Bollywood film music is at its worst

Bollywood, once known for its rich musical tapestry, is now experiencing a significant quality crisis. With too much autotune and redundancy, the majority of Bollywood songs have very short shelf lives. Hence, it’s becoming quite impossible for real music lovers even to remember the tune of most songs. This sorry state of affairs was unimaginable even two decades ago.

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What are the primary reasons for this sudden degradation of Bollywood music?

One thing must be taken into account: this degradation is not a one-night phenomenon; instead, it is the result of a slow and deliberately practiced process.

Yes, Bollywood music was suffering from a lack of correct melodious cadence for almost over a decade. The prime factors which acted as catalysts are:

· Stupid remake mania

Most of the producers and directors are going through a highly contagious fever of stupid remakes. This practice not only takes away the essence of the original songs, it also deters the potential of music directors and associated artists.

· Irrelevant lyrics

With an array of degenerative and mostly misogynistic words, a majority of Bollywood songs are facing a bleak existence, more so in this #NoMeansNo era. This must be stopped.

· Blatant plagiarism

And then comes deliberate inspiration (read: plagiarism). With stacks of copied songs, Bollywood hardly has any original files in its coffer.

· And lastly, because everyone is a singer!

Yes. That’s a bitter truth. Thanks to the auto-tune and spectacular sound engineers, you only have to speak a few words to sing a song. The irony is strong with this one!

Where the geniuses, why are they not being reincarnated, and only being recycled through remakes — and trashy ones — of their great hits? In fact, here are some rare, excellent tracks, all handpicked, from R D Burman. And no, these are not the great glorious hits by him, but some other really remarkable songs.

But, every cloud has a silver lining and so has Bollywood’s music. In a recent interview, the music maestro A.R. Rahman said, “I strongly don’t believe in the fact that Indian musical heritage is dying. Good musicians are coming up with unconventional harmonies and tunes connecting with the audience’s spiritual self.”

Well, this double Oscar winner is not entirely incorrect. Bollywood is gradually witnessing diverse melodic ideas by pulling up young (and colossal) geniuses. Here are the names of the composers who believe in music-making as a part ofphysical humanization of the surrounding!”

So here are three silver linings. Thin linings, but silver for sure.

Amit Trivedi:

This man surely knows how to connect with audiences through his music. He believes in promoting folk music as it is the easiest way to get familiar with, and discover, new audiences across regions. Some of his folk melodies are in songs from movies like Lootera, Fitoor, Queen and even Kai Po Che. Amit Trivedi does try to keep it meaningful.

Shantanu Moitra, to my mind, is a true musical prodigy, and that’s definitely true when you compare him with the rest of the ‘talent’ available today. His innate quality creates memorable, hummable tunes. He has the rare ability to contribute to both, mainstream and unconventional music. For instance, in the thought-provoking movie Pink, released in 2016, he composed an enticing tune for the song Kari Kari winning the hearts of millions. To my mind, he’s the best of the creative lot.

Vishal Shekhar is another excellent duo. They are always trying out new things, whether it is fusing rock with filmy pop, or with great earthy folk. Their tunes are memorable too, and that is the biggest and most important thing a music director needs to ensure — easily hummable tunes to ensure memorability.

Bollywood Music industry gasping for talent

But the Bollywood Music industry is, at present, starved for talent, and definitely for good singers. We have to get rid of the Shemales hoarsely speaking-reciting songs for heorines, and male ‘singers’with little or NO presence or body in their voices. They’re most reciting. Even including the top male singers today, there are NO really great playback, hero-type voices.

Arijit is beloved by most youngsters, but I think he’s too hoarse for a hero — any hero. Sonu Nigam and Shreya, the only two brilliant playback singers, are probably too busy doing live shows, and it seems they will only sing for good, dedicated producers of lovingly produced commercial movies. Alas, even another brilliant female singer like Mahalaxmi Iyer, who shone with Sonu in the Bunty Aur Babli duet, is being forced to concentrate only on the south market.

Why are Bollywood Music Directors such abject slaves to producers? Speak up, guys, tell them to bring in good singers. The current crop will trash you forever.

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