10 Remixes in 2008 you missed

This post is a part of 2008: The Year That Was, a feature of Opinion Matrix and Review Matrix, to round off the year in style.

We faced an avalanche of songs in 2008: mellow originals, hardcore rock numbers, and of course, remixes. Lots of them. However, it was only a few of them that made the most noise, and not all of them were necessarily good. A few very good mixes simply slipped into obscurity because of many reasons: The film wasn't promoted well enough, or it bombed, or the mix was simply too unconventional, but one thing is clear: The remixes were grossly underrated. I therefore post:

10 Underrated Remixes of 2008

10. Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai (Remix)
Remixed by: Unavailable
Album: Everybody On Dance Floor Groove 6
The premier reason for the apparent overshadowing of this track (besides the obvious fact that it doesn't appear in an OST) is the aversion people generally have to listening to such songs being remixed. However, this track largely succeeds in its endeavor of keeping the soul of the original intact along with providing pretty decent beats and echoing vocals that enables the song to cater to both audiences: those liking originals, and those liking remixes. But under-promotion has turned out to be the main culprit...

9. Bandeya (Remix by DJ Suketu) and Allah Ho (Remix by DJ Aqeel)
Album: Khuda Kay Liye
I'm not surprised I have to put both these songs in this list. In fact I feel hardly any of you readers may have heard of even the movie. KKL is a brilliant Pakistani movie, and both these songs, even more so. For Bandeya, DJ Suketu goes about in his own style and brings to the table (turntable, as it were) an awesome remix that can light up any party. Allah Ho, on the other hand, is an extremely dark and haunting mix by DJ Aqeel, albeit with a fairly high tempo. However, both these songs are not Hindi, which may pose some problem for listeners that like lyrics.

8. Meow (Remix)
Remixed by: Nikhil Chinappa and Naved
Album: Golmaal Returns
You may have got a load of remixes of Vacancy and Tha Kar Ke (both of which are very good, no doubt), but in the noise surrounding these mixes, the voice of Meow got drowned out. This remix features outlandish arrangements by Nikhil Chinappa (yeah, it's the very same MTV VJ) and Naved along with very good escalating beats. It may not be as full-on as Vacancy, but that is no reason to not give this track a good hear!

7. Kahin To Hogi (Remix)
Remixed by: Unavailable
Album: Everybody On Dance Floor Groove 6
Similar mix to Jaane Tu... (see #10), similar merits, same problems. Only difference being the merits and problems have double the intensity... Jaane Tu... was a sad song, while Kahin To is an out-and-out romance number, all the more appalling for most to see it in the mix. Give it a chance at least, and you won't be disappointed. (An idea: If you liked Kuchh Khaas - Remix from Fashion, then you will surely like this one).

6. Fashion Ka Jalwa (Remix)
Remixed by: DJ A-Myth
Album: Fashion
The title track and flagship number of Fashion finds itself mixed in a zany way by A-Myth. Be it the atypical arrangements or a BPM (Beats per minute) of only 110 (even the 'slowest' remixes usually have a BPM of 120, but this isn't even close to slow.) It's probably the thing that led to its undoing, since DJs found it difficult to beatmix the 'conventional' 125 BPM tracks with this one. Otherwise, it rocked.

5. Karle Gunaah (Remix)
Remixed by: DJ A-Myth
Album: Ugly aur Pagli
This has been described by many people in different ways: "Too fast", "Barely Passable", and so on. I describe it as thus: "Potentially Game-changing". This was a remix in which A-Myth combined a host of elements which made his mixes (Billo Rani - Goal, Aa Khushi Se Khud Khushi Kar Le - Darling, etc) successful, and presented them all in a single mix. This could have been one of the most overused mixes of the year, but again, the same problem reared its head: This song killed the original rather brutally. As a result, this remix stayed underground. Irrespective of this little hitch, though, this mixing style has made waves in the days to come, courtesy largely of the soundtrack of Fashion.

4. Theme of Fashion (Remix)
Remixed by: Harsh Kale and Midieval Punditz
Album: Fashion
The only non-A-Myth remix in Fashion was of Theme of Fashion. Both original and remix received heaps of critical acclaim, but that's all they managed. Who listens to instrumentals anyway? Besides, the over 6 minuite length and the slightly repetitive nature of the track worked against this otherwise pacy remix.

3. Masha Allah (Remix)
Remixed by: Akbar Sami
Album: Karzzzz
If I tell you that the makers of Karzzzz have been guilty of underpromoting a deserving song, you won't believe it. But that's exactly the case with Masha Allah's remix. I had to do a double-take to confirm that the man behind this was really Akbar Sami, this was so unlike him. Full-on electronic arrangements along with an innovative 4-beat rhythm for half a stanza really meant this was a first-rate remix. But, as I said, it was underpromoted, and you see the result.

2. Mann Tu Talbat (Remix)
Remixed by: Nikhil Chinappa
Album: Superstar
However, if you do want high-voltage mixing, look no further than this one. This is my third-best mix of the year, behind only the Number 1 on these charts and Judai (Kilogram Mix) - Jannat. It's so vibrant that I bet you'll be catching your breath after giving a hear to this crazy remix. The major card played by Nikhil Chinappa comes right in the beginning itself with so much of vocal scattering that you'll be riveted, on your toes trying to expect what will follow next. The response it got was slightly okay, but it ended up being a bit too much for most ears...

And Number One...

1. Khuda Jaane (Revisited)
Remixed by: Abhijeet Nalani
Album: Bachna Ae Haseeno
And if you want a truly ethereal feel, go for this. I repeat: GO FOR THIS. I couldn't stress this enough. Abhijeet Nalani (yeah, new guy) approaches this song without any presumptions and it takes up its full pace within the first 10 seconds itself. Keeping the feel of the original largely intact, he procceds to fill it with a mix of racy music arrangements, digital echoes, and the works, set to a BPM of 140, all of which truly make the feel of this track alluringly haunting. Once you have had a hear, you'll keep coming back to it. The only problem being that people will have heard the original by now (unless they have been living under a rock this August), and approach this track with apprehension.

So, that was it, return for the 10 best soundtracks this year!

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REVIEW MATRIX: Films this week

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma
Producer: Aditya Chopra, Yash Chopra
Director: Aditya Chopra

RNBDJ has been one of the most awaited films of the year. (This is not saying much, since this places it in the list occupied by Tashan, Drona, Love Story 2050, among others.) It has finally hit the theaters amidst about no competition whatsoever. Let's see what reviews the film has obtained:

Mumbai Mirror
Verdict: 2/5

The Times Of India
Verdict: 2.5/5

DNA
Verdict: 3/5

indiafm.com
Verdict: 2/5

All reviews are similar in opinion. SRK has done a fabulous job as the common middle-class guy, Surinder Sahni. All's well until he marries Taani (Anushka Sharma). Then, their marraige begins floundering and SRK introduces his alter-ego in the movie, Raj, which is when the movie itself starts floundering. Two primary concerns have been expressed by reviewers across the board:

• Why, just due to a change in looks, could Taani fail to recognize her husband? indiafm believes that "it's like taking the viewer for granted".
• Okay, Sahni became Raj and attracted Taani, then couldn't he tell her straight away who he really is? The resulting oscillations in Taani's love ("Now I love Sahni, No, I love Raj now...") mean that "the complex idea (of love) is frivolously played around with", according to Mumbai Mirror.

All in all, "RAB NE BANA DI JODI is no DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE. It's not MOHABBATEIN either", according to indiafm. The only good part in the film is SRK, who has outdone himself again, rendering the movie nothing more than a "tableau of SRK moments" (DNA). Anushka Sharma, the debutant, has got some mixed reviews. While Mirror calls her "gently eye-catching" and indiafm compliments her on her "confident performance", ToI says that "she can barely hold your attention".

Finally, we can say that RNBDJ has 3 days: Friday to Sunday, to make its mark at the ticket counters, because once negative word of mouth spreads, the ship is going to sink. If you still want to watch the movie, do so only for SRK.

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26/11 has happened. What now?

We all have seen how ten people entered Mumbai without much problems and held the entire city to ransom for over 60 hours. As if this wasn't bad enough by itself, we now have further problems created over this attack which I have no intention to discuss. (Still, what were the CMs of Maharashtra and Kerala thinking?) What is of paramount importance is how such a happening is to be averted the next time before it happens. Unfortunately, we have no real quick-fix solutions, as the cause of these terror-mongers getting away every single time is deep-rooted. Here is what should be done in the long term:

1. Education
I believe that to combat the influence terror has on children of impressionable ages, they should be taught a subject on the lines of Terror Management. This would include giving a clear idea about who is perpetrating this terror; why is this being done, that is to say, what are the objectives of the people behind these incidents, and how to thwart them; and most importantly, what to do in the event of an attack.

2. Security
An important reason why the battle continued for so long was the pathetic technology and weaponry that the armed forces possessed in contrast to the sophisticated AK-56s and RDX that the terrorists had. Only one thing can follow from this: Our security forces urgently need better ammunition, technology (and safer bullet-proof jackets) at their disposal. This way, the taxpayer's money would be put to some use.

3. Intelligence
26/11 heralded one of the biggest Intelligence failures in India, ever. This is saying a lot, since the intelligence has never been up-to-the-mark to begin with. However, why don't the best sleuth agencies of the world (Scotland Yard, FBI, etc.) tie up together and work as a single unit to encounter terrorism on a global scale? Wouldn't it be more prudent to focus all the resources of all the intel in the world together to fight a problem that is endangering the world? And before anybody asks, I don't trust Indian intel to work on its own.

4. Politics
However, among all the problems mentioned so far, this one has to top the scales for the biggest problem mentioned on Opinion Matrix so far. (And yes, that includes Terrorism.) For 61 long years, we, as people of India, stood behind Democracy, elected our own representatives, and expected not much apart from a few basic things like food, shelter, and security. But, democracy has failed this country. I now long for an authoritarian government, even dictatorship, that would not run behind vote banks, indulge in petty bickering and politicize important issues such as 26/11. Such a government would be able to take quick decisions, focus itself on the task at hand without caring for political mileage, and kick terror out of the country the way a fly would be removed from a cup of tea, perhaps by instilling his own brand of terror.
To achieve this, just empty 'We-want-answers' slogans or huge rallies won't do. All we need is a Mass revolt; a REVOLUTION.

5. Citizens
And, at the root of even this big malaise is something... yeah, us. We Mumbaikars have always gone with the 'Chalta Hai' attitude. We don't take part in what is going on as far as politics is concerned. We give a damn to terror attacks, because we apparently know that the city will 'bounce back'. We have seen terror so many times that we have stopped caring about these things unless our family, friends or girlfriend/boyfriend had to bear direct brunt of the attack. Well, that will have to change now. We'll need to be active participants in the city's present and future. We can start by being watchful 24x7 and alert the people concerned when we see any suspicious activity, anywhere.
In the end, only we can save our city.

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Five Reasons why 26/11 is the worst terror strike in Mumbai

This is my first post in here. I had always planned on making this first post on a much peppier topic (such as the "perfect phone call" study), but something like such a large-scale terror attack is much more important.

I got news of the attack at about 10:30 in the night, and the stark difference between this attack and the usual bomb-blast type attacks immediately hit me. I analyzed the happenings, and found that there were many things pointing to the fact that Mumbai (or rather, any other place in India) had never faced such a terror attack. Here are five reasons why I believe 26/11 is the worst terror attack so far on Indian soil:

1. New 'Organization'
It isn't the usual Indian Mujahideen or SIMI that have claimed responsibility for the blasts, but a hitherto unknown organization called Deccan Mujahideen. (I am not particularly fond of calling such groups 'organizations', but the fact remains that they are much better organized than our Police forces.) The fact that their first operation can result in such widespread havoc is especially disturbing. Of course, one of the 'famous' organizations might just have adopted a new name to mislead the investigators, but it's disturbing all the same.

2. New Modus Operandi
Usually, as we all know by now, the strategy of the attackers has always been placing bombs, with emphasis on stealth, you get the drift. But in this case, many things were different:

• Weapons used (Guns and Grenades as opposed to bombs),
• Timing (late evening, almost midnight, as opposed to early evening)
• Relatively less stealth
• Choice of relatively high-profile targets
  

This only manages to prove the prevalent belief: Terrorists are always one step ahead.

3. No Intelligence Reports
Usually, news about Terror strikes is accompanied by news about how Intelligence had warned about the strikes, and how the reports were ignored. Have you noticed the absence of such news in this case? What does this show? Flawless planning? Sleeping security? Or *shudder* both??

4. Top Cop Deaths
How many terror attacks you know have been followed by encounters in which the terrorists have managed to kill high-profile leaders of Police organizations in the nation? At least three highly important police officers have fallen in the encounter operation following the firing attack, them being:

• The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare
• ACP Ashok Kamte
• Encounter Specialist Vijay Salaskar

5. 'Spirit' goes for a toss
We Mumbaikars have always prided upon the so-called 'spirit' of the city, according to which everything in the city comes back to normal within hours of a terror strike. This incident has burst the bubble. Even after about 45-odd hours of the incident taking place, the threat has not yet subsided. Mumbai has virtually come to a standstill. The following are a few pointers:

• Schools and Colleges are closed;
• Stock Exchanges are closed;
• Bollywood and TV shooting called off, Releases pushed forward by a day;
• ICL World Series and England ODI series called off, T20 Champions League "indefinitely postphoned"

However, all is still not lost. If we unite as a nation, and, in fact, if all nations of the world unite, we can eradicate terrorism. "Yes, we can!"
Keep watching this space for more...

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