Straight from Japan ..

....Cherry Blossoms.
My nephew is enjoying a lovely spring in Kanagawa, Japan these days and can u believe he clicked this amazing snap ...

My Dad Blogs too :)

My dad has a new blog to publish the poems and articles he writes in Malayalam ..
http://www.kochuchinthakal.blogspot.com/

Happy 1st Birthday Aditya

My dear Nephew is one year old today !!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADI

Urdu Blues

My love for Ghazals started with Hariharan and his rendering of "Ehde Masti HaiN, Log KehteiN HaiN"

Since then, I have played with Jagjit Singh, graduated to Ghulam Ali, dabbled a bit in Mehdi Hasan, but I have never stopped enjoying Hariharan. I love the way his mellifluous voice can spread sateen over the ambience, and his Urdu diction is perfect ! The thing I love most about him is, however, his sense of experimentation.

Last year, we went to one of his concerts in New Jersey and he was mentioning a new Genre he wants to promote; Urdu Blues - A fusion of Jazz/Blues in New Orleans style with Ghazals. I think he has been trying to do this in a couple of his earlier albums too, but his latest album “Waqt Par Bolna” explores this Genre in much more depth than the earlier ones..

Check out the intricate juxtaposition of the piano notes with the slightly more predominant tabla beats in this one ..
(Jab Bhi Milte Ho, Muskuraate Ho; Itni KhushiyaaN KahaN Se LaateiN Ho .. )

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Or the more overt Jazz notes in this one ..
( Galat HaiN, Muskuraana Chahte HaiN; Woh Apna Gham Chupaana Chahta HaiN)

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And if you enjoyed that, you should check out the track "Mujhko Chooke Pighal RaheiN Ho Tum; Mere Humraah, Jal RaheiN Ho Tum" which exemplifies Urdu Blues ..

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Respecting the Flag

The next time you decide to prop your legs up on the table, think twice !

(Photo courtesy: AFP)

This is the picture that got Sania in trouble for showing “disrespect” to the national flag !! I am surprised by the obsession with “disrespecting the flag” in India, where almost nobody takes the effort to proudly display the national flag in spite of a new law that allows private citizens to display the flag. However, there are enough people on the lookout for media attention, filing cases for dishonoring the flag. It is Sania now; it was Tendulkar a couple of months ago (for cutting a cake with the Tricolor) and Mandira Bedi before that ..

That’s what you get when you have lawyers with no work and a media that laps up anything as news …

A Melodious Start to 2008

I started the year rekindling my love for Ghazals!

I have been a Ghazal aficionado for almost two decades, but somehow the passion had taken a backstage in the past couple of years. As we were cleaning out the car a couple of weeks earlier, I came across a CD I had compiled with my favorite Ghazals of Ghulam Ali and that is what probably sparked the desire again (or perhaps it was the Idea Star Singer Ghazal round ..Or the fact that I missed a 19 year school reunion – you see Ghazals go well with nostalgia !! )

Anyway, here is the list from the Ghulam Ali CD that I found...

1. KAbhee KitabooN MeiN Phool Rakhna, Kabhi DarakhtoN Pe Naam Likhna; HameiN Bhi Hain Yaad Aaaj Tak Woh Nazar Se HarfeiN Salaam Likhna
2. Nain HaiN, Yaake Jaam Saaqui Ke; Ho Gaye Hum Gulaam Saaqui Ke
3. NIgahooN Se HameiN Samjha RaheiN HaiN; Nawaazish HaiN Karam Farmaa RaheiN HaiN
4. Koi Raat Aisi Bhi Aaye, Ke Yeh Manzar DekhooN; Teri Peshaani Ho Aur Apna Muqaddar DekhooN
5. Lutf Joh Uske Intezaar MeiN HaiN, Woh KahaN Mausam-e-Bahaar MeiN HaiN
6. Aaj Tuje KyoN Chupp Si Lagi Hain; Kuchh to Bataa Kyaa Baat Hui HaiN
7. Chamakte Chaand Ko Toota Hua Taara Banaa Daala; Meri Awaargee Ne Mujhe Awaara Banaa Daala
8. Gali Gali Teri Yaad Bichee HaiN, Pyaar Rasta Dekh Ke Chal; Mujhse Itni Wehshat HaiN To Meri HadooN Se Door Nikal
9. Mein Khayaal HOon Kisi Aur Ka, Mujhe Sochta Koi Aur Hain
10. Woh De Raha HaiN, Dilaase To Umr Bhar Ke Mujhe; Bicchad Na Jaayen KahiN Phir Udaas Karke Mujhe
11. Chupke Chupke Raat Din, AasooN Bahaana Yaad HaiN
12. Kal ChaudviN ki Raat Thee, Chath Par Raha Charcha Tera
13. Dil Se Mere Woh Sitamgar NIkla, Aaina Tod Ke Pathar Nikla
14. Dhalte JaayeN, Shaam Ke Saayen, Lekin Saajan Tum NahiN Aaye

and here is something for you to enjoy ...

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