Bollywood's Spoof in 2007

As an all-out entertainer, there is no beating "Om Shanti Om", starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Shreyas Talpade, Arjun Rampal and Kirron Kher (that's the latest spelling of her name). The first half is a spoof on Bollywood movies in the 70s, which is absolutely hilarious. Shah Rukh Khan may be going through an "unpopular-with-his-peers" phase right now, but this movie is really one of his best in terms of entertainment. There was much talk about how he had developed his six-pack abs just for this movie, showcased in the song 'Dard e Disco', but personally I feel you should keep your eyes shut tight till the number is over.

One controversy related to this movie, which is still raging, is a spoof on yesteryear actor, Manoj Kumar, who has taken umbrage and gone to court seeking to delete the offensive scenes. Sometimes, it's not such a good idea to copy the real onto the reel.

'Om Shanti Om' copies the ending of 'Madhumati', a film of the 50s (1958 to be precise) without giving it any credit. To those who might be interested in the art and craft of Bollywood movie making in the 50s, 'Madhumati' is worth a watch for many reasons. It has amazing music, it stars the great acting talent, Dilip Kumar with Vyjanthimala and is directed by Bimal Roy, who knew his craft so well that he was a legend in his times.

Fillip to Women's Hockey in Bollywood

Since the world's eyes are presently fixed on the sport's arena, it would be fitting to talk about "Chak De", a feel-good movie on women's hockey in India. It's a movie that gives you a glimpse into the sheer diversity of people, languages and culture in India. It is an enjoyable movie even while it gives a realistic portrayal of the problems that plague women's hockey in India - of building a cohesive national team with players who identify more with their region than the nation, the lack of communication due to the language barrier and difference in backgrounds, the disinterest of officials in a girls' team and most of all, the lack of support for what is supposed to be the national sport of India, which just does not generate the big bucks and interest the way cricket does.

'Chak De', which loosely translated means 'go for it', is based on the true story of Mir Ranjan Negi, former hockey goalkeeper and coach, who faced the ignominy of match-fixing charges after India's disastrous defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games. Shah Rukh Khan essays this role with a passion and conviction that makes the predictable end seem possible.

As I said, it's an enjoyable movie and for all young ladies in India, the 'McDonald's scene' in the movie is one of the most enjoyable.

Bollywood's Hit, Definitely a Miss

The numbers game is always played out in Bollywood - who's number one, two and zero among the actors? The one who delivers the most hits is naturally The Number One, in popularity and earnings. The current favorite appears to be Akshay Kumar, who's been around for some time but only really gained recognition in recent times due to his excellent comic timing. Apart from this, his USP lies in the fact that he does all his stunts and doesn't use a double.

Having said all that, I completely fail to understand why his recent movie "Singh is Kinng" was such a resounding success. The only redeeming features are Katrina Kaif's beauty and Snoop Dogg's rendition of the title song. Even the reviewers seem to have got it right. As one of them put it, "this isn't worth your car fuel or cola-corn double whammy". However, when you look at the director, Anees Bazmee, you begin to get the picture. His film "Welcome", also starring Akshay Kumar, has a similar feel and is as avoidable.

It's a sign of the times that there were Sikh protests in Amritsar against this movie, even though the makers had tried to ensure that the community found nothing objectionable about the depiction of the Sikhs. There was a time when Sikhs were known to have a good laugh at themselves and enjoy "Sardarji" jokes just as much as the next person, which stemmed from the fact that they were pretty much secure and happy with who they were. Now a small minority seem to have lost their sense of humor. Let's hope they remain a minority!

'Jodha Akbar', a Bollywood epic

A movie,which has two of the best looking actors in Bollywood, is 'Jodha Akbar'. It has Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan in the roles of a Hindu princess and the Mughal ruler, Akbar. It is a movie that is more of a fictionalized love story than one based on historical facts. Before its release, this movie generated quite a bit of controversy related to its adherence to historical fact. The angle that the director of the movie, Ashutosh Gowarikar, wanted to explore was the human, romantic one - what must it have been like for a Rajput Hindu princess to be married to a Muslim ruler. In my opinion, while it is true that Akbar was an enlightened Mughal ruler and some of that is shown in the movie, whether he would have paid quite so much attention to a particular queen when he had countless others and concubines too is a moot point. Especially as he was supposed to have married her for political considerations rather than any personal reason. However, it is a tantalizing glimpse into what may have been, except that historians are not privy to such matters.

For its sheer pageantry and portrayal of that period in Indian history, this movie could easily rival Hollywood's 'Troy', even if it does not have its pathos.The songs have beautiful lyrics by Javed Akhtar, one of the finest lyricists in the industry and the music composed by the renowned A.R.Rahman is outstanding, especially my favorite 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja', a Sufi devotional song. For those interested, there are many translations available on the Net of this song.

Independence Day with Bollywood movie "Pinjar"

Today is Independence Day for India.

Though many movies have been made on this period of India's history, there is none so poignant as 'Pinjar' (2003), based on a novel with the same name by Amrita Pritam, a renowned Punjabi writer. Her sensitivity to the social issues of her time always found voice in the incredible beauty and artistry of her poetry and novels, even if much of it got lost in translation. It is a fitting tribute to this depiction of the Partition days that the movie is being screened today by one of the TV channels.

The euphoria of the historic moment of independence was marred by the pain, bloodshed and turbulence that followed from the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. A sensitive movie on what qualifies as recent history is worth a watch, even if only to realize the sheer repetitiveness and futility of intolerance.

India in Bollywood Movies

This is a call to all 'serious' Indian filmmakers. Could you please make movies that focus on the good that is in India? We have movies on widows, poverty, caste etc. and nothing that captures indefatigable spirit , joie de vivre of India and its people, for instance. I can't think of a single positive movie about India on the 'serious' circuit, the kind of movies that get sent off to film festivals around the world, purporting to show other inhabitants of planet earth 'the real India'. I wrack my brains but I'm unable to come up with any movies that defy the stereotypes of Indian life, which exist in the minds of people abroad. Anyone know of any?

I'm all for movies that highlight social evils in the hope of prompting public debate and action but a one-sided view of any society or country is an anomaly that needs to be corrected. There is absolutely no country that is perfect. Granted there are some that seem to have it all but when you visit them, you back out of there so fast, the immigration official blinks at your return. They seem to lack that aliveness and vibrancy that immediately engulfs you the moment you step on Indian soil. So let's have movies that allow an intense love-hate relationship (there's plenty to hate too) with the country, that's far better than what-an-awful-place type of movies.

The Spirit of India in Bollywood

If there are 2 movies that quite capture the timeless essence of India, its spiritual core, they are 'Guide' (1965) and 'Benares' (2006). "Guide", which starred Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman was an absolutely amazing movie for its time and it will never lose its relevance. That's because the movie simply and masterfully shows the play of darkness and light that exists in every human being and how this play forges the twists and turns in the lives of the two protagonists. There is no one to blame, there is no black and white and that was the tremendous strength of the story. The ending too is so totally believable of all that is India, the truths uttered at the very end resonate with the ancient truths of our land.

The believable factor is also what makes "Benaras" outstanding. Urmila Matondkar shines in her restrained performance. This movie gives a glimpse of what India is all about, the good and the bad. As a bonus, the movie is a visual treat. When you see it, you will understand what I mean.

Bad Reviews, Good Movies in Bollywood

One of the best ways to find out what movies are worth watching is to go by the reviews. The worse the review, the better the chances of your enjoying the movie. Of course, there are the misses, some of the more notable ones are Bollywood's "Khushi" and "Welcome". "Khushi", starring Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor, will remain unforgettable because one of our group went out of the hall for at least 8 long refreshment breaks as a silent protest against what he was watching. In defense of my technique, I have to say that the promos also looked good. The problem arises when you are sitting in the hall and realize that the only memorable moments of the movie are exactly those shown in the promos.

But to continue in support of my theory, the recent release of "Ugly Aur Pagli" is a case in point. It is what I would call a 'nonsense' movie, a 'nonsense' song is like the one in 'Tashan' - "Dil Dance Maare Re'. Both are enjoyable if you leave your tag of being 'cerebral' behind. Why slot yourself as a person with a certain bent of mind? It's equally possible to enjoy a nonsense movie when you laugh at the ridiculous in it and give another movie deep thought because it revolves around some fundamental aspects of human behavior or life. Boxing oneself into the confines of a narrow or rigid mind quite eliminates all chances of reveling in life itself.

Getting back to 'Ugly Aur Pagli', Ranvir Sheorey once again shows that he has what it takes to be a good actor. And Mallika Sherawat is not half bad, except for her attempts at crying.

One hilarious Bollywood movie

One Bollywood movie that is my absolute favorite is "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" from the Yash Raj stable. It was also a monumental flop at the box office. But for those of you who enjoy the ridiculous, this is a must-see. There's very little slapstick comedy so you can safely get a DVD. I have discovered over the years that watching slapstick comedy is usually a good way to sink even deeper into a blue mood if you went to the movies to get out of one in the first place.

But to get back to this high-voltage entertainer, I've never seen Abhishek Bachchan, Lara Dutta and Bobby Deol play out a comic role quite so well. I would say that Abhishek Bachachan has it down pat as a Southall product. Unfortunately, that endearing quality is not what one often sees in real life. Incidentally, I'm no promoter of the Yash Raj banner - their movie 'Tara Rum Pum' is guaranteed to put you to sleep if you're watching late night as I was.

I often wonder about Preity Zinta's portrayal of a Pakistani girl in this movie as well as in "Veer Zaara". To me, she always seems to be an Indian actress essaying the role of a Pakistani girl. Even if there are not many differences between people of the subcontinent living in England, the nuances seem to be missing.

It would be good to get feedback on this from someone in the know.

Hollywood's Godfather, Bollywood's Sarkar

In its time, Godfather and its sequels caused quite a furore. The fine adaptation of the novel by Mario Puzo fascinated us as we went about leading our humdrum lives , but we were also secretly relieved not to be a part of that world. While a meeting with a Sylvester Stallone clone as shown in the hilarious Hollywood movie "Oscar" (about a reformed mafia boss) may be quite an interesting experience, its best to give the adventurous spirit a miss sometimes.

Most of us don't have a brush with the Mafia. The nearest I've come to it is when I heard that a couple of truck drivers in a distant relative' s company were sent off to pose as thugs and scare some recalcitrant tenants. While they waited for their cue in the drama, things got sorted out somehow and the would-be actors were sent back without essaying their roles. Perhaps someone developed cold feet.

The Bollywood equivalent to Godfather could be "Sarkar" and its sequel "Sarkar Raj". The director, Ram Gopal Verma, readily admits to his admiration of the movie and book by Mario Puzo. Verma's movies have a gripping and edgy feel, which contributes to the realism. Judging by all newspaper accounts on such subjects, these movies are derived from real life.

Riots in India, a Bollywood movie

If there is one Bollywood movie that gives an amazingly realistic portrayal of riots in India, it is 'Dev'. I'm never one for movies that don't cheer me up and this movie certainly did not. But as you watched the movie, you just knew how true to life it was, never mind that you were also sitting on the edge of your seat, willing the protagonists to do things differently so that in reel life at least the actions and their consequences could have a happier end. The acting prowess of Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri and Kareena Kapoor is spectacularly showcased in this movie.

The genocide in Rwanda was brought to life on screen by the Hollywood movie "Hotel Rwanda", an account of the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who saved 1200 lives in those times.

Both movies are all the more powerful for what they leave unspoken and unseen.

Lose weight with Bollywood music

I thought I had come up with a unique idea to lose weight without groaning about it. Put on a video with the latest Bollywood music or switch on a TV channel that features this music and follow all the movements of the dancers on screen. If you have two left feet like I do, it's best to initially follow the movements of the dancers in the background. That's what I did and I not only lost some weight but also generally felt 'all's-well-with-the-world' after such a workout.

Like I said, I thought I was a genius at discovering the benefits of Bollywood dancing but it seems that others have preceded me and actually set up dance and fitness studios featuring this music and dance.

There are several advantages to doing it on your own too: You don't really need to go out of your home to benefit from this form of exercise. Your dancing prowess improves (my left feet are beginning to turn right and I can sometimes follow the movements of the main dancer). This workout of foot-tapping, happy music and nimble dance is guaranteed to make you look and feel better. And finally, you can take all the credit for having developed into a fine dancer and somewhat of an acrobat (the more difficult moves require a certain level of acrobatic proficiency).

Happy dancing and here's to a trimmer you!

Humanity is the only religion

The Hollywood movie, 'Titanic', is supposed to have been preceded by a book 'Wreck of the Titan' which has eerie similarities to the real life tragedy that befell the Titanic. In what now appears to be a movie preceding the event, the Indian newspapers are currently reporting a story that parallels the script of the Bollywood movie 'Dharm', which almost got selected as the Indian entry to the Oscars in 2007. It has an absolutely brilliant performance by Pankaj Kapur as the Hindu priest, who follows the precepts of his religion meticulously and then comes to realize the absolute truth of 'Manavta Paramo Dharma' as prescribed in the Vedas - 'Humanity is every Hindu's prime duty' or as the director puts it - Humanity is the only religion.

The story in the newspapers is about a three-year old Muslim boy who went missing in the Hindu-Muslim Godhra riots in 2002. Almost 6 years after being reported missing, the boy has been now found living with a Hindu family. The similarity with the movie ends here because though DNA tests have established that the Muslim couple are the biological parents, the boy and his 'foster' mother refuse to be parted. The stage is set for a lengthy legal battle as the biological mother now plans to contest the ruling of the Metropolitan court, which awarded the boy's custody to the Hindu couple as he refused to go back to his biological parents.

What do you think would be a compassionate decision by the courts?

The real life tragedy of children missing in the Godhra riots has in turn inspired the Bollywood movie 'Parzania', which I haven't seen personally but is touted as a film worth seeing. It has the powerhouse of talent, Naseeruddin Shah, as one of the main protagonists.

Train catching - Hollywood, Bollywood

Talking about 'The Darjeeling Ltd', in the first few minutes of the movie Adrien Brody and Bill Murray run to catch a train, one makes it and the other doesn't. It's a scene that has been played out a million times over hundreds of railway stations in the vast Indian rail network over decades. One reason is the famous 'IST' - Indian Standard Time which unfailingly registers a delay of 30 minutes to an hour. The other is the multitudes that throng these stations with an inordinately large number of baggage pieces of all sizes and shapes. Then there is the extended family too that has come to bid a fond farewell. Navigating such crowds and obstacles on the ground requires nothing short of commando training.

The Bollywood movie "Jab We Met" starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur has two such scenes. In the first one, the heroine just about manages to catch the train after she has pushed aforementioned numerous pieces of baggage on board and in the second such scene, her belated sprint leaves her stranded on the platform. It all makes for wonderful viewing.

None of these, however, quite equal the real life experience of an officer in the Indian Army, who was travelling a long distance to rejoin his post. He got off his train to enjoy a leisurely cup of tea and when he went to board his train, he found that it had left. Overcoming his great consternation at having now lost his baggage and other valuable documents forever, he caught the next train going in the general direction. Several stations and hours later, he decided to brave a visit to the platform again. An incredible sight greeted him - his original train enjoying a rather long stop at this particular station. Not quite believing his luck, he got on and went to his compartment. His belongings were lying there just as he had left them and the other occupants after giving him a cursory glance got on with what they were doing. They assumed that he had probably met an acquaintance and perhaps enjoyed a long smoking session in the corridor.

Sometimes, real life is stranger than the reel life.

River crossing in Hollywood, Bollywood style

For someone who's been a late bloomer in the art of movie watching, the comparisons between real and reel life have always held my unwavering interest. But where earlier the mind's constant ticking of 'this doesn't happen in real life' or 'it's never this good/bad in reality' quite muddied the entertainment quotient for me, I now view all happenings, portrayals in movies through a happy haze of non-critical enjoyment. Still, the comparisons continue.

How many of you have seen the Hollywood movie 'The Darjeeling Ltd.'? It has a scene in which 3 children are crossing a stream in a wooden box-like contraption which has a pulley system. There is a similar scene in the Bollywood movie 'Veer Zaara' that showed a very solid metal contraption being pulled along on sturdy ropes. Of the two, I would say that the former version was more realistic because of my own experience in one.

Some years ago, we had set out for a trek in the Himalayas where such pulley systems abound. Since we were novices at both trekking and this pulley system, we decided to brave this much used method of crossing because it would save us an additional 2 hours of trekking - we were already wilting under the weight of our backpacks after just an hour of level walking. My sister was the third person to go and go she did till about the middle of the crossing when one of the ropes broke. While she swayed gently and precariously over the roaring river, we stared at her from the bank, frozen with mouths agape and clueless. Fortunately for her, it wasn't too remote an area. Before too long, two villagers came by and through some acrobatic feats tied the two bits of frayed rope together and she crossed over. After numerous prayers to the local deities and anyone else who might have been listening, we did too. Of course, we never heard the end of how totally incompetent and useless we all were.

These pulley systems still exist in many areas of the world, from China to South America. It would be interesting to hear about any hair-raising experiences in one.

I went to watch "The Darjeeling Ltd." because of Adrien Brody and the fact that I was born in Darjeeling. After watching it, I realized the most interesting fact about its title. Can anyone guess? It's easy if you've been to Darjeeling.