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Showing posts with label Events and Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events and Movies. Show all posts

Revamped menu at MKC at The Westin




Madras Kitchen Company at Westin, Chennai has revamped its menu. Right from the interiors to menu card to dishes, everything wears a new look.


I had been there today with my family and had a good time with regards to food. Staffs were courteous, as always. Ambiance was perfect with LIVE Music.


Newspaper themed Blinds and Menu Card


Variety of options for Veg & Non-Veg


In-House Bar


Must try dishes:


Starters:

Millet Salad

Paanagam


Veg

Jackfruit Cornetto

Skewers of Thai Red Curry flavoured Baby Corn 🌽 

Dakshin Combo - Podi Idli, Sambar Vada served in tiff in box with coconut chutney and ghee


Non-Veg

Crab Cornetto

Malaysian Sambal Chicken Wings

Manathakkali mutton Varuval, Coin Parotta & Appalapoo

Sindha Mani Kari Kattu Soru, Chinna Vengaya Pachadi, More Milagai & Vadam

Kari Satti Soru, Mutta Thokku, Mutton Varuval & Era Perattal 


Drinks:

Cold Pressed Juicery - Orange 

Inji Malli Martini (alcohol)

Annaci, Pineapple (alcohol)


Desserts:

Gulkhand Kunafe with Vanilla Ice Cream

Coorg Coffee Tiramisu, Baileys Macerated Savoriodi & Berries


What more do we need? #TheWestinChennai #Velachery #MKC #RevampedMenu

 

National Creators Award - an event to remember

 

Where should I begin?


It still looks like a dream for me that I was there. Yes. I'm speaking about the #NationalCreatorsAward which is the first of its kind in the world. This is an initiative by @mygovin which is doing lot of innovative things in various fields.


I had applied and completely forgotten about it. Few days ago, I received a call from the landline wherein the caller says he is calling from the office of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, MEITY & Communications checking for my availability of the program which was due on Friday & I needed to be present on Thursday in New Delhi. I immediately agreed. That same day, I received an official communication from IRCTC asking for my details. I had filled it up. Applied for off in my office and on Wednesday, I received ex my flight ticket details. Flight was on Thu noon from Chennai Domestic Airport.


I reached airport well before the designated time and met my friend who is an IB officer there. After having a hot cup of coffee, I proceeded for check-in and boarding. I landed in Delhi around 5:30PM and at the exit entrance, I was welcomed by the IRCTC team who was co-ordination with others and arranging accommodation. I was given an accommodation at The Alpino Hotel which was bang on the main road - Mahipalpur which is just 2.5kms from the airport. Room was super good. In the mean time, I met few creators CA Shubham Maloo, Sandeep of Telugu Travel Vlogger, Mitesh Patel of MeetPoser, Cooknjoy among others.


Tasty dinner was arranged in the hotel. After venturing out for an hour with CA Shubham, I returned to my room and retired to bed since we were told breakfast will be served next day early morning. I was given a call at 4AM mentioning breakfast will be served at 5AM and bus will arrive by 6AM. After having tasty breakfast at 5, we boarded the bus which took us to Bharat Mandapam inside Pragati Maidan. In the bus, I also met Neha and Ishita Sharma.


We followed the protocol as advised since the event will see the presence of PM himself. After collecting the pass at the entrance which took some time, I proceeded to the Plenary Hall. Since I was one of the first to enter, I sat just behind VVIP/HODs row. 


PM entered the hall at around 10:15PM and one could feel his aura and the electrifying presence. He was given a roaring welcome. After settling, PM distributed award to the winners including beerbiceps, aiyyoshraddha, technicalguruji , curlytales and others. His presence of mind was amazing as he kept us captivated until he was there for little over an hour.


We were dropped back at hotel post the event and I had to rush up since my return flight was booked at 5:15. In the flight, I had also met couple of educators - An HOD from Dept of Geography and The Principal of an arts & science college. I landed in the airport at 8PM. 


Felt truly blessed and my heartfelt thanks to the GOI, IRCTC and all the officials who made this event a memorable one for few hundreds of creators. 

Press Release - Aston Martin Set to Redefine Luxury with the DB12 Launch in India

 


THE ALL-NEW DB12 COUPE LAUNCHES IN INDIA


Date: November 3, 2023

Contact: Aston Martin New Delhi

Email: sales@astonmartinnewdelhi.com

Phone: + 91 9953552288


Chennai, India – Aston Martin, the world-renowned British ultra-luxury high-performance sportscar manufacturer, is set to make waves in the Indian automotive landscape with the launch of the Aston Martin DB12. The starting price of the Aston Martin DB 12, the world’s first Super Tourer is INR 4.59 crore, excluding customization options. Combining a scintillating driving experience with exceptional refinement, state-of-the-art technology and indulgent luxury, the DB12 demands a new definition as the world’s first Super Tourer.




 

Gregory Adams, Regional President - Asia, Aston Martin, said of the launch of DB12 in India, “Marking its 110th anniversary, 2023 has seen Aston Martin shine brighter than ever, supported by the arrival of a true-game changing model, the Aston Martin DB12. For 110 years, Aston Martin’s iconic wings have been a symbol of innovation and craft, with the marque’s ultra-luxury, high performance sportscars loved worldwide, with India being no exception.

 

“Dating back 95 of Aston Martin’s iconic 110 years, the history of Aston Martin in India is a long one, with the first Aston Martin imported into India in 1928 – an Aston Martin S-type sports. That arrival of the first Aston Martin in India has evolved into our clients enjoying the full Aston Martin range – from our ultra-luxury SUVs, the DBX & DBX707, to the Vantage sportscars, and now the world’s first Super Tourer DB12.

 

“We are proud to present and launch the DB12 Coupe, the world’s first Super Tourer to media, customers and prospects in India over the coming weeks, commencing in New Delhi, and continuing to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.”  




 

The World’s First Super Tourer Meets Indian Roads

Driving unprecedented excitement amongst customers and dealers, Aston Martin is proud to introduce the DB12 to the Indian market.  

 

The first of Aston Martin’s highly anticipated next generation of sportscars, DB12 represents the zenith of 75 years of Aston Martin’s DB bloodline. Years in product development, this model resolutely positions Aston Martin as a modern ultra-luxury, high performance brand, with timeless design combined with the latest technology, indulgent craftsmanship and the most thrilling driving experience.

 

Billed as the world’s first Super Tourer, DB12 elevates itself beyond the current GT automotive segment, creating a new category of one. Class-leading performance justifies the redefinition, including a 202mph top speed, a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds and an exception 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 engine – expertly tuned by Aston Martin engineers.

 

Courtesy of its fusion of cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and unparalleled luxury, DB12 has driven unprecedented excitement amongst customers, prospects and dealers since its international debut during its star-studded premier at the Cannes International Film Festival.

 

The Future Unveiled: DB12

The DB12 takes a new direction. Built upon enhanced performance, handling and dynamics, bolder design, and finer interior craft and technology, DB12 is the most complete and accomplished DB model in Aston Martin’s esteemed history.

 

Blessed with exceptional performance and handling to satisfy and reward the most demanding drivers, its meticulously honed chassis is perfectly matched to a class-leading 680PS/800NM V8 Twin-Turbo powertrain. Power is fed through an 8-speed automatic transmission and for the first time on an Aston Martin DB model, Electronic Rear Differential. The result is an energised Aston Martin that shines with authenticity, capability, and a passion to deliver a driving experience that’s second to none.

 

Meanwhile, progression is also reflected in DB12’s styling, with an all-new front-end treatment, wider stance and more muscular surfaces. It’s completely redesigned interior has clean lines emphasising the sense of space and providing a contemporary backdrop for the first application of Aston Martin’s bespoke, state-of-the-art infotainment system – designed and developed in-house.

 

Aston Martin: Pioneering Luxury in India

Aston Martin's presence in the Indian luxury automobile industry has been on a remarkable growth trajectory with the successful launch of the DBX & DBX707. The introduction of the DB12 further solidifies the brand's positioning in India as a trailblazer in the ultra-luxury segment. As Aston Martin takes the forefront in revolutionising the ultra-luxury automobile sector in India, the DB12 is poised to be a game changer, setting new standards of design, performance, and exclusivity.

 

Aston Martin's arrival on the Indian automotive scene with the DB12 is nothing short of a landmark moment. It's a testament to the brand's enduring commitment to providing discerning Indian consumers with the very best in luxury and performance.

 

For more information on the Aston Martin DB12 and its launch event in India, please contact

 

Dhirendra@avianwe.com – 9818628096

shantanug@avianwe.com - 9871064317

sales@astonmartinnewdelhi.com -  91-99535 52288.


Walnut Publications - to make your dreams come true

 



If I say there is an author/poet in everyone, you might laugh but if you ask your inner conscience, the majority of you will agree with me. Becoming an author was a Himalayan task in those days. This includes sending your manuscript to traditional publishing houses and waiting for ages only to come to know that they have rejected it and have not bothered to even let you know. We cannot say it is a fault on their end since they would have been receiving scripts every day and literally not possible to reply to all.

This is not the case today. With publishing houses like Walnut Publication coming into the fray, book publishing has become an easy task. All you need is your creativity flowing and they will take care of the rest. 

I felt glad to see that they have published a couple of anthologies namely "Whispers of the Soul" and "Whispered Tales".  Though they have published few anthologies in the past, this was done specifically to encourage those who love to write but do not have time to write a novel. What better way to express your thoughts and sharing the platform with fellow writers. 

They also have publishing packages that start from as low as Rs.11,999 and go up to Rs.59,999. Do give it a try since they make your life easier through their expert service.

Click this link and you can chat with them on WhatsApp to realize our dream

Chennai loves new book on Sivaji Ganesan's friend, actor Sanjeev Kumar

 




Maestro Sudha Raghunathan presided over a talk on author Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta's book 'Sanjeev Kumar- The Actor We all Loved' at Crossword Chennai. The discussion was around Sanjeev Kumar's deep personal connection with Chennai and the music of his films that lent him a perennial appeal across the country. A question posed by Sangita Kalanidhi Sudha Raghunathan was about  why Sanjeev Kumar is compared to Sivaji and not any other stalwart actor of his time – MGR, Gemini Ganesan, etc; 

To answer this, Gupta outlined several reasons; for eg., the Tamil film  Bharatha Vilas (1973) in which Sivaji Ganesan and  Sanjeev Kumar were seen together. To the delight of the audience, Sudha Raghunathan sang a line of the song 'Indhiya Naadu' from the movie and said, "Sanjeev Kumar's music continues to be loved in the South".  

Gupta added that Sanjeev Kumar's yin and yang with Sivaji Ganesan is well known.  Sanjeev Kumar enacted a character role in Ganesan's home production Gauri (1968) which was a remake of Ganesan's own Shanti (1965). Sanjeev Kumar's Mausam was remade in Tamil as Vasanthathil Oru Naal featuring Shivaji Ganesan. Both were super hits. Sivaji Ganesan's 'Avan Thaan Manithan' was remade as Shaandaar, and Gnana Oli was remade as Devata - both featuring Sanjeev Kumar. 

Further, in an article called 'Naan Sivajiyan Maanavan' ( I am a student of Sivaji's), written by Sanjeev Kumar, the late actor said, "I first met him when I was an extra on the sets of Gauri. One look at me and he said, ' In the future, you will be a very accomplished actor.' His words were like God's own words and he blessed my career. Whenever a Sivaji Ganesan movie had to be remade in Hindi, all of us actors would worry plenty. His prowess inspired fear. We would see the Tamil print, again and again, to observe his performance and learn! At a personal level, whenever I visited Chennai, I would seek his blessings. I am grateful for all the love he has given me. If he sees me as one of the finest actors in Hindi Cinema, it is my honor."

Sudha Raghunathan, a Padma Bhushan awardee who believes in the power or all art added, "they were different in their 'style' and yet the same in their ‘power.’ She also expressed that Sanjeev Kumar’s songs continued to be popular in Chennai as ringtones. 

Profile of author Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta

Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta is a prolific biographer, reviewer for Network18, and a bibliophile. She is credited with the acclaimed Red Dot Experiment, a decadal six-nation study on how culture impacts communication.  She has been a part of several public health campaigns such as "beti bachao beti padhao " and "Ek chammach Kam." A polyglot, she speaks five languages. In 2018, she wrote ‘Rescript Your Life’, a self-help autobiographical narrative. In 2021, she released ‘The Stranger In the Mirror’ the biography of BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Thereafter, 'Sanjeev Kumar- The Actor We All Loved was released in 2022.'  Her fourth book "Savitri and Fatima" is to launch in July 2023.
Social media handles: Instagram: @OfficialReetaGupta I Twitter: @OfficialReetaRG I LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reeta-ramamurthy-gupta-33774948/
Here's an extract from the book that testifies to the deep relationship between Sanjeev Kumar and the south.
The Southern Connections
In the late 1960's, a very important relationship in Hari's life started taking shape.
It was one of mutual respect with the legendary actor of Tamil cinema, Sivaji Ganesan. Hari was given a character role in Ganesan's home production Gauri (1968) which was a remake of Ganesan's own Shanti (1965).
An article of unknown provenance titled 'Naan Sivajiyan Maanavan' ( I am a student of Sivaji's),  obtained from Hari's family archives quotes him as follows.
I first met him when I was but an extra on the sets of Gauri. One look at me and he said, ' In the future, you will be a very accomplished actor.' His words were like God's own words and he blessed my career. Whenever a Sivaji Ganesan movie had to be remade in Hindi, all of us actors would worry plenty. His prowess inspired fear. We would see the Tamil print, again and again, to observe his performance and learn! At a personal level, whenever I visited Chennai, I would seek his blessings. I am grateful for all the love he has given me. If he sees me as one of the finest actors in Hindi Cinema, it is my honor.
The mutual admiration between Sivaji Ganesan and Hari and the latter's own quiet, easygoing nature eventually played a major role in Hari's success. When South Indian producers and directors wanted to remake their Tamil or Telugu films in Hindi, they often chose Hari. These remakes typically had long dialogues and demanded good histrionics and this further augmented Hari's 'actor' tag.
For example, Sivaji Ganesan's Avan Thaan Manithan was remade as Shaandaar, and Gnana Oli was remade as Devata - both featuring Hari. Among the Telugu films, Takkar was a remake of N.T. Rama Rao's Devudu Chesina Manushulu with Hari in the lead role. The winds blew the other way too. Hari's Mausam was remade in Tamil as Vasanthathil Oru Naal featuring Shivaji Ganesan.
The other important southern connection was L.V. Prasad. Hari scored a hat-trick of hits with him - Raja aur Runk (1968), Jeene Ki Raah (1969) and Khilona (1970).


Press Release - Japan considers India a natural ally. Our relations are closest in the world: Consul-General of Japan in Mumbai, Yasukata Fukahori

 


Japan considers India a natural ally. Our relations are closest in the world: Consul-General of Japan in Mumbai, Yasukata Fukahori

 

“India & Japan share the same values & culture” said Yasukata Fukahori

 

 

Mumbai, 24 February 2023: "Spiritual closeness between India and Japan is very deep. Indian people and Japanese people can understand each other. Relations between the two countries are the closest in the world. India and Japan are natural allies" said Yasukata Fukahori, Consul-General of Japan in Mumbai.

 

Yasukata Fukahori was speaking at the second edition of ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023, on the topic of “India and Japan, Seventy Years of Friendship.” The summit has brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss the critical role of India during the global churn and changing dynamics.

 

Commenting on the future of Indo-Japanese economic ties, Fukahori, said, “I predict a bright future between India and Japan economically.”

 

He further added, “Achieving the 5 trillion yen investment target in India within the next five years seems attainable. There is optimism that investments will continue to flow into India, and the cultural closeness between the nations also aids in this endeavor,"

 

The second edition of ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit is being held on the theme “Naya India: Looking Inward, Reaching Out.” Along with global leaders, 60 eminent national and international speakers will share the stage this time. The two-day event primarily addresses India’s stand as a burgeoning economy and global leader in shaping the future.

 


Press Release-“EVs will become mainstream in India” says Shashank Srivastava Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited

 


“EVs will become mainstream in India,” says Shashank Srivastava Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited


Mumbai, 24 February 2023: “EVs will become mainstream but when they will become that is unpredictable. The cost of the acquisition is one of the important factors impeding EV adoption in India, Maruti Suzuki India Limited Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales), Shashank Srivastava said here today.

Speaking at the second edition of ABP’s Ideas of India Summit, he said, “If a normal car is 100 then EV is 160 due to the high cost of batteries. Maruti Suzuki is trying to bring down battery costs. Also, we will have six EVs in different segments by 2030. Our estimate is this market which is 1% today will be around 3% in 2024-25, and will be about 17% in 2030 which is about out of 6 million cars, 1 million will be EVs in 2030.”


Srivastava further added, “I think the attitude of trying to be better and that's also something we have learned from the Japanese system of Kaizen, which is you have to improve continuously and competition in one way helps that Kaizen and the desire to improve continuously and that is why we welcome the competition. One of the biggest strengths Suzuki has is its market share and we are looking forward to strengthening our SUV space.”


Speaking on the growth and market demand, Srivastava said, "Maruti is 60% by volume for the overall Suzuki Motor Corporation, it's a great achievement of India. It shows the upswing in the Indian economy. Our demography is very young. In consumption terms, We expect car consumption in India will continue to increase. Our projections show almost 6 million by 2030 from the current 3.8 million in 2022"


The ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023 was discussing the topic of “Brand India-Ready for the World.” The summit has brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss the critical role of India during the global churn and changing dynamics. ABP Network is a leading multi-language channel reaching 535 million individuals in India therefore this summit provides one of the biggest platforms for the brightest minds across various sectors to express their views.



Press Release - India is in a very Fortunate Place Today: Surjit Singh Bhalla, IMF India

 


India is in a very Fortunate Place Today: Surjit Singh Bhalla, IMF India

 

The Former Executive Director of IMF and the Chief Economist at CRISIL were speaking at the second edition of ABP Network’s ‘Ideas of India’ summit

 

Mumbai, 24 February 2023: India will benefit from the changed globalization as the interest rates will come down, said Surjit Singh Bhalla, Former Executive Director, IMF, at ABP Network’s second edition of ‘Ideas of India’ summit. Speaking at the summit, he highlighted that the Monetary Tightening Policy has been India’s response to inflation for the past 30-40 years.

 

Elaborating on the topic, ‘Crisis in the Global Economy – India’s Survival Guide’, Surjit Singh Bhalla said, “Monetary Policy has precious little to do with supply shocks and I would say now the monetary policy has precious little to do with inflation”.

 

Speaking on rise of India as a strong, emerging economy, he said, “China, which was a threat to the global economy, is now diminishing. However, the decline of China comes at a time with the rise of India.” He also pointed out that the quality of education and how fast India deregulates its economy will determine how fast we rise.

 

The panel was further enlightened by the presence of Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist, CRISIL. Commenting on the topic, he said, “The slowing down of Global economies will spill over to us. Our forecast is that the growth will come down from 7% in 2022-23 to around 6% next year.”

 

The CRISIL Chief Economist also said that the quality of labor was a constraint for India which needs to be addressed. He said, “50% of India's labor force is below Secondary School and they don't have any skills, so I think you can't fire the economy with such low skills.”

 

He emphasized climate change as one of the biggest risks to the Indian Economy, especially in the last 2-3 years. “From an agricultural perspective, India is probably one of the most vulnerable countries to this risk. We need to ensure that proper measures are in place to avert any supply shocks that may come our way due to climate change.”

 

India has been taking extensive measures toward the growth of the infrastructure and manufacturing industry. “As both these sectors are carbon intensive, the challenge for the Indian economy is to leave less carbon footprint while industrializing,” he added.

 

The summit promises an invigorating line-up of speakers with prominent figures from the world of business, politics, artists from the Hindi Film Industry, authors, and other eminent sectors. The two-day event primarily addresses India’s stand as a burgeoning economy and global leader in shaping the future.



Press Release-With PM Modi's vision, India will become a major rail technology exporter in the world in three years Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics

 


With PM Modi's vision, India will become a major rail technology exporter in the world in three years: Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, Govt of India, Ashwini Vaishnaw

 

“Railways is a key sector to transform the economy”, said Ashwini Vaishnaw

 

Mumbai, 24 February 2023: India will become a major technology exporter within the next 2-3 years across various sectors. Today, 99% of mobiles in India are made-in-India whereas earlier 99% were imported”, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology.

 

The minister was speaking at the second edition of ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit 2023, on the topic “Last Mile Mobility Connecting the Dot.” The summit has brought together policymakers, cultural ambassadors, industry experts, celebrities, and business leaders to discuss the critical role of India during the global churn and changing dynamics.

 

Giving a snapshot of key railway stations being redeveloped with modern technology and planning, Vaishnaw, said, “50 acres of new space is being created inside the station in Delhi. For which 38 new permissions have been taken for the overhaul”.

 

Commenting on handling 3 key ministries, He said, “More gets done in the IT sector with less effort, railway requires hard work as it's a large organization. Telecom has more complexities”.

 

He further added, “For a country of our size, there's no other way of transforming the economy than transforming railways”.

 

The second edition of ABP Network’s “Ideas of India” Summit is being held on the theme “Naya India: Looking Inward, Reaching Out.” Along with global leaders, 60 eminent national and international speakers will share the stage this time. The two-day event primarily addresses India’s stand as a burgeoning economy and global leader in shaping the future.