Bollywood glee!

[dangermousie]

Finished Aaja Nachle, a movie about a woman returning to her small town after many years abroad, and trying to save a performance venue and put on a production. It wasn't that great (though it wasn't bad either) but two things about it were wonderful: (1) seeing Madhuri Dixit again; and (2)Konkona Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor playing two people cast as Laila and Majnun in Madhuri's take on the famous story. They have such lovely chemistry - they should make more movies together (they have saved an atrocious "noble hooker yay" movie for me before) plus seeing the play performed was a huge highlight.

So, I bring you caps from my favorite scene - the production put on by Madhuri which is the famous legend of Laila and Majnun, the star-crossed lovers (played by KKS and KK). It was very very lovely.



But first off, Madhuri:



Kunal Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma in "real life"



The performance of Majnun & Laila:













































After the performance. Awwww.



Also, I don't know how, but I somehow totally missed that Mani Ratnam's next movie, starring Abhishek and Aiswarya is a modern take on the Ramayana! Only in his version, Sita and Ravana have a thing???? In fact it's supposed to be a romantic movie! (I think Aish is playing Sita and Abhi Ravana). OMG. Isn't it sorta like having Jesus get it on with Mary Magdalene - i.e. pretty controversial? Mmmmm. This is going to be SO GOOOOOD (I have yet to see a Mani movie that I didn't utterly love) but I think some theaters are going to get trashed (I read they cut out a lovemaking scene because they didn't want to be controversial which made me LOL as I think Sita/Ravana is plenty controversial on its own). Unless the info is wrong and Abhi is playing Ram, in which case theaters are safe but I will enjoy the movie just as well.

ETA: Nope, checked it, and Abhi is Ravana. And apparently his character's sister kills herself as result of being offended by Aish's husband so he kidnaps her as revenge but they fall in love? Ravana/Sita. *boggle boggle boggle* Though presumably he doesn't have nine heads in this version. I am so excited because I think Abhi's performance in Yuva was his very best, and that was in a Mani Ratnam movie and he also played a violent abusive thug in dyfunctional love with a woman - I hated his character and couldn't take my eyes off him. So if this is half as good, I'll be in heaven.

Also, Govinda is Hanuman. I do not have enough glee in the whole world for this. (Vikram, a Tamil star I am not familiar with is Ram, but is playing Ravana in the Tamil-language version they are shooting simultaneously? That is super awesome).

Comments

[wasabi-girl1.livejournal.com]

Aaja Nachle was surprisingly awesome in parts but mostly boring. Like, EVERYTHING Madhuri did was amazing, even more so than usual, and Konkona won my heart officially. AND AKSHAYE/MADHURI, YAAAAAAYZ!! But all the other boring stuff, well, bored me. :P

I heard that in Ravana Abhi and Ash DON'T have a thing and that she's paired with someone else? Though, in the Ramayana Ravana did try to seduce Sita, so that aspect will still be in there. So is the love scene between Ash and Abhi then? Because I remember reading one of them saying they aren't paired together in this one. I dunno... *shrugs*

Well, I like the hot Stockholm Syndrome plot (one of my secret kinks, lol) but by saying it's a modern-day Ramayana they're shooting themselves in the foot for no reason. They could have just never said that and it would have been fine! :P

[fivil.livejournal.com]

I thought Aaja Naachle sucked for like the first 20-30 mins. Then they finally introduced the central tension - Akshaye being the weirdly charming "villain" - and all the fun side charactes like Konkona, Kunal, Vinay Pathak as the man who wants to stop being boring to his wife etc etc. After that, it was not the best of Bollywood movies but it was sure fun to watch. Plus great songs, great chemistry, good dancing. I also liked the implied Madhuri/Akshaye, so cute.

Actually, Ravana apparently isn't portrayed as ultimate evil in some South-Indian versions of Ramayana, more just like a conflicted man, so while it still has an edge of controversial, I don't think it's that controversial.

I am sooo psyched about this movie. Not only do I love Abhi in Mani's movies, his direction seems to pull actual performances out of Aishwarya and on top of that, Vikram is my favourite Southie actor - hot, convincing, charming and did I mention hot? So I'll be happy watching both versions, Tamil and Hindi. :)

[om-shakti.livejournal.com]

Whaaa? I hope they don't have a thing, that would cause wayyy to huge of a rukkus, and change the point of the whole story. Not that poor sita doesn't deserve someone better than freaking Ram. UGH. I read the Ramayana years ago and i have nothing but hate for him.

Have you seen Sita sings the blues, that free animated english film that was released online?

[mishane.livejournal.com]

This has nothing to do with your current post but thank you for recc'ing Capital Scandal. The only reason I heard about it was from your rec list and I just watched Episode 15 last night and it was amazing. It's going on my Top 10 for sure.