Ghost Rider**1/2

*ing: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes
Directed by Mark Steven Johnson
Tagline: Hell is about to be unleashed

Not since Gone in 60 Seconds has Nicolas Cage looked this sexy. That said, Ghost Rider isn’t one of those superhero films that thrive on sex appeal – lycra tights, bulging muscles and all. It’s about bikes and leather and it deserves a watch just to see Nicolas finally scratch the itch of playing a “superhero”.The plot is very simple: Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) and his dad Barton Blaze are motorcycle stuntmen who ride through fire and blazing hoops. Daddy darling has cancer and is dying and girlfriend (Eva Mendes) is moving from town. One fine day, the devil appears in form of Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda) and offers a deal to Johnny. In exchange for his soul, he will cure Johnny’s father. Johnny signs the dotted line but his Dad dies anyway. Then the plot thickens.
Meph may not have kept his word but years later, when Johnny is all-famous for his stunts, he comes back and alas! It’s time to return the favour that never really materialised. But hey, a contract is a contract. Meph’s evil spawn son Blackheart (Wes Bentley) is even weirder and cryptic than Dad. Meph needs a soulless stuntman to be his bounty hunter and thus begins the battle between Blackheart and Ghost Rider.The character of Ghost rider comes from Marvel comics and the storyline faintly reflects the classic tale of Dr. Faustus who also sold his soul to the devil for omnipotence. Ghost Rider kicks in as an amalgamation of both, and his superpowers lie in the way he shoots up in fire, transforms into a skeleton and fights evil with metal chain whips.Okay, so there really is no story. But the special effects really set the story here. It seems as if every effect that the makers could think of and use, has in fact, been used. The Ghost Rider isn’t one of those “superheroes” who wants to sacrifice themselves for the good of mankind. On the contrary, Ghost Rider is a self-involved, cornered stuntman who just does things because he has no choice.
For a film that was supposed to be one of the biggest films of the year, Ghost Rider hasn’t done well at all in America. The reason is that there are too many superheroes out there. Over the last two years, almost all major superhero films made a comeback and it is really hard for a film such as this to break down the legacy of films like Superman, Batman and even Spiderman.   The question then is, is it worth watching? The plot is formulaic, special effects as good as they are, don’t do much if the screenplay isn’t tight and the actors aren’t fun to watch except for Johnny. You should only watch this film if you like Nicolas Cage. All of his last few films were brilliant. The loser Weatherman and the merchant of death in Lord of War, Nicholas was a revelation. Here, too, he pulls off an excellent superhero. Otherwise, the flick is stamped with flaws. It’s like that Daredevil film; Ben Affleck has never been able to play cool and sexy. He can act but not in a way that makes one swoon, on the other hand, with the red hair and the maroon leather pants, he really looked sexy. Coupled with the brilliant soundtrack of the film that re-launched Evanescence, there was a film that one saw just for its music and Ben. Similar is the case here.   Superhero films these days have become political, edgy and aware of global issues. Even if a comic book is a reference point, superhero films usually depict the disparity in society, the problems of individuals, sometimes in subtle tones and other times, blatantly like V for Vendetta and 300. If nothing else, they establish the hero and then continue in a series of films about how he makes the world a better place. Batman Begins, X-Men trilogy, Hell Boy are just some examples.However, Ghost Rider is unaware of world happenings, its unable to really make one feel empathic to the hero and it doesn’t have that ‘wow, that’s real action’ factor by any means.So, skip it if you don’t like the bad man from Face Off. But if you do like him even a little bit, then this film should be watched, just for the sheer pleasure of seeing Nicolas Cage in leather, whipping baddies in chains and looking simply gorgeous doing so! – Maheen Sabeeh *YUCK **WHATEVER ***GOOD ****SUPER *****AWESOME

24***1/2

If one were to pick any one show that offered more suspense, drama and human adrenaline at its throbbing peak than many Hollywood big-budget films, it would definitely be the award-winning series 24.Now running in its 6th season, 24 is one show that continues to work all over the world, despite the fact that many of its lead cast members get killed, shot or blown away almost every season. The reason: it’s the story that drives the plot and other than two-three recurring members, new faces bring a different angle to the story.
For those of you who have yet to see this show, here’s a brief glimpse in the last five years of 24… 24 is about Jack Bauer, played to perfection by Kiefer Sutherland, a field operative of CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) based in Los Angeles. Along with his team at CTU, Jack investigates and stops terrorist activities against the people and the government of the United States. The terrorists are usually Arab/Islamic militants, who are trying to prove a religious point by taking on the US government, sometimes with the unofficial support of their own governments and at others, through a team of followers or believers. Most often, it is a fictional take, driven by a very real situation, on the atrocities of the US, the superpower it has become and the fact that many, if not all, Muslim countries now feel threatened by America’ ever-growing domination in the modern world.This year, 24 is back with its biggest bang yet. The show protagonist Jack Bauer is brought back from China, after being held hostage for two years. Unlike the last few seasons where the ultimate goal is to stop nuclear bombs from detonating, this time, bombs have already detonated and Jack is needed to lead the investigation and to stop further nukes from detonating on American soil.
One reason why 24 works brilliantly and is able to set itself against all crime/suspense genre dramas is the ‘real-time’ factor. 24 is 24 episodes but each episode shows one hour. A lead that is followed up, a young romance that takes place, a Presidential pardon that is signed, all in one hour. The biggest plot-definer in the show is that it’s shot in the duration of one hour and a digital clock tells us how many minutes are left in the show. This actually means that the commercials that come in between the show are kept in mind when the show is shot. Through this factor, 24 becomes the ultimate race against time treat that makes one want to watch what happens next.Another interesting is that it takes a close look behind the politics in Washington. Like the brilliant award-winning series, West Wing – where one learned how policies were devised by the president, the real battle between the House of Representatives, Congress and the White House, why certain laws couldn’t be approved even though the most powerful leader in the world thinks that it should, why and how budget was being allocated and a lot more – here, too one learns what goes inside the White House at intelligence briefings.
America is no different than the rest of the world, especially when it comes to protecting civil liberties. Where there are those who believe in the first amendment of every citizen, there are many within the US government who belief that national security should hold an exception (aha, the Patriot Act!). This means, illegal detention facilities to held suspects who can be tortured and if the approval comes from Washington, what happens next?There are many things wrong about the way the US government operates with its allies. That said, their justice system is remarkable to say the least. But even a justice system that should be followed the world over cannot always be the problem-solver. In 24, one is made to think, how American law fell from grace. If The Practice and now Boston Legal made you salute the system, defense lawyers who defend criminal and yet one ends up empathizing with them, its 24 that breaks all the pre-conceived notions. Therein lies the beauty of the show. Like many shows, 24 is also not without its flaws. Every year, the terrorists are Muslims. Okay, so post-9/11, everyone thinks Muslims are terrorists but to blow it on television every year is discrimination and also boring. 1 billion Muslims all over the world aren’t fundamentalists who kill in the name of religion. Even if there is general consensus that they make for the most frightening and believable terrorist, the writers could still do without them. There could be the French or the Japanese. Where the last big intelligence/suspense show Alias emphasized on Russians and former Americans gone wild on power and 500 old prophecies, here its Muslims who form the bad guy wrap sheet. Television, like media, governs thought. If one is made to watch Muslims detonating bombs on US every year, at some point, many will actually take Muslims to be terrorists as a breed. That is a dangerous road to be on, especially since this thought has crept into the psyche of many without 24 calling the shots. Every thing else about this show, from the scary, screwed-up, obsessive players to the direction and acting, is brilliant. Now if they loose the hold on ‘Muslim terrorists’, 24 will be one of the most creative (Desperate Housewives, Lost and Heroes are other great names) shows to hit television in the last decade. That is not an overstatement. The last full five seasons as well as the first few episodes of the latest season is out in the market, get it NOW! –Maheen Sabeeh *YUCK **WHATEVER ***GOOD ****SUPER *****AWESOME

Honeymoon Travels Pvt Limited****

*ing: Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Amisha Patel, Karan Khanna, Sandhya Mridul, Vikram Chatwal, Ranvir Shorey and Dia MirzaDirected by Reema Kagti

Honeymoon Travels Pvt Limited is one of the most entertaining and hilarious films to release this year. To tell a story of 6 married couples, 12 individuals and give every character substantial space in the film and doing all this just under 2 hours is no easy feat but director Reema Kagti does it brilliantly. Bravo! Every couple is different. There is Abhay Deol and Minissha Lamba, both of whom are like an exact replica of each other. They talk, think, speak and often, look alike. It’s uncanny, really.
Shabana Azmi and Boman Irani have had a painful past and together, they heal each other’s wounds. Amisha Patel is married to Karan Khanna. She talks and talks and talks. And she has a sweet, almost a diabetic quality to her that makes her annoying to the max. Her husband, Karan is a classic case of a weak man, who will not stand up for what he wants. Sandhya Mridul and Vikram Chatwal, who seem to be the happiest couple around have quite a few secrets. Dia Mirza is married to Ranvir Shorey. This was an arranged marriage and Dia isn’t happy. And finally, the most realistic and adorable couple in the film is that of Kay Kay Menon and Raima Sen, college sweethearts who got married and are on their honeymoon. All 6 couples go to Goa in a bus and so the ‘honeymoon’ begins.
It’s a very interesting film to say the least. Almost all the couples are very close to life. Even if one doesn’t know such people, these are stories that one has heard of before.The film moves in different time frames, giving one a glimpse in the past of all the characters and how they got together, their story. It’s done in a very tongue-in-cheek manner. The narrator often makes fun of the character in a subtle manner. The narration is in the form of a radio broadcast, like when one is listening to an RJ right before a song. It gives the film a very surreal yet light mood. One interesting aspect is the ratio of reality thrown in. Raima Sen trying to manipulate her husband into moving out of his house, leaving his parents and buying a new house is one example. Boman Irani’s daughter hating Shabana Azmi because she doesn’t like the idea of her father being married to another woman is another instance.
The brilliance, however, is that the director has held a progressive approach to such matters. She doesn’t leave it to the audience to decide but makes a statement through her screenplay.Honeymoon Travels Pvt Limited doesn’t try to strike a debate between arranged versus love marriage nor does it take a swipe at any of the two. All it does is show that be it love or arrange, things can go wrong. Often, the happiest couples are the one who are the most in trouble. Most actors in this film are not big names but almost all of them deliver exceptional performances. Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi are, as always, in top form. They pull off the old couple part very well and manage to generate chemistry, too. Raima Sen hasn’t had many decent films to her credit. But here, Raima Sen shines as the wife who slowly breaks away from the shackles of a traditional housewife and learns how to be, just herself. Playing her counterpart, Kay Kay Menon proves, like always, that he is one of Bollywood’s most underrated actors. From the sadistic warden in Deewar to the ungrateful, deceptive son in Sarkar, Kay Kay really has come far. Amisha Patel, who has the ability to make one want to not want to watch a film primarily because of her sheer presence, manages to hold her ground. And then there is the beautiful Sandhya Mridul, who has proven her acting prowess on Indian television with soaps like Koshish. She is magnificent as the outspoken Indian girl.Every actor brings a level of charm and uniqueness to this ensemble movie that is truly one of the funniest films to come out of Bollywood after the small budget, Khosla Ka Ghosla. Many directors have tried telling stories of too many characters but they have often failed despite big budgets, huge sets and an even bigger star cast. Salaam-e-Ishq is the most recent example. Darna Zaroori Hai, Darna Mana Hai, Hum Saath Saath Hain are some other examples. Reema Kagti excels as a director because she keeps the story simple, funny and close to home. Small budget films in India are slowly making a place for themselves amongst the big banners. Now it is films like Khosla Ka Ghosla, Jhankar Beats, White Noise and now, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Limited who are giving big films like Nishabd a run for its money. Such films have given Indian cinema a lot more substance and style than many mediocre films with well-known names. In a nutshell, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Limited, without being preachy, takes a tongue-in-cheek look at marriages, their survival, what it takes and how two individuals often compromise and eventually end up at a middle ground. This is one fun flick, it definitely deserves two thumbs up! –Maheen Sabeeh *YUCK **WHATEVER ***GOOD ****SUPER *****AWESOME

Thinking classical

Shubha Mudgal really is a class act. After her performance at the All Pakistan Music Conference, a press conference was arranged at the Hindu Gymkhana, where Shubha managed to appear bang on time along with tabla maestro, Dr. Aneesh Pradhan and Sarangi player Murad Ali. Dressed in a simple sari, Shubha was candid, amicable and proved that when it comes to the future of classical music, she is a visionary. Shubha warmly answered question from members of the press as well as students of National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA). Instep gives you the lowdown…

Instep: How did you feel about the audience at the APMC? Shubha Mudgal: It was overwhelming. The kind of requests that I got about various raags was a proof that the people who were sitting that night were not all amateurs. Sometimes, it is often the small gatherings that shows more respect and knowledge to this kind of music than a concert with 20, 000 people. In Calcutta and Bombay, they are great music enthusiasts. Events are often much larger in terms of the crowd than let’s a smaller city. But often many appear at such corporate events because the CEO wants them to be there. To be fair to them, I’d say that not all of them are there because of this particular reason but fact remains that often it is the small gatherings that understands this music more than a huge crowd. Instep: What do you think of Pakistani music being plagiarized in India? SM: It is absolutely wrong. There is a link between ethical and commercial aspect of music. The original artiste must be credited for his accomplishment. It is this reason why one mentions a guru or an ustad, explaining the musical heritage being passed on. I’ll give you an example. Many know the song ‘Nimbuda’ from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Originally it was created by a small community but they never registered it. Now the song is registered with the movie producers. Who then should the royalty go to? A similar example is with the film Baabul where someone else originally composed a certain track in the film. I read an article on it and many have no idea where the number originally hailed from. But now, its registered with the music label, T-Series. So, yes, people need to be acknowledged and furthermore, those who are the creators deserve royalties. Instep: What is your view on the Pakistani music industry? SM: To be honest, I don’t know much about the industry itself and that I feel is the biggest problem. We don’t have access to the classical music of Pakistan and neither do you have access to ours. I had the opportunity to listen to Begum Farida Khanum on the first night of the APMC and it was very nice but we have no access to her in India. Her music is not available. There are cultural centers that need to be setup in both the countries so we can share and exchange our music together. Dr. Aneesh and I along with a few others are behind Underscore Records, which keeps a catalogue of classical Indian music. We also have two kinds of contract, free for download. It can work for an artist as well as an organizer. In many countries, contracts are in English so this will provide some form of support to artistes. Instep: You also forayed into Bollywood. SM:I have not done playback singing but I have sung for the background score of a few films. I like movies but I do not want to listen to Bollywood songs on Eid, Diwali, Holi, on the radio, television all the time. ‘Where’s the Party Tonight’ is a good number but I don’t feel the need to listen to it all the time. There is this perception amongst people that youngsters don’t like classical music. It is false. I have seen youngsters at classical music gatherings. I’m from the first generation of classical music. I don’t teach the elderly but all of us are teachers and our students are youngsters. There have been occasions when we have had to refuse some because of time constraints but these youngsters are keen on learning. It has to be understood that engaging with the arts is an enriching experience. Schools in many cities in India charge a lot of fees. They may teach music but it will be one song for the some annual day, like National day. If the youngsters are taught in such a way that they understand its importance, it will create awareness. Not everyone will take music as a career but if they understand its importance, it will give this music a chance to survive. –Maheen Sabeeh

Unstoppable momentum

With events like All Pakistan Music Conference, classical music has found a place to showcase itself but it will only survive in the post-modern world if a fusion happens between classical and the new music order!

By Maheen Sabeeh

The nights finally ends… After three rigorous days of truly great music, 14 purely classical and extraordinary performances from some of this country’s finest names in ghazal, qawwali and Eastern classical music, with guest performers border hopping from India, the 4th annual All Pakistan Music Conference wrapped on a high note.Held against the backdrop of the beautiful Hindu Gymkhana, the APMC closing shone as television personalities, music video directors, rare few pop musicians alongside music enthusiasts as well as the ‘cultural’ elite came to support the musical occasion. Of course, this enthusiasm can also be attributed to the fact that the third night of the APMC featured Shubha Mudgal (‘Dholna’, ‘Ali Morey Angna’ fame) who was the biggest crowd puller of the event.
A single word goes a long way There is something mystical about classical music. A single poignant phrase can be used as a backbone of a performance and can be sung in different notes, while tugging one’s heart. Classical music, like wine, doesn’t get older, it only gets better. It is easy to highlight one pop singer in a huge concert but at events like the APMC, it is almost impossible.From the melancholic flute of Ustad Salamat Hussain to the soulful style of Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami, to the verses of Faiz Ahmed Faiz sung by Farida Khanum, it is this music that can truly make one sit for hours on end without feeling the need to leave.
Sitting at such events is also a learning experience. When Farid Ayaz, his brother Abu Mohammad and their companions came onto perform, they don’t just launch into one qawwali after another. They stop in the middle, telling one about Amir Khusro, the meaning of their qawwalis, the language that varies from Persian to Turkish and ends up at Urdu. Captivating, hypnotic and almost surreal, Farid Ayaz Qawwal are a must for all music lovers. And here it must be said that Abu Mohammed has improved tremendously from the last APMC. He really came into his own this year!One can also not forget Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan, who kept everyone riveted through sheer intensity with which he performs.Then of course, there was the finale by Shubha Mudgal. Many know her as the woman from ‘Dholna’ but that night it was raags that she performed. While it was a bit bizarre to see her close the night considering Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Patiala) is far more senior, she was absolutely brilliant nonetheless. It wasn’t just her top-notch vocals but soul with which she presented each raag, explaining along the way what each raag meant, giving space to her instrumentalists and at the end, receiving a standing ovation. It was Shubha Mudgal who yielded the most response, and she really was worth it.
The irony of the APMC When Shubha Mudgal came to perform, an announcement was made that cameramen should not record more than 10-15 minutes due to copyrights. No such announcement was made during any other performance that took place in the three nights? What about the rights of the rest of them? Do they have no rights? As music producer, Faisal Rafi said, “It is insulting because what about everyone else’s rights? And what copyrights are being spoken about here? Shahi (Hasan) and I recorded everything but just because we are compiling a cd for APMC, we can record? It is hypocritical because we pirate everything. Software, music, films – and here we’re talking about copyrights about a single performance!” As far as classical music goes, perhaps the only thing left to do is give credit to the original composers. How can one copyright a sufic verse or a kaafi that is being sung at Mazaars, concerts, classical nights by various folk singers, classical greats and rock artists? Imagine if Junoon actually had gone to find the descendants of Baba Bulley Shah when they made the song, ‘Bulleya’?

The paradox Aristotle once said, “If you want to destroy a nation, alter its music.” He was absolutely right. In Pakistan, there are few public platforms for classical greats.Pop music, be it in the West or right here, isn’t just about music. It is about building up a musician as a brand. Marketing via endorsements, interviews and appearances on television are all a part of the game. But when it comes to Eastern music, it is quite the opposite. The classical masters find it absurd to popularize their art. Add that to the fact that there is no one to protect their rights. Other than the APMC and the Rafi Peer World Performing Arts Festival, where do these people go and showcase their genuine, magic in Jinnah’s land? Therein lies our paradox.One will never find Ustad Naseeruddin Sami appearing on various talk shows boasting about his own vocal dexterity, but one will find this man sit through every performance at the APMC every night. This is his way of respecting the tradition that he, too, is a keeper of. These are the singers who breathe life into the raags, thumris and kaafis written centuries ago. At APMC maestros like Sami sahab give the attendees a chance to trace and explore their musical roots.Ultimately, it is this music that we as a nation can truly call out own. Pop music didn’t find its first footsteps in the subcontinent, neither did the first guitar or the first set of drums.Ironically, it is this music that seems to be in danger of losing itself in our fast changing world. Last year, as Mekaal Hasan Band was performing at the APMC, one could find many pop musicians walking their way around the venue. Shallum Xavier, Gumby, among others had been present. But where were these musicians this year? No one prominent from the local music industry was present except for the band Josh who made an appearance on the second night.On the other hand, Begum Farida Khanum, who is no longer a youngster came all three nights and sat through every performance, munching on sauf, signing autographs for 40-year-olds who have grown up with her music. Given musicians are celebrities and at times can be self-involved but if these musicians endorse classical music, it will find a wider audience. At the very least, these events and by proxy, these artistes need to be respected by the young lot of today’s music.

Times have changed The general perception is classical music is dying in Pakistan. To a certain extent, this is true. But it is the amalgamation of the two sides of music, classical and pop, that will give this music a chance to survive.The APMC opened this year with a performance from Allah Lok Khan, who plays pakhawaj, a North Indian drum. He was mesmerizing to say the least. The beat of his drum moves slowly reaching a gradual crescendo, only to move to a slow note again. He is unknown to many. However, he is now going to be featured in the next Overload album. That is the way his pakhawaj will find an audience in the popular genre of music in Pakistan.Would it be too harsh to say that classical music, all over the world is elitist? Perhaps, but it’s also true. How many can say that they know every symphony of Mozart? But had Mozart done a duet with Madonna, it would’ve been a different answer altogether. The biggest local example is that of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It was his team-up with Michael Brooks and Peter Gabriel that made him a legend in the West. Take a chanceWhile the majority of the pop/rock music industry is perhaps indifferent to the classical tradition of music, there are a few who have taken substantial steps to restore our cultural heritage, classical music. Mekaal Hasan, through his band is bringing forward the traditional kaafis via his lyrics, fusing it with his jazz-like sound. On the other hand, there are those who have devoted themselves completely to documenting this tradition. Music producers Rohail Hyatt, Shahi Hasan and Faisal Rafi are now working with various Ustaads, signing them up for collaborations, compilations among other things. At the All Pakistan Music Conference, this year, Shahi Hasan and Faisal Rafi sat through three days, bringing bulk of equipment with them to create a compilation cd, recording the live performances as they happened. Speaking to Instep, Faisal Rafi commented, “A proper collection of this sort of music hasn’t been done since the mid ’70s so it is important. Many of these classical greats like Ustad Naseeruddin Sami are doing their last few performances. In a year or two, they won’t be doing it anymore. It needs to be documented. I have been coming to APMC for the last four years and I know that APMC is not profiting through this event. That said, many just don’t care about this music. They come and sit and do the “waah waahs” and go away and are not doing anything for these masters.”What needs to be done The All Pakistan Music Conference is doing the same for Eastern music as Karafilm Festival has done for films and the cinema culture that Pakistan lost many years ago.Every year, the APMC provides a platform to masters of classical music by holding this three-day event. In the last four years, the past two years have been free of cost. APMC gets better every year. This year, as one entered the venue, one could find stalls where cds of Noor Jehan, compilation cds of various Ustads amongst many others were being sold. Further inside, refreshments stands had been set up. It’s a smart idea. APMC goes on till late hours of the morning and many often end up being hungry. Haleem, chips, chaat, tea, and soft drinks – all were made available. Chairs had been set, keeping in mind the elderly who often find sitting on the white chandinis uncomfortable. The sound was impeccable at all three nights without the slightest glitch. The musical performances also start on time unlike the many pop/rock concerts where one often ends up waiting for hours. That said, APMC has to market itself better. Awareness will only come through if people know of the event. Those who attend events such as the APMC are not the elite of Pakistan but the cultural elite. These are the people who know art, poetry, music and culture. It is good to see that their ranks grow every year. It’s not surprising. When you are at the APMC, you realise that this is the music that runs in your blood.