The music of West Is West, the long anticipated sequel to the blockbuster East Is East was launched in Delhi by the film lead Om Puri (BAFTA nominated) and Ila Arun. From the same creative team that brought us ‘East Is East, produced by Leslee Udwin (BAFTA and multi-award winner) and written by Ayub Khan-Din (Nominated BAFTA Carl Foreman Award and twice winner of Laurence Olivier Award), the film stars Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Ila Arun, Jimi Mistry, Vijay Raaz and introduces Aqib Khan. ‘West Is West’ will open in cinemas across India in April or May 2011. The film is holding a strong ground in the UK, is amongst the top 100 films on the UK box office even after more than a month of its release (Feb 25th).
Released on Saga Music the trio Shankar-Eshaan-Loy have composed original pieces of incredibly emotive music including songs Kaala Doria, Mere Sayaan and Numaishaan Mohobbataan for ‘West is West’, creating the perfect backdrop for the film. Two tracks feature the haunting voice of Sufi Pakistani artist Saeen Zahoor (winner of the BBC World Music Award), besides lending his own hauntingly beautiful Sufi music to the film (Aik Alif and Toomba). The film also has music of classic 70s British icons Nana Mouskouri, Donovan, and Mungo Jerry, along with some superbly scored original music by UK based Rob Lane.
The musical score beautifully captures the retro-inspired grooves of 70s with tracks like Alright Alright, Nana Mouskouri’s classic Over and Over and Donovan’s Mellow Yellow, which sit perfectly alongside the classic Bollywood hits of the time Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and O Meri Maina. Supporting the eclectic mix of classic 70s eastern and western tracks is a stunning original score that perfectly creates the drama, emotion and colour of the film, with tracks including Rooftop Chase, Arriving in Pakistan and The Final Farewell amongst others.
Commenting on their involvement with the film, the trio Shankar- Eshaan-Loy said, “We were delighted to be involved with the movie – East is East was a landmark film, and to be involved with the sequel is very exciting. Creating a score that reflects the emotions in a film is very different from writing songs, and West is West has given us the opportunity to also move away from traditional Bollywood music to much more earthy and Sufi-inspired sounds.” Producer of the film, Leslee Udwin comments, “I have long been a personal fan of the life-enhancing musical hits of the iconic Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio and so to actually have worked with them on this film I love so much – me satwe asman mehu!”
‘West is West’, same family, different country, a lot more baggage. Set 5 years on from ‘East Is East’, the sequel takes the Khan family on a journey from Salford, England to rural Pakistan. West is West is as much the coming of age story of 13-year-old Sajid as of his father, 60-year-old George (‘Ghengis’) Khan. George, in a last attempt to make a good son of him and teach him to value roots and traditions, decides to pack Sajid off to his first wife and family in the Punjab, whom he had abandoned 30 years earlier. In the process the tables are turned on George when he comes face to face with his own transgressions, and realizes that it is he himself who has much to learn.
