From : p00njabiSD
Added: Nov 4, 2009
A Must watch for all Bhangra lovers!! - The Bhangra Generation is the first of its kind sociological-musical documentary that examines the lives of the second generation of Indo-Canadians/South Asians who are expressing themselves through their culture. The documentary looks at the lives of four Indo-Canadian artists, who are making their mark in the world through dance and music. Most prominent of the four is international Bhangra superstar Jazzy B. Jazzy B., aka Jaswinder Singh Bains, who currently has a huge fan base in India, UK, Asia and North America, was just a kid with long hair and earrings when he walked into the office of a Punjabi record label based in Surrey one night over a decade ago. Ever since his debut album "Ghuggian Da Jora" went on to unexpected success and made Jazzy the torch bearer for Punjabi youth abroad, his fan following - largely young male and female Non Resident Indians (NRIs) - quickly cemented with his truly breakout album Folk N Funky. Jazzy B. is a Made-in-Canada success story. He has taken the traditional sounds and lyrics of Punjabi folk Bhangra and infused it with western music for the younger generation, for whom he is the equivalent of Ricky Martin or as the New York Times called him - "The Michael Jackson of India." Modern Bhangra first emerged in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, and soon after began to influence the British club scene. The presence of a large South Asian diaspora, especially second generation youth throughout Europe, but particularly in the UK, played a vital role in popularizing bhangra as a musical form among western audiences. In the 1990s, bhangra continued to expand even further, permeating North American music scenes. In recent years, bhangra has sneaked over into mainstream music as background for Britney Spears or in the Jay-Z remix of Punjabi MC's international hit Beware of the Boys. It also played an integral role in the film Bend It Like Beckham. Bhangra impresario Michael Sunner, better known as The Indian Lion, Bhangra dancer Sonia Basi and Dhol player Rayman Bhullar are the other main characters in this highly entertaining jaunt through the Bhangra landscape. The Lion has made a name for himself in local radio circles with his world fusion and Bhangra show on 96.1 FM radio, where he became somewhat of a Bhangra-fusion impresario at the ethnic music station, dishing out noveau mix of Bhangra, Hindi pop and Bollywood masala numbers to young urban listeners. Raymen Bhullar, who comes from a family of musicians, has been playing dhol, an integral percussion instrument in Bhangra music, for over 15 years. The father was so impressed with his son's dhol playing abilities that he opened a music school for him. Dhol Nation Academy is a dhol based school where young kids come to learn how to play dhol but more than that the 20-year-old Raymond teaches them how to integrate into the Indo-Canadian culture and become more aware of who they are. Sonia Basi, a petite young woman in her 30s, who has been obsessed with Bhangra dancing since she was a child. She says he has been dancing since shes been walking. Asked if she will ever give up dancing and Sonia responds: "Until my body says stop which will be in old, old, old age. But honestly I dont think Ill ever stop. Youd still see me dancing at parties. People will look at me and say hey look shes still dancing." Bhangra became a dominant social force among Punjabis in Canada. But it was the youth that were at the forefront of this new revolution. Playing the music loud at the parties, even louder in their cars, the whole second generation of Indo-Canadians (Punjabis) defined themselves through this new music. For them it became a new religion. The film is produced by Blueberry Street Films and Bobby Nagra. http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/tv/signatureseries/episodes/bhangrageneration/
Category : Entertainment

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