Amol Parashar: Theatre easiest medium for exploration. (Photo: amolparashar/Instagram)
Amol Parashar: Theatre easiest medium for exploration. (Photo: amolparashar/Instagram)
Actor Amol Parashar, who rose to fame with his character Chitvan Sharma in TVF Tripling, and is currently being seen in film ‘Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare’, has also featured in the lead role in the televised play ‘Panchi Aise Aate Hai’ on Tata Sky Theatre, which is celebrating Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar’s contribution to theatre…Amol speaks with Siddhi Jain.
Sharing his thoughts on theatre, Amol shared that for exploration purposes, “theatre is the easiest and most convenient medium for an actor”.
“When working on a text, or when working on a theatrical production, the process gives you ample time and space to experiment and ‘play’ around. You can keep working on a performance or refining it as you do more and more shows of the same production. Thanks to the beauty of imagination in theatre, you can also deal with characters and themes that are far away from you physically. Film doesn’t offer you the same freedoms, at least not to the same extent,” he told IANSlife in an email.
Asked about theatre as a tool for social change and a mirror of society, Amol, 29, feels that theatre performance and watching is a much more personal experience. “You can dabble in unique and radical ideas and still find acceptance. The constraints of commerce don’t come in the way of theatre as much as they do with other forms of storytelling. That makes it a much more effective tool to drive through social change and new ideas.”
The young, promising actor also shared his perspective on Vijay Tendulkar’s contribution to Marathi theatre.
“Vijay Tendulkar is a legendary name and I am too small a fry to even have an opinion on his contribution. He had a voice of his own, and a strong one at that, taking up social and political events of his time and depicting them in his work. His plays are read, performed and analysed in a multiple languages in India and outside. There’s no doubt that he is one of the most influential playwrights of our country.”
Actor Amol Parashar. (File Photo: IANS)
Amol has dabbled in multiple mediums and genres, and says that it is a process to delve deeper into his craft and also himself as a human being. “I would like to be grow my skillset to a point where I should feel like nothing is unachievable.”
Finally, sharing his thoughts on theatre’s new televised avatar that he’s now featuring in, the actor shared that, “Every art form and medium goes through a process of evolution. With new technology at our disposal, it is our duty to experiment and see if we can come up with newer and newer ways to reach the audience. It is a great initiative by Tata Sky to this purpose, especially because classic texts and playwrights are being made accessible to a large audience. These texts would otherwise just become an archive in a library. It’s invigorating to see them being packaged in a certain way and made accessible to the large audience that Tata Sky enjoys.”
Reliance Industries Limited and Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will invest Rs 5,512.50 crore into RRVL, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries.
This investment values RRVL at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.285 lakh crore. ADIA’s investment will translate into a 1.20 per cent equity stake in RRVL on a fully diluted basis.
With this investment, RRVL has raised Rs 37,710 crore from leading global investors including Silver Lake, KKR, General Atlantic, Mubadala, GIC, TPG and ADIA in less than four weeks.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, “We are delighted with ADIA’s current investment and continued support and hope to benefit from its strong track record of over four decades of value creation globally. The investment by ADIA is a further endorsement of Reliance Retail’s performance and potential and the inclusive and transformational New Commerce business model that it is rolling out.”
Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, Executive Director of the Private Equities Department at ADIA, said, “Reliance Retail has rapidly established itself as one of the leading retail businesses in India and, by leveraging both its physical and digital supply chains, is strongly positioned for further growth. This investment is consistent with our strategy of investing in market leading businesses in Asia linked to the region’s consumption-driven growth and rapid technological advancement.”
Established in 1976, ADIA is a globally-diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi through a strategy focused on long-term value creation. ADIA has invested in private equity since 1989 and has built a significant internal team of specialists with experience across asset products, geographies and sectors.
Arsene Wenger, Chief of FIFA's Global Football Development. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Over 200 member associations across all confederations have signed up for FIFA’s first-ever Talent Development Programme. The list comprises, among others, the current men’s and women’s world champions, France and the USA respectively, as well as member associations that have never qualified for a FIFA tournament.
Launched in January 2020 by FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger, the programme aims to provide member associations with a thorough analysis of their high-performance ecosystem in both men’s and women’s football, including all national teams, domestic leagues, scouting projects and academies.
“The success of the programme will be based on good communication and a precise analysis of the needs of every member association so that we can deliver a report and provide tailor-made support,” said Wenger.
“We also want to create opportunities, for example through best practice models, in which member associations can learn from each other and have the possibility to think outside of the box and their own environment,” the legendary former Arsenal manager added.
According to FIFA, a group of 30 FIFA experts, including former USA women’s national team coach April Heinrichs, ex-England manager Steve McClaren and former Premier League Director of Football Development Ged Roddy, have been replacing their on-site visits with remote assessments and – based on online surveys and interviews – will produce a report for each of the member associations, thus mapping their technical ecosystems.
In 2021, FIFA will focus on the implementation of tailor-made technical programmes for each member association with a view to tackling potential challenges and maximising the comparative advantages that each association possesses.
Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 57 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Suryakumar Yadav (79 not out) and Jasprit Bumrah (4/20) starred with bat and ball as MI scored 193/4 wkts in 20 overs and then dismissed RR for 136 in 18.1 overs.
Trent Boult struck with the second ball of the RR innings, swinging the ball away from Yashasvi Jaiswal and getting a nick off him as it flew to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock. Bumrah then dismissed RR captain Steve Smith for six and Boult then sent back the dangerous Sanju Samson for a duck to reduce MI to 12/3 in the third over.
Mahipal Lomror and Jos Buttler then ensured that RR lost no more wickets in the powerplay. But the former was dismissed in the ninth over, thanks to a screamer of a catch from substitute fielder Anukul Roy.
Jos Buttler kept RR in the chase before he departed for another stunning catch, this time by Kieron Pollard in the 14th over. RR were 98/5 at the time and they crumbled in the next four overs.
Earlier, 30-year-old Suryakumar Yadav hit 11 fours and two sixes, one of which was off Jofra Archer after he was hit in the head by a bouncer off the previous delivery by the English bowler.
MI were buoyed by a good start provided by openers Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock before the latter became Kartik Tyagi’s debut IPL wicket in the fifth over. The opening partnership produced 49 runs.
Suryakumar then anchored the innings but MI kept losing wickets at the other end. Hardik Pandya, however, stuck with him and the pair blazed 76 runs in just 38 balls to propel MI close to the 200-run mark. He smashed 76 runs in just 38 balls to propel MI close to the 200-run mark.
Brief scores: MI 193/4 wkts in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 79 not out, Rohit Sharma 35; Shreyas Gopal 2/28) beat RR 136 all out in 18.1 overs (Jos Buttler 70, Jofra Archer 24; Jasprit Bumrah 4/20) by 57 runs
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Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, UAE
In light of the UAE-Israel Peace Accord, the countries looks forward to further the mutual relations through cultural exchange. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, held a remote meeting with Hili Tropper, Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport, via video conferencing, to discuss the steps to enhance cultural cooperation between the UAE and Israel.
During the meeting, both sides discussed ways of reinforcing the dialogue between their creative communities, through launching initiatives that promote peace and tolerance as mutual human values.
“Culture is the bridge that establishes trust between peoples and communities and creates a brighter future for generations to come,” Al Kaabi said, adding that the UAE always initiates partnerships to establish peace and coexistence in the Middle East.
She then pointed out that creative communities in the UAE and Israel are characterised by flexibility, vitality and the capacity to inspire the world through cultural and creative production in various literary and artistic areas.
Al Kaabi and Tropper also discussed their future cooperation in the areas of art, film, theatre, writing and publishing, in addition to ways of encouraging talents and artists to participate in joint exhibitions and events between the two countries.
Al Kaabi presented the Cultural and Creative Industries Strategy adopted by the Ministry of Culture and Youth to increase the contributions of the creative industry to the national economy while noting the importance of exchanging expertise in creative entrepreneurship and developing a distinguished partnership in this key sector.
Both sides agreed to form joint task forces between the UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Israeli Ministry of Culture and Sport, to draft a framework for future cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Sheikh Saud highlighted relations between the UAE and the U.S. which would contribute to achieving progress and prosperity for the two peoples…Reports Asian Lite News
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received today John Rakolta Jr., the U.S. Ambassador to the UAE.
RAK Ruler welcomed the US Ambassador and exchanged talks on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two friendly countries in all avenues.
Sheikh Saud highlighted relations between the UAE and the U.S. which would contribute to achieving progress and prosperity for the two peoples.
In turn, Ambassador Rakolta extended thanks and appreciation to RAK ruler for warm welcome and generosity, praising the strong strategic ties between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at Republican National Convention.
The Commission on Presidential Debates on Monday approved plans for the plexiglass installation as a barrier between Pence and Harris, as well as moderator Susan Page…Reports Asian Lite News
Amid Covid-19 fears, a plexiglass will be installed between US Vice President Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate, during their first debate scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Commission on Presidential Debates on Monday approved plans for the plexiglass isntallation as a barrier between Pence and Harris, as well as moderator Susan Page, Politico news reported.
The plans were supported by the Cleveland Clinic, which is helping to set health protocols for the forums amid the pandemic.
Kamala Devi Harris
The development comes after teams of both Pence and Harris have been negotiating the terms of the debate following President Donald Trump’s October 2 announcement that he and the First Lady has contracted Covid-19.
The Commission has also decided to move the two candidates seats from seven feet to 13 feet apart.
But the two camps were split over whether to erect a plexiglass barrier, according to people familiar with the talks. Harris’ campaign supported it, Pence’s opposed it.
“If Senator Harris wants to use a fortress around herself, have at it,” Katie Miller, a Pence spokeswoman, told Politico news.
Meanwhile, Biden has also suggested that he would be open to using plexiglass in the second presidential debate on October 15.
“I’m not an expert on it, but I think we should be very cautious,” The Hill quoted the former Vice President as saying.
Sayani Gupta: Skewed representation of women in cinema. (Photo: sayanigupta/Instagram)
Sayani Gupta: Skewed representation of women in cinema. (Photo: sayanigupta/Instagram)
‘Four More Shots Please’ actress Sayani Gupta feels that portrayal of women in the Hindi mainstream cinema is moving in the right direction, thanks to more women storytellers coming to the forefront and bringing with them a “female gaze” that counters a “male gaze” prevalent for the longest time…Sayani speaks with Siddhi Jain.
Sayani, 34, is known for the strong roles she plays. She made her feature film debut in 2012 in ‘Second Marriage Dot Com’ and has appeared in supporting roles in films such as ‘Fan’, ‘Jolly LLB 2’ and ‘Article 15’. Her latest web series, which was a popular success, has recently been nominated at the International Emmy Awards.
Asked about the critique of how women are portrayed in the mainstream cinema, and if she finds it changing at all, Sayani tells IANSlife: “It is, and it should be critiqued, especially in Bollywood and in Hindi mainstream cinema. It’s extremely problematic, you don’t have representation of all kinds of woman. It’s only a very skewed version of what a woman should be, and what she’s doing.”
She adds: “Often she doesn’t have a valid agency of her own life, and often decisions are being made for her. Her only motto in life is to make the hero happy or romance the hero or wait for the hero to save her from the villain, and so on and so forth. Of course it’s changing, it’s moving in the right direction and that’s only because there are many more women story tellers who are coming in the forefront — the women directors, technicians, cinematographers. When you have women telling their own stories, then it makes a huge difference in terms of what woman gaze is. For the longest time, the gaze has been extremely male and that needs to change. Of course it’s changing for better, but we have a long, long way to go. Until we change our society, how we think, how we look at the girls, how we bring up our children – the girl child and the boy child, it’s not going to change much.”
Sayani is hosting a virtual acting workshop on ‘Getting into Character’ in the series ‘Femmes in Film’ by Bumble and India Film Project, on Saturday, October 3. Developed exclusively for the Bumble Community, ‘Femmes in Film’ is a series of virtual workshops to be hosted by women artistes including Sayani, Aranya Johar, Kanika Dhillon and Anjali Menon. These weekly workshops will focus on acting, screenwriting, storytelling, and filmmaking.
Sayani Gupta to conduct a virtual masterclass.
Calling ‘Femmes in Film’ a great initiative, Sayani gives a sneak peak into her workshop. “It’s a workshop that I’m taking on acting and approaching characters, building characters. It is something that we do as actors very regularly, everyday. It is something that I’m more than happy to be sharing with the Bumble community and whoever is attending the workshop. It’s something I’m really passionate about and I hope that I’m able to impart something or at least share something of interest and value to whoever is attending the workshop, I would hope so. As a concept of what IFP and Bumble are doing, is really brilliant. You need more and more woman creators, filmmakers, storytellers, actors, writers, comedians to come at the forefront and share their story, share their process. It is also very interesting because we need to amplify the voices that need to be heard more, especially today.”
Stories by women, or stories featuring strong women leads, are often put in the box. Does she agree? Sayani answers in an affirmative.
“Of course, they are put in a box. We have to try to break those moulds and break those stereotypes. I don’t think a movie written or directed by a women has to be essentially ‘female centric’. That’s a problem in itself, when you make movie with a male protagonist, it’s not called ‘male centric’ but when there is a female protagonist it’s called ‘female centric’. Why? These are universal stories, these are stories about people. Why this gender demarcation and putting different genders in different boxes? That’s not necessary, and that’s extremely problematic. That I feel is something one needs to do away with but that’s not going to happen overnight.”
Asked what is the one thing she thinks is not taught enough in cinema education, but should be, Sayani, who is graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) – one of India’s top film schools, points to the ability to monetize one’s creative passions.
“One thing that FTII doesn’t teach you is to go out there and look at commerce and project yourself as a commercial creator. How to make money, basically, and how to sell. Because there are lot of brilliant people who come out of FTII and they’re often struggling with how to really marry the two — creativity and commerce. That is something that I wish somebody taught us but nobody did. (Laughs) We are obviously left to ourselves to fend for ourselves, as it happens in most art schools. So, how to monetise because filmmaking is an extremely expensive medium – it’s business, after all – one needs to understand all of that, so that needs a little more focus.
Coming back to the basics, she also feels the need to teach better writing. “I think the first is to write better, to write better characters, to write better women characters, to write with all kinds of representation – be it women, be it the marginalized of the population, be it the trans community, be it the LGBTQ+ community. There needs to be more unapologetic representation in our cinema, so I think writing is something that needs to be given more importance.”
Actress Sayani Gupta is set to co-produce “Where the Wind Blows”, a film which will feature her as the only protagonist. It’s been directed by Karma Takapa, whose films “Ralang Road” and “Mor Mann Ke Bharam” have travelled to various festivals.
According to Samarpita Samaddar, Bumble India PR Director, Sayani is an incredible artiste whose session will be focused on acting and how to approach characters in cinema. “The weekly series, Femmes in Film, will focus on acting, screenwriting, storytelling, and filmmaking. We look forward to kicking off the series with Sayani Gupta on October 3,” she shared.
Other discussions in the series are: ‘Pitch perfect poetry’ by Aranya Johar (October 10), ‘The art of character development’ by Kanika Dhillon (October 17), and ‘Things they don’t teach you at film school” by Anjali Menon (October 24). The workshops are free to attend. To attend the workshop, one can download Bumble, match with the India Film Project profile on the Date, Bizz or BFF modes and apply to book a spot.
