Latest news with #Desh
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘My paan shop is also my writing desk': Meet Pintu Pohan, Bengali author of over 200 works
Written by Adrija Datta In the heart of Behala's Madanmohan Tala, amid the hum of traffic and chatter, stands a small paan shop with an extraordinary tale. Behind its humble counter is 47-year-old Pintu Pohan — a prolific Bengali writer whose literary achievements have defied poverty, social ridicule, and years of struggle. In 1998, with Rs 1,500 in savings, he set up his paan shop which would become both his livelihood and his writing desk. While serving customers over the years, he managed to write 12 novels and over 200 short stories and poems. While ten of his books have been published, eight of them are children's storybooks. His works have been published in some of West Bengal's most respected magazines, including Desh, Anandamela, Anandabazar, Sananda, Suktara, and Nabakallol. 'I used to send my stories to various publications but it took 15 years of continuous struggle for my first writing to get noticed. Then the rest followed.' His love for literature took root when he was in Class IV. But being born into a family of daily wage earners, financial hardship forced him to abandon formal education after joining Jogesh Chandra College. 'I have done everything; from selling fish and flowers to working as a mason and an electrician,' said Pohan, who earned as little as Rs 30 – Rs 60 a day in his early years but I never let go of his pen. In 1998, with ₹1,500 in savings, Pohan set up his paan shop — which would become both his livelihood and his writing desk. Despite mockery and disbelief from those around him, Pohan remained focused on his dream. 'People laughed at me for writing at a paan shop,' he recalled. 'But I wrote anyway, between serving supari and betel leaves.' Pohan added, 'I didn't get a job, so I continued with my paan shop to run my family. I sit here for nearly 16 hours that is how I created my own world — penning stories from this very spot, a world that no one can take away from me.' Determined to complete his education, he enrolled at Netaji Subhas Open University and completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in Bengali in 2012 and 2015, respectively — all while managing his shop. He also pursued diploma courses in Hindi and computer studies, hoping to secure a stable job, but found little opportunity. For a brief period, Pohan looked after the literature pages of two Bengali newspapers. However, both the newspapers eventually ceased operations, once again leaving him without platform. Undeterred, he devoted himself fully to literature. His notable children's books include Thakurdar Ascharya Galpo, Aanta Buri Panta Buri, Ilishkheko Bhoot, Parulmashir Chagolchana, Kochuripanar Bhela, Dukhirampurer Dukhi Manushera, Noton Noton Payraguli and Jhinook Kumar. His novel, Tunir, is inspired by his own life, while Bhajogobindopurer Natun Agantuk Ebong presents a collection of 124 stories. 'We have published majority of Pintu Pohan's books, which have garnered considerable popularity, particularly among children,' said Ashok Manna of Manna Publications. (Adrija Datta is an intern with The Indian Express)
Scotsman
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Actor who battled Matt Damon in Bourne Ultimatum to lead Glasgow stage fight workshop
The course is being run in association with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An actor who battled Matt Damon in the Bourne Identity and a Japanese martial arts specialist who choreographed key scenes in Kill Bill are to teach a stage and screen fighting workshop in Glasgow. Joey Ansah, who gained international recognition as Desh in The Bourne Ultimatum, is to teach the course alongside Tetsuro Shimaguchi, who gained international acclaim as the sword fight choreographer and actor - Crazy 88's 'Miki' - in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol 1. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Run by Stage Fight Scotland and Acting Action Ltd, in association with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the four day course, The Claymore, billed as the first of its kind in over a decade, will teach stunts, stage combat, swordplay and martial arts. Joey Ansah arriving for the UK Premiere of The Bourne Ultimatum, in 2007. | PA Also teaching the course is Paul MacDonald, founder of the MacDonald Academy of Arms and chief swordmaker at MacDonald Armouries and Anita Nittoly, a stunt performer, fight director and stage combat instructor, whose stunt credits include The Boys, The Expanse and DC's Titans. Course director Rob Myles, a tutor at the Royal Conservatoire, first trained with Mr Shimaguchi when he was living in Japan 15 years ago and working as an English teacher, as well as a jobbing actor. 'I went over principally to train in martial arts, karate, judo, jujitsu and kendo, and then I was entered into a karate sparring session with a guy who was new to the club that day, and he had a long sleeve shirt,' he recalled. 'Long sleeves mean tattoos, which in Japan means that kind of very respectful version of organised crime.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tetsuro Shimaguchi. | Rob Myles A few hours later, he was taken to A&E with a collapsed throat. 'That whole experience was a big epiphany for me of, 'Oh, I don't want to do this for real. I want to be a performer, and I want to tell stories, and if I want to be involved in violence, it's the safe depiction of it, not the painful kind.' Rob Myres, tutor at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, is leading the course. | Rob Myres He started training under Mr Shimaguchi before working to become an accredited tutor through the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat. 'I just absolutely fell in love with it,' he said. Now, he teaches stage and screen combat at the Royal Conservatoire, where he also holds short workshops which are open to the public. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He wants to pass on his skills to actors and stunt performers to boost the skill set available to directors in Scotland. 'I'm trying to bring all of those people together here to train and to develop those skills so that when these big productions come to Scotland, there are people from Scotland that can do the work for them they need doing,' he said. 'I imagine the core audience would probably be actors, performers, martial artists, stunt men, people of that nature. But then you can add to that people that do physical theatre, people who work in film, actors that are already there and want to update their skill set. 'But if there are people who are enthusiasts, people who just love it and have always dreamed of being a part of this, there's no better way to find out what that really means than coming to this workshop.'
Scotsman
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Actor who battled Matt Damon in Bourne Identity to lead Glasgow stage fight workshop
The course is being run in association with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An actor who battled Matt Damon in the Bourne Identity and a Japanese martial arts specialist who choreographed key scenes in Kill Bill are to lead a stage and screen fighting workshop in Glasgow. Joey Ansah, who gained international recognition as Desh in The Bourne Ultimatum, is to teach the course alongside Tetsuro Shimaguchi, who gained international acclaim as the sword fight choreographer and actor - Crazy 88's 'Miki' - in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol 1. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Run by Stage Fight Scotland and Acting Action Ltd, in association with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the four day course, The Claymore, billed as the first of its kind in over a decade, will teach stunts, stage combat, swordplay and martial arts. Joey Ansah arriving for the UK Premiere of The Bourne Ultimatum, in 2007. | PA Also teaching the course is Paul MacDonald, founder of the MacDonald Academy of Arms and chief swordmaker at MacDonald Armouries and Anita Nittoly, a stunt performer, fight director and stage combat instructor, whose stunt credits include The Boys, The Expanse and DC's Titans. Course director Rob Myles, a tutor at the Royal Conservatoire, first trained with Mr Shimaguchi when he was living in Japan 15 years ago and working as an English teacher, as well as a jobbing actor. 'I went over principally to train in martial arts, karate, judo, jujitsu and kendo, and then I was entered into a karate sparring session with a guy who was new to the club that day, and he had a long sleeve shirt,' he recalled. 'Long sleeves mean tattoos, which in Japan means that kind of very respectful version of organised crime.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tetsuro Shimaguchi. | Rob Myles A few hours later, he was taken to A&E with a collapsed throat. 'That whole experience was a big epiphany for me of, 'Oh, I don't want to do this for real. I want to be a performer, and I want to tell stories, and if I want to be involved in violence, it's the safe depiction of it, not the painful kind.' Rob Myres, tutor at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, is leading the course. | Rob Myres He started training under Mr Shimaguchi before working to become an accredited tutor through the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat. 'I just absolutely fell in love with it,' he said. Now, he teaches stage and screen combat at the Royal Conservatoire, where he also holds short workshops which are open to the public. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He wants to pass on his skills to actors and stunt performers to boost the skill set available to directors in Scotland. 'I'm trying to bring all of those people together here to train and to develop those skills so that when these big productions come to Scotland, there are people from Scotland that can do the work for them they need doing,' he said. 'I imagine the core audience would probably be actors, performers, martial artists, stunt men, people of that nature. But then you can add to that people that do physical theatre, people who work in film, actors that are already there and want to update their skill set. 'But if there are people who are enthusiasts, people who just love it and have always dreamed of being a part of this, there's no better way to find out what that really means than coming to this workshop.'
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma Strikes a Chord for Mental Health with Soulful Sitar Concert in Hyderabad
It was an evening of melody, mindfulness, and emotional connection as renowned sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma brought his 'Sitar for Mental Health' Neo-Concert to Hyderabad on May 4- that too in a sold out show. Blending the richness of Indian classical music with global tunes, Sharma delivered a performance that left the audience not just entertained, but deeply moved. Despite a few hiccups behind the scenes, owing to a last-minute venue change and some managerial lag, Rishab took the stage with grace and composure. And from the very first note, he ensured that the music took center stage. What could have been a logistical misfire turned into an unforgettable night, thanks entirely to his magnetic affair with the sitar. Held at a packed venue, the concert opened with traditional ragas like Dhrupad and Desh, immersing listeners in the meditative beauty of Indian classical soundscapes. As the night progressed, Rishab transitioned seamlessly into devotional territory, performing his viral rendition of 'Shiv Kailasho Ke Vasi', sending waves of emotion through the crowd. A standout moment was his impromptu yet mesmerizing jugalbandi with a team of talented supporting musicians, who joined him from across the country including Rajasthan & Delhi. The interplay between tabla, percussion, shehnai, flute, and guitar created a rich, layered sonic experience that felt both timeless and modern. The chemistry between the artists elevated the performance. But what truly set the evening apart was his ability to bridge tradition with the contemporary. In a mesmerizing moment, Sharma stunned the audience with sitar adaptations of the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones theme songs, showcasing the sitar's unexpected versatility and global resonance. He also performed iconic Bollywood melodies like Kal Ho Naa Ho and Diya Jale Jaan Jale, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and innovation. He even gave the audience a special treat by teasing an unreleased track, a beautiful composition inspired by the eternal flames of Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Though yet to be released officially, the Hyderabad crowd needed no second listen—their resounding applause made it clear- it is already a hit. In the end, Rishab closed his show with Shiv Tandav Stotram that ignited a divine energy in the atmosphere of the auditorium. Beyond the music, the concert carried a powerful message. Between sets, Rishab opened up about his personal battle with anxiety and depression, especially during the post-COVID era. 'Mental health struggles are as common as the cold,' he shared, 'yet we rarely talk about them openly.' His vulnerability struck a chord with the audience, making the performance as emotionally enriching as it was musically impressive. He also took a heartfelt moment to thank his father, who was present at the concert, acknowledging him as a constant source of strength and a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. What could have been just another cultural event became a transformative evening. For two hours, the worries of the world were drowned out by strings that spoke directly to the soul. To conclude, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma's Hyderabad concert wasn't just a musical experience, it was proof that music can heal, uplift, and bring people closer to their own emotional truths. Visual Vibes from the Concert Night:
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Bengal mourns death of poet Daud Haider
Kolkata, The literary circle in Kolkata on Monday mourned the death of Daud Haider, an exiled Bangladeshi poet, in Berlin and said his poems reflected anger and rebellion. He lived in India for 13 years before leaving for Germany where he died at the age of 73. Sahitya Akademy Award-winning Bengali poet Subodh Sarkar told PTI that Haider's poems reflected anger and rebellion and the one for which he was expelled had a controversial line. He was exiled by the Sheikh Mujibur Rehman government in 1974 after the poem criticising radicalism and bigotry in the country was published in a Bengali daily. Haider's settling in Berlin was facilitated by Nobel laureate writer Gunter Grass at a time he was not sure about his future moves, Sarkar said adding that lately, his works resonated with a yearning to come back to his roots, his motherland Bangladesh. Sarkar said he and Haider were in touch and used to make long-distance phone calls from Germany and talk to him for 30-40 minutes. Recalling Haider's visit to Kolkata during the late '80s, Sarkar said, "We met at the residence of poet Sunil Gangopadhyay several times." He recalled after living in India for several years, Haider's life took another turn as he headed to Germany and spent 35 years of his life there. Haider died in Berlin on Saturday and his family and friends confirmed it the next day. Condoling the death, another Sahitya Akademi-winning poet Joy Goswami said, "Haider was among the foremost poets in Bengali literature belonging to the league of Annada Sankar Roy, Aloke Ranjan Das Gupta and Shakti Chattopadhyay. His demise will certainly create a void." Goswami recalled as a young poet associated with 'Desh', a prominent Bengali literary magazine, in his earlier years, he used to see Haider chatting with litterateurs like Sunil Gangopadhyay and Shakti Chattopadhyay but did not have much interaction with him on personal front then. His poems left an indelible mark in the minds of readers, Goswami said. Born on February 21, 1952, in Pabna district in erstwhile East Pakistan, currently Bangladesh, Haider served as the literary editor of the daily newspaper Sangbad in the early 1970s.
