KAMINEY... !!!

This was the movie; I was desperately waiting for .Reason, interesting trailers and Visual Bharadwaj. He has given movies like Makdi, Maqbool, Omkara and The Blue Umbrella. All have been meaningful, interesting and entertaining.
I always wanted to watch premiere of the movie. Thankfully to CREDAI Karnataka Realty Expo, I wasn't able to watch the movie, whole weekend. Reviews were out, everyone had loved it. Now I have to see it.
Monday after the job, I ensured not to miss the movie. And guess what, it was memorable experience. As rightfully Rajeev Masand says,'Kaminey is imaginative and original’. It made me remembered movie of 70s era, which had everything, fun action thrill drama and romance.
Kaminey was nice blend of all. I had completely forgotten that there was Shahid Kapoor in the movie. I flowed with the story through Guddu, Sweety and Charlie.
I was mesmerized with Shahid's acting and the supporting casts. As per me the movie is "Fuberb". Movie is embraced with catchy and classy music blended with Gulzar Sahab's unmatchable lyrics.
Loved the line... "Ek dil se dosti thi... Ye huzur bhi kaminey...!!!"

My next target... "What's your Rashee" by Ashutosh Gowarikar.

SWAMI...

Yesterday, I saw the movie “Swami” again on television. I loved the movie when saw it for the first time and even this time too. I decided to blog about this movie because many people would not talk about this movie.

“Swami” is a simple movie on a life story of titled fictional character. Movie casts Manoj Bajpai and my all time favorite heroine, Juhi Chawla. The story is about their unconditional love towards each other and later towards their children. It’s a complete family movie that will make you cry in some of its scenes.

The movie was a flop and I guess wouldn’t have even heard its name. Technically and critically speaking, this movie is below average. But its heart lies at the right place. Moreover, it teaches you the essence the relationships. The relation of Swami with his arm-chair shows you the love for his wife ”Radha”. Swami has only one dream, to fulfill the dreams of his wife through his children. Swami depicts a very good husband, father, and above all great man. His relation with his son is shown astoundingly emotional in the movie.

Moreover, this movie also shows a life of a common Indian middle class family. This movie beautifully depicts small but important moments of one’s life. One feels connected to the movie, and can easily relate to his/her life.

You will never understand all this nor will I be able to explain, until you watch this movie. Be patient, forgive the editing and try to appreciate the soul of the movie.

Ohh Ri Duniya... Gulaal !!!

I was really impressed by the movie "Gulaal" based on dirty politics in Rajasthan. Anurag Kashyap, the director has its own style to portrait his script. But I was overwhelmed by lyrics and dialogues of the movie, all credits to Piyush Mishra. Here are few lines from the song "Duniya". Similar to the movie, the lyrics is hard hitting and very true. Read this friends !

"पलछिन में रातें चली जाती हैं ,
पलछिन में बातें चली जाती हैं !
रह जाते हैं जो सवेरा वो ढूंढें,
जलते मकान में बसेरा वो ढूंढें !!

जैसी बची है वैसी की वैसी, बचा लो ये दुनिया,
अपना समझ के अपनों के जैसी, उठा लो ये दुनिया !
छिटपुट सी बातों में जलने लगेगी, संभालो ये दुनिया,
कट पिट के रातों में पलने लगेगी, संभालो ये दुनिया !!
ओह री दुनिया, ओह री दुनिया...

वो कहें हैं की दुनिया ये इतनी नहीं है,
सितारों से आगे जहाँ और भी हैं !
ये हम ही नहीं, वहां और भी हैं,
हमारी हर एक बात होती वहीँ हैं !!
हमें ऐतराज़ नहीं हैं कहीं भी,
वो आई है फाजिल हम पे सही की!

मगर फलसफा ये बिगड़ जाता है जो,
वो कहते है..
आलिम ये कहता वहां इश्वर हैं !
फाजिल ये कहता वहां अल्लाह हैं,
काफिर ये कहता वहां ईसा हैं !!

मंजिल ये कहती तब इन्सान से की,
तुम्हारी हैं तुम ही संभालो ये दुनिया !
ये उजड़े हुए चंद बासी चरागों,
तुम्हारे ये काले इरादों की दुनिया !!

ओह री दुनिया, ओह री दुनिया..."

"Music" or "Sound"... !!!

I am a music freak! I love to hear old Hindi songs, classical and folk songs. But, I have been told many times by my friends, "What boring songs do you play!". I reply them with a smile and silence. As per me, one who doesn't know the difference between a small glass piece and a diamond, its better to be silent rather than debating. I believe those who understand music will appreciate any form of music.

Later on, I felt, why do youth (most of them) doesn't like old Hindi songs. And literally hate classical and folk songs. Moreover, they even didn't respect melodious songs of new albums. Similarly, old people, doesn't like present day songs. They are stubborn of the fact, that only those old Hindi songs were gems.
Why there is such an aversion?
Is this what we called a generation gap?

My answer is NO!

There are generally two dimensions to a song, "Music" (tune) and "Lyrics". Where Lyrics is been handled by lyricists and composer are responsible for the Music. I believe old songs were more based on music and lyrics. Composers preferred melodies with meaningful lyrics. In those times, orchestration of the song was not a major issue. Neither did they had the technology to complement with it.

With the advent of technology, a new dimension was figured out, i.e. "Sound". Technology was used to generate different sounds and the major emphasis was given to the orchestration of the song. Various musical instrument were used and computer was there to generate any form of sound. Many new age composers really don't care about music and lyrics of the song.

Old people feel that, the Sound have overshadowed the importance of music and lyrics and the new age feels, that at the end of the day, music is all about sound. Another reason for the emergence of sound as a new dimension is because, today people relate songs with fun and dance only. With the Sound, remixes and dance numbers have also increased. In yester years, songs were a soulful bliss, and a form of art.

Only R. D. Burman and A.R. Rehman are the composers in Hindi cinema who have tried to have all the three dimensions into their songs.

So whom do you support, Music or Sound ???

Slumdog Millionaire & Politics... ???

When everyone was jubilant of the fact that, Slumdog Millionaire has won 8 Oscars, India was busy debating, whether India should really take its credit? No matter what everyone thinks, there were many who were ready to take the credit of movie's success in American film awards.

There were, Bollywood, Mumbai, Media and even Politcians boasting about their contributions.
I just couldn't think how do politicians helped the movie win Oscars?
I have no clue about it?

I guess, following cartoons, can answer our questions.

World going GungHo... on "Jai Ho"

Congratulations to Mr.Rehman, Mr.Resul, Slumdog's Team!
Also, congratulations to the team of "Smile Pinki".
India rocked at the Oscars!!!

What if, this movie have been produced and directed by Indians?
I guess, there would have been no oscars!
Is this irony, tragedy, racism or what?
You Decide!

Nevertheless, I am proud of you Rehman!

And as Amitabh Bachchan says,'Rehman doesn't need an Oscar to prove that he is the best.He is better than the best!'

Slumdog.... INDIA !!!

I am eagerly waiting, for the Oscar nominations to announce. "Slumdog Millionaire" has won 4 Golden Globe awards and many others prestigious awards. The best part, an Indian, A.R.Rahman, winning international awards all round the world. Now, its time for Oscars !

But I have always felt that, only those movies (related to India) have done well in Oscars, which depict India as a underdeveloped poor country. Movies like "Salaam Bombay", "Gandhi", "Mother India", "Lagaan", "Water" and finally "Slumdog Millionaire", all depict India living into villages and slums. These movies showed poverty, socio-imbalance, riots, and what not. I guess, for the Oscar jury, India is still a land of "snake charmers".
Amitabh Bachchan rightly says, "Slumdog Millionaire has portrayed India as a Third World dirty underbelly developing nation"!
I still believe, that there were many other movies, which were equally good, and deserved an Oscar nomination, atleast!
My fingers are crossed, and all the wishes to "Slumdog Millionaire".

But I still wait for a movie, winning awards globally, depicting India's economic success.
I still wait for a movie, winning awards globally, that talks about Indian culture, diversity and unity.
I still wait for a movie, winning awards globally, that talks good and positive about India.