Niagara Falls in winter
This weekend I am in Niagara Falls on a Jaunt. Whenever I travel in India, and tell people I’m from Canada, I often hear, “Oh, I would love to go to Niagara Falls!” It’s always been a bit strange to me, as I grew up within driving distance of “the Falls” and never took them all that seriously. When I was in high school, we used to drive to Niagara Falls in the middle of the night for a lark. We thought the place was silly. So to hear people in a far-off country — a country that I always deemed to be the height of “exotic” — say they long to visit Niagara Falls seemed bizarre. But of course perspective is everything. (more…)
Freida Pinto as Trishna
His voice was filled with exasperation, and the churned-up emotion of watching tragedy unfold before him, onscreen. “Didn’t she realize she had the upper hand,” he asked. “He kept coming back to her. Why didn’t she take control of the relationship?”
He was a white Canadian, a “gora,” who had — like me — just sat through the premiere of Trishna at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film, based on Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles and set in modern-day India, was directed by Michael Winterbottom (Jude). It stars Freida Pinto (Slumdog Milionaire) and Riz Ahmed as the doomed lovers swept up in the tumult of a changing society. The decision to set the story in modern India was brilliant, and gave the film multi-layered depth, the sheen of reality and the depth of pathos. (more…)
Elephant at Breakaway premier
Breakaway is a new Canadian film about a young Sikh Canadian man (Vinay Virmani) who is a mad about hockey — against the wishes of his traditional, turban-wearing father (Anupam Kher). It’s set in suburban Toronto and features Russell Peters, Rob Lowe and a cameo by Akshay Kumar. The film explores the meeting of Sikh/Punjabi/Indian and Canadian culture, and attempts to reconcile them against the backdrop of Canada’s national sport (and pseudo-religion) — hockey.
On Saturday, September 10, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with a raucous Punjabi-themed parade on Yonge Street that included bhangra music and dance, a painted elephant, Miss India-Canada, the cast and crew in colourful autorickshaws and Bollywood star Akshay Kumar on a white horse. The waiting crowd loved it and camera lights were flashing. It was a great start to a fun, feel-good movie. However, the film didn’t quite live up to its promise. (more…)
Photograph of Mariellen Ward by Andrew Adams of Katha Images
It all started with the clothes. I knew I needed a really fabulous sari or lehnga, so I went to visit my friend Manish Mahtani at Nucreation, a large clothing store on Gerrard Street, in the India Bazaar, in Toronto. Nucreation has an entire upstairs floor devoted to wedding and party clothes — and the selection is dazzling. It’s a bit like walking into a fantasy land; a gorgeous room filled with flowing, glittering, colourful clothes fit for a princess from an oriental fairy tale. I will be writing another blog all about this store, and the family behind it, soon — with photos of a model wearing some of the fabulous creations.
Read on to find out how I was transformed – with the help of three talented people and of course a gorgeous sari.
Tiffin-wallahs, Churchgate Station, Mumbai
The sumptous decor added to the glamour of the IIFA Awards after party, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Bollywood in Toronto
Perhaps it’s not exactly the same as Eloise at the Plaza … but staying at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Toronto did make me feel I was on an awfully wonderful adventure. I was a guest in the hotel from Tuesday, June 20 to Sunday, June 26, and totally immersed myself in all the preparations, behind-the-scenes activities, press conferences, events, star sightings and parties taking place in the hotel during those five days. (more…)
Bollywood actor Sonu Sood and fans in the lobby of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel during the IIFA Awards. Photo courtesy Andrew Adams of Katha Images.
Bollywood in Toronto
Staying at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the host hotel for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Toronto, gave me a unique and close-up look at both the behind-the-scenes action and the fans. I have lived in India, so I was not at all surprised by the fan frenzy: Indian movie stars have the biggest and most loyal fan followings in the world. Hands down. No comparison. (more…)
Shahrukh Khan arrives at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel for the 2011 IIFA Awards
Some of my readers will have no doubt, others will be totally surprised to learn: Shahrukh Khan (often known as SRK or King Khan) is the world’s number 1 movie star. By far. Any number or metric you want to use to measure — loyalty, fan base, power, influence, sheer hysteria — will show SRK way out in front. He is NOT the Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt of India. We do not have stars in the west the way they do in India. There are probably 1 billion people — that’s about one-quarter of the planet — who would give Shahrukh their kidney, if he needed it. (more…)
Sonu Nigam, Anupam Kher, Bipasha Basu and Ritesh Deshmukh at IIFA press conference
Bollywood lays it on thick
It’s only Day 1 of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards extravaganza in Toronto, and there’s already enough hype, madness, feuds, controversy, gossip and stars to fill the most epic Bollywood blockbuster. If you read my post, Bollywood primer, you’ll know that Bollywood operates like a big family, with all the drama that entails.
Mallika Sherawat at IIFA press conference
Here at the epicentre of it all, the grand Fairmont Royal York Hotel — I’m calling it Bollywood ground zero — the action never stops. Twice a day, planes from Mumbai land, carrying a dozen or more stars. In fact, two airlines actually changed their flight schedules to accommodate IIFA — which is unbelievable. When they arrive at the hotel, there’s a media and fan frenzy. (more…)
Fairmont Royal "Raja" York kicks off Bollywood week with an Indian-food inspired lunch
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto has “gone Indian” for the 12th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, June 23-26, 2011. Renamed the Fairmont “Raja” York Hotel for the week, the landmark hotel has also introduced the Raj Kapoor Martini and several other cocktails and mocktails, and a specially created Indian menu. The hotel is also turning its York’s Deli into Delhi Deli for the three-day show. Indian-inspired foods the hotel will be serving include spicy Bombay street snacks, home-style curries and authentic recipes such as chai, samosas and pakoras. The iconic hotel is also holding its first-ever Indian Wedding Show on Wednesday, June 22.
Stars such as Shahrukh Khan, Dharmendra, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukherji, Sonny and Bobby Deol, and many more are expected to attend.
Here are the cocktails the Fairmont Raja York will be serving:
Breathedreamgo Consulting offers writing, blogging and social media strategy; plus India travel planning and business services. I can help you stand out online; or provide the highest quality writing; or help you travel to India or do business in India. Please contact me to learn more at mariellen @ breathedreamgo .com
The Windamere, Ganges View, Casa Cottage, Jas Vilas and Inn Seventh Heaven: My top 5 favourite hotels in India. They each combine personality, charm, comfort and integrity — and they’re clean and friendly.
~If you are planning to go to India, read this first. I have pulled together a packing list and a lot of travel tips, recommended books and do’s and don’ts that will really help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
