Juggy D rocks Delhiites

          New Delhi: Punjabi Bhangra is rocking the world. Various Punjabi artists hailing from abroad are set to carve a niche for themselves around the globe, but the first preference is always to their roots, India. Sporting a spiked hairstyle, decked in a t-shirt and jeans, the only thing that make this singer known as a Punjabi singer is the lyrics of his songs, which he renders before the crowd of the national capital. Juggy D, is one of the talented Punjabi singers, who after hitting the music Charts in the U.K, hopes to win the hearts of music lovers in India too. But, according to him music is just one of the ways through which Punjab is spreading its wings world over. "We have a certain look, there is a certain look about Punjabi everywhere in the world you go, you will find Punjabi now. I think music is one of the ways of saying that's what Punjabi's are all about," said Juggy. Born and bred in Southall, Juggy has been performing since the age of 14 when he won a talent competition judged by Punjabi superstar Channi from Allap. Winning the competition inspired Juggy to pursue his dream to become a successful British-born Punjabi singer.

           Juggy performed during frequent visits back at his parents' native place - India, during his late teens and began to establish himself as a genuine British-Born Asian vocal talent. Having heard his vocals, Rishi Rich asked Juggy to collaborate on the track "Nahin Jeenah" of Rishi's debut album "Simply Rich". The track was the number one in Bhangra charts for 6 weeks. In 2003, Juggy became part of the Rishi Rich Project - a music movement set up to showcase upcoming artists. The critically acclaimed debut single "Dance with you (nachna tere naal)" featuring Jay Sean was released on Virgin Records in Sept 2003. As the thaw in relations between India and Pakistan has made Indian artists hopeful of a closer cultural relation between both the countries, Juggy also hopes for stronger ties between both the countries. He believes that free flow of artists and music will strengthen the improving ties between both countries. "I have lots of Pakistani friends. Music is multi-cultural experience for everyone. We do not have problem with Pakistanis. Both the countries had some problems in the past but now they are getting together. In UK also, all Punjabis and Pakistanis have reduced all the differences," asserted Juggy D. Juggy D released his 1st solo album 'Juggy D' in August 2004, and set new records, being the first artist to have a fully-fledged punjabi album in the UK album charts. Currently Juggy D is working on his second album, as well as featuring on the albums of other two-Point-nine artists. Indeed Punjabi songs have come a long way. This track itself is a fine example of it. But till the time the lyrics are in Punjabi, nothing can stop the advent of the singers that are all set to make it big in India.
- April 14, 2005

Zubin Mehta orchestrates Mumbai

          Mumbai: The legendary Zubin Mehta enthralled the Mumbaiites in the first of the series of his three concerts at a city theatre. Zubin Mehta performed along with his 120-member Grammy Award winning orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino from Italy and legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and gave a rare and breathtaking performance. There will be several occasions over the next two days when the orchestra and the maestros will further enchant Mumbai with some breathtaking performance. Russian violinist Julian Rachlin is also scheduled to perform at the last concert on Sunday. All proceeds from the April 10 concert will go towards the Tsunami Relief Fund. Additional funds for the Tsunami Relief operations would be raised through a charity dinner being hosted by the Taj Mahal Hotel on the same day. As a special gesture for the city's budding musicians, a special concert by a section of the orchestra has been organized on Saturday. School children from Mumbai and Pune will attend the special concert.
- April 9, 2005

Nangiarkoothu: Polish dancer to revive dance

          Thiruvananthpuram: A Polish national has come ahead to revive the 2000-year-old dance, Nangiarkoothu. India has been rich in its culture and art forms. But the shine of different national assets in the form of dances is fading away, slowly. But, if a foreigner takes interest and comes to perform one of the oldest dance forms of the country, it is really something to be hopeful of the revival. For a surprise, Koryna Osuch, a Polish student took great pain to master Nangiarkoothu in its absolute form. Nangiarkoothu, is the oldest art form of Kerala and it is for the first time in history that a foreigner has performed Nangiarkoothu in front of audience. Various song and dance forms dating back to pre historic age are gradually dying as there are very few to people to pass on the art to the coming generation. Nangiarkoothu is a part of Koodiyattam, a form of highly structured Sanskrit theatre that is estimated to be about 2,000 years old. In fact, UNESCO declared koodiyattam a "masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity" last year. Koryna a drama and Sanskrit scholar who has translated "Natyasastra" into Polish, was inspired to take up the art form after watching Margi Sathi's perfomance.Koryna's mission is to make this art popular in her country where she feels very few people know about it. "My teacher Margi Sathi inspired me. She wanted me to perform. I liked the idea as I thought if I learn this I will be able to perform near the audience back home. The dance form is opposite to Kathakali, which is very famous there. Not too many people know about Kudiyattam. And my idea is that people should also know about Kudiayattam and Nangiarkoothu," said Koryna Osuch. Koryna Osuch's Nangiarkoothu debut at the Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan "koothambalam" in Thiruvananthapuram recently was a small but significant step towards her mission. Her performance included only " Nithykriya" the preliminary stage of the dance, which forms just a minuscule portion of a complete Nangiarkoothu perfomance that lasts 41 days. It took her over six months of dedicated training under Margi Sathi. "It is very tough for foreigners to learn Nangiarkoothu. Main problem is Language and they also have to know about the culture and history. But they have the dedication for the study. One cannot study Nangiarkoothu in six months. But they can learn the basics. This is the first time a foreigner is performing Nanigiarkoothu," said Margi Sathi, Koryna Osuch's Guru. What's remarkable about nangiarkoothu, a solo dance form, is that the performer is a woman. In nangiarkoothu, the dancer seldom speaks, the text being conveyed mainly through subtle facial expressions and hand gestures.
- April 8, 2005

Hansraj Hans given Bulleh Shah award

          Ludhiana: Sufi and pop singer Hansraj Hans has been presented the Bulleh Shah Award at a glittering function organised at Ramgaria Girls College Auditorium in Ludhiana. Hansraj Hans, who is based in Jalander, used the occasion to mesmerise his fans with his melodious voice. The Sufi music famous for its submission and surrender to the divine entity is loved by fans transcending religion. Hans is known for his soulful renditions of the sufiana kalam. "Sufi singing is like truth. Where all religions become silent, Sufism starts," said Hansraj Hans. Hundreds of years after being relegated to the background, the mystical sufi music of the 14th century is staging a resounding comback. A unique style of singing that transports listeners into spiritual ecstacy, it is acquiring a steady fan following much like the rock genre of sixties. "Even the young generation is liking sufi music. Now sufism has reached such that it has become galmorous," said Surjeet Patar, Head of Punjabi Sahitya Academy. Later Hansraj Hans regaled fans with some soul touching numbers which was relished by one and all.
- April 7, 2005

KL Saigal: Shovana Narayan's Kathak tribute

          New Delhi: The birth centenary of legendary singer KL Saigal was celebrated with Shovana Narayan woving her Kathak dance with the legendary works of Urdu poet Ghalib and the recorded voice of Saigal. The reverberation of Ghalib's poetry in the voice of Saigal and the moves of Shovana left the audience enchanted as her style of dance matched to the tunes. Shovana said the idea of choreographing the songs of Saigal's music on Ghalib's poetry came when she saw much similarities and parallelism of the philosophy of quest of inner peace between both the artists. "Saigal and Ghalib have expressed themselves so beautifully. The work of Ghalib vibrates even after more than 250 years and the vibrations are reaching out and catching you and you feel as if he was there just yesterday. I think they are still alive even today. You can relate to it at any moment of time," said Shovana. The audience including Pakistani High Commissioner also enjoyed the event to the fullest. "One is the ghazals of Ghalib, second are the songs of Saigal and the third, the dance of Shovana, it was wonderful; it was a perfect combination," said Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistan High Commissioner to India. "Shovana Narayan has tried to choreograph Ghazals of Saigal. Saigal was an immortal artist and has made the eight ghazals of Ghalib immortal. Shovana Narayan has today done outstanding choreography. It was a pleasure," said Saxena, an audience member. Shovana who has made a name for herself in Kathak relentlessly strives to give a new dimension to the traditional dance form. With her latest choreography, she has yet again given a new dimension to the Kathak. Shovana Narayan has acquired fame the world over as one of India's premier Kathak dancers. Performing extensively over the past three decades both as a soloist and as a lead dancer in her own choreographic works, Shovana has constantly displayed a penchant for extending the frontiers of her classical art by portraying innovative themes and participating in inter- disciplinary ventures with other dancers and musicians, without forsaking the purity of her own tradition. Shovana's journey in dance began at the early age of 4 and was shaped by renowned masters of the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas -- two of the major schools recognized within the genre of Kathak. She is one of the best-known alumni to emerge from the portals of New Delhi's Kathak Kendra, India's national institute for Kathak dance.
- April 5, 2005

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