Posted by admin on Dec 5, 2018 in Latest News, Leo News | Comments Off on Sandeep Marwah Honored At British Parliament In London
London: One of the most popular name in the film television and media fraternity of Republic of India-Dr. Sandeep Marwah the first chancellor of AAFT University of Media And Arts, was honored in the House of Common at British Parliament in London, for his untiring contribution to the media and entertainment industry world wide.
Sandeep Marwah is the only person representing more than 45 countries as Brand Ambassador/Cultural Ambassador, Chairperson of Art and Cultural forums appointed by different governments of the World.
Sandeep Marwah has created six World record in all these years of his involvement with media and entertainment industry. He has been chairing more than 100 organizations all over the World. He is associated with more than 5000 events and every program sums up to “Love, Peace And Unity Through Art And Culture”.
Teacher to 15000 media professionals and producer of largest number of short films around 2500, Marwah is a known social worker, brand ambassador for Skill Development, Government programs like Save The Girl Child, Tourism and has been honored many times abroad.
Baroness Sandip Verma presented the award to Dr. Sandeep Marwah at House of Common in a glittering function in the presence of large Parliamentarians and people from all walks of life. “ Dr. Marwah deserves international appreciation, we have done our share of job,” said Baroness Sandip Verma.
“I am much obliged to every one present here in the House of Common of British Parliament and this award has added a lot more responsibilities on my shoulder, which I carry back home with great pleasure,” I am carrying lots of love and hope back home to serve the world of cinema, art and culture in a much bigger way,” said Dr. Marwah receiving the award.
The event was planned by a social organization Confluence under the leadership of Smita Srivastava and international advisor Mahendrasihn Jadeja.
Posted by admin on Dec 5, 2018 in Latest News, Leo News | Comments Off on Blued- gay dating app partners with the world’s first LGBTQ web series – Still About Section 377
World’s largest gay dating application Blued has partnered with the popular and much talked about web series ‘Still About Section 377’. Blued is known to connect people from the LGBT community and promotes a healthy conversation between them.
It has several features including live streaming and video call, that distinguishes fake accounts from the real ones. Apart from it they have many connecting features like group chatting, post stream etc.
The series is written and produced by Amit Khanna who has been awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke award in fashion photography. Amit has acted in the series too. The story of ‘Still About Section 377’ focuses on acceptance, it’s a journey of an urban gay couple who land up in the village in order to convince the family of one of the partners to accept the same gender relationship. It also highlights the myths people have about the LGBT community and the story hence focuses on breaking those myths as well as educate masses on how one should not be judgmental.
Talking on this partnership, Sanyam Sharma – Marketing Director, India says, “Like the web series ‘Still about section 377’ highlights the societal and family pressure which often develops the fear of coming out in GBTQ community, due to that fear, a lot get married to the opposite sex under pressure. Blued provides a social platform to the community which is much more than dating and hookups where everyone can feel free to be themselves. Blued will be the first GBTQ app which strongly supports, the theme and story line of this web series.”
Amit Khanna is happy about this association, expresses, “I’m extremely delighted that blued is now presenting our show still about section 377 and it will stream on YouTube which will give the show a big reach and help spread the message of love further.”
The web series stars Amit Khanna, Gulshan Nain, Ankit Bhatia, Gunjan Malhotra, and Yash Yogi as the main protagonists and is directed by Amit Khanna. The dialogues are written by Niranjan Iyenger, along with Amit Khanna.
Still About Section 377 is presented by SP Cinecorp and Asmiy Entertainment and produced by Mumbai based content driven production house Dancing Shiva and Phillum Makers.
Blued App launches Episode 2 of ‘Still About Section 377’ Season 2
Mumbai, December 3, 2018:
A gay social networking app, Blued, today launched Episode 2 of web series ‘Still About Section 377’ Season 2 on their app. In association with production house Dancing Shiva, this GBTQ based series is live on Blued App and later will be published on YouTube.
Mumbai-based fashion photographer, writer and director, Amit Khanna launched the Episode 1 of the series in September this year and received a tremendous response from audiences, geared up with more episodes. The Blued app aims to strengthen and spread awareness about the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) community by associating with platforms that cater to masses for a broader outreach. Blued’s recent campaign, #whatsnext377 has focused onto bring the change in society and drive people from LGBTQ community to further fight for the actual rights i.e equal civil partnership laws that are applicable to a heterosexual couple.
Amit Khanna who plays the central protagonist along with other cast members Gulshan Nain, Ankit Bhatia, Mustafa Shaikh, Yash Yogi, Gunjan Malhotra and Gaurav Mishra. The crux of this season revolves around an urban gay couple who land up in a village in order to convince one of the partners family to accept them. The journey flows here with various emotions – funny, happy, sad and set of highs and lows.
Speaking on the launch, Yu Jun – Country Manager, Blued India said “LGBTQI community has faced harshness multiple times from the society. With the abolishment of Section377, this community is and should be looked upon as equals with laws similar to a heterosexual couple. At Blued, we celebrate these different orientations. We are glad to have partnered with Amit for his webseries, ‘Still about Section 377’ to help raise the community’s united opinion, educate those who still don’t accept the community and drive away the stigma of being a homosexual.’
He further added, “Through our recent campaign, we allow people to come forward, stand together and celebrate their sexuality in a democratic country like India.”
Speaking at the event, Amit Khanna said, “Love is a beautiful emotion which must be expressed freely and not be restricted on the basis of gender. Our series ‘Still about section 377’ season 2 highlights the issues LGBTQ community go through in India on a daily basis. The web-series is the first of its kind, revolutionary series that highlights the transgender issues. Associating with Blued App, will give our series the unity and a voice this community needs especially in India and more importantly, the support that we can gather from the international communities to help us in educating those with a stigma of homosexuality.”
The web series ‘Still about section 377’ Season 2 is an important content for the world as it aims to break prejudices and brings in light the reality of the LGBTQ community.
Posted by admin on Dec 5, 2018 in Latest News, Leo News | Comments Off on Blued- gay dating app partners with the world’s first LGBTQ web series – Still About Section 377
World’s largest gay dating application Blued has partnered with the popular and much talked about web series ‘Still About Section 377’. Blued is known to connect people from the LGBT community and promotes a healthy conversation between them.
It has several features including live streaming and video call, that distinguishes fake accounts from the real ones. Apart from it they have many connecting features like group chatting, post stream etc.
The series is written and produced by Amit Khanna who has been awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke award in fashion photography. Amit has acted in the series too. The story of ‘Still About Section 377’ focuses on acceptance, it’s a journey of an urban gay couple who land up in the village in order to convince the family of one of the partners to accept the same gender relationship. It also highlights the myths people have about the LGBT community and the story hence focuses on breaking those myths as well as educate masses on how one should not be judgmental.
Talking on this partnership, Sanyam Sharma – Marketing Director, India says, “Like the web series ‘Still about section 377’ highlights the societal and family pressure which often develops the fear of coming out in GBTQ community, due to that fear, a lot get married to the opposite sex under pressure. Blued provides a social platform to the community which is much more than dating and hookups where everyone can feel free to be themselves. Blued will be the first GBTQ app which strongly supports, the theme and story line of this web series.”
Amit Khanna is happy about this association, expresses, “I’m extremely delighted that blued is now presenting our show still about section 377 and it will stream on YouTube which will give the show a big reach and help spread the message of love further.”
The web series stars Amit Khanna, Gulshan Nain, Ankit Bhatia, Gunjan Malhotra, and Yash Yogi as the main protagonists and is directed by Amit Khanna. The dialogues are written by Niranjan Iyenger, along with Amit Khanna.
Still About Section 377 is presented by SP Cinecorp and Asmiy Entertainment and produced by Mumbai based content driven production house Dancing Shiva and Phillum Makers.
Blued App launches Episode 2 of ‘Still About Section 377’ Season 2
Mumbai, December 3, 2018:
A gay social networking app, Blued, today launched Episode 2 of web series ‘Still About Section 377’ Season 2 on their app. In association with production house Dancing Shiva, this GBTQ based series is live on Blued App and later will be published on YouTube.
Mumbai-based fashion photographer, writer and director, Amit Khanna launched the Episode 1 of the series in September this year and received a tremendous response from audiences, geared up with more episodes. The Blued app aims to strengthen and spread awareness about the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) community by associating with platforms that cater to masses for a broader outreach. Blued’s recent campaign, #whatsnext377 has focused onto bring the change in society and drive people from LGBTQ community to further fight for the actual rights i.e equal civil partnership laws that are applicable to a heterosexual couple.
Amit Khanna who plays the central protagonist along with other cast members Gulshan Nain, Ankit Bhatia, Mustafa Shaikh, Yash Yogi, Gunjan Malhotra and Gaurav Mishra. The crux of this season revolves around an urban gay couple who land up in a village in order to convince one of the partners family to accept them. The journey flows here with various emotions – funny, happy, sad and set of highs and lows.
Speaking on the launch, Yu Jun – Country Manager, Blued India said “LGBTQI community has faced harshness multiple times from the society. With the abolishment of Section377, this community is and should be looked upon as equals with laws similar to a heterosexual couple. At Blued, we celebrate these different orientations. We are glad to have partnered with Amit for his webseries, ‘Still about Section 377’ to help raise the community’s united opinion, educate those who still don’t accept the community and drive away the stigma of being a homosexual.’
He further added, “Through our recent campaign, we allow people to come forward, stand together and celebrate their sexuality in a democratic country like India.”
Speaking at the event, Amit Khanna said, “Love is a beautiful emotion which must be expressed freely and not be restricted on the basis of gender. Our series ‘Still about section 377’ season 2 highlights the issues LGBTQ community go through in India on a daily basis. The web-series is the first of its kind, revolutionary series that highlights the transgender issues. Associating with Blued App, will give our series the unity and a voice this community needs especially in India and more importantly, the support that we can gather from the international communities to help us in educating those with a stigma of homosexuality.”
The web series ‘Still about section 377’ Season 2 is an important content for the world as it aims to break prejudices and brings in light the reality of the LGBTQ community.
Posted by admin on Nov 25, 2018 in Latest News, Leo News | Comments Off on Singer Shivangi Sharma Judges International Indian Icon (3III) Reality Show
Shivangi Sharma, a very talented singer and live performer, judged a talent based reality show- International Indian Icon (3iii) at Chicago.
Sharing about the show, she says, “So it is a show where contestants from various parts of the world come and participate. They work so hard towards it, putting in a lot of practice.”
“It feels soooooo great to see Indian talents from around the globe. I am super happy to see such talents. And trust me it feels like home when you get to meet all the Indians even from outside India,” she adds.
On asking Shivangi about her experience on being a part of 3iii, she shares, “Honestly I always wanted to start from some International show or something on those lines. It takes a lot to keep the patience to make the right choice, but I am really glad that my patience is paying me off now and that too from some International reality show, which is quite famous in the US, UK, Canada and a few other western countries. So I am really really happy to be part of it.”
International Indian Icon (3iii) is a platform for all the Indians living around the world to showcase their talents in the field of singing, dancing and musical instruments. The selection process includes public online voting, and ratings by the Gee Panel of Judges.
Posted by admin on Nov 22, 2018 in Latest News, Leo News | Comments Off on 2nd Hindi Cinema Samman Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan
New Delhi: The most prestigious and historical hall of Vigyan Bhawan saw the 2nd Edition of Hindi Cinema Samman Samaroh where the big wigs of Hindi Film Industry were honored for their untiring contribution to Hindi Cinema.
Almost 110 years of Hindi Cinema we somehow forgot to honor and highlight the contribution of this most popular cinema of the World at the cental level with National awards exclusively. We at ICMEI-International Chamber of Media And Entertainment Industry could feel the pain of this need last year,” said Dr. Sandeep Marwah President of ICMEI and Marwah Studios at the second edition of Hindi Cinema Samman Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan.
This year an award committee was constituted at ICMEI in association with AAFT- Asian Academy of Film And Television and announced National Awards in the first go for Film producers Boney Kapoor, Mehul Kumar, Actor- Director Nandita Das, Actor Sanjay Kapoor and Zareen Khan and Film Educator Deepak Marwah who were sharing the prestigious dais of Vigyan Bhawan with Ministers of Government of India.
Hon. Satya Pal Singh Union Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development responsible for Higher Education and Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India and Vijay Sampla Union Minister of State Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment, Government of India, presented the awards. The Ministers were also felicitated for their contribution to Hindi Cinema.
The awards were presented for contribution in various fields of Hindi Cinema to Kirit Somaiya Member of Parliament Tigmanshu Dhulia Rahul Rawail Pankaj Parashar Abhishek Sharma – Director, Saurabh Shukla Manish Pandey Yashpal Sharma Aryaman Ramsay Vivaan Parashar-Actors, Dilip Sen Sameer Sen- Music Directors, Robin Bhatt President SWA & writer Kamlesh Pandey Script writer Kumar Mohan Editor Bollywood & TV Reporter Vivek Paul Producer; B N Tiwari President Ashok Dubey Gen Sec and Gangeshwar Lal Shrivastav Treasurer of FWICE; Rajendra Singh Gen Sec WICA, Sudhanshu Srivastav Senior Vice President WIMPSTEA Sharad Shelar President CCMAHD Amar Haldipur President CMA Taran Bajaj Casting Actor & Director and Rhythm Datta, Joint Secretary, Dada
Saheb Phalke Film Foundation Award.
H E Dr. Ashraf Shikhaliyev, Ambassador of Azerbaijan was awarded the Hindi Cinema Samarthak Award.
“Appreciation is the key to enthusiasm. Our film industry is known to the World. The best film makers of the World watch Hindi Cinema as it is a total entertainment,” said Boney Kapoor Chairman of the award Committee this time.
“Hindi Films have contributed to Hindi learning not only in India but all over the World. Not only entertainment, Hindi films are the best ambassador of our culture too. People all over the World like and love hindi cinema. I congratulate each and every awardee and especially Sandeep Marwah for taking initiative to start an award like this,” said Satya Pal Singh Union Minister, Government of India.
“Hindi Cinema is the biggest in the country number wise, quality wise and popularity wise. It needs to be honored and highlighted. I am lucky to be associated with now the most prestigious National Award for Hindi Cinema. My best wishes to each and every one present here and to the whole Hindi film industry for marvelous contribution towards entertainment,” added Vijay Sampla Union Minister, Government of India.
“Hindi Cinema is a complete package of Entertainment, Education and Information. It is the best way to learn Hindi, know the World through pictures and has enhanced tourism to a great extent,” added Marwah the promoter of awards. The award function was the third day event of 11th Global Film Festival Noida 2018.
Posted by admin on Nov 22, 2018 in Latest News, Leo News | Comments Off on KAW Questioning the Identity
Kolkata, November 2018: Our practice as artists are not far away from the lives we lead and the art we admire. Swarup started his questioning early. As a student of fashion, passionate about photography, experiments in imagery came early to him. As a photographer-scenographer-artist-designer, his practice everyday engulfs visual imagery of forms, lines, shapes, and silhouettes on one hand and pursuing their meaning on the other. The body is a reservoir of memories. It is subjected to gaze, to presumption, to judgment, to biases becoming a bed of politics and layers of subtexts. Swarup’s practice as an artist who visualises and actualises images to question the why and wherewithal of this process of subjection that the body undergoes and explore if in some realm of artistic suspension of disbelief the body can be free; free off every trope of identity construction that traditionally dictates what it should be and what it cannot or should not.
Swarup finds it more than a curious and amusing coincidence that all the interrogative questioning words in Bengali start with the letter ‘Kaw’? the first Bengali consonant?
Ki? (What), Key? (Who?), Keno? (Why), Kokhon? (When?), Kothay? (Where?) and Ki bhabey?(How?).
Swarup weaves in this labyrinth of interrogations about our identities and how we manifest them in our displayed and secret lives; how our identities are constructed and how they gradually dismantle. Swarup Dutta’s solo show KAW is an inquiry into these myths about our identity, who we are and how we become.
Kaw is a series of three bodies of work if viewed in the order in which they have evolved – Khelna-bati, Armour of Weaknesses, and Otherworldly progressing thematically from a space of androgyny to the periphery of struggle, to the eventual evolution of the mutant, ambiguous in both gender and identity. The three bodies of work raise questions about a few dominant ideas. First being ‘play’. This theme becomes a juxtaposition of child-like indulgence, unfettered dalliance to play-acting in a performative sense. His bodies play. With each other, with themselves, with an odd collection of kitchen props which placed out of the usual kitchen context become weapons, sex organs, costumes, and many more things. There is the play of power and there is the play of light. Androgyny is another theme that runs through all the three series. Swarup comments “It would be great if everyone is both male and female”. Swarup’s bodies are androgynous and never sexually obvious, they are various and non-conformist to type, shape, and size. Issues of identity plague us, everyone seems to be trying to save theirs. Which is leading to conflicts worldwide. The artist wants to address these questions of identity and the problems surrounding it, be it sexual, social, political or religious to name a few.
Armor of Weaknesses shows the struggle that the bodies undergo to assume other identities, to become other than what they are. The slipping in and out of painfully and expertly crafted bamboo structures almost like slipping in and out of real and assumed realities and identities.
Otherworldlytakes it to the other end of the spectrum where all lines blur and become hazy. What is may not be? It might as well be something else or something in between. The social construct of identities is kept behind to step into a world of phantasmagoria. In discussing fashion’s association with the otherworldly, he further says, “The individual, the outsider, the pioneer, and the mutant: these are the characters who so frequently lead that mutiny.”
KAW also explores the topic of our encounter with nudity in India. We usually stumble before we engage with this volatile pretension. What does nudity mean within the Indian context? Is it always in the context of erotica that nudity may be discussed? What other ways are there? Playfully nude? Seriously nude? Impoverished nude? Can anything be innocently nude? Are we ready to embrace it? When a Jain monk take his clothes off or a sadhu does the same, why are they any different? Or is it that in all this a subtext of sexual gaze is omnipresent?
KAW is a personal journey questioning who we are. The formats we follow without questioning. And the mythologies we live in. and the mythologies we invent every day. To Survive!!!
KAW: A solo exhibition by Swarup Dutta, Curated by Dr. Paula Sengupta will be hosted at Akar Prakar, Kolkata on 16th Nvember at 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Exhibition Dates: From16th November till 14th December, from 11 am to 7 pm, (Sunday Closed).
