A camp Bappi Lahiri song is inspiring musicians from Italy to France

The music composer has happily lifted ‘samples’ for decades. Now his song ‘Come Closer’ for a 1984 film is being sampled by others.

Nate Rabe

· Aug 22, 2019 · 11:30 am

The Bengali homemaker whose ‘Disco Jazz’ album has become a ‘holy grail’ after 40 years of anonymity

Rupa Biswas once seemed destined for fame and a career in pop, but Nazia Hassan’s ‘Disco Deewane’ got in the way.

Nate Rabe

· Apr 23, 2019 · 11:30 am

Severed limbs and rivers of blood: The film that inspired Fawad Khan’s ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’

The 1979 Pakistani classic stars Sultan Rahi and his glistening axe on a quest for honour and revenge.

Nate Rabe

· Jan 15, 2019 · 08:15 am

I was raised in a missionary family but only have disgust and anger for Chau’s actions in Andamans

Behind the American’s smiling face lies the same sort of philosophy that motivates Islamic State beheaders in Syria and RSS mosque demolishers in Ayodhya.

Nate Rabe

· Nov 29, 2018 · 08:00 am

Patna-born Gary Boyle is the greatest guitarist you’ve never heard of

He played with Jimi Hendrix, opened for the Rolling Stones, and hung out with The Beatles. His story is one of the most unlikely of rock and roll tales.

Nate Rabe

· Nov 28, 2018 · 11:30 am

Sound of Lollywood: ‘Ay Bhai Ay Mister!’ is the highlight of a virtuoso soundtrack

The track is from the 1978 hit ‘Seeta Maryam Margaret’, starring the Pakistani star Rani. and scored by A Hameed.

Nate Rabe

· May 25, 2018 · 07:30 pm

Sound of Lollywood: There are movies with lots of songs, and then there is ‘Ishq-e-Laila’

Iqbal Bano sings one of the best tunes in a superb soundtrack by Safdar Hussain.

Nate Rabe

· Mar 11, 2018 · 07:30 pm

Sound of Lollywood: The one song in ‘Black Mail’ that is worth the price of admission

It is called ‘Don’t Drink Darling’ (naturally).

Nate Rabe

· Feb 18, 2018 · 07:30 pm

Sound of Lollywood: To French hit ‘Ne me quitte pas’ with love and the same regret

Jacques Brel’s 1959 pop hit gets repurposed for the Pakistani movie ‘Amber’ from 1978.

Nate Rabe

· Feb 04, 2018 · 08:30 pm

Sound of Lollywood: Comedy ‘Uff Yeh Beevian’ has one redeeming feature, and it’s a song

‘Zinda Rahein to Kiski Khatir’ has been composed by the prolific M Ashraf.

Nate Rabe

· Dec 02, 2017 · 01:30 pm

Sound of Lollywood: A touch of warm Bengali folk music in ‘Aakhri Station’

Suroor Barabankvi’s movie, set in East Pakistan, is an underrated labour of love.

Nate Rabe

· Nov 18, 2017 · 01:30 pm

Sound of Lollywood: When the Sabri brothers qawaali ‘Bhar Do Jholi’ saved the day

There is little else to recommend in the 1975 Pakistani movie ‘Bin Badal Barsaat’.

Nate Rabe

· Nov 02, 2017 · 09:15 am