Rediff recommends

May 7, 2004

Movies

Music

Thirteen -- English
Catherine Hardwicke
It's a hard life for a teenager! Thirteen is about misguided adolescents indulging in sex, drugs and shoplifting. Brilliantly directed by Catherine Hardwicke and superbly performed by Holly Hunter, Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed, Thirteen is hard-hitting. You cannot miss this one.

Balto (Animation) -- English
Simon Wells
Triumph against all odds and pedigree. Everyone, except those born with a silver spoon and a golden plate, will connect with Balto. A half wolf-half dog, Balto has his own statue in NYC's Central Park. Balto was a husky who, in the winter of 1925, led a dogsled team through a blizzard to get desperately needed medicine to Nome, Alaska, site of a fatal diphtheria epidemic. A must watch for those searching for inspiration.

Mirch Masala -- Hindi
Ketan Mehta
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Don't believe it? Watch Ketan Mehta's Mirch Masala. The film shows the plight of rural women in feudal India. How the village women stand up against a tyrant forms the crux of the story. Not to mention inspiring performances from Smita Patil, Ratna Pathak, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak and Deepti Naval.

Agni Nakshatram -- Tamil
Mani Ratnam
1987. Bollywood was still caught up in garish sets, loud, inane songs and megavision dishum dishums. But in Chennai, one filmmaker was making audiences eat out of his hands. Subtlety, diffused lighting, realistic fights, plain logic, a controlled Prabhu and a livewire Kartik were his weapons. And Agni Nakshatram was the film. A landmark movie which never got the recognition it deserved up north; the film maker had the final laugh when his Roja was a stupendous all-India hit. The film-maker, by the way, was Mani Ratnam.

Bread
The Best of Bread
A must-own collection from an outstanding band of the late 1960s and early 1970s, it has 20 tracks, of which Guitar man, Diary, If, Daughter and Baby I'm a want you will trigger some happy lovesick memories. The Best Of Bread deserves a place in your collection for its intelligent lyrics and brilliant musicianship, and also because it is so hard to come by at music stores.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook
Night Song
Remixing Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is usually termed as a musical sacrilege. But when Michael Brook decided to add his two bits to the genius's glowing compositions, it was magic. Night Song is unique because it enriches the power and mystique of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's music and yet leaves it unadulterated, without meshing it with jarring beats. For anyone who enjoys Sufi music, this album has great repeat value. Truly timeless.

Eric Clapton and BB King
Riding With The King
The sound of two great Blues guitarists in conversation, Riding With The King brings Eric Clapton together with his muse, the legendary B B King. Do all you can to own this one. Standout tracks include Riding with the king, Key to the highway and I want to marry you.

Madhumati
Salil Chowdhary
Music is one of the USPs of Bimal Roy's black and white classic, Madhumati. Salil Chowdhary's music covered a myriad of emotions. Who can forget the haunting melody of Suhana safar, Aaje re pardesi, Dil tadap tadap and Bicchua.