Rabba Main Kya Karoon: Music Review

Music Director: Salim-Sulaiman

Starring: Arshad Warsi and Akash Chopra

Salim-Sulaiman are a fabulous duo, creating many famous soundtracks. Its pleasantly surprising to see them come forward for a seemingly small film like Rabba Main Kya Karoon starring newcomer Akash Sharma and Akash Warsi. We expect to see a lot of exciting songs since it revolves around a Dehli wedding.

Khulla Sand kicks off Rabba Main Kya Karoon  in addictive Punjabi number that morphs into something more techno. Salim Merchant's bubbly vocals enhance this delicious rhythm. The only downside to this song are the brief English interludes. This one could be classified as the just the right Punjabi explosion. 4.5/5

We see Benny Dayal paired with our new popular female vocalist, Monali Thakur in Muh Meetha Kara De. This song is along the lines of Race 2's Lat Lag Gaye, but more so a pop techno hybrid. Thakur barely gets a piece of this song, its Dayal for a majority. Its pretty good, but doesn't have that much of distinguishing factor in the sea of songs. 3.5/5

The third song is the title song Rabba Main Kya Karoon. This song is sung by a trio of Raj Pandit, Vidhi Sharma, and Benny Dayal. Its very soft and rhythmic featuring light guitar and tabla. Its almost qawaaliesque in instrumentals, like the harmonium at pieces, but doesn't break into a full qawaali. Vidhi Sharma's vocals are refreshing and add a nice twist to the song. This song is truly a pleasant surprise for such a commercial looking album. 4/5

Our main star, Akash Chopra, displays his vocals in Dua. This is another good surprise. Its a sad song that materializes into deep rock number. A good effort by Chopra, but his vocals get a little bit too intense at pieces. His raw vocals, however are something to admire. I would really want to see a lot more from this singer in the future. 3.5/5

While they celebrate I'll just be staring 
awkwardly at you, shirtless

What is any soundtrack without of Punjabi Prince, Labh Janjua. Bari Barsi is most definitely our Punjabi wedding song for Rabba Main Kya Karoon. It is pumped with just the right components of thrill and dazzle of any wedding Punjabi song. It is not really anything we haven't seen from Janjua, and almost sounds like a leftover from Band Baaja Baraat. 3/5

Well, a song like Brandy carries some expectations, especially when "shots" are yelled in the beginning. Sung by Satyadev Singh and Akash Chopra, this is Rabba Main Kya Karoon's club number. It sounds really irritatingly mocking at parts. 2/5

Overall, Rabba Main Kya Karoon is a sturdy soundtrack loaded with lots of addictive beats. It has its flaws, and just one below average song.

My Picks: Rabba Main Kya Karoon, Khulla Sand, Muh Meetha Kara De, Dua

What did you think?
BollywoodBegum

Look Out for My Other Reviews:
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/once-upon-time-in-mumbai-dobara-music.html
Bajatey Raho: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/bajatey-raho-music-review.html
Luv U Soniyo: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/luv-u-soniyo-music-review.html
Chennai Express:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/chennai-express-music-review.html

Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Dobara: Music Review

Music Composer: Pritam

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Imran Khan, Sonakshi Sinha

The first Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai had one of the best soundtracks in recent times. Tracks like, Pee Loon and Tum Jo Aaye Zindagi Mein, are hits in recent memory. With Pritam as the composer and a A-List cast   Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobara/Again/2 soundtrack has a lot to live up to. For a soundtrack with only four songs, let's hope every song makes an impression.

The soundtrack begins with Yeh Tune Kya Kaha featuring Pakistani singer, Javed Bashir. His classical, mature vocals are perfect for this type of number. This song sounds like a good leftover for the first OUATIM and boasts a lot of rich traditional sounds like the tabla and harmonium. This qawaali starts slows and escalates and transforms with rich instrumentals. 4
/5

Tayyab Ali is another qawaali number in Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Dobara, this time with Javed Ali. This is a remake of  seventies song Tayyab Ali from Amar Akbar Anthony's which featured Rishi Kapoor. This song recreates it into a very desi, quirky drunken sounding number with some English, like "Tell me why" and "Beautiful Baby Baby". After the minute the song kicks into full gear, but its gets boring quickly. Can't see anything new offering in this qawaali, compared to the original except for the childish spin it takes, and richer beats. They could have deviated from the original song in a better way. 3/5

Tu Hi Toh Khwahish sounds like an item number from the late seventies/early eighties. Its discoesque theme, mixed with the Middle Eastern beats and Sunidhi Chauhan's rough vocals sounds awkward. This song should have been left in the seventies where it belongs. It sounds like Pritam is trying to do something similar to Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai's Parda Parda, but Chauhan's panting and  interludes that sounds like they jumped out a of a crime thriller make the song sound messy. Too much going on here. Not sure what genre to classify this one. 2/5

Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Dobara ends with another track with Javed Ali, this time singing with Sahir Ali Bagga. Chungliyaan is our Pee Loon like song. Its the only pure romantic number on the soundtrack. This song is pretty, but it doesn't really show us anything drastically new. Shahir Ali Bagga's voice enhances Javed Ali's well. 3.5/5

In the end only two of the four songs really make an impression. Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobara/Again, doesn't live up to its legacy. It actually fails horribly in comparison to the original Once Upon in Mumbaai's greatness, due to limited volume of four songs. Pritam could have give us more songs, or at least better quality ones.

My Picks: Yeh Tune Kya Kiya, Chungliyaan

Check Out My Other Reviews:
Bajatey Raho: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/bajatey-raho-music-review.html
Luv U Soniyo: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/luv-u-soniyo-music-review.html
Chennai Express:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/chennai-express-music-review.html
Nasha: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/nasha-music-review.html

Bollywood Begum

Bajatey Raho: Music Review

Music Director: Jaidev Kumar

Starring: Dolly Alhuwalia, Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Tusshar Kapoor

She has a broom and she's not afraid to use it!

For comedy with Vinay Pathak as the main star, we expect mast filled music. Jaidev Kumar, a relatively new music composer to Bollywood has much to prove with this soundtrack, and he achieves it for the most part. He gathers the Punjabi greats, like RDB and Honey Singh for his tracks in an attempt to create a wonderful soundtrack.

Bajatey Raho's soundtrack begins with a fast paced number called Nagin Dance.  This is the first item number of the soundtrack and it's not too bad. Anmol Malik's voice blends sinfully well with the quick tempo. Nagin Dance almost a contemporary tribute of "Main Teri Dushman" from Sridevi's Nagina. This song featured on the British model Scarlett Wilson, popular from Shanghai's Imported Kamariya, and Iranian-Swedish dancer Maryam Zakariya, has not really created a stir in Bollywood. Nevertheless, it is a unique kind of item number. 4/5

Our folksy qawwali-eque song, Khurafati Ankhiyan, sung by Sona Mahapatra has slight retro-seventies undertones with the harmonium. It is quite an interesting composition, but the hook Khurafati Ankhiyan is a bit too cutting for the gentle sounding song. Pretty average, but a good track. 3.5/5

Honey Singh brings in the comedy to Bajatey Raho with Khudi Tu Butter. Our expectations should be high for a song with such an audacious name, but sadly this song doesn't live up to the  hype. This song is Punjabi-electronica synth number. Again, this one is another item number, but its strictly an endless mediocre song. 3/5

I guess the Brits and Swedish also know about the
Nagin Dance. That's why these two are featured
 instead of Indian dancers

So the theme song is Bajatey Raho. From the get go this song is a rap, and that's exactly what you can expect from out Punjabi rappers RDB. Manjeet Ral is also featured in the number. If you have heard any RDB previously, when you hear thing you will know this sounds exactly like their other songs. Further ruining this song is an English rap interlude. 2.5/5

So the remixes and reprises  come in. Our first remade song in Bajatey Raho is, Nagin Dance (Remix). This version just brings in extra beat and dubstep-ish sound in the background. Its a good alternative to the original, and does not upset the composition at all. 4/5

Then comes Khudi Tu Butter (Reprise) by Gajendra Verma. This one sound drastically different from the first song. It has a addictive almost magical, electronic beat which sets it apart from the other tracks on the soundtrack. This version of Khudi Tu Butter is extremely catchy both lyrically and musically when compared with Honey Singh's version. How could you resist the lyrics "Silky, chocolate hai milky"?  A definite winner and probably the best song on the album. 4.5/5

Overall, Bajatey Raho's soundtrack isn't disappointing. The stronger songs compensate for the weaker songs. It's hard to resist a song called Khudi Tu Butter. C'mon and give it a try.

My Picks: Khudi Tu Butter (Reprise), Nagin Dance, Nagin Dance (Remix)

Check Out My Other Reviews!
Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobara: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/once-upon-time-in-mumbai-dobara-music.html
Nasha:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/luv-u-soniyo-music-review.html
Luv U Soniyo:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/nasha-music-review.html
Chennai Express:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/chennai-express-music-review.html
D-Day: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/06/d-day-music-review.html
Boyss Toh Boyss Hai:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/boyss-toh-boyss-hai-music-review.html


BollywoodBegum

Nasha: Music Review

"Ma, I'm Scared"

Music Directors: Siddarth Haldipur & Sangeet Haldipur

Starring: Poonam Pandey and Shivam

Nasha, though not a widely known movie, has been causing waves throughout India with its scandalous posters. We shouldn't expect any less than scandalous from a movie by the director of erotic thriller Jism. Nasha boasts a story quite similar to Ek Choti Si Love Story, where a younger man, Shivam, falls in love with an older woman, Poonam Pandey. Both the actor and actress in Nasha are newcomers, so a fantastic soundtrack might do some good for the movie. Don't be fooled by the pictures, this soundtrack is very sophisticated. 

The Nasha soundtrack is off to an excellent start with the mellow Tera Nasha crooned by Anirudh. His vocals are are flawless when paired with the light guitar instrumental.  This slow, succulent number stretches beyond six minutes, which makes it seem like its going on forever. Six minutes is a little long, but the song is very good. 4.5/5

The second song on the soundtrack is Laila by Monali Thakur. We have heard many songs titled Laila in the past, but one slightly sets itself apart from the others. This smooth cabaret style number is somewhere along the lines of Raat from Hate Story or Muskaanien Jhooti from Talaash. This song does have a little hook to it and flows seductively from Thakur's mouth. 4/5

From its title Besharam should be a song we should expect from a movie called Nasha. Besharam is a playful  duet with the pairing of Shaan and Anusha Mani. Anusha deeper voice balances out Shaan's smooth vocals. This light-hearted romantic songs is complete with harmonica, piano, and whistling, comparable to Gangster's Lamha Lamha.  4/5

Because small wine glasses aren't cool

The Goti Song is totally out of place. It begins with "This is the Goti Song" and continues along that line. It is as if someone is talking. I have no idea where this would go in a movie like Nasha. Its funny, but irritating. The singers Akshay Deodhar, Prakriti Kakkar, and Sukriti Kakkar stretch their vocals, but that is not enough to save this song. 1/5

Laila (Unplugged) features the male voice of Sangeet-Siddarth, the music directors. With just a simple strumming of the guitar, the music composers create something quite different. It is almost good as the original and sounds drastically different song. 3.5/5

We have Nasha (The Addictive Mix), by Sangeet Halidpur, one of the music directors. It brings a slight techno twist  to the original, and Haldipur's voice careens with the rhythm perfectly. This is a remix of the first song, Tera Nasha. This one also sounds unrecognizable from the original  If you ignore the first couple seconds of the song, this is a great alternative version. 4.5/5

The Nasha songs are really good for a movie starring  newbie actress Poonam Pandey and Shivam. Our Haldipur duo does an excellent job of creating a melodious soundtrack. These songs are a pleasant surprise and also have a value off of the screen. One of the best soundtrack of 2013 so far. Get Intoxicated!

My Picks: Nasha (The Addictive Mix), Tera Nasha, Besharam, Laila, Laila (Unplugged)

What did you think about this soundtrack?

BollywoodBegum

Check Out My Other Reviews:
Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobara: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/once-upon-time-in-mumbai-dobara-music.html
Bajatey Raho: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/bajatey-raho-music-review.html
Luv U Soniyo: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/luv-u-soniyo-music-review.html
Chennai Express:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/chennai-express-music-review.html
D-Day: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/06/d-day-music-review.html
Boyss Toh Boyss Hai:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/boyss-toh-boyss-hai-music-review.html

Luv U Soniyo: Music Review

Music Director: Vipin Patwa

Starring: Neha Hinge, Tanuj Virwani 

Prepare to be romanced, well at least in a cheesy way. What else can a movie called Luv U Soniyo promise? The soundtrack is kind of a corny joyride, but nevertheless a ride. This soundtrack combines Mexican delights with the Indian beats. Be prepared for disaster!

Luv U Soniyo starts with one of my favorite singers, K.K, with Tumsa Nahin Hai Koi. The piano puts a beautiful spin on the song, but this song is really like any empowering romance song. K.K's soft vocals rise almost unbearably when he almost screams "Tums Nahin Hai Koi". Anwesha Sarkar's voice comes in towards the later and softens the song a little. Average. 2.5/5

Pyar Tera by Sonu Nigam has a sweet melody complete with piano like the previous song. It almost sounds like it has been pulled out of a nineties soundtrack. There is a corny English part which talks about how great love is. Just no. 2/5

Pyar Tera is done again in Love U Soniyo in Pyar Tera (Unplugged) sung again by Sonu Nigam, This one is a definite improvement on the original. The melody is kept nice and pure, but it still sounds nineties. 3/5

Luv U Soniyo is our title track by Remo Fernandez. This is where we first see our Mexican flavor. This song captures Mexico in a very annoying way, it almost sounds jarring. We hear phrases and words like, pencil, half a dil, bale bale, bhangra bhangra. This song is trying to do too much, and comes across as irritating 2/5

Eww, you got something  nastaaay
on your back. 

Chalo Chalte Hai Mexico is another Mexican tinged song sung by our sweet Shaan. This a softer selection, and thankfully sounds nothing like our title track. It comes across as endearing, but the English pieces "Can't you see you belong to me" spoil it. Still one of the better songs. 3/5

Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, and Joy come together for Youre My Valentine. If you have a thinking close to mine, you are already cringing at this title. This is the ultimate cheesy number of the soundtrack. Its so contrived and sounds like a thousand other songs. It is a mix of romance,dance, and pure cheesiness, especially when they say "Yo-o-u A-rrr-eee My Val-ent-iiiine". 2/5

Palko Hai Phool has the duo of Shreya Ghoshal and Shaan. This song mentions Valentines Day again. From the beat to the lyrics this song is a definite no. Too much half-baked romance. 2.5/5

Love You Soniyo (Mashup) is horrible. Most mashup songs never work. Its just an unsatisfying combination of the entire soundtrack. Don't listen. 0/5

Love You Soniyo has the power to make you cringe at its cheesy romantic songs. The compositions are like leftover compositions of the 90's and early 2000's. Stay away from this one!

My Picks If I had to Choose:  Chalo Chale Mexico, Pyar Tera (Unplugged)

Was this soundtrack that bad as I'm making it seem? You tell me!
BollywoodBegum

Check Out My Other Reviews!
Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobara: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/once-upon-time-in-mumbai-dobara-music.html
Chennai Express:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/chennai-express-music-review.html
D-Day: http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/06/d-day-music-review.html
Boyss Toh Boyss Hai:http://bollywoodbegum.blogspot.com/2013/07/boyss-toh-boyss-hai-music-review.html

Sexuality in Bollywood: Evolution of Female Desire Part One

Zeenat Aman in Satyam Shivam Sundaram

As vamps dissolved in popular cinema, the lead heroines’ sexual identity was given more space to evolve. The heroine was stuck in between being modest and being sensual. Essentially, she had to be sensual enough to lure the audience in, but not too sensual or she would seem to be an unfit companion for the honorable hero.  Zeenat Aman beautifully expresses the duality of modesty and sensuality in her role in Satyam Shivam Sundaram [1978]. Aman is a quiet village girl that although initially rejected by her husband, remains a dutiful wife. As the daughter of a Hindu priest, she is also depicted as a virtuous woman who spends a majority of her time visiting and maintaining a Hindu temple. However, her religious devotion is given dichotomy of both virtue and sensuality.  Aman also presents her sexuality in her general appearance. She wears traditional saris, but wears no blouse underneath, leaving her breasts visibly veiled under thin cloth. However, Aman’s  religious, obedient wife persona, balances her refined sensuality. This heightened sense of the heroine’s sexuality has been taken further in modern Bollywood movies.

Compared to modern Bollywood films, Zeenat Aman’s sexuality in Satyam Shivam Sundaram seems subtle. It has been more acceptable for leading ladies to both express their carnal desires very openly. Unlike Aman, they were no longer mainly objects of sexual desire, but possessed a sexual desire of their own. This sexual expression of the heroine has been tactfully addressed in some contemporary films, such as blockbuster The Dirty Picture [2011]. The biopic starring Vidya Balan is inspired by the life of the infamous South Indian sex symbol, Silk Smitha. This audacious poster matched the audacity exhibited in the film itself.

The Dirty Picture has dual layers of sexuality. The first layer is her sensual image in her films, and the second layer is her personal relationships with men in the film industry. Balan has romantic relationships with all three men, and intimate relationships with two of the three. She jumps from one brother’s bed to the next, hoping to find love and acceptance. Sexuality both fueled and destroyed Balans’s career in The Dirty Picture. She is in continual pursuit to find her soulmate, but all she receives is lustful men who believe she is like racy image she portrays onscreen. By the time she realizes she loves Hashmi, a man who appreciate her for mind and body, it is too late. Even though this film is not abundant with much vivid sexual imagery, it achieves an intelligent portrayal of the pursuit of love and happiness.

Vidya Balan "The Dirty Picture"

Recent films, like The Dirty Picture and Jism,  have been able to express females as not only  being an object of desire, but having their own desires and acting upon them. Filmmakers like Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt have included several elements of female sexuality in their films, that will be discussed in my later article. What do you think of Bollywood's evolution of female desire? Do you think that Bollywood is becoming too westernized, or is Bollywood evolving as society becomes more modernized and submits to the changing social norms?

Look for more of Sexuality in Bollywood Series in the Future.
BollywoodBegum

Article ©BollywoodBegum2013. All  Rights Reserved. 

BollywoodBegum claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Sexuality in Bollywood: Return of the Vamps

Bipashu Basu "Beedi"

Sexuality always resonated with the vamp in older Bollywood films, rather than the heroine. Since the heroine had limited displays of blatant sexuality, the vamp's purpose was to be the essence of sexuality for the film. However, as females began to posses more sexuality during the 90's and early 2000's, vamps retreated in the back, and there was significant decrease in item numbers. Recently, there has been a reemergence of the vamp in new item numbers and plot lines,when sexual power has been revoked heroine, such as Dabangg and Omkara.

In older Bollywood films, vamps were typically featured briefly  in item numbers where they exposed  quite a bit of their bodies while dancing suggestively to upbeat melodies. These dances were performed classically in the nightclub, like “Piya tu Ab to Aaja” from Caravan [1971], or in a rural setting, like “Mehbooba Mehbooba” from Sholay [1975]. So many popular songs have used the vamp’s sexuality as apparatus to distract to the villains. In Sholay, Helen’s racy dance serves as a diversion to Amjad Khan and his circle of bandits. Khan, a very witty criminal, is momentarily diverted from his path of terror as he watches as scantily dressed Helen dances around a fire before him.
 

Helen in "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja"

Additionally, the vamp rarely plays a significant role in the film. If her role goes beyond her appearance in a song, she is portrayed as a brash woman of loose moral. Like Helen and Aruna Irani in Caravan, the vamp will often pose as competition for the heroine or create additional obstacles in the film. There is a clear distinction between the heroines and the the vamp. The dominance of the heroine over vamp is seen in several films. In Caravan, Aruna Irani, the vamp, relentlessly pursues the hero, Jeetendra. In many songs, Irani is seen dancing aggressively in skin exposing clothing to seduce Jeetendra. Despite her efforts and excessive skin show, Jeetendra is more interested Asha Parekh, the demure, modestly dressed heroine.
   

Helen, the other dancer in Caravan, falls into another stereotype of the vamp. Helen is having an affair with the Parekh’s husband, and plans to kill her to steal the family fortune. The beginning of “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja”, features Helen dancing in a short red dress desperately pleading for her lover to come to her.  In this particular song, a world of desire is constructed by the suggestive lyrics and male and female panting, paired with Helen’s erotic dancing. Towards the end when Helen’s dress gets caught on a nail, she strips down to a tiny gold sequined top and a mini-skirt with a slit down the side. The closure of the song is especially laden in sexuality when the lights dim and she crouches with a male in a small cage.

In very recent times, the vamp has reemerged to some extent, after somewhat disappearing in the 90's and early 2000's. Trailer after trailer combines with over-sexualized item numbers, featuring ladies’ whose only purpose is to provide pleasure to the male audience. In these movies, if a woman’s character’s existence is extended beyond the number, her role is along the lines as vamps from older cinema.  Songs such as the immensely popular, “Munni Badnaam Hui” from Dabangg [2010], and "Beedi" from Omkara boast women dancing for dozens of drunken men. Parallels can be drawn to these songs and songs from the past dominated by vamps like, “Mehbooba Mehbooba” from Sholay [1975], mentioned earlier. 

Malaika Arora Khan "Munni Badnaam Hui"

In Dabangg, Malaika Arora Khan, Munni, performs for the villain and his minions. Similar to a vamp, Khan is seen vigorously shaking her hips and thrusting her chest forward as she mingles among the men. In contrast to Khan, the heroine, Sonakshi Sinha, is minimal in the sensuous thrills she delivers for the male audience. Thus, Sinha is able to attract the hero due to her coy character. Munni’s function in Dabangg is analogous to Helen’s function in Sholay, because they both compensated for the sensuality that the leading ladies did not provide.

It seems as if some Bollywood movies are going backwards. Item songs may have mass appeal, but Bollywood should be able to revert to the fusion of the heroine with the vamp, and have heroines doing the item number instead of a random actress who are inessential to the film itself. With time, Bollywood may be able to find a proper footing in depicting female sexuality.

Look for more of Sexuality in Bollywood Series in the Future.
BB

Article ©BollywoodBegum2013. All Rights Reserved.

BollywoodBegum claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.