Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya

In this episode, we explore Kanu Behl's cinematic world and his journey as a filmmaker who brings raw, unfiltered realism to the screen. From his early days studying filmmaking at Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute to his first Bollywood break working with Dibakar Banerjee as an Assistant Director for the film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! He shares the creative process behind his acclaimed films, we uncover the stories and struggles that shaped his vision including his latest directorial Despatch starring Manoj Bajpayee.Tune in for an inspiring conversation on pushing boundaries in Indian cinema and crafting deeply resonating narratives only on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya! You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries, you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts so that other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Koral has published an eclectic range of books from academic nonfiction to relationship dramas. Her books are discussed from the context of gender studies, art, myth and ecocritical literature.  Other than India, Koral's books are shelved in the libraries of University of Harvard, Columbia University, University of Chicago, and many others. Her fourth book, Summer Holidays, has been optioned for screen adaptation.  She is currently working with Pan Macmillan on the five-book Sati series - a retelling of the stories of the Pancha Kanya from Indian mythology. She conducts writing programmes and critical thinking workshops for educational and corporate floors.  www.tellmeyourstory.biz founded by Koral leverages literature to design and execute extensive learning programmes which inspire social engagement and behavioural change for Inclusion & Diversity.  She is recognised in the list of Innovator25 Asia Pacific 2019 prepared by The Holmes Report, a New York based PR news agency and has been listed under the Women of Wonder (WOW) series in Outlook Business (September 2019). You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Uma Rahul Rele is the Principal of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya which was established by Padma Bhushan Kanak Rele, who is her guru and mother-in-law. Uma was born and brought up in Mumbai. She did her B.A. in Economical Science from Mithibai College, Mumbai. She has also done a doctorate in Bharatanatyam dance. On this GuruPurnima Special Episode, listen to her experiences under the tutelage of Padma Vibhushan late Dr. Kanak Rele, and also her delightful explanation of the Ashta Nayika as she shares her story only on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaay: Diary Of A Dancer You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan, the living legend of Kathakali. With 40 years of teaching experience at Nalanda Nritya Kala Maha Vidyalaya and 25 years in Mohiniattam, he’s a nattuvanar, performer, and award-winning artist. His rhythmic magic has graced prestigious stages across India and beyond. From captivating audiences with Padmabhushan Dr. Kanak Rele’s performances to mentoring students who’ve become Kathakali stars, Gopalakrishnan’s legacy is etched in every mudra. Listen to his experience of growing up learning Kathakali to teaching and performing it on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya: Diary Of A Dancer You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neeraj Churi, founder of Lotus Visual Productions, promotes South Asian LGBTQ+ films worldwide. He produces, screens, and curates film festivals while also mentoring emerging projects. Neeraj's expertise extends to advisory roles and prestigious film market selections, solidifying his impact in the industry. Listen to his experience of raising awareness for the cause through his love for films and filmmaking on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smriti Mundhra started a production company, Meralta Films, that specializes in documentary films and non-fiction content.Mundhra won the Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival for her first feature documentary film A Suitable Girl, along with her co-director Sarita Khurana.In 2020, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for her film St. Louis Superman (2019)Mundhra was born in Los Angeles, California and raised between Los Angeles and Mumbai, India. Her father, Jag Mundhra was also a filmmaker. She is also known for the Netflix series "Indian Matchmaking" and her most recent work which is being appreciated by the entire film industry - The Romantics, that encapsulates 70 years of film history of Yash Raj Films. Listen to Smriti Mundhra share what went behind making such enigmatic documentary series as she chats with Bhawana Somaaya.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The journey that Padma Shri Bhawana Somaaya & Ep.Log Media embarked on 8th Marc, 2019 to share unheard stories about people from the field of art, and business of entertainment completes 100 episodes! Over the past countless minutes of conversations, we have had some of the most memorable experiences. This 100th episode is a trip down memory lane featuring a few of the voices that appeared on the podcast. Featuring: Manish Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha, Paresh Rawal, Ashvini Yardi, Sameer Nair, Arshad Warsi, Daksha Mashruwala, Namita Thapar, and Shobhaa De!   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trained since the age of 7, in the Guru-Shishya Parampara of the Tanjavur style under the tutelage of renowned,  Late Kalaimamani Guru T. K. Mahalingam Pillai, In 1984, Anusree Bonnerjee won the prestigious Singar Mani Award at the “Kal ke Kalakaar”, a national conference of music and dance and has since performed at a number of dance & music conferences including the prestigious  Haridas Sammelan and other programmes  in Mumbai, Mysore, Kolkata, Delhi, Pune. Has been regularly performing Rabindra Nritya (dance form developed in Shanitiniketan by Rabindranath Tagore) from a very early age having performed in numerous ballets under the aegis of Shahana, Tagore Centre for Indian Music and Culture, and other cultural organizations  As Founder & Artistic Director of her dance ensemble Drutam Dance Ideas Lab, she performs regularly for corporates, cultural organizations, and Universities within India and abroad.   Listen to her experience on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sachin is a National Award-Winning filmmaker who studied at The University of Texas at Austin as part of their MFA program in Film & Media Production. His work has been screened at prestigious film festivals such as Hot Docs, Raindance, EnergaCAMERIMAGE, and Krakow. He strives to tell stories that demand an urgent conversation and seeks to engage with people, places, and communities that are slowly disappearing. He aims to affirm their existence through cinema by preserving their lives and memories. Listen to his experience on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta is a writer from Mumbai, India. Her debut book, Rescript Your Life: Awaken The Voice Within You had a powerful message- being unkind to yourself is a form of violence. In the book, she coined the term THECO (The Chosen One), asking her readers to engage in positive self-talk. She followed this up with two biographies; in which her protagonists lived with the  THECO mindset. The first biography, The Stranger in the Mirror, chronicled the life and times of BAFTA nominated Indian producer-director of Rang De Basanti fame, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The second biography, Sanjeev Kumar-The Actor We All Loved has been an Amazon No.1 bestseller since its pre-order announcement in June 2022. Sanjeev Kumar, one of India’s favorite actors, lived rags to riches story which is the stuff of celluloid dreams.A lifelong communications professional, she started her journey as a writer with the Economic Times in 2001. She has been running The Network, a content writing and advocacy firm for almost two decades. In 2020, she finished her six- nation, decadal study called the Red Dot Experiment about how culture impacts communication.Reeta is passionate about promoting the reading habit. She authored a series titled ‘The Celebrity Bookshelf’ for Amazon Kindle in 2021. She writes columns for CNBCTV18 India and Khaleej times UAE to emphasise the importance of reading. Listen to her writing experiences on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astitva is the brainchild of Nirali and Rajeev, who together felt the need for sustainable fashion,  intending to establish a connection with the rural past.  Rajeev, a microbiologist, theatrist and a travel enthusiast, always had a keen interest in discovering our past in heirloom and vintage products. Being a theatre enthusiast, he believes  that theatre has played a strong role in influencing Astitva.  He always felt that there is a pandora of secrets hidden in our local villages, which, if nurtured,  can add value to our lives as well as strengthen the local craftsmen and tribal workers. He felt a  strong urge to create something which is environmentally sustainable and supports the  livelihood of these craftsmen.   Nirali, a Commerce graduate & theatrist, joined the journey of Astitva with a keen sense of  eclectic taste in everything. She has spent long hours with the tribal women and has added a  fashionable touch to the boho and vintage jewellery, bags and clothes. She strongly displays an  inherited form of art and creativity and believes that everything around is full of inspiration.   You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geetha J is a writer, director and producer from Kerala, India. She is known for her writings and distinctive films on women. Her critically acclaimed debut feature fiction is the mesmerizing Malayalam film RUN KALYANI (2019), a poetic and realist drama about duties, dreams and desire. This film has travelled to many international festivals and received nine awards.   On acquiring her own video camera, Geetha made her first independent film Woman with a Video Camera in 2005 from Kerala that had hardly any woman filmmaker then. She received the Göteborg International Film Festival’s Film Development Fund for her first feature script A Certain Slant of Light, about three sisters growing up in 1970s to 1990s Kerala. This was also selected for NFDC’s Directors’ Lab. Geetha is now in development on three scripts that continue to have women as leading characters.    Between 2008 and 2018, Geetha focused on collaborations with multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker Ian McDonald on all his works most notably the internationally acclaimed Grierson-nominated feature documentary Algorithms (2012) about young blind chess players from India and FREEDOM (2017), a four-screen film installation on the radical legacy of Martin Luther King, exhibited in Newcastle, Brighton and London. Their films have screened at film festivals, galleries, academic conferences, campaign-meetings and in cinemas around the world.   Born and brought up in Kerala, Geetha is trained in classical music and dance. She started her professional life as a print journalist, later moving into television and documentaries. She now lives alternatively in Trivandrum & Chennai, India and Newcastle, UK where she lectures at Film@CultureLab. Geetha is a KV product and is fluent in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.  .  You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shefali Shah has never been the kind to take the path that’s got many travelers on it. Her roles have never been conventional, she’s always playing a character that has something to say or leaves an impact. From playing a minor girl’s role in Rangeela to portraying the role of an urban - Indian housewife who cannot find the confidence to leave her broken marriage in Dil Dhadakne Do, Shefali Shah’s performances have been path-breaking. However, her character in International Emmy Win web series ‘Delhi Crime’ as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi was a game changer in more ways than one and it left a resounding effect on the hearts and minds of audiences and critics alike. You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mukesh Chhabra is the driving force behind streamlining the casting process in the Hindi Film Industry. After training for 2 years to understand the craft of acting from Shri Ram Centre, he completed 9 years of acting and teaching stint with the ‘Theatre in Education’ Company (TIE) affiliated with the National School of Drama in India.Mukesh Chhabra Casting Company, founded in 2008, has grown to become the leading casting company in India. With an eye for talent, Mukesh Chhabra has discovered faces like Rajkummar Rao, Sushant Singh Rajput, Mrunal Thakur, Pratik Gandhi, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh. MCCC believes in nurturing new talents to carve a niche in the big bustling world of Hindi Cinema. Today, the biggest directors in the Hindi film industry like Rajkumar Hirani, Nitesh Tiwari, Imtiaz Ali, Kabir Khan, Abhishek Kapoor, Aanand L. Rai, Anurag Kashyap, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K., Anubhav Sinha, Hansal Mehta, Vishal Bhardwaj, A.R. Rahman, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and producers like Sajid Nadiadwala, Karan Johar, Bhushan Kumar, Ekta Kapoor and many more all choose MCCC for their casting needs. In recognition of his outstanding work, he has been made a member of the Casting Association of America (CSA). Listen to Mukesh Chhabra share his kahani on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Umesh is a National Award-Winning filmmaker known for his film ‘The Whistle Blowers’ an investigation into pesticides in soft drinks and bottled water.  He also won Ramnath Goenka Award for excellence in journalism for his film ”Brokering News” which exposed the practice of PAID NEWS in Indian media.  His show on Doordarshan ‘KIRAN’ was adapted into a book ‘Power of One’ by Penguin Publishers. Umesh’s films have been part of various international film festivals across the globe.  He is currently writing & directing RAHMAN MUSIC SHEETS, a series that’s streaming on the YouTube channel o2india The series is celebrating 30 years of AR Rahman in film music and has already featured stalwarts of cinema Listen to Umesh Aggarwal share his kahani on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Namita Thapar is the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Pune with a turnover of 6000 crores ($750 million). It has a presence in 70+ countries and an employee strength of over 10,000.Namita is an MBA graduate from the Fuqua School of Business and a Chartered Accountant from ICAI. She is a recipient of various prestigious corporate awards such as the 40 under Forty award by Economic Times and Top 50 Most Powerful Women in business by Business Today. Outside of work, Namita is passionate about improving women’s health in India and promoting entrepreneurship.Namita has launched a unique YouTube talk show on women’shealth called Uncondition Yourself with Namita. She leads TEA which teaches entrepreneurship and is part of the global Television show Shark Tank India. Listen to Namita Thapar share her kahani on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaditi Pohankar is an actor who has made her mark in the Indian entertainment scene with critically acclaimed projects such as Aashram and SHE. The second season of SHE and the third season of Aashram have just been released which has garnered immense appreciation from audiences and critics alike, making her one of the most sought-after actors on the block. The actor was born and brought up in Mumbai and has worked in Hindi, Marathi and Tamil projects.   Listen to her kahani on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She's a model, an actor, and a reality-tv judge. She has worked for more than 2 decades in both artistic and mainstream movies, and while language have blurred the lines today, Sonali Bendre starred in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and of course Hindi movies. She has flirted with theatre, is a cancer survivor, and is a host of an extremely successful book club. Recently she made her digital debut in the series "Broken News", and judging from the response, there's no looking back for Sonali Bendre. Listen to her kahani on Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many ways to describe Shobhaa De. She's a columnist. author, commentator, publisher, and most importantly a rule-breaker In the 70s, when film stars were revered like deities, she made dust of all of them. Over the decades, she has commented on society, politics, economics, and relationships in a fearless candid way.When she turned an author, all her books turned to best-sellers!But all the glory that came her way, there were certain cliques, and accusations that followed her at every step.Unlike other episodes where we talk about our guests' journeys, Bhawana Somaaya and Shobhaa De chat about busting myths and cliques on this episode of Meri Kahani with Bhawana Somaaya You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hetal Gadhia started as an assistant in her father's office, after that for a very brief time she did costumes for theatre, she even flirted with the idea of being in the gifting business. However, her heart belonged to the kitchen, for the fragrance of the cooked food, because she was the happiest cooking, and serving it to her family and friends. Listen to her kahani of discovering this passion and how she started her very popular home cooking venture- Not A Chef. You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia, For partnerships/queries send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media. If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.