Category: Culture, Arts & Ent

Worrld We Want launches to revolutionise Global Impact Sector through cross-sector collaboration – Sterling Media
As UN Secretary General Warns of Dysfunctional World, Worrld We Want promotes collaboration for a better world through revolutionary ideas and responsible goals

193 world leaders adopted The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, an ambitious plan to end global poverty, tackle climate change and reduce inequalities by 2030. In response to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ warning at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos 2019 that the world’s problems are becoming more ‘integrated’ but its responses more ‘fragmented’ and ‘dysfunctional’, an ambitious new organisation aimed at revolutionising the social impact and advocacy sector through cross-sector collaboration is launching to empower the next generation of leaders, businesses and change-makers to support social good causes.

Worrld We Want (WWW) is a global impact enterprise launched to unlock the collective strength of people, ideas, networks and technologies to accelerate achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

2019 represents a fast-changing world, where the assumptions and rules of old no longer apply, and where new ideas are born every day. As the UN Secretary General highlighted in Davos, issues of climate change and inequalities remain the world’s biggest challenges due to a lack of cooperation. The rise of social justice activism and corporate social responsibility reflects a generation imbued with the desire to do well by doing good. WWW has been launched with the aim of harnessing that sense of purpose to convert into meaningful action, combining revolutionary ideas with responsible goals.

With an international team of experts based in the UK, India, USA, Hong Kong and the UAE, WWW has been co-founded by Teji Singh and Natasha Mudhar, seasoned entrepreneurs and the driving force behind the award-winning global business communication strategy consultancy Sterling Group.

WWW is powered by “Accelerator” ventures aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on convening leading organisations, corporations, public figures including celebrities, campaigners and thought leaders around the world to awaken social consciousness and drive meaningful change. Ventures include identifying and enabling the change makers of the future through events, indexes, mentorship and incubation initiatives, empowering the world’s citizens through supporting open data policies, harnessing the power of celebrity and pop culture to entertain and inspire audiences and supporting critical impact projects through an ethical investment fund. “Accelerator” ventures include:

W: More than a consultancy, W will help businesses to turn their social good initiatives into a movement, through storytelling, communication strategy and encouraging cross-sector collaboration. With W’s guidance, more businesses will understand how they can do well by doing good, and how to create clear and compelling narratives that reflect what audiences really care about.

CHANGE4GOOD: Change4Good will look to the change makers of tomorrow. With the solutions to tackling complex challenges likely to come from creative, idealist, ambitious and energetic minds, Change4Good will showcase young leaders who are already making a difference. This will culminate with the launch of a Globe Shakers index profiling young change makers.

POWERTOPEOPLE: PowerToPeople will aim to support open data initiatives to empower the world’s citizens and provide solutions to major global issues. Through working together to build a strong data ecosystem, PowerToPeople will create the opportunity for everyone to access the knowledge they need to help to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS: WWW will also have an expert service that will help companies to craft CSR strategies and become more trustworthy, accountable and responsible. Businesses will be given guidance on how to modify leadership, values and actions to craft a credible Corporate Social Responsibility strategy for today’s corporate world, respecting the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit

PopularCulture4Good (PC4Good): Pop Culture is a useful tool that can be used to develop a national and international communication strategy. PC4Good will help businesses to use the power of celebrities – from artists, musicians and film stars to cultural leaders -to bring attention to social good causes and to create impactful change

W Impact Investment Fund: The W Impact Investment Fund is a global consortium that has been set up to support critical impact projects, backed by investors seeking sustainable finance and green investment portfolios. Through ethical investment, the fund will help to create action and impact around the world. Supporting critical impact projects around the world through ethical investment.

Tashan: An ethical lifestyle and wellness retail brand with the core values of creating style with substance, centred around a planet conscious way of life. Tashan will aim to be a noble model for retail – creating a value driven enterprise, sustainably sourced and ethically created for the modern consumer.

Speaking about the launch of Worrld We Want, Co-founder and Chairperson Teji Singh said: “Worrld We Want represents an exciting opportunity to convene changemakers from around the world and help to create new ones, all working to achieve the sustainable development goals. Now is the time to take action, and it will take our collective expertise, resources and willpower to build a better future for the world. We look forward to working with our partners and businesses to create truly effective global impact through cross-sector collaboration.”

Co-founder and CEO Natasha Mudhar said “We are proud at last to unveil Worrld We Want. After years of bringing brands closer to their purpose, with WWW we aim to turn that purpose into action, by supporting new ideas for global impact and social good across sectors. The UN Secretary General is right that a dysfunctional and fragmented response from the world only makes challenges more difficult to overcome. Most of today’s social challenges are too complex for any single individual or institution to solve. And that’s why we believe cross-sector collaboration is the game changer for social change. We believe that by working together, with revolutionary ideas and responsible goals, we can build the best possible world – the worrld we want.”

Find out more: https://worrldwewant.com/
6th February 2019
Winner of DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 announced – Sterling Media

‘No Presents Please’ originally written in Kannada by noted author Jayant Kaikini and translated into English by eminent translator Tejaswini Niranjana has been announced as the winner of the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 at the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet in Kolkata, India. The DSC Prize has always encouraged writing in regional languages and translations, and this is the first time that a translated work has won the prize. This magnificent book gives us a protagonist that is vivid yet full of contradictions, spirited yet lonely, embattled yet big-hearted – the city of Mumbai. Empathy and survival are the constant, codependent themes that unify every strand of this extraordinary book, creating a shimmering mosaic of a conflicted city that is as kind as it is, at times, cruel.

In a glittering award ceremony, the US $25,000 DSC Prize was awarded to Jayant Kaikini and Tejaswini Niranjana along with a unique trophy by eminent writer Ruskin Bond. As per the prize process, the prize money would be equally shared between the author and the translator. The world’s literati including writers, publishers, media and literary enthusiasts who had gathered for the Award Ceremony at the iconic Victoria Memorial Hall enthusiastically applauded the winner of the DSC Prize 2018.

The six shortlisted authors and books in contention for the DSC Prize this year were Jayant Kaikini: No Presents Please (Translated by Tejaswini Niranjana, Harper Perennial, HarperCollins India), Kamila Shamsie: Home Fire (Riverhead Books, USA and Bloomsbury, UK), Manu Joseph: Miss Laila Armed And Dangerous (Fourth Estate, HarperCollins, India), Mohsin Hamid: Exit West (Riverhead Books, USA and Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House, India), Neel Mukherjee: A State Of Freedom (Chatto & Windus, Vintage, UK and Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House, India) and Sujit Saraf: Harilal & Sons (Speaking Tiger, India)

Jury Chair Rudrangshu Mukherjee, speaking on behalf of the jury said, “The jury decided to award the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 to ‘No Presents Please’ by Jayant Kaikini which has been translated by Tejaswini Niranjana and published by Harper Perennial. The jury was deeply impressed by the quiet voice of the author through which he presented vignettes of life in Mumbai and made the city the protagonist of a coherent narrative. The Mumbai that came across through the pen of Kaikini was the city of ordinary people who inhabit the bustling metropolis. It is a view from the margins and all the more poignant because of it. This is the first time that this award is being given to a translated work and the jury would like to recognize the outstanding contribution of Tejaswini Niranjana, the translator.”

Malavika Banerjee, Director of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet, made the opening address and welcomed the DSC Prize to the city of Kolkata. As part of the evening program, the 5 member international jury panel of the DSC Prize was introduced, the shortlisted authors read excerpts from their books, and culminated with Ruskin Bond, the Chief Guest for the ceremony, presenting the trophy to the winner of the DSC Prize 2018.

Administered by the South Asian Literature Prize & Events Trust, the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature has helped to raise the profile of South Asian writing around the world by rewarding authors who write about the region. The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature which was instituted in 2010, is an established international literary prize that awards the best work in South Asian fiction writing each year. The past winners have been from various countries and their work has reflected the importance of South Asian culture and literature.

Congratulating the winner, Surina Narula, MBE and co-founder of the DSC Prize said, “My heartfelt congratulations to author Jayant Kaikini and translator Tejaswini Niranjana for winning the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 for their brilliant book ‘No Presents Please’. It was a pleasure reading the shortlist. The challenges faced by the authors to weave their protests against the wave of anti globalization into their writings of seemingly harmless pieces of literature could be seen through their work, migration being a major theme this year. The DSC Prize has completed eight years and reading South Asian literature written in English including translations has enabled larger global audiences to understand the issues globalization has brought about. The jury as usual has to do the difficult task of selecting the better amongst the best. My congratulations to the jury for their excellent choice of the winner.”

The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 was judged by a diverse and distinguished five member jury panel comprising eminent figures drawn from the international literary fraternity who have worked in or around South Asian literature and issues. This year’s international jury panel included Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Jury Chair, Professor of History and the Chancellor of Ashoka University and an internationally acclaimed historian of the revolt of 1857 in India, Nandana Sen, a writer, actor and child-rights activist and author of six books, who has worked as a book editor, a poetry translator, a screenwriter, and a script doctor, Claire Armitstead, who has also been a theatre critic, arts editor and literary editor, Tissa Jayatilaka, who was the Executive Director of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission and is the author of several publications and has translated and edited many journals, and Firdous Azim, Professor of English at BRAC University, Bangladesh, whose research has focused on women’s writings in the early twentieth century Bengal.

25th January 2019
International Wrestlers Return To Pakistan To #FightForPeace at Ring Of Pakistan Season 2K18 – Sterling Media
Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 announced after success of first ever International Wrestling Tournament in Pakistan.

Over 20 International Wrestlers from around the world expected to be in attendance including Tiny Iron, Cyanide, Tango Tim Wylie and former WWE superstars Chris Masters and Tom La Ruffa, with American Performing Artist Jonny Loquato to host event.

Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 is envisioned as a symbol of community cohesion and promotes peace and harmony through sport.

Following the success of Pakistan’s first International wrestling event across three cities, Pakistan’s official professional Wrestling promoters, the Ring of Pakistan has announced the launch of Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18. Founded with the aim of promoting professional wrestling in Pakistan and using the sport as an accelerator for encouraging peace, Ring of Pakistan represents an international-level platform for wrestling fans and athletes alike.The recently founded Ring of Pakistan’s multi-fold vision is to promote professional wrestling in Pakistan, to provide a platform to local athletes and enhance the international image and reputation of Pakistan through a sports-led brand strategy. Where there was previously no formal body to promote wrestling in Pakistan, Ring of Pakistan has achieved success, recognised by the Pakistan Sports Board and working in accordance with international standards to launch Pakistan’s first professional wrestling event.
Last year’s inaugural wrestling event saw more than 20 international wrestlers come to Pakistan, including the likes of famous professional names including former WWE superstars Wade Barrett, and Carlito. This year Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 is bigger and better, taking place at two shows over the course of a week in December, with even more international wrestlers taking part. The first show takes place at the KMC Sports Complex, Karachi on the 7^th December, whilst the second show takes place in Alhamra Cultural Complex, Gaddafi, Lahore on the 9^th December. Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 will be the biggest sports entertainment event to be held in the history of Pakistan. The event will be hosted by American performing artist Jonny Loquato, who will also act as ring broadcaster and observer.

Professional Wrestling is the most watched sport around the world, and has a sizable Pakistani audience, despite being a ‘western’ sport. Wrestling has a bigger social media presence in the country than any other sport, beating even Cricket. In addition, sports play a vital role in individuals’ social development, and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. This is why in addition to establishing a strong official platform for wrestling and reforming the sport industry in Pakistan, Ring of Pakistan’s brand strategy is to use professional wrestling as a means of highlighting modern Pakistan’s status as a peaceful and sports loving nation to the rest of the world.

The event is a symbol of community cohesion and promotes peace and harmony within the country through sport. With opportunities and entertainment for young people lacking within Pakistan, particularly within deprived areas such as the tribal belt, they have previously been vulnerable to exploitation and radicalisation.

By holding a truly international event in the country for a hugely popular sport like wrestling, Ring of Pakistan has been able to give confidence to young people and a sense of inclusion. Furthermore, Ring of Pakistan’s ultimate aim to work with schools to inspire local youth will help to create the next generation of athletes and secure Pakistan’s status abroad as a sporting nation.

Speaking about the Ring of Pakistan, Imran Shah, Director said “We are very excited about the Ring of Pakistan hosting another international wrestling event this December. After the success of our inaugural event, it is clear that there is a huge appetite for professional wrestling within Pakistan, and we look forward to expanding this platform even further with an event that is even bigger and better than the first.

As the most watched live sport in the world, we believe that professional wrestling is a uniquely powerful sport that can help to bring the nation together, and project the image of a sports-loving Pakistan around the world.”

For further information on Ring of Pakistan and their wrestling-led brand strategy for Pakistan visit: https://rop.com.pk/
20th November 2018
TAKE TO THE SKIES & SMASH THE STEREOTYPES IN PARWAAZ HAI JUNOON
Fly alongside Pakistan’s greatest pilots and discover what it is to be a hero of the skies in the hotly anticipated film Parwaaz Hai Junoon, produced by Momina & Duraid Films and HUM Films in association with the Pakistan Air Force. A story of youth, courage, love and patriotism, Parwaaz Hai Junoon promises to be a rousing tribute to Pakistan’s Air Force and is set to release worldwide on 24^th August 2018.

Produced by Momina & Duraid Films and written by author and screenwriter Farhat Ishtiaq (Bin Roye), Parwaaz Hai Junoon is the coming of age story of a girl who has an ambition to be a pilot. Parwaaz Hai Junoon marks the second production from Momina Duraid, the force behind 2015’s critically acclaimed film Bin Roye, one of Pakistan’s biggest international hits, particularly in the UK.Momina Duraid is a household name for Urdu drama lovers across the world and is the creative genius delivering ground breaking content like Humsafar, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Udari, Sang-e-marmar, and many others. She specialises in social impact projects like women empowerment and is always a hit with the audiences. Hence the expectation from Parwaaz Hai Junoon is for it to be a film with a soul, which separates it from competitors this Eid.Ace director Haseeb Hasan makes his directorial debut on the big screen after enjoying huge success on the small screen. The film cast is a unique blend of fresh-faced and talented young stars alongside established veterans that include Hamza Ali Abbasi, Hania Amir, Shaz Khan, Kubra Khan, Syed Shafaat Ali, Adnan Jaffer, Sikandar Vincent, Rachel Viccaji, Mustafa Changezi, Sabeena Syed, Asif Raza Mir, Hina Bayat, Shamoon Abbasi, Farhan Ali Agha and Rasheed Naz, with a special appearance from Marina Khan. After capturing many hearts on the small screen, Ahad Raza Mir follows the footsteps of his father and grandfather by making a debut on the big screen.The film follows Sania (Hania Amir), a young cadet who must fight against preconceived notions of gender roles to pursue her dream of becoming an ace pilot. Through her empowering journey, the audience will discover the human side of the Air Force, its pilots, and their families. Pakistani superstar Hamza Ali Abbasi, who is also known for his social activism, essays the role of a fighter pilot. The film depicts the daily lives of cadets at a typical Air Force Academy, including laughs and mistakes along with the development of the core values of integrity, courage and honour.The film also subverts the misinformed clichés that appear in international media about Pakistan through depicting the country’s fight against terrorism. Parwaaz Hai Junoon smashes the stereotypes that surround Pakistan to instead showcase the role Pakistan plays in safeguarding the region from terrorist threats.
The film’s soundtrack features music composed by first time music director Azaan Sami Khan, son of the acclaimed music maestro Adnan Sami Khan and contributions from Mustehsan Khan (Bulyyea), as well as Coke Studio favourites including Atif Aslam (Tham Lo). Both Bulyyea and Tham Lo are already a hit with the audiences.

Camaraderie, commitment, honour and discipline are just some of the things these cadets will learn during their time at Pakistan’s Airforce Academy. Parwaaz Hai Junoon will break stereotypes and soar high.

Produced by Momina & Duraid Films and distributed by HUM Films, Parwaaz Hai Junoon is set to release worldwide on 24^th August 2018.
10th August 2018
PAD MAN FEVER HITS THE UK AS TWINKLE KHANNA GETS THE NATION TALKING PERIODS

Pad Man fever well and truly took over the United Kingdom ahead of the worldwide release of the film on the 9^th February. Britain was introduced to the most unconventional of Superheroes as the Indian bestselling female author, woman empowerment champion and film producer Twinkle Khanna took to prime-time television and the prestigious Oxford Union to discuss the need tackle period poverty and period taboos.

Pad Man is inspired by the story of one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India with a unique, eccentrically mad edge who turned incredible inventor by providing women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago.

Highlights of Twinkle’s whistle-stop visit to the UK included a meeting with Nobel Peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Popularly known to her readers as Mrs Funnybones, which also doubles up as the title of her first book and columns, Twinkle Khanna’s debut book Mrs Funnybones sold over 100,000 copies. This feat made her the highest-selling female author in India with her second book, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, landing at number two on Amazon India’s bestseller list. The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad featured a number of short tales, one of which was the story of a man who invented a machine to make low-cost sanitary pads. Recognising a fundamental need to have this story shared to a wider audience, Twinkle had turned producer to develop it for the big screen.

The result is her latest endeavour, Pad Man, a feature film on menstrual hygiene based on the life of social entrepreneur and activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised sanitary hygiene in rural India 20 years ago. Pad Man traces Arunachalam Muruganantham’s international journey from an outcast exiled from society for his endeavours to delve into such a taboo subject, to becoming a super-hero of India’s modern history, as he followed his dream to bring a menstrual hygiene revolution to India.

Twinkle’s visit to the UK got off to a glamorous start with a photo-call in a London hotel alongside leading Bollywood actress and star of Pad Man Sonam Kapoor. Media interest was high as photographers and journalists flocked to London to capture the pair, which was followed by several high profile interviews.

The focus later shifted to the world renowned Oxford Union as Twinkle prepared for her highly anticipated speech at the prestigious Oxford Union Society. Approaching its 200th anniversary, The Oxford Union has an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford, with the aim of promoting debate and discussion not just within the University, but across the world. Twinkle joined an esteemed list of former participants including US Presidents Reagan, Nixon, and Carter, as well as Sir Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein and Malala Yousafzai to name but a few. Twinkle’s appearance highlighted The Oxford Union’s fine tradition of hosting worldwide personalities from meaningful fields.

Marking the first time an Indian film has ever been showcased at the institution, the audience were presented with the official trailer of Pad Man before Twinkle took to the spotlight. The trailer generated a rapturous response of laughter when in the trailer lead actor Akshay Kumar remarked that if a man bled for the amount of time a women did as a result of menstruation, he would die.

Twinkle engaged the audience by explaining why the world needed to know about Pad Man’s story and the importance of spotlighting issues relating to menstrual hygiene.

“My primary motivation to make a movie on menstruation was to bring awareness to a subject that so far has been tucked away in shadows and much like Voldemort is never mentioned.”

Twinkle made the audience chuckle as she gave her solution to the prevalence of taxation on menstrual products around the world, stating “I think all women should just move to Canada: we get tax free tampons and blemish free Trudeau, and what more could any woman want?”

Twinkle described her hopes for the film, saying “With Pad Man, I am hoping it is more than a movie – it’s a movement: where women are no longer held back or embarrassed by their biology.”

Answering questions from The Oxford Union Vice President Sabriyah Saeed, Twinkle said: “One of the things I really wanted from this movie, which I think we are already on the way to achieving, is to make it a conversation starter. We want all members of the family to discuss this topic, including the men, even if it is merely to decide whether they should go and see Pad Man or not!”

Responding to questions about how the next generation can end the cycle of period taboo, Twinkle said “I think mothers and parents both have to lead by example…” Using her own experiences as a mother as a reference, she added “There should be no forbidden territory – you should be able to speak about anything.”

Twinkle also shared her views on the idea of making a film about a man solving problems for women. She pointed out that there are many women who solve issues, saying “There are a lot of women doing things for fellow women – but is anyone really listening to them?”. Twinkle recalled that it was Muruganantham’s conservative background that made the Pad Man story so unique, “Do men need to step up and solve women’s problems? I don’t think so – as you can see in what’s happening right now in the world, women seem to be giving men a sucker punch and pushing them down very well by themselves” she added.

When asked if the film’s profits would be going to charity, Twinkle said that a proportion of the revenue would, referring to an anecdote from the real Pad Man himself, “Muruganantham himself said something very smart about it. He had a conversation with Bill Gates, and he said: what you do is charity and what I do is social entrepreneurship. It’s the same thing as giving people fish or teaching them to fish. So what he does is he makes machines that help women earn a livelihood, and if our movie does not make any money, and if we give away all of our profits, then nobody will make a movie based on content again. And that would be a shame, wouldn’t it?” The answer received applause, highlighting the film’s commitment to Muruganantham’s ethos for creating lasting change.

The power of Twinkle’s message and that of Pad Man was clear during the course of the evening itself; when handed sanitary pads at the beginning of the evening, much of the audience, most notably the male members, balked at the idea. By the end of Twinkle’s speech and Q&A session, the audience were asked to raise sanitary pads aloft for a photo opportunity, to which nearly the entire audience duly obliged.

In the lead up to the speech, Twinkle met with Nobel Peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Speaking at the meeting, Malala mentioned to Twinkle: “I’m really excited to see the film Pad Man, and am looking forward to seeing the trailer shortly because the message behind the film is truly inspiring.”

On Friday 19^th January, Twinkle took to the airwaves to spread Pad Man’s message across television, appearing on BBC News’s Victoria Derbyshire programme, ITV News, BBC News, Al Jazeera and Channel 4 News.

On BBC 2’s Victoria Derbyshire show Twinkle’s trademark wit and passion for the project shone through as she discussed the importance of issues around menstrual hygiene. Answering a question on the why menstrual products incur taxes worldwide, Twinkle said “There’s a GST tax of 12% in India and even that’s something I’ve been talking about repeatedly, because brooms don’t have tax, so apparently in India it’s more important to keep your house clean than your body – I don’t understand that.”

“But again I want to reiterate it’s not just India, there have been many states across America where Viagra is tax free but tampons are taxed because policies are made by 65 year old men with erectile dysfunction.”

UK viewers were impressed by the project and Twinkle’s passion for the subject. One viewer tweeted “Fantastic interview with @mrsfunnybones on #VictoriaLIVE can’t wait to see #padman. Fascinating story of determination and public awareness around issues women face.” Another tweeted “@mrsfunnybones is ace! Can’t wait to watch Pad Man!”

Both ITV and BBC devoted special attention within their news reports to the film, which aired during the highly watched midday and 6pm broadcasts, highlighting the urgency and global nature of period taboo and period poverty. In an interview on ITV News, Twinkle described the progress the film has already made, “One of the things that motivated me to make this movie, it’s already begun this conversation about menstruation.”

Twinkle also took part in an ITV News Facebook Live Q&A with host Nina Nannar, preceded only by UK Prime Minister Theresa May during last year’s general election campaign. The Q&A covered some of the taboos that exist around periods, deeply entrenched in cultures around the world, and how the film Pad Man hopes to tackle them. Twinkle said “To me the most important thing about Pad Man is the fact that in India, already the conversation has started. Something that people do not address, and it is not something I have heard men talking about, is suddenly talked about all the time and even if they are talking about whether or not to see Pad Man, they are addressing something they have not.”

Twinkle was joined on the Q&A by period campaigner Manjit Gill, founder of the charity Binti International, who have been raising similar issues in the UK. Twinkle visited Binti International following her TV appearances to learn more about their work, and saw first-hand their excitement for the release of film like Pad Man.

Channel 4 News also compiled a report on the film and an interview with Twinkle on their evening weekend broadcast. Speaking to Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman about the significance of a film like Pad Man for the fact that it deals with women’s issues traditionally seen as taboo, Twinkle said “We’re in a very interesting time in history, where for the first time you have women whose voices are being heard, strident women…it’s a very good time to be a woman.”

Twinkle’s mission to open up the topic of menstruation for discussion has been a success, and with the UK public now aware of Pad Man, excitement is growing for the film.

Dubbed ‘Superhero hai yeh Pagla’, Pad Man is the world’s first feature film on menstrual hygiene inspired by the story of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India with a unique, eccentrically mad edge who turned incredible inventor by providing women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago.

Produced by Mrs Funnybones Movies, SPE FIlms India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, Pad Man is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali).

One for the mad ones, the ones who are crazy enough to change the world, Pad Man is the one-of-a-kind feature film, tackling the taboo and stigmas attached to menstrual hygiene through the art of entertainment.

Pad Man releases in cinemas worldwide on the 9^th February to inspire all the cape-less heroes amongst us, through SPE Films, India.

22nd January 2018
Not Your Avenger Superhero Film – “Pad Man” A Man, A Mission, A Movie.

A superhero is a heroic stock character, who is dedicated to protecting their public and fighting evil and oppression at all costs, often single handily. However, contrary to popular folklore, not all superheroes wear capes and can sometimes blend in with the conventional public.

Here’s introducing the inspiring story of one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India turned incredible innovator and inventor, who certainly wasn’t wearing a cape when he was moved to provide women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago. His story has been fictionalised for its silver screen debut with Pad Man, releasing in cinemas around the world on 9^th February 2018.

Produced by Mrs Funnybones Movies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, Pad Man is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali).

The story of Arunachalam Muruganantham was first fictionalised in the Founder of Mrs Funnybones Movies, Twinkle Khanna’s award-winning book of short-stories, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. A renowned vocal women empowerment champion, interior design entrepreneur, best-selling author, newspaper columnist and producer, Twinkle Khanna then felt compelled to project Arunachalam Muruganantham’s story to a wider audience by co-producing Pad Man under her banner Mrs Funnybones Movies.

Pad Man traces Arunachalam Muruganantham’s international journey from an outcast exiled from society for his endeavours to delve into such a taboo subject, to becoming a super-hero of India’s modern history, as he followed his dream to bring a revolution to menstrual hygiene in India. Akin to the tagline of the film Superhero Hai Yeh Pagla (He’s a Crazy Superhero), Pad Man is nothing short of an impulsive, flamboyant and driven entrepreneur extraordinaire, who refused to give up in the wake of scrutiny and ridicule, using his resilience and initiative to invent India’s low-cost sanitary napkin making machine. An extreme enigma in his home town, Arunachalam Muruganantham’s super-heroic efforts led to a business that today employs hundreds of women across India.

Issues relating to menstrual hygiene are a global phenomenon. Whether this is a result of the stigma and taboo resulting in the marginalisation and disempowerment of women in societies, the economic and social impact of “period poverty”, to the consequences on women’s health, there is a need to educate both men and women on the impact and to ensuring all women have menstrual dignity. Committed to the cause of women empowerment, Arunachalam Muruganantham faced the risk of isolation and marginalisation as he challenged the stigma and stereotypes associated with menstrual hygiene head-on in order to improve the lives of thousands of women. As is the case with many superheroes, it’s the element of social segregation that makes Arunachalam Muruganantham’s story so special. He is challenged by the extreme backlash of a bigoted society stuck in its ways, to liberate and empower women across the country – just like a superhero.

Whilst his exterior may resemble that of a regular man, Arunachalam Muruganantham is the paradigm to the theory that not all heroes wear capes! Pad Man is a tribute to every ordinary and simple man and woman, who dare to dream and impact the lives of millions of others. Pad Man releases in cinemas worldwide on the 9^th February 2018 to inspire all the cape-less heroes amongst us, through Sony Pictures Entertainment, India.

15th January 2018
STERLING MEDIA: YEAR IN REVIEW 2016

2016 will go down in history for many things but an uneventful year will not be one of them! For brand strategy and business consultant Sterling Media it has been a year of impactful events that have seen the global communications company go from strength to strength. Here are some of our highlights from the last year:

JAMIE OLIVER’s FOOD REVOLUTION DAY LAUNCH IN AFRICA & INDIA

In May, Sterling Media teamed up with Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation to bring Food Revolution Day to a global audience. Sterling CEO and brand strategy specialist Natasha Mudhar was appointed India and Africa director for the campaign and so Sterling Media set out to find the right faces to launch the campaign in India, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Through working with local household names such as Jacqueline Fernandez and Chef Kunal Kapur in India, Waje and Chef Eros in Nigeria, Juliani and Chef Ali in Kenya, and Alikiba and Marion Elias in Tanzania, Sterling Media was able to help India and African nations play their part in Food Revolution Day, participating in the global Facebook streaming event that took place on the day, with over 115,296,411 million people taking part.

#WHATIREALLYREALLYWANT CAMPAIGN

Girl power went global in July as Sterling Media in partnership with Project Everyone, SAWA and Getty Images launched the #WhatIReallyReallyWant campaign. Inspired by the 20^th anniversary of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe, the new film payed homage to the original music video and raised awareness of the UN’s Global Goals and Gender equality.

Directed by MJ Delaney of Moxie Pictures, #WhatIReallyReallyWant featured artists from around the world including Gigi Lamayne and Moneoa from South Africa, Seyi Shay from Nigeria, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez from Sri Lanka, M.0 from the UK, Taylor Hatala from Canada and Larsen Thompson from the USA.

Making its exclusive debut at the Cannes Lions Festival in May, the film became an internet phenomenon upon release, receiving over 1,377,958 on Youtube, 106 million views on Facebook, and over 38 million impressions. Sterling was also able to gain support on the campaign from celebrities including three of the original Spice Girls. Sterling Media spearheaded the global communications for the campaign, securing coverage on both UK and US television as well as print coverage around the world.

GODAN

September saw business consultant Sterling Media become the official media partner for the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition, and handle global communications for the GODAN Summit 2016. Sterling Media used a variety of methods to raise awareness for the GODAN summit and associated petition, including encouraging university students in both the US and UK to sign the petition, the creation of infographics to be shared on social media, blog posts for partners of GODAN, outreach to social media influencers and vloggers and more.

Members of the Sterling Media team also travelled to New York to manage communications at the GODAN Summit, where they were able to arrange high level media opportunities with figures such as the US Secretary of Agriculture. The summit was a success and gained interest from the BBC and Fox News.

STERLING AWARDS

It has proven an award-winning year for Sterling Media as we have won a number of awards for our work! The Asian Media Awards awarded the Creative Media Award to Sterling for the #WhatIReallyReallyWant campaign!

LEADERS OF BOLLYWOOD BUSINESS:

This year Sterling Media continued to lead the way in UK Bollywood film promotion, handling the UK releases of hit films including Airlift, Kapoor and Sons and Baar Baar Dekho. Some of our highlights from this year included:

AKIRA: This martial arts action film starring Sonakshi Sinha kicked her way into the UK cinema in early September. To launch the film, Sterling Media created partnerships with local martial arts clubs across the UK that would see anyone with tickets for the film receive special offers on martial arts training sessions.

AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL – the eagerly awaited Karen Johar film starring Aishwarya Rai and Ranbir Kapoor was the must-see release of Diwali 2016. To launch the film in the UK, Sterling Media worked with the biggest Diwali events in London, Birmingham and Leicester as well as local club nights to display a personalised message from one of the film stars, Ranbir Kapoor. In addition, promotional materials included flyers and standees were distributed to the events to raise awareness.

CLIENT COVERAGE

It has also been a good year for many of our long-standing clients, who have received great media coverage thanks to Sterling Media’s brand strategy efforts. Here are some of our client highlights from the year:

Whilst the results of the Brexit vote may have sent shockwaves through the business world, it has provided many opportunities for our corporate clients including Rational FX and Sun Global Investments, whose expert commentary on current economic affairs have been covered across UK and international media.

We have also secured extraordinary coverage opportunities for clients such as Sister Sledge’s barnstorming performance on ITV’s The X Factor, and Nosh Detox founder Geeta Sidhu Robb’s participation in the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show EU Referendum debate special.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017

As we reach the end of 2016, Sterling Media is already looking ahead to 2017! We have a range of exciting campaigns and projects that we can’t wait to share with you! We look forward to working further with our current clients and the ones we haven’t met yet! In the meantime, everyone at Sterling Media would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

28th December 2016
SISTER SLEDGE JOIN HANDS WITH ANNIE LENNOX TO LEAD CARE INTERNATIONAL’S ‘WALK IN HER SHOES’ MARCH

In the spirit of celebrating women empowerment and spotlighting the inequalities and injustice that millions of women face around the world, Sister Sledge, the iconic music group famed for their award-winning, worldwide hits such as We are Family, Lost in Music and World, Rise and Shine, lent their voices and support in solidarity for International Women’s Day and a range of initiatives, to globally recognise the achievements of women as well as highlighting the issues faced by them in society.

The group brought forth a strong message of love, family and female empowerment by participating in various events and panel discussions, convening citizens, public figures, renowned personalities and business leaders.

Kick-starting the group’s activities this week was the Care International’s ‘Walk In Her Shoes’ march in London, which took place on Sunday 6th March 2016. Sister Sledge joined influential female figures such as Annie Lennox, Bianca Jagger and Helen Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of the Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the march ahead of International Women’s Day. The event comprised of music, keynote speeches by Helen Pankhurst and Bianca Jagger, who outlined the proceedings and importance of the event along with The Rt. Hon. Justine Greening, UK Secretary of State for International Development. A Q&A panel with guests was hosted by The Daily Telegraph’s Women’s Editor Emma Barnett, featuring eminent speakers such as Annie Lennox, Leyla Hussein (an award-winning campaigner on FGM and gender right) and Natasha Walter, author, founder Women for Refugee Women, followed by a Comedy performance from Bridget Christie.

Everyone then assembled for the walk over Millennium Bridge and reconvened at The Scoop for Sister Sledge’s finale performance of their greatest hits. To get everyone in the disposition for women empowerment, Kim Sledge also recited powerful words by Sojourner Truth, an African American Abolitionist born into slavery, who escaped with her infant daughter and in 1862 became one of the first pioneers for women’s rights, adding a truly global dimension to the female change-makers in the world.

On International Women’s Day itself, Sister Sledge participated in a panel discussion with BBC Radio 1 DJ and broadcaster, Gemma Cairney as part of the South Bank Centre’s WOW Festival. Cairney discussed the music industry with Sister Sledge, while laying emphasis on the inequality in representation of women in the industry and the difficulties faced by them trying to break into the industry.

Sister Sledge raised awareness of the struggles that women face in daily life – and on issues of growing inequality in society, which has become a serious matter and is something that must be addressed. The group spoke about their experience in the music industry and their own personal struggle of entering the industry in an age and time when it was a male dominated business. Debbie Sledge spoke about her faith in family values while expressing her love for her sisters worldwide.

On Saturday 12th March, Kim Sledge will be participating in the panel discussion, ‘Redressing the Balance: Women, Power and the Arts’, focused on pressing issues of inequality in the arts industry by raising questions which challenge the current convention on these issues, whilst emphasising how to address the imbalance and celebrate the creative power of women. The panel will comprise of industry experts including Barbara Hulanicki, Fashion Designer and Founder of Biba, Sandeep Virdee, Artistic Director of Darbar Festival and choreographer and dancer Jasmin Vardimon.
Sister Sledge will also headline the WOW Festival’s flagship variety show, Mirth Control on Sunday 13th March, which will bring together comedy and music in one exhilarating night hosted by Sandi Toksvig. Other guests include Sharon D. Clarke, Bonnie Langford, WOW Jazz Orchestra, Peggy Seeger, and the all-female amateur WOW Orchestra conducted by Sue Perkins and Sian Edwards.

Sister Sledge will also unveil exclusively to the audience, a full play of their soon to be released track – Women Are the Music of the World (WAMOW) – released in April 2016.

Speaking about their participation in the International Women’s Day events Joni, Debbie and Kim Sledge: said: “This International Women’s Day was very special to us. Being a part of an array of incredible events that celebrate women empowerment is something we Sisters have always been committed to.

Music can truly unite people across the globe and these projects are fantastic ways to help encourage, empower and inspire other young girls and women to break glass ceilings.

We have also been excited to share a tiny glimpse of our forthcoming track Women Are The Music of the World (WAMOW) at events such as Walk in Her Shoes and also the forthcoming WOW Festival.

We have truly met so many WAMOW’s this week, women that are strong, confident and beautiful and that’s what, through our music, we aim to celebrate.”

The WOW – Women Of The World events (11th, 12th and 13th March) are free and open to ALL – The lively programmes will include female drummers, spoken word artists and entertainers, and live music from Sister Sledge, making this a family-friendly occasion for all. Be a part of this special event with legendary musicians and WOW veterans who are dedicated to changing the world and inspiring others to do the same. For further details please visit careinternational.org

9th March 2016
AKSHAY KUMAR’S AIRLIFT UNSTOPPABLE AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE
Indian cinema megastar Akshay Kumar has once again enthralled audiences with his latest film ‘Airlift’, a tense drama based on the true life events during the Gulf War of 1990 which witnessed the world’s largest human evacuation in history. Released just before India’s 67th Republic Day, the film captures the sheer brilliance of the unspoken heroic mission of India which has become an ‘AIRLIFT’ing experience.

Airlift opened to phenomenal reviews, word of mouth and box office takings in India, and has continued its winning streak in all major international box offices over the weekend, opening to record breaking numbers.

Touted as as Akshay Kumar’s PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME, Airlift has become Akshay Kumar’s highest grossing first week ever, surpassing his previous hits such as Rowdy Rathore, Houseful 2, Gabbar, Special 26, Singh Is Bling, Baby and Brothers.

The international box office for Indian cinema has historically been dominated by family dramas, rom-coms and romance genres, but despite Airlift’s thriller-esque screenplay, it has emerged a triumphant success as it entered its second weekend.

Continuing to capture the hearts and minds of millions of fans internationally, the impressive stats for the film’s performance to date include USA and Canada where it took USD $ 844, 454 and CAD $ 219, 770 respectively; the UK, where it made £208, 627; the Middle East saw it rake in a record USD $1.5 million (AED 5,200,000 approx); Australia saw it take $ 345, 250 AUD; New Zealand, where it broke it also broke previous records set by Akshay’s films, taking a very impressive $ 105, 863 NZD; the box office in Fiji Islands took FJD 48368 and rest of the world USD $375,500, amounting to an aggregate and ever increasing sum of approximately USD $3.4 million.

Speaking about the success of the film internationally, Mr Sunil Shah, Head of Film Division at B4U, said, “We are very proud of the response we have received for ‘Airlift’ internationally and the box office figures are hugely remarkable for a film of this genre. The success of Airlift internationally clearly conveys a trajectory in the changes in film consumption – the international audience for cinema is expanding and becoming more accepting of other genres – and as a company we are delighted to be at the forefront of this emerging trend.

The aim for us as distributors is to release a film, help widen its reach and appeal and ultimately to positively impact the box office. Despite distributing a film starring one of India’s greatest film actors, the strategy we adopted was qualitative over quantitative to reflect the concept of the film, selecting the most appropriate sites and markets.

Since the narrative of Airlift is transient and can resonate with migrants and any individual who has been displaced in their country as refugees, it strikes an emotional chord with audiences, thus we reflected this nuance in our publicity and marketing campaign which helped us to captivate and engage audiences.”

Airlift is an edge-of-the-seat entertaining thriller, directed by Raja Krishna Menon and stars Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur (Homeland, The Lunchbox). The story, based on a true event, is set in 1990 in Kuwait, the time of the Gulf War when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The film has Akshay Kumar, playing Ranjit Katyal, a wealthy and powerful Indian businessman, who initially considers himself a Kuwaiti rather than an Indian. But after finding himself and the lives of his family in danger, eventually becomes the man who helps evacuate 170,000 Indians from Kuwait and brings them back safely to India. Over 59 days, 488 Air India commercial airliners were flown into a war zone to evacuate 170,000 Indians and bring them back home safely making this the largest human evacuation in history, which has also found its way to the Guinness Book Of World Records.

Here are just some of the outstanding reviews and comments the film has received:

Taran Adarsh tweeted: “#Airlift is a must must watch. One of the finest films to come out of the Hindi film industry. Just do not miss this one!”

Popular UK presenters Raj and Pablo from BBC Asian Network say: “Akshay is simply outstanding”

Top UK Asian website Punjab2000 said: So many positives can be taken from this dramatic film

Gulf News say: “Airlfit is Raw and Real”

First Post said: “Akshay Kumar nails the role of an unsung hero in this heart-stopping thriller”

Movie critics Shubha Shetty from Mid-day gave the film 4 stars, Saibal Chaterjee from NDTV 4 stars and Taran Adarsh 4.5 stars

B-Town has also been sending a wave of positive comments to Akshay Kumar and those involved in the project:

Rishi Kapoor – Saw Airlift.Brave film by director.Bhushan/Nikhil tops.Akshay,Nimrat work effortlessly.That George was good. Film Instils patriotism.See it!

Prabhu Deva – @akshaykumar sir superb, team work superb, loved it! #Airlift

Varun Dhawan – Saw #airlift. Really loved the film. .@akshaykumar best.lovely to see @NimratOfficial on screen congrats@TSeries @nikkhiladvani @RajaMenon

Anupam Kher – Congrats to the cast & crew of AIRLIFT. @akshaykumar your performance is of International level. Your graph as an actor is Inspirational.:)

Karan Arjun – #airlift is a heartwarming film about the triumph of the human spirit!! @akshaykumar in his career best portrayal was the soul of the film.

Hrithik Roshan – Happy Republic day! #Airlift is so deserving of all d success. Congrats @akshaykumar @mrsfunnybones n team. My Republic Day well spent!

Catch the video highlighting some of the brilliant reviews the film has garnered:
https://www.facebook.com/akshaykumarofficial/videos/10153634561098283/?theater

Airlift is released by B4U and is on general release internationally.
29th January 2016
AN EVENING WITH PACINO

GLASGOW 19 MAY | LONDON 22 MAY | DUBLIN 24 MAY

S2BN Entertainment is pleased to present AN EVENING WITH PACINO, the worldwide acclaimed event with one of cinema’s most riveting stars, Al Pacino.

Taking place at three coveted venues in Europe: Clyde Auditorium, SECC in Glasgow on 19th May, Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London on 22nd May and Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin on 24th May, the unique events will be an unmissable opportunity for fans in Europe to get up close and personal, sharing private moments with one of the greatest actors of his generation.

AN EVENING WITH PACINO marks a welcome return for Al Pacino to the United Kingdom following a sold out night at the London Palladium in 2013. ‘An Evening with Pacino’ will explore the myriad highlights of one of the most celebrated careers in acting history, from his time off-Broadway in the 60s right up to the present day. Highlights will include never before heard stories and exclusive clips shared by Pacino in intimate theatre surrounds. The evening will include an on-stage interview projected on a state-of-the-art large screen, bringing the action closer to the audience. This very special event will also give audience members a rare chance to speak directly to Pacino in an audience question and answer session.

“I’m very excited to be presenting these special events with Al Pacino,” said Michael Cohl, Chairman, S2BN Entertainment “he is one of the most talented actors of all time and to see him live, in person, and to hear his stories, and watch him go in and out of his most famous characters, is truly a unique experience”.

Al Pacino has created some of the most indelible character portrayals in cinema history, starring in over forty films that include The Godfather Trilogy, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Scent of a Woman, Sea of Love, Dick Tracy, Heat, Scarface, Any Given Sunday, Donnie Brasco, Angels in America and, most recently, You Don’t Know Jack and Phil Spector for HBO. He is an eight-time Academy Award nominee and an Oscar winner for his performance in Scent of a Woman.

Pacino’s performances for HBO have garnered Golden Globe and Emmy awards for Angels in America and You Don’t Know Jack. He is one of the few actors to have won the triple crown of acting: the Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award. He is also the winner of the 2012 National Medal of Arts, AFI Life Achievement Award and American Cinematheque Award.

With an enduring devotion to acting, Pacino has become one of film and theatre’s most honoured artists, and one of the most famous and loved actors in the world. AN EVENING WITH PACINO is, undoubtedly, an exceptional opportunity to catch an icon in the flesh.

Tickets are available to purchase on www.ticketmaster.com and www.eveningwithpacino.com. Tickets range from £40 to £200. Additional ticket fees may apply.

For VIP and Meet & Greet Experience packages please contact Sterling Global

11th May 2015