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Playing with the old
SYEDA FARIDASYEDA FARIDA
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The remixes of yesteryear numbers are `in' with the generationext. But the raunchy videos are giving the tracks the required mileage and incurring the wrath of the connoisseurs who vouch for `old is gold'.
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REMEMBER THE classic Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle numbers scripted by Majrooh Sultanpuri and Indeevar for the on-screen frames featuring restrained romances and nimble-footed dances by Aroona Irani, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand or Mumtaz? Today you hear the same songs in a new way - in a rechurned version.
Today Kaliyon ka chaman and Kaanta laga have created a furore among the masses. And the reaction to this remixing trend is mixed. One view finds remixes an educative experience for the generationext, to get an insight into the music of yesteryear. "Remixes makes the new generation relate to old songs. As long as original lyrics and playback are not tampered with and as long as the songs don't lose their charm, remixes are good. They make the numbers peppy and definitely more acceptable by providing new beats. For instance, you can relate to numbers such as Woh chali or Dil kya karey ," says Rahul, a young businessman.
Songs such as Bombay Vikings' Tera mera pyar sanam giving a refreshing treatment to the original Ek tere pyar ka gham, have made the golden oldies more acceptable with today's young connoisseur of music. But not all tracks remixed sound good. "There are original songs from yesteryear, which have a good music base such as R.D.Burman's compositions. If you remix them, they will sound bad," says Piyush Agarwal, a student. As regards other remixes, a DJ Aqeel aficionado observes, "even my parents have no problem with the songs but are annoyed with the videos." "Remix ne geeton ka satynash kar diya ( remixes have spoiled the original tracks). Earlier there used to be fine dance styles, facial expressions and now it is plain obscenity. As far as the numbers go they are plain entertainment but the videos are bad," says Anila Agarwal.
In an era where music videos push the sales of the audio, video directors are going overboard with the storyboard, one observes. For instance, Raat Baaqui and Jawani jaaneman, the classics sung by Asha Bhonsle for Parveen Babi in Namak Halaal and the title track of Tina Munim-Rishi Kapoor starrer Yeh wada raha have been degraded to raunchy remix editions.
Ironically, mostly it is the sizzling video that is pushing the young to buy remixes, popular with the young audience aged below 25. "DJ Doll is a hot-selling album and we ran out of stock initially and the sales came from the video of the track Kaanta Laga. The remixed dance albums such as Dance Energy are also doing well," says the manager of a leading music store in the twin cities.
Sommu okkadadi, sokhu okkadadi (relishing someone else's booty) is a popular adage that can aptly define the remix trend that is a norm in the music realm today. "Music companies today are making money out of someone else's hard work. Taal was an insight into the remix factories in the cities and how the folk communities were taken aback with the manipulation of the original tunes. But in the current remixes, you are playing with the souls of the artistes. Also, Hollywood flicks have been copied frame by frame by Bollywood, and the trend is percolating down to the music," says Taiyyaba, an academician.
Original music is lifted, if it is not from old Hindi film songs from western music. One observes the fusion of Michael Jackson's Liberian Girl (from the album Bad) remixed with In aankhon ki masti key (OST Umrao Jaan).
The reasons why people go in for remix are "fast money and good name, but this does not work in the long term. There is the same amount of work involved in bringing out an original and a remixed version. When you can create, why not make a statement working hard on an original track? I prefer coming out with original work. Cashing on others talent does not make sense," says artiste Piyush Soni.
In a scenario where music companies are facing tough times due to piracy and MP3 downloads, and with only a few good artistes that the companies can bank on, the current music remix trend supported by obscene videos has spurred the sale of albums. But at the same time, the onus lies on the record companies to be accountable to the larger audience they reach in promoting good, clean music without obscene overtones in the audio and visual components as well. "The videos have a negative impact on children. You should ban such songs especially in a country like India. We watch the television as a family, including a one-year child to a seventy-year-old grandparent sitting together. You can't see the remix versions with the family today. What you showcase on television they say is a reflection of what is happening in the society, but this happens in select pockets. Why do you have to show it to the entire nation? Such a trend is not good for the future generations and has to be stopped," says Rajni Singhal, a concerned mother.
As far the remix trend goes, a self-regulation by the music companies and sound legislation are essential to check the ongoing distortion of melody, says the vox populi.
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