Shantanu Moitra, Bharat Dabholkar, Reema Kagti… to judge MVP’s musical fiesta showcasing 49+ artists

Sone ki raahon me sone ka jagah nahin, crooned Bappi Lahiri once, probably perfectly speaking for the city of life.

Mumbai or erstwhile Bombay has always been musical for those who dared to dream. Bollywood has always found the metropolis to be inspirational to create hit numbers.
No wonder that the MVP (Music Video Project) BMC in association with The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) already has 40 teams, 9 solo musicians and counting. The contest promises to give global audiences a taste of Mumbai’s sounds and vibe.

Music makers Milind Joshi and Shantanu Moitra, director-screenwriter Reema Kagti, advertising and theatre veteran Bharat Dabholkar, Manisha Dey who heads programming and content for Gaana.com and Nirmika Singh, editor of Rolling Stone are on the jury panel.

Admits Reema Kagti, “Mumbai has always been an inspiration - its love, its vibe, culture, people, food… Everything. I look forward to celebrating the city’s essence and culture with these videos.”

Adds Manisha Dey, “I seek something that is original in its idea musically as well as with its creative execution. It should be a video that not just celebrates the culture, combination of traditions, religions, cuisines, music and fine arts, but truly captures the diversity and inclusive nature of the metropolis.”

Says Shantanu Moitra, “Everyday hundreds of people come to Mumbai from all over India to make their dreams come true. The video should depict the inner thoughts of people and this city while they weave those dreams, should be something that touches my heart and makes me want to see it again and again.”

Nirmika Singh, Editor of Rolling Stone wants the journey to be a fun fiesta. She advises the artists: “Stay original, stay authentic and have a lot of fun.”

The collaborating artists are just as excited. Says Zoya Khan, “The song Kuch Toh Gadbad is from personal experience about the limerence but hope within a heart. The song is full of mischief and gadbad.”

Shriram Iyer, a true blue Mumbaikar, speaks of his song. “Khud Ka Pata is a breezy, lovely romantic drive kind of track. It brings a smile to your face.”

The group Madmast expresses the feelings behind their track. “There are many who come to Mumbai looking for something or the other and blend in the expansive ocean of faces. The hustle of the city, the uncountable hopes, dreams and aspirations associated with Mumbai becomes a part of their life. Our track is about this journey.”

Rakesh and Friends (RAF) is clear. “Our song blends cross-cultural sounds into an artistic masterpiece. Mumbai wears its heart on its sleeve, strives to keep moving and survives the chaos with an ethnicity guided by the unified emotion of love.”

Swarupa Ananth aka Tablanaari avers, “Being a percussionist, my track has obviously percussive elements, set on a bed of modern contemporary sounds. The track is layered with dhol and celebration sounds often heard on the streets of Mumbai along with everyday sounds we listen to as a Mumbaikar.
I am excited about the spirit of collaboration between musicians and filmmakers. Visuals and sound have always gone hand in hand and a platform like this only strengthens the relationship.”

The winning videos will be awarded and screened at a high-profile event in Mumbai, and selected videos will also be screened at Santos, Brazil at UCCN’s upcoming event and many more international avenues.
The winning videos will also be showcased at KGAF 2023.

The Music Video Project has been conceived and executed by the 48 Hour Film Project India. Wobble Creative & Content is their partner to curate the music.

The Music Video Project Kick Off event is on Friday July 29, 2022, 5 pm to 8 pm at Rude Lounge Powai, Mumbai, which marks the start of the contest to make the Best Music Video. 12 musicians have collaborated with the MVP by sharing original tracks. More than 40 teams are participating in the contest. Each team will be allotted a track through random picking of chits. They have 15 days to script, shoot, edit and submit the film. The last date to submit an entry is Saturday August 14, 2022.  
The winner takes home a cash prize as well.

www.musicvideoproject.in

Mumbai throngs Nisha JamVwal’s Art Fiesta ‘Meanderings’ by Lata Balakrishna

 

Nisha JamVwal, celebrity columnist, art curator, interior architect and social activist presented Meanderings by Lata Balakrishna, a Modern contemporary Indian artist whose oeuvre JamVwal showcased at the Taj Mahal Hotel Art Gallery that has also exhibited works by the legendary MF Husain and FN Souza.

The five day art fiesta pulled off by Nisha JamVwal was easily the most talked-about extravaganza of this year post-Covid. Famous Art collectors, Art Aficionados, Consul Generals, Authors, Top Police commissioners, Bureaucrats, CEOs from the corporate world, actors, singers, models, fashion designers all friends of Nisha JamVwal thronged the show  that opened with a grand dinner at Recca Kala Ghoda followed by four champagne cocktails back to back at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Gateway of India.
Guests were enthralled by the textured whites and vibrancy in clouds and waters that take us at once into a minds search for the meaning of life.  

Nisha JamVwal looking stunning in a Marium Akbar Khan gold gown took guests on walking tours each day speaking about the works in the show ‘Meanderings’ telling friends  about Her interpretation of the art.




The Glitterati included author Ashwin Sanghi, Maestro Anup Jalota, Maestro Roop Kumar Rathod, Japanese Consul General Dr Fukahori Yasukata, Kobbi Shoshani Israel Consul General, Consul General Turkey Tolga Kaya, actors Sara Khan, Tanaaz Irani, Luke Kenny, Designers Pallavi Jaikishan, Eshaa Amin, Amy Billimoria and Roshni and Parvez Damania, Shashi Bansal,  Malti Jain, Nidarshana Govani among many others.
Says JamVwal “Lata invited me to see her work as many artists do all over the world with the desire that I host a solo show for them. I went without expecting much as I almost always do. It would be an understatement to say that I was moved by what I interpreted as canvases that speak of a  woman achiever thirsting to explore a world outside her  life of  responsibilities breaking free from the regimented routine hurdles and monotonous repetitive mundane”

The chiaroscuro of shadow and sunshine, the showers of colour in meandering waters drew me into her world, where the title ‘meandering’ came to me not only because of a travel junkie thirsting to explore a world outside her childhood in Jalandar, but I saw her art as journey into her own mind.

Women all over the world face challenges multitasking home and work, ever the champions who go through life traipsing over challenging hurdles  that life poses. Often employed at work outside and running a home simultaneously bearing babies and rearing them, caring and managing the family needs- the story is deeply etched in the Indian scenario and culture of joint families arranged matrimony and the ensuing characteristics of all this in the predominantly male chauvinistic society that is India.

I am lost in a kaleidoscope of emotions that play out using symbolic metaphor as tools of expression seeking more from life”