Kaabil- Film Review

My view of this film is mixed, tending towards the "Don't watch" side. Why? Let me explain.

The plot of revenge for a misdeed has been done to death in a number of formula films in the seventies and eighties, with better actors- Dharmendra, Amitabh to name just two. Even though Hrithik is good, he pales in comparison. He is also handicapped by the script that makes him blind. And revenge is the worst way, in my view, to show the Kabiliyat (ability) of a blind person.

What could (with a better story/script) have been a heart-warming journey to discover the everyday travails of a lovely couple in love (the first fifteen minutes are actually good), overcoming their lack of eyesight, meanders into a formula film of impossible-to-believe stunts that stretch your credibility. Yami Gautam is mostly wasted in cliched stuff, unlike in her earlier films (I think Vicky Donor was one of them). Comparisons may be out of place, but a remake of Koshish would have been a much better idea. (Gulzar's Koshish was about a deaf-mute couple, amazingly done by Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri). Might have given Hrithik/Yami a role of a lifetime.


And the last word- on the music. If Rajesh Roshan, one of my favourite music composers (with films like Julie, Yaarana, Des Pardes, Baaton Baaton Mein), has to come down to rehashing his own tunes, the end of the world must be close.

Bollywood Music Directors

Lots of music directors in Hindi had a signature style, or a favourite way to compose songs-maybe an instrument, or beat, or orchestration. Here is an attempt to list out a few.

C. Ramchandra- Shola jo bhadke, dil mera dhadke exemplifies his style- melody, beat, simplicity..dance by Bhagwan and Geeta Bali is just too good.

Hemant Kumar- His signature style can be found in Bees Saal Baad; the two outstanding songs for me were Zara nazron se kehdo ji, and Beqaraar karke hamen yun na jaiye-melodious, minimalistic.

SD Burman- Folksy music/tunes, but very hummable. Yeh dil, na hota bechara from Jewel Thief, or O meri, o meri, o meri Sharmeelee are examples. All the Chalti ka Naam Gaaadi songs too.

OP Nayyar- had a thing for tanga (horse-carriage) beats, and used them well. Unique use of instruments, his tunes are very recognisable. Aaiye meherbaan from Howrah Bridge and Leke pehla pehla pyar from CID (Dev Anand film) are typical OPN tunes.

Ravi- The way I remember him is by the superb mellow songs he composed for BR Chopra films Humraaz and Gumraah- like Neele gagan ke tale, dharti ka pyar pale, and Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jayen hum dono. Used Mahendra Kapoor in many of these.

Kalyanji Anandji- The Johny Mera Naam songs are my favourites- Pal bhar ke liye koi hamein pyar kar le, and Ooo mere raja in particular.

Jaidev- Relatively fewer films, but some classics- Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya from Hum Dono and Yeh dil aur unki nigahon ke saaye by Lata Mangeshkar in Prem Parbat stand out.

Rajesh Roshan- from Julie (Dil kya kare jab kisi ko kisi se pyar ho jaaye) to Des Pardes (Tu pee aur jee), he is one of my favourites. Sounds very different, recognisable, like Chhokar mere man ko, kiya tune kya ishaara, in Yaarana, and Na bole tum na maine kuch kaha, from Baton Baton Mein.

Shankar Jaikishen typically used a lot of musicians/orchestration in their songs. Some songs that I liked were Badan pe sitare lapete hue from Prince and O mere shah-e-khuba from Love in Tokyo.

Laxmikant Pyarelal were not my favourites, but they had some excellent tunes, like in Parasmani (Hasta hua noorani chehra), and Shagird (Dil wil pyar vyar main kya jaanu re)

Kishore Kumar produced some classic tunes when he gave music in some films- the Door ka Rahi song sung by him and Sulakshana Pandit -Beqaraar dil, tu gaayeja- is one.

Music to My Ears

Here are some people who are music to my ears, no matter when I hear their creations or voices-

Kishore Kumar Khandwewale (he was from Khandwa), who has magic in his voice. A sure cure for the blues is any song from Padosan or Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi starring him. Or in his voice from countless films. I used to like his yodelling a lot when growing up, but now I like any mood that he chooses to bring alive. Even his sombre songs are strangely uplifting!

SD Burman- I deliberately put him ahead of his peers and his son, because he was as original as anyone I heard composing tunes in Hindi films. In fact, many songs that I originally thought were tuned by RD Burman are in fact his creations-youthful, zesty, and a great combo of folk music plus creative use of instruments. Jewel Thief was a masterpiece, along with Teen Deviyan, Aradhana, ...

Rajesh Roshan- very soft tunes, always touching your heart-strings. Many of his songs as composer feature on my list of favourites- from the lilting Chhookar mere man ko kiya tune kya ishara (Yaarana), to the boisterous (by his standards) Tu pee aur jee (Des Pardes), to the lusty Jab chhaye mera jadu (Lootmaar).His Julie tunes were also outstanding.

Mahendra Kapoor- Some of my top favourites are sung by him. For instance, Lakhon hain yahan dilwale (Kismat), Tum agar sath dene ka wada karo (Humraaz), and Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jaaye hum dono (Gumraah).

RD Burman- His body of work brings out a positive feeling anytime you listen to it. For instance, any song from Teesri Manzil, Yadon Ki Barat, Kati Patang, Mere Jeevan Sathi, Jawani Diwani, Ghar, Amar Prem, Aandhi, Parichay, Namak Haram, and so on. He formed a great team with Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle (Dum Maro Dum still gives me goosebumps after so may years!)

Rajesh Roshan's Music

Some super music came from this soft-spoken man who was overshadowed by his 1970s contemporaries for the most part. Some of his great songs were-

1. Dil kya kare from Julie

2. Uthe sab ke kadam..Baton baton mein, and Thoda hai thode ki..Khatta Meetha

3. Ek raasta hai zindagi- Kala Patthar

4. Nazrana bheja kisi ne pyar ka- Des Pardes

5. Mujhe choo rahi hain , teri garm saansein..

6. Dilruba, aa meri baahon mein aa...Yehi hai zindagi (1977)

7. Choo kar mere man ko - Yaarana

8. Lehron ki tarah yaadein.

9. Ek pal ka jeena, in Hrithik's debut film.

10. Ghar se nikalte hi, kuch door chalte hi, raste mein hai uska ghar..

Melodious!