Coke Studio India

Great News for the Coke Studio fans in India who was waiting to hear this. Coke Studio starts its India Chapter. After wooing the audience worldwide with the original Coke Studio (Pakistan), the first season will begin with Shafqat Amanat Ali’s “Aakhyian”.  Other confirmed artists includes Shruti Pathak, Shankar Mahadevan, Advaita ,Kailash Kher, Raghu Dixit  Wadali Bros, Sabri Bros, Shaan, Papon, Sanjeev T & KK and may be Ali Zafar.

The India Chapter known as Coke Studio @MTV is produced by Leslie Lewis. The show;s recording has already started with Episode one shot on April 30th. It is tipped to be aired in June. Can’t wait more now. Check out Their Facebook Site for more updates & Sneak Peaks’s - http://www.facebook.com/cokestudioatmtv?sk=photos

 

Photo Courtesy Mtv India

READY- Salman’s Back- Music Review and Trailers

So Salman is back with Ready. Starring Asin, Paresh Rawal and directed by Aneez Bazme ,this is a remake of a South movie name by same name. Supposedly the movie is romantic comedy. Music is by Pritam and being a Salman movie after Dabangg the movie and music both have its own expectations.  Lets see if it lives up to the expectations musically at least. 

Dhinka Chika is tipped to be the next Munni Badnaam. Sung by Mika Singh and Amrita Kak this song is full Tapori style song. Copied from already a hit Telegu song Ringa Ringa - the original by Devi Sri Prasad this song is well done in the Bollywood version too. Surely will make you get up and move. Next one is Meri ada bhi giving a Punjabi flavor to the Album. Sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Tulsi Kumar (WHY ON EARTH HER) the song starts with the popular ‘mera laung gwacha‘ lines. A Dance track wiht lots of Dhols but I feel something is a misfit in the song. Either its Rahat Saab or Tulsi  Kumar or something.

Another track that lifts the mood of the album is - Character Dheela - a song which is already making noises all around. A typical Salman song and surely suits him too. With Lyrics penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya ans dung by Neeraj Shridhar and Amrita Kak, this one is a sure winner out of Pritam’s hat. A cracking, peppy song full of masti. If its a Pritam’s album then iot will have a romantic song in it. So here it is- Humko Pyaar Hua by KK and Tulsi Kumar. english Lyrics in the beinging of the song putts me off though, and the song sounds like previous Pritam’s song. Didn’t find anything new. Can be heard just once that also coz of KK. 

Overall the Album has 4 songs out of which 3 are foot tapping catchy numbers. Out of which I feel 2 will be chart busters. Pritam delivers in parts here. I don’t need to say Salman fans will anyways love it. Lets wait and see now how the film fares.

Rating 2.5 out of 5

Here is the Trailer of the movie and the popular Character Dheela Song for your eyes only -

7 Khoon Maaf- Dark, Melodious and How…

Vishal gave us Lagnda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan), Vishal gave us Bittu (Shahid Kapoor) and now he gives us the Daarlingggg Suzanna (Priyanka Chopra).

You can hate this movie but definitely you can’t ignore this one. If somebody says he or she hasn’t liked 7 khoon maaf then I don’t think any khoon should be maaf there. Vishal Bharadwaj has made a dark thriller with 7 khoon maaf and gave Priyanka Chopra once in a lifetime role. Borrowed from Ruskin Bond’s “Susanna’s Seven Husband”, VB delivers a wicked experience. Movie is brave and different. Though I expected a bit more from him but still whatever was there was good.

7 khoon maaf is a story of a woman who is in a quest for love. In that quest she ends up walking the aisle several times, but ends up killing them. The movie is serious, dark and stirring. Though the story like is predictable (which can be a reason a lot of people didn’t like it) but the screenplay and the performances from the actors will keep you engaged. Starting from the cruel Major Rodriques (played by unconvincing Neil Nitin Mukesh), junkie rock star (John Abraham), maniac Wasiullah (Irrfan Khan), impressive Russian  agent Vronsky (Aleksandr Dyachenko),  lusty police officer Keemat (Anu Kapoor) and bankrupt  (Naseeruddin Shah) all deliever some good performance and end up dying under mysterious circumstances.Not to forget Vivaan Shah having a crush on much older Priyanka Chopra and the cameo by Konkana Sen Sharma. Every character brings something to the movie.

Agreeably 7 khoon maaf is not everyones cup of tea. VB brings the Indian heroine out of the shadows and gives his tribute to the woman power. Priyanka in a lifetime role shows the various shades of darkness with her characterization, her role of ‘goosebump’-giving sinister murderess. The shots where she is ringing the bell in a church at night, or laughing like mad shows the shades of darkness in the movie. Her errant, eccentric behavior is brilliant (never thought that I will be saying this). We see Shashi Malviya (Gunga), Harish Khanna (Ghalib) and singer Usha Uthup (Maggie Aunty) as Priyank’s partners in crime. Suzanna will make you sympathize with her at some time, and some time empathize. The director shows her torment journey from a young lady to an old bitch with a style. Yes I feel there is something lacking here and there but still the movie will haunt if it wants.

Neil Nitin Mukesh didn’t impress me much with his character. Expected a lot more from him. John Abraham is brilliant with his role as the drugged rockstar (looked to be inspired from the looks of Axel Rose from Gun’s & Roses). Irrfan Khan delivers a brilliant performance as the maniac husband who beats up the wife to show his superiority. Veteran’s Anu Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah perform as good as usual. Aleksandr Dyachenko as the Russian agent surprises with his performance and his Hindi. the friend next to me was just drooling over him. Vivaan Shah in his debut movie is convincing and so is Usha Uthup.

Music wise too VB doesn’t disappoint us. The team of Gulzaar And Vishal just kills it every time they team up. Daaaaarling is a hit as we all know. Crooned by Usha Uthup and Rekha Bharadwaj the song will make you sit up and take notice.Though said to be inspired from Russian Military song ,both singers compliment each other brilliantly. Lyrics says- “mehfil me sansani hone do” and it did. Another winner is Tere Liye sung by Suresh Wadekar is just simple melodious . The song has romance in every bit of it. Lyrics by Gulzaar saab again are simply out of this world. Then there is “Bekaraan“. VB shows whatever he does, he does it superbly. “ek zara dekhiye to, aapke paon taley kuchh to atka hai kahin,”- what brilliance here. “O’Mama” is a surprise rock number again written by Gulazaar and sung by guess who. Yeah it’s KK.It’s always a treat to hear him. Here I should say both Gulzaar saab and KK rocked. A sudden switch in the genre with loads of energy and some evilness. Overall music compliments to the movie in a very good way. VB uses singers like KK, Suresh Wadekar and even Master Salim to keep the songs playing up to our ears.

Vishal Bharadwaj wins as a director, as a singer. The movie has a good screenplay, good cionematorgraphy and typical Vb like shaky cameras at places. I feel somewhere editing is inconsistent and story telling could have been much tighter. But still the darkness prevails. Don’t know why but this movie reminded me a lot of Anurag Kashyap’s Paanch. I agree there is no comparison but the darkness in these movies are just underlying fact about the beauty of this kind of cinema.

As I repeat 7 Khoon Maaf won’t be liked by everyone. But I wonder if people can make Tees Maar Khan and Housefull like movies then I believe movie making needs to be changed. Cinema needs to come of age and movies like this pave the way for it. Be it a hit or a flop, this movie is win in my opinion. Might not be the best VB movie but definitely not the worse. Priyanka delivers a superb role to keep the Daaarrrlingg murdering the role. Overall a dark, dingy and unconventional watch.

Rating- 4 out of 5

Guzaarish – Music Review

So now Sanjay Leela Bhansali becomes a Music Director.  Choosing something like ”Guzaarish” as his debut album would have been a risky job for SLB, but I feel he has done a good job with the music which captures the mood and feel of the film. The Album boasts of 10 original tracks and thankfully no remixes. Lyricists of album are A.M. Turaz and Vibhu Puri.

The Title track sung by KK and Shail Hada is a good soft sad romantic number. Both being very strong vocalists, this is a good ballad. Reminds me of Saawariya a bit, but now comparisons will be everywhere. Next is “Sau gram zindagi”. I don’t know who and why they came up with this name but its interesting. With Kunal Ganjawala behind the mike, some unusual lyrics, this opens up slowly and sticks to the same pace. With the poetic feel to the song and its unconventional lyrics it could have been a melodious composition if English lyrics used here and there. I feel they kill the melody of the song.

Then comes my personal favourite – “Tera Zikr hai” by Shail Hada and Rakesh Pandit another slow number on the lines of  Sau gram zindagi , but I find this one better than that. The song will grow over you slowly. After this one comes a surprise in “Saiba”. Sung by Vibhavari Joshi, Francois Castellin and Shail Hada this one is the different track in the film. This song has a very western touch to it which makes it more appealing and interesting. Next is “Jaane kiska khwab”  by KK ‘s impressive voice.  A situational song where I feel vocals have been given more importance than the instruments. That’s why the lyrics of the song as quite strong. Minimal orchestration here makes the song more soulful.

After all slow tracks, another change comes in the form of ‘Udi’. Sung by Sunidhi Chauhan & Shail Hada, this song is full of  latin beats and will surely be popular. Next is a solo “Keh Na Saku” by Shail Hada. Another slow romantic number like other songs in the album. “Chand ki Katori” is a good pick in the album. Sung by Harshdeep Kaur’s, the vocal is the highlight of this song. After this KK sings  ’Daayein Baayein’ which can be passed easily. Not good but its not bad too.Last song on the list is  ”Dhundhli dhundhli” by Shankar Mahadevan. The song is about evening and begins with the birds chirping. At times Mahadevan takes the song to some high pitch which makes it better.

Overall, I feel Guzaarish is a typical Sanjay Leela Bhansali type of music. A lot of situational songs, more heavy on vocals to suit the mood and tempo of the movie. Some tracks are unique, some I feel are over the top and some hummable.

Rating- 3.5 out of 5

Kites- Music Review

Rajesh Roshan has given some very good music in the past.  And being a romantic Hrithik movie I expected the music to be good. The whole Roshan family comes after a long break with Kites. Lets see did they keep up to the people’s expectations…

The album begins with “Zindagi..Do Pal Ki”..a romantic song sung by who else- KK with very good music and lrics. The song is already getting popular on TV channels & Radio. Listen to this song if you haven’t.

Then comes “Dil Kyun Yeh Mera” which one can easily say is quintessentially K.K. The song will take some place to settle down but once it does it will grow on u.  Another good one in the album.

Tum bhi ho Wahi is an unusual track sung by two rock artists- Vishal Dadlani & Suraj Jagan. When solid guitar at the back the song, this one is an energetic  composition which starts slowly and then catches up pace.  The song can get stuck to your head for sometime.

Hrithik debuts his singing career(besides his bathroom singing) with “Kites In The Sky”. The song sounds like has a very heavy influence of western music to with Suzanne D’Mello’s voice crooning with the Spanish lyrics.  Lyrics not great but song is still good with minimal usage of instruments .

The song “Fire”changes the complete romantic mood of the album with some catchy tune.Sung by  Rajesh Roshan, Vishal Dadlani, Anirudh Bhola, and Anushka Manchanda, this song will be surely a number on which Hrithik will be showing off some moves.  A fast unusual musical number but a good one too.

Overall Rajesh Roshan gives a very good album. He could have gone one better but still whatever has gone in the album is not bad at all. I wasn’t expecting much but I am impressed with whatever they have delivered. The music has a very western touch to it but it was expected.  But I am missing few hot latin numbers here.

Rating- 3.5 out of 5