Dawn of a New Era !! :-P Umm...well....

Drumroll...........

I hereby declare this day as Dawn of a New Era. Now, king will rule all over the world. And that too, with his own symbol. A symbol of harmony. A symbol of unity. A symbol of peace. A symbol of.....

Ahh...leave it. i know it was really bad.

But here, I want to introduce Official Logo of my blog. Presenting you, dunkdaft, the Logo. After years of research, and design development, here comes my masterpiece. But hey, that was not done by me. Actually, I have designed a very basic shape of the logo. And 'MAHA Thanks' to Soumyadip of Cutting The Chai, [Twitter is a great help too] for casting a spell with his magic wand on it, and creating a masterpiece. :) So here it is -

From Now on, you will see it everywhere. On images, on my mug, on my mousepad, on Tshirts of beautiful girls out there [okay, come back come back]. actually on my Tshirt. I am completely in love with it. Thanks again Soumyadip.

Tell me how's it? Did you like it? Any more color variants?

Kambakkht Ishq : Music Review

After an underrated soundtrack of Lovestory2050; here comes yet another big outing of Anu Malik. Though Lovestory was a disaster, I 'actually' liked songs from the movie. [am I in the minority?] The music was perfect for 'futuristic' feel. And here, in Kambakkht Ishq, the theme/feel is Wacky, Akki kinda fun. So Anu here gives more peppy, pop corn kinda music.

---Listen to the album here---

Kicking off with a track composed/sung by RDB, 'Om Mangalam' - the album promises a fun outing ahead. Sanskrit chant mixed along with word Kambakht Ishq makes it an addictive listen.  Its a track you just can't resist but to play LOUD. Really Loud. The lines 'u'r my baby u drivin' me crazy' sticks to ur mind long after. Next track 'Lakh Lakh' is a song for 'eve teasing' :P. Well, just like many bolly songs about teasing/chasing a girl, this one is another addition. Regular Akki voice, Neeraj Shridhar does the honor of singing the track. And with Punjabi flavor, this one is an average song yet a foot tapping number.

What makes a perfect composer/singer combo? Definitely Alisha+Anu. Despite clashes between them, they are now coming with songs together. And this time for 'Bebo' Kareena, the song is titled 'Bebo' itself. And typical 90's pop style song sung by Alisha Chinoy, makes it special.

Again next track, disappoints. The title track, where I was expecting something solid. Cause the word 'Kambakht ishq' derived from similar Dhamakedar song from Pyar Tune Kya kiya. So one has to break that. But here in the track 'Kambakht Ishq' its just a regular fare. Sung by KK and Sunidhi Chauhan [u were far better in New York, girl] the song is Nothing much special. But yes, Lyrics are quite fun. Must be good on screen.

Then, some soothing sound comes out of the speakers. Smooth piano sound makes a good start to 'Kyun' sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Shaan. A simple love song reminds me of 'Baahon Mein Chale Aao'. Because of the tch..tch..tch...sound. The song repeats as a solo version by Shreya. Nice track after such fast tracks earlier.

Album has 4 remixes of all fast tracks mentioned earlier. All are just normal remix, nothing special to write about. But album concludes with a cool track composed by guest composers Aaum and Sulaiman Merchant. Welcome to Hollywood sung by Karsh Kale and Anushka Manchanda. Its kinda theme for the movie and must be played throughout. Good one.

So there, one of the most anticipated movie has an above average score. Which is full on fun, but hardly any tracks are there that we can remember after a few days. But thats okay for a fun movie. Where songs are required for - ofcourse - fun. Nothing else.

My Rating : 3 / 5
My Top Picks : Om Mangalam & Kyun.

New York : Music Review

New York - second movie by Kabir Khan after much acclaimed Kabul Express. Is again a movie with a backdrop of Terrorism. But this time the movie is set in US of A and especially New York, so the music must match the feel. Cause in Kabul Express, we have heard some not yet mainstream but great tracks. And here, I was quite eager what he has in stores cause he chose Pritam for this one. And happy I am that this one doesn't disappoint at all.

--Listen to the album here--

Album starts of with some familier guitar strings. Last heard in Keh Raha mera dil jo [kabul express]. Thats ofcourse 'Yaaron'. A lively track with dash of friendship and ambitions and youthfulness. With ever dependable K.K. After giving us a gem in Sikandar, here he is again at his best. This soft rock track wins over me and everyone instantly. Lyrics by Pradeep Shrivastava is also simple and lovely. Sample this - [my favorite lines]

kabhi jo milenge, Raaste, pal mein hi chamkegi hansi purani toh..
kaho kya kahoge, fir humein..kaise chhupaoge nami yeh palkon ki...

Another soft rock number shows up - Mere Sang. My favorite from all tracks. Even its remix version is so good that I like it more over the original. And voila, its Sunidhi Chauhan. This one is a song about a girl, taking her love into a dreamy mushy world. Magical track. I am looking forward to how this will turn out on screen.

And how better it can be, when next up is Mohit Chauhan's trademark Love Ballad?!! I am seriously worried though, if Mohit is getting typecast. But still, all his tracks are so smooth and lovely. 'Tune jo na kaha' starts with his humming, later turning into a lil' high pitch. And towards the end, the track changes its mood from mushy to sad one. Overall, a good one to hum around.

Then comes a 'sufi' track composed by Pankaj Awasthi After series of very well integrated 'Ha Raham' from Aamir, and 'Allah hoo' from Sikandar, this one is another track about ground realities of the world around. Track 'Aye Saaye Mere' sung by composer himself, has rhythm you can easily get attached to. But somewhere it falls short to create 'the impact' which is needed in a movie with such theme. And in 'antara', it reminds me of a song from 'Hey Baby'?!!!

Next two tracks are remix versions of 'Hai Junoon' and 'Mere Sang'. Perhaps are a few from recent remixes, which I do not skip while listening. Quite nice easy on ears remixes. And so much I love 'mere sang' that I listened to it 4 times at a stretch when I heard it for the first time :D

Album concludes with two instrumental tracks. First one is 'Sam's Theme' [John Abraham's] composed by Julis Packiam. has vocals [humming] by Caralisa Monteiro. Track slowly turns calm, and starts with theme of 'Mere Sang'. Again turns up like an Opera, and sound is so fabulous. Last one is 'New York Theme' - another instrumental - but this time more dark and thrilling one. Must be used quite often in the movie.

All in all, the album holds up attention as far as you listen to it. And with breezy 3 songs, this one is worth listen to. Though it is not having 'great' tracks [as we are spoiled by Rahman] but for some freshness and fun; go for 'New York'. And surprisingly, the movie is releasing so early after the music release. Its up on 26th. So can't wait to see a 'big' movie after 3 long months !!!

My Rating : 3.5 / 5
My Top Picks : Mere Sang & Sam's Theme

Lagaan : Legend Revisited

"Lagaan : Sau Saal Pehle Ki ek aisi kahaani, Jo Itihaas ke pannon mein kahi kho gayi thi.." The baritone was echoing in my mind, as I was walking through the soil, the dust and the sands of Champaner. Yes, the village Kunariya where the movie, the legend was shot in the year 2000. My yet Another uncertain journey as always..this time stopped at 'the' place where 'the' Legend was written.

[As I watched Lagaan on next day of its release, i.e.16th June, 2001; Here is its Anniversary Special on same day, 2009]

It was a Friday, when I just completed reading The Spirit of Lagaan - the book written by Satyajit Bhatkal on making of Lagaan. An extraordinary tale of how this larger than life world was captured in the movie. So, after reading it, naturally I put up my disc and started watching the movie. And then suddenly, got idea, why not go to the place and celebrate the anniversary a little earlier? Its about 400kms away from my city. So instantly I called up my friend who lives in Bhuj, instantly got my tickets of Bus service which I boarded late night and voila!! I was in Bhuj very next morning. Took my friend's Bike, and went away, to discover the village. [I even couldn't find it on Wikimapia, nobody had marked it, but I did it later. See it here]

But the task was so easy. So easily I found the village because of very good road connectivity. Which was absent 10 years back, when Ashutosh took a great chance of setting up whole world in the desert. So there I was in village Kunariya, 20 kms away from the city Bhuj. There I was, in my Mecca, in my Amarnath, in my Chardham, whatever you say, it was the moment to cherish. And what did I find??

There was no hills and mountains visible as in the movie. I panicked. [and my i-pod was playing...Tu Aaja Re.....Mitwa..] And thank God, someone was walking on the deserted way, I stopped him and asked about where was the shooting place? I knew he must had the answer. As so many villagers were included too. And he instantly show me the way. And so accurately he guided me, in flat 10 minutes, I was there....at Champaner.


Still I had doubts. Cause there was so much of sand on the soil, and I knew this was not it. And there, came my saviour, in form of a tractor driver [heck, i should have clicked him]. And he gently asked me, how on earth I am here in this desert? [gora chitta ladka, in this hot desert - though it was only 9.30am] I asked him about the shoot..and heck...'He did participated in it !!!!' Yes, he said, I had worked to raise the village, the homes of characters!! And there, he pointed out at this - a huge rubble of cement floor structure. And that too, was behind a small hill. And how on earth I could not identify it?? It was the 'Toilet Block'!! Yes, it was. Cause they wanted to hide it, it was created behind this rock hill. And how thankful I was to that man who later shown me the way to go to the main farms where the village was standing?!! He vanished away saying 'you should have come 10 years earlier...' Yes, yes, point taken :-D

So, what a great (!) start, I thought. Though my bike was shouting high, due to absolutely sandy soil. I cut it off. And climbed up the hill. Soon I found this on a rock -

Mind it ! This is not a tourist place where people do come and write crap like this. This WAS from the crew members itself. It is for sure. [and btw, my mom+dad has same initials :P ]

And after reaching at the top of the rocks, I was ready to die. Yes, Yes, It was the moment. I can see the Champaner in front of my eyes. There-was temple, There-was Bhuvan's house, There-was the pitch. Yes, There- Was LAGAAN : Once Upon a Time In India. The same track was playing in my ears.

 

See the first pic above, that's the Lovers' Hill. Where Bhuvan-Gauri romanced [my saviour told me that]. And the third one [I suppose] is the hill where the Temple stood.What a feeling?
And instantly, I remind of following frame from the movie. Yes ! I was standing on the rock where Chale Chalo was filmed !! What eyes Ashutosh has? The view is just wonderful. And just so much perfect for the shoot.

I could only think - what an effort?  What level of passion, How desparate was everyone for making this happen. In just 2 hours, I was getting burnt over my [delicate :P] skin, the heat was on at only 10:30am !! The dust, the sand was getting over me-everywhere from hair to toe. And I thought, what life the crew had lived in 6 months of year 2000?

I was there in month of June. How cruel the nature would be in April and May?? How hot atmosphere eveyone handled 'Playing Cricket on these fields'?????

And then, God sent me another saviour. "Hey Baadal, arrey Baadal Aai Gya Re....." Yes, the clouds were there. Making me little confortable, and vanished in few minutes :) just like the movie. Leaving me alone..in burning rays of Sun.

I searched, searched if I could find just 'anything' related to shoot. But that was insane, Yes I know, but my level of insanity is that only :P But nothing was there left for me. Cause the land is used for farming. And owned by villagers. So no traces were left besides the Toilets :). And that was the reason, I could not go further and further far away near to the hills shown in below. Cause the area is cordened by the farmers, And I too was not willing to disturb them.

I just sat on rocks, cherished each song in burning sun rays. That, was the moment, I would cherish whole my life. I could tell everyone, when they will watch the movie, Yes, I had been there. At the legendary place. Where history was created. Where, determination resulted in a rock solid result. Where each member of the crew, had lived their lifetime. The heat and dust, which made the task un believable, ended up in being an unforgettable part of the movie.

Goodbye Champaner, I'll be back !!

---

And there was someone to bid me farewell. Well, have a look.

Later, I returned to Bhuj. And visited majestic palace of Maharo Pragmalji. Which lies in ruins because of 2001 Earthquake.

And, the place Where Salman and Aishwarya took saat phere [yes, seven rounds of marriage]. Well, not in real, but in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The Cenotaphs-below. The structure got major damages in earthquake. One temple is totally vanished.

---

And then [as I tweeted] why I did watch Kal Kisne Dekha? Well, How could I let go  my temptation of watchin a movie where LAGAAN was premiered?? Here,,,is SurMandir talkies, where Aamir had arranged first show for villagers / local crew.

There, my day ended with a crap movie, but great feeling of watching movie where Aamir, where the Lagaanites were sitting. Yes, that guy was right I should have come 10 years earlier...

---

Related Posts : Lagaan : History Revisited

A Risky Post : Overplayed..Overplayed..!!

First of all, Why is this post risky? Well, risk involved is that, now people will throw whatever in their hands to me, also their belief in me [if there is any :P] as a avid movie/music lover, will be shattered . Cause here are some movies/songs and things I have got tired and just because of the over exposure or say High High over exposure of it.; I kind of hate them now.

To start off with, how about the legend of Indian cinema...Sholay?!!!? [I can see dropped jaws out there]. But Yes, I Do Not like that movie now. I mean come on, till when will Sippys boast about their ONLY big sucess? Or, always accept/deny about remaking it. Everywhere spoofs designed over the movie's plot, dialogues are thrown at every other comedy circuses [programs I HATE most]. No doubt the movie is great in its class. Performances, production scale and even music is good, but please - spare me- its not BEST of Indian Cinema. Its a great example of Masala flicks of 70s. [Though, it was absolutely a re-make] But still, there ARE movies, which can represent the Bollywood far better. Even when I was a kid, I used to listen to the Dialogues Audio Cassette and remind of the movie. But over the time, media and Sippy and somewhat RGV caused serious damage and now, I don't want to watch the movie at all.

And by that, again I want to take risk but I don't like 'Angry Young Man'. [you know whom I am talking about-the Character-not the man]. More realistic approach of 70s movies, rather say magnified and glorified picture of poor man, lost parents, injustice to him etc. I just cant get it the way each movie came one by one in that era. Yes, Yes, they were great. But not my piece of pie. Many of the movies were having similar storyline. And they were rage and still rage. I don't have any grudges with AB. I liked his 'different' than the angry young men movie. And right now also, I like his work. [on a similar note, I don't like his DON, and definitely prefer far more efficiently edited newer one, but who knows, its just me who prefer Technical extravaganza on screen :P].

Next up is -hold your breath.....more shocking...its another legend 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon' : Heck....why?? I would say why not? Why not leave the song alone, and give it honour it deserve? I see it is played just everywhere, in elections, in public meets, republic days, independence days, 2nd Oct., just anywhere. No one feels ashamed of 'killing' that song. The sentiments of the songs are surely being hurt by this. Why? There are many more songs in Bollywood to play on such occassions. Mere Dushman Mere Bhai from Border would be great example, so is Lakshya's songs, so are many Manoj Kumar's songs. Why over and over we are getting constant reminder of the China massacre? Can't we overcome that?

Also recently a funny [say dark humour] incident happened in connection with this song. Aye mere watan.... My friend had met with a bike accident and he was in ambulance. The guy who called in the ambulance, was having phone. Whenever I contact him, this song was played as a caller tune !! Making me feeling so annoyed. Cause my friend was bleeding and the song was telling me 'Zara aankh me bhar lo paani, Jo shaheed huye hain unki zara yaad karo qurbani' [shed some tears in the memory of the martyers] Today, both my friend and I laugh a lot abt this. [Moral of the story: Choose your caller tune + ringtone wisely] :D

And talking about soundtracks, there are some movie soundtracks which if played, I would shout and cry.,....nooo....please........ I don't know what's wrong with me but if people 'really' likes the soundtrack of certain movie, and play it on and on and on, in every Gully, each Nukkad, then that soundtrack goes out of my playlist !!! Weired, innit? Take Dhadkan for example. Such a huge hit it was. And gosh, it was played here there everywhere. Giving me headache. Every time. Next is Gadar Ek Premkatha - a very good soundtrack over and over played in Trucks, jeeps, Rickshaws, Paanwallas, you name it. And so I hate it. And the biggest of them all. Himesh's melodius score [!!] Tere Naam. I know many songs from Himesh are so crap that get stuck in mind, but Tere Naam was having such nice songs, but Overplayed a million times everywhere. Made me die hard Hater of the soundtrack.

And Rahman is also not left behind !! Chhaiyya Chhaiyya is also so overplayed, that I had enough. And Jai Ho, is going that way. Please, why Jai Ho in politics? I mean, come on yaar, grow up...

P.S.: This is just what I feel I am very bad at discussions, so I might not be able to discuss all these at great length. :)
___________________________________________________________________
Image Sources : 1) http://coolfreeimages.net 2) http://www.mrcheapstuff.com

'Sister/Daughter'hood in Bollywood

Just when I was listening to this fabulous song from 'Doli Saja ke Rakhna'; I thought how great feeling it must be being a girl's brother. Okay, I have cousin sisters. But The feeling of having a sister around me, all the time, is not there. As we aren't a nuclear family, all uncles are living at other cities. And only sibling I have is my elder brother. So I have always missed how it feels a careful, naughty 'behna' around me. The song made me so emo, that inspired me to write down this post. Still, I have no complaints about my equally sweet and very much naughty two cousin sis, who never make me feel like I am alone...but ..... [they are gonna kill me if they see this :P].

The song itself is so sentimental. 'Jhula Baahon Ka' sung by Sadhna Sargam [love her] and Sreenivas. It portrays feelings of a Sister who has grown up now, but to her brothers, who love her so much, she is a small little sis. I love the piece when brothers says 'tu khushi tu qarar tu bahar hai, dum se tere hi toh, ghar mein nikhar hai'. Just see faces of brothers...

There are many movies of Bollywood, that have portrayed brother sister relationships so beautifully. And whenever I think of sis, the song 'phoolon ka taaron ka' from Hare Rama Hare Krishna, comes to our mind. And why not? It is the best song on the theme. There are plenty of such songs too. But right now I can't recall them.

And by that, my mind changed the track, and focused on another relationship linked to it. Similarly to my earlier thought of having sis around me, at home is a great feeling, then how far more better and how interesting and emotional bond would be of Father and Daughter !! Its always between Papa and his Daughter. Never have we heard about Momma and Beti relationship [besides bolly actresses ofcourse].

And the very first movie comes to my mind, is ofcourse, 'Yaadein' by Subhash Ghai. okay, I know it was 'bad' movie [as ppl calls it] but I 'liked' it. Seriously, I am not trying to be 'different' from others, but I actually liked the movie. Okay, - minus the rich-poor divide, minus awful product endorsements, the movie was so good. The way it shown relationship between Jackie Shroff the father and his Three Daughters, made me feel emotional. Jackie had given a memorable performance as a father. The central theme of the movie was definitely that relationship. It was just Ghai, who got blind by superstardom of Hrithik, and made it all wrong. But still, the song 'Yaadein' and 'Eli Re Eli' has got wonderful moments of 'daughterhood'.

Again, when I see my dad playing around with my little niece 'Heer', I get the sequence from movie Vivah in my mind.

The very first sequence, when Alok Nath is singing 'Bhajan' with his little cute daughter. I completely loose myself in that wonderful Papa-Beti moment. How great it is to have a daughter, and equally, how painful it must be, when after 20-22 years, you have to give her hand to someone, some other person, by putting all of your faith and trust in him?? Only a father can understand that feeling. Sooraj Barjatya, had also put that feel in his earlier flick 'Main Prem ki deewani hoon' on a bigger note. Father Pankaj Kapur and Daughter Kareena. But due to loud screenplay it went all un-noticed. But still its worth looking at once, just because of Pankaj Kapur. A song is also dedicated to this relationship -Papa Ki pari Hoon Main....

Definitely, Papa Ki Pari. Each Girl is......
___________________________________________________________

Thanks Yves for reminding me about Khamoshi-The Musical. It was another great example of relationship between Father-Daughter. Though the movie emphasized on Parents and Daughter relationship, the bond shown between Nana and Manisha was fantastically played. The fabulous song Yeh Dil Sun Raha hai still melts my heart.

And another heart warming song about Father-Daughter is a Bidai Song; Legendary as Sujoy put it. Baabul ki duayein leti jaa from NeelKamal, is one of the Rafi’s best one. Thanks Sujoy for reminder.