My mind drifted to the whole idea of ‘buying’ music. There was a sense of dedication to that act; you bought a cassette or a CD out of commitment to an artist, a desire to experiment, or after having listened enough to an album or a song you knew that you needed it in your collection.
Author: Vani
Filling the Gratitude Jar
April 2020 was perhaps one of the toughest times I’ve lived through. But as COVID-19 sweeps through Delhi, some little things to be grateful for remind me to stay grounded. They distract, offer a momentary escape, tell me of the small things in life that can still be enjoyed.
‘Kopitiam’ and a love for Singlish
I moved out of Singapore ten years ago, but I have fond memories of Singaporean English and I’m happy for any opportunity to hear it.
Yoga thoughts
It’s been a couple of years since I discovered a charming pattern to my train of thought during yoga practice. Twenty minutes into the practice, I’m in a beautiful state of mindlessness and mindfulness. The mind shows me flashes of random memories from years ago, even as it settles with my body into position. I’m at peace, allowing my mind to travel to vague, hazy images from the past.
Vessels of stories
I know vessels carry memories and tell profound stories, but I always associated those with ‘important’ vessels. I’m ever so amused that humble and nondescript vessels like woks and tongs and tadka pans are also candidates.
2020 in words
Words that I enjoyed writing and reading in this bizarre, extraordinary year. Wish you a new year that takes forward your learnings from this year and gives you joy, health and memorable experiences! Writing – mine Being a committed fan: In which I try to pack together my disoriented feelings about being a Rahman fan…
Ten Songs for Navaratri
This Navaratri, I sang a Carnatic song every day. This may have been my most regular singing experience in nearly 10 years, since I practiced with a group to put on a Hindi film classics concert in Singapore. I have a strained relationship with Carnatic music, having felt much pressure to perform well – whether…
I Dream of Airports
I write this sitting in the comfort of my home, secure in the knowledge that my loved ones and I are safe. As the pandemic settled in India and we started working from home, I looked at my calendar on the wall, where I tracked trips, multiple-day meetings, and fun evenings out, and struck out…
Being a Committed Fan
Originally published here on Spark. In the concert film One Heart, AR Rahman refers to his fans who were five or six years old when he released his first couple of albums, and how the Intimate Concert series (which One Heart follows) is made up of songs for these fans, now in their late 20s – his earliest…
Russia on my mind
(not another travel story) About a month ago, I finished ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ by Amor Towles. It was a long book and took me about a month in between cooking, work from home and trying to keep it all together. But I also took my time reading it – relishing it, stopping frequently to…