Stories written by
Malini Nair
Malini Nair is a regular Scroll.in contributor
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Why world music owes an immense debt to Ravi Shankar’s Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra
As the world belatedly celebrates the sitarist’s 100th birth anniversary, a look back at the oustized influence of his first concerto.
Malini Nair
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Temple theatres in Kerala have been an upper caste preserve for ages. Now there are calls for change
An intimate performance space, the koothambalam has been off-limits for everyone but upper castes. For it to thrive again, it needs to be opened up.
Malini Nair
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An Ambedkarite is interweaving Buddha’s teachings with dhrupad in a leap of artistic faith
S Anand, the founder of publishing house Navayana, is trying to break away from the body of Hindustani bandishes that remain stuck in antiquity.
Malini Nair
Trending
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The Indian economy seems bleak – but that only reflects the cancer within
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What superpowers do the creatures living between land and sea on India’s coasts possess?
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Assam Police arrest wife, daughter of fish trader who allegedly died in custody
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VPN service providers can leave India if they choose not to collect user data, says IT minister
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Ranajit Guha, India’s oldest living historian, starts his 100th year with a dazzling legacy
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If not for Kamalini Dutt, Doordarshan would have lost some of its most valuable treasures for good
Thousands of recordings of the legends of music, dance and drama were decaying in the offices of the broadcaster – until Dutt stepped up.
Malini Nair
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Is thumri louche or evolved? 100 years on, a debate around the classical form still rages
Tracing the history of arguments around thumri is like tracing the history of feminism.
Malini Nair
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How a music form inspired by the songs of camel drivers of Punjab-Sindh became popular in Bengal
The story of tappa maps fascinating cultural and social shifts spanning over four centuries.
Malini Nair
Video
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‘I can’t remember any other marriages’: 95-year-old man jokes as he gets married for the first time
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Watch: Man recreates actor Ajay Devgn’s stunt with cars, gets arrested, police seize vehicles
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Watch: Millionaires at World Economic Forum demand that the ultra-wealthy be taxed more
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Watch: Passengers get stuck mid-air in cable cars due to bad weather in Satna, Madhya Pradesh
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Watch: How female students in Afghanistan are attending ‘secret’ schools to continue their education
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What happens when a classical musician gets off the concert stage to perform at a site of activism?
A series titled Blue Planet is documenting performances of Hindustani and Carnatic musicians at vulnerable public spaces around India.
Malini Nair
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Long unsung and marginalised, Indian women percussionists are finally making themselves heard
In the sexist world of Indian classical music, percussion is considered a virile art. A few good women have set themselves up to challenge this notion.
Malini Nair
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Meet the women who have made the cello an ‘Indian instrument’
Saskia Rao-de Haas and Nancy Lesh have, in their own ways, brought the instrument to the Hindustani concert stage.
Malini Nair
The Reel
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‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ trailer: Christian Bale joins Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman
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‘Zollywood’ trailer: Marathi film about Vidarbha’s theatre scene is coming soon to cinemas
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Watch: Teaser of new ‘Mission: Impossible’ film ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ is out
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The highs and highs of Jatin-Lalit’s Hindi film soundtracks
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‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ trailer: Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani star in Patiala-set comedy
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After an unbroken run of 87 years, India’s oldest classical music magazine is facing a bleak future
Published out of Hathras, ‘Sangeet’ has been a cheerful chronicler of an esoteric world. But with just 650 subscribers left, how long can it last?
Malini Nair
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Why khayal, with all its majesty, is content to sing of saas-bahu strife
To the outsider, the words may seem banal. But to the khayaliya, the poetics are not for literary flash – they are pegs to pin the sweep of the raga’s canvas.
Malini Nair
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For seven decades, Prabha Atre has been questioning her stellar musical legacy while upholding it
The oldest practitioner of the Kirana gharana is often called a rebel, reformer, re-interpreter – and for good reason.
Malini Nair
The Field
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Watch: Thomas Cup 2022 final – Full replay of India’s historic 3-0 win over Indonesia
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Chess: R Praggnanandhaa through to Chessable Masters semi-finals, to face Anish Giri next
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Data check: Rafael Nadal goes past Roger Federer’s record for most men’s singles wins at a Major
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Tennis: Novak Djokovic ‘intends to go to Wimbledon’ despite no ranking points available at the Slam
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French Open, Day 2 wrap: Djokovic, Nadal, Swiatek cruise into second round; Osaka, Krejcikova lose