[Drugmachine]

This is a fairly difficult question to answer but given the current scenario, it is good have a debate on this aspect.

I said it is difficult in this area because film music does not have strict boundaries as in carnatic music or hindustani music. Yes, Carnatic music or hindustani music can take in external influence but the core of the music form is well defined. Whereas the core of Indian film music is nebulous to say the least, though there is definitely something called film music!! This ability to take in any influence, classical, folk, western rock, pop, jazz etc and morph it into itself is the greatest virtue of our film music.

Given this situation, it is obvious difficult to say that the critic should be well versed in one form of music and it is almost impossible to someone to be well versed in all forms of music!! My personal take is that a good critic should be well versed in the basics of music like being able to identify the notes or in being able to identify the chords. Someone who actually has played an instrument for a film song would be great or atleast who has tried to play a song on the instrument in an orchestra. Someone like Violin Vicky would probably fall in this category. Needless to say, the critic should have an open mind to accept newer influences and see how they impact the current. He should have heard a lot of different types of music and should be able to appreciate other forms of music. (Ofcourse many music directors may not want a critic who has heard a lot because he / she may find out where they get their inspiration from ) Would agree with Vijay that putting things down in an understanable fashion is very important.

As trends change, the expectations from the critic change as well. Someone who was good critic during MSV era may have been insufficient during Raja times and when Rahman came along critics would have had to learn newer things. Yet some basic expectations would remain. The ability to see continuity in change, the ability to point out to new talent and ability to influence tastes.

Given this, I would agree with Vijay that I have not yet come across a film critic who can be termed as good. I would personally rate someone like Baradwaj Rangan as a good writer. Musically I don't get much from him and I am sure he will accept that he is not a musician and is not trying to educate us musically. Other like Karthik etc, I would call them as reviewers as opposed to critics.