Month: November 2025

A promising new voice in cinema, Isha Chhabra, a filmmaking student from the United States, has made a striking impression with her latest directorial project — the visually stunning music video Gulistan Chale, directed and featured by Isha Chhabra herself, with music composed, sung, and written by the legendary A.R. Rahman.

The video, now streaming on Global Glow Films’ YouTube Channel, beautifully captures a blend of emotion, storytelling, and melody — seamlessly weaving together Isha’s refined cinematic sensibility and Rahman’s soulful soundscape. With its expressive visuals and deeply evocative tone, Gulistan Chale is already earning praise for its artistic maturity and emotional depth.

What makes this project stand out is Isha Chhabra’s ability to convey raw human emotions through visual poetry — a skill she continues to hone while studying filmography in the USA. Despite being a student filmmaker, her direction and on-screen performance reflect remarkable confidence, aesthetic precision, and a strong understanding of rhythm and emotion in visual storytelling.

Speaking about her inspiration, Isha Chhabra shared,

“This project was born out of my desire to tell stories through emotion rather than dialogue. Working both behind and in front of the camera was a rewarding challenge. A.R. Rahman’s music gave life to every frame, making this experience unforgettable. I am so thankful to ARR for the guidance and grateful to be a part of such a beautiful song by ARR, produced by Global Glow Films. My journey studying filmmaking in the USA has allowed me to explore storytelling from a global lens.”

Music maestro A.R. Rahman, who composed, sang, and penned the lyrics for Gulistan Chale, brings his signature emotional depth to the project. His haunting melodies and introspective words infuse the film with soul, elevating it beyond a conventional music video into a moving cinematic experience.

The collaboration between Isha Chhabra and A.R. Rahman marks the meeting of two creative minds — one bringing fresh cinematic vision, the other timeless musical mastery — unified by emotion and artistry.

With Gulistan Chale, Isha Chhabra establishes herself as one of the most exciting young filmmaker-actors to watch — blending her international training with heartfelt Indian storytelling. Her work signals a bright future, where new-age creators merge global aesthetics with the emotional essence of Indian cinema.

The video Gulistan Chale is now live on YouTube (Global Glow Films) and is quickly gaining attention for its emotional resonance and visual artistry — marking a beautiful debut for a filmmaker who’s just getting started.

 

Young Filmmaker Isha Chhabra From The USA Impresses With Her New Music Video Gulistan Chale – Music By A.R. Rahman

Nadamrutham By Kalashri Dr Lata Surendra, Nmacc

The Cube

Oct 24, 2025

An Ode unto Diksha it was absolutely through Nadamrutham – a visual prayer addressed unto her legendary Guru Vidwan Kalaimamani Shri T.S. Kadirvelu Pillai by Kalashri Dr Lata Surendra,  the city’s very senior Artist in the field of Bharatannatyam  for over six and half decades Nadamrutham was a dedicated disciple’s tribute  unto the creative genius  of her Guru ,  Kalaimamani Vidawan  Shri T. S. Kadirvelu Pillai,   at the intimate  space of the Cube , NMACC ,Mumbai that   had  each rasika present , enter into  a journey through an intriguing  path – a margam to  awaken to silence as the seed of all sound and stillness  as the  pulsating womb of all movement.

The programme was sponsored by the Reliance Cultural Foundation Known for establishing a one to one connect with the audience Dr Lata Surendra in her signature style of loftiness laced with humour led witnessing hearts to the pulsating romance of rhythms, poetry of love in union and seperation through the times.

“The  Nadamrutham cosmos within the cube  has two ‘suns’ today she said  drawing attention to  crisp Nattuvangam by Shri Kaliswaran Pillai and Mridangam   by Mumbai  K Dakshinamurthy   – the two talented Suns creating waves   in the rhythmic world of dance  today ,the Sangeetamrutham by mellifluos vocalist Shri N.N.Shivaprasad , the   stirring Violin by Satish Seshadri, mesmerising Flute by Shri Bharat Raj .

The performance commenced in a unique way through a choreography highlighting the eloquent poetry of  silence and sound .One could hear   Dr Lata’s  meticulous and strong footwork resonate all around  the Cube  through an intricate calculation of her distinguished Mentor Shri Kadirvelu Pillai,  which then unfolded the supreme effulgence of the Guru who awakened in her the truth of unity   and the universe as an unfragmented reality   embracing  the one life force in all through an ongoing cyclic order   ‘ Akhanda  mandalakaram ‘  Very vivid sancharis  brought out the deep truth encushioned in  timeless  lines  by His Holiness Adi Sankara charya . One often sees dancers only touching on the superficial padartham of the lines, but   the artist drew attention to every word in the lines. culminating in the greatness of the Guru- leading her from light to Light through lighting of the lamp within the temple of her heart! It opened out the pathways to notes embracing the Ragam Vasanta and a   visually arresting Jathiswaram item not done by any of the senior artists today. The’Jathiswaram’ by Tanjore quartet was a visual delight and intriguing by virtue of its obvious cross rhythmic patterns in Rupaka thalam woven by the formidable Vidwan Guru Kadirvelu Pillai.  The Nattuvangam by Kaliswaran and Mridangam by Dakshinamurthy with the complimenting vocals had all senses engulfed in the blissfulness of Nadamrutham unfolding through the experienced and consummate Artist.

 

What one marvelled at was Lata’s unflagging stamina. Post each item she quiet simply walked over to the waiting mike to reach out with eloquent details about the ensuing item.   With a sense of humour that went well with the receptive audience she recounted the cyclic drama of life replayed over and over in age -old chronicles of love. The Padam-  Netrandi Nerathile in Huseini by Subbarama Iyer – a prolific composer of Tamil padams in the late 19th century was a visual delight.   Lata explained to the audience how   it be the realm of the Gods or humans the age-old lover’s tiffs- be it’ shy sweetness of that first meeting or distressful tears of farewell ‘the plot embracing all navarasaa continues to engage life all around. She highlighted how the   Raagam Husseini   was just ideal for gentle roasting   by the uttama nayika confronting her Lord Karthikeya.

In fact, she beautifully brought through a variety of ways  the  question   that the Nayika gently kept nudging her beloved with as a refrain – “‘ in  that  golden twilight hour as  women were bathing and as all nature sought to settle for the oncoming  night  who was she who kept seeking  your attention and beckoning you towards  her ?  “Rarely do we see performers establish such a personal one to one connect with the audience. Lata took up another composition in Saveri by the same composer to underline how a proper Khandita nayika  ..irate with the endless deception of her Lord   confronts him with packed levels of sarcasm through evocative sancharis .  The evening transformed to a visual SSatsang. Itwas a reaching out by an artist who loved her art and truly longed to have all love it through feeling for it as she did.

The Vocalist was in his elemit asploring the melody content as she explored the lyrical content with fluid intensity.  The Varnam in Anandabhairavi, Adi thalam by Sivanandam Tanjore quartet was the highlight of the evening. The mathematical patterns in the nritta sequences of Varnam was unique with Mridangam Moras that were created by her legendary Guru instead of Jathis. The flourish and ease with which Lata tackled these merited an ongoing applause from the audience. The spell bound audience were totally captivated by the chemistry between the Orchestral support and the Artist. With    expressions and movements, the Senior Artist brought to life the Nayika’s longing for her Lord Rajagopala . Persuasion on one side, reluctance on the other, longing on the one side and indifference on the other. There were fresh analogies drawn in the description of her Lord.    In the highlighting of lyrics Lata mentioned how reading enriched and enhanced the depth vital to explore the content in the lyrics.

 

It was interesting to see her   apply Surdas’s etching of   how futile it was to compare Krishna to the world created by Him alone.  The lotus and fish escaping to waters shying away from the beauty of his eyes, the moon hiding indark clouds seeing his effulgent face, the snakes slithering away to dark holes seeing the sinous strength of his hands ..  The dilemma of Arjuna too ‘To be or not to be’ was veryloignantlybrought out.  It was absolutely a command performance by a veteran.

The 12th Cy Poet Shri Jayadeva’s A shtapadi.- Priye Charusheelein in Ragam Vasanthi was deeply stirring and performed with intensity and sung with feeling by the experienced Vocalist Shri Shiva Prasad, wherein Krishna, after causing Radha pain, pleads for her forgiveness with deep love and humility, culminating in his earnest request to place her feet on his head. This act represented his complete surrender unto Radha …

The sublime union of krishnamayi Radha and Radhamayi Krishna unfolded to a Thillana in Behaag by Poniah Pillai. Nadamrutham truly impacted one and all present   and proved that the dancer’s body at 71 is the visible form of an invisible passion,’ Dr Lata Surendra revealed not just her strength, but the heart and discipline that forged it.”

What stayed. long after the performance was the deceptive ease with which she navigated the most demanding sequences all through the performance. The precision was never sterile; it was the quiet confidence of a dancer completely in control. Witnessing her sustain that intensity was a lesson in dedication, a visual testament to the sentiment that, ‘True artistry isn’t just about what is seen, but about the unseen strength that makes the impossible look inevitable.’ This was a dancer who didn’t just perform; she persevered and became the dance!

Orchestral Support 

Nattuvangam – Shri Kalishwaran K  Kalishwaran K

Vocal support – Shri Siva Prasad N N  Siva Prasad N N

Mridangam – Mumbai K Dakshinamurthy

Violin – Shri Satish Seshadri

Flute – Shri Bharat Raj

Lights – Sri Saurabh Tawde

[Review by Abhishek Dubey ]

 

A Divine  Soulful Visual Ode To Diksha

 

Mumbai – 3^rd November 2025 – The 5th Edition of Culture Cinema (C2F2) concluded after three days of screenings, discussions, and cultural exchange that celebrated cinema as a vibrant reflection of human stories and shared heritage. On the closing day, the 5^th Edition C2F2 Awards recognized outstanding films and filmmakers whose works stood out for their cultural relevance, storytelling strength, and creative innovation.

Mr. Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia emphasized the global value of such initiatives, stating, “Cinema is one of culture’s most powerful expressions. It allows us to honour our past, engage with the present and imagine a more inclusive future. Festivals like this one remind us of the creativity and diversity that unite humanity, inspiring us to safeguard the many ways people tell their stories. It also shows how cinema transcends borders, giving voice to different experiences and shared dreams. In celebrating culture through film, we celebrate humanity itself.”

In the 5^th Edition C2F2, the Top Award of Film of The Festival Award was shared by Indian Film, SWARAM directed by Lijin Lohithakshan and Belgian Film HOLDING UP THE SKY directed by Pieter Van Eecke. Both the films will be sharing the prize money of USD 501, where each of them will receive USD 251 for their outstanding achievement. Both the films also won BEST Film in their respective categories, viz. SWARAM in Social Practices, and HOLDING UP THE SKY in Tribal Community category. The festival had BEST in Category Awards for 14 films, and Jury Special Mentions for 4 films.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Praveen Nagda, Festival Director of Culture Cinema (C2F2), expressed his gratitude to the participants, jury, and partners, saying, “Each year, Culture Cinema continues to grow as a platform where filmmakers and audiences come together to celebrate the beauty and complexity of culture. This edition has shown how cinema can transcend borders and generations, thereby reminding us that stories remain our strongest link to each other.”

Earlier, the closing day began with an interaction with Mr. Livingston Antony Ruben, an Indian film editor, well-known for his work in prominent Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films including Pushpa-The Rise, and Jawaan etc. It was followed by an insightful panel discussion “Directing Change: Women Shaping the Future of Indian Cinema,” moderated by Ms. Shubha Shetty Saha and Prof. Navya Singh, featuring Ms. Akriti Singh, Prof. Malati Rao, Ms. Rupali Saxena, and Ms. Piyana Bandyopadhyay. The discussion explored representation, leadership, and the evolving female gaze in Indian cinema, setting an empowering tone for the festival’s finale.

Over its three-day run, C2F2 featured a diverse showcase of films from India, Japan, Italy, France, Brazil, and several other countries, alongside panels such as “Courage on Screen: The Business and Art of Patriotic Filmmaking” and cultural performances that blended tradition with modernity.

As the curtains come down on this milestone edition, Culture Cinema reaffirms its vision of promoting cinema as culture’s most universal language, and the one that connects people, preserves heritage, and inspires collective creativity.

Organized in collaboration with Amity University Mumbai, CIFEJ, and GMEC, the 5^th Edition C2F2 reaffirmed the festival’s growing reputation as a meaningful platform for cultural dialogue through film.

LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

 

Category		Best Film Details
Architecture		Name – The corridor of heaven Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Mohammad Hassan abedinezhad Producer – Mohammad Hassan abedinezhad
Arts & Artisans		Name – DEVI A Woven History Country – INDIA Director – Manas Holkar Producer – Manas Holkar
Biodiversity		Name – Flamingos: Life after the meteorite Country – MEXICO Director – Lorenzo Hagerman Producer – José Cohen
Cultural Taboos		Name – Spider-Zan Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Maryam Khodabakhsh Producer – Ali Tabe emam
Cultural Reforms		Name – Spider-Zan Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Maryam Khodabakhsh Producer – Ali Tabe emam
Diaspora		Name – Vinola sets the tone Country – FRANCE Director – Marie Sushila Le Ny Producer – Les Ateliers Varan
Education		Name – I am Banni- Daughter of Kutch Country – INDIA Director – Nitin Choudhary, K K Makwana Producer – Anil Garg
History		Name – My Radio My Life Country – INDIA Director – Bidit Roy, Makarand Waikar Producer – Makarand Waikar
Music		Name – BASSNINJA film the live in the ring episode０ Country – JAPAN Director – Kenji Ogusu Producer – Quagero Imazawa
Philosophy		Name – From Death to Oblivion Country – MEXICO Director – Andrés Durán Moreno Producer – Andrés Durán Moreno, Mikel de la Barcena
Social Practices		Name – SWARAM Country – INDIA Director – Lijin Lohithakshan Producer – Lijin Lohithakshan
Sports	Name – The documentary of the 10 (Maradona) Country – ARGENTINA Director – Lucas Martin Costa Producer – Damian Pablo Originario
Travel & Tourism	Name – AMAZORIOCA Country – PORTUGAL Director – Antonio Aleixo Producer – Antonio Aleixo, Joana Madruga
Tribal Community	Name – Holding Up The Sky Country – BELGIUM Director – Pieter Van Eecke Producer – Hanne Phlypo
Category		Best Film Details
History		Name – Cheenee Country – Trinidad and Tobago Director – ANDREAS ANTONOPOULOS Producer – ANDREAS ANTONOPOULOS, DEBOLEENA PAUL
Biodiversity		Name – Thar: Sacred Groves and Waterscapes Country – INDIA Director – Pranjal Joshi Producer – Ashoka University, The Helen Hamlyn Trust
Cultural Taboos		Name – Light Memories Country – ECUADOR Director – Misha Vallejo Producer – Mayfe Ortega Haboud
Social Practices		Name – Djurdjevdan Is Yet to Come Country – SERBIA Director – Predrag Todorovic Producer – Predrag Todorovic

 

Indian & Belgium Films Share The Top Award At 5th Edition C2F2

 

Celebrating Women in Sports with Glamour, Grace and Grit

Kolkata, 1st November 2025: The city witnessed an evening of elegance, empowerment, and inspiration as Aneebee Entertainments presented Sharanya Season 5 × Aqua Divine Season 2 “Shakti in Motion” in association with Eastern Metropolitan Club and TRI Events & Entertainment. The grand event, curated by Anita Dutta and her dedicated team, took place at the Eastern Metropolitan Club, Kolkata celebrating the powerful theme — “Women in Sports.”

This year’s edition honored the remarkable achievements of women and men athletes who have represented India at national and international levels. The event blended fashion, performance, and empowerment spotlighting women and men who have redefined boundaries through their passion and perseverance.

Celebrating excellence and resilience in sports, the event honoured achievers, Hupi Majhi (Odisha), Captain of the Indian Women’s Rugby Team, who led India at the Olympic Qualifiers in Osaka, Tarunika Ghosh (21 years), a young para-athlete who started as a swimmer and evolved into a multi-sport runner, winning medals in the Para Olympics, Arun Kumar Singh (70+ years) a veteran athlete and Asian Masters gold medalist, who began his athletic journey at 55 and continues to inspire generations and Mr. Shital Prasad Gupta, Entrepreneur working for women empowerment, recognized for his contributions to uplifting women through entrepreneurship and community work.

The evening also featured an energetic Taekwondo demonstration by athletes from the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI) Ms. Mallika Samanta, Ms. Jaya Rozario, Mr. Pallab Malo and Mr. Ajoy Sardar. Their performance embodied the event’s theme of discipline, strength and self-belief — qualities central to both sports and womanhood.

Adding star power and elegance, Bollywood celebrity Aman Verma graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and Celebrity Anchor, captivating the audience with his charm and energy. Tollywood celebrity Darshana Banik and Neel Bhattacharya added a touch of glamour to the evening. The distinguished guest also include Dr. Andrew Fleming, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, Mr. Kevin Goh, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Australia, Shiv Kumar Agarwala, Honorary Consulate General of Romania, Representing Team Sharanya Anita Dutta, Founder & CEO, Aneebee Entertainment and Organiser Sharanya, Soumi Dutta, Creative Director, Sharanya, Ankita Pramanik, Digital Marketing Head, Sharanya, Ranadeep Karmakar, Curator and Marketing Director, Sharanya, Neelay Sengupta, Show Choreographer and Designer, Sanjeeb Ghosh, Owner, Eastern Metropolitan Club, Neelay Sengupta, Show Choreographer & Designer, Adwitya Dutta Banik, Co-host of the event and Abhishek Singhania, Co-founder of Mediashine PR & Advertising were also present, making it a truly star-studded and prestigious evening.

Speaking about the event, Anita Dutta, Founder & CEO of Aneebee Entertainment said, “Sharanya and Aqua Divine have always been about celebrating strength, talent and individuality. This season we wanted to bring focus to women in sports — their struggles, triumphs and relentless spirit. It’s a celebration of those who dare to dream beyond limits.”

Sharanya and Aqua Divine, conceptualized by Anita Dutta and her team, is a premier fashion and talent platform dedicated to promoting empowerment and diversity through creative expression. Each season celebrates a unique theme, bridging social causes with art, beauty, and performance.

Heartfelt thank you to our esteemed sponsors and partners – Eastern Metropolitan Club, Transitics, Avenger Plywood, The Soumi’s Can Product, Artage TV, Karukrit, Enkon, Indulge, SITI Networks, 91.9 Friends FM, Zee 24 Ghanta, Firefox, Sajit Krishnan Kutty, VLCC, Abhishek Agawal, Sourav Halder, Aayushee, Prestige Realty, Sudip Mullick, Atul Aggarwal, Irony, Dr Deepali Banerjee, Chatterjee Carriers, Style Addict, Bloosm Kochhar Aroma Magic, Perfect, Mediashine PR & Advertising, Swagat Karta, Playful Venture, Image Clinic and Doctor Shiv for making this celebration of “Women in Sports – Shakti in Motion” a grand success.

     

Aneebee Entertainments Presents Sharanya Season 5 × Aqua Divine Season 2 In Association With Eastern Metropolitan Club And TRI Events & Entertainment