The Passing Away Of A Legend -O.P. Nayyar

Kaveeta Kaul

Update: You can listen to the podcast of my tribute in a programme dedicated to the Legendary O.P. Nayyar on PodioIndia Ep 31

A truly sad day for Indian music.

This post which receives a record number of hits consistently, referred to by Google, never failed to amaze me at the sheer number who were in search for Nayyar Saheb even now. Today, however, it began receiving an unusually continuous string .

I knew then, maybe what I had feared for a while had happened…Had to mournfully update it.

The total number has crossed over five thousand , just on the link provided above. If anything this substantively proves that Nayyar Saheb was a maestro par excellence, whose memory and strains of melody, stirred our souls, filled it with a longing to know more about him, in a bid as if to connect with the man behind the music and creator of that magic.

Please read the link provided for details on the maestro and his life.

Famed music composer from Pakistan, Sohail Rana, one of his ghazals being the unforgettable ‘mujhe tum nazar se gira to rahey ho, mijhe tum kabhi bhi bhula na sakogey’ , visited the blog and speaks of the last call to O.P. Nayyar just a month ago..he pays an emotional tribute to him in the comment section of the post.

His adopted daughter Ashwini Karandikar too speaks, in the comment section .

Ashraft through his comment has informed us of his passion for O.P.Nayyar’s music and that he has laboriously collected every single song composed by the maestro. Incredible! True passion and grit which needs to be lauded. Priceless treasure is now his!

Siraj Khan who has been writing the biography of O.P.Nayyar Saheb, exclusive rights for which had been granted to him by the maestro, had commented on this post last year as well.. Please read his tribute and of his plans for the book.

View O.P. Nayyar-Not Forgotten. ( 13161 views- 708 comments )

Kaveetaa Kaul

‘Guru’ Movie Review- Gurubhai Mani Ratnam

Kaveeta Kaul

Featured post at Sulekha

A friend, who is also a film maker, enquired of me conspiratorially, prior to the release of the film ‘Guru’ as to what were my reactions of the promos or rather what were the expectations from the film. The pre- release buzz which surrounds a film based on rather nebulous criteria, word of mouth gossip, disgruntled colleagues, envious peers, or the plain diabolic variety of ‘industrywallahs, who revel in pulling down any effort they feel threatened by either by sheer enormity of the project or sincerity in its making, is often hugely erroneous.

Since I correspond to none of the above mentioned categories, my assessment was based

Anniversary- Sachiniti

Kaveetaa Kaul

Today, 27th January, marks a year since I began writing this blog. Whilst writing my first post, I felt a tad silly, since I had no clue who would, or rather would anyone end up reading my blog.

This brings to mind the romanticism of Majrooh Sultanpuri

“Main akela hi chala tha janibe-e-manzil magar

Log sath aate gaye aur karavan banta gaya“

Oscar Nominations- Complete List

Hey folks,

‘Water’ has made it the final five..Bravo Deepa!

Courtesy North..here is the complete list of Oscar nominees:

Complete list of the 79th Annual Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday

at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif.:

1. Best Picture: “Babel”, “The Departed,” “Letters From Iwo Jima ,” “Little Miss Sunshine ,” “The Queen.”

‘Water’ In ‘RDB’ Out Of Oscar Race

Ahhh well.. I was right after all . Results are out. ‘Rang De Basanti’ Indias entry, is out , Deepa Mehtas Canadian entry ‘Water’ is in. This is the pen-pen-ultimate round. Final nine, leading next to the final five which will be the official nominees.

My post ‘In Wait- Oscar’ to do with the film that might eventually create a stir at the Oscars, had ruled out RDB as a possibility, for reasons ennumerated therein. I had clearly mentioned ‘Water’ as a contender, although a Canadian entry, but taking over from the Indian entries in the foreign language film category.

Deepa Mehtas sure having the last laugh. She was hounded out of the country, not

All The World Loves A Lover- Aishwarya Abhishek To Wed

Kaveeta Kaul

6356 views

On the wedding and more

Pre-wedding:

‘Akshay Tritiya’ is considered the only day in the hindu calendar which does not require a shubh mahurat.. the entire day is fortuitous… It falls on April 20th this year.. the day chosen by the families for the Abhi Ash nuptials..Hmmm.. what is the harm in propitiating the ’stars’..they ensured them stardom in the first place. Deep down, we are all humans with our fears, doubts and apprehensions. Anything to guarantee a peaceful wedded life is welcome. After all, name and fame ..fickle food on a shifty plate. If ones emotional life runs dry no amount of material accoutrements can replace the emptiness .

Guest list is ‘Exclusive’..No Khans SRK, Aamir, Salman. So far it goes so:

Anil and Tina Ambani, Subroto Roy,Kajol and Ajay, Yash Chopra & Sons,Kirron Kher and son Sikander (what of Anupam Kher??)Karan Johar and his mother Hiroo,Sonali Bendre and her hubby Goldie Behl (close friend of Abhi)..of course Amar singh is no longer a friend..dont choke.. He’s family I guess it would also include Jaya’s FTII buddies, Danny etc. The list of Bollywood invites may be exculsive.. but the total number including family et all would be close to 300 or so..hardly a figure considering it represents both families Rai and Bachchans.

Invitation card is more of a ‘volume’ ..bookish with invites beginning from 18th..the Mehdi and will carry on till 20th the wedding at..AB’s previous bungalow..occupied by his mother Mrs. Teji Bachchan presently. The media and tabloids are getting into a frenzy.. Imagine showing on National T.V. laborers carrying in truckloads of paraphernalia..Hmm..this is not so happening really..I mean till its breaking news its fine..but cannot make it a ‘live telecast’!! Its only a wedding..and all the best and all that!

Update: 30th March: Finally..dates been set for 20th April . Venue..Prateeksha, Big B’s Bungalow at Juhu.. Guest list ..family only..and those considered so.

Update @27th January 12-20 p.m: speculation is rife that Abhishek and ash are married at a temple in Vindhyanchal near Banaras U.P./… dodging the media. This is a temple which is supposed to nullify ill effects of planetary configurations…The sindoor was filled in Ashs ‘maang’ which denoted ‘marriage’..although there was no other wedding finery, or dressing up involved. In half an hour it was all over. This was confirmed by a priest present there who spoke to a T.V. channel They had flown down in a helicopter, and in the presence of Ab, Jaya, Amar Singh and his family and Mulayam Singh, they are reported to be wed. ..without fanfare!! .

It is a possibility that the auspiciousness of the Day today may have led to this hurried ‘token’ ‘cermony’ to be followed by an elaborate affair later. The Goddess of this temple assures a happy wedded life..perhaps the combinaton of the day with the venue may have led to this.

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Kaveeta Kaul

The news of the Aishwarya Rai Abhishek Bachchan betrothal has spread in a flash the world over. Not surprising considering that he is easily one of the most if not ‘the most’ eligible bachelors in the film fraternity, and she a Ms. World who has carved quite a niche for herself, in not just the hearts of cinephiles, ( disagree? think “Hum dil de chuke sanam) but also the average world citizen.

What has amused me however is the timing of the announcement from no other than the proud father Amitabh Bachchan himself.

Its ‘Lohri’ Today

A very happy Lohri to all North Indians.

My earliest memories of celebrating this ‘bonfire festival’ go back to the days when Bombay (as it was then called) seemed to be a place where all festivals were celebrated with fervour and sans self consciousness.

Mahatama Gandhi-Just a Parody for Gautham Prasad

Kaveetaa Kaul

The visual of a Gandhi look alike pole dancing, making ridiculous gesticulations, brandishing a sword, running around in utter buffoonery caught my attention. It was a channel airing the clipping which a wannabe comedian Gautham Prasad has proudly broadcast on his site as an illustration of his skewed sense of comedy and which has been lappedup and linked to various other.

In his own words “He describes the performance as one of him dressing up in Gandhi’s clothes, then doing a slow stripping dance but falling short of nudity”… I guess here we are supposed to bow our heads and Praise the Lord..or rather Praise Prasad for his sensitivity in sparing the Mahatama of nudity!

Rewind India 2006

Its always an arduous task to essay a look back with consummate fairness and unemotional detachment at the year gone by and arrive at an analysed version, which appears as an exemplification of serious thought wedded with a positive stance. .despite the foreseen dangers of ugly repetition of situations that defy redemption.

However for some, the above comes with ease and skill. One such is Tarun Tejpal whose recent article in ‘Tehelka’ had me re-reading and in consonnance, wholeheartedly.

Tips To Attract Peace And Harmony- Feng Shui

Kaveetaa Kaul

5097 views

Its the start of the year and all things bright and beautiful..hopefully. ..so thought I’d give you a few Feng shui tips, which are universal. These are valid across the board..irrespective of compass directions, which ordinarily is a factor of utmost importance .

* De-clutter: The need to rid your surroundings of dead energy, which arises out of clutter, dark corners, is paramount. You may have noticed at times that a certain area of your life is as if stagnant, or in a state of decay, decline.

‘Next Years Words Await Another Voice’- Welcome 2007

This picture has been created by Donna Sonnenberg aka North whose blog exemplifies what a wonderful artist she is.

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot

Its pages blank, lets go on to writing a life which has tried to rise above small things. If a war is to be waged, it should be against ones shortcomings. Peace be made with another’s frailities.The above is more of a re-affirmation. I am no good at making resolutions. It suggests as if the previous years have been devoid of any analytical and serious thinking. I’d rather look at the potential of the past years than its flaws. And of course to add