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Pop Chartbuster Reviews

The Best of IndiPop
Mar 06, 2004 09:20 PM4956 Views

The early 1990s saw the arrival of cable television in India. People started to witness a major downslide in Doordarshan's quality. This new transition from Doordarshan to Cable TV was quite relieving in many ways. For the first time in years the people in India were at a juncture where they were given alternatives pertaining to television channels.


There was Prime Sports (now called Star Sports), BBC, CNN, MTV and Star Plus. Star Plus then broadcasted shows such as Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele, The Wonder Years and a few weekly movies. I guess now the viewers are subjected to those uncompromising Saas-Bahu serials broadcasted on Star Plus (I can understand your plight mates). My best-loved amongst the rest was MTV.


Till then I was kinda bird-brained to the concept of music-videos except for my exposure to Eurotops that featured late-night on Doordarshan (A bunch of irritating music videos that they played repeatedly for years.. one of them was ''Tarzan Boy''). Eurotops was CRAP. Do they still broadcast this show? I thoroughly enjoyed MTV then, until one day it showed some big fella rapping in hindi and Pooja Bedi walking wet?????? It was none other but BABA SEHGAL rapping ''THANDA THANDA PAANI''. This was the first time I was introduced to a new word called ''Indi Pop'' which before was just an abracadabra for me.


The journal of IndiPop goes back to the 80s when artists like Nazia Hassan, Sharon Prabhakar, Alisha and Usha Utthap made their private albums, but their popularity remained constrained due to restricted media accessible to the Indian Junta. IndiPop went on to become an approved genre in the later years. There was a time when I really adored some songs of this genre until the remix industry creeped in. A recapitulation of the 10 best not particularly in any order..





  1. Breathless 1&2-Shankar Mahadevan (1998): This song is one of its kinds. Both the song (Part 1 & 2) are sung in one single breath, hence the name Breathless. Its a treat to the listeners, but was this song really sung Breathless?? Well no.. the song was actually recorded in phases or tracks and then merged together. But the listenener couldn't really tell the difference. Accolades to Shankar Mahadevan for composing and singing a gem of a song. Lyrics by Javed Akhtar are worth noticing.




  2. Something About the Way You Smile (Sa Ni Dha Pa)-Colonial Cousins (1996): Colonial Cousins cousins are none other than Hariharan and Leslie Lewis. Did you know they were the first Asians to perform in the prestigious MTV Unplugged and their performance surely lived upto the expectations. Hariharan broke out of his hindustani and carnatic classical shell along with Leslie Lewis to produce a very melodious and foot-tapping fusion with this number.




  3. Bhool Ja-Shaan (2000??): Shaan's Tanha Dil was a great album but the song ''Bhool Jaa'' stands out as the best. I developed a liking to this number right from the word go. Bhool Jaa Rocks..




  4. Vande Maataram-AR Rahman (1997): People were bowled over when they first saw Rahman performing at the Vijay Chowk on the eve of 50 years of independence. What a pride one would take to perform on such a day. Amazing timing of its release and a great album. I like this album as a whole including the songs ''Gurus of Peace'', ''Tauba Tauba'' and ''Only You''.




  5. Dooba Dooba Rehta Hoon-Silk Route (1998): ''Boondein'' was the first and the last album that I have heard from Silk Route. Two songs that rocked from this album were ''Boondein'' and ''Dooba Dooba''. Amazing guitar work with some complex chords structure makes these numbers worth listening to.




  6. Yeh Zameen Hai, Aasman Hai-Lucky Ali (1996): Mahmood's son can sing?? LOL. This thought first came to my mind when I heard the album ''Sunoh'' for the first time. Amazing album. Each song is composed to perfection but ''Yeh Zameen'' stays my favorite amongst the rest. His other albums such as ''Sifar'' and ''Aks'' were brilliant as well but I still rate ''Sunoh'' as Lucky Ali's all time best.




  7. Tera Chehra-Adnan Sami (2002): I have already said a lot about this album in my ''Tera Chehra'' review. Another album which stands complete with all the numbers worth listening to. Love his previous album ''Barsaat'' but this album still remains as one of my pets.




  8. Yaar Bina Dil Mera Nahin Lagta-Junoon (1998): They are presently considered as the most popular South-Asian rock group. They are unique 'coz they very well incorporated tabla and classical raagas into rock. These Pakistani blokes are certainly worth a listen. Their other numbers such as ''Dosti'' and ''Saiyyonee'' are brilliant as well.




  9. Chandni Raatein-Partners in Rhyme: The only remix actually featured in my list. The original version was sung way back in the 40s by Noor Jahan. Stayed in oblivion for about 50 years before it emerged as a ''great'' remix in the late 90s. I did not know this was a remix until lately when I heard the original version. I should say, both the versions are equally good.




  10. Dhoom Pi-chuck Dhoom-Euphoria (1998): Dr. Palaash Sen and friends created a ''Dhoom'' with this album. Very lovable and foot tapping, the highlight of the song ''Dhoom'' is Shubha Mudgal's Bengali interlude.







In the past couple of years the number of IndiPop albums and artists have declined due to the emerging Remix power in India. I doubt the survival of some talented artists like Silk Route and Euphoria if this continues to be the trend.


Anyways.. it was a pleasure recalling some great IndiPop numbers mostly which I heard in my college days. Im sure I have have missed out on some good numbers. But then there has to be some boundaries within which a write-up lies. Would love to take your additions and comments.


Cheers...


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