Interview of the week: Everything is in the name… HELEN : Shakuntala Vidya Sharma

She is the face of a Sikkimese girl in the Nepali film Industry. A former model and a popular Hindi TV serial actress, she meets Shakuntala Vidya Sharma from Daramdin. She is ready with her new Nepali film, Helen, which is also her first home production.

Tell us something about yourself?

Born in a modest family, I am the middle child among three girls. Both my parents have spent their lives teaching, while I have always been more inclined towards art, unlike anyone else in the family. Acting has been my favourite form of expression. It is when I act I feel I’m letting go of everything I want to express. That is where I find myself. So maybe that’s me.

From Daramdin to Helen, how has life changed?

It isn’t much different from the real journey from Daramdin to Gangtok. Some green forests, Paddy fields, cascading waterfalls, rivers, smooth highways, and bumpy roads. So, the view, time, and place constantly change in every journey. With that change comes experience, and with that experience comes change. Life is still the same; thoughts and views are different now.

Your film Helen is all set to release; what are your expectations?

My only expectation is that those who wish to watch our film will find a way to do so, and I wish that everyone watched it.

Why Helen, what is it in a name?

Everything is in the name… HELEN.

How close is the film’s story to the reality of life?

It’s real fiction. The story may be fictitious, but the moments are something one can relate to.

This is your second film with Prashant Rasaily, the film director. What is so special about him?

I don’t know what is so special about him, but I’m sure his work is special.

You acted in a popular TV serial, Balika Vadhu. How did it happen, and how was life after that?

I decided to move to Mumbai after college in Darjeeling in 2010 and joined an acting school there. After a series of auditions, I finally managed to get into a Television series, and Balika Vadhu is one of those. After the Mumbai experience on the small screen and before Helen here in Sikkim, there have been some life-changing events. Some I have learned from my own shortfalls, and some from others. So, all this learning has definitely made me stronger and wiser, and I am ready to take bigger steps in my life.

How did the seed of acting get into you?

I must have eaten it… (Oops!!)

Is it easy for a model to be an actor?

Yes… If there's an actor inside the model.

What are the projects you are looking forward to?

I am looking forward to “projects”

Your words to the readers.

Please continue to read and share your words of encouragement to artists and dreamers. That is all that keeps them happy and moving. Thank you all.

JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT

This was a national song of Sikkim sung in the Nepali language during the monarchy system. During the merger with India, the song got banned and later re-released. Two words on the 8th para, which earlier said 'Rajah rah Rani,' were replaced with "Janmah bhumi." This song was dedicated to the King and Queen of Sikkim. The song lyrics were penned by Sanu Lama, and the music was composed by Dushyant Lama. The song was first sung on the birth anniversary of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal on April 4, 1970, at Gangtok by Aruna Lama, Dawa Lama, and Manikamal Chettri. JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT, JAHAN KANCHENDZONGA SEER YEHI HO HAMRO DHANA KO DESH, TAPAWAN HO PYARO SIKKIM INTERLUDE PHULCHAN YEHA AANGANAI MAA, CHAAP , GURAS, SUNAKHARI SWARGASARI SUNDAR DESH KO HAMRO PYARO PYARO JANMAHBHUMI JANHA BAGCHA…… BATASHLE BOKCHAA YAHA, TATHAGAT KO AAMAR WAANI ...

Royal flags of Kingdom of Sikkim (1877-1975)

Sikkim (India) Image by Mario Fabretto Description of the flag Historical flags 1877 - c. 1914 c. 1914 - 1962 1962 - 1967 Description of the flag From Barraclough (1971): "Sikkim, formerly a protectorate of India, was incorporated as the twenty-second state of the union in May 1975, and the office of the hereditary ruler, the Chogyal , was abolished. Sikkim has, or had, a flag of white with a red border all round, and a yellow Chakra (fimbriated in red) in the centre." "...the Chakra [is] a Buddhist symbol representing the Law of Dharma , or eternal change." The Chakra on the flag of Sikkim is different then the one on India's flag. It has eight spokes rather than the many spokes on India's, and has an ornate "nub" on the wheel at the head of each spoke. Don Hagemann, 28 November 1995 [editor's note: The source of this quote is not Barraclough (1971), but probably a later edition of the ...

East Point SSS student scores “Perfect 10” in CBSE 10th results

--> Singtam, May 28: It was a golden day for the East Point SSS at Golitar, Singtam where one of its students Navin Kumar Trivedi scored a “perfect 10” in this year CBSE 10 th examination results. Navin Kumar Trivedi hailing from Singtam bazaar had scored the highest Grade Point i.e. “10” along with “A1” Grade in each of the five subjects he had undergone. His subjects include English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. According to the newly introduced grading system “Grade Point 10” is given to the students who scores between 91 marks to 100 marks. Ten students from EPSSS had scored first division while the school pass percentage is 90 % with no failed students. Speaking to this reporter Navin Trivedi told that he is very happy about his performances. He said he had not done any extra labour on his study; he had work hard as any other fellow students had done. He wants to build up his career in medical, he told. Along with Navin Kumar Trivedi other three s...

Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

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