Friday, May 16, 2008

The evolution of Sunidhi Chauhan

Sure the advent of item numbers at the turn of the millennium helped surge Sunidhi Chauhan to the forefront of Bollywood singers, but she's also made a contribution of her own - namely, she's helped draw the squeaky Lata era to a close.

The big break

As is well documented, Sunidhi started her career via singing shows, made an unremarkable Bollywood debut and helmed an independent album that tanked at the sales registers (her father maintains HMV botched the product placement). A chance introduction with Sandeep Chowta (whose career has cooled of late) via Sonu Nigam resulted in two duets on Mast and her first Bollywood success.

At the outset Sunidhi's voice and looks made her an ideal candidate to sing item numbers. In fact, her breakthrough song - Mehboob Mere - was one of the first in which a song was inserted in a movie for dubious reasons purely as spectacle. And as item numbers were supposed to, it spiraled the movie (Fiza, possibly Anu Malik's career zenith) and the song to hit status.

A quick evolution

Sure Sunidhi's voice hadn't hit prime time yet. But her base voice was terrific - a low purr - and she brought a lot of youthful energy to her songs. She developed instant chemistry with a younger generation of music listeners but to her credit she seemed to understand the limitations in her voice.

Over the years, Sunidhi's progress took me by surprise. She steadily fixed the gaps - her live singing improved dramatically and her ability to move up and down on the scale with the speed required of a genuine playback talent got better.

Putting her divorce after an eloped marriage at 18 behind her in 2004, in a short five years since her first successes, she was hitting her straps on Khakhee (Aisa Jadoo) and Dhoom (Dhoom Machale). Some terrific singing ensued in Dus (Deedar de) Shikhar (Fitna Dil), Taxi No. 9211 (Ek Nazar), Pyare Mohan (Rabba De De Javaani), Shaadi Se Pehle (Mundiya - a personal favorite) and 36 China Town (Aashiqui Mein Teri).

The coronation is complete

By the time Omkara rolled around and Sunidhi sang the sensational Beedi the ascension to the throne was complete - and this was regardless of a little train called Shreya Ghoshal who was picking up plenty of steam.

Surprisingly enough, Sunidhi did keep challenging herself. And the second phase of her expansion can be heard on CDs today. Much of it seems tied to her fascination with American R&B and Soul (she's been known to be fond of Mariah Carey - who despite her tacky troubles and squishy song choices - has impeccable vocal credentials not to mention peerless sales)

Here Sunidhi's results have been choppy. And its a little unfair to expect her to get results immediately. Because of the scale of her speaking voice - which is ironically her strength - she can't hit the high notes without losing tonal quality. In this respect singers with thinner voices have the advantage. So while Sunidhi has tried some stuff and crashed and burned a little, occasionally she does something different with more success.

A career full of possibilities

There are several places Sunidhi can go from here. Although the magnificent Richa Sharma of late has been threatening to cut loose, most of her competition is still too stereotyped to be an immediate threat. There is, of course, Shreya but if you listen to their songs you'll see them circling each other's territory without completely encroaching on it.

There is a charted journey for Bollywood playback singers. But I think Sunidhi has enough talent to do something different. And personally my phaltu Drift advice for her would be to start talking to someone else on the bottom run of the music food chain: musicians, and putting together a kick ass band. Then take a hotshot composer with youth appeal who is struggling to get work in Bollywood (like say Raghav Sachar) and get a bunch of original songs together.

Next step, negotiate license deals for Sunidhi's most popular songs. Then book a ten city tour playing small places - probably major hotels or metro lounges in India and test out the songs. Because Sunidhi is a really good live performer and she has some famous songs, the audiences will listen to the other music just as carefully. And there might be enough immediate cash to end up with a distribution deal on the songs that allows Sunidhi to maintain control.

If the independent music scene in India won't give us a non-filmi star, maybe Bollywood can!

Continue reading: The evolution of Sunidhi Chauhan...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar: Mother's Day Special

At the risk of sounding like an insensitive clod, let me confess that super emotional mata-pita reality show "special" episodes leave me feeling hugely uncomfortable.

Squirmworthy moments ensue when parents are dragged on the stage by their kids and serenaded with recycled Bollywood sentiments. Fortunately, back to back episodes of The Office on long flights have schooled me in humor that can be derived from awkwardness. Plus I never thought I'd say this but sometimes I miss Nirupa Roy.

And thus it was that while the Drift Memsaab emptied cartons of Kleenexes, I chuckled through the entire Mother's Day special of JJWS like a twerp. But more on that later.

JJWS has three judges who appear downright straitlaced by SRGMP standards: the composer duo of Vishal-Shekhar and their newest filmi benefactor - new mom of triplets - Farah Khan. These three seem to be a balanced lot: Shekhar focuses on the music, Vishal makes sure the BS is down to a minimum and Farah provides the no-nonsense gut feel type of feedback. So where does the drama come from?

Turns out JJWS has a curious format. Contestants are divided into two lots: champions and challengers. And every week, after the judges scores and incoming SMS votes are tallied with equal weight, the lowest ranked competitor is booted off the show. But the highest ranking three are put in front of the reigning champions. The champions cast a ballot to decide which of the three will join them.

This seems to result in a lot of emotional dhishum dhishum - jealousy seems to abound, cliques might be forming. And the judges and host Mandira Bedi - who keeps the nok-jhok to a minumum - have no problems fanning any small sparks that may arise between the contestants into a full fledged fire. Last week a rather cocky kid called Vineet joined the upper ranks after much teeth gnashing that resulted when Mandira revealed the voters behind the votes.

This is entertaining enough to carry the show because the singing is excellent - the best I've heard since SRGMP was mothballed.

Back to the rona-dhona. Copious tributes were offered to Moms. The judges joined in making appropriate noises about mamta. Everybody ki aankhen nam hui. Mandira Bedi bawled her head off. When it was her turn to say something nice about her mom, she bawled some more and said: "I'm sorry I fight with you Mom!"

Also:

Continue reading: Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar: Mother's Day Special...

Monday, May 12, 2008

Indian Idol Nation

Indians have always been fond of songs - one of my fondest memories of growing up was standing up front on the scooter while my Dad drove it and sang songs loudly and horribly off-key. India is one big antakshari nation - only you can play all by yourself (see pic).

Now Indians spontaneously breaking out into song is long standing tradition. But of late I've seen a resurgence of this in crowded public places - like packed trains, airports or medical waiting rooms. Perhaps this is the legacy of Indian Idol where every hopeful sings out loud in crowds hoping to chance upon some music composer.

While most people tend to get annoyed, and some even make the loony sign with their fingers and roll their eyes, I tend to enjoy this.

Lately I've been accompanying Dad to doctor's offices on visits. These tend to be fairly torturous - you're normally squashed in tiny places waiting for the hallowed one to show up and see you (and I'm talking about the doctor personally referred to us by a friend).

In such circumstances, the Indian Idol effect is a blessing because its instant entertainment. Thus it was that on a recent medical exploration I found myself startled by a skinny guy in a Mithun mullet who broke out spontaneously into that song from Race (with rap and all) in a crowded urologists' office.

And while everyone looked irritated I smiled broadly. This caused pseudokishore to raise his voice a few decibels. When he finished I encouraged him with my best "kya baat hai" expression. I got some dirty looks from nearby sick people. I ignored them.

I continued to review each song wordlessly in this way. Pretty soon pseudokishore was taking requests from me. "Yaar, jara Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale ga do" I said. And he did - jolting the waiting room with some bad ass high notes. Slightly before this ended, the doctor was ready for us.

To all who share their talent with me selflessly in this way and make my waits easier, I thank you.

Also:

Continue reading: Indian Idol Nation...

Friday, May 09, 2008

Bollywood Stars: Dropouts 2 Doctors

Akshay Kumar PHD DoctorOur resident analyst returns to comment on the spate of silly honorary doctorates being handed out to Bollywood stars.

Mind Rush is miffed....Too many 10th standard failures are going from Dropout to Doctorate.

Sadly, everyone loves success, and fame can buy anything. Since Mind Rush can't stem the tide of honorary doctorates, here is a list of celebs who need fake degrees from universities that are desperate for star power at upcoming graduation ceremonies:

1. Patna University should award an honorary doctorate in Archery to Shatrughan Sinha for shooting his mouth off

Aishwarya Lying down2. Mumbai College of Home Economics should award an honorary doctorate in Domestic Science Bliss to Big Bahu Aishwarya

3. Paris Institute of Existential Studies should award an honorary doctorate in Nothingness to Preity Zinta

4. Our Father of Bollywood University should award an honorary MBA in Family Business to Abhishek Bachachan

Sunny deol bees kilo ka haath5. The Nawab School of British Hangover should award an honorary BA in Resurrection Studies to Saif Ali Khan

6. Item Number Elementary School should award an honorary 8th Pass in Image Management to Rakhi Sawant

7. A.K. Artillery Institute of should award an honorary JD in Legal Common Sense to Sanjay Dutt

Shatrughan Sinha fight with amitabh bachchan8. Men's Design Institute should offer enrollement in Shirt Making 101 to Salman Khan

9. International University of United Nations should award an honorary doctorate in Diplomacy to Karan Johar

10. Universal Men's College should present a Special Award in Explosive Devices to Bipasha Basu

11. Hair Institute should award an honorary doctorate in Weaving to Himesh Reshamiya

Anupam Kher makes out with Rakhi Sawant12. Rocket Science School should award a BA Pass in General Education to the Deol family

And....if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Last but not the least:

13. The Drift School of Love Chakker should award an honorary doctorate in Mind Reading to Mind Rush

Continue reading: Bollywood Stars: Dropouts 2 Doctors...

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar: Sur and Sex Part II

Remember that hilarious moment on SRGMP when a girl called Koel had the jurrat to sing "I wanna make love to you" from Aitraaz in front of Asha Bhonsle? While it was a little frustrating to watch the resulting morality crusade that ensued, you have to admit - it was a lot of fun to watch, especially when Himesh Reshammiya rather inexplicably jumped in and defended the song.

Who knew that song was so universally reviled in India among industry types? Because on the mildly engaging show Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar (Star Plus), Himani - possessor of a smoky voice which I dig a lot - chose to sing it again. She even tendered an advance apology before she began. And while Himani's voice tends to lose some of her wonderful tonal quality on the high notes, the rest of the song turned out quite well.

And what happened? First co-contestant Ishmeet - underwhelming winner of Voice of India - took a swing at Himani with a mention about how the show was for kids as well as adults. Then before praising Himani, Shekhar - one of the judges on the show along with Farah Khan and Vishal Dadlani - called the song very very vahiyaat. By this time I was expecting the woman to be the harshest here and sure enough Farah Khan bluntly told Himani that if she had sung this in a voting round she would have been eliminated for her choice.

The same episode also saw someone else singing Dum Maro Dum which is a song about lighting up a joint, ignoring your troubles, finding God as a result and (if you've seen the movie) getting laid. But not a whimper about that from anyone. I'm not complaining about dual standards here: we all live with duality and spend most of our lives compromising with it. Why I've turned in thick rolls of dollar bills I've found at Starbucks' but throw a penny in my path and watch it disappear in my pocket.

But sweet mother of God! What is it about this song that pisses people off so much? (There is also a male version - which would have provided a fascinating data point were it have been chosen in competition - but we'll ignore that for now)

I decided to have another listen. I want to make love is composed by Himesh, sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and plays to one continuous shot with Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra alternately making out and doing kushti.

I'm not sure exactly what makes the song such a powder keg: woman being horny? woman wanting sex? woman inviting man? woman actively seeking an extra-marital affair? woman not expressing regret at any of the previous?

Hmmm. Where is Javed Akhtar when you really need him?

Also:

Continue reading: Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar: Sur and Sex Part II...

Thursday, May 01, 2008

The branding of cricket entertainment by SRK

The IPL has been declared to be a big hit in India. And while its being credited for heralding a new dawn in the era of cricket (its Kerry Packer II but with more chops), you can sense a jostling among the owners to make sure their teams are front and center in the public eye.

While most of the concepts are lifted directly from any of America's massive and lucrative sports leagues like the NBA or NFL (as they should be - no point in reinventing business models), a unique twist that comes from being in the crucible of India applies to the business and the media hype. And its been interesting to watch Shahrukh Khan and how he is going about building the brand for his team: the somewhat amusingly named Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

SRK is all over television tirelessly promoting his team, but importantly enough he's also positioning himself as the face of the IPL. This seems to be a deliberate strategy because what it does is it puts KKR at the forefront of all the generic IPL commercials and TV channel montages (along with SRK's mug to boot).

There is the KKR paraphernalia: music videos, CDs (with big names composing), flashy uniforms, an elaborate web site, standout promos and continuity commercials that can only be described as micro episodes (in which SRK shrewdly ties in a recent hit movie).

Then there is SRK's presence in each game. You'll see him cheering his team's successes but more importantly you'll see him trying to get the crowd engaged. He hands out his own private man of the match awards. He takes personal pictures of the crowds and puts them up on his web site. He projects himself as a tireless servant of cricket and his team as home base for quirky party animals.

So what is SRK trying to do?

Let's start by differentiating between the success of the team and that of a franchise. Sure a team's success depends on how its players perform on the field. And success brings in cash - via ticket sales and merchandise revenue. But no team wins constantly. And in bad times, the loyal fans keep the franchise afloat (Chicago Cubs, anyone?) Once the team is finalized, SRK has limited control over the success of the team. But he can still work on the franchise. Which he is doing by building out his fan base.

A number of major metros have teams. But that leaves large swathes of India that don't have a team to follow. As a disenfranchised fan, you have one of two choices: follow the team closest to your city (and possibly from your state) or find a connection with any team in the IPL and give it your loyalty. In the latter case, if you happen to be an SRK fan, KKR would be an easy choice. By transferring his brand to his cricket team, SRK is again ensuring a loyal fan base.

Whether this works or not remains to be seen - IPL is still working its way through the first season. But SRK is clearly leveraging his experience with the media and his own unique personality traits (he can be funny, earthy sophisticate, lucid and articulate) to collar attention.

Compare this to the blank stares thrown by Katrina Kaif during a Royal Challengers game or Akshay Kumar standing on the chair and giving everyone an impromptu Chippendale's performance during a Delhi Daredevils match. And you'll see why fans are likely to latch on to a more committed star and his team.

Continue reading: The branding of cricket entertainment by SRK...

May Linkology

Aish at Cannes - apparently caught without an ironing board

Deepika distressed at media focus on her relationship - just keep talking about it to everyone, honey

Preity Zinta's exhausting schedule - has she talked to SRK yet?

SalluKat dhishum dhishum rumours again

Shahid loves the new disappearing Bebo - or is he being sarcastic?

SRK puffs away the tension

Shahid Kapur: Director in training

Salman's 10 ka Dum: the music video

SRK the mediator? (from Pitu)

Meet Aamir's dog: Shahrukh (from anu g)

Vidya-Kareena, rrowrr?

SRK's management style

All Shoaib wants is a bicycle

A star is born! - Mimoh is so bad he's good (from leera)

Meet Anushka - SRK's brand new heroine for YRF (from Bee)

The brits dont rule us! - Rishi Kapoor creates amusing scenes of a different kind (from Pitu)

Discovered! The Indian Fat Gene (from Mind Rush)

Enter Dr. Khiladi (from girlie girl)

Mimoh's dancing gives me jitters - Mithun (from Pitu)

Dumb or dumber? Bush and the Indian media (from Nikhil)

Who is eating up the world's food supply? (from Mind Rush)

Akki Kat di friendship (from Pitu)

Abhishek-Aish: the gagworthy interview (from Anon)

The KajraRe muhurat - everyone control yourself now (from Himanshu)

Continue reading: May Linkology...

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Becoming a kid again

A lot of times people tell me this: no matter how old you get, you become a kid again around your parents. This is certainly true of me and especially so because I am an only child.

And all the interactions I remember from older days apply when I'm at my parents' house. This week I had a couple of minorly late nights with old school friends and stumbled in around 2am.

The next day at breakfast Dad peered from behind his newspaper and had this conversation with me.

Dad: So you came in very late last night
Me: Yes

(brief silence)

Dad: Its not good to be out gallivanting all night like that
Me: It wasn't all night Dad. I was in bed by 2:15am plus I'm way past adult
Dad: Hmm

(brief silence)

Dad: But it disturbed me you see
Me: That can't be Pappa - I heard you snoring all the time
Dad: Hmm

(brief silence)

Dad: You let a mosquito in when you came late
Me: I let a mosquito in?
Dad: Yes. And it bit me (points to huge bite on cheek)
Me: We come in and out of the house a zillion times all day. And I let one mosquito in at 2am that bit you?
Dad: That's right. Don't be late tonight.
Me: Yes, Pappa

I'll be watching IPL and pretending to watch soaps tonight.

Picture: Dad trying to convince Ma that they've both had the girl they so desperately wanted

Continue reading: Becoming a kid again...

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Namaste India, by corporate

Early on while on my favorite route to India, my neighbor across the aisle - someone who looked like Moby flipped open his laptop.

Usually when this happens I always keep a corner of my eye on the computer because I'm interested in seeing what people use in terms of software. ("Hey, who knew Lotus Notes was still around").

When Moby loaded his email, I looked away as is the polite thing to do. But then he threw this presentation on his screen called "India: A cultural introduction". And then Moby adjusted himself sideways in his seat with his back to me and the screen in full view. I saw this as a sign of fate and decided to nefariously intrude on my fellow passenger's privacy by reading along.

After the requisite pictures of the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, a woman playing a veena, another doing yoga - came the serious stuff. This turned out to be pithy bullet points that seemed to be written with the intent of prepping the one minute manager on an entire culture.

Since I was already being neech enough in my intrusion I decided to raise the stakes and took some notes which I thought I'd share. Here were some of the bullets that struck me as being hugely amusing (and I'm barely even going to mention the slide which listed equivalent terms such as "car trunk = car dickey")

  • A namaste may be followed by a handshake. A limp handshake does not mean insincerity (picture of Aish executing a namaste)

  • Learning is by association because of rote learning

  • Never challenge religion of social structures

  • If meeting the same person again, it is not ok to greet him or her again

  • Personal feelings, intuition and faith are more pursuasive than objective reasoning. Build faith

  • Punctuality is appreciated but not practised

  • Wobbling head from side to side means active listening and not disagreement

  • Women need to cover their head and dress conservatively before entering


Hopefully Moby won't be surprised by any of this. In fact, if I see him again, I'll be sure to recommend this new book I've discovered recently, by that paragon of social journalism Shobha De, called Superstar India.

Also:

Continue reading: Namaste India, by corporate...

Friday, April 25, 2008

Nicks and names

There was a discussion on the Drift recently about nicknames - thanks to one killer star son called Mimoh. And this really kicked in a bunch of memories for me.

Nicknames in my neighborhood used to abound. Often you'd get stuck with rote, boring ones. At home, I was probably the only kid in the world whose nickname was longer and more complicated than his real one. Mum called me Aspandiar - an affectionate mangling of Esfandiyar. Outside I went by the rather blah Bawa - which was pretty much ensured if you were a Parsi kid.

There was only one variation on this. When we started learning German, the kids started calling me Bauer for a brief period of time. This period of brilliant inventiveness lasted only a few weeks.

Yet when I heard the names handed out to my friends, I would often be thankful to be stuck with a boring one.

Why, next door, my best friend was called Piston. Rumor had it that this nickname came from my friend's untiring, uh, prowess. But not only did I know that my friend had never done it before but also happened to be there when he earned his alias. Turns out he would dive from the high board at the municipal swimming pool in such terror that his rigid body resembled a piston.

My favorite name - I say this with some shame - was a hugely biased one. Dilip was the darkest person in our extended neighborhood and so we called him Kalajam. So dark was he that when he would come out to play in one of our 1o over tennis ball night games all you could see were his bat and shoes (Dilip loved to wear dark clothes and our games had poor lighting - more like we picked the brightest spot near some streetlights).

When he took guard, he loved to smile. So we'd see a bat, shoes and some brilliantly white teeth. Since Dilip was a pichhle jamaane ka Dhoni, when he would walk out the crowd would erupt and chant his nickname.

A few doors down was Lala who used to hate me with a passion. The primary reason was that whenever I saw him I would call out his name. And when he'd look inquiringly in my direction I would pretend to be singing a song that started out with la-la.

We had a Kanji in our neighborhood. Kanji's best friend was a boy of unfortunately short height. We called him Gattuman. His sister was tremendously alluring but hugely commanding. We called her Don. The fair guy was called Bhurya. The guy with hair problems was called Bodiya. The thin one was called Bhinda.

Even our gulley ka stray had a nickname: Baluti because she was small and rather affectionate.

Also:

Continue reading: Nicks and names...