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 #3

Abhishek and Rani headline this week's epic dance number from one of my favorite films, Bunty aur Babli.

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.