The barrier breaking Mozart

I was destined to write about Rahman - when about 20 days ago,i first saw slumdog. I held back that blog superstitiously so that nothing went wrong on oscar day. Infact, i almost felt that my faith in him was on trial that morning.

The fact that he is India's best or a master at his craft is indisputable. The fact that he propogates love or follows sufi-ism is less known. I have always believed that to succeed one needs oodles of good luck and good wishes apart from pure talent. Rahman enjoys unbridled affection from the masses, gratitude from the scores of artists that he has promoted and launched, silent salutes even from his competitors and in general does not attract malice even from hardened critics. ' Cause he himself is apolitical, friendly and work oriented. His own conduct is above board, always. Thats why, he carries with him and benefits from the zillion good wishes of people around the world.

Through the last decade and a half, he has broken 3 radical barriers. First, he shattered the language barrier, that prompted even soaked in rajma chawal kind of punjabis like me to buy tamil cassettes (CDs were not in those days) of Roja, Thiruda-Thiruda, Gentleman and Bombay. This is 2 years before he debuted in Bollywood with Rangeela and Bombay.

Then he transcended the Class barrier appealing to the hoi polloi in Kamla Nagar, Virar & Tamabaram as well as to the swish set in Malabar Hill, GK-II & Poes Garden. Many wd remember how crass hindi film music was in the late 80's and early 90's with the likes of Bappi Lahiri and Anu malik going hammer and tongs at our eardrums and sensibilities. Rahman's lilting ditties came like a breath of invigorating mountain air. Irrespective of whether it was the fast paced -Humma-Humma or Chaiyaa Chaiyya kind of numbers or the slower and languid Tu hi re, Ghanan-Ghanan or Dil Se Re kind of classic melodies - His music appealed ! Period.

Now he has surpassed the geographical barrier. Only time will tell - how successful he will be. But having observed his craft and his attitude, there is no reason why he wouldnt be ruling the world charts in a couple of years.

To me his success has come from the rapidly changing sound of his music - every few years. His first crop of 10-15 films had one kind of sound (Roja, Gentleman, Thiruda-Thiruda, Bombay, Rangeela, etc). Then came Lagaan, Dil Se, Earth, Zubeida, Pukaar, Taal, etc which had another genre of sound altogether. When u felt that this was it - came Saathiya, Swades, Yuva, Rang De Basanti and Guru etc which again changed the formula. The current sound of his music - as in Jaane Tu, Ghajini, Slum Dog and Delhi 6 is perhaps the fouth distinctive and different genre that i have heard from him. In fact, one hears a fresh sound every time that one hears Rahman. Its a sound that your ears and brain are not accustomed to. This i believe is also the reason why his music normally takes time to grow. But grow it does.

The detailing in his orchestration is remarkable. So are the subtle and not so subtle changes in song tempo. For about the last 4-5 years, there is almost an absence of the conventional mukhda and antaras in his songs. Sometimes it is disorienting but at most times, one loves the end product.

Every movie of his has a unique score that just cant be replaced with anything else. Cant even imagine Jodha Akbar or Jaane Tu or Lagaan or Guru with any different music (Jai ho from slumdog is apparently an exception because it seems it was created for a subhash ghai movie who in his wisdom decided not to use it). Have always felt that his music and background scores complement and uplift the onscreen proceedings substantially.

I feel his slower tracks, bhajans, lorees and love ballads are much better than his fast paced numbers. The latest in this series is from Ghajini - kaise mujhe tu mil gayee..

One of the many contributors to the fresh quality in his music also stems from his frequent use of raw singers. Artists of the calibre of Hema Sardesai (Awaara Bhawre), Richa Sharma (a song in Zubeida that i cant recall), Sapna Awasthi and Sukhwinder Singer (Chaiyaa-Chaiyya), Naresh Iyer (Roobaroo..), benny Dayal (Masakali), another new singer(Kabhi Kabhi aditi) have all made their debuts with his music.

What makes him so endearing apart from his work, is his trademark graciousness & humility. Just after the oscars, i heard him comment to one of the news channels that if he cd, he would rip the award into two and share it with one of the other nominees for he admired his work..I have also seen him openly talk about other Indian music directors in an admiring and complementary manner. These are signs - i guess- not just of maturity but of large heartedness, of love and of someone who has transcended and conquered his ego.

To me, his music is a reflection of this clean and endearing personality and thats why i love it.

He has already paralelled what RDBurman has been to millions of Indians for decades. Maybe he will now go beyond and be the new Mozart for billions across the world.

I eagerly look forward to all his new music releases like a school kid. I find his songs difficult to sing though. While it may be too late for me to attempt singing, just wish that i cd become half as gracious and large hearted as him.

Dilli ka khoon-Main bhi Schumi

As a true blue punjabi from dilli, i often do things on the road, that my friends from other cities cant fathom.

For instance, "jumping traffic signals"- The red light is usually and the amber light is always nothing but a directive to my brain to step up harder on the accelarator. If i cd help it, i would even cock a snook at the policeman at the junction.

"No parking signs" are things that i am usually oblivious to. These are meant for those who understand Written english. I do read english, but the brain just does not comprehend and respond to some words. "No Parking" is one of them. To me, usually, it appears like an open invitation to park my vehicle right in front of it so that atleast others cant see it at all and be saved from the inconvenience of searching for other locations to park or having to walk longer after parking.

"Zebra crossings" is one more such unfathomable sign - in fact, i use the parallel white lines as a test for my driving skills where i try and steer the vehicle such that the wheels dont touch the white painted surface at all. Pedestrians scarcely understand this and they always seem to be coming in for a closer look.

"No turn" as a sign is a complete waste. Have never understood why i should take the entire 2 km extra stretch to turn around and come back when i can simply turn where i want to. so if there is just a traffic light and no policeman, kiski majaal ke mujhe rok le!!

In general, like every punjabi, in anycase, i am a born schumi. its just that the cars at my disposal dont always respond like Ferraris. Also, there are just too many red lights on the way and too many people milling around.

Given my rather genteel demeanour overall, I have rarely been able to rationally explain to myself why my body and brain comprehend road signs and directions differently and get me to behave in a manner that one would not normally associate with me. Maybe, it is just in my khoon to question anything that is either limiting, offensive or restrictive or plainly not in my interest.

There are of-course other things as well which are part of my Dilli ka khoon - such as - love for street food & movies, for arguing and criticizing, and for advising all and sundry. But more on that later!

The Buffalo Brigade

As elections near yet again, the familiar buffalo brigade is raring to join the original 24 carat UP buffalo, in the race to help prop a friendly government.

The legendary UP buffalo, the one with diamonds and musclemen in equal measure is not alone anymore.

Right in front, clad in a crumpled white saree, from the land of feesh and fut-ball is the bengali buffalo, also called didi buffalo. Raucous, ugly and clumsy, this one specialises in creating roadblocks every time it sees a smooth road. Any time, it sights any inkling of progress or development, within a 500 km radius of its stable, it goes on a "hungaar strike". Just when one would want to say "good riddance", it rises with its characteristic gait, only to lead its entire herd. Protesting, gheraoing, shouting and vandalism is its forte. Most often, its herd is struggling to figure what they are protesting against.

The bengali buffalo has the avowed objective to take us back to the era of bullock carts, hartaals and in general to the 19th century.

Just a step behind, is the rare breed from the land of filter caaffee, sambhar and thahir saadam- the fair madraaasi buf-falo. This one is an english speaking, cultured, SUV travelling buffalo, that loves sarees, handbags, jewellery, sandals and lipstick. The problem is that no matter what it wears, it still looks like a buffalo. Also called the Amma buffalo, unlike others, this one loves progress, as long as it can be credited to her and helps her buy land and more sae-rees. It wears a strange cloak, that folklore suggests is to conceal its very strong body odour. It also protests any acts of development especially those undertaken by other madrasi buffalos of the male and 80 yr plus kind. It cohabitates with other physically similar female buffaloes, amongst other things. This one would like to take india to the 21st century as lonng as yit can be created by har in tamilnadu wonly.

Marching at the back of this brigade is the silent, lazy and the extremely fertile - bihari buffalo, also called the bhow-jee buffallo. This one was originally reared only to help multiply. It usually moos only with its partner around. It specialises in ruling in absentia. It is as opposed to any progress as the bengali buffalo but does not believe in protesting as much. It leaves that job to its hubby. Actually, it does not even bother to aquire any views on anything. It is not sure whether it likes or dislikes anything. Pls understand, that takes just too much effort. Ideally this one would like to have india in the 17th century. Bullock carts and village life would be blissful.

But Leading this brigade is the original italian buffalo. This one after 20 years has finally perfected the art of waving its hands as wipers but is still struggling to speak extempore. Affectionately called "Madam buffalo", this one either looks left or right or to its young ones, when in need of direction. Surprisingly, it pretends to be a reincarnation of Mother india and some other buffalos even believe it. Its objective is to set up factories in distant amethi or raibareilley and never be obstructed by the UP buffaloes. It loves to lead, nevermind, what others think of its origin, accent or intellect. It is rumoured that its other side is that of a wicked, conniving queen that knows how to bow others into meek submission.

Somewhere in between is the fast talking, fast walking, the overly melodramatic hyderabadi buffalo. It would like indians to do " pub bharo andolans" in their spare time as a sign of protesting against radical groups!! In its free time, it is usually found sauntering in the lawns of the Italian buffalo.

It is unfortunate that no matter which buffalo supports whom and which one forms the government, we have to jhaelo these cattle brained creatures for God knows how long. All of them, without exception would like to believe that india is an anarchic cowshed, where they could demonstrate their bovine qualities and multiply unfettered. Their physical and behavioural similarities to the buffalo notwithstanding, how the hell does one transform them into leaders who would fight justifiably for their people - giving them a better life and a better future.
Maybe we should make a beginning by demanding to know their policy, their stated views on india's foreign affairs, their approach on matters of internal security, an approach on how to handle groups like the ram sena or the bajrang dal, on freedom of speech and expression for artists, for women, for pub going people, their views on how to improve infrastructure, public transport, public health, sanitation etc. And how would they manage the budget?

It is one thing to indulge in empty buffalo talk and quite another to make specific and implementable plans for their people. We need leaders, we can look up to. We need an obama here! No buffalo brigade please. Not this time.

The Slumdog lion

Finally, i managed to catch Slumdog over the weekend. After all the self proclaimed "critically acclaimed" mess's that i saw over the last 4-6 weeks, Slumdog was astonishing and riveting cinema. Every moment, every scene pulled me in deeper, into a world, we as middle class indians are familiar with and yet dismissive of and distant from. No melodrama, no tears, no glossy images, no bizarre humour. Just stark reality in its uninhibited, plausible and most credible street avataar.

This was a reality that we have glossed over or literally passed by multiple times, or seen through tinted filters in typical potboilers. It is not a tale that happened 100 years ago in a distant land -ala lagaan or Australia or a story of poverty or dejection or loss - ala several Satyajit ray movies. It is a contemporary story of love, of hope and of triumph set in mumbai. Lets not get overly defensive about the kind of India that it portrays. This underbelly exists for everybody to see, every single day. And if a western director uses this as his canvas, we only need to salute his vision rather than support conspiracy theories by the likes of Arindam Chaudhary or Amitabh Bachhan before his u turn. Those who are so damn concerned, should help change lives of even one slum child. If reality is altered or refined, films would follow suit.

There has been some criticism that this movie is not Indian. Believe me, if this movie is not indian, nothing can be. It is just that, it is not directed or produced by our Chopras, Johars or Kapoors and thats not good news for them. There are no love ballads, no item songs and no romance in the "bollywood way" we know. But the formula of lost and found, and of everlasting love and the bollywood spirit is intact.

There isn't a character or setting or dialogue in the movie that we cant relate to or that doesnt move you or stay with you. That is a huge accomplishment for any kind of cinema.

To me, Slumdog is also a celebration of indian talent - the sound editor the slum kids, Freida Pinto, dev Patel, several others in cameo appearances, the mumbai setting, dialogues and the Rahman music. His background score, as usual (do forget Ghajini though) is outstanding. Its difficult to fathom whether the impact wd have been as high with a less than perfect score.

Whether this movie and specifically Rahman win the oscars is of academic interest. What matters is that they have done a great job. I loved "O-saya" and the way it contributes to the film. "Jai Ho" though not an integral part , helps complete the experience. My personal vote wd go to "O Saya" anyday. The western audiences might find the latter refreshing, though. Personally wd hate to see Rahman, or Freida or the sound editor getting confined to narrow regional tags about being from Chennai or Mumbai or Kerala. They are India's best - and available to the world.
Slum dog as a name is something that many people have taken offence to. I agree it is not part of us to talk derogatorily about other people in general. Calling slumkids -Lions wd perhaps be more appropriate!