येत्या २४ नोव्हेंबरला 'हॅपी बर्थ डे'!

येत्या २४ नोव्हेंबरला कोणाचा वाढदिवस नाही परंतु 'हॅपी बर्थ डे' चित्रपट प्रदर्शित होणार असल्यामुळे त्याचा वाढदिवस आहे असं म्हणायला जागा आहे. हल्ली सहसा कुणीच 'वाढदिवस' साजरा करताना दिसत नाही. प्रत्येकजण 'बर्थ डे' साजरा करताना दिसतोय. कुणी 'जगायचं एक वर्ष कमी झालं म्हणून' तर कुणी 'अजून एक वर्ष जगलो म्हणून' 'बर्थ डे' साजरा करतो. ज्यांचं इंग्रजी कच्चं असतं ते 'आज माझा 'हॅपी बर्थ डे' आहे म्हणत वाढदिवस साजरा करताना आढळतात. परंतु जर का तुम्हाला समजले की पुढच्या वर्षी तुम्ही तुमचा बर्थ डे साजरा करू शकाल की नाही याची गॅरंटी नाही तर तुमची काय रिऍक्शन असेल ?

'थॅलॅसेमिआ' हा रक्ताच्या कर्करोगाचा एक प्रकार आहे जो अनुवांशिकतेने लहान मुलांना होतो. साधारण जन्माच्या तिसऱ्या महिन्यापासून या रोगाची लक्षणं दिसू लागतात. शरीरातील 'हिमोग्लोबिन' निर्माण करण्याच्या प्रक्रियेत गडबडी निर्माण झाली की रक्तक्षीणता जाणवू लागते. शरीरातील रक्ताच्या कमतरतेमुळे बाहेरून रक्तपुरवठा करावा लागतो. हे शारीरिक, मानसिक आणि सांपत्तिक दृष्ट्या त्रासदायक असून वाईट गोष्ट म्हणजे या आजारावर अजूनतरी इलाज सापडलेला नाही. अश्याच असाध्य रोगाने पीडित असलेल्या एका तरुण मुलाची गोष्ट सांगणार आहे एक चित्रपट ज्याचं नाव आहे 'हॅपी बर्थ डे' !

या चित्रपटाची कथा आहे एका टिनेजरची. मध्यम वर्गीय कुटुंबातील एका षोडशवर्षीय मुलाची, जय ची, जो थॅलॅसेमिआ या कधीही बरा न होणाऱ्या रोगाने आजारी आहे. पण त्याला याची कल्पना नाही. आई वडील बहीण आणि तो अशा चौकोनी कुटुंबात राहणारा जय लहानपणापासूनच अत्यंत खोडकर तरीही सर्वांचा लाडका. थॅलॅसेमिआ ने पंडित असल्यामुळे जगण्यासाठी दर पंधरवड्याला त्याला रक्त द्यावं लागत असतं तरीही त्याचं पुढचं आयुष्य किती हे डॉक्टर्ससुद्धा ठामपणे सांगू शकत नसतात. त्यालाही आश्चर्य वाटत राहायचं आणि प्रश्नही पडायचा की घरचे त्याला मैदानी खेळ खेळायला का पाठवत नाहीत किंवा पावसात मनसोक्त भिजायला का देत नाहीत ? त्याच्या सोळाव्या वाढदिवशी त्याला अचानकपणे त्याच्या आजाराबद्दल कळते आणि हे ही समजते की तो सतराव्या वाढदिवसाला या जगात असेल की नाही याची शाश्वती नाही. ह्या सर्वांच्या अनुषंगाने पुढे काय काय घडते ते 'हॅपी बर्थ डे' चित्रपटातून मांडण्यात आले आहे.

मुकुलिना चित्र आणि रेड स्मिथ प्रॉडक्शनच्या बॅनरखाली या चित्रपटाची निर्मिती केली आहे दिलीप कोलते यांनी आणि सहनिर्माती आहे सायरा सय्यद.  थॅलॅसेमिआ आजाराने ग्रस्त एका षोडशवर्षीय मुलाची ही कथा असून याचं दिग्दर्शन केलंय नारायण गोंडाळ यांनी. चित्रपटात 'रिंगण' फेम शशांक शेंडे व 'श्वास' फेम अरुण नलावडेमहत्वपूर्ण भूमिकांत आहेत. निमेश किजबिले, अमरदीप ठोंबरे, सेजल घरत, शुभम नारिंगीकर, ओजस ठोंबरे, आर्या केळशीकर, गौरांगी शेवडे, अमित पाटील, मनाली ठोंबरे आणि मयुरी फडतरे यांचादेखील या चित्रपटात भूमिका आहेत.

या चित्रपटाचे संगीत विक्रांत वार्डे यांनी केलं असून गीतकार मनीष अन्सुरकर आणि विक्रांत वार्डे यांच्या शब्दरचनांना रोहित राऊत व आनंदी जोशी (तू येताना सामोरी) आणि जावेद अली (दान आभाळाचे) यांनी स्वरसाज चढवला आहे. दोन्ही गाणी वेगळ्या जॉनर ची असून उत्कृष्ट झाली आहेत जी प्रेक्षकांना खूप भावतील.

'हॅपी बर्थ डे' चित्रपटाला अंबरनाथ फिल्म फेस्टिवल मध्ये सर्वोत्कृष्ट प्रथम निर्मिती, सर्वोत्कृष्ट कथा, सर्वोत्कृष्ट गीतकार, सर्वोत्कृष्ट पदार्पण अभिनेता, सर्वोत्कृष्ट संगीतकार, सर्वोत्कृष्ट पार्श्वगायक आणि सर्वोत्कृष्ट पदार्पण दिग्दर्शक अशी सात नामांकनं आहेत.

येत्या २४ नोव्हेंबरला 'हॅपी बर्थ डे' प्रेक्षकांच्या हृदयाला स्पर्श करायला येत आहे.

Double Celebration as Wagh Bakri Wins INDIASTAR 2017 Award for Two Tea Collections

The Wagh Bakri Tea Group has been a pioneer in sourcing the finest, most flavourful and aromatic teas from storied tea estates, for their valued customers. The cream of the crop is carefully curated and elegantly packaged for your drinking pleasure.

It is no wonder that Wagh Bakri Tea Group has just been awarded the INDIASTAR 2017, the highest recognition for excellence in packaging in India; as it speaks of their devotion to bringing the delights of tea, fresh to their customers. The Indian Institute of Packaging, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce, honored Wagh Bakri which exemplifies a gold standard in fine teas.

Open the gold-engraved, specially designed wooden box and your air of anticipation will be pleasantly rewarded as theWagh Bakri Connoisseur Collection showcases 12 specialty packs of tea-bags encased in golden wrappings to delight the true tea-lover. As you press to open the easy magnetic lock, an assortment of 120 perfectly-packaged tea-bags with divine flavours, the aromas and the richness of teas created with love and expertise will enchant your senses. Wake up to green tea mint, lemon, ginger or cardamom tea or the popular “masala” chai… as your fancy dictates. Pamper your palate with earl grey tea or green tea Tulsi. Savour the experience of premium non-flavored teas: Premium Assam, Darjeeling, English breakfast, Classic Assam or green tea. Don’t settle for one tea, when you can indulge in the sheer luxury of drinking a new delight daily. This jewel of a box is a perfect gift: for who can resist the charms of tea in so many avatars?

Wagh Bakri has designed this beautiful, fold-out Organic Tea Treasure Pack, which would adorn any corporate desk and make a fabulous gift. 3 composite packs of 100% Certified Organic Teas: Organic Darjeeling, Organic Darjeeling Green Tea and Organic Leaf Tea will thrill the discerning tea-lover.

Wagh Bakri Connoisseur Collection: 120 tea bags in an assortment of 12 flavours, making an elegant presentation, no matter what the occasion. It contains 12 packs of tea bags which include Flavoured – Cardamom, Ginger, Masala, Lemon, Earl Grey, Green Tea Mint, Green Tea Tulsi and Non-Flavoured – Premium Assam, Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Classic Assam, Green Tea. It has 12 packs*10 tea bags each = 120 tea bags. Wooden 12 compartment box with internal partition, matt finish with gold engraving in front and inside Wagh Bakri logo printed on velvet fabric with magnetic locking for easy operation. Inner tea box is printed on FBB board with special gold colour for reducing the cost of imported paper. Outer pack is designed for easy carrying. The pack is constructed by E-Flute Carton with Matt Lamination and window punching.

Wagh Bakri 100% Certified Organic Tea Treasure Pack: Beautifully packed 3 composite packs of 100% Organic Certified Teas. This gift pack consists of 100% Certified Organic Darjeeling Tea, Organic Darjeeling Green Tea and Organic Leaf Tea. An ideal gift for your loved ones and can also go as an excellent corporate gift. Top outer box is made of KAPPA Board with matt lamination to match old British look. The special construction is very precise. Inside box which is made of foam material that helps the box to lock and special ribbon and magnetic lock for easy operation. Inside 100% Certified Organic Tea box is printed on 350 GSM FBB board with the metalized pet. The pack is printed with 6 colours. The pack is given UV finish texture to look more authentic. It has gloss UV with embossing done on the box to make it more attractive.

तेजस्विनीने साजरा केला बालदिन तिच्या मुलांसोबत!

गेली अनेक वर्षे तेजस्विनी पंडित ममता फॉउंडेशन ह्या HIV बाधित मुलांसाठी काम करणाऱ्या संस्थेशी जोडली गेली आहे. हि भारतातली एकमेव संस्था आहे जी HIV बाधित लहान मुलांसाठीच हक्काचं घर आहे. ह्या संस्थेतल्या तीन स्त्रिया HIV बाधित मुलांसाठी अविरत काम करत असतात. 

तेजस्विनी पंडित ह्या संस्थेसाठी गेले अनेक वर्ष काम करत आहे. केवळ आर्थिक सहाय्य करणे इथवर तेजस्विनीचे काम सीमित नाही. कामात कितीहि व्यस्त असली तरी देखील तेजस्विनी ह्या मुलांना वरचेवर भेटत असते. त्यांच्यासोबत चित्रपट पाहणे, त्यांना शॉपिंगला घेऊन जाणे , त्यांच्यासोबत लंच करणे यांसारख्या अनेक गोष्टी ती या मुलासांसाठी करते! आणि हे ती गेली अनेक वर्षे करत आहे आणि ह्या गोष्टीची तिने मीडियाला भनकहि लागू दिली नाही! पण ह्यावेळेस मात्र आपले काम लोकांसमोर आणले आहे. तिने या वेळेसचा 'बालदिन' ममता फॉउंडेशनच्या मुलांसोबत साजरा केला आणि त्याची एक  छोटीशी व्हिडीओ क्लिप आपल्या सोशल मीडियावर टाकली. 

तेजस्विनीला याबाबत विचारले असता तिने म्हटलं, "हि गोष्ट मीडिया समोर आणून त्याचा शो ऑफ करणे हे मला पटत नव्हते म्हणून मी आजपर्यंत ह्या बद्दल काहीच बोलले नाही. परंतु पुढे अनेकांनी समाजवल्यानंतर मी माझ्या या  मुलांना व्हिडीओमध्ये घेऊन आले. ममता फॉउंडेशन हि एकमेव संस्था जी HIV बाधित मुलांसाठी काम करते, जी एक जोडपं स्वकष्टावर चालवत आहे. माझ्या द्वारे ह्या संस्थेला लोकांपर्यंत पोचवता येईल आणि इतर अनेक मदतीचे हात पुढे येतील, हा उद्देश ठेवून मी हा व्हिडीओ सोशल मीडियावर टाकला आहे. २०१७ चा हा बालदिन स्पेशल व्हिडीओ ह्या मुलांच्या आयुष्यात अनेक मदतीचे हात घेऊन येतील अशी अपेक्षा आहे." 

तेजस्विनीचा हा छोटेखानी बालदिन सोहळा नक्कीच फार वेगळा आहे. तिचा हा प्रयत्न ममता फॉऊंडेशनच्या मुलांच्या आयुष्यात नक्की चांगले दिवस आणेल, हि  अपेक्षा आहे. 

Duracell got families running for Mumbai’s first family run- Durathon

Mumbai, November 12, 2017 - Duracell, the iconic consumer battery company and the leading manufacturer of high performance alkaline batteries worldwide launched  ‘Durathon’ – Mumbai’s first family run; on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at Bandstand Bandra, Mumbai.

Mandira Bedi, actress, anchor, designer initiated the run with her energetic son, Vir. She said, “It was such an amazing experience to run with Vir. I have always promoted fitness and well-being and this time, my son got to join me in my objective. My son, immensely inspired by the energy of the Duracell Bunny ran with great enthusiasm at the event. A family that runs together has fun together and that is the uniqueness of Durathon”

Being an early morning start, participants were surprisingly energetic and enthusiastic for the run. Like the famous running Duracell Bunny, kids and parents ran together to show how they can go stronger for longer as they unlocked their inner power when finishing together the 2 KM or 5 KM run. Duracell celebrated this run with more than 200 families with 700 participants along with Children’s Day which is on November 14, 2017.

David Abraham, Duracell Marketing Director for Middle East and India explains, “We are very happy to have initiated Mumbai’s first family run, Durathon. Such experiential marketing makes Duracell contextually and emotionally relevant. People simply love the Duracell Bunny that runs stronger for longer and always graciously wins. It was a great experience to see so many families unlock their power during Durathon when they ran together, stronger for longer. Just like the Bunny, just like our Duracell batteries.”

Zee Marathi launches musical extravaganza ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Ghe Panga Kar Danga’

~ Show to go on-air starting 13th November 2017, every Monday and Tuesday at 9:30 PM ~

Mumbai, 10th November 2017: Music connects hearts and souls, surpassing barriers and external factors alike. Connecting lives across Maharashtra and Goa with music, Zee Marathi launches Indian television’s most successful musical franchise, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Themed as ‘Ghe Panga, Kar Danga’, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa gives Marathi musical talent from Maharashtra and Goa the perfect platform to showcase their singing prowess and wow audiences. As challenges galore raise the bar on entertainment, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, this season, will be judged by ace director Ravi Jadhav and chartbusting singer Bela Shende. Urging the contestants to put their best foot forward at every stage of the competition will be host Rohit Raut who will motivate and inspire them. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will go on-air on 13th November 2017 at 9:30 PM and will air every Monday and Tuesday on Zee Marathi.

A widely acclaimed show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa illustrates the raw singing talent that makes Maharashtra the ultimate powerhouse. Providing a platform for the singers willing to go the extra mile to pursue a career in music, this edition of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will be bigger, better and grander than ever before. Through the theme ‘Ghe Panga, Kar Danga’, the show promises to create tons of surprises for contestants and viewers alike. Auditions for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa have been conducted in 6 markets including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Goa urging budding singers between 16-30 years of age to live their dreams. From every market, 10 singers will be shortlisted to travel to Mumbai for the final auditions of which 24 handpicked contestants will proceed to the Galas. These contestants will undergo a series of challenges and musical tests from which the ultimate winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will be selected.

Judging the show this season will be popular film director Ravi Jadhav and multiple award-winning Marathi singer Bela Shende. Joining the celebrity brigade as the show’s host is young singer Rohit Raut.

Commenting on the launch of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’s latest season, Nilesh Mayekar, Business Head – Zee Marathi said, “Carrying on a legacy of excellence right since the launch of the show, Zee Marathi’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has contributed a lot towards the prosperous musical journey of Maharashtra so far. Zee Marathi has given an established platform to aspiring singers, giving the country some of its most acclaimed singers. The latest season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is the season of newness and viewers are surely going to thoroughly enjoy the show as there is a slight change in the format of it. I’m sure that the musical journey of the latest season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will be a memorable one for everyone.”

While expressing his opinion, National award winner and one of the leading directors from the Marathi and Bollywood film fraternity, Ravi Jadhav said, “First of all I’m very excited to don the judge’s hat. Since today’s young generation is aware and passionate about music and after witnessing their extraordinary performances it has become really challenging for us to hunt and bring together the best untapped talent across Maharashtra. Through this season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, I will try my level best to hunt the finest gem for the music fraternity, whose melodious voice will rule over millions of hearts.”

A renowned singer from Marathi film fraternity who has made the audiences go gaga over her phenomenal performances in various languages, Bela Shende said, “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is not just reality show, it a larger than life musical journey. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to discovering the hidden talent and providing them with a prestigious platform to showcase their skills. I was stunned after seeing the kind of energy and enthusiasm amongst the contestant from Maharashtra. I’m learning a lot while knowing the contestant and guiding them for their further journey. I’m really enjoying the role of a Judge. I’m sure the contestants will set fire on the stage with their extraordinary performance. This season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will amaze everyone for sure.”

Undoubtedly one of the biggest shows on Indian television, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has been known to provide the ideal platform to aspiring singers, to cultivate them into singing superstars. With widespread national and international appeal, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa entices music lovers to not only audition for the show, but also watch true talent’s journey on television. With every passing season, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has surpassed previously set benchmarks defining newer standards of entertainment.

Watch musical talent flourish on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as the show goes on-air starting 13th November 2017, every Monday and Tuesday at 9:30 PM on Zee Marathi!

Global leadership guru – Randy Slechta delivers leadership sessions across India

Mumbai, New Delhi and Vadodara were a part of the tour

National, November 10, 2017: Randy Slechta, the global leadership guru, creator of the Total Leader® Concept and co-author of ‘The 5 Pillars of Leadership’ successfully concluded his three day India tour today. In his sessions, aptly called “Business For Breakfast”, Randy addressed leaders across Mumbai, New Delhi and Vadodara on ‘Managing Leadership During Turbulent Times’. The breakfast sessions saw active participation from senior management representing leading private and public sector organisations including Citibank India, Ecole Hotelier and Shaman Wheels.

During the sessions, Randy also addressed various concerns and challenges that often arise among leaders and suggested efficient techniques to tackle them. He shared statistics with regards to LMI's Indian market, and how companies need to address and invest in leadership training. Randy also shared details from his experience running LMI for over 30 years.  He highlighted a comparative trend analysis in the L&D industry from 15 years ago to now, as to how industries globally have imbibed leadership development as part of their training.  Post the session, there was an interactive Q & A session with the CEO's wherein Randy addressed real-life instances and recommended solutions to lead better in such scenarios.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Randy Slechta, President & CEO, LMI said, “We have been looking forward to hosting a seminar in India for a long time. There is tremendous growth potential in the country, which can be optimised with good leadership. We are hoping to fill this leadership deficit. We are taking back a lot of learning's about the Indian market which we will work on and put an international perspective too. And of course, we look forward to a continued association with our delegates.”

Dr. Hiru Bijlani, Master Licensee, LMI India added, “Our team in India has been working towards this for a while now and we are glad we could tap into the markets that we did. While Mumbai is a prime business hub, we felt markets like Vadodara and Delhi have potential, but need the right guidance. It was an honour having Randy Slechta help leaders gain insights from his over 30 year journey at LMI and we hope to continue his works across the country.”

‘ट्रेंडी टेस्टी ट्रीट’

खमंग,चमचमीत,खुमासदार,चटपटीत,लज्जतदार हे शब्द कानावर पडले की तोंडाला पाणी सुटल्याशिवाय राहतच नाही पण प्रश्न हा आहे की आपल्यासाठी हे पूर्णब्रम्ह बनवणार कोण? कूकिंग म्हटलं तर दोन हात लांबच असा विषय मानला जातो.डब्यात काय द्यायचं ह्या पेक्षा मोठा प्रश्न उरलेल्या अन्नच काय करायचं? असा प्रश्न अगदी घरात असलेल्या सामान्य स्त्रीला देखील पडतो.

     असेच काही प्रश्न सोडवण्यासाठी व उत्तम प्रकारे सोप्या व कमी वेळेत वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारचे पदार्थ शिकवण्यासाठी व ते उत्तम प्रकारे कसे बनवायचे ह्यासाठी मराठीतील अभिनेत्री 'भार्गवी चिरमुले' तिची पहिली वेबसीरीस 'ट्रेंडी टेस्टी ट्रीट' या नावाने घेऊन येत आहे.

     ‘ट्रेंडी टेस्टी ट्रीट’ चा पहिला प्रोमो ७ नोव्हेंबर ला यूट्यूब वर ट्रेंडी टेस्टी ट्रीट च्या चॅनेल वर लाँच करण्यात आला व पहिला एपिसोड १० नोव्हेंबर ला प्रसारित केला त्यात भार्गवी ने प्रोमो मध्ये विचारलेला पहिला प्रश्न ‘कॅन मेन कूक?’ च उत्तर शेफ सचिन जोशी यांच्यासोबत शोधल.पहिल्या एपिसोड मध्ये शेफ सचिन जोशी यांनी ‘टोमॅटो ब्रूसचेता’ असा सोप्पा व सुंदर पदार्थ बनवला.सचिन जोशी गेली २५ वर्षां पेक्षा जास्त आंतरराष्ट्रीय व्यासपीठावर सक्रिय आहेत व कार्निवल क्रूसलॅन्डस ही अमेरिकेतली नामांकित कंपनी आहे त्यासाठी सचिन यांनी काम केलंय आणि सध्या पुण्यात मल्टि-कुसीन रेस्टॉरंट चालवत आहे. त्याचप्रमाणे ते हॉटेल मॅनेजमेंट फॅकल्टी सुद्धा आहे.

         शेफ सोबत भार्गवी कूकिंग ह्या विषयावर अनेक प्रश्नांची उत्तरे ह्या कार्यक्रमा दरम्यान शोधणार आहे.भार्गवी म्हणते 'सध्याच्या ह्या करियर ओरिएंटेड जगात स्त्रिया देखिल जेवण बनवण्यापासून दोन हाथ लांब राहतात. कूकिंग हा प्रत्येक माणसाचा महत्वाचा विषय आहे आणि मी स्वतः त्यात खूप वाईट आहे.आपल्याला वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारचे खाद्यपदार्थ खायला आवडतात परंतु ते कसे बनवले जातात हे माहिती नसतं तसेच खाद्यात देखील फ्युजण हा प्रकार आम्ही खूप वेगळ्या पद्धतीने लोकांसमोर आणणार आहोत व अगदी अवघड पदार्थ सोप्या पद्धतीने करून सांगणार आहोत.'

Glenmark aims to transform the treatment for Psoriasis in India Launches Apremilast – a revolutionary advanced Oral Treatment for Psoriasis in India

·      Glenmark is the first company to launch the breakthrough oral drug Apremilast for the management of Psoriasis in India

·      Glenmark is the first company to receive the DCGI approval and marketing authorization for Apremilast in India

·      Apremilast is an oral therapy which addresses various limitations of the current therapies available in India

·      Apremilast will be manufactured by Glenmark in India from API to formulations

Mumbai, India; November 10, 2017: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, a research-led global integrated pharmaceutical company, announced the launch of Apremilast in India. Apremilast is the first advanced Oral Systemic treatment for Psoriasis in India. Apremilast is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor which is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe Psoriasis. The launch of Apremilast will revolutionize the treatment of Psoriasis impacting close to 33 million Indians suffering from the condition.

Apremilast is an advanced oral treatment for Psoriasis which addresses the limitations of the current available therapies in India. It acts in a targeted manner at an early stage of the disease progression. Also, it is an immunomodulator whereas the other available drugs in the country are immunosuppressant including biologics and are mostly indicated for the treatment of oncological conditions. Immunosuppressants suppress the immune system thereby making the body susceptible to various infections. Apremilast being an immunomodulator does not suppress the immune system and treats the condition of psoriasis at an intracellular level which will benefit psoriasis patients across the country.

Apremilast is an oral therapy which can be self-administered unlike some of the currently available injectable therapy which have to be administered by paramedics. Further, Apremilast is a safer drug having no effects on other organs like the liver and kidney and does not require routine laboratory diagnostic tests like CBC, liver & Kidney test or TB screening as required in the case of other therapies used currently.

Glenmark has launched Apremilast under the brand name ‘Aprezo’ indicated for the treatment of Psoriasis.Glenmark received approval from DCGI for Apremilast after conducting clinical trials on the molecule as per the regulatory requirements.

Sujesh Vasudevan, President and Head – India, Middle East and Africa, “Glenmark is proud to be the first player to introduce Apremilast, an advanced oral and safe treatment for Psoriasis, in India. Glenmark has been in the field of Dermatology for 4 decades bringing advanced therapies to Indian patients. With the launch of Apremilast, we are aiming to transform the treatment paradigm for millions of Psoriasis patients in the country.”

Rajesh Kapur, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said, “Apremilast is a safer and efficacious treatment compared to the existing treatment available in the country. Apremilast is the only oral medicine available in the country exclusively for Psoriasis. In addition to this, it also addresses the several limitations of existing treatments like routine laboratory monitoring. We hope that millions of patients in India will now be able to live a better quality of life with this revolutionary treatment.”

Globally, about 3% of the world population has some form of Psoriasis. Another study reveals that the prevalence of psoriasis in countries ranges between 0.09% and 11.43%, making psoriasis as one of the serious issues.

India has now become one of the largest patient pool in the world and is estimated to have around 33 million psoriasis patients. As per a study on psoriasis in India, based on data collected across various medical colleges located in Lucknow, Dibrugarh, Calcutta, Patna, Darbhanga, New Delhi and Amritsar, it was found that the incidence of psoriasis among total skin patients ranged between 0.44 and 2.2%. It was also found that the ratio of male to female (2.46:1) was very high and the highest incidence was noted in the age group of 20-39 years.

Apremilast will revolutionize the treatment for 33 million psoriasis patients in the country. Apremilast is the first oral treatment in India specific for psoriasis treatment; it is convenient to administer, it is safer compared to existing therapies and will transform the psoriasis treatment regime in the country.

Nelito Systems Bags Multi-Country Contract From Indian Overseas Bank for Archiving & Retrieval of Data

Mumbai, November 7 2017: Nelito Systems Limited, India’s prominent financial software and services Company catering to Banking and Non-banking Financial Institutions, has bagged a  multi-country contract from Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to automate the process of archiving and retrieving decades old financial transactions for their clients and customers.

IOB has major presence in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Hong Kong and has migrated their core banking solutions across these countries. The bank frequently receives requests from their corporate and retail customers to provide them with historical data be it transactions, master entries, reference details for various purposes which at times becomes difficult as it is a tedious consuming physical activity.

IOB was using different core banking solutions where it wanted to maintain and manage the data residing in the legacy applications. With Nelito’s FinDart™ solution, the Bank would be able to archive all types of legacy database and schemas. It would also make the process much more customer centric and economical along with maintaining all regulatory compliance across countries.

Commenting on this engagement, Mr. Ashish Varun, Head-International Sales, Nelito Systems Limited said, “We are glad to win the confidence of Indian Overseas Bank, which has presence in some of the key markets across Asia. With increased importance of conserving archived data, the bank wanted someone who understands their business requirements and has experience in handling such projects internationally. Nelito's expertise and experience in building and executing global mandates has been a major reason for this business win.”

Nelito’s expertise in data extraction, archival and management solutions has already helped major banking groups like HDFC Bank, UCO Bank (Hong Kong & Singapore), United Bank of India, Syndicate Bank (London) and many more for similar projects. Once the process is completed, the Bank’s customers would be able to access the archived data online. Although due to non-disclosure agreement between the companies, the financial details on the size of the deal could not be known.

In March 2017, Japan’s DTS Corporation had acquired 44.5% stake in Nelito Systems. The Company had chalked out ambitious plans to expand its global footprint, especially in the US and South Asian markets post selling the stake to DTS Corporation.

David Chang, Global Sales Director, Gionee to spearhead India operations

·         In a bid to become the leading smartphone player in India, Gionee strengthens its leadership team

·         Aims to double the market share by end of next financial year

India, November 6, 2017:  Gionee India, the ace smartphone manufacturer,  announced that Mr. David Chang, Global Sales Director, Gionee Communication Equipment Co., Ltd will now lead the India operations for the brand.

The strategic announcement comes at a time when Gionee with a loyal customer base of 1.25 crore in the country is bullish on strengthening  its regional penetration. With its retail presence in over 42,000 stores and with 600 exclusive service centers, the brand targets to be in the top five smartphones of the country.

Speaking on his appointment, Mr. David Chang, Global Sales Director, Gionee Communication Equipment Co., Ltd said, “India as a nation, has been exhibiting a great deal of potential for the smartphone business. As part of our global marketing strategy, India ranks number one and the success witnessed in a span of last five years has given us immense optimism to further invest and expand our presence in the market. I am profoundly honoured to be a part of the India growth story and maximise Gionee’s impeccable trajectory advancing our customer base as well as being among the top 5 phone brands by the next fiscal.”

Gionee India has already established its leadership in the Indian smartphone market and with Mr. Chang’s skilled management the company aims to further consolidate its ranking amongst the top-selling brand in the country. Ranked at No. 10 globally, Mr. Chang has been instrumental in taking the brand to this position.

He has 13 years of robust industrial experience, and has been associated with Gionee Communication Equipment Co., Ltd for over a decade. In his earlier capacity he has been responsible for driving global sales of the organization. With his strong experience, Mr. Chang has led his team through several significant accomplishments.

In his new role, Mr. Chang will lead Gionee India’s next phase of growth in the country, wherein he will drive the overall operations and reinforce the brand positioning in the country, with emphasis on retail expansion, sales volumes and after sales establishing the connect with customers.

Sidharth Malhotra as a new brand ambassador of OPPO F5

OPPO launches the F5, a Selfie Expert with Groundbreaking A.I. Beauty technology that will ‘Capture the Real You’

• Sports an industry first Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for selfies in India and the first full screen device from OPPO
• Appoints Sidharth Malhotra as a new brand ambassador in addition to the current ambassador, Deepika Padukone
• Announces a new brand slogan – The Selfie Expert and Leader

Mumbai, 2^nd November 2017 – OPPO, the Selfie Expert & Leader, today unveiled the OPPO F5, the brand’s first FHD+ full screen display model in India, featuring the groundbreaking A.I. Beauty technology – a technology designed to personalize beautification for subjects on a selfie image. The A.I. Beauty technology will take selfie photography to a whole new level of quality. Priced at INR 19,990 the F5 (Gold and Black Edition) will go on sale from November 9^th and will be available both online and offline. Two other models were also launched at the event, the F5 6GB edition INR 24,990 (Red and Black Edition) and the F5 Youth (Black and Gold Edition) to give OPPO fans and the youth more choices to suit their needs. These two variants will be available in December.

OPPO F5

“Our focus has always been on bringing the best photography and Selfie experience to the Indian consumers. We have been leading the Selfie industry in the Indian market with our Selfie Expert F series for which we have received immense response, especially from the youth. With the launch of F5 that offers the first A.I. Beauty technology in India, we are confident of going further ahead in this journey. Thus, the new brand slogan, The Selfie Expert and Leader, truly represents our ambition to continue being the leaders in the market.” said Sky Li, Global VP, OPPO and President of OPPO India.

OPPO also announced a new brand ambassador, youth icon and Bollywood superstar– Sidharth Malhotra in addition to Deepika Padukone. Sidharth and Renowned Photographer – Rohan Shrestha shared their own selfie experience with OPPO F5 during the event.

A.I. Beauty technology and camera

A.I. Beauty technology

OPPO F5 is the first smart phone that brings Artificial Intelligence into selfie feature in India with years R&D. It identifies shapes and facial structures based on a global database. Professional photographers and make-up artists were consulted during the R&D process, resulting in the A.I. technology having the ability to emulate those professional skills that can help selfies look more real and nature.

Global image database of human faces

With more than 200 facial recognition spots that reference the image against a global database of human faces to learn facial features, shapes and structures, F5 can distinguish each person’s face features from skin tone and type, gender, age and more.

After facial recognition, the AI Beauty technology will customize beautify based on one’s features from skin, eyes, lips, to face shape. The feature will also have personalization for specific subjects. For example, enhancements will not be soft or feminine for male subjects. Children or babies will not receive enhancements that make them look like adults.

OPPO F5 comes installed with a 20MP front camera with an ultra-sensitive F2.0 aperture and 1/2.8” sensor. Both features allow the camera to gain more information to produce better images with less noise in low light conditions. The front-camera Portrait mode also applies a Bokeh effect to the background, creating better gradation and making you the focus of the selfie shot, every time.

And for the rear camera, the 16MP rear camera is excellent for all day and night shots. Along with the F1.8 aperture in the back camera also performs brilliantly for brighter and more precise shots in darker settings.

The First FHD+ Full-Screen Smartphone with streamlined design philosophy

6.0- inch FHD+ full-screen display

The F5 will be OPPO’s first 6.0-inch FHD+ full-screen display device, giving the user a vivid visual enjoyment without the need to increase the size of the phone. It features a high-resolution 2160 x 1080 dpi screen with 18:9 aspect ratio. F5 is also the first phone equipped with FHD+ full screen display in its price segment.

Sleek unibody

The F5 follows OPPO’s streamlined design philosophy - the sleek unibody offers a visually slim appearance without any cut-offs, with a gracefully curved body that fits well in the palm, expressing a simple and elegant look. A user’s palm will not feel tired even after using the phone for a long time, either from playing games or chatting. The 0.4mm laser string is carved onto the phone – a delicate linear finish that adds detail to the phone body.

Facial and Fingerprint Unlock

The F5 comes with Facial Unlock, the new face recognition technology that will recognize its user and unlock the phone. If the user prefers to use the fingerprint unlock function, the fingerprint reader is now on the back of the phone, giving way to a full front screen.

Updated operating system with powerful hardware

OPPO’s Color OS 3.2, together with 4G RAM + 32GB ROM memory gives the operating system a much smoother user experience. A triple slot tray supports two Nano cards and one TF card simultaneously. The Octa-core CPU processor uses less energy, produces less heat while giving a higher performance speed (40% increased performance compared to the previous Color OS versions).

The F5 battery life is exceptional, thanks to the 3200Ah battery and the Continuous Optimizing technology which manages the apps running on the device, allowing the user up to 12 hours of continuous use (in a simulated test).

Other Unique Features – Simpler and Humanized

OPPO F5 also has some special features for the consumers such as Game Acceleration specially targeted at Gamers. This feature will offer a smoother game experience apart from optimizing the game display configuration to fully utilize hardware resource, This will also ensure minimal disturbance while gaming with incoming calls being shown in the form of a banner and not interrupting your game.

The O-share file sharing technology is 100 times faster than Bluetooth – 8 to 10 pictures (3MB each) can be transferred between OPP/O phones within 1 second.

Another feature that will ensure you have a smooth experience is the Split Screen feature which means easy multi-tasking – chat, listen to songs or surf social media.

The Ahimsa Festival 2017 Begins

 

26^th October 2017, Mumbai: The second edition of The Ahimsa Festival opened at St. Andrew’s Auditorium in the city. The Ahimsa Festival is the first event across India, and perhaps the world, to be based on ahimsa or compassion. The festivities will run across 18 days and create awareness about the power of compassion and inspire people towards making lifestyle changes towards health and animal cruelty-free choices.

Convener of the event Dr. Rupa Shah who–is part of the six-member Ahimsa Parmo Dharma Group (APDG)–and has co-founded the annual Ahimsa Festival series stated, “The basic meaning of the word ‘ahimsa’ is–Do no injury, cause no harm. Ahimsa means non-violence, or to put it in a positive way–Compassion. Ahimsa is a universal concept that applies to all living beings, including all animals. All living beings have the spark of the divine spiritual energy; therefore, to hurt another being is to hurt oneself. The primary aspect of ahimsa is towards oneself–in particular towards one’s health.”

Chief Guest of the Opening Ceremony, Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, commented, ”As Gandhiji said - Non Violence is a weapon of the strong; it is a sword that heals. A number of resources utilized for a non-vegetarian diet are much higher than a vegetarian one. It takes about 2500 gallons of water to produce half a kg of meat whereas it takes less than 25 gallons of water to produce the same quantity of wheat. This gives an idea that by turning vegan how drastically we can reduce water footprints.  Those who cannot immediately change their lifestyles should try reducing the consumption of meat; a small step will go a long way in saving our planet and of course, add to health benefits. Our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a vegetarian at the age of 67; he works so hard and his enthusiasm is viral.”

Dr. Will Tuttle, author of the international bestseller ‘The World Peace Diet’ and Chief Guest of the festival lit the candle along with Chief Guests Amruta Fadnavis and Dr. Nandita Shah. In his talk, he shared his vision of creating a peaceful global civilization with the world peace diet. He said, “This is my first day in India and I can already see the light and positivity all around me. India has been radiating this light for centuries and the same light touched me when I became a vegan 40 years back. My message is that veganism is a philosophy and practice of radical inclusion and that going vegan is the most positive, uplifting, and transformative action any human being can make in our culture today. If you could sum my message up in a simple phrase, it would be Respect for all life. I teach that veganism is coming home into one’s true heart, and seeing beings as beings, and respecting them as equally sacred manifestations of divine life.” He mesmerized the audiences with his talk interspersed with playing the piano, while his wife accompanied him by playing the flute.

Founder of SHARAN, Dr Nandita Shah, who is the recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Award 2016 the highest award for women in India, for her pioneering work in the field of health and nutrition stated, “I have been a homeopath for many years - the concept of veganism brings health, environment, and animals together. A non-vegetarian person is responsible for the life of 70 land animals a year on an average; then there are sea animals as well. I believe that everyone can become vegan if they have the opportunity to make an initial connection. Over the years I have seen people go from cynics to passionate vegan advocates once they had made the switch to a plant-based diet. I think it’s because just one initial shift can help people go beyond denial and justifications to then go onto making the complete connection. Veganism aligns us with our true values, which are compassion and oneness.”

The event also witnessed Kuntal Joisher who is the first vegan to conquer Mount Everest in 2016 and Rohit Ingle who is covering 18,000+km across the country for one year, to spread awareness about animal cruelty. Rohit was flagged off after the event. Sharmila Oswal, International Water Diplomat also extended her support to the event. Moreover, PETA and FIAPO have been strong supporters of The Ahimsa Festival since inception last year.

The following 2 weeks will comprise more than 100 satellite events–ranging from film workshops, talks, webinars and seminars to treks, a run and cyclothon, and potlucks–to spark curiosity and awareness about Ahimsa and compassionate lifestyle across the city. The festival will conclude with an Ahimsa Carnival.