Does anyone else do this too? You’re on the train or bus to work and you’re reading a book, and then you start scrolling through the albums and playlists on your MP3 player, sommelier-like, trying to find the perfect musical accompaniment? For Melanie Abrams’ sometimes very steamy Playing, I chose an amorous playlist of […]
Before the Rains: opening today
Master cinematographer Santosh Sivan has again put on his director’s hat for Before the Rains, opening today in NY and LA. (Not to be confused with the gorgeous 1994 Macedonian film Before the Rain by Milcho Manchevski.) Here in Manhattan, we’ve seen a lot of the director and his cast in the past week or […]
Soon, Brick Lane
The film adaptation of Monica Ali’s Booker-winning novel arrives in cinemas on June 20 in NY and LA, the rolls on to release in other cities soon after. The movie trailer looks promising. And I’m really curious to see mainstream Hindi movie actor Satish Kaushik in the role of Nazneen’s husband.
Rushdie Reading in NY
Part of my Friday night was spent dashing between two PEN World Voices panels. First, in the old B. Altman department store, now part of CUNY, there was the Sex in Literature panel. After that, Rushdie. Had to depart before the Q&A ended to zip up to the 92nd Street Y to try […]
India in New York
Seen around the city: Who says shopping can’t lead to enlightenment? While ladies are buying bangles, husbands can rest: Bombay and Hollywood, closer and closer always: Hungry Rajasthani camel on Fifth Avenue:
Meeting Mani Sir
Here, on Rediff, is an interview I did with Mani Ratnam. His workplace, Madras Talkies, is quieter than a library governed by the strictest librarian. The day I went to see him, I was ushered in to his office and found him at his desk, seated behind his MacBook, no music playing, no phones […]