Bollywood: The Show Must Grow On

re:#33 by Brat
Bollywood is not a movie to watch if you want to see some reality. Bollywood is escapist. It is the opium of the poor masses who can, in one place, see everything: from some music, to some belly dancing by Madhuri Dixit to some fight scenes and so on. It is never a serious business. I met a Ukranian guy some years ago in St. Louis, MO, where i was doing my fellowship and this guy told me how much he liked Hindi movies (apparently hindi movies are a rage in Ukraine) but he regretted that the newer ones were a poor copy of Hollywood. We do not see a Gunga Jumna or Ram aur Shyam or Baiju Bawra now-a-days. Not even Sholay, which still retained some Indianness. Now-a-days, when i watch a Bolly movie, i get the feeling i am watching a poor version of Hollywood. And the dance scenes (PT drills) are nauseating.

BTW, i was in India only 2 years ago and visited Madras and Bangalore, among other places. So, if you are telling me that India has suddenly become highly westernised, i won`t believe it.
Sridhar

re:#29 by nasah
I have a pet theory about watching Bollywood movies. You need to leave your brains behind before you enter a theater. Or you need to be a moron. There is no other way to watch it. Or else you are addicted to it like many in this chowk seem to be.
I know a good movie when i see one. I sometimes see some old movies just because they had some lovely songs. But, the newer ones do not have that kind of songs. They are technically better made, but the story is the same old damn one: boy meets a girl (with some variation recently: boy meets a boy or girl meets a girl and i am to believe this is creativity!) and they fall in love. And, why the heck are the heroes always Chikna and heroine always Chikni. Can`t bollywood find some ordinary folks? And nothing can be more insulting than these chikna logs breaking into a song and dance sequence when the movie is just about making some sense. No wonder when Naseer or Om Puri come on scene, it is such a relief.

And, all the players have to dress up like their western counterparts, and girls even dye up their hair to look like a blonde. It is pathetic. Why can`t bollywood make movies on say Kargil which was such a big issue (a good war movie, not one with a love story and melodrama)? Or on any of the umpteen historical characters from History: Ashoka, Akbar. What about Taj Mahal? When Bollywood starts making serious movies of the caliber of Ben Hur, Ten commandments, and the like, i will take it seriously.
Sridhar

Ansari #28,

``Chashme buddoor`` was wonderful - aapne yaad dila diya; need to go get it from the
store today. Yes, Saeed Jaffrey is quite talented. The main problem with Bollywood
is that it takes good actors and reduces them to caricatures.

Bajpai and Shefali Chhaya were outstanding in Satya. Do you remember the scene
where Bajpai slaps her for nagging him ? He does a wonderful job of being just
a little out of control, but regains control with effortless ease. Very good work - I
can only think of a couple more people (Naseer being one) who could`ve pulled that
off.

Watched Ijazat yesterday after a decade or so. Nice movie, but does anyone
else find Gulzar`s lyrics a bit contrived at times, as opposed to say Sahir ? I don`t
even know or speak Urdu, and it still bothers me.

it was how the story of mughal e azam was handled that makes it so brilliant: everything about the film was spectacular--it was the only Indian film I have seen to rival any of the 60s Hollywood epics.
**
I want to watch Barsaat ki raat....its difficult to get hold of the classic golden oldies in the UK as most video stores don`t stock them cos of the low demand...

**
Madhubala is my favourite all time actress...
***
Yes, Satya and Company are both brilliant films...
**

Matloob Hasan:
Good overview of what the industry is going through, there is certainly a lot of excitement and a lot happening. Last night I saw a program about India-Canada trade relations, and it talked about a few Canadians who have gone to India to be part of Bollywood (Lisa Ray of course being the most famous, btw Deepa Mehta is also Canadian - see scout Canada is better!).

nasah: (other critics of hindi movies)
so what you`re saying is you`re sick of `the SAME over exaggerated theatrical dialogues and the SAME garish hip-gyrating song-n-dance -- (joke-of-a-Nautanki) -- routines? `
and you don`t watch anything that comes out of bollywood?

I think all the people on this board agree on a few things:
a) not all movies that come out of bollywood are good, neither are all of them bad. for the die hard critics, try watching one of the recommended movies on this board and then come back to tell us what you think. don`t expect miracles, just seedha/saadha desi entertainment

b) bollywood has certain charm despite its sometimes overexaggerated, larger than life, unrealistic plot lines.
[btw what do you think Arnold`s films in hollywood do? the hero consistently escapes any kind of attack the bad guys can come up with, and also always gets the girl]

c) bollywood like any other `art` goes through its growing pains, we`re witnessing certain exciting trends....certain things are changing, we have technically better films, we have slightly progressing storylines (loved Dil Chahta Hai for that -- even the song and dance routine didn`t look out of place), we`re challenging the norms, we`re doing what movies are supposed to do - provide entertainment.

rsridhar #13:
when was the last time you visited India? If you care to walk through the major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore to be sure, I`m sure other Indians on board can add to the list) - you`ll notice that the younger generation does wear daring clothes.
And you can`t blame movies for this -- people are expressing themselves and their sexuality. The world truly is a global village now, so one part of the world cannot be `untouched`, the trend in North America (see Madonna) towards things `South Asian` is along the same lines.

Ansari #25

Aamir that conversation was hilarious. I could just picture you and your nani on the phone. I think it should be part of some movie.

Anuradha #31
I agree Koi Mil Gaya is good family entertainment, certain things could`ve been done better - but overall it`s pretty good. The direction was ok, Hrithik was good, Preity was great to watch :), when they started doing the dance routine I went oh no, but enjoyed the dance and scenic view nonetheless!

Hrithik is good in this movie and in Fiza, also Mission Kashmir, but other than these I haven`t been able to watch too much of him, and that`s not because of his acting talent or lack of it, probably because of the kind of film offers he gets. In this matter, I respect Aamir Khan, after a few initial bad choices - the guy has done some very good movies, and I always look forward to watching his movies.

To fellow bollywood enthusiasts
btw have you guys noticed how some movies are incorporating this recognition of the stereotypes of hindi movies? Bollywood/Hollywood has the hero heroine romancing on both Bollywood and Hollywood storylines. I love hindi movie spoofs and directors who can enjoy the industry they work with.

This board gives me the names of some movies that I can watch :). It`s hard to predict which ones will be bad - I haven`t gone to see Main Prem ki Diwani Hoon, even though at one point in time I had great expectations from Sooraj Barjatya.

among the newer movies my must watch list is:
Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Monsoon Wedding, Bend it Like Beckham, Aankhein, Bombay Boys, Company, (Road - for doing something different), Satya, Split Wide Open, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (excellent movie), Fiza, Hera Pheri, Viraasat, The Terrorist, Vaastav, Maachis

I love the following for the cinematic treat they provide:
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Kareeb, Chalte Chalte (Greece!), Koi Mil Gaya (I don`t know where this place is, but it`s beautiful - could be Canada :) ), Devdas, One Two Ka Four (loved the depiction of a few things in the film)

Just entertainment:
Biwi No. 1, Dil Pe Mat le yaar, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya

Different storylines/social issues:
Zakhm, Mrityudand, Filhaal, Shakti, Chandni Bar, Hari Bhari, Maya, Lajja, East is East, Aa ab laut chale, Bhaji on the Beach (by the same director as Bend it Like Beckham), Kya Kehna (Preity Zinta), Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche (Jaya is amazing in this, Sanjay Kapoor is ok)

Any suggestions from other Chowkies for movies along these lines I would certainly appreciate!

#25 by Ansari

lol `Main mohabbat ki bhookhi hoon`... very funny... tell your nani to copyright it...

and plats/ansari...

I missed dil pe mat le yaar, don`t know how... and shatranj ke khilari... I remember being dragged to the theatre to see this one when I was a kid... at that age I thought it was pretty dull hehe...

and btw... speaking of Koi Mil Gaya, the last 30 min of this film are quite lousy, but till then it`s very enjoyable... Hrithik is wonderful. Sadly the director lets it slide towards the end. just thought I`d warn you in case any of you watch this movie on my recommendation... kahin mujhe aap logon ki gaaliyan na sunni pade... :)

#29 by nasah

to answer your question... no, we don`t! :)

I see that on this board an Indo/Pakistani love fest is in progress vis vis the Indian films – of the past and the present.

Now let ME put some -- Rung meiN Bhang -- at this festive occasion.

here is my assessment of the Indian films

the Indian films -- with rare exceptions -- are over exaggerated, amateurish -- unimaginative, -- reality-relieved, -- devoid of reasoning or rationale -- devoid of spatial and time relations and perceptions -- repetitive and rut loving -- dull unexciting pieces of male chauvinistic piggish emotional theatrics -- and the ever Subservient Indian Naris’s Crying routines –

they are products– of a film industry -- that is like an 80 year old sewage sewer oozing with puggled productions -- of pure puerile ‘Entertainment’ -- that in many ways ARE perpetual permanent purveyors of Indo/Pakistani Social/Cultural Backwardness.


Don’t U guys ever-get-tired of the SAME over exaggerated theatrical dialogues and the SAME garish hip-gyrating song-n-dance -- (joke-of-a-Nautanki) -- routines?

of how much I miss those REAL Nautankis:-)

plats: loved satya . . . you`re right, manoj bajpai was outstanding, as was shefali chaaya as pyaari . . . compare that with her performance in monsoon wedding and you realise what a gifted actress she is . . . haven`t seen dil pe mat le yaar yet . . . shatranj ke khilari was amusing, particularly the bit in the end when they have the confrontation in the village; sab ki asliyat saamne aa jaati hai . . . sanjeev kumar was a great actor and saeed jaffrey matched him quite nicely . . . did you see saeed jaffrey as lallan mian in chashme buddoor? that was one helluva film

``#17 by Naqshbandi on August 22, 2003 9:53am PT
dost-mittar:

you are entitled to your opinion but Mughal e Azam consistently comes in almost every critics list of the 10 greatest Indian films ever.``

Do you even know the story??. The father says she is my slave girl, the son says I love her.
Boy-O-Boy. Both father and son chasing a slave girl. Result ``honour killing`` (of the slave girl of cource). Completely acceptable is it not??

I think you should watch Barsat Ki Raat. Music and Madhubalaji is simply out of this world. Bharat Bhoooooshan is the only idiot around. Perhaps the best Quawallies (is this how it is spelt??). Roshanji`s master piece.


Mantolives,

Please watch ``Garm Hawa``. Perhaps the best ever Balaraj Sahaniji performed. It is about partition; and effects and affects it had on musilms who decided to stay in India. Almost all the movie is about Muslims. Almost all the actors and actresses and hindus.

Watch ``Gaman`` if you do not want to, (and think you do not), mix politicts with (what else???)

Watch Nasirudin Shah, portraying Mirza Galibji. (I think movie name is same. Not very sure)

Watch Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan in Shataranj Ke Khiladi.

Quality (or lack of it) of Indian movies was not and never will dependant of ilks of Urstruly. All this guy will do whine and whine. He is a looser. He always will be. The guy sold half of his (and yours too) country in 1971. Come next few years of his rule, all the rest will also be up for grabs too. The guy knows it. Blaming and hating others is what all he can do, to get right price or prize. Never will do anything constructive. Will run away and claim? Pathatic.

Sarwarji.

Some of the movies we (in India) make are sooo bad, it makes me ....... (fill in)

Yogiraj Patil

Anuradha#24/Ansari #25,

LOL. The long title zamana in recent times started with Mahesh Bhatt, I think.
Remember ``Phir teri kahani yaad aayi``. Had a couple of nice songs.

Anuradha - Satya was indeed an extremely well made movie. Manoj Bajpai
has loads of talent which is being consistently unused and misused. Have
you seen ``Dil pe mat le yaar`` ? Liked that one quite a bit.

Dost-mittar/Ansari,

Have you seen Satyajit Ray`s ``Satranj ke Khiladi`` ? Excellent film. I thought
Shabana, Sanjiv Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey were wonderful, as was the direction.

Anuradha:

``those long syrupy titles were getting so sickening... Main prem ki diwani hoon, Hum aapke dil mein rehte hai, Rehna hai tere dil mein, Hamara dil aapke paas hai ya phir kahin kho gaya hoga zara dekh kar to bataaiye...``

LOL! My nani`s in town and I called her up the other day to see how she was doing.

``Kya ho raha hai, Nani?``

``Kal raat ko hum beth gae they film laga ke; tumne dekhi hai, wo Hrithik aur Kareena ki jo naee waali hai?``

``Kaun si, Nani, naam kya hai?``

``Naam uska . . . dekho yaad nahin aa raha . . . ek minute . . . haan . . . Main Mohabbat ki Bhooki Hoon, yehi naam tha.``

``Kya! Aisi tau koi film nahin! Aap kahin Main Prem ki Deewani Hoon ki baat tau nahin kar raheen?``

``Haan haan wohi . . . ek tau ye filmein aur unkay vaahiyaat naam! Tumne dekhi hai?``

one good thing about bollywood films now is that short and sweet titles are making a comback - Style, Bhoot, Footpath, LOC to name a few... god, those long syrupy titles were getting so sickening... Main prem ki diwani hoon, Hum aapke dil mein rehte hai, Rehna hai tere dil mein, Hamara dil aapke paas hai ya phir kahin kho gaya hoga zara dekh kar to bataaiye... yuck!!

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Banjaara#19:
I agree with you regarding all those films, except Jhanak jhanak payal baaje. That film was a classic and one of the very few whose videos I own, but only for its dances. Take away the dances and some beautiful outdoor photography and there is nothing, except, maybe, for the great acting of the marathi actor who played Gopi`s father in the film.

And Mughal-e-Azam was worth it, if only for the great `mishran`` of two raagas in Bade Ghulam`s ``Prem Jogan``. But overall, yes, it was a good but not a great film.