Posts Tagged ‘Mumbai’

The ever growing Mumbai film festival

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

As a city Mumbai has been growing every single year with more tourists visiting the city to experience its unique culture and the many events which take place. Mumbai is constantly becoming a more important city with creative arts and this is demonstrated by the many festivals which are held there each year to showcase and encourage talent. The Mumbai film festival is one of these festivals and film-makers travel to the event from all over the world to show what they have been working on and meet new people.

The festival has many different awards to encourage people to attend and compete and these awards cover both Indian film-makers, International film-makers and both groups in categories together. By attending and competing for these awards, the festival exhibits film-makers talents to already established people in the industry and it is a great way to network and open up new opportunities.

To constantly encourage growth in the industry there are awards which are specifically for film-makers who have never exhibited or released a film before. Competing against people in a similar situation to them takes the pressure off a little and gives them the push they need to step into the limelight and show what they can do. The aim of these awards is to expose talented individuals which need a little more confidence to really flourish.

Art house and world cinema are an important part of the industry for major film fans but also for important industry executives looking for the next big talent to take to Hollywood. Because of this importance, the festival also has awards to encourage Indian film-makers to demonstrate what they can do. This also helps the Indian film industry but the more and more talent which comes from such awards, the more and more people attend the event every year.

As of 2011, the Mumbai film festival will have been taking place every year for the last 13 years and over that time it has become ever more popular with film-makers from many different countries. Over the course of the week which it is on, the festival is now attended annually by many up and coming talents. French cinema has a large presence at the festival and this connection is extremely important for the future of the show because of how French films from the past are so well-known.

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Mumbai: the old and the new

Friday, September 30th, 2011

The metropolis of Mumbai, which used to go by the name of Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city of all of India, and in the top ten most populous of the world, containing an eye watering 20.5 million people. It is supposed to have the highest gross domestic product of any city in the South, West or Central Asian area. But that is only half of what makes Mumbai special, for it also has a very long, and very interesting history.

The divide is relatively consistent, with the more modern and business oriented section in South Mumbai, and the more historical area, and where people tend to live, in Mumbai Suburban District. Obviously there is history to be seen in the architecture of South Mumbai, which bears a strong British resemblance from its days as a British colony, but it is relatively recent history and in most other respects this district is distinctly modern.

The natural beauty and historical import of the Suburban District couldn’t be more different to the South Mumbai area. Historically important places include: the Mount Mary Church; the Mahakali caves; Essel world; Water Kingdom; Kanheri Caves; Film City; and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Through this area you can also find the Mithi River running. This is where you go to find the old part of Mumbai.

One of the most famous of these sites is the Gandhi National Park, which has been mentioned in writing as far back as the 4th century BCE, but obviously under a different name. In the middle of this beautiful place the Kanheri Caves were a centre of learning and for Buddhists of the time. It was actually build between the 9th and the 1st century BCE by Buddhist monks.

This clash of the old and new found in the metropolis of Mumbai surely makes it a place of great interest and one certainly worthy of a visit. If this meeting of the modern world with the ancient appeals, then Mumbai is the city to visit.

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Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

Combine the words Bombay and Hollywood and you get Bollywood. This is what the Hindi speaking film industry has come to be called, despite being based in Mumbai. It is the largest producer of films in India, and one of the biggest in the world, making around 800 film annually, and drawing so many people to the cinema that tickets there are some of the cheapest anywhere. What follows is a brief history of the Hindi film industry.

The first silent film to be made in India was ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913, and such was the success of this that by the 1930s India was already producing over 200 films a year. The change to sound film only made it more successful, so all areas of India quickly adopted talkies and musicals. Because of the terrible social events of the period, such as the Great Depression, the Indian independence movement, and the Partition, most Bollywood films were designed as a form of escapism. However, there were some that dealt with the social issues of the time.

Following the Independence of India, Bollywood entered its golden age (around 1940s to 1960s). During this time films like ‘Pyaasa’ (1957) and ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’ (1959) by Guru Dutt and ‘Awaara’ (1951) and ‘Shree 420′ (1955) by Raj Kapoor were made, and have been called some of the best Bollywood ever made. These were films about the plight of urban working class in India.

The 1970s saw a change in theme in Bollywood, bringing in a new era of gritty action oriented films about gangsters and bandits. Actors like Amitabh Bachchan, famous for his angry young man characters, benefited in this period which went on until the 1990s. One of the most famous films from this period was ‘Deewar’, directed by Yash Chopra, which tells the story of the smuggler Haji Mastan, who was a real life smuggler, and was played by Bachchan in the film. Danny Boyle has said that this film is “absolutely key to Indian cinema”.

Bollywood just got bigger and better, and in the year 2000 it became an internationally enjoyed genre of cinema. The money from this increased popularity funded advancements in methods of shooting, special effects and even techniques in writing.

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The most popular Indian food exports

Friday, March 4th, 2011

In the world India is the second largest food exporter only becoming behind China. One of the largest trades in the country is food production and it provides the country with a lot of finances which is the main reason for India exporting such a high amount of food. Food is a large part of the culture in India and meals are often rich in colour and flavour, this makes them very popular in other countries as a change from their regular meals.

A lot of Indian food has a huge amount of flavour and can contain a lot of spices. Because of the amount of flavour which comes from such a small addition to a meal, these spices are very popular around the world and so are in very high demand. They also add colour to meals to make them more appealing and so they are also used in dishes which don’t originate from India.

As it is largely farmed in the country India also exports a lot of fruit. Due to lower temperatures a number of tropical fruits won’t grow in countries like the UK whereas the temperatures in India make it perfect for growing them. As it is grown in such high numbers there is always a large excess and so fruit is the perfect export for the country.

As well as foods not readily available in other countries India also exports a lot of normal foods such as meat, milk, fish, grain and soya products. Whilst these are available in other countries they can often be cheaper if the exported Indian product is bought instead.

The food business in India has developed over the years moving from selling foods not available in other countries to cheaper, better nourished products which were already available. Because of the development they are now able to manufacture soft drinks, chocolate bars and many other confectionary items as well as packaging them all of which are in high demand as exports.

There are some great deals on hotels in Mumbai.

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Vivanta By Taj Are India’s Newest Green Hotels

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Who doesn’t want to stay at the Taj when visiting India? Well, it’s just gotten easier. Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces, after much customer research, has decided to add a new brand, Vivanta by Taj. Already there are 19 Vivantas in various India cities, including 16 that were just “reflagged” in the new upper-scale brand. By sometime in 2012, Taj intends to grow the Vivanta line organically to more than 30 hotels, with upwards of 5,000 rooms.

All Taj hotels and resorts follow sustainable practices, and those in the Vivanta by Taj stable will be no exception. They will be audited by the worldwide certifier, Green Globe. This program for travel and tourism properties uses green benchmarks devised at a UN gathering in Rio in the 1990s.

If you want to check a Vivanta out, head for the Goan Vivanta resorts–in Fort Aguada and Holiday Village–or Vivanta hotels in the popular tourist destinations of Mumbai or Connemara (in Kerela state).

What are the hallmarks of the Vivanta brand? Well, the descripters used by the Taj folks include “stylish,” “sophisticated,” “contemporary,” “vivid,” and “creative.” They are aimed at experienced world travelers who wants something more than an ordinary hotel stay. Vivanta aimes to be “a cool avatar of luxury” that offers the legendary Taj service.

The name Vivanta clearly draws inspiration from the term “bon vivant,” signifying appreciation for the good things in life.

Within the next few months, new Vivanta hotels are to open in major metropolitan areas like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and 3 in New Delhi. Vivanta resorts will also open in Madikeri, Bekal and Srinagar. Six additional Vivanta projects are in the pipeline.

You don’t have to risk your health to visit India! You will be amazed at the eco-friendly things that Taj and other Indian hoteliers are doing. Unconvinced? Check out this amazing green resort near a tiger reserve in the south India state of Kerela. For tips on the best green travel worldwide, visit Green Traveler Guides.

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