Movie Review: Shakalaka Boom Boom

After reading the comment made by Aam Bhartiya Aadmi in Sunil's post - What is wrong with the word "Bollywood" and this movie review about Shaka laka Boom Boom. I have not seen the movie yet, but what I get from reading your post is enough for me to judge. I am feeling helpless in front of this relentless assault on Bhartiya tradition.

This movie is about two musicians fighting it out. The basic premise itself is wrong according to Bhartiya tradition. According to Bhartiya tradition of Guru Sishya Parampara music is something which is considered as an art form that has to be a way of life. Saraswati is Goddess of intellect and art, musicians should consider music as sacred and do "Saadhna". A Musicians goal should be to perfect the art form, strive for mastery based on "Bhakti" towards the Goddesss Saraswati. Musician should not strive for name and fame, which is an insult to the music.

The only objective of the lead roles in this movie is to achieve top spot in music industry. But Gita states that...

"Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana, Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani

SRIMAD BHAGVAD GITA

Meaning: Do your duty and be detached from its outcome, do not be driven by the end product, enjoy the process of getting there.

The lead roles not only violate this principle but also do everything possible to achieve their evil goals, like using money muscle power to get rid of the other, using women etc etc. If this what a musician should do, if such behavior should be a norm for aspiring musicians, if such characters are to be role models for upcoming musicians which the movie promotes, then not even Goddess Saraswati can avoid the degradation of music.

The other thing I noticed is the peculiar name of the lead roles, AJ which sounds similar to DJ - Disc Jockey and Reggie which sounds similar to Reggae - a music genre. This nomenclature tries to prove the acceptance of such diverse musical traditions in India, but is far from truth, Indian people still love the melody created by the raag based songs, that is main reason for remix to be popular, although remix songs have musical instruments which are different from the original, the basic melody and soul remains in the song. Also I think not a single Indian understands or has an ear to appreciate the music based on Jazz or Reggae.

There seems to be a pattern emerging in the so called "Bollywood", which is trying to systematically eliminate the traditional beliefs. Homogenizing effects of globalization are starting to happen in India rather rapidly.

Chill out agnipankh...it's just a movie! and an entertaining one!

Agnipankh the premise of the story of shakalaka boom boom is so far fetched that I don't think most Indians would take it seriously.....yet I agree there might be some naive musicians who would believe that they can live like AJ, Reggie if they get successful....well they'll have to learn the hard way.....

but I think it's not the movie's fault, I think the spirit of competition is commonplace and its a basic human trait whether or not our scriptures acknowledge it.....

Again I think our film makers are so concerned about pleasing the overseas Indians by throwing a ton of pseudo American stuff in there that what turns out to be is a real mockery.....maybe some Indians living abroad like that stuff....but there are others who don't and I think the average folks living in India don't really care about the whole shabang either.....

listen agnipankh...
I suggest you take some classes in Indian music, or atleast Indian folk music before you set out lambasting people with diverse tastes. Globalization does not mean americanization or homogenization, acc to me. People like you, who operate from a fear psychosis, and are hell bent on preserving 'sanskriti' are the biggest threats to the so-called tradition because your ignorance does more harm than good.
the movie in no way glorifies Indian culture, none of the 2 musicians listen to their rspective gurus.
and i m a classical musician, i play the tabla and I love jazz.does that make me a bad indian? open your eyes, and your heart to the best of the rest of the world. america isnt just about hollywood, just like you are not about shakalaka whatever.
its sad that we are aping the americans, but it stems out of a colonial and racial complex, and we must start taking pride in our culture, by learning about it! and what is culture anyway.. is it something like a table, with four legs, on which you put your morning vada pav? its something to preserve and also share... so that it spreads... good examples of this kind of interaction are yoga and indian classical dance.
It is because of 'helpless' people like you that the country is slipping into saas-bahu kind of ignorance. grow up and love india for what it is... and stop talking through your hat like a VHP kinda activist...

Hey! This is just a movie made to entertain the mass...I don't think that the director, producer and the entire crew is trying to let down Indian music.. I haven't seen the movie yet, but i can say that if this DJ and Reggie are Indian characters based in NY and have been in NY for quite some time, they would have the ear for jazz and Reggae and they would appreciate it...If we truly love music, we can find a raaga in any type of music...and i do not agree to agnipankh's view of bollywood trying to systemmatically eliminate traditional beliefs...i believe that everyone is just confused as they don't understand the taste of the ever fluctuating youth in India....

notintellectuallystuntedunlikeyou
Agnipankh did not said anything against Jazz or Reggae, he just stated that according to him Indians dont know much about these diverse musical traditions. You play tabla and you love Jazz , nobody will say you are a bad Indian. Other points you raised those are your opinions and you are entitled to have those opinions.

I think you are sidetracking the main issue. The main issue is about the plot of the movie, which revolves around two musicians fighting it out using all strong arm tactics and bullying. If the movie is trying to promote this behavior as modern trend then they are completely wrong.

Indians have very short memory, not long ago Lata Mangeshkar was accused of suppressing Asha Bhosale and ruining her carreer. If Lata Mangeshkar's so called behavior was projected as bad, why this movie is trying to promote that behavior of perverted rivalry?

Sunil Chaudhary
I think you are treading on a dangerous path by questioning the relevance of our scriptures in the modern times. Our age old scriptures are timeless. The moral values they preach are timeless. And yes , competitive spirit does not mean you should have a brawl with anyone like the European football fans do while they go on a rampage in a wild frenzy. Competition should be in the mind of an individual, with his own conscience, which keeps him showing the mirror of truth. The biggest victory is the victory on the basic human instincts and carnal desires and achieving control of the five senses.

First of all, I saw the movie on Youtube and the only reason I regret doing so is becaue I would have liked to see Upen in better quality since I am a big fan of hot guyz. Having said that, the movie is not for the tough crowd. To enjoy this movie one must ignore facts BIGTIME. For instance, I didn't even reaize that it was set in NY until Ruhi says "India se phone aaya tha." It was so obsurd that I didn't even register the fact, completely ignored it, and was reminded when I was reading this review.

I don't want to be repeitive so I am just going to say that I completely agree with "notintellectuallystuntedunlikeyou."

About music, must say that I love the tittle track, both the originals and the remix. Typical of Himesh to come up with one really good track in an album of mediocre songs.

its a sick movie . only watch if you want to torture yourself.ugh
its so stupid you cant even make fun of it, total disaster.srsly

Whatever Agnipankh said abt Indian culture is very much correct.

But he must also acknowledge the fact that in the end Bobby Deol or AJ, gets severly punished as he gets deaf.

Now this is the law of Karma.

If u do bad to others, bad will come upon you as well. You wont be spared

Similarly what Upen or reggea does in the movie is also wrong. Dumping off celina, hating Kangana, back biting Bobby Deol etc are also wrong things and he also faces the law of karma...

He gets tooo unwell at the end, remember

So dont worry agnipankh, the world is still not that bad that it can allow only the evil to flourish and the good to perish.

Also somebody above mentioned abt Lata Asha rivalry.

Inspite of all attempts from Lata to crucify Asha's career, Asha was successful and is more successful than Lata Is.. Lata is milited to singing Bhajans, Bhakti sangeet and love duets..She is not as versatile as Asha is
Asha can do any number at level best. Most surprising was her voice in Rangeela, Taal and Lagaan...Even at that age she sung those sungs wonderfully.

Lata has a cank voice and she shud retire...Lukka Chupi bahut hui, thak gayee hain ab juntaa