FILM PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS
AJNABEE
In a continuing
tradition of pulsating racy thrillers, Abbas-Mustan have given us
Khiladi, Baazigar, Soldier and Baadshah. Abbas-Mustan films are
always awaited with bated breath, be it the elite or the masses.
“Ajnabee”, their latest offering is also keenly awaited, more
so because it is a different theme and treatment compared to their
earlier genre.
Loosely inspired
by the Hollywood flick “Consenting Adults”, Ajnabee is a suspense
thriller which deals with the twists in the lives of two couples
Raj (Bobby) and Priya (Kareena), and Vicky (Akshay Kumar) and
Sonia (Bipasha Basu).
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The movie started
as early as 1998 and was expected to be finished in one continuous
schedule. Surprisingly, the film still appears contemporary
despite the unending delay in its completion.
Consenting Adults
dealt with the theme of wife-swapping. But this being the land of
“Sita”, Ajnabee has watered down this theme into a bland
offering of platonic friendship. The couples meet and come really
close to each other. But soon, Raj falls for Sonia angering her
husband, Vicky. Sonia too has fallen in love with Raj and she
returns his attentions. Their friendship is a consummation of
jealousy and rage.
In midst of this
turmoil, Sonia is murdered under circumstances, which apparently
point to Raj as the culprit. Though pleading not guilty, Raj is
not believed, even by his wife Priya or Sonia”s husband, Vicky.
His life falls into a chaos and he sets out on the trail of the
real murderer.
The hunt for the
murderer is superbly executed, keeping the viewers totally
engrossed. “Venus” has gone whole hog ensuring a glossy film,
which of a class production quality. It has been shot extensively
in foreign locations. Anu Malik has come up with somewhat
original, but foot-taping music. Kareena, the next goddess of
Indian Cinema will surely ensure a good opening.
ABHAY
There”s no
denying the fact that Kamal Haasan is amongst the most versatile
actors on the Indian screen. In ABHAY, the actor has tried to
attempt something that he had not attempted in his career before.
He enacts a double role, but with a difference!
Although Kamal
has attempted dual roles in over fifteen films, this one is different.
ABHAY revolves around sibling rivalry. It is about two people
with similar faces, but divergent beliefs.
..
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ABHAY is a
thriller set in Delhi. The season is winter. Major Vijay Kumar (Kamal
Haasan) is all set to marry his newscaster girlfriend Tejaswani (Raveena
Tandon).
Vijay Kumar has a
demented brother Abhay (Kamal Haasan), who had been an inmate of a
few mental asylums for the past 22 years. The asylum authorities
turned down many attempts made by his family, requesting for the
release of the patient, since they thought that Abhay was unfit
and probably dangerous.
And then Vijay
makes the grave mistake of going to the asylum to meet his twin
brother to say sorry for not being able to get him out. Vijay and
Tejaswini don”t know that they are responsible for unleashing
hell in Delhi and in their own lives.
Abhay, like his
name, is fearless. A mind with no draping of etiquette or civic
behaviour. The human mind at its most naked form.
ABHAY has
music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
MUSIC
REVIEWS AND REVIEWS
HIGHLIFE
- Dr Zeus --
Firstly before
I start, apologies to Dr/ Zeus’ “Highlife” which I gave
rather a poor review in the last issue. After listening
and relistening to it- I think that some of the tracks,
especially the first 2 are phat and the album is worth at
least 7/10 if you are a Bhangra/garage fan.
(The rating
was changed in time for the last issue but not the review!)
OVERALL 7/10
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CLASSIFIED
[kiss records] (produced by the Secret Service)
Regular readers
of Up Front will have heard about the ‘Secret Service’ in
last month’s issue. The debut album of three Blackburn based
lads. In total there are three pictures of these guys, including
one on the CD but unfortunately no names to identify each
one. Hmmm- that must be why they are called The Secret Service.
Anyway the team have produce the music to the vocals of
a Pakistani singer, ‘Sadaf Iqbal’ (whose picture is not
included anywhere.) Overall there is a nice selection of
songs in a variety of styles, with some good sampling thrown
in for good measure. My personal favourites were ‘Mahi ave
ga’ featuring Nas-T, the upbeat ‘Desan da raja’ and the
danceable ‘Mahi luk chupp’.
Overall a good debut album. Well
done Secret Service...whoever you are!!!
OVERALL 8/10 |
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RHYTHM
DHOL BASS - RDB
(untouchable records)
Last month
finally so the release of this long anticipated debut album
by RDB. After months of hype, the album sure did live up
to its expectations. Anybody reading this has no doubt already
heard the phat tune,”Putt Sardara Dhe” featuring Trix MC
which is another dancefloor smash for this summer.
Other dance
floor fillers on this album include the Missy Elliot sampled,
“Patlay Patlay” and my personal favourite,”Mehfill Yaara
Dhe”. Nine tracks in total, featuring the vocal talents
of Shinda, Manak and Mani with RDBs production skills. Brilliant.
OVERALL Fantastic 91/2/10
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BHANGRA
TO THE MAX
(various artists) [audiorec]
This
one is a compilation album of different songs from different
artists and albums. So before you part with your money take
a listen to the songs and make sure you don’t actually have
them at home somewhere!
If you haven’t actually got any of these songs, then
the album is quite good value for money- featuring 10 different
songs.
There is a mixture of styles on this album, from
the garage influenced “Munde (Shava Shava)” and “Boliyan”
to the desi sounds of “Nindra” and Hans Raj Hans’ “Holli
Holli Nach Kuriye”
Overall though a bit of an old skool album both in
the songs featured and the fact that most songs are traditional
desi and dhol beats.
Take a listen
before you buy!
OVERALL 6/10
(7 if you haven’t already got the first track “Munde(Shava)"
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BAL-E
- Fully Loaded
(Kiss records)
This album
features a brand new singer, Bal-E. This album is certainly
very different to most Bhangra releases currently on the
market. Most of the songs are slow numbers, with more emphasis
on the lyrics and the music rather than for the dancefloor.
Bal-E certainly has a great voice and after listening to
this album
for the third time it began to grow on me. This album is
likely to appeal to those who enjoy listening to Panjabi
songs (as well as dancing to them) and those who like something
traditional but yet original.
OVERALL
: A good effort. 7/10
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ACCESS
ALL AREAS
(Sahara)
{nachural}
This album
has been doing the club and radio circuit for a while before
its actual release. The opening track, remixed by RDB, “Soni
Ni Soni” is simply brilliant and sure to have dancefloors
packed for the next year or so.
Of the rest of the album I was pleasantly surprised
that I enjoyed so many of the tracks. My other favourites
were “Hundia” the Desi mix of “Sone Da Challa” and the simple
but beautifully produced “Dhol Punjabian Da”
OVERALL
: Something for everyone. 9/10
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Archeives
FILM
PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS
Dil Chahta Hai
The film was completed within the specified 108 days at locales
of Sydney, Mumbai and Goa. It tells the story of three friends
- Akash (Aamir Khan), Sameer (Saif Ali Khan) and Siddharth (Akshaye
Khanna).
Akash is a non-believer. He thinks the concept of love is created
to ruin perfectly healthy relationships.
Sameer is a believer. He wants to be in love. He loves being in
love. Unfortunately for him, he hasn't quite grasped the concept
of it just yet. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, he is out there
persevering, believing that he will find that 'special her', as
long as he keeps searching.
Siddharth is mature, sensitive and understanding. Siddharth aka
Sid knows the true meaning of the word love. He feels it everyday,
every hour, every minute. For his friends, his acquaintances,
for the stray dog living outside his gate, for the tree that's
just been planted next door. He has reached modern day enlightenment.
DIL CHAHTA HAI is a film about these three distinct characters,
their individual relationships and the effect that those relationships
have on the three of them.
Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche
Esha Deol, daughter of Dharmendra and Hema Malini, makes
her debut in Boney Kapoor's new flick KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHE,
written-directed by Vinay Shukla. The film promises to be a love
story come thriller, which is sure to spring surprises on the
viewer.
................................ .........
For, besides being the launch pad of Esha Deol, the film also
marks the transition of Sanjay Kapoor to a negative role.
KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHE tells the story of Mansi Devi (Jaya Bachchan)
and her daughter Esha (Esha Deol). They share their hopes, their
dreams, their laughter and their tears. But they also share a
terrifying secret...
And one fine day, Aman (Aftab Shivdasani) enters their lives.
Fun-loving Aman is a final year student at NIFT with loads of
friends on the campus, but no girlfriend.
Aman encounters Esha. The lovely girl takes his breath away and
he falls head over heals in love with her. But Esha doesn"t
respond to him initially. And there"s a reason to it!
There is a dark secret hanging over her - Sanjay Kapoor.
An eagerly awaited film, KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHE co-stars Anupam
Kher in a guest appearance.
MUSIC
PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS
PERSUADERS
- Liquid Cru
(fantronic record label)
A nine track album (with one instrumental) featuring singers
including Udit Narayan, Gurdas Mann and Sonu Nigam.Interesting
stuff I thought to myself picking up the box- especially as
I've never heard of the Liquid Cru before.
So what of the music then? Well there is a complete
mix of tunes on this CD. A couple of garage numbers, a Vasakhi
song, traditional party songs as well as nu-school experimental
stuff. 'Zamanna Badal Gaya' is likely to get dropped in clubs
and Udit Narayan's 'Paya Bhangra' at weddings. My personal
favourite on the CD was 'Haan Di Kud', a mid tempo dance track
refreshingly produced without any garage beats in the
background.
Overall nothing groundbreaking or new but a good selection
of tunes. Good value for money
OVERALL 7/10 |
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HIGHLIFE
- Dr Zeus
(envy)
Envy have been plugging this album on all their releases.
So what is all the fuss about?
'Gwandian Da Dhol' manages to combine an RnB beat, Indian
instruments and Amar Arshi's vocals to produce a wicked sound.
'Pathlo' is a good garage number.
After a while all the tracks begin to sound the same.Nothing
great here. No doubt the garage heads will love this but to
me this was just another second rate garage album- with the
exception of the first tune. Dr Zeus is supposed to be quite
good but I've never rated his stuff. Maybe its just me...
Dr Zeus maybe you will impress me next time.
OVERALL 6/10 7/10 |
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DESTINY
Silinder Pardes (Hi-Tech music)
(category- Garage/RnB influenced Bhangra)
Silinder Pardesi is back with a new Bhangra LP. This album
contains 6 new tracks and a video (which I haven't yet watched)
The music and production is definitely nu-skool and aimed
at the youth/clubber market. In fact I was pleasantly surprised
at the vibrant sound that Slinder Pardesi has produced.The
first track "Maum Batiye" is a mid-tempo garage
number. The lyrics from "Kalja" remind me of the
classic album Pump up the Bhangra and this is again another
mid-tempo garage number.
"G-Mitro" is another garage number, slightly faster
than the previous two.We finally hear a dhol kick in at track
4, a well produced wedding song that will have every rude
boy nodding his head at weddings this summer! Track 5 is a
slow number with romantic lyrics. Finally Track 6 is the Boliyan
where the Dhol is crossed with an RnB beat. Personally I think
that
this slows the Boliyan down too much and I donÕt rate it.
Overall the tracks are well produced but most are too slow
for my liking. Great tape for the Gaddi though.
OVERALL 6/10
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PDM
- The Pump
(kiss records)
What a comeback! I thought PDM had been confined to the history
books. For those that don't know they were the band that produced
the smash hit version of 'Makhna'. At a time when DJs and
PAs are taking over the 'live scene' it is refreshing to know
that live bands still have a place in the music industry.This
is an 8 track album with two mixes of 'Ek Jindree'. Ek Jindree
is a great track to bop along to and the lyrics are simple
and light hearted. I didn't really like the garage version-
but then I'm not a big garage fan. 'Pyaar' is another enjoyable
track. The vocalist Pal has a great voice which is not too
harsh sounding.
'Nach Na' will remind you of Shaggy's 'it wasn't me' and is
again another great track to bop to, probably more suited
to a party than a night club.The RnB track 'Jarnail' sees
Don Dee of Pure Garage and 2Kool fame makes an appearance.
'Hai Areeyea' and 'Melgee' reminds us that PDM can still produce
heavy dhol and dholki influenced tracks for the dance floor.
The title track 'The Pump' with its Body Groove styleee melody
will leave you searching for your mobile phones - listen to
it to see what I mean! One of the best albums I've heard from
a band in a long time. I wonder how much of the sound they'll
actually be able to reproduce out side of the studio though.
PDM I look forward to seeing you play live! Don't sell out
though and do PAs!
OVERALL 81/2/10 |
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PLAY
IT LOUD 2
The Guru (audiorec)
The sequel to The Guru's last album 'Play it Loud'. An 8
track album (including 2 remixes). The album kicks off with
a slow dance number. The tumbi joins in in Ranjit Manni's
mid tempo 'Chor Aagaye'. 'Nachee Punjaabaan' is one of the
track with two mixes (Bhangra and garage mixes). Neither
of them were that special but personally I favoured the
Bhangra version. The other track with two mixes 'Sheeshee
Wargi Tu' is again nothing special but this time I preferred
the garage mix.
Overall nothing particularly appealing about this album
OVERALL 4/10
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Pure
Garage 3 - Close The Shop Down
(envy)
This is one of my favourite albums at the moment. The opening
track is just amazing. AS Kang's vocals are first class.
This is constantly on repeat on my CD player! My other favourite
on this album is 'Sayonee Mera Mahi'. Of the other 6 the
rest range from above average to mediocre. There is the
predictable sampling and copying from mainstream hits. Garage
fans will no doubt love this. I am not a great garage fan
and think that Panjabi vocals fused with 2 step only work
well in certain cases.
Overall though a great album, if for the first track alone.
OVERALL 71/2/10
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