Showing posts with label Akele Hum Akele Tum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Akele Hum Akele Tum. Show all posts
BT Exclusive: Aditya Narayan, Shweta Agarwal to welcome their first child soon
8:34 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 24, 2022)
Aditya Narayan and his wife, actress Shweta Agarwal, are all set to embrace parenthood and welcome their first baby. Says an elated Aditya, “Shweta and I are looking forward to this new phase in our life. It feels surreal. I have always been fond of father someday. Now, Shweta might be in for more work because I am not less than a child, and we recently even adopted a naughty golden retriever. Our house will be booming with high-octane energy soon.”
The singer says that this is a dream come true for them. He shares, “It may sound filmi, but on my 30th birthday on August 6, 2017, when Shweta and I were not even engaged, I had this dream of seeing Shweta standing in a nursing home with our child in her arms. I am glad that my dream is coming true. In fact, very soon, we are going to have a godhbharai with just our family members in attendance.”
Aditya and Shweta acted in the film Shaapit (2010), and after a long courtship, they tied the knot on December 1, 2020. He further adds, “I have also worked very hard in the past few years because I wanted to provide my wife and family with a good lifestyle. It’s great that we are starting a family now.”
Aditya hopes that they are blessed with a baby girl. “I would love to have a daughter because fathers are closest to their daughters,” he says. His parents, too, are excited about the new addition to the family. “My father and mother are both excited that they will become grandparents soon, but my father (singer Udit Narayan) is a little shy like me when it comes to expressing himself,” he says.
Talking about taking all the precautions during the current pandemic, he says, “We are taking extra precautions and haven’t stepped out at all due to the pandemic. I am a very private person when it comes to my family and don’t believe in talking much. I am just happy that we have been blessed.”
Aditya, who is currently hosting Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, had sung many songs with his father when he was a kid. Picking his favourite father-child song, he says, “My father and I have sung many songs dedicated to the father-child bond, but among all of them, my personal favourite is the title song of Akele Hum Akele Tum.”
Where did the children’s songs disappear from Bollywood?
8:06 AM
On Children’s Day, industry insiders tell us that with fewer prominent kid characters in films and the focus on creating a hit song that caters to all segments, children’s songs are no longer considered essential or viable in Bollywood
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; November 14, 2021)
When curating a Children’s Day playlist, the most obvious selections are Lakdi Ki Kathi (Masoom, 1983), Nani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye (Masoom, 1960), Nanha Munna Rahi Hu (Son Of India, 1962), Hum Bhi Agar Bachche Hote (Door Ki Awaaz, 1964) and many others such classic tracks, that have remained a constant favourite with kids (and adults too!). Then came Chak Dhoom Dhoom (Dil Toh Pagal Hai, 1997), Chhota Bachcha Jaan Ke Hum Ko (Masoom, 1996) and Bam Bam Bole (Taare Zameen Par, 2007).
Once an essential part of Bollywood movies, the number children’s songs has gone down considerably in films, and the ones that are there could never match the popularity of songs like Lakdi Ki Kathi or Aao Tumhe Chand Pe Le Jaye. “There can never be a replacement for these old favourites,” says singer Udit Narayan, who has sung popular tracks like O Mere Papa The Great (Papa The Great, 2000) and Oh I Love You Daddy (Akele Hum Akele Tum, 1995), adding, “The reason is that the writing of those songs and the composition was so good that it connected with the audience of every age group, every generation. It is difficult to find those kinds of songs today.”
‘TODAY, THERE ARE FEWER MOVIES WITH PROMINENT KID CHARACTERS, THUS FEWER SONGS FOR CHILDREN’
Udit Narayan adds that when we talk about children’s songs in films, it is impossible not to talk about child artistes who would be an integral part of film plots earlier. But over time, as the role of child artistes in Bollywood stories reduced, songs specific to children were no longer needed.
Music composer and singer Salim Merchant adds, “Even the projection of kids has changed. Take the example of movies like Dangal or Bajrangi Bhaijaan, both of which features kids in prominent roles, but the storyline was communicating something that is not specific to only kids. So children’s songs today do not really fit in most of the stories that we are narrating in our films. There are fewer stories or situations which would demand such a song.”
Lyricist Raj Shekhar, who made his Bollywood debut with Tanu Weds Manu and has written children’s stories, says that in films he grew up watching, kids were an important part of stories. “What I liked was that they were treated as an important character, not a supporting element in the film, and even the songs were written keeping this in mind. If you take the example of the song Hum Laayein Hain Toofan Se Kashti Nikal Ke (Jagriti, 1954), the song is addressed to children. When that scenario changed in films over time, even writing for kids reduced, which I think is sad. We are failing in giving the present generation music that is written exclusively for them,” he says.
‘TODAY, THE FOCUS IS TO AT LEAST GET ONE COMMERCIAL HIT FROM A FILM AND A KID’S SONG CAN’T BE THE PITCH’
In times when social media hits decide the fate of songs, a lot of effort goes into making music that can be a commercial hit and also gain traction online. “In such a scenario, creating a kid’s song feels like a risk when the movie is not about them,” says singer Javed Ali, adding that out of many songs offered to him, he has barely sung two-three tracks which were for kids. “Not just me, this will be the case with all the singers, as there are hardly any songs being written for kids. These specifics that were once an important part of films — like a Holi song, Raksha Bandhan song or Diwali song — are becoming rare. Even if films have them, most of these songs just come and go.”
‘SONGS ARE CREATED OR AUDIENCE AT LARGE, NOT FOR A SEGMENT’
“Let’s not forget to talk about the changing preferences and choices of modern kids,” says Salim Merchant, adding, “I have seen kids in my own home and once they grow out of their nursery rhyme phase, what they consume are songs which are for adults. The songs that are created today in films can’t be created for any segment. To make them popular, it is important that they are created keeping in mind the larger audience, which also includes kids.”
FOREVER FAVOURITE KIDS’ SONGS FROM HINDI FILMS:
- Nani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye (Masoom, 1960)
- Lakdi Ki Kathi (Masoom, 1983)
- Nanha Munna Rahi Hu (Son Of India, 1962)
- Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka (Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971)
- Chanda Hai Tu Mera Suraj Hai Tu (Aradhana, 1969)
- Aao Tumhe Chand Pe le Jaayein (Zakhmee, 1975)
- Hum Bhi Agar Bachche Hote (Door Ki Awaaz, 1964) \ Railgaadi (Aashirwad, 1968)
- Ichak Dana Beechak Dana (Shree 420, 1955)
- Re Mama Re Mama Re (Andaz, 1971)
- Dadi Amma Dadi Amma Maan Jao (Gharana, 1961)
- Bachche Man Ke Sacche (Do Kaliyan, 1968)
- Hum Laayein Hain Toofan Se Kashti Nikal Ke (Jagriti, 1954)
- Chanda Mama Door Ke (Vachan, 1955)
I will laugh it off if Aamir Khan's role in Secret Superstar is unflattering-Anu Malik
7:41 AM
Dhaval Roy (DNA; October 18, 2017)
In Aamir Khan’s next Secret Superstar, he plays a flamboyant and outlandish music composer called Shakti Kumar. Buzz is that the character is inspired by music composer Anu Malik. Especially because Shakti is a music composer who is also a judge of music reality show, and makes outlandish comments, just like Anu.
'I TRUST AAMIR'
Anu, who has heard about Shakti Kumar being inspired by him, says it’s all good, “Aamir is one of the most outstanding actor, and human beings I know, so I’m sure whatever he has done, will be great and I completely trust his instincts,” says the composer.
FEELING LOST
What were his thoughts when he first heard the news of Aamir playing him? “I didn’t know how to react. I’m completely lost in my own work. Also, someone told me that Aamir had five composers in mind for this character. I have no clue whether I’m one of them. But, I secretly look forward to watching Secret Superstar,” he laughs.
WON'T BE OFFENDED
From what one has seen, the character comes across as a flashy and vain guy. What if the role turns out unflattering? “I will laugh it off. Aamir will never belittle or ridicule anyone. He is too big to resort to such gimmickry,” he reasons. It is also his equation with Aamir that’s at play for him to take the depiction in his stride. “We have known each other for decades. I composed the music of Baazi when he just entered the industry. With Akele Hum Akele Tum or Ishq, we have given big hits. Whenever there is something important or a celebration, he calls me up. When we run into each other at parties, he will come to say hi. He is one guy who has time for everyone. To me, Aamir is Aamir and whatever he does, I will respect."
NO PROBLEM!
Anu has been imitated on the small screen a number of times in comedy shows. He chooses to take how he is portrayed or even perceived with a pinch of salt. “Imitation is the best form of flattery. I guess I have made a mark with the way I dress, speak and move around. Besides, you can’t live your life if you get worked up about these things. If me being mimicked makes people laugh, I laugh too and move on,” he smiles.
He signs off with, “I read somewhere that I judge reality shows because I have no work. But people don’t know that I am up to my neck in projects right now.” The music director is composing for J P Dutta’s Paltan and two other projects. “I have been around for 40 years but the music that I am now composing makes me feel like I’m just starting off, especially after Dum Laga Ke Haisha and now Judwaa 2.”
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