Don't give up / You are loved

Don't give up / You are loved - by Josh Groban, A perfect song to inspire / dedicate

Listen & watch this song - Don't give up / You are loved

The Killer (Cast : Irrfan, Imran Hashmi) review - 2006

Coming soon ... Kalyug too.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Director : Karan Johar, Cast : Abhishek Bachhan, Shahrukh Khan, Pretty Zinta, Rani Mukherjee, Kirron Kher) review - 2006

Direction : 3/5 stars
Cast : 5/5 stars
Music / sound : 5/5 stars (Shankar Ehsan Loy)
Acting : 4/5 stars (Shahrukh brought this number down)
Characteristics : Drama, Comedy, Emotions, Relationships, Family, Fun, Dance
Genre : International : Bollywood : India : Hindi : Drama
Popularity : 5/5 stars (extremely popular)

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, also referred to as KANK (abbreviated) is a movie made with lots of bells and whistles. A musical, family drama with a great cast, revolving around relationships.

• An extremely bubbling and funny first half and a dull & devastating second half.
• Amitabh cracks few funny lines, which may hurt few too :-( , otherwise has serious short appearances in the movie. Anyway, Chandigarh has made its way to everybody's lips who knows about it ;-) .
• Abhishek is into his character very much and has kept up an appreciable level of performance. Shahrukh has a monotonous role with similar acting as in his other movies (except few like Swades). Many find it boring.
  
• Rani Mukherjee has played well as a dedicated wife, apparently confused lover, and a loner after divorce. Preity Zinta effuses spotaneity & excitement.
• The first half of the movie runs with continuously funny and energizing sequences, songs and dances. The relationships start twisting towards the end of first half.
  
• Shankar Ehsan Loy have created an impressive and long lasting music. The song "Where's The Party Tonight" is already a popular dance number. "Mitwa" & "Tum hi Dekho Na" are slower and sweet songs. Mitwaa has a faster version too - both are equally good ... mmmmmm :-)
  
• The film is made extra long - sometimes one feels that the director Karan Johar has unnecessarily stretched it too long. Everyone I spoke to, thinks that Karan Johar should stop thinking too much for some time - this is a movie with worst second half, which also hads an excellent first one. One feels like pulling their hair at times - thinking "where is the director trying to take the movie - so unrealistic !".
  
• I think I'm talking a lot about the halves of the film - I guess you'd understand the need too once you watch it. Weighing the worth of the movie - the first half should not be missed for a second ; the second half could be missed completely, assuming everybody lived happily ever after :-) ... somebody should have told me this - I wouldn't have changed my opinion about Karan Johar ;-)
  

Yun Hota To Kya Hota (Director : Naseeruddin Shah, Music : Viju Shah, Lyrics : Sameer) - 2006

Direction : 5/5 stars
Cast : 5/5 stars
Music / sound : 4/5 stars
Acting : 5/5 stars
Characteristics : Drama, Comedy, Emotions, Relationships, Family, Excitement, Thrill
Genre : International : Bollywood : India : Hindi : Drama
Popularity : Not known yet (New movie)

Spoiler Warning : Some comments may reveal suspense about this movie.

This movie is a different dish directed by legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah; ice-cream for some and sour grape for few ! I just finished watching Yun Hota To Kya Hota . I note some points about it :

• Yun Hota To Kya Hota has 4 different stories, cast with talented actors. The stories run in parallel, not in any manner linked together, at least till the last 5 minutes. All these stories are realistic, down to earth, close to everyday life around us.
• Each story has a central character, some funny some touching scenes and sequences. These in-too-focus folks are Konkona Sen Sharma (Story 1 - Tilottama Punj), Irrfan (Story 2 - Salim Rajabali), Ankur Khanna (3 - Rahul bhide), Paresh Rawal (4 - RajuBhai Patel) . The in-slight-focus people are Jimmy Shergil (1 - Hemant), Suhasini Mulay (2 - Namrata), Ayesha Takia (3 - Khushboo), Ratna Pathak Shah (4 - Tara).
• Somehow, in all 4 stories, someone is going to America to pursue their dreams, to hide from people, or for business. They land up being on same flights, except one. Guess who ;-) ?
• Before it showed the date in a trivial scene, I realized it was going to be that dreadful day in American history. (God, let me be a director ;-) )
• My best scene is when Tara & Rajubhai Patel's daughter starts singing a really sweet & slow folk song at the US consulate, where they had come for a visa. Best comedy scene was when the large-haired friend of Rahul talks about one's bathroom with TV screen - pure (Shudhh) Hindi.
  
• The movie has got a nice title song, worth a hum and an ear or two.
  
• There are some voiceovers by Naseeruddin Shah, I think, which sometimes guide the movie and sometimes enlighten us about the characters , movie , the direction :-) An appreciable effort by Naseeruddin Shah.
• How I could relate the title to the movie ? What if SHE too :-( ... ? The title "Yun Hota To Kya Hota ... What if ?" displayed at the end suggested this ... keep guessing that one till you watch it.
• There're few sequences at US consulate which might actually happen - Konkana's conversation with consular officer & the dance by the Rajubhai's show-group(God, make me a director ;-) )
• Konkana is sweet and has acted well, Khushboo is cute (ladies first ;-) ) ... Paresh Rawal is OK, Irrfan - spontaneous.
  
• Yun Hota To Kya Hota is worth a watch & we didn't find it a waste of time & money.
• More Information at IMDB and Wikipedia.

Iqbal (Director, writer & screenplay : Nagesh Kukunoor, Producer : Subhash Ghai) - 2005

Direction : 5/5 stars
Cast : 5/5 stars
Music / sound : 3/5 stars (not much music is needed)
Acting : 5/5 stars
Characteristics : Drama, sports, cricket, comedy, emotions, thrill,
Genre : International : Bollywood : India : Hindi : Sports
Popularity : 4/5 stars

An attention grabbing, well directed, sports (Cricket) based movie .

1. Shreyas Talpade (Iqbal) fits the deaf & dumb hero's role exceptionally for his first bollywood appearance. The father Yatin Kharyekar (Anwar) is at his best, trying to prevent his son pursuing his supposedly nonsense dreams, and to make him cultivate agricultural crops for little money with him.
   
2. This movie portrays non-verbal communication very well.
3. Iqbal would definitely attract Indian & Pakistani audience. The plot revolves around cricket. Cricket is an extraordinary game that brings the two nations into harmony.
4. The storyline of the movie is set in a village environment, which brings a feeling of serenity. All the while building up excitement of Iqbal being able to play cricket for a highly admired cricket team of his country.
5. Many scenes are eye-catching & heart-melting, which bring smile to the viewer -
   
• Iqbal's sister listening to distant voices of cricket players, explaining to him in his own language (sign language) with her little hands with great excitement, about the tips and techniques of the highly cherished sport.
• Iqbal's mother telling Naseeruddin Shah that she would kill him if Iqbal doesn't go to the Indian cricket team, and Iqbal's father would kill Naseeruddin if he visits their house :-) .
• The ease with which the family (Iqbal, his mother and Zaheera - his sister), although was wacthing cricket on TV a few minutes back, acts as being involved with daily chores when the father returns home every evening after hardwork at his fields - mother sitting & smiling outside house, sister studying and Iqbal washing clothes.
  

More information on IMDB & Wikipedia .

Lady in the water (Directed by - M Knight Shyamalan) - review (2006)

Direction : 5/5 stars
Cast : 5/5 stars
Music / sound : 4/5 stars
Acting : 4/5 stars
Characteristics : Appropriate comedy, thrill, surprises
Genre : Hollywood : US : English : Horror
Popularity : 3/5 stars

This movie, Lady in the water defies all laws of normal Hollywood & Bollywood movies - that the Hero does everything right ! ... which kids love to see & adults grin over ;-) . So, here comes M Knight Shyamalan with his new, thoughtful creation - Lady in the Water. Few things I observed :

1. The Hero DOES draw many conclusions wrong ; others help him make better decisions ...some distract too ; Finally, it is a combined effort of everybody (the Guild, the Healer, the Interpreter, the Party) to save the STORY make the movie a likeable one :-).
2. It starts with a gloom reminiscent of exciting Horror movie climaxes & slowly builds up upon a mythological STORY coming true.
3. The Hero Paul Giamatti is magnificent with his dull acts, modest moves & excellent stammering - others are there to keep the story going well ! The STORY, Bryce Dallas Howard, acts fine under shower ... I think u better discover about it when you watch it :-) . Mr. M Night Shyamalan, the director, writer & producer of the movie, has himself acted in the movie, as a writer who's not clear about his own ideas.
4. This movie is a mythology turned into people, codes, confusion, suspense, thrill - directed very well. Each character has played his / her part well & few subtle funny scenes keep this film closer to reality, & farther from NORMAL Holly / Bolly - wood.
5. Mr. Shyamalan makes very good use of sound effects. His earlier movies - The Village, The sixth sense & Signs were also enjoyed well, with great sound (especially in The Village)
6. Moreover, I found the eagle stupid, the one-side-exercise guy funny, STORY with a SHIRT ON :-(, the butterfly scene attractive, underwater scene long, the DOG - a Harry Potter animal, Hero lying on couch like a KID - funniest & again STORY with a SHIRT ON ;-) .
7. I enjoyed the movie a lot in Clearview cinemas, Parsippany, NJ. It was nice to observe that nobody in the theatre made any sound, as the plot was so serious, full of suspense & you couldn't miss a minute of it !
8. An important point to note - the whole movie runs in a single building - nothing outside ! M. Knight Shyamalan makes a presence felt again ! My best wishes :-) More information & pictures on IMDB & Wikipedia .
9. For any of you who are wondering what's STORY - she's the LADY in the Water ;-) .

Music of the night : Dekho na Zara dekho na (Movie : Swades ; Sung by : Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan ; Music by : A.R. Rehman, Genre : World:Hindi:Love ; A well composed & musical song, with touches of Rehman's bells & whistles that make every creation a HIT ; Soft & firm rhythm - A.R. Rehman's another dimension)

Dangerous minds (Director : John N Smith, Starring : Michelle Pfieffer, Producer : Don Simpson & Jerry Bruckheimer) - 1995

Direction : 5/5 stars
Cast : 5/5 stars
Music / sound : 3/5 stars (almost no music needed)
Acting : 5/5 stars
Characteristics : Appropriate comedy, emotions, drama
Popularity : 3/5 stars

Just finished watcihng this wonderful old movie that was not available on DVD in nearby libraries :-) Phew ... I guess I'm fumbling for words :-( Let me grab a glass of water :-)

"So how did you stop ?"... "They gave me a candy & they called me 'the light' !" ... "Aah, that would do it :-)"

Strikes something ? I wonder how could such wonderful things be so unpopular that it wasn't even available at our chain of multiple libraries on a DVD ! Dangerous minds (more on Wikipedia & IMDB) - A gorgeous movie about a marine who becomes a teacher - a plot well woven around students, school, behavioral traits, learning, desire to acheive, not giving up. This is not just about the teacher - but the school life of poor students. A movie well directed, brewed with right amount of fun, emotions & drama.
Dangerous minds is based on a story by a mariner, Louanne Johnson, turned into teaching city school, full of tough kids.

Two thumbs up !
What's more important in life is to be able to show the light to someone, be the light to someone. Your path would light by itself. When I finished watching the movie, I realized something whic I just got erased off my mind :-( . Heck ... i guess I'll have to watch again for re-enlightenment. The good thing about a short lived memory is you can enjoy same things over & again :-)

Music of the night : Aisi lagi lagan (Bhajan sung by: Anup Jalota ; About : Meera - a princess immersed in the love of Lord Krishna ; Genre : World:Hindi:Mythology ; A Bhajan is a song relating to GOD )

Some enhanced music

I've recently discovered my interest in enhancing existing songs. These songs are not just any songs, however my choicest ones. I enhance them in many ways (Adding Stereo broadening, Reverb, Flanger, Frequency upgrade . NO REMIXING) - try to listen to them at least 20 - 30 times & then finalize on 1 or 2 versions :-) I upload them to a website too which helps me reach others too : My contributions

I enhance for fun & pleasure. I love listening to it on my Altec Lansing VS2121 & in my car - the Chevy cavalier 2000 :-) . I personally think that most of the enhanced songs come out with colorful results.

Music of the night : Dekho Na (Movie : Fanaa, Music by : Jatin Lalit, Sung by : Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Song genre : Hindi - love) - a soft number that would make you hum it all the day. Sunidhi has taken this one very seriously :-) ... Sonu as always - at his best !

Music directors

Creation of new music is one of the most wonderful & gifted talent I see in people. I create some on a very homely scale in modest numbers & tend to forget the tunes very soon.

I actually wanted to write about some music directors who somehow come up with minimum percentage of very nice numbers . What I mean, you can pick any movie / album of theirs & you'll find 20-30% of good songs.

Jatin Lalit, for example make quite less music these days - and when they do - it is with long time hits - Chaand Sifaarish Jo Karta humari (Movie : Fanaa, Singer : Shaan)

Anu Malik has smaller nice-song percentage - average 10% - and whatever that 10% is - goes around for a long time ! Main hoon Naa was with 100% success, Baazigar was 80%. However, he makes a lot of songs uqite frequently - thus the average still remains 10% .

Shantanu Moitra has 100% average right now - for Parineeta. He's a new entrant & we still have to wait.

Music of the night : Chori chori chupke se (Movie : Lucky, Sung by : Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik ) - the unique DHOL or MRUDANGAM (musical instruments beaten with palm & fingers to create rhythm ) in this song, Sonu's melodious voice & well composed tune sets it apart.

I wonder - music is magical !

I always wonder how a combination of some tones create an awsome music, while others can make awful pieces ! Some can affect mood, some can even relax us ! Because I play & create music too, I can understand this phenomenon much better than the common music loving crowd out there. Instrument used doesn't always matter. Piano generally sounds sweet, violin - sad, trumpet - announcing, saxophone - cool, xylophone / santoor - relaxing, flute - close to nature. I like piano the most.I plan to post few of my pieces here soon, & see if people like it. First I've to think of some way of recording them in good quality.

Music of the night : Separate tables (By Chris De Burgh & Vicky
Leandros) - a sweet song, nice rhythm, full of emotions, with nice words.
Another great song by Chris is "Lady in red".

Finally I'm writing my passion

I must say I was too much affected by a song today which I couldn't get off my mind. I played on the piano, sang it all day, played & enjoyed i the car :-) ... still couldn't get enough of it. Finally I thought of starting to write about good music so that it's not forgotten / lost. This way I can maintain my log about good music. Music is the world to me - I'm into its waters so deep - very few people realize - my other half does but feels I will drown in it and is always trying to pull me out :-) ... I'm happy. You may win some people through their stomach - me through my ears as well as stomach :-) . Music is something that can tickle me & touch my heart to the greatest extent.

PS: My spice (spouse with chilli mood ;-) ) comes
before anything - she's in-fact music to my ears, movie to my eyes ... ummmmm
... almost all the time. Even when she shouts, it's music of a different kind,
to be heard in a manner suggestive of acceptance, submission & appreciation
:-)

Music of the night : Baadalon ki gehraaee mein (By : Lucky Ali, Album: Sifar) -
a beautifully composed & sung song. It can stir your heart & it's soft
tones may put you into a greatly relaxed & musical mood. I always feel like
talking to my spice while hearing this one - although she wouldn't like talking
about music at all ;-)