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Tag: Mahatma Gandhi

  • CES2025: Free, AI-powered cultural, tourism app looks for international partners

    CES2025: Free, AI-powered cultural, tourism app looks for international partners

    MUMBAI: Making waves at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Cryptors in the City is being positioned as the world’s first AI-powered cultural app. Free, ad-free, and multilingual, this innovative app transforms cities into immersive playgrounds where history comes alive, reimagining exploration as an interactive adventure.

    At the heart of the app are Cryptors—pixelated ceramic artworks crafted by renowned comic artist Guillaume Mazurage (Mazu). Strategically installed near iconic landmarks, these street art creations come to life through a simple smartphone scan. Acting as guides and companions, Cryptors engage users with interactive challenges, fascinating insights, and fun-filled exploration.

    Founded in 2023 by Louis de Carolis, Mazu, and Florent de Carolis, Cryptors in the City blends cutting-edge technology with a passion for cultural preservation. Supported by esteemed institutions like Château de Cheverny, Deauville, and the Île-de-France municipalities, the app aims to captivate global audiences by fostering intergenerational connections and promoting immersive tourism.

    With Cryptors in the City, users become the heroes of their own cultural journeys. Each step transforms into a treasure hunt, seamlessly blending history with modern exploration. Iconic locations become starting points for immersive quests, making every walk an engaging and educational experience.

    Inspired by 1980s retro gaming aesthetics, the pixelated Cryptors come to life with enriched conversational AI. These historical figures share captivating anecdotes, pose thought-provoking quizzes, and offer personalized challenges. High scores unlock unlimited access to conversations with Cryptors, each imbued with a unique personality and deep historical knowledge. Imagine exchanging ideas with Aurangzeb or Mahatma Gandhi in real time!

    “With Cryptors in the City, history and heritage become interactive playgrounds,” says Mazu, the app’s artistic director & co-founder. “Reimagining historical figures through a fresh lens makes them accessible and relatable to younger generations. For CES, Sacajawea was the perfect choice.”
     

    Cryptors—pixelated ceramic artworks

    Cryptors in the City was founded with three key objectives: to preserve and share cultural heritage in innovative ways;  to bridge generational gaps and captivate younger audiences and to offer immersive, year-round tourism experiences.

    By blending street art, AI, and retro gaming aesthetics, the app creates an engaging, interactive universe. “Our goal is to transform tourism into a connected, educational, and entertaining adventure,” says Louis de Carolis, the app’s president &  co-founder.

    With over 3.09 billion gamers worldwide (expected to grow to 3.32 billion by 2024), gaming is a powerful tool for engaging communities. Cryptors in the City draws inspiration from this global phenomenon, merging gaming elements with cultural exploration to connect users with history while revitalising cities and tourist sites.

    Cryptors in the City is preparing for its next chapter with a fundraising campaign. Its key goals include: enhancing user experiences with augmented reality, creating dynamic 3D playgrounds; expanding to new cities across France and exploring opportunities in international markets. This vision aims to overlay immersive, interactive elements onto real-world settings, transforming streets and monuments into vibrant, living experiences.

    Whether enjoyed solo, with friends, or as a family, Cryptors in the City transforms exploration into meaningful adventures. By integrating diverse forms of heritage—cultural, historical, artistic, natural, and even sports-related—the app creates connections across generations and offers a revolutionary way to experience the world.

    Cryptors in the City is more than just an app—it’s a bridge between the past and the future, powered by the creativity of its founders and the limitless possibilities of AI.

  • Applause Entertainment reunites with Hansal Mehta for biopic on Mahatma Gandhi

    Applause Entertainment reunites with Hansal Mehta for biopic on Mahatma Gandhi

    Mumbai: Applause Entertainment has once again teamed up with acclaimed director Hansal Mehta for a biopic series on the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi.  

    The series will be an adaptation of notable historian and author Ramachandra Guha’s two books ‘Gandhi before India’ and ‘Gandhi-The Years that Changed the World. Actor Pratik Gandhi will play the lead while Hansal will be enrolled as director of the project.

    Post success of Scam 1992, Hansal and Pratik are reuniting for Gandhi which will be set in the Indian Independence struggle era. Applause is looking forward to making Gandhi at an international standard for a global audience and will be filming it extensively across several Indian and foreign locations. Siddhartha Basu will join the project as the historical consultant, factual advisor, and creative consultant.  

    Applause Entertainment founder and CEO Sameer Nair said, “The story of Mahatma Gandhi is more than just the story of a great individual; it is also the story of the birth of a nation and many other dramatis personae, who along with Gandhi, gained freedom for India. We at Applause are honoured to have this opportunity to tell this important story of India and to bring alive the rich history of the Indian Freedom struggle in a deeply layered multi-season drama series. A story of this magnitude needs a filmmaker of equal stature and in Hansal we have found our perfect storyteller. Collaborating once again with Hansal and Pratik makes this all the more exciting.”

    Filmmaker Hansal Mehta said, “When you speak of a historic and iconic figure like Mahatma Gandhi, there is already a great deal of responsibility on you as a filmmaker. Our vision with the series is to make it as true-to-life as possible and supported by Ramachandra Guha’s work, we are confident and enthusiastic that we will bring audiences something to remember. With a common vision for this ambitious narrative, I am excited to kickstart a new journey, yet again with
    Sameer and the team at Applause.”

    Nair further added “The making of Gandhi will be an emotional experience, and when a series of this magnitude and importance is made, it needs people who truly believe in its import. With Hansal’s directorial vision, Pratik’s delicately nuanced performance and Siddhartha Basu joining the creative process, we are excited to bring Gandhi’s, and India’s journey, to a global audience.”

  • Applause Entertainment to make a series on Mahatma Gandhi

    Applause Entertainment to make a series on Mahatma Gandhi

    MUMBAI: Production house Applause Entertainment will make a series on Mahatma Gandhi. The company has bought the rights to two books by Ramachandra Guha. Actor Pratik Gandhi will play Mahatma Gandhi.

    Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair said, “Ramachandra Guha is a historian and storyteller par excellence, and we are honoured to adapt his classic books – Gandhi before India, and Gandhi – The Years That Changed the World – to screen. We couldn’t think of anyone better than the incredibly talented Pratik Gandhi to bring alive the Mahatma, and his philosophies of peace and love that shook the world. We believe that only a richly layered, multi season drama series will do real justice to Gandhi and to all the great personalities that embed the proud and illustrious history of India’s Freedom Struggle. This is a story of the birthing of modern India for a global audience.”

    Historian Ramachandra Guha said, ‘Gandhi’s work transformed the world, and his legacy still sparks the most intense debates. His life was an epic journey, played out across three great countries: India, England and South Africa. He fought nobly for freedom, for inter-faith harmony, and for the rights of the underprivileged. Along the way he made many friends and not a few enemies too. I am delighted that my books on Gandhi are now being adapted for this ambitious and exciting series being produced by Applause Entertainment. I am confident that it will bring the complex contours of Gandhi’s life and the moral essence of his teachings to viewers across the globe’.

    Pratik Gandhi said, “I deeply believe in Gandhian philosophy and his values that echo simplicity in its purest forms. Personally too, I strive to achieve and imbibe many of his qualities and teachings in my daily life. Moreover, playing the role of Mahatma is very close to my heart ever since my theater days, and now it is a huge honor to yet again essay the role of this legendary leader on screen. I believe it’s a huge responsibility to essay this role with dignity, grace and conviction, and I can’t wait to embark on this journey with Sameer Nair and his team at Applause.”

  • News18 HSM network steps up to address key issues through special initiatives

    News18 HSM network steps up to address key issues through special initiatives

    Mumbai: News18 Network as India’s largest news network has always believed in raising and addressing issues that are affecting the people of the country and are often been overlooked. Staying true to its ethos, the network’s channels – News18 Bihar/Jharkhand and News18 Urdu announced two new campaigns on the birth anniversary of a great leader and a freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi.

    ‘Saaf Safai Zaroori Hai Bhai,’ a month-long campaign by News18 Bihar/Jharkhand aims to achieve the vision of a clean Bihar, which is an integral part to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean and hygienic India, with its capital being the dirtiest city. The campaign will find areas suffering from lack of sanitation and cleanliness and will adopt various means to improve the quality of life of citizens by enhancing excess to basic sanitation facilities and evoke a sense of responsibility by asking people to join hands and actively participate in cleanliness activities to achieve the aim of making Bihar a ‘swachh’ state. 

    The campaign will have three elements:

    Mr Clean, a dedicated reporter who will travel across the length & breadth of the state to bring updates on hygiene status in every corner.

    Swachchta Helpline, a special number, which will enable viewers to share images of areas lacking proper sanitation and cleanliness.

    Appreciating ‘Swachata Ke Hero,’ who are doing stellar work in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.

    ‘Aurton Ka Haq: Koi Shak?’ by News18 Urdu is another three-four week-long campaign with the goal to combat discrimination against women and ensure equal rights, safety, and overall respect for all. The campaign will look at stories and case studies from across the country including belts where the minority community is dominant. Debates and other special shows will also be included to highlight key women-related issues and finding means to address them. Eminent personalities like Janab Imran Hussain Sahab, Delhi cabinet minister- food & supply, election and environment & forest, social activist Tahira Hasan, singer Pragnya Wakhlu are coming out in support of the campaign.

  • Brands tip their hats to the Mahatma on Gandhi Jayanti

    Brands tip their hats to the Mahatma on Gandhi Jayanti

    Mumbai: Brands have been paying a symbolic tribute to the father of the nation to mark the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, with the symbols that the Mahatma is identified with the world over viz his spectacles, his ‘Charkha,’ the famous Dandi March and, of course, most significantly- the learnings from Bapu’s life.

    Mother Dairy

    The milk & milk products major and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has rolled out a digital film on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti 2021, urging consumers to reduce the use of plastic whenever and wherever possible from their daily lives. The digital film titled #Swachhtagrah- presumably inspired by Gandhiji’s ‘Satyagraha’- stresses on the fact that how unknowingly we have imbibed the use of plastic in everyday activities.   

    The film featuring actor Tisca Chopra subtly puts forward one such action point for its viewers – switch to products that avoid the use of plastic in its packaging with Mother Dairy’s Token Milk vending system, which offers an environmentally friendly, plastic packaging free milk on a wide scale.

    The digital film urging consumers to join the #Swachhtagrah movement has been rolled out across all social media handles of Mother Dairy including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

    Taneira

    The women’s ethnic wear brand from the house of Tata launched an exclusive Khadi collection on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti to commemorate the father of the nation. Revered as a symbol of our nation’s heritage and pride, Khadi is known to be one of the earliest forms of fabrics woven in the ancient age which went on to become the symbol of independence in the Swadeshi movement. This limited-edition collection is a unique amalgam of various indigenous crafts integrating together from different parts of the country to present the essence of the best of India under one roof, said the brand.

    Many brands remembered Mahatma Gandhi via creative moment marketing posts on their social media handles paying odes to the leader’s teachings and words of wisdom.

    Cadbury Dairy Milk

    The confectionary brand saluted the powerful messages advocated by the Mahatma through peaceful means with a testimonial saying: Remembering the one whose life was truly his message-  ‘The one who showed us we can gain everything by sweetness- truth, freedom, non-violence, equality, self-sufficiency.’

     

     

    McDonald’s

    The fast-food company drew a symbolic ‘Charkha’ with its menu in its creative: ‘This year on #GandhiJayanti, we’re revisiting history! (order history included ) What about you?’

     

     

     Dunzo

    The delivery app took on the social media trend of attributing false quotes to great people of yore by sticking a random quote to their pic with a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Mahatma: ‘Wisdom Na Milegi Dobara.’

     Fevicol

    The glue brand known for its witty marketing was on-point, as always with the heartwarming message: ‘Some teachings will stick around forever.’

     

     

  • Gandhi Jayanti: Brands pay tribute to father of the nation

    Gandhi Jayanti: Brands pay tribute to father of the nation

    NEW DELHI: Today marks the one hundred fifty first birth anniversary of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The uniquely pivotal role he played in India's struggle for independence is known to one and all. With ‘ahimsa’ and ‘satyagraha’ he changed the fate of an entire nation and its people.

    Self-discipline, perseverance and self-sufficiency are some of the values Bapu espoused. For him, Khadi was a roadmap to becoming ‘atmanirbhar’: by encouraging local production and freeing India from the British yoke by adopting Swadeshi goods. Khadi was a tool to unite Indians at all levels. He taught us to be the change we wished to see in the world.

    On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, brands try to reflect on these ethos and pay their tribute to this great leader. Brands across the board – from Khadi India, SBI, Unacademy to Tech Mahindra, National Geographic India, Vi, and many others – posted creatives on social media platforms.

    Here’s a look at some of the creative campaigns to mark #GandhiJayanti.

    Ashok Leyland

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by Schbang (@schbang) on

     

    KVIC India

     

     

    Titan Watches

     

     

    TechMahindra

     

     

    National Geographic

    https://www.facebook.com/natgeotv.india/photos/a.230026911415/10159100244051416/

    BMW India

     

     

    Vi

    Tata Sky Official

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by Tata Sky (@tataskyofficial) on

     

    Care Insurance

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by Care Insurance (@careinsurancein) on

     

    Bisleri

     

     

  • Cosmos-Maya’s new kids’ animation show Bapu: An ode to Gandhi

    Cosmos-Maya’s new kids’ animation show Bapu: An ode to Gandhi

    Cosmos-Maya’s brand new show ‘Bapu’ was premiered by Disney India on 01 May 2020. The date could not have been more felicitous as it also marks the international Labor Day. What a befitting tribute by The Walt Disney Company to the greatest Karma Yogi who ever lived!

    “If we are to reach real peace in this world,” Mahatma Gandhi said in 1931, “we shall have to begin with children”. Come 2020, when the world faces the perils of pandemics, wars, climate change, global warming, and plastic pollution, all caused by the over-exploitation of natural resources, inculcating Gandhian values into the lives of our children is the need of the hour.

    In this article, I will highlight some of Mahatma Gandhi’s sayings, which have also been incorporated in episodic storylines, and are an integral part of the show itself.

    “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”

    Cosmos-Maya began work on ‘Bapu’ two years ago. Only a month into development, when we pitched the show to Disney India, much to our delight, they greenlit the show at the concept stage itself! Disney has believed in our vision from the word go. For ‘Bapu’ to have become a reality, it could have been done by no other than Disney. The essence of the show is a direct match with the ethos of the Walt Disney Company, and we are happy to have worked with them on this pioneering concept. With ‘Bapu’, we aim to empower kids the world over with Gandhiji’s values in a non-didactic format and communicate Gandhiji’s teachings with child-friendly, responsible, fun and entertaining storytelling. We have exercised our Creative Social Responsibility.

    “A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes”

    The task was no easy one. Children of the 4-11 age group do not know much about Gandhiji, and the scant knowledge they have is passed on by their elders. This was the backdrop when we envisaged creating an animation IP based on the Mahatma. Gandhi's teachings have to be broken down and simplified for very young children to decode. Children are known to have short attention spans, and hence, they must be kept engaged and entertained so that the message is imprinted in their minds. It was imperative for us to capture their imaginations with catchy visuals and keep them engaged with exciting storytelling and entertained with humor. It has also been our endeavor to make each episode a family viewing affair. The show has been made such that even parents can watch it with their children, and in the process give additional commentary to kids on the Mahatma. Rajkumar Hirani utilized similar strategies to propagate Gandhi's teachings, both in Lage Raho Munnabhai and the video he made last year with top Bollywood celebrities to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma, attempting to remind people of his values and bring him alive within us again.

    “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

    While contemplating the happenings of the last two months, the pre and post Covid eras, I am reminded of a couple of episode plots of the upcoming series. There is one called ‘Shopping Competition’ which highlights the flip side of growing consumerism, where a couple of individuals fight over who can possess more material goods at a given time, thereby overspending and on the verge of bankruptcy, before Bapu steps in to set things right. There is another one where a tiger cub wanders into the neighborhood and causes panic. Bapu comes to the rescue before any harm comes to it. Antagonism towards nature will be our greatest undoing, the Mahatma had prophesied.

    “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”

    ‘Trends’ like cleanliness, ecological conservation, fitness, healthy eating, and de-cluttering have reappeared and are now normative behaviors, but they were advocated a long time ago by Gandhiji, who lived a frugal and minimalistic, yet purpose-driven life. He advocated for every organism on mother earth living together in harmony, and every human being working for the greater good of society – a give rather than a take approach. Here is a man who dedicated his life to ‘Sarvodaya’, the welfare of the people around him, every last human being, rich and poor, old and young, able-bodied and specially abled, and all of nature’s life forms. 

    “Be the change you wish to see in the world”

    This show just had to be made. There is very little content for children on Gandhiji. His teachings shall forever be relevant and more such content should be produced the world over. Our children must grow up to be leaders of tomorrow. Who better than Mahatma Gandhi to guide them in their quest? The barrister from Porbandar is a testament to the fact that there is a leader within all of us. ‘Work is Worship’ is a dictum Mahatma Gandhi kept very close to his heart. Labor and faith, according to Gandhiji, were pre-requisites for leadership. The strength required to be able to practice this is what molds a leader. He knew that belief is contagious, that it binds a people. Without belief, the world would be a meaningless place. The man in the loin cloth changed the course of destiny and handed us a bright future. It is now up to us to teach our children well and keep Gandhiji alive forever.

    (The writer is CEO of Cosmos-Maya. The views expressed are his own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them)

  • Indian animation 2019 – the year of highs

    Indian animation 2019 – the year of highs

    2019 was a great year for the Indian animation industry. What a wonderful culmination of a decade which saw the complete transformation of the industry. Today we are at the cusp of a creative revolution. There has been a proliferation of media platforms and content consumers are spoilt for choice. The resulting increase in supply has peculiarly resulted in increased demand and consumption, thereby giving rise to more such platforms and more opportunities all round. A recent report by KPMG pegs that the Indian animation and VFX industry, which now stands at $1.23 billion, will more than double in size to $2.6 billion in the next 5 years.

    2019 was a year of highs for the industry. After being declared the most popular Indian television show in the world by Google, Motu Patlu, Cosmos-Maya’s flagship IP, was immortalized in wax at the Madame Tussauds museum. The year also saw the launch of Cosmos-Maya’s Bapu, the first-ever IP in this space based on Mahatma Gandhi, commemorating his 150th birth anniversary. Green Gold Animation’s Mighty Little Bheem became the second most-watched original series globally on Netflix in the Kids’ category. When a homegrown franchise which is with a pay-TV broadcaster like Turner takes the original route with Netflix, you know that winds of change are blowing.

    In addition to the above, there were giant leaps in terms of the evolution of storytelling, where major franchises are being planned. Cosmos-Maya’s Motu Patlu spinoffs, Inspector Chingum and Guddu were launched on Disney and Amazon Prime Video respectively. Both these IPs followed a ‘Digital First’ approach where it was envisaged that these first air on a major OTT to propagate the IP, and then on Pay TV to increase eyeballs manifold. Also, in the normal run of things, where OTTs spend big to get original and exclusive content on board, they are now preferring to air content which is already running on a different platform, thereby leveraging the placement of an IP.

    The current digital scenario is very promising. WowKidz, Cosmos-Maya’s YouTube network, has been a big benefactor of this digital growth. WowKidz today has more than 35 million subscribers and 16 billion views. An average of 75,000 new subscribers are added daily to the mix. The reason is simple. Close to 650 million Indians have access to internet services today. Smartphone penetration has reached the 500 million mark. When we look at the breakup of India’s animation production pie, 53.5 per cent is digital’s share. This is driven by content viewing on mobile phones in a country which has mostly single TV households. TV has 30 per cent share in India’s animation production pie but still has the maximum reach.

    For content creators like Cosmos-Maya, both platforms are equally lucrative. If the brand is big, Digital and Pay TV can end up being similar partners. A situation very unique to India, today TV and OTT are both growing in the country and there is a beautiful co-existence of both. Animation is transcending boundaries in this regard.

    Speaking of transcending boundaries, 2019 also heralded a new trend. Cosmos-Maya’s ‘Selfie With Bajrangi’, one of the highest-rated and most popular shows has made its way into a general entertainment channel through Star Plus, which from an industry perspective is a welcome change because animation has always been an under-indexed category with low ad rates, in spite of its GRP contribution being in line with some of the most popular categories. The year also marked the ‘Bring in Bollywood!’ era. IP’s like Golmaal Jr with Nickelodeon Sonic, Fukrey Boyzzz with Discovery Kids capitalized on the popularity of the Golmaal and Fukrey franchises.

    Another important trend which Sony Yay! started off is the airing of their content in 7 regional languages. Speaking here from a more holistic perspective, though OTT players like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5, Alt Balaji among others, are producing more and more regional content to tap on as many users as possible in the country, TV still dominates here. To add more perspective, OTT is yet to penetrate rural India, which has always been a big traditional media market. TV is a god-sent for rural folk who make up around 70 per cent of Indian population.
    On the global front, Indian animation content reached almost all corners of the world. To quote an example, our non-dialogue show Eena Meena Deeka is aired in more than 50 countries today.

    International co-productions are becoming big and we have captured newer frontiers in this regard as an industry. There were times when only a bunch of people who would attend international markets from India to discuss co-production possibilities. Today, dedicated Indian delegations attend these markets. Hence, the scope has increased exponentially. 4 of Cosmos-Maya’s co-produced international IPs have been ‘glocalised’ and will air in Hindi on a major broadcaster. To quote an example, Berry Bees, one of our biggest co-productions, an all-girl IP, with Atlantyca, SRL and Telegael will air as The Dabangg Girls in India, thereby giving it an Indian soul and yet retaining its original charm.

    2019 also saw the $ 2 billion giant in the form of the Indian ed-tech industry being given a push by animation. A major need gap exists between the education and entertainment industries and we identified it. Cosmos-Maya has the animation mandate of the ed-tech unicorn BYJU’s, which has also tied up with Disney. Entertainment to empowerment, through the power of education, is a mass phenomenon.

    While this decade for Indian animation belonged to Entertainment, the next ten years will belong to education.

    (The author is CEO, Cosmos Maya. The views expressed are his own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them.)

  • ixigo Launches ‘Jaisa Ghar, Waisa Desh’ To Support the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Among Travellers

    ixigo Launches ‘Jaisa Ghar, Waisa Desh’ To Support the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Among Travellers

    Mumbai: ixigo, India’s leading travel platform, has launched a new travel cleanliness campaign ‘Jaisa Ghar Waisa Desh’  to address the growing concern around lack of hygiene and cleanliness at tourist destinations. The campaign, in the form of a counter-intuitive video, aims to sensitize travellers on the impact of littering and how it transforms beautiful tourist destinations into unpleasant spots. 

    Conceptualised and produced in-house, the campaign sheds light on the double standards that citizens have when it comes to maintaining cleanliness at home and in public places. The short video shows a family dirtying their house making it unlivable. The concept draws a parallel between maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in all public places as one would do in their homes. 

    Recent reports revealed that over 10 lakh tourists left behind 2,000 tonnes of waste during their visit to Manali in May and June this year. Overtourism in high traffic destinations like Goa, Shimla, Varanasi & Srinagar has also led to an increase in solid waste and littering. 

    Speaking on the campaign, ixigo’s Co-founder & CEO , Aloke Bajpai said, “As one of the leading travel players in the country we want to massify the government's Swachh Bharat Mission by encouraging travellers to participate in keeping tourist places clean. It is important that we, as responsible citizens realise that the whole country is our home and keep it clean in order to be truly sustainable.”

    Commenting on cleanliness etiquette of travellers, Rajnish Kumar, Co-founder & CTO said, “Reckless behaviour like leaving graffiti on heritage sites, monument vandalism and littering coastal areas is damaging our country’s natural beauty. While we continue to make innovations in the travel space, we also need to focus on adopting innovative ideas to reduce our ecological footprint.”  

    ixigo is launching its travel cleanliness campaign starting 2nd October, 2019 which commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. 

  • Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2019 to mark 20 years of art and culture!

    Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2019 to mark 20 years of art and culture!

    MUMBAI: Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF), India’s biggest cultural street festival, is all set to deliver this year an enthralling commemoration of 20 years since its inception. KGAF 2019 will celebrate 2 glorious decades of art and culture, across various forms and communities including design, cinema, theatre, dance, literature and much more, from 2nd to 10th February 2019 at the iconic art district of Kala Ghoda. This year also marks 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth, and the festival will pay its respects to his philosophy and contribution to the nation as well.

    Speaking on the 20 years of the iconic festival’s achievements, Maneck Davar, Hon Chairman of Kala Ghoda Association said, “It is a milestone year for us and everybody who has been involved with the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, right since its inception. Come February 2nd, all art and creative enthusiasts the world over, will come and showcase their talent in the finest way possible.

    The festival has always been inclusive, providing information and entertainment to all demographics and social and economic strata, without any charge. It is a wondrous, cumulative effort of artists and artisans, curators and volunteers who make the festival a true celebration of culture.

    This year we also pay homage to the Father of the Nation on his 150th birth anniversary by a special exhibition at the Jehangir Art Gallery and through programs in music, dance, literature, theatre and more.”

    Talking about what the festival has in store as it turns 20, Nicole Mody, Festival Coordinator of KGAF, said, “The creative hub of Kala Ghoda, over the course of 20 years, has always acknowledged the various communities that are involved in the visual and performing arts industry. Having received unprecedented support from all over the country, KGAF has had a very successful run. It is very important that we honour their support and hence this year, we celebrate each and every category with a sense of nostalgia while embracing the developments in the coming future.”

    The festival will also host captivating exhibitions at the historic Jehangir Art Gallery. Some of the best collections on the Father of the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi, will be on display here, in addition to the rich archival collection of the Bombay heritage.

    Along with the regular artistic and cultural display at the festival, here’s a list of 20 special things to look forward to at the 20th anniversary edition of the Kala Ghoda Art Festival:

    Culinary delights: Celebrated Indian pastry chef Pooja Dhingra will be launching her book at the festival. Pooja, along with American chef Tiffany Derry, will also host culinary workshops for the attendees

    Documentary screening: Renowned director Khalid Mohammad will showcase a special documentary on the Irani Cafes of the city at the festival.

    The Magic of Flute: World renowned flautist, Padma Vibhushan award winner, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia will grace the stage of Cross Maidan

    Musical notes: Sisters Prakriti and Sukriti Kakar will enthrall the audience with their performance at the festival

    A treat for the movie enthusiasts: A special interaction with the cast and crew of ‘Tumbbad’ and ‘Badhaai Ho’ will give the audience an in-depth and different perspective on the movies

    The evergreen Shaan: Popular chartbuster Tanha Dil by Shaan also completes 20 years in 2019. The festival will see the singer croon this special tune much to the delight of the listeners in addition to a mix of his old and new set of songs

    The National Heroes: Panel discussion on 26/11 attacks and its survivors to be conducted by patrons of the literary world

    Get Set Drone: Gaurav Singh will be conducting a demo and DIY session/workshop of fun and drones titled "Get set Drone"

    More Stalls, More Shopping: The 20th edition of the festival will have stalls in a way that after 5 days, newer set of products will be offered to the visitors. Expansion in the variety offered to the audience will give them a chance to revisit the stalls each day

    For the theatre lovers: Theatre legend Suchithra Krishnamurthy will showcase a special theatre performance at the festival

    Literature: Award-winning author Githa Hariharan will talk about her major release I Have Become The Tide and her journey as an author. She will cover various aspects of societal fragility through the context of her novel with Ranjit Hoskote

    Touch a chord: A special performance will be seen by violinist Sunita Bhuyan, a renowned social activist recognized by the Vatican for her work towards underprivileged children

    · People Called Kala Ghoda: The Kala Ghoda Association will also be releasing a book curated by The People Place Project, featuring experiences shared by people of the precinct and those associated with the festival for over two decades; it is a cultural narrative on the genesis and the 20-year history of the festival.

    Hit the Dance floor: Artists Sunayana Hazarilal (Padmashree winner), Mansi Salve, Rukmini and Shakti Mohan will enthrall the audience by their performances

    Dance it out: A specially choreographed amalgamation of 20 dance forms across categories (from western to Indian classical to bring forth a fusion) will be presented at the festival

    From the expert’s corner: Hon. Justice Dr DY Chandrachud will throw some light on the power of the Indian Constitution in safeguarding society, art, history and culture

    Heritage Walk:  Heritage walks to showcase the city and its monuments as they were 20 years ago and how they are today. These walks will consist of 20 major pit stops with every pit stop highlighting the significance of what the same stands for

    150 years of Mahatma Gandhi: With the father of the nation turning 150, the festival will pay its tribute to Mahatma Gandhi honoring him via activities and events taking place in this year’s edition of the festival

    Women talk: There will be a special all-women panel of Marathi writers who will discuss the various aspects of literature in regional languages and its nuances

    2 decades of movies: This year the festival will be screening 4 special movies that will be marking the completion of 20 years since its release

    Bringing out art from the confines of a gallery and presenting imperative matters of discussions, the annual festival is only getting bigger and better as it celebrates its 20th edition. One can catch all the action from 2nd to 10th February 2019.