Slayer in Bangalore | Rock 'N India

Slayer the American thrash metal band has confirmed their first concert in India in October, 2012. 

Information
Tour name: Rock 'N India
Venue : "Bhartiya City" Thanisandra Road, Bangalore, India
Date : Saturday, October 20, 2012
Time : 04:00 PM
Tickets : Click Here

The festival "Rock 'N India", produced by DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd since 2008, has hosted some of the greatest artists in the world of International music.  

The Band
Slayer was formed, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Till 2009 they have released eleven albums.

Current members of the band are Tom Araya – lead vocals, bass guitar, Jeff Hanneman – guitar, Kerry King – guitar and Dave Lombardo – drums.

Touring members are Tony Scaglione – drums (1986–1987), Gary Holt – guitars (2011–present), Pat O'Brien – guitars (2011).

Assam celebrates Bhupen Hazarika's b’day

Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (1926-2011)

GUWAHATI, Sept 7 – Around 5,000 people from different walks of life will render in unison Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s timeless number Manuhe manuhor babe at the Sarusajai Stadium tomorrow, as the State braces to give a fitting tribute to the music maestro on his birthday.

This will be the maestro’s first birthday after his demise in November last year.

Sadiya in Tinsukia district – the birthplace of Dr Hazarika and the easternmost tip of the State – will host the central birthday function.

City-based event management group, J Creations, is organizing the musical evening at Sarusajai, while many other organizations including the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) are also celebrating the occasion in the city as also elsewhere.

“We expect some 5,000 people from across the State to sing Manuhe manuhar babe in unison at Sarusajai tomorrow. It is a homage to the singing legend, and also an attempt to use the universal appeal of his songs to usher in peace and harmony in the testing times faced by the State today,” the organizers said. A host of luminaries from the State’s musical arena will add to the grandeur of the musical evening.

The AASU will observe the evening titled ‘Uddipana’ at Dighalipukhuripar before the statue of the singer from 6 pm. The best singers from one college in each of the districts of Assam, and the best singers of the universities, will render evergreen numbers of Dr Hazarika at the function.

Cultural group Jajabor will be holding another musical evening at the Swahid Udyan at Chandmari before the statue of folk maestro Pratima Pandey who had a close association with Dr Hazarika. Several prominent singers will render a wide array of songs – including many rare gems — from the vast repertoire of songs of both Dr Hazarika and Pratima Pandey.

The Gauhati Commerce College which begins its golden jubilee celebrations tomorrow has dedicated the first day’s programme to Dr Hazarika.

- The Assam Tribune

First Superstar of India Rajesh Khanna's demise

Rajesh Khanna (1942-2012)

Yesteryear Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna passed away on Wednesday afternoon (July 18, 2012) after a prolonged illness. He was 70. News of Khana's deteriorating health  has been making rounds lately and the actor was reported to have visited the hospital thrice due to weakness and BP problem.

He breathed his last at his Bandra house in the presence of his physician and all his family members including  son-in-law Akshay Kumar who returned from one of his shoots abroad in wake of father-in-law's ailment.

Rajesh Khanna shot to stardom between 1969 and 1972 after 15 consecutive solo superhits and is considered the first 'superstar' of Indian cinema. He appeared in 163 feature films and did 17 short films. 

He won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards and was nominated for the same fourteen times. He received the maximum BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) – four times and nominated 25 times. He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

He made his debut in 1966 with Aakhri Khat and rose to prominence with his performances in films like Raaz, Baharon Ke Sapne, Ittefaq and Aradhana. 

Rajesh Khanna was a member of Parliament for the Congress Party, from the New Delhi constituency, where he won the 1992 by-election, retaining his seat until the 1996 election. When Khanna was M.P he worked full time as a politician and did not accept new acting assignments. He had since been a political activist for the Congress Party and campaigned for Congress in Punjab for 2012 elections.

The nations mourns the demise of this legendary actor and fondly remembers him for his memorable work.

- EFNI

Assamese singer Kalpana Patowary resurrects Bhojpuri Shakespeare

Indian folk music goes global, thanks to Bhojpuri singing sensation of Assamese origin, Kalapana Patowary with the launch of her new album The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur. Produced by EMI/Virgin records, the album is a tribute noted Bhojpuri litterateur Bhikhari Thakur. It was launched in Mauritius on the 4th of June 2012, by the country's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Public Infrastructure Mr. Anil Kumar Bachoo and Mr. Mookhesswur Choonee, Minister of Arts and Culture.

The richness of Bhojpuri mores have perhaps been shadowed by the massive popularity of double meaning hip shakers, thanks to the competitive rating points driven entertainment industry. It therefore comes as a surprise when one of the most popular Bhojpuri vocalists decides to stream aside from the rat race and explore the lost works of Bhikhari Thakur, fondly known as Shakespeare of Bhojpuri literature for his contribution to poetry and drama.

Assam born singer Kaplana Patowary has carved a mighty niche for herself in the entertainment industry having lent her vocals to a numerous Bhojpuri songs as well as Bollywood numbers including films like Billo Barber and De Dhana Dhan. Although she has a myriad of folk and popular songs to her credit, Bhojpuri music has been her most dedicated foray.

Born in 1887, Bhikhari Thakur’s creative sojourn began late in his life for he was an illiterate until quite a few decades of his life. He learnt the three Rs from a shopkeeper when he went to Calcutta following a family tradition of working in the city. The stark social and cultural variations of his village and Calcutta, as well as works of Raja Ram Mohan Roy inspired him to express his experiences through literature. On returning to his village Bhikhari Thakur formed Bhikhari Thakur Natak Mandali thus creating a theatre form called Bidesia. Unlike conventional poets and dramatists, Thakur’s work took a dig at the redundant ways and customs of the society of his. One of his most noted works includes the tale of a woman in a village whose husband leaves the village to work in a but she still has physical desires, so she gets involved with another man and has a child.

Inspired by the contemporary nature of Thakur’s writings, Kalpana felt a need to share his work with a present day global audience. It turned out to be a mammoth task as the material available on Bhikhari Thakur is negligible. Luckily her rendezvous with a 98 year old dancer from the Bhikhari Thakur Natak Mandali gave her a first person account of the experiences of Tahkur’s legend as well as well walked her through his works.

Titled The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur, Kalpana’s tribute to the Shakespeare of Bhojpuri literature has nine melodious tracks, the lyrics of which were penned down by Thakur himself. His memorable poems on immigration and unemployment rendered by Kapalana's powerhouse vocals have been welcomed with warmth in many parts of the globe. It has been launched in France and Mauritius and a launch in is scheduled in the foreseeable future. It's comes as no surprise that EMI/Virgin Records has undertaken the risk of pricing this Bhojpuri album at Rs. 195. The Legacy of Bhikari Thakur takes Bhojpuri music from the masses to the classes.

- by Parmita Borah

Kindgom of Ghazals loses its King

After Jagjit Singh another golden voice has departed from the world of Ghazal with Mehdi Hassan's demise.

Mehdi Hassan (July 18, 1927 - June 13, 2012)

Born into a family of traditional musicians, Mehdi Hassan was the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant clan of musicians. He started performing at a young age and the first concert of 'dhrupad' and 'kheyal' with his elder brother is reported to have been held in Fazilka Bungla.

After the Partition of India, 20-year-old Hassan and his family migrated to Pakistan and suffered severe financial hardships Mehdi started working in Chichawatni, in a bicycle shop. He later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic.Hassan's passion for music however was never deterred by his personal struggles. Hassan's struggles gradually ceased after receiving an the opportunity to sing on Radio Pakistan in 1957, primarily as a 'Thumri' singer, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity.

Mehdi Hassan is a recipient of multiple prestigious awards and honours: the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz granted to him by Gen Ayub Khan; the Pride of Performance bestowed on him by Gen Ziaul Haq; and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz conferred by Gen Pervez Musharraf. he received the Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India, in 1979, and the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983.

This Indian born Pakistani Ghazal maestro breathed his last after battling with a prolonged illness on on 13 June 2012.

- by Parmita Borah

Ruskin Bond celebrates 25th anniversary of Penguin in Bangalore

Ruskin Bond at Landmark (Photo: Jim Ankan Deka)

Ruskin Bond, author of many widely sought after books, was at the Landmark store in Forum Mall, Bangalore, on June 6, 2012, to release his new book of poems "Hip Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems" published by Penguin Books India. The event "Meet Ruskin Bond at Landmark" was organised by Penguin Books and Landmark to celebrate their 25th anniversary this year.

With around 200 spectators, the event was grand and aesthetical. After the inauguration ceremony, the author cut a cake along with his favourite audience - children, recited a poem from the new book, answered few questions of his fans and signed autographs.

Ruskin Bond is an  Indian author of British descent born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh in 1934. His first novel "The Room on the Roof", written when he was seventeen, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial prize in 1957. He received the Sahitya Academy award in 1993 and the Padma Shri in 1999. Presently he is staying in Landour, Mussoorie, with his extended family.

Ruskin Bond reciting a poem from his book Hip Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems (Photo: Jim Ankan Deka)

Audience asking questions to Ruskin Bond (Photo: Jim Ankan Deka)

- EFNI | Jim Ankan Deka
 

Jazz version of 'Tere Bin Nahi Lagda' releases online

As a tribute to legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Jim Ankan Deka and Ritwika Bhattacharya, the musician duo from Bangalore released 'Tere Bin Nahi Lagda' online.

'Tere Bin Nahi Lagda' was originally composed by the legendary singer for the movie 'Kachche Dhaage' in late 90s and since then it became hot favourite of all Sufi lovers. While there is way no match the musical genius of the noted singer, the new composition is certainly an interesting rendition of the virtuoso's soulful melody.

Ritwika's Sufi styled vocals and Jim's incorporation of jazz elements don't simply echo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's original composition, but paraphases it as contemporary fusion.

'It's a humble tribute to the incredibly gifted maestro', the budding musicians said. The duo had earlier recorded the famous song 'Ganga' by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.

The song was recorded in Eastern Fare Studio in Bangalore (Eastern Fare Music Foundation) and was released online on May 13, 2012. The song is available for streaming on Reverbnation, Youtube and iTunes.

- SpicyPR