Aashiqi 2....teaser song!

I am big fan of Mithoon from very long time even from his first attempt till his this attempt; and he never disappointed music connoisseur like me who listen almost to all genre especially to Indie bolly music having melody.

There are already closed to million songs on ''love" in Bollywood but I don't know how musicians (music producer, composer, arranger, lyricist and singers) still able to infuse new songs and still able to win cord with heart....amazing!

I remember i was pimple fighting boy when last Aashiqi came where there is Gal like Hero with Amazing hair cut and man like heroine who was relatively dark as compare to standard white definition derived for heroines in Bollywood. What hit my generation was a great teaser poster (man and women inside a coat jacket making in or out) and awesomest songs! I can still sometimes hear them in hair cutting saloons or workers working in shoe factory near to my nanni house now but if time allows me the luxary to come out of new music cutting across scenes everyday i may like to go back and hear it again..anyone with me on same?

And here comes the Aashiqi 2 with same teaser poster and a great music video...Mithoon in helm for music composition and two cute looking pair (i have secret crush on sharaddha kapoor from sometime now in my endless list of crushes). Now, Mithoon has to scale Everest as last Aashiqi is on record book for one of the best melody in Bollywood and have he succeed??

For that we have to listen the whole album but T-series launched the first teaser song "Tum Hi Hoan"..and bloody it blew my mind again and was running on my iPhone endless from sometime now.
Great start to song...rain chirping in background...Arijit Singh (what a gifted singer and new kid on block) soulful voice with huge pain arrived with huge support from lyrics department
"Hum tere bin ab reh nahin sakte
tere bina kya wajood mera...
Tujh se juda kabhi ho jayainge
to khud se hi ho hayainge juda.."
And u will feel immersed (atleast I am..) and then songs flows smoothly between mukhada and antra; and I can safely say....great start to alum and I hope it will live to expectation atleast on music front.

So...lets wait for whole album to come over and I will write flow blown review...happy listening till then to Tum hi hoan!!

Music video

Kaminey...SDM....Disappointments!

Some good 6-7 months back, I watched Slumdog Millionere (SDM). I was little drunk cause came directly from a Party to movie hall but in full consciousness to understand the nitty gritty of a movie, which build a mammoth expectations especially in India. Reason are numerous but for Indians, it a movie made on them with their surroundings as center pivotal of movie. With almost unknown cast in lead but with Anil kapoor and Irfaan Khan in cast and genius A R Rehman at music helm, there is some expectation from my side as well. After slipping comfortably in PVR Premier (Gurgoan) screen number 2 (hmm...or 3), first thing which took my notice is Screen i.e. The aspect ratio of screen looks like 1.85:1 which is quite unusual in itself as mostly screen are in ratio of 2.39:1 in India (I can be incorrect here about precise aspect ratio but its unusual as compare to normal movie screens over which I watched movie so far). Anyhow, movie started and layers started unfolding in front of me; and slowly and slowly my disappointment level increased. Its very hard to write what one expects from a movie which can be different based on your life, experience, social interactions etc etc. But for me, after watching a whole lot of world cinema, Hollywood real good movies and some bolly cream as well, Its need to have something which really can touch at least some part of your heart or mind. For me, SDB doesn't done that. I find it quite mediocre movie which doesn't have a mass or class appeal but none the less created by media.

I felt the same experience when i watched Kaminey yesterday. Though this time I didn't gone to movie hall because of swine flu scare still making rounds in Pune but ordered on Tatasky showcase. I was quite charged to watch after watching its promo and the amount of hype surrounding it. But again. Some disappointment. I don't want to judgmental and pronounce any verdict but again it fail to justify the hype and ho halla surrounding it. To start with, first, bad sound recording. Initial half an hour into movie, I find it hard to understand dialogue which was uttered in Hindi forget about Marathi and Bengali ones which too I can understand as I know both the languages on basic level. Then the shaky camera movements. Looks like Vishal bhardwaj forget to use Trolley to put camera on and use Human holding the camera most of time. Second half though has his moments but i guess overall music is only saving grace along with some performances but supporting cast especially Amol gupte and the one playing Tashi. But what surprised me the herd attitude of media. Once, two or three main league critic said that movie is awesome, nobody have courage to Stand and say no man...its just above avg. No good. NO Quentin Tarantino. At least not worthy of praise it get. People are gaga over Priyaka chopra performance. Come on. I don't know from when the over the top melodrama stands in for good acting. She is far better in Fashion as compare to Kaminey. Same for Shahid. Only well written character. off course he put in effort but again....I seriously don't think he even can match 30% of what Aamir Khan can do in such roles. Way to go boy though off course you are riding the right bicycle.

I don't think my post qualify as review, which even is not my intention, but it smy effort to share my point of view. If somebody disagree, I am more then happy to listen his side of story. If you thought or at least still thinking of watching SDB or Kaminey, my only advice. Go and wash all your expectations. May be you may like them. Happy movie wathing.

* If you really want to watch something meaningfull, My recommendation is to watch "Into the wild" and if you want the blast, you might like to Try "Snatch".

Wake up Sid - Music review

Composer: Shankar Ehsaan Loy & Amit Trivedi (Guest Composer)
Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Clinton Cerajo, Kavita Seth, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Uday Benegal

Few days back on TV, a promo started airing where a fresh looking Ranbeer kapoor making appearances looking similar to Hrithik in Lakshaya or Aamir in DCH i.e. just got young and don't know what to do with rising portion of testosterone. So music for such theme require musicians who know the basic of bring freshness to not so remain fresh theme but protagonist is freshly young though. Shankar Ehsaan Loy (SEL) proved there metal already in this genre with both above mentioned movies on same theme which they composed and with numerous other attempts.

Though I still need to heard the album more then my quota of listening to any album before making any useful comments but this time I feel I can give it a try..

Album opens with Wake up sid where Shankar croons "Suna to jara...humhe to yeh kehna...Waqt hain kya tumhe to hain na pata...."...fresh lyrics which Ask Sid the protagonist to wake up to world around him. Decent lyrics, good guitar playaround and sang conveniently by Shankar. It will soon feature in your must listen list.

Next comes the best of lot. Kya karoon. Open with a good guitar strings played skillfully by Ehsaan and not to so recognized voice. I need to check CD cover for singer and found Clinton cerajo whose name I have seen in past but mostly making for lead singer. Finally got the chance...haan! He sang brilliantly and his rusty voice goes well on ear. Still think what might have happened if Sonu nigam have attempted it. May be a little better result. Hmm...I miss him sometimes as we hardly listen to him now especially when he voice is on zenith. Anyhow Clinton make full use of chance and crooning in background also feel pleasant. Thumbs up.

Aaj Kal Zindgi is where Shankar back behind mikkee! It started Ok with some nice beats, drums and tang-2 music loop; and initially I felt that it is just another song but the moment mukhda completed and Shakhar took song to another level with crooning "tere liye nayi hain zameen naya aasaman...likh dain hawaoan pain koi nayi dastaan", song just become better then good. I still think it not the best. Still it may grow on you surely.

Iktara again come with a rusty singer Kavita Seth and some good playing of Guitar in start. Her voice is very heavy and have touch of ethnic indian classical base. Amitabh bhattacharya voice still is soft and balancing act on voice level for song. I still think they should have used Sunidhi for it though no problem with Kavita's singing. It may liked by some people but doesn't have mass appeal acc to me. Have I failed to mention that this piece is created by Guest composer Amit Trivedi who have us DevD.

Life is crazy is second last composition in album so far which is running well on mind and ear. SEL again decided to make use of Shankar voice. Though I think Shankar is exellent singer but for this song i guess he should use Raman Mahadevan who sang brilliantlly 'Kholo-2 darwajain' in Tarre Zammen pain. Song is fast pace number with some really quick punchy drum beats and Shankar on ice on rocks. Uday benegal supported well but he remains much in background.

Last comes Wake up sid again but in remix version. This is not typical DJ aqeel kinda remix which is build over recorded song. Here it is specifically design where Shakar sing with fast pace as compare to lazy approach on main song. Though music in start is completely different but overall flow of main song remain intact. Decent listening.

Overall, it's a decent album where SEL are in good form but I still think its not there best work. This is there better work. People will surely love Wake up sid soundtrack and definitely include his songs in Ipod quickly or give some good repeatative listing in car. It may also be cherished by people who love soft guitar as it used abundantly throughout the album.

Rating: 3.5/5

DevD

My wife asked me to show her the movie DevD as she was delivering when the movie released and she missed out. Though Have I told that I watched it with a frd when I was 5 beer down ;-) Anyway...Coming back...Though I warn her that it will not fell into her sensibilities still she persist. I felt with no choice so brought the DVD opps VCD and played it on my newly brought philips DVD player with HDMI and USB which is DivX Compatible. You know we all love to showoff sometime...good for health ;-)

As said and known, she disliked it but I again enjoyed it thoroughly. Actually I like two things more then movie itself. Reason I offline them from movie as they are bigger then the movie i assume. First. Director Anurag khashap and his unique way of telling the story. He is the same guy who made Black Friday. I love his courage as he really converted a classic into another classic but which resembles with colors and moods of today's world with brilliant camera work. Second which is bigger then first for me. Music. Amit trivedi rocks. What a music. Ahh...nirvana for me. Even I won't shy to say that at first I disliked it cause I guess I don't have stomach to digest such a brilliant recipe which so far developed appetite for low standard but easy on ear Pritam kinda music though no offense to Pritam as he too is doing good in doing what he do best...make easy on ear and mind melody. But Amit took us to some other level where creativity and experimentation achieved new meaning. I won't dwell further into music as I am not reviewing it here but I strongly means STRONGLY recommend everybody to give a dekho (watch) to DevD and if possible (no you have to!!) listen to music. You will cherish the experience for your lifetime. Though I might write someday on Gulal exclusively but its another great shot by Anurag so do check it when mood and time allows.

Cheers
-AY

Fashion - Music review

I usually don't write Music review as I am no expert in music but still I have ear which are listening all sorts of rhythms from last 29 years and perfected enough to differentiate between various nuances of different instruments, frequencies, sounds etc.

Madhur Bhandarkar is director associated with mostly movies (Corporate, Page 3, chandni bar..) which are strong in content and don't rely on typical bollywood format which heavily rely on music to take story forward but Fashion become an exception and that too a good one. Enough to push me to write something on it and also it will kill my long absense from blog.

Coming to Album. It Contains 4 original songs, 1 theme song and 5 remixes of all original songs (which is also quite an fashion in itself to provide remix of all the songs in bollywood flicks nowadays). The music is composed by duo Salim-Sulaiman (SS) who recently earn name by composing chart buster Chak de india of movie with same name and almost become national anthem of India last year. They really look in great form in this album and make maximum use of opportunity given to them on such a contemptory movie on a very different theme not touched by any director so far in India (aka bollywood).

Fashion album open with "Fashion ka Jalwa", song sing by SS fav singer Sukhvinder supported well by Satya and Robert. Songs started in high node with loud drum beat with Satya rendering Jalwa and Robert giving some funky rap. Then Sukhvinder took over with over the top voice giving right punch to words and singing in enthu mood. In between we can listen a female voice in two different place i.e. One singing in Soft English lyrics while another (I guess hard kaur) singing English rap. Overall a decent start to Album.

Second Song start with a very pleasing voice rendering words in arabic which is actually Salim himself behind mike. More and more composer nowadays giving themselves chances to sing song and look like this become a trend now but no problem till they sound good which Salim is as he has very good voice i.e. neat, clean and pleasent on ear drums. Starting music piece is also awesome and I am sure will be used in movie as various places as background. Then a releatively new voice Shruti Pathak took over, who has unconventional dusky voice, but matching the song requirment. The song has every potential to be listen in repeat mode for sometime and will be a great piece for people who loves listening music in car. Song become little dull in middle but still has capacity to become one of the best song of 2008.

kuchh khaas comes third in album and for me the best song of album. But it can confuse people easily that who the composer is, if anybody don't know it is SS, as Pritam is written all over it, as this kinda music is what pritam has perfected over a period of time i.e. Soft ballad with haunting feel to it. Mohit chauhan can undoubtly the best choice to sing this song as he has same capicity like Lucky ali and Faisal kapadia (String lead singer) to make any song special just by his musculine raw vocal cord. He is well supported by Neha bhasin (band Viva member) who I guess has her first bolly number. She was also disappeared long from music scene but I should say that she has voice which can be of some interest to some music director of bollywood but definetly has face to die for so she should try for acting rather then singing alone. Her another Viva member Anouskha too sang some bolly numbers and have definetly better mature voice then Neha. Anyhow, Song really turned out to be great listen and would really be loved by classes and masses.

Aashiyana comes next. Has a very peppy start with Salim again behind the mike for complete song crooning aashiyana words again and again. Song smoothly slip into next gear and become more fast in treatment but comes very easy on ear. Lyrics is ok kind but Salim voice fills the gap and the songs become more then average. It will slowly grip you and I am sure will come out as another winner in already looking magnificent album.

Theame of Fashion is last song of album. It start again with voice crooning in arabic with excellent use of Sontoor strings in backdrop. Then songs become conventional with loud drub beat and inbetween use of Sontoor strings. Also, some alap by unknown singer giving much required feel to theme. Overall, attempt is quite good and I am sure it will be used in movie during fashion shows. This song is again remixed by Midival Punditz with karsh kale. Midival punditz has earn quite a name for themselves in worldwide music scene and has some great work behind them. They have kept the soul of theme intact but made it trance by adding lots of electronic loops. Verdict - good fun listening when car is moving fast and have some shots of vodka working overtime.

I am not commenting on remixes of other songs as I don't like the whole idea of giving remixed versions in album. Let them done by DJ on dance floors. Still, all remixes are done neatly and will liked by people who love loud outdone work on original peices.

Overall, the album has huge potentional and will have all the grooves to turn out as one of the best album of 2008. Still in my opinion, it will be more like by classes then masses.

My Rating: ****/5

Gandhi my father - Movie Review

Star cast: Akshaye Khanna, Bhoomika Chawla, Shefali Shah, Darshan Jariwala

Director : Feroz Abbas Khan

Review:
From very long, we are seeing movies on Gandhi. And mostly, the light is always on portrayal of Gandhi as freedom fighter or man with principles. But when I heard that a movie is being made which will highlight Gandhi as Father and stress on his relationship with his Son, it instantly hit my attention as this is one territory which is least being explored as it has his own dark side and less people shown courage to dwell into it. Fortunetly, Anil Kapoor (Producer) and Feroz Abbad Khan (Director) did.

The story start with Gandhi working in South Africa and his relationship with white people and his wife. Latter Akshay (Harilal) joined his father for becoming a barrister but his dream took overturn when his father (Gandhi) pushed (Or motivate) him to become freedom fighter. It showcase that Gandhi believes more on practical study rather then formal education. Harilal too try to walk on his father footstep but soon failed as its infatuation towards his wife, children and his own dream of becoming big success altered his path and then start the repulsion between son and father. He finally defeated his father in terms of pursuing his dream and to left him on his own terms. He return back to India but there start his unsuccessful stories, which become bigger and bigger with time. I am leaving reader to see movie to catch further story...

Performance. First Akshay. He has given best performance of his tenure so far and is absolutely convincing in his portrayal as Harilal Gandhi. The scene in which he reach the room, where his wife dead body is placed is one where you can see a fine actor, which is hidden/developing in Akshay. Darshan jariwala is also good as MK Gandhi and able to live up such a larger then life character. He performed well and with quite an ease. Shefali Chaya (Now Shah) as Kasturba is brilliant actress and already proved her metal in TV serials. Bhumika chawla too performed well but actress of her candidature is waste in these kinds of role. Other actor have also justifies their performances.

Technique and Make up is also good and cinematography especially that Duo tone color picturisation was too good. Costume looks and match with context.

Overall, a worth seeing movie which is definately slow in progress and impatient people may find it boring, but give you an insight of area which is not brought to silver screen till date. Also, the way story progress and connection of scene may look worn to some people; and to critics especially, but for an average movie watcher like me, it still enough to give it a go.

Rating (out of 5): ***