
Siddharth Dasgupta
Stories written by
'Frequently, heaven erupts': A new book of poetry takes readers across 37 Indian cities
An excerpt from 'The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City', by Bilal Moin.
Siddharth Dasgupta
,
Arun Kolatkar
,
Nandini Sen Mehra
,
Satya Dash
,
Malovika Pawar
,
Ashwani Kumar
,
Jayant Parmar
,
Riyaz Latif
&
Gopal Lahiri
The Art of Solitude: In these surreal times, John Coltrane's jazz is an invitation to believe
As we flit between existential anxiousness and soulfulness within a chosen sanctuary, the American jazz legend is never too far away.
Siddharth Dasgupta
· May 30, 2020 · 11:30 am
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Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Art and the Man: In memory of K Venkatappa
On Kasturba Road, abutting Cubbon Park, is a set of three adjacent buildings that feature in every 'Things To Do In Bengaluru' list. The first, if you are heading down from Queens Road, is a nondescript rectangular structure, with an actual Marut – the first Indian-developed jet fighter, conceived and manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in the 1960s – in its front lawn, which houses the exciting, interactive Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM). The second, whose name and purpose elude many Bangaloreans, is the magnificent neoclassical structure designed by Col Richard Sankey in 1877 and painted an eye-catching Pompeiian red (psst, that is the Government Museum, which contains many priceless historical artefacts, and is currently under renovation). The third, a plain modernist building set back from the road and originally designed to stand in the middle of an artificial island, is the Venkatappa Art Gallery (VAG), established in 1975 primarily to house the works of one of the most celebrated artists of the erstwhile Mysore state. Many Bangaloreans believe that the red building is in fact the VAG, but that kind of mix-up is less likely to happen going forward; last week, as part of its golden jubilee celebrations, a swank, state-of-the-art VAG, renovated by the Brigade Foundation, reopened to the public in the same location. His artistic talent – he came from a long lineage of Chitrakaras, court painters patronised by the Mysore kings – was spotted early, by the Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, who urged the lad to hone his skills at the Government School of Art in Calcutta. Arriving in Calcutta at 23, Venkatappa spent the next seven years studying under Tagore, alongside peers like Nandalal Bose, the pioneer of modern Indian art, and Asit Kumar Haldar, one of the major artists of the Bengal Renaissance. Like other artists of his generation who grew up in the ferment of nationalism, Venkatappa strove to create a new paradigm of art that was resolutely 'Indian'. But his reluctance to align himself with any artistic school, his rejection of important commissions that did not, in his estimation, compensate him adequately, or interfered with his artistic style (he preferred working in watercolours, when oils, inspired by Raja Ravi Varma, were all the rage in Mysore), and his habit of frequently neglecting his art for his music saw him produce far less work than his contemporaries. He may have faded into obscurity were it not for the Irish poet and theosophist James Cousins (famously responsible for nudging Kannada poet laureate Kuvempu into writing in his mother tongue after the latter solicited Cousins' feedback on his collection of poems in English), who, taken by Venkatappa's talent, recommended him to Nalvadi's brother, the Yuvaraja, in 1924. A royal commission followed soon after – a series of bas reliefs for the Mysore Palace, with a studio in the palace thrown in as a bonus. Venkatappa accepted, but he was by then so deep into his 'Ooty watercolours' phase (during which he produced some of his finest work) that delivery of the reliefs was inordinately delayed. With the death of Nalvadi in 1940, Venkatappa lost his most loyal patron. The new king, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, summarily dismissed the artist and evicted him from the palace. Furious, Venkatappa sued the Palace, but in vain. He produced no more new work until his death in 1965. That the state government should have, despite everything, set up a gallery for his work 50 years ago, is clearly a testament to K Venkatappa's relevance and impact as an artist. But go visit the VAG, and judge for yourself! (Roopa Pai is a writer who has carried on a longtime love affair with her hometown Bengaluru)


Pink Villa
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BTS estimated to have 1.2 trillion KRW impact with one full group concert following SUGA's military discharge, report
The globally renowned boy band BTS, celebrated for shattering records, commands an enormous online following, with their musical comebacks and concerts generating revenues in the trillions. Recently, on June 16, the K-media outlet Asia Economy explored the potential economic impact BTS could have in 2025, following a full group comeback after SUGA's military discharge. They also provided an estimate of their projected annual earnings. BTS to have trillions of KRW worth impact with a single concert in 2025? A recent report from the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute revealed that the economic impact created by a single BTS concert could amount to as much as 1.2 trillion KRW. It is a massive amount, given that the group's last full-group concert was in October 2022. Furthermore, projections indicate that the group's anticipated annual sales could reach approximately 1.87 trillion won. It highlights the immense ripple effect they can produce with a single musical comeback or concert. The estimated figures are derived from a previous analysis conducted when the English single Dynamite topped Billboard's primary single chart in 2020. At that time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in conjunction with the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, calculated the economic impact to be roughly 1.7 trillion KRW. Meanwhile, the American economic publication Forbes estimated that BTS's yearly contribution to South Korea's GDP amounts to approximately 4.65 billion USD, equivalent to around 5 trillion KRW. Furthermore a late 2018 report from the Hyundai Research Institute valued BTS's yearly economic contribution at more than 4 trillion KRW, comparable to the economic output of 26 medium-sized firms. Breaking down the figures, the institute estimated the production-induced impact at 4.14 trillion KRW and the value-added effect at 1.42 trillion KRW. Notably, this economic contribution represents about 0.3% of South Korea's GDP. BTS' 2025 full-group reunion and activities The entertainment industry is currently abuzz with speculation regarding the potential announcement of BTS' group activities. Many fans feel that a world tour might precede the release of new music, potentially including the group's solo hits and fan favorites in the setlist. During then the boy band is also expected to be preparing for a brand-new full-length album, their first since the 2022 compilation album Proof.


New Indian Express
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- New Indian Express
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Many of us take inspiration when styling our hair, making sure each hairstyle complements our outfit. Hair styling is a concern for nearly everyone, and when it comes to advice, who better to turn to than an expert who has worked with top celebrities across the country? CE caught up with Yianni Tsapatori, celebrity hair stylist and creative director at Godrej Professional, during his recent visit to Hyderabad for the 'Godrej Professional Upskilling Workshop', where he trained local hairstylists on advanced techniques. In an exclusive chat, Yianni shares insights on working with celebrities, styling iconic red carpet looks, and some must-know hair care tips. Excerpts Tell us about the Godrej Professional session in Hyderabad. We've been doing these sessions for the last few months, and Godrej Professional is all about education. Our goal is to pass on the knowledge we've gained, whether it's about colouring, straightening, cutting, or styling. It's important to empower other stylists with updated techniques and insights. You recently styled Isha Ambani's Met Gala look. Can you tell us more about it? Yes! I've worked with almost every celebrity out there, and I've been in India for nearly eight years now, it's been a great journey. I've been styling for the Ambani family for about 4–5 years. Isha has attended the Met Gala for the past three years, and if you've followed her style since her wedding, you'll know she's always been open to experimenting. The Met Gala is a time to go all out, it's a moment to be bold, creative, and to have fun. For her hair, we wanted a striking contrast, structured and clean from the front, and dramatic at the back with a braid and a ponytail that looked like an explosion. We added a hint of Indian heritage with the braid but ensured the overall look was very international. We also used hair accessories to enhance the styling.