Author: SITHARA

My passion in life is driven by meeting new people, connecting with them, knowing their stories, because for me that’s the best way to embrace new cultures when you travel.
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A-Z Films has picked up ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir’

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Film stars renowned Indian Actor Dhanush in the lead 

A-Z Films has picked up The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, a comedy adventure by Quebec director Ken Scott (Starbuck, Delivery Man, Unfinished Business, La Grande Séduction) and starring the well-known Indian actor Dhanush, and featuring Bérénice Béjo (The Artist) Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) Erin Moriarty (Blood Father) and Abel Jafri (Timbuktu). Rounding out the cast is Gérard Jugnot, Ben Miller, Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse, Stefano Cassetti.

A co-production between France, India and Belgium, the English-language feature will be distributed in Canada by A-Z films, and released day and date with US, India and Canada on June 21.  

The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir most recently won the Audience Award for Best Comedy at the Barcelona Sant-Jordi International Film Festival, and was the opening night film at the International Film Festival of South Asia, in Toronto.

The screenplay was written by author Romain Puértolas, and Luc Bossi who also is producing through his Paris-based company Brio Films. Other co-producers include Vamonos Films, Little Red Car Films, Scope Pictures, M! Capital Ventures, Impact Films and Golden Ratio Films.

The film has been adapted from Puértolas’ novel “The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe,” which came out in 2014 and has been translated into 35 languages.

A hustler from Mumbai embarks on an extraordinary voyage across Europe in search of his estranged father. During his trip, he finds love in a Swedish furniture store in Paris, but danger with Somalian migrants ensues and he ends up in London, then more threats follow the young man until he finds himself in Rome, where an unlikely threat shadows the hustler on to a hot-air balloon that rides across the Med. Continue reading “A-Z Films has picked up ‘The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir’”

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#MonsterWorld Mashup brings a free outdoor concert to Brampton

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#MonsterWorld Concert on June 1 at Garden Square in downtown Brampton will feature a diverse setlist of world music artists and an assortment of dance performers all for FREE! The impressive line-up at the free festival on June 2 will be hosted by Randy Persaud and will feature headliner Parichay, an Indo-Canadian Bollywood Music Composer who has worked with Bollywood stars like Sonakshi Sinha and globally renowned artists like Sean Kingston. Dance acts by Flower City Bhangra will be lighting up the stage with their fire moves.

RAAG Canada, a GTA based Bollywood band, will also be playing hit Bollywood numbers and fusions that audiences are sure to love. The lineup also includes Ankita, a Toronto-based singer; Staasia Daniels, an R&B singer/songwriter from Toronto who has headlined at Drake Underground; The Band Destiny, a West Indian Crossover music band; Waris Virse De, a vibrant Bhangra group.

“#MonsterWorld Mashup is a different kind of festival, and that’s what we aspire to do at the Monster Creative Collective: bring never-before-seen sets and entertainment to audiences in the GTA,” says Artistic Director of MonstrARTity, Vikas Kohli. “These artists are not only extremely talented, but they also represent the new faces of Brampton and the GTA. We are excited to carve out a space for world music festivals in Brampton by featuring diverse performers like Parichay, The Destiny Band and Flower City Bhangra.”

The two-day festival will kick off with the #MonsterWorld Launch Party & Comedy on May 31 at the Chinguacousy Ski Chalet that will have you laughing and dancing the night away. Hosted by Amish Patel and featuring Headliner Nick Reynoldson of Just for Laughs fame, #MonsterWorld Launch Party & Comedy will also showcase side-splitting comedy acts by Vandad Kardar, Edworld Kim, Harpreet Sehmbi, Johnny Batta, and Brandon Ash-Mohammed. Get your tickets today for the #MonsterWorld Launch Party & Comedy at www.monsterworldmashup.com. Continue reading “#MonsterWorld Mashup brings a free outdoor concert to Brampton”

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Historic Victory for Shri Narendra Modi in 2019 Elections!

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Prime Minister receives congratulatory telephone calls from world leaders

India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received congratulatory telephone calls from leaders across the world including from Ms. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Mr. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, King of Bhutan; Dr. Lotay Shering, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal; Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of Maldives; Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka; Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia;  Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of France;  Mr. Abe Shinzo, Prime Minister of Japan; Mr. Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia; Mr. Pravind Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Mauritius; Mr. Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of UAE; and Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel on the victory in the General Elections 2019. Continue reading “Historic Victory for Shri Narendra Modi in 2019 Elections!”

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Cherry Blossoms in Bloom @ Mississauga’s Kariya Park

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You’ll want to have your phone on hand for some Instagram-worthy photos worth capturing.

Kariya Park will soon be dazzled by 65 beautiful cherry blossom trees and they’re officially in bloom! Nestled in the heart of Mississauga’s downtown, this serene Japanese-style park honours the City’s twin-city relationship with Kariya, Japan.

ry blossoms bloom for a very short time until their petals start to fall. Add Kariya Park to your bucket list this spring if you haven’t visited it yet! We’ve put together an official checklist of things to look out for when you visit.

  • Inside the gatehouse entrance, keep an eye out for the stone tsukabai basin – which was hand-carved by Fumio Naito, a sculptor from Kariya, Japan
  • Revel in nature’s beauty of rhododendrons, pines, gingko and sweetgum trees
  • Checkout the zig zag boardwalk, which crosses a marsh containing Japanese irises and other water-loving plants
  • Don’t miss the cascade waterfall with overhanging red Japanese maple
  • Take in the view of the dry stream bed, representing a flowing stream with different sizes of stones, carefully placed to imitate fast and slow-moving currents
  • Relax by the duck pond
  • Note the turtle rock in the pond, which represents a turtle climbing out of the water
  • As you stand on the bridge looking ahead at the large pond, you will see a group of rocks along the shoreline that represent a mother duck and her ducklings
  • Located in the pavilion, don’t miss the Friendship Bell, which is rung on ceremonial occasions
  • Continue reading “Cherry Blossoms in Bloom @ Mississauga’s Kariya Park”
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“Stand By” – Countdown to ICC World Cup Cricket 2019 Tournament Begins!

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“STAND BY” THE ICC MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP OFFICIAL SONG, BY LORYN AND RUDIMENTAL IS RELEASED
  • The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup official song “Stand By” with LORYN and Rudimental has been released and is now available across all streaming platforms.
  • “Stand By” is set to become one of the biggest songs of the summer, being played on the ground and across televised events as part of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Official Song “Stand By” is now available to the world as the countdown to the tournament enters the final two weeks.

“Stand By” – a collaboration between new artist LORYN and one of the UK’s most successful and influential  acts, Rudimental – will be played in ground and city events across the tournament as the official song to this summer’s showpiece event.

The exciting partnership celebrates the cultural diversity of The United Kingdom and was announced earlier in May at an exclusive event hosted by Radio 1 Breakfast DJ, Greg James in discussion with Cricket World Cup Ambassador Freddie Flintoff and LORYN.

“Stand By” will be played around the world and provide a common voice for fans to show their passion.

The tournament will run from 30 May to 14 July. The semi-finals will be played at Old Trafford in Manchester and Edgbaston in Birmingham on 9 and 11 July respectively, while Lord’s will host the final on 14 July.

Continue reading ““Stand By” – Countdown to ICC World Cup Cricket 2019 Tournament Begins!”

Business, CommunityLeave a comment

Opportunity to own Industrial Units in GTA!

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Opportunity to own Industrial Units in GTA!

 — Neel Venugopal Tel: 647.459.5648 or by email neel@kolt.ca

We have some exciting news for business owners and investors to own Industrial storage and manufacturing units in GTA.  For a very long time only large business could afford to buy their warehouse units and that would mean buying a big building at a high cost. Thanks to some entrepreneurial companies, recently we have seen a model wherein the building is sub-divided and sold as industrial condo units similar to residential condominiums. This can’t come at a better time with GTA Industrial market now facing unprecedented demand.

The purchaser basically owns only his or her unit within the building and the balance of the property is managed by the condo corporation. This model is extremely attractive to small and medium business owners who typically rent from 1,000 to 10,000 square feet of space. By owning the unit and with lower cost financing available in the market, purchaser basically pay a monthly amount similar in concept to monthly rental payment. Through this purchase, business owners build equity over a period of time and can establish the business with a peace of mind that they would not be asked to move out or forced to pay substantially higher rents during lease renewals.

This model is also becoming popular among investors as demand for industrial rental units is high in GTA. The investor can rent the unit for a longer term usually 5 years as compared to residential leases which are usually renewed every year. Continue reading “Opportunity to own Industrial Units in GTA!”

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Gulzarish-A Unique Combination of Music & Dance!

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ARTISTIC DISPLAY OF GULZAR’S SOULFUL POETRY AND MUSIC FOR TORONTONIANS

Indian Women in Canada (iWINC), in partnership with Imagebuilderz, announced one of the classiest shows coming to Toronto later this month.    GULZARISH, an artistic display of soulful poetry and captivating music of renowned lyricist and film director GULZAR, will be presented at the Aga Khan Museum on May 31, 2019 bringing a unique combination of music and dance, accompanied by superb narration.

“We all know Gulzar – well known Indian poet, lyricist, and film director, who began his career in the sixties with the film Bandini,” said iWINC founding members at Mantra restaurant on May 4, 2019 at the prestigious Mantra restaurant in Toronto.   “Over the years, Gulzar Sahab has done films like Aandhi, Mausam and Mirza Ghalib and has won many awards including the Padma Bhushan,  the Sahitya Akademi Award and the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.”

Prashant Sarnaik, founder of P.S. It’s the Karaoke Klub and the mastermind behind GULZARISH, provided a teaser of what to expect at the Live show that will be making its Canadian debut in Toronto.

“Gulzarish is the first dream project conceptualized by taking Gulzar Sahab’s fans through a mesmerizing journey of his poetry and film career by music and narration by all local artists,” said Sarnaik along with his art director Sheetal Kulkarni, providing a glimpse into the show by singing a few lines from Gulzar’s popular music including Dil to Bachcha hai ji and lakdi ki kathi, etc.  “We have a mandate to create a platform for local artists, pursue personal passion for music and fundraise for underprivileged children and women.” Continue reading “Gulzarish-A Unique Combination of Music & Dance!”

Global, Health, LifestyleLeave a comment

The Best Gift for Mother’s Day?

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 Help Mom Live a Long, Healthy  Life with the Mediterranean Diet (and These Delicious Recipes)–By Amy Riolo

May is Mediterranean Diet Month, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, most of us are busy planning the perfect present for Mom. The usual gifts of flowers and cards are nice ideas, but the greatest gift you could give your mother is helping her achieve lasting health.  The best way to show love to your mother on Mother’s Day is by making a meaningful contribution to her life. Let your mom know that you love her, and that’s why you want her to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Introducing her to the healthful and delicious dishes from the Mediterranean region is a great way to do just that.

You’ve likely heard of the Mediterranean diet, which was recently named best overall diet of 2019 and has been shown to help extend your lifespan by roughly a decade. This eating pattern has also been linked to preventing heart attacks, strokes, certain cancers, and diabetes, and reducing inflammation. It may even help lower your risk of dementia by a third.

The Mediterranean eating pattern centers around seasonal produce, fish and seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, and small amounts of meat and sweets. Part of what makes this diet so successful is that people in the Mediterranean region consider food to be a friend and ally—a source of pleasure, nutrition, history, medicine, and tradition. When combined with lifestyle choices like communal eating and physical activity, the Mediterranean diet is believed to contribute to remarkable longevity in the region. For example, residents in Sardinia are ten times more likely to live past 100 than people in the United States.

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to help your mother make the lifestyle changes that can give her a longer and more joyful life. Continue reading “The Best Gift for Mother’s Day?”

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ICFF celebrates Italian Oscar winners from GreenBook and Life is Beautiful

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— Highlights of the bold 2019 lineup!

Film lovers can expect another glamorous, star-studded Italian Contemporary Film Festival across Canada this June, with more movies and guest stars than ever, including writer and producer of the 2019 Best Picture Green Book, Nick Vallelonga, and renowned Italian composer, Nicola Piovani, winner of the 1999 Oscar for Best Original Score for Life is Beautiful.

Among the many stars arriving from Italy for this year’s festival are Ezio Greggio, Claudio Gubitosi, Luca Barbareschi, Fabio De Luigi and Piera Detassis.

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival, presented by IC Savings and in affiliation with Fare Cinema, announced the lineup for its 8th edition at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto today. The 2019 program features 128 diverse and acclaimed films, including dozens of shorts and documentaries, totalling more than 190 screenings across the country – its largest and most ambitious program to date, which will see no shortage of star power.

Guests of the 2019 festival will include Nick Vallelonga, writer and producer of the 2019 Academy Award-winning film for Best Picture and Best Screenplay, Green Book; world-renowned Italian composer Nicola Piovani, winner of the 1999 Oscar for Best Original Score for Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella); Continue reading “ICFF celebrates Italian Oscar winners from GreenBook and Life is Beautiful”

Business, Global, India, TravelLeave a comment

Non-Stop to New York: New Delta Airlines to take off from Mumbai on Dec 24th

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• Flight connects financial capitals of United States and India, linking New York-JFK and Mumbai
with the only nonstop service by a U.S. carrier
• Delta will fly the route with a newly renovated Boeing 777-200LR, featuring the airline’s awardwinning product, seatback entertainment throughout, Wi-Fi connectivity and free mobile messaging

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will begin flying nonstop from Mumbai to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from December 24, 2019. This route establishes a new link between the financial capitals of two large trade partners and boosts competition, choice and options for customers traveling between India and the United States.

“Delta’s nonstop service between New York and Mumbai is the latest example of our international growth as we strive to connect the world better than any other airline,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer.

Connecting through New York’s JFK, customers have access to more than 50 onward destinations throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Demand for flights between the U.S. and India has increased by 60 percent in the last decade, and New York is the largest U.S. market to India with the largest base of corporate customers. Continue reading “Non-Stop to New York: New Delta Airlines to take off from Mumbai on Dec 24th”