Happy Wednesday! I had SUCH a productive weekend! Didn’t clean or cook or do laundry, but I did finish the Anu Aggarwal autobiography and watch a ton of movies, which is a kind of productivity.
For reading, finished “Anusual” and now I am starting “Prem Hai Mere“. I have high hopes for it based on the title alone. Thank goodness I have a full year before Thugs of Hindostan comes out, so no hurry on finishing that book. So boring!
For watching, I saw SO MANY movies! Judwaa on Friday night, then Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and one other movie (won’t tell you, review going up at some point) in theaters on Saturday, and then Arjun Reddy Sunday morning. And Neram Sunday night. And then Raja Hindustani in a super fun watchalong with you all on Monday morning. Followed by a legitimately good Tamil movie (that I won’t tell you about because the review isn’t up yet, but it is a Gautham Menon) that I streamed just for me. And then another Malayalam. I worked SO HARD!
(Not this one. Was going to be this one, but stupid Herotalkies didn’t have subtitles! So I picked another one from the “related suggestions” list)
And then for thinking, I am thinking “should I talk to my maintenance guy again about fixing the stove? I hate to be a bother, but it has been 3 months.” And also, “I should have switched my clothes over this weekend! I’m FREEZING and I’ve already worn all my long sleeved shirts that aren’t in storage!”
Now, question for you! If you could recast any one role in any movie, what would it be? Or what would they be, you can have multiple answers! The first things that come to mind for me are Priyanka and Ranveer with Kareena and Ranbir in Dil Dhadakne Do (the original plan for the cast). I think the cast as we got it was fine, but the meta-ness would have been off the charts with Kareena and Ranbir, plus they would have been perfect in those roles.
And then second choice would be Shahrukh with Shahid in Happy New Year. He was just too old for the role! It was supposed to be a promising young MBA graduate with his whole life ahead of him, not this craggy old dude.
And third would be Siddharth with Rajkummar Rao or Sushant Singh or really anyone else in Kapoor & Sons.
dontcallitbollywood 
Watching — watched Ustad Hotel, Bangalore Days, 7th Day and Kali recently. Also, rewatched Lootera today since I had some time off from due. Hoping to watch Premam tomorrow.
Reading- well, lots of sad news. This country is getting more and more depressing every day.
Thinking — thank god for Prabhas’ hair. A new low-res picture appeared in a kannada interview and it doesn’t feature the bizzare almost-Marge Simpson hair. Whoever thought of up that hairdo needs to be shot. Also thinking — I should really get around to compiling documents for filing income tax. I really should. My tax advocate is lazy and sometimes I just don’t feel like disturbing him and telling him dude you need to get this done.
Also thinking, dussera is on September 30 this year so technically winter might be arriving early and it could be awfully cold.
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You have watched so many Malayalam films and haven’t told me about any of them!
Bangalore Days: Do you see what she sees in her husband? Because I still can’t see it. Also, was the sensitive artist rebel thing helping or hurting your DQ obsession? And finally, isn’t it WONDERFUL to have such a strong female character? Even if the ending is kind of traditional?
Kali: Strange first-half/second half disconnect, but love the overall concept of anger sometimes having its place. Also, this is the heroine’s second movie, her third film just came out in Telugu and was a massive sleeper hit. I love her!
Ooo, you have an actual person do your taxes? you are so grown up! I just use a computer program. Which probably means I am leaving money on the table, but based on my income, I don’t think I could save enough money to off-set the cost of paying a real person instead of just a computer.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 7:04 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Bangalore days: you mean why she decides to marry him? Well I kinda do. It looked like a good match on paper and besides her real goal was being in bangalore with her cousins anyway.
The sensitive rebel army background guy is sort of part of every army background kids I’ve ever known so he made sense. I was sold on DQ from Ustad Hotel anyway and this film didn’t hurt that. I find nitya menon irresistible. I sort of have a fanfic wtih prabhas and rana and madhavan and I still don’t have the female lead down. After watching her in this film I sort of want to write it around her. Her controversy with prabhas would make it funny too. The other girl, I thought she was ok. Not a memorable role but maybe because it’s not meant to be a memorable character.
I remember you saying it was sort of about an urban family. But I didn’t see it as that at all. They’re actual family and that’s what happens when you have cousins and you’re close to them.
Kali: DQ carried this film on his own. Had he been even slightly less convincing this movie would be shit. The plot was flimsy and I kept having NH10 flashbacks. Thankfully it didn’t get there. I LOVED the fight scenes. They were really authentic. The part where he tosses her bowl of chips because she was eating too loudly, yikes, I kinda get angry like that.
The tax guy, it’s a necessity. Because the tax office sends us notices and what not quite routinely and I’d need a lawyer to deal with the bureaucracy anyway so better to have the guy on a retainer than to try and do it myself.
Also, I’m very psyched about DQ’s hindi debut!!! And also about SOLO. Omg he’s such an amazing guy. Added to my fancrush list!!!!
Thank you for recommending these films btw!! And for telling me about hotstar!!
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Nithya Menon: You have to watch OK Kanmani, if you haven’t already, she is just irresistible in that. She and DQ have another romance, 100 days of love, which is just so-so. But OK Kanmani is amazing. Oh right, and you already saw her in Ustad hotel.
Nah, I meant the “I love my husband after all! No divorce!” part of it. I thought the original marriage was handled really well, it was a practical reasonable decision, it just didn’t work out the way everyone expected.
I knew you would like Kali! Just so you know, DQ took a while to find himself. There are a bunch of movies from early in his career where he is kind of the bland young in love lead type (if you ever need to get over your crush, watch ABCD). Kali just came out like a year ago and since then he’s done more and more stuff like that, grown up and angry and stuff. Kammatipaddam is just an amazing movie, like epic Gangs of Wasseypur type stuff, and he plays a bad boy who goes to jail, bootlegs, and by the end of the film is a forty-something hard guy in Bombay.
You absolutely MUST watch Ohm Shaanti Oshaana, the heroine from Bangalore Days is the lead and it is an amazing female fantasy kind of film. Speaking of, have you seen Aiyyaa? It’s got a very odd comedy track, but it is the most fabulous female fantasy EVER, and the hero is another big Malayalam star who really threw himself into the whole shirtless fantasy man thing in a way I super appreciate. Also, a feminist in real life!
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:04 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I actually have watched ABCD way back when.
Oh man all these recommendations!! I hope to get through all of them and discover more along the way. I’m very disappointed rangitharanga hasn’t made it to hotstar yet. Kinda dying to watch that.
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Well, I’m also still trying to get you off Dulquer and on to Nivin. Ohm Shanti Oshaana and Premam are “his ” movies.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:14 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Is he my type? I suppose you have a pretty good idea of my type already 😂 I hope he is. I’m so sick of showpony actors right now
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Oh yeah. He’s the other hero in Bangalore Days. Which is a character that is definitely not your type. But then in Premam he plays something completely different, which is your type. No filmi background (unlike Dulquer who is the starriest of star sons), outstanding right from his first film, does a huge range of roles, and often has a beard. Also, extremely shy in real life and married to his college sweetheart.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:18 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I kinda thought he’d be like a Rajkummar Rao kinda actor. I guess I’d watch this right now since I’ve managed to sprain my wrist and I’m getting no work done tonight.
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Yaaaay! I mean, you can still love DQ better, but at least I will feel like you gave my guy a chance.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:23 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Beards make everything better, don’t they?!
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Always.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:28 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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In for Nivin Pauly film just now. Show about to start 🙂
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Which other Malayalam film saw this week?
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I’m not telling, because then you will want to know what I thought about it and so on, and I want to save all of that for the actual review next Monday!
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 7:14 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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That’s gotta be “Oru Vadakkan Selfie” then…
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Ok :). Just finished watching Nivin’s new movie. Loved it. Fun pleasant family movie.
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Yaaaaaaay! Fingers crossed it comes here this weekend.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 10:00 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Watching: Dariba Diaries on Netflix along with JHMS songs on YouTube.
Reading (my own novel-in-progress to confirm timelines of some of the threads (this is an epic 4 novels in one).
Recasting: SRK should have played Aditya in Jab We Met instead of Shahid. Shahid was ok (he was very cute back then) but he’s so teeny-tiny next to Kareena & I keep thinking.she is going to pick him up and carry him around with her!
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that’s an interesting thought, Shahrukh in JWM. It’s one of my favorite Shahid performances, and I would worry about Shahrukh over-shadowing the film/Kareena. But on the other hand, now that you say it, I can picture a similar vibe as in JHMS, where he is clearly older and more experienced than her, instead of about the same age but just a little more aware of the world. It would also give more weight to his sad love affair, with Shahid I always pictured a college romance that just kind of ended. But with an older actor, it would feel like a serious mature romance that could have lasted for years.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 7:17 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Nooo… But with older SRK the mom eloped hangup won’t make any sense!!
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Well, you could argue that the Mom was married and became a mother as a teenager, thus having such an old son, and also making her elopement more understandable.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:08 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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No but in the film shahid’s mom is what age SRK would be. How old would the mom need to be to justify him being such a crybaby about it
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As mentioned in another post, I watched my first Pakistani film, Dekh Magar Pyar Se, and it was so bad, but also made me want to explore that industry more. The cinematography in this one was very Amelie inspired and was the best part. Also been watching a lot of Coke Studio performances on YouTube. And watched some of Kangana’s interview with Rajeev but had to turn it off because it was just painful to watch. I respect her take no shit attitude but she often takes it too far and it isn’t flattering. On the other hand, her interview with Anupama (who kept it classy) was wonderful and showed off her intelligence and wit so well. Watched a few Hindi web series episodes and shorts, too.
Reading Adiga’s White Tiger (which is smart and weird satire) and Sonali Dev’s A Distant Heart (which is good so far if way too predictable…it’s like she’s writing Bollywood screenplays and I hope the movie rights will be bought some day).
Otherwise watching lots of US Open tennis and wishing it was still the long weekend. I hope to still watch Bombay and Roja soon.
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Roja-happy; Bombay-emotionally devestating. Be prepared! But both the soundtracks are awesome. And you will be introduced to Everyone’s Favorite Filmi Husband, Arvind Swamy. He’s not the sexiest, his not the charmingest, his not the bravest, but by golly he is the man you want to marry!
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 8:08 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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But Arvind way back when WAS sexy…
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Really? I can almost see it in his Roja intro scene, and then I lose it again and I just want him to be the guy who picks up milk on the way home and helps clean the apartment on his day off.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 11:59 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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He was sexy when computer engineers were sexy if you know what I mean! 😂
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I watched 1:Nenokkadine and Chandni this week. I can see good things in both movies, but none of them enchanted me. And now I’m thinking what should I watch next, because I’m disappointed with almost everything I see. Maybe it’s time to finally put Bangalore Days off my “for the bad times” shelf and watch it. Or some other movie with simple and sweet love story.
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Bangalore Days is pretty amazing. If Bareilly Ki Barfi were available, I would tell you to watch that one, but it’s not yet 😦 Hmm, what else? Have you seen Socha Na Tha yet? Anything Mani Ratnam is good, Alai Payuthay if you haven’t seen it, or Mouna Ragam. Oh, this is a random one, but there is a really early Salman that is fabulous, “Love”.
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 9:55 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Will search for this “Love” and now that I’m thinking about young Salman maybe I should watch Saajan again.
Socha na tha will be next because I finally found version with subs. Thanks for suggestions.
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Oh Socha Na Tha you will LOVE!!!! It is so cute and so sweet and so not like anything else. I’m sad you haven’t seen it before, but happy that we get to hear your fresh reaction!
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 10:16 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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watched 4 films from theatres in last 2 weeks..
1 vivegam(tamil)-was highly disappointing.it was one of the most hyped big budget tamil film in recent times and i am a fan of ajith but the film was cringe worthy. a hollywood wannabe film.
2 chunkzz(malayalam)-one of the worst malayalam films ever released. non veg jokes plus high dose of misogyny.
3 pullikkaran staraa(mal)-starring mammooty. received poor reviews so went with least expectation. it was an okay film for me.nothing exceptional about it and had flaws in script. but some good humour and feel good factor made it an ok watch 4 me.and mammootty was really handsome.
4 njandukalude naattil oru idavela-beautiful film. finding humour in really bad situation in life and spreading positivity . dont want to spoil the plot.but the debutant director did an excellent job.
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Oh boy, njandukalude naattil oru idavela is the one I want to see anyway (because Nivin), so this makes me even more interested.
(also, for some reason your comments tend to get caught in spam, I rescue them when I see them, but that is why this one took so long to post)
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My local public library has a new streaming service that has an small, odd catalog of Indian films, including documentaries. I watched Despite the Gods, an Australian documentary about the making of Nagin (aka Hiss). The American director of Nagin, is cringingly culturally unaware and insensitive. The chasm between the way movies are made in India and her plan for making the movie is revealing about both cultures. The documentary won awards, and was interesting. Nagin, of course, was a bomb.
Then I re-watched Luck by Chance, to take advantage of Margaret’s awesome notes. Over the Labor Day weekend, I watched Raja Hindustani and re-watched Chak De India and Om Shanti Om (going in chronological order through SRK’s work). On Monday I re-watched Raja Hindustani with the Twitterati. And the last two nights I watched Mughal-e-Azam. I think I need to see Dilip Kumar in something else; I wasn’t blown away by him in this film.
Thinking: I am back on track on my big project on fashion in the lives of older women, and that’s been taking up most of my energy. I will be attending a couple of high school reunions in the next two weeks, hoping to arrange some interviews. I have also been trying really really hard to get more exercise. Between computer stuff and movies, I can get way too sedentary!
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Dilip Kumar! I just watched Andaz for the first time, and he blew me away in that. It’s not his greatest performance, but it’s one of those roles that he makes way way better than it should be. Also, there is SO MUCH costume stuff for you. Lots of movement between western and Indian wear, and just generally gorgeous 1940s style suits (on both men and women).
On Wed, Sep 6, 2017 at 5:17 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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OSO makes me feel vulnerable… why??!!!!! i dont know!!! I love that film… I listen to Akhon mein teri and mai agar kahun almost every night or at least when I’m taking a walk in the evenings… It feels like sparkles and magic…
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It’s not my most vulnerable movie, but there are moments there for me. Akhon mein teri for sure. And for some reason his death scene, right from the first time I saw it in theaters, always got to me.
On Thu, Sep 7, 2017 at 12:02 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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My answer to your question would definitely be wanting to see Sidharth Malhotra replaced with Varun in Kapoor and Sons. I’ve thought about this so many time while watching the movie itself.
Well, yesterday was the audio launch of Spyder which got me really excited about Spyder and Mahesh in general. The songs of Spyder are out and my favorites are Ciciliya Ciciliya and Achcham Telugandham! Here’s the link to the songs:
Anyway due to the excitement of Spyder, I couldn’t stop myself from watching Dookudu which I enjoyed like always. I usually have a rule not to watch any Mahesh movies within the month of the release to keep the expectations down. I guess now I’ll have to watch Brahmotsavam again to lower my expecations 🙂
After that I ended up watching Judwaa 2 since I randomly found it on Youtube with subtitles. I didn’t think I would really like it because I already saw Hello Brother (the Telugu version with Nagarjuna) before but I enjoyed it a lot. Maybe even a little more than I enjoyed Hello Brother. Now I’m more excited for Judwaa 2!
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I am sticking with my policy of listening to the Brahmotsavam soundtrack well-nigh constantly, and never ever planning to see the film. Why ruin it?
Spyder is going to be one of those $20 tickets movies, isn’t it? Hmm. I can’t see it opening night anyway because of Judwaa 2, I’ll wait for your report to find out if I need to try to catch it that first weekend or if I can wait until tickets go down.
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I thought the soundtrack was decent but after seeing the movie, I stopped listening to the songs since it makes me feel bad. Anyway, I’ll let you know that Brahmotsavam is on Youtube with subtitles if you ever want to torture yourself 🙂
Right, Spyder is gonna be quite expensive. Spyder is actually coming out on the 27th with premieres on the 26th so you can see it opening day if you want to. But I’m not expecting you to, so no pressure. By the way, it looks like Spyder is gonna have a record release since it’s a bilingual. Check this out:
http://www.idlebrain.com/usschedules/spyder2.html
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Oh, bilingual! Oh that’s good for me! Because if it is playing in Hindi and in the regular Hindi theaters,t hat might mean regular hindi prices. It did for Bahubali.
On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 10:49 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Oops, maybe I wasn’t clear that it’s a Telugu-Tamil bilingual. A.R. Murugadoss is a Tamil director and Mahesh grew up in Chennai so he’s fluent in Tamil. That’s why they decided to shoot Spyder in both languages. I don’t remember but were the Tamil prices for Baahubali any lower?
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They were slightly lower. Like, $16 to $18 or something like that. Oh well, there goes the “Spyder thursday, Judwaa Friday” plan.
On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 10:58 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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