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26-572: IAAC was founded on August 1, 1998 by the editor of India Abroad , Gopal Raju, American choreographer Jonathan Hollander and Aroon Shivdasani, to promote the Indian arts to mainstream American media. In 2001, IAAC established The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) to promote Indian and diaspora-related film in the United States. In 2004, IAAC began its annual contemporary art exhibition, Erasing Borders: Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art of

52-590: A friendship with Moushumi, the daughter of family friends. They begin dating and soon after get married. However, the marriage is short-lived as Moushumi, bored with being a wife, starts having an affair with an old boyfriend from Paris. Gogol divorces her, while Ashima blames herself for pressuring Gogol to marry a fellow Bengali. Gogol returns home to help Ashima pack the house when he finds the book (a collection of short stories by Nikolai Gogol ) which Ashoke had gifted him on his fourteenth birthday. Searching for comfort, and accepting his new life alone, Gogol finally reads

78-525: A reputation as one of the most credible, well-researched voices for the Indian American community. The Economist , a British weekly international affairs magazine , referred to India Abroad as a daily publication of “unusually high quality”. Since 2002, the publication has been honoring Indian-American achievers at the annual India Abroad Person of the Year award ceremony. The following are

104-401: A series of miscues, their son's nickname, Gogol (named after Russian author Nikolai Gogol ), becomes his official birth name, an event which will shape many aspects of his life. The story chronicles Gogol's cross-cultural experiences and his exploration of his Bengali heritage, as the story primarily shifts between the United States and Kolkata . Gogol becomes a lazy, pot-smoking teenager who

130-511: A teaching apprenticeship, Ashoke tells Gogol the story of a nearly fatal train accident that he had suffered years ago back in India and how he came up with his name. Shortly after, while Gogol is on vacation with Maxine's family, Ashoke dies. Grieving, Gogol tries to be more like what he thinks his parents want him to be and begins following cultural customs more closely. He grows distant from Maxine and eventually breaks up with her. Gogol rekindles

156-665: A tribute to the late Indian painter M.F. Husain was held at the Christie's Gallery in Rockefeller Center . Each year, IAAC holds its annual art exhibition called Erasing Borders: Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art of the Diaspora . It is the council’s largest art exhibition. It features the artwork of the Indian diaspora, or those who can trace their roots to the Indian Subcontinent. The exhibition

182-469: Is indifferent to his cultural background. He resents many of the customs and traditions his family upholds and doesn't understand his parents. After an eight month long trip to India before starting college at Yale, Gogol starts opening up to his culture and becomes more accepting of it. Shortly after his eighteenth birthday, much to his parents' annoyance, Gogol legally changes his name to "Nikhil", (the name he had supposedly refused to be addressed by when he

208-677: Is the director of the dance festival, and Anjali Maniam is the director of development. Shabana Azmi , Mallika Sarabhai , Deepa Mehta , Mira Nair , Madhur Jaffrey , Salman Rushdie , and Shashi Tharoor serve on the IAAC Advisory Board . IAAC works with several New York based theater companies, including The Lark Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company , and produces Indian Off-Broadway shows and play readings. The council also partners with The Lark Theater during its Playwright’s Festival each fall. Past performances include: The council hosts several art exhibitions throughout

234-411: Is the song "Riviera Rendezvous" by Ursula 1000 from the album Kinda' Kinky ; this is the same song that is played when Gogol and Moushumi first sleep together. The Indian classical pieces (performed on screen by Tabu) were sung by Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik , a New Jersey –based musician. The film received favorable reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 85% of critics gave

260-643: The Diaspora , which features art related to the Indian Diaspora. In 2008, the council began its annual dance festival, Erasing Borders: Festival of Dance , which exhibits outdoor dance performances in Lower Manhattan . Aroon Shivdasani serves as the council’s president and executive director, with Jonathan Hollander as vice president and co-founder. India Abroad journalist Aseem Chhabra is the Film Festival Director, Prachi Dalal

286-427: The end of March 2020. The last issue of India Abroad will be dated March 30." The Namesake (film) The Namesake is a 2006 English-language drama film directed by Mira Nair and written by Sooni Taraporevala based on the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri . It stars Kal Penn , Tabu , Irrfan Khan and Sahira Nair. The film was produced by Indian , American and Japanese studios . The film

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312-647: The fashion boutique Misha Nicole. On July 30, 2006, IAAC held its first music festival in Central Park , with performances by Salman Ahmad , Marina Ahmad Alam, Sivamani , and Karsh Kale . IAAC hosts book launches and signings for Indian authors in New York City, and are usually held at a local art gallery. The genres of books released include fiction , non-fiction , poetry , cookbooks , and graphic novels . The council has hosted book launches for authors such as: India Abroad India Abroad

338-547: The festival was renamed The New York Indian Film Festival, with Aseem Chhabra as the festival director. Many films had their world, national, or New York premiere at the festival, including Monsoon Wedding , Born Into Brothels , Bride and Prejudice , The Namesake , and Slumdog Millionaire . The festival also holds a sidebar retrospective on a prominent Indian filmmaker, actor, or artist. Past retrospectives have included Smita Patil , Mira Nair , and Rabindranath Tagore . IAAC infrequently holds fashion shows featuring

364-626: The festival. Most notable performers include dancers from the Natya Academy, Rukmini Vijayakumar , and Mandakini Trivedi . IAAC holds concerts and CD release performances for Indian musicians of various styles, including Indian Classical , Indian Folk , Jazz , electronica , and lounge music . Ustad Amjad Ali Khan , Samir Chatterjee, Kiran Ahluwalia , and A. R. Rahman are a few of the musicians who have performed with IAAC. Performances have been held The Metropolitan Museum of Art , Carnegie Hall , The Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and

390-938: The filmmaker after the screening. Such screenings have included 7 Khoon Maaf , Sita Sings the Blues , and My Name is Khan . NYIFF is IAAC's annual film festival which is held in New York City at Tribeca Cinemas . It was previously known as the Mahindra Indo American Arts Council Film Festival ( MIAAC ), and features films from the Indian Subcontinent, as well as from the Indian diaspora . About 40 films are screened, including features, shorts, documentaries, and animated films. The first MIAAC Film Festival took place on November 1-4th, 2001 at Manhattan’s Imagin Asian theatre . In 2011,

416-466: The list of winners. Raju sold India Abroad to Rediff.com in April 2001, which as of 2009 owns and operates the paper. Gopal Raju died in New York City on April 10, 2008. In late 2016, Rediff.com sold its venture to 8K Miles Media, Inc. On March 27, 2020, chairman and publisher Suresh Venkatachari informed readers via his Publisher's Note that "India Abroad will cease its print publication at

442-482: The stories written by his namesake on the train home. As well as depicting Gogol/Nikhil's experiences, the film describes the courtship and marriage of Ashima and Ashoke, and the effect on the family from Ashoke's early death from a massive heart attack. Through experiencing his father's funeral rites on the banks of the Ganges , Gogol begins to appreciate Indian culture. Ashima's decision to move on with her life, selling

468-415: The suburban family home and returning to Calcutta for part of each year, unifies and ends the story. The film has cameo appearances by actor Samrat Chakrabarti , academic Partha Chatterjee and visual artist Naeem Mohaiemen . Initially Rani Mukerji was considered for the principal lead, but due to scheduling conflicts with Karan Johar 's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna , the role then went to Tabu. Kal Penn

494-516: The work of Indian designers, and also offers invitations to international fashion shows. The council frequently collaborates with the boutique Misha Nicole, jewelry designer Amrita Singh , and Top Chef host and jewelry designer Padma Lakshmi . Other featured designers: Several dance performances are held throughout the year. IAAC's largest is the Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance . The Erasing Borders dance festival

520-539: The year in galleries across the Eastern United States, to promote the work of emerging Indian artists, as well as established artists. IAAC frequently collaborates with local galleries in New York City, as well as The Metropolitan Museum of Art , Sotheby's , The Queens Museum of Art , and The Rubin Museum of Art . They also host benefit auctions and Indian Folk Art markets in the fall. On June 29, 2011,

546-550: Was a weekly newspaper published from New York City , which focuses on Indian news meant for an Indian American , Indian diaspora and expatriate audience. The publication is known for its annual award ceremony for the "India Abroad Person of the Year." India Abroad was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju in 1970. India Abroad calls itself "the oldest Indian newspaper published in North America ." Under Raju's guidance, India Abroad quickly gained

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572-597: Was founded in 2004, and is curated by Sundaram Tagore. The exhibition tours across the boroughs of New York City at The Queens Museum of Art , as well as The Charles B. Wang Center in Stony Brook, New York , and the Jorgenson Gallery at the University of Connecticut . IAAC screens newly released Indian films throughout the year, both Bollywood and independent films , and holds Q&A sessions with

598-534: Was in kindergarten). In college, Gogol uses his "good name" Nikhil (later shortened to Nick). He works as an architect and dates Maxine, a white American woman from a wealthy background, who is clueless about their cultural differences. Gogol introduces her to his parents, who struggle to understand his modern, American perspectives on dating, marriage and love. They are hesitant and guarded when meeting her. Gogol gets along with Maxine's family and feels closer to them than he does his own family. Before he goes to Ohio for

624-560: Was launched in August 2008 to promote Indian dance in New York City . Each year, the festival offers several outdoor dance performances in Lower Manhattan , in various styles of modern and classical Indian dance , such as Bharatanatyam , Kathak , Mohiniattam , and Manipuri . Dance workshops are offered throughout the program. The festival is also run in conjunction with The Battery Dance Company’s Annual Downtown Dance Festival. Each year, IAAC holds submissions for dancers to participate in

650-509: Was recommended for the movie by John Cho and strongly requested by Nair's son, who was a fan of Penn in Harold and Kumar . The soundtrack has varied music: Indian, Anglo-Indian (by Nitin Sawhney , influenced by Ravi Shankar 's music for Pather Panchali ), and a French piece. One British Indian electronica piece is State of Bengal 's "IC408." The ringtone from Moushumi's mobile phone

676-683: Was released in the United States on 9 March 2007, following screenings at film festivals in Toronto and New York City . The Namesake received positive reviews from American critics. The Namesake depicts the struggles of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, first-generation immigrants from the state of West Bengal to the United States, and their American-born children Gogol and Sonia. The film takes place primarily in Kolkata , New York City , and suburbs of New York City. The story begins as Ashoke and Ashima leave Calcutta and settle in New York City. Through

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