They say music speaks to the soul and we totally agree. The power of music is still a mystery to mankind. It is said that it can control the weather, heal a broken heart, break a perfectly healthy heart. It can also make you feel many emotions that you would have otherwise ignored. We bring to you a selection of artists whose song covers are surely gonna end up in your Bollywood playlist.

Pasoori Fingerstyle Cover by Soumyajit Pyne

Pasoori, a song that had us grooving all through 2022 is a major vibe. Pyne captures the irresistible beat of this song in his fingerstyle cover of the same. Capturing each note with effortless grace, Pyne adds his touch to this ever-green song in this melodious guitar cover. Given how difficult it is to fingerstyle, his talent doesn’t go unnoticed. This is sure to add a groovy touch to your playlist

Shayad Fingerstyle Guitar Cover by Yash Garg

If doing fingerstyle on a guitar was hard, imagine strumming two guitars at the same time and using one of the said guitars as a drum as well, impossible right? Well, Garg proved that it’s absolutely possible. Handling two guitars while using the fingerstyle technique alternatively on both of them and using one of the guitars as a drum for beats, this cover is a true work of art. Not missing one beat or note, the way Garg beautifully switches between the two guitars and adds his own touch to the melody is just a wonder to listen to.

Sandese Aate Hai Fingerstyle Guitar Cover by Jack of All

A nostalgic song from the movie Border that will hit home every time you hear it, this song will definitely bring tears to your eyes. A song that carries with it so much emotion is often hard to cover but Jack of All proves that it’s not always the case. Skillfully changing notes from one to another while using fingerstyle on the guitar he manages to capture the true essence of the song while adding his own touch. This one will surely add a tear-jerking touch to your playlist.

Hindi Mashup Guitar Cover by Shoddo Khan

A mashup consisting of many Bollywood hits that will make it impossible for any Bollywood lover to not hum along. This mashup is perfect for a day when you just want to relish those heart-touching songs of Bollywood in under 8mins. Paired with a powerful and clear voice and masterful guitar strumming this mashup is bound to end up in your Bollywood playlist and is highly likely to be played on a loop for a really long time. From the choice of the songs to the transition, everything just oozes perfection.

Do check out these amazing music and artists and we hope they bless your ears as they did ours.

Globalisation started with the aim of making the world a global village. Since its inception, it has taken the world by storm. It made goods and services accessible to a totally new section of society that was left untouched previously. It has managed to bridge many gaps that existed before. Since its arrival in India in 1991, it opened many doors for India to go global. But along with many wide open doors of opportunities, a host of new windows of challenges also opened up.

Globalisation: The Saviour

Given India’s colonial past, India’s hesitation towards opening its doors to the global market doesn’t sound alarming at all. So, when it did open itself up towards the global market the results were very rewarding and not so rewarding at the same time. India’s soul lies in its traditions. And its handicrafts and handlooms are the most tangible form of its traditions. Given how important traditions are to India, one can only imagine how invaluable these pieces of handicrafts and handlooms must be for India. It’s India’s most tremendous pride and greatest asset.

When it opened itself up to the world during globalisation, India needed something unique to help make it stand out from the crowd. And thus, came into the global picture, Indian handicrafts and handlooms. The potential that Indian handicrafts held in the global market were observed when their export crossed Rs 1220 crores in 1990-91 from merely 10 crores in the mid-fifties. These handicrafts and handlooms ignited interest in the western world to know more about this Asian section of their global village. Thus, leading to a boom in India’s tourism industry. It looks like everyone is benefitting from it, but are they?

Globalisation: The Hidden Side

Globalisation did give India its fair share of global credit for its outstanding craftsmanship, but what about the true artisans? With an increase in their audience, one would expect them to thrive but sadly the reality is not the same. Given the rise in middlemen and trade entrepreneurs, the majority of the profit ends up in their lap. And the true artist is left to collect the scraps. This further leads to them hoping for their kids to have a better future than them. This means they wish for them to have a different occupation. Thus, the new generation either doesn’t always end up learning the age-old craft from their parents. Or if they do they don’t always end up practising it, and thus, the craft dies with it.

Given the lack of organisation and formal education, many local artisans end up working in highly exploitative environments which will make even a true craft lover turn their eyes away with tears. Along with increased audience globalisation also brings with it an increase in competition. A highly competitive environment means the cheapest product wins the bet. 

But sadly the amount that goes into the making of these exquisite pieces of handicrafts and handlooms is not cheap and hence, the end value is always expensive. Plus, the traditional way of making these handicrafts and handlooms also takes a lot of time. In order to meet the increased demand cheap knockoffs started circulating the market. Using machinery rather than artisans cuts the production cost and the time taken to produce it by half. Plus it meets the global demand. But with all the profits the one who suffers the most is the true artist.

Afterword

Globalisation indeed helped uplift India’s local artisans by increasing their employment rate. But sadly this trend did not follow for long. With the arrival of middlemen and an increase in the demand for these handicrafts and handlooms, cheaper knockoff versions entered the market. This led to a loss of uniqueness and craftsmanship as goods were now produced by machines and a loss of tradition in general. The aim of globalisation is to create a global village but you cannot build a village with a profit-making mentality that only benefits you in the long run. The government has taken several steps to help artisans get their fair share of profit but a lot still needs to be done. And most of it starts with us becoming more aware consumers.

Teju Jangid, born and brought up in Jodhpur, Rajasthan is a digital artist. With an immense fanbase on Instagram, he is a self-taught digital artist. Currently working as a full-time freelancer, Teju Jangid is proficient in digital illustration, book cover design, concept art and the likes. Here’s a sneak peek into the inspiring journey of Teju Jangid becoming a digital artist despite all the odds in his life.

Since childhood Teju Jangid loved to experiment with colors and come out with some exceptional pieces of work. Recalling the first drawing he made, he says, “The first time I painted was when I was a sixth grader. I made a drawing of Lord Hanuman and took it to school. My friends and teachers appreciated the effort a lot. This gave me a solemn affirmation and I started improving my art skills.” In the initial phase he did not receive much support from his family. Coming from a farming background, Teju Jangid’s father wanted him to join the same and continue the legacy. Paying heed to his father’s advice, he started a job in the sales domain in the main city area of Jodhpur. But the moment he started working, he realized this wasn’t something he wanted to do. He quit the job and came back to his village and started helping his father on the farm. He worked in the fields in the day and practiced art whenever he got a chance. 

Teju Jangid kickstarted his career as a professional digital artist around five years back in the year 2018. He started with making pencil sketches of celebrities and sharing them on Instagram. His journey of success began when the renowned YouTuber Amit Bhadana posted his sketch made by Teju Jangid on his Instagram story. While recollecting some significant instances from his story Teju Jangid says, “I remember I made a sketch of Akshay Kumar’s character as Prithviraj Chauhan before the release of the movie. Akshay Kumar had commented on the post and to this day that whole thing remains inscribed on my mind and heart.” 

Teju Jangid idolizes the great artist Raja Ravi Verma and draws inspiration from him. Though he has never made one, he adores oil paintings to the fullest. He generally finds solace in painting portraits of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, characters from Indian mythological stories and folktales and the mighty rulers of Indian history. He takes pride in being attached to his roots and portraying the same in his art. He says, “In my early days, I used to paint and sketch on paper. The gradual shift from traditional tools of art to modern equipment was a challenging aspect. I learned and thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.” Now he feels like he has got detached from traditional art but wishes to explore it all over again.

Teju Jangid feels that social media, especially Instagram played a key role in shaping his career as a digital artist. Talking about the essence of art in rural India, he believes that rural India possesses a huge respect for art and artists but it is still not considered as a profession there. Being asked about his take on the upcoming generation of artists, Teju Jangid says, “Just two things for the budding artists – DON’T RUSH AND DON’T COMPARE! Don’t chase popularity and money, just focus on polishing your skills, fame, name and money will follow with joy. And don’t compare the first page of your story to the tenth page of someone else’s story. Compete with yourself, look back at your own versions and feel proud of how far you came!”

Teju Jangid considers artificial intelligence to be both a bane and a boon for artists. He concludes with a strong statement that AI can never replace humans, it can only accompany and facilitate them. He aspires to grow and develop his own self in the field of digital art and accomplish new horizons.

With people getting more and more busy running after material happiness, the art of just sitting down and listening to a soulful melody is lost. Gone are the days when the entire village used to surround Lord Krishna while he played a tune to calm every soul walking on this earth. So, we bring to you a list of flute covers that are bound to help you relax whenever you feel stressed.

A. R. Rahman Flute Tribute by Parth Chandiramani

Growing up as an avid music lover who fell in love with just listening to music way before going ahead and mastering it, Parth Chandiramani pays tribute to the Indian music legend A. R. Rahman. Being influenced by him from a tender age, Chandiramani chooses two beautiful classics of Rahman, Roja Jaaneman and Yeh Haseen Waadiyan to capture the audience in a trance with his beautiful and articulate flute playing skills. Ensuring that this medley captures the true essence of the original song sung by the legend, he captures each inflexion of notes in the original song with grace and ease.

Waves of The River by Swarnim Maharjan x Dharmendra Mali ft. Metronome Band

Capturing the childlike pitter-patter of the river rushing past the river banks in a hurry, Swarnim Maharjan immortalises these movements with the help of his flute. Starting off with a calm and mellow flow, the tune of the song changes as seconds pass by. First highlighting the childlike innocence and purity of the river before elaborating on the fickleness of the child of nature who happily rushes past each stream spreading joy and happiness to everything it crosses paths with. This cover is sure to make you imagine running down the hill as you follow the soft cackle of the river.

Kishore Kumar Flute Medley by Bubai Nandy

Is it ever possible to find a perfect medley of some of the greatest classics sung by the legend Kishore Kumar that speaks to your soul on a divine level? Bubai Nandy’s flute cover medley will prove to you that it is indeed possible. Doing a medley of Chingari, Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna, Rimjhim Gire Sawan, and Kuch to Log Kahenge, Nandy stuns you with his beautiful skills that bring each note of each song to life making you feel like you are listening to a more soulful version of the original song.

Mere Naina Saawan Badhon Flute Cover by Mani Tilak

An ever-green delight that will make you hum to its tune every time it starts playing. This flute cover by Mani Tilak is all you need when you feel like listening to this classic as a background accompaniment to your thoughts. Skillfully played and well captured, this cover keeps the essence of the original song alive while giving it a mellow touch.

Varaha Roopam Flute Cover by Divyansh Shrivastava

Beautifully capturing the urgency and peacefulness in the flute cover of Varaha Roopam, Divyansh Shrivastava, manages to bring both order and chaos to his melodic arrangement. With his mastery over the flute, it comes as no surprise that his cover helps one feel as if they have achieved divine elevation. Leaving traces of goosebumps on your skin when you listen to this piece, this cover is sure to make you leave in a more spiritually awakened state than in the one you came in.

The invention of camera and photography in the 19th century marked an enigma in the art and culture of human history. The innovative intervention sowed the seeds of an avid ‘newness’ that people were looking forward to, both amazed and alarmed with the technology. Cameras changed the way art was perceived, made or created. This meant that with the camera capturing real-time scenarios, paintings need not be realistic anymore. Camera and photography introduced videography, and videography to films and movies. Art was getting expanded into a plethora of mediums. This was just one instance of technology seeping into the society. The sphere of art has since then be influenced by new technological inventions.

In the most recent, the digital era of the internet and smartphones has grappled the sphere of art with numerous new alternatives both in the form of its creation and its experience as an art lover. The art form currently produced in the 21st century, and since the second half of the 20th century is termed as ‘Contemporary Art’. Quite self-explanatory, contemporary artists are producing pieces in a culturally diverse and technologically advanced society, and these factors have a significant influence on the creation of art. An iPad has also conveniently become a canvas for the artist, or the NFT for the sale of the same. To dwell into this further, we can peek into the various mediums through which art is created.

The History Of Digital Art And Technology

Mixed media art was an avant-garde movement of the early 20th century, which itself molded the idea of what ‘true art’ is. With the advent of technology, the expression of art has only extended the medium and given us a wider prospectus to blend visual art with other kinds of elements. Digital art can be traced back to the ’60s, when a group of New York artists along with a few scientists and engineers worked collaboratively to create new artistic performances and pieces using the then technological innovations.

In 1980, computer engineers introduced the paint application which was an alternative to the manual paintings that the society was familiar with. This was the time when pixel art or 2D digital art was taking momentum in the art world. Soon after, software art and internet art followed. Digital photography and digital printing enabled a creative collaboration.

When Technology Meets The Art World: The Indian Scene

In India, the trends followed soon, and artists incorporated these innovations in music, films, and paintings. The digitization of art has immersed itself in the diverse and unique art forms of India. Indian folk arts like the Madhubani art is very famous in the west. The authentic aesthetically pleasing designs of the Madhubani art has been an area of deep intrigue for the outside world. To preserve this artform, attempts have been made through computer aided designs (CAD) to speed up the process of creating the art work instead of the conventional manual way which was time consuming. Museums and exhibitions are displaying these indigenous and local art forms of India online through virtual reality. This way the connection between the people and the art is always kept taut.

In a similar scenario, the paintings and the damaged murals of the Ajanta Caves have been restored using art digitization. The AI technology modifies the erased pixels and reinstitutes the lost or faded designs. With Virtual Reality, entire exhibitions are now put up online, with a 360 degree, panoramic view. Art galleries could be experienced through the screens from the comforts of your home. The control of the experience of the space is completely in the hands of the viewer. This was especially significant during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.

In this discussion, it is also worth mentioning the blockchain technology – NFTs (Non-fungible Tokens). While NFTs are not used in any way to create art or aren’t necessarily art pieces all the time, they have had an influence over the art community. NFTs are unique digital assets that can be bought and sold online. They work as proof of ownership, no other person can have a copy of the same. Artists put up their artworks as NFTs, and sell it online.

Contemporary Indian Artists Who Are Mixing Art And Tech

As mentioned above, India has long since been leveraging the benefits of technological art. In India, the first computer art exhibit in India was held in Mumbai in 1991. In August 1997, Vadodara, The first Indian Digital Art Workshop for Young Artists was held. It was a 3-week workshop which introduced children to painting with computers. Multiple events and workshops like these were domineering in the early 2000s to embrace the new medium and technique of art.

Throughout the years, multiple Indian artists have come forth and contributed much to the new art sphere. Some of these names are Anita Dube, Vivan Sundaram, Sheba Chhahhi, Atul Bhaa, Gigi Scaria, Ranbir Kaleka, Tabrez Alam, Pinkoblue, etc. Artists like Ranbir Kaleka experiment and combine film and painting together to create video arts, or like artists such as Tabrez Alam who merge together stills from movies with paintings. The mixed media create another kind of artistic piece which delves deeper into the nuanced quality of how we perceive films and to what element do we associate it with.

While art and technology has widened our scope for not only deeply expressing through the mixed media art but has also increased the possibility of viewing these artforms on an online platform, readily accessible to us. However, one also cannot ignore the negatives of the digital media. It can be agreed that technology has made it easier to reproduce multiple copies of ‘authentic’ paintings which lessens its value. One well-known and experienced example is that of Mona Lisa. You can find her in keychains, t-shirts, posters, etc.

Therefore, one can agree that technology has definitely dug up more pathways to create and experience art, it has also, at the same time, devalued the existence of the same art.