Sonakshi Sinha in Amar Panchi Concert (with photos and videos)

May 14, 2016: Amar Panchi, the dance concert organized by Nepal Army Wives Association (NAWA) was held today in Tudikhel ground of Kathmandu for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims. As previously told by the organizers, the show happened to be one of its kind and the grandest of all for such dance performances. Bollywood Actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Malaika Arora took the stage by storm along with superb performances from the leading female actors in Nepal including Reecha Sharma, Priyanka Karki, Rekha Thapa, Keki Adhikari, Sushmita Karki, Nisha Adhikari and not forgetting sensational singer Indira Joshi. All of the dance performances were choreographed by the famous Renasha Bantawa Rai and the beautiful costumes were designed by Ashrita Bhadel. The event was well hosted by beautiful actor/ VJ Sahana Bajracharya.
Nepal Army band first took the stage with the orchestra performances for popular Nepali songs like Nepali ho, Jaalma (Resham Filili), Taalko pani and the ones dedicated specially to the Bollywood actress in the show. After the orchestra, actresses performed dances in Nepali songs and medleys. Among the performance from Nepali actors, Priyanka's dance was outstanding in the songs like Surke Thaile, Siraima Sirbandi. She reached the stage by riding in doli from the audiences. Ultimately the two actors specially Sonakshi Sinha made the crowd go spellbound with the performance in medley of their songs.

Lastly, Chief of Army Staff  Mr. Rajendra Chetri and chief of NAWA felicitated both the guests Bollywood actor Sonakshi Sinha and Malaika Arora for accepting the invitation to come here and make the event a grand success. The organizers claim the turnouts were over 50,000 but I think it was around 30,000. So we can say the program is a huge success and lets wish for the fund to reach the some of the earthquake victims soon as it uncertain when our government reach there. 

Here are some photos from the dance concert.

All pictures are copyrighted. Take consent for using it.

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Uma movie review

Making a movie based on armed conflict itself is very challenging take; filmmakers also have to be really cautious in portraying the insurgency that took life of almost 15,000 people and brought unhealing wounds to many families. But Uma has different story to tell than seeking the judgement of the decade long revolt. Here are some words for the movie.
In a village of Banepa, lives a family with a ill & widowed mother (Mithila Sharma), a police inspector son Milan (Saugat Malla) and a recently +2 pass daughter Uma (Reecha Sharma). Though they are happy together with what they have got, they have to think twice for Uma's further study in Kathmandu. Due the lapse of time, the impact of insurgency reaches the village in which they live and the circumstances leads Uma to involve in the war against the state as she is not left with any option. The movie also shows the inhumane acts by both sides (government forces and Maoists rebels) done in the name of encounter, "Safaya", revenge and with strong belief in the saying "There are no rules in war" (Yuddha ko kunai niyam hudaina).

Though the movie has female rebel Uma as a protagonist; Saugat Malla and Mithila Sharma's role has equal weight and the movie is nothing without them. Gone are the days when we used to comment at actors performance in Nepali cinema, saying their performance could have been better. Specially with the entrance of theater based artists, we are now left with other options to comment than the actors' performance. So, I don't feel worthy mentioning the artist's performance (which I just did :P). New actors like Praween Khatiwoda, Pramod Agrahari, Prakash Ghimire are among those not to mention. Cameo of Tulsi Ghimire as himself, and Nischal Basnet as Bhuwan Hamal also adds some refreshing charm to the movie, in contrast to Dayahang Rai (a maoist rebel) whose presence is not actually felt in the movie.

With a good story, screenplay and cinematrography, Uma is an excellent movie and shows the brother sister relationship- torn apart by situations changing Uma into a female rebel and the inevitable touching confrontation. After watching many short movies with some missing feature like content, I am quite satisfied with two hours+ feature that keeps you bound till the end and entertains you with the cinematography plus some eye filling emotions as You just don't need comedy or romance to be entertained.

Though I don't like the idea of putting a full song in a movie other than the snippet of the OST, the slower version of "Sirimasiri", "Rana maidan ma" fit well in the movie. Director Tsering Rhitar Sherpa partnering in for story, screenplay has put a lot of effort that culminated in such remarkable movie. Producer Tsering Choden also deserves the praise to finance such movie. Once an RJ in Hits FM (the FM I was stuck all the time during the no internet days), She was already acclaimed for her documentary in Democarcy Video Challenge back in 2009. As a downfall, the movie has limited the rebel war to bank robbery and high ranking police officer's "Safaya", which I doubt to be intentional from such creators.

Even with such energetic performance, crowd pulling story and exciting trailer, I don't know what makes people stop from pouring in the cinemas. I feel so disappointed for the less turnout, and highly recommend it to watch after all we are the ones to support our own cinema. With the disappointment, I recall my friend's saying that we love our nation and creations by our people BUT we just don't know how to show the affection; be it in the matter of being indifferent to wrong political development or our very own people's creation. Its high time we start transforming our culture to consume Nepali products- cinema being one of them.

Lets promote Nepali Cinema.

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