Peepli [Live]

A rainy Sunday--perfect day for a movie. My friend Deirdra and I decided we would head to the Worcester area to see the new Aamir Khan productions--Peepli[live]. I had read interviews with Aamir, Deirdra had heard an interview on NPR--I had been wanting to see this movie, but with car issues and Alex needing the car to work inventory--I saw it as a near impossible objective. Well, Deirdra was just as intrigued by this movie as I was--so we headed off, fighting rain, accidents on the turnpike, and heavy traffic returning home from weekends.
As always, the Sunday matinee was pretty much deserted. I was surprized by the number of 'anglos' in the small crowd--though, there were enough Hindi speakers in the theater that they seemed to get some of the in jokes that the subtitles did not properly translate.

I could give you a synopsis of the plot-but it was more the ideas, concepts, and the statements made (overtly as well as covertly) about the press-not only in India but in the world. Natha and his brother Budhia are struggling to save the family farm--the bank refused the loan once again. The local politico suggests that maybe one of the brothers should consider suicide, since the government will pay reparations to families of those who die.
The story is really about how the local newspaper reporter--Rakesh--gets disillusioned by the 'big city' press.

As the story goes "Live"--and all the news folks descend on the small dusty village--everything gets its day on the news, and I mean everything!! goats, cranky mothers, the neighbors, the police force--everything gets a moment in the limelight. As the 'suicide watch' becomes a bit of a sideshow-Rakesh seems to feel that the real story is not being addressed. This movie is about 'the real story'. How many times do we turn on the news and see the mole hill rather than the mountain--the trivial story rather than the broader picture.

As Deirdra and I discussed the intricacies of the story, and how it effected us--she brought us a story that I had passed over in the newspaper that she thought was not appropriate for the local NPR station to cover. JDSalinger's toilet--and its recent sale! on that note--that's it, I can say no more about the movie--for it all comes down to toilets--in real life as well as in the movies.

My Name is Khan--is coming!

Well, I got the notification today that my DVD copy of My Name is Khan is on its way. I am kind of nervous about it arriving--which version will it be? Will it be the international, edited version(without the embarrassing hurricane bits), or will it be the version I saw at the theatre that shows first run Hindi films?? The hurricane bits were cringeworthy--but if they take them out, how will it affect the movie?
I still have a backlog of films to finish/or just plain watch! I have a SRK film in the DVD player that even my meager knowledge of Hindi is telling me that the sub-titles don't give you all the information you need. I finally broke down and bought (on a major sale from Nehaflix) The Inner/Outer World of SRK--so many things seem to refer to the interviews etc on this DVD--that I felt I finally needed to become a voyeur into SRK's life.

Oh well, to have several days to do nothing but knit and watch Bollywood!--and now I found I have a friend who is also a Bollywood nut---humm need to really find out HOW she got hooked! My dear, sweet goddaughter got me hooked by making me feed her while we watched her Hindi film class homework, and then when she brought home Kal Ho Naa Ho from a trip to India--I was sunk for good into my obsession!

Oh well, let us hope I have time to check out My Name is Khan this weekend--I so look forward to the extras!

Obsession-in love and Bollywood

I have had this movie sitting around for a while--Darr:A Violent Love Story. This was one of Shahrukh's early roles--done right after he did Baazigar (according to IMDB, they were both released in 1993). For those of you who don't like it when SRK plays a psycho/obsessed kind of character-this one is not for you. For those of you who don't like SRK playing a not very nice guy-this film is not for you either. But this film is one of SRK's great early films.
When SRK went into the film industry from television, he did not want to play what he called 'chocolate box' heros. Lightweight roles, shallow characters who romance the ladies and have not much else to them. SRK knew he was not the typical looking Bollywood hero--he was short, kind of dark, had a crooked nose and big teeth--hey, this is not me saying this, this what he told Anupama Chopra when she wrote The King of Bollywood.

Shahrukh has great depth in his acting, no matter how much folks might poke fun at the bollywood film industry, many of these actors have great talent. While watching this movie, I was trying to pick out other aspects of the type of film this was--the depth of obsession SRK has with Kiran is showcased by the photos he has in his room. The closeness he has with his dead mother, is a true sign of his mental illness--he often spends hours on the 'phone' describing to his mother all that he loves about Kiran.

Shahrukh still manages to charm people in this film. When his 'girlfriend' marries the love of her life, SRK manages to charm his way into the home of her brother and discovers where the newlyweds are secretly honeymooning. Even when he plays a psychopath, SRK's characters still have charm and grace--he may have stalked his girl and carved her name into his chest, but he still manages to spend quite a bit of time with the newlyweds.

Sunil(Sunny Deol) may be an expert naval commando, but he is kinda slow sometimes--SRK's character drops pretty broad hints about his love for Kiran, but Sunil is so in love, he misses this obsession.

Even though SRK was the newcomer in this film, he won more acclaim for his role as the psycho lover than Deol did in his starring role--I will have to admit, Deol is not one of my favorite actors. Deol is sort of another one of those two note Bollywood stars that folks mock in the west; he has intense, and sweet--that is about it! Sunny Deol has not aged as well as SRK(in my humble opinion)--but he has been doing more directing as of late, and I have seen him in some older stuff-I will have to try to find some of his newer stuff.

After watching this film of obsessive love, it makes me want to go back to revisit Rab Ne Bana di Jodi!! This is where SRK's obsessive love is shown is with a great gentleness and sweetness that make you want to find a Suri for yourself.

Well, namaste yaar, and go enjoy a Bollywood film!

Watching "Black"--a new twist on an old story

I had had this DVD from Netflix for quite some time (you really don't want to know exactly how long), I had heard and read many things about this movie. It was very wrenching, depressing, dark (what with a name like Black, you expect it to be full of sunshine?). I finally decided to watch it one night when my son was off with friends--he tolerates my Bollywood obsession, but doesn't seem to enjoy them too much. I settled in with my dinner, glass of wine and in my jammies, anticipating a very depressing film.
Well, it sort of startled me how it began, since I had read it was a take on 'The Miracle Worker'--I expected it to begin with a wild little child. When Rani began the narration and the black/grey palette spread out before me, I was intrigued. I had only seen Bhansali's films--Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam--on the small screen, and he does 'big' screen films. His other 2 films I had seen were full of color, movement, song and life. This movie is very different--it is contemplative, quiet and full of great emotion-it is not to say his other films lack emotion, Black has emotions that are much more raw.
The story line is, for the most part, similar to 'The Miracle Worker', with Amitabh Bachchan playing the Annie Sullivan role, Debraji--with the twist of he is an old, alcoholic teacher of the deaf/mute. We see many more of the flaws of the teacher in this film compared to the Keller versions--Bachchan is very flawed; he is egotistical and very much attached to his liquor. Once Rani's character, Michelle is able to understand, color begins to creep into the film--small bits that represent an opening to the world for a young girl forever in a world of black.
The ending of the movie is also a beginning-as the film progresses, you realize that Debraji is slowly losing his battle with dementia. He never tells his student-for whom he is a door to the world-that he may leave(in more ways than one), and when he finally just departs, she is heartbroken.
The small bit of color that had crept into Michelle's life is blotted from her world; until the rainy dreary day when her sister spots the beloved teacher. But the teacher, so deep into his illness has too lost his words and ability to understand--much like Michelle had been when Debraji came into her life. Michelle uses her ability to communicate via sign and a Braille writer- to attempt to connect with her beloved instructor---the film is her telling him about how much he means to her.

Watching the interviews after the film, I was impressed by the amount of study and preparation that both Bachchan and Rani did prior to filming--though it did irk me that while lots of Bachchan's dialog in the film is in English, all the interview he does in Hindi, and my 'filmy' Hindi is pretty slow and poor--so I had problems following his comments. I do wish that either more Hindi film extras were either subtitled for us Anglos, or at least in English!

I do feel that this movie will become another favorite of mine, and much like and The Raincoat and Chak de India, will bring a new batch of Hindi films without song and dance to mainstream viewers-we shall see, and hope.

Contemplating a book

I have read lots of books on Bollywood--most are very scholarly, explaining the sociological aspects of Hindi films, how the music has made the films popular. Many of these books have been a hard slog for even me--a reader of dry dull histories!! I spend lots of time explaining and condensing down much of what I read--from books, on-line, and in various articles-to friends who want more understanding of Hindi films. Well, a friend of mine at work, whom I have re-acquainted with bollywood, has been trying to convince me to write a book that will help Americans in particular understand Hindi film.
Well, that idea has been sort of running around in the back of my head and it is starting to look like a decent idea! Many Hindi films are getting much wider release in the US, and I am doing my darned best to try and get more and more people wanting to watch them!
Well, many Americans thought Slumdog Millionaire was a Bollywood film, well hey, it was filmed in India, it had Hindi filmstars (Irfan Khan, Anil Kapoor-to name a few). But, Danny Boyle is an English director, that bought the rights to a fabulous book, and made a movie in India--the only bit that was bollywood about this movie was the end credit dance!
Well, more I think about it, the more the American audience needs a book! But do I do something akin to an 'Idiot's Guide to Bollywood', or do I do my own take?? I still need to figure that out and have lots more ideas to hash out and a book to actually write!

My Name is Khan-a week later, almost

I have been musing over My Name is Khan--I re-read the post I made fairly soon after seeing the movie, and realized I was gushing. I have had time to contemplate, and discuss the movie, as well as read many other reviews. I do agree, the movie is not perfect--some stuff is pretty hokey, other stuff just uncomfortable--there are times when SRK is in the small village(which reminded me of some 'historic' museum) seem pretty weird. Still, the movie is moving and helps to make a point.

Today I have been reading accounts by SRK of plans of Fox's to re-edit the movie for the American audience-even SRK says the film is too long for American tastes. After sitting in the audience of mostly Americans when I saw the Mira Nair film The Namesake--that did not seem too long--hopefully Fox bigwigs will realize that Americans can sit through a long movie. I have been contemplating what Fox might cut out--it would be hard to remove parts of the movie without totally changing it, and then it would be a terrible film. My main hope is that Fox does not dub the film, hopefully they realize that Americans aren't stupid and can read subs, sure that will limit folks going to a film with sub-titles, but it will not exclude all that many. It certainly would not exclude My Name is Khan from Oscar contention--let us hope that is their plan!

My Name is Khan

So, I have now had 3 days to digest and replay this movie in my head. This is another very different Bollywood---no song picturizations, no crazy slapstick. This is a serious love story, story of hope, and how a simple man can make a huge difference. Yes, I have read all the reviews in all the various Bollywood news sources, Times of India, New York Times, and many other places. This movie is not perfect, Karan Johar has said that he let Shahrukh take the lead on lots of scenes, and Shahrukh did his homework. You really do see SRK as a man with Asperger's syndrome--an man who is brilliant, yet innocent, awkward and only sees things in black and white, no grey. SRK uses his skill as an actor to carry this movie. After watching many of his films over the years--from the great to the horrid--you can see SRK grow as a person and an actor--and this movie is proof of his skill.
I thought that Rab Ne Bana di Jodi and Chak de India really showed SRK's skill, but this movie tops that. I really don't want to give too much of the story away--but when Rizwan feels that he needs to prove a point to regain the love of his point--he sets out to do so. This quest makes the world realize that an honest, innocent man can change the world---you think this is not true? There have been many honest, innocent men who have done so in the past--Jesus, Mohammed, Gandhi--have changed the world. Rizwan sees the world as being inhabited by good people or bad people, and he is out to help those who need help.

This movie will change your ideas about Bollywood films--they can do socially important topics and do them well. It is not to say that Karan Johar could not have done better-the story in the first half could have been a bit tighter, and the second half's unevenness could have been smoothed over. Interviews with Johar have had him saying that SRK did lots of directing--maybe that should be the next step for SRK--let us see him do the directing!

This movie is a must see.