Chords & Notes

TELUGU

Bhadradri Ramudu… Surya Music… Rs. 35

THERE ARE two things that make this album different. Firstly, all the songs in the album, written by Veturi Sundararama Murty and composed by Sree, have been rendered by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Nitya Santoshini – a real, refreshing change. Secondly, almost all the songs have a Harikatha-like feel about them.

While Kondantha vaadu kondekkinodu has some folk feel too, Ramulorocharu Ramulorocharu Ram bhajana is sung with a typical English accent, especially in the refrain Rama Rama Sita Sita and it sounds charming. Sitakoka chilakamma (repeated twice on the flip side), Jai Sriramachandramurtyki and Mullokambula are the other songs that keep up and carry forward the spirit.

On Side B, Sriramachandra is a song that has the ability to force a second hearing from you. Good and different attempt.

HINDI

Asambhav… Tips… Rs. 55

VIJU SHAH composes for this Rajiv Rai film. And the techno tunes may just about catch the attention of the listener the first time. While some of thetunes are better suited for discos, there is no element of melody andnot much scope for good lyrics. The fast-paced Raatein badi hain sets the tempo for the album.Hema Sardesai’s voice is ideal for this song. Naseeruddin Shah chips in with some words. One notices Rajiv Rai’s name in the flap. He is part of the chorus in this and Mashuqa Rubi. Kavita K. Subramaniam seems wasted in Teri dekh dekh ladkaiyan. Anuradha Sriram’s voice sounds too harsh in Mashuqa Rubi – asong, which resembles the first one to a certain extent.On the flip side Main sada hoon (K.K.) and Koi aayega (Sunidhi Chauhan) are not impressive.Perhaps the only thing in the album worth a hearing, is the Instrumental theme (Asambhav). It begins on a soft note but gathers in momentum. The only discordant note are the words introduced towards the end – voices of Naseeruddin Shah and Arjun Rampal.

On the whole, the album seems almost impossible to hear like its title. Hope the movie is not so.

Kabhi… Saregama… Rs. 55

SWAPNA ROY, wife of Saharasri Subroto Roy, makes her debut as a singer with this album, which was released with much fanfare. The music by Sanjeev Shrivastav (he is assisted by the lyrics of Shaheen Iqbal) is quite melodious to hear although one gets a feeling of having heard some of the tunes before at times. After a point a kind of monotony sets in.

The opening song is Kabhi zindagi mein, which is being aired on the telly where Subroto Roy appears. It is like taking a nostalgic trip – going down memory lane – the visual complements the written words. The music has overtones of Bappi Lahiri. Mohammed Salamat gives Swapna company in the latter half.

Through Sandal ki aanch, Dil mera aaj kal and Yeh motiyon li ladiyon Swapna Roy is able to showcase her singing talent and come out successful. In fact these songs are better than the first one. Yeh motiyon ki ladiyon has a folksy touch to it. Swapna Roy is able to hold her own in the four songs on Side B although the songs are just about OK. Roop Kumar Rathod gives her company in the last song Jhil mil jhil mil.

Swapna Roy is able to mark her mark as a singer with this album.

Sun Sahiba Sun Fanzai’s Mix… Venus… Rs. 50

SUN SAHIBA sun is one such song, which one feels like hearing again and again, because of its lovely lyrics and a melodious voice that breathes life into the content. And when Lata Mangeshkar croons Maine tujhe chun liya tu bhi mujhe chun you really want to choose her… as the melody queen. Perhaps, not attempting a remix version of that song would have been the best gift anyone could give the legendary singer. The remix version doesn’t come anywhere close to melody – with the singer’s voice sounding huskier than necessary, and bits of English lyrics thrown in just for the heck of it… Naturally, unless you are a remix buff who doesn’t mind hearing the distorted version of the song in a disc/ pub, the album doesn’t really attract attention.

The other songs which follow this non-melodious track include Reshmi salwar kurta jaali ka, Sharabi ankhen (a club mix repeated on Side B too) and Yeh ladka hai allah, Mana ho tum on Side A. The flip side has songs like Jane jana, Mera salam lejaa and Bholi surat.

The album is good only for the dance floors but not as a priceless collection adding worth to your prized possessions.

ENGLISH

Loving You… EMI… Rs. 150 (Two Vols.)

THIS IS a wonderful collection not only for mushy romantics but also for those who love great music – ballads, pop or rock. The compilation serves as great accompaniment for long drives or quiet walks.

Volume I features Robbie Williams’ imploring Feel, Blue’s latest title track Guilty, Aqua’s poignant Turn Back Time – there is also another version by Cher – , the hit from the OST of “Notting Hill”, Ronan Keating’s When You Say Nothing At All, Janet Jackson’s sensuous That’s the Way Love Goes, yet another song from the hit comedy “Four Weddings and A Funeral”, Wet Wet Wet’s Love Is All Around (incidentally all Hugh Grant starrers have great music) and the Michael Learns to Rock classic, Paint My Love.

Volume II includes Alicia Keys Fallin’, Westlife’s Swear it Again, the wonderful singing and guitar in Extreme’s More Than Words, Club 7’s Two in a Million, Toni Braxton’s first hit Breathe Again, Michael Hutchence’s wonderful voice in INXS’ Beautiful Girl, the irrepressible Tina Turner’s Missing You and the Spice Girls with 2 Becomes 1.

“Loving You” is a set so wonderful that it’s a must buy.

Hindu On Net

Big time small town

There’s more to Cannes than the film festival, writes LEKHA J. SHANKAR.

REUTERS

Cannes… unravel the many marvels of this former fishing town.

IT’s very difficult to disconnect and disassociate the town of Cannes from its film festival, considered the biggest and best in the world. But to many, the magic of the Cannes Film Festival comes from the marvels of this former fishing town, today famed as the “Pearl of the French Riviera”.

For the staunch movie-buff, the Cannes Film Festival begins and ends in the Grand Palais cinema-arena. But, for the wanderer, the film festival is only the beginning of a dazzling array of wonders. Cannes is an unending kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, an unbelievable melange of old and new, unrelenting whirl of cinematic fantasy and reality-show.

The all-important question is where does fantasy end and reality begin? There are mime artists in statue-like “freezes” on the streets, video screens on sidewalks, a gigantic screen on the beach. Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt wave out — in posters, and in the flesh. There’s Pedro Almodar staring out of the entire wall of a Romanesque building.

Ah, the Roman influence. Which brings us to the arresting history, architecture and spirit of Cannes — much older than its 57-year-old film festival. The glitzy town was a little-known fishing village, first heard about in the 11th Century. The name Cannes was first thought to have arisen from “canna” or the reeds growing near the marshes. But it’s now believed to come from “kan” or “summit”, because the earliest settlers settled on the summits or hilltops. That’s why the oldest part of city is still on a hilltop — Le Suquet (Provencal word for “summit”.).

The original Cannes had only one castrium (castle) on top of the Le Suquet hill, which the Count of Provence gave the Abbey of Lerins. The Abbot extended his domain, including building the fortified monastery, which still stands, in St. Honorat Island (originally called Lerins).

In the 13th Century, the Count of Provence opened out the town as a maritime outlet, an important step in Cannes’ economic development. It’s said that in 1471, the town had 86 houses and 400 settlers, who lived mostly off fishing and farming.

Many catastrophes followed, including the Wars of the Religion (with the Roman empire), the Plague, and the Spanish occupation of the St. Marguerite Island (then called Lero). This island is a major tourist attraction because of the imposing Fort Royal built by Cardinal Richelieu, which houses a museum and the State Prison.

During the French Revolution in the 18th Century, the castle on Le Suquet served as prison, and later, hospital. By now, Cannes had extended to a few houses near Le Marine (along the sea) and the Forville district (now famous for its fish and fresh fruit market).

In the 19th Century, Cannes began to be talked about, thanks to visitors from Britain escaping the winter. Lord Brougham “discovered” the town when his carriage stopped there for one night in 1834. The British earl never left, and lived, loved and died in Cannes. His statue still stands in the city-centre.

In 1871 the town had a population of 10,000, villas and hotels. The royalty and gentry of Europe were drawn to the city whose glorious weather made it an ideal winter resort. Then the town council built the railway tunnel under Le Suquet and the crescent-shaped Le Croisette, Cannes’ most famous street.

Emmanuel Bellini has represented this charismatic road in numerous landscapes — The blue sea, white beaches, and colourful canopies on one side; and the dazzling hotels, galleries, boutique shops on the other.

There’s a dizzy celebration of architectural styles, which swept into the city during the “peak” 19th and 20th Centuries. Gothic, stucco, baroque, Romanesque, Provencal designs were used for chalets, pavilions, villas, manors, palaces. Today, the city boasts of 5,000 rooms, 2,500 apartments, 100 hotels, 300 restaurants. Also four casinos, eight golf courses. There is something for everyone in this multifarious town. There are cuisines of every kind, nightclubs, discotheques, luxury yachts that host dinner cruises, beach-tents that double up as party-zones.

The palace-hotels are legendary. The Carlton, with its pink marble columns and gilt-ceilings has been called the “Most Photographed” hotel in the world. The grand Majestic and Martinez hotels follow close behind. I’m fascinated by the plush movie-theatre in the swanky Noga Hilton Hotel, and the Espace Gallery in the popular Miramar Hotel. The red-bricked Sofitel has a unique Provencal design.

The Grand hotel incorporates the gorgeous Malmaison building, which houses the best art gallery in town.

I stay in the old and charming Le Bocca area, studded with homely hotels, cafes, and market places. Its peaceful atmospherics are a sea change from the pulsating town.

But even in the reverberating Hotel de Ville area, the cosy parks and gardens that wedge between the noisy bars and cafes charm me. There are casual joggers, old men, elderly ladies walking their poodles among long lines of tuxedo-clad men and long-gowned women.

The film festival is just a drop in the multi-hued sea of events at Cannes. In fact with the 30,000 sq.m.,18-auditorium Grand Palais being one of the top Exhibition Centres in Europe, the city has a year-long range of major trade events.

I walk down Rue d’ Antibes, the city’s famed boutique-street. All the Corte d’ Azur brand names are here — Cartier, Chopard, Lacroix, Chanel. There are more fashion-statements on the streets.

There’s something for everyone in this multidimensional town. Cannes is a town for walking. I walk to the historical old quarter of Le Suquet. It’s an uphill road, through the charming squares and streets of Rue Meynadier. The route is a fascinating medley of cobbled paths, alleys, fortified walls, and gardens.

I visit the medieval castle, which now houses the popular Museum de la Castre. It’s a bevy of small rooms containing various “collections” bequeathed to the city — paintings, landscapes, ceramics, and woodcraft.

The 12th Century St. Anne Chapel has a unique range of musical instruments from around the world. From the old square tower, there is a glorious view of the city.

I walk among palm-fringed paths, through old ramparts and walls. They all offer panoramic visions of the multi-dimensional scenarios of Cannes.

The palm is Cannes’ national symbol (because the original settlers brought palms to the town, after getting them “blessed” at the holy abbey in Lerina island). Hence, the Palm d’Or Award, at the Cannes Film Festival.

Hungry to encounter more of Cannes’ unique past, I walk to the pier and take a speedboat to the two historical islands of St. Marguerite and St. Honorat. St. Marguerite is dotted with lush gardens and botanical trails, as I walk through the narrow streets and pretty alleys that now boast of a chain of sea-facing cafes and bars.

I walk around the huge Fort Royal with its ramparts and towers, and visit the Museum de la Mer, with its Roman cisterns and ceramics. At the State Prison, I see the cell of the “Man in the Iron Mask” but am more intrigued by the huge wall-portraits etched out by the prisoner-turned-painter Jean le Gac.

St. Honorat is another picturesque island, with its grand, fortified monastery, Romanesque abbey, and antique chapels. Of great interest to tourists are the monks’ lush vineyards, where an excellent range of wines and liqueurs are available.

I wish I had more time in Cannes, to go up the mountains, down the coastline, across the hinterland. Whoever thought the film festival-city had so much to offer?

* * *

How to get there:

Numerous flights from India to Paris. From Paris, there are hourly flights to Nice airport.

The train-ride from Paris to Nice is about five hours. From Nice airport, Cannes is 25 km away.

Where to stay:

Hotels to suit all budgets, hostels, apartments.

Book well in advance.

What to wear:

Sunny in the mornings, but windy and cold at nights. A jacket/wind-cheater is a must, casual and formal clothes, and good walking shoes.

When to go:

Cannes has a year-long calendar of events.

Hindu On Net

VERSI terbaru filem yang diinspirasi daripada novel klasik, Jules Verne Around the World in 80 days memiliki gaya tersendiri.

Barangkali itu kerana filem tersebut menerima sentuhan bintang aksi popular Asia yang kini mencipta nama di Hollywood, Jackie Chan.

Lantas apa yang menyerlah dalam filem itu adalah segala-galanya tentang Jackie yang terkenal sebagai hero filem aksi yang pakar dalam seni mempertahankan diri. Apa yang ditampilkan juga humor gaya Jackie Chan.

Novel yang berusia 125 tahun itu juga tentu sekali tidak ada kisah tentang konspirasi mafia dari China dengan orang politik Inggeris. Bukan itu saja, saintis yang gila-gila itu tidak pernah mencuri ciptaan saintis adik- beradik Wright.

Apa yang dikembalikan dalam versi baru Around the World in 80 days adalah kisah pertaruhan seorang saintis Inggeris mendakwa dia boleh mengelilingi dunia dalam masa 80 hari.

Versi Around the World in 80 days yang pernah ke layar perak tahun 50-an dulu pernah mengagumkan peminat filem. Filem klasik itu turut meraih lima Anugerah Academy termasuk filem terbaik.

Versi terbaru barangkali tidak mampu mengagumkan Hollywood ke tahap itu tetapi ia tetap sebuah filem keluarga yang menarik dan seronok untuk ditonton.

Tentu saja, peminat Jackie Chan tidak mahu ketinggalan untuk menyaksikan aksi pertarungan terbarunya itu kerana ia cukup menarik.

Jackie bukan saja bertindak sebagai pelakon utama dalam filem ini tetapi juga pengarah koreografi adegan aksi.

Bukan itu saja Around the World in 80 days juga menyaksikan kemunculan banyak celebrity Hollywood yang terkenal termasuk Gabenor Arnold Schwarzenegger sebagai putera Turki yang playboy.

Anda juga berpeluang menemui Luke dan Owen Wilson sebagai adik-beradik Wrights, Kathy Bates (Permaisuri Victoria) dan Rob Schneider (pengemis).

Tidak ketinggalan adalah penyanyi bersuara unik Macy Gray dan pelakon Asia, Karen Mok serta Sammo Hung.

Filem yang sudah ditayangkan di pawagam itu mengisahkan tentang Lau Xing (Jackie) yang merompak Bank England kerana ingin mengambil semula artifak jed Buddha yang dicuri dari kampung halamannya di China.

Lambang maruah penduduk kampung itu dicuri oleh kumpulan Black Scorpions yang berkonspirasi dengan tokoh politik tamak dari Britain, Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent).

Ketika melarikan diri daripada pihak berkuasa Lau Xing akhirnya terserempak dengan saintis Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan). Phileas terkenal dengan reputasi sebagai saintis yang mempercayai apa saja boleh direka pada zaman itu.

Idea Phileas bagaimanapun sentiasa ditolak mentah-mentah oleh saintis ortodoks lain di jabatan sains.

Lau Xing yang akhirnya menyamar sebagai Passepartout bersembunyi di kediaman Phileas setelah lelaki itu mengambilnya sebagai pembantu.

Dalam satu perjumpaan di jabatan sains, Phileas bertaruh dengan Lord Kelvin bahawa dia mampu mengelilingi dunia selama 80 hari.

Passepartout mempercayai misi itu adalah satu cara yang terbaik untuknya kembali ke China lantas menyertai Phileas.

Dalam perjalanan mereka bertemu dengan Monique (Cecile de France) iaitu seorang pelukis yang hilang sumber inspirasinya. Wanita itu kemudian menyertai misi tersebut.

Sepanjang perjalanan melalui darat, laut dan udara, ketiga-tiganya menempuh pelbagai cabaran dan rintangan. Ia menguji tahap kesabaran dan persahabatan masing-masing.

Pada masa yang sama, Lord Kelvin terus mengupah Black Scorpion menjejaki kumpulan itu dan menggagalkan misi mereka termasuk mendapatkan kembali jed Buddha itu.

Apa yang menyerlah dalam filem tersebut itu adalah elemen komedi lebih daripada novel asal karya klasik tersebut. Ada banyak babak pertarungan berbaur humor ala Jackie Chan dalam filem tersebut.

Aksi pertarungan di galeri lukisan antara Passepartout dan kumpulan Black Scorpions cukup menarik. Begitu juga ia membabitkan kesan khas CGI yang menjadikan suasana pengembaraan mengelilingi dunia selama 80 hari itu lebih menarik. Around the World in 80 days adalah filem arahan Frank Coraci.

Utusan Malaysia

Is cricket killing other sports in India?

SURE cricket is killing other sports in India. How? By claiming the largest share of the commercial sponsorship, by raking in millions of rupees and dollars through television rights, by taking away much of the audience even for lowly rated one-day internationals.

This sport also takes chunk of space in the newspapers and magazines. When compared to cricket’s advancement, the other sports in India are lagging far behind.

J. Edwards,
Jalandhar

CRICKET is dominating over other games in India. This is due to the wide coverage in the media. I am not jealous about the popularity of the game, it deserves every bit of it. No doubt cricketers bring laurels to the country.

I feel this is the only team sport in which India has some reputation in the international arena.

Pushpak Jasani,
Gondia

CRICKET is killing other sports in India. While a drawn Test series in Australia takes so much of space in the newspapers and magazines, Anju’s bronze in the world championship is not given the prominence it deserves.

Our athletes, chess players and shooters deserve a better treatment. They need the support of public, sponsors and the media.

Vikram,
Chennai

THE decline of other sports must be attributed to poor administration, marketing and the interference of government.

Each nation has its own favourite game. In Europe, football is popular compared to other sports. David Beckham is more popular in England than Nasser Hussain.

The media coverage also goes according to the popularity of the game. But I find The Sportstar gives due coverage to all the sports.

Saikiran,
Kurnool

I DON’T think cricket is killing other sports. I feel the other sports are killing themselves. The role of the BCCI is commendable in this regard. It has an excellent administration.

Another factor is that cricket can be played with limited resources. The game also enjoys the support of media. Channels queue up to get the telecast rights. Since the game is popular among the masses, it attracts sponsors by the dozen.

The other sports should tone up their administration first. They should be more professional.

Thomas Kurian,

Thrissur

THE victory in the 1983 World Cup has helped cricket to grow in popularity. Better administration and proper marketing are the main reasons for the game achieving this status in India.

The other team sports can take a cue out of cricket. They should excel in the international arena. This will help them to find sponsors for their growth.

Mayur Lookhar,
Mumbai

MANY think that cricket is killing other sports in India. But this is absolutely wrong. The BCCI has the best of administrators to run the game. The other sports federations lack in this direction.

Infighting and politics are the order of the day in other sports set-ups.. They should learn a lot from BCCI, especially when it comes to marketing.

Deepak Mishra,
Kolkata

Hindu On Net

A fairy-tale wedding in a French Chateau

LONDON,

JUNE 23.

Amid pomp and show, Vanisha Mittal, daughter of Non-Resident Indian steel tycoon L.N. Mittal, tied the nuptial knot with Amit Bhatia, a London-based financier, in the beautiful setting of Vaux les Vicomte, a 17th century Chateau, an hour’s drive from Paris, last night.

The six-day long wedding extravaganza, costing millions of pounds, concluded this afternoon at the Grand Intercontinental in Paris attended by over 1000 guests including leading Indian industrialists and Bollywood stars.

The VIP guests included the Hinduja brothers Srichand, Gopichand and Ashok, the two sons of NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Ambar and Aakash, Reliance chief Anil Ambani and his star wife Tina, Vijay Mallya, Anand and Anuradha Mahindra, Parmeshwar Godrej, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Sunil Mittal, Hotelier Lalit Suri, property developer K.P. Singh, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, renowned painter M.F. Husain, Congress leader Murli Deora and London socialite Ramola Bachchan.

Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar performed at the wedding ceremony last night while Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukherjee took the centre-stage earlier. The sangeet at Catherine de Medici’s Jardin des Tuilleries in Paris had performances by Mittal’s son, Aditya, and daughter in law, Megha, enacting the tale of how 23-year-old Vanisha fell in love with 25-year-old Delhi-born Amit Bhatia.

— PTI

Hindu On Net