Entry 21.0 - Bandish Bandits

 “I always almost get inspired by watching and listening these BEAUTIFUL shows and musicals.”

“But after a few moments later, while I come out of that world full of inspiration and try to DRAW that for my current live real life right now in front of me..doesn’t happen..

Its kind of depressing.

HOW DOES INSPIRATION WORK THEN??

How does Inspiration work at all?

(These are lines I relate so much with. I was supposed to write an answer to them during this week)

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What is INSPIRATION?

If I could ever put it in words for me,

It’s a situaiton where neurons in the body are in a constant state of excitement - firing and transmitting impulses throughout the body.

Its like that all the chakra limiters have been turned off for a while and these impulses are creating a endless spiral of intellectual and emotional storms within.

And this can happen anytime, it can be one listening to a new song by their favourite band or somebody watching a street vendor prepare a fresh jalebi (those rings they make on the ghee)..the point is, it can happen wherever and whenever.

I don’t know how else to put it into words.

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These BEAUTIFUL shows and musicals..

I didn’t think I would ponder again on this through a show I watched recently and find a piece of my answer in it..

 

BANDISH BANDITS

I’ve spent the last 15 days of my life begging people to watch the 2nd season of this show.

(I usually don’t beg people to watch an Indian show, but this one’s special).

As it goes, everyone I begged asked me this,

“What’s it about?”

(Maybe this is where the test of my nowadays rustic communication skills comes in)

The show’s about all of these things and more –

• A battle of classical music vs modern music
• A musical love story showing shades of classical, modern and fusion music
• A family drama highlighting tradition, culture, discipline and patriarchy
• A story of teachers and students, and what teachers/ elders pass on to their descendants (Boons and Curses)
• Story of awakening of one’s soul and them finding their salvation through music

 

1st season, 1st Episode, 1st Inspiration

Scene: Radhe removes his footwear and starts singing “Jago Mohan Pyare” to save the grace of classical music and the look on Tamanna’s face knowing he’s the real deal, their love story did start with a moment of awe and inspiration

That’s how they meet, through their passion and inspiration for Music.

(Don’t worry, I’m not gonna ruin their story for you. I’m dying for you to watch the show)

It’s a story of artists, of all ages, showing us a perspective how music or heritage has affected their lives.

(Umar ke saath, kaise kala ke mayine badalte hain sabke liye)

With love, it also shows us a lifecycle of our lives. Brimming with passion and energy in our younger years, slowly gaining maturity with age and changing shades for better or worse. Though everything is not about your 20’s, even in your 30’s and 40’s you can take decisions which might changes your lives completely.

(Gonna keep dropping random songs between paragraphs)

There’s a beautiful song about Love sung by Javed Ali –

Labb par aye, geet suhane,

Maane na Jiyara Laakh Bahane,

Yaad tihari aaye sataane,

Mann Laage re pachatance,

(Link for the full song ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kR6tqaq_zY )

Season 1 is brilliantly shot in rajasthan where modern folk/ singers have tracked down the door classical raagas..inviting them to start a new journey into the modern world and create a unforgettable fusion..

Season 1 also talks a lot about culture, heritage, tradition, family values, the ego of artists..it almost takes art to a place where one forgets what’s it to be a human..the ego of being the best/ competition sometimes can make us do terrible things..

At the end of it almost shows us the woe of a hurt and damaged lover, from whom his love was snatched away..and where he sings these beautfiul lines of Virah –

Meri Sakhi mein ang ang aaj rang daal du,

Apne jee se ye prem rang kaise main utaar du,

Tere bina kahi bina ye vyakul mann lage,

Tu jo muh phere sakhi, deh praan tyaage,

Pal bhar tu dekh mujhe, zindagi guzaar du

Oo Mere Sakhi….

Link for the song à https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9fwSqtKQY0

The music is bang on at all times with brilliant tunes and positining. Other great ones are Garaj Garaj, Sajan Bin, Chedkhaniyan and many more.

A extra special heart goes to the music team composers and the magical voice of Shankar Mahadevan Ji and Javed Ali..

As someone, who doesn’t understand or has knowledge about classical music, I’m in awe of how this show has tried to showcase this art to the world in this form.

It all ends with a drop of rain on the cheek of a loved one with core of Malhaar raag, awakening their love of music once again, maybe its true, you can only feel inspired when you’ve witnessed something magical or something so impactful, that the neurons just don’t stop firing..

(If you guys wanna see how seriously they’ve paid attention to their music, just give the intro song a full listen…)

 

But that’s all good and done.

This was all in Season 1.

There are always good ideas which turn into a season, but it’s the sequels which matter.

Because, that’s where the development happens.

All the greatest stories show how a man became a king. But what after?

What does one do once they become the king?

What does this musical story has left to tell, how can the original idea be grown into something more, creating more and more space for its characters, giving them a chance to write their own story..

I know, I’m getting lost in my own words here, but believe me, this world has seen too many good stories which got lost in its own translation..

(Like this post maybe ;p)

This 2nd season which came after 4.5 years of its predecessor..an awful long time for an OTT show. Awfully long for all the hype to go down..

But then this is not the your usual OTT show..

The first 10 episodes were more focused on Radhe and his dynasty, about life coming full circle for Panditji in the end…

Though the end was more about Tamanna’s awakening for me..because if season 1 was Radhe achieving certain things in life..2nd one has to be about the path Tamanna took and where it led her..

This one is to be about the world outside of techniques and corners of Rajasthan..it would probably be about the world of entertainment..

We enter into the world of Kasauli where Tamanna has gotten into a music school and on her first day she gets told, “You need to find your voice”

Ouch..I get it now. The lines at the starting.. when you can have all the inspiration in life but how to use it in your current life..it mostly doesn’t happen.. (One would really feel for Tamanna here)

I get it..its too tricky..

We get a whole new year bunch of characters with their storylines (You see, the outside world)..

In today’s world, I always admire a storyteller/ director who doesn’t shy away from trying new things..

It might be as simple as changing cinematography for musical performances from season 1 or going a bit more for the modern music. Anand Tiwari has taken his time but arrived in style..Him making its absolutely clear that this time it’s not only about techniques..but how well a musician can perform and woo the audience..it’s like walking into the life of a musician..first they learn what is music and then they learn what’s it to perform for a crowd..all things equally important..

This time no one theme is overpowering the others..its like we’ve put in 5 little plots, themes and characters almost giving everyone a equal chance to fight for their spot..

This is where it briliiantly builds up on S1..it continues the story but changes the gears altogether..

There’s an original composition, Tamanna sings,

Jism ke Makaan se, Khaamakha,

Beh rahe toofan the, Khaamakha,

Raat do tarfa chalti rahi raat bhar, Khaamakha,

(Link for the song ;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ9ZRMN4gck

 

There’s other brilliant songs like Holdin On, Yeh Raat, Ghar aaja Maahi, Nirmohiya, Araj Suno, Garaj Garaj Rock version.. In all the new ones, they used 2 of their compositions so well that its downright brilliant –

• Using the last part of the title theme briliantly into all situations of conflict.
• Using a Lofi version of Sajan Bin Piano version in background

A  musical doesn’t become great by having huge productions and beautiful songs..its also how well you place your songs too..Me and a friend were recently discussing about a show (One Day) where they almost in every scene put the right song and right tune which made everything so much more impactful..

There’s a song Mohini and Digvijay were singing at an event..Savan Mohe Tarsaye (Beautiful Lyrics) which goes on to continue in the background and shows Tamanna coming at event and finally sitting besides Radhe..almost like a wish come true for Radhe..quenching his thirst to meet his love..

These little things are what makes a foundation to great piece of content and art. It’s the details of scenes like these which inspired me to write these long long paragraphs.

When we talk about lovers, I cant not mention these beautiful lines which end up giving the title to the final episode -

Qaraar to ye hua tha,

Mehek ko hain humne zinda rakhna,

Toh Phool ka safar hai ek ye bhi,

Teri Kitaboon mein Jeete rehna..

Magar Kitaabo mein jo sambhala ,

 Vo phool main agar main  kabhi na chunta,

Toh mehek banke wo meri yaado ke Gulista main sada mahakta

 

I think I’ve explained quite a lot of themes this show has to offer above. And for somebody like me, if you give great music, drama and love story, that’s a good recipe.

But after 2 seasons, I think 1 theme has stuck with me like none other, and I go back to the show again and again because somewhere it’s a nuanced representation of competition/ woes of 2 lovers who are competing against each other for their passion.

It always talks about how Radhe and Tamanna make each other feel.

Its show how they are insecure against each other in different senses. How it ultimately affects them and shapes their personality and confidence.

How difficult is it to control the chaos of their chemistry getting hit again and again by their love for music.

It’s a beautiful journey how their love for music sees emotions (towards each other) of envy, jealousy and competitiveness convert into acceptance and ultimately fuelling their passion of music by inspiring each other time and time again. There could not be amore befitting scene than Radhe being in awe of her composition and crying over her creation. That’s what love does, makes you feel things you never thought you were capable of feeling. How a lover can not be more proud of his partner achieving something she always wanted. Some of the lines of that song were written so beautifully –

 

Tu musafir bhatka hai,

Khudme hi kyu atka hai

Tu musafir bhatka hai,

Tu jawab khud tere khat ka hai

Tu jo dhoond raha hai v otoh tujhme hi khoya hai

Tu toh payega vo kyaab jo asal mein Boya hai..

 

INSPIRATION..

Still not sure how it works and how the inspiration drawn out of these BEAUTIFUL shows and musical can help us in our current live real lives.

Though when I think of this, I started writing blogs with an intention of my habit of writing not moving away from me. It started in the last week of December 2019 where I promised myself to write 1 entry each month. Well. I could almost keep this up for 10 months and than it was sort of 1 entry every 6 months.

I don’t know, maybe I lacked the willpower for it or maybe it was a question of inspiration.

Sometimes it so difficult in life, to see someone younger being better than you at something. Better in thinking, better in writing, better in frequencies and better in expressing. This all becomes so much more difficult when it’s a dear friend.

I once saw a post of hers on something I had also thought about writing earlier. I was in awe of the difference in observation and sharpness of writing. I’m sure I was envy and jealous of her for quite some time. Then came another and another post of hers, each one better than the other. Somehow, after reading one of her later posts, that jealousness, enviness converted into admiration and slowly inspiration. When nothing was working for my blogs, maybe her posts were one of the key things which added fuel to the fire and inspired/ pushed me to write things even if they are half cooked or not as great.

Its almost funny how she would not know this, how she would one day ask me what to do of this inspiration and how does it help her in her current real life, her having no idea how her writing through the inspiration she drew from these shows helped me and keep on helping me everytime I choose to write something.

Funny, how these things works..

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Hope you do watch this show. Link for Season 1 Trailer

Also, if I’m talking about 2024, nobody should miss this 1 show by TVF which I think was the best Mini series show ever made in history of Hindi shows. Please, please watch this 5 episode show before the year ends. It’s a low budget show but has nailed things like music, dialogues, screenplay and acting to a level of perfection which our movies also miss these days. The show’s called “Sapne vs Everyone” (Its free to watch on youtube on TVF channel)

Link for the trailer --- > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOboQz4p0lM

One of the pieces my friend wrote a while ago ->

 https://justlikehoney249852471.wordpress.com/2023/07/31/19-mann-kasturi-re/