BAAT- CHEET
Bollywood Vs Culture
Baat-Cheet.
Bollywood has long been a dominant force shaping the cultural imagination of South Asia and its diaspora. Through its songs, stories, and stars, it has influenced fashion, language, and even societal values. But with such influence comes the question—how much does Bollywood truly reflect the culture of the diverse communities it portrays? And how does this influence extend beyond the screen into our daily lives, shaping identities, relationships, and traditions?
At Baat-Cheet: Bollywood Vs Culture, we are creating a space to explore these questions, dive deeper into Bollywood’s impact, and engage in a critical conversation about its role in shaping, or sometimes misrepresenting, South Asian culture. Through a fun Bollywood quiz, the screening of Still Rolling: The DDLJ Story, and an insightful panel discussion, we invite you to join us in reflecting on the complex ways Bollywood intersects with culture, identity, and life across generations.
Welcome to Dashmi Fest 2024 .
Before we begin, it’s important to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded, stolen lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. We honor the caretakers of these lands and extend our respect to their communities, both past and present.
Welcome to Baat-Cheet: Bollywood Vs Culture at Dashmi Fest 2024! We are thrilled to bring this event to you as we explore Bollywood’s profound influence on culture, identity, and daily life. Today’s program is divided into three segments. First, we’ll get started with a fun and interactive Bollywood Quiz to test your knowledge. Next, we’ll enjoy a screening of the documentary Still Rolling: The DDLJ Story, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of Bollywood’s most iconic films. Finally, we’ll close with a thought-provoking panel discussion on how Bollywood intersects with and sometimes misrepresents South Asian culture.
Please enjoy complimentary popcorn and Make Your Own Chai at the counter throughout the event.
We are incredibly honored to have Ms. Balinder Johal as our Guest of Honor today. We also want to thank our esteemed panelists Guntaj Deep Singh and Monica Cheema for joining us and sharing their insights.
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Granville College, Natashja Rathore, TCS Photography, Punjabi Market Collective, Sahaj Yoga Meditation, and Babbar Movies. We are also grateful to our community outreach partners, Sher Vancouver and Gurukul: Music School, for their collaboration.
A heartfelt thanks goes to our Dashmi Fest team, Khushi, Arushi, and Ayaan, who worked pro-bono to bring this vision to life. Their dedication and tireless efforts behind the scenes have made this event a success, along with the support of our wonderful volunteers.
As a small, grassroots non-profit, this is our very first festival. Much of the funding has come from our founders, Tejasvi Arneja and Simarpreet Singh, who have taken this on as a personal project and invested heavily to make Dashmi Fest happen. We also want to acknowledge our incredible artists, who graciously offered their time and talents pro-bono because they believe in the importance of creating this space for our community.
We have big dreams for next year, and we aim to make Dashmi Fest even bigger, where we can fully compensate all of our artists. We humbly ask for your support—no donation is too small. Your contribution will help us grow and continue building this community-driven platform.
BOLLYWOOD QUIZ
Get ready for a fun-filled Bollywood Quiz, hosted by none other than Tejasvi Arneja! This lively quiz will test your Bollywood knowledge with 36 exciting questions, all played through Kahoot, so make sure to have your phones ready. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just enjoy Bollywood’s iconic moments, this quiz promises to be a great time for everyone.
With a mix of questions on classic films, music, and behind-the-scenes trivia, it’s a perfect way to kick off the event. So, get ready to compete, have fun, and show us how well you know your Bollywood!
STILL ROLLING: THE DDLJ STORY
What makes a film do a record-breaking run of over 1000 weeks at the box office? A filmmaker takes a journey from London to Switzerland, to India to rediscover the magic of Bollywood’s longest running film ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’.
As a Filmmaker, Natashja has crewed on Feature Films, TV Shows and has directed and produced a number of Short Films and Documentaries that have travelled to festivals – including ‘Still Rolling’ the documentary on the popular Bollywood sensation ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’. Natashja has consulted and created content for notable Brands such as Roseate Hotels & Resorts, Belvedere, Kotak, Hero etc. and her work has been seen on platforms such as BBC Asian Network, Mediacorp, National Geographic and Condé Nast.
Meet the Dashmi Fest Team
Our dedicated team has worked passionately to bring Dashmi Fest to life, each contributing their time pro-bono to ensure the success of this celebration of South Asian art and culture.
Tejasvi Arneja: The visionary founder of Dashmi Fest and your host for today’s Bollywood Quiz. Tejasvi is the driving force behind the festival, curating and directing the entire event with a deep commitment to preserving South Asian heritage in Vancouver.
Simarpreet Singh: Co-founder and key leader of the team. Simarpreet’s strategic planning and unwavering support have been essential in shaping Dashmi Fest into the vibrant event it is today.
Khushi: Our Development Director, Khushi has been instrumental in ensuring the festival’s smooth execution. Her creativity and tireless efforts in building relationships and coordinating event logistics have been key to making this event a success.
Arushi: As our Operations Manager, Arushi has expertly handled all the behind-the-scenes details, from managing partnerships to ensuring everything runs seamlessly. Her attention to detail and ability to keep things organized has been crucial in bringing Dashmi Fest to life.
Ayaan: A vital part of the team, Ayaan has worked diligently on outreach and spreading the word about Dashmi Fest. His thoughtful approach to engaging the community has helped ensure that this festival reaches a wide and diverse audience.
Together, this incredible team has put in countless hours to make Dashmi Fest a reality, and we are grateful for their dedication and hard work. Enjoy the event and everything they have created for you!
