Live: Yaana Gupta @ Bootleggers

When not starring in item numbers, or giving out colon cleaning advice, Yaana Gupta occupies herself singing. The Bollywood starlet is well on her way to a career in music with an album release scheduled for sometime soon and a debut gig she played at Bootleggers in Colaba on Friday.

The gig was previously supposed to happen on Nov 27, but that got canned.

At Rs 1,000 bucks cover a head and the likes of Gary Lawyer and Lucky Ali attending, the gig promised much.

Head downstairs for a pics, the review and the Indiecision.

We are far too patronising with our musicians. And even more with our item girls.

A predominant portion of the audience that attended this gig were friends of Yaana Gupta and a few page 3 journos. The result was much cheering during and at the end of every single song along with that distinctive urban-socialite Mumbai way of saying “Yeah yeay!” as a phrase of encouragement.

Ms Gupta played a short 25 minute set that included all original music from her new album. The music itself was pretty dull. Here’s a sample of lyrics from the song ‘I Believe In Love’.

I just know you belong with me
The same as Adam belongs with Eve

I see you every night in my dreams
And Iâ??m sure you are the one for me

All the songs followed pretty much the same ultra-pop-py format – love, “you are mine, I am yours” sort of stuff that even Britney has outgrown.

Musically, the flute player was perhaps the only saving grace; giving the songs a summery, European feel, something Ms Gupta’s attire was well suited towards. The sound was well set up, relative to Bootleggers’ confines of course.

This is a very sell-able product though. With a few haute videos, a movie plug and some intensive marketing, Yaana Gupta could well be indi-pop’s next big thing. But for all it’s frills, there is hardly any substance. Which is why

Indiecision: C