The title may seem to be confusing, but this article has got a surprise element for many of my friends here. Before coming to the main subject I would like to mention that this write up of mine is for true music lovers who can listen to a song and judge it without having any partial attitudes and preferences in mind. So it may find some opposition but if you have a good ear and understand music through your heart then you will like to agree with what I have to say here.
Firstly about Subhash Ghai’s relation with “Slum dog Millionaire” :
1. THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SONG “RINGA RINGA”
If you listen to the first song of the Soundtrack of SM, “Ringa Ringa” then from the start itself you will find it like heard before. That’s because the song starts exactly in the same style as “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” from “Khalnayak” directed by Subhash Ghai. Surprisingly there are too many similarities in both the songs that you cannot ignore the inspiration angle here.
A. Both songs are pretty similar in music, rhythm and arrangement section. The starting notes and the chorus parts are almost same. (Ku Ku Ku turns into Rig Rig Ringa)
B. In both the songs, there are controversial lyrics sung by the main lead. In “Choli Ke Peeche” a girl is being asked about what is beneath her hot dress. And in “Ringa Ringa” the girl is explaining the pain & discomfort she is feeling because a small insect has gone into her dress.
C. Both the songs have two voices, one of the main girl and the other of an old lady who is asking the questions to the girl (with all those sounds of “Haye” & “Oye Hoye”).
D. Now the great one, both the songs are sung by Alka Yagnik & Ila Arun.
If you are a good listener than you just cannot deny that the song is inspired. I think Rahman must have been given a brief that a song like “Choli Ke Peeche” is needed. That may be the reason he came up with such inspired track.
I am curious if Subhash Ghai has noticed all these similarities….I think he must have but is silent.
2. THE FIRST OFFER OF SONG “JAI HO”
A.R. Rahman has just given the music for Subhash Ghai’s latest movie “Yuvraaj”. And while making the music for the Salman Khan starrer, guess which song Rahman offered Subhash Ghai for the movie.
It was “Jai Ho” which was played to Subhash Ghai by Rahman, but he didn’t find it matching the western musical theme of his movie. So after Ghai’s rejection the song was played to Danny Boyle and his Indian Team. They selected the song for their movie and now the same song is nominated for the OSCARS in particular. Was it a miss by Subhash Ghai ?
No, I think we have a lot to share and discuss here regarding the music and song nomination of “Jai Ho” in the OSCARS.
A.R. Rahman music director of SM, is a person who I admire, love and consider as the National Treasure of our country. But as true fan, I have some reservations about the soundtrack of “Slumdog Millionaire” representing the huge Himalayan talent of our own Rahman in the west.
.
I am proud to see A.R Rahman in the nominee list at the OSCARS and waiting for him to bring us the trophy home but deep in my heart I know that Rahman is much bigger talent than SM. He has given us more greater musical gems in the past and also consistently coming up with more appreciable projects, like in his latest “Delhi-6”. It’s not that SM soundtrack is not good but I really feel that there are more better works of Rahman which should have been nominated much earlier in the years gone by.
And that arguably makes me think that this nomination for the music is more due to the foreign associations of the movie and its director Danny Boyle who has a good track record in the Festival & Award Circuit. If the West has to know our dear Rahman in a better way, then they are advised to listen to other memorable soundtracks and albums from his repertoire.
Now I ask my readers here for a true music lover opinion :
1. Is the soundtrack of “Slumdog Millionaire” worth the nomination in OSCAR.?
2. Wasn’t “Vande Matram”, “Maa Tujhe Salaam”, “Rang De Basanti” and latest “Delhi-6” more better work of Rahman, capable of getting the nomination?
3. Why was Rahman not nominated till now, whereas he has given more superior soundtracks in the past if compared to the current “Slumdog Millionaire”?
4. Till now Rahman has been associated with many international project (like Andrew Lloyd Weber, Lord Of The Rings). Was the OSCAR Jury waiting for his association with a movie based on Indian Poverty to give him the deserved Nomination?
Now the million dollar question?
5. If the song “Jai Ho” was a part of “Yuvraaj” and not “Slumdog Millionaire” then would it have been nominated in the OSCARS. (Or even heard by the OSCAR people once!)
So I sense some funny games being played around but taking it in a positive manner, I am waiting for the picture of Rahman with the OSCAR on the front page of all newspapers in the world.
Proud of our Indian National Treasure – A. R. Rahman
Waiting for your views & comments…
Oh boy, I can’t wait to see this one. Too bad that I haven’t got the tickets for the movie yet. Thanks for the review!
Hai Bobby,
I too feel that there are more better works of Rahman which should have been nominated much earlier in the years gone by.I have no idea about the politics in Oscar nominations and all.But I strongly agree that talented people need to be identified by the influencial people. I am a fan of A.R.Rehman and there is no doubt about his greatness.But If a director like Maniratnam can’t not enrol him in his ventures,it is very hard for any creative fellow to succeed.Even he tells in one of his interviews He only put tunes in mani’s film and the rest will be taken by the director.The director knows what can be expected from him .Creativeness need to be encouraged and promoted by the right persons at the right time. Even William Shakespeare in his “Sonnets” speak in honour of his patron “Mr.W.H.”.
Personally I feel A.R.Rehman deserves more.My favourite is “Rhythm” in Tamil.We can feel the magnificience of the five elements of nature (Water,Earth,Sky,Fire and Wind).You know words can’t describe it.In “Duet” his music marries Kadhri Gopalnath’s sax.It is worth 100 oscars.Oh..the list goes on and on ..It is impossible to foretell his reach now…As an Indian I pray for him to get the Oscar!
Bavani,
Thanks for the support.
I strongly feel that people who have listned to Rahman’s South Repertoire will surely agree with my viewpoint.
But anyway we all are prayin that he gets the awards for us.
First Slumdog as a movie- Mr. Bobby it is a humane nature that we like to listen our praise and others criticizm.Don’t forget thats why GADDAR, BORDER, LOC,got hit on box office in India.If some one from west spending money from commercial angle why would he make a film that shows goody goody of India when he is making for west. Same thought was in mind of producers of BORDER, Gaddar etc. Secondly in documentory usually we try to cober most aspects of a subject or topic as that is meant for informations. Film is meant for entertainment.SLUMDOG is not exception to that.To word DOG in title I wana say that you may be aware that our Indian approach is different from western when we use word DOG.Mostly in Indian norms Dog is considered a filthy animal and we also use it to insult some one.In western society if you call a gora guy DOg it won’t offend him the way it offend us.Rather than taking literary meaning of those words we should look at from western perspective.If we eveluate that title in context of film that means ” a deprived person who is sitting at bottom of a social stratification, looking for a clue to meaning of his life.”
Now a R Rehman. No dout he is genius.It is a OSCAR award, organised by a American group for films those are made under American banners.He is not nomianted for life time achievment awards but for making a score for such a film that is on the table of OSCAR jury for different fileds of appreciation.Also if you have a gem you still need a proper channel to project that. Same thing happened with SLUMDOG itself. Because of initail low response to film on box office warner guys were ready to release it on DVd but for goodness of Boyle some how FoX guys got involved and they promoted it to a level where it got attention and you know once train gets in gear then Bale he Bale.
There is a lot of talents in Bollywood { like Traffic Signal director}so why don’t they make such a film like SLUMDOG.First because being a Indian it will be really hard to look through glasses of Mr. Boyle and suppose some how if some one dare to make it (person like Traffic Signal director), every body will look at him (even who are praising SLUMDOG now)like anti nationalist.Why didn’t we gave award to Traffic Signal, Dor, etc.Actuaaly Indian film awards are not really awrds but chamchagiri at least most of time. I will send you review on TJP.
Hi,
My question still remains there….
“If the music & soundtrack was of another film, then would it be there at the Oscars”
As per the awards, there are no real awards in India that is true. Mainpulation plays a big part in this trade and now i feel that the same level has also been achieved by the OSCARs.
But still waiting for our Rehman holding the Golden Lady.
Bobby put it other way. If it were not Fox search light as promoter for Slumdog, where would it have been now? DVD shelves, right. If so then it is not only Mr. Rehman’s nomination catogary have met same fate but also another 9 nominations and talents behind these.Very recently Mr. Amitabh said “only OSCAR shouldn’t be a criteria to judge a film”. I don’t know real intention of Mr. Amitabh behind his statement but still if we take only literary meaning of lines and try to find a sincere answer, I think his comments make sense. Why Oscar? If someone evaluate this without any partisan there are two reason. (1) whether we admit or not we Indian (South Asian) have racial inferiority complex that ( Gori chamdi and brain is better }deep down in our subconscious mind.Publically or consciously we may not admit ever but our actions prove that. You can see it in every aspect of life.More advancement of western society strengthen that belief further.(2) People in Bollywood know well that most of Indian film awards doesn’t really represent honor to their arts as these are only platform for organizer to make money and connection by bringing celebrities on one plate form.So in order to measure their real strength in field of arts, they want some other plate form.To some extent same reason is prompting you to put a concern over Mr. Rehman’s degree of acknowledgment as a musician.Now again Mr. Rehman vs Oscar. Oscar is not a musical award function where you give recognizetion to world talents in just music industries.Besides if we say why is not Mr. Rehman recognized before for his talents. Les put it this way. Why directors of Titanic (J camroon) or Mr. Spielberg getting award this year or every year. We can’t say that they have lost their talent after making such legandry movies.Now read carefully please- For a film maker to get nominated or getting a award is (whether you call it chance or strategy)- Like hitting right chord at right time at right place among right people. thanks jagroop
Thanks Jagroop, for a real eye opener here. the association of For Search revealed by you has really given it a new angle.
And you are very right to say that the chord has to be hit at the right time.
That is very true and it happens whenever it has to happen, but i wish Rahman was nominated for a more better work of his…
There was a similarity between these two songs, no doubt abt that.
The answers for yr questions
Yes it was worth the nomination just because of the movie, i agree his earlier works
are much better but we got the answer from shergill why it’s been nominated.
Many of my friends say that if somebody(from india) happens to make SM it
would never be nominated for oscars. I’am not sure abt that but i can say one thing
it would be a totally different movie when we look it from our perspective i would say
no one would dare to make such a bold movie in india because of many reasons.
I feel like we are still in the hangover of british rule trying to get recognition
from the west.It clearly shows we are not good enough to judge our own talent.
After reading shergills comments, i had nothing to comment he clearly mentioned
the answers for our questions.
Yes Jagadish,
I am also saying the same thing exactly…..
“Yes it was worth the nomination just because of the movie”
Bobby thanks for compliment. Also I did a grammatical mistake in a line in end of second comment.
“Why directors of Titanic (J.Camroon) or Mr. Spielberg getting award this year or every year. We can’t say that they have lost their talent after making such legandry movies.”
Instead of that read it “WHY DIRECTORS OF TITANIC (J.CAMROON ) AND SPEILBERG ARE NOT GETTING AWARD THIS YEAR OR EVERY YEAR EVEN AFTER HAVING HAD MADE LEGENDRY MOVIES IN PAST AND HAVING HAD AWARDS FOR THOSE.”
SLUMDOG a genuine review
I happened to watch Slumdog here in Calgary Canada in Studio 16 theatre. It was afternoon show on Friday23 Jan 2009 There were 20-25 people in 300 seats hall. This is 1 of 5 theaters in city where movie is running. I would say that number is good with in given circumtances of wheather and time of day People usually go on weekend to movie. All of them were +35.
Here is my genuine conclusion:
1- This is a class movie, not mass movie.
2-The most thing that I appreciate in movie is direction and script.
3- Content of film is not new but the way story has been woven , that is really impressive. Thrill, Suspense and Drama.
4- All actors were fabulous. I am really fan of those children artists.
4- When it comes to film it self if I watch it
(A) From an artistic point of view I enjoyed this movie a lot. Even though a movie is director’s perspective so no question to that. If I go on microscopic angle then I found (a) – Jamal’s elder brother Salim’s character is not that clear but because drama is so moving it doesn’t bother. (b) – Second thing that bother me is that a scene when youngest Jamal jumps in to toilet’s gutter to get a glimp of super star of his dream and is smeared with humane waste around him.That is disgusting and cheap way of showing comic touch.That kind of treatment is not up to caliber of directer like Mr. Boyle.Director could have use other way of bringing comic touch. Nobody even a boy living in Slum would be that much desperate. (c) – Giving electric shock is little exageration but again I think director wanted to give a boost to dramatic angle to film in beginning. (d) – Middle Jamal as comes on screen start to speak English fluently to visitors at Taj Mahal. Little annoying but here is a line, Hollywood use in this kind of situation called – Suspension of Disbelief for the sake of whole film.(e) – Anil Kapoor him self as an actor was very good but some time his character was going a little over especially when as a host he trying to humiliate Jamal indirectly by saying Chai wala or etc. Because when you are on air and you know thousand of people are watching and it matter to your TPR then you should be very cautious in choosing and using words.Director should have work on that part as it is unbelievable.
(B) From an Indian point of view yes there was some objection like he showed more negativity or you can say was biased in depicting Indian system or partial truth but again as director made it for commercial purpose and we know how does commercial angle works.That’s why Bollywood film like -Border and Gaddar get hit in India.Secondly Slumdog is a movie but documetory so I can’t question to content of that .Besides as a matter of fact – A real boy living in a real slum can tell better from that angle how much was the director justified in showing their life or experience. It won’t work in small centre only in big cities where a class for this kind of movie lives.
As a sum up It is a really nice crafted movie and Bollywood people should learn that instead of criticizing.If you are really sentive to nationalism then just don’t watch it as it is meant for western audience.It is not meant to send out any intentional message but for pure entertainment.
In OSCAR it may not win both Best Film & Best Director awards but either of them.Again enjoy it if you are open minded and love arts.
Hi, your review has many points similar to mine, and they are all quite right.
Yes, it is a movie to be seen more from the script, direction and execution point of view as it excels in all those departments.
But you havent mentioned yr views about the music by Rahman.
Hi Mr.Bobby!am following ur blogs 4 quite a while.feels nice to explore the world of cinema.
Now,regarding the similarity between the “ringa ringa” and “choli ke peeche” songs – it was announced and accepted by AR RAHMAN himself even before the release of the sound track! that he had been a lover of the choli song and thought the tune would suit the scene in SDM.And he wanted to bring the original flavor,so he used the same combo of alka and ila.
Now about the Merits of SDM soundtrack for getting an Oscar – first, i have never heard of any bollywood or japanese or any other language movie apart fromm the Hollywoodian stuff getting an Oscar for best music(correct me if i am wrong), if it is so then he would have won the oscars a dozen of times.Second,i agree that ARR has produced several great compositions compared to SDM but it is the one that put him on global arena and the people at the international level have’nt heard the kind of music before.Other music directors in Hollywood will be happy for the late recognition of The Talent- AR Rahman,considering the number of awards he is winning for a single movie.
and finally about ur question-
“”4. Till now Rahman has been associated with many international project (like Andrew Lloyd Weber, Lord Of The Rings). Was the OSCAR Jury waiting for his association with a movie based on Indian Poverty to give him the deserved Nomination?”"
Ans:- Let me correct u.Lord of the rings by Andrew Lloyd webber was a play and not a movie -
so, no chance of an oscar.Next, Elizabeth – the Golden age – it was a dud,most importantly he is just a co-composer.Next,Warriors of heaven and earth – not every movie can make it to Oscars and the kind of music was more of the chinese and Hollywoodish style-which could not gather their attention.As far as SDM is considered i have answered it already …..
Its not that it was looking for movie on poverty in India or terrorism in Pakistan or reccession in America……if so then i am gonna call ARR to do the music for the Film on “Reccession in America”
May be it will win all the Oscars in the Music category…….
At last, thanks 4 all the reviews and ur sincere attempt at bringing the world cinema together….If i am at the jury of Oscars i will recommend one for you….God Bless…..
Thank Anvesh, for your honest opinion and thinking good for me.
You are very right in many things you said.
And I am also praying that our dear Rahman wins all OSCARS at the ceremony this year.
So lets keep our fingers crrosed.!
And do keep visiting my small attmept here…
Cheers!
I read somewhere that Rahman actually took Ghai’s permission before composing Ringa ringa, which in fact is his tribute to Choli ke peeche. It is not covert plagiarism as you have portrayed it.
Coming to your complaint that only SM’s songs of Rahman have been recognized for the Oscars, the reasons are simple. The Academy Awards is a Hollywood film festival. They celebrate and honor western movies. It is wrong for us to expect great Indian cinema to be certified by the Oscars, just like it is wrong to expect that great western cinema should be certified by Indian awards! [:)] SM is a western film and Rahman was chosen to be a part of it. The audience loved it and so did the professionals of the industry. That’s why he is getting his much-deserved accolades through this movie, rather than through his previous works.
I saw SM with an open mind and enjoyed the riveting flow of the story, culminating in one of the most uplifting climaxes I’ve ever seen. Though it depicts a gruesome picture of poverty and crime in India, I don’t agree that it ‘romanticizes’ this theme, what some critics have labeled ‘poverty porn’. It uses this as a background to tell a story of love, luck and hope.
Thanks Arun fro writing in and I do respect your opinion and praying for Rahman to win us the OSCAR…
Would love to see more from you here!
Cheers!