Bollywood Music News

Kochi, Jerry Amaldev has composed hit music for 75 Malayalam films and is a highly qualified musician, but he hasn’t created any tunes for movies for nearly 13 years due to “misunderstandings” in the faction-ridden Kerala film industry.

While he’s produced some of the most memorable Malayalam songs and his knowledge of music is well-known, Amaldev didn’t know how to stay afloat amid all the complicated politicking in showbiz.

“I have no complaints against anyone. I’m out of the film industry because I did my job and went home - I didn’t indulge in any other things that would have kept me going,” 69-year-old Amaldev told IANS.

He, however, refused to open up about the controversy over which he was kept out.

“I may have been misunderstood by some musical personalities and despite a patch-up, the patch was still there,” he said.

Music was Amaldev’s first love, but he also wanted to be a priest in his young days. So in 1955, he joined the Catholic Missionary in central India. After spending a decade studying the Bible, he decided it to call it a day.

“I didn’t like the idea of celibacy and music was my first love. From there I went to Naushad, the foremost music director of Bollywood. I worked with him for five years and in 1969 left to do my Bachelors in Music at the Xavier’s University of Louisiana,” said Amaldev.

In 1975, he finished his Master’s degree in music from Cornell University in the US. He taught music at a few places there before returning to India.

In 1980, Amaldev entered the Malayalam film industry as a music director with “Manjil Virinja Pookal” - a movie that catapulted Mohanlal to stardom and won accolades for its beautiful songs. After almost three decades, the songs still pull the heartstrings of music lovers.

After the stupendous success of this film, Amaldev became one of the most sought after composers and went on to give many hits like “Nokkethaa Doorathu Kannum Nattu”, “Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal” and “Ente Mamaattikkuttiyammakku”. The last Malayalam film he gave the music for was the Mammootty-starrer “No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North” in 1995.

Today, Amaldev has his own band, Rock of Ages, and does stage shows, besides teaching music at a leading private school here.

“I head the troupe, which consists of 24 people and we are into rock music and I enjoy it,” Amaldev said.

And will he ever return to the Malayalam film industry?

“Why not, but will it happen? In case it happens, I will be selective and will do it for films that have a human-interest element. Blessy is one director I would like to work with,” he said.

Echoing the same, Mammootty, who featured in the “No.1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North”, Amaldev’s last film as composer, said: “Certainly his songs were good. May be Fazil, who was the director who introduced him to films, can give him a second homecoming to Malayalam films. It would be good.”

Despite a variety of composers, singers and lyricists in the team, oddly titled “Saas, Bahu Aur Sensex” is a short album and the songs are neither sweet nor appealing.

“What’s up India” is a rap song. Though the western approach to the track makes it quite catchy, the lyrics sound a little too over-the-top. The remix is as average as the original.

“Mujh mein nigahein daal de” is dominated by western arrangement. The song, sung by Monica and composed by Randolph Correa and written by Raqeeb Alam, is way below average.

“Mithri mithri” provides the Punjabi flavour to the album. But unlike recent Punjabi tracks, this one doesn’t belong to the ‘make-you-dance’ category. Composed by Bipin Panchal, “Mithri mithri” is bland. The lyrics by Raqeeb Alam and Shona Urvashi talk about celebration, but Krishna Buerra’s rendition doesn’t match up with the mood of the song.

“Abhi abhi jo tu aayi hai” is a pleasant break from the spate of uninteresting compositions in the album. Beautifully rendered by Javed Ali and notably penned by Raqeeb, the simple soulful song falls into the romantic category. Randolph Correa has taken a very fresh approach to the piece and presented it in an enjoyable package. Thumbs up for the track!

“Saas, Bahu Aur Sensex” is a very short album and yet each piece stands out from the other distinctly. There’s Punjabi, rap, melody as well as a club track. While this attempt is appreciated, the overall outcome of the album is not satisfactory.

New Delhi, “Piya tu ab to aaja” and “Dum maro dum” crooner Asha Bhonsle turns 75 Monday, and the evergreen singer is launching a new album of romantic songs to mark the occasion.

From pop and cabaret songs to club mixes, romantic numbers, bhajans and ghazals - singing diva Asha has sung it all. The magic of her voice continues to enthral listeners across all ages and inspire budding singers even now.

Having sung for actresses of older films like Madhubala, Nutan, Asha Parekh, Helen and Rekha to giving playback to Urmila Matondkar, Kajol, Karisma Kapoor and Gracy Singh among the newer ones, Asha has contributed to the Indian film industry for more than six decades now.

TV actor Kinshuk Mahajan of “Sapna Baabul Ka Bidaai” will feature in the music video of the title song of Asha’s new album. “Asha-ji is like a kid! She is so down to earth and simple. When she called me, she was so sweet to talk to,” Kinshuk told IANS.

“It was so nice to know that she was adamant about taking me for the music video. The song is very romantic. I wish her all the best though I don’t think I would be able to attend the birthday celebrations,” he added.

Asha began her singing career with her first film song “Chala chala nav bala” for the Marathi movie “Majha Bal” in 1943.

When she set out to make a mark in Bollywood with her first Hindi song “Saawan aaya” for Hansraj Bahl’s “Chunariya” in 1948, she faced tough competition from her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar and others like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum, and Suraiya, who dominated the world of playback singing.

Asha showed her charisma with the sensual songs “Aiye meherban” from “Howrah Bridge” in 1958, which was picturised on Madhubala, and “In aankhon ki masti” from “Umrao Jaan” in 1981. She also sang the evergreen number “Chura liye hai tumne” for Zeenat Aman in “Yaadon Ki Baraat”.

Her romantic numbers were also widely lauded with songs like “Haal kaisa hai janab ka” (”Chalti Ka Naam Gadi” 1958), “Mur mur ke na dekh” (”Shri 420″), “Pal do pal ka saath hamara” and many others.

“She is simply blessed and her voice is god’s gift. Not many have a voice like hers. More than a singer, she is a performer who has a feel for every song. One should see the expressions with which she performs on stage - she enjoys each and every bit of it,” new-age pop singer Shibani Kashyap said.

She added: “Her zeal and zest for life is very inspiring. She lives life to the fullest and this is evident from her singing.”

Born into the musical family of Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar, Asha took her initial training in music from her father. Her father died when she was just nine and her training came to an end.

After his death in 1942, the family moved from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Mumbai. Asha and her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, started singing in films to support their family.

The year 1957 was the breakthrough year for Asha when music director O.P. Nayyar got her to sing in “Tumsa Nahin Dekha” and “Naya Daur”. “Ude jab jab zulfein teri” from the latter film still remains a favourite among music lovers.

The same year the legendary S.D. Burman had a rift with Lata Mangeshkar. This came as a blessing in disguise for Asha, who soon became his favourite female singer.

In the 1970s Asha came closer to another legend of Indian music, R.D. Burman, who added a new and stylish dimension to her singing. The songs “Piya tu ab to aaja”, “Dum maro dum” and “Chura liya hai tumne” were a result of this combination. The two also tied the nuptial knot in 1980.

Her ghazals in Muzaffar Ali’s “Umrao Jaan” fetched huge accolades and remain an all-time favourite.

In 1995, a 62-year old Asha did playback for young actress Urmila Matondkar in the movie “Rangeela”. She pleasantly surprised her fans with superhit songs like “Tanha tanha” and “Rangeela re” after which she also sang for Karisma Kapoor in the song “Mujhko hui na khabar”.

For her contribution to music in Indian cinema, Asha was conferred the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest title in Indian cinema in 2000. She was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan by President Pratibha Patil May this year.

Asha’s popularity goes beyond the Indian shores owing to her various foreign collaborations with artistes like Boy George and Stephen Lauscombe. In 2002, she teamed with Michael Stipe on the track “The Way You Dream” on the self-titled album by 1 Giant Leap.

In 2006, she recorded an album “Asha & Friends” with film actors Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar and cricket player Brett Lee.

Acclaimed lyricist Javed Akhtar says Indian rock music is very superficial, with most songs having archaic lyrics, but he has experimented with words for his son Farhan Akhtar’s acting debut “Rock On” to make the songs interesting.

“In India, rock music is a very shallow and superficial genre. They dress and style themselves like American rockers but the words and lyrics are archaic and obsolete. The words in an average Indi-Rock number revert to trite filmy clichés like balma, baliye and mahiya,” Akhtar said.

“When they came to me to write lyrics for my son Farhan in ‘Rock On’, I wasn’t really sure I could pull it off. I had never done a rock album before and I’m not familiar with the genre.

“The language in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ was that of traditional lyrics… zamana, dewaana. In ‘Rock On’, where Farhan makes his debut as an actor, I’ve moved completely away from the traditional lyrics,” he added.

“In ‘Rock On’, I wanted to create a new idiom that I don’t think I had been able to do in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ in spite of its modern context and characters. There I was still falling back on traditional thoughts and rhymes.

“In ‘Rock On’ I’ve experimented with words and thoughts. For example, songs about dreamers have been done to death. I’ve used the parallel of ‘Sinbad The Sailor’ to bring out the theme of derring-do. Then I was asked to write a song about an individual’s losses in a week. Writing about a laundry bill, denim jacket, chandi ka ring… you can’t use angoothee for ring… This is the lingo of rock,” the lyricist said.

Asked about Farhan’s performance in the film, Akhtar said: “I can’t separate the father from the critic. But yes, Farhan has acted very well. As for his singing, I leave that to the audience to decide.”

Bangalore, Sep 4 (IANS)Farhan Akhtar and other cast members of the hit movie ‘Rock On’, the first Hindi film on rock music, Thursday described as shocking the recent ban on live music and dance in the pubs and discos of India’s technology hub.

“Music is an integral part of our lives. It is completely wrong to put a ban on performance of live music and dance. Bangalore is known for its feisty rock bands and the curb will act as a deterrent to the creativity of many talented musicians,” Farhan said addressing a group of fans and media persons at a multiplex here.

“I too am a musician and I can understand the pain of a performer when he is denied to express himself through his art,” added the director, who made his debut as an actor and singer with ‘Rock On’ that has taken audiences by storm.

Farhan, son of script writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar, is a self-taught singer and guitarist and has been a musician for last 12 years.

Echoing Farhan’s sentiments, model turned actor Arjun Rampal, who according to the critics has given his career best performance in the film, said that music was no crime and the ban should be revoked soon.

Bangalore police imposed the ban in August. The order bans live performances at any place where liquor is served. However, the police has now come up with a set of new guidelines for pubs and discos to get a license for live performances.

Farhan, Rampal, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli, the other two stars of the film spent an hour interacting, singing and jiving with their fans at Fun Cinemas as a part of the post-release promotion of their film.

The young crowd at the multiplex almost went berserk when Akhtar, along with his co-stars, performed some of the hits numbers from the film, including “Dil Yeah Kya Kehta.”.

“I love you all. Bangalore simply rocks,” Rampal said as he was mobbed with autograph hunters.

“I have watched the film thrice. And every time I have loved the movie more. Rock On is about today’s youth, their dreams and aspirations. All the four actors have done a great job in the film,” said an excited Medha Shah, a college-goer, who bunked her classes to have a glimpse of her favourite actors.

‘Rock On’ by debutant director Abhishek Kapoor is the story of four musician friends, who put up a great rock band together. Unfortunately the band fails to make it big and disintegrates.

Years later, as fate would have it, they come back together to fulfill their unfinished dreams.

“We’ve tried to make an honest film with a simple story. We’re glad that the audiences have appreciated our effort,” said Farhan, the director of box-office hits like “Dil Chahta Hai” and “Don”.

Farhan has sung five of the nine tracks in the film, the music of which has been composed by music director trio Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.

“I have always wanted to be an actor, but was waiting for the right script,” said Farhan, who is hugely enjoying his popularity in his latest avatar as an actor.

Asked if after the box-office success of Rock On, he has plans to concentrate only on acting, the actor-director said he would like to maintain a balance between both.

“I love both acting and directing and would like to continue doing both,” said Farhan who will be seen as an actor once again in his sister’s Zoya Akhtar’s directorial venture “Lucky by Chance”.

Himesh is all geared up and excited for his movie Karzzzz but guess the censor board would like to put some speed breakers there. People are kinda offended with the promo of the song where skimpily clad mems are dancing on the words Hari Om Hari.

Our source says, “Censor Board had strong objection to the scenes where the girls were dancing behind Himesh in the `Hari om’ number.

When contacted, Himesh confirmed that they had to edit those portions. He said, “I’m not at all upset about the changes in the song, it was a minor change. Bhushanji and I absolutely abide by the Censor Board’s rule. We opened the promos only after the Censor Board passed it.”

The same happened with his film Aapka Kasoor, sorry, I mean Aap Ka Suroor, when skimpily clad Mallika Sherawat danced on the song Ya Ali.