[musKaan19]

Bollywood changes its tune with English lyrics

First came offshore locations, then foreign special effects experts, fashion designers and movie titles. Now the songs that drive Bollywood and the country's music industry have gone international.

What was once dismissed as a passing fad has now become the norm, with an increasing number of English lyrics being used in Hindi soundtracks, reflecting the lifestyles and aspirations of more worldly young Indians.

The latest hit song is "Tera Hone Laga Hoon" (I'm Falling For You), from the movie "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani" ("An Amazing Story Of Strange Love"), starring Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor.

"Shining in the setting sun like a pearl upon the ocean. Come on, feel me. Girl, feel me," the song goes. For Irshad Kamil, who wrote the words, using English is a natural progression given.

The increasingly outward-looking perspective of Bollywood, which is seeking newer, potentially more lucrative, audiences abroad.

Hollywood studios are also looking to tap into the 2.2-billion-dollar industry and its production expertise.

"Bollywood heroes are playing characters that have Western orientation and therefore such words have become essential to write in the lyrics," said Kamil.

"There is a demand for it in the script and therefore as a lyricist we have to give such one liners in Hindi songs and that has become quite popular." Even in the mid-1990s, Hindi-language films still reflected traditional themes of chaste love, hard work and family values, with soberly dressed heroes and heroines overcoming social divides or poverty in stylised song and dance.

Now more contemporary themes are tackled, with plots and characters often owing more to Manhattan than Mumbai, and pulsing rap, hip-hop or rock music driving gyrating, scantily-clad dancers who would not look out of place on MTV.

For Kamil, the changes are inevitable given the outside influences on Indian society after the liberalisation of the country's economy from 1991 -- with Western clothes, food and lifestyle now seen as status symbols.

Call centres and back office operations for Western companies employ thousands of Indians, with English -- the common language of politics, academia, the judiciary and state administration -- the everyday medium.

Even leading actress Katrina Kaif -- Hong Kong-born but brought up in France, Hawaii and London -- struggles with Hindi. "Today, many of the Indian youth use English words in day to day usage," said Kamil.

"When they meet they say, 'What's up?' There is a huge import of English language of late and if you observe carefully, they have a mixture of Hindi and English in their language and therefore we have to write such lyrics.

"Earlier, youngsters used to understand Urdu and Hindi language in depth, but today's youth don't understand that much, so we have to simplify our language and also use English words depending on the character of the film."

Swanand Kirkire has written music for actor-producer-director Aamir Khan's new film "3 Idiots", based on Chetan Bhagat's best-selling novel "Five Point Someone". "Indian society has changed drastically in recent years and therefore English words find their way into Bollywood," Kirkire said.

"Bollywood film titles are in English, like '3 Idiots', so logically songs will also have some English words. One of the songs in our film goes by the name 'All Is Well'. "Society is evolving and so is our film industry. Earlier we had our hero and heroine dancing around trees. That was a common trend of every film, but now they dance at different places like pubs or studios. "Things are changing, therefore language is changing too."

[*Aarzoo*]

Here goes my shortest review in the history!!!! I absolutely HATED the movie!!! The only thing that I actually enjoyed was the song "Tu Jaane Na" thats it. I didn't expect this at all. I can't believe I wasted my money and time on it.

[hawa_hawai]

*Mrs. Robward* <3, on 23 November 2009 - 05:09 PM, said:

Here goes my shortest review in the history!!!! I absolutely HATED the movie!!! The only thing that I actually enjoyed was the song "Tu Jaane Na" thats it. I didn't expect this at all. I can't believe I wasted my money and time on it.

YAY someone feels what I did :D

[**QaisarImtiaz**]

Aa Jao Meri Tamanna (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani) *TV RIP* (Ranbir & Katrina) [HQ}
:D

[**QaisarImtiaz**]

Tera Hone Laga Hoon (Ajab prem Ki Ghazab Kahani) *TV RIP* (Ranbir-Katrina) [HQ]
:D

[musKaan19]

Colors pays Rs.4.5 crore to screen 'Ajab Prem...'

The channel is learnt to have paid a whopping Rs.4.5 crores for it. "With 'Blue' and 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' we wanted to enter the feature film slots with a bang. So far we had desisted from showing feature films," said a source from the channel.

"Once we decided to show films, we had to grab eyeballs immediately. And to do so we needed films that would elicit instant reaction. Having got that with two new biggies, we'll now settle down to telecast less recent films," added the source.

Unlike 'Blue' which sank without a trace at the box office after its theatrical release Oct 16, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif starrer 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' is a hit. But Ramesh Taurani, producer of 'Ajab...', says it won't affect the film's collection at the ticket window.

"The satellite premiere of 'Ajab' is happening at December end which is two months after its theatrical release. The theatrical business nowadays is for four weeks, however successful the film," Taurani told us.

[*Aarzoo*]

am I the only one who didn't like the movie? :(

[hawa_hawai]

nope i also hated it

[g∂єєρ.x]

I LOVED IT!! its hilarious!! its stupid, but i really did like it

[A-A~N-$-K-A]

Wasn't goign to watch it but everyone kept talking about it so I finally did. How this movie was a hit and why people liked it will always be one of the greatest mysteries of life for me.

Waste of my time and Ranbir's talent. Katrina was much better in NY and none of the songs struck a chord with me. I never like made up sets that are turned into a whole town and this was no exception. I thought the whole town thing seemed fake.

Was pretty bored all thruout the movie except the end made me laugh a lil. No offense 2 anyone but I hated the whole Jenny name.

[PreityGirl92]

I Think APKGK is one of the best movies i ever seen thats full entertaining ^^ I Just can say go and watch it !!!!

[Shawn]

My Review.

I'm warning y'all this review is very.....opinionated. So if you get offended easily I suggest you not read this.




Ok So on Wikipedia it says Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani translated into English means: "The Unfortunate Story of a Weird Love"

I don't know if that translation is accurate but The words Unfortunate and Weird are SURELY accurate. Not only because this movie is one pathetic load of shit, but also because anything that has to do with Katrina HAS To be unfortunate.

Okay So I'll be honest I couldn't finish this movie. I felt like my intelligent was being raped and my time was being murdered. And yes this is starting to like a crime. BECAUSE IT IS. Katrina deserves life sentencing!

I cannot believe in TODAY'S DAY AND AGE a stupid movie like this was made! What I cannot believe more is how and why directors sign Katrina Kaif?.....Does she come with a free cell phone? WHY ARE PEOPLE SIGNING HER? My condoms can act better than her ( Re:Glow in the dark condoms)

Many years ago Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans and a few other cities............Today a different kind of Katrina has destroyed the art of Talent and acting. I remember when we all used to complain how bad actress Amisha Patel, Esha Deol and Lara Dutta were........Well congratulations I will now ALL THREE OF THEM QUEENS OF ACTING! Their bad acting is what Katrina's peak will be!

Now there is bigger question among all this bullshit........Who is the biggest idiot? Me for watching this? The director for making this? Or Ranbir for starring in this?

So far the very few movies I have seen of Ranbir he has really annoyed the ***k out of me!!! I can tell he can act but he picks stupid films and stars opposite people like "her". I have Wake Up Sid waiting on my table for me to watch...But I have a feeling I wont be awake for it.

Just like the recession is to the economy is how Katrina is to the industry. I hope both are over soon because im getting really annoyed.

My Verdict?.........My verdict is for myself to thru a series of medical tests and seek immediate medical attention because either there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with me, or movies have just completely lost their touch!

However, My verdict for Katrina is to play russian roulette with herself.

This post has been edited by Shawn: 12 January 2010 - 09:34 PM

[musKaan19]

i didnt saw wake up sid,but i thik he was also great.Hes movies are always like the same...saawariya,bah and apkgk..hope he will change once a time his style......he should make drama movies or action

[musKaan19]