Today I watched my first Bollywood film music launch event - for Chennai Express - via live video, care of BollywoodHungama on YouTube. The film is scheduled to be released in India on August 8.
Updated 7/4/2013: I embedded the video archive of the music launch below.
Here are my impressions of the event.
It was ROWDY.
The first item on the agenda was unexpected - the launch of an ASUS detachable touch screen along with an announcement of a Facebook/ASUSIndia contest giveaway of one of these computers signed by Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty.
Then dancers took the stage to perform along with the music. Because of his shoulder injury, Shah Rukh Khan wasn't able to perform. I am pleased that he is taking his health seriously, but I can't help but think I missed something without SRK. (I guess I'll just have to wait for the movie!)
Earlier in the day composer Vishal Dadlani, tweeted that the music of Chennai Express was written in homage to Tamil music:
So glad my South Indian friends are feeling the #ChennaiExpress music! It's a genuine homage toTamil music we've heard/loved down the years!
— VISHAL DADLANI (@V1SH4L) July 3, 2013
Shortly before the event began, Daily Bhaskar liveblogged: "8:02 PM: Shah Rukh Khan bars the entry of journos who are not wearing lungis at the event." I didn't know whether this was true or not, but it make me look up the word "lungi." It turns out it is the name for a very familiar piece of clothing. This apparel is the cloth, often of brightly colored silk or cotton, used as a piece of clothing, especially the traditional skirtlike garment of India, Pakistan, and Myanmar (Burma).
In a post-launch story (SRK unveils music of 'Chennai Express'), I found out that:
Going with the theme of the film, mediapersons were given 'mund' and 'lungi', the traditional attire of South Indians.
What a fun idea - and definitely not reflected in the earlier Daily Baskar post. During the event, SRK said he had a better appreciation for women who wore skirts and men who wore lungis because they definitely kept you cooler in the heat.
Once the composers and other performers started filling the stage, SRK began bringing people to center stage, moving people as they were named, highlighting their contribution to the film. It was a gentle dance of recognition that SRK seemed very comfortable performing.
During the event, the live video kept freezing so there was a lot of the launch that I missed. Questions did arise about other issues about SRK in the news, which he addressed head on by asking people to focus on the film and not on his personal life. Good for you, SRK.
When Rohit Shetty was asked if he was moving from blowing up cars to blasting trains, he said
"No I'm not blasting any trains, but you will have a blast watching this train."
There wasn't any dearth of SRK fans watching online - some of the online comments included:
"SRK is the real McDreamy."
"deepika i love youuuuu <3 pls come to indonesia :))))"
"SRK's so smart + sweet--love him!!"
"SRK was in top witty form, making even glitches worth it. We already know the music is great!"
"This looks like a fan interaction rather than a press conference!"
"In which music launch event, international media comes!! guys,this is SRK magic!!!!!"
Abhishek Sharma (@abhu_sharma) posted a Chennai Express music review over on Indicine that is worth checking out. Here is the video from the music launch event.
Photo source: Facebook|SHAHRUKH KHAN ARCHIVE-- KOLKATA's Photos