All posts by Neel Achary

Kolkata, 25 February 2023: Kolkata Centre for Creativity is all set for a one-month art exhibition, ‘Interwoven’ by S.G. Vasudev, curated by Nalini S Malaviya. KCC, which has been a diverse and inclusive organization, which promotes excellence in contemporary art and creates opportunities for young and emerging artists through a robust arts calendar, has collaborated with SG Vasudev and is regarded as an institution in India and this is the first time that his works will be exhibited in Kolkata.

Interwoven presents selected artworks of the Bangalore-based veteran artist. Vasudev has experimented with various media throughout his 50 years long artistic career and is known for his versatility. A selection of 15 tapestries and 20 drawings will be on display on the first-floor gallery of the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) from 25 February. The exhibition will run through various events till 25 March 2023.

In this exhibition, the focus remains on select tapestries, created over almost the last three decades, and drawings, from his early period to those that are recent and being exhibited for the first time.

Richa Agarwal, Chairperson, Kolkata Centre for Creativity said, “We are extremely happy to bring the iconic S G Vasudev to Kolkata. As an institution that showcases emerging and established artists, Kolkata Centre for Creativity believes the onus lies on it to introduce individuals to the possibilities and opportunities that art provides. The partnership with S G Vasudev has allowed KCC to offer cutting-edge arts projects and be recognised as a key enabler for young and emerging artists and arts leaders. I am hopeful that the exhibition will draw an overwhelming number of art lovers from across the city.”

Reena Dewan, Director, of the Kolkata Centre for Creativity said, “We know our audiences have been waiting for this much-awaited exhibition and the indelible experience of viewing the spectacular tapestries and drawings of the legendary S G Vasudev. As a catalyst for collaboration, we’re absolutely delighted to bring these ground-breaking arts showcase closer to our audiences in Kolkata. I believe it will strengthen our bond with young and emerging artists and offer an experience like never before to all art lovers.”

Mumbai, 25th February 2023: “Digital has allowed me to do anything on screen and we do not need to roll the negatives to shoot a movie now. If we embrace the metaverse right then it will be a trillion-dollar business for the Indian film industry. It will not just film, it will be content creation as a whole. There is a Tsunami of content coming in, which we need to be prepared for” said Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur here today.

He added, “If I can’t disseminate my product in metaverse in 15 minutes then somebody else will.”

Speaking at the second edition of the “Ideas of India” Summit, Kapur said, “If you believe in something, you believe in it. If I hadn’t believed in my career I may not be here. I have never been scared of losing when I am doing something I believe in. If you lose because somebody has else said something to you then you will never forgive yourself. ”

He added, “Panic is fundamental to creativity for me. There is no structure and only chaos, creativity arises out of chaos. Life comes out of chaos. You make sure that you know what you are doing and people should know what you are doing.”

The ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023 was discussing the topic of “The Future is Here, Building the New Narrative.”The summit has brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss the critical role of India during the global churn and changing dynamics. ABP Network is a leading multi-language channel with 535 million individuals in India therefore this summit provides one of the biggest platforms for the brightest minds across various sectors to express their views.

About ABP Network

An innovative media and content creation company, ABP Network is a credible voice in the broadcast & digital sphere, with a multi-language portfolio of news channels reaching 535 million individuals in India. ABP Studios, which comes under the purview of ABP Creations – the content innovation arm of the network – creates, produces, and licenses original, path-breaking content outside of news. ABP Network is a group entity of ABP, which was incorporated almost 100 years ago and continues to reign as a leading Indian Media Conglomerate.

Mumbai, 25 February 2023: The Indian Film Industry has evolved with time and uses the medium of cinema halls as well as OTT to release movies, said Yami Gautam, a renowned actress. Speaking at ABP Network’s second edition of the ‘Ideas of India’ summit on the topic, ‘Breaking the Mould – Making it Big’, she said “Films were meant to be made for the big screen to make people forget the world outside the cinema hall. But, the industry has adapted to the change.” Explaining this, she added, “My last five films were released on OTT. It has its own metrics to judge the success of the film such as viewership and how well it was liked by the audience.”

Further speaking on the topic, she said that “the industry is evolving” to accommodate better characters and scripts. “Change doesn’t happen overnight, every generation brings change,” she said. On being asked about her take on women-centric films, she explained, “I think the term ‘women-centric’ will become redundant in the times to come. People only care about the story and the characters of a film, not the gender of the person playing it.”

The summit promises an invigorating line-up of speakers with prominent figures from the world of business, politics, artists from the Hindi Film Industry, authors and other eminent sectors. The two-day conference confluences diverse ideas from various industries to promote India in becoming a burgeoning leader in the world.

Delhi, 25th February 2023: Netradyne, a SaaS leader in artificial intelligence (A.I.) and edge computing focusing on driver and fleet safety, today announces that CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd, one of the largest logistics providers in India, has selected Netradyne to provide advanced fleet safety solutions. The engagement provides fleet of 1000 vehicles of CJ Darcl with AI-enabled embedded safety technology, helping the company improve fleet operation performance, and driver behavior, and reduce thefts.

By deploying Netradyne’s Driver•i, CJ Darcl Logistics enhances their fleet management and further builds upon cost-effective services, and sets new safety standards. The Driver•i system helps the company achieve its goals of improving driving behavior through automated driver coaching. It also supports in expediting driver exonerations as well as in handling insurance claims.

Durgadutt Nedungadi, Vice President – International Business, Netradyne, said, “We are thrilled to partner with CJ Darcl Logistics, and we will deliver our industry-leading AI-based safety technology solutions to its fleets. The partnership paves the way for us to showcase our technology’s flexibility to cater to our customers’ diverse needs.”

A joint venture between DARCL Logistics and CJ Group from South Korea, the company serves more than 2000 varied customers through its 174 offices across India. The company stays ahead of the curve when it appears to adoption of technological advancements and safety. The company remains at the forefront of adopting technological advancements and prioritizing safety. To enhance road safety, the company is integrating technology and safety measures by installing AI devices on its trucks. These devices control visibility and speed, which in turn improves the overall safety and security of the road.

“Our vision is to train and to make the drivers follow the best road practices to avoid accidents. CJ Darcl aims to accomplish zero accidents and to understand and address the areas of concern while driving. Partnering with Netradyne’s Driver•i with smart safety dash cams will help to control the driver’s distracted sight. We have also conducted certain trials. Hence, it is helping in maintaining the Driver’s scorecard with other promising results.” said Nikhil Agarwal, President- CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd.

Mumbai, 25 February 2023: “Spiritual closeness between India and Japan is very deep. Indian people and Japanese people can understand each other. Relations between the two countries are the closest in the world. India and Japan are natural allies” said Yasukata Fukahori, Consul-General of Japan in Mumbai.

Yasukata Fukahori was speaking at the second edition of ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023, on the topic of “India and Japan, Seventy Years of Friendship.” The summit has brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss the critical role of India during the global churn and changing dynamics.

Commenting on the future of Indo-Japanese economic ties, Fukahori, said, “I predict a bright future between India and Japan economically.”

He further added, “Achieving the 5 trillion yen investment target in India within the next five years seems attainable. There is optimism that investments will continue to flow into India, and the cultural closeness between the nations also aids in this endeavor,”

The second edition of ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit is being held on the theme “Naya India: Looking Inward, Reaching Out.” Along with global leaders, 60 eminent national and international speakers will share the stage this time. The two-day event primarily addresses India’s stand as a burgeoning economy and global leader in shaping the future.

Kolkata, 25 February: Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management under JIS Group announced the winners at the closing ceremony of the 7th World Food Competition. The closing ceremony was held at Taal Kutir Convention Centre on 23rd February. The winning participant for the category of best chef is Chandru Basson (Namibia), best cake icing is Lize-Van Der Merwe (Namibia), best fruit carving is Subha Ray (India), and best mixology is Viola Hoeflien (Austria). The closing ceremony witnessed expertise from esteemed judges and celebrity chefs Sanjeev Kapoor, Kunal Kapur and Ajay Chopra.

The exciting and scrumptious 3-day journey of the 7th World Food Competition has reached its end. The competition saw talented chefs from around the world showcase their skills and creativity. The World Food Competition has not only been a celebration of food but also a platform for promoting sustainable practises in the food industry. Embodying the spirit of this competition as well as highlighting the importance of feasible and ethical practises in the food industry each and every participant carved their journey to a tasteful success. Among them the first runner-up for the category of best chef is Deacon van Pletzen (South Africa), best cake icing is Ushashie Rauth (India), best fruit carving is Md. Saif Khan (India), and best mixology is Eduardo Yousef Zoughbi (Palestine).

Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director, JIS Group, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate and honour all of the participants who brought dishes from their distinctive ethnic traditions and showcased their culinary skills. We also want to express our appreciation to the judges, who gave their time and skills to assess each dish. We hope that everyone who participated in the World Food Competition had a great time and that it contributed to the advancement of culinary variety and quality on a global scale.”

Mumbai, 25 February 2023: “If people keep calling for bans then the film industry will die. Pathan was not censored when controversy around the song erupted. Censorboad should be in every house and parents should keep a look on their children what they are watching.” Actress and Film Producer, Asha Parekh said here today.

When sharing her insight on working in films again, Veteran Film Actress Jeenat Aman said, “I would be happy to take any age-appropriate role.”

“We are a very gentle nation, that’s very different from the rest of the world. We are living in a fool’s paradise. We have all the technologies that we need, and we have the manpower but you don’t put it together in the right way. It’s not motivated. We can change so many things and we just don’t do it because we are not motivated to do it” Lucky Ali on his Idea of India.

Talking about his upcoming albums, Ali said, “I’ve got 80-90 songs on my hard drive. It will happen when it has to happen”: He further said his songs come from any feeling he experienced at the time when he penned it.

The ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023 was discussing the topic of “Life at the Movies, Revisiting the Magic” & Sunoh! Lucky Ali In Words and Music The summit has brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss the critical role of India during the global churn and changing dynamics. ABP Network is a leading multi-language channel reaching 535 million individuals in India therefore this summit provides one of the biggest platforms for the brightest minds across various sectors to express their views.

Mumbai, 25 February 2023: Census is crucial for India and should be done in a precise manner. It declares the state of the country and can also indicate the trend of alarming changes in India’s demographics, said Krishna Gopal, Sah Sarkaryawah, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). He was speaking at ABP Network’s second edition of the ‘Ideas of India’ summit, themed “Naya India: Looking Inward, Reaching Out”. Speaking on the topic “The Civilization Debate, Clash or Collaboration,” Krishna Gopal said Pakistan has to end its nature of enmity towards India, until that happens, relations between the two countries cannot normalize.”

The summit promises an invigorating line-up of speakers with some of the brightest minds from the world of business, politics, artists from the Hindi Film Industry, authors and other prominent sectors. The two-day conference primarily focuses on how India is emerging as the proliferating economic leader in global economic development.

Experience the enchanting flavors of Rajasthan right here in Goa at the Rajasthani Family Soiree Brunch on February 26th, 2023, starting at 1 pm-4 pm at DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji.

Immerse yourself in a feast of vibrant, mouth-watering dishes crafted from an authentic menu, including fiery curries, fragrant live stations, and flavorful chaat counters. Indulge in the best of Rajasthani cuisine, such as Pitod Ki Sabzi, Sarso Ka Saag, Jodhpuri Paneer, Papad Mangodi ki Sabzi, Subz Panchkuta, Dal Panchmel, Junglee Maas, and more.

Don’t miss out on this culinary journey through the vibrant state of Rajasthan. Reserve your table now and treat yourself to a royal Rajasthani experience like no other.

Reservations / Details: 09607975314 or 0831 2491900

When: Sunday, 26th February

Time: 1 pm – 4 pm

Venue: Comida, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji

Price: INR 2,800++ per person (alcoholic brunch)

INR 1800 ++ per person (non-alcoholic brunch)

INR 1800++ per child (6yrs – 12yrs)

February 24, 2023: Hippo Stores, India’s first One Stop Solution for all construction and building material needs, launched its third store in Zirakpur at Dhillon Plaza. Spread across more than 40,000 sq. feet, the store offers 12,000+ products from 160+ brands for homeowners, contractors, and retailers at wholesale prices. The store is the third of 27 such outlets planned across the country in the next five years.

For the inauguration of its third store, Hippo Stores chose Zirakpur as its location. The Chandigarh tri-city (Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali) is witnessing significant growth in residential construction and Zirakpur is an ideal location to address the same. At the new site, Hippo Stores will offer the entire range of building products needed for home construction from steel, cement, paints, hardware, bathrooms, kitchens, tiles, etc. With the launch of this store, Hippo Stores envisions enhancing customer experience by allowing them to compare multiple brands, designs, and varieties all under one roof, which is the first of its kind. In contrast to the unorganized building material market, the outlet offers all its products at transparent and wholesale pricing. It also provides assurance of genuine products sourced directly from leading brands, along with advice from in-store product experts.

Talking about the launch, Hippo Stores MD, Amit Garg said, “After the successful launch of our stores in Delhi NCR, we are ready to set our footsteps in Punjab in Zirakpur. In India, there have never been stores that offer building materials of different varieties at one location. When you make your house, you face tremendous challenges – where to buy so many different products, what is genuine, what is the right price, and who to seek advice from – we are trying to solve all of that. Since our inception, the stores in Delhi NCR have received a tremendous response from the market and customers, clearly indicating that the customers are looking for a one-stop solution for all building materials. We aim to make home building easy for our customers.”

The unique elements of the new store in Zirakpur will have multiple mockup modular kitchens to see the best utilization of space for kitchens and seven mockup bathrooms. The first of its kind, Hippo’s color lab, and tinting rooms are also available with tinting machines from leading brands to see any color and shade that a customer desires.

Hippo Stores at Zirakpur is set to become the perfect one-stop solution for ready-to-experience with so many unique options such as design rooms wherein customers can feel the application of paint, wallpapers as well as other visual display units such as tech-based screens along with physical units for those who wish to renovate and customise their dream home.