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Famous Rapper & Singer Ashraw Talks about his Journey as an independent Artist

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The digitalization of music has paved the way for independent musicians and singers to get better opportunities to showcase their talent and reach out to a larger audience. While making and releasing independent music is still quite a task, those who are doing it have a tremendous amount of passion for their craft. One such artist who has carved a niche for himself in the independent music scene is Ashish Rawat aka Ashraw. Being a singer, rapper, lyricist, music composer and producer, one can also describe the young artist as a ‘one-man-army’ who creates all his original music on his own.

Talking about his journey as a creative artist, Ashraw says, “I was in the ninth grade when I performed to Jay Sean’s ‘Tere Naal Nachna’ at a cultural event in school. The kind of response I received from the audience gave me a lot of confidence and made me believe that with hard work and conviction, I can have a successful career as a musician. I went through a lot of ups and downs and faced many difficulties but never gave up. Things are getting better for independent musicians in the country. I want to connect to a global audience through my music.”

Before embarking upon a career as a musician, Ashraw worked in several call centers in Noida and Gurgaon. He was the first person in his family who had decided to make a career in music. With no guidance available, he learned a lot of things himself. Soon, he joined a local rock band and started playing the guitar along with lending his voice to the tracks. He performed in several popular college fests across the country and the love of the audience and his listeners gave him the strength to keep moving forward in his journey.

Remembering his days of struggle, he says, “Going through struggle is a natural process for any artist. All the pain and experiences you gain during this process help you become a better artist. I mastered the guitar on my own and there was a time when I taught many students how to play the instrument. I launched my YouTube channel at a time when these platforms were not very popular. Starting out early in the digital space helped me get the first-mover advantage. Even during my tough times, I kept honing my skills and made an effort to learn new things.”

Apart from releasing music independently, Ashraw has also collaborated with mainstream music labels. In 2018, his original track Life Meri was released by Zee Music Company. Apart from crooning the track, Ashraw had also written and composed it. In the last several years, he has performed extensively on stage. While he loves the instant feedback he gets from the audience during his live performances, he also likes to spend a lot of time at his studio creating music.

“As an artist, I am very open-minded. I love creating music independently and I don’t mind collaborating with music companies either. If somebody wishes to collaborate with me without asking me to give up on my creative freedom, I am all up for it. You also grow when you create music with other artists. I am looking forward to collaborating with many Indian and international artists in the near future”, he says on a parting note.

Ashraw’s most recent release has been ‘Baby Tu’ which he describes as a ‘dark underground rap song’. The independent single is streaming on all leading audio platforms and has got a very good response from the listeners in a short span of time. shraw plans to release several more singles at regular intervals this year. Now that Covid-19 restrictions have been eased out, he hopes to perform extensively in several popular venues in the country and abroad this year.

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AGP World Brings the Glitz, Glamour, and Chaos of a Big, Fat Indian Wedding to Mumbai with Blame It On Bollywood – A Musical Comedy Extravaganza

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Get ready for a theatrical experience like no other! AGP World, one of India’s premier entertainment production companies, is bringing the wildly popular musical comedy Blame It On Bollywood to Mumbai on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th of December 2024 at the St Andrews Auditorium. After receiving standing ovations and rave reviews globally, this hilarious and heartwarming production is all set to make its grand debut in the city–now revamped with fresh, exciting elements to elevate the experience even further.

AGP World, founded by Ashvin Gidwani in 1995, has been a trailblazer in the Indian theatre industry for nearly three decades. Known for producing engaging and innovative productions, the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality entertainment across live and digital platforms. AGP World’s portfolio includes not just theatrical productions, but also experiential events, art showcases, and talent management, with a presence in over 24 cities across India and 25 countries around the globe, including the USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, France and Australia.

In addition to its celebrated theatre productions, AGP World has created unforgettable experiences for global audiences. The brand’s commitment to creative excellence has earned it a devoted fanbase, with shows like The Alchemist and History of India breaking records and receiving international acclaim.

In Blame It On Bollywood, the chaos, charm, and grandeur of an Indian wedding unfold in an explosive mix of music, drama, and comedy. The play takes the audience through the whirlwind preparations of an Indian wedding, exploring family dynamics, societal expectations, and generational conflicts, all wrapped up in the larger-than-life magic of Bollywood. From extravagant guest lists to the most stylish designer clothes, the often absurd wedding details are hilariously scrutinized, offering a relatable and thoroughly entertaining experience for all.

This revamped version of the smash-hit production promises even more excitement, with new music, enhanced choreography, and a refreshed visual look that is sure to dazzle audiences. With over seven years of successful runs and more than 150 performances globally, Blame It On Bollywood has earned its place as a fan favourite–and now Mumbai is ready to experience it in a whole new light!

A true visual feast, the show features dynamic, fast-changing video walls as backdrops, making every scene more immersive and emotional. Packed with energetic choreography, vibrant costumes, and Bollywood parodies, the show promises catchy tunes that will have the audience laughing and singing along. It’s part musical, part comedy, and 100% fun–making it the perfect night out for anyone looking for a good time.

What Critics Are Saying:

* “This play has Broadway written all over it” – Daily Mail, UK

* “A delightful mix of Bollywood, drama, and comedy!” – DNA After Hrs

Bharat Dabholkar, the play’s writer and director, shares, “The humour in Blame It On Bollywood comes from the universal family experiences everyone can relate to. It’s about those awkward, funny moments we all encounter in family life. Watching this play feels like your own family story unfolding on stage. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that everyone can connect with.”

“We are thrilled to bring the revamped Blame It On Bollywood to Mumbai,” says Ashvin Gidwani, Managing Director of AGP World. “Mumbai has long been known for its love of the arts, and we’re excited to present this vibrant, heartwarming, and humorous play to such an enthusiastic and diverse audience. This story–capturing the madness and magic of Indian weddings–is something everyone can connect with. At AGP World, we believe in the power of storytelling to unite people, and we are proud to contribute to Mumbai’s rich cultural landscape. Special thanks to Yash Raj Films for allowing us to feature their iconic Yashraj trademark in our production, making this experience even more special.”

The star-studded cast includes Ananth Mahadevan, a National Award-winning actor renowned for his remarkable work in both Bollywood and theatre, alongside Jayati Bhatia, a popular television and theatre performer. Together with a talented ensemble, they bring the play’s colourful characters and emotional moments to life in a way that will leave audiences both laughing and deeply moved.

AGP World, led by Ashvin Gidwani, has been a driving force in India’s entertainment industry for over 25 years. Known for producing high-quality theatre, immersive events, and managing top performers, AGP World is celebrated for its innovative and impactful performances that captivate audiences and create lasting memories.

Event Details:

Venue: St Andrews Auditorium, Mumbai

Date: Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th December 2024

Time: 7:00 PM

Booking Link: https://bit.ly/BIOBMumbai_BookingAvailable

Website: www.agpworld.com

For Corporate & Bulk Bookings, Casts & Creative Directors, Press Queries & Interviews, please contact:

Ashvin Gidwani

MD & Producer, AGP World

Email: ashvin@agpworld.com

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Noble World Foundation Announces Transformative Spiritual Journey Through Song

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Discover Inner Peace: A Soul-Stirring Journey to Your True Self

MUMBAI, India – Nov. 5, 2024 – Noble World Foundation is delighted to announce the release of the profoundly moving devotional song, देख ले, निज रूप प्यारे, गुरु चरण अनुराग रे,” which translates to “Look within, dear one; the truth is never far away. In the grace of the Guru, discover who you truly are.”

Written by Shiv R. Jhawar, this Hindi devotional song aims to inspire a new spiritual movement, encouraging self-realization through meditation. It draws inspiration from a life-changing experience on September 16, 1974, when Swami Muktananda (1908-1982), a revered Shaktipat guru, delivered a public talk on meditation in Chicago. During the talk, he said, “Kundalini starts dancing when one repeats Om Namah Shivaya.” As Shiv R. Jhawar, seated in the audience, began mentally repeating the mantra charged with the Guru’s energy, an extraordinary event occurred: “Suddenly, I felt a great impact of a rising force within me. The intensity of this rising Kundalini force was so tremendous that my body lifted up a little and fell flat into the aisle; my eyeglasses flew off. As I lay there with my eyes closed, I could see a continuous fountain of dazzling white lights erupting within me.”

Shiv describes this moment as a state of “supreme bliss,” a thought-free awareness of true being. Recognizing what was happening, Swami Muktananda said, “I didn’t do anything. The Energy has caught someone.” He then provided a live commentary, describing Shiv’s superconscious state and reassuring the audience of the transformative power of Kundalini awakening. This powerful experience inspired the creation of this devotional song.

The song addresses fundamental questions of existence: “Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I come from? Where do I go from here?” With heartfelt lyrics and a stirring melody, it transcends religious boundaries and leads listeners on a path to spiritual awakening. “The world needs more Buddhas, Jesuses, and Krishnas—not just religious followers,” says Shiv R. Jhawar, Founder of Noble World Foundation. “This song encourages listeners to discover their divine potential.”

About the Song:

Title: देख ले, निज रूप प्यारे, गुरु चरण अनुराग रे
Song Writer: Shiv R. Jhawar
Release Date: November 9, 2024, at 11:59 PM local time (midnight)
Available on: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all major platforms
Copyright: © 2024 Noble World Foundation
Listen Here: Click to listen

Every sale of this song supports the Noble World Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting inner transformation, global peace, harmony, and well-being.

Your support will help spread wisdom and peace worldwide.

For more information, visit the Noble World Foundation’s website at nobleworld.org.

Contact Information:

Noble World Foundation
Email: nwf@nobleworld.org
WhatsApp: +1 773-964-9577 (available between 9 AM and 5 PM CST)

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Random Beats Selected as Official Entry to the Goa Short Film Festival

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GURUGRAM – Manoj Madhusudanan’ s debut short film ‘Random Beats’ has been honoured as an official entry for the upcoming 11th Goa Short Film Festival 2024. With this, Random Beats has made it to 13 prestigious national and international film festivals, and have won accolades at six of them. The film has been received well at International Film Festival of Shimla, Atlanta Indian Film Festival, India International Film Festival of Boston, 7th South Asian Film Festival, to name a few.

Written, produced and directed by Manoj, Random Beats is a story of how digital communication can impact relationships in today’s world. Manoj says, “It’s a world where we probably communicate more through digital channels than in person, and this opens up numerous possibilities of friction and miscommunication. A real life incident that someone narrated to me was the inspiration for me to write and direct this short film. I wanted to tell this story because I felt it was simple yet profoundly thought provoking.”

Manoj Madhusudanan is an India-based corporate leader with over 25 years of experience in data analytics, consulting and AI, for whom films have been a passion since childhood. A Mechanical Engineer from IIT Madras and an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur, Manoj was inspired since his younger days by the works of Ingmar Bergman, Steven Spielberg, Majid Majidi, Werner Herzog, Satyajit Ray and Adoor Gopalakrishnan, to name a few. His penchant to learn film making alongside his corporate career led him to complete three film certifications from Raindance Film School, London in 2015-2016. After dabbling with a few amateur experiments, Random Beats is the first professionally made work from Manoj.

Manoj adds, “To tell such a story without distractions, I chose to use a linear structure, a contemporary pastel palette and minimalistic use of background score. It’s really heartening to see the reception and the accolades our little film is receiving at international film festivals, and we are excited that we are an official entry at Goa Short Film Festival 2024.”

Random Beats will be screened at Goa Short Film Festival, to be held on October 26 and 27 in Goa, India.

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The first international “Eurasia” film festival will be held in Moscow from October 17 to 21

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This was announced on October 11 at a press conference by the president of the film festival, director, screenwriter, producer, and TV host Tigran Keosayan. More than 250 film industry professionals from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and other countries will take part in the “Eurasia” festival. Among them are directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, actors, producers, journalists, and video bloggers.

The main goal of the festival is to spark interest in the history and traditions of one’s country, discover talented filmmakers, and support the best films.

Participants will enjoy five days of a rich program, including film screenings, creative and business meetings, master classes, round tables, and educational programs. Festival guests will meet esteemed Soviet and Russian actors, as well as popular artists from Eurasian countries.

“Any festival is a platform for you to get recognized. That’s the main thing. And if you are talented, capable, and choose the right path, you get the chance to move forward. The situation with grants is unique, in my opinion, especially for our country. You can apply and receive funding. I believe that the main task of ‘Eurasia’ and the ‘Eurasia-Kinofest’ project is for us to regain interest in each other. We’ve been living in a new world for almost a quarter of a century. We need to rediscover one another,” emphasized Tigran Keosayan.

The competition program features more than 50 full-length and short artistic and documentary films. Winners will be chosen in 12 categories, with the awards ceremony taking place during the closing event. Emerging directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and young film bloggers will have the opportunity to receive grants for making films dedicated to the unity and cooperation of Eurasian countries.

“The main objective of the ‘Eurasia’ film festival is to unite creative teams around a platform of traditional values based on mutual understanding and respect. AIO ‘Eurasia’ focuses on developing a platform of traditional and spiritual values common to the peoples of Eurasia. We have outlined the qualities we want to see in the films presented at the festival, particularly addressing issues of family and spiritual development. We have many flagship projects, and we hope that this form of expression through documentary and feature films will become a tradition, and our film festival will become an annual event,” noted Alena Arshinova.

In Eurasia, there are many creative teams, producers, screenwriters, and directors who create interesting formats, but few people know about them. The task of AIO “Eurasia” is to support them and bring them to a new, continental level.

The event can be attended for free by pre-registering on the website https://evrazia-kinofest.su. Registration will be available from October 14.

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Cpics Launches New Original Dramedy “Chutney Manor” on September 13

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Fast-growing streaming platform Cpics is excited to announce the premiere of its latest original series, Chutney Manor, set to debut on September 13, 2024. This new dramedy, the first show developed through Cpics’ innovative Mentorship Program, promises a unique blend of humor and heart, reflecting the platform’s commitment to showcasing diverse and compelling narratives.

Created and directed by Ronak Shah, Chutney Manor is a 10-part series that explores the life of Paresh Patel (Anwar Molani), the manager of a struggling small-town motel in rural California. For 20 years, this motel has been Paresh’s refuge from his agoraphobia. However, his world is turned upside down when his wife, Geeta (Meena Jolly), collapses during a routine motel maintenance task.

In the midst of his confusion and distress, Paresh reaches out to his estranged daughter, Sonali (Maya Rangulu), who is living in San Francisco. The sight of her mother’s condition prompts Sonali to return home, sparking a tumultuous reunion with her father and a struggle to save the family business from her wealthy uncle, Jeet (Manik Bahl), who is eager to sell the property.

The series delves into themes of family dynamics, personal struggle, and the lengths we go to for those we love, all wrapped in a quirky and heartfelt narrative.

Cpics launched its Mentorship Program two years ago to foster and showcase South Asian talent. Ronak Shah, one of the program’s first selectees, has brought her vision to life with Chutney Manor, highlighting the platform’s dedication to providing opportunities for emerging voices.

“Our goal at Cpics is to create a space where diverse stories can be told,” says Kavi Raz, founder of Cpics. “With Chutney Manor, we continue our mission of showcasing original content that might otherwise be overlooked. Our motto, ‘Telling your stories that no one else will,’ drives everything we do.”

Chutney Manor is a Kavi Raz Studios and Universal Entertainment Partners production.

Subscribers can look forward to more exciting content from Cpics in the coming months, as the platform continues to offer a curated selection of international and original programming. Cpics is available worldwide on all major streaming apps.

About Cpics

Cpics is a subscription-based streaming service dedicated to providing a platform for diverse voices and stories. Launched with the goal of amplifying talent often overlooked by mainstream media, Cpics offers a unique array of content from around the globe and is committed to delivering fresh and engaging original programming.

Website: https://cpics.tv/home

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