Natya Shastra by Bharat Gupta

Lecture on Natya Shastra, an ancient Indian treatise on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance and music.

More here

Where Did you Sleep Last Night

by the iconic American folk and blues musician, Leadbelly.

Ghazals by Mirza Ghalib

A nostalgic moment.

Ishq Mujh ko Nahin Vahshut hi Sahi by Chitra Singh in the 1988 Indian TV series Mirza Ghalib. It was made by Gulzar, and I think that is the reason all the ghazals in this series were bit more melodic/romantic. For a comparison one can listen to different versions of the same ghazal here and here.

Unn ke Dekhe Se Jo Ajati Hai Munh Par by Jagjit Singh

Feel The Love by Cut Copy

A sophisticated cheesy song by Aussie synth-pop Cut Copy

One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket

Indian Indie Music

Rounak Maiti: A 17 year old inspired by musicians like Bon Iver and James Vincent Mcmorrow etc.

Shantanu Pandit: Inspired by Bob Dylan and the like.

Tehelka has more here.

End of an era as Mehdi Hassan dies

From Dawn:

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Janglin

Can’t stop humming all day …

Military Madness

Its been exactly ten years since the Afghan war began.

Military madness by Graham Nash:

Folded flags by Roger Waters:

Aaj Baazar Mein by Nayyara Noor (Lyrics by Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

11-11-2011

A beautiful song written by great Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and sung by Nayyara Noor comes to mind.

Lyrics via  here:

aaj bazaar main pa bajolan chalo
let us walk in bazaar in shackles

Chashm-e-nam, jaan-e-shoreeda kafi nahin
wet eyes and restless soul is not enough

Tohmat-e-ishq-posheeda kafi nahin
being charged for nurturing concealed love is not enough

aaj bazaar main pa-bajolan chalo
let us walk in bazaar in shackles

Dast afshan chalo, mast-o-raqsan chalo
let us go with afshan in hand, in trance and dancing

Khak bar sar chalo, khoon badaman chalo
go with dust on head and blood on garb

Rah takta hai sub shehr-e-janaan chalo
Go as the city of my beloved is waiting

Hakim-e-shehr bhi, majma-e-aam bhi
City’s ruler and crowd of commoners

Teer-e-ilzam bhi, sang-e-dushnam bhi
arrow of false charge, stone of accusation

Subh-e-nashaad bhi, roz-e-naakaam bhi
morning of sorrow, day of failure

Unka dum-saaz apnay siwa kaun hai
who is their friend except me

Shehr-e-janaan main ab baa-sifa kaun hai
who is untainted in the city of beloved

Dast-e-qatil kay shayan raha kaun hai
who deserve the killers or executioners hand

Rakht-e-dil bandh lo, dil figaro chalo
get ready for the journey of heart, go wounded heart

Phir hameen qatl ho aain yaro chalo
let me go to be executed