AwokenWord

#016: Barkha Madan - "Lights, Camera, Introspection!"

December 11th, 2019  |  Season 2  |  1 hr 35 mins

barkha madan, bollywood, buddha, buddhism, dalai lama, film, humanity, interview, love, society, spirituality

Anuj Rastogi is joined by Barkha Madan at the AwokenWord studio. Barkha Madan is a former Indian model, film actress and film producer who has also appeared in television serials and hosted TV shows in India. Barkha had risen to prominence through major film and fashion projects, while undergoing her own inner exploration and journey. In November 2012, Barkha finally made the leap into her self-described "calling" and underwent ordination to become a Buddhist nun and changed her name to Ven. Gyalten Samten. Barkha shares her incredible journey from the runway and silverscreen, and the experience of immersing herself in new characters, before eventually following through on her true spiritual calling. Anuj and Barkha discuss the challenges of a modern life in a modern, materialistic and social media driven world, as well as the joys of travel, meeting people, looking back across her experiences, and the ways in which her path has impacted countless others.

#015: Shantanu Pujari - "Hip Hop India"

November 13th, 2019  |  Season 2  |  1 hr 24 mins

action, bollywood, fight, film, gully boy, hip hop, history, humanity, india, inspiration, kickboxing, martial arts, mma, muay thai, mumbai, music, politics, spiritual, yoga

Anuj Rastogi reconnects with Shantanu Pujari, a multi-talented artist and fighter. Shantanu is a professional competitive mixed martial arts fighter, yoga instructor, action director for film, activist, b-boy, beatboxer and hip hop label artist manager. Shantanu is also the host of the "Shakahari Show" on Rukus Avenue Radio. Shantanu shares his incredible personal journey, and a deep respect and knowledge of the history of Hip Hop as well as India. This conversation is an inspiring and exciting journey through the eyes of India's youth which is on course to transform the country and the world in positive ways.

#009: Nicki Wells - "The World is Sound"

March 13th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 14 mins

andy serkis, dance, film, humanity, indian classical, inspiration, london, matrix, melody, mowgli, music, nicki wells, nitin sawhney, sapiens, singer, story, theatre, travel, turya

In this episode, Anuj connects with London-based singer, songwriter, composer, producer and multi-genre musical prodigy, Nicki Wells (aka TURYA). Nicki is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, and capable of astonishing fluency across Western classical, pop, and Indian Classical styles of music. A long-time collaborator with leading global artists, Nicki has worked with composer Nitin Sawhney, vocalists Tina Grace, and Joss Stone to name a few. Nicki has performed across many of the globe's most esteemed venues from Australia, the Middle East, South and East Asia, throughout Europe, Canada and the US. Nicki has also performed for, and composed original music for acclaimed film, theatre and dance productions, and he voice is found on soundtracks including the 2018 feature film "Mowgli" directed by Andy Serkis, and streaming on Netflix.

#008: Pardeep Nagra - "The Tiger"

February 20th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 4 mins

athetics, boxing, education, equity, film, history, hollywood, humanity, mickey rourke, pardeep nagra, sikh, tiger

In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi sits down in studio with Pardeep Singh Nagra, championship boxer, athlete, historian, educator, public speaker and human rights advocate. Pardeep is the Executive Director of the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada, and a champion of equity within the public school system. In the 1990s Mr. Nagra was barred from competing in a Canadian boxing championship because of his beard, which is a mandatory article of his Sikh faith. These real-life events would go on to become the basis for the Hollywood movie "TIGER", about Pardeep's life, starring Mickey Rourke, Prem Singh, and Janel Parrish

#004: Roger Christian - "Star Wars & The Alchemy of Cinema"

November 2nd, 2018  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 36 mins

alien, film, george lucas, hollywood, humanity, light saber, love, oscar, science fiction, star wars

In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi speaks with legendary, Academy award-winning Art Director and Filmmaker, Roger Christian. Roger walks through his incredible life's journey from childhood in the UK, to learning the craft of set direction to the day he was hired personally by George Lucas to lead set design on "Star Wars: A New Hope". Roger explains the process he went through in inventing and designing the light-saber, R2D2, and the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, among many elements in the enduring look of the Star Wars universe.

Anuj and Roger discuss the evolution of cinema, Roger's inspirations and experiences with some of the greats of Hollywood, today's changing political and social landscape, what it means to be a man today, and the future of his newly resurrected feature film project, "Black Angel".