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Dooriyaan Khallas

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From our Archives – In conversation with one of India’s finest Ghazal singers, Jagjit Singh Sahaab

Jagjit Singh was an Indian composer, singer and musician. He composed and sang in numerous languages.

He is credited for the revival and popularity of ghazal, an Indian classical art form. He did so by choosing poetry that was relevant to the masses and composing them in a way that laid more emphasis on the meaning of words and melody evoked by them.

In terms of Indian classical music, his style of composing and gayaki (singing) is considered as Bol-pradhan, one that lays emphasis on words.

Jagjit Singh Sahaab was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government of India in 2003. The government released a set of two postal stamps in his honor, in February 2014,. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagjit_Singh

We today bring to you an interview, recorded more than a decade back, and it sounds like it was just yesterday – listen – in for sure to your favorite Ghazal singer, as he shares his memories, his journey – breaking into singing a few lines of his so many Ghazals as he talks. Do tune – in for the rebroadcast for sure, today, 10th October, on our Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST.

From our Archives – In conversation with the wonderful actress and singer, Salma Agha

Salma Agha is a British-Pakistani singer and actress who worked in Indian and Pakistani films in the 1980s and the early 1990s.

Salma Agha was born in Karachi and she started singing songs in school festivals and other programs. She was raised in London, where she received several film offers from Indian directors. Her first film was the romance Nikaah (1982), in which she starred as the female lead and also sang several of the film’s songs herself. She was nominated for the Filmfare awards that year in both the Best Actress category and the Best Female Playback Singer category. It was for her singing that she won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award. She is also known for her role in Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki (1984) opposite Mithun Chakraborty, and for her song “Come Closer” from the same film. Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salma_Agha

This conversation will take you back to another time….As we talk with the wonderful Actress, Salma Agha ji, you will relish each moment….in case you missed this earlier, tune – in for sure, on 8th October, on our Hindi Radio Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

 

From our Archives – In conversation with the wonderful Indian actress and model, Mahima Chaudhry

Mahima Chaudhry is a Indian actress and model who worked in Hindi films. During the 1990s, Chaudhry did a few modelling assignments and appeared in several television commercials before venturing into films.

Mahim made her acting debut in the 1997 film Pardes, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She established a career with several roles in films including Daag (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kurukshetra (2000), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), and received critical recognition for her performances in Dil Kya Kare (1999) and Lajja (2001). Courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahima_Chaudhry

This conversation was recorded many years back – and you would love every word of it – Mahima talks about how she got working with Subhash Ghai ji, who gave her a break in the film Pardes, about her many other movies and roles, about her great equation with Preity Zinta, about her daughter and much much more – in case you missed this earlier, tune – in for sure, on 6th October, on our Hindi Radio Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

From our Archives – In conversation with Anshu Jamsenpa, the first woman in the world to scale the summit of Mount Everest twice in a season

Anshu Jamsenpa is an Indian mountaineer and the first woman in the world to scale the summit of Mount Everest twice in a season. She is from Bomdila, headquarters of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, She was awarded India’s fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2021.

Anshu has definitely made all us Indians proud. We talk to her about the moment of victory, and she says the first time around, it was a very emotional moment for her. The second time on…she could just feel everything around her…so beautiful…so magical, and that she felt she was very close to God…

So come feel the great Mt. Everest with Anshu – yet again, as we take you a few years back – to this conversation from our archives – incase you missed it earlier – tune -in today, 2nd October, on our Hindi Radio Show, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

 

 

The Indo-American Arts Council presents the Erasing Borders Dance Festival – Starts today

The Indo-American Arts Council announces the “Erasing Borders” dance festival, two live performances September 23 & 24 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, and one virtual September 25 featuring legendary artist Padma Shri Malavika Sarukkai, along with a lecture and a panel discussion.

The Indo-American Arts Council is a nonprofit arts organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of the arts and artists whose heritage lies in India in the performing, visual, literary, and folk arts.

For more information about IAAC and more extensive information about the upcoming events, please visit  www.iaac.us

Conversation with Jin Won, on the upcoming IAAC event, Erasing Borders Dance Festival

An accomplished kathak dancer and tabla player of South Korean origin, Won spent over 15 years in India training in Indian classical percussion and dance under Pandit Divyang Vakil and Shrimati Shubha Desai, respectively.

While equally adept at traditional and contemporary presentations of kathak and tabla, Won’s latest endeavours are explorations of rhythm as a unifier across cultural expressions. Since moving to the United States in early 2010’s, Won has collaborated with Korean and Arabic traditional artists and incorporated a multitude of percussion instruments from around the world into her work.

Tune – in for sure, today, 22nd, September on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST.

 

Conversation with Sruthi Mohan and Shivani Badgi on the upcoming IAAC event, Erasing Borders Dance Festival

Sruthi Mohan is the Founder and Creative Director of Tat Tvam Asi, a boutique art organization in Austin, Texas, created specifically to curate and present works of internationally acclaimed Indian classical dancers touring the US.  An active and passionate community organizer, with more than a decade of organizational experience, she currently serves the Austin Hindu Temple in the dual capacities of Trustee and as Cultural Committee Chair. She has been instrumental in creating various cultural outreach initiatives that aim to showcase the spiritual beauty of Indian classical dance and other temple arts. 

Shivani Badgi is an Indian American dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She began her training at age five under Guru Padma Khanna, senior disciple of Nataraj Gopi Krishnaji, in Kathak, Lavani, and Bollywood. She learned Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary at Joffrey Ballet School, Mason Gross School of Arts, and Broadway Dance Center during her college years. Her career continued with performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Consulate General of India, United Nations, Theater for the New City, Longwood Gardens, and soon at Florida’s Disney World. She is now the Artistic Director/Founder of The Gurukul Performing Arts in NJ and NYC.

On the show, we have with us Sruthi Mohan, who is also senior curator at the festival and we have Shivani Badgi, who is performing at the festival. Tune – in for sure, this Thursday, 21st September on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST.

From our Archives – Maryam Abolfazli, strategy consultant for social impact leaders and organizations – on her time in Afghanistan

Maryam Abolfazli is a storyteller, coach and strategy consultant for social impact leaders and organizations. For twenty years, she built her career as an international economic and political development professional, working in Eurasia and the Middle East, to assist in improving the political and economic realities of marginalized communities there.

Maryam leveraged technology and designed an online training methodology that is still being used today in Afghanistan, Iran and more. All the while, she wrote and documented her travels and observations in publications such as the Huffington Post, Guernica, and The Guardian.

Today, Maryam is a Subject Matter Expert and Sr Trainer on a technology product utilized to measure the impact of programs around the world. Her writing today focuses on the topic of equitable development in her hometown of Nashville, TN. She often sneaks away to tell stories on stage for the MOTH Story Slam in Nashville, TN and Story District in Washington DC.

We talk to Maryam about the time she spent in Afghanistan – this was when the country had just started to build itself – Catch the conversation, recorded some years back, today, 4th September, on our Hindi Radio Show, From our Archives, on MeraSangeet Gold at 2:00 PM EST and on MeraSangeet USA at 5:00 PM – EST

In conversation with internationally renowned musician, composer, music educator and scholar, Kanniks Kannikeswaran

Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran is an internationally renowned musician, composer, music educator and scholar who has consistently employed his knowledge, understanding in music to create works of art that build bridges across diverse communities and cultures. Centered on issues of relevance to humanity, Kanniks’ creations are grounded in history and spirituality and they integrate multi-dimensional story telling with movement, visuals, chants and ensemble music based on Indian ragas, in an overarching vision of no-otherness.

Today on the show, we talk about his film, Colonial Interlude – being showcased at the Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati 2023 https://www.iffcincy.com/ Do tune in for sure, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST – on 20th August. 

In conversation with filmmaker, Bill McAdams, Jr

Bill McAdams, Jr. brings over 25 years of acting, directing, writing, and producing experience to the Entertainment Industry.

His career began as a stand-in for Matt Damon on The Rainmaker. He continued working with Matt Damon as his personal photo double for such films as the Academy Award winning, Good Will Hunting, Rounders and Dogma. Bill has directed many award-winning PSA’s and feature films, enjoying his creative path of storytelling.

On the show, we talk about his film, Bully High, being screened at the Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati https://www.iffcincy.com/. Do tune in for sure, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST – on 17th August.

Tanwi Mookherjee Prigge, President, India Association of Minnesota, talks to us

Tanwi Mookherjee Prigge serves as the President of, the India Association of Minnesota. She started volunteering at a young age for Mother Teresa and Ram Krishna Mission.

A resident of Minnesota for the last 18 years and an IT professional, Tanwi believes in service to others through her profession and volunteer work.

Tanwi enjoys working with children and women in various communities, through her volunteer work, drama/theater/music, and encourages folks to step out of their comfort zone and have fun. She is excited about working with the Indian community and the community at large.

Today, we talk to Tanwi about the India Day Celebrations being organized by the India Association of Minnesota. There are many activities to be a part of – Learn more about these — For details, do tune in for sure today, 12th August, on our Show, Saat Samundar Paar, on MeraSangeet Gold – at 9:00 AM,1:00 PM,5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM – EST. You can also catch the interview on MeraSangeet East at 11:00 AM EST.