Bhindi Baazaar Inc.

Producer: Karan Arora
Director: Ankush Bhatt
Music: Sandeep-Surya
Lyrics: Naveen Tyagi /Ghalib Asad Bhopali
Singers: Tochi Raina, Suraj Jagan, Sandeep Goswami, Sweta Pandit, Prashant Narayanan, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shibani Kashyap 
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Prashant Narayanan, Piyush Mishra, Pawan Malhotra, Deepti Naval
Music on: SAGA Music
                                                                                                                                         Bhindi Baazaar Inc., set in the seedy underbelly of Mumbai’s Bhindi Baazaar area famed for pickpocket gangs is slated for release in May 2011.  Sandeep and Surya making their debut with this film, met at a music competition, formed an Indi pop Fusion Band and after a few independent albums and music and TV shows, have ventured into Music Direction in Bollywood as composer duo with Bhindi Baazaar!  While Sandeep Goswami has a background in classical music and has also done some playback singing, Surya is a talented professional guitarist and composer too. The duo enjoys experimenting with new sounds of world music in their sound tracks, guitars and sound software.

Akkad Bakkad – heavily inspired by R.D.Burman (as mentioned in their FB page) with interludes from jaane jaan and lekar hum…and also the gili gili refrain from saamne ye kaun aaya. and seems suited for titles or intro of the film.  Sung by Suraj Jagan of ‘Give me some sunshine’ (3 idiots) fame– who belts out with attractive raucousness and ease and enjoys the song immensely!! The lyrics are colloquially philosophical about the ways of the world.

Maaldaar ki jab – Prashant Narayanan (principal actor in the film) joins Tochi Raina in this down to earth song with down to earth lyrics.  The composition has generous doses of taranas and blends the classical and modern in a curiously interesting manner.

Aa Ja Re Piya – Sandeep shows his versatility as he wields the microphone in this song about one’s first discovery of love which is replete with lovely flute and string and swaras interludes creating a feeling of tenderness and joy.  The intro aalap and swaras create the mood for the song and Shweta Pandit’s vocals are husky and sensuous while Sandeep shows his vocal prowess – the song has generous helpings of western and Indian percussion and orchestration.

Kailash Kher’s version of Aa Ja Re Piya, has an earthy, spiritual and at the same time romantic and angst filled appeal and passion which only Kher’s voice can convey so beautifully.

Taan ke seena – aah….move over Sheila…..taan ke seena is here…..the song that has been making waves with Caterina Lopez (cousin of Jennifer Lopez)- Bollywood’s latest import from the US, who literally scorches the screen with her dancing in this ‘item’ number in the film.  Shibani Kashyap and Nisha sizzle through this heavily Latino influenced (both in mood and arrangements) nightclub number oozing sexy sultriness and temptation……….

Kitni Baatein – a bit of sadness and a bit of yearning in this melancholic number as Roop Kumar Rathod laments about things that remain unsaid while lovers are apart in a song that might suit the narrative, but is not that appealing even though Rathod is compelling and conveys anguish and sorrow very effectively aided by the melancholic flute and violin that tenderly tug at your heart-strings. 

The remixes of Akkad bakkad and maldaar ki jab are jazzed up versions of already fast paced songs and make for good dance numbers.

The music is youthful, flashy and catchy and has the right balance of fast and slow and Indian and western and seeing the video promos, it seems they are composed keeping the situation and narrative in mind.  Lyrics by Naveen Tyagi (who is also an actor) and Ghalib Asad Bhopali (also credited with the story) are interesting. Sandeep-Surya show promise and have provided a good mix and have some very talented singers on board for their album.  Worth listening to and some of the songs might just grow on you.  The CD will be launched officially soon – however the music videos of the film can be viewed on YouTube and on Sandeep-Surya’s facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Sandeep.Surya.Music.Director

More details on the film are available at: http://www.bhindibaazaarthemovie.com/

Many thanks to Sandeep Goswami (of the MD duo) who very promptly and patiently responded to my questions by email and Bharat Bhushan who interpreted the lyrics in his own unique fashion.

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