BollyBest: Music Video of the Week #8

DHOOM 3 IS COMING OUT TOMORROW!!! I have yet to find local showtimes, but I hope it will be within the week.

Naturally, our vid of the week is Katrina Kaif and co in Dhoom Machale Dhoom.

BollyBest: Music Video of the Week #7

RAM LEELA IS OUT AND I AM GOING TO SEE IT TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So of course, here's Priyanka Chopra in her role as an avatar. The director calls this a very "western" number. Thoughts?

Movie Review: Krrish 3

When I found out that Krrish 3 was going to be playing at my local theater, I was really, really excited. This is one of the most anticipated films of the year and I was over the moon to get a chance to see it in the first week of release.

Because everyone in India looks this good

This is one of the most-hyped sequels being released this year (DHOOM 3, OMG) and I watched Koy... Mil Gaya and Krrish in the previous month to get ready. I took my Mom (who has minimal exposure to Bollywood) along and was accompanied by Ellie, who probably knows Bollywood better than I do, but hadn't seen this franchise yet. 

For those not completely ensconced in modern B-wood lore, Krrish is the name of the alter-ego of a mild manner by supernaturally-talented young man played by Hrithik Roshan. He's now married to the lovely Priya (Priyanka Chopra) and they live in Mumbai with his elderly father (Hrithik Roshan). If you haven't seen the first two movies, don't worry--there is a brief intro that covers enough of the lore to make it all make sense. It certainly adds a little fun to have seen all the movies, but it isn't necessary.

Basically all you need to know

In what I would say is perhaps the best bit of acting I've seen from the oh-so-talented Hrithik, he plays the daily life of a kind-hearted man who is more concerned with helping the public and promoting public good will than he is with advancing himself. Instead of hiding away in a giant mansion, he lives and works among the people of Mumbai. He takes a little time to get to know the people he helps while in the guise of Krrish, but it takes an incredible toll on his personal life--his wife has to compete for time with him and and he can't hold down a job.

He's even forced to listen to other people bragging about being Krrish and he can't say a word without risking danger to his family. I think a less skillful actor would have overplayed this role and come off as a pompous ass, but Hrithik keeps him down-to-earth and loveable, possibly the most cute and cuddly a super hero has ever been.

"will she" in regards to bad hair

An evil power rises and attacks the very heart of Mumbai. Krrish, Priya, and will she/won't she frenemy have to make incredible sacrifices and learn to trust each other while they fight against the evil Kaal. An odd plot point here--Kaal discovers that he is the cloned (I think) son of Krrish' father. Aside from some obvious timeline issues (he was cloned after Krrish was born, but appears to be older than Krrish?), there is the funny fact that Krrish himself never actually learns of their relationship. His father knows, but doesn't end up communicating that information.

I thought this movie was set up well and the actors carried the story along. The special effects were strikingly good and the visuals were stunning. The plot was a little more engaging and thought-out than I expect from Bollywood, which is good, because this movie has one incredibly glaring flaw:

The song and dance scenes.

There are two.

needed more of this

Literally. Only two. One is the high energy Raghupati Raghav that we saw in the promos. The other is a love song that isn't very catchy and is really only notable for the striking number of douchey shirts that the designers stuck Hrithik in. I absolutely refuse to believe he picked out those atrocities for himself, wow.

All things considered, I really did enjoy Krrish 3. It isn't the edgy, modern high-energy Dhoom franxhise that I love so much, but it has it's own feel and the characters are far better developed than I expected.

Dance Numbers: 2.5/5
Costar Chemistry: Krrish/Krishna with Priya 5/5, Krrish/his dad 4/5, Krrish/Kaal 4/5
Entertainment Value: 4/5
SFX/Production Value: 5/5
Subtitle Accuracy: 4/5

BollyBest: Video of the Week #7

From the recent release Besharam, here's Ranbir Kapoor and Pallavi Sharda in the fun song "Lut Gaye".

Douchey Shirt of the Week #5

I love Krrish 3, but this?

Yeah.

BollyBest: Music Video of the Week #6

We all love to see our stars at different points in their careers. Here we have Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukerji, and Kareena Kapoor in the flick "Mujhse Dosti Karoge".

BollyBest: Music Video of the Week #5

In honor of Halloween, here's a classic Bollywood take on the Halloween tropes. Can skeletons and mummies dance?

But of course.

Douchey Shirt of the Week #3

Ranbir Kapoor in... you guessed it... Besharam. 

BollyWeekly (Week of October 7)

Here's the excitement for this week:

Ranbir Kapoor in "Besharam"

Travel writer Harriet O'Brien goes on a studio tour of Bollywood, detailed in this interesting article that talks about the genre's rich history in India.

Not only does the upcoming Ram-Leela (from Sanjay Leela Bhansali) feature the stunning Deepika Padukone and the charming Ranveer Singh, it's alive with color, incredible cinematography, and it's throwing down the gauntlet. Bollywood Life asks: who does the Garba better, Deepikia or Aish? Deepika is relatively new on the scene, but Aish has been absent a while.  Here are the videos for comparison.

Deepika:



Aish:



Opinions?


There were many famous faces present at the opening of a new real estate project in Mumbai this week. Check out the photos here.

This new film looks like a must see. (Pssst.... guess what BollyWest is doing on Wednesday!??!!?)

Is the Bollywood charm catching? American actor Jon Huertes says, "I would love to do a Bollywood movie" when talking to BollySpice. Best known for his role as Detective Javier Esposito on Castle, Huertes pursues acting and music and even proposes a Bollywood-themed Castle episode. As a fan of the show, I'm all in. 

Anil Kapoor as Jai Singh Rathore in "24"

This article about the new Bollywood television series based off of the American series "24" is too good not to share. The show stars Anil Kapoor as the main character, Jai Singh Rathore. Interestingly enough, Kapoor played a character during the American version's last season. This show is getting a lot of hype, even though it is just getting started. It will be interesting to see its effect on Bollywood television industry, as its format differs greatly from the majority of popular TV in India. Here's another interesting article. This link will take you to a BBC video about the show.

Until next week!

BollyWelcome: What to Watch

If you've been tracking with this series, then you've already been introduced to Bollywood cinema in four easy steps. If you missed out, here's a link to part one.

What to Watch

Once you know you want to watch Bollywood movies, you have to find some that you like. Just like any other art forms, some parts will appeal to you and others will not. How do you find what you like when you're searching for movies in a different language?

From "Cocktail" 

Either you learn Hindi (Ellie's all over it) or you find another way. I started out the hard way--I just googled for top ten lists and perused brief write ups, then tried to decide whether the movie would appeal to me based on a paragraph or two.

Let's just say it's very hit and miss. Mostly miss. As your taste develops, you will find some elements of Bollywood more gripping than others. I really love the East/West interactions of modern Bollywood. I like to see the traditional culture dealing with the outside influences. It makes me sad to see Bollywood grow Westernized at times--I love to see my films embrace their traditional ethic and be blatantly non-Western.

As such, I tend to spend more time with modern Bollywood with the slick production values and more complex storylines.

Ellie is all about classic Bollywood. Aside from the magnetism of Big B (we love you Amitabh!!), it is a completely distinct vibe. The costumes are more traditional, the stories are a bit scattered, and the energy is just as high and fun as the modern stuff, though the music tends to be more traditional.

How to Find It

Once you know what "it" is for you, there is a very simple way to find it. Really. You don't even have to learn Hindi (yet). 

YouTube.

Really. 

Search for something you like. 

Watch music videos. Look at the recommended videos. Watch those. Find the songs you like, then purchase the whole movie. No more relying on reviews of strangers with a different set of interests and values!! It's amazing. Depending on where your interests lie, you can subscribe to different channels. A favorite of mine is YRF Songs. There are plenty of others. 

Where to Buy It

Does this even need a caption?

Again, there's a really easy answer here. Check out Amazon! Not only do they have great prices on new and used DVDs and Blue-Rays, there is free Super Saver shipping on orders over $25. If you're a Prime member, it's free all the time, but I'm not. Regardless. Toss 3 or 4 in your cart and they'll be at your door in a few days.

It's a bit of a risk, especially as you're starting out, so I try to pay less than $10/DVD. As I get more comfortable with my choices and learn what actors, directors, and (most importantly) song writers I like, I'm willing to spend more.

There are other options--Eros Now runs an instant video service with an assortment of titles available for $7.99 a month. There is a 14 day free trial available. I haven't gone this route yet, but I'll be strongly considering it this winter when it's cold and miserable.

Netflix also has a lively online selection. I may be the only person in the US who doesn't currently subscribe, but the library looks fun.

We'll talk about cool local options and how to watch current releases soon!

**Also** In doing research, I ran across the soon-to-be-released "Ram-Leela" ERMERGERD!!!!!!!!!! I cannot even say how excited I am for this movie. Watch the trailer here!! 

BollyWeekly Report (Week of September 30th)

Here's the excitement for this week:

Hrithik Roshan in a new still from Krrish 3. How does that mask stay on?

The Krrish 3 release date has been moved up to November 1st. A new video has been released of the song "Dil Tu Hi Bataa," which will appear in the film. Watch it here. We at Bollywest love the song, but wonder.... Hrithik, when it comes to your Krrish hairstyles, what are you thinking?

Actor Ranveer Singh, who is currently in the middle of filming his new movie, Gunday, has been hospitalized due to contracting a severe case of dengue fever.  Best wishes for his recovery! Read about it here.

Ranveer Singh

Is Bollywood "lacking creativity" these days? Actor Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionaire) seems to think so.  For us, coming from a Western perspective and also a "new to Bollywood" point of view, we still find it all fun and exciting.

Irrfan Khan

For some eye candy, check out these photos of some of Bollywood's hottest actors at the Indian GQ Men of the Year Awards. Here is a link to a photo gallery of some of the women that were in attendance as well.

Rani Mukerji the 2013 GQ Men of the Year Awards

In romance gossip, actress Pooja Bedi is totally enamored with her boyfriend, Askashdeep Saigal... and says that as far as his love for her is concerned, all the proof she needs is written on his...arm? Over a year ago, Saigal got Pooja's name tattooed on his arm. Perhaps this couple has never heard of the curse of the name tattoo? All kidding aside, we wish the happy couple the very best.  

Pooja and "Sky"

In Dhoom 3 news, a new poster for the film has just been released. Looks pretty awesome! The film comes out on December 20th, not November 4th as previously reported. There seems to be a lot of date-shifting in Bollywood lately!

New poster for Dhoom 3

And finally... nice guy Abhishek Bachchan, husband of the lovely Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, sets a good example for all young Indian men looking to romance women... the right way. AB says:

"I am used to people whistling at my wife... see my wife then you will know why I am saying this. I have never whistled at her to woo her... I don't think its the right thing to do. I courted her through my gesture, emotions and words." 

Aish remarks:

"That's why I married him."  

Awwww... just another example of why AB and Aish are one of our favorite Bollywood couples. Their love and respect for each other is obvious. Plus, they have a pretty adorable kid.

Abhishek, Aaradhya, and Aishwarya Bachchan

Until next week!

BollyWelcome: Four Movies to Start the Journey

You've just seen your first Bollywood movie. The singing. The dancing. The colors. The characters.

If your first thought was "What just happened?", well, we all thought that. If your next thought was "I WANT MORE," then you're in the right place. 

As you probably discovered within the first ten or so minutes, Bollywood isn't like Hollywood. Not really at all. It's a whole new aesthetic. The humor is different. Everything is changing. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it's hard to know where to get started. Not all Bollywood movies are created equal, and some are more accessible then others. 

In order to fully appreciate the culture and artistry of Bollywood, it's important to know what you're looking at. Today, I'm focusing on movies that help the average American viewer get introduced to the Bollywood scene. 

1) Bride and Prejudice. This is really a western movie with some Bollywood thrown in for good measure, but if you're coming in without any previous exposure, this is my #1 favorite place to start. It lets you get a feel for the vibrant colors and fun of Bollywood, but flaunts a Western story line that is familiar and easy for the American viewer to follow. It also introduces the age-old Bollywood trope of plot borrowing. It's fun for the whole family, but it gives you a little flavor of what to expect. Plus, it stars Naveen Andrews, who played the dreamy Sayid Jarrah on Lost. 

2) Kuch Na Kaho. Can I just say I love this movie? It wasn't a stunning success commercially, but it's an easy progression for an American viewer. The plot line is pretty straight forward and the characters aren't too complicated, but I feel like this entry gives a really solid grounding in Indian culture--dealing with social pressure and mores and how they can be addressed. It really dives in to the gender inequalities and hello, who doesn't like looking at Aish and Abishek? Turn your subtitles on, tally up the costume changes in each song, and follow along. 

3) Dhoom 2. Generally, I think it's best to start with the first movie in a series. Not in this case. The Dhoom series is a massive commerical hit in India, and it's easy to see why. Once you're accustomed to the Bollywood tropes and style, this is a visual and audio treat. The songs are awesome, the dancing incomparable, the action stunning, and the plot line is solid. I have mixed it up and used this as an "intro to Bollywood #1" movie, but I think it's easier to appreciate when you know what to expect, especially in regards to funny man Ali. Until you appreciate the style of humor common to the whole art form, you just won't understand why Ali is there. 

4) Salaam Namaste. Set in Australia instead of India, this film takes on some very interesting and modern themes, specifically out of wedlock pregnancy. Not a big deal in the US, but as the previous movies have portrayed, you're not in Kansas anymore. ;-) The music is still great, the actors are some of my favorites, but it's a modern flavor and a lot of fun. 

That's just a start. After seeing these four movies, you should have a little better grasp of what's going on and why. Once you understand the form, it is a lot easier to appreciate the different styles presented. Classic Bollywood has a lot to offer that we haven't even touched on here. The super modern movies are looking very similar to Hollywood, but then they start to lose their unique and amazing flavor. 

These four movies offer a great selection of plots, characters, colors, songs, and styles. Once you've seen them, you're ready to take the next step into the vivacious new world you've discovered.