Tuesday 24 May 2022

Artists and celebs throng NGMA retrospective tribute to Rini Dhumal and her colourful canvas of life...





Every artist dips his brush into his soul, and then emerges a masterpiece. This seems to be so true for artist Rini Dhumal.   The Power of
Shakti: A Retrospective of Rini Dhumal  at the National Gallery of modern art speaks volumes for the artist and each of her works that reflect her strength and resilience  radiating in its  light. Rini Dhumal's powerful works have always brought out the extraordinary  strength in the ordinary  Indian woman. Her works of art were strongly rooted in Indian culture at the same time, effortlessly embraced
the influences of her foreign travels and their influence.
Her studio situated on the first floor of her residence was recreated at NGMA besides the powerful
ambience for the works, thanks to the efforts of  Adwaita Charan Garanayak, Director General, NGMA who has also curated the   exhibition.
Rini Dhumal's retrospective -- Shakti is on view from Saturday, 21st May, 2022 onwards.
The preview of the exhibition was graced by Brinda Miller, Nisha Jamwwal, Sudarshan Shetty, Pheroza Godrej, Vilas Shinde, Director General NGMA, Adwait Gadanayak, PD Dhumal, Radhika Dhumal, Shashi Bansal, Kalpana Gandhi, Vinod Sharma, Madhu Sharma, Sanjana Shelat, Jayanti Rabadia, Madhusudan, Jain Kamal, Kuldeep Koregaonkar among others.
The exhibition
is on view from Saturday, 21st May, 2022 onwards.

Shakti was scheduled to open in December, 2020, but the COVID -19 pandemic wreaked havoc and
thus, the show was postponed by a year. Unfortunately, Rini Dhumal passes away
rather unexpectedly in September, 2021. Hence the retrospective.

Saturday 14 May 2022

Kavya Jones takes a soulful leap of faith, and soars with Tu Hai Mera

Legendary Leslee Lewis and his precocious singer Kavya Jones joined hands once again with Kavya

Jones' singles Tu Hai Mera. The song video was shot at Monochrome Studios, Mumbai. Kavya, a true protege of Leslee Lewis rocked the day effortlessly transitioning from singing style to another, transversing a gamut of emotions.
Says Leslee Lewis. "I composed this song keeping Kavya Jones' personality in mind. She is immensely dedicated and that is a rarity today. In the last four years that she has assisted me, I understand her colours. This song is  reflecting her true persona of scarlet and black. And adds to it diverse colours that are as vibrant as her. A bit of blue, green and yellow!"
Adds Kavya, "I love the song.i
 It is hi energy yet melodious. It is funky yet so romantic. The woman in the song is a woman of today not afraid of express herself. I see myself in her. She demands yet she dreams, she is aggressive yet she pleads... This song is as crazy as me. I am blessed to have a Guru like Leslee Lewis who has taught me everything I know. I have been observing him for four years and learning -- sometimes I am just a fly on the wall quietly watching the goings-on. Even that is amazingly insightful. I am giving my best to the song to live up to at least one per cent of Leslee Sir's expectations. And I hope the audience loves it."
Tu Hai Mera, composed and produced by Leslee Lewis and set to vocals by Kavya Jones is expected to release on May 18.


Friday 6 May 2022

Ustad Amjad Khan Sahab's morning Raga resonate The Royal Opera House! Gulzar Sahab regales audiences with his anecdotes of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Sahab. Morning Raaga celebrates heritage conservation oj Sarod Ghar


 The morning of Sunday, 1st May  became more memorable to Mumbaiites when two maestros met on stage.  Weare speaking  of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Gulzar Sahab.  Yes, India's legendary Sarod maestro and Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Sahab's





'Morning Raga'  concert at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai on Sunday, May 1 was housefull with citizens thronging fir an amazing musical experience.   Gulzar Sahab who has also made a one-hour documentary film on Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Sahab and the Sarod Ghar added to the divine ambience with his words.  One of the most prominent cultural heritage landmarks in Gwalior - Sarod Ghar, a museum of musical heritage, considered to be the oldest institution documenting the evolution of East Indian classical music and instruments. Heritage is in itself a manifestation of culture and inheritance evolving with time. It is a source of identity and a receptor of value attributed to it by communities, institutions and people, mediating the resources of the past to the present.
Avid Learning in association with Sarod Ghar-Museum of Musical Heritage, Furtados and Royal Opera House, presented the    concert that celebrates the journey of a unique cultural institution that was once the the family’s ancestral home and today, aims to celebrate our musical legacy and  culture for the younger generation who are the future stakeholders of the arts.
The event was attended by the Bangash family comprising of Subhalakshmi Khan, Neema and Ayaan Ali Bangash,  and grandchildren Abeer and Zohaan Ali Bangash besides Roopkumar Rathod and Reewa Rathod, Shweta Basu Prasad, Romesh Sharma among others