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NAACH MERI JAAN

Glitterati Entertainment and Sanskriti Arts present

NAACH MERI JAAN

A Reality Dance Competition for the first time in Toronto

– To Find The Next Dancing Superstars -

In Partnership with Pria Haider and Naved Jaffrey

March 6 – Auditions Begin

TORONTO, CANADA – February 5, 2015: Glitterati Entertainment and Sanskriti Arts present NAACH MERI JAAN (NMJ), a Reality Dance Competition taking place for the first time in Toronto.     Brought to North America by Pria Haider and Naved Jaffrey, the Dance Competition was created to promote the awareness of talent revolving around the South Asian dance forms including Bhangra, Bollywood, Fusion, etc.

The highlight of the event will be to find the next Dancing Superstars from thousands of contestants in Toronto and 11 cities in the USA.  While Toronto finalists will receive a gift hamper and dance scholarships, the New York Grand Finale winner will get to be part of a Bollywood Movie and receive a Portfolio shot by a renowned Bollywood photographer.

“Naach Meri Jaan will be the first of its kind and the biggest dance competition in North America.  We will be challenging this year’s artists to interpret Bollywood music, to explore classical, freestyle and new forms of cultural fusion in performance,” says Puja Amin of Glitterati Entertainment who is bringing this Reality Dance Competition to Torontonians.   Auditions begin March 6, 2015 and contestants’ performances in the following categories will be judged by the likes of Javed Jaffrey, Rujuta Vaidya and Vatsal Sheth. 

Kids 5 – 15 years – Solo/Group

Adult 16 years and over – Solo/Group
All Ages – Duet
There will be a finalist competing in New York in each of the categories
“Dance is a means not only to showcase artistic talent, but also to develop self-confidence and enhance awareness about health, fitness and musical sensibilities. The main motivation behind this competition is to create a platform and bring together the best of contemporary, fusion and classical Indian culture for the entire family,” says Amin. 
Toronto finals will take place on April 25, 2015 at the Toronto Centre of the Arts and viewed by thousands of people from all demographics for a South Asian cultural extravaganza on local television and Star Plus, India. 
Event Flow:
March 6-14:   Auditions Begin
6th March:   6-9 pm
7th March:   2-5 pm
13th March: 6-9 pm
14th March: 2-5 pm
April 4:  Semi Finals
April 5 – 10: Event Launch and Reception announcing the Finalists
April 25:     Toronto Winner Announcement at the Grand Finale
Toronto Centre For The Arts, George Weston Hall, 5040 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M2N 6R8..

·         Broadcast on local Channels and Star Plus, India

·         Video Display of auditions in various cities around the Greater Toronto Area

·         Event Audience of 1000 is expected

Download Application Form at: http://www.glitteratientertainment.com/images/NMJ%202015%20Season%201%20Application%20Form-.pdf
About Naach Meri Jaan (NMJ):

Naach Meri Jaan is a reality dance competition brought to you by Pria Haider and Naved Jaffrey.   This dance competition was created to promote the awareness of talent revolving around the South Asian dance forms including Bhangra, Bollywood, Fusion, etc. and is designed to showcase some of the most talented children, men and women comprising individual contestants, couples and dance teams.  NMJ is the first of its kind in bringing an Indian reality dance competition on for South Asians to the United States and Canada.  NMJ is set to take place in over 12 cities in North America, with semifinals and finals set to be broadcast by Star Plus.  Three of India’s most renowned judges Javed Jaffrey, Ravi Behl and Naved Jaffrey have teamed up with Pria Haider and Sparks to help make this the biggest dance competition for the continent.

About Glitterati Entertainment

Glitterati Entertainment has been founded by Puja Amin, Silky Kanthed and Puroo Kaul and their mandate is to create the most mesmerizing experience in entertainment based on all the vibrant sensations India has to offer.   Glitterati founders’ vision is revolutionize the definition of family entertainment for audiences who have brought well known Bollywood celebrities such as fashion designer Vikram Phadnis, supermodel Malaika Arora, actor Dino Morea and singing sensation Neha Kakkar to North America.  They are now extending their audiences to Toronto.

About Sanskriti Arts

Established in 2003, Sanskriti Arts is the brainchild of Puja Amin who has brought together performers with a passion for dance and extreme drive to explore their potential.    Under her tutelage, the company takes pride in raising awareness of the various forms of South Asian dance, spread Indian culture and ethnicity through traditional and contemporary dance and music performances.   They have been a pioneer in authentic South Asian Entertainment including classical, folk and Bollywood repertoire.  The Sanskriti Arts Ensemble has performed in concerts and music videos for Falguni Pathak, Boman Irani, Lisa Ray, Jonita Gandhi, Sukhwinder Singh, Lata Mangeshkar, Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor amongst others.

I have always believed in equality for women --Akshay Kumar

International superstar Akshay Kumar has kicked off the New Year with a stylish and playful photo shoot for renowned celebrity photographer, Dabboo Ratnani’s 2015 calendar. The annual calendar, which has become a notable showbiz event in India since its debut in 1999, capturedAkshay Kumar looking dapper and suave in a black waistcoat and formal trousers.

Akshay Kumar, who is currently promoting his latest movie, Baby, never fails to keep his fans entertained, as he is seen in a monochrome frame posing on a mini tricycle!

The ‘Baby’ leading man tweeted a first look of the image and also shared it on his Instagram page with the tongue-in-cheek strapline: ‘Keep the child in you alive’

‘Baby’, a highly anticipated action thriller, sees Akshay reunited with director Neeraj Pandey, who teamed up on the critically-acclaimed film ‘Special 26’. The film releases worldwide on 23^rd January 2015.

Here's an exclusive interview of the Superstar as given to Usha Pudukkotai:

Usha:    Could you please tell us about your role in the upcoming movie 'Baby'?

Akshay: It’s true that I am playing another Special Forces role, but the characters are very different. Holiday was a real mix of genres, crossing between thriller and rom –com but Baby doesn’t really have that light hearted side. My role in Baby, Ajay, is a grim brutal character, as if Virat from ‘Holiday’ had lost his sense of humour.  I did love that about Virat, he had two different sides to him, he was a really complex man. Yes, he had a social life and chased the girls, but he couldn’t ever switch off. I think that even my character in ‘Holiday’ had a line which he probably wouldn’t cross; Ajay is the sort of person who would do whatever was necessary to keep his country safe.

There are a lot of messages that will be conveyed through Baby. We can see in the trailer that the film also tackles the issue of terrorism but I want people to watch the film and realize the other messages that we want to convey.

Usha:   What is your fitness 'mantra? Could you comment about the 6-pack and 8-pack trend in the industry?

Akshay: I wake up very early, I swim, rock-climb, cycle, climb stairs, condition, swing, walk on my hands, attempt a bit of Yoga, I love functional training with gymnastic equipment and I play a lot of sports with my kids. I am what I eat, when I become strict I’m very lean and become fast in my action and dancing. When I’m naughty I become tired and sluggish, and it reminds me that a disciplined life is far more enjoyable than a sloppy greedy one; it may be nice for a week or two a year, but I like being fit, I feel awful mentally and physically when I take my body and my health for granted.

Usha:  Safety of women is a huge concern in India. It is very commendable that you have launched the new Martial Arts Institute for women in India. What are some other ways to protect the vulnerable, in your opinion?

Akshay: I have always believed in equality for women, women having the same opportunities, strength and capabilities as men, and the power to achieve everything and anything they want to. Talking about what motivated me starting up this initiative - the self-defence of women in India has been a major concern lately and not only has it gained immense media attention in India for all the wrong reasons, but also internationally. The thought that a man can think he can overpower a woman whenever he wants to and take advantage of her when she is defenceless is wrong! For things like this I want to use the greatest gift and asset I have with me for the greater good – Martial Arts. With the support of young leader Aditya Thackrey we commenced the procedure of starting free of cost self-defence classes for as many women as we can to counter offence this menace.

Usha: 'Charity is worship' is what you believe. Please tell our readers about your philanthropy work.

Akshay: I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth and like many of my colleagues and other professionals, we've had to work our damnedest to succeed and stay successful too. I’ve been incredibly lucky but there are far more people who aren’t as fortunate as I have been. Many of these people struggle to get hold of even the basic essentials that many of us take for granted. I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to share a part of what I have achieved and earned with someone less fortunate that I. Everyone deserves a chance to prosper and sometimes you just need a little extra help to push you along your way.  

Usha:  You are famous for performing death-defying stunts. Is that your signature style - the dare-devil Khiladi of Bollywood?

Akshay: I very much enjoy doing my own stunts and, to be honest, I could never make another man do something I wasn’t brave enough to do myself. I believe people deserve to see real action when they pay to see a film. As yet, I have been blessed in that I have not sustained any serious injuries. Overall though, my stunts are a huge part of my career and I thank my martial arts for giving me the strength, power and discipline to prepare me both mentally and physically for this.

Usha:  Till date, what has been the highlight of your illustrious career in Bollywood? Your major accomplishments, your victories...

Akshay: I know it’s not part of my career exactly but over the past twenty years it has to be my kids! They are more than the apple of my eye, they are the reason I see beyond this crazy world of Bollywood ;o). I think our best time together so far is when we all went to Maldives for a quiet family holiday. I got to spend every waking hour with my baby girl and took my son on sea adventures with the new sea-bob I got him for his birthday ;o) Magical family time!

Usha: What led your foray into promoting Regional Indian Cinema? How is the experience so far?

Akshay: There is a huge amount of talent in Indian regional cinema and until recently, it has mainly not been tapped. With my production company Grazing Goat Pictures, which I co-founded with my friend Ashvini Yardi, we have begun to tap into this vast industry and have created some fantastic and interesting film projects. We are very proud of the regional films 72 Miles and Bhaji in Problem.

Usha:  Any other message for our readers here in Toronto?

Akshay: I am nothing without you all and I’m grateful to all of you for your continuous love and support. I love Canada and I’m hoping to visit again when I get a chance! Love and prayers to you all!

Tips to investing in RRSPs

Let's start with an obvious but important question. What is an RRSP? You may know that RRSP stands for Registered Retirement Savings Plan. But it's easy to be confused about what that really means.

If you think you buy an RRSP, you wouldn't be the first person to make that mistake. Actually, you buy investments-- mutual funds, stocks, bonds, guaranteed investment certificates, annuities, etc. -- and register them with the federal government. When you retire, you'll be able to use the money that comes from the investments.

Is it a good idea to invest in an RRSP?

The simple answer is yes. Many people are putting their money in RRSPs because they've been told they can reduce the amount of income tax they pay. They think, "Okay, I'm getting this tax savings every year. It reduces my taxable income, so my overall taxes aren't going to be as high." For a lot of people, that's a good enough reason to contribute to an RRSP. Paying less income tax has always been a good idea.

If you're self-employed, you have another reason to invest in an RRSP. It may be the only way to save for retirement, since you probably aren't working at a company that sets up pension plans for its employees.

Whatever your reasons, the most important thing you can do as far as investing in RRSPs is concerned is to start contributing regularly as early as possible. When you start early, you give your money more time to grow.

Let's say you're 45 years old and put $100 dollars into RRSP investments every month and don't make any withdrawals. We'll assume a return of 6% per year. At age 65, the total value of your investment would be $45,344. Now, if you're 25 years old and invest the same monthly amount with the same return and don't make any withdrawals, the total value of your RRSP at 65 would be $190,768. You can see how the extra two decades of investing makes a big difference.

Perhaps you're thinking that you don't have $100 to put away every month. Try investing in small doses by setting up a plan where your contributions flow directly from your bank account to your RRSP on the day you're paid. A few dollars now will go a long way later. You'll be surprised at how quickly your RRSP will grow -if you contribute regularly!

Think about borrowing money to invest in your RRSP. At today's low interest rates this can be a very effective strategy. You will reduce your taxable income and may increase your tax refund. Many people then take that refund and use it to help pay off their loans. 

Remember: the best thing you can do for your retirement fund is to put away the maximum amount allowed by the government. If you're short, you can take out a "catch-up" loan. Or, you can carry forward your unused contribution to a future year.

You can also help your money grow by including foreign investments in your RRSP. Canada is a big country, but it makes up only a small part of the global investment market. There are lots of great opportunities to invest outside our borders and the federal government has no limit on investing your RRSP in foreign securities.

To keep track of all your assets, you may want to consider keeping them in one investment company. There are distinct advantages to this strategy. 

Nobody's financial situation will be exactly the same as yours. That's why your financial strategy should reflect your needs, desires, and goals. Professional money managers can help because they understand the complexities of the market. Don't be afraid to ask for help from the pros!

Iconic Bollywood duo Salim- Sulaiman to take part in first ever North American tour this November 2014

Iconic Bollywood musical duo Salim-Sulaiman will embark on their first ever North American tour this November 2014 with stops in Vancouver, San Jose, Calgary, Toronto, Atlanta and Houston.

Accompanied by their band, Salim-Sulaiman will also welcome to tour singers Vipul Metha, winner of Indian Idol 6, and Shweta Pandit, who regularly performs with AR Rahman.

Salim-Sulaiman have been composing music for over a decade having scored for movies including Rab Ne Banadi Jodi, FASHION,  Roadside  Romeo,  Iqbal,  Dor,  Heroine,  Chak  De India, and many more.

The versatile duo has scored for a string of Bollywood movies, composed for several Indi-pop sensations including Viva, Asmaan,  Shweta  Shetty,  Jasmine  and  Style  Bhai  among others, composed and produced hundreds of TV commercials.

Recognized for their talents throughout the industry, Salim- Sulaiman have received numerous awards including the 2004

Screen  Award  for  Best  Background  Music  for  Bahoot;  the

2005 Screen Weekly Award for Best Background Music for Dhoom; the 2005 Technical Award for Best Background Score for Ab Tak Chhappan; the 2007 Zee Cine Technical Award for Best Background Score for Krrish; and the 2014 Mirchi Music Award for Best Indi-Pop Song of the Year.

Incorporating cinematic, folk, Electronica and Sufi influences to  their  music,  Salim  and  Sulaiman  Merchant  are  among India's most respected composers. Recently they composed the musical Merchants of Bollywood, as well as their much awaited Hollywood film Sold which is rapidly gaining attention at numerous film festivals.

The duo has enthralled audiences across the world with their live concerts, particularly during their performance at the FIFA World Cup 2010 opening ceremony. In addition, Salim- Sulaiman have been part of numerous television shows including their role as celebrity judges on Indian Idol.

Tabla Superstar Zakir Hussain performs

Joined by Kumaresh Rajagopalan (Violin), Jayanthi Kumaresh (Veena)

Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at 8 p.m.

Tickets: $49–54

Visit www.markhamtheatre.ca or call 905-305-SHOW (7469)

 One of the world’s most renowned tabla artists will enchant Flato Markham Theatre audiences with the riches of India’s classical music tradition. Zakir Hussain, a lauded master of the Indian percussion instrument, will be joined in concert by Kumaresh Rajagopalan (violin) and Jayanthi Kumaresh (veena) on October 1 at 8 p.m.

Zakir Hussain’s prodigious talent was unmistakable from an early age as he embarked on his first professional tour when he was just 12 years old. A revered musician and virtuoso of the table, a classical East Indian percussive instrument, Hussain stuns audiences with his natural musicianship. He has gone on to win a GRAMMY® Award in the Best World Music category, and has collaborated with some of music’s greatest and most influential artists including George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma and Van Morrison.

His latest DVD release The SFJazz Sessions was recorded over four extraordinary days in March 2013, and showcases Hussain's formidable talents and the genre-bending collaborations that have characterized his career. The DVD includes insightful interviews, personal commentary and intimate glimpses of life, offstage and backstage, of the remarkable artists who came together during the recording sessions.

Here's an exclusive interview given by Ustad Zakir Hussain to Usha Pudukkotai:

     Please tell us about your early career and your guru(s).

     I was born in a tabla family, my father (Ustad Allarakha) was and is considered one of the greatest tabla player of all time. From a very young age (3 yrs) I was being trained in the art of tabla playing under his watchful eyes, at 7 I did my first full performance and at 12 I started my professional career but still received guidance from my father till he passed away in 2000.

     How many gharanas(styles) of tabla are there & which one is your forte?

     Originally there are 5 gharanas of tabla, they were created because masters of tabla would move from one state to the next and establish their own teachings and that in time would become a gharana, it helped that there were no influences from other masters leaving in other far off cities, these days due to communication media and easy travel plus CDs, YouTube etc has made the teachings of all gharanas available to tabla players everywhere, and so I consider myself initially a student of Punjab gharana but now a performer of a combination repertoire of all gharanas.

     Do you believe music is divine? Do you find/feel any spiritual connect while playing the tabla?

     Music is connected to divinity in India, and according to mythology Gods and Goddesses are the source of this art form. I have experienced a special connection with my music and my instrument during my practice sessions but it is very rare to repeat this connection in a big concert hall with many people, the concentration there is to enjoy the music in a joyous and fun way.

     What do you think the major attraction for 'rock' drummers for learning tabla & Indian music?

     I think the rock or jazz or any kind of western drummers enjoy the challenge of playing and improvising in odd rhythm cycles plus the fact that the rhythms can be spoken and reproduced the exactly the same way in Indian systems is a great attraction for them.

     Can you please tell us your personal opinion about how this art form has evolved over the years?

Indian classical music is now more accessible, Indian musicians have found a way to connect to their audiences and include them in the music being performed, more attention is being paid on presentation and stage craft, Indian musicians are now educated and more informed about the advent in sound systems and many digital devices that help them to enhance the projection ability of their instruments.

This concert is presented by National Bank and in association with the Small World Music Festival. An intimate evening of conversation with Mr. Hussain is also a feature presentation of the Small World Music Festival. The event takes place at the Small World Music Centre, 180 Shaw St. 8:00pm. Tickets: $100 and includes admission to Wednesday’s concert at the Flato Markham Theatre.

Later in the season, the Flato Markham Theatre will proudly welcome Sarod master Amjad Ali Kahn, another leading Indian musician. Amjad Ali Kahn will perform with his two sons, Amaan Ali Kahn and Ayaan Ali Kahn, on February 8, 2015. Amjad Ali Kahn impressed audiences with his last performance at the Theatre in 2013, and is a regular performer at prestigious concert halls across the world including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Media partners for both of these performances are Asian Television Network, Update Weekly, and MyBindi.com.