MUMBAI: Spice Digital, one of the leading VAS players in India, has announced its partnership with the Sangam Kala Group (SKG) to sponsor their annual National Singing Talent Hunt contest- Spice Surtarang. This would provide a national platform to aspiring professional singers all over the country. In the 36 years of its existence SKG has discovered gems such as Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal & Sunidhi Chauhan- who have since their discovery dominated the Indian singing environment. Some of their recent discoveries that are now household names are Harshit, Abhaas, Vineet,Toshi, Ashpreet, etc.

As the first round of auditions this year are going to be through mobile phones, all those aspiring singers who could not make it to selective audition centers till last year will be able to participate in the competition. The mobile auditions, conducted for the first time in the country, have been made possible through Spice Digital?s Music VAS technologies. ?Mobile Audition? is one of their most unique offerings under this category which will enable aspiring singers to not only record their songs, but also have them voted for by others as a popular choice.

This service, which can be accessed by dialing 54321333 is LIVE across all major mobile operators including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Tata.

The Spice Surtarang talent hunt is available for participants in three age groups, Sub-junior (5 to 12 years), Junior (12 ? 18 years) and Senior (18-28 years) across Filmy and Non- Filmy categories. The participants who are short-listed by the mobile auditions process will gain entry into regional rounds held across the country, the winners of which would participate in the National round.

Mr. Saket Agarwal, CEO, Spice Digital Limited said, ?One of the biggest segments within the Mobile VAS business is the entertainment industry. Spice Digital has always recognized and supported fresh talent in the field of music. This association with Sangam Kala Group is our way of presenting opportunities to aspiring singers from across the country to showcase their talent by providing them access through the mobile radio platform that may otherwise would not have been possible.?
 

MUMBAI: Directors, who made moviemaking possible, gave humankind a reason to look at the mirror mirage of their own emotions. Ironically, they never get the attention compared to the stars they create through their movies. In an attempt to salute the geniuses behind the screen, The Taj Enlighten Film Society is proudly announcing a film festival that will make you go thorough the lives of great directors.

In the month of August, five biography of great directors will be screened by The Taj Enlighten Film Society and all the film themselves are masterpieces on their own right. Presesnted by Brooke Bond Taj Mahal, the films are Nine, The Aviator, Harishchandrachi Factory, Chaplin and Jaquot De Nantes.

The first film Nine is a musical romantic film by Rob Marshall which itself is based on Federico Fellini‘s semi autobiographical film 8?. In a way, the film is a reinterpretation of Fellini?s inner world drawing from the original 1963 masterpiece. The film is unapologetically brash and sexy in depicting the Italian director?s life in a dazzling way. And the star cast is definitely to die for.

The Aviator is a great example of one mastermind paying tribute to another. Here the greatest living director Martin Scorsese depicts the life of an industrialist, philanthropist and above all a great director called Howard Hughes. Both actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese are at their peak creating a spectacular film about a great man dealing with his inner demons. Breathtaking in its sweep and unsettling in its treatment, it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

Harishchandrachi Factory is a little gem of a film by Paresh Mokashi depicting the life of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. Unlike most biopics which tend to be verbose and intense, this one is an amusing look at one man?s passion and ambition which in turn created the world?s largest film industry. Highly acclaimed by
critics, this film lacks the epic sweep but has a heart in place to which can make you cry and smile at one go.

Richard Attenborough who created the impressive Gandhi in 1982, took Charlie Chaplin as a subject for his 1992 film. And the result was nothing short of a classic. Robert Downey Jr. gave the performance of a lifetime in enacting the life of most famous tramp on this planet, with loads of love. An endearing homage and a film to cherish, it?s all about Attenborough?s tribute to a great legend.

Jaquot De Nantes is a documentary on French director Jacques Demy by her director wife Agn?s Varda. A loving account of Demy‘s childhood and his lifelong love of theatre and cinema, the film beautifully merge the ideal and the real in a magical act of genuine evocation.

Pranav Ashar, President of the Taj Enlighten Film Society said, ?A normal moviegoer remembers only the stars and the film, but not the director which is quite paradoxical. Like they say, a director is the captain of the ship. Since we are about to bring a change to the cinematic belief of our film lovers, we thought of screening these
films so that people come to know about great directors, that too in an entertaining way. All these five films portray the life of five great movie legends and we are sure that it will delight all our audiences.?

Speaking on the occasion, Arun Srinivas, Category Head - Beverages, HUL said, ?Our association with Enlighten Film Society resonates our spirit of excellence. We at Taj Enlighten Society offer a platform to the best in the world of cinema.?

MUMBAI: HomeShop18, India?s premier 24- hour home shopping channel was awarded the prestigious CMO Asia Awards in three categories- Brand Excellence in Internet Business, Brand Excellence in Media and Entertainment and Brand Leadership Award. The CMO Asia Award function was held at SUNTEC Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre on 23rd July 2010.

There were 25 countries namely Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey and UAE etc, vying for different award categories at the event. Awards were adjudged by an independent, hi-caliber jury of professionals from across Asia. Out of the two categories demarcated for the awards, HomeShop18 won in three Organizational categories.

MUMBAI: CNN today renewed its call for entries to CNN Heroes, the network?s annual award that honors the everyday citizens from around the globe who are changing the world.

Between now and August 1, people can visit www.CNNHeroes.com to submit their nominations for the people they think are the heroes in their communities.

CNN is inviting nominations for individuals who have done inspiring work in any of the following categories:

? Championing Children ? commitment to the welfare of young people

? Community Crusader ? commitment to those creating solutions to a local problem or social issue

? Defending the Planet ? commitment to those whose innovative ideas are helping preserve and protect the environment

? Medical Marvel ? commitment to those dedicated to enhancing human health

? Protecting the Powerless ? commitment to those advancing the cause of human or equal rights

? Young Wonder ? under 25s who have achieved outstanding charitable work

Significant Asian Heroes honored in past years include 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Pe?aflorida from the Philippines , who won the award with more than three million votes cast on www.CNNHeroes.com for him. Pe?aflorida established the Dynamic Teen Company which gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education.

"CNN Heroes gave me a voice much louder than what I used to have and it has contributed much to our cause. The level of awareness to do good for others became so inspirational too as many organizations even in the government here and abroad wanted to adapt the pushcart system to cater to street children and those displaced by war," said Pe?aflorida.

Another 2009 Top 10 CNN Hero was Budi Soehardi from Indonesia, founder of the Roslin Orphanage in West Timor, one of the poorest areas of the country, providing children with food, shelter and education.
 

MUMBAI: Avian Media, a specialist communication consultancy, announced the appointment of Carolina James Bajaj as Associate Director, West & South region joined recently. Carolina Bajaj will be responsible for strengthening and developing Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and the Chennai market for Avian Media and setting up a dedicated sports practice for the organisation.

With an experience that spans over 13 years in communications, Carolina Bajaj has worked on Corporate Initiatives, Web Initiatives, Media Initiatives, Internal Communications, Search driven Marketing, Media Planning and Sports Management.

"We are delighted to welcome Carolina to Avian Media. With her appointment, we are in an even stronger position to carry out our objective of delivering high quality services," said Mr. Nitin Mantri, Chief Executive Officer of Avian Media. ?Carolina not only has a proven track record, she comes to Avian with very strong credentials; experience of having worked in corporate communications and agency. Importantly, she also has experience of the digital space which is extremely strategic to clients today.

Before her association with Avian Media, she served as General Manager, Corporate Communications at the Wadia Group. Besides being the company spokesperson, she also contributed to corporate and brand initiatives. She played a pivotal role behind the popularity of the coveted IPL team, Kings XI Punjab, with which she has been associated since inception.

?Joining Avian Media at a point when it is growing rapidly is a challenge and an opportunity,? says Carolina, These are exciting times, with the Communications Consultancy practice in India booming considering the surge in the media landscape. Managing and strategising across a diverse set of clients, overseeing a bright young team with a roster of respected brands, is an opportunity I am looking forward to. My primary focus over the coming months will be to expand and overlook the Western and Southern regions, as also setting up a credible sport vertical.?

Carolina Bajaj is an alumnus of Jai Hind College, Mumbai where she studied commerce. An MBA from Pune University, Carolina Bajaj began her career with an Agency and has come full circle. Her other interests include trekking, travelling and sports.

MUMBAI: Barista Lavazza yet again will make you sail through happy times spent at their store. The caf? chain this time again celebrates a musical Friendship Day and brings to its guests a week full of fun, frolic and mirth. Barista Lavazza Friendship Week starting from 31th July and on till 1nd August promises to be the incomparable convention for celebrating the warmth of friendship. With this music competition Barista Lavazza will revive the guitar association and bestow its guests an enjoyable opportunity to make their memories more dazzling.

An innovative competition brought by a caf?? Friendship Jam: Perform live at Barista Lavazza & Win Big Prizes ? contest is based on the theme of ?Friends and Music at Barista Lavazza is the best time spent?. This time around, the celebration has grown bigger including the prizes on stake for the winners. To be judged by, vocalist Deepak Nair and drummer & acoustic guitarist Chris Powell from popular rock band Bandish. The band was formed in the year 2005 by well-known drummer and percussionist- Chris Powell, who was earlier, associated with the band ?Euphoria? for several years. Bandish released their debut album titled ?Kaise Kahoon? in June 2006 with two music videos ? Goonj & Tum Hi Tum.

This contest offers an exclusive all expense paid stay in an ITC Group Hotel for the winners and a Coffee mug shaped Guitar. And each participating team shall get exciting prizes like a set of Barista Lavazza signature mug and a Barista Lavazza Food and Beverage voucher. Add to that fabulous gifts for participants and you?re bound to be Jamming this season of friendship.

To participate in this contest, all a guest needs to do is register through email (register@barista.co.in) or SMS request to 9320933093 along with their preferred venue and time. Each contestant group is supposed to have atleast one guitarist and atleast one singer. There would be maximum 15 participant entries per competition day. Out of which the Judges will select 2 best performers each day who will then out-sing each other along with 15 fresh participants on 01-Aug-2010 for the final round. The dates of the competition in Mumbai Barista Lavazza outlets at the following locations from 2pm-6pm:

31 July 10 Phoenix Mills

1 August 10 Chembur

Each group performs at a Barista Lavazza outlet of their choice in front of the judges as well as the other guests at Barista Lavazza. Winners would be chosen on a daily basis.

One of the most fabled moments in life are the ones spent with friends. Friendship Day being a special day for the youth today? let the feeling of togetherness grow manifolds to the appreciation of this alliance.