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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know . i i i . – t ’ a l y n t k Asian American Arts Alliance, A4, Confers Vanguard Award On Chef, Author, Activist Padma Lakshmi Sonu Nigam Lends Voice To Hindi-Haryanvi Song ‘Chunni’ T he Asian American Arts Alliance, A4, announced August 7, 2026, the recipi- ents of its 2026 Annual Benefit awards: Padma Lakshmi will receive the Vanguard Award, and Yao King &White Rabbit Trust will receive A4’s Community Champion Award. Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and best-selling author, as well as one of Time Magazine‘s 100 Most Influential People (2023). She is the creator and host/executive producer of “America’s Culinary Cup,” a new culinary competition show that premiered on CBS in spring 2026. She is also creator of the Emmy-nominated and James Beard Founda- tion award-winning Hulu series “Taste the Nation.” Lakshmi served as host/executive producer for 19 seasons of Bravo’s two-time Emmy-win- ning series “Top Chef,” which was nominated for 47 Emmys during her tenure, including her five nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program. She is also co-founder of the Endometrio- sis Foundation of America (EndoFound) and an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Artist Ambassador for immigrants’ rights and women’s rights. Lakshmi was also appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). A well-known face nationwide, Lakshmi has also written several books, including Easy Exot- ic; Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet; a memoir, The New York Times best-selling Love, Loss andWhat We Ate; The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs; a NYT best-selling children’s book, Tomatoes for Neela; and Padma’s All American: Tales, Travels and Recipes fromTaste the Nation and Beyond. S inger Sonu Nigam has come up with a new Hindi-Haryanvi song ‘Chunni’. Sharing his thoughts on the song, Sonu, in a press note, said, “Chunni is a fun song adorned with a beautiful melodic structure and lyrics full of romance. I love the beats and the frolic they exude. Here’s my first of the many more such musical offerings com- ing up.” The track has been released under the banner of I Believe Music in partnership withWarner Music India & Global Music Junction. Rajkumar Singh, CEO, Global Music Junction, says “At Global Music Junc- tion, we have been committed to taking India’s rich regional music to a global audience while fostering meaningful collaborations between mainstream and regional artists. ‘Chunni’ is a natural ex- tension of that vision. We are delighted to bring together Sonu Nigam & Renuka Panwar on a song that celebrates the vibrancy of Haryanvi music and its growing cultural influence. These col- laborations not only expand the reach of regional music but also celebrate the richness of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.” On Friday, Sonu’s song ‘Tabassum’ from ‘Batwara 1947’ was also unveiled. AR Rahman has composed, produced and arranged the track, Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics, while Sonu Nigam and Heer have lent their voices to the soulful melody. Released by Aamir Khan Produc- tions and distributed through Zee Music Company, the music video is set against the backdrop of pre-Partition India and follows a tender love story unfolding amid turbulent times. It features Ali Fazal, Karan Deol, Kan- ikka Kapur and Isha Sandhir, highlight- ing themes of love, hope and emotional resilience. - ANI Entertainment News India Times (August 8, 2026 - August 14, 2026) August 14, 2026 27 Malayalam Vampire Thriller ‘HALF’ To Premiere At TIFF T he upcoming Malayalam vampire action thriller ‘HALF’ is set to make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this September. The film has been selected in the festival’s Midnight Madness section. The makers have also an- nounced that Excel Entertainment, in association with AA Films, will present and distribute the Hindi version of the film across North India. Directed by Samjad and written by Samjad and Praveen Viswanath, HALF stars Ranjith Sajeev, Aiswarya Raj, Abbas and Amala Paul in key roles. Produced by Anne Sajeev and Sajeev P.K. under the banner of Fra- grant Nature Film Creations (FNFC), the film is based on the story of two half-blooded vampires and blends action, revenge and vampire mythology. Farhan Akhtar, co-founder of Excel Entertainment, also spoke about what impressed him about the film. “There’s something raw and visceral in Samjad’s pre- sentation that really got my attention. It grabs you by the intestines and just doesn’t let go. Absolutely thrilled to be on board and take this film to the audience,” he said in a statement. HALF marks the second collaboration between Fragrant Nature Film Creations and the team of Samjad and Praveen Viswanath after their 2024 mystery thriller Golam. The film also features action choreographer Very Tri Yulisman, known for The Raid 2 and The Night Comes for Us. Lead actors Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj trained for months to perform their own action scenes. According to the makers, the film has no slow-motion action sequences. Shot over 117 days across Rajasthan, Kerala and Kazakhstan, HALF will release in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada. The makers are expected to announce the theatrical release date soon. - ANI PHOTO:ANI By a StaffWriter Recipients of A4 2026 Awards. PHOTO:COURTESY A4 PHOTOS:COURTESY ORGANIZERS