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2/24/2009

Jai ho...



Hearty congratulations to A R Rehman and all those connected to the much acclaimed Slumdog millionaire. As I was reading the news from the red carpet I chanced to read a small opinion article of that of Aadesh Srivastava (music director in Bollywood). He, like few other critics, appear to be furious at the movie and the fact that India through Mumbai has been shone in the bad light to the extent that foreigners have started calling Indians the slumdogs!

Chill Mr. Srivastava! You stay in Bombay. Ever heard of Dharavi? By playing ostrich you cannot ignore the ground realities. Let’s stop being hypocrites and give the movie its due credit.

And about people regarding us slumdogs… please excuse them..for they aren’t well traveled or well read (I am sure or rather hope the percentage of such people isn’t high). Probably they don’t know that their own comrades find India attractive enough to be here on a vacation, business or even life long stay!

Your anger is genuine to an extent; but your statement that you will never get associated with any project which shows India in poor light…if it at all happens..Bravo! But these things should rather be left to situation, if you were given a chance to be a part of a project which means international fame, would you leave it? Well, you need to think about it.

Anyways, India is the most beautiful country in the world. And there’s no denying that. For people making opinions sitting miles across…God bless…

Jai ho!

2/17/2009

Wah Ustad Wah!


Inaugurating the year long programme for the Dharani society, (an initiative by the Dharani School of performing arts) it was none other that Ustad Zakir Hussain, the great great table maestro who graced the stage by his unbelievable performance, here in Kochi (Feb 17, ‘09).

Having grown up watching him fleetingly on various shows on the television (I don’t have the patience to watch music concerts on TV, prefer live) and the most famous wah ustad wah advertisement that intercepted the then popular chitrahaar, the weekly much awaited movie or other soaps, it was an enchanting experience to watch him performing live.

The humble maestro was teamed up with Shri Dilshad Khan the young promising Sarangi player. His swift hands moved on the instrument with so much grace, it almost felt the music was getting generated elsewhere! Be it be a steam engine effect or galloping horses, Ustad fingers presented these gentle variations along with his original compositions with unquestionable class.

Ustad Zakir Hussain yet again won a Grammy this year in the Contemporary World Music Album category for his collaborative album Global Drum Project. Born to Ustad Allah Rakha, Ustad Zakir started performing way back when we barely 12. He has various national and international shows and awards to his credit.

After yesterday’s performance, the whole of the audience was left spellbound as the heart craved for more.

Hail you Ustad ji…. Par ye dil ne maanga tha more!