Sonu's against vulgarity

In a week marked by concerts, Sonu Nigam took a stand against vulgarity in lyrics by refusing to sing for a David Dhawan film.

Star Gaze
Sonu gives it back

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Veteran playback singers have done it in the past, when they were asked to sing songs with double entendres. Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle have often walked out of the studios without so much as an explanation. And without any guilt towards the harassed producers at whose expense a recording studio gets booked.

It came as a pleasant surprise when Sonu Nigam, the current teenage singing sensation, refused to sing vulgar lyrics under Himesh Reshammiya’s music direction. Nigam had seldom complained against any inequitable treatment towards him in the past.

The song in question was for a David Dhawan film, who is known for double meaning dialogues and lyrics in his films. Last heard, while Dhawan was reeling from shock but Nigam was spreading the news of his bold move to friends and foes alike. Way to Nigam!

Analysis
Morning Raga is unique blend of West and South

The soundtrack of Mahesh Dattani’s Morning Raga is making waves for its take on world music. The composer duo, Mani Sharma and Amit Heri, have created sounds not heard in Hindi films. All those privileged few who’ve heard the music have been raving about its novel approach to film music.

It’s aunt Shabana Azmi's turn to follow Tabu's footsteps. Azmi is all set to take singing seriously. It may be recalled that Azmi had earlier recorded four songs for her film, Muzaffar Ali’s . But after having played a professional singer in not one but three of her films ( and now ) Azmi, who took Carnatic music lessons to perfect the subtle ‘swaras’ in the South Indian style, is all set to start a new trend; a fusion on the lines of World Music where Carnatic and rock music blends harmoniously to create a new sound.

And how is Azmi getting influenced by all this? The method actor in her got excited as soon as she got challenged by the complexity of the character and decided to sink her teeth into it. And hence she was all agog with excitement when she had to lip sync to difficult and complex notations, quite alien to a North Indian like her.

The result? Thanks to all the hard work, Azmi has turned a thorough Carnatic classical musician and swears by its “sheer magic” that has even youngsters swaying to its beat. Honestly, is it truly the magic of music or Azmi’s histrionics? That remains to be seen.