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Tag: Bhawana Somaaya

  • Star packs a punch to celebrate 15 years of ‘Star Parivaar Awards’

    Star packs a punch to celebrate 15 years of ‘Star Parivaar Awards’

    MUMBAI: Star India is leaving no stones unturned to celebrate 15 years of its in-house award ceremony – Star Parivaar Awards.

     

    Fifteen years ago, the network started telling a story, which has until now spun many wonders. Star Plus’ successful awards property Star Parivaar Awards is like a sumptuous platter served for viewers where one gets to watch different forms of entertainment and see their favorite stars sizzle on stage.

     

    This year, the channel is packing a punch to its lineup with a new producer on board for the gala event. Unlike last year, where Cineyug had produced the awards for the channel, this year Frames Productions has donned the production hat.

     

    To celebrate 15 years of the awards, the set design this time round is going to be different from the usual sets seen at multiple award shows.

     

    Frames Productions founder Ranjeet Thakur tells Indiantelevision.com that the sets this time round for the Star Parivaar Awards will be interactive.

     

    Thakur says, “There won’t be a fixed set this year. We are going to change the look, feel and dynamics of the set depending on the demands of the act that will be performed. This year, projection will play a key role in enhancing the entire look and feel of the awards ceremony.”

     

    With almost 45 graphic artists from UK and India working on the awards, the network will be doling out oodles of cash to ensure that top quality graphics are used throughout the show. “It is not a structured or a fixed set like we are used to watching in award shows. Special attention is being paid to the graphics this time round and that costs money,” laughs Thakur.

     

    From shooting the graphics to portraying it on screen, the process took almost four months. “We wanted to ensure that our vision for the look of the show was being realised by each and every one who was working on the Star Parivaar Awards,” states Thakur.

     

    On the content front, Frames Productions has created multiple small gimmicks that will keep the entertainment quotient high. “For the first time ever, we are stringing the show via musical acts. What we are looking at is an interactive LED digital space,” explains Thakur.

     

    Unlike previous years, where set designer Omung Kumar worked on the awards, this year the design is being provided by Kunal Bandola.

     

    A new award category has also been added this year, with the introduction of the special ‘Five Scroll of Honors’ (big achievement of each show).

     

    Moreover, to celebrate the 15 glorious years, Star India has invited some iconic faces, who have been associated with India’s leading GEC over the past 15 years. Some of them include the likes of Smriti Irani, Sakshi Tanwar, Shweta Tiwari and Ronit Roy amongst others.

     

    “To bring alive the magic of 15 years, we are getting popular faces on-board. However, confirmation is still awaited from them,” informs Thakur.

     

    The network also had a jury meeting today in Mumbai to decide 11 categories. Senior Bollywood journalist, writer and film critic Bhawana Somaaya,  Indiantelevision.com group founder, CEO & editor in chief Anil Wanvari, ABP News executive editor Vibha Kaul Bhat, and Cinevistaas writer, producer & creative head Siddharth Malhotra.

     

    Star India SVP network programming and events head Anil Jha (he has been behind the hugely successful awards show every year) took to twitter to thank the jury. “Love the opportunity to meet this August body (the Star Parivaar Awards jury) every year,” he tweeted.   

     

    The Star Parivaar Awards 2015 will be held on 17 May at The National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Mumbai. The awards will be aired on Star Plus in June.

  • Mahesh Bhatt encourages debate on censorship at Elevate 2015

    Mahesh Bhatt encourages debate on censorship at Elevate 2015

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker-activist Mahesh Bhatt moderated a debate on the topic of censorship with Bollywood stalwarts Amit Khanna, Sudhir Mishra, Bhawana Somaaya and Ketan Mehta making their stand at The Third Eye’s program Elevate 2015, the second annual conclave held at The Club, Mumbai, this week.

     

    With a discussion on creating synergies between regulatory bodies and industry leaderships, the industry heavyweights mulled on how the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and other regulatory authorities can look ahead in time and create a vision for creative communities; thus empowering audiences.

     

    Bhatt asked some thought-provoking questions. “Is there a role that the regulators really have to play in the digital age,” he wondered. “Is there a way for content creators to establish a non-confrontational dialogue with the government regulatory bodies?”

     

    Industry doyen Amit Khanna opined, “In the 21st century, given the way technology has allowed us to interact with each other, there is no role for anything called censorship in the audio-visual media.”

     

    “The censorship is no longer a possibility in any way in today’s digital age. This is the first time in history that such a thing is possible,” marked director Sudhir Mishra. 

     

    Director Ketan Mehta was blunt. “Censorship is corrupt and immoral exercise of power,” he said.

     

    Veteran journalist, author and an ex-member of the CBFC, Bhawana Somaaya pointed out that the Censor Board has a provision where filmmakers have a right to refuse and argue with the objections of the Board in their entirety. She felt that “censorship is being interpreted in a wrong way. It is being misunderstood. There are guidelines for it and they require some modifications.”

  • Bhawana Somaaya appointed Entertainment Editor for 92.7 BIG FM

    Bhawana Somaaya appointed Entertainment Editor for 92.7 BIG FM

    MUMBAI: 92.7 BIG FM, India’s No. 1 and largest radio network, today announced the appointment of veteran journalist, critic, author and historian Bhawana Somaaya as Entertainment Editor. Bhawana-ji as she is fondly referred to in the office, has been associated with 92.7 BIG FM since 2009 in the capacity of Film Expert, sharing her credible film reviews, along with fascinating trivia on Bollywood. With this move, she will now be responsible for developing insights along with the team, delivering to audiences a more engaging and enhanced aural experience.  In her role as entertainment editor, Bhawana-ji will be an integral part of the think-tank for all entertainment related shows and activities of the business. She will also play an important part in bringing newer perspectives and providing inputs and insights on all shows related to Bollywood.

     

    Speaking of her appointment, Bhawana Somaaya stated, “RBNL is a powerful force and the organization has talent in every department. I’ve been working closely with the organization and I’m of the view that the office has a great vibe and an energetic environment. There is music all the way here, from the moment that I step out of my car till the time I’m seated inside the office. I’m grateful to have received this opportunity and I bring my sincerity to the work that this organization does. RBNL enriches my vision and I’m elated to begin my journey here and furthermore reinvent myself with a new medium and a new language.”

     

    Bhawana began her career as a reporter with Cinema Journal, an entertainment supplement of Free Press Journal back in the 70s and fast evolved into a renowned film critic in the industry. She later joined Movie as Assistant Editor and in a matter of just 4 years, she was promoted to the position of Joint Editor. Eventually she moved to Screen, the film weekly of the Indian Express Group as Editor in Chief. She has made significant contributions to the entertainment sector including writing 12 books, the last one titled Talking Cinema which released in October last year.