The Fanaa thread

thanks sonya for the pic.....kajol looks so beautiful.....i can't wait to see the film!!!!! 😛

Yash Raj Films in the last few years has offered us pure class, whether it is Dhoom's foot tapping numbers or Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's addictive Bunty aur Babli, the result has been the same: exceptional work bringing success. This time they have opted for Jatin-Lalit, who have been out of the news for quite some time now. The last time they were in the limelight was for another Yash Raj production, Hum Tum- an immediate success. Directed by Kunal Kohli, Fanaa boasts of a stellar cast with Aamir Khan and Kajol joining hands.

The last few months have been one of the most disappointing ones for me, as a supporter of classy music versus ordinary trash we hear every week. So let us see whether Fanaa can recreate Jatin-Lalit's old melody. What is important here is that Jatin-Lalit have left their place vacant for a long time now, and their return marks the end of their journey in Bollywood. The album begins with Chand Sifarish, currently being aired on every channel of every hour. Rendered by Shaan and Kailash Kher, it is clear that we are not in for the usual average music, whether it is Pyaare Mohan or Humko Deewana Kar Gaye. Jatin-Lalit have done wonders: the soundtrack is fresh, Shaan sounds as if he will run away with the best singer award, and Kailash sounds as good as he did in Kailasa (his debut album). Most of all however, the song is creative. The most important part here however, is the fact that the song leaves the boring contemporary style of today's musically deteriorating era and teams up with songs from the 1980's to leave a dramatic effect; leaving the listener stunned by the melody of the track.

Finally, the biggest plus factor is Prasoon Joshi's lyrics, which are absolute masterful: In my view, he has given Sameer or Nusrat Badr and perhaps even Gulzar or Javed Akhter, a run for their money. Prasoon are you listening?

The next song is Mere Haath Mein, where one will find a change of singers in the form of today's popular Sonu Nigam and the versatile Sunidhi Chauhan. The song has been in the news supposedly because Aamir and Kajol apparently lent their voice. However that is not true. They have merely been allotted a few lines to say. Mind you, Aamir does an excellent job. About the quality of the composition. Well, it is a romantic track and is full of immaculate poetry. The song is one that will get better with time, however it is no match for JL's Hum Tum title track. Although Sunidhi sounds wonderful, I personally would have opted for Shreya to step behind the mike this time. The song needs a soft delicate voice and although Sunidhi gives it her all, Shreya (keeping in mind her sweetly rendered Piyu Bole from Parineeta) would have faired better. .

The third song has Mahalaxmi Iyer singing Des Rangila, a patriotic song in full flow. As I have stressed before, Fanaa has aroused concern among the critics. This time however, I will let them rant on, as Des Rangila is simply Jatin Lalit's version of Veer-Zaara's 'Aisa Des Mera'. While the vande mataram chorus at the end tries to lift the song from Below Average to Average, it is definitely no match for the Veer-Zaara version. On the whole, this is a disappointing soundtrack especially from Yash Raj who have set high expectations. Mahalaxmi Iyer has done wonders recently with the teeny Chup Chup Ke in Bunty aur Bali to the romantic Tu Jahaan from Salaam Namaste, she is finally building a niche in Bollywood. However, her talent goes to waste in this "nothing" composition, and I wouldn't expect this to even reach the top 20. Prasoon Joshi now makes a hatrick- his lyrics have been exceptional so far and Des Rangila continues it.

Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan team up again for Dekho Na and one hopes it will relieve us from the disappointing Des Rangila. Like Mere Haath Mein, the song is slow paced, requiring a soft rendition and both deliver brilliantly. The song takes time to join your lists of all time favorite romantic duets, however it takes some time to grows on you. Like the first two songs in the album, it sounds promising ,and Jatin-Lalit have offered yet another winning formula. Sonu and Sunidhi are at their usual best, with musical arrangements supreme and it will undoubtedly give Himesh Reshammiya (Bollywood's current newest sensation) a run for his money in 36 China Town.

The next song is probably the best out of the bunch and although it is a faster version of the opener Chand Sifarish, it offers solid entertainment. Fast paced, with words like Fanaa For You, the song is the highlight- with a sizzling dance-floor type rhythm coupled with soothing melody and an outstanding rendition, it offers a bonanza and Jatin-Lalit's composition will fare extremely well. A winner all the way, I would be surprised if it didn't stay in the top 10 for a long time. The second to last song is an instrumental piece titled Destroyed In Love. One would assume that it will be used as a background theme in the movie.

The last of the album is Chanda Chamke and although it is made with much more confusing and puzzling lyrics, it is merely a remake of the Yaara Yaara song in Hum Tum. Purely situational, the song is obviously meant for the younger children. Although this is a patience-testing composition, the lyrics like all other songs, deserves praise and appreciation.

Jatin-Lalit's last offering doesn't give us a Dilwale Dulania Le Jayenge or a K3G, but it is still a notch higher than some of the run-off-the-mill music we've been hearing as of late. Looking at that, Fanaa is different, with only one track standing out as disappointing. All others are Good with Chand Sifarish (despite criticism) being the highlight. Yash Raj have churned out, not a complete hit, but a semi-hit album in Fanaa. Perhaps Dhoom 2 will make up for this.

http://planetbollywood.com/Music/Fanaa/

The attraction between Aamir and Kajol...

Times of India

With the Aamir Khan and Kajol starrer Fanaa generating huge curiosity, an eager fan was overheard making a rather interesting observation — Fanaa is a love story between an innocent girl and a rather street smart Romeo, who are two very different people. Aamir Khan and Kajol are very different from each other in real life too. While Aamir is a method actor and a perfectionist, Kajol is completely spontaneous and instinctive as an actor. And since they are poles apart in real life, they make a very interesting pair on screen. So, it's a case of opposites attract, on screen at least. Wonder what Ajay Devgan has to say to that?

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New Delhi

'Fanaa' promises to keep audience tuned in to its music

Lakshmi B. Ghosh

NEW DELHI: Aamir Khan may be singing a new tune these days off-screen, but for those of his fans who can't usually have enough of him, this is clearly going to be a golden year. If "Rang De Basanti'' helped Bollywood open its account with a hit, the big line-up this year will see yet another Aamir starrer, "Fanaa''.

One of the most awaited releases of the year, the Kunal Kohli-directed film may still have some weeks to go before it hits the silver screen, but it promises to keep the audience tuned in to its music. With Yash Raj Productions being rather tight-lipped about the film's storyline, the music may well be the film buff's way into this passionate love story.

Yash Raj Music's first album this year, "Fanaa'' is noted music composers Jatin-Lalit's last film together as they have decided to work independently now. In their second film with Kunal Kohli after "Hum Tum'', the duo have tried to give their last joint work a mix of traditional and modern sound.

Having left a mark with his lyrics in 'Rang De Basanti'', Prasoon Joshi is back in

Kashmiri rhythm

"Fanaa'' at his poetic best. The album opens with "Chand Sifarish'', a fusion of traditional Kashmiri rhythm and electric guitar, and moves on to "Mere Haath Mein'', a mix of qawwali and traditional Kashmiri instruments sung by Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan. Adding to the song will be renditions of poetry by Aamir and Kajol.

Next in line is "Des Rangila'' by Mahalaxmi Iyer that is fusion as it its best as it combines Bhangra drums, traditional Carnatic instruments and Rajasthani folk to create a melody that's Indian in more than one way.

While "Dekho Na'' is a romantic number rendered by Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan, "Chanda Chamke'' is a fun-filled song that plays around traditional tongue twisters with Aamir and Kajol essaying most of them, while Babul Supriyo, Mahalaxmi Iyer and master Akshay Bhagwat providing the vocals.

As is the case with most albums these days, "Fanaa'' comes with its share of lounge and club mix too. While "Destroyed in Love'' is a lounge mix by Dhrubajyoti Phukan, likely to get people on the dance floor is the DJ Aqeel mix "Fanaa For You'', where Aqeel has added his trademark style to the exciting melody of Chand Sifarish to create a contemporary dance track.

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Kajol's blind act in Fanaa
By: Sandipan Dalal
April 5, 2006

Kajol Set in the Kashmir valley, Kunal Kohli's Fanaa has Kajol playing a blind girl for the first time. The plot revolves around a terrorist, played by Aamir Khan, and his trials and tribulations. His emotional anchor is his ladylove (Kajol). Kohli is secretive Says director Kohli, "The promos are on air now and if your observation says that Kajol is playing a blind girl, that's correct. But I cannot divulge any details about the context the characters are born in." All the cast and crew of Fanaa have been bound by contract not to talk about the film. Yash Raj Films are always kept under wraps before the release of the film. Showing the light Sources say the film has Kajol playing a university student. She feels she has been deprived of all the emotions one experiences at the sight of nature. As fate would have it, Aamir Khan walks into her life and helps her in cherishing the simple joys of life, and they fall in love. The film has been extensively shot in Poland, Kulu Manali, and Kashmir. Many firsts Fanaa also marks the coming together of Aamir Khan and Kajol after their stint in Ishq, where they weren't paired opposite each other. Also, Kajol has never played a character with physical disabilities before. And for the first time, Khan will be seen oscillating between the roles of a lover and a terrorist. Some Fanaa facts Fanaa means destroyed in love. This is the first time that Kajol and Aamir are cast together. The last time they came together was in Ishq along with Ajay and Juhi. The writer of Fanaa, Shibani Bathija is a family friend of the Johars. Karan helped her in having her script read. He saw the script and gave it to Aditya Chopra, who decided to produce it. Aamir loved the script the moment he heard it and agreed to do the part. Fanaa is Kajol's first film after the birth of her daughter, Nysa. Aamir was apparently paid six crores for Fanaa. A large part of the film was shot in Poland. And some parts at Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and Lodhi Gardens in Delhi. Why these locations? As per the storyline, a guide takes a Kashmiri girl on a tour of various monuments in Delhi.

http://web.mid-day.com/hitlist/2006/april/134547.htm

The Swan Song

Hindustani Times

Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath', sing Sonu Niigaam and Sunidhi Chauhan to JatinLalit's tunes in Fanaa. But the composer brothers are not walking hand in hand any more, having parted ways even before the film's music was released, highlighting a growing trend in the music industry.

Towards the end of the 1980s, when action flicks gradually gave way to romantic films, new musical talent was mak ing inroads in Bollywood. Among them were Jatin and Lalit, the Pandit brothers who debuted with Yaara Dildaara (1991). With their second offering, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, they entered the big league and consolidated their position with films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and Khiladi. Like most success sto ries, Jatin-Lalit too had their off days, which lasted from 1993 through 1995 with films like Ashaant, Hanste Khelte and Cheetah. It was only in October 1995 with Yash Raj Films' Dilwale Dul hania Le Jayenge that the Pandit brothers returned to centrestage. From then on, the duo delivered at least a couple of hit film scores every year.

One controversy surrounding the duo was when Karan Johar decided to sign up a second music composer, (Sandesh Shandilya) for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, as he allegedly was not too happy with their work.

Said to be largely responsible for bringing melody back into film music, the brothers have parted ways after 15 years of working together. Fanaa will be their last tango in Bollywood. While some in dustry folks attribute their parting to grow ing creative differences, others blame monetary disputes for their separation.

'A WONDERFUL JOURNEY' When did differences first creep between the two of you? What were the issues?

Jatin: I don't wish to talk about all that now. All I can say that it was a wonderful journey together, we composed some really fantastic music together.

Lalit: Let's not talk about that. I thought we're only talking about the music of Fanaa. Couldn't you arrive at an amicable solution since you're brothers?

Jatin: We don't have any enmity with each other. Lalit is my younger brother and I wish him all the very best in life. Our professional association might have ended, but our relationship as brothers is forever.

Lalit: Well, probably, they could have been sorted, probably not. Jatin is my elder brother and I'm sure he loves me. That relationship can never end. Who knows, in future we might work together. Now that the brand name has been divided, what films are you working on?

Jatin: I won't say I'm flooded with offers. I'm working on a couple of films for my friend, filmmaker Deepak Sareen.

Lalit: I'm composing for Bidhaatar Lekha, a Bengali film, produced by Rani Mukerji's parents, and directed by her brother Raja. There's also a Marathi film, besides a couple of albums with Tips. How do you plan to cope with the rivalry that will come up after the split?

Jatin: I guess it's inevitable, because people would want to compare one to the other.

Lalit: People will see us as rivals as now we're working individually. But Jatin is a wonderful composer with his own style which no one can imitate.

Other melody-maker duos of the last two decades Nikhil-Vinay: The duo began in 1991 and have done about 20 films. Anand-Milind: The sons of composer Chitragupt made their debut in 1984, and after Qayamat se Qayamat Tak (1998) there was no looking back. Amar-Utpal: The sons of Anil Biswas have done films like Shahenshah.

Nadeem-Shravan: Nadeem and Shravan did their first film in 1979, but Aashiqui (1990) catapulted them into the limelight. Their latest film was Dosti- Friends Forever.