Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Ah Poetry!!!

Surprise Surprise!!! This post is dedicated to something different. It's Music, Poetry & movies. While our Hindi movies rarely dole out good poetry, apart from those good old days, when Mukesh, Lata, Rafi & Kishore ruled the music movie scene. These days though it is quite rare to see the same old poetic mix that songs of yesteryears had. It's more "Jhing Bang" music these days. Apart from maybe the likes of Javed Akhtar, Shaan and a few odd Pakistani artists, there seems to be a real dearth of talent in the Lyrics of our songs today. Blame it on the "Fast" generation, which wants to dance its heart out on good beats, but whatever happened to good poetry?

I can still vividly remember my school days. Early 90's and Doordarshan was the only source of entertainment. Music meant "Chitrahaar" and "Chayageet", where we saw Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna, maybe some lucky day there was Rishi Kapoor, and Shahrukh. And the rest of the show used to be filled up with the likes of Mithun and Javed Jaffery (They weree good in their own way). But the songs still made some sense. Then came Sanju Baba with his "Saajan" fame and finally when MTV became an independent channel, we had Channel V follow suit. And there was a transformation of sorts. Suddenly, Daler Mehendi with his eclectic Punjabi spiced up the Pop Scene. Indipop came of age with artists like Suchitra Krishnamoorthy (Remember Dole Dole, Dum Tara…), Mehnaz, Shaan, Shibani Kashyap, Ali Haider, Alisha Chinai all penning down some beautiful lyrics coupled with the funky Pop Dance, it made the right ingredients for a dance era. Then somehow it all fell apart gradually as Indipop died its slow death as abruptly as it was born. Lyrics and poetry too somehow became defunct, and lost the fresh touch.

I remember I was travelling down South from Chennai to Pondicherry, in the late 90's, on a comfortable Bus Journey. I was quite taken aback by the way these buses in the South always keep their music boxes on. They need to ensure something keeps on playing all the time. So, there was this Tam movie featuring Aishwarya Rai which became a blockbuster hit. However what impressed me more than the movie was its simple but meaningful lyrics. The movie was Kandukondaein Kandukondaein. And the lyrics go something like this…

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I have found it! I have found it!

The face of my beloved!

I have found the moon

At touching distance.

This cup brims over

With moon rays.

My heart overflows.

If the moon rays

break that cup

A woman will end her life.

What I have seen -

Will it reach my hands?

Or will I miss it?

Will it all end in tears?

Woman: When the clouds part

It is your face I see.

When the flowers bloom

It is your voice I hear.

Man: One can dream

With open eyes.

Love's fingers

Can prise open stone.

Woman: Is my journey

But a search for you?

Will the roads I take

Lead to your house?

Man: My dream woman!

Will your heart

Unite with mine?

The river searches

For the sea.

The spirit searches

For you.

Woman: The river vanishes

Into the sea.

Out of our union

A new form will rise.

Man: I will string stars

Together.

I will knock

at any time

on your door.

Woman: My Love,

I will close your eyes in mine.

Kandukondain, kandukondain

Kadhal mugham kandukondain

Viral thodum doorathile

Vennilavu kandukondain

Vennila vellichum

Kinnathil vizhinthu

Neerayanthal vazhinthal magizhlchi

Vennila vellichum

Kinnathi udaithal

Uyirai udaipal oruthi

Yen kan parthathu

Yen kai serumo?

Kai seramale

Kanneer serumo?

Woman: Meham thirandal

Adharkul unn mugamparkiren

Pookal thirandal

Adharkul unn kuralketkiran

Man: Kangalai therandhum

Kanavugal valarkkm

Kadhalin viralgal

Kallaiyum thirakkum

Woman: Unai thediye

Yenadhu payanamo

Yendhan salaigal - unn

Veetil mudiyumo?

Man: Yeh kanavu mangaye

Unadhu manathu

Yenathu manathil inaiumo.

Nathiyin thedal

Kadaisiyil kadal kanbhadhu.

Uyirin thedal

Kadaisiyil unai kanbhadhu.

Woman: Kadal konda nadhiyo.

Mugam thanai yihakkum.

Nan unil kalandhal

Pudhumugam kidaikum

Man: Natchathirangalai - Oru

Naril kattuven

Yendha neramum - Unn

Kadhavu thattuven

Woman: Yen kadhal devane

Yenathu vizhil unathu vizhigal muduven.

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Impressed? Some similar movies with good lyrics were remade in Hindi. One of the songs goes something like this…

"It wafts through my heart,
It is enough if I sleep on your lap,
And as I sleep peacefully, my desires,
For so many generations will be quenched,
What I love and what I breathe,
Is your approval,
I am suffering, I am suffering,
I am happy in your memory,

When it rains so hard,
we will get soaked in it,
And when we get sick from it,
We will sleep together in the covers,
Telling sweet lies, you will conquer me,
And even though I know they're lies,
That is all my heart expects from you,
Everyday, I want you in the house,
Never leaving me to step outside,
And, in play, sometimes, I want to be draped in your clothes,

(Instrumental) Quenched, quenched, (Female Vocalizing) (Instrumental)

Everyday after you've bathed,
When you find me and wipe your hair,
With the end of my sari, that is poetry,
When you sneak up like a burglar,
And suddenly come up behind me, And embrace me, that is poetry,
If anyone asks me the time, I don't want to be able to tell them,
For the span of love, The time of clocks do not apply."

Okay, for people following this blog, guess which song this can be. Incidentally this song was picturised on Diya Mirza. Any guesses which song this one could be? It features Diya Mirza on a rainy day. Keep guessing, this one isn't that difficult. So, all in all, these lyrics are really beautiful. Language barriers impede our understanding yet it doubt if music or poetry in music really has barriers.

Last weekend, I also saw a movie called 'Mungaru Male' literally translated as 'Monsoon Rain'. Must admit that it was among one of the few best romantic movies I have seen in a while. It's in Kannada and I had to switch on to subtitles to follow the plot. But the scenery and camera work is worthwhile to watch. And needless to say, the entire movie was shot in India. There is this amazing part in the movie, where the protagonists stand over a cliff edge which ends into a massive waterfall. That place is Jog falls in India. It's one of the most panoramic scenes I have ever seen in a movie. Am I hinting at my next trip in the making??? Maybe...

(P.S.: The Jog Falls pic is not my personal photograph and the Diya Mirza song is the English translation of the Tam original song dubbed in Hindi as "Zara Zara Behektaa Hai...")

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Flu Alert!!!


God, this swine flu thing is driving us all nuts. You never know who's infected, and where? Bizarre, I tell you. Worse still, I received an obnoxious mail saying that the swine flu cure is more like trying your hand at a lottery. As if, we needed that extra bit of knowledge. Apart from that, there has been immense focus on the flu and our over cautious junta is now become super over cautious. As if those ladies covering their heads and face travelling to work on a bike weren’t enough (some cover their faces even in the buses). Now isn't that something? Firstly, I find this whole 'cover-up' business weird. Secondly, on the flip side, come to think of it, the whole idea of the cover up serves two purposes. One, is to actually avoid unnecessary public attention and remain covert like a spy. Secondly, in case if an acquaintance happens to see, one can always pass off as an unknown. So it is dual safety, that way. Swine Flu as an excuse/reason??? No way...

Last weekend I visited the Oberoi Mall near Film city. Now this place is huge. And believe me. It takes a while checking out all the glitzy new stores which have come up. Some real BIG names do the rounds here. Its like a CENTRAL mall in Bombay, apart from that it also has PVR, which makes up for a real good combination. Make sure you go loaded with loads of cash though. This one's really harsh on your pockets. Nevertheless, I always prefer our very own Mulund's Nirmal Lifestyles. Why? Well, it’s more open and airy as compared to any other mall anywhere across the city. Now, one may argue what one would do with open malls in the city. Especially one which has trees in the midst of it. Surprisingly, this is one of the key reasons why the mall is beautiful. Aesthetic would be the best way to put it. A nice mix of trees and glass give it a very natural and elegant feel. Above all, one never feels claustrophobic or cluttered up. Its open feel entices everyone. Anyway, I am not a spokesperson or a promotion manager for them, yet this is one of the places which I love to frequent, quite often...

Saw a few good movies last weekend. Prominently Public Enemies (Johnny Depp), Jaadugar (the one featuring Amitabh Bachchan), Shubhamangal Savadhan (a Marathi Comedy movie), Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (Grr.. Don’t ask me why I watched this one for the umpteenth time;))). The Ashes is being true to its spirit and is changing sides by the minute. Why does this English team behave like a bunch of Kindergarten kids is beyond reasoning! Anyway, I’m still counting on the English to pull this through. The Premier League is starting this week. And it was some fun to see Manchester United get a sound drubbing from Chelsea. For once, I turned a Chelsea supporter (just for the match alone). Looking forward to the Arsenal magic this season though.

Long weekends beckon meanwhile. This month of August is full of such long weekends and it is a welcome relief from the hassles of work. Business hasn't been really upbeat and recessionary and lay -off fears are hovering above the head. Right now though, I'm just waiting for the long weekend. More to come...signing off for now. Cheers!!!


P.S.: Did anyone see the new vodafone ad?? The guy singing,"I'm taking a shower, i'm riding in traffic..." Hilarious yet Nice, in its own way...