tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post5808254673830232115..comments2024-03-09T15:11:29.350-08:00Comments on Exotic and irrational entertainment: Favorite Bollywood films of the 2000sPessimisissimohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-13484542099675939202010-02-22T07:31:19.234-08:002010-02-22T07:31:19.234-08:00Sid, I liked your list, and your analysis of why t...Sid, I liked your list, and your analysis of why the sort of gritty urban dramas that populate it were made by mainstream directors and studios. I will say that I don't find most self-consciously gritty dramas to be any more "realistic" than, say, a movie like <i>Vivah</i>--they just employ a different set of movie conventions. <i>Life...in a Metro</i>, on your honorable mention list, for example, is practically a scene-by-scene remake of Billy Wilder's <i>The Apartment</i>, and still invokes, rather than critiques, the double standard about men's and women's infidelity.<br /><br /><i>Life ...in a Metro</i> does, though, feature Konkarna Sen Sharma, as do <i>Mr. and Mrs. Iyer</i> and <i>Luck By Chance</i>, which both made your Top Ten. It's nice to see her generally excellent work receive recognition.<br /><br />I also liked that you pointed to the positive aspects of international influence on Indian cinema. I've been bemoaning the Hollywoodization of Hindi movies, whether done poorly (<i>Chandni Chowk to China</i>) or well (<i>Taare Zameen Par</i>, which I hope to write about soon). But you point out that it's not just Disney, but visual stylists like Wong Kar-Wai that Indian filmmakers are currently drawing inspiration from. So international influence doesn't only lead to blandness (and the influence is not only in one direction, as the song-and-dance sequence in a movie like <i>(500) Days of Summer</i> (2009) shows).<br /><br />Thanks for your comment, and your thought-provoking list!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-15252561418592721452010-02-21T10:12:49.734-08:002010-02-21T10:12:49.734-08:00Hey, just came across your list. Some great choice...Hey, just came across your list. Some great choices there. I created a similar list over at my blog<br />http://morethanfilms.blogspot.com/2010/02/multiplex-decade-best-of-bollywood-2000.html<br /><br />Let me know what you think!Sidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647511701225586270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-7968013294547210322010-02-12T14:20:45.533-08:002010-02-12T14:20:45.533-08:00Jade, thanks for responding, and for listing some ...Jade, thanks for responding, and for listing some of your own favorites. I'm not sure whether you're the only person who enjoyed <i>Saawariya</i> (I enjoyed the parts featuring Rani, at least), but it seems the entire world shares your disdain for <i>Drona</i>. I haven't seen the movie myself and after your warning don't plan to, so I can't really comment. But the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060249/usercomments" rel="nofollow">IMDB user comments</a> for the movie make it sound painfully bad...Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-29386625894624961782010-02-12T01:21:29.592-08:002010-02-12T01:21:29.592-08:00"Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" is my very favo..."Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" is my very favorite movie of the decade. "Black" is amazing (Rani is spectacular)and "Aaja Nachle" was wrongfully panned by critics - it's a well done very enjoyable movie. I also like "Guru", "Devdas", "Dhoom 2", and am I the only person that really enjoyed "Saawariya"??<br />"Drona" gets my vote for worst movie....I love Abhishek but I couldn't even finish the movie it was so awful...Jadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-73797147687666083372009-12-22T14:02:51.491-08:002009-12-22T14:02:51.491-08:00Filmbuff, I share your appreciation of Konkarna Se...Filmbuff, I share your appreciation of Konkarna Sen Sharma. I haven't yet seen <i>Wake Up Sid</i> or the other two films you mention, but just based on her presence in the cast (and she is in <i>Traffic Signal</i>, at least according to the IMDB) I'd say they're probably worth seeing.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-17530538787285829362009-12-22T08:30:26.861-08:002009-12-22T08:30:26.861-08:00Beth, according to my own database (of course I al...Beth, according to my own database (of <i>course</i> I also have one, though I've probably forgotten to record some films) we've only seen 85 films from the 2000s--but I didn't let an even smaller sample size stop me! :) Of course, I don't make any claims for the films on my favorites list other than my own enjoyment.<br /><br />I think any survey of the films you've seen from the 2000s (however you decided to organize it) would be really interesting. So while I respect your hesitation, I hope you'll decide to write about what you enjoyed (and didn't) from the past decade.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />P.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-14932791795204613392009-12-21T20:15:32.568-08:002009-12-21T20:15:32.568-08:00I agree with you about "Konkarna Sen Sharma, ...I agree with you about "Konkarna Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor and Irrfan Khan". Have you seen Konkana in the recent movie "Wake up Sid"? She was very good as expected. I have seen most of her movies except Page 3 and Traffic Signal (was she in it? - dunno)Filmbuffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-8609341774975747912009-12-21T14:01:07.377-08:002009-12-21T14:01:07.377-08:00No, I haven't posted such a thing. This is par...No, I haven't posted such a thing. This is partly because I spend so much of my mental energy in the 60s-early 80s that it didn't even register on me that a decade was coming to a close - and partly because I'm not sure I've seen enough films of the 2000s to really make a list, you know? If I did a favorites list, it'd most likely be by some other criterion, like director, theme, Maa characters, etc. so that I could have more meaningful choices. <br /><br />I just paused in writing this to see if I could easily figure out how many films of the 2000s I have seen. Apparently it's about 130 (rough count based on my index, since I'm at work and can't access my database) (yes, dork, but you understand, fellow library person!). Sooo...maybe that's enough to have a good sampling for a list (even though it's small in proportion to the output of Hindi cinema), but maybe 13.5 films per year on average is NOT enough. I don't know.Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-60610593990469851002009-12-21T08:53:39.182-08:002009-12-21T08:53:39.182-08:00Beth, some people find enjoyment of Devdas, KHNH o...Beth, some people find enjoyment of <i>Devdas</i>, KHNH or KANK to be non-obvious, too :). <br /><br />I did want to be honest about the films I most enjoyed, even if almost no one else (apart from my SRK-fangirl partner) would include all of them on their favorites list. One of the humbling lessons of making my opinions public is that I've learned that people I respect can disagree with them so profoundly. On the other hand, like you I'm fascinated by the differences.<br /><br />It is the "flawed but I love them" films that are the most fun to write about. And yes, they are revealing--at least, of my hitherto-deniable mile-wide sentimental streak...:).<br /><br />I'd love to see your list of favorites (and your list of FBILT films)--have I missed something, or have you not yet posted it?<br /><br />Thanks for your comment!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-21090488002508059172009-12-21T07:03:12.224-08:002009-12-21T07:03:12.224-08:00(Sorry to be so late to the game on your post!)
I...(Sorry to be so late to the game on your post!)<br /><br />It never fails to amaze me that people's tastes can be so different - you and I have had some great conversations about films over the years (plural! yikes we're old!) but our lists are SO different. And as I read, I realize that it's your "flawed but I love them" list where we really learn more about you as a viewer :) Maybe once 2010 rolls around and the 0X years are really done, we can get a massive blog thing going of people talking about THOSE. Explaining a love of the non-obvious or non-easy is way more fun.Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-19518413670678531162009-12-03T21:00:52.180-08:002009-12-03T21:00:52.180-08:00Ness, thanks for giving some more details on your...Ness, thanks for giving some more details on your agreements and disagreements with my list.<br /><br />About JBJ, you can read more about my objections at <a href="http://exoticandirrational.blogspot.com/2009/07/jhoom-barabar-jhoom.html" rel="nofollow">my post on the movie</a>. I know the film has its fans, but what I couldn't forgive were the lame dance numbers. "Ticket to Bollywood," "Kiss of Love," and the horrible dance competition (of the four principals, only Preity can actually dance) just threw the contrivances of the script into stark relief. I'm a huge Preity Zinta fan, and Abhi was pretty charming in this one...but it wasn't enough to make up for the inane dialogue and situations concocted by the scriptwriter.<br /><br />As for <i>Aaja Nachle</i>, I understand your dismissal, but I don't share it. Akshaye's devilishly attractive and self-aware "villain" and Madhuri's brilliant smile went a long way towards counterbalancing the cliche-ridden script. There's also the presence of Exotic and Irrational favorites Konkarna Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. But the movie really transcends its formula during the staging of the show--the haunting, minor key "Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai" is a mesmerising retelling of the Laila-Majnu story: <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4loi7_ishq-ishq-aaja-nachle_music" rel="nofollow">http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4loi7_ishq-ishq-aaja-nachle_music</a>. (The story should be pretty clear even without subtitles.)<br /><br />Thanks again for your perspective!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-80794659175001361832009-12-02T12:16:16.228-08:002009-12-02T12:16:16.228-08:00Heh well since you asked...(lol) I haven't see...Heh well since you asked...(lol) I haven't seen all of the films on your list but a few of them are in my must watch soon pile! I agree with your top six except for Paheli - I thought Paheli was beautiful visually but I had issues with the so-called "feminist aspects' of the story - maybe I need to give it another go though!<br /><br />LOVE the inclusion of KANK on the list - I know there are some haters out there but I thought this movie was FANTASTIC, thematically, visually, and beautiful performances from everyone (and you're so right about Abhishek)!<br /><br />Big disagreements with JBJ being termed disappointing to flat-out awful - I'm in the group of people who has much affection for the zany weirdness of this movie (and Abhi as Ricky OH HE'S SO GOOD!) and also Aaja Nachle as being termed anything OTHER than flat out awful. That movie was one big mediocre suckfest, just a BAD film, covered by the fact it was Madhuri's comeback and she danced a lot so no-one noticed the complete lack of anything resembling a decent story/script.<br /><br />Now I am gonna investigate your blog further!Nesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107616228716988730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-86926759375498776442009-12-02T08:16:37.033-08:002009-12-02T08:16:37.033-08:00Bollyviewer, I'd love to see your favorites li...Bollyviewer, I'd love to see your favorites list--I'm sure you'll point out some excellent films that I've overlooked. And I'm very glad that you also liked <i>Vivah</i> (but you're right to continue to avoid HAHK).<br /><br />Ness, thanks to you and theBollywoodFan for correcting my misidentification of SRK's buddy in <i>Om Shanti Om</i>. Of course it's Shreyas Talpade, and I've made the correction above. (I've seen the film a half-dozen times, but apparently didn't manage to read the credits even once).<br /><br />Thanks too for your comment about RNBDJ--I'm glad to find another fan (<a href="http://memsaabstory.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/rab-ne-bana-di-jodi-2008/" rel="nofollow">Memsaab</a> is another one). And I'd be happy to hear about your disagreements with my list as well--I'm under no illusion that my tastes are universal or even, as I suggest in the subtitle of this blog, defensible.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-63065760043395685712009-12-01T19:50:54.236-08:002009-12-01T19:50:54.236-08:00Hi - I just found your blog from a link off Beth f...Hi - I just found your blog from a link off Beth from Bollywood. Interesting picks on your list - I heartily agree with some (nice to see some love for RNBDJ - sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who likes that movies) and heartily disagree with others!<br /><br />Just a note for you: it was Shreyas Talpade who played SRK's sidekick in Om Shanti Om, not Riteish D :)Nesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107616228716988730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-47511992501287783312009-11-30T22:24:34.169-08:002009-11-30T22:24:34.169-08:00I am so glad to see Paheli made it to your list - ...I am so glad to see <i>Paheli</i> made it to your list - I LOVE the folk-tale aspects and all the pretty in it (and Rani+SRK). <i>Hum Tum</i> and <i>Lage Raho Munna Bhai</i> are two others that would definitely make my list, if I can ever narrow it down to 10 or even 12 movies from a whole decade! I think this decade has marked a significant change in Bollywood with more experimentation in main-stream masala (as opposed to more parallel cinema experiments in earlier decades) and much more feminist characters coming up in films compared to earlier decades. Some very fine films have been made (and no, I dont mean KJo/Bhansali films!) - so its a very tough choice to make. :-)<br /><br />By the way, your review of <i>Vivah</i> encouraged me to watch it and I was surprised to find myself liking it, too! This, from someone who has never been able to watch HAHK inspite of loving Madhuri to bits.bollyviewerhttp://bollyviewer-oldisgold.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-27366812511607748552009-11-30T07:53:12.154-08:002009-11-30T07:53:12.154-08:00Filmbuff, you're right that you have to dig ar...Filmbuff, you're right that you have to dig around a bit to find other Bollybloggers who have gone public with their skepticism about HAHK, but they're out there--for example, <a href="http://bethlovesbollywood.blogspot.com/2005/05/what-hum-aapke-hain-koun.html" rel="nofollow">Beth Loves Bollywood</a>. HAHK makes me really wary of Barjatya's <i>Hum Saath-Saath Hain</i> (1999), too.<br /><br />So I'm not sure why I enjoyed <i>Vivah</i> so much, except that I found the low-key script to be convincing, and Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao very appealing as the young people finding their way from attraction to love. I've also got a weak spot for movies that feature Alok Nath as a wise, kindhearted dad.<br /><br />Which is his role in <i>Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham</i> (2001), too--but somehow K3G didn't make my list of favorites or worthies. BollywoodFan, I understand why you (and most right-thinking people, probably) prefer K3G to KHNH. But despite the great cast and the excellent dance numbers, something about K3G leaves me a bit cold. <br /><br />It's not how glossy or emotionally manipulative it is--that's just part of the package. I think it's that Amitabh is playing the stern, angry dad, and it takes the whole movie to get him to unbend a little. Should it really take a decade for someone to come to terms with having Kajol as a daughter-in-law? (This was my problem with <i>Mohabbatein</i> (2000) as well--you'd think family estrangement, suicide, etc. might get this character to re-examine his self-righteous anger.) <br /><br />Also, Kareena's improved a bit, but early in her career I didn't find her to be a very convincing actress or a very good dancer. When SRK and Kajol virtually disappear and the focus switches to Hrithik and Kareena in the second half, I find my interest waning.<br /><br />All that said, I own K3G (of course--it features SRK and Kajol), I've recommended it to people looking for mainstream Bollywood entertainment, and I play the songs fairly frequently. But I couldn't quite bring myself to put it on my list of favorites.<br /><br />BollywoodFan, I also notice that you forbore to comment on the absence of both <i>Lagaan</i> and <i>Rang de Basanti</i> from my lists--perhaps that will be the subject of another post...<br /><br />Many thanks for your comment, and for the idea that inspired the post!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-9792498677251191912009-11-29T19:13:01.329-08:002009-11-29T19:13:01.329-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-23222569018135508692009-11-29T17:08:04.661-08:002009-11-29T17:08:04.661-08:00yeah Hum Aapke Hain Koun is another movie I did no...yeah Hum Aapke Hain Koun is another movie I did not like at all. I remember watching that movie on the DVD and fast forwarding songs that were coming one after the other wondering when this movie is really going to pick up until I realised that the movie is only a sequence of songs! I think I must be the only other person in blogland not liking this movie! <br /><br />BTW, I do like the SRK movies you have listed.Filmbuffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-59138328737314312212009-11-29T07:54:42.603-08:002009-11-29T07:54:42.603-08:00Filmbuff, many thanks for your comments!
For me,...Filmbuff, many thanks for your comments! <br /><br />For me, one of the things that makes Bhansali's <i>Devdas</i> work is its larger-than-life quality--everything (the sets, the costumes, the emotions) is more vivid than reality. I can see, though, why you might consider it to be too much. Which might be the response of many people to my SRK-centric favorites list in general.<br /><br />And yes, <i>Vivah</i> is essentially without drama for its first two hours or so. But I liked its low-key way of unfolding Prem and Poonam's developing feelings--the scene of their first meeting, for example, or their later "secret" rendezvous on the rooftop (that everyone in both families is conspiring to allow), are filled with amusing and touching details. But for sure, I can see that it wouldn't be to everyone's taste (and a couple of Madhuri Dixit's dance numbers aside, I'm certainly no fan of Barjatya's earlier <i>Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!</i> (1994)).<br /><br />Thanks again for your response!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-15626009857631120022009-11-28T21:22:51.454-08:002009-11-28T21:22:51.454-08:00Came to your post via TBF. Good post and list of m...Came to your post via TBF. Good post and list of movies. Your list matches mine (though I don't have a formal one via blog or anything like that). The only exception was Devdas. I liked parts of it and the songs but found it OTT in some aspects. Also, I saw Vivah on the big screen - found it very boring - slow moving - typical Barjatya style with the movie picking up only in the last 20 mins. I found it a Yawn.Filmbuffnoreply@blogger.com