Friday, September 8, 2006

Music Reviews

I know by now you must have read millions of reviews on the latest music releases so I will not bore you and get right down to the point. Below I have selected some songs from the latest releases which I think are worth listening.

basekpal.jpg1) Tere Bin - Bas Ek Pal - Simply Awesome. After the somewhat overhyped Bheegi Bheegi from Gangster, Atif Aslam infuses even more pathos/passion into his vocals. Brilliant.

2) Bas Ek Pal - Title song - I am not exactly a fan of Dominique Cerejo after hearing her in Paanch, so thankfully she sticks to crooning only three words “Bas Ek Pal” innumerable times almost all throughout the track. But the one singer who is arguably one of the best we have in India, renders this song with such effortless ease that you cant help humming “tere pyaar mein” even in you sleep - Kay Kay

khaike.jpg3) Don - Main Hoon Don - Next up is the most awaited soundtrack of the most awaited film of 2006.Honestly,like many others even I had expected remixes of the old Don’s soundtrack. And again like many others, I was taken completely surprised by the opening number. Shaan is known to be one of the most dependable singers of late and here he does complete justice to his assignment as he sings a completely different version of “Main Hoon Don”. Although the tune will be a bit difficult to get used to, after a couple of hearings,it’s a gem.

4) Don - Khaike paan banaras wala - I have to admit. The only times I have heard this song are while watching the movie or on the radio,functions,etc.So when I heard this version I could not make critical comparisons with the original.All in all this one is a foot tapping number and a very peppy one at that too.

priyanka-and-isha.jpg5) Don - Aaj ki Raat - Saving the best for the last,although many will disagree.Haven’t you ever wondered ,after listening to a particular song, how good or bad it will look on the big screen i.e. will the video do justice to the song.Me too(case in point - Chhaiya Chhaiya or Beedi -Omkara). I had never heard the older version of this one before(if ever there is one).So this according to me is the best song of the album.I have read somewhere that this is picturised on SRK,Priyanka and Kareena.Can’t Wait.

6) Woh Lamhe - Kya mujhe Pyaar hai - One song I would like to specially mention is this track from the album “Woh Lamhe” which is once again sung by Kay Kay. “Extremely hummable” (quote courtesy Anand) Even though the tune is supposedly lifted from some Indonesian singer (who cares?), the lyrics are too good and overall a very addittive track.Worth a Listen.

Review also posted on Mouthshut :
Don - Mouthshut

Monday, September 4, 2006

Naan oru Tamil padam paarthaen

There. I have done it.

I watched a Tamil movie yesterday - Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (roughly translated as ‘To hunt To play’)

So the next time someone teases me “Have you seen a Tamil movie yet?”, I can say “Yes,I have.”. And i’m also planning to buy a camera to capture the look on their faces.

Did I understand the movie, you ask?

vv_m.jpgYes, I did. Atleast most of it. It was a typical bollywood/hollywood masala action movie.And it starred one of the kings of southern cinema - Kamal Hassan.You know he rules when you hear the entire ciname hall erupt in whistles and cat calls as soon as he makes an appearance and subsequently everytime he delivers a cracking dialogue.(…..the last time I witnessed such a euphoria jubiliation was while watching Lagaan…ppl were literally dancing near the screen…..)

vettaiyaduvilayadu-39.jpgAnyways, the story revolves around a tough widower cop DCP Raghavan(Kamal Hassan) and his quest to find out the killers (two psychopaths) of his good friend and family.It takes him to various places including New York (which was a welcome relief to me since the dialogues were in english with tamil subtitles).

The motive of the psychos is not explained properly.They keep mumbling something about saving the world by killing people and such crap.But who cares as long as our superstar kicks their b#@$.

vettaiyaduvilayadu-31.jpgThere is also the mandatory love angle in the form of Aradhana(Jyothika), a divorcee with a kid who falls in love with Raghavan in New York.The film has a happy ending wherein Raghavan kills the two villains and saves his love.

It’s a staight forward movie which follows a linear story and I could very well get a good drift of the goings on almost 3/4 of the time.Only some scenes heavy with dialogue went over my head.But for those also, I had my friends to translate important tidbits for me.

vettaiayadu-vilayadu-51.jpgThe performances were fairly good.Kamal Hassan doesn’t get to emote much,hence could’nt display his acting prowess.Jyothika is just a fill-in and does her job well.

Overall the movie was a time pass.

The End

Atleast watch the trailer here - Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu

Google