Watched 'Sweet 16' on MTV last night and it necessitated a mid-week post out of sheer anger. What happens when you combine a bratty 15 year old teen aged girl, her older (and possibly borderline intellectually functioning) sister, an unlimited amount of discretionary income & 2 parents that have obviously disregarded every rule for raising kids that their parents taught them in the homeland? Well you get the sheer embarrassment to all persons of South Asian origin that was aired last night to a national (and international) television audience.
If you didn't see the freak show of a birthday party (and in true Desi fashion - a combo graduation party for the older sister) then consider yourself lucky. This dad (who has already given a private jet, a Bentley & Mercedes to his daughters plus a limo until they get their licenses) provided an unlimited budget, a helicopter HIRED JUST TO DROP FLOWERS, an elephant, police security detail and dolis to carry his daughters in like it was their freaking wedding. I don't blame the kids though, they were just doing what they were allowed to do - congraulations mom & dad - you have just ruined any semblance of a normal life these 2 girls could have ever had.
Which brings us to the music selections for today {Tere Mere Milan & Tere Bindiya Re} duets sung by Kishore Kumar/Lata and M.Rafi/Lata respectively. They are from the 1973 classic 'Abhimaan' - starring Amitabh & Jaya Bachchan (in their last film before getting married). This is what I refer to as a perfect movie - great acting, tight directing (the movie clocks in at 2 hours and 10 minutes with songs), and a very different story. All 7 of the songs on this album are bona-fide classics. For those of you that know Jaya from her 'mother' roles in recent films - you will be impressed by her ability to hold her own against her very formidable husband to be. She was a great actress in her day, capable of doing just about any role with conviction and quiet dignity.
Yes these songs are 'old' but my thinking is that if you have never heard them before, then they are new to you.
By the way, this movie was shot on a shoestring budget, which goes to prove that you don't need money to have class.
