Watch the interview now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqFX7jjkhE8

The post THE AUTHOR THAT WON THE HEARTS OF OUR NATION! appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

Singles beware, wedding season is upon us! 

By Amana Iflal – an exhausted human being.

Since Covid has left us (kind of) everyone and their mother has decided to get married. This is fine, I mean blessings to the happy couple and their families but as the days go by, by the time I was at the 20th wedding of the year by August ( I wish I was kidding), I was bone tired with wedding season! Why didn’t anyone tell me that growing up meant awkwardly attending countless bridal showers, weddings and baby showers while also simultaneously dodging the nosy aunties that keep asking when I will get married??

Attending these events were not in vain because being me I accumulated some tips and tricks to survive the wedding season! Here are a few things to keep in mind while attending a wedding. I also asked the Lankan Twitter community what their tips and tricks are too! 

 Enjoy! 

Dress comfortably! 

As much as I like dressing up for various weddings and events, it can get really tiring after the 6th or 7th event. Dressing comfortably is really important if you want to enjoy the wedding without having to worry about your feet hurting or without fidgeting with your outfit. If you’re wearing a saree make sure you’ve pinned everything in place to avoid any awkward unraveling of the saree (trust me it’s not fun for the pleats to come off while you’re walking about). Wear a pair of comfy shoes that you can boogie with all night! Also I would recommend wearing clothes that will let you eat as much as you want without showing your ‘food baby’ bump because who wants to miss the delicious wedding food?

Eat before you go! 

As someone who gets hungry at around 8pm, this was one trick that really helped me when the food wasn’t served as early as one would have liked. 

Take advantage of the buffet!

When the buffet is open make sure you eat your fill without bothering if anyone is watching, chances are that they are also focused on making the best of the buffet! Eat as much as you want and dance the calories away afterwards!

Don’t forget to carry your essentials in your bag! 

Carry essentials like your Identity Card, Credit/Debit card, cash, sanitizers, masks and snacks to eat if you get hungry.  Also make sure your bag is big enough to fit any wedding favors you get!   

Don’t go on time! 

Unless you’re family or have been specifically asked to come on time, there’s really no need for you to go on time. Especially with Sri Lankan Muslim weddings. As @imadhnizar on Twitter says, ‘On time is an illusion in LK weddings’ 

Always have a designated driver that can take you home if you’re unfit to drive after the weddings!

@dinidu from Twitter says the following – 

Make sure you’ve charged your phone

This is useful especially if you’re someone who likes to take pictures of everything and with everyone! Carry a battery pack if your phone tends to lose the battery soon! (Hola iPhone users!). If you’re going home alone late in the night after a wedding, make sure someone knows of your location. 

How to avoid the classic ‘When are you going to get married?’

One very helpful twitter suggestion was this –

Aneesa Ahmed via Twitter has this to say- 

Watch the following TikToks to see what Gangulee Walpola has to say about avoiding this situation – 

https://t.co/zZmnxKzBzU 

https://t.co/LgjjeaV6zJ 

And that’s all for today folks! If you have any more suggestions on how to survive through wedding season add them in the comments below! 

Till next time, xoxo! 

The post PROFESSIONAL WEDDING GUEST  appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

Glamor Attack ft. Fazmina Sideek. 

By Amana Iflal. 

‘’I’ve always been interested in makeup and I think my passion for it has come as a full circle in adulthood.’’

Meet Fazmina Sideek, a 32 year old Sri Lankan makeup artist living in Dubai. She describes herself as ‘extremely loud and emphatic’, and one can definitely say that her personality comes out in the looks that she creates as well. Following what would be any bride’s worst nightmare on her wedding day, it was not long before Fazmina recognized her passion for creativity was best nurtured through makeup artistry. She prides herself on a balanced skill set of bold glamor, flawless editorial, and clean natural looks, while also managing to be a mom to her two boys! However, her true gift is making her clients realize their most beautiful selves while simultaneously putting them at ease with the entire process. 

When she’s not working on creating new looks or on a client, Fazmina likes to curl up and binge watch murder mystery documentaries or read books! 

In addition to being an MUA, she’s also pursuing her passion for Psychology. 

1) What are some must have makeup products/ brands in your opinion?

‘’A really good eyeliner (marker eyeliner). When it comes to brands, Makeup Forever is a go-to brand for artists. I also love indie brands that do unique products for creative MUAs!’’

2) How do you keep up with the latest beauty trends?

‘’I’m quite active on social media, which is currently the hub for major beauty changes and trends so I think that’s how I manage to keep up with what’s in and what’s out’’

3) What’s the hardest part about being a MUA ?

‘’The hardest part would probably be the uncertainty of the season / clients during that time especially in the Middle East. Because its a populated field and cultivating your network of clients and people who know you is hard work. So it’s a constant hustle to stay on top and relevant.’’

4) What has been your most challenging look and how long did it take to make it work?

 I did a look for the ‘NYX ARABIA FACE AWARDS’ ,it was a siren make up I think it took me around 5 hours to do – and another 3 to shoot.

5) What’s on your MUA bucket list? Which looks do you want to try out ?

‘’I’d love to partner up with a big  brand and work for them on their promos or shoots. To book an international client is another one as well. I do want to be more creative in my content and not hold myself back as much.’’

6) How do you balance being a mom and working at the same time?

‘’Hahaha well I don’t know. I find what works everyday, it helps that the boys have school and their routine so I try and work around that most days.’’

7) What made you interested in makeup? And being a MUA? 

‘’I’ve always been interested in makeup and I think my passion for it has come full circle in adulthood. I had a really bad experience with the bridal MUA in Sri Lanka for my wedding and eventually had to make do with my basic skills (which was next to none at that time). From then on I think I just did it as a hobby and something to pass my time. Eventually it turned out to be a career path I didn’t really think about till a few years ago.’’

8) What’s the weirdest thing that has happened to you while doing your work?

‘’A mom asked me to change her daughter’s skin tone because she was too dark. The kid was 14.’’

9) What’s your overall perspective when it comes to life, love and happiness?

‘’Take it day by day, have faith and try not to take things personally. Everyone’s on their own journey.’’ 

10) How often do you have to split your time between clients and how do you manage?

‘’Not too often, I try to always make sure I book clients in a manner that gives me enough time to always balance my home life and also be able to give the client full attention.’’

11) Who are some of the celebrity personalities you’ve worked with? What was the experience like?

‘’Well I haven’t as of yet in my career – I do hope one day. I have networked with them and the top models here in UAE.’’

12) If you had one last day on earth what would you do?

‘’Pray and spend it with my family. Do as much as we could together.’’

13) What’s the craziest idea you’ve come up with?

‘’Hmmm, it would probably be not having any rules during a shoot and allowing the models and stylists and MUA to be as wild and creative as they could be. I’m still learning to let go of my own inhibitions when it comes to my creativity.’’

14) Do you have any advice for passionate aspiring MUAs?

‘’Keep going. Don’t give up even when you feel like that’s all you want to do. There’s no one like you. Your passion should be shared if that’s what you want to do. And there’s always place at the table for you.’’

15) What is a makeup trend that you used to hate but now you love?

‘’Feathered Brows. Dark Lip Liner and lighter lip shades.’’

16) What are some of the stereotypical myths about makeup that you’d like to get rid of? 

‘’Make-Up makes your acne worse. There’s a particular way to do makeup.’’ 

Instagram – @mua.fazmina/ @ladymascara_dxb

Bookings – faz.sideek@gmail.com

Website – www.fazminasideek.com 

Amana Iflal is ChoKoLAATes very own Editor and Executive Projects and Events.She’s currently studying for her Bachelor of Law (LLB) at the University of London and hopes to become the sassiest lawyer! When she’s free she likes to read, paint or binge watch her comfort shows (Derry Girls and Bridgerton). She also considers herself an ‘anxiety driven perfectionist’.  Follow her on Instagram (@amanawiflal) and Twitter (@AmanaIflal) if you don’t mind random content on your feed/TL. 

The post FAZMINA SIDEEK, THE GLAM GODDESS! appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

Colombo, Sri Lanka – 26 May 2022. Scope Cinemas premieres Top Gun: Maverick in theatres today at Scope Cinemas, Colombo City Centre. The movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, Only The Brave), features Tom Cruise reprising his star-making role as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

The iconic 1986 movie, Top Gun, catapulted Tom Cruise to stardom. The long-anticipated sequel has been 36 years in the making and fans can finally immerse themselves in this action-packed, nostalgic experience. 

Plot Synopsis:

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.” 

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Watch Top Gun: Maverick at Scope Cinemas from May 26th 2022.

Production Crew:

Paramount Pictures and Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present A Don Simpson / Jerry Bruckheimer Production, A Joseph Kosinski Film, Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick. 

Directed by Joseph Kosinski. 

Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks. 

Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie. 

Based on Characters Created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr. 

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison. 

Executive Produced by Tommy Harper, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson.

Cast:

Pete “Maverick” Mitchell: Tom Cruise

Tom “Iceman” Kazansky: Val Kilmer

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw: Miles Teller

Penny Benjamim: Jennifer Connelly

Vice Admiral Cyclone: Jon Hamm

Rear Admiral: Ed Harris

Jake “Hangman” Seresin: Glen Powell

Soloman “Warlock” Bates: Charles Parnell

Bernie “Hondo” Coleman: Bashir Salahuddin

Natasha “Phoenix” Trace: Monica Barbaro

Robert “Bob” Floyd: Lewis Pullman

Reuben “Payback” Fitch: Jay Ellis

Mickey “Fanboy” Garcia: Danny Ramirez

Javy “Coyote” Machado: Greg Tarzan Davis

About Scope Cinemas Pvt. Ltd:

Scope Cinemas Pvt. Ltd. is Sri Lanka’s first multi-sensory luxury entertainment company. It has dedicated itself to continuously raising the bar to offer customers an incredible theatre experience using state-of-the-art technology and comfort that’s on par with international standards. Scope Cinemas is known for having international premieres of blockbuster movies. 

For additional information please contact:

Chassy Cortes – Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Scope Cinemas Pvt Ltd 

chassy@scopecinemas.com

+94779579955

The post Tom Cruise Returns As The Iconic Fighter Pilot In Top Gun: Maverick appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

With everything happening in the country right now, not many people get the time or money to run to the cinema to watch the latest movie, even when it’s one from the MCU. However, this writer ended up at the cinema the day Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness came to theatres, to see a cinema packed on a weekday morning. Excitement thickened the air even before the screen lit up; but did the highly-anticipated instalment of the MCU deliver? 

If you’re yet to watch this movie, a word of caution before you proceed, that word being: SPOILERS!

In case you didn’t take that warning seriously enough, here’s some spoilers for you.

Sorry not sorry

Still here? Great. Let’s get to the real stuff. 

My own reactions to the movie may be a tad different to those of the rest of the audience, since I opted to go trailer-less and spoiler-less into this movie. This was achieved through great self control and one memorable occasion of plugging in earphones and humming very loudly in the cinema (yes, that actually happened, pre-movie trailers are a menace).

While Dr. Strange was instrumental in previous Marvel movies, his last (and first) solo film was in 2016, six years ago in a world that had no clue what COVID-19 is. In short, it was a really long time ago. However, something that stayed in our collective memories (or at least mine) were the visuals. The mirror dimension portrayal in the 2016 film was such an aesthetic marvel (no pun intended) that Dr. Strange scenes became a favourite simply for their visual splendour. 

Multiverse of Madness delivers spectacularly on that front, with the visual complexity one of the best that the MCU has seen. Whether it’s showcasing colourful universes, the mirror dimension, the place between worlds, or the horror-esque scenes nearing the film’s climax (more on that later), the visuals always came through. Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange(s) is always a treat to watch, which helped the film along. 

As chaotic and disarrayed as the different universes in the multiverse were, so was the plot of the movie. While some people were disappointed in the mess the plot had become (due to a change in directors, rescheduling, and switching places in the grand scheme of the MCU) the disarray played perfectly into the “multiverse of madness” theme. 

However, remember what I said about the last solo film being a long time ago? This fact comes into play in another (intended) key aspect of the plot: The romance.  Christine Palmer, a character we haven’t seen in six long years, makes a comeback. This writer had forgotten all about the romantic interest; when the good Dr. West says he didn’t get the girl, this writer said, “What girl?”

This girl, who is getting married to another man, not that this stops Strange

The romance for Strange did not mesh with the rest of the movie; how does pining for a woman even come close to being important when you’re a character grappling with the fact that you erased half of all living creatures in the entire universe to save it? Nevertheless, Palmer only served as a point for Strange to come to key realisations about himself, in every universe. The emotional weight, which should be enough to drive Strange across universes, was not felt. 

Instead, the emotional heavy-lifting came from the Scarlet Witch, who caught this writer by surprise in her arc which showed her turning against Strange instead of allying with him. The juxtaposition of the Witch’s power and corruption against her maternal longing makes for a haunting storyline which was delivered with frightening intensity in another show-stealing performance by Elizabeth Olsen. 

The Scarlet Witch arc does seem rushed and sketchy, but the performance and visuals become her saving grace. The unexpected turn around delivers on shock value, further  fuelled by just how good of a villain she makes. Scarlet Witch draws on her old nemesis Thanos, insisting she’s ‘reasonable’ even while scorching humans into flesh melting off bones. 

This particular marvel character has suffered so much, most keenly highlighted in her line: “I blew the head off the man I loved and it meant nothing, don’t talk to me about sacrifice.” It was almost a mercy killing by this point when she met her demise, as her visible pain and sadness carried most of the emotional heft of this film. However, we are left wondering if this is the last we’ll see of this character, so soon after she came into power.

Witchcraft is dark and sinister in the multiverse of madness

However, in this particular arc, where the romance would’ve been expected, we’re given no information about white vision. It’s as if the WandaVision droid never existed. The only reference to Vision is given early on in the film, when Wanda mentions that Vision thought the multiverse to be dangerous. 

Speaking of the multiverse, the titular concept of the film, and the excuse for much of it’s visual flair, is dismally underexplored in the movie. The only true glimpse we get into the magnitude of this discovery is the dialogue when we’re told that in the infinite multiverse, there exists a solution to every problem, every disease. Unfortunately, other than that single moment, the multiverse might as well have been a series of mirror dimensions, as it was all visual spectacle with no intellectual weight, and the only emotional weight being the various cameos littered throughout. 

One must admit the multiverse got a healthy sprinkling of cameos; if the purpose of the multiverse was to combine all the nostalgia fans could think of, then this film would get the gold star. Reed Richards, Captain Carter, Charles Xavier, Black Bolt, Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel, and even Karl Mordo show up in alternate universes. However, with the lack of a buildup, the moment fails to match up to Spiderman: No Way Home, which will retain the title of best MCU film to explore the multiverse. 

However, a key feature which differentiated the film from previous instalments, even of Dr. Strange himself, is the clear influence of the horror genre, thanks to director Sam Raimi of Evil Dead fame. The horror gets more intense towards the climax of the film, while the premise is typical Marvel, with bright colours and jokes thrown in here and there. While some of the more hilarious interactions lasted the length of the film, like the dynamic between Strange and Wong, the film did become noticeably darker towards its conclusion, with ghouls, zombies, and possession taking centrestage.

I don’t think I’ll forget the picture of a blood soaked Elizabeth Olsen limping after the protagonists in a dark tunnel anytime soon.

New hero or not? The new character lacks, well, character

Last but not least, the audience is introduced to a new character America Chavez, whose bright and bubbly (at least more bubbly than the rest of them) performance gives the film the Marvel vibe even when Raimi’s influence takes over. America is a great character and her unique power drives the plot forward; however, we’re not given much to relate to on her end and by the time the movie came to a close this writer did not feel a particular bond with the character. 

However, shoutout to her two moms, and the pride pin she wears on her jacket the entire movie. 

All in all, the multiverse of madness is a must watch, simply for the visual masterpiece it is, and for a healthy dose of nostalgia if you’re a long time fan. Fans of Strange get to see multiple versions of him in this film (not all of them nice), but for fans of Scarlet Witch, the film is a tad more macabre.  

The stage is set for Dr. Strange to return, with the addition of his third eye and the appearance of Clea, a long-time ally of Strange and his eventual successor in the comics, in the post-credits scene.

Article by Paramie Jayakody

The post WE’RE ALL MAD HERE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

When it comes to networking, first impressions are everything!
From the way you dress, act and speak in the world of business in the city, you’re going to get scrutinized on all of this.

How to make 2 cents look like 2000 dollars is a lifestyle blog series which will show you how to navigate through the streets of Colombo with even the tightest of budgets while looking, speaking and acting your best.
It isn’t just the “Do you know who my father is?” kids who deserve to have fun.

Good food in this economy has now become a privilege. Hundreds of small businesses are being forced to close down due to the constant power cuts, lack of fuel and absolutely no support from the government means the days of having a full meal under Rs.1000 no longer exist.

We walked the streets of Colombo on our quest to find restaurants and cafes that are budget friendly. We were able to find certain stores pushing despite the ongoing crisis and still charging fair rates.
I’d like to give a massive shout out for the small saivar kadés in the streets of Kollupitiya, still offering Kottu for Rs. 300 and a hot milk tea for Rs. 180. We were also able to get hot Uludu wades for Rs. 80 with the curry. A little further down the road in Bambalapitiya, we see food trucks from Crepe Runner, Kitchen 3576 and Gulabi Run which offers a wide array of meals which warms your soul – if you’re willing to spend a bit more than Rs. 1000.

Not to forget that the Breakfast truck on Marine Drive which offers string hoppers, hoppers, buns and several other options at a very good rate all lower than Rs. 1000.
While I could recommend different cafés, our blog is about good food from small places and honestly a lot of Colombo tends to simply overlook these small trucks and shops despite them having hearty meals which can genuinely fill you up. The Keema Dosa from Road 2 Kade at only Rs. 450 is well worth the price leaving you full and satisfied.

Making 2 cents look like 2 thousand dollars means giving small businesses a chance because these are actually worth the money even without the fancy exterior. It’s realizing it isn’t always high priced tags which give you the best deals. So next time readers, you wander along the road searching for a warm meal, look into these little stores and trucks along the road. Breathe into the warm Colombo street food and take a big bite of the small proof tags.

Available via Uber – 

Mongolian Street – Get a large portion of rice enough for 2 people for just 790rs and can even get their vegetable fried rice for just 640rs.

Rice and Curry Sri Lankan Colombo 07 – Their special Nelum Kole rice pack runs for 350rs, the chicken fried rice for 350rs and their chicken koththu for just 300rs.

If you are in the mood for burgers or wraps I would recommend Fatty Patty where you can get a 10” submarine for 790rs. They also have special fries starting at 600rs onwards. In addition to this you can get 2 wraps for just 1199rs. (They’re cute big!)

Elite Family Restaurant –  You can get a LARGE portion of rice for 814rs onwards. And they have a large variety of drinks as well!

The Viking Ragagiriya – If you have a little bit of extra cash on you, I recommend that you try this place out!

Trust me you will not regret it.

By Zulki.

Zuleika Buhar is a one of a kind 19 year old! She’s an intern for both Projects and Marketing. She loves to play around with makeup (she comes up with the craziest eye makeup ideas) and also loves to make really cute figurines with clay. Always being a bright ray of sunshine in the office, our newest addition is the sweetest person that we’ve had the fortune of meeting. Always ready to lend a helping hand, she does everything with an air of sass about her! Zuleika wants to become an architect in the future and is currently waiting for her results. Follow her on Instagram @zuleika.buhar

The post How to make 2 cents look like 2000 dollars – Foodie Edition appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

Well, that was an eventful Oscars. Now I know all everyone wants to talk about is that slap, but come one people, that is not what the Oscars are all about. So let’s instead celebrate the moments at the 94th Academy Awards that made history.

The First Openly Queer Women of Color to Win an Oscar

(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images )

Ariana DeBose became the first woman of color from the LGBTQA+ community to win an Oscar. The star of West Side Story she spoke of her identity as a queer Puerto Rican women. “Now you see why Anita sings ‘I want to be in America,’ because even in this world we live in, dreams do come true and that is a heartening thing right now.” she said.  She concluded her speech by saying “You see an openly queer woman of color who found her strength in life through art.”

First ‘character’ to win best supporting actress twice

The 2022 Oscars marked the first time an Oscar was awarded to the best supporting actress winner for playing the same character as a previous winner. In 1962, Rita Moreno won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Anita in the original film adaptation of West Side Story, exactly 60 years later, Ariana DeBose has won best supporting actress for playing the same role in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation.

First Oscar win for a male deaf actor

Troy Kotsur, star of CODA is the first male deaf performer to win an Oscar. His CODA costar, Marlee Matlin, was the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar back in 1987, receiving the Best Actress award for Children of a Lesser God. It is only the second time a deaf performer has won an Academy Award for acting. In his moving acceptance speech Troy signed “This is dedicated to the Deaf community, the CODA community and the disabled community. This is our moment.”

First streaming service to win and Oscar for Best Film

Apple TV+ just became the first streaming service to receive an Oscar for best film, winning for Coda. There was tough competition from Netflix with both The Power of The Dog and Don’t Look Up nominated, Apple’s first time win really is a big achievement for the streaming service especially considering how many Netflix movies have been nominated for best picture in the past like Roma, The Irishman and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

First Oscar for Sir Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Branagh has been nominated for Academy Awards across seven different categories during his career, including best actor –  that itself is an Oscars record, but until this year he had always come away empty-handed. This year he finally took home a statue, winning Best Original Screenplay for Belfast.

The first back-to-back win by female directors

The Oscar for Best director went to Jane Campion, for her gritty Western, The Power of the Dog. This win comes just one year after Chloe Zhao won in the same category for her film Nomadland. This is the first time there has been a back to back win by two women directors in this category since the Oscars began in 1929. A truly big step for female directors. This is Campion’s 2nd nomination, her first was in 1994 for The Piano. Jane Campion is now the third female in Academy Awards History to be named Best Director, after Chloe Zhao in 2021 and Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 (The Hurt Locker).

Riz Ahmed becomes the First Asian & Muslim to win an Oscar for a live action movie.

Riz Ahmed became the first actor of Asian and Muslim background to win an Oscar for ‘best-live action short film’ on Sunday for his part in The Long Goodbye. This is a win for all Asians and Muslims around the world to see one of their own win such a prestigious award on an international stage! “This is for everyone who feels like they don’t belong. Anyone who feels like they’re stuck in no man’s land. You’re not alone. We’ll meet you there. That’s where the future is. Peace,” Riz Ahmed said in his acceptance speech. 

The post History Made at the 2022 Oscars appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

Late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar became a legend not only for having a melodious voice, but also because of many twists and turns in her life, and the support of some experts from the bollywood’s music industry.

She was born in a Maharashtrian Brahmin family in 1929, and she has three sisters — Meena, Asha, Usha and a brother named Hridaynath, and she is the eldest among them. Her father — Deenanath Mangeshkar, was a well-known classical singer and a Marathi actor. Her mother, Shevanti (later renamed Shudhamati), a Gujarati woman from Thalner (Maharashtra), and she was Deenanath’s second wife; his first wife Narmada, who had died, was Shevanti’s older sister. Her name was “Hema” at birth, but later her parents renamed to “Lata” and the name was after a female character – Latika, who was in one of her father’s plays. Deenanath was born in Goa and he adopted the surname “Mangeshkar” to represent his native town of Mangeshi, Goa. Her father was a very disciplined person, and always had a strict parenting nature. He never allowed his children to become frivolous and was also particular about their dress code.  Her father only trained her in classical music at the age of five, which was the beginning of her melodious journey.

The game changers

In 1942, when she was only 13 yrs of age, her father died of heart disease, and this was the most shocking incident of her life. But this incident didn’t end her singing journey, instead, it took a sharp turn in her career. Her father’s friend – Master Vinayak (Vinayak Damodar Karnataki), the owner of Navyug Chitrapat Movie Company, took care of her family. He then helped her in making a career in singing and acting. Because of Vinayak, she got a chance to sing in a Marathi film, and she sang the song “Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari”, in a Marathi film called Kiti Hasaal (1942). He also gave her a small role in the marathi film Pahili Mangalaa-gaur (1942). Her first Hindi song was “Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu” for the Marathi film Gajaabhaau (1943).

Lata Mangeshkar didn’t have much passion for acting, and she didn’t like the dramatic maneuvers of the screenplay. In 1945, she moved to Mumbai because Master Vinayak’s company moved its headquarters there. This was a game changer for her singing career and it brightened up the road of her musical journey.

In Mumbai, she started taking lessons in Hindustani classical music from Ustad Aman Ali Khan of Bhindibazaar Gharana. This was another game changer for her, because he was the most experienced music teacher of that time, and was an Indian classical vocalist and composer from the Bhendibazaar Gharana. He introduced rhythmic play (layakari) and style of solfa singing (sargam) to the Bhendibazaar Gharana. Without his training, Lata Mangeshkar wouldn’t have become a perfect singer. She then got the first chance to sing a song in a Hindi film called Badi Maa (1945) – it was Master Vinayak’s first Hindi film, and the song is “Mata Tere Charnon Mein”. After Vinayak’s death in 1948, her career didn’t come to an end. She was liked by the music director Ghulam Haider, who mentored her as a singer. He introduced her to the producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, who was working on the movie Shaheed (1948), but Mukherjee dismissed her voice, because he found it too thin. Haider reacted to Mukherjee’s rejection, and told him that one day producers and directors of Bollywood would fall at Lata Mangeshkar’s feet and beg her to sing in their movies. With such a rivalry, he accompanied her to Bombay Talkies studio in Malad (Mumbai), where the film Majboor (1948) was being shot. Haider was the music composer for that film, and finally she was selected as a playback singer for that film, and the song Angrezi Chhora Chala Gaya was recorded in her voice. This was a major breakthrough in her career and Bombay Talkies was her main game changer. After that, she got the opportunity to sing in many Bollywood films like Barsaat (1949), Andaz (1949), Mahal (1949), etc. Then the song Ayega Ayega from the film Mahal became the most popular song at that time. After gaining popularity in the film industry, she was offered to sing in many films. And she sang for decades in various films and in different languages. She sang more than 25,000 songs and some were not even known.

The four game changers – Master Vinayak, Ustad Aman Ali Khan, Ghulam Haider and Bombay Talkies, helped Lata Mangeshkar to become a legend. Without them, she wouldn’t have got the opportunity to furnish herself and become a legend in the Bollywood’s film industry.

Sensational songs

Almost all of us have heard Lata Mangeshkar’s songs at some point of time in our life, and it’s very difficult to say which one is the best. That’s because most of her songs were well sung by her with heart touching melodies. The lyrics of her songs are also very meaningful and give an emotional feeling while listening. Her songs contain every side of human emotions starting from happiness to grief, and her songs represent not only the emotions of an Indian heart but the India itself. It’s only a true music lover who can judge that!

Lata Mangeshkar won several awards and honors – Padma Bhushan (1969), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1993), Filmfare Special Awards (1994) for the song “Didi Tera Devar Deewana” from the film Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), Maharashtra Bhushan Award (1997), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievements (1999), NTR National Award (1999), Bharat Ratna (2001), Filmfare Special Awards (2004) presented with a golden trophy, ANR National Award (2009), three National Film Awards and 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards. She also won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards.

In 1984, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh instituted the Lata Mangeshkar Award in her honor. She received honorary doctorates from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1989, Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, and Shivaji University in Kolhapur. The State Government of Maharashtra again instituted a Lata Mangeshkar Award in 1992. In 2009, she was awarded the title of Officer of the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest order. 

Besides all that, she also received many other awards and honors. In 2012, she was ranked number 10 in Outlook India’s poll of the Greatest Indian.

During her childhood, she joined a singing competition and there were 114 contestants. She won 1st prize in that contest and a musical instrument called Dilruba was given to her as a prize. When she showed it to her father, her father tried playing with the instrument, but accidently it broke. She started crying, but her father consoled her and said, “this is nothing, people will give you many gifts and prizes in the future for your singing”. Lata Mangeshkar always remembered her father’s saying whenever she received any award.

Lata Mangeshkar’s top 10 songs:

1. Ayega Ayega from Mahal (1949)
2. Rasika Balma from Chori Chor (1956)
3. Ajeeb Dastan Yeh from Dil Apna aur Preet Parai (1960)
4. Jo Vada Kiya Wo Nibhana Padega from Taj Mahal (1963)
5. Lag Ja Gale from Woh Kaun Thi (1964)
6. Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega from Mera Saaya (1966)
7. Chalo Dildaar Chalo (Pakeezah) 1972
8. Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi from Masoom (1983)
9. Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jana Sanam from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
10. Humko Humise Chura Lo from Mohabbatein (2000)

Besides the film songs, she also sang a patriotic song Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo in 1963.

Flyover commotion

There is no place as sweet as home, and Lata Mangeshkar was residing in her sweet home called Prabhu Kunj, located at Peddar road in Mumbai. She moved to Mumbai in 1945 and has seen the commercial conversion of the city since then. In an interview she said that the city was once very nice and comfortable to live in, but later it became a havoc. Moreover, her problem started when the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) proposed to construct a 4.1 km flyover on Peddar road. She and her sister, Asha Bhosle criticized the proposal. Their criticism had led the delegation of Pedder Road Residents Association, and they met the former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in 2001. They said that they would leave Mumbai if the flyover is built, and this had obliged them to suspend the construction. This is obviously true that the construction of such a flyover could cause many problems to the residents of Peddar road, as the buildings are very close to the road.

Till now the construction of the flyover was not done only because Lata Mangeshkar was residing there and she was completely against it.

Deadly covid

COVIS-19 pandemic has caused a devastating crisis all over the world, and in India many people died because of this pandemic. It started in 2020 and caused the whole country to go into lockdown, and people became trapped in their houses for months. This has caused a great loss to Bollywood, and most artists and professionals became jobless. Apart from that, many well-known artists and actors suffered from this pandemic, and some even died. However, because of the good support from the government and the health professionals, many people were saved. In 2020, the well-known versatile actor Amitabh Bachchan, also known as the “Big B”, tested positive for COVID-19 along with the family members, including Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (she was quarantined at home with her daughter).  Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were admitted to the Nanavati hospital in Mumbai, which is known as a center for excellence. Both of them recovered successfully after staying in that hospital for a few days. Besides the Bachchan’s family, many other actors like Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan were also infected by the virus but recovered later. However, not everyone was lucky enough to evade this virus. Actors like Bikramjeet Kanwarpal and Satish Kaul (who played the role of Ram in Mahabharat) have lost their lives after getting COVID-19. The two popular music directors Wajid of Sajid-Wajid and Shraven of Nadeem-Shravan also died from the pandemic.

With that scenario in mind, Lata Mangeshkar seems lucky that she was not affected by the virus during the last 2yrs, when compared with the other people of the Bollywood who got infected early.

On 1st Jan 2022, Lata Mangeshkar tweeted on Twitter with a blessing that this year everyone would become free from the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s very heartbreaking to find that she got infected by the viru

s after a few days. She was admitted to the Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai. Unfortunately, after struggling for more than 28 days in that hospital, she died on 6th February 2022.

She was having respiratory problems in the past also, and in 2019 she was admitted in the same hospital for pneumonia, but she recovered. If there was no COVID-19 then she would ha

ve recovered this time also. The quality of the hospital and the doctor’s treatment also matters. If she was taken to the Nanavati hospital instead, then she might have been alive today. As Breach Candy was close to her home and Nanavati was far away, she was not lucky this time. But luck was in favor of Amitabh Bachchan because it takes only 10 minutes to reach Nanavati from his house but it would take 40 minutes or more to reach that hospital from Prabhu Kunj.

If Lata Mangeshkar was not infected with COVID-19, then she would have lived longer.

Leveraging digital music

Music means entertainment, and there are various types of music known as genre. Genre of music has changed a lot since the last few decades. During the 40’s when Lata Mangeshkar started her career as a playback singer, the Bollywood’s music industry was mostly dominated by classical music. At that time the audio recording was directly done on photographic films, and the whole song needs to be recorded at one take only. However, as time passed, the taste of the music industry has changed to rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic music. The first change was done by R.D. Burman during the 60s, when he introduced electronic rock and jazz music in Indian films. Then came A.R. Rehman, and he introduced electronic fusion and world music during the 90s. This has happened because of the emergence of digital technology in the field of music production. Earlier, there were no electronic instruments like musical synthesizer or electric piano, but after the availability of such digital instruments, music production has changed. After the introduction of various digital DJ controllers and mixers in the market, the making of remixes and hip-hop songs have become easier. This has facilitated many artists like Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah to introduce rap (a version of hip-hop) songs in India.

Nevertheless, singing without the help of any technology will always be considered to be indigenous. Apache Indian, a reggae artist of UK origin, became popular with his rap style songs like “Chok There”, during the 90s. At that time reggae was popular and later evolved to hip-hop. However, Baba Sehgal was considered to be the first artist to introduce rap singing in India, and his song “Thanda Thanda Pani” was popular during the 90s.

As technology changes, the music production method and genre will also keep on changing. After the innovation of various computer technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the world has changed a lot. Nowadays, with the help of AI we can do many things starting from social networking to online gaming. And it’s also starting to change the method of music production. Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist, also known as AIVA, is a virtual music composer and can compose music with the help of AI technology. It is the world’s first virtual music composer to be recognized by SACEM – a French professional association collecting payments of artists’ rights and distributing the rights to the original songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It was created in February 2016, AIVA specializes in classical and symphonic music composition. AIVA is a published composer, and its first studio album “Genesis’ ‘ was released in November 2016, and the second album “Among the Stars” in 2018.

Apart from automated music composition, making a computer to sing has also become possible. Researchers at the Microsoft Technology Center Asia are developing a singing bot called XiaoiceSing, which can sing on any given musical score. Apart from this, the Yamaha Corporation is developing a Vocaloid (a software that can sing), with the help of AI, which is capable of singing with a voice of legendary Japanese vocalist Hibari Misora.

Such technologies will gradually change the concept of music production, and it will be a piece of cake rather than an uphill battle. However, it can’t beat any legendary singers like Lata Mangeshkar because a God gifted voice will always be overwhelming.

Lata Mangeshkar was compelled to work for the film industry because her father died at an early age, and she had to support her family by earning money. If her father wouldn’t have died so early, she wouldn’t have become a legend. Also the biggest game changer – the Bombay talkies played an important role in her career. She is no more, but she will always be remembered by her evergreen melodious songs.

– Debojit Acharjee (Software Engineer/Writer)

   debojitacharjee@gmail.com

   Twitter: @debojitacharjee

The post Lata Mangeshkar and the Music Revolution appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

After all this time if you haven’t heard of Zendaya, what rock have you been living under?

Zendaya has been a household name as of late and is living every teenage girl’s dream as Tom Holland’s girlfriend!

This ambitious and very talented 25 year old has been gracing our screens since she was a little girl aged 13 when she appeared in the Disney channel sitcom ‘Shake It Up’ along with other popular actors and actresses, Bella Thorne, Kenton Duty and Roshon Fegan.

Fast forward to 2017 where she made her major film debut acting as ‘MJ’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe  Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and as Anne Wheeler in the musical drama film The Greatest Showman (2017) acting alongside long term actors such as Zac Efron, Tom Holland and Hugh Jackman.

In 2021 she showed us once again how expansive her acting range is as she portrayed the character of ‘Marie’ in the short film ‘Malcolm and Marie’. She also portrayed ‘MJ’ once again in one of the most anticipated movies of the year, ‘Spider Man No Way Home’(2021). She also starred in the scifi book turned movie ‘Dune’ (2021) alongside actor Timothee Chalamet.

2022 started off with a bang for Z, as season 2 of the HBO original ‘Euphoria’, a show that portrays a  group of high school students struggle with drugs, love, social media and money as they come of age while trying to establish their identity, premiered on the 9th of January 2022.

What’s next for ‘Zaya’ you may ask? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see! 

Psst..By the looks of it we’re probably going to see her portray ‘MJ’ for a while longer alongside boyfriend Tom Holland in another Spider Man movie! So stay tuned! 

• By A.I

The post Will 2022 be Zendaya’s year? appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

A Detective Mike Steward Story
By Yash Nanayakkara

It was exactly 8:02pm. Undefeated kickboxing champion Lee Chiang was in the ring, fighting to keep his title. His opponent, John Hoskins, was striving to maintain consciousness, with an injured jaw and a bloody nose.

“OUCH!” exclaimed the commentator, as Lee gave a devastating kick to Hoskins’ knee. “That must have hurt a bit!” John Hoskins was now down on his knees, with a now crippled leg. Lee just needed one kick on John’s head, and that would have been hit. A kick and maybe a punch as well for emphasis. Lee grinned with triumph, as he went onto a kicking stance and flexed his leg. Suddenly, he just fell back.

“What is this? What’s wrong with Lee? MY GOODNESS! He’s toppled to the floor!” The commentator wasn’t exaggerating. Lee Chiang was now lying dead on the floor in an inhumane pose. Spectators screamed. Hoskins looked baffled. Something had happened, and no one knew what.

***

A few miles away from the stadium, renowned detective Mike Steward sat in the Hilltop Police station listening to bad pop music and reading a mystery novel in an empty office. All the other officers had gone home, but he had decided to wait for Commissioner Bulstock to finish a few phone calls before going with him to have a drink at the Blue Booze pub. A few months ago, Mike had solved the elaborate murder mystery of Mr. Hank Lawrence, in which he was betrayed by a friend of his. That friend ended up dead, but the nerve of that betrayal was still stuck in his mind. Just as he was about to play another bad pop song on his iPod, the commissioner came running into the office. “Mike! TURN OFF THAT DISASTROUS POP MUSIC! There’s been a murder!”

“This is not bad pop mus…A MURDER!” Mike, suddenly awoken from a lazy internal slumber and got into action. “Come on Commissioner,” exclaimed Mike, as he put on his navy-blue beret and yellow coat. “Time to solve a murder.”

***

“So, Commissioner,” enquired Mike, as the black police Sedan drove off into the night, “what’s the news?”

“A kickboxer, Chiang Lee. Age 28. He apparently dropped dead in the middle of a fight, in the Town Fighting Stadium.”

“Chiang Lee!” cried Mike, astounded. “He was the best kickboxer there was! But how did he die?”

***

At the stadium, Mike and the commissioner were in the ring, next to the body of the dead kickboxer. The fighting ring was encapsulated in yellow tape, while reporters with flashing cameras struggled outside the tape inside a large crowd of people. Suddenly, Mike and the commissioner witnessed a dishevelled man sliding under the police tape and striding towards them.

“Sorry gentlemen, if my attire is unsuitable,” said the man. It was evident that he had been pummelled about while wading through the mob of distraught reporters and people. “My name is David Rodriguez, owner of this kickboxing stadium, and organiser of this fighting event.” He stuck out his hand. Mike took it.

“Mike Steward. Detective from the Hilltop Police department. This is Commissioner Bulstock.” The commissioner waved.

“How do ya’ do, bud?”

David forced out a light laugh.

“Mr. Rodriguez, do you have any idea as to how Mr. Lee here might have died?” enquired Mike.

“No. None at all. Lee was healthy, strong. No illnesses. But during the championship today, he just dropped dead on the floor. Took everyone by shock. I mean, he seemed so fit when I gave him a drink of orange juice before the fight to get his adrenaline up.”

“Hmmm…” thought Mike.

“Seems pretty uncanny. A star kickboxer of peak health, just dying here and there. Looks like foul play to me,” said the commissioner. He took another look at the dead body lying in a frightening angle, with Lee’s legs tucked under the ever so slightly pale body. “Yep, definitely uncanny.”

Mike rolled over the body and examined it. “No bullets or darts or any other punctures in the skin. He wasn’t killed during the fight, which means…”

“Ah!” exclaimed the commissioner, “he was poisoned!”

“Exactly. Mr. Rodriguez, I am authorizing an autopsy on the body of Lee Chiang. We need to confirm whether he was poisoned or not.”

“Yes, yes, of course…” replied Rodriguez, and walked away.

“In the meantime, Commissioner,” Mike turned around to face the commissioner, we need to find out who would have a motive to kill Chiang.”

***

Back at the police station, Mike was racking his brain to find a suspect. He had looked through Chiang’s previous fights in the tournament, to see who might be jealous of Chiang to the extent of putting poison into his drink, or perhaps putting some poison powder into his food. Even though the previous ten fighters had looked vicious, further in-depth research showed that they had no personal grudges against Lee. Also, all of them had never fought with Lee before the tournament in any other events, so it was highly unlikely that anyone would go through the trouble of murdering him when they didn’t even know him much.

Commissioner, this case is an intricate one. Why would someone want to murder Lee? He was just a kickboxer…” Mike flipped through more documents. All of a sudden, Mike came across John Hoskins’s details. His eyes opened wide, and his brain went into hyperdrive.

“Commissioner, we have to meet the other finalist in the tournament, NOW.”

Mike got out of the black Sedan, along with Commissioner Bulstock, right outside a rather impressive mansion.

“The mansion of John Hoskins,” whispered the commissioner in awe. A fountain in the center of the ground surrounding the mansion resembled the fighter himself, John. At that precise moment, a gush of water was spewed out from the fountain mouth.

“Don’t be too dazzled, Commissioner. We are standing in the yard of a killer.”

***

John Hoskins’ guards reluctantly opened the main entrance and allowed the two officers to enter. Hoskins was spread out, bare-chested on a velvet sofa, holding an ice pack to his left temple. His eyes were closed.

“John Hoskins? We have some questions for you,” said the commissioner. Hoskins’ eyes opened up with a slight surprise.

“What d’ya wanna ask me?”

“We only have one question for you, Hoskins. Did you order Lee to be poisoned or not? ANSWER ME!” Mike was in “bad cop” mode now.

Pebbles of sweat appeared on Hoskins face, and he began to breathe a little heavier. All the signs of guilt were embroidered across his face.

“Hm, I thought so. Looks like that guilty conscience hurts more than that bruise on your head huh?” Mike gleamed with triumph, as he watched the commissioner put handcuffs onto the murderer’s hands, until he realized something.

“Commissioner…” whispered Mike, in an intonation of re-found suspicion, “the autopsy just arrived. They sent a picture. It’s cyanide.”

“But,” said the commissioner, “cyanide acts in minutes! Hoskins never came came into contact with Lee within hours of the fight!”

“Which means that there was an inside man as well. Some-one who met Lee and had a drink with him just before the fight.”

“Mike, I know who did it. The only person who gave him a drink of orange juice just before the fight.”

Mike nodded and said one word. “Rodriguez.”

***

David Rodriguez sat in the upper terrace of his house, marveling at his success of murdering Lee.

“Ha! That detective will never even suspect me!”

“Oh really?” A familiar voice that he had heard the previous day drifted through the room towards his ears. The voice of Detective Mike Steward. Rodriguez’ face turned swiftly from one of glee to one of utter horror, as he slowly turned around shivering to face the gun that Mike was holding up. He mumbled two words.

“Darn it.”

***

Mike watched as both Rodriguez and Hoskins were dragged out of the police car that was sitting outside the Hilltop police station. He strode back into the commissioner’s office, wading through the number of officers congratulating him on his new success.

“I won’t say that it was easy Commissioner. It was a real challenge.”

“All the more reason to celebrate!” The commissioner guffawed.

“I won’t say no to that Commissioner!”

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