Music and arts across South Asia
Bollywood singer Rekha Bharadwaj to perform in Lahore in March
The two-time Filmfare Award winner has collaborated with music composer Shani Arshad on a soundtrack of the romantic-drama Bin Roye.
Pakistani classical dancer fights for art and social justice through her performing art
In her video, Pakistani Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer Sheema Kermani explains how dance for a woman is a freeing experience. "For me, there is a direct relationship between dance and liberation. When a woman stands on stage to dance what she's saying is: 'Here I am, I'm not ashamed of my body, I am confident and I do not fear...
Hindustani music guru Annapoorna Devi passes away at 91
Sarod players Aashish Khan, Amit Bhattacharya, Bahadur Khan, Basant Kabra and flute player Hariprasad Chaurasia were all students of Annapoorna Devi who co-founded the Maihar Gharana of Hindustani music with her father and Sarod maestro Ustad Allauddin Khan.
Puppetry has long been a medium of entertainment and devotion in South Asia
Puppets are a part of popular culture and entertainment across the world, especially in the South Asian region. They reflect the cultural heritage of their region, its mythology, music, beliefs, rites and rituals. Puppetry has been around since ancient times, writes cultural anthropologist Dr. Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai in newsin.asia
Five women who pioneered writing in English in South Asia
Cultural and Visual anthropologist and South Asian expert Dr.Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai writes on five women from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan who had pioneered writing in the English language in the South Asian region.
When All India Radio banned film music from its broadcasts
It was in 1952 that the Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) of newly independent India, B.V. Keskar, decided that All India Radio (AIR)—the information and entertainment lifeline of the nation—would not air film songs as they were degenerate and far too “Westernized”. He believed they would hinder the cultural growth of a young nation on the cusp of a...
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Atif Aslam sing in “Namaste England”
Pakistani singers Rahet Fateh Ali Khan and Atif Aslam are favourites across the border and it comes as no surprise that the two were roped in to lend vocals to Namaste England's songs. "Atif was always my first choice for 'Tere Liye'. I adore his voice and he’s sung a quintessential romantic song. Javed sahab has written a wonderful song and it’s one...
Penguin Random House India to bring out Fatima Bhutto’s “The Runaways” in October
Fatima Bhutto’s new book The Runaways is set to be released this year in October. The Runaways follow her best-selling debut book Songs of Blood and Sword and The Shadow of the Crescent Moon.Penguin Random House India will be releasing the book and termed it as an 'explosive new work of fiction'.
Wooden dolls of Sri Lanka from ancient to modern times
By Dr.Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai A cherished exhibit on shelves in gift shops in Sri Lanka is the country’s indigenous wooden doll. There are made of single scraps of wood with the limbs painted on the torso. The head is moulded into a smooth round top on which the details of the face, the head-gear, hair, beard and moustache and bun...
Sri Lanka’s colorful “bulath bags” have a long history going back to ancient times
By Dr.Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai Chewing “bulath” or betel leaves is an ancient tradition across South and South-east Asia and also some parts of the Pacific. And with the practice of chewing betel leaves came the designing of betel containers or bulath bags. Over time, from ancient times, the use of betel leaves became ritualized. It got incorporated into religious systems....
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