Film Industry

Monday, February 11, 2013

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards, held at the Staple Center, Los Angeles, hosted by LL CooL J, promises to be a performance-packed event.

Watch the Grammy awards live today

    The 55th Annual Grammy Awards, held at the Staple Center, Los Angeles, hosted by LL CooL J, promises to be a performance-packed event.
    Fourteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys and current nominee Maroon 5 will perform together. Other performances will include those by Justin Timberlake, The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Elton John. A special performance has also been planned for the iconic singer Bruce Springsteen.
    Kaley Cuoco, Neil Patrick Harris, Faith Hill, Carly Rae Jepsen, Tim McGraw, Katy Perry and Keith Urban will present some of the awards.
    Vh1 and Nescafe had conducted a Ticket to Ride contest, where winners were promised that they’ll get to watch their favourite international artistes perform in VIP style from the first few rows at the event in Los Angeles.
    The 55th Annual Grammy Awards, presented by Nescafe, will air live on February 11 at 6.30 am with a primetime repeat at 9 pm on Vh1.

Adele

Justin Timberlake

Taylor Swift

The Bharatiya 11:46 PM

I teased my father for monopolising the Grammys

Anoushka’s glad to have celebrated the news of her and her father Pandit Ravi Shankar’s Grammy nominations before he passed away

Aarushi Nigam

    It’s a bittersweet time in the Shankar family. Pandit Ravi Shankar passed away in December last year, and his Lifetime Achievement Grammy, which was announced before his death, will be collected by daughters Anoushka and Norah. However, the sitarist father-daughter duo have received a Grammy nomination each in the World Music Category — Pandit Shankar for his album
The Living Room Sessions, Part 1, and Anoushka for Traveller — making it the first time in Grammy history that a father and daughter have been nominated in the same category in the same year. But Anoushka is really glad that they could rejoice in the news before Pandit Shankar’s demise. “He said he wanted me to win, and I said there was no chance since he was nominated too, and we joked a bit more and laughed. I also teased him for monopolising, since he was also receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award,which he found pretty funny,” Anoushka recounts.
    Having shared the stage with her father for so many years, what are her thoughts on being nominated alongside him? Ask her if it sort of makes them both contenders, even if in a loose sense of the word, and she says, “It’s a fun, fantastic novelty and a meaningful connection between us, to be nominated alongside each other this year. I can’t think of myself in competition with him. It’s enough to have this happen the way it has now.”
    And given that this is her third Grammy nomination, does getting one at this stage in her career bring the same level of excitement? “There are two sides to it. One is the purely professional side, in which recognition through big award nominations brings further attention and credibility to your work, which is helpful. On the other hand, it simply feels good to have work I’ve put so much of myself into, so much time and hard work, recognised. However, fundamentally,awards are not what truly matter when it comes to art. And I try to remind myself of that if and when I get carried away!”
    Anoushka was recently part of a London concert calling for action on violence against women. Given that India was in the grips of huge protests not so long ago, would she like to say something on the subject? She replies, “The London event was a kick-off for One Billion Rising, which will take place on Valentine’s Day around the world. Eve Ensler spoke to the crowd about how the world needs to follow India now, as India is leading the way protesting violence and demanding an end to violence against women. I just fervently hope we are all able to join each other to create change and raise the vibration of people on this earth together, raise consciousness, and end this violence. We need fundamental change in attitudes around women and girls in our society. We (men and women, leaders and common people) are responsible for raising respectful, non-violent men in future generations, and we need to work to keep the dialogue open and keep this issue at the forefront, and not let it turn into yesterday’s news.”
    Lastly, when her father passed away, apart from the usual obit columns and tributes, there was also a lot of re-scrutinising of Pandit Shankar’s life, especially about his marriage with Annapurna Devi. Did the whole digging up of the past make it more difficult to deal with his death? “Speaking less personally, it’s one of those moments that make me wonder at the lack of respect for privacy and the lack of sensitivity in the media. I feel it when seeing news about other people too, so it’s not just about my family. But I don’t think it’s in good taste to dredge up rumours or print interviews that include questionable material when there are people grieving for someone recently deceased. To me, it shows a lack of respect. But it’s the way things are, and I do hope that changes one day,” she says.
    Since she and Norah are collecting Shankar’s Lifetime Achievement Grammy award together, what are they planning to say when they accept it? “I just realised it, I should probably start thinking about that! I have no idea, let’s see,” is her reply.
    — Aarushi Nigam

Anoushka Shankar

Pandit Ravi Shankar

The Bharatiya 11:45 PM

Anupam Kher turns director for Robert De Niro

    Actor Anupam Kher’s first short film, a 29-minute flick titled I Went Shopping For Robert De Niro, is a tribute to his Oscar nominated co-star.
    The film, made under the banner of Actor Prepares (that’s also the name of Anupam’s acting school), is about two girls at the crossroads of their lives and what happens to them on a particular day when they go shopping for De Niro. The film has been scripted by Yamini Kshirsagar.
    “It is an interesting beginning for an acting-based production house to pay tribute to one of the greatest actors in the world, Robert De Niro, through the medium of cinema,” says Anupam.
    Apart from Yamini, who is also the lead actor, the film stars Rimal Arora. “It is a human story of hope,” says Anupam, who is all set to attend the Oscars later this month.
    Here’s wishing one of India’s finest actors a great directorial career.

Anupam Kher

A still from I Went Shopping for Robert De Niro

The Bharatiya 11:43 PM

The legend holds the Guinness record for singing over 11,000 songs across the world in 20 languages since 1947... and still counting

ASHA BHOSLE ENTERS MIRCHI HALL OF FAME

The legend holds the Guinness record for singing over 11,000 songs across the world in 20 languages since 1947... and still counting

    One of the biggest highlights at the 5th Royal Stag Mirchi Music Awards powered by Idea, was the Mirchi Hall Of Fame awardee Asha Bhosle looking heavenward as she dedicated her award to her daughter Varsha, who she recently lost. “God takes away, but then he also gives,” she said philosophically, deeply touched at receiving the honour. She later said, “Sweets toh we eat everyday, but Mirchi... aah. Mirchi bina zindagi bekaar.”
    A visibly humbled Bachchan promised that the award would get pride of place in his house. Sonu Nigam’s live performance was the act of the night with his rousing tribute to Rajesh Khanna which electrified the audience, proving without doubt he’s a one-of-a-kind.”
    An emotional Vishal Bhardwaj said, “I became a film director so that I could survive as a composer too. I’m scared... I don’t want to lose touch with my music. Anybody can become a director but sur, tal, raag one gets from God.”
    When Baiju Bawra won the Best Album Of The Golden Era award, the film’s producer-director Vijay Bhatt’s grandson, Vikram Bhatt, noted in a choked voice, “All his life, my grandfather wanted recognition. The more he wanted, the less he got. In one of his emotional moments he asked me if people have forgotten him. But today, on receiving this award on his behalf, I can tell him, they haven’t.”

Asha Bhosle

Watch Sonu Nigam perform using Alive. See instructions on the top panel

Amitabh Bachchan said, “This award is special and will find pride of place in my house.”

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The Bharatiya 12:12 AM

THE LIGHTYEARS EXPLODE / PUNK POP

THE LIGHTYEARS EXPLODE / PUNK POP
They started a band towards the end of 2009, while they were in college. Guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter Saurabh Roy along with bassist Shalom Bejamin and drummer Aaron Carvalho form the angstysounding band The Light Years Explode, who's sound are along the lines of punk pop. The idea for their band name — ‘The Light Years’ came from the Hollywood animated movie Toy Story and the boys decided it would sound cool if they added ‘Explode’ to it. Like most college bands, they journey began by performing at various college festivals and later doing gigs at clubs and music festivals. On their A-Ha Moment: According to Saurabh, there are two a-ha moments for their band. First, when they opened for one of their favourite Indian bands, Zero in April 2010. And their second A-ha moment will happen in March, with the release of their debut album titled, The Revenge Of Kalicharan. (yes, you heard that right!).
On their brand of music: Their songs are mostly in English with a hint of Hindi. In March 2011, The Light Years Explode released their first selftitled five-track EP album, which includes songs like Masala Punk, The Gay Song, Pretenses And Other Forms Of Fakegiri, etc. Since then, they have painstaking taken efforts to record, improvise their sound and lyrical content of their songs for their debut album, The Revenge Of Kalicharan. This 10-track album includes some songs like: I’m A Disco Dancer, which has an 80s disco feel to it, a dark song without the sad flavour; Late Night Song, an upbeat song about young people in the city chillout with their friends (which doesn’t happen in other cities as much); and Diet Coke (nothing to do with the low-calorie beverage), a fast-jumpy track about getting things one wishes for.
On their influences: All the three guys are selftaught musicians. Saurabh, who grew up listening to The Beatles has been particularly inspired by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for their music genius. At 17, Saurabh taught himself how to play the guitar and sing as well, and listens to The White Stripes, Japandroids (Canadian rock duo), Tame Impala (psychedelic hypno-groove rock) Aaron is more into Country music, while Shalom listens to just about everything.
On their way forward: As of now, they guys are concentrating on the music video for I’m A Disco Dancer. Also, one of their songs, Kunj Gutka has been included for director Bejoy Nambiar’s David. Besides this, they’re always working on new material, as usual.
ON SAURABH’S iPOD Younger Us by Japandroids Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala All Die Young by The Smith Westerns Kaala Rey by Sneha Khanwalkar Stay Useless by Cloud Nothings

Friday, February 8, 2013

The Bharatiya 11:51 PM

artistes who ruled the non-film music space

MAKE ’EM CRY

With them, it wasn’t just the voice, it was the entire package. These artistes who ruled the non-film music space with themes of love and the loss or longing that came with it, did so with music videos that still hits personal chords

    Rockstar’s Jordan (played by Ranbir Kapoor) had it all wrong. Songs on unrequitted love and/or rejection do go on to become massive hits. But you don’t have to put yourself through a lifetime of misery and substance abuse to actually do it.
    Take the artistes who sold the most records in any country for that matter. Not all had hard-knock lives. Some imagined experiences, others wrote from what they viewed in life. Not everybody wrote all their own lyrics. Or their own music. Not all of the time, at least. They usually hired the best in the business. Then, there were the music videos to take care of. Some hired music video directors who either understood audience tastes or who were filmmaking legends who knew better (don’t they always?). They’ve left something of a legacy, by that measure.
    There’s a song for every experience. Some songs mock the object of affection, others dig their talons deep and shred their scorner with sordid sarcasm. Others well... simply move on to the next experience.
    But writing a song and then singing it, is only part of the job, putting it on an album and getting that album to sell is a task in itself.
    Music videos, therefore, bring an added connect with listeners. In fact, most singles are promoted through innovatively shot music videos.
    Doing so, for songs of the heartbreak sub-genre is particularly difficult as one has to keep the original feel of the song intact.
    With Bollywood effectively demolishing the non-film music (the erstwhile Indipop) space,most of the artistes of the time made the move to Bollywood where they’re churning out tracks with every release.
    A different audience has emerged. One that loves music for different reasons. For purposes of simplification, we’ll generalise and say that we didn’t fall for and lose our love for these pathbreakers. There’s a possibility they had their reasons for changing track. Here’s remembering those that moved us to tears with their songs...

SONU NIGAM
READY RECKONER: Nigam may easily have been the earliest to have two very important elements in his music videos. Bollywood actresses/ top models and storylines that effectively humanised his lyrics. There is nothing to suggest that he did suffer rejection then (with chocolate-boy looks at the time, how could anyone, right?).
BIGGEST HITS: Acha Sila Diya, Chanda Ki Doli Mein

ADNAN SAMI
READY RECKONER: Before his divorces and weight loss, Adnan was big. And we don’t mean physically. When he made his debut on the Indipop scene, it was the voice, the charm and that effortless smile, being in the videos with starlets and crying his heart out that won him admirers. Bollywood beckoned and the videos stopped. With his return to non-film music after a long playback innings, is it too little, too late?
Biggest Hits:
Tera Chehra, Teri Yaad, Kisi Din, Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein, O Meri
Jaan

HIMESH RESHAMMIYA READY RECKONER: Sure, everyone remembers that HR has had an insanely good, long run in Bollywood as a musician first and as a singer later. What most people don’t recall is that he also put out two albums in which he featured in weepy songs opposite recognisable PYTs. It actually predates his acting debut by a year. In every video from these albums, he appears, cap firmly in place.
Biggest Hits:
Naam Hai Tera, Samjho Na, Aapka Surroor, I Love You O Saiyyoni, Vaada Tainu, Tu Yaad Naa Aaye

ALTAF RAJA READY RECKONER: He used to be the caliph of quawaalis despite not having the range or reach of the genre’s most popular names. But he made up for it with videos that touched everyone who had lost in love. So what if he did it formulaically? Now, he's at the fringe, at very best. But for a brief period in time, Altaf Raja actually lived up to his last name.
Biggest Hits:
Ja Bewafaa Jaa, Pehle Toh Kabhi Kabhi, Tum Toh Thehre Pardesi, Ghum Judaai Ka Yun, Aankhen Hi Na Royi, Yaaron Sab Dua Karo

SUKHWINDER
SINGH
READY RECKONER: His calling card may be his rendition of Chaiyya Chaiyya in AR Rahman’s soundtrack for Dil Se, but it was the heartwrenching one-hit wonder from his non-film music album of the same name Nasha Hi Nasha Hai’s video that caught everyone’s attention. In said video, the singer narrates the story of the star-crossed lovers in the capacity of a ‘friend’ to the ill-fated couple that decides to commit suicide when faced with the prospect of being separated.
Biggest Hit:
Nasha Hi Nasha Hai

The Bharatiya 11:46 PM

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