The Cat Is Out Of Bag

It's now confirmed that the title song of Omkara is based on the ballad Aallhaa. I have heard this from horse's mouth yesterday. Gulzar himself told this to Aaj Tak yesterday. This further confirms that Gulzar is a well read maestro.

Meanwhile, the music of Omkara keeps growing on. On second thought, I think music is not just good, its great. Especially if you consider we are in the torrent times of Himesh Reshamiyya.

Sukhwinder Singh, the highest paid, and the most choosy singer of our times, intoxicates with the title song. He has a distinct quality in his voice which rises above the music of the song he sings.

Rekha Bharadwaj adds her Namak to Namak Isaq Kaa. Sheer magic. She has an earthen voice. Notice the way she pronounces 'Bheetar Bheetar'. Never heard these words pronounced better in a song. May be her Lucknow roots have helped her there. Then those Harmoniums and Dholaks accentuate the rawness of the song.

Here I must also mention that Bipasha, to my surprise, has given good expressions, supported by good choreography.

All other songs Jaag Ja, Naina Sun Lenge, Beedi Jalailey, O Saathi Re are unique. Having said that, this album is not for masses. It is a collector's item which must be cherished. I am sure these songs will not die a quick death. They will be with us long after because album does have repeat value.

Hope Vishal repeats this stellar performance in the movie as well. Characterization appears to be good. These actors must pull off for their and our sake.

Ajay Devgan is a brooding Omkara nee Othello. If he picks up the dialect well, I am sure he would be able to portray the character of love lorned, jealous, suspicious, and finally repentant Omkara well. Vishal has made Irfan Khan portray these fast changing emotions before in Maqbool.

Iago, who incarnates in Saif Ali Khan, wasn't devilish. He was the devil himself. He was ambitious, scheming and wicked. Remember in Othello how he tells Roderigo that "I follow him(Othello) to serve my turn(revenge) upon him."

And how he decides to use Desdemona(Kareena) as a pawn
"So I will turn her virtue into pitch,
And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all."

Saif limps in the movie so he is called Langda Tyagi. A surname further signifies that the movie is based in western Uttar Pradesh, which is where this surname is abunduntatly found.

Michael Cassio(Viveik Oberoi) didn't have much to do in the play apart from being another pawn in Iago's hands, and an absolute loyal lieutenant of Othello, so I suspect Viveik wouldn't have much to do in the film either.

He is Kesu Firangi because he goes to college and speak a little bit of English. If Vishal restrains him, he will look earnest.

Surprisingly nobody speaks of Konkona Sen Sharma nee Emilia, who plays the wife of Iago. Though she was another inadvertent player in Iago's sinister designs, she had a very key role in the play. She was also the eventual spoiler of the whole conspiracy.

She is the only accomplished actress in the movie, though self admittedly, she had the most difficulty picking up the accent. But the way she pulled off in Mr.and Mrs.Iyyer, hope she does it hear too. The way Vishal has given her the look - cotton Sari, bridled, oiled hair, big Bindi, Kajal, and a thick Sindoor - she looks a perfect village girl.

I am pleasantly surprised that publicity is going on full throttle this time. Beginning with Rediff, Star News has now been showing daily capsules on the movie. Aaj Tak, and NDTV have also joined the band wagon. I sincerely hope, apart from the critical acclaim, producers of Vishal make money too.

Now my request to readers would be if you have made the sin of watching the likes of K3G, Kaal, Fanaa, please do a Pryashchit by watching Omkara. If you find it bad, Paap Ke Ghade Mein Ek Boond Aur Sahi.

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.

If Wishes Had Wings ...

If ever I were to produce a movie,

My cast would definitely include Amitabh Bachhan, Irfan Khan and Konkona Sen.
My Script/Dialogue Writer would be Javed Akhtar.
My Director would be Farhan Akhtar or Vishal Bharadwaj.
My Assitant Directors & Editors would be Vidhu Vinod Chopda, and Sudhir Mishra.
My Cinematographer would be Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
My Music Director would be some one new as both Madan Mohan and Roshan are dead.
My Songs would be written by Gulzar, as Sahil Ludhinawi is dead.

I know most of those wishes seem to be preposterous, but as they say - if wishes had wings, I would fly.