The Writer’s Flight

From the grandeur of opera houses to the intimacy of jazz bars, and from festival stages to experimental collaborations, Western instruments in India are captivating new audiences in unexpected ways. Namrata Kohli  New Delhi Celebrated musician Shantanu Moitra started his musical journey with piano while still in school. Says Shantanu- “I loved the sound of a piano. I knew guitar and at the age of eleven, I started learning piano while studying at Springdale in New Delhi. It took me around 4-5 years and this is such a beautiful musical instrument.” Ask him why he loved this instrument so much and Moitra says – “To me, Piano is life which comes with black and white notes. It cannot just be the whites- only when you make a melody in white and include the black, there is impact. That’s how life is- you have to embrace the dark moments also.” Western classical music typically features a diverse range of instruments grouped into several families such as String family (violin, viola), wo...

By Namrata Kohli Can art stir the eco warrior in us? Yes, art has an extraordinary capacity to stir our souls by tapping into deep, often unspoken, emotions and experiences. While beautiful paintings of nature or evocative art forms of mother earth may serve as therapy, sometimes art can reveal uncomfortable truths and shake us, shock us. Take the case of the recently launched Climate-Responsive Art installation at Karma Lakelands, an attempt to create a visual and emotional call to action against climate change. Below2° is an initiative by Karma Lakelands, India’s leading eco-resort dedicated to combating climate change with a commitment to sustainability and has been conceptualized and executed by the Greener Earth Foundation. Speaking about the installation, Ashwani Khurana, Founder & Chief Eternal Optimist (CEO), Karma Lakelands, said- “Sustainability and creativity have the power to drive real change when they come together. Below2° is not just an art installation; it is a...

   By Namrata Kohli  I was chatting with a gynecologist, and she told me that the most neglected aspect of a woman is her health and how extra careful women ought to be esp during menopause, but they never consult unless a calamity happens. I told her that as a woman in my forties, I plead guilty of the same crime until there is a storm (read health-tsunami of sorts). But I looked at this opportunity to explore more on this intriguing subject plus educate others and myself.  But first what's not menopause. "Don’t confuse heavy bleeding with menopause or 15–20-day cycle ever with menopause," Delhi based gynecologist Dr Sunita Nagpal tells me- "In fact, quite on the contrary, the number of days of the cycle tends to decrease and the gap between the two cycles tends to increase during menopause. But when there is excessive bleeding, there could be certain underlying pathology that needs to be investigated. " So what is menopause exactly? Like our skin ages and has ...

  It’s the season of love- the month of Valentine’s. However, the madness was palpably missing this year on 14 February at least in the capital city for some strange reason. While on my way to attend a fireside chat with Karan Johar at New Delhi’s luxury hotel known for its old-world charm (as part of the Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) centenary celebrations) I was wondering if the old-world charm of "love" has worn away by the visibly  thanda  looking Dilli roads. I was still registering the general lack of Valentine’s Day fervour, when the host introduced KJo saying- “I want to thank Karan for taking out time even on a Valentine’s Day” to which KJo replied in his characteristic witty style – “which, by the way, doesn’t speak volumes about my love life.” The man who taught the world how to love through his romantic movies said he was happiest being single and skipping marriage for kids- “In my personal life I was smart and skipped that part to the best part of ha...

  In an increasingly screen-driven world, theatre fosters human connection, providing a shared space for collective experiences and emotional exchange. It nurtures creativity, communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence in youth, crucial for navigating today’s world.  

  “If you have a third eye, then you can act” – says  Chittaranjan Tripathy Director, National School of Drama. An accomplished artist himself, his plays include the likes of Taj Mahal Ka Tender, Capitol Express, and he has acted in Hindi films like Delhi 6, Shubh Mangal Savdhan, got an award for best supporting actor award for his role in the Hindi short film ‘Biscut’ at Chile international film festival and showcased his talent in web series likes “Sacred Games”, “Rasbhari”, “Raktanchal”, “Farzi”. Namrata Kohli in conversation with Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy Director, National School of Drama 1.      When it comes to theatre, can everyone perform? Like Shiamak Davar says – “Have Feet. Can dance.” Do   think   everybody   has   that   innate   ability   to   act? If you have a third eye, then you can act.   One   has   to   be   deep and   perceptive.   So,   it   is ...

  A journalist from Indore moves to Delhi to work with a leading media house in New Delhi. A classically trained female musician from Kanpur finds it difficult to pursue her unconventional career in a non-metro, and moves to Mumbai in search of name, fame, money. A fashion designer from Jaipur relocates to Delhi to intern with top designers. A fresh engineering graduate based out of Bikaner moves to Gurgaon because the “pay is significantly higher in metros and opportunities for growth are also there. Here I may earn Rs 20,000 as against a good Rs 60,000- Rs 1,00,000 in a metro. My town has no MNCs, corporate hubs and no exposure to big opportunities. Staying in my cocoon means goodbye to growth.” Beyond finances, young women from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are migrating to metros for freedom. They want financial independence, away from family control. It’s an escape from the small-town patriarchy —no curfews on timings and dress codes and more importantly, no pressure to “settle dow...