Latest news with #Giddh
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Overjoyed, hat-trick ho gayi: Manish Saini on winning third National Award
Manish Saini; (below) With Sanjay Mishra I am feeling overjoyed, hat-trick ho gayi!' says Manish Saini, who won his third National Award on Friday, as his Hindi short film Giddh (The Scavenger) won in the Best Short Film (Up to 30 Min) category. Manish, who has won the prestigious award earlier for Dhh (2018) and Gandhi & Company (2022), says, 'My friends are pulling my leg, saying, 'Now, buy an almirah for your awards.' When Giddh won a prestigious award in Japan (it won the Asia International Competition at the renowned Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2023) and qualified for the Oscars, we were very proud and felt that the film deserves some recognition in India too. So, this award feels special. It's a great moment for Gujarat too, as Vash won two well-deserved awards (Best Gujarati Film and Best Actress in a Supporting Role). I spoke to Krishnadev Yagnik and congratulated him.' 'The competition is very tough when it comes to short films' Talking about the significance of the win, he shares, 'The competition is very tough, as you have to compete with several good short films from all over the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo While there are several film festivals for feature films, there are very few festivals in India for showcasing short films. So, it's a huge recognition and I am already in talks with a few OTT platforms for Giddh.' 'Such recognition gives you renewed energy' Manish says, 'Such recognition gives you renewed energy.' He elaborates, 'There are times when you may reach a saturation point. But when you win a National Award, it motivates you to keep doing what you are good at. It also makes you feel that you are on the right track. I have never followed trends and after this win, I feel more confident. Mujhe jo achha lagta hai, main wohi banaunga. The audience now wants fresh, original and honest films, formula doesn't work anymore.' 'Working with Sanjay Mishra was an unforgettable experience' Talking about working with Sanjay Mishra, who played the lead role in Giddh, Manish says, 'It was an unforgettable experience. He is extremely humble and such a brilliant actor! We shot the film at Nadiad in three days and it was a hectic schedule (9am to midnight). There was no vanity van, and he would rest at a nearby temple in between shots. I feel lucky to have worked with brilliant actors like Sanjay sir, Naseeruddin Shah (Dhh) and Darshan Jariwalla (Gandhi & Company). As a filmmaker, you learn a lot of new things while working with such terrific performers, who add a lot more to a film apart from what is there in the script.'
Time of India
06-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rooftop dining for endangered vultures in Halol!
Vadodara: In the foothills of Pavagadh, one of the revered shaktipeeths (seat of divine feminine power), a unique restaurant is shaping up. The menu is fixed, there are no waiters, and certainly no table service! But this joint promises to become a lifeline for nature's scavengers - the endangered vultures. The municipality of Halol, some 45km from Vadodara, has firmed up plans to set up 'Giddh (Vulture) Restaurant' perched atop a 20 m RCC tower, an initiative aimed at conserving 15-odd long-billed vultures that reside in the hills of Pavagadh. The facility is being planned at Jambudi village near the town whose aerial distance from Pavagadh is two to three kilometres, sources said. This makes it the ideal location for the feeding facility, common in many countries, but claimed to be the first of its kind in the country. An initiative for vulture conservation at Raigad in Maharashtra used open plots to put partially skinned carcasses out for vultures. In Oman, scavenger feeding facilities are being planned near solid waste disposal sites. "We plan to have an RCC tower with a tabletop and a lift, like those used at construction sites, to lift the food up for the vultures. Water will also be provided on the platform. It will be the equivalent of five floors high," said Halol municipality chief officer Hiral Thakar. The restaurant is planned near the solid waste disposal site in Jambudi. "The location is towards the side of the Pavagadh hill where vultures live. They usually identify places where they find food and will come there," said Thakar. A survey in 2022 revealed that at least 10 adult vultures were surviving on the hill. Officials say the number could be as high as 15. A birder and project manager with the Community for Conservation of Nature (Cocoon), Venus Joshi, who worked extensively in the area, said such initiatives are much needed and could help vulture conservation. He, however, said there were some quarries where mining was still taking place and a police shooting range near the site. "These could disturb the vultures. The area has a good presence of raptors and owls too. I suggest that some experts should also be roped in for the project," Joshi said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
