India Vs. Pakistan

More than just cricket...

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What Dreams?

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Where Three Dreams Cross: 150 Years of Photography from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is the current exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery . It claims to depict 150 years of photography from the subcontinent, of its people by its people. The exhibition is in most parts is not trying to show great photography but how photography has developed in the three countries. Walking through the gallery it made uncomfortable viewing. It felt like yet another exhibition displaying of the other . In this case, watching how the other uses the camera. Although, this show was curated by Asian artists it did not feel as though their talents shone. Most of the photographs looked like home albums that many of us Asians possess. There was nothing spectacular about them; what’s so fascinating about family albums of Southasian origin? So there were portraits of some political leaders like Jinnah, Nehru, Gandhi etc. There were also, some bollywood and lollywood posters and photograph...
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ye jo Jeff Buckley hai...

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Jeff Buckley's cover of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's - Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai from the album 'Live at Sin-é' The title song is a bit hard to translate but it's something on the lines of 'that ecstasy feeling' - terrible translation. I suggest you learn Urdu but for now here is a little breakdown: [Yeh Jo = that is, it is; Halka Halka = (very) light/little/slight; Saroor = exhilaration/ecstasy, Hai = is] Here is a link to the original by the ustaad : Link Below is an interview by the late great Jeff Buckley with the late great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for the Interview magazine (Jan 1996): Pakistani Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan drives people wild with his music, which is an unbelievable combination of rich, soaring, complex sounds including something that is hard to describe but reminds us of yodeling. His music has been featured on movie soundtracks and in concert halls around the world, and his ecstatic voice haunts all who hear i...
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State of Bollywood

I realise this isn't my usual topic but the last couple of weeks Bollywood films has been the topic of discussion between myself and my work colleague. How is it possible to sit through 3 hours of what appears to be a really badly told storyline trying to imitate Hollywood? I recently I watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Zindagi , like most Bollywood movies I found it unconvincing. The development of story and feelings of characters I found abrupt. The dillia wali girlfriend was an out of context in relation to the story in the film. Although the best thing about the movie has to be the soundtrack. Mein udna chahta hoon, dorna chahta hoo, girna chahta hoon could not buy it. The boy clearly does not take after his father... I miss the movies of 50s-70s, 80s was a fun era, 90s was dominated by cheese (still fun) but naugties lost it and is still losing it. Jo Jeetah Wohi Siqandar still remains one of my all time favourites. September will be time to bring arty southasian movies to my wor...
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