Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the week, 4 more days until my sister is back from India and my sleep schedule gets normal again. Coffee is almost the same as sleep, right? Anyway, it does mean that I’ve been getting a lot of blogging down, so that’s something. Many pre-scheduled posts for the next few weeks have been finished.
This is the post where we all generally talk about the movies we have been watching, and interesting articles we read, and anything else that we want to talk about. I’ll start!
After seeing 12 apartments, I found my perfect one that fits all my incredibly specific and picky requirements. Including being in the exact 4 block radius I picked out, which means I am now, finally, walking distance from the movie stores! Yaaaaay! My dream since college! I’m moving into that place in a week and a half, but I am moving out of my current apartment on Sunday and into my parents’ place. This is my moving system, I have everything I really really need in a suitcase at my parents, and then I can just put everything still at my place in boxes without thinking “will I want this or not?” Plus, I can eat my parents’ food and use their dishes and all of that. So, that’s the majority of what I can handle in my life right now.
But in the tiny minority of my life, I am still reading and watching stuff. Murder She Wrote continues to be the perfect packing viewing. Just let it play in the background, and tape up boxes until Jessica Fletcher is ready to identify the murderer. And tonight I am either going to make yet another person watch Running Shaadi, or else take yet another person to Bahubali 2, depending on how packed versus usable my apartment is. Oh, and I missed seeing both Sarkar 3 and Mere Pyaari Bindu, because the showtimes were impossible, and anyway I had to pack.
And I am now 50% through Memoirs of a Thug/Thugs of Hindostan! It continues to be very very Victorian. But I think I’ve got time to finish it, filming isn’t even going to start until July 1, so I’ve got like a year before the film itself is released. Surely I can manage to trudge my way through it somehow in the next 12 months.
dontcallitbollywood 
I have been watching Game of Thrones. I shall be able to finish re runs before season 7 starts. Re runs of other shows ” OMG, they are so young”. Re runs of Game of Thrones “OMG, they are still alive”.
Everyone should watch it.
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It was almost a month, since I last watch a Sunny Deol movie.
I just thought of watching Jeet. It is on you tube. It is a great movie
SUnny Deol is so great in this movie. His acting was amazing in this movie. His silent persona, looks gives a unique badass feel. You can feel the character development when he starts going out with Kajal. We see him becoming mil mannered person. Then happens, Ultimate betrayal. Kajal leaves karan. Karan begs Kajal and his dad but no one listens to him.
This scence is my favorite in this movie. It shows acting caliber of Sunny Deol. He shows in emotional side and angry side. Few years back, in my office, one of my collegue was playing a song. One of my other collegue, called for logic of this song and said why no one listens to this guy. I said, who cares about logic in SRK movies. She then replies by saying that suppose your gf is getting married and you are singing a song. I stopped her and said that I am not the one to sing a lame song. I will say this dialogue to her.
He comes to kill GROOM on the wedding day but decides against it as he cant make Kajal sad (story of every guy who loved a girl). He cries. Kajal sees him but does nothing. That bitch
Then we get to the boring part of the movie. 1 hour of romantic scences between Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor. I always skip this part
But shit gets real, when Sunny paaji renters. He is back to his original persona but even more deadlier. He is hired to kill Salman’s Character. He goes to kill him but finds out that he is Kajal’s husband. He kills is handler. True love. He cares for her even when she left him to die. His dialogue ” I will kill everyone who would look at Kajal’s happiness in wrong way”. He doesn’t go to Kajal to explain himself. She still thinks that he is out to kill her husband. He acts as Raju’s silent guardian. He doesn’t look for appreciation. This is called true love. Karan sacrifices everything for Kajal even his life. She apologises to him only once. He dies protecting her and her husband. Better love story than Twilight.
Dialogues like ” I will stop death there only so that nothing can harm Kajal’s happiness”, “I killed all of your dogs but they couldn’t harm Raju. None of your weapon can harm him”
Acting wise. Amrish Puri is great as always, Salman Khan was irritating, Alok nath was annoying, Karisma Kapoor was good in first half not that much in second half. Sunny paaji is absolute gem in this movie. He transform from a badass to mild mannered guy to absolsute unstoppable juggernaut with ease. HE makes the movie great. I wouldn’t have liked this movie without Sunny paaji giving it cutting edge.
Also, I find Karan to most sympathetic character. He only loses but never complains. Girl leaves him but he still cares for her( reminds me of me). I cried while watching him when I was drunk. She left me without any explanation. I still couldn’t find fault in her. That story is for some other place. All in all. A great movie apart from boring 1 hour in between.
Do you like Jeet for the same reason? or your reasons are different.
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Amrish Puri! I love his work! Now I have to watch this. Will check back later, but probably next Wednesday. I am a college professor and this is exam/grading/graduation week.
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Amrish Puri doesn’t have that big role in it. He is good but he doesn’t have that much to do. I would suggest Ghatak movie. It shows Amrish Puri’s talent in best way.
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Thanks for the suggestion!
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Please post ypur review, if you watch Ghatak. It is one of my favorites.
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It is the movie that you watch for SUnny Deol
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King in the North/Punjab – what’s the status of you getting your own blog? You’re writing full reviews that could be posts, and reporting on upcoming films in the Punjabi industry. You’ve got more than enough material.
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Actually, I have fallen on hard times. I will think about blog after things get settled. I just cant watch movies now. I havent watched the movies that i was waitimg for like Guardians of the galaxy, Lahoriye. I wont even be able to watch Spiderman, wonder woman, Saab Bahadur, Super Singh.
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Actually, I have fallen on hard times. I will think about blog after things get settled. I just cant watch movies now. I havent watched the movies that i was waitimg for like Guardians of the galaxy, Lahoriye. I wont even be able to watch Spiderman, wonder woman, Saab Bahadur, Super Singh. One month ago, it was a surety that I would watch these movies but not now. Hopefully, things get better sooner.
Have you checked Super Singh trailer?
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This song is for heart break. It has good lyrics. Everyone can relate to these lyrics. Also expressions of Amrinder Gill in this song are spot on. He is sad but couldn’t cry or say anything. This is how normal guys deal with heart break.
Rough translation of lyrics
What if, you left me
What if, you will be with someone else
I will console my heart
Spend my days by dying
I will spend my my life by missing you.
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I couldn’t watch Lahoriye. I so wanted to watch this movie. Everyone has seen it. I am only one left in my neighbourhood who hasn’t seen it. I doesn’t look like I will be able to watch it. I will have to get a job
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One of my friend is getting married. I gifted this song to him. It is a good marriage song on which Husband and wife can dance.
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This song from Kulwinder Billa is really cool. It is sung in old style. Kulwinder Billa is quite underrated singer
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Please provide your views on my review of Jeet.
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I finished Koyla last Wednesday, and re-watched Baahubali 1 on Saturday, to refresh my memory. In my opinion, it is even bettter after seeing B 2. You notice all the foreshadowing and see nuances you missed before. At least, I did. Then on Monday I saw Baahubali 2 again, this time with two friends, who LOVED it. They were yelling and clapping during the last fight scene. Then I bought an audiobook of the Mahabharata, because I need to understand more. Last night I started “Yes, Boss”, the next film in my chronological travels through SRK’s films.
I am really hoping there will be a DVD set of both Baahubali films available, and not the dubbed Hindi version.
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Koyla is one of the 5 SRK movies that I like. Other are Darr, Baazigar, Swades and Chak De India
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Yes Boss is so fun! And it may inspire you to re-watch The Apartment, although the tone is almost completely different.
For the Mahabharata, my two favorite versions are Devdutt Pattanaik’s big book on it (there’s pictures! and he breaks it down into a series of smaller stories instead of one big epic, and gives regional variations so you get more of a sense of it as an oral tradition), and of course Amar Chitra Katha comics.
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You like Yes Boss too?
I take my words back. You are bigger fan of SRK than I am a fan of Sunny Deol. Even I am not a fan of Jaani Dushman, Maa Tujhe Salaam
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Hahahaha
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You really shouldn’t read Devdutt Pattanaik’s Jaya without reading at least one English adaptation of Mahabharata completely. Jaya is merely an appetizer.Ramesh Menon’s ‘Mahabharata-A Modern Rendering is the BEST version that I’ve read.The language is simple and there is no white washing the characters. Plus the author has inserted enough fantasy elements. There’s no “Kunti gave birth to Pandavas by divine blessing” nonsense. She had them the way women have been having conceiving children throughout the ages.Kunti’s husband chose the first two Gods for her two elder children.But in Arjuna’s case she herself decided to call Indra.And oh boy, the rivalry between her and Gandhari, the scene during the Great War where Arjuna was so angry as to kill his eldest brother Yuddhisthira, the way Draupadi took her destiny in her own hands and how Krishna manipulated everyone the Kauravas and the Pandavas included…. I can go on for hours.
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How did you like Koyla?
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Koyla has moments that I really, really love. That dance that Madhuri does with SRK beating on the big drums is EPIC! One of my all time favorite dance scenes.
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Absolutely!
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Okay.
I like it because it is a good action movie. Perhaps, only pure action movie of SRK. It tries to shoot good action scences. Also there is blood which has become un heard of in modern Bollywood movies.
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Apart from watching Bahubali 2 thrice and Bahubali 1 once again, I managed to get a lot done this week.
I watched C/O Saira Banu, a Malayalam film starring Manju Warrier, Amala Akkineni and Shane Nigam. Review here.
Then I watched a Tamil film – Oru Naal Koothu. An interesting film about three women and marriage, with a surprise ending. I had heard about it from Baradwaj Rangan’s best films of 2016, but didn’t think of watching it until I ran across it on TV. A nice watch.
Then I saw Telugu film Oh My Friend, starring Siddharth and Shruti Hassan (I know you don’t like her, but she’s actually fine in these. Maybe, like Aishwarya Rai, she does better when her voice is dubbed? That said, I loved her in Dhanush starrer 3, despite her voice). Oh My Friend is one rare film where the leads share a platonic friendship throughout, without falling in love with each other. Not a great film, but I liked it just because of its take on platonic friendship.
I finally finished The Rise Of Sivagami. Review here.
And now I’m working my way through Conversations With Mani Ratnam. I also watched Mouna Ragam by the way. My take is exactly the same as yours – the flashback love story could have been avoided.
Also I LOVE your Bahubali 2 posts. I start my mornings with them. I enjoy the comments there too, though I’m not really as smart as to join in. 😊
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I am so glad you like the B2 posts! I was worried I was losing regular readers and only new people were reading them.
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Neems,
I have also been reading the Rise of Sivigami book and your review was DEAD ON. I am forcing myself to finish the book, and then I was going to post on your review post. But let me just say — TOO MANY CHARACTERS. The author has too much of a love affair with Game of Thrones and he is no George R. R. Martin.
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Finally got to see Dangal (though the subtitles were less than stellar, especially in the first part). I enjoyed it very much for an Aamir Khan film (and I do think it still is very much an Aamir Khan vehicle even if the girl power theme is strong). I thought the two younger actresses stole the show. The first half was much more entertaining and I think the last wrestling match scenes were drawn out too much. And the Bollywood twist of him being locked in the closet was so contrived. I’m kind of excited to see how Fatima Sana Shaikh will be in her next film. They are already trying to “sex” her up for Thugs and with the longer hair, her resemblance to Katrina Kaif is strange. I do like that her energy is very similar to Taapsee Paanu and I bet they will be competing for roles for a while.
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I didn’t recognize the reference, but my father pointed out that the “locked in a closet” scene is from Chariots of Fire. The coach isn’t allowed on the grounds (for some reason I don’t remember), so he sits in his room nearby and knows that his student has won when he hears the national anthem. Which I guess is kind of impressive, that the Dangal filmmakers did enough research to watch a 30 year old artsy sports movie from England!
Oh! You just made me think, maybe the casting of Kat is because she looks like Fatima! If it’s going to be 3 generations, with Amitabh, then Aamir, then Fatima. And Kat doing a small bit as Fatima’s mom who dies young.
On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 8:54 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Wow, that’s reaching far back to steal a scene! I vaguely remember Chariots of Fire but it strikes me as such a “colonial” film for some reason, despite the pre WWII/anti-semitism storyline. It’s just so British. But good for the Dangal filmmakers for turning it into a post-colonial triumph. When the flags went up, I knew immediately how the next shot of Aamir Khan would play out. It still got me a little bit emotionally, but it was so predictable.
On the other hand, I did like the scene where the young bride gives her speech. I know you had problems with it. It was unusually mature and also seemed contrived, but it works for me. And the scene beforehand at the wedding where Aamir slaps Omkar instead of his daughter for their transgression of dressing as the opposite sex was also very interesting.
I thought the same thing after sending my last post. That they’re planning to use the resemblance for the story line! Could be cool. I could see it being a smaller role for Katrina for some reason. I think, no matter what, it will be the Aamir Khan does Johnny Depp show.
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I’m already tired of the “Johnny Depp does Johnny Depp” show, and I’m beginning to get tired of the “Aamir Khan does Aamir Khan” show, so I really don’t want them to be combined. But you are probably right. Especially considering who the director is, I love Tashan, and Dhoom 3 was good, but he is very much about style. Or, in Tashan, “Ishtyle”.
On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 9:48 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I agree, but I am more excited about Thugs than I was for Dhoom 3. And I kind of love Tashan (which I almost rewatched the other day and will soon). Aamir’s presence doesn’t always ruin a movie for me, so there’s till hope. I do trust his judgement on the stories and productions he chooses it’s just the second he does that wide-eyed shit, I’m out of there!:)
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This week looking back I’ve only seen two movies and they both were the same day! I saw Sarkar 3, which Margaret posted the review here. That night I took my entire family to see Baahubali 2 as my Mother’s Day present. Let’s see if this works to share the tweet picture:
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This was their very first Indian film in the theater. They couldn’t stop giggling at the biryani ad before the film. We joked that Indian families coming in and seeing all five of us sitting together would think they were in the wrong theater! I wished it had been a bit more raucous crowd — the only yelling was me when Prabhas appeared.
My two oldest have come back home and it’s just been hard to commandeer the TV and the car, to be honest. I hope to get out to see Mere Pyaari Bindu tonight before it disappears. Kathy of AccessBollywood.net gave it three and a half stars, so I’m looking forward to it.
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Okay the picture link didn’t work: pic.twitter.com/PtYarVs0i9
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Yes! Go see Mere Pyari Bindu and them come back and tell us all if Parineeti dies or not! There’s no way I’ll be able to get out and see it this week (since I have to pack everything I own in boxes), but I am DESPERATELY curious. Oh plus, I can post your review again and not worry about skipping mine.
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I manage to finish only 1 movie this week – Oru Indian Pranayakadha. Nothing special.
I started Ennu Ninte Moideen (lol finally malayalam movie with the title I can write without checking). Beautiful cinematography.
But the biggest news this week was discovering that Bahubaali 2 was screened in Catania ! (it’s 1 hour drive from my town). Unfortunately I discover it when it was too late 😦
Apparently there is one or two copies of the movie in Italy. I have seen that it was shown in Rome and Milan, but there wasn’t information about other cities.. And suddenly few days later I discovered that it will be in Catania too. Or better that it has already begun. I wasn’t even very upset because show started at 10 p.m on Sunday and I would not be able to go. Don’t know why it was so late. I mean this movie is like 3 hours long (or more), it should start 7 or 8 p.m.
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That’s so neat, just the bare fact that it was screened in Italy!
Enne Ninte Moideen is a gorgeous touching movie. Very different from your last Malayalam film. And the hero and heroine were both in City of God together, but had romances with other people, just to make your head hurt.
On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 1:11 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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When it’s just a single show (not a sustained screening), theaters will only give a time slot that doesn’t interfere with their regularly scheduled movies. So it’s either late at night, or very early in the morning (like 9 am).
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@mredlich21 Yes, Parvathy romanced Pritiviraj’s brother! but they all looked so different in City of God, that it’s like watching other people.
@Moimeme Thank you. Indeed it has sense, but I wish haven’t show it at night
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I rewatched Desi Boyz and I really enjoyed it. I realized that the reason that I like it a lot compared to Dishoom is because it’s got a lot more heart. I feel like the plot and character arcs are quite superficial in Dishoom when compared to Desi Boyz. Rohit Dhawan probably spent more time on the action sequences and the style instead.
I also watched Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa which I liked. Shahrukh was so cute and endearing as Sunil and the girl that played Anna was really cute as well! I can’t believe that Imran was played by Ashutosh Gowariker. This is one of those movies that I wanted to watch for a long time so I already knew the story. But I still enjoyed the movie. There were moments when I could see Sunil turning into a Rahul from Darr but he never did. Maybe because he had such a good support system around him along with his music.
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I’m so glad you watched Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa! Such a cute film. Anna, the heroine, went on to marry Shekhar Kapur (Mr. India and fancy Oscar winning historical films director). And then got divorced. It’s just such an odd thing to think of, watching Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and thinking “this women went to the Oscars with her director husband 10 years later!
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Oh wow, did she quit acting or something? I thought she did well enough that she would be seen in other movies in that time.
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Looks like she only did a few movies, then got married and semi-retired. She’s gone a few roles recently, she was in Rann and My Wife’s Murder and other artsier stuff like that.
I will choose to think that she likes doing artsier options, with more relaxed and fun sets and interesting roles, and therefore chose not to get on the fame roller coaster. Instead of that she was forced to retire at marriage and her career never came back.
On Thu, May 18, 2017 at 8:09 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Hering good things about Tovino thomas Movie Godha. May watch this weekend. Here is the trailer:
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CIA just arrived at my local theater, is it worth tracking down?
On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 11:05 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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1 time watchable flick. Wont bore you. It was entertaining. But the thrill was missing.
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Okay, I may not make the effort then. It’s a busy weekend, and the trip to see it would be 5 hours in total, combining the film with the drive.
On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 11:27 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Yep. Not worth the 5 hour drive. Will you be watching Sachin next weekend?
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Probably not. I just have no background for it at all. I’d be interested to see it as a film, since it is the first big sports documentary release, but I don’t want to offend anyone by not understanding the Cricket background.
On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 11:30 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I dont think you would need the background. It chronicles his life from childhood. It would be great to read an outsider point of view on the movie. It is made as a commercial semi documentary. With ar rahman music and some childhood scenes shot. Could simpley watch it as any other movie and post the review. I personally feel this documentary may also cater to people outside India since the film maker is not an Indian, he is a british emmy award nominee.
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Just needed to watch this retirement speech before watching the movie. Dont think understanding cricket will be an issue.
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I dont think that anyone who cant understand cricket will enjoy Sachin.
They cant understand the excitment when Sachin scored 200. I wont be able to enjoy documentary on Babe Ruth
I will surely be watching it. He is biggest celebrity of India ever.
They hired someone to play Azhar and Dhoni but they couldnt hire anyone to play Sachin.
Which is ur fav Sachin innings?
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Godha seems interesting. Please write your opinion if you’ll watch it Mohzin 🙂
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i loved godha..fun filled family entertainer..it was a heroine centric film and punjabi actress wamiqa gabbi delivered an excellent performance.story is simple but film is well worth your money.
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Thanks. Will be watching Godha on monday night. 🙂
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I would say watch if you are a Dulquer fan.
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Do u mean Tendulkar?
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Oops sorry, this was not the reply for Tendulkar message but the previous message about watching Comrade in America. Somehow this one got replied at the bottom.
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On Friday, I went to Baahubali 3 for the third time. This time I ended up going with a friend that hadn’t seen it yet so it was really fun 🙂
Yesterday, I rewatched Chandralekha which is a Telugu movie starring Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna, and Isha Kopikkar. It’s a fun, colorful romantic comedy and it’s one of my favorite Nagarjuna movies. It’s a remake of the Malayalam movie of the same name and it was also remade in Hindi with Salman Khan as Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega.
And then today, I rewatched Badrinath Ki Dulhania. I think other than Baahubali 2, this is my favorite movie of the year. I love everything about it, and it just leaves me so emotionally exhausted by the end. Is there any movie that leaves you emotionally exhausted every time you see it?
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I do love Nagarjuna, but I don’t know if I could wrap my head around another version of Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega. Especially since the American original (While You Were Sleeping) is one of my favorite films (set in Chicago!).
There are so many movies that leave me emotionally exhausted! Actually, almost all movies do. I get way way way way way way way way way too invested in films. That’s why I will sometimes say there are things I just can’t watch a second time, because it’s like living through it all over again. Anything Mani Ratnam, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, My Name is Khan (obviously), Kal Ho Na Ho, 3 Idiots, Jaan-E-Mann, Sholay, the list goes on and on. Now I am trying to think of an exception to it. I guess I can watch Amar Akbar Anthony, Andaz Apna Apna, and a few others like that without getting all emotionally wrung out over it. But even Dilwale kind of puts me through the wringer.
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Dilwale?!? How?!? 🙂
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The brotherly love! The moment when Varun picks Shahrukh over his love, and Shahrukh gets all touched. And all those moments when SRKajol stop talking and just gaze at each other. I’m telling you, I’m easy!
On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 7:30 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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