Mumbai March 9, 2009: A soul-stirring musical experience is how writer-director Piyush Jha describes the music of ‘Sikandar’ that was launched today by BIG Music. The film set to release on 24th April is a co-production between BIG Pictures, the motion pictures brand from Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd and Sudhir Mishra’s production house CineRaas Ltd.
At the music launch of ‘Sikandar’ the ambience was set alive by the live performance of Shankar Mahedvan who sang ‘Dhoop Ke Sikke’ a soulful melody penned by Prasoon Joshi, who especially wrote the song after watching the first cut of the film. Mohit Chauhan got everybody emotional by singing an adaptation of the famous nazm ‘Gulon Mein Rang Bhare’ a dedication to the famous Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, adapted for the film by lyricist Neelesh Misra. Also present at the music launch were music director Ehsaan- Loy, Lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Co-Producer Sudhir Mishra, Writer-Director Piyush Jha, Music Directors Sandesh Shandilya, Justin-Uday and Lyricist Neelesh Misra and Kumaar, Singer Shilpa Rao.
“The film triggered a thought in me–to see the human side of a terrorist; to look into his childhood, his dreams etc. Am sure with the help of Shankar Eshaan Loy’s great composition this song will be a thought provoking one”. says Prasoon Joshi, the lyricist of the song ‘Dhoop Ke Sikke’.
Unveiled at the music launch was the music video especially created for ‘Dhoop Ke Sikke’ featuring Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the music directors of this song. The video projects Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy performing the evocative song to the crowd with moments from the movie giving life to the words and a new meaning to the message that the song wants to convey.
Kulmeet Makkar, Chief Executive Officer, BIG Music & Home Entertainment, says, “Sikandar’s soundtrack is a rare one. We have the best of lyricists and composers collaborating for making some spectacular music. The ‘Dhoop Ke Sikke’ track with Shankar and Prasoon stands out. Mohit Chauhan and KK have done some incredible singing for ‘Gulon Mein’. The entire album is a music lover’s delight¿.
Says Mahesh Ramanathan, COO BIG Pictures Sikandar’s music album is a connoisseur’s delight. The range is extra-ordinary from the soulful “Gulon Mein” to the invigorating “Dhoop Ke Sikke”. The music is as stirring as the film promises to be. The music talent associated with the film is the finest in the country & should go a long way in energizing audience interest in the film”
The film music album has 7 songs beginning with ‘Dhoop Ke Sike’ followed by lyricist Neelesh Misra paying a tribute to the famous Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz by taking the opening mukda from his famous ghazal ‘Gulon Mein’, and has penned two new versions. What’s interesting though is how the song subtly and metaphorically fits perfectly with the film. The song has two versions, a slow serene version by music director Justin-Uday and an upbeat version by music director Sandesh Shandilya. The old ghazal is deftly modernized with the use of contemporary singers like Mohit Chauhan and KK and using western orchestration to make the entire experience relevant to these times.
Yash Narvekar & Hrishikesh Kamerkar set a spiritual mood with ‘Allah Hoo’ as lyricist Kumar precisely depicts Sikandar’s quest for finding the right path. Justin-Uday has given a divine and spiritual pace to the song with their music.
Adding a touch of authenticity is ‘Arzoo’, a Naat, a traditional hymn sung in School assemblies in Jammu and Kashmir. The director has chosen a new voice of Mehrajuddin, a young boy from Aru- Jammu and Kashmir to make the song sound as genuine and truthful as possible. A peppy number ‘Manzaraat’, penned by Kumar which is based on traditional Kashmiri folk music sung in Mehndi functions in Kashmir, composed by Justin- Uday and sung by Shilpa Rao, adds zing to the album.
The album concludes on an optimistic note of hope and harmony with the youthful song ‘Chaal Apni’ sung by Hrishikesh Kamerkar & Hamsika pulling together a great album which offers a spectrum of emotions and a journey of lifetime.
Sikandar’ is a film about a young boy who has a dream to play football for the National team. It’s about his aspirations and challenges and how his life unfolds when one fine day he finds a GUN on his way to school and what follows. ‘Sikandar’ is a suspense-thriller with it’s heart in the right place. Log on to the website www.sikandar.bigflix.com. TO DOWNLOAD FILM IMAGES plz log on to ftp://124.124.10.147/ Username: bigpicpress/ Password: bigpic123.
‘Sikandar’ stars Parzaan Dastur, the adorable little Sardar from film ‘Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai’, now in his teens, Ayesha Kapur of ‘Black’ Fame as she makes her come-back as a lead actress this time along with R. Madhavan, Sanjay Suri & introducing Arunoday Singh in key roles. The film has been written and directed by Piyush Jha.
About BIG Music & Home Video:
BIG Music & Home Entertainment has taken significant strides towards its objective of emerging as the dominant player in Indian Music & Home Entertainment.
Apart from releasing chart-busting music of Hindi films like Luck By Chance, Rock On!!, Love Story 2050, Johnny Gaddaar and Cash, the company has also released blockbusters such as Welcome, Jodhaa Akbar, Singh is Kinng and Rock On!! on home video.
The company is the exclusive licensee to 3 of Hollywood’s prestigious studios Universal Pictures International BV, Warner Home Video, Paramount Home Entertainment Global & Dream Works Animation SKG, Inc. With its robust pan India distribution network, the company will ensure reach for these Hollywood products, not only in urban market but also mass markets.
BIG Home Video has also released the best of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters straight to your Home. Watch the Oscar-nominated drama, The Kite Runner, a movie about love and betrayal. Grab you’re seats soon with action flicks like The Mummy 3 and Hellboy 2 as they take you through a trip down adventure lane. Follow Leonardo DiCaprio uncover a lead on a major terrorist leader in Body of Lies. Get your dose of superb Sci-Fi and animation with The Clone Wars as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of the dark side.
About Reliance Big Entertainment
Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL) (www.rbe.co.in ) is the flagship media and entertainment arm of Indian conglomerate, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), (www.relianceada.com) with significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.
RBEL’s motion picture brand BIG Pictures has built a formidable film production slate in Hindi, English & other Indian languages, which it markets & distributes worldwide. The slate has projects with leading production houses and marquee Indian directors like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, David Dhawan, Indra Kumar, Ravi Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Sudhir Mishra. Shaji N. Karun, Shyam Benegal, Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadev Dasgupta, M.S Sathyu & Amol Palekar,
On the Hollywood slate, BIG Pictures has development silos with Nicolas Cage’s Saturn Productions, Jim Carrey’s JC 23 Entertainment, George Clooney’s Smokehouse Productions, Chris Columbus’ 1492 Pictures, Tom Hanks’s PlayTone Productions, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Jay Roach’s Everyman Pictures.