Shyamalan’s bedtime tales!
Shyamalan’s bedtime tales!
I am curious about Lady in the Water. I have my reasons.
When I saw the trailer of Lady in the Water a few months ago, I wasn’t particularly thrilled. It didn’t grab me. Usually Manoj Night Shyamalan’s films bear a creepy air about them. Somehow Lady in the Water appeared to be quite watered down (pun unintended) in that sense. Of course this is a purely impulsive opinion based on something as deceptive as a promo. But then again it’s said to be one of Shyamalan’s worst reviewed movies wherein most critics have dubbed it “self-indulgent” (Variety Magazine) and “convoluted, ultimately preposterous” (Wall Street Journal). Quite a dampener, huh? Again, no pun intended.
It’s not like the India-born filmmaker hasn’t disappointed before. Unbreakable and The Village didn’t quite rise to the occasion. Even so, Shyamalan never fails to evoke curious speculation. There is always an impermeable secrecy with respect to his projects that one cannot help but anticipate spectacular level of awesomeness.
That said, have you read the book that started it all?
I got it recently as a gift and was fairly impressed with what I saw. Mainly because it has been superbly illustrated by Crash McCreery (a character designer of repute who has worked on films like Edward Scissorhands and Jurassic Park). His keen artwork lends the book a sense of mystery and enchantment.
Published by Little, Brown and Company and dedicated to his two children; Lady in the Water-A Bedtime Story is no glorious piece of literature. It’s not even a ‘bedtime story’ as it claims to be. It’s more of a fascinating introduction to the extraordinary characters –Narf, Vessel, Great Eatlon and Scrunt around whom the movie, eventually, revolves.
Though plainly told, the tone is dark and forbidding. Shyamalan’s offspring might be welcoming of their daddy’s eerie thoughts. But young children are best left unexposed to this dim fairy tale. It could really play havoc with the tender imagination and create unnecessary fears in the mind. The Scrunt is pretty scary, I thought.
Despite its vague setup and mediocre reviews, Lady in the Water has raised an interesting imagery in my head. Something its trailer had failed to do.
What I want to know now is what I think is what I’ll see.
July 28 (release date in India) holds the answer to this query.
Source: thoughtexpress.rediffiland.com
India sings
Amongst all the reality shows that showcase India’s best talent — namely, Zee’s SaReGaMaPa, Voice Of India and Indian Idol 3, there is one voice, for me, that rules and rule seriously.
It’s not the versatile sweetheart Emon Chatterjee who might just be the Indian Idol, it’s not Deepali of the same who who was voted out. It could have been Amit Paul who has a unique voice even though he made a mess of things with his Omkara rendition, or rather an attempt at it. Fine, girls go ga-ga over Chang but, hello, he’s far from Idol material as far as the voice goes, and if he does get picked, it’s official — our’s is deaf nation that can just see.
Mauli impressed, totally, in SRGMP with her Mayya Mayya, immense energy and even miles away on telivision, we could only applaud in appreciation. Amanat’s soul is crystal-clear when he sings in that penetrative voice of his, and Ismail Darbar has done a really good job with mentorship on many fronts. But hey, it ain’t them.
That leaves us with VOI, with some of the weirdest judges and ironically the better talent as far as singing is concerned. Sumitra Iyer’s name comes to mind, this woman is lovely, I repeat — lovely, and she is perfectly capable of power-packed performances especially with fusion. Ashpreet is a treat to listen too, her vocals linger in the air even after she walks away.
And that brings me to my pick amongst all of them, aptly named the Voice of India. Yessir, it’s Toshi Sabri, but of course, 24 carats of Gold if you may, but a priceless voice in many ways. Listen to his ‘Piya Re, Piya Re’, that drew comparisons with the great Nusrat, but even then, that’s saying a lot.
Yours truly grew up in the Emirates, and an expat kid, I realised the importance of halaq to bring the Arabic script to life. Dude here does this effortlessly when he rendered Kaho Na Kaho.
I mean, he’s honest, he can sing like awesome, he’s firmly rooted in the basics and Sufi, will you folks please vote for him? He makes the rest of the singers sound like substandard artists, doesn’t he?
Enough talk, here”s a video that suggests what the chap’s capable of.
Don’t go by Abhijeet’s words though, making any sort of comparison between NFAH and someone else is absurd and uncalled for. Toshi is awesome, he isn’t divine. The chap is humble, the judges ought to recognize his honest humility that’s so familiar of Jaipur, and let his singing speak for itself.
And boy, that’s a voice-and-a-half.
Source: showbizia.rediffiland.com
To hell with versatility
Raja Hasan in SaReGaMaPa comes second only to Toshi Sabri of VOI, everyone knows that. Everyone. Both from the humble state of Rajasthan know for its exceptional folk talent, and both sing similar stuff. Raja, however, is constantly picked upon when it comes to versatility, the respected Vishal-Shekhar duo going to the extent of saying that he needs to get out of the Suhkwinder Singh/Kailash Kher mould and sing something different.
Yes, he tried a peppy track, did Raja - chak de phatte, and the crowd were on their feet. Yesterday was a day where he had to prove it again, and he did - effortlessly - with O Re Chori, although Udit’s lovely voice still haunts us.
For those who watched Rahul Dravid make the English bowling attack pregnant on a few channels ahead, here is the performance, YouTubed.