{ An India Exclusive! } ‘I am seduced by India’s rich musical tradition’

Opera singer Andrea Bocelli believes music and love are intertwined

“Despite everything that’s around us at this time, I remain optimistic. The world still has more people of good will. Although good rarely ‘makes news’,” adds the musician.

Bocelli made his debut in India, five years ago with a performance in Mumbai. “I played a concert where I had the honour of being conducted by the largest wand in operation in the world today, my dear friend and supreme Master Zubin Mehta,” he reminisces.

Land of Music Charmers

Does he listen to Indian music? If so, what does he think of it, we ask.

“I am seduced by India’s rich musical tradition and conquered by the philosophies that have flourished in this land,” says Bocelli. “The sonorities that musical instruments such as the sitar or sarangi release are unmatched, as are the complex and magnetic rhythmic architectures of the tabla.”

The maestro has spent the pandemic working on an album titled Believe, and tried to ease the pain caused by lockdowns around the world via his foundation ABF (Andrea Bocelli Foundation). “I have lived these complex and unpublished months with great concern and sadness. I was forced to cancel many concerts and greatly missed affection and interaction with public,” he says.

But, he recently performed (for the third time, he adds) at the UNESCO world heritage site, Alula, in Saudi Arabia.

Children of Music

“Saudi Arabia is a land that never fails to amaze me, from the refinement of the food to the depths of its artistic and cultural heritage,” says Bocelli. “On stage, I reflected, moved, on the power of music and art, able to generate common passions and beauty between the East and West.”

What made this performance particularly special was that he was on stage with his children, daughter Virginia and son Matteo, for the first time in his life. “To perform with them is another gift life has given me,” he says gratefully.

karishma.kuenzang@hindustantimes.com Follow @Kkuenzang on Twitter and Instagram

By Enakshi Chatterjee

Like millions all over the world, my normal life has been derailed by the pandemic. This is only to be expected, but what I did not expect was the silver lining in the all-pervasive dark cloud. Let me begin with a short introduction.

I happen to be a hard-core Calcuttan who used to live and work in that city till recently. Eight years ago, circumstances forced me to divide my time between Kolkata and the National Capital Region where all my children live. I would come to Gurgaon in the first week of March and stay till the onset of winter. The kind of work I do can be done from home. So I would bring my writing assignments to Gurgaon which kept me busy for the six months that I stayed here. But, last year, the pandemic started and I was stranded, I did not know what I would have done if it was not for Netflix.

Let me explain. Normally I am not a great TV watcher. But, this long pandemic break has left me without any occupation. The only way out was Netflix. After watching selected

KOREAN

IMPORT

Among many Korean trends that caught interest, the finger heart is a gesture that is the most popular favourites I ventured into exploring unknown territories. That is how I stumbled on my first Korean film, Crash Landing On You, the title was intriguing. It was the story of a South Korean woman para-glider drifting into North Korea and finally landing there. It is highly amusing and interesting in spite of the sub-titles. Thus encouraged, I tried another, this one was called Marriage Contract (2016), this too was very absorbing though in a different way, I was getting interested in this new kind of films. After my third attempt, Netflix took over. They began to offer me film after film, serial after serial, each more fascinating than the other. I was hooked good and proper.

Asian wave

A couple of weeks ago, I came across an article in one of the national dailies about the dramatic rise in the popularity of Korean films and TV serials. Apparently it is a wave sweeping across the country.

My immediate reaction was: Thank god! Then I am not the only one. My admiration for the above- mentioned art form has evoked a lot of ridicule in my family. This is because they are completely brainwashed by western films with maybe just a few desi ones thrown in. I was, thus, gradually being cornered when this article appeared as a life-saving straw to a drowning woman who was being forced to think that there was something wrong with her understanding. That article, which was an objective analysis of this highly unexpected turn of events, gave me a fresh lease of hope and the courage to take up my pen.

My reason for liking Korean films and serials can be grouped under the following heads: Tradition, family, woman power, food and male expression of emotion.

Watching them, I have come to realise our own shortcomings or to put it more bluntly,

WATCHING K-DRAMAS, I HAVE COME TO REALISE OUR OWN SHORT-COMINGS OR THAT WE ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM A POSTCOLONIAL HANGOVER

2. Crash Landing On You (2019)

Set against a backdrop of fairy tales and childhood memories, this romantic series portrays mental illnesses and trauma sensitively!

4. Start-up (2020)

This series portrayed the right see-saw of romance and entrepreneurship played by a pool of talented actors! Plus, it has a mention of India.

1. Winter Sonata (2002)

This series is one of the most well-known and iconic dramas of all time. The story revolves around a talented son of a musician seeking information about his past.

This love story about a South Korean heiress crash-landing in North Korea into the arms of an Army captain broke major records. The series earned praise for its nuanced portrayal of North Koreans.

3. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) 5. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018)

This show based on a webtoon created by Kim Myeong Mi set hearts flutter. It captured the true essence of the webtoon about how a billionaire VP falls in love with his overworked secretary.

—SHRUTI NAIR

episode serial, the entire issue was about getting the parents to agree to a marriage. They could have easily done it on their own but no, the consent of their parents is something they can’t do without. Their dear ones, even after they have gone, are very much a part of their lives, they visit the community memorial halls where photographs of their dead relatives are on display. People go there not just to offer flowers, but also to communicate.

In a land of corporate culture, it is natural that big companies play a major role in almost all films. But what is most striking is that many of these houses are headed by a grandmother. Not that fathers and grandfathers are not there, but the women are shown as most powerful. The chairperson is a mother or a grandmother, who holds the key to everything. The rest of the family is in awe of her. In a popular soap Secret Garden (2010), the mother is so vindictive, so keen on exerting her power to ruin her own son that she would put the darkest villain to shame. From the way she carries herself, talks, sits, tilts her head, she could teach a thing or two to the monarchs of Windsor. Her dignity, her style exudes power. Of course, she is (they all are) very fashionably dressed, though the make-up is much too heavy for my taste but perhaps done with a view to making them larger than life. It is woman-power at its best and worst.

A special feature of Korean movies is the way male actors display their emotions. They are not ashamed to show their feelings. Tears come to their eyes at the slightest provocation. They sob, they weep, even howl, and when they are particularly happy, they jump on the bed or sofa, do a jig or run about like young boys. Of course, they are good at fighting too, who wouldn’t be, in a country famous for martial arts. But no stiff upper lip – that is the main idea. Rivals in love do not waste time in talking, they come to blows. Even otherwise, the profuse use of slaps and kicks gives their films a distinctly different flavour. That is one of the reasons why it is such a delight to watch Korean films and serials.

Another dominant feature is their attitude to food. Eating for them is not just a means of survival, it has other meanings too. ‘Have you eaten?’ generally means. ‘Do you love me?’ Food not only occupies a very important part of their lives, it is basically a problemsolver. Whenever there is a crisis, personal or official, it is always resolved over a beverage and delicious-looking side-dishes. Coffee Prince (2007) is totally about the owner and others involved in the running of a coffee shop. Each meal looks like a celebration. It seems, for them life itself is one long food festival. No wonder, I am addicted to their shows and films!

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Enakshi Chatterjee, 87, has authored and translated several books in Bengali and English. She ran a weekly TV review column and has won several awards for her work