Dhondi Champya: Ek Prem Katha

 Ready to watch a love story of a male and female buffalo on the big screen? 

Dhondi Champya: Ek Prem Katha, to release on December 16 

A Reliance Entertainment and Sunil Jain presentation, Dnyanesh Bhalekar's Dhondi Champya: Ek Prem Katha is a unique film. You may have witnessed innumerable love stories in movies, but nothing as interesting and unusual as Dhondi Champya: Ek Prem Katha. This is a unique film - about a love story between a male and female buffalo! Yes, you read that right. More details about the film will be revealed gradually, but the concept of this love story itself has generated a buzz already.

The release date of Dhondi Champya was announced on social media recently. Slotted for a December 16 release, Dhondi Champya is inspired from a story by Prabhakar Bhogale with the film's story, screenplay and dialogues having been written by Dnyanesh Bhalekar and Sagar Kesarkar. Interestingly, the film will unite two powerhouses of comedy - Bharat Jadhav and Vaibhav Mangle - in lead roles. Apart from them, it will also feature Sayali Patil and Nikhil Chavan in pivotal roles.

In the film's poster, you can see Dhondi and Champya and from the looks of it, this one seems to be a complete entertainer for the masses. Speaking about the film, director Dnyanesh Bhalekar says, "This is a family entertainer for people from all age groups. Whether the owners of Dhondi and Champya will help take this love story forward, or will there be a sudden twist in the plot? That's for you all to find out in cinema halls!"

Dhondi Champya: Ek Prem Katha's music is also worth looking forward to. Composed by Saurabh Durgesh, the album will see songs sung by the likes of Avadhoot Gupte, Vaishali Samant, Sanah Moidutty and Saurabh Shetye, with lyrics from Guru Thakur, Mandar Cholkar and Ganesh Nigade. This film has been produced by Fifth Dimension and Cult Digital - with Sunil Jain, Aditya Joshi, Venessa Roy and Aditya Shastri backing the project. Amit Awasthi and Sushant Vengurlekar are on board as co-producers.

धोंडी चंप्या: एक प्रेम कथा' १६ डिसेंबरला होणार प्रदर्शित

रिलायन्स एंटरटेनमेंट आणि सुनील जैन प्रस्तुत ज्ञानेश भालेकर दिग्दर्शित 'धोंडी चंप्या: एक प्रेम कथा’ या चित्रपटाच्या प्रदर्शनाची तारीख नुकतीच सोशल मीडियावर जाहीर करण्यात आली असून येत्या १६ डिसेंबर रोजी 'धोंडी चंप्या' ही रेडा आणि म्हशीची अनोखी प्रेमकहाणी प्रेक्षकांच्या भेटीला येणार आहे. कल्ट डिजिटल यांच्या सहकार्याने, फिफ्थ डायमेन्शन आणि कल्ट डिजिटल निर्मित या धमाल चित्रपटाच्या माध्यमातून एक आगळीवेगळी प्रेमकहाणी पाहायला मिळणार आहे. प्रभाकर भोगले यांच्या कथेद्वारा प्रेरित होऊन बनवलेल्या या चित्रपटाचे कथा, पटकथा, संवाद ज्ञानेश भालेकर आणि सागर केसरकर यांनी लिहिले असून यात भरत जाधव, वैभव मांगले हे विनोदाचे दोन बादशाह प्रमुख भूमिकेत दिसणार आहेत. यांच्यासोबत सायली पाटील आणि निखिल चव्हाण हे सुद्धा मुख्य भूमिकेत दिसतील. 

पोस्टरमध्ये धोंडी आणि चंप्या दिसत असून या दोघांमध्ये फुलणारी प्रेमकथा यात पाहायला मिळणार आहे. पोस्टरवरून हा एक धमाल विनोदी चित्रपट असल्याचे दिसत आहे. 

या चित्रपटाबद्दल दिग्दर्शक ज्ञानेश भालेकर म्हणतात, ''सर्व वयोगटांसाठी असलेला हा एक कौटुंबिक चित्रपट आहे. धोंडी आणि चंप्या यांचे प्रेम सफल होण्यासाठी त्यांचे मालक त्यांना मदत करणार की, त्यांच्या प्रेमकथेत आणखी काही ट्विस्ट येणार, हे चित्रपट प्रदर्शित झाल्यावरच कळेल.'' 

या चित्रपटातील गाण्यांना सौरभ दुर्गेश यांनी संगीत दिले असून गुरु ठाकूर, मंदार चोळकर, गणेश निगडे यांनी ही गाणी शब्दबद्ध केली आहेत. तर या गाण्यांना अवधूत गुप्ते, वैशाली सामंत, सनाह मोईडुट्टी, सौरभ शेट्ये यांचा आवाज लाभला आहे. सुनील जैन, आदित्य जोशी, व्हेनिसा रॉय, आदित्य शास्त्री निर्मित या चित्रपटाचे अमित अवस्थी, सुशांत वेंगुर्लेकर सहनिर्माते आहेत.

अस्सल मालवणी क्रिएशन फेम अभिनेता 'मिलिंद गुरव' झळकणार रूपेरी पडद्यावर

 अस्सल मालवणी क्रिएशन फेम अभिनेता 'मिलिंद गुरव' झळकणार रूपेरी पडद्यावर

कोकणातल्या मातीतला अस्सल मालवणी अभिनेता 'मिलिंद गुरव' प्रथमच रूपेरी पडद्यावर झळकणार आहे. एकांकिका, नाटक, शॉर्ट फिल्म करत आपल्या अभुतपूर्व भूमिकांनी प्रेक्षकांना भुरळ घालणारा अभिनेता मिलिंद पहिल्यांदाच 'प्रेम प्रथा धुमशान' या सिनेमातून खलनायकाच्या भूमिकेत दिसणार आहे. या सिनेमाचे  लेखन आणि दिग्दर्शन राष्ट्रीय पुरस्काप्राप्त दिग्दर्शक 'अभिजीत मोहन वारंग' यांनी केले असून हा सिनेमा ४ नोव्हेंबर रोजी महाराष्ट्रात सर्वत्र प्रदर्शित होणार आहे. या सिनेमाला कोकणप्रेमी चाहत्यांकडून प्रचंड प्रतिसाद मिळत आहे.

अभिनेता मिलिंद गुरव त्याच्या पहिल्याच सिनेमाच्या अनुभवाविषयी सांगतो, "मी मूळचा कोकणातील रहिवाशी आहे. माझा हा मालवणी भाषेतील पहिलाच सिनेमा असून, मालवणी भाषेत चित्रपट करायला मिळणं ही माझ्यासाठी भाग्याची गोष्ट आहे. तसंच राष्ट्रीय पुरस्काप्राप्त दिग्दर्शक अभिजीत मोहन वारंग सरांनी मला या सिनेमात काम करण्याची संधी दिली. त्यासाठी मी त्यांचे मनापासून आभार मानतो. मी गेली 8 वर्ष महाविद्यालयात शिक्षक आहे. तसेच यापूर्वी मी एकांकिका, नाटक, वेब सिरीजमध्ये वेगवेगळ्या धाटणीच्या विनोदी भूमिका केल्या आहेत. या सिनेमातील खलनायकाची भूमिका ही माझ्यासाठी फार आव्हानात्मक होती. परंतु अभिजीत वारंग सरांच्या दिग्दर्शनाखाली मी या भूमिकेला माझ्याकडून न्याय देण्याचा प्रयत्न केला आहे. मला मिळालेल्या यशात माझ्या आई वडिलांचा, कुटुंबाचा आणि गुरूंचा, कणकवली शिक्षण संस्थेचा खारीचा वाटा आहे. पहिल्यांदाच सिनेमात काम करण्याची संधी मिळणे म्हणजे मला स्वप्नपूर्ती झाल्यासारखं वाटतंय. 

या सिनेमाच्या चित्रीकरणा दरम्यानचा किस्सा शेअर करताना मिलिंद सांगतो, "कोकणातील निसर्गरम्य ठिकाणं, मालवणी संस्कृती व परंपरा, बोली भाषेतील गोडवा आणि अस्सल मालवणी प्रेमकथेचा परिपाक म्हणजे 'प्रेम प्रथा धुमशान' हा सिनेमा. चित्रपटाच्या शूटिंग दरम्यान ऐन पावसात कोकणातल्या गर्द झाडीत टेन्टमध्ये राहण्याची मजा काही औरच होती. जंगलामध्ये शूट करत असल्यामुळे पाऊस आला की टेन्ट मध्ये पळावं लागायचं. माझी खलनायकाची भूमिका थोडी सिरीयस असल्यामुळे मी शूटिंगच्या दरम्यान कुणाशी जास्त बोलायचो नाही. मी भूमिकेतच  असायचो. माझ्या चेहऱ्यावर सारखे बारा वाजलेले असायचे, राग असायचा त्यामुळे शिवालीने मला 'कबीर सिंग' असं नाव ठेवलं होतं. तीच पाहून सगळे मला त्याचं नावाने हाक मारायचे."

पुढे तो सांगतो, "कोकणातील पावसात अत्यंत प्रतिकूल परिस्थितीमध्ये या चित्रपटाचे चित्रीकरण झालेलं आहे. मी सर्व सिनेरसिक प्रेक्षकांना विनंती करतो. की त्यांनी हा सिनेमा आपल्या जवळच्या सिनेमागृहात जाऊन नक्की पाहावा. तसेच कोकणातल्या निसर्गाचा आणि संस्कृतीचा आस्वाद घ्यावा."

Arunachal Chief Minister praises Jio Studios and Dinesh Vijan’s Bhediya

Arunachal Chief Minister takes to Twitter to  praise Jio Studios and Dinesh Vijan’s Bhediya

Link: https://twitter.com/pemakhandubjp/status/1587437917688844289?s=12&t=yVqf6PlYZtd2jgWGSFur7w

Jio Studios and Dinesh Vijan’s Bhediya is generating immense excitement amongst masses. While the film’s trailer received applause from all corners, the Varun Dhawan-Kriti Sanon starrer now sees praise coming its way from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu recently shared the official trailer of Bhediya on Twitter, commending the film on many fronts. The creature comedy has been majorly filmed in the serene forests of Arunachal.

Talking about the scenic beauty captured in the trailer, Mr. Khandu expressed heartfelt gratitude towards Dinesh Vijan and director Amar Kaushik for choosing to shoot in his state. 

He was further thankful that almost 70% of members working on the film are natives of Arunachal, including local star Paalin Kabak who plays a pivotal role in the movie.

Concluding his tweet, Mr. Khandu not only hoped for Bhediya to be a grand success, but wished for more films to be made in Arunachal Pradesh.

Jio Studios & Dinesh Vijan present, ‘Bhediya’. A Maddock Films production, directed by Amar Kaushik, produced by Dinesh Vijan and starring Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Deepak Dobriyal and Abhishek Banerjee among others, is releasing in cinemas Pan-India in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil in 2D and 3D on 25th November 2022.

Healthy food lovers unite as Bloom takes over Bandra serving you delicious healthy meals Gluten-free, Vegan, diabetic-friendly, PCOS-friendly, Keto-friendly, Millet-based, and more

  Healthy food lovers unite as Bloom takes over Bandra serving you delicious healthy meals Gluten-free, Vegan, diabetic-friendly, PCOS-friendly, Keto-friendly, Millet-based, and more

 

After the mindblowing success of BLAH!, the all-day brunch restaurant that won the hearts of many and recently celebrated its first anniversary, the makers of Blah! Niketa Sharma, Founder of Blah and Executive Chef Rahul Desai are bringing forth the notion of a healthy gut is the key to a healthy body with the launch of Bloom, a 7-day-a-week, breakfast-to-dinner eatery and café that recently opened its doors to all café lovers out there who are just looking to unwind and spend quality time with their loved ones. The quaint ambience of Bloom is all set to charm you with its homey aroma and draw your soul into its cocoon for a few blessed moments of peace and tranquility.

  Nestled in the buzzing pockets of Bandra, Bloom is a plant-based, vegan, and keto-friendly café that takes you on a culinary journey of delicious natural flavours. From the moment you enter its humble doors, you will immediately be transported into a world of tranquility, relaxation, and rejuvenation. With ‘Simplicity, Elegance and Humility’ as their motto, Bloom signifies the blossoming of a flower which in turn resembles the idea behind the café- delivering simple plant-based dishes that are full of flavour and colour.

Shedding a light on the inspiration behind creating Bloom: A conscious eatery and café, Niketa Sharma, Founder of Bloom elaborated, “There is a deeply personal touch behind the concept of creating a conscious eating, plant-forward café like Bloom. I have been dealing with insulin resistance, thyroid, and gluten intolerance for a while. Due to this, I started adopting the habit of indulging in eating healthy food and switched to a keto, gluten-free, and millet-based diet. While embarking on this health-conscious journey, I came up with the concept of Bloom. With ‘Bloom where planted’ as the tagline of bloom, this café caters to everybody who is looking for conscious and plant-forward cuisines that are healthy and tasty not just to the eyes but also to the tongue. But make no mistake, the cumulative vision of Bloom not only caters to health-conscious appetites but also welcomes patrons who cherish a wholesome carb-filled diet with open arms. It is a place for everyone. Taking it one bite at a time, Bloom aspires to create awareness about conscious eating and introducing a healthy aspect in good quality and tasty food.”

Bloom aptly promotes the popular belief that ‘you are what you eat.’ Chemically charged foods affect your mind and body and hence, Bloom focuses on retaining and enhancing the flavours and believes that when food is prepared naturally without any additives, it will significantly nourish the body and help with the management of many lifestyle-related ailments. That being said, Bloom positively represents the fact that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring and gut-wrenching, rather it is soul-pleasing and gut-cleansing. Striving to make everything transparent to their customers and actively spreading awareness of where their food is coming from, Bloom aspires to become one of the top health-conscious cafes in Mumbai. The pleasant café stands for reconnection with nature and is truly a sustainability-friendly and environmentally conscious brand sealed with intrinsic and refreshing vibes. 

“Bloom is a quaint, chic, and au natural café that exudes charm and is everything you thought healthy food can be. Food is the source of life and Bloom caters to clean, natural, and healthy eating to promote holistic wellness of the body,” says Niketa Sharma, Founder of Bloom.

A quaint and sprightly-styled cafe, Bloom accentuates a consoling ambience of relaxation and rejuvenation by offering authentic cuisines to promote nutrition, health, and comfort. As the saying goes ‘A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place.’ Adhering to that, the intricate interior and environment of Bloom perfectly resonate with its overall chic and cozy surroundings. Built with pure and sustainable materials, the café includes splendid artifacts synonymous with Ankita Sharma, a gifted and artistic interior designer. As soon as you step in, the soothing monochromatic theme will sweep you off your feet as they recreate an authentic and upscale vibe. With a vivacious alfresco seating style with clean lines and subdued peach and white shades and an exuberant pop of bold colours, the café is filled with eco-friendly heirlooms made of macramé along with a cane coffee counter, vibrant lights, pure, sustainable, origami flowers, and recyclable- fine-wood upholstery. Specifically keeping in mind the pleasant ambience that nature exudes, this picturesque café is delightfully instagrammable. 

 

Ankita Sharma, Founder of Design Alma and the mastermind behind the magnificent interiors of Bloom commented, “Bloom is inspired by the beautiful french cafeterias. The theme of the café is quite pleasant, elementary, and refreshing. The name ‘Bloom’ is inspired by ‘blooming flowers’ which is another sub-concept for the interiors. The highlights of the café are the colourful, and rustic elements like pinewood, cane, wicker, and jute which are all inspired by nature. Another eye-catching feature of the café is the kitchen. Gracefully painted in green, it perfectly resembles the natural setting that we aimed to bring forth at Bloom.”

As a culinary journey of scrumptious vegan good food and refreshing beverages: Bloom promises to take you on an exquisite and healthy gastronomic journey. At the helm of this tantalizing culinary journey is Executive Chef Rahul Desai. Chef Rahul has previously worked with brands like Indigo, Taj, and Masala Library and has over 9 years of experience. Chef Rahul has curated a toothsome menu that will definitely leave you wanting for more. His top picks from the elaborate menu are Signature Zen Avocado Toast with Poached Cloud Egg (Keto Friendly), Signature Rainbow Pizza, and the Berry and Banana Smoothie. 

 

The versatile menu includes wide-ranging dishes that are millet-based, vegan-friendly as well as Keto-friendly and gluten-free, where even the deserts are refined sugar-free. You can start with a Plant-Based Keema Pav (Vegan), made with plant-based keema, tossed with rich tomato sauce, and served with whole wheat Ladi pav and a side salad. If your tastebuds are craving a delicious sandwich, Bloom has you covered with the Basil Pesto Cottage Cheese Sandwich, a toothsome sandwich served with basil pesto, marinated cottage cheese, grilled veggies, cheddar cheese slice, and lettuce. You can also treat yourself to a Keto-Friendly Falafel Wrap served with baked falafel, hummus, pickled vegetables, olives, sweet potato fries, garlic sauce, harissa sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. If you prefer to cleanse your tummy with a tantalizing salad, a Chikoo & Feta Salad is the antidote of choice. 

 

Additionally, the main menu includes flavoursome delights like Pearl Barley Risotto, served

with beetroot and red wine spiked pearl barley risotto, sauteed vegetables, and grilled portobello mushrooms; French Onion Chicken Leg, served with caramelized onions, crispy Lebanese potato, grilled chicken leg, asparagus, beans, and chef special french sauce and Homemade Rosette Di Pasta, lovingly made with sundried tomato, zucchini, bell pepper, olives, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, bechamel sauce, and smoky creamy tomato sauce amongst others. Bloom is in collaboration with Genelia & Ritesh Deshmukh’s new venture Imagine Meats. Some of the must try dishes are Imagine Chicken Keema Pav, Imagine Meat Burger, Lebanese Imagine Nugget Wrap and Za'atar Imagine Chicken , Avocado & Labneh Wrap (Keto Friendly).

 

The exceptional beverage menu includes flavoursome Kambucha Mocktails, Cold Brews, Espresso Martini Cocktails with cardamom and rose flavour, Blooming Teas, coffees with almond and oats milk, shakes, smoothies, and house-pressed juices amongst others. Some of the must-try beverages from the beverage menu include Raspberry and Lemonade Kombucha served with fresh raspberry muddle, raspberry syrup, and lime Juice; Orange and Mint Cold Brew, an in-house cold brew with home-made syrup, tonic water, and mint; Coffee and Banana smoothie, generously made with an espresso shot, bananas, dates, chia seeds, and soy milk; Strawberry and Rose CheeseCake Shake with a perfect blend of strawberry cheesecake, milk, fresh cream, and vanilla ice cream and Golden Latte with a 24-carat gold foil. Additionally, the perfect cherry on top is the toothsome dessert menu that includes delicious delights such as Rose Tres Leches available in vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free options and vegan ice-creams that are definitely worth a try!

 

So what are you waiting for? Bid adieu to the hardships of your daily routine and book your tables at Bloom today! For this bustling and delivery-friendly café is all set to quickly uplift your mood and bring some sugar-free sweetness to your days that will keep you healthy and happy all the same time!

 

Address: Bloom, Shop No. 5, Carlton Court, Plot No. 139, Junction of Perry & Pali Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400 050.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bloombandra?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

सनी'च्या मित्रांच्या भूमिकेत दिसणार 'हे' अभिनेते

 'सनी'च्या मित्रांच्या भूमिकेत दिसणार 'हे' अभिनेते 

'आई कुठे काय करते' मधून घराघरांत पोहोचलेला अभिषेक देशमुख आणि सहकुटुंब सहपरिवार' मधील अमेय बर्वे आता हेमंत ढोमे दिग्दर्शित 'सनी' या चित्रपटातून प्रेक्षकांच्या भेटीला येत आहेत! नुकतीच त्यांची व्यक्तिरेखा समोर आली असून यात ते 'सनी'चे खास मित्र दाखवले आहेत आणि यात महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका साकारली आहे ती युकेच्या पॉऊलोने.  

मूळ चिपळूणचा असलेला संतोष म्हणजेच अभिषेक देशमुख इंग्लंडला शिकायला गेला असून तो 'सनी'चा खूप जवळचा मित्र दिसत आहे. मैत्रीत सनीला मदत करणारा, त्याच्यावर जीव लावणारा  असा हा मित्र सनीला प्रत्येक क्षणी मदत करत आहे. गोंधळलेल्या सनीला वेळोवेळी योग्य दिशा दाखवणाऱ्या संतोषची म्हणजेच अभिषेकची यात महत्वाची भूमिका आहे. तर अमेय 'सनी'चा पारगावचा जिगरी मित्र असून मस्तीमध्ये त्याला साथ देणारा दिसत आहे. तर पॉऊलोही 'सनी'च्या आयुष्यात धमाल आणणार असल्याचे दिसतेय. प्रोमोवरून यांची ही भन्नाट मैत्री चित्रपटात रंगत आणणार हे नक्की. या चित्रपटात ललित प्रभाकर, चिन्मय मांडलेकर, क्षिती जोग यांच्या प्रमुख भूमिका आहेत. 

इरावती कर्णिक लिखित हा चित्रपट १८ नोव्हेंबर रोजी प्रेक्षकांच्या भेटीला येणार आहे. क्रेझी फ्यु फिल्म्स, प्लॅनेट मराठी, क्रिएटिव्ह वाईब प्रॉडक्शन प्रस्तुत, चलचित्र कंपनी निर्मित 'सनी' या चित्रपटाचे अक्षय विलास बर्दापूरकर, क्षिती जोग, विराज गवस व उर्फी काझमी हे निर्माते असून संतोष खेर, तेजस्विनी पंडित सह-निर्माते आहेत.

BEST OF LOUNGE, CLUB, AND ROOFTOP UNDER ONE ROOF in Indore Diablo, Club Iguana, and Canton Supper Club

 BEST OF LOUNGE, CLUB, AND ROOFTOP UNDER ONE ROOF in Indore  

Diablo, Club Iguana, and Canton Supper Club 

The only place in Indore which offers the best of the biggest global brands

Indore becomes home to three of the  biggest club, lounges, and the most extensive rooftop bar in Madhya Pradesh - Diablo, Club Iguana, and Canton Supper Club

Known as Mini Mumbai, Indore welcomes three perfect establishments that are the trendsetters as per global standards with its delectable bar and food menu and impeccable energizing ‘Never to Leave’ experience making it an ideal and memorable venue to party- DIABLO, CLUB IGUANA, AND CANTON SUPPER CLUB.

Located at the prime location of Indore, 1001 Rooftop, Shekhar Central, Palasiva Square from 12.00noon  to 11:30 pm Canton Supper Club, Diablo, and Club Iguana, the place is spread across an expansive area of 10000 sq ft, It happens to be the biggest rooftop bar in the entire Madhya Pradesh.

The cleverly crafted food menu offers quirky, modern  Indian and European Fare and is comprehensive and alluring, comprising lux Pan Asian, Moroccan, Turkish, Iranian,  Lebanese, and Mediterranean cuisines dishes with authentic, bold & intense flavors with an emphasis on simple, yet impressive presentation acquired through quality ingredients, the chicken puff, Shanghai Dumplings, Cream Cheese Sushi, Salmon Truffle are sure winners.  


The Glitzy Bar has the mixologist dish out unique cocktails using traditional concoctions. The cocktails & mocktails range has been dug out from unexampled experiments between stately monarchical tastes & contemporary mixes to create rare & exclusive drinks.

The spacious Swish place exudes a relaxed vibe and the pulsating music adds to the charm of the interiors which have been uniquely conceptualized and designed carefully with minimal & classy objects by renowned interior designer Sumesh Menon  A lot of emphasis and effort have been put into customizing the lights, based on the mood of the hour. Keeping in mind the experiential aspect, the early evening hours will hold a subtle warm glow to create a mesmerizing and chic character to the space for people to start off with, eventually leading to a high-energy go-to place with chromatic lighting.

The eclectic decor comprises open spaces full of celebrity.

Amit Agarwal Owner says “The main idea behind this establishment is to give night owners a new-age insatiable night club experience. It focuses uniquely on creating an experience exclusively for people looking for an exotic location to party"

Enjoy your Saturday evening or overcome your Monday blues here.

YASHODHARA The Buddha’s Wife, a film by Neha Lohia premieres at the 12th Annual Queens World Film Festival in Queens, New York

 YASHODHARA The Buddha’s Wife, a film by Neha Lohia premieres at the 12th Annual Queens World Film Festival in Queens, New York

Women suffering has been glorified in this world for thousands of years, but need it be so?

Neha Lohia – woman filmmaker from India shines light on the subject of inequality with her new film Yashodhara the Buddha’s Wife; via the portrayal of the protagonist of her film. It is a matter of great honour as a brown female identifying director and filmmaker to present Indian roots via a film in foreign land She is also representing the country and is privileged to host the block titled “Voices of India” at this prestigious Queens World film festival which has been offering a strong platform to radical new voices and revolutionary filmmakers from across the globe for over a decade.

Neha Lohia is a force to be reckoned with and her work exudes the passion she brings to everything she does. We are excited to share her work and feel the pairing of the two films makes for a strong night. Katha Cato, Executive Director of Queens World Film Festival

Yashodhara The Buddha's wife is uniquely contemplative which is refreshing as Neha displays trust in the audience to be able to experience this story.

Donald Preston Cato, Artistic Director for Queens World Film Festival

The 12th Annual Queens World Film Festival (QWFF) runs in person for 6 days in 5 venues from November 1-6, 2022 Screening 157 films from 27 nations. Neha’s film is part of this festival and will be showcased as part of Voices of India.

“Yashodhara The Buddha’s Wife is my passion project and being able to share the story of this Queen Yashodhara at the Queens World Film Festival is the greatest honour” says Writer, Director, Producer & Filmmaker Neha Lohia

Neha Lohia, a groundbreaking Indian Filmmaker is churning out some thought provoking and meaningful global cinema. She is one of the very few young Indian Filmmakers who has glorified the Indian flag on international soil. As a Brown girl Neha feels accepted and received globally, she happens to be one of the few filmmakers who is slowly garnering a niche class of cosmopolitan fan following for her work and the compelling, heart-touching stories she says.

Yashodhara- The Buddha’s Wife” is the result of her long and interesting journey of exploring spirituality, eastern philosophy, and deeper relational understating while parallelly serving various studios and departments in the entertainment industry. After an amazing welcome received by the 12th Annual Queens World Film Festival Directors, Board and Jury in New York, “Yashodhara The Buddha’s Wife”, will give a glimpse on the lesser known aspect from Buddha’s life, his wife Yashodhara and her role as a woman who also suffered, also got enlightened, and was a figure of extreme compassion, one who personified love. “We all know of the Buddha but how many of us know of the wife and the child he left behind on the night of his child birth because he wanted to go seek enlightenment. This is the story of Yashodhara, the Buddha's wife. He left, she stayed. He came back enlightened after 12 years only to realise so did she! Partake of this long pending healing conversation and witness this intense, intimate, epic tale of love, loss and suffering which became a portal to both their enlightening” explains Lohia

“Being able to represent and embody the life of an epic, historic, strong woman whose story has rarely ever been told was an extremely humbling experience. Endeavouring to embody Yashodhara’s character was a rich and enlightening journey—one that not only was emotionally challenging, but also an inspiration. It was a great opportunity to work closely with my director Neha Lohia, who has a clear vision and instrumental guidance which helped me to fully immerse in how Yashodhara’s elegance, maturity, and inner meditative strength allowed her to overcome obstacles of immense magnitude in her time which are somehow still relevant today.” Said Nelly Munoz, The lead actress who plays Yashodhara in the film.

"Working on this film broadened my horizons on a multitude of levels; from the end-to-end film process, to giving me an opportunity to study hours and hours of material about Siddhartha, Yashodhara, and the origins of modern Buddhism. As a non-Desi, there were personal challenges I had to overcome in order to do this script any justice. Neha's guidance, as well as the support from my co-star Nelly and the rest of the team, were crucial in helping bring forth and communicate my share of this story." Said William Carabano who plays the role of Siddhartha Gautam, The Buddha in the film.

There is an incredible amalgamation of talent from the world that came together for this project. The music of this film has happened in 5 different parts of the world with a Shamanic track from a Shaman singer based in Hungary, a licensed title track from Andrea Scarsi and Sandesh from Germany, recreation of Raga Shivaranjani on flute by RK Bikramjit Singh from Pune India, a fresh new chant written by neha, composed by Shyam lala from Arunachala India and sung by Sanjukta Sen from New York, the overall sound edit has been done by Vera Manuel in Argentina.

The film is shot in the historic Chinese Scholar’s Garden at Snug Harbor in Staten Island and at Central Park in Manhattan. “Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden finds itself home to film shoots of all sizes throughout the year, and takes great pride in our ability to support young film makers in the community. We were thrilled to provide access to our New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden for this exciting, female-led project”. Said Jenny Kelly, Director of Business Development Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Staten Island. New York.

There has been tremendous support from the local teams and crew members from New York, Zambia, India and Spain. The lead actors of the film are both Americans with Spanish, and Dominican Republic roots. “This short film has truly been a global melting pot bringing so many cultures and people together to bring it to life in today’s time and I am beyond grateful for all the support. “Buddha had a wife? Is something that I am often asked when I speak of this project to any one and it just make me reaffirm my reason to say this story as this woman is truly gone unsung in the pages of history who was the only one standing when all the men chose to leave following footsteps of Siddhartha and all that was left behind was a grieving kingdom filled with women, children and ageing people, all suffering!” Do we really need to suffer a lot to enlighten, to love? I remember when my ayurvedic doctor from India, Dr. Shailendra Chaubey shared a small poem with me more than 8 years ago when I was going through a tough patch in my life and this figure was mentioned in that poem, this woman since that day has been a force guiding me and I made a promise to tell this story in whatever ways I can to her”. teary-eyed neha*said.

“I also have a lot of fears like all of us do, but I realise the faith in us is bigger than our fears and we need to allow that to take us to where the guidance is calling us, we are all put here for some reasons and our passions are the signposts that we need to tune into, my script writing professor who is also the artistic director of this film festival Prof. Don Cato actually encouraged me to make this film as it was sitting unmanifested in me for years and my own fears held me captive and he said just do it, do it the best you can, you are not to burden yourself with the outcome just be true to the story that you want to say and say it in whatever ways you can with the resources you have and the rest will all come along, and it did! We had mammoth challenges and magical experiences while making this short as this story is truly massive and to fit the jest of it in a short was really overwhelming”.
 
She further adds “Yashodhara the Buddha’s Wife is a project of lifetime for me. This is one of those stories that have been in the hiding for thousands of years and it just needs to be told especially today with relationships are collapsing, the dating today break-up tomorrow phenomenon, increasing number of divorces, unhealed relational dynamics shouting all around us in a fragile society where nearly everyone is moving around with wounded hearts forgetting we are far more connected to each other than we think we are! This epic feminine compassionate figure, Yashodhara, has been part of my personal healing journey for over 8+ years. I have been researching her, Buddhism, the role of women, mythology, and historic data for 6+ years and it has taken me to many places and got me access to resources from many learned people on the subject of relational healing, and the path of love. I wish to make this project into a massive episodic WEB/TV Series, a movie series and a book as well in the times to come with all that I have collated and really take the audiences back to that era and that time, the royalty, the culture, music, art, the epic scale of this beginning of the beginning. This short film is a proof of concept that shows 1 scene from the heart wrenching and enlightening life of Queen Yashodhara. I hope it stirs open an enquiry about this epic character, what really happened back then and lets the world see this story for the first time from her eyes and perhaps I will one day make the epic saga that I want to if it’s meant to happen through me.

As a young female filmmaker who is heart-centered and full of ideas, Neha Lohia aims to venture into unexplored realms of film making by experimenting with new themes and subjects. Her stories often raise questions that she is asking too and there by opening a portal of perspective to open and shine light on those topics. She envisions delving in to revolutionary and untrammelled areas and thus be able to discover and witness her inner self using the limitless possibilities and scope of cinema.  
 
Neha is a multi-passionate creator. Filmmaker, entrepreneur, author, and a commercial artist with over 18 years of storytelling background in the illustrious Advertising, Hollywood, and Bollywood industries, she takes on multifaceted roles as producer, director, and marketeer on projects and has garnered several accolades for her contributions. She is originally from India and is currently based in New York City. She loves Directing, Producing & Filming original content, short films, web series, features, advertising, social and cultural content and anything that is creatively calling, spiritually nourishing, and healing. She is beyond excited and thrilled at the potential of storytelling and its capacity to help heal wounds of lifetimes, bring people together, open hearts and raise consciousness.

You can see Neha’s short film Yashodhara The Buddha’s Wife live on Nov 4, 2022 at the historic Flushing Town Hall in Queens New York or you can see it as part of the virtual festival from anywhere in the world on film festival flix. The details of her film and tickets to the festival are available here: https://queensworldfilmfestival.org/films/yashodhara-the-buddhas-wife/