Bollywood and Hindustani classical musicians? Yes the odd coupling is certainly possible. It has happened in the past-Ustad Amir Khan and Pandit D.V. Paluskar in Baiju Bawra and Kishori Amonkar in Drishti. The latest entrants to the club are Shubha Mudgal, who sings for Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat, to music composed by Debjyoti Mishra, and Rashid Khan, who has lent his voice to Ismail Durbar's score in Subhash Ghai's Kisna.

Rashid Khan (left), Mudgal sing to Bollywood tunes

"I think film music is enhanced by classical oices. A voice shaped and modulated by years of riyaz is light years better than an untrained voice," says sitar player Shubhendra Rao. Who can forget Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's voice in Dead Man Walking? With classical musicians looking for wider appeal and acceptability, the trickle looks like becoming a flood. "I think it is a challenge to sing for films," says Meeta Pandit who has sung in Sabiha Sumar's Khamosh Paani.

Much of the change is being brought about by new music directors tired of the syncopated rhythms of modern music. No longer is the classical vocalist dressed in kurta-pyjama and endlessly waiting for concert dates. The contemporary neo-classical musician is trendy and willing to experiment with genres-it could be the sarod brothers, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, who scored music for Roger Christian's American Daylight, or Rahul Sharma, who has composed for Tanuja Chandra's Hope and a Little Sugar. They are also looking out for voices that make an impact. Mishra chose Mudgal because her voice suited Raincoat. "Shubha has a unique voice that sounds ancient and rustic," says Mishra. Bollywood, like everyone else, thrives on change.

Also, background voices are becoming increasingly intrinsic as they bind the film scenes. A.R. Rahman, Durbar and Vishaal Bhardwaj are experimenting with new techniques by using background music as a strong anchor in films. Two years ago Ram Sampat made Pandit Chhanulal Mishra sing a thumri in Let's Talk. Not one false note.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

PAINTINGS
A Shy at Art

Varma with her work

MUMBAI Shyamoli Varma has found her calling. From catwalk queen and Pierre Cardin's muse to choreographer and now a painter-India's foremost supermodel today prefers to be behind the easel than in front of the camera. The result is her fourth exhibition in 20 years, titled "Cosmic Brush".

Nature, says Varma, is her biggest inspiration. "Sit out in your balcony every day and observe nature and you will never run out of ideas," says Shy, as she is fondly called. In "Cosmic Brush", acrylics, oils, gouache and watercolours combine to paint nature in worshipping colours. On view at the Hacienda Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda, from December 18 to 24.

-By Kimi Dangor

PHOTOGRAPHY

Double Click

DELHI It began as an idea for unique New Year gifts. While holidaying in Kenya last June, entrepreneur Sheila Vasan Singla took a number of photographs of the wildlife and nature. She planned to frame some for friends. But fate intervened. The owner of the shop she visited to get her pictures framed also ran a gallery and he insisted that Singla exhibit her works.

The result is "Under the Kenyan Skies", on view at the Atrium, First India Place, on the Gurgaon-Mehrauli road. The proceeds will go to support the Genesis Foundation. As Singla puts it, it is "doing what I enjoy to help others". For the "chilled-out mom" photography is a way to create an interpretation of the world around her and her inspiration is the simplicity that stares out of every facet of life.

-By Sushmita Choudhury

FILM REVIEW

Dark Zone

MUSAFIR
Director: Sanjay Gupta
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sameera Reddy

Sanjay Gupta wants to be Quentin Tarantino. So Musafir, which Gupta describes as an "indo-noir" film, strives desperately for Tarantino's cinematic cool quotient. Each frame is dressed up with ramping, high speed, split-screen; the characters are amoral, gritty, constantly smoking desperados caught in a game of deceit; and the soundtrack never lets up.

But to take this cocktail of sex and violence beyond the banal, you need a story and panache. Gupta has a semblance of the former (cobbled together from films like Oliver Stone's U-Turn) but sorely lacks the latter. He bludgeons you visually and aurally until all the blood and bronze-skinned women meld into a headache-inducing blur. Meanwhile, Dutt and Manjrekar have a stellar time.

--By Anupama Chopra

FESTIVAL

The Blue Buzz

TIME TO ROCK: Mood Indigo

-By Kimi Dangor

HANDICRAFTS
The Shaping Hands

DELHI The annual crafts bazaar organised by the Dastkari Haat Samiti at Dilli Haat is known to present a pan-Indian panorama of handcrafted creativity. But this year's exhibition will also witness a blend of cultures. A group of Vietnamese artisans will be meeting and competing with Indian artisans at a 15-day craft workshop titled Lotus Links. The idea is to facilitate a sharing of techniques and design imagery in similar crafts like handloom weaving and lacquerware. The visitors will get to interact with the artisans. On till December 31.

-By Sushmita Choudhury

TELEVISION
The Little Won

POGO winner Neelam Rani

DELHI When geniuses show off their skills, sit up and take note. Making sure you do will be the POGO Amazing Kids Awards, which introduce wizards like twin brainiacs who at the age of three memorised Panini's Ashtadhyayi, the most descriptive Sanskrit grammar book; a four-year old who swam 2.55 km in the Ganga and a musical prodigy who plays the keyboard with his head. Did we forget to mention that they are not even 15 and most of them are from the hinterlands? But what we need now is for these wizards to grow up soon. India is waiting for you.

Winners will be announced on Christmas eve on Pogo at 7.30 p.m.

-By Supriya Dravid

Next

Index