I was never a fan of any Bengali rock group or ‘Bangla bands’ as they are called. Whenever I was told about them, I used to have a disgusted look on my face. I always thought whatever songs they sang were either translations or adaptations and their audiences were restricted within the college campus and youth circuits. However, that was till the time I was in Calcutta.
Now, it has been more two and half years that I have been away from the city. For the first time after leaving the city, I realised my true love for Calcutta and everything with a Bengali flavour, and that includes Bangla bands as well.
I realised, their songs were not mere adaptations and their popularity was not just with youngsters, but with a wide cross section of people. With the growing popularity of Bangla rock and fusion bands, it is very difficult to ignore them.
Bands like Parosh Pathor, Lakkhichhara, Fossils, Cactus, Chandrabindoo, Krosswindz and Bhoomi have carved a niche for themselves globally. While Cactus, Bhoomi and Chandrabindoo have performed in the US, the Krosswindz song Tangra Tobu Katon Jaye was nominated for Best Indian Classical/Traditional Song in 2006 at Just Plain Folks, a music awards in the US parallel to the Grammy.
Apart from this, now even prestigious music companies and websites from America such as ‘Apple’ and ‘Broadjam’ are selling Bangla music in the West.
What I like the most about their songs is that they are Calcutta-like, with lyrics that speak about the ordinariness of everyman, daily battles won and lost, self disgust, concern for youth or the rebellion against authority, among others.
Be it the anthemic hit Bhebe Dekhecho Ki by Mohiner Ghoraguli, who are touted as the first Indian rock band, the unforgetable Ami Shudhu Cheychhi Tomay by Cactus from the soundtrack of the Bengali film Nil Nirjane or the haunting tunes of Adorer Nouko by Chandrabindoo, I get a nostalgic feel every time I listen to them.
Bangla bands are just rocking. They strike an instant chord with the listener as they speak the language of the Bengalis. Their music has attained a new avatar. It is going places, with a new look and feel. With more international shows and collaborations in the offing, the guys and girls wearing white kurtas with namaboli prints, blue jeans and red dupattas are sure to attain even greater heights in the days to come.
And that is something that I am proud of.
Friday, September 28, 2007
A peculiar paradox...
“...Durga Puja, at the onset of autumn, articulates a most peculiar paradox. In a purely physical and material sense, the city comes to a standstill. Traffic becomes even slower, walking becomes impossible with millions of people out on the streets, and business comes to a halt. But in another sense, the city comes alive. Calcutta, despite its poverty, its deprivation and its lack of certain amenities, is suddenly gripped by a new spirit of joy, gaiety and abandon...”
This is how a certain newspaper described the biggest festival of the Bengalis.
Maa Durga’s homecoming is a unique experience which Bengalis all over the world cherish. The eager wait before the pujo, the zest for enjoyment and then finally the sense of involvement can find no parallel.
This is the only time of the year when impoverished families forget their worries and celebrate, when the rich and the poor divide goes for a toss and everyone is out there to celebrate the homecoming of Maa Durga.
Durga Pujo is important not just as a religious occasion, but for the enduring tradition it symbolises.
Durga Pujo is very close to my heart. It reminds me of my childhood, the days that I spent in Calcutta simply enjoying the entire occasion and the experience as a whole.
For me, it is the best time of the year. These five days make up for the rest of the year.
However, the only sad thing about it is that it is too short...why can’t Maa Durga be here for 365 days?
This is how a certain newspaper described the biggest festival of the Bengalis.
Maa Durga’s homecoming is a unique experience which Bengalis all over the world cherish. The eager wait before the pujo, the zest for enjoyment and then finally the sense of involvement can find no parallel.
This is the only time of the year when impoverished families forget their worries and celebrate, when the rich and the poor divide goes for a toss and everyone is out there to celebrate the homecoming of Maa Durga.
Durga Pujo is important not just as a religious occasion, but for the enduring tradition it symbolises.
Durga Pujo is very close to my heart. It reminds me of my childhood, the days that I spent in Calcutta simply enjoying the entire occasion and the experience as a whole.
For me, it is the best time of the year. These five days make up for the rest of the year.
However, the only sad thing about it is that it is too short...why can’t Maa Durga be here for 365 days?
Durga Puja and a deep regard for nature!
Durga Puja is all set to go eco-friendly this year.
A prominent body of the priests has ordered its members to perform the rituals sans plastic. The organisation issued a diktat to all its members in West Bengal, urging them not to use plastic in any form while performing the prayer rituals. According to the diktat, no devotee can offer garlands, flowers or fruits in polythene carry bags. Plastic flowers used for decorating idols and plastic pouches for distributing bhog (food of the goddess) would also be barred.
This is really a novel idea considering that apart from environmental pollution, the huge quantity of plastic used during the five days of festivities could lead to disaster if a fire broke out.
Apart from placing a ban on the use of plastic, the member priests have also been asked to discourage the use of candles and wax during the festival as these are made of paraffin, which is injurious to health. Instead, the priests have been asked to promote diyas that are filled with ghee or oil.
This effort by the organisation is really heartening… So get set to get engulfed in a medley of ornamentation, illumination, the aroma of mouth-watering delicacies and the sweet aroma of the diyas.
A prominent body of the priests has ordered its members to perform the rituals sans plastic. The organisation issued a diktat to all its members in West Bengal, urging them not to use plastic in any form while performing the prayer rituals. According to the diktat, no devotee can offer garlands, flowers or fruits in polythene carry bags. Plastic flowers used for decorating idols and plastic pouches for distributing bhog (food of the goddess) would also be barred.
This is really a novel idea considering that apart from environmental pollution, the huge quantity of plastic used during the five days of festivities could lead to disaster if a fire broke out.
Apart from placing a ban on the use of plastic, the member priests have also been asked to discourage the use of candles and wax during the festival as these are made of paraffin, which is injurious to health. Instead, the priests have been asked to promote diyas that are filled with ghee or oil.
This effort by the organisation is really heartening… So get set to get engulfed in a medley of ornamentation, illumination, the aroma of mouth-watering delicacies and the sweet aroma of the diyas.
Get set to welcome Maa Durga!
The monsoon rains have withdrawn... there is freshness in the autumn air which is augmented by the clear sunshine. The beautiful sights of kaash flowers swaying under deep blue skies and sweet scent of shiuli all remind us of the fact that Maa Durga’s homecoming is just a few days away.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A hat-trick of successes for Indian sports, post-Chak De India!
It has been a great two months for Indian sports. For the third time, sports lovers in this country have been treated to, what I call is the Chak De India magic. I call it the Chak De India magic as there has been a resurgence in Indian sports in the two and half months so far after the release of the SRK-starrer on August 10, 2007.
First, the Indian football team created history by lifting the Nehru Cup international football trophy for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Syria in a tough final played in Delhi on August 29, 2007. The victory spurred a resurgence of football in India.
Then came the turn of hockey on September 9, 2007! Amidst a roaring crowd, the Indian hockey team won the Asia Cup after beating South Korea 7-2 in a hard fought final in Chennai. Not just the convincing win, but the Indian hockey team also added another feather to its cap. Its tally of 57 goals in the event became the highest for any team. Truely, a Chak De performance.
Finally, it was the turn of cricket. The Men in Blue rocked the shores of South Africa in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. India beat Pakistan in the grand finale at Wanderers, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007 and that too without the presence of its major stars. This day will be remembered in cricketing history.
And, what’s ironical was the presence of the man himself – Shah Rukh Khan – who played the inspirational coach in Chak De India at the Wanderers to cheer the Indian cricket team.
The match winning performances of India’s sporting sensations have taken the nation by storm. The title song of Chak De India has become an anthem of sorts. It has spread magic across all sports in India.
As the adrenaline is running high with India’s successes in sports, it’s time to say Chak De India again and again.
First, the Indian football team created history by lifting the Nehru Cup international football trophy for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Syria in a tough final played in Delhi on August 29, 2007. The victory spurred a resurgence of football in India.
Then came the turn of hockey on September 9, 2007! Amidst a roaring crowd, the Indian hockey team won the Asia Cup after beating South Korea 7-2 in a hard fought final in Chennai. Not just the convincing win, but the Indian hockey team also added another feather to its cap. Its tally of 57 goals in the event became the highest for any team. Truely, a Chak De performance.
Finally, it was the turn of cricket. The Men in Blue rocked the shores of South Africa in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. India beat Pakistan in the grand finale at Wanderers, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007 and that too without the presence of its major stars. This day will be remembered in cricketing history.
And, what’s ironical was the presence of the man himself – Shah Rukh Khan – who played the inspirational coach in Chak De India at the Wanderers to cheer the Indian cricket team.
The match winning performances of India’s sporting sensations have taken the nation by storm. The title song of Chak De India has become an anthem of sorts. It has spread magic across all sports in India.
As the adrenaline is running high with India’s successes in sports, it’s time to say Chak De India again and again.
Chak Diya India
“The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows (what's may happen this time)…”
This is what I had written in my post on September 11 - the day the Twenty20 World Cup began. A fortnight later Mahi and his boys have proved me right by pulling off a remarkable and almost unbelievable victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup.
What a moment for Indian cricket! Who would have dreamt of this victory? A young and enterprising team, led from the front by a great captain, winning the tournament in which the pundits had written us off. Without Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, the result was against all expectations.
This no-fear cricket has not only warmed all Indian hearts but instilled tremendous belief in India’s new-generation team. Above all, the win has, as Dhoni said, done the “repair work” that was necessary after India’s disastrous exit from the World Cup earlier this year. This is really looking good for the future of Indian cricket.
India beat the biggest teams in international cricket, Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (twice). The team batted like lions, bowled like tigers and fielded like leopards. In a tournament that was supposed to give nothing but trouble to the bowlers, the opposition never got on top of our attack, and don’t forget we did not have Zaheer Khan. Bowlers like RP Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and Joginder Singh did it for us.
This win celebrates youth. Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes in an over, Robin Uthappa, who can come in at any situation and make his mark, Rohit Sharma, not intimidated by the opposition even on debut, Irfan Pathan, once the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket who came back the hard way after being sent home in the middle of a tour. And a special mention to Gautam Gambhir whose quiet but effective contribution laid the foundations for Yuvraj’s heroics.
Age is on their side as it is for the captain who led from the front. MS Dhoni has shown that he has the capabilities of being a true leader, one who can lead from the front and inspire his team. His appointment as ODI skipper is probably one of best things to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.
All the best to Dhoni and his boys! Hope you give us many more such reasons to rejoice in future.
This is what I had written in my post on September 11 - the day the Twenty20 World Cup began. A fortnight later Mahi and his boys have proved me right by pulling off a remarkable and almost unbelievable victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup.
What a moment for Indian cricket! Who would have dreamt of this victory? A young and enterprising team, led from the front by a great captain, winning the tournament in which the pundits had written us off. Without Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, the result was against all expectations.
This no-fear cricket has not only warmed all Indian hearts but instilled tremendous belief in India’s new-generation team. Above all, the win has, as Dhoni said, done the “repair work” that was necessary after India’s disastrous exit from the World Cup earlier this year. This is really looking good for the future of Indian cricket.
India beat the biggest teams in international cricket, Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (twice). The team batted like lions, bowled like tigers and fielded like leopards. In a tournament that was supposed to give nothing but trouble to the bowlers, the opposition never got on top of our attack, and don’t forget we did not have Zaheer Khan. Bowlers like RP Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and Joginder Singh did it for us.
This win celebrates youth. Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes in an over, Robin Uthappa, who can come in at any situation and make his mark, Rohit Sharma, not intimidated by the opposition even on debut, Irfan Pathan, once the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket who came back the hard way after being sent home in the middle of a tour. And a special mention to Gautam Gambhir whose quiet but effective contribution laid the foundations for Yuvraj’s heroics.
Age is on their side as it is for the captain who led from the front. MS Dhoni has shown that he has the capabilities of being a true leader, one who can lead from the front and inspire his team. His appointment as ODI skipper is probably one of best things to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.
All the best to Dhoni and his boys! Hope you give us many more such reasons to rejoice in future.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
C'mon India... do it... one last time!
YES! We’ve done it... we’ve avenged the defeat in the 2003 World Cup finals. Kingsmead came to resemble Little India as thousands of Indian flags were waved with abandon. And what more...we ourselves are now in a final... a dream final... an India vs Pakistan final in a World Cup. So what’s if it is a Twenty20 World Cup. A World Cup is a World Cup after all.
In my post on September 11 (Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?), I had mentioned that “The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows…”
So far my prediction, or should I say my wish, has come true... Let’s hope this time we go one step further and get back the cup...the cup that matters.
What’s notable about this Indian team is its self belief and fearless attitude. Be it the eccentric Sreesanth, the cool Irfan Pathan, the intense Dinesh Karthik, the calm and responsible Mahendra Singh Dhoni, composed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma, flashy Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, or the crown prince Yuvraj Singh... every member in this team has played their part and played it to the best of their abilities so far.
Now they have just one more game to go... perhaps the most important game of their lives as no one had given them a chance in this tournament. It’s time to prove all those critics wrong.
It’s time for the team that made an early exit in the 50-over format of the World Cup in humiliating circumstances just six months ago, to throw everything into the game on Monday afternoon at the Wanderers as they have done so far in this tournament. Nothing short of over 200% intensity would do.
C’mon India... you can do it... one last time.
It will surprise no one if the DJ decides to kick off the festivities with Redemption Song.
In my post on September 11 (Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?), I had mentioned that “The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows…”
So far my prediction, or should I say my wish, has come true... Let’s hope this time we go one step further and get back the cup...the cup that matters.
What’s notable about this Indian team is its self belief and fearless attitude. Be it the eccentric Sreesanth, the cool Irfan Pathan, the intense Dinesh Karthik, the calm and responsible Mahendra Singh Dhoni, composed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma, flashy Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, or the crown prince Yuvraj Singh... every member in this team has played their part and played it to the best of their abilities so far.
Now they have just one more game to go... perhaps the most important game of their lives as no one had given them a chance in this tournament. It’s time to prove all those critics wrong.
It’s time for the team that made an early exit in the 50-over format of the World Cup in humiliating circumstances just six months ago, to throw everything into the game on Monday afternoon at the Wanderers as they have done so far in this tournament. Nothing short of over 200% intensity would do.
C’mon India... you can do it... one last time.
It will surprise no one if the DJ decides to kick off the festivities with Redemption Song.
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