Author: Ista

These Talented Teens Perform Bharatanatyam With Buckets As Drums

These Talented Teens Perform Bharatanatyam With Buckets As Drums

Posted by | Dec 5, 2019 | |

Does an underprivileged child have a choice to become a dancer or musician? For Lavanya Selvaratnam, the answer is a resounding yes. As a firm believer in the enhancing powers of the arts, the Bharatanatyam teacher says more people need to realise the important role that artistic influence can have in the lives of youth, especially those from troubled backgrounds. “I myself come from humble beginnings and dance played a significant role to help me overcome many challenges. “Lady luck was not especially on my side but I gained resilience and a fighting spirit through my involvement in dance...

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She Was Disfigured, Divorced And Depressed. Art Became Her Balm.

She Was Disfigured, Divorced And Depressed. Art Became Her Balm.

Posted by | Sep 26, 2019 | , |

We recently spent an entire day – a trip from Taiping to Kuala Lumpur, in fact – with artist Tya who shared with us her personal story. It was such a powerful story that we were blown away by her tenacity and spirit. Realising that her story can possibly empower others like her, we obtained her permission to share it with you. In this story, you’ll also come across some methods which Tya utilizes to manage her mental and emotional well-being. Her methods, however, would only work for some of you. More than anything, we encourage seeking support from...

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Who Is Yasmin Ahmad? Personal Stories By Malaysians Who Knew Her.

Who Is Yasmin Ahmad? Personal Stories By Malaysians Who Knew Her.

Posted by | Jul 25, 2019 | , , |

Image credit Yasmin at Kong Heng. In 2009, Malaysia lost a precious soul. Yasmin Ahmad was only 51 when she returned to the Maker. The filmmaker collapsed, unexpectedly, at a work meeting. She had been suffering from a brain hemorrhage. The news shocked a nation, who had felt her love through her work in television ads. Until today, her name is synonymous with that special way of storytelling, a mix of humour, love and unspoken realities that most Malaysians will easily relate with. She boldly treaded where others feared to go, touching on taboo themes such as interracial love and...

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REVIEW | Malaya Relived: The Penang Riots

REVIEW | Malaya Relived: The Penang Riots

Posted by | Jul 10, 2019 | , , , |

All images credit Liver and Lung Productions. In a secluded alley of GMBB mall, just as the evening started, I found myself entering into a portal of another world. It was of another time and another place, at least, it felt like that despite small bits of cellophane tape glittering at me from the edges of traditional Chinese stickers and streamers on the wall. But it wasn’t the Chinese lanterns that evoked the old world charm, nor the beaded curtains or antique looking dresser and chair inside the small shop lot, with shutter doors drawn down. If anything, the...

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10 Amazing Ways To Support The Malaysian Music Industry

10 Amazing Ways To Support The Malaysian Music Industry

Posted by | May 24, 2019 | , , , |

Image credit: All Is Amazing This is Part 3 and the final article in a series that looked into the factors influencing how Malaysian music gets selected for radio and the challenges musicians face in the process. You can read  more on that in Part 1 and Part 2 for further context. Getting more Malaysian music on radio, specifically English songs, is a feat that requires collaboration between multiple stakeholders. Some of the key people involved are local musicians, radio executives, the communications and multimedia ministry and local music fans; that’s you and me! How can we make this...

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