The Bollywood Thread

Bollywood is hip in Hollywood!
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/aladin/

Let me get ma buckit. Who's scoring this crap?

Do you know that south Indian Superstar Rajinikanth is acting in sci-fi action flick named Enthiran (Robot)? When i heard this news first time, i couldn't control my laughter Rajini in Sci fi? Oh my God! I believe movie is going to be huge flop, just mark my words.

It's not exactly Bollywood, but I recently saw an independent animated flick called SITA SINGS THE BLUES which was up the same alley. Here are my thoughts on it, as also posted elsewhere:

"This is a peculiar (animated) project from 2008. Due to various problems connected to rights issues and costs, the filmmaker, Nina Paley, eventually decided to give the film away for free. Read more about it here: http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/

It's basically a highly original retelling of the classic Indian mythology story The Ramayana. It's told in no less then FOUR different narrative layers - a struggling, current-day couple (mirroring the mythology), one with three native storytellers, one with the actual Ramayana story and one inside the Ramayana story wherein the Sita character (Prince Rama's wife) shares her feelings through songs. Each layer has its own unique animation style. It's difficult to explain, and it really has to be seen.

There are several layers of music too. There's the Sita songs, mostly 20's blues and jazz standards by the likes of Oscar Levant and Irving Berlin, performed by Annette Hanshaw (these are the ones that caused copyright clearance issues). Then there's some contemporary jazz music for the couple, lots of indigenous Indian music and even more traditional scoring. Todd Michaelsen is credited with the main original score, but there's a long list of other contributors too.

TOY STORY this ain't, but if you're in for something more original and colourful, I suggest you give it a chance. It's FREE, after all! (see link above). And Roger Ebert liked it too."

Have any of you Indian members seen it?

It's an acquired taste, that's for sure.

Thanks. I didn't remember those comments of yours.

Right, I'm guessing our resident Indians are absent.

Meanwhile, I can never get enough of Rahman's famous BOMBAY theme from the film with the same name. Spiritual, uplifting, melancholic...:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm-l_zD- … re=related

I think (and hope) even Demetris would like this.

Hi Thor, sorry for the late reply... I haven't been coming online much lately. Regarding Bollywood music, I read a very good analysis of the middle era of filmi music by Mr. Randall Larson, I think you could find it quite helpful too - http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?optio … rld-cinema

Hindi music composers are generally divided into the older "Golden Age" ones and the modern Western/fusion influenced ones. The older ones are the ones considered most prominent and I think you and BhelPuri mentioned most of them. Of the modern ones, I would also add Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to the list (Shankar Mahadevan is a part of this trio), they've had quite a major role in trending the Bollywood music industry during the late 90's and 00's. Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja are the ones who are the most prominent on an international front, I think.

D. Imman - Tik Tik Tik
http://www.maintitles.net/reviews/tik-tik-tik/

Nice review, Joep.

Certain labels are releasing a number of scores from South Indian films on digital stores these days. I managed to pick up hidden gems by D. Imman, G.V Prakash Kumar, Sam C.S, Ghibran and many others that way. Worth keeping an eye out for new releases with the keywords "background score" (looks like its almost exclusively Indian score releases titled that way).

I've also seen M.M Keeravaani's score for the hit film Baahubali up for pre-order on some Japanese stores. Over here, its an iTunes-only release. Wish there was some way to buy the CD here.

Indeed, more digital releases have emerged in recent years. I'm kind of hoping for a huge increase, but their focus on the songs will overshadow them indefinitely.

I’ve really loved some of Rahman’s orchestral scores (Couple’s Retreat, Viceroy’s House), but I’ve never heard any of his orchestral music for Bollywood films. I’ve tried a couple soundtracks, but they were all songs. You’ve found orchestral albums of his Bollywood scores, right? Could you suggest a few of your favorites for me to check out? I think he’s a phenomenal composer and I would love to hear more from him.

Thanks. I'll look for some of those. I've heard Muhammad, and I've seen LAGAAN, but I haven't heard the score away from the film. The rest will be new to me.

I know. Artistic liberty on my behalf. So few Bollywood soundtracks with score, so I threw another alternative in there that wasn’t Hollywood.

Will do!