The only Hindi film singer the Mahatma heard, Manna Dey never got his due

Vikas Datta | May 1, 2024 10:00 AM

New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) In his over half-a-century-long Hindi film career, he sang more than a thousand songs, but just three serve to demonstrate his position in the industry's scheme of things - the madcap "Ek Chatur Naar" where Kishore Kumar beats him; the enchanting qawwali "Na to karvaan ki talash hai" where Mohammed Rafi emerges triumphant eventually; and the classical contest "Ketaki gulab juhi", where he beats Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

When writer and realist actor Balraj Sahni raced against a train for a film scene

Vikas Datta | May 1, 2024 9:00 AM

New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) More than three decades before Aamir Khan's train stunt in "Ghulam" (1998), this actor, renowned for his natural performances, had already done such a hazardous exploit, not just a daredevil challenge on the screen, but to inject reality into the scene and save the filmmaker the "bother of back projection".

Ram temple now features in children’s drawing and craft books

IANS | April 26, 2024 9:58 AM

Ayodhya, April 26 (IANS) The impact of the grand Ram Janmabhoomi temple built in Ayodhya has started reflecting in various spheres.

Saving art from militancy: How M.K. Raina revived theatre in strife-torn Kashmir

Sukant Deepak | April 25, 2024 8:05 PM

New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) He makes it clear that the memoir is not about his theatre journey, nor the making of some of the finest theatre productions he has brought on stage, but in fact, about India and the many shades he has been a witness to.

Shilpa celebrates Ashtami, Kanya Pujan 'with our own Devi Samisha'

IANS | April 16, 2024 4:11 PM

Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) Actress Shilpa Shetty, on Tuesday, shared a sneak peek into the Kanya Pujan at her residence, on the occasion of Ashtami, giving an adorable glimpse of her daughter Samisha.

'Chand taaron se chalna hai aage...': The musical journey of Hasrat Jaipuri

Vikas Datta | April 15, 2024 2:20 PM

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Few people can boast of the distinction of having a love poem they penned in adolescence becoming a hit Hindi film song, but this purveyor and versifier of beauty, whose craft was derived from his observation, was one prominent example.

A spirited voice of the Hindi film industry - and pioneer of 'item songs'

Vikas Datta | April 14, 2024 2:14 PM

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Her influence persists in Bollywood even after her name has faded from public memory, althrough remixes of her rollicking hits from the 1950s continue to be in circulation. Another, and not that well-known, legacy of Shamshad Begum, though, was initiating what later became "item numbers", though her contributions were more perky than provocative, saucy than raunchy, and racy without being ribald.

BJP's Sankalp Patra promises to promote Tamil language globally

IANS | April 14, 2024 1:37 PM

Chennai, April 14 (IANS) The Sankalp Patra or election manifesto of BJP released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 134th birth anniversary of Dr B. R. Ambedkar at New Delhi, promises to promote Tamil language globally.

Kishori Amonkar: Innovative Hindustani music diva who saw music as path to 'happiness'

Vikas Datta | April 10, 2024 2:39 PM

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) Blazing her path to becoming one of Hindustani music's foremost virtuosos, she did not achieve her status with just her incomparably melodious voice, but also her willingness to shake up things a bit by questioning age-old precepts of the tradition, especially the 'gharana' system, the training of young musicians, and the treatment of female practitioners.

Sash Simpson's fairytale life, from Coimbatore's footpaths to vodka on gold-topped ice

Sourish Bhattacharyya | April 6, 2024 5:11 PM

New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) For those who believe rags-to-riches stories are the stuff of fairy tales, Sash Simpson's life will make them wake up and dig into the caviar.

Culture

The only Hindi film singer the Mahatma heard, Manna Dey never got his due

When writer and realist actor Balraj Sahni raced against a train for a film scene

Ram temple now features in children’s drawing and craft books

Saving art from militancy: How M.K. Raina revived theatre in strife-torn Kashmir

Shilpa celebrates Ashtami, Kanya Pujan 'with our own Devi Samisha'

'Chand taaron se chalna hai aage...': The musical journey of Hasrat Jaipuri

A spirited voice of the Hindi film industry - and pioneer of 'item songs'

BJP's Sankalp Patra promises to promote Tamil language globally

Kishori Amonkar: Innovative Hindustani music diva who saw music as path to 'happiness'

Sash Simpson's fairytale life, from Coimbatore's footpaths to vodka on gold-topped ice

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