Canadian director set to premiere first feature in Brampton

By Staff Reporter-TORONTO

Ace Canadian Director Brinda Muralidhar is bringing out her first feature film Knot Not! that will premiere for Canadian audiences on October 13.

A coming of age story of Mohan and his family, the film is about Mohan (Dilip Krishnamurthy) a young man from South India who arrives in Canada for higher studies.  Soon he makes friends with Patricia Smith (Jessica Siegner) a pleasant, independent Canadian girl.  All is well until Mohan’s parents Srinivas (Bala Ramanathan) and Padma (Brinda Muralidhar) arrive in Canada.  Srinivas wants Mohan to marry Lakshmi (Suniti Santosh) daughter of his Indo-Canadian friend, the light-hearted Bhaskar (Nat Pennathur).  Lakshmi is a delightful girl who cherishes great family values.   Mohan likes her, but before he embarks on his new journey, he has a major task to complete.  He is yet to figure out what he wants! 

Minister Jason Kenney's radio interview with Charles Adler today regarding NDP MP Jinny Simms comments on the new citizenship guide:

ADLER: Okay. Thanks very much. All right, look, Minister Kenney we have been talking for years now about the differences between multiculturalism and pluralism and the idea of defending our culture, not treating our culture like all others, and the idea that some cultures involve themselves in certain practices that we don't appreciate, we don't approve, and sometimes those practices are, objectively speaking, called barbaric. And so we want people from all over the world to come here but there are aspects of barbaric cultures, aspects of those cultures which are barbaric. And we're talking about sexual abuse and we're talking about some other things that I think everyone thinks of as, objectively speaking, backwards or barbaric or hideous or un-Canadian. But unfortunately in this new pamphlet that you've got, 143 pages, or 146 pages, pointing out to newcomers to Canada what it is that we don't approve of, I guess there's always going to be an opposition. Some people don't like the idea that you're using the B-word, barbaric?

Tia's talk: Jonita Gandhi - Nightingale of Toronto

Where were you born and raised?

Technically born in New Delhi, but practically Canada since my family migrated here when I was 9 months old. Raised in the Greater Toronto Area!

Tia's Talk

How do you think the environment you were in and your surroundings shaped for what you do now?

My environment growing up has been incredibly diverse. I grew up in a musical family which really sparked my interest in pursuing singing. It’s all thanks to my father for passing on the musical genes, and encouraging me to show it. My parents have been a huge source of support and I'm lucky in that way. Also, growing up in Canada I've been exposed to a lot of different cultures and styles of music. It has inspired me to try out different genres and learn from styles like Opera to R&B to Chutney/Soca to European folk. I love the multicultural environment that I have been exposed to since a young age and I think it has had a great influence on me and my music.

MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN - INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR DEEPA MEHTA OF TORONTO

Director Deepa Mehta. Photo courtesy of Hamilton Mehta Productions.

Why this book? This story?
I first read Midnight’s Children in the winter of 1982 in Delhi. I distinctly remember talkingabout the wonder of it all with a friend while we walked around Lodhi Gardens. It had anenormous impact on me. It uncannily echoed my own upbringing, and for a novice filmmaker inthe early ‘80s the book seemed to read like a movie - full of cinematic language and rooted inpopular Indian cinema. The novel’s fearless dark humour combined with its affection for allhuman foibles stayed with me. Salman and I often talked about working together. One night, over dinner, I asked him who had the rights to Midnight’s Children. He said he did. I asked to buy them and he sold the option to me for one dollar. It was not premeditated; it was just gut
instinct.

Teri Meri Kahaani - Recreating the past

Teri Meri Kahaani Cast at the IIFA Press Conference

www.insurancerate.com StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Iconic Indian designer JJ Valaya in an exclusive interview with Tushar Unadkat

www.insurancerate.com StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-
Iconic Indian designer JJ Valaya celebrated the 20^th anniversary of his company, The House of Valaya last weekend at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in downtown Toronto.
Also gracing the occasion was the Royal family from Jaipur including HRH Princess Diya Kumari and Maharaj Narendra Kumar.  The Princess is the daughter of the late Maharaj Sawai Bhawani Singh and Her Highness Maharani Padmini Devi of Jaipur. 

The Toronto’s glitterati came out in full force to participate in a cocktail reception and dinner followed by a fashion show by the veteran designer.

Silhouettes inspired by Valaya latest visit to Istanbul with mesmerizing music, panned a wide spectrum of earthen colored garments with thick glittering borders and other fusion cuts and coordinates. A select range of menswear complimented the look and feel of the women’s wear line that included jackets, dresses, shirts, blouses, skirts and breeches as well as traditional Indian Sarees with a twist.

Read on to know how much does this iconic Indian designer rates Toronto`s fashion sense out of ten!

Tia's Talk with Very Talented Singer and Musician Kasim - watch out for his album this year.

www.insurancerate.com StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto--

-Where were you born and raised? 

I was born in Paris, France and traveled a lot between Europe and North America as a kid. So I guess I grew up on both sides of the ocean.

-How do you think the environment you were in and your surroundings shaped you on all what you do now? 

It shaped me a lot, travelling was the best education I ever got. You meet and see some of the most interesting people when you travel. Culture shock is a blessing in disguise, it makes you worldly to say the least. 

Tia's Talk with Very Talented Toronto Based Singer Stephanie Braganza

Tia's talk

www.insurancerate.com StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-


Where were you born and raised?

I am of Goan heritage but I was born in Kingston, Ontario, then I moved to Toronto in 2003 to take Humber College's Jazz Vocal program. My Dad was born in Nairobi, Kenya; his parents came from Porvorim and

Colvale in Bardez, Goa. My Mom was born in Kampala, Uganda, and her parents came from Marjorda and Vasco in Salcete, Goa. In 1972, my Mother and her parents had to flee Uganda during the "Asian Expulsion" by Idi Amin. They were fortunate that Canada welcomed them as "Ugandan Refugees".

How do you think the environment you were in and your surroundings shaped you on all what you do now?

My Mom listened to a lot of various "oldies" growing up (everything from the Everly Brothers, Skeeter Davis, Connie Francis, Blondie). I found myself singing along at a young age and even trying to sing the harmonies. I actually didn't listen to much radio  until the late 90's. Two huge musical

influences for me growing up were Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. In high school, my Mom introduced me to Ella Fitzgerald and that was when my love for Jazz (and Ella) were born. Going to a Jazz music school not only helped me learn about arranging and writing music, it also, unexpectedly, introduced me to Funk, Rn'B, Dance and House music. These genres all have an influence on my music today.

What led you to realize that you wanted to be a singer?

Tia's talk with Multilingual Singer & Musician Melani Miguel of Toronto

Tia's Talk

Multilingual Singer & Musician Melani Miguel of Toronto

www.insurancerate.com
StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto- 

Where were you born and raised? 
    - I was born in Wellawatte, Colombo, Sri Lanka & raised in a suburban town called Alwis Town, Hendala-Wattale (in Sri Lanka) until the age of 11. In 1983, ensuing the aftermath of the "Black July" riots, during which, my home (along with most of my extended family members' homes) was destroyed by the violence, we moved to one of the boroughs of Colombo City again.  I lived inKollupitiya-Colombo 3, until 1987, at which time, we migrated to Toronto, Canada; where I have lived most of my life, till date.

Bonnie Crombie – A New Energy in the City of Mississauga in a Talk with Meena Chopra

Bonnie Crombie – Councillor Ward 5, Mississauga

In a Talk with Meena Chopra

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Meena Chopra: How does it feel to be a Councillor after being a Member of Parliament?
Bonnie Crombie: You know that is an excellent question. People have been asking me that and truly I think that being a councilor I deal with those issues that effects people in their daily lives, it’s the meat and potatoes of their daily lives. You know I got asked once when I was door knocking as a federal member what have you done for me directly to impact my life? Well I said that I spoke out in parliament for you, to help keep your taxes low and to deal with foreign relations and on visas and have given visas: he says no, no I haven’t needed a visa for my family so tell me what have you done for me? Then I said well, I did not build your community centre your city councilor did and he said ‘thank you very much’ and closed the door. So now I am here to say that I am going to build the community centre for people, dealing with issues like snow removal, waste disposal, where fences are permitted to be built, traffic safety, community safety – these are the issues that effect peoples lives directly every day and these are the issues I will be dealing with and to help people in their daily lives and help build vibrant communities.

Rajeev Masand interview with Dev Anand (Part 1 of 2)

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Dev Anand - Uncensored!

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Video-"Rockstar" Team in London Eye - Part 01

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Video-"Rockstar" Team in London Eye - Part 02

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Imtiaz Ali

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri

Video - "Rockstar' Team in London Eye - Part 03

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri

City Councillor Bonnie Crombie with Meena Chopra of StarBuzz

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

TRANSCRIPTION Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty holds a news conference to make an announcement

Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty announced the introduction of the Keeping Canada’s Economy & Jobs Growing Act which key elements of the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan — A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth. The announcement was made in Ottawa, on Tuesday, October 4, 2011

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty announced the introduction of the Keeping Canada’s Economy & Jobs Growing Act which key elements of the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan — A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth. The announcement was made in Ottawa, on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

I am Anna - An Exclusive Chat with Shweta Nagpurkar Saxena

Shweta Nagpurkar Saxena talks to Anna Hazare - “The one who lives for others, lives forever…this is the proved history of our Nation”

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-25^th September 2011 was the day when I touched the no-corruption soil of a village in India. A pristine village where even thinking about involving in the corruption is considered as a sin, a place where peace is allowed to rule the minds, where from children to the elderly choose the path of non-violence and anti-corruption and live with the faith that they made a right decision, village which since last several decades has proudly carried on the mission of ‘I am Anna’!

In conversation with young host, Aaliyah Khan who talks about her work and experiences.

Date Trap is a show where a friend arranges the worst date for his friend and plats all kinds of pranks on him. Since people have got familiar with the concept, we have changed the trapping system. But what remains same is the fun element.

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Sep 16, 2011 - In conversation with young host, Aaliyah Khan who talks about her work and experiences. After creating waves with Beg Borrow Steal, Aaliyah Khan is all pepped up to host the second season on Date Trap.

India's Most Desirable Part 1 John Abraham @TheYaar.com

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-