tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post5664501306518424681..comments2024-03-09T15:11:29.350-08:00Comments on Exotic and irrational entertainment: Bollywood for the curiousPessimisissimohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-40941876233124152572009-01-14T18:53:00.000-08:002009-01-14T18:53:00.000-08:00Excellent post and good recommendations for first ...Excellent post and good recommendations for first time viewing of hindi movies.<BR/><BR/>I am with you about Dik to Pagal Hai - it is a blotched remake of the Hollywood movie "Fast Forward" (1981). While the songs are enjoyable (on tape/CD/ Radio) - the movie itself was boring - yawn!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-39521544852256572492009-01-05T08:32:00.000-08:002009-01-05T08:32:00.000-08:00Filmi Girl, thanks for your comment--your Top Ten ...Filmi Girl, thanks for your comment--your <A HREF="http://filmi-girl.livejournal.com/132553.html" REL="nofollow">Top Ten Bollywood FIlms for Beginners</A> is what inspired me to put this post together, and it's a great resource for anyone looking for more recommendations.<BR/><BR/>For me one of the delights of Bollywood films is how male actors can unashamedly display emotion. I remember how overwhelmed we were the first time we saw KHNH--we were absolutely riveted, and as I wrote in my response to Ajnabi, right there with Shah Rukh. I also think that in the case of KHNH, the intensity of Shah Rukh's performance is appropriate for the character of Aman and his situation.<BR/><BR/>KHNH is the movie that hooked us on Bollywood. My hope in putting it at the top of my list is that others will find it to be as enjoyable as we did, and then be inspired, as we were, to explore further.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-64790011395650542502009-01-05T07:23:00.000-08:002009-01-05T07:23:00.000-08:00Great list!! My only quibble would be that Shahru...Great list!! My only quibble would be that Shahrukh is really OTT in <B>Kal Ho Naa Ho</B>, which may turn off some people used to "naturalistic" American-style acting... :)Filmi Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09292362161639177666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-39464144016860489392009-01-04T21:19:00.000-08:002009-01-04T21:19:00.000-08:00Why, Dil To Pagal Hai (The Heart is Crazy, 1997) p...Why, <I>Dil To Pagal Hai</I> (The Heart is Crazy, 1997) pretty much swept the Filmfare awards for that year, winning best film, actor (Shah Rukh), actress (Madhuri Dixit), supporting actress (Karisma Kapoor), music director (Utam Singh) and more. It's great to hear that your friend enjoyed it so much.<BR/><BR/>I have to say that, despite all the acclaim, it doesn't fully work for me. It sounds like I'm in the distinct minority, though, so thanks for putting it on your list (and describing your friend's experience).Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-61028676759225922532009-01-04T20:56:00.000-08:002009-01-04T20:56:00.000-08:00Ajnabi, one of Shah Rukh's early colleagues, Ashut...Ajnabi, one of Shah Rukh's early colleagues, Ashutosh Gowariker (later director of <I>Lagaan</I> (2001) and <I>Swades</I> (2004)) was quoted in Anupama Chopra's <A HREF="http://exoticandirrational.blogspot.com/2007/08/king-of-bollywood.html" REL="nofollow"><I>King of Bollywood</I></A> as saying of him that "If there was an emotion given to him, he would multiply it twenty times" (p. 83). I know that Shah Rukh's emotional performances deeply divide Bollywood fans, but as a friend of mine said, "It's not over the top if you're right there with him." <BR/><BR/>In KHNH, I'm right there with him. Yes, he's given more understated performances, which I also enjoy (<I>Swades</I> and <I>Chak De India</I> (2007) spring to mind), but few as powerful as this one (at least for me). This is the movie that made us the helpless Shah Rukh fans that we are. I'm embarrassed to say how many times I've watched KHNH, and I appreciate it more with every viewing.<BR/><BR/>It's certainly the film that allowed us, too, (as you put it so well) to "walk the bridge between American expectations and filmi standards." I hope it will do the same for many other curious viewers.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-27340333821359412942009-01-04T20:37:00.000-08:002009-01-04T20:37:00.000-08:00oh and about Dil To Pagal Hain... In late 1998 an ...oh and about Dil To Pagal Hain... In late 1998 an old friend of mine (American) traveled with me to India. Pre-India trip she had no affinity to Bollywood stuff... it was strange to her. Post-India trip (after viewing first Pardes and then Dil To Pagal Hain) she became a cautious fan. To this day she still remembers lyrics from Dil To Pagal Hain songs and has been known to surprise desi toll collectors by the music playing in her car.whyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01564304393701476738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-70813263263511486422009-01-04T15:22:00.000-08:002009-01-04T15:22:00.000-08:00KHNH was one of the first (like, in the first five...KHNH was one of the first (like, in the first five if I recall correctly) B'wood movies I ever saw, and its high production values (in-sync sound, for one) were part of what helped me walk the bridge between American expectations and filmi standards. It helped that it was also only the second thing I'd seen SRK in so I didn't know he could be better. ;-)ajnabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08296593338690811213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-9441487767647569262009-01-04T13:37:00.000-08:002009-01-04T13:37:00.000-08:00Why, thanks for your comment and your additional r...Why, thanks for your comment and your additional recommendations. I haven't seen all of them, so I've got some new titles to explore. <BR/><BR/>I was hesitant to include films older than the mid-90s only because they sometimes lack the technical polish of the better-financed American and European films. But perhaps I'm being too careful. The 1981 version of <I>Umrao Jaan</I>, for example, has one of the best soundtracks ever, and a great performance by Rekha in the title role. Adventurous viewers who are willing to make some allowances for the technical aspects of the earlier movies will find many rewards.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-70882965605926183142009-01-04T11:27:00.000-08:002009-01-04T11:27:00.000-08:00love your recs! Have sent a link to this post to s...love your recs! Have sent a link to this post to some of my friends. :-)<BR/><BR/>my list would include (but not be limited to)<BR/>-Bombay (Mani Ratnam)<BR/>-Hu Tu Tu (1999)<BR/>-Lagaan<BR/>-Dil to Pagal Hain<BR/>-Dil Chahta Hai (2001) <BR/>-Earth (1998)<BR/>-Umrao Jaan (1981)<BR/>-Saathiya<BR/>-Anand (1971)<BR/>-Amar Akbar Anthony <BR/><BR/>Admittedly some of these (older ones?) will not be as accessible to beginners... oh well... :-)whyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01564304393701476738noreply@blogger.com