Majestic pagoda looms over Mumbai with message of peace
By Quaid Najmi, IANS,
Mumbai : Standing 325 feet tall, the building boasts of awesome dimensions, but what is more significant is that the Global Vipassana Pagoda comes as a soothing balm for the people of Mumbai which was ravaged by the Nov 26 terror attacks.
To be dedicated as the World Monument of Peace and Harmony, the pagoda constructed by the Global Vipassana Foundation (GVF) will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil Feb 8.
ASI seeks High Court help to protect Sher Shah’s tomb
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India has moved to Patna High Court to protect Tomb of Sher Shah in Sasaram.
The tomb that is part of the heritage site is encroached by unauthorized and illegal constructions. The ASI moved the court to remove these illegal constructions.
Wali Gujarati: Father of Urdu poetry
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
There are disputes over when and where Urdu poet Wali Gujarati was born and when he died. But what is not in dispute is Wali’s contribution to Urdu poetry. Also not in dispute is when and why his tomb was razed to the ground and road built over it.
By George! Blyton’s Famous Five have an Indian leader
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : Sixtysix years after British author Enid Blyton unveiled her Famous Five series before adoring children the world over, the fictional adventurers have been updated for a new generation and with a new leader - Jo, an Anglo-Indian.
Revived by Disney as television cartoons and books, the members of the new Famous Five are children of the original five created in 1942 - team leader Julian, Dick, George, Anne and the dog Timmy.
Poetry to illumine world of terror
By IANS
New Delhi: Through her latest book "Terrorist at my Table", acclaimed poet and documentary filmmaker Imtiaz Dharker seeks to convey the message that "in this world of terror, light is still possible".
At the launch of the book in New Delhi Friday evening, Dharker said: "The book is an attempt to negotiate the territory of terror. How do we live in this kind of world, which is full of terrors? How do we live with nuances, subtlety?"
Delhi court dismisses cases against M.F.Husain
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Thursday dismissed criminal proceedings against eminent painter M.F. Husain, who lives in self imposed exile in London and Dubai and was alleged to have hurt public sentiments through some of his paintings.
Giving relief to the 91-year-old painter, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the allegations were baseless.
"A painter has his own perspective of looking at things and it cannot be the basis of initiating criminal proceedings against him," Kaul said in his order.
Artists protest as Bangladesh sends rare art pieces to Paris
Dhaka (IANS) : Bangladesh has flown out rare archaeological artefacts for an exhibition in Paris, triggering a massive protest by artists, intellectuals and students who fear that these may be stolen or damaged.
Ten crates containing 189 art pieces were taken out of the National Museum here Saturday amid an angry protest by placard and banner-waving artists. It was sent as a special cargo aboard a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft, The New Nation newspaper said Sunday.
Kolkata gets new ICCR cultural centre
By IANS,
Kolkata : The Rabindranath Tagore Centre, housing multiple galleries, archives on cultural history, seminar rooms, a business centre and library, has been set up here by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to promote art in the country's eastern region.
The centre was inaugurated Sunday by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Kumari Selja inaugurates Kazakh art exhibition
By IANS,
New Delhi : Union Minister of Culture Kumari Selja inaugurated an exhibition of artifacts and paintings from Kazakhstan here Wednesday.
Documenta art-expo catalogue is top secret
By DPA
Kassel (Germany) : Sleuths have so far managed to crack about one third of the secret catalogue for the world's leading contemporary-art expo, Documenta 12, which opens next month.
Critical art writing has to be accessible: Experts
By IANS,
New Delhi: Does art writing need to change to suit the fickle intellectual attention span of the audience in an age of multi-cultural and multi-dimensional media?
Frankfurt Book Fair: the world’s biggest deal in publishing
By DPA
Frankfurt : When the world's biggest annual trade fair devoted to books begins Oct 10 in the German city of Frankfurt, a fresh crop of up-and-coming writers will be introduced to publishers from round the globe.
This year, 7,300 exhibitors from 110 nations will attend the Frankfurt Book Fair, hoping to sell foreign rights for everything from school textbooks and calendars to poetry anthologies.
Deals on translation and re-publishing rights as well as printing contracts and bulk book sales are negotiated during the fair.
Modern art gallery unveiled in Bangalore amid artist protests
By IANS,
Bangalore : A branch of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) was unveiled here Wednesday, but the debate between modernity and tradition came to the fore with a group of artists protesting state Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda's comment on modern art and Indian heritage.
"I welcome modern art, but modern art should not distort heritage. Only pseudo-intellectuals distort traditional art of India," Gowda said while speaking in the presence of Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni, who inaugurated the Bangalore chapter of the art gallery.
Goa to host Know India Programme for diaspora
By IANS
New Delhi : Goa is all set to host the latest edition of the Know India Programme (KIP), an orientation event held by the government to help diaspora youth know more about Indian way of life and culture that starts Aug 29, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said here Monday.
Ravi said this year's event, which will go on till Sep 15, would specially target Indian origin youth rather than non-resident Indians (NRIs).
Assam’s shimmering Muga silk now a brand
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Guwahati : The shimmering golden Muga silk that is exclusive to Assam is now a brand, with the yarn officially accorded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) status.
Muga, considered a cultural heritage of Assam, has become the first product from the state to receive GI status from the GI Registry in Chennai.
"The GI tag for Muga silk produced here is a milestone and would go a long way in preserving its quality and reputation worldwide," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.
Arts and culture pump $84.6 billion into Canada’s economy
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Canada's thriving arts and culture contributed a record $84.6 billion to the nation's economy last year.
Highlighting the economic significance of the sector, a report by the private think-tank Conference Board of Canada released Tuesday said it accounted for as much as 7.4 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).
The report comes amid the government's decision to cut funding for various cultural and arts programmes by $45 million.
Delhi based organisation to organize one day workshop on understanding Sufi literature and Qawwali
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi : A one day workshop on ‘Understanding Sufi Literature and Qawwali’ is being organised by...
Damien Hirst thirst rakes in £70m at Sotheby’s auction
By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
London : Monday saw global investment giant Lehmann Brothers file for bankruptcy, but by night there wasn't even a whiff of the credit crunch at Sotheby's in London where a staggering £70-odd million was spent in a matter of minutes to snap up the works of artist Damien Hirst whose works were recently exhibited in New Delhi to mixed reviews.
A festival in Tamil Nadu to honour folk artists from marginalized communities
The festival, titled “Veethi Virudhu Vizha (The Street Award Ceremony)” in its ninth year, has provided a platform for Dalit and other marginalized...
Sufi Qawwali Festival
By TCN News
Pictures from the first ever Sufi Qawwali Festival organized in Delhi on Feb 25th and 26th. Photographs by Delhi-based photographer Natisha Mallick.
Honour Indian artistes, Bangladesh scholar says
By IANS
Dhaka : Indian artistes such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and Suchitra Sen should be honoured by Bangladesh, says a renowned scholar here.
Bangladesh should enact a law to felicitate Bengali artistes and foreigners who contributed to the country's freedom movement, writer and music enthusiast Fakhruddin Ahmed has said.
Ahmed cited Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar and the late Beatle, George Harrison, as those who needed to be honoured, the Daily Times reported Sunday.
‘The Silent Raga’ – a finely told story of everyday humiliation
By Papri Sri Raman, IANS
Book: "The Silent Raga"; Author: Ameen Merchant; Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India; Pages: 452, Price: Rs.395.
A man's rare insight into a woman's plight? A sentence in Ameen Merchant's first book gives away the empathy, which made him delve so deep into women's minds.
Shah Jahan’s 353rd death anniversary observed at Taj Mahal
By IANS,
Agra : Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's 353rd urs (death anniversay) is being celebrated at the Taj Mahal here with prayers for ending terrorism.
The three-day celebrations began Tuesday with customary fanfare and rituals.
Entry to the 17th century monument of love build by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal is free from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the urs days.
Authorities have made "foolproof" security arrangements to ensure orderly conduct of the urs and crowd management.
Legendary music composer ‘Khayyam’ of Hindi cinema passes away
TCN News
Mohammed Zahur 'Khayyam' Hashmi, popularly knowns as Khayyam passed away on Monday due to critical illness.
Born in undivided Punjab in Rahon, Khayyam was...
Deep-rooted conspiracy behind Punjab turmoil: Badal
Gurdaspur (Punjab) : Amid tension in many parts of Punjab following the desecration of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, Punjab Chief Minister...
Noted poet Nida Fazli dead, condolences pour in
Mumbai : Condolences poured in for noted Hindi and Urdu poet Nida Fazli, who died here on Monday. He was in his late 70s.
Fazli's...
Eminent Hindi poet Shail Chaturvedi dead
By IANS
Mumbai : Shail Chaturvedi, eminent Hindi poet, humorist, lyricist and Bollywood character actor, passed away here early Monday morning.
He was 71 and is survived by his wife Daya and three sons, Vishal, Vihan and Vivek.
Suffering renal failure and other ailments, Chaturvedi breathed his last at his Malad home, north-west Mumbai, around midnight, his nephew, Akash Chaturvedi told IANS.
Old Delhi gears up for month of fasting and feasting
By Mohd Asim Khan
New Delhi : As the sun went down behind the majestic dome of Delhi's Jama Masjid, the lights came on, illuminating...
Connecting environment, people, animals through public art fest
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : A huge stainless steel bucket, caricatures, movies and street plays - for the next 10 days the capital will connect to issues related to environment, water and a better quality of life at public places, thanks to one of the biggest public arts festival being held in several places across the city.
Tagore Nobel theft case closure unfortunate: Somnath
By IANS
Kolkata : Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Sunday described as unfortunate the decision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to close the probe into the theft of Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize medallion.
"It is unfortunate that the CBI has decided to end the probe into the Nobel theft. The decision has saddened the people of the country and especially me as I represent the Bolpur constituency from where the medallion was stolen," Chatterjee told newspersons on the sidelines of the Indo-Vietnam Friendship Festival here.
Victoria Memorial to showcase valuable paintings on Sikhs
Kolkata : In celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti Thursday, the iconic Victoria Memorial Hall here has put on display a relatively modern miniature painting...
No recession here, youngsters croon their way to the bank
By Azera Rahman, IANS,
New Delhi : At a time when campus recruitments are seriously hit, youngsters, especially from the northeast, are crooning their way into jobs as professional singers in pubs and restaurants in the capital and getting a good deal out of it.
Many may say that entertaining people while they eat and drink, with hardly any appreciation, is not their cup of tea, but it's not a deterrent for these talented youngsters who would rather hum a tune than serve food for their pocket money.
Can Modi Win “Sabka Vishwas”? Did Modi implement Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas?
By Ram Puniyani
After 2014 victory Modi, Prime Minister of India had promised that he will implement Sabka Sath; Sabka Vikas (Taking everybody along, development...
Artist Subodh Gupta pitches in for Bihar flood relief
By IANS,
New Delhi : Leading contemporary artist Subodh Gupta is paying back to his home state Bihar, which is still reeling under the effects of the devastating floods that killed at least 191 people and left millions homeless, with a charity art auction.
The Bihar Flood Auction will be held Nov 11-12 in Gurgaon, adjacent to the national capital. The preview of the art works for the auction began Saturday.
‘CEO monk’ set to franchise Kung Fu Shaolin shrine
By Xinhua,
Zhengzhou (China) : Pretty soon, it will not be necessary to go to the famed Shaolin temple in China's Henan province to learn Kung Fu martial art. You will be able to train at a franchised "offshoot" in Yunnan province.
Shi Yongxin, abbot of the 1,500-year-old temple known as "CEO monk" because of his business like management of the temple affairs, has announced that Shaolin will introduce a "trusteeship" system at four 2,000-year-old temples in Yunnan.
He will send monks to those temples, whose earnings and donations will go to the Shaolin temple.
India Art Summit ends on mixed note in the capital
By IANS,
New Delhi : The curtain came down on the India Art Summit 2008 in the capital on a mixed note as a pall of gloom descended on the participants and the organisers alike with the news that M.F. Husain's exhibition was ransacked here.
But the organisers of the art summit - Hanmer MS&L, a multi-discipline communications and creative services firm - were happy that the fair was able to draw huge crowds, transact brisk commerce and thrash out issues facing the Indian art industry.
Jodhpur to host international folk festival
By Anil Sharma, IANS
Jodhpur : About 250 artistes from India and across the world will gather in this desert city for a five-day Rajasthan International Folk Festival Oct 25-29.
"The audiences will be able to watch them face to face through various interactive educational events, stage performances and late night jam sessions, with the unparalleled beauty of the Mehrangarh Fort forming the backdrop," Mahaveer Sharma, trustee of the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, told IANS.
Roman sex artefacts on show at Germany’s Trier museum
By DPA
Trier (Germany) : Erotic carvings and excavated Roman artefacts connected to sex will go on display Saturday in Germany's best-preserved ancient Roman city Trier.
The temporary exhibition, 100,000 Years of Sex, comprises 250 items, mainly archaeological.
They date back to the Stone Age and show how our ancestors experienced lust and procreation, said Mechthild Neyses-Eiden, deputy director of the museum.
His world’s the stage and his students are the Players
By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : He calls himself the 'white-bearded-specy-balding man'. But for his students he is simply Keval -- the man who revived Players, the dramatics society of Kirori Mal College under Delhi University (DU), in 1981 and is the force behind the thriving theatre scene of the campus ever since.
Malaysian Tamil to stage political drama
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Indian origin playwright Arun Subramaniam will next week stage a politically charged drama that explores the suffering of a Malaysian Tamil politician's family after he is assassinated.
The drama is set in a middle-class Tamil household in a small northern Malaysian town.
The play is being staged by Firstworks playwriting banner, a programme aimed at nurturing a new generation of Malaysian writers with different voices and visions.
President Patil pitches for ayurveda in Brazil
By Liz Mathew, IANS,
Brasilia : Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, may soon make itself better known in Brazil after President Pratibha Patil made a strong pitch for it, gifting a DVD on the subject to her Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
According to Indian officials accompanying Patil on her 12-day Latin American tour, Lula was interested in ayurveda.
"As President Lula talked of the health sector and low-cost medicines, our president explained its (ayurveda's) advantages to him," said an official of the Indian external affairs ministry.
Unesco to assess heritage status for Kalka-Shimla rail track
By IANS
Shimla : A Unesco team of experts is examining the 104-year-old Kalka-Shimla rail track in Himachal Pradesh to decide whether to grant it World Heritage status.
The two-member team, headed by Robert Lee, will study the 96 km track, that passes through 103 tunnels, for the next three days and submit its report.
Indian Railways hopes to get heritage status for the track like the Darjeeling railway line and boost its earnings from tourism.
Now, a literature festival in Taj city
By IANS
Agra: On the lines of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Agra is set to host a Taj City Literary Festival in February.
‘Shrek the Third’ tops US box office, sets new record
By Xinhua
Los Angeles : DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third" debuted at the number-one spot at the US box office this weekend, raking in some $122 million over the three-day period and setting a new opening record for an animated film.
Tamil Poet ‘Kavikko’ Abdul Rahman no more
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter
S Abdul Rahman, a Tamil poet, passed away on Friday at the age of 79. Abdul Rahman was popularly known as...
God Ganesh goes overseas for Indian devotees!
By Varada Bhat, IANS,
Mumbai : Lord Ganesh may traditionally have a tiny mouse for a mount, but the portly elephant-headed god is now travelling across the seven seas - into the homes of Indians abroad for the Ganpati festival!
Take the case of software analyst Ashok Mallya. When he moved to California with his family for a high-flying job, his parents kept coming back to Mumbai every year to celebrate the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Renowned Urdu poet from Patna Dr. Kalim Ahmed Ajiz is no more
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Patna: Renowned Urdu poet and the recipient of Padma Shri, Dr. Kalim Ajiz passed away on Sunday in Hazaribagh, Jharkhan. He was 90 years old.
He was currently serving as the Chairman of the Urdu Advisory Committee, Government of Bihar. The author of several books on poetry Dr. Ajiz was a retired professor of Patna University.
I’m on top of the world, says Jayashri after Oscar nod
By IANS,
New Delhi: Carnatic music vocalist Bombay Jayashri is overjoyed after getting a Oscar nomination for her song "Pi Lullaby" from "Life of Pi".
Jamia Millia Islamia students paint global concerns
By IANS,
New Delhi: Art students of the Jamia Millia Islamia have portrayed the concerns of the world in colours in a show, "A Step Ahead", at the M.F. Husain Gallery of Fine Arts on the campus.
The exhibition was inaugurated July 2 by Uma Ravi Jain, the director of the Dhoomimal Gallery. It will close July 15, said a release issued by the centre for learning.
Kannada film industry takes fight against piracy to chief minister
By R.G. Vijayasarathy, IANS,
Bangalore : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has been urged to take concrete steps to check the rampant audio and video piracy in the Kannada film industry due to which filmmakers are losing millions of rupees every year.
In a memorandum to the chief minister, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has urged that those involved in piracy be treated as criminals and included in the Goonda Act.
"Unless the issue is taken seriously by the government, the pirates cannot be reined," KFCC secretary K.C.N. Kumar said in the memorandum.
Zooming in on Cartier-Bresson’s legacy
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS
New Delhi : It is a tale of two generations and a little bird. Two Tibetan monks, one young and another old, roll with laughter as they joust and a little bird sits on the bald pate of the old seer - his wizened face wrinkled with age.
The black and white photograph at the Stainless Gallery in the capital bears the unmistakable stamp of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the father of modern photojournalism. But it has been shot by his prot�g� and widow Martine Franck, often dubbed his modern day avatar.
Police cover sought for Ghulam Ali during Mumbai visit
Mumbai: The makers of Bollywood film "Ghar Vapsi" have demanded police protection for Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, who will arrive here on Thursday...
Museum for modern art to be built in Kolkata
By IANS,
Kolkata : A museum for modern art will be built here by one of the world's leading architecture firms Herzog & de Meuron to revive the city's heritage, said a company official.
The Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) will be set up at the New Town area in Rajarhat on the outskirts of the city.
"We have signed the agreement with the trustees of KMOMA Monday evening and hope to start working on the $50 million project soon. This art museum is going to be the first of its kind in India," Harry Guggar, a company partner, told reporters at a press conference Monday.
A Hindu temple in Cambodia steeped in history
By Peter Janssen, IANS,
Preah Vihear (Cambodia) : Preah Vihear, a millennium-old temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva - the divine destroyer - has been a magnet for conflicts in its recent history.
The temple, which may be designated a world heritage site by Unesco next month, prompted an ownership spat between Cambodia and Thailand that led to a suspension of diplomatic relations in 1958 and eventually ended up in The Hague for an international settlement in 1962. Cambodia won, but even today embers of the old border dispute burn on.
Minorities Rights Day observed in Manipur
By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net
Like in rest of the globe, Minorities Rights Day was observed on Dec. 18 in Manipur. Manipur State Minorities...
Urdu Rubaiyat now in Polish
By IANS,
Warsa : Urdu poetry, which has made inroads in Polish literary circles in the last few years with the publications of Mir, Ghalib, Faiz and Firaq, now has a new book on Rubaiyat (quatrains), both in Urdu and Polish.
The book, by writer-journalist Surender Bhutani, was released by Abdul Haider, a scholar and a former Afghan ambassador to Poland, at the Rio literary club here in the presence of poets, writers, journalists and diplomats.
Is India an outlet for Sotheby’s unsold art?
By Uma Nair, IANS,
Did international auction house Sotheby's bring famed contemporary artist Damien Hirst's works to India because a "mountain" of unsold works lies in wait in London? Is Sotheby's looking at India to sell hitherto unsold art?
These are the questions being asked by art critics and collectors in India, but a declaration Friday by the Bloomberg publication announced that Damien Hirst's London dealer White Cube has denied it has a "mountain" of unsold works before a Sotheby's sale that previewed in the Hamptons and New Delhi two days ago.
Four Indian authors among Man Asian Prize probables
By IANS,
Chennai : Four Indian authors have found a place in the long list of the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize 2008.
All four Indians authors were published by Penguin, a statement from the publisher said Thursday.
The long list of the prize was announced July 22 and there are 21 writers on this list this year.
Back to basics: Masters show importance of lines and strokes
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : In this age of digitisation of art, lines, drawing, figures and manual artistic skill have taken a backseat. To highlight the importance of these basics, the capital's oldest art display house, the Dhoomimal Gallery, is holding an exhibition of 100 works by 80 artists.
"Drawing: The Essence II" shows the importance of line, strokes and basic drawing in the journey of Indian art - from its pristine classical forms to modernism, abstraction and complex digital play.
All artists must have copyrights on their works: fake-hit Raza
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Syed Haider Raza, the master of Indian contemporary art, was deeply disappointed to find fake paintings being displayed at an exhibition of his early works in one of the capital's oldest galleries. To prevent this, he feels all artists must have copyrights on their works. Raza has filed a case.
"The making of fake paintings is sad. There are certain things in life that are important for a writer, painter and researcher working in their own domains - integrity and commitment," Raza told IANS in an interview.
मंटोरंग: मंटो के तीन हास्य ड्रामों का मंचन
निर्देशक इक़बाल नियाज़ी के मानक कॉमेडी ड्रामों को दर्शकों ने सराहा
फ़ैसल फ़ारूक़
मुंबई: मुंबई के ओडियम सभागार में किरदार आर्ट अकादमी के बैनर तले "मंटो...
PM visit spotlights poor upkeep of INA memorial
By IANS
New Delhi : It took a surprise visit by the prime minister to highlight the poor upkeep of the Indian National Army (INA) memorial that commemorates the deeds of those who fought for the country's freedom under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
India, Africa to create new symphony through culture, dance
By IANS
New Delhi : India and Africa will script a new cultural synergy coinciding with the India-Africa summit beginning here Monday by showcasing and merging the best of traditional music and dance from both the countries.
The ancient Sufi, Fellahin and Gypsy dances of sub-Saharan Africa, the Zulu warrior dance and the Royal Reed dance of South Africa will fuse with the Mohiniattam, Odissi and Kathak forms of India.
Patriotism on display at Osian’s art exhibition
By IANS
New Delhi : Rajput king Maharana Pratap on Bidi Company's calendar of 1934, the poster of a play titled "Brandi ki Botal" and many more rare works of art are on display at the Osian's art exhibition here.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose atop a horse, Gandhiji's funeral pyre, and a royal procession of 1902 in front of the historic Jama Masjid in the old quarters of Delhi are among the 300 pieces of art on display at the exhibition titled "An Historical Epic - III: India in the Making".
Indian journalist’s book making waves in Britain
By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : The at-times quirky but often colourful account of the life and times of the Indian community in Britain has been chronicled in the revised edition of Indian journalist Sanjay Suri's book, 'Brideless in Wembley', released here recently.
The book has been widely reviewed and commented upon since its release. It is leading to a significant review of the ways of Indian living in Britain. The book, brought out in the UK by Summersdale, was published by Penguin India in 2006.
Gurgaon school to hold art festival for craftsmen, students
By IANS
Gurgaon : A school here will organise an art festival in which folk artistes and craftsmen will be invited to exhibit their work and conduct workshops for the students.
Lok Kala Parv festival will be the third of its kind to be organised by the Heritage School in Gurgaon Oct 22-27.
The festival will be inaugurated by Kiran Seth, a founder member of SpicMacay, an organisation that promotes Indian art forms among the youth.
Will general elections disrupt the commerce of films?
By Arpana,
New Delhi : With polling for the 16th Lok Sabha set to begin on April 7 and the process ending on May 16...
The City of Dawn is alive and well
By Claude Arpi
Auroville (Tamil Nadu)(IANS) : Was it a mirage? Five thousand people of different races and nationalities assembling on a piece of totally barren land in Villupuram district! They had been invited by Unesco to inaugurate a new city in this desert of red laterite, a city that would "belong to nobody in particular, but humanity as a whole".
Revisiting mannequins, Raja Ravi Varma and prehistoric relics
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Famous French photographer Bernard Faucon throws humans together with mannequins in his surrealistic photographs. But both the subjects are real to him, says the ace lensman, who is exhibiting in India for the first time after 250 international shows.
His works are poetic, personal and metaphysical - where dolls and children jostle for space amid toys, nature, schoolbooks and props. He uses empty swathes of the sky and open spaces to etch into sharp relief the complex compositions of his figures.
Delhi gets its first art bookstore
By IANS,
New Delhi : The capital added another first to its list of art initiatives by throwing open the first art bookstore-cum-reading room here Friday.
Set up by the Vadehra Gallery, the store in Defence Colony also has a large reading room sponsored by The Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art.
As part of its opening, the gallery also organised a panel discussion - “Archiving Contemporary Art” - that stressed on the need and ways to archive contemporary Asian art and provide a database to collectors, dealers, artists, researchers and the industry.
Public art connects with capital to conserve fragile ecology
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Public art, which tries to garner community involvement, will take a look at the capital's ecological and ethnic mix in a unique project featuring artists from India and three each from Germany, Japan and the US.
"In Context: Public. Art. Ecology" will be held from April 8-16 by Khoj studios in south Delhi across different venues like Select City Walk mall and 20 Barakhamba Road.
BIG 92.7 FM to promote ‘Jhoom Baraabar’ songs
By IANS
New Delhi : BIG 92.7 FM station, an on-air partner for Yash Raj Films forthcoming venture "Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom", will Tuesday air the songs from the film in a promotional venture.
तबलीग़ जमात मुसलमानों के नौजवानों को मयखानों से मस्जिदों में लाई : मौलाना महमूद...
आकिल हुसैन।Twocircles.net
मुसलमानों के सबसे बड़े संगठन तब्लीग़ी जमात पर सऊदी अरब के इस्लामी व धार्मिक मामलों के मंत्रालय द्वारा दिए गए बयान के...
Ismail Hussain memorial harmony award given to Homen Borgohain
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Prominent author Homen Borgohain, who returned his Sahitya Akademi recently protesting against the ‘intolerance’, was honoured with litterateur...
Ambika Soni roots for Taj via SMS
By IANS
New Delhi : Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni Friday cast her vote to include the 17th century architectural wonder Taj Mahal in the coveted list of 'New Seven Wonders of the World', saying it would "boost tourism" in India.
Looking at Christianity’s handshake with media in India
By Papri Sri Raman, IANS,
Book: "Strong Religion, Zealous Media"; Author: Pradip Ninan Thomas; Publisher: Sage Publications; Pages: 207
The book is a result of a two-year study done in Chennai by Pradip Ninan Thomas, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Queensland, and naturally an academic point of view.
"(It was) inspired by a comment about conversions and riots in Gujarat by the historian William Dalrymple in an article several years ago," Thomas told IANS.
Delhi artist to exhibit along with Damien Hirst in Miami
By IANS,
New Delhi : Leading Delhi-based contemporary artist Manish Pushkale will exhibit six of his new works at a show in Miami sharing space with British master Damien Hirst.
The show of the "Beyond the Body" will coincide with the Miami Art Fair Dec 3-7.
Mohammed Rafi draws packed house, 28 years after death
By IANS,
Mumbai : Songs by legendary singer Mohammed Rafi drew a packed house here 28 years after his death, and audiences were in for a surprise as an evergreen voice from the yore took the stage again, rekindling memories and melodies of an era gone by.
"Mujhko apne gale laga lo…" and "Thahariya hosh me aa loon", sung by the forgotten Mubarak Begum wafted across the lush green lawns of the Green Court Club on the city's outskirts Sunday night.
Begum has sung many a duet with Rafi during the late 1950s and '60s.
An art exhibition that `speaks’ for the differently abled
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Bangalore : Their world is silent. Spoken words hold no meaning for them as they are hearing- and speech- impaired. Twelve of them, however, are attempting to give voice to the "voiceless" population of India through an art exhibition in Bangalore.
Ghulam Ali invited to Delhi, AAP slams Shiv Sena
New Delhi : Delhi's ruling AAP on Thursday invited noted Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali to perform here after he cancelled his Mumbai concert...
Renowned Bangladeshi instrumentalist dead
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh's renowned instrumentalist Abinash Chandra Shill is dead. Shill, 54, died here Saturday following a heart attack.
He was a specialist on playing Dotara, a two-bowed instrument of the Sarangi family popular across South Asia.
Belonging to a family of musicians, he was a freedom fighter who used to broadcast on Bangladesh Betar, the radio network that contributed to Bangladesh's separatist movement against Pakistan.
Bhimsen Joshi was known for his purity of sound: Birju Maharaj
By IANS,
New Delhi : Classical music exponent Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's family Wednesday celebrated the vocalist's nomination for the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. The 88-year-old maestro's son Srinivas Joshi said his father had accepted the award on behalf of all Indian vocalists and it was an honour for Indian classical music.
Leading Hungarian gypsy band to connect with Indian roots
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Roma gypsies are coming home to the sun and sand dunes of Rajasthan to make music this autumn.
Parno Graszt, billed as one of the best Hungarian gypsy bands, will not only play in India next month but is already busy making contact with relatives and friends in the country. After all, the gypsies of Europe trace their roots to Rajasthan.
The desert state will get to hear Hungarian gypsy music for the first time when the band performs at the Royal International Folk Festival (RIFF) in Jodhpur from Oct 10-14.
Shah Jahan’s dagger sells for 1.7 mn pounds
By IANS
London : An elegant personal dagger carried by emperor Shah Jahan was sold at a London auction for an astounding 1.7 million pounds - more than three times the expected bid.
"Of course we are very happy - it was a great sale," said a spokeswoman for auctioneers Bonhams minutes after the dagger went under the hammer Thursday.
She was unable to immediately disclose name of the buyer.
"Of course we are very happy - it was a great sale," said a spokeswoman for auctioneers Bonhams minutes after the dagger went under the hammer Thursday.
She was unable to immediately disclose name of the buyer.
Artistes in Gujarat to pay tribute to Kishan Maharaj
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : As a tribute to tabla maestro Pandit Kishan Maharaj, who died in Varanasi May 4, the Saptak School of Music here will organise a gathering of artistes Friday, during which an archival recording of the legendary musician will be played.
"For me, Pandit Kishan Maharaj was like a loving grandfather. He taught me how to play the tabla," said Hetal Mehta who teaches tabla at the institute.
Hetal said that when Saptak was started in October 1980, the first musical event held was a grand performance by Pandit Ravi Shankar and Kishan Maharaj.
India gets its first female ‘Indian Idol’
By IANS,
Mumbai : After four years of its running, popular music reality show "Indian Idol" finally got its first female winner in the form of Sourabhee Debbarma, who won the grand finale of the fourth season of the TV programme here Sunday night.
Sourabhee, who hails from the India's north east, belted out popular numbers confidently and piped other finalists - Bengali girl Torsha Sarkar and army man Kapil Thapa. She walked away with a Rs.10 million contract with Sony TV and a car.
The result was based on public voting.
Indian, foreign women artists tread common ground
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Malathi Selvam, a rangoli artist from Puducherry, draws patterns in coloured powder. Figures of women, mostly of goddesses and brides, make up her art as she draws at weddings.
Anna Laine from Sweden, an anthropologist by profession, works with laces, which she uses to trace simple patterns on paper and canvas.
Kristina Matousch, a packaging industry employee in Sweden, traces her patterns with old packages, which are folded and scissored to black-and-white linear and rectangular shapes.
Globalisation taking purity out of ghazals: top Pakistani singer
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Tina Sani, one of Pakistan's most popular classical and semi-classical ghazal exponents, feels that globalisation, the widespread culture of pop and rock music and the end of royal patronage are taking their toll on the popularity of ghazal in south Asia.
"Not just the pop and rock culture, globalisation to some degree has taken the purity out of ghazal. Musicians now want to play to the gallery and are commercialising ghazals to cater to popular taste.
Limited prints help art lovers during economic meltdown
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : For those with stretched resources in times of recession but with a passion for art, the market is bending backward to match the fragile strength of their purse.
Till a few years ago, serigraphs or affordable screen printed versions of paintings allowed buyers to take their favourite artists home. It was followed by Giclee or ink jet prints of art works, which stormed the imagination of buyers after Fuschia Tree, a Hong Kong-based online gallery, brought it to India.
Ramadan to begin in Kerala on Monday
Thiruvananthapuram : The islamic holy month of Ramadan would begin in Kerala from Monday, announced Muslim clerics here.
P.V. Suhaib Moulavi, the Imam of the...
Khayyam angry with Gautam Ghose
By Subhash K. Jha, IANS
Mumbai : Music maestro Khayyam is upset with filmmaker Gautam Ghose for eliminating his music from "Yatra".
Bollywood wishes Eid mumbark
By IANS,
Mumbai : Bollywood Friday wished "peace", "happiness" and "love" for friends and fans on Eid-ul-Azha.
पाठा का अमूल्य पानी : भौरा तेरा पानी ग़ज़ब करी जाए,गगरी न फूटै, खसम...
चित्रकूट से ज़ियाउल हक़ Twocircles.net के लिए
जैसे जैसे गर्मियां बढ़ती है वैसे वैसे पाठा के जलश्रोत सूखने लगते हैं। आलम यूं हो जाता है...
MF Husain and citizenship
By Zohra Javed for TwoCircles.net
M F Husain in his car, as it drove past me on a 1st January some years back in Mumbai's Fountain parking area. I went almost running behind him much to the amusement of my children ! Just as he had got down from his car I was beside him, children in tow. He looked at them and smiled.
Idols of Durga immersed, thousands bid tearful farewell
By IANS,
New Delhi : Amid hollering crowds and the frenzied beating of drums, hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga and her four children were immersed in the Yamuna river here Thursday, with many devotees bidding a tearful farewell to the deity.
For many Bengalis, the immersion at the end of the Durga Puja festival was like parting with a member of the family after five days of praying, feasting and merry-making at marquees across the city that housed the idols.
Sotheby’s auction focuses on Buddhist art
New York, Aug 19 (IANS) 'The Arts of the Buddha' will be the special theme for Sotheby's sale in September that will present works of the major Far Eastern cultures in India, China and Cambodia.
The auction Sep 21 will include physical representations of the divine through different media like paintings, drawings and sculptures.
The cornerstone of the sale is a magnificent 13th century Tibetan gilt bronze Maitreya that is among the most important Himalayan works of art ever to come to auction and is estimated at around $3.5 million.
Gandhi manuscript back in Indian hands
By IANS
New Delhi/London : After more than a week of feverish diplomacy, the Indian government Tuesday acquired the priceless manuscript of Mahatma Gandhi which was withdrawn from auction a day before it was set to go under the hammer at Christie's in London.
‘Punjabi music is popular across the world’
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Punjabi has made its presence felt in every corner of the world, says Britain-based music composer Rajinder Singh Rai aka Punjabi MC, who uses a lot of Punjabi folk and bhangra in his fusion music.
Rai, who visited Chandigarh to promote his new album "Indian Timing", told IANS: "Punjabi has become a cosmopolitan language that has made its presence felt in every corner of the world. Even my new album 'Indian Timing' features international artistes like Jay-Z and Ofra Haza. In fact, no Bollywood movie is complete without a Punjabi song."
Polish-born artist completes 40-metre picture of late pope
By DPA,
Muenster : A Polish-born artist has completed a 40-metre-long painting depicting Pope John Paul II, and said she believes it is the largest oil painting ever of the late pope.
Made up of a series of 26 canvasses, each 2.5 metres tall, the composite picture is to go on public view from Wednesday until April in a theatre in the northern German city of Muenster.
"Oh Karol" depicts Polish-born Karol Wojtyla, who was pope from 1978 till 2005, at various stages of his papacy.
Peace, women’s freedom on canvas of Pakistani artists
New Delhi: Pakistani artist Fizza Saleem's paintings hint at the constant struggle between the mind and heart to "let go off the troubled past",...
Four selected for Rashtrapati Bhavan’s in-residence programme
New Delhi : Two writers and two artists have been selected for Rashtrapati Bhavan's artist-in-residence programme from Sep 8, officials said Thursday.
Writers Yishey Doma...
Sotheby’s to hold art auction for Kolkata museum
Indo-Asian News Service, IANS
New York : Famous modern Indian paintings, sculptures and photographs will go under the hammer here when Sotheby's holds an auction on behalf of the Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) next month.
Delhi University organizes national seminar on comedy in Arabic literature
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: The Delhi University’s Department of Arabic organized a national seminar on ‘Comedy in Arabic Literature’ on 25th March wherein papers on various aspects of the topic were presented by scholars and researchers.
Orissa artist returns home after winning prize in Moscow
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: Sudarsan Patnaik, who won a special prize in Moscow for a sand sculpture of the Taj Mahal, was greeted by hundreds on his return Saturday to his Puri hometown in Orissa.
"The 15-foot high Taj Mahal created by me at the Kolomenskoe Museum Reserve in Moscow won a special prize," Patnaik told IANS by phone from Puri, 56 km from here.
"There were 10 participants from around the world in the World Sand Sculpture Championship Moscow, 2009 held from 30 April-May 7."
Hundreds of people greeted the artist when he returned home.
Tribal art, Mughal architecture in Jharkhand church
By Soudhriti Bhabani, IANS,
Dumka (Jharkhand) : Bright fibreglass windows, arches shaped like onion domes and a statue of Jesus Christ bearing resemblance to tribal art are some of the unique features of a church in Jharkhand.
The Mount Carmel Church in Murugini village of Dumka district is a blend of Santhal tribal art and Mughal architecture.
Subrata Ganguly of Church Art, a Kolkata-based designing agency that helped build the church, said a number of new interior décor concepts were implemented in the church.
Arab literature takes centre stage in London
By Susannah Tarbush,
When Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz became in 1988 the first (and so far only) Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, it was hoped that this would lead to a major breakthrough for Arab literature in the West, including Britain. But for years such a breakthrough remained elusive.
Bollywood a big draw in Tajikistan: minister
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bollywood, with its colourful cinema and lavish song-and-dance sequences, is a big draw in Tajikistan, Tajik minister of culture Asrori Mirzoshokhrukh has said.
"Stars like Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Hema Malini and Dharmendra are very popular in Tajikistan," Mirzoshokhrukh said Wednesday at the inaugural function of the six-day "Day of Culture: Of the Republic of Tajikistan in India".
One year after launch, Lok Sabha TV losing its way
By Faraz Ahmad
IANSNew Delhi : Nearly a year after its launch, Lok Sabha TV (LSTV), touted as a "milestone for Indian democracy", has lost its way somewhere in the thicket of mushrooming television channels with most cable operators refusing to show it on the plea there is "no demand".
International film festival begins in Kashmir with “Little Terrorist”
By IANS
Srinagar : The first international film festival to be held in the terrorism-hit Kashmir Valley began here Wednesday. Over 40 documentary films are being screened during the two-day festival.
Buffaloes in Assam fight it out for a TV set
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Ahatguri (Assam) : For hundreds of people in Assam it is a carnival, while for some it has all the elements of a full-scale battle. But the one-tonne buffaloes, like it or not, have to lock horns and fight it out in the arena.
The stakes are not high but still the matadors goad and cajole their tame buffaloes to fight and win them a prize - a television set as the first prize in this event, a MP 3 player and a wall clock as the second and third prizes respectively.
Disney gets new India chief
By IANS
Mumbai : Walt Disney Television India has got a new chief in Antoine Villeneuve who has been named senior vice president and managing director.
Politicans playing dirty over displaced Bodos in BTAD: Promising Land Patta inside Forest
By Abdul Kalam Azad
Assam: This is election time in Assam and political parties are not leaving any stone unturned to get as much...
Khuda ke Liye: first Pakistani film to be released in India
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: The film based on post-9/11 scenario prevalent in Pakistan, and in a Muslim society in general, will be released in India on March 28. Khuda ke Liye will be the first Pakistani film to be released in Indian theatres. And that will add a new chapter in India-Pakistan relationship.
Saudi Arabia participates in New Delhi Book Show
By SPA
New Delhi : The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is participating in 18th New Delhi Book Show, organized by the Indian Book Commission, which is in progress in the Indian capital.
More than 40 countries are participating in the four-day show.
The Kingdom is represented at the show by the ministries of higher education; Islamic affairs, endowments, call and guidance; culture and information; King Abdulaziz Library, King Saud University and King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex.
Chinese orchestra to perform for Pope
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) will perform Wednesday for Pope Benedict XVI at the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican City, the China Daily reported Monday.
The Beijing-based CPO, founded in 2000, arrived in Rome Sunday, on a performing tour of three European cities, the first leg of which is the Vatican.
Yu Long, the artistic director, will conduct the orchestra with Mozart's Requiem as the start, and the well-known Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower as the grand finale, the newspaper added.
The Shanghai Opera House chorus will accompany the orchestra.
Atmosphere of celebration in Assam
Assam is in atmosphere of celebration with the Assamese New Year, Rongali or Bohag Bihu to be celebrated on Monday.
Byrne, Lahiri are bestselling authors again
By IANS,
New Delhi : Australian author Rhonda Byrne's motivational book "The Secret" remains popular among readers in the non-fiction list, while Jhumpa Lahiri's "Unaccustomed Earth" continues to occupy the number one slot in the fiction category this week.
The top 10 in the non-fiction and fiction lists are:
Non-Fiction
1. "The Secret"
Author : Rhonda Byrne
Publisher : Simon & Schuster
Price : Rs.550.00
2. "My Country My Life"
Author : L.K. Advani
Publisher : Rupa & Co.
Price : Rs.595.00
3. "The Kalam Effect: The Years with the President"
Author : P.M. Nair
Kathak comes to the land of Bharatanatyam
By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil Nadu, rich in cultural heritage, just became richer with the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Kathak Kendra deciding to open a teaching centre in the heart of Bharatanatyam land here.
The Kathak school of dance which will be operational from September will be hosted by the city based cultural organisation, Narada Gana Sabha. The faculty will be provided by Kathak Kendra, Delhi.
The announcement was made at the inauguration of the Natyarangam annual festival Monday by Akademi secretary Jayant Kastuar.
‘Red Corridor’: gripping play, but a shade too loud
By IANS,
New Delhi : Four aspiring actors from small towns in India - among them a Maoist on the run - make an interesting mix of characters in a melting pot like Mumbai. But what happens when they come together under one roof?
They create a "Red Corridor" - a hard road fraught with aspirations, struggles, the knocks of life and violent climaxes.
A new Manmohan Singh takes a bow
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
The man who seemed incapable of raising his voice has changed. The soft-spoken Manmohan Singh is no longer as mild-mannered as before. Behind the amiable exterior, a hint of steel is now visible, as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) leader L.K. Advani learnt to his cost in the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
Hyderabad’s Charminar ‘crying’ for preservation
By Prashant K. Nanda, IANS
Hyderabad : It's breathtaking, majestic and historic but the 400-year-old Charminar, the iconic symbol of Hyderabad, is slowly becoming a victim of errant tourists and street vendors.
Cement plasters are peeling, the intricate granite work on the Minar corners are chipping off, and the graffiti on the walls by tourists have marred its once splendid visage. The area around it has become a dumping ground, littered with food packets and used water bottles.
Salman Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ earns big at Pakistani box office
Islamabad: "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Eid gift to his fans, is not only breaking records in India, but has also garnered appreciation...
Sports is chauvinistic, but I’ve changed mindsets: Mandira
By Prithwish Ganguly, IANS
New Delhi : TV anchor Mandira Bedi, who brought noodle strap blouses into serious cricket talk, says much of the controversy she attracts has to do with her being a woman in the male-dominated world of sports.
Indian summer of art at British Museum
By IANS,
London : The British Museum will showcase Indian art and culture next summer to celebrate the country's emergence as an "emerging superpower".
The six-month extravaganza beginning next May is called Indian Summer. It will be an exhibition of paintings never before seen in Europe, installations, performances, film screenings and the construction of a typical Indian garden in the museum's forecourt.
For the first time, a collection of 55 paintings - Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur - will be seen in Europe.
Amitabh to brief media about eighth IIFA event
By IANS
New Delhi : Amitabh Bachchan, one of the brand ambassadors of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), will give an overview of the various activities planned for the eighth IIFA awards Tuesday at a press conference.
Punjab celebrates harvest festival Baisakhi
By IANS,
Hoshiarpur/Amritsar (Punjab) : People loaded on tractor-trolleys, trucks, buses and private vehicles headed for destinations of their choice this Sunday. It was certainly a busy day for Punjab as the state celebrated the festival of good harvest - Baisakhi.
Sikh religious shrines - gurdwaras - were the main centre of attraction for most people from villages and those from towns and cities as they lined up to pray.
The world of rudrakshas – Rs.2 to Rs.5 million!
By IANS
Chennai : Do you know that a rudraksha necklace can cost up to Rs.5 miilion?
There are all kinds of rudrakshas or blueberry seeds, which boast of healing powers. Some can be bought off the streets for as little as Rs. 2 a bead while gem shops sell them for as high as Rs.40,000 a bead.
An 'Indramala' garland made of rudraksha beads may cost as much as Rs. 5 million.
Chennai : Do you know that a rudraksha necklace can cost up to Rs.5 miilion?
There are all kinds of rudrakshas or blueberry seeds, which boast of healing powers. Some can be bought off the streets for as little as Rs. 2 a bead while gem shops sell them for as high as Rs.40,000 a bead.
An 'Indramala' garland made of rudraksha beads may cost as much as Rs. 5 million.
Rahman named best music director at IIFA
By IANS,
Bangkok : A.R. Rahman was named the best music director for his score in "Guru" at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2008 awards here Sunday night, while the Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Om Shanti Om" swept a number of technical awards. Shreya Ghoshal won the honours for the best playback singer (female) for "Barso re" from Mani Ratnam's "Guru", which film also bagged awards for the best background score (Rahman) and best song recording (H. Sridhar). The best playback singer (male) award was bagged by Shaan for "Jab se tere naina" from "Saawariya".
‘Veer’ songs reflect 18th century colonial culture: Sajid
By IANS,
Mumbai: Music director Sajid says he and his brother Wajid have tried to reflect 18th century colonial culture through their music in Salman Khan starrer period drama "Veer".
"The film focuses on British culture in India and how they used to mix with each other then. So while making the music, we combined the music of two cultures to give the actual feel of that time," Sajid told IANS at the music launch of "Veer" here Monday.
Before starting work, Sajid-Wajid did research on the instruments extensively used during that time.
Bollywood makes Hindi popular among Australian students
By IANS
Sydney : Bollywood has made the Hindi language course offered by the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) quite popular among Australian students.
‘Dangal’ experience changed my life: Kashmiri actor Zaira Wasim
By Shamshad Ali
New Delhi : Zaira Wasim, who was unknown a few months ago, has now become a household name in her native...
Tracing Bhojpuri roots in `Chini-Dad’
By Shubha Singh, IANS,
Book: 'Jahajin'; Author: Peggy Mohan; Publisher: Harper Collins; Price: Rs.295.
About 130,000 Indians travelled to Trinidad as indentured migrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. The early migrants went from villages in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and spoke variations of Bhojpuri, Khari Boli, Braj Bhasha, Bundelkhandi, Urdu and Hindi.
Many could not understand each other. But over the years, Bhojpuri emerged as the dominant language of the Indian community on the sugarcane estates and other dialects and languages faded away.
Bengal artisans to showcase folk art in Durban
By IANS
Kolkata : The India Fashion Week in Durban in South Africa, to be held in September, will have a touch of West Bengal with several folk artisans from the state chosen to participate in the event.
Tiananmen massacre painting to be auction highlight
By Hazel Parry and Simon Parry
Hong Kong, Oct 10 (DPA) It has been hidden away for more than 10 years because of its politically charged content - but when it goes to auction Friday, a masterpiece in Chinese contemporary art depicting the Tiananmen Square massacre is expected to fetch $4 million or more.
Yue Minjun's "Execution", a painting which adapts a 19th century Manet classic to echo the 1989 massacre, was spirited out of mainland China by late Hong Kong dealer Manfred Schoeni and sold in 1996 under strict conditions for just $32,000.
US capital begins ‘Celebration of India’ with peep into Mughal era
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : An exhibition of Mughal era paintings opening a window into the world of the emperors of yore commences a two-year "Celebration of India" at Washington's National Mall.
Starting with an annual fund-raising gala of two American art institutions Wednesday, the exhibition "Muraqqa: Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin" displaying India's rich artistic and cultural legacy runs from May 3 to Aug 3.
Saffron hegemony due to lack of education on diverse practices
By Nazish Hussain for TwoCircles.net,
Over the last two years the topics of debate in the India’s public sphere have been on the issues of...
British historian pens new book on 1857 uprising
By IANS
London : A new book by a British academic offering a fresh alternative to popular accounts of the 1857 war of independence is just out.