Priyanka Gandhi lauds Faizal & Shabana Foundation at Wayanad ATTIO Conference
Wayanad: Congress leader and Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi praised the efforts of the Faizal & Shabana Foundation in promoting community development through various initiatives, including quality education and wellness tourism. Speaking at the Wayanad Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTIO) Conference, where she was the Chief Guest, Priyanka Gandhi commended Faizal E. Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal for their dedication to social upliftment, particularly through their foundation’s commitment to establishing a Nadakkavu-model school in Wayanad.
The initiative, aimed at revolutionizing education standards in the region, is being undertaken with the support of the foundation, Priyanka Gandhi, and the local MLA. She emphasized that this school would play a crucial role in providing top-tier education to students in Wayanad, ensuring a brighter future for the youth.
The ATTIO Conference in Wayanad marked a significant step in unlocking the vast potential of Veiia and its transformative impact on wellness tourism. Faizal E. Kottikollon, Chairman of KEF Holdings, delivered the keynote address, while Shabana Faizal, Chairperson of KEF Holdings, also shared insights on the growing wellness sector.
The conference focused on positioning Wayanad and the broader North Malabar region as a global wellness hub. Discussions centered on how integrating Wayanad’s natural beauty and cultural heritage with modern wellness solutions could boost sustainable development. Key stakeholders highlighted how wellness tourism could generate employment, preserve ecological balance, and put North Malabar on the global map.
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One of the major highlights of the conference was the introduction of the Tulah Clinical Wellness Sanctuary, a revolutionary wellness retreat blending traditional healing practices with advanced medical treatments. This ambitious project, developed under the leadership of Faizal E. Kottikollon, is set to open in April 2025 in Chelembra, near Kozhikode Airport.
Spread across 30 acres, Tulah has been built with an investment of ₹1,000 crore and aims to redefine global wellness by incorporating Ayurveda, Chinese and Tibetan medicine, yoga, meditation, sports rehabilitation, and genome-based therapies.
The sanctuary was soft-launched on February 22, with dignitaries such as UAE Minister of Economic Affairs Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri and former NITI Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant in attendance.
Tulah will feature 65 luxurious suites offering panoramic views of the Western Ghats, along with a dedicated sports rehabilitation center and state-of-the-art sports medicine facilities tailored for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
A standout feature of Tulah is its organic medicinal garden, home to around 400 medicinal plants, with plans to expand it into a large-scale medicinal forest. Additionally, Tulah will introduce the world’s first patented Ayurvedic oil bath bed, developed with European technical support. Unlike traditional wooden oil beds, this scientifically designed innovation ensures hygiene and has secured patents in the European Union, the UK, and Asia.
Beyond the sanctuary, Faizal Kottikollon has unveiled ambitious plans to establish 100 Urban Tulah Centers worldwide. These 10,000 sq. ft. centers will offer premium wellness solutions in major global cities, with the first set to launch in Dubai.
Faizal E. Kottikollon, a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the son of P.K. Ahmed, founder of Kozhikode-based Peekay Steel. With an extensive background in business, healthcare, and philanthropy, he has been instrumental in launching transformative projects across multiple sectors.
Shabana hails from Mangaluru in Karnataka state of India. She is the only daughter of prominent businessman and socio religious leader Late B Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen who founded the prestigious BA Group of Businesses in Thumbay near Mangaluru.
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
