K Balachander, India’s Best Storyteller

Actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan will always be indebted to him. But for him, we wouldn’t have seen Rajni on the silver screen. With more than 100 films to his credit, he is one filmmaker who has total control over his movies. Yes, I am talking about the legend K Balachander or KB as he is fondly called. I remember watching Sindhu Bhairavi when I was in school. Sindhu’s argument during a concert in the movie is still etched in my mind.

The ace director who turns 80 today had a unique style of making memorable films. It is difficult to spot one movie that is the best. With KB, every film had a protagonist and the entire movie revolved around the character. Whether it was Server Sundaram, Etheer Neechal or Sindhu Bhairavi, his films had a strong message forcing you to think out of the box.

So many of his celluloid characters still remain fresh in your mind – whether it is the fabulous dance by comedian Nagesh as a cancer patient in the movie Neer Kumizhi or the amazing depth of individualization in the love triangle in Sindhu Bhairavi. KB mostly dealt with middle-class issues reinforcing the values of family and relationships.

Clever use of symbolism, carefully scripted characters, powerful storylines and great attention to detail make his movies an intense experience. Here is a list of his best works (according to me):

Server Sundaram
Nagesh always had a special place in KB’s films. The fact that he got one of the best comedians of those times to play the lead role is in itself a testimony that KB was one of the biggest experimenters of his time. Watch a scene from the movie here.

Ethir Neechal
Again, Nagesh plays the poor young boy who does odd jobs to earn his living. The entire plot revolves around the protagonist Madhu and the film highlights the simple lifestyle of the middle-class Tamil household. The punchline in this film said by Nagesh- Naan Madhu Vandirukken, where he plays the role of a gullible innocent fool was a favourite with the masses. Here is a popular song from this film.

Apoorva Ragangal
Rajnikanth’s debut movie, Apoorva Raagangal, deals  with an inter-generational romance that culminates in a complex dilemma. This movie could be rated as one of the best performances by both Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan on the silver screen. The mature storyline of intertwined romances was breathtaking and its treatment was flawless. KB’s sensitive handling of a potentially-explosive subject matter earned him rave reviews.

Sindhu Bhairavi
This to me is the best movie by the ace director who redefines the concept of marriage in this film. The role of protagonist Sindhu played by Suhasini can be rated as her best performance ever. The movie revolves around a girl who is an ardent follower of Carnatic music and falls in love with a popular Carnatic musician. The conversation between Sivakumar (the classical musician in the film) and Sindhu on why Carnatic concerts don’t include Tamil songs is a classic scene in this film. In many ways, he redefined the “happily ever after” concept in this flick. A word about the ever green Illayaraja has to be mentioned. I think Illayaraja’s brilliance in the song Padariyen is unmatchable.

Punnagai Mannan
Once again a Kamal and KB combination that worked wonders for the Tamil audience. Balachander’s art of story-telling is at its best in this movie. The story revolves around Sethu, a protagonist, who is jailed for attempting suicide and how his life pans out after that. Revathi who is the lead actress has given a stunning performance. Illayaraja again scores the music and each note is a treat to music lovers.

Later in the 90s, he also ventured into television. He also made a sequel to his movie Sindhu Bhairavi called ‘Sahana’ in 2003. He set high benchmarks and took enormous strides in the tamil film industry. The audience started to talk about this phenomenon, what they called ‘The Balachander Touch’. This touch to me will remain forever.

Love thy Love Child

Legend has it that on the sets of Bobby, where a chubby Rishi Kapoor fell head over heels in love with Dimple, complete with baby fat and big, brown eyes, Raj Kapoor drew him aside and asked him “Tum apni behen se shaadi karna chahta hain?!” Paraphrasing, of course, but this remains the conspiracy theory to beat all conspiracy theories in Bollywood.

Dimple is said to be Raj Kapoor and Nargis’s love child, though this remains just a rumour – unproven but hugely debated even now. As news of Cristiano Ronaldo’s love child came pouring in, I got thinking of the many love children we’ve seen over the years. You think *that* was why he ould hardly net one in this World Cup? Hmm.

Jazz singer Norah Jones, née Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, daughter of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and dancer Sue Jones, came into the limelight with the release of her hugely successful debut album, Come Away With Me. The world which till then thought Anoushka Shankar was the maestro’s only daughter sat up and took notice. There were reports of some unsorted issues between Norah and her father, but all died a quiet death. Step sibling Sister Anoushka Shankar, a gifted sitarist in her own right, came out with an album “Breathing Under Water” featuring Norah, putting all rumours of familial strife to rest. The sisters have matching tattoos on their lower backs.

Hema Malini, noted Bollywood actress, has two children with the much-married Dharmendra and has gone on record to say that theirs is a ‘marriage’ for all intents and purposes, and he is a devoted father to their two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol. Ironically, in a ‘full circle’ of sorts, Sunny Deol, Dharmendra’s son from his marriage, is rumoured to be in a relationship with Dimple Kapadia – he’s married with two children, she’s divorced from yesteryear actor Rajesh Khanna.

Aamir Khan, Bollywood’s blue-eyed boy who can do no wrong, reportedly fathered a love-child with British writer, Jessica Hines. He’s refuted all allegations and there has been no paternity test, but Jessica’s son Jaan looks uncannily like him – take a look and judge for yourself.

West Indies cricketer, the very flamboyant Viv Richards, was in a short-lived relationship with Neena Gupta in the eighties – they have one daughter, Masaba Richards, a fashion designer. Neena Gupta, now married, has brought her daughter up as a single mother for the most part.

Mel Gibson recently ended his 30-year-old marriage with ex-wife Robyn to solemnize his relationship with Ukranian singer Oksana Grigorieva, after he fathered a child with her out-of-wedlock. But recent reports say this union is on the rocks too, with Oksana alleging spousal abuse and taking out a restraining order against him.

Serial wild oats sower, the devastatingly handsome Jude Law, was again in the news last year for, you guessed it, sowing his wild oats away from home. His on-again-off-again relationship with Sienna Miller seems to be on again for the nth time now, but outside of 3 children from his marriage to British actress Sadie Frost, he now has a love child, Sophia,  with model/actress Samantha Burke.

Do you know of other love children? What do you think of this trend of celebs ‘cocking a snook’ at the institution of marriage? Would love to hear your thoughts.

My previous posts:

• The Walrus in a Grey Suit
• How Old is Too Old (to have a child)?
• Mani Ratnam’s Trial by Fire (Is Raavan Mani Ratnam’s Aag)?

Redefining Superstardom Online

They might not be big stars but their entertainment quotient is much better than any of the reality shows or Bollywood flicks.

Sam Anderson is being labeled as the next superstar in the online world. But trust me, if you are ever bored of your meetings at your workplace, just watch this and I am sure you will laugh your hearts out. He is way better than the Sidhus and the Archana Puran Singhs of the world. And, if he judges any of the reality shows, I will at least have one valid reason to watch them. This is what true talent is!

Say it like Wilbur Sargunaraj.  So this is how you can tell your parents when you want to get married. Singing in a pop album ain’t that difficult. Also, check out his version of Michael Buble’s ‘Home’.

Following his footsteps is this hilarious Malayalam album, Silsila Hai Silsila.

If Silsila was torture, then listen to this Bhojpuri version of what I think is Britney Spears’ ‘Hit me baby one more time’ –  ‘Ischool ke tem pe aana gori dem pe’. Now I know why Bhojpuri flicks are a hit 😉

If you still feel that wasn’t enough, then try and speak like T Rajendar.

But when it comes to effortless superstardom, nothing can beat Rajnikanth and his stunts. He is the real deal, the thalaivar (emperor) to beat all these ‘superstars’. Please do not attempt Rajni’s stunts at home or out in wide open spaces.

A Day for Music

“Music was my refuge.  I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness”.

Maya Angelou, ‘Gather Together in My Name’

I am sure many of you can relate to what Maya Angelou felt.  For me, music is my best friend.  It calms me down; it is an expression of love, of passions I cannot name.  It is pure magic which can make me smile through my pain, dance through my joy.  On World Music Day, which I feel is inappropriate again, let me tell you what music means to me.

My earliest memories – and the fondest – are those of my dad playing the violin, my aunt singing and my cousins humming away as they finished the household chores.  So I guess, loving music was a way of life.

As was the custom in our house, I was forced to sit for music lessons the moment I could speak. But, once I got to ‘Varaveena’ – the first song you learn if you are learning Carnatic music, I was ready to give up. By the time I turned 10, I had decided I was not cut out for singing lessons. I ate ice-creams the day before the teacher came and coughed a lot to miss the lessons. What more could I do?

My mom, who would not take ‘no’ for an answer, soon found other ways to keep me interested. “If you can’t sing”, she would say, “you could still learn/play an instrument.” And by the time I was in high school and college, mom had brainwashed me to begin Veena classes which again after ‘Varaveena’ I happily bunked.  Needless to say, once my mom came to know this, she disowned me. Which I welcomed happily, for I was a long way away from Carnatic Classical music by then.

Much as I appreciated Carnatic music, my mind had been corrupted by western music. Bach, Beethoven, Wagner – I kept evolving. Then came Abba, Boney M, Michael Jackson, and a lot more before I discovered hard rock and metal. Metal was a revelation. It rocked me, ripped me apart. It was the music of the rebel in me. It was madness unleashed. I loved it and I still do. And then came Floyd and The Doors.  Did I sober down? I am not sure. I feel I’m still evolving.

I listen to ghazals and metal with equal passion. Now, I can listen to Carnatic music and hard rock and appreciate it both. I cannot sing, but I appreciate music. It is in my breath, in my being.

And as you contemplate which genre you like, let me listen to my all time favourite ‘The ‘Doors’ lead singer Jim Morrison sing:
‘When the  music is your special friend
Dance on fire as it intends
Music is your only friend
Until the end’

Watch the video here

Rabbi, The Minstrel from Delhi

His was a college band in Delhi University. They used to play at college fests and there were not many takers for his music.  But just one song, Bulla ki Jaana, changed their lives.

Rabbi Shergill rose from the small dais of college fests to become an overnight star, whose non-film song Bulla ki Jaana was played frequently on the radio in the year 2005.

What made him an instant success was the uniqueness of his singing style. And the words used in his songs brought long-forgotten folklore back in fashion again. The video of ‘Bulla ki Jaana’ created curiosity among the viewers. The lyrics were amazing but somewhat difficult to understand, which inspired his song lovers to look for the lyrics and their meaning .

The result of his first album ‘Rabbi’ was overwhelming. The company Phat Phish Records had put up just 10,000 copies for sale initially but the album went on to sell in excess of 100,000 copies. After this, Rabbi became the music director and lyricist for the movie Delhi Heights, but his first stint as music director wasn’t as successful as his first foray into music. But his second album ‘Avengi Ja Nahin’ created ripples again.

Rabbi & Patriotism

Rabbi’s music admirers would agree that the music in his albums is versatile but it is also worth noting that the lyrics of each song in his album put across a message. Here are two songs, both from two different albums, Rabbi and Avengi Ja Nahin, which give a sense of the present state of our nation.

Song: Jugni
Album: Rabbi

In this song, Rabbi talks about a girl who goes around India including Kashmir, Bombay, Punjab and Delhi.  She discovers that India which is the country of Vedas has terror in Kashmir, corruption in Bombay and unemployment in Punjab.

Lyrics/Meaning (Translation)

Song: Bilqis
Album: Avengi Ja Nahin

As the name of the song suggests (in this case: Bilqis Bano-Gujarat riots), it is about common people who stood for the truth and had to pay for their lives for it (Satyendra Dubey and Manjunath). Each of these cases made national headlines.

At each point in the song he asks a question, Jinhe naaz hai hind par wo kahan hai? (Where are those who are proud of India?)

Meaning/Lyrics/Translation

There may not be many who understand the meaning of Rabbi’s songs, but there are many who just want to indulge in the distinct versatility his songs offer. Rabbi uses the same Punjabi language in his songs minus Bhangra influences and what makes it even more attractive is the fact that he can create ballads in acoustic style with a rock base.

Ending this piece with ‘Ballo’ in which Rabbi defines the importance of a girl child. Watch the mesmerising song which highlights the rampant female foeticide in India.

Song: Ballo
Album: Avengi Ja Nahin

Lyrics/Translation

More songs

Tere Bin
Avengi Ja Nahin
Heer
Challa
Toteya Monmotiya
Karachi Valie
Ik kudi

FTP Recap 2 – The Week That Was

Someone once told me that any task you undertake with good intentions must be done twice – else, it’ll be a failure.

So I’m not going to succumb to the Lazy Sunday syndrome; instead, I bring to you all the great things we wrote about on FTP last week, starting with why football fever refuses to let our team go. Did you know why India almost made it to the World Cup, but didn’t really, because the game mandated footwear and our team didn’t have shoes to play? We also gave you the story behind Jabulani, the official football of the World Cup. Vuvuzelas, the much discussed aspect of the game that has most of the world shielding its ears, is here to stay, so that buzz is not about to leave the football watching fan. And the game has had its fair share of controversies, surrounding some of the most celebrated names like Maradona, Zizou and Beckham. And which book on football is your favourite? Prem tells you why Eduardo Galeano’s Soccer in Sun and Sand stands head and shoulders above the rest, written or still free thoughts in some author’s mind.

Padma, our resident expert on hilarity, writes about the injustice meted out to the players and their hormones during the World Cup with the coaches resorting to the “No Sex” rule, a forced Lent of sorts in Sex and Soccer. And when there are controversies and intrigue and sex, can glamour be far behind? Princy lists out the most noted names in the world of WAGS – footballer wives and girlfriends. We also made you question your goal quotient as well as your knowledge on the biggest upsets of the game. And Princy’s take on the coach-protege relationship of our times, Maradona and Messi, was featured on the WordPress home page. Take a bow, Princy – you’ve arrived.

Tarun took us on a nostalgic trip with his post on the glory days of Doordarshan in Indian TV. Speaking of TV, have you seen the magical transformation of Sridevi’s nose over the years? Most of Bollywood’s leading ladies have spoken about the rhinoplasty they’ve opted for, though we haven’t heard Hollywood’s oft-used ‘deviated septum’ as the excuse. But there are still a few that have yet to proclaim their nosejobs to the world, though it’s clear as day on their faces. Will they, won’t they? Your guess is as good as ours.

For all you gadget freaks and car fanatics, here’s what Microsoft unveiled at the LA Gamers’ Conference last week – the Kinect. And here are the latest mobile phones with a horde of features from new players in the market in India. As for cars, Clint did what we were goading him to do – he wrote about Mercedes’s ‘affordable’ version soon to hit Indian roads, as also on the iconic high-end Jaguar XJ. In a slight segue, here are Clint’s choices of funny automobile ads.

Our most discussed post last week was Khristina’s 10 commandments on love, marriage and intimacy. And probably for the first time in history, there was consensus among women in the comments section – everyone agreed with Khris’s ten questions you must ask your significant other before saying “I do”. And men, being men, agreed to disagree. Khris also listed out some romantic songs you and the love of your life can spend a rainy afternoon listening to.

In our Big Story coverage, we gave you the background to Kyrgyzstan’s political turmoil and the Indian students who were stranded there for a few harrowing days, while the Embassy was trying to get funds to port them back to India. We also gave you the history of Maoist activities and the arrest of three Maoists last week that some say is a step in the right direction. In entertainment news that have somewhat political undertones, Ganesh homes in on the very telling boycott of the IIFA held in Sri Lanka by the Bachchan family.

Our other most discussed post was Rummana’s post about the exodus of NRIs back to their homeland, that is more apparent in the Indian population in the land of opportunity. Is the American dream losing its charm, she asked. And you gave us some of the best moments of last week, reading through your responses. Keep them coming, folks – this is what we write for. The Tagore paintings that were auctioned off last week got Priya questioning on how important our art is to us – will those who can afford to strive to bring home what is ‘rightfully’ our legacy, she asks.

Mumbai monsoons – something that the Mumbaikar and the non-Mumbaikar can never see eye-to-eye on. The non-Mumbaikar can never really appreciate the beauty and the joy of Mumbai in the rains, argues Padma. And she makes a strong case for vada pavs and cutting chais.

In odd news, did you know that whale poop can stave off global warming to an extent? And that it is used as an ingredient in perfumes? Did you know that planes can induce rains? Do you know what a flash mob is? (Hint: There is nothing naked about it. Not that we know of, of course.) And have you heard of the urban legend where a snake swallowed a man? Did we originate from aliens?

Maya and Tenzin pay tributes to fathers on Father’s Day in their own way. Azhar, our visual editor, paints a rich picture with his debut post and captures the magnificent history of the Bellary Fort in Karnataka – when history is viewed with a photographer’s eye, it can be breathtakingly beautiful, he says.  And to round it off, here are some hilarious signboards that India is becoming famous for. More to follow in this series!

A Wedding Story

Recently, I stumbled on this video on YouTube, and boy, was I pleasantly surprised. I was even more surprised at the number of hits it got since July 19, 2009: 51,800,816!

Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz, the couple in question, made this wedding video for their friends and family, but little did they know that it would soon be a worldwide internet phenomenon. The video shows the couple and the bridesmaids and groomsmen dancing into the church to ‘Forever‘ by R&B star Chris Brown.

The amazing thing is, this video was such a sensation that it even was featured on the local news. And what’s even better? The video was so popular that it made $27,000. The happy couple, who are committed on their drive against domestic violence, have donated the money to charity.

But what I loved the most about the video was the fact that the groomsmen and bridesmaids were not professional; in fact, to the professional eye, they would seem sloppy and amateurish. And yet, when they “danced” in, it was hilarious, and most of all, sweet and adorable.

Make sure you watch the video and let me know how you liked it.

Do you have a funny and cute wedding story of your own? Let’s talk about it.

To read my earlier blogs, click here.

Come, Dance in the Rains

If there is one thing I love, it is the rains. As the skies darken and the rains fall pitter patter, I become restless. I love to walk out in the rains much like Bollywood heroines dancing in the rains. Ah, did I say rain dance and Bollywood? Does that catch your attention? Well, let me just stop writing and list some of my favourite rain songs.

Don’t we all relate to the long summers when the mind and the body yearns for it to start raining?  And when the skies turn dark, doesn’t it call for a party? Here’s Bhuvan and his team of rustic villagers rejoicing at the sight of the dark clouds in the horizon.  (This does not really classify as a rain dance…but, we need to set the mood, right?)

And then it rained.  The music of the rains, the dreams she saw….

When it rains, says Chameli, she doesn’t know where her mind flows.

Rain makes the heroine happy, and she dances with abandon.

Do raindrops talk? I feel they do, and so does the heroine

It is not just the heroine who likes to shake a leg, everyone enjoys this amazing number.

Love flows, like the rain. Would you like to draw inspiration from this song to propose to your girl?

The rains set the backdrop for subtle emotions. And sometimes, not so subtle.

From subtle to passionate.

And then, there’s this.

Can love ever remain under wraps? I beg to differ.

There are many more that I can list, but I hope you enjoy the rains with these songs. And oh yea, I feel no list is ever complete without this evergreen number from Shree 420.

10 Songs for a Romantic Afternoon

I don’t know about you, but I always maintain that rains bring forth a season of love and romance. And what do you do when you and your favourite squeeze are stuck at home on a rainy day? Bring on the romance I say. And what better way to fall in love again, than to listen to some wonderful love songs.

But, hold on, if you are thinking I will give you a list that includes songs like ‘My Heart Will Go On’, you have come to the wrong place. Being a staunch romantic at heart, love is the central theme of the following songs. But, my choice has been always, as they say, thoda sa hatke.

A tip: Make this your romantic afternoon playlist, while you both cuddle up and read together, or just talk, or better still, watch the rain together. I have arranged the songs in a way that will take you from foot-tapping, head-nodding beats to slower, more lovey-dovey tracks.

Take a listen to these beautiful songs:

1. Song: Stars
Artist: Simply Red

“I wanna fall from the stars straight into your arms”

Literally speaking, these lyrics paint a hilarious picture; (Imagine falling from the stars into your loved one’s arms!) but the melody and foot-tapping beats make this song a sure winner for romantics.

2. Song: Ain’t no Mountain High Enough
Artist: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

“Ain’t no mountain high enough,
Ain’t no valley low enough,
Ain’t no river wide enough,
To keep me from getting to you babe”

Sigh. This 1967 hit is a romantic icon. Made famous by Diana Ross, this song is a must-have, if you are affirming your love for you loved-one.

3. Song: Lady
Artist: Modjo

“Lady, hear me tonight, coz my feeling is just so right”

How can one forget those words? Oh alright, you would argue this is a dance track, but have you thought about it as a love song with a beat? Open your eyes to a new level of this song.

4. Song: Accidentally in love
Artist: Counting Crows

“I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love…”

Just one line; if you have not heard this part of this song (also OST of Shrek 2), it’s sure to become your next favourite.

5. Song: Slave to love
Artist: Bryan Ferry

“No I can’t escape, I’m a slave to love”

Maybe someday I will write a post on music of the ’80s, because according to me, there is nothing better than music of the ’80s. This 1985 superhit by Bryan Ferry is a classic love song. Check it out.

6. Song: Thank you for loving me
Artist: Bon Jovi

“Thank you for loving me,
For being my eyes,
When I couldn’t see”

What love song playlist is complete without the soulful and yet rocking Jon Bon Jovi doing what he does best? Thank you for loving me, is one of his lesser known hits, but beautiful nevertheless.

7. Song: I try
Artist: Macy Gray

“I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it’s clear
My world crumbles when you are not here”

Macy Gray is so underrated that it’s not funny. I miss this woman’s husky soulful voice. Macy, if you are reading this, PLEASE give us another album. We miss you!

8. Song: Remember when
Artist: Alan Jackson

“Remember when thirty seemed so old
Now lookin’ back, it’s just a steppin’ stone
To where we are, where we’ve been
Said we’d do it all again
Remember when”

For all of you who like country music, this WILL be music to your ears. Alan Jackson, one of the biggest country stars gives us this beautiful song that speaks about love growing with time. PS – Girls, take out that tissues, because this one’s a tear-jerker.

9. Song: Beautiful in my eyes
Artist: Joshua Kadison

“You’re my peace of mind,
In this crazy world”

… and the song starts with these words. Which romantic wouldn’t have song in his/her top 10? PS – This is a perfect wedding song too.

10. Song: Every time I close my eyes
Artist: Babyface

“Every time I close my eyes,
I thank the Lord that I got you,
And you got me too”

To end the romantic hour, make sure you listen to this classic by R&B star Babyface.

After this, if you want to take your romantic afternoon to the next level, why not watch some romantic movies? Refer to my earlier blog, 5 movies a girl must watch. As for you guys, this is a perfect time to score some brownie points. Have a wonderful monsoon!

Follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/KhrisBlogs) to connect with me. Looking forward to hearing from you.

To read my earlier posts, click here.