the news tightens

In a burst of upgrading their image, the Sangeet Natak Akademi has announced a new award category called 'Best Contemporary Music'. What will most likely raise a minor sandstorem is their highly questionable decision to name the controversial Kaanta Lagaa remix as the first awardee in in this category. Are we talking "musical" merit here or succumbing to populist trends? Personally, I don't see anything of musical merit in the remix. It may arguably be slightly better than the flood of similar releases in the market, but the only reason it's even getting popular is the accompanying raunchy video, which raises the bar on viewing tolerance. I am sure a lot of people don't really care about awards, but I wonder if the SNA are keen on getting themselves onto this list of "awards that don't really matter". The National Film Awards have been going increasingly populist with disastrous results. Lending an appreciative note to the latent quality in mainstream film and music is one thing, but going brain dead in doing so is quite a different story. Hopefully, the copyright law gets an upgrade soon, and stems this tide.

Media giants BMG and Sony have announced the decision to merge their music units into a joint venture ... {more}. This might be good for Pancham fans like me: BMG's catalogue boasts some unfortunately out-of-general-circulation soundtracks like Zameen Aasman, Jeeva, Anand Aur Anand, Agar Tum Na Hote, Aan Aur Shaan, Aawaaz, Andar Bahar, , Boxer, Main Awaara Hoon, Saveray Wali Gaadi, Mil Gayi Manzil Mujhe, Sunny, Hum Dono (the new one with Kaka in a double role!), Ram Tere Kitne Naam, and Shiva Ka Insaaf.

Meanwhile, the Bhatts (papa Mahesh, beTii Pooja) are getting sued for an uncredited use of Makhdoom Mohiuddin's nazm i.ntazaar (credited instead to lyricist Nida Fazli). [urdupoetry page dedicated to the nazm]. The tune smacks of memories of yaad me.n terii jaag (making this another instance of Anu Malik revisiting Naushad's tune). Another version of the nazm may be found on the album Kahkashan. urdupoetry has a more detailed track listing, and there are more lyrics here.