MUSIC IN BOLLYWOOD

In bollywood the music plays a vital role. If the music is good in the movie it’s like well begun is half done. Music directors are given the story and the lyrics and are expected to make tunes for each song. Then professional play back singers are hired who sing these songs. Then when the movie is being made the hero and heroine have to lip sync to the music. There are very few stars that sing for their movies and act too. Kishore Kumar was a veteran and now it’s Big B who is the only one to carry it off. In the past the music directors were famous for making songs which were easy to sing and yet so melodious but today it’s a different story. Now a music director is rated on the basis of how many hit dance tracks can he provide. If it’s a slow track then how melodious it is and how many techno sounds has he used. R.D. Burman was a music director whom people still can’t forget and nobody can beat his music. Even today people remix his tracks and are selling it for good money.

Another director whose music is a craze is A.R Rehman. His music is great to listen to and very difficult to sing. He has delivered major hits like Chaiya Chaiya, Hamma hamma, roja etc. But the current heart throb is Himesh Reshammiya. It’s not a coincidence but every track which has been a hit in 2006 has been his track. This director not only makes good music but he is an exceptional singer too. Himesh sings and has a voice which sounds like he is singing from his nose but the beauty is that every word he sings touches the heart. Top directors this year are annoyed with him. Reason being even when Himesh was not signed on for some movies the producers requested him to do a special song. To the woes of many other directors everything that Himesh did turned into a hit.

Play back singing used to be the forte of a select few singers but now a days there are many players. To make it big in bollywood you either need to be star kid or you must have a godfather in the industry. Of late there has been a new way to make it big in bollywood and that is by participating in one of the reality shows. There are many shows like Indian idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa which are providing raw talent with a platform to make it big. Some of the recent finds have been Debojit and Abhijeet Sawant. These singers not only sing for movies they also perform in shows.

The words or the lyrics too have undergone a revolution. There was a time when the words of a song were censored very carefully. Nowadays the words are pretty weird at times. Movies like Lage Raho Munna Bhai have brought in a new style of writing. People dance to music which they enjoy and listen to music that they can sing. Gulzar and Javed Akthar are two lyricists who have magic in their pens. Every word they write not only does it touch your heart it will bring a tear in your eye or a smile on your face. The lyrics written by these lyricists on patriotism are often sung in schools and competitions. Songs like Ek Ladki Ko Dekha …, Tu hi re… and Dil se were so beautifully written that lots of Indian lads sing these songs for their loved ones.

Many musicals have been made in India and I don’t think there is any movie in the history of bollywood which doesn’t have music or a song at least. Even horror movies have songs. This is when the hero will see the ghost of a lady walking with a candle in her hands, wearing a white saree and will follow her.

Music is like the life line of a movie. There are many movies which have extraordinary music. If you want to make a collection of some great musicals then it’s a must to have the following movies:

BEAUTIFUL EYES
Beautiful Eyes Belonged to Great Actresses:
Beautiful eyes belonged to great actresses like Aishwarya and Karishma. But after them this title goes to Jaadoo from Koi Mil Gaya. Trust me the innocence seen in those eyes are nearly impossible to see in today’s world. But then there is one actress who looks innocent and that is Amrita Rao. Her last film Vivah was a big box office success. A very simple love story depicting the journey of a couple from engagement to marriage. Probably she is the only sole actress who makes a great pair with Shahid Kapoor.

Shahid Kapoor may be man now but he still has those cute little boyish looks. Somehow his boy next door look is working in favour of his career and against his love life. It’s not hidden any more that Kareena and Shahid are very much in love. And it’s definitely not hidden that both of them like an elder sister and younger brother. So Kareena better tone down and wear more teenage clothes if she wants to make a good pair with him.

On Simi Garewal’s rendezvous Kareena said-“what do you need a man for?” Now I want to ask her the same question- what does she need Shahid for? Bebo please learn something from your elder sister. If you can’t look as ravishing as her at least try to be calm and composed as her. Stop firing your mouth off thinking you are giving great answers. Your fans will not forget what ever you talk and it is these kinds of statements that are putting you in trouble.

Rahul Bhatt from the Bhatt camp:
Another major production house is working for the debut of another star. Rahul Bhatt from the Bhatt camp. This star had an unlucky start. He was to start his bollywood career with Kalyug but he refused to do the movie because the original name of the movie was Blue film. So much for the name and look Kunal Khemu has walked off with the cake. Girls if this Johnny Depp look alike seems familiar to you then let me tell you, you are right. Kunal was a child artist and has done movies like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Zaakhm.

Another look alike is Udita Goswami. She looks like Catherine Zita Jones and is as hot as her. The only thing that’s not common between them is that Catherine is world famous and Udita is still trying to find fame. I wonder why someone as beautiful as her cant put in a little effort and deliver few hits.

Sushmita Sen is going through a bad face in life:
An extremely hard working actress is Sushmita Sen. She had two releases this year but both bombed one better than the other on the box office. This leggy actress is going through a bad face in life. She played a Rock star in Zindagi rocks and she did look and perform like one. Just don’t know what went wrong.

Hrithik Roshan

Early life, until 1999

Roshan’s first movie role was as a child artist when he was six years old in the 1980 movie Aasha, where he appeared in a dance sequence as an extra. Roshan went on to play minor roles in Aap Ke Deewane (1980) and Bhagwan Dada (1986) both of which starred his father in the leading role. He then became an assistant director assisting in the production of his father’s films Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997).

Ever since top filmmaker Rakesh Roshan announced his international project, Kites, to be directed by Anurag Basu (of Murder, Gangster and Metro fame) it has continuously remained in the limelight. The reason behind the intense excitement for the film is natural; it features superhero and selective superstar Hrithik Roshan, international actress, Barbara Mori and the Himachali beauty, Kangana Ranaut in a never before role.

While the project has been kept under wraps, in an exclusive feature, we bring to you brief character sketches and get-ups of the above three mentioned stars of Kites and also the tentative shooting schedule.

First up is the lead actor, Hrithik Roshan. He essays the role of a street smart scamster, albeit a lovable one, who resides in Las Vegas. He will be seen sporting formal, European style linen suits, cut close to his body and hats (specially designed by a hat maker in Hong Kong).

The South American beauty, international actress Barbara Mori, who has an incredible body, will be dressed in colourful dresses in a very casual look (as per her character), with lots of layering.

Last but not the least, since the Gangster girl Kangana Ranaut plays a rich and sophisticated lady, or in other words a siren in Kites. She will be seen wearing elegant ensembles in longer silhouettes, which will provide grace and poise to her character, as required for the role. After Kites, people will see Kangana in a totally different light.

We must add here that these are the tentative plans of the dress designer of Kites, Suneet Varma.

Meanwhile, the film is all set to roll in New Mexico on 28th July. The first shooting schedule will be held abroad, in places like New Mexico, Las Vegas and Los Angeles and will be completed in 80 days. Then there will be another long schedule in India in December. After the completion of these two massive shooting schedules the shooting part of the film will be over.

KASHMIRI FILM INDUSTRY
This is an industry which has been revived after 39 years in 2006 with the movie Akh Daleel Loolech. Kashmir is considered as heaven on earth and was a favorite spot for romantic shoots. But due to the militancy and the cross border terrorism, this place is not accessible. A lot of movies were never made here because it is basically a very poor state and so they haven’t been able to raise enough finances for movies. The last movie to be released here was Habba Khatoon in 1967.

A lot of movies have been shot in Kashmir and have stories based on the Kashmir issue. Hritik Roshan Mission Kashmir was shot in Kashmir. Movies like LOC too had portions shot in different locations of Kashmir. Songs are often shot in Shikara’s too give it the Kashmiri feel. Hope the makers in this area just decide to not get stopped by the terrorism and make more movies in Kashmir so that the world can see the natural beauty of this place.

Yester years star Waheeda Rehmann visited Kashmir after 26 years and this is what she had to say ” Kashmir used to be the favorite shooting spot for all Indian filmmakers in 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and we’ve always loved to be here. I’m a little disheartened to see the condition of the Dal Lake, whose waters used to be crystal clear. Encroachments all along Dal, too many people and lack of hygiene among the people have spoiled my mood. The silver lining, however, is that normalcy is returning to Kashmir, which could be a harbinger of a new era for the people of the valley”.

Kashmir has given Bollywood stars like Kiran Kumar, Anupam Kher, Sanjay Suri, Jeevan and a new star Rahul Bhatt. Onkar Aima is another famous personality from Kashmir. Child artist turned hero Kunal Khemu too is a Kashmiri gift to Bollywood.

BENGALI FILM INDUSTRY
Talk about survival and the Bengali industry is a good example. In the 1990s this industry was going through such a lull. From nearly 800 theatres showing Bengali films it cam down to a mere 350. But now not only has the Bengali industry revived it has given bollywood too many heroines to talk about too.

Whether it’s Rani Mukherjee or Bipasha Basu, its Bengal beauties every where. Aishwarya Rai not only captured Bollywood she captured the Bengali industry too with Chokher Bali. This is an industry which has come back so strong because of its family based movies and rich culture. Just look at the TV and you will see that all the channels have some Bengali based serial. Directors like Satyajit Ray, Rituparno Ghosh and Aparna Sen are famous for their off beat art films too. This is a place filled with talent and now not only are the viewers interested in Bengali films, a whole lot of producers too are very seriously investing their money in this industry.

The Bengali industry is based in the Tollygunge district of Kolkata. There are two Bengali film industries. One is based in Dhaka and the other in Kolkata. Another honour that this industry has is Satyaji Ray who is no more has won the lifetime achievement Oscar award.