Opening Doorz

By Moody Marty | Opening Doorz Editorial | October 13, 2024

Kishore Kumar’s songs are evergreen… Even today, 37 years after his death, one can hear his voice and feel the joy, rhythm, and pain of the lyrics. He brought lyrics to life with his understanding of the deep meaning of the words. “Music is my life. I sing from the heart,” he is quoted to have said.

To his credit, one can say that he was blessed with the greatest lyricists in Indian Music history of that time–Hasrat Jaipuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Anjaan, Indeevar, and Gulzar, to name a few. Also, the Hindi Film industry was brimming with talented music composers and musicians who injected emotions between words with their rhythm to help Kishore Kumar’s golden voice. R.D. Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Naushad, S.D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, O.P. Nayyar, and Bappi Lahiri, were some of the music composers of that time.

Sadly, today, there is no music and no meaningful lyrics. We do have some good singers, but music has lost its meaning with technology taking over stringed instruments, horn sections, percussions, the sound of accordion, and the true essence of a recording studio.

It’s no wonder then, that there have been countless ‘Kishore Kumar Nites’ all over the country and around the world where there has been an Indian diaspora. One cannot get enough of Kishore Kumar’s voice and the Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

Bring Back the Soul: A Plea for Real Music

This is a humble appeal to those who can in Bollywood; please bring the soul back into the music of Hindi films. Encourage studio recordings. We need to get the trumpets, trombones, clarinets and saxaphones back into the composition. There is also a need to get the violin and Double Bass recalled. We need to encourage genuine music composers who are still available and without jobs, thanks to the digitalisation of music. We need to get musicians who are ‘note perfect’—who are aware of crotchet rests, semibreves, minims, dotted minims, trills, and the works.

Bring the soul back into music. Please do it for the many talented musicians who are looking for work. Do it to reclaim the soul of Hindi Film music.

Today, mediocrity has become the buzzword. Mediocrity thrives. Mediocrity is celebrated. On Kishore Kumar’s 37th death anniversary today, I do hope those in power in Bollywood, pledge to get real music back on track, and musicians their jobs back!

From the Dip in Music to the Low of Celeb Spotting

Mumbai, the city of dreams, has also become the city of ‘spottings’—not of rare birds or elusive creatures but of celebrities. And let’s face it, these ‘spottings’ are often more staged than a Bollywood dance number.

In Hollywood, paparazzi still chase celebrities down the streets of Hollywood, risking life and limb for that perfect candid shot. In Mumbai, all you need is a smartphone and a bit of ‘luck’. Just plant yourself outside a gym, airport, or a trendy restaurant, and voila! You’re a paparazzi.

Scripted Encounters: The Reality of Celebrity Spottings

The truth is, most of these ‘spottings’ are as scripted as a daily soap opera. Celebrities often ‘tip’ off (no pun intended) photographers about their whereabouts. This ensures they’re always in the right place at the right time. It’s like a well-orchestrated dance, with the celebrity and the paparazzo playing their parts to perfection.

But let’s talk about the real comedy of errors. The media, once the gatekeepers of celebrity news, have become mere pawns in this game of cat and mouse. They’re desperate for content, and they’ll do anything to get it. When paid-for ‘exclusive’ interviews do not fill space, they stalk celebrities on social media for ‘scoops. They’ve lowered their standards to a new low.

The Desperate Hunt for Content

Remember when celebrities would court journalists, offering exclusive scoops and behind-the-scenes access? Those days seem like a distant memory. Now, it’s the celebrities who hold the cards. They can choose to ignore the media altogether, or they can feed them a steady diet of carefully curated content.

And let’s not forget the ‘mobile photographers’, the unsung heroes of this farce. They have turned a hobby into a profession, armed with nothing more than a smartphone and a knack for ‘timing’. They’re the ones who make a living out of ‘spotting’ celebrities, even when there’s nothing to spot.

So, the next time you see a ‘headline’ or a reel about a celebrity ‘spotted’ in Mumbai, remember it’s probably a carefully staged event.

It’s a comedy of errors, a modern-day farce that’s playing out every day in the city of dreams.

[Moody Marty: Sometimes funny, sometimes informative, always downright forthright!]

Also Read: Spare Celebrities from Public Suffering

Also Read: Trumpeter Kishore Sodha: The real Muqaddar Ka Sikandar!