'My mom had told me a great deal about Meena Kumari and how she could make a tear drop at the right moment. A legend who was in total control. But when I finally met her, I saw a frail, shrivelled and petite woman -- just a bag of bones. Very tiny. She was dying.'
'It feels great to carry on this musical tradition.'
Through Bob Dylan's music, lyrics, and Timothe Chalamet's superb acting, we feel we have rubbed shoulders with greatness, even when it is full of flaws, self-doubts, warts and all, observes Aseem Chhabra.
'It was great to have the Indian roots reflected in full force.'
Chennai-born Indian-American businesswoman and musician Chandrika Tandon, 71, won a Grammy in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category for her album Triveni, a blend of ancient chants and world music, at the 2025 Grammys.
Zakir Hussain was the maestro of tabla, percussionist, composer and even actor -- a legend who was India's very own and yet belonged to the world. Hussain died from 'idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis', a lung disease, in a San Francisco hospital early Monday. He was 73.
'When he played his inner light shone so bright! His joy embraced us all... we experienced divinity.'
'Zakir bhai always said, 'koi chala nahi jata hai', he believed even after death, you left something of yourself behind and he has left so much of himself behind.'
The eulogies will pour for Ustad Zakir Hussain. There will be those who recount his genius, his enterprise, his achievements, his grace, and his charm. I have no selfies or autographs to remember him by, but I will never forget his most generous and gracious gift to me -- one day in heaven, among the celestial ensemble of Indian music.
'Pankaj Udhasji took the Ghazal to the masses. He was a wonderful singer, but more importantly he was a wonderful human being.'
In the 76 years since India gained independence, 53 recipients of the Bharat Ratna have been there. That's less than one every year, which is a healthy ratio given there is the sanctity of this gem of an award to preserve. But four recipients for the year were announced in a few days in addition to one announced earlier. That took the total number in 2024 to five in less than a month, the highest for any year, post-Independence, notes Shyam G Menon.
Arjun Menon lists some of the popular songs from the South Indian movies in 2023.
In the mood for romance but don't know which movies to watch? Tamil cinema has a lot to offer on OTT, and Arjun Menon lists his favourites.
'If you watch Baazigar even today, after 30 years of its release, you will enjoy it because of its novel story line.'
Weddings, holidays, award functions, throwbacks, festivals, family time or fooling around, 2023 saw a variety of posts beaming in joy. Of which these 25 Instagram moments of Bollywood stars are Sukanya Verma's favourites.
'Many people pointed fingers at me.' 'They would ask, "Why did you sing such a song? Why did you do this 'double-meaning' song?"' 'My mother also asked, "Yeh kya gaaya?"'
Anu Malik reveals how Baazigar revived his career.
'We bonded over the fact that we are both from Delhi and he spent a lot of his childhood in the same neighbourhood as me.'
Spielberg was born with a camera in his eye. And this one movie, he'd been recording all his life, observes Sukanya Verma.
Deepa Gahlot lists the most popular Yash Chopra films -- the ones he directed, not produced (yes, so that means no DDLJ) -- that can be watched on OTT.
Today, Anirudh Ravichander's name on a film's poster is enough to pull in audiences, notes Arjun Menon.
'Thank you to everyone who ever collaborated, hired, or listened to my music. I exist because of you'
Bollywood stars celebrate Valentine's Day with loved-up pictures and messages.
Serena Williams' career has been so astonishing that it could fuel umpteen movies
Fantastical musical moments from the International Jazz Day concert in Mumbai.
Goodbye makes ordinary places, ordinary people and ordinary events become interesting, observes Mayur Sanap.
The arrival of autumn in Srinagar marks its presence by changing the chinar leaves to orange-red.
'I am glad people are talking about Atrangi Re, good or bad. I'd be worried if they had nothing to say.'
A self-taught musician Kej, 33, has previously composed soundtracks for Kannada films.
In this weekly self-help series, mental health and life coach Anu Krishna tells you how to take control of your life.
'His shocking demise is a reminder to us to take life slow.'
On his 40th birthday on September 28, Sukanya Verma draws up a playlist of 40 riveting Ranbir songs.
'While we conversed in Marathi, she would always make it a point to ask me in English, "Are you okay? Have you eaten?"' 'I sorely miss that care and concern.'
With 28 Grammy wins in total, Beyonce breaks the record set by veteran singer Alison Krauss.
'I cannot be confined to just one or two kinds of music.'
'When you sing, you have to be in the song. You have to feel it or else, don't do the song.' 'That's why I haven't delivered a bad song in my career.'
'I've never allowed success to go to my head.' 'I've seen many artistes fall because of their pride.'
Will Jaan Kumar Sanu make it to the top 5 or lift the coveted Bigg Boss trophy?
'Now, no one can stop me from making music till the day I die.'