Par excellence music - It is this

A.R. Rahman is making waves for his fabulous work in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and the subsequent Oscar nominations. In the meanwhile though, his best work came out without much tintinnabulation. I am talking about his latest release, ‘Delhi-6’. I generally don’t go on to listen to songs as soon as I have read the Music Review. But this music review was so glowing that I had to leave aside everything and hark to it.

It is just mind-blowing, dear readers.

I have a strong affinity for melodious songs; so when I listened to the Aarti Song, I was presto carried in the indescribable zone of musical completeness. Its lyrics, its humming, its mystic aura – all are so soothing that I listen to it as and when I feel the first bead of anxiety on my face.

Aarti - Tumre Bhavan Mein

The second song that I like the most is ‘Genda Phool’. What a mix of undiluted ineffable music, topping the relevant lyrics! The words of a restive newly-wed could not have come out better.

Genda Phool

The other songs, Maskali, Delhi-6, Dil Gira etc too are extra ordinary. The whole package, in fact, is a possession for the music aficionado. I can’t wait for the film to come out. If it is even half as good as its musical counterpart, it will make many other excellences dim.

'Slumdog Millionaire' - You are everywhere

I had to write about the movie. I can’t escape its ubiquity. A firm favourite for the Oscars now after having gobbled up the Golden Globes, Slumdog Millionaire is a movie in itself.

It is painted on Indian backdrop, and it has unsurprisingly used the chiaroscuro of Indian poverty. It is not news but surely an agitating prop for us righteous Indians. I am ambivalent how to take it. I was struck by the blatant portrayal of Indian poverty and iniquities in the movie but was also helpless not to deny it. My feign sense of Indian emancipation was hit hard, but it only revealed the truth which I already knew and wanted to hide from. So, I won’t be that critical as others have been. Amitabh Bachchan has his views overtly put out, but he too ignores some obvious facts.

But yes, I agree with him on some counts. A cliché – ‘Only Sex and SRK sell in Bollywood’ has its counterpart in Hollywood- ‘Of India, only her poverty and mysticism sell’. Did Indians ever eat monkey-brain? Spielberg never bothered to check this before selling it in ‘Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom’. Even recently, the much appreciated ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ shows many things mystical enough for me to fathom. I can’t hold a feather in desert and be purified by the winds blowing it. Never mind, it worked for the three American brothers and the audience in general. So, I fear there is going to be even more this esoteric Indianness sold in the movies, now that India is more global than ever before. I think India’s male chivalry, feminine beauty, urbane life style, political sanity, military valour etc will have to wait for next century.

In my declamation or rigmarole (whatever you feel) about its Indian connection, I didn’t mention the cinematic aspects of the movie, and it is indeed a shame because the movie ticks almost all the boxes that one can put for a quality movie. Its unique narration, tight story, celebratory exhibition, acute cinematography, good acting and compelling music all lend great finesse to the product. Some of the moments, like the boy jumping in a pool of pooh, the deceitful villain putting oil in a kid’s eyes etc have already attracted much attention and discussion. But what was most remarkable about the movie was its never-to-wither belief in destiny that somehow dots connect in life. Indeed they did connect for the protagonists showcasing a unique celebration of life. The dance routine at the end was unexpected and incongruous, but as already guessed or known by now, it was a tribute to Bollywood. The dancing could have been better, but it seems till now, this type is somewhat mastered by and exclusive to Bollywood actors only.

So, this is all about the movie from me. I am keen to hear from all what they think about it, and in fact, I have already been reading the opinions at different forums. Good Luck to the movie for the Oscars, and hope it wins many more fans in cinema and life alike.

Ghajini ... Aamir is the real Ghajini

If New Year deserved anything better, I don’t know what. I watched Ghajini today after partaking my breakfast. It was a 3-hour roller-coaster of emotion.

Did I like it? Yeah. Can it bear the tag of the most profitable movie of Indian Cinema? Yeaah. Is it the phenomenon? Yeaaah ….

Is it exceptional? No answers

I don’t have answers, because I don’t want to answer it. It is for you to analyse.

The movie starts off with description of a zapped Aamir Khan. Then he dashes on the screen thrashing a baddie, splashing everything out in the process. As the fighting culminates, he pulls out a tap rod and carves it inside the damned guy …. I cringed. You are not Aamir Khan, or may be a throwback of mid-90’s poor action pretender in movies like Aatank Hi Aatank, Parampara etc

The screen rolls on. We see the names inked on his body to make him remember everything of evil done to him. He doesn’t say much, but conveys everything through his histrionics. Some reels on, we delve into his previous life. The more familiar Aamir Khan arrives, and I enjoy the zippy love story. Asin is vivacious. Where were thou? Hindi film industry needs you. In between, alternate the uber-angry and the more-human Aamir Khans. The story moves on as in a Bollywood flick and climaxes with the slaying of the villain. Too Bollywoodish , or Mementoish, Pearcine …. To heck with Memento or Guy Pearce. This is Bollywood and Aamir Khan.

So, I described the movie with the perspective of Aamir Khan only. The reason: the movie is Aamir Khan and vice-versa; the rest are mere complements. This guy is just fantabulous in the way he reads the pulses of the movie-going industry. In Ghajini, he is not a fake action hero as feared by me initially. He is an obsessed revengeful person having undergone a total personality change. Who can pump in so much body to make the movie real too? He brings out one of his characters not seen by us before. Actually he extends his range of acting oeuvre.

The movie is in line to become the first Indian flick to garner 100 crore rupees inside India. It deserves this recognition because it is a perfect potpourri of masala. My analysis of the movie should end here (as it is for you to analyse), before I draw the creative knife and shred its unAamirness to pieces. For me, the movie is only Aamir, and my theory rests that Aamir did it to remind himself and everyone that he can churn out a mass entertainer too. It has already been a wholesome year for him as producer, director and actor, and if TZP gets nominated for Oscar, it will take him to the pinnacle. He is the best actor; for sure, he will become the most glittering star too of Bollywood then.