By Jigar Ganatra

Aspiring filmmakers across the globe come together to celebrate filmmaking with country?s most prolific cinematic names.

Steven Spielberg once said, ?You shouldn?t dream a film, you should make it.? We understand that a lot of people who dream about it, somehow do not get a platform to make and showcase their filmmaking ability.

This concern is what turned into the concept of Asia?s largest film making challenge ? India Film Project (IFP). Ahmadabad based Ritam Bhatnagar, the man behind the initiative who also dons several other roles of being a producer, distributor and an entrepreneur, shares some excerpts in an interview about the project.

Read on...

Tell us about the idea behind IFP.

India Film Project (IFP) began as a simple idea where we wanted filmmakers to meet and make a film, as an activity over the weekend, in just 50 hours. The basis behind this initiative was to provide a platform to thousands of budding filmmakers and technicians, thereby helping them showcase the talent.

We are currently in the fifth edition, but initially when we conceptualised it, we thought it would be a one-time event. The response we have received in our previous editions has helped us grow year after year.

Can you share the experience from previous editions?

In the first edition, the idea was to spread the word and bring together the talent we discovered across Ahmedabad. We found from our research that Ahmedabad had a lot of filmmaking talent. During the registrations, we expected around 200 entries, but were surprised to receive 600 entries in total. We realised that there was a massive talent pool in search of a platform. Thus, the project was planned year after year with increasing number of entries. In the third edition, IFP went national and that?s when we knew what they all were looking for.

What is special about this edition?

This year, the event has gone international. We are proud to have received around 640 entries from 182 cities and 18 countries, and we are expecting around 15,000 filmmakers this year. We work hard on deciding the theme every year, so as to make the films interesting.

'There is a Twist in the End? is the theme we decided this year. The participants were asked to submit their entries with a compulsory element of dance.

Have you received any support from the film industry?

We are pleased that the industry has been very supportive. Every year we have been lucky to get renowned members from the movie business. This year too, we have critically acclaimed jury from the film industry on board, which includes the famous filmmaker Ketan Mehta, Onir (from Anticlock Films), Guneet Monga of Lunch Box fame and film critic Raja Sen.

Tell us more about your association with Gujarat Government.

The success we have seen with this event made us believe that the event could be very unique to the state of Gujarat. Surprisingly, the response we received from the government was also the same. We were told that the government was looking for an initiative that becomes an identity for the state. Further, the winners will be given an opportunity to shoot an ad film for Gujarat Tourism, which according to us, is a big opportunity for any filmmaker.

What prizes do the winners get every year?

The team at IFP do not believe in cash awards. We have always wanted to give them an opportunity to work on a big project, so that they create a mark and the event holds a big place in their career. This has helped the participants to take up film and ad making as a career. Many are now associated with certain production houses too.

The selection of the winners would happen on different criteria, most importantly content, concept and writing. The winners this year would be registered as wild card entries at IFFI, Goa. Other prizes would include gadgets and few film making projects too.

More details about the event can be found here: http://indiafilmproject.co/#

By Papri Das

Ever felt the jitters right before you travel to a new place -- be it for work or leisure? And if it's a last minute trip, the planning, hotel reservations, ticket bookings, researching for places to see, all the while keeping the budget in check, complicates things further.

Add to that a huge group of people, each with their quirks and you have yourself a recipe for a pounding headache that will probably last your entire trip. This experience isn?t new to Snehal Dhruve, who was in the corporate world in the US for 10 years before deciding to follow his passion as an entrepreneur. His answer to the travel woes is GoHeroGo, a one stop app for all travel solutions.

?I am an avid traveller and no one app or website could ever help me in the research, plan and booking of my next outing. I?ve always been dependent on different tools and spent a lot of time on it. The intention to solve a real problem faced by travellers i.e. inconvenience while researching, planning and booking a travel activity became my inspiration to build this app,? shares Dhruve.

For his partner Jason Menezes, however, it was all about giving back something to the travelling community, which he has had been part of for several years. Although in line with Dhruve?s plight, Menezes had been personally hassled with the customer experience while booking across channels. ?It seemed as if no travel service provider cared about it while building a platform on mobile, online or offline,? he adds.

These collective discomfort with the way travellers have to plough through several apps and websites to plan a decent trip inspired the two to come up with GoHeroGo, which was launched to the Android and iOS marker on 1 September. ?It took two months to come up with an app powered with artificial intelligence technology. Our initial challenge was to find the right market fit for our product,? adds Dhruve.

So how does the app function? It's quite simple actually. You just have to chat. ?GoHeroGo is a chat-based travel concierge app, which uses artificial and human intelligence to fulfil customer requests across multiple categories like researching, planning and booking,? explains Menezes.

Simply put, just chat with the GoHeroGo team and ask whatever you need for your next travel plan. This includes flight or bus or rail tickets, a to-do itinerary, a cab or auto (subjective to city), trip essentials, restaurants of choice and more. ?Our trained team is standing by 24/7 to handle every request. We simply save you time and money by using artificial + human intelligence to process your request and order via chat,? assures Dhruve.

What sets this app apart from the collective pile of travel apps is the contextual travel information that the app provides 24X7. ?The app completes the booking on the customer?s behalf from the convenience of chat with real humans. Compare this to any travel app in India and you won?t see these offerings. Our app allows users to share their travel service provider preference for smarter response along with responses in beautifully created information cards,? Menezes explains.

Powered by their smart backend engine, the app effortlessly curates through many options and chooses the most relevant for users. ?We also have some tie-ups with selective online travel and product aggregators to provide the lowest price guarantee.?

With so many features, one would wonder how much the app costs. ?The app is free to download and so are its services on iOS and Google Play Store. There are no service charges from us or hidden fees. When you book things through us, you pay lesser than the price if you did it yourself,? comes Dhruve?s surprising response.

Fresh in the market since its launch at the Android and iOS stores, the app has garnered some patronage as well. ?We?ve got 1000 app downloads on Google Play and 1000 on iOS. We get 20 requests a day with 100 per cent response rate and purchase conversion ratio of five per cent per day,? informs an excited Menezes before signing off.

It?s that time of the year again when Mumbai decks up like a new bride and Mumbaikars rejoice in festive fervour to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. And that means that even the media industry, which otherwise works 24x7 be it rain or shine, are allowed to take a tiny break. They make the most of it by taking this opportunity to reconnect to their roots in the city and join in the season?s flavour.

Exec Lifestyle caught up with five media professionals from distinctive fields in Mumbai to find out their plans for the day, what they anticipate the most on Ganesh Chaturthi and their favourite Puja hubs in the city.

Find out more?

Samir Kochhar (Actor and Max?s Extraaa Innings T20 host)

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival of fun and celebrations with family. Since childhood this day is meant for a get together of everyone who come to our beautifully decorated home for the worship of the Ganesh Idol. The yummy modaks have always remained a highlight of this day for me. My favourite Ganesh Puja in the city has to be at the Girgaum Ganesh Pandal, off JSS Road. We've been going there since childhood, so there are fond memories attached to that place. Also the fervour and celebration at this Pandal are quite grand and beautifully done, which add to the festive feel in the city.

Josy Paul (BBDO India chairman and chief creative officer)

Lord Ganesha has been an intricate part of my life. I always look for different artistic renditions and impressions of Ganesha ? like I saw this beautiful creation made with the hibiscus flower. I like listening to the Ganesha aarti song - "jaidev jaidev jai mangal murti? and have been religiously playing it in the morning. In the evening, I walk from Worli to Bandra (about 8 kms) on my way home from work, just to feel the energy in the air ? I stop at different points to feel the vibrations at various street side Ganapati mandals.

When it comes to my favourite Puja in the city, it's the Ganapati Mandal in Mumbai Central in the colony that I grew up in. It takes me back to the time I was in school. It's so nostalgic. On the final immersion day, I go out and embrace the crowd. The frenzy and collective excitement of the city gives me so much energy it just increases my love for Mumbai and the people.

Rohan Rane (9x Jhakaas programming head) 

Ganpati is completely family time.The preparations being a week in advance where we decorate our Ganpati mandir with lights and colourful decorations. On the other hand, my mom makes the most delicious modaks as "Naivadhya" - an offering to lord Ganesh.

My morning begins with Ganpati puja with my family and relatives followed by singing aarti. Once the aarti is over, it is the time to relish the most sought after modaks. After a lavish calorie full lunch of shrikhand puri, we set out for Ganesh darshan at friends and relatives place. This is the time when the entire family comes together for prayer and celebrations. We thoroughly bond, pray and enjoy the festival.

Samir Saraiya (That?s Personal CEO and founder)

Being in Mumbai and not participating in Ganesh Chaturthi is a shame. Therefore, I take a step back from work and enjoy the occasion with friends, families and all my office colleagues. We hold a puja in our office, which is where most of my time goes in. It is fun to plan, prepare and spend a different day with my employees and hang out with them not like a boss but as a friend. The highlight of my Ganesh Chaturthi has always been Dance Ganesha. It?s a unique way in which Ganesha Visarjan is celebrated in Breach Candy. I have been a regular at the event without fail every year.

Anooj Kapoor (Sab TV senior EVP & business head)

It is amazing how the entire city comes alive on these ten odd days. I cherish the atmosphere of the festival and have been actively taking part in it, be it in family or at our society. I don't often go Pandal visiting during the puja, but visit my friends who host pujas at their home. I look forward to the various cultural activities that are organised by our society and try to contribute to it as much as possible, maybe in organising skits for kids and other fun activities. This year too I will be heavily engaged in cultural activities and the day after the puja, I will be hosting a dinner party at my place for the entire society as part of the celebrations

On that note, Indiantelevision.com and Exec Lifestyle wishes readers a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! Ganpati Bappa Morya!

By Papri Das

Come September and Maharashtra is seen revving up to host one of the biggest festivals in India, Ganesh Chaturthi. The ten-day festival is a welcome disruption for the people of Maximum City, who relentlessly slog on to keep pace. Ganesh Puja is a time to take a breather and party hard with friends and family, irrespective of what they do or which God they worship. From holding pujas at home to dressing up to visiting the big idols of the city, Ganesh Puja has transformed from being a tradition to a lifestyle event.

As the scale of the celebrations gets bigger each year, one can?t help but look out for innovation and new trends. And Mumbaikars have been able to use their creative juices quite effectively this year as well by coming up with unique and quirky ways to celebrate the occasion.

Exec Life lists five ways that will give a twist to your Ganesh Puja this year:

1) Fish Friendly Ganesh Idols:

As the name suggests, this year Mumbaikars are buying Ganesh idols, which are exclusively tailored for fish and other underwater animals. Conceptualised by Ogilvy and Mather and executed with the help of the NGO Sprouts Environment, this initiative aim was to prevent the alarming environment pollution that happens during the festival when the clay idols are immersed in the Arabian Sea. To deal with this, the initiators came up with this awesome concept of building Ganesha idols from vegetarian fish food that is edible and safe for fish consumption. The cosmetic surface of the idols has also been painted with natural material and colours such as multani mitti, turmeric powder and geru. Now isn?t that creative?

2) Hyperrealistic Ganesh tattoos:

While many find the entire concept of having a Ganesh tattooed on oneself a hippie practice or a notch above average devotion, the practice has been prevalent for a while now. What?s new is that now Ganesh tattoos have got a new hyperrealistic avatar. Tattoo artist Sunny Bhanushali from Aliens Tattoo studio is one of handful in India to experiment with hyper realistic tattoos, which capture highly detailed images on skin, from a photograph. After coming up with a digital painting of Ganesha and Lord Shiva, Sunny has taken up this festival as an opportunity to give it a hyper real touch.

3) EDM-ised Visarjan:

Imagine a Ganesh Visarjan (immersion) ceremony where instead of band and baja and dhol people are head banging to EDM music. Such has been the scene at Breach Candy since 1999 when a group of youngsters started the EDM Ganesh Visarjan lead by DJ Asad Zaidi. The aim was to break away from the generic immersion celebrations to rope in more youngsters who prefer a different scene. Started as an experiment, the event has become quite huge with celebrities and models as well as local Maharashtrians dancing to the beats of customised Ganesh Shlokas with trance and EDM beats. What?s more, the fun doesn?t end at that. The stage, which is 24 trailers strong, has an exclusive dance floor for VIPs while the Dj works up the crowd on the streets. If you are a fan of EDM and trance, this is where you should head to this visarjan day.

4) Buy your own Ganesh temple:

Why buy a miniature Ganesh idol when you can buy an entire temple for the same price? Asks Karima Dawoodani, who sells customised temples through her shop Soul Works. Call it a budget friendly gift, an idol to worship or an art piece, Karima?s hand crafted Ganesh temples are selling like hot cakes this season, especially amongst expats and tourists who want to take a bit of our culture with them. Karima also gets creative with the Ganesha idols. Some of her signature models are Ganesha riding a cycle, Ganesha under an umbrella and Ganesha with a book. 

5) Makers get creative with Ganesh idols:

Artisans who carve Ganesh idols are inspired by Bollywood this year and have come up with a Baahubali themed Ganesh idol. A half finished idol of Ganesha carrying a Shiva linga, which quite strikingly mimics the famous Baahubali poster, is doing the rounds on the internet. As much as it has gone viral, the Baahubali Ganesha will definitely get a run for money from the ?Selfie Ganesha.? Yes, you heard us right! An artist has build a Ganesha idol, which is seen taking a selfie with his family. And it won?t come as a surprise if the song ?Le le le le selfie le le re!? from Bajrangi Bhaijaan is played on repeat mode here!