Tempted to read hindi translation of Turgenev's Fathers and sons- translated from original russian- rare for a hindi transl. Also, indian lang translations refer to the title in singular- father and son- probably because father has no plural form in most ind langs?

Personally I've been enamored with this kannada song sung by him. Listening on loop since yesterday.
youtu.be/Gq0S2DRnfz4?...

I hadn't heard many of his songs but he was a big deal in South Indian playback singing, particularly in Malayalam. Saregama released a nice tribute compilation of his hit malayalam songs.
youtu.be/3FXbAtFpVsY?...

Fine tribute to P. Jayachandran, replete with mentions of many of his songs- a sort of primer for anyone not much familiar with his singing.
indianexpress.com/article/ente...

Good bit of 'In our day'(हमारे जमाने में) from Tolstoy's After the Ball.

Continuing the new year's day tradition to watch a classic film- Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop around the corner(1940)- a film where a carnation as a bookmark in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is used as an identifier, dialogues so crisp that would make Sorkin blush and my fav Stewart- what's not to love!

Trees, birds and Tolstoy- celebrating the new year in august company, away from the usual din.
Happy New year to one and all, hope this year is one of more reading and less posting!

The NYRB cover for Italo Svevo's stories has been labelled 'adult content' by Bluesky moderation service🤣

A peculiar passage from Italo Svevo's Generous Wine. Svevo was a socialist so his opposition to private ownership is understandable but what are the 'scientific conclusions' he's talking about?

A word, one of whose meanings has become obsolete- confinement- used multiple times for 'being in childbirth' in Heinrich Von Kleist's Marquise of O(transl. David Luke & Nigel Reeves).
A very engaging story btw, >200yr old, edge-of-the-seat thriller!

Read two translations of Chekhov's In Exile- 1. Ann Dunnigan, 2. P&V
Which one do you like better? Dunnigan uses preacher, P&V explainer for old semyon. P&V translations seem more exact to me but less flowing.

Ustad Zakir Hussain playing with Shakti(John McLaughlin on guitar, L Shankar on violin, and Vikku Vinayakram on Ghatam) at Montreux Jazz Festival 1976.
RIP Ustad💐
youtu.be/VnW2g6qbbrA?...

Learned a phrase I was completely unaware of, while reading Winesburg, Ohio- 'in the family way'- meaning to become pregnant. One of those phrases which have become obsolete now.
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/f...

Got The complete Pelican Shakespeare. It's a steal right now on Amazon, don't miss it: amzn.in/d/0t23Ofi

Taking a break from SM, will try to read as many unread stories from these collections as I can in the meantime.

Krishna Baldeva Vaid describing my life!

You discover stuff from the unlikeliest of the sources: Had no idea about Anthony Powell's 12 volume A Dance to the Music of Time until I read a comment on Aravind Panagarhiya's Lallantop interview😄
www.newyorker.com/magazine/201...

NYRB has recently published a new translation of Vikram-Vetala stories(Vetāla-pañcaviṃśati). Hopefully the wonderful tales will reach new audiences but they already have had a great influence on the world lit(incl. Dracula). A brief🧵on their origins, transmission and influence: