social – Iampunjaabi

Zirakpur, May 8, 2022: To raise awareness about and funds for differently-abled children -a special fashion runway show ‘Empower Diva 2022’ was held at Ramada Plaza, here. The glamorous event was organised by Rotary Zirakpur, NGO Empower and Elevate Wellness Club, Panchkula.

More than 35 well-known actresses and models and ‘Ms Elevate Diva’ winners did the ramp walk for this noble cause at the event. Renowned celebrities include, Manya Pathak, Zee TV actress who was seen in Hindi reality TV Show on Zee5 – ‘Dilli Darlings’ , actress Yamini Singh who is presently working in Star Plus show ‘Kabhi Kabhi Ittefaq Se’, she has featured in the film ‘Pagglait’ too, also sashayed down the ramp with the differently-abled kids at the event.

A special child performs to raise awareness about and funds for differently-abled children at a special fashion runway show ‘Empower Diva 2022’ held at Ramada Plaza on May 07, 2022.

Addressing the media, on the sidelines of the mega event, Sharmita Bhinder, Founder of the NGO Empower said, “We are extremely delighted and overwhelmed to see the response to the event. Today’s event’s aim was to bring special children on a common platform and give them a different exposure and bring joy to their lives. As the core motive of the event was to raise the funds for special children, the amount collected from the event will be used for medications, workshops, education and family support to needy special children.”

Special children, models, and actresses too took part in the press conference to share greater details of the event with the media.

Yamini Singh said,”NGO Empower has taken a great initiative by organising this unique event. All sections of society need to spread awareness about issues faced by special children. Such examples need to be emulated by others so that more resources are generated for the betterment and growth of differently-abled kids.”

Sharmita Bhinder, Founder of the NGO Empower, Manya Pathak, Zee TV actress and actress Yamini Singh alongwith models and special children at a press conference

Manya Pathak congratulated the organisers for showing sensitivity to the cause of special children. “The event gave a scintillating platform to differently-abled children to showcase their talent. This is praiseworthy”

Proving their mettle with sheer talent, special children enlivened the event with their awe-inspiring performances, which stole the heart of the audience present at the event. Vaibhav Singh, Sahibjit Khaira, Akshay Luthra, and Yesheevardanbir Singh Rathore were the special children who performed. Moreover, the special kids also did a ramp walk which was the highlight of the event. Rotary’s District Governor Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh Ajay Madan and his wife Savita Madan were also present on the occasion. Many senior Rotarians too participated. Rotary also announced an educational programme for children. Expressing his gratitude, Raj Gupta, Founder of Elevate Wellness Club and President of Rotary, Zirakpur said, “I want to thank all the guests and sponsors for their immense contribution. Besides fundraising, our aim was to create awareness in the society to build an understanding and accepting community-integrated well with children who are differently-abled.”

Others who were associated with this fashion event were Sifat by Manisha Windlass as Jewellery Partner; Happy Strings as Event Management Partner; Kaya Glow as beauty partner, Sanu ki eco store, Omika, and The Narrators were gifting partners and INIFD was the design partner. Madrina Films (USA), Tranza Studios, Mehar, and JP Hospital were the main sponsors.

Many more renowned names of the entertainment industry participated in the event, these included – Ruby Singh, Mrs. India 2017, actor Ebadat Bhandari, Sonu Hurria who is the current Mrs India Royale 2022, Neelam Garg, a renowned model and choreographer, Tarvinder Kaur, Mrs. Inspirational India 2019, etc. In fact, Ruby Singh, Neelam Garg, Tarvinder Kaur and other Mrs. India’s helped in the management of the event. Rachna Narang, an educationist, and Saahir Banwait were host and emcee respectively. Rocky Tapia was the choreographer for the show, Martin was the DJ, and performances by famous young artists Samayra and Lavi Tibbi were also held.

In a press conference held in Mohali today, Gurpreet Ghuggi – renowned Punjabi actor and former politician, reacted strongly to the issue being raised by the Punjab State Women Commission over his upcoming film’s title – Ni Main Sass Kuttni for being disrespectful to women. While expressing his views, he said that the film’s title is an extremely popular line from a centuries-old Punjabi folk song, and thus through his film, the makers are taking the audience a step closer to the Punjabi culture.

“There have been countless folk songs and ”boliyaans”, which are nothing but a satire on family relations – a lot of them take a dig on men while some of them are about women. While I do appreciate Ms Gulati for taking cognizance of the complaint raised by someone, issuing summons to the makers is pointless as the film is a family comedy attempt at raising awareness about Punjabi culture and traditions. Whoever has raised the complaint, could’ve saved Women Commission’s time which could’ve been utilized in solving far important matters. The title isn’t coined by the makers, rather it’s a very popular line from a very old Punjabi song,” he said.

Also present at the conference was Punjabi veteran actress Anita Devgan, film’s lead actors Tanvi Nagi and Mehtab Virk, and Malkeet Rauni.

Speaking on the controversy, Anita Devgan said, “We’re not grieved by the action that Ms Gulati took, we are grieved by the person who raised the complaint about the title of Ni Main Sass Kuttni, without even doing any research about Punjabi traditions and heritage. We, as artistes, would never do anything that’s against Punjabiyat, the strong familial values that our culture promotes, rather through our film, we’re spreading the message of love in the most comic way possible.”

Ni Main Sass Kuttni, which is releasing on 29th April worldwide, is produced by Mohit Banwait, Sachin Gupta and Ankush Gupta under the banner of Banwait Films in association with Sachin-Ankush Productions. The film has been directed by Pravin Kumar.