Award winning French actor, Vincent Cassel once said that cinema is entertainment and people go to the movies because they want to feel good and forget about everything. Whether movies are mainstream or unconventional, one cannot imagine a life without films. And when it comes to our top executives, not only do they admit being movie buffs but they also share some of the films that have left a mark in their lives throughout the years.  Let?s check out today the kind of cinema these media personalities love to watch. 

Workshops, plays, events and festivals - there is something in store for everyone this weekend! Play lovers in Mumbai can catch The Vagina Monologues or Einstein starring Naseerudin Shah while partygoers can attend the India Beach Fashion week or the Sulafest 2015 this weekend.  A number of seminars including the Stage Fright Cure Workshop in Bengaluru and the Weekend Acting Workshop in Delhi promise to make this weekend a productive one. Apart from that, get your friends to watch Arijit Singh performing live in Mumbai or get your weekly dosage of laughter at Let?s Laugh Again in Delhi. Check out what?s happening in the country this weekend:

Friday, 06 February, 2015

The Vagina Monologues, 6.30 pm @ Canvas Laugh Club, Mumbai
The Hindi version of The Vagina Monologues, translated by Ritu Bhatia and Jaydeep Sarkar, will elate, educate and entertain you in unimaginable ways. This translation reaches poetic, comedic and dramatic heights rarely seen on the Indian stage. You will laugh and cry, leaving the theater feeling exhilarated and enthralled.

Ishara International Puppet Festival, 7.30 pm @ Apparel House, Gurgaon
A must watch for the entire family, the Ishara International Puppet Festival comprises short stories about a place where its inhabitants live the most varied adventures. Directed by Jose Gil and Sofia Olivenca Vinagre, the innocence of these inhabitants results in humorous moments experienced by the carved sponge characters. Sound and movements replace words and the puppets will bewitch you with simplicity, transporting you to a magical and captivating world.

Porshi & Behula Lakhander Pala, 6.30 pm @ Madhusudan Mancha, Kolkata
Lalan Fakir was a Bengali Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, social reformer and thinker. In Bengali culture he is an icon of religious tolerance whose songs inspired and influenced many poets and social and religious thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Allen Ginsberg. The play is an autobiography of Lalan Fakir. Directed by Ashis Chattopadhyay, this is a solo performance by Dipa Bramha where she will project the lifestyle of Lalan Fakir.

Yes, I WILL - The Stage Fright Cure Workshop, 3.30 pm @ Academy of Broadcasting, Bengaluru
Stage fright is the fear that comes up around doing anything for someone else's enjoyment or consideration. It may be an audience of one, a few, or thousands. The first of its kind workshop will help you in getting over stage fright and overcome your fear of public speaking and performance. The workshop is ideal for anyone who wants to conquer stage-fright, people intending to gain confidence in public speaking and students who want to learn the skill of performing live, artistes aspiring to be an anchor, emcee and voice-over artists, professionals who want to enhance their skills in corporate presentations and overcome the fear of speech and performance.

Saturday, 07 February, 2015

Warehouse Sessions - Arijit Singh Live, 5:30 pm @ Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
Arijit Singh came into the limelight when he participated in the reality-singing show, Fame Gurukul in 2005. He got his first break in Bollywood when he was asked to sing Phir Mohabbat in the movie Murder 2. He then sang for movies like Players, Agent Vinod, Cocktail and Barfi. Singh?s biggest success so far has been Tum Hi Ho from the movie Aashiqui 2 and since then there?s been no looking back! This weekend get ready to witness the multiple award winner performing live in Mumbai! Listen to his mesmerizing voice live in a warehouse and get ready for a totally new experience.

Weekend Acting Workshop, 2.30 pm @ Take One House, Delhi
The weekend workshop specifically focuses on helping students to discover the actor in them and provides them with a thorough foundation of acting skills with a specific focus in helping them understand the basic techniques involved in developing their acting skills. The weekend workshop is conveniently designed to fit into their weekly schedule by committing the student to classes only on weekends. This workshop is for everybody from professionals to students, serious actors and acting students. Those who can find time on the weekends and want to learn the basics of stagecraft and acting, this Weekend Workshop is ideal for them.

India Beach Fashion Week, 12.00 pm @ Grand Mercure Shrem Resort, Goa
Be a part of three days of fashion, style & entertainment at Asia's Largest beach fashion week at a premium Five Star venue and be the first one to witness latest in the beach and resort wear by top designers in India. Experience a poolside pop-up flee market with live music and get a chance to buy clothing and accessories from top brands.

2 States (North vs South), 6.30 pm @ Rangasthala Auditorium, Bengaluru
Come witness a live debate of North Indians vs South Indians once and for all. The four comics, Rajasekhar Mamidanna, Rohit Swain, Avinash Agarwal, Umesh Somani are going to fight it out to stamp their authority about who is smarter. Come, let's laugh over our regional differences.

Sunday, 08 February, 2015

SulaFest 2015, 12.30 pm @ Sula Vineyards, Nashik
The country's most gorgeously situated, eagerly awaited Gourmet World Music Festival is back with the line-up of the year. SulaFest party-goers can expect a megamix of great music, wine, drinks, food, fashion and shopping in the idyllic environs of the winery's beautiful open-air, Greek-style amphitheater.

Einstein starring Naseerudin Shah, 7.00 pm @ NCPA Tata Theatre, Mumbai
Catch actor Naseerudin Shah essaying the title role in the play called Einstein, which is a 'line drawing' suggesting the spirit of the lovable figure, who despite being a towering thinker and great scientist, was plagued with doubts disappointments and failures in common with the rest of mankind.

Let's Laugh Again, 6.00 pm @ Akshara Theatre, Delhi
Directed by Gopal Sharman, Let's Laugh Again takes a dig at the Delhi elections. A witty evocation of Delhi's election battle, this play makes fun of all the politicians, political parties, news channels et al. Come and laugh with the political show that's had Delhi in splits!

Mumbai: Korean Cultural Centre India finally finished the full fledge K-pop Concert Tour of N-Sonic band with a fan signing activity in the national capital after the overwhelming performance at IIM Ahmedabad, SRM University Chennai and IIT Guwahati. The globally popular music phenomenon, K-POP 2015 Concert Tour in India was the first of its kind in the country with the band performed at Chaos Festival, IIM Ahmedabad, Milan Festival, SRM University Chennai and Alcheringa, IIT Guwahati and concluded their tour with a fan signing meet at the Korean Cultural Centre, New Delhi.

The band of six boys; J. Heart, Sihoo, Byeol, Minkee, Black J. and Zion ? N-Sonic, with their tremendous talent and unwavering energy, evoked vociferous applause from the crowd and won over several hearts all in the matter of an hour.During the interaction N-Sonic confessed that they love India very much and they would love to come back again in the future.

Korean Cultural Centre India, Director, Kim Kum Pyoung said, ?On the cultural front, K-POP as a juggernaut of Korean soft-power is something we were very keen on introducing in India.?

He revealed that the vision & future of K-POP in India that totally depends on public's demand. K-POP is the popular music genre from South Korea, consisting of dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, rock, hip-hop, R&B, etc. The K-POP musical movement started in Korea in 1990s and has swept the world through the ?Korean Wave?. Today, K-POP has entrenched itself as a bona fide phenomenon in Asia and is rapidly extending its reach to new markets.

One of Korea?s new and upcoming K-POP bands, N-Sonic had attended the K-POP audition held in India last year as judges and their presence had created a buzz like none other.

Enthused by the response of the Indian audiences, the Korean band will be performing in India this year around in a K-POP tour concert. With Psy's 'Gangnam Style' going viral in 2012, Korean pop music gained international recognition with N-Sonic ushering in the K-POP phenomenon through their visit which created huge turnouts during the K-POP final auditions held in the country?s capital on August 2014.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews the television shows and films that you simply cannot miss! For this weekend (6-8 February 2015), catch the Filmfare Awards on Sony TV along with the Barclays Premier League on Star Sports. If you are a movie buff, don?t miss out on Amitabh Bachchan?s Shamitabh and The Boy Next Door starring Jennifer Lopez.

Television ...

Filmfare Awards

The 60th Britannia Filmfare Awards 2014 will be telecast on 8 February, 2015 at 8 pm on Sony Entertainment Television. Catch the biggest names from the Hindi film industry taking the honor back home. Karan Johar and funny man Kapil Sharma will host the show. Electrifying performances by Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Salman Khan are also in store.

The Lunch Box Premiere
The Lunchbox  is a well-told old-fashioned romance, which gracefully takes us through the trials, tribulations, fears and hopes of everyday people in this glamour-filled city of Mumbai. It also brings back memories of the days when people used to communicate through hand-written letters, when the world had not heard of cell phones or emails. It is the story of loneliness faced by two different individuals who get in touch with each other through the mistaken delivery of a lunchbox by the famous and efficient 'Dabbawalas'. Watch the premier of this beautiful movie only on ZEE HD on 8th February, 2015, 12 p.m.

Barclays Premier League
Catch Tottenham and Arsenal battling it out on a North London Derby at 6:15 pm on 7 February, 2015 only on Star Sports. While both the teams fight for a position in the top four, three points from the Derby can decide the fate for either team and help them bag a Champion?s League spot!

Movies ...

Shamitabh

Shamitabh is all set to release on 6 February, 2015. Written and directed by R. Balki, the film features Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Haasan in lead roles. The film is jointly produced by Sunil Lulla, Balki, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, R. K. Damani, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sunil Manchanda and Dhanush under their respective production banners. Ilaiyaraaja has composed the soundtrack album and background score, while P. C. Sreeram handled cinematography. The film also stars Rekha in a pivotal role. While the trailer looks promising, one can only decide the fate of the film upon its release.

The Boy Next Door
The Boy Next Door, directed by Rob Cohen and written by Barbara Curry, stars Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, John Corbett, Ian Nelson, and Kristin Chenoweth in lead roles. While the movie released in the US two weeks back, the romantic thriller will release in India this weekend. Lopez plays a high school teacher named Claire who, in the midst of a divorce, has a one-night stand with a younger neighbor who develops a dangerous obsession with her. The movie has performed well at the box office, almost quadrupling its budget during its opening weekend alone.

By: Ritwika Gupta

?Each moment, every single moment, we either create a dream or a nightmare, as each moment we either choose to live or we choose to kill the opportunity to live.?-  Ruzbeh N. Bharucha

Ruzbeh N. Bharucha?s new book Rabda is not just a plain biography of Sai Baba but it also brings alive real stories and philosophy of life. Bharucha, who himself is a non-conformist, believes that spirituality is as freewheeling as breathing.

As one of the most influential spiritual writers in the country, Bharucha started his career as a journalist and documentary filmmaker. Till date, he has written eleven books including the bestselling, The Fakir Trilogy. Settled in Pune with his family, Bharucha also has a popular blog on The Speaking Tree. In a candid chat with Indiantelevision.com?s RITWIKA GUPTA, the acclaimed author talks about his new book Rabda and shares his beliefs on spirituality and inspiration.

Your journey as an author?

The journey of writing books started when I was in Jai Hind College, Mumbai but it took me ten years to get the first book published. The publishing house had asked me to write a non-fiction book on spirits like whisky, vodka, wine. For some reason I thought they wanted me to write on life after death and spirit communication. It was only when the conversation maneuvered towards the subject of hangovers, I realised that I was harping about the wrong kind of spirits. But the publisher seemed to like my spooky idea better and that is how I got into writing about the spiritual world.

Your inspiration?

The process of writing makes life worth living and this inspires me to keep writing. Sai Baba of Shirdi also inspires me to write. Both my books - The Fakir Trilogy and Rabda - are set in a world where Sai Baba communicates and makes his presence felt. The conversation between the main character and Sai Baba is real. There is humor, swearing, laughter and profound words of wisdom as well.

Your favourite books?

I love reading fiction, crime thrillers and detective books.  I also love humour. I have read The Autobiography of a Yogi by Swami Paramhansa Yogananda innumerable times. My favourite books include Aghoras: At The Left Hand of God by Robert Svoboda, Timothy Files by Lawrence Sanders and Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Robert Bach. I also like to read books written by P.G.Wodehouse, Somerset Maugham, James Hardly Chase, Colin Dexter, Grisham, Khushwant Singh, Stieg Larsson, Lawrence Sanders, Harold Robbins and Rex Stout. 

Your thoughts on Rabda?

The crux of the book is to spread the message of oneness.  I wanted to write a book on Sai Baba of Shirdi. I wanted to focus on Baba's philosophy and ideology and project him as someone who is beyond religion, sects and miracles. But I wanted to write it in a conversational manner. The book goes back and forth, past and present, uses present day language along with Sai Baba's colourful vocabulary and the reader is taken on a journey of a lifetime.

Story & characters of Rabda?

The main character in the book, Rabda or Caiz, is a famous musician who attempts to commit suicide. His attempt however fails and he instead goes into a state of coma. Chances are that he is going to die but this is when Sai Baba enters the hospital and awakens the spirit body of Rabda. The two then begin to converse about life, death and everything in between and that is what the book is all about.

The Cover Page?

The cover page features Rabda the musician reaching out to Sai Baba.

 Next in the Pipeline?

My new book Ananda: Musings of The Fakir has been published by Full Circle. In the month of April, The Perfect Ones, a set of biographies on various masters, prophets, avatars, goddesses, archangels, will be published and released by Penguin. 

There just aren?t enough days in the weekend! Most of us anxiously wait for Friday in order to refuel and indulge in our favourite activities. After an exhausting long week, the one way to unwind would be to experience a fun and relaxing weekend. Indiantelevision.com?s Exec Lifestyle will give you a checklist on the best of weekend events and activities in the country. From where to go and what to do, The Event Diary will be your definitive guide to the exciting events, festivals and activities that are take place from Friday to Sunday.

Run through our list of the coolest ways to usher in this weekend.

Friday, 30 Jan 2015

Jhumroo, 2.30pm @ Kingdom of Dreams, Sector 29 Delhi, NCR
Catch the musical drama Jhumroo, a moving tale of a fan and his belief in his Idol. Jhumroo will take the audience through the story of a lovable young boy Bhola, who finds himself in the finals of a singing reality show. How the music and spirit of Kishore da whom Bhola considers his idol makes this possible is an enchanting tale in true sense of the word.

Dance Like a Man, 9.30pm @ Bandra Base, Mumbai
Mahesh Dattani?s cinematic adaptation of a theatrical performance stars Lilette Dubey, Vijay Crishna, Suchitra Pillai-Malik and Joy Sengupta. It is the story of Jairaj and Ratna, two Bharatanatyam dancers past their prime, and their daughter Lata, who is on the brink of establishing herself as a brilliant dancer. Her imminent success creates tension and jealousy and the audience is drawn into the dark secrets of family relationships and conflicts between generations.

Krishan Vs Kanhaiya, 6.45pm @ Kala Mandir Auditorium, Kolkata
Paresh Rawal?s much loved and highly acclaimed play Krishan Vs Kanhaiya talks about a small time street smart conman and antique dealer, Kishan, who is an atheist married to a very religious woman. There is always an argument about religion in the house. Hilariously funny situations are created due to this conflict. Suddenly, a dramatic event occurs in his life which changes his outlook and leads him to question the very existence of God or ''Kanhaiya''.

NeObliviscaris B-School Of Rock, 6.30pm @ IIM, Bangalore

Ne Obliviscaris, a violin-laden six piece metal band, is coming to perform in India for the first time this weekend in Banglore. The band, known for their unique sound and intense live shows rose to fame in 2012 with their album Portal Of I. They have headlined festivals such as Progfest and Sonic Forge, while gaining fans across the globe.

Saturday, 31 Jan 2015

Unfaithfully Yours, 8:00 pm @ NCPA Tata Theatre, Mumbai
For all theatre buffs, catch a poignant love drama, ?Unfaithfully Yours? directed by Raell Padamsee, starring Mona Singh and Rohit Roy. The play begins with a chance meeting between two strangers, Akash and Preet, which blossoms into a 25 year relationship. The audience follows their story at 5-year intervals and experiences how the characters grow both as individuals and as a couple.

Barbecue Master Class, 11.00am @ Weber Experience Center, Banglore

Anyone who wants to learn to barbecue at home and prepare delicious grilled fare, should attend the Barbecue Master Class in Banglore. Learn simple techniques to barbecue or roast food perfectly. Cook everything from whole chickens to chocolate brownies, and the grilling method can be used for veggies, chicken skewers or even pizzas and desserts.

India Art Fair 2015, 2.00pm @ NSIC Ground, Delhi

India Art Fair is one of the leading art fairs for modern and contemporary art from across the world. India's premier modern and contemporary art fair, now in its 7th edition,will showcase a breadth of modern and contemporary art practices including painting, sculpture, new media, installation and performance art.

Sunday, 01 Feb 2015

Most Comedy Ever with Kanan Gill, 7.30pm @ Sirifort Auditorium, Delhi
Kanan Gill, who exploded onto the stand-up comedy scene with his YouTube channel where he co-created the show ?Pretentious Movie Reviews?, is all set to crack you up in Delhi this weekend. Witness an impromptu night filled with laughter and hilarity with the funny man!

Sunday Brunch at Indigo Delicatessen, 9:00 am @ Andheri West, MumbaiAdd a bit of fun to your Sunday brunch at Cafe Indigo Delicatessen. You can enjoy a wide spread of delicious food like the yummy pancakes, egg benedict, wafer-thin classic margherita pizza, chicken lasagne and European-Continental main course. The outside canopy seating is the best place to eat under with natural light and a pleasant morning temperature.

Pitcher Perfect Live Stand-Up Comedy, 8.30pm @ HAL 2nd stage, Bangalore

Watch stand-up comedians Nitin Gupta and Rupen Paul as they narrate their funny tales and tickle your funny bones. Live comedy and beers, it doesn't get any better!