Sunday 15 May, 2005
Bose - the forgotten hero
The Forgotten Hero is based on the last five years of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's life and is directed by Shyam Benegal, rated one of India's best directors In an interesting departure from the norm as far as Bollywood music is concerned, Benegal had music director A R Rahman insert theme songs into the film. In Hollywood, most well known films have over the years become almost instantly recognisable by their themes. Hopefully, Bose will set a trend for themes in our films rather than the song and dance routine that is so much part and parcel of our movies. Aazadi, a blend of western classical with a few Hindi words, including Jai Hind that is sung in the background, is yet surprisingly Indian in tune that is the trademark of A R Rahman. Kadam kadam badaye jaa is often considered the anthem of the Indian National Army as it marched towards India. The song is a mix of martial tune and classical composition. It is the kind of song that gives the listener goose flesh. After all, this is the tune that launched a thousands soldiers, armed with little more than the determination to free their motherland. Ekla chalo, a famous Rabindranath Tagore song that was loved by both Bose and Gandhi, has had a makeover as a duet sung by Sonu Nigam and Nachiketa Chakraborty. Not sure if the purists will quite like it. Hum Dilli Dilli jayenge is another INA song, made famous over the years as the army's resolve to capture Delhi. The song is the kind that gets one going, set to a fast pace with a martial tune. Desh ki matti, a song of nostalgia, is sung evocatively and slowly, the words drifting down as lazily as the Ganga over the plains of India. Zikr, a Muslim prayer set to tune, is again a good hear, a song that lifts the spirit. Ghoomparani is a popular rhyme sung by Bengalis, usually while putting their children to sleep, and is another lilting song that soothes the spirit. And then there is the Durga Puja rhythm that one hears blaring from pandals whenever the festival season comes upon us, played out by Rahman as only he can. After the songs come the themes and the musical versions of some of the songs. Brilliant music played out by orchestras that provoke the imagination, especially when one links the theme with the title. So while hearing the Netaji themes, one can just shut one's eyes and try and imagine a solitary Bose as he essayed one of the greatest stories to free his country, astory that is perhaps more poignant because it came so near and was yet so far.That Benegal and Rahman were unwilling to make any compromises with the music is proved by the fact that the Czech Film Orchestra, based in Prague, rendered the themes. Hopefully in the future, such themes and orchestra music will be provided from within India. Emilie theme is particularly lilting. Similar is the case with the other themes that are either sombre (Hitler theme, U Boat theme) or a little fast-paced (Afghanistan theme).The orchestral renditions of Kadam kadam badaye ja and Desh ki mitti also make for some great music and hearing them in a dark cinema hall can only have a deeper impact.
Saturday 14 May, 2005
Bunti aur Bubli
"Bunty aur Babli" is the latest movie from "Yashraj Films". Being a fan of Yashraj I am looking forward to it. The last movie from the Director "Shaad Ali" was "Saathiya", which I admired a lot. The music from "A.R.Rahman" (in Saathiya) was one of my all time favourite including the great lyrics by "Gulzar".
Hope Shaad Ali recreates Magic in bunti and Bubli as well, genere wise the two movies are altogether different, but still the production house and same director made me to mention the earlier movie. Next similarity may be the probable success of "Bunti and Bubli".
Starring the most successful actor of Indian Film Industry "Amitabh Bachchhan" and his son "Abhishek Bachhan", who has recently proved his acting skills in "Yuva" and "Dhoom". And the "Rani Mukharjee", inclusion of her name in the credentials ensures the success of any movie. Most recently, "Black" and "Veer Zaara", later was again from "YashRaj Films" directed by son "Aditya Chopra".
Below I am giving synonips of story of the forthcoming movie, hope you and me will enjoy the movie when it comes into theaters.
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Bunty and Babli are two avid dreamers. Two free souls born into caged small town realities. They grow weary of being two specks on the horizon. They desire the horizon itself.And so they pack their aspirations in worn out bags, whip a scarf of confidence around their proud necks and set forth. On a journey across the length and breadth of the country, spinning circles around the people they meet. Born 'Rakesh' (Abhishek Bachchan) in a lethargic, lead-eyed Fursatganj, he is a man of schemes, ideas, invention and restlessness. His small Uttar Pradesh town begins to feel a bit too small for his king size plans. He wants to be amongst the richest in the world. He wants to be in jacuzzis. He wants to be in limousines. He wants to be a big blip on the radar of history. He wants to be big black typo in newspaper headlines. In short, he wants out of here.In a parallel universe, in another slump-backed, crinkle nosed small town called Pankinagar, 'Vimmi' (Rani Mukherjee), our heroine, faces the same dilemma. Does she follow the course every other young marriageable girl does? Or does she carve new fatelines on her soft as butter palms? In her mind (but in her mind alone!) she’s the foxiest thing to ever have hit a ramp. She’s the hottie the world can just gape at but never touch. She is Miss India.So she too decides to fly the coop.Somewhere along their individual journeys, Rakesh and Vimmi meet, flogged by circumstance but unwilling to concede. In a moment of mistaken truth, 'Bunty' and 'Babli' are born. And the world gets turned on its head! We follow the duo through caper after caper, in which they meet rajahs, powerbrokers, shaadi bandwallahs, millionaires, investors, leaders, ministers, banjaras, elephants, explorers, hoteliers, chai boys and one very, very upset policeman! The world sits up and takes wide-eyed notice of this pair. Bunty is the Rakesh that Rakesh always dreamt of being, with a delicious twist. Babli is the Vimmi that Vimmi never thought she’d become, with another delicious twist. Together they are more than the sum of their parts. Together they are spiritual gurus, bureaucrat and secretary, gangster and moll, business partners, hen pecked husband and pregnant wife, lawyer and sexually harassed client, vagabonds, caught-in-a-downpour lovers and lots, lots more. And they seem to be loving every minute of it. Their escapades play out against backdrops as varied as the Taj Mahal, the banks of the Ganges, the saffrons of Benaras, the browns of Kanpur and Lucknow, the whites of Mussoorie, the tinkling bells of Rishikesh and Hardwar, the skies of Delhi and all across the vein like network of the Great Indian railways and highways. Every mundane reality in every dusty corner of India is flushed out of its slumber by a splash of 'Bunty aur Babli' excitement in this, the tale of two dreamers that blaze the sky like comets. But do not die. Like all good comets they promise to reappear again. And they do. And how they do all of that is, seriously, the stuff legends are made of. Dashrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) is the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch. Currently he has exactly four passions bidis, channa, Bunty and Babli. But getting hands on Bunty and Babli proves to be the biggest challenge of his 30-year old career.
Hope Shaad Ali recreates Magic in bunti and Bubli as well, genere wise the two movies are altogether different, but still the production house and same director made me to mention the earlier movie. Next similarity may be the probable success of "Bunti and Bubli".
Starring the most successful actor of Indian Film Industry "Amitabh Bachchhan" and his son "Abhishek Bachhan", who has recently proved his acting skills in "Yuva" and "Dhoom". And the "Rani Mukharjee", inclusion of her name in the credentials ensures the success of any movie. Most recently, "Black" and "Veer Zaara", later was again from "YashRaj Films" directed by son "Aditya Chopra".
Below I am giving synonips of story of the forthcoming movie, hope you and me will enjoy the movie when it comes into theaters.
-----
Bunty and Babli are two avid dreamers. Two free souls born into caged small town realities. They grow weary of being two specks on the horizon. They desire the horizon itself.And so they pack their aspirations in worn out bags, whip a scarf of confidence around their proud necks and set forth. On a journey across the length and breadth of the country, spinning circles around the people they meet. Born 'Rakesh' (Abhishek Bachchan) in a lethargic, lead-eyed Fursatganj, he is a man of schemes, ideas, invention and restlessness. His small Uttar Pradesh town begins to feel a bit too small for his king size plans. He wants to be amongst the richest in the world. He wants to be in jacuzzis. He wants to be in limousines. He wants to be a big blip on the radar of history. He wants to be big black typo in newspaper headlines. In short, he wants out of here.In a parallel universe, in another slump-backed, crinkle nosed small town called Pankinagar, 'Vimmi' (Rani Mukherjee), our heroine, faces the same dilemma. Does she follow the course every other young marriageable girl does? Or does she carve new fatelines on her soft as butter palms? In her mind (but in her mind alone!) she’s the foxiest thing to ever have hit a ramp. She’s the hottie the world can just gape at but never touch. She is Miss India.So she too decides to fly the coop.Somewhere along their individual journeys, Rakesh and Vimmi meet, flogged by circumstance but unwilling to concede. In a moment of mistaken truth, 'Bunty' and 'Babli' are born. And the world gets turned on its head! We follow the duo through caper after caper, in which they meet rajahs, powerbrokers, shaadi bandwallahs, millionaires, investors, leaders, ministers, banjaras, elephants, explorers, hoteliers, chai boys and one very, very upset policeman! The world sits up and takes wide-eyed notice of this pair. Bunty is the Rakesh that Rakesh always dreamt of being, with a delicious twist. Babli is the Vimmi that Vimmi never thought she’d become, with another delicious twist. Together they are more than the sum of their parts. Together they are spiritual gurus, bureaucrat and secretary, gangster and moll, business partners, hen pecked husband and pregnant wife, lawyer and sexually harassed client, vagabonds, caught-in-a-downpour lovers and lots, lots more. And they seem to be loving every minute of it. Their escapades play out against backdrops as varied as the Taj Mahal, the banks of the Ganges, the saffrons of Benaras, the browns of Kanpur and Lucknow, the whites of Mussoorie, the tinkling bells of Rishikesh and Hardwar, the skies of Delhi and all across the vein like network of the Great Indian railways and highways. Every mundane reality in every dusty corner of India is flushed out of its slumber by a splash of 'Bunty aur Babli' excitement in this, the tale of two dreamers that blaze the sky like comets. But do not die. Like all good comets they promise to reappear again. And they do. And how they do all of that is, seriously, the stuff legends are made of. Dashrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) is the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch. Currently he has exactly four passions bidis, channa, Bunty and Babli. But getting hands on Bunty and Babli proves to be the biggest challenge of his 30-year old career.
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