Raghav Meattle: A Rising Star!

After a fantastic performance

One must be either very gifted or very strong-minded, to quit a successful corporate job in pursuit of a dream. Talented young singer, Raghav Meattle, is both. He first made a mark as a semi-finalist on the second season of India’s only English-language reality TV show, “The Stage”. He hasn’t looked back since.

25 year old Raghav is certainly a dreamboat. He’s blessed with oodles of charm, generous good looks and a swoon-worthy voice. He has a special appeal that makes him stand out in a crowd. The celebrity judges on his TV show- Vishal Dadlani, Ehsaan Noorani, Devraj Sanyal and especially Monica Dogra, shared my sentiments.

I saw Raghav perform recently at Fio Cookhouse & Bar, at Epicuria Mall in Nehru Place, New Delhi. The restaurant is ideal for live performances, with its large indoor space and beautiful outdoor setting. Fio has acquired a reputation for the Friday night live gigs, so the place was jam-packed. Most tables were occupied and there was a sizeable crowd standing at the bar.

Photo courtesy: Raghav Meattle/ Facebook.com

Raghav shone that night, supported ably by a crowd cheering him on with each song. He was flooded with song requests, which he readily obliged. He was on the guitar and his musical coterie included two other musicians.

The songs he wrote himself really stood out for their originality and instant appeal. The touching “Since memories remain” moved me. "Back to the known" is a heartfelt tribute to being homesick. While introducing the song he endearingly called himself “’an emo kid!” On a different vein was the uplifting “Better than it all”, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Other self-written numbers included “Bar Talk” and “Boring I love you”. 

He also sang some covers, such as the fun George Ezra numbers, “Budapest” and “Blame it on me”, the catchy “New Shoes” by Paulo Nutini, some interesting mashups of No Diggity, “Thrift shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and the ever popular “Sexy and I know it” by LMFAO. He brought a distinct flavor to each one, while maintaining the allure of the originals. When a couple on the floor requested the soulful “You look wonderful tonight” by Eric Clapton, he brought out the romance in spades! People hadn’t had enough when he was ready to pack up.

Photo Courtesy: Fio Cookhouse and Bar/ Facebook.com

The only glitch that night was the sound system at the venue. The speakers were placed next to the bar, severely affecting the sound quality as people crowded round that area. This can be easily rectified. Here’s hoping Fio takes notice in time for its next live gig!

Raghav is experimenting with many platforms as he begins his musical career. Apart from touring the country, singing live at various venues; he often collaborates with filmmakers and other creative media to lend his voice to their work. The best example is the beautiful “Meher Teri” for The Wedding Filmer, which literally gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

It’s said that a star is born when a talented person receives widespread recognition. Raghav Meattle is definitely a rising star. He has everything going for him with his fresh, expressive vocals and his charismatic personality. Yet a bit of luck goes a long way in achieving renown. I look forward to following his journey, as I wish him all the luck!

Gig rating: 4/5 stars

*Check out his Youtube page here: Raghav Meattle/ Youtube.com.

Delhi's First Morning Fitness Party: Did it Live Up to the Hype?

                                           Happy, shiny people post a kick-ass workout!

                                           Picture: Kapil Choudhary: Kc Photography

Burning calories while having a blast? Sounds too good to be true but that’s exactly what Delhi’s first fitness party promised. Group workouts conducted by celebrity fitness professionals, pulsating music, and a central location all guaranteed a unique event.

                                                 Crusher Bharat gets the show started 

                                                   

What is a Fitness Party?

When you work out, your body releases endorphins to give you a burst of happiness. At fitness parties, endorphins are guaranteed with group exercise activities, peppy music, cool fitness merchandise, and healthy food. As fitness becomes fashionable, fitness parties are the future of the wellness industry.

                                       That awkward moment when you're called on stage!

Delhi’s First Morning Fitness Party

The Times of India and Fitternity.com organized the first fitness party in Delhi, aided by sponsors like SOIE and Aegon Life Insurance, among others. It was held on September 17, at The Park Hotel, Connaught Place. The venue was ideal, as a large hall was used for indoor sessions and the pool for Aqua Zumba.

Celebrity fitness trainers were invited to conduct their signature routines. These included Manisha Kohli for Yoga, Sucheta Pal for Aqua Zumba, Shalini Bhargava for Masala Bhangra, Deepika Saxena for Pilates, and Crush Fitness India for Dance Fitness. The event ended with a dance party to DJ Raedl’s beats. Each group was given a 45 minute slot.

Tickets for the event were reasonably priced at Rs. 300 and food packages were sold for an additional Rs. 250. These packages included a vegetable sandwich, a couple of fruits, an energy bar, a muffin, yoghurt, and a soy milk drink.

There was a station to check your Body Mass Index, with experts giving advice. There were also on-the-spot giveaways by the event’s sponsors.

Happy faces post workout!

Crush Fitness India

I chose Crush Fitness India's session as the time slot of 9:45 a.m. allowed me a Sunday morning snooze!

The Crush Club program of Crush Fitness India is based on six different dance styles, including Bhangra, Bollywood, Jazz, Merengue, Salsa and Hip-Hop. These styles are merged to make a unique High Intensity Interval Training workout set to lively music. They claim their sessions can make you burn up to 600 calories in 60 minutes.

Founder Bharat Sadana, is blessed with the ability to make large crowds follow him in his energetic dance movements. Along with co-founder Uday Raj Anand, he has put together a team of young dance fitness professionals. Each team member delivers a phenomenal workout. They stay true to the structure of Crush Club, yet bring in a flavor all their own.

After attending their explosive session, I can confidently attest to their calorie-crushing claims. There was fantastic energy in the room throughout the session. The sweating was proof of calorie-burn and our smiles proof of a well-deserved happiness!

With the awesome Crushers

Review of the Morning Fitness Party

The event suffered from slight teething problems. The emcee was unimpressive as he failed to engage the audience. More pursers were needed for crowd management; especially to make people stand with sufficient gaps from each other.

The sessions started on time, which was a bonus. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and look forward to attending more parties. With their reasonable price point, central location and ability to attract people of all age groups; they will certainly do well.

Event rating: 4.5/5

Caffe Tonino, Connaught Place: A Review

Picture courtesy: megavenues.com

I visited this cute café after a shopping spree with my cousin. It's conveniently located right opposite the Connaught High Street building in Connaught Place, which currently houses a massive H&M store. Thus, the café is ideal for a post-shopping bite.

It’s very welcoming with its picturesque décor and well-lit atmosphere. The staff is friendly, courteous and concerned about your experience without being too pushy. The dishes are reasonably priced which is very welcome in the age of GST!

Run by the team behind the iconic Tonino’s restaurant in Mehrauli, the café describes itself as a “Tuscan villa style cafe with tiled floors and brick walls offering authentic Italian dishes.” These high claims elicit high expectations. My cousin ordered the Golden Chicken Burger, which was delicious. They happily customized it for us by removing all vegetables as per preference. Served with Cajun fries, it made for a filling and tasty lunch.

I ordered the Peri Peri chicken, which the wait staff warned was extremely spicy. I asked for them to tone down the spices to a medium level. My dish arrived with three medium sized pieces of chicken, Cajun fries and a side salad. Unfortunately the chicken was extremely spicy, despite my request. Moreover, it was tough, undercooked and had a strange taste. I had to leave the dish after ploughing my way through one piece. The fries were delicious and the salad was satisfactory, so I wasn’t left hungry.

Despite my dissatisfaction, I was willing to pay the full bill, but the staff made sure the price of the chicken was removed. This kind of service deserves a special mention. I was ready to leave the restaurant with a flavor of disappointment in my mouth; instead I left with a smile!

Price of two dishes and 2 cokes: Rs. 1200/-

Price of one dish and 2 cokes: Rs. 770/-

Restaurant rating: 3.5/5

Mughal-E-Azam: A Stunning Musical Extravaganza!

Picture courtesy: www.scroll.in

Expectations are high when K. Asif’s legendary classic from the silver screen is adapted to a musical play. After six successful runs in Mumbai, Feroz Abbas Khan’s directorial venture, Mughal-E-Azam, has finally arrived in Delhi. Playing at the majorly revamped Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, it is a spectacle of grand measure, a fitting tribute to the original.

Though it took 7 years to make the movie, this play was put together in a record 2.5 months, perhaps the quickest ever for a show of this standard. I was enthralled by the phenomenal feat of live singing and masterful dancing. It is a huge achievement to consistently maintain energy levels throughout 2 hours and 45 minutes.

In my opinion, the true strength of the show is in its impeccable timing. The sets were transformed seamlessly; costume changes were flawless; and the dancers moved from scene to scene, with a fluidity one wouldn’t think possible.

Some of the actors impressed more than others. Anarkali, played by singer Priyanka Barve was outstanding. Her ability to emote through her immaculate singing stood her in good stead. The characters of Jodha Bai, played by TV actress Sonal Jha; and Bahar, played by Pratibha Singh Baghel, performed well. Akbar, played by Nissar Khan was impressive but fell short in comparison to the great Prithviraj Kapoor, who played Akbar in the original. Salim (played by Dhanveer Singh) was disappointing as he lacked a strong voice. One would imagine a more commanding voice for the heir apparent to the kingdom of Hindustan (or at least the actor playing him!)

However, the show isn’t marketed for its acting prowess. The real stars are the classically trained kathak dancers. Their ability to breathe life into scenes and faultless movements were breathtaking. Some truly impressive scenes include the evergreen “Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya”, the stunning qawaali of “Teri Mehfil Mein”, and the war scene where the fighting was vividly portrayed through dance. Kudos to the brilliant choreographer, Mayuri Upadhya.

Manish Malhotra has really outdone himself on the costumes. Each piece stood out for its aesthetic brilliance as well as its subtle imagery. In fact, every scene was a veritable visual treat. The digitally enhanced sets designed by Neil Patel, the projections by John Narun and the lighting by David Lander were all key contributors. Piyush Kanojia did a wonderful job recreating the magic of the original melodies, as well as lending a dramatic background score. The Line Production team of ‘Rapid Waters Pvt. Ltd’ including Namrata Ahmed and Suparna Chakravarti was instrumental in putting together this wonderful event.

There were a few minor flaws. In all its grandeur, it didn’t fully capture the poignancy of the original story. The tickets were very expensive, but that’s understandable, with the amount of time and effort invested in its creation. Some of the cast members need to be changed. Once these issues are addressed, the show will grow from strength to strength.

I highly recommend watching this memorable spectacle, on till the 17^th of September. Fans of the movie will enjoy reliving the decadence of the original, and a first-time audience will enjoy the resplendence of every aspect.

Play rating: 4/5 stars

Picture courtesy: www.radioandmusic.com

"Partition: 1947" - A Disappointment

Gurinder Chadha’s latest film commemorates the 70^th year of the partition of our country. It is an ode to her family’s migration from Pakistan to India. Despite her connection to the subject, her film fails to capture the emotional turmoil of the affected people.

Chadha has made a name for herself by successfully capturing the inherent ‘desi-ness’ of the Indian community living abroad. Having enjoyed her big-ticket films like ‘Bend it Like Beckham’, I was looking forward to this British-Indian filmmaker’s take on the traumatic events of 1947. Unfortunately, she didn’t deliver as per my expectations.

The film is set entirely in the Viceroy’s House (which is the name of the original English version of the movie), in the early months of 1947. Lord Mountbatten, (played by Hugh Bonneville) the new Viceroy of colonial India, is given the explicit task of facilitating India’s independence, making sure all concerned parties are satisfied with the outcome.

With this background, two separate narratives follow. One story line is concerned entirely with the political machinations that lead to India being divided into two nations. The second one focuses on a romantic relationship between a Hindu boy (played by Manish Dayal) and a Muslim girl (played by Huma Qureshi), working at the Viceroy’s House. Their slightly forced love story develops against all odds. It attempts to be a metaphor of the love and bonding between people of different religions, despite political decisions made in higher echelons.

The movie fails as it is neither an intriguing political narrative, nor a heartrending love story. The characters are wooden, with badly dubbed Hindi dialogues, failing to capture any sentiment. The romance is clichéd, and perhaps unnecessary. The actors attempt to do their job well; especially Bonneville, Qureshi, Gillian Anderson (who plays Lady Mountbatten), and Om Puri in his last outing on silverscreen, as Qureshi’s father; but the stilted dialogue and rushed script seriously hinder their performances. Tanveer Ghani is particularly disappointing as Nehru, making the Pandit’s stately character into a caricature.

I was kindly invited to a private screening of this movie, by the 1947 Partition Archive at The Bikaner House. The screening was followed by an insightful discussion with the director, the leading lady, and some eminent historians. Sadly, Chadha’s vision, as described by her, wasn’t clear in the film itself. She attempted to use the Viceroy’s House as a symbol for the unrest in India, during this period. She hoped to capture the upheaval and suffering of the people who lost their homes, their livelihood and life as they knew it. Alas, by solely concentrating on the seat of government, she failed to touch hearts.

When a film on a distressing, painful topic doesn’t ignite any emotion in the viewer, it is fundamentally flawed. Despite the intensive research and expert editing, the movie doesn’t inspire. I would recommend it only to die-hard history buffs, for an alternate view of what led to the division of an entire nation, and the consequent largest mass migration in the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Film rating: 2.5/5 stars

"Jagga Jasoos"- A Waste of Time and Money!

Jagga Jasoos is a nearly three-hour long rollercoaster ride. Like all rides it has its ups and downs with a couple of major loops thrown in. It starts off well, with a rather short-skirted Katrina Kaif, singing the story of Jagga (Ranbir Kapoor) to a bunch of children visiting the Kolkata Book Fair. As she describes his many feats of brilliant detection, the audience finds itself invested in the story of this lovable character. However, once the story builds up and hops across confusing timelines, the movie becomes simply tedious.

It is highly ambitious to combine a detective thriller with a traditional musical format. When that's topped with emotional family drama, you have a recipe for disaster. A younger Jagga is introduced as an abandoned orphan in a hospital in West Bengal. He is an endearing child that stammers and hence does not have the confidence to speak. When he saves a man (played by an earnest Saswata Chatterjee) from a near-fatal fall off a train, he is adopted by this man. His new father encourages him to sing in order to communicate and imparts various important life skills.

Kapoor grows to be a curious and enterprising young boy who loves solving mysteries, two of which are chronicled in the first half of the film. The second half of the movie takes Kapoor to Mombaca on a wild goose chase, with the help of Kaif (who he has met on an earlier adventure). This is when the film hits the realms of ridiculousness. The wild antics of two children in pursuit of an international criminal does not make for believable cinema.

Anurag Basu has tried to weave together two very distinct story lines and has failed miserably. He could have explored the idea of a singing detective. Or he could have explored the idea of a boy in search of his father, uncovering a massive international crime while at it. There was no need for lopping them together. The movie was extremely long and the last half hour dragged to the point where most people just walked out of the hall. The huge disconnect between the first and second halves of the film is glaringly apparent.

Credit must be given to the incredible cinematography by S. Ravi Verman. The almost- photograph like images made for a stunning visual treat. A couple of songs including “Khana Khake, Daru Peeke, Chale Gaye” and “Galti Se Mistake” stand out for their quirkiness.

Ranbir Kapoor is phenomenal. He sings, dances and acts effortlessly and his talents are completely wasted in this movie. Katrina Kaif has never been more stony-faced and was an unnecessary addition. Both Chatterjee and Shah performed their roles well as did the child actor playing a younger Jagga. Nawazuddin Siddiqui made an effective guest appearance.

The biggest failing of the movie was the unnecessary weaving together of many plotlines. Kapoor does an admirable job of pulling his weight along but does not make a believable 18 year old. It makes you question the decision to make him a school going child in the first place. Anurag Basu gets a definite thumbs down for converting a potentially interesting story into a bad movie. Here’s hoping if he ever does come out with a sequel (as was indicated in the film), he sticks to what he understands best- the melodrama.

Film rating: 1.5/5 stars

Picture courtesy: www.indianexpress.com

A Glimpse at the Wonderful Work of the 1947 Partition Archive

Becoming a mother changes one’s priorities in life. From a busy lawyer working an 11-hour job, I transitioned to sitting at home changing diapers and playing with my tot. What doesn't change are one’s interests and passions. When I read the excerpt of my paternal grandfather’s Partition story, published exactly a year after he passed away, I was immensely intrigued by the organization that decided to record his story. This is how I learnt about The 1947 Partition Archive (“The Archive”).

I grew up in the same house as my grandfather, so I knew most of his fondly described life stories. The only ones he was always circumspect about belonged to the murky period of the partition of India. The fact that he opened up to a stranger about this difficult period of his life with complete frankness, came as a surprise to me. I immediately looked them up.

Within minutes I had scoured their Facebook page and knew I had to get involved however I could. My immediate family members belonged to undivided Punjab and keenly felt the tremors of that horrific event as they lost their ancestral lands and cut ties from their roots. As a result, I was always fascinated with stories of partition and would devour any literature or movies I could get my hands on.

At the tender age of 13, I read Shauna Singh Baldwin’s “What the Body Remembers”. The fictional work was instrumental in opening my mind to the immense suffering of the migrants. In fact, it shaped my future in a way, as I decided to pursue Honours in History from St. Stephen’s College later on.

With my deep interest in this period of history, the Partition Archive called out to me. The founder of The Archive, Guneeta Singh Bhalla was deeply interested in this fractious period of Indian history. She started the Archive in Berkeley, California while pursuing her Ph.D there. Over time, she brought together a handful of like-minded people who shared her passion for collecting stories of Partition survivors before the generation passed on. Her vision was so exemplary that she was able to set up a large pan-global organization with grass-root level participation where people became interviewers or collectors of stories without needing a specific educational background. I immediately contacted her and she directed me to her website. The Archive is organized well, with a set hierarchy of interviewers. The most-time intensive profile belongs to the Story Scholars which is a full-time commitment of 3 months or a part-time commitment of 6 months where specific areas of the world are assigned for the collection of stories. The easiest way of involving yourself, however, is by taking a 2 hour long Oral History Webinar and becoming a Citizen Historian.

I immediately signed up for this online workshop which was conducted by Rohini Ramakrishnan who was very patient and extremely helpful, and within a week I had conducted my first interview. I chose to interview my maternal grandfather whose story I felt privileged to preserve for future generations. I hope to continue recording more stories beginning with my own extended family members.

Despite the many teething problems I faced, including camera recording, sound and data transfer issues, not once did I feel discouraged from continuing this work. The Archive members, including Rohini, Alexandra Wells and Ritika Popli were all very helpful with their tips and prompt responses. The best part of being a Citizen Historian is that stories can be recorded at one’s own time allowing me to pursue my passion while being a full-time mother.

In the 70^th year of the partition of our country, it has become increasingly important to preserve these stories before they cannot be heard again. With the upcoming events and exhibits of the Archive in New Delhi, India as well as the ongoing recording of thousands of stories across the world, I feel positive the Archive will succeed in its goal of successfully preserving 10,000 stories from this period of history.

Visit their Facebook page here: 

https://www.facebook.com/1947PartitionArchive/

*Image belongs to The Archive. I have borrowed it from their Facebook page.