Daler Mehndi! He has a very specific sound to him, which can be extremely powerful when used in a limited fashion. Probably why he never quite broke through in Hindi film, he’s really only good for one song per soundtrack.
Continue readingI was all set for people to get angry with me for my Hindi Film 101 on class and Kangana, and nothing. And not really any comments on my Super Deluxe review either (if someone wants to link back to it from the Bardwaj review page as an example of a review that is critical of the film, that would be great). Anyway, when the comments drop down, so does my ability to think abstractly and intelligently and I end up putting up stupid posts like this in an attempt to get a response from the void.
Continue readingThe history streak continues!!!! This time, focused on that early 1900s era right before independence. And I am pretty sure I can come up with a whole other 10 films. Also, prepare yourself for a whole lot of versions of “Rang De Basanti” (yes, according to contemporary accounts, Bhagat Singh did sing it while preparing to be hung) and “Vande Mataram”.
Continue readingNo particular reason to do this, I just find it interesting to look back at the past 25 years of film through the career of one man. And, I guess, it is also good prep work for the Thugs promotion campaign that is about to start, reminding us all that the road to “perfect untouchable Aamir” was a bumpy one. (part 1 here and part 2 here)
Want to catch up on Priyanka’s greatest performances? Turn to Netflix! Which has just added 7 Khoon Mauf, and What’s Your Rashee?, and Fashion. They already had Mary Kom, now they just need to add Barfi! and they will have the whole run of Priyanka’s critically acclaimed roles. (Accessbollywood.net does the real work of keeping this list updated, you should definitely absolutely subscribe to them for your day to day updates instead of my once a month.)
I refuse to watch this movie one more time (ha!) because it makes me way way too sad. So be aware, this will all be based on memories from like 4 years ago, the last time I felt masochistic enough to watch it. (I’ve written on this film before, and promised then that it wouldn’t be the last post. You can read it here)
I am not, in fact, Indian. So anything song that goes “Rah Rah Rah, Indian Over All” is not really going to work for me. But a song that goes “Rah Rah Rah, Let’s Love Our Home Because it Is Our Home And Try To Make It Better”, that works for me because it works for everyone in the world, you know? And these are my favorite of that time.
I suddenly got one of my random Kannathil Muthamittal urges last night, and it made me think that I haven’t done a ten ugly crying films post yet. Of course, ugly crying is a deeply personal thing, so these are my ten, but they won’t necessarily be yours. Feel free to share your particular triggers in the comments! Oh, and they are almost all Hindi, but that’s just a coincidence, don’t feel limited by that.
It’s Memorial Day, which I am celebrating in the traditional American way, a barbecue. Although I am also sort of visiting a cemetery, since my friend’s backyard backs up on one. But that doesn’t mean I can’t take a moment to think about what it really means and why it is a unique holiday. Fair warning, this involves a lot of use of Rang De Basanti.
Mrs. Perfect mentioned that she is struggling with the agony of college decisions. And it is also the end of exam season in India (I still don’t understand this concept, but I will accept that it exists). Time for inspiring “Go and succeed and work hard and have a new challenge!!!!” post!
A dozen really doesn’t seem like enough for, arguably, the greatest actress Hindi film has ever seen. But I will start with a dozen and maybe add on next year.
Google doodle had a film theme today, and I couldn’t resist leaping on it. Sergei Eisenstein, Russian master of the montage, inspiring me to look at some of the best montage examples from Hindi film.
This is semi-inspired by a conversation I had in the comments on the Rang De Basanti post with Shaily about what would need to change for Siddharth and Soha to end up together. Essentially, the whole movie except for the characters. Which got me thinking about all the Indian historical films that I really wish could have historically inaccurate happier endings.
Oh boy, I really do not want to write this post! But it was a special request, and it really feels like something I HAVE to do the Friday before Independence Day. But I refuse to watch this movie one more time (ha!) because it makes me way way too sad. So be aware, this will all be based on memories from like 4 years ago, the last time I felt masochistic enough to watch it. (I’ve written on this film before, and promised then that it wouldn’t be the last post. You can read it here)
Happy May Day! You know how India has all these holidays that are very regional specific and how neat that is? Well, May Day is an international holiday now, but it started right in my hometown, so I thought I should celebrate it. And I don’t have the day off work, so I can’t join the many many many protests. But I can do a theme post!
So, there’s some kind of stressful/disturbing news that my family just got which could turn out to be nothing, or to be something kind of difficult for the next few years. I won’t get into it, but sending good thoughts our way would be nice! And to that end (and also because it is overcast and rainy here again, and my office has no window), I wanted to put up some videos that always make me feel, I don’t know, like there is good in the world?
Even if you have to stand in line, even if it makes you miss a shift at work, even if you are scared of protestors or campaigners outside the polling line, DO IT!!! Consistently, polling shows that the majority of people in America don’t agree with the politicians, but the politicians don’t care, because the majority of people don’t vote. If you want America to start reflecting the concerns of people of color, young people, and everyone else who doesn’t feel heard, we need to show that we will show up and help elect people. Or not elect them. If you don’t choose “the better of two bad options”, then the worse of the two bad options will keep winning. And if you need more information, here is google’s voter tool: https://www.google.com/search?q=where+do+i+vote#eob=va/4/16/
I thought I was done with birthdays! And then I saw #ShaheedBhagatSingh trending on twitter. So, one more post! But since this isn’t really film person, it’s just going to be a quick thing.
So, I sat down to watch this before work on Independence Day, and I ended up having a much larger breakfast than planned, because that whole last hour of the hunger strike just had me going “ooo, maybe I’ll have another glass of milk! And toast! Toast with my eggs!”
Happy Indian Independence Day! I’m going to try a theme this year, and limit it to just things directly related to the Independence movement. Next year I’ll do something else like, I don’t know, patriotic songs that involve color coordinated clothing or something. The point is, there are so many patriotic options in Indian film! Way more than in American. At least, American post-WWII. And if I missed your favorite Independence movement set scene or song, just mention it in the comments!
Rang De Basanti! So brilliant! So complicated! So different! I could write a post just on why Madhavan was cast. But I am going to start with this post, and not worry about putting in all my thoughts, and then leave the door open to write more later if I feel like it.
dontcallitbollywood 