Best of Bengal at London Indian Film Festival this year
The 10th London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) 2019 will be highlighting some of Bengal's unique cinematic contribution to Indian and world cinema through a showcase of movies in Bengal Tigers - a part of its Themed Section this year. Among the classic films and filmmakers, there will be a rare opportunity to indulge in a Q&A opportunity with one of...
LIFF 2019 – Roobha
Roobha is a touching movie about one young Tamil woman's journey to understanding and embracing her sexuality, in the face of opposition from her family. That may sound like a million other films that deal with trans-gender characters but what makes this one special is that it's a love story told from two sides. On one side we have the...
LIFF 2019 – This Shaking Keeps Me Steady
Away from the headline-grabbing movies of the London Indian Film Festival lie some other pictures that don't receive the same amount of attention. “This Shaking Keeps Me Steady” is a case in point, a comparatively short, 60 minute, documentary from director Shehrezad Maher. Although she lives in New York now, Maher was born as raised in Karachi, Pakistan. It's to...
Vikram Hazra’s UK tour 2019: Taking Indian devotional music to the global platform
"See the world through the eyes of the Master" -- HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar The Indian devotional music tradition is centuries old and one of the most versatile, varied, and broad music formats that has been passed down through generations across all provinces of India. One artist, Vikram Hazra has, for nearly three decades now, experimented and succeeded in threading...
Exploring the not-so-touristy but magnificent French countryside with a car lover
Let's go to France for half term! This was October 2018 and in a few weeks it was all booked, the farmhouse by Khilna and all we had to do was book the ferry. There were many phone calls and texts to get it all co-ordinated so we were all travelling on the same boat and go in convoy....
Too Desi Too Queer: a special section of films at the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival
The 10th Edition of the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) will be showcasing a refreshing new section this year named “Too Desi Too Queer” as part of its special tenth anniversary and celebrations for India's 'decriminalisation' of its LGBTQ+ and transgender population. Sponsored by Thrive LDN / GLA, Brixton Reel Film Festival, Queer Asia, University of Westminster, Club Kali...
MCR Uni to present songs, workshop on Bengali folklore
The Mancunians are gearing up to experience an afternoon of Bengali folk songs at the Heaton Mersey Community Centre, in Stockport on 23 June. Hosted by the University of Manchester at the Heaton Mersey Community centre, this day-long workshop will be a public engagement activity involving Bengali folk songs connected with the work, life and rituals of the community, as...
Vikram Hazra and Soumya Jyoti Ghosh to rock the stage in London and Manchester
Vikram Hazra, an unparalleled name in Indi-jazz-rock-contemporary music returns to UK after nearly 14 years to mesmerise his fans in London at Bush Hall on 1 June and in Manchester at the Band on the Wall on 2 June. Vikram will be accompanied by Soumya Jyoti Ghosh in the concert, titled ‘Song of the Soul’, organised by SAJDA (South...
Short story: “Clean”
The cabin in the woods was spotlessly clean. It had always been that way, ever since the day it was built. The clean aroma of the stew wafted out of the kitchen chimney and was lost in the trees somewhere in the distance. Cleanliness was her passion, her mission, her life. She had adopted it in early childhood, a reactive...
Short story: “Swan song”
The phone rings rudely and raucously, rousing me from my restful slumber at the unearthly hour of 4 by my bedside alarm clock. I reach for it irritably, then pause. It can only be her. No one else would ever call me at this hour. Yet it cannot possibly be her. She has been gone from my life for over...
