Writing the 10 Historic Epics post got me thinking about the movies that are set in the past, but not so they can do a big historical fight scene, more for purposes of putting this particular story in this particular time and place, whether it is a semi-fictional biography or a completely fictional invented story.
Continue readingMonthly Archives: January 2019
10 Epic Indian Historical Films to Watch
Normally I do “10 films to watch once you finish the standard list”. But there are so few historical films from India, that I don’t think I could come up with 10 to recommend without dipping into the standard list. Plus, everyone should watch Mughal-E-Azam, and that essentially IS the standard list.
Continue readingEnte Ummante Peru Review (SPOILERS): The Family That Chooses You is Sometimes Better Than the Family You Are Given
I am very excited to write this review because I am hoping you can help me figure out this plot! I almost have it straight, but not really.
Continue readingSaturday Small Talk: Chat the Morning Away While I Watch Movies!
It’s snowing, and I am feeling very cozy and ready to watch things. I’m hoping to knock off 2-3 movies on one day today, very exciting!
Continue readingEnte Ummante Peru Review (No Spoilers): Tovino is a Sweet Muscular Gummy Bear
This was a random impulse. No new Hindi film was playing this week, I was planning to see the NTR film but then a big snowstorm came up so I wanted to get home earlier and this film was playing at 5:15. Anyway, so glad I saw it!
Continue readingFriday Classics Announcement: A Death in the Gunj!
This is mostly to force myself to watch it. But maybe it will also force some of you to watch it! And then we can all admire the period clothing and Konkona’s directing and become fans of Vikrant Massay.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam ReRun Announcement: Koode! The Best Malayalam Film of 2018 I Saw
To be fair, I didn’t see that many Malayalam films in 2018. But this one was really really good!
Continue readingTGIF: In Honor of the Women’s March, Women and Earrings!!!!
I’ve already done saris and Anarkalis, this year I am thinking small. And also something we can all have opinions on, no need to be experts. Right? I’m assuming most of us wear/own/have bought earrings.
Continue readingFriday Classics: Chupke Chupke, The Rules of Society Are Fine So Long As You Don’t Take Them Too Seriously
I really like this movie. I know it isn’t one of the super super best Mukherjee films, but I don’t care, it makes me happy!
Continue readingThursday Telugu Review: Magadheera! Ram Charan’s Hair is Soooooooo Pretty
I watched Magadheera last night with a baby, her Grandpa, and her Mom. And we all agreed that Ram Charan’s hair is the best part of the movie. Soooooooooo pretty. Well, I think the baby agreed, she said something like “ba ba ba BAAAA!” when I asked her, and I am taking that for agreement.
Continue readingHappy Birthday Javed Akhtar!!! 25 Reasons I Love You
It’s Javed Akhtar’s birthday today and I love him, both as a scriptwriter and a lyricist. I am going to try to limit myself to 25 reasons I love him, one for every film he wrote with Salim Khan, plus a bonus just for being him. And I’m going to include quotes from his Salim-Javed films, because although they were both credited, it’s generally believed that Javed wrote more of the dialogue.
(This is an updated and re-posted post)
Continue readingUpcoming Non-Hindi Movies!!! Prime Series and Malayalam Excitement!
Well, this is a sign! I am excited about two upcoming things, and neither of them are traditional Hindi theatrical releases. Not only that, both of them were tweeted/promoted by mainstream Hindi film people, so the industry is paying more attention outside of Hindi theatrical releases too.
Continue readingMake It Your New Year’s Resolution to Help Grow My Readership!
Yes yes, it is that fun time again! The time for you to read/ignore the monthly reminder to promote me.
If you want to start the year off right by paying back your Karmic debt to me, tweet my posts to your friends, or mention me in comments on other sites, or recommend me to podcasters/bloggers/professional writers/editors/whoever you may know. I’m bad/unlucky at this kind of thing, so I really need help through personal introductions.
Most of you enjoyed my writing for all of 2018 without doing anything to promote me. Turn over a new leaf in 2019!!!! Spread the word about my blog and pay me back a little bit for all I do to entertain you.
Wednesday Malayalam: Parava, Boys Growing Into Men
I’m back! My first new Malayalam movie in I don’t know how long! But I had time this Saturday, and it was on Hotstar, so I did it! Very proud of myself.
Continue readingNews Round-Up: Emraan and Tests, Madhuri and Movies, Farhan and Boxing
Nice little news round-up today, not a lot of stories or very important stories, but some nice little ones to talk about.
Continue readingWednesday Watching: What Are You Reading and Watching and Thinking and Listening to This Week?
Happy Wednesday! What’s going on in your life? I was up way too late last night so I make no promises about responding promptly, or intelligibly. But I still want to hear from you!
Continue readingStart 2019 Off Right! Donate to the Blog!
It’s that time again, the time I remind everyone that it is a good thing to tip people who provide a service, even if that service is writing on the internet. Think of it as a New Year’s Resolution, start the year off right by paying off your debts, including your debt to me for giving you entertainment all year long.
Donation
$1.00
If you want to set up a recurring payment, then you can do that through Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/dontcallitbollywood
Or, of course, you can always Buy My Book! Which gets me no real money (a percentage of a percentage on every sale), but makes me feel appreciated:
Trailers! New Gully Boy Song, and Hum Chaar Trailer
Well, these are very different! And yet, the same, both are all about “young people growing up in modern India”, that theme that movies and internet think pieces love to explore.
Continue readingDiscussion Post: Queerness in Indian Film, Where is It? What is It? When is it Good?
Seems like a good time to do one of my “this isn’t everything, or even the best things, this is just some stuff to think about” posts on queerness with Ek Ladki Ko Dekho coming out soon. Plus, I love our little discussion posts!
Continue readingBox Office Report: Petta Pays Off, Uri Earns, Simmba Sinks
I’m back! After skipping the past few weeks, meaning I am coming in just as Simmba turns into a failure instead of a hit. (as always, figures from bollywoodhungama)
Continue readingUpcoming Movie Reviews Announcement: Chupke Chupke for Friday Classics, Raabta for Sunday ReRun
Again, the headline pretty much says all you need to know. But I will blather on a little longer just so it feels like a real post.
Continue readingMalayalam Review Scheduling Announcement: Malayalam Moved to Wednesdays, Tamil/Telugu to Thursdays, Parava This Wednesday
Really, the headline says it all. But I feel weird putting up a post that is just a headline, so I will talk a bit about the whys and wherefores and hopes for the future and all that.
Continue reading#MeToo : VVC and Rajkumar Hirani Productions and the Issue of Official and Unoffical Corporate Ties
Remember the two #MeToo rules on DCIB: If you are going to repeat a story about someone, you must link back to the original source so we can all read it and judge for ourselves. And if possible, try to make the discussion broader and productive instead of personal. I’m going to try to follow both those rules myself with the Hirani story, giving a link back to the original source here, and talking about the broader issue I see what what happened.
Continue readingHappy Makar Sankranti!!!! Here Comes the Sun!!!!
Okay, I’m ready! I want to welcome in Surya and bring on the sunshine and happiness and be done with all this winter and sadness. And to help it along, here are some songs.
Continue readingMonday Morning Questions: What Do You Want to Ask Me on Makar Sankranti?
Happy Monday! If I am understanding this holiday correctly, it makes the end of the solar month that contained the Winter Solstice. Basically a big party of “the Sun’s Coming Back!!! The Sun’s Coming Back!!!” And with that in mind, it is dedicated to Surya. All of this is things I can get behind, so I thought I would share it with you.
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