ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

By Hirak Bhattacharyya

Washington, DC, Jan 28, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio) Hirak Bhattacharyya talks to North Indian instrumental Sitar player Chandrachur Bhattacharya in this informal and candid video interview also featuring some live and extempore Sitar performances by the artist.

Hirak had been trying for a while to record this interview, since Chandrachur travels extensively with his Sitar. For the last few months, Chandrachur was traveling with Pandit Birju Maharaj, and before that, he was busy in the UK with his workshops and shows.

Chandrachur grew up extremely modestly, with his parents, two brothers and a sister living in one small room. His parents worked hard and provided for their education and developed their interest in music. His father was deeply involved in music, and studies and music were equally stressed upon by his parents.

Watch the exclusive video interview on WBRi.

By Swami Asutoshananda
Manager, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai

3D Holography

Chennai, India, Jan 15, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio) Vivekanandar Illam on Marina, housing a cultural heritage museum in memory of Swami Vivekananda, launched India’s first Stereoscopic 3D short movie on Vivekananda and his message to the youth. Padmashri R M Vasagam, distinguished space scientist at ISRO, inaugurated the facility at Vivekanandar Illam. He also previewed the first 3D animation movie on Swami Vivekananda in the theater. Viewers were very excited about the launch of such a facility and expressed great enthusiasm and excitement about the same.

Inauguration of the 3D Theater

Viewing the movie in 3d Theater

Chennai’s first Holographic display system was also inaugurated in Vivekanandar Illam today. The system allows users to see Swami Vivekananda in a 3-Dimensions perspective.

Prof Vasagam, Chief guest

Read all about the 3D holographic display and the 3D film on WBRi.

Vivekananda House (Vivekanandar Illam in Tamil), Chennai

Calcutta, January 28, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations) Being on the sets of “Ardhangini’ at Moon City in Kolkata turned out to be a fulfilling experience altogether. What immediately made the proceedings interesting was that the film had in it popular faces from the Mumbai and Marathi film industries. The cast of ‘Ardhingini’ includes among others, such people as Mahesh Manjrekar, Rati Agnihotri, Meghna and Bengali actress Kanchana. The film is being directed by the relative newbie Abishek Mukherjee.

At her informal press meet on the sets, the evergreen Rati Agnihotri mentioned how delighted she was to be working in the Bengali film industry.  Although she did confess that the language was an issue and while she often fumbled at certain syllables, she was also confident of improving her Bangla in a few years, given her earlier flawless attempts at Tamil, Telegu and Kannada. Taking about the kind of films she wishes to be part of, she voiced her preference for the “real cinema” and portraying strong female characters on screen. About ‘Ardhangini ‘, she revealed that it was “a love story with a difference” and not the run-of-the-mill stuff we usually get to see. The brief press meet was abruptly halted as she had to rush back to the sets for the commencement of the shoot.

Mahesh Manjrekar

Abhishek Mukherjee

After the day’s pack-up we had the opportunity of a brief meeting with the stalwart Mahesh Manjrekar. Swaggering towards the fleet of cameras and microphones in the hands of their curious owners, he appeared a tad withdrawn and exhausted after the day’s shoot. As he fixed a spot to hold his ground, a flurry of questions hit him. Being reserved, he immediately slowed down the pace and began answering them one by one ...

By Bidisha Bagchi

A message from our sponsor:
Watch unlimited latest Bengali movies and TV shows in USA and Canada on your TV set via Databazaar Media. Coming soon - Aparajita Tumi, Nobel Chor, Baishe Srabon, Katakuti etc : click here for details >

Michigan, USA, Jan 28, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio) You can call him the Shahenshah, the Samrat or the King of the Bengali film industry. We, the lovers of Bengali cinema wait eagerly for a film release from this great star, who undoubtedly is the numero uno, Mr Prosenjit Chatterjee - dear beloved Bumba-da to all Bengali film-lovers

Listen to Prosenjit in a candid audio chat with Bidisha Bagchi on WBRi via our exclusive on-demand audio broadcast service.

Michigan, March 2, 2011: Mr Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury is a respected name in the World of Cinema. His first two films Anuranan (resonance) and Antaheen (the endless wait) have been widely accepted by the audience worldwide and have even been bestowed the national film award in India. His films talk about life and human relationships that people from all spheres of life can relate to…today, Mr. Roychowdhury or Tony da, as he is lovingly called by all, has kindly agreed to spare a couple of minutes from his busy schedule and talk about his upcoming film Aparajita (the undefeated) to WBRi.

By Shoma A. Chatterji

This is a sponsored article from Databazaar Media. Watch unlimited latest Bengali movies and TV shows in USA and Canada on your TV set via Databazaar Media. Coming soon - Aparajita Tumi, Nobel Chor, Baishe Srabon, Katakuti etc : click here for details >

Calcutta, Jan 27, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio) After the thumping box office success of Autograph, his debut film and a Databazaar Media acquisition, actor-filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee has one more feather on his feathered cap – his second film Baishe Srabon is a big hit once again and has again been acquired by Databazaar Media for streaming and telecasting throughout North America and Canada. Nailed for an interview, this is what Srijit has to say about his second film.

What is the significance of the title of your film that coincides with Tagore’s death anniversary and is also the title of a Mrinal Sen film of yore?

The significance of the title is organically linked to the plot. Each murder is committed to coincide with the date of birth, etc of some famous Bengali poet. I would hate to explain the true significance without giving away the plot. I can definitely say, the film has got nothing to do with the legendary Mrinal Sen's Baishey Srabon.

A lot of abusive language filled with invectives and four-letter words have been used in the film. Didn’t you face problems with the Censor Board?

We got an “A” certificate but that is about it. If there is an uniform set of guidelines, the language we have used in Baishe Srabon nothing compared to what we have seen in Hindi films like Omkara, Kaminey, Shaitaan, Delhi Belly etc. Most importantly, the abuses are there in accordance with the script and the character.

Calcutta January 27, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio/ Penning Creations): Remaking cult classics from yesteryears is a risky affair, as most filmmakers would agree. While ‘RGV Ki Aag’ (the ambitious remake of the evergreen ‘Sholay’) had been an unqualified disaster, even Farhan Akhtar’s decision to recreate ‘Don’ had met with considerable initial scrutiny and scepticism. Karan Johar himself had earlier tried to remake the Hollywood hit ‘Stepmom’ with the distinctly average ‘We Are Family’. Johar returns as producer again with ‘Agneepath’ – the remake of the Amitabh Bachhan, Mithun Chakrabarty-starrer of the same name (which released in 1990).  Thanks to the sleek and stylish promos, the star attraction (Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra are, currently, two of the biggest names in B-town) and indeed, the very fact that this was a remake of an earlier classic, the film generated high levels of pre-release hype and anticipation. Thankfully, with debutant director Karan Malhotra at the helm, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions strikes gold with ‘Agneepath’. This revenge saga is as polished as they come in Bollywood!

Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra Hot Scene from New Agneepath (2012) Hindi Movie. The film features Sanjay Dutt in a fearsome Kancha look.

For those who are not aware of the basic premise of the story, ‘Agneepath’ relates the tale of ‘Vijay’ (Hrithik Roshan), who lives with his parents in the quiet village of Mandwa. From his very childhood, ‘Vijay’ has been listening to inspiring, character-building principles about how one should always be prepared to walk through the path of fire and righteousness (hence the title of the movie – ‘Agneepath’). The family is also expecting the arrival of a new member soon, with ‘Vijay’s mother (Zarina Wahab) being pregnant again. Everything seems to be picture-perfect for young ‘Vijay’ and his family.

Read our exclsuive review and watch the trailer on WBRi.

Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra,Rishi Kapoor, Karan Johar at AGNEEPATH (2012) Trailer Launch

Washington, D.C.­, Jan 26, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio) The brilliant, Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman returns to perform a program of works by Brahms, Liszt and Prokofiev at The Music Center at Strathmore on March 2. Bronfman’s technique and exceptional lyrical gifts have won consistent critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences worldwide for his solo recitals, orchestral engagements and broad catalog of recordings.

Said the New York Times of Bronfman’s “fine musical instincts” in a performance with the New York Philharmonic, “Bronfman played every passage with clarity and honesty. During the vehement episodes [he performed] with steely power and uncanny ease. Yet in the slow movement he showed another side, playing with exceptional elegance and milky pianissimos.” Said the Chicago Sun Times of Bronfman’s performance of Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto, “As soloist, the ever-phenomenal Yefim Bronfman showed how this often banged-about score can be played with both technical and musical finesse.”

Bronfman’s 2010-2011 North American season highlights included performances of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with the orchestras of Houston, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and Brahms’s Second Text Box: Who: Yefim Bronfman Where: The Music Center at Strathmore When: Friday, March 2 at 8p.m. Program: Brahms Sonata in F minor, Op. 5 Liszt Selections from Transcendental Études, S.139 Prokofiev Sonata No. 8 in B-flat Major Tickets: $23-65, available at www.wpas.org or (202) 785-WPAS (9727). Piano Concerto with the orchestras of Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles, among others. He performed with Europe’s most celebrated orchestras, including the Concertgebouw, the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic and Berlin Staatskapelle. In the fall, Bronfman and long-time friend and collaborator Pinchas Zukerman toured the U.S., with concerts in Chicago, Kansas City, Boston and at Carnegie Hall.