The Namesake and Hindi film music

Was listening to a Susheela Raman CD--yes, I listen to CDs, not the iCraps (ha ha.) Anyway, this CD is from a long time ago (2001) and her voice reminded me of her rendition of a classic Hindi film song that was used in The Namesake.

It was from a review of her CD in 2001 that I came to know about Raman's music.  The name itself made me wonder if she was from the same part of India as I am and, indeed, that was the case.  Well, her parents are from Tamil Nadu, as I am.  Like Jhumpa Lahiri, who wrote The Namesake, Raman too is the child of immigrants--in the UK and Australia.

It is neat, therefore, that Mira Nair used Raman's music in the movie based on Lahiri's novel.

Hmmm .... as I think more about all these, I am reminded of a fellow-student from my graduate school days, Sushma Raman.  I wonder if the two Ramans are related ....

Thanks to YouTube, here is Susheela Raman interpreting that awesome Hindi film song:



And that original Hindi film song? Again, thanks to YouTube:



PS: A google search of Sushma pulls up this one :)

Indian music,and Scottish as well?

Well, I might as well go for a hat-trick, with a third consecutive post related to India :)
So, Sara's comment in response to the post on Susheela Raman reminded me of another Indian/British female singer, Sheila Chandra.
First, here is Chandra's wonderfully Indianized version of a Scottish tune:

And then, Loreena McKennit's "Mummers' Dance"