Discoveries of 2007
Since Its that time of the year when everyone looks back & gives their list of things. I’m gonna do a do a series on them. I’ll start with the best things I discovered this year but which may not necessarily belong to this year. These are books i loved, movies I discovered, music I loved, youtube videos that entertained me.
Books -
1) Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone – Rajiv Chandrasekaran
http://tinyurl.com/2as35t
This is a must read for anyone who wants to know what & how things went wrong in the 1st 3 years of the war. Chandrasekaran was the Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post. The reason this book tops my list is because its a very objective account of what happened. Its not a leftist journalists rants against the stupidity of this administration. Infact Paul Greengrass(Bourne Ultimatum, United 93) is going to make a feature based on this book next. I think he is the best Director in this world to make this film.
2) Siddhartha – Hermann Hesse
http://tinyurl.com/ynk68j
I have to thank that Philosophy discussion between THE REAL ABHISHEK & KAVITA few months ago for this book. It was lying around in my house for sometime. But I wasn’t interested in reading another western interpretation of Buddha’s life. Its a very small book & fast read. Very simple. But very profound in its simplicity.
*********************
Music-
1) Sigur Ros- This is a very young band from Iceland. Since I already posted an article on them previously on PFC, I’ll just give you guys the link to them.
http://passionforcinema.com/thank-you-john-kumar-mangat-sigur-ros/
[youtube]RZYIfUdIyfs[/youtube]
http://hypem.com/artist/sigur+ros
http://www.myspace.com/sigurros
2) www.pandora.com
The best online radio. Its the result of Music Genome Project, where they figured out the genes of music. So you can create your own radio stations. What you do is create a stationed named after your fav artist or song. And it will play similar kind of music all day long. This way you discover so many new songs. And you can give each song a thumbs up or down which will help them understand your taste even better. You can create 100 stations for free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Genome_Project
3) www.Hypem.com – The Hype Machine
I discovered this website just a week back. And I been hooked on it since. Its the best site to find contemporary music. It tracks all kinds of Music related blogs from the internet & jams it together. You can listen to all these songs. And sometimes even download them. And the best part is its COMPLETELY LEGAL. So none of that Limewire’s Virus scares.
http://hypem.com/about
3) Fuijiya & Miyagi
Not, its not a Japanese Band. Its a British Pop Band. It was one of my fav albums of last year.
http://www.myspace.com/fujiyaandmiyagi
http://hypem.com/artist/fujiya++miyagi
Some other great bands that I discovered -
UNKLE - http://hypem.com/search/Unkle/1/
Check out Hold my hand & Restless
Telepop Music - http://hypem.com/artist/telepop+music
Check out Breathe
RATATAT - http://hypem.com/track/448044
LCD Soundsystem – http://hypem.com/search/LCD%20Soundsystem/1/
Calvin Harris - http://hypem.com/track/427702
Scissor Sisters – http://hypem.com/search/scissor%20sisters/1/
Check out Take Your Mama, I don’t Feel Like Dancing.
********************
Movies
1) HARA-KIRI (1962)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056058/
I’m not an expert on Samurai movies. I have seen very few. But This one just blew me over. The concept, the photography, acting, the direction…everything was perfect. Masaki Kobayashi is someone I’m going to explore next year. This movie is on The Criterion Collection. Comes with a Double DVD set. Highly recommended.
2) The Bad Sleep Well (1960)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054460/
Another great Kurosawa epic. This time its a critique of the corruption of Corporate world. It is said to be loosely inspired from his favorite Shakespeare play – Hamlet. The amazing Toshir? Mifune is in lead again & in a very intense role but in a different way from the madman Samurai types you might be used to. The DVD has a 30 minute documentary about the making of this film. Its priceless. Kurosawa is known for his re-takes, so the actors recount their hilarious experiences with Kurosawa. Its amazing to see a bunch of old Japanese men cracking up. I was watching this film alone at home & was laughing out loud myself during the making.
3) BLIND CHANCE (1987)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084549/
One of Kie?lowski’s best films. This film is personally very close to my thoughts. Its political & philosophical dimensions are too personal for me. This is also a trendsetting film which opened new possibilities in storytelling. Its the grandmother of RUN LOLA RUN. It has a really beautiful beginning. Luckily I found the entire sequence on youtube for you guys.
4) Yi Yi (2000)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244316/
What a film. It makes Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet seem like a bad movie. It has one of the best conversations in film ever. It has one of my fav characters on film ever – OTA.
**********
Youtube Videos
1) Shakaron -
When I watched this song 1st time I was literally stunned. I think this is where we are heading. The future of Pop Music.
2) Def Poetry
This was a HBO series hosted by one of the best contemporary Hip Hop artist Mos Def and produced by legendary hip-hop producer Russell Simmons. It is a series of Poetry slam. I discovered it just 2 days back. Since its gonna be impossible to get the DVDs in India, I would advise you to watch them on youtube. Check out Suheir Hammad’s 1st appearance on Season 1.
A lot of celebrities have come on the show to recite their own poems.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=def+poetry&search=Search
3) Cunts are still ruling the world - Jarvis Cocker
This was my fav musical discovery of last year. The vocalist of the british band Pulp, Jarvis wrote this hilarious song & posted the video on youtube. The video has lyrics on it. A must watch for everyone.
Television
BILL MAHER
The smartest funny man in America. He is the guy who got fired by ABC after 9/11 because he said the terrorists are not cowards but men of courage. He hosts the best late night show on HBO. He is very political & very funny. Thats the only thing I watch on TV.
http://tinyurl.com/2zkpcg
I hope you guys enjoy some of the stuff I’ve just shared with you. There is so much more that I can’t remember right now. The movies in the list are movies I watched in December.
Tags: Audio, Television, Video
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
@ I am sure they might want people,
)
Do you do Camera?
Can you arrange meetings and stuff?
Are you Photogenic
Write to indira.kannan@network18online.com
[ and DON'T tell her I called the work 'hollow' !
Its fun, its politics, it involves a camera, therefore I do it ]
I like Camera. I love Politics.
Meetings can be done.
They need cameraman or someone in front of Camera?
I prefer to be behind camera.
[-(
Thanks as always. You rock!
Did you check out the videos? Esp SHAKARON?
@ I prefer to be behind the Camera too
Mostly for camera and fixing stuff.
Sometimes they might want you to do a stand up jic [ just-in-case ].
btw you need to know these phrases:
)
“we have a vox pop, we have a think tank, do you need a tic-tac or just a byte?” !!!
Go figure
wrt videos, will do so soon….
Array abhi tho aayi hoon after a looooong day
need Anti-PFC-Venom seriously
this is getting very dangerous.
Anti PFC Venom?
What do you mean?
What the fuck is VOX POP?
BTW I saw my 1st jamican film called ROCKERS.
Their language is really cool. VEX means I’m angry or stressed.
Anti PFC venom coz PFC the BUG has bitten me
vox pop:
you get a sound byte from a public persona and voila you have your vox pop!!
you VEX me so much with your incessant Qs :d
Fantastic list there, dude! I
awesome list dude! I
@Mainak
did u check the Mallu rock that i posted for u yesterday???
its takin me time to njoy this new sound that u r makin me hear !!! but i have already started njoyin unkle and sigur ros!!!
thank u
George
This post is dedicated to you & your enthusiasm to explore new music.
cheers
wth!!! I just posted a long ass post and it dissapeared!!
anyways, to recap my longass post (grrrrr) thats an awesome compilation, dude.
The books I read this yr that had an impact were:
Non Fiction:
-Imperial life in the emrald city
-The Omnivore’s Dilemma
warning: reading these could cause anxiety and aggravated wtf-ness
Fiction:
-Wind up bird chronicles. Gee whiz. I have found a new literary God. To think of all those years I spent in a Murakami-less world.
-Oblivion-David Foster Wallace-ok so its a hard read, but very rewarding.
Movies:
Lives of Others. Beautiful.
The indie comedy trilogy of Superbad, Knocked up and Juno
Brazil ( I’m still chuckling over it, can’t believe I never saw it before last month)
Il Postini
Volver( arguably Almadovar’s most soulful movie, though Talk to Her is probably a better film in some aspects)
Spring, Summer, Winter Fall..a film you sink into like a good book.
Internet Radio:
www.kcrw.com. The best eclectic compilation I’ve come across. Nic Harcourt’s “morning becomes eclectic” is a particularly diverse and awesome compilation.
BTW Mainak, they did a show with F&M sometime back
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb070518fujiya__miyagi
TV Shows:
So, Arrested Development is gone. Sigh. The world just isn’t read for post modernist media. Watch 30 rock sink soon enough too.
So now i rent DVD’s for The Wire
Also, along with Bill Maher, I occasionally watch
the daily show and the colbert report, both political satires that are frequently more illuminating then any news shows.
Bands I loved this yr:
Boards of canada and Air, probably the best electronic bands there are.
Belle and sebastian
Sufjan Stevens
The Shins
Misha
.
Where do you live?
KCRW is one of myfav things about Living in LA. I lived across the street from their Studio in Santa Monica College. I wanted to volunteer for their campaigns. But I had to work to pay my rent & tution fees. I discovered so much amazing music through them. They are without any doubt the best Radio Station on this side of the planet if not the entire planet. Thats all I listen to if I’m on Radio in my car. Infact I discovered Fujiya & Miyagi in Morning Becomes Eclectic. Nic promoted them a lot.
My gf likes Shins & Belle Sebastian. I don’t get it. Its too flat for me.
Infact She went to AIR & BELLE Sebastian concerts in Hollywood Bowl this year. You guys will hit it off. Music is the only thing we both clash. She canbe a snob sometimes. I’m sure you can relate to that
THE WIRE is on my list. Infact I’m getting the 1st 3 series in January. I’ve heard great things about it from the right people.
Don’t watch TV, so can’t really talk about the rest.
@Misha
I started reading Murakami’s AFTER DARK 3 weeks back. But since its a new book it can’t be renewed & be returned within a week. I just read like 15 pages. in the Cafe.
SUPERBAD was my fav movie of 2007 until I saw CHARLIE WILSON’s WAR. Its Hilarious & its political. Philip Seymor Hoffman is getting his second oscar this year.
the reason I didn’t add KCRW in my list is because I discovered it in 2005. And most of the readers are not from West Coast.
Didnt think too much of VOLVER. Almodover is getting repetitive. Life Of Others was fantastic.
Mainak,
Were you found at the Sonepur ka mela? Do you have a mole on your left shoulder? God, your taste in music eerily echoes mine.
And why did it take you so long to discover Yi Yi?
And KCRW!!! One of the things I miss about LA big time. It was my constant companion on drives and a great introduction to new music and acts.
Ok…that was the spookiest thing ever…I couldnt see ANY of my own posts till just now. The world is strange. I apologize for the spamming :p
I live in Portland, OR..and live on a staple kcrw diet. I have to make do with listening to them online and downloading their podcasts. Glad you’re already a fan! and here I thought I was enlightening people.
Your girlfriend clearly has excellent taste in music :d. If you’re going to start on Murakami, I’d recommend wind up bird chronicles. All his other books made a lot more sense to me after reading that.
If you’re a fan of Bill Maher, I’m sure you’ve watched Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert? They’re in the New York times all the time, heralded as saviors of the media and what not.
in the rare chance that you haven’t, www.thedailyshow.com should have all the videos.
I’ll bet your girlfriend liked Volver more then you :p It was definitely a chick flick, just a deeper one then the average. Me and my friends were in tears by the end of it.
BILL MAHER
they did it when clintion was president. they are doing now. rest assured they will go on doing it. it has nothing to do with who is the president.
it is sick psycology. people gather together to mock and laugh upon someone who they can not be. ask bill maher to mock someone from audience. and you will get and instant feed how humurs audience is.
it is jeasouly in it worst and most disquised form.
—-
it just came to me that yeasterday it was philosophy, today it is pshycology. i have shifted gaer.
#-o@-)
@Navdeep
I knowwwwwwww. When I was watching Yi Yi, I was like I can’t believe I’m watching this movie now. Its the most highly recommended film for everyone at PFC right now. And please don’t search youtube for it because the only video they have is of the conversation I was talking about & it would be so sad if you watch it without having seen the 1 hour that happens before that scene.
I tell everyone, KCRW is one of the best things in my life. Do you remember Left Right & Center? Thats my filter for all the political news of the week. All Things Considered.
For Music my fav show happens to be THE DROP hosted by Lisa Richardson on Saturday nights.
www.kcrw.com/music/programs/td
Check it out.
Misha
are you Russian? I have a Ukranian friend I call Misha.
Guess what my GF is from Portland. Isn’t that weird. Its a great place. I love the vibe of that city. Downtown is so cool. The music scene is really great. I saw Dj ZTrip in a club this summer there. He has this mix of Led Zep songs which is mindblowing. Followed by Gift Of Gab.
Oregon also happens to the best place for Beer in America. I loved every beer i tasted there. Plus one can smoke inside bars.
But its also too white for my taste. I like to see different colors when I walk the streets.
Another Fav show of mine – METROPOLIS
This is where I get my Dance & Electronic music from.
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mt
@ Misha
I am not a big fan of Those two morning shows. They are not bad but not worth waking up for
Esp Colbert is really bad. People just love him.
Have you ever walked into Todd Haynes or Gus Van Saint? :-?
And yeah… The best Bookstore in in West Coast – the Powells. And there’s a cool Music store close by which is open till Midnight.
siddhartha by herman hesse
kamal hai bhains khud hi been baja rahi hai.
:o
aajkal ki bhainse corrupt ho gayien hain.
:-$
if after finishing those just tid more than 150 pages you are not a totally different person altogether you have insulted siddhartha and the genius of herman hesse
:-l
Vishrant
You seem very pissed off at the world
And I didn’t get your comment about Bill Maher & Bill Clinton.
Are you saying Bill Maher is sick because he is critical about George Bush?
Are you comparing Bill Clinton to George Bush.
Your comment about Life Changing experience in 150 pages was really funny:((
Mainak…Getting hooked onto Sigur Ros..apart from their ethereal songs..they have briliant videos..its been directed by a famous ad director i was told…glosoli remains my favourite..Sigurs genre is new to me considering the fact am more into dream theater sorts…
cunts are still running the world
this is music %-(
now i get some idea of what are the necessary ingredients of a good lyric.
here’s the formula
in lyric
there must be these words , fuck , shit, cunt, pussy and many more of the same league. and you have got something that you will get some admirers for.
shakaron –
make a music vedio where some girls are thrusting there pelvic. and singer should reach out by his mouth to as much close as possible to that shaking pelvic. because exactly this is for what people are going to tolerate the sound emanting.
–
even if one doesn’t know anything about classical music one should listen at least once. rag khamaj bhatiyar rendered by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. may be, godwilling one can get glimpse of what music is.
per nahien, so called bhartiya khoob uchlenge to shiv mani ke dhamar dhimir tak pahunchenge.
x(
mainak
pissed of at the world
arre aisa kuch nahien hain
maje le rahe hain=))
Dream Theater is awesome Saurav.
Pull me Under was my fav song in 3rd year engg.
that kind of music on headphones also left me a bit deaf. So i’m into mellow music now. And anything Dancy or groovy, or Sexy as Thani would call it:)
Saurav
If you like Sigur Ros so much check out RADIOHEAD’s new Album INRAINBOWS. Its damn good.
Also check out this German Artist Ulrich Schnauss.
Infact I should have added him in my list. Another KCRW discovery for me.
www.hypem.com/artist/ulrich+schnauss
It was one of the best discoveries for me this year.
Check out this Depeche Mode mix of Little 15
hey Mainak thanks dude !!
n ya Navdeep .. i got a mole on my ryt shoulder !!! seriously …shud our likes contrast ??
George
I understand what u mean by “its taking time to understand the new sound”
Being an engineer you have been brainwashed to like the Heavy Rock & some classic rock. Its a huge tradition of engg colleges. Any other music is looked down upon. Its quite funny actually. I found it quite suffocating. But at the same time I discovered some great music like Pink FLoyd, Led Zep, Dream Theater.
The worst is the heavy metal crowd. They take themselves so seriously.
Also the fact that MTV sold out through Alex Kuruvilla & Cyrus & since then there has been no ways for us to find out whats happening in the music scene around the world.
So it will take time. Listen to everything with an open mind. Give it time. Just remember Non Rock music is not Girly music. A good song is a good song irrespective of any genre…. even Death Metal.
My advise would be to make a trip to GOA or Kodai Kanal.
:”>
actually u r ryt !!! its the “buzz” in most of the engg colleges !!!
but my taste for rock is not because of the attitude or the hardness !!! i personally dont njoy much of heavy rock !!! few exceptions !!
i love the sound of raw instruments may it be the hollow guitar, drums, elec guitar, violin !!! i prefer the original sound to the synthesized one !!
tats it … so tats why i dont like much of scratchin by the DJ ,.. but ya wen A R Rahman does it .. i seem to like it ;)
last newyear .. was at Goa!!! this yr not planned … what abt u ???
my all time fav artists include ppl like
denver
belafonte
Cat stevens (love his songs)
bob dylan
marley
there r soo NOT heavy metal !!! its this new sound that i havent been able to grasp !!
but ya ur reason of MTV myt be the one !!! cause that got me started on with my music … from my school days, they used to show soooo many artists .. now we hardly see ne !!!
VH1 was a good hope for me .. but then we dont get it now !!! cable guy said that it is out of demand and he had to remove it from the band !!!
www.hypem.com is the one now for me .. lets see !!!
taste of rock
there is no taste in rock.
kissi hanuman mandir ke bandron ko baja pakda do, isse acchha baja denge. < :-p
music comes from within. this kind of music comes especially from the unconscious of the artist. unconscious that is full of crap. it is so full that he himself can not bear it anymore so he throws it out through music. and public feeling familiar because they too have the same unconscious devour it. rocker is vomiting his madness and public is taking it in. :@)
ask pt. ravishankar what his sitar means to him. it is almost a living being for him. and look what they do with there instruments.
some mad people whose madness has gone over the threshold are jumping on the stage, and other mad people enjoying it. :((>:)
————–
do the dynamic :>
Such a pointless and stupid article ! Wondered why write such stuff but was silenced by the readership and comment traffic. Maybe PFC is just a platform for bored 9 to 5 jobbers to indulge in a little pseudo-intellectual warm-up on tea-breaks provided by their employers. Hardly see any serious professionals !
@ vishrant..in the times of a monarchy, the court jester was the only one getting away with saying blunt truths. Now its the satirists. In a world where every media source is a promotion vehicle for the current administration, people like Maher and Stewart exist to let us laugh at it.
And of COURSE they made fun of Clinton..how can you have oral sex in the White House with cigars and not be made fun of?
i am havin an extended TEA TIME .. Mainak more recos plsss !!!
Misha
they should have told clinton beforehand that in white house he is entitled only to vaginal sex ;;)b-(
Are you mocking Clinton??now, now, you wouldn’t be mocking and laughing at someone you cannot be, would you?
because a wise guy once said thats jealousy in its worst and most disguised form :p
Mothafucka brother!
Am gonna raid u when I get to LA… U better be there for that weekend in April! Another beer for Def Poetry on me…
Yi Yi finally!
Yo… Fab Channel man, I guess u forgot to mention! The soul of NY… all at one place. And Eddie izzard… i inspire to crossover!
Misha
You didnt answer my question. Are you Indian, Russian or Yankee?
BTW Bill Clinton is taking a beating from Obama. Obama is taking quotes of Bill from 1992 about his own inexperience & throwing at Bill.
@ George
You know Cat Stevens has become Yusuf Islam now, right?
Do watch I’m NOT There if you are a Dylan fan. But read about his life a bit before you go. Some things went over my head.
Check out this protest song –
Something in the Air But its not in the AIRWAVES
http://ohms.nu/chandler/disk_2/someth.htm
Ravptor
I don’t know anything about FAB CHANNEL. What are you gonna Raid? Most of my recos can be found online. If not, I probbly returned it to the Library:)
But I would have that beer.
cHEERS
Mainak
yup i know that he is Yusuf Islam now,
have u heard the song “indian ocean” – Yusuf Islam and A R Rahman.
George
Diametrically opposed, I suppose!!! :d
this is what i meant by do the dynamic
www.activemeditation.com o:-)
Hey Mainak.. good write-up. do differ on certain things strongly though. Volver is among the best works of Almodovar if not the greatest. Superbad is no way the best film of 2007. No Country for Old Men is hands down winner. Best actor Oscar… Daniel Day leaves Hoffman far behind with his portrayal in “There will be blood”. And yes… thanx for guiding me to some good music
Pankaj
I don’t expect anyone to be with me when I saw SUPERBAD was one of the best. Will explain latter when I write a post about the 10 best films of 2007 from Hollywood.
Maybe I was exhausted of watching too many Almodover films last year. I tried to watch everything I could lay my hands on as soon as I discovered him.
I have not seen THERE WILL BE BLOOD will watch it this week. The buzz in LA for it too much. Anderson seems most likely to bag the OSCAR. Unless Golden Globe spoils it by giving him Best Director.
Philip is for Best supporting Actor, not best Lead Actor. Have you seen 3 of his performances this year? SAVAGES, DEVIL & CHARLIE ?
And you are welcome about the music.
Some really hilarious videos. WIRED magazines top 12 Online Videos from Youtube.
Check out
1) Alanis Morrisettes version of My HUMPS
2) Cry for Britney
3) Thriller by inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. This one is unreal. I could not believe what I was watching.
4)Internet Commenter Business Meeting
5) Five dudes simulating sex with an ottoman
http://tinyurl.com/2azznm
YOUTUBE Zindabad!
@ Mainak,
I’m about as desi as it gets..Aamchi mumbai-bred. Portland is one interesting place. How many places can a person call for a pillow fight at the city square on craigslist, and have 400 people show up? that should be the benchmark for a great city from now on. I agree though, it is pretty monochromatic, me and my husband are the only desis I usually see. But then when we crave the company of desis and dosas, we just go to the burbs.
How can you not like Stewart, man? he’s way funnier then Maher. Maher is more to the point since he’s allowed to have an opinion, but I always feel like his knowledge is extremely limited. His guests kick his ass most of the time.
Stewart on the other hand actually does the research and reads the books.
Then again maybe I’m biased against maher due to his occasional sexists comments.
BTW I remember watching Yi Yi a while ago. Amazing. Like a long and really satisfying epic book. Its really remarkable how much space yang gives each character and moment.
Misha
Did you go for the Pillow Fight? Portland also has a lot of mustouche parties. Atleast used to be.
I will check out Stewart again. Seen only 1 episode. Found him too loud.
I saw many desis i Portland. IBM Factor.
Maher loves his strippers. I see him with Super Hot chics in LA. Asians, Black,… He loves to fuck & get high. How cn i not like him
Okay. I am desperately looking for this movie called “The Inscrutable Americans”. It was a best seller by Anurag Mathur and later made into a feature by director Chandra Siddartha.
If anyone can please find a DVD or tape of this movie, please please let me know!
@ Mainak –
Watched wilson’s war. great. unfortunately the upper east side geriatric convention chose the screening for their annual meeting. the humor reminded me of thank you for smoking.
I’m with u on superbad. But Ratatouille is the bst film of the year for me.
Wow…
Finally someone agrees on SUPERBAD. I have never laughed as much in a movie. If a movie can entertain me so much I don’t care about photography & editing & any of that technical shit.
I watched 15 minutes of that RAT movie while visiting a REHAB on CHRISTMAS. I couldn’t figure out why its so great. I’m not a animation fan.
Didn’t this year belong to Phillip Seymor Hoffman? I think you have to see his SAVAGES yet. I wanna watch Charlie Wilson again.
I watched Yi Yi again last night. It is one of my all time fav films.
@Navdeep
diametrically opposed !! but ya we have some likings in common !!
Manorama six feet under and China Town ;)
I forgot to add this French film in my list. Its called THE TRILOGY
It is 3 Feature Films directed by this French Actor Lucas Belvaux.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0069711/
Honestly The only reason I picked up this film at the library was because it was French ;)
But it turned out to be fantastic. All 3 films are interconnected.
1) ON THE RUN (Cavale)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233418/
2)AN AMAZING COUPLE (Un couple
George
Happy New Year
You should be drunk right now. What are you doing online?
What did you think of that German Artist ULRICH SCHNAUSS?
@ Mainak –
i have to watch charlie again too. superbad was too funny and it had heart. that’s what was so great. watch out for this movie coming out next year called Baby Mama with Tina Fey. I caught a preview screening. It is funnier than superbad if i dare say so, and it is from the female perspective.
@ MAINAK AND DABBA
Happy Newyear guys
arre i am in bad shape ..was almost goin to sleep just then my friend calls up and says he is comin home !!
he is in 4 legs ;)
man 4- 5 vomits and i was prayin all the while that my parents dont wake up to see the mess !!
i have realized that i njoy electronica and fast electronic drum beat type music only when i imagine a sequence !! like some chase scene or some sequence !!
i dont njoy it just for the music ,.. and ya it has its high .. when consumed with imagination ;)
HEY GUYS have u seen the movie HOT FUZZ???
its rated quite high in IMDB … but i dint njoy it that much.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425112/
so if superbad is nething like that .. i dont think i will njoy it !!
@George
Hot Fuzz is just OK. People think its really funny. They are film geeks. Who look at life through films & not the other way around.
*******
Well you can always imagine things. Thats the very reason I got hooked to Electronic music. It is very cinematic. It makes me imagine.
Are you saying you need drugs to imagine things?:o
Meanwhile a protest song to end a horrible year.
www.ohms.nu/chandler/disk_2/someth.htm
@ Mainak…I envy your exposure to great cinema !
@ george, mainak –
happy new year mates. i have my drink on and my swerve is coming on too. should be a good night.
@ P(L)AYBACK
Didn’t you say
“Such a pointless and stupid article ! Wondered why write such stuff but was silenced by the readership and comment traffic. Maybe PFC is just a platform for bored 9 to 5 jobbers to indulge in a little pseudo-intellectual warm-up on tea-breaks provided by their employers. Hardly see any serious professionals !”
About my article just 2 days back :o
Anyways I’m trying to catch up. I had no interest in films till I was 22. Or reading. So I have this urgency to watch films. And read books.
Thats the only reason I moved to LA. To watch films. I watch atleast 300 films a year since I moved here.
And I envy your critical perspective of analysing films. your article on TAARE ZAMEEN PAR was incredible.
Dabba
Where you going tonight?
TALIB KWELI & Bloc Party are playing at Roosavelt tonight.
JUSTICE & PEaches are in Downtown.
DJ Z trip is spinning in another party in downtown.
But I am going to work. I have to make for the lost LAPTOP. This struggle is neverending.
Thank god for the KOREANS for keep electronic dance music alive in LA.
@ mainak –
I’m going to crash 3 parties. i am doing them a favor by gracing the party with my presence actually. one is a film party that i was tipped about. there may be producers/agents there. another is a party of rich (hedge fundies) people (i’m looking for financing) and third is just a regular party for me to keep it real. the last party has a kick-ass DJ and this rapper called adiquit or something like that. She raps to electronic hooks and beats. really cool. i have seen her before. she’s good, and she is yet to release an album but she’s on myspace. will find the link for u later.
how am i going to crash the first 2 parties? hopefully the 2 lovely ladies i bring with me will make people forget who i am. i can feel it. this is going to be my year when dabba gets a name.
@ mainak –
kweli and bloc party together? that would be a hell of a show!
mainak, i loved hot fuzz man.. i ain’t no film geek, you know me. i’m just your average zombie lover, which is why i enjoyed the duo’s (pegg/frost) shawn of the dead way more.. but hot fuzz was definitely timepass paisa vasool. a bit too loud on editing for me, but enjoyment nevertheless..
dabba, a party with producers/agents.. i gotta get me a piece of that.. will be in touch for next new year’s.. hopefully you’re still around in NY.. my new year resolution revolves mainly around signing up with a NY agent in the next 6 months.. i’m gonna enlist your help on this task, so consider yourself forewarned.. and of course, looking forward to looking out for your name.. here’s wishing you all the best!
cheers striker – happy new year.
a cheers to you dabba.. and a happy new year to you too.. now go get wasted NY ishtyle for the both of us, since mine will be a much quieter celebration
Happy New Year to Everyone!
2008 should bring us closer to Palme d’Or.
:d/
Guys I watched PERSEPOLIS last night. Very nice movie. That my kind of animation film. Everybody will like this film. But it will not get the Best Foreign Film at OScars. DIVING BELL will beat Persepolis. Now I have only THERE WILL BE BLOOD & $ Months 3 Weeks left to watch.
Tried Watching Reservation Road. Couldnt watch even 30 minutes. Really bad.
Mainak, I agree with you on Persepolis – is a very nice movie. And I think the fact that it was an animation film made it very special. There were a lot of nuances that would have been missed had it been a film with actors.
I don’t think it will win the Best Foreign Film at the Oscars either. But I wouldn’t mind being wrong.
mainak, i will have to thank u for sigur ros again ;)
Its too sad that pandora is blocked for non-US users. I have fallen back on Last.fm It works wonderfuly with amarok the player I use.
Siddhartha is one of my favourite too.
I am going through rest of the stuff in the list ;)
@ mainak –
i have to share this anecdote with you. you may the only person that can appreciate it without thinking i am a complete asshole. In 2003-2004, i was in bombay for close to 9 months, trying to find an in with bollywood.
i was supposed to go to this karaoke place in colaba that everyone goes to on sunday nights. I was driving in from Bandra and was to pick up these two girls that i had met the previous week at the same place. i had a slight buzz and i was stoned, and listening to Kid A. Now that album is sheer poetry, but when u are stoned, it just goes to another level.
These girls got in and after we drove for abt 15 minutes (i was not driving), they were like, what is this weird music. don’t you have any good music like Doors or Pink Floyd. I told my friend to stop the car, told the girls to get out and drove on.
It was a good night.
@ Dabba
“These girls got in and after we drove for abt 15 minutes (i was not driving)” …i thot u were getting somewhere else !!! ;) i guess this is how screen writers write !!!
Dabba: I want to explore the friend angle a bit more. How did he feel being collateral damage?
@Dabba
I completely understand your actions. Though If I was in that situation, I would not have thrown them out. I would have kept them for entertainment purposes. It would have been hilarious to listen to them talk all night. But you were stoned & its hard to deal with stupid people when stoned. It becomes unbearable.
And I also know where these girls are coming from. Their only source of music happens to be the “last cool guy” they dated. And that “cool guy” thinks Jim Morrison is GOD & PINK FLOYD is the best music on earth. So they say this to every guy they meet since then. And it does impress the hell out of a guy there. Wow this chic is so fuckin cool. She likes pink floyd. I’m saying this because I might have been one of those dudes back in the day:”>
Now Before fans start attacking me, I must also add that PINK FLOYD also happens to be my fav band. We are not discussing the music here;)
I think LED ZEP is the best Rock’n Roll Music ever. And PINK FLOYD is the only band, whose complete collection I have. We are discussing stereotypes here.
Your story was very interesting.
A song for that story
Anita Ward – Ring My Bell
@ george –
i was seriously thinking of embellishing a little but then thought the anecdote was funny enough without any garnish.
@ subrat –
friend was actually my driver, so he didn’t have much of a say. But he did smirk. we used to hang out and go to the movies together. the people i worked for back then hooked me up with everything so i was really living the high life.
@ mainak –
i remember being in college and during ragging one of my friends asked this fresher girl (she was cute), what kinda music she listened to, and she said The Doors, and then added, I’m just saying that because that’s what everyone says. I have never listened to them. Needless to say, I liked the girl immediately, and she was maaf from any ragging there after.
I have nothing against the music of Pink Floyd, Doors or Led Zepp. Each of them have some stellar songs that I love. Immigrant song for me is the best rock anthem. It’s that smug coolness that the fans of this music had and tried to impose on others that has always annoyed me.
Does ayone remember the name of the karaoke place i’m talking about?
@ PFC –
There will be blood was good. Lewis will take the Oscar and it has the best movie score ever. A horror score for a drama biopic!
@Dabba
Agree with Daniel’s performance. He is taking the OSCAR. The movie will get either BEST FILM or Best Director depending on what happens in GOLDEN GLOBE. I think Anderson should win Best Director & NO COUNTRY will win the best film. DIABLO will win the Best Original Screenplay.
The opening sequence of THERE WILL BE BLOOD is great. The last 10 minutes were awesome. But I felt the film was kind of pointless. It was good but not a masterpiece as all the critics are making it to be. Its not gonna be in my top 5 films of 2007. And if I count the foreign films , maybe not even in top 10.
Anyways watch THERE WILL BE BLOOD. But don’t miss CHARLIE WILSON’s WAR.
*********
Last Film : RUSH HOUR 3 (1/5)
@ Mainak
Man i so agree with u on Led Zepp … and PINK FLOYD actually put me to sleep .. i have seen some cool seniors of mine say that they are GODS… and i have tried my best … but still :(
i just like a few songs!!! i can actually count them in one hand !!
i wasnt aware that u hadnt seen “Rush hour 3″
or i wud have WARNED U against it !!
@ dabba
tat was a good anecdote !!!
b t w .. have u written ne short stories or stuffs ?? wud love to read !!!
@ george –
coming later today on PFC.
Fujiya&Miyagi are sure groovy ;) . Loved telepop music too.
check this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSc8qVMjKM
pretty old, maybe you all have heard
George
I think you misunderstood me.
I also think LED ZEP & PINK FLOYD are GODS. I have all their albums.
no MAINAK .. i dint misunderstand u !!! i understand that u also like “pink floyd” just like many of my seniors and my class mates !!! but i dont njoy them much without BEER !!!
“Man i so agree with u on Led Zepp ” was only w r t LED ZEP !!!
@ dabba
coming later today on PFC.????
yup, posted it already. should be up in a coupla hours.
okay .. man …i wonder what made me ask u that … ??
did u post it after u saw my post ???
nice … waitin for it !! wud love to read it !!!
Well George
I’m sorry to hear that George. I don’t know anyone who does not like Led Zep, with or without beer. Pink Floyd puts you to sleep? George you need some good GANJA my friend. “MANALI”
Which city do you live in?
@SG
Thanks for that Werwolf Song. I had only heard the song on Radio. I think its hilarious.
MAINAK either u r stoned or there is some problem with my key board !!!
let me try it again
1) I LOVE LED ZEPELLIN !!! THEY ARE GODS!!!
2) I NJOY ONLY FEW SONGS OF PINK FLOYD .. for OTHER SONGS I NEED A BEER.
GANJA may make me start liking “Kanye west”!!!
Hey mainak … just saw “lives of others” loved the movie !!
did u like it ??
@ Mainak
MUMBAI
@ george
u may have tapped into my mindspace. i am currently writing a post on lives of others. should be up in a few days but i wanna do a post on Shyamalan before that. also, gone baby gone and siddharth. u shud be hearing a lot from me in the coming weeks.
Navdeep & Dabba
Have you heard this song WHITE HORSE by Laid Back?
The DJ at my fav bar keeps playing this song every Thursday night. Its a kick as song. I love it when they say RICH BITCH.
I would reccomend that you play this song on really good speakers.
@ mainak –
very popular in the gay bars i go to.
@George
LIFE OF OTHERS is a great film. It is one of the most assured directorial debuts in years. Its hard to imagine that the guy was making his 1st feature. No flashiness, no rawness.. He just directed as if he has been doing this for ages. I was quite stunned by that film. Usually 1st film have a feel of their own(in a good way). this one was unlike most 1st films.
It deserved the OSCAR.
@Dabba
Siddartha the book ? or the film ? or the Boy Star of 2 states in South India?
@ Dabba
;)
boy star. all part of the grand plan.
i hit post num 100 with a wink to dabba and he was referin to gay bars before that … shit !!!
;)
neway .. Dabba .. what plan ?? u making a movie with Siddarth??
@Dabba
You have to admit, Gay Boys do have good taste:)
It didn’t occur to me at all. Now that you said it, I realize this song has to be a hit in GAY bars.
But Do you like that song?
@George
I think you got that right about the Grand Plan.
Sorry about the change of name. I’m unable to use my own registered username. Some problem with my browser.
its strange that ppl call siddharth a “boy star” …
he is neither a “boy” nor a “star”.
is he the same person who assited Maniratnam for 2 years or so after he did his MBA from delhi and then got a break in Shankar’s “BOYS” as an actor??? and followed it up with few hits in telugu !! and ya RDB of course!!!
Yes George
Its HIM.
i was so confused when i saw Kamina in the midst. I like the song, and when I want to hear good electronic dance music, get free drinks, and feel hot, i go to gay bars/clubs.
Mainak, do you know this song. My turn.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q54LJ5RsqRw
Grand plan is right. Guys, I have this rom-com that I want to write and make as a typical Indian film. I have the title and my outline. I think Siddharth will be perfect for it in hindi/tam/telugu. Maybe Sharman would be better in Hindi. That dude needs a good romantic film to become hero type.
I’ve got something to put in you…at the GAY BAR!!!!!
Hilarious. I remember watching this video sometimes bak. Thanks for it. Its great
@KAVITA & MISHA
I found this really cool alternative news media yesterday(incase Politics turns you on) -
www.counterpunch.com
I was listening to NPR on KCRW & they were talking to Niranjan Ramakrishnan about Benezir Bhutto’s legacy. he suggested this website for good articles. He was bang on.
http://www.counterpunch.com/ramakrishnan01042008.html
Thanx again M.
HILLARY! HILLARY! HILLARY!
I am going to go into hibernation if she loses today :((
McCain has to win tonight. Or He is out. I’m more scared of Romney than Guliani now. Romney is pure evil to me. But Huckabee is going to emerge as the winner. Faith is the most important thing in Midwest. Unfortunately.
I’m very confused about the Democrats. I love the idea of a Black President. Its way more exciting than a Woman president. That can happen next time. But Obama is not talking any real issues. I don’t know what the fuck he stands for. I kept swinging between him & Hillary. I will read a lot this week & decide.
And I think Obama will win tonight.
But Hillary will fight back. So don’t worry if she loses tonight. BILL Clinton had lost both too
Thanks for the link, M!
The republicans scare me immensely. Especially Mitt Romney. At least huckabee inspite of his christian fanaticism doesn
Misha
We agree NO REPUBLICANS right?
Democrats have who tell me……….
Obama is as raw as Segolene Royale , he should NOT win, he needs to whet a little, a few books and good looks don’t bode well for the World [ another 15 years before US goes out of fashion right ?] so its not abt supporting a woman.
Edwards….light weight and has enough family pressures with wife sick etc Good but not strong or determined or as Intelligent as Ms Rodham.
Yaar look at her from her college days,perseverance to learn , to grow, to think for the country….Such Dedication.
She knows her stuff, works hard, is intelligent, really cares about Policy [ which should be the top priority of any Government Servant ] and has bleddy slogged HARD for this, she is 60 and has been training herself for this day, this time in history ALL HER LIFE, she deserves it. Apart from her flip-flop about Iraq war she pretty much talks sense and consistently.
In what way is she Cheney? just curious, unfortunate for her that she is a Clinton, poor woman, her love/reln with Bill will be the end of her.
If she was Hillary Rodham Nobody the whole nation would have voted for her :((((
MAINAK: Vote for HILLARY! HILLARY! HILLARY!!!
If we can have Cristina Fernandez why not Hillary …
Kavita, I have every respect for Hillary for everything she has achieved in her life. Her policies are just too moderate for me, being a raving hippie and all, and she’s surrounded by too many special interest groups funding her campaign.
I would still support her, if it wasn’t for the fact that I think of the 3 top candidates, she least electable by the general population. So rather then have a bitter struggle in the general elections, and loose AGAIN, I think the Dems need to play their cards cautiously now.
And who says years of experience makes for better leaders? Nixon was running under the same slogan in 1960 against a young inexperienced good looking guy. Guess who won-John F Kennedy.
either way…VOTE DEMOCRAT!! hehe
kya kavita aunty.. :-t
jabardast endorsing Hillary ki.. apun tau hil gaya..
in case aap bhool gayi the site is called passion for cinema .. not passion for democrats..
you answer lies in your appeal.. she is working too hard.. and thats not natural.. mera sir dard ho raha hai.. uski bak bak sun ker. best combo is.. obama and mccain.. 8-}
Aunty! Aunty Aunty! [ VO in a panicked tone ]
Paati, Akka, Aunty,
Sahi now my husband can sleep in peace while I surf the net
Misha/Badmash ‘the heart has its reasons’ !
@Misha & Kavita
Not my opinion though. I think she has proved herself already.
You both sound exactly like the Clinton & Obama supporters. I mean both of you didn’t mention any of their policies. Misha is totally sold on Obama’s example of Kenedy & Kavita is totally sold on CLINTON’s experience in getting back.
Thats exactly what everyone is saying.
Anyways Kavita your Hillary won. The timing of her crying was perfect. People are gonna write how a woman cried her way to White House.
This is getting so interesting.
Mainak Clone 1
Array you want me to enumerate what Hillary-not-Clinton did and what her policies are?
Why don’t I start with health-care…………….
PFC will close down
Yeah GO HILLARY!
Why do you think I am NOT in hibernation?
Of course she has proved herself.
And who-the-is-this-Clinton you talk of?
K
PS:When I am the PM, I will abolish all MALE SURNAMES [ father's or husband's ] or like the Mayans one child gets the mother’s name, the other the father’s………
Kavita
My apologies for using the word CLINTON while reffering to HILLARY. I will try to change my attitude so as to not offend your sensibilities.
BTW She would never be in that race if she did not have Clinton attached to her name. Like it or not, its the truth. There is a saying in the Black Community. What Hillary doesn’t know Bill knows
many people think its a proxy way to get Bill back in white house. They are stupid.
Again, I didnt say that. Don’t come out with your feminist knives on me. [-x
dude what are you talking about? I didn’t even say I was supporting Obama…I just disagree with the notion that he’s unfit because he’s inexperienced.
If it was purely upto policies I’d be supporting Kucinich. But the truth is, honestly, I don’t think any policies any of the candidates profess to have mean squat.
The next president’s job is mainly going to be cleaning up the muck of the last presidency. So everything they say is just lip service.
PS: you mean stuff like this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/opinion/08dowd.html?em&ex=1200027600&en=cf6254796c09c0cf&ei=5087%0A
and congratulations Kavita!
@Misha
i agree completely on Kucinich. And everything else you just said.
Yeah, I meant articles like that.
So who should win according to you? Obama or Hillary?
@Mainak sometimes 1 and sometimes none
Bill and Hill go to a gas station
They run into an ex admirer of Hill from college
Bill says, “if you were with him you’d be married to a gas station owner”
Hill says, “if HE was with me, He’d be President”.
@ Misha: Shukriya
@118 kavita-
it’s not too late to add your mother’s name (or her family name) to that long list of names u have. If u have already, my apologies and do share the name. as of now u go by –
krsn kavita kasturi meegama
these are the names i have seen associated with u. please do clarify what u go by legally and what ur preference is.
I am waiting for the day when husband and wife take common hyphenated names based on each other’s last names.
For example,
Hemang Shah marries Divya Goswami and they become —-
Hemang Shah-Goswami and Divya Shah-Goswami.
You may argue about whose last name comes first in the hyphen and i will gladly have that discussion.
the kid will be called –
Awesomeness Shah-Goswami
dabba
I have friends who have done that
Tarun Jain married Ashima Sood and became
Tarun Jain Sood……..
Chivukula Krishna Kavita Naga Kasturi Meegama !
Call me anything,Whats in a name, A Rose ……:))
I think we should do away with SURNAMES totally.
Mahatma.Aurobindo.Ramana.Meera.Nanak.Kabir.Kavita.
oye k3, if you’re up, check your mail.. and one more coming up real soon.. transcript almost done.. been working on it for the past 2hrs.. bole tho ekdum bheja fry ho gayela hai
Swami Maun Vishrant , poora naam :-w
Here is a tribute to some of the most inspirational work that I have found as a course of my work and personal discovery in 2007:
Firstly I would like to start my list with short films as I feel these people need to be applauded for their brilliant work and if their work hasn’t found them mention this is the least I can do to show what I felt about it.
Short Films:
1.Right Here, Right Now
For more information:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410521/
A short made by another talented Mumbaite, Anand Gandhi, which revolves around the concept of karma. Executed impeccably and preformed to clockwork perfection this short had only one cut in it. I’m not sure if Gandhi was trying his prowess as a filmmaker or if they were on a very low budget to shoot it in such a fashion, but nevertheless a commendable performance and execution by the entire team. Great concept for the script too.
2.Inside-Out
For more information:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210766/
Brother Tom and Charles Guard bring about an excellent realization, through a complete non-dialogue film, about brief encounters in the city through the eyes of some of the most mundane jobs that anyone could have for a living: A Surveyor on the Streets(something I’ll be working as very soon ;) ). Excellent performance by both the principal players and very nice camera work. A very heart felt story and comes through very hilariously. The score was also very impressive with the accordion fitting the mood and feel. A must watch for people who think they don’t have enough idea’s to write shorts on.
3. I AM India
For more information:
http://www.bbp.co.in/content.php/1/11/26
BharatBala Productions, very hard to miss. Excellent short film about National Integration. I liked the entire look and feel of the film. Excellent score by my ex-boss Mr.Ram Sampath. Very nice short breakdowns and a score which takes the film beyond all the visuals we notice. A must watch and a great film to learn from. Commercial effort but every bit on the border between commercial and art and independent production. Good marriage in every aspect. Sound, visual, VO, Lyrics, Supers and overall message. Inspiring work. Gets me goose bumps each time I see it (maybe I am still very sensitive)
Feature Films:
1. No Smoking
For more information:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995740/
Versatile director. After dealing with one of India’s most controversial topic, the 1993 Mumbai Blasts, Khashyap rolls out another stunner paving the way for surrealism in contemporary Indian films. John Abraham was as he was John Abraham. But what’s worth taking a very serious look at is the production and the post-production of the film. EXCELLENT. Great mood and color. JAZZ bimbo’s and the works. Totally loved it. As I was sitting in one of the cinema’s in London and started to chat with a local Punjabi woman who was just about to watch “Om Shanti Om” with her son, I asked her if she heard about “No Smoking” and was disappointed that this film had not reached masses beyond the usual eclectic film audience who only seem to digest this kind of cinema. Popular opinion, from the people I’ve spoken to about this film and “Om Shanti Om” is that Shah Rukh Khan is fantastic actor and they would rather queue up to watch his movies.
2. Nandanavanam 120 KM
For more information on the film:
http://www.totaltollywood.com/reviews/nandanavanam.html
Information on the director Neelakanta:
http://www.neelakantadirector.com/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1252615/
While only big shots in Bollywood claim all the limelight, be it mainstream or even independent film, this very unassuming director from Andhra Pradesh comes through with an excellently knitted story based on the suspense and thriller genre. No great post production work or excellent performances by the actors but an excellent production in the end. Amazing concept and realized well and woven well in the limited budget that an independent telegu filmmaker would have managed to squeeze out of mustache twirling Reddy producers greedy for action sequences, song and dance routines and wet saree heroines.
3. Le Diner des Cons
For more information:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119038/
Where do Hollywood and Bollywood draw inspiration from when they run out of ideas for comedies ? French Films !!!
Hilarious ! Excellent performances !
Music:
1. Amadou and Miriam – Dimanche a Bamako
The first time I heard them on the monitors, at the recording studio I used to work at, I was hit in the face by the heart and soul that goes into their music. It’s been an year since I’ve discovered these artists as an influence of my earlier boss but only found out about the true story of the musicians a while ago as I was writing this post. A very inspiring couple. Must listen.
For more information:
http://www.amadou-mariam.com/
2. Putumayo World Music
For more information:
http://www.putumayo.com/en/index.php
3. U Srinivas and Micheal Brook – Dream
Artist Information:
http://www.mandolinshrinivas.org/
http://www.michaelbrookmusic.com/dream.htm
Album information:
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-U-Srinivas-Michael-Brook/dp/B000000I1X
Like Amadou and Miriam, another gem !! I don’t feel worthy enough to write about his music. His notes are worth more listening to that my words which praise them.
Wow
@Ashok
Thanks for sharing all that info. Amadou & Miriam are great. My fav song of their is “Politic amagni”.
I had used that song while editing my friends project about a school for minorities.
Infact that same friend also introduced me to all the PUTUMAYO world music CDs when I came to LA. She used to be my word music source.
I had FRENCH CAFE last week from the library. Its great.
Will check out the rest later & give you my comments.
@Kavita & Misha
Some more fodder for our political thoughts –
http://www.counterpunch.com/donnelly01072008.html
BTW Kavi whats your opinion on Hillary’s IRAQ Vote? Do you buy her excuse of “If I Knew What I Know now?” :-?
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff01072008.html
@ mainak and others –
If you don’t know this one already, you will be indebted to me for eternity.
enjoy.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fmIskEj42r8
@Dabba
If you saw this NOW, you definitely haven’t seen this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZA1NoOOoaNw
Also the song you posted with english lyrics :D
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TtJRNyPK-lc&feature=related
@Dabba
That video was voted as top 5 Videos of the month by one of those Hipstar Magazines in LA.
Have you seen this one from SHOLAY?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_GM6S6me3A
@ Neeraja :((
That was hilarious…
“My Loony Bun is fine, Benny Lava!”
:((
@Mainak
:((??????
benny lava!
@ mainak –
fucking hipsters. can nothing be enjoyed anymore without detached irony?
@ neeraja, mainak –
i use the worst browser in the world. it’s called safari. every time i get onto youtube, it kicks me out. time to switch to firefox and join the long overdue revolution. let’s all stick it to the man.
Putomayo is a nice trip. One of the few good things one gets to listen on radio in here. The CD’s are also available, a lil expensive but worth it considering the work the project is doing.
btw Mainak, I just finished listening to Boom OST after all these years(I remember you mentioning it some time back somewhere), and it is still awesome! That song you mentioned is Zindabad. other greats are Ramp-age, dope the pope, and the title track sung by Ila Arun. the only close OST I can think of is Bluffmaster.
and contrary to popular belief, the album was majorly done by Talveen Singh and not Chowta, Chowta just remixed a couple of his other tracks from his pending albums(at that time), and of course some other chartbusters were done by the Punjabi gangs from Burmingham.
@Dabba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuTgi8TP-p0&feature=related
@Tushar
Bluffmaster is a very good OST. Infact thats the last Bollywood Soundrack that I liked. But it stands nowhere near BOOM. BOOM was the best. I can still listen to that soundtrack without getting bored. SAVARIYAN is such a hot song. Next time you find yourself in a bathtub with someone special, play this song in loop ;)
*****
Last Film – THE LOOKOUT(3/5)
Kavita & misha
A very interesting article by Ishmael Reed on counterpunch today
http://www.counterpunch.com/reed01142008.html
@ mainak –
went to a party last night. some of the most spectacularly ugly people i have ever seen. all in one room.
they were so ugly, it made them cool. bad teeth, weird distribution of facial features, but nice bods. My first impression of the host was that she was a tranny. Then i thought she was a trans-sexual(Maletofemale). finally, i found out she was just a weird looking woman.
Imagine a room full of female equivalents of Thom Yorpe… all hipster/artsy types. delightful.
@Dabba
hehe…
I live in SILVERLAKE/Echo Park. Its the Hipster capital of Westside. But it is also mixed with a lot of Hollywood crowd. Which makes it really interesting. Its very rare to find Ugly people in this area. Everyone is fuckin hot. Now I find the regular white chic from college really boring. I’ve also fallen in love with a SemiHipster here. So I kind live in their world. One day I will write a book about it. Sometimes I get the urge to do stand Up about the stuff I observe. But my stage fright & fear of being killed by my hipstar friends for ridicling them stops me.
@Dabba
Now I will give you my discovery of the week.
http://www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com/
If you have not already heard about it. You will love it.
:((
@dabba
A cover of my fav Nelly Furtado Song by your fav Bloc Party.
Bloc Party – Say It Right (Nelly Furtado Cover)
Its pretty rad!!!!!!!!! ;)
people check this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Pjo0WjBcs
=))=))
@ Neeraja …if I was the one featured in that video….I would call “CUT”….disable the special FX….and fall to my death from that height ! U deserve to live after u direct, act in, produce or have anything to do with such bizzare bull ! :O
U DONt !
c’mon P(L)AYBACK, enjoy the idea! :D
have you seen superman(and spiderwoman?) dancing like that before? Man! this is my best youtube discovery =))
I am trying to figure out in what kind did of situation did they insert this brilliant song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jROdvv1AB0I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-bR6Ai1Sk0&feature=related
roflmao
Neeraja
That Superman song is a film I actually watched years back. The situation was that GOvinda & Kimi Katkar get locked inside a Store. So while they wait for someone to come to work next morning they have this song. Its from that phase of Govinda when he was doing family films. Where Kader Khan would be his good father & he will have 2 evil brothers.. Gulshan Grover, raj Kiran etc, etc…
@Neeraja
You must have seen the Top Ten Bush Moments?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBWFL5-K8aU
******
Have you seen this TOM CRUISE Interview?
http://gawker.com/5002269/the-cruise-indoctrination-video-scientology-tried-to-suppress
Neeraja – the movie’s Dariya Dil. The Wheel of Time will reach there as well
@Mainak
YOU WATCHED THAT MOVIE!!!
I was thinking of something better. you know, Govinda saving Kimi Katkar from some filthy people in a swimming pool. He is dressed in red briefs. That would explain why she fantasizes of him in superman attire but I couldn’t come up with a possible spider woman explanation in hindi movie scenario.
Ya I have seen the Bush video but the tom Cruise thing! what the f@%# was that? i am a li’l drunk right now and he is REALLY getting on my nerves.
@Subrat
I dread , shiver in anticipation, of that day when wheel of time meets Dariya Dil.
@papai
I had seen the first one. Tom Cruise should see the second one
there are similar stunts by some tamil guy. I forgot the name.
Neeraja
Not only did I see that film. I loved it. We rented a VCR & the Movie. This was pre cable days. I saw every Govinda-Kader Khan film of that era.
@ Neeraja
You mean This :- :d:d:d
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R31aMEU9TI&feature=related
or this ? (check out the subtitles) :o:o:o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlyqDILyHJQ
or maybe this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UYDpxZNftI&feature=related
hahahahahaha
@papai
Yes that’s him =)) Vijaykanth. I was trying to search Tamil+electric shock :D
Thanks
@Mainak
wah!
My knowledge of that era is very limited.
Now that I think of it, I haven’t watched any Kimi Katkar or Anita Raj movie.
@Neeraja
I had a huge crush on Anita Raj.
Kimi Katkar was another story. She was much later than Anita Raj though.
@Mainak
Anita Raj was good looking.
ok
I was too young to watch movies then let alone have crushes (I mean on hero log)
The first movie that I remember to have watched in a movie hall is ‘dil hai ke manta nahi’ and I was in love with Aamir Khan
by the way, how’s ‘Sweeny Todd’?
Mainak – Anita Raj. There was a certain equestrian air about her a la Amrita Singh. Didn’t know Bong sensibilities were excited by this sort??
:)
@mainak…i shall check out that german artiste..but you must have heard liquid tension experiment awsome..its almost DT sans the vocals..hehe…JOhn Petrucci also come wid his album “suspended animation”..he has overcome his love for shredding guitar..:P
@Subrat
It might be because my 1st glimpse of Anita Raj was the Cover of PREM GEET with the song “Honthon Se Chhoolo Tum” playing in the background. I was mesmerized. Infact I’m listening to it right now …maybe after 15 years.
@Neeraja
I refuse to watch any Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp. He has kidnapped Johnny Depp since last 10 years. I can’t tolerate it anymore. Johnny needs to work with other directors before he gets old. Its unfair.
Besides its a musical. I can’t tolerate musical. Side-effect of Bollywood!
@Saurav
You mean ULRICH SCHNAUSS?
Ulrich Schnauss – Stars
Well I am not into Hard Rock/Progressive Rock scene anymore. I did have some Liquid Tension Experiment music with me when DREAMTHEATER became my fav band.
@Mainak
You mean you cannot tolerate modern musicals or in general? Don’t tell me you hate ‘Singing in the rain’, ‘Fiddler on the roof’ etc.
@Neeraja
No musicals for me. How some kids grow up abused & it affects their whole life. Musicals have the same effect on me. Memories of ridiculous songs rush through my veins & I can’t deal with it anymore.
I have not seen last years biggest Indie Hit ONCE just because its a musical. Everybody loves that film. I just can’t bring myself to watch it.
I have not seen SINGING IN THE RAIN or FIDDLER. I don’t care either.
Dabba
What do you think of COMMON? I found 2 amazing songs in his last album.
The People
Common ft. Dwele – The People
The best is I WANT YOU
Is I WANT YOU one of the best names for songs? Sexiest?
@mainak,
not seeing ‘once’ cuz u think its a musical is gonna be one of the biggest misHHtakes of ur life man.
it aint the usual musical shit.
moi feels u will like it
@ mainak –
I love Common. He and Mos def are my favorite rappers. I like I want you, but the rapping ios average. The song is carried by its catchy hook. His rhymes and beat are tighter in The people.
do u remember the second season (i think) of the chapelle show, when kanye and common rap in the kitchen? I love that bit, and Common’s verbal dexterity blows Kanye out.
also, you should watch Gondry’s concert film/docu withy Chapelle where they bring in Kanye, Common. Mos, Lauryn Hill, Erykah badu for a show. the performances are great.
In Kanye’s recent album, i really liked Flashing Lights. While it is still overproduced for my taste, it is a lot more toned down than the rest of the album, and he got flow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEccxPPwXmI
Dpac
Thanks for reminding me about ONCE. I will watch it as soon as i get my hand on the DVD. It got squeezed between all the other great films of 2007. And I’ve heard only good things about the film. The the story behind the film & the people who made it make me wanna support their art. So I apologise to mankind & indiefilmdom for my ghastly crime.
@Dabba -
I discovered Common just about 2 months back. I have seen the Dave Chappelle’s BLOCK PARTY almost a year back. I knew nothing about Hip-Hop then. Except for big names like Andre, Outkast, Lauren hill, Erika badu & Mos Def..etc. I became a big fan of Jill Scott after watching that DVD. She rocks!
I probably know 10% of what you know about hip-hop. I’m not a big fan. Only a very catchy tune catches my fancy. I also didnt enjoy live hip hop that much. I went to see GIFT OF GAB in a club in Portland last year & was completely bored. Maybe because he came on right after a mindblowing set by DJ Z-Trip.
Flashing Lights is always on radio here. Like they overplayed the Daft Punk version for you at NY. Strangely that song didnt get as much airplay as this. Probably because LA is high on electronic music these days & we don’t think too highly of that song. Its 10 years old. My fav song of Kanye’s Album is GOOD MORNING. Could be because I saw the video 1st time at the MURAKAMI Exhibition in LACMA. On a Giant Screen alongwith other shorts of Murakami.
I’m a sucker for catchy tunes. half the time I dont understand the lyrics of songs. hence over the years my fav genre of music is Trip Hop & Fusion. (Elevator Music for the ignorant)
The GOOD MORNING Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqS9go3nKW4
Block Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SohxFp_ink
Jill Scott
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOMxLxZIei0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw3Z8Oa7E3Y
I’m off to go do whatever dance the Greeks do. will chat when i get back tomorrow.
How was your Greek Dance Dabba?
@ Mainak – how to dance greek
so the greeks invented a dance form that caters exclusively to drunk men looking for an excuse to tell the wife.
people gather around the dance floor, on bent knee and throw money on the floor at the their friend’s feet dancing, like in the chhamiya bars in bombay. only, it’s mostly men, the music is super slow, and they have some weird steps, which are not actually steps but a drunk guy trying to find balance.
they have live singers, that sing something remotely philosophical and the slow songs all seem to be about losing in love, or winning. they sounded the same, and these are traditional folk songs that they continue singing.
the fast tracks when everyone dances is very similar to arabic music, and the dance ranges from a dandiya raas in a circle without the sticks, to free form with an emphasis on histrionics and staring at ur feet as you try and trace weird un-geometric shapes.
since i can’t just stand by and watch when people dance, even if i find the music and dance lame, i decided to join in.
i slowed my bhangra moves and energy down to a tenth, replaced my dappanguthu face with a shayiri face, and tried to lose balance and coordination.
i did splendidly.
Dabba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEabZJWH-V8
Which one is you?
i’m the guy with both arms raised. wait a minute… that’s everyone.
Youtube Divorce
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx_WKxqQF2o
Neerja this ones for your love of youtube
—–
Flight Of the Concords – Business Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU
youtube divorce…lol
thanks
watching other videos of Flight Of the Concords.
Tell me if you are able watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybI34Z_ZHbo
Not working here.
Yes Neeraja
I could watch that cartoon of Bob Dylan introducing pot to Beatles. But whats so special about it?
Did you like the song Business Time? I thought it was hilarious.
@ Dabba/Dpac
have you heard the Australian Band CUT COPY?
Their song FEEL THE LOVE is played every night on Radio here. There other songs are quite good.
Esp Glittering Clouds.
http://hypem.com/artist/cut+copy
www.myspace.com/cutcopy
hmmmn nothing! I hadn’t watched it when I posted the link. Still not working on my comp :(
Yup ‘Business Times’ is very very funny.
Youtube ^:)^
I saw a few other Flight Of the Concords videos…weren’t that good. Nowhere close to Business Times.
@Neeraja
Guess how I discovered BUSINESS TIME?
I was driving in my car & it came on radio(KCRW) & i was just cracking up. I thought its some jamaican dude from London. I stopped my car when the song was over. Wrote down the time & day the song was played.Came home & check out the playlist & found the song. Went to amazon.com to read about them to find out the whole story of CONCORDS.
Jamaican dude from london! lol! the song is worth all that effort.
and thanks for writing it in bold…just realized I was writing timeS all this time :D
Its BUSINESS TIME
BUSINESS TIME
BUSINESS TIME
BUSINESS TIME
BUSINESS TIME
So, what is the full story of these funny dudes?