a memoir of etchings and wanderings
Meaning wanderer in Assamese, it is quite a fascinating word. From my brushes with the language, I understood the similarities Assamese has with my mother tongue – Bengali. Then I came across Angaraag Mahanta, better known as Papon – now one of Bollywood’s leading vocalists. I first heard him sing ‘Jiyein Kyun’ in the absolutely rubbish Bollywood flick – Dum Maaro Dum. Wondering where he had been hiding all these years, I … Continue reading “Jajabor” →
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Without doubt, one of the most talented and creative geniuses the world has even seen in the field of western classical music. He wrote his first full scale opera at the age of fourteen and had become a close favourite of the local monarch. His music is of such class that doctors advise pregnant women to listen to Mozart while they’re expecting – research claims that it … Continue reading “Amadeus” →
When Baba mentioned to me last week that a Bengali/North-East Indian folk music band was going to be in town to play and tickets were for free, I could see that this is something he wouldn’t like to miss. He knows a lot about Bengali folk, my father. Perhaps because he spent much time with my grand-father who was a theatre-artiste visiting the quaint Calcutta-based music festivals and experienced the … Continue reading “Songs Of The Soil” →
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” ― Aldous Huxley. Music is my solace. My friend. My consolation. It makes me weep. It lifts my spirits. Gives me hope. Rejuvenates. Without music and earplugs, I would be a very sad, wandering soul. Music is my anchor. It was near impossible to pick favourites, but these are the twelve that have made a difference: Phir Le Aaya Dil … Continue reading “7 | 12: Twelve Playlist Toppers” →
I’m often told that Bengali is such a beautiful language. Easy to understand. Sweet on the ears. Although, the ‘mother’ tongue is essentially Punjabi, my mother is fluent in Bengali as well. And my parents have done such a fabulous job passing it on to me. At a point of time, I could read and write effortlessly as well – but then one day I wrote Bengali in my Hindi … Continue reading “Native” →
What is love? Ask me, and I will sing you this song. If Peter Gabriel is around, I will have him serenade you. If both of us aren’t here – just give this a listen and you’ll know. For those of you who haven’t watched ‘Shall We Dance’, you don’t know what you’re missing.
When the heart’s feeling heavy. When the sky is a hint of endless blue. When you can feel the warm October sun on your skin. When you’re having a conversation with the almost empty wine glass and that last cigarette. When you walk through a glade and see names carved in trees. When your heart flutters to the phone ringing. When you dream of meadows. That’s when you will hum … Continue reading “Not Just Jazz By The Bay” →
Is there anyone who hasn’t seen the Jill & Kevin wedding video yet? Now is the time, then. The story will continue afterwards. I was introduced to it during my MBA at SIMC. I cannot remember what class or who the teacher was, or what was the point of showing it to a bunch of post graduating students. But the song was a revelation! Everyone was nuts over it for a … Continue reading “Turn Up The Music” →
The benefits of being born in an extremely culturally inclined family are manifold. I’ve been educated in Indian classical vocals since I was six and Baba’s love for western classical has ensured that I know a little about the subject. When other parents would be taking their children to parks and amusement centres, my father was booking tickets for three to listen to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra at the … Continue reading “An Evening With The Arts” →
I feel my eyes well up every time I hear this song. Unplugged or not. Regardless of the growing belief that getting out is the only way forward, how far can you really run from home? If only Shahrukh, Ashutosh Gowarikar and A.R. Rahman realised that this movie and its songs were one of their best works, they would have attempted a reunion. I don’t know how they got it so right, … Continue reading “No Place Like Home” →