Category: Arts & Culture

HOUSTON: The 8th edition of JLF Houston, produced by Teamwork Arts, unfolded from September 5–7, 2025, across four of the city’s most iconic venues—in association with the Consulate General of India, Houston, Asia Society Texas, Inprint, Rothko Chapel, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and, Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston. As always, this edition celebrated literary thought and the indomitable spirit of dialogue.

This year’s edition featured an eclectic line-up of writers, thinkers, and changemakers, including Rob Franklin, Martin Puchner, Amish, Pria Anand, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Guru Madhavan, Andrew Quintman, and Shekhar Kapur. Their sessions spanned conversations on mythology, neurology, cinema, race, culture, and the future of storytelling, offering audiences an expansive window into global narratives. The festival opened on September 5 with inaugural addresses at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, by Gary Tinterow (Director, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), Sanjoy K. Roy (Managing Director, Teamwork Arts), Suraj Dhingra (Producer, JLF USA), and D.C. Manjunath (Consul General of India in Houston). They welcomed audiences and set the stage for three days of dialogue, creativity, and cultural exchange. The inaugural session was followed by Mr. India: A Shekhar Kapur Medley, where Shekhar Kapur, in conversation with Sunanda Vashisht, reflected on his cinematic journey and the power of visual storytelling.

On September 6, the festival opened at Asia Society Texas – highlights included Reimagining Legacy: The Epics and The Contemporary, in which celebrated writer Amish, along with Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, discussed  his work in historical and mythological fiction; The Storyteller Code that featured Shekhar Kapur and Martin Puchner in conversation with Chi Rainer Bornfree, exploring the evolution of narratives in an age of algorithms and artificial intelligence; and Between Worlds: Race, Power, Culture, Selfhood which saw Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Rob Franklin, in dialogue with Tayyba Kanwal, unpack issues of identity, privilege, and belonging.

The final day, September 7, began with a meditative session at the Rothko Chapel. Morning Music and Poetry Reading featured Poet Laureate Reyes Ramirez and young voices from The Fay School, alongside performances by Aditya Prakash, Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy, and Sruti Sarathy, blending verse and classical music in a moving experience. The festival concluded that evening at the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston with Unfolding Dharma, where Amish, in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy, reflected on the philosophical underpinnings of dharma and its relevance in contemporary society, offering audiences a finale resonating with finding harmony in discordant times.

From powerful conversations to immersive performances, JLF Houston 2025 reaffirmed its ethos of fostering cross-cultural dialogue and celebrating the transformative power of ideas. With its eighth edition, the festival continued to strengthen JLF USA’s legacy as a dynamic space where literature and thought transcend borders, inspiring communities and forging meaningful connections.

HOUSTON: Vidwan Sri Vittal Ramamurthy’s association with Houston is 40 years long, as he himself noted, having presented his first concert here in 1995 (with Vidushi Bombay Jayashree), and having visited here almost every year in those 40 years (with the exception of 2 years). The US musical family of Vittal Sir (as he is fondly known in the Houston music community) has grown immensely in these years and so has his own family! This 2025 concert in Houston was presented by him, not only as a stellar musician of the brilliant Lalgudi bani, but also as a proud father alongside his immensely talented star son, Srihari Vittal.

The unique father-son concert presented on Sep 7, 2025 at the divine Sri Sharadamba Temple’s Shankara Hall is part of a US fall concert tour coordinated by Layyasaaram Institute of Indian Arts  and SaMaa Arts, titled “Sampradaaya – Strings of Tradition” along with accomplished maestros Vidwan Sri Thanjavur Murugabhoopathi (mridangam) and Vidwan Sri S V Ramani (ghatam).

True to its name and theme, the concert began traditionally with an impeccable rendition of the famous ata tala varnam, Viriboni in Bhairavi ragam. This was followed by a melodious and invocatory Sarasiruhasanapriye in Nattai which also gave us a first glimpse of Srihari’s prowess on the violin as he matched his father’s virtuosity in the shower of kalpanaswarams. Next came Sri Thyagaraja’s popular Marugelara O Raghava in Jayantasri ragam. It is amazing how a composition rendered purely on the violin can be presented so uniquely compared to a vocal rendition, and although Jayantasri has a fairly rigid structure with limited scope for variation, Vittal Sir’s violin brought out its charm beautifully, matching the bhaava of Sri Thyagaraja Swami’s cry of devotion to Lord Rama.

Next in line was the beautiful Marivere Dikkevaru in Lathangi by Sri Patnam Subramanya Iyer. The piece began with a lovely alapana in this pure classical raga of different shades by Srihari, that elicited spontaneous appreciation from his father. And through the melody and rhythm of the composition and swarams, the rendition held the audience in rapt attention, swaying to the lilting strings of the violin duo along with the accented strokes of the amazing percussionists as all four of them vied with each other to drench us in a musical shower.

Then came the supremely sublime Janani Ninnuvina in Reetigowla, Sri Subbaraya Shastri’s heartfelt ode to the Divine Mother. The magnificently mellifluous composition combined with the delicate and deep nature of raga Reetigowla, and the flowing magic that Vittal Sir can create with his instrument, bringing forth music that is deep, subtle, resonant and uplifting at the same time, touched a chord in every listener’s heart.

This was followed by a special offering to the temple’s deity, Sringeri Sharadamba, through a composition that praised Her – “Sangeetha Samrajya Sancharini, Sringara Sringeripuravasini” in Mohanakalyani.

The main piece of the evening was Sri Thyagaraja’s monumental Chakkani Raja Margamu in Kharaharapriya, where he glorifies the beautiful ‘royal’ path of Bhagavata Dharma and Bhakti – which is chanting the divine name of Rama, listening to His stories and enjoying His form – and asks why one would ever struggle and get lost in the by-lanes of other difficult paths when there was this royal, smooth and joyful road to salvation! Vittal Sir’s profound and moving Kharaharapriya alapana brought forth Sri Thyagaraja’s heartfelt compassion seeing all the people lost in the mire and confusion of the world, when there was the ready royal Rama Nama road to happiness. The numerous sangathis of Kharaharapriya that the composition is famous for, were beautifully presented, again wonderfully uniquely in violin compared to vocal renditions. The neraval, swarams and koraippu were of course splendid and made even more enjoyable through Vittal Sir’s own enjoyment of the music being created on stage. Srihari superbly matched and complemented his father’s proficiency, creativity, and passion in the music.

Vidwan Murugabhoopathi’s skillful and strong mridangam sang along with the sangathis and swarams while Vidwan Ramani’s expert ghatam enhanced the presentation through exceptional melodic rhythms that are exclusive to this exquisite instrument. A thani avartanam with both mridangam and ghatam is especially joyful to listen to, and when performed by such experienced artistes as these two vidwans, the interplay between the two instruments (including a segment of single-handed subtle strokes by Vidwan Murugabhoopathi) with the gradual buildup to the korvai crescendo took the listeners on a truly joyful ride.

The latter part of the concert included a couple of lovely and popular compositions that are particularly enjoyable as instrumental renditions – a soulful Manasa Sancharare and a poignant Enna Thavam Seidhanai Yashoda preceded by a brief Kapi ragam by Srihari that pulled at the heart strings.

Right before the finale, Vidushi Kruthi Bhat came on stage to lead an offering of the song, Garuda Gamana Tava Charanakamalamiha, composed by Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham’s Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamiji, to commemorate his 75^th Varadhanti Mahotsava.

The audience as well as the musicians, who were both enjoying the music immensely, then reluctantly came to the conclusion of the concert, which was also a treat to the ears with the sweet Behag Tillana, a shining star in the long lineup of dazzling tillanas by Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman.

The father-son duo with their accomplished accompanists will continue their concert tour of the US through the fall, in various cities around the country. See the full schedule here and make sure to catch them in a city near you: https://carnaticamerica.com/series/vittal-ramamurthy-srihari-vittal-tour-fall-2025/

HOUSTON: As JLF International makes its way to the city of Houston, Texas, we prepare ourselves for yet another unmatched celebration of books, art, and the people behind them. Sessions shall be running from September 5th till September 7th, 2025. Presented by Teamwork Arts in partnership with the Consulate General of India, Houston, Asia Society Texas, Inprint, Rothko Chapel, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, JLF Houston stands as a luminous celebration of literature and the arts.

The Festival will see artists, performers, writers, and thinkers engage with the latticed complexities of the creative process, as they chart the course of geopolitical movement in the current decade, interrogate notions of spiritual enlightenment, uncover new interpretations of mythological figures, and more. Attendees shall be given indispensable insight into the storytelling praxis of celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kaur, the politics that lie at the heart of renowned novelist Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s oeuvre, and the intersection of neurological machinery and cultural narratives as detailed by Dr. Pria Anand.

Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan, Chi Rainer Bornfree, and Amit Majmudar shall be dissecting the epistemological framework that informs ideas of normalcy in the 21st century, while Guru Madhavan and Jay Lemery contend with volatility of a world on the brink of climate catastrophe. Andrew Quintman will draw from his experience across the realms of biography in order to conceptualize spiritual landscapes with relation to the life of the Buddha, while Liara Tamani explores the interplay found between personal identity and young adult fiction.

As a truly multifarious confluence of stories, ideas, and creative endeavors, JLF Houston 2025 invites all lovers of books to be a part of this marvelous Festival, as we bring some of the most radical and important voices of our time to the forefront of literary discourse. With each passing iteration, JLF International continues to amplify those cultural and artistic dialogues that are most emblematic of the world of today.

HOUSTON: “The Spirit of Punjab” was a soulful Sufi folk journey by Riyaaz Qawaali, a Houston-based music group. The performance unfolded through the layered folk history of Punjab — where music has both memory and meaning.
At its core, The Spirit of Punjab refuses the surface-level perception of Punjabi music as conveyed through only dhol and bhangra. The selected songs spoke of longing, displacement, resistance, and devotion.

Riyaaz Qawaali has performed qawaalis for 19 years. The musicians, settled in Houston, have roots from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, representing multiple religious backgrounds. Trained in eastern and western
classical music, they have released two albums and over 35 singles on social media.

Sonny K. Mehta, their founder, leads the ensemble as its artistic director. The show begins with the sadness that shapes a people: heartbreak, abandonment, and the loneliness of migration. From the pain of Heer to the wandering soul of Challa (originally performed by Gurdass Mann), these songs hold space for grief as a generational language — at home in both Punjab and Houston.

The show weaved through spiritual traditions — Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu — without pausing to draw boundaries. Musical pieces like Yaar Da Deewana (Nooran Sisters), Isq Bulleh Nu Nachave (Kanwar Garewal) are rooted in
shared divinity, much like the Houston communities, where temples, mosques, and churches stand side-by-side. Simplicity and poverty are the backdrops for spiritual clarity and poetic richness.

Later in the set, the music lifts the voices of women — unapolegetic and playful — through folk traditions such as tappay (Chitra Singh) and songs like Saanja Hai Punjab Saada (Arif Lohar) . In a city shaped by migration and complexity, this is not just Punjab’s story — it’s Houston’s too. — program notes from Asia Society Texas.

HOUSTON: Samskriti’s 30th anniversary gala, held on May 9 at the Junior League of Houston, was a resounding success — a celebration that honored three decades of dedication to promoting Indian performing arts in the United States, and a testament to Samskriti’s enduring commitment to cultural preservation and innovation. True to its mission of bridging cultures and generations, the gala brought together a vibrant mix of mainstream Americans and Indian Americans from across the country with attendees spanning multiple generations.

The evening began on a traditional note with a serene invocation by Sruthi Srivatsan, followed by Vice President Surabi Veeraraghavan’s introduction of African American storyteller Jean Donatto, the delightful Emcee for the event. A warm welcome from Sheela Rao, President of Samskriti, set the tone for a reflective and festive evening.

Hon. D.C. Manjunath, the Consul General of India in Houston, delivered a thoughtful keynote address that acknowledged Samskriti’s pioneering role in the cultural landscape of Texas and beyond. Gala Chairs Anuradha and Mani Subramanian then shared their insights and gratitude, followed by a heartfelt segment from Rathna Kumar, the visionary Founder and Artistic Director of Samskriti. Her talk, “Samskriti Then and Now,” traced the organization’s remarkable journey from its founding in 1995 to its present-day prominence.

The proudest moment for Samskriti was when the beautiful Olivia Jankovska, Director of Education, City of Houston, stunned the audience by speaking in perfect Hindi before reading a Proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire, extolling Samskriti’s achievements and declaring May 9 as SAMSKRITI DAY!

A nostalgic video segment titled Down Memory Lane further enriched the evening, showcasing landmark performances and cherished moments from Samskriti’s past. Guests then enjoyed a sumptuous dinner before being treated to the highlight of the night — To a Different Beat, a dynamic and colorful live performance conceived by Rathna Kumar and choreographed by the dancers themselves. True to Samskriti’s ethos of cultural synthesis, the show featured a unique medley of dance traditions from India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Dancers Ekta Popat, Sandhya Raghuraman, and Venugopal Joysula represented North and South Indian classical and folk traditions, while Chloe Jarrell and Saliya Ilankoon brought Indonesian and Sri Lankan artistry to the stage, weaving together a vibrant tapestry of movement, rhythm, and sheer artistic beauty, highlighting Samskriti’s role in fostering cross-cultural understanding through its diverse programs and community outreach.

The evening concluded with a gracious Vote of Thanks by Charanya Sriram, Samskriti’s Secretary, who acknowledged the sponsors, volunteers, performers, and supporters who made the evening so memorable. In addition to Consul General D.C. Manjunath and his lovely wife Arpana Manjunath, and Director of Education Olivia Jankovska, other VIP attendees included Colleena Payne (Interim Director of Grants, Houston Arts Alliance), Stephanie Todd Wong (Vice President, Communications & External Affairs, Asia Society Texas Center), Mary Mettenbrink (CEO, Young Audiences of Houston), Tim Cisneros, (Chairperson, Miller Theatre Advisory Board), and Nicky Hill (Member, Miller Theatre Advisory Board), Adam Castaneda (Executive Director, The Pilot Dance Project), and noted Flamenco artists Irma La Paloma and Jeremy Garcia.

Unlike many other galas, Samskriti’s anniversary event stood out for its inclusivity and warmth. It was not a fundraiser nor just a celebration of artistic achievement, but a reaffirmation of community and shared heritage — a space where tradition and innovation, past and future, East and West converged on one stage. Samskriti’s 30th anniversary gala wasn’t just an event — it was a milestone, a memory, and a moment of pride for Houston’s cultural landscape. The Gala not only honored the organization’s past achievements but also set the stage for future endeavors aimed at fostering cultural exchange and collaborations. May 9 was indeed a night to remember!

HOUSTON: Rice, Grains of Life, the staple food in many South Asian countries, and the ‘Master Chef’ was Aravinth Kumarasamy, Artistic Director of Apsaras Arts Foundation, Singapore. And serving this delectable fare to Houstonians was Samskriti, the organization that had brought ARISI to the city, in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

ARISI was an unusual blend of two cultures, Indian and Balinese, with shared stories and rituals connected with the grain. The brilliant choreographer and lead dancer, Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, who had also designed the beautiful Indian costumes in the colors of rice fields, was aided by his Balinese counterpart, the amazing Prof. I Wayan Dibia, in cleverly melding the two dance forms seamlessly, sometimes to Indian music, and sometimes to Gamelan music.

It never for a moment felt that there were any significant differences between the Indian and Balinese dances – so perfectly did they merge. Both groups were excellent, in perfect sync, and exuding the sheer joy of dancing, with their rapid costume changes enhancing the visual effect of the dances. The nearly 2000 strong audience was treated to a masterful presentation of a story with a most unusual theme – RICE – and the combining of Bharatanatyam and Balinese dance resulted in a unique, very professional, cross-cultural production. Houston’s dance enthusiasts and aficionados, familiar with Indian dance styles, were fascinated by the exquisite Balinese dance forms with which
they were unfamiliar.

Happiest of all were the members of the Indonesian Consulate in Houston, led by Consul Dwiyatna Widinugraha, who were thrilled to see artists from their country being seen and applauded, with a standing ovation and many loud shouts of ‘Bravo’, at the prestigious Miller Outdoor Theatre. In addition to the excellent dancing, Praveen’s background projections and Soorya’s masterful lighting definitely enhanced the production.

Samskriti deserves to be commended for bringing to Houston some of the most unusual programs with the highest artistry. Samskriti has truly fulfilled its mission by bridging the cultures of not only the East and the West but even beyond, by presenting and promoting world dance forms to diverse audiences.

HOUSTON: The Tagore Center Foundation, in proud collaboration with ALMAAHH (Advocates of a Latino Museum of Cultural and Visual Arts & Archive Complex in Houston, Harris County), hosted its highly anticipated 2025 Spring Festival on Saturday, May 10, from 6 to 8 PM. This year’s theme, A Latin Flair, celebrated the vibrant cultural connections between Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and Latin America, underscoring the Foundation’s mission to foster meaningful cross-cultural exchange.

Held in a spirit of unity, tradition, and creative celebration, the evening featured a dynamic lineup of performances and community engagement. Guests were welcomed with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, symbolizing the illumination of knowledge and the dispelling of ignorance — an apt beginning to a night dedicated to intercultural appreciation.

The program opened with a stirring performance by Itzacatl Tezkalipka, a Houston-based traditional dance circle committed to preserving indigenous heritage. Through rhythmic Aztec dance and ancesral storytelling, they honored the spiritual and cultural legacies that continue to shape identity and healing within communities. Next, the energy soared with a performance by the Texas Salsa Congress (TSC), recently recognized as a 2025 Houston Cultural Treasure by the BIPOC Arts Network and Fund. TSC lit up the stage with electrifying salsa rhythms, celebrating Houston’s diverse urban dance scene and the power of Latinx-led creative placemaking.

The evening concluded with a dramatic and emotionally rich performance by Tango Dream, featuring dancers Jorge Cardenas, Florentino Guizar, Liliana Alvarez, and Andrea Moncayo. Together, they brought to life the elegance and intensity of Argentine Tango, weaving a tale of love, passion, and heartbreak through breathtaking choreography. Throughout the night, guests also enjoyed delicious fare from Mingo’s Latin Kitchen, whose food truck added a vibrant Latin flavor to the celebration.

“The Spring Festival is one of our signature events, and this year’s theme, A Latin Flair, beautifully highlighted the shared threads of artistic and philosophical exchange between Tagore’s worldview and Latin American culture,” said Ruma Acharya, President of the Tagore Center Foundation. The Tagore Center Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to sponsor Itzamna Translations, all performers, partners, and guests who made the evening a memorable
celebration of culture, creativity, and community.

About the Tagore Center Foundation:

The Tagore Center Foundation (TCF) draws inspiration from Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of a borderless, universal human community. Rooted in the ideals of peace, harmony, and shared humanity, TCF promotes cultural coalescence through dialogue, art, and exchange. Its mission is to foster inclusive spaces where diverse traditions unite, encouraging dignity, fearlessness, and mutual respect across all boundaries.

About ALMAAHH:

ALMAAHH is a new organization dedicated to the creation of a Houston-area cultural and visual arts complex that will showcase, preserve, and expand Latino arts. The complex would support Latino culture and visual arts by creating opportunities to grow locally and nationally as well as helping to elevate Houston as a national hub of Latino culture

By Prashant Kumar

There was a time I couldn’t focus. My mind drifted—no clarity, no control. Even in my first YouTube videos, I’d lose my train of thought. I had played tabla as a child, but like many kids, I didn’t take it seriously. It wasn’t until I returned to it as an adult that I realized what I had been missing—the discipline, the sharpness, the structure it builds.

Now, I see that same struggle everywhere. Children’s focus is fading. Every swipe steals their attention. Every notification chips away at their discipline. Their ability to concentrate, think deeply, and push through challenges is being erased.

Even medical experts are sounding the alarm. A study from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine warns that children today are losing essential motor skills due to excessive screen time and a lack of hands-on, focused activities. Their ability to control movement, develop hand coordination, and sustain attention is declining—something that will affect them for life.

Tabla isn’t just music—it’s a tool for sharpening the mind. The structured, rhythmic practice develops patience, coordination, and deep concentration. It engages the hands, the brain, and the senses in a way that builds focus like nothing else.

This summer, I’m offering a 6-week online tabla course for beginners, designed to help children develop focus and discipline through rhythm. The program includes three live classes per week, keeping students engaged with structured homework assignments to reinforce learning. There are no week-long gaps that break momentum—each session builds mental sharpness, structured learning, and long-term discipline, all from the comfort of home.

Because of the live format, I’m only accepting a small group of students. This course is for parents who see the value of consistent training and structured learning—not just another activity, but something that truly strengthens their child’s ability to focus and learn.

If you’re serious about giving your child this advantage, now is the time. Message me on WhatsApp at 281-814-7346, check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/texastabla, and stay tuned for the launch of texastabla.com.

This six-week course is the perfect way to get your child started on their tabla journey, building the foundation for discipline, focus, and lifelong learning.

Prashant Kumar is a master of tabla with almost 25 years of experience, dedicated to helping students enhance their focus, creativity, and depth of expression through this profound art form. Prashant’s YouTube channel, TexasTabla, has amassed 400,000 views in recent months, and the online tabla communities he has founded have become some of the best resources for aspiring tabla players.

HOUSTON: Each year, the Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) brings audiences from diverse communities who enjoy storytelling from different points of view. Since its founding 17 years ago, 100-plus films in more than 12 Indian languages have been screened at the Festival. The films were carefully curated from more than 800 submissions to get the best films that feature universal subjects reflecting cultural and socio-economic conditions. This year was no exception.

Sutapa Ghosh, Founder and Executive Director who is an award-winning filmmaker herself, has the eye and sensibility to know what movie-goers like. Her attention to detail is evident from the moment guests enter the Asia Society Texas Center. The décor and eye-catching floral backdrop set the mood for an exotic evening of enthralling cinema for the attendees with engaging Q&A with filmmakers.

The first night’s screenings began with the documentary Agent of Happiness, directed by Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó. The tiny country of Bhutan invented the Gross National Happiness Index to prove that it is
primed to be the happiest country in the world. The film reveals itself to be an ingenious, absorbing ethnographic portrait of a society reeling under the weight of its own loneliness. Free as a Bird, the short film directed by Aditya Khude, set in Mumbai, chronicles the travails of young members of a lower-middle-class family as they navigate a police raid at the beach on their anniversary night.

After enjoying Indian delicacies and refreshments from Verandah Restaurant and listening to the music of Moodafaruka, Music Beyond Borders, the group returned to the theater to see the feature film The Mehta Boys, a directorial debut for Boman Irani, capturing the universal cross-wiring between fathers and sons.

Iqbal Khan — a television superstar, who has acted in several web series and films, and is a past President and longtime IFFH Board Member —served as the master of ceremonies for the Festival. Honorable Consul General of India, Mr. D.C. Manjunath praised the festival and shared that he has been a strong supporter of the event. Sutapa Ghosh revealed a new theme “Collaborate, Create, and Deliver in 2025 and Beyond!” as part of exciting new updates to include films, food, music, and culture from one other country each year.

The final feature film, The Ancient (Puratawn), directed by Suman Ghosh reveals a theme about burying ghosts of the past so that the living can move on. The film was very moving and many in the audience could relate to it. A meaningful Q & A took place afterward, with a discussion from people who were dealing with relatives who have Alzheimer’s or dementia.

One person said that the film gave her new ideas on how to relate to her family members. The world’s population is aging, so more people will have to confront the new realities. Films like The Ancient (Puratawn) serve an important function because they offer perspectives that may not have otherwise been considered.

A special Event Black-Tie Dinner served by Verandah Restaurant and live music by famed saxophonist Tom Braxton closed out an enchanting evening overlooking the water garden terrace. Peer Recognition presentations were received by Suman Ghosh for Best Picture, Iqbal Khan as Special Recognition for ongoing support and commitment to IFFH, and Paula Sutton who received the IFFH Philanthropy Award for her passion for improving the lives of those less fortunate, especially in the world of banking and finance. Paula is also in the Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Hall of Fame. She is an inspiration for all. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Indian Film Festival of Houston.

HOUSTON: The name Zakir Hussain and the salutation “Ustad”, are very well known, worldwide. What Ustad Zakir Hussain did to popularize the Tabla is unequalled. It was only apt hence that Indian Music Society Houston’ s biennial program, Laya Taal Saadhna (LTS) 2025 was dedicated to this phenomenon performer and outstanding
human being.

The Laya Taal Saadhna a showcase event of Houston’s Tabla Guru – Pt. Shantilal Shah, has now become a staple and much anticipated event for all music lovers. This year’s program, started with a fitting tribute to the stalwart – video clippings of interviews, instances where this juggernaut was at a loss for words when talking about the sacred symbiosis of the instrument and the individual. This tribute that was superbly stitched together by Anuraag Shah, moved the audience and served as a blessing for the program.

Seasoned emcee Jigisha Doshi introduced Smt. Aparna Shah who rendered a soulful invocation to Goddess Saraswathi. Pt. Shantilal Shah – fondly referred to as Guruji – then took to the stage with the first group – Taal. This group of performers who were only a few inches taller than the Tablas themselves, wowed the audience with their dexterity and prowess!!

Pt.Shantilal Shah explained the rich tradition of his Tabla learning under Bade Guruji Taal Yogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, his zeal for perfection and the importance of regular Riyaz. There were 5 groups aptly named with musical references – Theka, Maatra, Khand, Laya and Peshkar – that followed, and every one of them held the audiences spellbound with their fantastic performances playing Kaidas, Paltas and Tihaee in Teentaal.

The second half of the program upped the ante. Guru ji was not part of the performance ensemble. This clearly highlighted his confidence in the prowess of the performers. The first three groups – Kaida, Tihaee and Sum wowed the audience with their resounding renditions in various Taals ranging from Rupak to Jhap Taal. All the Kaidas, Relas and Paltas were quite complex and required numerous hours of dedicated Riyaz, which was evident
in their performances.

The epitome of this LTS came from the Aavartan group. This group consisted of Guru ji’s senior most students who are currently professionals and/or college students. They performed a variety of Relas, Chakradaars and Tihaae all in Drut (very high speed) Teen Taal. Their crystal-clear recitals of each of the Tukras left the audience spellbound. This phenomenal finale received a standing and thunderous ovation from the audience that consisted of students, parents, senior artists, classical music enthusiasts, IMS members and many more.

This year’s LTS helped reiterate the extremely high bar of excellence that this program has established and continues to elevate even further every time. While Jigisha ensured a smooth program flow, key tasks such as brochure creation, backstage coordination were very well organized, planned and executed by dedicated parent volunteers, under Vishy Narayanamurthy’s leadership.

Laya Taal Saadhna is a pride of the Houston Tabla community. We hope to see more young and adult students learn Tabla in its true spirit. For more details visit www.tablahouston.com & www.imshouston.org.

By Jawahar Malhotra

HOUSTON: You’re hooked into the story from the first line that mentions the Riverwalk in San Antonio. After all, how many novels do you come across that are set in San Antonio and in the opening pages take you riding on the flat bottom boat that ply by all the restaurants and sites along the way?

In this familiar setting, we meet Maya and Allen who discover each other through furtive glances, then connect on the dance floor of a restaurant while her family eats lunch nearby. They meet again the next day, but leave without sharing their phone numbers, and Maya goes back to Barcelona the following day.

As the story unfolds, Russell Ramji, in his debut novel, “Once Upon a Dream …. A Tale of Fated Love” takes you on a journey from San Antonio to Barcelona and Madrid as the forlorn lovers try to find each other and connect in their dreams. Meanwhile the family business is in turmoil and the matriarch is comatose in Barcelona. There are several twists and turns and sinister figures who try to destroy the company and seek Maya’s hand in marriage.

If all of this sounds vaguely like the plot of a Bollywood movie, then you have to thank Ramji for being faithful to his Indian upbringing in a coffee estate in Nairobi, Kenya. Though he has a background in entomology and horticulture, and doctorates in chiropractic medicine and public health, his passion for creative arts shows up in his personality and gregarious style.

And it definitely reflects in the novel which, “is more like Bollywood meets Hollywood,” Ramji quipped on a recent interview on the Indo American News Radio show. He has already done pre-production work for making the novel into a movie – which will have five romantic songs – and expects the trailer to be out by June. He has already hired several actors, and he himself will be the director, while the producer will be Escape Films USA headed by Adam Ramji of the Ramji Law firm. “Adam gave me the inspiration for the movie”, explained Ramji, “and it became a novel afterwards”.

The 273-page novel is a quick and engrossing read, and wastes no space with superfluous descriptions, moving rapidly from one scene to the next. An interesting element is the way Ramji weaves the Greek Gods Morpheus and Eros into the explanation of dreams as might be described in a Shakespearean play. And true to form, there is a superb twist that comes out of nowhere!

“Once Upon a Dream …. A Tale of Fated Love” is available on Amazon and Google Books.