Conversations Over Chai
Come in, sit down, converse...
05 March 2023
Kishore Kumar's Comic Songs

28 February 2023
My Favourites: Comic Songs
I have not always been a fan of ‘comedy’ in old Hindi films. They are usually stereotypical, loud, and at least to me, not at all funny. Even the songs that are picturised on these comic side plots are sometimes more irritating than comic. [Especially if they featured Mehmood.] Except, of course, for Johnny Walker, whose songs were as iconic as him. But if you look closely at Johnny Walker's songs, not all of them are ‘funny’ except for the fact that one just has to see him on screen to smile. Many of them were rather philosophical musings, albeit in a funny way – Sar jo tera chakraaye, for example, or even the satirical Ae dil hai mushkil.

23 February 2023
Chhaya (1961)
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Directed by: Hrishikesh Mukherjee Music: Salil Chowdhury Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan Starring: Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh, Nirupa Roy, Nasir Hussain, Lalita Pawar, Mohan Choti, Krishan Dhawan, Achala Sachdev |
I first watched Chhaya when they showed it on DD. Then, a few years ago, while I was trawling through YouTube to find something to watch, I came across the film, and promptly watched it again. A handsome Sunil Dutt, a very pretty (and not as irritating) Asha Parekh and great songs – what more do you need for lazy Sunday evening?

18 February 2023
The Masters: Jan Nisar Akhtar
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18.02.1914 - 19.08.1976 |
When veteran music director Khayyam was complimented on his compositions, he said, “Where would my songs be without the musicians who bring my tunes to life, the lyricists who adorn those melodies with words, and the singers who gave voice to them?” Composers like Khayyam are vocal in their recognition of the importance of collaborative efforts in creating the classic Hindi film song. So also, directors who used songs, not just as interludes in the script, but as a way to push the narrative. The songs of the age also demanded a high calibre of lyrics –lyrics that would suit the context of the scene and the character on whom it would be picturized. And for that, the film industry turned to poets who were fluent not only in Hindi or Urdu but also steeped in the rhythm and melody of verse. Since being a mere poet was not sufficient to earn a living, many a poet turned to the more lucrative career of writing lyrics to melodies. One such poet-lyricist was Jan Nisar Akhtar.

14 February 2023
Ten 'Anti-Love' Songs
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Courtesy: Pexels.com - Karolina Grabowska |
Ah, February – the season of love. And Valentine’s Day – where love is measured by outpourings on social media. Exorbitantly prized red roses. Boxes and boxes of chocolates. Even Hallmark makes a killing, selling sappy cards. And me? I usually get more and more Grinch-like as the date nears.
It’s not that I am anti-romance. I am not. I do believe in love. Truly What I don’t like are made-up customs that mandate that someone should do something particular (and very expensive) to show you they love you. And on this one day, I find myself ranged on the side of the men against my tribe because the onus of a ‘successful’ romance seems to be on them (and their wallets). The gifts they buy, the flowers they send (in pre-Covid days, to the office), the meals they cook, how special they make you feel – in public – all measures how much they love the women in their lives.

09 February 2023
The Masters: K Vishwanath
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Picture Courtesy: India Today 19.02.1030 – 03. 02.2023 |
This past week, I have had occasion to ponder upon what Kamal Hassan referred to as ‘the transience of life and the immortality of art’. We have lost two luminaries – Producer-Director K Vishawanath, a colossus who reigned over the Telugu film industry for nearly six decades; and singer Vani Jairam, who had a successful career in disparate languages. I will pay my tributes to the latter at a later stage, but now, I want to express my appreciation to a film-maker whose films filled my childhood with the colours of love, humanity, kindness and compassion.

04 February 2023
My Favourites: Women and Chores' Songs

30 January 2023
Qala (2022)
*Warning: There may be some spoilers.

26 January 2023
Behind the Scenes
When I think of Sai Paranjpye, it is with a smile on my face. Whether it is the memory of her films like Chashme Buddoor or Sparsh; or her television serials like Ados Pados, they were stories one could relate to. In fact, for those of us who watched these in the 80s, ‘Miss Chamko’, ‘Lallan Mian’, tutti-frooti ice cream, the hare and the tortoise, are all cultural reference points for us to bond over. So, when I came across Sai Paranjpye’s memoirs on my last trip to India, I picked it up on a whim.

20 January 2023
Glass Onion (2022)
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Directed by: Rian
Johnson Starring: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista |
