
See you shortly. Until then, be kind.
See you shortly. Until then, be kind.
If you ask Ria Aikat, 30, and Jennalee Desjardins, 33, to describe an unusual element in their dance routines, they will likely say—laughter.
Meet the Giggle Queens.
The Toronto-based performance/choreography duo are empresses of a distinctive style that combines Hip-Hop and Bollywood as well as other Eastern styles such as Bharatnatyam. There’s some helping of humour thrown in for good measure as well.
You can catch them Friday, July 24 when they perform at the 2020 BollywoodMonster Mashup. This year’s #StayHome concert is happening live via Facebook at 6 p.m.
Ria and Jennalee’s pieces combine Bhangra, Bharatnatyam and other genres with Waacking (a Hip-Hop style that was popular in the LGBTQ clubs in L.A. during the 70s).
“How did the name Giggle Queens come about? well, it was an organic move,” Ria explained. “We noticed there wasn’t a whole lot of room for laughter in the pieces we saw. So, we felt we had to make a small corner for ourselves in the dance world.”
Ria Aikat, dancer/choreographer, and one-half of Giggle Queens
Ria and Jennalee met in Ottawa in 2012 through Culture Shock Canada, a Hip-Hop organization. Later, they moved to Toronto and began to explore the dance world here.
“My introduction to Bhangra was definitely through Ria,” Jennalee admits. “I had watched few (Bollywood) movies and enjoyed the music but it wasn’t a serious pursuit until we decided to do something fun and different.”
The hallmark of anything “fusion” according to me is that it should blend two distinct styles, flavours, or genres flawlessly. If the transition is choppy, it defeats the purpose. The Giggle Queens pull that off.
Which is probably the reason why music is the centerpiece in all of Giggle Queens’ performances.
In their piece (choreography reel, 2020) Jennalee and Ria’s synchronized movements has elements of musical theatre. It has actors, props and scenes all unfolding to a Bollywood tune.
“We like to embrace laughter and comedy into our dance,” Jennalee explained. “Music starts our process or creation. What I like about Bollywood music is that there’s room for a lot of passion. To me, it felt as though Waacking was always made to go with Bollywood music.”
Their movements are set to high-energy beats. If you observe carefully, you might notice Ria and Jennalee’s footwork and arm moves subtly mimic some Bharatnatyam moves.
“The overarching theme of our upcoming performance will be that we will showcase the two distinctly different sides of a warrior woman,” Ria explained.
Toronto Desi Diaries is baaack.
It was a long hiatus. This blog’s purpose was always to connect me to my true passion, writing. There was a disconnect. I had gotten lost.
Anyway, the Summer of 2020—much like the year itself— is all about recalibrating, readjusting and gradually merging into the lanes of normalcy (whatever that is).
If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught me, it is: Life will keep delivering the same lesson until you learn from it.
***
This year’s, BollywoodMonster Mashup (BMM) will take place Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 via Facebook. Tune in to Facebook.com/BollywoodMashup at 6 p.m. (EST) to go on a scintillating evening of dance and music.
Headlining the virtual concert on Friday, July 24 is Canada’s most popular transplant to Bollywood – Sunny Leone. Sunny will perform a few of her hits, and afterwards take part in a live chat.
Arjuna Harjai, a critically-acclaimed Bollywood composer/ singer of the Choti Choti Gal (Motichoor Chaknachoor) and O Soniye (Titoo MBA) fame, will also present a selection of his foot-tapping Bollywood melodies.
On Saturday, July 25, Meet Bros and Khushboo Grewal will take on the entertaining responsibilities. Meet Bros (Harmeet and Manmeet Singh) are the men behind chartbusters such as “Lamborghini” (Jai Mummy Di), “Main Tera Boyfriend” (Raabta) and “Babydoll” (Ragini MMS 2).
***
When you watch Nick Pandya’s excellent cover of Mere Sohneya from the movie Kabir, two thoughts will hit you simultaneously. First, his voice. Oh, what a voice.
Second, the cookie-cutter homes set against the backdrop of a man-made body of water will be oddly familiar. Yes, the video was filmed in a subdivision near Mayfield Road and The Gore in Brampton.
After months of being cooped indoors because of the pandemic, Nick decided to venture outside. This music video was a tribute to tasting life’s small pleasures— fresh air, sunshine and music.
Within the Toronto and nearby areas, Nick, 28, is somewhat a homegrown celebrity and a YouTube sensation. His covers of popular Hindi and Gujarati songs are worthy of a listen or two.
An alumnus of Bramalea Secondary School, Nick has performed alongside Shankar Mahadevan, Jonita Gandhi, Chinmayi, Sukhvinder and others.
“Besides my parents, the person who inspires me the most is Shankar Mahadevan (Bollywood singer/composer),” said Nick who did a show in Toronto with Mahadevan. “When a reporter asked Shankar where he saw himself in life, Shankar replied that as a musician and human being, he wanted to be second because that way, he could continue to learn from the person in the first place.”
Nick works as a psychotherapist. When he’s not helping alleviate mental health and addiction issues, he’s fully immersed in his musical career and running Darshan Entertainment with his Dad.
“I believe in having a balance between music and my day job,” Nick said. “My job gives me the drive and the motivation to do better in my music and my career. I use music as a way of self-care.”
Nick Pandya, singer/co-founder Darshan Entertainment
Nick’s introduction to music started at 9 when he began taking tabla lessons. He studied the Indian skin instrument for 12 years and is acquainted with the elements of rhythm. This may be why his vocal prowess has that special something, an easy familiarity with the notes.
In 2008, he was the first runner- up in a reality TV contest judged by the well-known Pandit Jasraj. The contest, which unfolded over nine months, gave the audience a chance to know Nick and his vocal range. Soon after, opportunities came knocking.
Nick’s parents are his biggest cheerleaders. Their relationship appears to be one filled with mutual love.
During Navratri, Dandiya with Pandya (a second family business), is booked solid. Incidentally, Nick’s cover of a well-known song Moti Veerana by Osman Mir and Amit Trivedi is a viral hit. It has garnered more than 70,000 views on YouTube and is one of the most requested songs during his live performances.
“I think the most important thing with music is even though I would love to do it full-time, I am enjoying myself fully doing it part-time, and that, to me is the most important thing,” he says.
Nick says BMM is a professionally-run concert that continues to give him a platform to showcase his craft to one of the biggest audiences in the GTA.
Nick will perform at the BMM Friday, July 24.
I want to start this off on a positive note and humbly welcome you to Canada! This is simply an incredible country to live in with plenty of opportunities to chase your dreams. I wish you all the best in your studies and careers. I praise your work ethic and I understand the sacrifices that you had to make for the pursuit of a better life. It’s not easy to pack your bags, leave your family behind, and begin a new life in a foreign country. I commend you for your determination, perseverance, and resilience. You have nothing but admiration and encouragement from me!
What follows is a special note for international students from Punjab, India, as well as other Sikh students who have chosen to come live in Brampton and its surrounding areas. I’ve been living in Brampton for over 20 years now and I have personally witnessed the influx of students within the past decade. I live in the neighbourhood right beside Sheridan College where a significant number of international students are admitted, and my family has provided accommodation to several international students over the years before they moved out and rented out their own place.
While this land welcomes you with open arms, it doesn’t give you the right to take advantage of its kindness, strut around like you own the place, and disturb its inhabitants. It is a privilege to be able to come here and be able to make a name for yourself, it is not a right. I’m probably going to sound like a grumpy old man to many of you, but my words are influenced by my genuine observations and experiences over the past few years. You don’t have to listen to me, but just know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Many relatives, friends, colleagues, and fellow citizens have expressed the same sentiments as I have. I just decided to make it a bit more permanent in writing so you can refer to it. Once again, I’m not prohibiting you from doing these things because I’m obviously in no position to do so. I’m simply reinforcing the possibility that you can choose not to do them anymore! Here’s a list of things that you don’t have to do anymore in the 2020s and beyond:
I don’t have any prejudice or bias against international students, nor am I trying to compromise their reputation or embarrass them. There are many of you who are amazing individuals and work extremely hard to make your families proud. Some of you work two to three different jobs in a week while still managing to attend class. I honestly look up to you and I admire your journey of establishing yourselves in this new environment. The list above is for the “bad apples” of the bunch, whose behaviour and attitude influenced me to write about what’s going on in my city. Hopefully, some of you read this and realize that you can do things a little differently and you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. For the rest of you, I wish you good fortune, success, and happiness in this beautiful country!
Sincerely,
Jaskaran Chahal, A Citizen of Brampton
You can read Jazzy’s blog – Jazzy Writes here.
This is the last blog post for 2019. Toronto Desi Diaries wishes you health and happiness for 2020.
Details: Don’t put away your party shoes, yet. Besharam invites you to the Revival Bar and Event Venue, 783 College St. Toronto with DJ Amita. Doors open at 10:30 p.m.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: Desi You will be hosting Desi Nights —the hottest Bollywood party in Mississauga. All action will happen at the Kolkata Club, 488 Eglinton Ave. W. Mississauga. Doors open at 10:30 p.m. DJ Alfaa, DJ Vicious and DJ MO.D will be spinning the latest as well as retro Bollywood and Bhangra Bangers, Top 40, and Spanish tracks.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: Barrie Indian Association is very honoured to host the 2nd Annual Lohri Festival in The City of Barrie. Lohri is a popular winter-time Punjabi folk festival, celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus from the Punjab region of the Indian-subcontinent. This celebration will take place at the Ferndale Banquet Hall, 24 Ferndale Industrial Dr., at Barrie, Ont. at 7 p.m.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: This one-day bridal event will take place at the International Centre – Hall 1, 6900 Airport Rd. Mississauga from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The show will feature dozens of exhibitors showcasing products such as cakes, confectioneries, clothing, and services couples need to host the wedding of their dreams.
Contact: For more details visit here.
Details: Saksham Entertainment will host a musical evening paying tribute to the chartbusters from the 90s (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Duplicate, Aashiqui, etc). The event is taking place at the Lester B. Memorial Theatre, 150 Central Pkwy. Dr. Brampton at 6:30 p.m. “It won’t just be a musical evening, it will be a memorable experience,” say organizers.
Contact: For tickets and more visit here.
Details: TSKG will be hosting its annual Taipongal Festival at the Swagat Banquet Hall, 6991 Millcreek Dr. in Mississauga at 11 a.m.
Contact: For more details visit here.
Details: The Thamil Isai Kalaa Manram of Ontario (TCCCA) is will present: Bharathi Vizha in Toronto, a Tamil-Canadian Tribute to Bharathi, to support a project to name a park in Toronto as “Bharathi Park” after Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar. Mahakavi Bharathiyar was a poet, freedom fighter and social reformer. The group wants to host an online campaign and welcomes people to submit videos, poems, audio clips, etc.
Contact: For more details visit here.
Details: Rajdhani Sweets Restaurant and India Sajawat & Puja Hut present a Nirvana production – a live musical concert featuring Bollywood melodies from the ’90s to present. The event takes place at the Maja Prentice Theatre, 3650 Dixie Rd. in Mississauga at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: Aadhe will explore the viewpoint of a first-generation Torontonian, and the issue of culture and race as a costume. The event will take place at 1 Carlaw Ave. at 6 -10 p.m. The evening will start with aAadhe’s showcasing their Glow Truths collection for Fall/Winter 2021, followed by musical and spoken word performances by artists from Toronto.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: This Mississauga speed dating event is geared towards young professionals with an Indian / South Asian background looking for a classy and fun way to meet other like-minded individuals within their culture. It takes place at the Port House Social Bar & Kitchen139 Lakeshore Rd. E. Mississauga at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: The Chinmaya Mission Toronto (Shivalaya) at 8832 The Gore Rd. will host the Gita Jayanti from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature a special celebration for Tapovan Jayanti.
Contact: For more details visit here
Details: A Fusion Indian Christmas concert and dinner to create an awareness of world Christmas traditions, hosted by Neeraj Prem will take place at the St Andrews United Church, 479 Upper Paradise Rd. in Hamilton ON L9C 5E2 from 5:30 -9:30 p.m. The event will feature music from various cultures and showcase Christmas traditions as well as a sumptuous South Asian food.
Contact: For more details contact here.
Details: SOCH Mental Health will host its self-healing series at the Cyril Clark Library, 20 Loafers Lake Ln. (program room) from 1:30 – 3 p.m. to feature Kundalini Yoga facilitated by Yogi Shannon. SOCH is a mental health promotion initiative started by two Registered Nurses from Brampton, tailored at providing the South Asian community with awareness, skills, and knowledge about mental health.
Contact: To participate or for more information visit here or email info@sochmentalhealth.com
Details: This annual Christmas bash + Speed dating event kicks off at the Bukhara Grill, 190 Main St. S. Brampton at 4 p.m. It’s open to South Asian singles.
Contact: For more details visit here
Details: DanceShala, a Brampton-based dance studio will host its annual recital Rhythm of Roots 2019 at the Meadowvale Theatre, 6315 Montevideo Rd. Mississauga at 2 p.m. The event will feature Bollywood, Bhangra, classical dances, etc.
Contact: For more details contact here
Details: Desi Dreams and Laal Button will present this show at the Station Kitchen and Bar, 866 Bloor St. W. at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: For more information visit here
Details: VIPclubevents will host its wedding show at the Swagat Banquet Hall, 6991 Millcreek Dr. in Mississauga from 2-10 p.m. and feature a fashion show and expo showcasing the creations of top designers, makeup and hair artists, décor, food, and other vendors.
Contact: For more information visit here.
Details: The 4th annual Takeover will take place at Eros Convention Centre, 2360 Lucknow Dr., Mississauga at 7 p.m.
Contact: For tickets and more, visit here.
Details: PGA International will host its annual New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Moonlight Convention Centre, 6835 Professional Crt. Mississauga at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: For tickets and more visit here
*** There are simply too many New Year’s Eve celebrations happening around the GTA to list them all here. ***
A Fusion Indian Christmas concert and dinner to create an awareness of world Christmas traditions, hosted by Neeraj Prem will take place at the St Andrews United Church, 479 Upper Paradise Rd. in Hamilton ON L9C 5E2 from 5:30 -9:30 p.m. Video courtesy of Neeraj Prem.
Details: Brian O’Connell, Ali Azmat and Salman Ahmed, known as “Sultans of Sufi Rock” will perform at the CAA Centre (formerly the Powerade Centre), 7575 Kennedy Rd. S. at 8 p.m.
Contact: For tickets, visit here.
Details: This singles event for South Asian suitors interested in finding a life partner will take place at the Novotel Hotel Mississauga, 3670 Hurontario St. Mississauga at 1:40 p.m.
Contact: For more details, contact here.
Details: The Royalton will host its Royal Diwali Bash at 8201 Weston Rd. Woodbridge, Ont. at 5 p.m. with an indoor fire show, dancing, live music, food, etc.
Contact: For more information, visit here.
Details: The Chinmaya Vedanta Heritage Centre, 8832 The Gore Rd. will celebrate Diwali with Glories of Ramayana with Swami Prakashananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission, Trinidad Soul-touching bhajans and devotional dances, preeti bhoj and fireworks.
Contact: For more information, visit here.
After touring across the world and raking in over 50 million views on the internet, East India Comedy’s Sapan Vermal and Angad Singh Ranyal are bringing their laughs from India. The show takes place at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. at 7 p.m.
Contact: For tickets and more visit here.
Details: Lavish Dulhan Bridal Show, a bridal show will take place at the Embassy Grand Convention Centre, 8800 The Gore Rd. Brampton, Ont. at 12 noon to 7 p.m. and will include: 100 vendors, an interactive are, couture fashion show, etc.
Contact: For more, visit here.
Details: As there is a science and technology to create external well-being, there is a whole dimension of science and technology for inner well-being ~ Sadhguru. Inner Engineering is a technology for well-being derived from the science of Yoga. It is offered as a comprehensive course for personal growth that brings about a shift in the way you perceive and experience life, your work, and the world that you live in. This two-day event will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Blvd. Toronto.
Contact: For tickets, course details, etc. visit here.
Details: Pakistani playback singer/composer Atif Aslam, well-known for his Bollywood chartbusters such as Bas ek pal (Tere Bin), khair Mangda (A Flying Jatt), Hoor (Hindi Medium), etc. will perform at the Paramount Centre, 5600 Rose Cherry Pl. Mississauga at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: For tickets, etc. visit here.
Details: Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue will run at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. There are several shows. The musical is set to the soundtrack featuring the songs of A.R. Rahman. It’s a show filled with colour, high-energy music and dance, choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant and directed by Shru Merchant.
Contact: For showtimes and tickets, visit here.
Details: This musical evening will take place at Swagat Banquet Hall, 6991 Millcreek Dr., Mississauga at 7 p.m.
Contact: For tickets and more, visit here.
After I accidentally stumbled upon Vidya Vox (Vidya Iyer’s) videos on YouTube, I went on a devouring spree if you will, of her music for weeks afterward.
Every song I listened to demonstrated her incredible ability to meld western pop hits with Indian sounds. What’s more, her music is deeply rooted in her training as a classical musician. She sings in an array of languages: Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, etc.
Even though this blog veers away from the geographic mandate of Toronto Desi Diaries, I hope I can get away with it.
Let’s start with the basics, so, who’s Vidya Vox?
Vidya’s an Indo-American artist and YouTube sensation. Her videos have amassed huge followings (600 million views and over six million subscribers). She made her debut on YouTube in 2015, since then she has had dozens of chartbusters. In 2017, Vidya dropped her debut EP of original songs in Kuthu Fire.
While on a pre-med track at George Washington University, Vidya began to indulge in her passion for music. She did so by posting YouTube videos. Upon graduation, Vidya took the leap and decided to pursue a music career full time.
With over 153 million views, one of Vidya’s most successful videos, Be Free, is an original song from Kuthu Fire. This song is mixed with the Malayalam folk song “Pallivaalu Bhadravattakam.” Vidya’s mashups have since gained worldwide recognition from the likes of Major Lazer, Diplo & Hrithik Roshan.
This Kerala boat song is my favourite. It evokes memories of my childhood.
What’s new with Vidya’s music?
In July this year, Vidya released Mad Dreams. This album features five original songs (songs written by Vidya and composer Shanker Tucker) that exhibit the American desi’s ease in both worlds —U.S. and India.
Growing up in the west as a first-generation Indian-American, I always felt like I was living a double life.
At home, I was immersed in a traditional Indian culture, eating dosas, singing Carnatic music, and listening to A.R. Rahman, and the second I stepped on my school bus, I would eat pizza and listen to Destiny’s Child and Backstreet Boys. At school, I was an outcast and felt embarrassed about being different. Mad Dreams represents a pivotal time in my journey to reclaim and embrace my bicultural identity while sharing messages of hope and empowerment.
Here’s what she says on each of the five tracks
Is incredibly personal. As only 1 of 2 Indian kids in middle school, the other kids had many questions for me. ‘Does your house smell like curry?’ ‘Why are your elbows so dark?’ All questions were about why I looked different. To this day, we are sold products and images to cover these “differences.” I took all the things that were said to me and reclaimed them in this song. My favorite line is Dark knees, dark eyes, no powder, my sun-filled skin holds power. The lyric Appadi Podu Di, in Tamil literally translates to “Give it back!” and my uncle often said it to me growing up as a reaction to one of my snarky comebacks. As a South Asian woman, this song is an anthem about loving the skin you’re in.
was inspired by the story of Indian goddess Parvati, who was doing penance to gain the affections of Lord Shiva, the Destroyer and Lord of Dance. The mridangam and chalanga dance bell sound in the chorus are traditional sounds used in traditional Shiva songs. Hearing this story growing up, Parvati’s concentration always amazed me. I always wondered, would this infatuation and chase drive her mad? She’s in her world of mad dreams.
is about the process of taking risks and finding your footing, which is difficult but always worthwhile. I always feel better in the end. I tend to hide in my cocoon when the going gets tough. However, it’s important to be proud of who you are, take a leap of faith and find your wings!
is about a particular memory of when Shankar and I were visiting New Delhi many years ago. We were in an auto-rickshaw driving around at night. It was hot and hazy, and although the streets were crowded, it felt like we were the only two people in the city.
Brings me back to when I was living with my mom. I had big dreams of moving to Los Angeles. Some days, I felt that I’d never be able to leave home. Other days, I was more hopeful. Making the move to Los Angeles was life-changing, but once the lights went out, I still missed home. The instrumental sarangi line that echoes throughout the chorus represents a longing for home, wherever you may be.
Mad Dreams is available on iTunes, Spotify, and all streaming platforms.
Details: Saptak Musical Group will host a Navratri Raas Garba at the Mississauga Secondary School, 550 Courtneypark Dr., Mississauga from 6:30 p.m. onward.
Contact: For tickets, contact here
Details: Indo-Canada Arts Council will host Diwali celebrations at Mississauga’s Celebration Square from 2 p.m. There will be dance performances, musical concerts, artistic displays and more.
Contact: For more information, visit here
Details: Shaan Punjab Dee will host its annual Bhangra and Gidda competition at the Living Arts Centre (Hammerson Hall), 4141 Living Arts Dr. in Mississauga at 2 p.m.
Contact: For tickets, etc. visit here
Details: Well-known Bollywood singer Shaan will be at the Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Dr. Mississauga at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: For more information, visit here
Details: The Shilompoli Shethra Dance Academy will present Aaru Padai Veedu, a dance drama based on the six holy places of Lord Muruga. The event is happening at the Chinese Cultural Centre, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E. Scarborough at 5 p.m.
Contact: For more information, visit here
Details: Padmashri Hariharan, a Ghazal, classical and Bollywood singer will perform at Brampton’s Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln. Brampton at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: For tickets, visit here
Details: Jagruti Bhatt presents Garba with Gujju Rocks at the Brampton Soccer Centre, 1495 Sandalwood Pkwy. E. at 7 p.m.
Contact: For tickets and more, visit here
Details: Montreal’s tri-lingual comic – Sugar Sammy (Samir) will perform at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln. in Brampton at 7:45 p.m.
Contact: To purchase tickets, visit here
Details: Harita Desai and Rajan Desai will perform at the Svarita Cultural Forum’s Garba. The event will take place at Bramalea Secondary School, 510 Balmoral Dr. Brampton from 8 p.m. onward.
Contact: Cost of tickets is $18/person and can be purchased here
Details: Ma Ambe Entertainment presents the Sri Atul Purohit Navratri Garba 2019 at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga Saturday, Oct. 12-13 at 7 p.m. on both the days. There will be an Indian food festival hosted by Veggie Planet at the venue.
Contact: Cost of tickets is $25 + service fee ($0.75) and can be purchased here
Details: Sampradaya Dance Creations will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Living Arts Centre with a kinetic work that bridges the gap between Tibetan Buddhists and Hinduism through music and dance. The event runs at the Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Dr. Mississauga at 7p.m.
Contact: For more information visit here
Details: K.C Group will host a Diwali Dhamaka 2019 at Bombay Palace Banquet Hall, 200 Advance Blvd. Brampton at 6 p.m.
Contact: For tickets and more, visit here
Details: Chennai-born, San Francisco native Sid Sriram blends eastern and western sounds with his pop/soul, alternative music. He will perform at the Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., Toronto at 7 p.m.
Contact: For more details, visit here
Details: The Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention will host its Queer-wali celebration at 459 Church St. (2nd floor), Toronto at 5:30 p.m. There will be drag performances by Seema Dikshit, a bazaar and more
Contact: For details visit here
Imagine being invited to a buffet on a cheat-day
That’s precisely how I felt when the good folks at C2C Communications reached out inquiring if Toronto Desi Diaries wanted to chat with any of the renowned authors scheduled to speak at the Jaipur Literary Festival —Toronto (JLF) ?
The event running Friday, Sept. 27-29 at Toronto’s historic Distillery District has dozens of author sessions with literary giants such as Amitava Kumar (Immigrant Montana: A Novel), Anosh Irani (The Bombay Plays: The Matka King & Bombay Black), MG Vassanji (The Gunny Sack), Vikas Swarup (Q&A which became the mega-successful Slumdog Millionaire), etc.
I confess I was l salivating at the prospect of interviewing some of the literary superstars whose pens have inspired millions of people around the world, including myself.
So, what’s JLF?
Here’s a rather apt definition of the festival on its website. “JLF Toronto recreates the magnificent spirit of Jaipur’s annual literary carnival bringing its inclusive and infectious camaraderie to the vibrant capital of Ontario with a heady mix of writers, thinkers, poets, balladeers, and raconteurs.”
In this blog, festival producer and managing director of Teamwork Arts Sanjoy Roy shares some interesting perspectives.
Here’s more from Sanjoy. Enjoy.
TDD. What can Toronto audiences expect from JLF?
SR: JLF will bring to Toronto a flavour of what we do in many parts of the world. A diverse program reflective of our philosophy to address local writers and their issues of identity, belonging, migration, travel, food, philosophy, science, fiction, and poetry.
TDD. What went into the planning of JLF – Toronto? Will the audience get a glimpse of India via its literature, history, and the lineup of authors?
SR: JLF brings India to the world and takes the world to India. In the international editions, JLF explores each others’ stories and creates platforms for excellence and the written word.
TDD. Hosting art festivals in a world ravaged by divisiveness, political and religious strife and what-not, seems like a brilliant idea, how have you been able to make this festival economically viable? Relevant?
SR: Politics is a reality of all times, divisiveness too. What sets our times apart is the new narrative of hatred which has become the dominant voice. Art and literature are one of many ways to bridge the divide and bring to pass the fear of the other.
Festivals take time to break even and create traditional wealth. What they do is create intangible wealth and contribute enormously to local economies.
TDD. Who are your favourite writers? Anything you read recently that made putting the book down difficult?
SR: I tend to read 5 – 6 books at a time. I am presently reading William Dalrymple’s Anarchy, Namita Gokhale’s Things to leave behind, Sandeep Unnithan’s Operation X on the Bangladesh war, Anoush Irani’s The parcel and Sharad Paul’s book on genetics.
TDD. Can you share an anecdote or two from the previous JLFs? something that you look back on and chuckle or something that was profoundly deep?
SR: There are numerous stories – from lost passports and mislaid documents, to trees falling, protestors vowing to destroy us, controversies that are as old as history, incredible sessions where you learn and celebrate knowledge and so much more
TDD. One or two pieces of advice to aspiring writers…
SR: Write not necessarily to entertain but because you have the volition to write. Bury your ego and listen to your inner voice.
Post Script: The JLF has several free outdoor street festival and marketplace. For the full schedule, tickets, etc. visit here.
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