Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon gets an electronic facelift

Delhi-based duo Midival Punditz and master tabla player Karsh Kale have re-scored the 1973 classic's soundtrack, which they will play live as you watch the film at Blue Frog. The GUIDE tells you how different those karate chops will look amid a volley of groovy, new-age sounds From top: Tapan Raj, Gaurav Raina of Midival Punditz with Karsh Kale at Gaurav's Hauz Khas Village-based studio in Delhi. Pic/Rajeev TyagiIf there is any underground artist with a niche fan following who's gained unprecedented commercial visibility, it has to be Delhi duo Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj of Midival Punditz. The duo often the centre of conversation surrounding the burgeoning nightlife of metros these days, are a coveted act at most clubs, and the implications are obvious in the winding queues that creep outside a joint while they are in session. Their explosive on-stage energy is the result of cumulative sounds they bring on board for live gigs tabla maestro and percussionist Karsh Kale, music composers Salim-Sulaiman, Monica Dogra of Shaa'ir + Func and an array of flautists, classical vocalists, as they stay hooked to their MacBooks providing effects and loops to give the overall sound the Midival touch; a nexus of part groovy, part Indian and very modern craftwork. But more importantly, what has allowed them to grow musically is their constant exploration with a variety of projects. Such as this one, that may even throw back the regular Midival-Karsh attendee with surprise and inquisition to see what else the Punditz can cook up besides the superbly unpredictable act that the crowds are getting accustomed to.In May last year, Karsh, who resides in New York, was approached to re-score the 1973 Bruce Lee hit, Enter the Dragon to celebrate the film's 35th anniversary at Celebrate Brooklyn, a performing arts festival in NYC. Karsh, like many others, is a big fan of the Chinese actor's films and was keen that the three work on the project together. They thought that since we were Asian, we'd add to the film's sensibility, says Tapan, about this unusual act that travelled to Massachusetts and Sydney this January, seeing a turnout of 12,000 people. The film will be screened with existing ambient sounds and dialogue. But, the embedded music layers will be switched off and the trio will perform the score live. We have obviously maintained the Midival sound but it is different from our regular performances because here, we have to focus on visual cues. If there is a chase or an action sequence in the film, the sounds have to instantly change to suit the mood of the scene, explains Gaurav. The Punditz have had experience in scoring for films well before they became a popular live act. We've worked on Let's Enjoy, a track for Monsoon Weddding, for Hollywood film Closer and for TV series Prison Break. So this felt like a natural progression, says Tapan. Karsh wanted to make sure they did a killer job, and with the rave reviews they received around the world, it's evident, they have. Now, it's time to bring the act home. Catch the live musical representation of Enter the Dragon by Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale on Saturday, May 23 at 10.30 pm at Blue Frog, Mathuradas Mills Compound, Lower Parel.Entry: Rs 700 and Rs 1,000 (for a table). You can purchase tickets May 18 onwards at the venue. Call: 40332300. The film will be followed by DJ sets and electro mayhem

Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon gets an electronic facelift