Magnificent Launch of Parul Grover Designer Studio: Your Brand New Shopping Destination

New Delhi: The lovers of style, glamour and fashion witnessed an evening of true celebrations with the grand launch of Parul Grover Designer Studio at Faridabad Sector 14. Owned by Parul Grover, the designer studio brings together one of the most innovative designer couture, much for the delight of the trendy customers who love to stay in vogue.

Located in posh area of Faridabad, the stylish store offers one-stop shop solution for all high-end fashion buyers in Faridabad and Delhi. The new store was launched with a festive affair including a glittering gathering of socialites, models, fashion designers and other media personalities. The guests included Parul Grover’s friends Mrs. Paul, Nikita, Twinkle Kasana, Salma Chug, Shipla Dhara, Sonia Nishta, Sangeeta, Sidharth Agicha, Aakash Agarwral and many more. The launch party was hosted by Designer Parul and Puneesh Grover.

About Parul Grover: Redefining Attitude

Starting her design journey in 2005, couturier Parul Grover combines the finest hands- craftsmanship with modern silhouettes and styles. Her collections accentuate the wearer's inner beauty, setting a glow to her face. She creates intricate design in a feminine and soft color palette.

Creating collections for the arch lights she combines the glitz and shine of crystals and rhinestones with interesting and innovative drapes and forms.

The label Parul Grover -redefining fashion has been part of exclusive exhibitions in different countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi etc. Ethereal and sumptuous would be the apt words to describe hew work. Pleated and draped to give a new stoke to the conventional classics. Inspired by the Greco-Roman drapes these supple and delicate drapes would make any women look   Greek Goddess. The use of luxury fabrics encrusted with crystals offset ethereal drapes and the color palette suffused with rich colors like dark purple, deep red, bright pink and ivory to nudes and beiges. Her collection is indeed very pleasing to look at since the colors used are not shocking or in-your-face but very appealing and elegant. What makes her every piece so incredibly gorgeous is of course the fabric used along with the heavily embellished borders with delicate motifs. The intricate embroidery of every single piece is adorned with sparkling stones, crystals, sequins, beads, etc and the ornate workmanship truly demands admiration. Rich design combined with sexy feminity defines the designs of Parul Grover. With opulent surface ornamentation, simple and clean silhouettes and a fusion of techniques her collection includes a range of draped saris, lehengas and draped dresses and anarkalis.

THE ART ROUTE presents Prarambh, India’s first students’ arts festival at IGNCA from Oct 9-12

New Delhi: The Art Route presents Prarambh, India’s first students’ arts festival where over two hundred budding artists will be showcasing their works. Prarambh will feature nearly 350 artworks in mediums as diverse as drawing, painting, printmaking, illustrations, digital art, sculpture, photography, installation, new media and mix media. The show will be held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Janpath, New Delhi from October 9 till October 12, 2014, 11 a.m. till 7.30 p.m. Entry is free.

Participating students are from art colleges from across the country, including Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University (Shantiniketan); College of Art (New Delhi);   Jamia Milia Islamia University (New Delhi); Faculty of Visual Arts (BHU); Department of Fine Arts (Kurukshetra University); Department of Fine Arts Aligarh Muslim University); Indira Kala Sangeet Visva Vidyalaya (Chhatisgarh); College of Arts and Crafts (Lucknow University); Government College of Arts (Chandigarh); College of Fine Arts (Trivandram); Faculty of Fine Arts (MSU, Baroda); Department of Visual Arts (Silchar, Assam); International Institute of Fine Arts (Modinagar); College of Arts & Crafts (Kolkata), Government Institute of Fine Arts (Gwalior); Government Fine Arts Institute (Indore) and Department of Fine arts (University of Hyderabad) to name a few. 

Says Lubna Sen, Co-Founder, The Art Route: “Our vision is to create a vibrant artistic environment through a continuous exchange of ideas between communities of different backgrounds. We want to build a platform where artists and individuals from different cultures, geographies and disciplines meet and explore different approaches to the creation of art. We believe art today should be for the masses and thus aim to broad-base public interest in art through education and promotion. With a strong belief that art can contribute to the overall development of the society, we aim to explore various social issues through the medium of visual art.”

Adds Ujjwal Ankur, Co-Founder, The Art Route: “Prarambh will be a platform for young students of visual arts to showcase their talent and receive real market exposure. It will provide them hands-on practical experience and prepare them for their future career. Students will have the opportunity to receive critical feedback of their art from peers, experts and public. Through the works of their contemporaries, they will be exposed to a different approaches and philosophies in art.”

The Bombay Store Launches ‘Happy Sundays’

The Bombay Store, one of the oldest and most popular lifestyle destinations presents ‘Happy Sundays’ starting fromSunday, 28th September 2014, an experiential shopping concept that promises hands-on product experiences, and interesting activities. Held at the sprawling 10,000 sq ft flagship store at Sir P.M Road, Fort, Mumbai, this weekend extravaganza will offer a graceful dose of retail therapy tailored for customers looking for a wholesome shopping experience. ‘Happy Sundays’ will feature exciting array of artistic activities, and iconic exhibits of art/ crafts/ home decor.

‘Happy Sundays’ will play host to various activities  and exciting offers while the exhibit section will be dedicated to local craftsmen, where customers can choose Indian crafts in vibrant color palette, rich textures, forms and themes. Visitors will be entertained with activities ranging from food, tea tastings, music, magic shows, puppetry, crystal gazing, diet consulting, tarot reading, angel card reading, coffee cup reading wellness, to short film screenings. Guests can use a special photo booth to capture crazy pictures and share the fun with close ones. Apart from activities the event will gratify the patrons with new product launches in art, crafts, home décor, fashion accessories, wellness and apparel. Patrons can also look forward to exciting shopping offers, indulgences and in-store promotions.

The opening Sunday will showcase best of labels from emerging talents across the country namely Design Gandhi,Tuni, Studio Saswata, Pipa+Bella, Silver Streak, Iha Creations, Aavaran, Ginil & Disha, Green Apple, Keya Designs, Babel Books, Veruschka and One pending. Heaven on Earth Spa will provide Foot Relexology and guests can avail exclusive loyalty points on purchases made apart from exclusive offers and surprise gifts.

Announcing the launch, Asim Dalal, Managing Director, The Bombay Store says, “We are pleased to launch ‘Happy Sundays’ that will serve as ultimate resource to plan fun, memorable shopping with family and friends. Keeping with our mission of discovering a new India, the event will showcase a perfect blend of art and tradition, experiential shopping atmosphere, entertainment and enhanced customer engagement.  The occasion offers numerous opportunities to enjoy the diversity of cultures, traditions and cherish the bonds with your close ones. We wish to take customer service to experiential level and believe there would be great degree of acceptance to the concept from our esteemed patrons”.

About The Bombay Store:

The Bombay Store enjoys a unique legacy as one of the oldest and most popular lifestyle destinations with roots tracing from India’s freedom struggle. Incorporated with an idea to promote Indian made products during the swadeshi movement, the first store was founded by some of the greatest patriots and business luminaries like Lokmanya Tilak, Ratanji Jamsetji Tata and frequented by Jawaharlal Nehru and Vijayalakshmi Pandit. Since then the store is effortlessly preserving the rich Indian Heritage, offering a platform to next generation to know and learn about their culture. Even today, a stroll through the store gives you the vibe of the aesthetic and culturally rich India. 

The store offers a wide range of products from, Artefacts, Home Décor, and Fashion to Wellness products. The product line boasts of exquisite artefacts in clay, metal and wood, bed & table linen, home products, fashion accessories, ethnic jewellery, stationery, tableware, mementoes & souvenirs, paintings and wellness products. With more than 30,000 sq. ft. of shopping bliss ‘The Bombay Store’ operates out of 8 outlets in the high street markets and malls of major cities, with its flagship store at Sir P.M. Road, Mumbai, admeasuring 10,000 sq. feet.  It caters to wide spectrum of audience from art enthusiasts, tourists, NRI’s and youth.

Top 5 films to watch at Manhattan Short 2014

Mumbai: Manhattan Short 2014 in India, the international platform which showcases, celebrates and awards short films from across the world will also conduct a variety of workshops covering different aspects of filmmaking and short film making. Manhattan Short 2014, India chapter, will be held from 3^rd October 2014 to 5^th October 2014 at Sitara Studio in Mumbai. The festival will screen the ten best short films that have been selected from across the globe. Here’s a list of top 5 films that should not be missed this year:

Film	Country	Director	Synopsis	Duration
Shift	Australia	James Croke	A genius invents a sophisticated device that gives him a super power for the perfect heist.	11 minutes
97%	Netherlands	Ben Brand	A man tries to track down a potential love interest on a crowded train using a smartphone app.	8 minutes
The Bravest, the Boldest	USA	Moon Molson	A mother tries to avoid two U.S. Army officers ready to deliver the worst news of her life.	17 minutes
Rhino Full Throttle	Germany	Erik Schmitt	A man searching for the soul of a city encounters an enigmatic young woman who unlocks his heart.	15 minutes
Crime	USA	Alix Lambert & Sam Chou	A graphic-novel-style documentary about the havoc crime creates told by those living through it.	14 minutes

This year Manhattan Short 2014 in India and its chief patron Vivanta by Taj conducted an exciting competition named, ‘Vote for India’. This initiative saw filmmakers from across India send in their short film entries to compete for a spot in the global finalist list. Three India winners have been decided post the voting conducted. These three winners each have won a chance to create a short film for Vivanta by Taj.

Film	City	Director	Synopsis	Duration
Seductive Berozgaari (Seductive Unemployment)	Mumbai/Ajmer	Stalin ‘Bertie’ Massey	An unemployed young man encounters a genie in a radio who grants him three wishes.	11:53 mins
Ten Past Twelve	Mumbai	Samay Bhattacharya	On a stormy night Ray, a film director, is caught up in his office with work. He has an unexpected visitor and he finds comfort in his company, only to discover to his horror that things aren't quite as expected.	08:06 mins
Unfold	Pune	Neha Kulkarni	A true story based on the experience of a little girl who is hearing-impaired. She feels left out in this world of ‘normal’ people and finds happiness in her own amazing world of origami	03:41 mins

Date: 3^rd October to 5^th October, 2014

Time: 2.00 pm onwards

Venue: Sitara Studio, Tilak Bhavan, Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012 (https://www.facebook.com/sitarastudio/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream)

Entry: Free on First come first serve 

Jagran Film Festival: Day 4

New Delhi: By end of Day three, filmgoers had become used to the variety of Indian and international films and a host of useful workshops, debates discussions and interesting exchange of ideas. And Day four was more than just the extension of this exciting filmy extravaganza. It was a day when cine goers were treated to a delectable mix of genres, languages including Dutch, Spanish, Finnish, Portugese, Russian, French and even Malyalam and Hindi. And adding some more zing to the larger than life festival were sessions with eminent master craftsmen of the film and entertainment industry.

Internationally acclaimed film ‘How to Describe a Cloud’ marked the onset of Day four at PVR Andheri. Director David Verbeek’s 80 minute coming of age Dutch drama made its India debut at PVR today. Variety was the order of the day as director Arto Halonen’s ‘A Patriotic Man’ followed right after. This 97 minute Finnish comedy made its Asian Premiere followed by Director Marcelo Gomez’s Brazilian drama ‘The Man of the Crowd’ with a runtime of 95 minutes. Director Rajat Kapoor’s 107 minute poignant slice of life film‘Ankhon Dekhi’ added an Indian flavor to the diverse global lineup. But before calling it a day PVR’s big screen brought another Asian premiere, an 85 minute Russian master piece ‘Break Loose’ by director Aleksey Uchital.

The day also offered a kaleidoscopic view of Indian cinema starting from novice director Sanjeev Gupta’s debut film ‘Q’. Besides, the Indian showcase also featured Anurag Singh’s Punjabi period drama ‘Punjab 1984’, Pradeep Sarkar’s Rani Mukherjee starrer ‘Mardaani’and Feroze Abbas Khan’s social and political satire ‘Dekh Tamasha Dekh’. But a film that touched a chord with every cinema lover on day four was the 1967 film ‘Upkar’. The legendary actor Pran  known for his offbeat portrayals in a negative shade was missed and remembered as Jagran paid a sincere homage to this barkhurdaar of all times.

​True to being a melting pot of the world cinema, the day at Cinemax Versova began with ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’, a French retrospective from legendary director Patrice Chereau’s collection. To represent cinema of the uprising, a rare and distinguishable black & white film‘Chhatrapati Shivaji’ followed, a 170 minute biographical by Bhalji Pendharkar recounting the bravery of the Indian warrior king.  Bimal Roy’s 1953 film ‘Do Bigah Zameen’ as a retrospective from the Hindi cinema’s golden era, stood apart even after 60 years for painting a convincing picture of Indian village-life and rural values of the post independence era. No wonder the film had won the International Prize at the 1954 Cannes. The day towards its end took the viewers back to the 18^th century with a 200 minute Malyalam film ‘Kerala Verma Pazhassi Raja’ presenting cinema of the uprising.​