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Showing posts from February, 2024

A Conversation with Film-Director, Amole Gupte: Let's Get Candid.

Having written and directed many acclaimed films such as Taare Zameen Par, Stanley Ka Dabba, Haw Hawai, Saina and  Sniff, Amole Gupte is also an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, painter, child-rights activist and singer. Some of the acting roles he is well known for are in Holi, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Kaminey, Phas Gaye Re Obama, Urmi, Stanley Ka Dabba, Bheja Fry 2, Singham Returns, Ek Tara, Sniff and Mumbai Saga. He has won numerous awards for his writing and filmmaking skills and acting skills. He is also a social media activist and has been working with children for over 15 years. He was the chairperson of the Children's Film Society,, India from 2012 to 2015.   Let’s get candid with Amole Gupte!   1) What has motivated you most to pursue not only acting but also writing and directing Indian cinema? Amole: I squatted on the Holy soil of FTII Pune for 12 years, from 1981 to 1993… surely, the happiest years of my life… watching and re-watching world cinema masterpi...

The Teacher's Lounge- An Interview with Film Professor, Jeroo Mulla

Having spearheaded as the Head of the Social Communications Media Department, at Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai from 1986 – 2013 Jeroo Mulla has carved a niche for herself in the world of film and photography.     At Sophia Polytechnic, she has taught film appreciation, photography, the Fundamental Concepts of Communication and supervised the creation of student documentaries.    She was also the first recipient of the Professor Satish Bahadur Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film Studies in South Asia at the Alpaviram Film Festival at the National Institute of Design, (N.I.D.)Ahmedabad.   Currently, she continues to teach film and photography as a visiting faculty at Sophia Polytechnic and Symbiosis, Pune.   1)      Why did you want to teach film and photography?   "I just wanted to. My father Farrok Mulla was an artist and he influenced me."   2)  How would you describe your style of teaching? "Not ...

An Interview with Author & Psycho-Therapist Dr. Aman Bhonsle

  This distinguished psychotherapist requires no introduction. Born into a family deeply rooted in psychology, his father holds an M.D while his mother is a seasoned counselling psychologist & REBT trainer, both esteemed professionals at the renowned, 'Heart To Heart Counselling Centre' Aman Bhonsle has garnered acclaim not only as a psychotherapist but also as an award-winning senior writer-producer-director and creative strategist and consultant for Southeast Asia's leading TV networks, including Disney-UTV, Star TV Networks, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, Sony Pictures Television, and Viacom. Currently, he serves not only as a relationship counsellor but also as a sought-after trainer, facilitating workshops on a variety of topics such as effective leadership, emotional intelligence, team building, employee motivation, workplace efficiency, managing change, navigating corporate dynamics, diversity training, and mindset transformations aimed at enhancing motivation ...

A Set at the Table: An Interview with Producer, Vivek Singhania

This film producer needs no introduction, having produced many notable films such as Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002), Chura Liya Hai Tumne (2003) and Namastey London (2007), Aap Kaa Surroor (2007), Karma Crime Passion Reincarnation (2008) and Hexing (2019). He has also launched many actors and actresses in the industry such as Esha Deol, Zayed Khan, Himesh Reshammiya, Hansika Motwani, etc.   Vivek Singhania also well-known as the CEO and President of Picture Perfect has been well-associated with films that have won many awards at Film Festivals around the world.  Let’s take a peek into the life of this multi-talented Producer -Writer and soon-to-be Director.   1)               What prompted you to become a film producer? “I decided to become a Filmmaker after I saw the film Jaws by Stephen Spielberg when I was barely 9-10 years old. I wanted to direct films but by chance ended up becoming a Producer first at leas...

An Intentional Practice to Wellbeing: Positive Psychology

  With over 15 main subdivisions of psychology, there are many different fields and types of psychology. The main types are clinical psychology, social psychology, health psychology, behavioural psychology, cognitive psychology and biopsychology.   However, fields such as abnormal, forensic, developmental, educational, counselling, and military are also very popular. Positive psychology began as a new domain in 1998 when Martin Seligman started the positive psychology movement. This new science of happiness is concerned with interventions to understand, build and sustain positive emotions such as pleasure, gratitude and compassion.   Have you ever wondered what drives certain motivational factors such as positive states and traits such as resilience or joy; gratitude or serenity; hope and pride; inspiration and serenity, amusement or altruism, elevation, relief or satisfaction, affection or human development?    Along with these emotions, other positive feelings...

Book Review: Dwapar Katha by Sudipta Bhawmik

  An extremely captivating book that probes deep into the complexities of human nature, Dwapar Katha: The Stories of the Mahabharata begins in the era of Dwapar Yuga which is the third and best of the four yugas (a period).    The book depicts the warring cousins who fought for the throne of Hastinapur -the courageous Pandavas and the daunting Kauravas. We are taken on an extraordinary journey, traversing characters such as Rishi Vyasa, Lord Brahma, Arjuna, Krishna, Draupadi, Karna, Duryodhana and Bhishma.  It goes on to discuss the Kuru dynasty and narrates events which led to different conflicts such as the marriage of Draupadi to the five Pandavas, the education and rivalry of the princes, the failed attempts at diplomacy and peace and the exile and disguise of the Pandavas, etc.   It also goes on to describe the war of the Kurukshetra, where the Pandavas (with the help of Krishna) defeated the Kauravas and their allies.   Who is going to ...