WASHINGTON : Five suspects have been charged with attempted murder and robbery case for their alleged involvement in the shooting of Lady Gaga’s dog walker. According to TMZ, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon has released the names of the 5 suspects- James Howard Jackson, Jaylin Keyshawn White and Lafayette Shon Whaley and told that they were charged with one count each of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery. Jackson also faces 2 additional firearm charges – “one count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and a felon carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. White faces one count of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.” “Harold White and Jennifer McBride were charged with one count each of accessory after the fact. Harold was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm and McBride faces one count of receiving stolen property,” as per legal reports obtained by TMZ. At 1:55 PM, on Thursday (local time) Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said a total of 5 people were arrested — 3 of whom allegedly pulled off the actual dognapping and shooting of the dog walker.

The three have been booked for attempted murder. The other 2 suspects were arrested for “accessory to murder”. TMZ reported that the cops told one of them is the father of one of the alleged dognappers. LAPD also affirmed that the man “contacted a female friend and recruited her to drop off the dogs, and claim the reward money.”According to reports, the father and the 3 people who have been booked for “attempted murder” are all known gang members. Multiple people who allegedly dognapped Lady Gaga’s two French Bulldogs and shot her dog walker have also been arrested on a variety of charges, including attempted murder and robbery, law enforcement sources told TMZ. The woman who claimed to have found the dogs was also arrested, according to law enforcement sources. TMZ reported that the cops were suspicious of her from the very start following which they advised Gaga not to pay the USD 500,000 reward. On a related note, the Grammy-winning singer got her dogs back unharmed. “They were tied up in an alley when the woman called the number Gaga had posted,” as per reports fr TMZ. On the other hand Gaga’s dogwalker, Ryan Fischer, was in the hospital for several weeks and his condition is stable at the moment. 

In these morbid times, any beacon of light is appreciated. The sweet and simple story of two sweepers in Delhi – brothers Mohammad Hafiz Ul-Islam and Mohammad Habibur Islam – who seem blessed with both talent and luck, will certainly help lift some spirits.

One afternoon in late February 2021, Hafiz was ambling along the tree-lined streets of Delhi’s posh New Friends Colony, on his daily route to collect garbage, singing Mohammad Rafi’s popular ditty ‘Bahaaron Phool Barsao, Mera Mehboob Aaya Hai’ to pass the time. Anjali Bhargava from Dubai, on a visit to her parents’ home, happened to lean out of her balcony at that very moment and was immediately struck by the beauty of the voice she heard.

Where most others would have moved on with their day, Bhargava implored the singer to stop and allow her to film him. At first shy and unwilling to take her seriously, Hafiz made excuses, but she would not take no for an answer. Quite gallantly, Hafiz pushed his brother Habib forward, claiming him to be the better singer. And that is how Bhargava essayed the role of lady luck by capturing these two singing sweepers on video. She gathered their details from her neighbour Rohit Khanna and began circulating the video on her WhatsApp groups. It reached the hands of film producer Rohit Khattar and from there to businessman Anand Mahindra, whose retweet made it viral, and secured them an invite as honoured guests on India’s favourite singing contest – Indian Idol.

“Clearly there are no limits to where talent can spring from,” stated Mahindra’s tweet, as he asked netizens to suggest a music teacher in Delhi to train them under his and Khattar’s sponsorship. Despite Mahindra’s belief, a conversation with the brothers and their family reveals that their talent is not unfounded. The boys’ father, Mohammad Shah Jalal Qadri, belongs to a long line of Sufi qawwals from Assam. He moved to Delhi 32 years ago in pursuit of better economic opportunities, working as a sweeper by day and performing Bengali songs at religious gatherings or Sufi mehfils whenever invited to do so, with no expectation of payment. When his brood grew to include nine children, the older boys, even though barely in their teens, readily took the mantle from their father – both as sweepers and singers – albeit without gratification.

Fortunately, the tide seems to have turned, as they are now receiving regular tutelage under Nizamuddin Saab of the Dilli Gharana, who runs the popular Sangeet Gurukul based in Daryaganj in Delhi. The most famous student of this music school is Fareed Hasan Khan – son of Nizamuddin Saab – who sang for the popular Amazon Prime series Bandish Bandits, and now teaches there along with his guru and father.

Hafiz and Habib visit the Gurukul three times a week in the evenings, while continuing with manual labour in the day time. According to their guru, they have beautiful voices and depth but need ample practice to become professionals. They face many hurdles on a daily basis, the most important of which is a severe lack of finances. Though the team behind Indian Idol paid for the brothers’ airfare and accommodation from Delhi to Mumbai, the boys could not afford to buy new clothes to appear on the show. Anjali Bhargava and her friends pooled in money to ensure the boys would look presentable while making their stage debut.

When asked about their journey to Mumbai and the sets of Indian Idol, both boys ecstatically describe it as a chamatkar – a miracle they would never have believed possible. Their older brother states his pride with utmost frankness and expresses hope that they may succeed in their endeavours, in turn pulling their family up from its lowly straits.

Khattar sums it best when he says, “Their talent is raw but obvious and we hope to provide them the environment to hone their skills. Setting a target to participate in the next season of Indian Idol has given them a purpose in life.” If lady luck stays firmly by their side, this purpose may be fulfilled too.

I woke up today to a forwarded video on WhatsApp featuring some doctors at a hospital in Andhra Pradesh cheering up their terminally ill Covid patients in intensive care with song and dance. It was a confusing sight. There are some pains, I thought, that even music cannot alleviate. The hopelessness of the inevitability of fate that these patients might feel cannot be mitigated by any force. Or so I thought.

As I watched the video of the PPE suit-clad doctors breaking into a robot dance with upbeat music, an eerie contrast to the grimness of the backdrop, I wondered whether it was in fact impertinent to not resonate with the sombre mood. But as the patients started swaying and dancing in sync with the doctors, I started to feel surprised and then heartened at the sight.

The patients, for those few minutes, had forgotten their pain. The doctors had forgotten their helplessness. For those few minutes, it was just pure joy with gay abandon.

As I look back at all those times music has had a powerful impact on people, I find instances that were so potently joyful that they etched into minds memories so impactful and immortal that the light of that happiness obliterated any sad memories from around that time.

An anecdote comes to mind of a lady at a music concert. She was clearly very sad, as evident from the forlorn expression on her face. It was a face that showed years of toil, turmoil and grief. It didn’t matter what her life story was, the lines etched in her weary face told it all. As the concert progressed and the singer commenced a particular piece, the lady broke down inconsolably. As if for the first time in her life someone had understood her life, her pain and her travails. They were cathartic tears filled with ‘happy sadness’, the kind of sadness that can flow out and be embraced by the music that understands the emotion so well. After she cried, her face wore a distinctly different expression, an expression of relief. It bore the look of someone who had, even if for a brief instant, let go of her heavy burden and was feeling light.  These kinds of moments are powerful and potent, like the satisfaction of the first drop of water after a long walk through the desert.

One can argue, how can small moments of happiness, however potent, replace years and years of pain? How can they replace the powerfully cutting and ruthless carnage of emotions that trauma causes, the sort that India is facing now due to the Covid siege? But then, aren’t years made up of months, months in turn made of weeks and days and moments? So, if each moment is treated with reverence and gratitude, if each moment is lived with full presence, then the value of that moment is no less than a lifetime.

So why not fill each moment with music? Because music can take over your being, transform even severely painful moments into profoundly meaningful ones. Because those few musical moments can ease your pain for hours afterward. Because the happiness of that moment can lighten the burden of a lifetime.

The fight now is not easy. It is the challenge of a century, one that defies logic and sometimes even faith. Let us sing our prayer in unison. Let music be there through the pain and the hope. Because music is a tiny but real piece of God we have in our hands right now.

Wearing our patriotic pride on our sleeves is not a new concept, but the social media generation of today prefers taking it to another level. Nothing defines this need for avid self-expression than indie casual wear brand Motherland. V Sunil, co-founder of the fashion label, spoke exclusively to The Sunday Guardian about the phenomenal rise of Motherland, in a short span of time. Excerpts:

Co-founder V Sunil

Q: What is the story of Motherland? How did it come about? When did it begin?

A: Back in 2011, we launched the Motherland magazine that offered a fresh perspective on Indian subculture, counter culture and pop culture. In 2019, its phenomenal success made it evolve into a pop culture platform for urban necessities and lifestyle accessories and to showcase the work of emerging artists.

Q: Why did you choose the medium of casual clothing to spread your message?    

A: We have always believed in the power of the T-shirt. Any good idea should be simple enough to put on a tee. If the idea resonates with people and is delivered with a sense of depth and style, it should always work. There are so many examples around the world, whether it is sports, military or city branding, T-shirts have always played a big role and continue to do so. Can a tee save the world? Probably not. But, it can surely spread a message. 

Q: What is the USP of Motherland?    

A: Motherland is not just a brand, but also an ecosystem of content, merchandise, projects, and even snacks! It is about building a community of like-minded thinkers. In that sense, our USP is our spirit of collaboration.

Q: Who is the Motherland muse? Your ideal customer?

A: Our ideal customers are young kids in small towns with big dreams, who want to look stylish while proudly claiming their Indian identity on their chests.

Q: Please share a few memories or rewarding moments from your entrepreneurial journey so far?   

A: Our JDH project was extremely special to us. Co-founded by Motherland, the Jodhpur (JDH) Urban Regeneration Project is an ongoing effort to restore the historic Blue City to its former glory. Built on strong partnerships, the project lies at the intersection between new ideas, local community, technology and sustainability. Since its launch in January 2015, JDH has seen through the restoration of an ancient stepwell, Toorji ka Jhalra, a communal clean-up effort to eradicate litter, and the addition of hip eateries and a luxury shopping hub featuring India’s finest lifestyle labels. Now a melting pot of culture for tourists and locals alike, the restoration is a shining example of how social infrastructure and cultural capital can build commerce and community, which are the guiding forces behind all Motherland ventures.

Q: How do you use social media to drive your business?

A: I feel our ideas flow seamlessly from T-shirts to caps to magazines to music videos and now through social media. The latter allows us to build a specific sensibility and vibe for the brand. Often brands struggle to maintain a meaningful message while executing their vision in a strong and stylish manner.

Q: How do you choose the causes you support through your designs?    

A: Motherland is a lifestyle brand that is rooted in the Indian DNA. Our mission is to create products that have a strong yet inclusive Indian identity. For example, our ‘White Tiger’ shirt was inspired by the Indian military and one of its most celebrated fighting units, INAS 300. The specially designed graphic elements and iconography commemorate the squadron’s first deck landing, an event that still holds significance 60 years on. In 2019, we designed the ‘Voter’ to urge people to do their duty, and the ‘Dark & Lovely’ T-shirt to signify our protest against colourism. These go beyond being simple slogan tees. For a long time, Indian brands have fed consumers tactless and cliched messaging on clothing. Now, more than ever, there is room for a more meaningful conversation.

At the same time, while some ideas fit well on a T-shirt, others like ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ spread across every medium, including a song and a music video, for which we collaborated with Delhi-based hip-hop duo, Khirkee 17. 

Q: Please tell us about your new collection and the cause it supports.    

A: We recently launched our ‘RIP Patriarchy’ and ‘Goa’ collections. Our ‘RIP Patriarchy’ T-shirt has been worn and loved by authors, IAS officers, lawyers, chefs, celebrities and comics alike. Our ‘Forever Goa’ T-shirt, as the name suggests, tries to encapsulate the unmatched vibe of the place. 

Q: What is your next collection going to be about?

A: Our upcoming launch is centred around the Yamuna river. For this project, we have collaborated with the University of Virginia and Tulane University. Through the partnership, we have explored the vision of transforming the river into an environmental nucleus for citizens and the process of anchoring our cities within their original ecology.

Q: What is the price range of your products and where do you retail them?

A: Our collections feature super-modern, India-inspired gear. They include unisex tees and polo shirts with remixed national and regional motifs, tricoloured totes, caps, super snacks, magazines, and stationery. The prices range from Rs 100 to Rs 1950. We retail through our website https://motherlandsuperstore.com/ and also have stockists across the country.

The writer is a lawyer who pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be contacted on nooranand@gmail.com.

WASHINGTON: Australian actor Isla Fisher and Josh Gad are set to co-star in a ‘genre-bending’ new TV series ‘Wolf Like Me’, Peacock announced on Thursday. According to E!News, the six-episode romantic comedy, titled ‘Wolf Like Me,’ tells the story of Gary, who “is an emotional wreck and struggles to provide for his daughter since the death of his wife,’ and Mary, who “has a secret she can’t bring herself to share with anyone.”

The lovers are brought together for a reason and must follow the signs to work through their baggage. ‘World Like Me’ was written and created by Abe Forsythe. “Wolf Like Me is a very meaningful project for me. The stakes are extremely high but grounded by things we can all relate to. I’m so excited to have Isla and Josh on board, and I know the audience will be surprised seeing them in a different way as these characters,” Forsythe said in a press release on Wednesday. He added, “I was never going to tell this story with anyone other than Made Up Stories, and I feel very fortunate for us all to be teaming up with Endeavor Content and to have found a home with Peacock and Stan.”

Lisa Katz, President of Scripted Content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, shared, “We fell in love with Abe Forsythe’s imaginative storytelling and gift for creating complex and compelling characters. With the incredibly talented Isla Fisher and Josh Gad at the center, Wolf Like Me will be engaging, quirky and wholly original.” 

MUMBAI: Commemorating a year of Irrfan Khan’s unfortunate demise, Bollywood actor Radhika Madan on Thursday fondly remembered her on-screen father with an emotional note, encapsulating the memories the duo made on the sets of his last film ‘Angrezi Medium’. Narrating an incident from the shoot of ‘Angrezi Medium’, Madan gave an insight into the bond she shared with Khan.

Sharing a picture with the deceased actor on Instagram, Madan said, “I remember I was playing with his beard before the shot and he told me you know what maybe this is the reason ‘Champak’ would not have cut his beard…I was like exactly! And we laughed..” “We had created our own pool of memories, our own bubble…where there were no words…silences spoke out loud…where I was trying very hard not to be this ‘I wanna learn everything from you’ fangirl and he was unknowingly teaching me either about life or art every single day. To endless silent teachings and love…To this phenomenon, people call Irrfan.

Celebrating you every single day Legend. Miss you.” Madan has time and again expressed her gratitude to be able to work with the late actor and be able to learn from him.