India’s renowned National Award winning classical, semi-classical, and devotional and Marathi natya sangeet vocalist Mahesh Kale will soon hit the UK shores, Rahul Laud reports
Immensely popular for singing various genres including Marathi natya sangeet, Kale will perform in two UK cities to enthral his fans and larger audience. SMS Entertainment & Bright Stars Talent Hunt present singer Kale’s “Sur Niragas Ho – UK tour”.
Kale will be Live in Concert at the Hatch End High School, Headstone Ln in Harrow on Saturday, March 11, 2023 5:00 PM GMT followed the next day in the city of Manchester at the iconic Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Rd on Sunday, March 12, 2023 4:00 PM GMT.
According to Sameer Mukund Shirwadkar from SMS Entertainment, “Kale has evoked huge response among the Maharashtrian Indian diaspora in the UK. Apart from from the two cities of performances Kale’s fans will drive long distances as far as from Scotland to hear their favourite artiste.”
Kale’s over two hours each shows in the UK will include a broad mix of different musical genres. People’s favourite bhajans and natya sangeet will definitely by presented say the organisers.
Kale came to prominence after he won the 63rd National Film Award as the Best Playback Singer, for classical piece in the Marathi film Katyar Kaljat Ghusli based on a Marathi play with the same name.
He is a disciple of the late Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki popularly known as “Buwa” by his disciples, fans and music aficionados. Hailed from Goa, Abhisheki had a unique and distinct style of rendition that is imbibed by Kale.
Kale was ranked nineteenth in The Times of India’s Top 20 Most Desirable Men of Maharashtra in 2017. Kale holds a Bachelor in Electronics Engineering and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University,United States.
Kale is married to Purva Gujar-Kale and they reside in San Francisco Bay Area. Kale is a popular judge on Marathi musical reality TV show Sur Nava Dhyas Nava.
One of the immortal voices of the South Indian film industry, Vani Jayaram rendered songs in 19 languages.
Days after her fans celebrated the President conferring the Padma Bhushan on noted singer Vani Jayaram, she passed away at her home in Chennai.
She was 78 years old. The cause of her death is not yet known.
One of the immortal voices of the South Indian film industry, Vani Jayaram rendered songs in 19 languages. She was living at her Haddows Road home in Chennai. Her husband Jayaram passed away in 2018. Since then, she had been living alone.
Vani Jayaram won three National Awards and sang more than 10,000 songs in 19 languages, including in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Gujarati, Odia, Marathi, Haryanvi, Assamese, Tulu and Bengali. She had won state government awards from Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
Born at Kalaivani in Vellore to a traditional Tamil Iyengar family of classical musicians, Jayaram was initiated into the world of music by Ranga Ramanuja Iyengar and later, Kadalur Srinivasa Iyengar, T.R. Balasubramanian, and R.S. Mani.
She was employed at the State Bank of India and she quit the job after she started training for Hindustani music under Ustad Abdul Rahman Khan of the Patiala Gharana. Jayaram was regarded as one of the very few South Indian singers who had an in-depth knowledge in Hindustani classical music and was at ease in belting out Hindi, Gujarati and Haryanvi songs.
Her first music album was a duet with Kumar Gandharva composed by Vasant Desai.
A highly accomplished musician, Vani Jayaram was at ease with old music directors as well as the new generation. She was a favourite for both Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman.
“In my opinion, a festival like Serendipity is of great importance as it is interdisciplinary and boasts of great diversity. It would be wonderful to have more such platforms and spaces in the country,” she adds…writes Sukant Deepak
Registering her presence as a classical singer in the ’80s, Shubha Mudgal, who started experimenting with other forms including pop and fusion, in the ’90s surprised her listeners with ease with the way she negotiated the spectrum.
This Padma Shri awardee (year 2000), who is known to be constantly innovating and experimenting, however feels that every artist is driven by an urge to do the same and she is not alone or rare in that sense.
“I make my little efforts to experiment and also try and assess if they have worked for me or not. If I am convinced about something I attempt, I wait for an opportunity to share it with listeners. Once it is shared, there is a possibility that it may not receive a favorable response from some. This is something that every artiste has to be ready to face, and I too accept such challenges,” she tells.
Even as the threat of the new coronavirus variant peaks, she feels nothing has been done to help artists recover from the losses they faced during the last waves of the pandemic.
Campaign to support disaster-affected artistes.
“There does not seem to be any plan in place for the future either and artistes have been left to sink or swim. I believe that it is artistes themselves who need to ask for this lethargy and lack of empathy to come to an end. Sadly, they too do not think of themselves as a fraternity or community and are busy lobbying for concert opportunities, awards, and other benefits. Thus, this situation where arts does not get the attention it deserves is likely to continue,” she laments.
Attributing her success to the support she received from her parents and family, the singer remembers how they would constantly encourage her to engage with the arts and ensured abundant exposure to different art forms. “They made many sacrifices to enable me to learn music and pursue it as my life’s work, and were a constant support in the face of any challenge that came my way.”
The singer, who enthralled the audiences with her performance during ‘Dil ki Baatein’ curated by Aneesh Pradhan at the recently concluded Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, says that the challenge for her was to render love songs and love poems written by different poets, and interpret each in a nuanced way and with variety. Singing under the direction of the curator and the arranger Srijan Mahajan, the set included some songs written and composed by her as well.
“In my opinion, a festival like Serendipity is of great importance as it is interdisciplinary and boasts of great diversity. It would be wonderful to have more such platforms and spaces in the country,” she adds.
Someone who has been writing and speaking about musicians’ rights, anti-piracy, and insurance for musicians, says these issues are integral to the well-being and progress of artistes and to their livelihood. Even though Indian law is extremely artiste-friendly, she stresses that artists continue to be exploited and are not given their due. “Contracts and agreements that we are expected to sign are unfair and often strip us of even our moral and fundamental rights. I try and understand these problems and share my views with others by writing or speaking about them.”
Talk to her about her stand on contemporary social and political issues including CAA-NRC, and Mudgal, who performed at Shaheen Bagh during the protests, says that being a responsible citizen social and political realities, problems and conflicts are of interest to her. “I have voiced my opinions publicly, and as is often the case, have had to face abuse, trolling, and worse. I try and face the consequences to the best of my ability, independently and without trying to garner support for my actions or opinions from any quarter.”
With a robust concert schedule coming up in 2023 starting with a performance at the annual Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad in early January, she says, “Taking into account the threat of another wave, I hope we will all be safe and be able to travel and perform once again.”
Playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, passed away here late on Tuesday night. He was 53.
Playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, passed away here late on Tuesday night. He was 53…reports Asian Lite News
KK was in the city to perform at a function in Nazrul Manch organised by the Gurudas College.
It has been learnt that KK felt sick while he was performing.
After returning to his hotel, the singer complained of uneasiness following which he was rushed to a hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.
West Bengal Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Arup Biswas told mediapersons that the body has been sent for post-mortem.
“His family members have been informed. They are likely to reach Kolkata on Wednesday morning,” Biswas said.
He said KK came to Kolkata on Monday, and on the same day he performed at Nazrul Manch for a function organised by another city- based college.
Born on August 23, 1968, KK recorded songs in multiple languages including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, among others.
Several Kolkata-based singers have expressed their grief over the sudden demise of KK, who will be remembered for songs like ‘Pyaar Ke Pal’, ‘Yaaron’, ‘O Meri Jaan’, among many others.
Veteran singer-music director Bappi Lahiri — who wielded the baton at the age of 17 — passed away here in the early hours of Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News
He was 69 and breathed his last in the Criticare Hospital where he was admitted for certain post-Covid issues.
Born in West Bengal, Lahiri first composed music for a Bengali film ‘Daadu’ and launched his Bollywood career with a film, ‘Nanha Shikari’.
He shot to global fame with his chartbusting music for “Disco Dancer” and the song ‘Jimmy, Jimmy, Aaja, Aaja…”, and later the superhit music for “Zakhmee”, “Lahu Ke Do Rang”.
One of India’s most loved voices, Lata Mangeshkar was the recipient of three National Film Awards, seven Filmfare awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Bharat Ratna in 2001 and Officer of the Legion of Honour, reports Asian Lite News
Lata Mangeshkar, India’s most loved singer who had once moved Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to tears, leaves behind a teary-eyed nation of admirers who grew up listening to her immutable voice give wings to the words of poets and the screen careers of legions of heroines.
India’s Melody Queen, who also composed music for Marathi films and was a producer as well, and had the distinction of being conferred with the highest civilian honours of India and France, passed away on Sunday morning at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where she had been admitted because of Covid-related complications on January 11.
Lata Didi, as she was known among her family and followers, was 92 and is survived by her siblings — playback singer and composer Meena Khadilkar, popular singer and restaurateur Asha Bhosale, singer Usha Mangeshkar, and music director Hridayanath Mangeshkar.
She never married, but was close to the late Raj Singh Dungarpur, the aristocratic former cricketer and President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1996 to 1999.
One of India’s most loved voices, Lata Mangeshkar was the recipient of three National Film Awards, seven Filmfare awards, and of course, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. She was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2001, becoming the second singer after M.S. Subbulakshmi to be so honoured, and the French awarded her the Officer of the Legion of Honour.
In 1974, Lata Mangeshkar became the first Indian to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, London. She had indeed come a long, long way since the time when the first song that she recorded for a film — ‘Kiti Hasaal’ in 1942 — was dropped in the final cut.
Born in what was then the princely state of Indore on September 28, 1929, to the classical singer, Marathi theatre actor and writer of musical plays Deenanath Mangeshkar and his wife Shevanti (Shudhamati), Lata Mangeshkar was originally named Hema by her parents, but they later changed it to Lata after the character Latika from one of her father’s musical plays.
Lata Mangeshkar’s association with the performing arts began when she was five and started appearing in her father’s musical plays, and it continued even after her father’s premature death in 1942, thanks to his good friend, the actor and director Master Vinayak (Vinayak Damodar Karnataki), who took the family under his wings.
It was Master Vinayak who took Lata Mangeshkar to Mumbai, paved her way into the world of Marathi cinema, got her to take Hindustani classical music lessons from Ustad Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendi Bazaar Gharana, and introduced her to Vasant Desai, V. Shantaram’s favourite music composer.
But it was not until Master Vinayak’s death in 1948 that the struggling singer-actor found the person whom she considered to be her “godfather” — the music composer Ghulam Haider, who gave Lata Mangeshkar her first big break with the song ‘Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhora’ in the movie ‘Majboor’ (1948). It was her first big break.
Haider took his protege to Shashadhar Mukherjee, the Filmistan boss now better known as Kajol and Rani Mukherjee’s grandfather, for his film, ‘Shaheed’ (1948), but he turned her down because he found her voice to be “too thin”.
Lata Mangeshkar proved him oh-so wrong just a year later when her song ‘Aayega Aanewaala’, filmed on the gorgeous Madhubala in Kamal Amrohi’s debut directorial, ‘Mahal’ (1949), became an ageless hit.
And in one of life’s delicious ironies, Mukherjee’s grand-daughter lip-synced the ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ song, ‘Mere Khwabon Mein’, which was sung by none other than Lata Mangeshkar, as well as the other numbers picturised on her and Shah Rukh Khan.
Since ‘Mahal’, Lata Mangeshkar was courted by just about every music director of note — from Anil Biswas to S.D. Burman (and his son Rahul Dev, whose first and last song she sang), Naushad (who had asked her to sing like the then reigning nightingale, Noorjehan), Madan Mohan, Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal (for whom she’s said to have sung 700 songs in 35 years), and Kalyanji-Anandji.
And she worked with every contemporary composer of note — from Anand-Milind, sons of Chitragupt, with whom she had also worked, and Anu Malik, Sardar Malik’s son, to Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman. It is said she worked with music directors from 13 states in her star-studded career.
After Noorjehan moved to Pakistan, Lata Mangeshkar became the go-to playback singer for every film producer and music composer. She did not disappoint them.
Lata Mangeshkar lent her voice to an endless succession of chart-topping numbers in Hindi cinema, from ‘Allah Tero Naam’ and ‘Rangeela Re’ to the ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ title track, to ‘Lukka Chuppi’ in ‘Rang De Basanti’, apart from songs in Marathi (she also composed the music for several Marathi films in her ‘Anandghan’ avatar), Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Sinhala.
In 1974, the Guinness Book of Records listed Lata Mangeshkar as the most recorded artiste in human history, stating that she had recorded “not less than 25,000 solo, duet and chorus-backed songs in 20 Indian languages” between 1948 and 1974. The claim was contested by her long-time rival, Mohammad Rafi, who claimed to have sung around 28,000 songs.
After Rafi’s death, the Guinness Book in its 1984 edition listed Lata Mangeshkar in its entry for ‘Most Recordings’, but it also recorded Rafi’s claim. Later editions of the Guinness Book said Lata Mangeshkar had sung no less than 30,000 songs from 1948 to 1987.
For 73 years, from 1943 to 2015, when she recorded her last song for a film (the Indo-Norwegian production, ‘Dunno Y2…Life Is A Moment’, which was all about gay love), Lata Mangeshkar commanded a fan following and an inimitable reputation with not many parallels in the Indian performing arts.
The late Yash Chopra, who was one of Lata Mangeshkar’s favourite directors, said in an article he had penned for BBC.com on the occasion of the singer’s 75th birthday (not longer after she had sung the famous ‘Veer Zaara’ song, ‘Tere Liye Hum Hain Jiye’, with Roop Kumar Rathod): “I see God’s blessing in her voice.” We are blessed to have that voice live with us forever.
India is today mourning the death of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar who passed away at age 92 at a Mumbai hospital. Tributes have been pouring in from across the country and the world for the ‘Nightingale of India’. Meanwhile, in other news, a report has found China is using the “salami-slicing” technique at the border with India…writes Joyeeta Basu.
News in brief from South Asia
India
Lata Mangeshkar passes away: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away in Mumbai on Sunday morning. Mangeshkar, who was known as the ‘Nightingale of India,’ had tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms on January 8 and was undergoing treatment at a city hospital, reports News 18.
Lata Mangeshkar
China’s ‘salami-slicing’ technique to alter status-quo along border: China is using the “salami-slicing” technique to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, in which it tests the other claimants through aggressive actions, then back off when it meets significant resistance, reports AsianLite News.
Karnataka bans ‘clothes that disturb law’: Amid a spiralling controversy over Muslim women wearing hijabs to schools and colleges, and a march by Hindu students wearing saffron scarves, has prompted Karnataka to ban clothes “which disturb equality, integrity, and public order,” reports NDTV.
Assembly Elections 2022: The election frenzy has already kicked off with the polling process in five states just a few days away. Amid this, the Congress party is set to reveal its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Punjab polls today, reports DNA News.
U19 Cricket World Cup: Raj Bawa, Nishant Sindhu were hailed as stars as India registered a four-wicket victory over England in a thriller to win their fifth Under-19 World Cup title yesterday, reports the Hindustan Times.
Financial news
India turns down Tesla’s call for tax breaks: The Indian administration has encouraged Tesla to produce locally, while Musk wants India to lower taxes — as high as 100 per cent on imported EVs — to enable Tesla to first sell vehicles built elsewhere at competitive prices, reports Asian Lite News.
Pakistan
Pakistan, China to ink pacts worth $10-15 billion: Pakistan and China are set to sign different agreements worth $10-15 billion during the ongoing visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to China, reports AsianLite News.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Premier League trolled as player seen smoking: Afghanistan cricketer Mohammad Shahzad was caught smoking in the stadium during the 2022 Bangladesh Premier League. While he was slapped with one demerit point for his actions, the league was trolled on social media, reports MensXp.
Afghanistan
Six women activists still missing in Afghanistan: At least four women, who were organising and participating in civil protests in Afghanistan, have gone missing, as two more were allegedly abducted this week, reports Tolo News.
Sri Lanka
COVID-19 vaccination mandatory at public places: Sri Lanka has made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory to enter public places and use public transport, according to a gazette notification which is aimed at encouraging people to get the booster dose, reports the New Indian Express.
On a lighter note…
Karishma Tanna and Varun Bangera get married: With pre-wedding festivities over, Karishma Tanna and Varun Bangera got married in Mumbai on Saturday. Watch the pictures here.
A recent video of Kaartik Aaryan with a pup will win your heart: Recently a video shared by the actor Kartik Aaryan is sure to make you aww. In the video, Kaartik can be seen playing with a cute white pup as he captioned his post: “Love is a four-legged word ☁️🤍
@katoriaaryan 🐾.”
Kartik Aaaryan
Tributes pour in as legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passes away at 92: The nation today, mourned the death of Lata Mangeshkar who passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted: “The country’s pride and music world’s Shirmor Swar Kokila Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar ji’s demise is very sad. My heartfelt tribute to the holy soul. Her passing is an irreparable loss to the country,” reports Asian Lite News.
Just wanted to let you all know that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to leave a Comment on Everyone’s post and I DONT let my team reply on my behalf coz that would be cheating,” the singer added…reports Asian Lite News.
Singer Neha Kakkar and her marriage with Rohanpreet Singh were widely celebrated by Bollywood and social media. Neha on Monday thanked family, friends, and fans for wishing her on her birthday, which she celebrated on June 6. She was particularly grateful to her husband Rohanpreet Singh for giving her the special gift called life.
“My 1st Birthday after getting Married to My Prince Charming @rohanpreetsingh I can’t tell you all whaaaaat he’s given to me. Rohu ne Mujhe LIFE di hai.. Life.. Zindagi It was Indeed My Besttttest Birthday EVER!!!!! Thank you almighty God!” she wrote on Instagram.
“And now about the people who’ve invested their precious time in creating Posts for Me. My Friends, My Family, My Wellwishers and Specially My Everything…MY #NeHearts. Just wanted to let you all know that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to leave a Comment on Everyone’s post and I DONT let my team reply on my behalf coz that would be cheating,” the singer added.
Neha also explained why she had kept her phone switched off on her birthday. “Also people who tried calling, I had switched my Phone Off since everybody was calling But You Must know that I’ve been seeing all My Birthday Posts, Messages and I have No words how much love you all shower on Me. Thank you bahut chota word hai aapke Pyar Ke liye. But since that’s the only word to express our Gratitude, I Must Thank Each one of YOU. Khoob Saraaaa Pyar Aap Sabko,” she wrote.
