Rangoon (2017)- Music Review by Shoby

Rangoon (2017)- Music Review by Shoby

It is not possible that we can hear a movie from Vishal Bhardwaj and it does not have lyrics penned by legendary poet/ lyricist Gulzar sb. They have given us gems of the songs in past and some of the tunes are truly unforgettable. Apart from many others, I personally love O Saathi Re (Omkara), Tu Mere Rubaru (Maqbool), Bekaran (7 Khoon Muaaf). So now they are back with the new product called Rangoon, a period drama. Lets see, what the album has in it for us.

Bloody Hell (Sunidhi Chauhan)- When you see the name of Sunidhi Chauhan attached to a song, the bars of expectation increase up  so many times and she has crooned this Vishal Bhardwaj's groovy composition in the mood which was just perfect for this type of track. Gulzar sb's lyrics gets your attention right from the very beginning and see how beautifully they go throughout the sound... Us ne do ankhon se mera naam liya angrezi mein... Khulam khula do honton ka jaam piya angrezi mein. This one song is a must have in my car's music collection. Girtey girtey us ne mujh ko thaam liya... A sure short instant hit.

Yeh Ishq Hai (Arijit Singh)- For all the lovers of soothing melodious tunes just like Bekaran, O Saathi Re & many more, this one is surely for you. Arijit Singh was the ideal choice for the track or should I say, this was a tailor made composition for him. This composition takes you into a nostalgia. Sahil pe sir rakh ke darya hai, soya hai... Sadiyon se behta hai, ankhon ne boya hai... Yeh Ishq Hai Re... Near the end, the songs turns into pure Sufi tracks with lyrics Jaagey to Tabrezi, boley to Rumi hai (perhaps referring to the famous saints Shah Shams Tabrez and Jalal-ud-Din Rumi) 

Mere Miyan Gaye England (Rekha Bhardwaj)- It is Vishal's take on Mere Piya Gaey... This time, "miyan" has gone to Englaaand and this peppy track sets your mood accordingly. It apparently looks like such a track which will be included in the live stage performance somewhere in the film's heart. I loved the use of Shehnai & trumpet in the song. The song had a huge feel of 7 Khoon Muaaf's track Darling.

Tippa (Sukhwinder Singh, Rekha Bhardwaj, Sunidhi Chauhan, O.S. Arun)- Well I was waiting for some real unorthodox lyrics, something that is trademark of Gulzar and this is probably what I was looking. It is an interesting sweet challenge to catch the lyrics of this very unconventional track.

Ek Dooni Do (Rekha Bhardwaj)- This one is yet another situational track that has been created to take the script's proceeding ahead. This might help the story to move further.

Alvida (Arijit Singh)- Just like Omkara had "Naina" sung by maestro Ustad Rahat fateh Ali Khan, Rangoon features this gloomy slow melody sung by Arijit. Some lyrics that has the penchant to modify your mood right away.

Julia (Sukhwinder Singh, K.K., Kunal Ganjawalla, Vishal Bhardwaj)- Jeem Pesh Laam Wow... Aen Sheen Qaaf... A typical Gulzar's way of projecting a phenomenon important for the situation of the movie. It introduces us with the main character, the much powerful "Julia" in a style.

Chori Chori (Rekha Bhardwaj)- It is a naughty track in which the girl is seriously teasing the boy as she has caught him red-handedly while he might have been having a sneak-peak to his beloved. Looks like this one will work as another stage performance in the film. 

Yeh Ishq Hai (Female Version) (Rekha Bhardwaj)- More slower than the original version at the beginning, this one is a sad, gloomy track that takes the pace after few moments. Use of tabla & harmonium gives it a feel of qawali in the middle of the track.

Rangoon Theme- This is an instrumental just more than one & a half minute track, which will go along with the movie.

Be Still (Dominique Cerejo)- Lekha Washington has penned this English lyrical track and it is a nice track that takes you down the memory lane.

Shimmy Shake (Vivienne Pocha)- This one is also penned by Lekha Washington. This song has also the same feel as the other songs of the album, groovy & foot tapping.

Final Words: This album contains huge number of songs, twelve in total and it is not false to say that Vishal & Gulzar sb has become quite successful in providing us the product which not only goes well with the theme of the movie but also works good for the listeners especially for the fans of Gulzar's poetry & Vishal's compositions. Few of the songs are brilliantly penned and splendidly composed. My picks are Bloody Hell, Tippa, Alvida and Yeh Ishq Hai.

OK Jaanu- Movie Review by Shoby

OK Jaanu- Movie Review by Shoby

3.25 Hearts out of 5...

Girl & a boy from diverse backgrounds with different career objectives meet up by chance. It certainly looks familiar... Isn't it??? That's why I say, all these stories are somehow the same, what makes them look interesting is the execution. Veteran film maker Mani Ratnam gave a Tamil blockbuster in 2015 (titled OK Kanmani) and Shaad Ali remakes it in Hindi officially under the co-production of cinema giants Mani Ratnam & Karan Johar, starring the celebrated on-screen couple of Aashiqui 2, Aditya Roy Kapoor & Shraddha Kapoor, along with Naseer ud Din Shah and Leela Samson in pivotal roles. Further strengthening the project was the induction of musical maestro AR Rahman (who was also the composer of the original Tamil version) along with legendary poet/ lyricist Gulzar Sb. Remember, last time when the team joined hands to re-do a Mani Ratnam's film, the result was the critical & commercial success Saathiya. Lets see, have they been successful this time.

Aadi (Aditya Roy Kapoor) meets Tara (Shradhha Kapoor) by luck in a white wedding ceremony and both of them develop a nice warm liking for each other. Hence, they decide to have a sit-in relationship till time separates them apart citing their career objectives. Adi wants to be a successful game developer, whereas Tara wants to study architecture abroad. They both start living together in the house of an old-romantic couple (Naseer ud Deen Shah and Leela Samson). Whats happens next should be watched in the film.

OK I agree, the plot is like centuries old but one thing that has made the film attractive is the execution. It is a typical Shaad Ali's film with patches of Mani Ratnam's style embedded within. The moderate portion of first half of the movie is a bit slower but rest of the film moves quickly ahead and thus narrative never bores you down.

OK Jaanu resembles Saathiya in more than many ways. Couple first time meet in a wedding, train sequences and even that Humma Song positioning & choreography was almost identical to Saathiya.

As anticipated writing has been outstanding all through the timeline and dialogues are written brilliantly. I loved the scenes when Adi & Tara meets in trains, metros & bus. All the scenes featuring Naseer ud Deen & Leela are class. With usage of some brilliant Urdu dialect, they are there to entertain the classy audience.

As expected film stands tall in the department of music, dialogues & acting. Gulzar sb has not only penned some beautiful lyrics for the songs (my favourite Saajan Aayo Re) but he has also written fabulous dialogues for everyone. Interesting part is that he has penned the dialogues for the four characters (Adi, Tara, Gopi & Chaaru) while considering the aspect of their character sketches & generations.

Last ten odd minutes of the movie are a treat to watch. Fast, edge of the seat and although climax is very much predictable, it forces you to watch the whole proceedings till the very end.

Overall, OK Jaanu works exceptionally well in patches and it is no doubt a much better film keeping in view that Bollywood has not been able to give us something exceptional for an year or so.

OK Jaanu... Trailer Review by Shoby

OK Jaanu... Trailer Review by Shoby

More than a decade ago, veteran film maker Mani Ratnam made Tamil film Alaipayuthey which had the musical score by the Academy Award winner AR Rahman. Film went on to be a blockbuster. When they decided to remake it in Hindi, they engaged with them the legendary poet Gulzar & director Shaad Ali and the final product that came out in front of all of us was immensely loved Saathiya. Music, Compositions, Lyrics, Dialogues, Acting and almost everything about Saathiya was a class act and really deserved a standing ovation.

In 2015 Mani Ratnam made O Kadhal Kanmani (OK Kanmani) with the super successful music by AR Rahman and now the same team of Saathiya once again joined hands to remake it in Hindi titled as OK Jaanu. 

Trailer of the film is out and the movie is slated to release in January 2017. Starring the hit pair of Aashiqui 2 (Aditiya Roy Kapoor & Sharada Kapoor) the film also stars the veteran actor Naseer ud Din. Trailer of OK Jaanu is fresh, youthful, musical and warm.

Aditiya and Shrada makes an almost perfect on-screen couple with all the little naughtiness, innocence & warmth in their respective acts. Although trailer features glimpse of just one song OK Jaanu's Title track which is off course Gulzar sb's version of Mental Manadhil, one can expect the movie as a grand musical love drama with some excellent signature dialogues from Gulzar sb. 

Ok Kanmani Remake by Karan Johar...

Ok Kanmani Remake by Karan Johar...

Official Remake of Tamil romance drama O Kadhal Kanmani (Ok Kanmani) is very much on the cards and it is none other than the celebrated director/ producer Karan Johar, who is remaking it officially. One must not forget that the original was a master piece of the iconic film maker Mani Ratnam.

As per Karan Johar's tweet, a dream team comprising of the best in business like AR Rehman sb, Gulzar sb & Saathiya fame Shad Ali are on board for the endeavour in collaboration with with maverick Mani Ratnam. The hindi remake will bring together the hit jodi of Aashiqui 2, Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shradha Kapoor.

It is pertinent to mention that last time when these greats became a team they delivered a beautiful romance musical titles "Saathiya" starring Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukherjee. I really hope this time too, the reunion leaves the same marks on screen.