Singer K.C. Loy in collaboration with digital video entertainment company Culture Machine, released a music video of an adaptation of popular folk song "Dhangarachi Mendhara" on Maharashtra Day Friday.

Maharashtra Day is celebrated on May 1 to commemorate the formation of the state of Maharashtra and is usually associated with parades, political speeches and ceremonies.

The music for the video has been given by Ram Kadam and the song has been mixed by Smitesh Joshi.

"Breaking boundaries of language with music is what makes our partnership with great talents like K.C. Loy such a success. As a digital video entertainment company, Culture Machine intends to bring talents across regions and genres together," Sameer Pitalwalla, CEO and co-founder, Culture Machine said in a statement.

Loy has been honoured with the Maharashtra State Awards of 2006 for outstanding music composition in the Marathi film "Pak Pak Pakaaak".

Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai was left impressed by the knowledge of yoga guru Baba Ramdev after a long and candid chat with him on a flight.

Ghai, who has helmed entertainers like “Karz” and “Pardes”, took to micro-blogging site Twitter to talk about his meeting with the yoga guru.

“Had 2 hours long good chat with superman baba ram dev ji during flight. Man with 4K company and no money in his a/c (sic),” Ghai posted.

Ghai, whose recent projects like "Yuvvraaj" and "Kaanchi", failed to click with the audience, noted that he has gathered some interesting insights about him.

“A chat with Baba ramdev ji inflight I realised he is ancient believer of Vedic science when there was no religion.”

Actor Jackky Bhagnani, who so far has done films only under his home banner Pooja Entertainment, has now decided to work outside that umbrella.

He feels that when he works in his home production, he can't focus on acting alone, and says that if he works with another banner, he can concentrate solely on his craft.

"After 'Welcome To Karachi', I will try to work outside my home production (Pooja Entertainment) so I can test the waters and get out of my comfort zone.

"If I will work with other directors and producers I will be judged just as an actor as I would be focussing on that part only. But while working in my home productions, I have to look after other stuff as well which sometimes is not fair to me as an actor," he said.

So far, Jackky has worked in films like "Kal Kissne Dekha", "F.A.L.TU", "Rangrezz", "Ajab Gazabb Love" and "Youngistaan" -- all under Pooja Entertainment.

The actor was here on Thursday on the sets of comedy show "Comedy Classes" to promote his film "Welcome To Karachi".

Even "Welcome To Karachi" is also from his home banner. It also features Arshad Warsi and international dancer-actress Lauren Gottlieb.

Jackky says he had decided upon moving away from his banner during the release of his last film "Youngistaan", but then he had to step in for "Welcome To Karachi" as actor Irrfan Khan had left the project.

"I took this decision during 'Youngistaan' as that film gave me the platform where I could prove my mettle to the other producers and directors. But then Irrfan sir left the film ('Welcome To Karachi') at the last minute, so I had to do 'Welcome To Karachi' for my dad...and I had to put on hold my decision," the actor said.

"Welcome To Karachi" is slated to release May 21.

His books have found visual translation in Hindi movies, but author Chetan Bhagat remains unstirred by the glitz and glamour of the tinsel town and says he won't change his style of writing to suit Bollywood's sensibilities.

“I don't want to change my writing style. I want to write books as books. I don't want to change my books because of some film-related reason. I will continue to make my books as they are,” Bhagat told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Most of his books like "The Three Mistakes of My Life", “Five Point Someone” and "2 States: The Story of My Marriage" impressed Bollywood filmmakers enough to turn these into films.

The adaptations have garnered mixed response at the box office. While "3 Idiots", based on "Five Point Someone", and "2 States", inspired by "2 States: The Story of My Marriage", raked in a good business, “Kai Po Che", a take on "The Three Mistakes of My Life", got only tepid response.

"Hello", based on "One Night @ The Call Centre", turned out to be a dud at the boxoffice. Now two films based on "Revolution 2020" and "Half Girlfriend" are in works.

It's often seen that films aren’t able to do justice to the storyline in the book. But Bhagat notes that he “has been lucky” in that case.

“People have liked the films and I feel filmmakers have done justice to the book,” said the IIT-Delhi and IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus.

Talking about the film on “Half Girlfriend”, which is being helmed by Mohit Suri, he said: “We still have to start to work on it. But I have been kept in the loop. Mohit is busy in some other film right now, so the work on that film will start soon. I am co-producing 'Half Girlfriend'. So, I am trying to be more and more involved."

Bhagat, who is currently seen judging reality TV show “Nach Baliye 7”, has tried his hand at screenplay writing for Salman Khan-starrer “Kick”. And he notes that he will take up more such projects if “something different and unique” comes his way.

In an endevour to promote traditional print heritage, ace designer Ritu Kumar presented a capsule collection of re-produced vintage hand-block woven silk saris at an event here on Friday. The range also celebrated the hereditary skills of their Kolkata weavers.

The collection was inspired by the traditional print heritage of the designer herself and comprised of a range of chintz, paisleys and bold florals prints in a lively colour palette including cream, yellow, fuschia, red, turquoise and emerald tones.

One of the highpoint of the collection was craft work done using fabrics such as Murshidabad silk and silk chinnon. The range also highlighted the skills of the Kolkata weavers as the designer believes that they weave ancient designs in originally conceived aesthetics.

Former Miss India World and Bollywood actress Sayali Bhagat was sported flaunting one of the designer's sari with aplomb.

"I am a huge admirer of Ritu Kumar's designs since the time she designed for my National Costume round during Miss India days. I love the fact that she is doing so much to protect our age old crafts and weaving techniques," the actress said during the event.

The traditional and beautiful motifs make silk saris one of more famous and desirable textiles in India and this collection was a reminiscent of the printed saris from Ritu Kumar repertoire in the 1970s and 1980s.

Perfect to be worn for luncheons and day soirees, the price range of the saris starts from Rs.16,000.

Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil drama "Uttama Villain", whose release was delayed by a day on Friday, has hit the screens nationwide on Saturday as the financial issues between its makers and financiers is said to have been sorted out.

"All financial issues have been amicably settled. All theatres will start screening the film latest by noon today," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Apparently, the film's producers Thirrupathi Brothers owed money to a group of financiers. It was also believed they owed Eros International, the distributor of the movie worldwide, nearly Rs.5 crore.

On Friday, barely minutes before early morning shows across Tamil Nadu, the release of the movie was delayed. The cancellation of the shows had left legions of Kamal fans disappointed.

"We started celebrating the release from around 6 a.m. in some theatres yesterday. When the news about the release being delayed broke out, we were devastated. It wasn't the money we were worried about but for the long wait to watch Kamal Haasan's film," Rajesh Kumar, an avid fan of Haasan, told IANS.

The film, which is directed by Ramesh Aravind, is the story of a superstar with and without a mask.

It features an ensemble cast of Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, K. Balachander, K. Vishwanath, M.S. Bhaskar, Parvathy Menon, Urvashi and Jayaram.

Telugu actor Allari Naresh has got engaged to Viroopa here in a a very low-key ceremony.

The engagement took place on Friday.

"It was an arranged alliance. The girl hails from Vijayawada and has completed her education in Chennai. The engagement ceremony was only attended by close friends and families of the bride and groom," a family source told IANS.

The wedding is likely to take place on May 29 in Hyderabad.

Apparently, Naresh plans to throw a lavish part for friends from the Telugu and Tamil film fraternities post marriage.

On the film front, Naresh is currently busy shooting for Telugu comedy "James Bond".

The makers of Tamil superstar Vijay's "Puli" are planning to travel to Cambodia to shoot at the world famous Angkor Wat, the iconic 12th century Vishnu temple.

"We hope to shoot two songs between Vijay, Shruti Haasan and Hansika Motwani. The plan is to stay there for a couple of weeks and finish this important portion," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Originally the makers had planned to go to China to shoot the songs but dropped the idea due to the extremely cold conditions.

Being directed by Chimbu Devan, the film, a fantasy drama, features Vijay in the role of a commander of a kingdom and veteran actress Sridevi as his queen.

The film recently completed its talkie portion in several parts of southern India.

Put your best foot forward in breezy and comfortable crop tops, sun dresses and trendy dungarees to beat the summer heat, suggests singer-actor Monica Dogra.

Here are some fashion tips from Monica:

* Ganji maxi: This summer you need to stay cool and comfortable, while burning the streets by the day. This Ganji-styled maxi look with some boots. This cool and chic- eyeballs would be grabbed for sure.

* Crop tops: Flaunt your midriff in a crop top. You can pair it with shorts, skirts or even palazzo pants. Get one in a neutral colour (white or black) that you can mix and match with your clothes. A crop top is one of the must-have items for summer!

* Sun dresses: With the perfect dash of classy and comfy, these short and cooling sundresses are the perfect wear for every occasion.

* Printed dresses: Be it a beautiful bouquet of florals or a digitised print, a pattern is this summer's top option for rocking a feminine frock. If you like the maxi version, you can team it with a shrug and you’re good to go.

* Breezy dresses: You cannot go through summer without wearing a lot of flowy dresses. These are breezy dresses, preferably in cotton, that allow of easy movement and are super comfortable to wear. They help you to put up with the scorching heat of the summer sun, while ensuring that you look pretty.

* Skirts: Summer is a great time to show skin and not have to worry about layering your clothing. Apart from the hassle of having to slather on sunscreen every few hours, summer is a time for a lot of outdoor activities. A comfy long skirt teamed with a crop top fits just perfectly for every occasion.

* Loose Pants: Harem, dhoti and pallazos -- no matter what you call them, loose-fitting pants are the pair to have for the warm months ahead. Team with a vest or crop top. The fashion-forward look works for a night out (dress them up with heels) or a day around town (flats and a jean jacket tank or a soft jacket).

* Dungaree: Any fashionable woman knows a well-edited wardrobe requires easy-to-wear yet elegant pieces that hit the sweet spot of comfortable and chic. At the cornerstone of this high casual wardrobe is, of course, denim. These dungrees take you back a few years and make you feel all cool and stylish.

* Funky shades: Stop playing it safe and go get yourself a pair of fun and quirky sunglasses. Not only will they up your coolness quotient, they will also look awesome in photographs. The quirkier they are, the better! That means bold colours, whacky shapes and what not.

* Accessorise: Accessories are what it’s all about. Use them to style and personalise your summer looks. Bold-coloured beads on a loose linen dresses. They can take your look from everyday to a unique and stylish you.

* Ripped jeans: Summer must-haves act as the perfect solution to beating the heat while managing to look stylish and trendy at the same time. Ripped jeans are officially the most trending and comfortable item across the globe.

* Sun hat: A sun hat is a sure way to look super cool this summer. It is one of those items that has both fashion and practical value; it protects one’s complexion while making the person look très chic as well. Opt for a smart little hat with a normal brim or go for an outrageously wide-brimmed hat to make a statement.

What makes well-travelled urban Indians, who have freedom and privilege, choose arranged marriages over love?

"What's Love Got To Do With It?" an unscripted micro-budget feature documentary exploring the evolving arranged marriage scenario with humour will have a novel US theatrical on demand release in May through Gathr.

Gathr Films new distribution model allows a film's audience to take action and directly participate in bringing the film to their community, according to a media release.

Theatrical-On-Demand crowd sourced distribution empowers audiences to pull films to their local theatres by aggregating their interest and pre-ordering tickets in advance.

Gathr audiences are passionate, active filmgoers that use the unique power of the film medium to share new ideas and stories with their communities, the release said.

"Rohena Gera's film touches communities all across the country and we feel that Theatrical-On-Demand is essential to engage audiences no matter where they are," said Jay Hogan, Director of Marketing and Outreach.

The film, which premiered to packed houses at the Mumbai Film Festival, is an amusing portrayal of young urban upper class Indians coming to terms with expectations about love, marriage, happiness and tradition.

The individuals featured in the film grapple with decisions about how and whom to marry, at once juggling societal and parental desires with their own.

Other interviews with parents, marriage brokers and matchmakers, paint a larger picture of a changing society in which ideas about matrimony are themselves being transformed and challenged by new values and desires.

I am thrilled to be back in the US where I studied, and more importantly where I learned to ask questions," said Gera with an almost 20 year career in television and film.

"I remember people at Stanford asking me whether I would have an arranged marriage, and at the time I thought it was a ridiculous question, but years later I came back to it... I started to wonder whether people who opted for 'arranged love' had it figured out!"

"I am not a practical person but I could see the logic: marriages are expected to last a lifetime so people think why not base it on factors more measurable than love?" she said.

"What's Love Got To Do With It?" has had several live requests for screenings in New York, California Texas, Connecticut, Maryland as also Philadelphia and Jersey City.

Actor Siddhanth Kapoor, who will be seen vrooming around on a pink scooter in his next film "Bombairiya", met with an accident while shooting for a chase sequence.

But the actor went ahead to complete the scene and says that the incident brought him closer to his reel character.

"Accidents happen on sets all the time, but I didn’t want the schedule to go to waste. The scooter is an extension of my character in the film and this accident has actually managed to forge a real relationship between me and my ride,” Siddhanth said in a statement.

According to a source, Siddhanth, who is playing the role of a courier boy in the film, hurt himself while filming a scene where he had to escape at high speed.

“He managed a stunt on day two of shoot and wanted to give it another go. This time, some loose concrete made the bike slide and part company with the actor,” said a source.

Directed by Pia Sukanya, the film is an ode to Mumbai.

Siddhanth's dedication left Sukanya quite impressed.

“I was scared out of my wits when I saw the accident happen. It was weird how Siddhanth was actually pacifying and telling me that he will be alright when I should have been doing that for him. His energy and dedication is such an asset to the film,” Sukanya said.

The film is being produced by India-born British producer Michael Ward.

Fondly recalling his evergreen films, the eastern metropolis paid homage to Indian master storyteller Satyajit Ray on his 94th birth anniversary on Saturday with reruns of his pathbreaking movies, launch of collectibles and visits to his home.

Netizens hailed him as 'Maharaj' (King) and remembered their favourite moments from Ray's legendary films like "Ghare Baire", "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne", "Sonar Kella" and several others.

At his Bishop Lefroy Road residence in south Kolkata, a steady stream of visitors made floral offerings while his son Sandip recounted anecdotes about the creator of the Apu film trilogy and Feluda series.

"He loved jaggery which was available in winter. And whenever his birthday came on May 2, he used to be disappointed because it was not available in the summer," said Sandip.

Across the city, discussions and meets celebrated the Oscar-winner's numerous talents as a graphic artist, illustrator and music composer.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to salute the auteur.

"Salute you Maharaja," she tweeted.

Leading Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee said Ait was his dream to work with the genius, affectionately known as 'Manik da' by industry insiders.

"Happy Birthday to such a director wrknf wd whom ws always a dream.wshng Manik jethu (uncle)#SatyajitRay a happy birthday love and lots of respect," Prosenjit tweeted.

Thespian Soumitra Chatterjee who made his debut in Ray's "Apur Sansar" in 1959 along with the then 13-year-old school-going Sharmila Tagore, shared his insights into the filmmaker's vision for selecting actors, at an event a day ago.

Amit Kumar, son of singing legend Kishore Kumar, also tweeted to express his feelings. Kishore gave his voice in "Ghare Baire" and "Charulata".

"Many happy returns of the day to #SatyajitRay," Kumar said.

For enthusiasts and collectors, a notebook, titled 'Ray/Short Takes' showcasing some of the iconic posters and booklet covers created by the master, was unveiled.

Singer-musician Shibani Kashyap and Femina Miss India World 2015 Aditi Arya recently unveiled the contemporary and innovative saree collection 'Aura'.

Speaking to IANS, Shibani Kashyap said: "Saree is the best garment for women as delicacy and feminity comes out beautifully in a saree. The saree culture among Indian women is exotic. I think I can set a trend in this."

The fashion label's tagline is 'styled by expert, spun by nature' and the theme of the brand is basically to feel comfortable in whatever one wears and also looks to redefine the way a saree is worn as well as endorsing the idea of wearing a saree the way one wants.

Recently crowned Femina Miss India World 2015 Aditi Arya was the showstopper for the occasion.

The brand has been launched by S.P. Textiles, who have been in the fashion business for three decades.

Its director Yogesh Jain said: "It is a contemporary fashion label and it will be taken on a global platform. We chose Aditi as she is youth icon for women with her Miss India crown. We are experimenting with the online medium but we are convinced that it is the way for the future."

Actress Anisha Singh, who has worked in such Telugu films as "Ayyare" and "Beeruva", is making her Tamil debut with the upcoming film "Koottathil Oruthan".

The film, which went on floors here on May 1, features Ashok Selvan and Priya Anand in lead roles.

"While Ashok and Priya play the lead, Anisha has been roped in for an important role. The makers have been tight-lipped about her role, but it is said to be something different from what she's done before," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

The film, a campus story, is about a student who gets lost between the front and last benchers in a classroom.

Directed by T.J. Gnanavel, the film is being produced by Studio Green.

Their sublime fusion of Indian classical with electronic music has given listeners a new experience with every album. Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj, the pillars of Indian fusion duo MIDIval Punditz, feel the music industry is "definitely not designed to promote artistry" but to "make money".

The men behind the fusion mixes started out in 1997, when electronic music wasn't all that popular in the country. Weaving their way through the music scene, the duo is now one of the most popular electronic music producers here.

"The music industry is definitely not designed to promote artistry; it is designed to make money. That is the inherent problem with the system -- it's too much about money," Raina told IANS in an interview here on the sidelines of a performance as part of The Step Up by Johnnie Walker.

"Everyone feels very happy when good art is made, but what they don't understand is that great art comes from creativity. And if you don't have a system that encourages creativity, then art is just going to die," he added.

But Raina has hope in Indian crowds who, he feels, are open to change and creativity.

He said: "India as a country is very receptive to new art and music. Indians are very intelligent; we have a huge diverse culture, which has only been about creation. Inherently, people are very receptive to change and creativity. That's one thing that I've learnt through my years."

Taking their craft a notch up and reinforcing their signature style with rich folk influences, their fourth studio album "Light", which features a bouquet of musicians such as flautist Pundit Ajay Prasanna, Rajasthani folk stalwart Kutle Khan, Indian classical singer Malini Awasthi, American producer Todd Michaelsen and musician Papon, will be released in India on May 19.

Raina, who forayed into music as a DJ when he was 17, says being exposed to Indian music in his teens made him amalgamate electronic and Indian classical to develop his style.

"I've gone to clubs all my life, listened to a lot of electronic music... but at the same time, I've grown up in India, I grew up listening to songs from 'Silsila', 'Umrao Jaan' and old-school Bollywood music, which I liked a lot. So, classical and electronic music came together in my mind, somehow. That's when this new sound emerged -- Indian classical and electronic, it was a fresh sound.

"Then computers came in and it got easier to make music. So slowly, we learnt how to write music using computers and naturally the Indian part came into our music," he said.

Explaining how the duo ended up with the band's unique name -- MIDIval Punditz, Raj said it was all about a technical term used in music production which is MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).

He said: "MIDI is a technical term that's used in making electronic music, and it was an inherent part of our music. We wanted to use the term 'MIDI' in our name, and since we wanted something that can be ancient and contemporary at the same time, we came up with 'Midival'. Both of us are Brahmins, so it became 'Midival Punditz'."

Raj, whose playlist contains tracks from artists like Karsh Kale, M.I.A, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Metallica, The Prodigy and A.R. Rahman, says he would "love to work with Thom Yorke from Radiohead, M.I.A from Sri Lanka, The Do from France and A.R. Rahman from India".

Superstar Mahesh Babu's next Telugu outing "Brahmotsavam" with filmmaker Srikanth Addala will hit the screens next year during the festival of Sankranti.

"Brahmotsavam" will go on floors on May 30 on the occasion of Mahesh's father's birthday.

"The film will roll from this month-end. We plan to release the film during Sankranti festival next year. This project will be produced by PVP Cinema," Addala told IANS.

Said to be a three-heroine subject, the film will feature Rakul Preet Singh as one of the leading ladies.

The makers are currently on the lookout for other heroines.

This will be the second time Mahesh and Addala will team up after Telugu blockbuster "Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu".

Mahesh is currently busy wrapping up Telugu project "Srimanthudu".

Pakistani actresses like Humaima Malick and Veena Malik Khan have gone uninhibitedly bold on Bollywood screens unlike the male stars from their country. But Lahore-based actor Imran Abbas Naqvi says the actresses have done so only to meet their roles’ demand, and he won’t mind following in their footsteps if it’s “inevitable".

The Hindi film industry has welcomed many artists like Imran, Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar from across the border. While the actresses have not shied away from going bold on the big screen, most actors seem to stay away from it.

When asked whether Pakistani female actors are more bold and experimental, Imran, who made his Bollywood debut with Bipasha Basu-starrer “Creature 3D" (2014), told IANS in an email interaction from Dubai: “Whatever they (actresses) have done was required for their roles and if I’m also required to do so, I will go for it...if it’s too inevitable for my role. This issue is not gender specific.”

The former model says he chooses scripts that let him experiment with his craft.

“I always want to do something which gives me some margin to perform and show my acting prowess. Yes, at times we make wrong choices too, but we are bound to do so as human beings. Be it comedy, romance, action or thriller, I’m open to any type of genre. It all depends on how well crafted my role is,” said Imran, who is filming Muzaffar Ali’s directorial “Jaanisaar”.

He is having a good time working with the "Umrao Jaan" director and the film’s co-star fashion entrepreneur and stylist Pernia Qureshi.

“It’s an experience to work with fashionistas like Pernia and Muzaffar Ali. Pernia has styled me for a couple of events and I have learned how to wear our traditional clothes from Muzaffar Ali,” said Imran, who will sport vintage look in the upcoming Bollywood film.

Asked about his personal style, the actor said: “My personal style is very minimalistic. You will usually find me in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.”

The poetry fan catapulted to fame in his land through small screen and he has no plans to leave the platform.

“I can’t leave my fans. TV is a platform that has given me recognition and fame,” said the “Noor Bano” star.

But Imran wants to continue exploring.

“I believe life is a journey and one should always try to explore new things in life, and acting in Bollywood is not new to me because I have been acting since ages. It’s just that now I have crossed the border and started acting (in Bollywood),” he said.

He is happy with the fact that Indian actors are also working in his country.

“We love to work with Indian actors and singers. Naseeruddin Shah, Nandita Das, Kirron Kher, and many TV actors have been working in Pakistani films and TV serials. Even I’ve worked with many of them," Imran noted.

“Indian singers have also sung songs for Pakistani films, TV and TV commercials. You can watch all Indian top actors in advertisements and commercial campaigns. Come to Pakistan and have a round of any city,” said Imran.

Talk of a change in the Handloom Reservation Act, which has since 1985 protected handloom weaves from being copied by machine-made and powerloom competitors, has got veteran designer Ritu Kumar worried about the plight of millions of India's weavers who are already fighting for their livelihood.

A notable name in the Indian fashion industry, who has focussed her efforts towards resurrecting the handloom industry and craft of local weavers from different regions, Kumar says that any change in the Act may not only impact the lives of over four million weavers but could lead to the death of handloom itself in the country.

"The Act has protected handloom for decades. It has protected yarn and allows our weaver community to thrive. There's a movement to scrap that in favour of powerloom. I am strongly protesting against it," Kumar told IANS in an interview here.

"If they take away the reservation of handloom, it will affect 4.4 million weavers and there won't be handloom left in this country," she added.

It has been speculated that the government plans to amend the Handloom Reservation Act. The news comes against the backdrop of efforts by the powerloom lobby to get parity with the handloom sector, which has called on the government to implement the act.

Asked if the amendment will affect the charm of the weaving process, for which India is known for globally, Kumar said: "More than the romance and charm, what we will lose will be a huge chunk of livelihood."

The designer, who has spent over four decades in the fashion industry and has witnessed the changes in the interests of national and international buyers, also shared how "there is a strong lobbying happening around the country".

As part of her contribution to the weaving sector, Kumar held a sari exhibition in the capital. It saw rare handblock prints from Bengal -- and it's an effort on her part to revive craft from the region and create employment for weavers there.

For the line, Kumar has taken inspiration from former Danish colony of Serampore, which she had explored in mid-1960s when she was a student of art history.

"I couldn't understand why there was no work (for weavers there). Of little samples that I saw, it was so beautiful and I wondered why they had no work. They were painting polka dots for export to America at the same price as synthetic scarves, and it was terrible. I wasn't really a designer of print, but I said, 'Let me try and do something'. I made blocks and asked them to print them on saris.

"It's an old heritage which came back to life. Over the years, we carried the block printing and I also used Bhagalpur silk, which is made from ahimsa silk from that region," Kumar explained.

The designer hopes that with her work she "will be able to give at least that amount of work to those weavers once again with the renewed interest". But awareness needs to be created, she stressed.

"We need to create more awareness about Indian handlooms. More education is required. People hardly know what they are wearing," said Kumar, whose creations have been flaunted by names like Jemima Khan, Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai and even the late Princess Diana.

Kumar's work and involvement with weavers keeps her away from glitzy runway shows, but she's not complaining.

"I am taking some time off to focus on these weavers, but I have not quit. I think Label (son Amrish Kumar's designer label) is doing wonderfully well in maintaining our signature crafts in a modern way."

I.A. Siddique says his Bollywood debut directorial "I Am Mr. Mother" is about a pregnant man, but there is more to it than just pregnancy.

"Male pregnancy has been portrayed on screen, but they were all comedies. My film is a gripping tale of a pregnant man, but the pregnancy is not the only thing about the movie," Siddique told IANS.

"It is a dark, emotional story about pain, anguish, love and sacrifice. My film is an eclectic intense drama performed by intelligent, but eccentric individuals to understand the basic pain behind the process of birth and what women feel. If we feel deeply what women feel, there won't be any kind of violence against women," he added.

The director also stresses that his project is completely original.

"My film is original from first scene to the last. I'm completely confident about my content and that's why I haven't taken a single frame from other movies. There are no Shah Rukh (Khan) and Salman (Khan) in my film so, content is the star for me," he said.

Siddique says the film is "extremely bold and daring".

"I won't deny that my film is extremely bold and daring. No one has ever been so daring and no one will ever dare to attempt such a subject. There are scenes involving sex and drug abuse but they are an integral part of my script and a demand of the plot," he said.

The film is produced by Raju K. Sontakke under the banner Shri Raja Productions and is expected to hit the screens in June this year.

Actress Konkona Sen Sharma's Bengali film "Kadambari" was screened for President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan auditorium here.

The 35-year-old plays Kadambari Devi, who was Rabindranath Tagore's sister-in-law, in the Suman Ghosh's film, which was screened for the President on Friday.

"So honoured to have a screening for 'Kadambari' at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the President," Konkona tweeted on Sunday alongside a link to a song from the film.

"Kadambari", which also stars Parambrata Chatterjee as Tagore, will release on May 8.