So important to participate in a democratic election! If you don’t vote, your voice won’t be heard. And the wrong Shahrukh Khan film could be chosen as his best ever! Or the wrong Malayalam actress, or the wrong Hindi actor. Vote in the comments, you can give a choice for each category or just the ones you feel confident about. Remember, most comments this month wins a poster!
Best Shahrukh Khan Movie (not your favorite, what you think is objectively the best film):
Jab Harry Met Sejal
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayange
Fan
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Om Shanti Om
Other
Best Malayalam Actress Ever:
Parvathy
Revathy
Shobhana
.jpg)
Other
Best non-Khan Actor Working in Hindi Today:
Rajkummar Rao
Shahid Kapoor
Irrfan Khan
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Other
dontcallitbollywood 
I haven’t seen Fan yet but I think the best movies are a tie between Dilwale Dulhania La Jayenge because it’s jsut ah-MAZ-ing and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi because Shahrukh does a really great job switching between being this very goofy and kind of jock-like guy to this reserved, nervous sort.
I haven’t yet ventured into the world of non-Hindi cinema with one exception but it was so TERRIBLE, I couldnt finish it. Not that I think that it representative of all of them, but I think it was a Telugu film dubbed into Hindi, so maybe that was part of it?
And I think Nawazuddin Siddiqui is just an incredible actor!
LikeLike
If Rab Ne impressed you with Shahrukh’s double-role, Fan will blow your mind. Although on the other hand, I think RNBDJ has less extraneous bits than Fan, a bit tighter script. I don’t know! I want you to watch both and come back!
I’ll put you down for Nawazuddin, and I must know what the Telugu Hindi dub was you saw. And yes, it probably is because it was a Hindi dub. For some reason the Hindi dubs also seem to remove 20-40 minutes of movie so it ends up being just action scenes and songs instead of he really good bits that add layers and complications to the film.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 3:22 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
I’m pretty sure Fan is on my watchlist on Amazon so I will start that one next (after I finish 3 Idiots tonight)!
It was Arddhanaari, the 2016 Telugu one, not the 2012 Malayam film of a similar name. I was interested to see how an example of an Indian film portrayal of a trans person but couldn’t get through the absolutely horrendous acting (or in this case dub job) to even get a good read on that.
LikeLike
Boy, between Fan and 3 Idiots I am not sure which film is darker! I know I like Fan better, but that might just be because I am an SRKian.
That Telugu movie looks legitimately terrible. Coincidentally, there was a Tamil movie that just released that deals with Hijras, Super Deluxe. I had some issues with the film, but it does give you a very good look at the whole transexual/Hijra issues in India. If you want an entertaining but TERRIBLE view of transexuals, you can watch “I”, a Telugu film that is over the top and crazy in how it handles transexuals. And a lot of other stuff too actually, not just transexuals.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 3:46 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
I’m usually pretty good about giving a movie a chance but I justcould not force myself to sit through more than 20 minutes of that one. I will add your suggestions to my ever-growing list and definitely let you know what I think of Fan.
LikeLike
Oh dear! I heard about that movie (Arddhanaari) for the first time – clearly, not a representative of Telugu movie. “I” is a Tamil movie dubbed into Telugu, a typical Shankar’s movie – again not a Telugu representation – we feel Tamil movies generally get over-the-top.
Same case with Kanchana (Muni 2) where Sharath Kumar plays transsexual – the movie handles them well, but the action is OTP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muni_2:_Kanchana
The best transsexual portray was by NTR in an old B&W film based on Mahabharata – Narthanasala (1963).
LikeLike
Read somewhere recently that Amitabh Bachchan is going to play the transsexual role in Kanchana’s Hindi remake with Akshay playing Lawrence’s role. https://www.news18.com/news/movies/amitabh-bachchan-to-play-a-transgender-in-kanchana-hindi-remake-2120227.html
LikeLike
Njan Marykutty – I haven’t seen it but heard Jayasurya was great as transgender person.
LikeLike
Thank you all for these recommendations! Hoping I can find at least some of them on Netflex or Amazon.
LikeLike
Best Shah Rukh movie objectively: tie among Devdas, Om Shanti Om, and Raees. One doesn’t need to understand much about Hindi films, nor like Shah Rukh particularly as an actor, to appreciate these movies as movies. Of course if you do, then you either get more out of them, or like them less (like you with Devdas).
Can’t say about Malayalam actresses.
I know I just said Irrfan is overrated in some ways, but I still gotta go with him for the best “non-trio of Khan’s” working actor. I can’t decide if Nawaz is a good actor because he is so similar in everything I’ve seen him in. He may just be good at playing a certain kind of driven, ruthless person.
LikeLike
Oh yes if I were to pick one of those not listed I would whole-heartedly cast my vote for Devdas or Raees!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is this groundswell for Raees? It almost makes me think Emily and I should stop trying to figure out how to fix it and decide it is perfect as is.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 3:41 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Sigh. Raees. I have recommended it as an action film and easy intro to SRK, but I still don’t think it quite holds together, much as I really want it to. Cut the kung fu-style action sequences with the flying ropes, and cut Zaalima (I know! so pretty! but totally mismatched), spend more time on Mahira’s character and why they match so that last goodbye just guts us.
LikeLike
Really? Raees? I like it, but I think it has some serious flaws as a film. The love story is just dropped in randomly, the time passing is not clear, all kinds of other little things. The other two I will grant you, very well-scripted and well-acted, great visuals, all those things that make up a movie. Too bad Devdas COMPLETELY MISSES THE POINT of the original novel, but it is still very pretty.
Nawaz was in one rom-com produced by Sohail Khan, I really need to track it down and see if he can pull off that kind of performance. I would add to his driven, ruthless roles, the “lowly and overlooked” roles in Talaash and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But that’s still just two kinds of roles which isn’t much, compared to the wealth of performances we have seen from Irrfan.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 3:36 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Yes, we have different opinions of Raees. I think it’s a really solid example of the genre “gangster who loves his people vs corrupt, uncaring government and more violent, more evil gansters”. I think his love for Mahira and the appearing/disappearing baby, his love for his sidekick (yay, Zeeshan!), and his love for his neighborhood/community are all one side of his character, so none of them can get too much time. His fatal errors are the ego of getting into a personal contest of wills with Nawaz, and the arrogance of thinking because he is rich and good at business, he can beat politicians at their own game. I think its strengths as a flawed hero movie overcome the continuity/timing weaknesses. I do wish they would have left in Halka Halka because it’s such a cute song, but it and Udi Jaye really do a lot of the same narrative work, so I can see why they left it out. And it ended the only way it could, I think.
LikeLike
And for Devdas, I think it would be great if you could think of the original story and it’s more faithful movie adaptations as home made macaroni and cheese, and the SLB film as Kraft dinner in a box. Both tasty, both have their place, but almost not the same food at all.
Though I really enjoy your SLB antagonism, so it’s cool if that doesn’t work for you. 🙂
LikeLike
Is there a more faithful movienadaption and/orhas the book been translated into English?
LikeLike
In 2016 Margaret (the blog author here) watched all the Hindi movie adaptations and read the novel (novella?) all in one go, then wrote about it. Here’s my favorite post from that series.
I’m sure there are English translations of the book but I don’t know which are good or anything.
LikeLike
That was a crazy 48 hours! I also watched the Telugu adaptation but didn’t review that because I didn’t know enough about the Telugu industry to really discuss it. The Bimal Roy one is general considered the “real” Devdas, the best film version in India. Unless you are a Telugu speaker, and then the Telugu version is the best.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 5:22 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am Telugu and I condemn this :). Everyone, including Dilip Kumar, accepted ANR did the best role and Telugu version was the best – very rare to get such acceptance from Bollywood makers for things down the South – others are ARR and Rajinikanth.
LikeLike
I really look forward to checking out all these other versions of Devdas!
I agree with Procrastinatrix on this one. I enjoyed the way they played with the idea of morality vs legality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Regarding Raees I mean
LikeLike
Duplicate
LikeLike
NO ONE ELSE THINKS THAT!!!
LikeLike
(I am only being mean because I know this is my friend and her weird weird Duplicate obsession talking)
LikeLike
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Chak de India are my favorites. I really like Parvathy. She is both plain and beautiful and has a remarkable range. And Irrfan Khan – tho’ does he count because his last name makes him a Khan?
LikeLike
Ooo, good point about Irrfan!!!! And I can’t believe I forgot to list Chak De as a Shahrukh option.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 8:39 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Yes, agreed on Chak De, I think it’s the tightest script and the best overall film he’s been in. Also agreed on Irrfan, though tempted by Shahid. Give Shahid another 10 years and see what he does. I do believe he’s a real actor, but he still gets roles that require beauty and impressive dance moves, we won’t totally know how good he is until he can’t lean on those in the same way.
LikeLike
Have you seen his father act? He’s never been handsome, or a good dancer, and he is one of the most respected actors in Hindi film. I kind of wonder if Shahid, once he loses his looks and his dancing, will finally get the respect his father has.
LikeLike
Best: Swades and Chak De India primarily for the directors Asutosh and Shijit Amin
Malayalam Ever – Sobhana, Urvashy. I haven’t seen much of Revathy in Malayalam movies – always considered her as Tamil actress
Non-Khan : Irfan Khan, although he’s a Khan too 🙂
LikeLike
I loved Swades!
I recently found out my friend almost got to meet SRK while he was working on this movie. We live near a NASA office and her mother (who is Indian) works there and was tasked with showing Shah Rukh around. Unfortunately my friend had an exam that day and her mother refused to let her come meet him. 😦 I’m upset for my friend’s sake all these years later 😦
LikeLike
I am upset for your friend’s sake too! That is terrible!
On Tue, Apr 30, 2019 at 7:55 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Finally an answer for my Malayalam actress question! Someone else said Parvathy I think, but I was sure Shobhana would get a vote.
On Tue, Apr 30, 2019 at 12:40 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Primarily because of Manichitrathazhu and some non-Malayalam movies like Thalapathy, Rudraveena and Kokila
LikeLike
Best SRK movie: Fan
Malayalam actress: must vote for Parvathy, because, first- I love her, second: I have seen Shobana only in 2 movies, and Revathy only in one (and it was tamil film)
Non-Khan actor: Rajkummar Rao, he can play everything and is always good both in serious dramas and silly rom-coms. But there are so many other good actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Adil Hussain, Sanjay Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi and other I don’t even know names because they are always in the background.
LikeLike
Rajkummar Rao is the only one who is getting votes both as the next big thing and as the best non-Khan actor. That says something, but I’m not sure what.
On Tue, Apr 30, 2019 at 4:00 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
CHAK DE INDIA! My first Indian film and therefore sentimental fave. Not too familiar with the actresses but like Malayalam films very much. Rajkumar Rao. Irrfan is an Khan and Nawazzudin is always so dark. He did dance and clown in that film with Tiger (Munna Michael, was it?) and as I recall, pulled it off.
LikeLike
Chak De India is a great first movie! Much better than Om Shanti Om. It’s barely got songs and you don’t really need to know that much about India or Indian culture, but it still has that heart on the sleeve emotion to sweep you away.
On Tue, Apr 30, 2019 at 8:45 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Also a great first film to just enjoy without being clubbed over the head with SRK fandomlike OSO. 🤗
LikeLike
Best SRK movie: Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Malayalam actress: Revathy (equally comfortable with comedy & serious roles, can’t recall a Sobhana/Parvathy comedy movie!)
LikeLike
Yaaaay, a Revathi vote! I really like her in everything I have seen, including her small “mother” parts in recent movies.
LikeLike
Best SRK movie- ChakdeIndia
Best Malayalam actresses-Urvasi,Manju Warrier
Best non-khan actor-Raj Kumar rao
LikeLike
Manju gets her first vote!
LikeLike
Acting-wise, Rab Na Bana Di Jodi and Fan come to mind. Honestly, I though he was phenomenal in Dil Se, even Chaaya Chaaya aside. Damn good movie. His acting in JHMS struck me as spot on, but I always get a niggling feeling it’s almost too close to his real personality to be considered awesome ‘acting’. Ya know?
I have loved Iirfan Khan for too long, so he’s my go-to. (Loved the Life of Pi reference in Chennai Express!) I’m quite partial to Nawazuddin Siddiqui as well. He was so cheerfully frightening in Raaes. He just kept coming, and coming, and it made me edgy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you seen Qarib Qarib Singlle yet? Super cute low budget rom-com, on Netflix, but easy to miss. And Irrfan is the charming lead!
LikeLike
I’m on it!
LikeLike
Ok, I know the one. I was deciding between this and The Lunchbox. I chose The Lunchbox. Sigh …
LikeLike
The Lunchbox is probably a better movie as a whole, but Qarib is way happier.
On Wed, May 1, 2019 at 3:48 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, yes it was!
LikeLike
And now you can read my review!
On Wed, May 1, 2019 at 5:55 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Fan was crazy good. It was just so damn freaking disturbing!
LikeLike
I just finished Fan (the credits are still rolling) and I’m just sitting here wide-eyed. That was so intense! I’m still processing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw it 4 times in theaters and it was just as powerful on the 4th watch as it was on the first.
If you choose to waste the next several hours of your life, here is a link to my full scene by scene coverage:
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son actually mentioned that he completely forgot it was SRK chasing himself at the end. So damn well done! But creepy and very disturbing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw this movie with my good friend and fellow SRK fan and her girlfriend, who had seen maybe a dozen SRK movies by then. We saw it together, talked about it the whole drive home, all of us talking about how freaking good Shahrukh was. And then right before we got home, after 20 minutes of talking, her girlfriend said “you know, Shahrukh was good, but the young guy was good too”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love Parvathy with all my heart(I think she’s the best of the current generation!), but I think anyone who has followed Malayalam Cinema would undoubtedly say Shobhana or Revathy. Shobhana is one of my personal favorites♡
LikeLike
I keep waiting for Shobhana to do more, I feel like she should have way more options to have movies built around her today, now that she is awesome and back full time.
On Sun, May 5, 2019 at 5:03 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
Is Sobhana back? I thought she’s still busy with her classical dance shows
LikeLike
I was thinking of Thira, but it looks like that and one other movie were both in 2013 and nothing since then. On the other hand, there are two films supposedly scheduled for 2020, so YAAAAY!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She 1000% should because she is so talented! Has she been in anything after Thira? Because I love seeing her onscreen(and for a part two of that film)
LikeLike
Looks like she was in Kochadaiiyaan, that odd computer generated Rajinikanth movie in 2014, and then nothing. She has two “untitled” Malayalam projects listed on her filmography now, but I don’t know if I believe in them.
On Mon, May 6, 2019 at 5:51 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
>
LikeLike
I wishhh I could see her in Malayalam, but I haven’t heard anything in the media. I feel like Thira just had really bad marketing/PR because it really should have received more attention.
LikeLike