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.

What Delhi prison manual says about meeting inmates

Shekhar Singh | April 13, 2024 2:12 PM

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) The meetings between inmates and their relatives or friends are conducted according to the jail's manual and this applies to all inmates without exception, top prison sources told IANS on Saturday, in response to claims made by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.

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.