tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post7961894684129329839..comments2024-03-09T15:11:29.350-08:00Comments on Exotic and irrational entertainment: Bollywood Heroes: Ram vs. Krishna Part 1Pessimisissimohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-90346024464826832722012-06-06T22:59:37.943-07:002012-06-06T22:59:37.943-07:00Yes, college as portrayed in most Bollywood films ...Yes, college as portrayed in most Bollywood films seems mainly to consist of practical jokes, unrequited crushes and dance competitions; see <i>Dil</i>, <i>Kuch Kuch Hota Hai</i>, <i>Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gham</i>, <i>Kya Kehna</i> (which adds daredevil motorcycle jumping to the list of collegiate activities), <i>Main Ki Prem Diwani Hoon</i>...<br /><br />Or, rather, <i>don't</i> see MKPDH, if you want to retain your sanity. And yet the awful MKPDH was the film that Sooraj Bharjatya wrote and directed just before <i>Vivah</i>. I do recommend <i>Vivah</i> highly—if you watch it please let me know what you think of it.<br /><br /><i>Kuch Naa Kaho</i> is charming; if you like it, I think you'll love <i>Vivah</i>, which is similarly sweet (but not cloyingly so). I'm apparently one of the few who resist the appeal of <i>Lagaan</i>; if you're interested in why, I try to explain it in <a href="http://exoticandirrational.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-lagaan-and-rang-de-bansanti-didnt.html" rel="nofollow">Why Lagaan and Rang De Basanti didn't make my list of favorites</a>. And I'm wholly in agreement with you about <i>Veer-Zaara</i>. It's a wonderful film that I've returned to many times; "Tere Liye" never fails to bring a lump to my throat.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />P.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-6489314809405061822012-06-05T20:54:26.374-07:002012-06-05T20:54:26.374-07:00Thanks! I should watch Main Hoon Na again, it'...Thanks! I should watch Main Hoon Na again, it's been a really long time. I was very confused by how it was supposed to be college students, but they were all acting like they were in a high school movie that ended in a wedding instead of the prom. A friend explained the reasons to me. I think my first real gateway drug was Kuch Naa Kaho, which isn't necessarily a great movie, but I love it anyway. Then Lagaan hooked me for good. I think my favorite is still Veer-Zaara though...between the saris, the music and dance, and the melodrama, what's not to love about these movies?<br /><br />I have not seen Vivah. Clearly I'm going to have to!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-54717063677199362162012-06-05T20:03:49.166-07:002012-06-05T20:03:49.166-07:00Jean, welcome! Clearly there's a Bollywood/Vic...Jean, welcome! Clearly there's a Bollywood/Victorian novel/librarian association that I have to explore in a future post. <br /><br />I've come to realize that <i>Main Hoon Na</i> is a gateway drug for many Bollywood addicts. When we first saw it I had no idea who Ram and Lakshman were/are—and yes, that's a confession of appalling ignorance. One of the things that I appreciate about Indian films is that many operate on multiple levels at once, and it's not necessary to catch all the allusions to enjoy them. That's what makes them such a rich experience, and worth returning to again and again. I'm still trying to untangle all the references in <i>Kal Ho Naa Ho</i>, a movie I've seen something like two dozen times.<br /><br />Thanks so much for your mention of <i>Swades</i>—I completely missed the Ram-allusions the first time around. It was a film we saw early in our exploration of Bollywood, and clearly we have to rewatch it in the near future. I considered it for my list of the <a href="http://exoticandirrational.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-10-shah-rukh-khan-movies.html" rel="nofollow">Top Ten Shah Rukh Khan movies</a>; perhaps a rewatch will require me to revise the list.<br /><br />Thanks so much for your comment!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-71971153224763781832012-06-05T14:20:26.434-07:002012-06-05T14:20:26.434-07:00Popping in to say hi--I found your blog today whil...Popping in to say hi--I found your blog today while looking for Framley Parsonage images. It *is* just like DDLJ that way! I'm another Bollywood-addicted librarian.<br /><br />Anyway, interesting thoughts about Ram/Krishna heroes. Main Hoon Na was one of the first Bollywood movies I saw, so I was quite proud of myself for catching the utterly obvious Ram/Lakshman brothers.<br /><br />Swades actually has a long Ram drama in the middle of it, and Gita requires a lot more Ram-like behavior from Mohan before she'll accept him.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.com