The Music of Tees Maar Khan – some quick thoughts!

Farah Khan teams up with Akshay Kumar, in a Shirish Kunder script with music by Vishal Shekhar (and Shirish Kunder). The curiosity level is sky-high! After two back to back big hits that both had chart-buster type music, Farah chose to branch out on her own and produce and direct a film for her own production house – and to do it without her regular star, Shahrukh Khan. Tees Maar Khan was written by Shirish and with Akshay Kumar in mind. We were told that Sheila ki Jawaani a blockbuster gift from Farah to Katrina Kaif and it will be the Mother of all Item songs, leaving Munni Badnaam Hui biting the dust in its wake.
So what does the music of Tees Maar Khan offer?
The title track has Sonu Niigaam singing in 54 different voices (including an Akshay Kumar impression) and accents (including a faux Chinese one!). This track is composed by Shirish Kunder. There is an opening musical interlude that reminds one of the track sung by Ashanti in Bride and Prejudice and this is no doubt the “hook” that will be the Tees Maar Khan theme.

Baradwaj Rangan writes an ode to Guzaarish music!

Between Reviews: Songs of the Soul

In Between Reviews, Cinema: Hindi, Music: Indian Film, Music: Review (Hindi Film) on November 6, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Long, meandering thoughts inspired by the long, meandering melody lines in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s remarkably expressive score for ‘Guzaarish,’ his latest ode to the opera.

NOV 7, 2010 – METRE IS TO MUSIC what iron bars are to a lioness in captivity – it calms us with the illusion that the untamable has been tamed. Without this rhythmic symmetry, we are no longer in charge. The music is in charge, the music controls us – much like how free verse mandates that we bend to its idiosyncratic will in ways that formally fashioned poetry doesn’t. When music is compacted into neat measures, we can afford to relegate it to the background as we cook and do the laundry and drive to work with the corner of an eye on the latest incoming text message. We can even hum along. Pop music – whose mission is to be contemporary and catchy – thrives on metrical precision, and because most Indian pop music is really film music, our songs are almost always constructed like pop songs, with short musical phrases, with intentional repeats at regular intervals, and with the metre exposed through pulsating percussion. One-two-three-FOUR, one-two-three-FOUR our internal metronome goes, and our feet pick up these subconscious signals and tap along in sweet submission.

‘Don’t need another Sunidhi or Sonu’ - Sunidhi Chauhan

On her first television stint, the nation’s favourite singing voice Sunidhi Chauhan tells t2 about life with Indian Idol, her role, expectations and Bollywood the way she knows it.

Being on the judge’s seat for a singing reality show, does it bring back a lot of memories?

There was a time during the audition when I walked up to the stage and could feel the pulse of the place brimming with competition, tension and dreams. I relate with everything around because I was a contestant once and that was a great experience. Now when I see the same spark and passion in these boys and girls it does bring back a lot of memories.

One thing that people mistake is Meri Awaz Suno was not a reality show. It was a singing competition based completely on judges and not votes. I had participated because I thought if I could manage to clear a couple of rounds, I’d get to see Lataji (Mangeshkar)!

How has it changed when you look at it now?

It’s not a game. It’s still a competition, a real one. We’re searching for the best singer jinko sunke log paagal ho jayenge. Yes, because of the voting system, a few good singers are often left behind but we do have the key to bring back someone who we feel deserve to stay in the competition. Don’t worry we won’t let ourselves lose a good singer.

People have been complaining that the show hasn’t been able to find a good playback singer in the last four seasons... so this time that’s what we intend to do. Once we find that voice the grooming will happen naturally.

This time there’s a blind singer on our show who sings so well that her appearance or inability to see makes no difference to her singing persona.

Have you been consciously staying away from reality shows before this?

I can be open about the fact that the shows I had been seeing on television were absolute drama. It had all those elements that are not required in a musical show. The four or five times that I was made such offers I said ‘no’ out of choice. This time I felt like doing it. My other co-judges are not the kind to create scenes to seek attention. I feel that I can be myself. Peoples’ tears, laughter, fights or bonding are also for real.

How has the chemistry been with the other co-judges?

Superb! With Anuji (Malik) it’s a love-hate relationship. With Salim (Merchant) I’ve done so much work that our friendship has only grown stronger. At other times we hardly get to meet or talk except during recordings because of our busy schedule. Now that we’re on this panel, we’re getting to eat, breathe, talk and laugh together all the time. I’m enjoying myself. A lot of disagreements do happen but then we’re three of us who think differently. But our common focus is finding that one voice that will touch our hearts and that’s where we agree.

Anything specific that you’ll be looking for in the contestants?

Not another Sonu Nigam, Kailash Kher or Sunidhi Chauhan. We’re all here and hope to stay on for another 50 years. No one should try to stand out by emulating their idol. Why would we want another heard voice. I hope someone can race ahead on the strength and style of their own singing.

Is Bollywood still as welcoming for you as it used to be?

Yes, of course. It always has been and I’m sure it always will be if I keep singing the way I have been for all these years.

What about competition?

No competition. I have no competition, I think. I’m just fine and doing a good job. All of us in the industry are doing our own thing, so there’s no competition in that sense. Today you don’t have just five or six singers dominating the playback industry anymore. So many different people are singing and getting heard. Koi bhi kisi se kam nahin.

Some say you might be losing the game to Shreya (Ghoshal). Does that bother you?

Really? That’s news to me. I have nothing to say to that because I’m very happy doing my job. I have some great songs coming my way. The offers might have changed a bit but if you’re a versatile singer you will be able to do a good job.

Shreya’s a beautiful singer who’s doing her thing as well. I never worked on being successful. I worked on being a good singer and being good at that has made me successful. I’m still working on being a better singer. Being called a versatile singer, being popular, knowing people are following me and wanting to be like me still gives me a high.

So what next?

Just films, films and more films and, of course, Indian Idol.

Mohua Das
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100517/jsp/entertainment/story_12455481.jsp

‘Don’t need another Sunidhi or Sonu’ - Sunidhi Chauhan

On her first television stint, the nation’s favourite singing voice Sunidhi Chauhan tells t2 about life with Indian Idol, her role, expectations and Bollywood the way she knows it.

Being on the judge’s seat for a singing reality show, does it bring back a lot of memories?

There was a time during the audition when I walked up to the stage and could feel the pulse of the place brimming with competition, tension and dreams. I relate with everything around because I was a contestant once and that was a great experience. Now when I see the same spark and passion in these boys and girls it does bring back a lot of memories.

One thing that people mistake is Meri Awaz Suno was not a reality show. It was a singing competition based completely on judges and not votes. I had participated because I thought if I could manage to clear a couple of rounds, I’d get to see Lataji (Mangeshkar)!

How has it changed when you look at it now?

It’s not a game. It’s still a competition, a real one. We’re searching for the best singer jinko sunke log paagal ho jayenge. Yes, because of the voting system, a few good singers are often left behind but we do have the key to bring back someone who we feel deserve to stay in the competition. Don’t worry we won’t let ourselves lose a good singer.

People have been complaining that the show hasn’t been able to find a good playback singer in the last four seasons... so this time that’s what we intend to do. Once we find that voice the grooming will happen naturally.

This time there’s a blind singer on our show who sings so well that her appearance or inability to see makes no difference to her singing persona.

Have you been consciously staying away from reality shows before this?

I can be open about the fact that the shows I had been seeing on television were absolute drama. It had all those elements that are not required in a musical show. The four or five times that I was made such offers I said ‘no’ out of choice. This time I felt like doing it. My other co-judges are not the kind to create scenes to seek attention. I feel that I can be myself. Peoples’ tears, laughter, fights or bonding are also for real.

How has the chemistry been with the other co-judges?

Superb! With Anuji (Malik) it’s a love-hate relationship. With Salim (Merchant) I’ve done so much work that our friendship has only grown stronger. At other times we hardly get to meet or talk except during recordings because of our busy schedule. Now that we’re on this panel, we’re getting to eat, breathe, talk and laugh together all the time. I’m enjoying myself. A lot of disagreements do happen but then we’re three of us who think differently. But our common focus is finding that one voice that will touch our hearts and that’s where we agree.

Anything specific that you’ll be looking for in the contestants?

Not another Sonu Nigam, Kailash Kher or Sunidhi Chauhan. We’re all here and hope to stay on for another 50 years. No one should try to stand out by emulating their idol. Why would we want another heard voice. I hope someone can race ahead on the strength and style of their own singing.

Is Bollywood still as welcoming for you as it used to be?

Yes, of course. It always has been and I’m sure it always will be if I keep singing the way I have been for all these years.

What about competition?

No competition. I have no competition, I think. I’m just fine and doing a good job. All of us in the industry are doing our own thing, so there’s no competition in that sense. Today you don’t have just five or six singers dominating the playback industry anymore. So many different people are singing and getting heard. Koi bhi kisi se kam nahin.

Some say you might be losing the game to Shreya (Ghoshal). Does that bother you?

Really? That’s news to me. I have nothing to say to that because I’m very happy doing my job. I have some great songs coming my way. The offers might have changed a bit but if you’re a versatile singer you will be able to do a good job.

Shreya’s a beautiful singer who’s doing her thing as well. I never worked on being successful. I worked on being a good singer and being good at that has made me successful. I’m still working on being a better singer. Being called a versatile singer, being popular, knowing people are following me and wanting to be like me still gives me a high.

So what next?

Just films, films and more films and, of course, Indian Idol.

Mohua Das
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100517/jsp/entertainment/story_12455481.jsp

Sonu Niggam duets in Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai

Koi Rok Bhi Lo with Sunidhi Chauhan



Nacha Mein with Sowmya Raoh

Sonu Niggam duets in Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai

Koi Rok Bhi Lo with Sunidhi Chauhan



Nacha Mein with Sowmya Raoh

Six Composers for Striker Album including Amit Trivedi, Vishal Bharadwaj.

Song - Aim Lagaa
Singers: Blaaze
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar, Blaaze
Music Director: Blaaze

Song - Bombay Bombay
Singers: Siddharth
Lyricist: Prashant Ingole
Music Director: Amit Trivedi

Song - Cham Cham
Singers: Sonu Nigam
Lyricist: Jeetendra Joshi
Music Director: Shailendra Barve

Song - Haq Se
Singers: Siddharth, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Song - Maula
Singers: Swanand Kirkire
Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Swanand Kirkire

Song - Pia Saanvara
Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan
Lyricist: Jeetendra Joshi
Music Director: Shailendra Barve

Song - Yun Hua
Singers: Vishal Bhardwaj
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

Song - Aim Lagaa - Ricksha Mix
Singers: Blaaze
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar, Blaaze
Music Director: Blaaze

LINK

Six Composers for Striker Album including Amit Trivedi, Vishal Bharadwaj.

Song - Aim Lagaa
Singers: Blaaze
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar, Blaaze
Music Director: Blaaze

Song - Bombay Bombay
Singers: Siddharth
Lyricist: Prashant Ingole
Music Director: Amit Trivedi

Song - Cham Cham
Singers: Sonu Nigam
Lyricist: Jeetendra Joshi
Music Director: Shailendra Barve

Song - Haq Se
Singers: Siddharth, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Song - Maula
Singers: Swanand Kirkire
Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Swanand Kirkire

Song - Pia Saanvara
Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan
Lyricist: Jeetendra Joshi
Music Director: Shailendra Barve

Song - Yun Hua
Singers: Vishal Bhardwaj
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

Song - Aim Lagaa - Ricksha Mix
Singers: Blaaze
Lyricist: Nitin Raikwar, Blaaze
Music Director: Blaaze

LINK