentary titled “Headhunting to Beatboxing” directed by Rohit Gupta.

    The unveiling took place at the Bharat Pavilion at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, marking a proud moment for Indian cinema on the global stage.

    Present at the launch at the Bharat Pavilion in Cannes were Academy Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient AR Rahman, director Rohit Gupta, Executive Producer Abu Metha  (Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Nagaland) and Executive Producer Theja Meru (Chairman TaFMA, Government of Nagaland) in addition to the other guests and dignitaries present.

    Headhunting to beatboxing directed by Rohit Gupta and Produced by AR Rahman explores the fascinating journey of rhythm and sound, tracing the evolution of music across cultures, tribes and generations. From the ancient traditions of headhunting tribes to the musical renaissance in the state, the documentary promises to take audiences on an immersive and enlightening musical anthropological odyssey.

    “Music has this transformative power to change society and to connect and bring relevance to existence. ‘Headhunting to Beatboxing’ is a celebration of this universal rhythm that unites humanity in its diverse expressions. We look forward to the start of its film festival journey and what better than Cannes which celebrates cinema to make the first announcement on the film” said AR Rahman, expressing his enthusiasm.

    “The germ of the idea came up when AR Rahman visited Nagaland to be part of the legendary Hornbill Festival. We knew we had to be part of it. The film is a collaboration of many creative minds, especially the TaFMA and masterfully captured by director Rohit Gupta. The real heroes are the musicians of Nagaland, who tell stories that go back to times immemorial and their music exemplifies the ambition of our youth.” said  Nagaland advisor to the chief minister Abu Metha.

    “Five years in the making, the journey of  this film has been a sort of metamorphosis for me. The rich and vibrant music today, transcending the scars of the past is something that truly blew me away during the making. I am excited to see audiences witness our hard work and the magic that exists in the music of Nagaland” added director Rohit Gupta.

    The film marks multiple award winner, Rahman’s second major foray into filmmaking as a producer, with his earlier production ’99 Songs’ which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival. His vision behind the project stems from a desire to celebrate the universal language of music and its transformative power to transcend boundaries.

    “Headhunting to beatboxing” has been directed by Rohit Gupta and produced by AR Rahman, with Abu Metha, Adam J. Greig, Theja Meru, Rohit Gupta, Sheila Houlahan and Rohhit Daas serving as executive producers.

  • Nagaland Olympic Association partners with SFA

    Nagaland Olympic Association partners with SFA

    Mumbai: Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and Sports For All (SFA), have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen the grassroots ecosystem in the state. The announcement was made in attendance of esteemed dignitaries, Neiphiu Rio chief minister of Nagaland; Y Patton deputy CM, Nagaland; Abu Metha advisor to CM  and chairman IDAN and Neivikuolie Khatsu, assistant secretary general, NOA, along with SFA team represented by Rishikesh Joshi, founder and Tilak Kakkad, director’s office. This partnership marks a significant step towards the realization of the shared vision to encourage sports participation, empower talent, and build a platform for athletes to showcase their skills on a larger stage.  

    Nagaland, known for its rich cultural heritage, has been making commendable strides in sports. The recently announced Nagaland Olympic & Paralympic Games 2024 across 16 sporting disciplines underscore the state’s dedication to creating opportunities for athletes. Archery, Athletics, Badminton,  Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Football, etc. are some of the key sports of the state. Previously, Nagaland has also produced some great sportsmen like Dr. T Ao (the first captain of the Indian Olympic football team)  and Chekrovolu Swuro (Olympian archer and Arjuna Awardee).  

    Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio shared, “Nagaland Olympic Association and  Sports For All (SFA), together aim to create an environment that encourages sports at the grassroots level and ignites a passion for excellence. Our aim is to bring about sustainable change for our state, through sports. Introducing a sporting culture in school, strengthening the same in college, and creating a strong ecosystem for women athletes and coaches, are key initiatives that make Nagaland a great contender to host the National Games”.  

    Adding to this revolutionary association, expressed IDAN advisor to CM and chairman Abu Metha,  “This partnership is aligned with our vision to broaden the sporting ecosystem in Nagaland and offer an opportunity for our athletes to test their capabilities and gain exposure. We are looking forward to the journey of triumph and personal growth that lies ahead for our athletes, our future Champions”.

    SFA, India’s largest tech-enabled multi-sports school competition platform, has been working towards the development of the grassroots sports ecosystem of the country, since its inception in 2015. Through this partnership, the company will facilitate its flagship IP – SFA Championships – a pivotal platform for developing grassroots sports in the state and the country. The commitment of the NOA and the  Government of Nagaland will be a catalyst in the discovery of sporting talent at the SFA Championships.  

    Speaking on the partnership, Sports For All (SFA) founder Rishikesh Joshi elaborated, “The partnership with Nagaland Olympic Association strengthens our mission to enable a platform for the country’s youth to compete and play sports. Nagaland has seen significant growth in terms of sporting infrastructure and budding athletes, and this association will assist in furthering the sporting ecosystem of the state and our country. After having created a valuable impact across 9 cities within a span of three months, SFA  Championships will now make a debut in the North-East, the grounds of emerging sporting potential”.

    With the forward path to host 150 Championships across 50 cities of India, in the next five years, this partnership is a move forward in making sports accessible for school athletes across the country, thereby empowering today’s talent to become the Champions of tomorrow. The journey to represent the country at the Olympics is what SFA Championships is enabling for emerging athletes.