Galaxy of Indian stars to light up Seychelles-India Day |05 October 2013
A panoply of Indian stars are currently in Seychelles to perform at the first edition of the Seychelles-India Day which was officially launched yesterday and which will end tomorrow.
Among them, well known Bollywood actors, a world class percussionist and other musicians, a top master chef, vocalists, a choreographer, beautiful models and a fashion designer to smartly dress them all and share Indian garments and fashion among Seychellois.
The stars were presented to the local press in a welcoming ceremony yesterday afternoon at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel, in the presence of the Minster for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, the Indian high commissioner Thanglura Darlong, the principal secretary for Tourism Anne Lafortune, her counterpart for Culture Benjamine Rose, the chief executive officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board Sherin Naiken and the chairperson of the Seychelles-India Day organising committee Narasimhan Ramani.
Minister St Ange, who had earlier in the morning met the Indian artists at the airport, once again welcomed them to Seychelles and to the festival.
He said that as we currently commemorate our African and European descent respectively through FetAfrik and Semaine de la Francophonie, two arms of our origins -- that of the Indians and Chinese -- were missing. Thus, the raison-d’être behind Seychelles-India Day.
The minister wished our Indian guests a nice stay in Seychelles and asked them to promote our country when they go back home.
“Have a good time, entertain us and enjoy our country as much as you can and go back as ambassadors of Seychelles,” he said.
Brief portrait of the artists:
Maddy, movie star
It was not a surprise if Maddy, who has as real name R. Madhavan and is a well known actor, writer, film producer and television host in his country, acted as the group’s natural leader and was first to take the stage during the press conference. He said that he and his colleagues were very happy to be in our beautiful country which he feels we must do much more to promote.
“You guys have to be much more aggressive in selling your beautiful and unique natural beauty. We die to live like you not only in terms of your natural beauty but also for the peace and stability that prevail,” he said.
Maddy has appeared in a large number of Indian films -- some of which have been translated in as many as seven languages – and has earned numerous Indian television and film awards. He recently signed his first Hollywood feature film entitled ‘Night of the living dead’.
Siva (A. Sivamani), percussionist
Siva, who is ranked among the world’s top six percussionists, turned up late for the press conference as he had been visiting the Hindu Temple in Victoria, but did not fail in thrilling those present with an extraordinary piece of percussion played on a woman’s purse! This brief moment was too long to prove that he is one of India’s and the world’s best drummers. Siva has announced that he will shoot one of his future clips in Seychelles.
Sanjeev Kapoor, top Indian master chef
Sanjeev kapoor, who is owner of four restaurant chains across the world, is simply known as the “best chef of India”. Author of 150 books and owner of his own TV station, he has been India’s food ambassador on various international culinary platforms. During his stay in Seychelles, Chef Sanjeev has spent a day on Denis Island where he has been learning to cook Creole food and shooting a documentary on Seychellois cuisine alongside other local cooks. Through the film, he says that he is going to share the warm and nice Seychelles’ experience with 40 million people in India.
Other Indian stars present for the festival are:
Anjana Sukhani, leading film actress and model; Shazahn Padamsee, film and stage actress; Ushoshi SenGupta, model and actor who represented India at the Miss Universe contest in Las Vegas in 2010 and who will be the festival’s master of ceremony; Naveen Kumar, flautist; Tanmoy Bose, percussionist; Akriti Kakar, song writer and vocalist; Benny Dayal, vocalist; Terence Lewis, choreographer; Mayyur R. Girotra, leading Indian fashion designer.