It hurts to see songs really soothing to the ear, picturized in a non-imaginative way. Especially with the graphics taking over most of the background in the songs these days, it’s been long since one saw a natural picturzation of a good song.
The first one on my attack list would be the ever-refreshing – Kangalal Kaithu Sei, which was a gem of a sound track. But the bad picturization ruined it all, I will never forgive the artistes, choreographer, the director, and above all ARR for not having a peek into the video.
Now, the trailer of the Sakkarakatti (whose music I crave for, despite the very ordinary lyrics) shows another sad tale of a good music slaughtered badly in the video. The two minute clip on Youtube! (also echoing reactions from the audience) is such a sorry video again. The Chinnamma Chilakamma song in M. F. Hussain’s Meenaxi, though shot in a brothel, was picturized very aesthetically. But that is not the case of its Tamil counterpart, which looks like an 'ambulimama' song. The Taxi Taxi song, apparently re-shot to cater to the taste of the urban audience is still worse. I have no idea why there is such a sad end to these melodies. The only hope is on the picturization of Marudhaani, which should complement with the non-sensical lyrics – I hope the use of such lyrics is justified in the video.
Sep 23, 2008
Sep 5, 2008
Ganesha Chathurthi
Ganesha Chathurthi or Vinyaka Chathurthi or Pillayar Satthi - however you call it, is a big festival in India. Especially in the states of Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra it is indeed one of the biggest festivals, with huge idols of the elephant-faced lord placed all over the city, all month long.
In the past few years in AZ, I used to go to the temple and take part in their celebration also called the 'puja'. This time round, while I was vacation in the NE, I saw a Ganesha idol in one of the grocery stores there. I though, my good old AZ must have it as well, and let me see if I can celebrate the festival. Also a friend of mine called me over for the Gauri habba - the festival of Ganesha's mother. This gave me more motivation to do it different this time.
And there I went on to do the Ganesha Chathurthi at home, inviting a lot of people. It was a good one, and I felt happy doing it! I also made prasadham (kala channa sundal, vermicelli payasam, and aam vade)
In the past few years in AZ, I used to go to the temple and take part in their celebration also called the 'puja'. This time round, while I was vacation in the NE, I saw a Ganesha idol in one of the grocery stores there. I though, my good old AZ must have it as well, and let me see if I can celebrate the festival. Also a friend of mine called me over for the Gauri habba - the festival of Ganesha's mother. This gave me more motivation to do it different this time.
And there I went on to do the Ganesha Chathurthi at home, inviting a lot of people. It was a good one, and I felt happy doing it! I also made prasadham (kala channa sundal, vermicelli payasam, and aam vade)
Sep 1, 2008
A lazy holiday definitely helps!!!
For a not-so-outdoor person like me, a holiday indoors but away from the stress makes so much of a difference. Especially if it is in a much cooler city than the good-old Tempe, it is even better. Tempe apparently had thunderstorms and hailstorms, but I don't care since I was rejuvenating under the not-so-hot and not-at-all humid weather on the other side of the country.
This lazy five day holiday with relatives did help a lot in preparing for another semester of coursework, research and teaching. Hope to have another good semester! :)
This lazy five day holiday with relatives did help a lot in preparing for another semester of coursework, research and teaching. Hope to have another good semester! :)
Aug 23, 2008
More medals!
Two more medals in the Olympics!
For a contingent of 54 people, and the step-motherly attitude shown by the government and the people towards other sports, 3 medals is a great thing!
Great work by Abhinav, Sushil and Vijender! They have shown that in the country that eats and sleeps cricket, - these three stars wrestled, shot and boxed their way to the Olympic medal. Not only that, they probably worked their way against the ever-suppressing politicians who want athletes from their state to represent the country.
Good work by Saina and Akhil too, and hopefully their effort is recognised too!
Hopefully this is a great incentive to the uplift of other sports! While a cricketer gets a chance every 2-3months to prove his worth, these athelete get one in 2-3 years, like the Olympics, Commonwealth games and may be the world championships.
What more could the country have asked for in the independence day month? :)
For a contingent of 54 people, and the step-motherly attitude shown by the government and the people towards other sports, 3 medals is a great thing!
Great work by Abhinav, Sushil and Vijender! They have shown that in the country that eats and sleeps cricket, - these three stars wrestled, shot and boxed their way to the Olympic medal. Not only that, they probably worked their way against the ever-suppressing politicians who want athletes from their state to represent the country.
Good work by Saina and Akhil too, and hopefully their effort is recognised too!
Hopefully this is a great incentive to the uplift of other sports! While a cricketer gets a chance every 2-3months to prove his worth, these athelete get one in 2-3 years, like the Olympics, Commonwealth games and may be the world championships.
What more could the country have asked for in the independence day month? :)
Aug 17, 2008
Music still rejuvenates
An addendum to an earlier post about musical rejuvenation, or call it a sequel. The quality of Indian film music has mostly seen a downward trend these days, with most movies having soulless music, but there are a few movies with really good music. I list a few songs which I think are a class apart from the run-of-the-mill stuff.
A classical composition in Reethigowla raagam - Kangal Irandal from the movie Subramaniyapuram, is a sure shot on the list. Apparently the movie is refreshing too, so is its music. Two new singers with a classical background have made a big difference to this song. Takes you back to the good old feel of 1980’s (not that I know how it was!)
‘Ada – The way of life’ is a a long-delayed project of A. R. Rahman, and I feel it is the album of the decade with the class of songs varying over a decade. ‘Meherbaan’ by the Mozart of Chennai is a classic, and Gum Sum, a simple number is my next favorite.
The audio release of Ada was on the same day as that of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, I guess only Rahman can give two albums with different themes at the same time. Ada is a long-term classic, while Jaane Tu is an instant classic. One shouldn’t compare the two albums ever.
While I have written a lot of not-so-good things about the song Marudhaani in Sakkarakatti, this song along with all the other songs in the movie is my favorite. I miss you da is the best one, (even though people have mixed opinion about it) followed by Taxi, Chinnamma, and Elay. I am sure, I will have my girlfriend sing ‘I miss you da’ in the same cute way, or better – even cuter.
The title track of U, Me Aur Hum by Shreya Ghoshal and also by Vishal is one more of the good stuff in recent times, and surely suited the tempo of the movie as well.
The Konjum Mainakkale of 2008, ‘Mukundha Mukundha’ is something that made me wonder if Himesh Reshamiya had actually composed the song. A good devotional song sung by one of my favorites Sadhana Sargam, had a bad rendition on-screen with an over-acting Asin. A good work by HR, the lyricist and the singer too. Only if she had not sung Varam thaa as Varam dhaa, (at times I felt it would become Verandah :) ).
While all the songs in Jodhaa Akbar had good music, my favorite is In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein. Flawlessly rendered by Sonu Nigam and Madhushree, it indeed is a definite addition to the top romantic melodies of all time. And one more good thing about the movie is that all songs were picturized well in the movie (Hrithik in the state of trance in Khwaja Mere Khwaja was ……..)
Minnal Koothadum from Polladhavan is a good one too, with Bombay Jayshree giving her best again.
I also heard the songs from Dhaam Dhoom and Saroja, and am beginning to like a few. But not enough times as Sakkarakatti or Ada or Jaane Tu, to write about it.
As usual, ARR songs form a major chunk in this list. Plus, I am back to the habit of writing long blogs. Wonder who reads them though :)
A classical composition in Reethigowla raagam - Kangal Irandal from the movie Subramaniyapuram, is a sure shot on the list. Apparently the movie is refreshing too, so is its music. Two new singers with a classical background have made a big difference to this song. Takes you back to the good old feel of 1980’s (not that I know how it was!)
‘Ada – The way of life’ is a a long-delayed project of A. R. Rahman, and I feel it is the album of the decade with the class of songs varying over a decade. ‘Meherbaan’ by the Mozart of Chennai is a classic, and Gum Sum, a simple number is my next favorite.
The audio release of Ada was on the same day as that of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, I guess only Rahman can give two albums with different themes at the same time. Ada is a long-term classic, while Jaane Tu is an instant classic. One shouldn’t compare the two albums ever.
While I have written a lot of not-so-good things about the song Marudhaani in Sakkarakatti, this song along with all the other songs in the movie is my favorite. I miss you da is the best one, (even though people have mixed opinion about it) followed by Taxi, Chinnamma, and Elay. I am sure, I will have my girlfriend sing ‘I miss you da’ in the same cute way, or better – even cuter.
The title track of U, Me Aur Hum by Shreya Ghoshal and also by Vishal is one more of the good stuff in recent times, and surely suited the tempo of the movie as well.
The Konjum Mainakkale of 2008, ‘Mukundha Mukundha’ is something that made me wonder if Himesh Reshamiya had actually composed the song. A good devotional song sung by one of my favorites Sadhana Sargam, had a bad rendition on-screen with an over-acting Asin. A good work by HR, the lyricist and the singer too. Only if she had not sung Varam thaa as Varam dhaa, (at times I felt it would become Verandah :) ).
While all the songs in Jodhaa Akbar had good music, my favorite is In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein. Flawlessly rendered by Sonu Nigam and Madhushree, it indeed is a definite addition to the top romantic melodies of all time. And one more good thing about the movie is that all songs were picturized well in the movie (Hrithik in the state of trance in Khwaja Mere Khwaja was ……..)
Minnal Koothadum from Polladhavan is a good one too, with Bombay Jayshree giving her best again.
I also heard the songs from Dhaam Dhoom and Saroja, and am beginning to like a few. But not enough times as Sakkarakatti or Ada or Jaane Tu, to write about it.
As usual, ARR songs form a major chunk in this list. Plus, I am back to the habit of writing long blogs. Wonder who reads them though :)
Aug 15, 2008
Bangalore-SFO non-stop! Yeah!!!
How closer can I get to India than this?
I have been waiting for the non-stop Bangalore-San Francisco flight from Kingfisher, from the beginning of this year. It finally seems to be coming up, hopefully in time for my December trip :) !
Independence Day - In a home away from home!
A few years ago, while I was in school back in India, independence day would seem to be more than a holiday. A colorful day with a lot of performances by fellow schoolmates, speeches by invited guests and alike, and finally a rendition of the National Anthem in chorus.
This year, I took part in one, in a home away from home. A simple event, though well organized and well attended, it did fill up a big void in me, the one that – ‘said you’ve missed a lot in the last two years.’
The Indian Student Association at ASU organized this Independence Day celebration in the Secret Garden on campus, which literally was a secret garden. We had our own space for sometime, and our own crowd. The National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’, the National song ‘Vande Mataram’, and a patriotic song – ‘Desh mere’, were sung soulfully, and the event ended with distribution of sweets and snacks.
Happy Independence Day to everyone!
This year, I took part in one, in a home away from home. A simple event, though well organized and well attended, it did fill up a big void in me, the one that – ‘said you’ve missed a lot in the last two years.’
The Indian Student Association at ASU organized this Independence Day celebration in the Secret Garden on campus, which literally was a secret garden. We had our own space for sometime, and our own crowd. The National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’, the National song ‘Vande Mataram’, and a patriotic song – ‘Desh mere’, were sung soulfully, and the event ended with distribution of sweets and snacks.
Happy Independence Day to everyone!
Aug 13, 2008
Cheer up!
Why do some days seem so unpassable?
Why am I feeling so low today?
Why do I think I have to please everyone?
Why should I be upset about something that can be fixed up?
Why do I brood about the not-so-good things, when I can happy about the many good things in my life?
Cheer up, life's short and shortcomings do happen! It lies in how smart you are to overcome them and sail through them.
(This one was meant to cheer myself up!)
Why am I feeling so low today?
Why do I think I have to please everyone?
Why should I be upset about something that can be fixed up?
Why do I brood about the not-so-good things, when I can happy about the many good things in my life?
Cheer up, life's short and shortcomings do happen! It lies in how smart you are to overcome them and sail through them.
(This one was meant to cheer myself up!)
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