Books

Filmic Nectar

Aims to be a comprehensive history of Hindi film music, but is also simultaneously selective and subjective. An insightful ready-reckoner that I will keep by my side.

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Filmic Nectar
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Maachis

But still, this is a painstakingly researched book covering a gamut of personalities, songs and issues. Anantharaman tersely puts together all the facts, but it’s when his point of view shines through that it gets interesting. Like when he assesses A.R. Rahman as "the biggest phenomenon" of the 1990s whose music "however well put together, at times seems to lack soul". Or when he states that Ismail Darbar "has a reputation out of proportion with the volume of his work". When he talks of the "forced and jaded imagery" in Gulzar’s lyrics. Or when he refers to Kal Ho Naa Ho as "arguably the most melodic score in the new millennium" (must admit my own inexplicable fondness for the title track though). Most music buffs, however, would agree with him that the 1950s and ’60s were the most creative decades in Hindi film songs. This is an insightful ready-reckoner that I will keep by my side.

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