May 17, 2007

FILM
If you ban it, they will come. Or so experience and perverse human nature would lead us to believe. In the case of Kabul Express, however, nothing short of the outright threat of a Taliban assault could draw the crowds. Produced by Aditya Chopra and directed by Indian documentary film maker Kabir Khan, the film portraying Pak-Afghan relations has antagonised not only Pakistanis –– as would be expected –– but also, ironically the Afghans themselves. The film was banned by the Karzai government after vehement protests over the negative portrayal of the country’s Hazara community.

For a movie that boasts invitations to four film festivals (Toronto, London, Pusan and Dubai) and claims to be the first film shot in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban, it doesn’t do much to tickle the brain cells. The situations are forced, the jokes are weak and the cultural stereotyping is over the top (apparently all Pakistani soldiers serving at the border speak flawless, cultured Urdu). The film has taken the very complex issue of post-Taliban Afghanistan and simplified it to: Indians good, Pakistanis bad and Afghans savages.

Political ineptness aside, this political comedy also fails to deliver in terms of acting. John Abraham and Arshad Warsi are Indian TV journalists on a mission to interview the Taliban, while Pakistani Salman Shahid plays a fugitive Talib trying to flee to Pakistan. But try as they might, they just cannot seem to get into their respective roles and their performances come across as forced and clichéd. Even Warsi –– of Munna Bhai fame –– is unable to save the film. The film’s single redeeming feature is that it allows viewers some glimpses of post-Taliban Afghanistan. — Saima Shakil Hussain

 

SINGLE
Side of a Bullet –– the fifth release from Nickelback’s 2005 All the Right Reasons album –– is musically not one of their best tracks. Perhaps in other circumstances it would not even have been released. However, it is a tribute to the late Dimebag Darrell Abbott, lead guitarist for the heavy metal bands Pantera, Damageplan and Rebel Meets Rebel.

Darrell was shot and killed in 2004 while performing on stage with Damageplan. His senseless death shook up much of the hard rock world and Nickelback has expressed its anger in the powerful lyrics of Side of a Bullet.

Lead singer Chad Kroeger sings, How could you take his life away?/(What made you think you had the right?)/How could you be so full of hate? (To take away somebody's life)/And when I heard you let him die/And made the world/all wonder why/I sat at home and cried alone/and on my own/I scratched your name/On the side of a bullet.

While Nickelback shot to fame with more of their pop rock sound than their heavy metal, Side of a Bullet recalls their early metal roots. The Metallica-esque number is very 90s but a befitting homage to one of the genre’s shining stars. — T.U.Dawood
 

ALBUM
Last time Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee paired up was in Hum Tum, one of the most successful romantic Bollywood films. Now, the twosome reunite for Ta Ra Rum Pum, another peppy romantic comedy-drama.

The accompanying soundtrack reflects this light drama mood very well. Conducted by the duo Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the soundtrack contains six main songs. The most played single is the title track which is sung by Shaan, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Sneha Suresh and Shravan Suresh. Light-hearted and fun, the melody and lyrics perfectly match the title. There is also an added charm in the form of the whistle blowing that comes and goes throughout the song.

Another surefire hit off the soundtrack is Hey Shona. Sung by Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan, this track is more balladic, with soft strings and tabla. It is the sublety of the vocals that elevate this single as Shaan’s and especially Chauhan’s voices seem like caresses. A superior love song.

Other key tracks include Nachle Ve performed by Sonu Nigam and Somya Raoh, Ta Ra Ra Ra Rum Tararumpum sung by Shreya Ghoshal, Ab To Forever by KK, Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Dadlani, and Saiyaan by Vishal Dadlani. – T.U.D.

 

MUSIC VIDEO
People who think fusion of classical vocals with metallic string work is commonplace work need to think again. Many have done it in the past, but we remember only a few. Of them is a duo, Yasir Jawed and Faraz Anwar. Faraz as we all know has been associated with Mizraab as a guitarist and Yasir is a budding young songster who has fused the two sounds to perfection.

Their first song Kalavati was a major hit, and now recently they have come up with their second video of the song Tujh Bin. Both have gone through a change in their outlook but the music is still worth listening to.

The lyrics tell a story of a beloved who is being missed and the video portrays the same. While Faraz remains occupied with his guitar, the vocalist shows more emotions towards the gist of the song.

A down to earth video, where director Aman Ahmad has extracted the best of what he has used and not gone overboard with the extras, Tujh Bin is another memento for the two, whose combination has given many other artists a run for their money. With less noise and good team work both by the artists and the camera crew, this is a video to watch out for this week. — Tahir Yahya