Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 22 ENTERTAINMNET November 14, 2025 Yaman Arts Foundation Hosts “Devi” – A Soulful Musical Tribute To Mothers T he Yaman Arts Foundation, New Jersey, hosted a deeply moving musical evening titled “Devi” on November 9th at the ITV Gold Auditorium— a heartfelt celebration of motherhood expressed through music, devotion, and artistic excellence. The evening commenced with serene Vedic chant- ing and devotional renditions by Smt. Lalita Mathur, Jayashree Nagaraja, Vijaya Katti, Madhuri Dewanji, Miral Vaghela, Suma Nayar, Vandana Govindan, Payal Baner- jee, PrakashWarrier, Mahendran Devendran, and Harsh Shah — all senior students of the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, Research and Artistry. Their performance, directed by Padma Shri awardee Pandita Tripti Mukherjee, set a tranquil and spiri- tual tone for the event. This was followed by a dynamic tabla ensemble presented by young stu- dents of the Yaman Arts Foundation — Shravani Labhe, Tushar Pura- nik, Aarush Bhat, Aryan Shankar, Sparsh Desai, Aryan Bhatt, Amogh Shetty, Manan Purohit, and Mihir Khanolkar. Under the direction of Pt. Aditya Narayan Banerjee, their rhythmic synchrony showcased remarkable discipline and youthful energy. One of the evening’s most memorable moments came with a solo tabla performance by Dr. Dayal, a senior student of the Foundation, who impressed the audience with his passion and agility at the remarkable age of 90. The program continued with a soulful violin recital by Pranav Puranik, whose melodious notes resonated deeply with the audience. The evening concluded on a vibrant note with a musical segment featuring devotional songs, Bollywood melodies, and ghazals performed by re- nowned playback singer Pandit Pranab Kumar Biswas. He was accompanied by Satyajit Bhattacharya on keyboard, Atish Mitra on guitar, and Taalsamrat Aditya Narayan Ba- nerjee on rhythm. Special apprecia- tion was extended to Naeem Hashmi and Aryan Shankar for their impeccable sound arrangements, and to Subhas Chan- dra, Lavanya Vyas, the Gandhian Society, Nivraha Foundation, Parikh Media, and Debeet Bhattacharya for their dedicated event management support. The Foundation expressed gratitude to all participants and supporters, acknowledging that the memorable eve- ning’s success was the result of many hands and hearts working together in harmony. By a StaffWriter Priyanka Chopra Jonas Adds A Desi Twist To Wham!’S Classic In Gurinder Chadha’s Festive Film Christmas Karma G lobal icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas is bringing a Bollywood flair to the holiday season with her vi- brant, desi-infused reimagining ofWham!’s time- less hit *“Last Christmas.”* The track features in acclaimed director Gurinder Chadha’s new family musical *Christmas Karma*, which arrives in cinemas across the UK, Ireland, and the US on November 14. The song, which blends Indian musical textures with the warmth of a Christmas classic, will also appear on the *Christmas Karma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)* — an eclectic collection celebrating Britain’s multicul- tural soundscape. The album, released the same day as the film, features contributions from **Gary Barlow, Billy Porter, Nitin Sawhney, Shaznay Lewis, Pixie Lott, Boy George, and others. Chopra Jonas, one of the world’s most influential entertainers with over 93 million Instagram followers, de- scribed the collaboration as a “personal and creative joy.” “Gurinder Chadha has been one of the few stalwarts in entertainment who has consistently championed stories of the Indian diaspora with authenticity and heart,” Chopra Jonas said. “She’s a dear friend, and I’m so happy to support her in my little way with *Christmas Karma. I hope this desi twist on a beloved song resonates with audiences around the world.” For Chadha, the project carries both nostalgia and tribute. “I’m the biggest George Michael fan — and frankly, who isn’t?” the *Bend It Like Beckham* filmmaker said. “I’m very grateful to his estate for allowing us to put our own twist on his classic. When I called my mate Priyanka to sing our Hindi version, she kindly stepped in with her beautiful take. George loved *Bend It Like Beckham* — I hope he enjoys this from heaven and that fans every- where will sing along to our catchy Hindi vibe.” Set in modern-day London, *Christmas Karma* is a joyful reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The film stars *The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar as Mr. Sood, a contemporary Scrooge guided by the three Ghosts of Christmas — portrayed by Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George. The cast also includes Leo Suter, Pixie Lott, Charithra Chandran, Danny Dyer, and Hugh Bonneville. Musically, Christmas Karma fuses gospel, bhangra, pop, and rap, creating what Chadha describes as a “joy- ous and colorful celebration of Britain today, its com- munities and cultures.” Produced by BendIt Networks in association with **True Brit Entertainment** and Civic Studios, the film promises a feel-good message of gener- osity and kindness for the holiday season. The soundtrack’s 18-track lineup includes original songs by Gary Barlow, Billy Porter, Boy George, and Pixie Lott, alongside dynamic production from Nitin Sawhney, Panjabi MC, and Ben Cullum. The album closes with two versions of “Last Christmas”: Chopra Jonas’s festive Hindi-English rendition and a sitar-guitar instrumental by Anoushka Shankar and Nitin Sawhney. With Christmas Karma, Chadha and Chopra Jonas reunite creative forces that have long celebrated South Asian storytelling on the global stage — this time, through music, magic, and a distinctly desi Christmas spirit. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:BoxOfficeGuru Gurinder Chadha and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. PHOTOS:GurmeetSingh Dhalwan Above and below: Artists from the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, Research and Artistry and Yaman Arts Foundation perform at the ‘Devi’ musical evening in Edison, NJ, on November 9th. The event featured a blend of Vedic chants, tabla ensembles, and soulful renditions, celebrating the theme of motherhood through music and devotion.