About: Kanwal

Harshad Nalawade is an Indian filmmaker from Belgaum, Karnataka. His debut feature film, Follower, is based on his own experiences of living as part of a linguistically marginalized community in the town. The film had its World Premiere at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, in 2023. Follower was partially crowdfunded and was selected for the NFDC Work-in-Progress Lab, 2021.

A graduate of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Harshad started his career in films by writing and directing short films while working as an Assistant Director.

Harshad’s first short film, A Return Gift was nominated for Best Short at the New York Indian Film Festival, in 2016.

On the show today, we talk about Harshad’s debut feature film, Follower, being screened at the New York Indian Film Festival 2023. So incase you missed it earlier, tune – in for sure, today, on 12th May, on our Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

Geetika Narang Abbasi is an independent filmmaker based in Gurgaon, India. She has edited and directed several documentaries and created media content across a range of subjects. She has collaborated with organizations like the Centre for Science and Environment, Landesa, Gates’ Ventures, Microsoft, and Public Service Broadcasting Trust, among others. She currently works under the banner of Also Ran Films.

Yasir Abbasi is a postgraduate in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and has been working as an independent cinematographer since 2002. His work, which spans different forms, has been shown and awarded at film festivals worldwide. He’s also the author of the bestselling book Yeh Un Dinoñ Ki Baat Hai: Urdu Memoirs of Cinema Legends.

On the show today, we talk about their documentary, URF, being screened at the New York Indian Film Festival 2023. In case you missed it earlier, tune – in for sure, today, on 9th May, on our Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

Amit Paul is an Indian singer. His career started by being runner up on Indian Idol season 3. He debuted in Luck by Chance with the soft, romantic number “Pyar ki Daastan”, with Mahalaxmi Iyer as his co-singer. The song was written by the legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar. Reviews of the track were positive, and the song did well in the charts.

Alongside music, Paul has his own business in various sectors and is a socialite in the Northeast of India. He is an active member of various social enterprises and supports causes such as children’s education, disabled children and women empowerment. He has done many charity shows to support the underprivileged at home and abroad. He has also been made the state brand ambassador for North Bengal by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Paul

This conversation, recorded many years back tracks his journey – Do listen in to this conversation, with Amit Paul – today, 28th April, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Vikas Bhalla is an Indian film, television actor, singer and producer. He is trained in Hindustani classical music from Allahabad University, under Pandit Jialal Vasant. He appeared as a lead actor in films in the late 1990s, and went on to feature in several music and video albums.

In 1995, Vikas Bhalla made his film debut in Ramesh Modi’s Sauda, in which he played the lead role of Deepak, opposite Neelam. Alongside his acting career, he also pursued his career in singing and launched the albums Hai Dhuan, Awaara and Mehek Teri. His chart buster track “Hai Dhuan” from his debut album Dhuan got wide acceptance and made him popular and prominent singer. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikas_Bhalla

This conversation, recorded many years back tracks his journey – we talk about his films, about the many numbers that he has rendered, and much more – Do listen in to this conversation, with Vikas Bhalla – today, 24th April, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Sushma Seth is an Indian stage, film and television actress. She started her career in the 1950s, and was a founder member of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik. In the 1970s, she founded and ran the Children’s Creative Theatre, an ensemble that put up plays and conducted workshops for children. Her first movie was Junoon in 1978.

Sushma Seth started her career on stage in the 1950s. With Joy Michael, Rati Bartholomew, Roshan Seth and others, she was one of the founders of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik in 1964. In addition to acting, she has directed many plays. She received a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in the 1985 B. R. Chopra film Tawaif. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushma_Seth

This conversation, recorded many years back tracks his journey – we talk about his films, about his many roles – Do listen in to this conversation, with Sushma Seth – today, 21st April, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Sameer Dharmadhikari is an Indian film and television actor and model. Popular for Playing the Role of Samrat Bindusara Maurya in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat and as as King Gangadhar Rao Newalkar in the 2009 TV series Jhansi Ki Rani. He played the male lead in the Marathi film Nirop that won the National Award for the Best Marathi film.

He has worked as a hydraulic machine designer and did theatre in Pune. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sameer_Dharmadhikari

This conversation, recorded many years back tracks his journey – we talk about his films, about his many roles – Do listen in to this conversation, with Sameer Dharmadhikari – today, 15th April, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Neha Dhupia is an Indian actress and model.

Neha’s Bollywood debut was with the 2003 film Qayamat: City Under Threat. She rose to fame with her title role in Julie and then appeared in Sheesha (2005) in a dual role of twin sisters. She then starred in films such as Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005) and Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), which did well at the box office and featured in a segment of the anthology film Dus Kahaniyaan (2007).

In the following years, Dhupia appeared in supporting roles in multiple films including Chup Chup Ke (2006), Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007), Mithya (2008), Maharathi (2008), and Singh Is Kinng (2008) and Dasvidaniya (2008). In 2011, she played Eva Braun in the film Dear Friend Hitler about Mahatma Gandhi. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neha_Dhupia

Do listen in to this conversation, recorded many years back with Neha Dhupia – know about her journey in films and much more. Tune – in today, 10th April, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Kedarnath Bhattacharya, professionally known as Kumar Sanu, is an Indian playback singer. He is known as the King of Melody in Bollywood. He is famous for singing thousands of Bollywood Hindi songs.

Apart from Hindi, Kumar Sanu has also sung in other languages including Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Manipuri, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Odia, Chhattisgarhi, Urdu, Pali, English and his native language Bengali, both in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Kumar Sanu holds the record for winning five consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer from 1990 to 1994. For his contribution to Indian cinema and music, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 by the Government of India.  Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumar_Sanu

Do listen in to this conversation, recorded many years back with Kumar Sanu – know about his childhood, his journey, and much more. Tune – in today, 7th April, to our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Nitin Kakde is a volunteer, breathwork, and meditation expert from the Art of Living Foundation. He is a certified SKY breath and Sahaj Samadhi meditation teacher.

Associated with Foundation since 2006, Nitin has organized and taught Art of Living programs in Europe and America. He is a certified Yoga teacher and holds an RYT500 accreditation.

Nitin works in the IT field as a manager. He holds a PG diploma in Business transformation management and is a graduate of Amaravati University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is technology savvy, keen on sports and arts, and is a music enthusiast.

On the show, Nitin talks in detail about the event – World Culture Festival. Do join in the conversation for sure, today as well, 20th March, on our Show, today, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer. She made her career debut with the film Shastra (1996). During the year, she won the first singing reality show titled Meri Awaz Suno and rose to prominence after recording “Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi” from Mast (1999). It won her Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent and was nominated for the Best Female Playback Singer. She is known for her versatility as a vocalist.

Her second breakthrough was released in 2000, with the song “Mehboob Mere” from Fiza, for which she received another Filmfare nomination. Sunidhi received her third Filmfare nomination with the song “Dhoom Machale” from Dhoom (2004) followed by two more nominations during the next year for “Kaisi Paheli” and “Deedar De” from Parineeta and Dus (2005). Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunidhi_Chauhan

Do learn about her journey, her childhood, and much more about the very versatile Indian singer, Sunidhi Chauhan. The conversation was recorded many years back.Tune – in for sure, today, 19th March, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

14 Years of South Asian Showdown – a long journey it has been – and we talk to Rohit Bhambi about the journey, the event.

To give you a peep – teams from all over North America will compete to be crowned the Showdown champion. This year’s competition will be taking place on Saturday, March 18th, 2023 at the newly renovated Strand Theatre in Boston, MA.

Learn more about the teams and the event. To know how to be part of the event, for tickets – do listen in to the conversation for sure.Do tune – in, today as well, 14th March, on our Show, today, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

Anuradha Paudwal is an Indian playback singer who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. She has been described in media as one of the most prominent Bhajan singer and also as one of the most successful playback singers of 80s and 90s era of Bollywood. The recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards (winning consecutively during 1990–92) and two Odisha State Film Awards, she has been honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour for her contribution in the field of arts.

In her career spanning over four decades Anuradha Paudwal has recorded more than 9,000 songs and more than 1,500 bhajans in several languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Assamese, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Nepali and Maithili. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anuradha_Paudwal

Do listen – in to this wonderful conversation, from many years back, with Anuradha Paudwal, on our show, From our Archives, today, 12th March, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.