About: Kanwal

Kuldip is a technocrat and an independent filmmaker based out of Mumbai (Powai). He co-founded November Films under which his Gujarati feature film (Dhunki – as a writer and producer) released across 125 screens and is now available on Amazon Prime. Powai is his first directorial venture. His short film, Paroksh was selected at SAIFF(NY) and SIFF(Germany).

Rafeeq Ellias began his career in advertising with McCann Ericsson, followed by J. Walter Thompson and the Tokyo office of Ketchum McLeod & Grove. He has received over 40 awards in India and around the world, including 2 National Awards, 1 Emmy, 2 Art Directors Club of New York Awards, among others. One of his early documentaries, “The Legend of Fat Mama” on the Chinese community in Kolkata,  has been screened extensively at festivals in New York, Seattle, Toronto, Manchester, Barcelona and Oslo. His public interest films for UNICEF were broadcast worldwide for which Star TV received an Emmy Award at the hands of actor Mia Farrow in New York. 

Do listen- in to the conversations, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, today, 10 May, on MeraSangeet Gold, at 9:00AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM – EST. We talk about Kuldip’s film, ‘Powai’ . We also talk and Rafeeq’s Documentary, ‘If Memory Serves me right’ – Nominated for Best Documentary.

Rohit Mittal is a director based out of Mumbai. His first film, Autohead, was a break out independent genre film, now available on Netflix. He likes to explore nihilistic and existential themes that reflect on the internal struggles of individuals. Some of his oher works include – Megalopolis, Popcity – which have been well received.

Demons is his latest film, and is about a marriage gone wrong. The film is now being screened at the New York Indian Film Festival, 2022.

Do listen- in to this conversation, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, today, 09 May, on MeraSangeet Gold, at 9:00AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM – EST

Raima Sen is an Indian actress who is known for her work in Hindi, Bengali and South Indian films too.

She is the daughter of Moon Moon Sen and Bharat Dev Barma and the granddaughter of actress Suchitra Sen . Her sister Riya Sen is also in the Bollywood industry. Their father Bharat Dev Varma is a member of the royal family of Tripura. Her paternal grandmother, Ila Devi, was the princess of Cooch Behar, whose younger sister Gayatri Devi was the Maharani of Jaipur. Her paternal great-grandmother Indira was the only daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda.

Raima’s maternal great-grandfather Adinath Sen was a prominent Kolkata businessman, whose son Dinanath Sen – a relative of former Union Law Minister Ashoke Kumar Sen- was the Diwan or a Minister of the Maharaja of Tripura. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raima_Sen

We had a great conversation with Raima – a few years back – and we bring it to you yet again – from our archives – incase you missed it earlier – tune -in today, 9th May, on our Hindi Radio Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

Ritesh Sharma is a filmmaker and theatre practitioner who was awarded the ‘Changeloom Award’ in 2008, an honour for his active participation in various social issues such as human trafficking, women and children’s rights. His first documentary film “The Holy Wives” about caste-based sexual exploitation and human trafficking in India have been screened in Australia, UK, USA, Europe and India. The film also won the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival Award in 2011.

In 2014 he has directed another documentary movie “Rainbows are Real”. The film was screened at national and international film festivals like Boston LGBT Film Festival, Kolkata International Film Festival, IDSFFK, Kashish Mumbai International Queer Fim Festival and has also been screened on NDTV Prime Documentaries. He has released 2 short films on tribal rights and domestic violence, and is now presenting his first feature film “Jhini Bini Chadariya/The Brittle Thread”, filmed in his hometown, Varanasi. The Movie had its World premiere at 34th Tokyo International film festival and Indian Premiere in 26 TH IFFK, 2022. The film is being screened at the NYIFF 2022 as well.

In case you missed it earlier, do listen- in to this conversation, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, today as well, on MeraSangeet Gold, at 9:00AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM – EST

Neelam currently serves as President of SAHELI Boston, a landmark non-profit organization created by South Asian women 25 years ago to support domestic violence survivors on the path to reclaim, rebuild, and reimagine their lives. Neelam’s association with Saheli these past 20 years has taught her the fragility of human beings. She has guided and supported Saheli during the fundraisers since 2010. She chaired Advisory committee and Saheli Biennial Nirbhaya Gala in 2019, providing leadership in design, build and the execution of the program.

A life-long community activist, leader and artist, Neelam has always championed and supported the causes of those in need. She has served as President of organizations including the Council on Aging as well as the Billerica Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she has committed countless hours to the boards of educational and legacy non-profits throughout her career. Recognized as Business Champion of the Year, Neelam was appointed by the State Treasurer to Chair the Asian American Commission – a body dedicated to political advocacy on behalf of the Asian American community in the State of Massachusetts.

Neelam Wali is the Owner and Founder of Printing & Graphic Services, a full-service print and design company operating in the greater Boston area for nearly 30 years. A student of fine arts, Neelam immigrated to the United States in the late 1970’s where she met her husband.

So, we now would be bringing in conversations, from our archives – incase you missed it earlier – tune -in today, 2nd May, on our Hindi Radio Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

NYIFF is the oldest, most prestigious film festival screening premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of, and about the Indian subcontinent in the independent, arthouse, alternate and diaspora genres.

Seven days of screenings, post-screening discussions, industry panels, award ceremonies, special events, nightly networking parties, red carpet galas, media attention and packed audiences build an awareness of Indian cinema, entertain and educate North Americans about the real India, and add to the amazing cultural diversity of New York City.

For more information, please visit the website at nyiff.us. Preorder your tickets to the 22nd New York Indian Film Festival Nominations for Best Film, 7-14 May 2022.