Bollywood Coffee Talk

[razzleccentric]

First of all, several excited squees about bollyicons! Yes!

Second, I've watched two Bollywood films this week that I must heartily recommend:

Main Hoon Na was actually three movies/storylines in one film, but it worked beautifully. First off, there's a military-action-drama storyline about a prisoner exchange project between India & Pakistan, which is threatened by a domestic terrorist group. The head villain, Raghavan, kills the hero's dad and threatens the general's daughter in the first five minutes of the film. (He's very evil. And pretty.) Our hero, Ram, is chosen by the general to protect his daughter - by going "undercover" at her college posing as a non-traditional student (*snerk!*) This brings us to the second movie, which is a zany school comedy full of big dance numbers (a'la Grease?). Underlying all of this is the third storyline: Ram's personal search for his estranged stepbrother (who just happens to attend the same college as the general's daughter) and his reconciliation with his stepmom & bro so they can inter his father's ashes together.

There are comedy jabs at The Matrix, the nerd who gets the hot chick, the hot boy who gets the tomboy girl, scary teachers, the air-headed principal, and over-the-top use of wires in the fight scenes. I laughed A LOT. On the other hand, the dramatic monologue by Lucky (Ram's stepbrother) about his pain and uncertainty about growing up without a dad made me bawl my eyes out. The weird blend of comedy & drama totally worked for me. Give it a shot.


Lucky (Zayed Kahn) & Ram (Shahrukh Khan)


Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, on the other hand, was a modern light romantic comedy about lies and love, told in a brilliant, almost mythological way. Besides breaking the fourth wall, the story is framed by musical numbers lead by a gorgeous gypsy/minstrel/trickster character. As usual, lots of great music and dancing. It was awesome. SEE IT.


Sutradhar (Amitabh Bachchan)

"Sutradhar" apparently means "holder of strings" (the puppeteer) or narrator... someone who brings the strings of the stories or threads of lives together. ^.^



And I finally have Dostana in my hot little hands. It will be next, oh yes, it will be.
*points smugly to icon*

Comments

[gypsy1969.livejournal.com]

Where did you get these films? I'd like to see some of them.

[razzle.livejournal.com]

Netflix! Can you believe it?! If you don't have Netflix I have some kind of special deal coupon for one month free. I'd be happy to pass it on.

[razzle.livejournal.com]

^OR^ better yet you & holmes365 could come up and visit for a Bollywood film fest~!!!

[amethystjade.livejournal.com]

I'll have you know it's your fault I started asking around to see where rents Bollywood films in Pittsburgh, and have now put about six holds on various movies in the local library system.

[razzle.livejournal.com]

Awesome!!! Spread the Bollywood Luuuuuuv!'

Main Hoon Na

[amethystjade.livejournal.com]

Came back to this entry just to let you know that we just finished watching Main Hoon Na, and it was very good! I am a crier, so there was much crying, especially with the prisoners going home at the end.

But very good all around. You haven't steered me wrong yet! :D

Re: Main Hoon Na

[razzle.livejournal.com]

If you like Abhishek Bachchan, you'll be lovin' "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" too. And the pretty gypsy man? That's Abh's father. ^^