Latest news with #Ranjani
India.com
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Exclusive: 'Radhika Merchant's Family Was Perfectionist'; With Alanna Panday's Wedding, Feedback Was Crisp', Reveal Celebrity Wedding Card Designer Ranjani From Pink Whistle Man
Big fat Indian weddings are game changers not just for the families involved but also for all those work on it to make it happen smoothly - right from the word go. Celebrity Wedding Card Designer Pink Whistle Man's founder Ranjani in an interview with Zee News Digital shared how the company came about and what bizarre requests they get for special invites: 1. What's the story behind Pink Whistle Man? A: I started it PWM about twelve years ago unofficially, when I designed my own wedding stationery. I found a huge gap in the market when it came to personalisation and detailing of Wedding Invitations. Gradually, I started designing for friends and family which extended to clients who came to me through word of mouth. We began expanding our services and creating end-to-end stationery for weddings, and personalised stationery that you would not particularly get in a mass manufacturing market. So even the products that we would design were limited to just that wedding alone to maintain exclusivity. Over the years the brand has been recognized both in the Indian and International wedding markets and been awarded for its unique conceptual ideas over the years. 2. You've created invites shaped like X-rays, passports, and even electrical circuits. What has been your most bizarre or unexpected brief from a client? A: Our clients always help us push the envelope and keep the brief pretty open ended. Although there was this one bizarre incident when we opted to do flying balloon parachute invites that would float into the house of the guests. This was a birthday invite. We personally had to deliver each of these invites to every household with a pump because we didn't know if the balloon would burst, and if it did, we had to replace it quickly. 3. How big have destination weddings been in the last few years? Also, could you tell us about the preferences of global clientele? A: Destination weddings have been huge. The advantage for a designer such as myself is you get to be part of the entire look and feel of the wedding. It's almost like a brand for the wedding right from the get-go. In one case, a couple from Jalandhar had their wedding at Wildflower Shimla, and had blocked out the whole airport for two days. We designed hoardings, flight covers, food boxes and even live-report newspapers printed locally with photographs and real-time updates from the three-day event. In terms of global weddings, if it's an Indian or mixed-race wedding we design seating charts, table numbers, program description handbooks. And because of Instagram and Pinterest, there's a two-way exchange: India is now asking for seating charts and intimate-dinner stationery, while the west borrows the grandeur of wedding stationery. We even design the dance floor for several weddings abroad. 4. Tell us about your designing experience with Radhika Merchant's family for the big-scale wedding. A: With Radhika's wedding, things just flew by so quickly and I was experimenting on a lot of things for the first time. Given the time constraints, it was nothing short of a miracle how we managed to get it done. We were fortunate in finding the right craftsmen and vendors, and the family was definitely very cooperative. I would have meetings with them literally every day, sometimes even late at night to go through proofs. They were extreme perfectionists, wanting to see every tiny change, because they didn't want any surprises. 5. How easy or difficult was it to design for Alanna Panday's wedding? A: With Alanna's wedding, I worked mainly with her mother, Deanne. Alanna and Ivor were in the loop, and they were both very easy to work with. Feedback was crisp and clear. Deanne's perfectionism was extremely admirable. Having that level of critical eye pushes you to do more than you think you're capable of. 6. What does the design process look like behind the scenes from concept to creation? Walk us through one of your most creatively challenging projects. A: Every project begins with finding a hook, a unique story or element for the couple. Until I find that hook, it's extremely challenging. Once I do, the narrative blossoms. Here are a few examples of our hooks that were distilled from the couple's story line, personality or culture - 'Poetry in Motion', 'Letters from an Orange Tree', 'Amar Prem Katha', 'Map of Perfect Things', 'The Wedding Hygge'. 7. With e-invites and AI-generated designs flooding the market, how does a boutique brand like yours stay relevant and premium? A: I think when it comes to AI, there's no escaping it. We'll have to figure out how to use it to our advantage. Just like traditional artists moved to digital tablets, AI will create new styles and forms. For now, AI illustrations look very perfect but lack that human touch. As a boutique brand, our focus is always concept first; illustration is just a medium. While AI can fit into templatized invite requirements, it can't replace the soft skills, those fun, informal interactions with brides and grooms that make the process itself part of the experience. 8. What trends are you seeing among Indian couples today when it comes to wedding stationery? A: Wedding stationery is getting more intimate. Beyond just invites, couples are now detailing everything from straw-tags, place settings to bespoke table-numbering systems. As weddings become smaller and more personal, the scope of stationery items has widened far beyond a single invite.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
A musical ode to Vithhal devotees with Maha's abhang tradition
1 2 3 Pune: Music often joins hands with devotion. And when it does, it erases divides of language, musical genre, background and religion, says Carnatic vocalist Ranjani. She is talking about abhang, a form of devotional poetry and singing in the Marathi tradition by Maharashtra's saint-poets, especially associated with the warkari sect and the worship of Lord Vitthal of Pandharpur. Ranjani adds, "Musicians from south India cherish and celebrate their love of abhangs, and so do rasikas." Timed in the afterglow of the warkari season, as Pune catches its breath after the rhythmic thunder of dindis and the saffron surge of devotion moved on toward Pandharpur, Bolava Vitthal concert returns for its 20th edition on June 28. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune To be held at Balgandharva Rangmandir, JM Road, this musical pilgrimage will offer the city a soul-stirring continuation of what the Palkhi left behind: faith, worship, and the sound of saints echoing through time. "This isn't just a performance," says Shashi Vyas, founder of Pancham Nishad Creatives. "The idea was born with Ganasaraswati Kishori Amonkar as a shared act of devotion. Over two decades, it grew from a small stage event into a movement of sacred sound while keeping its roots in musical and spiritual purity." This year's concert will feature Aarya Ambekar, for whomit's a personal journey through nostalgia. "I still remember the excitement of getting dressed in a white Nauwari saree with a typical varkari style gandh. We'd make thermocol Palkhis at home and carry them to school. Those small rituals as a child unknowingly sowed the seeds of a lifelong emotional connection with this tradition. So when I perform devotional music today, especially abhangs, it feels like I'm not just singing; I'm reliving those moments," said Ambekar. Siddhartha Belmannu and the Carnatic vocal duo Ranjani–Gayatri will also be performing in the are known not just for their virtuosity, but for how they channel the emotion behind abhangs. Accompanying them will be Prasad Padhye (tabla), Sukhad Munde (pakhawaj), Aditya Oke (harmonium), Shadaj Godkhindi (bansuri), and Suryakant Surve (additional rhythms). "Our childhood and growing up years in Mumbai gave us an early exposure to Marathi and abhangs, and it felt very intuitive to sing abhangs—both in terms of lyrics and musicality. The journey sensitised us to robust and melodious voice throw, the beautiful sounds and accent of Marathi, the spiritual message of the great saints, and the simple, raw yet profound renderings of songs by devotees," said Ranjani, adding, "Though the abhang originates in Maharashtra, this musical form captured the imagination of musicians and music lovers across boundaries—both throughout India and globally. The heady combination of powerful poetry or Santvani that is rendered with vigour, devotion, and universally appealing musicality erases all divides." Gayatri said, "Our style of abhang singing in concerts celebrates both Hindustani and Carnatic approaches. Music, no matter how aesthetically beautiful and melodious, touches the heart only when melody fuses with bhakti bhav, and this synergy of devotion and musical expression happens effortlessly during the time of Aashad. Singing here is not a task; it's a blessing." Siddhartha Belmannu, trained in the Kirana and Gwalior gharanas, finds deep resonance with the abhang tradition. "While one style keeps emotion at the forefront, the other explores technical expertise. Blending the two while maintaining the delicate balance is what makes my Guru Vinayak Torvi Ji's music special, and as his disciple, I try to carry the legacy with my music," said Belmannu.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hurt by his remark: Ranjani Raghavan pulls the plug on Kamal Haasan-linked event
Actor-turned-director Ranjani Raghavan recently stirred conversations on social media after she shared a series of images featuring her alongside Kamal Haasan . In the photos, Ranjani is seen presenting him with a Kannada book—her own work—which quickly became the subject of public debate and curiosity. While some hailed it as a thoughtful gesture, others questioned if it was a strategic move, given the language row. The actor has been facing a lot of backlash in Karnataka after he claimed at an event that the Kannada language originated from Tamil. 'It is symbolic that Kamal sir is holding a Kannada book in the pics' Ranjani, meanwhile, is clear about her intent. 'Sharing the picture of Kamal sir holding the Kannada book I wrote was my way of indirectly protesting against the ongoing issue,' she says. The images, she clarifies, are from a prior meeting in Chennai, where she had approached Kamal for a video byte to accompany the teaser launch of her upcoming film. 'We had planned a grand teaser launch where the image of Kamal sir and me would be used as a stage highlight, and his video message would open the event,' she reveals. However, in light of recent developments, the team has decided to call off the event. 'Of course, Kamal sir is a legend of Indian cinema. But like every Kannadiga, I was hurt by his remark suggesting that Kannada is rooted in Tamil — it was unnecessary. But many appreciated that I handed him a Kannada book — it was symbolic,' says Ranjani. Kamal Haasan is a legend of Indian cinema. But like every Kannadiga, I was hurt by his remark suggesting that Kannada is rooted in Tamil — it was unnecessary. I have now shared the picture of Kamal sir holding my Kannada book since this is my way of subtly protesting against what he said about our language Ranjani Raghavan, actor Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala top in health & education, but poor in fiscal segment
KOCHI: Kerala secured the top position in social indicators, which include health and education, but stood at a poor 15th spot among 17 large states in the fiscal segment, in the ranking of states released by CareEdge Ratings, a leading credit rating agency, on Tuesday. Kerala ranked seventh in the composite ranking, which captures seven key pillars – economic, fiscal, infrastructure, financial development, social, governance and environment covering 50 indicators. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka were top three in composite ranking, while Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Haryana were in the fourth, fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (9), Punjab (10), Chhattisgarh (11), Rajasthan (12), West Bengal (13), Uttar Pradesh (14), Madhya Pradesh (15) and Jharkhand (16) figured after Kerala. Bihar (17) was at the bottom of the table. 'Kerala excelled in the social rankings occupying the top spot. Within social indicators, while Kerala scored strongly across the health and education related indicators, it lagged on the employment front,' said Rajani Sinha, chief economist, CareEdge Ratings. Social pillar comprises education (gross enrolment ratio in secondary education, literacy rate), health (infant mortality rate, life expectancy), labour (unemployment rate) and poverty (multidimensional poverty index), which are critical for attaining sustainable and inclusive growth. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were placed second and third in social segments. The bottom three states were UP (15), MP (16) and Bihar (17). The worrying segment for Kerala is the fiscal pillar, which includes budget deficit (fiscal deficit, budget deficit), debt repayments, guarantees (total outstanding liabilities as a percentage of GSDP, revenue deficit as a percentage of GSDP), debt repayments (total outstanding liabilities-% of GSDP), interest expenses, revenue generation capacity, debt management and others. 'Kerala fared poorly on the fiscal pillar, ranking 15th, among large states. This can be attributed to a weaker score for budget deficits, debt, and quality of spending. Going ahead, focus on improving the state's fiscal health remains critical,' said Ranjani. She said at the 9th position, Kerala fared better in the financial development segment compared to states like UP, MP, Odisha and Gujarat due to credit disbursements by banks and loans to self-help groups. Kerala stood 11th in the economy pillar, which takes into consideration GSDP growth, inflation and investments. Top three performers were Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra. A segment where Kerala came in top five was infrastructure, comprising physical infrastructure such as per capita power availability, air passenger traffic, road density, railway, etc, and social infrastructure, including availability of doctors and pupil teacher ratio. Kerala's ranking on seven pillars Economic 11 Fiscal 15 Financial Development 9 Infrastructure 5 Social 1 Governance 8 Environment 7 Composite ranking 7 Top composite rankers Maharashtra Gujarat Karnataka
