Sachal Studios takes on their Desi Version of Dave Brubeck's "TAKE FIVE"

Occasionally one gets to hear something that is amazing. A track that originated on one side of the globe and was rendered in another but similar form on the other side of the globe.

For those that don't know the famous "Jazz" track by Dave Brubeck, "Take Five" here you go for comparison. 

We share Sachal Studios' (based is Pakistan) version. Pretty awesome! I will stop my critique and let your ears do the critique.

Happy Diwali 2020!

Happy Diwali from Chor Bazaar to You and Yours. 

It looks like it is going to be a tough year ahead. Yes, we wish you prosperity and success but it looks like 2021 is going to continue to be about staying healthy. Stay safe and wear a mask.

Happy Dussehra!

 Happy Dussehra!

"Dussehra is an important Hindu festival signifying the victory of good over evil. On Dussehra, effigies of Ravana are burnt with fireworks marking the evil's destruction."

#vote #dussehra #dussehra2020 #trump #cheeto #covid19 #equality #blm

Saree Mural - Jersey City

As part of Jersey City, New Jersey's "Mural Program" which instills adornment of less sightly urban walls, I stumbled on "Jaan Pechechaan Ho". This colorful, obviously "saree" inspired mural call itself "inspired by Indian blockprints and textiles" via Hellbent's (artist) website. I pleasantly surprised by the "saree mural" as it reminded me of long sarees drying on the sides of buildings in a quintessential Indian city. 

Conceptually the title, "Jaan Pechachaan Ho" makes sense as this translates to, "May there be familiarity". The mural's home is in the Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City, home to "India Square", which according the Wikipedia, is home to the highest concentration of Asian Indians in the Western Hemisphere. It just so happens to be the title track of of the 1965 Bollywood movie Gumnaam (video below). 

The song recently regained popularity, thanks to the work of Wieden + Kennedy (advertising firm) when they utilized the track for a surreal Heineken commercial.



This upbeat song could be the sound track of "India Square". The crowds, organized chaos and bustle are akin to this upbeat song.

It doesn't appear that Hellbent is Desi by origin but I do appreciate the adornment and overall concept. When it comes to familiarity, "India Square" will not allow you to be mistaken that you are in an Indian neighborhood. However, amongst the chaotic commerce and sprinkle of Hindu temples there is a clear lack of art. Let's hope that the mural inspires additional projects like this. There must be some Desi artists with a penchant for urban art that wants to further this effort. 

As of recent, Jersey City has been experiencing aggressive gentrification. The "Jersey City Economic Development Corporation" had launched a $1.2 million dollar, "Make it Yours" campaign to attract millennials from NYC in 2014. 

The issue that I found with this campaign was the lack of "Desi" origin presence. Could it be that the "Jersey City Economic Development Corporation" wanted to hide the fact that Desi presence is all over Jersey City? Demographically it is difficult to walk the streets of Jersey City and not find a Desi. Perhaps Desi folks are not generally hipster-millennial enough to adorn one of their posters? Or dare I say it, cool enough? Sure most of the Desis work in the technology industries and tend to shy away from smoking their own meats and brewing their own artisan craft beers but WTF? Jersey City cannot hide the fact that "India Square" exists in the center of the city itself. 

All the more reason for Desi artists to step up against this shallow minded campaign and it's backers like Mayor Fulop and show that we exist. Go out and create.

HAPPY DIWALI + SAAL MUBARAK

Happy Diwali and New Year to everyone! 

Even if you don't buy a t-shirt, we still hope that you have a great Diwali and a fantastic New Year.

Thank you,

Chor Bazaar Team.

"5 Métres 80" Diving Giraffes

Well this video has nothing to do with all things "Desi" but we needed to post Nicolas Deveaux's video, "5 Métres 80" which was produced at Cube Creative Productions. The lifelike animation of approximately one dozen Giraffes taking over an empty diving facility and displaying Olympic caliber diving, will keep you glued to your screen. Enjoy!

A Catholic Guide to Ashes - Ash Wednesday

As a "brown" person walking down a busy city street it can be startling to witness white folks with a mark on their forehead. I use the term "white" folks in lieu of Caucasians because technically, some "brown" folks are Caucasian (look it up). Let me digress...Brown folks are the bearer of marks on their forehead, not white people!

I stumbled upon the image above, "A Catholic Guide to Ashes" which is credited to @BillDonaghy via Twitter. Take a look at the bottom row, second from the right. Yup, "The Hindu"! Wait a second, you can't steal the Bindi and make it Catholic, that's just not copacetic. I want Ash Wednesday to be completely Catholic, with no relation to being a Hindu. I need Ash Wednesday's as an example for every time some ignorant person inquires about the "Dot" (aka Bindi) and it's significance.

We'll let our audience be the judge on this subject.