"It Happens only in India" , well this is the line that Govinda proudly danced to in some song in the Nineties but it is this same line that can very well make you feel ashamed if you can understand the sarcasm behind it . Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is one film maker who has never feared of experimenting and now he is back with his latest experiment , Delhi 6 , which again has a social message wrapped around all the entertainment . His last film created quite a stir and he suddenly shot into fame for his distinct style of film-making . This film is probably the closest to his heart because he explores Delhi in this film where he has grown up .
Delhi 6 basically has a simple story but what makes it special is the treatment and also its characters . Every and I mean every character of the film represents a different shade of our society and has a story of its own to tell . Looking a little deep into the characters one can find that every character deals with something which is directly or indirectly connected to our society . Right from the kids to the grandma and from a sweeper to a NRI , every one of them represent some or the other reality of our society . These characters are very real and can be found anywhere in a typical Indian locality . In this case Chandni Chowk is that locality which in a way represents the overall Indian society . Rakesh has very well picked up a real life instance that took place in Delhi around 2001 and using that he has shown a mirror to our society . The real life incidence is that of the Monkey Man that haunted the streets of Delhi in Night in summers of 2001 . Believe it or not it was also featured in Time magazine . Take a look here : Time
Rakesh has formed a great story using that incidence and has tried to show the biggest weakness of our society and how we need to look inwards before we look at others . This tendency of ignoring the self and blaming it on someone else is what the film focusses on . Finding a scapegoat to blame is easiest way out and this is what our society has been doing since like forever . Just like Danny Boyle came from somewhere and understood one reality of our country and portrayed it in his film , the lead character of this film , Roshan a NRI , comes to India and tries to understand one more reality of our society .
I won't talk of the story anymore and would just say that its a film that needs to be watched and needs to be discussed . The "Kaala Bandar" which represents a thousand things in the film is something that will make you think and make you laugh at the same time . Its a satire from start till end and Rakesh has clearly conveyed his thoughts through his film . I am not sure if the general audience can understand the Sarcasm in it which probably needs to understand it the most . The film thus would appeal more to the intelligent audience or the so called Multiplex audience . People expecting it to be usual entertainer would certainly be disappointed .
Rakesh has also very well used the Raam Leela sequence throughout the film to convey his message and this is not like the one in Swades . This one comes in small doses and probably leaves more impact . He needs to be applauded for using that sequence because in India people are more passionate about religion than the values associated with it . He has also very well used various other Indian practices that are followed since ages only in the name of religion and spirituality to represent the Hollowness ("Khoklapan") of our society .
Coming to performances , all the actors have been perfectly casted and each one of them gives in a stellar performance . Abhishek after a long time has done a meaningful film and has impressed throughout . His portrayal of a NRI trying to understand the Real India is praiseworthy . Sonam also very well portrays the middle class girl who dreams big . Sadly she has a small part in the film and most of it has been shown in the trailers itself . Still , she acts well and makes her presence felt among the other good actors like Om Puri , Roshi Kapoor , Atul Kulkarni , Vijay Raaz , Pavan Malhotra,Waheeda Rehman , etc. . Two of the performances that surprised me were that of Mamdu , a Jalebi seller , played by Deepak Dobriyal and that of the sweeper which has been played by Divya Dutta . Rishi Kapoor is getting good roles these days and his part though a small one is still good . Every other actor has performed as expected and one which stood out was that of Vijay Raaz's portrayal of a typical policeman .
The music of the film is also an integral part of the film and Rehman's music does its job . Without his music the film would have been a little difficult to digest . The writers of the film have done a pretty good job and the film moves at a fine pace . The special effects in the picturisation of "Dil Mera Gira Dafatan" are good and worth mentioning . The song has a very nice concept and the special effects add a whole new dimension to it . The cinematography by Binod Pradhan is also great and he shows the real Delhi in a real way . The background score by Rehman is also good and some of the stunts featuring Abhishek were also good .
Overall , the film is one of its kind and it holds a mirror to our society which needs a change that has to come from within each of us . Rakesh has made a brave attempt by making this film and he needs to complimented for it . The producers UTV and whole of the cast also needs to be applauded for supporting such a fine film . Watch it and try to find the Kaala Bandar within .
Film Rating : Four out of Five ; a film depicting our society in its most real form .
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Delhi 6 --- Movie Review
Friday, January 16, 2009
Delhi 6 --- Music Review
The new year has begun and the person for whom the year has brought a lot in its beginning only is A.R. Rahman . Riding high on his Golden Globe Success his new album , Delhi 6 , is all set to win hearts of the people all over again . As a true Rahman fan I am very happy on his golden globe success and I am sure he is all set for an academy award and following that would be even more success and who knows Speilberg who now has a contract with the Ambani's Big Pictures would opt to work with him instead of his all time favourite John Williams for a change . I am not in any ways comparing the two legends , John is John and Rahman is Rahman .
Off late , I was a little disappointed with Rahman's recent work i.e. Ghajini and Yuvvraaj . Though they got popular but were not complete albums in my view and I was beginning to believe that maybe Rahman is losing his touch a bit due to the overwork that he has done last year with 5 albums releasing in a year and 1 film score that won him the Golden Globe . But thank God , He is back with this album and beginning the year literally on a high Note .
Delhi 6 has been Directed by the Rang De Basanti fame Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and the lyrics on this one are also by the lyricist Prasoon Joshi . Prasoon didn't do a good job in Ghajini apart from few songs . Talking of this album , I would like to make it pretty much clear that it is more of a "film" soundtrack and would look fabulous in the film along with the story . When I rated Yuvvraj a little less people argued with me saying that it is very different and deserves to be rated higher . For me Different is not always necessarily a Good Different . Why I say so ? Because on the contrary Delhi 6 it is not only different but also great being different .
This soundtrack is very unusual in the sense that it has been entirely made keeping the film in mind and hasn't paid any attention to commercial success . And usually when this is done the album not only succeeds but also becomes a very integral part of the film . Listening to the songs from the album I could almost imagine the film in my mind and though I first listened to the songs at 1 o clock in night so I wont say that the songs made my day , I would rather say the Songs made my night . One thing I promise to you guys the film is going to be very different as it is the case with Rakeysh's film and maybe this time also you would walk back home with a nice entertaining lesson like you might have in Rang De Basanti .
Enough about the film , lets talk about the songs . The soundtrack opens with the song that is catching popularity like fire , Masakalli . The song who don't know is based on the white Kabutar (Dove sounds so boring) that you see in the promos . Masakalli is the name of Kabutar and after more than a decade we have a song on Kabutar , last one bein
Next comes "Arziyan" by Jaaved Ali and Kailash Kher . This one is a devotional track of the league of "Khwaja Mere Khwaja" and is a really nice composition . The lyrics and music both are really good on this one and Prasoon and Rahman together have done a great job . This time the vocals are by Jaaved Ali and Kailash Kher and they do a great job together . "Allah Ka Banda"-Kailash Kher does a great job along with Jaaved Ali . This song is the perfect one for portraying the Jaama Masjid on-screen . A long one but certainly among the best on the album .
The title track "Delhi 6" is more of a RAP song by Blaaze, Benny Dayal, Vivinenne, Tanvi and Claire . Together they do a great job and give it a very different feel . This one sounds a little like "Cypress Hill" songs and would sound really good in the film . For a change we have song based on "Delhi" and not on Mumbai . Strangely there have been so many great artists in Bollywood that are from Delhi still very few have tried to capture the city in the film . People have also got a little bored with Mumbai so this film would be a nice welcoming change and I being neither a mumbaikar or delhiwaala can get a taste of the cities in films only . The song talks about the city and its people .
Then comes "Rehna Tu" which is a nice song that has a western feel to it . It has been sung in the style of an English song by Rahman himself . This track is very different and Rahman has dealt with it in a very nice manner . But I felt that the track was a little weak in some parts in between and it felt a little inspired from Rahman's own work in past . Still , it is very much a different track and the lyrics are also good by Prasoon . The track would work in the film and probably among the listeners too . This one is a nice long soft romantic track which has really nice music towards the end .
"Hey Kaala Bandar" which comes next is a little commercial in nature . This one has some weird English and Hindi lyrics mixed together that remind us of the "Paathshala" from Rang De Basanti . Paathshala was a huge hit and it did have much more entertaining lyrics than this one . This one has nice music but the lyrics are not as catchy and entertaining as they were in "Masti Ki Pathshala" . Though it is not as good as that one but it is certainly better than "Shano Shano" of Yuvvraj . But I felt it had some of the shades of the music from Yuvvraj in some parts . If you also felt the same then please leave a comment .Under the whacky lyrics lies a social comment that you would have to decipher .
Next comes a very very different track "Dil Gira Daftan" by Ash King . This song has some really nice music and Rahman has done a great job . The music on this one could very well be used in the background score . I would love to have the original track of the song without the Vocals . The vocals on this one are by Ash King and he does a fine job and has been backed up really well by Chinmayee . The lyrics are great and quite different . Prasoon Joshi does a good job on this one also . He has very nicely used the word "Daffatan" and for urdu impaired people like me it is an Urdu word for "Suddenly" . Rahman is again in his truest element and does a great job again . Musicwise it is one of Rahman's best in recent past .
After these , the soundtrack takes a turn towards completely Indian Tracks , the first being "Genda Phool" which is a folk track but Rahman has given it an all new dimension with his music . His new age music matches well with the folk track and makes it much more entertaining . Its a folk track with some authentic folk lyrics and is not a Bollywood version of folk song . Rekha Bharadwaj does a great job on this one and she has that Desi Indian voice that makes the song sound great . Remember Rekha or not , she sung that song "Namak isk ka " in Omkara . She has been given nice company in chorus by Shraddha and Sujata .
Then comes a completely classical rendition in the form of "Bhor Bhayi" . The song is entirely a classical rendition and quite refreshing , taking us back to our roots . This is what Indian classical music is all about and if you like classical music then only this song is for you . For a music lover like me anything classical like this is always a treat . And among the female singers in the industry who is better than Shreya for classical songs . A very pleasing song and would again look fabulous in the film . The track begins with Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan singing in his impeccable style and later Shreya joins him .Based on a morning Raag, Gujri Todi , music wise a really nice Indian classical rendition with the use of Tabla and Harmonium .
Last song on the album is an Aarti - "Tumre Bhavan Mein" which is a nice devotional track . Such tracks are a rarity in a bollywood soundtrack and after the "Mann Mohana" of Jodha Akbar this is another devotional track in the same league . Its nice to see Rekha Bharadwaj on a soundtrack other than his Husband's and she has been given great company by Kishori Gowariker and Shraddha Pandit . Together they sing it in a nice folksy way and don't sing it like professional singers giving it a more authentic feel .The soundtrack ends with a small couplet ,Noor, which has been given vocals by the baritone king Amitabh Bachchan himself and he like always makes sure that when he speaks you better listen to it . The couplet or nazm is a really nice one and probably carries the central message of the film of communal harmony so listen to it carefully .
Overall , its a great soundtrack and has many different genres of music in it . Ten completely original songs with no remixes is one more pleasant thing in the album . Rahman starts the year with a bang and is back in his true element . Rakeysh also needs to be applauded for this album since he brought out the best from both Rahman and Prasoon . It has everything from an Arti to a Sufiana track and from a nazm to a RAP track . It has completely Indian classical "Bhor Bhayi" on one hand and it also has a "Kaala Kaala Bandar" on the other . "Genda Phool " gives it a folk touch whereas "Dil Gira Daffatan" gives it a western feel . And the icing on the cake is "Masakalli" which does not belong to any genre and is still a brilliant track .This soundtrack , unlike the past few ones of Rahman would Grow on you even more after repeated listenings . And as SRK said at the golden globes , I would also say "Way to go Rahman" and I would like to add to it "Way to go Prasoon and Way to go Rakeysh " .
Album Rating : Four and Half out of Five Stars ; for the variety offered . Great start to 2009 .
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