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

 My articles on cinema 1.  Sikkim behind the moving cameras 2.  Rani Mukerjee song from Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat shot at Singtam 3.  Anmol Tshan: redefining family values 4.  Photo presentation of hindi film ROMEO IN SIKKIM by Shital Pradhan 5.  Romeo in Sikkim ; Sikkim’s first Hindi film (1975) 6.  'The Blue Lagoon' (1949) dubbed as 'Samundar ki Sundari' in hindi 7.  Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and Anand 8.  There should be the sequel of Nepali film Saino… 9. Danny Denzongpa : A Pride of Sikkim 10.  Rajesh Khanna's Aradhana film had a Sikkim's vehicle number plate 11.  Rishi Kapoor and his sweater 12.  Sikkim remembers its “Jewel Thief” 13.  Danny and his 'Cheese seller' humour 14.  Kancha lay kanchi lai lagyo....a song in Hindi classic Madhumati (1957) 15.  Danny Denzongpa's first nepali film Mashal 16.  Everything is in the name… HELEN : Shakuntala Vidya Sharma 17.  Suresh K. Lama introduces “Kina M...

Shabri played by veteran actress Sarita Devi was an elderly lady with low vision who waits for the visit of Rama as told by her guru at her hut in the jungle. Each day she goes to the wild and collects berry fruits to offer Rama. She would bite the fruit and keep the sweet berries aside and throw away the bitter ones. One day finally, Rama and Lakshmana visit the old Shabri at her hut.  Shabri could not hide her joy and offers her half eaten berries to which Rama smiles and eats.   Lakshmana becomes skeptics and says to Rama, the food is spoiled as it is half eaten. To which Rama says he would accept anything offered with such devotion. It was Shabri who tell Rama to meet Sugriva. Shabri is known for her patience of devotion in awaiting Rama which she finally attains. Born in 1925, Sarita Devi stated her film career in 1953 with Jeewan Jyoti that lasted till late 80s; an overall of 200 movies and four TV series. She was part of popular hindi films like Devdas (...

Bhutan 's actor Sangay Tsheltrim is playing the third villain in Salman Khan's much talked next release of 2020 'Radhe'. But sorry to say, web pages at internet is flooded with news that says Sang Hae (mis-pronounced) is a well known actor from Sikkim. Sangay Tsheltrim, former Mr Asia silver medallist and gold medallist at the 50th Asian Body-building and Physique Sports Championships's debut film Singye from Bhutan was a big hit and he had won the best debut actor award.

Name                        : Bijayata Baraily Father's Name    : Mr. B.K. Baraily Mother's name   : Mrs. Devika Baraily Sibling                   : Nivedita Baraily. Date of Birth      : 15-06-1987. Religion                : Hindu Nationality          : Indian School                         : Dowhill School, Kurseong Diploma in Architecture        : Siliguri Govt. Polytechnic. Dwelling place: PankhaBari Road, Kurseong. Senior Diploma in Bharatnatyam: Geeti Gunj Music College, Kurseong. (Affiliated to Allahabad)....

Mahurat of Prashant Tamang's nepali film Angalo Yo Maya Ko' (11.10.2013). Ms. Neeru Sewa, then West Pandam Constituency MLA and Minister had given the mahurat clap. To my surprise, one of the lead actresses was replaced after the mahurat. (Pics: Shital Pradhan)

Bollywood's celebrated actor Irrfan Khan is shooting the climax of Tanuja Chandra's Hindi film Qarib Qarib Singlle at a different location of Gangtok. He arrived at Gangtok on the evening of February 28. Nothing more is known about the movie that also stars Luke Kenny as a Sikkimese gentleman. The film unit will stay in Sikkim for ten days as reported.

Anyone interested in going through the old lifestyles of the small Kingdom of Sikkim will surely be delighted to know that the much-awaited "Sikkim '' documentary by noted filmmaker Satyajit Ray will hit the market soon in DVDs and VCDs. Shot in 1971 in different parts of Sikkim stories of the very documentary being banned and later on gossip of the lost negatives of the much-talked documentary makes the work more interesting for Sikkim lovers to search for this masterpiece. I was fortunate to watch this documentary last year when it was shown at Vajra Cinema Hall at Gangtok. Watching the Chogyal and Gyalmo moving on the widescreen of the cinema hall made it more appealing to audiences like me who were not born in Independent Sikkim. Truly each scene that illustrated the old Sikkim gave me a feeling of that era when this land was free of the noises and crowds that surround it today. Just watch the above video of Gangtok City, the then-small capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim...