Bappi Lahiri is another of India’s more famous Hindi film music composers. He seems to have thrived in the 70s and 80s, during which time he drew extensively upon western beats and music such as disco (see “Disco Bollywood” here) and early hip hop (see his adaptation of Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” here).

However, despite how much he appears to have copied from popular western music, he did come up with some goodness of his own. I like this intro sequence to the 1980 film Saboot:

Here is his song “Dance Dance” from the film “Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki,” downloaded from Dharavi.org, an interesting website that tracks news on the famous Dharavi “slum” area of Mumbai. (For more on slums here is an interesting article.)

Bappi Lahiri & Salma Agha, “Dance Dance”

ゲット [DL]

Andres

P.S. Highly recommended, though not related except for the fact that they are Indian and came up during my search, here is a video of a small person dancing, and a video starring Chiru (of Indian “Thriller” fame) which also features a great number of animals dancing incredibly.

La verdad cuando ví este video por primera vez, pensé: ¿Queeeeeeee´ diablos pasa con esta gente de la India? Realmente viven en su propia dimensión, tienen una forma de interpretar las películas y la música de una forma muy peculiar.

Pero ahora la verdad, entre más veo este video más me gusta, me sigue haciendo reír muchísimo, ¡pero ya le encuentro valor artístico! y me esta gustando mucho la música de fondo…. aparte está super pegajosa la tonada:

Este es otro que no me gusta tanto, pero si se me hace super cómico el concepto de galán…

If you haven’t turned on your TV today and seen that Michael Jackson’s memorial service is on EVERY GOD DAMN CHANNEL than you’re really missing out. Missing out on Rev. Al Sharpton throwing random shout outs to “Iowa” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, two things I didn’t really think would be worked into the memorial service but somehow did. 

But personally, I’ve got three things I would really love to see get worked into the ceremony:

1. Duh

2. This picture

3. And of course some recognition for Indian Thriller

We here at Brundlefly On The Wall may be primarily a movie interested outfit but our index and middle finger are placed firmly on the carotid artery of the music scene too. Here is what’s hot in the clubs this week.

Can’t tell you how much I love this song, really hot beat, David Banner chalks up another hit record.

Yes, I’m aware Michael Jackson is an accused child molester so it might seem tasteless and inappropriate to post this, but this video is awesome. In much the same way that Casino Royale did, this re-imagining of the Thriller franchise really outstrips the original and revitalizes a dead (zing!) franchise.

Since I have been totally jobless for the past week, I thought I may just compile all my latest ‘adventures’ and make a post out of them.

JEE 2009:

Seems a long time ago. But its still as hard to get over it as it was on the day following the massacre of my dreams. One good day would have been the perfect panacea. Engineering Physics in Madras or pure science in Kanpur would have been ideal. Nevertheless, there is some respite now that Ive done well in the other exams. Having realized that the brand IIT is not worth wasting a year, Ive moved on.

NITK:

So, Ive decided at last. With most of my friends going there and most people I know insisting me to go there, I just couldnt refuse it. I had done quite a bit of research on the two colleges before deciding. Youtube, alumni sites, blogs and various other sites provided the information I needed. And after considering that my preparation for JEE 2010 will be earnest, I felt NIT Surathkal is better as I am not ready to waste 120-130 grand.

Astronomy:

I have always wanted to make a living by working in the field of science that is dear to me. But, unfortunately, now I am being forced to concede that it is highly unlikely to happen. My love for astronomy has been there as long as I can remember. So, it is difficult to digest the fact that I wont be studying it full-time. The lack of good institutes offering graduation courses in astronomy or pure science has added to my disappointment (Please do let me know if Im wrong here and there exists a good institute I am not aware of). However, I would do my best to improve my knowledge about it.

Of late:

The number of movies my computer stores has increased exponentially in the last few weeks. I have been living on movies (either in theaters or at home)  and South Park for a long time now. Football is also not as rare as a blue moon anymore. But holidays still suck. It sucks even more if plans of some adventure are being canceled regularly thanks to some divine beings who have the ability to sit at home all day doing nothing. Some good things did happen though. I discovered Quentin Tarantino’s movie-making ability, relived my obsession of watching horror movies alone late night with full volume (even though I played hide-and-seek with the demons in my life, cockroaches, at 3 a.m. after watching The Ring, I hide and they seek that is), realized that Kannada movies are not the worst form of entertainment after watching The Indian Thriller on youtube (make sure you check it out) and saw with full contentment the departure of my most dreaded footballer, Chutiyano Ronaldo of course. Hail Steven Gerrard and Liverpool!!!

]]> http://iamsuperape.com/2009/03/12/good-god-indian-thriller/ Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:56:50 +0000 AsylumDigital http://iamsuperape.com/2009/03/12/good-god-indian-thriller/

This post is really more like a list of films having to do with India.  I guess most of my posts are really just visual lists of things rambling around in my head, but this one is more just one after another with some commentary.  This is not to deter you, in fact this is my idea of blog heaven, but in case you were expecting something more meaningful, this is not it.

So, I saw Slumdog Millionaire and was so into the music that I bought the soundtrack.  Really, the last scene during the credits really was the clincher for me.  The whole score is wonderful and exciting and full of passion, but at the end there is a dance sequence, that is not really a part of the rest of the film, but adds a nice nod to  Bollywood. (don’t worry, no spoilers that the preview doesn’t already give away).

Everyone just seems to be having a great time.  I would have loved to be somewhere in the background dancing in that sea of people.  And the kids are super cute all jumping around.  They remind me of the kids in Love Actually (when the hugh Grant goes door to door).

But seeing this movie made me go back and want to watch other films with themes of India.  I have always been a fan of Bollywood music, though I have no idea what they are saying, the music has always been so fun.  I remember watching AVS (Asian Variety Show) on PBS on weekends when they did a TRL like countdown of the best Bollywood songs.  So good.

So, I re-watched Outsourced.  A super cute film about a man from Seattle whose job is being outsourced to India, but he has to train his replacement and his adventures while he’s there.  It is very cute and a very kind depiction of India.  (Granted I’ve never been there, but I get the feeling)

I have watched this film several times and I still really like it.

There is also the Gurinder Chadha collection (at least what I’ve seen, I know there is more) of Bend it Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice.  I am a huge fan of Bend it mainly because it is a charming story, it takes place int he UK and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (my b-day buddy) is really hot.

The American Trailer for Bend it is Dumb.  It’s full of dubbed American vocab for British things like soccer for football and boyfriend for fella.  I find them insulting, so I give you the UK trailer:

And Bride & Prejudice is supposed to be a Bollywood version of Pride and Prejudice if it were Grease.  I think the preview makes it look a lot better than it was, but the songs are fun and everyone looked like they had fun making it. (the guy from lost is in it and the woman from Rome as well)

Along the same vein as Bend it Like Beckham is Ken Loach’s A Fond Kiss.  This film was on an additional viewing list (like additional reading list, but more fun) for a film class I took while abroad in Scotland.  We did a unit on Ken Loach, a Scottish director who is notorious for using non-actors and very loose scripts to allow the performers to do what comes more naturally to them for a more realistic portrayal of life just captured on film.  For Loach, this film is lighthearted, but still very good.  And of course, it takes place in Scotland, so I am keen to like it right off the bat.  I should mention that this is not about an Indian, but a Pakistani family in Glasgow, Scotland.

It is very similar to Bend it, but it’s a bit more realistic and from the Pakistani perspective.

The next film is the only one I haven’t seen, not for lack of trying.  It looks, also, like a lot of fun, and is where the title of the post comes from: Bollywood Hollywood.

This also seems to be about an Indian person trying to make their family understand their “gorah” love interest.  (gorah is similar to goy).

Now, lastly, we get into actual Bollywood.

I saw the Bollywood movie, Koi Mil Gaya, some time ago at my friend Avery’s house.  We rented it from a, now defunct, Asian food market that had a video rental section.  From what I can remember, it was about an alien coming to Earth, a nerd, who is connected to the alien some how, and a very pretty woman who sees beyond the nerdyness and of course lots of singing and dancing.  This was a very popular fim for it’s time and I remember it being something like 3 hours long.  I couldn’t find a trailer, but this is a fun clip.

And for a final treat, I give you Indian Thriller. (This gem is thanks to my friend Katie who I met in Scotland and shares my affinity for all film no matter what genre.  She found it while trying – and eventually succeeding – to learn the actual Thriller dance from youtube in the computer lab. Mad props.)

If there are any other films revolving around India that you recommend or any information that might not be correct please let me know! ENJOY

Looking up Chiranjeevi of “Indian Thriller” (known originally as “Donga”) fame, I discovered that his daughter’s name is Susmitha. Coincidence?! SIX DEGREES!?!?! I will now die. Also, his now much chubbier face reminds me of Deep Roy. I can just imagine Sushi with him.

Oh. My. Gosh. His favorite actor is Sean Connery. This is freaking fate!!! Except there’s fail where I got my info because it’s spelled Sean Cannery. Like Cannery Row, which my interesting Chinese teacher kept pronouncing with a short o, as if she had been punched.

I’ll probably be back later with the pile of cool stuff I found yesterday night online. Miya, that means the lego bust of Freddie Mercury. I’ve realized that I need more cool stuff on this blog. So huzzah.

Okay. Here it is. Probably the world’s most terrifying video. I watched it from behind my office chair. Do not press play unless you’re completely sure you can deal with it. You’ve been warned.

Happy Halloween!

In what might be called the largest choreographed nostalgia trip ever Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse is attempting to shatter world records this year and host the largest Thriller dance ever.  Thrill the World is an annual event where large groups across the globe gather in order to simultaneously perform the dance from Michael Jackson’s seminal 1983 music video.  Started two years ago by choreographer Ines Markeljevic as an effort too… um… raise awareness for… umm I have no idea why someone would invest so much time, energy, and money into a project so pointless, accomplishing little more than deifying a pop has-been turned pedophile punch line.  But anyways someone went through a lot of trouble so you can participate in this surreal, record setting spectacle.  Show up to a work shop, learn the moves, and get your thriller on this October 25th in full zombie regalia out in the middle of 6th street.

Here’s the info:
At 1:00 p.m. on Oct. 25, Austin will join cities and countries around the world to make history and pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the release of the Michael Jackson album, “Thriller.” If you want to join all of the thrilling zombie brethren worldwide, log onto www.thrilltheworldaustin.com. Free zombie dance workshops begin Oct. 11. See the webpage for more details.

The Original Phenomenon

The Largest Forced Filipino Prison Thriller Dance

The Best Total Rip Off Of Anything. Ever.

I’m not as up on my Indian sub-continent linguistic as I used to be but I’m pretty sure that this is sung in Urdu. I know it definitively is not Hindi or Tamil.

Here’s the translated version.

For more amazing Asian Thriller action check out the amazing choreography in this Philippines prison production of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

“Chiranjeevi is a drunkard. He consumes a full bottle of foreign liquor every day and therefore has no moral right to enter politics and talk about social values,” was the latest comment made by Marketing Minister M Mareppa.It appears Mareppa is behaving like a self-styled spokesman of the Congress. After making several

loose-tongue comments against several Opposition party leaders including N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao, he has now started targeting Chiranje

the only he-man in politics. Rest are all zeros,” he said.Chiranjeevi is maintaining a lot of restraint, because he is yet to come out in public. But his fans are not silent. The war of words might snowball into a big controversy, causing troubles to YSR government.

From Akasaramanna.net

La notizia dice che Mareppa ha detto di Chiru “è un alcolizzato, beve una bottiglia intera di liquore estero ogni giorno e dopo non si vergogna di entrare in politica e parlare circa i valori morali”
E successivamente i fans di Chiru, chiamati MEGA FANS lo hanno difeso con questa dimostrazione (nel video che è indiano si sente bene chiranjeevi, mega star e mega fans).

Chiranjeevi Fans response about Mareppa comments on Chiru

Hoy tengo el agrado de mostrarles 3 de los videos mas bizarros en la historia. No importa cuantas veces los vea, siempre me río en las mismas partes.

Aqui están, estos son:

Sin lugar a dudas, el Indian Thriller es lejos lo más bizarro que vi en mi vida.
Este Michael Jackson from Bollywood es básicamente el Alcides [No la dejes ir, no la dejes ir...] de India.
Su nombre es Chiranjeevi, o Chiru como le dice la muchachada, y el video en cuestión es Gulimar o Golimar [Al menos así suena lo que repite una y otra vez]. El tema es una versión del famosísimo Thriller de MJ, de hecho se escucha la base de fondo pero acelerada [Nunca pagaron un centavo], y el video es, simplemente, glorioso.
Una cosa más, en el 1″20 de video, aparece Toti Ciliberto cuando recién se había tragado el mosquitero y tenía la cara bien pozeada. *1

Dschinghis Khan es el nombre de este grupo ochentoso. Youtube está plagado de videos con sus canciones más conocidas, pero este en particular se hizo famosísimo.
Si vemos el video original, nos vamos a reír de los pasos que hacen durante todo lo que dura, pero lo que es incluso mas hilarante es la “traducción” subtitulada de la letra. Obviamente es solo “como suenan” las palabras en alemán. Nos deja frases como “Hasta el gordo René lo dejó”, “Nafta tengo, estoy veloz”, “Andá y decile esto vos”, y tantas otras que vistas en el video son definitivamente grosisimas.

Video Original

Extracto Subtitulado

Este ladri es un doble de Sylvester Stallone, es Argentino y es Cordobés. Se llama Diego Alione, y si bien la canción es malísima, y él es un poco deplorable, la combinación de ambos es sencillamente espectacular.
La letra de la cumbia de Rambo, los gatos viejos que bailan con él, y las escenas de acción del “clip” son los ingredientes que faltaban para que te empiezes a reír.
Disfrutalo con tu vecino.

*1

I have been such a bad blogger. I know this and honestly I’ve been trying to write for days. I kept coming up with titles, but finding myself staring and possibly drooling while watching the cursor blink and blink.

This recent case of writer’s block has been as crippling as Bret Michaels’ head is bald.

I really have missed writing and sharing random shite so I’ve made some goals for myself. I’m promising here and now that for the next month there will be some sort of new content at least 5 days a week.

Wow. I feel better. Do you feel better?

If not please watch these awesome Indian versions of Thriller and Superman. They will make you ever so happy.

This is the Indian version of Micheal Jackson’s Thriller. Be prepared to laugh, so if their is anything in your mouth…. just spit it out….or something.

For all the hate and slander directed at America by the rest of the world, they sure seem to love us.

You know they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well here you go. The following are some of the funniest imitations of American pop culture I have ever seen. It’s funny because they don’t know that they are funny.

Indian Thriller: Unfortunately I hear that this man is now whiter than Michael Jackson.

Turkish Trek:

Too bad their Kirk has one of the worst smiles ever and their Spock just can’t pull off a lack of emotion.

Turkish Superman:

Turkish superman hits like a girl.

Indian Superman and Spidergirl? The musical? Bollywood, Baby!

Bollywood can’t keep away from Superman. This Superman needs to lose some weight and get the symbol right though. The lyrics are kind of naughty too.

Let me know in comments if you come across any more and I will post them here.

I swear, over the past, the funniest videos that I have seen tend to come from India. And now, I’m not necessarily laughing at the culture, it’s more at their “fuse” or the result of American influence.

When you watch these videos, you’ll see that these are either straight up bizarre, or just so random it’s too funny. I hope you enjoy.

Most recently… Indian Soulja Boy

Check out the rest:

A Tractor Action Sequence

A Crazy Music Video…

An Action Sequence With A Horse…