The Desert Comes Alive Once Again... Pushkar Camel Fair 2011

Nothing can be more apt than the phrase “unity in diversity”, when one describes or pictures the Indian subcontinent. Adding its own streak of colour to the existing flamboyant and multi hued tapestry of Indian culture is the festival and one of the highly rated travel experience called Pushkar Camel Fair.

Held each November at the time of the full moon in the Indian month of Kartik, Pushkar Camel Fair is a grand spectacular event, attracting 300,000 people and up to 50,000 camels.

One of the largest camel fair in the world, the Pushkar Camel Fair witnesses the blending of tradition and spirituality. During this four day event, one gets to witness livestock trading, religious “pujas”, music, dance, various sports and competitions that are not just funny but unusually unique, shops selling local arts and crafts. It turns into an enchanting carnival that at times makes one feel like a moment from some fairy tale book.

The festival comes to an end on the day of Kartik Purnima. On this day, ritual bathing on the ghats of Pushkar Lake begins at dawn. The water of the Lake is believed to possess medicinal powers and also wash away the sins of a lifetime. After the holy dip, the devotees visit the Brahma temple, which is one of the oldest and most prominent Brahma temples in the country.

The first five days of the festival in Rajasthan are for selling and purchase of the cattle. Over the years, this traditional affair has been revamped by the Rajasthan Tourism department to give it some additional glow and recognition. This event is a unique colourful display of another aspect of rural life in India, performance arts, handicrafts and an extravagant number of camels!

The golden sands of Rajasthan will come alive again this November as millions will gather to witness this extravagant event. The multi hued attires of the ladies, the pristine white attire of the men, all adorned with rich and exotic ornaments mixed with the attires of the visitors present a unique scene to every visitor’s eyes. The beautiful merger of ethnicity and modernity sprinkled with the divine sound of holy chants and conches truly prove to be a never seen experience for one and all.

So come November, treat yourself to this experience of a lifetime and soak in this enchanting spectacle called Pushkar Camel Fair. It is an unparalleled and unforgettable experience, capturing the vibrancy of Rajasthan and its people in all its grandeur.

-by Samriddhi Tanti

"The Three Musketeers" - a Review

Alexander Dumas's classic novel ‘The Three Musketeers’, for all those who didn’t know already, is sort of an epic tale about a young peasant eager to join the Kings' three musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis. He falls foul of the scheming Cardinal Richelieu and his men while attempting to save the Queen from public scandal, which could lead to an impending battle between France and England.

Hollywood had always had a tendency to alter plots and characters from adventure stories to fit them into adrenaline driven, action packed screenplays, sometimes not so successfully. The 2011 incarnation of The Three Musketeers created by Paul W.S. Anderson is no exception to that propensity.

To begin with, the three musketeers Athos, Aramis and especially Porthos have undergone massive transformations, from being legends to being superheroes. The most inedible transformation however is seen in Milady de Winter, from a villain to ahem, a Ninja, particularly when she pulls of Mission Impossible -like bungee stunts, but of course, if it’s Mila Jovovich portraying Milady, she’d simply do what she’s good at, kicking ass. It would have certainly helped if her stunts were toned down to suit the nature of a woman of that era. Nevertheless, her pretty face and sexy thighs are always a treat to watch.

Another totally pointless alteration was putting a pirate inspired patch on Rochefort, when according to the book he had a scar in his cheek. Christopher Waltz and Orlando Bloom try to salvage their underwritten parts, but it was Luke Evans as Athos who should be credited with adding some substance to the film.

On the brighter side, The Three Musketeers comes as a pleasant surprise after the epic fiasco of the much hyped Resident Evil-Afterlife. Instead of pop outs (like we’ve seen in Transformers), the movie has an Avatar like effect where the onlooker becomes a part of the scene. The fight sequences are decent; the violence is casual and humorous, although some sequences accompanied by the background music appear like a cocktail of Bollywood/Matrix/Sherlock Holmes rip offs. The flying airships forced into the script seem to serve no purpose except the obvious increase of 3D usage.

The plot and the twists are predictable from the very beginning while the accent of the cast dangles somewhere between British and French. The costumes and the sets, well, go unnoticed. Precisely a costume drama meets tried and tested Hollywood action, The Three Musketeers suffer from the familiar malady of being all glitz and no soul. It’s certainly possible to sit through one watch, but feel free to give it a miss, if you will.

-by Parmita Borah

On A Spiritual And Emotional Journey - India.Arie And Her Music

It isn’t always that one comes across a musician who manages to brilliantly take the listener on an introspective journey. India.Arie is a woman who simply radiates with a light... a light that emanates from her soul and reaches out to one through her music. A multi talented woman, who sings, writes, plays, arranges and produces music. India’s richly textured voice and the ability to commune directly with her listeners through impressive, soul stirring lyrics is overwhelming and truly inspiring.

Born in Denver, Colorado on October 3 1975, India Arie Simpson is a Grammy Award-winning American soul, R&B, and neo soul musician, songwriter, and producer. She absorbed musical skills early in life as she was encouraged by both parents. Her mother Joyce is a former singer (she was signed to Motown as a teenager and opened for Stevie Wonder and Al Green). Her father is former ABA and NBA basketball player Ralph Simpson.

After her parents divorced, Simpson's mother moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia when she was thirteen. Simpson had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, but her interest in the guitar while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, led to a personal revelation about song writing and performing.

"When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs", she said at the press release of her debut album, Acoustic Soul.

Her first single “Video” and her multi–platinum debut album Acoustic Soul were released in 2001. It was followed by the release of the platinum selling Voyage to India in 2002, an album acclaimed worldwide by critics. The New York Times called it “music that only further enhances her reputation as an artist of substance; centering on her acoustic guitar and confident but restrained vocals, it recalls such soul masters as Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack.” In 2006 she released her No. 1 charting album Testimony: Vol.1, Love & Relationship. Next was the highly anticipated Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, which was released in 2009. Besides these she has also collaborated with many musicians and her latest collaboration is with Israeli musician Idan Raichel – a driving force in contemporary world music. Together they created Open Door –a collection of soul stirring, poignant songs, the authentic East-meets-West experience.

Songs of love, of empowerment and emancipation, of inner emotions... there is a candid expression of feelings and emotions in her songs. India.Arie has the charismatic ability to absorb one and simply motivate to assert one’s true self and to love oneself and to love life.

“I feel my music is even more in accordance with where people are. Everybody’s looking for ways to feel better –– the world is so unpredictable, people are looking inside themselves to ask what’s meaningful in life. My music has always addressed this, and now it’s so much in vibrational accordance with what people are thinking.” -India.Arie

-by Samriddhi Tanti

Diwali - The Festival Of Lights

Earthen lamps adorn the ground, while bright multihued crackers light up the night sky. Diwali or Deepawali, the festival of lights is one of the biggest festivals in Hinduism, with major celebrations in India, Canada, Trinidad, Guyana, UK, Fiji, United States and other countries around the world. The festival is celebrated for two days between mid-October to mid-November (depending on lunar movement).

The Hindus celebrate it with great pomp and joy. They light their houses, courtyards and backyards with earthen lamps or diyas. They perform Laxmi Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Fire rcrackers, sweets, exchange of gifts and even gambling are very important part of the celebrations.

The Hindus have more than one reason to celebrate Diwali, the most prominent one being the return of Lord Rama after rescuing his wife from the clutches of Ravana. According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). Hindus also celebrate the birth of Goddess Lakshmi during this festival. Some also believe that Lord Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as Vaman-avtaara rescued Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali on Diwali.

Diwali holds significantce for the Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as well. According to the Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. It is believed that the chief disciple of Mahavira, Gandhara Gautam Swami attained complete knowledge i.e. Kevalgyana on this very day. More reasons to celebrate. According to the Buddhists, Emperor Ashoka took his voluntary retirement from a reign of power, and converted to Buddhism on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. Therefore they sometimes refer to Diwali as Ashok Vijayadashami, decorate their temples and monasteries, chant Mantras and remember the great emperor Ashoka on Diwali.

For the Sikhs, Diwali celebrations follow the celebration of Bandi Chhorh Divas – the day of freedom, celebrating the release the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji and other 52 princes in 1619. The Sikh tradition holds that the Emperor Jahangir had imprisoned Guru Hargobind Ji and 52 princes. Emperor Jahangir agreed to release Guru Hargobind Ji but put a condition that only those who could hold onto his cloak tail would be allowed to leave the prison. He was under the impression that such a move would restrict the number of princes to be released. Guru Hargobind Ji, the smart dude that he was, got a cloak designed with 52 pieces of strings, made his 52 princes hold on to them and walked out as Emperor Jahangir watched with his mouth gaped wide open. Quoting the McDonald’s famous punchlinen here ‘I’m loving it’. Sikhs celebrated the return of their Guru by lighting the Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and this tradition continues today.

The name “Diwali” is a contraction of “Deepavali”, which roughly translates into “row of lamps”. While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).

Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated across 2 continuous days. On these auspicious days, people light up diyas and candles all around their homes and businesses; although with a huge population settled comfortably in urban domiciles earthen lamps and candles get replaced with electronic products like neon lights and LED displays. A horde of marketing offers, cultural shows featuring Bollywood stars and film releases also accompany Diwali celebrations in India.

Diwali frenzy reaches fever pitch in India this year with the release of the much awaited Indian superhero flick, Ra.One, starring Sharukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal in the lead roles. A few days past that India will witness it’s first ever F1 racing event, followed by… hold your breath - a Metallica concert!

-by Parmita Borah

Whacked Out Festivals (Part 2)

Maslenitsa: Free-for-all Boxing Match (Russia) 

 

Long before Brad Pitt and Edward Norton made noses bleed with their bare knuckles, the tradition of rules-free boxing came into being in Russia. On the 4th day of Maslenitsa, men get together in an open space and punch each other to commemorate Russian military history. There is only one thumb rule-Do not beat a man when he is down, which means, you can punch on the face or grab and twitch crotches. In centuries past, the festival has its closure when all the participants are soaked in blood, bereft of clothes. There’s no entry fee, but the organizers may not be willing to pay for your medical bills later. Be a part of it, only if you have health insurance. 

Tunarama: The Tuna Tossing Festival (Australia) 

 

Tunarama festival began in 1962, with the intention to promote the merging tuna fishing industry. It is held in Port Lincoln, on the tip of Eyre Peninsula, over the Australia Day (26 January) long weekend. Tuna fishing is now one of the town's biggest industries and Australia's largest tuna cannery is located there. The highlight of the festival is the tuna tossing competition, where participants can toss a five-pound fish as far as your strength allows, and win money. Ex-Olympic hammer thrower, Sean Carlin, holds the record for the longest toss at 37.23 metres set in 1998. Wonder what Master Chef Australia judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston have to say about it. 

Roswell UFO Festival - The Alien Parade (USA) 

The Rosewell UFO Festival is celebrated on the anniversary the Roswell Incident, when a UFO allegedly crashed into military grounds in USA. The highlight if the celebration is a costume party where people don alien costumes as well as a hot air balloon ride. The Roswell Incident has been a subject of intense controversy and the subject of conspiracy theories. The United States military maintains that what was actually recovered was debris from an experimental high-altitude surveillance balloon belonging to a classified program named “Mogul”; however, many UFO proponents maintain that in fact a crashed alien craft and bodies were recovered, and that the military then engaged in a cover-up. That explains the costume and the hot air balloon. 

La Tomatina: The Tomato Pelting Festival (Spain) 

 

All those who thought rotten tomatoes is for bad performance, think again. People of Spain throw tomatoes at each other for fun. La Tomatina is a Spanish Festival is modestly described as the world's largest tomato fight. Thousands of people pelt each other with over 250 lbs. of tomatoes in a span of 60 minutes in an. Every year, over 30,000 tourists come to Bunyol for this festival. Rules of conduct keep the festivities from becoming a more dangerous brawl. La Tomatina is celebrated in late August. Care for a quick skin care routine, simply walk in. 

Hadaka Matsuri  (Japan)

What would think when you see a mighty crowd of about 9000 men parading in Half-Monty attire? It’s not a gigolo fest, it’s not a slut walk, infact it is above and beyond the initial reaction to nudity. Hadaka Matsuri is a Japanese festival for men to exorcise their bad luck. About 9000 male participants assemble in a single piece of loin cloth. Among them, one chosen man is completely naked. Why? Each year one volunteer is randomly selected to be the Shin-otoko, or Naked Man. The fundoshis i.e., the other ‘9000 minus one’ men in loin cloth attempt to touch this ordained man- and pass on their bad luck to him. Although the naked the Shin-otoko takes home nothing but the misfortune of another man, the designation is considered to be quite an honour. 

-by Parmita Borah

(Click Here for Whacked Out Festivals - Part 1)

Whacked Out Festivals (Part 1)

El Colacho: the Baby-Jumping Festival (Spain)

El Colacho marks the Catholic Festival of Corpus Christi. In what can be described as part athletics and part exorcism, grown men in Spain leap over a row of babies placed on the ground. Men don scarier versions of Elvis-like jump suits, whips and truncheons for accessories. They sprint over the row of babies to cleanse them of evil. Thinking of calling CRY? Don’t. It’s tradition. El Colacho has been in practice since 1620. The event also has a speed exorcism session, where bystanders who seem to be in need of a quick exorcism are pulled into the event.

Up Helly-Aa: the Fire Festival (Shetland Islands)

Up Helly-Aa is an annual fire festival held in Shetland to mark the end of Yule season. It is a tribute to the island’s Viking heritage. Up Helly-Aa literally translates "End of the Holy Days". A thousand guizers emerge together on a procession that culminates with the burning on a 32-ft effigy of a Viking Longship. (Remember Dussera? Don’t know about Dussera? Google it). A majority of the men participating in this event dress up in flamboyant feminine costumes causing the Up Helly-Aa to be nicknamed as Transvestite Tuesday.

The Monkey Buffet Festival (Thailand)

When you can’t beat them, join them, or feed them in this case. Who knows it better than the organisers of the Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand. During this festival, monkeys are invited to the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple and offered a buffet of fruits, vegetables and nuts. With over 2,000 kg of fruits and vegetables used for the feast, it is surely the highlight of these monkeys’ year. As the buffet winds down monkeys and humans both stroll through the temple grounds, often interacting with each other. The festival marks the event of Lord Rama rewarding his ally Hanuman with the control of what is now known as Lopburi.The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year on the last Sunday of November. Although Indians hail Hanuman as a superhero and chant Hanuman Chalisa to chase ghosts, it’s an irony that such a grand feast in honour of Hanuman is organized in Thailand.

Holi: the Festival of Colors (India)

Holi is an Indian National festival popularly observed amongst the Hindu community. It is also celebrated in some parts of Nepal and Guyana. Holi marks the onset of spring after a bland winter. Celebration involves people throwing coloured powder and water. During the onset of spring, due to the change in weather, viral cold and fever spreads among people. It is believed that throwing colours traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors helps one to avert such diseases.

Cheese Rolling Festival (England)

Who doesn’t like cheese excluding vegans and aspiring anorexics? Think again. Imagine a giant cheese sphere weighing about seven pounds, rolled down a hilltop, and hundreds of people racing against it. It isn’t well-nigh fatal. In plain English “It’s Dangerous”. It’s rare for a participant to bypass the cheese ball, so the winner is decided based on who manages to reach the bottom first, alive. What does the winner get? He gets to take the ball of cheese home. What is done with the cheese later is really not important though. The police attempted to ban Cheese Rolling Festival sometime back, but the dudes who came to participate in the race, probably just gave them the finger and continued with their merry making.

-by Parmita Borah 

(Click Here for Whacked Out Festivals - Part 2)

Candid Conversation With Kalpana Patowary

 (Click on the play button above to listen to the interview)

She’s an Assamese lassie who sings in Bhojpuri. When most musicians vie for contemporary forms of music, Kalpana Patowary headed in the direction of folk and has established herself as a sought after Folk Music vocalist of our time. Parmita Borah talks to the lady herself about her rendezvous with music.

Parmita Borah: Although you’re from Assam, you have voiced more songs in Bhojpuri language. What inspired you? 

Kalpana Patowary: Frankly speaking, being from Assam, we Assamese artists have a very dangerous ‘accent’ problem. Even I face it. However, much before me, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika paved the way when he made a traditional Assamese wedding song into a Bhojpuri song (bursts into as song by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika). People like Dr. Bhupen Hazarika made it large even with Bhojpuri songs. Similarly, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was from Rajasthan but took on Assamese music and gave a new direction to it. So they have all inspired me. 

PB: You’ve mentioned that Assamese artists have trouble with the accent. So when it comes to mastering the ability to sing in Bhojpuri and getting accepted by the Bhojpuri people themselves, was it a challenge for you? 

KP:If some tells you to write in Gujrati or Bhojpuri out of the blue, you will face a problem. Be it the literature perspective or grammatical, it’s bound to be a challenge. But I simply went with the flow. Currently I am singing in 23 different languages, somehow Bhojpuri clicked. I don’t know how. 

PB: It’s destiny... 

KP: Yeah. I am doing a research, a thesis sort of work on the legacy of Bhikhari Thakur. He is like Assam’s Dr. Bhupen Hazarika or Bengal’s Rabindra Nath Tagore. Bhikhari Thakur is a personality of that category. About hundreds of years ago, during the British Raj, a lot of people from UP and Bihar were taken out as labourers, to places like West Indies, Trinidad, Tobago and Fiji. Now, I’ve been called by the Government on West Indies because the people over there want to their roots, their musical roots. They know that they are basically from UP and Bihar, but don’t know much beyond that. It’s an irony that an Assamese girl will introduce them to their own roots. It’s actually very interesting. 

PB: Tell us something about you upcoming album Mai-re. 

KP: Mai-re is a Hindi album. About three-four years back, when I began to taste success, there was also a vacuum forming inside me simultaneously. I was searching for something inexplicable, that search led to Mai-re. The emptiness that was around despite the rush around me, that’s Mai-re. The whole world, its global warming and its negativity, everything that’s going on, Mai-re is all about that. 

PB: Let’s talk about JUNOON…..Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka. The show shot you to nationwide fame. How was the experience? 

KP: Thrilling! It was a where I discovered more of myself. Basically I was called for the UP/Bihar group. “Maati Ke Laal” was its name. But I spoke to the production team, that being from Assam; I wanted to show the Assamese folk as well. Finally I managed to represent UP/Bihar and Assam. Assamese music was widely accepted and liked on the show. 

PB: You made quite a splash with Billo Barber and Khatta Meetha. Are you planning to focus entirely on Bollywood? 

KP: Bollywood is not that important for me now. Work keeps coming and going, but I am not concentrating only on Bollywood. 

PB: Northeast has many talented singers and musicians. Do you think they have been successful on a national level? 

KP: Ofcourse, Northeast guys are very talented-not just musicians, but technicians as well. But somehow we lack a certain fighting spirit and the will to promote ourselves. It’s not possible to survive only on talent- one has to market herself/himself properly. The mindset that that we are from Northeast, we are backward is very negative and we need to lose that to succeed. 

PB: I was about to ask you for a message for aspiring musicians, but you’ve already covered that. I’d like you to leave a message for our readers now. 

KP: Explore yourself. The world of music is very interesting. Don’t restrict yourself, shed your inhibitions and get out of your comfort zones. Music has only one language and that is the language of feelings 

PB: Thank you so much for joining us.

KP: Thank you. 

In Fond Memory of Jagjit Singh

The world of music suffered a massive loss with the demise of ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. He died on October 10, 2011 at the age of 70 in Mumbai at Lilavati hospital, after he suffered from a brain hemorrhage.

Jagjit Singh is known for contemporizing Ghazals with his melodic baritone voice and the infusion of western instruments in the genre. He pioneered the inclusion of the 12 string guitar and bass guitar in Ghazals. As a result, Ghazal emerged as a classically proficient yet trendy and marketable form of music. Patrons loyal to films songs suddenly found themselves grabbing copies of Jagjit Singh’s records.

Singh’s career touched meticulous heights in the 70s and 80s and he came to be known as ‘The Ghazal King’ among music lovers. His collaboration with better half, ghazal singer Chitra Singh established them as the first ever successful duo-act (husband-wife) in the history of recorded Indian music. Chitra Singh however, stopped singing after their only son Vivek died in an accident in July 1990. Jagjit Singh has sung in several languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Nepali.

Jagjit Singh entered the music circuit at a time which was primarily dominated by Pakistani ghazal singers, and Indian singers were considered relatively lesser authentic than their Pakistani counterparts. Unlike other ghazal singers, Singh did not hesitate in lending his voice for films. His silky voice ruled during early 80's in films like Prem Geet, Saath Saath and Arth. Singh crooned his last film song for Ashish Ubale's upcoming film Anandache Dohi. 

Jagjit Singh was the recipient of many prestigious awards including the 'Padma Bhushan', one of India's highest civilian honors by the Government of India.

Singh's passion, after singing, was horse racing. He would name his horses after his music albums, and his first horse was called Sound Affair.

Jagjit Singh may have left this mortal world but his golden voice will linger on.

-by Parmita Borah

Other Link - In His Voice, There Is Peace - The New York Times

Candid Chat with Bruce Lee Mani

(Click on the play button above to listen to the interview)

 

There’s nothing much to say about Thermal and a Quarter that hasn’t already been said. Their journey has been long and fulfilling from their Christ College jam room to being revered as one of the best indie rock bands. The extremely talented and witty Bruce Lee Mani, lead guitarist and vocalist of Thermal and a Quarter tells Parmita Borah about his musical journey across a decade and a half.

Photo source - Facebook

Parmita Borah: Anyone who visits Wikipedia 
knows the history behind the name Thermal and a Quarter. Your name Bruce Lee Mani - What’s the history behind it? 

Bruce Lee Mani: (laughs) Well, my father was a big fan of Bruce Lee and I was born around the time when “Enter the Dragon” released with great fanfare in Bangalore Theatres and he decided to call his son Bruce Lee and Mani, because we happen to be palakkad Iyers and I carry my Grandfather’s name which is Mani. It gets a lot of laughs from many people, and it gets us through airport immigration very quickly because the mood gets lightened when someone called Bruce Lee shows up at your window and it ensures that people don’t forget me very easily.

PB: So do you know any of Bruce Lee’s moves as well? 

BLM: I didn’t have the place to study Wing Chun Kung fu in Bangalore back in the 90’s or 80’s but I did study some Karate and I infact do hold a blue belt in chokushin taekwondo.

PB: Not many people know that I am sure. 

BLM: No! (laughs)

PB: Thermal And A Quarter has essentially been a three piece band, but you’ve had a lot of talented musicians playing with you.

BLM: That is correct. Since we started in 1996, a lot of great guys have passed through the band, but it has essentially been, at the core, a three piece band. I don’t think I can’t actually go into all the names of the people who have been here and there are various websites and blogs where those things are discussed but I must say that all the guys who’ve passed through definitely lent something to our sound and it's part of what we call our evolution and we are still evolving, I hope. We are still growing and learning how to play our instruments better and express ourselves better and get the sounds in our heads out there.

PB: Shut Up and Vote and Kickbackistan are two very quirky takes on voting and graft. How did you come up with those two songs? 

BLM: Well it’s funny that you mentioned these two but they are only two more on a long list of socially relevant songs that we’ve written. This goes back all the way to in 1998/99 when on our first album we had a song called ‘Humpty Dumpty’ which was quite pointedly dedicated at a certain portly politician from Tamil Nadu who at one point almost brought down the government by having too many shoes or something like that. But it was from then on we’ve always sort of tried to respond to things that are going on around us. Also because in the late 90’s as a band that was writing music in English, as one of the few bands that was writing and releasing music in English at that point. The first accusation level against us by critics and friends alike was “Oh you guys are just doing what the west has done years ago and so on”. When we were trying to form a new expression, looking at things around us, I mean our songs are completely Indian, our perspectives are Indian-our stories are Indian- the idiom is western. We play guitar, bass and drums and we sing in English, but that doesn’t make it less of an Indian. So at that point it was almost a religious fervor that I must say that we try to write about all the things that were going on around us, because that’s where our music should come from. So Shut up and Vote and Kickbackistan are just further down from quite a long list of socially relevant songs. So I think in whatever small part we played, we did change something.

PB: You did mention that just because you write songs and sing them in English, doesn’t make you less of an Indian. Have you had critics or fans requesting you to sing songs in Hindi? 

BLM: Not any more, because we have been doing this for 15 years now and I guess people have gotten used to the fact that ‘These guys can’t speak any other language’. The naive figures have given up on us, the progressive thinkers have sort of embraced us, I think. People who are discovering us are seeing us a one of sort better known bands among a sea of other bands who are doing the same thing.

PB: You have done a lot of international tours - you have performed in Glassgow, London, Dubai and Bahrain. 

BLM: Honkong, Jakarta, Maldives, Singapore (laughs)

PB: So how different are the audiences in these venues. Are they any different for that matter? 

BLM: I would say that there is a greater amount of maturity in terms of audiences, abroad, simply because they have had a longer history of live performance culture. If you go to Glassgow or London, you’d have, I don’t know, fifty gigs every night no matter what day of the week it is. So live music is part of their culture and this live music can be anything. It can be anything from completely abstract jazz to top forty covers, there are bands doing everything. There are no strange issues like we have here, where suddenly the cops will bust you because you are doing western music or something else that doesn’t fit with the local morality or some nonsense like that. You don’t have those issues, because for some reason those societies have evolved beyond that. They have a whole set of different problems, but atleast for working musicians like ourselves-we can go and perform to an audience and that its taken pretty much at face value, in the sense that it’s your music that’s more important. If you play well, if you have good musicianship and if you have good songs, you’ll be appreciated. The first time we went to UK, people said that ‘nobody will listen to you if you don’t have a sitar or tabla. You’re coming from India, what’s this nonsense, why are you going to play our music to us?’ But the point is that when we played our music was so different from the local rock that was being played there, they thought us as exotic anyway, even though we didn’t have a sitar or a tabla. It’s just that because of who we are and the kind of music we play, we were already exotic and we were already different and we were appreciated for that.

PB: I couldn’t agree more. You guys are really huge on the internet. Is that part of your ‘Do It Yourself’ policy? 

BLM: I think coming up in Bangalore, which is sort of spoken of as being the IT hub of the country (I don’t know if it still is, but think at one point it really was) we were growing up with a lot of technology around us, growing up musically. And we had a lot of friends who worked in top notch international Information Technology companies. So in terms of working with technology like bit-torrent and sharing, having your own website or keeping a blog or selling your music online or distributing it for free. I think the technology came pretty easily to us and from the beginning we sort of embraced it and we think it was a new way forward, especially for an independent band that was not signed to a record label, so from the beginning we’ve been pretty keen on pursuing it. We tried to have our own sort of inimitable fashion because it’s not like we were born in the cusp of technology of anything like that. It’s just that we’ve tried to use it to the best of our ability because a Do It Yourself model like us which-it’s exactly what it means, you have to do everything yourself and between doing gigs and paying bills and keeping your cool, whatever time is left, you know, we spend on doing this.

PB: In your last album ‘This is it’ you’ve worked in A R Rehman’s Studio with Multiple Grammy Award Winner Jeff Peters.What was that like? 

BLM: That was incredible. We’ve always tried to take every succeeding album a big step forward, in every possible way. Our first album was thermal and quarter.com which was recorded for a really small amount of money, the second album Jupiter cafe was done with much better production values, a better design, everything was a big step forward. Plan B was another big step forward; it was mixed at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. This is It had to be an international product, and that’s why we decided to work at A. R. Rehman Studios. Through a couple of friends we managed to get Jeff Peters interested in the project and he came down and worked with us in Chennai for almost 15 days. It was great having someone like him with so many years of experience behind him, working with huge names in international rock-people like Ringo Starr from the Beatles, UB40, the beach boys-his credit includes so many amazing musicians and to have his perspective on our music was great. It was not just helpful, but also showed us a way forward of what we could do with our music.

PB: So the first album was Thermal and a Quarter and that was way back in 1999. I understand the production values were lower production values. So how did you get the record deal? 

BLM: That was a very easy record deal because there was no record deal. The record deal was ourselves! There was no company involved. The company was our own. So we recorded it, we mixed it, we went to the CD printing press and printed out the CDS, we went to the printer and printed out the jackets, we packed the CDs in the jukeboxes, we wrapped it in plastic and we went out to the colleges and sold it. So there was no company involved, it was us, it was completely Do It Yourself. It was very hard but it also taught us the entire process from end to end.

PB: When you came up with the first album that was a time when Bollywood and Remix Videos were ruling the music scenario. So was that a challenge to get acceptance as a new upcoming band that was not doing covers? 

BLM: Ofcourse, we’ve been booed off stage several time. Like I said, when the audience isn’t used to watching many live bands, when they get a chance they want to hear familiar things, things that make them happy, to come out and have a good time. It’s only when there’s so much of it going on people start thirsting for something new. So back then we were being adamant and saying ‘No, we will be playing only our songs, even if you’ve never heard them on the radio, even though may not even like them because you are hearing some strange time signature’. We just went ahead and played them because that was the only way for us to get music out. Definitely it was an uphill battle, but you’ve got to persevere. If you are really serious about writing your own music and getting it out and making people listen to it, you’ve got to keep doing it. Eventually you start to get a following if your music is good enough and it strikes a chord with the people. You can get people who like your stuff; who want it, who come to shows and ask for your song. When that starts happening, you know you are doing something right.

PB: Do you endorse or recommend any brand ? 

BLM: Gibson has given me a guitar, so you could say that I am a Gibson endorsee. An American brand of strings called La Bella has recently signed me on as an endorsee. Now that’s become a great thing for musicians in this country where big brands are looking out for them and making sure that their stuff is being promoted by helping musicians out. So I think it’s a great thing.

PB: Indeed, that’s a great piece of information for Indian musicians. What about your favourite Indian band?  
BLM: Among the Indian Band, I’d say there’s a band called Something Relevant from Mumbai, which we really like a lot. They’re a great young bunch of guys, great vibe, very happy positive vibe, very nice music, we like them a lot. Ofcourse, there are our seniors like Skinny Alley and Pink Noise whom we really look up to, because they have been in the scene for so long, and they are still pushing boundaries and doing new things. Those are the two names that come straight up.

PB: So from live music to teaching music, tell us a bit about this initiative called Taaqademy? 

BLM: Taaqademy is about a year old and it’s our way of giving back of little bit of what we’ve learned across the last decade and more. So it’s just seems to make sense that all of us got together and opened up a little school where we could share the stuff that we’ve learned across the last few years of playing and so on. But also we put together a few things that bands really require in a city like Bangalore, which is a place to rehearse. We have a great rehearsal space, we also have a recording space. If you want to record a demo or an album- we can help you do that. So, Taaqademy is great for us and more people should join Taaqademy.

PB: We’ll sure put the word across. So Bruce, we have come to the end of our conversation. Before we wrap it up, do you have any words of wisdom for the readers of EF News International? 

BLM: Words of Wisdom? Oh Boy! That’s a tough one. (Laughs) Well if you are musicians, just keep playing. I know so many musicians who stopped playing because they say they don’t have the time. They have jobs and families and so on. I don’t know, music is really important in so many ways. If you’ve been touched by it, keep doing it. Keep playing. Don’t stop playing and tell other people to go and play as well. It’s an amazing thing to do. 

PB: Cool. Thank you once again for joining us. 

BLM: Thanks

Bad Guys We Love - Best Bollywood Villains (Part 1)

Back home, Bollywood Baddies have varied from gangsters, local goons, and corrupt cops to wicked step moms and mother -in-laws. There is also a breed of Bollywood Villains who are known for a different genre of notoriety. Their speciality lies in molesting wives, girlfriends and sisters of the protagonists. They scandalized our aunties, make them wipe their misty noses with tear soaked cotton handkerchiefs and blurt out, ‘Kaminey tere ghar mein ma behen nahi hain kya?’(Rascal, don’t you have a mother or sister at home?) Off late, the existence of such nasty felons is sort of on the decline with candy floss romances, cheating husbands, bikini babes and item numbers taking over. So let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and track down some of the most iniquitous characters seen on the silver screens of Bollywood.

Bhavani Devi - Sau din Saas Ke 

Played by Lalita Pawar

Schemer, envious, spiteful Matriarch Bhavani Devi runs her regal home with an iron hand. A fly wouldn’t dare move an inch without her permission. Trouble starts when her sons marry women against her wishes, worse the blushing brides didn’t being a lot of dowry with them. Bhavani Devi would go to any extent to instil fear in the hearts of her daughters in law, and resorts to extreme measures like hitting them and burning their pretty toes. Her tyranny goes well, till the entry of her second daughter is law, Reena Roy in the guise of an subtle iron woman, who has the guts to say “Bas Kijiye Maaji”. (Enough already mother).

Member of Parliament Chaturvedi – Aakhree Rasta 

Played by Sadashiv Amrapukar

He is so sly that he sends the husband of his muse on a rail roko andolan. While the ignorant hubby David D'Costa (Amitabh Bachchan) is out there as a devoted political party worker, rising politician Chaturvedi pays a quick visit to the naïve and unsuspecting wife-Mary (Jayaprada). He strips her off a 9 yard long saree and ahem, does it with her, as she squeals ‘Bachao’ (all the while verbalizing graphic details of his carnal aggression). When husband D'Costa discovers what happened, Chaturvedi pays off some cops to put him behind the bars before any confrontation can happen. After serving his term, a vengeance driven D'Costa (who now wears a grey wig) is out there to pound Chaturvedi to death, to avenge his wife’s dishonoring. Chatturvedi, watch out, Big B has spent two decades with a bunch of hardened criminals and beating you in your own game, should be cake walk for him! (Rama Shetty in Ardha Satya and Maharani in Sadak are two of the other notable negative characters played by Amrapukar. I would have written about them too, but my mean editor has given a word limit).

Shakaal - Shaan 

Played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda

Shakaal-the name itself is intimidating, isn’t it? There’s something about this authoritative first names that makes Bollywood Bad guys more villainous. Shakaal is bald, wears designer costumes custom made to suit his personality, and parks his arse on a colossal throne. His calm demeanor and sardonic smile makes him one of the most sophisticated and avant-garde villains Bollywood has witnessed. Besides what do you say about a guy who has his own island, controls it from a roomful of switches and has his own shark? I’d pretty much stay out of his way.

Loin - Kalicharan 

Played by Ajit

Say hello to another suit-boot walla angrez type villain in Hindi Cinema. Nothing beats the “Saara seher mujhe loin ki naam se jaanta hain”. (The whole city knows me by the name of loin).Din Dayal is an honest rich guy who rules the empire of crime and Mafia under the alias of Loin. He is the man under whom black-marketing, smuggling and robberies flourish in the city but makes sure to maintain a clean image in the public eye. It takes the iron will and hand of Inspector Kalicharan to crack a duplicitous nut like Din Dayal a.k.a Loin

Prem - Bobby 

Played by Prem Chopra

In the 21st century, Prem would have been an average promiscuous commitment phobic bachelor, who dates the pretty supporting actress and ditches them due to his lust for the heroine. His brief cameo in Bobby as Prem Chopra and the famous one liner ‘Prem Naam Hain Mera, Prem Chopra’ (The name’s Prem, Prem Chopra) sort of encompasses an entire career spent on the wrong side of the law. Prem Chopra a.k.a. Prem the sleazy bad boy, who even manages to attract pretty girls, perhaps the only one of his kind during his time.

Rahul Mehra - Darr 

Played by Shahrukh Khan

He may be suspending from invisible cables and shaking his booty to the beats of Chammak Challo with Kareena Kapoor; but long before science had its way and transformed a curly haired geek into a spiky haired Superhero, Shahrukh Khan played a star-crossed psycho stalker. He anonymously sings love songs for his love interest and his naughty crank calls professing his love for k-k-k-Kiran keeps getting crazier and scarier as the film progresses. Worse, he fell for a woman married to none other Sunny Paaji, the owner of a dhai kilo wajan wala haath (an arm that weighs 2.5 kilos). Yet the pretty boy manages to slip the grip of the mighty Sunny Deol, bump off a few guys and almost woos his lady love till he gets shot by her angered husband.

Ma’am - Kaun 

Played by Urmilla Matondkar

A white collar worker and a thief posing as cop manage to enter the lavish house of a solitary girl on a rainy night. The girl had seen a piece of news about a serial killer earlier that evening and it appears that either of the two men could be the serial killer from the news. But hold on, what do we see? The seemingly innocent girl is actually a psycho herself! She stabs her victims for no apparent reason, throws them off the roof and sings nursery rhymes. Urmilla Matondkar’s convincing portrayal of a nameless psycho killer (addressed as Ma’am by the other two characters) would completely leave you baffled and gasping for breath. You better not look into those eerie looking eyes, for she could make you freeze with her gaze.

Kesariya Vilayti aka BAD MAN – Ram Lakhan 

Played by Gulshan Grover

Time for some iconic Bollywood villains, one of them being the Kesariya Vilayti a.k.a Bad Man! When a man calls himself bad, well there’s no stopping him. There’s nothing much one remembers about this character but for his name and the way he says BAD MAN! The notorious gangster pretty much plays his cards right but the government slaps a reward for him, and he gets captured by street urchin named Lakhan.

Mogambo - Mr India 

Played by Amrish Puri

When one is making a list of Bollywood Baddies, is it possible to leave out Mr. Amrish Puri? He had convincingly portrayed so many negative roles that it was hard to accept him as a good man when he graduated into character roles. It is safe to say that Mogambo is the most iconic villain role Amrish Puri has ever performed. He dresses like he’s walked out of Buckingham palace, has blonde hair, but speaks excellent Hindi. His den looks like a sci-fi set, he has Chinese scientists making missiles for him, and a minion that chants in chorus ‘Hail Mogambo’. He is out there to promote bonding and alliances in the community of international terrorism and his control room is bigger than Shakal or Loin’s. When he is happy he says ‘Mugambo Khus Hua’ and it takes the might of an invisible hero like Mr. India to take him down.

Gabbar - Sholay 

Played by Amzad Khan

Amitabh Bachchan seems to have had trysts with most of the baddies on our list during his hay days. Amzad Khan’s debut as a super villain Gabbar Singh in probably the Indian version of The Good, the Bad and The ugly has a cult following till date. Every single dialogue that he uttered in Sholay, his repugnant laughter, and his tobacco spitting (Khak Thu) has attained an iconic status among cine goers, then and now. Gabbar’s leads and feeds a bunch of sidekicks, the most accountable ones being Samba and Kaaliya. His Return on Investment model is taxation on the people of Ramgarh village. His only mistake was to chop Thakur’s hand (sort of the village headman) instead of wiping him off completely. The handless Thakur backfires by hiring two city bred ruffians to put an end to Gabbar’s regime. Gabbar Singh is credited some of the most immortal lines of Bollywood history, the most famous ones being ‘Kitne Aadmi the’ and ‘Yeh Haath mujhe de de Thakur’.

-by Parmita Borah

The Death of a Visionary - Steve Jobs

He may not have strummed crazy leads like Hendrix, had sonorous vocals of Elvis or made millions bang their heads like Kurt Cobain did; but he sure did hold the status of a rock-star. Millions are mourning, as Apple Co-Founder and ex-CEO Steve Jobs passed away on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011, owing to a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Jobs was 56.

Steve Jobs started Apple with a friend at a Silicon Valley garage in 1976, and turned it into an empire with a decade by rolling out one sensational product after other. He was forced out of Apple a decade later. The 1999 docudrama “Pirates of the Silicon Valley” about the rise of the home personal computer through the rivalry between Apple Computer and Microsoft, also documents Jobs’ journey from the Silcon Valley garage to the time he was forced out of Apple.

He resumed his position as Apple’s CEO in 1997 to rescue the company from a downhill bearing. During his hiatus from Apple, Jobs In 1986, Jobs purchased The Graphics Group which was later renamed Pixar; he became a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, following the acquisition of Pixar by Disney.

Steve Jobs would probably be remembered for transforming computers from being a geek’s fixation to an everyday necessity. Jobs is listed as either primary inventor or co-inventor in 338 US patents or patent applications related to a range of technologies from actual computer and portable devices to user interfaces (including touch-based), speakers, keyboards, power adapters, staircases, clasps, sleeves, lanyards and packages.

His initial offerings like the Apple Lisa, NeXT Computer and later on Mac established Apple in a vanguard position the computer bazaar. In 2001, he launched the iPod and marketed it as ‘1,000 songs in your pocket‘. The iPod initially gave Apple a hold over the music industry and later evolved into high-end and influential gadgets like the iPhone and iPad.

Steven Paul Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, to Joanne Simpson, then an unmarried graduate student, and Abdulfattah Jandali, a student from Syria. Simpson gave Jobs up for adoption, though she married Jandali and a few years later had a second child with him, Mona Simpson, who became a novelist.

In the unauthorized biography, The Second Coming of Steve Jobs, author Alan Deutschman reports that Jobs once dated Joan Baez. Jobs married Laurene Powell, on March 18, 1991. The couple has a son and two daughters. Jobs also has a daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs (born 1978), from his relationship with Bay Area painter Chrisann Brennan.

Before Apple happened, Jobs traveled to India on a spiritual quest with his friend Daniel Kottke. He visited Neem Karoli Baba at his Kainchi Ashram. He returned to the US as a Buddhist with a shaved head, wearing Indian attire. He was also a fan of the Beatles.

Steve Jobs leaves behind a legacy of innovation, most of which were presented in his trademark black turtleneck, faded jeans and converse shoes. The twitter trend #iPad had emerged as a tribute and to the mark the loss of this great innovator. 

-by Parmita Borah

Durga Puja - a Celebration of Female Supremacy

Devi or Goddesses form an integral part of Hindu Mythology and Indian fiesta - Goddess Durga being one of the most powerful and revered. This autumnal festival popularly known as Sharodotsav, recalls the power of female Shakti (power) symbolized by the Goddess Durga who slays Asuras (a group of power-seeking deities) to re-establish peace and sanctity on earth again.

The fortnight of Devi Paksha marks the festival of Durga Puja, Durga Pujo, Durgotsava or even Dussehra. Durga Puja also coincides with Navratri, a festival that is celebrated in Gujrat for nine consecutive days.

Photo - www.indiaadvices.com

Mahalaya, a day to remember to the departed souls is observed a couple of days ahead of Durga Puja, marking the onset of a week long celebration. Durga Puja celebration spreads across the five days of Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. The inauguration starts on Mahashasthi. The main puja is for three days - Mahasaptami, Mahaastami, Mahanavami.

The puja rituals are long, meticulous and complicated. Three days of Mantras (words for spiritual transformation), Shlokas (verse) and Arati (prayer) and offerings - needs an expert priest to perform such kind of Puja. After the three days of Puja, in Dashami , in the last day, the idol of Goddess is taken for Visharjan (immersion in the sea or river) to give her a grand send off.

According to Hindu Mythology, Mahisasur, the Buffalo Demon, through years of meditation, received a boon from Lord Brahma, that no power can kill him; which means he is invincible. Once the power was bestowed upon him, he went on a rampage killing people. The power hungry asura (demon) took off on a pursuit to uproot the gods and conquer the heavens. The Gods in dismay amalgamated their individual divine powers and created as startlingly beautiful maiden Durga. She has ten hands to hold the most potent weapons of her creators in each of her hands and rides a lion.

Goddess Durga’s return in each year in the month of Aswin (September-October) according to the Hindu Calender, commemorates Rama's invocation of the goddess Durga before he went into battle with Ravana. The tableau of Durga with her four children - Kartik, Ganesh, Saraswati and Lakshmi, representing respectively the Protector, the Initiator of the puja, Knowledge and the Provider - signifies the complete manifestation of Goddess Durga.

Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura and with a five-day annual holiday. In West Bengal and Tripura it is the biggest festival of the year.

-by Parmita Borah

Bad Guys We Love - Best Hollywood Non-Human Villains (Part One)

Hollywood's fascination for revulsion stretches further and beyond the human realm. They have created bad guys who creep into your dreams and slash your intestines, throw magic spells, pounce on you with their fangs exposed, eat you as meals and sometimes multiply. We remember them here on this post with much awe and wariness.

Freddy Krueger - Nightmare at Elm Street 

Played by Robert Englund and Jackie Earle Haley.

Kids Beware! This scary looking bad boy waits for you till you are asleep. While you are snoring merrily, he quietly creeps into your dreams and bam-his long razor claw slashes your intestines. No big deal, huh? Wait till you see this disfigured dream stalker throw that grisly grin at you, right before he, well, kills you. Freddy Krueger was lovelorn as a child. As a reprisal act, he took to torturing little kids in their sleep and became that serial child killing monster. He was born of a human mother but the methods he uses to kill his victims certainly seem non-human. Freddy uses anything and everything he can ‘dream up’ to torment his prey before finally skewering them on his razor-fingered glove.

Feel like taking a nap, eh? Go ahead. Just don’t tell us that we didn’t warn you!

Regan MacNeil - The Exorcist 

Played by Linda Blair

Her chubby cheeks and cute smile would have made her a teacher’s pet any other day. I honestly feel like singing ‘It’s not your fault’ to her like Phoebe Buffay sings to her smelly cat. The poor girl was possessed by Satan himself (like stepping into adolescence wasn’t enough trouble already). Next we see her screaming and swearing bearing horrendous scar marks on her pretty face. Not just that, she can turn her head 360 degrees, her eyes go awry and she levitates in the middle of the night. Don’t even get me started on her throaty voice, just thinking of it gives me the willies!

Damien Thorn - The Omen 

Played by Harvey Stephens, Jonathan Scott-Taylor, Sam Neill, and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick

Another innocent face with pure evil in the heart! Damien Thorn is the Antichrist and the son of the Devil, destined to bring the apocalypse. He has the 666 birthmark to prove it. What makes him so petrifying is probably his gumption to push his mother off a balcony, making her lose her unborn child, all in cold blood. You never know when the innocent gaze of a toddler turns into a menacing stare that could actually make lightning strike and concrete fall on your head! Better stay out of his way. Besides, he is protected by wolves!

The Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard of Oz 

Played by Margaret Hamilton

We should probably thank her for making the witch costume a trend during Halloween. The Wicked Witch of West is fiercely intimidating and you certainly don’t want to be stuck with her inside an elevator. She is jealous, hateful and like The Joker from The Dark Knight, is hell bent on causing chaos. She’s got some malevolent magical tricks up her sleeve and has a bandwagon of minions to delegate her wicked acts. Her speciality is torturing harmless animals and scaring lost little girls.

Lord Voldemort - Harry Potter Series 

Played by Ralph Fiennes

In the magical realm exists another devilish being. We call him "You-Know-Who", "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or "the Dark Lord" for even the mention of his name maybe catastrophic. Lord Voldemort is the arch nemesis of the courageous good will ambassador Harry Potter. Lord Voldemort’s quest is to gain ultimate power by killing Harry Harry Potter since he was born and the latter always manages to escape his fatal yet futile attempts.

Alien - Alien 

Played by Bolaji Badejo

It isn’t Signoury Weaver alone that he torments. This baddie takes an entire space ship crew down, killing them one at a time. The titular Alien in the movie Alien is enormous and causes trouble of gigantic proportions. It is from the beyond and the malignant creature simply makes your blood freeze with fear. Hats of to Signoury Weaver for taking down the vicious, virtually unbeatable alien on her own!

Bruce - Jaws 

Played by a seemingly convincing mechanical model

Toothy is cute? That holds true for Bugs Bunny not for this toothy predator that basically eats human. Why? Well, because human blood titillates his sense of smell and taste. We are his staple food precisely. When Bruce the shark, pops out of the water...God save the world. This gigantic shark’s basic instincts made people scared of water and waves for a long time. Go to the beach, end up being Happy Meal for a shark!

Cujo the Dog - Cujo 

Played by a St. Bernard whose real name was Daddy; Vocal effects performed by voice actor Frank Welker

More teeth on their way- this time they’re actually fangs. Dracula? Yeah you wish! No folks this is your neighbourhood canine. Cujo is an offspring of Stephen King’s vivid imagination. He is your average lovable pet dog transformed into a vicious killing machine with an insatiable need for blood. We see his nose getting wetter and gallons of saliva dripping down his tongue as he pounces on humans and tears of their flesh. Cujo is a nightmare, especially when you are awake. Want to adopt a pet puppy? Make sure it is properly vaccinated.

Darth Vader - Star Wars 

Played by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones

Another Lord, they call him Lord Vader or Darth Vader. This masked baddie is evil personified. Worse he is dark, disciplined and quite intelligent too which makes him all the more perilous. Vader's signature black helmet, echo-box breathing and portent-of-doom musical theme made him the #1 super villain after Dracula.There is a little explanation where we get to see why he is the way he is. We realized there was so much more to the guy in the walking coffin, and when he dies, one can’t help but grab a tissue. Now that is a great villain.

Agent Smith - The Matrix Triology 

Played by Hugo Weaving

Simply love the way he says “Hello Mr. Anderson”. He is suave, sophisticated and there are so many of them.. Agent Smith is a rogue program, resurfacing in various spots all over The Matrix without being controlled by the machines. He despises human beings, thinks they are parasitic and is out there to destroy them all. As he grows his number making every one he touches a clone of himself, he almost manages to bring an apocalypse till he was stopped by Mr Anderson or Neo, the white knight. His Men in Black attire, composure and brilliant sarcastic speeches make him an echelon of manovalence. 

-by Parmita Borah

(Click Here for "Best Hollywood Villains")