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More Felicitations (Day 1064)

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Ever since the news of my being conferred with the Padma Shri has been made public, I have been privileged to be felicitated by so many institutions and Ryan International Group is the latest.

5.4.17 iOn their annual day held at St Andrews Auditorium in Mumbai attended by their international faculty and all the parents of the students, it was an exhilarating experience to be a part of the anxiety and excitement.

There is something about an atmosphere that involves students and  all of us adults on the stage were part of that special experience.

(to be continued)

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5 April, 2017
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Motivation Lectures (Day 1063)

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While most academics emphasize on public speaking skills only in the secondary section of school, Ryan International Group I have observed groom their students in motivation classes from the primary section itself.

4.4.17 iiSo many times in the past I have gone to their different schools to address the students and share my experiences as a student and later as a professional.  I am not sure how much they understood but they listened in rapt attention and when the lecture was over, they asked intelligent questions.

The principal and the teachers have taken me on a tour around the school building and introduced me to the various extra- curricular activities participated by the children.  I noticed there was as much happening indoors as outdoors and the children had the freedom of choice whether they wanted to pursue music or sport.

When I was leaving, a bright-eyed student asked me, ‘Ma’am did you always want to be a writer or you discovered that when you became older?’ Why I asked the young girl. ‘Because I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up and I’m wondering if that is okay?’

Absolutely okay because life chooses paths for you as long as you continue walking.

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4 April, 2017
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RIG 40 Years Not Out (Day 1062)

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The Ryan International Group has widespread interest in the sphere of quality education with a commitment to excellence. Their school in Mumbai that was started in 1976 and has since then grown and branched over a span of 40 years.

Today, one of India’s leading institutions, RIG is recognized for providing academic excellence to students. This is facilitated by dedicated educators who are trained to channelize students’ energy and resources towards child-centered qualitative learning. RIG has recently also ventured into International boundaries by establishing friendship institutions all across the globe.

3.4.17 iiInspired by RIG’s charismatic Founder Chairman Dr. Augustine F. Pinto and ably supported by the Managing Director Madam Grace Pinto, RIC Group Management has evolved into a cohesive and well-knit network of academicians, researchers, and professionals.

(to be continued)

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3 April, 2017
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Movie Review: Naam Shabana is disappointing 

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Film Review: Naam ShabanaDate: 31 March 2017

Producer: Neeraj Pandey & Shital Bhatia

Director: Shivam Nair

Cast: Tapsee Pannu, Akshay Kumar, Prithviraj Sukumaran,Manoj Bajpayee

Rating: 2 stars

Shabana Khan/ Tapsee Pannu lives in Mumbai’s crowded Mohamed Ali road with her widowed mother and shares all her secrets with her. On the surface, she is a regular college going girl who attends lectures and spends time with friends but gradually you discover that she is different from her friends and there is a reason why she trains in self-defense and will not submit to a silent admirer who she is secretly attracted to.

Khan is unaware that she is being followed at every step and one dark night, when she gets into trouble it is her mysterious follower who sends her aid.

Naam Shabana is a spy thriller where she is singled out for a dangerous mission! The Agency/ Manoj Bajpaye has its reasons for choosing her out of thousands of candidates and Shabana has personal agenda for agreeing to be a part of the daring deal.

As the story shifts from the cheerful college and the buzzing Mohamed Ali Road to a discreet, desolate venue, the mood turns ominous and the tension builds up when Shabana travels first to Goa and then to Kolalampur.

The film is a sequel of the banner’s 2015 release Baby and this is probably the first time that a minor character of the prequel has inspired a sequel.

What goes in favor of the film is the evocative writing, real locations and chilling action. The negative is the film is unusually lengthy and could do with sharp editing. The second half is slow paced and overlooks important characters like Shabana’s mother and Manoj Bajpaye which makes the narrative one tracked and a dull watch.

If only writer Neeraj Pandey had been more diligent and detailed screenplay…

However the good thing about the film is that all the actors of Baby, Danny Danzongpa /Anupam Kher /Akshay Kumar make a cameo in the sequel.

The bad is that we cannot help comparing Naam Shabana with Baby and the sequel pales in comparison with the prequel.

As the Agency chief Manoj Bajpayee is controlled and effective, as Tony/Prithviraj Sukumaran is refreshing. As Shabana Khan Tapsee Pannu punches her oppressors with as much force as she controls her emotions.

From the intimidated professional in Pink Tapsee matures to a hardened, fearless voice exposing the evils of society and delivers a stark, remarkable and measured performance.

I rate Naam Shabana with 2.5 stars.

30 March, 2017
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The Legacy of Chandanbala (Day 1061)

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Shila Mehta is a renowned Kathak dancer who has performed all over the world with her troupe.  She lives both s in India and New Jersy and teaches dance to students. In India recently to perform her popular Mahasati which is based on the legacy of Chandabala and propagates the the Jain philosophy, the production is a treat to watch. Nehru Auditorium was house-full to applaud the actor for her unique concept and execution.

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30 March, 2017
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Pt Pandharinath Kolhapure Marg (Day 1060)

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Nobody knows how and why certain roads are named and renamed but the best news is that Gulmohar Cross Road 12 JVPD scheme will be now called Pt Pandharinath Kolhapure Marg.

The announcement over the coconut breaking was done by Uddhav Thackeray and Asha Bhosle. The happy occasion was followed by a private gathering of close friends and family.

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29 March, 2017
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Sonata – Female Bonding (Day 1059)

By Films

Sonata is the psychological exploration of three unmarried women facing a mid-life crisis Aruna Chaturvedi, a banker Dolon Sen, a professor and Subhadra Parekh, a journalist. It is a film about these three friends, their bonding and their gaze in a male dominated society
28.3.17 ii

Director of the film Aparna Sen says, “I have attempted to explore the various aspects of being feminine and to make the story relevant I introduced two characters (a maid, thereby cutting across class borders, and a transgender woman) apart from the single women protagonists. This was a major decision because these characters don’t exist in the original play.”

That is not the only change Sen has incorporated in the film, she has changed the climax to include a tragedy culminating in an event of global magnitude, confronted with which there is a shift in the personal anxieties and their everyday joys and sorrows pale into insignificance, but also strengthens the bond of friendship.

A HK Studios Film Sonata 103 minute film is based on Mahesh Elkunchwar’s play by the same name. Adapted and directed by Aparna Sen and starring three remarkable actresses Aparna Sen, Shabana Azmi and Lilette Dubey, the music is rendered by Neel Dutt.

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28 March, 2017
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Durgeshwari Alias Baisaab (Day 1058)

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ZEE Theatre, a special offering from the stable of the leading global content company ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd launched Agnipankh in Mumbai.

Directed by acclaimed actor Ganesh Yadav, the play features Mita Vashisht playing the lead role of Durgeshwari along with Satyajit Sharma, Gulki Joshi, Prasad Jawade, Raksha Shetty, Somesh Agarwal, Dinkar Gawande and Sumukha. Premiered on Saturday, March 25 at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Bandra Road Agnipankh is a historical drama set in a newly independent India with the winds of change sweeping across the country.

27.3.17 iiDurgeshwari or Baisaab as she is reverently called by all is a wealthy Brahmin taking over from her husband’s inability of looking after the family heritage. She rules with an iron fist and instills fear in all. Her disdain for the lower castes and her zest for power fail her in her responsibilities as a mother, wife and more importantly, the changing times.

It is only when the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated by a Nathuram Godse that Durgeshwari accepts that her time to play Baisab is over. It is a role of a lifetime and Mita Vashisht says she is delighted to be chosen for Agnipankh because her role as Durgeshwari, shows not only the struggle of a woman with societal obligations, but also portrays her struggle with the family.

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27 March, 2017
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