A whole lot of music, one terrific song , and a busload of cliches about tortured artists mark AR Rahman’s debut production. 99 Songs , bas...
A whole lot of music, one terrific song, and a busload of cliches about tortured artists mark AR Rahman’s debut production. 99 Songs, based on a story by Rahman and a screenplay by director Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, revolves around a musician who goes through a trial by fire before emerging pure and shiny. The title refers to the pursuit of that one tune that will stop the globe from spinning, reunite estranged lovers and bring about social revolution.
Yes, no less than revolution. This deadly earnest movie starts off in one place, heads elsewhere and finally lands up in La La Land. Despite an impressive performance by lead actor Ehan Bhat and several soulful tunes, 99 Songs is that rare beast – an uninvolving saga about the joys and healing power of music.
Jai (Ehan Bhat) is a talented singer-songwriter in love with the speech-impaired Sophie (Edilsy Vargas). Sophie’s Mafiosi-like father (Ranjit Barot) separates the happy couple, arguing that there is no money in a musical career. He’s clearly never heard of AR Rahman.
The businessman throws Jai a challenge: compose a song that will change the world. A creative funk sends Jai to Shillong, where his college buddy and drummer Polo (Tenzin Dalha) lives with his gargantuan clan. Jai also meets Sheela...
