Mira Nair: Award winning Film Director

Indian-American film director, writer, and producer, Mira Nair, is best known for belting out controversial and off the beaten path films like Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake. Born in India, educated at Delhi University and Harvard, she began her career as an actor and moved on to directing award winning documentaries. Her debut film, Salaam Bombay was nominated for an Academy award in 1988.

Ms. Nair is making big waves in Hollywood as well. Nair is directing the upcoming film Amelia, based on the life of legendary pilot Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and set many aviation records. In an interview with our media partner, Hum Desi Radio, Ms. Nair told us that the Namesake was inspired by her own very deeply personal loss of a family member. Nair lost her mother-in-law in North America which, for her, is not exactly home. During that period of mourning, she read Jhumpa Lahiri’s book about the same life experience. Till today she meets people deeply affected by the film. It is amazing how a book can inspire a film to unlock deep feelings. For Nair, she realized she was not alone.

Nair was attracted to the Earheart project partly because she felt a strong connection to the American trailblazer. “I was drawn to her (Amelia Earhart) because she, like me, was an 8 year old girl who grew up in a remote place (Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India), just like I did, and she dreamed and knew that the world was much bigger than her and she wanted one day to see it. And she was one of these radical people who had a passion to do something that no one did in the 1920s, which was to fly a plane. She did that and pursued it with an obsession”, said Nair. “So the affinity of being someone from Orissa, being from a little town, Indians didn’t even know where Bhubaneshwar was when I grew up, and I knew that the world was bigger than me and I wanted to see it  before I did anything at all.”

Nair, who worked on Amelia with Ewan McGregor, Hilary Swank and Richard Gere, was impressed by the humble nature of the late Earhart, which was refreshingly present despite her colossal achievements. “So that was the affinity I had with her”, Amelia is expected to release in Fall 2009.

We wish Mira Nair the very best for all her projects, she is truly an inspirational South Asian. You can listen to her interview here: http://www.worldbandmedia.com/Data/Global/Multimedia/Podcasts/Mira.mp3

Network of Indian Professionals goes Primetime on HumDesi Radio

Programming for South Asian professionals arrives on HD Radio

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 30, 2009 — The South Asian community is set to go live with HumDesi on HD Radio. The Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP), North America’s premier non-profit networking organization for South Asians, and HumDesi Radio (HumDesi), North America’s first Ethnic Digital Radio Network, have partnered to host ‘PrimeTime with NetIP’.

 

During this regular show, leading business, financial, arts and media professionals will discuss issues such as; surviving the financial turmoil by leveraging South Asian roots; the political voice of South Asians; the face of the 21st century Indian American professional; and North American immigration.

“NetIP and HumDesi Radio are both premier North American organizations. For us at NetIP, the synergy was obvious,” says Sundip Arora, Vice President, External Affairs at NetIP North America. “We are embarking on increasing our national visibility and it was important for us to choose a partner that would help us realize our vision of making NetIP a household name in North America.”

“HumDesi is very excited to embark on this partnership with NetIP. This fabulous and informative program will further enhance our reputation as North America’s best source for South Asian radio content, says Prabha Selvadurai, CEO of HumDesi. “PrimeTime on HD Radio will allow our South Asian listeners access to valuable information on topics highly relevant to their day to day lives and is just one more reason for them to buy an HD Radio receiver for their car or home”.

The first scheduled PrimeTime episode is set for May, live on the HumDesi Radio Network. It can be heard on HD Radio on 97.1 FM in New York, 105.9 FM in Los Angeles and 101.1 FM in Chicago with HumDesi’s partner Emmis Communications; and on 103.5 FM in Washington DC through another HumDesi partner, Bonneville International Corp. Click here to keep informed about the guests and show dates - NetIP Prime Time

NetIP has chapters in 22 cities across North America with more scheduled to launch this year. HumDesi Radio broadcasts in 4 cities with more to follow later this year. With this partnership comes a great opportunity to leverage the reach of both organizations to bring awareness and knowledge to the South Asian community.

About HumDesi Radio
A division of WorldBand Media LLC, HumDesi Radio’s (’HumDesi’) vision is to be “North America’s leader in South Asian content and delivery”. Led by a team of ethnic and mainstream media entrepreneurs, HumDesi understands the unique characteristics, demands and potential this market presents. HumDesi enables North America’s South Asian population to have access to the highest quality content while at home, in the car or on the move; while providing an effective and reliable outlet for its partners and advertisers to reach this growing and largely untapped market segment. For more information, go to www.worldbandmedia.com or www.humdesiradio.com.

About NetIP
The Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) is a professional, non-profit organization dedicated to the overall achievement and advancement of South Asian professionals. The primary focus of the organization is to foster a bond among South Asian professionals to unite and support each other locally, as well as to give back and contribute positively to the communities in which they live and work. NetIP evolved in Chicago in 1990 initially as a small-scale forum. Today, the organization includes over 3,000 members and more than 40,000 subscribers in 22 cities across United States and Canada. NetIP has become a premier networking brand in our community over the years. It is the unequivocal voice for an emerging group of South Asians, who excel in every aspect of western society, from business to politics to the arts. The rise of NetIP and its affiliated chapters reflects a general “Coming of Age” by South Asian professionals. For more information, go to www.netip.org. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kamana Sharma, NetSAP DC

Kamana Sharma has done outstanding work for the Greater DC area

through the Community Service Pillar.  Philanthropic events

produced by NetSAP DC have increased in frequency, attendance has

tripled, and more underprivileged individuals and groups are

benefiting from NetSAP DC’s community work.  Kamana approached the

NetSAP DC board in January wanting to create a monthly community

service event based on President Obama’s call to action on

www.serviceusa.org.  Kamana believed that NetSAP DC members should

participate in President Obama’s call to action as a community of

South Asian American professionals and has achieved this goal through

each month’s Second Saturday of Service. Each month’s service event

assists a local organization, so NetSAP DC members are not only

promoting the importance of service in the South Asian community but are also

positively impacting the local Washington DC community.

Farida Hasanali, NetIP Houston

Farida Hasanali has been the beacon of enthusiasm and innovation on the Houston

board.  The comfort and warmth that people see in her has helped NetIP

Houston keep its member base loyal.  Her exemplary leadership

exhibited in organizing NetIP Houston’s International Women’s Day

event demonstrates her commitment and passion for the chapter.  Farida

decided to host the event at her home and was responsible for all the

logistics such as invitations and program details.  The home setting

and the women-only criteria provided the perfect environment for the

event. This event was a prime example of how Farida’s outgoing and friendly

personality has made everyone with whom she interacts an instant friend and

supporter of NetIP.

NetIP Seattle’s first ever Holi event, held on March 14th, 2009, was selected

as NetIP’s March Event of the Month.  The festivities took place at

Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA.  The team was able to secure event

sponsorship with The Northwest chapter of  Ekal Vidyalaya to raise

awareness of the struggles facing impoverished villagers in remote

areas of India.

March 2009 Event of the Month - Holi, NetIP Seattle

Despite overcast conditions and light rain, over 200 people joined the festivities!

The music, chaat, colors, and water balloons fueled non-stop dancing and Holi

fun throughout the afternoon. The atmosphere was lively with Bollywood music

played by DJ Nihar Desai.

NetIP has partnered with MTV to cast young south asians for its groundbreaking series, “True Life”.  Since its initial episode in 1998, MTV’s award-winning “True Life” documentary series has told remarkable real-life stories of young people and the unusual subcultures they inhabit.

 Please click here to see this story featured in India New England.

On April 4th, 2009, NetIP Pittsburgh co-sponsored the “South Asians Against Terrorism” event, a fundraiser for the victims of the November Mumbai attack.  The event was held at the University of Pittsburgh - David Lawrence Hall.  NetIP Pittsburgh partnered with various Asian community groups  such as Silk Screen, Amnesty International, Ankur: Indian Graduate Students Association, NAAP: The National Association of Asian American Professionals, CAIR Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny County Bar Association.

About 215 supporters attended the fundraiser, which brought in nearly $2,500 in donations.  NetIP Pittsburgh presented a very diverse program with the proceeds going to the American India Foundation to benefit charities working in Mumbai.  The event had an exciting line-up of Indian, African, Brazliian, and Chinese, belly dancers, and much more!