Well, it has begun, the Dark Times. As everyone flutters about doing things in the meat world with family and friends and so on over the holidays, poor me in the digital world is left behind, forgotten. Which can also be seen as an opportunity for really weird posts no one else will care about.
What would make you happy?
For example, I already did Juhi Week, is there another beloved actress who deserves a week?
What about another theme? I did directors, and I did female filmmakers, what’s left? Producers maybe? Or studios?
Of course there’s Shahrukh, but I am almost out of new films to review for him, and I have lost track of angles on him. Image post you would like? Discussion topic to bring up?
Or just movies! What are the movies you love, that I have not yet reviewed?
And of course, any major questions or topics you would like for a Hindi Film 101? An artist whose biography you would like described? A scandal you want the inside scoop on? Or a big question like “why is Hindi film based in Bombay?” you want answered?
Yeah I’ve been MIA here. Fam already in town and I’m busy entertaining. I’m still trying to read posts as much as I can but I’m probably out of the running for getting a card 😦
I love Kajol. Could we explore her career trajectory?
I can never get enough of Shah Rukh. I could use some photos to get me through the hard work of doing everything for everyone. How about…candids? Less known photo shoots? BTS on set?
I mentioned a movie the other day they you said you had not seen but I can’t recall what it was. I’ll go back and look. be right back
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What do mean by “As everyone flutters about doing things in the meat world” with relation to the holiday season?
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I’m assuming it was meant to be ‘real world’ but somehow got autocorrected.
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Nope, meat world. It’s a cheeky way to talk about the none electronic world
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“Non”. That was autocorrect
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I have few ideas (not very festive, I admit)
– Subash Ghai: his movies, his life, his scandals
-Ram Gopal Varma : why he is so lousy, what is his story?
-some contemporary actress/actor week. Somebody you haven’t reviewed much ( e.g not Alia, because I think you already covered all her films)
From movies:
Mukkabaaz – believe me, you will like it and I would love to read your review.
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I just got into a back and forth defending Ranveer, maybe it’s time to do a researched post on him?
On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 1:43 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I have no ideas but I am always here for a sidestep into wacky. The thing about the internet at Christmas is in the run up I have 0 time and then I have Christmas holidays and am at home more than usual and there’s nothing on the internet to divert me.
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Because everyone on the internet got depressed with no views when you had zero time and they left you! You can’t just turn your back on the internet like that, it hurts us.
Wacky, huh? My mind is blank. I suppose I could repost my “Shahrukh’s worst costumes post”, which would also please Rachel.
On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 2:09 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Worst costumes is always a great plan!
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Well you already wrote a big response to my question about Hindi films being filmed in Mumbai, so as you’ve done all the work I think you should turn it into a 101 post. And I’m pro-Ranveer (especially when combined with Zoya as a director), so I’d love to read more about him. I’m on a curiosity streak about actor’s eyes. SRK & Kajol act with their eyes. The camera zooms in on the eyes and you can see emotions flicker across and decisions and realizations made without any words. Ajay, not so much. I like the actor but when the camera zooms in on his eyes I get nothing, I have no idea what his character is feeling. Aishwarya got JA because she can act with her eyes, but she isn’t as good as Kajol. And now I’m just ranking eye actors in my head.
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What a fascinating eye question! I agree about Ajay, sort of. In his best movies they use that opaqueness. He’s a great actor for “still waters run deep” kind of roles. In my two favorite Ajay performances, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, he plays a character who keeps his own council and makes his own decisions, who does not want to put his emotions on other people. His dialogue, or a gesture here or there will reveal what he is really feeling, but he keeps his emotions under control.
I think Aish acts with her eyes in a trained dancer way, classical Indian dance requires control of the eye muscles and specific movements to indicate certain emotions. But I would contrast that with Kajol who acts with her eyes in a completely natural way, they are windows into her emotions, not something she is consciously controlling.
On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 9:09 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I had no idea classical Indian dance requires control of the eye muscles. Interesting.
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You can see it really dramatically in this song at 3:20. Pradbudeva, Madhuri’s dance partner and the choreographer of the song, is also classically trained and he really had fun putting her through her facial paces.
On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 11:06 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Seconding the acting with the eyes post, and adding Fawad and Mahira.
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Maybe some YRF reviews for some of the movies you haven’t reviewed yet: Mere Pyaari Bindu, Ricky Bal ect. ? Love to hear your thoughts on those.
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I’m working on Dil Bole Hadippa know, so I’m on my way.
On Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 3:00 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Do you still do the box office reports?
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I’ve been checking the box office every week, I just haven’t seen anything exciting enough to report lately. We’ll see what the Panipat numbers look like next week.
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Is there still a potential Marjaavaan review on the horizon?
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A rapidly receding one. I just agreed to fill in teaching Sunday School on Sunday, and I’ve got friends coming over to watch War tomorrow night, and I was kind of hoping to clean out my closets on Saturday. Okay, I HAVE to clean out my closets because I just yanked everything out and put it in the middle of the floor. Hot troubled Sid will just have to wait until I am no longer drowning in empty cardboard boxes.
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I know you like doing these family histories, but what is the Waheeda Rehman affair that happened during Guide?
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What Waheeda Rahman affair???? I only know about her and Guru Dutt and the whole tragedy that killed Guru and his wife.
On Sat, Nov 30, 2019 at 9:15 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I meant affair as in relationship drama that went on. I suppose Guru Dutt is the one I meant. I phrased it wrong, sorry.
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I have never mixed things up in my life 🙂
On Sat, Nov 30, 2019 at 10:15 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Or just about Waheeda Rehman is fine. I’ve been writing essays so my brain got a little mixed with the words and I forgot what I meant in the first place.
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That would be interesting! She’s got kind of a fascinating life.
On Sat, Nov 30, 2019 at 10:20 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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