tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183198502009-11-09T11:16:37.968-08:00Perspectives on the greatest film industry in the world.theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.comBlogger493125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-28096897249422835692009-11-08T15:15:00.000-08:002009-11-08T15:24:44.166-08:00

Ever notice how, when ice-cream has more sugar than necessary, plain water tastes weird (in a bad way) when consumed immediately following? Each of these films offers a good example to illustrate this framework of after-effects of ice-cream consumption applies just as well to film consumption. (Well, at least it does theoretically; that Physicists tell us water is tasteless is beyond the scope of

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-21955007275604212032009-10-31T01:50:00.000-07:002009-11-01T09:13:57.040-08:00

This is why we love Bollywood. A simple story of friendship, jealousy, and dissatisfaction with the supernatural, is only so good on paper. A fine film elevates the simple elements to an admirable level while retaining its strong emotional core. The result is a fun entertainer in which our friendship with cinema is the clear winner.Arjun (Ajay Devgn) and Mannu (Salman Khan) are best friends

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-15906909466561247252009-10-22T22:15:00.000-07:002009-11-08T18:33:27.444-08:00

This post was originally published on September 10, 2008, under the title '3 Idiots expected in Summer 2009'. Things changed since, of course. The film is now all set to release this December 25. This post shall serve as the umbrella for all things 3i, then. A link to it is available in the sidebar (right) via the 3i icon. From now through its release, links to news stories, all trailers, songs,

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-27277128660691472492009-10-14T07:00:00.000-07:002009-10-14T07:03:48.232-07:00

I've fallen behind in previewing some of the upcoming releases, and this post should help make time to review movies again. Several films to look forward to over the next couple months. Just look at the diversity of themes addressed in October and November. About time the remarkable evolution the Hindi film industry has undergone over the past decade become a consistent and prominent feature of

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-61068872760193127212009-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:002009-10-26T22:20:40.675-07:00

The film 'Blue' releases on October 16, in time for Diwali. Let's call this a preview post, if we may. There's exclusive video from the sets (courtesy the film's action director, James Bomalick), some of my thoughts on a soundtrack (A. R. Rahman) I'm having a lot of fun with, pictures from a recent Kylie Minogue concert, and a really cool giveaway (my first; courtesy Saavn) which I hope you

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-87529347429418725142009-09-28T22:05:00.000-07:002009-09-28T22:22:41.261-07:00

Salman Khan wearing a He-Man shirt instead would be more appropriate, but the truth is, it wouldn't matter. He fights and looks like He-Man, occasionally wears a Superman shirt, and commands as much respect from walls and wall hangings as does Spider-Man. Yes, it's no bird or plane, or larger-than-life (and conventional) superhero. It's an impulsive but kindhearted, wayward but focused, fierce

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-79493654953955868962009-09-21T09:30:00.000-07:002009-09-21T09:57:47.050-07:00

How can someone be so good so consistently? The soundtrack to Blue (the film releases October 15) by A. R. Rahman is easily among the best of 2009. It is certainly the most contemporary and hip of the year, and in its musical and lyrical themes, beautifully aligned with the plot. (More on the soundtrack in a future post.) And in its quest for diversity, it even packs in a song -- part-subject of

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com1534.0435266 -118.553247tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-85859027619715166942009-09-07T16:15:00.000-07:002009-10-03T20:13:51.044-07:00

And so begins the most exciting period of the filmy year! Lots going on this month and through the rest of the year, and before we get right to it, a quick note to thank Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan (picture here) for a spectacular concert here in L.A. on August 16, which culminated with Mere Haath Mein from Fanaa (2006) with the word 'rooh' (soul) substituted for 'dil' (heart) in the title

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-18186478904330257132009-08-11T06:45:00.000-07:002009-09-19T15:23:00.503-07:00

Director Kunal Kohli opens Fanaa with this shot of Zooni Ali Baig (Kajol), immediately establishing the purposefulness of a blind woman in Kashmir singing Saare Jahaan Se Achcha, saluting the Indian flag, and doing so around children. Each of these subtexts is essential to the plot of an obvious but humble tribute to the Mehboob Khan classic, Mother India (1957). Here is a different kind of

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-22445017196748910802009-08-09T12:00:00.000-07:002009-09-19T15:52:23.493-07:00

Jal, the rock group from Pakistan, performed at Exposition Park here in Los Angeles last night. In what has to be one of my most ad hoc visits to any concert (didn't even *know* they were to perform until the afternoon), I was very pleased having seen them live. They are fantastic performers.You're probably familiar with their music through Bollywood. Read Jal's Wikipedia entry, and one name

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-51955656699772800452009-08-04T06:40:00.000-07:002009-09-19T15:57:14.028-07:00

"Explosion 2009" featuring vocalists Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan was to stop by Los Angeles this past Sunday. The concert has been postponed to August 16, as noted here. Those of you in Houston, San Francisco, and Denver, and perhaps Minneapolis and Boston, will continue to have a chance to attend. See this Bollywood Food Club link for the schedule and any related updates.From among the new

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-72965548544604059262009-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:002009-10-12T21:46:56.582-07:00

Approaches based on target audiences only begin to tell of why the similar subject of root causes of dysfunctional marriages was approached so differently by directors of these three films, each without a conventional villain. Each presents characters with a rather grim assessment of marriage, and each presents moments of happiness in marriage to establish the ideal state. Each highlights that

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-40455348096220854762009-07-14T06:40:00.000-07:002009-09-19T16:08:02.133-07:00

(That reads 'Jai Hind' in Hindi and Urdu.) The partition of India and Pakistan that accompanied independence for the region from the British in 1947, and the events following, will always be an intriguing theme for art. Art is close to life. And so is love. Here are two fine films that beautifully present the complexities involved in types of love, and indeed hatred and distrust, within the

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-74258726138471159462009-07-11T09:15:00.000-07:002009-07-11T16:03:16.496-07:00

'Kaminey' is not a well-appreciated word. It doesn't deserve to be one. Hardly inoffensive, nor a word one would want to use much at all (I'd hope so; about its only positive use lies in a dubbed version of an uncensored South Park episode; at least that would induce laughter, but you get where this is headed). Among its root words is 'kam' (pronounced 'come', and meaning 'to a lesser degree', or

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-89769025093901472952009-07-06T06:45:00.000-07:002009-07-06T06:56:56.941-07:00

Its title means 'tradition', and it keeps with one of the most prominent and consistent traditions of Hindi cinema, which is also arguably a decades-old value-add for the masses. Directed by Yash Chopra, Writer Aditya Chopra's debut film, which also marks Saif Ali Khan's acting debut, sticks to the one of the most conventional family drama recipes. It succeeds to an extent less than is expected

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-40167040002466885762009-07-01T06:45:00.000-07:002009-07-05T22:32:34.714-07:00

We're half-way through the year, and around this time last year was when Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na took over, for which a shout out is in order. The multiplex strike is a distant memory, and there's a full slate of releases scheduled this month. As if it hasn't been official all along, Bollywood (it's in the name!) is in love with California, with two big releases at least partly based here. To top it

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-8832696386238488672009-06-23T06:55:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:02:37.771-07:00

The title song to this film tells us not to sit in a garden comprising kaagaz ke phool (paper flowers). But if viewing films is like walking through gardens, this one directed by and starring Guru Dutt is well worth walking through despite having more thorns than flowers. In what has to be one of the earlier films reflecting on the film fraternity, its artistic prowess, thoughtfulness, and

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-51335570869540267492009-06-20T07:15:00.000-07:002009-06-20T07:31:57.973-07:00

The last in the Lagaan Week 2009 series. A big thank you to all guest writers and contributors, readers, and those who cared to add so much more to the discussions by commenting. I hope you had as much fun this week as I did bringing these posts to you. Assuming my blog and I live another year, see you again in Lagaan Week of 2010! Tonight, I'll light a cigar in honor of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-77668004190175446722009-06-18T12:00:00.000-07:002009-06-18T20:55:51.453-07:00

Aline is originally from Mexico and lives in France, where she works as a language specialist. Lagaan was one of her first Indian cinema experiences, and transformed her into an ardent Aamir Khan fan. Her admiration of the actor eventually led her to my blog and motivated her to actively participate at Aamir's. Her parallel involvement in music recently resulted in an invitation to write

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-77470245573954341712009-06-17T06:45:00.000-07:002009-06-17T19:34:48.395-07:00

That's easy to answer. A whole lot! I know I am notorious for never being at a loss for words and emotions when it comes to my fondness of Lagaan. But less is often more, and it's as challenging to articulate in a few sentences what makes the film so special for some of us. So here's what some of the other big fans of Aamir Khan think. Suffice it to say that if Aamir's blog is a village, say

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-18584424995971975142009-06-16T06:30:00.000-07:002009-06-16T06:38:17.074-07:00

I am privileged to have my friend Joanna write this post. Joanna lives in central Ohio with her husband, three kids (ages fourteen, eight, and six) and their two dogs. She is an Early Intervention Specialist, and works with children (up to age three) with developmental disabilities.An Aamir Khan fan, she has been an active participant at the Aamir and Lagaan DVD blogs since their inception in

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-45253606162995205782009-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:002009-06-15T07:01:54.850-07:00

Competence in any sport, at any level, is underscored by one constant factor -- top-notch effort. Individuals and teams must live with whether the best effort was delivered. Best efforts don't always translate to wins, though. Sometimes, they are simply not good enough, which is when the roles of intangibles such as luck are magnified.Like in any good portrayal of sport on film, Lagaan captures

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-19013389612733613822009-06-15T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-28T21:08:41.134-07:00

[Please see below for Lagaan Week 2009 posts] This is from my eighth birthday (some things are just meant to be), and today, please allow me to feed you all a digital piece to celebrate eight years since Lagaan was released in theaters!Everything I said in the intro post to Lagaan Week 2008 applies. Around this time last year, we discussed several features of the film, among them its cast,

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-69512180004210417422009-06-08T06:30:00.000-07:002009-06-08T21:57:57.719-07:00

Like his directorial venture Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities (2004) that followed, the M. F. Hussain-directed Gaja Gamini is everything but ordinary. But that alone is hardly what makes it stand out. It is one of the few films that directly addresses the mistreatment and underutilization of the intellect of women through moments in world history, and argues that the progress paradox we face today might

theBollywoodFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11296407098387050782thebollywoodfan@gmail.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18319850.post-46385811031303395202009-06-01T14:30:00.000-07:002009-06-12T21:11:20.139-07:00

I was seven years old when I accidentally discovered, while attempting to tune in to BBC commentary of a European Championship soccer game, that I could eavesdrop on conversations held over cordless phones in our home using a Short Wave radio. (The late 1980s were ugly for a soccer fan in India.) I distinctly remember that moment of discovery. How fascinating it was, and how disturbing it was.

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