Although Ustad Sultan Khan was a renowned sarangi player, I was enchanted by his warm, gravelly voice, which I first heard in the film 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', as he and Shankar Mahadevan sang "Albela Saajan Aayo Re," a song based on Raga Ahir Bhairav.
He later accompanied the singer K.S. Chitra in the extremely successful album "Piya Basanti", and Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and K.S. Chitra in the 2006 release, Ustad and the Divas.
He passed away on the 27th November after a prolonged illness.
RIP, Ustad Saheb.
Your voice is truly unforgettable.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Morning meeting
Three women,
domestic workers
in crumpled, colourful cotton sarees
wrapped around their shoulders
against the early morning chill
in animated conversation
each holding on a leash
a pug, a Lhasa Apso and a Labrador.
The pug and the Apso look bored
and somewhat suspicious
while the Labrador wags his tail
and smiles a benevolent smile.
domestic workers
in crumpled, colourful cotton sarees
wrapped around their shoulders
against the early morning chill
in animated conversation
each holding on a leash
a pug, a Lhasa Apso and a Labrador.
The pug and the Apso look bored
and somewhat suspicious
while the Labrador wags his tail
and smiles a benevolent smile.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
After the break!
My travelling boots seem well and truly stuck onto my feet!
Sue and I spent a delightful weekend with Aneela and her family in Dhaka, and were heartbroken when we left the adorable Arhaan in tears at the airport. He insisted that I was Sue, much of the time!
Shortly after our return, I tagged along with the SRE to Singapore where he had a conference to attend, while I had a wonderful time with Moppet's Mom (whom I'm trying to convince to blog again) and the delightful Moppet and Munch, whom I last saw in 2008, when young Munch was a babe in arms. This lazy blogger will now post a few photographs of Singapore, just to tell you that I'm back, and will try and write again when I have the house a lot more organized than it is now.
The Cavenagh Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Singapore. Now used as a convenient foot bridge between the Museum of Asian Civilisations and The Fullerton Hotel.
The Christmas lights are already up on Orchard Road!
Another bridge, as viewed from the one in the first photograph.
This beautiful elephant stood majestically in the lobby of the Asian Civilisations Museum, which was absolutely wonderful to visit. (Thanks for the great suggestions, Moppet's Mom).
It is part of the wonderful Elephant Parade, which is trying to to attract public awareness and support for Asian elephant conservation. We saw many beautiful and colourful elephants all across Orchard Road and other places too.
More when I'm better organised, folks. Now to get back to clearing up stuff!
Sue and I spent a delightful weekend with Aneela and her family in Dhaka, and were heartbroken when we left the adorable Arhaan in tears at the airport. He insisted that I was Sue, much of the time!
Shortly after our return, I tagged along with the SRE to Singapore where he had a conference to attend, while I had a wonderful time with Moppet's Mom (whom I'm trying to convince to blog again) and the delightful Moppet and Munch, whom I last saw in 2008, when young Munch was a babe in arms. This lazy blogger will now post a few photographs of Singapore, just to tell you that I'm back, and will try and write again when I have the house a lot more organized than it is now.
The Cavenagh Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Singapore. Now used as a convenient foot bridge between the Museum of Asian Civilisations and The Fullerton Hotel.
The Christmas lights are already up on Orchard Road!
Another bridge, as viewed from the one in the first photograph.
This beautiful elephant stood majestically in the lobby of the Asian Civilisations Museum, which was absolutely wonderful to visit. (Thanks for the great suggestions, Moppet's Mom).It is part of the wonderful Elephant Parade, which is trying to to attract public awareness and support for Asian elephant conservation. We saw many beautiful and colourful elephants all across Orchard Road and other places too.
More when I'm better organised, folks. Now to get back to clearing up stuff!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wheeling around!
My friend Salil (of Saliloquy) has been a joy and an inspiration ever since I got to know him some years ago.
I am sharing, with his permission, a blog post of his that I love:
http://salilchaturvedi.blogspot.com/2011/10/silsilah-of-wheelchair-travels.html
Do read the article he has linked to, here, for a little piece of sheer joy:
You will love his wheelchair! I quote:
My wheelchair prefers the outdoors. Over the years, it has travelled down mountains, explored jungles, gone up a river by boat, watched sunsets on beaches, crisscrossed the Western Ghats, ferried across the Brahmaputra. It has also hopped onto airplanes, trains and jeeps, and once rolled itself all the way into the Ganga, my protests notwithstanding.
I am sharing, with his permission, a blog post of his that I love:
http://salilchaturvedi.blogspot.com/2011/10/silsilah-of-wheelchair-travels.html
Do read the article he has linked to, here, for a little piece of sheer joy:
You will love his wheelchair! I quote:
My wheelchair prefers the outdoors. Over the years, it has travelled down mountains, explored jungles, gone up a river by boat, watched sunsets on beaches, crisscrossed the Western Ghats, ferried across the Brahmaputra. It has also hopped onto airplanes, trains and jeeps, and once rolled itself all the way into the Ganga, my protests notwithstanding.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Passport Photograph
I rarely approve of any of my passport photographs. I usually look grim, or most unhappy, and I normally cringe when I look at them. On my recent visit to my Chacha's home, however, I found a copy of my very first passport photograph, taken when I was not yet two years old, which I am delighted to share with my readers. I had to be bribed with a five rupee note, which I am holding on to quite firmly, to have this photograph taken. Yes, I know I'm looking grim!
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