The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Mungaru Male' still tops the charts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 17, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Mungaru Male' still tops the charts

Govind D. Belgaumkar

A HIT: Ganesh in a scene from `Mungaru Male'

BANGALORE: This is one sleeper that is still going strong. Don't try to figure out its appeal, just hum its numbers like the rest of the city seems to be doing.

The popularity of the songs from the Kannada hit "Mungaru Male" pervades the city, and you rarely go without hearing one of them on any day.

Tune in to any radio station or any Kannada television channel and one of the numbers from the film is bound to pop up within 10 to 15 minutes. Barring the rare exception, one in every three songs broadcast is from the film and every request show faces a barrage of requests from fans.

The songs can be heard from car stereos. BPO employees swear that once they enter their cabs, it rains "Mungaru Male". At least one BPO employee known to this reporter has suddenly begun to appreciate film songs, thanks to these numbers.

The Sai Baba Cassette Centre on Sampige Road in Malleswaram sells about 25 to 30 audiocassettes of the film every day. "It still tops the list (of best selling cassettes)," the storekeeper said, adding that it right away zoomed to the top. He has sold more than 600 audiocassettes of the film. Many non-Kannadigas too are buying them.

If a number is a hit, can ring tones be far behind? And sure you have ring tones and caller tunes based on them.

A not very limber gent was bemused when a call to his son elicited the melodious response, "Kunidu kunidu baare... ." Those who do not know Kannada will appreciate his predicament once they know the song's meaning: it is an invitation to come closer dancing all the way.

Those who do not wish to embarrass others may, however, download a caller tune of a song in the film that is written by well-known writer Jayant Kaikini.

This reporter was surprised when a 20-month-old toddler sang all but one stanza of the song "Anisutide yaako indu... ."

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