Personally, I have no problem with this whatsoever. Inspite of purists’ yells that oldies should remain goldies, I find Ghoshal’s renditions quite listenable, and for those complaining that there is no variety in the list of singers and that Ghoshal can get boring I just have this to say: “Hello! T-Series!! Anuradha Paudwal!!! From 92 B.C. to 1995 A.D. every Mahesh Bhatt/T-Series movie had only one female singer and I don’t recall “Aashique” (sic for spelling!) or “Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin” flopping because of no variety!

Anyway, all this “rehashing” got me to wondering how it would look hear if I mixed in the older versions of all the Cheeni Kum songs; wondering turned to trying and trying turned into a new-found respect for sound engineers. For years, the Sound awards have been my Oscars Show “bathroom-break” awards, but after spending half a day and numerous attempts at even getting it “somewhat” right, I can guarantee I will not miss these awards next time! The difference that 0.1 seconds can make when you are merging tracks is unbelievable.

Well, here goes nothing…

1. Baatein Hawaa + Kuzhaloodhum Kannanukku (Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu, 1986)

Download (4.24 MB)

2. Jaane Do Na + Jotheyali Jothe Jotheyali (Geetha, 1980)

Download (4.66 MB)

3. Sooni Sooni + Mandram Vandha (Mouna Raagam, 1986)

Download (4.03 MB)

Cheeni Kum, Ilaiyaraja

“The mind’s eye.”

This mythical retina of our imagination is all you can employ when you are immersed in the world of books. You use this eye to create the setting, to imagine what the characters look like and to visualize the action in moving pictures even as the story unfolds as words on a page. And, especially, when you consider a massive, magical tome of the likes of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you come to rely pretty heavily on this eye to corporealise the enchanting - and often wildly imaginative - yarn that Rowling weaves.

So how does one compress an 870 page novel into a 2 1/4 hour movie? Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg talks about the adaption process:

It’s a translation process from one medium to a very different one. Ideally you want people, especially fans of the books, to walk out saying it was just like the book — even if, when they think back on it later, they realize there were lots of differences. The challenge is in finding the best equivalent way to tell the story. My job was to stay true to the spirit of the book, rather than to the letter.
- Salon (via Etcetera)

And in that endeavor he succeeds and, consequently, so does the movie. Sure, entire episodes are left out - there’s no mention of Quidditch and the St Mungo’s episodes are completely absent. What is present, though, is the underlying spirit of the book: the growing up of kids into adolescents, the alienation of being “The Chosen One”, the sheer joys and pitfalls of school-life and the eventual rebellious union against the authoritarian, enforced order.

From the dark openings of the dementor attacks in a little English village to the showdown in the Ministry Of Magic, first-time-Potter-director David Yates does a pretty good job of capturing the essential elements of the story while at the same time trying not to get very involved in one particular sub-plot. If the movie has a disjointed feel at times and seems to jump around, this could well be the cause.

Artistically, directors have always been allowed the license to deviate from the book a little. While it little matters who discovers the Room of Requirement or who sneaks about the DA meetings, one thing emerges slowly as the movie progresses. Harry’s friends gain a new-found respect for and belief in him. Their progression from disbelief and sometimes downright belligerence toward Harry to acceptance and training under him are all well-captured. And finally, when Harry says it’s too dangerous so he will go alone to fight the Death-Eaters and his friends confront him together asking if all the training and preparedness they underwent was just talk, you just know that the transformation is complete: they are together in this and it’s good versus evil now.

The show-stealer, however, was the mildly coughing, always pert-in-pink, deliciously wicked Professor Umbridge (Imelda Staunton in a well-executed role), the new Professor at Hogwarts. Her portrayal of the strict disciplinarian who exerts an authoritarian influence on the school is a treat to watch and that you detest her very presence is testament to her ample histrionic abilities. Another surprise was Evanna Lynch’s Loony Luna Lovegood. She really had that goofy, butt-of-all-jokes look on her face, but finally comes through as a thoughtful and insightful ally to Harry’s group.

Yes, compared to The Goblet Of Fire, this movie is even darker in nature and that can only be expected as the plot thickens and the seriousness of the return of Voldemort slowly sinks into everyone’s minds. But Yates never lets you forget that these are still kids who are trying to be men under very difficult circumstances. Darker scenes are sandwiched by humorous ones like when Hermione teases Ron about having the emotional range of a teaspoon or when Fred and George feed another of their sickness-inducing treats to an unsuspecting junior.

Visually, the movie brings in some pretty spectacular sequences. Of course there is the broom-flight over London, the mumbling house-elf Kreacher and the metamorphmagus Tonks who amuses everyone by changing her appearance. But the artistic license I mentioned earlier has been put to good effect to give you even more than your mind’s eye could have imagined. There is the ludicrous sight of the caretaker Filch tottering on a tall ladder as he nails decree after ridiculous decree on the school walls (”Students should stay at least 8 inches away from each other”!). There’s the brilliant display of fireworks during the O.W.L.s as Fred and George decide enough is enough and leave Hogwarts leaving behind a large “W” in the sky. And of course the Hall of Prophecies: rows and rows of shelves with their gleaming prophecy-containing glass-spheres - all of which have been shot with a sense of grandeur and which evoke the same sensations of elation or mystery you feel when you read the sequences in the book. Even the pseudo-narration-using-newspapers technique has been used with great effect especially since The Daily Prophet contains photographs with subjects that can move around in the picture. (”POTTER changes back and forth to “PLOTTER?”)!

The mind’s eye: every movie that’s based on a book strives to please this very finicky (and very individual) lens. While I might not go so far as to say this is the best movie of the series, The Order Of The Phoenix certainly does an admirable job of keeping close to the plot-line yet deviating enough at times to give your visual and auditory senses a real treat.

Definitely worth a look-see.

harry potter, order of the phoenix, movie

There’s really nothing much you can say about that experience to someone who hasn’t been there and done that. I mean, in this day and age, if you are still going to a Rajni movie with your head firmly screwed onto your shoulders, then, well, there must still be a bolt a little loose somewhere.

But if you go with undying adulation, your brains safely held in cold storage at home, your lips pursed for the numerous inevitable whistles and, of course, a simple expectation for the cinema-house entertainment that only a “Rajni Movie” can bring, then you might just go home satisfied.

Now since my review-writing skills leave much to be desired, let me intersperse this post with big words like “intersperse” (intersperse, intersperse!) and also snippets of songs from Sivaji so you can listen as you read (if you ever thought I didn’t care for you, Gentle Reader, then you are absolutely right; I am only doing this because I love the audio plugin and will use it at the slightest excuse! Onto the intro then: Thalaivar doesn’t want all these Inglees songs and wants a good-old tamil-song, so SPB masterfully complies …

(Sooriyano Santhirano)

(Nayanthara, if you are listening, I take back everything I said in my Ghajini write-up - you look … um, “different”!)

Moviewise, though, Sivaji, sadly reaches nowhere near the heights of the hype created for it. To see Shankar waste a golden opportunity with such a big crowd-pulling star saddens the mind. Well, thank goodness he didn’t make another movie about his pet peeve, corruption.

Oh wait, he did.

Sivaji, an NRI from the U.S. plans to invest his wealth in building free schools and hospitals for all, but that interferes with the villain’s plans to get hefty donations and fees from his own schools and hospitals. (Brief pause for the hohums. And don’t worry about that big clicking sound - that was just a majority of the readers of this post moving away for something more exciting). In typical review-style let me finish off the one-para story with “How Sivaji overcomes the obstacles from various corrupt villains and realises his dreams forms the rest of the story”! But thank goodness the story did not illogically jump all over the place.

Oh wait, it did.

The first half is a profusion of confused and ridiculous sequences of corrupt-politician-wooing and heroine-wooing. While the script-writers are on a tea-break, Shankar moves forward with Rajni and his usual comic histrionics only a few of which were even funny. Vivek provides some moments of much needed comic relief along with Solomon Pappiah (in a role reminiscent of Thiruda Thiruda’s lorry driver (”En ponnu unakku dhaan!”)). Thank goodness there were no red-dhavanis flying in front of speeding local-trains.

Oh wait, there were. And on that note onto a multi-crore song …

(Vaaji Vaaji)

The whole families-getting-to-know-each-other crap boggles the mind and makes you wonder what Shankar was thinking. The “Pazhaga-Pazhaga” banner was the only funny thing in all of that. Well, as expected Shriya complies with Super Star and another bazillion-crore song follows …

(Sahana Saral)

Since all that falls must rise (or something to that effect), the second half recounts the “rising”and ultimate victory of good over evil. Fantasy takes over reality, cars fly in the air, bullets stop in mid air and salute our Thalaiva and the Wachowski brothers turn even before they reach their grave as the Matrix fights are copy-catted - leather-jacket, sequenced-still-cameras and all. “Adhiradi Kaalam” has all this and more including Mariachi-inspired guns-in-guitars.

(Athiradi Kaalam)

Still there were some good moments in there. While it’s not clear if Shankar’s message to reduce corruption and black money will ever get across to the audience through this messy script, Rajni will still rock the ardent fan’s world. His costumes, his hairstyles, his dialogue delivery (”Pera Kaetta Undane Summa Adhurardhille?!”) and chewing-gum popping style do not disappoint! One word catch-phrase? Can you say “Cool”?

But, can you say it like Rajni?

(Oru Koodai Sunlight)

I especially loved his impersonation of yester-stars and his “new look” towards the end of the movie (I say he should keep that). Chinni Jayanth makes a classic cameo appearance a-la Dum Dum Dum, which I greatly enjoyed. however, thank goodness there were no super-Peter-dialogues from Rajni like “Give me a break!” and “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer”.

Oh wait, there were.

But I already knew what to expect from a Shankar movie. And even better, what to expect from a Rajni Movie. Thank goodness I am not the sort of crazy, all-out Thalaivar-fan who drives 75 miles to see the movie in Poughkeepsie because the local theatres ran out of tickets and whose throat is hoarse from all the whistles, shouts and cheers.

Oh wait, …

Thalaivaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

sivaji, sivaji the boss, sivaji review, rajni

There once was a woman
A strange kind of woman …

Ok so far so good - but then came the part I had almost forgotten:

I want you, I need you, I gotta be near you
I spent my money as I took my turn
I want you, I need you, I gotta be near you
Ooh, I got a strange kind of woman …

- Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman (1971)

Wait a minute - that is familiar for more reasons than just that I had heard this song a thousand times in college.

And then it hit me:

dhinam moadhum karai thoaRum ada aaRum isai paadum
jil jil jil enRa sruthiyilae
gangai varum yamunai varum vaigai varum poruNai varum
jal jal jal enRa nadaiyilae …

- A.R.Rahman - Rhythm - Nadhiye Nadhiye (2000)

BTW, a huge shoutout to 1pixelout’s awesome Audio Player Wordpress Plugin. It rocks!

music, audio, a r rahman, rhythm, deep purple, strange kind of woman

“Athindhom!”

As the sonorous voice rang out inside the crowded auditorium, a collective cheer erupted from the eager throng. The king of playback had begun what would turn out to be a memorable evening for a packed audience at the Newington High School in Connecticut on Sunday, 8th October 2006. With wonderful accompaniment from his orchestra, S P Balasubrahmanyam went into his usual flourishes and variations in the Chandramukhi song keeping us thoroughly entertained.

In his welcome message to the audience, who had gathered for the annual Connecticut Tamil Sangam Deepavali Celebrations, I was stunned to find that he had sung 36000 songs in his lifetime over a career spanning almost 40 years! He turned 60 in June this year, but when he started the next song with a soft and melodious “Ilaiya Nila” (Payanangal Mudivathillai), the crowd again went crazy - this sounded nothing like a 60-year old’s voice and it was difficult to believe he had just performed at another concert in New Jersey just a couple of days back and even though he mentioned he had a bad throat, listening to his voice, we could only wonder what his good days must sound like!

He then went on to perform various songs from his vast repertoire including “Sundari, Kannaal Oru Sedhi”(Thalapati), the magical “Sippi Irukkudhu Muthum Irukkudhu”(Varumayin Niram Sivappu) and the ultra-melodic “Malare Mounama” (Karna).

Sometimes, even more interesting than the songs themselves were some of the comments and informational tidbits from SPB. For example, apparently Thalapathi’s “Sundari” was performed using RD Burman’s orchestra in Mumbai and after just the first few notes, the musicians simply laid down their instruments to applaud the genius that is Ilaiyaraja.

He also mentioned the magnanimous gesture of MGR who waited almost a month for SPB’s typhoid illness to subside so he could record “Aayiram Nilave Vaa”(Adimaippen). You can read the whole story on Saravanan’s page on Dhool.

[...]

Exhausted by the strain, yet filled with happiness, SPB gathered the courage to ask MGR why had they waited for him, for with the shooting schedule already set, the movie had now got unnecessarily delayed. MGR’s gentle reply was he had waited for SPB to recover, because this was SPB’s first big break, and SPB must have already informed his family and friends proudly that he was singing for MGR. After all this, if the song was sung by someone else, SPB might become the object of their derision. And more important, his career would be in jeopardy as word may go around that his singing was not satisfactory and that was why he was replaced. Words failed SPB as he stood choked with emotion at the large-heartedness of MGR; his eyes brimmed with tears of gratitude. A smiling MGR shook his hands, and took leave of SPB, wishing him well in his future endeavours. To this day SPB salutes the memory of the charismatic leader with admiration and love.

Read the full story (scroll down to the section “Song # 3: aayiram nilavE vaa from adimaippen”) and even listen to the song on this page.

-Via SPB 60

When he broke into “Aayiram Nilave Vaa” after this touching tribute to MGR, we could appreciate the song even more.

SPB placed his tongue firmly in cheek when he commented about the sorry state of affairs with some of today’s music - “Ippo vara paatungala kaetta - idhu padathula illenaalum periya loss-illennu thonum” he said slyly (Listening to some of the newly composed songs, one ends up thinking it would be no great loss if they didn’t feature in the movie!)

SP Shailaja sang a few numbers too including the beauifully composed “Ninaithu Ninaithu” (7G Rainbow Colony - SPB made a special mention of YSR’s upcoming talent) although at high pitches one could detect the strain in her voice. But the real stealers of he show after SPB were the two newcomers - Mallikarjun and Gopika.

Mallikarjun really did a great job with songs like “Uyire”(Bombay) and “Appadi Podu”(Gillie) (and yes, he did a mean dance on stage too, getting the audience up on their feet!), while Gopika startled us with her lovely accompaniment to “Sippi Irukkudhu” - even though SPB ragged her quite a bit on stage. When she said “Ippo Paarkalaam - Thanana nana nana”, SPB responded with “I am an old fellow trying to sing with a bad throat, why challenge me with ‘Ippo Paarkalaam?’!”

In the obligatory other-language-songs category came the Telugu “Shankara”(Shankarabharanam) and “Malli Malli” (Raakshasudu), the Hindi “Tere Mere Beech Mein”, SPB’s national award winning effort from K Balachandar’s Ek Duuje Ke Liye and a Malayalam song (I think it went “Ee Kadalum Maru Kadalum” - not sure of the movie, but SPB did give thanks to Devarajan Master for helping him along in his career).

Watching and listening to SPB brought back a flood of memories for me as he has always held a special place in my heart since I ws a young kid. My all-time favorite song is “Bharathi Kannamma” from “Ninaithaale Inikkum” and over the years I grew up mesmerized by his obvious mastery over the art of konjifying (I still can’t a proper English word for this - coddling, maybe?) - especially obvious in songs like “Malare Mounama”. My other favorites include “Manadhil Enna Ninaivugalo” (Poonthalir) and “Kamban Emaandhaan”(Nizhal Nijamaagiradhu).

Full List of songs performed (most of these can be found on Raaga for download for a small fee):

1. Athindhom - Chandramukhi
2. Ilaiya Nila - Payanangal Mudivathillai
3. Sangeetha Megam - Udhaya Geetham
4. Ninaithu Ninaithu - 7G Rainbow Colony
5. Shankara - Shankarabharanam (Telugu)
6. Sundari - Thalapathi
7. Tere Mere Beech Mein - Ek Duuje Ke Liye (Hindi)
8. Uyire - Bombay
9. Malli Malli - Raakshasudu (Telugu)
10. Sippi Irukkudhu Muthum Irukkudhu (Special twist: Mayakkam Thandadhu Yaar? Kaviyo, MSV-yo, Kannadasano!)
11. Mannil Indha Kaadhal - Keladi Kanmani
12. Koncha Neram - Chandramukhi
13. Jeeva Veene Needu Miditada Sangeeta - GeetaPriya (Kannada)
14. Aamani Paadave - Geethanjali (Telugu)
15. Devuda Devuda - Chandramukhi
16. Kurukku Siruthavalae - Muthalvan
17. Kadavul Amaithu Vaitha Medai - Aval Oru Thodar Kathai - I have to mention here that SPB did ALL the mimicry by himself - listen to it and you will realise what an effort it can be! Simply a splendid performance!
18. Ovvoru Pookalume - Autograph
19. Aayiram Nilave Vaa - Adimaippen (like I mentioned above, after his glowing tribute to MGR’s magnanimity, this song had an even greater effect)
20. Ee Kadalum - (Malayalam)
21. Appadi Podu - Gillie (Mallikarjun did a better kuthu on stage than most dance masters I have seen!)
22. Malare Mounama - Karna
23. Finally with a mention of the obvious fact that it would be impossible to sing all of his favorties in one evening, SPB entertained us to a medley of some of all his alltime hits (just the first couple of lines in rapid succession):

1. Avaloru Navarasa Naadagam - Ulagam Suttrum Vaaliban
2. Pottu Vaitha Mugamo - Sumathi En Sundari
3. Ae Aatha Aathorama - Payanangal Mudivathillai
4. Andhi Mazhai - Raja Paarvai
5. Ilamayenum Poongaattre - Pagalil Oru Iravu
6. Kamban Emandhaan (Aah!) - Nizhal Nijamaagiradhu
7. Nilaave Vaa - Mouna Raagam
8. Aayarpadi Maaligayil (No better lullaby on this planet, I say!)
9. Enna Satham indha Neram - Punnagai Mannan
10. Ore Naal Unnai Naan - Ilamai Oonjalaadukirathu
11. Mandram Vandha Thendralukku - Mouna Ragam
12. Vannam Konda - Sigaram
13. Oruvan Oruvan Muthalaali - Muthu

The evening was wrapped up with a musical instrument medley from the orchestra as they went around inturn displaying their prowess. The tabla, flute and bass guitars were particularly good.

An autographed program guide from the king himself and the last strains of his booming voice still echoing in my ear are all I have left of a thoroughly satisfying and memorable evening.

Here’s wishing him many more years of successful singing!

SPB Concert, S P Balasubrahmanyam, Connecticut Tamil Sangam

R.I.P.

Read (and hear!) what one man went through as he tried to cancel his AOL account.

Hilarious … and a little unnerving at the same time.

aol, cancel aol

the sweet kenwood kdc-mp528.

see? it pays to wake up at 3 and be outside best-buy at 3:30 in the morning on a freezing day-after-thanksgiving and get a sweet deal on an mp3 car deck. just got it installed yesterday and it simply rocks - all 200W of it. best of all it plays native aac files too! (along with mp3, wma and cds on cd/r s).

no more 26 cds for audible’s harry potter books - just 2 mp3 cds will do.

mohe mohe tu rang de basanti!

Get a FREE audio download from Audible®-no trick!

Choose a Free Audio download from tons of best-selling books, newspapers, radio programs, and magazines. All at no cost to you! No commitment. No credit card required. No trick!

it works - i got “life of pi“.

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

just got the whole sbc deal at the new home - phone, sbc-dish and sbc-yahoo dsl (talk about handing over total-control to someone!).

No One Like You - Scorpions - Deadly Sting: The Mercury Years

first the good news: i get everything on a single bill! yahoooooeeerrrrrr…. wait a minute, this is good news? do they send a defibrillator kit along with the bill as well?

Blaze of Glory - Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory

well the actual good news is yet to come. when you create a new sbcglobal id, they allow you to “link” it to an existing yahoo id and then your exisitng id gets enabled with all the goodies associated with a dsl user id - namely - 2 GB of email space (who cares? i got gmail and use my yahoo id for my spam mails), unlimited online photo storage (ho hum, i host my servers myself so i got that already) and … oh i almost forgot … launchcast plus!!!!

Love Bites - Def Leppard - Hysteria

the station “Power Ballads” simply rocks! one after the other it blows my mind away as i type out line after line of power java code. this stuff is rocket fuel.

Crazy - Aerosmith - Get A Grip

the quality of the songs can be set to high and you get unlimited song skipping.

November Rain - Guns N’ Roses - Use Your Illusion I

now why am i waxing poetic about something that’s just 3 bucks a month even if you had to pay for it?

i don’t know.

I know it’s hard to keep an open heart;
When even friends seem out to harm you.
But if you could heal a broken heart,
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you ?