So I'm not going to sing and dance... a little unfortunate. Here is my web site From Bollywood to Hollywood. The web site was a lot of fun to research and create.
Like much of my blog, I hope the web site introduces an aspect of Indian culture. There is a lot more to cover (not just about Indian film, but also about Indian culture) I hope this blog served as an introduction into my world... it's a wonderful, spicy haven. :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I Might Just Sing and Dance
As a little girl growing up in suburban Los Angeles I had a dream… to be a sari wearing, singing, dancing, little part of Bollywood.
No, I didn’t misspell.
Coined as a mix of Bombay and Hollywood - I wanted to be a part of one of the largest movie industries in the world. A week later, I decide I didn’t want to do that and instead wanted to be a doctor. The parents were ecstatic, not to mention relieved.
Career choices aside - years later I came to realize there was an entire spectrum of Indian film. South Asian movies are much more than Bollywood masala. A hodgepodge of independent film, language based film, and of course the mainstream. What’s more, there is an immense availability of all types of Indian and South Asian film in the Los Angeles. So I am going to do a little digging, and hopefully come up with the lastest on South Asian Film in Los Angeles. It will cover everything from history to coverage of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
So until then... here is a little something to tie you over.
No, I didn’t misspell.
Coined as a mix of Bombay and Hollywood - I wanted to be a part of one of the largest movie industries in the world. A week later, I decide I didn’t want to do that and instead wanted to be a doctor. The parents were ecstatic, not to mention relieved.
Career choices aside - years later I came to realize there was an entire spectrum of Indian film. South Asian movies are much more than Bollywood masala. A hodgepodge of independent film, language based film, and of course the mainstream. What’s more, there is an immense availability of all types of Indian and South Asian film in the Los Angeles. So I am going to do a little digging, and hopefully come up with the lastest on South Asian Film in Los Angeles. It will cover everything from history to coverage of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
So until then... here is a little something to tie you over.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
In Search of THE Kati Roll
I didn’t know what a kati roll was until my visit to New York last December. Apparently, I should have checked Wikipedia,because the place I visited got a nice lil shout out.
The experience was amazing. A
The experience was amazing. A
lovely paratha stuffed with vegetables
(for you meat- eaters it can be stuffed with chicken or lamb too) garnished with slivers of red onions and a hint of lime.The description does no justice to an actual wrap sitting in greased wax paper in front of you.
Since coming back to Los Angeles I’ve been in search of finding a place like NY’s Kati Roll Company. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much luck. I did find a restaurant that does a rendition of a chicken kati roll, but it is still the same as the ones in NY. Perhaps adding that L.A. is lacking in kati rolls will inspire someone to open a specialty store. Check out the new Wikipedia kati roll entry .
Since coming back to Los Angeles I’ve been in search of finding a place like NY’s Kati Roll Company. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much luck. I did find a restaurant that does a rendition of a chicken kati roll, but it is still the same as the ones in NY. Perhaps adding that L.A. is lacking in kati rolls will inspire someone to open a specialty store. Check out the new Wikipedia kati roll entry .
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Inside Amar's Satchel
From NOHO art galleries to beautiful building-side murals, art in Los Angeles is everywhere.
South Asian art is no exception. From the extensive collection at LACMA, to the collection of ancient statues and figures at the Norton Simon Museum, South Asian art intertwines its way into the urban art scene in Los Angeles.
I stumbled upon a hidden gem a few weeks ago. From February 23 through March 1, Gallery Arena 1, hosted FFEM/Zanbeel Art’s South Asian/American Art Festival.
The building did not look out of place. An art studio and gallery, in Santa Monica next to the Santa Monica Airport, it could be easily be mistaken for a small replica of an airplane
hanger. Yet, once inside, memories of the cold exterior melted away. Upon entering the gallery, you were introduced to vibrant images that spiced up the blank white gallery walls. Artists and art enthusiasts mingled and wandered by images, stopping and staring at images that inspire or remind them of a home they left behind.
South Asian art is no exception. From the extensive collection at LACMA, to the collection of ancient statues and figures at the Norton Simon Museum, South Asian art intertwines its way into the urban art scene in Los Angeles.
I stumbled upon a hidden gem a few weeks ago. From February 23 through March 1, Gallery Arena 1, hosted FFEM/Zanbeel Art’s South Asian/American Art Festival.
The building did not look out of place. An art studio and gallery, in Santa Monica next to the Santa Monica Airport, it could be easily be mistaken for a small replica of an airplane
hanger. Yet, once inside, memories of the cold exterior melted away. Upon entering the gallery, you were introduced to vibrant images that spiced up the blank white gallery walls. Artists and art enthusiasts mingled and wandered by images, stopping and staring at images that inspire or remind them of a home they left behind.
“I like to paint what I see in the community,” said Riffat Ahmed. Contemporary South Asian Art focuses on current society. The depiction may be abstract, but the inspiration comes from real life.
I had the opportunity to speak to festival managing curator, Fatima Sulatan Khan, who is also executive director for FFEM/ Zanbeel Art.
LP: Tell me a little bit about Zanbeel Art.
I had the opportunity to speak to festival managing curator, Fatima Sulatan Khan, who is also executive director for FFEM/ Zanbeel Art.
LP: Tell me a little bit about Zanbeel Art.
FK: The word Zanbeel in Arabic means satchel. There is a story about a man, Amar, who had a satchel, and it is full of stories. He would take stories out and the stories would never finish. It is an appropriate title because this is what we are doing here through our art… telling stories
As for Zanbeelart.com, hopefully it will provide a platform for emerging and already established South Asian, South Asian American, as well as American artists. For a fee, artists can set up their own virtual gallery space and there is no intermediary. We do not collect a commission and each artist can communicate directly with the buyer. Our goal is to make the artists financially independent.
LP: There are many South Asian artists. What was the selection process like for this festival?
As for Zanbeelart.com, hopefully it will provide a platform for emerging and already established South Asian, South Asian American, as well as American artists. For a fee, artists can set up their own virtual gallery space and there is no intermediary. We do not collect a commission and each artist can communicate directly with the buyer. Our goal is to make the artists financially independent.
LP: There are many South Asian artists. What was the selection process like for this festival?
FK: Each of the artists were interviewed and their submitted jpegs of their artwork. We focused on the vision behind artists and their artwork. The ones that we selected for the festival had their own unique style and unique idea of what the world should be like in the present and the future. We wanted to represent the diaspora. The artists we selected had a vision of a peaceful world, of family, of environmentalism and of togetherness.
LP: What lead you to those themes?
FK: The reason for those themes are I see how careless we are sometime with the environment and how easy it can be to make a positive influence on our environment just by being aware of our surroundings. The idea of environment also leads to the ideas of family and togetherness and combined it all leads to true happiness.
LP: I feel those themes speak to the root of many South Asian cultures.
LP: I feel those themes speak to the root of many South Asian cultures.
FK: Exactly. Exactly, they are very much a part of South Asian cultures and it is where I am from, but it is also a part of the United States and it is also a part of United States culture. I guess I am re-emphasizing those ideas by bringing forth the artwork, which is a soft side of that part of the world.
An example is Salma Arastu’s The Bride.
LP:Is there a piece that stands out to you?
FK: They are all unique but the pieces by Amina Ahmed are interesting. They are inspired by weeds. It is the ground where we are buried and she said she was pulling weeds one day in her garden and was inspired… So then she started coming up with these fabulous pieces.
Below is a slide show of some of the images that were on display at the South Asian/American Art Festival and many are on display at Zanbeelart.com .
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Rock the Vote... Redux
Last week we heard some opinions regarding who South Asians are looking to support. This week I decided to stick closer to home and see if there were any South Asian campaign contributors in my neighborhood, Arcadia,CA.
According to opensecrets.org here are the top ten donors in my neighborhood.
Musa Nasir 2,800
Jae Park 2,300
Jian Xiao Wu 2,300
Jason Yong 2,200
David Sweeney 2,000
Keith Renken 2,000
Hieu Tran $1,975.00
Terence Smith $1,000.00
Shirley Sun $800.00
Prince Dennis $750
Of the top ten, each person contributed to not just one party or one organization and contributed several times. The majority gave to Republican candidates. Ron Paul was the most favored Republican candidate where the contributions spread evenly between Clinton and Obama.
Musa Nasir is a private practice physician who founded the Birzeit Society, which provides medical and educational help in Palestine. He is a contributor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign as well as Representative Adam Schiff.
On the list of supporters, I did find one South Asian contributor in good ‘ole Arcadia, TAPOSH CHATTERJEE, a self-employed anesthesiologist he gave $250 to the American Society of Anesthesiologists … and they provide non-partisan support to several candidates including their first win of the 2007-2008 election cycle... Gov. Bobby Jindal.
According to opensecrets.org here are the top ten donors in my neighborhood.
Musa Nasir 2,800
Jae Park 2,300
Jian Xiao Wu 2,300
Jason Yong 2,200
David Sweeney 2,000
Keith Renken 2,000
Hieu Tran $1,975.00
Terence Smith $1,000.00
Shirley Sun $800.00
Prince Dennis $750
Of the top ten, each person contributed to not just one party or one organization and contributed several times. The majority gave to Republican candidates. Ron Paul was the most favored Republican candidate where the contributions spread evenly between Clinton and Obama.
Musa Nasir is a private practice physician who founded the Birzeit Society, which provides medical and educational help in Palestine. He is a contributor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign as well as Representative Adam Schiff.
On the list of supporters, I did find one South Asian contributor in good ‘ole Arcadia, TAPOSH CHATTERJEE, a self-employed anesthesiologist he gave $250 to the American Society of Anesthesiologists … and they provide non-partisan support to several candidates including their first win of the 2007-2008 election cycle... Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Rock the Vote… Yaar.
You can’t turn on the television or pick up a newspaper without being inundated with election news. From superdelegates to the original content of speeches everyone has an opinion on the candidates, the issues, and the spin.
After the 2004 election, South Asians Leading Together (SAALT) compiled a study looking at voting trends within the South Asian Community in eight different states on the East Coast. The study reported that South Asians turned out to vote in record numbers. The political interest and momentum continued this year with Republican Bobby Jindal being elected Governor of Louisiana.
So… I spent an afternoon in Little India, in Artesia, CA, asking people about this year’s election. Here are some of the responses regarding voting, the candidates, and the issues.
After the 2004 election, South Asians Leading Together (SAALT) compiled a study looking at voting trends within the South Asian Community in eight different states on the East Coast. The study reported that South Asians turned out to vote in record numbers. The political interest and momentum continued this year with Republican Bobby Jindal being elected Governor of Louisiana.
So… I spent an afternoon in Little India, in Artesia, CA, asking people about this year’s election. Here are some of the responses regarding voting, the candidates, and the issues.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Garba… WITH ATTITUDE!
Wait, what with attitude?
Garba …. a folk dance from the western state of Gujarat in India. Ten teams from across the nation came to compete in Long Beach this weekend at the 6th annual Garba with Attitude. The teams worked hard all year long and it came down to one night. Parents and friends trekked from all over to see the hard work these students put into the routines.
Aside from the dancing the M.C.s, Rasika Mathur and Harvin Sethi, provided comedic relief in between performances and Ragapella performed a few musical numbers as well. Stanford won first place with UCI and St. Louis University winning second and third respectively. Overall, it was college students putting a funky fresh twist on some traditional moves.
Garba …. a folk dance from the western state of Gujarat in India. Ten teams from across the nation came to compete in Long Beach this weekend at the 6th annual Garba with Attitude. The teams worked hard all year long and it came down to one night. Parents and friends trekked from all over to see the hard work these students put into the routines.
Aside from the dancing the M.C.s, Rasika Mathur and Harvin Sethi, provided comedic relief in between performances and Ragapella performed a few musical numbers as well. Stanford won first place with UCI and St. Louis University winning second and third respectively. Overall, it was college students putting a funky fresh twist on some traditional moves.
Garba With Attitude
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