[REVIEW] Indian movies, lyrics, AR RAhman

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[REVIEW] Indian movies, lyrics, AR RAhman
jaihoon
08/12/01 at 05:40:23
Q: Why is it that the songs these days go out of people's mind soon unlike the old numbers?

AR Rahman: In those days, the lyrical value was greater in songs...

. . . I want my music to reach everywhere. If I play rock, only youngsters will understand, while older people will say "Why is he shouting like this?". (From the interview with The Hindu Daily)

A song from A.R. Rahman, inspired by the Sufi saint of Basra, Rabia Basri.  http://www.jaihoon.com/studio/onlyu.htm

(Rabia was one of the mystic saints in the early days of Islam. She spent her nights in prayers and had only a wink of sleep and regretted even that much. Among her prayers was "O my Lord, the stars are shining and the eyes of men are closed and the kings have shut their doors and every lover is with his beloved and here am I alone with thee".)
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
proudtobemuslim
09/21/00 at 07:03:03
slm

umm... sorry but what's your point?

Wassalam-u-Alaikum
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Saleema
09/21/00 at 16:06:28
Salam,

No offense, Sherdil Khan, but you don't understand abstract expressions well, do you, and the deeper meanings of things?  :)  You can be blunt, you know.  :)

Jaihoon here, likes poetry very much.  She/He?? ,(sorry j. don't know who you are), always posts poetry and interesting articles. She/He has her own website. I'm sure Jaihoon will respond back to you.

hmmm... I think I'm responding for her/him and maybe I shouldn't? I hope you don't mind J.

Wassalam,

Saleema
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
jaihoon
09/21/00 at 16:43:07
hmmm. Before i kick off, J is supposed to be HE!

Now. I don't mind someone else responding.

I think Saleema has made the point clear enough.
Of course there are perceptionary blocks in communication.
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
09/21/00 at 17:09:30
Assalamu alaikum,
[quote]She/He?? ... She/He ... her/him[/quote]
Interesting!  I've never seen anybody else use this terminology before.  I was having a hard time reading because of this "unusual" ordering!  Amazing how we get accustomed to these things without even realizing it.

Have your english teachers ever objected to this?

Arsalan
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Saleema
09/21/00 at 23:43:29
Salam,

Lol

Nope, don't use that actually. When referring to both male and female I always use Him. I only use the he/she when I am referring to someone specifically and don't know their gender.

Wassalam
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
proudtobemuslim
09/24/00 at 06:36:03
slm

Hey, you can't blame me for anything... i acknowledged my ignorance when i said "sorry".

The reason i didn't geddit was because A.R. Rahman is a famous music writer for Hindi films (neither of which I am a fan of), and I don't believe in mystical sufis... even if she makes eloquent dua's.

Wassalam-u-Alaikum
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Saleema
09/24/00 at 16:43:46
Salam,

A muslim writes hindi films?1? Astaghferullah! The things that go on in those movies! I hear they are catching up with the west

Yuck!

Wassalam
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
09/24/00 at 16:47:44
He doesn't write Hindi films, he writes songs for the movies.

Hey, what's wrong with soothing, romantic lyrics for the comfort of the soul?!?

Wassalam.

[Sarcasm intended]
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Moe
09/24/00 at 21:03:02
some hidi movies are ok but alot of the new ones are turning in to the ones in the west!
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
09/25/00 at 00:04:56
[quote]some hidi movies are ok [/quote]
:o
Umm ... like??
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
proudtobemuslim
09/25/00 at 10:42:55
Assalam-u-Alaikum,

I did say in my post that he was a music writer... but hey he's still part of the managerie.  Hindi (or hidi) movies aside, people should see some the Pakistani movies that are made.  yes, I have names but i dont think you guys really wanna know.

And you know what the worst part it?  Actors/actresses say in interviews, "Masha-Allah/Al-Hamdulillah so far I have starred in over 50 movies!"

Wassalam-u-Alaikum
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
09/25/00 at 10:58:12
Come on proud, give the poor actors a break!  How many of them even know the meanings of "MashaAllah" and "Alhamdulillah"!  To them, they're simply expressions that keep the evil eye away!

Wassalamu alaikum.

[Sarcasm intended]
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Harun
10/02/00 at 02:13:15
its pretty sad that u are doggin on people u dont know... AR Rahman was a hindu who became muslim, its straight wrong to be judging someone you never met never encountered and barely even heard of.  I agree Hindi movies are nonsense but still what gives you the right to judge someone and use cynicism and saracasm as a front... thats a shame
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
10/02/00 at 02:22:36
Assalamu alaikum,

Harun, with all due respect, if you have any idea what kind of fitna Bollywood is spreading in Pakistan, (and Urdu speaking people all over the world actually) you would not defend anyone working in the industry.  Muslim or non.  

The fact of the matter is that A R Rahman is a very famous music writer in Bollywood, and has probably composed hundreds of songs by now.  Most of these songs are directly or indirectly involved in deviating the masses in Pakistan, increasing their addiction to Hindu culture, ideology and cinematography!  And if you have lived in Pakistan, you know that the two biggest threats and challenges to Islam in Pakistan are Bollywood and the Dish (which also contains mostly Bollywood productions).
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Harun
10/02/00 at 02:54:25
hey im not defending anyone... i am advising you to stay away from backbiting... if you want to attack the industry do so, but not an individual.
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
jannah
10/02/00 at 10:13:37
Good point br Harun, we really don't know anything about AR Rehman and we especially don't know his intentions or his qalb enough to judge him.

It's true about the "satellite dishes" and "movies" in general, they determine how people dress, what's cool, in lifestyle and behavior. This is a phenomenon in many countries.. ie all the Arab countries as well as asia.
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
bhaloo
10/02/00 at 11:11:08
slm

I remeber when the dishes first came in there, and was amazed at how obsessed people became with them.  That's all they coould talk about.  Its taken over their lives. :(
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
10/02/00 at 12:24:10
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

My dear brother Harun, although I appreciate your advice, I have two problems with what you have said.

1.  Your statement: if you want to attack the industry do so, but not an individual.  When did I ever attack A.R. Rahman in my posts before yesterday?  My first sarcastic comment was directed towards those people who justify the listening of music by calling it "soothing" and "comfort of the soul."  Read the post again carefully.  

My second sarcasm was directed towards actors in general!  It was not towards A.R. Rahman, let alone any musician!

So up to that point, I don't think there is anything that I (or anyone else) said that can be called "backbiting" of A.R. Rahman!  

2. My second problem with your post is your view about backbiting.  In general, backbiting of Muslims is prohibited, I agree.  But there are exceptions to this rule.  Please read the tafsir of Abul A'la Mawdudi of Surah al-Hujurat, ayah 12.  He mentions 6 cases in which backbiting is allowed.  #2 and #4 are as follows:

- "To make mention of the evils of a person (or persons) with the intention of reform before those who can be expected to help remove from evils." (Note: I expect all of us on this list to be among those who are helping the ummah remove evils by means of exhortation and da'wah).

- "To warn people of the mischiefs of a person (or persons) so that they may ward off the evil, e.g. it is not only permissible but obligatory to mention the weaknesses of the reporters, witnesses and writers, for without it, it is not possible to safeguard the Shari'ah against the propagation of false reoprts, the courts against injustices and the common people or the students against errors and misunderstandings..."

Furthermore, see in [i]Riyadh-us-Saliheen[/i], under the Book of the Prohibited Actions (Book #17), chapter 256 "Some Cases Where It is Permissible to Backbite."  Again, there are 6 cases mentioned, and one of them is as follows:

- "One who criticizes those who openly commit acts of disobedience, such as drinking wine, gambling, engaging in immoral habits, fornication, hypocrisy and making mischief."

If writing music for Bollywood is not "act of disobedience" and "making mischief" I don't know what it is!  And it is obvious at A.R. Rahman is a public figure, and he's not doing something bad within the 4 walls of his house.

It is for these reasons that I said what I said in my last post.  And if you disagree with it still, then you have that right.

Wallahu a'lam.

Wassalamu alaikum.
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
jaihoon
10/02/00 at 14:41:52
what difference is there in lollywood ? Except that it is less succesful in commercial terms in aping its Indian counterpart ...

when nation cannot maintain its own 'pakiza' , why put the blame on its neighbors?
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Arsalan
10/02/00 at 14:54:18
Assalamu alaikum,

Jaihoon, lollywood is no different.  It's actually worst in some respects.  But the fact that it's not as "productive" as bollywood makes a world of a difference!  What "good" is a shaytaan that can't even tempt?!?

As to where the blame needs to be put, it's both!  Both the whisperer and the nafs are to be blamed.  The whisperer for its whisperings, and the weak nafs for heeding to them.  

Wassalam.
P.S. For those who're completely lost, Bollywood is the name of the Indian film industry and Lollywood is the name of the Pakistan film industry.
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Harun
10/02/00 at 16:13:26
arsalan... im just expressin what i get from your post now what you mean... im not accusing you of backbitin rather i am ADVISING you to keep away... i mean sarcasm is not a tool a muslim should use... When we warn we should do it with hikmah and straight up... say what you gotta say.  The concept of the thread was discussion of AR Rahman, that is why I advise you to do so...
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Saleema
10/03/00 at 01:49:38
Assalamoalykum,

If A. R. Rahman wants to wrie songs, I wonder why can't he write clean songs? Songs that don't encourage immorality, fornication, leaving one's friends and family for some guy or girl.

As they say, sex sells. And it sells high in India too. In pakistan as well to some degree.

You know what I find pathetic? That they, Pakistan and India, couldnt come up with their own original names for the movie industry.

I think Lollywood is really funny.  LOL
:)
:)

Wassalam
Re: In those days, the lyrical value was greater...
Anonymous
11/06/00 at 15:07:55
Maybe music is over rated, I mean it is simillar to a drug
once you have a little bit you always need more and it hinders the mind
to fully think, etc... I could go on for hours about why music is bad
for the soul, the fact is that yes the nafs loves music but it is so bad
for you.  I wont go into the technicalities of stringed instruments or
the rulings about "halal" music in Islam but currently there isnt
anything healthy in music movies or television everything is related to sex
and other types of kuffar, needless to say immoral and something that
isnt good for Muslims.  My point is that music should not be such a
priority I mean its not good for you so you do the math.  Perhaps one
should abstain from music movies and television itself they are bad but they
lead to much greater sins, I can say that from my own experiance.  So
we should try not to be a part of these forms of kuffar and haram.


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