Friday, March 24, 2006
Soulful Songs for Soul - Bhaavageete - II
Previously, I had listed a set of songs, which are poetic compositions and have formed a new genre of music - "Light Music" or more rightly termed "Bhaavageete" in Kannada. These songs describe with fervor the passion, the pain, and beauty of the various emotional upheavels a person goes through under different circumstances. I would like to add a few more songs as promised earlier, to the list erstwhile!
- Enee Mahaanandave :- There may hardly be a Kannadiga not aware of Shri DVG (D V Gundappa) or his magnanimous work - "Mankutimmana Kagga" that has been aptly regarded as the summary of all epics and vedas. His another brilliant work is "Antahpura geetegaLu" that has verses composed praising the beauty of the sculptures in Belur and Halebid - the "shilaabaalikeyaru". This particular song is picked from that collection, and has been sung by Smt. Ratnamala Prakash. The poet thrills at the various dance postures exhibited by them, and wonders as to what led to the merriment with such aplomb, clearly oblivious of others! These beautiful damsels engage in their art to please the Lord Chennakeshava, who is hinting at them from the corner of his eyes!
- O nanna chetana :- Kuvempu's vishwa maanava sandesha has been wonderfully embedded in this beautiful composition that wishes for the soul to rise and spread! To go beyond the limitations of the mundane existence and reach its full potential and cover the entire space! I feel a certain inspiration emanating from the song, that asks of the mankind, not just the soul, to reach out to its full potential! A very inspiring composition indeed!
- ellAdaru iru eMtaadaru iru :- Always remain a true Kannadiga! The supreme message, the call that Sri Kuvempu gave out to the multitudinous population of Kannadigas the world over, that lit in their hearts a flame of love and devotion towards their mother tongue! For a true kannadiga every part of his environment, his surrounding reminds him of his motherland, and symbolizes his mothertongue. Yet another awe-inspiring composition by the master! His many other songs that are my all time favorites include "doora balu doora", "chandramanchake baa chakori", "tEna vinaa", "nUru dEvaranella", "brundaavanake haalanu maaralu", "teredide mane O bA atithi", and many others.
- yaava mOhana muraLi kareyitu :- Composed by Sri Gopala Krishna Adiga, to summarize or explain the essence of this song is something that I have never felt capable of. The deep rooted philosophical significance of man's desires, their influence on his life, is all strikingly expressed in just one line of the entire poem - iruvudellava biTTu iradudareDege tuDivude jeevana (To ignore what we have, and yearn for what we don't - that is life).
- Ondu munjaavinali :- Shri Cennaveera kanavi is yet another poet who revived the dharwad style of kannada, in kannada literature after Sri da.ra.bendre. This song describes the beauty of a rainy morning! The earth looks like a newly wed bride, as the sun rises in the east, smiling softly behind the white clouds! It is as I always say, a verbal painting. My other favorites from his compositions include "Elenna manadanne".
- Ello hudukide illada devara :- G S Shivarudrappa, a contemporary poet has been lauded as "samanvaya kavi" - for he blended different styles of modern kannada literature - navodaya, navya, and bandaaya. His poems are lyrical, and talk of nature, human emotions, the exploitation of the underprevileged, etc. In this particular composition, Dr. GSS, writes of how man vainly searches for the supreme spirit in temples and other places of worship, without realizing that he dwells inside us, as love, compassion and understanding. He regrets the importance man gives to his ego, than to love and caring. The other compositions that are amongst my favorites are - "haadu haleyadaadarenu bhaava nava naveena", "ede tumbi haadidenu andu naanu", "udugana veshtitha", etc. Well, this in brief is about some of my favorite poetic compositions. I must've most certainly left out a lot of songs, but will keep writing often about them, time and again. So thatz it for now!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Reinventing Wheels :'Julie'
Statutory Warning:- If you do not like me sounding archaic in my preferences, STOP READING this post rite now!
Be in any Indian Film Music, I have never felt comfortable redoing the tunes of one, into another! Bollywood is notoriously famous for lifting its tunes from every nook and corner of the world, and the trend does trickle down and Kannada Film Industry (Sandalwood), is no exception for that. So whatz my issue on it? Well just that, it is not necessary!! Ever since past few years, there is growing instance in KFM (Kannada film Music) to lift the tunes off of other language movies. I feel remaking a movie does not necessitate the inclusion of the same tunes as in the original! For one, it leads one to compare the two, and obviously as is in most cases, get disappointed with the newer version. 2006 has seen the release of the movie Julie - a remake of the classic hindi movie "Julie" - that won for actress Lakshmi her first Filmfare award! This movie stars the current hottie Ramya cast opposite Dino Morea (for crying out loud!!!!). The songs not surprisingly are entirely rip offs of the hindi version.
1. Nanna ninna preetiyalli :
Singer:- Kunal Ganjawala, Lyrics:- K Kalyan, Music Director:- Rajesh Ramnath
"dil kya kare jab kisise" - Kishore kumar's oozing sensuousness in this song is something that is stark missing in Kunal's voice. The thing about writing reviews for such is that I fear that I may sound biased! But seriously, Kunal's voice is that of a young boy who hasn't matured at all or who is waiting for his voice to break! The sensuality that is supposed to be in a guy wooing a girl is the last thing one can think of listening to this song! The lyrics are good, what with them being K Kalyan's penmanship but still bear resemblance to the original! As for Rajesh Ramnath's music, well an orchestra would have produced the music! It's a copy after all!
2. My Heart is beating :
Singer :- Chaithra, Lyrics :- Hrudayanath, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath
Chaithra is refreshing! She is a certain welcome as compared to Preeti Sagar! The lyrics are the same as in the original version, penned by Hrudayanath Chattopadhyay. Her voice is extremely fresh, and provides a new dimension to the song as compared to a bland version in the original.
3. Ee haadu modala haadu:
Singer :- Priyadarshini, Lyrics :- K Kalyan, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath
"yeh raatein nayee puraani" by Lata Mangeshkar is immensely more likeable than this song. Lyrics is passable.
4. Dava Dava edeyali :
Singer :- Udit Narayan, Chaitra, Lyrics :- V Nagendra Prasad, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath
A rip off of "bhool gaya sab kucch" with the male voice rendered by Udit Narayan is nothing but a crude murder! The sentences seem needlessly stretched in order to introduce a sensuousness that is never present! And why has Udit started to sound nasal like Kumar Sanu! There are instances in the song where is sounds deeply constipated and in terrible pain at the thought of love making! Well less said better about this song!
5. Navaneetha Chora :
Singer :- Priyadarshini, Lyrics :- K C Kiran, Music Director :- Rajesh Ramnath
Another song that is sung very distinctly from the original movie, and one that stands on its own self in a good stead. Singer Priyadarshini sounds fresh, and has a long way to go. Lyrics is well worded.
Well, over all, I'd say the songs could have been a lot more better, and maybe original and not try to follow the scores already set. Hopefully some day its gonna stop or atleast improve their skills in copying!
You can listen to the songs here.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Ravindra Jain : The Return Of A Legend
I have several scores that I would want to settle with Bollywood. And this is not just about having species like Meghana Naidu, Payal Rohatgi, Udita Goswami, et al around!! Time and again, I have pointed out the several talented stalwarts whom the industry utilized and later on sent them to the oblivion. In the genre of Music Directors/lyricists, the one of the names that rings true in this context is that of Ravindra Jain.
Ravindra Jain was born on the 28th of February (a Piscean like me!!!) 1944. His foray into the hindi film industry wasn't smooth. Inspite of the initial set backs, the first movie that finally was released with his music direction was Kaanch Aur Heera (1972). Immediately after that, the Rajshri Productions lapped up this talented Music director for their production - Saudagar (1973) which starred Amitabh Bacchan and Nutan. This movie gave the necessary fame needed for Jain to set his foot firm in the soils of Bollywood.
His growth and flourish was nevertheless established over the decades by several movies. The songs of Chor Machaaye Shor (1974) (le jaayenge le jaayenge dilwaale dulhaniya le jaayenge, ghungaroo ki tarah) created a ripple in the heart of music lovers and Ravindra Jain became a familiar name. What followed were a series of memorables that have ever since ruled the hearts of music lovers - Geet Gata Chal, Chitchor, Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se, Fakira, Kotwal Saab, Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man bhaaye, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Insaaf Ka Taraazu, Nadiya ke paar, etc. He is credited with introducing several talented singers such as K J Yesudas, Hemalatha, Jaspal Singh, Aarthi Mukherjee, etc.
Raj Kapoor was looking for a seasoned talent for his new venture and immediately raked in Jain, and the legacy of "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" still continues to enthrall the listeners, and history repeated itself through "Henna". Then followed the tragic decline of the talent vested in him. The physical blindness that he suffered from never proved a liability as did the blindness that the industry suffered with! Rajshri Productions abandoned him to include Ram Laxman, and the offers that he started getting were not even remotely mentionable, what with most of the movies being B grade flicks or ones that were not released nationwide.
Just when he seemed long forgotten, Rajshri Productions have rejoined hands with him for their latest production - Vivaah. Will this provide the much needed comeback for this music director, is for time to reveal. When challenged, Ravindra Jain has always delivered phenomenal music, and let's hope that this shall create history as did the rest.
Now for my favorite songs listing :-
- Le jaayenge Le jaayenge dilwaale dulhaniya - Chor Machaaye Shor
- Ghunghroo Ki Tarah Bajtaa hi rahaa hoon main - Chor Machaaye Shor
- Geet Gata Chal O Saathi - Geet Gata Chal
- All the songs of Chitchor
- Ankhiyon ke Jharokhon Se - Ankhiyon ke jharokhon se
- Sun ke teri pukaar - Fakira
- Dil Mein tujhe bithaakar - Fakira
- Le toh aaye ho hamein - Dulhan wohi jo piya man bhaaye
- Sunayana - Sunayana
- All the songs of Ram Teri Ganga Maili
- All the songs of Henna
