MOVIE #04: A TALE OF TWO SISTERS 2003 (KOREAN)

When it comes to recent makings of horror movies, my opinion is unshakeable – the Orientals make far better horror movies than the West. Mind you, I am not saying that Hollywood movies aren’t great….it’s just that I think Asians, with all our superstitious and whatnots, have come up with some really, really novel stories and ideas…a far cry from the ‘flying ghosts’ you used to see in Chinese movies of the 70’s and 80’s!

Take for example ‘The Ring’. It is undisputed that the Japanese version fares much better than the Naomi Watt movie. Then there are Chinese movies like ‘The Eye’, Thai movies such as ‘Nang Nak’ and ‘Shutter’ and Singapore with it’s offering of the ‘The Maid’ (I will post a blog on this soon). Then there is ‘A tale of two sisters’.

A Tale of Two Sisters is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film. It is directed by Kim Ji-woon and is both the highest-grossing Korean horror film and the first to be screened in American theatres.

The film is inspired by a Joseon Dynasty folktale entitled "Janghwa Hongreyon-jon", which has been adapted to film several times.

You are intrigued from the start and because you know it is a horror movie, you are forever on your guard but the scary bits arrive when you least expect it. That for me adds to the appeal. You feel the love that the sisters’ share and you share their hatred for their step mother and anger towards their father. Horror aside, it actually is a really good movie and I recommend that you watch this….but if you are faint hearted, preferably with someone who is not easily ‘disturbed’ with supernatural themes. It is also a bit of a tear jerker, so have the hankies handy. And watch out for that closet!

Veen's rating: 4 stars
 

MOVIE #04: A TALE OF TWO SISTERS 2003 (KOREAN)

MUSIC #05: NEEL KAMAL 1968 (HINDI OST)

Two of my favourite Mohammad Rafi songs are from this great OST (original soundtrack) from composer Ravi Shankar Sharma (no this is not Ravi Shankar, the famous sitar player). He is often simply referred to as Ravi in the 1960s and 70s; and then as Bombay Ravi in the mid 1980s onwards. Ravi received numerous Filmfare awards (the Hindi movie industry equivalent of the Academy Awards) for his music, namely for Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Do Badan (1966), Humraaz (1967), Ankhen (1968) and Nikaah (1982). Sahir Ludhianvi is credited with the lyrics in this OST. The singers in this soundtrack are Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey. They lend their vocals to actors Raaj Kumar, Manoj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman for this movie. Waheeda Rehman won the Filmfare best actress award for her role in this picture.

The two Rafi songs that I am referring to above are “Aaja Tujko Pukare Mera Pyar” and “Babul Ki Duayen Leti Jaa”. The latter is often played at Indian weddings as it tells the story of a father giving his blessing to his daughter-bride as she leaves her birth home for that of her husband’s.

The first song however is synonymous with lost love, broken hearts and reincarnation (if you believe in rebirth). It is about a lover calling out to his sweetheart to come back to him. The first and second verses are as follows:

Song: Aaja Tujko Pukare Mera Pyar

Aaaah aaja…..
Aaaah come….
Tujko pukare mera pyar, ho…x2
My love calls to you, ho… x2
Aaja main to mitaa hoon teri chaahe mein
Come, I am destroyed/engulfed in your desire
Tujko pukare mera pyar
My love calls you

Aakhiri pal hai, aakhiri aanhen tujhe, dhundhe rahi hain
It is my last moment, my last sigh is searching for you
Dubati saansen, bujhati nigahen tujhe, dhundh rahi hain
My drowning breath, my final gaze is searching for you
Saamane aaja ek baar
Show yourself to me just once
Aaja, main to mitaa hoon, teri pyar main, tujko pukare mera pyar
Come, I am destroyed/engulfed in your desire, my love calls to you …….

Now, does it get any more teary or mushy than this????

BTW, also check out the great music in “Dono Ke Vichkar Lagta” which combines rock and roll and bhangra music. Fusion was obviously well and alive in the 60s too. As usual, Asha Bhosle is just awesome in this song. And then, there’s “Yeh Zindgi Jo Thi Ab Tak Teri Panahon Me” and “Rom Rom Meh Basne Wale Ram”. It just goes on to show the versatility of Asha Bhosle, from rock and roll, to ballads and bhajans (hindu hymns). Just awesome. Do not just take my word for it; let me know what you think of Neel Kamal.

Neel Kamal 1968: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Aaja Tujko Pukare Mera Pyar – Mohd Rafi

2. Dono Ke Vichkar Lagta – Asha Bhosle and Chorus

3. Khali Dabba Khali Botol – Manna Dey

4. Dance Music

Side Two

1. Yeh Zindgi Jo Thi Ab Tak Teri Panahon Me – Asha Bhosle

2. Babul Ki Duayen Leti Jaa – Mohd Rafi

3. Sharma Ke Yun Na Dekh – Mohd Rafi

4. Rom Rom Meh Basne Wale Ram – Asha Bhosle

The soundtrack is available HERE.

Veen’s rating: 4.5 star

PS: Apologies for the “Rom Rom Meh Basne Wale Ram” track. There is a scratch on my record and it jumps during the last part of the song. If you are a pro with music editing software, I would appreciate a cleaned up version of the song. Ta.

MUSIC #05: NEEL KAMAL 1968 (HINDI OST)

MOVIE #03: BLACK AND WHITE 2008 (HINDI)

Black and White is a 2008 hindi movie from director Subhash Ghai. The movie is very unlike Ghai’s style as he usually makes movies in the typical Bollywood style. There may be some factual and reality flaws in the movie, but those aside, it makes good entertainment!

The story is based on the true life terrorist attack on India’s Parliament on 13 December 2001, when a Delhi University professor (SAR Geelani) was held responsible for his links with the terrorists. Like Geelani, Professor Rajan Mathur (played by Anil Kapoor) also teaches Urdu in the Zakir Hussain College and unwittingly becomes associated with a suicide bomber, Nomair Qazi (played by newcomer Anurag Sinha) who comes all the way from Afghanistan to blow up the Red Fort in New Delhi on India’s Independence Day.

The bomber resumes the identity of an old poet’s dead grandson, who was a victim of the 2002 Gujarat riots and takes up residence with the old man. He also wins the sympathy of the college professor and his activist wife (played by Shefali Shah).

Nomair has fourteen days to plan his suicide mission and conveniently uses the simple professor and his emotionally exuberant wife to gain entry into the highly secured Red Fort. In those two weeks, Nomair learns that not everything is black and white. And that love is stronger than hate. You can check this movie out HERE.

Veen's Rating: 3.5 Stars

MOVIE #03: BLACK AND WHITE 2008 (HINDI)

MUSIC #04: MANTOVANI/HOLLYWOOD (INSTRUMENTAL)

I thought I had to wait till end of this week before I could upload any music but then I realised that I had a couple of albums uploaded on Mediafire.com. I also realised that I have not shared the music for Dr Zhivago. I will do this sometime next week when my internet account resets for the next billing period.

So for the time being, sit back with a nice port or sherry and enjoy Mantovani and his Orchestra, and his take on the popular movie themes of the 1950s and 1960s. Chin Chin!

MANTOVANI/HOLLYWOOD: Instrumentals

Side One

1. Born Free – Barry/Black

2. Lara’s Theme (from “Dr Zhivago”) – Jarre

3. Goldfinger – Barry/Bricusse/Newley

4. Ben Hur – Rozsa

5. A Taste Of Honey – Scott/Marlow

6. This Is My Song (From “A Countess From Hong Kong”) – Chaplin

Side Two

1. You Only Live Twice – Bricusse/Barry

2. The Magnificient Seven – Bernstein

3. Tara’s Theme (from “Gone With The Wind”) – Steiner

4. Lawrence Of Arabia – Jarre

5. Zorba The Greek – Theodorakis

6. The Bible – Mayuzumi

Veen’s rating: 3.5 stars

MUSIC #04: MANTOVANI/HOLLYWOOD (INSTRUMENTAL)

MUTTERINGS #05: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

To my dearest mother and m-i-l, and to all mums and gonna be mums of the world, Happy Mother's Day.

MUTTERINGS #05: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

MUTTERINGS #04: KIDS....URGH!

Too late for me! It may have taken me nine months at a time to download my kids, but they only took nine days to use up all of my 12 gbs of internet! Now I have to wait till mid this month before I can upload or download anything!!! Not a happy chappy.

MUTTERINGS #04: KIDS....URGH!

MUSIC #03: ANDAZ 1971 (HINDI OST)

A favourite movie and album when I was really young, with “Re Mama Re Mama Re” from Mohd Rafi being the favourite song then, because of the catchy tune and funny lyrics. One normally does not associate Rafi with humour, the forte is usually afforded to Kishore Kumar and his trademark yodels. But Rafi does a good job here and if you were looking forward to some yodelling from the Hindi king yodeller, you will not be disappointed with “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai” by Kishore Kumar. BTW, I have also included the Mohd Rafi version of “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai” , which I copied from the movie, as it was not on the LP. I wonder why??? Let me know which version is your preference. In case you are wondering why the voices change halfway throughout this song, it is because the first part is sung by Mohd Rafi (who lends his voice to Shammi Kapoor in the movie) and the second part is sung by Kishore Kumar (for Rajesh Khanna’s role in the film). Oh, and let us not forget that there’s the third version too by Asha. Maybe this is why the second version was not included in the OST – for fear of “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai” overload!!!!

I have to admit though that my favourite songs from this album now are “Mujhe Pyas Aesi Pyas Lagi Hai” and “Dil Use Do”. As usual, both Asha and Rafi are at their best. So sit back and enjoy this pleasant album from composer Shankar Jaikishan and songwriter Hasrat Jaipuri.

Veen’s rating: 4 stars

ANDAZ 1971: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Zindagi Ek Safar Hai – Kishore Kumar

2. Hainha, Bolo Bolo – Mohd Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur, Sushma and Pratibha

3. Mujhe Pyas Aesi Pyas Lagi Hai – Asha Bhosle

Side Two

4. Dil Use Do – Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle and Chorus

5. Re Mama Re Mama Re – Mohd Rafi (and Chorus)

6. Zindagi Ek Safar Hai – Asha Bhosle

Bonus Track From Movie

7. Zindagi Ek Safar Hai – Mohd Rafi and Kishore Kumar

You can download the songs from HERE.

MUSIC #03: ANDAZ 1971 (HINDI OST)