Happy Saturday!!! It’s actually a family “viewing”, but it will probably take most of the day so y’all have to talk amongst yourself.
Things to talk about!
It’s National Cookie Day! What is your favorite cookie in the whole world?
I’ve got two, both of which I may never have again. In the town where I grew up, there was this little French bakery/cafe that opened when I was a kid. We were regulars, and eventually when I was in high school my Mom got a job there waitressing. And they had a speciality of a chocolate cherry cookie, chocolate chips and dried cherries. With subtle bits of almond and butter and good things (for real, their pastry chef had a degree from France and stuff. Everything they made was just a little extra good). Anyway, now I’d have to drive 4 hours for the cookie so I will probably never have it again.
And second, my Grandma’s best friend/mother of my Dad’s childhood best friend was Swedish and used to make these divine Swedish butter cookies that were like eating air. She’d give a tin to Grandma every year at Christmas and we would all dig it out and gobble them down. But now, unless I track down her daughters and ask for a copy of the recipe, I will never get to eat those cookies again. And it probably wouldn’t be the same even if I had the recipe.
Every movie is releasing!!!!
The floodgates have opened! And I am overwhelmed. Bob Biswas, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Sooryavanshi, Antim, and now Tadap. All these films that were in production back in 2019, finally coming out. And RRR and 83 and Pushpa are coming out soon. Which movie are you excited about? Which, if any, should I try to see in theaters?
It’s Javed Jaffrey’s birthday! Quick, which do you like better, Oh Darling Yeh Hai India or Bang Bang? I am, of course, a Bang Bang girl all the way!
dontcallitbollywood 
You’re right about the cookies of your past tasting different in your present, just like the films I loved with debut actors that I swooned over (RX100/Kartikeya) might not be the same in remakes (Tadap/Ahan Shetty) BTW, Shetty looks gorgeous in the trailer but pales beside his father in YouTube interviews. I suspect he’s uninteresting.
Yes to Bang Bang, and I’m hitting up Antim tonight. If I can make it all the way thru, I won’t have to go back to K-drama. BTW, Arthdal on Netflix reminds me of my favorite Indian historical extravaganzas.
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I think the same about Ahan Shetty. I was very angry when I first read he will be in #RX100 remake because he looks so boring and without any charisma.
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Ooo, report back on Antim! I thought it would be terrible, but the reviews are actually okay.
On Sat, Dec 4, 2021 at 11:14 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Antim on Zee5 and a bunch of other streaming platforms I don’t have. Rabbiturds! (grandson’s favorite cuss word)
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Excellent cuss word! Well, Sooryavanshi is on Netflix, if you want to try that.
On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 9:31 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Hey, hope it all goes well with the funeral – viewing? I don’t even know what that is, but it doesn’t sound promising. Here’s hoping you meet up with some lovely relos and end up having a good time anyway. I’ve had one of those days when I feel too exhausted to do anything but the housework and laundry have piled up AGAIN. I may even have to iron. How does it happen? The Menfolk do some of course, but housework for them is like football or electricity to me – I just deeply don’t care, so however many times it’s clearly or even passionately explained to me, it falls out of my brane immediately. The real trouble is that I don’t care either – but I do want to live in a clean, well-organised space. Where’s my Butler eh?
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My trick for those days, put on the Lakshya songs! Not the movie but the songs, SO inspirational.
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Thanks, I’ll give it a go!
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OO, Prabha choreo! Well, this’ll get me through the ironing, definitely. Thanks
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Thinking of you today. Hope you find comfort in your family.
On a more cheerful note, everyone who likes happy, sappy, romantic, Christmas movies NEEDS to watch Single All the Way!!! It’s so cute! It is guaranteed to make you happy and get you into the Christmas spirits!
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I just watched it! SO GOOD. Can we make it a watchalong dp you think?
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Yay!!! Yes, it’s such a good watchalong movie! It just made me so so happy! It’s going in my rotation of Christmas movies to watch every year!
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If there were indian movies in Italian cinemas I would watch Tadap (for sexiness and music) and RRR (you can’t go wrong with Rajamouli).
My favourite cookie? Pan Di Stelle (Star cake) and Cuor di Mela (Apple’s heart)
Also once, when we were on holiday near Palermo, we visited a shop famous for their pannettone. I don’t like pannettone so I bought chocolate-raspberry biscuits. OMG those were delicious, one of the best things I ever ate. Unfortunately the shop is on the other part of Sicily and who knows when I’ll be able to visit them again.
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Angie, if you have Netflix, watch Single All the Way. Margaret and au just watched it and it is such a sweet romance! I think you’ll love it.
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Oh I see Single All The Way has that guy who was in Ugly Betty. Putting it on my Christmas list. Thanks 🙂
How is baby going Filmikudhi? Maybe he wants to be born on December 5th, just like my son 😀
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I hope he does come out on Dec 5th, but more than likely it will be the 6th.
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OMG, Angie, Pan do Stelle.! Wish they had them here
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Pan Di Stelle isn’t available in US? It’s such a big brand I was sure famous there too.
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Not in my local markets. But we have 2 Little Italy sections, one near me in the Bronx, and one in Manhattan. I’m not getting out much these days, but they’re worth a trip to check.
I love to read your Italy-centered posts.
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I am loving all the news around Vicky-Katrina’s upcoming wedding…there are so many wild/fake stories, memes, jokes, drama floating around…it has become a movie in itself…can’t wait for the photos!
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Oh oh! I wonder if her sisters are going to be there? I love photos of them together.
On Sat, Dec 4, 2021 at 2:46 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Bang Bang, no question!
I put up the lights outside today, and did one big shopping push with my older kid. I deserve a cookie, right? I’m not a big cookie person, but I do love ginger snaps, and snicker doodles. And stroopwafel, which used to be a special treat when Dutch visitors came to town but now are sold in Trader Joe’s and other normal stores.
I’m not that excited about any of the new movies. I think it’s because there’s a realist/action streak right now when I just want to be swept away? I started Yuva finally after you and Filmikhudi talked about it in the comments the other day. I’m appreciating thug Abhishek, he’s good at that kind of role, but taking it in small bites.
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You definitely deserve a cookie! I get a cookie after I finish handmaking 6 presents. So, maybe today? Fingers crossed!
On Sat, Dec 4, 2021 at 6:05 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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We are going to bury my Granddad on Thursday. With the help of a little morphine, he died peacefully in his own bed at age 93. I don’t think it gets much better than that. And we have finally reached my family, aren’t racing against the clock and don’t have to make all those decisions anymore, so I’m feeling better too.
I grew addicted to simple chocolate chip cookies when I was an exchange student in Alabama. There was this club who would sell them hot out of the oven, when they’re still deliciously soft, including the melted chocolate. I’ve found a recipe with lots of butter that comes close to recreating that experience and like to indulge every once in a while. And for Christmas time, we have this family recipe that would translate to Christmas bites : lots of crunchy brown sugar, almonds and dark chocolate with a little cinnamon. Yum!
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Oh Eva, I’ve been thinking about you! So glad they hectic time is over and you can take a breath.
Chocolate chip cookies are amazing, it’s true!
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Thank you. It feels weird to acknowledge it , but it is a relief that he’s made it now. Hope you are feeling better, too.
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I am! And also, my brain is soooooooooooo much clearer. Like, I didn’t realize how foggy headed I had been for the last month until now when I am starting to come out of it.
On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 3:20 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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You were an exchange student in Alabama? That is fascinating.
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Really? I feel like one in 30 Germans or so spends 11th grade in the US.
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I think it’s the Alabama that’s surprising! At least, it’s surprising for me. Not a state where I picture a lot of international students.
On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 3:22 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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The families chose us, we didn’t get to choose the state – not that I would have had a preference at that point. My host family were Air Force and we lived on a base in Montgomery. There was even another German girl on my school bus. I don’t know whether that’s because of State Capital, though.
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I hope today went well Margaret, I hope it was meaningful for your family.
I’m looking forward to Bunty Aur Babli 2 because I want to see Saif in the role and hot guy is super hot. I’m also looking forward to Pushpa – based on some song releases it looks like the lead female has a real personality and spark (a rarity in AA films). Also, it looked like AA might be acting, as in creating a character rather than bringing his persona to the screen. Obviously I like his persona, but I’m curious to see acting.
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Ooo, maybe I see Pushpa in theaters!!!! I could use some fun action
On Sun, Dec 5, 2021 at 6:58 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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That would be awesome
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Just got back from “Tadap.” Hoooooo boy, did not like. I seriously considered leaving at interval, but then Saurabh Shukla happened to fix me with his soulful panda-like gaze and so I stayed. Positives: Mussoorie is very pretty. Ahan Shetty is also very pretty and turns out not to be entirely devoid of charisma. The songs are decent (the background score is not). There are some interesting convergences of visual style with narrative symbolism, in a very Manoj Kumar, Purab-aur-Paschim kind of way. Everything else. . . sigh.
(I’m still so confused about how Tara Sutaria is supposed to have studied ballet and yet her legs look like they can’t possibly support her. Like, she weighs nothing, but those calves are like little straws. I just want to take her home and feed her!)
On the more positive side, I saw “Bunty aur Babli 2” last week and enjoyed it. I doubt I’ll rewatch it or buy the DVD or anything, but it was undeniably a good time at the movies! And I hope the dull response doesn’t jeopardize Shivari Wagh’s future career, because I thought she made an excellent comedienne.
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Katrina and Vicky’s parent’s meeting. Yay! More and more confirmation!
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I saw Sooryavanshi because it’s the only thing I can watch on Netflix. As you’ve already been told: maybe watch a bit to get the plot, skip ahead to where Kat dances in a wet sparkly silver sari, then skip ahead to the last 35 minutes, call it a day. Or, alternately, skip the whole thing. (But be sure and find Kat in her silver sari if it’s on youtube). Do not watch in theaters.
I was all “Bob Biswas is Saswata and only Saswata” for a long time, but I’m slowly coming around. Nothing against Abhi. I was turned off of 83 for the same reason you were–because I got sick of hearing about it, and then also Ranveer tweeted about it 8 million times, and it’s a sports movie. However, I really liked the trailer and I’m looking forward to this showing up on some streaming platform some day.
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