Category: Breaking News

When audiences love a film that rekindles hope, they ensure they watch it in the silver screen. After 8 super weeks, Uunchai is set for a bumper opening at OTT today, running strong in theaters entering 9th showcase week with 112 screens across India. Uunchai will be streaming on  Zee5 from today.

Rajshri Productions’ Uunchai not just brought audiences back to the theatres post the pandemic, but had senior citizens as lead cast and no villains. It followed the old release formula of limited screen count and that surely has paid off, with Uunchai breaking the trend of films lasting a single weekend by entering the glorious 9th week.

Director Sooraj Barjatya made Uunchai from his heart to break the compulsion of proving himself with box office numbers. Uunchai has scaled its own Mount Everest, breaking the barometers of so-called success formulae.

Uunchai boasts of a legendary ensemble, a seasoned director, an iconic production house and a story whose heartbeat is friendship.

Uunchai is Rajshri’s most ambitious film till date. Shot at 17000 plus feet above sea level, with a senior star cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Neena Gupta, Sarika with Parineeti Chopra and Danny Denzongpa. Uunchai is directed by Sooraj R Barjatya, and produced by Rajshri Productions in association with Mahaveer Jain Films and Boundless Media.

Go the nearest theatre with your family and friends to experience Uunchai on the silver screen, and be part of the story of friendship, hope and happiness — moments that promise to last a lifetime!

Uunchai Set For OTT Bumper Opening, Runs Strong With 112 Theatres Pan-India In 9th Showcase Week

As T24, an Icon For Tiger Conservation Dies In Captivity, activists, Warren Pereira, Raveena Tandon, forest officers and activists  remember India’s most controversial Tiger

T-24, popularly called Ustad, the formerly dominant male tiger of Ranthambore died in captivity on December 28, 2022. This big cat who was known to be fearless and a “man-eater” was controversially removed from the wild in 2015 for killing at least 4 men who entered his territory. Activists largely argue that the tiger was acting in self-defense while the forest department believed he was killing humans as prey and had to be removed in the larger interest of conservation. Yet other believe that some other predator was responsible for human kills attributed to T-24.

Social media brawls, ‘Save Ustad’ billboards, the High Court, The Supreme Court and candle light marches were wall part of the uproar around this powerful specimen of the national animal of India. The tiger, 16 or 17 years old, was having several health issues in his zoo enclosure in spite of the best care, eventually succumbing to cancer. He was mourned by Indian’s from all walks of life including those who were more intimately involved with his case:

“I am grateful for the time I had with T24. He was handsome, powerful and had a cool beard but mostly I followed him in the wild for years because I liked him. Little did I know that he would become an icon for tiger conservation and die for it. His story has the power to elevate the lives of other large predators. I will always remember him as a dominant male tiger in the wild.”

——Warren Pereira Filmmaker, Director of TIGER 24 Documentary

“Ustad is back! Back where he belongs. After a long and weary life his bold stripes now freely roam the jungles of Ranthambhore in eternal peace. Invisible to the eyes, his spirit moves on. It can be felt. Worldly matters and sufferings left behind; it is total bliss. It’s like being a cub again! Gratitude to all who loved and cared for Ustad.”

—Y.K.Sahu,  Ex. Field Director, Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

“I tracked the T-24 saga because I am passionate about tigers and wildlife. It is saddening that the victim of man-animal conflict is a   dominant male tiger with cubs to protect who got removed from his home for killing men who invaded his territory. Ustad’s death should be an eyeopener for all of us humans. Man-animal conflict is eternal, but something needs to change with tiger conservation. Or we will soon have none left!”

—-Raveena Tandon, Actress and Wildlife Activist

“My memories of T-24 date back to 2013 when I was the park manager at Ranthambhore. He used to be the one of the most popular tigers because of his strong build. Unfortunately, he was implicated in the killing of men and was declared a danger to human life by the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Jaipur High Court. After the fourth kill I was concerned that T-24 would be shot dead or sent to a zoo with small enclosures. So, I requested the CWLW to transfer him to Sajjangarh Biological Park which was under my control and had large one-hectare enclosures. It was a massive undertaking to house a full-grown wild tiger, but he was given the highest level of care and we kept him safely for 7 years till his recent passing. Till the very end he maintained his wild side.”

—-Rahul Bhatnagar IFS  Ex. Chief Conservator Of The Forest

“I believe that certain documentaries need to be seen on the big screen. TIGER 24 is one of them. To see exclusive footage of India’s most controversial tiger on the big screen is a treat. With T24’s recent passing I now feel even stronger about TIGER 24’s theatrical run given that he has sparked a national conversation on man-animal conflict. TIGER 24’s screenings with be a tribute to this magnificent jungle cat and his contribution to the conservation of our national animal.”

—–Anil Thadani Film Distributor

“Ustad is the one who triggered my activism for wild tigers when I saw him lose his freedom to the tag of ‘man-eater’. I began to see the plight of our wild tigers beyond the showcased tiger sightings, glorified visuals, and implied vacuous conservation efforts.”

—–Sarita Subramaniam Activist.

 

T24 Ustad Dies In Captivity  Nation Mourns

Chéf Master Vicky Ratnani will be trying vegan this January.

Celebrated chef Vicky Ratnani of Vicky Goes Veg fame has decided to try vegan this January. He has joined the global movement Veganuary and millions others to start 2023 on a positive note by exploring a vegan diet.

Launched in 2014, Veganuary is a charity that encourages people to try vegan in January and beyond, as a way to improve their health , help animals and the planet. Anyone can sign up for free. This January is the 10th global anniversary of the movement. In India, it is supported by 10 popular vegans including Actors Soundarya Sharma, Amy Aela, Arvind Krishna, Sadaa Sayed, Sneha Ullal; Musicians Monica Dogra, Anushka Manchanda; Athlete Vishwajeet Sangle and Mountaineers Prakriti Varshney, Kuntal Joisher who are its Ambassadors.

Happy about his decision to try vegan, Vicky Ratnani said ‘I’m a master of vegetarian cooking as I’ve shown in my show Vicky goes veg. Now I’m taking it up a notch by eating vegan this January. Vegan dishes are full of flavour, nutrition and variety that will blow your mind. I’ll be showcasing some of my best vegan dishes throughout January. They’re easy to make and I hope you’ll join me and take a journey into vegan cooking’

Many Indian brands have joined the Veganuary phenomenon and introduced special offers on their vegan products to make them more accessible to anyone trying vegan during the month. Popular Veganuary supporters include Nature’s Basket, BigBasket, Baskin Robbins, Epigamia, Blue Tribe, Wingreens, Go Zero, Noto and Papa Cream. More than 70 brands from India are supporting the global movement, and the number is still growing.

Sohil Wazir, Chief Commercial Officer of Blue Tribe said “Veganism has become instrumental in the fight against degrading environmental conditions. Maybe this is the reason why celebrities like Lewis Hamilton, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, MS Dhoni, Ritesh Deshmukh, Genelia Dsouza, Tom Ford are vehemently standing in support of a plant-based planet-friendly diet. Blue Tribe aims to awaken a lifestyle change among non-vegetarian food lovers to opt for options that are a conscious choice towards the healing process of mother earth. In wake of Veganuary month we are offering a discount on all our products this January to encourage people to make a conscious decision”

Pawan Sarda, Group CMO & Head, D2C at Wingreens World observed “The popularity of vegan diet is the mark of a more conscious generation that cares about a sustainable future. At Wingreens World, we’re proud to have a vast range that caters to this very consumer, and are happy to partner with Veganuary this 2023 to promote health, wellbeing and changing for good!”

Veganuary provides free resources and daily coaching emails for 31 days to anyone trying vegan for a month. For 2023 January, they have included a new vegan starter kit for Indian participants answering all questions on veganism, more Indian recipes, a one-pot meal plan to help make meals cheaper and quicker, as well as an updated celebrity e-cookbook featuring recipes from global celebs including Venus Williams and Dr Jane Goodall. Veganuary’s new podcast series launches on 1^st January alongside a new 31-day YouTube series, both designed to offer people additional ways to participate.

Mr. Viraj Bahl, Founder and Managing Director of Veeba Foods shared “We are proud to partner with Veganuary this year, as I feel that this is a great platform for first timers, as well as veteran vegans. Veganuary not only makes it easier but also pumps in the motivation and encouragement to sustain a vegan lifestyle, no matter where you are in your journey by showcasing plant based options available to switch to Vegan. With Earthmade products too, our aim would always be to support you in this journey by offering vegan as well as organic products that help sustain the healthy lifestyle and a better planet.”

Dr. Vidya, Chief Innovation Officer of Hatti Kaapi expressed happiness at supporting Veganuary and said “Protecting the planet has been a significant goal for Hatti Kaapi and in the recent past, vegan food giveaways are popular among many initiatives that we have taken up. Veganuary is our favourite and we are thrilled to be a part of this effort; big thanks to Veganuary for getting people to participate in the Plant-based movement and to make veganism a mainstream lifestyle”

Vimal Sharma, CEO & Founder, SMOOR Chocolates noted “Our customers have always admired us for our authentic menu, and it was reflected in how they have demanded and loved our vegan dishes. Vegan is emerging as one of the most preferred dietary options, for the health benefits it offers. We are happy to take a step further in the direction by participating in Veganuary 2023”

As part of their employee engagement programmes, companies are educating employees on the options of healthy eating as a way to promote employee health and wellbeing. India’s leading pharmaceutical company- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories- is encouraging their staff to try vegan this January, as part of the Veganuary Workplace Challenge.

Veganuary’s India head Prashanth Vishwanath welcomed these developments and said “I am thrilled to have so much support for Veganuary from celebrities and companies alike. It shows the enormous interest Indians have in veganism, and that vegan foods are next big thing in the market. Our partnerships show that veganism is now mainstream, and reflects a conscious choice to live a healthy, compassionate, planet-friendly life with zero compromises on taste and nutrition.”

Note to editor-
Veganuary is a global charity that encourages people worldwide to try vegan for January and beyond. It was founded in 2014 and since then more than 2.5 million people have taken the 31-day plant-based pledge from almost every country in the world. With campaign hubs now in Germany, USA, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, India and the UK, Veganuary has truly become a global phenomenon. This New Year’s revolution has also been embraced by businesses, with hundreds of companies taking part in Veganuary last year, launching more than 1540 new vegan products and menu items.

2023 is Veganuary’s 10^th global anniversary. Veganuary is free to join, and people can sign-up at veganuary.com to receive our Celebrity eCookbook, the Official Veganuary Starter Kit, and 31 daily emails packed with nutritional info, delicious recipes, meal plans, and helpful advice.

Vicky Goes Vegan – Top Brands Join The Veganuary Phenomenon

THE AMPH – MUMBAI’S NIGHTLIFE GETS A NEW ADDRESS!  The grand and glittering launch of Mumbai’s newest classy night club THE AMPH owned by dynamic entrepreneur Hema Chowdhary marks its arrival in the city in great style. Among the celeb guests who thronged the venue with gusto and highpitched spirit were popular actress Ankita Patel, Payal Ghosh, Bhumika Singh, Gehana Vasisth, Jaya Bhattacharjee, actor Mahesh Shetty, Rani Patel, Vini Rana, Aadya Singh, singer-actress Anupam Shukla, ‘gold-men’ brothers with their trademark heavy gold chains and popular Punjabi rap-singer Dil Sandhu.
“THE AMPH isn’t just night club. It represents the spirit of Mumbai. It brings happiness to the faces of customers who after a day’s hardwork want to unwind and chillout in a relaxed atmosphere with good drinks, excellent food with nice well-behaving people,” told Hema.
THE AMPH has two specially marked areas with special tables, dance floor, a classy bar and a Dj podium. Noted actor and politico Mukesh Tyagi praised Hema for her hardwork and sincere efforts in setting up the night club. “Hema represents empowerment of women,” said Tyagi as a matter of fact.
Here’s wishing Hema all the best for her dream venture, THE AMPH..!

Pics :- Ramakant Munde Mumbai

  

Hema Chowdhary, Mukesh Tyagi, Ankita Patel, Adya Singh, Vini Rana, Arshi Khan, Payal Ghosh, Gehna Vashishtha were present at the grand opening of Night Club “The Amph”.