"Dogged" by Objections

Ah, Slumdog Millionaire. The Hollywood Movie with Bollywood aspirations. The only so-called 'Indian' movie (never mind the nationality of Danny Boyle, the director) to have won a total of 4 Golden Globes and 5 Broadcast Films Critics Association Awards (BFCAA), including 2 awards for A. R. Rahman and one for Dev Patel. The very movie that has been heaped with most critical acclaim in '08. But that's not the only thing causing newspapers to devote reams to the movie. There's a different controversy breeding around this movie. What's all the fuss about, then?

Well, it seems none other than Amitabh Bachchan started it all. A post on his blog went like:
"If SM projects India as Third World dirty under belly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky under belly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations. Its just that the SM idea authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a Westerner, gets creative Globe recognition. The other would perhaps not." (For the full post, click here)

This excerpt puts forth two main points:

• The economic state in India is not much worse compared to the developed countries, and even they have "under bellies".
• SM won all this recognition and awards only because it's a western film.

First, about the second point: I absolutely agree. How many good films have we had in recent times; all of which bite the dust due to so many and varied reasons... Summer 2007, Aamir, A Wednesday!, the list is endless. But absolutely none of them has gone on in the Oscar race. Why? Because our great Oscar selection Committee will always insist upon sending moron movies like Paheli, Eklavya and Taare Zameen Par. There are hardly many incentives for making such films in India as opposed to masala flicks like Singh Is Kinng, Golmaal Returns, and the recent disaster CC2C. The situation sure seems to be changing lately, but let's keep our fingers crossed.

And now, the first point. I take some of my inputs from a UK blogger about whom Mumbai Mirror has reported. (If any reader happens to have a link of the blog, I'll apperciate it). The slums in India are not the under belly; they are the nation. 80% of India lives under 2.5 pounds a day; 40% under 1.25. I now add, this is the portrayal of the Real India. All this 'India Shining', high growth rate, millions of jobs, this is all nonsense. The truth is the slum existance. The real India is the one that toils all day, near under-construction buildings, in fields, and even in your own homes (have a look at the domestic help AKA kaamwali cleaning up your house) and get barely a pittance in return, in which they have to run their homes... sorry, slums.

As if this was not enough, a case has been filed in a court against A. R. Rahman and Anil Kapoor (pray, tell me, whatever is their fault now?) for calling Indians as 'dogs' and slum dwellers as 'Slumdogs', which apparently constitutes infringement of the rights of slum dwellers. I'll reply to this in a mere couple of lines:
Compare the existance of an Indian slum dweller to that of a stray dog. If you find any differences, leave a comment below this post.

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The 10 best Soundtracks of 2008

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.

2008 has been a great year for many spheres, and while films are one of them, the quality of the albums (quality, not popularity) has always been playing catch-up with the films. (This may be due to movies like A Wednesday and Aamir, which were great films that didn't concentrate on music.) Irrespective of that, we do have some fabulous music this year and so here goes:

10 best Soundtracks of 2008

10. Karzzzz
Composer: Himesh Reshammiya
Yes, the guy whom everybody likes to hate has come up with only one album this year, and it finds itself in the list of the best albums of the year. Although 9 originals and 10 remixes are enough to try anyone's patience, the good tracks in the album: Lut Jaaon, Tandoori Nights and Ek Hasina Thi, are so good that you have to give this thing a hear only for these songs. As for the rest, if you like them hear them, otherwise do whatever else you like to do!

9. Bachna Ae Haseeno
Composer: Vishal-Shekhar
Vishal-Shekhar have come up with quite a score for this Ranbir - Deepika - Bipasha - Minisha movie (phew, that was quite a starcast!). The big track here is of course, Khuda Jaane, sung by KK, in his own style, and Shilpa Rao, in a most brilliant manner. It was, not the very least, supported by scintillating visuals and an awesome remix. Besides, we have its title track, which is a reprise of the '70s Bachna Ae Hasseno track. That is not all, though; Lucky Boy is quite a dance track, and Aahista Aahista is a unique fusion of a lovey-dovey feel along with groovy beats. This album surely packs a punch!

8. Dostana
Composer: Vishal-Shekhar
From one Vishal-Shekhar to another. The movie that grabbed a lot of headlines for being 'gay' also had a great soundtrack going fot it. Desi Girl has been a favorite of DJ's for quite some time now, and will continue to be so for some more. Jaane Kyon was very good; again mellow with a dash of dancability. Shut up and Bounce has quite a carnival feel to it (need better lyrics though), and Maa Da Laadla is an above average original with an even better 'Mummy Mix' doing the rounds. All in all, worthy of this spot!

7. Rock On!!
Composer: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
When this album hit the stands, the critics found it good, but too niche, fearing if it would get a decent audience. The film went on to be one of the biggest hits of the year, and with it, proved the critics' fears baseless. The title track and Pichle Saat Dino Mein are carved out of a similar mould, slowish tempo rock with rather interestingly good lyrics. Then again, Socha Hai and Sindbad The Sailor are similarly uptempo, with similar lyrics that tell the listeners something. However, the best track in the album has to be Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein. Dominique Cerejo delivers, and how! This track has such an ethereal feel, time seems to slow down when this thing is on. Perfect for love-struck couples!

6. Jannat
Composer: Pritam
No sooner did the music of Jannat release than Lambi Judaai was all over the place. As of now, this song rendered by Kamran Ahmed is one of the biggest hits of the year. It is also featured in a 'Kilogram Mix', which is again, one of the best remixes of the year. However, Jannat is no one-song-show. In fact, if anything, Zara Sa is extremely tough competition to Judaai in the best-of-the-year department.

5. Fashion
Composer: Salim-Suleiman
This soundtrack is going to go down as one of the most unexpected hits in recent times. Salim-Suleiman deliver a soundtrack that has two brilliant dancable tracks (Fashion Ka Jalwa, Aashiyana) alongside an utterly unconventional love ballad (Mar Jaawan), and an utterly conventional one (Kuchh Khaas), which is superb all the same, and a great Theme of Fashion for the discerning ears out there. Remixes by DJ A-Myth only add to the album.

4. Singh Is Kinng
Composer: Pritam
A total masala soundtrack for a total masala Akshay Kumar movie; this doesn't disappoint you in the slightest if you know what you're looking for. (If you don't, God help you.) All kinds of mindless-lyric dance numbers (Jee Karda, Bhootni Ke, Bas Ek Kinng, Talli Hua), and Snoop Dogg added for good measure (title track) make this one for the dance floors. Fantastic remixes by Hyacinth, A-Myth and others only add to the pleasure, while Teri Ore is for balancing the influence (and the target audience).

3. Race
Composer: Pritam
And then, some more Pritam. The title track rocked the proceedings along with Zara Zara Touch Me and Khwab Dekhe, both of which have a dynamite of a new talent Monali gracing the proceedings. Dekho Nashe Mein was slightly better than passable. However, the best song has to be (no points for guessing) Pehli Nazar Mein, rendered by the soulful voice of Atif Aslam. DJ Suketu has given fabulous mixes of all the tracks, which is all the more reason to go for this Race!

2. Golmaal Returns
Composer: Pritam
And, Pritam again. Like Singh Is Kinng, this one is not for the ones looking for soulful music. We have fantastic dance tracks here like Tha Kar Ke (rendered by Neeraj Shridhar and others, and superbly remixed by A-Myth), Vacancy (great remix by K&G), Tu Saala (great work by Anushka Manchanda, okay-ish remix by Bunty Rajput) and Meow (Suzy Q and Monali rock; fantabulous remix by Nikhil Chinappa). For a night out in the club, expect to hear this. For a candle-lit dinner, see #1!

1. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Composer: A. R. Rahman
In a year that saw 5 albums by the great A. R. Rahman, it would be a great surprise to not see a Rahman album on #1. A great set of mellow tracks: Kabhi Kabhi Aditi, which also turned out to be quite peppy, and is, according to many, THE song of the year, Nazrein Milana Nazrein Churana, which creates a fantastic atmosphere with soft guitar strums and all, Kahin To Hogi, which is the definitive track for couples recently fallen in love, and also Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai, which puts forth the film's topical question very effectively: "So when do you know it's love?" Plus, for dance aficionadoes (and the general campus crowd), we have Pappu Can't Dance (which also appears in a good remix).
Not only that, but JTYJN served as a great launchpad for two great talents (no, I'm not talking about Imran and Genelia): Rashid Ali (Kabhi Kabhi Aditi) and Runa Rizvi (Jaane Tu Mera Kya Hai). Moreover, the phenomenal success of the film only helped the album further. There's no real way this can't be Number 1!

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