Latest news with #GuneetMonga
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: Three issues, three more papers – SC to EC on Bihar roll revision
Good morning! Something remarkable is happening at Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora, and it's a sight to behold – a sea of pink lotuses, all in full bloom. The idyllic lake, surrounded by the misty Harmukh mountains, is once again home to the flowers, 30 years after a devastating flood completely wiped them out. The credit goes to the Wular Conservation and Management Authority, which had begun clearing silt deposits from the flood. We have some news for you: SCREEN Academy is now official! The Indian Express Group and SCREEN announced the launch of the not-for-profit initiative. The members on board so far include Cannes and Oscar winners, Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia, and veteran screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, among others. Together with India's top film institutes, the Academy will set out to identify and empower the next generation of filmmakers. 'Give reasons': The Supreme Court declined to restrain the Election Commission of India from proceeding with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which has left people scrambling for documents. It suggested that the poll panel consider three other documents – Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards – to update the rolls. 'If you have good reasons to discard it, discard it' but 'give reasons', said the vacation bench hearing pleas challenging the EC exercise ahead of the Assembly polls. The three papers: Our ongoing series from the ground in Bihar shows that the newly suggested documents are ones most families have, mainly because they are far more widely accessible. Of the three, Aadhaar and Election ID cards are nearly ubiquitous in the state, with ration cards available to two-thirds of the population. As of Thursday evening, the EC had not yet decided on the apex court's suggestion. The three issues: The SC bench also flagged three key issues to the poll panel. These include the EC's power to check voters' citizenship, the importance of due process and procedure during the revision, and the timing of the revision itself. 🎧To further understand the SC's response, tune in to today's episode of the 3 Things podcast. Agents on ground: Since the SIR began on June 25, all parties have shown a steep increase in workers enrolled as Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to carry out the enrolment exercise. But the rise is sharper among Opposition parties with the hope that the outreach will pay off in the coming polls. Remember Norman Borlaug? The legendary agricultural scientist who guided India's Green Revolution through his high-yielding, semi-dwarf wheat varieties. That was six decades ago, and today, his organisation – the Mexico-headquartered International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre or CIMMYT – is reaching out to the Indian government and the private sector. It is seeking financial support for its breeding research and development programme. The reason: A resource crunch brought about by various global factors, including the shutdown of its largest funder, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), by the Trump administration, officially from July 1. UK or France? Upon the government's request, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) must take a call to join hands either with Britain's Rolls-Royce or France's Safran to co-develop aircraft engines. This is India's attempt to acquire expertise on the 'constraining factor' for the defence forces. Now, an official in the know told The Indian Express that both the companies have offered to collaborate with DRDO's Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment lab. In focus: In the latest development on the global trade front, Trump slapped a 35 per cent tariff on Canada, effective August 1. In his letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he said the tariff hike was a unilateral decision and warned of future increases if Ottawa retaliates. For India, the extended deadline remains a window for negotiations. The last round of talks on an interim trade agreement on goods was held on July 4. India's trade negotiators will likely leave for Washington next week to iron out pending issues, focusing on agriculture and auto sector tariffs. 1,340 cricket balls for Rs 1 crore — Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president A Jagan Mohan Rao, in collusion with others, allegedly 'misappropriated' funds like this. The Telangana Crime Investigation Department's FIR further states a total of six heads, including air conditioners, sports apparel and plumbing, via which the 'scam' of at least Rs 2.32 crore was carried out. 'Rightful home': Tribal women from Sitatola in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli have come together to end the centuries-old practice of isolating themselves in menstruation huts or 'kurma ghars'. They now head to a collectively built space called mawa askan lon, which translates from the Madia dialect as 'our rightful home as women'. The structure, part of an initiative led by Sparsh, a Gadchiroli-based NGO, serves as a shelter and a community centre for support groups. 'I guess my best chances maybe are Wimbledon, you know, to win another slam' – This is what Novak Djokovic said a little over a month ago, following a straight-sets loss to World No. 1, Jannik Sinner, at the French Open. He will have the opportunity to confirm his telling this week. The Serb is in the semifinals of Wimbledon again and up against him will be Sinner once more, in a highly anticipated encounter on Centre Court on Friday. Until tomorrow, Vibha Vibha B Madhava is a sub-editor at the news desk for She is interested in writing about gender, culture and politics of ableism. Having specialised in digital journalism, she is keen to explore various forms of interactive, multimedia storytelling. Apart from that, she also likes to experiment with social media. Qualification, Degrees/other achievements: Bachelor's degree in Media and Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education. PG Diploma in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. With The Indian Express, this is Vibha's first stint in pursuing journalism in a full-time capacity. Previous internship experience: Deccan Herald, Bengaluru; The News Minute, Bengaluru; The Mojo Story; Radio Indigo 91.9 and Fever FM 94.3 (Hyderabad) You can find her on Twitter as @VibhaBMadhava , on LinkedIn (Vibha B Madhava), or write to her at ... Read More
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
SCREEN launches SCREEN Academy: Will identify, nurture Indian Cinema's most exciting voices of the future
The Indian Express Group and SCREEN announced Wednesday the launch of SCREEN Academy, a pioneering not-for-profit initiative that will nurture and showcase exciting new voices in Indian cinema. With an exciting and fast-growing list of diverse members including Cannes and Oscar winners, Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia and Resul Pookutty, and veteran screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, the Academy, working with India's top film institutes, will identify and empower the next generation of filmmakers through education, representation, and recognition. Established with the generous support of Founding Patron Abhishek Lodha of the Lodha Foundation, SCREEN Academy will annually provide postgraduate fellowships to students nominated by their film schools, who demonstrate exceptional storytelling potential but lack the financial resources to pursue formal film education. For details of the application process visit Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis said the timing and the location couldn't be more relevant. 'The film industry has an inseparable association with Mumbai. I am thrilled to learn of the inception of the not-for-profit SCREEN Academy by The Indian Express Group. I am certain that the Indian film industry will benefit immensely from the new filmmaking talent the academy aims to cultivate.' Said Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, who steered the idea of the Academy: 'SCREEN Academy represents a bold step toward institutionalising excellence in the entertainment and culture space. We will create an ecosystem that not only celebrates excellence but actively nurtures diverse and promising talent with both financial aid and access.' For Abhishek Lodha, the Academy's work is key to India's soft power and growth as a global leader in the creative arts. 'The Lodha Foundation is committed to supporting India's progress to becoming a developed nation by 2047. Films and creative arts are a key strength of our nation and the SCREEN Academy will play an important role in furthering India's progress to a global leader in this field. The Lodha Foundation is pleased to partner with the SCREEN Academy in this ambitious initiative.' Academic Excellence and Industry Integration The SCREEN Academy Fellowships 2025 will cover full financial support for postgraduate studies at premier institutions, Film and Television Institute of India (Pune), Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (Kolkata), and Whistling Woods International (Mumbai). The Academy plans to expand its footprint across the country and add more film schools going forward. Beyond funding, SCREEN Academy fellows will benefit from an unprecedented industry mentorship programme featuring India's top studios and most respected film professionals as Academy members. These industry leaders will provide masterclasses, internships, and ongoing professional guidance. Said Dhiraj Singh, Director, Film and Television Institute of India: 'SCREEN is a very respected name in film journalism. FTII is very happy that a meaningful collaboration is taking shape. I am sure students and the industry will benefit greatly with this scholarship program.' Samiran Dutta, Director in charge of the Satyajit Ray institute, said the fellowships will plug a vital gap. 'We have talent from diverse and unknown parts of India, not only from urban metros, producing great ideas and fabulous stories. Understandably, some of our students find it difficult to negotiate the expenditure of film education. The SCREEN Academy fellowship will help in their quest to make great cinema' 'At Whistling Woods International, we believe that access to quality education can transform lives. This scholarship, in collaboration with the SCREEN Academy, ensures that financial constraints do not come in the way of creativity and ambition. It's a partnership rooted in shared values — excellence, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to nurturing the storytellers of tomorrow,'said Meghna Ghai Puri, President Whistling Woods International. Selecting the fellows will be a panel headed by Anjum Rajabali, the veteran screenwriter and film academician. 'This hugely generous initiative offers much-needed support to young people to avail of formal education in the craft, for which the film, TV, and the OTT sector will be grateful for having access to this talent pool. These scholarships will help in driving up the quality of writing and filmmaking here.' SCREEN Academy Members reflect a diverse list with representation across the industry. Guneet Monga – Oscar-winning Producer Payal Kapadia – Cannes Grand Prix winner and Golden Globe nominee Resul Pookutty – Oscar-winning Sound Designer Ronnie Screwvala – Founder of RSVP Films and Upgrad Subhash Ghai – Director/Producer and Founder Whistling Woods International Full list of SCREEN Academy members will be released on Recognition of Excellence In addition to its educational mission, SCREEN Academy will oversee the prestigious SCREEN Awards, recognising artistic brilliance, cultural excellence, and technical innovation across Indian entertainment. Academy members will serve as the voting body, ensuring industry credibility and expertise guide the recognition process. To ensure excellence, SCREEN Academy has established a Resident Critics Panel which includes Dr Priya Jaikumar, Professor of Cinematic Arts in the Division of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and scholar-in-residence, SCREEN Academy, Priyanka Sinha Jha (Curator of SCREEN Awards); Shubra Gupta (The Indian Express Film Critic); Nikhil Taneja (Co-Founder of We are Yuvaa); and Anjum Rajabali (screenwriter and Head of Screenwriting at WWI and FTII). 'The Academy will grow to define rigorous criteria, categories, and evaluation standards to ensure fairness and credibility in honouring outstanding contributions to cinema, music, theatre, regional cinema and other allied art forms,' said Priyanka Sinha Jha. About SCREEN For over 80 years, SCREEN, India's first film newspaper established in 1951 and home to the popular SCREEN Awards, has been the most credible news source on Indian cinema and the entertainment industry. Ramnath Goenka, the legendary champion of journalism, acknowledged the soft power of films and the film industry—the art and science of it—half a century before the trade was recognised as an industry. Re-acquired from Disney in 2024 and in a brand new digital-first avatar today, SCREEN is one of India's largest entertainment news destinations, reaching 40 million users monthly across four languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, and Tamil. In the last six months, SCREEN has launched several video programmes and live events including 'Expresso', 'SCREEN Live', 'Dear Me', 'Your Weekend Watchlist', and 'The Suvir Saran Show'.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Guneet Monga Kapoor's Women In Film India makes Cannes debut, backs female producers with global fellowship
Academy Award winner Guneet Monga's initiative, Women in Film India , is making its global debut at the Cannes Film Festival with the launch of a fellowship for producers, including . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The first initiative kicks off at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival - a special program spotlighting three women producers from India. "With WIF India, we're putting real structure behind the idea of equality - mentorship, access, and leadership pathways," said , Founder of WIF India. She added: "This launch is just the beginning of a long term commitment in investing in women not just for today, but for the future of the Indian entertainment industry." Backed by Women In Film Los Angeles (WIF LA), WIF India joins a global coalition of over 50 chapters across six continents working to advance gender equity in the entertainment industry. To commemorate its debut, WIF India is introducing The Women in Film India Fellowship: Cannes Producers Edition, a flagship program designed to elevate mid-career women producers by providing them with access to the Producers Network at the Marche du Film at Cannes. This year's inaugural scholarship recipients include award winning actor Tillotama Shome, who has recently become a producer with a Bengali feature film, Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox). Veteran studio executive and creative producer Rucha Pathak, who has worked on films like Paan Singh Tomar, Neerja, Barfi, and most recently Madgaon Express, and Dimpy Agarwal, an independent producer known for socially conscious storytelling-also a co-producer on Baksho Bondi and involved in award-winning films like Chashma, Umeed, and Monica O My Darling-are part of the initiative. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now WIF India has also awarded an Accreditation Grant to an outstanding woman producer from the Marathi film industry, Shefali Bhushan, whose films Sthal is being showcased at the Cannes Film Market. Kirsten Schaffer, Chief Executive Officer, Women in Film said, "Our partnership with Women in Film, India marks an important step toward building a strong, interconnected community that supports women across all aspects of the screen industries." "This fellowship is a key part of the solution to ensuring that women have equal opportunity to create high quality film and television". WIF India is governed by a distinguished Board of Directors representing all facets of India's film and media ecosystem, including: Siddharth Roy Kapur, , Faye D'Souza, Anupama Chopra, , Gauri Shinde, Nikhil Advani, Jyoti Deshpande, Gayatri Yadav, Aparna Purohit, , Kanika Dhillon, Vani Tripathi, Miriam Joseph, , , and Guneet Monga Kapoor. Cannes 2025: Film Festival Bans Red Carpet Nudity Just Ahead Of Opening Night
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Guneet Monga Kapoor launches Women in Film India at Cannes, champions gender equity in cinema
The red carpet was not the only thing glittering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Amidst cinematic celebrations, a groundbreaking initiative took centre stage, the official launch of Women in Film India (WIF India) by Oscar-winning powerhouse Guneet Monga Kapoor. With it, she is not just rewriting the rules of representation, she is building the playbook from scratch. Women in Film India launched by Guneet Monga Making its global debut in the most cinematic way possible, WIF India kicked off its journey by announcing its first-ever Cannes Producers Fellowship, a dynamic programme designed to boost Indian women producers onto the international stage. The spotlight? Three incredible visionaries who have been shaping narratives and pushing boundaries back home: Tillotama Shome, the critically acclaimed actor who now helms Shadowbox; Rucha Pathak, a seasoned creative mind; and Dimpy Agarwal, an independent filmmaker using cinema to drive social change. These trailblazers are not just attending Cannes, they are participating in the Producers Network, accessing international co-productions, funding avenues, and invaluable global partnerships. Guneet Monga calls it structural 'This is not symbolic, it is structural,' Guneet expressed through her bold initiative. Her vision is rooted in real-world impact: mentorships, leadership development, and sustainable access. She envisions WIF India as the scaffolding for future generations of women in entertainment, not just a one-time celebration. Shefali Bhushan, a key voice in Marathi cinema, also joins this powerful lineup through a special accreditation grant, furthering WIF India's mission to represent India in all its regional diversity. A platform for women in the screen industry The initiative, supported by Women in Film Los Angeles (WIF LA) and Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI), joins a global sisterhood of over 50 affiliates. According to WIF CEO Kirsten Schaffer, this partnership is a key step towards building a truly connected global community of women in the screen industries. In addition to the glitz, the fellowship also comes with a powerful ripple effect: each producer will bring their learnings back to the Indian community, ensuring that the initiative does not end with Cannes, it begins with it. With WIF India, Guneet Monga Kapoor is not just raising a toast to Indian talent, she is building the entire table.
