SAJA hosts discussion on contemporary South Asian poetry
SAJA will be hosting a webcast on Wednesday about contemporary South Asian poetry, from the Diaspora and around the world. Join acclaimed poets and editors, Ravi Shankar, Nathalie Handal, Pireeni Sundaralingam and literary agent Sarah Jane Freymann to discuss the conception and shaping of the extraordinary anthology, “Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from Asia, the Middle East and Beyond.” Hailed by Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer as “a beautiful achievement for world literature,” two of the co-editors will discuss the project with their agent and a contributor. The collection includes poets from 61 different countries writing in over 40 different languages and include poets such as Vikram Seth, Taslima Nasrin, Michael Ondaatje, Meena Alexander, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Jeet Thayil.
Wed, March 11, 1-2 pm New York time (see local time around the world: http://snurl.com/djgvw )
Listen live, or later to a recording: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/saja/2009/03/11/Poets-editors-and-scholars-discuss-South-Asian-poetry
Or call-in and talk to him at +1-347-324-5991.
Send your questions/comments via e-mail to saja[at]columbia.edu (subject = webcast) You can also use the chatroom that will be open at the link above to ask questions. Or post your comments at http://www.sajaforum.org/2009/03/webcast-discussion-about-south-asian-poetry.html
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK ON AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0393332381
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK: “A landmark anthology, providing the most ambitious, far-reaching collection of contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern poetry available. Language for a New Century celebrates the artistic and cultural forces flourishing today in the East, bringing together an unprecedented selection of works by South Asian, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian poets as well as poets living in the Diaspora. Some poets, such as Bei Dao and Mahmoud Darwish, are acclaimed worldwide, but many more will be new to the reader. The collection includes 400 unique voices political and apolitical, monastic and erotic?that represent a wider artistic movement that challenges thousand-year-old traditions, broadening our notion of contemporary literature. Each section of the anthology?organized by theme rather than by national affiliation?is preceded by a personal essay from the editors that introduces the poetry and exhorts readers to examine their own identities in light of these powerful poems. In an age of violence and terrorism, often predicated by cultural ignorance, this anthology is a bold declaration of shared humanity and devotion to the transformative power of art.”
“This extraordinary, library-in-one volume: what a resource! . . . A beautiful achievement for world literature.” – Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Laureate
“A symphonic sweep of beckoning cries, praises, prayers, curses, ruminations and revelations. An ensemble rich with diverse voices, here the old and the new converge, and something wholly human and futuristic emerges. . . . Marvelous.” – Yusef Komunyakaa, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
“This rich collection of poetry from Asia, the Middle East, and other parts
of the world, fills a huge gap in our cultural heritage. It is a formidable
achievement, and an important contribution to our education. – Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States
SPEAKER BIOS:
MODERATOR: Ravi Shankar is Associate Professor and Poet-in-Residence at Central Connecticut State University and the founding editor of the international online journal of the arts, Drunken Boat . He has published a book of poems, Instrumentality (Cherry Grove, 2004), named a finalist for the 2005 Connecticut Book Awards, and with Reb Livingston, a collaborative chapbook, Wanton Textiles (No Tell Books, 2006). He has taught at Queens College, University of New Haven, and Columbia University, where he received his MFA in Poetry. He currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Connecticut Center for the Book, has been a commentator on NPR and BBC, reviews poetry for the Contemporary Poetry Review and along with Tina Chang and Nathalie Handal, edited Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from Asia, the Middle East & Beyond (W.W Norton & Co., 2008)
Nathalie Handal is an award-winning poet, playwright, and writer. Her most recent books include, The Lives of Rain (short-listed for The Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize/The Pitt Poetry Series and recipient of the Menada Award), and she is the co-editor along with Tina Chang and Ravi Shankar of Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia & Beyond (W.W. Norton, 2008).
Born in Sri Lanka, and educated at Oxford University, Pireeni Sundaralingam currently lives in San Francisco. A former PEN USA Rosenthal Fellow, her poetry has appeared in literary and political journals such as Ploughshares, World Literature Today, The Progressive, and The Guardian newspaper (UK), university texts such as Three Genres (Prentice-Hall, 8th Edition, 2006; 9th edition, 2009), and anthologies such as Masala (Macmillan, 2005). Her poetry has featured at the United Nations headquarters, and the International Museum of Women, as well as airing on national radio in Ireland, Sweden, and the US. A former professor of Cognitive Development, Pireeni has held research posts at UCLA and MIT. Website: http://www.wordandviolin.com
Sarah Jane Freymann has been a literary agent since the 1970’s and is the founder and president of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. The agency has placed its authors with such publishers such as Random House, Ballantine, Bantam, Norton, Chronicle, Clarkson Potter, Dutton, HarperCollins, Morrow, Penguin USA, Riverhead, Rizzoli, Simon & Schuster, and Viking — and the list is eclectic; reflecting Sarah Jane’s diverse interests.
As always, you are welcome to quote from anything said during the
FREE, WORLDWIDE webcasts (50+) at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/saja
Abhay Deol, a leading man in Bollywood’s indie film movement
With his last two films “Dev D” and “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!” Abhay Deol has become a leading art-house actor in Bollywood.
Unlike his cousins — Bollywood stars Bobby and Sunny Doel, Abhay has charted a completely different path for himself.
He is in hot demand with young filmamkers, who work within the framework of Bollywood and yet are following the lessons of the American indie film movement of the ’80s and the ’90s.
We interview him here about his latest works, and how he assumes the characters he plays.
Part I: Giving a contemporary twist to Devdas:
Part II: The Indie film scene in Bollywood:
Part III: Drugs, alcohol, sex and a preview of Dev D:
Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol on inspiration behind film “My Name is Khan”
By all accounts Shah Rukh Khan is the biggest movie star of Bollywood. In addition he has a huge following among South Asians in the Diaspora as well as people from all over the world. His films including Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Devdas and Om Shanti Om have been hits in India and abroad.
This week Khan was in New York City to promote his latest film, My Name is Khan, along with his co-star, Kajol. The film is directed by Karan Johar, whose previous works have included Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.
The new film opens in U.S. theaters Friday, Feb. 12, 2010.
The event was co-hosted by SAMMA, South Asians in Media, Marketing and Entertainment and SAJA, South Asian Journalists Association.
Aseem Chhabra and his SAJA colleague Sree Sreenivasan sat down with Khan and Kajol to talk about their collaboration with their friend, director Karan Johar, and why the three feel inspired when they work together.
Video: Part One
Video: Part Two
Bollywood star goes Indie for new film ‘Peepli Live’
Aamir Khan visits the set of Peepli Live
Aamir Khan is perhaps the most astute filmmaker in Bollywood – carefully choosing acting projects and now backing films with very unique subjects.
His latest – Peepli Live is written and directed by Anusha Rizvi, a former NDTV producer. The film – a hilarious satire on the serious issue of farmers’ suicide also exposes Indian politics and the media’s desperation for breaking news items. Khan does not act in the film.
Peepli Live has played at the Sundance and Berlin films Festivals. Recently it won the first feature film award at the Durban Film Festival.
As a producer Khan strongly believes in using his star power to promote his home productions. He did that with Lagaan – before, during and after the 2002 Oscar race, Taare Zameen Par and Jaane Tu…Yah Jaane Na.
Last week he was in New York where he talked to Aseem Chhabra about Peepli Live, working with a first time director and also how his career and tastes in cinema have evolved.
Aamir Khan: Working with unknown actors and filmmakers