Discussion
Om Shanti Om was rubbish,compared to others of its time. Just had a lot of hype. What are you looking for? a story, romance? comedy? or just the song and dance? my wife watches almost everyone as they come out (I only tend to watch the ones I know will be good).
Intelligent films, try anything with Aamir Khan. 3 Idiots is currently in the Cinemas and is very good. About stress placed on Indian students, by parents and professors.
Others of his are 'Taare Zameen par' - A film about a dyslexic child in India. 'Dil Chaata Hai' and 'Rang de Basanti' were good films about young people in Modern India. 'Lagaan' is a fantastic classic, where an indian village tackle the power of the Raj through a game of Cricket. Finally, 'Ghajini' - a sort of copy of Memento - not as deep, or complecated, but very violent. It had a much better love story that was gut-wrenching, and I loved it. Had some dodgy costumes though.
'My Name is Khan' is out in about 2 weeks and should be good. Its got Shah Rukh Khan as a highly functioning Autistic Muslim working in San Francisco, when his actions raise suspicions of Homeland Security. What is special about this movie is that the leading actress is Kajol - These two had the best on-screen chemistry in the 90's and became the top male and female actors. Kajol then married another actor, she stopped doing many films and was forbidden by her husband to work with Shah Rukh. That was about 10 years ago - this is the 1st movie with them together again.
Shah Rukh's last good movies were 'Swades' and 'Veer Zara' back in 2004 - the past few years, he has had a few flops. His big movie was 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' in 1995 with Kajol - a great classic set in London and Europe.
Saif Ali Khan is the ladies' favorite - a real Prince that has real class - Think real James Bond but can make fun of himself. A good romantic lead and comedian. His latest movie is probably out of the Cinemas now, 'Kurbaan' was a great thriller and love story that involves love between a Muslim guy, and Hindu woman, and a terrorist plot on the New York subway. Tense movie to watch but fantastically well made and acted. I would say superior production and acting on the whole to most Western movies. Other good movies of his include 'Parineeta' 'Hum Tum' and one that is mostly in English called 'Being Cyrus'.
Abhishek Bachchan is the son of the Legend Amitabh Bachchan. He has had a few hits recently and has married one time Miss World, and face of Longines, Aishwarya Rai. He and they together have had a number of hits recently. They are Bollywood's Golden Couple. I loved 'Bluffmaster' a cool movie where he plays a Hustler. His fiance (The gorgeous Pryanka Chopra) finds out he's a con man when he cons her uncle, i'll leave the rest. 'Bunty Aur Bubbly' is another con artist movie and a great comedy. 'Guru' is a much more serious and grown up movie.
There are many other classics that are worth watching, 'Black' is about a deaf and dumb girl growing up, 'Bombay' tackles a Muslim and Hindu love story during the religious riots in the early 90's. I also enjoyed some lesser known movies like 'Maatches' and 'Maya'.
Most of these movies had good stories and are absorbing, not all of them will have songs, but most do. If you like the Music look for movies with music by AR Rehman, he did some of the above, and in a addition, 'Taal' 'Pukar' and 'Zubaida' had great music in addition to the ones above.
For really old movies, I would recommend 'Jaan Baaz', 'Sholay' and 'Bobby'.
There are hundreds more I've seen and enjoyed - but I have tried to recommend those that could be more understood by a Western audience with subtitles, some bits of humor will not translate as you will need to know the culture and nuances and double meanings of the original language.
Intelligent films, try anything with Aamir Khan. 3 Idiots is currently in the Cinemas and is very good. About stress placed on Indian students, by parents and professors.
Others of his are 'Taare Zameen par' - A film about a dyslexic child in India. 'Dil Chaata Hai' and 'Rang de Basanti' were good films about young people in Modern India. 'Lagaan' is a fantastic classic, where an indian village tackle the power of the Raj through a game of Cricket. Finally, 'Ghajini' - a sort of copy of Memento - not as deep, or complecated, but very violent. It had a much better love story that was gut-wrenching, and I loved it. Had some dodgy costumes though.
'My Name is Khan' is out in about 2 weeks and should be good. Its got Shah Rukh Khan as a highly functioning Autistic Muslim working in San Francisco, when his actions raise suspicions of Homeland Security. What is special about this movie is that the leading actress is Kajol - These two had the best on-screen chemistry in the 90's and became the top male and female actors. Kajol then married another actor, she stopped doing many films and was forbidden by her husband to work with Shah Rukh. That was about 10 years ago - this is the 1st movie with them together again.
Shah Rukh's last good movies were 'Swades' and 'Veer Zara' back in 2004 - the past few years, he has had a few flops. His big movie was 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' in 1995 with Kajol - a great classic set in London and Europe.
Saif Ali Khan is the ladies' favorite - a real Prince that has real class - Think real James Bond but can make fun of himself. A good romantic lead and comedian. His latest movie is probably out of the Cinemas now, 'Kurbaan' was a great thriller and love story that involves love between a Muslim guy, and Hindu woman, and a terrorist plot on the New York subway. Tense movie to watch but fantastically well made and acted. I would say superior production and acting on the whole to most Western movies. Other good movies of his include 'Parineeta' 'Hum Tum' and one that is mostly in English called 'Being Cyrus'.
Abhishek Bachchan is the son of the Legend Amitabh Bachchan. He has had a few hits recently and has married one time Miss World, and face of Longines, Aishwarya Rai. He and they together have had a number of hits recently. They are Bollywood's Golden Couple. I loved 'Bluffmaster' a cool movie where he plays a Hustler. His fiance (The gorgeous Pryanka Chopra) finds out he's a con man when he cons her uncle, i'll leave the rest. 'Bunty Aur Bubbly' is another con artist movie and a great comedy. 'Guru' is a much more serious and grown up movie.
There are many other classics that are worth watching, 'Black' is about a deaf and dumb girl growing up, 'Bombay' tackles a Muslim and Hindu love story during the religious riots in the early 90's. I also enjoyed some lesser known movies like 'Maatches' and 'Maya'.
Most of these movies had good stories and are absorbing, not all of them will have songs, but most do. If you like the Music look for movies with music by AR Rehman, he did some of the above, and in a addition, 'Taal' 'Pukar' and 'Zubaida' had great music in addition to the ones above.
For really old movies, I would recommend 'Jaan Baaz', 'Sholay' and 'Bobby'.
There are hundreds more I've seen and enjoyed - but I have tried to recommend those that could be more understood by a Western audience with subtitles, some bits of humor will not translate as you will need to know the culture and nuances and double meanings of the original language.
Firstly thank you Jazzy for taking the time to write such a comprehensive reply! Very much appreciated. 
BG, what a positively splendid idea! After Mike hosing the car night, if you do this one, maybe we could think of a theme and do the next one?
Do you want to do a post in the Midlands forum to kick off?
Trace
BG, what a positively splendid idea! After Mike hosing the car night, if you do this one, maybe we could think of a theme and do the next one?
Do you want to do a post in the Midlands forum to kick off?
Trace
Balmoral Green said:
Trace,
How about a Midlands region Bollywood fortnight with some DVD's from the above recommendations, and ordering in a huge take away?
I'm happy to host.
EFAHow about a Midlands region Bollywood fortnight with some DVD's from the above recommendations, and ordering in a huge take away?
I'm happy to host.
If you're watching more than one fils a night you're doing bloody good!!
As for Bollywood recommendations..
+1 for Sholay - The Daddy of all bollywood movies!!
Naseeb
Shaan
+1 Lagaan
Don - The original
dont you find that the films can be rather irritating? for example i watched one some time ago where the male and female lead are dancing on top of a train , fine. but the song that accompanied it was about a car accident. i know they churn them out at a fair rate but a lot are just formulaic. do not get me wrong , i do not watch a lot of films full stop. i like low budget punjabi films , as i can very occasionally recognise places i have been to and can understand what people are saying.and sometimes there is the odd song i like.
i would be interested as to what a western viewer would find attractive in a bollywood film,apart from the women, oh and the tractors in punjabi films
sorry bit drunk , getting more drunk
i would be interested as to what a western viewer would find attractive in a bollywood film,apart from the women, oh and the tractors in punjabi films
sorry bit drunk , getting more drunk
I am from an asian background so I understand all the little nuances the films have that peopel from a western culture probably would pick up on.
I think the songs play a big part (or they used to) - I dunno if a western person will appreciate the songs in the same way, I do know when I went to see The Inside Man most of the cinema stayed to hear Chaiya Chaiya which was from a Bollywood movie.
I think the main thing for me (ironically) is that they seem more realistic, by that I mean the character. Usually it conencts a bit more with me as it feels less plastic than hollywood, when a couple finally come together (after 3 hours) or a son is dying in his mothers arms (classic cliche in bollywood) - very few Hollywod films can get me emotionally, even if they usually excel at everything else in comparison.
As I mentioned above most bollywood films are now movie towards a much more western approach.
I think the songs play a big part (or they used to) - I dunno if a western person will appreciate the songs in the same way, I do know when I went to see The Inside Man most of the cinema stayed to hear Chaiya Chaiya which was from a Bollywood movie.
I think the main thing for me (ironically) is that they seem more realistic, by that I mean the character. Usually it conencts a bit more with me as it feels less plastic than hollywood, when a couple finally come together (after 3 hours) or a son is dying in his mothers arms (classic cliche in bollywood) - very few Hollywod films can get me emotionally, even if they usually excel at everything else in comparison.
As I mentioned above most bollywood films are now movie towards a much more western approach.
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