Amitabh Should be a playback singer-Vishal Bharadwaj

Monday, February 19, 2007
"Rozana is the most romantic song that I have composed as a music composer. Mr Bachchan kept me out of the recording studio as he said that he won't be able to sing before me. I think he should sing for other actors as well," said composer Vishal Bharadwaj at the music launch of Nishabd recently. Apart from Vishal, Amitabh Bachchan (in Gabbar Singh attire), Jiah Khan and director Ram Gopal Verma were the main attractions. All the happenings of the evening were relayed live on a popular Mumbai radio station.

Vishal went on to shower praise on director Ram Gopal Verma for extracting the "best out of him." RGV was quick to pat-the-back of the talented composer-turned-director by stating, "For a change I have a nagging feeling that I've made a good film so I wanted something good. Complete credit for Rozana goes to Vishal." As Rozana was played on the giant screen, it left an indelible impact. For it is a brilliantly produced track, hauntingly sensual, reeking of restrained magnetism. And undoubtedly Big B is in great form as the singer with a voice blessed with loads of pathos.

Some love stories are never meant to be understood. Well, that's the buzz-line of Nishabd. An 'unusual' love story between a 60 year old (Big B) and a nubile teenager (Jiah). RGV denied any reference to Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita that also talks about a love affair between a much older man and a very young girl. In fact Verma preferred to be a miser with words for most part of the press meet as he preferred to answer most of the questions with very brief answers. Or no answer at all: "Nishabd" he would say to any query that he wished to by-pass leading to peals of laughter all around.

Mr Bachchan picked up the cue from his maverick director. On being asked to express his views on rumours about him being a possible Presidential candidate, he replied tongue-in-cheek: "Nishabd". So, how did the film happen? "It took a couple of minutes for Ramu to convince me. He narrated an idea and within five minutes we decided to do it. A week later we were shooting on location at Munnar in Kerala. And in twenty days we were back having finished the film," Big B said.

Jiah Khan was jokingly asked by journalists to speak in Hindi considering she has a heavy British accent. She did try but veered towards English later. No, she hasn't been thinking about the Box Office fate of the film "It's a gift to have worked with Mr Bachchan in my first film. He carries such an aura," she said. Where does her raw sensuality and seductive body language emanate from? The mentor answered matter-of-factly, "That's the way Jiah is. She didn't have to really have a reference point or prepare herself." RGV also added that if Mr Bachchan wouldn't have done the film, he wouldn't have made the film. "Nishabd is Amitabh Bachchan's best performance," he said.

A barrage of difficult questions were showered on Big B about him choosing a subject that may not go down well with the social fabric since a whole lot of people emulated him. "It's a film after all. And once you see the film, you shall realize it doesn't have a negative influence." Has Jaya ji seen the film? "No, she hasn't seen the film. She has seen a few portions. And once she sees the film then only will I know her reaction." A probing lady journalist pointedly asked if men over sixty do things that defy norms? "If a man is over sixty then that doesn't mean he 'loses' everything," Mr B shot back. Does it make you feel young at heart since you are romancing an eighteen year old? "What makes you think otherwise!"

RGV had the last word. On being asked if he has made the correct decision by making Nishabd considering his last few films haven't done well, he said with a hint of a smile, "We will have to wait for March 2nd for the film to release and then realize if it was the right decision or not." Right....

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