2007: Turning Point for Bollywood

2007 was a move in the right direction for Bollywood. Although 2006 had some better movies, 2007 comprised of films that had great performances, better scripts, and no random shots to Switzerland. The films I chose were based on what I believed were incredibly entertaining, to films that were intellectually wonderful, to films that were healthy and necessary for Bollywood, and pushed the envelope. So, here are a list of my 2007 top favorites (in no particular order):

• Dharm-- This movie, although almost impossible to find, has been very much in the news. From being screened at Cannes Film Festival, filmed in superior quality, and the controversial court case issued by director Bhavna Talwar when it wasn't entered into The Academy Awards, this film was able to keep its own in the news, a rare feat for such art films. Maybe it wasn't widely watched in India, but it has garnered some press, which is a start. From the script to the cinematography to performances, from reaching the depths of understanding religion and humanity-- this film was one of the best Bollywood films in the last few years. I only hope I see a film as brilliant as this one in the future.
  
• Taare Zameen Par-- This movie was able to appeal to the masses, and was touching and real. The performances (Darsheel, Tisca Chopra) were incredible. The story was unique and definitely one that told the tale of many households. But another reason is why I added this movie to this list is because of Aamir Khan's involvement. One of the highest paid actors in Bollywood (neck to neck with Shahrukh Khan), Aamir's directorial venture didn't use the typical masala ingredients. It was an attempt to make a completely different, smart, "intellectual" film. So all those who look down on "intellectual" films because of their lack of appeal or profit-- Taare Zameen Par proves them completely wrong.
• Chak de India-- The reason this movie is on this list is not because I was completely bowled over or because I was incredibly entertained, but because of the script's originality, the themes of feminism in India, a woman's role in society, and the gap between language and cultures in India. I also loved that this movie, like TZP, did so well, despite the lack of synchronized dance sequences, lip syncing, or a love story. Even if the story was predictable-- the overall themes and the fact that it was a success should also prove to critics that commercial isn't what it used to mean in Bollywood.
  
• Life in a Metro-- This is the most "Bollywood" out of any movie on this list, but still no synchronized dance sequences or lip syncing. It was sincere, real-- yes over-the-top at times, but with some great performances and stories. I think Bollywood can do better, and some stories were better than others (the Konkona-- Irfan story was brilliant), but this smart, emotional story made me like Anurag Basu, love Irfan even more, and regain faith in Bollywood love stories.
  
• Gandhi My Father-- This film was risky, in that it was pointing fingers at Gandhi. But, it was a risk worth taking. Although the film unfolded like a play (after all, it was based off of a play), the overall production was a gem of 2007. The best performance was not Akshay Khanna, I believe, but Shefali Shah, who proved yet again that good acting is everything.
  
• Black Friday-- So tragically real, and yet, so entertaining. All those Anurag Kashyup haters (I'm not one of them, because I admire his bluntness) may use "No Smoking" as an example of a failure, but not Black Friday. It was true, yet not racist- real, but not offensive. What more could one ask for from a movie about the horrible 1993 Mumbai Bombings?
  
• Johnny Gaddaar-- Neil Mukesh is hot, but that's not why I liked the movie. It was a thriller done well, with an amazing script and great performances from all. I also applaud Neil Mukesh for his choice of debut to Bollywood. He himself said that he wanted a film that would show his acting ability, not his profitability. Lucky for him this film definitely proved both!
• Bheja Fry-- Although it's a copy of a French film, this movie is on the list because it was a low budget alternative film-- yet highly entertaining, and it actually made some money. Great performances and fun movie, I hope to see more of these in the future.
  
• Honeymoon Travels-- A comedy, yet one that was gutsy enough to include themes of feminism, homosexuality, and typecasting. It was silly at some points, but incredibly touching at others. This film touched on topics which were usually stereotypical and derogatory (interracial marriage, homosexuality) in mainstream Bollywood, and for that-- I applaud Farhan Akhtar for stepping away from typical masala and taking a risk to produce something much, much better.

Taare Zameen Par- A Winner

So I finally saw Taare Zameen Par-- and I do believe it has lived up to all the hype.

The performances by all, the realness of the movie (definitely one of the best Bollywood movies that has captured the cutthroat competition and expectations among Indian youth today), and the script were all brilliant and some reasons why this was one of the best Bollywood movies these past few years.

But-- the reason why this movie in particular has stunned critics and audiences everywhere is that, simply, it's different. First of all-- the movie isn't directed by a Nagesh Kukunoor or a Rituporno Ghosh. It's directed by the extremely mainstream, popular actor Aamir Khan (who also stars in it). Khan could have opted for an extremely masala movie, like his last film, Fanaa. But, he opted to make this film about a child who has dyslexia, and the struggle the child (Darsheel Safaray) faces at home and at school. There was no romantic angle, or any of the "ingredients" masala films usually demand, such as synchronized dance sequences or action scenes.

The script also deserves a special mention. The father of Safaray's character could have easily been portrayed as an unreasonable man who refuses to budge from his strict nature. This character was handled quite well. He wasn't so evil that he was unrelatable, but instead, a figure that people could easily relate to. Stories where children are the main characters haven't done too well in the past. Safaray's incredible performance and the realities of this story have made the movie a hit.

The film, albeit had a slow pace at some points-- was a touching and heart warming one to watch. With that said, this movie is one that is necessary for today's India.

India's still a democracy, isn't it?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought India was a democracy and an advocate for free speech.

Recently, Actress and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen stated in the newspaper The Tamil Daily that “No Indian has chastity or virginity anymore.” Her words did not only cause some anger from the "moral police, but also from legal authorities. She was issued a notice under many counts, including one that said she used a "word gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman."

It seems ridiculous to me that Sen's comments, which can be seen as a reflection over the massive change in India over the past decade, have resulted in legal action. Obviously, she was exaggerating when she referred to every Indian as having sex. But, using the law against Sen because her words could "affect the moral fabric of India" is regressive and a lame attempt to justify the legal action taken.

There definitely is a struggle between India's growing modernization in big cities, and the "moral police." Sen's comments were apt in that they were representing this new India that is often overlooked by segments of the country. India isn't what it was ten years ago, and people need to recognize that.

I'm not advocating for or against "pre-martial sex"-- but come on, aren't there more important issues that the police and courts need to worry about than what an actress said in an interview?

Aaja Nachle: Greatest Lesson for Bollywood

The verdict is in: Aaja Nachle has failed. This is definitely a wake-up call for Bollywood.

First of all-- the reason Aaja Nachle failed was because it had a poor script, lack of strong character development. It was filled with cliche dialogues, too many songs that took away from the story, and great actors that were completely wasted.

The thing is-- this movie could have been monumental. A 45 year old single mother (Madhuri Dixit's character) was the protagonist, a rare feat in Bollywood. The film was not another Mother India or any sort of Bollywood tragedy where the actress is crying the whole time or is faced with extreme injustices-- it was supposed to welcome an era in Bollywood where producers would make films that could stand with a female as the lead in mainstream masalas.

But, this didn't happen. And as this movie fails, people are labeling it as a failure for Dixit, for whom this film was a comeback. The problem in actuality is that, although the concept for the film was fresh, nothing else was. Along with Dixit, there were at least four other mainstream actors and three mainstream actresses. This is a typical Bollywood technique-- fill the movie with surprise guest appearances and other stars to make it more marketable. The film wasn't a failure for Madhuri-- but for Bollywood's mainstream masala formulas.

Many are using this film as an example of Bollywood's glaring problem of how to deal with actresses that are too old to be love interests but too young to be mothers of 20- some actors. Aaja Nachle was an attempt to try a new "formula." But the problem rests with this idea of a "formula." The film was horrible because of the script and the addition of more than four love stories and many more subplots in the film. It should not be viewed as a Dixit failure, or a queue that Dixit should be done with Bollywood.

Aaja Nachle shouldn't make the industry shy away with having older women as protagonists in mainstream cinema-- but it should make Bollywood realize that the same routine techniques for hits that have been used throughout the 1990's and 2000's will not work. Aaja Nachle was one of the most anticipated films in Bollywood for 2007 because of Dixit-- nothing else. That being the case, Bollywood needs to stop following the "formula" and be more innovative.

Would Bollywood Play Gay?

Bollywood has not opened up to homosexuality yet-- as I said in an earlier post, it's still "trapped in the closet." But, a simple question by Indiafm.com posed to various actors gathered noteworthy results.

Eight actors were asked if they would play a role in which they were gay. Of the actors who said they would, 5 actors said they would. Arshard Warsi was definitely the biggest name in the group (none of the other actors were that established-- which also says something), said that he would "willingly play a gay character. It will be a new challenge for me as an actor," which definitely makes sense.

Neil Mukesh, after just starring in one film (that won accolades of critical acclaim) also agreed that he would have no problem at all.

But the people who would weren't really having the greatest careers at the moment. Mohit Ahlawat, a prodigy of Ram Gopal Varma, really has no hits to his name, said that "For me it's difficult to play gay as I won't be able to identify with such a character. Sorry, I can't play a role I'm so far removed from. But I respect an actor like Irrfan or Sanjay Suri who can." Obviously, this is ridiculous. He's not really a great actor if he can't play a role which he claims he's "so far removed from."

Actor Prashant Raj was probably the most mistaken: "I don't think I'd do justice to a role like that. My structure and built might not be conducive to playing such a role." What does he even mean by that? He's too much of a "man" to play a gay character, or that he feels he doesn't fit a certain stereotype? And anyways, Raj has only done one film-- which has totally failed.

So, this interview is in many ways no surprises. But, it was nice for Arshad Warsi and Neil Mukesh to be progressive and open to different roles. As for the actors who denied the possibility... I don't think anyone is rushing to make a film with them anyways.

Bollywood: Obama-ishtyle

I never thought the day would come when I would see Barack Obama, Prabhu Deva, Aishwarya Rai, and Rani Mukherjee on one screeen. Alas, I was wrong, and after watching this video, I have no words. Enjoy!

My Movie Recommendations: Ideal for cold weather

I was snowing today, and it brought to mind some Bollywood films I would love to sit at home and watch. This week-- It's raining and snowing (in New England at least), so I decided that I would want to watch films that are light, comical but not over the top. (sorry Govinda fans!)

Which then gave me the idea-- every week, I will recommend a set of films to watch that pertain to a certain topic.

This week, the recommendations consist of films that are funny or romantic, feel- good films that are touching, and that are good to watch on a cold rainy day like today!

So, the winners are:

• Angoor-- Gulzar's adaption of Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors." Sanjeev Kumar and Devan Verma (who won a Filmfare award for Best Comedian) are great together.
• Watch for: Sanjeev Kumar's expressions and mannerisms. Shahrukh Khan once said that his favorite line in the film was "Gang," simply because of Kumar's style.
  
• Bawarchi-- Hrishikesh Mukherjee's charming film gets me every time. Rajesh Khanna is charming, and so is the old grandpa!
  
• Watch for: The dialogues. It's amusing when Khanna brings up all the amazing people he has been a cook for. And one of my favorite lines is in the film: "It's simple to be happy, yet difficult to be simple."
  
• Cheeni Kum-- Although I didn't like this movie at first, I have come to appreciate it. Amitabh and Tabu are great together, and the dialogues can be bold, which is great.
• Watch for: The contemporary feel. It's very modern, in London but not a Karan Johar NRI film. And of course, Tabu.
  
• Chupke Chupke-- One of my favorites! It's clever, and has a great star cast.
• Watch for: The dialogues, again. Gulzar did a fine job with the botany terms Amitabh had to answer-- a role that is memorable, and replayed in this year's "Heyy Baby."
  
• Dor-- It is one of my favorite films in recent times, but it fits in this category perfectly. Although it can be heavy, it's very touching.
  
• Watch for: The cinematography and incredible locations of Rajhistan and Himachal Pradesh. The performances are brilliant as well, especially from two actresses who have two very different images (one as a bubbly actress, other as a model)
  
• Life in a... Metro-- The Robert Altman technique done right. A story of many couples, living in Mumbai... again, contemporary, fun, but still serious at points.
• Watch for: The music (even though Pritam's band popping up at every scene can get irritating). The performances are incredible (Shilpa's comeback and Konkona's first actual mainstream film), but the real star is definitely the story.
  

Time for Controversy Again!

Aaja Nachle, a film which I have been looking forward to, released today. In true Bollywood style, it is already knee-deep in controversy.

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayavati Kumari, has decided to ban the film from the state. In the title song of the film, there is a reference to Dalits (untouchables) which she found offensive. Because of this, she banned the film from the state she leads. "[It] is not only objectionable and humiliating but also unconstitutional and, therefore, the screening of the film has been banned."

The part of the song which she (and many others who were protesting in Delhi) found offensive was:

maine galati kari thi, meri nathani padi thi - 2
ke sone mein usako ranga gayi, mein rangaake atariya pe aa gai
mohalhe mein kaisi maara maar hai, bole mochi bhi khud ko sonar hai

Which translates to:

I made a mistake, I colored my nose ring gold, and came on the roof. There were fights in the area to see me, and even the low caste shoe makers would call themselves goldsmiths.

To understand Mayawati's decision, one must know about her background. She herself was an untouchable (a dalit), and often cites how successful she has become, despite her background. The party she represents is Bahujan Samaj Party, a party which is known for representing the lower caste. Her victory earlier this year made her the first untouchable woman to become the leader of a state, and her campaign was largely grassroots and attracted upper castes, lower castes, and even other religions.

The line from the song was not smart on the part of the lyricist or the filmmakers, because they are all in powerful positions, and made a regressive statement about castes in India. But, banning the film was not the way to go.

The film should not have been banned. The portrayal of (or the lack of) Dalits in Bollywood needs to be changed, altogether. Instead of banning the movie and creating controversy over one line in a Bollywood film, Mayawati should have simply used this as an example of how the very concept of the caste system needs to change and make progressive decisions as the leader of the most populous state in India. Bollywood shouldn't be her focus.

And, India is still a democracy. If Mayawati bans this film, is it possible for the BJP to call for the banning of the movies they don't approve of? (Trust me, I shouldn't even go there.)

The treatment and portrayal of Dalits and untouchables in India and even in Bollywood needs to change now-- along with the portrayal of other minorities. The line in Aaja Nachle should be discussed, recognized- but not banned.

Cheer for my Blog!

As many of you know, I started this blog for a class. As time went by, it definitely became more than a school project. This assignment challenged me-- looking for stories, writing four times a week, and finding my own voice was difficult, but exactly what I needed.

I was surprised about how much material there is for me to write about. In the beginning, it was hard to find a focus. I initially believed that a blog about how Bollywood is flourishing around the world would provide me with the most material. Obviously, that didn't work out for me. My blog soon morphed into a critique of commercial Bollywood cinema, a topic I had no problem writing about.

I have always enjoyed reading blogs-- Sepia Mutiny, Think Progress, and even some of our class blogs like Laugh Tracker. But, I always admired these bloggers' capability of having that witty sort of style. I never thought I had it (and I don't), but I was able to maintain this blog somewhat, while trying to be factual and frank about my opinions.

I definitely enjoyed writing this blog, and I will without a doubt continue to do so. It keeps me on my toes, and keeps me Bollywood-updated. What more could I want from life?

Some of my friends did read my blog-- although I only know of a few (CB and VM!) who kept up with it. I really thank them for that.

Overall-- it was a great experience, and it definitely hasn't ended!

Mainstream met Parallel... in 2001

Although "Om Shanti Om" has been on the minds of all Bollywood fans this past month, another film captured the attention of an audience at The Museum of Fine Arts last month. The film, titled "Zubeida," was showcased in part of a series dedicated to Indian culture, a weekend-long event the museum has every year.

The film's showing attracted many viewers, some who were fans of parallel cinema, and others who were new to Bollywood. A Boston local made came to watch his first Bollywood film, and made his first visit to the MFA. "It's definitely a unique experience for me," said Jerry (above).

Most others are fans of the director, Shyam Benegal. Benegal, who's films defined the 1980's era, had many loyal followers because of his simplistic style. His actresses seldom would wear make up, unless the role demanded it (like the film about an actress, Bhumika)m and the actors were usually from a more serious house of journalism. The characters were usually from lower class communities, and his storylines were often dramatic (but not over the top) and always nontraditional.

One fan, Anita, was at the event because of Benegal's "brilliance," she stated. But Zubeida was one of her least favorite Benegal movies. In this film, Benegal gave in to the current commercial Bollywood, and Anita said "Bollywood movies, I cannot stand." He had all extremely marketable stars, music, and dancing. The story was about a prince who marries a divorced mother-- not usual Benegal.

But the film was an attempted blend of commercial and parallel films, an attempt which worked. Richard Delacy (in the middle), Lecturer for Urdu-Hindi, Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, said that:

"One could look at the parallel cinema movement collapsing into commercial cinema.... it's necessary for directors like him to make movies that appeal to a rural audience. It's not as viable to make films like Benegal made today. He's experimenting and using different forms, continually, and that's great."

But although the film was mainstream, it still had the staple Benagal parallel vibe. An audience member, who was from Pakistan, pointed out how brilliantly Benegal was able to cover intelligent themes, without losing the commercial effect. She referred to problems Muslims faced in India after the Partition in the 1950's, and even the core issue of the lonely lives all the women in his film had.

Although this film may not have been a true Benegal fan's favorite film, it was a film, that I believe, helped usher in the current slowly growing parallel movement. Zubeida was still a brilliant film, and a romance-- but without the cliched dialogues, horrible acting, and predictable storyline.

The film won many awards, and although it wasn't a box office hit, it had great reviews. Today, it's possible that this film would have been a hit (box office wise). This film is definitely a model to follow for Bollywood film directors.

** Fulfills Assignment 5

Adolescent Bollywood

Seems like Bollywood has matured, but still has a long way to go-- or so says Naseeruddin Shah, one of Bollywood's most respected actors.

In an interview with Reuters India, the actor says that, "I do not think our industry has matured but yes the attempts to experiment with different subjects, different themes have surely gone up."

Shah is known for his brilliant acting in off-beat films, and flourished in the parallel cinema movement of the 1980's.

So, how can Bollywood mature and grow? With the producers, of course, as I stated in a previous blog. "A lot depends on the producers... They should support fresh content and push originality. India has some very talented directors and they can do well with the help."

Redundant story lines and dialogues and over-the-top romances should no longer dominate Bollywood. There has been some progress, especially in 2006. Even this year, progressive films have become marketable. But, there is still a long way to go.

Producers need to start taking risks-- or Bollywood will always be stuck in its adolescent stage.

Munnabhai's Back!

All you Munnabhai fans, rejoice!

Sanjay Dutt, who was sentenced to six years in prison for being "peripherally linked" to the 1993 bombings in Mumbai, was released on bail today.

After serving a sixteen month sentence after the bombings in 1993, Dutt received the six year sentence fourteen years after the actual event.

The film industry, and even politicians such as Sonia Gandhi came out in support of Dutt, as I wrote in an earlier post.

Personally, I'm glad he's back!

Where The UN meets Indian Idol

What do The United Nations, A.R. Rahman (the best composer in Bollywood, maybe India), a former Miss Universe, and a Hindi entertainment channel have in common?

A musical reality show, of course! The show is called "Mission Ustaad: Jaago India" (wake up India), which showcases big names in the Bollywood music scene, and has AR Rahman, Javed Akhtar (a lyricist) and Lara Dutta, former Miss Universe and now a Bollywood actress, as judges.

The show's goal is to unite and enlighten India through music. There will be four teams, and each will be competing to see which team will be able to bring to light many of India's problems.

The UN has a set of goals, titled The UN Millennium Development Goals, in which India has to complete certain promises by 2015. According to The Tribune, UN Millennium Campaign Director Salil Shetty said:

"If India does not achieve the MDGs by 2015, the world will not achieve them. For the marginalised people of India like the Dalits, tribals and minorities, the Goals offer a real hope to achieve better education, health and livelihood. Mission Ustaad will act as a reminder that time is running out."

I don't know if it will work, but it definitely is a noble cause. The kind of outreach these stars have through television is incredible, and if something good can come out of these reality shows (there is a new one almost every month), then I'm definitely for it.

It's not the media's fault this time!

After the only real failure in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's career, "Saanwariya," he decided to blame the media.

Bhansali reportedly said that "Saawariya is the biggest hit of my career so far... Media manipulation won't kill my film.” Honestly, Saawariya was not the biggest hit of his career. Devdas (which won eleven Filmfare awards, including best actor, actress, director, and film), Khamoshi (my favorite), or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (which won best actress and film and director), were all better movies.

In this film, Bhansali launched two newcomers, who were not very talented. The first hour had four songs, and it was really difficult to get through the rest. Even The New York Times (which is obviously outside the Indian media) gave the film a bad review.

Blaming the media doesn't always work. How about trying to make better movies for the sake of art, not for the money.

Prediction: Great film to fail... again.

After Anurag Kashyup's "Black Friday," an incredible film about the plotting behind the 1993 Bombings in Mumbai, director Nishikant Kamat is making a film titled "Mumbai Meri Jaan" about the commuter rail bombings that took place last year, which resulted in almost 200 deaths.

It took the government three years to actually allow "Black Friday" to release. While "Black Friday" focused on the conspiracy and planning behind the 1993 bombings, "Mumbai Meri Jaan" is a story that will be told from a reporter's eyes, who witnesses the deaths and bombings first hand.

"Black Friday," despite receiving rave reviews, failed at the box office. Sadly, "Mumbai Meri Jaan" will probably have the same fate.

Or maybe, the Indian public will actually realize that not all good movies have to be unrealistic... but maybe that's asking for too much.

The Winners and Losers for the rest of 2007

As 2007 comes to an end, some of the best Bollywood films are going to be released. Here are the films I'm looking forward to, and the ones that, well, I'm not.

The winners:

1. Khoya Khoya Chand-- If you saw Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, you'll understand why. He's a great director, and both of the actors (Shiney Ahujya, Soha Ali) are talented actors who have proven themselves over and over again. The film is about films, set in the glamorous era of 1950's. A definite winner for me.
   
2. Aaja Nachle-- Of course! It's Madhuri, and she's fabulous. With a great supporting cast and with a backdrop of dancing, I'm very excited for this film. I just hope it will live up my expectations and not turn completely Yash Raj on me (they are, sadly, producing it).
3. Taare Zameen Par-- even though I feel that Amir might over-do it (especially after watching a frightening clip when he was dressed as a clown and was jumping around... it was supposed to be fun, but trust me, it wasn't), I still think that it's different enough that I will enjoy it. There is no love angle (progressive!), and the story focuses on children. Rare for Bollywood. Maybe, it's unconventional-ness will make it work.

The Losers:

1. Welcome-- It's a story about Akshay Kumar, and this girl he likes... and this girl has three crazy brothers, who are part of a gang, or something like that. Basically, it will be the same jokes, same songs, and the same ending. It will probably be the predictable hit, but that doesn't mean it will be a good movie.
   
2. Dus Kahaaniyan-- The film has ten pieces, and there is a different director for each segment. One segment might be incredible-- the one with Shabana and Naseerudin, but other than that, I don't see the film working. It may be great in parts, But as a whole, I don't see the film selling as a package, or having some sort of unifying theme. Maybe it could pull a Babel, but I think not.
   
3. Strangers-- even though the film has one of my favorites, Kay Kay Menon, it also has Jimmy Shergill, not one of my favorites. I feel like he will drag the film down, but I'll still watch it for Menon. Overall, I predict it won't be a good film.

Let's wait and watch!

She said what?

Konkana Sen Sharma, known for her brilliant acting skills and the incredible niche she has formed in serious and off-beat cinema, recently said at an event that "cinema isn't meant for preaching," and that is was "a form of expression, an art form."

What's interesting about this is, many mainstream actors who refuse to do "art" cinema believe it is made for preaching to an audience. It was reported that Farah Khan repeatedly said she didn't want to make anything "artsy," while Preity Zinta (who is now doing an art film) said in Filmfare in September that at one point in her career, she did not want to be a part of that cinema which preaches.

Now, I find this really silly. If a film has no songs, or if a film is out of the mainstream, why must people think it has to have some sort of message, or that it's preaching to an audience? Director Nagesh Kukunoor, who's films are also known to be off-beat, says that he does not believe films should have messages.

His film "Dor" did focus on the difficulties women face when they are widows, but his story also focused on an incredible relationship two women, who were completely the opposite, were able to form. Yes, it's great if some people in society understand how wrong they are in treating widows in a demeaning manner after watching the film, like when Karan Johar realized how silly is was to name all his films with the letter "K" after watching Lage Raho Munnabhai, but that wasn't a message of the film-- it was merely a story that Kukunoor wanted to portray.

But, if commercial filmmakers and actors believe that making good films is preaching, then they should try it. I would rather be "preached" than to watch a Farah Khan film, any day.

She's Back!!

There is much buzz in India (and now everywhere else) about a certain Bollywood actress, 42, with two kids, making her comeback after six years.

Yes, Madhuri's back! And it seems like everyone is excited (even the International Herald Tribune). What's significant is, in the very much male-dominated world of Bollywood (where most films have the actor in the lead role, where most actors get paid twice as much as actresses), Madhuri Dixit is returning to the film industry after having an illustrious career, after marriage, and at the age of 42, a very uncommon age for the female lead of a commercial film.

So maybe this means that women are getting more respected in Bollywood. With movies like Corporate, Dor, and Farah Khan, maybe we'll be seeing more mainstream films with better roles for women.

Or it could just be a phase. But let's hope for the better!

For now: check out the song that put Madhuri on the map!

Bollywood in Lollywood

While the government of Pakistan is looming under a political crisis, the Pakistani people are waiting for a Bollywood movie to release in the country next week.

The film, called "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal," stars Bipasha Basu, John Abraham and Arshad Warsi, is not the first Bollywood film being released in Pakistan, but it's the only one to have have such big stars.

Although there is a ban on Indian films in Pakistan, this movie is allowed to be released because it was produced by non-Indians and shot outside of India, according to The Hindu.

By the looks of how much the film is being promoted and talked about in Pakistan, it's sad that more movies aren't allowed in the country. There are estimates that, although Indian movies are banned in the country, 90 percent of the people still find ways to watch them. Let's hope that the government will one day mirror its people's obvious wishes.

A Learning Experience... we hope

In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about my hopes for Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, and how great it was that such major actors, a director, and the producers were making a film about the growing number of small town women in India who move to a big city, and because of the difficulties in getting an education and finding a job, often resort to prostitution.

I thought this film, which loosely means "a stain on character," would portray the hardships on these women, would openly talk about prostitution, and would also express how families and society perceive these women.

But no, the film included a trip to Europe (of course, Yash Raj Films produced it), songs and dances with the actresses singing about her new found love, and at the end, the female lead (the hooker) is "accepted" by the man she loves, whom she met for a couple of hours.

The film, which had so much going for it, failed-- both with critics and in the box office-- because it tried to fit into formulaic Bollywood cinema. If the film was bold and actually dealt with prostitution in a much more clear and distinctive fashion, without the melodrama and the lame love stories, the Yash Chopra camp would have had a clear winner in their hands.

Hopefully, they will learn!

Less is more, Karan

A film about the struggle of a Muslim man after 9/11-- cliche, I think-- but not for Bollywood. The film industry finally decided to cover the subject, but who has decided to make the film?

It's a much talked about project with none other than Karan Johar-- master of commercial and big budget movies that make loads of money and could be so much better minus the over-the-top emotions and unnecessary drama. So, will Karan Johar be able to pull this movie off? Or will it be another film that ends up with a scene filmed on the lead actor walking around Times Square reminiscing about the time he was taken off a plane while a sad song plays in the background?

Whatever comes out of this project, "My Name is Khan," I do have to applaud Johar for not making another film about love and its hardships. Hopefully- he'll learn from the failure of his last movie, and learn that less is more.

So Long Europe, Hello Banaras!

In the 1960's, A film called "Sangam" was made and was one of the most popular films of that time. In fact, it is still remembered and cherished today. One of the reasons for its popularity is-- it was the first Bollywood film to have a been filmed in Europe.

Since then, whenever the actress dreams of dancing with her lover, or when a couple goes on their honeymoon, the scene goes straight to some beautiful location in Europe. In fact, Yash Chopra, master of romantic films, received an award from the government of Switzerland, acknowledging how many scenes he has filmed in their country.

But this type of foreign fascination is dwindling in Bollywood. Last year, the film "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna," which was filmed purely in New York, received mix reviews and was the least popular of the director's films, which in the past have always reeked of American-European obsession. The films that succeeded last year took place in rural India, New Delhi, or Mumbai.

If you take a look at the next big releases for this year, such as "Taare Zameen Par" or even "Aaja Nachle," which is in fact about an Indian returning to her country from America, both take place in India. The best movies and the biggest successes of 2007 were all located in India as well, some in small towns, others in Mumbai or New Delhi, including two films that were filmed primarily in the holy city of Banaras (not including Chak De India-- but that's a different story-- they went abroad for a hockey tournament, not to dream).

Speaking for myself, I definitely won't miss the lead couple running through fields of flowers in Switzerland. Dancing on a rickshaw is much more fun.

A Small Step for Bollywood, a Giant Leap for SRK!

Need more convincing that formula, commercial Bollywood that dominated for the past two decades is seeing its last days? Check out the reviews for Saawariya, and compare them to Om Shanti Om.

Although I've said it before-- Om Shanti Om is a very commercial, over-the-top and big budget film, it does have some merit-- it mocks the very filmdom it reeks of. The whole appeal of the movie is that it pokes fun of the Bollywood Shahrukh Khan (the producer and main actor) and the director Farah Khan hail from. This technique makes the movie fresh. It actually turns out to be a push forward for Bollywood's emerging progressive movement.
Now, I don't want to give the film too much credit-- The concept of mocking Bollywood has been done before, and been done much better. But that's the thing with this industry-- its only cool if the popular kids do it.

Saawariya, the other big- budget big-deal film failed, according to critics and to the box office (compared to OSO). Ok yes, I sometimes do feel that critics are much harder on the director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, because they do accept more from him. His track record is incredible-- all four of his movies have won many awards and gained critical acclaim. His first movie "failed" at the box office, and was not as popular as any of the other movies. Of course, this film, "Khamoshi," is not only my favorite SLB film, but one of my all-time favorites. Great performances, incredible story-- definitely fabulous. Sadly, the Indian public did not accept it, and Bhansali took that to heart.

After that, all his films had lavish sets, costumes and mainstream commercial actors. (I would include Black in this category. Just because there wasn't a lot of color does not mean the sets were not lavish.) And Saawariya fits into this category with ease. Maybe in 2002, this film would have made as much, if not more money than SRK's "Om Shanti Om." But "Saawariya" was a part of Bollywood that was so three years ago-- a young boy sees a young girl, falls in love, one is shy...etc.

Although it's clear that OSO beat Saawariya this week, I think the winner to emerge from this is the producer and actor of OSO, Shahrukh Khan. The reason for this is-- SRK is definitely one of the most popular actors in Bollywood. And, it is completely obvious that he would play the male lead in a film like Saawariya-- those love stories are what he does best. But he was not in Saawariya-- he was in OSO, mocking films like Saawariya, exposing the silliness of the very Bollywood he helped shape and rule. It's obvious SRK has had a great year, and here's hoping he has permanently retired from Bollywood that is both regressive and formulaic.

This Beats "My Super Sweet 16"

Not sure how much Bollywood stars actually mean to Indians, or should I say, the media? Just glance at the amount of coverage the "King Khan" Shahrukh Khan got on his birthday on Nov. 2. It might just be as much attention Britney Spear's crazy antics get in US papers. Here are some of the stories that have been written in honor of Khan's birthday:

Indiafm.com had three main stories for SRK:

1. A to-do list for SRK's birthday, which included watching all his famous movies, reading his biographies, and watching promotions for his latest movie.
   
2. Indiafm also had another story about a fan who shared her birthday with SRK.
3. And an interview with the man himself, where he discussed his big day

Other websites had other angles:

• Sify.com added a feature where readers could post birthday wishes for SRK. There were 174 wishes the star.
  
• The Times of India reported on what Farah Khan, the director of SRK's forthcoming movie, was going to get him (which, what a shocker-- would be an official print of the film).
• Merinews didn't hide it- they just had a whole article dedicated to the star, chronicling his life, as if he made some big accomplishment. I guess for Merinews, that means turning 42.

It's sad how much coverage a birthday, (not even a birthday party!!) got in the Indian and international press.

Still have hope for 2007!!

I particularly enjoyed Raja Sen's latest column on Rediff. He takes on the view that 2007 has been a repetitive, regressive year for Bollywood after 2006-- which was an amazing year for Bollywood. I agree with Sen's opinion. Although 2007 hasn't had as much of a spark with quality movies actually making money, great films are made-- and are being watched. Here are some of the greats for 2007:

• Honeymoon Travels: This movie is incredibly entertaining, yet still hits on key issues like homosexuality and female identity. The film made money, was successful, and had actual substance.
• Life in a Metro: Incredible performances. Original storyline. In my opinion, revolutionary music. The movie had some of the hottest names, but not hotter than some of its competition like Salaam-E-Ishq, which also was a story about a number of couples and their problems. And surprise! The film with the better star-cast, bigger banner, bigger names-- failed with the lesser known Life in a Metro was a hit. A good story is vital!
  
• Chak De India: No love story, a film about sports, and one tat explored feminism in India-- loved it!
• Dharm:
  

So we haven't seen the best films ever to come out of Bollywood this year. But we have seen the audience paying attention to better films. It's a start!

It's Too Much!!

I don't think there have ever been so many attempts by actors to promote their movies than this fall in Bollywood. Yes, actors in Hollywood go on talk shows to promote their film, but in Bollywood, actors go on singing reality shows, dance competitions, and anything else they can swing.

But these days, the attempts are going far beyond that. Jab We Met, a film that released last week to some good reviews, was hyped up incredibly by the leading actor, Shaahid Kapoor. He went on the local trains to promote the film, spoke to any journalist who would listen, and there are speculations that he asked his ex- girlfriend and co-star Kareena Kapoor to stay quiet about the break-up for a while, and then to break the silence at an important moment. They did finally go their separate ways, and Kareena's new love declared their relationship live at India's Fashion Week, which generated even more buzz than the break-up to start with.

Shahrukh Khan is doing even more for his film, Om Shanti Om, as he is known for. He has 30 A-list stars to dance in one of the songs in his film-- a first in Bollywood, which is being hyped beyond anything on television.

He has gifted the director of the film with a Mercedes-- apparently because he liked the film that much, which of course attracted even more media attention. His six- pack abs, his co-star's age, the director's pregnancy, the seventies feel of the movie-- are really all that Bollywood is buzzing about these days. The movie is releasing next week-- and it's mega promotion is definitely a first in Bollywood, and frankly, I can't wait until the crazyness is over.

Mind on the Money

There has always been a war between critics and the Bollywood industry-- much worse than Hollywood, for sure. Whether it's the director of the new film No Smoking, Anurag Kashyup, who ranted about the critics who did just that-- criticize his movie, or even popular director Farah Khan's cries that critics are just out to ruin her and her film-- critics are not popular at all among many in Bollywood.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the critics, for the most part. Not because of Khan's criticisms-- critics aren't evil just because they criticize your movie. My problem is more that most Bollywood critics judge movies on whether or not they have commercial appeal-- which is really sad. Of course, Indian movies are "commercial," for the most part, only if they have five songs, lavish costumes, a glamorous star cast, has a love story or has some sort of a romantic angle, and if it appeals to all ages.

Think about all the amazing movies that are not commercial (and far better). The film Dor, which I thought was incredible, only received two out of five stars from Indiafm.com, not because it was a bad film-- the reviewer acknowledged the film's brilliance. It got a bad review because the critic believed that the film would not make any money. He was right, of course-- but if the film was brilliant, it was brilliant. That should be the end of it.

Freedom of the press is vital, and I would rather have these crazy critics (who are right to criticize Khan's film, in my opinion) than none at all. But it would be nice if they started focusing on the film-- not the box office.

Difficult, or just Impossible?

I often comment on how there is a lot of quality films coming out of Bollywood. They're just harder to come by because they don't spend much time in theaters, and are low budget.

I thought it was just harder-- not impossible. Dharm, a film that has garnered incredible reviews and much praise, and was even a contender to be the Oscar nominee for India, is almost impossible to find in America. There aren't any copies at local grocery stores (unless you settle for a copy where you see the audience in the theater getting up for popcorn-- but even those are hard to come by). They are not available for purchase (unless you're ok with giving your credit card number to extremely sketchy websites).

The film has incredible actors, is filmed in HD, went to the Cannes Film Festival-- and is impossible to find. These types of films don't appeal to the masses in India, so are usually buried and make no money at all. Sadly, next week-- Shah Rukh Khan's extremely commercial, over the top- high budget film Om Shanti Om will be hard to avoid.

MFA Bollywood Week

http://www.zshare.net/audio/4466151e6ca772/



http://www.zshare.net/audio/44663004dd1570/

Real Meets Virtual in Bollywood... Finally?

Bollywood has definitely been moving into a new direction.

But I never expected this one. Now, films are going to be promoted on XBox Live. The movie that will be the first is an animated film called Hanuman Returns.

Along with collaborations with XBox, PSP is releasing a Bollywood singing game. The interesting thing is-- Bollywood would never make this connection ten years ago. It's definitely a result of the economic boom in the country. Unfortunately, it would be great if Bollywood production companies would focus on making better films than making video games.

Mumbai, Coming Soon: Hollywood.

Earlier, I reported that the American company Sony Pictures are all set to release the Bollywood film Saawariya.

According to this, the Bollywood-- Hollywood connection doesn't stop there. Apparently, Hollywood production companies, such as Time Warner and Sony Pictures are now ready to collaborate with Bollywood and get in on the massive money coming out of the industry.

There are pros and cons to this. The obvious pro is that the production might improve, from advertisements to follow- up production, and that small low budget films will get bigger audiences. But, their is an obvious con as well-- These production companies might strip away some of the brilliance that is Bollywood cinema (that comes around now and then). Here's hoping only good can come out of this.

Bollywood's Favorite back in jail

One of Bollywood's favorite actors, Sanjay Dutt, returned to jail on Monday, Oct. 22. He was convicted of possessing illegal weapons and having relations with the underworld in India. But the crime that he was charged with did not take place a month, or even a year ago. It happened thirteen years ago-- and at that time, Dutt spent sixteen months in jail.

The court finished examining his case in August, but Dutt was released on bail. Until now, that is. He was convicted with a six year sentence, one that seems quite harsh, seeing that the court decided that Dutt was not a terrorist or a threat.

Of course, the media is intently focusing on the story. But what I find more interesting is the emotional involvement of the common man-- from taxi drivers to doctors, everyone has been praying for Sanju Baba (as he is fondly called).

Both of Dutt's parents were extremely popular movie stars, who had strong Congress Party connections. Because of this, many politicians, such as Sonia Gandhi, have come out in support of Dutt.

I don't know if the court was fair or not to Dutt-- but I will definitely miss Bollywood's favorite Munnabhai.

Bollywood's Regression

In the 1980's, Bollywood flourished with parallel cinema-- low budget films with incredible depth, void of the masala and commercialism of today's films. As we see a glimmer of hope with some films taking a risk, one such director of one such film zeroes in on the problem. Director Anurag Kashyup of the forthcoming "No Smoking" said this in an interview:

"Yash Raj has the power to change cinema. We don't. We've been trying hard. But Yash Raj can do it overnight. Yash Raj changes, our cinema changes. But they choose not to change. They choose to stay in their mediocrity, just counting money. Everybody is doing business. That's fine, but they are making us regress.”

Although big names such as the director Karan Johar, were quick to criticize Kashyup, he is definitely correct. Yash Raj productions make films like "Ta Ra Rum Pum," "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom," and "Neal N' Nikki," movies that are, in Kashyup's words, "mediocre." Yash Raj Productions are the most powerful production company in Bollywood, yet they do not challenge themselves to take risks, which they can definitely afford.

Kashyup also said that "Chak De India" was a good move forward for the company-- but it was an "apologetic release... They didn't have faith in it. For the first time they didn't ask for terms and conditions with the exhibitors. If they had faith in the film they would have played on the front foot."

Kashyup also said that his distributors had to make the film more "marketable" by Bollywood standards by including a famous actress in an "item number" to promote the film, a concept that Kashyup believes Yash Raj has the power to change.

Bend it Like Bekham-- Bollywood Style

John Abraham is definitely a Bollywood star to watch for. Although he has proven himself as an actor, I do believe his unconventional roles can take him far.

His latest venture, "Goal," deals with the racism South Asians face in England, with soccer as the platform to showcase prejudice.

Although the film has the typical masala feel, the subject of the film is what the audience should watch out for, and is exactly what Bollywood needs.

Time for Change!

The King of Bollywood has spoken. He told The Times of India that "The technology we use in Bollywood is fantastic. But, we need to wed these two considerations to come up with smart movies. To start with, our movies need to be shorter and crisper.”

If Shahrukh Khan, the actor known for starring in films that aren't really smart, or short, or crisp-- that are ultra-glamorous films which cater to Non-Resident Indians, is stating the need to change the age old ways, the creators of his films (which include the heavyweights of Bollywood) are going to have to listen.

Because the other Bollywood has already followed this path. The days of shooting songs in Switzerland and having lavish sets and costumes are no longer the mantra of Bollywood. Last year, the two most successful films were "Rang De Basanti," "Omkara" and "Lage Raho Munnabhai," both movies which had songs, but lacked foreign backdrops or incredibly expensive sets.

Shahrukh Khan's own movie, "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna," which took place in New York and included a star studded cast and over-the-top acting, was not as popular among Indians as the other three movies were, when his movies are usually the top contenders for awards and praise.

There is a changing trend in Bollywood-- and half of the industry has caught on. Hopefully, the other half will follow, which Shahrukh leading the way.

If TV can do it, so can India

As I've said before, one can decipher understand politics by following how India votes in music- based singing competitions, such as Indian Idol.

Another such competitions titled "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" reveals much about the Indian psyche. On Saturday, October 13, the show concluded, and what a surprise-- your winner was an average small-town Hindu boy.

Amanat and Raja, two of the other contestants (who were always the judges' favorites) didn't win the competition, despite usually high votes. But, Amanat and Raja weren't the winners.

For the first time, this show opened its doors to Pakistan, the US, and many other countries. Amanat is from Pakistan, but the two other singers in the top three were both from India.

Amanat-- an amazing singer and my favorite, lost despite having the highest votes overseas. A Pakistani native, he did not get the highest votes in India. Many voters from India claimed that they wanted their winner from their own country.

It's great that the television show opened its range to include countries like Pakistan and The United Arab Emirates. It would be great if Indians did the same.

Unconventional wins in Bollywood!

Chak De India-- a film with two songs (but no dance sequences), no love story, a film about hockey, and starring sixteen newcomers-- is the highest grosser and biggest hit of 2007.

The film is completely unconventional. Yes, it could be said that this is because the main role is attributed to Shahrukh Khan, (also called the King of Bollywood in Anupama Chopra's book) but Khan has had many failures in the past, so that cannot be reason alone. The film was fresh, had a unique and hard-hitting script, and tackled ideas such as sexism and diversity and cultural differences in India.

So- does this mean that there is actually a bankable audience for serious, well-made films in Bollywood?

One of my personal favorites, Dor, was released last year. The film was recognized for its incredible script and focus on feminism and the treatment of widows in certain communities, but it did not even receive half of the profits that Chak De India is garnering.

One thing Chak De had going for itself was that it was produced by India's leading production company, Yash Raj Films, but their involvement does not guarentee success alone- some of their really horrible films (Neal 'N Nikki) still fail.

It would be incredible if other mainstream production companies followed in Yash Raj's footsteps, and tried banking on unconventional and well-made films. By unconventional I mean films like Dor and Chak De India-- not Heyy Babyy, which people call "unique" because the leading lady gets pregnant before getting married.

Intellectual films have always been produced in Bollywood-- but they usually lack a larger audience. Let's hope that this changes with Chak De!

The Blog that, I admit, is Better than mine.

Sepia Mutiny is an incredible blog that covers almost every topic about India, and Indian Americans.

With a group of bloggers (called Mutineers), the subjects vary from Indian Idol to hate crimes, and to Bollywood. The site is simple, yet straightforward.

What I like about the site most is the tone it takes and the diversity in subject.

The tone:

• it seems like the site is tailor made for me: an Indian- American born interested in politics and pop culture, both Indian and American.

• Man bloggers have a fun, personal touch to it, which makes the posts more real and entertaining to read.

Diversity:

• Any topic I would ever think of to post, Sepia Mutiny has it covered. Each blogger has a specific domain, or so it seems, which really means that each post has a personal touch to it-- like the blogger knows everything about, and is passionate about, what she's writing.
• The Blog doesn't limit itself to South Asian-American issues. They definitely go beyond. For example, they talk about the racism involving Jena six-- an issue that everyone should know and be familiar with.
  

The Young and the Restless

An NDTV article highlighted the young filmmakers in India who are "rewriting the rules" of Bollywood.

The article is absolutely right. One thing the article fails to mention is that most movies take a risk, not just in having less songs, but in having some sort of sociopolitical message.

Take Bhavna Talwar's film "Dharm," for example. The movie deals with issues of conflicts between Hinduism and Islam.

Reema Kagti's film "Honeymoon Travels, Pvt. Ltd" addressed how recently married older couples are accepted in society and even homosexuality.

Another such movie was Being Cyrus, an Alfred Hitchcock-ish film, was a movie based on Parsis, a cultural group that has been ignored for the most part in Bollywood since the 1980's.

And of course, there is Chak De India and Dor, two movies that I have written about in previous posts.

It does seem that young filmmakers have a new vision-- let's see how far they go.

The Six- Pack Revolution

As I write about the relationship between Bollywood and politics, a huge segment of Bollywood is obsessing over Shahrukh Khan's (a popular Indian actor) new six-pack abs.

For his new movie, which is set to release next month, he has stripped (which means he took off his shirt in Bollywood terms) for a song in the movie. People are calling his new body a rebirth; not that he needed one.

The coverage in the media has been, I wouldn't say amazing, but overwhelming. On news channels, in newspapers, in blogs, all that is being talked about are Khan's abs.

Two years ago, Khan grew a mustache for one of his movies, which also garnered a similar craze. This time, there were interviews with Khan's trainer and articles about Khan's exercise schedules.

Although I do feel like the coverage in the media is a little ridiculous, it is also a turning point for Bollywood. Before, the main actors (or, should I say, heroes) never had great bodies. Actors with great bodies were just that-- actors, who happened to have great bodies.

Khan, because of his star power, has made six-pack abs a must-have for actors. His new look has in a way, reinvented the look of Bollywood heroes.

Lies or Stupidity?

In a country like India, where actors are literally treated like God, using that power to create more political awareness can be amazing.

Except when its used to help a friend out. Amitabh Bachchan, one of the most popular actors in Bollywood, claimed that the state of Uttar Pradesh had a low crime rate in advertisements during an election season, for help a friend who happens to be a politician.

Apparently-- Bachchan was wrong about Uttar Pradesh. In actuality, the state has a very high crime rate. Now, I don't think Bachchan knew he was lying, and just said what he was told to say. But then again-- it's a known fact that Uttar Pradesh has a high crime rate, and Bachchan should know this, as he is from the state.

Either way, Bachchan is definitely at fault, especially because of the influence he has among the Indian people. He should be held accountable, but again-- because actors are treated like God, that is unlikely.

Rush Limbaughness in India

So the Indian Idol craze continues, even after it's over.

A few days ago, a radio jockey made some racist comments about Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang, his Nepali heritage, and Nepalis overall.
The Radio host said:

“Aaaj Prashant Tamang ‘Nepali ladka from Darjeeling’ [Today Prashant Tamang, Nepali boy from Darjeeling] has become Indian Idol [laughs sarcastically] and we have a [cricket] match tonight so we need to guard our house / malls / restaurants by ourselves as there will be no Nepali people to guard these place and whole night we need to say Jagtay Raho [stay awake].” The RJ also added that all the Footpath Momo shops will remain closed as Nepali guy has become Indian Idol.

The statement is absurd, incredibly racist, and quite offensive. There are stereotypical views that many people of Nepali origins are guards or police officers. Tamang, himself, was before an officer as well. Although the statements are extremely racist, the aftermath was even worse.

About a week ago, I wrote an entry about the extraordinary support Tamang has from his community. When an ambulance was trying to pass through the region where Tamang lives (which is in India, not Nepal), angry mobs prevented an ambulance on its way to the hospital, which resulted in extreme violence from the police. the conflict resulted in sixty injuries.

The outcome is ridiculous, but the underlying sentiments hold strong. Many view Nepalis as lower class citizens, below Indians. As India is growing and prospering, so should the people, and their thinking.