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Ranbir Kapoor takes active interest in Anjaana Anjaani music
A rounded up view of his films - this is one expects from a superstar once he achieves a certain status in the industry. His opinion is being sought, his thoughts are being listened to, his view points considered and his suggestions acknowledged. Of course it is a different situation when an actor is just seeing a rise up the stairs. In fact most of the times, any expression of thoughts during the making of a film may well be considered as interference and dismissed pronto. However, success comes with its own perks (read: confidence and active involvement) and this is what Ranbir Kapoor truly enjoyed when the music of his next release Anjaana Anjaani was being written."As is a known fact, after films like Wake Up Sid, Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year and Raajneeti, the need of the hour for Ranbir is to fast work on a romantic musical outing. Yes, there has been a Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani that has kept his stocks moving in the world of romcom affairs, hence keeping his young fan base growing exponentially. However, a hat trick of relatively serious films means that Ranbir had to get something truly frothy and funny rolling for him", says a trade follower, "Anjaana Anjaani was just the right film at the right time with the right co-star (Priyanka Chopra) and with a willing producer (Sajid Nadiadwala) who was more than happy to spend mega bucks in order to get the right vibes flowing around, sky was the limit for Ranbir."
Add to this the fact that he had friends for company helped his cause further. Adds a friend of Ranbir, "Siddharth Anand has been a close buddy of Ranbir ever since the days of Bachna Ae Haseeno, the actor's first success in Bollywood after the debacle of Saawariya. Also, he shares a great comfort with composer duo of Vishal and Shekhar, especially after the fun they had during the making of Bachna Ae Haseeno songs that went on to be huge hits, especially the title song and 'Khuda Jaane'. No wonder, once this team came together again for Anjaana Anjaani, it was imperative that an active collaboration took place."
"Yes, I did want Ranbir for his inputs on the music of Anjaana Anjaani", confirms Siddharth Anand, "Ranbir and I have keen music sense and with Vishal-Shekhar coming up with multiple ideas, I was happy to bounce them off to Ranbir as much as possible. Since his bungalow was pretty close to the studio where the music was being made, it wasn't difficult to handle logistics either since it was a quick walk down the road."
Vishal Dadlani too doesn't have any hesitation in acknowledging the fact that it was a collaborative effort after all. "Ranbir and Siddharth are buddies so it was imperative that they used to have discussions around the music. Ranbir was very interested in hearing what we were making", he says.
In fact for the title track of Anjaana Anjaani, Vishal and Shekhar came up with two options, each of which was altogether different from the other. "Siddharth, Ranbir, Shekhar and I sat together in the room and played both the options that had already been recorded", adds Vishal, "The idea was to go around the room, ask for opinions and pick one of them. Ranbir liked one of them. His choice is welcome because he is in tune with what the younger generation likes."
Well, come August - once the music hits the stands - and we will know!
"I am not back to a normal life, but an extraordinary life" - Lisa Ray
Subhash K. Jha speaks with Lisa Ray about her health, career and life.Is your illness completely gone? How far are you back to your normal life?
My disease, Multiple Myeloma, is in remission. We don't take the attitude that it is ever gone completely, but we monitor regularly and now I'm leading a particularly healthy life. However, that's why research is so important in the field of Multiple Myeloma- the next drug could be the one that saves my life. Someone told me, 'healing begins when you realise there's no cure'. I am not back to a normal life, but an extraordinary life because of the insights I've gotten and the changes I've made to my lifestyle. In a word: simplified.
 'Healing begins when you realise there's no cure'  |
I am engaging with the world, but with a different quality now. I do my best not to get stressed or over-extend myself, as was my habit before. I don't think there's such a thing as 'regular life'- there's just life with many different shades. So I'm doing a variety of things, but on my own terms. And I'm trying to invest in the things that I enjoy. I'm also still recovering from the stem cell transplant, so I have to take it slow at times.
One reads that you are going through some severe post-illness trauma. How are you coping?
I'm coping as anyone does. I have good days and bad. Also what I'm going through is not unusual- so many people go through similar experiences post- cancer. I don't want to sensationalise any of it, but perhaps just to share and raise awareness. I also think it's wrong to expect that everything will roll out in the manner we want. I'm learning a lot and mostly about how to practise compassion with myself.
You had spoken of spending time in India. When is that happening and how long will you be here?I am in no rush and on no set schedule. I expect I will be travelling to India shortly for Rado- who have been steadfast in their support of me in this time. I will also probably be promoting 1 minute in India, with a view to donate some of the proceeds towards Multiple Myeloma research.
Have you gradually gotten back into the full swing of your career?
I don't believe in a swinging career. I believe in living my life to the fullest and career is just one small aspect of this. I think I sacrificed a lot of my life for my career to date and its time to balance this out now. Cancer is a huge wakeup call. Having said that, I'm exploring new creative opportunities. The point is to chase joy. I've also had some unexpected honours recently. I was invited to MC a luncheon for the Queen here in Toronto and I was also seated at the head table. It was a great experience. I'd also like to raise a lot more awareness for Cancer, Multiple Myeloma and stem cell technology. That will be an integral part of my career. As well as writing a book.
| I don't think there's such a thing as 'regular life'- there's just life with many different shades |
Cooking with Stella was memorable and enjoyable as it gave me the opportunity to work with Dilip Mehta. I loved shooting in Delhi.
Have you signed any more films?
I haven't yet signed another film. I'm in no hurry. I don't want to spread myself too thin as I'm getting offers to appear as a speaker across North America and I use this as platform from which to raise awareness for Multiple Myeloma.
Finally you are about to share your experience of going from illness to good health at a prestigious forum in California. Looking forward to that?
As for the California forum, I have already made an appearance in LA to support the screening of Cooking with Stella at the IFFLA. The proceeds from the opening night screening went towards Dr Berenson's Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research in LA.
Hello Darling Music Review
EXPECTATIONS
It is ironical that despite the name Pritam attached to the soundtrack of Hello Darling, you play on the album with minimum expectations. There are couple of reasons for that. First and foremost it is not a quintessential romantic tale where one can expect the composer to come up with some of his best tunes. Secondly, the film has been in the making for quite some time now and due to the rapidly changing musical scene, one is apprehensive about what Hello Darling would have in the offing. Add to that the fact that it has been a while since one heard a popular soundtrack coming from the house of Subhash Ghai. Due to this, one doesn't get overtly excited to know what is in store from Hello Darling that has Shabbir Ahmed contributing with most number of songs (three) as a lyricist with Ashish Pandit and Kumaar coming up with a song apiece.
MUSIC
It was four decades back when 'Aa Jaane Jaan' was heard first in Inteqam. While there have been countless 'remix versions' that have been made in the last decade, it is for the first time that a new version has been created for a film. Just as has been the case in 'Aapka Kya Hoga - Dhanno' [Housefull] and 'Parda' [Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai] where new lyrics were added to the original tracks with just the 'mukhda' kept intact, the same holds good for 'Aa Jaane Jaan' too with Shabbir Ahmed adding his own words to the song. While Akriti Kakkar and Antara Mitra are fine behind the mike, the interspersing rendition by Javed Jaffery is totally 80s. Also, the sound of 'aau' a la Michael Jackson is totally passe. The song doesn't quite have in it to cover much distance here.
Thankfully, Pritam gets into his zone, well to some extent at least, with a 'dholki' driven 'Band Baaja' that hints of Imtiaz Ali school of music. Written by Ashish Pandit, this is a fun celebration number about a guy bringing himself to his bride's place with full arrangement of - as the lyrics suggest - 'Band Baaja'. Rana Mazumder, who has been working with Pritam for a while now, gets a major song to his credit as he goes full throated in a manner similar to that of Neeraj Sridhar and Mika and does a rather good job. Richa Sharma and Ritu Pathak bring in a folksy flavour to this song as well which is instantly likeable and is foot tapping. The song rightfully gets a 'remix version' for itself and one doesn't mind hearing it all over again.
It is time to hear something trademark Pritam from the very opening note of 'Dil To Saala'. Of course the song does seem 3-4 years late in the day but one doesn't mind that, courtesy the kind of spunk that Sunidhi Chauhan brings in her rendition. Foot tapping from start to finish, this number written by Kumaar has lyrics that go like 'Dil To Saala Ullu Ka Paatha Hai'. Well, all that one thinks at this moment is that after Kaminey, Lafangey Parindey and 'Ullu Ka Patha', what next could possibly be in store? Nevertheless, the number works as instant coffee and should be a fun watch on screen.
However, what follows next is barely passable as 'Attrah Baras Ki' makes one immediately feel that this could well be a song entirely designed by Subhash Ghai himself. Stuck in a time warp, right from Shabbir Ahmed's lyrics, Suzzane D'Mello's singing and of course Pritam's composition, there isn't much that makes you feel that the song has been created in the current decade. Until and unless the three leading ladies of Hello Darling sizzle on screen during this song, there isn't much life that can be expected for 'Attrah Baras Ki'.
Shabbir Ahmed also writes the last song in the album, 'Working Girls', which has Shweta Pandit, Ritu Pathak and Priyadarshini coming together as the women force. This has to be one of the weakest songs in the album as it doesn't go beyond sounding like an ad jingle. There is a Westernized treatment to the song but all it does is reminding one of the kind of title sequence songs from TV serials around women power.
OVERALL
There were never many expectations to begin with from Hello Darling so there is no disappointment as well after one is through hearing the entire soundtrack. In fact it is just fair that eventually there are at least a couple of songs that still turn out to be reasonably entertaining - 'Band Baaja' and 'Dil To Saala'. However, with the limited promotional window that Hello Darling has, it would be difficult for the album to sustain itself on the power of just these two songs, which by themselves are not exceptional to begin with.
OUR PICK(S)
Band Baaja, Dil To Saala
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STAR CJ Network launches “STAR CJ Alive”
STAR CJ Network India is the result of a strategic partnership between Indian television network STAR and South Korean home shopping business CJ O Shopping.
Uday Shankar, chief executive officer, STAR India Pvt. Ltd., said, “STAR is a diversified media conglomerate with varied interests. We have built alliances with an array of entities to augment our business and increase our offerings to our audience. We are very pleased to launch STAR CJ Alive, our round-the-clock dedicated premium home shopping channel. Given the immense popularity STAR enjoys and the response that the channel has received since its launch last year as a 6-hour slot on STAR Utsav, we are confident that STAR CJ Alive will soon be living up to its promise of transforming lifestyles for its audience.”
Jung Seo, managing director - global business division, CJ O Shopping Co. Ltd., said, “Our channel will bring to Indian consumers a great variety of brands and products through quality programming content. India is the second largest broadcasting market in terms of viewership which makes it a vital market on the global platform and it was just a matter of time before we crossed into this vibrant and high-potential market. STAR is a broadcasting giant in Asia and we are proud to have embarked on this wonderful new venture with them.”
Paritosh Joshi, chief executive officer, STAR CJ Network India Pvt. Ltd., added, “Launching STAR CJ Alive as a 6-hour slot a year back worked to our advantage by giving us an opportunity to study the market and its needs along with the consumer behaviour pertaining to the home shopping industry in India. We realized that even though the industry is still in its nascent stage, there lies a huge potential in the years to come, given the increasing discretionary income of Indian consumers.”
McCann creates new L'Oreal TVC
Jim Sonzero has directed the film that has been produced by Bang Bang Films.
Commenting on the film, Roopak Saluja- managing director/executive producer, Bang Bang Films, said, "We're really proud of this production as L'Oreal is known to be extremely discerning about the quality they demand from their production companies. They usually concentrate their bigger productions in select centers that have been audited by L'Oreal head office in Paris for quality assurance and the highest standard of production values. The fact that the management at brand and corporate levels, both locally and globally, has been raving about the spots we delivered, is testament to the production prowess in India for high-end beauty work and for Bang Bang in particular."
WATCH TVC now
Spikes Asia announces entire list of jury members
The Craft jury will be chaired by Akira Kagami, executive advisor and global executive creative advisor of Dentsu; Media will be led by Jon Wilkins, founding partner of Naked Communications; and the Integrated jury, made up of members from all the other juries, including jury presidents, will be chaired by David Lubars, chairman and chief creative officer or BBDO North America who also heads the Film, Print, Outdoor and Radio jury.
Grey Chennai wins VBJ account
Commenting on the win, Vijay Jacob, vice president and head of South, Grey, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering this prestigious, heritage brand VBJ and are looking forward to providing a fresh perspective to this category. This win strengthens our presence in Chennai, an important market for Grey.”
Vijay Ambalavanan, branch head, Grey Chennai, added, “During the pitch we demonstrated our passion for good work which also reflected our 'famously effective' motto and gave us an edge over the other agencies.”
Vummidi Jitendra, managing partner, VBJ, said, “We were looking for a communication partner who will create exceptional campaigns - just like our jewellery. Grey’s work demonstrated exactly that. We are looking forward to some fresh and exciting ideas which will take VBJ to new heights.”
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