Happy Monday! I had a super productive weekend moving all my furniture around and doing a ton of laundry and buying groceries and I kind of didn’t want to come into work because I was so caught up in all my home stuff.
This is where you get to ask me anything at all! Backstory on a gossip tale, opinion on a director, translation of a phrase, anything at all! If I don’t know the answer, I’ll crowdsource it here and I bet someone else will. Just keep swinging back her all week as you think of new things.
Now, two questions for you! First, very important, should I buy this new coffee table:
Or this new coffee table:
Second question! Valentines is coming up, last year I did a week of rom-coms. This year, should I do:
A. A week of romantic dramas (think Aashiqui 2, Marjaavaan, Sanam Tere Kasam, etc.)
B. A week of anti-romances (Anjaam, Queen, Dushman, etc.)
C. A week of your favorite romances as chosen by popular vote (???)
dontcallitbollywood 
My vote’s for romantic dramas. I’m keen to see your takes on Laila Majnu and Raincoat, if you plan on reviewing them.
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I probably won’t watch those two, L-M because it isn’t available anywhere with subtitles and Raincoat because that feels more like an art film than a romantic drama.
I could do “romantic art films” instead, Raincoat and Photograph and Lunchbox and stuff like that?
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Having just seen your awesome apartment last weekend, I recommend the first table! Although, I generally love pink and polka dots on everything, and you are creative, so I am sure you could make that one work. Yes, I know that was not helpful at all.
Also, it was so fun to see your apartment and meet Albie! He really is the cutest cutest dog! Thanks for taking me around Devon and showing me all your favorite Indian snack places!
With regards to Valentine’s day movie reviews, would you be interested in reviewing Simla Mirchi – the Ramesh Sippy movie with Hema, Rajkumaar Rao, and Rakul Preet Singh? It just popped up on Netflix today!!! I am so excited to watch it this week!
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It was so fun to have company on Saturday! And someone to admire my dog and apartment, I am very proud of both.
I am definitely reviewing Simla Mirch at some point, if not for Valentine’s Day then later. It just popped up on my Netflix too.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 8:14 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Yay! Well then for Valentine’s week, my vote would be for favorite romances as chosen by popular vote or romantic dramas with a request to have at least one or two with a happy ending.
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My mind is a blank, what is a romantic drama with a happy ending? I can’t even think of one! It’s all sobbing and the beauty of true love in my memory. Sanam Tere Kasam, Marjaavan (I assume), Ek Villain, and on and on.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 9:19 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Off-the top of my heads, I was thinking of movies like Aakash Vaani, Veer Zaara, Prem Rog etc. Definitely dramas but at least they don’t have a sad ending. I know you have reviewed two of the three so I will try and think of more.
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I am firmly in the “Veer-Zaara totally had a sad ending!” camp. Everything is horrible and they lost all that time for no reason!
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 11:00 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Umm… do you think Hindi film gods listened to our conversation this weekend?
https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/raj-and-dk-confirm-talks-on-with-shah-rukh-khan-for-film-he-said-make-sure-script-remains-what-you-wanted-it-to-be/story-lo8e1H4btw7qlyd9i1cmTN.html
I am cautiously optimistic because the news quoted Raj and DK directly. I am going to keep my fingers and my toes crossed so that this actually happens.
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Yeah, I think someone else also listed that over the weekend. I also am cautiously optimistic, because I think there have been projects in the past that were canceled BECAUSE a story like this came out. As in “I no longer want to collaborate with you because you were so unprofessional as to release the news by accident, so it was true when you said it but it is no longer true because you said it.”
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 11:47 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Romantic dramas of course 🙂
After watching and liking Marjaavaan and Baaghi I’m now all excited for Ek Villain. I was avoiding this movie for years because I thought it’s not my kind of movie. What do you think? I also plan to watch every Mohit Suri movie this year (maybe except Raaz because it’s a horror and Kanagana is in it)
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Ek Villain is like 75% an Angie movie, and 25% not. Ritiesh Deshmukh’s villain is really creepy and unpleasant and I don’t think you would like his storyline at all. But you can just get popcorn or even fastforward his scenes, and focus on the Tormented Sid M bits of the plot instead.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 8:38 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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First table for sure. The second one is too trendy and you’ll regret it after a couple of years.
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Done! And there’s a “box opened and then returned” super cheap one available now, so it looks like fate.
And if I regret it and decide I want a bright pink one instead, I can always buy another one later since the pink one (shockingly) is super cheap.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 10:19 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I also opt for the first table 🙂 (you still can put boxes in there).
Anti-romantic is tempting… and so is arthouse romantic…but romantic drama would be fine for me, too…anyways, it will be a pleasure to read 🙂
I really hoped for filmikhudi spending time with you when I read about the Chicago-visit.
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Awe! Thanks, Claudia. It was super fun. We watched a Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai and ate lots of samosas!
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Oh and played with Albie who oscillated between being a manic pixie crazy dog and a lazy couch potato!
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I think the whole experience was too much for him, he’s been hiding in his little dog house at work all day today.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 10:41 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Anti-romantic is tempting for me too! Those films deserve their moment in the sun, and there are some really interesting takes on “I thought love would solve everything, but actually it just made things worse”.
Yes, Filmikudhi and I got to spend the afternoon together and it was awesome, and now she can confirm that Albie Dog is just as cute as he seems.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 10:36 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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So this seems as good a time as any to mention I will be on a plane to India on Valentine’s Day. Some of you knew this already but I figured I would go public with it here (not on Twitter yet). Not ready to give any trip details for various personal safety reasons (I’ve had a few weird messages on Twitter, nothing awful but for example I got a marriage proposal). But I’ll be posting about it when I’m actually there. I’m crazy excited and anxious at the same time, eeeeee.
The first song for Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan came out yesterday and I am loving sexy Ayushmann and heart-eyes Jeetu and there’s a dance-off between Ayushmann & Gajraj Rao that is making me cackle.
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Love this!! I already cannot wait 🙂
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Not gonna lie, the song is kind of terrible, and I don’t really like all the tattoos, but Ayushmann’s attitude and general aura and energy he puts out make him the sexiest he’s ever been.
Enjoy India!!
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So exciting! Looking forward to daily updates from you during your journey.
I might have to dig my Twitter account out of my attic and dust it off, just to follow your posts 😀
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I’m going with option #3 because I’m bitter that 2014 lost in the Best Romcom Year poll. But I’d be cool with a romantic dramas week.
Also coffee table #1.
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Looks like table #1 is the winner!
If I do a “readers choice week” that means you all have to promise to give votes ASAP.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 5:36 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Table 1, unless Table 2 would look better in the room, based on how the rest of the room is decorated. Table 2 says bedroom or patio room or crafts/knitting/sewing room. Table 1 says family room or den.
Also, I’m countering your argument above: if you’d rather have table 2, then you better buy table 2 now, because it’s kitschy enough to no longer be being sold the next time you look for it. But I believe even I had table 1 in my freshman year dorm room, so that table isn’t going anywhere.
Ranked by prince
1. Romances of our choice by popular demand
2. Romantic art films (add Once Again to your list, maybe Music Teacher too)
3. Romantic dramas
4. Anti Romances
Tbh I’d be fine with any of these, but it’s fun to rank them. 🙂
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And “readers choice” keeps movin’ on up!
On Mon, Jan 27, 2020 at 6:15 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Table 1 for me as well. It’s a classic you can use forever. If it’s too boring put a runner on it.
You know I’m always about the art films, so that would be my first choice. I’m intrigued by anti-romances, though. The only one I could think of was Luck by Chance, but that’s got a lot of other stuff going on.
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22 Female Kottiyam from Kerala is an amazing anti-romance. Hmm. Maybe at the very least I should do a suggestions list of anti-romances for those feeling anti-romantic.
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 12:51 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Margaret! Personal request: can you help me crowdsource films to download to my computer for my 20+ hour journey to and from India? Special request for suggestions for Malayalam films and 60s & 70s Hindi masala since I haven’t seen nearly enough of those films. Also audiobooks since I get eye strain on airplanes from staring at a device for hours.
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Yes!!! I can do this thing. For my own suggestions, off the top of my head:
Malayalam: Ustad Hotel (life affirming, good food porn), Koode (life affirming but dark for bits, Prithviraj), City of God (really really have to focus when you watch it, awesome Prithviraj), Amen (very pretty, kind of Wes Anderson-y), 22 Female Kottayam (dark female revenge saga), Niram (super super light college best friends romance), Ranam (dark, hyperlink, awesome Prithviraj, Detroit), Kali (slow start but there is a crazy twist at the interval, cute Dulquer and Sai), Maheshinte Prathikaram (very Kumbalangi Nights like), Sudani from Nigeria (unusual story of cross-cultural connections), Godha (suuuuuch a sweet romance and feminist), Mayanadhi (really interesting take on romance and female characters)
60s-70s Masala: Zanjeer (crazy Jaya-Amitabh chemistry, movie that made him a star), An Evening in Paris (super light and fun European adventure with Shammi and Sharmila), Seeta Aur Geeta (Hema Malini in a double role, lots of wacky hijinks), Chupke Chupke (farce and misunderstandings and two romances), Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (adventure, evildoers, childhood song secret code, and I think also a helicopter), Yaadon Ki Baarat (separated brothers with a secret family song, Aamir’s first movie), Blackmail (Raakhee and Dharmendra in a sweet romance with a solar powered batter Macguffin), Sharmilee (Raakhee double role as twins, Shashi alert!), The Train (your mind will be BLOWN by the ending), The Burning Train (guess what it’s about? This is India’s take on The Towering Inferno), Anamika (cute cute Jaya, strange strange plot, happy ending), Aradhana (the movie that made Rajesh Khanna a star, crazy plot)
Audiobooks: I have no ideas.
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 10:43 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Thank you!!! I love your lists.
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I had a conversation on the playground with a Swedish stay-at-home Dad whose in-laws were born in India. He, based on the few “Bollywood” movies he had seen with his in-laws, thought the movies were more regressive than the actuality. I was under the impression that the films were a bit more, um more westernized that the Indian reality was. BUT I could not think of a film where a MOTHER worked. What are the films where Indian mothers work?
And on a random note I realized that the high school football players in our small rural CA town are growing mullets. It is a bit like living in a 90s Hindi film.
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Ki & Ka has a stay at home husband, but that one is stupid. Kuch Na Kaho has a working single mother. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna has a working mother and caregiver father, but he’s a horrible caregiver. Hmm. There’s a fair number of movies where they BOTH work, that is almost the norm now, but I’m having a hard time thinking of a movie where the mother works more than the Dad. A good question for the group!
On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 7:43 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I just saw this. Off-the top of my head, in terms of movies: Pyaar Impossible, Bharat (Katrina is taking care of the family so she is essentially playing a motherly role), Andaz with Hema Malini, Mary Kom (she goes back to boxing which is essentially her job after becoming a mother).
For series: Zindagi Gulzhar Hai.
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The first thing that comes to my mind is A Peck on the Cheek, the mother has 3 children and works as a tv journalist.
Tumhari Sulu – I haven’t seen it but doesn’t Vidya work in a radio station?
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Oh, Tumhari Sulu is really good! Vidya works, at ends up being the primary earner for a while.
On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 4:50 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Should I watch Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota? I started reading your review and then realized I should stop and just ask you if it is worth watching before reading your review. It didn’t interest me based on the preview/trailer on Netflix but I trust your recommendation.
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Hmm. It’s a very good movie, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a movie you will like. The tone of the film, sort of a spoof and sort of not, is accurately conveyed in the trailer. So if that didn’t work for you, the film may not work.
I will say that the heroine is very strong and complicated and interesting, which is NOT talked about in any of the trailers really.
On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 3:38 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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