CHOR BAZAAR WORKSHOP

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

2021-01-18T20:06:00.005-05:00

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!

2020-11-12T16:04:00.004-05:00

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!

2020-10-25T12:44:00.003-04:00

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

2016-07-19T11:40:00.003-04:00

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

2015-11-11T14:38:00.002-05:00

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

2015-04-30T10:39:00.001-04:00

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

2015-02-18T17:04:00.001-05:00

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.

Nanok - Fever

2015-02-01T12:07:00.000-05:00

Check this "Fever" video out by Jai Vaswani a.k.a "Nanok" the Mumbai Electronica DJ/Producer. The beats are infectious as well as the humble "Bombayite's" acting by Varun Thakur" Somehow the two work seamlessly together and provide a bit of Mumbai reality, far from a mainstream video of a privileged, dolled out, liquored up crowd in a swanky club.

We have been following Nanok's work on SoundCloud and this guy will put some flavor in your ears.

Happy Diwali + New Year!

2014-10-23T10:38:00.002-04:00

Happy Diwali + New Year from the Chor Bazaar Team to you and yours. We wish everyone a prosperous and healthy year.

The image above is what India looks like during Diwali celebrations. Move over Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, you got nothing on a Billion plus people doing their own thing.

Social Media Sari

2014-09-04T10:40:00.000-04:00

Looks like social media marketing is taking over the 27 feet x 4 feet of cloth, otherwise know as the Sari. Why anyone would want to openly display their love for Facebook and Whatsap on a Sari, which by the way dates back the Indus Valley Civilization (2800–1800 BC), makes us scratch our heads. Perhaps it's a ploy to segue ones compliment on the Sari to show off one's new smart phone? People in India love their phones and often make sure to show them off, especially if the case is encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Call it "bling" if you wish but it is more of a status symbol. Another thought, is perhaps these ladies are tired of being asked if they use social media platforms. "Really?, can't you see my Sari?"

Something tells us that Facebook did not authorize the use of their logo on this Sari especially given the color. We bet that the manufacturer will probably laugh off the cease and desist order once Facebook finds them.

Well this manufacturer gets an "A" for effort on staying true to Whatsap's colors.

Oh my! She certainly knows her social media, no messing with her!

We will continue to search for the enterprising aunty who is solely rocking a LinkedIn Sari, stay tuned.

Happy Independence Day

2014-08-15T10:01:00.001-04:00

Happy Independence Day India! Officially established in 1947 and growing.

Happy Holidays and New Year 2014

2013-12-27T12:46:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays and New Year 2014, from us to you and yours from the Chor Bazaar Team. May 2014 be great!

This Party Getting Hot!

2013-12-21T16:20:00.002-05:00

Well, yes we are sharing some more lyrical posts back to back. This beat may be a little to club-esqu for those that would rather delve in the classical roots of Desi beats but this is a track by a surprising trio, Jazzy B, Yo Yo Honey Singh and DJ Shadow. The beat is clearly crisp and pumping as expected by the maestro DJ Shadow and the tag team of Jazzy B and Yo Yo Honey Singh are an infectious recipe which is displayed by the "ecstasy" induced clubbers in Dubai filmed video. Okay maybe not ecstasy but hashish for sure, just saying...

Jazzy B and Yo Yo Honey Singh may have gone a little over board with the Al-Qaeda display of arms in the club but maybe they needed to display that they weren't some metro-sexual Desi guys in Dubai?

Regardless, this track has been mastered and clearly put together by professionals, much unlike that DJ in the Queens-NYC basement that was just disturbed by his mother to come up for some hot daal, baht, rotli and shak. As MC Craig Mack rhymed, "Flava in ya Ear", with a little spice of course, this track is worthy of your playlist when your party needs to pop off.

Sorry Queens basement DJ, keep doing your thing and reach aspirations of this level and create feverish beats. We are rooting for you.

Smooth and Gangsta - MC Kash out of Kashmir

2013-12-21T15:34:00.001-05:00

Let's face it there are very few smooth Desi rappers out there or at least had enough hits to get into the cyber-sphere. Well, rest assured, we found one, albeit a bit explicit with his lyrics but substantial with a message. Nothing about money, cars and women in this track by MC Kash "Beneath the Sky" is worthy of your inner Desi gangsta.

From MD Kash's Bio (via website):

Born in 1990, Kash belongs to a generation of Kashmiris that grew up under the shadow of guns, whose childhood memories are that of a war, raged in the streets. It was a battlefield and a playground, and it also handed out education to those who were able and willing to learn. The streets said it all. Right from his first track as a 17 year-old to his single “I Protest” and to his self-produced debut album “Rebel RepubliK”, MC Kash’s underlying principle has been to stay true to his streets and to speak his mind.

Delivered with sincerity and conviction, MC Kash's music is from the heart and soul of his experiences and radiates from his love and dreams for his people in Kashmir. A relentless bard seeking to fulfill his responsibility as a Kashmiri to reach out to more and more people, Kash strives to tell the untold tale of his land and explore the shape of an ideal and humane society. His words pay homage to the dignity and unsung heroism of everyday people - mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. His poetry has its roots in a universal consciousness and his songs speak of human themes of hope, courage, survival, resilience and persistence and the destined triumph of Truth over falsehood. Through his rap songs, MC Kash seeks to ask questions, to insist on justice, to resist and condemn hate, greed and ignorance, and to awaken and propel reform and positive action in this world. Learning and improving all the while.

Take some time out of your busy lives and check out MC Kash. We hope that there is some international recognition for lyrics and that there is more on the horizon for this man.

Happy Diwali + New Year!

2012-11-13T20:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Diwali and New Year from the Chor Bazaar Team.
2012

Happy Independence Day India!

2012-08-14T23:39:00.000-04:00

Happy Independence Day India, 65 years and many more, from the Chor Bazaar team.

Start Your Breakfast Religiously

2012-07-20T15:19:00.000-04:00

Some Hindus live a pretty hectic life and we tend to put off our morning Puja to catch the train, bus or beat some traffic to get to work on time. Bad Hindu!

Well we have a solution that may make your local pundit salivate? Thanks to the folks at Burt Impressions Toasters. They produce toasters which scorch various kinds of impressions on your toast. They have options to produce your own custom impression as well so you can upload your family vacation picture and share the charred image on toast with your friends when they come by for brunch. I'm sure it will spark some sort of conversation at that table and when they leave your presence.

Imagine being late for work and you grab some toast. At least this toast bears an impression of Ganesh Ji. One can pay homage and pretend that the toast is Prasad. The Hindu inside of you has managed to pray and provide sustenance in one shot. Just don't make a BLT or the opportunity of Moksha may pass you by. Bad Hindu!

They have covered most religions and have Jesus Toast just in case you skipped church because you were too hungover from the partying the night before. Bad Christian!

The monetary damage is not that bad either and frankly these toasters could make an excellent present for someone that you want to play a joke on. The Ganesh Ji impression toaster is $31.95 and you can even pick your accent color to match the tiles in your kitchen. Yay!

What we couldn't understand was why the Jesus Toaster is cheaper at $29.95. What's up with that Burt Impression folks?

Hinglish Revealed

2012-07-03T14:37:00.000-04:00

A while back we wrote about the Indian Ministry of Tourism's campaign called Incredible India. It seems that they have come a long way and are suddenly becoming innovative.

Let me introduce The Hinglish Project by DDB Mundra Group in Mumbai, India. Their project recently won a gold prize at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2012.

The Hinglish project utilizes a typeface that makes the Hindi text less intimidating for the estimated 5.7 million tourists that visit India every year. The statistic of 5.7 million was shockingly low to me as New York City alone is projecting almost ten times that at 51.5 million for 2012. The Incredible India folks may want to learn a thing or two from Mayor Bloomberg. Regardless, let me get back to this project. Through the use of typeface design, DDB Mundra Group states:

We created a typeface that would make Hindi less intimidating and more friendly.Through this unique fusion-font design, you can tell the phonetic sound of a Hindi character by looking at the corresponding English alphabet superimposed on it. While this font cannot teach you how to read words in Hindi, it demystifies individual letters.

With the Hinglish Project, Incredible India became the only tourism board in the world to help create a typeface for foreigners to familiarize themselves with native language. The website became popular with foreigners and locals alike.

If one goes to The Hinglish Project Website, they generously provide their font for FREE! They are also selling some products but sadly you have to email them for inquiries and cannot purchase directly. Time for DDB Mundra Group to get their e-commerce site up and running. One needs to eat and we hope that the Indian Ministry of Tourism paid them.

Something tells me that the Indian Ministry of Tourism made DDB Mundra Group use the slogan above which can be found in the postcard section of their site.

[via Random Specific + Cannes Lions Festival]

Bollywood Art Project - Mumbai aka Bombay

2012-07-03T12:14:00.000-04:00

On recent travels to India I noticed tiny blips of urban art taking place. This is probably attributed to Western influences but nonetheless it seems to be taking on it's own agenda.

Thanks to a post on Facebook by Beth from Beth Loves Bollywood, I discovered ~~Mumbai's~~ Bombay's, Bollywood Art Project aka BAP. BAP is the Brainchild of Ranjit Dahiya and Tony Peter, according to an article in Blouin Art Info.

According to BAP's Facebook page, they are an urban public art project that aims to transform the walls in Mumbai into a living memorial to Bollywood. BAP reverts to the 70 year old tradition of Bollywood hand painted posters and signs. A dying tradition that has been overtaken by vinyl banner printing. The retro sensibilities have been lost through mass production of signage and loose their gritty nature.

The “Anarkali” Mural at Chapel Road, Mumbai. Get a sense of the scale by the passerby that is standing in front of the mural.

A homage to "Deewar" with the king of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan. Nice work on the perspective.

Check out BAP's Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates.

We look forward to seeing what's on the horizon for these folks.

Yoda Fire - Dhalsim T-shirts

2012-03-31T17:37:00.000-04:00

One of the most intriguing characters in the video game Street Fighter is Dhalsim. We imagine that he was the product of some video game developer of Indian origin who felt that an Indian presence was required in Street fighter. Where else would could a diesel yoga master who uses his "Surya Namaskar" powers to kick some ass and throw fire come from? During my many travels to India, I have shockingly never come across this ability. I wish some yoga ashram tough how to become Elastic-Man and throw a kick from across a 50 foot room while levitating. Sign me up!!!

His skull necklace erroneously reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) when guests were offered chilled monkey brains. This is highly unlikely delicacy in, India. It did however conjure curiosity amongst my classmates (non-Indian). When the movie released I was asked if my family and I consumed chilled monkey brains? Needless to say I cursed Steven Spielberg for a long time. I wish I was wittier at the time. My response would not have been to shy away like I did. I wish that I could have had a spontaneous response like this one:

"Yeah, my family and I live in a teepee and consume chilled monkey brains during half moons. We buy the brains from the local supermarket. The monkey brains are only sold to "Indians" and we have a secret "bhoob...bhoob...bhoob" call that allows us to purchase the exotic meat in bulk. Sadly, as of recent there has been a shortage because the local zoo where they breed the monkeys is cracking down because the monkeys are now becoming endangered. If I keep eating monkeys, the next generation won't know who the hell Curious George is? Quite devastating. We are only allowed to eat monkey on Christmas because everyone celebrates Christmas.

What's amazing is that Street Fighter was released in August 1987 (Almost 25 years old) and people are still into it.

TeeFury a site with a 24 hour limited run of each design produced recently had two Dhalsim t-shirts produced by two different artists.

T-shirt design by SYNDICATE on TeeFury. Kind of hilarious and not playing off any Indian stereotypes which makes it fly or should we say float like Dhalsim can. Damn I want to learn that skill. Flying carpets and chilled monkey brain as so 1980!

T-shirt design by TeeKetch on TeeFury. This was produced second and not the better in my humble opinion. Does TeeKetch really need to use that Hindi-esque font that he/she probably snagged from some fonts'r'us website? The font doesn't work with the clean circular references in the rest of the illustration. TeeKetch almost, subtly created a "Chakra" which could have made everyone wonder why they have a feeling of wholesome one-ness. It could have been magical.

I wonder if Dhalsim had the ability to cook chilled monkey brains with a single blast of "Yoda Fire"?

T-shirt Blogging Offsite

2012-03-31T16:48:00.000-04:00

We don't really blog about t-shirts on Chor Bazaar Workshop even though we are a t-shirt label. We venture outside of our shop to keep us sane. Imagine working at a silk screen press all day and having conversations about the viscosity of the ink all day. Nobody wants to hear that. Cotton thread count is also kind of boring.

I do however blog about t-shirts. Thanks to Andy on his site, Hide Your Arms. The site is frequently updated with an abundance of indie/designed t-shirt and t-shirt content.

If you are interested in having a t-shirts reviewed then feel free to him me up at info(at)cbaz(dot) com.

Happy Holidays and New Year 2012!

2011-12-21T15:29:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of you that supported our company over the past year. For those that didn't, we still wish you a Happy Holidays and New Year from Chor Bazaar Team.

See you next year.

Pepper Spray Cop Gone Desi

2011-11-23T13:24:00.002-05:00

The shocking incident that took place at UC Davis on Friday November 18th features Lt. John Pike of pepper spraying peaceful student protesters who were sitting on the ground. The incident has turned into a hilarious internet meme overnight. Social media is becoming saturated with the image of Lieutenant John Pike, pepper spraying almost anything imaginable. All things "desi" were not spared. Here are a few that we found:

Lieutenant John Pike superimposed on what could possibly be the Goddess Kali. Kind of appropriate since she is associated with power and death.

Of course he should be spraying the "father" of peaceful demonstration. Lieutenant John Pike would have fit right in with Brigadier-General Reginald E.H. Dyer's regiment during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Okay, maybe a little off the desi tip but we like Banksy and there is a cow in the image and she could be sacred.

If you have any desi pepper spray cop images that you would like to share, please feel free to Email us.

Time for Chor Bazaar to come up with one.

Skateboarding in India

2011-11-10T15:45:00.000-05:00

Image via Oxelo Skateboards - Jaipur, India

This is not something that we see too often in India. Probably due to the traffic and the possibility of being clotheslined by two donkeys tied neck to neck. The donkey part is a true story that actually happened to a cyclist that didn't see the rope as the donkeys stampeded towards him.

To shortly sum it up, there are three skateboarding doods featured in a film that is directed by Studio Ores & Guilhem Machenaud. It takes place in Bangalore, Jaipur, New Delhi and Agra - 2011. Surprisingly the skateboarders where brave enough to ride on Indian roads.

The filming is sincerely well done and captures daily life in these Indian cities. The skateboarders do their thing and the local on-lookers do what they always do when they see something interesting. They watch and cheer if they like what they see or simply go about their daily routine. It's also great to see that locals participate in the action.

From the Oxelo Skateboards site:

Here is the latest production OXELO skateboards signed Guilhem Machenaud Studio and Ores. Probably the best trip we have ever made. A real meeting between the skateboard and people in a country just incredible. It lets you discover and share.

NYC is the Center of the World

2011-10-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

Cover of the Village Voice - Vol. LVI No. 42 dated October 19-25, 2011

On one of those groggy Monday morning commutes, I noticed the Village Voice cover popping out at me through the sticker ladened Plexiglas of its container. I usually don't notice these things as my motive is to get to my office on time. But this cover was adorned with the Taj Mahal. Bewilderment made me stop and grab a copy. Why was the Taj Mahal on a New York City publication?

The Taj Mahal is ingrained in our memories as a symbol of India. Exploited by all Indian travel brochures and adopted by numerous Indian restaurants for its namsake. Why anyone would name a restaurant after the world's most famous mausoleum is beyond me. Maybe the food must be to die for? If you have interest in how the rest of the world perceives India, the Taj Mahal, curry and snake charmers are probably what pops into the minds of the not so astute.

Anyway the Village Voice named New York City as the "Center of the World" due to the international community that makes it one of the most unique places on earth. London must be pissed off but they did put the Tower Bridge in the image.

The cover could have been a little different. A little less touristy and a little more "real" as they say in Brooklyn. Perhaps there is a subway stop on the G Train that I have never seen? Possibly the MTA's Art's for Transit program commissioned an international destination poster? Something that would make us want to be anywhere but a filthy and crowded subway car. Why not the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Tower Bridge and St. Basil's Cathedral? Just block out that subway car scent and person picking their nose.

Cheers to the Center of the World!