Morning Raga
Encyclopedia
Morning Raga is an India
n film with most of the dialogue in English
, released in 2004. It was directed by Mahesh Dattani
and starred Bollywood
actresses Shabana Azmi
and Perizad Zorabian, and Telugu
actor Prakash. The film is unusual for its understated acting and extensive use of English
, albeit with a generous smattering of Godavari Telugu
.
The film focuses on three main characters - all Telugu - whose lives have each been ruined by past tragedies and how they are united by circumstance. These three are all connected by a love of music, and through this the film explores elements of classical Indian Carnatic music
, the raga
, and contemporary Indian music.
countryside, in the West Godavari
. Swarnalata (Shabana Azmi
) is a classically trained Carnatic singer who lost her son and best friend in a road accident. Swarnalata is still haunted by her loss, and keeps herself shut up in her grand house for twenty years, too depressed to meet people or even sing. Eventually her dead friend's son Abhinay (Prakash Rao) returns to the village to open up barely healed wounds. Abhinay and his girlfriend Pinky (Perizaad Zorabian
) are both musicians, albeit with more modern tastes, and are itching to make it big. Abhinay knows of Swarnalata's skill in Carnatic music. Abhinay wants Swarnalata to sing with his band in a fusion piece, and after much persuasion Swarnalata agrees. The young couple and the lady singer slowly bond as they play together, and slowly their common wounds are put behind them. A side plot involving Abhinay's girlfriend Pinky (Perizaad Zorabian
) and her mother (Lillete Dubey
) add comedy into an otherwise serious and thoughtful film. The film was photographed by Rajiv Menon and edited by A. Sreekar Prasad. Music was composed by Mani Sharma
.
country mansion and estate near the West Godavari village of Kulla.
One film critic wrote that, "Morning Raga is one of the most innovative and fresh films to come out of India in recent years".
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film with most of the dialogue in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, released in 2004. It was directed by Mahesh Dattani
Mahesh Dattani
Mahesh Dattani is an Indian director, actor and writer. He wrote plays like Final Solutions, Dance Like a Man,Bravely Fought the Queen,On a Muggy Night in Mumbai,Tara and 30 days in September...
and starred Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actresses Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India of Pune, she made her film debut in 1974 and soon became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, an Indian New Wave movement known for its serious content and...
and Perizad Zorabian, and Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
actor Prakash. The film is unusual for its understated acting and extensive use of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, albeit with a generous smattering of Godavari Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
.
The film focuses on three main characters - all Telugu - whose lives have each been ruined by past tragedies and how they are united by circumstance. These three are all connected by a love of music, and through this the film explores elements of classical Indian Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
, the raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
, and contemporary Indian music.
Plot
The story is set deep in the Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
countryside, in the West Godavari
West Godavari
West Godavari District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Eluru, is the district headquarter...
. Swarnalata (Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India of Pune, she made her film debut in 1974 and soon became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, an Indian New Wave movement known for its serious content and...
) is a classically trained Carnatic singer who lost her son and best friend in a road accident. Swarnalata is still haunted by her loss, and keeps herself shut up in her grand house for twenty years, too depressed to meet people or even sing. Eventually her dead friend's son Abhinay (Prakash Rao) returns to the village to open up barely healed wounds. Abhinay and his girlfriend Pinky (Perizaad Zorabian
Perizaad Zorabian
Perizaad Zorabian is an Indian actress. Her film debut was with Nagesh Kukunoor's Bollywood Calling and she gained international recognition for her role as Jenny in Subhash Ghai's Joggers' Park .-Early life:...
) are both musicians, albeit with more modern tastes, and are itching to make it big. Abhinay knows of Swarnalata's skill in Carnatic music. Abhinay wants Swarnalata to sing with his band in a fusion piece, and after much persuasion Swarnalata agrees. The young couple and the lady singer slowly bond as they play together, and slowly their common wounds are put behind them. A side plot involving Abhinay's girlfriend Pinky (Perizaad Zorabian
Perizaad Zorabian
Perizaad Zorabian is an Indian actress. Her film debut was with Nagesh Kukunoor's Bollywood Calling and she gained international recognition for her role as Jenny in Subhash Ghai's Joggers' Park .-Early life:...
) and her mother (Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey is an Indian actress who appeared on the stage and in Bollywood films. Dubey is noted for appearing in some of the most popular Indian movies, including Baghban, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Fanaa. Her another notable appearance is in the Mira Nair movie Monsoon Wedding.-Personal life and...
) add comedy into an otherwise serious and thoughtful film. The film was photographed by Rajiv Menon and edited by A. Sreekar Prasad. Music was composed by Mani Sharma
Mani Sharma
Mani Sharma Yanamandra is a music director known for his works in Tollywood. He has composed music for over 140 films. He is popularly known as "Swara Brahma" for his contributions to music in Tollywood. Mani Sharma started his career as a music director in 1998. Before that Sharma used to work...
.
Production
Shabana Azmi trained intensively in Carnatic music before she was allowed to sing during the film. The house used for her character's home is a historic zamindarZamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
country mansion and estate near the West Godavari village of Kulla.
Reception
The film received mixed reviews, although the actors generally earned praise for their portrayals.One film critic wrote that, "Morning Raga is one of the most innovative and fresh films to come out of India in recent years".
Soundtrack
| Tr. # | Track name | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahaganapatim | Bombay Jayashri Bombay Jayashri Bombay Jayashri Ramnath is an Indian Carnatic music vocalist. She has also recorded songs as a playback singer in South Indian films. She has many albums to her credit, released as cassettes and CDs.... |
| 2 | Thaye Yashoda | Sudha Ragunathan, Ranjani Ramakrishnan |
| 3 | Mathey | Sudha Raghunathan, Kalyani Menon |
| 4 | Pibare Ramarasam | Kalyani Menon |
| 5 | Samaja Varagamana | Gayathri Ranjani-Gayatri Ranjani and Gayatri are Carnatic concert vocalists and violinists.-Early life:Ranjani and Gayatri were born to N. Balasubramanian and Meenakshi . Born into a family deeply involved in classical music, Ranjani and Gayatri's musical talents were discovered at a very early age... |
| 6 | Todi Alaap | Kalyani Menon |
| 7 | Remembering His Violin | Gayathri |
| 8 | City Interlude | Instrumental |
| 9 | Alaap Jam | Nandini Srikar |
| 10 | Coffee Shop Montage | Sunitha Sarathy Sunitha Sarathy Sunitha Sarathy is a vocalist and performer in both Indian and Western musical genres.She is winner of Channel [V]'s voice hunt.She debuted with Tamil song Yei Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke,singing along with singer Srinivas.-Career:... |
| 11 | Charminar | Veena, Rajesh Vaidya Rajhesh Vaidhya Rajhesh Vaidhya , is an Indian veena player hailing from Tamil Nadu. Besides performing on stage, he has worked with various film music composers. He also acted in the movie Viswa Thulasi and in Premi, a tele-serial... |
| 12 | The Chase | Gayathri |
| 13 | Jagado Dharana | Bombay Jayashri, Nandini Srikar |
| 14 | Mahaganapatim Jam | Bombay Jayashri |