Kabhie Kabhie (1976) - Part I

Few movies have such universal appeal across generations as the 1976 classic, 'Kabhie Kabhie'. The songs for the movie log in at #13 according to the BBC's 'Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time'. Parents & their kids alike know the songs and the songs resonate with even those Desis that have not been bitten by the Bollywood bug. In short, a movie like 'Kabhie Kabhie' comes along only so often in Hindi cinema and it's not only due to all six of it's stars turning in career-defining roles. It's also due to the fact that there are few movies that boast of such a rich haul of timeless lyrics, lilting music, poetic dialogue and a theme that explores the many aspects of romance - both young and young at heart.

To date, Yash Chopra maintains that 'Kabhie Kabhie' was an art film in commercial garb. It combined many big stars of the day with roles that audiences were not used to seeing them in and of course - it had those timeless songs. Yash Chopra's financer and friend Gulshan Rai even told told him after watching the film that he felt he had wasted his money and that the film had little chance of success. But Yash did not waver in his support & 'Kabhie Kabhie' went on to become the biggest hit of the year.

'Kabhie Kabhie' ranks among my 10 "desert island soundtracks" meaning there are entirely too many great songs to just select 1 or 2 favorites. Thus there will be two songs for today and two more next week (all presented in chronological order of how they appear in the movie). The 1st song is Main Pal Do Pal by Mukesh and is preceded by the now famous introduction to the movie by Amitabh Bachchan (see the song here). The 2nd song is arguably the most famous love song in all of Indian cinema, the title song of Kabhie Kabhie itself - just perfect in it's lyrics, music and vocals. The video shows however that the lyrics belie what is really happening on screen.

Devika Rani - Bollywood's First Lady

This year marks the 70th anniversary of one of the landmarks of Indian cimema, 'Achut Kanya' (The Untouchable Girl). The star of the movie was Devika Rani, co-founder of Bombay Talkies and an icon of Indian cinema herself. She was the grand niece of the legendary poet & Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore who was knighted but resigned his commission out of protest to British rule in India. Devika herself was no stranger to awards being the first ever recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award - annually given for lifetime achievement to Indian cinema and the Padma Shri Award for her contribution to the arts.

Devika Rani went to England in the 1920's to study architecture and also ended up studying drama & music at the Royal Academy of Drama. It was there that she met her husband (Himanshu Rai) who was an Indian actor and film producer. Together they collaborated on one of the first Indian talkies 'Karma' in 1933. While on their honeymoon in Germany they became well acquainted with many German filmmakers and technicians who came to Bombay to usher in Bollywood as we know it. One of those, director Franz Osten, was responsible for her most memorable role in 'Achut Kanya'. Starring opposite her was Ashok Kumar (older brother of Kishore) who incidentally was cast after the original hero eloped with Devika. However, she did return to finish the film.

The earliest (and still one of the few) films to deal with the Dalits/Untouchables, it was the fledgling Bombay Talkies first bonafide hit. This film about a Brahmin boy and an Untouchable girl who fall in love generated quite a bit of controversy during the same time that Mahatma Gandhi was crusading for the rights of the Dalits in Indian society. Gandhi gave many lectures regarding this issue and fasted for the Dalit's rights to enter temples, an act that resulted in many death threats against him. Gandhi declared that there is no such thing as an untouchable in the holy writings as the very idea conflicted with humanity and therefore could not be the divine truth. Despite many attempts to reform this issue it still persists in modern India to this day. See one innovative idea to help with improving the Dalit's lives here

The songs for today are not from the movie itself but rather are inspired by it. The first one is Phoolon Ke Rang sung by Kishore Kumar from the movie 'Prem Pujari'. Devika often teased her friend and co-star Ashok about how much a better singer his younger brother Kishore was and often listened to his songs on her movie sets. The second song is from another recipient of the Padma Shri Award, Diwaliben Bhil. She originally hails from Junagadh, Gujarat and is a member of the Koli tribe. Diwaliben also happens to be a member of the lower castes but this did not stop her from achieving international fame & success. The song is a traditional Krishna Bhajan but it is made very special by her rendition of it.

Travelers from Rajasthan - 'Musafir'

The meaning of 'Musafir' is traveller or voyager and if you allow them - this band from the Indian state of Rajasthan will take you on one amazing music trip. The musicians of Rajasthan are considered the fabled original gypsies (since proven true by linguistic & DNA evidence) and consist of 11 singers, dancers and instrumentalists who have the rare ability to function as one. Rajasthan's musician castes are predominantly Muslim, dating back over 500 years to when the Moguls first invaded India. The kings (or maharajas) tended to hire the best local musicians and many of them converted to Islam in order to work in the court. They adopted the name Khan and passed their new faith onto their descendents.

The typical Rajasthani band reflects only a single ethnicity yet Musafir is a secular mix of Hindu, Muslim, Gypsy and Sufism. Their songs build slowly with the harmonium or sarangi giving the tune as the singer incants the scale. The percussion then begins and more singers begin the melody with other instruments blending in. The song itself may pass through as many as thirty changes in mood and tempo before climaxing with all musicians joining in at the end. Whatever the song, tempo or improvisation - the eleven group members manage to communicate internally producing the effect of a singularly mesmerizing entity. See an article on the band here

Moria Badnawa is an instrumental that interprets a famous folk song about a peacock from the village of Badnawa. The song follows the peacock through it's day - first singing as the sun rises, opening his tail as the sun continues it's trek across the sky until it finally attracts a female peacock as dusk arrives. Listen as the song begins with just 1 instrument and reaches it's crescendo as each subsequent one is added in perfect harmony with the other. The song Halleriya means lullaby and is sung at the celebrtion for a new birth. It represents not just the mother and father's happiness but the whole village celebrating the arrival as well.

For more pictures of Rajasthan - click on the link 'Nilong's Rajasthan Collage' from our trip there in 2005.

Born Into Brothels (2004) - India's Oscar Triumph

Officially speaking, India has had three movies that have been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars) but none has ever taken home the golden statue. That drought ended last year - not with a big Bollywood production or even an art film but with a small documentary - 'Born Into Brothels'. In 1995 New York photojournalist Zana Briski went to India to document the harsh conditions for women in a developing country. She was interested in female infanticide, child marriage, dowry deaths and widowhood. A friend took her to Sonagachi, a red light district in Calcutta and "from the moment I stepped foot inside that maze of alleyways, I knew that this was the reason I had come to India." Briski developed close relationships with the women and then with their children.

Briski noticed the children were fascinated with her and her photography and got the idea to teach them to document their lives with their own photos. She chose children who were eager to learn and gave each a point and shoot camera to use. Even though Briski had never used a video camera before, she decided to film the process. What happens when the line between merely documenting tragedy and doing something about it become blurred?

The answer lies in this poignant story of how these children are taught to visually record their lives in the squalid margins of society. We witness the frustrations, victories and disappointments that ensue in a world where criminals' children are stigmatized and not accepted into private schools. These students come from several generations of sex workers and drug dealers where the girls constantly face the imminent specter of 'joining the line' to earn money for the family. The children have witnessed and experienced things that most of us never even have to think about. They are treated as little adults who have to cook and clean from early morning until late at night while neighbors hurl profanities in their direction throughout the day. Just when the movie starts getting too heavy the children get an unexpected advocate to help change their lives - themselves. Don't miss the special featurette on the DVD that shows their lives 3 years later which is as moving as the film itself.

The 2 songs for today are from the soundtrack of the film. The 1st one is a simple yet elegant classical composition consisting of only two instruments - the Tabla & Flute. The 2nd song is Gopala by Krishna Das, a musician originally hailing from New York. Das is an accomplished singer in the Kirtan style of chanting (invoking the name of god multiple times). Used by many religions throughout India, Kirtan is one of the oldest forms of meditiation whose origins trace back over 500 years. While it is somewhat strange to hear ancient Hindu chants sung by a self-described 'ordinary white guy lucky enough to have found India',the resulting music will surprise you. To learn more about Krishna Das go here, to learn more about Kirtan go here.

Umrao Jaan (1981)

The sequel to the timeless saga 'Umrao Jaan' opens tomorrow and a whole new generation will see the often duplicated story of the courtesan with a heart of gold. Rekha's portrayal of this doomed heroine earned her the National Award for best actress back in 1981 and is considered her finest performance. Whether Aishwarya captures that same magic with Abhishek Bachchan remains to be seen. This is the 2nd of 3 big remakes of 2006 (aka the year my Bollywood memories were pillaged) that began with 'Don' and with 'Sholay' left to go. Call me old-fashioned but some things are timeless and need to remain untouched - tomorrow will tell if perfection can indeed be improved upon.

In Ankhon Ka Masti & Dil Cheez Kya Hai are the 2 evergreen classics from the movie and are both sung by Asha Bhonsle (Lata's younger sister). The lyrics, music & style of both songs made them #1 hits then and both remain classics to this day. See Rekha recreate life in 19th century India here and here.

Kashmir - Paradise Lost

"If there is paradise on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here".

An Urdu poet once summed up the eternal beauty of Kashmir in these lines, just one of many enchanted with this timeless land. The vale of Kashmir is unique in that nature has endowed Kashmir with exotic beauty - one which is reflected in its picturesque landscapes, lush green forests, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, snow covered mountains, barren cold deserts and a range of exquisite flora and fauna. The northern most part is that of Ladakh which can only be described as the 'The Last Shangri-La' or 'Little Tibet'. Ladakh is home to a number of monasteries and various sects of Buddhism. Often compared to Switzerland, Kashmir was once the most the popular honeymoon spot in all of India & a favorite summer retreat of the British Raj.

To understand why Kashmir is now more famous as a battleground than paradise on earth one needs to go back to the events of August,1947. In the summer before Partition, each state that comprised India was given the choice to join either India or Pakistan. For the most part (with the exceptions of Punjab & Bengal which were mindlessly bisected) they chose one or the other based on religious grounds - but the princely state of Kashmir was different. The Hindu ruler, Maharajah Hari Singh, whose subjects were 75% Muslim - did not wish to join either country and wanted Kashmir to stay an independent state. Pakistan organized a covert attack on his palace by Pathani tribesman in order to force his hand but he got word of it literally hours before their arrival. The Maharajah contacted Prime Minister Nehru in a panic & subsequently signed a pact to become part of India. He was thus given protection by the Indian government against the Pathans and Kashmir officially became a part of independent India.

This seemingly small event has pushed both countries to war three times since then & caused the insurgency that began in 1989. It has resulted in the death of thousands of innocent civilians, the ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandits who have been forced out of their ancestral homeland and are now refugees in their own country and the desecration of a once proud land. India claims Kashmir as an integral part of it's secular vision & Pakistan wants the people of Kashmir (not a ruler) to choose their future. The UN has been unable to assist in a compromise as both countries refuse to make any concessions. Which side is right is a matter of personal choice but both nations must answer to the tragedy that has befallen this beautiful region and it's people.

The music of Kashmir is as varied as the people that populate it. The 1st song is Bhoop from the album 'Call of the Valley'. Released in 1968, it remains the best selling Indian classical music album ever released in India & depicts the day of of a Kashmiri shepherd from morning to night. The album is predicated on the deliciously simple (yet at the time radical) idea of marking the passage of the day with ragas appropriate to the hour. The 2nd song, Ye Kashmir Hai, is from the movie 'Bemisaal' starring Amitabh Bachchan & Rakhee. It is sung by Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar.

I highly recommend the book 'Freedom at Midnight' for more information on this matter as it is one of the most enthralling books based on true events I have ever read. Written by French authors Collins & LaPierre, this book is must reading for any person of South Asian descent.

Farewell to Pramila - India's 1st Miss India

Bollywood said goodbye on August 6th to the first ever Miss India, Pramila (born Esther Abraham). Crowned in 1947, she entered the world of show business after leaving her conservative Jewish home in Calcutta at the age of 17. Her first job was to keep cinema audiences quiet during the 15 minutes it took to change the reel in the single projector of silent films. She made a name for herself in many films as an actress, stunt woman and India's first female producer. Pramila never shied away from controversy - her song Choli Ki Andar caused a fervor with censors long before Madhuri Dixit’s Choli Ke Peeche did.

Her stubborness to conform to Bollywood's all-boy club rules led to a fascinating offscreen life as well. She eloped with a theater director soon after leaving home, married the Bollywood hero Kumar, stayed in India after he decided to migrate to Pakistan in 1963 and was accused of being a Pakistani spy because she went there often after partition (to visit her father & promote her films).

Her last film role at age 92 is in the just released 'Thaang', directed by Bollywood actor Amol Palekar. It opened the Brisbane Film Festival & was shot simultaneously in Palekar's native Marathi as well as English. I couldn't find a song from any of Pramila's movies, thus today's song is from a movie starring another former Miss India - Simi Garewal. Ja Ri Pawania is sung by the always seductive Asha Bhonsle (Lata's younger sister). An enchanting & beautiful song - just the way Pramila would have liked it.

Don (1978)

The remake of 'Don' starring Shah Rukh Khan releases in exactly one month from today. My 1st reaction to hearing that news was... Why? Why remake the 1978 classic starring none other than Amitabh Bachchan? Could Farhan Akhtar (whose father co-wrote the original) really direct this movie any better than what it was? I thought about the remake of 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' and the similiar feelings of contempt I had before watching it. Gene Wilder was brilliant in the original - there was no chance of Johnny Depp improving on perfection. And Depp didn't - but he was still brilliant in the remake without spoiling our memory because he made the role his own. Plus, millions of kids got to see the movie for the 1st time for no other reason except that it was 'new' and the original enjoyed a whole new audience as well. So to that end I wish Shah Rukh the best of luck & hope he tries to do the same - and not try to improve on the genius of Amitji.

I recently saw the original 'Don' on the big screen with my buddy Gurmanjit in Austin, TX. It was playing at the Alamo Drafthouse as the opener to their 'Tribute to Bollywood' week. The theater was housefull & as the lights dimmed on the audience (90% non-Desi), the palpable anticipation in the air gave way to the psychedelic opening. At that point everyone realized they were in store for something very special indeed. Sure, the audience had to be goaded into the fun by the both of us talking back to the screen (ala 'Rocky Horror Picture Show') during certain scenes. But we knew they got it when the movie received a standing ovation as the end credits rolled.

'Don' was born of concentrated 1970's extract... as one critic put it "it's cheesier than a McDonald's cheeseburger where they forgot to give you everything but the cheese - and when you go up to the counter to complain, they just give you more cheese . But even though you know it's probably going to make you fat and give you spots, you can't help going back for more. 'Don' just happens to be the rarest of substances - nothing but pure entertainment." It is so over the top that you have no choice but to sit back & just enjoy the ride. The plot is just an excuse to give the audience: Amitabh in one of the best double roles ever with dialogue only he could pull off, the gorgeous Zeenat Aman in green pant-suits doing spectacular kung fu, goondas with wide lapels in polka-dot suits, crazy camera angles, incredible car chases and last but not least - the tunes. 'Don' has it all & more - did it really need to be remade? See the trailer for the remake, watch the original & then judge for yourself. Next thing you know they will be remaking 'Umrao Jaan' & 'Sholay'...

Khaike Paan is a bonafide classic still lovingly overplayed at any Desi wedding reception to this day (including mine where my friends did a dance to it as well). The dapper Don hanging out with his village kinfolk while extolling the pleasures of paan AND bhang can be seen here. The Kishore/Lata duet, Jiska Mujhe, is the other great song from the movie. See Zeenat Aman looking simply breathtaking, Amitabh being seduced by her while drinking a martini & a scorned extra with the most unfortunate hairdo I have ever seen here. The original 'Don' - guilty pleasures never felt quite this good.

2 songs from 2001

Everyone remembers what they were doing 5 years ago today. First came the feelings of disbelief while watching the images on TV. Then being glued to those same television sets for weeks afterwards, finally becoming too numb to watch anymore. Plenty of people have their opinion on the state of the world today because of what happened (from the war in Iraq to getting to the airport early because you can't carry on bags anymore) - thus I won't bore you with mine. There is plenty of media coverage on this topic for anyone interested.

The 2 songs for today were released just prior to the events of 9/11. The films they hail from aren't all that memorable but the songs remain favorites of mine to this day. Just reminders (at least for me) of life in simpler days. The 1st selection is Kismat Se Tum, an absolutely incredible song from the movie Pukar. It was (and still is) the only Bollywood song filmed on an Alaskan glacier. Madhuri Dixit has said that it was one of the most difficult shoots of her life - see her lips actually turn the colour of her chiffon blue sari here. The 2nd selection is Chalo Chale Mitwa, a sweet duet from the movie Nayak - it's safe to say Rani Mukherjee wasn't nearly as uncomfortable during the filming.

Slide Guitar - not just for the Delta blues

While American bluesmen would probably like to believe otherwise, the slide guitar has been developed in many cultures. The earliest reports of Hawaiian slide guitar come from 1876, while Indian culture can trace the use of a slide instrument upon strings back to the 11th century. The distinctive sound of the slide guitar is an intrinsic feature in blues, Hawaiian and Indian music. On Mahima, these traditions meet in the capable hands of two of the world’s greatest slide guitarists, Debashish Bhattacharya and Bob Brozman. In the process, the two have created a true hybrid, a spectacular union of guitarists on a very unique album.

Indian raga music thrives on improvisation. No two performances by the same musician produce the same result. For a musician with substance the sky is indeed the limit. Debashish Bhattacharya's improvisations within the framework of a raga or within the limitations of the instrument he plays become a novel experience for himself as well as his listeners. Some artists go beyond what is known and open new horizons in the field of their work - this is one such artist.

Both of today's song selections have the artist's sister, Sutapa, accompanying with vocals in her native Bengali. The 1st one, Loomba Re Loomba , is a folk song from the northwestern desert state of Rajasthan. Here the camel is a primary mode of transportation and thus considered a revered member of the community. The women of Rajasthan sing this song at festivals where they decorate the camels with traditional jewelry. The 2nd one is Sujan Re and it's meaning is a term of endearment. It is the song of a newlywed bride whose fisherman husband has gone to sea & not returned. As she sings, her sense of invincible love gives way to the realization of lost hope. You don't need to know a word of Bengali to appreciate the sad beauty of what she is feeling - just close your eyes & let her voice tell the story.

Farewell to Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Bollywood said goodbye to legendary director Hrishikesh Mukherjee who died in his sleep at age 84 in Bombay on August 27th. His biggest hits (Anand, Mili, Abhimaan & Gol Maal) are from the 70's and not well known to current Desi film fans. The films he made were deceptively simple in construction (no violence or silly song/dance routines) but rich in emotion. He was known as the common man's filmmaker because anyone could connect with the stories he told. However, the actors in his movies often gave career defining performances under his direction. Amitabh Bachchan stated "his knowledge of the craft (neither too artistic nor too commercial) was so immense that we just left ourselves in his hands. We never heard any scripts, never heard any stories - we just showed up." Amitji's 1st film with Jaya (after they were married) happens to be my favorite Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie - Abhimaan (see post from 7/17/06).

He is a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award - an annual award given by the Indian government for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered the father of Indian cinema. He is also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's 2nd highest civilian honor.

The 1st selection for today is from Kal Ho Naa Ho, which was a remake of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand (arguably Rajesh Khanna's finest role) - the song, Kal Ho Naa Ho. The 2nd selection is from Mili, Amitabh & Jaya's 1st movie after their marriage - the song, Maine Kaha Phoolon Ne. Ironically, both of these very upbeat songs hail from otherwise tragic movies. And therein lay the genius of Hrishidada - to get us to feel empathy for his characters - while the ordinary filmmaker would be satisfied with mere sympathy for them.

25th Anniversary of 'Silsila'

What do you get when you mix together the biggest stars of the day, a top-notch director, a flawless production team, timeless songs & the juiciest 'story behind the story' Bollywood has ever known? One of the biggest and most expensive flops in the history of Indian cinema - the now classic, 'Silsila', originally released this month in 1981. Why audiences stayed away in droves is still a matter of debate today. The songs themselves were on top of the charts months before the movie came out. Plus the movie was coming from Yash Chopra Films (which already had superhits with 'Kabhie Kabhie' & 'Kaala Pathar'). Was the story on screen too close to what was happening off? A case of life imitating art a little too well?

For those who don't know - the rumor of an extra-marital affair between Amitabh Bachchan & Rekha was Bollywood's worst kept secret well before the movie was released. In the movie, Amit (Amitabh Bachchan) & Chandini (Rekha) fall in love only to see their relationship shattered due to a family tragedy. Amit is forced by tradition to marry his deceased brother's wife Shobha (Jaya Bachchan) because she is unwed & a soon to be mother. Jaya & Amitabh of course, are married in real life as well. Although Amit marries Shobha - his heart still belongs to Chandini & an affair (Silsila) between the two then makes up the bulk of the movie.

Watching the movie today one cannot help but think what must have really been happening behind the scenes. Is the passion Amit feels for Shobha real - and vice versa? Watching the reactions on both women's faces when Amit is singing 'Rang Barse' while drunk makes the scene incredibly difficult to watch. The scenes between Chandini & Shobha when they confront one another are subtle yet incredibly powerful. It is at that moment that it hits you - that these 2 women aren't really acting anymore - they are just saying things to eachother on the screen that they could not say off.

The songs were written by the team of Shiv/Hari in their inaugral film. Shiv Kumar Sharma (santoor) & Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute) were already accomplished classical musicians in their own right before composing the tunes for 'Silsila'. The movie opens with 'Sarke Sarke', a Kishore/Lata duet in which we see Jaya looking radiant with her fiancee (Shashi Kapoor), watch it here. However the 2 songs (also sung by Kishore/Lata) on the radio.blog are the Amitabh/Rekha ones... The 1st one, 'Ladki Hai Yah Shola' takes place when Amit & Chandini initially meet and find they are attracted to one another. The 2nd one however, is the true show stopper. It is actually a dream sequence between the two filmed in a tulip field outside of Amsterdam. Both stars (without Jaya) and the crew were flown to Holland specifically for this song. The lyrics, music & rendition of 'Dekha Ek Khwab' make it a true classic. It can be seen here.

Check out fellow Bollywood fan Filmiholic's review

'Omkara' - (2006)

Sometimes a movie just nails it in every way possible - dialogue, cinematography, acting, music - add in a story by Shakespeare and you have the makings of one amazing film. You can tell from the opening reel that this movie is going to be special but you also have an uneasy feeling that it will not end well. If you don't know the story of 'Othello' you won't ever forget it - and even if you do, you could have never imagined it could fit so well in the beautifully filmed hills of Uttar Pradesh.

'Omkara' contains all the classic components of a great Bollywood epic but all of them (songs, costumes, etc.) fit perfectly in the context of the story. 'Omkara' also lacks any of the the silliness that is present in so many modern day Bollywood flicks. This is one of those films that you could take your non-Desi friends to and as they are sitting in the dark watching the credits roll will ask you 'Why haven't you taken me to more Bollywood movies?'. Granted the year is only half over - but Bollywood has a clear front-runner to submit to the Oscars - go see 'Omkara' on the big screen and judge for yourself.

All the songs are noteworthy - the 2 on the radio.blog are{Naina}, performed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's nephew Rahat and {Namak}, sung by a newcomer with an incredible raspy/sultry voice, Rekha Bhardwaj.

Kishore Kumar - My all time favorite

The below duet from 'Abhimaan' is sung by Lata & from my favorite artist in Indian cinema - Kishore Kumar. For those of you that know me, you may have been wondering when I would send out songs by him - no reason for not doing so, just never the right time. Kishore was a true artistic genius - a producer, director, musical composer and actor. Of course he will always be remembered most for his golden voice (the voice of Amitabh in his heyday). He passed away in 1987 and his death made me to just stop watching Hindi movies for a few years as I had no desire to watch a movie without his singing in it. I started again with 'Aashiqui' a few years later only because the songs on the soundtrack were actually written for Kishore and sung by the 'voice of Kishore', Kumar Sanu.

Kishore remains my favorite singer to this day - read more about him here

'Abhimaan' & not so 'Sweet 16'

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.

Selections from Indian Idol & 'Krrish'

Today's selections are some new songs - one Bollywood & one a Hindi pop song. The pop song {Mohabaten Lutau}is actually sung by the winner of last year's 'Indian Idol' - just as popular and as big of an audience favorite as the one here. The winner (Abhijeet Sawan) was a virtual unknown before & is now one of the biggest concert draws in the country. The song is another of those 'singing while standing in a jeep with good friends in your favorite city' favorites of mine - just a catchy and fun number.

The Bollywood song is from the movie 'Krissh' {Chori Chori Chupke Chupke} which is supposedly a Hindi version of 'Superman'. I really have no desire to see this movie but the reviews say it's pretty decent - also, I really can't stand Hrithik Roshan. But that's what is great about Bollywood - you don't have to like the movie to enjoy the song - you just have to like good music. A nice duet - one of the best of the year in my opinion.

Chameli (2003)

Greetings all,

Sometimes I run across a song that is so different & special - it needs exploration from many different angles. This week that song is {Sajna Ve Sajna} from the movie 'Chameli'. The movie is quite good & very different than your average Bollywood flick. It takes place over just 1 night in Bombay, has some pretty salty language and a great performance by Kareena Kapoor (who had not impressed me in any movie prior to this).

The song is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, a relative newcomer to the Bollywood scene with an amazing raspy voice & great range. The lyrics & music are both perfect as well - all in all a great song that doesn't get old despite many playings. I am not the only fan of it however - the remix {Sajna Ve Sajna(remix)} & video are apparently playing in the hottest clubs here & in Europe. See the video here

Friendship & African Beats

The theme of today's music is friendship. We spent the weekend in San Diego at a friend's wedding (congrats Maneesh!) and got to see/hang out/catch up with friends from days gone by. It just seems that life for alot of us has gotten so hectic that the only reason we seem to get together is for weddings - that's great and all but what happens when we all get married off? Do we really need an excuse to get together with our friends other than we enjoy eachother's company?

For me the bond of friendship have always been akin to a piece of rope - it stretches when we aren't around our near & dear ones - and snaps back together as good as new when we are. But let that rope stretch for too long of a time and it will inevitably break... remember, we may not get to choose our family but we do make a conscious decision to choose our friends.

With that I bring you the 1st of 2 songs for this posting. The artist is young Ethiopian woman named Gigi (whose debut album was called the '#1 of the Best Obscure Albums of 2001' as judged by the New York Times). The song is called {Guramayle} meaning slight return - and I have absolutely no idea what she is saying in the song. However her voice and musical composition is so amazing that it hardly matters... Since poetry is supposed to be about personal interpretation I will assume this song is an ode to friendship :) When listening to it, imagine you are in an open jeep, driving around with some of your closest buds in Goa, Austin or wherever & you will understand what I mean... Link to Gigi's music

The second song {Nafeken} is by Tabla Beat Science. They are a supergroup of sorts starring Sultan Khan (from last week), Zakir Hussain, Karsh Kale & Bill Laswell. The song is called 'Nafekeñ' & was recorded live in San Franscisco at Stern Grove using tabla, sarangi and a host of other instruments. The special guest singer is Gigi (singing in her native Amharic) who does a duet with Sultan Khan (singing in his native Urdu). This song - with all it's varied instruments, styles, languages & vocals - just blows me away. Link to 'Tabla Beat Science'

Proving that in music (as well as in friendship) - the whole is indeed greater than the sum of it's parts.

Introduction to South Asian Classical music - Part II

Today we continue the homage to South Asian classical music with some tunes from Ustad Sultan Khan (for more information on him & on all Desi classical music visit this very informative website).

Ustad Sultan Khan plays the sarangi which sounds very different than the sarod or sitar – more like a violin. A scion of illustrious lineage of sarangi players, beginning his training at age seven - he learned the rudiments from his father, Ustad Gulab Khan who was both an accomplished sarangi player and a vocalist. Little wonder then that the Ustad, like his father, always punctuates his concerts with vocal Amir khani nuances. When he picks up the sarangi to lilting Sargams where he has left off vocally, the succeeding notes emerge in continuation as though the sarangi sings.

The 3 selections are 1 {Sarangi} an instrumental. 2 {Surmai Aankhen} A Rajasthani folk duet with a singer named Chitra (a really beautiful song). 3 {Kate Nahi Raat Mori} A solo vocal in which he gets his instrument to literally 'sing' with him. 4. It turns out that among his large fan base are some of the world's top DJ's and they did a tribute album to him Link

Introduction to South Asian Classical music - Part I

This week's songs are a brief intro to South Asian classical music - certainly as deep & moving as it's European counterpart if not more so. South Asian classical music is performed with less instruments but the arrangements are just as complicated. Interestingly, the ragas (as the pieces are known) are written to be listened to according to the movements of the sun. Some are written specifically to be listened to as you are waking up at sunrise, some at noon and others as the moon is out as you are going to bed. It is said that each person will have their own preference as to when they most enjoy a particular raga - regardless of your personal choice, they are a great way to either begin or end your day.

The 1st song is one of Nilong's favorites - it is called {Panihari} or Water Lady. It primarily uses the sarod (12 other instruments accompany it) & is performed by the legendary Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. See album description here

The 2nd song is one of my favorites - using the very subtle instrument - {Santoor} - it is performed by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.

White Chicks do it Desi Style too...

Nelly Furtado (everyone's favorite Canadian) and Josh (everyone's favorite Brown Canadians) got together for this jammin' little number called {Say What You Want}. Everytime I play this song I get "Can I get a copy of that?" from desis & non-desis alike. If you listen to the original version of this song on her album she is phoning it in - it is actually a very dull song. She went into the studio with Josh and re-did the vocals for the remix. Check them out at

Planet Josh