Music has no boundaries, its language transcends everything: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Special Music has no boundaries, its language transcends everything: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
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The internationally-acclaimed sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performing in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Special Music has no boundaries, its language transcends everything: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
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The internationally-acclaimed sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, right, at the Sarod quintet concert in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Special Music has no boundaries, its language transcends everything: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
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Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, grandchildren, Abir and Zohan, and artists with Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan at the Sarod quintet concert in Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Updated 20 February 2025
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Music has no boundaries, its language transcends everything: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Music has no boundaries, its language transcends everything: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
  • I feel at home when I am in Saudi Arabia, I would like to collaborate with the Saudi Orchestra, says Sarod maestro
  • Khan took his teaching philosophy to Stanford University, Indiana University, Washington University in a residency; keen to do workshops with Saudi musicians

RIYADH: The internationally acclaimed sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who gave a virtuoso performance of the stringed instrument in Riyadh recently, told Arab News: “Music has no boundaries, and does not belong to any religion.

“Its language transcends everything. In every religion, music is the way to reach God.”

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Khan shared the experience of his maiden concert at the Cultural Palace, Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh: “I feel extremely fortunate to be here.

“It’s a great honor to come to Riyadh and I am grateful to the Indian embassy, our ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, and the entire team of people behind this concert.”

The Sarod quintet concert, “Three Generations, One Melody,” was organized by the Embassy of India in collaboration with the Diplomatic Quarter Office at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and featured Khan’s two sons and grandsons who are virtuosos in their own right.

Khan said: “We are invited all over the world. The Western world has given a lot of respect and love to classical music, because music I feel is a precious gift of God, and has connected the world.

“Music does not belong to any religion, like flowers, air, water, fire, fragrance, colors. They are just gifts of God and we have to learn from the role of flowers, and sound.”

Khan was born into a family of musicians, with the lineage reaching back to his great grandfather.

Khan’s father, Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan of Gwalior, was one of the foremost classical instrumentalists of his time.

Born in 1877, he belonged to the fifth generation in the Bangash family that is credited with the sarod’s origin and development.

UNESCO has since declared Gwalior as its creative capital of music.

“This legacy and lineage is a very big blessing of God Almighty,” Khan said. “When God is kind then the legacy continues, otherwise so many legacies discontinue as well.”

Khan was awarded India’s second highest civilian honor Padma Vibhushan in 2001, after being awarded its third highest civilian honor Padma Bhushan in 1991 and Padma Shree in 1975.

Khan cited the melodious voices from the mosque in the form of the call for prayer (Azaan) and the recitation from the Holy Qur’an. “They are really appealing.”

He said that he was happy to visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

“When I hear Azaan in Saudi Arabia or in the Middle East, I am so much reminded what kind of Azaan Hazrat Bilal must have given,” he said, referencing the historical figure of Bilal ibn Rabah who is considered to have given the first ever Azaan.

“So I look forward to hearing beautiful, appealing Azaan, which I experienced in Makkah and Madinah and all over the Middle East.

“But in India, unfortunately, the muezzin, the people who make the call to prayer, I think they need a lot of training.”

Khan told a story of how his father once gave some feedback to the muezzin of a neighboring mosque.

“One day he heard the Azaan from the neighboring mosque that was not very much in tune. So my father, being a musician, got so disturbed and he sent a message to the mosque and the priest that for next Azaan, he will come himself and make the call to prayer.”

“Call to prayer should be appealing,” the sarod player said.

The sarod is a fretless stringed instrument with a teak frame, a goatskin sound table and a metal fingerboard, with six to eight strings as well as additional sympathetic strings. The instrument lends itself to improvisation and graceful expression because of the ability of the musician to slide and glide between notes, much like a human voice.

“It’s very unfortunate that I don’t get a chance to perform and come to Saudi Arabia quite often. I feel at home when I am in Saudi Arabia,” said the Sarod maestro who performed Umrah in 2012.

“I hope and wish, I get more chances to perform in Saudi Arabia. It will be a great honor and pleasure, some day, if all of us could pay our respect through our music to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his family,” the legendary artist added.

“My opening piece at the concert, ‘Three Generations, One Melody,’ was a tribute to Saudi Arabia. I played a Saudi Arabian tune on my sarod. My instrument is like the oud, a very historical ancient instrument of Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East. Oud rabab still exists all over the world, especially Afghanistan and Kashmir. So from rabab, it was modified to sarod. Sarod is a Persian word, which means music, melody,” he explained.

Khan has played with Iraqi oud artist Rahim AlHajj and produced an album, “Ancient Sounds: Music of Iraq and India,” in 2009. It was nominated for a Grammy award.

He said he was interested in collaborating with Saudi Arabia’s national orchestra, speaking about an orchestral composition he penned called “Samagam,” which means “the confluence of many cultures.”

His passion for bringing the sarod to new audiences has seen him being awarded numerous residencies as well as being appointed visiting professor at several universities, including Stanford University, University of New Mexico, York University and Jacob’s School of Music.

Khan expressed hope that people will realize the value of music: “With appealing music, plants grow faster, cattle give more milk, and now the medical world (is) realizing the value of music, they are using it as music therapy.”


REVIEW: ‘Atomfall’ is a quirky apocalypse featuring retro paranoia and tea-fueled resilience

REVIEW: ‘Atomfall’ is a quirky apocalypse featuring retro paranoia and tea-fueled resilience
Updated 16 April 2025
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REVIEW: ‘Atomfall’ is a quirky apocalypse featuring retro paranoia and tea-fueled resilience

REVIEW: ‘Atomfall’ is a quirky apocalypse featuring retro paranoia and tea-fueled resilience

LONDON: “Atomfall” is a game that defies easy categorization. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of the English Lake District, this curious hybrid feels like “Fallout” wandered into a “Stalker” fever dream while binge-watching “The Wicker Man,” with just a touch of Austin Powers’ absurdity thrown in for good measure.

It’s a love letter to Britain’s eerie countryside, retro paranoia and weird tea-fueled resilience — and somehow, it works.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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You start as a nameless survivor with no real background, no memory, and no clear purpose beyond “get out.” A short newsreel hints at some nuclear disaster, but from there, it’s up to you to piece things together through exploration and investigation. There’s no hand-holding here, but there are helpful instructions to get you going. The narrative is loose, but intriguingly so — it’s more about what you discover than what you’re told.

The open world is split into main landscape regions, each with its own aesthetic and mood. The Lake District setting is surprisingly atmospheric, with moody hills, foggy forests, and crumbling 1950s architecture.

Despite its muted palette, Atomfall encourages players to explore every inch — scavenging for materials, unlocking secrets, and finding absurd British cultural relics. Limited ammo and classic crafting mechanics add a layer of survival challenge, making every encounter feel like it matters.

Gameplay offers distinct playstyles — combat, survival, and exploration.

You can go in guns blazing, sneak around enemies, or scrounge for supplies and tea (yes, tea restores health). Combat is functional, though not always tight. Shooting and melee work well enough, but enemy AI is hit-or-miss. Sometimes they’ll charge you recklessly; other times they just stand there wondering what planet they’re on. Melee is especially satisfying, though clunky in tight spaces. Likewise, while outlaws, druids, mutants and soldiers are all nominally different challenges they are much of a muchness in terms of dealing with them.

“Atomfall” doesn’t shy away from the odd. Its dark humor and sheer Britishness give it a special charm, but the heavy use of local slang and regional accents may confuse non-UK players. Picture “Clockwork Orange” meets “Hot Fuzz” and you’re halfway there. Still, it’s part of the game’s identity — this is a very specific apocalypse, where people ask you to fetch delivery parcels and fix a fence while the world burns around them.

There is a basic but useful skill tree that lets you tailor your approach, from combat proficiency to crafting perks. Quests are often simple (“bring X to Y”), but branching conversations and trackable leads give them some depth. Your choices in dialogue can impact outcomes — sometimes subtly, sometimes with unexpected consequences.

Enemy respawns after death are a mixed blessing. On one hand, it keeps the world dangerous. On the other, it can feel like busywork when you’re simply trying to pass through.

“Atomfall” is weird, scrappy, and full of character. It doesn’t have the polish of a AAA giant, but it doesn’t try to. Instead, it offers a delightfully odd, open-ended experience that rewards curiosity and embraces chaos. For those willing to roll with its eccentricities, “Atomfall” is a radioactive romp worth taking.
 


Saudi Film Festival returns with roster of regional films and special section for Japan

Saudi Film Festival returns with roster of regional films and special section for Japan
Updated 16 April 2025
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Saudi Film Festival returns with roster of regional films and special section for Japan

Saudi Film Festival returns with roster of regional films and special section for Japan

DUBAI: The Saudi Film Festival is set to return for its 11th edition from April 17 to 23, at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).

On Wednesday, the film festival announced that “SIWAR” by director Osama Al-Khurayji will be the event’s opening screening as well as the film's world premiere. 

The film, which unfolds between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, was primarily shot in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia.

The film is inspired by true events and was written by Rashed Al-Munajjim. It tells the story of two newborns, one Saudi and the other Turkish, who were mistakenly switched at birth.

“The story of ‘SIWAR’ has stayed with me since the true incident occurred in 2012, and I’ve wanted to bring it to the screen. Finally, after all these years, I’m proud to present this human story, and I’d like to thank Film AlUla for their support in making this film. I’m also proud that its launch will take place at the Saudi Film Festival, which is very dear to my heart,” said director Al-Khurayji.

This year’s theme, “Cinema of Identity,” will explore how films shape and reflect individual, national, and cultural identities.

Organized by the Cinema Association in partnership with Ithra and supported by the Film Commission, the festival will feature 68 films from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf — including Iraq and Yemen — and beyond.

 

 

The narrative features in competition include “Hobal,” “My Driver and I,” “Thuqoub,” “Fakher Al-Suwaidi,” Anaashed Adam,” “Es-aaf,” “Behind the Mountains” and “Adjourned.”

A highlight this year is the honorary tribute to Ibrahim Al-Hasawi, a veteran Saudi actor with over three decades of experience in theater, television, and cinema. His notable works include the TV series “Tash Ma Tash” and “Bayni Wa Baynak,” as well as films such as Ithra’s “Hajjan,” “Zero Distance,” and the recent “Hobal.” 

 

 

This year’s lineup includes seven Saudi and Gulf feature films, 22 short fiction films, and seven documentaries, alongside 12 parallel screenings of Saudi productions. The festival will also host four panel discussions, four advanced masterclasses and three book-signing sessions for the Saudi Cinema Encyclopedia.

The plaza and library at Ithra will host ‘Meet the Expert’ one-on-one sessions and private screenings, offering filmmakers ample opportunities for personalized mentorship and feedback.

A key component of the festival is its production market, which will showcase 22 booths from various production entities, providing filmmakers with a platform to develop and present their work. And to network.

Additionally, Japanese cinema will be in focus, marking 70 years of Saudi-Japan relations, with eight Japanese films and expert discussions.

Those Japanese films include: 

 

 

‘River Returns’

Hoping to save the village and his family from a flood, a young boy journeys alone to a pool deep in the mountains, following a tradition that is disappearing in post-war Japan.

‘Blue and White’

Ryusuke, who is grieving, makes salt on the day of his wife's funeral, aiming to preserve the local area’s salt making history.

‘Toma #2’

When Toma decides to place his father, who suffers from dementia, in a facility, he discovers an instant camera in his father's room that he had forgotten to develop.  

‘Kaburagi’

Kaburaki, a photographer for a weekly magazine, receives a message from an unknown source tipping him off about an idol he has been chasing.

‘Extremely Short’

Based on a story by Hideo Furukawa, the short film follows a man searching for the shortest thing in Tokyo.

‘The New World’

On a sunny June day, Kaname summons old friends to the wilderness with a purpose, but only one arrives.


Jennifer Lopez set to light up Abu Dhabi on global tour stop

Jennifer Lopez set to light up Abu Dhabi on global tour stop
Updated 15 April 2025
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Jennifer Lopez set to light up Abu Dhabi on global tour stop

Jennifer Lopez set to light up Abu Dhabi on global tour stop

DUBAI: US superstar Jennifer Lopez is set to return to the UAE this summer with a performance at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on July 29. 

The concert is part of her “Up All Night Live” world tour and will mark her second tour performance in the Middle East, following a show in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on July 6.

Fans can look forward to chart-topping tracks such as “If You Had My Love,” “Jenny From The Block,” “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” and “On The Floor.”

This will not be her first performance in the UAE capital this year—Lopez previously took the stage in February as part of the Saadiyat Nights concert series.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential entertainers, Lopez has made her mark across music, film and television. She remains the only female artist to simultaneously top both the US box office and music charts, with over $3 billion in global box office earnings, more than 80 million records sold and billions of streams and views across her music catalogue.

In film, her recent Netflix releases “Atlas” and “The Mother” both debuted at number one on the platform, with “The Mother” now ranking among Netflix’s top 10 most-watched films of all time. 

In 2025, her latest film “Unstoppable” reached the number one spot globally on Amazon Prime Video.

Lopez’s UAE concert is organized by Ethara, a UAE-based events company. 

Ethara is also organizing Katy Perry’s concert in the UAE, which is  part of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in December.

The music star will headline the grand finale on Dec. 7 at Etihad Park.

In addition to her global tour, Lopez is set to headline the after-race concert at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 in Jeddah this weekend, taking the stage on April 19.

She will join an impressive lineup of international and regional artists, including Usher, Major Lazer, Peggy Gou and PartyNextDoor, alongside Arab stars such as Marwan Pablo, Tul8te, Hisham Abbas, Mostafa Amar and Hamid El-Shaeri.


Georgina Rodriguez shows off Arabic tattoo

Georgina Rodriguez shows off Arabic tattoo
Updated 15 April 2025
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Georgina Rodriguez shows off Arabic tattoo

Georgina Rodriguez shows off Arabic tattoo

DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez gave fans a peek into her life in Saudi Arabia this week through a series of Instagram stories. One standout moment was a close-up photo highlighting her Arabic tattoo, which reads: “Keep all evil away from us, Amen.” 

She included the same phrase in Arabic as a caption. In the photo, she also showed off a large emerald-cut diamond ring, a glittering watch and a crocodile-skin handbag.

Later that afternoon, Rodriguez shared more family moments when she posted videos of stepson Cristiano Ronaldo Jr’s football training with Al-Nassr’s youth team. In one clip, captioned “The best team,” the group was seen singing and cheering.

Instagram/ @georginagio

Rodriguez also gave her followers a behind-the-scenes look at her personal routine in Riyadh, sharing a short video of herself practicing salsa dancing. “Third salsa class in Riyadh,” she wrote in Spanish.

The posts are part of her continued documentation of life in Saudi Arabia, where she lives with her partner, football star Cristiano Ronaldo, and their children.

The couple recently appeared together in a new campaign for Saudi Arabia’s luxury cruise line, Aroya Cruises. 

In the video, the pair exchange a lighthearted moment in Arabic. Rodriguez says “yalla” — meaning “let’s go” — after selecting the cruise on her phone, and Ronaldo replies cheerfully “yalla.”

The scene then changes into scenes of the couple exploring the cruise experience, with panoramic sea views, luxurious interiors and their private accommodation.

Both Ronaldo and Rodriguez shared the campaign on their social media profiles with the caption: “Home isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling.”

In addition to her lifestyle content and brand campaigns, Rodriguez has also taken part in humanitarian efforts in Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, she visited the King Fahd National Centre for Children’s Cancer to support young patients.

She was joined by Monica Esteban, president of Spanish charity, the Juegaterapia Foundation, as they distributed Baby Pelones dolls featuring a scarf designed by Rodriguez. During her visit, the model hugged and spoke with the children and joined in their play with the dolls.


Saudi-supported film ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ heads to Cannes Critics’ Week

Saudi-supported film ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ heads to Cannes Critics’ Week
Updated 15 April 2025
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Saudi-supported film ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ heads to Cannes Critics’ Week

Saudi-supported film ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ heads to Cannes Critics’ Week

DUBAI: Cannes Critics’ Week has announced the lineup for its 2025 edition, which includes the Red Sea Film Foundation-supported film “Dandelion’s Odyssey” from Momoko Seto.

The film — which will close the week — will be the first animated feature to screen in the section since Jeremy Clapin’s Grand Prize winner “I Lost My Body” in 2019.

Shot from Japan to Iceland, “Dandelion’s Odyssey” is an adventure set in a dystopian world, with plants and animals as the main characters. The feature features a mix of timelapse photography, as well as live-action shooting and 3D animation.

More than 1,000 films were submitted for Cannes Critics’ Week 2025, which runs from May 14 to 22.