Musings of the Obsessive Kind

I.



I have watched ep 23 of Boys Over Flowers. It had break-ups and break-downs, but honestly, I am tired of the main OTP mess. Let's instead talk about the adorableness of Yi Jung/Ga Eul.

( Screencaps of glee )

2. I didn't post about it, but a few weeks I watched Antique Bakery movie and it was very delightful. Mmmm.

3. I am rewatching Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, one of my favorite Bollywood movies which deals with a touchy subject of infidelity - I love its flawed protagonists. Here is a MV I found, mainly because I like this Polish song.

One of my favorite Bollywood movies is Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (Never Say Goodbye), an incredibly polarizing movie which came out in 2006.



KANK was rather a shock to Bollywood which despite dance numbers with scantily clad people gyrating in water still espouses very conservative values. Why? The topic of KANK was adultery.

KANK revolves a quartet of unhappy even if affluent Indians living in New York, but more specifically it's about Dev and Maya - two deeply flawed individuals who cannot function in their marriages but against all odds find that their broken personalities actually work with each other.

Now, in Bollywood, such topics are largely left only to B-pictures (trashy, cheaply made, for-tittilation movies) or more mainstream movies starring unknowns and directed by unknowns. And even then (as in Murder), the adulterers are punished and the straying spouse always, always, ALWAYS returns to the forgiving marriage partner.

KANK did not conform to a single one of those rules: it was directed by Karan Johar, one of the biggest directors/producers in Bollywood and who, morevoer, made his name on incredibly mainstream, family-friendly movies (his previous huge hit K3G had the tagline "it's all about loving your parents"). It also starred some of the biggest stars in Bollywood, including arguably the biggest star of them all: Shahrukh Khan. As an adulterer. Yes.

The role of Dev was miles away from the image on which SRK made his career -- the sweet, traditional guy who most likely won't even take the girl he loves away without parental approval. Dev is a bitter, caustic man whose sports career was cut short by a crippling injury and who's been taking it out on others ever since. He is equally responsible for the failure of his marriage to his ambitious, somewhat neglectful wife (played by the incredibly awesome Preity Zinta) and he is not a very good father either. And his adulterous OTP? Maya as played by Rani Mukherji, the quintessential "girl next door." Maya is married to a wonderful man (Abhishek Bachchan) who loves her but the problem is Maya seems to have married out of friendship and obligation believing love would come. But what happens when it doesn't? Without a smidgeon of attraction to her own husband, with differing personalities, Maya is a borderline obsessive-compulsive, caught in her failure of being unable to have children.

Dev and Maya's paths cross and their relationship starts innocuously enough -- they decide to work to help each other to save their marriage. And then, somehow, they find they are compatible -- her breaks and disappointments work with his, somehow, and what neither can find with their perfect golden spouse, they can find in each other. Yeah. One of the things I love the most about KANK is that the two protagonists are deeply flawed people and they aren't married to monsters either.

This is all basically a very-longwinded way to persuade anyone who hasn't seen it to watch it. Check out this gorgeous MV for the movie!



Anyway, I have written tons of meta when I first saw it, so I better stop. Here is the KANK tag, and here is my initial long meta on the movie.

One of my favorite Bollywood movies is Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (Never Say Goodbye), an incredibly polarizing movie which came out in 2006.



KANK was rather a shock to Bollywood which despite dance numbers with scantily clad people gyrating in water still espouses very conservative values. Why? The topic of KANK was adultery.

KANK revolves a quartet of unhappy even if affluent Indians living in New York, but more specifically it's about Dev and Maya - two deeply flawed individuals who cannot function in their marriages but against all odds find that their broken personalities actually work with each other.

Now, in Bollywood, such topics are largely left only to B-pictures (trashy, cheaply made, for-tittilation movies) or more mainstream movies starring unknowns and directed by unknowns. And even then (as in Murder), the adulterers are punished and the straying spouse always, always, ALWAYS returns to the forgiving marriage partner.

KANK did not conform to a single one of those rules: it was directed by Karan Johar, one of the biggest directors/producers in Bollywood and who, morevoer, made his name on incredibly mainstream, family-friendly movies (his previous huge hit K3G had the tagline "it's all about loving your parents"). It also starred some of the biggest stars in Bollywood, including arguably the biggest star of them all: Shahrukh Khan. As an adulterer. Yes.

The role of Dev was miles away from the image on which SRK made his career -- the sweet, traditional guy who most likely won't even take the girl he loves away without parental approval. Dev is a bitter, caustic man whose sports career was cut short by a crippling injury and who's been taking it out on others ever since. He is equally responsible for the failure of his marriage to his ambitious, somewhat neglectful wife (played by the incredibly awesome Preity Zinta) and he is not a very good father either. And his adulterous OTP? Maya as played by Rani Mukherji, the quintessential "girl next door." Maya is married to a wonderful man (Abhishek Bachchan) who loves her but the problem is Maya seems to have married out of friendship and obligation believing love would come. But what happens when it doesn't? Without a smidgeon of attraction to her own husband, with differing personalities, Maya is a borderline obsessive-compulsive, caught in her failure of being unable to have children.

Dev and Maya's paths cross and their relationship starts innocuously enough -- they decide to work to help each other to save their marriage. And then, somehow, they find they are compatible -- her breaks and disappointments work with his, somehow, and what neither can find with their perfect golden spouse, they can find in each other. Yeah. One of the things I love the most about KANK is that the two protagonists are deeply flawed people and they aren't married to monsters either.

This is all basically a very-longwinded way to persuade anyone who hasn't seen it to watch it. Check out this gorgeous MV for the movie!



Anyway, I have written tons of meta when I first saw it, so I better stop. Here is the KANK tag, and here is my initial long meta on the movie.

First off, a giant WELCOME to everyone who've recently friended me. Don't feel shy about commenting. I love to blab.

Saw Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna for a second time yesterday, with aliterati. Knowing the story made the viewing experience quite different. I found Rhea and Rishi a lot more at fault and Dev and Maya nicer. Hmmmm.

I just found out that subbed ep 20 of Ouran High School Host Club is out. Yay! I wasn't into 19 as much because Lobelia Girls School=boring, but this one is supposed to be twins' centric, and my twins love is second only to my Tamaki love.

What day of the week is Prison Break on? I really do want to give it a chance.

For those who are interested, subs for ep 5 of Silence (SQUEE!) and ep 9 of Tokyo Juliet (less squee but still squee) are out. I know what I am watching later in the week.

Have any of the dorama fans on my flist seen either Prince Turns Into Frog or Loveaholic? Are either of these worth getting?

Watched more of Devil Beside You. Yeah, DBY is enjoyable mush. YAY. Random observations follow.

But first, I am amused to note that the uni here is the same one used in Mars. Is it the same one used in Meteor Garden and Tokyo Juliet? I am blanking out. If so, do you think I am too old to transfer? Just think of all the drama I'd be able to see around me (not to mention bevies of hot angsty guys with questionable hair). Why didn't I know about that place when I was applying to schools?

( Thoughts on eps 4 and 5 of Devil Beside You. Wherein I wax poetic about OTPs )

Oh, and here is my dorama playlist (ones I am planning to watch in the future. I am always looking for more suggestions.

( dorama playlist )

Also, since I have apparently abandoned dignity and became a pathetic Rain fangirl, here's a youtube vid that made me kinda crazy to check out Sang-doo, let's go to school (Yes. The school of ANGST).

( Vid here )

Quote of the day is courtesy of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna:

"Hello...Thank you...Nice to meet you...I love you dammit!"

( Brief thoughts on romanticism or lack thereof in KANK )

Quote of the day is courtesy of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna:

"Hello...Thank you...Nice to meet you...I love you dammit!"

( Brief thoughts on romanticism or lack thereof in KANK )

Today is clearly a spam day.

A few points about Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and trailers in front of it.

( Thoughts on Bolly trailers )

( More KANK thoughts )

Yeah, I also finished Majo No Jouken. And it almost finished me. It's a miracle I am still alive.

( Final ep thoughts )

And for everyone who doesn't care for either Bollywood or doramas, I bring KITTENS. Because who doesn't like KITTENS?

( Cuteness of crazy proportions behind the cut )

And what the hell, since this entry is all over the place, I'll end with a Nathan/Haley kiss from One Tree Hill, as they are the one thing that make me watch that deliciously cheesy show:

I am going to reply to everyone later and I have way more thoughts on KANK which I want to blab about, but I am brain fried so for now, my favorite picture of Shahrukh Khan ever. Every time I forget just how scarily hot he is. From KANK:

( Hotness behind the cut )

I am going to reply to everyone later and I have way more thoughts on KANK which I want to blab about, but I am brain fried so for now, my favorite picture of Shahrukh Khan ever. Every time I forget just how scarily hot he is. From KANK:

( Hotness behind the cut )

I saw Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna tonight.

First off, before I get to my review, let me say this: the poster of SRK sitting on a chair for Don? Is SEX.

I liked it. It's not my favorite movie of the year (that title is still being fought over by Fanaa, Rang De Basanti and Omkara, and like all KJo movies, I actually need to see it again for it to sink in, but I liked it. A lot. And my hat's off to SRK for taking on this role because...not your typical Raj/Rahul at all. And hat's off to KJ for how he handled the controversial theme.

First off, let's get the shallow stuff out of the way. I believe Karan tried to sabotage my cognitive faculties on purpose. Because all those shirts that show off SRK's collarbones? How can I concentrate on the scene when all I am thinking is YUM? Really.

( KANK spoiler )

But to be serious, I really did like KANK. It's a movie full of unlikeable people whom I like. Let me explain. There isn't a single character in this one who is a wonderful person (with the exception of Abhi's Rishi). But even though they aren't wonderful, they are interesting and understandable. I don't think Dev is a paragon, but I understand him and I want to know more.

And this brings me to SRK. I am very very impressed. Both by his acting (more below) and the fact that he took this role. This might be a KJ movie, but it's far from his typical one and this role is miles and miles away from Raj/Rahuls SRK is often identified with (though how adorable was that little shout-out to DDLJ?) Dev is unlikeable. He is not nice. He is a mess. He is a bitter, disappointed man taking it out on the world, on his family, on himself. Forget dream love. This isn't even a guy I'd want to sit next on a train to. When Rhea slaps him, people in the audience applauded, and I could see why! SRK hasn't played anyone this unlikeable since Asoka (my favorite SRK movie btw), and in Asoka the destruction was epic and in keeping with the grandeur of the story. Here, the nastiness and the flaws are petty, every day, painful in being real. Actually, I don't think he's played anyone this unlikeable since Baazigar at the least.

And SRK realizes that he is not playing a Prince Charming. He's toned down his charm (and it's clearly on purpose, as when he thaws under Maya's influence it comes back, and their romantic scenes sizzle and make me into a giddy fangirl). This is the most realistic, understated KJo movie in terms of acting, and I love that. But serious serious kudos to him for taking on such an unlikeable in parts role and not 'cuteseing' it.

OK, on to the spoilery part of the review.

( KANK spoilers here. Enter at your own risk )