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dangermousieThis is a list of movies for anyone who is not very familiar with Bollywood, but wants to check it out. Like any such lists, it tends to be quite subjective. However, the majority of the movies on the lists were award winners, hits, or popular with the people of BollyWHAT or all three.
Here are movies if you want to start:
Crime Drama or Action (gritty and "realistic"): Karam (one of my faves this year, it deals with a contract killer who is forced to do a job despite his wanting to retire in order to save his wife. Soooo good), Company (gangster wars), Khakee (group of cops transport a terrorist), Elaan (five misfits take on the crime boss in gorgeous Italy. Angst, romance, and plot twists), Paap ("Witness" remake), Dus (slick actioner with some angst).
Romantic Melodrama or comedy (with strong family overtones): Kal Ho Na Ho (set in New York. Really recommended as a first time); Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (set in Europe and India. The longest running Indian movie and my favorite, but the clothes might be a bit dated). Veer-Zaara (my current fave BW movie, about a star-crossed affair between an Indian pilot and Pakistani aristocrat); Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (corny and fun and irresistably romantic, also a huge hit). Hum Tum: a loose interpretation of "When Harry Met Sally" set in India, Netherlands and France. Kabhi Khushi Kabie Gham: really extravagant, kitchy and with a LOT of crying and pleather. Chalte Chalte (a marital comedy-drama with a lovely trip to Greece), Dil Chahta Hai (very modern look at 3 friends, and with a segment in Australia), Saathiya (about trials and tribulations of a young married couple). Kuch Na Kaho (a light-hearted movie about a single Mom finding love).
Comedy-spoof: Main Hoon Na (about a military man who must go undercover in college to protect a General's daughter). Munnabhai MBBS (gangster desides to become doctor. This one is going to be made into a Hollywood movie. Funniest BW movie I've ever seen), Bunty aur Babli (a pair of small town crooks team up, wreak havoc, and fall in love. Very good), Masti (utterly vulgar yet very funny).
Breath-takingly beautiful: Devdas(2002) (eye popping and tragic) and Hum Dil De Chucke Sanam (forced humor and Hungary pretending to be Italy, but the visuals are stunning), Refugee (the end is rather jingoistic, but the first 2/3 are breathtaking and unsual), Parineeta (elegant and moving story about almost-doomed love).
Older couples: Baghban (about a couple married for 40 years whose children separate them). ETA: Pyar Mein Twist (widowers find love)
Period movies: Lagaan (Oscar nominee about a 19th century village team playing cricket against the British), Asoka (about Indian emperor and his path to Buddhism and star-crossed love), Kisna (in 1947, a young man escorts a British girl to safety), Parineeta (see above), The Rising (rebellion against the British), ETA: Gadar (a Sikh and a Muslim fall in love after the Partition).
More "artsy" movies: Chameli (about a hooker and a businessman who spend a night together. Not that way.); Yuva (three intersecting lives of three young men of very different characters); Dil Se (obsession, terrorism, and some really bizarre musical numbers), Mr & Mrs Iyer (a Brahmin housewife protects a Muslim photographer during riots), Swades (about brain drain), Dev (about religious riots), Bombay (same), Black (starts off as a Helen-Keller-like story and becomes so much more. Acting and visuals are outstanding), Fiza (about terrorism and downfall of a family), Moksha (twisted idealism), Raincoat (two estranged lovers reunite on a rainy afternoon).
Gorgeous Music and Dance: Taal (about a dissapointed in love village belle who makes big), Dil Se, Kisna (watch those contortions!), Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Koi Mil Gaya (Bollywood's take on E.T.), Dil To Pagal Hai (a producer puts on a show).
Oldie but goodie: Pakeezah (about a prostitute saved by love), Pyassa (visually stunning), Awaara (Raj Kapoor's social classic), Sholay (the classic curry Western and super hit), Mughal-e-Azam (a classic epic about doomed star-crossed lovers in Mughal times).
Most likely to be found in your local Blockbuster: Asoka, Lagaan.
Cross-over movies coming your way later in the year: My Bollywood Bride (an American chases his Indian lover to India), Marigold (a third rate American actress stranded in India tries to earn some money by acting in Bollywood. Not knowing how to dance, she needs a choreographer. He is male of course, and you can work out the rest for yourself.
Out of the ones listed, my Top Dozen starting choice (no order) would be:
1 Devdas
2 Swades
3 Kal Ho Na Ho
4 Karam
5 Parineeta
6 Munnabhai MBBS
7 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
8 Dil Chahta Hai
9 Mr & Mrs Iyer
10 Asoka
11 Yuva
12 Dil Se
That should be enough to start :)
Some are available for rent at Netflix. Reputable places to purchase DVDs are http://www.nehaflix.com and http://www.1800imall.com among others.
Here are movies if you want to start:
Crime Drama or Action (gritty and "realistic"): Karam (one of my faves this year, it deals with a contract killer who is forced to do a job despite his wanting to retire in order to save his wife. Soooo good), Company (gangster wars), Khakee (group of cops transport a terrorist), Elaan (five misfits take on the crime boss in gorgeous Italy. Angst, romance, and plot twists), Paap ("Witness" remake), Dus (slick actioner with some angst).
Romantic Melodrama or comedy (with strong family overtones): Kal Ho Na Ho (set in New York. Really recommended as a first time); Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (set in Europe and India. The longest running Indian movie and my favorite, but the clothes might be a bit dated). Veer-Zaara (my current fave BW movie, about a star-crossed affair between an Indian pilot and Pakistani aristocrat); Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (corny and fun and irresistably romantic, also a huge hit). Hum Tum: a loose interpretation of "When Harry Met Sally" set in India, Netherlands and France. Kabhi Khushi Kabie Gham: really extravagant, kitchy and with a LOT of crying and pleather. Chalte Chalte (a marital comedy-drama with a lovely trip to Greece), Dil Chahta Hai (very modern look at 3 friends, and with a segment in Australia), Saathiya (about trials and tribulations of a young married couple). Kuch Na Kaho (a light-hearted movie about a single Mom finding love).
Comedy-spoof: Main Hoon Na (about a military man who must go undercover in college to protect a General's daughter). Munnabhai MBBS (gangster desides to become doctor. This one is going to be made into a Hollywood movie. Funniest BW movie I've ever seen), Bunty aur Babli (a pair of small town crooks team up, wreak havoc, and fall in love. Very good), Masti (utterly vulgar yet very funny).
Breath-takingly beautiful: Devdas(2002) (eye popping and tragic) and Hum Dil De Chucke Sanam (forced humor and Hungary pretending to be Italy, but the visuals are stunning), Refugee (the end is rather jingoistic, but the first 2/3 are breathtaking and unsual), Parineeta (elegant and moving story about almost-doomed love).
Older couples: Baghban (about a couple married for 40 years whose children separate them). ETA: Pyar Mein Twist (widowers find love)
Period movies: Lagaan (Oscar nominee about a 19th century village team playing cricket against the British), Asoka (about Indian emperor and his path to Buddhism and star-crossed love), Kisna (in 1947, a young man escorts a British girl to safety), Parineeta (see above), The Rising (rebellion against the British), ETA: Gadar (a Sikh and a Muslim fall in love after the Partition).
More "artsy" movies: Chameli (about a hooker and a businessman who spend a night together. Not that way.); Yuva (three intersecting lives of three young men of very different characters); Dil Se (obsession, terrorism, and some really bizarre musical numbers), Mr & Mrs Iyer (a Brahmin housewife protects a Muslim photographer during riots), Swades (about brain drain), Dev (about religious riots), Bombay (same), Black (starts off as a Helen-Keller-like story and becomes so much more. Acting and visuals are outstanding), Fiza (about terrorism and downfall of a family), Moksha (twisted idealism), Raincoat (two estranged lovers reunite on a rainy afternoon).
Gorgeous Music and Dance: Taal (about a dissapointed in love village belle who makes big), Dil Se, Kisna (watch those contortions!), Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Koi Mil Gaya (Bollywood's take on E.T.), Dil To Pagal Hai (a producer puts on a show).
Oldie but goodie: Pakeezah (about a prostitute saved by love), Pyassa (visually stunning), Awaara (Raj Kapoor's social classic), Sholay (the classic curry Western and super hit), Mughal-e-Azam (a classic epic about doomed star-crossed lovers in Mughal times).
Most likely to be found in your local Blockbuster: Asoka, Lagaan.
Cross-over movies coming your way later in the year: My Bollywood Bride (an American chases his Indian lover to India), Marigold (a third rate American actress stranded in India tries to earn some money by acting in Bollywood. Not knowing how to dance, she needs a choreographer. He is male of course, and you can work out the rest for yourself.
Out of the ones listed, my Top Dozen starting choice (no order) would be:
1 Devdas
2 Swades
3 Kal Ho Na Ho
4 Karam
5 Parineeta
6 Munnabhai MBBS
7 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
8 Dil Chahta Hai
9 Mr & Mrs Iyer
10 Asoka
11 Yuva
12 Dil Se
That should be enough to start :)
Some are available for rent at Netflix. Reputable places to purchase DVDs are http://www.nehaflix.com and http://www.1800imall.com among others.
