Music Review: Grounded In Space

That all of the many instruments used on Advaita’s debut album are clearly audible throughout is the first thing that is affirmed from a listen. Such a rarity, a far cry from ‘music’ which has instruments (and musicians!) fighting for space. Perhaps, the album title is in some way related to how the musicians in Advaita perceive each other as individuals and a band as a whole, an understanding which has built a strong relationship between their respective instruments.

With eight members, it’d be an exercise getting into names. Another one and they could’ve been a clownish nu metal band. Another three and they could play cricket and get attacked in Pakistan. The guys are between the ages of 21 and 28. Two vocalists, one is a ‘lead vocalist’ and the other is a ‘Hindustani vocalist’. Guitars, keyboards, drums, percussion, sarangi, tabla, bass and electronic soundscapes, along with the singing, create a mesmerising atmosphere.

The ‘lead vocals’ (heh) and the ‘Hindustani vocals’ (double heh) do not put the band in a spot, till the fabulous Gates Of Dawn comes along. This is when the ‘Hindustani vocalist’ pulls a Shankar Mahadevan, which is so not required here, and he is probably not trying to create that effect intentionally. But the way the music is placed and paced behind and around these vocals (and on the entire album) more than makes up for little grievances to which one might choose to not give too much importance.

There is no doubt Advaita is packed with skilled musicians, but the crystal-clear production and experimental nature of the music overshadow any importance one might give to their lyrics, which are good in places (Mere Yaar, for example) and highly confused elsewhere (Gates Of Dawn, a sorry muddle of pity and self-pity).

VERDICT

Grounded in Space is a perfect blend of several unique instruments done in a rather interesting way. It’ll be even more interesting to see if Advaita can top this.

RATING: 4/5

(From my Buzz18 reviews)

MOVIE REVIEW: Acid Factory

Thanks for keeping it short!

Sanjay Gupta’s latest outing takes us to Durban, South Africa. With hitless wonders like Aftab Shivdasani, Dino Morea, Fardeen Khan and brilliant actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Danny Denzongpa and Irfan Khan, and Gulshan Grover and Dia Mirza thrown in for good measure, Acid Factory has a bhelpuri of a cast. But this bhelpuri is without chutney, and you keep waiting for the chatpata sensation to come on and overpower you but all director Suparn Verma hands you in the end is a sukha puri.

A bunch of men find themselves in an acid factory, and realize they’re suffering from amnesia and have no idea as to what the hell is going on. Danny Denzongpa is wasted, Manoj Bajpayee is likeable but the role does his talent no justice either. Irfan Khan shines as the main baddie, Gulshan Grover as an Indian cop in South Africa has got the first extremely slick role of his career – he doesn’t mouth inane lines for a change.

As these men regain their memory (affected by a Pentane leak), there’s even more confusion but zero chemistry between the men in the acid factory. In fact, the scenes outside the factory are more exciting. There’s no build-up, only an unpredictable twist which is weak and makes you go ‘Yeah?’.

Everyone’s got amnesia but unfortunately they all remember stupid lines from the script. Fardeen Khan is good, Dino Morea is okay, Aftab Shivdasani is less than that. How I wish they’d stop translating sentences in Hindi after saying them in English.

Aftab to a gun-toting Fardeen: You don’t seem to be one of them.

Next line, Aftab to Fardeen: Tum in mein se ek lagte nahi ho.

Okay Fardeen, shoot him.

Dia Mirza looks pretty, and she’s pretty angry. Oh yes, she’s the aloo on the sukha puri. The only good thing about Acid Factory is it’s around 95 minutes.

VERDICT

Will the person who sprayed Pentane in the scriptwriters’ faces kindly do the same to me? Acid Factory is not worth your time or money. Forget about it already.

RATING: 1.5/5

MOVIE REVIEW: Do Knot Disturb

The Best Hindi Film Ever Made