Latest news with #MissPooja
The Province
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Surrey Fusion Festival headliner Miss Pooja mixes Punjabi pop and modern beats
The Punjabi pop superstar bridges traditional Punjabi folk and modern pop Miss Pooja headlines Saturday night at this year's Surrey Fusion Fest at Holland Park, July 19 & 20. International Talent Agency photo Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Surrey Fusion Festival This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors When: July 19-20, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Where: Holland Park, 13428 Old Yale Rd., Surrey Info: This year's Surrey Fusion Festival promises another eclectic mix of music, food, and culture — and few acts embody that fusion more than Miss Pooja, a Punjabi pop superstar who bridges traditional Punjabi folk and modern pop. Along with recording more than 4,000 songs and appearing in over 800 music videos, Pooja has acted in several Punjabi films and sang playback in Bollywood productions. Headlining the main stage on July 20, she joins a festival lineup that includes Easy Star All-Stars, a reggae collective known for their covers of classic albums, including 2023's Ziggy Stardub, a reimagining of Ziggy Stardust. In addition to live music, the free event features cultural pavilions, dance performances, food trucks, and interactive art installations. We talked to Miss Pooja about music, community, and what to expect in Surrey. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Miss Pooja headlines Saturday night at this year's Surrey Fusion Fest at Holland Park, July 19 & 20. International Talent Agency photo Q: You've performed at lots of Punjabi weddings, including some in Vancouver. Is that how singers get their start in India? A: No, it's not a start. Because if you're not a star nobody's going to book you. You have to be a star! Q: When you perform live, do you have musicians accompanying you or are you singing to backing tracks? A: We have musicians coming to perform with us. The keyboard player is coming from the U.K., especially for this event. And four are from Canada. Q: How has your stage show developed since you started out? A: My first show was in Canada in 2008, at Wonderland in Toronto. And that was so huge for me. Gradually, I have become more confident, more interactive with people. Everybody likes my performance! I really enjoy performing. Sometimes I sing for two or three hours — however much people want, I'm going to sing. I love singing. It's not, 'I'm an artist, I have been paid a little, I can't sing much.' I can sing for whatever time, if people are enjoying. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Q: When you first started recording and performing, outside of India, which countries were most receptive to you? A: I recorded first in India, and then performed in Canada, in Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton. My next trip was to the U.K. and then to the U.S. and then to Australia. Every place was fun, especially the U.K. and Canada, because there are Punjabis are there. And in the U.K., they told me they were fourth generation Punjabis in the U.K., mostly youngsters, and they love Punjabi music. So I had fun and I learned a lot from each and every performance. Q: Have you given up acting, or do you have any film projects on the way? A: Maybe seven, eight years ago, I did a couple of films. At that time, films were not as huge as now. I just concentrate on singing now because films take a huge amount of time, a month or two, and being a family girl, I love to be with my family. I can't stay away for a month. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Q: Where is your family? A: Indiana. We moved there from New York. It was too crowded, no relaxation, lots of traffic. So a couple of years back we moved to Indiana, and I really love it. Q: How do you see your music contributing to the cultural fabric of places like Vancouver and Surrey? A: Well, first, everybody loves music, and especially Punjabi music because of the vibe, whether they understand the lyrics or not. And there is a huge South Asian population in Vancouver and Surrey, and young women in the community see me as a role model. I am one of the few South Asian singers in the world who can attract all ages, as I've been in the industry for almost 20 years. Read More Crime News News Local News News
Vancouver Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Surrey Fusion Festival headliner Miss Pooja mixes Punjabi pop and modern beats
Surrey Fusion Festival When: July 19-20, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Where: Holland Park, 13428 Old Yale Rd., Surrey Info: This year's Surrey Fusion Festival promises another eclectic mix of music, food, and culture — and few acts embody that fusion more than Miss Pooja, a Punjabi pop superstar who bridges traditional Punjabi folk and modern pop. Along with recording more than 4,000 songs and appearing in over 800 music videos, Pooja has acted in several Punjabi films and sang playback in Bollywood productions. Headlining the main stage on July 20, she joins a festival lineup that includes Easy Star All-Stars, a reggae collective known for their covers of classic albums, including 2023's Ziggy Stardub, a reimagining of Ziggy Stardust. In addition to live music, the free event features cultural pavilions, dance performances, food trucks, and interactive art installations. We talked to Miss Pooja about music, community, and what to expect in Surrey. Q: You've performed at lots of Punjabi weddings, including some in Vancouver. Is that how singers get their start in India? Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A: No, it's not a start. Because if you're not a star nobody's going to book you. You have to be a star! Q: When you perform live, do you have musicians accompanying you or are you singing to backing tracks? A: We have musicians coming to perform with us. The keyboard player is coming from the U.K., especially for this event. And four are from Canada. Q: How has your stage show developed since you started out? A: My first show was in Canada in 2008, at Wonderland in Toronto. And that was so huge for me. Gradually, I have become more confident, more interactive with people. Everybody likes my performance! I really enjoy performing. Sometimes I sing for two or three hours — however much people want, I'm going to sing. I love singing. It's not, 'I'm an artist, I have been paid a little, I can't sing much.' I can sing for whatever time, if people are enjoying. Q: When you first started recording and performing, outside of India, which countries were most receptive to you? A: I recorded first in India, and then performed in Canada, in Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton. My next trip was to the U.K. and then to the U.S. and then to Australia. Every place was fun, especially the U.K. and Canada, because there are Punjabis are there. And in the U.K., they told me they were fourth generation Punjabis in the U.K., mostly youngsters, and they love Punjabi music. So I had fun and I learned a lot from each and every performance. Q: Have you given up acting, or do you have any film projects on the way? A: Maybe seven, eight years ago, I did a couple of films. At that time, films were not as huge as now. I just concentrate on singing now because films take a huge amount of time, a month or two, and being a family girl, I love to be with my family. I can't stay away for a month. Q: Where is your family? A: Indiana. We moved there from New York. It was too crowded, no relaxation, lots of traffic. So a couple of years back we moved to Indiana, and I really love it. Q: How do you see your music contributing to the cultural fabric of places like Vancouver and Surrey? A: Well, first, everybody loves music, and especially Punjabi music because of the vibe, whether they understand the lyrics or not. And there is a huge South Asian population in Vancouver and Surrey, and young women in the community see me as a role model. I am one of the few South Asian singers in the world who can attract all ages, as I've been in the industry for almost 20 years.
National Post
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
ACISA Is Celebrating 10 Years of Vibrant Brampton SummerFest in Style With Prominent Bollywood and Popular Punjabi Artists
Article content Article content Punjabi and Bollywood Stars like Miss Pooja, Zora Randhawa, Ananya Chakraborty, and Amanat Ali are performing at Brampton's most loved music & dance festival – VIBRANT BRAMPTON SUMMERFEST! Article content BRAMPTON, Ontario — Downtown Brampton is all set to come alive to the dazzling sights and sounds of the very spirited South Asian culture. Vibrant Brampton is celebrating their 10 th year Summer festival on July 18 and 19. Organized by the non-profit group Arts and Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA), the 10 th annual Vibrant Brampton SummerFest presented by TD in association with WOW Mobile Boutique will bring a fun-filled outdoor family festival to Gage Park in Brampton. Article content The two-day FREE outdoor festival will kick off on July 18, with an international Punjabi singer, Miss Pooja, popularly known as 'Queen of Bhangra' promising to make you sway to the Punjabi music. A Guinness Book of World Record holder, Miss Pooja has over 4500 songs and over 350 albums to her credit. Some of her blockbusters 'Siti Mar Ke ', 'Nakhreya Mari', 'Aashiq' 'Sohnea' and 'Second Hand Jawani' from the Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan movie Cocktail will be some of her many numbers to be featured at the festival. Punjabi youth sensation Zora Randhawa, who has super hit numbers like 'Woofer', 'Inch', and 'Wonderland' will also co-headline the same day along with Punjabi power couple duo Preet Brar and Kamal Brar. Over 50 local GTA artists will also perform on the opening day of the festival. Article content The finale of the outdoor festival on July 19 promises to bring an eclectic mix of programming that will include high-energy performances by multiple Bollywood Playback Singers, including Ananya Chakraborty, the finalist of ZEE Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. For Pakistani music lovers, there's another feast – Amanat Ali, who has lent his voice for the famous movie 'Dostana' featuring Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, and Abhishek Bachchan. He also has notable appearances on the prestigious platform of Coke Studio Pakistan. Article content Bengali music lovers have Sanchita Bhattacharya from Kolkata, India to captivate the audience with her melodious voice. The Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs winner has grown up to become this musical force, all set to light up the centre stage on the 2 nd day of the festival. Article content In addition to Punjabi and Bollywood celebrities, there will be a Gujarati 'Garba' segment headlined by none other than Pramesh Nandi, also known as the Garba King of Canada. According to the curators of the festival, Ricky Bajaj, Sandeep Prabhakar, and Arpan Banerjee, over 150 Canadian and international artists are being featured in the 10 th edition of the festival. Article content Families are in for a treat at this year's festival! The KIDZ ZONE offers a range of interactive and immersive activities designed especially for children and youth, including the ever-popular free face painting and Community Arts Project, available on both days. To engage attendees of all ages, the festival also features free hands-on dance workshops in Bollywood, Bhangra, and Salsa. Food lovers can explore the Food Bazaar, serving over 100 mouthwatering dishes from local vendors and restaurants. Meanwhile, shoppers can browse the MEGAMART, showcasing local artisans selling clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, and unique gifts. Best of all, admission and parking are completely free! Article content The festival is presented by TD Bank in association with WOW Mobile Boutique, supported by a host of sponsors including Scotties Face Tissues, Lazeez Shawarma, and CAD Immigration. 2025 funders include the City of Brampton, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, and Celebrate Ontario. Article content ACISA, as a non-profit group, also hosts annual Visual Arts of South Asia (V.A.S.A) arts festival – for visual art lovers, ROOT'D Fest – a unique modern music festival catering to Millennials and Gen Z. Article content Festival Schedule at a Glance: Article content July 17: 6 pm – 10 pm: Article content Greet & Meet Gala & Press conference @ Queen's Manor Event Centre. Article content July 18: 5 pm – 10 pm: Article content Watch Miss Pooja, Zora Randhawa, Preet Brar and Kamal Brar, and over 50 other artists perform live at the FREE Outdoor Festival @ Gage Park, Brampton. Enjoy scrumptious food, interactive Article content Kidz Zone Article content , explore Brampton, and shop local. Article content July 19: 10 am – 10 pm: Article content Watch Ananya Chakraborty, Amanat Ali, Sanchita Bhattacharya, Pramesh Nandi, and 100 Canadian artists perform live at the FREE Outdoor Festival @ Gage park, Brampton. Enjoy delicious food, interactive Article content Kidz Zone Article content , explore Brampton, and shop local. Article content Learn more at ABOUT ACISA The Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding by bringing diverse communities together to celebrate life, culture, art, and tradition. Article content ACISA's mission is to highlight the richness and diversity of South Asian art forms by showcasing local talent and providing artists with a platform to reach broader audiences. The organization aims to break cultural barriers, foster participation from all communities across Canada, and create opportunities for people to experience the many facets of South Asian arts and culture. By showcasing a heritage that continues to evolve while embracing Canadian values, ACISA promotes the philosophy of diversity and inclusion throughout Brampton and beyond. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content Article content Laura Jackman Article content Email: Article content
Business Wire
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
ACISA Is Celebrating 10 Years of Vibrant Brampton SummerFest in Style With Prominent Bollywood and Popular Punjabi Artists
BRAMPTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Downtown Brampton is all set to come alive to the dazzling sights and sounds of the very spirited South Asian culture. Vibrant Brampton is celebrating their 10 th year Summer festival on July 18 and 19. Organized by the non-profit group Arts and Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA), the 10 th annual Vibrant Brampton SummerFest presented by TD in association with WOW Mobile Boutique will bring a fun-filled outdoor family festival to Gage Park in Brampton. The two-day FREE outdoor festival will kick off on July 18, with an international Punjabi singer, Miss Pooja, popularly known as 'Queen of Bhangra' promising to make you sway to the Punjabi music. A Guinness Book of World Record holder, Miss Pooja has over 4500 songs and over 350 albums to her credit. Some of her blockbusters 'Siti Mar Ke ', 'Nakhreya Mari', 'Aashiq' 'Sohnea' and 'Second Hand Jawani' from the Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan movie Cocktail will be some of her many numbers to be featured at the festival. Punjabi youth sensation Zora Randhawa, who has super hit numbers like 'Woofer', 'Inch', and 'Wonderland' will also co-headline the same day along with Punjabi power couple duo Preet Brar and Kamal Brar. Over 50 local GTA artists will also perform on the opening day of the festival. The finale of the outdoor festival on July 19 promises to bring an eclectic mix of programming that will include high-energy performances by multiple Bollywood Playback Singers, including Ananya Chakraborty, the finalist of ZEE Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. For Pakistani music lovers, there's another feast – Amanat Ali, who has lent his voice for the famous movie 'Dostana' featuring Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, and Abhishek Bachchan. He also has notable appearances on the prestigious platform of Coke Studio Pakistan. Bengali music lovers have Sanchita Bhattacharya from Kolkata, India to captivate the audience with her melodious voice. The Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs winner has grown up to become this musical force, all set to light up the centre stage on the 2 nd day of the festival. In addition to Punjabi and Bollywood celebrities, there will be a Gujarati 'Garba' segment headlined by none other than Pramesh Nandi, also known as the Garba King of Canada. According to the curators of the festival, Ricky Bajaj, Sandeep Prabhakar, and Arpan Banerjee, over 150 Canadian and international artists are being featured in the 10 th edition of the festival. Families are in for a treat at this year's festival! The KIDZ ZONE offers a range of interactive and immersive activities designed especially for children and youth, including the ever-popular free face painting and Community Arts Project, available on both days. To engage attendees of all ages, the festival also features free hands-on dance workshops in Bollywood, Bhangra, and Salsa. Food lovers can explore the Food Bazaar, serving over 100 mouthwatering dishes from local vendors and restaurants. Meanwhile, shoppers can browse the MEGAMART, showcasing local artisans selling clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, and unique gifts. Best of all, admission and parking are completely free! The festival is presented by TD Bank in association with WOW Mobile Boutique, supported by a host of sponsors including Scotties Face Tissues, Lazeez Shawarma, and CAD Immigration. 2025 funders include the City of Brampton, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, and Celebrate Ontario. ACISA, as a non-profit group, also hosts annual Visual Arts of South Asia (V.A.S.A) arts festival - for visual art lovers, ROOT'D Fest - a unique modern music festival catering to Millennials and Gen Z. Festival Schedule at a Glance: July 17: 6 pm – 10 pm: Greet & Meet Gala & Press conference @ Queen's Manor Event Centre. July 18: 5 pm – 10 pm: Watch Miss Pooja, Zora Randhawa, Preet Brar and Kamal Brar, and over 50 other artists perform live at the FREE Outdoor Festival @ Gage Park, Brampton. Enjoy scrumptious food, interactive Kidz Zone, explore Brampton, and shop local. July 19: 10 am – 10 pm: Watch Ananya Chakraborty, Amanat Ali, Sanchita Bhattacharya, Pramesh Nandi, and 100 Canadian artists perform live at the FREE Outdoor Festival @ Gage park, Brampton. Enjoy delicious food, interactive Kidz Zone, explore Brampton, and shop local. Learn more at ABOUT ACISA The Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding by bringing diverse communities together to celebrate life, culture, art, and tradition. ACISA's mission is to highlight the richness and diversity of South Asian art forms by showcasing local talent and providing artists with a platform to reach broader audiences. The organization aims to break cultural barriers, foster participation from all communities across Canada, and create opportunities for people to experience the many facets of South Asian arts and culture. By showcasing a heritage that continues to evolve while embracing Canadian values, ACISA promotes the philosophy of diversity and inclusion throughout Brampton and beyond. For more information, visit
