Psalm 59:3
See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD .
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
Its a fact that a pedestrian in Japan would unquestionably know two things about India, Elephants and Rajnikant. They can afford to miss their lunch time sushi or skip a Kurosawa flick but, for sure remember eentsy-weentsy details about Rajnikant’s Baba and Mutthu. Its such a shame that of all good things in India the Japanese adore Rajni and Elephants the most!!! Rajnikant striking gold in Japan opens a new gateway for an array of other Indian artists who are dying to make it big abroad. ’’Amreeka na sahi.. Jaapaan hi sahi’’. If I were given the choice, I would personally recommend them ..err... actually there are a few.. first on my list is Laaloo..(err..isn’t he an artist??) followed by Ektaa Kapoor whose ’’saas-bahu’’ serials will bring about a cultural revolution in Japan. I assume there, saas and bahus would either put on their sumo wrestling costumes before they try steppin’ on each other or else they would draw their swords out like those traditional samurais. The third on my list is a prolific Nawaab.
The Rap Nawab of Lucknow
I prefer to call him a nawab as he hails from the land of Nawabs, Lucknow. Meet Baba aka Balwinder Singh Sehgal, the King of Indian Rap. This ’’Rap-Nawab’’ lived up to the expectations by carrying forward the rich historical heritage of Lucknow. For starters, Lunknow (Awadh) was the land where music genres such as Thumri, Dadra, Khayal and Ghazal prospered during the 19th century (and now rap huh!!!). The Rap Nawab was the first ever to discover the source of the acronym R.A.P, ’’Rahein Aap Pareshan’’. I am cocksure that the rap stalwarts such as Eminem and Kid Rock would have failed to discover what Baba did. So back off Eminem... we got Baba already.
The Breathless Jabbering
Dil Dhadke: My first reaction to this song was, ’’O MY GAWD’’ with my mouth wide open. Miss Pooja Bedi walking drenched and some fella mumbling stuff in hindi...I don’t get ya mate!! Capeesh? By the end of the fifth hearing I finally gave up. I prefered trying to decipher what my Chemistry book had to say...but.. Oh well!! I comprehensively enjoyed watching Pooja drenched in the red dress.
Manjula - Dr Dhingra: The video featured some freaky Dr Dhingra (Baba himself) whose experiment in creating a beautiful woman goes haywire. Finally he ends up creating cats and dogs and rabbits..... Whatever dude!!! Baba deviates away from his usual RAP mode. He tried to instill some typical bollywood gimmicks including the choli music (remember Ila Arun in Khalnayak??).
Catch Line: ’’Lekar aaya hoon mein baaja, manjula!! baaja bajake bana main raaja, manjula!!, juice peeyaga raaja aaja manjula!! khol de tu darwaajaaaaa!!!’’ Holy Cow!!!! whatever that meant...
Aage Aage Ladki Peeche Baba Deewana: Meaningful lyrics, soulful music, brilliant singing.. its all there in this number. It featured in an album called Main Bhi Madonna (talking about lack of transvestites in India).
Aaja Meri Gaadi Mein Baith Jaa: What more can you ask from a song. Music by Anu Malik, lyrics by Anu Malik, sung by Anu and Baba, and pictorialized on Baba and Krish Malik (Anu’s younger brother). I was bewitched when I first heard this number. Let me be honest, I liked it, infact I loved it. I remember those days when me and my cousin used to drive down to Jesus and Mary College (which is a girls college in New Delhi) hoping some girl would ask for a ride. Unfortunately, none did. Anyways....I love the regional gimmicks that Baba and Anu pull in this number.
Catch Line: ’’jaana Musoorie hai, Khaana tandoori hai, tu meri noori hai, kyon yeh doori hai, , main tera deewaana miss long hair (long hair??)’’ (Captivating.. ain’t it????)
Baari Barsi: The Rap-Nawab goes Punjabi... This song released in the period when his rap gimmicks stopped working. By now people probably realised how their moolah was robbed. So Baba takes to some traditional Punjabi fused with Reggae.. and trust me it went down the gutter as well. Bob Marley (in his grave) and Malkit Singh got their share of nightmares with this number.
Current Buzz
The Japanese Films Association is considering a permanent ban on Indian movies and music in their country. It seems they are better off eating sushi and watching yokozuna wrestling on Friday nights...
Counsellor.. I need help again..