Musical films, Bride and Predjudice and Grease Essay Example
Musicals have been a significant part of the film industry for many years. Directors, like Randall Klies in movies such as "Grease", use musical scenes to captivate audiences with intricate styles and dance sequences. These scenes allow audiences to indulge in imaginative settings with vibrant costumes and extravagant dance routines, while still following a realistic storyline. One such example is the romantic family drama "Bride and Prejudice" directed by Gurinder Chada, which I will be analyzing.
The purpose of including musical scenes is to add a level of excitement that non-musical scenes cannot achieve. I will be comparing two scenes from different films: "No Life Without Wife" from the British Indian film Bride and Prejudice, directed by Gurinder Chada in 2004, and "You're The One I Want" from Grease, directed by Randal Klies in the 1950s. In the musical scenes
...of Bride and Prejudice, the main actors Lalitha Bakshi and William Darcy are portrayed by Ashwariya Rai and an unnamed actor, respectively.
The musical scene "No life without wife" from the movie Bride and Prejudice revolves around the Bakshi sisters named Jaya, Maya, and Lakhi who humorously ridicule Mr. Kholi, a wealthy Indian American businessman set to marry their eldest sister Lalitha (played by Aishwaria Rai). Through this scene, Lalitha demonstrates her desire for happiness rather than wealth or social status, regardless of skin color or caste. The scene is set in various locations within the heroine's house, including the girls' bedroom, dining room, and courtyard.
The significance of this is that it represents sisterhood in the sister's room. In the patio, Lalitha romantically emphasizes her ideal man, while in the dining room, she contemplates how life with
Mr. Kholi would be after marriage. The main characters in Grease are Danny (played by John Travolta) and Sandy (played by Olivia-Newton John). The musical portrays two young college students who, after facing numerous trials and challenges, have chosen to accept each other and take pride in who they are. They express their newfound love and freedom through an open and uninhibited performance, contrasting the feeling of suppression they experienced before.
The musical performance is filled with passion and serves as a crucial element in these scenes. It creates an atmosphere that accurately reflects the characters' emotions and possibly introduces a new pivotal moment or topic addressed by the director. In 'No Life Without Wife,' a contemporary, lively, and funky song is employed for the music. The rhythm is catchy and consistent, appealing to both Eastern and Western audiences as intended by Gurinder Chada.
The film Bride and Prejudice is aimed at a younger audience and appeals to both eastern and western viewers. It stands out from typical Hollywood films because of its unique and Bollywood-inspired soundtrack. The music in the scene changes in volume and tempo. Initially, it has a steady beat, but it later becomes faster and higher-pitched. For example, the song begins with the sisters rapping and playfully mocking Mr. Kohli with Lalitha.
Their gestures demonstrate that they are having a great time and enjoying Lalitha's distress. Towards the end of each sentence, brass instruments like trumpets are used to emphasize the key points, namely that Lalitha is getting married to a man she despises. The lyrics in the music are extremely memorable, causing the entire audience to dance and sing along, while the exhilarating
and enjoyable rhythm captivates Gurinder Chada's audience completely. This comic approach piques their interest and fosters an atmosphere filled with immense enthusiasm.
In Grease, Randall Kiles employs similar techniques as Gurinder Chada by using young, popular, and appealing music. The choice to use this type of music is due to the fact that the scene takes place at a college where the characters are young and cool. As a result, the music accurately portrays the image that young individuals have at this stage in life. One example of this is the song 'You're the one that I want,' which maintains a constant pace and rhythm throughout the scene.
Throughout the movie, the song maintains a lively tempo from start to finish. It serves as a contrast to the numerous unhappy scenes between the main characters, occurring after their breakup. The director strategically uses this jovial song to shift the atmosphere and depict a change in circumstances and mood. As the audience watches Grease, they are immediately uplifted by the song, realizing that the upcoming scene will bring positive outcomes, unlike the disheartening and dismal scenes before.
In the movie Bride and Prejudice, the musical scenes are crucial in conveying the characters' emotions and thoughts through song and dance. These scenes effectively illustrate the current atmosphere and situation within the film. For instance, in the 'No Life Without Wife' musical scene, Lalitha expresses her views on marriage and outlines her criteria for an ideal partner.
By showcasing Lalitha's mannerisms, Gurinder Chadha portrays her reluctance and unwillingness to participate in her arranged marriage with Mr. Kohli. Both Lalitha and her sister exhibit a comical mood as they tease Mr. Kohli in
the scene. These mannerisms immediately captivate the audience, leading them to anticipate future tension in the film and creating an atmosphere of anticipation.
The sister's actions and mannerisms indicate that they are willing to do anything for a laugh, such as performing a groovy dance to annoy Lalitha. Lalitha's gestures may attract some of Chada's target western audience, making them believe that the character is being forced into an arranged marriage, which elicits sympathy towards the heroine. In Grease, a different atmosphere is created through the song 'You're The One That I Want'. The gestures conveyed through the expressions of Danny and Sandy are highly captivating. This is because the audience witnesses a much more positive interaction between the two main leads.
Klies demonstrates Sandy's love for Danny through her positive actions such as holding hands and dancing closely together. This portrayal generates a thrilling mood that leaves the audience delighted. Symbolism is a significant element in numerous musical scenes, as it contributes to the creation of atmosphere by directors. Chada employs various forms of symbolism, such as the Kholiwood sign and the American flag, to represent Kohli's life and culture.
In the scene, all of the sisters are dressed in white, symbolizing purity, virginity, innocence, beliefs, and traditions. This choice of color creates a youthful and harmonious atmosphere that would instantly attract a younger audience. The musical scene also incorporates an exercise bike that represents Mr. Kohli's routine and signifies his belief that each day will follow the same plan. Similarly, Grease also utilizes symbolism to create the desired atmosphere represented by Randal Kile. For example, the choice of costume colors for Sandy and Danny
conveys substantial meaning to the audience.
The target audience can relate to the dark color and leather material, which represents hip, trendy college students who are enjoying the moment. The use of black also symbolizes the sexual passion between Danny and Sandy and reflects the state of mind of both characters, as they are seen wearing similar fitted outfits. Sandy's transformation in character is evident through her tight black leather cat suit. Her previous innocent outfits allow the audience to understand her emotions and thoughts about her life based on what she wears.
Both 'Bride and Prejudice' and 'Grease' evoke strong emotions in their musical scenes. Take, for instance, the song 'No Life Without Wife', which elicits excitement, anticipation, and worry. The audience is unsure about the fate of the heroine and her relationship with Mr. Kholi, thus experiencing mixed or negative emotions. Expectations are set for changes in Lalitha and Mr. Kohli's marriage arrangements, as Lalitha expresses her ambivalence towards choosing him as her future husband.
The musical scene for 'You're The One That I Want' in Grease elicits different emotions. Danny's reactions and demeanor are comically portrayed, showing his surprise and love-struck state when he encounters Sandy dressed up for the first time at the school graduation carnival. Sandy herself exhibits a sexy demeanor, evident through her dance moves and flaunting of her physique. During the scene 'No Life Without Wife', Lalitha is primarily depicted through close-up shots, emphasizing her masculine qualities.
The shots in the film show us the character's facial expressions and reveal their thoughts and emotions. When the character is outside in the courtyard, it is dark with a lot of light focused on
Lalitha's face. Lalitha is deep in thought, reminiscing about her desires in life. The long shots primarily feature Lalitha and her sisters, dancing together both outside and inside the house. In one particular shot, all four sisters are wearing pajamas, which appears to annoy Lalitha as she does not want this after getting married. The lighting used in this scene is very bright.
The scene 'You're the One I Want' in Grease features close-ups of Sandy and Danny trading their love at the carnival. Mid-shots focus on their friends, while long-shots capture the entire carnival. The lighting is bright as it takes place during the day. Overall, the most effective musical scene in the film Grease is 'You're the One I Want' as it never fails to make me laugh whenever I watch it.
Danny Zuku is a comical character, comparable to a girl in terms of vanity, and highly entertaining to observe. I also favor Grease because it is a film that I can identify with due to the presence of age, gender, and love, which are all aspects of everyday life around me. In contrast, the scene "No Life without Wife" in 'Bride and Prejudice' deals with the subject of marriage, which I do not relate to. Grease holds the distinction of being one of the most well-known musicals ever, with its popularity spanning across the globe and captivating multiple generations with its youthful and joyful lyrics.
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