02x07 - Bandish Bandits

[bunniefuu]

Sir, the group list is
ready for the semi-final.

Yes, sir?

Sir, it will be our pleasure.

Yeah.

Sir, I will arrange everything.

Looking forward to it.

Yeah.

Guys, guys, guys. Change
of plans right now.

Welcome back to the
India Band Championship.

And congratulations
to our top eight!

Now we will have an
epic battle round.

I know what you are thinking…

Why did we divide the four
bands into two groups?

Let me explain. In this
round one team from one group

will choose any other team from
the other group to compete with.

Just like battle of bands
Sort of a jugalbandi.

The bands that perform
better in this round

will go directly to
the IBC grand finale.

But the losers will
have another chance

in a knockout elimination round.

A sudden death.

Just one band will make
it to the top five.

And it gets a chance to
perform in the grand finale.

And unfortunately, the
remaining three bands

will go back home.

It's a do-or-die
situation, guys.

Now, who will choose the bands?

Who will make the pairings up?

Well, the bands on my
right. Here's going first.

Jwalamukhi, are you ready?

Radhe, we could choose
that all-girls thing?

- The punk band?
- Should we choose that?

I think we will choose
All Girls' Punk.

- All Girls' Punk! Okay.
- Smart choice.

Atikraman.

Shall we choose Apacella?

- Acapella.
- What's your choice?

We want Acapella.

- Well, Rathod Gharana, your turn.
- Two minutes, please.

There are two bands left
to go. Let's choose Kirdar…

No, Radhe. The Mahi round was too tough.
No more of this pop, and rock, okay?

- No.
- Rathod Gharana,

- you have only one minute. Tick tock.
- Just a moment.

My throat is already sore!
We have only one option.

Not Tamanna's band, please.

Listen, Radhe,
it's not personal.

We should choose a band
we can win against.

Ananya is right.

Rathod Gharana, speak
quickly. Your choice is?

- Royalty Free.
- Dad!

Did they choose us since we
appear to be the weakest?

- Interesting choice.
- We can do it…

It's not some breakup
revenge thing, is it?

No way, no.

We may seem weak to
them but we are not.

Okay? We can do this.

The right side has
chosen its opponents.

Now it's time for the left side.

They will decide the
artist and the song

for the jugalbandi.

Well, Royalty Free, what
is your artist and song?

Okay, let's give
them Led Zeppelin.

But they cracked rock just now.

You're not wrong. We should
play to our strengths.

If they are weak
at it, even better.

- But we should slow it down a bit, okay?
- Okay.

- Not western, maybe soul…
- Give them jazz?

- Jazz, something like that.
- Yeah.

- That makes sense, yeah?
- Yeah.

Sir, I think we can…

I am waiting for
you by Queen Eli.

- Who is Queen Eli?
- Whoa!

- Do you know her?
- She's a pop star.

Radhe knows.

Hindi classical band gets
to sing an English song!

Interesting choice.

We are on to Kirdar…

He is not bad.

Coming to Acapella!

Tamanna!

I said no.

It's okay.

Anyway, I always wanted a
master of classical music

to sing a song by Queen Eli.

Really?

What else did you
always want to do?

Radhe, listen to me.

What happened yesterday?

- I am sorry.
- You are with Ayaan.

I know.

Yeah.

Yesterday,

I got emotional
and said too much.

I also know you don't feel
confident or happy with me.

- No, Radhe.
- I know this.

I know it.

Perhaps I can never change that.

But I can change.

I can learn how to be
friends with an ex.

I have tried everything,
Tamanna. I tried it all.

I deleted your messages first.

Then I retrieved
them from the cloud.

I blocked you and
then unblocked you.

Either you keep my phone…

or teach me how to be friends.

It is imperative for me
to have you in my life.

Just help me to get there.

Yes, but I won't help
with the Queen Eli round.

Okay.

If not you, Queen
Eli will have to do.

Stop this obscene thing!
What are you watching it for?

Dad, this is Queen Eli.

I see. So let's watch it.

Let's hear it…

Radhe, what was that?

It's the most
popular song of 2020.

I don't know how these weird songs
get to the top of the charts.

Mathematics does that.

Eventually, the popularity of
any song is based on its formula.

I mean, these days music composers
mostly put their trust in data.

I mean, weather forecasts,
even the elections.

Data scientists analyze trends
in all this and predict outcomes.

And I am sure Queen Eli is
using a similar formula.

I know all this since my sister
is a data scientist. Never mind.

No, no, nice.

I don't think you can make
music only with data science.

If that were the case,
robots would create music.

They are. Actually, Artificial
Intelligence is quite…

We are going off track here.

We have to present the
music of our Gharana.

How can we do that
within these parameters?

Yes?

May I?

Let's hear the tune once.

Waiting for you…

Bhimpalasi.

Sister-in-law, doesn't
it sound like Bhimpalasi?

No, Devendra, this is…

It's a combination of
Sa, Ga, Ma, Pa, so…

Kausi Kanada seems
more obvious to me.

Doesn't Panditji have any
compositions in Kausi Kanada?

You got the veena and the
composition book, right? Bring it.

Sister-in-law kept that safe,
right? Yes, sister-in-law?

It got left behind in Jodhpur.

That's okay.

I have it all written down
in my diary. Let me get that.

How do we sing this in English?

Right.

- Tough task.
- What?

It's difficult.

The Jodhpur band won't be
able to handle this genre.

Yes. Finally, we've found
something in our own zone.

You don't need to get
too overconfident.

This song isn't perfect yet.

Ma'am, I know we chose this song
considering their weaknesses.

And it's our best shot.

Isn't it a bit too simple?

It's like a 90's song. It's…

- Do you remember your last breakup?
- Sorry?

You don't have to
give me the details.

The sense of liberation
that comes after that pain…

Queen Eli made a song
about that very feeling.

Try to capture that.

Okay, let's try to do
it like the original.

Liberation.

Wow!

Beautiful.

See? English!

We've shifted from Bandra to
Borivali in no time at all.

- No, no, no.
- What do we do now?

I have an idea.

Listen to all of Queen Eli's
songs. One to all. A to Z.

Then you'll have some
idea of what to do or not.

How can we listen to all the songs
within two days and set it up?

If you hadn't repressed
your feelings with Tamanna

none of us would be depressed after
eating this stale Thumri sandwich.

Let's do this. Let's
ask for a truce. Okay?

Let's ask Tamanna's
band for some help.

I mean, there's no
shame in it. No shame.

No, Arghya.

We do need help but we need
it from a statistical analyst.

Listen, we may not
be able to listen to

all the songs of the
genre within two days.

But at least, we can
understand Queen Eli's model

and apply it and
use it in our song.

It will be easy to track it.

Okay.

Let's try what Ananya
is telling us to do.

Okay, let's do this.

Your sister is a
data analyst, right?

No, not her. Nobody
from my family.

We will find someone else.
Someone must be around.

Why?

She is your sister, she's
your family. You can…

I said no, Radhe. Not from my
family. No one from my family.

Excuse me.

He's right, you know?

Ananya.

Ananya!

Radhe, not now.

Can you please listen to me
once? Is there any problem?

Sorry, I didn't
mean to upset you.

Actually, I haven't
told my family.

That you are in
the band with us.

At least about the IBC…

Ananya, we have made it to the semi-finals
of the IBC. Your family should…

Why didn't you tell
them about this?

Do you want to say
something, Tamanna?

No, ma'am.

No, what is it?

I tried to sing it note to note
just like the original and I

tried to bring that sense
of liberation also, but…

Isn't it working out?

Ma'am.

The song isn't only
about liberation.

She wrote it immediately
after her breakup.

While she was still
waiting for him.

It's a bit melancholic too.

Read the lyrics
attentively once.

She wants to get
away from the pain of

that toxic relationship.

But going away is painful too.

Show us how.

On her cue.

Ayaan, just chords.

Keep it sparse.

Guys.

Radhe, my family is highly…

intellectual.

It's evident when one sees you.

Well, obviously I would
seem smart to you.

What?

Because you haven't met them.

That's why.

Listen.

You're the only one who
is most educated out here.

Thanks.

But you don't understand it.

My dad is a solar physicist.

He teaches helioseismology
in college.

My mom was the first chairperson of
the Indian Statistical Institute.

You can't imagine the kind
of pressure I am under.

You know, when I got
selected for ISMO

they were so thrilled
it was the kind of vibe

most parents give off at
their daughter's wedding.

I mean, don't get me
wrong. Working at ISMO

is better than getting
married any day.

Not that I don't want to get married,
eventually. I want to get married too.

I mean, just as, you know,
your parents are convincing you

to get married.

Not that, you know…

Marriage is all that
life is about but…

I mean, it's nice
to have someone.

Anyway.

I can understand.
Your parents…

must have been infuriated

when you gave up
the job at ISMO.

They were pretty sad.

They believe that
solving the real

problems in the
world is a real job.

And I don't have a real job.

But if there were
no music there would

be even more problems
in the world.

Real problems.

I guess we have to
convince them that

this ISMO scientist is
actually a musical genius.

Okay?

It was phenomenal, you know.

- You think so?
- Seriously.

Thanks.

Ayaan.

Come here.

Hey, Tamanna.

You know I dyed my hair
blue, because of you.

You got the shade wrong.

But you know if you'd
sung the chorus like

that before, you would
have been the lead singer!

- Next time.
- Okay.

These folks who double
book, I tell you!

Watching you listen
to Queen Eli's songs

gives me the goosebumps, Radhe!

What kind of friend are you?

You could help a bit with
the translation at least.

It's not just Mom,
I am struggling too.

Listen to these lines.
What's that supposed to mean?

"You know I am alone. My pain
is taking skin and bone."

I am sorry, I can't help. I
can't cheat on my band members.

But you always said that

cheating with an ex doesn't
qualify as cheating.

I will think about it.

Mr. Ex!

Okay, fine. Let me
talk to your boyfriend.

To let me borrow my
friend for some time.

Why are you reacting like I do?

You city kids always say

to normalize it, don't you?

By the way, I don't want
to go back to normal.

My pain is taking
my skin and bones.

- Hi, ma'am.
- Hi.

Radhe said that…

Basically, they are screwed.

Really?

How?

I mean…

he said, how can his
mother sing in English?

So why don't we
help him out a bit?

Radhe, did you
ask them for help?

No, no, they called us over.

So that we could speak to each
other and maybe they could help us.

It's possible, we could
sing Panditji's composition.

You know, "Sajan Tora" and…

"I am waiting for you,"
which we discussed?

Here they are.
Come, come, please.

- Sit, sit, sit.
- Greetings.

- Come on, find a spot…
- Greetings.

- Come on.
- Sit, sit.

- Hi.
- Sit.

- Hi. We have met.
- Yeah.

We were thinking of a
composition by Panditji.

Kausi Kanada.

The kids said… What
was that, Radhe?

Mother, it's "I am
waiting for you."

After listening carefully, the notes
of this and those of raag Kausi Kanada

seem to be in the same octave.

Yes. It's the same. It's
Sa, Ga, Ma, Pa together.

Ma'am, won't that
be a bit unfair?

We have already decided
to sing Queen Eli's song…

Can every band make its own
interpretation of the same song?

Listen, this round's focus is
mainly on a duet or jugalbandi.

If both teams agree, we
have no issues with it.

But…

the judges will decide whose
interpretation is better.

- Obviously.
- Okay, then.

You can perform
your interpretation.

We will perform our own version.

And we should match scales.

Yeah.

Ayaan, we can develop

- some chorus lines together.
- Yes.

Yes, Radhe can come
over from our team.

Son, you and brother can
lock down the chorus.

Okay, then. Let's leave the
rest of it for the stage.

Let's not have a clash of bands

that sounds like a
harmonious musicale.

Okay?

What a beautiful thing.

This contest which is
about winning and losing

has people like you
involved who understand that

music can only come
through coming together.

Guys!

How about a photo? Sir.

Come…

"I wonder what this
malaise is all about.

I burn in your memory
at every moment.

But still, I don't see you…

Why do you t*rture me?"

He's a good writer,
Tamanna's new boyfriend.

"Come back home, my love."

It's written here. See?

I am waiting for you has been
translated as come back home, love.

Love doesn't seem to
get off your back!

Actually, Ritika is here.

Yes.

- Shall we go?
- Let's go.

So, I've heard all
of Queen Eli's songs

and I have set the data of the top
ten pop songs for the last 15 years.

I applied a machine
learning method

to that, which is known as
the Random Forest Algorithm.

Generally, every
song has one hook.

However, in my analysis,
I found that all of

Queen Eli's popular
songs have two hooks.

One is an instrumental hook
and the other is a vocal hook.

These two hooks are in
proportion to each other

- Brother…
- at a ratio of one is to two,

- with their note combination.
- You failed math in fourth grade, right?

That means if the vocal
hook contains three notes

- Fifth grade.
- The instrumental hook

will consist of six
notes and vice versa.

Come on, Ananya! This much even
you could have explained, right?

You cracked ISMO but couldn't crack such
a simple algorithm. It's so obvious.

And our parents used to think
she was smarter than I am!

But never mind. Okay, guys.

I have to go. Bye.

Hey, thank you. Thank you,
Ritika! Thank you so much, man!

It was lovely talking...
She went offline?

Can we try doing what
Ritika said, once?

Let's do it.

I just want to
make a phone call.

Okay.

Thank you.

Kingshuk!

It's gonna be fun.

Ayaan, chorus.

Thanks for the applause.

Thanks?

For what?

What's happening?

You should sing
lead for this round.

- Right!
- I am serious.

Ma'am, I am not ready.

What we spoke about? Listen…

We'll practice
together, you can…

Tamanna, it's not about that.

You've got this and…

we trust you.

Ma'am, I'm truly not ready.

Can you give us a moment?

- Coffee?
- Yeah!

- Let's go.
- Yes!

Yes!

Let's go.

Why?

Ma'am, it's a team effort.

I…

I don't wish to mess up.

Real reason… why?

Radhe made me realize
I am not a good singer.

That's why I joined
the music school.

Then I learned from you

that I am not ready.

And now you are telling me
to perform in front of Radhe?

This…

This is the reason why you
should be singing this song.

Because nobody can understand
this song better than you.

Because that's your story.

But, ma'am, it's only four
days until the performance.

Now we have new Hindi
lyrics as well and

you know I am not
the best singer.

If I could not match the
scale with Radhe in the duet.

Those high notes that he sings…

A singer doesn't merely
hit the right notes.

They also tell the story.

And you, my dear Tamanna,
are a storyteller.

You were before you met me
and before you met Radhe too.

If you can go and sing on the
stage with the same honesty

then no matter how
technically sound Radhe is…

he won't be able to match you.

That's why I will
tell you this today.

Go.

Sing out there with
all your heart.

Just confront your fears.

Just like Queen Eli.

Ritika, I wanted to
thank you for your help.

You are truly very intelligent.
In a way that I am not.

But Ananya is as
intelligent as you are.

She is in no way less
intelligent than you.

Ananya has dealt only
with numbers all her life.

She is dealing with
folks like us now.

So none of this is easy for her.

Now if she wants to do something
different in her life and…

if her family can't
see this then…

By the way, thanks for today. I
will be seeing you. Thank you.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Ayaan and I set the scales.

CAN I BORROW SOME
TIME FROM MY FRIEND?

SURE.

Radhe, if I f*ck
up Queen Eli's song

I will never be able
to forgive myself.

And all my f*ck ups always
happen when you're around.

I'm sorry.

You're the last person I
should be saying all this to.

Radhe, I don't know who else
I should speak to about this.

I would feel worse

if you spoke to anyone else.

Panditji has
contributed to my music

as well as my mother

and my family.

You have contributed
to it equally.

Radhe.

You're just saying that…

My family taught me the
discipline of music.

But I learned about the liberty
music provides from you.

When I heard you
at the qualifier

I felt as if I am in Jodhpur.

And I am watching you
in concert yet again.

But I was wrong.

The new version of Tamanna
has gone far ahead.

Even today,

I am still your greatest fan.

So you may not perform
for anyone else

but you must perform
for this fan of yours.

And even if I have to lose…

to you…

I would be happy to lose.

Stop.

Sorry.

I'm sorry.

Sorry, I should go.

Closer.

Three things are needed
for the duet song.

The male and female
understand each other's range.

Voice control and
breath control.

Take a deep breath.

Now, gradually let it go.

So the flame moves, but
it should not go out.

It will help you to
control your breath.

The kind of pressure you're
exerting on the lower notes

should be exerted on
the upper notes too.

Then the upper notes and the
lower notes will vibrate equally.

Panditji used to say if you
wish to work on the upper notes

you must start with
the lower notes.

Otherwise, not just the flame… but
even the notes will come out uneven.

Let me do it.

See.

The flame has gone out!

Please welcome the Rathod
Gharana and Royalty Free.

Performing a song by Queen Eli

in their own style.

Huge round of applause!

Breathe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

Radhe!

The Rathod Gharana makes
it to the grand finale.

Welcome to the top five!

Royalty Free, unfortunately,
you have to face an elimination.

But what an amazing performance
by Tamanna and Royalty Free.

Let's give it up, guys.

For both these fantastic bands.

You performed very well, guys!

Guys, you all were too good.

- Guys, congratulations.
- Congratulations!

Tamanna.

You sang beautifully, dear.

- Very well done.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Be happy.

You performed very well, dear.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Let's go.

Tamanna.

Listen. You were
fantastic, okay?

Don't blame yourself.

It was not your mistake.

Radhe knew very well
what he was doing.

He did wrong. Okay?

- Ayaan…
- It was not your fault.

Just let me be, please.

Ananya!

Ananya!

- Surprise!
- Hi!

You're better than
me at something!

Proud of you.

How come all of you are here?

You've really made
us proud. Love you.

- Too good.
- Thanks.

Is this what you
always wanted to do?

Beautiful. You were too good.

Guys, they are my parents
and you already know Ritika.

- Hello.
- Your song was so beautiful.

It's okay. We'll
figure this out, okay?

We are waiting in the jam room.

Oh, come on!

Tamanna.

Tamanna, I am really sorry.

If my Gharana hadn't
been here today…

Stop it!

Just stop hiding
behind your Gharana!

You are just as
insecure and competitive

as anyone else, Radhe.

You knew my weakness.

And you exploited me.

You took my voice to a place
where you knew it would crack.

Why did you say that?

Why did you tell me
you'd lose happily?

Don't pretend to
be a nice person.

No matter what happens
Radhe Rathod will not lose.

And don't you stress over it.

Radhe.

Hi!

I've been searching
for you for so long.

What is it?

Nothing has happened.

I just wanted to
congratulate you.

Thank you for calling my family.

Congratulations.

Do you remember I told you about
you being a statistical anomaly?

- Yes.
- It means that you

don't fit into any set pattern.

As in if you assign numerical values
to Xs and compare their traits

obviously, the common
denominator is intelligence.

In your case, it seems as if

there is something
more than intelligence…

Do you get it now?

Ananya, I…

It's okay.

Anyway…

See you.

I just want to say one thing…

That we've come
together as a band.

This was your best
performance till now.

It's just a battle.

The w*r is still on.

You can take a
break if you want.

We will crack it from tomorrow.

No.

Why wait?

Let's not waste another
day or another second.

Instead of sitting and
wailing out here, it's better

that we refocus.

This is w*r.

We will win the IBC.

Let's go, guys.
Let's get to work.

Don't worry, guys.
I won't sing lead.

Let's go!

The bottom four of the
jugalbandi round will now

compete in the knockout round.

This bowl contains multiple
chits for different genres.

Sir will pick them. Every band

will get five minutes
to prepare and

three minutes to perform.

Just remember, today three
bands will go back home

and only one band will go
for the very first finale

of the India Band Championship.

So, bands ready?

I have gone and made things
worse for myself. I'm very lost.

How can I possibly do this?

You always say that it's a
crisis that fuels an artist.

The moment that we all
have been waiting for.

One of these two amazing bands

will go through to
the grand finale.

That is…

- Royalty Free!
- Yeah!

Whoa!

What!

What! There you
have it, friends!

In the top five bands

that will be performing, Royalty
Free will be joining them.

So stay tuned.

Because we have a
grand finale for you.

You know you're amazing, right?

I am not even ready yet.

No.

You are seriously amazing.

You know, you composed four
songs on the spot. That's…

It's a big deal!

I am experienced in
doing all of that, Ayaan.

That's why Nandini ma'am
trusted me with it, that's all.

Listen, I am giving you
credit. At least say thank you.

Thank you.

Why don't you wait
for me downstairs?

For my show-stopper entry?

- Just go!
- Hey!

Why?

Just go.

You're already late.

Radhe? Let's drink a little.

Then we can have mouth
freshener after that.

Yes. Correct.

You both go ahead,
I'll be there.

He'll arrange the snacks
till then we'll go ahead.

- Every day is not Sunday.
- It's okay.

You were looking for me, right?

Just kidding.

Radhe…

I know that you still…

have feelings for Tamanna.

I mean, what
happened that night…

I mean you don't have to
reciprocate my feelings.

And if you want to do something for
me then just remember your promise.

Once I make you win the IBC,

then we'll work
on my math album.

Deal?

Of course.

Cheers!

It's a mocktail.

Cheers!

I think.

Good evening, everyone!

I am very honored to say

India Band Championship

has found its top
five finalists.

A huge round of applause!

We have a very special message
from a very special person.

For two of our bands.

So please give it
up for Queen Eli.

Guys, where's Tamanna?

- I'll call her.
- We need her here quickly.

Hey, everyone.
This is Queen Eli.

I would like to give a huge
shoutout to all the bands

- at the India Band Championship.
- The key.

A special shoutout to Radhe
from the Rathod Gharana

who did a phenomenal job interpreting
my song in a classical way.

But ultimately, Tamanna, you're
the one who stole my heart.

I can't wait to see what you and
your band Royalty Free will do next.

I wish I could have
been there to witness

- you all perform at the finale.
- Everyone's calling you, Tamanna.

But all my love to every single band
fighting for the trophy. Good luck.

Where are you? Queen Eli
has a message for you.

- Oh, my God, I can't believe it.
- For the first edition of IBC

we thought we should start off

from where we are.

Correct? Where our roots are.

That's why, the theme

for this year's
competition is roots!

You have to work with this theme

and create your own interpretation
and present it in your own style

to perform an original song.

We can work with that.

We will do a fabulous
job in this round.

We have a compilation
full of songs.

And now in order to explain
this theme better we have…

We will sing an
absolutely adorable song.

Dad, Panditji had a
composition, right?

A celebrity singer who
needs no introduction.

What was it called? Sur…

- IBC is privileged to present…
- Yes, "Sur Hi Parmatama…"

Mr. Digvijay Rathod.

Digvijay Rathod!

Yes, Digvijay Rathod.

The theme for the grand
finale is amazing. Roots.

My father and my guru Pandit
Radhe Mohan Rathod used to say

that music should stay
anchored to its roots.

It's imperative.

If music loses itself

in being like the
foliage, the flowers,

the leaves, the
branches, and so on then

the music is bound
to be destroyed.

Before you enter
the grand finale

and explore your roots, I…

would like to present the
roots of my Gharana to you.

Bandish.

BANDISH

Pandit Radhe Mohan Rathod
and the Bikaner Gharana's

important compositions are
collected in this work.

My father Radhe Mohan
Rathod did this and today

I wish to present that
collection to the entire world.

So, ladies and gentlemen,

our music is now live.

Listen to the album Bandish

on all the music
platforms of your choice.

Now we won't be able to sing
anything from the compilations.

He's f*cked us
over! We're f*cked!

These compositions

include one Bandish that my
father loved the most of all.

I would like to perform
it for you today

and try to do justice to it.

"Sur Hi Parmatama."

Don't. There are
cameras everywhere.

We will deal with it later.

Now's not the time.

MOHINI

BANDISH

Radhe, I never thought that he…

It's all over.

It's all over.