narenmusic

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Salman Elahi/ Elahi (album) Label: Self-released  Rating: ***** Hailing from Kaimganj in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai-settled singer-songwriter Salman Elahi first hit the headlines with his song 'Pahadon Mein' five years ago. He's now out with his album Elahi , and what strikes you again is the simplicity of the songs and the honesty of the writing. Here's a set that grows with each listen, making it one of the best releases of the past few months. The single 'Mukhatib', released with its video in September, sets the tone with lines like, "Dekho yeh duniya kitni haseen, aur tum toh kuchh kam nahin" and "Hai waqt abhi bhi, khud se ek baar mil, umeed ke bageeche mein banke tu phool khil". The song has a wonderful acoustic version, with Subhashree Purkayastha joining on vocals. The songs are mostly motivational, talking of the ups and downs of life, and dealing with situations. 'Raza', accompanied by a beautiful...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Film review/ A Complete Unknown  Director : James Mangold  Cast : Timothee Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Edward Norton, Scoot McNairy  Rating : ***** Hey Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me, I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to. It's been over 24 hours since I saw A Complete   Unknown , director John Mangold's cinematic ode to the Bob Dylan genius, and I'm sitting on the terrace, with one more cup of coffee, trying to pen my thoughts. I've seen all the big-screen biopics, of Queen and Doors, Elvis and Elton John, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles, Whitney Houston and Loretta Lynn, of manipulators of crowds, dream twisters. Perhaps, this one tops it all, though it technically isnt a full-fledged biopic as it covers only four years of Dylan's life. Maybe I'm biased because of that Dylan obsession that began in college 42 years ago and continues even now while trying to stay forever young. To our 1960s generation, ma...