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Sawhney, born in 1964 in south London, grew up in Kent and began learning piano, guitar, sitar, and tabla at a young age. He attended Hertfordshire University, studying law and later accountancy, where he met Sanjeev Bhaskar. Together, they formed the comedy duo the Secret Asians and later created Goodness Gracious Me. Sawhney left comedy to pursue music and has since released 13 studio albums, including Beyond Skin, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. He also composes music for films, TV shows, and stage productions. His latest album, Identity, is currently available.
1. Theatre
The Apollo theatre in London is hosting a production of The Time Traveller’s Wife.
This play, featuring music by Joss Stone and Dave Stewart, was highly entertaining. As someone who loves science fiction, I was curious to see how the time travel aspect would be portrayed, but ultimately the focus of the story was on the love between the two main characters, Clare and Henry. Henry has the ability to disappear and reappear at various points in Clare’s life, adding a dramatic element to the plot. The staging was impressive, particularly when a character would vanish on stage. The talented cast brought a lot of enjoyment to the performance, and Joanna Woodward, who portrays Clare, has a voice reminiscent of Joss Stone’s.
2. TV
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
This television series, starring Jennifer Aniston as a prominent American news anchor, has been highly captivating. The previous two seasons focused on the #MeToo movement and other current events. In this current season, which is now on its final episode and ends with a cliffhanger, the show delves into the topic of media corruption and how influential corporations and oligarchs can be in shaping news content. Actor Jon Hamm portrays a character named Paul Marks, who is clearly inspired by Elon Musk. The show raises important questions about integrity and highlights power struggles within top news stations. While it may not be perfect, it is definitely worth watching.
3. Restaurant
Jikoni, London
Jikoni, located in Marylebone, is a cozy restaurant that serves some of the best food in London. The owner, Ravinder Bhogal, has a Kenyan-Indian background and incorporates Arabian, Indian, and African flavors into her cooking, creating a harmonious fusion. The dishes are made with fresh, thoughtfully-sourced ingredients. It’s difficult to choose a favorite, but the mango and golden coin curry is particularly delicious. Even those who typically don’t enjoy aubergines will be impressed by Ravinder’s skillful preparation. Her flavor combinations are truly exceptional.
4. Dance
Sadler’s Wells will be hosting Our Voices, a showcase by the English National Ballet.
My mother was skilled in Bharatanatyam, a traditional Indian dance form, which sparked my own passion for it. I frequently attend performances, most recently a three-part program at Sadler’s Wells. The first piece, Theme and Variations, was created by George Balanchine, but I was particularly intrigued by Andrea Miller’s take on Stravinsky’s Les Noces. It was exceptional and left me feeling like I had been transported to a dreamlike realm.
5. Film
Maestro (dir Bradley Cooper)
I recently attended a showing of the new biographical film about Leonard Bernstein at Tate Modern. Portrayals of conductors’ lives often exaggerate, and there are some exaggerated scenes in this film, but it is true that Bernstein had a tendency to be dramatic at times. The story is quite tragic. Bernstein was homosexual and the movie depicts him frequently engaging in indiscretions in front of his wife, played by Carey Mulligan. Despite this, they seemed to have a strong bond. Bradley Cooper does an excellent job portraying Bernstein and Mulligan’s performance is exceptional. The aging effects are also incredibly realistic; the makeup artist deserves an Oscar.
6. Music
Jason Singh performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Journeys festival.
Jason Singh is a talented beatboxer and sound specialist. I hired him for the recent Journeys festival and he collaborated with three other musicians: Aref Durvesh on tabla, Giuliano Modarelli on guitar, and Danny Keane on cello and jazz piano. They worked seamlessly together as a group. At one point, Jason delivered an impressive beatbox solo that was not your typical style. Instead, it incorporated various sounds, textures, and cinematic elements. The audience was unsure of what to anticipate, but they were captivated by the performance.
Source: theguardian.com
