City Music – The Real Sufi Stars Culture Faith by The Delhi Walla - February 27, 2010May 23, 20103 The qawwals of Hazrat Nizamuddin. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is amusing to see Delhiwallas scramble for pricey tickets each time a 'big' sufi music star such as Abida Parveen or Kailash Kher lands in the town for a concert. People can always go each Thursday evening (6.30 pm) to the 14th century shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in south Delhi. It's spine-tingling music there and it's free. As the dargah’s in-house qawwals break into sufi love songs, the mood goes electric. As exciting as ticketed concerts, you sit right alongside the singers and watch their eyes popping out, hands slicing the air, and faces dissolving into momentary madness. These qawwals — almost two dozens are present at any given
Mission Delhi – Syed Haider Raza, Hauz Khas Enclave Culture Mission Delhi by The Delhi Walla - February 23, 2010May 23, 20100 One of the one per cent in 13 million. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] On February 22nd, 2009, a few hours before his 88th birthday celebration, to be held in The Lalit hotel, Syed Haider Raza is struggling alone in a basement room in Hauz Khas Enclave. Despite painting for 60 years, he is unsure of how his new creation will appear on completion. Staring hard at the mostly blank canvas, he says, “I’m trying to give a feel of Rajasthan.” Born in central India and living in France since 1950, Mr Raza is visiting Delhi to attend a special show in which private collectors will mark his birth anniversary by exhibiting his paintings, which are in high demand internationally.
Sujan Singh Park Diary – My Life with Khushwant Singh Culture Life by The Delhi Walla - February 15, 2010August 11, 20154 Author Sadia Dehlvi on Delhi’s legendary writer. [Text by Sadia Dehlvi; pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] If you ask me about the women in author Khushwant Singh’s life, I would say I am the only one. That’s how special he makes all those around him feel. Women are drawn to him because he doubles up as confidante, friend, father and mentor. For women afflicted with heartbreak, Khushwant readily provides his shoulders to dry the tears and at celebration time he shares the cheer. He has the remarkable ability to suffer all kinds of people, often getting bullied into inviting them home to his evening durbar. I know many women whom Khushwant helped get jobs, admissions, transfers, and senior government posts. Many authors including
Photo Essay – Basant Celebrations, Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah Culture Faith Photo Essays by The Delhi Walla - January 19, 2010May 23, 20103 Colour me yellow. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] On January 19th, 2010, the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya was all yellow. It was the eve of Basant Panchmi, the day that marks the arrival of spring. Hence yellow, the colour of the energy-giving sun. The shrine’s qawwals (singers), who were wearing yellow scarves, offered yellow mustard flowers on the grave of Delhi’s 14th-century sufi saint. Later, they sang the Hindi qawwalis of Amir Khusro, the Persian poet believed to be the originator of Hindustani classical music and who was also a great disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin. Seven centuries ago, Khusro had worn yellow to bring a smile to Hazrat Nizamuddin’s face, who’d been grieving for his nephew’s death. The tradition
City Cinemas – SRS, JAM, BIG, MMX, G3S Culture General Landmarks by The Delhi Walla - December 28, 2009May 23, 20104 The PVRisation of film halls. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] DU, DUSU, CP, SN, DDLJ, GK1, RTI, SRK, SEZ, HC, SC, PMO, K3G… intimidated by acronyms and abbreviations? Try reading the schedule of city’s cinema halls in the newspaper. Rather than films, you will be more fascinated by the names of the theaters. DT in Shalimar Bagh. M4U and JAM in Ghazibad. PVR in Naraina. M2K in Rohini. WIT? That is: What is this? Delhi has 99 screens in 56 cinemas, out of which 17 are multiplexes. So, imagine the plight of an SRK fan looking for a film at, say, EDM’s PVR. Don’t know what EDM is? It’s the East Delhi Mall, Anand Vihar. SRK stands for superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Don't
City Faith – Muharram & Christmas Culture Faith by The Delhi Walla - December 25, 2009May 23, 20108 Mourning and celebrating. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] It is December 24th, 2009. Late night. A few people — some of them historians, diplomats, designers, actors — are driving to Nizamuddin East, a neighbourhood near Humayun’s Tomb. The same night, a larger crowd, more varied, is heading to an address in Lodhi Road, a highway near Humayun’s Tomb. The former will attend a soazkhwani majlis. The latter will attend a midnight mass. At author Sadia Dehlvi’s apartment. At the Centenary Methodist Church. The occasion is Muharram. The occasion is Christmas. Some are in skullcaps. Some are in Santa caps. They will mourn. They will celebrate. They will commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. They will commemorate the birth of
Capital News – Jane Austen is Coming to South Delhi Culture General by The Delhi Walla - August 24, 2009August 7, 20103 Bollywood is adapting Emma in this city. [Text by Mayank Austen Soofi; picture of Sonam Kapoor by Jatin Kampani] It’s confirmed. Jane Austen is coming to Delhi. Film actor Sonam Kapoor is starring in the Bollywood adaptation of Emma, an Austen comedy about a too-clever brat whose penchant for matchmaking other people almost ruined chances of her own match. The movie is set in Delhi with Emma being Indianised as Aisha. “She’ll be Aisha Kapoor, not Emma Woodhouse,” said Ms Kapoor in a telephone chat with The Delhi Walla. She was getting her hair done in a Bombay salon. “I’m a big Jane Austen fan and have read all her novels,” Ms Kapoor swooned. “They all are so girly and tie up so
City Culture – Notes from Khushwant Singh’s Drawing Room, Sujan Singh Park Culture by The Delhi Walla - April 24, 2008August 11, 20155 In the company of Delhi’s living landmark. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] There are two kinds of Delhiwallas. Those who have been to Khushwant Singh's living room and those who have not. The Delhi Walla has been to Apartment no. 49-E, Sujan Singh Park. However, the author of Train to Pakistan, it must bes aid, could not overwhelm me with his greatness. He hardly registered my presence. Only once, when I refused an offer of whiskey, did he turn to 'check me out'. "Please poke around in the refrigerator for some fruit juice", he said and turned back his attention to his whiskey-drinking guests. These guests, of course, are a lucky bunch of people. They are usually puffed up with pride for