MORE RAIN SONGS

Some more rain songs which are my favourite:



Na jaane kahan se aayi hai - Chaalbaaz
This has to be one of the most hilarious rain songs ever in Hindi cinema. The song unlike other rain songs does not give in to lust or passion but is a rather cute song picturised on Sridevi and Sunny Deol. This song is all madness and amusement. Sridevi dressed in the most outrageous outfit combined with an equally over-the-top- headgear is a treat to watch. The gay abandonment wioth which she dances and sings this song relegates Sunny deol to a position of an extra in this song!!!!! Its Sridevi all the way…..




Megha re megha - Lamhe
A very traditional Indian song picturised yet again on Sridevi. This song is all about welcoming sawaan (monsoons) in our lives. The song is set in Rajasthan where celebrating the arrival of the season is done with lot of pomp and show. This song shows Sridevi, all adorned in finery, sitting on the jhoolas with her friends, crooning this song which announces the arrival of rains, thereby bringing in a lot of joy to the people who otherwise live in the desert state yearning for water.. The music by Shiv-Hari and vocals by Lata and Ila Arun make this song a treat to watch. Add to it the beautiful picturisation and not to forget the voyeuristic, pleasurable look on Anil kapoor’s face as he watches the divine Sridevi serenading in the rains.




Aaj rapat jaye to hame na uthiyo - Namak Halal
He is the superstar of the millennium. The best. An institution in himself. So even if its just a paltry rain song, Big B has to be the best even in that. Just check out the way this man can floor you. There is only one word to describe this song and that is HOT. A cartwheel has never appeared this appealing and Smita Patil (in one of her best roles in a commercial movie) has never looked this sensuous on the screen. It’s a personal favourite. Its one of the sexiest rain songs ever.....



Dekho zara dekho barkha ki jhaari - Yeh dillagi
Another Yash Chopra song. This song is not a lyrical gem and neither does it boast of great music so why is it in the list? What makes up for this otherwise ordinary song is the beautiful picturisation and the lead pair. The highlight of this song is the couple. The easy funloving vivacious Kajol paired opposite a gawky, serious, staid and awkward Akshay Kumar makes a lovely picture. The way Akshay overcomes his shyness and gives in to the infectious charm of Kajol is a delight to watch. Matching steps with steps, madness with madess and just not caring is something which Akshay learns from her not only in this song but also in the entire movie.This is one rare onscreen pairing seen in Hindi cinema. I wonder why anyone has not repeated them again?




Scene from Kuch Kuch hota hai
Now please dont ask why this is in the list of rain songs (its my blog).....I just had to include this because its my most favourite rain scenes ever....Sharukh and Kajol are looking so much in love that its just difficult to believe that they are just good friends.....boy...hats off to such beautiful acting....And I love the second when Kajol realized that she is engaged to Salman Khan...the dilemma on her face is to die for...I think even in real life I wont be able to get this expression should I find myself in such a situation....








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MY FAVOURITE RAIN SONGS

It is monsoons...
The streets look washed....
Skies look silver and misty.......
The trees are swaying.....
The air smells fresh.....
The world looks great.....
Its time to clear your throat and hum a rain song, for rains are finally here!!!!!
Here goes the list of my favorite rain songs from Bollywood........


Lagi aaj sawan ki phir wo jhadi hai - Chandni
OHhh....the anguish of unfulfilled love touches a chord down there....add to that the haunting music of Shiv-Hari and Suresh wadkar's lilting voice. The picturisation too is beautiful with both the ladies - Sridevi and Juhi Chawla - looking stunning in rain soaked avatars. Vinod Khanna as the anguished lover looks perfect. The lyrics too are poignant enough to create a stir within you and your heart goes out to Lalit (character played by Vinod Khanna) as he sings this beautiful song in the memory of someone he loved dearly. Truly a Yash Chopra gem.


Rim jhim gire sawan - Manzil
Oh I love the Lata version more than the Kishore’s. This version is a lot more happier, bubblier and less serious than the one just picturised on Amitabh. Not to say that I don’t enjoy the other version but visually this song is a delight. The picturisation is all about letting go off your inhibitions and just soak in the joys of life. An afternoon bunked from work just to be with your man and get drenched in rains holding each others hands – o boy just my idea of a perfect date. Moushami and Amitabh make an odd yet an endearing couple and what is specially appealing in this version is the way Moushami is running on the Marine Drive parapet holding Abhi’s hand. Divine I tell you.


Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai - Shree 420
This is the iconic song picturised on Bollywood’s first couple – Nargis and Raj Kapoor. Who can ignore the sizzling chemistry between the two, The look on Nargis’ face as she shares an umbrella – so near yet so far – with Raj. The beautiful lyrics “ Kehta hai dil rasta mushki, Malum nahin hai kahan manzil “ so aptly describes the turmoil which the couple is undergoing even while professing undying love for each other. What makes this song so amazing is the presence of three kapoor kids crossing the road even as Raj Kapoor sings, “ Hum na rahenge, tum na rahoge, Phir bhi rahengi nishaaniyan”. Truly Raj Kapoor and Nargis live on with the legacy they left behind. This song ti;ll date remains unparalled in Hindi cinema. A rare gem which comes once in a lifertime.


Choti si kahani se - Ijaazat
No protagonist, no situation, no drama, no romance. What kind of a rain song is this, you would ask. Well, this is one rain song which is sensuous and beautiful in its own unique way (Check out the video). This song comes during the first credits of tge film. The beautiful falls, the train passing through the ravines and haunting lyrics by Gulzar saab combined with Pancham Da’s magic makes this one of the loveliest rain songs ever in Hindi cinema. If aesthetics in association with water has to be found expressed in all the imaginable water formations, from ice to rain to gurgling streams to meandering rivers and finally to tears, it has to be this song. It has epitomized water in its entireity and it maybe considered one of the finest ode to the magnificient gift of nature that is rain.


Rim jhim rim jhim - 1942 A love story
RD Burman’s swan song. Unfortunately, Pancham Da did not live to see the magic his score created among masses and classes alike. A saree clad coy Manisha Coirala hilding a frilly umbrella in her hand, being wooed by the handsome dude, Anil Kapoor makes this song a visual delight. The leading pair adds to the song with their wonderful chemistry as they sing and get drenched in the rains, trying to forget the ravages of partition that the country is going through at that moment. This song beautifully penned down by Javed Saab is one of the most aesthetically pleasing songs seen in Hindi cinema.

More to follow soon...........





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OSCAR COMES TO BOSKYANA

They say pictures speak a thousand words. Well for all Gulzar fans like me this picture is as amazing as the man himself, as divine as his poems as surreal as his lyrics and as engaging as his movies. I am short of words right now so let me not even try it. Gulzar Saab many many congratulations from all your fans across the world. You are simply the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nobody deserves this more than you.

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SASURAL - GENDA PHOOL

I have been hearing this song DELHI 6 for quite some time. When I heard it first , I just did not understand it. I did not like the beats, the mix of hip hop and folk music with ghungroo beats thrown in between. I found it to be quite a "khichdi" ( this seems to be my favorite word nowadays, though I hate it when it is made at home). Anyways coming to the song, the lyrics too went over my head, and I did not even made out some words sung by rekha bhardawaj

But the more I heard this song, I really found it growing on to me. I was unconciously humming this song. I had still not understood the lyrics completely. I was completely flabbergasted as to why the lyrics were the way they were. And to top it all, I still had not seen the movie, so I was not even sure whether this song was a part of the narrative or not, whether it was necessary part of the movie

Finally I saw DELHI 6 last week and I finally saw the song, heard it and let me tell you for a long long time such a beautiful song has not been heard in hindi movies. The picturisation , the setting, the pace, everything just everything about this song is mindblowing.Its presence in the movie is as beautiful as mandatory since it acquaints Abhishek's character to the traditions and rituals practiced in India. If you are a lover of contemporary music there is no way you will not love this song.

Now the song is "GENDA PHOOL". I am so totally taken in by this song that it has been playing continuously on my laptop, my i pod , my phone. The lyrics which are so unusual got me thinking, why is the "sasural" (in laws place) is being compared to "genda phool"? Why not any other flower???? Here is what I think could be the possible explanation:

Genda phool (marigold in english) is a complex flower. Marigold is an inflorescence. Inflorescence as in every petal of this flower is a complete flower in itself and are arranged around a single stem. So even though every petal is complete in itself, they become whole , together to form a genda phool collectively into one flower. They will not be complete without each other. So it is complex in nature.

So is it with the "sasural", which is a complex place, with different relations like saas, nanad, devar being individual flower or petal of genda phool but collectively joined together at the stem to form a complete flower called "sasural" or genda phool. And each relation is not complete without each other. So the inlaws place is a complex place to stay in so to say the least.

Understanding it, I enjoy this song even more. I just love it. I love the lyrics (simple words like bush shirt, so commonly used in India), the laziness of the song, the nasal vocals of Rekha, the teasing which goes on (like oye hoye oye hoye). It's so simple yet so witty.

I'm going to play this song incessantly on my wedding sangeet. I'm going to dance to this song which would be a real nice break from those dumb five star wedding sangeets where we dance like robots on that "dance floor".



Barefoot, with bangles jingling in my hand dancing to the tune of this earthy song on my terrace, with my sister and friends teasing me....I can see myself doing this ohhhh wow!!!!!! Now all I wish is that my "saiyaanji" wear a bush shirt and chew a beeda paan so that is shaan is unbeatable in entire Kolkata. LOL!!!!!!!

P.S. anyone with a different take on this song is most welcome to post it in comments. would love to hear anything about this beautiful song.


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GULZAR - THE ONE AND ONLY

Nothing gets bigger or better than this. As a Gulzar Saab fan , this has to be the greatest moment for me and million other fans of his. As long as I can remember, I have been this huge fan of his. A folder with a complete list of his lyrics, the movies he has directed, films for which he has penned dialogues and written screenplays for, the awards he has won hold a coveted place in laptop and in my heart. He has songs for every season and every reason. From his first song as a lyricist in Bandini "Mora gora ang laile, mohe shyam rang daiyde" to his last in Yuvvraaj "Tu muskura, jahan bhi hai tu muskura" , Gulzar Saab has always churned out gems and enthralled his listeners and critics alike, across generations. I know of a 60 year old woman, a 29 year old girl and a 16 year old boy, Gulzar saab being the common thread that unites them. Thats how powerful his lyrics are. The emotions which are envoked through his mesmerizing words are very difficult to pen down. He is a true magician, who juggles words and creates a symphony, the like of which is unparalled.

Like a true artist, Gulzar Saab is a humility and modesty personified. This is what he had to say when asked how he felt on recieving the Oscar : http://music.ndtv.com/Music_Story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20090084487&type=musicindia. This is a hallmark of a true artist and nobody deserves this more than Gulzar saab.

For me, nothing can beat the elation I felt when his name was announced along with Rehman sir by the award presenter Alicia Keys. My only regret is that he could not be present at the ceremony since he is nursing a shoulder injury. It would have been an out of this world moment for me to see him at the stage in the Kodak Theatre. But nevertheless, JAI HO to Gulzar Saab. You are the best, simply the best. No praise is too high for you sir. You deserve every inch of this glory coming your way today.

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IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LIFE, PLAY ON!!!!!

I love music. Period. Infact at times my mind refuses to work if there is no music playing somewhere near me. I was not like this during my school days, but hostel life got me hooked to it. I realized it was much better being friends with music and of course books. (but all this some other day).

Coming to music, somehow I'm not at all into english music of any kind, although I eat, drink and live the language. Invariably it is hindi music that I am completely hooked to. My ipod is jam packed with hindi songs from all generations across all genres. I am a sucker for meaningful lyrics, so its not a surprize that I am a humongrously huge fan of Gulzar Saab. I also love Javed Saab, Sahir Ludhianvi and Kaifi Azmi. And somehow I find Prasson Joshi's lyrics very profound. I recently got tagged (yet again) on hi 5 on "my all time favorite songs", so i thought why not do a blog post on that. So without much delay and dilly dallying, here i go with my all time favourite songs (ofcourse hindi songs -:)


1. Mera kucch samaan tumhaare paas pada hain - Ijazaat

This has to be one of the greatest songs, lyrically. The emotions put forward in the form of words remain unparalled even today. This has to be Gulzar Saab's best work as a lyricist. Lyrics which move every heart. The song has a mesmerizing queue of words, which feels like it should never end.

2. Mere mehboob qayamat hogi - Mr X in Bombay

This song is from the movie mr x in bombay. a beautiful song sung by the evergreen kishore kumar. its one of the few songs which has a slight revengeful overture in it, inspite of being labelled as a love song.

meri tarah tu aahe bhaare

tu bhi kisi se pyaar kare

aur rahe wo tujhse pare

tune o samam dhaye hai sitam

to yeh tu bhool na jaana ki na tujh par bhi inayat hogi........

3.Na Jaane kyun hota hai yeh zindagi - Choti si Baat

A beautiful song frm a middle of the road movie.This song revolves around a middle class couple. It talks about how one person becomes the crux of your life and when he/she is not around how it affects ur daily life. Even the slightest of an incident or a thing makes you miss that person so immensly.

na jaane kyu hota hai yeh zindagi ke saath

achanak yeh mann

kisi ke jaane ke baad

kare phir uski yaad choti choti si baat.......

4. Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai - Guide

This song perhaps describes the human being perfectly. With words like "aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai aaj phir marne ka irada hai, the lyricist manages to capture the very essence of life so beautifully. The zest and exuberance of this song remains unparalled even today and Waheedaji is looking her lovelist best in this song. Her happiness at being freed of life of confinement reaches out to the listener and one cannot help but feel like dancing along with her.

5. Mera jeevan kora kaagaz kora hi reh gaya - Kora Kaagaz

Mera Jeevan Kora Kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya. This songs talks about a relationship between a man and wife who could not stay together inspite of being deeply in love.The end scene of this movie is so poignant when Jaya asks her husband, "kya saari galti meri thi?" to which Vijay anand replise, "kuch tumhari, kuch meri, kuch hum dono ki." It just means it takes two to keep and nurture a relationship.

6. Jo tumko ho pasand wohi baata karenge - Safar

Jo tumko ho pasand wohi baat karenge,tum din ko agar raat kaho raat kahenge.Wow what a divine thought!!!! One of my personal favourites. It talks about unselfish love which is so rare nowadays. Lucky are those who have someone who echoes this for them.

7. Kabhi kuch pal jeevan ke - Rang Birangi

A nice song from yet another middle of the road movie. Sparkling comedy about a meddling friend whose attempt to rekindle the spark in his friend's relationship with his wife of seven years leads to complications to their lives, and to the lives of his secretary and her boyfriend he has not 'scripted' ...This song talks about all those beautiful moments of coutship period and tells you to get the romance back into your life. So what if you are married guys. Tell your partner you love them.

8. Tujhse naraaz nahi zindagi - Masoom

Yet another gem from Gulzar Saab. There are so many times in our lives when we are confronted with questions to which we have no answers. This song talks about those moments in life when life itself becomes a question for us. Amazing music by Pancham Da makes this song a lyrical delight. The song has two vwersions, one sung by Lataji and another one by Anoop Ghosal. I like Anoop's version more for the sheer poetry in the last:

Zindagi tere gam ne hame, Rishtey naye samjhaye,

Mile jo hame dhoop main mile, Chaaon ke thande saaye.

9. Badi sooni sooni hai - Mili

One of the best yet unrecognized song of kishore da. Somehow i feel this song never got the due it desrved. This song talks about the loneliness of a man. A man who never got his parents love as a child. As a consequence of which he is suspicious of anyone who tries to get a little friendly with him. This song reflects his nature the best when he sings:

badi sooni sooni hai zindagi yeh zindagi

Main khud se hun yahan ajnabi ajnabi.....

10. Teri Khushboo main base khat - Jagjit Singh

Sung by ghazal maestro, Jagjit Singh, this has to be one of his best. In the age of e-mails and insensitive sms this ghazal is a reminder of an era gone by. The sensitivity of this ghazal remains unparalled even today.

11. Aap ki nazron ne samjha - Anpadh

This has to be one of the most beautiful songs of Lataji symbolising a woman perfectly. a woman whose aspirations dreams desires all start and end with her man, who is her anchor as well as strength. I would sing this for my man.

12. Mann ma anand anand chayo - Vijeta

The song/ bhajan lets a shiver run down my spine, for the power it has. Sung in the morning raga, this bhajan/thumri, literaly means- with the sun rising-darkness diminishes, and the dawn brings in happiness everywhere.

I tag everyone who reads this post to list their favourite all time songs.

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GOOD TIMES WITH ABU AND SANDEEP

Another talk show!!!!yawwwnnnnn!!!!!A host of celebrities!!!what's new?????Wannabe stars performimg on stage!!!!baaahhh.........Nerdy jokes!!!!so downmarket...........Wise cracks at fellow celebrities!!!!!totally LS I tell you..............







When Simi Garewal entered our living rooms via the idiot box, it was a treat for our sore eyes. The first of its kind, 'Rendevouz with Simi Garewal' was not only a chat show, it was a place where celebrities bared their hearts. The lady in white managed not only to capture the hearts of her guests but also us, the viewers. Since then, lots of people have burnt their fingers while tryinf to host a talk show, the latest being Farhan Akhtar (the less said about him, the better). KJo did manage to do a decent outing (but then most of the guests were his personal friends). And lets not even talk about Koel Purie. (dont want to waste my precious blog space on her!!!!!).







So when I heard about a new talk show on NDTV Good Times, I was like yeah right. Why dont we talk about something new. I was really not going to watch another talk show. And I did miss the first episode of it very gladly so coz I dont get NDTV good times on my set. But then on monday morning, I was greeted with a barrage of smses asking me if I did see 'The First Ladies' hosted by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. I was literally forced to search for online videos of the show and I managed to watch the first and second episodes featuring Nita Ambani and Jaya Bachhan on the same day that is last night. And what I saw surprized me completely. Here's a quick post mortem of the show that promised to be different and it delivered rightly so!!!!!







Making a quiet debut on the television are India's well known designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla with "The First Ladies". The show aptly titled zooms into the lives of 12 women with a powerful surname, who have backed their men all the way. The wives, who sustain, inspire and of course share the exalted status and heady success of their super achiever husbands.







The show has a well laid out format and presentation. Abu and Sandeep have designed the sets themselves keeping the theme in mind. The ambience of the set is perfect keeping the status of the guests in mind. Thankfully there are no distractions like prformances and spoofs which seem to be a staple feature in other talk shows. This is purely, truly speaking a talk show where the guests talk about love. life, marriage and what makes them tick. The focus is completely on the guest. It is a conversation style interview and the hosts are clearly seen enjoying listening to their guests.







The show also has some sections like 'Hooked, Booked and Cooked' , 'Confession Time' (in this section , the lights dim out creating the perfect atmosphere for the guests to confess their naughtiest deeds), 'Quick Grills' , 'Qustion Time with Friends' and "Who's the Boss? (my favourite where the hosts ask a flurry of questiond and decides who calls the shots at home).







Coming to the guests, Nita Ambani was the perfect first guest to kick start this show. You get to see Nita as you have never seen her before. The First lady of Indian Corporate, she takes her name and success in her stride and clearly loves being referred to as "Mukesh's wife". The brain behind Reliance Retail and chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International school, Nita Ambani takes her role as a educationist very seriously. In the show, on being asked if there was one thing which she always wanted to do, but could not do it by none other than SRK, she says honestly that she wished she could have pursued dance which was her true vocation. A small AV sent by Mukesh revealed how much he looked upto Nita both as a wife and a partner. And one thing you always notice about her is the serene calmness on her face. you have to give thelady full marls for her graciousness and poise. Like Sandeep said 'she is the most envied lady in the country'.



Jaya Bachchan,who was the second guest, on the other hand was a nice change after the serious Nita Ambani in the first episode. Jaya is known for her witty responses, tongue-in-cheek humour and vivaciousness. And the camaradrie she shares with the hosts was evident as the actress sports mostly Abu -Sandeep ensembles and happen to be her favourite designers. Jaya talks about her marriage with AB, the life they share together and their roles as parents while remaining true to their passion in life - acting. On being asked which role she clearly enjoys today - daughter, wife, mother or grandmother by Maharani Padmini Devi of Jaipur, Jaya was at her candid best when she replied - of course, grandmother. no responsibility! A politician and actor par excellence she gives out the recipe for a perfect marriage. Catch her on the episode where Jaya reveals how she fell in love with India's superstar!!!!!





The hosts, Abu and Sandeep, are a nice change from the bollywood celebrities. They do not come with any pre conceived notions about their guests. Sandeep is clearly more verbal, talkative and vociferous than Abu who takes a quiet back seat as he lets his partner do most of the interview. Sandeep and Abu are completely at ease with their role as hosts and are not at all over awed by their famous guests. They held the fort quite comfortably and for not once did I feel that they were first time hosts.





All in all a wonderful watch. I am looking forward to all the episodes of this refreshing chat show where the wives bare it all, where one can expect "witty repartee and refreshing candour" with the hosts.

OYE, ITS FRIDAY

Another bollywood celebrity made his debut as a talk show host on the telly. Well, you may ask, what's new?????And I say very solemnly, nothing new. The new talk show "Oye, It's Friday" hosted by director, producer, actor (whew!!! no wonder there is so much of unemployment in India) Farhan Akhtar could be best described as a tasteless cocktail borrowing heavily from all the earlier talk shows on the idiot box.

The premise is nothing new, the jokes are stale, guests are repetitive and Farhan Akhtar is no Karan Johar. Not even Farouque Sheikh or for that matter even Shekhar Suman.

The show starts off with a bunch of crude jokes followed by the entry of the celebrity guest. There are numerous crass takes on advertisements which are quite distasteful in execution. The acts in between were really interrupting the flow of the interview which was nevertheless non existent throughout the show. The host neither possessses the gift of gab nor the simplicity to focus the attention on the guest rather than himself.

Its a rather pompous show where Farhan Akhtar clearly wants to hog the limelight. After seeing the show, I was clearly of the opinion that he could be at this moment, be best described as jack of all trades master of none. Stick to direction, dude. You are best behind the camera. And Farhan, as a sincere fan, a small request - don't ever sing again!!!!

A disappointing watch overall.