Ajay Mankotia

Bollywood dilemma: What do you call those music composers that steal from their own ?

Film composers copying / getting ‘inspired’ by foreign songs, including Pakistani songs, is a known fact. but why should they steal from their own tunes/

A rare music composer chiselled by blows of life

Music of composer Jaidev was not for the masses.. His was of the kind that gave him acclaim, but never wealth. Winner of 3 national awards, he died in relative penury

Roshan-A short musical journey long remembered

Roshan died early, but his music lives on. His name has been carried forward by his son, Rakesh, and his legacy as a composer by his other son, Rajesh. His famous film star grandson, Hrithik, however lip synchs the lyrics to carry on the tradition of giving meaning to background scores of Bollywood.

Madan Mohan’s unforgettable musical journey-Marching on battle tunes to composing ghazals

Madan Mohan died early, but left an indelible impression on the discerning as well as on singers like Lata Mangeshkar who thought that no one composed ghazals better than him.

Judging softly with a song

Judges have shown a proclivity for quoting from verses of famous Bollywood and Hollywood songs. Sahir Ludhianvi and Bob Dylan are particular favorites of the Judges when they have to deal with the unpleasant in their everyday life.

50 years of Thick as a Brick: Is it still the best rock album ever?

The album, Thick as a Brick, is housed in a faux 12-page multi-paged folded newspaper titled The St. Cleve Chronicle & Linwell Advertiser (dated Friday, January 7, 1972). The newspaper is densely packed with references that bear upon the lyrics of the album. It was revolutionary idea, which paid off

Antonov: The mammoth Ukrainian dream that Russia bombed

Powered by six turbofan engines and with a wingspan almost the length of a football field, Antonov 225 Mriya could carry bigger and heavier cargo than any other plane.Russian forces bombed this giant aircraft during its recent war with Ukraine that they built in their precursor state, Soviet Union

Lata Mangeshkar: Her songs gave voice to emotions of her countrymen that speak in different languages

Lata Mangeshkar’s voice chronicled life’s journey and its vicissitudes in a manner few did. She sang songs in different languages that captured happiness, sadness, longing, valour and more. Her voice will live with us.

Republic Day Parade: Flying in a formation to weave past with the future

75 aircraft to celebrate 75th year of our independence will include Rafales amongst 39 fighters, 28 helicopters and 8 transport aircraft will fly at the Republic Day Parade to show that the nation’s armed forces are ready to face any challenge from our enemies.

The very unforgettable Kundan Lal Sehgal

Kundan Lal Saigal’s deep, melodious, pitch perfect voice mesmerized an entire generation of South Asians. His modest oeuvre comprising of ghazals, film songs, bhajans and Rabindra sangeet was enough to declare him as the greatest singer of 20th century