Indians under spotlight in ParisIndians under spotlight in Paris
There are no reliable statistics available on the number of Indians visiting or living in Paris. Nonetheless, some of them do make it to the front page on Parisian and International news. The spotlight is on Indians/ Diaspora/ Persons of Indian origin making news in Paris.
Yeshpal Sharma brings Star TV to Indian viewers in Paris, October, 2009
Indian and Indophile viewership in France can now enjoy the best in Indian dramas, comedy, news and the latest Bollywood movies through the popular entertainment channels from Star TV. Mr.Yeshpal Sharma, STAR's Vice President for Distribution and Sales for UK and continental Europe gives us a brief.
Yeshpal Sharma on Star TV- Free alliance
Star TV now available in France
Tarun Tejpal in Paris to launch his second book, September, 2009
Well-known journalist and author Tarun Tejpal, whose first book 'Alchemy of desires' has been a worldwide success, is now back to Paris for the launch of his second novel 'The story of my assassins'. The French edition is titled 'Histoire de mes assassins' and is available from Editions Buchet-castle for 25€.
Tarun Tejpal- Indian under spotlight
India is the country of honour on French national day, July 14th, 2009
July 14th is the French national day. India is the country of honour on this occassion. 450 Indian soldiers from army, navy and air-force dressed in their official uniforms will also participate in the military parade that takes places on the Avenue of Champs-Elysées. Indian cavalry will bring the parade to a closing.
Indian Parade on July 5th, 2009
From 01:00 PM, an Indian Festival parade will start from Place de Stalingrad (Metro: Stalingrad, Line 2, 5, 7). The parade will continue down the streets rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, La Fayette, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Boulevard de la Chapelle, Philippe de Girard, rue du Château Landon, rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, rue de Turbigo, rue Etienne Marcel, rue Pierre Lescot, rue de la Cossonnerie, rue Saint-Denis up to Place Joachim du Bellay. Bus traffic in the area might be disturbed as a result of the parade.
Winners at the Extravagant India Film Festival, June 2009
The winners among a host of entries competing in various sections are Vasant Nath for Best Fiction (Shanu Taxi, 2006), Suriyo Sen for Best documentary (Wagah, 2009) and Joel Simon for Best children's film (Horn OK Please, 2006). Atul Saberval's film 'Midnight lost and found' (2007) was given Special mention of the jury. The jury was composed of Marie-Cécile Destandau, Christine Gendre and Elsa Masson.
Extravagant India- Festival of Short Indian Films, June 26th-28th, 2009
Continuing the line from Paris 'Salon du Cinéma' held earlier this year, Péniche Cinéma is honouring India in this 3-day long festival of short Indian Films & Documentaries. Several prestigious films are likely to be screened.
Three prizes 'le Ganesha de la Péniche' will be awarded to the Best Short fiction film, Best Children's film and the Best Documentary. The participating films will also compete for the Public choice award in each of the three sections.The festival will also offer B-to-B platform and round table discussions for professionals. Details on participating Indian Films and directors are not available.
Official website of Extravagant India Péniche Festival
Prithwindra Mukherjee is 'Knight of the Order of the Arts and the Letters', June 24th, 2009
Prithwindra Mukherjee, researcher from CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research, Paris) was appointed to the ranks of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on January 1st, 2009 by the French Minister of Culture and Communication.
The ceremony took place on June 24th in the presence of Mrs. Bhaswati Mukherjee (Indian Ambassador to the UNESCO), Jacques Attali (a leading French economist and biographer of Mahatma Gandhi), Bikas Sanyal (Director of Maison de L'Inde) and Gérard Pedraglio.
Mr. Mukherjee (1936-) was already recognised for his literary contributions by Sahitya Academy. He has translated several works of French literature and has done his PhD on pre-Gandhian era of India's struggle for freedom, from Paris IV university. He has a Fulbright scholarship from the US. He has been actively involved as a researcher in the Human & Social Sciences Department of CNRS, Paris from where he has retired recently. He is also the founder member of l'ATLF (l'Association des Traducteurs Littéraires de France).
5th Festival of Indian Cinema, June 10th-16th, 2009
The sub-urban city of Montigny le Bretonneux is hosting its 5th Festival of Indian Cinema with a host of bollywood movies. Jodhaa Akbar, Lagaan, Swades, Pakeezah and Saawariya are some of the movies to be screened.
Amitabh Bachchan & Indian Cinema at the 3rd Edition of Salon du Cinema January 16th- 18th, 2009
India is the country of honour at the 3rd Edition of Film Festival of La Villette. Amitabh Bachchan is the special guest who has already arrived in Paris to participate in the festival. On Friday, Jan 16th, three of his films- Sarkaar Raj, Black & Sholay will be screened in 'La Nuit des Films Indiens'- The Night of Indian Films.
Film makers like Pan Nalin, Subho Bhattacharjee, Praveen Nischol etc. will participate in conference and debates on the contemporary Indian Cinema. Aishwarya Rai's 'Provoked' will be screened on Friday at 04:30 PM
Official website of Salon du Cinema
Solidarity for Mumbai on December 4, 2008
In a show of solidarity, more than 300 Indians gathered at the Esplanade of Human Rights at Trocadéro, Paris to show solidarity with Mumbaiites for the recent terrorist attacks.Candles were lit to commemorate those gone by and to light hope. Read more
A vigil for hope by Indians in Paris
Read more from NDTV online edition
Candlelight Vigil in Paris
Read more from The Hindu online edition
Shaad Ali to shoot a song sequence in Paris October 4, 2008
Bollywood director Shaad Ali of Bunty & Babli and Saathiya fame will shoot a song sequence in Paris on the occasion of 'Nuit Blanche' on Oct 4th. Literally translated, the 'White Night' or the Nuit Blanche is an annual Parisian event that sees several late night free concerts across the city.Various restaurants, cinemas and bars also participate to the cater to the nocturnal spirit.
The shooting will take place at the Esplanade of Gare du Lyon (Metro Line 1, 14) around 11:00 PM. The event is supported by Indian & French Embassies and the restaurant 'Le Train Bleu'. Part of the film 'Mr. Bean's Holiday' of Rowan Atkinson has been shot on Gare de Lyon and the restaurant 'Le Train Bleu'. Thousands of spectators - French and Indian fans of bollywood are expected to attend.
Shaad Ali and the Bollywood Bawaal
Read detailed article from Paris municipality program of the Nuit Blanche 2008 (in French)
Guru Dutt- The Golden Age of Indian Cinema- an Exhibition September-November 2008
An exhibition coinciding with the 44th death anniversary of the legendary film maker was held in Paris from Sept 20th- Nov 1st, 2008.
Interviewing the people behind the Guru Dutt Exhibition
Meeting a self confessed Indophile
The Indian Summer- Film Festival on the theme of 'Stars of Popular Hindi Cinema' September- November2008
From Sep 8th, 2008- Nov 5th, 2008, Musée Guimet, the national museum dedicated to Asiatic arts has organized the Festival 'The Indian Summer'. The program included films, dance spectacles, concerts etc. From contemporary popular cinema such as Veer-Zaara, Devdaas, Raincoat, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum, Lagaan etc to the golden favourites such as Sahib Bibiar Ghulam, Pakeezah, Pyaasa, Awaara, Shri 420, Bobby to be shown in this festival that lasts around two months.
Complete list of Films screened available from this site (in French)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Paris with his Opera Padmavati March 2008
Leading bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is in Paris from March 14th- 24th, 2008. Invited by the prestigious Theatre du Chatelet to direct the ballet-opera Padmavati. Padmavati is an original French production of Albert Roussel from 1923. The story traces the legend of Queen Padmavati who sacrificed her life for love. The opera has a mainly French/ Francophone star cast.
This is Bhansali's creative outing after his latest film 'Saawariya'.
First look at Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati
Read more from the website PassionforCinema
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's interview with Première e-magazine.
Read more from Première's website (in French)
Indian Directors at International Festival of Asian Films of Vesoul Jan 29th- Feb 5th, 2008
Mira Nair's 'Salaam Bombay' & Manu Rewal's 'Le Corbusier in India' to be screened at the 14th Edition of International Festival of Asian Films of Vesoul. Film personalities Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Aruna Vasudev, Bappaditya Bandhopadhyaya have already been to this festival.
Complete list of Films and categories available from this website (in French)
India is the country of honour of the prestigious Prix de Diane-Hermès at the racecourse of Chantilly June 10, 2007
Indian musicians and cavalry come to the famous French racecourse of Chantilly for the Prix de Diane-Hermès. Each year a different country is chosen as the guest of honour.
India as the Guest of Honour at Paris Book Fair from March 23-27, 2007
India was the country of honour at the last Paris Book Fair called Salon du Livre from March 23-27, 2007. In a statement issued by the French Government, this is to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Indian Independence.
As many as 31 Indian writers including Vikram Seth, Kiran Desai, Tarun Tejapal, Vikas Swarup and Abha Dawesar were invited. Indian authors are attracting an increasing readership in France. This falls well with India being the guest of honour of the Paris Book Fair.
Read More from French Government's Events Release
Vikas Swarup is France's Favourite Indian Novelist
Story published by Gulf Times, Wednesday 28th March, 2007More info on the Author's Website
Is Indian Literature becoming one of the most important foreign literature in Europe? It seems so, since the Paris Book Fair hosted India, as the Guest of Honour, this year and the presence of India attracted more visitors than ever.
Read More from FrencheMag.comSpotlight on Indian Writers at Paris Book Fair
Read More from HindustanDainik.com
Indian entry 'Kantatar' awarded the NETPAC Jury Award at the Vesoul International Film Festival 2007
Kantatar- the poignant film by Bappaditya Bandhopadhyay was selected to receive the NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury Award at the recently concluded International Festival of Asian Films of Vesoul from Feb 13th- 20th, 2007.
Amongst other Indian entries in various categories were Deepa Mehta's 'Water' and Manish Jha's 'Matrubhoomi'.
On the 60th anniversary of Indian Independence, the festival held a retrospective of Indian films. Mehboob Khan's 'Mother India', Guru Dutt's 'Kagaz ke Phool', Shyam Benegal's 'Bhumika', Satyajit Ray's 'Sadgati', Ismail Merchant's 'The remains of the day' and Rituparno Ghosh's 'Choker Bali' were screened.
Vikash Dhorasoo- former French midfielder with an Indian connection
French by nationality, with Indian great grand parents that later migrated to Mauritius, Vikash Dhorasoo is a former French football professional midfielder. He has played the World Cup 2006 in the French National team alongside Zinedine Zidane and Theirry Henry.
He might like to come to India some day to discover his roots.
Indian Connection- Interview
Read more from SportStar Weekly- The Hindu on net
LN Mittal's Daughter's Wedding in Paris and Versailles, June, 2004
No other Society event drew as many reams of paper and megabytes as this wedding which has made it to the Forbes' List of Billionaire Weddings. Paris and Parisian media remained dazed and abuzz with this extraordinary glimpse of India Fairy tale complete with the power of money and Bollywood masala. Outlook, one of the leading Indian news magazine, reported 'Papa, Buy me Eiffel'.
The wedding celebrations were spread over five days at prestigious locations in and around Paris including Jardin des Tuileries and Château de Versailles. Festivities were marked by various events, including a performace by Kylie Minogue and others by Bollywood stars.