Twenty four-year-old Sandeep Menon has met with two serious auto accidents in his young life.

One English summer, a 13-year-old Shashi Tharoor decided he was going to read a book a day for a year. He did.

Popular Romanian band Deepcentral were one among the many foreign artistes who rocked Indian shores late last year.

Nearly 10 years in the reckoning, the Shillong Chamber Choir has come a long way since its inception in 2001. Formed by pianist Neil Nongkynrih to hone talent from the Northeast, the choir has expanded its horizons to include an eclectic repertoire, apart from winning the top prize at India’s Got Talent 2. A group of 16 members, the choir recently enthralled the Obamas at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan and made the country proud by bagging the gold at the World Choir Olympics.

There is no plausible estimate on his brand value and his legions of fans aren’t confined by geography or numeric. Rajinikanth has earned himself a demigod status even in countries like Japan.

Mention Saarang, Strawberry Fields, Rocktaves or Manfest to any guitar-trotting youngster and one you’re bound to be met by reactions of ‘awesome’ and ‘amazing.’ Often regarded as the Mecca of Indian rock, these college rock festivals have been instrumental in shaping independent music in the country. Indus Creed, Parikrama and Pentagram have all been a part of this circuit, before making it big on TV channels like MTV. Providing not just the perfect platform for young talent to battle it out, the festivals are synonymous with great music and spectacular headlining acts.

He conquered hearts when he sang Khwaja Mere Khwaja on Indian Idol.
John Abraham called him his favourite. And, when he sang Aage Seedhi Lagi Dil Pe, he received a standing ovation. Indian Idol winner Sreeram Chandra Mynampati has now added another feather in his cap by wielding the microphone for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and for a Yash Raj project.

Can you imagine Michael Jackson’s Thriller, without the bloodthirsty zombies in the video? Or can you recall Coldplay’s Scientist without thinking about Chris Martin driving his car in reverse? It seems impossible, right? Since the 1980s, our association with pop and rock music has been all about the music video. However, while the international music community supports and encourages music videography — with awards and airtime, in India non-Bollywood music videos are yet to find steady

With unconventional music arrangements and music projects that seem more like a work of art, a new wave of music is slowly emerging in the country. Stars like Bob Dylan and Mark Kozelek serve as inspiration for these bands whose music resonates with a lyrical and poetic quality. Bands like Slow Down Clown, Dischordian, Medusa, Sridhar/Thayil, Khiladi, Sajid and The Lost Boys are definitely redefining the ‘musicscape’ of the country.

In the truest sense, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an auteur. Few in the movie industry can boast of his vision. It’s no wonder then that he makes his debut as music director. Guzaarish is truly an experimental film and its music is no different. Mostly conversational and with minimal music, the soundtrack captures the essence of the film.