#bollywood bring back songs like these challenge

[torydarixs]

shat I'm listening to ambarsariya and it's so good istg

GALI MEIN MAARE PHERE

PAAS AANE KO MERE

#bollywood bring back songs like these challenge #rya my wife <3

[abigail55]

Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Hindustani Cinema: A Cultural Odyssey

Hindustani cinema, often synonymous with Bollywood, is a vibrant and diverse film industry that has captivated audiences worldwide for decades. With its roots deeply embedded in Indian culture, Hindustani cinema has evolved into a powerful medium of storytelling, blending elements of drama, romance, music, and dance. This article delves into the rich tapestry of Hindustani cinema, tracing its origins, evolution, and enduring impact on global cinema.

Origins and Evolution:

The origins of Hindustani cinema can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the release of India's first silent film, "Raja Harishchandra," directed by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913. This groundbreaking film marked the beginning of a new era in Indian cinema, paving the way for the growth and development of the industry.

Over the years, Hindustani cinema has undergone significant evolution, transitioning from silent films to talkies and from black-and-white to color. The golden era of Hindustani cinema, spanning the 1950s and 1960s, saw the emergence of legendary filmmakers such as Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, and Bimal Roy, who created timeless classics that continue to be revered today.

The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the rise of the "masala" film genre, characterized by its mix of romance, action, comedy, and melodrama. Filmmakers like Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra became synonymous with this style of filmmaking, churning out blockbuster hits that entertained audiences across the country.

In the 1990s, Hindustani cinema underwent a transformation with the emergence of a new wave of filmmakers such as Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who introduced fresh narratives and innovative storytelling techniques. This period also saw the rise of independent cinema, with filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Bhardwaj pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

Contemporary Landscape:

Today, Hindustani cinema occupies a prominent place on the global stage, with films like "Lagaan," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "Gully Boy" garnering critical acclaim and international recognition. The industry continues to evolve, embracing new technologies and experimenting with diverse genres and narratives.

One of the defining features of Hindustani cinema is its emphasis on music and dance. Songs and dance sequences are integral components of most Indian films, serving as vehicles for emotional expression and storytelling. From classical Kathak performances to high-energy Bollywood numbers, Hindustani cinema offers a kaleidoscope of musical and choreographic styles.

Moreover, Hindustani cinema reflects the cultural diversity of India, with films being produced in various languages and dialects. While Hindi films dominate the industry, regional cinemas such as Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu cinema also enjoy widespread popularity, producing a diverse range of films that cater to local audiences.

Themes and Narratives:

Hindustani cinema explores a wide range of themes and narratives, reflecting the socio-political landscape of India. From romantic sagas set against the backdrop of majestic palaces to gritty dramas depicting the struggles of everyday life, Indian films offer a panoramic view of society, its aspirations, and its challenges.

Family dramas, with their emphasis on relationships and traditions, remain a staple of Hindustani cinema. Films like "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" and "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" celebrate the bonds of family and the importance of love and unity.

Historical epics, such as "Jodhaa Akbar" and "Bajirao Mastani," transport audiences to bygone eras, bringing to life the grandeur and romance of India's rich cultural heritage. These films often feature elaborate sets, opulent costumes, and epic battle sequences, capturing the imagination of viewers with their visual splendor.

Socially relevant films tackle pressing issues such as poverty, corruption, and gender inequality, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by millions of Indians. Movies like "Peepli Live" and "Pink" confront uncomfortable truths and challenge societal norms, sparking important conversations about justice and equality.

Furthermore, Hindustani cinema has embraced genre-bending films that defy categorization. Movies like "Andhadhun" and "Stree" blend elements of comedy, thriller, and horror, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with their unpredictable plots and twist endings.

Global Influence:

Hindustani cinema's influence extends far beyond India's borders, captivating audiences in countries around the world. Indian films have a dedicated fan base in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, where Bollywood stars enjoy celebrity status and films are eagerly awaited and celebrated.

The global success of films like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and "3 Idiots" has helped popularize Hindustani cinema on an international scale, introducing audiences to the magic and charm of Indian storytelling. Moreover, the proliferation of streaming platforms has made Indian films more accessible than ever, allowing viewers from diverse backgrounds to discover the richness and diversity of Indian cinema.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Hindustani cinema is a vibrant and dynamic industry that continues to captivate audiences with its rich storytelling, colorful characters, and unforgettable music. From its humble beginnings in the early 20th century to its current status as a global phenomenon, Indian cinema has come a long way, embracing innovation while staying true to its cultural roots.

As the industry continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: the enduring appeal of Hindustani cinema and its ability to transport audiences to worlds of fantasy, romance, and adventure. Whether it's a lavish musical extravaganza or a gritty drama exploring the depths of the human condition, Indian films have something for everyone, making them a cherished part of global cinematic heritage.

[powerpackproduction01]

The Best of Delhi- Powerpack Productions Top 10 Works Unveiled

Delhi, a city steeped in records, lifestyle, and innovation, has lengthy been a hub for creativity and expression. Among the myriad of skills that flourish in this bustling metropolis, Powerpack Productions stands out as a beacon of excellence within the realm of enjoyment and media production. Renowned for their remarkable creativity and technical prowess, Powerpack Productions has continually introduced captivating content that resonates with audiences a ways and huge. Join us as we unveil their pinnacle 10 works, showcasing the very first-class of what Delhi's enjoyment enterprise has to offer. From the silver screen to the small screen, from documentaries to reality TV, Powerpack Productions has consistently pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation, cementing their status as one of the top 10 production in Delhi.

"City Lights":

Kicking off our listing is the significantly acclaimed movie "City Lights," a poignant tale of affection, loss, and resilience set towards the backdrop of Delhi's bustling streets. Directed by means of the visionary filmmaker, City Lights captured the essence of the city like by no means before, earning rave critiques from both critics and audiences alike.

"Rhythms of Delhi":

Next up, we have "Rhythms of Delhi," a captivating documentary that explores the wealthy tapestry of Delhi's cultural history through its vibrant song and dance traditions. From the soul-stirring qawwalis of Nizamuddin Dargah to the electrifying beats of Punjabi people music, this documentary celebrates the diversity and dynamism of Delhi's inventive landscape.

"Theatre Unbound":

In "Theatre Unbound," Powerpack Productions pushes the boundaries of conventional theater with a progressive mixture of stay overall performance and multimedia storytelling. This groundbreaking manufacturing captivated audiences with its immersive staging and concept-provoking narrative, cementing Powerpack Productions' popularity as a trailblazer in the world of appearing arts.

"Urban Explorers":

Venturing into the world of reality TV, Powerpack Productions gives "Urban Explorers," a interesting collection that follows a group of intrepid adventurers as they uncover the hidden gem stones of Delhi's urban landscape. From forgotten ruins to secret underground passages, every episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the town's lesser-recognized treasures.

"The Artisan's Tale":

Celebrating the unsung heroes of Delhi's artisanal network, "The Artisan's Tale" shines a highlight on the grasp craftsmen and women who hold age-old traditions alive in a rapidly modernizing city. Through intimate interviews and breathtaking visuals, this heartfelt documentary pays homage to the craftsmanship and creativity that define Delhi's cultural background.

"In the Spotlight":

Bringing the glitz and glamour of Bollywood to the small display screen, "In the Spotlight" gives visitors an special in the back of-the-scenes have a look at the making of Delhi's largest blockbuster movies. From star-studded premieres to high-octane dance numbers, this captivating series gives audiences a front-row seat to the magic of moviemaking.

"Green Revolution":

In "Green Revolution," Powerpack Productions tackles one of the maximum pressing troubles of our time with a compelling documentary that explores Delhi's efforts to fight climate trade and promote sustainable improvement. From rooftop sun panels to green transportation projects, this inspiring film highlights the cities innovative answers to environmental challenges.

"Voices of Change":

Diving into the world of social justice advocacy, "Voices of Change" amplifies the voices of marginalized communities in Delhi, losing mild on their struggles and triumphs in the face of adversity. Through effective storytelling and compelling interviews, this groundbreaking collection sparks crucial conversations approximately equality and inclusion in the metropolis.

"Beyond Borders":

Rounding out our list is "Beyond Borders," a groundbreaking collaboration between Powerpack Productions and worldwide filmmakers that explores the interconnectedness of Delhi with the worldwide network. Through a chain of thought-provoking vignettes, this ambitious challenge celebrates the city's variety and cosmopolitan spirit.

Conclusion:

From the silver display to the small screen, from documentaries to fact TV, Powerpack Productions has continually driven the boundaries of creativity and innovation, captivating audiences with their compelling storytelling and technical excellence. As we mirror on their pinnacle 10 works, it's clear that Powerpack Productions maintains to set the same old for excellence in Delhi's enjoyment industry, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural panorama of the metropolis and beyond.

#Top 10 production in Delhi

[thinkfirstdigital]

Building an Effective Email Marketing Strategy for Lasting Client Relationships

In this digital age, where the inbox is a stage for brands to shine, email marketing emerges as the star performer, stealing hearts with its personalised charm and engaging content. Like a well-directed Bollywood blockbuster scene, the correct email can evoke emotions, tell a compelling story, and entice your audience to act.

So, get ready to channel your creativity, put on your director's hat, and let's craft emails that resonate with your audience on a personal level. From preparing captivating subject lines to delivering exclusive experiences, we'll help you create emails that leave a lasting impression. For example, like a memorable melody from your favourite Bollywood song.

With Think First Digital by your side, we'll ensure that every email you send is a showstopper - delivering value, building trust, and nurturing lasting client relationships. So, take a deep breath, embrace the spotlight, and let's embark on this email marketing journey together.

Why Email Marketing?

In this fast-paced digital landscape, email marketing tools are the ever-reliable champion. It's like the friendly neighbourhood chaiwala who knows how you like your tea - warm, comforting, and tailored to your taste. With email marketing, you can build genuine connections with your clients and keep them engaged with your brand.

Know Your Audience Like the Back of Your Hand

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of crafting emails, let's talk about the secret sauce - knowing your audience! Understanding their needs, desires, and pain points will help you create emails that resonate with them.

The Art of Storytelling in Emails

Now, let's add some Bollywood drama to your emails with the power of storytelling! People love stories; your emails can be the perfect medium to narrate yours. Share your brand journey, the challenges you've overcome, and the successes you've celebrated. Paint a picture of your brand's personality, and watch your clients connect with you on a deeper level.

Create Engaging Content

As an email marketing agency, we know the importance of engaging content. And guess what? Emails love captivating content too! Use eye-catching visuals, catchy subject lines, and short, snappy paragraphs to keep your readers hooked. Spice things up with a mix of videos, images, and GIFs to bring your emails to life. Remember, you're not sending an email; you're crafting an experience!

Personalisation: The "S" in Success

In Bollywood, the stars personalise their autographs for fans. In the same way, personalised emails are the key to success in email marketing. Address your clients by their names, segment your email lists based on preferences, and tailor your content accordingly. When your clients feel seen and valued, they'll be more likely to dance to your brand's tunes.

Test before it goes live

Test your emails before hitting send to ensure they look great across all devices. Take a closer look at your analytics to see what's working and what needs a retake. Make data-driven decisions to optimise your email strategy for maximum impact. This will ensure that your email marketing campaign will be successful and you get a chance to fix any bugs beforehand.

The Power of Exclusivity: VIP Treatment

In Bollywood, everyone wants a taste of the VIP treatment, and so do your clients! Reward their loyalty with exclusive offers, early access to new products or services, or special events. Make them feel like the star of the show, and they'll keep coming back for more!

Building Lasting Relationships: Consistency is Key

Consistency is the key to a successful relationship. Stay consistent with your email schedule, whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Be a dependable partner who shows up with valuable content and exciting updates without fail.

Emails that drive conversions

Now comes the grand finale - the conversion! Your email marketing efforts should ultimately lead to action. Whether making a purchase, signing up for a webinar, or contacting your team, a clear and compelling call-to-action will guide your clients to take the next step. Remember, the show must go on!

In Conclusion

With the magic of email marketing, you can create lasting client relationships that would make any Bollywood romance jealous. Know your audience, tell compelling stories, create engaging content, personalise like a star, test, and optimise for success. Treat your clients like VIPs and be consistent in your efforts.

As your trusted email marketing agency in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, Think First Digital is here to support you every step of the way. Let's create email marketing masterpieces and build a loyal audience that applauds your brand!

#email marketing agency in Mumbai #email marketing campaign #digital marketing agency #digital marketing company in india

[chokorefashion]

Finding the Best Gifts for Men Shouldn't Be a Challenge!

No matter the occasion, if you are someone who is setting down on a voyage to find the best gifts for men from the stack of gift ideas available on the internet, we feel you. Allow us to help you cover your tracks and direct you in the right direction from here on. Finding the right gift for men is not as challenging as you might think if you know where to begin with. So if you ask us, what makes an ideal gift for husband or any man in general, we'll say it should be something to remind them of you and bring a smile to their face every time they look at it. Now we know the gift should not be something that can go out of sight and out of mind but a little something they can carry every day to work, maybe to the casual Sunday brunch or swift weekend plans. Still, there is one thing we need to consider before we sail our ship further. The gifts for men we pick should be practical and not something completely off-the-road for their taste. In order to serve as a reminder of you, the gift will have to be more than just pretty to the eyes. So let us help you get the best gifts for men, regardless of the occasion, celebration or relation; let gifting be pure emotions!

Timeless Accessories for Men with Classic Taste: Men do not shop too often and when they do, they’d want it to last for years and hence getting them something timeless such as staple fashion accessories that has endured the test of time would be a wise choice. In the age where the shift in trends is like the change in weather, there are accessories such as pocket squares, cufflinks and ties standing tall. Help your man build his collection of fine accessories with Chokore, a brand assisting men express themselves. With a conceptualized range of men’s accessories by ‘Bollywood Boutique Actor’ Rahul Khanna, you can be assured to get the finest quality timeless ties, self tying bow ties, and pocket squares. Each creation is manufactured by skilled hands to make them truly classic and perfect to pass on to the generations and on!

Gift For Men with a Hint of Personalization: Lately, we can see a rise in customized and made-to-order concept. It is mostly because people love the time and efforts went in creating a product that is exclusively made for them. In order to get a heartfelt gift for husband or any men in your life, you can get them an engraved accessory such as a keyring, a diary or pen, maybe even a pair of socks! Who knows the options are endless and inspirations are everywhere, you just have to find.

Treat for the Tech Head: If he loves his gadgets, he’ll be especially excited to unwrap a gaming set or a set of great bass headphones. From AI assistant to the stereo in the car, we are all embraced with technology, so why not gift him something that'll make his life easier? Help him get rid of his tangled earphones by replacing them with nice Bluetooth earphones. A classic marshal's speaker can also be a great way to compliment his fondness for music. 

Some Scented Love in the Air: Most of us associate intense feelings and emotions with certain scents. Like a song, it has the power to swiftly transport you back to the place, moment, or person when you first experienced it. Hence, after talking about fashion, accessories, and wardrobe essentials, our gift ideas for men would be incomplete without mentioning the perfumes. We'd highly advise you to study the perfume's top, heart, and base notes when choosing the right one. Whether it's a birthday, wedding anniversary, or just any special occasion, a good fragrance can be gifted on any day. It can be woody, smokey, or something fresh. Gift them a fragrance, or choose a gift set if you're not sure what they'd prefer.

A Gym Partner: Whether it's to help him achieve perfection or boost his self-confidence if your man is into physical workouts and gyming, nothing is better than gifting him some equipment or goodies. A great gym bag will ensure that his training is effective and that his workout goes smoothly, whether empty or filled with energy snacks, a handy bottle, and other gear. 

We hope you have a few surprises in mind now that we have come to a finish. It is time to act now and create a lasting memory while gifting. Finding the best gifts for men, we hope for you are not a challange anymore. To save more of your time, we'd suggest to buy mens gifts online while keeping the discussed gift ideas for men in mind.

#gifts for men #birthday gift for boyfriend #birthday gift for husband #gifts for husband

[monsoonblooms12]

Belamour (Ethan x f!MC)

Summary: Set after Book 3, Pooja finally gets Ethan to dance in the rain.

A/N: A silly something born out of my love for rains and my binge listening to 80s Bollywood classics (I have no idea what kinda mess this is tbh). Also, my first song based fic🤎

A/N 2: The song lyrics are indented (Translation in parenthesis)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey X f!MC (Pooja Sharma)

Rating: General

Word Count: around 1.5K

Category: Total fluff

Warnings: None that I noticed

Song Inspiration: Aaj Kal Yaad Kuch by Mohammed Aziz

READ ON AO3

A pair of summery blue orbs insistently stare at the world beyond the glass windows.

A world that was now being washed by the consistent droplets that came down from the adobe of clouds to meet their origin.

Their drum was usually henotic, tranquil for him.

But at the moment, it only added to his irritation and deepened the void of disappointment that had formed in his chest.

In another room of the same house, a pair of amber orbs watched the magic of nature with a child-like wonder.

The pleasant, dewy petrichor spread around her, and the mellifluous tunes of Earth's own orchestra made her forget the fast turns her life went through in the past day.

In the faint light, she picked up her hand and let the jewel, the stone that was nothing less than a promise of forever, shine like the billion stars that dot the sky at nights that are devoid of clouds.

As the iridescent lights make her eyes sparkle, a vague idea forms in her brain.

Her thoughts float to reach the person who gifted her happiness, and a smile lit up on her face.

There was a mix of challenge and love in the quest she was about to partake and she was determined to succeed.

In slow, soundless steps, she made her way out of the room and out of the house.

A blur went past and his trained eyes were quick enough to catch the motion.

Shaking his head with realization, he followed behind.

As the steps took him down, and he stood under the shade of the multi-floored skyrise, she stayed yards away from it.

Her hair was wet, her skirt twirling, her face bright and beautiful.

He felt his heart race, whispering an urge to join with hers.

He restrained himself, but the scene in front of him was so spectacular that he doubted just how long his restraint would last.

After what felt like an eternity, she turned to him, half of her face golden under the street lights, the other half bearing the monotones of black and white.

She looked like the personification of their love.

Her life the golden, and his the black and white.

He could write sonnets to describe the picture-perfect scene that played before him like a film, but all he did was stand still, unable to tear his eyes away, unable to speak the words that hadn't already been spoken, his well-thumbed thesaurus gathering dust in the labyrinths of his mind.

She looked at him with a longing, a spoken call for him to join her as the rains continued to fall and purify the earth.

All he did was shake his head in silence.

She took it as a challenge, and he already knew how it was going to end.

For a minute he got lost in her memories, reminiscences from a time, from a moment that passed too quick, yet slow enough for him to remember every moment of it.

And suddenly, the faint tunes of a song brought him back to the present.

Every word of the foreign seeming language lucid clear, setting in a cascade of emotions and bringing pictures etched in past pages of the novel of life, making him go on a trip down the memory lane.

Aajkal Yad Kuch Aur Rehta Nahi

(Nowadays I don't seem to remember anything else)

Ek Bas Aapki Yad Aane Ke Bad

(Once your memories enchant me)

Yaad Aane Se Pehle Chale Aaiye

(Please come to me before the memories reach me)

Aur Phir Jaiye Jan Jane Ke Bad

(And then leave only after my breath leaves me)

The truth of the words came with an epiphany.

Every day of knowing her had been a way of painting the monotones of his life in colours he thought didn't belong to him.

Every moment she had ever spent away from him had made him yearn for her more than ever.

And yet he was foolish enough to think that miles of distance and hundreds of hours could make him forget her.

All the distress he felt could have been so easily ended if she had been with him then.

And now, as he dreams of an aeon with her, he promises to only let her go when his breath leaves him alone.

Apni Aankhon Me Mujhko Basa Lijiye

(Allow me to settle in the world of your eyes)

Apne Dil Me Mera Ghar Bana Dijiye

(Make a home for me in your heart)

Kya Karu Dil Kahi Aur Lagta Nahi

Pyar Me Aapse Dil Lagane Ke Bad

(What's the fault of mine if I can't concentrate on anything other than you, since our hearts connected by the string of love)

As the minutes pass by, melting into each other to form an hour, he loses all tracks of time.

And amidst the sweven he was living in right now, at a moment he could not pinpoint, she had taken his hand into hers and now he stood, lost in the amber of her eyes, forgetting all about the shower that now fell upon him.

As she continued to mutter the tunes in a harmony that went on in rhythm with the rain, he wished he could live in the world of her orbs.

To see the world as she saw it, to live the life from her perspective.

All he wanted was home in her heart, a tiny place on the lands of her soul.

Ishq Ke Maine Kitne Fasane Sune

(I have heard many tales of epic romances)

Husb Ke Kitne Kisse Purane Sune

(And stories about beautiful people from bygone eras)

Aisa Lagta Hai Phir Is Tarah Tut Kar

Pyar Hamne Kiya Ek Zamane Ke Bad

(But I feel I have been broken and got mended by love after centuries)

In muted harmonies, the two of them twirled, forgetting the world around them.

The way their eyes held onto each other, as if holding onto their lives, reminded him of the tales of love the folklores talk about.

The romances of princesses and maidens, and of beauties who earned their fairytale.

But as her palm stroked his cheek in a feather-light motion, he concluded that all those tales faint in front of the story of theirs.

There were no royals, no cruel witches setting up spells and no poisoned apples.

There were just two people, broken by the storms life made them navigate through, fitting perfectly as if parts of a whole.

He tried to remember if he had ever experienced anything as he did now, his lip tracing her ear as his hands wrapped around her waist.

It didn't even take him a second to know the answer.

He hadn't.

Aapka Naam Dil Se Nikalta Nahi

(Your name never leaves my heart)

Dillagi Me Koi Zor Chalta Nahi

Dillagi Me Koi Zor Chalta Nahi

(No force is strong enough to stop the meet of two hearts)

Aapko Bhul Jane Ki Koshish Bhi Ki

(I tried a hundred times to forget you)

Aur Tadpa Hun Main Bhool Jaane Ke Baad

(And suffered a suffering of pain and agony once I forgot you)

The rains accelerate and become a downpour. The mist envelops them but there was no care for the changing environment.

The distance between them ceases to exist as their hearts finally get the pleasure of beating in unison.

In the next moments, she whispers close to his ear, the last of the melody, and it's his story.

The story of how he couldn't get rid of the five-lettered name since the first time he ever came to know about it.

Of how no force in the world could stop two hearts from meeting if that's what destiny had in plan for them.

Who one loves and who loves them back determines so much in one life.

And for him, it was a chance, a risk he was scared to take, dreading the destruction it may cause.

After all when had anything ever-blossoming flowers in the city of his soul?

But this time not only did spring finally arrived with its flowery footsteps but also led to a discovery of himself, a part of him that was buried under layers of snow from the winter that reigned in his life for years.

She taps twice on his heart, indicating how he had tried to forget her, all those years ago. And how he broke himself in the process.

As she hummed the last lines, he bowed down in front of the forces that brought the two of them together.

He thanked the stars which aligned the way did to let him fall for her and agreed to hide, to let the rains fall, to let him have this night with her.

And looked in awe at the woman who brought about the sweetest catastrophe mankind has ever known.

And without uttering a word, he picks her and kisses her, saying all that was left unsaid with it.

PS: I actually have another version of the song, that I sung specifically to go with this, but Tumblr is giving me troubles to upload it. Do let me know if you would like to hear it someday.

Anyways, If you are reading this, I am very grateful for you. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a great day🤎

Tags🤎(Please let me know if you would like to be added or removed):

Perma: @gkittylove99 @neotericthemis @udishaman @aestheticartsx @twinkleallnight @schnitzelbutterfingers @sophxwithers @sweatyrysconnoisseur @nikki-2406 @choicesfanaf @trrfanaddict @starrystarrytrouble @gardeningourmet @parkbarks @mvalentine @lovablegranny @mercury84choices @izzyourresidentlawyer @phoenixrising308 @adiehardfan @quixoticdreamer16 @a-crepusculo @cordonianruby @gryffindordaughterofathena

Open Heart (All fics and edit): @lucy-268 @maurine07 @bellcat2010 @headoverheelsforramsey @estellaelysian @shanzay44

Ethan x Pooja: @aleynareads @choicesaddict5 @stygianflood @mysticaurathings @jamespotterthefirst @ilikemenbutonlyethanramsey @takemyopenheart @mm2305

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

#pixelberry choices #playchoices #open heart #choices stories you play #choices stories we play #choices #choices open heart #choices oh #open heart mc #open heart fanfiction #open heart ethan #ethan x pooja #ethan ramsey #ethan x mc #pooja sharma #oph choices #choices oph #cfwc fics of the week #fics of the week #my fanfics✒ #i told the stars about queue #choices fanfiction #oph mc

[jellyluchi]

La Squadra x Desi (South Asian) Reader (gender neutral)

A/N: I thought this would be cute and funny since I don’t see a lot of south asian centered content about jojo in general! I hope desi and non-desi jojo fans alike enjoy these hcs and if there’s something about desi culture you’d like to know more about I’d love to answer!

Risotto

- My first thought with him was that he starts wearing a lungi around the house as soon as he finds out what they are

- starts using gamucha for his workouts! they’re really convenient

- Loves to hear you sing in your language! Desi ballad music sounds beautiful to him especially coming from you!

- Is willing to try desi food and will not complain about the curry smell at all, won’t mind that you eat with your hands

- He loves spicy food so he most likely enjoys any curry but especially loves how spicy vindaloo

- willing to watch bollywood movies with you just to spend time together

- If you ask him to learn your language he’ll be happy to, won’t even ask you to learn his unless you really want to

- your family would probably be scared as hell of him and the aunties might talk behind your back but he pays no mind. They eventually like how polite and helpful he is.

- overall, indulges in your culture as much as you want him to! He’d also be happy to share his culture should you be interested

Prosciutto

- He probably asked you to learn Italian so he thinks it’s only fair he learns some of your language as well

- gets suuuper into the cuisine, he loves the beef curry and even though it’s a bit basic he loves biriyani lol (especially kacchi! the beef is so tender)

- gets into desi hair oils lol

- might judge you just a bit at first when you eat with your hands but not for long

- he loves classic noir films and that means in any language so he’d enjoy bengali noir but not much bollywood

- complains that curry stained his finger nails yellow lol also might complain about the house smelling like curry too so he makes sure there’s a lot of ventilation

- like to learn desi recipes with you! finds the flavors intriguing and may even help you cook your fav desi food

- fits in with you family the most out of them all, he is THE typical desi auntie already criticizing everything and everyone all the time lol so he’d get along with them fine. They’d like how good he is with house chores and how he always tells you to be responsible. Smokes with the uncles and gets into their heated political debates

- will buy you traditional clothing that you like, probs likes to see you in panjabi, saree whatever you prefer 

- asks you to ask your family about skincare, especially anti aging remedies lmaooo

Pesci

- is actually quite excited to learn your language! in fact, he might bring it up first because he thinks it’s a great bonding activity and he’s intrigued

- lovesss the fish curry dishes the most and wants to learn about fishing culture from your country

- doesn’t mind you eating with your hands and gets you to teach him as well

- loves mishti!! rasgolla, rasmalai, barfi, sandesh, lassi you name it as a milk lover he’d like almost any desi sweets since they’re all made from milk

- doesn’t much understand bollywood and finds it a bit ridiculous but will watch it if you like it

- another person who likes desi ballads, if you sing to him he’ll melt and thinks your voice is the sweetest! is also into just vibing with the music on

- I hate to say it, but aunties will most likely judge him for how he looks : ( but they’ll soon realize he’s actually super sweet and might dote on him. Probably gets intimidated by uncles but it’s alright he gets along with your cousins the best!

- also uses gamucha when working out and uses it during hot days when fishing as well!

Formaggio

- only wants to learn swear words in your language LOL and only teaches you italian swear words

- desi cuisine is pretty good to him but he absolutely LOVES the street food the most

- fuchka, pani puri, chatpati, whatever it is he’ll eat it, the spicier the better. Will challenge you to fuchka eating contest lol

- also likes paneer! hey he’s gonna like cheese in every culture lol

- at last, a person who actually gets into bollywood for real. He loves the drama, comedy, ridiculous action, even the songs!

- gets into bollywood dancing too like literally will go off in the living room dancing to the Dhoom soundtrack with you

- loudly comments when watching bollywood and sometimes enjoys the cheesy romance lmfao

- Your family will know he’s the thug immediately I’m sorry, but my be able to charm them with how much spirit he has when enjoying a good desi function

- another one who smokes with the uncles and also another one who enjoyes wearing lungi at home

- may want to hear your language slip out in bed haha

Melone

- absolutely intrigued by your culture and asks you the most questions about it out of all of them!

- gets into desi astrology lol he probably didn’t know a lot of modern astrology is borrowed from a history of astrology in south asia

- another one who wants to learn how to eat with his hands! He thinks it’s fun and different and likes it better than using utensils

- another person who also likes the sweets! but he gets into desserts like pitha, patishapta, kheer the most

- Also like biriyani quite a lot when it comes to savory food

- doesn’t get into bollywood films but loves the music a whole lot! catch him dancing to saki saki in your living room lol

- another one who also loves traditional wear and thinks you look sexy in it

- gets into desi natural skincare products and remedies, he’s got a bunch of vicks vapo rub and inidian healing clay bottles lmfaoo

- at first your family might get creeped out by him but then finds out his background in biology and immediately asks why didn’t you also become a doctor KJBSDSD chats with the aunties the most!

- asks your grandma and aunties for their skincare secrets

Illuso

- Probably thinks you speaking your language is beautiful and would get into how poetic it is, probably believes it’s a language of love just as much as any European language

- Also likes the spicy food! but mostly loves paratha because of how versatile it is and because it’s like a pastry that you can eat with anything

- might need to get used to eating with hands but eventually likes it more than he realized he would

- actually appreciates bollywood for what it is, genuinely gets into the drama an might even get secretly emotional at the sad stories

- actually has favorite bollywood movies too

- immediately goes to gossip with the aunties they’re surprised at how tall he is but also how much he already knows??

- he’s also polite with your family and they really like his height and compliments him on it that boosts his ego lmfao

- another one that gets into desi hair oils, probably swears by coconut and amla oil now

- also gets into desi fashion himself along with you he genuinely thinks its stylish

Ghiaccio

- demands to know your language and also demands you learn perfect italian, if you’re looking for a linguistic debate buddy in your partner he’s right there

- actually not that partial to desi food and may think italian food is better but he indulges in lentil type dishes (probably like daal makhni a lot)

- yeah he’s another one who would look at you strange for eating with hands but doesn’t mind it eventually when you tell him your culture

- WILL scream at how ridiculous some bollywood films are and how he doesn’t get the humor it’ll get even funnier if you watch desi soap operas and he starts talking about the gfx and sound effects

- but actually loves watching whatever with you because he likes spending time like that

- will listen to you rant in your language without understanding anything but still nod along and agree, you’ll probs do it when he’s ranting in italian lolol

- likes to play desi music out loud when you’re going for a long drive he likes how it creates a serene ambiance it helps him calm down

- yet another gamucha user, he’s skeptical about using it at first but loves how it feels on his skin after a goo workout

- don’t let him hear the aunties gossip he might quip back something rude and absolutely do NOT let him debate with the uncles it’ll turn ugly fast, just try to keep him calm in a desi function lol he might get along with cousins as well!

[sorry I couldn’t add sorbet and gelato i’m not yet sure about their characteristics :( ]

#la squadra x reader #la squadra #la squadra di esecuzione #risotto x reader #prosciutto x reader #pesci x reader #melone x reader #formaggio x reader #illuso x reader #ghiaccio x reader #risotto #prosciutto #pesci #ghiacci #melone #illuso #formaggio #hcs #sid writes

[hanaasbananas]

Fanfic Year in Review 2020

thanks for the tag @2manyfandoms2count! This took me a while to get to but here we are!

Ok I feel like this is just gonna end up being a post where I just gush about Phantoms in the Dark but like...c'mon

This is gonna get long so i've put it under the cut:

1) List of fics completed this year in the order they were finished:

Most of my stories are one shots of varying lengths, but I did actually finish quite a few so we have:

A Chance Encounter and So it Goes- both zenmaster fics for That 70s Show

Touch the Rain: I honestly forget I wrote this last year, it feels like I wrote it years ago but it's just a standard identity reveal in the heat of an argument type thing.

Ladybug Luck? What's That? The fic that really started my spiral into writing for the ML fandom, and the birth of the Bollywood Playlist series.

Post reveal, where they didn't know each other irl, Marinette sees Adrien at a Gabriel party, realises who he is, and does some property damage in the process.

our eyes speak (but on our lips is silence) At a wedding where Adrien is best man and Marinette is a guest they immediately recognise the other as their partner. Pure fluff and giddiness ensue

The Seduction of Marinette Dupain-Cheng Post reveal-Chat bets Ladybug that he can woo her as a civilian, employing good old fashioned tactics like flowers and poetry

Pink Snapshots of an Adrinette relationship. I just wanted to see if I could write an entire fic with no dialogue whatsoever, and this one got a huge surge in popularity recently so...guess I can!

Exposed Another fic where they don't know each other as civilians. When their identities are revealed in the worst possible way, Ladybug and Chat Noir hide out in a hotel room as they try to process the situation.

This Red Love My first enemies au! In which Adrien joins Hawkmoth from the beginning, but still goes to school and ends up dating Marinette. When he realises who she is, he has to re-examine everything he thought he ever wanted.

i have found someone (like a nomad finds a home) In the last one, Adrien willingly sided with Gabriel, but in this one, he is forced to after Stoneheart. Years later, he meets Marinette, who makes him feel like he isn't a monster.

Memory Chat Blanc in the aftermath when there is nothing left.

Phantoms in the Dark My biggest accomplishment last year! And the longest story I've ever written at 30k words. A historical marichat story based off my favourite poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes. I'm currently working on the sequel.

I only bow down to worship (but I come to a stop when I see you) In which Adrien knows Marinette is Ladybug, and she knows he knows. However, he hasn't told her he's Chat Noir. This is just cute relationship stuff in the same vein as Pink

Collect your Courage, Loyalty, I'll never be the thief (to bring in hot scattered hell) Thought I'd branch out to other fandoms and landed on ATLA. This is a series (eventual zutara) where Zuko realises almost immediately post banishment that he can't follow in his father's footsteps and rebels.

Dancing Lessons Chat Noir and Ladybug decided to reveal their identities at age 20, and now Chat has chosen the venue as well. The only problem is he needs to teach Ladybug how to dance first.

Wish Ok I hurt a lot of people with this one but it's one where in the final fight, Adrien is mortally wounded and Marinette uses the miraculous to save his life, forfeiting her life in the process.Flashes back and forth between her death and how Adrien is coping in the aftermath.

2) Number of words written: 79663. I actually wanted to hit 100k by the end of the year but as those in the guild know, I spent most of December doing kitchen renovations and being pissed about my lack of free time lmao

3) Your most popular fic: Phantoms in the Dark. it has yet to surpass my all time most popular fic it's all a game of chance (they say in wonderland), but it's catching up

4) Your personal fav: Dancing Lessons I wrote this way back in July last year but only posted it in December and I just, it's so sweet I really like it with the flirty banter and just the two of them being SO CUTE

5) Your fav scene: The scene at the end of ch6 of Phantoms where Marinette and Chat talk after their kiss and realise they both are very much into each other.

6) A fic or scene that challenged you:

I am really bad at action sequences, and even though in Phantoms Adrien was out fighting people on the regular, I just sort of...glossed over them. Except for in chapter 8, where I wrote a proper duel between Chat and someone he was robbing.

What I struggled with was describing the movements, not wanting to make it too complicated whilst not having it be 'he feinted and stabbed' or something really simplistic. There was a lot of pen acting involved, but I think the end result is quite good, if I do say so myself.

7) A line of writing you’re proud of: From Phantoms (of course)

In every lifetime, in every land, we shall find each other.

8) A comment that touched you:

I love every single comment that I get, but someone left this on my musketeers fic Going Through the Motions (posted as a series on ao3 to motivate me to finish the fic but when it was done I compiled all the parts and posted it on ffnet as a oneshot lol and one of my absolute fave fics I've written-no surprise that it's historical 😅) on ffnet, which was a HUGE compliment:

"I like the way you wove dialogue from the series with your fiction. Your story gives us a more complete picture of Bonacieux and explains why Constance rejected D'Artagnan, which we did not get from the series. Your version is better. Well done!"

9) Something that inspired your writing:

I mean...I have an entire series on ao3 that is just fics inspired by bollywood songs/scenes-and those were my main inspiration for so many things. (I actually realised the other day that a scene from the movie Kalank is what inspired me to write Wonderland lmao)

10) Your proudest accomplishment (that one scene; finally finishing that one fic; posting your first fic; etc):

Honestly, just writing consistently! I graduated in 2019 and in the past, I've started and abandoned so many projects and ideas, and even the first fic I posted on ao3-it took me a year to get the second chapter up and then I only finished it because I wanted to post other stuff but didn't feel like I could until I finished that one lol.

So yeah, that, and of course, actually writing and finishing Phantoms instead of abandoning it like so many of my other ambitious projects. I'm really proud of the 30k I wrote for that story because it's the most I've ever written for a single thing

11) Do you have any writing goals for the next year?

I want to finish Forgotten Promises, and the third story in the series. I have the vague plot for that one, and know what's going in the epilogue to end the series but I just need to get there.

Oh! and see 100 ways to say I love you to the end.

This was fun! I tag @theanxiouscupcake @an-elysian-tree @quarantined-fics and anyone else who wants to have a go!

#will i ever shut up about phantoms in the dark? #no. the answer is no. #lol but honestly this was fun i didn't even realise how many fics i wrote last year #my posts #ask game #writing #fanfiction #miraculous ladybug #atla #marichat #adrinette #ladynoir #2020 year in review

[barnesandco]

Nikah: December

Story Masterlist

Nikah: noun, Arabic, meaning the contract of marriage.

Bucky marries Peter’s former tutor because her student visa’s about to expire and the government isn’t granting her a green card. Can she find a way to permanent residence by marriage, and if so, will it be at the cost of their hearts?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Vague smut. 

A/N: Written under the Arranged/Accidental Marriage trope for @mermaidxatxheart ‘s writing challenge. I cannot believe I just finished my first series. I owe major thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, and a great debt of gratitude to the writers on this site who inspire me to keep going. Thank you for staying - I look forward to sharing future works with you. 

His wedding ring shines softly in the dim lighting of the hallway as he stands in front of the door, hand resting on its handle. The wood is cold against his forehead as he  breathes slowly, trying to calm his foxtrot heart. After three-quarters of an eternity, he knocks, and then enters upon the permission of his wife from within the room. Almost stumbles at the sight of her, as if he doesn't know her ethereal beauty like every speck of sunshine in her eyes.

She's sitting at the foot of the bed, the skirt of her glowing, white-golden lehenga spread out in front of her, her dupatta draped over her head and behind her to lay and glimmer like stardust over their silk sheets. Bucky's tie tightens around his neck and he lifts a hand to rub it nervously, and clears his throat, as she smiles reassuringly at him.

His wife, his moon and star, is tired and pleased, after the day's festivities. As is he. The wedding reception - held secretively in the same ballroom as his birthday - was quite the celebration.

"Hey," She says, unwavering, ever the anchor to ground his meandering mind. He stands in front of the mirror now, untying his tie, letting the silk slip through his hands like her love did for so, so long.

"Hey back," He answers with a grin as he removes his waistcoat. Drapes it over a nearby chair before sitting down to remove his socks. Relishes in the warmth of her content gaze as it washes over him. "How are you feeling?" He asks, leaning back to take her in. 

"Tired, but happy. Today was a good day, Bucky," She says, and he couldn't agree more. Not one to mince words where they are not needed, he walks over to her as he unbuttons the top of his shirt and kneels in front of her.

"Tired, huh? Anything I can help with, wife of mine?" He teases, trying to pretend to take one of her legs in his hand to massage, but is soon bewildered by the fact that he can't, the layers of fabric impeding his intentions. 

"Maybe I should be asking you that," She laughs, no malice in her amusement, only joy, and total awe at this man on his knees before her. He growls lowly and pushes up to meet her smiling mouth with his own, raspberries and gulab-jamun a magical mix he thinks he could live off of, if allowed to. Her lips are his aab e hayat - water of life - and he drinks her breaths until he hopes he will never go thirsty again. They part slowly, lips still grazing gently, and he returns to his crouching position at her feet. 

Until she frowns and stands up, urging him to do the same. Guides his hands to the pins holding her dupatta to her head and shoulders - he should not be thinking of superhero capes right now - and urges him to remove it. He slips it off with nimble fingers, and it slides off her and down the bed to puddle in a pool of gold on the floor. She doesn't let him reach for it, lifts her hands to cup his face, her own illuminated by the moonlight. Traces the planes of his cheeks and the valley between his brow and eyelids. Having taken her heels off, she stretches on tip-toe to plant a kiss on the ski-slope of his nose, the crevice of his chin, before sealing her lips over his again.

Bucky's hands, distinctly different but both unified in their desire, reach up to loosen her hair-do before burying themselves in the soft, comforting mass of it, using the grip to bring her somehow, some way, closer to him. Her whimpers are feather-soft against his tongue, her hands shaking as one grips his waist and the other reaches for the remaining buttons on his shirt. Her desire is contagious, amplifying his own tenfold, and his hands glide her back, coming to rest over the elegant embroidery at her waist. 

"Can I take it off?" She whispers with unbridled arousal in her eyes, and Bucky now realizes his shirt has been fully unbuttoned. He nods, lets her take it away. Lets her take him away. And God, does she take him away.

His wife, his golden woman takes him to a world where demons lose their power and no sound exists except the rustle of their bedsheets as they settle on them, and her gentle whispers of assent and encouragement. He forgets the planetarium when he has a galaxy in his hands, under his palms. The column of her neck is a nebula against his mouth, her waist a solar system between his arms. She kisses him like he's going to fly away, but he knows that the planet of her smile is his only home. The only place he can breathe right, the sun he needs to survive, is right here, not a millimeter apart.

The move like satin and soft clouds between parted mouths and gasping breaths, as they join forever, till death do them part. And after, after the tide crashes over the beach of their shore, bringing satiation and deep union with it, they lay together, her head on his chest and his heavy with the weight of the universe he has just gained. 

"Today was a good day," He echoes her earlier sentiment against her hair, voice rich with desire. A laugh rumbles through her cheek to his chest, and his heart is fit to burst. Something gives her the energy to lift her head and lean on an elbow above him, a free finger tracing any eyebrow as he traces her smile. 

"I almost fell over about a dozen times, Bucky. But yeah, other than that…" She reminds him playfully, and he rolls his eyes.

"I don't blame you, baby. Not in those heels," He points out. Throwing her head back, she laughs fully this time, and his cheeks hurt from grinning. "I still can't believe Sam danced to Katrina Kaif," He says, shaking his head. Her hand drops from where its busy tucking his hair behind his ear, and her responding smile is blinding.

"Wow, Buck, referring to Bollywood singers by name instead of song. I'm proud of you," She jokes.

"I had a good teacher."

"Anything else I can help with?" She asks, parroting his earlier comment as he had tried and failed to find her skin beneath her clothes. He found it in the end, and he'll be damned if he ever loses it, forgets the feel of it on his fingertips, ever again. He nods sincerely at her question, preparing the answer.

"Yeah. Stay," He replies quietly, and the laughter falls from her eyes to be replaced by brimming desire and overflowing love. This, Bucky knows, because it is a reflection of his own.

"Okay, Bucky. I can do that. We can stay," She says, before pulling the covers further over them, nestling against him. His arm fits like a puzzle-piece around her body, their intertwined forms the complete picture. 

Her words ring louder than the azaan in his ears as the silence envelopes them once more. Her embrace is kinder than he thought he deserved, but that he is imprinting into his memory, inch by glorious inch. Her hand rests on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thrum below, steady and alive. Bucky grabs that hand and brings it to his mouth, lays a snowflake of a kiss against the back of it as he thinks: love doesn't need second chances - it just takes a little faith.

Taglist: @suz-123 @mermaidxatxheart @buckyreaderrecs @shield-agent78 @corneliabarnes @stevieboyharrington @notsomellowmushroom @veganfangirl5 @mood-pancakes @lbuck121 @starnight-charmer @redhairedfeistynerd @geeksareunique @samingtonwilson @alyxkbrl @bucky-smiles​ @marvelrose​

#ayesha writes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fluff #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x desi!reader #desi!reader

[salmankhanholics]

★ INTERVIEW: Kamal Khan on Radhe, Salman Khan, Seeti Maar, Tere Naam, Himesh Reshammiya and more!

Kamal Khan reveals that the entire music album of Tere Naam was locked by Salman Khan in just 30 minutes. But how?  May 9, 2021

Kamal Khan reunites with Salman Khan on Radhe coming on board a singer on two songs, Seeti Maar and Dil De Diya. While the former has cross 100 million views on YouTube in record time, the latter too is trending well having crossed the half century mark. When asked about doing playback for Salman Khan, the singer said, “It is always challenging to dub for Salman Khan because his characters have unique shades – ranging from a Chulbul Pandey to Laxman (Tubelight) to Radhe. I have spent a lot of time with him, both on and off screen, and that brings a certain amount of comfort level.”

Kamal also informs that DSP (Devi Sri Prasad), the composer of both Telugu and Bollywood version of Seeti Maar, liked his approach towards the Hindi recreation. He further adds that even Dil De Diya was a great journey and teaming up with composer Himesh Reshammiya is always a delight. “It was a deliberate attempt on Himesh Reshammiya and Salman Khan to set the song in a different era. That has worked so well, in-fact, that’s where the charm of song lies. HR is the king of melodies,” he smiled.

He went back in time to share a lesser-known fact about the process of creating an album as iconic as Tere Naam. “Salman Khan doesn’t get enough credit for his music sense. He would know within seconds if a song is hit or flop. I remember, Himesh Reshammiya had come to Salman Khan’s home to finalise the music of Tere Naam with some 20 – 25 songs. Each of them was incredible but Salman picked up the best of the lot and locked the album in just 30 minutes. Today, it’s among the most iconic albums,” he gushed.

He finally signs out saying that he is trying to come up with something on the lines of O O Jaane Jaana for Salman Khan. “A lot of people want me to come with another O O Jaane Jaane. While that’s not possible, I am working on something that would be on par with it,” he concluded. Radhe features Salman Khan with Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff in key role.

#salman khan #radhe #kamaal khan #iv #kamaal

[moulinrougefanfanfans]

Moulin Rouge for VOGUE!

(These are the HQ Photo Versions!)

Moulin Rouge!’s Broadway cast, photographed at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. Sittings Editors: Hamish Bowles, Alexandra Cronan. Produced by 360pm. Set Design: CJ Dockery at Mary Howard Studio; Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber; Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh

Photographed by Baz Luhrmann, Vogue, July 2019

July 2019 Vogue (Online)

BAZ LUHRMANN WAS BORN to reinvent the movie musical for a new generation—which is exactly what he did in 2001 with Moulin Rouge!, his deliriously romantic mash-up, set in 1890s Paris, of La Bohème, La Traviata, and the Orpheus myth, with a soundtrack that exploded with modern-day pop songs, lavish Technicolor sets and costumes (by his wife, Catherine Martin), and a hyperkinetic cinematic style that drew on MGM musicals, MTV videos, and Bollywood spectaculars. The motto of this blatantly artificial world, served with a knowing wink (which nevertheless swept us up in its very real, very breathless emotions), could be borrowed from William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: “Enough! Or too much.”

In his own way, the brilliant theater director Alex Timbers—whose work includes Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Here Lies Love, and, most recently, Beetlejuice—was born to reinvent Moulin Rouge! for the stage, as another generation of New York audiences will discover when his electrifying, eye-popping, and blissfully over-the-top adaptation of Luhrmann’s masterpiece opens on Broadway, after a smash run in Boston, this month.

“I’ve spent my life taking classics and interpreting them in radical ways,” Luhrmann says, “so how could I not applaud someone taking a work of mine and interpreting it in a radical way? You have to interpret things for the time and place you’re in. In the end, it’s still a tragic opera, but Alex applies himself to it in such a dexterous way that there’s irony and fun and music and emotion.”

Luhrmann grew up in Herons Creek, a tiny, remote Australian town with a total of seven houses in it, where, he says, “if you didn’t have a good imagination and an ability to create worlds in your mind, you were lost.” Fortunately his family, which ran a gas station and a pig farm, also ran the local movie theater and had a black-and-white TV set (which showed exactly one channel), and Luhrmann devoured a steady diet of old movies, including musicals, with which he fell in love. His mother was a ballroom-dance instructor who started giving him lessons early, and his father insisted that Luhrmann and his siblings study painting and music. Before long he was staging little shows, performing magic tricks, making films with his father’s 8-millimeter camera, and acting in school plays.

Apparently it was the ideal upbringing to produce an artist of dazzling originality, one with a singular, idiosyncratic vision and an expansive playing field: film, theater, opera, commercials, music videos, pop songs. After the success of his first two films, Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet—both of which had healthy doses of movie-musical DNA encoded into their cinematic language—Luhrmann wanted to take on the genre itself. He and his co-writer, Craig Pearce, set their film in Belle Epoque Paris, in and around the legendary Moulin Rouge nightclub, telling a tragic love story straight out of verismo opera with the Orpheus legend—a young poet and musician travels to the underworld in search of his dead love, Eurydice, and is reunited with her only to lose her again, emerging forever changed—as its mythical underpinning.

But Luhrmann also had what he calls a “preposterous conceit” that allowed his Orpheus—a Bohemian poet named Christian, played by Ewan McGregor—to metaphorically enchant the very rocks and stones to follow him because of his voice: “When our poet opens his mouth, ‘The hills are alive with the sound of music’ comes out of it,” he says. “Whether you like The Sound of Music or not, it’s a giant hit that’s got artistic cred—so it’s a funny, concise way of saying ‘The guy has magic.’” Preposterous or not, the conceit turned the love story between McGregor’s Christian and Nicole Kidman’s doomed Satine, a nightclub star and courtesan, into a pop fantasia, giving the music its audience had grown up with—from “Your Song” to “Lady Marmalade”—an operatic grandeur.

Luhrmann had long wanted to bring Moulin Rouge! to the stage but felt that he wasn’t the right person for the job—he worried that he was too close to the material and might be overprotective of it. Enter Alex Timbers, 40, a downtown wunderkind who has brought the cheeky, postmodern spirit of his theater company Les Freres Corbusier to Broadway and shares with Luhrmann a restlessly playful and inventive mise-en-scène. “When I saw Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, I could tell that his aesthetic and the way he told a story—very high-energy, very theatrical, ironic but also moving—had a certain kinship with mine,” Luhrmann says. “And after I met him, I knew that he would have his own interpretation but also understand the language of the film.”

The biggest challenge Timbers and his team faced was how to bring the film’s hypercinematic exuberance alive on a stage. “We had to create a visceral and kinetic excitement using an entirely theatrical vocabulary,” Timbers says. “We don’t have any of those virtuosic techniques like close-ups and Steadicam and music video–style editing, but you want the show to be able to leap over the footlights—emotionally, but also as a spectacle. So we use a lot of techniques to do that.”

Do they ever. From the moment you enter the theater, it’s clear that Timbers has realized his mandate to make the show—which he’s been working on for the past six years—“360.” It’s as if you’ve walked into the Moulin Rouge itself, courtesy of the gorgeously overwhelming set (by Derek McLane) that greets you: There are hearts within hearts, chandeliers, the stage flanked by a windmill on one side and an elephant on the other. Then out come the corset-clad boys and girls of the night (who come in all colors, shapes, and sizes) and the fashionable members of the Parisian demimonde in Catherine Zuber’s fabulous costumes. The next thing you know, “Four Bad Ass Chicks from the Moulin Rouge,” as the script identifies them—propelled onstage by Sonya Tayeh’s wildly exuberant choreography—are belting “Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista,” and we’re off to the races. “I wanted to build this exotic, intoxicating world that felt beautiful and dangerous and gritty and sexy,” Timbers says. “It felt really important for the sets and the costumes to use period elements, and for us to be ruthless about that, but to put them in a form that feels contemporary and surprising.”

The seven-time Tony-winning costume designer Zuber (The King and I, My Fair Lady) has done that and then some, tipping her hat to Catherine Martin’s designs for the film without imitating them. She’s even managed to design Belle Epoque finery that allows the dancers the freedom of movement to execute Tayeh’s propulsive choreography. Zuber is also a master of using costumes to reveal character and situation, as with the ornate gown she designed for Satine after she becomes the Duke’s courtesan and enters his glittering world. Inspired by designs from John Galliano’s 2006 couture collection, it features a bodice that looks like a cage and three rows of lacing down the back. “It’s almost like she’s a prisoner,” Zuber says.

Playing Satine this time around is Karen Olivo (West Side Story, Hamilton), who brings very different qualities to the role than Kidman, both physical (Olivo is a woman of color) and temperamental (desperate, determined, and down-to-earth, as opposed to ethereal). Aaron Tveit (Next to Normal, Catch Me if You Can), meanwhile, sings like a dream and brings the requisite dewy idealism to the naive Christian, but with a hint of something edgier.

The story is very much the same as the film’s: Satine is the star attraction at the Moulin Rouge, owned by the rapacious Harold Zidler (Danny Burstein), who is in financial hot water and in danger of losing the club. Christian and Satine meet and fall head over heels, but she has been promised by Zidler to the villainous Duke (Tam Mutu), who can give her the bejeweled life she’s always dreamed of, forcing her to choose between that and true love. Meanwhile, Christian and his pals Santiago and Toulouse-Lautrec (Ricky Rojas and Sahr Ngaujah) are writing a show, bankrolled by the Duke, that is meant to save the Moulin Rouge from going under. Then, of course, Satine has this persistent cough and . . . well, you know.

The big difference in terms of the storytelling is that book writer John Logan (Red) has fleshed out and deepened the characters and the relationships between them. “We looked at the major characters, asked what their backstories were, and tried to figure out how grounded they could possibly be in psychological realism and yet still be heightened in that way that musical theater demands,” Logan says. “How did Satine get to be this sparkling diamond—and what’s the price she’s paid along the way?”

But the boldest change—and in many ways the heart of the show—is in the new songs, which give Moulin Rouge! fresh emotional resonance (and whip the crowd into a frenzy). Along with the familiar Bowie, Madonna, and Elton John tunes, expect to hear from the likes of Outkast, Sia, Beyoncé, Fun, Adele, and Lorde, to name but a few (there are more than 70 songs in the show). To curate Moulin Rouge!’s dizzying playlist, Timbers, Logan, and music director/genius Justin Levine holed up in a Times Square hotel room with a digital keyboard, dredged up their musical memories, and took note of what worked. Their taste is impeccable, whether using a song for its sheer exuberance, as with a rousing version of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” or to reveal a character’s inner desires, as Satine does with Katy Perry’s “Firework.”

Logan has been blown away to see how powerfully audiences have connected with the show—and the songs. “I went to a wedding recently, and when the dancing started, I heard half our score being played, which was wild,” he says. “And when you see audience members respond to the songs—‘They’re using thatsong? Oh, my God! No way!’—you can feel how excited they are. It’s an experience I’ve never had before. It’s magic.”

#moulin rouge #aaron tveit #karen olivo #danny burstein #vogue #Baz Lurhmann #moulin rouge broadway #moulin rouge musical #vogue magazine #articles #features #ricky rojas #tam mutu #sahr ngaujah #robyn hurder #jacqueline b arnold #jeigh madjus #holly james

[all-brown-everything]

My favourite Indian films of 2018

Sorry for the wait this year. 2018 in the movies mirrored my own life a lot; the films on the list are films to love, make you feel something human, and they force you to take their characters and hold them close to your chest as if they were your own. While the most interesting mainstream movies from South Asia over previous years on this blog have excelled when they chose to experiment with the language of cinema itself, the 10 I’ve written about here have, similar to great literature, embraced pain, longing, love and everything else that comes with being alive.

10. Theevandi

I’ve seen this film being described as an “anti-smoking movie.” I couldn’t disagree more. It’s a story about the nature of habit (rather than the disease of ‘addiction’), of locating the source of your personality, your soul, and trying to change it against the will of nature. During my time in India this year, nothing brought more joy than an ice burst and cutting tea at the side of the road, perching on the side of the pavement and watching life carry on around you. And while this is a film with a main character who wants to quit smoking, it isn’t about cancer. It isn’t about that horrible sooty smell at the end of your fingers, or yellowing teeth or a decreased sperm count. It’s about how something as innocuous as a tube of rolled up tobacco hanging out of your mouth can act as a fragile crutch for the entire weight of the world.

9. Laila Majnu

Like many of my favourites this year (and every year), this re-telling of one of South Asia’s most important romances wants to know what love is. Here, we see love not as a generous, giving emotion, but as pure greed. With one of Bollywood’s most gorgeous soundtracks, that bleeds furiously out of every frame, and a constant sparkling gleam of glamour over these gorgeous young actors and the Kashmiri hills they prance around in, I enjoyed this enough just based on the commercial tropes it toys with for fun. But its real beauty lies in its brave and painful final declaration; that the most divine love may connect you to God and remove your soul from your body, but it will destroy you and your connections to the Earth, as the cruelest form of asceticism.

8. Cake

I’m including a Pakistani movie (again) because our film industries were birthed under one national identity, and I don’t see the studios of Karachi as any more culturally distant from Mumbai’s Film City than Kodambakkam. Moving to Cake, this stunning portrait of a dysfunctional family surprised me against all my instincts that it was a Western-facing production clearly aimed at piercing its way into festivals and a patronising ‘World Cinema’ bracket. It is in fact, a study of shifting societal politics in an increasingly extreme and polarised World, of figuring out where your values stand in the midst of religion, feudalism and globalisation, and accepting that when these heavy, abstract concepts weigh down on your shoulders, it is the human beings around you who will feel the strain first.

7. Golak, Bugni, Bank Te Batua

I really love Punjabi cinema. Seeing it come into its own and reclaim its cultural narratives and aesthetics from bastardizing Bollywood (where now even a film set in rural Gujarat will feature a Punjabi language song) has brought a lot of joy. Now here comes a  happy little film not set on preaching the glory of Sikkhi or telling an epic tale of brave warriors or earnest farmers, but on bringing us into the lives of a middle class Hindu Punjabi family in a small mohalla of a tier 2 city. And these aren’t the Hindu “Punjabis” of a Bollywood movie set in Chandni Chowk, who might throw in a “tussi” or “tuadi” here and there at the most. These are real people with a real culture, as intertwined with Punjab and their Sikh neighbours as they are separate. The film doesn’t patronise them by drawing humour from their novel identity; the situational character-based slapstick and witty back-and-forth theatrical dialogues exist in a warm parallel with the “World” of the movie. And then the lives of these people change in one instant as demonetisation hits, and we are hilariously reminded that whether you’re Hindu or Sikh, Northern or Southern, you are (unfortunately) still in India.

6. C/o Kancharapalem

I won't say this film stood out as a "Telugu movie", as such slight, subtle films are an anomaly no matter what language they're made in or how brash those other films produced in the same mother tongue may be. These small and quiet tales, with their shy characters who live at the fringes of society, whether that mean they are Muslim prostitutes or simple middle class teachers carving out a living in a small village, are special because they manage to transmit such humanity without stirring from the dark alleyways or shaded courtyards where they take place. Not every film needs to stand tall like an intimdsting Tolstoy tome; some can be as unassuming as an RK Narayan novella and still make us feel like they're an epic.

5. Pyaar Prema Kaadhal

Let's be honest. Casting two leads from a reality show, putting heart shaped balloons in your posters and deciding on the title "Love, Love, Love" pretty much screams "trash" doesn't it? But here was a humbling reminder that Indian popular culture can surprise you in the most pleasant of ways. These two good-looking young wannabe-stars and their social media followings represent so much about the "new India", a steadfastly singular culture (or cultures) whizzing through the fiery hoops of globalisation at breakneck speed, coming to terms with a mixed up value system, raging sexual frustration and an ever widening class gap, all of which have left a generation feeling more connected yet more alienated than ever before. This is 'Pyaar, Prema, Kaadhal', a flawed and horny love story, sweating with tension and all the repulsive angst of human emotion, yet with the glamorous musical heart of Indian cinema still beating loudly underneath.

4. Manmarziyaan

There was as much to love about 'Manmarziyaan' as there was to hate. The age-old filmi love triangle rears its head again, only this time with characters who are more manipulative and frustrating than any you've seen in a "mainstream" movie before. But while the film never forces you to judge (at times leaving you confused about whether you're actually supposed to like any of these people) it demands that you engage. It's encouraged some of the finest writing on cinema I've seen in recent years, and such an unashamedly "Bollywood" film inspiring this thrilling thought and analysis from our finest critics (whether their judgement is kind or not) warrants its inclusion on this list alone. Then there's the way its incredible soundtrack weaves in and out of scenes like the characters own breaths, the way life changing moments are obscured from the script by deafening silences and acutely observed minutiae, and of course THAT lead performance. I'm not sure if I "liked" it or not, but I sure as hell can't wait to watch it again.

3. Pari

The better the film, the harder it is to write about. 'Pari' is rich with metaphor. While being a ghost story (and a damn good one) merely on the surface, it has plenty to say about the way our society treats women, poses the question of if we can truly be born evil, and even critiques our savage treatment of "the other" in a global society where more of us are on the run than settled in our homes. But I think its biggest strength is that while it challenges you to reach into the very centre of your being and take a look at yourself and the World around you, its craft and screenwriting is so good that not at any moment does it give you a second to realise that's what you're doing.

2. Rangasthalam

'Rangasthalam' is so great. Like really really great. Once an innocuous muscle man, Ram Charan has channelled his inner Dhanush and located his physicality, writhing and slanging his way into the mind and body of the quintessential South Indian rural hero, hoisting his lungi and flicking his beedi into one of the most visceral and truly cinematic masala movies in living memory. The thumping pace and kinetic choreography (both of the rousing song sequences and the busy, lived-in frames of the rest of the movie) evoke a dusty, violent world with the same panache of Ameer in 'Paruthiveeran' or Sasikumar in 'Subramaniyapuram', while the moustache twirling dialogues and meticulous emotional beats offer as much pure fun as a "Dabangg" or a "Khakee" or any classic Hindi masala movie. I've read pieces linking the cinema of 'Rangasthalam' to film noir traditions, but to me it simply proved that the masala genre still has as much excitement to offer as any other.

1. Mukkabaaz

I'll remember 2018 as the year that Anurag Kashyap, previously India's frontrunner in the realm of "interesting" (but more often headscatching) cinema, stopped thinking with his very big brain and instead used his even bigger heart. His most straightforward film is undoubtedly his best, Hollywood-esque in its writing but firmly Indian in its sentiment. The scale is small - empty boxing arenas, bleak winding village paths and a cast plucked from the TV screen - but its emotions are pure opera. This is a timeless film, and though it laughs at the ridiculousness of modern India, poking a nasty smug finger at caste oppression, petty politics and the bureaucratic nightmare of simply trying to stay alive, it defies analysis. Much like the song at the centre of the story, the violently stunning 'Paintra', it only asks that you feel. And what more could we want from cinema?

I've had so much fun at the movies this year. From dancing to Dilbar in the cheap seats of G7 in Bandra to reciting Dhanush's Maari 2 dialogues at the bus stop outside Ilford Cineworld, Indian movies have continued to punctuate my life and bring me more joy than they have any right to. I can't wait to do this all again this year. What were the films that stirred you over the last 12 months? Let me know. Xx

#tovinothomas #malayalam #mollywood #indian movies #telugu #tollywood #laila majnu #bollywood review #bollywood #anushka sharma #taapsee pannu #tovino thomas #manmarziyaan #anurag kashyap #indian cinema #ram charan #rangasthalam #pari #mukkabaaz #pyaar prema kadhaal #raiza wilson #tamil #kollywood #punjabi cinema #punjabi movies #punjabi #pakistani cinema #abhishek bachchan #simi chahal #hindi cinema

[avaliveradio]

5.20 New Music Monday Playlist on AVA Live Radio

Explore some exciting new music from creators all over the world recently discovered by our host Jacqueline Jax as she searches the far corners of the globe for talented songwriters and music creators who are telling their truth to bring the listener a unique experience. From dealing with hate to sounds that will inspire you to get up and dance or help you feel better about yourself, this show offers everything for fans of New Music from Hip hop to R &B styles as well as Alternative rock favorites.

Listen to the show across all broadcasts.

The Anchor Fm page: https://anchor.fm/ava-live-radio

iHeartRadio station page : https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-AVA-Live-Radio-Musi-29336730/

The Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2toX0f3dPmI8gmUSOKZicx

Artist: Ugly Melons

New Release: "You want More"

Genre: Rock

Located in: Canada

The song is basically about the problems that arise when you act selfishly, and never think of others. There is a price to pay when greed is your only motivation. The price is not only paid by others that you have taken from or hurt along the way, but by the individual who has acted only with their self interest in mind. Material success never really leads to happiness, and that is something that anyone that has achieved any level of monetary success will tell you. Be a good person, help others, and realize that 'more' isn't always a good thing.

Toronto, Canada… We are in Toronto Canada , The live music scene is not what it used to be ,but it’s still alive and working ,its Toronto the small New York we keep fighting and have hope just like we keep fighting and hoping for the Toronto maple leafs to win the Stanley Cup lol

Social Media:

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Q2HbxK6CA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uglymelon/

Instagram: ugly_melons

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ugly_Melon

Artist: After Aristotle

New Release: Episodes

Genre: Rock, Alternative, Indie, Emo

Located in: Austin, Texas, United States ’Episodes’ is an introspective journey into trying to understand and overcome struggles with depression. The instrumentation of the song echoes this feeling with wailing, emotional guitar leads and driving bass and drums. We hope that listeners will hear this track and find some kind of comfort in knowing that it's okay to not be okay.

The music we are creating is... Our next EP has taken a journey into self criticism and understanding, while also exploring a lot of new directions musically. We took this second album as an opportunity to open up and just express what we felt both as people and musicians. The instrumentals range from shoegaze to heart-pounding punk rock and articulate emotional ideals that we all deal with daily. This album is all about self discovery and being open to whatever feels right and we're just lucky to share those ideas with our listeners.

Right now we are... preparing to release the new EP, "Ghost to Ghost" and also going on tour June 16-22. We'll be visiting several south/central Texas cities and releasing the album on all digital platforms June 14th. We really can't wait to share all the new music!

LINKS:  Spotify Link to "Episodes": https://open.spotify.com/track/3FpNOstehQlAQYdDwrXao3 Twitter: @After_Aristotle Instagram: @after_aristotle Facebook: facebook.com/afteraristotle

Artist: Tough On Fridays

New Release: Little Italy

Genre: Rock: Alternative Rock

Located in: Georgetown, TX

Tough On Fridays is a rising alternative rock duo from Georgetown, Texas. Comprised of best friends Katie and Caleigh, the two have turned their shared passion for music into an exciting blend of pop and rock sounds! Inspired by iconic alternative bands like Paramore, Green Day, Basement, and Nirvana, Katie and Caleigh work together to bring a refreshing new sound to the alternative rock genre.

The band’s unique attitude and exciting new sound have garnered serious attention from fans everywhere. As one of 10 songs recorded, the recording of "Little Italy" further defines Tough On Fridays sound as something unique. While many reviewers have tried to categorize the band, the one thing they seem to agree on is that Tough On Fridays, with their edgy, hooky, anthemic songs, may have the ability to bridge the gap between rock and pop in a way that hasn't been done in some time. They refuse to be categorized as a "female-fronted band" as these two can write and play every bit as well as the boys. They have the look, but refuse to let that be the stepping stone that takes them away from the music.

Right now... Tough On Fridays just reached its initial crowdfunding goal to fund the recording of an album in 2020 with the help of a contribution from a local radio station.

LINKS:  https://www.reverbnation.com/toughonfridays/song/30698131-little-italy https://open.spotify.com/track/19ljJUXcw6D91AkxCZNDKf?si=SSJqc9XPRg6QF3hXp0qV5A https://www.twitter.com/toughonfridays https://www.facebook.com/toughonfridays https://www.instagram.com/toughonfridays

Artist: Joshua Flores

New Release: Give Me Some Time

Genre: Pop

This is a kind of upbeat pop song that was influenced partially by Lauv and his style. I wanted to write a kind of positive song that people could feel good about when they listen to it.

I've been writing more music and making more song lately so people should be seeing more of my music out there soon.

LINKS:  https://www.instagram.com/joshuafloresmusic https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJoshuaFlores https://twitter.com/joshuafloresmus https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zffiMLhptfUW8AXmMDDXH

Band Name: FAKKEN

Song name: Si Meg

Music Genre: Hip Hop

I live in... Norway

Link to play: https://open.spotify.com/track/5JfVmnAJiZMqolL6uspjUy?si=uaC42_G-SsCtnk7O9vYkeA

Music is my life, it’s my job, my hobby, my love. and what inspires me. I work hard work hard at it and am dedicated to the vision. This is what I do, I make emotional Rap with real lyrics straight from the heart. My music inspires people through hard times, I made this song after my 4th best friend died of a overdose. It’s meant to touch on that question, Why people give up? What drives me is all the people that tell me I have saved their lives with my music. The music business is hard, no doubt but all the work I put in has paid off over time.

Website & social media links: https://www.facebook.com/FakkenMusic https://www.instagram.com/fakken_offisiell https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ZbBWXNJTyB5IaUWg4TSWY?si=KYDJXVc9QP-3EFryeY3-lQ

Artist: NOVA

New Release: Electrocute

Genre: Jazz+Funk

Located in: Los Angeles

A culmination of all the musical genres that have ignited my passion for music in the very first place. I think I will look back and think of this song as one I HAD to produce in order to move on to other things. It's the most reflective of my artistic voice. I grew up loving all forms of music, but I've always been partial of music that can make you move. Genres that were energetic by nature (Jazz, Funk, & Hip-Hop) have always had a soft spot in my heart. Electrocute is the one track on The Jazzmen Invasion that combines all 3 of those genres & applies them to their fullest effect. In it, I channel 1/3 Eminem, 1/3 Prince, & 1/3 Frank Sinatra; a blend that could be hard to swallow. I always tell people my genre of music is neither jazz nor funk, it's Jazz+Funk. So I see that a lot more songs in my future would build off of the Electrocute formula.

Currently… I've put together an outfit of wonderful musicians who I've reached out to help me re-interpret the music on the EP to a wider live audience. We are Funk Sway, the driving force of the Jazzmen Invasion. With a band of musicians that I trust to carry out my vision with me, new music, & subsequently, new music videos, social media content, etc. will also be inevitable. I am working on building the NOVA movement one song at a time.

LINKS: iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-jazzmen-invasion-ep/1462599764 Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2J3IK4VbcSzekqpZIoBlre?si=WQjt7LgpS8qEqNTCI8iI5Q Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NOVAguitar Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/novaguitar

Artist: Joshua Flores

New Release: I Wait

Genre: R&B

Located in: Corpus Christi, Texas This song is my first attempt to create an R&B song, I wanted to challenge myself and make something that people wouldn't except from me. I was heavily influenced by Khalid and Drake when it came to the vibe of the song with all the harmonies and music production. I will say that I truly express my feelings through this song so I find it very personal and special to me.

This song is important since it's my way of starting to branch out from doing more than just pop music. I've always wanted to do R&B as well and now people will get to see this new side of my music.

 I will be moving to Dallas in June to help put my name out there and continue working on some new songs and perfecting my music production and songwriting.

LINKS:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zffiMLhptfUW8AXmMDDXH https://twitter.com/joshuafloresmus https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJoshuaFlores https://www.instagram.com/joshuafloresmusic

Artist: Sound Machine (Band)/Sunil Bhatia (Artist)

New Release: L'amore

Genre: Electronic Pop Rock

Located in: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

This is an Instrumental Electronica track with rock elements. It would take one back to the kind of music we used to hear in the 80's and 90's with a College Music kind of feel. Some Electronic sounds have been added to bring a modern day hearing experience. "L'amore" means "The Love" and is found in the Italian, French and Spanish languages.

The music we are creating is... The Music of Sound machine has been varied across Pop Rock, Electronica, Techno and Symphonic Genres and may also be in the category of Thematic Film Background and TV/Drama/Fantasy series. Every track attempts to tell a story as there are instrumental in nature.  The artist Sunil Bhatia has been making music for Bollywood and also as an Indie Artist.

Right now we are... Am a Singer, Songwriter and Composer based out of Mumbai. Have also authored a storybook with a poems section too called "My Feathered Friends & the Book of Poems-Part 1" available across online platforms.

LINKS:  https://www.reverbnation.com/sunilbhatia/song/30797274-lamore-electronic-rock https://soundcloud.com/sunil-bhatia/lamore-electronic-rock-by-sound-machine https://twitter.com/sunilbhatia https://www.facebook.com/YoursMusically https://www.instagram.com/sonu.sunil.bhatia

#Ugly Melons #After Aristotle #Tough On Fridays #Joshua Flores #FAKKEN #NOVA #Sound Machine

[withnive]

210804 니브(NIve)_'bollywoodhungama' Interview

EXCLUSIVE: Korean singer-songwriter NIve on piecing together debut EP Broken Kaleidoscope, navigating through tough times and producing for biggest artists In a crowded space of Korean music, every year you come across new musicians trying to leave a mark with their artistry. This year, more artists have taken the plunge to unveil music and one of them is multi-hyphenate NIve. Known primarily for his emotional and sentimental sound in his music and vocals, the musician has challenged himself with a rougher approach to both, laying down the foundation for a new sonic identity and ensuring that he presents a record that is resonating. After releasing his debut international single ‘Getaway’ in 2018, NIve received much global attention spurring his Korean debut with ‘Like a Fool’ featuring R&B singer-songwriter Sam Kim in 2020. NIve capped off 2020 with the smooth and emotional single ‘2easy’, which featured Korean R&B star Heize and marked the beginning of NIve’s full-fledged Korean promotional activities. In addition, NIve marked his debut as a producer and songwriter after composing ‘Beautiful Goodbye’ for EXO member Chen’s solo debut. NIve also has producing and songwriting credits with some of K-Pop’s brightest stars, including NCT U, Super Junior, SF9, CRAVITY, BTS’ V, and more. After a long 7 months since his last single ‘2easy’ feat. Heize in November 2020, NIve is determined to navigate through turbulent times through his debut EP Broken Kaleidoscope and build a soundscape that presents his story. "With this album, I really want people to listen to this album. This album is for people who are feeling things, but not sure if it's only them who are feeling it or if others are feeling the same thing. This is the album that talks about 'Hey, you're not alone!' Some people are feeling similar things’," NIve tells Bollywood Hungama. Befitting of his title as a rising artist and producer, NIve plays with multiple genres in the album including UK hybrid pop-rock, pop-rock, and adds a human element to the storytelling. The raw emotions of the EP bring a sense of relatability. Post the release of the album, NIve sits down with Bollywood Hungama on a beautiful afternoon to talk about it. Dressed in casuals and zooming from his office in South Korea, a happy NIve discusses at length about his EP, what made him pour his heart into it, how he battled some of the most challenging moments in life and how writing music has been his biggest escape. Congratulations on Broken Kaleidoscope. What's the response like from the fans?  Well, thank you first. So far, I'm getting a lot of like, support, and love from all the fans, who was the video they think is very different from what I've been doing. But then they liked it, which I was kind of like scared for, like, scared and worried about if my friends were going to be able to kind of get used to my new image, and the style. But it seems like it's playing along pretty well. So I'd say things are going pretty fine. There is this presumption that you make sentimental music. This debut EP Broken Kaleidoscope is a complete genre jump in that perspective. What was the process like to curate this album?  As you mentioned, I think of my five tracks in the album. And each song except for track number one ‘Escape’, track number three, they share like all songs are different, like genre-wise and message-wise, but then they play along the top bar. But most important importantly, when I started working on this album, I didn't think about making an album so it was kind of intuitive. ‘Escape’ was the very first song that I wrote for this album, but when I was writing it, I wasn't thinking about the album. I was writing it just to express myself. So, we had no plan to work on the album. I had a lot going on in my mind and heart. I just had the feeling that I needed to express myself. I got like nine to 11 songs and then I selected a few that spoke about my heart the best. So that's how the song list for this album was selected because I was like I wanted the songs that express my heart at best.

While I was working on this album, I kind of figured out that I was always talking about the big messages like the messages that heal people. But I thought to myself except for that, I haven't really shared what's going on with me at a certain point. So this album is really about me at a certain point in my life. So it's very kind of like an intuitive album. What is the significance of this album title in your life right now?  Well, the title for this album Broken Kaleidoscope actually, the concept of the idea started back in 2020, March, end of March.  I started a series to express myself; I kind of started writing diaries. I named it to be my Broken Kaleidoscope. From day-to-day, I have tried my best to keep up with my feeling since 2020 March, and I've been writing stuff that I wanted to hear daily. I've been uploading that stuff on Instagram stories. I wasn't going to continue with the idea. But then I got lots of messages via DMs, telling me that they can relate to what I was saying. Since then I felt kind of like some more responsibility. I felt responsible for not keeping up with expressing myself. So I kept going. When I wrote those five songs, and then my team and I decided ‘Hey, we're going to put this into an album’, we had to come up with the title right. Naturally, my team suggested and I thought too that we like the concept that I've been doing since 2020 – Broken Kaleidoscope to my broken kaleidoscope. So we were like ‘Why don't we name our album Broken Kaleidoscope because these are the songs that really talked about myself.’ So that's how the title came to be. I started the concept because I felt that it described me and expressed me in the best way, in my opinion. We felt that naming the album Broken Kaleidoscope will resonate with what I've been doing so far, which is expressing me to the fullest. In the opening credits of the, ‘I'm Alive’ music video, you hold a gun to your head waiting to pull the trigger. The tagline reads “It was only after getting a taste of death that I could feel alive.” The concluding credits end with you pulling the trigger but we never see if you did that or not. Cut to the last scene, you see a cake with ‘I'm Alive’ written on it. What was the idea behind the music video concept - do you reflect on your dark past and see a light and not pull the trigger? What does the storyline signify?  Well, you pick the right point because, in the music video, I get the gun in my head, and then you guys can never tell if I pull the trigger on that, well, whether I pull the trigger or not, I wanted to give out the concept that it's the way I am trying to express liberation. What does it mean to be alive? What if, you are not able to embrace yourself, and live your daily life? I thought that, is it being alive? Is it like staying alive without embracing yourself? Can you really tell you're alive? I felt we need some kind of liberation. So the gun in the music video is just like one of the tools that indicate death. Apart from the gun, I run, I drive, I sing in the hotel, I can express a lot, right? Like my anger, or like stress, and all those gestures. The fact that there are emotions that we have to go through to carry on with our lives, and to stay, and truly be alive, I felt that we are dismissing all those negative thoughts and negative feelings on purpose because we think it's just not like good to feel in a certain way - in a negative way. While you're alive, it's inevitable for you to feel the uncertainty and chaotic feelings. I felt that you have to go through those emotions and then be able to embrace those for you to be alive and liberated. So I purposely made sure that you guys cannot tell if I pulled a trigger or not. When do you feel alive? Well, I mean, I can give you the cliche answer. I feel alive when I'm writing. And when I'm driving, recently, I got into the habit of driving. So you can tell from the music video that I did for I'm alive. Your track ‘Escape’ has a hybrid rock vibe but the music video has a lot of angst and rage. What are, were or are you escaping

from? From myself. When I was working on the song ‘Escape’, I was in a position mentally that I felt like I couldn't feel anything whether it was positive or negative. I felt I was at my limit; feeling anything was just too much for me. I felt like I need to escape from myself thinking in this way. The only way for me to be able to pull that off was to write about it. So, to simply answer your question, I'm trying to escape from myself, my feelings. Since you worked on many songs for the EP, how did you put together these five tracks that only showcase your singing skills but also shone a light on producing and writing skills as well? For this album, especially when I was selecting songs, as I mentioned before, I was really just trying to select messages more so than the song itself. I can write a song about basically anything, but then, for me to make sure the album is the album I set out to make, I had to set a good theme. I was just doing my best to select songs that fit the bigger theme that I set. So while I was trying, and doing that, I think the songs just came to be. I felt that when I selected the songs, for example, when I selected ‘Escape’, I thought it's perfect for the beginning of the album because I started the idea with the feeling of escaping – the feeling like wanting to escape from myself. The second track, ‘Maybe I Will Die’ – it’s really not about death itself. But then, felt that you really have to go through those kinds of thoughts in order for you to really learn and know about how precious it is for you to want to live. With ‘I’m Alive’; I felt this song is perfect for this album because it talks about staying alive. I think this song has the most straightforward message out of all the songs on the album. ‘Perfect Dancer’ – I think one of them is the brightest song out of the album. I also talk about how I am preparing myself to treat the world with my own attitude because even if I'm imperfect, I will carry through. That is how I felt and ‘Perfect Dancer’ is a song that talked about it the best. Lastly, ‘To My Dear Friend’, is a song that punctuates this album. It really is a song that talks about the final thoughts of my agony, magnetized thoughts, and like the journey of my emotional elevator like an emotional rollercoaster, I think it’s a song that really puts an end to all the emotions that I was feeling. The songs had stories, and I felt I can align those five songs and put them into a story, then I had confidence that people will be able to walk through my thought process with me. When did you start working on this EP? Did the pandemic change the way you shaped it? I think it was around mid-February that we decided that we were going to make this into an album. This year, mid-February, and I've been writing about those songs since I think, maybe last year, December. A lot was going on in my life. At that time, career-wise, my personal life, all my relationships, personal relationships, and everything just jumbled together and led me to kinda explode. I just felt like, I don't know if I can continue, and the only way again, for me was to write. So I guess, since then I just started writing to really literally survive spiritually, and mentally. You mentioned you weren't in a good space, mentally. So, what helped you in terms of your mental health? To write about it? I mean, what did I feel and I tried to keep up with my thoughts, and the only way for me to keep myself safe is to write about it, express it. I'm not best at cooking or dancing; so I think I'm better at music than most of the things that I can express myself. I picked music to be my tool to deliver and write about my thoughts. So that's how I kept my mind and spirit safe. Is it difficult to pen your thoughts that are, basically, your diaries in a way? Now that it is out in the open, people are listening to your diary, does it get overwhelming?  Oh, yeah! It's scary. It's a scary experience because you are emotionally getting naked and now it is out in the world. It's a diary, it is supposed to be your thoughts like written

in the book. You don't normally share your diary with anyone unless it's your lover, but even if it's your lover, it's very rare for somebody to share their diary with anyone, even with their parents. For me, I'm literally doing it with the world. So it's a very scary experience. I don't know how people are gonna react to it. In some way, it's pretty liberating. But then, that feeling didn't really last for too long for me as the album release date got closer. I felt like 'Should I do this? I don't know if I can do this.' Like, I felt very scared. While making this album, did you learn something about yourself?  Yeah, I learned about myself, way more. I learned that I'm not perfect. I learned that I'm not that strong. While I was writing songs about this album, especially because I had to reveal my weakness, I felt like 'Wow, I had this side in me, and I was vulnerable.' I'm not as strong as I know, how I thought that I'd be. It's just, it was fascinating. But now I learned that I'm not perfect. So I write this album that's what I learned. After releasing this album, I also learned that I'm not alone. So that's also what I've been learning that you're not alone in this - it's like a journey. You grew up in many places, not just in South Korea. So who were your musical influences growing up? Well, all the countries that I've been around, it's not too many. However, I've indeed been living a nomad lifestyle. I was born in Korea, went to elementary school in Korea, and then I moved to Australia, went to middle school there. I moved to New Jersey, United States, and then I went to college in New York City. All while I was doing that, I got personal musical experiences from everyone in the country, so I cannot pinpoint who influenced me or what influenced me. I think all those countries, all my life experiences, I think everything was just like mixed, together. By the time that I decided - 'Hey, maybe I should start writing a song' - all those experiences became my inspiration. Now, to that inspiration, I'm adding my heart to it. So everything is mixed. I think that's how the music that you guys are hearing from me came to be. Was 'Beautiful Goodbye' by Chen of EXO, a turning point in your career?  Well, definitely! It's the song that started my career as a producer and songwriter. It indeed helped me in the artist aspect and career as well. Thankfully, the company themselves contacted my company, but I think, really working with different artists gave me not only the recognition, but it gave the experience that not many artists can have. It's very hard. I know that people may think that artists have this, like, huge community, and then they talk to themselves, like from day to day, it really doesn't happen that way. It's just the same as our society, if we don't have a connection together, workwise or conversation-wise, the connections don't happen. But for me, it happened through my songwriting, so I had to learn and experience fairly different things from what a lot of it was like which artists may not encounter. Is it true that before you started becoming a songwriter and producer, you were about to become a clarinet player? I majored in classical clarinet in my college, I went there for a year. So yeah, it is true that I tried my career to be a scientist, or, or a professor, teacher, like to be exact. And then I went to college for a year, and I decided, maybe I want to take a year off from college. Because if I continued going to college, I felt like I would end up, I will not have my way out from clarinet. And I wouldn't be able to have more opportunities to do different things. So I felt like at least let's take a year off from college, and then do whatever I want to do, musically. And since then I'm here. Well, life happens. How long did it take for you to reach where you are today?  I think it took me 10 years to be where I am right now - a little more than 10 years to be exact, like 13 years, but then I'll exclude those three years because I was young and didn't know what I was doing. Professionally, I think

10 years for me to reach where I am right now. I cannot say that I like fully succeeded as a musician. To become where I am right now mentally and spiritually. I think it really just took me 10 years to get here. Is it difficult to produce and write for yourself compared to produce and write for other artists? It is equally hard because there are two different things. When I am writing for myself. I listen to myself, my story and that takes effort. When I'm writing for others, I'm listening to them and try to figure out their stories in the right for them. So that's like a different style of writing from the other. So those are equally hard. Those are very, not easy. Broken Kaleidoscope EP is out now. What is next for you? What kind of journey would you like to take now? Well, I take my journey to another broken kaleidoscope. Yeah, another Broken Kaleidoscope, which means I will not know, actually, to correct myself. I will keep up with my writing my heart out daily, what I feel the emotions. They're very different from not too different than they're slightly different. And so I will be writing my diaries about what I'm feeling like these days and the next album will be another broken class. Go with a different theme. So I'll be working on that. You said that it's a 10-year journey, anything looking at the day when you started writing versus now? How do you see your journey? Where do you think in the next 10 years, you would be? If I'm still alive, in 10 years, I think I'm gonna be doing the exact same thing that I'm doing right now. With all their face. Same thing, same thing, just no work on my craft to be a good producer, myself, and for the others, and just continue to express and I will never stop with the music. Maybe I tried to do different things from here to there. But then music within myself will not change. So which means that I myself won't change. So I'll be doing the same thing. Do you have any set goals for yourself? I don't think I will ever reach a point where I'm satisfied, but at the same time, which means my only dream is to continue with what I'm doing. And right now I'm doing it. So I guess I'm living my dream out.

#nive #jisoo park #Interview #article #broken kaleidoscope #1st mini album #singer #songwriter #composer #producer #musician #kpop #hybrid pop #global pop #music #multi instrumentalist #multitalented #solo #artist

[loyallogic]

Article 15 movie : a living reality 

This article is written by Priyamvada Singh, from School of Law, Galgotias University. Here, she reviews the 2019 Bollywood cinema Article 15 and delves into its legal aspects.  

Introduction

“Humein hero nahi chahiye, Bas aise log chahiye jo hero ka wait na karein”. (Trans: We don’t want a hero, we want people who don’t wait for heroes)

Every once in a while, Bollywood produces a film that makes everyone take a step back and rethink their perspective on society and its rules. After Bandit Queen, Aligarh, Masaan, and Pink, Article 15 is one such refreshment. 

Background  

Whenever we talk about Casteism, a majority of the topic revolves around the idea of reservation. There are certain films made about the disadvantages of reservation: a popular one being Aarakshan. While the film was very nuanced and deserved the critical and commercial acclaim that it received, there is another narrative that sometimes goes amiss. The issue of casteism and Brahmanical supremacy. The film Article 15 attempts to bring to our notice the rude reality of the society we live in. A society which carefully overlooks the double standards and hypocrisy its members propagate.  

Set against the backdrop of rural Uttar Pradesh, India- Article 15 looks at the gruesome reality of casteism and its ugly repercussions. The film is loosely based upon the Badayun rape allegations, which took the country by a storm. In this movie, two Dalit minors were brutally gang-raped and then hung from a tree in the same village they were from- for the world to see. This was allegedly done to instil fear in the hearts of those who belonged to the same caste as them.  

Plot 

The film starts with an IPS officer Ayan Ranjan (Ayushmaan Khurrana) being introduced as a wet-behind-the-ears who quips to his wife, Aditi (Isha Talwar), that he finds the “countryside India” very beautiful. He is listening to Bob Dylan’s “How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?”, which sets us up for the challenges that he is going to face in the coming days. In the next scene, a group of Dalits (untouchables) sing a folk song “Kahab ta lag Jai dhak se…”(trans.: If I say it, you’ll find it offensive). The song is shocking in nature. The people question the lack of basic resources like water and electricity to them and the injustices that they face while the well-off people (the upper castes) enjoy the shower of luxury they call their lifestyle. 

Just a few moments after he enters the village, he realises the problem of discrimination that he is going to face, however, the magnitude of it is still unbeknownst to him. In another scene, two girls are brutally gang-raped in a moving bus.  

The film moves around the issue of the gangrape and how its roots lie deeply ingrained in Casteism and Brahmin Supremacy prevalent in the village. 

Legal aspects 

The film touches upon many legal felonies arising out of untouchability, which is a legal offence in itself. 

Article 15

Article 15(1) of the Constitution of India prohibits discrimination amongst people on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth or any of them. Supplementing article 15 (1), Article 15(2) states that no citizen shall be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to access to any public place merely based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Both the clauses together prohibit any discrimination of the aforementioned ground by both states [in article 15(1)] and private person or entities [in article 15 (2)]. 

There have been numerous news in the recent past about discrimination based on caste, especially in Uttar Pradesh- many even leading to the ultimate tragedy. When the water crisis struck the state, some people even denied access to water to the Dalits. In Bundelkhand, handpumps were forbidden to be used by Dalits, making the situation worse. The problem is so deeply rooted in society, that even children have succumbed to it. In Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur village, 70 out of 76 children refused mid-day meals because the food had been prepared by a person from a lower caste.  

Indian Penal Code

The film also touches upon Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): Gang Rape, and Section 300 of the IPC: Murder. These offences are often even not reported, primarily because the victims and their families are too afraid to report it, and even when they do, the law enforcement force shuts them down. 

                                         Click Above

Review

What works for the film

More than being just a mirror to the society’s condition, the film reaches beyond and accuses the audience to be a part of this exploitative tradition that we are all guilty of. Some of us partake in this tradition, some don’t raise voice against it, and some even refuse to acknowledge it. Caught in a whirlwind of local politics, and an absconding cop, a tradition that resorts to inhumane means to keep itself alive, and a daily lived reality of poverty and social vulnerability at the hands of the powerful- the film also showcases a list of women that are strong and brave when the men are floundering. Gaura- an ordinary girl whose eyes speak more than her mouth since her voice has been silenced a long time ago, Nishad- a youth leader who has to resort to fierce methods to be heard, Jatav- a policeman who has to face a lot of flak because he was a sweeper. 

Each character is very nuanced. While the offences like murder and gang-rape are already deeply shocking in nature, they have been presented with an eerie flow to it too, so they hit deeper. Closeup shots of the hung body, with water dripping off of them. Rape culture permeating in the society is even brought to light in the film, as a policeman in the film says to Ayaan, “Arey Sahab ye log aise hi hote hai, khud sab karte hai- Phir rote hai”, meaning thereby that the girls had instigated the men. The film further investigates why radical revolutionists act the way they do, through Nishaad. He is part of a revolutionary group that resorts to fierce acts to be heard and to speed up the process of justice. Although looked at by law enforcement with an angry eye, the audience quickly goes on to love him- witnessing his situation and viewing the world through his glasses. The story also reveals how political parties selfishly use people like Nishaad to fulfil their conniving motives. At the end of the film, Nishaad’s fate comes to a tragic end as he is shot at point-blank range and the entire incident is shown to be an encounter. 

What does not work 

White Saviour complex 

In the background, however, a different story seems to be taking place. As Huffington Post mentioned in their review of the film, “Article 15 is one Brahmin hero away from being a great film”. Teju Cole, the American-Nigerian writer had once noted how the American film & entertainment industry, better known as Hollywood suffers from what can be termed as “white saviour complex”. This is somewhat akin to what Rudyard Kipling explained as the “White Man’s Burden” during the colonial era. The theory proposes that the ‘white men’ are morally obligated to rule the ‘non-white’ people, so as to encourage their progress through colonialism. Such a philosophy seems to be coming from a good place. It, however, woefully ignores the real need of the people who are being ‘saved’. Despite all the right intentions, what is paramount is that the people who are being helped ought to be consulted about the help they are getting.  

Article 15’s script suffers from this phenomenon as well. In the movie, the villain is a Brahmin, But so is the hero. He is an upper-caste policeman who only has a general understanding of the subtleties of caste politics. When he arrives in Laalgaon, he describes his posting as a punishment. Soon he finds himself stuck in the web of casteism and trying to find his way to get over it. In the end, he rescues the Dalit girl at great personal risk and we have seen him carrying the girl in his arms as the camera pans away. This scene was completely against the narrative the film has been building up since the beginning. Instead, the film ends up strengthening the argument that the lower caste must be both brutalised by, and rescued by the upper caste.  

It could have easily been possible that the girl is rescued by someone who belonged to their own caste. It could have easily been possible that the rescued girl is carried in the arms of someone who has known her and has shared history with us. This would have not only made the climax more relatable to the audience but would have gone on to drive the message home that the supposed ‘lower caste’ is self-sufficient to take care of someone on their own. Instead, the movie falls into a classic trope of self-enlightenment which is deemed to be at the centre of any drama-based story. The movie focus on the protagonist becoming self-aware of his own responsibilities as the ASP and how his realization that caste-based discrimination is not something which can be ignored. Such self-awareness lies at the key of eradicating any kind of social issue plaguing modern society. However, this was not the core idea of what this film was trying to portray. By choosing to go with this ending, the film ends up falling on its own feet.  

Reason 

This take on the movie becomes much more interesting once we try to find the reason why this creative decision was taken. The lead actor in an interview stated that the movie exposed how privileged he himself was when it came to caste-related issues in India. That privilege was evident in the climax as well. He goes on to state that the film received a lot of flak from certain communities who raised objections to the fact that the film’s villain was a Brahmin. The fact that the film’s protagonist was also a brahmin was ignored. So one reason for making the protagonist an upper-caste was to neutralise the anger in order to facilitate the release of the movie. This fact alone speaks volumes of the social stigma which is present nowadays. The dearth of a Dalit protagonist in cinema is not a problem which is borne out of Article 15. Article 15 is merely an addition in the stockpile of films where even if the story is of a small-town, the protagonist has always belonged to an upper caste. A study by the newspaper The Hindu into Dalit representation in Hindi Cinema revealed that between the years 2013-15, out of about 300 films only 5 had Dalit heroes or heroines in them. Similarly, another report published by Birmingham City University in 2017 pointed out that despite having 85% share in India’s population, the Dalit representation in Hindi film industry stands at a meek 0.1%. Reservation and quote-system might have allowed Dalit representation in government sectors to a certain extent. But the same is painfully non-existent in the arts and cinema sector. One can also say that such artistic space is “untouched” by Dalit issues, narratives or protagonists.  

Even when the film-makers have tried to tackle the issue through a few Dalit-centric movies, they are overshadowed by some other fringe issues which divert our attention. Mostly, this has been the case since the very beginning. First such issue to tackle the caste-issue was made in the movie “Achhut Kanya” (1936). But the movie framed the issue within the story of two star-crossed lovers in a typical Romeo and Juliet fashion. This undid the entire effort to raise the caste issue in the myriad of gossip and intolerance of families. Another such important movie to highlight caste and gender-based discrimination was “Bandit Queen”. However, it was met with strong criticism by the Booker Prize winner author Arundhati Roy on the ground of the way sexual abuse being shown in the movie against the protagonist. The issue then deviated to political correctness in the representation of women in movies rather than atrocities against the lower-caste women in society. The same problem plagues the now legendary film Lagaan, where the discourse shifted from the oppression of the poor to an asinine cricket match.  

One reason to justify such absence can be that moviegoers are not quite interested in such movies and such movies do not have the mainstream appeal as other movies which feature ‘normal’ upper-caste characters. As the Masaan filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan puts it “Cinema is an escapist, aspirational, larger-than-life world. In that sense, it is too Brahminical in its ethos to give good space to caste narratives.” This argument holds some ground when we consider the number of screenings and support such movies get from masses. Mostly, such movies are rejected for mass release after being cited as ‘fodder for film festivals’. Recent examples of Newton and Masaan only go on to support the argument. However, these movies themselves break this stereotype. There has been a rise of Dalit narrative-based movies across Hindi and regional film industries and people seem to be loving them. These include  Chauranga  (2014),  Court  (2014), Gurvinder Singh’s  Anhey Ghore Da Daan  (Punjabi, 2011), and Jayan Cherian’s English-Malayalam film  Papilio Buddha (2013). The amount of praise and love these movies have received from the moviegoers only goes on to state that such movies can have the same mass appeal which other mainstream movies have. What only lacks is the imagination to make these Dalit characters appealable to the masses.  

For that, it is required for the film-makers to come down from the position of privilege and welcome the entry of lower-caste filmmakers, technicians, actors, actresses and characters to enter the creative space. Then only a much more inclusive caste-balanced storytelling will be possible. There have been instances in past when Dalit filmmakers have got the chance to tell their own story to have it has come to be a heart-wrenching tale of social deprivation, isolation and other caste-related issues on the film screen. They bring about a perspective which cannot possibly be imagined from the perspective of a privileged position as the entire cast and crew of Article 15 has been. This difference is easily discernible if we look at the movies Sairat and Dhadak. Sairat, directed by Nagraj Manjule, a Dalit filmmaker was praised for its narrative devices and for showing the daily life struggle of a lower-caste couple in the backdrop of honour killings. However, the remake of the same movie did not receive the praise for its choice of narrative devices as adopted by its director Shashank Khaitan, an upper-class filmmaker.  

It is pertinent that such storytellers be included in the mainstream conversation; storytellers who are capable of telling us how big the issue is, so we can gauze its enormity. As of now, it is needed that such storytellers be included in the process of creative decision making. It is needed that more Dalits are included in the arts and cinema industry. And it is needed that they are asked about the issues which plague them. Unless that does not happen, we shall never be able to see the issue of caste discrimination from the perspective of those who are affected by it the most. Unless we are not able to see it, we shall not be able to understand it fully. And unless we are not able to understand it fully, we shall never be able to work on it effectively.  

Conclusion 

Over the course of seven decades of independence, we have seen the lower caste being reduced to nothing but voting banks which are remembered merely during the time of election and forgotten till eternity.   

Article 15 is a movie that makes you re-shift and refocus on our perspective of what is important. In a world where the media is busy with hate propaganda, followed by more hate propaganda, and cheap entertainment news, followed by more cheap entertainment news to keep us busy in unimportant matters, the film comes as a breath of fresh air. For some of us, it might be the rudest reality check of recent times. The ending of the film brings us face to face with what we try to remain woefully unaware of: that the system of supremacy is built on blood, sweat, and tears of the exploited. And that it continues to this date.  

However, a little critical look at the film also reveals all the dark corners it contains within itself. The film fails to drive its point home by making the film about the character enlightenment of an upper-class protagonist. Claims can be made about the film suffering from the Brahmin saviour complex or that it subdues the struggles of lower caste by keeping the focus on the upper-class protagonist’s encounter with the caste system. This only goes on to highlight a bigger issue of the lack of Dalit representation in the arts and cinema industry. All of which are very prominent and relevant issues to be worked upon.  

All in all, the movie reminds us that people from lower caste are not some expendable creatures made solely for the purpose of enabling comforts of the upper-caste. They are as human and humans deserve to be treated likewise. What this movie does beautifully is to divert our attention to a very relevant problem in a very hard-hitting manner. When the film ends, we do not feel comfortable. We feel a part of an issue which we have all unwittingly been a part of. The film, through its protagonist, makes us realise our own ignorance. It makes us think on a personal level as to what can be done with this. For the issue is not with Article 15 of the Constitution of India. The problem is with the implementation of it. It makes us wonder what can be done by us in this. For that, the movie should be praised.  

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandit_Queen 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aligarh_(film)  

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/article15-review-ayushmann-khurrana_in_5d15fd0ee4b03d61163a2646 

https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/06/what-is-a-white-saviour-complex-8793979/  

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/ayushmann-khurrana-bollywood-politics-national-award-andhadhun_in_5d4d3fcfe4b01e44e47881ba 

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/New-voices-but-not-enough-noise/article14015881.ece 

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Movie Review Gully Boy

Movie Name :- Gully Boy Director :-Zoya Akhtar Producer :-Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani Written by :-Vijay Maurya(dialogue) Screenplay by :-Reema Kagti,Zoya Akhtar Story by :-Reema Kagti,Zoya Akhtar Starring :-Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Siddhant Chaturvedi Score:Karsh Kale, The Salvage Audio Collective Cinematography :-Jay Oza Edited by :-Nitin Baid Production company :-Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films Distributed by :- AA Films ,Zee Studios, International Cinestaan Film Company,Sradvn production Running Time :-2h 34m Release date :-9 February 2019 (Berlin), 14 February 2019 (India) Running time :-153 minutes[3] Country :- India Language :- Hindi Budget :-₹40 crore Box office est. :- ₹238.16 crore

Castings :- Ranveer Singh as Murad Ahmed a.k.a. Gully Boy,Alia Bhatt as Safeena Firdausi, Siddhant Chaturvedi as Shrikant Bhosle a.k.a. MC Sher,Vijay Raaz as Aftab Ahmed,Vijay Varma as Moeen Arif,Amruta Subhash as Razia Ahmed,Ikhlaque Khan as Nasir Firdausi ~Safeena's father,Sheeba Chaddha as Hamida Firdausi~Safeena's mother, Kalki Koechlin as Shweta a.k.a. Sky, Ayaan Zubair Rahmani as Safeena's brother,Rahul Piske as Chintoo,Jyoti Subhash as Dadi,Nakul Roshan Sahdev as Salman,Shruti Chauhan as Maya,Vijay Maurya as Ateeq Khan ~Murad's uncle, Srishti Shrivastava as Albina Dadarkar, Malika Singh as Suhani,Tina Bhatia as Parveen,Rahil Gilani as Rishi,Rahul Shahani as Shah Rule,Svar Kamble as Suhail, Chaitnya Sharma as MC Checkmate, Jasleen Royal as Juhi,Michaela Tanwar as Gemma,Kubra Sait as Scarlett,Manj Musik as himself,KR$NA as himself,Bilal Shaikh as himself,Omi Kashyap as Driver,Raja Kumari as herself,Emiway as Emiway Bantai,Divine (rapper) as himself.

Soundtrack :-Soundtrack album by Divine, Naezy, Dub Sharma, Ankur Tewari, Spitfire, Sez on the beat, Rishi Rich, Raghu Dixit, Midival Punditz, Karsh Kale, Chandrashekhar Kunder, Jasleen Royal, Mickey McCleary, Ace, Ishq Bector, Prem-Hardeep, Viveick Rajagopalan and Kaam Bhaari

Released -12 January 2019 Genre -Feature film soundtrack Length-46:38 Language-Hindi Label-Zee Music Company Compiler-Ankur Tewari

Singles from Gully Boy:- •"Asli Hip Hop"-Released: 4 January 2019 •"Apna Time Aayega"-Released: 11 January 2019 •"Mere Gully Mein"-Released: 18 January 2019 •"Doori"-Released: 26 January 2019 •"Azadi"-Released: 8 February 2019 •"Train Song"-Released: 17 February 2019 •"India 91"-Released: 23 February 2019 •"Jahaan Tu Chala"-Released: 23 February 2019 •"Sher Aaya Sher"-Released: 26 February 2019

Storyline :-Gully Boy” is a film about a 22-year-old boy “Murad” (Ranveer Singh) from a ghetto in Mumbai, India. The son of a driver, his parents worked hard to get him educated so that he could have a white collar job. Meanwhile, Murad realizes his calling to be a rapper. Authentic Hip Hop in India is a recent phenomenon and like anywhere else in the world, is rising from the streets. Art is a distant dream for the colonized poor of India and this story is about Murad’s journey from realizing his love for rap and chasing his dream to inadvertently transcending his class. The film showcases street rap from the crevices of Mumbai’s by lanes. The poetry is conscious of the city's socio-economic fabric and highlights the challenges faced by the disenfranchised youth in the minority population.

Review :- Gully Boy is a Bollywood musical-drama, written, produced and directed by Zoya Akhtar. The movie is based on the life of an underground rapper off streets, Gully Boy presents an emotional journey of a rapper from the slums of Dharavi. Inspired by true events, the film has created an immense buzz ever since its announcement. Gully Boy stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. Carlos Catalan and Jay Oza has wielded the camera for Gully Boy. The film also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Kalki Koechlin in pivotal roles.

Whay do all artists have in common?Heartbreak, adversity, a society that doesn't understand your art. No silver spoons. No privileges. Just the long, hard, lonely walk. Zoya Akhtar's lead character Murad is the textbook example of the underdog who rises from the slums of Dharavi and doesn't believe in Slumdog Millionaires. But he believes in telling his story through his music. His rap.

It is a pity then that Dharavi and life within a house where people outnumber the walls are treated with the rosy glasses of an outsider. Much like the foreign tourists in Gully Boy who come take a look inside the houses of Dharavi; a ticket of Rs 500 for a pass to this 'other world', selfie-sticks in hand. Zoya Akhtar is that very outsider in this world. Gully Boy scratches the surface. What we get in the film is a look from the outside. Peekaboo, end credits.

Murad is a 'slumdog'. He measures his days waiting for Safina at the bus stop, humming to himself 'apna time aayega'. Away from the classes in college and his parents' bickering, cocooned in his space on the mezzanine floor of his 300-square-foot house, he pours his life into the pages of his notebook. The words are his own. He needs the beat.

Then enters MC Sher. Murad falls head over heels in love with this rapper at his college. He follows every movement of Sher on Facebook and goes underground. Rap battles take place here, in this world out of Fight Club. The weapon is rap. People insult one another and get hit back right at their weakest points. Murad blends into the scene. His future is about to change. The viewer knows. The problem is the time it takes to reach that turning point.

MC Sher (Siddhant Chaturvedi) who advises him, "Tere andar ka lava phat ke bahar aane de." When Murad meekly expresses his doubt over his rapping in front of public, he tells him, "Agar duniya mein sab comfortable hote toh rap kaun karta?".That’s an insight that comes only from a true fan of this performing art. Director Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ is the definitive look at the rap scene in India. It chronicles the story of an ordinary boy Murad, from Dharavi, who dreams big and refuses to let adversity squash his spirit. His journey from being the quintessential slumdog to being an ambitious rapper named Gully Boy, is exhilarating and exciting, to say the least. Rap is an unconventional genre of music in India, but even those who don’t necessarily associate with this form of music, will be able appreciate the underdog and heartfelt story.

The story kicks-off in a match-box sized chawl room in Dharavi, where Murad dreams of a better life. He loves the feisty Safeena (Alia Bhatt) just as much he loves to pour his pent up emotions and frustrations onto paper. His life takes a dramatic turn when one day he sees MC Sher aka Shrikant, rap a few college boys to shame, after they’ve booed a girl offstage. Shrikant takes Murad under his wing and together they kick-start a rapper team that’s high on spirit and passion. It’s the classic underdog story, with Murad’s poverty establishing the fact that he’s got very little chance to succeed and no right to harbour big dreams either. Also, his orthodox father Aftab (Vijay Raaz) brings in the quintessential conflicted relationship. While some parts of the film are predictable, what makes ‘Gully Boy’ stand out is the emotional intelligence. Murad’s journey has some fantastic moments that draw you in and keep you hooked. The stellar dialogues by Vijay Maurya add depth to the narrative. The story and screenplay by Reema Kagti and Zoya scores high, has flair and finesse with beautiful touches on the edges. It’s just the kind that raises the tempo of the narrative a notch higher.

The driving force of the film though is the performance by Ranveer Singh. He was born to play this part and the way he raps his soul out in the film, makes it a killer set. He breathes life, despair, euphoria and belief into his role. A line in the film where MC Sher tells Murad says, ‘Tere andar toofan hai’ is bang on. With every new performance, the actor brings in a tidal wave of surprises. Equally brilliant is Alia Bhatt, in a smaller, but deeply impactful role. The actress brings effortless ease into the fiery eccentricities of her character. The chemistry between Ranveer and Alia is cute, lovable and fiery, too. Siddhant Chaturvedi, in his first film, deserves a dab of honour. He’s easily one of the most effortless actors in showbiz. Vijay Varma, Kalki Koechlin and Vijay Raaz are all superb in their respective roles as well.

The music of the film is killer, too. The movie is inspired by the lives of rappers Naezy and Divine, and these Indian artistes, along with a whole host of their contemporaries, have scored a super soundtrack for the film. There’s a reason the film feels legit and that’s down to the fact that real rap artistes worked on this film. The treatment and the visual finesse of the film are at par with anything you’ve seen from Hollywood or anywhere around the world. The rap battles shown in the film are riveting and an inspired piece of writing. The problem with the film though is it’s length, which stretches to two-and-a-half hours, but the emotional deftness and clap-worth dialogues add the right amount of gusto and keep you totally engaged. This is a film that deserves an encore.