No matter the competition, the home advantage is real, we are told. Thousands cheering for you every time your name is announced can only be a good thing, right? And imagine if you win? The noise, the cheers, and the memories will remain forever etched in your memories.

But Strela Thounaojam Luwang, Femina Miss Manipur, who will walk down the ramp of Femina Miss India 2023 in her home town of Imphal, is already a winner and an example for several people. And in some ways, her name has already made it to history books: she will forever be the person who represented Manipur the first time the state hosted the prestigious event.

“Excited is a word that cannot even express my feelings right now. I’m ecstatic, to be fair, and I must say Manipur is ready to welcome the whole country with huge smiles and open arms,” Strela told EastMojo over the phone from Mumbai, just days before landing in Manipur for the final leg.

“It’s a proud moment for Strela, as she represents Manipur with grace and dignity p, showcasing the beauty of sisterhood and the unity in diversity of India’s diverse culture,” wrote Femina Miss India on Facebook.

On Friday, after undergoing intensive sessions in Mumbai for a month, contestants from 28 states and two union territories arrived in Imphal City, the capital of Manipur, for the pageant’s grand finale.

Difficult journey, resilient Strela
Strela Luwang started her career in modelling at the age of 14 and always dreamt of participating in the pageant. “I am so thankful for all the love and support I’ve received from the people of Manipur. It is definitely not an overnight success. I would say it came with lots of hard work and effort as I’ve been preparing and praying for this for more than five years,” said Luwang.

But as is often the case, the reality was starkly different to her dreams.

Born to Thounaojam Ratan Luwangcha and Ashalata Chingsubam of Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Strela, the sixth among eight siblings, suffered from seizures during her youth. Luwang said that life was not easy when she was young, and her parents bore most of the suffering.

“I’m so thankful and sorry to them even today,” she said, adding, “I call it a blessing and not a hurdle. When I was sick and immobile, I had imagined a life I wanted to live in the future when I finally overcame my illness. I must say: those visions are why I am here today, living and working hard for the life I imagined then.”

Thankfully, seizures are now a thing of the past, and she is gracefully living her dreams with dignified, hard work and confidence, now hoping to bring home the Femina Miss India title.

Sharing her experience at Femina Miss India thus far, Luwang said, “The journey has been amazing, and I am also looking forward to making more memories and bonding with the few days left. The team is very supportive and kind. Our managers are our best friends. We can go to them for anything. They will offer a shoulder when we need to cry.”

The glamour industry is known for cut-throat competition and lack of empathy, however, for Luwang, her co-contestants were the ones who gave her strength and comfort.

“We would fool around when the situation is a little grim and have a pep talk if any of us is facing an issue, that is the sisterhood we have for one another,” she said.

Besides modelling, Strela, a former cabin crew, is pursuing her business studies in Manipur. During her free time, she loves to write, sing and play the ukulele, which, she says, is ‘her cradle of comfort and joy’ amid her hectic lifestyle.

A different industry, a reformed outlook
According to the beauty queen from Manipur, the concept and focus of beauty pageants changed drastically over the years.

“The once-appreciated preachy answers and speeches are less appreciated right now. Today, a beauty queen is someone relatable. She can make mistakes, doesn’t have to be perfect or look perfect in every way possible. That feeling of reachability will inspire the younger generations to have the same passion,” she said.

So, today the changes are evident not only concerning inner beauty or outer beauty, it is about self-acceptance and assurance. “I must say it is pretty successful in its way,” added Luwang, also a social influencer.

Luwang has over 45,000 followers on Instagram and several thousands more on other social platforms.

“My followers are my friends, their love and support have been what made me go about when doubts shadow my mind and I am so thankful to them for always being there for me,” she said.

Ajmeri Haque Badhan is a known face in the entertainment world. After the movie 'Rehana Mariam Noor', she was seen in the movie 'Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Aseni’ directed by Srijit Mukharjee of West Bengal. She entered Tollywood through this movie. But this time she is not limited only to Dhallywood and Tollywood movies.

Recently she worked in Bollywood director Vishal Bharadwaj's film 'Khupiya'. She will be seen as a Bangladeshi woman in the movie 'Khupiya'. It is also known that she will be seen in a very important role even if she does not have much screen time.

The movie 'Khufia' is releasing on October 5 this year. The trailer of the movie 'Khupiya' was released last Monday (September 18) at noon. The 2 minute 39 seconds long trailer had mystery, action and romance.

While acting in this movie, she developed a good relationship with everyone. Although not friends with Tabu, who acted in the movie, a close relationship has developed. The actress also said that Tabu used to cook food for them and everyone enjoyed eating it.

Badhan said, those who like me and my work in Bangladesh will be interested in it. So they are excited after seeing the trailer. After watching the film, this love will hopefully increase. I am happy with the response I got in Bangladesh after watching the trailer. My many Kolkata fans also wished. It is a lovely place.

It is to be noted that she went to Mumbai to do a look test on September 26, 2021. The shooting started in Delhi the following month. That was the first lot of shooting of the movie. The shooting of the film was completed in 2022.

Everyone remembers Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalk' dance. The black hat Jackson wore during that dance is going up for auction. News NDTV.

According to NDTV report, Michael Jackson's hat will be put up for auction at Hotel Drouot in Paris on September 26. It can be procured there for 60 thousand to 1 lakh Euro (about 7 million 86 thousand to 1 crore 18 lakh in Bangladeshi currency).

 The hat was worn by the pop superstar when he performed 'Billie Jean' at a 1983 Motown concert. The concert was televised. Jackson was at the height of his fame. Jackson started the 'moonwalk' dance during a performance of the song 'Billie Jean' in the concert. He wore the hat at that dance.

This auction is organized by ArtPages and Lemon Auctions. Apart from Michael Jackson's hat, US singer T Bone Walker's guitar, British singer Martin Gore's suit and a gold medal of American singer Madonna will also be up for auction. About 200 memorabilia from the world of music will be raised in this auction.

It should be noted that it has been 14 years since the death of Pop Emperor Michael Jackson. He was not just a singing star; He was a singer, dancer and actor.

In 2020, “Zindagi Tamasha,” a film by acclaimed Pakistani director Sarmad Khoosat, was the Pakistani Oscar nominee for the 93rd Academy Awards. Yet, Pakistanis cannot see it in theaters. Last month, after years of failed negotiations and court cases, the director gave up and decided to release the film online only. He said it would not be the same as seeing it on large screens in theaters, but at least Pakistani citizens (and anybody else) can finally access it.

Basically, this is yet another instance in which the authorities are scared enough by the extremist movement Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, which had proved that it is capable of paralyzing the country with long riots, that they decide to humor it rather than risking a confrontation. The government surrendered to Tehreek-e-Labbaik on the admittedly more deadly matter of a stricter enforcement of anti-blasphemy laws. It is not surprising that it surrenders again when “only” a film is under attack.

Why the attack against “Zindagi Tamasha”? The beautiful film, whose title has been translated in English as “Circus of Life,” is about an elderly man, who is a pious Sunni Muslim and a respected real estate agent. One day, he attends a wedding and decides to engage in a humorous dance. A guest captures the dance on video and uploads it on social media.

Netizens start attacking the man as “effeminate,” claiming he is probably gay (he is not, as his bedridden wife can testify). The video goes viral and is even discussed on television. The old man’s life and career are ruined. He is attacked and threatened by local fundamentalists, and shunned even by relatives and friends.

Although no movement is named, fundamentalists such as the leaders of Tehreek-e-Labbaik can easily feel targeted. They do not understand that the film is not really about extremist Islam. It is about the obnoxious power of social media haters, who can destroy a life and a reputation, a problem that does not exist in Pakistan only.

What is peculiar to Pakistan, however, as a few independent voices have bravely noted, is that art and culture are not free, no matter how high is their quality and how respectful they are of the Islam (as the film is). Groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik are officially condemned, yet in fact they keep an entire country hostage, and the government is too weak to resist them.

Source: Bitter Winter

Pakistan as a state is almost spreading its apron to get funds from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and friendly states in the Gulf, but its military is minting money in ways unheard of in the annals of professional armies. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the communication wing of the military, is not merely limited to its job of briefing media and public of military’s various activities. It has established itself as the only arm of any military in the world that is producing, and controlling, the entertainment content in the country.

Be it Television series, movies, songs and advertisements and reality shows, the ISPR are producing all like a professional production house. Buried within its content, however, is hardcore propaganda that portrays military as saviour of Pakistan and the cause of Kashmir as a cherished humanitarian mission.

The entertainment industry has been collaborating with governments and the defence establishments world-over. The most glaring example is Hollywood enjoying long-standing relationship with the US Department of Defense. However, this association has largely been for the benefit of productions of movies dealing with wars and conflicts.

But, in case of the ISPR, it seems a matter of smoothening military’s image in the eyes of Pakistani public, selling patriotism and smartly peddling propaganda. As expected, the Kashmir cause is highlighted prominently in the ISPR productions.

Selling Patriotism, Spinning a Web of Propaganda
The ISPR has created or financed more than 60 patriotic anthems, 20 documentaries, and around ten television series and motion pictures apiece over the years. However, in the previous two years, there has been an increase in activity with an emphasis on establishing a favourable image of the nation and the military. When Major General Asif Ghafoor, then-Director General of the ISPR, spoke about the necessity for the media to raise public awareness and underlined its frontline position in fifth generation warfare a few years ago, he underscored this.

The involvement of the Army in Pakistan’s entertainment industry has evolved over the decades. During the dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1988), severe censorship was imposed on the performing arts sector. Later, under President Pervez Musharraf (1999-2008), the sector was liberalised, resulting in the burgeoning of private television channels. Today, it is an active partner and co-creator of popular content.

One prominent recent production of the ISPR is a telefilm titled Aik Hai Nigaar, which is based on the life of Pakistan’s first female three-star general, Lieutenant General Nigar Johar, was released on August 14, 2021. It featured Mahira Khan, who is the country’s biggest star. She also wore the producer’s hat for the project (on behalf of the ISPR).

The film was released around the country’s Independence Day and the ISPR was tagged on various social media posts along with the teaser of the flick. The ISPR then made the teaser viral by sharing it widely in different linked networks, giving the project its stamp of approval though it was not credited as a producer or co-creator.

The telefilm was well-received by the audience and grossed considerable moolah for the producers. More importantly for the ISPR, it was successful to generate goodwill for the Army, especially among the women viewers.

Another ambitious recent project of the ISPR has been a women-oriented drama series named Sinf e Aahan (Women of Steel). Centred on young women from different Pakistani cities and ethnicities joining Pakistani military, it stars all leading ladies of the Pakistani cinema like Sajal Aly, Kubra Khan, Yumna Zaidi, Ramsha Khan and Syra Yousuf. The series broke records of popularity and became a huge hit – the purpose that the military had aspired to achieve with its production.

Besides attracting youth and women towards Army, the ISPR has used references to Kashmir and enmity with India in the contents of the productions it has been associated with. It was no surprise that Squadron Leader Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by the Pakistani Army during the 2019 Balakot air strike, found a place in the ISPR drama series Ehd-e-Wafa, which also went on to become hugely popular among the viewers.

The ISPR also conceived and hosted the first National Amateur Short Film Festival in June 2021 to promote young talent “to produce high quality short films projecting a positive image of Pakistan”, which was attended by then Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The ISPR also produced a 26-episode military reality series called 60 Hours to Glory, which was based on one of the most difficult military contests dubbed the “Pakistan Army Team Spirit” and included eight local and four international teams. According to the ISPR’s Instagram post, it will “demonstrate the rigours of the Pak Army’s training regime, portraying ‘Why We Are the Best’.”

The goal of the programme was to “stimulate the entertainment industry to produce an innovative stream of thrilling and adventurous content.”