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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
RIP: Places of worship remember the dead
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: People from different faiths came together in Kolkata to express grief and solidarity following the tragic crash of an Air India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which occurred shortly after take-off on Thursday and claimed 274 lives. Various places of worship across the city organised special prayers, uniting people in remembering the victims and expressing solidarity with the families of the deceased. Emergency services personnel who participated in rescue operations were also acknowledged in public prayers. At the Nakhoda mosque on Zakaria Street, special prayers were offered for the victims and their families after the Friday prayers. The trustees of the mosque also released a condolence message after the prayer, expressing deep sorrow. "We, the citizens of this country, are deeply saddened by the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad, which has claimed many lives and left families in grief. We stand with the families in this hour of grief. May the departed souls find eternal peace, and may those left behind find love and comfort in the prayers of the community. May God grant strength to those mourning their loved ones and guide the hands of those working tirelessly in rescue and relief operations," read the message signed by Nasser Ebrahim, a trustee of the mosque. The members of the Sikh community, who were observing the Gurpurab of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji on Thursday, also held special prayers. At Gurdwara Behala, an Ardaas (Sikh prayer) seeking peace for the departed souls and unwavering strength for the bereaved families enduring unspeakable loss was held. Special prayers were offered not only for the victims of Flight 171 but also for the broader community affected by this grief. "Guru Hargobind Singh Ji taught us the path of compassion, courage, and collective responsibility. In times of joy and sorrow, the Sangat stands united as one family, extending its prayers and support to those in need. Today, our Ardaas for the departed souls of Flight 171 is a tribute to their memory," said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, general secretary of the gurdwara. Special prayers were held at the Archbishop's chapel on Friday morning to express grief for the deceased. Many churches will also be offering prayers for the deceased and their families after the Mass on Sunday. "Our prayers are with the souls of the deceased. May they find eternal rest. We offer our prayers for the families and loved ones of the victims. May they find strength and solace in this incredibly difficult time," said Father Dominic Gomes, the Vicar General. Members of The Old Mission Church on RN Mukherjee Road will be remembering the victims during the Sunday Mass. "We have already offered our condolences and prayers in our WhatsApp group of the members. On Sunday, we will be offering a prayer again during the Mass," said an office bearer of the church. Samaj Sebi Sangha in south Kolkata will remember the victims during their Khuti Puja. "The loss of so many lives has shocked us. We will be praying for the departed souls during the Khuti Puja on Sunday," said Arijit Maitra, general secretary of the puja committee. Kamalendu Bhadra) Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Cinema is taking our folklore to the world now: Malkeet Rauni
'As someone who has lived and breathed cinema, I can say with conviction, the future of (Punjabi) cinema is glowing,' is how veteran actor Malkit Rauni puts modern film industry in perspective. Adds the Ardaas, Warning 2 actor, 'There was a time when we felt our cinematic canvas was too small and films of international scale and big budgets wasn't our domain. But see how far we've come. 28 to 32 Punjabi films releasing globally, and not just for Punjabis, but for audiences across continents. We're no longer toeing the formulas of success.' For Malkit, the beacons of hope have bene films like Harjeeta , Rabb Da Radio , Subedar Joginder Singh , Mastaney , Angrez , and Ardaas. 'Those who ushered in this modern storytellers were Manmohan Singh (Man ji) and Manoj Punj. Man ji's Jee Aayan Nu wasn't just a film, it was a bridge that connected our diaspora, our people abroad, to their roots. Punj's Waris Shah: Ishq Da Waaris, was the only Punjabi film to be considered for the Oscars,' he says. Malkit attributes a large part of this forward movement to filmmakers narrating stories from our folkore, culture and history. 'Cinema, as Bhagat Singh once wrote in his diary, isn't just entertainment. And as a student of literature, I believe this is documenting an era in transition and preserving language, rituals, and beliefs that could otherwise vanish,' he says. He reflects on the changing landscape with veteran actresses like 70-year-old Nirmal Rishi steering films to success. 'We're evolving into a cinema that celebrates the full spectrum of life,' he says, adding, 'Films are now starting from the period after marriage, talking about divorces, pain, struggle and resilience. Our NRI audiences often come up to us, tears in their eyes, saying, 'We saw your film ten times.' They hug us like we're long-lost kin because they feel we're teaching mal boli to their kids through cinema.' He adds, 'Punjab is a musical land, and music is woven into our very fabric. While South Indian cinema may dance its way into hearts, we sing ours open. Translating our folk culture visually—our lok geet , our tappay , our sufi kalam —takes immense care. But it is this very challenge that makes Punjabi cinema so unique. Let's not forget: in 1932, the first Punjabi film was made in Lahore, and by 1935, it was released to the world. We're now in the 90th year of Punjabi cinema , having endured its crests and troughs. And yet, here we are—stronger, bolder, and more committed to authenticity than ever before.'
