I've always thought Karan Johar was an honest filmmaker. He's only done three movies but he's always been open about making these big budget emotional melodramas. He'd be the first to admit that the opulence that he shows on screen is not necessarily rooted in reality. He came out openly saying the college track in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was inspired by Archie comics. He's never been shy of saying he makes movies for NRI audiences.
Which is why it was quite a revelation that Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is a plain copy of a 1984 movie called 'Falling in Love' with no less of a cast than Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro. I just saw that, and the whole story including so many scenes are identical. Ofcourse, neither of them are great movies but I distinctly remember Karan around the time of release, going all over town saying he began writing the story based on personal experiences and episodes in friend's lives. He even distinctly spoke about how all his friends seemed to be talking about infidelity around that time and he had to make a movie about that. Heck, he didnt even make the effort to change the location of the story from the original, New york. The least he could have done was acknowledged the original movie and given credit where it was due.
So the next time any movie maker waxes eloquent about how he was inspired to write a story, take it with a pinch of salt.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
Slumdog Millionaire - bloody brilliant!
No not the movie (which is very good). But the soundtrack. Not since Rang De Basanti has Rahman come up with an album of such quality. Sure there has been the odd great number here and there (Khwaja mere khwaja for example) but albums in their entirety have been a bit of a let down. Until now.
The introduction to Liquid dance makes u realize how entrancing surround sound can be. The chaotic beats, vocal rhythms and mixing of sound really make this one crazy number. No peace and quiet here. Madness at its best.
And then there is Mausam and Escape. The sitar is such a classical and peaceful instrument that listening to it automatically relaxes you. But this one makes you groove to the sitar (ofcourse Ravi Shankar and the likes have collaborated with George Harrison and co to create sitar fusion but at best they were always mixed with other instruments to make it more appealing to the west). For a second you forget that you are listening to the sitar coz it was never meant to be played this way. It then turns into a jugalbandi between violins, dominating beats and the sitar which culminates in a violent crescendo of all three. And its the sitar that triumphs. Imagine that! And just as it becomes a bit much to take, the whole thing quietens down and just echoes in the background a sample of the track so that we can digest what we've just experienced.
One of the things that I most look forward to in any Rahman album are his vocals. It has a unique quality and divinity that is unmatched. O Saya is an instant favorite. With its mesmerizing beats and youthful vocals of M.I.A (who I was quite surprised to find out was a british-bred western singer with sri lankan tamil roots), it makes you sit up and take notice immediately. and the way the song is used in the movie to lead into the credits, with a couple of pandus (mumbai cops) chasing a bunch of kids through the slums of Bombay is just magical. and that is true of all the songs in the movie. The way they are used really adds another dimension to the visuals and compliments it perfectly.
Jai ho is closer to a conventional Bollywood number and yet it rises above it. Sukhwinder is one of Rahman's favorite singers and I like the way he uses him (Wedding Qawwali is one of my all-time favorites). I think a song like this, since it appears in the credits with the whole cast and crew dancing to it, gives Rahman the freedom to do what he wants with it. Makes me wonder if the directors of recent movies that he has composed for have lost their ear. Especially Subhash Ghai. The same people that did Taal have also now done Yuvraaj..........baffling! Ghajini is quite mediocre, so much so that Harris Jeyaraj's music for the Tamil version was better (it pains me to say that but its true). Take Guru even. I think that is the weakest of all Rahman-Mani Ratnam collaborations. I think the other problem this year has been the deluge of albums (jodhaa akbar, ada, jaane tu, sakkarakatti, yuvraaj and ghajini). Naturally tends to dilute quality. I think he should stick to two albums a year, three at most.
The haunting trance of Millionaire, the purity of a humming vocal in Latika's theme, the rhythm of african beats in Riots, the soothing feel of Dreams on fire, and the reinvented Choli ke peeche which is as good as the original. All put together make this album liberating.
Rahman is back, about time!!
The introduction to Liquid dance makes u realize how entrancing surround sound can be. The chaotic beats, vocal rhythms and mixing of sound really make this one crazy number. No peace and quiet here. Madness at its best.
And then there is Mausam and Escape. The sitar is such a classical and peaceful instrument that listening to it automatically relaxes you. But this one makes you groove to the sitar (ofcourse Ravi Shankar and the likes have collaborated with George Harrison and co to create sitar fusion but at best they were always mixed with other instruments to make it more appealing to the west). For a second you forget that you are listening to the sitar coz it was never meant to be played this way. It then turns into a jugalbandi between violins, dominating beats and the sitar which culminates in a violent crescendo of all three. And its the sitar that triumphs. Imagine that! And just as it becomes a bit much to take, the whole thing quietens down and just echoes in the background a sample of the track so that we can digest what we've just experienced.
One of the things that I most look forward to in any Rahman album are his vocals. It has a unique quality and divinity that is unmatched. O Saya is an instant favorite. With its mesmerizing beats and youthful vocals of M.I.A (who I was quite surprised to find out was a british-bred western singer with sri lankan tamil roots), it makes you sit up and take notice immediately. and the way the song is used in the movie to lead into the credits, with a couple of pandus (mumbai cops) chasing a bunch of kids through the slums of Bombay is just magical. and that is true of all the songs in the movie. The way they are used really adds another dimension to the visuals and compliments it perfectly.
Jai ho is closer to a conventional Bollywood number and yet it rises above it. Sukhwinder is one of Rahman's favorite singers and I like the way he uses him (Wedding Qawwali is one of my all-time favorites). I think a song like this, since it appears in the credits with the whole cast and crew dancing to it, gives Rahman the freedom to do what he wants with it. Makes me wonder if the directors of recent movies that he has composed for have lost their ear. Especially Subhash Ghai. The same people that did Taal have also now done Yuvraaj..........baffling! Ghajini is quite mediocre, so much so that Harris Jeyaraj's music for the Tamil version was better (it pains me to say that but its true). Take Guru even. I think that is the weakest of all Rahman-Mani Ratnam collaborations. I think the other problem this year has been the deluge of albums (jodhaa akbar, ada, jaane tu, sakkarakatti, yuvraaj and ghajini). Naturally tends to dilute quality. I think he should stick to two albums a year, three at most.
The haunting trance of Millionaire, the purity of a humming vocal in Latika's theme, the rhythm of african beats in Riots, the soothing feel of Dreams on fire, and the reinvented Choli ke peeche which is as good as the original. All put together make this album liberating.
Rahman is back, about time!!
Friday, December 05, 2008
Sailing smoothly into the second quarter!
Given how infrequently I visit this place these days, a post holds that much more value. And ofcourse, birthdays are always a good time to blog!! Infact I'm glad I'm taking the time out to do this now. Coz right through the day I was so completely pre-occupied with work that I wasn't even aware that it was my birthday most of the time. That made all the wishes I got through the day all the more special coz they were timely reminders that it wasnt just another day!
Just got back from the holiday parade right outside my apartment. Wasn't all that great. Except for the kids who are always adorable whether they are trying to play the kettle drums or do karate chops through the air.
The year that was. I think over the years I've become more disciplined. And it also sits well with my lifestyle which is that of a loner. I get to do exactly the things I want at any given time without being bound by anyone else around me. Ofcourse the downside of that is that all my birthday wishes I receive are only through phone calls and emails. Anyway, I guess at the end of the day we choose to be a certain way coz thats what we are most comfortable with.
Back to the silver year. Did a lot of travelling over the last 12 months. Got to backpack through the Alps which was probably the high point. That reminds I had jotted down a short list of things to do last birthday on a whim. That included seeing europe, running my first marathon, and making new friends. I guess two out of three is not bad. Ah, if only my damned leg had cooperated. No worries though coz I know I'll be running atleast a few marathons in the near future.
So this year's whimsical resolutions - well finish that cursed first marathon, learn a new musical instrument, learn to make desserts. The last one ofcourse starts tomorrow when I try to bake a cake.
Anyway I'm looking forward to spending my first christmas in the US in 4 years. That also makes my next India trip exciting. Coz I'll be in Madras for Saarang and Odyssey, and break my jinx of not having attended a wedding in nearly 5 yrs :).
That was quick and fun. I think I shall end with a note to self : blog, blog, blog!!!!
Just got back from the holiday parade right outside my apartment. Wasn't all that great. Except for the kids who are always adorable whether they are trying to play the kettle drums or do karate chops through the air.
The year that was. I think over the years I've become more disciplined. And it also sits well with my lifestyle which is that of a loner. I get to do exactly the things I want at any given time without being bound by anyone else around me. Ofcourse the downside of that is that all my birthday wishes I receive are only through phone calls and emails. Anyway, I guess at the end of the day we choose to be a certain way coz thats what we are most comfortable with.
Back to the silver year. Did a lot of travelling over the last 12 months. Got to backpack through the Alps which was probably the high point. That reminds I had jotted down a short list of things to do last birthday on a whim. That included seeing europe, running my first marathon, and making new friends. I guess two out of three is not bad. Ah, if only my damned leg had cooperated. No worries though coz I know I'll be running atleast a few marathons in the near future.
So this year's whimsical resolutions - well finish that cursed first marathon, learn a new musical instrument, learn to make desserts. The last one ofcourse starts tomorrow when I try to bake a cake.
Anyway I'm looking forward to spending my first christmas in the US in 4 years. That also makes my next India trip exciting. Coz I'll be in Madras for Saarang and Odyssey, and break my jinx of not having attended a wedding in nearly 5 yrs :).
That was quick and fun. I think I shall end with a note to self : blog, blog, blog!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)