Great Hitz

Music Review of A.R. Rahman's Delhi 6 by Aakash Gandhi (9.5/10)

2009-01-26T22:35:00.000-08:00

Delhi 6 Music Review

Source: avstv.com By Aakash Gandhi Reviewer’s Rating: 9.5/10

It’s raining Rahman all over the world…and I absolutely love it! If you thought that 2008 was a groundbreaking year for the Madras Mozart (5 Hindi OSTs, 1 Tamil OST, 1 International OST), then you’ll be completely stupefied by how Rahman has lit the blaze of 2009. Last week, Rahman brought glory to the homeland by roping in Hollywood’s prestigious Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for Slumdog Millionaire. Now, just half a month into the new year, and Rahman picks up right where he left off with another spectacular score in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s much anticipated DELHI 6.

Many believe, myself included, that Rahman will undoubtedly raise the greatest trophy of them all – the Oscar – come February for his unprecedented mastery in Slumdog Millionaire. But even I was skeptical towards Rahman’s ability to continually work at such an incredibly high level. He’s quick to put any and all doubts to rest. DELHI 6 is just as rich, just as powerful, and just as awe-inspiring as his work in Slumdog Millionaire. As we take the timeless stroll down the streets of Delhi 6, let us rejoice in the phenomenon that is RAHMANIA.

Bhor Bhaye is classical bliss in the purest of forms. Rahman is in rare form, as he dazzles with his mastery over the mesmerizingly poetic textures of authentic Indian Classical music – a genre that once used to fuel his critics. The piece is poured through a classical lense, laced formidably by the tabla and harmonium. While Ustad Barle Ghulam Ali Khan and Gujri Todi put forth tremendous support, it is Shreya Ghoshal who never fails to amaze. Her classical rendition is flawless in its control, range, and sweetness. Furthermore, her syrupy sweet texture serves as a wholesome foil to the other two more classically-rooted vocal tones. Verdict: The Rahman-Shreya collaboration attains musical nirvana yet again!

Masakali is a musical wonder in respect to its melodic and rhythmic treatment. Rahman is a truly globalized musician. He proves it yet again with the whirlwind of sounds that grace our senses in this composition. Let’s first delve deeper into Rahman’s diversely arranged rhythm. When we deconstruct it, you’ll find that Rahman utilizes much Arabic percussion – an element that is highly characteristic of Rahman’s music. Yet, he toys with the tempo, tweaks the structure, uniquely layers the percussion elements, and miraculously we are in the midst of an Arabic sound with a Latin flavor in the rhythm. It is this seamless liquefying of sound that gives Rahman an edge that few, if any, are able to compete with. Staying with the arrangements, Rahman restricts himself from altering them too much as the song unfolds. It makes sense considering how richly animated the melody is above it all. However, the arrangements are beautifully sprinkled by a few highlights of acoustic riffs and the playful strums of the accordion (or slight variation thereof), both of which casually appear throughout this breath-taking number.

Moving up into the melody, Rahman completely reinvents himself yet again! Although extremely fresh and breezy from afar, the melody is addictively wild and free from structure. Of course, this genius is not shy when it comes to breaking traditional musical norms. The more Rahman challenges standards, the more challenging it is for his singers to keep up at the same ridiculously high level of quality. Yet, that’s exactly what vocalist Mohit Chauhan does! Working last with Rahman in “Khoon Chala” (Rang De Basanti), Mohit Chauhan proves himself worthy of yet another Rahmantic piece. Lacking a sturdy structure to conform to, Chauhan releases all inhibitions with his free-style rendition. Lyrically, Prasoon Joshi uses his mastery over imagery to convey romance as if it were being discovered for the very first time. Verdict: An absolutely splendid composition from the very depths of its rhythmic makeup to the breezy heights of its colorfully vibrant melody.

Noor is a beautifully written spiritual poem by Prasoon Joshi, rendered powerfully by Amitabh Bachchan. With no musical elements involved, the poem speaks on the all-pervading Supreme Being. One must look within to find comfort in his light. If one loves the Almighty, then he should love every soul. Verdict: This poem only reaffirms Prasoon Joshi’s status as one of the nation’s most talented poets/lyricists.

Aarti (Tumre Bhavan Mein) was a song that I was especially looking forward to because of Rekha Bharadwaj’s vocal presence in it. However, I was disappointed to find that she was merely a part of a four woman chorus, including Kishori Gowarikar, Shraddha Pandit, and Sujata Majumdar. Nevertheless, my expectations aside, Rahman’s Aarti is extremely simple in its treatment. Built upon the slow flicker of the sitar, the chorus renders a melodically sweet and lyrically poignant bhajan intended to serve a situational purpose in the film. Verdict: An extremely soulful bhajan.

Genda Phool is a stylish track that features some WICKED beats in the arrangements! I said in the previous track that “I was disappointed” by the fact that Rekha Bharadwaj’s vocals weren’t highlighted by Rahman. Now honestly speaking, how often does Rahman disappoint? Exactly. Rekha Bharadwaj DOES feature in Genda Phool, a number that is unlike anything you’ve ever heard in your life! Despite an intriguingly catchy melody, it is the heavy and deep techno beats in the arrangements that get your soul thumping and body bouncing. Bharadwaj’s lead vocals provide a rustic feel that adds to the song’s unconventional sound. Interestingly enough, I should also note that Rajat Dholakia is co-credited with the music of this song. Verdict: GROUNDBREAKING!

Dil Gira Dafatan is a soul-stirring musical masterpiece! I’m at a complete loss for words to describe the ravishing nature of this spectacular work of art. First off, let’s look at the sensational surprise – vocalist Ash King, who makes a stunning film debut with Dil Gira Dafatan. This UK born singer has been breaking new ground for the Indian Music Community and has collaborated with such esteemed International artists as R. Kelly (USA), rapper Flawless (UK), and singer Ramzi Sleiman (Lebanon). However, his vocal brilliance has never glistened more than it has in Dil Gira Dafatan (a phenomenon most Rahman singers undergo). Although similar in texture to Javed Ali, King’s style is miles apart – which he impressively proves in the opening minute alone.

Now moving over to the Genius…Rahman’s treatment is awe-inspiring. Be it the timidly crafted romantic melody, the tender vocal interludes by Chinmayee, or the riveting acoustic riffs, Dil Gira Dafatan is a musical miracle. Soon enough, the composition explodes with the synergistic blend of bagpipes, violins, strings, and percussion. Prasoon Joshi’s lyrical ingenuity matches Rahman’s invincibility surprisingly well. Verdict: It’s as if I’m hearing music for the very first time…

Hey Kaala Bandar picks up where much of Ghajini’s OST left off. Heavy on the techno beats and strong bass lines, this song leans heavily on attitude and style. Rendered by Karthik, Naresh, Srinivas, and Bonny Chakravarthy, the music is fairly one-dimensional in the arrangements. Flooded with rap interludes, it provides little satisfaction for lovers of highly melodic music. Verdict: It’s a great song that fits its genre, but will be highly over-shadowed by all the other more poetic and distinctive compositions that decorate the soundtrack of Delhi 6.

Rehna Tu is a euphoric lounge track that triumphs for a number of diverse reasons. Melodically, Rehna Tu is vintage Rahman! The melody tenderly crawls over you, while the ambiance of the song captures every nuance of your attention. It truly is a peacefully blissful composition from every angle. Rahman joins hands with Benny Dayal to croon this stunning portrait. The song is flooded with such a vast array of sounds, most of which are heavily programmed, that you really don’t know what you’re listening to - it all assimilates into one over-powering vibration. Prasoon Joshi is once again at his lyrical best. Verdict: As hard as I may try, words cannot capture the essence of what you’ll experience in Rehna Tu. It’s amazing.

The title song, Delhi 6, is another song filled with attitude, flair, and style. Structured along the lines of a techno/synth hip-hop composition, Delhi 6 is highly enjoyable. Flooded with heart-pounding synths, vintage guitar, and other innovative sounds, the situational number should really blossom on screen. Blaaze and Benny Dayal infuse the song with high-octane vocals, while Vivienne Pocha, Tanvi, and Claire add a variety of vocal flavors to this intense piece. Verdict: A heavy track that will keep you on the edge of your seat…

Arziyan is a humbling close to an extraordinary soundtrack by India’s greatest composer of all-time. Rahman blesses us with yet another personal take on the qawwali. The composition is appropriately very simple in the arrangements – tabla, harmonium, and light guitar laces. It is the emotionally liberating melody and the stunning chemistry between vocalists Javed Ali and Kailash Kher that make this song a true masterpiece. Rahman’s melody is easily the greatest asset of this song - filling your heart with such calmness and euphoria. Prasoon Joshi’s ode to God is a spiritual awakening of sorts. Verdict: The touching beauty of this qawwali will bring tears to your eyes…

The aural splendor of DELHI 6’s score is one that escapes superlatives. Rahman’s varied approach and stylized compositions provide rare insight into the deepest corners of musical nirvana. Yet at the same time, they all carry that special Rahmantic touch that cannot be seen, nor heard…it must be felt. From the classically enlightened ambiance of Bhor Bhaye to the globalized rhythms of Masakali, from the sultry smooth treatment of Dil Gira Dafatan to the beautifully reinvigorated qawwali of Arziyan – Rahman’s Delhi 6 is a potpourri of shimmering brilliance that emerges amidst a milieu of vibrating sensations.

One can only marvel at this gifted man’s musical wizardry. But the scary part is…after two decades, it is still just the beginning.

Aakash Gandhi is Managing Editor and Senior Writer for PlanetBollywood.com. He also freelances for AVS TV Network at avstv.com

Movie Review : Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-24T23:49:00.000-08:00

First things first! Slumdog Millionaire deserves all the accolades and awards that it has been receiving of late and will continue receiving in the future. Also, in this writer's individualistic opinion, Slumdog Millionaire doesn't make a mockery or an attempt to sell the poverty of India to the West.

Sure, Slumdog Millionaire depicts life on the mean streets of Mumbai, so what? Doesn't it exist? Should we ridicule the effort it just because a gora has made it? We don't raise a noise when Indian film-makers do so, so why now? Double standards!

Slumdog Millionaire is, at heart, a love story and director Danny Boyle treats it like a Bollywood film. In fact, the screen writing [Simon Beaufoy] is so smart, so energetic [he must be a big fan of Bollywood] that everything is spoon-fed to the viewer, unlike most international films.

international films.

Sure, Slumdog Millionaire is dark and gory at places, but at the end of it all, it offers a ray of hope for those who've been plain unlucky when it comes to the materialistic things of life and most importantly, love.

So what's the final word? Jai Ho!

Accused of cheating and desperate to prove his innocence, an eighteen-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai reflects back on his tumultuous life while competing to win the prized money on India's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'.

Jamal [Dev Patel] may not have a penny to his name, but that could all change in a matter of hours. He's one question away from taking the top prize on India's most popular television game show, but as with everything else in Jamal's life, it isn't going to be easy.

Arrested by police under suspicion of cheating, Jamal is interrogated by the authorities. The police simply can't believe that Jamal could possibly possess the knowledge to get this far in the game, and in order to convince them of how he gained such knowledge, Jamal begins reflecting back on his childhood.

As young boys, Jamal and his older brother Salim lived in squalor and lost their mother in a mob attack on Muslims. Subsequently forced to rely on their own wits to survive, the desperate siblings fell back on petty crime, eventually befriending adorable yet feisty young Latika as they sought out food and shelter on the unforgiving streets of Mumbai.

Though life on the streets was never easy, Jamal's experiences ultimately instilled in him the knowledge he needed to answer the tough questions posed to him on the show.

Danny Boyle and screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy join hands to create one of the most engaging rags-to-riches story of a boy raised in the slums of Mumbai. A few scenes may put you off completely, but if you're a Mumbaite, you must've surely encountered such characters on the back of your street.

Slumdog Millionaire keeps you hooked, there's not a single dull moment and most importantly, your heart pines for the lovers [Jamal and Latika] to unite, after all that they've gone through in life. That's one of the prime reasons why Slumdog Millionaire works big time.

If Boyle's direction and Beaufoy's screen writing works, so does A.R. Rahman's exuberant musical score. The background score is eclectic, while the song 'Jai Ho' [at the conclusion of the film] is mesmeric. The camera [Anthony Dod Mantle] captures the streets of the metropolis remarkably. Note the chase at the very start, with a constable chasing the young Salim and Jamal in the slums. Brilliant!

Dev Patel is top notch, while Anil Kapoor is highly competent. Freida Pinto does very well. Irrfan Khan gives his individualistic style to his role. Mahesh Manjrekar and Saurabh Shukla are first-rate. Madhur Mittal [older Salim] is alright. Ankur Vikal spells terror. Special mention must be made of the young actors in the film; they are such fine actors. Especially the young Salim and Jamal.

On the whole, Slumdog Millionaire is a must-see! One of the finest films of our times, this one should not be missed for any reason.

Source Article : http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/reviews/2009/slumdog-millionaire-review-220109.html

Watch Raaz 2-The Mystery Contiues (2009) movie trailer

2009-01-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

Movie Review : Raaz 2 - The Mystery Continues (2009)

2009-01-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

Raaz -The Mystery Continues : Succeeds in spooking you
Rating : 3.5 out of 5*
Starring: Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman
Director: Mohit Suri

Storyline :

Adhyayan [Yash] and Nandita [Kangana] is a couple deeply in love. Yash is a documentary film maker who runs a successful reality show on TV called Andhavishwas which exposes superstitious beliefs in India .His sole mission in life is to falsify all the old-age superstitions of ‘the shining India while Nandita is a successful model.

A brooding artist Prithvi [Emraan Hashmi] experiences mysterious and distressing visions about Nandita [Kangna Ranaut], a woman he has never met, while he paints on canvas. Intrigued by these visions, Prithvi tracks her down and warns her that these are not merely paintings of her, but accidents that are waiting to happen.

At first, Nandita refuses to believe him and dismisses him as an eccentric stalker. However, the striking resemblance between Prithvi's paintings and the near-death incidents in her life is hard to ignore.

Now, one of Prithvi's paintings has revealed her as dead. The only way she can change her fate is to unravel this mystery with his help, at the risk of alienating herself from her boyfriend, Yash [Adhyayan Suman]. But he refuses to believe in Prithvi's premonitions. Will Nandita risk her love and her life to unravel this mystery?

The movie starts off well and soon limps when the focus shifts to the lacklustre love story between Kangana and Adhyayan. The newcomer who is getting a relaunch after committing professional hara-kiri by starting off with a forgettable role in Haal-e-Dil (you remember?), Adhyayan fails to make a mark this time around as well. The guy just doesn’t have any screen presence and he needs to see a good hair dresser, pronto.

Emraan Hashmi puts some momentum in the story with his late entry. And though he glowers through most of his performance, Emi boy manages to hold your attention. Looking haunted is perhaps something that comes naturally to Kangana Ranaut who, by now, is getting quite predictable in her ‘girl interrupted’ kind of roles.

On the acting front, both Emraan and Kangna vie for top honours. Emraan is excellent. He conveys a lot through facial expressions and that's the sign of a proficient actor. He's just getting better and better with every film. Kangna is top notch. After FASHION, this one's another power-packed performance from the actress. Adhyayan Suman is super-confident and registers a strong impact, especially towards the climax. He shows promise. Jackie Shroff is quite okay in a brief role.

On the whole, Raaz - The Mystery Continues is rich in the horror quotient and that is one of its major USPs, besides the highly competent performances by its principal cast and a lilting musical score. At the box-office, this one will continue the winning streak of Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films. The 4-day weekend [Monday, January 26 in a holiday] will only cement its status further. Go for it!

Watch the trailer of this movie : click here

6 Movies Worth Seeing Now

2009-01-23T02:24:00.000-08:00

Now is a great time to go to the movies. In the last weeks of 2008, the Hollywood studios released their best pictures of the year so that these films would be uppermost in people's minds during the awards season, which is already under way. These high-quality movies will also likely stick around in theaters a little while longer than they might at other times of the year, which makes it easier to get out to see them.

1. Slumdog Millionaire is billed as the feel-good movie of the holiday season, but you shouldn't show up expecting instant gratification from this film. In fact, the movie has some pretty grim aspects, from a police-inflicted torture scene early in the film to gritty portrayals of Mumbai slum life. I thought the torture scene could have been left out of the movie, but the depiction of two young brothers and how they manage to fend for themselves is exhilarating. The boys as young adults are less interesting, and the film's end is pure fantasy, but that's Bollywood. It worked for me.

2. I read some negative reviews of The Reader that almost kept me away. But I vaguely remembered that I had read the book years ago, and I like Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, so I took a chance, and I really liked the film. I think the performances by the three primary actors are good, and the exploration of the male character's conflict was interesting to me.

3. I went to Doubt to see the always good Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman and to see how Amy Adams would do with a less-perky role. Knowing only the outlines of the plot, I expected the movie to be a somewhat formulaic tale about a priest suspected of molesting a child. Early on in the movie, Streep didn't convince me of the integrity of her nun/school principal character-she just seemed like Meryl Streep playing cranky. However, as the film proceeded, the details of the alleged victim's situation became more clear, and the story and the characters gained complexity.I ended up finding the movie more thought-provoking than anticipated and thinking that all the actors did pretty well, although I'd still rather have seen Cherry Jones than Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius.

4. I had read a lot about the making of Milk and some about the history and principal characters, so there weren't many surprises while watching the movie. I liked the grainy look of it, which I thought did give it a '70s feel and blended well with the bits of real footage that the filmmakers incorporated. I thought Sean Penn did a great job portraying Harvey Milk, based on the few clips I've seen of the real man. Thirty years after the assassination and a few months after the passing of Proposition 8, this movie is a very timely reminder that California still has some work to do to secure equal rights for all its citizens.

5. Watching the Watergate hearings and Nixon resigning are my first political memories, so Frost/Nixon was a must-see for me. While I wouldn't call this a life-changing movie, I enjoyed Frank Langella's portrayal of the disgraced president and the glimpse of what life might have been like for him after leaving the White House. The timing of this movie is impeccable-playing as it does against the backdrop of another Republican president and administration leaving the offices that many think they've abused.

6. The Wrestler is probably not for everyone. I'm no fan of professional wrestling (or boxing, for that matter), and I had to look away from the screen during a couple of the fight scenes, but I've always liked Mickey Rourke's characters, so I wanted to see his latest work. He does do a great job, and the story is a pretty convincing take on what the end days of a pro wrestling career might look like. Marisa Tomei is also very good.

I didn't see the purpose of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - I thought it was just boring. Still on my list to see is Revolutionary Road.

Renee Munshi tries to see at least one or two movies a week.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Munshi

Circus Kannada movie review

2009-01-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

Movie Name : Circus
Movie Type : Kannada
Producer : Dayal Padmanabhan
Starring : Ganesh, Archana Gupta, Konkan, Sakleshpur, Subramanya
Music : Emil
Director : Dayal Padmanabhan

Golden Star Ganesh is the lead actor of Circus Movie. Circus kannada movie started on 2nd of August in Bangalore. Golden star Ganesh is teamed with Archana Gupta in Circus Movie. Circus movie is a romantic comedy thriller. Dayal Padmanabhan who had started his film career as a film writer has graduated to become a producer-director of a new film Circus. Rockline Venkatesh has bought the world wide distribution rights of Circus movie. Avinash, Ashok Rao, Gurudatt, Muni, Dharma, Layendra, Avinash Bharadwaj, Mithra, Pavan, Murali, Achut Kumar, Shri, Naveen, Sai Krishna, Vijayasarathi, Yathiraj, Renu, Padmaja Rao, Rekha Das, Bindu, Aruna Balaraj, Suma Rao, Nisha are in the supporting cast.

Storyline :

Dhanush (Ganesh) and his four friends are fun loving pranksters who reside in a Railway Colony.They all try to play a trick on a train that runs between bangalore and mysore.In the train Dhanush meets his childhood friend priya who still loves him but Dhanush is no loger intrested in her.
One of the Dhanush's friends plan a trick which leads him to write a bogus threatening letter to the Railway Station Master in Bangalore. In a bit of confusion, one of the five youngsters writes the name and address of Dhanush on the cover and posts it. And then the search starts to trace the letter. Unfortunately for the youngsters, a group of terrorists have designed a plan to do the same thing,
which puts the life of all the passengers in danger.How these five manage to save all the lives is the whole gist of the movie...

The main plus point of the movie is the story. The last 30 minutes thrilling scenes leads the audience to the edge of their seats.

Dayal had tried out everything to make the film a suspense thriller.But,his idea of making it a package of too many elements has failed to impress the audience.

In his eagerness to please Ganesh's young fans, Dayal has incorporated the romance element in the movie but it fails to gel with the main plot. The film could have been better without the love angle.

Shekhar Chandru's camera work is really superb. The background music, DTS and graphics work are very good.

Many sequences in the film are thrilling especially the scenes relating to the tracing of the mystery letter which is well handled.
Ganesh has done a good job and has put in a lot of effort in thrilling sequences.Archana Gupta, who plays Ganesh's love interest, looks cute but fails to emote. Avinash Bharadwaj, Mithra and others have done a better job. Sadhu Kokila's comedy brings in a few laughs.

Circus is really an excellent movie but it would have been better if it was made more realistic.
Can watch it once if you are a ganesh fan :-)