Author: Lavina Melwani

Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist who writes for several international publications. Twitter@lavinamelwani & @lassiwithlavina Sign up for the free newsletter to get your dose of Lassi!

NYIFF –  The Stories of Our Lives on the Big Screen Cinema, Cinema and Bollywood Stars too! Missing the joy of endless cinema, conversations about films and brushing shoulders with stars, directors and film people? You’re in luck – the much loved and anticipated New York Indian Film Festival is happening right now! This is an annual feature as welcome as Spring and outdoor dining in New York! So get yourself to Angelika Theater to see some really thought-provoking cinema curated by Aseem Chhabra, director of NYIFF, and his team. For those used to streaming movies, this is a real…

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What was special this year was that for the first time India has a president from the tribal community ( she is the second woman president in India – Pratibha Patil was the first) and Rashtrapati Bhavan is her home. Prebsident Droupadi Murmu renamed the gardens, which were created by the British in 1929, as ‘Amrit Udyan’ meaning ‘Garden of the Holy Nectar’.

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Naatu Naatu wins an Oscar – and a live performance on the Academy stage! RRR was by far my most favorite movie this year from India – and I think it deserved to win a few more Oscars! I have seen it so many times and I never tire of it.  However it was a thrill to see that ‘Naatu Naatu’ won the Oscar for best original song for M.M. Keeravni and Chandrabose and it was performed live on the stage at the Oscars. It was choreographed by Prem Rakshith. There was another secret Indian factor –  you remember our…

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