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Tag: Rakesh Kumar

  • Flamingo renews collaboration with Hrithik Roshan as brand partner

    Flamingo renews collaboration with Hrithik Roshan as brand partner

    Mumbai: Flamingo, a flagship consumer healthcare brand of Ascent Meditech Ltd, has renewed its brand partnership with Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan.

    With the continued collaboration with the star, Flamingo aims to sustain and magnify their vision of ‘Making the World Pain Free.’ Over the years Hrithik has epitomised fitness, trust and quality, fundamentals that resonate with the brand’s aesthetics, functionality and product portfolio, said the company in a statement.

    Talking about the collaboration, Hrithik Roshan said, “My association with Flamingo comes from my history of dealing with aches and pains through my journey as an actor, where I’ve had to put pressure on my body for various requirements like performing action or a difficult dance step. From a disturbed nights sleep to hindering the most basic daily tasks, pains lead to unrest in the mind and body.”

    “The products offered by Flamingo serve as pain relief solutions to various types of injuries. With over 30 years of being in the market, Flamingo has observed the physical struggles of the public and developed aids to live pain-free. I’m happy to be associating with a brand that works wonders for me personally,” added the actor.

    The renewed collaboration will kick start a 360-degree brand campaign that will engage the existing and potential brand audience through diverse media interfaces such as television, print, digital, BTL and DTH network, said the brand.

    Ascent Meditech Ltd founder and MD Rajiv Mistry said, “Our partnership with Hrithik has been going very strong and our flagship brand Flamingo, has now emerged as one of the Most Trusted Brands in India. Through our earlier campaigns, brand Flamingo has been able to cement its space in the consumer’s mind as a ‘Trusted Partner in Pain’ offering ‘An Aid for a New Life’. Hence, when the question of renewal of association came, it was a no-brainer, for myself and my team.”

    “During the initial years of the association, Flamingo with its 350+ products had focused its efforts towards corporate umbrella branding with the objective of garnering awareness among the targeted audience. This renewed association would see brand Flamingo unfurl a campaign where our Brand Ambassador is seen using Flamingo products to combat pain and partaking in everyday activities,” Ascent Meditech Limited VP Sales & Marketing Rakesh Kumar said.

  • Five Indian films to be screened at Hollywood CineFest

    NEW DELHI: Indian films After Ever After by Rakesh Kumar has been selected for the Hollywood International CineFest being held this month.

    In addition, Akshay Prem Vyas’s debut feature Kaaya (Hindi) and Nilesh Batra’s Rainbow Fields (Asamese) are competing in the Best Feature (Foreign) category. The festival, scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday, at AMC Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, received over 400 submissions.

    The lineup includes World Premieres of After Ever After & Easy Money and the North America Premieres of Before The Fall (Cambodia’s entry to 2017 Oscars) & Sam Heughan’s Emulsion.

    In Rakesh Kumar’s debut feature After Ever After, the protagonist, Nik Patel struggles to cope with the terminal illness of his nine-year-old daughter. A chance encounter with an Alzheimer patient helps him come to terms with the harsh realities of life.

    Based on his personal experiences, the film is a story of human endurance against insurmountable odds. Rakesh Kumar was born in the northern state of Bihar and, for him, life never was a fairytale — as we understand it.

    “All human beings are born fighters and true fighters pick up the sword even when defeat is nearly certain,” Rakesh said.

    The 2017 line up includes films from America, UK, India, France,China, South Korea, Cambodia and Hong Kong.

    Hollywood International CineFest was founded with the goal of connecting independent film-makers with distributors.

  • Doordarshan signs MOU to disseminate key health related schemes

    Doordarshan signs MOU to disseminate key health related schemes

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan’s terrestrial and satellite channels will run video spots produced and provided by the Health Ministry aimed at informing and educating the target group of audience about sustained health campaigns.

     

    A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed today between Doordarshan and the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to facilitate the telecast of Ministry related video spots on Doordarshan’s national and regional networks.

     

    The MoU was signed by K.B. Agarwal, Additional Secretary, on behalf of the Health Ministry and Doordarshan director general C Lalrosanga. This MoU was signed in the presence of Health Ministry B P Sharma.

     

    The Health Ministry has placed business in excess of Rs 50 crore for this purpose. In turn Doordarshan has offered a special bonus plan to the Ministry, thus contributing towards the government goal of health for all.

     

    Sharma said this MoU would help the Health Ministry to disseminate its programmes of health and special messages of prevention of health across the country in different languages through the vast network of Doordarshan, which has the highest reach especially in rural areas.

     

    Lalrosanga said Doordarshan as a public service broadcaster has the primary responsibility to help various Ministries and Government departments to disseminate their schemes of social development to the needy and this is the primary reason that Doordarshan has extended special schemes to help the Ministry in reaching their target group. 

     

    Additional secretary N S Kang; joint secretaries Dharitri Panda and Rakesh Kumar; director Manisha Verma from the Health Ministry and DD additional director general Ranjan Mukherjee and deputy DG C K Jain were also present on the occasion.

  • ESPN cricinfo gears up with exclusive content for IPL 2015

    ESPN cricinfo gears up with exclusive content for IPL 2015

    MUMBAI: Riding on the popularity of the on-going Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) season eight cricketing tournament, ESPNcricinfo is looking to engage fans with a host of exclusive videos and special content dedicated to comprehensive IPL coverage on the website.

     

    First in the list of this content is The Huddle that features former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar and former New Zealand bowler Iain O’Brien in conversation with ESPN cricinfo talent delivering pre and post-match analysis of each game of the IPL. A 15 minute live preview will be available daily at 7.45 pm along with a post-match analysis. The guests will dive into predictions, player performances, stats and milestones and more.

     

    Additionally, a video show called On The Road, which began during the ICC Cricket World Cup, will continue through the IPL as well. The travel and features video series allows fans to engage with the IPL through a micro-site featuring multi-media content, social media integration and user generated content. The micro-site will feature a mix of daily and weekly content that will further be amplified on social media platforms like Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Vine, Instagram and YouTube. Additionally, the series will include a call to action for user generated content through #ontheroad.

     

    ESPN cricinfo and ESPN Digital Media head Rakesh Kumar said, “This is our endeavour of serving fans anywhere, anytime. The tremendous response we have received this World Cup has set the stage and the momentum is expected to go up with the IPL.”

  • MIB suspends CBFC CEO Rakesh Kumar

    MIB suspends CBFC CEO Rakesh Kumar

    MUMBAI: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had got a new CEO in November 2013 in Rakesh Kumar who was till then senior divisional personnel officer in the Indian Railways Personnel Service (IRPS).

     

    Even though he had been appointed last year for a period of three years, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has suspended him with effect from 19 August. The reason being his alleged bribery demand for clearing movie certificates.

     

    Last week, the central bureau of investigation (CBI) raided the CBFC office as well as Kumar’s residence and recovered cash, gold and property documents that were allegedly given for clearing movies. Subsequently he was taken under arrest and jailed. Along with Kumar, an unauthorised agent and a panel member for involvement in demanding bribes.

     

    Children Film Society India CEO Sharavan Kumar has been given additional responsibility of handling the post of CBFC CEO in the interim.

  • Patna franchise of Pro-Kabaddi league named Patna Pirates.

    Patna franchise of Pro-Kabaddi league named Patna Pirates.

    MUMBAI: The Patna franchise of the Pro Kabaddi league has been finally christened as Patna Pirates. The owner of the franchise Rajesh Shah, announced the name of the team at a press conference. Unveiling the logo, Shah expressed his hope that Patna Pirates which is being led by Arjuna awardee and ace player Rakesh Kumar would bring accolades to the ancient city of India.

     

    The league which is set to begin in July this year has eight teams from various cities. Captain Rakesh Kumar is the most expensive player in the league who was bought for a record fee of Rs 12. 8 lakh. Kumar had also won a gold at the Asian Indoor games 2013 and Asian Games 2010.

     

    Commenting on launch, Shah said, “We are delighted to launch our team identity today. Kabaddi is an Indian game with historical relevance and has a potential to become a global sport. There is huge talent for the game in our country and I hope the team will showcase the resilient ethos of the people of Patna. I appeal to the people of this city to come forward and support Patna Pirates. We have a state of the art facility in the Kankarbagh indoor stadium, an incredible coach in Rambir Singh Khokhar and a strong team. The package is wonderful.”

     

    Patna Pirates Captain Rakesh Kumar added, “I am honored to be chosen as the captain of this talented side. I would like to thank Shah for embracing a sport like Kabaddi which will go a long way in promoting this ancient sport and giving the sport a professional status. I am confident that Patna Pirates will bring laurels to this city and state of Bihar.”

     

    Another player, Sunil Kumar, who was allotted to the Patna team as a state wild card commented, “I’ve been playing Kabaddi all through my youth. It was in school that I took to it as I watched all my friends and brother playing the game. I stuck to the sport, represented Delhi and then eventually earned a call up for the Indian team, which was a huge moment for me, and I never thought it could be topped. But now I hope to build many more new memories with the Patna Pirates and I eagerly look forward to the start of the tournament.”

     

    The Pro Kabaddi league is an initiative of Mashal Sports and intends to bring glory to the Indian game.

  • Changes in archaic Cinematograph Act can be expected soon

    Changes in archaic Cinematograph Act can be expected soon

    MUMBAI: Aptly titled, “Cuts So Deep: Are We Sacrificing Creativity at the Altar of Morality?”, one of the sessions on the first day of FICCI Frames 2014 spoke about those ‘cuts’ in the films that leave a deep mark in the memory of the filmmakers. Most of the times, these cuts suggested by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) doesn’t even make sense to the people who were involved creatively in the making of the film.

     

    The debate, in the presence of esteemed guests like Sudhir Mishra, Ramesh Sippy, Ravi Kottarakara, Kajol and the newly appointed CEO of CBFC Rakesh Kumar, highlighted many issues that filmmakers are grappling with because of the guidelines stated in the archaic Cinematograph Act of 1952.

     

    However, the film industry is pinning its hopes on the new government for amendments to the Cinematograph Act.

    At the session, the filmwallahs brought to the fore how the guidelines push them back by many years by not giving them the freedom that’s actually their right.
     

     

    “When a director shoots a scene, he envisions it in a certain way. If there’s a smoking scene, an atmosphere is created with that. When it is cut, the shot loses its charm,” remarked Mishra while putting across an example.

     

    Another major issue discussed was that of a scroll on the frame showing smoking, sex scenes etc for which filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has even gone to the court and the matter is still pending in the court.

     

    Another point that came up during the discussion was of giving ‘A’ certificate to certain films based on real issues that need to be promoted all across, while some films just because they come from ‘bigger’ banners are passed with U or U/A even when they have ‘bold’ scenes.

     

    To deal with all this, a committee headed by Justic Mukul Mudgal is travelling across the country to take suggestions from the film fraternity across India, the audiences and all the other stakeholders involved.

    While Rakesh Kumar from CBFC was left in a fix with complex questions being posed to him, Film and TV Producers Guild of India CEO Kulmeet Makkar came to his rescue by stating that the industry needs to be patient for a little more time. “Since the revised guidelines have already been formed, we may expect things to change pretty soon,” said Makkar, also revealing that 18 of the suggestions discussed in Chennai have already been accepted.
     

    It seems the film industry can soon hope for better days ahead.

  • CBFC set to become more liberal

    CBFC set to become more liberal

    NEW DELHI: Even as it wants the government to approve a late-night slot for adult-rated films on satellite television, the Central Board of Film Certification has asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry) to amend the existing Cinematograph Act 1952 and introducing more certification categories such as UA-15 (nobody under 15 can watch the film) as opposed to the broader and the often-violated UA (universal viewing in the presence of an adult).

     

    In a statement issued by eminent danseuse and CBFC Chairperson Leela Samson, members should be debarred from serving more than two consecutive terms.

     

    The statement issued after a meeting with senior officials in the Ministry including Joint Secretary (Films) Raghvendra Singh, Samson said cine-literate members who have been recommended by the CBFC chairperson should be taken on the examining committee’s advisory panel, the first set of people that certifies films.

     

    A Ministry official told indiantelevision.com that it would examine the recommendations and take an early decision as it was keen to move the amendments to the 1952 Act and has already placed a version of the amendments on the website of the Ministry.

     

    However, the chances of any changes are unlikely in the immediate future since the election code may come into force and in any case the Government is keen to pass some anti-corruption bills in the coming session.

     

    She said the CBFC delegation told the Ministry officials that the recommendations should be taken “seriously so that we can have more cinema savvy and informed people who view and certify films.”

     

    Another recommendation is for organising workshops to guide new advisory panel members in the process of certification.

     

    Samson said the aim of the meeting was to urge a more progressive attitude towards certifying films in India, moving away from the concept of censorship to that of certification.

     

    She said the meeting had gone over “some radical recommendations” that were “likely to see far-reaching changes in the way films are certified” if accepted and implemented.

     

    The immediate reason for the meeting – which was held even as the Ministry is giving a final shape to the amendments to the 2952 Act – appears to be the recent suggestions by new CBFC chief executive officer Rakesh Kumar for stricter censorship. This had led to several statements from different quarters and led to some tension between the Board and some conservative members of an examining committee.

     

    “This Board has always interpreted certification guidelines in the most sensitive, liberal and progressive way, reflecting the rapidly maturing sensibilities of our audiences,” she said in the statement. “However, several roadblocks have prevented it from implementing this changed outlook. To resolve this situation, we have today given a list of recommendations to the Ministry.”

     

    She said censorship must be replaced with certification, and the Board’s job is to give the film its appropriate certificate rather than suggest cuts.

     

    Her opponents and some private litigants have filed public interest litigations in various courts against the Board and believe that CBFC must act as the custodian of public morality and must, if necessary, trim scenes of sex, violence, profanity and vulgarity.

     

    Earlier, the Board had initiated a few measures to make the transition towards certification, such as organising state-level film orientation workshops and a festival titled Cut Uncut to discuss the history and ramifications of censorship.

     

    Within the Board, the move towards certification, which is distinct from censorship, has resulted in the contentious decision to certify films with a UA or an Adults only certificate with either zero or minimal cuts. But this has led to some controversy.

     

    Observers also said that a lot would depend on the government that will come into power after the elections as some members were political appointees. 

     

    A spokesperson for the Film Federation of India said on phone from Mumbai that the industry was in favour of a more liberal form of certification, particularly in view of the new media.

  • CBFC gets CEO in Railways’ Rakesh Kumar

    CBFC gets CEO in Railways’ Rakesh Kumar

    MUMBAI: The Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has finally found its CEO.  Rakesh Kumar, who is currently a senior Divisional Personnel Officer in the Indian Railways Personnel Service (IRPS) in Vadodara has been chosen as the new CEO for three years. He steps into the shoes of former CEO Pankaja Thakur, who completed her three year term on 20 September 2013.

     

    Press Information Bureau (PIB) Mumbai director Manish Desai had been given additional responsibility as CEO following Thakur’s departure. The CBFC had been CEO-less for almost a decade and had been run by its chairpersons until Thakur joined in 2010.

     

    Kumar was selected after a long process for which the CBFC received many applications. About five to seven officials were shortlisted to be interviewed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and CBFC chairperson Leela Samson.

     

    Kumar is on a Central Stopping Deputation, which means he will be on deputation to the CBFC for three years, and after that he may resume his current job. According to official sources, the appointment order came in yesterday and Kumar is set to join within a fortnight.