THE LOST INDIAN ART OF DESIRE

Is modern Indian sexual vitality going dead?

In present-day Indian context, the term ‘sensual’ is generally used to either portray someone as beautiful or label someone as sexy (a term which itself is stricken by a definition crisis). With the new Indian woman striving towards achieving zero-size figures and botoxed beauties, little wonder that Indian erotica, that reminds one of our glorious legacy of Khajuraho, Konark, Ajanta-Ellora, Kamasutra, and Tantric sex is fast getting dumped in the past. Here’s a peep into the glorious past, gradual transformation, changed sensibilities and the umpteen reasons. 

This is my COVER STORY in the Sept Issue of Little India, US. Click here to read more: Indian Erotica, Thing Of The Past?

DYING MELODIES!

DYING MELODIES

By Shilpi Shukla Alexander

There’s a clear divide in the Indian music world between film and non-film music. With their huge budget, films are growing ever bigger. The blend of pop, rap and Sufi music in Indian film songs has doomed the independent music genre.

Alisha Chenoy had young India crooning “Made in India.” Shaan’s “Tanha Dil,” Abhijeet’s “Deewana” and Sonu Nigam’s “Tuuuu” made them the voice of the new generation. Daler Mehndi’s “Bolo Ta Ra Ra” made him the unrivalled Bhangra King; Colonial Cousins brought in western fusion to classical ragas; Bombay Vikings’ “Wo Chali” introduced a genre of English fusion to old Bollywood tracks; Remo Fernandes “O Meri Munni” and Baba Sehgal’s “Thanda Thanda Paani” had us jiving to Hindi rap, Sunita Rao came up with the mesmerizing “Pari Hoon Main”; Ila Arun’s “Maaro Ghaghro” and Shubha Mudgal’s “Ab Ke Saawan” made us fall in love with rustic melodies. Adnan Sami and Asha Bhosle’s “Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao” and Alka Yagnik’s “Saare Sapne” symphonies touched virtually every Indian heart. The 1990s saw many independent musicians rise to fame with chartbuster albums. Non-film music was a rage. Today, however, this music culture is in its death throes.

Click on the link below to view the complete article as published in Little India, US on...

The genre of non-film music seems to be dying out in India.