MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective

All Weekend  August 19 – 21, 2011
Film Screenings in Studio Theatre

What better way to enjoy films than to watch them again in the company of the stars who are featured in them! MMMovies provides a restrospective look at the works of Abhay Deol (India).

Dev D - Friday at 7:00pm
Honeymoon Travels - Friday at 11:00pm
Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! – Saturday at 12:30pm
Manorama Six Feet Under – Saturday at 10pm
Ek Chalis Ki Last Local – Sunday at 12:30pm

Abhay Deol (born in 1976, India) is an Indian film actor. He is the nephew of famous veteran actor Dharmendra and cousin of actors Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol and actress Esha Deol. After graduating from Mumbai University, Abhay headed to Los Angeles and studied Fine Arts. After completing a two-year acting course, Abhay answered to his Bollywood calling by coming to India and joining the Hindi cinema. He made his big screen debut in the 2005 film Socha Na Tha opposite Ayesha Takia.

He has starred in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Dev D, Ahista Ahista, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, and Manorama Six Feet Under, which won the Best Film at the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York City. He also won a Best Actor award for his role in the same film. He has also started producing films and for Basra, the first film under his new production company, he learned the Israeli martial art Krav Maga. He also trained to be a deep-sea diver for his most recent film Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara which has gone on to be a massive box office success.

22° of Beatitude (Vancouver)

Friday, August 19, 2011   11:00pm – 12:30am
Brigantine Room

From the producer of Delhi 2 Dublin, Tarun Nayar, comes a journey through modern Asian sounds. Ten years in the making, and incorporating recording sessions with artists worldwide, 22° of Beatitude brings us to temples in Bhutan, to street corners in Tokyo and even to an intimate conversation between the artist and his grandmother.

Breaking out of the dancefloor-driven format, Tarun’s aim was to record as many of the sounds as possible, live, without the use of sample libraries. Each of these songs tells a story, and each story is a chapter in the artist’s life. They are a decade-long evolution of sounds that blend culture, beats and bass. With influences ranging from Talvin Singh to Bassnectar, Tarun’s music aims to break boundaries and bring people together. Tarun performs the album live with master percussionist/producer Dave Sharma (Sub Swara, NYC), Vancouver-based glitch hop crew B.P.M., and a suite of custom-made visuals, performed live by VJ Electrabelle.

Snehasish Mozumder & SOM (India/USA)

Saturday, August 20, 2011   8:00pm – 9:00pm
Westjet Stage

Classical and jazz fusion’s Snehasish Mozumder’s double-neck mandolin is at the centre of a band called SOM that swings it North  Indian style. His talent comes from the sublime human voice he coaxes  from his instrument – whether it’s an Indian melody, a haunting  Celtic rendering or something completely different.  Along with his guest   accompanists, he improvises on North Indian classical style ragas shaped around harmonious melodies. His bassy North Indian vocal phrasings elevate his music beyond global boundaries.

A highlight of Snehasish’s career includes sharing the stage with musicians such as Eric Clapton while in Ravi Shankar’s Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall Concert For George in 2002. He is among a new generation of recognized Indian classical musicians coming from the Indian subcontinent today. Snehasish enthusiastically shares his talent and innovations with diverse artists and audiences all over the world and is regularly on tour in Europe and the US. The new album, Jazz & North Indian Styles (produced by Snehasish and Vin Scialla), is released on Random Chance Records ( NYC).

Shillong Chamber Choir (India)

Saturday, August 20, 2011
9:00pm – 10:30pm
Westjet Stage

Supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Shillong Chamber Choir was formed in 2001 by Mr. Neil Nongkynrih. Initially, the idea started because Nongkynrih felt a need to hone some of the musical talents in Meghalaya and the North East. As the years progress, the concept of the choir has gone beyond just the musical aspect into a holistic approach. In 2010, they won the trophy for the reality television show, India’s Got Talent – Season 2 (2010).

In 2009, the choir had their debut performance with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra with performances in Shillong and Kolkata. In this season, the choir is keen to explore music from Indian Cinema especially melodies of yester years rearranged by Mr. Nongkynrih. In their repertoire, they have also sung an eclectic range of music from all genres whether it is western classical, pop, jazz, gospel or musica sacra. The choir has toured the U.K., Poland, Switzerland, South Korea, China and Sri Lanka.

Bathiya & Santhush (Sri Lanka)

Sunday, August 21, 2011   5:00pm – 6:00pm
Westjet Stage

A classically trained singer and piano player, Bathiya is the driving force behind much of Bathiya & Santhush’s production and arrangement. Anyone who has followed Bathiya’s career closely enough, knows that his true potential unfolds during a live performance. His showmanship on stage is almost theatrical thanks to his ability to tanslate the energy and feeling behind a song into something physical.

A classically trained vocalist and keyboard player, Santhush is the emotional pulse behind the music of Bathiya & Santhush. Behind his quiet exterior lies a reservoir of thoughts and emotion. There is one basic principle behind Santhush’s performances – less is more. He has the remarkable ability to inject passion into a live appearance with the least effort.

Together, since 1998, Bathiya & Santhush have composed, produced and performed some of Sri Lanka’s biggest hits. They will be performing fresh after a concert date with the legendary Bollywood singing star Asha Bhosle on Aug ust 13 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Opening Night: Friday August 19, 2011

Meena Bazaar

6:00pm – 12:00am

Featuring products like saris and silks, CD and books, incense and handicrafts, mehndi artists and jewellery, paintings and home furnishings and so much more, the Meena Bazaar offers a little something for everyone. See who’s coming!

Masala Bazaar

6:00pm – 12:00am, World Cafe International Market

Featuring mouth watering South Asian dishes from Mughlai chicken to South Indian dosas, Middle Eastern shawarma to Malaysian murtabak!  See who’s cooking!

M!M!M! Artists’ Walkway

7:00pm – 11:00pm, Marilyn Brewer Community Space

Andrew Adams

ROM Presents: Ornamenting the Ordinary: Crafts of South Asia

Vishal Misra

http://www.vishalmisra.com/Vishal Misra is a Creative Accountant, a Chartered Accountant by education and a self-taught artist. He has travelled and lived across many cities in Asia, Europe and Americas, which has inspired his creativity
through multitude of cultural influences. As a member to the Board of Director of the Mississauga Arts Council and as the Vice President of Mississauga Art Society he has worked with various artists to inspire art in the local community. His works have been shown in exhibitions across North America, Middle East and Asia. He is currently represented by galleries in the cities of Mississauga, Toronto, San Francisco, Dubai and Delhi.

 

MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective(India)

7:00pm – 9:30pm, Studio Theatre

Dev D  (144 mins)
After breaking up with his childhood sweetheart, a young man finds solace in drugs. Meanwhile, a teenage girl is caught in the world of prostitution. Will they be destroyed or will they find redemption? Based on the film Devdas.

 Radha Academy of Carnatic Violins

7:00pm – 8:00pm & 9:00pm – 9:30pm, Redpath Stage

Subhadra Vijaykumar, a Mississauga-based violinist, is the founder and artistic director of Radha Academy of carnatic Violin. Radha Academy imparts training in the finest traditions of carnatic violin playing. Subhadra has trained under none other than the internationally renowned soloist and maestro Prof. T.N.Krishnan.

She comes from a family with rich musical traditions and obtained a first-class diploma in violin from the prestigious Bharatiya Music and Arts Society’s Music College in Mumbai, India, under the tutelage of the late Mrs. Vijayam Ramaswamy, an acclaimed disciple of Prof.Krishnan. She was awarded a grant by the Canada Council for the Arts in 2006 to train under Prof. Krishnan.

Waheed Soroor & Kice aka Kastro (Afghanistan/Canada)

8:00pm – 9:00pm, West Jet Stage

Afghan-Canadian Singer, Songwriter, Composer and Producer Waheed Soroor is an artist loved by Central Asian fans all over the world. With annual international tours and live performances to up to 50,000 star-struck fans in USA, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom & Netherlands, Waheed is a star.

His energy, voice & instrumentation are the fruit of his true commitment and passion for humanity. Not only is he adored and respected by music lovers and artists all over the world, he also believes in growing communities through education. Waheed is not just a celebrated Afghan-Canadian artist, he is also a community leader and science educator.

After three successful albums and several hit songs in both Afghan and Iranian communities around the world, Waheed is humble about his accomplishments. Most recently, Waheed performed to a televised audience of over four million at the prestigious annual Ariana Television Network Awards (an international convention for Afghan artists). Waheed also has the unique ability to sing flawlessly in the varying dialects and languages spoken in Afghanistan.  A true global citizen, Waheed also sings in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Spanish. In his own words, “music unites us all.”

In a community torn from the ravages of war, poverty and destruction, Waheed’s music is a catalyst for revival, renewal and strength. A fan comments: “Waheed’s melodious voice and passion invigorate me.  When I listen to his songs, I feel love and hope… and an uncontrollable urge to dance!”

Kice aka Kastro…
is the first Canadian/ Afghan Pop Artist to hit the music scene with his unique sound & style. His official first single “Crush on You” debuted in early 2010, which received over 50,000 Youtube views in a matter of months. Since then, his talent has certainly progressed and is shown through his ability to create music in different genres (Hip Hop/Rap/ RnB/Rock/Electro-pop/House).

Bhanging by the Lake

9:30pm – 11:00pm, West Jet Stage

From the park to the lake! Manny Brar, Rav DoubleAA, Paul “The Drummer” Nanuwa, Dhol Circle, Jasraj Music, MC JD & SGPD are joined by Toronto’s very own Jus Reign to present the best in Bhangra at M!M!M!. This branded bhangra blowout has become an M!M!M! trade mark event with partners Desiwear. Part traditional, part contemporary and part fusion Bhangra – 100% high energy MMMasti!

Double AA…
brings a party experience that’s second to none. His resume speaks for itself: from Indian remixes back in the early ‘90s, to opening up for world renowned urban artists and DJs, live-to-air on FLOW 93.5 and WBLK 93.7 FM, and now his long list of massively successful parties (Phunk’d, The 4MLA). Which takes us to the mammoth known as Luv To Bhang! Working on two turntables, he incorporates many traditional DJing aspects such as cutting and scratching into the world of Bollywood/Bhangra music. www.doubleaa.com

The percussionist Paul “The Drummer” Nanuwa has played for numerous recording artists including Juno-nominated Kiran Ahluwalia and international recording artists RDB. He adds to the experience by creating a mesmorizing percussive accompaniment to Double AA’s talent on the turn tables.

Dhol Circle…
is a facilitated drum circle in which a leader helps to focus the intent and improve the quality and effect of the drum jam. Dhols and/or percussion are handed out or already in place, and people come not to ‘learn to drum’ but simply to have fun playing together.

Founded by Sukha Bhamra, Dhol Circle is an innovative group that has revolutionized the Dhol through mixing traditional Bhangra rhythm with world beats. With over 20 percussionists and influence from African, Brazilian and Indian rhythms, Dhol Circle has integrated their original sound to create an explosive rhythmic experience. Come  nourish your Mind, Body and Soul! www.dholcircle.com

Sonay Gabroo Punjab De (SGPD)…
is a dance team from the GTA that combines traditional bhangra with modern, urban twists. Since 2000 they have made bhangra pleasurable not only to Indians, but to everyone and anyone who watches. The team has blossomed into a whopping 24-person, internationally competitive dance crew (including dancers, instrumentalists and vocalists). SGPD has been recognized by an array of organizations and has competed and placed first in numerous competitions. www.sgpd.ca

Manny Brar…
is the founder of the Desi-inspired clothing line Desi Wear (DW). DW has played an integral part of celebrating and promoting the rich and vibrant culture of South Asians for the past 16 years. It has become a well recognized brand not only in Toronto but around the world. It has been featured in many fashion shows, magazines, newspapers, TV shows, music videos, movies and worn by all the top desi artists. Manny Brar has been at the forefront of the Desi community for the past 15 years and his vision and creativity has made Desi Wear and Luv to Bhang some of the most respected brands within the fashion and music industry. www.desiwear.com

Jus Reign…
is a Desi comedian from Guelph, Ont. Jus specializes in creating web content such as comedic skits, parodies and re-enactments of everyday life in forms of online video and standup.

His passion for comedy and creating media content started at a young age, lying within the roots of making home videos and presenting standup to his close family and friends. With the creation of online media and the popularity of YouTube, Jus Reign took the opportunity to present his humour and talent in the summer of ‘09 to a wide array of audiences through easily accessible online content.

The aim of Reign’s comedy is not only put a smile on the faces of many, but to do it in a positive manner that promotes his rich culture, heritage and people, portraying the uniqueness of the strong values and beliefs of all Desi’s, Sikh’s and Punjabi’s as a whole.

Over the past two years he has become one of North America’s hottest sketch comedy YouTube stars! jusreign.tv

MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective (India)

11:00pm – 1:30am, Studio Theatre

Honeymoon Travels  (119 mins)
A young, new-age and hilarious meditation on marriage and the most shocking and unexpected surprises that come with it. Not to be missed!

Beatitude (Vancouver)

11:00pm – 12:30am, Brigantine Room

22º of Beatitude. From the producer of Delhi 2 Dublin comes a journey through modern Asian sounds. Ten years in the making, and incorporating recording sessions with artists worldwide, 22° of Beatitude brings us to temples in Bhutan, to street corners in Tokyo and even to an intimate conversation between the artist and his grandmother. Breaking out of the dancefloor-driven format, Tarun’s aim was to record as many of the sounds as possible, live, without the use of sample libraries. Each of these songs tells a story, and each story is a chapter in the artist’s life. They are a decade-long evolution of sounds that blend culture, beats and bass. With influences ranging from Talvin Singh to Bassnectar, Tarun’s music aims to break boundaries and bring people together. Tarun performs the album live with master percussionist/ producer Dave Sharma (Sub Swara, NYC), Vancouver-based glitch hop crew B.P.M., and a suite of custom made visuals, performed live by VJ Electrabelle.

Saturday August 20, 2011

M!M!M! Artists’ Walkway

11:00am – 11:00pm, Marilyn Brewer Community Space

See Friday at 7:00pm for details.

Meena Bazaar

12:00pm – 12:00am

See Friday at 6:00pm for details.

Masala Bazaar

12:00pm – 12:00am

See Friday at 6:00pm for details.

Graffiti Art with Javid

12:00pm – 9:00pm, North Orchard

Javid is an Arabic name that means eternal. His work as a painter, graphic designer and muralist is dedicated to revealing the architectural spirit of letters and faces, inspired by the principles of Arabic calligraphy, graffiti art, and portraiture.

Javid is available for custom portraits and calligraphic paintings, on canvas or walls. He also manages Under the Radar, a youth-led social enterprise specializing in graphic design, mural painting and screen printing, located at the LOFT Youth Centre for Social Enterprise and Innovation in Downtown Toronto. Currently, Javid is pursuing a Masters in Architecture at the University of Toronto. His goal is to design sustainable arts spaces in developing urban societies, addressing needs specific to the context of education, youth, street art and social entrepreneurship. davidwithaj.tumblr.com

MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective (India)

12:30pm – 3:00pm, Studio Theatre

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (140 mins)
A burglar reflects on his life and loves; while the media speculates how he managed to pull off so many heists.

Cooking Demo with Chef Roshni Mansukhani

1:00pm – 2:00pm, 3:00pm – 4:00pm, 5:00pm – 6:00pm, Lakeside Terrace

Starting in the restaurant industry at the age of 13 busing tables in Ontario, Roshni Mansukhani began her culinary career moving up to a prep cook and then a line cook. Roshni decided to leave home after she completed a Business degree from Wilfred Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario and went on graduate from the Culinary Institute of Canada PEI, with flying colours. It was her true calling and she has never looked back. She has extensive international experience having worked with The Sagamore Resort in upstate NY, The Park Hyatt in Goa, before moving to the UK and working for the Thistle group of hotels. She currently lives in Boston and she is an Executive Chef and Consultant. Chef Roshni has been awarded Silver Medal Knorr Competition 2001, Food Network’s Chopped Champion 2009 and is a member of the CFCC.

M!M!M! Senior Desi Idol Semi-Finals

1:00pm – 2:00pm, Redpath Stage

Once again, M!M!M! presents Senior Desi Idol – an interactive singing competition directed towards Seniors. Organized by Swar Sadhana.

Nishith Pandya & Jonita Gandhi

2:00pm – 2:45pm, West Jet Stage

Organized by Swar Sadhana.

Nishith Pandya
A versatile singer of GTA and currently a student of York University surrounded by music from birth, as he has learnt Tabla for 10 years and started singing at the tender age of 14. Over the year Nishith has achieved several awards such as winning the NAIC award for best singer and he has also gotten a singing award from the great Indian classical singing legend him self Pandit jasraj who also judged the event which was Swar Sadhana Idol season I. Nishith has also grown as a singer through singing in different languages such as Gujarati, Hindi, English, Tamil, and in Urdu. Nishith has also sung with many Bollywood playback singers.

Jonita Gandhi
Jonita is one of the sensational multi talented rising stars of Canada. She started singing at very tender age and later learned from her father to become young professional singer and joined their family band. She has shared stage with many well-known Bollywood celebrity singers and made thousands of fans. Jonita is one of the star performers of the IIFA Buzz Brampton Festival.  www.jonitagandhi.com.

M!M!M! Kidz Corner Arts n’ Crafts

2:00pm – 8:00pm, HarbourKIDS Zone Tent

Imagination and colours come alive as children use a variety of wonderful materials to create cultural crafts of South Asia as the teacher explains the significance of their art and creativity.

Kaminari featuring Yoshie & Chie Yamano (Japan/Canada)

2:30pm – 3:00pm, Redpath Stage

Kaminari is the combined talents of Yoshi and Chie Yamano, a professional music duo hailing from Osaka, Japan. In Japanese, Kaminari means “lightning” but it also means “God’s noise,” referring to its mythical and cosmic connection to the earth and it’s peoples. Their musical journey started in 1989 when they met and began collaborating musically through funk, blues and world music.

Since then they have performed in various venues across the globe. They form an exciting union of musical traditions that are hundreds of years old, crossing cultures and countries, joining forces to create a combination of sounds unlike no other. Their unique music seamlessly blends together acoustic and electronic, bridging the traditional with contemporary, east with the west.

Kaminari’s acoustic repertoire fuses together spiritual musical rhythms from India, Australia and Japan with the smooth sounds of jazz, funk, rock and fusion. Integrating over a dozen different digital sounds and effects, Kaminari’s more electronic sets enhance their acoustic instruments with beats that come from contemporary styles of music like down tempo, trip hop and ambient.

Passionate about music, the two travelled to India where Yoshi studied Sitar and then to Australia where Chie learned to master the Didgeridoo. After extensive traveling and performing in Australia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Alaska, Sri Lanka and Korea, their music brought them to Toronto. Their performance debut as Kaminari in 1999 was a smashing hit and sparked their entry into the Toronto music scene.

Chie and Yoshi have played at numerous music festivals and concerts as well as for television and radio programs. They have also collaborated with other artists and musicians on multimedia performances and have worked with the likes of Alanna Myles and K-OS. They’re music has garnered awards from NHK, Sony and Yamaha. Their original songs were recorded onto their first album Triangle in 2003.

Yoshito Yamano: sitar, guitar, sanshin, ukelele, programming
Chie Yamano: digeridoo, vocals, programming, effects

Rhythm of Rajasthan Workshop (India)

2:30pm – 3:30pm, Brigantine Room

Supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations

A discussion and demonstration led by our visitors from Rajasthan. These musicians from the Langar and Manganiar tribes have over the centuries developed musical styles incorporating both Hindu and Islam sufi traditions. Their earthy and rustic sounds are embedded with classical vocal and instrumental training from very early ages and the talent and skill is passed on from generation to generation. Pure spiritualists who have bridged the religious divide in their devotion to God and their craft.
 

SW Storm

3:00pm – 4:00pm, WestJet Stage

Sina-Wayne, a.k.a. SW Storm, was born in London, England of Trinidadian parentage. Storm is considered to be one of the most versatile artistes in the Caribbean. His vocal range is unmatched and his versatility is what makes him the complete entertainer.

SW Storm can be considered one of Trinidad & Tobago’s premiere cultural ambassadors. His first musical foray came in the area of soca music. He brought his unique style and brand to the genre and out of this came a new sub genre: pop soca. After 15 years of churning out soca and crossover hits, SW Storm officially jumped in the chutney market with his 2010 release “De Hammer.” This track immediately signaled his intent on changing the game in yet another genre of music.

SW Storm is set to raise the bar in indo music and give the industry a mainstream appeal. He has released several soca hits. SW Storm is not limited to any one type of event! He has done it all! From private events to festivals and concerts worldwide, Storm also undertakes projects / youth programs delivering workshops teaching song writing and performance skills. Storm is also writing for TV and has recorded two theme songs for BBC TV in the United Kingdom.

Watch out! There will be no calm before or after this Storm.

In Conversation with… Vinay Virmani

4:00pm – 5:00pm, Lakeside Terrace
Hosted by ET Canada’s Roz Weston

Hockey and Bollywood. Who would have imagine these two things would ever be spoken in the same breath? This unlikely combination is exactly the running theme of the upcoming Indo-Canadian co-production Breakaway. As a co-production, the sports comedy boast a cast from both east and west which includes newcomer Vinay Virmani, comedian Russell Peters, Rob Lowe and Camilla Belle with special cameo appearances by Akshay Kumar, hip-hop stars Aubrey “Drake” Graham and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. Its directed by Robert Lieberman who previously helm another hockey film, D3: The Mighty Ducks. Vinay plays Rajveer Singh, a 21 year old young man dreaming of a professional hockey career. We open with him dreaming of scoring a game winning goal, followed by a moment of bliss as beautiful girls surround him. Unquestionably, he has the talent to be an accomplished player, but faces many hurdles, the biggest of which is himself. This is an opportunity to hear about his experiences as an up and coming actor! Check out the Breakaway theatrical trailer and Jassi Sidhu’s take on Breakaway!

M!M!M! Kidz Corner Storytelling

5:00pm – 5:30pm & 7:00 – 7:30pm, Community Tent

Stories are the windows to the outside world. They transport you to places and times you may never have been before. Join our storytellers as they delightfully relay bedtime stories about elephants and cooking hot, fluffy chapattis.

MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective (India)

In Conversation with… Abhay Deol

5:00pm – 6:00pm, Studio Theatre
Hosted by OMNI’s Mohit Rajhans

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to chat with India’s rising cine star! For more information on Abhay Deol, check this out!

Mohit Rajhans is a well known film critic/reporter from Toronto. You can catch his work on Omni Tv, CBC Metro Morning, HMV.ca and EQHD. Mohit is also a Seg Producer with Breakfast Television, City TV  and you can follow him on twitter @mohitsmovies or his blog Mohitsmovies.com
“It is an honour to be a part of M!M!M! this year as it’s truly one of the best cultural festivals in the country”

Swar Sadhana Dandiya Raas

5:30pm – 7:30pm, Redpath Stage

Dandiya Raas is one of the traditional folk dances of India, picturing Lord Krishna and Radha celebrated as part of Navratri Festival. The Dandiya means sticks and Raas is specific formation of dance using sticks with specific musical bits. The Dandiya Raas has lots of significance and described many ways. However, it is originated from Gujarat along with Garba and Rajasthan folk dancing. The woman and man ware colorful dressings that creates traditional environment.

Swar Sadhana Raas-Garba group is known original and traditional musical group. During MMM 2011 festival, our group will bring non-stop up-bit dance sequence that will encourage every one pickup the Dandiya sticks and start dancing with the bits. We will provide the Dandiya sticks and basic training for those who will be joining for the first time.

Kids Jam Session

7:30pm – 8:00pm, Boulevard Tent

Calling all kids! Come and join in a free-for-all dance party to music especially put together for kids.

M!M!M! and MyBindi.com Present ‘Eyes on India’

7:30pm – 8:30pm, Lakeside Terrace

India conjures up images of spirituality and yoga, palaces and poverty, festivals and food, and, of course, music and bollywood!  According to Sylvia Fraser, India is a jewel box. Many drawers, many cabinets.

Eyes on India features a special literary panel with Sylvia Fraser, Mariellen Ward and Katherine Matthews – all writers of non-Indian origin – who have been captivated by India.

The panel, which will be moderated by Syerah Virani, will explore how and why India beckoned these individuals and how it sustains them even as they live their lives in Canada.  We will examine the privileges and the prejudices that a “Firangi” can experience and how our panelists engage with the Indian diaspora and with the mainstream as self-appointed ambassadors for the beauty and love of all that is India.

Dirty Pakistani Lingerie (USA)

7:30pm – 8:30pm, Studio Theatre

Six Pakistani-American females air their dirty lingerie while struggling to find their place at the chaotic juncture of two very different cultures. Nothing is off limits. This show will offend! Warning: this show is a 14+ event.

Aizzah Fatima is an actress/writer/producer based in NYC. She s a graduate of the two year conservatory at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in addition to holding a Bachelors in Microbiology and a Masters in MIS. Some of her favorite performances are the original ensemble piece Ripe For The Picking which tackled human rights violations issues around the world, Insler’s Vagina Monologues, and the interactive improv show Bollywood Wedding. Her favorite film credits include Albert & Alice, Walkaway, and Sounds of Oud. Aizzah has appeared on Comedy Central, WEtv, and The Food Network. She has produced films such as Doff Thy Name, Do-Over, and Moving On in addition to co-producing the web series Landing in Mumbai at www.mumbaichopra.com. Video blog on Youtube: Aizzah like liza. www.AizzahFatima.com

Snehasish Mozumder & SOM (India/USA)

8:00pm – 9:00pm, WestJet Stage

Snehasish Mozumder, an exploratory string virtuoso, expands the boundaries of the mandolin instrument. Classical and jazz fusion’s Snehasish Mozumder’s double-neck mandolin is at the center of a band SOM, that swings it North Indian style. His talent comes from the sublime human voice he coaxes from his instrument – be it an Indian melody, a haunting Celtic rendering or something completely different. He, together with his guest accompanists, improvises on North Indian classical style ragas shaped around harmonious melodies. His bassy North Indian vocal phrasings elevate his music beyond global boundaries. A highlight of Snehasish’s career includes sharing the stage with musicians such as Eric Clapton while in Ravi Shankar’s Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall Concert For George in 2002. He is among a new generation of recognized Indian classical musicians coming from the Indian subcontinent today. Snehasish enthusiastically shares his talent and innovations with diverse artists and audiences all over the world and is regularly on tour in Europe and the US. The new album Jazz & North Indian Styles ( produced by Snehasish and Vin Scialla) is released on Random Chance Records ( NYC).

In Conversation with… Monika Deol (Vancouver)

9:00pm – 10:00pm, Lakeside Terrace
Hosted by Hussein Madhavji

An icon for Canadian South Asian youth, Monika broke through stereotypes and made history as a South Asian woman headlining Canada’s top entertainment music and dance show “Electric Circus”. When Monika left Electric Circus some 35,000 people came to her farewell final episode of the show. There’s no denying that this conversation will be inspiring and really provide an insight into the South Asian experience in the 80s and 90s.

Monika Deol…

Born in Punjab, India, Monika emigrated to Marathon, Ont. as a young child with her parents, who were both teachers. The family then moved to a grain and dairy farm in Beausejour, Man.

Monika began her career in Winnipeg. She was studying towards a B.A. at the University of Winnipeg when she started working part-time as a club DJ and singer for a Top 40 rock band. This experience led to her first show, Night Moves, on the CTV affiliate CKY-TV in Winnipeg.

She is now a nationally known media personality. From 1986-1996 she was a host/anchor on CityTV and MuchMusic in Toronto, fronting five shows simultaneously: Fax, Rapid-Fax, Ooh La La, CityPulse at 6 Entertainment and Electric Circus, which she also co-produced.

In Vancouver in 1997, Monika was the first 6pm newsanchor of VTV, now known as CTV Vancouver. In 2000, she was Chair of the Advisory Board to Channel M when it made it’s successful bid for a new multicultural TV station in Vancouver. In 2002, she was involved in the launch of  CityTV on the West Coast as its 11pm newsanchor. She was also host of the CityTV show Iconoclasts which aired in Vancouver and Toronto.

In 2007, Monika was a contributor to the book, Between Interruptions: 30 Women Tell The Truth About Motherhood.

Monika is a committed volunteer, working with many charities and serves as a director on a number of boards. She is married and has four children.

GhuMMMo! featuring Sanskriti Arts Ensemble

9:00pm – 9:30pm, Redpath Stage

Sanskriti Arts Ensemble was brought to Canada from Mumbai, India in 2003 by founder and choreographer Puja Amin. Sanskriti Arts Ensemble has been working to spread Indian culture and ethnicity with enticing tunes of today, in Canada, USA, India and around the world. Sanskriti Arts celebrates the love of music, expressed through dance; from western techniques of ballet, jazz and hip hop, precision and joy of the dances of India. Be amazed by the expressive choreography, incredible formations and stunning costumes – all ready to compliment the spunk and talent of these amazing young dancers. www.sanskritiarts.ca 

Puja Amin…
has the distinction of receiving the Kesri Youth Award 2005 in Canada for appreciation of support and help, to impact and make a difference in the lives of youth. As well, Amin had the honour of being nominated for M!M!M! People’s Choice Award. She is a veteran of TV & film; an internationally renowned Bollywood, Folk and Kathak dance instructor; Owner and Director of Sanskriti Arts in Toronto, Director of Sanskriti Arts Ensemble, Nrityanjali and Bollycore!

A resident of Toronto, Puja Amin has taught master classes literally from coast to coast in Canada, and overseas in Dubai, The USA and India. Having taught thousands of students of all ages over the past 16 years and part of most multicultural projects such as Urban Noise and programs with the Soulpepper Theatre Company.

A few of her film and TV credits include: Latest Buzz, Badhai Ho, Bollywood Awards. Puja has worked with high profile Bollywood personalities such as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit on film sets and directorial campaigns. Her choreography has been displayed in concerts and music videos for Falguni Pathak, Desi Idol – Vikas Khanna, Canadian Idol semifinalist Devika Mathur, Boman Irani, Shibani Kashyap, Sukhwinder Singh, Praful Dave, Vino Russo, Ila Arun, Kamaal Khan, Sukhdev, Yasmin, Sandrine and Lata Mangeshkar and commercials for Town shoes and Rogers.

Amin has been featured in the Toronto Star, Vaughan Citizen, Brampton Guardian, Toronto Sun, CMR and TVi, Snap, Gujarat Times, Gujarat Abroad, The Voice, Canada AM, City TV, CBC news and television, Omni TV and CHCH.

Shillong Chamber Choir, winners of 2010 India’s Got Talent (India)

9:30pm – 11:00pm, WestJet Stage

   
Supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Shillong Chamber Choir was formed in 2001 by Mr. Neil Nongkynrih. Initially, the idea started because Nongkynrih felt a need to hone some of the musical talents in Meghalaya and the North East. As the years progressed, the concept of the choir has gone beyond just the musical aspect into a holistic approach. In 2010, they won the trophy for the reality television show India’s Got Talent – Season 2.

Prior to this, in the same year they came back from the World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China with Gold Diplomas in all the three categories in which they participated – Musica Sacra, Gospel and Popular. In 2009, the choir had their debut performance with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra with performances in Shillong and Kolkata. In this season, the choir is keen to explore music from Indian Cinema especially melodies of yester years rearranged by Mr. Nongkynrih. In their repertoire, they have also sung an eclectic range of music from all genres whether it is western classical, pop, jazz, gospel or musica sacra. They were first invited to The Rashtrapati Bhavan by the then President of India Shri Abdul Kalam in 2005 and henceforth have been invited again the past three years by Smti. Pratibha Patil for the annual Christmas concerts.

The choir has toured the U.K., Poland, Switzerland, South Korea, China and Sri Lanka. In their own State the choir performs regularly in concerts some of which is televised. In 2006 a documentary film was made about the choir entitled The Shillong Chamber Choir and the Little Home School and was premiered at the Dutch Documentary Film Festival. They will tour in the coming year to various cities in India as well as abroad.

MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective (India)

10:00pm – 12:30am, Studio Theatre

Manorama Six Feet Under (135 mins)

A small-time writer in a small town dabbles in being an amateur detective and finds himself trapped in a web of lies, deceit and murder.

KomicSutra: comedy showcase starring Nitin Mirani and Crystal Ferrier

10:30pm – 11:30pm, Lakeside Terrace

Experience Komic Sutra’s unique blend of improvisational comedy as they perform various short form improv games. Warning 18+

Nitin Mirani
A refreshing, exuberant, completely unpredictable, un-clichéd and highly entertaining comedian. Don’t miss out!

Mirani was born in India, raised in Dubai and has lived through a gulf war, a global recession, eight years of a Bush administration, and yes, even through the 1970s disco era. Yet he does manage to see the world in a comical light.

Being one of the pioneers of the comedy circuit in the Middle East for almost five years and the founder of the brand Komic Sutra.He has also been voted as AHLAN DUBAI’s HOT 100 People for 2010 and 2011. Refreshing, exuberant, completely unpredictable, un-clichéd and highly entertaining are just a few words to describe his act.

Crystal Ferrier
Crystal Ferrier is a multi-talented, innovative and creative professional. A graduate from York University, obtaining her degree in Sociology as well as Theatre Studies Crystal is an actress, a comedian, an emcee, a model as well as a writer and producer. Crystal has performed in several theatre productions and showcased at various comedy clubs across Canada and India. A recent graduate from ModelCreatives, Crystal has since walked, designed and choreographed numerous runway shows as well as participated in several photo shoots for some of the city’s top photographers. Currently, Crystal is writing and producing her own production highlighting the hardships that women all over the world commonly face. She is also one-half of a two-woman duo called P-Squared and performs various sketch characters across the city. Crystal’s personality is warm and embracing and will captivate anyone who falls in her company. She finds inspiration amongst the struggle of being a young, female minority living in Toronto. Her real-life, raw comedic personality is absolutely unforgettable and will keep you wanting more.

Chin Injeti

11:00pm – 11:30pm, Brigantine Room

Grammy Award-winning producer/artist/writer Chin Injeti is no stranger to the music industry. Getting his start as a founding member of Juno Award-winning group Bass is Base, he continues to thrive as an artist releasing his recent solo album D’tach and its reworked version Re’tach.

Working in genres ranging from country to rock and most notably hip hop, Chin is seeing major breakthroughs as a producer. Recent work with DJ Khalil saw him producing for top hip hop artists Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Drake, Clipse, Eminem and more, and has gained him major recognition.

Chin’s foray into hip hop came with great success in 2010, becoming a Grammy Award winner for his work on Eminem’s multiplatinum album Recovery.

Chin shows no sign of slowing down in 2011, lining up work with artists such as John Legend and Nick Jonas, as well as being appointed to Universal Music Canada’s A&R team.

M!M!M! Chillout

11:30pm – 1:00am, Brigantine Room

Chillout with some top DJs including The Guru Bros, Gitanjali Lena, Anupa, Blitz, and Mandeep Sethi.

The Guru Bros...
are Tej Hunjan and Santosh Naidu, two percussionists and electronic musicians from Toronto. They weave a tapestry of sound by combining their energized live percussion with electronic beats, giving dance floors nothing less than a sonic  treat – leaving audiences begging for more.

Gitanjali Lena…
is a Tamil/Sinhalese poet, writer, cellist, community and arts organizer and lawyer who currently lives in Toronto. She has curated and participated in numerous arts festivals throughout Canada and internationally. She believes that the arts mirror, critique and inspire life.

Anupa…
is a cellist and a IT Consultant living in Toronto. Anupa grew up in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the hot sun of her tempestuous and brilliant father, composer Premasiri Khemadasa, who shook Sri Lanka’s sonic scene many times in the past half century. Granted a scholarship, Anupa moved to Prague to study cybernetics in her late teens. After living in Prague for many years she decided to  journey on to Toronto in 2004. Anupa has performed  in Sri Lanka, Prague, Vienna  and Toronto. In 2010, she performed a vocal and cello concert with Anne Marie Hood at the Trinity Church as part of the Music Mondays series. She also performs with the theatre company Mammalian Diving Reflex. She was a member of the Lanka Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has a MSc. in Technical Cybernetics from the Czech Technical University in Prague. Together with her composer sister Gayathri, Anupa manages the Khemadasa Foundation, an institute established by her father 20 years ago to give free education in music and arts to the underprivileged youth of Sri Lanka.

Blitz:
Having been raised in Rexdale, Blitz has seen and met love in everyone, and everything, especially music. From writing, singing and producing all of his music, he creates club bangers as well as slow jams. With lyrics made from the soul and catchy hooks, he fuses sounds of R&B and electro-pop for music that is crazy contagious.

Blitz has performed at the Royal Conservatory of Music, urbanNOISE Festivals, Harbourfront, and at events that have included artists such as Deesha, Masia One, and Divine Brown.

Mandeep Sethi:
Representing the UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION-ALL TRIBES Chapter, Mandeep Sethi is a young emcee now living in and taking over San Francisco. Mandeep has performed alongside and shared the stage with: Ziggy Marley, Afrika Bambaataa, Dilated Peoples, Camp Lo, Pac Division, Mickey Factz, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Aesop& Bicasso (Living Legends), MURS (Living Legends/Felt), Kev Choice Ensemble among many others.

Using hip hop as a form of retaliation and resistance against capitalist and imperialist oppression, Mandeep’s primary focus is to educate the youth about the circumstances in which we are living in and resonate ancient culture within them, revealing the gods in all of us. From rhyming, to dj-ing, music serves as the language translating beats and words into scripts and hymns.

Midnight Yoga by Yogapalooza

12:00am – 1:00am, Boulevard Tent

Salimah is an entrepreneur; teaching Kundalini and Laughter Yoga in Canada, Dubai, India and the UK. She has recently appeared on the CBC’s Steven and Chris Show, and is a Yoga Ambassador with Lululemon. Salimah is the producer of Yogapalooza, outdoor celebrations of Movement, Music and Meditation attracting hundreds of people yearly. She inspires others to Go Big and Go OM. You can find her hosting online classes and posting videos at www.yogavision.com

Sunday August 21, 2011

M!M!M! Artists’ Walkway

11:00am – 6:00pm, Marilyn Brewer Community Space

See Friday at 7:00pm for details.

Meena Bazaar

12:00pm – 8:00pm

See Friday at 6:00pm for details.

Masala Bazaar

12:00pm – 8:00pm

See Friday at 6:00pm for details.

Graffiti Art with Javid

12:00pm – 7:00pm, North Orchard

Please see Saturday at 12:00pm for details.

MMMovies! Abhay Deol Retrospective (India)

12:30pm – 3:00pm, Studio Theatre

Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (143 mins)
Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (That Last Train of 1:40 am) is a fast-paced, dark comedy about a call center executive (Abhay Deol) who misses the last late-night train back home. Ninety minutes later, with just $70 in his pocket, he catches the first morning local and ends up with a fortune and a beautiful damsel (Neha Dhupia). How does he do it?

Cooking Demo with Chef Roshni Mansukhani

12:30pm – 1:30pm, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Lakeside Terrace

Please see Saturday at 1:00pm for details.

Bollycore

12:30pm – 1:00pm, Redpath Stage

Puja Amin, founder and director of Sanskriti Arts Ensemble has now created a new type of dance and fitness. It’s called Bollycore!  Puja has infused her dynamic personality, bollywood dance, and spunk into Bollycore.

Puja is an award-winning choreographer with many years of dance and training experience. From working with underprivileged youth, to working with famous Bollywood stars, Puja has always managed to spread love in her form of dance. Puja has taught master classes from coast to coast in Canada, the US and overseas in Dubai and India, and has taught thousands of students of all ages. www.soulndance.com

M!M!M! Bachcha Party

1:00pm – 2:00pm, Brigantine room

 Organized by MasalaMommas

This special section of M!M!M! celebrates talented youngsters who are just as capable of burning up the dance floor, singing like a rockstar or playing in band like any grownup! Come cheer on the next generation of entertainment!

M!M!M! Kidz Corner Arts n’ Crafts

12:30pm – 5:30pm, HarbourKIDS Zone Tent

Imagination and colours come alive as children use a variety of wonderful materials to create cultural crafts of South Asia as the teacher explains the significance of their art and creativity.

M!M!M! Senior Desi Idol – Finals

1:00pm – 1:30pm, Redpath Stage

Once again, M!M!M! presents Senior Desi Idol – an interactive singing competition directed towards seniors organized by Swar Sadhana. Join us to see the winner of the 2nd annual M!M!M! Senior Desi Idol!

Devis & Divas featuring Shirsha Chakraborty

1:30pm – 2:00pm, Redpath Stage

Shirsha started performing on stage at the age of 5. After she moved to Toronto, at the age of 10, she started receiving lessons in Hindustani Classical Music from Sri Narendra Datar, an eminent vocalist. During the last three years, she has also been working with Mr. Ryan Luchuck in Western vocal technique. The pinnacle of Shirsha’s music career so far has been her creditable participation in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla competition organized by Zee TV in Kolkata India. There, as the youngest competitor at the age of 13, she finished in the fourth round and among the top 30, and bagged appreciative comments from distinguished musical personalities of India like, Kumar Shanu, Pritam Chakraborty, Shantanu Moitro and Usha Mangshkar. Shirsha has mesmerized audiences across North America with her melodious and expressive renditions of Bollywood, semi-classical (ghazals and thumris) and Western songs.

Bollycore for Kids

1:30pm – 2:00pm, Boulevard Tent

Puja Amin, founder and director of Sanskriti Arts Ensemble has now created a new type of dance and fitness. It’s called Bollycore!  Puja has infused her dynamic personality, bollywood dance, and spunk into Bollycore. Bring the kids and get active!

Rhythm of Rajasthan (India)

2:00pm – 3:00pm, WestJet Stage

Supported by Indian Council for Cultural Relations
A special M!M!M! performance by our visitors from Rajasthan.

These musicians from the Langar and Manganiar tribes have over the centuries developed musical styles incorporating both Hindu and Islam sufi traditions. Their earthy and rustic sounds are embedded with classical vocal and instrumental training from very early ages and the talent and skill is passed on from generation to generation. Pure spiritualists who have bridged the religious divide in their devotion to God and their craft.

Panwar Music Dance Academy featuring Hemant & Vaishali Panwar

3:00pm – 3:30pm, Redpath Stage

Hemant Panwar is a renowned dancer who has mesmerized audiences in Holland, Sweden, Denmark, France, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion Islands, Croatia, Japan, Kenya & Gulf countries. He has also provided music for the soundtrack to Allah Tero Naam, various plays and documentaries.

Kids Dance Session

3:00pm – 4:00pm, Boulevard Tent

Interactive dance class and performances by kids groups

M!M!M! Chillout

3:30pm – 4:30pm, Brigantine Room

Singer and songwriter Mandippal performs an eclectic and acclaimed blend of poetry, pop and rock that has earned him a growing fan base and recognition as well-loved and hard working artist in Toronto. Joining this lineup is Bina Boo, an upcoming singer-songwriter of Sri Lankan heritage, who is currently working on an album with Sensei Musica, and Gabriela Rogers.

Mandippal:
From playing guitar in his Kitchener high school music class, to selling out hometown venues, to showcasing at major festivals, Mandippal has certainly come a long way in his near decade career as a musician, establishing himself as one of the hardest working artists in Toronto.

Coming from a family of well-respected musicians and writers (like Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh), Mandippal has been gaining a steady following, by focusing solely on his own blend of poetry and pop/rock. At 25, he has already made a lasting impression in Ontario’s booming singer/songwriter scene, landing opening spots with notable acts like Jully Black, Sarah Slean, Justin Nozuka, Craig Cardiff, Said The Whale, Hannah Georgas, Sweet Thing, and many others.

In the last few years, Mandippal’s success has certainly started to show. He has been featured on Toronto’s Talent (Rogers TV), South Asian Newsweek (OMNI TV), Brit Asian Magazine (UK), CJIQ FM (Conestoga College), CIUT FM (University of Toronto), IndieLove.ca (Toronto), IndieCan Radio (Toronto), The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo), Qatalyst Magazine (Kitchener-Waterloo), Tambourine Magazine (Toronto), along with three consecutive showcases at S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival in St Catherine’s, showcases at the 2007 COCA Regional Conference and the 2009 COCA National Conference, and coveted slot at the 2010 & 2011 NXNE Music and Film Festival and the 2010 & 2011 Canadian Music Week Festival.

With ten years of songwriting and performing under his belt, 200 shows played a year, 2000+ EP’s sold in his last effort, and a new album in production, Mandippal is finally getting recognized as a serious player. With the ability to capture an audience with his tone and humility, it’s only a matter of time before he wins you over as well.

Bina Boo…
born as Sabina Sabaratnam, is an upcoming singer/songwriter/artist in Toronto. Her passion for music started at the age of 3 where she learned the piano from her mother. Her progression of becoming a musician continued with singing at her church and then at the world renowned Toronto Childrens Chorus. At the age of 10, she started playing the violin where her eagerness to flourish as a musician was born. She competed at many competitions, and while she often was awarded the first prize, she is most proud about the comments the judges would make in reference to her performance – “its amazing how much passion you have when you play.. It’s as if the notes are playing you..”   Although she’s a first generation Canadian, her parents have always instilled in her their Sri Lankan culture. She visited the land of her ancestry when she was 9, and realized at that point how fortunate she is to be living in Canada – a country with so many opportunities. She did her Bharatha Natyam Arangetram (Indian Classical Dance Graduation) at the age of 13 and has continued to maintain this ancient art now through the music she composes where she often marries South Asian melodies with western beats. At age 13, Bina picked up a guitar and self taught herself basic chords and strumming patterns. She had always had little catchy melodies in her head but was able to nourish her art of songwriting through learning guitar. She has attended the critically acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston MA, where she met her music industry network and studied vocal performance and songwriting. Her musical evolution was created there. She’s now working with one of Canada’s top producers, Sensei Musica, who has helped produce for Shakira, Pitbull, and Fito Blanko, to release an album. Her website is expected to be launched for September whichwill include her album, music video, and the beginning of her Bina Boo Empire.

Gabriela Rodgers…
is a currently a student and spends most of her time building her music career. She is 16 years old and is a aspiring singer/songwriter from a place called Mississauga, ON. .Her singing career started at school, community events and  various competitions in Ontario. Over time Gabriela has built up her experience with solo live performances at social gatherings and fundraising events besides singing in the church choir. Music is her passion. She does her music writing and recording from her basement. Her original song Rise Up Now & Whine With Me is on MySpace website. She has other originals, such as I Have a Secret, Insanity, Do You Wanna Be My Fellah, Universal Love, Until the Love is gone, I’ll Keep Waiting, What If and many more, which she plans on sharing with everyone in time.. This young artist is a hard-working individual that puts it all out on the line and is far beyond her years and budding with talent. She is on the path to stardom.

At the age of 8 she recorded a children’s song written by Abdul Kalam and recorded by AR. Rehaman in 2002-Chennai. In 2008 won the Outstanding Achievement Award for Arts and Music in grade 8. Further accolades include 2009 Indo Canadian Singing Competition, 2009 Can- Orient Idol, 2009 St. Francis Xavier Idol Mississauga, Making It Not Dreaming Talent Competition, 2011 Toronto Rising Star, 2011 MuchMusic Covers Competition, and 2011 Mississauga Future Stars.

She currently still participates and performs for various events in and around Toronto areas. She is a multi-talented child prodigy and hopes to make it in the music industry in the near future. She is currently in the process of promoting and taking the next step in her musical career.

GhuMMMo featuring Tarana Dance Company

4:00pm – 4:30pm, Redpath Stage

Tarana Dance Company…
has been providing Toronto with energetic Bollywood and Classical dances for many years.The TDC Dance Company comprises of trained dancers in many disciplines. We are proud to know that we are pushing boundaries as well as preserving traditions. With the TDC Dance Company you will find Classical / Semi Classical/Contemporary dance productions as well as Vibrant Modern Bollywood items. While performing for weddings, stage productions and festivals, the TDC Dance Company continue to raise cultural awareness and promote the traditional as well as new innovative trends in indian dance! They have graced many stages, community events and productions over the past 20 years especially for the Town of Markham, they have performed for Markham Village Music festival, Many faces of Markham, and a nominee for the town of Markham Achievement and Civic Recognition Award 2010 – Cultural Category. The Artistic Director- Mrs Deviekha Chetram is a resident of Markham.

Kids Jam Session

4:00pm – 4:30pm, Boulevard Tent

Calling all kids! Come and join in a free-for-all dance party to music especially put together for kids.

Devis & Divas featuring Anusha Sivalingam

4:30pm – 5:00pm, WestJet Stage

Anusha Sivalingam has been singing on hundreds of stages in Canada, the U.S. and Europe for many years in live bands from Toronto and India. Having been trained in Carnatic and Hindustani music since the age of 3, she has a flair for performing songs of any caliber and range with ease in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannadam, and English. She was the Runner Up of the 2010 Panorama India Idol Hindi Competition and a semi-finalist in another Hindi competition judged by playback singers Sonu Nigaam and Suresh Wadkar, held in the U.S. early this year. Anusha has performed on stage with many Indian playback singers including Shankar Mahadevan, Naresh Iyer, Mano, Chinmayi, Sujatha, Srinivas and Vijay Yesudas, to name a few. She has also recorded songs for a number of albums and movies. For more information about Anusha, please visit the following links: www.youtube.com/anusha08 and www.facebook.com/anusha08.

Sacrifice

5:00pm – 6:00pm, Studio Theatre

Sacrifice is a play written by Rabindranath Tagore concerning his views of religious intolerance. He dedicates the play to those heroes who bravely stood for peace when human sacrifice was claimed for the goddess of war.

One
Rabindranath Tagore wrote the play on the Shakespearean model, in 1890 when a fierce race was being pursued in the name of Nationalism by every state power to capture its own market. The poet apprehended that this race could lead to violent destruction and Bisarjan is the result of this apprehension. He translated the play, was published as Sacrifice in 1917, when the World War One was at its height. The poet dedicated this play To those heroes who bravely stood for peace when human sacrifice was claimed for the Goddess of War.

Two
Consequences occur as the result of the male/female conflict in Sacrifice, where a husband-wife quarrel is projected into a struggle between the authority of church and state. King Govinda decides to abolish animal sacrifice after seeing a distraught child lamenting the sacrifice of her pet goat in the temple. This unilateral decision pits him against his chief priest and wife. In Tagore’s time, religion dominated politics. In this play, the effects of subverting the accepted hierarchy are as devastating as the projection of the male/female conflict in The King and the Queen. In a classic deconstructive twist, the decree designed to lessen bloodshed actually promotes it.

Bathiya & Santhush (Sri Lanka)

5:00pm – 6:00pm, WestJet Stage

Bathiya & Santhush are one of the biggest musical acts to hit the Sri Lankan musical scene since the 1970′s, mixing both Sinhalese and English lyrics in their originals. The duo have been credited with the achievement of revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s pop music industry and pioneering a truly Sri Lankan brand of pop with global appeal. They are the first Sri Lankan musical act to release an internationally distributed album and receive overseas awards for their musical talent. Their latest album to be released consists of their popular tracks re-done in Hindi, therefore placing emphasis on the Indian market, making them the first Sri Lankan artistes to launch an album in India. The music video of Oh Sathi which feature Sri Lankan Cricketer’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas is a popular song on MTV India (Music television) and they have also worked with acclaimed Tamil and Hindi playback singer Hariharan for their single ‘Yalpaname’. ‘Yalpaname’ and its music video currently receive heavy airplay on Sri Lankan radio and television. They have recently released a collaboration with Asha Bhosle, and also performed at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.

MMMystique featuring Naqi Ali Khan

5:00pm-6:00pm, Brigantine Room

Naqi Ali Khan is one of the finest and versatile singers of Pakistan. He sings Khyal, Thumeri, Geet, Ghazals, film songs, folk, Kaafi and Sufi music. He lives in Lahore, Pakistan where he has established a music academy in the name of his grandfather, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Music Academy of Lahore. Naqi Ali Khan had his training from his uncle Ustad Munawar Ali Khan and later from his brothers Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan and Jawaad Ali Khan, ranking among the leading vocalists of India.

Naqi Ali Khan has established Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Memorial Society in Lahore, Pakistan and as well as in Toronto, Canada. He has performed widely on stage, Radio Pakistan and on all Pakistani Television channels, i.e. GEO, ARY, The Music, Apna Channel, Punjab TV and many more.

Naqi Ali Khan has released three albums of light music and some fusions from Pakistan. He has performed live on stage in New York City, Buffalo, Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal, New Delhi, Calcutta, Chandi Garh, and Patiala. He inaugurated the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Music Award in 2004. This award has been given to Jagjit Singh, Abida Parveen, Mehdi Hassan, Allah Ditta Looneywala, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Furrukh Bashir, General Manager, PTV, Music Director Wazir Afzal, Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan, Ustad Jawaad Ali Khan and many more.  Naqi Ali Khan is the founder of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Music Conference, which is being held in Lahore, Pakistan, for the past three years.

Naqi Ali Khan has a golden voice, which has captured the audiences locally and all over the world. He has performed in World Performing Arts Music Festival many times and won the apperception from the Lahori Audiences.

Chillin’ Panel – HIV Stigma Kills

5:00pm-6:00pm, Lakeside Terrace

HIV Stigma Kills: On June 5th 2011 the Times of India ran a story of three HIV+ sisters who committed suicide in Gujarat, India. This is not only a tragic example of how damaging HIV stigma can be but is also an eye-opening call to action to treat people living with HIV and AIDS with dignity and respect. South Asians are affected in Canada as well as in countries across the region, are the issues of stigma different in the Canadian context? How does stigma impact our ability to assess risk, to get tested, to access service and to live our lives. Explore these questions and issues with educators from the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) and let’s give this story the visibility it deserves.