CINTAA Statement Welcoming Maharashtra Government move to formulate comprehensive policy for Entertainment sector and expedite procedure of extending Industry status

The decision of  the Maharashtra Government to formulate a comprehensive policy for the Entertainment sector and expedite the procedure of extending "Industry" status to the sector, has come in at the most appropriate time for the fraternity.  We are upbeat & overwhelmed with jubilation.  This  positive announcement made by Shri Amit Deshmukh Cultural Minister Government of Maharashtra is a welcome move and undoubtedly will bring in progressive ramifications to the sector. 

 Cine & TV Artists association ( CINTAA) , the oldest and most reputed one has strived very hard  to get support  for the betterment of the Fraternity in general and the actors community in particular. Realizing the challenges faced and to be on par with other sectors, the idea  to have an Industry status for us has always been our foremost objectives and our pursuit has always been rationale driven. Our efforts have been truly paid.

We congratulate  the Cultural Ministry and other stakeholders of Maharashtra who have taken this pragmatic decision.

The ATG-Leslee Lewis- rapper Omar Gooding come together for Producer Tel Ganesan’s Hollywood film Trap City

Indian born serial entrepreneur-Hollywood film producer  Tel Ganesan, the driving force behind Kyyba Films, and the producer of Christmas Coupon, Celebrity Crush, Devil’s Night: Dawn of The Nain Rouge and now Trap City, has brought together  singer-composer-performers The ATG, Leslee Lewis and rapper Omar Gooding in an amazing fusion number for his film, Trap City, starring Brandon T Jackson, a musical eyeopener on the abuse of power and how the common man is the real sufferer.

Director-lyricist Ricky Burchell expresses why the choice of The ATG-Leslee Lewis -Omar Gooding fusion fell in place. “The lyrics and the song of the song Entourage relate to what the main character Deshawn (Brandon T Jackson) is going through in the course of the film Trap City. When you become a celebrity, an entourage accompanies you. The music and performances have a very fun and exciting feel, more so as the character in this song is looking forward to some exciting ‘alone’ moments with his girl in the midst of this chaos.”

Composer-music producer ATG reflects on the mood of the song. “Entourage is a contemporary hip hop/pop song. The song is quite an eclectic array of different musical influences both vocally and production-wise. Despite the deceptive simplicity, the production is actually quite intricate as it continuously evolves. My deliberate choice was to make a club record, yet ensure the song is still rich in musicality. Leslee, Omar and I wanted to ensure an unabashedly fun listening experience.”

Musical genius Leslee Lewis avers that he learns with every song and the Hollywood number was another learning curve. “Tel Ganesan is totally clued in and is a creative producer in every sense. Director Ricky Burchell’s vision reflects in his communication and lyrics, while composer-music producer  The ATG has got the groove and the rap portions effortlessly in place. The brief from the creative trio was as passionate as it was interesting and I felt very excited to be an integral part of Entourage.”

Omar Gooding feels the song is kind of biographical to him as a rap artiste. “I identify with the song totally because it represents the kind of life that I live. The collaboration with Leslee Lewis is something I enjoyed. Leslee Lewis and the Big O collab will be something the audiences will be looking out for as well!

Adds Ganesan, “It is a wonderful beginning of combining the East and the West. I am excited to be a part of the journey with such amazing artists and producing global fare for global audiences. It is a fulfilling and a fun-filled journey. I couldn’t have asked for more!”

Avers The ATG, “musically, the track is a fusion of many different genres from the vocals to the production. Leslee’s vocals were groovy and funky in a manner I would say is akin to classic disco records. In a similar vein, Omar definitely brought a very classic Californian flow and twang to the table. His vocals certainly have a gruffness to them but they still possess an air of fun to them. Leslee and Omar’s vocals are certainly distinct, but there is an undeniable synergy. Leslee’s smooth vocals combined with Omar’s powerful voice ensures a sure-fire hit.”

About Kyyba Films’ realistic musical  Trap City. Brandon Jackson plays a young rapper working for a drug kingpin, and records a song that becomes viral. His fame intensifies because of his crime, but after an attempt on his life, he faces the choice of going to prison and destroying his career or to face the dangerous situation of testifying against a dangerous crime boss who will not fail a second time. What Brandon Jackson does, decides his future in Trap City. 

Within You - Baiju Mangeshkar's path breaking sufi album...

To Baiju Mangeshkar, music means much more than melody, sound and lyrics… it is his soul, and cascades his veins... The nephew of Lata Mangeshkar, and son of Pt Hridaynath Mangeshkar, is an archetypal artist; his is a career where music and visual art seamlessly come together, each reinforcing and reinvigorating the other.

Within You  is Baiju’s  latest path-breaking release which also is his first solo album as a singer and composer. It is being released by Times Music with a presentation of three music videos as well.

Baiju is gifted with a unique soulful voice and his compositions are musically sensitive that leave a lasting impression.   Within You with Baiju’s soulful voice and compositions is a musical inner journey within one’s being.

“Sufi poetry is profound and clearly aspires to elevate ‘being’ from humanity to divinity; into the realms of unconditional love and peace. It is timeless and perpetual, and more importantly always relevant in every era, especially in this bleak age of injustice, escalating violence, increasing irreverence and the unfortunate recent world pandemic. In such a time, Sufi poetry and music are akin to a soothing balm to heal the spirit.,” elaborates Baiju.

The album ‘Within You’ is a soulful bouquet of six songs with the theme based on Sufism. The style is contemporary with inflections of World Music and yet its soul punctuating the Indian Classical traditions surrounding the lyric/kalaam of great revered Sufi saint poets of 16th century India namely Hazrat Shah Hussain, Baba Bulley Shah and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. The album also includes two modern and contemporary songs that are rufiyaa in thought written by an emerging and gifted young poetess Amruta. The songs have been musically arranged by Jatin Sharma, a well-known name to recon within the Indian music industry and with a host of extremely talented Indian musicians contributing to the soundscape.

One of the highlights in the musical arrangements is the collaboration with two brilliant musicians from America; Susan Mazer, a jazz harp virtuosi and Dallas Smith, a master of woodwinds and the saxophone. They are veterans in the world of jazz music who have worked with none other than the great world legends such as Frank Sinatra, Ahmed Jamal and Johnny Mathis to name a few and our very own RD Barman. Their contribution and style have added a unique dimension to the music of this album and to the world of sufi music.

Some songs in the album appear as romantic love songs to the ear and mind but they are subtly disguised with a resonance, reflection and play with the concept of ‘Ishq-e-Majazi and Ishq-e-Haqeeqi.’

“There are two kinds of ‘Ishq’ (love) mentioned in Sufism and in Urdu poetry; Ishq-e-Majazi and Ishq-e-Haqeeqi.  ‘Ishq-e-Majazi’ is the love one feels for another human being, the birth of feelings such as love, desire in ones heart for another person. It is transitory and is a physical desire or an emotional need. The latter ‘Ishq-e-Haqeeqi’ is in contrast; Sufism eloquently elaborates about Ishq-e-Haqeeqi which highlights the concept and feeling one has for the creator or one’s maker. It is a more intense elevation of one’s being, a pure submission to one’s maker/creator in absolute awe, wonderment and gratitude! This love and romance of a higher intensity is the theme in this album,” avers Baiju.

More about Baiju Mangeshkar. He  cut his first record for EMI India at the tender age of ten, and then as an adult made his debut with a song for a Marathi feature film composed by his father, the renowned composer Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar.

It was in 2014 that he came into his own with the release of ‘Ya Rabba’ (Saregama India), a Sufi album where he composed and sang  lyrics by the great sufi saint Hazrat Shah Hussain with a unique contemporary sound, graced by the dulcet tones of his legendary aunt Lata Mangeshkar.

The album, released both internationally and in India, won critical acclaim from younger listeners for its blend of traditional Hindustani music infused with Soul and Gospel music.

Stalwarts such as Pandit Jasraj, Begum Farida Khanum and Sufi Queen Abida Parveen regaled his voice and compositions as unique and deeply soulful, a rare honour indeed.

He has since also sung  for a few Marathi films and a TV serial and has recently released a few original singles and some covers as well.

Growing up in the hallowed environs of the Mangeshkars, India’s first family of music, rhythm and melody came naturally to Baiju. He trained in light classical music under Pt. Tulsidas Sharma, Pt. Ramesh Jhule and more recently under Pt. Ajay Pohankar. This training has been reinforced by the continued guidance which he receives even today from his father and his illustrious aunt and idol Lata Mangeshkar, whom he has accompanied frequently on stage in India and abroad.

 In all earnestness and sincerity, Baiju hopes his music and this album can transport the listener to enter into a realm of Love, Devotion and Peace. More power to this young man!

After Bollywood conglomerate, Sachiin Joshi to sue media who support malafide rumourmongers

Livid at the false malafide news of an alleged arrest and malicious rumours  connecting him to Tollywood drug scandal  being spread in a bid to defame him,  actor-entrepreneur Sachiin Joshi is suing self-proclaimed critic KRK and Spotboye among others who are responsible for spreading this vicious false news.

Joshi who landed in Mumbai from abroad was called for questioning in a totally unrelated case to Hyderabad. The actor who was rushing to Goa to be with his wife Urvashi Sharma and kids to herald her birthday at their Resort had to delay the celebrations by a day, and recorded the statement and left to meet his family.

Sachiin Joshi's legal counsel stated, "Certain malicious elements are trying to defame our client by putting out false stories in the media. Anyone who supports such elements will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. Our defamation notices to KRK and Spotboye will be a strict warning to anyone who tries to defame our client with malfide intent.

"The statement was in a completely unrelated manner. 

To connect his name to any drug scandal is not only defamatory, but also completely false an incorrect and has been spread with malicious intent."

Joshi, in the meantime, is on his way to Goa spend quality time with his family. Never mind the detractors!