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Background Credit: Philip Lim

Andres Velencoso Segura - The Conquistador

I usually don't post pictures of semi-naked guys on the blog unless and until there is something that catches me eye. The other day I bought a magazine and it had a advertisement for a perfume on the jacket cover. This is Spanish Supermodel Andres Velencoso Segura I saw him in the latest ad for Chanel Allure Sport and he is hot like WOW!!

Photo Credits: andressegura.net

Wow List- Indian music

This is the continuation to the last post and as asked by Brenton I am trying to compile a list of my favourite Indian musicians. In India a major chunk of the music comprises of the soundtrack to various movies and it would be very difficult for me to compile a definitive collection of 'filmi' music. I am going to try to divide my musical tastes into different genres and try to give you my favourite artist and their best work according to me. There is so much diversity in terms of language, folk music and musical style sin India that it would be impossible to make a definitive and complete list but I am going to try my best keeping in mind my musical taste.

1. Sufi Music: Sufism is a school of thought in Islam which has been very close to my heart. Most schools of thought in Sufism believe that music is the medium through which we could achieve union with God. Music is supposed to transfer you into an alter universe where you are closer to the beloved (God). Qawwalli is the name for the form of music that is sung in the Sufi shrines. The two most important artists in the Sufi music genre are Late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen.You can start with the album Night Song which was a collaboration between Nusrat and Michael Brook. Then you can graduate to his other titles on Peter Gabriel's label called Real World Records. Most of the music artists signed onto Real World are really great. While looking for some links for this post I came across this album called The Prayer Circle and heard it on iTunes and I think its really nice. In case underground music scene is some you like then there is the album called Star Rise which features some really nice mixes of Nusrat's songs by artists based in UK. Abida Parveen is one of the few and the greatest female Sufi singer. She has the most intoxicating and powerful vocals but sadly most of her best work is with Muzaffar Ali and I'd think it will be very difficult to buy any of it in the West. Her best albums in my opinion are Ru E Ali and Raqs e Bismil. You can also give Jahan e Khusrau a listen or try Songs of the Mystics. Other Sufi singers are Zila Khan, Ustad Rahet Ali Khan, Ustad Shafaqat Ali Khan.
   
2. Indian Classical Music: As with the West Classical music has been the music of the classes and is not so popular. Indian classical music can be divided into Vocal and Instrumental music. Instrumental music includes many instruments like Sitar, Sarangi, Flute (Bansuri), Tabla, Santoor etc. Most of the classical music is based on compositions called Ragas. Sarangi is my favourite India instrument and the artists that I like is Ustad Sultan Khan. Along with being able to play the instrument beautifully he also has the most rustic and folk vocal quality. If you can try to get hold of Pukaar a posthumous collaboration between Nusrat and Sultan done digitally. Other albums being Piya Basanti, Morning and Evening Ragas and Jugalbandis with other artists like Zakir Hussain (tabla artists). Another famous artists is Pandit Ravi Shankar (Norah Jones' father) and he plays the sitar. The recommended albums are Chants of India and West meets East- The historic Shankar Menuhin collection. If you like the sound of the sitar you could try his daughter's Anoushka Shankar's Grammy nominated album- Rise.
   
3. Then there is the plethora of Indian artist who have been born and brought up outside their country and have tried to form an amalgamation of the two cultures in their music. Some of my favourites and their albums being Susheela Raman- Love trap, Salt Rain and Music for Crocodiles; Talvin Singh - Ha, Ok; Azam Ali/ Vas/ Niyaz- Portals of Grace, Elysium of the Brave, Feast of silence, In the Garden of Souls; Sheila Chandra- Weaving my ancestor's voice.
4. Bollywood Music: A R Rahman has been the most experimental and successful Bollywood music director. He has collaborated with artists all over the world. Out of the soundtracks he has produced my favourite are Dil Se, Lagaan, Taal and Saathiya. R.D. Burman and Vishal Bhardwaj are some of the other notable music directors. To get a modern take on Bollywood music the album You've stolen my heart by Kronos Quartet featuring Asha Bhonsle is recommended. Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh are known for their melidious love songs called ghazals.
   
5. Tibetan Music: I know that Tibetan Buddhist music cannot be considered a part of Indian music but I find it meditative and soothing and therefore am including it in my list of must have music from the Indian subcontinent. An introduction should include the following albums: The Lama's chants and Rain of Blessings by Lama Gyurme and Jean-Philippe Rykiel; Tibetan Master Chants by Lama Tashi; Wind of Devotion ft Carlos Nakai, Rhythms of Peace by Nawang Khechog; Tibetan Tantric Choir by The Gyuto Monks.

This list is by no means complete and I will keep updating it as and when I keep discovering new music that I think I should share with you all. Until then ciao.

Wow List- Bollywood Movies

Brenton has been a regular reader of the blog and usually leaves the sweetest comments. He sent me a email a few days ago and asked me if I could make a list of my favourite Indian music and movies that could be an introduction to someone who would want to know more about it. I don't think I am the right person to be introducing India to anyone. Most of my friends at work used to make fun my Hindi and Punjabi which they said had a weird accent to it. Anyways as this is my blog and I get to choose it's contents I am going to try to make a list from my dear friend in Australia and I thought it would be good to share it on the blog for others to have a look.
I am not someone who is too much into artsy and intellectual cinema and my taste for music too is rather eclectic and strange. But nevertheless I am going to try to make a list of my favourites.

Indian movies that I'd recommend:

1. Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Sanjay is known for his rather extravagant sets and use of colours in movies like Devdas , Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. But Black has been the complete opposite. Very dark and understated and my pick as the best Indian movie ever.
2. Raincoat by Rituparno Ghosh not your usual Bollywood movie. There is no running behind trees singing songs. Very mature cinema and very dark.
3. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna by Karan Johar. Karan has been accused of making movies catering to the non resident Indian community with lots of style but little substance. This movie challenges the concept of marriage and love as Indians would believe and I think was a very brave concept to make a Bollywood movie on. He received wide spread criticism for it. His other hits have been Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi khushi Kabhi Gham.
4. Omkara by Vishal Bhardwaj. Vishal has been making music for movies for long and has directed 4 movies. Two have been children movies and the other two have been based on Shakespeare's plays , Omkara based on Othello and Maqbool based on Macbeth.
5. Veer Zaara by Yash Chopra. Yash has been known for his romantic movies shot in beautiful locations. Veer Zaara is a story of lovers separated by borders the girl being from Pakistan and the guy from India. His other notable work is Lamhe and Chandni among others.
6. Dil se by Mani Ratnam. Mani is also a accomplished director from South India who has made some great Hindi movies like Bombay and Guru.
7. Umrao Jaan by Muzaffar Ali. Muzaffar Ali is one of the most talented personality in India and one of my favourite. Umrao Jaan is a glimpse into the past of India through the eyes of a Ali who is also a descendant of one of the ruling houses of the yesteryears. This movie has been remade by J.P Dutta and the new one was a disaster. Make sure you get the old one staring Rekha - The Diva.
8. Lage Raho Munnabhai by Rajkumar Hirani. It's the sequel to the massive hit Munna Bhai MBBS and tries to bring back the teaching of Gandhi to the present times.
   
9. Kamasutra by Mira Nair. Once again a beautifully shot movie with the regalia of th epast on display. Other movies by her are Namesake, Salaam Bombay and Monsoon wedding - a peek into the madness that is a Punjabi wedding ceremony. Then there is also the trilogy Earth, Fire and Water by Deepa Mehta.
10. 1942 A love story by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Parineeta, Rang De Basanti by Om Parkash Mehra, Kal Ho Na Ho, Lagaan by Ashutosh Gowariker, Maachis and Masoom by Gulzar to round it all up. Satyajit Ray is the only Indian to win an Oscar but I haven't seen any of his movies. My Brother Nikhil is one of the few sensible movies made on homosexuality and AIDS in India.

The list of musicians would follow in the next post.

Wow list- Gael Garcia Bernal

I have enjoyed all the movies in which Gael has starred. Though I haven't seen many but the few that I have seen I found him to be a rather good actor who is also devastatingly handsome. I really liked him in Y tu mama tambein (which has a gay twist to it-well sort of), Babel ( albeit his small role in the film) and The Motorcycle Diaries. I want to see Bad education but haven't been able to get the dvd here in India.

Quotes by Gael Garcia Bernal

"A person isn't born with the intelligence to be with someone especial, you learn it, and you fail in the path of life, but you don't have to give up the chance to love."

" Changes occur that way. Suddenly the bricks fall into place in some sort of chaotic serenity."

" When we are put into that delicate position of being in love, the thinking is abandoned and we react instinctively."

More at Gael Online

Photo Credit : Senor Bernal , Video Credit: Omgteaparty

WOW list- World Music

I was thinking about what I should post today and then I thought of starting a post where every now and then I'd post about one of my favourite music artist both popular and obscure. I listen to all kind of music and last year I bought a CD called 'Music for Crocodiles' by Susheela Raman. I was instantly hooked. I don't know if it was the raw sensuality of her voice or the most perfect music that accompanied it but I was a fan. Later I got her earlier two albums called Salt Rain and Love Trap.

Susheela was born in UK to South Indian parents. When she was four she moved to Australia but kept in touch with the music of her land. She was also influenced by jazz, funk and blues and you can see that in her music. She also trained with a classical singer in India. Later she moved back to UK where she came out with her first single with Paban Das Baul (another great world music artist). She sings in Hindi, Tamil, Sanskrit, English and French!!! You can listen to her music here or here or through the player in the sidebar. She has sung songs that are as diverse as bhajans (religious music) by Bhakti saints like Meera Bai, Tyagaraja, Dikshitar to cover version of 'Save me' by Joan Armtrading and original compositions in English and French.

I couldn't find any of her videos on You Tube other than this video from her very first album. Hope you like it.

Video Credits: cafedelnightmare

WOW list- Male Hollywood Actors

After all the posts about spirituality and religion I thought of breaking the flow of thought. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So just to spice things up a little I thought of starting my WOW list. The first list is made up of Hollywood male actors that I think are devastatingly handsome. I am too lazy to hunt for pictures and some of these may not be the best quality. I will continue the WOW list and it may vary from Divas to Cars from Watches to Gadgets,Holiday destinations, Hotels to Fashion and I don't even know what else. But they would be people or things I like. Here is the first instalment.

     

Patrick Dempsey Rupert Everett

    

Johnny Depp Hugh Jackman

    

Jude Law Josh Lucas

    

Jared Leto Paul Simon

    

Robert Downey Jr. Ralph Fiennes

Rupert Graves