Omkara
I really believe that Gulzar is the last of the titans remaining in the gradually dying art of film lyrics. Latest example is his genius in Omkara.
The lyrics in the title song of Omkara has a local significance related to the history of the region - Uttar Pradesh - where the movie has been based. The particular line - Dham Dham Dhadak Dhadaiyya Re, Sabse Badey Ladaiyya Re...
This line is taken from a ballad - Allha - which is very popular in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but its singers are spread beyond the region too. Allha and Udal were two extremely brave, Khshatriya warriors brothers in the service of Raja Piramal of Mahoba(a district near Jhansi). They were contemporary of king Prithviraj Chauhan.
They fought against Prithviraj Chauhan to save Mahoba from latter's aggression and even defeated him once, but in yet another battle younger brother Udal loses his life, while Allha who was said to be immortal retires to the forests, after killing Prithviraj's son.
This very long ballad narrates the story of their valour. Its singing style is very dynamic and full of the flavour of war(Veer Ras), and singers are always men. These narrators have a great voice, & lungs and they create such a fervour that could bring goose flesh.
Bappi Lahiri lifted the tune of this ballad for a song in the movie Dalal - Mar Mar Gaye Phokat Mein, Arey Koi To Humko Diyo Batayi...if you remember the song.
Omkara is also the story of warriors, though of the gangster category. Gulzar maps the situation very well. Had this been written by Javed Akhtar, Prasoon Joshi or Maya Govind who are localites, then still I could have digested this.
But how on the earth did Gulzar heard of this ballad! I am sure not many of my state friends would have heard of this. I happen to know just because I have the major village connections, and happen to be of the same caste of these gentlemen.
Not only this song, but every other song in the movie has a local essence which I think would go well along with the movie. Of course, the director cum script writer cum music director Vishal Bharadwaj, another localite, would have helped a great deal.
Like the song Namak is a Thumri which his wife Rekha Bharadwaj sang with great variations. Thumri, along with Kathak, is the gift which Nawabs gave to the music. It was a very popular style of singing by the courtesans of the previous era.
Gulzar has done this before in Bunty aur Bubbly. Every Kanpuriya will connect with this particular phrase of the title song - Aisa Saga Nahin, Jisko Thaga Nahin....
This is a very popular catch phrase of the famous Mithai shop in Kanpur - Thaggu Halwai at Parade Chauraha. Even that shop has been shown in the movie.
Sincerely, Gulzar is a class apart.
The lyrics in the title song of Omkara has a local significance related to the history of the region - Uttar Pradesh - where the movie has been based. The particular line - Dham Dham Dhadak Dhadaiyya Re, Sabse Badey Ladaiyya Re...
This line is taken from a ballad - Allha - which is very popular in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but its singers are spread beyond the region too. Allha and Udal were two extremely brave, Khshatriya warriors brothers in the service of Raja Piramal of Mahoba(a district near Jhansi). They were contemporary of king Prithviraj Chauhan.
They fought against Prithviraj Chauhan to save Mahoba from latter's aggression and even defeated him once, but in yet another battle younger brother Udal loses his life, while Allha who was said to be immortal retires to the forests, after killing Prithviraj's son.
This very long ballad narrates the story of their valour. Its singing style is very dynamic and full of the flavour of war(Veer Ras), and singers are always men. These narrators have a great voice, & lungs and they create such a fervour that could bring goose flesh.
Bappi Lahiri lifted the tune of this ballad for a song in the movie Dalal - Mar Mar Gaye Phokat Mein, Arey Koi To Humko Diyo Batayi...if you remember the song.
Omkara is also the story of warriors, though of the gangster category. Gulzar maps the situation very well. Had this been written by Javed Akhtar, Prasoon Joshi or Maya Govind who are localites, then still I could have digested this.
But how on the earth did Gulzar heard of this ballad! I am sure not many of my state friends would have heard of this. I happen to know just because I have the major village connections, and happen to be of the same caste of these gentlemen.
Not only this song, but every other song in the movie has a local essence which I think would go well along with the movie. Of course, the director cum script writer cum music director Vishal Bharadwaj, another localite, would have helped a great deal.
Like the song Namak is a Thumri which his wife Rekha Bharadwaj sang with great variations. Thumri, along with Kathak, is the gift which Nawabs gave to the music. It was a very popular style of singing by the courtesans of the previous era.
Gulzar has done this before in Bunty aur Bubbly. Every Kanpuriya will connect with this particular phrase of the title song - Aisa Saga Nahin, Jisko Thaga Nahin....
This is a very popular catch phrase of the famous Mithai shop in Kanpur - Thaggu Halwai at Parade Chauraha. Even that shop has been shown in the movie.
Sincerely, Gulzar is a class apart.
posted by Unknown at 12:50 PM
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