Planet Vishal Bharadwaj

  In <span style="font-style:italic;">The Blue Umbrella</span> is a prayer scene in the little Himachal village where the story is set. A bhajan begins, but is in a very familiar tune, which turns out to be <span style="font-style:italic;">"you are my soniyaa"</span> (<span style="font-style:italic;">"Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham"</span>). The setting of a prayer song to a popular Hindi film tune is a common feature in many Indian towns (Punekars can summon memories of the aural assaults during the Ganesh Festival).<p><br /><br />A similar thing has happened to <span style="font-style:italic;">"biiDii jalaile"</span> ("Omkara"). The soundtrack of <span style="font-style:italic;">"Athiti Tum Kab Jaaoge"</span> has a song called <span style="font-style:italic;">"jyoti jalaile"</span> which runs on the same lines as the original, and is even sung by Sukhwinder Singh (music is either by Pritam or Amit Mishra - hopefully not the leggie, who still has some cricket left in him).<p><br /><br />Vishal has some old associations with the makers of this movie. <span style="font-style:italic;">"Athithi..."</span> is produced by Amita Pathak, the daughter of <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/search/label/omkara">Omkara</a></span> producer Kumar Mangat. In addition, the lady made a disastrous debut in her father's production <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/search/label/haal-e-dil"><i>"Haal-e-Dil"</i></a>, which had a smorgasbord of music directors including Vishal. <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/already-forgotten-music-of-haal-e-dil.html">The twin versions of the excellent title track</a> (by Raahat Fateh Ali Khan and Rekha B) sank without too much attention as a result of the film doing very badly.<p><br /><br />And there's your dose of Vishal trivia for the day.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-3744871194083781076?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on March 03, 2010 02:31 PM · permalink

  Vishal's next, the <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2010/02/now-it-is-saath-khoon-maaf-husband-6.html">what-is-the-title-after-all</a> Saath Khoon Maaf/Ek Bataa Saath is based on Ruskin Bond's short story "Susanna's Seven Husbands". This is Vishal's second collaboration with the veteran writer after "The Blue Umbrella".<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.totalfilmy.com/feature/20100219/piggy_chop_all_seven_husbands_ek_batta_saat-28708.html">an interview with Bond</a>, Bond describes Susanna thus:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />"My protagonist is a femme fatale who bumps off her seven husbands… I had to find ingenious ways of bumping seven people off while writing the story. Not something that I am used to contemplating generally,"<br /></blockquote><br /><p><br />And it seems Vishal's begun shooting for the film in Coorg with <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Painful-time-for-Vishal-Bhardwaj/articleshow/5623238.cms">a hairline fracture</a> sustained while playing tennis.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-3329704850196289918?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on March 01, 2010 11:27 AM · permalink

  I wonder if the reporters make up their own titles as they go along, while reporting on movies in production. I have heard <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/11/connecting-dots.html">Seven</a>, <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/cinema-news/dresscircle/Priyanka-to-have-seven-husbands/455645/Article1-457866.aspx">Seven Husbands</a>, <a href="http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/09/nov/17-priyankas-7-husband-deal-to-be-ek-batta-saat-110907.asp">Ek Bataa Saath</a> as potential titles. I am guessing they are talking about the same movie.<br /><br />Neil Nitin Mukesh is playing <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Neil-is-Priyankas-youngest-husband/articleshow/5607898.cms">one of the husbands</a>, and seems to be the sixth one roped in to play the part of Priyanka Chopra's short-lived husbands. But I could identify only other two from the reports - Naseeruddin Shah and Mohanlal (Kamal Hassan would have been enough to play all!)<br /><br />From the name and the number being touted, I am guessing PC leaves her husbands quick and dead.<br /><br />I hope Mini Mukesh dies a gruesome death right into the 1st minute of the movie. He is acting के नाम पे धब्बा! Personal view, thats all.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-7442583122623509091?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on February 23, 2010 01:50 PM · permalink

  <a href="http://www.strikerthemovie.com/">"Striker"</a>, a film directed by Chandan Arora and starring Siddharth (probably the first Hindi film to feature carrom as its central theme?), recently released its music album. Among the many music directors to write songs for the album is Vishal.<br /><br />The song is called <i>Yun Hua</i>, is penned by Gulzar, and is sung by Vishal himself.<br /><br />(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striker_%28film%29">see the Wikipedia article on 'Striker' for more.</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-7889752567654165638?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on January 14, 2010 01:05 PM · permalink

  <a href="http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/jan/05/gulzar-makes-ishqiya-unforgettable.htm">Rediff review</a> is all praise for Ishqiya music. <br /><br /><blockquote>Once again Gulzar [ Images ] and Vishal Bhardwaj [ Images ] have conspired to give us a soundtrack to marvel at, that one intoxicatingly warm song leading the way.</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-9063568511155693572?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on January 05, 2010 11:56 AM · permalink

  "dil to bachcha hai jii" is the next song from <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/search/label/ishqiya">Ishqiya </a>to be seen and heard, from this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/HcSjQJ9isL8">"Making of..."</a> video on YouTube:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HcSjQJ9isL8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HcSjQJ9isL8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Once again, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan seems to be used wonderfully and the lines & threadlets are quite Gulzar-esque.<br /><br />(<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulzarfans/message/6767">Via Ajay on the Gulzar fans group</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-420155884823262744?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on December 24, 2009 02:32 PM · permalink

  Intrepid, unceasing traveller. Travel writer. Scholar. And now finally, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Battuta">Ibn Batuta</a> is referenced in a Hindi film song, thanks to the Gul-czar.<br /><br />The Abhishek Chaubey directed Ishqiya is likely to release in Jan, which could mean a music release this month. A look at the first song to make it out on the airwaves (like Dhan Te Nan, more onomatopoeia & Sukhwinder - couldn't figure out the other voice)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/meLsDhDswO4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/meLsDhDswO4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><i>Found via the <a href="http://moifightclub.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/first-look-ishqiya-song-promo-phurr-phurr-phur/">'Fight Club'</a> blog</i><br /><br /><hr><br /><br />And even <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Censors-youre-here-because-of-sex-Vishal/articleshow/5346468.cms">the trailer</a> seems to have hit censorship roadblocks for Arshad Warsi's killer (and rather tragic) line.<br /><br /><hr><br />Is the movie's title to be pronounced as "ishqaa.n" (the way it is said in the trailer)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-1971740405579737654?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on December 18, 2009 02:47 PM · permalink

  Vishal had <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-ask-vishal-bhardwaj-question.html">alluded to the fact</a> that he was working with Ruskin Bond. <br /><br />Now, <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-I-am-not-a-bad-writer-/543722/">it seems</a> Ruskin Bond is the writer for <del>The Seven Husbands</del> Seven (700 million Rs. the title won't stick!).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-6921598228307088837?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on November 23, 2009 05:14 PM · permalink

  If the <a href="http://www.behindwoods.com/bollywood/hindi-movies-news/nov-09-01/mohanlal-vishal-bharadwaj-priyanka-chopra-12-11-09.html">buzz</a> is to be given credence, Vishal's next will be called <em>Seven</em> (or <em>7</em>) and not <em>7 Husbands</em>. Given the insurmountable strength of David Fincher's moody piece on the Internet, one can see problems when using Google to find out more. The buzz also tells us that Vishal has, after much persistence, signed up the first of the seven: Mohanlal. Given Vishal's track record, this might undo the damage done by RGV's fiery in-sippy-d flick and bolster the ouevre established with <em>Company</em>. Now muster your best Malayali impression and repeat after me <em>लोहा गरम है</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-3966527341396143203?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by George (noreply@blogger.com) on November 16, 2009 11:03 PM · permalink

  Bound scripts, targeted audiences, massive publicity budgets, media tie-ups, and merchandising - Bollywood has indeed turned a corner in the noughties.<br /><br />One clear sign of an increasing corporate hold over the film industry is the instillment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_screening">test screening</a>. Good, bad? Well, definitely good for producers who want the film not to bomb for the lack of UAT and appeal to the widest audience possible. By the same token, bad for audiences with a keener palate.<br /><br />Take the case of Ishqiya. During focus group screening, women squirmed and shifted in their seats. Indeed, <a href="http://movies.indiatimes.com/News/Parts-of-Ishqiya-to-be-re-shot/articleshow/5226814.cms">they found it uncomfortable to watch</a>. (give them cushions I say!)<br /><br />Now, I wonder if Satya had been shown to such a focus group. Would Bhiku Mhatre saying "paagal" instead of "chutiya" conveyed the same nuance?<br /><br />Ishqiya seems to be of a milieu where people swear to punctuate their sentences (the male protagonists are thieves, you ar*3$0735!). Indeed in my opinion, expletives qualify and elaborate the exclamation mark oh so wonderfully.<br /><br />Why, oh, why, should we then curb the beauty of the rustic lingo?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-35184303932300763?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on November 16, 2009 08:47 PM · permalink

  The only ghee laden Hindi word I know for interview is साक्षात्कार. Anyone know any better?<br />Another साक्षात्कार in <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5143290.cms">TOI </a>from the folkal voice par excellence.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-2213809089474243252?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on October 21, 2009 06:37 PM · permalink

  The amazingly talented Rekha Bhardwaj, who recently performed (riffed?) in the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, speaks of her singing, Vishal's direction, singing "Namak", and how Vishal romanticises the fact that he took up music just to woo her in college. <a href="http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/music/article28840.ece">The full interview here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-7460024861989676826?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on October 05, 2009 03:03 PM · permalink

  If <a href="http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/gupshup/2009/priyanka-signs-vishal-next-260909.html">articles</a> floating <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/sep/250909-Priyanka-Chopra-7-roles-Vishal-Bhardwaj-7-Husbands.htm">online</a> are to be believed, Vishal Bhardwaj is working on a script called <em>7 Husbands</em> and seems to have to roped Priyanka Chopra in to play 7 brides for 7 men. Since the rushes of <em>What's Your Raashee?</em> are mentioned, one is inclined to dismiss this as another case of striking the hot iron. <em>Satte pe Satta</em> becomes <em>Ek Sati Saat Pati</em>?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-5552325714030842316?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by George (noreply@blogger.com) on October 01, 2009 04:29 AM · permalink

  The Times of India reports that Vishal will be scoring the Broadway version of "Monsoon Wedding", which is to be made by Mira Nair (the film version had music by the talented <a href="http://www.mychaeldanna.com/">Mychael Danna</a>).<br /><br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Vishals-score-for-Miras-Broadway-musical/articleshow/4994510.cms">The news item here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-5344213642553361496?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on September 12, 2009 10:17 AM · permalink

  <i><a href="http://quatrainman.blogspot.com/2009/09/steam-funk.html">"Steam Funk" - my little post on the opening scene of Maqbool</a></i><br /><p>Some weeks ago, I was sitting in the evening bus back home when it began to rain. The conditions were sufficiently heavy for condensation to appear on the window panes. As is inevitable when presented with a damp canvas, doodles began to materialise, literally out of thick air.</p><p> This reminded me of two movie sequences that used the drawing board of the window-pane (not considering shower doors or other glass panes merely providing 'steamy' vistas). One is in <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/">Kill Bill: Vol. 1</a></b>, where a suddenly serious Hattori Hanzo, confronted by 'The Bride', writes the name of their arch-enemy. The condensation doesn't drip, perhaps suggesting a fog created by means other than water or just multiple takes. It's a little too perfectly etched, though.</p><p> The second, however, is more naturally crooked. This is the opening scene of a film. The first shot opens on a blurred background, bluish in colour. A dull noise accompanies the frame, which you realise is the sound of rain. The Bombay rain. A hand reaches out behind what turns out to be glass, and there is cackling.</p><p> The hand proceeds to draw a scraggly line to our left, and begins to fill out a rectangle. Followed by diagonals and two more. lines. It's a horoscope. Of Mumbai's. This a police van, and inside it are Sadik Chikna and the Inspectors Pandit &amp; Purohit.</p><p> Thus brilliantly, in a haze of condensed air, in the jungle of Mumbai, does <b>"Maqbool"</b> unveil.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-3792348990294434475?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on September 04, 2009 02:31 PM · permalink

  In <a href="http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=30610">an earlier interview</a> (also posted <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/story-behind-dhan-te-nan.html">on this blog before</a><a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/story-behind-dhan-te-nan.html"> by Abhishek</a>), Vishal had mentioned that "Dhan Te Nan" was reworked from an episode of the same name dfor "Gubbare" (Zee TV, 90s). The episode was one of the early directorial forays by Vishal and by most accounts was quite badly made :-). The video of the opening has surfaced now (<a href="http://gauravsabnis.blogspot.com/">Gaurav </a>&amp; <a href="http://donquixort.blogspot.com/">Salil </a>pointed to it), and features some bad choreography, a rocking train, and an even more juvenile Sharman Joshi.<p><br /><br />Quoting from the interview:<br /></p><blockquote><br /><i><br />“Dhan te nan was not designed specially for Kaminey. I had first used it in a telefilm called Dhan Te Nan. I had used that catchphrase and the tune in that telefilm.<br /></i><p><i><br />Dhan te nan is a phrase that belongs to our film and music culture. For us Indians cinema is the biggest cultural entity. We often borrow illustrations and speech patterns from our films. Dhan te nan is used during bedtime stories for dramatic effect.<br /></i></p><p><i><br />Whenever I used to tell mey son Aasman stories I’d go ‘Dhan te nan’ to create drama. This phrase remained with me.”<br /></i><br /></p></blockquote><br /><br />I have always wondered how Vishal's baby steps in film making would have been. Here's an example. Thankfully, he's become much better :-)<p><br /><br />Here's the video (sung by Suresh Wadkar &amp; Roop Kumar Rathod, and humming by Rekha Bhardwaj):<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nSYmuVwUp9A&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nSYmuVwUp9A&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-5612197278589493572?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on September 04, 2009 02:31 PM · permalink

  <div align="justify">In a couple of interviews, Vishal has cited the seminal influence of Krzystof Kieslowski's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decalogue">Decalogue</a>. In <a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?261415">this interview</a> with Outlook, he talks about following the footsteps of the acclaimed director, and trying out his style of film-making.</div><div align="justify"><br />Says Vishal, “I want to explore silences and calmness the way he does, I have yet to find the Kieslowski expression in my cinema”.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">That would be as far away from the mind-bendingly frenetic Kaminey as possible. Interesting to see how that one turns out. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">For me, Vishal's take on Tarantino style didn't completely work, though Kaminey continues to be a must watch for all the laugh out loud scenes, whacky characters, and a tremendous ensemble cast. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-5858803607504442773?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on August 29, 2009 06:45 AM · permalink

  <div align="justify">Dhan Te Nan (roughly translated in Marathi as Wealth is Flatbread) is definitely the best track for me in the album. Have heard all other tracks just once and none of them have really hit home (Marathi - मनात घर करणे).</div><div align="justify">Vishal <a href="http://www.planetradiocity.com/musicreporter/gossip.php?gossipid=1283">provides insight</a> about how the track came to being</div><blockquote><p align="justify">“<em>Dhan te nan was not especially designed for Kaminey. I had first used the catch phrase and tune in a telefilm also titled Dhan te nan in 1998. It is a phrase that belongs to our film and music culture. For us Indians, cinema is the biggest cultural entity. We often borrow illustrations and speech patterns from our films. Dhan te nan is used during bedtime stories for dramatic effect. Whenever I used to tell my son, Aasman, stories, I’d go ‘Dhan te nan’ to create drama. The phrase remained with me.”</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p align="justify"> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p align="justify"> </p></blockquote><p align="justify">For a listen, the track is <a href="http://desi-radio.com/album_Kaminey_year_2009.php">here</a>. (see JR's <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/2009/06/kaminey-track-listing.html">post</a> for full track listings). ऐका</p><blockquote><p align="justify"> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p align="justify"> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p align="justify"> </p></blockquote><p align="justify"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-4990235190310812794?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Abhi (noreply@blogger.com) on August 25, 2009 01:04 AM · permalink

  Vishal Bhardwaj seems destined to be the guinea pig for all sorts of strange SNAFUs associated with film releases. Anurag Kashyap's problems were limited to censor bans. But the creative and talented Mr. Bhardwaj has had to deal with obscurity (<em>Maqbool</em> seems to have gained its admirers and fans almost completely by word of mouth and the occasional articles lavishing praise), hype dying with a whimper (a lot more was written about <em>The Blue Umbrella</em> before it finally hit the marquee, at which point it seemed to slide all the way out), strangely disappointing initial collections followed by a backlash of prudery (<em>Omkara</em>). And now it's the H1N1 wave that has prevented it from hitting the marquee back home in Bombay and Pune. The film has hit the marquee overseas and, as with <em>Omkara</em>, seems destined to get most of its early reviews from abroad (local limited screenings for critics notwithstanding). <br /><p>And the early notes are promising. Nay! They are extremely encouraging in an eerie way. <a href="http://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/aug/12/kaminey-review.htm">Raja Sen</a> ends his enthusiastic take with <em>Awefome!</em>; Another <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/indiamasala/2009/08/13/kaminey-the-director-is-the-real-star/">positive review</a> ends with praise for the director; <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET-Cetera/Kaminey-Movie-Review/articleshow/4892656.cms">Nikhat Kazmi</a> gives it a full-star rating before gushing about it as does the <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/movie-review-kaminey/502164/">Indian Express</a> and Vasan Bala is drooling <a href="http://passionforcinema.com/kaminey-one-of-the-100-films-to-watch-before-you-die/">over at PFC</a>. Anupama Chopra, writing for NDTV, <a href="http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_Review.aspx?id=416">starts by</a> calling it the best Bollywood film she's seen this year. Taran Adarsh, the <a href="http://georgethomas.blogspot.com/2005/12/here-be-strange-spoilers-courtesy.html">reviewer from hell</a>, who pretends to be a critic while looking at films like a baniyaa, also has <a href="http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/13940/index.html">good things</a> to say, ending with four stars out of five. Lisa Tsering (<a href="http://www.lisatsering.com/">reportedly</a> "the first Western journalist to write about Bollywood and Indian pop culture for the Indian press") calls it a <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSTRE57E03W20090815">smart vivid thriller</a>. Baradwaj appreciates Vishal's respect for the audience's intelligence as he unfurls <a href="http://www.desipundit.com/baradwajrangan/2009/08/15/review-kaminey-life-partner/">a favourable review</a>. Rajeev Masand <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-movie-review-kaminey-imaginative-and-original/99242-8-single.html">gives</a> "this imaginative and original film" four stars out of five. Over at The Hindu, <a href="http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/movies/article3026.ece">Sudhish Kamath</a> is "dying to watch it again." Minty Tejpal <a href="http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=30&contentid=20090815200908150231065469124d7a7">loves the film</a> (adding a disclaimer that he worked with Vishal on the screenplay of <em>The Blue Umbrella</em>) and can't get the tune out of his head.<br /><br /><p>And if you thought I was just looking at the good notes, allow me to offer <a href="http://aslibaat.com/index.php?id=143">Khalid Mohamed's take</a> (the guy can't even spell "Bhardwaj" right, though).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-4452916714714535518?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by George (noreply@blogger.com) on August 16, 2009 08:50 PM · permalink

  Long time Vishal associate Abhishek Chaubey's directorial debut is <b>Ishqiya</b> (see <a href="http://vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com/search/label/ishqiya">posts from this blog on the topic</a>). The film is co-produced & co-written by Vishal. After the musical lean patch of the last couple of years, 2009 will see another Vishal soundtrack, with lyrics by Gulzar.<p><br /><br />Shemaroo has made available the first trailer. The images & dialogues are in the Omkara-mould, and the content is more NC-17 than PG-13. There's a nice guitar theme running along. Enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qLE2zJv68pA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qLE2zJv68pA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7589143400156454119-2564056373606036347?l=vishalbardwatch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>

Posted by Ramanand (noreply@blogger.com) on August 15, 2009 03:21 AM · permalink