Music Malt | culture, festivals and more

By Parmita Borah | Published: Tuesday, Oct 11, 2011, Place: Bangalore | Agency: EF News International   Bruce Lee Mani 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. 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

The kahaani of Kahaani was no mystery to me as I made my way to the theater on a Sunday evening, thanks to a thoughtless moron at work who divulged the climax a day before. Having said that, I’d be lying if I said ‘Kahaani’ didn’t have any surprises to offer.   Vidya Bagchi , a visibly pregnant woman lands in Kolkata all the way from London in search of her missing spouse. While the pursuit of her missing husband continues, she uncovers a much larger political plot with the help of a junior cop Satyuki Sinha a.k.a Rana. In the late 80s and early 90s there existed a trend of female characters in Bollywood – these women either took a stand against bitter and wicked in-laws or bashed up pervert crooks and extras on a revenge driven mode. That trend although filmy, liberated the women from the mundane roles society and the film industry offered and drove them to discover and unleash their potency. In the years that followed with the ascending popularity of cholis, lehengas, Munnis and

Defying existing conventions, establishing their own, the perfect mix of nerve and grace - these women in their own subtle style changed the way the world looked at the descendants of Venus. Mother Teresa Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was a novice nun in the early years of her training when she found her true calling. Realizing that the path to God lied not just in prayers within the walls of her convent - she replaced her traditional Loreto habit with a simple cotton sari and reached to the ones less fortunate than her on the streets of Darjeeling. Mother Teresa, as we know her today pioneered the Missionaries of Charity, India, in 1950. For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying. Born and raised in Skopje, Mother Teresa adapted India as her own country while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and later in other countries. Aung San Suu Kyi Fifteen years of house arrest and still standing strong. She was elected as the Pri

It’s the ‘ Festival of C o l o r s ’ that brings harmony and cheer to all. Also known as Dol Jatra or Doḷajāta, Holi is a spring festival observed by the Hindus. This year Holi is being celebrated all across the country. People from across the globe have landed in several towns in India like Mathura, Kashi and Barsana to take part in the festival. President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Holi. "Holi is a festival of colours that heralds joy, hope and fulfilment in our lives," Patil said in her message. "Like the colours of a rainbow, that are different yet together they reflect beauty, may this festival bring together all the colours of India's diversity in a rainbow of unity," she said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his message said the "festival of colours" is a part of the country's rich and diverse cultural heritage and is associated w

Dr. Bhupen Hazarika , legendary composer and lyricist from Assam will be conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, for his remarkable contribution to the realm of Arts. Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (middle) with his son Tej Hazarika (right) and grandson Sage (left) Tej Hazarika, son of the deceased musician, has shared a press release stating that he will be accepting the honour on behalf of his father from the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on March 22, 2012. The award will be brought to Assam for safekeeping in the museum dedicated to Dr. Hazarika situated at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra (SSK) at Guwahati. He also shared the extract of Rajya Sabha’s mourning proceedings honouring Dr. Hazarika on his demise, dated the 22nd of November, 2011. Tej Hazarika is currently collaborating with a group of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s followers to establish a foundation aimed at fostering the great musician’s legacy. - Press Release