Indian DJ, producer and self described Sultan of Twerkistan, Su Real claims there is no distinction between Hollywood and Bollywood music. As a popular DJ and the winner of Amazon Prime’s reality show The Remix, he probably knows what he's talking about. I disagree with him to the extent that Hollywood music doesn’t have quite the richness, variety, melody, traditional diversity that Bollywood music has. But I agree with him to the extent that in recent times, Hindi film music has really gone to the world; it isn’t just Hollywood that recognises it, the internet has ensured that people all over the world have woken up to the wonder of it – regardless of language, region, faith.
The Denzel Washington starrer Inside Man (2006) featured Chhaiya Chhaiya from Dil Se. Moulin Rogue featured Chama Chama from China Town. Sasha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator featured the hit Punjabi song Mundiya Tu Bach Ke Rahi from Boom. Many other Hindi film songs have been used in Hollywood films from time to time.
The Indian maestro has composed for numerous English films – made in Hollywood and elsewhere. Though the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire is probably his best known work, he has also scored for Provoked, the Shekhar Kapoor film Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Couples Retreat, the highly successful 127 Hours, Million Dollar Arm, the hugely charming A Hundred Foot Journey, most recently Viceroy’s House as well as many others.
Champion ice skaters often choose tracks from Indian films to display virtuosity on ice. Sometimes it’s the folk melodies, at times it’s the beats or the traditional compositions…and then there is the dramatic impact of the Bollywood-esque dance moves and the eye catching outfits. There are times when Hollywood music probably just seems insipid by comparison.
So you think you can Dance is among the top dance shows in the world, attracting some of the most talented dancers. The show recognises Bollywood as a dance genre and routinely features energetic and upbeat performances to various Hindi film songs. This performance seems to even include some of the original moves by Ranveer Singh in Bajirao Mastani! Is it any wonder that Hindi film music is so much more well known all around the world!
Selena Gomez is hugely popular internationally and is probably looking to expand her audiences; maybe looking to become more relevant in Asia as well. In a recent interview she expressed the desire to work with A R Rahman.
Ambition is good, but औकात भी कोई चीज़ होती है… Now she is a very popular performer (you note that I do not call her a singer) and my own daughters misguidedly listen to some of her music from time to time. But her surprising popularity and success rests on some extremely modest talent. For her to aspire to working with A R Rahman is rather presumptuous to put it mildly. To her I would say, why don’t you start with Himesh Reshammiya and then work yourself up to the real musicians and composers?
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