http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090309/jsp/calcutta/story_10644213.jsp
If it’s the dance floor, it better be Jai Ho- City’s party crowd hooked to
Slumdog anthem after string of awards abroad
POULOMI BANERJEE
A still from the Jai Ho number in Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog anthem Jai Ho may be the Congress’ prized poll property — and CPM
candidate Md Salim’s chosen words for wall graffiti — but its rightful owner is
the dance floor, according to Calcutta’s hottest DJs.
The party crowd hasn’t stopped jiving to Jai Ho ever since the A.R. Rahman tune
scored a hat-trick of victories at the Golden Globes, Bafta and the Oscars. “I
was playing Jai Ho at a party on the night of the Oscars and the crowd was so
much into it that you could have thought it was the national anthem,” recalls
DJ Ravi.
Hardcore Rahman fans might argue that the soft-spoken composer has created far
better tracks, but Jai Ho is hard to beat on current form. “You can’t argue
with its success. Jai Ho first became popular abroad but it is now the hottest
dance floor track everywhere. We play it a couple of times every night on
request,” says DJ Vishal of the Park Street nightspot Tantra.
So, does Jai Ho owe its popularity on the dance floor to the accolades it has
earned abroad rather than musical merit?
“There is no doubt that the Oscar victory has fuelled the demand for Jai Ho but
Rahman has always been hugely popular and anything he creates is a potential
winner,” says DJ Girish of Shisha, the lounge bar on Camac Street.
The disc spinner thinks Jai Ho will remain the tune of the season, including
the Holi week.
“I usually play Bollywood tracks with a folksy feel during Holi. Rang Barse
(from Silsila) is the all-time favourite. Party people prefer tracks with
energy and Jai Ho fits the bill both in terms of vibrancy and mood,” explains
DJ Girish. DJ Vicky, who will be playing at a private party on Holi, agrees.
“Jai Ho is one of the most-requested songs and I am sure people would want to
hear it on Holi, too,” he says.
Some DJs have come up with remixed versions of the song. “The original song
does not quite suit the dance floor. So I have done a remixed version,” says
Ravi.
But Vishal will blare it out just the way it is. “I agree it is not the perfect
tune for the dance floor but I am against remixing this track,” he says.
Apart from Oscar mania, what has worked for Jai Ho is its theme. “The song is
all about the victory of right over wrong, of overcoming the odds. The youth
can identify with this, though I must say that the song’s popularity cuts
across all age groups,” says Ravi.
If Jai Ho has any competition, it is from other Rahman favourites like
Masakalli from the Delhi-6 soundtrack. “Genda phool is also popular and will be
good for Holi,” says Girish
