Arts/Books

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - A book that explores the power of love, friendship, family, and the elusive idea of home, and compels us to revisit our own ideas of truth, the self and reality "All Stray Dogs Go to Heaven"

You can listen to these on Audible to help you fall asleep. So, turn off the lights, wrap yourself in your beloved blankets, and allow these soothing voices to lull you to sleep: Deep Sleep Every Night This high-quality hypnosis audiobook has

India-West News Desk ANN ARBOR, MI - The treatment of widows in India has been discussed and criticized widely. In 2021, “SheThePeople,” a digital website devoted to the women’s movement in India, published “Seven Inhuman Customs That Make the Lives of Indian

By NAYANAA KANODIA I take in the full range of our world with receptive thought, comprehension, and a lighthearted approach to my keen impressions. I visualize the point where the abilities of imagination and foresight collide with thinking delusions. My vibrant

NEW DELHI, (IANS) -. How does one explain the fascination of Indians for dals? Is there a common strain in the dals across the country? "Dals are a diverse and versatile ingredient that can be found in different cuisines around the

By Vikas Datta MUMBAI - Literary traditions need to evolve to remain relevant, and the onus is on its paladins to ensure that they move in step with social norms and particularly, don't miss out on technological advances. In Urdu poetry, this

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Patrick French, the biographer of Sir Vidia Naipaul and Francis Younghusband, and Dean of the School of Art and Sciences at Ahmedabad University, passed away on March 15 in London, leaving behind his wife Meru Gokhale

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Booknerds, a literary startup based out of Dehradun, has brought its podcast from online to in-person and shot its first season of sit-down conversations with authors, editors, and publishers. Packed with information for every kind of reader,it

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - For artist Jagannath Panda, spontaneity has always been of paramount importance in his work. Believing it to be a means to discover one's unknown spaces, he adds, "It is between restrain and spontaneity that a lot

By Vikas Datta The decision to replace several words, chiefly related to characters' appearances or attributes, in some Roald Dahl books, sparked off a spirited debate, with many stridently opposing the measure as "political correctness" while many others welcomed it for

By Vikas Datta Romantic and revolutionary may seem polar opposites, but this Urdu poet achieved a unique balance between them. Faiz Ahmed 'Faiz', who was born in 1911, was not the first revolutionary-romantic poet but the latest in an illustrious line that

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - In honor of International Women's Day, we look at Indian writers of children's books who make the case for inclusion. MUKAND AND RIAZ Written by: Nina Sabnani Ages: 5-10 years Set in the days of turmoil, leading to the partition

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Celebrated designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla's ‘The Glory of Giddha,’ a short film by the duo, features Noor Zora, the first-ever male performer of the traditionally female folk dance, giddha. Khosla, who is a native

BHOPAL, (IANS) - Indian Administrative Service officer Niyaz Ahmad Khan, who is posted as deputy secretary in the public works department of the Madhya Pradesh government, and often makes headlines on subjects beyond the ambit of his position, has once

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Growing up in the vibrant surroundings of Central Delhi's Karol Bagh, Anupama Mohan began writing at the age of nine -- "at least, that's how far back my memory of something tangible -- a diary, a

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - India is rising again today at the forefront of a new global spiritual civilization with a cosmic vision, says an extensively researched book that provides a fresh perspective on how Indian civilization was impacted by the

By VIKAS DATTA MUMBAI - Whenever lyricists of Bollywood or Lollywood seemed stuck for the beginning of a song, they could always turn to Mir. One of his most famous ghazals "Patta patta boota boota haal hamare jaane hain" was used

LUCKNOW, (IANS) - Lucknow's 153-year-old Amir-ud-Daula library has been fully digitalized. More than 80,000 digitized books and 27,000 e-magazines are now available free on the library's website and the content is also available on a mobile app Lucknow Digital Library. The transformation

India-West Staff Reporter NEW ORLEANS, LA - The American Library Association has awarded a 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor to ‘Owl and Penguin,’ a children's book by Indian-American author-illustrator Vikram Madan, published by Holiday House. The Geisel Award and Honors are given

MUMBAI, (IANS) – TV actress Neeharika Roy said it was a challenge for her to learn the divine dance form, Tandava along with her co-actor Sambhabana Mohanty in a span of 4 hours. She said: "Although I love dancing, I got

LOS ANGELES, CA (IANS) - Editors at Penguin's children's imprint Puffin have taken a red pencil to the works of iconic, but divisive British writer Roald Dahl, known for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda.” In the 1964 novel "Charlie

MUMBAI, (IANS) - World-renowned danseuse and Mohiniattam exponent Kanak Y. Rele passed away in a private hospital following a brief illness here on February 22 morning, family sources said. She was 85 and is survived by her husband Yatindra Rele, son

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Acclaimed lyricist, screenwriter, and poet Javed Akhtar's comments in Pakistan on 26/11 terrorists "roaming free" in the country and the bitterness in the hearts of Indians have drawn huge applause in India. Akhtar was last week welcomed

Los Angeles, (IANS) Jay Shetty, UK-born Indian bestselling author Think Like A Monk, podcast host, social media sensation, life coach and former Hare Krishna monk, is expanding his media footprint by now opening a talent agency, ‘Diversity’, exclusive discovery. Shetty, whose

BY ANJALI KOCHHAR New Delhi, (IANS) Upon hearing the term "Chai," what immediately comes to mind? What are the large, little stories that accompany chai? Chai has played a big part in bringing people together from the beginning of civilization. A

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Lyrical, and with a certain delicacy, Janice Pariat's latest 'Everything the Light Touches' carries multiple narratives, with diverse tales of four people, whose lives may not touch, but tales seldom lose connection with each other. In contemporary

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Bollywood actress Richa Chadha, who began to pursue Kathak for the web series 'Heeramandi' directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will continue learning the dance form. The actress was formally trained in the classical dance form of Kathak as

PATNA, (IANS) - During every election, leaders of various political parties promise the rejuvenation of industries, handicrafts, and farming in Bihar but they hardly even think of it post-election. One of the famous handicrafts is Bihar's Madhubani or Mithila paintings which

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Did you know that eggs can be pickled, and so can salmon, cucumber, okra (bhindi), tomatoes, brinjal and oranges - to name just a few? Prominent restauranter, author and columnist Monish Gujral, in his new book, 'On

AHMEDABAD, (IANS) - Balakrishna Vithaldas Doshi, who was the first Indian to bag the Pritzker Prize, considered architecture's highest honor, has passed away leaving behind irreplaceable void in architecture industry. Born on August 26, 1927, in Pune, Doshi, who right from

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - His first book, "Anatomy of Froth" was an investigative work with some analysis of the root causes of the global financial crisis. While it had recommendations, its primary focus was to contextualize what caused the crisis. His

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - 'The Nitopadesha', a unique blend of fables and stories that covers politics, economics, and philosophy published by Penguin Random House India, has been translated by Nitin Pai, co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution, an independent

JAIPUR, (IANS) - While he had no plans to write a biography, thinking it was too early for him to do that, the fact that he never had a 'reference point' when it came to being "gay and proud" while

JAIPUR, (IANS) - Well-known educator, author, philanthropist and chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murty was in Jaipur on January 19 where she shared the secrets of how she became a storyteller and a writer. At an event titled 'In Conversation

Rujuta Diwekar's audiobook, "Eating in the Age of Dieting," is available on Audible.in.  She loads it with tips to help comprehend the significance of seasonal eating, its health benefits, and how to enjoy the harvest season in the right spirit

By Manya Roongta 2023 has arrived, and with it, a new year of artwork and creativity is all set to be unleashed. So, what will the most popular trends be in 2023? What fascinating new developments will captivate the art world? The

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Stressing that it is the job of the historian to take note of new research, historian and author William Dalrymple says there is nothing wrong with re-examining history considering new evidence. "It is a good thing that

KOLKATA, (IANS) - Filmmaker Onir Dhar, a powerful voice for LGBTQ rights in India, said on January 15 that he was refused entry to the Bhopal Literature Festival on January 13 just because he is gay. "I deliberately chose the word

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - A painter, poet, filmmaker, and fashion designer

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - We may learn so much through books, and they can also widen our horizons and introduce us to new ideas. They have a method of evoking empathy in readers by allowing them to empathize with characters

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - "Victory City" is the epic tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries - from the transcendent imagination of Booker Prize-winning, internationally bestselling author

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - She says one can approach dance through various windows -- hers is music. That her body will move only with music. "I was amazed when Merce Cunningham, a renowned American choreographer said that in his process,

"Lifestyle is an all-encompassing term that has the power to transform your life within weeks," says Khushboo Jain Tibrewala, the author of 'Everyday recipes for Diabetes.' In the author’s words: If you see each of the recipes, you'll notice that most of

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - As a child, Kanav Agnihotri, who had a penchant for inventing fictional characters, was always attracted to the magical world of nature, and strongly believed if you take care of nature, nature will take care of

Art therapy is a new therapy that has been reasonably accessible. Logic and creativity are the two sides of our brain. Numerous artistic mediums stimulate our creative side, encouraging us to actively solve problems and manifest our ideas. Our daily

By ASHMITA BADONI January 3 marks the birth anniversary of one of the world's greatest teachers, Savitribai Phule. Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta is set to release Savitribai's first biography, titled 'Savitri and Fatima', with a focus on her friendship with Fatima Shaikh. The

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - "My plans for the future are always nebulous. I seldom pre-plan, letting the new body of work evolve slowly according to new inspirations," artist Anjolie Ela Menon said, even as her latest solo exhibition 'Nostalgia' is

The only way to find calm and comfort in today's highly uncertain world is via books. Since entrepreneurship has been a hot topic in recent years, several business titans have documented their entrepreneurial journey. The top 5 business books you

By SANJAY BORKAR PANAJI, (IANS) - If writers write to please the dispensation and become cheerleaders, then it would be harmful to society, said Jnanpith awardee Damodar Mauzo, also known for championing the cause of freedom of expression. "We need to respect

KOCHI, (IANS) - Vasudevan Akkitham had no choice left but to restrict his artistic thoughts to the four walls of his house when everything was forced to shut down to curtail the fast-spreading Covid-19. He sat down at his dining table

For too long, therapy has been seen as taboo in our society and is shrouded in myth--it's only for the weak or 'crazies', it's just blaming your parents, a therapist 'only listens', and so on. In this book, ‘And How

AGRA, (IANS) - The 225th birth anniversary of Mirza Ghalib, the doyen of Urdu poetry, was a forgotten event in the Taj city, his birthplace, though a ritualistic 'mushaira' was held at a local hotel. The lovers of Urdu poetry lamented

Rethink Ageing: By Reshmi Chakraborty & Nidhi Chawla Veena Iyer, aged sixty-six, got a degree in dance movement therapy. She is training to upgrade her skill and now runs various workshops. B.R. Janardan, aged eighty-seven, started running after sixty and has competed

Is there anything more traditional for the holiday season than cuddling up with a good book?  Here’s a selection of novels from time-honored classics to intriguing mysteries to Christmas tales for kids. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 'Little Women' is a

MUMBAI, (IANS) - World football champion Lionel Messi got clicked by celebrity Indian photographer Rohan Shrestha for his #WhiteTSeries. Sharing more about this dream shoot, Shrestha said: "For those who know me would know I'm a big fan of Lionel Messi

NEW YORK, NY – (IANS) After half a century of travel, from Ethiopia to Tibet, from Belfast to Jerusalem, Pico Iyer asks himself what kind of paradise can ever be found in a world of unceasing conflict. In a spectacular journey,

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - He goes back to the days when legendary theatre music composer B.V. Karanth joined the Bharat Bhavan in the mid-1980s and started the Rangmandal Repertory in Bhopal's Bharat Bhavan. Karanth, who could not imagine a theatre

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - She says a novel has several starting points, and for a long time she was interested in the idea of childhood friendships and how they are so different. "In 2016, in America there was Trump and

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Katha-Vachan-Gayan (storytelling-reading-singing) is a legendary and rare art form that stretches back to mythology and legends. Only a few people in India present storytelling through songs. One of them is Ajay Kumar, a trained artiste from the

KOLKATA, (IANS) - Pulitzer Prize-winning iconic writer Alice Walker will attend Kolkata's iconic literary festival, Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKTF) next month from January 12 to 15. This will be the 14th edition of the festival. This time the festival will be

The announcement of our engagement on October 2, 1966, reverberated with sensational and joyous tidings all over the country. It was an indescribable experience. The media was splashing the news all over and the radio stations kept on announcing the event

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY - Indian American Nihar Malaviya who is now the president and chief operating officer of Penguin Random House’s American division, has been named interim chief executive officer of the company. The publishing house said Malaviya

RANCHI, (IANS) - Jacinta Kerketta, a poet, writer, and freelance journalist in Jharkhand, has been named in Forbes' list of 'Self-Made Women.' Kerketta, who belongs to the Oraon tribe, hails from a village near Khudpos in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. For

DOHA, (IANS) - Actor Amitabh Bachchan's portrait features prominently among a host of luminaries on the world's largest-ever canvas painting, which is bidding to get into the Guinness book of records. Besides Bachchan, portraits of a host of worldwide personalities drawn

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - French author Dominique Lapierre (91), who had a special bond with India and was known for his iconic book on Kolkata, 'City of Joy', has died due to age-related ailments. Lapierre's wife Dominique Conchon-Lapierre confirmed the news

BENGALURU, (IANS) - While the history of Indian art stretches back to the ancient era, the first shift towards progression in India's visual history was witnessed during the latter half of the 19th century with the introduction of Company Style

KOCHI, (IANS) - A book 'Waves of Art', which is a part of an artistic campaign launched by the Bay of Bengal Program (BOBP), reveals the work of 52 artists from four countries. Artists, who have taken part in this

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Even 154 years after his death, the legendary Urdu-Persian poet -- Mirza Beg Asadullah Khan, or just Mirza Ghalib -- often referred to as the 'emperor of romance', continues to live and thrive in public minds through

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Lyricist and writer Puneet Sharma, after penning songs for the recently released 'Doctor G', is now set for his next film 'Woh Ladki Hai Kahan', featuring Taapsee Pannu and Pratik Gandhi, with music composed by Amit Trivedi. Talking

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Viraj Khanna's artistic work is influenced by his keen awareness of his surroundings and the lasting imprint made by meaningful social contacts. He derives inspiration for this collection of figurative works from a variety of life

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Internet personality Uorfi Javed took on popular writer Chetan Bhagat because of a comment made by the latter in which he called her a "distraction" for boys. Although Bhagat later clarified that he'd been quoted out of

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Role model, icon, space scientist, missile man, bestselling author - but in the small exclusive world of New Delhi's power centers, all that can count for little with the bureaucrats who set the rules and the

PANAJI, (IANS) - Poet and lyricist Prasoon Joshi said that his upbringing and culture have had a deep impact on his writing, which makes him borrow most of the words and metaphors from regional languages and cultures. "Our upbringing and culture

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Veteran screenwriter K.V. Vijayendra Prasad, who has penned the scripts for epic films like 'Baahubali', 'RRR' and 'Magadheera', has said that he does not write stories but "steals" them. Vijayendra Prasad is also the father of director S.S.

SRINAGAR, (IANS) - Historically known as "Iran-e-Sagheer" (Small Iran), Kashmir has a glorious and yet forgotten history of being the center of Persian scholarship. During the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin known popularly as the 'Badshah’ Persian received a huge impetus. He

By POOJA BHAGWAT NEW DELHI - Calligraphy is often misconstrued as a fancy type of writing. While it is, I'd like you to know that it is not merely beautiful handwriting, it is more than that. To begin with, our fast-paced

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Gone are the days when witchcraft was considered evil. Rashme Oberoi, a Wiccan by belief and practice, has her most compelling book on Wicca titled, "Wicca a magical journey with spells and rituals". In the book, she

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - It may sound like fiction, and sometimes straight out of the theatre of the absurd, but once you read the whole tweet, well, it is surely reality at its most profound for author Vikram Seth. Seth's younger

MUMBAI - The concept of peace is central to all religions, and the Bible even quotes Jesus Christ as saying: "Blessed are the peacemakers

By TRIPURDAMAN SINGH And ADEEL HUSSAIN (From 'Nehru: The Debates that Defined India', HarperCollins) As Gandhi once described to the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, Jawaharlal Nehru\ had the capacity to argue for days together "with a passion that I [Gandhi] have no words

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Nritya Katha – ‘Dance stories for children,’ published by The National Book Trust of India has nine stories about nine different Indian dance forms. In each story, a child discovers a beautiful Indian classical dance form. This unique

DOHA, (IANS) - Mural and street artists from India and Pakistan breathed life into the walls of Al Mansoura Metro Station in Doha with their truck art for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this month in Qatar. Truck art

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - "They are not biased, their opinion is not based on who I am. Children can be the harshest critics and absolutely unprejudiced, precisely why writing for them is closest to my heart," writer, actor, filmmaker, and

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - Singapore-based Sikh researcher and documentary filmmaker Amardeep Singh has been honored with the 'The Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize' for the year 2022. Administered by Hofstra University here, the $50,000 prize, which is bestowed every two years,

RAIPUR, (ANI) - African origin Siddi tribe, who came to India 850 years ago, have asserted that their heart is Indian while their culture is African. Siddi folk artist leader Abdul said, "Culture could be African but our heart is Indian.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Spanning nearly four decades of his artistic oeuvre, renowned contemporary artist, Paresh Maity, is holding India's largest solo exhibition ever. It will be showcased in Delhi and around India with drawings, paintings, sculptures, installation and film. The

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Veteran bureaucrat Harsh Mahaan Cairae is an avid reader and a student of philosophy and religion. He has studied the scriptures of several religions, of which the Vedas have been of special interest. He says that

WASHINGTON, DC (IANS) - A US court has blocked a $2.2 billion merger between the world's largest book publisher Penguin Random House and its rival Simon & Schuster. In a brief order, US District Judge Florence Pan said the deal could

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - Indian American author Amitav Ghosh’s recent book is, 'The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis.' In it, he acquaints readers with Banda islands, a cluster of islands not even on many maps. He said:

BY SUKANT DEEPAK NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The idea of writing a book with Assam as the locale started soon after she moved from the state to Delhi, and that was when Debapriya Roy was in high school. "Because I experienced

KASAULI, (IANS) - Author Geetanjali Shree, recipient of the International Booker Prize for 'Tomb of Sand' says she did not really have any intentions of writing a novel about a 'major theme' (read Partition). "I always start with curiosity about a

MADRID, (IANS) - Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand after the attack he suffered while preparing to deliver a lecture in New York two months ago, his agent has confirmed. The 75-year-old author,

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Indian author Amish Tripathi, who is known for the 'Shiva Trilogy', has called India the only pre-bronze age culture that is still alive. The author will be seen in the upcoming episode of the hybrid series 'The

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The Indian art market is on course to have its best-performing year ever based on the first six months of FY23. Having a turnover of $75.8 million as of September 30, according to Indian Art Investor's

LONDON, (ANI) - Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka on October 18 won 2022 Booker Prize for his work of fiction, "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida." "We are delighted to announce that the WINNER of the #BookerPrize2022 is 'The Seven Moons

PUNE, (IANS) - The Pune-based Giripremi -- which created history when its 10 climbers unfurled the Indian flag on a single day in May 2019, on Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak -- has brought out the enthralling experience

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan, who is known for his Coke Studio track 'Chaudhary', has released his new album titled 'Desert Rose.' Featuring some of the most revered musicians in the independent space like Purbayan Chatterjee, Taufiq Qureshi,

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore recalled how the legendary singer Kishore Kumar sang the iconic 'Mere sapnon ki rani' from the 1969 hit movie 'Aradhana', on a singing reality show, and how she especially went to the studio

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Rapper Badshah, who separated from his wife Jasmine almost two years ago, is reportedly dating Punjabi actress Isha Rikhi, who has worked in films such as 'Nawaabzaade', 'What the Jatt' and 'Do Dooni Panj'. According to reports, the

By VIKAS DATTA Unlike Hollywood, where musicals are a separate genre, no Hindi film is complete without a full suite of songs -- and they are what keeps a film alive in the minds of the people long after it has

JODHPUR, (IANS) - She talks about exploring the layers of her roots, about how different elements of Khasi music offer an inexhaustible insight into diverse socio-cultural aspects of her people's lives. In almost the same breath, singer and music teacher

By SUSMITA DASGUPTA Stars have an innate age like the quizzes that keep appearing on gaming sites like what is your real age? Jaya Bhaduri is 'Guddi' at heart, a teenager who never quite grows up, Nirupa Roy has never been

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY – Indian American Sarah Thankam Mathews, has been named among the five National Book Award fiction finalists. The National Book Foundation said in a release that the winner will be announced on November 16. 'All This

LONDON, (IANS) - Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed earlier this year shortly before giving a lecture in the US, is among the favorites to win this year's Nobel prize for literature, according to bookmakers, a media report said. This year's prize

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Gandhiji was one of the subcontinent's most prominent and beloved public figures of all time. He was the man who united a nation, roused a million hearts, and spearheaded one of the greatest marches to freedom

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - India's proudest achievement has been its record as a liberal democracy and while the transition from colony to a functioning republic might not have been perfect, the best is yet to come if its billion-plus citizens

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Renowned Indian author Amish Tripathi, who is known for his 'Shiva' trilogy, is set to unravel the lesser-known stories revolving around the epic 'Ramayana' with the upcoming series 'Legends of the Ramayana with Amish'. The three-part series will

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Punjabi music star Mika Singh, who has belted out hits such as 'Mauja Hi Mauja', 'Dil Mein Baji Guitar' and 'Jugni, has bought a private island that comes with a lake, seven boats, and ten horses. But

MUMBAI, (IANS) - A newly constructed Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya has been opened on September 28, the late singer's 93rd birth anniversary. Lata Chowk has a 40-foot veena, a musical instrument associated with Goddess Saraswati, weighing 14 tons. Ram

KOLKATA (ANI) - One thing that mostly goes unnoticed during festivals is the role songs also play in the celebrations. Here are some Durga puja special tracks: 1. Dhaker tale komor dole Well, this one had to be on the top, considering

SRINAGAR, (IANS) - Lanes and bylanes of Kashmir valley, not long ago filled with smoke and sounds of battle, are now being stirred by lilting tunes and mellifluous voices drifting in from young men and women. Kashmir has a long tradition

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - It's been half a century for her as a dancer. A lifetime with an art form that has changed the way she observes, interacts, and engages with people, and the world around her. But Bharatanatyam dancer

NEW DELHI - A hundred and fifty years ago, Bhawal was a prosperous zamindari in the eastern part of undivided Bengal, in size and income next only to that owned by the Khwajas, the nawab family of Dacca. In the winter

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Punjabi rapper-composer-music producer-lyricist, Wazir Patar has released his latest Extended Play 'Keep It Gangsta'. He is the protege of the slain Punjabi music superstar Sidhu Moose Wala, who was gunned down by gangsters in Punjab. The EP which

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The Delhi High Court on September 20 restrained Sjoerd Marijne, former coach of Indian Women's hockey team, and HarperCollins Publishers India Private Limited from publishing any content on the medical condition of player Gurjit Kaur in

An online exhibition features strikingly vibrant paintings that focus on Kumbakonam, a temple capital, and an artist's other travel expeditions across India with its undocumented culture. Artflute, presents 'Country Beats', a curated collection of the most recent works by the

India-West Staff Reporter HOUSTON, TX – Indian American singer, composer, and writer Shahzeb Tejani has just released his single, ‘Tere Siva.’ Meant to be a homage to the golden era of music in India, it is every bit melodious. Tejani said, "I

NEW YORK, NY - Purbayan Chatterjee, sitar player and composer, is set to release a new album ‘Saath Saath’ with flautist and lifelong friend Rakesh Chaurasia, following the release of his stellar album ‘Unbounded – Abaad’, which featured legendary musicians

MUMBAI, (ANI) - As the festival of Navratri is just around the corner, Garba queen Falguni Pathak has recorded a new track titled 'Vasaladi'. For this Navratri, Pathak has teamed up with Shail Hada who composed and co-sung the track. Bhojak

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Creativity is being stifled and it takes courage to write about what's going on but "the troubles of the present time will inspire tremendous works of literature in the future," says novelist and publisher David Davidar

Comics originated in the US, and it, along with Japan and its manga, still holds the top position as far as their proliferation -- and its adaptation by other media -- goes. But let’s look at another tradition -- the

MUMBAI - Raj Kapoor's naive innocence, as seen in "Mera joota hai Japani" to "Sab kuch seekha hamne", Dilip Kumar's restrained sorrow in "Toote hue khwabon" or "Yeh mera diwanapan hai", Shammi Kapoor's exuberant ebullience in "Chahe koi mujhe jungli

MUMBAI, (IANS) - What used to be a mood elevator for the Kavadiyas in the holy month of Sawan has gone mainstream, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, making pop stars out of singers who were known only

By VEN PARAMESWARAN One of the major American economic engines, the American hospitality industry, generates $1.2 trillion in business sales, 3 million jobs, $395 billion in wages, and $659 billion in GDP. The Gujarati Patels, who have a dominant presence in

MUMBAI, (IANS) - His song 'Chaand Baaliyan' became a rage on Instagram, and Aditya A, who had crooned the number, is now fixated with a payal (an anklet). The singer released another track titled 'Right Wali Payal' on September 2. The

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Known for giving soulful hits such as 'O Sanam', 'Na Tum Jano Na Hum' and 'Gori Teri Aankhain' among many others, singer Lucky Ali feels he is "besura" (tone deaf) and that he just trusts the process

MUBMAI, (IANS) - 'Jeena Yahaan Marna Yahaan, Iske Siva Jana Kaha': Every Indian must have heard of this song and this blockbuster movie 'Mera Naam Joker'. But little did you know that the famous movie flopped when it was released

MUMBAI, (IANS) - The film was a dud, but the Badshah song, picturized on Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra, has garnered 1.2 billion (and counting!) YouTube views. And today, the world seems to be dancing to its perky rap tune. Be

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - As a two-year-old, he would fall asleep listening to Kishori Amonkar on the LP. Seeing this, his grandfather, the late Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande would smile that the child was bound to follow in his footsteps. Classical singer

By VIKAS DATTA Winning a Booker Prize for his very second book, "Midnight's Children" in 1981, Salman Rushdie, though, earned more attention, not to mention notoriety, with his fourth, "The Satanic Verses", which drew the undying ire of Islamists -- as

By VIKAS DATTA After an intense session between a music composer duo and a lyricist, the latter finally got up and said it was time for him to go. When Laxmikant-Pyarelal asked him when they would meet again, Anand Bakshi, to

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - This is a frank portrayal of the extraordinary life of acclaimed dancer, actor, and activist Mallika Sarabhai, very aptly titled 'In Free Fall: My Experiments with Living' (Speaking Tiger). She doesn't hold back in talking about her

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The book was in the making for around 10 years. He even wrote some passages way back in 2012. Author and former diplomat Navtej Sarna, whose latest novel 'Crimson Spring' (Aleph) tells the story of how

BY VIKAS DATTA "The whole Earth is the sepulchre of famous men

NEW DELHI, (ANI) - Bollywood songs are alwats played during any celebration in India. Here are some Janmashtami ones: 1. Go Govinda The fun-filled song from Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal's film 'OMG: Oh my God' featured Sonakshi Sinha and choreographer Prabhudeva.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Like other South Indian diaspora kids whose uprooted parents wanted them to retain something of their heritage, she may have started learning Carnatic music as a child. However, her teenage years meant that Susheela Raman could

HAMILTON, (IANS) - Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has said in his autobiography that he was "slapped" by one of the owners of the Rajasthan Royals franchise three or four times during the 2011 IPL season. In his new autobiography

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Mary Millben, a well-known singer, and media personality in the US became the first American artist to perform as an invited cultural ambassador at the Indiaspora Global Forum event commemorating India's 75th anniversary on August 15. Millben

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Even as images of author Salman Rushdie being stabbed multiple times on stage in New York by Hadi Matar, suspected of being sympathetic to Shia extremism, continues to haunt, another author Taslima Nasrin against whom several

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - While the role of women in the freedom struggle has been "highlighted to a very large extent" of late, a lot more needs to be done to "make their stories more enduring" as tokenism in the

This is the story of a pioneer path-creator for women. Muthulakshmi Reddy (1886-1968) was the first girl student in Maharaja's School for Boys in Pudukkottai, the first Indian woman surgeon from Madras Medical College, the first Indian member of the

By VIKAS DATTA Known primarily for his gifted, effortless, and vibrant singing, he was a complete entertainment package in Hindi films -- being also an accomplished actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter -- and both on and off screen, its biggest

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Actor Sanjeev Kumar's biography penned by Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta and Uday Jariwala, is throwing light on hitherto unknown facets of the late actor's life. An extract from 'Sanjeev Kumar- The Actor We All Loved', talks about his

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Sarod virtuosos Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash said their new album, "Sand and Foam", is inspired by the works of the renowned Lebanese American writer, poet, and visual artist, Kahlil Gibran. Amaan said, "As Gibran says,

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Cool as a cucumber. That's five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Cooped up in Germany due to the Coronavirus pandemic, he returned home via a Vande Bharat repatriation flight, coped with the loss of his father,

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - "The exercise was cathartic and as the rolls of paper, some joyous, some anguished scribbles piled into a mound, I was filled with contentment," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi in "Letters to Self", a collection of

LUCKNOW, (IANS) - Lata Chowk, dedicated to the late legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, will come up in Nayaghat on the Ayodhya bypass road. To be developed with a budget of Rs 10 to 12 crore, the design of the Chowk

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - In a short span of 12 years from the time he set foot in New York City on September 17, 1965 to his demise on November 14, 1977 in Vridanvan aged 81, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Global music festival Lollapalooza is finally happening in India and will be held in Mumbai in January 2023. The music festival will take place for two days from January 28 to 29. The inaugural Lollapalooza India will be

At a time when American comic book publishers like Marvel and DC have become household names due to the several IPs released by them, Amar Chitra Katha (ACK Comics), is a name that holds its own standing and has been

By VIKAS DATTA Few singers are so fated as a later rendition of the song that launched their career happens to be the last one of their lives. This Hindi film singer, whose smooth and sonorous voice rendered a gamut of

By SUKANT DEEPAK In 2014, when author Dan Brown was in Mumbai, writer Ashwin Sanghi took him to the 'Tower of Silence' at Malabar Hill. While they could not go near the 'dakhma', some priests were happy to show them the

By SUKANT DEEPAK She remembers being an introverted child -- always an observer. Looking at life a little differently. "It was more of registering things, being part of it, but always being the observer from within," actor and author Deepti Naval

By VIKAS DATTA What moves the heart more when listening to a song? Polish and perfection, or the raw emotion that the performer brings to its rendition? For those who prefer the second, there can be no better option than Geeta Dutt,

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Singer and 'Superstar Singer 2' judge Javed Ali on the reality show said he was reminded of how 'Kun Faya Kun' from Imtiaz Ali’s film was composed and recorded.   “When Rahman Sir called me for the song,

India-West Staff Reporter PASO ROBLES, CA - The much-awaited book of Bobby Singh Bansal, ‘The Punjab Chiefs - The Lost Glory of the Punjab Aristocracy in India and Pakistan’ was formally launched in the US on July 16, here.   The book provides an extensive

By SUKANT DEEPAK CHICAGO, IL - American author Wendy Doniger, an authority on Hinduism and a Sanskrit scholar who has to her credit, works on the subject, including 'The Hindus: An Alternate History', 'Hindu Myths', 'The Origins of Evil in Hindu

By VIMAL SINGH If there had been any doubts, none survived 2019. The stunning victory of the BJP led by Narendra Modi in 2014 was not a flash in the pan, and the renewed mandate was even stronger than before. The 'Modi

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Global music collective Berklee Indian Ensemble has released its debut album 'Shuruaat', marking their first decade together. Berklee Indian Ensemble is known for a cross pollination of genres, cultures, and multidisciplinary art forms. This will be the first

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Late actor Sanjeev Kumar's journey as an actor has inspired many to foray into acting, yet his story is not known to his countless fans who still remember the 'common man's superstar' from films such as 'Sholay',

By VISHNU MAKHIJANI Roopa Nabar remembers waking up to the smell of breakfast infused with the aroma of a wood fire at her "colossal" ancestral house in Prabhanvalli, in Maharashtra. "While on most days, it would be simple rice porridge or bhaatachi

By VISHNU MAKHIJANI NEW DELHI, (IANS) - There seems to be no end of skeletons tumbling out of ISRO's cupboard - which makes one wonder where India's space program would have reached by now had merit and not personal proclivities been

Actor and author Deepti Naval shares the "unforgettable childhood" she experienced in her book, 'A Country Called Childhood'. Talking about her childhood days, the author revealed, "it's a world where I lived in, I want to share that with the readers

Kailash Kher is known for his soulful music and super hit chartbuster tracks. On his birthday, a look at his hits: 1.    Teri Deewani It was part of his popular album 'Kailasa', which received a lot of appreciation from the fans and even

India-West Staff Reporter  SAN DIEGO, CA - ‘Lonesome Flight’ by Dipak K. Gupta is a novel set in India in the mid-1960s, one of the most turbulent times in modern history, when the world, in the midst of the Cold War and Vietnam, was

VARANASI, (IANS) - An application has been filed, seeking Geographical Indication (GI) certification tag for the shehnai, a musical instrument taken to its zenith by the renowned musician of Kashi, Ustad Bismillah Khan. The GI application was filed on July 5

By DR. GUNJAN SHRIVASTAVA For centuries artists have tried to imitate life through surrealistic representations of how they perceive the world. And in that endeavor have developed creations that have stood the test of time inspiring generations of creative minds to

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Here’s a guide to mastering one’s thoughts for self-discovery and for fulfilling the purpose of life, a true 'marg darshan' for this generation and the others to come Incredible as it may seem, the ingredients of a

By VISHNU MAKHIJANI Industry stalwarts such as Ramesh Sippy, Mahesh Bhatt, and Manmohan Shetty, who "firmly stood their ground and refused to be cowed", were the real heroes who took on the underworld, according to former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria,

Religion might well be the opiate of the masses in India, but maybe the plethora of desserts offered in the name of religion have a role to play in it, says chef, columnist, and food writer Rajyasree Sen, adding that

BY VINOD MIRANI June 21, the International Yoga Day, was also the World Music Day, a fact few would have been aware of. Music knows no language and, over the centuries, sounds from all over the world have gradually merged to create

By N. LOTHUNGBENI HUMTSOE Find a comfortable spot and begin reading: . 'Moth Smoke' by Mohsin Hamid: This is an intriguing modern take on the relationship between Emperor Aurangzeb and his brother Dara Shikoh set in modern-day Pakistan. It brings alive pages

BY VIKAS DATTA One morning, this Bollywood music composer was called up by none other than "Malika-e-Ghazal" Begum Akhtar, who was so taken by one of his compositions that she insisted on singing it fully to him -- over a long-distance

BY VIKAS DATTA Interested in music, a young Bengali completed his primary education with great difficulty and dropped out of college after Calcutta AIR took him on board as a singer. He spent most of his salary on getting a harmonium

BY BIJOYLAXMI HOTA For yoga therapy to be fully effective, the initial treatment should be done away from home in a yogashram. At home, it may not be possible to relax deeply, and tension slows down the healing. Also, at home,

BY QUAID NAJMI SOLAPUR, (IANS) - For this Solapur school dropout and self-trained artist, Shashikant Vaman Dhotre, his mother Ratan remains the center of his universe -- and the inspiration for his unique color photographic drawings on dark paper, which have

‘The Wait’ by Damodar Mauzo "Damodar Mauzo's stories present us with vivid glimpses of the richly diverse, cosmopolitan reality of contemporary Goa. In these perceptive, keenly observed stories Hindus, Catholics and Muslims all find ways to co-exist, in defiance of bigotry,"

BY VIKAS DATTA At the start of her singing career, she needed to stand on a stool to be able to reach the microphone but then she went on in her comparatively short career to become the last of Bollywood's three

BY VIKAS DATTA In his over three-decade-long career as a Bollywood director-producer, he had just half-a-dozen pictures to his credit, out of which two remained incomplete. Yet, "Mughal-e-Azam", finally completed and released in 1960 after what seemed like an interminable gestation

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The latest edition of Asta Guru's Modern Indian Art 'Collectors Choice' online auction, will take place on June 23-24, 2022, providing collectors with an exceptional opportunity to acquire masterpieces and rare compositions. While works by members

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Did Sidhu Moosewala get the feeling that his death was near? Did he hint as much to fans? Well, the lyrics of his last song, "The Last Ride", have set off a debate among netizens because

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - On one hand, his tabla has accompanied classical masters like Ajay Pohanka, Abhijit Pohankar and Ghazal maestros like Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali, while on the other, Amit Choubey is equally comfortable performing with the likes

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Pop icons Armaan Malik and Ed Sheeran have collaborated for a new version of '2Step', which dropped on June 7. The two hit machines bring their musical prowess and their style of rendition to the reimagined song. Armaan shares,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, (IANS) - Najiya Navas, a graduate from Thiruvananthapuram, has entered the India Book of Records by drawing pictures in the technique of Warli painting, an art form unique to the tribal community of North Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra. A Warli

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Santoor player, Pt. Bhajan Sopori, 73, passed away on June 2 in Gurugram of cancer. Recipient of the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Jammu and Kashmir State Lifetime Achievement Award, Sopori who hailed from Sopore in

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - HarperCollins on May 31 announced its acquisition of the eagerly awaited new book by India's bestselling author Amish Tripathi, 'War of Lanka', the fourth book in the Ram Chandra Series, the second fastest-selling book series in

NEW DELHI, (ANI) – The late singer and composer Krishnakumar Kunnath, known by his stage name KK, was gifted with a boisterous yet mellifluous voice that will be remembered by his fans for many decades to come. An auditory treat for

BY VIKAS DATTA Had he not been associated with Hindi films, lines like "Main akela hi chala tha jaanib-e-manzil magar/Log saath aate gaye aur karvan banta gaya" would have been enough for his fame. Majrooh Sultanpuri, however, dominated Bollywood for decades, writing

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - '1 Minute Music,' is Instagram's latest music property which is a collection of music tracks and videos that are only available on its platform and can be used on Reels and Stories. This includes music from

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The journey from an art enthusiast and appreciator to a collector requires study, patience, and perseverance. There are a few golden guiding rules one must follow to have a rewarding and gratifying art collection journey, says

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Celebrated choreographer Shiamak Davar, who was behind the dance performance of the Bollywood star Ranveer Singh at the IPL 2022 grand finale in Ahmedabad, says matching up to the energy of the actor wasn't easy. "Dance and cricket

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - It was in 1998, when his song 'Dooba Dooba' for the album 'Boondein', released by 'Silk Route' broke all records. And that was not the era when social media ruled. "Thanks to the Internet, things have

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - From poetry to humor, there's plenty to read by Indian authors and poets while lounging at home. Poetry Novel: The Penguin Book of Indian Poets by Jeet Thayil A performance poet and songwriter, Jeet Thayil has compiled this

Geetanjali Shree’s award winning work 'Ret Samadhi' has been translated into English by American Daisy Rockwell. NEW DELHI (IANS) - Not only has Delhi-based author Geetanjali Shree's 'Ret Samadhi', translated into English by American writer-translator Daisy Rockwell into 'Tomb of Sand' achieved a new milestone

TOKYO, (ANI) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 24 gifted a Sanjhi Art panel to US President Joe Biden during his meeting with him in Tokyo. Sanjhi Painting is art that originated out of the cult of Krishna and flourished

BY SUKANT DEEPAK Thomson Andrews, best known as a Contemporary, Pop, RnB and Soul singer, has sung the 'Money Heist' season 5 promo song, for films like 'Ludo', '83' and a Sanskrit song for the forthcoming 'Bramhastra.'  He feels that his

India-West Staff Reporter MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - American Book Award winner Author Chitra Divakaruni will be reading from her new historical novel, ‘The Last Queen,’ about the life of Maharani Jindan Kaur, at Books Inc, 317 Castro Street, here, on June 2

BY SUKANT DEEPAK NEW DELHI, (IANS) -When the pandemic caught everyone off guard, making the familiar strange and colors monochromatic, and inviting fear, panic, discrimination, and depression; dance, for Geeta Chandran became her co-traveler. "Its potential to create joy and provide emotional

BY VIKAS DATTA Several cultures postulate a cyclical construct of time, instead of linear. This may or may not be valid for history, but it manifests itself prominently in human culture. Literature, for one, given how motifs, plots, and expressions crop

AHMEDABAD, (IANS) - Gujarat has announced that it will turnVadnagar into a world-class heritage tourism destination. Vadnagar is also the native place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that Vadnagar is one of the oldest towns

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Interestingly, one of the most well-known rappers in the country, Dilin Nair aka Raftaar, who raps in Hindi, Punjabi and Haryanvi happens to be a Malayali. "Most people don't know this fact. After Malaika Arora Khan

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - A century-and-a-half after her birth, "The Lost Diary of Kastur, My Ba" (HarperCollins) by her great-grandson Tushar Gandhi finally presents Kasturba as her own person, a woman of substance. Rare photos of Kasturba and Mahatma Gandhi are