Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs at the Chhtarapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahalaya [Prince of Wales Museum] after Two Decades

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya(Prince of Wales Museum) resonated to the sound of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod on Friday evening. The maestro's performance is part of the celebration of the momentous exhibition, India & The World: A History of Nine Stories, at the CSMVS that celebrates the Indian culture and its interaction with the rest of the world. Ustadji being a leading exponent of Sarod, an instrument that has its roots in Central Asia and a globally celebrated artist was perfect to represent this exchange of India with the world. 

The crowd remained mesmerised for over 90 minutes rooted to their seats, clapping as Ustadji with musicians Pandit Vijay Ghate on the tabla and Sridhar Parthasarthy on the mridangam took us on a melodious musical journey, sometimes with soulful ragas and other times with energetic jugalbandis, that made the museum come alive, literally!

Glimpses...

Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs at the Vrindaban Gurukul

Vrindaban Gurukul resonated to the sound of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod on Saturday evening. The maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performed with Pandit Vijay Ghate. 

The crowd remained mesmerised for over 90 minutes rooted to their position, clapping as Ustadji with Pandit Vijay Ghate on the tabla took us on a melodious musical journey, sometimes with soulful ragas and other times with energetic jugalbandis, that made the gurukul come alive. All in all, an eventful evening indeed. Glimpses...

Where Gautam Patole’s works find takers in Black and white and its myriad hues

Jackie Shroff, Pooja Bedi, Raageshwari Loomba and many eminent artists made their presence felt at Gautam Patole’s ‘Black is Beautiful’ exhibition inauguration where Gautam Patole brought to life images with his mastery over charcoal. Photo-Journalist for various magazines in India and abroad, Patole dabbled in various mediums like oil on canvas, acrylic and ceramic. His current works are charcoal on paper and canvas is on a Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.

Besides Jackie Shroff, Pooja Bedi and Raageshwari Loomba, the current exhibition also saw artists of the likes of Padmanabh Bendre, Paramesh Paul, Daxa Khandwala, Rupali Madan, Rakhi Baid, Madhumita Bhattacharya, Hemant Kumari Singh, Devyani Parikh among others praising the stunning works of Charcoal Master Gautam Patole. Glimpses...

Gracy Singh, Sushmita Sen, Kavita Seth, Prem Soni… throng BK Sister Shivani’s spiritual talk

Bollywood and spiritualism seem to go hand in hand with actors spending time at Hotel Sea Princess this Sunday to hear the spiritual talk of Brahmakumari Sister Shivani. Actors Gracy Singh, Sushmita Sen, Bhagyashree, Kitu Gidwani, Ramesh Goyal, Sharad Kapoor, Amita Nangia, Neelima Azeem,  Kavita Seth, Director Prem Soni, Writer Avi, Pinky Roshan, lyricist Sameer, Narayan Agarwal and a host of others were part of the spiritual the all-day programme followed by a simple satvik meal.

Said Gracy Singh, “My mother introduced me to Brahmakumaris. It has changed my outlook towards life. Just as your mobile battery needs a recharge, we need to be charged to face life as it comes. The spiritual talk by BK Sister Shivani does just that.”

Added Neelima Azeem, “I am a spiritual person. Dance is my connect to God. My friends wanted me to come for the talk and so I felt that this would be a wonderful opportunity and it indeed is.”

Director Prem Soni and actor Natasha Singh admit that Brahmakumari has changed their lives. Says Natasha Singh, “An aunt referred me to Brahmakumaris at a difficult phase of my life. It made a difference to me and hence I always pass it forward to those to need it most. There is abundance of love here.”

Avers Prem Soni,  “Natasha introduced me to Brahmkumaris. I was going through a very difficult phase and today I know the answers to the questions that have always been on my mind. The love you receive here is overwhelming.”

Feels Bhagyashree, “BK Sister Shivani is simple and explains with so much love that it touches you, I feel overwhelmed.” The same emotion is echoed by Pinky Roshan, Sharad Kapoor and the ilk.

When you ask BK Sister Shivani for a few final words of wisdom, she says, “If you think your life is not in the right direction, it is time to take a U turn towards spirituality. Spirituality means connecting to my original quality and to be able to use peace, love and compassion in every Karma. And as a person I am looking for peace, love and respect. If I connect to myself, then I will find peace and contribute towards creating a peaceful world.”

The world sure needs that today!