Latest news with #RickyKej
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: Bengaluru will rock you
Namma ooru will always wear its 'India's Rock capital' crown with pride. And beyond this realm is a city lilting to fresh flourishes from homegrown talent. Don't believe us? Just tune in to the musical powerhouses who've lived it, played it, and loved it here. Raw and unfiltered Before his celebrated three Grammys and global acclaim, homie Ricky Kej had his first real taste of Bengaluru's raw music spirit at a music festival in Nelamangala. 'I remember having had so much fun travelling to the city's outskirts and being welcomed by a lively crowd. It was just great music in the open air where music aficionados like me sat on the grass to soak in the notes. No filmy frills or international bands, only local talent. No hatred, no show-offs, just pure fun,' Ricky reminisces, He credits the city's audiences for what makes the music scene special. 'This is one city where fans will buy tickets — they won't ask for passes,' he says candidly. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru For Girish Pradhan, frontman of an Indian rock band, Bengaluru isn't just another city on the tour map — it's India's OG rock capital. 'Back when Millennium dropped India's first metal album to the time an English heavy metal band tore up the stage here — Bengaluru has always had rock in its DNA,' he says. And the crowd? Total legends. 'You'll spot everyone — from hyped-up teens to chill 70-year-olds — all vibing, all in. They don't just listen to music, they live it.' Echoing his energy is Khalid Ahamed, founder-frontman of one of Bengaluru's finest indie-rock acts. 'This city has been nurturing rock bands since the '80s. It's more than just a scene — it's a culture,' he says. Unlike trend-chasing cities, Bengaluru's vibe is real — 'raw, rooted, and totally about the music.' He credits the city's strong independent spirit for keeping the flame alive. The bottom line? Bengaluru doesn't just host rock — it breathes it. The city's cosmopolitan culture and tech-fueled character percolates into the music scene, as the musicians observe. 'With people pouring into Bengaluru from all over India — and the world — the city's music scene is basically a giant melting pot of sounds and influences. And with so many folks here working tech-heavy, screen-filled day jobs, music has become the ultimate escape hatch. Whether you're creating it or just soaking it in, rock has turned into therapy — a loud, emotional, totally cathartic way to hit reset in a city that never stops buzzing,' says Fidel D'Souza, bassist. Girish feels folks crave authenticity in a fast-paced world, and music offers that escape. 'Sure, Bengaluru's techy, global vibe has brought in fresh energy, but the rock scene here has always been strong at its core. It's built on insanely talented musicians and fans who show up with the same passion, year after year.' Girish states. The community huddle The band's percussionist Sachin Bannandur sums it up beautifully when he says the city's music scene is less of an industry and more of a movement. 'It's really about the sound than trends. There's a deep-rooted, organic music culture here that hasn't faded,' he adds. Whether you're a creator or a connoisseur, Bengaluru offers something rare: community, as the lead guitarist Bharath Kashyap chips in. 'People here don't just like bands — they follow them. They know every lyric, show up to every gig, and bring serious energy. It's a crowd that's passionate, multilingual, and spans generations.' Venues that vibe While Palace Grounds was accepted as the eternal mosh pit for music lovers, Ricky reminisces about iconic other venues such as Webbs Ground on MG Road and The Club on Bannerghatta Road that gave voice to hundreds of artists. 'These were the soul of the city's music,' he says. Sure, the city's music scene took a bit of a hit post-2018 with some classic venues fading out, but the spirit never died. 'The way gigs are curated has changed, but the passion? Still loud and proud,' says Girish. No surprise then, that the Sikkim-based band has always felt namma love — decade after decade. 'The community's got heart — no doubt about it. But while the love for music is solid, venues tend to come and go. The intention is there, for sure, but the infrastructure's a bit shaky. Still, that doesn't stop artists and fans from keeping it real and building something that actually matters,' says Fidel. Homegrown talent Girish is of the view that Bengaluru always had a soft spot for homegrown talent. 'It's one of the few cities where original music actually gets the respect it deserves. There's a solid community of artists, venues, and listeners who get the value of authentic sound. But there's still so much untapped potential. If civic bodies stepped in with better infrastructure, easier event permissions, and real investment in cultural spaces, the scene could seriously level up — not just bigger, but sustainably so,' he says candidly. But the city still needs more intimate venues, Ricky adds — places for 50-60 people, with just a piano or a sarod, like the ones in Perth or New York. 'It's not about scale. It's about space for deep, real connection.' Across the board, the artists agree: Bengaluru loves music, and musicians love Bengaluru. But the next step is civic support. Smoother permissions, dedicated cultural spaces, and infrastructure will go a long way. 'There's so much untapped potential,' Girish notes. Even so, the city's DIY ethic keeps it alive. 'The intention is there, and the community keeps building something real,' Parvaaz affirms. Why Bengaluru still rocks Whether it's rock, metal, fusion, or ambient — Bengaluru is where it lives. It's not just about hearing music — it's about feeling it, living it, and sometimes even becoming it. So, the next time you hear of a local gig, don't scroll past. Go. Listen. Dance. Mosh. Support. Because in this city of tech and traffic, it's the music that keeps the soul wild and the heart youthful. Rock on like Bengaluru, we say.
News18
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
'Gandhi-Mantras Of Compassion' A Soul Stirring Tribute By Ricky Kej & Kailash Satyarthi
Last Updated: To bring this vision to life, Ricky Kej collaborated with 230 musicians from over 40 countries, including Tina Guo, a Chinese-American virtuoso cellist, and Masa Takumi from Japan. The album 'Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion" is a remarkable collaboration between three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, Grammy and Brit Award nominee Tina Guo, Grammy Award winner Masa Takumi, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi. It emerged from profound conversations between Ricky Kej and Kailash Satyarthi, who both held a deep reverence for Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. This mutual respect inspired the creation of the album, blending Gandhi's beloved melodies with original compositions inspired by his timeless ideals. To bring this vision to life, Ricky Kej collaborated with 230 musicians from over 40 countries, including Tina Guo, a Chinese-American virtuoso cellist, and Masa Takumi, a Grammy Award-winning shamisen player from Japan. The result is a truly global musical homage to one of humanity's greatest leaders. 'Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion" is a soul-stirring musical tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian leader who championed non-violent resistance and inspired figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. The new age album unites artists to celebrate Gandhi's enduring ideals of peace, tolerance, non-violence, and environmental consciousness. Through a rich diversity of sounds and styles, 'Gandhi – Mantras of Compassion" serves as a poignant reminder of Gandhi's philosophy, offering hope and inspiration for a world yearning for healing and harmony. In 2024, Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej embarked on a meaningful collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi on a four-city concert tour across India. The tour's success allowed Ricky to spend valuable time with Satyarthi, both at the concert venues and at his Bal Ashram – a sanctuary providing love, care, and protection to children, empowering them to grow and advocate for the rights of those who suffer in silence. The tour raised funds for Satyarthi's 'Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion," a global initiative championing compassion as a driving force for justice, equality, peace, and sustainability. This partnership was a natural fit, given Ricky's dedication to creating music that sparks positive social impact. Few know that Ricky has a rich nationalist family legacy. His grandfather, Jankidas Mehra, was a world champion cyclist who made history by hoisting the Indian National Flag on foreign soil in 1946. This flag, given to him by Mahatma Gandhi, is now proudly displayed at the Gandhi National Museum in New Delhi. Jankidas was also a familiar name in Bollywood. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
Mint
12-07-2025
- General
- Mint
Grammy-Winning musician Ricky Kej reveals he was meant to be on Ethiopian Airlines crash flight: 'My life was saved'
Grammy-winning Indian composer Ricky Kej has made a startling revelation about a near-death experience involving the Ethiopian Airlines crash of 2019. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kej disclosed that he had originally booked a seat on the ill-fated flight, which crashed en route to Kenya, killing all 157 people on board. Recounting the moment that changed his fate, Kej wrote, "I had booked a ticket on the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Kenya that unfortunately crashed. In the last minute, a colleague insisted I travel on an earlier flight, so my life was saved. Many attendees were killed on the flight. So this is personal for me, because Boeing and only Boeing was responsible for those deaths (sic)." Kej's emotional post came in response to a thread by journalist Barkha Dutt, who had criticised the western media's narrative around a recent Air India crash report and highlighted concerns around Boeing's systems. She wrote, 'Scandalous that Air India Crash report being used by western media to blame pilots for cutting fuel. The report does not say that at all. But yes, the report flags an FAA advisory on a problem with Boeing fuel switches locking - in that case why has the report not recommended further investigations against 787 planes (sic)' The tragic crash, which took place on March 10, 2019, involved a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and followed a similar disaster just five months earlier — the Lion Air crash in Indonesia. The two incidents, both involving the same aircraft model, raised urgent global concerns about the safety of Boeing's MCAS (Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System), a software feature later found to be faulty and inadequately disclosed to pilots. More than five years after the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy, Kej's revelation underscores the continued scrutiny of Boeing's role in the twin disasters — and the lack of accountability that still angers victims' families and survivors.
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Grammy Winner Ricky Kej Trolls Iconic DDLJ Train Scene With A Detail You Can't Ignore
It will be 30 years for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) this October and three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej is also among many cinegoers who have watched the iconic romance musical drama starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. What's Happening A few days ago, when an X user shared a clip featuring the famous train sequence from DDLJ 's climax calling it a scene that defined cinema like no other, the Bengaluru-based musician had a thing or two to say. In his X post, Ricky Kej poked fun at the makers of the movie, alluding that the scene was shot by those who probably never travelled via train. If any of the film makers had ever been on a train in their lives.. they would have known that Kajol could have entered from any door, and would have been able to reach Shah Rukh Khan. — Ricky Kej (@rickykej) July 9, 2025 "If any of the film makers had ever been on a train in their lives.. they would have known that Kajol could have entered from any door, and would have been able to reach Shah Rukh Khan," he wrote. The musical composer's post is also a sort of a commentary on filmmaker Siddharth Anand's comment on why his film Fighter didn't work at the box office. Last year, Siddharth Anand was mocked on social media after he said Fighter bombed at the box office since a majority of Indians haven't flown in planes. "It's a space that is unexplored, and is absolutely new. It has no reference point for the audience, that means what they are seeing is a little... Such big stars, a commercial director, what are these planes doing? If you realise, there is a huge percentage of our country... I would say 90% who have not flown in planes! Who has not been to an airport! So how do you expect them to know what's happening in the air," he had told Galatta Plus. In A Nutshell Multiple Grammy winner Ricky Kej had an important point to make regarding the famous train scene in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. In his X post, the musician said Kajol's character Simran would have reunited with her lover Raj, played by Shah Rukh Khan, sooner in the film had someone who had travelled in trains shot the movie.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej questions Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol's DDLJ's iconic scene, netizens defend it with facts: 'Romance in holding his hand and getting on to train has...'
Grammy winner Ricky Kej questioned the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge train scene. He suggested Kajol's character could have easily boarded. Internet users countered with lehenga and train structure arguments. Kej humorously engaged with the responses. The debate draws parallels to Titanic's door scene. Romantics defended the scene's emotional value. The film is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Nearly 30 years after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge first hit theatres, its legendary train climax is still sparking debate—this time, courtesy of Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej . While the scene where Shah Rukh Khan 's Raj pulls Kajol 's Simran onto a moving train remains etched in Bollywood history, Kej's tongue-in-cheek critique has reignited discussions online. Kej reposted the scene shared by an X user on Wednesday, along with the caption, 'If any of the film makers had ever been on a train in their lives.. they would have known that Kajol could have entered from any door, and would have been able to reach Shah Rukh Khan.' However, the internet went great lengths to counter Kej's argument. Check out the post here: An X user commented on Kej's post, 'Nah she couldn't. She was wearing a lehenga which can be heavy & doesn't allow free movements. And the train was running, not just moving. If she tried to board the train without anyone pulling her up, she'd have been under the train. That's why everyone in the train is seated. Director already thought what you are thinking now.' To which, Kej replied with, 'Hahahaha.. true!' Another user countered Kej by claiming that the sleeper coaches of Indian trains in 1995 weren't really interconnected. 'Most sleeper coaches of general category were not connected by vestibules in 90s and only Air Conditioned and reserved category coaches were. But, yeah she could have taken this door but would not have noticed it because she was focused on Raj,' they wrote. Kej responded, 'Hahahahha.. thanks for the analysis!' Ricky Kej also agreed 'absolutely' with a social media user who drew a parallel between the debated flaw in DDLJ's climax and the long-standing argument surrounding James Cameron's Titanic. The user humorously suggested that the DDLJ train scene could be Bollywood's version of the 'Could Jack and Rose both fit on the door?' debate—a question that has sparked discussions among Titanic fans for decades. Romantics were quick to jump in, asking Ricky Kej to let emotion win over logic. One user pleaded, 'Please don't let logic spoil a good ol' love story,' to which Kej replied with a lighthearted 'Hahahaha.. sorry!!' Others defended the scene's emotional depth, saying Simran's focus was entirely on reuniting with Raj and that the moment held a special kind of cinematic magic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Kej took the reactions in stride, responding to the comments with laughter and good humour. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, one of Indian cinema's most iconic and successful films, was produced by Aditya Chopra 's Yash Raj Films . This year marks a major milestone as the beloved romantic drama completes 30 years since its theatrical release on October 16, 1995.
