Mann Handled

“Mann” (‘Mind’ in English) a 1999 release, is a romantic drama and one of the biggest hits of that year. Directed by Indra Kumar, it is a scene-by-scene copy of “An Affair to Remember” (1957), starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. This film itself was a remake of the 1939 classic “Love Affair” starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer.

“An Affair to Remember” is considered to be one of the greatest romantic films of all time. “Mann” copies the same theme & story: two young people promise to meet each other after six months to express their love. The girl meets with an accident which leads to her losing her legs, post which she avoids meeting the man she loves. Aamir Khan reprises Cary Grant’s role and Manisha Koirala that of Deborah Kerr. Both actors have put in exceptionally honest performances. This is their second movie together after “Akele Hum Akele Tum”.

The music, like the film, is an absolute copy of music from around the word. It is put together by debutant duo (brothers) Sanjeev-Darshan, sons of music director Shravan Rathod, who was one half of Nadeem-Shravan.

“Chaha Hai Tujhko” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Anuradha Paudwal is a direct lift of “Etho Oru Paatu” a song from 1998 Tamil film “Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen”.

“Kehna Hai Tumse” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Hema Sardesai is lifted from song “Liquid” by Christian rock band Jars of Clay.

“Kali Nagin Ki Jaisi” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Kavita Krishnamurthy is lifted form song “Ya Rayah” by Algerian singer Rachid Taha.

“Khushiyan Aur Gham” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Anuradha Paudwal is lifted from song “Come Vorrei” by Italian pop group Ricchi & Poveri.

“Nasha Yeh Pyar Ka” sung by Udit Narayan is copied from “L’Italiano” by Italian pop singer Toto Cutungo.

“Tinak Tin Tana” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik is lifted from song “Sedang Sedang Saja” by Malaysian singer Iwan Yang.

“Kyon Chhupate Ho” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Anuradha Paudwal, the mukhda of which is supposed to have been reworked from Laxmikhant-Pyarelal’s “Hawa Chale Kaise” from “Daag”.

“Mera Mann Kyon Tumhe Chahe” a duet sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, seems to be lifted.

“La La Lie Li La La” this instrumental track has been lifted from one of Khaled’s songs. I’m trying to put a finger on which one. If I can, will share it with you. Or if you know this, please do share with everyone on this forum.

 For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge! It’s time for some trivia:

• Aamir Khan and Manisha have starred in two remakes of English movies.

1. “Akele Hum AkeleTum”(1995) = “Kramer Vs Kramer” (1979)
2. “Mann”(1999) = “An Affair to Remember” (1957) and “Love Affair” (1939)

• Aishwarya Raiwas offered the lead role for the film. Due to prior commitments she declined and this role went to Manish Koirala. “Hum Dil Chuke Sanam” starring Aishwarya Rai released at the same time and it became a Super Hit.
• Rani Mukerjidoes a guest appearance in the song “Kali Nagin Ke Jaisi Zulfain”.
• This is the only time when Amir and Anil Kapoorworked together in a film.
• Role of Aamir was first offered to Akshay Kumarwho turned it down.
• Nandita Dasand Tabu were also more or less on board to play the lead role. Nandita Das was not comfortable playing the lead in a typical Bollywood masala film and Tabu was rejected, apparently due to her height because she is 2 inches taller than Aamir.
• The same year of the release of Mann, “An Affair to Remember” was also made inTelugu “Ravoyi Chandamama”, starring Akkineni Nagarjuna, Anjala Zhaveri, Keerthi Reddy and Jagapati Babu.

Though the movie and most of its songs were directly lifted, it did well at box office. I give this OST 3/5 and Film 3/5.

Leaving you with a lovely rendition of L’Italiano” by The Gypsy Queens

#Akele #Kramer

“Akele Hum Akele Tum” released in 1995 is an emotional family drama based on Hollywood Classic “Kramer vs Kramer” (starring Dustin Hoffman & Meryl Streep and winner of 5 Oscars, including one for Best Picture). Aamir Khan reprises the role of Dustin Hoffman, that of a struggling working father. Manisha Koirala slips into the role played by Meryl Steep, that of a woman who leaves her family to follow her singing career and eventually becomes a film star. The director has not only copied scenes but sometimes entire dialogues too, of course tinged with our usual ‘Indian’ melodrama. The court scenes were quite subtly handled in Kramer vs Kramer, but in AHAT, you know what to expect.

AHAT has a good supporting cast of Adil Rizvi, Devan Verma, Tanvi Azmi, Rohini Hattangadi, Paresh Rawal, Satish Shah.

Anu Malik, the King of Rippers, yes I call him that because everyone knows how conveniently he does ‘CtrlC-CtrlV’, never admits to copying and never gives credit to the original producers of content. All Anu The Ripper says is that he got inspired. There’s LOTs to come on him from Out Of The Bag in future, do watch out. But for now…

… Coming back to AHAT – besides the movie being copied, most the songs from this film are copied too. Yes! This soundtrack has songs copied from a kid’s classic to a cult classic movie theme, from most iconic pop ballad to a rock masterpiece. Don’t believe me? I am not kidding.

“Akele Hum Akele Tum” sung by Udit Narayan & Aditya Narayan is copied from Jim Reeves’s “But You Love Me Daddy”.

“Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar” sung by Udit Narayan & Alka Yagnik is copied from the “Love Theme” from The Godfather by Nino Rita and “Do Not Forsake Me, My Darling” from High Noon by Tex Ritter, but Frankie Laine’s version became more popular.

“Dil Mera Churaya Kyun” sung by Kumar Sanu and the Ripper himself is copied from “Last Christmas” by Wham!

“Aisa Zakham Diya Hai” sung by Udit Narayan, Shankar Mahadevan & Aamir Khan is lifted from “Child in Time” by Deep Purple.

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge! It’s time for some trivia:

• Jennifer Winget(popular TV show actress) plays the role of a young girl in the movie. Did you spot her?
• Shah Rukh Khanand Govinda were first offered the lead role for AHAT. SRK refused because he thought the film was too emotional and moreover he wanted to do only romantic films at the time. Govinda could not give dates because of his hectic schedule.
• This was Aamir’s third consecutive flop in ‘95 (the first 2 being “Baazi” and “Aathank Hi Aathank” ). “Baazi” laid the foundation for Aamir to play tough cop later in “Sarfarosh”, whereas “Aatahank Hi Aathank” was a copy of “The Godfather”.
• Director Mansoor Khanand Aamir Khan have also worked together in “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” & “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar” which were huge hits at the box office.
• Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” is a10+ mins track and is actually a protest song against US for their war in Vietnam. It’s also one of Lars Ulrich’s (of Metallica) favorite song. In one of his interviews to Rolling Stone magazine, he shared that at age 9 his dad took him to a Deep Purple show and from there on his life changed. He says, “This is their most iconic moment… I’ve heard it 92,000 times and it never sounds anything less than great”.

Though AHAT was a good attempt by Mansoor Khan in portraying a simple realistic subject of a disintegrating marriage and child custody battles, the Indian audience wasn’t ready for it then. In 2002 “Rishtey” bombed at the BO, same subject broached after 7 years.

The soundtrack of the film did very well commercially and is one of the most hummable soundtracks of the 90s.

I give this OST 4/5 and Film 3/5.

Leaving you with beautiful renditions of The Godfather Theme:

Andre Rieu: A Dutch Violinst and Conductor

Slash:One of the Greatest Rock guitarists of our time

Bappi’s Twist with Hollywood Vol.3

One of his lesser-popular songs “Thoda Resham Lagta Hai” from Jyoti (1981) was remixed in “Kaliyon Ka Chaman” (2000) by Harry Anand and its music video featuring Megha Naidu & subsequently sampled in “Addictive” (2002) by Truth Hurts. I’m sure you will recognize these 2 songs immediately.

In late 2016 Bappi Lahiri not only composed and sang “Shona” but also lent his voice for character Tamatoa in Disney’s Hindi-dubbed version of their animated film Moana (2016). Bappida said he easily fell into the skin of Tamatoa, a giant crab with a fondness for hoarding shiny treasures.

Well, it seems that there is more mettle (pun intended) to our Bappida & we would like to hear more from him.