Latest news with #Gopal
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Want information about any Hindi or Tamil film song? Ask record-collector T.S. Gopal
Isn't it interesting to document the life of a documenter? Meet T.S. Gopal, who commenced his journey as a documenter by collecting records. Over the last 60 years, his collection has grown extensively. Also known as an encyclopedia on music and a wizard at video editing, Gopal says: 'Though it all began in a pre-technology era, I have now happily embraced technology. Till date I have posted 2,400 pieces of music on my Facebook, which have garnered many likes. I also have many hard disks of music.' To be surrounded by music, Gopal worked for a year at Super Radio Services, a shop that sold records in Chembur, Mumbai. What kind of music interests him? 'Initially, I was into Hindi film music, because I grew up in Mumbai. But later took to Hindustani, Carnatic, South Indian film songs, pop and operas. Comparing different genres of music became my hobby and this led to the documentation of similarities between film music and the use of ragas in film songs. I once heard a tune in the Mayamalavagowla scale at a restaurant in Mumbai, and it turned out to be Arabic music. I liked it very much. An Iranian friend shared with me his collection of Arabic music, which has inspired many Indian film songs. For instance, in the song 'Kallellam manikka kallaguma' (from Aalayamani), music director and singer MS Viswanathan has used the Mayamalavagowla scale and given the song an Arabic flavour. I discovered that the scale is used in Greek music too, as in the song 'Misirlou'. 'Bacchanale' in the opera 'Samson and Delilah' is also in the same scale. The song, 'Ghar aaya mera paradesi' (from Awara) is in the Sindhubhairavi scale but has shades of Arabic music. Different Hindi music composers have used six tunes from the same album of Arabic music. Through a friend with connections in Bollywood, I visited recording studios in Mumbai. On one occasion, I found many composers using Sindhubhairavi. The same set of violinists played for all of them. But such was their integrity, that the violinists never revealed the tune of one composer to another. 'Film music composers have brought out a variety of emotions using ragas in film songs. The song 'O mere sanam' (from Sangam) is in raag Shivaranjani and the orchestration impeccably captures the emotions of the heroine,' says Gopal. Indian film songs also show the influence of pop, folk and country songs, says Gopal, listing some Hindi songs that are inspired by hits from the West. ''Onnum onnum rendu' portion of the song 'Yaaradi Nee mohini' (film Uthamaputhiran) is based on Ben E King's 'Sweet and Gentle' while 'Partha nyabagam illaiyo' (from Puthiya Paravai)on the pop song 'Sway'. The opening portion of 'Chura liya' (from Yaadon ki Baaraat) is based on the song 'If it is Tuesday, this must be Belgium'. 'Kaun hai jo sapno mein aaya' (from Jhuk Gaya Asman) is a copy of Elvis Presley's 'Marguerita'. The Lata Mangeshkar song 'Ajeeb dastan hai' reminds of Jim Reeves' country song — 'My lips are sealed'. 'Anubavam pudhumai' (film Kadhalikka Neramillai) has shades of the bolero song 'Besame mucho'. 'Dil tadap adap from (from Madhumati) sounds similar to the Polish folk song 'Szła dzieweczka do gajeczka'.' Gopal is fascinated by the counter-melodies in film songs. 'I use a certain software to remove the voice and amplify the background music. You will then notice the counter-melody in the songs. Sometimes, it is an entirely different tune. 'Enge nimmathi' (film Puthiya Paravai) and 'Avala sonnaal' (from Selvam) have interesting counter-melodies. I particularly find them appealing in Shankar Jaikishan's compositions,' shares Gopal. Apart from gathering such information and collecting records, Gopal took sitar lessons from Ustad Ahmad Hussain Khan, who was part of popular composer K.V. Mahadevan's troupe. For instance, he played the sitar in songs such as 'Ennathan ragasiyamo' and 'Malargal nanaindhana' from Idhaya Kamalam. 'The Ustad played in the Telugu film Sita Kalyanam, which got a mention in a review by The Hindu.' When asked if a Tyagarja kriti has been sung in any film, Gopal immediately replies, 'In the Telugu film Missamma, P Leela sings 'Thyagaraja's RagaSudharasa' for Savitri.' Apart from film songs, Gopal used to upload thukkadas sung by various Carnatic artistes to pen drives and gift them to residents of a senior citizens home. Upon the request of a friend in the U.S., he compiled 200 such thukkadas. 'Children in the US learnt them and sang them in Navaratri kolus.' Gopal believes he does not deserve any credit for his work. 'Does a man deserve credit for merely plucking flowers in a garden? All I do is to collect what is available,' he says.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Demand for Rs 2 Lakh Crore Allocation to MGNREGA: Agri Workers' Union Protests in Narayanpet
MGNREGA, Telangana Agricultural Workers Union, rural employment, protest, ₹2 lakh crore demand, NarayanpetNarayanpet: The Telangana Agricultural Workers' Union and Rythu Sangham have demanded that the Central Government allocate ₹2 lakh crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). This demand was voiced during a protest held at the Municipal Park in Narayanpet, led by district vice-president Shivakumar, following a call from the state committee. A memorandum with demands was submitted to the District Collector. Speaking at the protest, union district secretary Gopal and Rythu Sangham district president Anjilayya criticised the central government, accusing it of neglecting the welfare of poor labourers and indulging in divisive politics that mislead the public. They pointed out that last year, the Centre spent ₹90,000 crore on rural employment, but instead of increasing the allocation this year, it has reduced it to ₹86,000 crore. "Is this fair?" they questioned. The unions also highlighted the rising number of poor workers in urban areas, as villages surrounding towns and cities are merged into urban limits. Since many of these workers depend on agricultural and wage labour, the unions demanded the extension of the employment guarantee scheme to urban areas as well. Key demands include: Issuing job cards to all eligible labourers. Providing all necessary tools and materials at worksites. Ensuring basic facilities and a daily wage of ₹600. Increasing the workdays under the scheme to 200 per year, with weekly payments. Allocating ₹2 lakh crore annually to the scheme for proper implementation. The unions also demanded: Inclusion of MGNREGA workers in all state government welfare schemes. Increasing the grant for Indiramma housing scheme (merged with PMAY) to ₹10 lakh. Free medical treatment for workers injured at worksites. ₹10 lakh compensation for accidental deaths at worksites. Unemployment allowance for those unable to find work. They warned that if these demands are not met, they will intensify their agitation, forcing the government to address the issues of this large workforce. The protest saw participation from union leaders Balappa, Saibaba, Ellappa, Renamma, Kishtappa, Govind, Hanmanthu, SFI district secretary Pavan, Mahesh, and several workers.
Scroll.in
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Sister Midnight' review: Radhika Apte is a blast as a rebellious housewife with a dark side
It's hard to decide what Uma hates more – marriage in itself, her husband in particular or all of humanity. Uma (Radhika Apte) arrives in Mumbai from her village as Gopal's bride, about as cheerful as a child who has been assigned homework during her summer vacation. The bangles rattling on the bus transporting Uma to the city sound like chains – one of the several sonic clues to Uma's fate in Karan Kandhari's Sister Midnight. Kandhari's debut feature, a deadpan comedy about repression and freedom, was completed in 2024 and has finally been released in India. Gopal (Ashok Pathak) is too stupefied by Uma's very presence in their one-room home to react adequately to her many provocations. Uma cooks badly, keeps house terribly and wanders off at will. Why can't you be like the others, Gopal plaintively says, scarcely realising that Uma has a feral side that is aching to be let out. The Hindi-language film's English title has been literally translated as Sakhi Ratri, but surely it should have been Raat Rani. For that is what Uma is – a flower of the night, wild and growing in all directions as she chafes at Mumbai's super-dense crush load and responds to her increasingly irrepressible impulses. The 107-minute film has a fabular quality, with stylised views of working-class Mumbai and an anachronistic soundtrack (by American singer-musician Paul Banks). While the fantastical element in Kandhari's screenplay is too generic to give a plausible sense of an Indian woman rebelling against social conventions, his particular staging and Radhika Apte's knockout performance pay rich dividends. Uma's tilt towards unfeminine, unruly and unacceptable behaviour unfolds within a controlled visual design and frontal framing by cinematographer Sverre Sordal. Only Uma's neighbour Sheetal (Chhaya Kadam) and a group of hijras understand her craving for liberation. Radhika Apte is a blast, wearing Uma's glumness like a superhero cape and wielding a cleaning mop like a witch's broom. Apte's sudden movements and flat voice work suggest a woman who isn't trying to fit into a mould as much as she is attempting to shatter it. Kandhari exploits Apte's talent for drollery to the hilt. You're a monster, Gopal says on the rare occasion when he manages to communicate with Uma. It's hard enough being a human, she grimly replies, every inch the domestic demoness. Play
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Monsoon arrives early in India: Here's what caused the unusual shift
Agency photo NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on Saturday, May 24, eight days ahead of its usual onset date of June 1, marking its earliest appearance on the Indian mainland since 2009, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. This early onset, according to IMD Scientist Neetha K Gopal, aligns with their official forecast which had projected monsoon arrival around May 27, with a margin of four days. 'Monsoon onset took place today, 24th May, and it is much ahead of its schedule. Normally, the standard monsoon arrival date in Kerala is 1st June, but IMD has already forecasted that the monsoon will reach early this year,' Gopal told ANI. 'The official forecast was 27th May with a model of 4 days. That means the monsoon could reach 4 days before 27th May or 4 days after 27th May. So, our forecast has also come true today.' The early monsoon has not only covered Kerala but also advanced into the Lakshadweep area, the south Arabian Sea, parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, and some parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra. It has also spread into the remaining areas of the Maldives and Comorin, many parts of Tamil Nadu, and the southwest and east-central Bay of Bengal, along with parts of Mizoram and the north Bay of Bengal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Economic Storm Warning for Australia Fat Tail Daily Learn More Undo Conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to further advance into central Arabian Sea, Goa, more areas of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, additional parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and deeper into northeastern states and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim over the next two to three days. Why monsoon arrived early? The early arrival of the southwest monsoon is driven by a combination of favourable atmospheric and oceanic conditions. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area developed over the Arabian Sea along with a trough line extending across Vidarbha. These systems significantly enhanced moisture inflow and atmospheric convection, accelerating the monsoon's advance over the Indian subcontinent. One of the earliest signs of this accelerated progression was the monsoon's arrival over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas on May 13, well ahead of the normal onset date of May 21. This early advancement helped set the pace for its swift movement toward Kerala. Additionally, neutral El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions were observed during the period, which typically support a normal or stronger monsoon, unlike El Niño years that often suppress rainfall over India. Another contributing factor may have been reduced snow cover over the Himalayan region, a condition that historically correlates with more vigorous monsoon activity. The advancement is expected to benefit key sectors reliant on the monsoon, such as agriculture, fisheries, and livestock. Favourable monsoons not only help these sectors prepare better for extreme weather and climate change but also validate the economic importance of government investments in weather and forecasting systems. Significant initiatives like the Monsoon Mission and High Performance Computing-based forecasting systems have improved resource management, crop yields, and reduced weather-related losses in recent years. I MD data shows that the last time the monsoon hit the Indian coast earlier than this year was in 2009, when it arrived on May 23. Commenting on the northeast monsoon, B Amudha, head of the Regional Meteorological Centre, said, 'At present, we cannot say anything about the performance of the northeast monsoon on the basis of southwest monsoon. Let us monitor the progress, and then we will issue the long-range forecast. ' 'The normal date of onset of south west monsoon is June 1. This year Southwest monsoon has set in on 24th May. This is much earlier than the normal onset. If you look at the data from the past 16 years, in 2009, the monsoon set in on 23rd May,' she added. Meanwhile, a depression over the south Konkan coast is expected to move eastward and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over the next 12 hours. The IMD has issued red and orange alerts for multiple districts in Kerala over the coming days. On Saturday, red alerts were declared for Kasaragod and Kannur, while orange alerts were issued for 11 other districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Ernakulam. The IMD also reported heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Kerala, Mahe, and coastal Maharashtra, as well as isolated heavy showers in South Interior Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Maharashtra, Goa, Uttarakhand, Vidarbha, Saurashtra, Kutch, and Tamil Nadu (including Puducherry and Karaikal) till 8 am on Saturday. 'For the next 2 days, we have a red alert in the Nilgiris district. The southwest monsoon primarily affects taluks like Ooty, people here are requested to follow precautions and not venture out unless in an the boating activities have been stopped for today, and it may remain like this for the next 2 days,' she told ANI. As the monsoon continues to advance rapidly, officials are keeping a close watch on its trajectory and associated weather developments across the country.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
28-yr-old murdered over unpaid debt of Rs10k
Wardha: Nine days after body of a youngster was recovered from Wardha river near Kharda village, police investigation revealed that the 28-year-old was murdered over an unpaid debt of Rs10,000. Seven persons have been booked for the murder under relevant sections at the Deoli police station. Three of the accused have been arrested so far. Police said the victim, Gopal alias Golu Dhanraj Kumbhare (28), a resident of Tamba (Yende), had reportedly borrowed Rs10,000 from Anup alias Guddu Dabekar, pledging a motorcycle he had borrowed from Amol Salame of Neri Punarvasan. When Salame demanded his motorcycle back, Gopal failed to return it. Salame filed a complaint at Sawangi police station. Police recovered the vehicle, which allegedly enraged Dabekar's anger as the money he lad lent to Gopal got stuck. On May 7, Gopal left for some work with Guddu Dabekar but didn't return home. On May 10, his body was discovered in the Wardha riverbed. What initially seemed like a drowning incident soon turned into a murder investigation as inconsistencies emerged during questioning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Start Here - 2025 Top Trend Local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo Investigations revealed that Dabekar and his accomplices took Gopal to Kotha village in Yavatmal district, where they allegedly assaulted him brutally, resulting in his death. They allegedly dumped the body in the river near Kharda to destroy evidence. During police interrogation, they confessed to burning the blood-stained clothes worn while committing the crime. Besides Dabekar, the other accused have been identified as Aniket Kakde, Suraj Bambbuche, Vijay Yedme, Avinash Bhoyar, Dhanraj alias Dhannu Kolhe (all residents of Kotha, Kalamb tehsil in Yavatmal district), and Shubham Tekam (resident of Tamba, Babhulgaon tehsil in Yavatmal) Three accused — Tekam, Kolhe and Bhoyar — were arrested, while police have launched a search operation to nab the remaining accused.
