Shahrukh Films I have seen and loved! Part 1!

Someone told me the other day--you should write about all the SRK films you have seen!--humm how would I do that?? I have seen nearly all the films he has made, the good, the mediocre, the outright awful--even some where he just did a cameo!

Any SRK fan will recognize this picture from Billu--it was the Marjaani dance bit he did with Kareen Kapoor(not a bad number, even if it does contain Kareena)!
Some of his films have left me wondering--why he did them. I know he made specific choices early in his career to not do romantic 'chocolate box hero' roles--this is a quote I read in a book written about him--and his early roles reflect this!

My first film I ever saw with him was Kal Ho Naa Ho--my goddaughter brought the film back from India--and said I needed to watch! Well, that film not only hooked me on Bollywood, but it made me the biggest SRK fan in the Northeast!

The heart wrenching interaction between SRK and Preity Zinta makes me cry every time I watch this film! The story may be hokey, the songs so so--but SRK is in top form as the romantic lead. The first time I saw this film, I had not seen any other Bollywood films, so I missed the subtext and references to other great BWood films--Lagaan, DDLJ to name just a few. As well as I did not recognize the significance of the cameos of Kajol and Rani Mukerjee and other female leads of SRK's!  I had much to learn!

After seeing this film, this made me want to find more SRK films on Netflix--or buy what I could cheaply--and my collection began! 

My next film of SRK's that I love and have seen many many times is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or DDLJ. This was SRK's first romantic lead--and boy does he do it up well--no sappy romance for him-he is a cynical Indian raised in London who falls for a very traditional Punjabi young lady. This film set the bar very high for Bollywood romances after its release and has been hinted at and referenced in many films since. I used to try to watch this film on the anniversary of its release every year--but have been remiss of late--my dream one day is to head to Mumbai and see it in the Maratha Mandir theatre where it has been playing since the films release in 1995!! According to the Wiki entry on DDLJ--this film is in the 1001 Must See Films before you die(along with Mother India)!! So I guess I have seen all the Bollywood I need see??? NOT!!

There are so many films--I think I may need to do more than one blog post Ms Aish!!

Missing movies!?

Well--I have watched a few films lately--several were great--one was a waste of my time(sorry Erin!).

Khanaai (2012)--Starred Vidya Balan--and I never thought I would love a thriller so much!  I had read so much about this film and when I finally got to watch, I was glued to my seat!  This thriller is a murder mystery(I think!)--it is a very hard to classify film, even for a western film! Vidya(the character's name is the same as the actress'), very pregnant, heads to Kolkata during the Durga Puja festivities --there is  a real symbolism between this celebration and the story that gets told(and when I totally figure it out, I will let you know).Vidya is in Kolkata to locate her missing husband--he left for business and never returned to London.
Vidya struggles with the heat, her large belly, the crowds and the lack of co-operation from authorities as she tries to find her husband. The police think she is crazy--but one officer is assigned to help her and ferry her around Kolkata.
She checks into a semi seedy guest house, where her husband had stayed--this place is not very clean, the 'running' hot water is provided by a small boy!  Vidya spends much of her free time in the hotel room cleaning it!
Vidya convinces the young police officer that her quest for her lost husband is part of a conspiracy--which seems to be true as many of the people she talks to about her husband end up dead!
I won't give up too much of the story--don't want to give you any spoilers(sweetie--oops sorry another passion!)  But I never expected the ending that was!! I will need to watch this film a few more times to figure out all the clues--and they were very well placed/hidden--the 'running water-boy' at the guest house, the woman in HR of the company where her husband works, so many clues were tossed about!
This film was made on a very very small budget--there are not multiple costume changes(I kind of think that the actress used her own clothing!), there are no dance numbers, no lavish sets--but this movie hooks you in well and good!
One thing to consider when you watch this film--keep in mind--nothing is as it seems! This film is a perfect mystery film--clues and red herrings abound, but the ending is.... well--you must see it !

An afternoon with SRK--Jab Tak Hai Jaan

I know, I have been remiss with my entries this year--but it has been a crazy year. Moving, trying to get permanently re-hired at work, lack of funds and motivation to see a Bollywood flick!

Well, when I heard that the Indian grocery had a an advert that Yash Chopra's last film(and of course SRK's new film) was going to be playing in a nearby town, I jumped to see it! It was a special deal that a small indy theatre had arranged--but the owner of the theatre didn't get the word out really well. I finally called and talked to the wonderful young man running the place and got times--so we (the terrible trio of crazy white ladies who love SRK) headed to Agawam for the Sunday of Diwali to see Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

With all the secrecy during the filming--the title wasn't released until the film was nearly done, the lead actresses kept under wraps, story line minimal--SRK tweeted about some of the shooting in Kashmir and Ladakh--about the beauty of the area and how difficult it was to film in remote areas.

The publicity began as Diwali neared--some of the big promos began about the time of Yashji's 80th birthday--SRK did a long interview(I sure hope they subtitle those on the DVD release).  Many of the cast seemed in promo mode when they attended Amitabh Bachchan's 70's birthday party, though Yashji wasn't seeming well during the festivities and went right to the hospital after the party.  Word was that there was still a few scenes they needed to film in Switzerland--you need to have some stuff filmed in Switzerland for a Yashji film!

When Yash Chopra did not recover from his bout with dengue fever and died October 21st--the entire Bollywood community wept--what would happen now to this film--would they film that last bit, would it release for Diwali??

Well--they did not go to Switzerland, they premiered it the day before Diwali in a lavish tribute to Yashji--they put a tribute to Yashji in the beginning credits as well as the end credits.

How was the film?? It was  grand SRK film--his brooding, exuberant, wonderful self held the film together. I tried not to read reviews prior to seeing the movie--but, I was really concerned about his pairing with Katrina Kaif(I was hoping against hope that she was not his primary love interest, and was hoping that Anushka Sharma would win out--they had such great chemistry in RNBDJ!!).

From the leaked photos from the London shoot, I knew that Katrina was the main focus--but why?? She is such a wooden actress--it amazed me that SRK could get such hot and heavy scenes--yes there is a kissing(several) on the lips!! with such a stiff young lady in his arms!!

If you are going to see a great female lead actress do her best--this is not the film for you--this is a SRK and Anushka film. Anushka's character really brings out the best in SRK's character--she gets him out of his funk, brings him back to London to face his past--which becomes all that he can face.

The return to London and the accident that wipes out his past was a bit hard to swallow--but SRK manages to make it believable, even if Katrina is so standoffish and won't let him into her life!

Go see this film---it is a typical Yashji romance--boy loves girl, girl is one he can't have, boy finds new life--still loving girl!  We shall never see a film like this again, for even if Yashji hadn't passed after this film--this was to be the last film he was to direct in his long career.

Rest in Peace Yashji--your legacy of romance is secure!  We love what you did for Bollywood films during your career--and even if SRK won't admit he is a romantic hero--SRK is my romantic hero!!

Don 2--back in the action

We have finally gotten the DVD, Cable, TV thingy worked out. With our move we went from one cable system(Comcast) to another (Charter)-each with their own hookup systems. For some reason, the DVD player would not get it together with the TV--kiddo tried to hook it up--but no go. Spent last Saturday sitting behind the TV playing with cord hookups. At one point David McCullam as Ducky on NCIS had SRK's voice coming out of his mouth as well as all the sound effects from Don 2!  It had me and kiddo in stitches!!  But--by disconnecting one cable line and hooking up the DVD line--I finally got to watch Don 2 as well as re-watch, for the umpteenth time RBNDJ!  Got my SRK fix in but good!

Not being a huge fan of action flicks--this was pretty good--it had suspense, drama and of course, many great actors not just SRK!  The special bit with Hrithik Roshan was priceless!  I kept asking kiddo to check the other actors and what they were in it--some were old friends: Om Puri and Boman Irani. Though one actor, the computer whiz that planned all the technical stuff--Kunal Kapoor--seemed familiar, yet not--I recalled him from Rang de Basanti but I had also seen him in other stuff.

Don manages to evade the police--but only so far--he does get captured and tossed into a Malaysian jail with many of his enemies.  I had read that they filmed in a high security jail in Malaysia--talk about taking risks.  When Don gets out of jail, he is off to Germany to get his money and some revenge.

He then plots to steal the printing plates that they use to print the Euro bills from--the fact that they manage to get into the highest security part of facility is kinda hard to believe--but then, it is SRK and he can do anything!

The film was enjoyable and you could totally see the set up for Don 3--but hey--why not.
If you like action flicks--you will enjoy this! The stunts are fabulous and the acting good--story line kinda is thin but hey, aren't most action flick story lines thin??

Another enjoyable day with Bollywood--and now thanks to a wee gadget from Radio Shack--we merely have to press a button and we can switch from DVD to Cable and back--no unhooking wires!!

Long Time Gone--or my reflections on a Chubb Fellow

I know it has been a long while since I have posted--but many things have changed. Certainly not my love of Bollywood, nor my desire to know more about the world, India and life--places have changed, stuff is still being arranged!
We had a stressful year, with having to move after 20 years, and not really planning the move(stuff just tossed into boxes and crates and moved)--many of my precious books on history, Bollywood and food are still in crates--no place for them to go.

I wish I had heard at least a week before this happened, and I would have figured a way to get my self into the Shubert Theatre at Yale University. Sharukh Khan was awarded the Chubb Fellowship at Yale and on April 12th--made a fabulous speech.  I finally sat down and watched the YouTube video a bit ago--and it even firmed up my love of this man and what he does.

SRK was feted by the Chubb Fellowship before hand--and if you go to the Chubb site you will have 600+ photos to go through that show the events! { http://chubbfellowship.org/speakers/current}  Yes, you heard that right--600+ photos of SRK!!  SRK was treated to a private reception, with smoozing and dancing--yup dancing. Then there was the lecture he presented with questions and answers and more dancing!--and the photos then show the dinner that included the students of the Timothy Dwight House as well--with more smoozing, talking, presentation to SRK of Yale memorabilia  and Dancing!

SRK's speech and the following questions and answers afterward, showed that SRK doesn't really take himself and his world wide fame that seriously!  Once again, when he arrived, he was detained at the airport--geez this is getting old!! SRK spoke of the last time he was at Yale, they were filming KANK and his mouth froze as he was singing to Rani--and he hoped his mouth wouldn't freeze up again.
I will include the official YouTube link for his lecture and let you form your own opinion about SRK-I will be off for now--but back soon with my thoughts on cable providers, DVDs, and Don2!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0OaOnT8res

A shot of Shahrukh!--Ra.One

Well, he finally did it! SRK made the movie for his son Aryan--a Super hero film! The Indian press has not been horribly kind to this movie-for it is very different from most traditional films, yet it is very traditional! I an not a huge fan of action, scifi, gaming movies--but hey, it was SRK!
All that I had read about this movie--the bringing in of FX experts from the US to teach Red Chillies staff how to do the effects, the fact that SRK wanted to do all the stunts(hey, he is very injury prone it seems), and the fact that one of my not so fav actresses was going to be his co-star(Kareena Kapoor, hey she redeemed herself in this one, seems when she is paired with SRK, she CAN act)--I had to go see it!

Well, the weekend it opened(Diwali in India, Halloween here in the US) was the weekend I had planned to go to the cinema in Shrewsbury to see it--a couple of my friends had planned to come as well. Well, Mother Nature intervened--Saturday they predicted a heavy wet snow fall for Saturday nite into Sunday--I was still hopeful that it would be able to be cleared out for the Sunday afternoon show. My big concern was, should I see it in 2D or 3D?? Whenever I have seen some film that is supposed to be 3D(IMAX for one), I have gotten the worst migraine ever. The theatre was only doing one 2D show, the bulk of them were going to be 3D--I figured I would decide when I got there.

Well, the snow and wind began--the trees still were fully leafed out-then they began to fall!! We got nearly a foot of heavy, wet snow--lost power at about 8:30 Saturday nite--I was still hopeful that it would be back by the afternoon. Well, this was a historic storm, it turned into a full-blown Nor'easter, most of Western Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut and Vermont were buried in snow, downed limbs, trees and electric poles!! Sunday afternoon--we are looking around, the landlord comes with his backhoe and his son with his chain saw--they cut a path to the main road a mile in--they came back saying there was so much debris not only on our street, but the main road! Man--little did I know this would be the first full day of 8 days without power! Without power, heat, running water(we have a well) and regular hygiene!

I kept hoping that Ra.One would still be at the theatre once the electricity was back. I won't bore you with the boring search for batteries, hot showers, and water to flush the toilet(think snow melt from the roof)-you never saw anyone so happy to see power back on Sunday--which included having to bathe 2 cats that thought by sleeping in the cold ash in the fireplace would keep them warm!

I kept checking the film listings at the theatre--and sure enough--the film was still playing nearly 3 weeks in!! Gotta go--both my friends were not sure if they would come, one had major tree removal from her property, the other was stressed from work and not sure either. Well, come heck or high water, I was going to go--but--but--it was only in 3D--oh well, I would chance it.....
Well---I am glad that the choice had been made for me--this was fabulous--and one of my first modern 3D experiences. I am wondering, however--if the entire film, including end credits was in 3D--why wasn't the beginning credits in 3D?? The disclaimers about not doing these stunts, the dedications, and the first few scenes seemed out of focus--was this on purpose--or what?

Well, this fast paced film was great--very different from any other Bollywood I have seen, or any other SRK film--but it still had dil! Even though the video game had a villain that was more powerful and 'sexier'--it was still the core values of Bollywood films that brought the hero to the forefront-- dil , family and good. Sure, a lot of the references were very traditional--but if you didn't know that Ra.One(Raavan) was the embodiment of evil and G.One(Jeevan) is the embodiment of good--who shall ultimately win, you still get a great film, great stunts, great ideas!

I wasn't too sure how I would like this movie--but I loved it--and now am looking forward to the Christmas release of Don 2.
I had been pretty stressed, as had been my friend who came with me, but this pure escapist fun and SRK to boot(and Arjun Rampal wasn't bad as the villain)--was just the tonic I needed--I keep forgetting that Bollywood can usually get me out of a funk or a bad mood--humm 4 day weekend, lots of football that I don't watch--I see lots of Bollywood in the future!

Challo--come along and enjoy!

Mangal Pandey--the Rising

I suppose you are wondering what movie I am talking about-since when folks talk about the 2005 Aamir Khan movie Mangal Pandey:The Rising the photo most often show is the where Aamir is dressed as a sepoy (a native soldier in India under the command of the East India Company). I like this Holi photo better, it mirrors the joy of the the desire for freedom.

This story is a dramatization of the 1857 Sepoy Uprising in India--and had this succeeded-India might have had its freedom 90 years earlier than 1947. In 1857, India was not under the control of the Queen of England, but the East India Company--the Company did its best to extract as much income out of India's peoples as it could. The company forced Indian farmers to grow opium and sell it at fixed prices to the Company which in turn sold it at high profit to China in exchange for Tea, silk and spices.

The major tripping point of the uprising was the introduction of the rifled Enfield Musket--which had a cartridge containing powder and shot that needed to be bitten off by the soldier and then loaded into the barrel of the rifle. Up until this time, the Indian Sepoys used the 'Brown Bess' musket that had separate powder and shot that was loaded into the barrel--the ease of the cartridge and the greater accuracy of the Enfield was the reason behind the change. But, the cartridge was the instigator of this rebellion--rumor spread that the cartridge was coated with the fat of cows and pigs. The Sepoys consisted of Muslim and Hindu men to which each one found the fat of either animal abhorrent--the Muslims felt pig impure and the Hindu saw the cow as sacred.

The man behind this uprising, Mangal Pandey--was a devout Hindu who refused to submit to this humiliation. Pandey felt that by putting the fat of a cow into his mouth, he would be impure and his community would shun him. Pandey had the ability to muster the support of the many troops in India--and a rebellion was begun. It is not to say that this Aamir Khan movie is true to the tale of the uprising-it twists the story to make it more patriotic and adds a bit of romance- but it still gives the viewer a feel for the suppression that India suffered under the East India Company. After the rebellion was quashed, India then came under the rule of the English monarchy--it is not to say that this rule was any less suppressive, but this is for others to debate.


I found that watching this movie after seeing the new, and last Harry Potter film to be appropriate--both are about rebellion, and both show the fights people can fight when they are so moved. Watching this movie makes me wish to delve further into this historic episode--and thus into the history of India. Aamir Khan does well with this role--and brings the spirit of Mangal Pandey to life; let us not forget these players of history that tried to bring equality to their peoples.

Mangal Pandey-@1827-1857