WIN A FREE ROUND-TRIP FOR TWO TO INDIA!
plus $1,000 IN POCKET MONEY!

JOIN VANAJA’s “Why I Dream of Going To India”
Essay Writing Contest

It’s easy! It’s simple!  No purchase is necessary. 

“VANAJA” opens in theaters this fall, starting in New York City at Cinema Village on Friday, August 31st.   The Film which is set in rural South India, captures the quintessence of India’s physical splendor—its vibrant colors, its breathtaking landscapes, its beautiful people.  Winner of 16 major international awards, VANAJA is the story of a young girl’s dream—her desire and determination to be a dancer as she struggles to come of age.

So make your dream come true!  Just write a brief essay (preferably in 100 words or less) why you dream of going to India.  Is it because of its exotic sights?  Is it because of its historic grandeur?  Or its air of mysticism?  Just why do you, like so many, dream of going to India? 

Send your entry via e-mail to: vanaja@emergingpictures.com

You can write the essay in the body of your e-mail or send it as a word attachment. 

Only one essay submission per entrant.  Contest starts Friday, August 31, 2007 and ends November 15, 2007.

VANAJA’s “WHY I DREAM OF GOING TO INDIA” ESSAY WRITING CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES
1.         Eligibility.
VANAJA’s “Why I Dream of Going To India” Essay Writing Contest (the "Contest") is open to all males and females who (1) are legal residents of the United States of America and (2) are at least 13 years of age and above.  Employees of Vanaja The Film LLC ("Sponsor") and/or its distribution company, advertising, promotion, or publicity agencies and partners, and members of their immediate families and households are not eligible to enter.   
2.         How to Enter.
The Contest entry period begins on August 31, 2007 and ends on November 15, 2007.  To enter, each entrant must do the following: (1) send an email (your "Submission") no later than 12:00pm EST on November 15, 2007, to vanaja@emergingpictures.com with your name, address, phone number(s) and date of birth, along with a brief essay (within 100 words or less) explaining why you dream of going to India.  You can write the essay in the body of your e-mail or send it as a word attachment.  Your Submission must be original and created entirely by you and you alone and may not include any verbiage or materials created by or contributions from any third party.  Limit one (1) submission per entrant.  Winning entrant must show a proof of U.S. legal residency.  Also if the winning entrant is under 18, he or she must provide a legally binding document of approval from his or her parent or guardian, in addition to being accompanied by said parent, guardian or designated adult to and from the awarded trip to India.  Submissions become the property of Sponsor, and will not be acknowledged or returned.
3.         Judging. 
In the first round, a panel of judges (the "Panel") consisting of Rajnesh Domalpalli, the writer/director of the Film (Vanaja), Gitesh Pandya (Indian film promoter and founder of boxofficeguru.com), and Ira Deutchman, president of Emerging Pictures will select ten (10) semi-finalist entries (the "Semi Finalists") from all eligible entries received based on the originality, creativity and persuasiveness of their Submissions.  While not likely, if fewer than ten eligible entrants join the Contest, then all eligible entrants shall be deemed Semi-Finalists.  The Semi-Finalists will be notified by email and telephone on or about November 20, 2007.  If a Semi-Finalist  does not respond within twenty-four (24) hours of notification, Sponsor shall have the right to disqualify them and select an alternate Semi-Finalist. 
The Semi-Finalists will then be required to call in for a phone interview with the Panel at a time selected by Sponsor sometime shortly after November 20, 2007, as directed by Sponsor.   If a Semi-Finalist is unable to call-in for the scheduled phone interview as directed by Sponsor, then Sponsor shall have the right to disqualify them and select an alternate Semi-Finalist. 
The Panel will select the winning entrant based on each person's originality, creativity and their reason “Why they dream of going to India.”  The winner will be notified by telephone and email on or about November 30, 2007.   If the winner does not respond within twenty-four (24) hours of notification, Sponsor shall have the right to disqualify the person and select an alternate winner.  The decisions of the Panel in both rounds are final and binding in all regards.   The chances of winning will depend on the application of the judging criteria to the Submissions.
4.         Prize.  
The nine ((9) semi-finalists will each receive $100 and a bag of free dvds courtesy of Emerging Pictures.   The Grand Prize Winner will be awarded a free roundtrip economy fare for two (2) to Mumbai, India, plus a cash prize of $1,000 as pocket money.  Approximate retail value of the plane fare for two is $4,000.
5.         The winner is responsible for all expenses not expressly included in connection with the Prize such as food, beverage, and lodging, hotel expenses, ground transportation, insurance, gratuities, pre-flight, on-flight and post-flight activities, non-included food and beverages and other incidental costs, charges, taxes or fees.  Emerging Pictures reserves the right and final judgment on all matters pertaining to the prize and prizes awarded to semi-finalists and to the winner. 
6.         For copies of these Official Rules, visit www.vanajathefilm.com or www.emergingpictures.com or  By submitting an entry or accepting a prize, each entrant agrees to be bound by decisions of the judges and these Official Rules and to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  All federal, state, and local taxes are the  sole responsibility of the semifinalists and the eventual winner.  No prize substitutions, transfers or cash alternatives are permitted, except Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value in Sponsor's sole discretion.  An Affidavit of Eligibility and Compliance with these Official Rules and a Liability and Publicity Release must be signed and returned by each of the semifinalists and the winner within twenty-four (24) hours after prize notification is sent to the semifinalists and winner.   Failure of any potential semifinalist and/or winner to complete, sign, and return any requested documents within such period, or the return of any prize notification as undeliverable, may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner in Sponsor's sole discretion.  Failure of any semifinalist and/or winner to complete, sign, and return any requested documents within such period may result in denial of such person’s claim to the prize.  You are not a winner unless your submission is validated. 
7.         By entering the Contest, or accepting a prize, each entrant accepts all of the conditions, restrictions, requirements, and/or regulations required by Sponsor.  In addition, each entrant represents and warrants that all information contained in his/her Submission is true and accurate.   
8.         Unless otherwise prohibited by law, by entering the Contest and/or accepting a prize, each entrant grants to Sponsor the absolute right to use such entrant’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, address (city and state), biographical information, Submission, and any materials based thereon or derived therefrom, or to refrain from so doing, in any manner in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised, anywhere in the world in perpetuity for publicity purposes in the advertising, promotion and distribution of the Film and for purposes of advertising or trade in promoting or publicizing Sponsor, without compensation.  Each entrant also agrees that he or she shall not have a right of approval, claim to compensation, or claim (including, without limitation, claims based on invasion of privacy, defamation, or right of publicity) arising out of any use of the entrant’s name, likeness, photographs, voices, addresses (city and state), biographical information, Submission, and any materials.
9.         By entering the Contest, each entrant agrees to release, discharge, and hold harmless Sponsor, its directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, and assigns, from and against any and all claims, damages, injuries, trauma, deaths, losses, rights, causes of action, actions, suits, debts, sums of money, or other liabilities, either at law or equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or non-asserted, arising from or in any way, directly or indirectly, relating to the entrant's participation in the Contest, the awarding, acceptance, use, or misuse of the Prize, or the use of such member's name, likeness, photograph, voice, biographical information, and/or Submission.  Each entrant represents and warrants that he or she has the full right and authority to grant the rights granted herein and that his or her agreement to the terms hereof does not conflict with any existing commitment on his or her part. Contest is void where prohibited, taxed, or otherwise restricted.
10.       Sponsor and those working for it or on its behalf will not be responsible for lost, late or misdirected e-mail or for Internet, computer hardware and software, electronic, network, or computer malfunctions or delays, or any other technical error of any kind.  Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or modify all or any portions of the Contest if, in its sole discretion, it determines that for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as originally planned or if there is fraud or technical errors or malfunctions, viruses, hackers, or other reasons that compromise the fairness or integrity of the Contest in any manner.  Entries are void if they contain typographical or other errors.  Entries generated by a script, macro or other automated means are void.  Entries that are incomplete, mechanically reproduced, tampered with, inaccurate, forged, misdirected, lost, late, delayed, irregular in any way, or otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules are also void. 
11.       To obtain the names of the semifinalists and winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Vanaja The Film, Contest Winners, c/o Emerging Pictures, 245 West 55 Street, 4th Floor, New York NY 10019 postmarked no later than December 15, 2007.
12.       The Sponsor of the Contest is Vanaja The Film LLC, 229 West 109 Street, Apt. 72, New York, NY 10025.