Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - March 2009 - Index

nity when he landed in Canada.
He was pipelining the post production
work to India, but as
word spread and he got bigger
projects, as he met members of
the community at church and at
temples, he didn’t want to constantly
be explaining how his
representatives in India handled
one end of the business.
“Also, there were tax implications!”
he says succinctly.
It was time to establish
VisionTree Inc. in Canada.
The Big Mallu Party,
hosted by The Looz Mallooz,
is the first big event organized
by Mathews in Canada.
“There are individual talents,
of course, but the branding,
and finding a future for the
Looz Mallooz, is my contribution,”
says Mathews.
The response has been encouraging,
with people e-mailing
and calling him to say they
are happy he is involving the
youth in the community in this
initiative.
“Even the community associations
who could, really, have
seen us as this upstart group out
to prove we can do stuff they
couldn’t, have been supportive,”
he says. “But I mean them
no disrespect. I think the annual
picnic, the Onam and Christmas
gatherings serve a purpose.
But come on, man! Step up
your act! Do more! Let the
youth take the initiative and
step away. It may be risky, but
what have you got to lose? You
have a fixed base, a membership!”
So what exactly is Mathews
offering at the Big Mallu Party?
Vineeth Sreenivasan, the
twenty-something number one
name in the music scene in the
film industry in South India,
leads a stellar line-up.
“Vineeth writes songs, directs
his own music videos, he’s
got a great presence on the
internet and a huge, huge fan
following,” says Mathews enthusiastically.
I have great respect
for Mammootty and
Mohanlal, but Vineeth is the
“Winter is ‘let’s sit at home and do nothing’
time for most of us. I thought it would be fun to
get everyone up and running for one evening!”
BENZI MATHEWS
future! As is Sayanora Philip,
a phenomenal voice who was
discovered by AR Rahman
and toured Toronto with him
the last time he was here.”
Queensy (Mathews’ sister)
and Mathews himself, are going
to sing as well, in Tamil,
Hindi, Arabic and Punjabi.
There will be dance troupes, led
by Neil, who is a model and a
dancer, as well as a ballet-like
highlight, a music montage on
the Legend of Unniyarcha, a legendary
Joan of Arc-like figure
in Malayalam literature.
Other highlights include a
segment called Photosynthesis
from Malayali kids who have
grown up in this part of the
world and bring a different take
on their culture.
VisionTree is producing the
show with Mathews directing.
The other three members of
The Looz Mallooz – Denny,
Neil and Dennis – are the MCs.
But unlike standard MCs, they
are not going to be taking turns
announcing the next event, but
will actually contribute to the
evening’s entertainment. They
will sing, dance, and play the
piano, and interact with the audience,
effectively hosting the
evening.
Holders of VIP tickets can
look forward to a dinner with
the stars.
Asked why he chose to hold
the event in March, an iffy
month at best weatherwise,
Mathews says any later than
March would have seen the Big
Mallu Party competing with all
the other community events
that are bound to spring up.
“Also, winter is technically a
‘let’s sit at home and do nothing’
period for most of us. I
thought it would be fun to get
everyone up and running for
one evening!” he laughs.
“The right packaging adds
value to the gift. And packaging
includes the venue. I didn’t
want to hold the event in a
school auditorium and diminish
the experience. I’m hoping
the audience will love the venue
as much as I do – it has great
audio and lighting technology.
And the space for the after
party.”
The Looz Mallooz have
been getting the word out about
the Big Mallu Party in innovative
ways. Instead of throwing
flyers in grocery stores,
Mathews says they have done
interactive videos that they have
been promoting at a meet and
greet tour at community events
and at student associations at
universities including ones for
York and McMaster students in
January.
“We’ve gotten whole families
involved! For our full day,
as-on-stage rehearsal, we had a
giant potluck with moms bringing
rice, chappatis, curries and
desert! It was fantastic!”
Speaking of families, Mathews
says his is cool with his passion.
“There are only two reasons
why anyone would do this – for
the money or for personal satisfaction
– and I have to con-
• FACING PAGE: The Looz Malloz
team. RIGHT: Benzi Mathews.
THE BIG MALLU PARTY
WHEN March 7 WHERE The Queen Elizabeth Theatre at
the CNE, 190 Princess Blvd, Toronto. TICKETS & INFO
At www.bigmalluparty.com
NARI MAVALWALLA /DESI NEWS
fess, I’ve not made my millions
in show biz! There was a time
when my parents felt they had
to point out how risky show biz
is and when they were, like, oh,
this guy is not going to do anything!
But now they are more
confident about what I am doing
and how I am doing it! But
I have continuously updated my
professional qualifications. I
have a serious Plan B, one that
my mother was instrumental in
my getting!”
Mathews plans on getting
into the infotainment business
by organizing smaller scale
events on a regular basis.
“Debates; getting South
Asian business magnates to
come out and talk to small
groups; maybe bring Hariharan
over for a classy, intimate
gathering... I also want to start
listening to film scripts. Toronto-friendly
scripts. Could be
theatrical release, or for the festival
circuit, or even the internet.
It’s too early to say, it
would depend on the scripts
and the budget.”
But right now, all focus is on
the Big Mallu Party.
“What some people see as a
risk, I see as doing something I
believe in. And I’m having a
blast doing it! So all I can say
to you is, ‘Come on out and join
us for three hours of non-stop
family entertainment like the
city has never seen before!”