Music Malt | culture, festivals and more

Published: Monday, Nov 01, 2011, Place: Bangalore | Agency: Hindustan Times Rock music frenzy swept the sprawling Palace Grounds in this garden city where heavy metal band Metallica gave its first ever live performance in India, putting the fiasco over Friday's cancelled Gurgaon concert behind. Heavy metal fans in India finally got a taste of the related stories Four arrested for Metallica fiasco Ours is the music of Kali: Metallica Metallica’s foremost concern is for the fans four-member American band's performance on Sunday, chanting Metallica braving sharp showers that pounded the city for more than an hour in two spells. The performance, which was to be the second for Metallica in India, turned out to be its maiden show following the abrupt cancellation of its concert at the Leisure Valley in Gurgaon on Friday over "security issues". Four organisers from the event management company DNA Networks were arrested on charges of breach of trust and cheating,

Nothing can be more apt than the phrase “unity in diversity”, when one describes or pictures the Indian subcontinent. Adding its own streak of colour to the existing flamboyant and multi hued tapestry of Indian culture is the festival and one of the highly rated travel experience called Pushkar Camel Fair . Held each November at the time of the full moon in the Indian month of Kartik, Pushkar Camel Fair is a grand spectacular event, attracting 300,000 people and up to 50,000 camels. One of the largest camel fair in the world, the Pushkar Camel Fair witnesses the blending of tradition and spirituality. During this four day event, one gets to witness livestock trading, religious “pujas”, music, dance, various sports and competitions that are not just funny but unusually unique, shops selling local arts and crafts. It turns into an enchanting carnival that at times makes one feel like a moment from some fairy tale book. The festival comes to an end on the day of Kartik Purnima. On this

Alexander Dumas's classic novel ‘The Three Musketeers’, for all those who didn’t know already, is sort of an epic tale about a young peasant eager to join the Kings' three musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis. He falls foul of the scheming Cardinal Richelieu and his men while attempting to save the Queen from public scandal, which could lead to an impending battle between France and England. Hollywood had always had a tendency to alter plots and characters from adventure stories to fit them into adrenaline driven, action packed screenplays, sometimes not so successfully. The 2011 incarnation of The Three Musketeers created by Paul W.S. Anderson is no exception to that propensity. To begin with, the three musketeers Athos, Aramis and especially Porthos have undergone massive transformations, from being legends to being superheroes. The most inedible transformation however is seen in Milady de Winter, from a villain to ahem, a Ninja, particularly when she pulls of Mission Imposs

Published: Monday, Oct 25, 2011, Place: Bangalore | Agency: IBN Live The power of music brings people from any generation, culture, caste, creed and age together. Be it in any form or genre, music unites everyone. The Storm pre-festival bash was celebrated on October 22 at Sutra. The opening sets was played by DJ Sash and DJ Chaz, after which DJ Pearl took over the console cranking up the sound system with phenomenal tunes, giving the crowd a taste of what is yet come during the Storm Festival. DJ Pearl also gave away passes for the Storm Festival to a few lucky ones. The presence of well-known Djs like DJ Tuhin Mehta, DJ Inferno, the organisers LiquidSpace Entertainment, artist organisers Submerge and The Syndicate together with the music lovers of Bangalore made the night special. Storm Festival is one of the most authentic annual 48 hour camp-out music festivals in India, to be held amidst a breath-taking 22 acre expanse of lush green natural setting, in Nap

— by Samriddhi Tanti | Delhi It isn’t always that one comes across a musician who manages to brilliantly take the listener on an introspective journey. India.Arie is a woman who simply radiates with a light... a light that emanates from her soul and reaches out to one through her music. A multi talented woman, who sings, writes, plays, arranges and produces music. India’s richly textured voice and the ability to commune directly with her listeners through impressive, soul stirring lyrics is overwhelming and truly inspiring. Born in Denver, Colorado on October 3 1975, India Arie Simpson is a Grammy Award-winning American soul, R&B, and neo soul musician, songwriter, and producer. She absorbed musical skills early in life as she was encouraged by both parents. Her mother Joyce is a former singer (she was signed to Motown as a teenager and opened for Stevie Wonder and Al Green). Her father is former ABA and NBA basketball player Ralph Simpson. After her parents divorced, Simps

— by Parmita Borah | Bangalore Earthen lamps adorn the ground, while bright multihued crackers light up the night sky. Diwali or Deepawali , the festival of lights is one of the biggest festivals in Hinduism, with major celebrations in India, Canada, Trinidad, Guyana, UK, Fiji, United States and other countries around the world. The festival is celebrated for two days between mid-October and mid-November (depending on lunar movement). The Hindus celebrate it with great pomp and joy. They light their houses, courtyards and backyards with earthen lamps or diyas. They perform Laxmi Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Fire rcrackers, sweets, exchange of gifts and even gambling are very important part of the celebrations. The Hindus have more than one reason to celebrate Diwali, the most prominent one being the return of Lord Rama after rescuing his wife from the clutches of Ravana. According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’

Maslenitsa: Free-for-all Boxing Match (Russia)     Long before Brad Pitt and Edward Norton made noses bleed with their bare knuckles, the tradition of rules-free boxing came into being in Russia. On the 4th day of Maslenitsa, men get together in an open space and punch each other to commemorate Russian military history. There is only one thumb rule-Do not beat a man when he is down, which means, you can punch on the face or grab and twitch crotches. In centuries past, the festival has its closure when all the participants are soaked in blood, bereft of clothes. There’s no entry fee, but the organizers may not be willing to pay for your medical bills later. Be a part of it, only if you have health insurance.  Tunarama: The Tuna Tossing Festival (Australia)    Tunarama festival began in 1962, with the intention to promote the merging tuna fishing industry. It is held in Port Lincoln, on the tip of Eyre Peninsula, over the Australia Day (26 January) long weekend. Tuna fishing is now one o

El Colacho: the Baby-Jumping Festival (Spain) El Colacho marks the Catholic Festival of Corpus Christi. In what can be described as part athletics and part exorcism, grown men in Spain leap over a row of babies placed on the ground. Men don scarier versions of Elvis-like jump suits, whips and truncheons for accessories. They sprint over the row of babies to cleanse them of evil. Thinking of calling CRY? Don’t. It’s tradition. El Colacho has been in practice since 1620. The event also has a speed exorcism session, where bystanders who seem to be in need of a quick exorcism are pulled into the event. Up Helly-Aa: the Fire Festival (Shetland Islands) Up Helly-Aa is an annual fire festival held in Shetland to mark the end of Yule season. It is a tribute to the island’s Viking heritage. Up Helly-Aa literally translates "End of the Holy Days". A thousand guizers emerge together on a procession that culminates with the burning on a 32-ft effigy of a Viking Longship. (Remember Dus

  (Click on the play button above to listen to the interview) She’s an Assamese lassie who sings in Bhojpuri. When most musicians vie for contemporary forms of music, Kalpana Patowary headed in the direction of folk and has established herself as a sought after Folk Music vocalist of our time. Parmita Borah talks to the lady herself about her rendezvous with music. Parmita Borah : Although you’re from Assam, you have voiced more songs in Bhojpuri language. What inspired you?  Kalpana Patowary : Frankly speaking, being from Assam, we Assamese artists have a very dangerous ‘accent’ problem. Even I face it. However, much before me, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika paved the way when he made a traditional Assamese wedding song into a Bhojpuri song (bursts into as song by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika). People like Dr. Bhupen Hazarika made it large even with Bhojpuri songs. Similarly, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was from Rajasthan but took on Assamese music and gave a new direction to it. So they have al

The world of music suffered a massive loss with the demise of ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh . He died on October 10, 2011 at the age of 70 in Mumbai at Lilavati hospital, after he suffered from a brain hemorrhage. Jagjit Singh is known for contemporizing Ghazals with his melodic baritone voice and the infusion of western instruments in the genre. He pioneered the inclusion of the 12 string guitar and bass guitar in Ghazals. As a result, Ghazal emerged as a classically proficient yet trendy and marketable form of music. Patrons loyal to films songs suddenly found themselves grabbing copies of Jagjit Singh’s records. Singh’s career touched meticulous heights in the 70s and 80s and he came to be known as ‘The Ghazal King’ among music lovers. His collaboration with better half, ghazal singer Chitra Singh established them as the first ever successful duo-act (husband-wife) in the history of recorded Indian music. Chitra Singh however, stopped singing after their only son Vivek died in an ac

(Click on the play button above to listen to the interview)   There’s nothing much to say about Thermal and a Quarter that hasn’t already been said. Their journey has been long and fulfilling from their Christ College jam room to being revered as one of the best indie rock bands. The extremely talented and witty Bruce Lee Mani , lead guitarist and vocalist of Thermal and a Quarter tells Parmita Borah about his musical journey across a decade and a half. Photo source - Facebook Parmita Borah : Anyone who visits Wikipedia  knows the history behind the name Thermal and a Quarter. Your name Bruce Lee Mani - What’s the history behind it?   Bruce Lee Mani : (laughs) Well, my father was a big fan of Bruce Lee and I was born around the time when “Enter the Dragon” released with great fanfare in Bangalore Theatres and he decided to call his son Bruce Lee and Mani, because we happen to be palakkad Iyers and I carry my Grandfather’s name which is Mani. It gets a lot of laughs from m

Back home, Bollywood Baddies have varied from gangsters, local goons, and corrupt cops to wicked step moms and mother -in-laws. There is also a breed of Bollywood Villains who are known for a different genre of notoriety. Their speciality lies in molesting wives, girlfriends and sisters of the protagonists. They scandalized our aunties, make them wipe their misty noses with tear soaked cotton handkerchiefs and blurt out, ‘ Kaminey tere ghar mein ma behen nahi hain kya? ’(Rascal, don’t you have a mother or sister at home?) Off late, the existence of such nasty felons is sort of on the decline with candy floss romances, cheating husbands, bikini babes and item numbers taking over. So let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and track down some of the most iniquitous characters seen on the silver screens of Bollywood. Bhavani Devi - Sau din Saas Ke   Played by Lalita Pawar Schemer, envious, spiteful Matriarch Bhavani Devi runs her regal home with an iron hand. A fly wouldn’t dare move an

— by Parmita Borah | Bangalore He may not have strummed crazy leads like Hendrix , had sonorous vocals of Elvis or made millions bang their heads like Kurt Cobain did; but he sure did hold the status of a rock-star . Millions are mourning, as Apple Co-Founder and ex-CEO Steve Jobs passed away on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011, owing to a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Jobs was 56. Steve Jobs started Apple with a friend at a Silicon Valley garage in 1976, and turned it into an empire with a decade by rolling out one sensational product after other. He was forced out of Apple a decade later. The 1999 docudrama “ Pirates of the Silicon Valley ” about the rise of the home personal computer through the rivalry between Apple Computer and Microsoft, also documents Jobs’ journey from the Silcon Valley garage to the time he was forced out of Apple. He resumed his position as Apple’s CEO in 1997 to rescue the company from a downhill bearing. During his hiatus from Apple, Jobs In 1986, Jobs pu

— by Parmita Borah | Bangalore Devi or Goddesses form an integral part of Hindu Mythology and Indian fiesta - Goddess Durga being one of the most powerful and revered. This autumnal festival popularly known as Sharodotsav , recalls the power of female Shakti (power) symbolized by the Goddess Durga who slays Asuras (a group of power-seeking deities) to re-establish peace and sanctity on earth again. The fortnight of Devi Paksha marks the festival of Durga Puja , Durga Pujo , Durgotsava or even Dussehra . Durga Puja also coincides with Navratri , a festival that is celebrated in Gujrat for nine consecutive days. Photo - www.indiaadvices.com Mahalaya , a day to remember to the departed souls is observed a couple of days ahead of Durga Puja, marking the onset of a week long celebration. Durga Puja celebration spreads across the five days of Shashthi , Maha Saptami , Maha Ashtami , Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami . The inauguration starts on Mahashasthi . The main puja is for t

Hollywood's fascination for revulsion stretches further and beyond the human realm. They have created bad guys who creep into your dreams and slash your intestines, throw magic spells, pounce on you with their fangs exposed, eat you as meals and sometimes multiply. We remember them here on this post with much awe and wariness. Freddy Krueger - Nightmare at Elm Street  Played by Robert Englund and Jackie Earle Haley . Kids Beware! This scary looking bad boy waits for you till you are asleep. While you are snoring merrily, he quietly creeps into your dreams and bam-his long razor claw slashes your intestines. No big deal, huh? Wait till you see this disfigured dream stalker throw that grisly grin at you, right before he, well, kills you. Freddy Krueger was lovelorn as a child. As a reprisal act, he took to torturing little kids in their sleep and became that serial child killing monster. He was born of a human mother but the methods he uses to kill his victims certainly seem non-hum