First international seminar on IVF and surrogacy

During an international seminar regarding IVF and surrogacy, Egypt's renowned Doctor Hassan Sallam said, "IVF and surrogacy are more important in your country and mine, as well as our neighbours because family name and ancestry is still present here. Running the family becomes the responsibility of the oldest person in the family, whether it's a man or a woman. In such a scenario, it's more than important that there is someone to keep the name of the family running. So I fear that this facility will be misused and it's important that rules and regulations are laid out immediately." Dr Sallam has a lot of expectations from the new Modi government, as do various other countries, that he will do great work.

According to the successful host of the first international seminar highlighting IVF & surrogacy, Dr.Rita Bakshi, "We doctors support the idea that every surrogate mother should be given at least 2.5 to 3 lacs so that she can take care of herself properly." She believes that the new Modi government will soon make rules for the betterment of surrogate mothers. About the success of the seminar, Dr.Bakshi said, "Looking at the success that this seminar has turned out to be, we're thinking of hosting it annually."     

According to well known AIIMS Doctor Alka Kripalani, 15% of the world’s population is infertile and requires help for becoming parents. We are here to discuss the PATH TO PARENTHOOD which is the theme of the conference “International Conference on reproduction, Fertility & Surrogacy”. There may be a number of reasons why a couple can’t conceive and to overcome that came the concept of IVF/Test tube baby where a woman’s eggs were taken out from her body and mixed with her husband’s sperms to make an embryo or a baby and after seeing it grown in the lab for 3 – 5 days it is put back into the woman’s uterus (if it is normal) or another woman’s uterus (SURROGATE) if it is diseased or absent."

According to her, like various other countries, it is most important for us to decrease the cost of IVF to the minimum so that poor people can also afford to have children, as well as, the success rate of IVF also increases. Only then will it be useful for so many renowned Doctors to come and talk about this topic in this seminar, we're hopeful of that."

Actor-Director Rahul Vohra was conferred with the top French honour

Actor-Director Rahul Vohra was conferred with the top French honor Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in New Delhi recently.

According to a statement, Francois Richier, Ambassador of France to India, bestowed the French government's honour on the noted artiste for his contribution to cinema and theatre.

Present at the simple yet moving investiture were an eclectic mix of close family and several personalities including Sandeep and Mona Diskshit, Latika Diskshit, Cultural Icon Rajeev Sethi, Designer Amardeep Behl, Indian Ocean’s Rahul Ram, Mona Irani with her mother and her daughter Shanelle and Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar

The honour is given to persons who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the field of art, culture and literature or for their significant contribution to the arts in France and throughout the world.

Rahul, a senior member and actor of Delhi-based theater group Chingari, has been an actor for Indian and foreign theater and feature film and documentary film productions, advertisements, and television shows and has performed in almost 40 cities across the world.

A founding co-ordinator of Sarthi, a voluntary body addressing basic issues related to artists and artisans, he has directed and managed productions with troupes of performing artists and craftspersons from all across the country.

He has also been an artistic consultant for several French film and television productions, and established an independent performing arts and production company Apostrophe 99.

Among popular films, he was seen in entertainers like "Monsoon Wedding", "Raghu Romeo", "Swades", "Pyaar Impossible!" and "Bheja Fry 2" and is also known for his memorable role in the musical “Bharati”

Popular music composer Mikey McCleary's new album "Classic Bollywood with a Twist" by The Bartender launched by Ranveer Singh.

 "Classic Bollywood with a Twist" by The Bartender  album was launched by actor Ranveer Singh. Also present at the launch were Kalki Koechlin and music composer Salim Merchant,  singer Nakash Aziz , Pallavi Sharda, Gulshan Devaiya, and Amrita Puri .

The launch was followed by an enthralling performance by the band’s enchanting singers,  Anushka Manchanda, Shalmali Kholgade and Saba Azad at Blue Frog.

'Classic Bollywood with a twist' is the latest album from The Bartender. Mikey McCleary has chosen some of the most loved songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s and reinterprets them with jazzy, seductive and mischievous flare using various genres and a predominantly live band feel.

Says Mikey McCleary, 'A beautiful song is like a beautiful woman. The musical arrangements are like the clothes that she wears. The music recordings, much like clothes, may appear old and outdated to the younger generation, but the beauty of the song composition and lyrics are eternal. My goal is to give that beautiful song new clothes that suit and enhance her beauty for all to see afresh and enjoy. I personally also still love listening to the old recordings.'

The concept of the remix has often damaged old songs. These are not remixes. It's like Mikey has imagined what the old music arrangers would have done with the music back then if they had today's technology at their fingertips.

Says Adarsh Gupta, Business Head - Music -Saregama, “It gives us great pleasure to be associated with Mikey McCleary’s band The Bartender. He is known for his rare capacity to combine innovation with tradition.  His music has a massive following and his charm continues in this album”.

Shibani Dandekar features in Mikey McLeary’s Music Video

The gorgeous anchor-model Shibani Dandekar is currently a hot topic as not only is she a part of the IPL, where she interacts with the players on the field but also because of her new music video which she shot only recently. In this video of music composer Mikey McCleary, Shibani plays the role of a beautiful waitress. Besides Mikey himself, Shalmali Kholgade who shot to fame with her song “Pareshaan” in the film Ishaqzaade is also a part of this video.

“I’m equally excited for this video as I am for IPL because it’s completely different from what I did earlier.” said Shibani about this video.

Mikey has featured this video’s song “Aaj Ki Raat Koi Aane Ko Hai” in his album which is called “Bartender”. This song is actually “Aaj Ki Raat” from the film Anamika and was originally sung by Asha Bhosle. For the album, it has been sung by Shalmali Kholgade.

Before this song also, Mikey has made remixed various old songs and presented them in an unprecedented manner, the kind that the youth today enjoys. Khoya Khoya Chand, Kabhi Kabhi, Dhak Dhak Karne Laga and Hawa Hawai are some of the songs that Mikey has worked his magic upon.

The film Baba Ramsaa Peer which is to release in May 5, 2014 is a historical epic film based on a renowned saint of Rajasthan Baba Ramsaa Peer. Aushim Khetarpal, who had produced Presidential award winning film “Shirdi Sai Baba”, is the producer of this film. Aushim plays dual role of that of a producer as well as an actor in the film. He will be seen portraying the central character of Baba Ramsaa Peer alongside Actress Gracy Singh.

Baba Ramsaa Peer was a 14th century saint who was the first to spread the message of Hindu-Muslim unity. Hindus lovingly called him Baba and Muslims called him Peer, he was respected by both the sects. Baba was christened with this name by five Persian peers who had visited India in that era. Based on the story of this divine soul is the film “Baba Ramsaa peer” which is produced under the banner of Satish Tondon Production and Orient Tradelink Ltd.

The film has been shot in Mumbai, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Roncha village where Baba rests in his Samadhi. Rajasthani and Hindi are prominently used in the film. The music has a mix of folk music which is significantly in Gujarati,Rajasthani and Hindi which is likely to touch the audience soul.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi to be made into a song

"Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi" is the most famous qawwali there is. Even today, whenever there is a discussion about qawwalis, the first name that pops up is that of "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi". What's new is that now people will be able to hear this qawwali as a song in the voice of Mujtba Aziz Naza, who is none other than late qawwal Aziz Naza's very own son. Mujtba is a singer and composer and has sung this song for Rea Films' debut venture "Gang Wang".

This film will go on the floors next month in Nasik and will be shot there from start to finish and will be directed by Ishraq. Its producer Sardar Krishan Singhsaab informed, "This film will be released by August-September."

Gang Wang is based on juvenile crimes.

Nakash Aziz's songs hit in Bengali films

Nakash Aziz, who gained fame for his hit number Saree Ke Fall Sa, deserves an applaud for the way he's working towards success every passing minute. On one hand, he's singing Hindi songs, and on the other, he's also singing for films made in various regional languages. He first sang "Dhating Naach" for a Bengali film.

He has recently sung in Bengali films Calling Bell and Game. He has sung the song "Baaje Re Calling" in Calling Bell and "Bum Chiki Chikni Chiki" in the film Game which are both being loved by listeners because where the music is good, Nakash's melodious voice adds to the harmony. Both these songs, like the ones previously sung by Nakash, are a mix of teasing and fun.

Celina Jaitly's debut song's music video in support of LGBT groups launched by Imran Khan

At an event held at Mumbai recently, Imran Khan, launched former beauty queen, human rights activist, actress and now singer Celina Jaitly's debut music video which is in support of the LGBT groups and their rights. The music video, which is called "The Welcome" not only features Celina but she has also lent her vocals to it for the first time, along with singer Neeraj Shridhar, who also recomposed and remixed the famous 1979 song "Uthe Sab Ke Kadam".

"I strongly feel for the cause of the LGBT groups, their rights and the discrimination that they're made to suffer and I think that anyone who understands and believes that human rights are equal for all can join this cause. I believe that everyone is equal and this applies to the LGBT groups, as well.", said Imran Khan on this occasion.

Celina Jaitly's "The Welcome" is produced by the United Nations. "I'm a part of the cause of the LGBT community for 9 years now and I believe that everyone deserves equal rights. I do not look at LGBT people differently. Nor do I ask for any extra rights or privileges. All I fight for is equal human rights for one and all. We've also tried to convey this message in the video that LGBT are no different than us. We're all the same and we should accept it instead of showing discrimination and using violence as a means of trying to oppress such groups." said Celina.

Charles Radcliffe, Chief of Global Issues, United Nations Human Rights Office New York, said, "We've tried to spread awareness regarding LGBT rights through the universal language of music and as we all know, India is very much connected to and through Bollywood."

This event was graced by the likes of Jyoti Sanghera, Chief of Social & Economic Issues, UN Human Rights Office Geneva, Humsafar Trust Founder Ashok Row Kavi and transgender rights activist Laxmi Tripathi. It was hosted by tv anchor Cyrus Broacha.

The music video "The Welcome" was released in India by music company SaReGaMa.