I saw this when it was released (which means I was a pre-teen). Even then, it did shock me a good bit - that scene in which Deepak Parashar's character shouts "Talaaq! Talaaq! Talaaq!" at her is one that's remained stuck in my mind all these years. I would've rewatched this by now (Sharmi also did a good review of it recently), except that Salma Agha's singing got on my nerves.
Thanks for stopping by! Was it her her singing in this film or do you think it could have been from overexposure to her other work? I personally liked her singing in this, especially, as noted, in that one track, but I've not heard anything else she's done, and I have read other comments not dissimilar to yours from others who have heard more of her. I was a even little tempted to include "ABBA" as one of the tags just to drive up search traffic and then have visitors wondering what on Earth this post had to do with them. :)
If you can buy a film *only* for its qawwali, may I suggest "Barsaat ki Raat" that has an almost 10-minute qawwali as its finale (besides several other nice songs and the drop-dead gorgeous Madhubala). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVLjAdzEEhc
About Nikaah, :) I'll reserve my comments, considering I liked neither the film nor its songs.
Thanks, alfaazi! Barsaat ki Raat is a must-have for any qawwali fan and so I do indeed have it. Three qawwalis that I listen to often - nigaah-e-naaz ke and ji chahta choom are both great, but na to karavaan is superb, my favourite filmi qawwali and my 2nd favourite filmi song ever.
Enjoyed your musings on Nikaah very much. Even though I find Salma Agha and her voice usually annoying, I have to say I loved the Nikaah soundtrack. I also like the whole Islamicate feel of this film which is usually reserved for courtesan films like Umrao Jaan and Pakeezah.
More importantly though, I really appreciated the trouble you went to in order to find a fitting translation for the Urdu lyrics. As your analysis confirms, subtitle translations are usually so inadequate, it makes me shudder that people might sit through an entire film relying solely on those!
Thanks, very honoured to have you stop by! My grasp of the language is just at the point where I can tell bad subs, and the (much rarer) good ones. Translating lyrics and poetry must always be a severe challenge, trying to do in the time and budget constraints even more so. Every now and again, though, I see signs of translation as the art it should be, and wish I had the gift.
I saw this when it was released (which means I was a pre-teen). Even then, it did shock me a good bit - that scene in which Deepak Parashar's character shouts "Talaaq! Talaaq! Talaaq!" at her is one that's remained stuck in my mind all these years. I would've rewatched this by now (Sharmi also did a good review of it recently), except that Salma Agha's singing got on my nerves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Was it her her singing in this film or do you think it could have been from overexposure to her other work? I personally liked her singing in this, especially, as noted, in that one track, but I've not heard anything else she's done, and I have read other comments not dissimilar to yours from others who have heard more of her. I was a even little tempted to include "ABBA" as one of the tags just to drive up search traffic and then have visitors wondering what on Earth this post had to do with them. :)
ReplyDeleteNo, it couldn't have been her other work, because I've never heard any of her other songs - so it was Nikaah, and none other.
DeleteIf you can buy a film *only* for its qawwali, may I suggest "Barsaat ki Raat" that has an almost 10-minute qawwali as its finale (besides several other nice songs and the drop-dead gorgeous Madhubala).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVLjAdzEEhc
About Nikaah, :) I'll reserve my comments, considering I liked neither the film nor its songs.
-- alfaazi
Thanks, alfaazi! Barsaat ki Raat is a must-have for any qawwali fan and so I do indeed have it. Three qawwalis that I listen to often - nigaah-e-naaz ke and ji chahta choom are both great, but na to karavaan is superb, my favourite filmi qawwali and my 2nd favourite filmi song ever.
DeleteEnjoyed your musings on Nikaah very much. Even though I find Salma Agha and her voice usually annoying, I have to say I loved the Nikaah soundtrack. I also like the whole Islamicate feel of this film which is usually reserved for courtesan films like Umrao Jaan and Pakeezah.
ReplyDeleteMore importantly though, I really appreciated the trouble you went to in order to find a fitting translation for the Urdu lyrics. As your analysis confirms, subtitle translations are usually so inadequate, it makes me shudder that people might sit through an entire film relying solely on those!
Thanks, very honoured to have you stop by! My grasp of the language is just at the point where I can tell bad subs, and the (much rarer) good ones. Translating lyrics and poetry must always be a severe challenge, trying to do in the time and budget constraints even more so. Every now and again, though, I see signs of translation as the art it should be, and wish I had the gift.
Delete