Deepa Mehta.
Deepa Mehta is a transnational, Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director whose work is known for The daughter of a film distributor, Ms Mehta was born and educated in India before immigrating to Canada in 1973.
She is perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed Elemental Trilogy in which she addresses universal themes regarding human conflict. Fire (1996), about two love-deprived sisters-in-law who find solace in each other, was the first of the trilogy to elicit public protest. Encompassing lesbianism and challenging the power imbalance between husbands and wives in contemporary India, the film drew both ire and praise. It won numerous awards at festivals worldwide, although its release in India was highly controversial and caused theatre closings, censorship problems and outrage from Hindu fundamentalists. Earth (1998), which was nominated for three Gemini awards, is a love story set in1947, during India's partition from Pakistan. Based on Bapsi Sidwa's novel Cracking India, it depicts the division of both country and friendships during the largest forced migration in human history. The final installment of the trilogy, Water (2005), told the story of socially marginalized widows in conservative India. The film went through a series of delays as violent protesters issued death threats against the director and destroyed film sets in the holy city of Varanasi, where "widow houses" can still be found.
Water was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for Best Foreign Language Film.
In addition to filmmaking, Deepa Mehta serves on the board of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association; member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto International Film Festival and the provincial Minister's Advisory Council for Arts and Culture. She has also been an instructor at the Summer Institute of Film and Television in Ottawa; a mentor and advisor for The Canadian Film Centre in Toronto; a lecturer and visiting artist at The School of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; and has conducted master classes at Praxis Centre for Screenwriting in Vancouver.
Among her many honours, Deepa Mehta was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2011 by the Women's Executive Network and has received the Excellence in the Arts Award (2011) from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Global Leadership Award (2011) from the Indian International Film Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) from the Pravasi Film Festival Awards and the International Achievement in Excellence in Film Direction (2007) from Women in Film and Television. In November 2011, Deepa Mehta received the Canadian Centre of Diversity’s 2011 Life of Distinction Award. Mehta is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees from international universities.
In May 2012, Deepa Mehta received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
In her latest project, Deepa Mehta is collaborating with Salman Rushdie on an adaptation of Rushdie’s award winning novel, Midnight’s Children. The film will be released in late 2012.
AR Rahman
A two-time winner and five-times nominee of the Academy Award, A. R. Rahman is popularly known as the man who has redefined contemporary Indian music. Rahman, according to a BBC estimate, has sold more than 150 million copies of his work comprising of music from more than 100 film soundtracks and albums across over half a dozen languages.
Apart from joining the super band, SuperHeavy, comprising Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and Dave Stewart, Rahman has collaborated with several other international artistes including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, MIA, Vanessa Mae, the Pussycat Dolls, Sarah Brightman, Dido, Hossam Ramzy, Hans Zimmer and Akon. He remains one of the few mainstream artistes, classical adaptations of whose works have been performed live by the likes of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Babelsberg Film Orchestra and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Arshad Warsi
Arshad Warsi is an Indian actor best known for his role as "Circuit" in the comedy films Munnabhai M.B.B.S.(2003) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006).
He got his first offer to act in Amitabh Bachchan's production company, ABCL's first production Tere Mere Sapne in 1996.
In 2003 he starred in the comedy film Munnabhai MBBS which was a huge box office success and gained him much critical acclaim and a nomination at the Filmafare for Best Actor in a Supporting role. He has since appeared in serveral successful films such as Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), Salaam Namaste (2005), Golmaal, Kabul Express, Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006), the sequel to Munnabhai MBBS which also won him his first Filmfare Award under the category of Best Comedian, He also gave more hit films like Dhamaal (2007), Golmaal Return (2008), and Ishqiya (2010).
He's starring in the upcoming 2013 films of "Golmaal 4" and "Total Dhamaal".
Dr. Ravi Gukathasan
Ravi Gukathasan is CEO and founder of Digital Specialty Chemicals which was started in 1987. Known for creating solutions and partnerships in both new and engineered chemistry, Ravi has led DSC through global expansion and significant financial success. From a 2-person chemical lab, DSC today has operations on 3 continents, has achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 quality standards, and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility includes sophisticated R&D, advanced manufacturing and world-class delivery systems. Ravi is now leading the organization through a transformational change into a triple bottom line corporation: a company where financial results, human development, and environmental sustainability share equal importance.
Michael Rapino
President and Chief Executive Officer (Live Nation Entertainment)
Michael Rapino was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the newly created Live Nation Entertainment in January 2010. He was instrumental in leading the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation to create the #1 live event company in the world. In 2011, Live Nation Entertainment sold nearly 200 million tickets, promoted over 22,000 concerts, partnered with nearly 800 sponsors and averaged almost 27 million unique monthly users of its ecommerce sites.
Prior to the merger, Michael held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation since August 2005. Under Michael’s leadership, the company solidified its position as the world’s largest producer of live concerts with operations in 30 countries and revenues exceeding $5 billion. He transformed the company from a fragmented entertainment company to the #1 live music company in the world.
He holds a bachelor degree in business from Lakehead University.
Kabir Khan
National Award winning director, Kabir Khan’s latest film, Ek Tha Tiger (Yash Raj Films) opened to an unprecedented opening at the Box office in 2012 and went on to become the second highest grossing film of all time in the Indian Film industry. Shot in 5 countries across the globe, the film starred Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.
His previous two films New York (Yash Raj Films) released worldwide June 2009 was met with critical acclaim and Box office success and his first feature film Kabul Express (Yash Raj Films) was shot entirely on locations in Afghanistan. Kabir won the prestigious National Award 2006 for best New Director for Kabul Express. The film premiered at the prestigious Toronto International Film festival 2006 and then went on to the London, Pusan, Dubai, Singapore, Casablanca and Cairo Film festivals.
Prakash Jha
Jha is a multiple award winning independent Film Maker from India. He has won 10 National Awards including two GOLDEN LOTUS awards for the Best Feature Film of the year - 1985 for his film DAMUL - Bonded until Death and for the Best Documentary of the year 2002 for SONAL – a documentary on dancer Sonal Mansingh. Recently he has won the National Award for the Best Screenplay for APAHARAN (2006) and the National Award for the Best Feature Film on Other Social Issues for GANGAAJAL (2004).
Most recently Jha has been felicitated with the 2008 Kostas Kyriazis Award, Greek’s most prestigious Honorary Award for his contribution to human values, understanding and cultural collaboration among fellow human beings.
Sabbas Joseph
One of the founder directors of Wizcraft International Entertainment has been actively involved with media from the beginning of his career.
A master's degree holder in Political Science from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai; Sabbas went on to study Journalism at the Xavier's Institute of Communications, Mumbai. He returned to the institute to teach A/V film making, journalism & held several workshops on script writing for films. He is a former journalist who worked with some of the country's leading publications. As a Director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, Sabbas has spearheaded and managed several mega corporate events for the company.
S. R. PRABHU
Producer at Dream Warrior Pictures
S.R. Prabhu is one of the renowned and successful producers in Tamil cinema today who is conferred with National Award (Joker 2017). Prabhu is a partner in his production houses Dream Warrior Pictures (www.dwp.in) and Potential Studios. He’s also the Treasurer for Tamil Film Producers Council at the helm of affairs during the period 2017 to 2019.
Known for his keen acumen in choosing the right script and crew across genres, Prabhu has to his credit many successful films that are fared well both commercially and acclaimed for its content. As a dynamic producer, his astute understanding of the audience preferences and markets fuels up his success. Prabhu believes that the role of a producer is much more than backing the production financially, but to play a pivotal role in taking the Right Content with the Right Crew to the Right Market at the Right Time. He is a pioneer in OTT markets and early adaptor of Technology in all walks of business.
Few Feathers on his cap are Joker (National Award), Aruvi, Kaithi, Theeran, Raatchasi, Maya and many more. His movies has been conferred with many regional and national awards. So far, he has produced 22 feature films with good box office records.
Uma Da Cunha
da Cunha is a film journalist, writer and researcher. She edited the first complete biography on Satyajit Ray called “Montage – Monograph on Satyajit Ray” published in 1967 in her maiden name, Uma Krupanidhi. This prized monograph is now in the Library of Congress, Washington DC. She has also written a monograph on the documentary film maker, S Chari, which was aimed at raising funds for his bereaved family.
In recent years da Cunha has been the founder-advisor for festivals that are devoted entirely to Indian cinema, such as the River to River Indian Film Festival started in 2001 in Florence and held every December, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) launched in 2002, the Stuttgart Indian Film Festival started in July 2004, the Houston Indian Film Festival launched in September 2009, and more recentlly as the India representative for the Hague Indian Film Festival.
At the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival, da Cunha was a member of the Un Certain Regard International Jury.
Raju Mahalingam
CEO, KITE STUDIOS and former CEO, LYCA PRODUCTIONS, INDIA
Raju is the owner of the Tamil film production company "KITE STUDIOS" based in Chennai, India.
In 2002, he produced his first Tamil film " BALA" starring SHAAM AND MIRA JASMIN. His second Tamil film "PIRIVOM SANDHIPPOM " starring CHERAN and SNEHA was produced in 2006.
In 2014 he joined as the Creative Head & CEO of LYCA PRODUCTIONS. A prominent production and distribution film studio which has produced and distributed many major blockbuster movies under its banner. Almost all the films produced and distributed under his stewardship at LYCA were Block busters and super duper Hits .
The crown of his achievements is the recently released and most successful production of Indian film 2.O starring Super Star Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar - the biggest budget film ever made in the Indian Film Industry