NEW DELHII : Directors Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee were the latest opinion leaders to be featured on Express Adda. While it took the industry a while to embrace them and their work, they are now heralded as the men in-charge of a cinematic revolution in the country. They entered Bollywood as rebellious boys with a cinematic vision that was gritty, edgy and realistic - far away from snow-capped foreign locales and chiffon-clad leading ladies.

Express Adda, an Indian Express platform for interactive debates with global thought leaders, key decision-makers, strategists and newsmakers has been managed by VibgyorBrand Services for several years now. The exchange is meant to be freewheeling but also intense and focused on contemporary issues, an interesting mix of cocktails and conversations.

In this recent edition of Express Adda, Dibakar Bannerjee and Anurag Kashyap interacted with a select audience about the many hues ofthe complex picture that is today‘s India and how these tones reflect off their cinematic canvases. Speaking at the event, Anurag Kashyap said: "The problem is not with the members of the Censor Board, the problem is with the country. We are so hypersensitive and the government has decided to entertain everything and everybody. It frustrates me that I can watch a film like Death of a President in a hall in the US, which is a fictional story about the death of George W Bush."

Agreeing with him, Dibakar Banerjee added: "The Censor Board is only following a template. It‘s the various political lobbies that create the problems. The real animal is the Cinematograph Act." The discussion was moderated by Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta.

Some of the other recent Adda events have featured ace badminton player Saina Nehwal , World chess champion Viswanathan Anand, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and actor Aamir Khan among others. Commenting on the platform, Protyush Hazarika of Vibgyor Brand Services said, "Vibgyor has been managing Adda sessions for a long time now and the underlying theme of interactive discussions on topical issues designed to inspire change have us completely involved and excited. We look forward to a continued long-standing association with Adda."

MUMBAI: Mobile operator Idea Cellular has conceptualized and announced Punjab?s first-ever Kabaddi tournament ?Idea Shaan-e-Punjab Kabaddi Cup?, along with the Punjab Sports Department.

Kabaddi the company says has always been India?s forte in the world sports arena, with maximum representation from Punjab athletes, since the sport is pursued assiduously in the state.

The commencement of the first season of this unique Kabaddi tournament was announced by Idea Cellular COO Punjab, J&K and HP Anish Roy. Idea ?Shaan-e-Punjab? Kabaddi Cup will be a village level Kabaddi Tournament involving youth across Punjab. More than 300 teams from over 2400 villages across Punjab will get to participate in this ?Annual Kabaddi Tournament?.

Roy said, ?Through this pioneering initiative, Idea wishes to harness and highlight the talent base in this state, by giving young athletes a platform to showcase their sporting talent. We will leverage our widespread reach and penetration across the state to connect, inform and invite the teams and interested athletes even from far-flung areas. Idea is the first telecom brand to reach out to youth in the state with such initiatives at the village, city, school and college level and we hope to build the property further in the coming years.?

Recently, Idea Cellular had conceptualized ?Idea Junior Championship League? in Punjab, the Annual Inter-School Sports Championship, comprising 9 Major Athletics Events across 100 schools in 6 cities.

Idea adds that it has been committed to promote Sports amongst the youth of this country, and particularly in Punjab. This is yet another initiative from Brand Idea to promote sports at the village level, recognize the young talent and thereby encourage their sporting ambitions.