Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
A.R. Rahman
Since Roja hit movie screens in South India in 1992, A.R. Rahman has been redefining the country's widely popular film music. Generally regarded as the finest Indian film composer of his time (and certainly the most commercially successful), Rahman produced music for nearly 35 wide-screen releases during his first five years in the industry. He has worked with many of his country's brightest music stars and a growing list of international luminaries like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Zakir Hussain, L. Shankar, Apache Indian, and David Byrne.Born A.S. Dileep Kumar on January 6th, 1966, in Madras, India, Allah Rakha Rahman was exposed to music from the time he was a child, entered in classical piano studies by his parents at the age of four. At 16, he quit school and was following in his father's footsteps (K.A. Sekhar was a successful film musician, arranger, and conductor himself), working full-time as a session musician on soundtracks under the popular South Indian composer Illaiyaraja. The monotony soon grew tiring however, and at the suggestion of a colleague, Rahman tried his hand at television commercials, eventually composing over 300 jingles in just five years. It wasn't until 1989 that Rahman planted the first seeds of his film career. That year, he began acquiring the equipment and organizing the sound library for his Panchathan Record Inn. When Sharada Trilok's ad for Leo Coffee (for which Rahman penned the music) won her an award, she introduced the young composer to her cousin, Mani Ratnam. Impressed with his work, the director signed Rahman to compose the music for K. Balachander's 1992 film Roja. Rahman's score, a colorful, uncluttered combination of pop, rock, reggae, and his country's traditional music, reshaped the genre, winning him three awards for Best Music Director. Roja became the equivalent of an Indian crossover success. Originally filmed in South Indian Tamil, it was re-dubbed (and its soundtrack re-recorded) in Hindi, the language of North India's famous film center "Bollywood." His star on the rise, Rahman proceeded to compose music for six films in 1993 and nine in 1994 including the score for Ratnam's Bombay (1995), the story of a Hindu/Muslim marriage in a time of heated relations between the two cultures. Rahman's score displayed a characteristic (and appropriate) disregard for the confines of culture, be they Eastern or Western, once again mixing traditional and modern elements. Bombay was hugely successful and the movie's theme was featured on Talvin Singh's Soundz of the Asian Underground compilation. Rahman became the first Indian artist to sign with Sony Music, negotiating a three-year contract in 1997. His premier release for the label, Vande Mataram (his first collection of non-film music), was a tribute to India, commemorating 50 years of the country's independence. The album reached record stores in 28 countries on August 15th of that year. Rahman finally seemed poised on the brink of the international success he desired. Performances were booked in Europe, Canada, and the United States during the final years of the century and a session was arranged with singer David Byrne (owner of the Luaka Bop label and a Rahman fan). Andrew Lloyd Webber chose Rahman to compose the music for his Bombay Dreams, a musical based on the "Bollywood" film industry. The pair began work on the project in London during the second half of 2000. ~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide
Rahman’s buzz
Music director A. R. RahmanFor the first time in the history of Indian television, legendary music director and singer A. R. Rahman, the United Nations and Endemol have partnered with the soon-to-be-launched Hindi General Entertainment Channel, 9X, for a truly unique and enter taining show.
Titled Mission Ustaad, the show will feature Rahman and some of the best singers, and entertainers, who will provide engrossing musical entertainment for a cause.
Commenting on the show, A. R. Rahman said: “I am delighted to be part of mission ustad on 9X.
Many eminent names from the entertainment industry will join me on the show. I am convinced that the partnership between 9X, the UN and Endemol will bring about the desired awakening among Indian viewers, and Mission Ustaad will touch the hearts of the nation in a very entertaining manner.”
Maxine Olson, UN Resident Coordinator said: “We want to make poverty history through awareness and action around the MDGs. We believe Mission Ustaad, our joint endeavour, will inspire millions to action and thereby fulfil every Indian’s right to decent work, education and good health.”
Rajesh Kamat of Endemol India, remarked: “Music is a universal language that binds people together irrespective of their nationality, religion or economic stature.
With Mission Ustaad, we get the opportunity to reach out to our audiences and involve them in key issues using music as a binding factor.
We are excited to partner 9X, the UN and Rehman on this distinct show that promises not just to entertain but also to enlighten!”
Salil Shetty, Director, United Nations Millennium Campaign, added: “If India does not achieve the MDGs by 2015, the world will not achieve them.
For the marginalised people of India - - the Dalits, the Adivasis, the minorities, as particularly women - - the Goals offer a real hope to achieve better education, health and livelihoods.”
A R Rahman enthralls Delhi
Renowned music composer and singer A R Rahman on Saturday rendered an enchanting performance, belting a mix of Hindi, Tamil and English songs which made a 50,000 strong audience in New Delhi swaying, clapping and asking for more.Beginning the performance with the number 'Thodi si raat aur hai...' from Guru , Rahman, in his maiden public concert in the capital, managed to keep the audience captive under the magical spell of his voice.The musician was performing for the Fever 104 concert in which playback singers Kailash Kher , Hari Haran, Madhushree, Chitra, Sivamani and others took part.The musical extravaganza which started an hour late than scheduled, had an orchestra of 50 instrumentalists and 22 singers whose energy had the crowd roaring for more.Accompanying the music maestro, percussionist Sivamani and flutist Navin were no less in mesmerizing the crowd.Rahman asked the crowd to join him in his fight against poverty and he rendered for the crowd on his piano the soul touching number from his album "Pray for me brother".Apart from the usual favourite hit numbers ranging from Hindi flicks like Rang De Basanti , and ‘Roja’, his fans got a special treat when he gave them a slice of music from the forthcoming Ashutosh Gowarikar 's film Jodhaa Akbar .
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
New ARR masterpieces and rumors
Last two days, have been listening to bootlegged versions of a up-coming ARR masterpiece, albeit in Telugu. Waiting to hear the original versions when they come out in a couple of weeks. BTW, all you ARR fans, a veritable feast awaits in the coming months. First SJ Surya’s bilingual take on the Tom Hanks starrer Big and then the next MR flick, again a bilingual (multistarrer this time). The soundtracks should be as usual gold mines for the respective producers, (the three tracks I heard are simply mind-blowing, with one particular soft lullaby like track featuring Sadhana Sargam and Unni Krishnan making me listen to it atleast 10 times in the last three hours) but about the movies, all comments reserved - at least for SJ Surya’s effort. First thing, it stars himself and I dunno how good he is as a actor. As a director he seems quite ok, as Vaali demonstrated.
And then about Yuva / Ayutha Ezhuthu, I have no doubts about the movie - its MR, for heaven’s sake. He might be off the audience’s preferences sometimes, but for the connoisseur, his movies are pure nirvana. The initial buzz from the promos seems to be quite encouraging - though this yet to be corroborated rumor that it’s MR’s take on the Oscar nominated Cicade de deus (City of God). Read Roger Ebert’s review of the City of God here.
I read this UN-CORROBORATED RUMOR first on Lazy Geek’s where one of his “admirers” had commented about it. It found its way here and when I left a comment on there. BSubra (this is his Tamil blog BTW) was kind to email me and he says that he had caught it too from Lazy Geek’s where KG had left a comment. Someone ask KG where he read this piece of info. It’s spreading like wildfire and all fingers point to him or at least the trail goes cold at his fingers.. LOL… And after all this someone posted on the ARR fans group that he had read this piece of info on Junior Vikatan. Now it figures.
Now, when I look at it, seems that there is actually a resemblance between the City of God’s story and what has been paraded everywhere as the storyline for Ayutha Ezhuthu/Yuva. But it is best that we stay restrained about this issue till the movie releases. As this commentor on TFMpage says - “But we are all working on assumption here. Let’s wait and see what 12B is all about. When news of the mouse sequence in Tenali was leaked to the press, everyone jumped to the conclusion that it was a remake of Mousehunt. The film turned to be a remake of some other English movie.” The case about Tenali was carried by everyone incl. Rediff and The Music Magazine. So let’s wait! Till we can actually hear the songs, satisfy yourselves with the track listing from tamilurban.com which again is quite different from what was posted on TFMpage (and on the ARR fans group)sometime in December. However this time, a lot of people associated with the movie have been talking about this songs and so I guess this IS the listing. So much for my waiting to hear Harish Raghavendar’s first song with ARR. That might have to wait yet.
Update: The Yuva trailers (on Bollyvista) rock and I happened to catch 20 second previews elsewhere of all the AE songs! If only those 20 seconds did not have the name of the website’s name as a watermark!. Its not the whole song and why the watermark ?:p. And my friend who caught the City of God over the Univ’s cable system says from the trailers, the only similarity apparent between COG and Yuva/AE is the fact that the movie seems to be set in an slum
And then about Yuva / Ayutha Ezhuthu, I have no doubts about the movie - its MR, for heaven’s sake. He might be off the audience’s preferences sometimes, but for the connoisseur, his movies are pure nirvana. The initial buzz from the promos seems to be quite encouraging - though this yet to be corroborated rumor that it’s MR’s take on the Oscar nominated Cicade de deus (City of God). Read Roger Ebert’s review of the City of God here.I read this UN-CORROBORATED RUMOR first on Lazy Geek’s where one of his “admirers” had commented about it. It found its way here and when I left a comment on there. BSubra (this is his Tamil blog BTW) was kind to email me and he says that he had caught it too from Lazy Geek’s where KG had left a comment. Someone ask KG where he read this piece of info. It’s spreading like wildfire and all fingers point to him or at least the trail goes cold at his fingers.. LOL… And after all this someone posted on the ARR fans group that he had read this piece of info on Junior Vikatan. Now it figures.
Now, when I look at it, seems that there is actually a resemblance between the City of God’s story and what has been paraded everywhere as the storyline for Ayutha Ezhuthu/Yuva. But it is best that we stay restrained about this issue till the movie releases. As this commentor on TFMpage says - “But we are all working on assumption here. Let’s wait and see what 12B is all about. When news of the mouse sequence in Tenali was leaked to the press, everyone jumped to the conclusion that it was a remake of Mousehunt. The film turned to be a remake of some other English movie.” The case about Tenali was carried by everyone incl. Rediff and The Music Magazine. So let’s wait! Till we can actually hear the songs, satisfy yourselves with the track listing from tamilurban.com which again is quite different from what was posted on TFMpage (and on the ARR fans group)sometime in December. However this time, a lot of people associated with the movie have been talking about this songs and so I guess this IS the listing. So much for my waiting to hear Harish Raghavendar’s first song with ARR. That might have to wait yet.
Update: The Yuva trailers (on Bollyvista) rock and I happened to catch 20 second previews elsewhere of all the AE songs! If only those 20 seconds did not have the name of the website’s name as a watermark!. Its not the whole song and why the watermark ?:p. And my friend who caught the City of God over the Univ’s cable system says from the trailers, the only similarity apparent between COG and Yuva/AE is the fact that the movie seems to be set in an slum
Sunday, December 2, 2007
A.R. Rahman promotes new album
‘Jana Gana Mana’ is
a unique collection of national anthems by musical maestros
a unique collection of national anthems by musical maestros
One of a kind: Music director A.R. Rahman with producer Bharatbala at the launch of the album in Chennai on Saturday. CHENNAI: There was no place to move. Hardly any to breathe. Bodies jostled against one another, racks of music trembled and security guards shouted themselves hoarse trying to bring order to the situation.
The usually well-disciplined crowd at Music World in Spencer Plaza, though, was not going to be decorous today. Not when A.R. Rahman was on the premises.
Fans, music lovers and shoppers crowded the store as the renowned music director arrived here on Saturday to promote his new album ‘Jana Gana Mana.’
Around 300 people stood on their toes, peered over shoulders and waved camera cell-phones yelling excitedly to Rahman. “This is a very rare album. I really enjoyed doing it,” the famed composer-director-singer said.
“The album is a unique collection of national anthems by musical maestros,” said Bharatbala, one of the producers. The album, by Bharatbala Productions, was launched to coincide with the country’s 60th year of independence.
It consists of 25 films of renditions of the national anthem set in various parts of India including the Siachen glacier, in the DVD version. In the audio CD version there are 35 tracks of the anthem rendered by artists including Lata Mangeshkar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Hariharan, S.P. Balasubramanium, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Amaan Ali Bangash and Uma Shankar among others. The music has been composed by A.R. Rahman.
Around 100 ‘Jana Gana Mana’ albums were sold at the store on Saturday alone.
The usually well-disciplined crowd at Music World in Spencer Plaza, though, was not going to be decorous today. Not when A.R. Rahman was on the premises.
Fans, music lovers and shoppers crowded the store as the renowned music director arrived here on Saturday to promote his new album ‘Jana Gana Mana.’
Around 300 people stood on their toes, peered over shoulders and waved camera cell-phones yelling excitedly to Rahman. “This is a very rare album. I really enjoyed doing it,” the famed composer-director-singer said.
“The album is a unique collection of national anthems by musical maestros,” said Bharatbala, one of the producers. The album, by Bharatbala Productions, was launched to coincide with the country’s 60th year of independence.
It consists of 25 films of renditions of the national anthem set in various parts of India including the Siachen glacier, in the DVD version. In the audio CD version there are 35 tracks of the anthem rendered by artists including Lata Mangeshkar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Hariharan, S.P. Balasubramanium, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Amaan Ali Bangash and Uma Shankar among others. The music has been composed by A.R. Rahman.
Around 100 ‘Jana Gana Mana’ albums were sold at the store on Saturday alone.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Kamal is `Marmayogi by A.R Rahman music
Kamal Hassan has started pre-production work on his new film Marmayogi, which he is directing and producing, on first copy basis for the corporate Reliance Adlabs.Kamal's Marmayogi, is said to be a historical adventure romantic film with an 'A' list of actors. He has already contacted Bollywood actress Kajol, to play the heroine in this film, which will have music by A.R Rahman. The others including technicians are being worked out.
It will be the second time that Kamal is using an old MGR title for a film of his. Earlier he had used the title Sathi Leelavathi (1936), and now the famous MGR starrer Marmayogi (1951). It has tremendous title value, and the modern Kamal film will have three versions in Tamil,Telugu and Hindi.
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Cast - Imran Khan (Aamir Khan's nephew), Genelia D'Souza, Manjari Phadnis, Special Appearances by Naseeruddin Shah, his wife Ratna Pathak, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi and Arbaaz Khan.
Director - Abbas Tyrewala
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues - Abbas Tyrewala [Munnabhai MBBS, Maqbool, Asoka, Main Hoon Na]
Producer - Aamir Khan [Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd], PVR Pictures Limited
Distribution - PVR Pictures Limited
Budget - INR 8 crore
- ARR has completed recording all the songs for this film.
- This is a campus based romantic comedy with new comers.
- The film launches Imran Khan, son of Aamir Khan's cousin Nuzhat Khan.
CURRENT STATUS - Shooting complete, post-production in progress. The film is expected to release on 8th Feb 2008.
Director - Abbas Tyrewala
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues - Abbas Tyrewala [Munnabhai MBBS, Maqbool, Asoka, Main Hoon Na]
Producer - Aamir Khan [Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd], PVR Pictures Limited
Distribution - PVR Pictures Limited
Budget - INR 8 crore
- ARR has completed recording all the songs for this film.
- This is a campus based romantic comedy with new comers.
- The film launches Imran Khan, son of Aamir Khan's cousin Nuzhat Khan.
CURRENT STATUS - Shooting complete, post-production in progress. The film is expected to release on 8th Feb 2008.
Jodhaa Akbar (HINDI)
Cast - Hrithik Roshan (as Emperor Akbar), Aishwarya Rai (as Jodhabhai), Sonu Sood, Suhasini Mulay, Abir Abrar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Vishwa Badola, Digvijay PurohitDirector - Ashutosh Gowariker
Producer - Ronnie Screwvala [UTV Motion Pictures], Ashutosh Gowariker [AGPPL]
Dialogues - K.P.Saxena
Cinematograher - Kiran Deohans [Aks, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham]
Editor - Ballu Saluja
Choreography - Vaibhavi Merchant, Bosco-Ceaser, Raju Khan, Saroj Khan
Costumes - Neeta Lulla
Lyrics - Javed Akhtar
FIRST LOOK
- 6 songs composed by ARR.
- One song by Alka Yagnik. "I'm also singing for 'Jodha-Akbar' - again for Aishwarya, though I suspect this time the songs will be in the background." - Alka. [Glamsham]
- One Qawwali by Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik. [A.R.Rahman had talked about him recording a qawwali "Khwaja Mere Khwaja" for a forthcoming film. This could well be it!]
- Recent reports say that Reliance - Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) is negotiating with Gowariker for financing the film.
- Huge historical epic about the romance between Mughal king Akbar and his Rajput wife Jodhabai
- Jodhaa Akbar is a sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa. Political success knew no bounds for Emperor Akbar (Hrithik Roshan). After having secured the Hindu Kush, he furthered his realm by conquest until his empire extended from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Godavari River. Through a shrewd blend of tolerance, generosity, and force, Akbar won the allegiance of the Rajputs, the most belligerent Hindus. But little did Akbar know that when he married Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai), a fiery Rajput princess, in order to further strengthen his relations with the Rajputs, he would in turn be embarking upon a new journey – the journey of true love. The daughter of King Bharmal of Amer, Jodhaa resented being reduced to a mere political pawn in this marriage of alliance, and Akbar’s biggest challenge now did not merely lie in winning battles, but in winning the love of Jodhaa – a love hidden deep below resentment and extreme prejudice. Jodhaa-Akbar is their untold love story.
- "You could say I've taken a historical decision to make a film called 'Jodha-Akbar'. It'll be a romantic musical. Jodha-Akbar' is one of the two-three scripts that I had in mind for quite a while. I finally zeroed in on this. It won't go into the older days of the pair. It would show them in the prime of their togetherness and probably end where 'Mughal-e-Azam' begins.I just want to dwell on a little-known facet of Indian history that hasn't been exposed in history books, let alone on screen. I intend to appoint a research team of historians and scholars from Delhi, Lucknow, Agra and Jaipur to guide me. Jodha-Akbar' would be a full-on period film without props. It would be expensive. But I'm not getting into highlighting the budget and making that a USP of my project. For me the product will justify the expenses." - Ashutosh Gowariker [Indiavarta]
- With this film, Hrithik gets a chance to play a benevolent Mughal emperor who dared to love and marry a Hindu princess. Says Hrithik, "It will have war, horses and swords. I will play a very young and virile Akbar. It's a very real drama, not theatrical at all. It's my first costume drama because I will wear a costume. But that doesn't mean it will be excessively dramatic. I have faith in Ashutosh Gowariker's abilities. His intelligent perspective during his narrative convinced me he can never make an actor look bad. He believes in the real and tries to capture the real. He never constrains the actor, but allows them to be natural on camera." [MumbaiMirror]
- Scholar Haider Ali Sahib is helping Ashutosh with the research for Akbar-Jodha.
- Hrithik and Aishwarya underwent lessons in horse riding and sword fighting for the film, in Oct 06.
CURRENT STATUS - Shooting started in Jaipur with a Mahurat shot on Nov 1st 2006. The shooting took place in Agra, Delhi, Jaipur and interiors of Rajasthan. Movie release slated for 25th Jan, 2008.
The Golden Age : Elizabeth - II
Cast - Cate Blanchett (as Queen Elizabeth), Clive Owen (as Sir Walter Raleigh), Samantha Morton (as Mary,Queen of Scot), Geoffrey Rush (as Sir Francis Walsingham)
Director - Shekhar Kapur
Producers - Working Title (now owned by Universal Pictures)
Distribution - Universal Pictures
Writer - Michael Hirst, William Nicholson
Cinematography - Remi Adefarasin Casting - Fiona Weir Production Design - Guy Dyas Art Direction - David Allday, Jason Knox-Johnston, Phil Simms, Andy Thomson, Frank Walsh Set Decoration - Richard Roberts Makeup - Loulia Sheppard Production Management - Tania Windsor Blunden
- A.R.Rahman is co-composing with Craig Armstrong ['Moulin Rouge!']
- The movie is a sequel to Elizabeth and will follow the story of Queen Elizabeth and her relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh
- “A.R.Rahman will compose the music for The Golden Age. I opted for him as he has the required range and dimension for an international challenge.” - Shekhar Kapur
- "A R Rahman had written the most beautiful piece for Divinity. I had asked him to do me a piece that felt like yearning for Absoluteness, both sad and full of hope and divinity at the same time. He sent a piece that had everyone in tears as they listened to it for the first time. In my interpretation, or rather in Samantha Morton's interpretation of Mary of Scotts, she finally found peace and Divinity in Death. Something that Elizabeth was aspiring to, Mary found in Martyrdom. So instead of filming the execution of Mary as something horrific as described in the history books, we saw it as her going to the final alter. Her final marriage. and we shot it to Rahman's music. But of course in the film, Elizabeth has to find Divinity not in death, but in life. That was her great achievement." - Shekhar Kapur in his blog [LINK]
- Golden Age will unfold, like its predecessor, against the increasing and bloody schism between Protestants and Catholics in England. Tim Bevan who, along with partner Eric Fellner, signed Kapur to direct Elizabeth after seeing his impressive Bandit Queen, describes the new film as a drama about religious tolerance.
- Shekhar Kapur's blog on the film - Golden Age Diary
CURRENT STATUS - Movie was premiered at the Toronto Internal Film Festival on Sep 10th. Worldwide release on 2nd Nov 2007, on Universal Pictures banner. Soundtrack release on Oct 9th on UNIVERSAL MUSIC label.
Director - Shekhar Kapur
Producers - Working Title (now owned by Universal Pictures)
Distribution - Universal Pictures
Writer - Michael Hirst, William Nicholson
Cinematography - Remi Adefarasin Casting - Fiona Weir Production Design - Guy Dyas Art Direction - David Allday, Jason Knox-Johnston, Phil Simms, Andy Thomson, Frank Walsh Set Decoration - Richard Roberts Makeup - Loulia Sheppard Production Management - Tania Windsor Blunden
- A.R.Rahman is co-composing with Craig Armstrong ['Moulin Rouge!']
- The movie is a sequel to Elizabeth and will follow the story of Queen Elizabeth and her relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh
- “A.R.Rahman will compose the music for The Golden Age. I opted for him as he has the required range and dimension for an international challenge.” - Shekhar Kapur
- "A R Rahman had written the most beautiful piece for Divinity. I had asked him to do me a piece that felt like yearning for Absoluteness, both sad and full of hope and divinity at the same time. He sent a piece that had everyone in tears as they listened to it for the first time. In my interpretation, or rather in Samantha Morton's interpretation of Mary of Scotts, she finally found peace and Divinity in Death. Something that Elizabeth was aspiring to, Mary found in Martyrdom. So instead of filming the execution of Mary as something horrific as described in the history books, we saw it as her going to the final alter. Her final marriage. and we shot it to Rahman's music. But of course in the film, Elizabeth has to find Divinity not in death, but in life. That was her great achievement." - Shekhar Kapur in his blog [LINK]
- Golden Age will unfold, like its predecessor, against the increasing and bloody schism between Protestants and Catholics in England. Tim Bevan who, along with partner Eric Fellner, signed Kapur to direct Elizabeth after seeing his impressive Bandit Queen, describes the new film as a drama about religious tolerance.
- Shekhar Kapur's blog on the film - Golden Age Diary
CURRENT STATUS - Movie was premiered at the Toronto Internal Film Festival on Sep 10th. Worldwide release on 2nd Nov 2007, on Universal Pictures banner. Soundtrack release on Oct 9th on UNIVERSAL MUSIC label.
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