Zakir Hussain

 in an exclusive concert celebrating North Indian music for one night only on Sunday 9 November, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Globally revered as a tabla virtuoso of the highest standard, Zakir Hussain’s

contribution to both classical Indian music and cross-cultural music is unrivalled,

having collaborated with luminaries from Ravi Shankar to John McLaughlin, and

recognized internationally with a Grammy Award in 1992.

In this exclusive Sydney concert, featuring the traditional repertoire of North Indian

drumming on tabla in solo and duet, as well as collaborations exploring the

frontier between traditional and contemporary, folk and classical, Zakir Hussain will

demonstrate the outstanding dexterity and inspired improvisational abilities that

never fail to leave audiences spellbound wherever he performs.

The carefully selected repertoire offers musical excursions into the melodic (raga)

and rhythmic (tala) forms alongside the dazzling and athletic prowess of the

dancing drummers of Manipur.

A not-to-be-missed performance by a true percussion genius.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS: ZAKIR HUSSAIN

Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Date: Sunday 9th November, 2008

Time: 8pm Prices: $49 – $125

Bookings: 9250 7777 or sydneyoperahouse.com

Zakir Hussain is today appreciated both in the field of

percussion and in the music world at large as an international

phenomenon.

A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and

exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure

in his own country, India, but earned him worldwide fame. His playing is

marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity,

founded in formidable knowledge and study. The favorite accompanist for

many of India’s greatest classical musicians and dancers, he has not let his

genius rest there.

Widely considered a chief architect of the contemporary world music

movement, Zakir’s contribution to world music has been unique, with many

historic collaborations including Shakti, which he founded with John

McLaughlin and L. Shankar in the early 1970’s, the Diga Rhythm Band,

Making Music, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, Sangam

with Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland and recordings and performances with

artists as diverse as George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto

Moreira, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Rennie Harris

and the Kodo drummers of Japan.

A child prodigy, Zakir was touring by the age of twelve, the gifted son of his

great father, tabla legend Ustad Allarakha. Zakir came to the United States

in 1970, embarking on an international career which includes no fewer than

150 concert dates a year. He has composed and recorded many albums

and soundtracks, and has received widespread recognition as a composer

for his many ensembles and collaborations. He has composed soundtracks

for the films In Custody and The Mystic Masseur directed by Ismail

Merchant, Bertolucci’s Little Buddha, for which Zakir composed, performed

and acted as Indian music advisor, Vanaprastham (The Last Dance),

chosen to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 1999, Saaz, and

Everybody Says I’m Fine.

Zakir received the distinct honor of co-composing the opening music for

the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 1996. He was commissioned to compose

music for Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, and to compose an original work for the

San Francisco Jazz Festival, both in 1998. He has received numerous grants

and awards, including participation in the Meet the Composer programs

funded by the Pew Memorial Trust and an Izzie (Isadora Duncan Award) for

his composition for Lines Ballet. In 2000, Zakir worked again with

choreographer Alonzo King, this time composing music for The Alvin Ailey

American Dance Theater. In 2002, his commissioned work for

choreographer Mark Morris’ “Kolam” premiered as part of Yo Yo Ma’s “Silk

Road Project” with Yo Yo and Zakir performing together live for the

performance. In September, 2006, Triple Concerto for Banjo, Bass and

Tabla, a piece co-composed by Zakir, Edgar Meyer and Bela Fleck, was

performed by the trio with the Nashville Symphony at the gala opening of

the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall in Nashville. Zakir reunited with

choreographer Alonzo King in 2007 for Lines Ballet’s 25th anniversary

celebration, creating acclaimed music for King’s new work, Rasa. Also in

2007, the government of India chose Zakir to compose an anthem to

celebrate India’s 60th year of independence. The song, “Jai Hind”, has

been recorded by an array of India’s finest classical vocalists and pop

singers.

The recipient of countless honors, Zakir has received the titles of Padma

Bhushan, in 2002, and Padma Shri, in 1988, becoming the youngest

Percussionist to be awarded these, given to civilians of merit, by the Indian

Government. In 1990, he was awarded the Indo-American Award in

recognition for his outstanding cultural contribution to relations between

the United States and India. In April, 1991, he was presented with the

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the President of India, making him one

of the youngest musicians to receive this recognition from India’s governing

cultural institute. In 2006, he was the recipient of the prestigious Kalidas

Samman, an award for artists of exceptional achievement, from the

government of Madhya Pradesh. In 2007, readers’ polls from both Modern

Drummer and Drum! magazines named him Best World Music and Best

Worldbeat Drummer respectively.

In 1987, his first solo release, Making Music, was acclaimed as “one of the

most inspired East-West fusion albums ever recorded.” In 1992, Planet Drum,

an album co-created and produced by Zakir and Mickey Hart, was

awarded the first-ever Grammy® for Best World Music Album, the

Downbeat Critics’ Poll for Best World Beat Album and the NARM Indie Best

Seller Award for World Music Recording. Planet Drum, with Zakir as music

director, toured nationally in 1996 and 1997. The band has re-emerged as

Global Drum Project, touring extensively in 2007 and 2008.

In 1992, Zakir founded Moment! Records, which features original

collaborations in the field of contemporary world music, as well as live

concert performances by great masters of the classical music of India. The

label presents Zakir’s own world percussion ensemble, The Rhythm

Experience, both North and South Indian classical recordings, Best of Shakti

and a Masters of Percussion series. Moment Records’ 2006 release Golden

Strings of the Sarode with Aashish Khan and Zakir Hussain was nominated

for a Grammy® in the Best Traditional World Music category for that year.

Zakir is the recipient of the 1999 National Heritage Fellowship, the United

States’ most prestigious honor for a master in the traditional arts, presented

by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the United States Senate on

September 28, 1999. In 2005, he was named an Old Dominion Fellow by the

Humanities Council at Princeton University, where he resided for the 2005-

2006 semester as full professor in the music department, teaching a survey

course in Indian classical music and dance. In the spring of 2007, this course

India has allowed the export of the Pusa 1121 variety of rice from Oct 15 this year, according to a senior government official. This variety is exported mainly to the Gulf countries, a report in The Times of India  says. 

“Pusa 1121 rice will be exported with effect from Oct 15 this year,” a senior official of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) told . He did not wish to be identified.

Traders will have to register themselves with the Apeda before they start exporting Pusa 1121, which is nearly as good as basmati rice.

This variety is grown mainly in Punjab and Haryana, two of India’s key rice-producing states.

The official said the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has lifted the ban on the export of Pusa 1121. Traders will be allowed to export the rice at a minimum export price (MEP), which is yet to be decided.

He said that export of this rice would be permitted only from the ports of Kolkata, Kandla, Kakinada, Navi Mumbai, Mundra and Pipavav.

The government March 31 this year banned the export of non-basmati rice, and increased MEP for basmati rice to $1,200 (Rs.54,000) per tonne to rein in inflation.

The government is considering lifting the ban completely by November this year in view of a good monsoon and a good paddy crop.

The agriculture ministry said that the area under rice cultivation had gone up to nearly 36.1 million this year as against 34.5 million hectares Sep 4 last year.

India is likely to export a record quantity of basmati rice in the current fiscal. In July alone, traders got the official go-ahead for exporting 165,148 metric tonnes of basmati rice.

In July this year, Apeda issued 658 registration-cum-allocation certificates (RCAC) to traders to enable them to export basmati rice worth nearly $252 million (Rs.11.34 billion).

In 2007-08, the estimated production of rice stood at 96.43 million tonnes, wheat 78.40 million tonnes, coarse cereals 40.73 million tonnes, maize 19.31 million tonnes, pulses 15.11 million tonnes, and oilseeds 28.82 million tonnes.

The government has set a target of achieving an annual production growth rate of 3.7 percent for all food grains including rice.

In absolute terms, however, the government target is to achieve a production of 129 million tonnes of rice by 2011-12 since the domestic demand for rice by that time has been projected at 128 million tonnes.

Hence, according to official estimates, this level of production can be achieved only if the yield per hectare for rice goes up to an average 3,000 kilograms up from only 1,930 tonnes now.

Indian tennis star Leander Paes and partner Zimbabwean Cara Black have won the mixed doubles title at the US Open.

The couple beat Britain’s Jamie Murray and his American partner Liezel Huber. Paes served out for the title as the match was won in one hour 20 minutes

Black and Huber appear in the final of the women’s doubles when they take on American Lisa Raymond and Australian Sam Stosur.

This is the second US Open and fourth Grand Slam mixed doubles title for Paes.

He won two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles with Martina Navratilova and another with Lisa Raymond, but this is the first time he partnered Cara Black. The Indian tennis star said he woke up with a purpose and was happy to get his hand to the title, after missing it twice in the past.

“You know, it was in the back of my mind that I hadn’t won this one.

“I’ve been in two finals here. I was match point up in one of them with Lisa Raymond many years ago, and today I woke up this morning with a purpose.

“The trick in doubles is to find a good partner,” Paes said and added: “I let Cara do all the work and just sat back and enjoyed it.”

The critical point was lost when Black – the outstanding player on the day – brilliantly anticipated a Murray volley and put away her own volley for a winner.

Cara Black said: “It was tough for me to play against Liezel, but Leander was so good with me.

“He calmed me a lot and said he had my back at all times. All thanks to Leander. He pulled me through,”

India’s Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra has hit out at the nation’s sports coaches and officials, saying they “know nothing” about sport.

“Indian athletes have no respect for most officials,” the 26-year-old told the Times of India.

India won their best ever haul, a gold and two bronze medals, in Beijing.

But Bindra, who won gold in the 10m air rifle event, said there was “no magic solution” to make the underperforming nation a sporting power.

‘No vision’

“If we want to get to double digits, we need to target 2016 and start working from today,” he said.

“But the respective federations have no vision and I don’t see that changing. I wish I had a magic solution but unfortunately, I don’t. The IOA has to play a role in building athletes. It does nothing.”

Bindra made his comments to the Times of India after being invited to edit the national paper’s Friday edition.

He said Indian athletes had to “be on good terms with officials because one needs to survive”.

“But most officials, and many of the so-called coaches who travel with the teams, know nothing about the sport.

“The athletes don’t talk about this because their careers are at stake. And the officials unfortunately don’t care.”

He also revealed that he had to fund his travel to Beijing from his training base in Germany, because Indian Olympic officials refused to pay.

Bindra also took a swipe at the country’s cricket-obsessed media, saying Olympic sports did not get the publicity they deserved.

“Why not just rename the sports pages ‘cricket pages’?,” he asked.

All of India’s eight previous Olympic golds came in the field hockey tournament.

Mitu Bhowmick-Lange opening Festival in Sydney

Aamir Khan-directed ‘Taare Zamin Par’ has been adjudged the best film and Kareena Kapoor bags the Best Performance award at the Sixth Australian Indian Film Festival  that kicked off in style in Sydney on Friday 29^th August 2008 at the Cinema Paris in the prestigious Fox Studios. The festival opened with the screening of ‘Taare Zamin Par’.

Mitu and Achala (L) of MG Distributions at Cinema Paris in Sydney

The festival was judged by the esteemed Australian critics from the Film Critics Circle of Australia Inc. Julie Rigg, well known commentator and broadcaster for Australia’s ABC Radio National, Peter Thompson, film critic and television presenter, Adrienne McKibbins, executive officer of the Film Critics Circle of Australia and Peter Crayford, film critic for the award winning journal “The Financial Times” were absolutely delighted to accept the challenge and judge the films, which will follow in the footsteps of last year’s esteemed winners… Best Film, Chak De! India Directed by Shimit Amin : Best performance: Akshaye Khanna.

 Unlike last year, the Australian Indian Film Festival (AIFF) had a quiet opening in the absence of any big stars or Bollywood personalities. Mitu Bhowmick-Lange, CEO of the Swish M G Distribution opened the festival with the announcement that her company has just opened an office in the US. She was in San Francisco and had just returned before the Sydney opening of the festival. She said the festival, now in its sixth year is fast becoming one of the most anticipated and high profile film festival in Australia. In fact, it has become the biggest foreign languages films festival in Australia.

“We tried to get the stars, especially Aamir Khan, but they were not available due to their pre-occupation with shootings,” Achala Dattar, Marketing Coordinator for Festivals of the Swish MG Distribution told The IS Times. It is likely that the awards function will be held somewhere in March 2009 when the stars are available, she said. 

A major shift in this year’s festival is that Swish has got the support of the Directorate of Festivals, Ministry of I & B, New Delhi and with it the original prints of great classics of Satyajit Ray and some of the brilliant works in the Regional film industry.

Hence, the film lovers in Australia are able to watch the retrospective of Satyajit  Ray’s films. With the sixth edition, the festival has expanded its scope to showcasing retrospective of works of great film-makers like Mani Ratnam and Raj Kapoor in the subsequent editions of the festivals, Achala revealed. The aim of the festival is to bring to the people of Australia the best of Indian films, she said.

 In the new format, the AIFF is presenting a series of superb regional films never before screened in Australia, plus the biggest Bollywood blockbusters of the past years, which serve to make this year’s, programme a well rounded and true mirror of contemporary Indian cinema.

As the travelling festival continues to win fans nationally and Melbourne and Sydney kick off in fine style, we can look forward to perhaps, one of the most successful Indian Film Festivals to date a media release of the AIFF said.