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| Get Swept Away |
Much like Khan's choreography, Om Shanti Om is opulent, clever, and crowd-pleasing. Evidently the story is borrowed from reincarnation-themed Karz (1980) which is sampled in the opening sequence. I have never seen Karz, and odds are, I wont bother- the story is tangential to the film, and pretty mediocre. Boy (SRK) meets girl (the bad-ass Deepika Padukone) and off we go. This film is at its best when the story is only the means to link together songs, dance numbers, tropes, cameos, and Bollywood in-jokes for the audience to enjoy, so whatever you do, dont try too hard to follow the convoluted story-line.
Several references to Mughal-e-Azim (1960) and Sholay (1975), as well as the vampy Asha Bhosle musical reference when Om was confronted with an amorous older actress, were spot-on. Om rescuing Shantipriya from an out-of control fire on set a la Nargis and Sunil Dutt on the set of Mother India (1957) is perfectly apropos. Another highlight is the send-up of the Filmfare Awards, the Hindi-language film industry's glamorous Oscar equivalent. The scene took shots at most of SRK’s fellow male superstars and Filmfare Award competitors (including Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan) and at the female stars and starlets who reported that they and star Om were "just good friends". The scene also poked fun at the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) musical phrase which functions as SRK and Kajol's, musical signature in a number of their hit films. The tongue-in-cheek "Dard-e-Disco" combines a parody of an item number with a knowledge of what the audience wants: SRK wet and shirtless in an item number. Other comic moments remind the viewer that SRK is a star for good reason and keep the film clipping along at a mostly light-hearted and joy-filled trot. Kiron Kher and Shreyas Talpade also deliver solid performances as Om’s mother and Om’s best friend Pappu respectively.
The key to enjoying Om Shanti Om is a more-than-passing familiarity with Hindi-language film. I have viewed a lot of Hindi-language films, and can sing my Hindi film music, and I know I missed things. My recommendation to Hindi-film novices is to hold off and wait until you have the context to get the most out of it.
Unsurprisingly, the music is gorgeous. Om Shanti Om was released the year before I first stepped off a plane in Delhi, and hit songs "Main Agar Kahoon" and "Ajab Si"- some of the most beautiful to come out of Mumbai in recent years- were in the air for the duration of our adventure. The lyrics string together Hindi, Urdu, and Persian like beads on a necklace; they are refreshingly old-fashioned and unapologetically romantic. When I hear “dil ko bana de jo patang sans tere vo havaie hai” (loosely: my heart has been made a kite that soars as you exhale) I am transported to Naukuchiyatal and remember climbing the Himalayan foothills in my red and saffron sari and hiking boots, on my way to drink chai with friends on rooftops. Om Shanti Om was my film-music gateway drug.
Several references to Mughal-e-Azim (1960) and Sholay (1975), as well as the vampy Asha Bhosle musical reference when Om was confronted with an amorous older actress, were spot-on. Om rescuing Shantipriya from an out-of control fire on set a la Nargis and Sunil Dutt on the set of Mother India (1957) is perfectly apropos. Another highlight is the send-up of the Filmfare Awards, the Hindi-language film industry's glamorous Oscar equivalent. The scene took shots at most of SRK’s fellow male superstars and Filmfare Award competitors (including Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan) and at the female stars and starlets who reported that they and star Om were "just good friends". The scene also poked fun at the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) musical phrase which functions as SRK and Kajol's, musical signature in a number of their hit films. The tongue-in-cheek "Dard-e-Disco" combines a parody of an item number with a knowledge of what the audience wants: SRK wet and shirtless in an item number. Other comic moments remind the viewer that SRK is a star for good reason and keep the film clipping along at a mostly light-hearted and joy-filled trot. Kiron Kher and Shreyas Talpade also deliver solid performances as Om’s mother and Om’s best friend Pappu respectively.
The key to enjoying Om Shanti Om is a more-than-passing familiarity with Hindi-language film. I have viewed a lot of Hindi-language films, and can sing my Hindi film music, and I know I missed things. My recommendation to Hindi-film novices is to hold off and wait until you have the context to get the most out of it.
Unsurprisingly, the music is gorgeous. Om Shanti Om was released the year before I first stepped off a plane in Delhi, and hit songs "Main Agar Kahoon" and "Ajab Si"- some of the most beautiful to come out of Mumbai in recent years- were in the air for the duration of our adventure. The lyrics string together Hindi, Urdu, and Persian like beads on a necklace; they are refreshingly old-fashioned and unapologetically romantic. When I hear “dil ko bana de jo patang sans tere vo havaie hai” (loosely: my heart has been made a kite that soars as you exhale) I am transported to Naukuchiyatal and remember climbing the Himalayan foothills in my red and saffron sari and hiking boots, on my way to drink chai with friends on rooftops. Om Shanti Om was my film-music gateway drug.
Which is why I was so dismayed to turn on the subtitles for the songs of Om Shanti Om on Netflix and to find abysmal translations. Please find my supplemental translation below- its not perfect, but its not as lazy as what Netflix provided.
میں اگر کھوں
تم کو پایا ہے تو جیسے کوی ہوں؟
کھنا چاہو ں بھی تو تم سے کیا کھوں؟
تم کو پایا
ہے تو جیسے کوی ہوں؟
کھنا چاہو ں بھی تو تم سے کیا کھوں؟
کسی ذباں میں بھی، وہ لفظ ہی نہین
کہ جں ميں تم ہو کیا تمھیں بتا سکوں
میں اگر کھوں، تم سا حسیں
قنات میں نہیں ہے کہیں
تعریف یہ بھی تو
سچھ ہے کچھ بھی نہیں۔
تم کو پایا ہے تو جیسے کوی ہوں؟
شو قیہ میں ڈوبی یہ ادائ
چہرے سے خھلکی ہوئ ہے
زلف کی گھنی گھنی گٹائيں
شن سی ڈھلکی حوی ہے
لہراتا آنچل
ہر جیسے بادل
باہوں میں بری ہے جیسے چھاندنی
روپ کی چھاندنی
میں اگر کہوں یہ دلکشی
ہے نہیں کہیں نہ ہوگی کبھی
تعریف یہ بھی تو
سچھ ہے کچھ بھی نہیں
تم کو پایا ہے تو جیسے کوی ہوں؟
تم ہوے مھربا، تو ہے یہ داستان
تم ہوے مھربا، تو ہے یہ داستان
اب تمہارا میرا ایک ہے کاراوں
تم جہاں میں وہاں
میں اگر کھوں ہمسفر میری
اپسرا ہو تم یہ کوی پری
تعریف یہ بھی تو
سچھ ہے کچھ بھی نہیں
تم کو پایا ہے تو جیسے کوی ہوں؟
کسی ذباں میں بھی، وہ لفظ ہی نہین
کہ جں ميں تم ہو کیا تمھیں بتا سکوں
> میں اگر کھوں، تم سا حسیں
قنات میں نہیں ہے کہیں
تعریف یہ بھی تو
سچھ ہے کچھ بھی نہیں۔
“If I Say”
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
In no language are there words
That I could use to tell you
What I want to tell you
If I tell you there is no one so beautiful as you
Nowhere on creation, not anywhere
This in praise, but in truth nothing compares
I have found you but who am I?
You grace is submerged in joyfulness
It is shining through in your face
Your tresses are rolling down in splendor like clouds and shadow
Your sari flutters in every cloud
In your arms is beauty like moonlight
The beauty of the moonlight
If I say this fascination has never been anywhere and never will be
This in praise, but in truth nothing compares
I have found you but who am I?
You are kindness so here is this epic story
You are kindness so here is this epic story
Now you and I share one caravan
Where you are, there I am
If I say you are my soulmate
If you are a nymph or some fairly
This is praise, but in truth nothing compares
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
If I tell you there is no one so beautiful as you
Nowhere on creation, not anywhere
This in praise, but in truth nothing compares
Film: Om Shanti Om (2007)
Director: Farah Khan
Writers: Farah Khan, Mushtaq Shiekh
Runtime: 167 minutes
Country: India
Language: Hindi
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
In no language are there words
That I could use to tell you
What I want to tell you
If I tell you there is no one so beautiful as you
Nowhere on creation, not anywhere
This in praise, but in truth nothing compares
I have found you but who am I?
You grace is submerged in joyfulness
It is shining through in your face
Your tresses are rolling down in splendor like clouds and shadow
Your sari flutters in every cloud
In your arms is beauty like moonlight
The beauty of the moonlight
If I say this fascination has never been anywhere and never will be
This in praise, but in truth nothing compares
I have found you but who am I?
You are kindness so here is this epic story
You are kindness so here is this epic story
Now you and I share one caravan
Where you are, there I am
If I say you are my soulmate
If you are a nymph or some fairly
This is praise, but in truth nothing compares
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
I have found you but who am I?
I want to tell you but what can I say?
If I tell you there is no one so beautiful as you
Nowhere on creation, not anywhere
This in praise, but in truth nothing compares
Film: Om Shanti Om (2007)
Director: Farah Khan
Writers: Farah Khan, Mushtaq Shiekh
Runtime: 167 minutes
Country: India
Language: Hindi
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