"Yaaram" - Ek Thi Daayan

The first song from "Ek Thi Daayan": I found the English lyrics a little off-putting, but perhaps it'll take time to get used to. Also got a "O Mamma" ("Saat Khoon Maaf") vibe from the song - Vishal has had a few songs featuring a person on a guitar.

"Ek Thi Daayan" - trailer

How's this for a trailer:

---

Notes:

1. As we have noted before, the film was earlier just called "Daayan".
2. Much was then made of Emraan Hashmi's presence; post-"Shanghai", he is a lot more palatable to everyone.
3. The film is co-written by Mukul Sharma; once again, we presume this is the person who gives Konkona Sen Sharma one of her last names, who also used to write the Mindsport column in ToI years ago. We had reported his writing of another to-be Vishal project "Dream Sequence"; it's not clear whether that was a separate project, or got shelved, or just part of "Daayan".
4. Interesting to see three very well-regarded actresses; a rarity in B-town.

Matru... music is out (at least online)

One place to listen to it is here at Gaana.com.

Reactions? Leave them in the comments box.

"Matru..." tracklist

The track list according to Flipkart:

1. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola - Sukhwinder Singh, Ranjit Barot
2. Khamakha - Vishal Bhardwaj, Prem Dehati
3. Oye Boy Charlie - Rekha Bhardwaj, Shankar Mahadevan, Mohit Chauhan
4. Lootnewale - Sukhwinder Singh, Master Saleem
5. Shara-Rara-Ra - Prem Dehati
6. Badal Uthiya - Rekha Bhardwaj
7. Chaar Dina Ki - Pankaj Kapur, Imran Khan and Prem Dehati
8. Chor Police - Pankaj Kapur
9. Nomvula - African Umoja
10. Badal Uthiya Reprise - Prem Dehati
11. Lootnewale Reprise - Sukhwinder Singh

"Oye Boy Charlie", Kartik Vijay, and the Emil Kusturica connection

"Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola" is being described as a absurdist mad-cap movie, and the next song trailer, "Oye Boy Charlie", to be released fits in with that description:

Notes:
1. A couple of in-jokes: "Charlie" and "Dolly"
2. Shankar Mahadevan sings for Vishal for the first time (another example of a music composer singing for Vishal)
3. The brass band named "Kusturi-ca Brass Band", referring to the Serbian director Emil Kusturica (who is also known for his zany comedies and his brass bands, which has inspired songs such as "Emosional Atyachar")
4. The song's mukhDaa has a resemblance to the Mukesh song "Tauba Yeh Matwaali Chaal" from "Patthar Ke Sanam"?

---

The Kusturica connection is also hinted at in this Mint interview with the film's cinematographer, Kartik Vijay, who also says: "The story is about a capitalist who turns into a socialist when he starts to drink"

Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola - the first trailer

Where have we been? It's been over a year since this blog posted anything; now it returns with the trailer of Vishal's next directorial film.

Here is the teaser to "Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola":

From this, we glean the following tidbits:

• The film is slated to release on Jan 11, 2013 (so there's another three months to go)
• We now know how to pronounce "Matru" (it's "मटरू")
• There's Shabana Azmi as well, returning to work with Vishal after playing the eponymous role in his debut film "Makdee"
• No surprises on the musical credits: Gulzar saab, Clinton Cerejo et al.
• The two-seater airplane is almost out of Tintin
• Though perhaps lacking the immediate impact of trailers for Kaminey and even Saat Khoon Maaf, there are enough intriguing elements: just what is the Meena Kumari complex? What's with the pink cow (or is purple? Should we ask Seth Godin)? And will Imran Khan's Haryanvi accent hold?

And to remind you that the origins of this film are in a Haryanvi play recommended by Pankaj Kapur himself.

Update:
A post on the Fight Club blog with some more nuggets.

Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola

Following up on 'Vishal's Next(s)', the title for Vishal's Kumar Mangat-Ajay Devg(a)n-Fox production is "Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola" (see this HT report).

Apparently based on a Haryanvi play recommended by Pankaj Kapur, the movie stars Kapur, Ajay Devgan, and Anushka Sharma.

vishal's next(s)

As seems to be the norm, there are numerous notes about Vishal's next venture.

The first is the sequel to Ishqiya and is called, until further notice, Dedh Ishqiya. Vishal, of course, will only be producing (and, one assumes, handling the songs and music). Shooting is supposed to start either at the end of 2011 or some time in 2012. It seems almost certain that Vidya Balan is not part of it while the other regulars are. It is unclear whether Kangna Ranaut and Madhuri Dixit will be part of the sequel.

The next is the much-hyped adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's 2 States and might (finally?) see Shah Rukh Khan collaborating with Vishal after the last opportunity for Mr. Mehta and Mrs. Singh came to naught. Rumours suggested that Priyanka Chopra was slated to play Ananya to SRK's Krish, but the actress has reportedly cleared that up: she is not part of the film (yet?). There are rumours that Asin might be the one, but rumours will be rumours. Things may start moving only in 2012.

Evidently bitten by sequelitis, Vishal is also working on Kaminey 2, but without Priyanka Chopra. More is not known.

The thread with the most surprises, however, has been for a film called (currently) Daayan. This not only sees Vishal collaborating for the first time with Ekta Kapoor, but also has a very surprising choice for the male lead: Emraan Hashmi. Evidently, this choice drove several A-list actresses away, including Rani Mukerji, but the latest rumour indicates that Vidya Balan, who did not make the roster of Dedh Ishqiya might snag the eponymous role. Little else is known about the film except for the premise of a guy doing the rounds with three lassies (which makes the choice of Hashmi not so surprising given his ouevre), one of whom is a witch.

Vishal is also working on what might well be the first in the pack to make it to the marquee: a romantic comedy with Ajay Devgn (TAFKA Devgan) and produced by Kumar Mangat. The title might surface in a few weeks.

After being a part of the launch of Mafia Queens of Mumbai by S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges, Vishal has reportedly bought the rights to one of its chapters. Anything more might happen only after the cinematic adaptation of 2 States gets done (or abandoned).

National Awards for Vishal and Rekha Bhardwaj and others (Ishqiya)

The 58th National Film Awards (for 2010) were announced today.

Vishal Bhardwaj won his 2nd National Award for Best Music Direction (Songs) for "Ishqiya". His citation reads: "for blending rustic flavour with the Indian classical tradition. Earlier, Vishal had won this award for "Godmother" in 1999.

"Ishqiya" also won Rekha Bhardwaj her first Best Playback Singer - Female prize, the citation reading "for a sensual and evocative rendering of a heart longing for the beloved." (probably for "Ab Mujhe"). Two "Best Audiography" awards went to the film, to Kaamod Kharade (Location Sound Recordist ) and Debajit Changmai (Re-recordist of the final mixed track).

Unfortunately, Gulzar did not win his third award for Best Lyricist, losing out to Vairamuthu (who now has the most Best Lyricist awards at six). Incidentally, Suresh Wadkar, a long-time associate, won Best Male Playback Singer (for "Mee Sindhutai Sapkal")

(Readers will note that "Ishqiya" was a Vishal production. Previous National Awards won by Vishal and people associated with his films are listed here.)

Vishal's non-film music album in the offing

According to the report in HT, Vishal Bhardwaj is working on a non-film Sufi album.

“We will be ready with it in about a year-and-a-half. It’s still in the planning stage,” Vishal says.

Also, per the update, 2 States, possibly won't be the film that Vishal directs next.

Ishqiya sequel and Sabrina Dhawan on Two States

Some news:

* Looks like there may be a sequel to Ishqiya. See this.

* Vishal's next, an adaptation of the novel "Two States", sees a new co-writer in Sabrina Dhawan. She is better known as a close collaborator of Mira Nair on films such as "Monsoon Wedding". This is better news than having Chetan Bhagat on board.

Barse Barse

"Barse Barse" sees Vishal collaborating not only with Gulzar, but also with Suresh Wadkar, whose association with Vishal has been fruitful but somewhat unheralded. (I have been mulling over a post on this topic for a while.) This is a non-film album (we don't seem to have a proper term for anything outside of a Bollywood soundtrack!). Karthik reviews it here.

Abhishek Chaubey: "Inside the Mind of Vishal Bhardwaj" (OPEN Magazine)

Abhishek Chaubey knows a thing or two about what makes Vishal tick, having assisted him and having directed a film under his production. OPEN magazine has an interview with Chaubey on his mentor.

(Link courtesy Ajay Bhat)

"Vishal's World" - an article in Mint Lounge

"When 19-year-old Vishal Bhardwaj returned from cricket practice that morning, his home had been emptied out on the street. Chairs, tables, utensils, clothes, photo frames—everything lay strewn on the road outside his home in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. In the midst of it, right there on the street, his poet father—for long his best friend—lay sprawled. And lifeless."

Mint Lounge has an insightful interview with Vishal about life, cricket, his family, and music. It's small, but tells us a something about the self-learning streak, the influences, and the journey so far.

(The board behind him in the photo is pretty interesting - among other things, I picked out references to names such as Wadia and Nadia - remember that Vishal was once planning to make "Julia" a film on 'Fearless' Nadia, and in talks with Franka Potente then.)

Baradwaj on Bhardwaj

With "7 Khoon Maaf" around the corner, ace film critic Baradwaj Rangan explores Vishal Bhardwaj's fascination with and ability to render interesting female characters in a piece for Caravan Magazine aptly titled "Blood Sisters".

Warning: the essay contains spoilers about most of the films mentioned.

The music of "7 Khoon Maaf": track and credit listing

Posting on behalf of George

1. darling*: usha uthup/rekha bhardwaj
2. bekaraan: vishal bhardwaj (violins: ganesh-kumaresh) (a nice flourish that, if i may add)
3. o mama: kk (rap: clinton cerejo) [vishal does a PAANCH for himself :)]
4. awaara: master saleem (sitar: niladri kumar) [saleem does rahat]
5. tere liye: suresh wadkar (mohan veena: pandit vishwa mohan bhatt) [lucky charm wadkar?]
6. dil dil hai: suraj jagan
7. yeshu: rekha bhardwaj
8. doosri darling*: usha uthup, rekha bhardwaj, clinton cerejo, francois castellino
9. o mama (acoustic): kk

*original russian folk song 'kalinka' composed by ivan larionov (1860); additional russian lyrics: aditi singh sharma

7 Khoon Maaf - Music track listing

(from Flipkart's page)

1. Darling

2. Bekaraan

3. O Mama

4. Awaara

5. Tere Liye

6. Dil Dil Hai

7. Yeshu

8. Doosri Darling

9. O Mama ( Accoustic)



Singers: Master Saleem, Usha Uthup, Rekha Bhardwaj, K.K, Suraj Jagan, Suresh Wadkar

(will update the page as we get more info)

(7KM music) The official word on "Kalinka"

As reported earlier, "Darrling", the song that accompanies the trailer of 7 Khoon Maaf is based on a Russian folk song called "Kalinka". This news report makes the additional clarification and assuages any potential misgivings about plagiarism:

Vishal confirmed using the Russian track, "Yes, it is based on Kalinka, which is a centuries-old Russian folk song. In fact, original Russian words have also been used in the song as one of the husbands happens to be a Russian." He adds, "It has been used in a lot of films around the world." We hear that he even flew down four Russian singers to sing the Kalinka song. They are also given credit in the album.

Vishal, Shah Rukh Khan, Chetan Bhagat (OMG!)

I guess it's time to come out of denial and actually report this as befits this blog. Apparently, Vishal will be adapting Chetan Bhagat's "Two States" with Shah Rukh Khan, thus resulting in a combination that one would not have guessed days ago. Just how this will turn out, we'll wait and see, but a certain sense of disbelief at Vishal using CB material is a little disconcerting. Such sentiment earlier has been restricted to his choice of actors (and must confess, these have been unfounded), so time will tell.

The guys at 'Fight Club' are also none too impressed with this development (2nd half of the post).

7 Khoon Maaf - the trailer

Earlier today, "VBFan" told us about the official poster of "7 Khoon Maaf" and soon after, Punit Jha posted the link to the first trailer on the Gulzarfans Y! Group. On first viewing, this one is as good as Kaminey's trailer (impressive that Indian film-makers too can cut such trailers):



Striking notes:

* Can't figure out the main voice in the song, but there's Usha Uthup in the mix (she's also acting in the film)

* A cross-dressing John Abraham!

* Nice to see Annu Kapoor in a film after a long hiatus

* Great European lilt to the tune

* Oh, and looks like the official title is "7 Khoon Maaf".

Enjoy.

(Poster from Bollywood Hungama)

Update (25 Dec): Fight Club finds the base folk Russian song on which "Darrrling" is based (a Russian song called Kalinka).