Sonia
Gandhi brushes aside critics to make her speech at the Oxford Centre
for Islamic Studies.
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Having discarded the AIADMK's Dravidian
roots, Jayalalithaa is out to overshadow the MGR legacy. India Today's Arun
Ram traces the path of her untiring ambition. Iconic
Change
INDIA
TODAY CONCLAVE
The
Conclave concludes on a high note. Al Gore, Stanley Fischer and other world
leaders listen and are heard. Catch up on the highlights. Take
me to Conclave now
CARE
TODAY
INDIA
TODAY HINDI
CURRENT
ISSUE DECEMBER 16, 2002
THE ARTS: MUSIC
Zila Khan
"Look for the heart and
soul, not for perfection."
By
Ishara Bhasi
Zila
Khan, daughter of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, boasts of an incomparable
lineage of seven generations of sitar and surbahar maestros. She bridges
the gap between instrumental music and its vocal form. Khan, who is releasing
her album, Zila (Art Karat Entertainment), next week, is being touted
as the next big talent to watch out for.
Q. You belong to a family
of sitarists so how did you take to singing?
A. Singing is my passion. I have learnt
from my father. And I don't want to make any statement with this album.
Don't look for perfection, look for the heart and soul.
Q. What inspired you to do the album?
A. My father, my husband Dr Khalid Anwar and my son Faizan. I have
tried to experiment with various forms-folk, Sufi kalam, khayal, nazm
and thumri.
Q. You've been accused of singing other forms
like ghazal ...
A. I am not a hypocrite. I do what pleases me.
Q. Do you plan to sing for films or do Indi-pop
numbers?
A. If I get offers, I would definitely. But I will be selective. Abba
always tells me to be true to the form, whether it is thumri, ghazal or
khayal.
ON
TRACK
NEW
ARRIVALS
After
George
BURI NAZAR
(Times Music; Rs 65)
This one is meant to
drive away evil. Dhrupad singer Uday Bhavalkar excels.
SWAR SHODH
(Vergin; Rs 75)
Archival tabla recording
of Ustad Nizamuddin Khan. Teentaal (16 beats) set to sarangi.
VALENTINE DAYS
(Crescendo; Rs 50)
Fun songs by Jayanta
Pathak. Brings back memories of school and college days.
—
Compiled by S. Sahaya Ranjit
For
those who can't forget George Harrison's 1970-chart topping album
All Things Must Pass there is cause for cheer. Harrison's last hurrah,
put together after his death by his son, Dhani, almost takes up
from there. Brainwashed (Dark Horse/ EMI Recorded House) has all
the gleanings of his spiritual quest that led him to virtually adopt
India and his musical contributions.
The album has 12 songs-11 are new compositions-with Harrison's vocals
and his trademark slide guitar. For those who swore by the Beatles,
it is time for nostalgia, especially since one of the other two
survivors of the quartet, Paul
McCartney, goes on with his US concert drawing rave reviews.
Everything about the album is reminiscent of Indian spiritual thought,
which Harrison believed was the mainstay to plod through the modern
cynical world. It begins with the cover, with the picture of a seven-headed
horse and "ohm" embossed on its side. Inside, "ohm"
is ubiquitous, embossed all over.
The title song concludes with Harrison reciting Hindu chants: Namah
Parvati pataye hare hare Mahadev ... Mahadev. Ironically, if there
is a jarring element in the album, this is it: Harrison struggling
to get through with his western accent. In some ways it showed the
human in the legend. As the part quoted from the Bhagvad-Gita reminds
us: "There never was a time when you or I did not exist. Nor
will there be any future when we shall cease to be."
Last Man Standing
CURRENT
ISSUE DECEMBER 16, 2002
For
those who can't forget George Harrison's 1970-chart topping album
All Things Must Pass there is cause for cheer. Harrison's last hurrah,
put together after his death by his son, Dhani, almost takes up
from there. Brainwashed (Dark Horse/ EMI Recorded House) has all
the gleanings of his spiritual quest that led him to virtually adopt
India and his musical contributions.
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