The Kapoor Brothers of the Scottish hospitality industry acquire Princes Street Suites

One of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the UK, Edinburgh has a brand new addition to its luxurious hospitality and accommodation sector. The Edinburgh Collection have acquired the luxurious Princes Street Suites on 1 April 2019. An award-winning Aparthotel that won the 2019 Scottish Hotel Awards’ Family Hotel of the Year category in Edinburgh and the Lothians for...

SIAF’s 25th Dusherra is a blazing success

The Scottish Indian Arts Forum (SIAF) celebrated its flagship event Dusherra on 13 October 2019 at the top of Calton Hill, Edinburgh. More than 1,500 people braved the heavy rain and celebrated 25th Dusherra from 3:00pm to 9:00pm. The celebration started with a special reception by Lord Provost of Edinburgh at the City Chambers, Edinburgh on Friday evening – 4th...

Swarnavel Eswaran’s first feature film Kattumaram (Catamaran) gets a standing ovation at BFI during LIFF 2019

Kattumaram (Catamaran), the coming-of-age tale of Tsunami-survivors in a small village where a conservative maternal uncle supports his orphaned niece and nephew while they struggle with their simple but complicated lives, has been very well received by London film-lovers. As a part of the London Indian Film Festival, LIFF 2019, Kattumaram had its European Premiere at the iconic BFI...

KASHISH 2023: Transgender films win big at film festival

The 14th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival which ended recently gave away cash awards worth Rs.6.50 lacs in 11 categories to winners across the globe; to filmmakers from Brazil, India, Iran, France, Portugal, UK and USA. The highest award at the festival, the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 20223, went to Abu Sohel Khondekar, a trans filmmaker from...

KASHISH 2020: 52 films compete for a total cash award of Rs 1,80,000

The 11th edition of KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, South Asia’s biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival, has decided to go online this year as KASHISH 2020 Virtual from July 22 to July 30. The festival will screen 157 films from 42 countries out of which 52 films compete in the 9 competition categories that includes Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best...

Commemorating the sacrifices of five million Commonwealth forces 75 years after VJ Day

A solemn Monday morning on 9 March at the Memorial Gates in Constitution Hill saw a gathering of eminent community leaders to commemorate the sacrifices of the five million servicemen and women from the Commonwealth countries who had served during the First and Second World Wars along with the Royal Armed Forces. This year, the Commonwealth Day marked the...

LIFF 2021: Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition

This year sees the London Indian Film Festival adopt a hybrid format, fuelled by having to go online under last year's COVID lockdown. What this means is that the Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition is available to watch at home, for free, right now. Go here to sign up and “buy” your free tickets: LoveLIFFatHome You can watch the films...

Grand launch of the 2019 Raksha Bandhan celebrations in Glasgow

The ancient Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan that celebrates the love between brothers and sisters was celebrated this year among the Armed Forces and Scotland Police to symbolise their work of protecting (raksha) the UK borders and the civil society, thereby showing gratitude and brotherhood among the organisations and civilian groups. Organised this year by the Hindu Forum of Britain...

Lockdown Diaries: Captain Sir Tom Moore, 100, dies with Covid 19 at the NHS Bedford hospital

Sir Thomas Moore, the 100-year-old legendary war veteran and NHS hero who won the nation's heart by raising £32 million for the NHS Charities to support their services during the coronavirus pandemic has died at the Bedford Hospital on Tuesday. He was admitted at the hospital on 31 January, after being tested positive for COVID-19. His  condition deteriorated as...

Lockdown Diaries: Apsara Reddy fights against heightened abuse and vulnerability during curfew in India

Apsara Reddy is the first trans-gender Indian politician, who has led the way and been an inspiration to thousands in the community in India and across the world. The inspirational leader was appointed the National General Secretary of All India Mahila (Women's) Congress, in January 2019 by the Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The lockdown period imposed by the government of...