2017-03 Melbourne

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2 MARC!-12017

TRUGANINA

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INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER: :p _ ��� !1-hufi,r� : EDITOR· Rajni}�nand_L.':'t'./,ra, ASSISTANT EDITOR. Kira Spucys'.Taha?

editorial

The impact of Trump on your family home

MECBOURNfc66Ro1NATOR

p;��ti-J�bb �i� - -•.· ......

CONTRIBUTORS Carl Buhariwala, Preeti Daga, . .

Sanam Sharma, Aparna Ananthun(· Dipanjali Rao, Dhanya Samue1r· Emily lt_ee _ e_A!the.a.·, _ ,De'.'-:"_ n, l'lanc:yJa� .

ADVERTISING: Nati�nal S aie� :Vivek ;-;i�;;di 0410·578 i46 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT. CharutaJoshi o:i 9279)004

Indian Link is a monthly newspaper published. in English. No material, includi�g- _ad'.-'.E!r�i�ern _ en_ts_, designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the2 editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of .the writers and not necessarily endorsed by lndiait1 •Li!'lk.,.All_ce>r�espon,?enc:e !iho1fld ?e a��re_ s!i�cl to: · Indian link Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2006or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 •Ph: 02 9279-2004 l=ax: 02 9279:ioos' • E!n.eil=.iiifo@i11dienlin�-�<>�:ilU . . .

5.., . . : ��-.°

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

R

ecendy, the three indices of the strength of the US economy - the Dow Jones Industrial Average (which includes the scocks of the 30 largest and most powerfuJ companies in the US), Standard & Poor's 500 (which consists of the 500 most commonly traded stocks and represents about 80 percent of the total value of US stock markets), and the Nasdaq Stock Mai:ket (whkh features mostly technology companies) - achieved record highs.

According co C N Money, it was the tirst time the three inclices achieved concurrent high records since January 1992.

As expected, President Trump took full credit for this saying, "The stock market has bit record numbers, as you know. And there has been a tremendous surge of optimism in the business world."

This is half true. The part which

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is true is that, to date, otber than his :xenophobic executive order on banaing immigration from specific countries, he has made largely pro-business policies, as expected of a Republican President.

Even though these have been at the cost of cbe environment and climate change management, the reality is that tbe business world has welcomed these announcements. Trump has promised to slash the business tax rate from 35 per cent to 15 per cent and also slash red tape which hampers business.

What Tmmp is not acknowledging or giving credit co, and as a politician is not ell.-pected co, is d1at his predecessor set up the policies which have allowed the economy co grow at this pace.

During the Obama years, the US economy had corrected by over 50 per cent and unemployment rares had decreased by over 30 per cent.

For those of us in Australia, we have avoided large scale recession in d1e recent past due to oar ability to sell resources to China. There was a slowdown in China in the last couple of years, but Auscralia has been able co weather the scorm with a property, education and tourism boom. The property boom, tl1ough concentrated in only certain parts of Australia, has kept consumer confidence high and

this, coupled with generally low interest races, has ensured low unemployment and steady business confidence. Wages are largely stagnant, but witl1 low inAation, this stagnation has really not impacted the economy.

One of tl1e two head winds coming our way could be the lowering of Australia's creclit rating. Our national debt management needs strong surgery to make it bettet, but witl1 a clivided Parliament and short sighted politicians, this will not happen. Any change to our creclit rating may well .increase the cost of borrowing for the banks which could push up interest rates.

The ocher head wind is that Trun1p's policies ,vill put pressu.re on the US Federal Bank to tighten their purse strings and increase their interest rates, which will be another reason for the cost of borrowing for our banks to go up.

If interest rares increase in Australia, it could put a pat1se on the strong growth of property val.ues here. The robust increase which property owners and investors have seen in the last 4-5 years may come to a gentle hale. This does allow new tnigrants to cake scock and buy sensibl)' rather than in a panic.

There niay well be some opportunities for property buyers in d1e later part of this year.

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LINKING INDIA WITH AUSTRALIA

SPECIAL FEATURES MAINSTREAM Vic govt launches new multicultural initiative

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STAGE The music of AR Rahman comes Down Under

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FILM Bombay Talkies: Bollywood's German links, discovered in Oz

ARTS Jaipur Literature Festival travels to Melbourne

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SPECIAL FEATURE Inside the holistic production at .Avani boutique winery

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Australia Here We Come

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AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS AND CONSULTANTS

Seamus Taaffe FCA1CAAGCAMLP

FOUNDER& PRINCIPAL Migration Consultant (MARN0901684) i::!li s.taaffe @australiaherewecorne.com.au

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Australia Here We Come is an Australian Migration Law Firm with expertise and extensive experience in all areas of Australian Migration Law.

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4 MARCI-I 2017

CALLING RESPECTED AND EXPERIENCED PRIESTS Sai Baba Mandir in Camberwell, SHIRDI SAi SANSTHAN MELBOURNE, is on the lookout for a RESPECTED HINDU PRIEST OF INDIAN ORIGIN.

• Required to perform daily Vedic rituals. ceremonies and other Priestly duties as approved by Management.

• Must have the capacity to communicate in English. Hindi and other major Indian languages. Multi-lingual ability is favoured • Must have demonstrated interpersonal skills to work harmoniously with other Priests. Devotees. Temple Staff.

Volunteers and Management.

This is a part-time position, with a view to a full-time position in the future. Please forward CV, with reference contact details, to info@shidisai.net.au. Applications close: 31 March 2017.

32 Halley Avenue, Camberwell VIC 3124 I (03) 9889 2974

TEMPLE ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR WANTED Sai Baba Mandir in Camberwell, SHIRDI SAi SANSTHAN MELBOURNE, is on the lookout for a TEMPLE ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR.

• Experience and knowledge managing a public Temple.

• Must clean the Temple. coordinate Volunteers. have strong interpersonal skills. clear multi-lingual communication skills (English and Hindi as a minimum) and favour a team-oriented approach.

• Organisational skills and attention to detail are crucial.

• Cooking skills will be an advantage.

This is a part-time position, with a view to a full-time position in the future. Please forward CV, with reference contact details, to info@shldisai.net.au. Applications close: 31 March 2017.

32 Halley Avenue, Camberwell VIC 3124

I (03) 9889 2974 www.indianlink.com.au

"We have turned doctors into developers" - Talis Sterns, COO To discuss how Pomeroy Pacific can assist-you, please contact Aakash Tolani on +61 415 759 812 E> Aakash.Tolani@pomeroypacific.com. au

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MARCI-I 2017 5

YOUR SAY

• • •••••••••••• ••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••1

WINE THAT LASTS THE DISTANCE

For a turban wearing Sikh, breaking into Australia's wine scene has been a challenge, but Nazaaray Estate Wine,y now produces award-winning wines, wrote DHANYA SAMUEL

Kabir Dhallwal wrote: I always go for work towards Rosebud, I guess this place is a must visit... seems to be good

UNIBREAK

Jasjlt Bala wrote: She is my first cousin and she and her husband make the

most amazing wines ... must buy their pinot!

Rajnl Luthra wrote: Pa ram's folly, Bees saal baad... I love the way these two speak.

Slmran Sandhu wrote: Wow! How amazing! Love the story! How inspiring!!

Tanblr Singh Grewal wrote: AWESOME!!!

Asmeet Singh Grewal wrote: Tanbir Singh Grewal, time to revisit old plans Tanblr Singh Grewal wrote: You've got to try it out bro

A look at what some young members of the community got up to over their summer holidays Ranjana Dutt wrote: Vandana Rekhy, Jasmine Dara Ohri, congratulations for infusing your girls with warmth, empathy and good values - their work shows true family values. Well done Brinda and Simran -keep it up!

Vlnaya Ral wrote: Azaara Perakath, I see you!

Yuva Australia wrote: Here is what some young Australians have been doing over the summer, including our YUVA Australians Anirban, Arpita and Anindya. Cheers to the volunteering spirits of the youth such as these! #youngindianaustralians #yuvaaustralians #youthinAus

DECOLONISING OUR ARTS AND MINDS

It's time the Indian community acknowledged First Peoples' ownership of the land, and decolonised our perspective on arts practice, wrote APARNA ANANTHUNI

THE CURSE OF THE MILLENNIALS

societal stereotypes and over expectations in the work force today

Footscray Arts @Footscrayarts tweeted: 'Decolonising our arts and minds' a reflection on @Arts_Front held at FCAC last Nov Arts Front @Arts_Front tweeted: It is time to envision a new future for the arts in Australia. A decolonised future @indian_link

STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY

RIPBHAVITA

Gen Y aren't lazy, they're disadvantaged by the system, wrote SARGUN BHATIA

CulturalPerspectlves @CPerspectives tweeted: Agree -Millennials face

When it came to speaking up against a xenophobic US President, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull let us down badly, wrote PA WAN LUTHRA

Krishna wrote: Turnbull is looking out for himself, wary of the Hansonites

who have found a friendly voice in the world's most powerful office. Not just the extreme voices. I was surprised to see how many Indians made apologist noises supporting the travel ban ranging from the tame 'it's their right' to the outrageous 'India should do this too. See how Assam and Bengal are filled with refugees'. There is an urgent need to forcefully spank everyone who equates refugees with terrorists, or we are all going to hell for inaction!

SAYIT AGAIN 6 MARCI-I 2017

Bhavita Patel, 33, has been named as the sixth victim of the Bourke Street incident. She died on 30 Janua,y when her family decided to turn off her life support after she was injured in the 20 January attack. Young mother and IT consultant Nethra Krishnamurthy is still recovering after the attack.

Smlta Sharma wrote: May your soul rest in peace. You are in a better place now.

Nandlta Bajaj wrote: Rest in Peace Bhavita, condolences to her family.

Anll Singh wrote: Very tragic event, deep sorrow.

Nallnl Singh wrote: Sad day for all Australians. RIP.

"When you are killing it in Hollywood but kaju katli is life"

Comedy group AIB on Priyanka Chopra's Oscars gown

"I wrote the ending of the Academy Awards 2017.

Jimmy Kimmel -we really got them!"

M. Night Shyamalan on the Oscars Best Picture controversy

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RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION, MELTON CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

RAJN/ ANAND LUTHRA reported on a Sikh boy denied enrolment at a Melbourne school for wearing the turban

GENERAL PRACTICE AS WELL AS SOCIAL WORK

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA spoke with Australia Day honouree Dr Purushottam Sawrikar OAM

Avlnash Kanetkar wrote: Well done!

Sangeeta Sharma wrote: Congratulations Dr Sawrikar Anita Playoust wrote: Congratulations!

Kasturl Kalmath wrote: Congratulations Dr Sawrikar! Well deserved Kalyan Ram wrote: Dear Dr Sawrikar, my personal congratulations to you on the honour you have received. I am equally impressed with the work you have been involved with in the social sector for the community in general and our migrants in particular. I am keen to speak with you about your interest in the area of aged care.

Bastian Gianino wrote: The school has the right to enforce its uniform policies. These rules are for everyone who attends that school, those are the uniform rules; the boys at this school are not allowed to have their hair long or deviate from the standard uniform, i.e. wear different coloured socks that are not in accordance with their dress code. This is a private Christian school and we too must respect their rules if we wish for our children to attend that school.

I am sure that there are a lot of suitable schools in the area which do not have a strict dress code so that you wouldn't have to compromise your religious beliefs, but having said that if a Christian child wanted to attend a school of a different faith and didn't, or couldn't, comply with the dress code of that school due to faith I am sure the outcome would be the same. If you want people to respect your religious beliefs, you too have to respect theirs.

Babu wrote: Come on, this is Australia - a land of freedom of choices! A dominant section of our population that is of European origin appears to be feeling some kind of baseless insecurity and going through integration problems themselves in mingling with the other ethnic sections of our society such as Sikhs or Muslims. Wearing a turban or veil is in no way appearing to impact the basic Christian nature of Melton Christian College or the belief of any other school.

Any decision from Melton Christian College about its uniform policy points to a discriminatory attitude and passive aggression by a handful in its management committee. Even the law makers in our nation are poorly represented by ethnic groups - the numbers seem to be disproportionate with the percentage of the ethnic population. This is possibly leading to double standards when it comes to Court outcomes. As a moderate ethnic citizen of Australia, I strongly support Arora's case and hope to see his son being allowed to wear a turban to school. I urge one and all Australians (all skin colours) to come together, evolve and make this nation a truly multiracial to achieve the best.

Noel Lal, Executive VP, GOPIO lntematlonal wrote to the Prlnclpal of Melton Christian College: The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is the largest organisation for the welfare of PIOs living outside India, and is a non-partisan, secular global organisation engaged in promoting their wellbeing and enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries.

GOPIO is extremely saddened with your school's decision to refuse a tive­ year-old Sikh boy admission just because he wears a turban, and it does not align with your uniform policy.

Your attention is drawn to a landmark case of September 2008, where a Brisbane private school was forced to back down on a strict uniform policy that would have forced a Sikh boy to cut his hair and remove his turban.

GOPIO is disappointed that in today's day and age, instead of uniting various communities, your institution is actually dividing them (even at the tender age of five).

GOPIO hopes that the school will reconsider its earlier decision and do the needful by admitting the five-year-old Sikh boy.

IT'S TIME

MOHAN DHALL wrote about the importance of teaching children about time management and goal setting for a smooth year ahead

Slrla wrote: E xcellent article and very relevant in this day and age. Well written, Mohan Dhall.

"Australian politicians treat black and brown people like Pokemon cards, trying to trade them to other countries."

L-FRESH The LION on Australia's asylum seeker policies INDIANLINK

"Indians are at the bleeding end of technology. Trump's move will lead to Indian information technology companies focusing on the domestic problems"

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani

"Catching the wrong train can sometimes get you to the right station."

Saroo Brierley promoting the film Lion in Kolkata

MARCI-I 2017 7

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mainstream

Check out Satbir's story in the new government campaign on multiculturalism Satbir Singh Kahlon feels a sense of pride every time he puts on his Acmy resen1e uniform. His curban carries his regiment's insignia.

A

BY PREETI JABBAL

"\\Then I got enJisted and first put my uniform on, it gave me a great sense of belonging," Kahlon revealed. "lt urges me co make sure that whatever l do, ic is positive

s a young man growing up in

for me community."

Ambala Canrt in northern 1ndia,

As a devout Sikh, Satbir's life is guided by

Satbir Singh Kahlon was drawn

values of contribution and self-improvement.

cowards tennis, as opposed co his

Since he arrived in Melbourne as a

mates who liked crid<et.

17-year-old straight out of schoo� he has

Images from che Australian Open appealed

accomplished much. He finished a degree

to him so much chat when be decided to

move to Australia for higher smdies, he knew it would have to be to Melbourne.

Today, Sacbir Singh Kahlon is an Officer Cadet in the Australian Army Reserve based

in IT, became a part of his local tennis dub,

and joined the Army Reserve.

Today the 32-year-old is a proud Australian and Vicrorian. ''Victoria is very special;' he said. "There

at Melbourne University Regiment. He

are different people from different faiths,

previously worked for the Australian Defense

from different cultures and different

Force as a Multiculmral Ambassador.

You can learn more about Satbir in a

con1111tmities coming rogetber making Victoria a great place co live and well wotd1

new campaign launched by d1e Victorian

belonging to."

backgrounds talk about the lives rney have

lil<e Sacbir are encouraged to read the

built for themselves in the stace.

stories of d1eir fellow citizens and share

Government in which Victorians of various

As part of tbe new campaign, Victorians

The Victorian Government is sharing

their own. Vict0rians from all walks of life

their stories, the media and the community is

are encouraged to celebrate with real life

finding out about their contributions, society has welcomed them, and they are getting a fair go.

They are Victorians. And proud of it.

An initiative launched as part of the

,, Being a Victorian isn't just about where you live. It's about contribution and belonging ,, Premier- Daniel Andrews in1portant things Governments can do".

doesn't mean it's always easy. In me face of

examples of real people enjoying the benefits

Victorian Police Commissioner Graham

what is most important to us."

of a dynamic and diverse Victoria.

Ashton were also present at the launch

Victoria's first ever Gender Equality

along with community leaders and media

Strategy is also geared to addressing issues

This will reiterate the importance of shared Victorian values including one law for all, freedom to be yourself, no discrimination,

Deputy Premier James Merlino and

representatives.

The 2017 policy includes details of

extremism and fear, we need to reaffirm

facing women and girls from CALD

communities who can face additional barriers

Andrews' Labor Government's newly

a fair go for all and importance of

programs and services wid1 a vision to drive

as a result of various factors including

released multicultural policy, the 'Viccorians.

contributing to the commmlity.

concrete improvements across Government,

language, separation from family and support

And Proud of it' campaign was unveiled at

the Maucice Rioli room, at Punt Road Oval,

in Richmond, recently.

Be it Fijian mother Anita Robi or Indian• born Satbir Singh Kahlon, the idea behind

idea in a nutshell when be declared, "Being a

The Premier Daniel Andrews put d1is

ro ensure mat every Victorian can belong,

network, insecure visa or job scams, gender

contribute, achieve and succeed.

stereotypes etc.

TI1e policy was developed after extensive

The expected outcome is for Victorians

abom contribution and belonging."

consultation with d1e community and retains

to be safe and secure, healthy and well, able

Victorian isn't just about where you li\1e. It's Similarly, me M : inister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott said, ''\\7e all have

some core principals wid1 focus on social cohesion and current challenges faced by the

to participate fully, connected ro culcure and

the well-constructed narrative in the advertisement, is co promote a shared sense

something to contribute. To foster everyone's

Victorian commtulity.

oppommities.

of belonging, acceptance, inclusion and

sense of belonging, so they feel pride in tl1ei.r

contribution.

10 MARCI-I 2017

home and meir state, is one of the most

Accm:ding co Premier Andrews, "We are stronger for our diversity - but that

comm.wlity and to have equal rights and

IVith inp11tfrom Victorians. And proud of ir campaigt1 l?J, the Govern111ent of Victmia

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MARCH 2017 11

cover story

s

■

In this Australian exclusive, we chat with the star of the Oscars 2017 ceremony Sunny Pawar, and the man who helped find him, Indian film professional Pravesh Sahni

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA f you don'c chink Suru1y Pawar is cure, Lhen you don't deserve any happiness.

Those are Twiner's words, not ours.

Social media (the world?) went crazy at this year's Oscars, and not just for tb111 serious sruff-up at d1e end. The frenzr was also for :lllother reason - a pint-sized star from India with d1e cutest mxedo ever, gorgeous hair, heart-melting smile, and all the confidence ia the world.

Eight-year-old Sunny Pawar, who plays a young Saroo Brierley in the Oscar­ nominated ti.Im Uo,,, became one of the most memorable Oscar moments from 2017.

He stole the red carpet from under d1e scilettos of some of the world's most beautiful and cxpcnsivelr dressed women, parcicipated in an unforgettable cameo with d1e hostJimmy Kimmel, wowed e\'erybody with his rurn on the silver screen in a critically-acclaimed movie (whr is there no Oscar category for Best Child Actor?). and returned home to a Lion's welcome.

Oh, and he also did a whole Im for his already likeable co-scar Dev Patel. The British lndian actor's dalliances with licdc Sunnr all through the awards season - fixing his bowtie, eying his shoe5-laces or simply hoisting him up - ended up increasing the X factor for hin1, many times m·er.

"Gee yourself a De,• Patel!" Twiner urged.

Ok, granted, it was Dev's gentle care of his glamorous mum thar might also have added to this, but it was Sunny to a large extent. One Twitter user spoke for many young people when they said, "I'm going to marrr Dev Patel, have a big fat lndian wedding (you're all invited) and then we're going to adopt SUJmy Pawar."

W

e speak witl1 little Sunny :ind his daJ Dilip on me phone, tl1e day after they arrive back in India from LA. It is 5pm d,eir time. They have spcllt the day doing the rounds of television interviews and press conferences, but Sunnr amwer:s all ottr question$ like he is answering chem for the first time. "/311h111 ,urho Iago. B11h11t 11,hrhtJ tho," he says repeatedlr. I loved ir all. le was nice. \Xie realise he is, after all. bm a !itde child, and feel a bit sorry m be subjecting him ro this questioning. But hi5 answers, although shore and direct, belie his age; he reveals no &ign of exhaustion, and we marvel at his cap:idry to process it all.

You looked fantastic, we say. Th:ink i•ou, he says, wich a hint of American in his accenr.

Great suit. . . who did your hair? '\'111i11 kh11rl kfyo!" Did it myself!

At d1e show, did he rccoh'11ise the big srars?

"Pehcbau110, par1100111 1111bi11 IJ/a/11111. "Sort of recognised them, bm didn't know roeir 12 MARCH 2017

for Sunny, for India Take One, for us all, that the world was watching ,,

names. \\'las he nervous at all? At the Lion King scene, maybe? ''N11bi11. dar 11abi11 lugp, balm/ e,yl!)' k!J·11/" 1 o, 1 loved id Dilip chimes in, ",,llli11 i.rko sll11jbffJa 1h11, dame kL, ktu!J kl;? Bnat.b11ejab rboro/11/r h"r:ru,9w, imt db pokd11. Dono khag(!Ja!" ·•1 explained co him d1ere'll be nothing to be scared about.

When the chocolates showered down, he caught lW<) packers -are them both up!"

Accompanying me riny dynamite ar the Oscars, was Pravcsh Sahni, whose Delhi-based film company Lndia Take One Productions handled the Lndia affairs for the makers of Lio11, Sydney-based Sec-Saw Films. Sahni gm co walk wim his linlt: ward on the red carpet., scored a scat with die main guests, and found his own fifteen minutes of fan1e as he appeared on screen nLwy times.

Lio11 is the fourth film Sahni has been involved with d1a1 has gone to the Oscars, d1e others being Sh1111dog, Millio1111ire, Lift of Pi and Zero Dark Tbirfy. But this one will be the most memorable.

"Oscars 20 I7 has been one of the best e.,pericuces of my life;' he rells lnrliau Li11k, on the phone from LA. "Not many 1.ndians have been to the Oscars as you know. aad it was a special privilege co be in the midsc of it all."

He was scared in row nw11ber 3 in d1e middle, cigbc behind Denzel Washington, wid1 Sunny and the rest of the I..Jo11 ceam.

"I diought l would be up on the balcony somewhere," he admits laughing!)'.

"1t was far more glamourous d1an L thought. J ha,·c seen it on TV before, but here 1 was, ju.st eight feet away from d1e stage!"

He also admits to being quite overwhelmed by it aU, despite having worked in the industr)' for 30 years and creating a niche for himseJI b)' assisting foreign films rhar have been set in lndia. "l just kept looking ru·ound dazed!" he rcveal5. "1 was in a world I alw:iys dreamed of being in. l didn't even diink of taking my own phOLos, d1cre were so many people caking picrures nf us. There is a five-minute break every 15 minures ducing die Oscars ceremonr. Everybody around us, all the big actors, wanted a photo wid1 Sunny. 11,cy all knelt down, in their tlLxedos and beautiful gowns, to get dose to him!"

On the red carpet, Pravesh got to act as translator. '·Sunny was asked who he would most like to shake hands wid1 and he said, "f-lrid1ik Roshan". That's who he likes, Hrithik Roshan - he doesn't know the Hollywood celebrities yer."

0,Y/c k-arned from Pravcsh larer rhar Hritbik has been in touch ro seek a meeting with little Sunny).

The Uo11 team went to the after-party hosted by the Weinstein Companr

"We got there just after the awards ceremony, :ibom I0pm,'' Pravesh recounts.

"There was a red carpet, and you're supposed to show rour photo ID, because die securiry is handled by the police. Guess what., in all the excitement, we forgot to being our ID. l got concerned because the Pawars didn't even ha\·e their passports on d1em. Bur a representative from die company said, 'Everybody recognises Sunny.

His face is his photo lD!' One of the police of6cers picked Sunny up in his arms and carried him in!"

The I.Jo11 family was disappointed, Pravcsh reveals, ta have been nominated for six awards and not having won even one.

"It was just bad luck, not t)ur day. The spirit was, at least we were nominated, so we'd already won 99% of rhe bacdc."

Unfortunate!)' d1e Indian ream had to rush home as Sunny w�is drifting off, having hcen on die red carpet siocc Ipm, and he had to be at tbc next event, After tht O.mm· at 5am d1e next morning.

(One of t.he hosrs on d1e show,Jerry O'ConncU sac Slmny on his shoulders and declared "1 want to walk around Hollywood Boulevarde like this wiili my new friend!'')

"The theatre was full as they discussed the previous night. Then, in rhc afternoon, we put Sunny and Dilip on their Aight bad, to lndia."

Prnvesh also reveals chat Sunny has been going back and form between lndia and the US for the past three mond1s now.

Strangely, he was initially refused a visa. ..His dad had :i bank b3lance of onl)T Rs. I 20. www.indianlink.com.au

,, I loved shooting in Australia, the place was so beautiful.

There were so ny places to roam and play ' '

Sunny Pawar met President Barack Obama at the White House in the last week of Obama's Presidency to raise awareness forthe #Lion Heart campaign.

He was in Washington, DC to help raise awareness for the initiative that rovides financial support and resources to children in India.

The Weinstei)1 Compahy, See-Saw Films, and The Charity Network launched the campaign in November 2016. Since then, the initiative has raised over $100,000 In its mission to assist the over 11 million homeless youth of India.

cover story

Left to right: Samuel L Jackson gets a selfie with Sunny; At the Golden Globes with Dev Patel; With Nicole Kidman at the Directors Guild Awards; Pravesh Sahni of India Take One Then rhe film's discribucors The \Xleinsrein Company got involved, and goL the Pawars :l 10-rear visa."

Pravc$h believes Sunny has what i1 cakes to make it big.

"I have worked with ,1 lot of actors, nncl l can cell you, he is a st:tr:' he says with couviccioa. ·'But his father and he need to l1a,•e a proper plan. And not be too greedy.

You know, co avoid what d1cy call d1e 'Oscars curse' • where you increase rour price so DJuch that rou Lake yourself out of die market. Swmy's a good kid. He's now been puL in school • Sec-Saw Films have been kind enough co look after him. He's goin� to learn English. Will he be able to work in English mmi.es? Yes, it's possible; but it's going ro cake time."

Pravesh bas also seen De\' Pare! d1rough his career.

"I have worked wid1 Dev Patel on live films through India Take One. We have seen him grow from Slt1111dng co /3e.rt Exolit Marigold HoltlaDd then Uo11 and we just finished HoM l\111111b11i with him. He is a great actor and a wonderful person. He did his first lilm with us at 17. imagine, you sec an actor go from that., and now you're sirring next to him at the Oscars and he's nominated for Best Supporting Actor!" \X-'hac, for Pravesh Sahni, is the standom memory from his rime at die Oscars? "\'\'hen Jimmy Kimmel came up ro re­ cnacr the scene wich Sunny from Tbe Uo11 Kiit"· It was special for LJ011, for Sunny, for lndia Take One, for us all, that the world was watching us. Perhaps Sunny would have scayed out of focus for the entire Oscars if chis incidcnr hadn't happened. Bue wiLh the entire auditorium looking at rou, as d1e host talks to )'OU one-on-one, d1at's memorable. \'i'hen you win an Oscar you get one-minute for your d1ank you speech. Sunny had much more than that on the O�car screen. The next da}; the driver who picked uJ< up, knew not only Sunny, but even recognised me!"

P

rm·esh says it has been an honour to be involved with LJ011. ·'This was a swry chat touched us all from Day One. Credit goes co director Gard1 Davis. We never had the Oscars in mind • d1is was n creative project.''

The entire process from scouting, or d1e recct.:, to die conclusion of shonting took

1-4 MARCH 2017

abour n year.

"Our job is co make the director's dreams possible. This was a difficult shoot.

Working with a foreign <lirec[()r on d1c streets in lndia, everything is rough!"

To shoot at the: Howrah Bridge, for example, was a nightmare.

"It is an am:iz.ing scene in d1c film, but the i<le11 of having Sunny :t.lone on die bridge, bad1ed in lighr, was almost impossible. lt was through the cooperation of the West Bengal government, along with the Direccor of Photography Greig Fraser, 1har d1is beautiful scene finally came 10 be in the lilm."

This is the third Ausrralian film Pr:wesh has been involved with. the od1ers being .fort Y"o11r Legs! and Hw/A1"111br1i (coincidentally also starring Dev Patel).

"1 feel so lucky, :lftcr S/11111dog and finding those kids, to have found Sunn)'- 1t is wonderful to find lndian talent aDd deliver it to 1he world.''

Sunn)' was only h\'e years old when the project began. Garth Davis couldn't speak any Hindi, and Sunt1y couldn't speak any English.

"They developed a kind of sign language.

Thumbs up meant the scene was good, thumbs down meant they had to shoot it again. \Y/e had translators on set, as weU as Sunny's dad Dilip, but it was nbouL that personal connection with the direccor.

He had, afcer all, picked him from 1200 children!"

But on the �ccs, Sunny was accorded regular Lreaanem.

•· o pampering of any son, no special treatment in any manner. After all, he was playing a \'cry emotional role and was required Lo keep that demeanour,'' :i source from the lilm rc.-vealed.

Sunny's shooting schedules spanned over three mond1s in Kolkata and Madhya Pradesh in India, and Melbourne and Tasmanfa in Australia.

Cricket came in handr to help other cas1 members relate 10 the diminutive star. Some oi these candid scenes even made it to film. "\Xie worked in Bhopal and Kolkaca, bm 1 loved shooting in AuscmJia," Sunny said in one of his many interviews. '"The place was so bcaudful. There were so many places co roam and plar, we went there after shooting."

W

hat was Nicole Kidman like, Sunny has been asked. ''l\f,llljoisi lhi, ., he is said ro have replied. She was like

mum.

The eight-year-old, starring as Kidman's young son in the lilm, said he enjored a real-life bond with the Oscar-winning acror. ''She's very affectionate and very warm," Sunny says. "Nicole said chat I'm a natural and I should always be a natural."

I-le played cricket wid1 her on d1e set. Bm in his straight-forward way, he adds with child-like honesty, "I'm much better than her."

He also tried to tench the 49-year-old star 'lhodo 1bodt1' Hindi.

It is clear Su11ny also adores his older co• star Dev Patel.

"C1irktl khella Ibo, h11d111ooshi klll1r, tho. '' He would play cricket and would goof around on the set. lt was so much fun. \X'as there a language problem? ''No, there was no language problem.

Dev spoke to me in English, and I spoke back in Hindi."

Simple!

Together, Dev and Sunnr introduced Uo/J ar the 74tb Golden Globe /\wards.

Dressed in black nixedoes, the duo was welcomed onstage with a huge applause.

Dev gave a synopsis of che film on scage, and d1cn lifted Sunny so he could say to the microphone, ''This is our film, L ion." The aucliencc empted with love.

The same thing happened with the 89'h Academy Awards. ''My ovaries can't handle chis!" screamed one popular website as it posted multiple cuce-faCLor-overload phocos of Sunny at the Oscars. And breakfast show hosts on TV m.ighr well have said "#ovaries'', millennial speak for an explosion of cluckiness, as d1ey ended their interviews coveting Sunny in cud<llcs and caresses.

S

unny is a Class 3 smdent aL the Air India J\lodd School and lives wirh his parents Dilip Pawar, a former government office sweeper, and home-maker mother Vasu, in a slum in Kalina in the western suburbs oi Mumbai.

He has a younger brother and sister. ·' udke m ih10 r1chcb11 ko11111 kjp1, boht1r desh 111e, b11111 b11h11t kl.111sh bah,," Dilip teUs

,, Not many Indians have been to the OscaT"S, it was a special privilege to be in the midst of it all ,, I11dir111 I.J11k. Our son ha� done good work, apprec.iared in a foreign land; that makes us happy.

"Zi11dflgi 111ei11 sabka op1111 11aseeh h,,i, par lllfhllal kf hi11r1 kJJCh 11t1hi11 !tot,,.'' \'re come LO 1hi� world wid1 our destiny written out, bm reallr, norhing happens wid1out bard work.

He reveals he wiU consider more offers for Sunny, wherever they come from. Lon So11i11, Sunny's secon<l film, fcaniring Frieda Pimo is rc.'lld)' for release later dus year.

Sunny cells us, '"E11glish 11ahi11joo11/t1 baipar jab sub ,mghe .r11b hole, Creal ll'ork. 111ai11 bolt1 lho/lkJM. '' 1 don't speak English but knew when everybody in LA was congratulating me.

Did Sunny enjoy his time in LA? "Bab111 ochcht1 lag,11. r!.:,i:dli11g Iha." Loved it; it was exciting.

What did he like?

"Dis11tyla11d arhrh" /(lgt1, Tr' i11ten•im•s 11chcba lag". W11YE t1cbtha log".'' DisneylaDd, rbe TV interviews, meeting the \'V \l(' E heroes.

His favourite scenes from che movie?

"Train 11111/d'. Scenes on the train.

He also recalled the running, when ·'Director Sir" mid him ro ru.n. \Xlho are his favourite actors?

"Hriduk Roshan, Ajay Devgn, Rajnikamh'".

Have unny's friends like<l his work? "., Ibhi m1hi11 11,ilo to. Jv,Ischool;1111011g11. P,,ta 11abi11 1mho11epicture dekha_)'n 1111hi11." I haven't met them yet. I'll go to school comorro,1s I don't kno,,, if they've seen tbe film.

Does he think life with them will change for him now? ·'Pehl,j11ira tho, khe/1111 kood11a, ll'aisa he raheg11." lr'II be just like before. We'll play just like normal.

W!c can't handle how cure he is!

With inpws.from JANS www.indianlink.com.au

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MARCI-I 2017 15

stage

BY PREETI JABBAL

W

hile the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra proved, yet again, why they are a world­ renowned orchestra by performing AR Rabman's incredible music, the maestro's brief appearance left the audience feeling somewhat disappointed.

The focus clearly was on Rahman's amazing repertoire, not him, as he made only two appearances during the three-hour show.

Held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, The lVJHsic '!f AR Rahman show was presented

by Arts Centre Melbourne in association with Melbourne Sym phony Orchestra and Charindaa (Charities through Indian Art in Australia), for the inaugural Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts Festival

16 MARCI-I 2017

(AsiaTOPA).

The Indian community, and not just in Melbourne, were all agog when the AR Rahman event was announced last year. The event was sold as a 'one-of-a­ kind' concert in which the 'l\1elbonrne Symphony Orchestra would perform The M11sic AR Rah11Nm, wicb the superstar himself taking to d,e stage as special guest'.

The superstar composer himself had stated categorically in an interview with fodia11 Link that bis intentions would be to sit back and enjoy tbe music together with the audience. '1 look forward co closing my eyes and enjoying the music played by some of the world's best musicians," be had said then.

And that's exactly what he did, albeit to the disappointment of some.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra , led b y British conductor and music director Matt Dunkley; dipped inco Rahman's cacbe of wQrk witl1 finesse.

In the first half of the concert, Rahman came in to play the piano for his score in Lasse HaUstri:im's The 100 Foot]011mq and left the stage indicating to the audience chat

of

he would be back.

MS0's selection comprised of Rah.man's notable compositions from Lagaan, l\t!angal f Heaven Ptmdq-Thc Rising, S}llades, Wtmio,:r aud Earth and more. The synthesis of traditional Indian music with global sounds was accomplished well in the orchestral arrangements.

The spotlight was maintained and well earned by visiting artists S. Navin on Hute and Asad Khan on sitar. The applause was thunderous as S. avin brought the melody of love alive with Roja, Rahman's debut Tamil Ii.Im soundtrack. The music for Roj(I fetched him [he National Film Award for Best Music Direction.

The 30-strong Polyponic Voices Choir, under the direction of Michael Fulcher and language coach Shriram Iyer, also proved their vocal mettle in charming renditions of some of Rahman's songs.

Digital displays and projeccor lights in tl,e background offered an aesthetic ambience, but the outdo()t venue bad people huddling together to ward off tl,e evening chill.

Post interval there was still no sign of Rahman and the audience started getting a

o

tad restless. They sat thr()ugh a melodious tribute to Indian composers and beautiful Indian actresses before calling out for Rahman to come back on stage. It was not to be, as 11ISO continued to play scores from B011Jht!J, l(pchad(li!Jaa11 and Robot.

As tl,e show progressed, Opera Australia Soprano Julie Lea Goodwin and Tenor Nicholas Jones received audience appreciation fot performing [be vocal stage version of 'Lothlorien' from The Lord The Ri,�s.

Towards the end, Rahman did remrn to play the piano for the concert's inevitable finale on his sign amre piece Jai Ho from Slumdog 1vlillionai1'I?. The score for this Ii.Im earned Rahman l:\vo Academy Awards for Best Original Music and Best Original Song. He was joined by the operatic duo wbo managed a suitably up-tempo and rousing Hindi rendition of the engaging and dynamic song.

At tl1e cocktail event held in the Merlyn Myer Room prior to the show, Rahman's appearance was also brief as he waded chro1.1gh the selfie-hungry crowd to disappear into the sound studio. Media and

of

www.indianlink.com.au

, , The focus clearly was on Rahman's amazing repertoire, not him, as he made only two appearances during the three­ hour show ,, other guests pounced on an opportunity tO take a photo or talk to however, the publicity-shy composer was hastily whisked away leaving tbe guests co hobnob with each otber instead.

Rahman recalled fond memories of his last concert in Melbourne, held at the Rod Laver Arena in 2005. Chatting with Indian Link� be told how the audience lit their mobile phones to send little halos of light as tbey swayed co his music.

"It was the first time I saw this happen at my concert and since then it is repeated in alJ my sho,vs," he reminisced. ''But the first time always remains fresh in my mind."

Melbourne fans will not forget chat amazing show, and sadly, what they will remember from th.is one, is that there just wasn't enough of Rahman.

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MARCI-I 2017 17

community

Australia Day, Republic Day

T

he high profile Hindi Nikeran Inc. Melbourne celebrated Australia Day and India's Republic Day on 29 January. Despite d1e timing of this event clashing with the Men's Fimtl for the Australian Open, many families gad1ered to have fun in thei.r local community.

Held at Scoresby Primary School, the event was filled with performances and activities for everyone to enjoy. Attractive prizes were on offer and everyone was encouraged to participate. Activities such as a running rnce, musical chairs, bingo and quiz encouraged members to test their skills and talent in various ways.

Dr Rahul Gupta, Presideoc of Hindi Nikeran, welcomed attendees, encouraging everyone to "meet others and make new friends". "Hindi iketan continues to hose events chat keeps the community together," he added.

The event opened with a respectful recitation of both cow1tries' national anthems. Following this, participants cook to d1e stage to sing traditional Indian songs and recite meaningful poems.

Eminent Hindi/Sanskrit scholar, Dr Mridul Kirti was the chief guest for the event. Dr Kirti narrated the importance of Indian culture and language. Valuing our sense of identity and belonging in this great country was emphasised.

Ald1ough Dr Kirti reminded the Indian con1111tuiity to not forget their values and constitution, sbe cautioned them to respect Australia and cherjsh d1e country's openness

to all.

A member from the audience supporced d1is view and noted that he appreciates Australia for allowing him and his wife to live in chis country. ''Australia bas helped us in manir ways and is a country d1ac is safe from political, social and racial tensions throughout d1e world," he said.

Cr Nicole Seymour, Knox City Council, observed that she enjoys attending d1ese events. She noted drnt almough d1e singing, poems and narration mrougbout die event were not in English, she could have trust in knowing d1at iliese community gatherjngs are strengthening a sense of belonging for migrants and those without family in Australia.

"Knox City Council continues co support Hindi ikecan for its role in strengthening the Indian community and collaborating with other groups," she reaffirmed.

Despite a low attendance from the non-Indian commu1iicy, Hindi Niketan continues to deliver insightful programs and source assistance from members within its community to present a taste of India to Melbournians. l encourage community groups to rake the initiative to host these events. We are all yet to learn mote about other culuires. We should be proud and are privileged to be able to attend events mat explore culture and traditions from places around the globe.

For those who cannot make a trip overseas, these events are vital to a.id global thinking and an understanding of others.

I look forward ro future Hindi Niketan events and co111111end the volunteers for organising the programme. These organisations sttengd1en the connections in the community and it would be beneficial to all for groups to come together and host join c events.

Botb Australia Day and India's Republic Day celebrate a transition. Success aside, people have experiences from considering

or making a transition. Lee us share our stories with others and look to plan such events widi members from beyond our local or cultural community. Imagine the possibilities!

Community leaders in attendance included Kim Wells l\lfT>, representing Mathew Guy, Leader of die Opposition in the Victori.'ln Parliament; ick Wakeling, Member for Fernrree Gully; Chidambaram Srinivasan, VMC Commissioner, and Cr Nicole Seymour.

Carl Buhariwala

WOWing us with their work

W

omen of Wyndham (\'v'O\"lv'), a not-for-profit, grassroots organisation working towards women's empowerment and prevention of family violence organised its inaugural aimual multicultural evening recently.

The event was unique as it brought togetl1er some 400 people from diverse cuJttu:al backgrounds and all age groups.

Twenty four co=unlry chan1pions, extraordinary men and women from different walks of life, were recogiiised on

18 MARCI-I 2017

d1e night for their contribution and service in building and strengthe1iing tbe community.

The entertainment activities included Ms Teen, Miss and l'lfrs WOW Walk for a Cause aod Not a Pageant Show, Ms Little Sunshine, and multicultural dance and singing acts. The African Congo dance and Punjabi Bhangra performance by young kids went down particularly well.

The event was attended by the Speaker of the Victorian Parliament and Member for Derrirnuc, Telmo Languiller; Member for Lalot,Joanne Ryan; lramoo ward Councillor Peter Maynard; Harrison ward Councillor

and Deputy Mayor Kim McAliney; former Councillor Bob Fairclough, and social worker aod public figure Jasvinder Sidhu amongst otl1ers.

The President of WOW, Monica Raizada, a well-known community leader and social activist who has dedicated her life to the prevention of family violence and helping those affected by domestic violence, said, "We are delighted to see sucl1 a tremendous response to our inaugural event. It is all abom encouraging and empowering women, recognising those doing great service to the co11111rnnicy, raising awareness on family

violence, increasing harmony, wellbeing and togetherness in the community. I believe we have made soine progress towards that."

A free evenr wid1 only a gold coin donation requested at the door, all me funds collected from the night will be used towards helping family violence victims.

Just over a year since its inception, \'//OW, under me auspices of Ramon Helps, comprises of volw1tary members from all over Melbourne. And through their events the organisation has been making great strides in achieving d1eir \7ision.

Preeti Daga

www.indianlink.com.au

spirituality

How meditation and rhythmic breathing can help eliminate stress

B

BY PREETI JABBAL

y not pushing your mind buc allowing it to experience the silent depths of its own nan1re, you can meditate effortlessly, according to Swami Sadyojathah from the An of Living Foundation (AOL).

AOL's Internacional Affairs Director was in Australia recently for the 111/'�, To Happimss ational Tour. He also participated in initial talks to discuss the possibility of holding che next AOL World CuJm.ral Festival in Australia.

Swami Sadyojathah is tl1e name given to him by his guru Sri Sci Ravi Shankar, the revered founder of AOL. "My name may smmd difficult, but it has a simple meaning. It means 'born now'," said Swanuji when asked about the origins of his unusual name.

Born into a royal fanuly in Kerala as Raghu Raj Raja he qualified witl1 a B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering and had a leaning towards communism before his life­ d1anging meeting witb Sri Sci Ravi Shankar in 1993. He became Sri Sri's prime disciple and is a major spokesman for AOL. As coordinator of Internacional Accivities for AOL, he travels extensively and teaches meditation and mindfulness, globally. He is also the F0tmcling Direccor of the Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research.

Speaking to .Indian Link on the last leg of bis Australian tour, in Melbourne, he said, "The whole movement of Sri Sri's F0tmdatio11 is based on the Art of Living nor me Arr of Leaving. There is a big difference between living and existing.

'Unfortunatel)', a lot of people in the world simply exist and we need to have this sluft from existing to acmally living . . . but we do

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not need to leave anything in order to attain that higher consciousness."

He went on, "The word dispassion (vairagya) has been repeatedly used by spiritual leaders and there is a general feeling that one needs co renounce everytluog in order to attain spirituality. Bm the real meaning is differen t." According to tl1e learned yogi, "Being iJ1 and enjoying me moment wirhout feverishness is the real meaning of dispassion."

Through the philosophy of Art of Living, Swanuji articuJated bow art is all about appreciation. For example, music or dance becomes art onJy when it is enjoyed; similarly, once you learn to appreciate your own l. ife it becomes an art. Daily and ongoing stress can be an impediment, but there are techniques that can help remove these obstacles, one of them being S11dtmhan Kri)•a.

As a major proponent of Sttdarshau Krip he described ir, simply, as a technique tl1at incorporates rhythms of the breath that harmonis.e the body, mind a□d emotions.

It is beneficial in eliminating accumulated stress and flushing out toxins whilst leaving the mind energised and relaxed.

Swamiji was quick to dispel the myth that meditation is about concentration . On the contrary, he claimed, meditation is about de-concentration. lt is best conducted when one is relaxed and not focused on reigning in their thoughts. ''As soon as we try ro achieve a thoughtless state, our mind is bombarded with thoughts and we start fighcing those moughts as whatever we resist will persist."

Swamiji maintained that concentration is not required to meditate, instead concentration is a result of meditation and someone who meditates reguJarly will subsequently gain focus and concentration. "ivfeditati.on is no more a luxury. It has become a necessity in life but it can be done effortlessly," said tl1e guru who imparts advanced training on the Sa/Jtfi Samadhi or effortless meditation.

According ro him, a rested mind is more dynamic and techniques Like S11darsba11 Kr!J·a and Sahtl.J Samadhi among otl1ers, help in attaining a deep sleep tbat creates a feeling of calmness and alertness that can transform lives.

When asked how youth can be engaged better in a digirnUy dependent world, Swamiji reiterated the need for youth Swami Sadyojath to also meditate.

"Depression, suicides, hormonal changes, peer and societal pressure; tl1ere are many challenges that youngsters face nowadays," he said. "One cannot avoid technology altogetl1er, however a calm, centered and balanced mind can be achieved by praccicing any of me various breathing techniques consistently." countries, including 3000 dignitaries, \'qith regard to me current state of 2500 spiritual and religious leaders, the w·orld, Swarniji stressed the need for and internacional and Indian artists tolerance and education. came cogether co celebrate AOL's 35th "During the short cime we are here on. anniversary. tlus earth, hatred, animosity and killing in According to Swamiji, the \Xfocld CuJmral tl1e name of religion is really not worth Festival was a celebration of diversity of culmres from across tl1e world whilst it. We can and should all live in peaceful coexistence," he said. "The voice of non­ simultaneously highlighting Vas11dhaiva violence should be beard loud and clear.

K11tt1111hakav1 - the unity of me human There are more than 7 billion people in family. tbe world who live peacefully and only a Swanuji said there is increasing interest in making the World Cultural Festival an few thousand who believe in violence and terrorism. However, tl1eir voices come across annual event rather tlian once every five louder than that of the vast majority. This years. He said he had held initial discussions ro .see if the next event could be held in needs ro change. Thanks to social media there is a drnnge happening and people are Australia. now able to voice their protest in a non­ His guru Sri Srj Ravi Shanka.r once violent forum. There is a lot more to achieve expressed his wish 'to see a smile on and educacion will help in ensuring that the everyone's face', said Swamiji. message of tolerance is widespread."

"Tliis might sound Utopian, however, one has to dream big, make a scart and Swamiji was instrumental in coordinating move towards that dream for anything co a massive World CuJniraJ Festival in New Delhi last year where people from 156 happen."

,, Sudarshan Kriya is a technique that incorporates rhythms of the breath that harmonise the body, mind and emotions , ,

MARCI-I 2017 19

WHAT'S ON FESTIVAL Sri Durga Temple Holl Festival, Sat 12 March, 11am-5pm

to attend, morning tea i s provided and it's free. Contact: 9741 6051 or werribeecl1urchofchrist.org

Celebrate Holi with a live DJ, Dholi and cultural programs, live performances by local artists, kids' games and rides, food stalls, colours and Holika Dahan.

This is a free event held at Sri Durga Temple, 705 Neale Road, Rockbank.

Visit: sridurgatemple.com or call 9747 1628

Hume City Council Summer Sessions, Fri 10 March

Victoria's Multlcultural Festival, Sat 25 March, 12pm

Indian Young Women's Group

Gather your family and friends for the most vibrant festival in town, held at Federation Square, Melbourne.

With a fun-filled program of music, dance, film and activities throughout the day, Victoria's Multicultural Festival 2017 is sure to entertain people of all ages. The celebrations include the brand new Multicultural Film Festival from 5pm which will showcase multiculturalism through the lens of the next generation. From 7pm, a music gig will bring some of the hottest headline multicultural acts to the stage. A sumptuous array of international cuisine will also be available throughout the festival. Visit: culturaldiversityweek.vic.gov.au

Broadmeadows Street Festival, Sun 9 April

Tanderrum Way, Broadmeadows will be lit up with music and dancing for H ume's Broadmeadows Street Festival. The vibrant and colourful event will be held to celebrate the cultural diversity of Hume City with food, dance, music, entertainment. kids' activities, carnival rides and a car show. The night is set to end with a spectacular firework display. Visit: hume. vie.gov.au COMMUNITY Cultural Perceptions on Aging: Storytelling + Panel discussion, Thurs 9 March, 5.30pm-7.30pm

"Aging" 1s a dirty word for many people, but 1n some cultures it can attract respect due to the wisdom of older people. So how does culture Inform the perception of aging? Are there cultural practices that "keep us young"? Beyond Story and LEADAA bring you an eve111ng of stones and panel discussion from four people from four different cultures to explore the topic of aging. Prepare for a thought provoking night that cl1allenges your own perception on aging. We look forward to seeing you and enJoy some drinks and nibbles with us. Held at Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, 251 Faraday St, Carl ton. this event is supported by the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Costs: $10: Free for NFP organisations. Contact: info@ beyondstory. com .au Let's Talk: Conversatlonal English

Saturdays, 10am-11.30am Practice and develop your English speaking skills in a relaxed small group that has a warm and friendly atmosphere. Meet every Saturday at Werribee Church of Christ. 200 Tameit Road. Werribee. This is for people who want to gain confidence and practice their English. All are welcome 20 MARCI-I 2017

Come down and enjoy a free family night out each weekend of summer, with an outdoor movie screening. food stalls and activities hosted at a different location 111 the Hume Council area. Visit: 11ume.vic.gov.au

Fridays 12.30pm-2.30pm The Indian Young Women's Group 1s organised free by Wyndham Commurnty and Education Centre (Wyndham CEC) every Friday afternoon at the Wyndham Park Primary Scl100!, Community H ub Room, Kookaburra Avenue, Werribee.

Contact the Wyndham Community and Education Centre, 3 Princes Highway Wernbee. wyndhamcec.org.au or call 03 9742 4013

Mahoneys Rd Forest Hill. Contact: Joyanto, 0412 291 318 ARTS Bombay Talkies Exhibit, 8 Feb • 2 July, 2017

Presented by Australian Centre for the Moving Image, located at Feder ation Square. Flinders St, Melbourne. this free exhibition captures the excitement and glamour of early Indian cinema.

The exhibition showcases, for the very first time, the Dietze Family Trust archive. a Melbourne-based treasure trove of more than 3000 cultural artefacts once owned by H1mansu Rai. The archive is the most comprehensive collection of 1920s and 1930s Indian film studio ephemera In the world.

Architect Bljoy Jain at MPavllllon,

Saturdays 11am-12pm Connections@Craigieburn , 59 Craigieburn Road. Craigieburn VIC 3064. These weekly classes are taught by Marnsha Gard and Bhupinder Kahlon Contact: Narinder Garg 0431 123 045 or infothegurukul@gmail.com

daily 9am-10pm Australia' s MPavilion is an award winning annual architecture commission and design event.

MPavilion 2016 is designed by acclaimed Indian architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai. The temporary summer pavilion in Melbourne's historic Queen Victoria Gardens, St Kilda Rd, hosts a free fourmonth program of talks worksh0ps. performances and installations. Visit: mpavilion.org

Pronunciation Workshop 1st Sunday

Asia TOPA, tll Aprll 201.7

The Gurukul Hindi Classes

of the month 12pm-3pm Are you learning English as a second language and imerested in working on your pronunciation? Join Kaled - a friendly ESL (English as a Second Language) expert who will help you work on your English language skills for free at the Library at TI1e Dock.

Act1v1ties Room, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade. Melbourne. ESL speakers and learners of all levels are welcome.

Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing A1ts will bridge diverse art forms including performance, visual. screen and literary arts. Vital, fresh and always unpredictable. the event offers a city-wide window into the creative imaginations fuelling the many cultures of our region. Visit: aslatopa. com.au

FUNDRAISER

The Gurukul Chopaal, Tuesdays

Swachh Bharat

Help provide financial support for Swachh Bharat mission t11rough the Sulabh Social Service Organisation. The ongoing campaign invites all persons of Indian origin to generously donate for Swachh Bharat. Donations can be made to Sulabh through Western Union. Bank details are below In favour of: Sulabh International Centre For Action Sociology (SICAS) Account No: 63012660749, IFSC Code: SBIN0030262 MICR: 110002347 Name of the Bank: State Bank of India, Branch Name: C 28 Community Centre, Janakpuri, New Delhi-58 Contact: bharatramvasudevan@gmail.com SPIRITUAL Many Problems, One Solution: Discourses by Swami Swapooananda, Sat 25 • Wed 29 March, 7.30pm-9pm

Swami Swaroopanandaji, the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, will gently guide attendees through Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 part 1, 'Yoga of Self Enquiry'. This chapter contains the entire teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the most powerful message of - know your Self and dissolve all your problems. Held at Kel Watson Theatre, Forest Hill College, 178-180

SENIORS

6.30pm-7.30pm The Gurukul Chopaal is an Australian Indian senior citizens club which hosts cultural activities as well as laughing yoga, computer literacy lessons and games. Held at Connections@ Craigiebum, 59 Craigiebum Road, Craigieburn. Contact: Narinder Garg 0431 123 045 or e-mail infothegurukul@gmail.com MUSIC Haadu Baa Kogile

Melbourne's first ever Kannada musical event held every last Saturday of the month. All welcome. Organised

by Ankura Music School. Contact: 0432 192 424 or haadubaakogile@ gmail.com The Indian Music Collective Melboume Sundays 4pm

The Indian Music Collective Melbourne (IMCM) provides space for practice/ jamming in a friendly environment for musicians to meet and practice.

Anyone who plays a Hindustani classical music instrument (such as tabla, sitar, sarod, etc.) or can sing Hindustani classical music at any ability/level is warmly welcome at St John's Cathol ic Primary School, 77 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill. Listeners are also welcome. Gold coin to contribute towards tea/coffee/snack costs. Contact: Harjinder Bhogal at oldmanindia@gmail.com SPORT Singh Sabha Annual Kabaddl Tournament, Sun 12 March

Singh Sabha is the proud host of Victoria's biggest Kabaddi Mela.

Held at Singh Sabha Sports Club Melbourne, St Albans.

MISC Australia lndla Institute Events Drop In Chai Every 1st Friday of the month, 2pm•3pm

Come chat to other South Asia enthusiasts over samosa and chai and catch up on what different people are doing in relation to India. The chai and conversation is free and open to all.

Held at 147-149 Barry Street, Carlton.

Public Lecture: Corruption, Rule of Law and Govemance In lndla, Mon 13 Mar 6pm-7.30pm

Held at the YHM Room, Level 1, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, 761 Swanston Street. Professor John Harriss refl ects on the various dimensions of power in modern India and considers the contending influences on public policy of different social classes, and the question of why there is not more forceful resistance to their exclusion and oppression, on the part of the masses who have been left behind in the course of India's dramatic surge of economic growth.

Book Launch and Seminar: lndlan Muslims: Struggling for Equality of Citizenship, Thurs 16 Mar 5.30pm-

7pm Held at Australia India Institute Seminar Room, 147-149 Barry Street, Carlton.

This book examines the struggle for equality of citizenship of Indian Muslims in light of the release of the Sachar Committee report of 2006, which sparked widespread awareness of socioeconomic disparity and exclusion of religious minorities in India, especially Muslims. The book launch will be followed by a Q&A session and light refreshments.

Keywords for lndla: Money, Tues 21 Mar 6pm-7pm

Held at the YHM Room, Level 1, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, 761 Swanston Street, The University of Melbourne.

Professor Stuart Corbridge considers how and why Money has featured consistently as a political Keyword in India. He also examines how India has been written insistently into the history of money.

Visit: aii.unimelb.edu.au

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MARCI-I 2017 21

indian news Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi cheer the crowd from a moving a vehicle during their joint election campaign in Allahabad, 21 Feb, 2017. Five Indian states go to the polls in February­ March, a key mid-term test for Prime Minister Modi's Hindu nationalist government. Photo: AP

Hindi may topple English on social media in India but ignores critical issues

Hindj is set to topple English as r:he most popular language on social meclia in I□clia ill 2017 but chis comes with a negative, a study on the occasion of International :Mocher Tongue Day has revealed.

The negative is, the trend also suggests that critical issues are overshadowed by nationalistic themes in highly-shared Hi□cli stories on social medja_ Hincli news srories received higher shares in social mecLia compared to English news in the last six months, according to a study conducted by Scorynomicx on the "i\fost Shared 5000 News Stories in Ioclia in 2016".

Srorynomicx, a leacling consulting firm that specializes in business sco.rytelling in tracLitional and cligital meclia, analysed social sharing for 870,000 news stories by 135 leading Iodian meclia in ten lang1.1ages English, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Ka1mada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu.

Inclian meclia witnessed more than 2.25 billion shares in 2016 on Facebook, 1\vitcer and Linkedln with an average share of 2,587 per story, the smdy reveals.

However, the Most Shared 5000 News Stories identified by the study attracted a significantly higher average share of 71,494 per story with an aggregate of 357 million shares. Facebook accounted for more than 98% shares across languages. '"\'.v'e tracked cl1e social trajectory of cl1e most shared 5000 news stories to Lmderstand what drives engagement for clifferent aucliences. Though English retained its leadership in 2016, Hindi may topple ic in 2017 due co the increased penetration of cl1e internet and a strong resurgence in nationaijs"," Ajay Sharma, Founder and CEO of Storynomicx informed IANS. "Reiders ill foilian languages are starved for content on the web. Wfrh the explosion in smarrphone usage and mobile internee, news is virmally the only avenue for content for them. Hence, a study of the growing popularity of news stories in Hincli and ocl1er Indian languages is an inipommt barometer tO gauge cl1e changing complexion of the lnternet user base", Sharma added.

The sn1dy observed a "clistincc divide in news preferences" of Hincli and English

22 MARCI-I 2017

readers. Hincli readers, accorcLing to the study, prefer to share stories on nationalistic, religious and political themes while stories on entertainment, hum.an interest and consumer-focused dominate sharing amongst EngLish readers.

The smdy bas further observed char nationalistic topics that witnessed high social sharing in 2016, include news-based stories on the Indian Flag, I ational Anthem, S,mre ]ohaan Se Accha, surgical strike by lnclian Army, terrorise attack in Uri, boycott of Chinese products and ban on Pak artists, among others.

These copies, me study says, even trumped over news on critical issues like GST biU, unrest in Kashnur, drought, economk issues and even demonetisacion.

Of the most shared 5000 stories, there were only 32 stories on significant issues and 372 scories on Demonetization while there were as many as 693 stories on Nationalistic themes. otwicl1sraniling cl1e long queues at ATMs and other challenges faced by citizens, social meilia preferred to share stories on the likely posicive impact of demonetisation on terrorism., counter.fcit currency and black money.

Of the total of 372 stories on Demonetisation cl1ar were shared in large nwnbers, only 71 stories were on chaJ..lenges faced by people or political opposition ro demonetisation.

Guterres extends Kha re's term as UN Under-Secretary General

Secretary General Antoruo Gucerres has extended the term of Atul K11are, the highest ranking lnclian civil servant at the UN, as the Under-Secretary General for Fjeld Support till April 2018.

Khare plays a key role in tamping down me sexual abuse and exploitation scandal in UN peace-keeping operations.

"The Secretary General has decided that me mandate of seruor officials working in the Peace and Security pillar should be maintained for another one year," his spokespetson Farhan Haq said. this also related co Gurertes setting up a ream to revjew the worki11g of the UN in order to carry out his promise of reformjng

the UN. "This important work will require both expertise and experience from principals and all staff members," Gurerres said while annmmcing the review: Khare will also serve on the UN's Seruor Management Group, the high-level body chaired by the Secretary-General that deals with policy and plarnung matters across the UN. A meclical doccor by training, Khare joined tbe Inman Foreign Service in 1984 and has since served in several U positions, many relating ro peacekeeping.

Appoillted ill 2015 by formerSecreta.ry­ General as the head of the Department of Field Services, Khare has me crucial role of overseeing the agency that provides logistical, administrative and hnrnan resources support to the UN peacekeeping and political missions around me world.

J\nud the scandal of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peace-keepers, he emerged as the point person for dealing with it by enforcing a zero tolerance policy.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous, under whose leadership cl1e UN peacekeeping suffered a blow to its image and reputation because of the sex scandals, is leaving the world body when his term ends in March.

Indian electronics market to be $228 bn in 2020

Inclia's booming electrorucs' market is projected co more than double to $228 billion in three more years from over $100 billion in fisca.l 2016-17, the industry's trade body has said.

"India's ESDM (Electronics System, Design & Manufacnrring) sector js poised to reach $228 billion by 2020 from $100 billion in 2016-17, growing at 16-23 per cent annually," said a joint report of the Inclia Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) and global services firm Ernst & Young (EY) at a sum1nic here.

The report's forecasts are based on cl1e country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth, currency movement, inAation, trade pacts, consmnet sentiments, policies, investments, manufacturing entities and value addjtion.

"The manufacturjng of electrrnuc

products is expected to increase in five years from 17 per cenc annual growth, while the electroruc manufacturing services segment is pro;ecred co grow 42-68 per cent over the next five years ro $6-13.2 billion from $1 billion in 2015," Association Chairman K Krishna Moorchy told reporters.

Digital revolution and the government's thrust on using technology to improve delivery of its public services have opened up huge oppornmities to develop and manufacture innovative products and solutions across the country.

"As we see our industry scale up in value addjtion and value proposition, we are focusing on design and IP (Intellectual Property) ownership to boost and suscain me manufacturing eco-sysrem," asserted Moorthr Highlighting the jnvolvement of state governments in the 12th edition of the IESA's Vision Summit, Association President M.N. Vidyashankar said design ing was a key component for innovation and development of electronic produces. "\Ve are promoting local manufacturing and focusing on design-led growth of the ESDM sector. Wjch Rs 745-crore budget0ry support through schemes like M-SIPS and EDF, we believe India will be the next manufacturing powerhouse," asserted Vidyasbankar.

The Association has projected Rs 1,700-crore investments in the sector under the central government's M -STIJS (1\focli.fied Special Incentive Package Scheme) and EDF (Elecrroruc Development Fw1d), which are aimed at increasing domestic production of electroni.cs under the 'Make .in lnclia' initiacive.

Tbe Association's Technovation Sarabhai A . ward was given to the state-nm Inclian Space Research Orgarusation (ISRO) Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar for leacling the country's space missions for various applications and exploration.

The Association works ,vith the central and state government in franung policies and taking measures to scale up iniligenous produccion co meet the rising demand for electrorucs.

Work to introduce semi-high speed trains on two routes to begin soon

Ioclian Railways will soon stare sub-projects aimed at introducing semi-high speed trains on cl1e Delhi-H.owrnh and Delhi-Mumbai routes, a seruor rnirustry official said recently.

"The two sub-projects under 'M.ission Raftaar' are expected to be completed i n three years with a total outlay o f Rs 18,163 crote," cl1e official said.

After che upgrade, trains on tl1e routes will run at a speed of 160 km per hour.

The 'j\,fission Raftaar' project of the Indian Railways envisages to raise cl1e average speed of both passenger and freight trains.

The mission js being spearheaded by a cross cliscipli11ary mobility dfrectorate in the Railway Bo0td.

The official, who spoke on me conclition of anonymity, sai.d a Detailed Project Report of the routes is being prepared.

The Delhj-Howrah section will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 6,974 crore, and the

www.indianlink.com.au

An exhibit by artist Anila Quayyum Agha entitled 'All the Flowers Are For Me' at the India Art Fair in New Delhi, 2 Feb, 2017. Photo: AP

Delhi-Mmnbai section at an estimated Rs 1 1,189 crore.

The official said the work involved replacing locomotives-hauled trains with Main line Electric Multiple Units and Diesel Electric Multiple Units trains.

Bank of England meets Hindu Council members over beef tallow in 5 pound note

The Bank of England invited members of the Hindu Council in the UK for a meeting over concerns that the new· 5 potU1d polymer currency note contains traces of beef tallow - an issue that has led to anger among vegans, Hindus, Sikhs and other communities in Britain.

The Hindu Council UK representatives, Chairman Umesh C. Sharma JP, Director of Interfaith Relations, Anil Bhanot OBE and Director of Hindu Temple Engagement, Arnn Thakur were personally invited to a meeting with the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England-Victoria Cleland at its headquarters in Threadneedle Street on February 8.

In late November 2016, the Bank of England announced that it bad been informed that small traces of animal-derived products were used by a supplier in the manufacnrre of the new polymer pound 5 notes. Tallow is a hard, fatty substance made from rendered animal fat. It is commonly used to make soap and candle. The new polymer note uses beef tallow made from suet, which is hard fat found a.round the animal's kidneys, stomach and other organs.

The new pound 5 n0tes (and the pound I0 notes) contain animal fat in the form of tallow. This is unacceptable to millions of vegans, vegetarians, Hindus; Sikhs, Jains and others in the UK, the Hindu Co.uncil UK said i n a statement.

As soon as this atU1ouncement was made, the rlindu Council UK together ,vith a number of individuals and representatives of certain communities and organisations had publically expressed concerns about this.

It said over the lase couple of months, the Hindu Council UK has been in communication v;,ith the Bank of England and raised the concerns of the Hindu community in the UK over the issue. It said the Bank of EngL'llld assured that they ,vere treating those concerns with the um1ost seriousness and wanted to understand better what inipact the use of small traces of animal­ derived products in polymer banknotes may have within the community before making any further statement on the issue.

"The Hindu CotU1cil UK is pleased that the Bank of England have listened to our concerns and halted thdssuing of the new pound 20 notes until a full consultation has been done. In addition, the Bank of England has assn.red us that they are working with polymer suppliers co investigate alternatives (including some chat are plant-based) for che funtre," it said.

The Bank of England said that ir wiU not withdraw the current pound 5 polymer banknotes from circulation and will go ahead with plans to withdraw legal tender st,'ltus of the pmU1d 5 paper bank notes on May 5, 2017. The Bank will also continue with the proposed launch of the new pound 10

INDIANLINK

polymer banknotes in September 2017, us.ing che existing polymer wbstrate.

The new polymer five po1U1d note, which features a portrait of Winston Churchill, is the first of die Bartk. of England's notes not to be printed on paper. The new flexible plastic notes are designed to be cleaner, more secure and stronger.

Production of the new pound 10 notes began in August last year and are planned to be released into circulation in September this year. The new potmd 10 plastic notes will feanire author Jane Austen.

Presidential Election: Joshi, World Bank CEO commutes second class in Mumbai local train

Wodd Bank CEO Kristalioa Georgieva bought a ticket and WtveUed by a Western Railway suburban local train to inspect Mumbai's lifeline first hand, officials said.

Accompanied by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) other railway officials, Georgieva travelled in a second class women's compartment from Chmchgate to Dadar, the busiest terminus on the suburban network.

Earlier, ar the MRVC headquarters, Georgieva was given a brief presentation on the scarus and progress of various World Bank-funded railway infrastructure projects, including :MRVC 1, 2 and 3, for Mumbai and its surrounding areas.

She took a short tour of the iconic Chmchgate station and WR headquarters and around 1 1 a.m., boarded the train along with a team of 20 others, getting off at Dadar.

En route, she chatted with excited women commuters on various aspects pertaining to the city's subnrban services which ferry over eight million commuters daily - or neady equivalent of che population of Switzerland - on the WR, Central Railway and Harbou.r Lines.

"To meet the aspirations of Mumbaikars, some of whom I met today, the city w:ill have to make massive investments in transport infrastructure. These investrnents will enable commuters to access more comfortable, safer and efficient services," Georgieva remarked on her experience.

She assured that the \VB is committed

to support the government's efforts in this area - through invesnnents that strengthen the government's capacity to leverage additional funds, including chose from die private sector.

Georgieva travelled by the congested subnrban rail system to get a sense of tbe volume of passengers who use the trains dail)� and the challenges before d1e railways to make the system safer, faster and more efficient.

Since 2002 onwards, .several WB-supported projects - MUTP and i\HJTP 2A - have helped introduce new trains with higher speeds, better suspension systems, improved interiors, a better ventilation sys[em, with new trains reducing energy consumption by 30 per cent.

Sushma among probables

Who will be fodia's next President? Initial discussions in the BJ P have catapulted veteran party leader 1forli Mano bar Joshi and External Affairs J'vfinister Sushma Swaraj as top favourites. h1formed sources, however, say the names of cwo other women politicians are also doing the rounds - Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Jvfahajan and Jharkband Govetnor Draupadi Mumm.

Interestingly, L.K. Advan.i, once a staunch backer of die man who is today Prime Minister, is nor being considered for the post of head of state that will fall vacant in July.

Although these names have emerged in d1e discussions between the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the final picrure will become clear once the results of assembly elections in five srntes become known.

Joshi, 83, associated with the RSS since 1944 when he was just 10 years old, became d1e BJ P President in 1991 amid d1e g.row-ing campaign for a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

He was a member of aU d1ree union governments headed by d1e now ailing Atal Bil1ar Vajpayee - in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Joshi played an active role in the Ayodhya mqvement and was a.rrested after the Bahri mosque was razed in December l 992.

He was also jailed for 19 months when Indira Gandhi clamped Emergency rule in June 1975.

Susbrna Swaraj, 65, is also being considered for the top post for more d1an one reason. Not only has she emerged as "a good minister" in the 1\1odi government, her elevation will also help the RSS shrug away charges that it is anti-women.

Sushma Swaraj is also known to enjoy good relations with leaders of many political parries, something that will help the BJP to cobble the numbers needed to elect a new President.

Bue her health remains a matter of concern. But some sources say this could well be the reason why she may be suitable for the job because sbe will, as one somce said, "get some well-deserved rest".

Another probable is Sumitra Mahajan, 74 and an eight-rime l'vfP fr<.>m Indore, whom Modi picked as the Speaker. She also has good equations witb die RSS. Jharkhand Govetnor Murmu, 59, may emerge as a surprise pick too. A tribal woman from Odisha, she has had an impressive political and social career spanning almost two decades. No tribal has been elected the President. MLLrmu's political career scarred in 1997 when she was elected as a councillor and then to die Odisha assembly, which once hailed her as the be.�t l'vfLA of che year. Murmu has actively pursued social causes and played a pivotal role in community uplift in Odisha.

The electoral college which elects the President is made up of 4,896 legislators 776 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and 4,120 J'v[LAs. All MPs have an equal vote value of 708 while that of J'v[LAs depends on the population of the state.

Of the 1.098 million votes in the electoral college now, die majority would be 549,001.

The BJP has 282 Lok Sabha and 56 Rajya Sabha members as well as 1,126 J\.1:LAs across the corn1try. Although it rules I 0 states on its own, it is out of power in populous states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would require around 75,000 more votes than it now has to ensure that its noininee wins the presidential poste.

In 2012, Congress-backed UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee defeated BJP no1ninee P.A. Sangma by around 40 per cent votes.

IANS

MARCl-4 2017 23

film

Melbourne's Peter Dietze shares a family legacy that goes back to Indian cinema 's pioneering days

B

BY PREETI JABBAL

ombay Talkies, not to be confused with the Indian anthology film of the same name, is a comprehensive collection of Indian film ephemera from the 1920s and 1930s. The rare exhibition is currently displayed, for the first time, at tbe Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne (ACMI) until 2 July.

Both the film and art collection commonly celebrate the emotion of Indian cinema in c:wo significant ways: one through innovating, and anod1er through curating. While the movie had a keen eye on the sociopolitical climate of its time, the collection unearths rare archives of tremendous interest, both manage to do so engagingly.

Anyone who bas an lnterest in films will enjoy the historical feel and the story that surroUJ1ds Bombay Talkies, one of India's popular movie studios of the 1930s.

Bombay Talkies was the first corporate studio, in India, to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Founded in l 934, Bombay Talkies was co­ o,,med by Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani.

The studio produced 40 films over 20 years and '\vas considered as the most technically

24 MARCI-I 2017

advanced Indian studio of its rime.

Besides exploring tl1e history of the inRuential Bombay Talkies, Fiona Trigg from ACW has curated an exhaustive Indian Elm archive, in collaboration with local Dietze family who are owners of the memorabilia.

Australian Peter Dietze is the custodian of the enormous collection made up of photographs, letters, telegrams, posters, even bills tliat hark back to the time of his grandfather Himanshu Rai and his beautiful wife Indian acu:ess Devika Rani.

Peter Dietze, who was born in Australia and has German ancestry, was surprised to discover diat his grandfather was Indian and one of tl1e most prominent luminaries of Indian cinema in the 1920s. His mother Nilima was the daughter of Mary Hainlin, a German dancer who was once married to Himanshu Rai. It was Mary who introduced Hin,ansbu co the German film industry, influencing his career in the arts. (Himanshu was acmally a lawyer and was studying for the Bar in London). Himanshu later went on to marry Devika Rani, grandniece of Rabindranath Tagore and the most legendary of India's actresses.

"Finding the photos of this Indian man, who looked like me, opened a ·whole Pandora's box," Perer revealed to Indian Link in 2010, with the idea for tl1e current exhibition already in his mind. "I became tot.ally immersed in his life and works and contribution to Indian cinema, as well as his attempts to tell the western world Indian tales."

,, When I went to India I saw a bust of my grandfather in actor Ashok Kumar's home , , Peter Dietze Peter and his brotl1ers Paul and Walrer spent time and effort lo discovering more about their family's Indian background and in the process acquired the collection of over 3000 items. Some of tl1em are showcased, preserved with great care, at the Bombay Talkies exhibition at AC:MI. The displays offer many fascinating links to early Indian cinema including footage of silent Elms like A Timm., of Dice, Light of Asia and Shiraz. Most promi.nenr is tl1e life­ size, rather impressive image of superstar Ashok Kumar that adorns tl1e wall not far from a similar one of Devika Rani.

Ashok Kumar was a lab technician in Bornbay Talkies but Himanshu Rai elevated him to the .tole of a lead man when his wife Devika Rani was said to have eloped witl1 ajmul Hasan, who was to play the original lead. '"\Xlhen I went to India I saw a bust of my grandfather in accor Ashok Kumar's home," revealed Petet during the official launch of the ex:bibition recently.

Also intriguing, is the family tree that maps links between the families of Rai,

Rani, Roerich (Devika Rani married painter Svetoslav Roerich in 1945) and tl1e Dietzes.

Images and items relating to Devika Rani form a substantial part of the exhibit.

Audio visuals with remastered or archival footage add co the ambience and mystery.

The interesting content of the archival letters help in constructing an image of prevalent issues, joys and challenges faced

by Rai and Rani in running the studio. The documents trace the friendships created during their stint in Germany t11at proved beneficial for them as master technicians like Josef Wirshcing and director Franz Osten worked in collaboration with tl1em and brought international professional standards to India.

At least two of the trilogy of hlms that Rai produced, and which are believed to be the pioneering Elms of Indian cinem.a, have been seen by Australian audiences i.n recent years. They have been digitally restored by tl1e British Film Institute, in whose archives they had been lying slnce 1945. Today, they are famously played to the accompaniment of live symphony orchestras. British-Asian composer itin Sawhney wrote the score for A ThroJ/1 ef Dice (Pmpancha Pash). The 1929 film is loosely based on the gambling episode from tl1e epic Malrnbharata. Of tl1e other two films in the tri.logy, the f 1925 Pt"cm Saf!JrlS (he Light of /lsia) is based on the life of the Buddha, and the 1928 Shiraz (Sircy) on the life of Mughal emperor Shahjahan.

Peter hopes to take the exhibition to other colmtries before finding the right place for it in 1ndia "where it belongs".

www.indianlink.com.au

THE BOMBflY T11ltilES lT_D

Peter Dietze (right) with his brott11ers Walter and Paul at the opening of the Bombay Talkies exhibition

INDIANLINK

MARCl-4 2017 25

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Indians must stop funding poor governance

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Burwood, Craigieburn, Dandenong, i Footscray, Hawthorn, Po nt Cook, South Morang, Springvale, Taylors Lakes, Werribee

BY SANAM SHARMA

I

have had enough!

A major chunk of India has been in the throes of significant political activity over the past few months. Seate elections have recently concluded in Punjab; Goa too is iJ1 the same boat. Uttar Pradesh has remained an ongomg headline (courtesy of the much publicised family feud amongst the warring Yadav clan) much prior to the election process that is currently underway there.

Travel southwards and Tamil Nadu has been embroiled in a power struggle of its own pose che passing away of Jayalalichaa.

AU of these political hotspots have been a major distraction Erom governance and leadership in the rest of the cotmtry. AU the political big-wigs (both at national and state­ level) have been leased out (almost on a full­ time basis) to these political battlegrounds with a singular motive of 6tl1er getting elected into power, or finding a way to remaiJ1 in power. The majority of their time

processes are extravagant affairs. o doubt, Indian t3"'-payers (unknowingly) are funding a good chunk of these extravaganzas - with money that should be spent on welfare and development. Every single penny of it.

No major media outlets have spoken up against mis political corruption of mammom proportions. In fact. the more renowned journalises of India have been busy onyatms and 'road-shows' of ilieir own in me name of bringing us the stoties from the streets of these political battlefields. They do not realise that by choosing to be a part of the circus they end up being clowns coo. They are entrusted with tl1e duty of mform.ing citizens of India about the state of cbe nation.

The current state of the nation is tl1at tl1e political parties are robbing Indian citizens of governance, leadership, welfare, and taxpayer funds by focusing only on fighting electoral battles.

Somehow, every Indian citizen has tO be empowered to seek accoLmtability for every single penny of the tax that mey pay to meit government. They need co be empowered to chaUenge tl1ese political thugs who stage processions and rallies just to benefit their political ambitions. ·Months and monms of governance and leadership that should be used by the government in steering the

,, The prime responsibility of all politicians is to represent the people of their respective electorates, not to use state machinery and resources towards getting themselves (re)elected ,, and effort is b6ng spent in ILtcing gullible voters into voting for their parries.

Seemingly unending political campaigns, mass rallies,_}'atms, sloganeering, jingoism, and political mudslinging have taken centre.5tage over the past few months. And, the trend seems to be continuing, at least into tl1e immediate, foreseeable future.

The Indian public is being taken for a ride - and worse, they're fLmding tlus political merry-go-round at their own peril The people of India elect governments usiJ1g democratic processes m order to appoint tl1e most suit'lble people to lead their welfare by providing adequate healthcare, education, and overalJ social and economic upliftment. Governments are funded by taxpayers and therefore remain accountable to ilie m,paye.rs for every single penny that they spend. However, there is a blatant disregard for any accountability cowards Indian taxpayers and citizens by tl1ese warring Indian political pa.rties (and tl1eir respective armies of sycophants and loyalist5).

Oil the contrary, alJ the political patties of today are shamelessly throwing away taxpayer money to wage r.l1eir own political battles across tl1e nation in desperate bids to cling tO power.

One does not have to be a rocket scientist to work out that all these high stakes political campaigns and che associated election

upliftment of an entire cotmtry cannot (and muse noi:) be sacrificed towards fighting and ,vinning elections while an entire country merely watches on.

The prin1e responsibility of alJ Indian politicians is to represent me people of their respective electorates to the best of th6r abilities, not to use state machinery and resources cowards campaigns of gettiJ1g themselves elected. Governance is not about a battery of state-sponsored vehicles with red lights beaming over tl1em. Governance is makiJ1g sure chat the poorest and the neediest in your communities are being taken care of and are being lifted out of m6r nusery.

Indian citizens have to wake up to tl1e fact that they are me ones funding the lifestyles of their politicians while they are themselves being made ro lie in etetnal wait for "achhe din". Indians must seek more responsible journalism too, aimed at slammiJ1g political thuggery and political oppommism. Merely bringing our "stories" about mass rallies and )'t1tras is a failure on me pare of journalists and m6r media organisations alike.

So. rue next rinle an Akhilesh Yadav wants t0 fight his father and his family, lee hiJn do so ID his own rinle, usmg his own money.

Let's not fund the whole fiesta for him and others like him. Every minute of his political time must be spent cowards tl1e betterment of lus stare. And tl1e same applies to the rest of the politicians across India.

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30th Eye Camp by Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, Delhi, INDIA, February 2017

F

ebruary 2017 marked the 30th Eye Camp organized by Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission (SKRM). This medical camp, held twice a year, provides free cataract surgeries to patients who would otherwise not be able to afford the expenses of such an operation. Expert eye surgeons from the United States typically volunteer their premier high quality technical skills and time to provide surgeries to help make the camp a success. The eye camps are conducted as part of both the International Human Unity Conference (held in February each year) and the Global Conference on Mysticism (held in September each year) organized

by SKRM at Sant Darshan Singh Ji

Dham, Burari. More than ten thousand

individuals have benefited from free cataract surgeries since the launch of SKRM's eye camp in February 2002.

Patients attending the eye camps are first screened by a medical team. Selected patients, based on medical eligibility, are then transported to !CARE 11ospital, Naida, where they undergo surgery with the help of state-of-the-art equipment, to remove the cataracts. All patients benefit from follow up visits and are prescribed eye drops for several weeks following the operation, so they can receive maximum benefit from the surgery. This voluntary service to the community has had a significant impact to the vision and quality

of patients' lives. The US clinical team worked in collaboration with doctors at !CARE hospital, one of India's top eye hospitals. All services were rendered free of charge and in a spirit of selfless service to humanity.

Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission (Science of Spirituality) is an international non­ profit spiritual organization dedicated to transforming lives through meditation under guidance of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. www.sos.org www.sos.org/aus/australia

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MARCl-4 2017 27

arts

When literature celebrates our hyphenated selves

Something intense happened on the 12th of Februaty. I saw Melbourne shapeshift before my very eyes, and if you mid me 1 was stuck in some sort of Harry Porceresque world, I just might've believed you. le was an ordinary Sunday, where Melbourne's weather gods were duelling each other: winter unexpectedly challenged summer, which with little resistance, conceded defeat. I was in the rather ordinary atrium of Federation Square, but something extraordinary was unfolding in front of me. An Aussie accent sounded out English words. But melding with the words were the sweet, familiar strains of a Bme playing a Carnatic raaga111 Revachi.

As these elements fused together, another joined them. Ca.rnacic vocals rang out, a.ad shaped d1e words being spoken. A dancer in a green sari joined the poet "vho was reading and swayed gracefully, her moves enhancing the spoken words.

I was at Melbourne's .first everJaipm Literature Festival QLF), a collaboration between the Indian festival and Melbourne Writer's Festival (MWF) as part of AsiaTOPA, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arcs. Bringing Jaipur to Melbourne was the first thought for Melbourne Writer's festival Director Lisa Dempster, when asked to program an event as part of AsiaTOPA. Dempster, with producer Jasmeec Sa.hi and the :MWF team, curated a festival with a diverse range of topics from urbanity co politics, travel writing co trans rights, and identity to interpretive art, steering clear of tired stereotypes of lnclia, and presenting refreshingly varied content.

JLF Melbou.rne brought together a diverse group of writers from lndia, Australia and the 1ndian diaspora in Australia to participate in panels,

28 MARCM 2017

performances and readings. The performance I mentioned was a part of a series of reading panels chat ran all day to expose the work of festival guests to the audience. This non-traditional reading was called 'Performing Poetry: Body as text', where Indian-Australian poet Michelle Cahill's poetry was interpreted by academic and dancer Dr Priya Srinivasan, supported by musicians Uthra Vijay and Sridhar Chari. By bringing together poetry in the spoken word form and fusing ic with music and dance, Srinivasan removed archaic and sometimes difficult­ to-Lmderstand poetry that accompanies the traclitional practice of Indian dance, but enhanced contemporary English poetry with layers of text, or meaning: instrumentation, vocals, gesmres and the performer's own body.

More traditional readings were varied in content. Historian and writer Rakshanda read some of her Urdu poetry, colutm1ist and essayist Sudeep Chakravarti gave a harrowing account of turmoil and bloodshed after the Bahri Masjid demolition, and Roanna Gonsalves had the audience in splits while reading from her book The Pmna11mt Resident. Academic and journalist John Zubrzycki talked about Inclia's rich heritage in performing magic, followed by a. magic show that drew a large audience.

Earlier, ilie festival started off with a rn1iquely Inclian and indigenous welcome to corn1try, 'Pranaam'. This was followed a talk by economist and u.rban planner Sanjeev Sanyal and a reading by poet, novelist and writer Sampurna Chattarji. Rapper and activist Sofia Ashraf, famous for her brilliant rap song against multinational corruption and abuse of human rights in l<odaikanal called 'Koda.ikanal won't' also performed, addressing, amongst other things, the expectation that artists' art

Jalil

comes for free.

JLF Melbourne not only showcased existing work of writers and artists, but also had work conunissioned specifically for the festival. '\'{!ricing our Melbourne', a digital story-telling project developed by the Melbonrne UNESCO City of Literature office, brought together three writers to write about Melbourne. These stories became part of an interactive app that people could use co explore parts of Melbourne. Edicor :Meelee Soorkia hosted a Q and A and readings by the three authors, Chetna Prakash, Rashmi Patel and Aparna Ananthunj who talked about identity, inAuences on their writing and their migrant experiences of Melbourne.

And it is this migrant experience that resonated so deeply with me when I watched the dancer in the green sari sway co Carnacic vocals, interpreting Australian poetry. As an Indian who has lived in Australia for eleven years, I have come co form two identities: an Au.stra.lian identity co add co my Indian identity.

These sit very comfortably with me, but on the day I realised how much of a gap there is in my lived experience of those identities. \Xlhile watching Srinivasan and Ca.hill's pei:formance, elements I had always experienced in silos - d1e Aussie accent, Ca.rnacic music, classical dance, English poetry - came wgether a.nd felt intimately familiar. I felt strangely satisfied, simultru1eously realising that 1 had a thirst l did not even know existed, and chat it was being sated. For me, ilie festival generally and Srinivasan's performance specifically, brought together rwo worlds that seemed previously incongruous in a fascinating and surprising union, one iliac reflected not a binary Indian and Australian identity, bm the singular identity of an lndian­ Australian.

Dipanjali Rao

JLF Conversations: On women, gender, travel, history and poetry In the panel 'Weaving Women's

Narratives', academic, writer and editor Dr Nata.lie Kon-Yu chaired a cliscussion on women's writing - its framing as 'women's writing', its historical signi ficance, its current relevance. It featured Goan .Anglo-Indian writer "Michelle Cahill, founder and co- director of ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival and novelist an1ita Gokhale, a.nd writer, critic and l. iterary historian Rakhshanda Jalil. All of them agreed chat writing is not, as Cahill said, "itself a gendered process", but, while they cliscussed the problematic nature of calling writing by women 'women's writing' (we do not call writing by men 'men's writing'!), they also each engaged in very specific ways with women who write and have written. Gokhale declared that "a good story is a good scory", but also that "somewhere, women writers have to remain women writers". l\l[ost vividly, Rakhshanda Jalil pointed to the significance of women's writing of the past as "opening a window" 011 their lives, and of the cleverness and boldness of women who wrote of matters of, say, the body, that wouldn't otherwise be known coday.

In 'Present Tense: Way of the \World', different understru1clings, his(stories] and counter-[his]stories of colonisation and migration were discussed by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Suvendrini Perera, author and journalist George Megeloge11is, eco110111isc, author and urban theorist Sanjeev Sanyal a.nd writer and sociologist Supriya Singh, facilitated by 774 ABC Radio's 'Drive' host Rafael Epstein. From Epstein's opening question - which, I had to agree with Sanyal was a somewhat absurd 110-brainer - of whether the colonisation of India was on balance good

www.indianlink.com.au

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or bad, to the more nuanced questions of overlooked bis/ stories, false freedoms and forgotten narratives, each panelist brought their own experiences and preoccupations to shaping their answers.

Supriya Singh's argument that Tndian migration coday is no longer about assimilation, but an 'agency' and transnationalism that al.lows migrants to be 'global citizens' brought on Suvendrini Perera's powerful and timely ren.under to us all not to forget the "hardening of borders" that marks today's world of citizenship and migration, and the 1500 people imprisoned on Nauru and Manus Island.

I had the pleasure of being able to introduce myself to novelist and travel writer Mishi Saran during the JLF launch, and of being able to pounce on her to autograph her book, Chas-i11g The 1"\llonk's f 5had0111: A )011m�y in the Footsteps Xua11za11g.

I'm sorry to teU you, however, that I arrived too late, breathless; from the Deakin Edge

o

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atrium to listen to the panel she was on, 'The Untrod Path: Writing Travel', with Namita Gokbale, British writer and Royal Geographical Society fellow Catherine Anderson, chaired by Sun.ii Badami. (As an aside, the previous night, at the launch, I was introduced to Mishi as being 'shy' - and she immediately responded with, 'Tm an introvert." Oh, for an introvert's corner, we sighed together.)

I caught the tantalising t,w-end of the panel 'Gender and the Spaces Between', the conversation on gender diversity and trans rights between executive director of Transgender Victoria Sally Goldner, multidisciplinary artist Raina Peterson, and transgender rights activist, actress and dancer Laxmi Narayan Tripatbi, facilitated

by Benjanun Law: Peterson was speaking of the dance form Mohiniyattam, and how the seductive figure of :rv[ohini (the god Vishnu as woman), the inspiration for the dance form, could well be posited as a

transgender character. Tripatlu decisively rook 0\7er to affirm. this and go beyond it. ''l\folun.i was the cis-Lord, Narayan who became Mohini . . . and she .is trans, you know. That is beautiful. You can be trans and you can do anything in the world."

Th.is panel encapsulated JLF's famed abiliry for bringing us unique conversations - a performing artist who herself bridges different culmral contexts in her work, and t:ransgender activists from two different cultures and gender histories.

The panel 'The Voice and the Word' brought rogetber Jl,falaysian-Australian rapper, poet and novelist Omar Musa, poet, novelist and translacor Sampurna Chatterji, and Tamil rapper and singer Sofia Ashraf, chaired by wr1tet, editor and broadcaster Jessica Alice. After performing their work (Chatterji rightly pointed out tl,at poetry has always been 'spoken word' in India), they engaged i n a r0tinded discussion around poetry and tl1e personal, poetry and the

political, poetry and beauty, that made me wish artists weren't always so conEned to 'literary' panels.

The EnaJ panel of the day was 'From the Margins to the Mainland', a conversation between novelist Tony Birch, writers Sudeep Chakravarti and Roanna Gonsalves, and screenwriter and journalist Benjamin Law, chaired by writer and presenter Jamila Rizvi. \'>?hat emerged was a loose, frank, flexible, breatl1ing discussion around that perennially clenched-fist topic of writing identiry. To some extent, Chakravarti seemed a little superfluous to me here - it was Gonsalves, Law and Birch that pulled me in, probably because as writers of non-Western. heritage living and working in. Australia, they dove .into questions of diversil:)� writing 'your' culture, and tl1e right to present yourself as however you choose no matter what your heritage, all things I struggle with myself as a writer.

Apama Ananthuni

MARCI-I 2017 29

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tribute

She was a prolific poet and well respected member of the community, but she was also simply 'Dadi'. Here, Vim/a Luthra's grandchildren pay tribute to their beloved grandmother Following a spiritual path

KARAN LlJTH RA

I have learnt a loc about religion and spirimalicy from my Dadi. She was a veq spiritual person; she had read texts from all che faichs, not from jusc her own. I even went and researched other scriptures and would discuss what I bad learned wich ber to get her view on a particular situation.

Her view was very important co me because she was the one chat sec me upon this path from when 1 was very small, telling scories about Shravan Kumar, Guru Govind Singh, Ashoka and many others. She was a great story teller.

Even 20, 30 years later it was no different.

Dadi used to call me her neighbour because her room was tight next co rnine.

Because I was a late sleeper, many times in the eady hours of the morning, when she had trouble sleeping, we would sit and talk.

The older I got rhe more questions I had...and she always had the answers. I was so lucky.

Tbe essence that is Vimla Lmhra can never die. We have all taken something special from her. We all had a special connection with her and through us, she will live on.

I know her blessings will always be with me.

How to be a lifelong lea mer

IV'"AN f• LHTHR/\

Dadi's life has taught me rhe value of making learning a best friend for life. As

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au auto-didact, Dacli was committed to expanding ber mind, and tbe wocld was her classroom. A petperual hunger drove her to constantly cultivate her mind • it is what made her a self-starter. It also made her interesting and charismatic. And it kept her brain healthy even when her body began to fail her.

The importance of continuing education can nor be underestimated. It could be formal or informal education, or a hobby course, or .reading a lot, or watching the History Channel. Ar the most hasic level, we must try to take away, something valuable, even from our daily interactions. \Vhat I learned from Dadi is: don't be afraid to ask questions, whether you are twenty or eighty. When you stop learning, that's when you become old.

Never forget where you came from

NEH, LJITHRA

Growing up, and even as an adulc, Dadi fondly shared stories about her l i fe.

She would alwars tell us about the place where she was born, in Sargoda. When she heard children playing hopscotch or saw me skipping in che backyard while I was exercising, she would smi l e a.nd excitedly tell me abonr the times she would get lost in games and songs with her friends.

She was a strong and ambitious woman who managed ro get a higher education during a time when girls left school after

cheir primary years.

Her ability co put words together inro beautiful poetry was not an easr task, and I felt proud telling my friends that my Dadi had published her own books.

Dadi was a family orientated individual who, even through the tough times, raised three amazing children who are a true reAection of her and her ideals.

She always pushed me to keep strong family ties, even if tl1ere was a great distance between us. It's a lesson she bas caught me and all of us over the yea.rs: be proud of who you are, and what your story is.

She has set a high standard for me co uphold. I know she is watching down on me and I hope I make you proud Dacli.

How to be cool

rEVNl' LUTl-'R

I learnt from observing my Dadi tl1at being cool means to embrace your individualicy from the clothes you wear, ro the attitude

witl1 which you navigate the world. Being cool also means, to accept tl1at others can be different, and to embrace their differences - from the clotl1es tl1ey wear, to the attitude with which tl1ey navigate the wocld. Being cool, is ro be intellectually stimulated, well-read and aware. To be poli t e and well-mannered. To be respectful, and to remember that others are your equals, not better off or worse off. And to be able to laugh at yourself and embrace your Aaws, and love yourself.

Being cool could also means knowing how ro dab.

Only three weeks ago, Dadi watched as the four of us laughed and teased around the dinner table.

f.Fi'ha! arcyou doi11.g, she asked.

IV'e are d11/Jbi11g, Dadi.

What is dahhin.g? f Um, it's a kind celehmting.

Ok,ay teach me.

e

\Vle did, and she dabbed.

MARCI-I 2017 31

LIKA DAH 4.30PM

32 MARCI-I 2017

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special feature

It's a holistic approach to farming at Avani boutique winery

T

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

he term 'Avani' is Sanskrit for 'Mocher Earth'.

As you walk into the boutique winery Avani, it is this soul­ uplifting oneness with nature that you experience immediately.

Shashi Singh is the chief winemaker at this 15-acre boutique winery located at Red Hill Somh, Victoria. Along with her husband Devendra, she owns this beautiful stretch of land in Morn.ington where they have set up both their home and the vineyard.

Originally from Rohrak in Haryana, India, Shashi moved to Australia after her marriage in 1983. From the very outset, she was .involved in the hospitality industry with Devendra, a trained chef, owning and operating resrauranrs in different parts of Melbourne before moving to Mornington and setting up the m.vard winning Indian

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restaurant, Tulsi at Somerville. $hash.i's interest in wines came about as a result of her involvement in the restaurant business and also the fact that she bolds a Master's degree in chemistry. She was always fascinated with different types of wines, and how they paired with spices and Indian cuisine. Indeed, she has grown to become quire the expert in th.is regard.

The Si.ughs purchased their vineyard in 1998 and with the children grown up, Shashi decided to take her interest in wines a little more serious]y.

Ir was back ro college for Shashi and she completed a double degree, Bachelor of Applied Science (\'vline science) and Bachelor of Applied Science (Viticulture) from Charles Smart University. And in 2000, they collaborated with Phillip Jones of Bass Phillip Wines to start making their own vintage (rhen under the Wildcroft banner).

In 2004, Shashi started her wine-making apprenticeship ar the Bass Phil.lip Winery, also working there at the same rime.

She tells lt1dia11 Link chat these years were extremely helpful and formative, as she gained much knowledge and experience about winemaking and the industry. "Phillip has been a great source of guidance and

ear

'' The Singhs adopt biodynamic practices to care for their soil, building their unique flora and fauna which are in harmony with each other and the cosmos ,, inspiration. He is my mentor and I have loved working there."

The first vintage was in 2009 wbicb Shashi completed herself at the Leongatha winery under Phillip's watchful eye. She soon established her own winery on the vineyard at Red Hill and bought om the inaugural vintage on the property in 2012.

Shashi is a firm believer in biodynamic agriculture practices. "I am for simple natural living and sustainability, that's where biodynamics makes so much sense to me.

Ir's a holistic approach to farming - raking

care of your soi.ls, building your unique Rora and fauna which are in harmony with eacli other and the cosmos. To grow healthy plants you need hea.ltby living soils. We want to make wine char provides a true expression of the site. l n tl1is regard, we have adapted biodynamic practices in rhe vineyard and minimal intervention in wine making, thus producing wines which reflect the place they come from."

Currently, Avani produces wines under two labels - Avani Syrah from the fruit which is grown and produced on the estate, and Amrit which includes Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot I oir using fruit rhat comes from various vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula.

One of the best places to enjoy a glass of Avani wine is at Tulsi, where Devendra a.long witl1 his team of chefs showcases Indian cuisine at its best. Wines are marched to suit each course according to the spices and flavour profile of tl,e dishes served.

Avani wines are also sold at tl1ei.r celbi.r door (wine tastings available on appointment), select retail stores and at various restaurants across Melbourne (Vue De Monde, Tonka, Builders Arms Hotel) and Sydney.

MARCl-4 2017 33

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food

A spicy Sunday roast

The fiery traditional Tamil cuisine from the northern part of Sri Lanka, Jaffna cooking has a distinct and delicious flavour

A

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

dapted from a Peter Kuruvita recipe, . this curry is a rather simple one. And with this, I added yet another spice blend to my collection - Sri Lankan roasted curry powder.

In traditional Sri Lankan cooking, two forms of spice blends are common - the roasted and the unroasted variety. While the former is reserved for rich curries and non­ vegetari,m dishes, tbe latter is milder and tends to be used for seafood and vegetarian dishes.

The key m a good roasted cw-ry powder is getting your hands on good gualicy whole

spices and then roasting them yourself. The roasting is taken right to the edge without burning, so watch over it diligently.

I read many recipes and articles on how tO make both ven,ions and ended up using this roasted curry powder recipe from Youtube chef Meoaka at The Culinary Corner; it seen1ed tl1e most basic and authentic version. As with many traditional spice blends, like gararn masala, Sri Lankan roasted curry powder also varies slightly becween households.

This Jaffna Goat Curry uses both the roasted and unroasted curry powders, which is liberaJly used to marinate die meat, along with a few od1er aromatics and tliin coconut milk. Only using the dun, and not the thick, coconut milk means you get a rich, dark curry.

This is an adaptation of the traditional curry (wbicl1 uses blood and offal). It works just as weU witl1out u.sing d1e offal, instead you can substitute ,vid1 tomato paste, keeping the recipe simple and easy to make by aJJ.

. . ............................................................................................................... ... .

Jaffna Goat Curry

Ingredients

.•• .• •.

• •

• ••• ••

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:

• : : : •

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Salt, to season

4-5 shallots; finely sliced 3 garlic cloves; grated 1 inch ginger; grated 3-4 tbsp vegetable oil A few sprigs of curry leaves Method

: : : • •

In a large pot, add the goat pieces along with the unroasted curry powder, cumin powder, cardamoms, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, roasted curry powder, tomato

• : : •

and keep aside for at least 30 minutes.

Heat oil in another vessel (earthenware if you have) and add the curry leaves, shallots, garlic and ginger; saute till the

•

.•.

• :

: • : : : : : • •

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1 kg goat pieces (approx. 2cm pieces, with bones) 1 tbsp Jaffna unroasted curry powder (recipe given below) 1 tsp roasted cumin powder 5 green cardamoms; crushed ½ tsp fenugreek seeds 1 cinnamon stick ¾ tsp turmeric powder 1 ½ tbsp red chilli powder (adjust to heat preferences) 2 tbsp Sri Lankan roasted curry powder (recipe given below) 2 tbsp tomato paste 200ml thin (or 2nd extract) coconut milk

paste, salt and. thin coconut milk. Mix

onions are soft and translucent.

Add the marinated goat pieces, season with salt and mix well to combine. If there is extra marinade in the first pot, add a little water to it and rinse it out into the curry so none of that lovely flavour is lost.

Add more water to the curry if necessary and cook covered on low heat till the goat pieces are tender and falling off the bone. Stir occasionally and add water if more gravy is required.

Garnish with curry leaves and serve warm.

It is best to make this curry ahead and let it sit for a while to allow the flavours to develop.

Unroasted curry powder

2 tbsp coriander seeds 1 tbsp cumin seeds ½ tbsp fennel seeds In a grinder, add all the whole spices and grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container and use as required.

Sri Lankan roasted curry powder 3 sprigs curry leaves 1 tbsp cumin seeds ½ tbsp fennel seeds 2 tbsp coriander seeds 10 dried chillies ½ tbsp black peppercorns 5 cloves 5 green cardamom 1 stick Ceylon cinnamon (not cassia) 2 dry bay leaves Method

Roasting the spices has to be done in stages as some of the spices need to be roasted longer than the others.

Some versions of this blend also use fenugreek, mustard and pandan leaves.

Add the coriander seeds to a pan and allow to roast on low heat for about a minute and then add the peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves and cinnamon. Roast for another 15 seconds andthen add the curry leaves.

Mix regularly and keep the heat low to avoid burning the spices. Continue to roast for another 30 seconds and then add the chillies. Allow to roast for a minute and finally add the fennel and cumin seeds. Roast for another 15-30 seconds and remove from heat. Allow to cool completely and then grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container.

MARCl-4 2017 35

dining

Chef Anshul Chandna talks about his passion for sensory gastronomy, Indian flavours and working at Michelin-starred restaurants

T

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

l1e past decade has revolutionised the way we approach food.

Instead of being seen as just fuel for the bl1dy, today food is a multisensory gastronomic affair.

And there are chefs like Anshul Chandna pushing the boundaries, keen to understand more about the relationships we have with food.

Chandna is currently honing his culinary skills at Azurmendi Gasrronomique in Larrabetzu, Spain. With three Michelin stars and the titles of Europe's No. I Restaurant and 16'h Best Restaurant i n the World for 2016, Chandna says this opportunity is indeed a dream come true.

The role at Azurmendi is a highJy exciting and challenging one chat came about after Chanda's participation in 'Brainy Tongue'.

L ed by some of the world's most renowned chefs, including Andoni Luis Aduciz (Mugaricz; World No.7 Restaurant), Eneko Acxa (Azurmencli) and Hescon Blumendial (Fat Duck), the Brainy Tongue project .is a means of exploring the field of sensory awareness through science and cooking.

The fuse activity promoted by Brainy Tongue was the workshop The Sensory

36 MARCM 2017

Logic of the Gastronomic Brain, held from 24 to 26 October, in the Basque Culinary Center. Chandna was duilled to explore the concepmal knowledge and understanding of food perception, through interactive seminars and experiments before taking up tbe incredible opportunity in the Azmmendi kitchen. ''J'vfy role here is termed as Chef wichout any hierarchal tag," Chandna says. "It is solely for gaining insight into every operational aspect of one of che best restaurants in the world. Currently I am exploring Emremetier production."

(The Entremetier cook is responsible for preparing hot appetisers, soups, and vegetables dishes.)

A native of M . eernt in Uttat Pradesh, India, Chandna's first steps towards a culinary career began witl1 Taj Hotels in 2002 after completing a Diploma in Hospitality &om the lnstinite of Hotel Management (Bhopal).

Being a restless creative soul, Ansbul was constantly looking for opportunities co broaden his skillset and knowledge about the culinary world. He moved to the UK, where he worked at restaurants like che Thistle Hotel in St. Albans and the Marriott Hotel in Essex, before taking up a job as a Junior Sous Chef at the Westin Resort in California, USA.

In 2007, Chandna moved to Sydney in an inter-company transfer which saw him become tl1e Sous Chef at the \Vestin Sydney Hotel in Martin Place. ''After four yea.rs of some high end work there, I moved to Canberra in late 2010 as Head Chef ar the National Gallery of Australia, where I opened a new function centre (Gandel Hall) that served degustations and high end menus co 350 diners each day," Chandna says. "There 1 served many visiting Heads of State, as well as Australian parliamentarians. This was tl1e biggest confidence booster in my career and enabled me to build a strong network amongst leading industry professionals, celebrated chefs and food critics."

Chandna then moved to the role of Executive Chef at Australia.n National University in Canberra, where he stayed until October, 2016 before his stint at Azurmendi started.

"I had the opportunity to collaborate witl1 many eminent culinary professionals in an effort to create goodwill for J\r U's food and beverage operations," he says. "I started a series dubbed 'Meet the Chef ' which was immensely successful. During my time tl1ere i.ve catered events with James Viles (Biota), Stephanie Alexander, Silvia Colloca, Paul West (River Cottage), Annabel Crabb,

Marchew Evans (Gourmet Farmer) Adam Liaw, and Jusciue Schofield (Masterchef), One of my most memorable experiences was working wich James Viles and cooking live liquid nitrogen desserts (called \\7inter Mum's Roses) which tmned out to be a huge hit witl1 our diners."

Chandna says chat he has always been interested in tl1e culinary arts. Though his training has been in classical French and Italian cuisines, he has dabbled witl1 many ochers like Mexican and Modern Australian.

His signatllre style would be modern fusion especially wich the influences of his lndian heritage.

After his time at Azurmendi finishes at che end of the 2017 season, Chanclna hopes to return to Canberra and pla.ns on starting his own vennLte which he is rather excited about.

"The project will focus on extraordinary food e.-xperiences for diners where the senses will create a long lasting memory," Chandna explains. "It will be based on fusion of my knowledge of molecular gastronomy, Indian cuisine and my insights into European and nfediterranean cuisines gained through what guests have liked in my 10 years of cooking in Australia."

Chandna agrees that Indian cuisine is still at a nascent stage in Australia and he hopes to change that perception through his cu.fu1ary jomney which will showcase tl1e multiculrmal vastness of Indian cuisine. A big lover of Asian food in general (which of course includes Indian), his favourite is his own signature dish - a lentil consomme witl1 shredded Peking duck and scallions.

Chandna attributes his success co "my beautiful wife, Shweta, without whose relentles.s support, none of it would have happened".

And to the young guns entering the hospitality indusu-y, Anshul Chandna has just one piece of advke, "Know yourself and what drives you the most; a ca.reer must be born out of passion and not compromise."

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MARCl-4 2017 37

Mati nee H it ZEE TV This March. Zee TV brings you a cross-border laugh riot.

25th March. Saturday 3:BBpm (AEST)

38 MARCM 2017

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fashion

I

The past few weeks have seen many celebs flaunt their style sense - or the lack of it.

EMILY /TEE DEWAN plays fashion cop.

Alla Bhatt

Alia Bhatt looks like a vision in blue. The black strappy stilettos add spunk to the dress which could have easily looked matronly if not for the heels. The dress is from Indian design label Lovebirds. Hair tied back in a ponytail adds to the cute vibe!

Kangana Ranaut

An unusual suspect here.

Mostly known for her brilliant fashion choices, Kangana got it all wrong with this Fendi jacket and skirt. The bell sleeves are on point but the pinstripe meets kitchen apron doesn't work at all. In saying that, we have to give it to Kangana for being the only one to still look decent.

INDIANLINK

Deeplka Padukone

In a Dionne Campbell Young dress, Deepika nailed the denim dress look which is the next hottest trend after the cold-shoulder and off shoulder tops! The bell sleeve is on trend and the waist belt accentuates her figure. The only gripe, a loose high bun or a side braid would have worked wonders.

Swara Bhaskar

At a wedding in Mumbai, actress Swara Bhaskar picked the right colour but not the right silhouette. The double-layered floor gazing lehenga/kurta makes her look bulky.

Miranda Kerr

Prlyanka Chopra

Prlyanka Bose

Leather pants are tricky.

Teamed with a crop top and they get trickier. Miranda gets it right by downplaying the bold leather with a casual denim jacket. Black stilettos add the right amount of 'off­ duty-yet-sophisticated' look!

The new toast of Tinseltown, Priyanka Chopra made an elegant appearance at the Oscars. Wearing a Ralph & Russo white geometrical print gown, Chopra kept her hair sleek and straight to let the gown do all the talking. It was a safe choice and the actress pulled it off well.

The actress who played the role of Saru's mother in the movie Lion went colourful and breezy in her Vivienne Westwood gown at the Oscars.

Love the peacock shades on her, but we seriously feel the hair could have done with a bit more styling. However, the silhouette was very fl attering on the actress.

Ranveer Singh

Sushmlta Sen

Zoe Saldana

A hot bod doesn't mean you can wear a spider web to a party. Oh wait, it is a ghost stuck in a spider web! Oh no it's actually a sadhu in a spider web, a ghost sadhu!

Anyway, this was Ranveer Singh at Shahid Kapoor's birthday bash. Make whatever you wanna make of it!

We get that she was walking the ramp for a designer but, even then, neither the choice of colour nor silhouette works for Sushmita. The dress is very prom-ish for her age and lavender isn't her colour.

When your shoe laces climb up your sleeves you know it isn't going to look good. Zoe got the colour right but the detailing looks odd. Also a fitted a-line silhouette at the end would have lifted the dress heaps!

MARCl-4 2017 39

MATRIMONIALS SEEKING GROOMS Seeking suitable match for Hindu Punjabi girl, Australian citizen, 32, 5'4", slim, very fair, charming, beautiful. Professionally qualified, working in marketing field. Boy should be professionally qualified, sertled in Australia, from well ro do family. Please send derails with photo to khubsurat2017@gmail.com.

Looking suitable match in Australia forJar Sikh, smart, slim and sincere girl born in 1992, 5' 6", M.Sc nursing (psychiatry). Living in India, belongs to well settled family, looking for well settled and professional educated match. Please contacr mansahiajaggi@yahoo.com.

Highly educated Indian family, well settled in Sydney for 25 years, looking for a match for 30-year-old daughter - good looking, mild cerebral palsy, well educated and working full time for last six years. E-mail kcas121 O@gmail.com or call 0423 941 636.

Looking for a suitable match for 37-year-old, well educated, Brahmin girl. Well settled i n permanent government job i n Brisbane. Height 5'3", slim and fair complexion. Please reply to kumar.sham@bigpo.nd.com.

Seeking professionally qualified, settled match for Sydney-based, never married, Aus Citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri, 43, 5'3", slim, fair, attractive girl. Girl is postgraduate and is working in a good position in governmem organisation. Please send details with photo to indsyd20 16@gmail.com.

Seeking suitable match for.Jart-Sikh girl, Australian citizen, 33, S'S", slim, fair, responsible, compassionate young lady with a charming personality. Professiona.lly qualified, working in government organisation. Boy should be professionally qualified, settled in Australia. Caste no bar. Please send details witl1 photo to kaur.nonie@gmail.com or ca.ll +61 422 409 881.

Seeking well educated Australian Citizen/PR for a very fair, slim, Khatri girl willing to move to Australia. 31 years old, 5'3", coming to Melbourne in March. Family settled in Jalandhar, brother in Melbourne. Call/\.'v11acsapp: +91 99151 54747 or email bioclata and pictures to khanak317l5@gmail.com.

Well settled family i n Australia seeks professional match for 29 year old, 5'7'', beautiful, Punjabi, Hindu girl witl1 traditional Indian values, working in a senior government position. Prefer boy having Australian Citizenship or PR status. Send biodata and photographs co ausingh60@gmail.com.

SEEKING BRIDES Suitable match (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) for Australian-born, vegetarian, Punjabi doctor boy, 31 years old, 5'7" tail, fair complexion. Family settled in Australia. Please email desiny3239@gmail.com.

L ooking for a suitable match for 33-year-old Brahmin boy, well settled in Australia. Involved in family business. Fair complexion, height 5'8". Email k"Uma.r.sharn@bigpond.com.

Seeking a groom for my daughter, brought up in Australia, from Kayastha family, living i.n Sydney for past 24 years. She is 25 years old, 5'2", Bachelor of Commerce with Bachelor of Law from UNS\� a qualified lawyer working witl1 reputed international firm in Sydney. She is smart, caring, bas great regard for family values. Looking for a qualified, smart boy, preferably settled in Australia. Caste no bar. Send details to pbab93@gmail. com or call +61 412 487 801.

Seeking a groom for well-qualified, Tank -Khatri Sikh girl. Age 24, height 163cm, slim, hotel management, currently working, business family, based in Calcutta, India. Looking for handsome Sikh boy, well-educated and working, from culnued family based anywhere in Australia, permanent resident or citizen. Uncles living in Sydney for past 30 years.

Respond with photo and profile ro saggu.aman@yaboo.com or caJJ +61 404 187 1 1 5 for further information.

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foretell PREDICTIONS FOR MARCH 2017

BY NANCY JADE ALTHEA

------------------------------------ARIES March 21 - Apri l 19 The month starts off with a lot of intention and motivation. You will be thinking about ways to improve your relationship area and communicate your feelings effectively. It seems there are some issues from the past that are unresolved and need your attention.

The cards are showing some contact from friends you have not seen or heard from for a while. Financially you will be planning to get some new work started and establish old contacts.

TAURUS April 20 - M ay 20 This month you will feel confident and energetic. There will be an air of positivity and determination surrounding you. Work will be hectic but manageable. There will be a larger workload around you and you will be working extremely hard. Home li fe seems a little unsettled; this will be due to your work life demands. Financially you are looking at ways to save more money. The cards are indicating a time to take more exercise.

GEMINI M ay 21 - J u ne 20 This month will see you feeling a little worn out and frustrated with your plans. There seems to be a feeling of not achieving much but working hard. The cards indicate that you need to take a look at your most important tasks and prioritise. You will be feeling a little restless about your family life, but there will be changes on the horizon. Financially you will be spending a little more then you need to. Take care of your health.

CANCER J u ne 21 - J u ly 20 This month you will be feeling the pressure with both work and family. There will be a lot of demands made of you from both angles. You will feel the stress mounting as your work load seems to be increased. Family will be causing some worry, but things will settle down eventually in the month. There will be some financial aspects to deal with and paperwork to sort out. The need of the hour is to keep calm and relaxed.

LEO J u ly 21 - Aug 22 This month you will be concentrating on the physical: you will be looking at joining a gym or taking in more physical activity, and probably have done so already. There will be an important event coming up for which you will want to look the part. You are a little unsure how to deal with relationships this month and you may end up taking a break from it all. The cards are indicating some travel and catching up with old friends.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 This month you will be thinking of your work life and how to improve things. There will be some thoughts of a business venture, and plans to see that through. You are at the stage of deciding what to do for the best right now. The cards are indicating a time when you will be feeling a little exhausted with family matters and children. There will be a surprise visit from a friend or relative you have not seen for a while.

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LIBRA Sept 23 - Oct 22 This month you will be looking at your finances, and how to invest and where. There will be many decisions to take and you will be doing a lot of thinking and pl anning this month. Family will offer advice and help. Seems to be a lot of activity this month and as you pl an your property matters and personal affairs. The cards are indicating a time when you will also be looking at a trip and time away to relax.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - N ov 21 i

This month you may not be feeling your usual energet c self. There will be some niggling health issues that are bothering you and making you feel very tired and low. Business matters and finances will need your attention too and you will be looking at how to grow your existing business. The cards are indicating a time when you may be looking at purchasing another property. You will be planning a surprise party for someone. Buck up and get going!

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 There will be a lot happening around you this month. Work will be busy and hectic, but you will also be planning on looking for other opportunities and perhaps working in another state. There will be matters relating to your partner's work that will be stressful and they may need your support and advi ce. There may be another addition due to the family which will be a source of joy. The cards j are indicating a happy month, overall. En oy.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - J a n 19 The focus this month is finances and making sure you are saving enough for those rainy days. There will be an emphasis on career this month and there is an indication of improvement and abundance. You may decide to connect with an old flame or a past love. The cards are indicating a time when you may also be looking at a new venture or decide to work with someone else.

Take time out to take in more fresh air.

AQUARIUS J a n 20 - Feb 18 This month you will be busy. You will need to find a fine balance as you do not have enough time for yourself. Home life will be happy and cordial. You are planning to meet a relative you have not seen for a while and this will be quite nerve racking for you. There may be some matters relating to property that you will be helping your parents with. A sibling is also going to be needing your help.

PISCES Feb 19 - March 20 This month will be an interesting and powerful month when you will be putting together plans and ideas to focus on yourself and your future. You have been wanting to make changes for a while and you are now feeling ready to forge ahead. The cards i are indicating a time when you will be feeling positive and br ght. i Financially you will be careful with your spending. Emot onally you might feel like you need to take a break.

MARCI-I 2017 41

entertainment ■

- - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -

RANGOON

STARRING: Shahid Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Saif Ali Khan DIRECTOR: Vishal Bhardwaj

�\ \ (

In art, as in life, consistency is not a quality that is easily obtainable. In the life that is created in Vishal Bhardwaj's art, the characters are so flawed and fractured, and so driven down to destruction by their own demoniacal desires, that you fear they will collapse under the weight of their own ambitions and longings.

This is true as much of the characters as the director himself. Bhardwaj's latest arguably his most ambitious film to date could have ended up being the Bombay Velvet/ Mohenjo Daro of 2017. It is rescued, no, redeemed by an excruciatingly exquisite perception of

the wounds and lashes that love pelts down on those who are its victims.

Rangoon is a simple tale, unnecessarily complicated by its characters' prevarications.

It is a story pinned down to a bobbing blueprint of passion and betrayaI by a fey feisty whimsical woman, a popular action actress of the 1940s, who is not, repeat not, Fearless Nadia ... she is Fearless Julia... not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeves. And when you have Kangana Ranaut to play 'Fearless Julia' it is easy to show the woman complete stripped of vanity in her lunge towards love.

Set in the 1940s for a large part of its narrative, Rangoon reads like an over­ intellectualised literary excursion replete with educated, well-informed arrogant and pompous references to the role of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army in bringing down the British Raj. The references to the politics of India's Freedom Movement are drawn out of the commodious plot with a groaning wheezing gravity, as though Bhardwaj, of all the learned elements in Indian cinema, knows that the Indian audience needs to be educated. He has visited the library, you see.

Tragically, the characters from both

the British army and the INA come across as caricatures cloaked in a gravitas that the screenplay is unable to pull out of the circle of intrigue and deceit that the screenwriters create to cheat on destiny. The British Major General Harding (Richard McCabe) sprouts Urdu poetry with an endearing lisp (Ghalib never sounded so glib) but soon begins to behave like the Gora villains in Manoj Kumar's f<.ranti and Manmohan Desai's Mard.

McCabe is Tom... Altered.

The erudition that Bhardwaj and his writing team slap on to the long-winded screenplay go a long way in slackening the story's pace almost to a near-inert place from where it is hard to pull ourselves out even when Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut's compelling chemistry is an inviting incentive.

By the time the plot reaches its third and final act, Bhardwaj gets totally carried away by his librarian's lyricism. He injects massive suffocating doses of academia into his narrative with scholarly arrogance, sacrificing narrative evenness for interludes where time comes to a standstill as we see characters enacting scenes from the Freedom Movement on stage.

The skits-o-phrenia is distracting.

Many of the characters appear to be wasted in the long-legged libretto on nationalism that Bhardwaj insists on playing out while we are meant to watch his paean to patriotic pride in submissive silence. Bhardwaj plays and sings variations of the national anthem so many times during the film that the audience in the theatre (all 25 of them) was confused as to whether they should just continue standing in reverent attention.

After all this is not just the Jana Gana

Mana. It is Bhardwaj playing the Jana Gana Mana.

A pity, he sacrifices the opportunity to tell a beautiful and tender love story about three wounded fractured broken characters for the sake of a baggy ode to desh bhakti replete with a climax on top of a precariously compromised. wooden bridge that David Lean would have used as a dress rehearsal for The

Bridge On The River f<.wai.

Aerial shots of WW2 war planes swooping down on the natives are so clumsily done they are proof of how far FX-driven Indian cinema lags behind its Hollywood counterparts, and why.

Peel away the layers of self-referential nationalism, and we are left with a luminous love story, a dishy desi version of David Lean's Ryan's Daughter and Vijay Anand's Guide about a capricious seductress in a committed relationship who strays into a passionate liaison with a near-stranger who is way out of her social league. Indeed, the most masterly portions of the narrative are those where Kangana and Shahid are shown slogging through stretches of slush and marsh land accompanied by a Japanese POW. Kangana and Shahid are extraordinarily at-home in expressing the eruption of unpremeditated passion.

Their scenes together are magically shot by cinematographer Pankaj Kumar and are elevated further to a level of liberating lyricism by Vishal Bhardwaj's serene background score.

A pity Shahid and Kangana's time together is rationed. It ends with the Japanese soldier (played with gratifying earnestness by Soturo Kawaguchi) begging to be freed to go home to his mother.

E xactly our feelings.

Subhash K Jha

.. .

CORRU PT.I ON H U RTS EVERYONE. When something's not right, report it.

42 MARCI-I 2017

•

Corruption within the public service our councils and state government agencies - hurts every Victo rian.

So when something's not right, do something about it.

To find out more about IBAC or how to report your concerns in complete confidence, go to www.ibac.vic.gov.au/everyone

I.bac

independent broad-based anti-corruption commission i

V etotia

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FOX STAR STUOIOS nuou

THE STATE vs.

U0lLY

JOLLY LLB 2

STARRING: Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla, Annu Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Manav Kaul, Sayani Gupta, Avijit Dutta DIRECTOR: Subhash Kapoore

••• 'r,

Apart from being a courtroom drama and Saurabh Shukla playing Judge Tripathi, there is nothing common

between Jolly LLB 2 and its predecessor the Arshad Warsi-starrer Jolly LLB. And the only reference, if any, is a faint line when Saurabh Shukla, says: "Your name seems familiar, heard it in Delhi."

Astutely mounted on a larger scale and set in Lucknow, Jolly LLB 2 is a redemption story. The film trails Jagdishwar Mishra aka Jolly, an assistant to a renowned lawyer, who desires to set up his own practice,

cheats a young lady, Hina, seeking justice for her husband Iqbal, in a case of mistaken identity.

Dejected with the tum of events, Hina takes a drastic step that jolts Jolly. Ridden with guilt and to undo what he did, he files a Public Interest Litigation. How he gains redemption and prominence, forms the crux of the tale.

The script meanders with some off-beat scenes and songs. The first half toils on establishing the characters and the Holi song in particular is incongruous to the plot.

This feel-good satire seems to have lost its lustre. Not that this is a bad film, but it does tread on a predictable terrain with a plethora of poignant moments, some powerful ones. Some of the scenes seem forced with comedy, some of the parts are laugh-out-loud funny, but beneath the humour isthe subtle criticism of the corrupt system which can be easily manipulated. The courtroom drama is indeed interesting albeit weary and it lacks the soul of its previous edition.

But, Akshay Kumar as Jagdishwar Mishra is the raison d'etre of this film.

Though he is too old to play a novice and a bit unconvincing while indulging in buffoonery, he nevertheless carriesthe film squarely on his shoulders exuding star charisma.

Huma Qureshi as his whisky-drinking and Gucci-wearing wife Pushpa Pandey is competent. But her character is an appendage to the plot which offers nothing but a wholesome appeal to Jolly's character.

In supporting roles - brilliantly essayed - are Saurabh Shukla as Justice Sunderlal Tripathi, Annu Kapoor as the defendant lawyer Pramod Mathur, Sayani Gupta as Hina Siddiqui - the pregnant lady seeking justice, Kumud Mishra as the sly and ambitious Inspector Sur yaveer Singh and Avijit Dutt as Police Commissioner S.S. Paul.

Unfortunately, Manav Kaul in a miniscule role as Hina's husband Iqbal Qassim is wasted.

With excellent production values and good cinematography, the film is a typical Hindi blockbuster with an easy going demeanour. Nevertheless, the film is an entertainer.

Troy Ribeiro

KARAN JOIIAR AND AA FILMS ,,m,1

THE GHAZI ATTACK

STARRING: Rana Daggubati, Kay Kay Menon, Atul Kulkarni and Taapsee Pannu DIRECTOR: Sankalp Reddy

-ktt {;_(

A bigger myster y than the sinking of the submarine during the 1971 India and P akistan war that this film so bravely recreates, is Rana Daggubati's one single immovable expression that he has been holding steadfast on his impressive face ever since he graced the large screen with his imposing physical presence.

It's an expression of scowling machismo, a ratification of masculinity and a rejection of all humbug, and that includes changing the expression according to the emotional need of the moment.

Rana plays Lieutenant Commander Arjun Varma. And if you think- this is as a filmy as a hero's name can get, wait till you see the torrent of patriotic jingoism that hits you straight in the face (though alas, not in the guts). The national anthem (which had already played before the film begins, as per the new rules) played in the film before the end when all the characters first sang Saare jahaan se achcha and then just to drive in the point, Jana gana mana.

Confused, a few members of the audience got to its feet while the others remained seated. Even before the confusion could be sorted, the national anthem played again.this time as part of the background score, and then the film ended in a fl urry with the tricolour INDIANLINK

held high.

All of this is crammed into the last 15 minutes of this commendable but underwhelming tale of war-time valour.

The film editor - the brilliant Sreekar Prasad - cuts to the chase. There is little room for diversion as the men on board the submarine attend to the task of fobbing off the enemy's advances.

The marginal characters barely get in a word edgewise and before that scared lieutenant gets the first bite of a banana into his trembling mouth, the siren goes

off.

A sense of urgency is preserved throughout, with the actors pitching in their most sincere efforts to make the proceedings look authentic.

But it's losing a battle. In a manner of speaking.

Nevertheless, debutant director Sankalp Reddy must be lauded for his vast research on the subject. He lays out the blueprint of the underwater and so far underground, battle between India and P akistan, with diligence and sincerity. But the director's epic vision is constantly defeated by the lack of financial sources.

Budgetary constraints show up in embarrassing spurts in this soggy and damp underwater adventure. It's in the way the actors are huddled on one set depicting the interior of a submarine, or in the way the sea and the exchange of torpedos between the enemy countries plays itself out, that the film exposes its crippling limitations.

While the Indian side of the battleline comes off with a fair amount of fl air thanks to accomplished actors like Atul

Kulkarni, Kay Kay Menon and some unknown faces that play fringe soldiers who are never at sea (no pun intended.), the Pakistani soldiers helmed by Rahul Singh (who snarls and snaps like an Alsatian denied its daily meat) are pure caricature.

The Pakistani soldiers are bathed in the colour green (in case we miss their cultural complexion).

They refer to one another as Janaab (in case we don't get the point even after the proceedings go green).

Once we ignore the glaring generalizations and the broadly sketched definitions of valour and patriotism, The Ghazi Attack comes across as a film that means well. The director has a firm command over the underwater escapades, more so than the power-tussle in which the commanding offi cers are shown to be embroiled.

By the time Rana gives his big speech on sacrifices that soldiers make so

that we civilians can sleep peacefully, the narrative has exhausted its ability to hold our attention. The adventures of The Ghazi Attack are intriguing, and even exciting to begin with. But after a while, repeated shots of torpedoes being fired from both sides gets repetitive.

War, as we all know, is an exercise in futility. This should not be the case with films about war. And God knows Chetan Anand and J.P. Dutta have shown us how spellbinding war cinema can be, given the required resources.

Subhash K Jha

MARCM 2017 43

entertainment

- - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT'S HOT AND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD

LOOKING TO THE MOUNTAINS: RAHUL BOSE

PEECEE AT OSCARS 2017

S

o she had lots of fun at the Oscars, no doubt giving many Bollywoodwallahs #Oscars #GOALS. Although she did not score a presenting gig like last year, our girl squeezed herself into a tight gown (Ralph & Russo), wore US $5 million worth of jewellery (Lorraine Schwartz) and strapped on the highest heels you have ever seen (no goss on which brand, sorry). She cosied up to her Baywatch co-star Dwayne Johnson on the red carpet, chatted up Dev Patel, and pretendedto interview Jennifer Aniston backstage for Kelly Ripa's chat show.

Then she got changed into a black sequinned Michael Kors number and went off to the after-party. And because she hadn't eaten a morsel all day, she tucked into a massive juicy burger. (She posted a video of it).

Next day, she saw her name listed on various Best Dressed as well as Worst Dress lists. (Wow, the sheer talent to be able to pull that off).

You've all probably seen by nowthe Twitter comparisons about her dress: kaju katli (thanks, AIB, for that one); a vase, a blanket, a shimmering quilt, a DIY project ...

Also this one: Who ate the sides of the dress?!

But the Indian actress has stopped fretting over fashion police as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. She said in an interview with IANS before the show, "I used to (get bothered about fashion policing) but not anymore. Now, I wear what I like and what I'm comfortable in and if someone doesn't like that, they don't. They are entitled to their own opinion."

Oh, er, sadly, Priyanka made no comment at all about the most memorable moment of the night that came at the end.

44 MARCI-I 2017

Rahul Bose is back in a directorial role after a 16-year break. His new film Poorna is based on Pooma Malvath, the youngest girl in history to climb Mount Everest. She was 13 when she accomplished this feat two years ago.

Rahul claims he was first approached with the project as an actor. But when the project got shelved, he took it on as his own. Of course he still acts in the film, in the role that was first intended for him: Poorna's coach and mentor.

The actor-director claims he was drawn to the film solely because of young Pooma. She comes from a disadvantaged background, but is "astonishingly single-minded and determined''. She hails not from a mountainous region but from fl at lands, which make the activity alien to her.

But she put her mind to this seemingly impossible task, and went all out to achieve it.

A young Telangana girl Aditi lnamdar plays the main lead.

"It was very difficult to get the right Poorna," Rahul reveals. "When people see the fi lm, they will realise she carries the film. I was very clear: between casting an actor and casting a climber, I would always opt forthe former. We looked at over 500 girls in Telangana and shortlisted 109.

Some of them were decently talented but none with the mix of sensitivity, intuition, resilience under pressure and high emotional intelligence that I was looking for. By then my casting director, Mayank, and his assistant were totally burnt out. We found that in the 110th girl we saw."

Rahul also promises some stunning footage from the summit of the Everest.

Rahul's first film as director was way back in 2001, a film called Everybody Says I'm Fine. In the interim, the 'thinking woman's actor' Rahul has been a regular on the speaking circuit {having spoken on cinema at Yale, secularism at the Oxford, and on gender equality at Harvard) and has impressed in offbeat films such as Di/ Dhadakne Do.

JI just happen to be a Himalayan boy," he said. "We've had a house in Kasauli since 1947, so I grew up in the Himalayas. I've trekked till 17000 ft, done Uttarkashi, Sikkim, the hills around Kasauli, so for me this film was a win-win-win: mountains, sport, the girl child and a cinematically phenomenal story."

Poorna is set to release this month.

INSPIRED BY ZOHRA SEHGAL: TAN NISHTHA CHATTERJEE

Tannishtha Chatterjee, known for her performances in films like Rough Book, Angry Indian Goddesses and Parched, says she wants to be like the late veteran actress Zohra Sehgal.

"I remember the day when I met Zohra Sehgal for the fi rst time," she recalled recently. "She was 90 and I was 19. Even at her age, I was astonished by seeing her diligent. discipline and commitment to her work. That is a true taste of an artiste.

My aspiration is to be that sort of an artiste."

The acclaimed actor, often called 'princess of parallel cinema', added, "I think for an artist, there is no scope of being satisfi ed. The day you are satisfied with your work, you are stopping yourself from exploring another avenue. It hasn't stopped for me and it is a continuous journey. I am learning and growing, and this process should continue."

Yes, Zohra would have agreed!

Tannishtha's latest film is Garth Davis's Lion, which received six Oscar nominations but didn't register any win.

In her new project, the actress will be seen portraying a historic figure Doctor Rukhmabai, said to be India's first practising lady doctor.

APARSHAKTI: GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Things are looking up for new kid on the block Aparshakti Khurrana, who has a decent role in the upcoming Badrinath Ki Dulhania starring Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan.

"I had a lot of fun while on Badri," Aparshakti said recently. "Alia, Varun, Davidji and Karan Johar, are all a happy bunch of people. There was always a fun aspect on the set. Badri is very close to my heart."

The younger brother of Ayushmann Khurana, Aparshakti has just come off a grand success with Dangal, where he played an adorable cousin to the Phogat sisters. He nailed it with his physical fitness and Haryanvi accent.

"I never expected my character in Dangal would be admired so much,'' www.indianlink.com.au

SAYANI GUPTA

What's the chitchat between VARUN DHAWAN and ALIA BHATT?

liii#iMSi■Ulfy'he revealed. "I thought people would be excited for Aamir Khan, the two girls, and theirjourney of becoming wrestlers. However, my character Omkar was appreciated as much as the other characters."

H e added, "People have started taking me seriously."

Aparshakti started his career in stage, and worked as a radio jockey and TV anchor.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania, a romantic comedy, is directed by Shashank Khaitan and slated to release on 11 March.

SAYANI GUPTA: SCALING HEIGHTS

She claims she is scared of heights. But we just saw Sayani Gupta jump off a 40-foot building in her latest flick Johnny LLB 2!

It wasn't easy, but the young actor managed to pull it off.

She credits it all to co-star Akshay Kumar who we all know is quite the Tom Cruise when it comes to doing his own stunts.

"When I saw the stunt person do the jump, I got very nervous. It was not pretty at all. But I still wanted to do it.

The action director Parvez Shaikh was trying to keep me calm and I was like 'I don't want to be scared, but do I really have a choice!?"

That's when Akshay, ever the mentor and guide, offered help.

"He gave me some simple tips which made it much easier. I am grateful to him for being helpful, calm and such a master of stunts. Thanks to him, I could jump with perfect calm!"

Now that's not as bad as it sounds...

Sayani has begun to make an impression ever since Margarita With a Straw. Her stints in Fan, Parched and Baar Baar Dekho have not gone noticed, and we await her appearance in Jagga Jasoos now.

KHAYYAM LAUNCHES JUKEBOX AT 90

Padma Bhushan awardee and veteran composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, who recently turned 90, has launched his jukebox titled Soothing Melodies of Khayyam on YouTube.

Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. paid tribute to the veteran music composer by launching his jukebox which features 20 original song videos from his films like Bazaar, Shagoon, Footpath and Lorie among others. It is available on YouTube channel Filmi Gaane.

The National Award winner, who celebrated his birthday on 18 February, has composed for films like Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Noorie, Umrao Jaan and Razia Sultan.

On his birthday, Khayyam also announced the formation of a charity trust called Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur

WHO WORE IT BETTER? KENDAL JENNER or ALIA BHAT in BALMAIN?

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KPG Charitable Trust and also shared the news that he is donating his entire wealth valued around Rs 10 crore to his own trust, which will help needy artists and technicians ofthe film industry.

Send in your responses to win@indianlink.com.au and win a movie pass

ITTEFAQ: NO COINCIDENCE

Yash Chopra's 1969 film lttefaq (starring Rajesh Khanna and Nanda) is set for a remake, starring Sidharth Malhotra andSonakshi Sinha. The 1969 film was itself a remake of 1965 British film Signpost to Murder starring Joanne Woodward.

It is unusual for Bollywood to make a murder mystery, and that too one without any songs in it, and the new version hopes also to be much shorter than usual, at about two hours in length.

Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Production and BR Films will jointly produce.

Sidharth Malhotra has revealed that the plot will undergo slight changes, as everyone knows what the original film was about, and the same storyline would not leave any mysteryto be unfolded.

The film will release in late 2017.

WHAT TWEETY BIRD TOLD US THIS WEEK

Match the following stars to the tweets below Shah Rukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan again, Alia Bhatt This was too much fun. @chrissyteigen @KellyRipa #JenniferAniston #backstageshenanigans 41 years of "Kabhi Kabhie" ... !!

Here goes the trailer !! #BKDTrailer My fav films by Yashji #lttefaq is being recreated by Abhay. Thx @S1dharthM @sonakshisinha Akshaye. Also BR & Dharma Films tie up with RCE Today on Feb 15th 1969 I officially joined the fi lm industry .. signed my 1st film 'Saat Hindustani'.

Full respect to the producer of La La Land who announced Moonlight as the winner. Pure grace.

What's KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN thinking here?

So glad Saif said he would look after baby while I came here ...

PRAJWAL SHRESHTHA KATOOMBA, NSW Prajwal wins a ticket to Hindi film Running Shaadi

MARCI-I 2017 45

backchat

----------------------------Can't keep calm, he's turning 40

DIV guru DEAR AUNTYJI

I am really hoping for your advice because I find myself in a weird situation. We have the best neighbours -they are friendly, helpful, fun and never intrusive. We have known them for two years now. Dave is a stay-at­ home dad and loves doing DIY stuff, and he is really, really good at it.

So, we went to Darwin for two weeks, and when we returned, we noticed that all the DIY around the house had been done! Dave had used his keys to get inside the house -with our previous permission - and had resealed the grout in the bathroom, fixed cracks in the ceiling, cleaned out the plumbing and left the house pristine. Now Auntyji, I was absolutely delighted by this turn of events, but my poor husband felt emasculated. He said it should have been his role to do these jobs, but the reality is that Mohit has not done any of these necessary tasks since we moved in! When we spoke to Dave, I was most appreciative of it, but Mohit says it was weird for Dave to come into our house and fix stuff while we were away. Because I really like Dave and Tina, I have no issues. But what do you think Auntyji, is this odd? And what should Moh it do about this - even though I don't want him to do anything.

Thoughts please?

AUNTYJI SAYS

Can I have the name of this wonderful neighbour so that I can move next to him please? Dave sounds like an ideal mate - he lets himself in, fixes up stuff and leaves the house in pristine condition. Now I understand that poor Mohit feels like a bekaroo, but he brought this on himself. If he had completed these jobs, Dave wouldn't have needed to do this in the first place. So I suggest you have a chat with your bekaroo pati dev, and tell him that this is the result of his laziness. Tell him he should be grateful to have a padosi like Dave.

Also, I think you might need to ponder why Mohit feels this way.

Perhaps he is not as concerned about the work done as he is about the fact that there is another man happy and willing to step in where his own deficiencies take shape. So, tell him to either lift his game, or accept the fact that there is another man willing to do what he won't. As long as Dave does not try on your lingerie while you are at work, I suggest you let this go. Moh it will get over it. But, keep in mind that everything starts off innocent. Who knows what Dave gets up to while he is home alone. Nothing that a motion-activated recorder won't capture...

DEAR AUNTYJI

My husband is shortly turning 40.

Now, he says he loves his life, but he hates his job, hasn't given up bad habits like smoking and drinking and is often lazy. He has been trying to change jobs for a while, but nothing has happened. He has tried to give up cigarettes, but that is an ongoing saga. All in all, he is not happy to be turning 40. His best friend Akash, on the other hand, is not married, but has the best career and a good life.

Akash is also turning 40 in the same month, and has decided to have a party. My husband thinks it's a good idea to have a party together. As I see it, there is nothing to celebrate: hubby is getting older, fatter, unhealthier, with fewer options to change his career. What's there to celebrate?

Why the party? Fortunately, I have not said anything to hubby, but these are my thoughts. I love my husband dearly, but why all the celebration, Auntyji? Why waste all this good money on a party when he does not have his life in order. Do you think I am being a little harsh? I would love to hear your thoughts.

AUNTYJI SAYS

Wow. You are a hard wife. Your

bechara, budda husband is not

looking forward to turning cha/is, and the only thing that he has to help him get over the misery of entering his 50th decade is this party, and you want to deny him this. If you say you love him, let him have his party-sharty nah, tumhara kya jaata hai? Granted, you didn't win the lottery of life by ending up with a lazy smoker alcoholic with no career prospects, but ab kya karenge, bahut der ho chuki nah.

I say you let him have his party and be happy for him. Turning 40 is a major milestone and you should be grateful he made it this far. Who's to know what will happen by his 50th?

You should totally organise this party and make it the best party ever, ya?

Do you have a question for Auntyji?

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