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Showing posts with the label Music

The story of the seven 'surs'

I am always in awe of any kind of music that I hear. To me music remains the magic paintbrush with which the child painted what he wished for. I have grown up listening to film music and very old English numbers which when I go to hunt online I don't find. I can't lay any sort of claim to classical music or instrumental music of great repute but I like to think that I do have discerning ear. But the post isn't about my musical ability or inclination. It is about what I felt today as I listened to some song being played on the TV as I was busy pushing some khichdi down my son's throat. I don't now remember whether it was a nice song or something terrible but I do remember feeling goosebumps. I realized that the seven notes were all that it took to create an array of emotions. Joy, love, horror, terror, fun, funny, childish, serious, beautiful, awful, fast paced, slow and delicious, and much much more. I also realised that the world over people have used these se...

On Indian pop of the 90s

I loved writing this piece. Loved it. Yeah. I said it again. Oops! Abso-the-lutely loved loved writing this piece. ------------------ Before embarking on this article I have a few confessions to make. For beginners let me acknowledge the fact that I haven’t worked so hard on an article before this. I don’t mean to boast but writing comes a wee bit easily to me then other numerous things. This one article took all my strength and by the end of it I was exhausted, bleary eyed and breathless. Also I must include that I was very close to being internet-broke. Before your imagination takes off on wings and you imagine me running on a treadmill writing this piece, let me tell you why. I was exhausted by the rush of the numerous songs that filled my mind space gushing out like a river which is suddenly allowed to flow after its path had been obstructed by a big rock. I was bleary eyed from seeing one video after the other on Youtube (which kind of left me internet-broke). I star...

Tram, The Heritage Wheels

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February 1873 was a monumental year for Kolkata, then known as Kalikatta. Commerce had compelled the British rulers to look for cost effective and efficient ways to carry merchandise from Sealdah railway station to the Armenian Ghats of the river Hooghly. Unfortunately the horse trams did not find many takers and had to shut down the same year. But in the mean time something of an affair had been heralded that would go on to add to the uniqueness of the city Kalikatta. Think of trams and you can imagine life slowing down a pace or two. When I first set eyes on a tram in the middle of a main road in the South of the city, all the other noises seemed to recede away and a Mantovani melody started to play in the background instead. I was so mesmerised by the way it snaked on the road, leisurely at its own pace, not bothered by the honking cars, autos and taxis that I forgot to board the bus my palm had brought to halt. Kolkata is a metropolis like none other. It is large. It ...

So that I may not forget again

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That I am a happy person with a cheerful disposition That listening to music always uplifts my spirit That sky gazing and deciphering the shapes of clouds is a favourite activity That I love waking up early and enjoy solitude and the house That I consider kindness as the biggest quality and honesty follows soon after That I can cry at the mere mention of certain things but that is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about That I believe in life, resilience, hard work and laughter. Ah! also hugs. That I may need to have some more self confidence in my abilities from time to time but I often know better than what I give myself credit for. That I believe that no relationship is a waste of time and utna hi upkaar samajh, koi jitna saath nibha de. That going the extra mile is fun because it is not crowded and you get some time to be on your own. That I believe in holding my head and standards high. That I believe in the power of prayer. That I also believe tha...