Burq Off! unveils hypocrisy with humour

Burq Off! a show by Brooklyn native Nadia Manzoor is a hilarious commentary of a young girl’s search for identity in two opposing cultures: modern London and her Muslim upbringing. The show runs March 18-21 at Small World Music Centre, 180 Shaw St. Studio 101 in Toronto. Photo by John Keon.

Warning!

If you’re a buttoned-up prude easily offended by people that rip-off the band-aid on religion and hypocritical zealots who preach it, stop right here. Don’t bother reading this further.

Nadia Manzoor is an actor, artist, activist and rebel. Her upcoming show Burq Off! running at Small World Music, 180 Shaw St. in Toronto, March 18-21 has elements that will likely: a)make you squirm b)pray for salvation c) prompt you to speed dial the religious/moral police D) remove the cobwebs from you mind and eyes E) Provide a compelling, yet hilarious commentary of the changing times and religion’s inability to keep up.

The show’s brand of humour will either shock the audience into silence or tickle their funny bone until they are a helpless mass of mirth sprawled on the floor.

Nadia, a Brooklyn native landed in North America via Karachi, Singapore, Dubai and Hertfordshire, U.K. pokes fun of misogynist men, antiquated customs, silly rituals and our insecurities about the west.

BURQ OFF! THE SHOW

In Burq Off! Nadia pulls off 21 characters: a stern father, a saucy English friend, Islamic studies’ teachers and few dozen others. The show reveals the cultural tug-of-war of a young Muslim straddling two cultures that are completely at odds with each other — the modern woman versus the dutiful Muslim daughter.

“My struggle in Burq Off! is about reconciling my conservative upbringing with my own liberal questioning,” Nadia said. “At the time, it seemed I couldn’t have stayed true to my ‘religion’, or at least the way I was taught religion, and my own independent thought and inquiry. As a result I felt like I had to step away from those definitions.”

Nadia Manzoor with her Dad, Parvez. Nadia’s one-woman show Burq Off! pokes fun at her father’s conservative ideas which often clashed with her own modern views. The show runs March 18-21 in Toronto. Submitted photo.

A witty banter between Nadia and her father Parvez many moons ago describes the premise of Burq Off!
When Nadia was old enough to realize the world was hers for taking, she announced to her Dad she wanted to become an astronaut.

“Request denied; God is great. Who will cook for your husband?” her Dad rued?

Growing up in a predominantly white neighbourhood and attending a Christian school meant a constant tussle and confrontation at home.

BEING HUMAN

“It seemed like what was more important at the time was how other people defined you,” Nadia recalled. “If you were dating a white Irish man, you couldn’t have been a very good Muslim. But in my heart, I was deeply connected with the divine and have always been. But people label you and define you according to their own set of beliefs, so stepping away from my ‘religion’ and culture was really me stepping away from the people that kept trying to define me. I needed to define myself.”

In a world torn by religious strife and unnecessary chest thumping, Nadia’s show brings a fresh and necessary perspective to the stale debate about religious freedoms.

“Liberal Muslims are definitely under represented, and the orthodox people get all the attention, and also by proxy end up defining people’s understanding of the religion,” she says. “Can you be a Muslim and date a white guy and wear bikinis and drink alcohol?”

NIRVANA THROUGH HUMOUR

Humour was Nadia’s coping mechanism growing up. It has since become her livelihood, arsenal to deliver punches and life’s calling.

“In every way imaginable. I’ve found my purpose,” she said. “Not meaning to be all existential, but the first time I performed there was this moment when everything in my life, and all the struggle, and everything that I had done until that moment just made sense. It was like finding my calling. As a result I have a newfound confidence in why I’m here and why I exist. If that’s not transformational, I don’t know what is. My whole life has become about continuing to use my creativity for change….”

LIGHTS, SET, ACTION

Burq Off! a one-woman show by Brooklyn native Nadia Manzoor who plays 21 different characters will run March 18-21 at Small World Music Centre, 180 Shaw St. Studio 101 in Toronto.

Tara Elliot, the director and one of the co-producers, hit it off with Nadia when their paths crossed. As a one-woman show, Nadia carries Burq Off! on her shoulders with relative ease, but to make the show as an interactive experience, Tara had to make sure Nadia’s storytelling was enhanced.

“I wanted to create a playground for Nadia that was visually engaging, transformative, and yet aesthetically simple,” Tara said. “Fabric is easily transformable, and so it became a part of the storytelling in my mind at a pretty early point. Then, through play and experimentation in rehearsal, I found that the use of fabric was all we needed regarding props and costumes in order to portray the range of characters and situations. The set of fabric is beautiful and rich, but also perhaps, restrictive. It is layered, and as with all layers, one might ask the question of what it is covering up…”

Paprika Productions will stop by Toronto for shows at Small World Music, 180 Shaw St. in Toronto from March 18-21. Two matinee shows have been added now. Tickets cost $25/person and can be purchased here.

If you like art that’s edgy, then you’ll love Vishal Misra’s work

Vishal Misra, an accomplished artist/illustrator seen here with his work. The Toronto accountant has successfully made a name for himself here in North America with his works. Supplied photo.

Vishal Misra, an accomplished artist/illustrator, has successfully made a name for himself here in North America with his works. Supplied photo.

Before you read on, I want you to:

Mentally strip all existing artwork from the walls of your favourite room; ditch the decorative curios, collectibles and what not crammed in the tables and sideboards.

Then, in your mind’s eye, visualize a Vishal Misra art (large acrylic canvas featuring a subliminal Indian theme) placed strategically at eye-level.

Each time I have performed this exercise, I have been stunned by how Vishal’s work can complete any space with its hypnotic presence. The room doesn’t need anything else to embellish it.

Here’s neat thing; one doesn’t have to be a connoisseur of art or schooled in some aspect of it to appreciate the lines and the stroke of his brush and the harmony of colours.

Vishal’s repertoire of subjects spans the breadth of human consciousness. Spiritualism, eroticism and street scenes from India are all elevated into abstract pieces that speak to you on a visceral level.

Recognize a whiff of Picasso or M.F. Hussain in Vishal’s work? That’s incidental. The Toronto artist/illustrator admits he’s self-taught and heavily influenced by the cubistic styles of the two masters.

During the day, this transplant from Mumbai, handles numbers, financial projections and audits. In the evenings and weekends, he transforms into an all-consuming artist completely lost in the pigment of his imagination. Yes, that’s a “pigment” not figment.

“As an accountant and artist, I balance two lifestyles,” Vishal says. “Between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the left brain is boxed in with rules, regulations and numbers, but then when I am on the GO Train and I get my hands on a blank page, I feel can do whatever I want and let the right brain take over.”

Well, it was in the train Vishal realized the potential of his talent.

Vishal Misra, a transplant from Mumbai, has a deep connection with Lord Ganesh. His interpretation of the Elephant God elevates the piece. Vishal, a well-recognized artist commands four-figure numbers for his artworks and is well-known in Toronto. Supplied photo.

Vishal Misra, a transplant from Mumbai, has a deep connection with Lord Ganesh. His interpretation of the Elephant God elevates the piece to a subliminal experience. Supplied photo.

A few years after Vishal immigrated to Canada, he was on the train, doodling away and oblivious to his surroundings when a fellow passenger asked him if he would give her the sketch he was working on. Vishal refused. The woman persisted and then offered him $50.

“The accountant in me became interested when she offered the money,” he recalled. “That was the first time I realized that people would actually pay for my art.”

Born to middle-class parents, Vishal grew up in Mumbai. Even though his Dad dabbled in art (purely as a hobby), his parents believed academics was the only thing that mattered. And like every other South Asian parents on the planet, the Misras too wanted their son to become either a doctor or an engineer.

When Vishal landed in Toronto, he went back to school, upgraded his education and soon after landed a job with a well-known accounting firm. At this time, he began to reconnect with the easel and the brush and became a member of the Mississauga Arts Council (MAC). The consortium helped him to grow, network and interact with other artists.

Over the last eight years, Vishal’s works have graced the walls of numerous solo and group exhibitions in Canada, the U.S., Asia, Middle East and Europe. Some of his bigger works currently command four figures and an artist, Vishal is well recognized here in North America.
In 2005, Vishal met and married Anu Vittal, an artist as well and began to articulate his emotions through art. In Anu, Vishal found his muse. Sketches with underlying tones of eroticism soon began filling his sketchbook.

“I wanted to explore the idea of a human relationship and how it grows, evolves and continues,” he explained. “Sexuality is a big part of that because it represents an intersection of emotional and physical aspect of the relationship.”

Vishal then decided to interject contemporary and western-style elements to traditional Kama Sutra images. His fresh linear look offers a new perspective to century-old art.

Toronto native Vishal Misra took the traditional positions of Kama Sutra, an ancient Indian tome on sexuality and added a modern and contemporary twist to it.
Supplied photo.

“I wanted the sketches to be both evocative and provocative,” he said. “I interplay the interaction of various positions of the male and female form beyond the realm of black and white.”

In each and every piece, Vishal infuses his art with his interpretation of events. He begins by capturing an idea then distorting it so that the viewer sees in it what they want to see.

You can take a peek at Vishal’s portfolio here.

Kunal Nayyar’s warm personality makes Dr. Cabbie a must-see

Dr. Cabbie is a Canadian film featuring Kunal Nayyar, Isabelle Kaif and Vinay Virmani, set to release, Friday, Sept. 19.

My day job allows me to meet and chat with politicians, musicians, artists, newsmakers and on rare occasions, an odd criminal or two.
I have had my share of interactions with jerks that lug around a sense of entitlement like dandruff on black shirts, to ego-less entities with absolutely no trace of arrogance.
Kunal Nayyar, 33, definitely falls into the latter category.
Some weeks ago, when I sat down with the rising stars of Dr. Cabbie, a Canadian movie with liberal dose of Bollywood, I was naturally excited to snag one: one interviews with the movie’s three actors — Kunal, Isabelle Kaif and Vinay Virmani.
As an avid fan of Big Bang Theory, I wanted to meet Kunal, aka Rajesh Kootrapalli, so I could tell him his portrayal as a socially awkward nerd in the CBS sitcom elevates the show’s comedy metre to lofty levels each week. The meeting/interview also gave me exclusive bragging rights in the newsroom where every single reporter/editor and photographer is a die-hard fan of Kunal and BBT.
Kunal enjoys mega celebrity status here and elsewhere. Canadians love him and his show. Who hasn’t chuckled at Raj’s antics, especially the hilarious side effects of his selective mutism, an anxiety disorder, because of which his character can’t talk to women unless he’s all liquored up.

So, coming back to the media launch of Dr.Cabbie, I reached the downtown hotel 35 minutes before the appointed hour, but there may have been few no-shows from some news outlets, so my interview was moved up. Before I could collect my wits or gather my notes, I was facing Kunal who despite his exhausting schedule, greeted me with a real smile (the kind that reaches the eye) and introduced himself.
He was the real deal. He answered questions I threw at him with sincerity and self-deprecating humour. A few moments into the talk, It became pretty evident that Kunal doesn’t lug “star” baggage. He had no airs.
Here’s the interview Toronto Desi Diaries (TDD) had with the Big Bang Theory star. Kunal spoke about his role in Dr. Cabbie and briefly, just so briefly, touched upon Canada’s immigration system. So, I suggest y’all brew a cuppa, sit back and read on.

TDD: Did you say “yes” to Dr. Cabbie because your character was the opposite of Raj in Big Bang Theory?
KN: I love playing Raj on Big Bang, It’s a dream come true for me to be on the show. So, when I had time off in the summer and I was looking at movies, the script (Dr. Cabbie) came up on my agent’s desk. One of the things I have been telling everybody is: I want to play a character that’s different from Raj because I am a trained actor and I thought it would be fun to spread my wings and show the world I have many different facets.
So, it was fun to play a cab driver whose centre of gravity is way down. Someone who heckles women and shows-off his chest hair, drinks, eats and lives life with reckless abandon.

From L to R: Isabelle Kaif, Kunal Nayyar and Vinay Virmani, as they arrive for the music launch of Dr. Cabbie in a yellow and red cab. Photo by Radhika Panjwani

From L to R: Isabelle Kaif, Kunal Nayyar and Vinay Virmani, arrive for the music launch of Dr. Cabbie in a yellow and red cab.
Photo by Radhika Panjwani

TDD: Was it a challenge…?
KN: Every summer, when we get to the first table read (for Big Bang), I always worry I have forgotten how to act. I think every actor goes through that. You are sitting there wondering, “Hope, I haven’t forgotten to be funny.”
The truth is: The writing is so good that as soon as you begin to say the words, it flows into you. The writing — for eight seasons of Big Bang has been consistent — and that’s so rare.
TDD: How was your experience in Dr. Cabbie different from that of the Big Bang Theory in terms of the set?
KN: For Big Bang, we shoot in front of a live studio audience in the Warner Brothers Studio. All the sets are built on the stage. With Dr. Cabbie, we shot a lot of stuff all over Toronto. So, it was fun because we would be driving along the streets in this cab with a camera on us shooting a scene and people would wave at us. In Big Bang, you were in a closed environment whereas in Dr. Cabbie we were exposed to the elements and the cities of Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.
TDD: The film showcases the immigrant experience, were you able to identify with the struggles of the characters?
KN: I have lived the immigrant story. I moved to the U.S. when I was 18.
Will the movie deter people from filing their papers to Canada? I am not sure. I hope what people actually take away from this movie is: things don’t always go according to plan in life. They don’t. Life takes a U turn. There’s no blueprint or secret formula. Stuff happens and ultimately, it’s about how you pick-up and move on. One has to live life with a big heart and be willing to do anything to realize their dreams…

TDD: How’s your family reacting to your venture into films?
KN: My family is very proud. It’s very easy to become complacent in this industry. I never want to be a victim of that. I want to work as hard as I can and do as much as I can.

Next up: Toronto Desi Diaries’ up, close and personal meetings with the other two cast members of Dr. Cabbie —Isabelle Kaif and Vinay Virmani and my chat with a real-life Dr. Cabbie/trucker – Dr. Balvinder Singh.

Rajdeep Chatterjee: all set to wow the Canadians

Bollywood singing sensation Rajdeep Chatterjee will perform at the Bollywood Monster Mashup (BMM) at Celebration Square in Mississauga, Saturday, Aug. 30.

Vikas Kohli, artistic director, Zee Bollywood Monster Mashup (BMM), straddles two musical worlds— western and masala Bollywood — with ease.

The internationally renowned music producer/composer and his state-of-the-art studio, Fatlabs are pretty well known in this part of the world, but apart from his musical IQ, Vikas has weighty academic credentials as well.

Let’s see, honours degree in math and philosophy as well as business and CFA (chartered financial analyst) degrees. Trust me, in journalistic circles, an intelligent, well-read and successful source can become a coveted and valued asset. It’s he or she that sets the tone of the story.

I digress. When the press release about Vikas’ Bollywood Monster Mashup (BMM) landed on my inbox, I asked my colleague if I could ‘poach’ on his beat. That’s how much I wanted to write about it.

Unlike most other festivals that cater to desis, BMM attempts to bridge two cultures — Canadian and Indian —with its fantastic fusion offerings. The main stage event on Saturday, Aug. 30 has Vikas’ stamp all over it. One segment will include Indian artists and singers crooning alongside western musicians and mixing melodies to create a heady cocktail of notes.

Rest assured, the show will run as per schedule because Ottawa-born Vikas has zero tolerance for the tardy Indian Standard Time (IST).

Last year, Vikas received a frantic call during the show from his event manager saying they were running three minutes behind, but with some minor tweaking, the concert was set back on track. Most organizers would have dismissed those three minutes as a minor irritant, but not the good folks at BMM. Now, that’s something everyone will appreciate, especially the fans.

******************

Bollywood singer Rajdeep Chatterjee will headline the free concert at Celebration Square in Mississauga. Here’s an exclusive chat Toronto Desi Diaries had with the immensely talented artist.

TDD: Tell us about some of the highlights of your life prior to your fame?

Bollywood Singer Rajdeep Chatterjee will headline the free Bollywood Monster Mashup concert, Saturday, Aug. 30 at Celebration Square Mississauga.

RC: I started learning music from the age of three. My mum was my first guru. I learnt Hindustani classical music for a few years and then started performing live at the age of eight. It has been 15 years now and I have done around 1,500 shows across the world. Before being the 3rd runner up of Indian idol season 4, I was also a part of Zee Lil champs in ‘05-06 where I reached the final 11, but had to quit because of my exams.

TDD: What about your struggles?

RC: Yes, struggle is a part of almost every artist’s journey and it’s not just the physical struggle, but the mental one as well. I was quite an introvert before I actually started performing live. In school, I was somehow not considered a good artist and was never given a chance to perform when all the other singers were given opportunities to prove themselves. But the will was always there. I waited and waited and finally got the television reality shows. That’s when I realized I could entertain people.

TDD: What are your strengths aside from the great voice and a great smile?

RC: Well, I believe my strength is my ability to spread happiness and positive vibes through my music and performances. I really work hard on stage to give everything I can … I have seen people connect to my music when I do it live. I am a very positive soul and I guess, I find it easy to spread smiles and happiness. If your art touches people’s hearts, you’re worth it.

TDD: What are you looking forward to at Bollywood Monster Mashup?

RC: I am extremely excited to be a part of BMM; it is one of the best Bollywood festivals internationally. The audience at BMM is always amazing and it feels like homecoming whenever I come to Canada.

TDD: How did you meet Vikas (Kohli) and why did you agree to perform at BMM?

RC: Vikas is like a buddy, a brother to me. We call each other as bhai. We have known each other for two years. I absolutely love his family, his mum and his cousins. I am always game for everything that Vikas bhai does.

TDD: Playback singing is a competitive environment, are you ready to take it on?

RC: Only true talent gets to shine among so many singers who are trying to make it big in the industry. I have been lucky that my hardwork has paid off and I have been singing for big Bollywood movies. I hope to continue doing that for years to come.

TDD: Your song for Bodyguard was a hit, when did it strike you that you had made it?

RC: It was a great experience to sing the title track of Bodyguard, Khiladi 786, and I also got to sing for the Bengali version of Gunday. I was also a part of Coke Studio season 2 for music director Shantanu Moitra. Recently, I started my own unplugged YouTube channel (IMX unplugged) where we do a lot of melody stuff. We are getting a great response.

TDD: Some quick questions

Favorite all-time movie: I am a hardcore SRK fan, so DDLJ (dil wale dulhaniya le jayenge).

Favorite cuisine: I love Indian food all the way

Philosophy that you stick by: love yourself. Only you know how to do it the best way

Success is: When I have “N” number of reasons to smile and be happy

If not a singer, what then: I would have had to discover an art that no one had ever tried and entertain people because I have always wanted to be a performer (laughs)

The Monster Mashup Double Take will run Saturday, Aug. 30 at Celebration Square Mississauga. Main stage portion will start at 6 p.m. Be sure to catch it.

Toronto’s nightingale Jonita Gandhi wows the Bollywood off its socks

Toronto crooner Jonita Gandhi reads out the contents of a journal she had started when she was seven. Jonita has sung half-a-dozen tracks for Bollywood films, including the title song of Chennai Express, which she sung along with S.P. Balasubramanium, the South Indian icon. (supplied photo).

We all know, breaking into the ironclad bastion of Bollywood, as an artist requires part luck, plenty of perseverance and oodles of talent.

Toronto crooner Jonita Gandhi, 24, it seems has what it takes. Little wonder then that her name appears as a playback singer in half-a-dozen Bollywood songs already.

On a recent spring-like day, I sat with Jonita and chatted with her on her musical odyssey, the glamour of Bollywood (hardly, it’s all work), homesickness (it’s real) and the life of a rising playback singer (apparently, it’s a waiting game).

Not many people are privy to the fact that way back when she was 7; Jonita had scrawled her dreams and flung it into the universe via her diary. This journal— which would go missing only to be found again every couple of years—had sporadic entries.

So, few weeks ago, when the Toronto native came home from Mumbai, her parents suggested she take an inventory of her room and toss out the stuff she no longer needed. The spring-cleaning unearthed the cherished journal.

“I want to be a singer,” the affirmative words, it appears, were written when Jonita was seven. Dozens of pages later as the childish penmanship became more assured, as did her single-mindedness.

“I am 16 and still not famous,” she rued during her teens. “When will I be famous?”

She and I chuckled over the desperation of those heart-felt pleas.

As Jonita connected with her younger self, I couldn’t help marvel at how her dreams had indeed translated. Not too many can revisit their childhood musings and realize—gleefully—that they are indeed living it.

So far, the Western University alumni, has proved her mettle with hits such as the title song of the blockbuster hit Chennai Express, Kahaan hoon main (Highway), Implosive Silence (Highway), Eai Ki Prem (Bangali Babu English Mem), Aabhi Jaa and others.

As a singer, Jonita’s versatility can be credited to her training in western classical singing and other musical influences she imbibed growing up in Canada.

Her talent was nurtured and encouraged at home because Jonita’s father, Deepak’s passion for music refused to be silenced as he pursued engineering in Russia and later during his struggles as a new immigrant in Canada. Also, Mandeep, her brother plays the dhol and mom Sneh is the glue that holds the family together.

“Once I graduated, I decided I would try singing full-time for a year and then see what happens,” Jonita told Toronto Desi Diaries. “My debut (in Bollywood) happened on the spot. I was visiting the studios of music director Vishal Shekhar who was at that time working on the title song of Chennai Express. Vishal Shekhar had heard my online work and knew what I sounded like. He took a chance and asked to me try a scratch.”

So, Jonita lent her voice to the song—which included the dulcet pipes of South Indian icon S.P. Balasubramanium. After her recording, she was told the final decision on whether the track would make it into the big screen rested with the film’s leading man Shah Rukh Khan, director Rohit Shetty and the producers. The song did make it and Jonita’s singing prowess found a springboard.

There’s this interesting story of how Jonita’s music struck the right chord with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan.

Here’s how it all happened. Even before she set-off for Mumbai, Jonita had build an impressive online portfolio. Her collaboration with pianist Aakash Gandhi (no relative) and flutist Sahil Khan was groundbreaking. The talented trio basically stripped popular Hindi/Punjabi music of all its layers and created melodies that were uncluttered, organic and simplistic.

Couple of their YouTube videos went viral and one landed in the hands of the CEO of Balaji Films who tweeted the link with note on how impressed he was. Turns out, Amitabh Bachchan (who was following the CEO) heard, agreed and re-tweeted, “I completely agree.”

So, for a Toronto gal to get nods from not one, but two Bollywood heavyweights—Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan— means Jonita Gandhi is going to croon her way into the hearts of millions, soon.

Kathak in Canada would have faded into sidelines if not for Rina Singha

Toronto’s Kathak legend Rina Singha, 77, will be presenting a show starting Thursday, March 20 to Saturday, March 22 at Harbourfront Centre. The show is an ode to her guru Shambu Maharaj.
Supplied photo.

The Indian dance form of Kathak can be described as a motion of pure grace and poetry.

There’s a certain economy of space and time. To a bystander unschooled in any dance form whatsoever, the dancer’s quick movements and the music’s short staccato bursts may appear completely in tandem.

In India, religion and arts, oddly enough are interwoven. For instance, the pursuit of classical dance and singing has by and large been the domain of Hindus and to some extent the Muslims.

So, it’s fascinating that Toronto native Rina Singha, 77, has not only elevated Kathak on the world platform, but as a Christian, she has immortalized her spirituality, faith and fables into a visually compelling stories through Kathak.

In what can be described as an ode to her teacher—Guru Shambu Maharaj—Singha, and choreographer/friend Danny Grossman are presenting Circle of Bricks- Rhythms of Kathak, starting Thursday, March 20 and running until Saturday, March 22, at the Harbourfront Centre (Fleck Dance Theatre). On Thursday and Friday the show will run at 8 p.m. on Saturday, it’s at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $30/person.

When Singha arrived in Toronto from India in 1965, she brought with her, her love for a dance form that may have been dismissed as “quixotic and exotic’ in the arts scene here. Over the next five decades, she worked tirelessly to ensure her beloved Kathak was part of the mainstream art scene.

At 77, Toronto’s Rina Singha remains as committed as ever to Kathak. The Toronto native has single- handedly elevated Kathak into the mainstream arts scene here in Canada.
Supplied photo

A Canadian legend, a trailblazer and a dance icon, Singha’s role in keeping the embers of century-old dance alive here in Canada cannot be ignored.

The dancer was introduced to Kathak at 14. While pursuing her Masters degree, she was chosen—through a government-sponsored scholarship—to train under Guru Shambhu Maharaj. Maharaj is to Kathak what Wayne Gretzky is to hockey.

As Maharaj’s student, Singha learned by unlearning. She started from scratch. She mastered the slow tempos over and over again. Then she perfected the opening exercises for three hours everyday. This became her ritual for the next six months. A penchant for perfection and a strong dance ethic became the foundation on which she soared.

“The slow tempos helped to perfect the minute details and nuances of the wrists, neck and eyes, that highlighted the broader arm and body movements,” she recalled.

The next few decades saw Singha experiment with choreography. She enriched the pieces by sprinkling it with life experiences. Her works include: Songs From Exile Walls, Lullabye and Lament, Prithvi (an Earth Narrative) and full-length Biblical works: The Seekers: from the Garden of Eden to the Walls of Jericho.

Singha’s collaboration with Grossman, much like her meeting with Maharaj was orchestrated by destiny. Grossman’s expertise in Christian dance enabled India-born Singha to stray from the tried and tested formula. She created a new repertoire.

Kathak in Canada would have faded into anonymity if not for Rina Singha, 77, who immortalized Christian fables by connecting it to Kathak.
Supplied photo.

“I am a Christian and I was brought up on Bible stories,” Singha said. “These stories were more meaningful to me than the usual stories of Kathak repertoire, which I could relate to in terms of their human emotions, but not necessarily in terms of their spirituality.”

When incorporating biblical stories, Singha stuck by the rules and chose appropriate laya (speed/tempo) and tala (rhythm). After her first work Genesis, she went on showcase Yeshu Katha in 1991.

Singha describes Circle of Bricks as a “metaphor for creating meaningful Kathak works that extend beyond boundaries of space and time by becoming relevant to a new era, while maintaining the integrity of the dance form and remaining connected to its roots and the soil which first nurtured it.”

Knowing her, we know, it will be something that should not be missed.

For tickets visit here.

This doctor’s journey into arts has only pleasant side effects

Mississauga native Dr. Amitha Mundenchira pursued a career in medicine, but realized she received all health benefits only when she embraced dance and the arts.
Supplied photo.

Even though Dr. Amitha Mundenchira, 36, dutifully walked the path envisioned by her parents to pursue a career in medicine, there was never a doubt in her mind about her true calling.

Except of course, in this case, turns out she had more than one.

Mundenchira’s physical and emotional journey was initially fraught with self-doubts and awkwardness, but once she found dance, it became a spiritual calling.

“I rediscovered my passion for arts through dance,” she said. “It’s almost as if I rediscovered myself in the process. Dance was another form of exercise, but because it was Bollywood dancing, I found myself completely immersed into it.”

Mundenchira’s story is one of inspiration and courage. Anyone that’s afraid to chase their dreams should take a leaf or two from her life. Let me retrace and start at the beginning.

Once upon a time, there was a studious girl who buried her face—and identity— in towers of bulky textbooks. She completed the grueling demands of medical school with a single-minded focus and became a family physician.

Whenever she was stressed or emotionally drained, she found comfort in food. As a result, the girl was not only overweight, but she was weighed down by the monotony of her life.

And so life continued, Day after day as she sat doling advice to her patients about healthy living, she realized, it was hypocritical of her to tell them to practice what she told them to and not do it herself.

So, one day, on the lark, she signed-up for a Bollywood dance class, purged oily food from her diet and plunged headlong into a new territory. Slowly, the pounds began to fall, as did her awkwardness. It wasn’t long before offers for modeling; acting and dance performances came her way.

“Through dancing, I found a whole new world,” said a radiant Mundenchira. “I found I could de-stress through dance. Dance also helped me with my self-esteem issues. I realized could express through dance, anger, happiness or whatever other emotions I was experiencing.”

Dr. Amitha Mudenchira’s the vivacious host of popular television show Hooray Bollywood on Zee TV.
Supplied photo

As an accomplished dancer/singer/actor/writer/television host (Hooray Bollywood) and artist currently conceptualizing a one-of-its-kind television show that will blend the therapeutic uses of arts and connect it to science, Mundenchira admits to finally finding her place under the sun.

“We are all here on the earth for a purpose,” she said. “It’s not about competing with others but finding your spot. After experiencing and enjoying various dance forms, I have come to the realization that medicine is not the only thing I want to do. I want to eventually fuse medicine and arts in some way.

All her artistic endeavours now have an underlying social message, a reason why she’s an integral part of organizations such as Divine Heritage Artistry, Sanskriti Arts Dance + Fitness studio and Limitless Productions.

Once she mastered Bollywood dancing, the Mississauga resident studied hip-hop, jazz and contemporary styles. Then she turned her sight on classical dance and music. Mundenchira remains unfazed by the fact that because of her rather late start in pursuit of dance, she now has to learn the basics of it alongside eight and nine year-olds.

“Ultimately, it’s not about dancing,” she said. “It’s about being myself through dance. I went from a person with low self-esteem who looked at everything negatively to a person who’s always trying to look for something good in every situation. That happened because of the self-enrichment.”

You can follow Mundenchira through her artistic profile.

Dr. Amitha Mundenchira’s physical and spiritual transformation came about when she discovered dance. Today, she’s an accomplished singer, dancer, actor, TV host, family physician and writer.
Supplied photo.

Ethnic media and Teflon mayors

According to the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada there some 75 South Asian newspapers; 55 broadcast companies scattered across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These papers consider themselves "opinion builders."

There are some 75 South Asian newspapers; 55 broadcast companies scattered across the GTA. (Source: National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada) These papers consider themselves “opinion builders” and can be picked-up from any ethnic grocery store.

Last year, Brampton’s Mayor Susan Fennell, doled out her best wishes—through official press releases — to the city’s South Asians for a slew of desi festivals.

Fennell’s attempt to endear herself to the city’s South Asians may have something to do with the upcoming municipal elections.

If the editor of a Punjabi daily is to be believed, Fennell will win despite a controversy surrounding her use of taxpayers’ monies for travel and tourism.

While the mainstream media, including the one I work for, has been receiving a deluge of letters from citizens expressing outrage at Fennell’s penchant for first-class travel, the ethnic media is in a forgiving mood.

Similarly, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford—a public relations nightmare — has the support of many from Chinese community, says Arjuna Ranawana, manager, OMNI Toronto.

Ranawana should know.

His news outlet is a fixture at ethnic events, be it a celebration, festival or an issue of national importance. In short, OMNI has its ears to the ground.

So, in the wake of Ford’s cocaine scandal, when OMNI News’ Mandarin and Cantonese speaking crew took to the streets of Toronto’s China Town, they found many people were still solidly behind Ford. Huh, who knew? But that scenario can change if Olivia Chow decides to throw her hat in the ring, said Ranawana, a member of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA).

“Our niche and our effectiveness comes because we are very connected to the ethnic community, not just to the newer communities like the Chinese and the South Asians, but older ones like the Italians and the Polish,” he said. “When two generations of families are born here, they become consumers of mainstream media. We serve the older generation and new immigrants. Our strength lies in the fact that we are able to report Canadian content in people’s language of comfort.”

This tenacious connection, believe it or not, is a huge deal to those otherwise isolated because of language barriers.

The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, whose mandate is to promote and integrate the interests of ethnic communities into the mainstream, says there some 75 South Asian newspapers; 55 television and radio outlets scattered across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Those numbers reflect the group’s appetite for politics. It doesn’t matter which country they hail from, the desis are vocal. In Toronto, any grocery store that stocks curry powder, vegetables and condiments, will also house boxes holding stacks of free newspapers in Punjabi, Hindi, English, Tamil and Urdu.

Jagdish Grewal, editor/publisher, Canada Punjabi Post, believes Fennell will be re-elected again.

“The Punjabi community will still support Mayor Susan Fennell,” Grewal told me. “She’s very outgoing and has developed links with every single organization. She attends all functions and has build personal relationship with everyone.”

A few years ago, when the Indian International Film Festival Awards (IIFA) came to Toronto, Fennell walked the carpet in a cerulean blue salwar-kameez (traditional dress) to take in the premiere of a mindless three-hour Bollywood caper. At that time I remember thinking only a seasoned politician can sit through that ordeal.

A helping of culture with a side of fitness

Colour was one of the main component of a bhangra competition held by a Brampton-based dance school.

Colour was one of the main components of a bhangra competition held by a Brampton-based dance school.

I have never visited the verdant state of Punjab.

But in a strange quirk of fate, my life in Brampton addresses that gap.

So, one evening recently, I stopped to take in a bhangra competition hosted by a thriving dance studio.

I am no stranger to this dance form; yet, I was unprepared for the assault of colour, talent and sheer exuberance that unfolded in front of me.

While many businesses in the province are struggling to stay afloat and relevant, Nachdi Jawani (Youthful Dance) appears to be thriving. These merchants of culture appear to be hitting all the right notes, unlike Ontario’s limp manufacturing sector.

The school offers weekend classes in bhangra and gidda (both are traditional folk-dances of Punjab) along with drumming (dhol) lessons for youngsters. In the 12 years since its launch, Nachdi Jawani has opened studios in four locations in the GTA. The school has some 1,000 students enrolled.

Come to think of it, packaging culture in North America makes for savvy business. Children who grow up here sample and imbibe both the Canadian and South Asian life without confusion. So, while the appeal for swimming and soccer exists among immigrants, as do products and services that play to sentiments of culture.

If you or your business has any connection to tradition and you say are a religious leader, who can perform rituals at Hindu weddings and funerals; a music teacher versatile in classical Indian music or a tandoori chef specializing in ethnic cuisine, chances are you are busy.

Dozens of Canadian youth connected to their roots with their display of a high-tempo bhangra dance. Bhangra is a traditional folk dance of the state of Punjab in India.

Iqbal Virk, founder and president of Nachdi Jawani. Virk has been able to market his school in a rather ingenious way. He says the high-energy tempo of bhangra not only gives participants a good workout, but the children learn the language and folklore of their ancestors. When you put it that way, it’s a win-win.

There’s something about bhangra that’s infectious. Every occasion comes alive when the rhythmic sound of dhol reverberates through speakers. It’s as if people have been given a shot of adrenaline.

Well, you have to hand it to Punjabis in the GTA. Their spirit of enterprise has given us all among other things: butter chicken, bhangra, and blueprint for small businesses to succeed.

Toronto Desi Diaries

Sights, sounds and stories of South Asians in Toronto

Cup of chai