JAB TAK HAIN JAAN... WOW MUSIC

                    JAB TAK HAIN JAAN.. REHMAN KA MUSIC SUNENGEY

As much as creating music is an art, so is an art to listen to the music. No criticism but this generation of which i am also a part (not age but gadgets depending group) is in a hurry to like, dislike and make quick judgements and communicate on twitter, face book and god knows what all other means is there to let their opinion out. So far so good, but this cannot be done to A.R Rehman music.. One has to be a student of his music, understand, experience and then listen again and again. Listening to his music is an investment to the soulful food. His music can give everlasting, abundant and richer food to the soul. The immortality of his music is far ahead of much immortal music of all times. 

What he creates is not just music, but he manufactures sources of deepest experiences and bliss.  No comparison but it’s unlike all contemporary telugu film music and most other Hindi film music.  Most music is created for the generation in a hurry and hence they all sound alike and get into past within weeks. Rehman music is the outcome of the deepest penance that he involves in creating every bit. One has to just meditate with his latest album Jab Tak hai jaan..  We have not got over Rock star yet and will never be able to and this latest album has again excelled and at first instance, there is a temptation to call it “ Un rehman Music “...  But NO.. no one has maturity and right to give any names to his music..

All the songs are bound to make an impact and i am going to highlight one song which is my anthem and prayer for next several weeks now. I am referring to the song Saans sung by Shreya ghosal and Mohit .. Lyrics penned by youngest at heart Gulzar Saap. It’s an absolute treat to all music lovers, all people who are in love, now or ever before and what can i say about Rehman fans.. We will all worship him. We do not want to be disturbed when we are listening to this song. There need not be any life after listening to this song as everything else seems shallow after listening to this music.. When we wonder, how else can love be expressed after millions of books written, stories and songs  heard , Gulzar, rehman , shreya and Mohit give an answer by the freshness and amazing depth in everything that makes a song. The opening violin bit accompanied by Shreya voice will take us high and higher instantly....

How can a man who is 70 plus create such a magic..  He proved that, love, feelings, living life to the full has no age but just requires the willingness to be joyful. Gulzar’s lyrics are not just simple, but  also very fresh and intense. The experience of listening to this song makes one a calm person and an understanding one..  “Accchi lagi tanhayee” high pitch rendering at the end of first half of song is done so beautifully that you keep wondering at the rehman‘s magic. I for now keep wondering at the new sounds that Rehman created again... Rock star has a line “ tujhe cheenlu ya chodudoo, Iss lamhe kya kar jaoo”... Rehman song... tujhe sunu ya samjhoo, tajrooba karoo ya gawoo” is my dilemma..

This song in particular and album is general is for 1) Hindi music lovers 2) Love songs admirers 3) People in love 4) Gulzar fans 5) Shreya and mohit fans 6) Rehman devotees 7) People with little sensitivity and music love . So who is left?? Only people in a hurry and people who want to judge and make a fast comment... Guys not for you and i really miss Yash chopra  .. Can’t stop saluting this man who got so much glory and grace to Hindi cinema..

 “Jis saans ka gaane se, zindagi bakshi iss album mein, usi saans  rukh kar aap chale gaye... Yeh shayad qurbani thi aapki yash ji”

ENGLISH VINGLISH

                          

                       Subtlety without preaching...

Film makers ought to be creating trends in film making with their way ahead thought process and acute perceptions of the changing times. Let us not forget that film making is a very serious business as it is the religion in india. This is done by very few film makers and Gauri has shown lot of promise in her very first movie. I am told she asked her husband , balki to keep away from any kind of involvement in the movie . But we can’t help making positive comparisons with his movies like cheenikum and paa.   The comparison probably ends in the film treatment but the theme, story, and presentation is just mind blowing. 

The movie is hardly about English and the way the story leads into the heart and mind of woman who is supposedly conventional is amazing and leaves one wonder in the end.  Many films have dealt with the trepidation of woman who has chosen to be a home maker. Quite a few have shown the indifference of men and family towards women who are modest, sacrificing and silently suffering taking all the family chores all their life on their head. But not as subtle , as fantastic as this movie. 

This is a journey of a typical Indian average, neo rich woman who hasn’t given anytime for herself and is happy with little attention that she gets from husbands acknowledgement of her good cooking and her general presence for his lustful needs.  A chance journey to the far land lets her discover herself and her confidence to handle things on her own. But she is grounded and lets only things go the extent of seeking clarity for her. There is no moral policing, no judgements passed about anything. It is a simple story of a simple woman who wants all simple things to feel happy. 

The beauty of the movie is the success of bringing on that simplicity to the core and life seems so cool and easy when you watch this movie. I am not a big fan of sridevi but i am forced to compare her to Amitabh. My god, what nuances she brought to the character and she essayed the role to the perfection. Many a times the heart missed the beat, especially for that romantic angle with the French guy.  Even the clichés are handled well enough not to get boredom. Music by amit trivedi needs a special mention..

The last 15 minutes is the highlight of the movie and one keeps wondering at the conclusion and it seems so perfect. One cannot avoid tears when Sridevi emotes so beautifully and she deserves a national award for this , as she has out classed Kareena in Heroine and Priyanka in barfi. 

At the end , there is a rare fulfilment of having a good decent movie which not touches you deep inside but throws a rare perspective of looking inside women.  Just to be emotional, may be, we have forgotten to respect their simple sensibilities.  A subtle message but with total entertainment, light heartedness and easy going format is what makes a stamp in our heart. 

If you like good cinema , want to get touched inside and want to feel good, want to subtly correct yourself, and can appreciate subtlety , please do not wait.. just go and watch now , and with entire family..

                                                                                                        

KAREENA .. THE GREAT HEROINE..

First things first.. Kareena kapoor is sure to bag the national award and there is no doubt that she will walk away with all the awards next year. She has excelled herself in performance and there is so much to deliver for her in this movie. She has grown into a complete actress. She went into a different league after Yuva, Jab we met and Chameli. But this role in the movie is a dream for any actress and she has accomplished to the full in this.

 One has to give Just Simple kudos to Madhur Bhandarkar. He did not go wrong anywhere in the movie. He always attempts to mirror life and society through all his movies and in this movie he totally succeeded. He achieved this by sheer objectivity and detachment in handling the complicated and often attempted subject. In fact one must appreciate his courage in handling such a sensitive subject with élan being from the industry himself. His research is impeccable, his screenplay is flawless and his narration bereft of any contradictions. The movie is completely honest in depicting complex realities of film celebrities. It delves into deeper layers of complexity, to what appears very flashy, colourful and rich from outside.

There is a deep rooted philosophical touch to the ending and without being preachy. The characters are beautifully etched and he does not blame anyone squarely and covers all aspects subtly yet boldly. HE made a statement on media hungry gossips and how the entire glam sham world is actually so much of dirt and filth. He takes us into the journey of triviality of celebrity life and the deep stresses and contradictions they go thru in handling success and sustaining the same. The tough life of celebrities is properly highlighted with no value judgement. Every role in the life of a celebrity is structured well by director and his casting is accurate.

Arjun Ram pal never got his due recognition and he is one of the finest actors. Even in this all performances will be over shadowed by Kareena kapoor. When good things has to happen, history and world drama has a way to choose characters. Despite being my most favourite actress, i can confidently and without hesitation say that, AIshwarya rai would not have done so much justice to this role. Her pregnancy paved way to kareena and the rest as they is history.

There is no pretension in the movie and there is no exaggeration of any reality.  There is no underplaying of any characters of real and reel life.  There are no clichés and stereotypes like in Dirty picture. There is no making villain of a man or a woman. It’s a visual treat, and also has good songs and background music.

There is no vulgarity despite having to show so much of skin and dialogues are also decent. It is understandably A certificate movie and children have to avoid this movie as the complexity of the entertainment world can be understood when they become adults. Honestly it is a relief from several beat n tracks, clichéd, boring telugu movies. Also relief from tear jerkers, like barfii or any beautiful, devotional and love story, horror ( horrible) movies.

WORDS , EMOTIONS, MEANINGS, REALITY AND LIFE

From quite some time i was thinking of few concepts / words/ meanings that are affecting most of us in this life.  Basically, not having privileges, not achieving wanted things, not being important/ powerful are broadly the key issues that affect us all and we can all derive several situations, realities , meanings out of the above few things stated. But what makes people totally impoverished of the essence of good living according to me are 1) Dishonesty to oneself 2) Contradictions 3) comparisons 4) Loss of self..  and compromises to get meet the peripheral needs of the self like lust, greed , etc

Dishonesty to one self ...  this according to me is one killing force of the modern society, or this ultra modern society. More than what i can talk about others, i face this very blatantly and very overtly every day. We are forced to be dishonest to our self. We do several things that we do not want to do or believe otherwise. Each one of us can give several examples to our self as to why do we involve in the dishonesty of the self. Basically we are forced to follow a system that is not alright to us,  as we are compelled by needs, of which money is most determinant factor.  We follow people and agree to them knowing that they do not deserve to be there. It can be a politician, a parent, a teacher, a boss, a management etc. We just keep compromising for the fear of losing something that we keep getting for sustenance. In the process we become dishonest to our self without being conscious or accepting the fact. One way to test this,  is that, if we are able to sleep well, eat well and not feel guilty or uncomfortable with ourselves, then we are not dishonest. 

The only way to be happy is not by achieving something or having something or working to attain something but being happy with one self. This state will ensure that you derive more happiness eating a corn stick than eating something exotic in an expensive place. You will sleep well on floor than in an AC and comfortable room. Being happy with one self is to be honest with one self and this will only happen if we know our self. Spirituality is not beyond this point and this cannot be challenged. But the catch in getting there is very difficult and hence several schools, thoughts, processes and methods to learn.

CONTRADICTIONS... Oh my god, this is the order of the day these days. What we think, should be what we mean, what we mean should be what we talk and what we talk should be what we do in actions. Any deviation from this is contradiction and modern world seem to be allowing only deviations. At any given situation, we are able to think, say and act the same way, we would lived honestly in all situations. After that, there is no good and bad. We would have done justice to all moments and set the truthful trend in society. This is very much needed today.

Loss of the self comes from many reasons and one of them being the comparisons with someone or something. This can give endless suffering like dishonesty with oneself and contradictions.

Finally, like my daughters presentation at her school which highlighted among many points that she made, that language gives way to words and words to labels of emotions. If there is no labelling to our several emotions, then what remains is whether we are happy or sad. According to all scriptures and learning, happiness in only inside us and lets dig it out by being honest with the self, no matter what pain it might cause temporarily. 

We will only strive to be happy and not sad and stop thinking about so many words, feelings, thoughts as finally they come out because we know the language and use of words( no matter how loose it may be) . SO the point is to unlearn everything and become zero with the all the acquired knowledge. Difficult but not impossible and one way is to become a child in mind and heart.