The Rolling Stones and India
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India connections
Priyanka Dasgupta, Nov 15, 2023: The Times of India
Priyanka Dasgupta, Nov 15, 2023: The Times of India
The name's Jagger, Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones frontman, back in Kolkata after a decade, talks exclusively to TOI about Kali Puja, pandal-hopping and how the city has changed... and how, at 80, he sounds like he's still in his prime in the band's new album, 'Hackney Diamonds'.
You recently posted a photograph with Martin Scorsese, who is a huge Sat-yajit Ray admirer.
Have you watched any Ray film?Yes, I've watched his films when I was young. I was a film buff in my 20s. It is that time when one is trying to absorb everything. I watched early Roman Polanski films. Ray was the most impressive.
How's Kolkata changed?
I was in Kolkata some 10-12 years ago. I was travelling in India then and I spent a week here. There is more pollution now. I don't want to be negative. Every city suffers from this problem. Visually, Kolkata looks much more developed. I am sure the heartbeat of the city remains the same.
You shared photos of 'Kali Pujo' on social media. Where did you visit?
I went to Kumartuli. I knew Diwali was coming up when I was planning to come. But I didn't actually know that these two festivals coincided. I reached Kumartuli and saw several pujas. We also went to the small idol workshops.
Does the iconic Rolling Stones tongue have a Kali connect? Yes. My brother was an early traveller to India. He would give me some books to read. In 1969, I was looking for an image that was an eye-grabbing thing and I saw this image of a disembodied tongue of Kali. I thought it would be an inspiration. Then, designer John Pasche created this modernistic version of the tongue logo.
You finally saw the idol that inspired the iconic logo on Sunday! Yes. It was a coincidence, since I didn't know that I would be seeing it when I came to Kolkata. I have one or two friends here who told me where to go. It was very noisy, of course. There were so many fireworks. I have never been to India on Diwali.
The lights were fantastic - some were very modernistic, some old-fashioned. It was a great mixture.
The Rolling Stones logo appeared on FC Barcelona jerseys at an El Clasico. Does Rolling Stones have such plans with BCCI or any IPL teams?
When I arrived, I thought England might be in one of the semifinals. But I have been in India for a couple of weeks, and I knew that was not going to happen immediately. We don’t have any relationship with any IPL team, (although) I watch IPL.
You recently posted a photograph with Martin Scorsese, who is a huge Satyajit Ray admirer. Have you watched any Ray film?
I watched his films when I was young. I was a film buff in my 20s. It is that time when one is trying to absorb everything. I watched early Roman Polanski films. Ray was the one who was the most impressive.
How has Kolkata changed in your eyes since your last trip? I was (last) in Kolkata some 10-12 years ago. I was travelling in India then, and I spent a week here. There is more pollution now. I don’t want to be negative. Every city suffers from this problem. Visually, Kolkata looks much more developed. I am sure the heartbeat of the city remains the same.
