Shahid teased fans with the caption, “Teaser dropping BLOODY soon,” adding to the excitement around the movie’s release. Alongside Shahid, ‘Bloody Daddy’ stars Ronit Roy, Sanjay Kapoor, Diana Penty, and Vivan Bhatena in pivotal roles.

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A post shared by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor)

Fans are thrilled with Shahid’s new look and have flooded the comment section on social media with fire emoticons. Some fans have even compared his look to John Wick, with one fan commenting, “John wick from Flipkart!” However, others have expressed hopes that the movie won’t be a copy of the popular John Wick franchise, with a fan commenting, “Bloody daddy john wick ki copy na ho bss…” (Also Read: ‘No revealing clothes for women’: Palak Tiwari reveals Salman Khan’s rule on film sets)

Shahid Kapoor’s last project was the Raj and DK helmed thriller web series, ‘Farzi’, which marked the actor’s digital debut. Alongside Shahid, the series starred Vijay Sethupathi, Raashii Khanna, Kay Kay Menon, Bhuvan Arora, Regina Cassandra, and Amol Palekar in pivotal roles. The crime thriller streamed exclusively on Prime Video and received high praise from audiences and critics alike.

‘Bloody Daddy’ is set to release in theaters soon and fans can’t wait to see Shahid in his new action-packed role.

The post Shahid Kapoor’s first look in ‘Bloody Daddy’ has fans excited appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

In a recent interview, Palak revealed that Salman had a specific rule on his film sets regarding the attire of female cast and crew members. According to her, no woman on his set should wear clothes with low necklines or revealing outfits. Salman believes in the traditional Indian values of protecting and respecting women and wants to ensure the safety of everyone on his set.

Palak further shared that whenever she would dress up in a proper shirt and joggers to go to Salman’s set, her mother, Shweta Tiwari, would be surprised and ask her where she was going. When Palak told her mother she was going to Salman’s set, she was impressed and happy for her.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra makes her British Vogue cover debut

“Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan” also stars Pooja Hegde opposite Salman and features popular South Indian actors Venkatesh and Shehnaz Gill in supporting roles. The film is set to release on April 21, Eid-ul-Fitr.

Palak Tiwari’s revelation sheds light on Salman Khan’s principles and values when it comes to respecting and protecting women. It is heartening to see influential personalities like Salman Khan taking responsibility for the safety of women on their sets and creating a safe work environment for them.

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Balamani was a recipient of multiple awards, including the Saraswati Samman – India’s most esteemed literary award – and Padma Vibhushan – India’s second-highest civilian award. She published more than 20 anthologies of poetry, prose, and translations. Her first poem “Kooppukai” was published in 1930.

The doodle shows the poet sitting by a window and composing a poem. Several books can be seen in the scene.

Today’s #GoogleDoodle celebrates the 113th birthday of Balamani Amma, an Indian poet who received India’s highest literary award without any formal training.

Learn more about the grandmother of Malayalam literature here → https://t.co/0aF36wjZ8k pic.twitter.com/TbprKZjVZr

— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) July 18, 2022

Who was Balamani Amma?

Known as the grandmother of Malayalam literature, Balamani Amma was born on July 19, 1909, in Nalapat, her ancestral home in Punnayurkulam located in Kerala’s Thrissur district.

She never received any formal training or education but was instead schooled at home by her uncle Nalappat Narayana Menon, who was also a popular Malayali poet. He had an impressive collection of books and works that Balamani studied at a young age.

Balamani Amma was also the mother of Kamala Das, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1984. She passed away on September 29, 2004, in Kochi, Kerala at the age of 95.

The Kochi International Book Festival Committee created the Balamani Amma Award, a cash award for writers. She has been referred to as “the grandmother of Malayalam literature”

The post Google doodle celebrates Malayalam poet Balamani Amma on her birth anniversary appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

But first let us understand what the tag ‘world heritage’ entails. According to the UNESCO, it is a ‘natural or man-made site, area, or structure recognised as being of outstanding international importance and therefore as a deserving special protection’.

From this definition, I feel that each and every monument, park, or religious site that I see in Delhi deserves this status. If not heritage status, then our attention and recognition at the least. Delhi has 111 protected monuments. The city is just 1,484 square kilometres in area. That means a surprise awaits you at every bend, at every corner … The seen and the unseen, waiting to be recognised and explored.

But how many of these 111 do we really know about? Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort – these are some of the choicest names that come to our minds. Trust me, there is much more to the city than just this. Many sites get overshadowed by a famous neighbour. Like the Sher Shah Suri Gate is often ignored by the lakhs of people who flock the National Zoo daily. Or the Kos Minar, which is right in the middle of the zoo. Some get lost in urbanisation and ever increasing encroachment. A crowded marketplace like South Extension having several tomb complexes was something unimaginable for me. 

And many monuments and structures do not even have a name. Like the one near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Yet it stands there … a constant reminder of the little that is left of the rich heritage we have inherited from our ancestors.

With inheritance comes the responsibility to protect and conserve heritage. What do we usually do when we visit a monument? Scratch our and our beloved’s names on the walls, litter to our heart’s content, and sometimes take away ‘tokens’ of the structure with us to our homes. These monuments, sanctuaries, parks have been kept in their pristine state for centuries by the people’s hard work. We need to value them more. They are there today, but might not be there tomorrow. Look what happened to Notre Dame. This World Heritage Day, let’s pledge to be a bit more considerate towards our dharohars. And impart the same values to our friends, families, and generations to come.

P.S. A short guide on how to visit a heritage site.

• Do not litter. Humans did make a thing called dustbin.
• Do not write your or anyone’s name on the structures. I am sure your love will be forever even if you don’t do that.
• Refrain from causing any kind of damage. Heritage sites have souvenir shops for you to take back memories.
• Carry your camera. Click loads of pictures. Upload them on social media and promote our heritage. (If you are not a social media buff, then just click for your own pleasure.)
• Encourage your friends to ditch the malls and plan trips to explore these heritage sites. 

The post World Celebrates Its Heritage Today appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

India Crafts Week

This will be the very first edition of the India Crafts Week in Delhi. It will bring artisans, designers, and entrepreneurs on one platform together. The focus will be on the products made in India that exhibit a fusion of tradition and modernity. Apart from this, you can also enjoy tribal and folk music and dance performances.  There will be live demonstrations and workshops by National Award-winning craftsmen like Kalyan Joshi (Phad painting), Mahamaya Sikdar (Kantha stitching), Majid Mir (Pashmina shawl weaving), and Manisha Jha (Madhubani painting). Ten exclusive celebrated folk paintings of India will also be on display.

Entry: 500/- per person

When: 1st—5th December 2018

Timings: 11 am—7 pm

Where: Aerocity

Nearest Metro station(s): Aerocity metro station on Airport Express line

Comic Con Delhi

The annual event for comic lovers is back with its 8th edition. Comic Con Delhi will showcase numerous exhibitors, international and Indian comic writers, and illustrators. The event is would have talk sessions, screenings, launches, and stand-up comedy performances. The line-up includes Peter Nguyen, John Layman, Declan Shalvey, Vladimir Furdik (the Night King from Game of Thrones), Sahil Shah, Varun Thakur, Luke Kenny, Alicia Souza, and Akshay Dhar to name a few.

The three-day extravaganza will have hundreds of stalls to hoard nerdy stuff from—superhero memorabilia, toys, comic books, fandom apparels, accessories, games and much more. Cosplay is also a major attraction of Comic Con.

When: 7th—9th December 2018

Where: NSIC Grounds, Okhla Industrial Estate, Okhla Phase III.

Nearest Metro station(s): Govindpuri on Violet line, Okhla NSIC on Magenta line

Pet Fed 2018

Pet Fed Delhi is bringing you the cutest weekender of the year. The pet festival aims to give pet lovers and pet parents an opportunity to spend some quality time with their furry friends. The event will have activities like a fashion show with Dino Morea, a dedicated cat zone, security dog show, and an off-leash area with games and rides. You can also buy pet care products here. And if you have an Indie pet, you get free entry to the festival. And guess what? You can adopt a pet from the adoption camps set up by various NGOs.

Entry: 349/- per person.

Where: NSIC ground, Okhla Industrial Area Phase III

When: 15th—16th December 2018

Nearest metro station(s): Govindpuri on Violet line, Okhla NSIC on Magenta line

See a video of what’s in store here.

Jashn-e-Rekhta

The biggest Urdu festival is back with its fifth edition. The three-day event will have a plethora of sessions with famous authors and poets like Javed Akhtar, Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Javed Jaaferi, Vishal Bhardwaj, Kumar Vishwas, and Annu Kapoor. The Nooran sisters, Wadalis, Warsi brothers and Malini Awasthi will be performing live.

A dramatic rendering of Ramayana in Urdu will also be held. This is also one of the best events to enjoy mushaira, Dastangoi, and calligraphy workshops. Cool posters, mugs, and bags with Urdu quote printed on them will be up for grabs at the Rekhta Bazaar. Food lovers should make it a point to have mouth-watering delicacies at the Aiwan-e-Zaiqa food court.

When: 14th—16th December 2018

Timings: 11 am—9:30 pm

Where: Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium

Nearest Metro station(s): Pragati Maidan on Blue line, Mandi House on Violet line

Riders Music Festival

If you love bikes and music, then this festival is your one-stop destination. This will be the second edition of the two-day event and the perfect platform to connect with other bike enthusiasts. There will be live performances by popular bands and artists like Lucky Ali, Divine, Nucleya, Shirley Setia, Mame Khan, Barudu, Bhuvan Bam. You can also enjoy the experience zones, biking zone, the flea market, and of course, the grub arena.

Entry: 750/- onwards

Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi

Dates: 22nd—23rd December 2018

Nearest Metro station(s): JLN stadium on Violet line

The post Festivals to end the year with a bang appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

Rangoli-making is an important ritual of Diwali. We spend days searching for that perfect design which will adorn our doorsteps. How about giving that old rangoli a twist this Diwali? Presenting, the classic Kumaoni mural art—‘Aipan’. 

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Derived from the Sanskrit word arpan (offering), aipan is an age-old traditional art of Uttarakhand. Pahaadis decorate their courtyards and aangans with aipans, as they believe that doing so brings positive energy and invites good luck to their homes. Aipan is not specific to any festival. It is made on auspicious occasions such as marriages, jenayu ceremony, and during hawans.

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So, how is it made? In villages, where this art form originated, Aipan is made directly on the mud thresholds and walls of the home. But no need to worry. You can easily make it in your homes too. The background of an aipan is red clay, called geru. The geru is smeared and spread over the area where the aipan is to be prepared. After the background dries up, beautiful patterns are made using paste made from rice flour. One of the most popular and basic motifs is the feet of Goddess Lakshmi.

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Anjali Joshi, the owner of Instagram handle @hitomyarapahaad, tells us that the designs and patterns of an aipan are not random. They have certain symbolic significance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpoCl5-HqN3/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=27m8oexaqi3s

“For instance, the dots represent money (coins). So, making them is symbolic of Diwali bringing riches to a household,” says Joshi. She adds that the aipan feet of Goddess Lakshmi are made to welcome the deity to their homes.

Savita, who goes by the name @aipan_enthusiast on Instagram, is an aipan artist. According to her, making aipan is a daily ritual in Kumaoni villages, something similar to the South Indian rangoli. “For every pooja, there is a different pattern,” says Savita, whose artworks, apart from being loved by Pahaadis, are also popular with people from Punjab and West Bengal.

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Traditionally, an aipan is made by directly dipping one’s fingers in the rice flour paste and applying it over geru. Today, brushes are also used to make fine geometrical patterns. Although aipan is primarily made on floors and walls, artists these days have taken this art form to design vases, bed sheets, totes, bookmarks, and souvenirs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpTqdHhl9_E/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=rr772aanm27l

This traditional art has been developed and is now being preserved by the Kumaoni women. “I learnt this from my mother. Diwali is never complete without aipan, you know,” says Srishti Choudhary, who hails from Uttarkhand and makes an aipan every Diwali. 

The post It’s time to rejig Diwali rangoli appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

These potters have been here for several generations. Harkishan Prajapati, a National Award-winning potter, came here with his family in the 1970s. Like Prajpati, the beautiful work of many other potters of Kumhargram has been recognised on a national level.

Diwali is the prime season for sales as people throng Kumhargram for buying diyas and artefacts at dirt-cheap prices. What is interesting to know is that thousands of these humble diyas are exported to countries like Canada and Singapore for the sizeable Indian population there.

There are over 400 potter families that live and work relentlessly in Kumhargram. One can only imagine the number of diyas that this place produces. So are all these diyas (and other artefacts) sold to buyers like us? No. Most of the items are purchased by the wholesalers at very less price and later sold in the markets at a huge margin. The profit, sadly, never reaches these artisans.

If you are planning to update your crockery set or are looking for gifting options this Diwali, then Hauz Rani is THE place to visit. Plates, bowls, spoon-holders, mugs, salt cellars—you name it and they have it. You can also get your hands on some interesting pots for your plants. What’s more? The shopkeepers also take orders for customised products. And all of this at throwaway prices.

So, this festive season, let us give the Chinese fairy lights a miss, and lighten and brighten our homes with these pocket-friendly made-in-India diyas and decorations. They are eco-friendly and they help in promoting indigenous artistry and craftsmanship. Moreover, by directly buying these items from the artisans (and doing away with the middlemen or the wholesalers), the potters will be able to earn their fair profit and it will be a true Diwali for them.

The post Go local and light up an artisan’s Diwali appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

Yes, you read correctly. Appu Ghar Oyster Water Park currently has an awesome Biryani Festival going on. With 8 kinds of biryani (4 non-veg and 4 veg), you cannot possibly walk away dissatisfied. The Eid special menu has biryanis from Kashmir, Awadh, Hyderabad and Chettinad.

The menu is complete with Mirch ka Salan and Sewayi Kheer, in case you still needed something more festive. Along with each of these distinct tasting biryanis, there is also Khus and Roohafza sherbet to complete the Eid menu.

Chef Kuldeep Jain has designed the entire menu himself and all the recipes are his. Suffice to say, his hard work has paid off because you get each and every penny of your money’s worth.

The only drawback – tomorrow (June 30) is the last day to enjoy this scrumptious spread.

The Festival is reasonably priced at Rs 2600 per couple (for the park and buffet). However, if you’re not in the mood for some fun in the water, you can also come here solely for the buffet, priced at Rs 600.

Our advice – it is worth taking an extra long lunch or even a day off to go to Appu Ghar Oysters to enjoy the biryani and the great water rides.

What: Biryani Festival

Where: Appu Ghar Oysters Water Park, Sector 29, Gurgaon

When: June 26-30

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