Followers

Saturday, December 25, 2010

GANDU


For those of you still not in the loop (and why I haven't had much time to blog):

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129817037050114

Five Little Indians scored the music for the film (http://nh7.in/indiecision/2010/10/15/five-little-indians-score-film-soundtrack/)
Gandu debuted at the South Asian Film Festival 2010 sometime in October. There are a few reviews on the FB page. A couple of days back, we learned that it's been selected for the Slamdance Festival (http://www.indiewire.com/article/slamdance_unveils_2011_special_screenings_shorts_99_specials/). While the film has only had one special screening so far in town, maybe it will see light of day, being extreme as it is. Maybe not. It is an underground, indie film, after all. But it is getting its bit of mainstream attention as well (http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268192)
The band has a few plans on the anvil. Shall keep ya'll updated. Watch this space :)

Friday, October 01, 2010

City of Lights


Chandernagore is a small, picturesque town an hour away by train from Calcutta. Known for its French settlement, the quiet suburb on the Hooghly riverside offers rare examples of architecture and has several sites of historical importance. In the context of the Durga Puja, though, the town is known for entirely different reasons: its tribe of light artisans.
As a young boy, this aspect of the Puja didn't really dawn upon me: I was more interested in looking at the pandal or the protima. Tripping out on these lights only started happening in my teen years.
I still remember 4am walks from a popular south Calcutta Puja hangout where I'd go drink stupid with my school friends and return home walking through the shimmy of these lights; their colours and patterns changing from one neighbourhood to
the next, but always keeping me company.
Something about the lights standing guard at lonesome pandals when everyone else has gone to sleep for the night still appeals to me.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Why do I have this day job?

Reading a few stories offhand from a newly-spawned daily run by a business house that deals in everything from real estate to cooking masala, I realised that it's been almost a decade that I have been part of this profession. With some very good writers. With some great reporters, sensitive photographers and brilliant artists. With some excellent critics and editors and outstanding designers. But mostly, with some less-than-mediocre "professionals" who are, again, very good at pandering to egos.
Given that, I am thankful that I do treat this as my day job, with my music being of prime importance — and not the other way around. I consider myself an average writer, less-than-average artist and just a beginner with the lens. I also know for a fact that diplomacy and sucking up to get things done is not part of my character, and they never will be; it's rather late to change that character shortcoming.
Why am I still in this profession, then?

Because I love to write. It really is that simple.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Record record

Gearing up for the debut album. Hectic would be an understatement: office, baby, practice. But it's all good. Makes me feel like a working musician.