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The Communiqué News

Rasika Dugal receives the SAFA Award at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2023.

  • 2 min read

Mumbai [India], September 27, 2023: Rasika Dugal, who is making waves internationally with her work, got a special award at The Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2023 (CSAFF) for her portrayal in 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli'.


Pritish Bagdi

A global platform showcasing South Asian culture, talent, and viewpoints via cinema, art, and discussions, The CSAFF honored Rasika Dugal with a special honor for her notable contribution to 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli'. She received the renowned SAFA Award while there, confirming her caliber as an artist.

Rasika Dugal's communiqué on receiving the award, "It's really an honor to be here today. The last time I came to Chicago was 12 years ago for the Chicago International Film Festival with a very independent film that we had shot over weekends or whenever we had money. It was the first time at that festival that my work was reviewed by critics. Fortunately, the reviews were glorious😀 and just reading those words about my work was so encouraging. So yes, Chicago has been very kind to me. I feel very fortunate that 12 years later, I am here again in the city for another festival with another independent film. I’m very proud that in my journey as an actor, I get to continue to do films that bring me here while also getting opportunities to do more mainstream work that actors like me now have access to (thanks to the streaming services). It is because of festivals like these, that artists like me are encouraged. Thank you to CSAFF for their curation and for respecting and nurturing our work”

'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli' is a black comedic thriller that has captivated audiences and garnered critical accolades on the festival circuit. It takes readers on an intriguing journey through the Asian diaspora in the United Kingdom, delving into topics of identity and gender within the context of an engrossing mystery. 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli' has been picked as the closing night film for the Chicago South Asian International Film Festival.



What is the SAFA award?

South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) was founded in 1984 to serve the accounting profession in the South Asian region and to maintain its prominence in the accounting world




Shekhar Kapur wins Best Director at the British National Awards for 'What's Love Got To Do With It"

  • 1 min read

Ace filmmaker Shekhar Kapur earned the award for 'What's Love Got To Do With It' at the British National Awards.


Pritish Bagdi

Shekhar Kapur

Shekhar Kapur shared a post on his Instagram saying, "Thank you @nationalfilmawards for this very unexpected honor. But this award really belongs to 'Team What's Love.' For a director is merely a sum total of his/her team."

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith wrote the screenplay for the film. Emma, an actress, also appears in the film.

In this film, Shabana co-starred with British actor Lily James and Pakistani actor Sajal Aly. The film premiered last year at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, where it got two standing ovations. Shabana, Lily, and Sajal attended the premiere and wowed the crowd.

The director's film was released in the United Kingdom, the United States, and India, and it garnered worldwide acclaim. The film won four of the nine categories in which it was nominated at the British National Awards earlier this week: best director, best British picture, best script, and best supporting actor.

Shekhar Kapoor Picture is now working on a sequel to his directorial debut, "Masoom." The movie is called 'Masoom... The New Generation.'
















Gita Press, Gorakhpur, will get the 2021 Gandhi Peace Prize

  • 2 min read

18 June 2023: A jury headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recognises the institution's 100-year history of advancing Gandhian principles of societal harmony and peace.

In 1995, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth, the Government of India established the Gandhi Peace Prize as a yearly honor in his memory. Everyone is eligible for the award, regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnicity, language, caste, or faith.

One crore rupees (Rs.1,000,000), a citation, a plaque, and a priceless traditional handicraft or item are included with the award.

The past awardees include organizations such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India, and Sulabh International, New Delhi. It has also been awarded to luminaries like the Late Dr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, Dr. Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka, Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, Baba Amte, Dr. John Hume, Ireland, Mr. Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Shri Yohei Sasakawa, Japan.

Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.

The Jury headed by, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, after due deliberations on 18th June 2023 unanimously decided to select Gita Press, Gorakhpur as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards political, social and economic political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organizations, strives for the betterment of life and the well-being of all.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press, in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of the Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service.

Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, recognizes the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to the collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in the true sense.



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