This weekend, get ready to enjoy vintage Hindi film music that is laid-back but by no means underpowered
This weekend, get ready to enjoy vintage Hindi film music that is laid-back but by no means underpowered
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If your idea of golden oldies of Hindi film music does not go beyond Mukesh or Rafi, you must make your way to the KAS/ IAS Officers Association at No 1, Infantry Road this weekend. Go prepared to be smitten by the exquisite compositions of Khayyam, Shakeel Badayuni, Anil Biswas, Begum Akhtar and other legends.
As a bonus, you will get to watch a commemorative pieceu00e2u0080u0094a video of rare songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar. You will also get to hear V K Murthy, Guru Dutt's favourite cinematographer, Dr Maya Rao, who heads the Natya Institute of Kathak, and M A Parthasarathy, the former production head of Gemini Studios, as they share memories of their favourite melodies.
Who are RMIMers?
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Close ties: Chiranjeevi Singh and Anil Biswas shared several Sundays together, talking music |
Over the last 15 years, RMIM, which was first launched in the US in the 1990s by Hindi film music-loving Indians longing for home, has evolved into an offline group that happily combines passion for melody with serious study of lyrics and rhythms. "The RMIMers who returned to India started their own network to share rare compositions as well as record for posterity these gems," says Kalyan Kolachala, CEO & MD of SOAMatrix, and proud RMIMer, who is organising this year's Bangalore event.
Chiranjeevi Singh, former additional chief secretary of Karnataka, who jokes that he is on "the margins of the group" because he is not as Internet savvy as the rest of the RMIMers, is considered a treasure house of music knowledge by the rest.
Tell him this and he quips, "I share their joys in music, and they treat me with the typical Indian deference to age!" Yet who else but Chiranjeevi Singh can talk of Sundays spent with Anil Biswas in Delhi, discussing the beauty of compositions which each lasted 3 minutes and 20 seconds?
"When there is so much to listen to from the 40s and 50s, why should I waste my time listening to non-melodious remixes? If I may quote Anil da, iske baad mehfil ka gaana khatam ho gaya," remarks Chiranjeevi Singh matter-of-factly. He admires the RMIMers for taking the trouble to record for posterity the work of composers and lyricists of the golden era.
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Timeless appeal
Explaining that there is not just one music centre in the human brain, he says melody, lyrics and rhythms are processed in different areas of the brain. "Hindi film music of the 40s and 50s has perennial appeal because it connected to all centres of the brain unlike today's music which connects to the rhythm centre alone."
With fascinating insights such as this, the weekend of vintage music promises to be a total treat.
Action-packed weekend
June 27: 10-11:30 AM: Introduction, interaction, informal discussion
11:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Talk by M A Parthasarathy (production head at Gemini Studios in late 50s and early 60s) on his association with C Ramachandra and other legendary composers such as S Rajeshwar Rao,
followed by Q&A
12:30-1:30 PM: Presentation by Dr Maya Rao, internationally reputed dancer, choreographer and founder of Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography. She will be talking about the dance productions performed by her group and particularly about her association with Anil Biswas, who composed the music for some of these productions.
1:30 to 2:30 PM: Q&A with Dr Maya Raou00a0
4-5:30 PM: VK Murthy, renowned cinematographer/cameraman, worked on most Guru Dutt movies will talk about landmark movies and songs. Followed by Q&A
6-6:45 PM: Quiz by Srinivas Ganti
6:45u00e2u0080u00938:45 PM: Pancham Unmixed-Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai, premiere of documentary on R D Burman by Brahmanand Singh
8:45 PM onwards: Dinner, antakashari, etc.
June 28: 10:30 AM-5 PM: Quizzes/events; short presentation various composers/singers.
Venue: KAS/ IAS Officers Association at No 1, Infantry Road
Call: Kalyan Kolachala on 98803 12766
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