Wednesday Watching Post: What Are You Reading and Watching and Thinking and Listening To This Week?

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Happy Wednesday! Do I want to see Article 15 this Friday? It looks sooooooooooo depressing. How many of you really really want a review?

I’ll start!

Reading: Pardesi/Moviemavengal sent me this article on twitter, a reader’s response posted on Bardwaj Rangan’s site and I found it really interesting. If nothing else, it means at least one other person reacted to the heroine’s character in Kabir Singh similarly to how I did. https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2019/06/25/kabir-singh-arjun-reddy-a-rorschach-test/

Also, Claudia in the comments just linked me to this amazing twitter version of KKHH as a love story between Rani and Kajol. Forget they are cousins in real life (paternal cousins, so the incest kind), and it is super cute!

Watching: I’m halfway through Snegithiye for tomorrow’s review and it is, indeed, very friendly to a queer reading.

Thinking: Are there really no fun movies until Arjun Patiala? Article 15 this week, next week is Malaal and One Day, and then Super 30, and then Mental Hai Kya (maybe). And FINALLY, July 26, we get Arjun Patiala and have something to smile about.

Listening: In honor of Pride, I’ve been listening to Dostana. Which really does have just the best soundtrack!

58 thoughts on “Wednesday Watching Post: What Are You Reading and Watching and Thinking and Listening To This Week?”

  1. Only today, after reading rumored interfering of Kangana in Mental Hai Kya shooting/direction and differences between Kangana and the director of Mental Hai Kya on a Telugu magazine, I got to know that it’s a Telugu director, Prakash Kovelamudi. Though Prakash denied the rumors, I hope there wouldn’t be a repeat of Kangana-Krish episode. https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/kangana-ranaut-was-actor-sets-mental-hai-kya-clarifies-director-prakash-kovelamudi-454564

    Prakash too is not a novice – a proven director of Size Zero with Anushka Shetty and Anaganaga Oka Dheerudu with Siddhartha and Shruti Haasan. He’s also son of K.Raghavendra Rao, a mega Telugu director of 100+ films.

    I read a lot on your site of the Mental Hai Kya film about release date conflicts with Hrithik, case about the title, about Ekta Kapoor – realized you never mentioned the director in your articles or you mentioned and I might have missed 🙂

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    • Nope, I never mentioned the director. Which might be a sign right there, or might be meaningless. All the coverage has focused on Kangana and Ekta and a little bit Rajkummar, they have been the ones making statements, the director is invisible. Which is not uncommon for a lessor known director working on a film with a big deal producer and big deal leads. But could also mean, like Manikarnika, the director was chosen because they thought he wouldn’t dare go against the star since it was his big break in Hindi.

      On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 7:37 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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    • It’s fine. Kind of interesting that she threw Karz in there, that’s an oldie. It is on youtube with subtitles, the legal Rajshri version, Rajshri almost always has subtitles and puts everything up on youtube with ads but no charges (all hail Rajshri, Greatest of Streaming Rights Holders!). Looks like the link she gave doesn’t have subtitles, and is also about an hour too short.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0IPycL6bi8

      Mostly it is refreshing to see such a casual happy list! So much female writing around Hindi film that I read now is all angsty and “here are the problems with your favorite movies” and “enjoyment is a sin”. I kind of forgot that there is a whole world of people who just watch the movies for fun and still have unspoiled happy relationships with them.

      On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 7:53 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • It also made me think about all the different audiences for these movies. Like a western-born desi movie watcher from a Hindi-speaking family like this writer is different from western-born non-desi, is different from Indian-born Hindi-speaking, different from Indian-born other language speaker, etc. Are there movies that appeal to all of us? It’s a tall order!

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      • I think it’s wonderful that females are finally feeling empowered to write how they truly feel instead of having it be suppressed. And no one is making you feel like your enjoyment is a sin expect you viewing people who disagree with your opinion that way. I know you like trying to find female agency in an otherwise chauvinistic film and that’s fine. But condescending other reviewers who disagree with you, in not this this comment but many others, especially over the last couple weeks seems petty.

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    • Awe! I loved the author’s interview. How refreshing and also well thought out. Thanks for posting this. I look forward to buying the book and supporting her.

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  3. Reading: a lot of stuff on the net… kind of research work
    watching: bits & pieces of movies … equally for research
    listening: still to Radio Swiss Classic…it’s just sth in the background during my research work
    thinking: everything related to my second book (that’s why the research work 😀 )

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  4. Reading: Novel by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani to brush up my Telugu reading skills. Some of her novels were made into movies – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaddanapudi_Sulochana_Rani

    Watching: Specific parts from Super Deluxe, after my first watch, to help me decide how much I like the movie.

    Thinking: If Naveen Polishetty and such will stand a chance among all the extended family member actors of the BIG families. One of these families has enough actors to fill a soccer/cricket team.

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    • Ha! I never thought about that before, that at a certain point the family get so large you go unnoticed.

      Is there also a hierarchy of “turns”? Like, if two cousins are considered for the same role, does the younger have to take a step back and wait for the older first?

      I’ve been afraid to rewatch Super Deluxe because I am worried I will like it less. But some day I do want to rewatch just the Vijay Sethupathi section as a stand alone short film.

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  5. Watching: I’ve already said that but will repeat I watched and loved Half Girlfriend. Now, when my first enthusiasm calmed down I can say it could be better e.g I didn’t mind Shraddha, but yes, with a better actress it could be even better. But who cares if my crush looks like that:

    Btw It’s Arjun’s birthday today 🙂

    Reading: Yesterday I discovered Warrior Cats books, and it looks like something written for my son. He loves this kind of stories and adores cats.

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    • Maybe? Peeping Moon isn’t super unreliable. But if it is true, I would expect an official announcement from Red Chillies any day now.

      On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 10:26 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • Peeping moon is not reliable but Rahul Raut himself is. This must be true. He does not spread rumors.

        I think SRK has been working on producing stuff during his “break.” They have Bard of Blood, Class of 83, Betaal and some kind of political show in the works for Netflix. They are also working on Operation Khukri as a theatrical with Azure who they also partnered up with for Badla.

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          • According to this interview with the CEO of Azure dated April 20, 2019, the scripting for Operation Khukri is complete and they are in discussions with directors. I assume the cast would come after they find a director.

            I think it’s highly likely that this is the movie that SRK will end up starring in. It might be his next one.

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          • It might be a good fit, he does well in Army roles, and if he plays a mature officer it would fit with his age. And this story would let him do his version of patriotism, the protective kind instead of the hatefilled kind.

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          • This movie ticks off all the right boxes. It’s relatively safe – a patriotic movie about a little known Indian victory in Africa. It has the scope for big visuals of a new country, action scenes, no romance or patsy stuff, and he can play the kind of older, tough character that the general audience responds to. A kind of return to normalcy after things like face transplants and dwarves.

            They’re calling it a tentpole movie so it’s a big one and for that, I don’t think RCE would go for other actors besides the in-house one.

            He’s probably just waiting to get this movie off the ground which is why he’s on a break. No point running to make something in between which might not be good enough anyway.

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          • It would be kind of fun from a Shahrukh filmography perspective to have another Army movie, so we could go from Fauji to Main Hoon Na to this and pretend they are all connected.

            I was just talking in this weeks box office post about how the young male audience seems to be ruling right now. An army movie might be Shahrukh’s best chance of drawing them in.

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          • That is a really interesting interview with Sunir Kheterpal, thank you for posting! The Azure team sounds very smart, I will keep an eye on them.

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  7. Just finished watching Good Omens on Amazon Prime about an angel and demon working together to stave off Apocalypse.David Tennant’s character reminds me so much of Akshay Kumar’s Krishna from OMG but edgier.Also managed to watch Tanuja’s Gustakhi Maaf where she plays identical twins separated at birth who also have the same name.Hilarity ensues when they fall for two artists who also happen to be brothers.Poor Sanjeev Kumar can’t believe that his would-be sister-in-law is in love with him and has a hard time evading her attentions.Unlike Sita aur Geeta, the sisters aren’t that different in character either.Both raised by single fathers, they are singleminded,impulsive and a little bit spoiled.he movie also addresses the male tendency to quickly label women’s inconsistencies as madness or hysteria.Tanuja is so much better than Hema at comedy.The only thing missing was a macho Dharmendra. Finally Tanuja’s question which sends Sanjeev Kumar tearing his hair “Jawani mein angdaiyan kyon hota hai?”

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  8. I’ve rewatched a bunch of movies lately but the one’s that stood out to me were Ohm Shanti Oshaana and Maryada Ramanna. I would recommend Maryada Ramanna to you because it’s a Rajamouli movie that I would say is comparable to Eega. It’s a really good family film type of movie that my friends and I really enjoyed when we were kids. It does have some violence that could be expected from a Rajamouli movie but it’s still a really wholesome movie.

    I also saw Imaikka Nodigal for the first time and that was so good! It’s a thriller starring Nayanthara, Anurag Kashyap, and Atharvaa. Anurag Kashyap’s so freaking creepy in the movie and Nayanthara is pretty badass. Overall, it’s a really good thriller.

    This song from Arjun Patiala is really catchy!

    Latest update from the 11 year old is that she saw Ek Villain and liked it.

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    • Ek Villain is so scary!!!!! It’s way too scary for me now, age 34, let alone at 11. She is brave.

      And I will say Baaghi 1 and maybe also Baaghi 2, if she can handle the violence in Ek Villain she should be able to handle Baaghi 2.

      Oh, and Maryada Ramanna is the one that was remade as Son of Sardaar! That’s why I haven’t watched the original, because I like the remake too much. Come to think of it, SoS might be a good option for your 11 year old.

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      • Right! I thought Ek Villain was pretty scary as well. Yeah, I was recommending Maryada Ramanna to her which is why I ended up rewatching it. She actually might like the Baaghi movies.

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  9. In light of your “SRK has a new strategy” concept, what do you think of his two outings today? He doesn’t always go to movie premiers so why Article 15 and why the song launch of this designer turned director who he says he’s known for 20 years but we.ve never heard of?

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    • Both events are favors for old friends/people he truly cares about. I think he is done with the “I have to go to every premiere so I don’t offend people” kind of thinking. Anubhav Sinha directed Article 15, he did Ra.One with Shahrukh, I am sure they are still close. And the Marathi film was directed by someone whose career goes back to 1999, I am sure Shahrukh has known him somehow. Plus, they also both look like really good films! Maybe he just wanted to throw some support towards projects he believes in?

      Or the cynical theory, Red Chillies is looking to expand production and exploring connections in the Marathi industry and with Anubhav Sinha.

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    • Vikram Phadnis is a close friend of the family. I think he’s closer to Gauri. He is there at important events. For example, he was there at SRK’s birthday party in Alibaug 2 years ago which only had a small number of people. He stayed the night too along with a few other people. SRK also promoted and introduced Vikram’s first movie. This is his second movie.

      You can hear Vikram himself talk about his relationship with SRK and Gauri at the launch. Just skip to when he’s talking.

      SRK tends to show up for these types of events for old friends. It’s nothing new. If they’re not big celebrities, it’s likely we wouldn’t know too much those friendships.

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  10. I am beginning to realise that Indian films(in almost all languages) is tailored to appeal to the men.Even movies like June and Om Shanti Oshana with a girl at the center is actually the ultimate male fantasy of a bubbly girl.
    I was watching Jersey yesterday and as well directed the movie is,I couldnt help notice how it tried to make the wife a villain in the life of the tragic husband.The other Telugu marital-cricket drama movie Majili had the other extreme of a besotted girl marrying and waiting forever for the guy who is horrible to her.The allegiance of both the movies lies with the hero who is troubled and sad for whatever reasons.The wives are the breadwinners,who takes care of the households & other family members while the guy is rotting in self pity.And both the wives are made to apologize to the husbands for nutty reasons before happy reunion.I am swearing off Telugu films unless it is Sekhar Kammula or the director of Sammohanam or Sahoo- in which case I don’t mind all the hero glorification.

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    • Ugh, I hate the long-suffering wife/nagging wife trope. It’s such a simplistic way of seeing a person, the long-suffering one has no needs of her own so don’t worry about her. And the nag just doesn’t understand. And yes, it seems gendered, she is a woman and the audience is a man so they see her as an “other” in these simple ways.

      Now I am trying to think of movies that break your rule! I would say that June and OSO are kind of cross over movies. They are cute non-threatening little girls for the male audience, but women can also enjoy them. I’m trying to think of a movie with a female protagonist that women would like but men would not. Veere Di Wedding maybe? Aaiyyaa? The Sekhar Kummala heroines are just charming people, I can see anyone liking them, but they aren’t designed to be non-threatening to men in particular.

      On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 2:01 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • Not Indian examples, but I’ve been struck watching both Outlander and Working Moms on Netflix how different the stories and characters are when the whole thing is created from a female POV. I’ve gotten almost equal enjoyment from watching my husband watch these shows as I have from watching them myself. He likes them. He doesn’t necessarily notice how different they feel. I read the Outlander books way before I started watching the show, it still feels kind of private, they were books I was devouring late at night while he slept. I know people have legitimate criticisms of the book and the show for the prominence of sexual assault as a plot point, I don’t read it the same way but I can see how it’s disturbing depending on where you’re coming from. But the central romance and characters are so clearly a female fantasy. My husband is watching for the swords and adventure, also maybe a bit of romance. Then there will be episodes where Jamie is pledging his eternal love and the protection of his body and…the reversal of the usual romance tropes we see on TV tweaks my brain a bit and I find myself glancing at my husband to see how he’s reacting. Working Moms was a similar experience, the husbands were in the kinds of roles where you only see them at home during the moments where their lives intersect with the female main characters, I kept finding myself checking on the men in the room during those scenes to see their reactions.

        Sorry, that was very long winded. It just made me realize how rare it’s been until now to see fully realized stories from the female POV. It feels almost like something intimate being exposed. And men aren’t conditioned to look for the same kinds of deficits in character depictions as we are because they don’t have as much practice!

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        • Your last point is really interesting! That men are just blind to it. What I’ve also found, sometimes from comments here and sometimes from talking to people in “real life” is that men/groups in power are so conditioned to see everything from their perspective that they are capable of hallucinating a slightly different version of a work just to match what they expect. You talk with someone about a movie and discover that they remember a different solution to the mystery (for instance) which includes a minority being guilty in some way. Or remember the action scene as the hero saving the heroine instead of the other way around.

          It’s kind of the same thing women/groups not in power do when watching a work, pay more attention when the characters they relate to are on screen and remember those stories most. But there is an awareness of “the ‘real’ movie was about the straight white dude, I know that I am choosing to focus on something else” whereas sometimes when discussing a work with someone part of the group in power it feels more like “I watched a movie about a straight white dude, I have no idea what you are talking about when you say the lead was a woman. And for the bits of the film I don’t remember well, I just filled in the gaps with what would make sense if the hero is a straight white dude”.

          On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 8:16 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • I agree with your diatribe, good point. At the end of the first season, which is as far as we’ve gotten, I was also thinking it’s about feeling needed – feeling you are indispensable to another person.

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          • I only got through the first season of the show, but I read all the books. And at least in the books, that feeling of being “needed” or more than that “useful” keeps being investigated in really interesting ways. It’s not just the women, it’s also the people with disabilities, with talents that don’t fit in the time or place where they live, and on and on. Remove the sex scenes, and it is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be part of a community, to find the place where you belong in the world.

            On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 8:55 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • I don’t think Kammula heroines are found charming by many, especially women. I have seen many comments on Fidaa by women that Bhanu is an egoistic,childish character who made the hero suffer.Not sure what the men’s reaction was. I don’t know if you have seen 22 Female Kottayam. I remember some of the men being majority upset by Tessa while the women hailed her. Swara Bhaskar in Veere Di Wedding definitely wasn’t liked by men and the sore point was the masturbation scene.It could also be because Swara is a known critic of the ruling party and ruffles many a feathers on a daily basis. Fire movie when it had come out had caused a few commotions. Other than these I can’t think of any.

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        • That masturbation scene upset is so hypocritical, isn’t it? I can’t even count how many references there are to male masturbation one way or another in Indian films I have scene.

          On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 9:30 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  11. Listening: this song keeps coming up when I play Sarvam Thalaa Mayam:

    So nice and summery, it makes me happy. Do you know, was Kadal any good? Not on any of the platforms I can get it at the moment, but looks fun.

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    • Kadal was HORRIBLE. In a completely inexplicable way. It was as though someone dropped the film reels and lost half of them and they ended up patching together whatever kind of a film they could make from the remainder. Terrible TERRIBLE movie. Which is shocking because the director is Mani Ratnam and he is possibly the greatest living director in India. I guess he got all his badness out in this one bad bad movie. Not even entertaining bad, just confusing bad.

      But I also really like this song! It’s early in the film when you still have hope, before you are dragged down by all the “wait, now she’s the gangster’s daughter? And the Priest is evil? Or good? WHAT’S HAPPENING????” of it all. Okay, even that makes it sound more interesting than it actually was. It’s somehow filled with things happening, and yet very boring at the same time.

      On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 3:05 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  12. I am clearly finally catching up on a weeks worth of DCIB posts. I would love to read your review on Artcile 15. I am definitiely going to watch it, but I want to know if I should watch it in the theaters or when it comes on a streaming platform. Also, how sad is it? Do I need to mentally prepare myself to be depressed for a long time after I see the movie? I am not sure why but I recently watched Love, Sonia and I now need to watch many many really silly films to stop thinking of that movie.

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    • Well, maybe that’s what I do for the 4th of July! That seems festive, right? Going to a dark movie theater and watching a depressing movie?

      On Mon, Jul 1, 2019 at 4:39 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • Oof no. Just ignore my request and do something relaxing like cleaning and going to a last night cookout. This is FilmiKudhi btw.

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