All posts in the ‘ Music ’ Category

I mentioned some of my favorite Indian film songs in Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes, and lately a couple of people have asked me where they can find Mera Joota Hai Japani (“My Shoes are Japanese.”) Youtube has the original song, plus any number of amateur versions rendered on harmonium, guitar, and for karaoke. Examples include Russian paratroopers belting it out at a slowed-down pace, school kids in California and Winnipeg bouncing around on stage, a woman solemnly singing …Read More

My mother, Ruth Woodman, had studied ballet in New York City before marrying my dad, Everett Woodman. By the time they reached Madras (now Chennai), India, she had two little girls and was about to give birth to a third, and the dance career had been put aside. But, as luck would have it, our family happened to move in next door to a family of dancers. The three daughters—Padmini, Lalitha, and Ragini—were known as the Travancore Sisters …Read More