I had the opportunity to attend the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards this weekend in Tampa, FL. For those unfamiliar, IIFA is an annual awards ceremony to honor the Indian film industry and is essentially the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscars. The awards are held in different exotic locales every year - previous locations include Macau, London, Bangkok, and the Maldives. As someone who grew up on Bollywood movies and ardently follows the latest Bollywood gossip, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that the awards were organized in Tampa this year! My friends and I bought our tickets in early January and had been eagerly awaiting the show for the last several months.

View from the hotel room in Tampa

The awards show was on Saturday night but we reached Tampa and got the party started on Friday itself. The beautiful sunny weather and amazing beach views from the hotel set the perfect mood for the weekend.  As we were wandering around downtown Tampa, my friends and I walked past the Hilton, where the Bollywood stars were residing. We joined the hoards of fans outside the hotel and got a glimpse of Boman Irani, Parineeti Chopra, and Mika Singh!

While I would have liked to meet more celebrities in person, the IIFA Awards show itself delivered a great experience. In true Bollywood fashion, the event was organized with much pomp and excitement, with energetic dance performances, colorful stage design, and great fashion (Also in true Bollywood fashion, the show started 2.5 hours late on IST [Indian Standard Time]). Here were some of my favorite moments from the show:

Snapshots from IIFA, Source: Shruti Tiwari and Indian Express

• Ranveer Singh’s Energetic Performance: There’s something about Ranveer Singh that oozes swagger and mischief. His bold entrance onto the stage riding a motorcycle wooed the audience as did his moves to “Tattad tatted” (from the movie Ram Leela).
• Frank Underwood’s Lungi Dance: Kevin Spacey attended the show and was somehow convinced by hosts, Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar, to don a lungi and dance to the Chennai Express song. It was awkward and hilarious at the same time!
• Best Actor and Actress Awards: Deepika Padukone won awards for Entertainer of the Year and Best Actress. The icing on the cake was when the award was presented to her by rumored beau, Ranveer Singh. Meanwhile, Farhan Akhtar won Best Actor for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
• Madhuri Dixit’s Graceful Performance: Madhuri was hands-down the best performance of the right. The icon performed to all her hits, from Ek Do Teen to Dola Re, and reminded me of my childhood again.

Overall, it was an exciting weekend that has left me with many fun stories...until next year's show!

Happy Holi everyone! Today is the Indian festival of Holi, which marks the beginning of the spring season and the proverbial triumph of good over evil. Holi is celebrated across India with friends and family enthusiastically playing with colored powder and water, earning it the name of “Festival of Colors”. The festivities involve food, dancing, and frolic, making Holi easily one of the most enjoyable of Indian festivals.

Of course Bollywood has depicted this festival across numerous movies and songs. The romanticized depiction of Holi on the silver screen spans several eras, even as actors and styles have changed. As I listen to these songs now to get into the spirit of Holi, I can't help but notice that there’s a song for every mood! Don’t believe me? Read on…

1. Traditional – Rang Barse:
When I think of Holi, I think of this song. Sung in Amitabh Bacchhan's baritone voice, this is probably one of the most iconic songs associated with this festival. The video does a great job of capturing the merriment and mischief of the day.

2. Sweet – Khelenge Hum Holi:
In this song, Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Bollywood, romances the widowed Asha Parekh who is scared to give her heart away. The song itself has a bittersweet balance of happiness and sadness. Meanwhile, the cheer of the crowd and lively dancing spreads the message of brotherhood and love.

3. Cheesy – Do Me a Favor Let’s Play Holi:
If you’re in a particularly corny mood, look no further than this song. The lyrics, the nasal voice of Anu Malik, and the silly expressions will definitely make you erupt in laughter. Hey, it’s okay to poke a little fun. That’s the point of Holi, right?

4. Sensual – Lahu Munh Lag Gaya:
Woah, when did Holi get so sexy? The chemistry, the dancing, the outfits – they all leave you breathless. People may have polarizing opinions about the movie itself, but this song sure keeps everyone's interest piqued.

5. Modern – Balam Pichkari:
The new generation knows how to celebrate Holi with gusto too! In one of the biggest hits of 2013, Deepika and Ranbir depict the excitement of Holi in the extremely catchy song that’s still on my playlist. While the cinematography of the song and antics between friends feel very modern, the song still conveys the feeling of friendship and celebration that is so iconic of Holi.

We shared our favorite easy listening songs in our last post, but with New Years Eve soon approaching, most of us are in the mood to party and celebrate! So to get you in the festive mood, here is a recap of our favorite high octane, “bolly-pop" music from 2013.

1)      Dilliwali Girlfriend (Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani)

This is arguably the best album of the year and I loved all the songs from this movie, from Badtameez Dil to Balam Pichkari. But if I had to pick one, I’d choose this fun and flirty number that you can’t help but get up and dance to! It doesn’t hurt that Deepika’s looking gorgeous and Ranbir’s busting some slick moves.

2)      Lat Lag Gayi (Race 2)

This is a great club song that also has some surprising Arabic sounds in the middle. The fusion of the two styles creates a chilled out song that’s perfect as you get ready for a fun night ahead!

3)      Nagada Sang Dhol Baaje (Ram Leela)

Navratri garba just become cool, ya’ll! And how can it not, with the addictive folk beats in this song and amazing choreography in the music video to boot? When I first heard this song, I found it curiously similar to Dhol Baaje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (HDDCS), an older movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bansali. But it didn’t take long to realize that the two songs are very different. Sadly, unlike HDDCS, the songs and chemistry between the actors are all this movie had going for it!

4)      Tooh (Gori Tere Pyar Mein)

The lyrics of this song are utterly ridiculous and I’m slightly ashamed to put this up as it might suggest I condone how it objectifies women….but sometimes you just wanna dance to something mindless and this catchy song makes that happen!

5)      High Heels (Yo Yo Honey Singh)

The song may be a rip off the 90’s hit song Ole Ole (from Yeh Dillagi) but you can’t deny the fun, summery vibe that this song brings. Perfect for any house party you might be throwing this holiday!

6)      Bad Girl (Mickey Singh)

This song is a new find and it took a while to grow on me, but I’m now obsessed. I love how this is a fusion of house beats, Hindi, Punjabi, and English! Never mind the fact that the music video is clearly “very inspired” from Robin Thicke’s video for Blurred Lines with scantily clad women sauntering around the video against a white backgrounds doing inane things like lifting weights and wearing boxing gloves.

Hope these songs have put you in the party mood! Any songs that you would add to this list?

With the holidays fast approaching, this time of year can be quite hectic. There are deadlines to meet at work as you finish off your last few projects for the year, gifts to be bought amid crowded stores, and Christmas and New Year’s plans to be made with family and friends. While exciting, it can also be stressful, making it all the more necessary to take time to unwind. I find listening to soothing music while cooking (or drinking a glass of wine) to do the trick for me. What easy listening tracks are on my playlist? While there are a ton of choices, Bollywood drummed up some great songs this year. Here are some of my top choices from this year’s Bollywood easy listening tracks to unwind after a crazy day.

1) Meethi Boliyaan (Kai Po Che)

This entire movie has a great soundtrack but this song is especially soothing to listen to. Reminiscent of fun times with friends, the song and video takes you back to the good ole childhood days. I’m sure we all have memories of crazy times with our friends, and the shenanigans in this song make me miss mine even more!

2) Tum Tak (Raanjhanaa)

The movie was horrendous and this track is the single good thing to come out of it. It’s a beautiful song about a boy’s unrequited love, describing how his happiness and sadness, highs and lows all revolve around the girl. It’s got a great beat that also makes it good for dancing (now how often does that happen with an easy listening track?).

3) Manmarziyan (Lootera)

The actress in this movie, Sonakshi Sinha, repeatedly comes in crass comedies that have little role for the female lead. This movie is the first one where she had a sizable role and received acclaim for her acting chops. But I was disappointed to see that despite having a meaty role, she again played a weak female betrayed in a big way by the male lead. I’m sick of the damsel in distress mentality…but qualms aside, I do love the lilting, somewhat pensive, tune of this song!

4) Mera Yaar (Bhaag Milka Bhaag)

Bhaag Milka Bhaag was a movie with great potential but not even Farhan Akhtar's solid performance could save this needlessly drawn out flick. The soundtrack was pitifully mediocre as well but one song stood out. Mera Yaar is a song with minimal use of musical instruments and beatboxing in the background. The rough yet strong voice of the singer takes center stage, likening his love to God. Lyrics such as, "Why should I go to the temple...why should I go to the mosque...when my love is here?" are quietly powerful.

What other songs from 2013 would you add to this list?

The South Asian community comprises a large portion of the US population, yet there has been little presence of South Asians in popular American entertainment, much less an accurate portrayal of their “desi-ness”. In the last few years, however, some artists have started making their place in mainstream American entertainment. For better or worse, here are my thoughts on the top personalities that come to mind.

Clockwise from top: Mindy Kaling, Jay Sean, Priyanka Chopra, Kal Penn

Kal Penn

Kal Penn first got his fame through his hilarious portrayal of Kumar in Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle. While it was great to see an Indian as a central character in a movie, his name was the extent of the “Indian-ness” portrayed  (and perhaps fairly so, because ethnicity wasn’t a central aspect of the movie). In the years following, Kal Penn has developed an even bigger name for himself with his roles in The Namesake and Robin’s funny boyfriend/therapist in How I Met Your Mother, and perhaps more importantly, as an active democrat working for President Obama. It’s great to see him gain success but I’m left wanting more from him regarding some ownership of his Indian pride.

Mindy Kaling

Where Kal Penn left off, Minday Kaling picks up and runs with it! Mindy first gained popularity in the hit show The Office, but it’s her recent show The Mindy Project that has me hooked. It is so refreshing to see a brown female succeed as a comedian/artist and not ignore her ethnicity in the process! While Mindy’s character doesn’t revolve around her being Indian, there are meaningful nods to her background. I especially love her relationship with her brother Rishi on the show and her botched attempts at Indian cooking.

Jay Sean

Jay Sean gained popularity in the South Asian underground music scene in Britain back in 2003 with the release of his song “Dance With You”. The song quickly topped the music charts, but it was his immensely catchy song “Down” that made him popular in the US. Not only is he talented (and good looking), he’s been able to successfully blend his South Asian roots with hip hop/RnB music. I hear that he recently released a new song which I can’t wait to listen to!

Priyanka Chopra

A household name in India due to her immense fame in Bollywood, Priyanka Chopra is a newbie in US popular culture. Last year, she decided to foray into the singing world with the release of her song “In My City” during NFL Thursday Night Football. She also just recently released a new song “Exotic” in collaboration with Pitbull. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of either of the songs. It’s great to see her presence in the US pop scene, but her songs aren’t cutting it for me. Firstly, how can anyone “feel so exotic” – you either ARE exotic or you’re not. Secondly, it is just perpetuating the stereotypical notion of India being an “exotic” far-off land. I also feel like she is not using her strengths – why would she forgo her excellent dancing abilities and settle on some silly hand moves in the music video? Regardless, she does look smoking, and I guess there are plenty of other folks who love it her songs and music videos.

Who are the top actors/singers that have made an impact on you recently? Stay tuned for an upcoming post on the increasing popularity (and rightfully so!) of Indian fashion designers! 

As many of you know, I recently completed the Doonya Challenge in DC, a 3-month fitness challenge where I took 3-4 Doonya classes every week. For those of you unfamiliar with Doonya, it is a 60-minute dance fitness class filled with nonstop cardio, aerobic, and strength training performed to upbeat, fast-paced Bollywood music. While many compare it to Zumba, I think of it more like a mid-week trip to the club for some hip-shaking action!

When I decided to start the challenge back in February, my goal was to lose weight and tone up in a manner more fun than the treadmill at my gym. To be completely honest, I didn’t think I would be able to last long, with the rules being that we had to attend 3-4 classes per week. As with so many other workouts I’ve done, I expected to last a couple weeks before losing interest.  BUT I actually ended up staying and pushing through the three months! Why, you ask? Is it because I’m a masochist? Is it because I was desperate to lose weight? Is it because I didn’t have much else going on during the evenings?

Err, while the answers to some of those questions might be yes, the real reason was because I just found the workouts so addictively fun and effective! When the challenge ended earlier this month, I could not feel better about my fitness level and overall well-being. Not only have I lost about 9 pounds, but my arms and leg muscles have also toned. My stamina has improved, as evidenced by my ability to push through high-energy Bhangra songs without water breaks (think about doing 5 minutes of constant jumps, squats, and taps to this song).

Pictures of me before and after the challenge

The icing on the cake (maybe I shouldn’t use dessert references when talking about fitness!) is that they just announced me as the winner of the challenge! The prize is unlimited Doonya classes for a year and a cash prize! I’m soo excited to win, but definitely have to give a shout out to the other DC finalists whose energy and dedication was so inspiring, and the Doonya instructors who kept us motivated throughout!

Even though the challenge is over, I am still attending classes because I feel gross when I haven’t worked out for a few days. It also helps when the instructor puts on my favorite song and I can just let loose! For those of you looking to lose weight, tone up, or just have fun, I definitely recommend the Doonya workout. If you’re like me, you’ll like the results you see and will come back for more!

When one sister’s challenge ends, the other one’s takes off (read about Richa’s Empire State Building Run here)! As previously mentioned, I’m participating in the Doonya Challenge in DC, a 3-month challenge where I will take Doonya classes 3-4 times a week and cross train on the remaining days of the week. In the last few months, I found myself dreading going to the gym and had become lazy (especially around the holiday season) so I thought this would be a fun way to get back into shape! I enjoy doing group fitness activities and what better motivation to move then fast-paced Bollywood and Bhangra songs!

I’ve started the challenge with a bang by taking 4 classes this week and making sure I went to my regular gym on the remaining days. All the Doonya instructors are excellent and bring their personal flair to the dancing, which makes each class different. Although I’m exhausted after classes, I generally find myself having more energy during the day and able to think more clearly at work. Since I was taking a few Doonya classes before the challenge even started, I’ve already noticed an improvement in my stamina. I don’t have to stop as often for water breaks in class and I’m not as much of a breathless mess after dancing to the Bhangra songs (i.e. I’m still huffing and puffing but not about to die, hopefully I’ll improve more in days to come)!

The challenge also requires us to keep track of our food and nutrition intake. This is dangerous territory for me. I love my cupcakes and glasses of prosecco. I will often reach into a bag of chips without thinking twice. I will order fries instead of salad as my side. EEKS. But now that we have to food journal, I’m embarrassed to do all that and find myself trying to go for the healthier option. I even cooked in bulk this weekend so I have dinner prepared for the rest of the week!

So here’s to a strong start to the challenge (raising my glass of water, instead of prosecco, in the air)! I will keep updating you all on any changes I see in weight, energy, stamina, and general sense of well-being! Stay tuned in the weeks to come! 

Holed away in our apartments, us East Coast folks are quietly watching as the rain knocks down on our windows, compliments of Hurricane Sandy. Despite this madness, I can’t help but hum some of my favorite baarish (ie, rain) songs. Bollywood has always impressed upon us that there is romance everywhere, come hell or high water (literally)! So before the power goes out, I thought I’d count down some of my favorite rain songs with you so we can all embrace the Bollywood moment here!  

Despite living in two separate cities, the Urban Mantra sisters do a lot of things in common. Among the activities we both enjoy is dance…particularly Bollywood dance. Once a week or more, we walk into a dance studio in our respective cities and let our inner Madhuri loose (for those of you who don’t know Madhuri, she is a famous Bollywood actress and perhaps the most iconic Bollywood dancer). As the music plays, we enter a world where hip-rolling, shoulder shimmying, body twists and turns, and foot-thumping is not only allowed but encouraged. What is this class, you ask? It is dhoonyaFIT.

What it is: dhoonyaFIT is a dance fitness class filled with 60 minutes of nonstop cardio, aerobic, and strength training performed to upbeat, fast-paced Bollywood music. The class is offered by dhoonyaDANCE, a Bollywood dance company that holds classes in DC, Virginia, Maryland, and NYC. With classes offered most days of the week, students have ample opportunities to get a full-body workout and leave feeling sweaty but smiling!

What I Love: What we enjoy about the dhoonyaFIT workout is that it is fun, energetic, and a great way to get some exercise after work. Seriously, it’s almost like a trip to the dance clubs except you don’t have to wait until Saturday night to go! :) When some of our favorite songs come on, we almost have to hold back from breaking out into crazy moves!

The other aspect we appreciate about dhoonyaFIT is that you don’t have to be a dance expert to join the class. It is appealing and applicable to beginners as well as experts because of its focus on working out, rather than on traditional dance techniques, which some people may struggle with (for those who are interested, dhoonyaDANCE offers techniques classes too).

The other new and exciting development in the world of dhoonyaDANCE is that there are now dhoonyaFIT instructor training classes being offered. This way, one can become a certified dhoonyaFIT instructor and teach it anywhere – even abroad!

What I Don’t Love: Honestly, there isn't much to dislike about dhoonyaFIT given how fun and effective a workout it is. The only complaint we had until recently was that there weren’t enough dhoonyaFIT classes being offered. But after taking a survey of its members earlier this year, Dhoonya decided to open its doors to more FIT classes and at more locations around the city.

So next time y’all are in the mood to bust out some moves to your favorite bhangra song or can’t bear to work out at your gym, consider taking a dhoonyaFIT class for a different workout experience. You will come out Bolly-fied!

Hi everyone! Meet my friend Erin - she's a veritable Bollywood aficionado and has a blog where she provides her spot-on reviews and insights on Indian movies. When I was thinking about how to initiate a Bollywood beginner (Bolly-Newbie) into the world of scintillating dance at spellbinding locales, over-the-top drama, and larger-than-life characters, I thought...who better than Erin? Read her post below!

The Curry Hill paan-maker working his magic

Recently, a friend suggested that we stop for some paan in the “Curry Hill” neighborhood after dinner.  Quite honestly, I hadn’t eaten paan in a long time and realized it was time for my palate to revisit, what I like to call, the Indian-style mint. As we watched the man behind the counter readily prepare our treat, I thought to myself how odd this must look to someone not familiar with the concept of paan. Well, it’s really just a green betel leaf rolled up with cloves, cardamom, peppermint, sometimes tobacco, and other ingredients that provide a sweet and aromatic taste. Gobbling up paan quickly won’t do anything for you - you’ll feel like you just ate grass. The point is to slowly chew and savor it so that the combined flavors of the leaf and other fillings may slowly be released to your taste buds. Also, be prepared for the distinct red staining of the lips caused by the betel leaf, which leads me to my next point…

Aah, paan…it really gets a bad rep, doesn’t it? Equated to such things as being the poor man’s chewing gum, an unsophisticated habit of supposedly uneducated  folks, the cause of unsightly streaks of red on your clothing, of stains on your teeth, and of streetside filth in India…it’s no wonder most people outside of the South Asian subcontinent have never heard of it. Well, I for one, like to see the other side of paan, the one of Bollywood fame.

The popularity of paan-eating was aptly captured by the iconic song from the 1970s movie Don where Amitabh Bachchan played a streetside wanderer singing “Khaike paan banaras wala”. The gist of the song is that “by eating paan from Banares, you unlock your senses. Then what a miracle you will see, for it will straighten you out” (These translations always sound so awkward!).  

 

My personal favorite paan song is “Paan khaye saiyaan hamaaro” from the 1960s movie Teesri Kasam. The song always makes me smile as the ethereal Waheeda Rehman dances to lyrics that go something like, “My beau eats paan. With his wheatish complexion and reddened lips, there are streaks of red on his white button-down tunic…” (Again, I never claimed to be an expert song translator!)

As I headed home from the paan shop that night with teeth stained red, I thought of how paan tastes just like its persona in Indian culture…a satisfying treat that is a conflict of sweet and bitter flavors all rolled into one.

I recently took a dance/fitness class in DC, where the instructor led us through a choreographed set of high-energy moves to bhangra music. What made the class so much fun was the high-octane music that really got me shaking my bootay! Bhangra music never fails to get me pumped up and excited, even on a bad day.

For the non-desis out there who don’t know what I’m talking about, bhangra is a highly energetic form of dance that originates from the north Indian state of Punjab. It’s gotten a fair amount of exposure in the West in recent times with hip-hop artists like Jay-Z performing to Punjabi MC remixes. After a particularly beat-bouncing dance class recently, I started thinking about which bhangra songs are my favorite. So here is my list of top, hip-shaking bhangra songs which I wanted to share. Who knows – you might discover a new favorite song from this list or, if you’re a newbie, get educated on the power of bhangra! So here goes…

7) Sadi Galli (Lehmber Hussainpuri)

The beat of this song is undeniable and can make any person want to dance. My dance instructor from Dhoonya Dance, a Bollywood-inspired dance school, taught us such great moves to this song that I can’t help but break into a dance whenever I hear this song at a wedding or bhangra party!

6) Aaja Nachle (Bally Sagoo)

This song makes me reminisce of my early college days and reminds me of the wedding scene in Monsoon Wedding when everyone goes crazy on the dance floor. This has got to be one of Bally Sagoo’s best!

5) Aashiq (Punjabi By Nature and Miss Pooja)

The music video may not be amazing, but the lyrics are certainly interesting. Lines from the song, such as  “I am more beautiful than angels, no one is like me and everyone is in love with my mischievous eyes”, can definitely boost your ego, if your ego is easily boosted…

4) Door Ne Khulni (Manni Sandhu)

I love this song as it picturizes  the quintessential chill-with-friends-at-a-house-party, followed by the character’s plight when his mom doesn’t open the door when he gets home. Watch what happens in the video!

3) Na Na Na Re (Daler Mehndi)

No bhangra list is complete without a throwback Deler Mehndi song! This ‘90s song still manages to get me going on the dance floor.

2) Morni (Punjabi MC)

The girl in this song has some mad accessorizing skills and the song ain’t bad either! Punjabi MC has to be in this list after my friends and I saw him live in an exclusive (100 people only) concert. We mixed and mingled with him, and subsequently gave him our numbers since he wanted to come party with us later!

1)      Amplifier (Imran Khan)

Imran Khan reigns number one on my bhangra list! While Amplifier is his most famous song, his other songs, such as Hey Girl, Bounce Billo, and Ni Nachle, all vied for the number one spot. 

Imran Khan is also an amazing live performer. Check out this picture I took at his concert!

So that wraps up my top Bhangra dance songs! What would you add or remove from this list?

For DC peeps who are interested in coming out to dance parties, check out the United States Department of Bhangra (USDB) parties, held every month at the Black Cat! Or join me in one of the Dhoonya Dance bhangra classes. I might just see you there next time!

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