New dance comedy show Break The Floorboards touring

Break the FloorboardFrom 3rd May to 22nd June, Break The Floorboards, a brand new comedy dance drama from Rifco Arts will be touring the UK. The drama fuses Bollywood and Street dancing, and tells the story of a teenaged boy called Zain who wants to be a dancer, but must overcome many obstacles before he can achieve his dream. The things holding him back include a disapproving family, peer pressure, two left feet and an impending fascist march. But luckily, a chance meeting with a young dancer called Sophie who helps him on his journey, gives him hope that maybe he can achieve his Bollywood dream afterall.

Daniel Uppal, star of BBC One’s DanceX, Thriller Live and a number of mainstream music videos, will play Zain. Nathan Clarke will be playing Adil, Zain’s disgruntled older brother, and the character of Sophie will be played by Carrie Baxter.

Break The Floorboards is being directed by Pravesh Kumar, Artistic Director of Rifco Arts and the talent behind their numerous hit shows (Britain’s Got Bhangra, The Deranged Marriage, Where’s My Desi Soulmate?). It’s written by broadcaster, journalist, writer and performer Yasmeen Khan. The production is choreographed by Andy Kumar (Rifco Arts Creative Associate and Bollywood film Choreographer) and Associate Choreographer Maria Swainson(Flashdance the Musical, Daddy Cool, Emeli Sande, Labrinth, The Saturdays). The set design has been done by Libby Watson (A Fine Bright Day Today, The Deranged Marriage) with lighting design by Mark Dymock. The composer is Sumeet Chopra who composed the popular score for Britain’s Got Bhangra.

The dates and venues of the tour are:

Watford Palace Theatre 3 – 11 May

Warwick Arts Centre 21 – 25 May

Oxford Playhouse 30 May – 1 June

Oldham Coliseum Theatre 4 – 8 June

Key Theatre, Peterborough 11 – 15 June

Theatre Royal Windsor 18 – 22 June

Watch the video below to take a peak behind the scenes of Break The Floorboards, hear the cast and crew talking about the show, and see some of the preparations and rehearsals in action.

 

For more information on how to book, go to www.rifcoarts.com.

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Bollywood star Mika Singh to play at Wembley

dhamakaBollywood star Mika Singh has announced he will be playing at Wembley Arena later on this year in his UK debut.

Bollywood singer-songwriter king Mika will be the headline act at this year’s Dhamaka concert, the UK’s annual Bollywood and Bhangra concert, which is organised by Flex FX. Mika will be supported by Bollywood dance group Bolly Flex, who found fame on Sky1’s dance competition show, Got To Dance.

Naz Choudhury, from Flex FX, said: “We are really excited to bring Mika Singh to the UK and really happy this will be his exclusive debut, he is a powerhouse performer and deserves a solo stage and I’m really excited to host him.
“This show will be dedicated to a fusion between Bhangra culture and Bollywood music, so expect a range of supporting dhol acts and Bhangra dancers, Bolly Flex will be performing with Mika throughout the show to bring to life the signature dance moves.”

He will also be embarking on his first ever UK tour, starting in June 2013. His song for various Bollywood blockbuster soundtracks include Singh Is King, Pungi and Chinta Ta Chita.

Mika’s concert follows Dhamaka 2012, which was headlined by Atif Aslam, as well as the recent series of Bollywood Showstoppers concerts in London and Birmingham.

Choudhury added: “This is the first time we are doing a Punjabi-style concert, so we will go all out on the experience to give the audiences the taste of Punjab.”

“For that it doesn’t get bigger than Mika. He has single-handedly sold out and blown away audiences worldwide with his range of super hit songs.”

Watch Mika Singh’s official promo video below:

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DJ H cuts the ribbon at the first Spice 2 Go store launch

Bhangra and Bollywood music were brought to life when Spice 2 Go launched its first store in Swansea on Wednesday 20th of February. As the UK’s first Indian fast food chain, Spice 2 Go spares no detail when it comes to creating those delicious curries – or the launch day entertainment for that matter!

Celebrating all that is Indian, Spice 2 Go lit up the streets of Swansea with foot-tapping bhangra music, authentic Indian drum playing and the moves to match with Bollywood dancers brought in exclusively from London for the event. The colourful costumes of the entertainers coupled with the vibrant decor of the Spice 2 Go store itself was an attractive sight that brought in passers-by who were curious to find out more about the brand. The Spice 2 Go staff were stationed outside the store, busy handing free tasters and discount vouchers to Swansea residents who walked past the store.

Swansea University student Yushi was one of the many who sampled the Spice 2 Go range of curries. He said: “The food is really good. I’m glad I was walking this way! I’m a really big curry fan as well and the branding of the store stood out. It caught my eye, that’s for sure.”

Another satisfied customer was Cal who is a negotiator for an estate agency: “I order Indian a lot, and nothing ever tastes the same. With Spice 2 Go, I think the food is brilliant. Better than I expected to be honest.”

And the entertainment for the launch event was no less attractive. With an Indian musical and dance show bringing Swansea’s Dillwyn Street to life, the Spice 2 Go launch day festivities brought in customers from across the city who were keen to be part of the curry revolution. Guests also had the opportunity to have their photo taken in an exclusive Spice 2 Go photo booth – complete with quirky costumes and accessories to create memorable photos!

The store was inaugurated by popular Brit-Asian music producer/dj DJ H who was the star of the event. Known for such hits like ‘Aaja Aaja’, ‘Mar Javan’, ‘Jawani’ and ‘Char Panj’, the presence of DJ H was another feather to Spice 2 Go’s already expanding cap. Having tasted the curries himself, the DJ was full of praises: “This is an Indian takeaway with a difference! With this launch, Spice 2 Go has managed to bring the essence of Indian culture to the forefront – not just with the Bollywood dancing and the dhol (Indian drums) playing but also with the colours and the excitement that it has created is a true reflection of our culture and festivities. Even the Spice 2 Go logo with its reds, oranges and greens is what Indian food and culture is all about. It’s very colourful.”

Interested bystanders were caught up in the Spice 2 Go launch day extravaganza as many took to the dance floors themselves in tune with the bhangra music. It was a different day in the life of Swansea as never before had an Indian takeaway created such media hype before it even opened its doors!

Before long, the orders were pouring in as the fully-trained Spice 2 Go staff worked in unison to serve orders and deliveries in record time and truly living up to its reputation as an Indian fast food chain. While the entertainment ended by 5pm, Swansea’s appetite for Spice 2 Go was only getting started as the orders continued into the night until the store closed business for the first day at 11pm.

Despite the fact that the launch day activities are over, the Spice 2 Go journey has only just begun. As the UK’s first Indian fast food chain, Spice 2 Go is on a mission to redefine the Indian takeaway experience with sleek stores, trained staff, vibrant branding, exciting uniforms and exclusive Spice 2 Go delivery vehicles to make sure that orders reach customers in a quick and efficient manner. The company is also the first to have introduced a dedicated Online Ordering System that allows customers to track their previous orders and take advantage of special online deals. Similarly, Spice 2 Go can also access customers’ previous order histories linked to their phones when they call the store to place their orders, thus allowing for a more customised service.

Having done away with plastic carrier bags and introduced paper carrier boxes for their curries, the Spice 2 Go curry revolution has only just begun. With another store in Swansea’s Neath Road to open soon and a third planned for Cardiff in the next few months, expect to find a Spice 2 Go near you very soon!

Spice 2 Go is located at 11 Dillwyn Street, Swansea SA1 4AQ and is open from 11am – 11pm.

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Talking Bunty releases on iTunes to rave reviews

The world’s first Indian talking phone app, Talking Bunty, has launched amid much frenzy as fans rush to download the app and try out its features for themselves. Talking Bunty is a revolutionary product in that it is the industry’s biggest Asian app and provides users with a quirky and fun service that promises to be entertaining for all.

Available on the iOS App store, Talking Bunty is an interactive app that allows users to generate speech in an Indian accent along with the ability to make Bunty, the character of the app, perform a variety of comical stunts. This new mobile application has been praised by users from the Asian community across the world for being the first app that is directly complimentary to their culture and roots.

Talking Bunty has been produced in partnership with The Sound Pipe Media and Midnight Apps and is available on the iOS platform to iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 users. The makers of this app have targeted markets in the UK, USA, Canada and India although they strongly believe that the app will find popularity amongst markets across the world.

Talking Bunty will soon be available to download from Android app stores.

The developers behind Talking Bunty have a string of successful apps to their name including Tumbi Nut and Dhol Nut both of which featured prominently in the paid-for music app charts in the UK and in India.

It is only a matter of time before Talking Bunty finds its place in the top ten paid-for music applications charts but in the meantime you can download and enjoy all that Talking Bunty has to offer from the iTunes store.

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Honey Singh says, “Don’t use me as an excuse”

Honey Singh, one of bhangra music’s most iconic stars, has spoken out against the recent uproar caused over offensive lyrics of some of his songs that led to a scheduled show being cancelled in Gurgaon in the aftermath of the brutal gang rape that took place in India’s capital city, Delhi.

The Punjabi rapper was forced to cancel his New Year’s Eve show scheduled in Gurgaon following public outrage over certain lyrics to his songs that have been termed offensive towards women. With an online campaign underway against the rapper, activists have also lodged an FIR against him in Lucknow on Monday.

The Delhi gang rape that led to the death of the 23-year-old victim has raised the issue of increasing violence against women in this South Asian country and placed India in the international spotlight. Responding to the allegations, Honey Singh said: “Before you blame me, blame the government for not taking action against the rapists in the first place! Don’t use me as an excuse.

“#HoneySinghIsInnocent – trend if you’re with me! I’ve admitted that my past was a wrong choice, but now I deliver completely different music.”

Mr Singh’s manager, Anup Kumar, has denied claims that the Gurgaon show was cancelled due to the outrage caused over the singer’s offensive lyrics and instead stated that the cancellation was an act of solidarity for the Delhi gang rape victim.

He told Indian news agency PTI: “We did not cancel the show because of this petition and FIR. We cancelled it in the wake of Delhi gang rape issue. This is not the first concert we are cancelling in Delhi after that horrific incident. We had also cancelled our much publicised December 25 event.”

However, the hotel itself has refuted such claims. The Bristol Hotel in Gurgaon where Mr Singh’s show was scheduled to be held has maintained that the event was cancelled due to the mounting agitation over the star’s offensive lyrics. The hotel has also stated that the cancellation was a decision by the management and not by Mr Singh.

Mr Singh has released a public notice that claims that he is not the author of the lyrics and has threatened legal action against media outlets playing the videos/songs: “Honey Singh wishes to clarify through this notice that he has no connection whatsoever with the said songs. My client has already written to various digital platforms to immediately take down the video/songs and is also considering appropriate legal action for defamation, loss of reputation and violation of privacy”.

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New Indian fast food franchise, Spice 2 Go to create 30 jobs in Swansea

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30 new jobs in Swansea have recently been announced by Spice 2 Go.

Spice 2 Go is the UK’s first Indian fast food chain providing customers with a fresh new take on the curry! Starting with its flagship store in Swansea Bay, Spice 2 Go will redefine the Indian takeaway industry with consistently high quality Indian dishes prepared to fine ingredients and expert menus. Spice 2 Go Swansea Bay store will boast sleek interiors and professional staff trained in delivering excellent customer service so your Indian fast food experience is unlike any other.

Spice 2 Go Swansea Bay will not only serve mouthwatering dishes for eat-in and collection in store but will also provide customers with an efficient home delivery system. Customers can order their favourite Spice 2 Go dishes from an user-friendly online ordering system with home delivery orders being brought to your door by uniformed staff in branded Spice 2 Go vehicles.

Get ready to experience the curry like never before! With Spice 2 Go Swansea Bay, customers can count on high quality and delicious curry at home or in store.

Useful links:
Spice 2 Go website
Spice 2 Go Swansea facebook page
apply for a job at Spice 2 Go

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Rating: 10.0/10 (7 votes cast)

Hard Kaur releases second solo album P.L.A.Y

Indian hip hop queen Hard Kaur has released her latest single ‘Mujhey Peene Do’ along with the launch of her second album ‘P.L.A.Y – Party Loud All Year’ with record label Sony Music Entertainment. The long-awaited album was launched by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on the sets of TV programme Bigg Boss as part of the elimination episode to be aired on Indian television screens today.

After 35 chart busting hits spanning four years, Hard Kaur is not only India’s first female rapper but one of the world’s most successful musical talents in the bhangra and Punjabi music genre. Hard Kaur’s second album ‘P.L.A.Y – Party Loud All Year’ follows a five year hiatus since the launch of her first album ‘Supawoman’. Her new solo album features collaborations with musical sensations Mika, Lehmber Hussainpuri, Apeksha Dandekar and Eminem’s Band D12.

P.L.A.Y comprises 10 fresh singles that effortlessly blend Bollywood beats with hip hop and is an out and out party album. The first single ‘Mujhey Peene Do’ has already received rave reviews for its energetic and foot-tapping tunes and will be followed by the tracks ‘Boyfriend’, ‘Hello Baby’, and the exclusive track ‘Desi Dance’ featuring Eminem’s Band D12.

Hard Kaur is excited for the launch of her second album. The rap queen says: “I am happy to be back after a break of 5 years and I have been itching for a while to release my songs. I am glad to be back releasing my second album. I’ve been working on so many other projects, film, fashion, TV but finally had a chance to finish my own album this year. It’s out now and I can’t wait to hear what my fans think of it. It’s still true to the ‘hip hop meets Hindi pop’ vibe and it’s meant to keep you on the dance floors! This is my celebration album!”

P.L.A.Y promises to bring the dance floors to life with its sensational beats and swooning music. The album will be available on both digital and physical platforms; fans can download the album onto their smartphones from iTunes or purchase a CD to play on their music systems.

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RDB win award for pioneering Urban-Asian music at the Lebara UK Asian Music Awards

British Asian music group RDB have been awarded for their contribution to the UK Asian Music Scene at the Lebara UK Asian Music Awards (AMA) on 25 October 2012. The popular band are recognised for pioneering Urban-Asian music and the award adds another feather to the success of RDB.

The AMAs set the benchmark in the UK music industry for recognising and honouring musical talent. RDB scooping the award in the prestigious ‘Commitment to the Scene’ category at Wembley Arena in London is a powerful testament to the dedication and talent that this group demonstrates. RDB have been recognised for their driven attitude to enhance Urban-Bhangra music and bring it to the forefront of mainstream UK and international music. The awards at Thursday’s event further solidifies the band’s dedication to the cause.

RDB also won the Best Desi Act Award which was decided by public voting.

RDB’s Surj and Manj said on winning the awards: “We are really elated to have received these awards! It means a lot that our music has been recognised, not only by our loyal fans around the world and in the UK, but also by the British-Asian music industry which we shall always be a part of.

“RDB started out over a decade ago as the dream of three Bradford brothers. Today, we feel blessed to still be doing what we love and to be working with such amazing people. We are truly honoured to have written, produced and sung with some truly talented musicians.

“RDB is here to stay and will continue to go from strength to strength and this is only due to the support and well-wishes from our fans worldwide. We dedicate our awards to you all.”

The Bradford-based Punjabi band was formed in 2000 with Sikh brothers Manj, Kuly and Surj. RDB is now led by Manj and Surj after Kuly passed away in May this year. The band have performed with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Public Enemy and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar.

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Spice 2 Go to introduce bhangra music for in-store operations

Britain’s first Indian fast food chain, Spice 2 Go, is already creating a media storm even before its first store has opened its doors! Recently, Spice 2 Go executives have announced a brand new concept to promote staff productivity within an enjoyable work climate – when staff performance exceeds the company targets, Spice 2 Go stores will be filled with fun-filled bhangra music to celebrate staff efficiency.

This is an innovative way to incentivise staff and make them feel rewarded and the decision to include this process in stores have been met with appreciation from the franchise community. Spice 2 Go will unveil a unique bhangra music library exclusive to Spice 2 Go stores which will be the foundation for this exciting staff performance booster.

To explain this company policy further, when Spice 2 Go staff overachieve on their targets, an automated system will blare bhangra music across the stores. This is a moment for staff to let loose and enjoy with a few authentic bhangra dance moves – surely an entertaining treat for the customers!

This is just another unique and distinctly different move by Spice 2 Go who are already creating waves with their revolutionary franchise product. As the pioneers of Britain’s first Indian fast food chain, Spice 2 Go stores across the country will offer Indian cuisine enthusiasts the opportunity to tuck into a mouth-watering curry in one of the swanky stores or make use of takeaway collection. Spice 2 Go curries will also also available for home delivery – while you relax in your house, you can now access a lip smacking curry delivered to your door by uniformed staff in Spice 2 Go branded vehicles!

As Spice 2 Go prepares to launch its first store, Britain’s curry-loving population is eagerly awaiting this unique concept that will transform the Indian takeaway experience in the UK. Say goodbye to substandard curries and get ready to taste consistently good curries across the UK from Spice 2 Go stores.

You can find out more about Spice 2 Go on www.spice2go.com

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Interview with Akshay Kumar, star of ‘OMG Oh My God’

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has a number of successful films to his name that have gone on to create box office history. In his many years as a leading Bollywood actor, Akshay has portrayed many roles – from a police officer to gangster to a family man. In his most recent venuture, Akshay takes on his greatest acting challenge till date – portraying the character of a modern, philosophical and witty version of the Indian God, Lord Krishna, in the upcoming Bollywood blockbuster OMG Oh My God.

Produced by Grazing Goat Pictures, OMG Oh My God will see Akshay move effortlessly between two roles, that of an actor and of a producer.

Ahead of the release of OMG Oh My God, Akshay talks about his own relationship with God, his appreciation of different religions, his decision to produce the film and the challenges he faced portraying Lord Krishna.

How would you explain your equation with God?

My equation with God like many is purely on a respectful and extremely humble level. I respect all decisions made under ‘Gods’ roof, I do not argue with ‘God’’, I only argue with some people that mistreat Gods’ creation and existence on this planet. For example: When did God ever say you had to pay to believe? After making this film, in all honesty I have changed my perception of how I worship God. For me ‘God’ is everywhere, why am I paying Lakhs for me and my family to fly to India’s most prestigious religious places in the hope God will acknowledge my love and devotion more. If God really is who I believe he is, then why am I paying to worship him when I can give that money to helpless children? I would feel 10 times closer to his heart than I would by spending the money on him, hopelessly! Remember, what does Mandir in Hindi really mean? ‘Man’ means inside, ‘Dir’ means heart, God is inside me always, my heart is where my temple is…

Please remember this is just my views, I’m not preaching, it’s just an example of the characteristics you will find in this beautiful comedy I call ‘OMG’.

 Since you go to temples as well as Gurudwaras, besides visiting a mosque in Muscat recently, is it more about the faith than just the religion for you?

For me it is absolutely all about the faith rather than the religion. Remember I’m in love with ‘God’, not the people who speak for him. I purely respect them for their devoted nature. I visit all kinds of religious temples, churches, mosques, Gurudwaras, rocks, caves and cliffs all over the world in search of enlightenment, but really I’m just fascinated by our need to prove our devotion. For me, the best thing I love about all these places is, when I go to visit I do feel pure, pure because I know I’m safe, surrounded by people who have come to pray and not to fight. I get to sit down quietly and take in the faithful beauty around me, but my all time favourite place to pray, is at the bottom of my garden, sitting on my wall, looking out at God’s gracious sea, with my family sleeping peacefully behind me. That is when I feel God’s love and protection the most – that is when I feel I’m a good, happy devoted human being. The rest of my time I try to spend helping those less fortunate than myself, to make up for all the time I cannot devote to God’ himself…

 Has there been any time/s or phase in life when you lost trust or came close to losing trust in God?

Never… Not even when my father died! My losing faith in God would be my weakness, not his… That is what I love so dearly about my country, even the saddest, most lonely starving person will feed his God before he feeds himself or herself. It’s not about what God gives us, who’s lucky, or who’s had it the hardest. In India, no-one gives up their Faith because of circumstance, and that, my friends, is what makes India so special. We put faith before ourselves, which is why we have the most loved country in the world. People’s hearts can never leave India only their bodies leave…

 Have there been ‘Oh My God’ moments in your life? If yes, please explain some.

Many! Passing exams. Never having my nose broken when I took up karate. Completing seven Khiladi movies (about to be 8) with my life intact. Marrying the woman of my dreams ‘OMG’ ;o) Being a father when I still see myself trying to be the best son. Making a film on ‘man vs God, Oh My God I can see my father’s face now, he’d love it with all his heart. There are ‘OMG’ moments everyday in all of our lives – it’s whether you acknowledge them, that is the beauty…

You play Bhagwan/Lord Krishna (God) in OMG: Oh My God. What prompted you to take on such a role?

This is my first film under my new production company ‘Grazing Goat’, so the meaning behind this film is more than most can imagine. Probably because this is one film I would be so proud to show my father. Despite the fact that the script is extremely close to both mine and Pareshji’s heart, it truly is a beautiful, once in ‘my life time’, screen play. Everyone involved wanted me to play this role, to be honest I would never dream of portraying a ‘God’ of any kind, anyone that knows me understands my humble shyness to play such an almighty character or in this case, India’s almighty Lord Krishna. But when you have a vision (and a good shove from Pareshji himself) you just can’t turn your back on such an opportunity out of fear of being judged by ‘some’ negative parties in this world. This film has opened my eyes and my heart more than I thought possible, as an actor and as a devotee to God…

 What was the toughest part about playing Lord Krishna?

The toughest part is living up to the nation’s expectations and perceptions. What my vision might be is someone else’s opinion, so to be true to my vision and respectful to the rest of the world’s lifetime of worshipping, is not an easy task. But really all I had to do was release myself from all negative and impure thoughts and actions, and just be the very being of what I have been praying to for all my

years. Was it easy?! No! Was it extraordinary? very much so!

 Keeping in mind the theme of the film, if you could play God for a day. What would you do during that day, and whom would you meet and bless with your presence. Anything you would do in this current life if you could play God?

It’s a tough question to ask, yet easy if you answer what one should obviously answer. Of course I would want to ‘heal the world, end all war, crime, poverty, starvation and disease’. But would that really be blessing the world, or would mankind come up with something else to destroy our sacred planet! On a more realistic note, I think all Gods just want people to feel that God is in everyone’s heart, let every single individual feel God’s hand on their shoulder. Rather than changing what God has already provided us, I would just want people to understand this is not our planet to misuse, we are all here on a rental basis, we’re born, we pay our way, we worship our God in thanks of our life, and then we pass away. I would want everyone to remember that we all come from the same place, the sooner we unite, the sooner practically all problems the world over will be solved… But that’s just me!

 How would you classify this film and why should we watch it?

It’s a people’s film – it’s educational, spiritual, eye-opening and it will be life changing for some people. The whole experience was for me. See it’s a film with a message, but the message will be different for different people. You walk out of this film either enlightened, confused, or opinionated. I can imagine many coming out wanting to have a full-blown discussion about how the film made them feel. It’s an intriguing journey into the life of religion and how people use religion in India. But it’s all in good taste, sorry faith ;o).

 Despite being the son-in-law of the first superstar of the country, the late Rajesh Khanna, you never really spoke about it. Only recently has the close relationship between the two of you become known to people. Could you share some memories that you cherish with him?

You will never really hear about any relationship I share with anyone, especially a family member. Remember I was his son-in-law, but I was a struggling actor. I never wanted either him or any of the people thinking I would ever dream of reaping any form of success off my father-in-law’s stardom. We kept our respect and admiration for each other very personal and very quiet, exactly how it should have been. People may only be seeing it now, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.

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Rating: 9.6/10 (5 votes cast)