Koi... Mil Gaya, 2003
Directed by: Rakesh Roshan
This movie, almost made me loose the faith. It made me seriously question at one point WHY I would ever be dabbling under the dangerous influence of Indian Cinema.
Especially this song in particular, which I hardly made it 20seconds in before I was giggling so uncontrollably that I started to cry. Crying for how awkward and bizarre it was, crying for my confusion at what the alien was even doing there, crying at pre-Divinity Hrithik*, crying at the romantic undertones (around 2:35), crying at the electronic "Jaaaadoooo", and crying at how simply fantastic it all was.
Of course, if you don't read Polish, as I do, I apologize.
There are so many things about this film that are just so fantastically absurd that I hardly spent a minute NOT in high-pitched, hysterical laughter. Ask K, she was there, she witnessed this loss-of-brain-spectacular. There are so many life-altering manifestations of "Just...WOW!"
1. What the heck was up with Rohit's (Hrithik Roshan) mutant thumb!? Why was it there? Did it give him magical powers? Was it for eating delicious slugs from under logs? It is responsible for his amazing basketball skills?
2. I still don't get why Jadoo was even there. True to form, I was Twittering away (because I am an addict that needs a 12-step program) while watching this, so I might have missed that important detail, but it just seemed so... Ok, fine, I know it's supposed to be Sci-Fi (which I have differing, yet very strong opinions on to begin with) but I felt it was lacking in development. It seemed very patched together, like there was more to the story at one time, but it all got hacked out.
3. Jadoo didn't even do anything! He just looked rather like a blow-up doll (as far as his facial expressions are concerned.)the entire time and just aided Hrithik in his already stellar jumping. Oh, and turned Rohit into an insufferable cock-of-the-walk. I thought he was actually going to do something; like hatch elaborate plans for world domination, or travel back in time to a world stuck in 1920s Mobster New York where they have daily shoot-outs, fall in love with a woman who would then later die, tragically, struck by a car en route to a movie (if you get that, you know my deepest, darkest, best-kept secret). But he did nothing of the sort. He just looked cute, and made his brain glow every once and a while. Can we say "letdown"?
4. Rekha. Rekha. Rekha. I have a total girl-crush on Rekha. I want her hair so badly I'd shave her head and collect the pieces, make a wig, and then never take it off. I wish my name was Rekha, so that people could obtain as much pleasure from saying my name as I do when I say hers. Reeeekkhaaaa. Not only is she my one-true-love (sorry, Neetu, it's not you it's me... you know) but she has a few kick-ass moments in this film where she tells people what, exactly, is what. GO GIRL!
5. I can't remember too much of the music, Twittering and alternating between tears and giggles as I was, but I did really LOVE Haila Haila. Maybe it was the orchestration, the playback singers, or Hrithik's wardrobe, but it just felt like it had wandered out of a Shashi movie and transplanted into this one.
6. I seriously thought that Hrithik could just jump as high as he can. I didn't even think about the use of harnesses until K made a sarcastic comment about them. It is fair to say that I felt really dumb, but at least glad that she pointed it out before the pivotal basketball scene. That would have really been embarrassing!
7. Preity Zinta, darling filmi clone, you are too cute for words.
8. I found everyone's reaction to Jadoo a bit... melodramatic. They were going to open-fire on his house with cannons if the alien wasn't surrendered? Odd.
9. Sometimes, I question casting directors taste level when Johnny Lever is involved.
10. This film actually did not make me question my faith in the Bolly. Good golly, that's well and firmly established, and it is not going anywhere.
This probably isn't a film I'll be revisiting, unless I ever take up drinking, in which case it would be spectacular and well worth it. However, for all the sarcasm it was rather charming.
*There is some debate over the validity of Hrithik's current "Jesus hair". I for one, really like it. I dig men with longer-ish hair. Yum!
31 March 2010
29 March 2010
Holi Hai! 2010
Even my car was colored!
I love accidentally amazing pictures, like this one.
I thought I would share them with you, so you too can experience the joy... but you won't have to scrub yourself silly afterwards. Lucky devils.
I went to this festival last year when I was a awkward, rather ill-informed watcher of Bollywood. A year later I've fully embraced my pyaar for my adopted culture and of course had to go attend again!
Katie and I drove down to the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah early in the day so that we could get good parking and buy all of our colors before they ran out (and they did run out, one-million bags later).
The temple is home to an interesting mix of "Hare Krishnas" and local Hindus. The festival brings crowds from my school and its sister school in Provo and other local universities around the Salt Lake City area, Desis from all over, simple natured farmers and people of all ages. For the day we forget ourselves, get a little touchy-feely and chant the Maha Mantra so often that I could do it this very second, and read it in Devanagari for you if you asked me to.
Due to the increasing popularity of the event over the years they had two times for color throwing; noon and 5 p.m. We decided to stick it out and go to both, simply because we could. Before both "throwings" they provided entertainment. Classical Indian dancers from Boise, Idaho who were just so beautiful and graceful that I almost melted. I also firmly decided while watching the little 5 year olds dance Kuchipudi that somehow, someway, I shall be having beautiful, half-brown babies. The end. Non-negotiable. Fact.
You have to fight your way out of the center, which morphs into a Woodstock class orgy almost as instantly as the colors fly into the air. It's all cool, under the guise of a painted face you can get away with anything (well, except for groping... but that happened the second time around). On the edge Katie and I danced to the band, threw more colors and laughed at our lightness of heart.
The dear bands that were playing, well... they weren't terrible, but I could have used more variety than the Maha Mantra as lyrics and a skinny, dopey Jay Sean wannabe; but it worked. The best part was some gori behind me who kept trying to explain to his friend that it was bhangra, and it was so rocking. The music couldn't even dream of being classified as bhangra! It was acoustic, folksy, sometimes country rockish, but bhangra wasn't even close. After a while this girl could have used some ghaatiness in the music, but I found much better things to spend my time on.
Like food. Veggy curry, little naans, mango-lemon juice? YES PLEASE! (It was some testement to how caught up in Holi I was that I was able to eat sitting on the ground, covered in dirt and color, consuming food prepared by people covered in colors themselves. The mysophobia was clearly on a vacation!)
The second go-around Katie and I opted to stay towards the back, where we could get more distinct pigmentation and watch the colors go into the air. I want to say it was more fun that way, it was more personal at least. You threw color on someone, they smeared it on your neck and so on and so forth until you were all blue, or all pink, or all green. It can also cause an entire bag of pink to be dumped down the front of your shirt, but it's best that things like that are forgotten. Up at the top you also start your major throwing about 10 minutes too early (by accident) , so that Katie and I were done and walking towards our car when we heard the countdown for the second one. I tried to get a video of it on my phone, but there are much better ones online and on the temple's website.
The only thing this is good for is hearing my VERY Valley-Girlesque voice.
Covered in chalk, a little sunburned and a really dirty we climbed in the car and went back to Katie's house where we promptly showered (very colorfully I might add) and hunkered down with some Bollywood, Holi was over.
When I leave Idaho in a few weeks, this is going to be one of the few things that I really, really miss. I know there are other festivals in other cities, but this is the biggest one in North America, and totally worth the mini-sinus infection I have now.
This stuff is ALL over my car.
Everywhere you can imagine it, it is.
22 March 2010
Mumbai Monday, Got a Mandolin?
I'm taking a moment to mourn Kolkata Knight Riders loss against the Mumbai Indians just seconds ago.
Ok, moment over. I get incredibly emotional about sports, but nothing will match my enthusiasm for FIFA and EPL Football, so I don't feel this as keenly as is typical for me. But really, MI has Sachin!
Well, onwards and upwards to another wonderful Mumbai Monday!
Today my thoughts are filled with mandolins, chubby Shah Rukh, and yellow mustard fields! It's DDLJ to the max!
As of February DDLJ has been playing in theaters for 750 weeks at the Maratha Mandir Cinema in Mumbai.
Can you guess where I will be on one of my weekends? If you guessed going to ever screening that I can shove into my schedule, you're absolutely correct!
Actually, in my mind, the experience goes something akin to this daydream I had about the same time I found out I had the internship...
I'm working as KJo's personal assistant, and he shoves me in a rickshaw (oooer) and sends me to the theater saying he'll meet me there with a "surprise". True, I think it's an odd situation, but I'm KJo's assistant, I'm bound to run across something wacky sooner or later. Anywhoots there I am in the lobby of the theater, kind of miffed that he's late. I hear a faint, "Erin!" shouted and I turn dramatically, my hair fanning out and gently slapping my face in a very seductive manner. As I raise my eyes (because everyone looks at the floor while they're spinning. Duh) the wind machines start and my hair billows about me. I lock eyes with Shah Rukh, staring at me in his very Shah Rukhy, irresistible manner...and we weep at each other.
The daydream ends somewhere with me falling on my face and chipping my teeth on the floor. Although, Shah Rukh is so distraught at my pain that he spends the entire film whispering his lines in my ear.
1. I obviously have a very over-active imagination.
2. 70% of me thinks this will actually happen.
3. There are filmi wind machines all over the place in India, right?
Regardless of my absurd fantasies, I will be seeing DDLJ in theatres, and I will probably cry from excitement.
You know what I just thought of? It won't be subtitled! O well, as it's one of my top 5 films, I think I know most of the lines by heart anyway.
(p.s. 35 days until I land in Delhi and head off for my Camel adventure!)
....
Well, onwards and upwards to another wonderful Mumbai Monday!
Today my thoughts are filled with mandolins, chubby Shah Rukh, and yellow mustard fields! It's DDLJ to the max!
As of February DDLJ has been playing in theaters for 750 weeks at the Maratha Mandir Cinema in Mumbai.
Can you guess where I will be on one of my weekends? If you guessed going to ever screening that I can shove into my schedule, you're absolutely correct!
Actually, in my mind, the experience goes something akin to this daydream I had about the same time I found out I had the internship...
I'm working as KJo's personal assistant, and he shoves me in a rickshaw (oooer) and sends me to the theater saying he'll meet me there with a "surprise". True, I think it's an odd situation, but I'm KJo's assistant, I'm bound to run across something wacky sooner or later. Anywhoots there I am in the lobby of the theater, kind of miffed that he's late. I hear a faint, "Erin!" shouted and I turn dramatically, my hair fanning out and gently slapping my face in a very seductive manner. As I raise my eyes (because everyone looks at the floor while they're spinning. Duh) the wind machines start and my hair billows about me. I lock eyes with Shah Rukh, staring at me in his very Shah Rukhy, irresistible manner...and we weep at each other.
The daydream ends somewhere with me falling on my face and chipping my teeth on the floor. Although, Shah Rukh is so distraught at my pain that he spends the entire film whispering his lines in my ear.
1. I obviously have a very over-active imagination.
2. 70% of me thinks this will actually happen.
3. There are filmi wind machines all over the place in India, right?
Regardless of my absurd fantasies, I will be seeing DDLJ in theatres, and I will probably cry from excitement.
You know what I just thought of? It won't be subtitled! O well, as it's one of my top 5 films, I think I know most of the lines by heart anyway.
(p.s. 35 days until I land in Delhi and head off for my Camel adventure!)
18 March 2010
Dishoom! Dishoom!
Deewaar, 1975
Directed by: Yash Chopra
Since I watched this movie and Parvarish on the same weekend about a week ago, I'm getting them confused in my brain, as they both include and good vs. bad brothers, poliece officer brothers, Neetu! and vilians...
Nevertheless I shall do my best to provide you with the right story (thank you, Wikipedia!) and prove to you that I do write about films after all, and not just musings on Mumbai...
Can I lead with "I just loved this movie!!"? Too late, I just did. If there is anything I like, it's Shashitabh, Shashi in an unbuttoned shirt, Amitabh in an unbuttoned shirt slatherd in oil (or you know, sweat) some dishoom-dishoom, Neetu!, expertly gymnastic fight scenes, and Shashi Kapoor. This movie has it all.
It all starts out with Anand (Satyen Kappu) rallying laborors in a strike. He is lauded in the villigae for his leadership and moral fiber. He comes home everynight to his two sons Vijay (Amitabh) and Ravi (Shashi) who idolize their darling Paa and are fed great amounts of "your dad is the best!" at school.
We know where this is going, na?
When Anand goes to speak with the head honcho concerning the laborors rights he is blackmailed into agreeing to the boss' terms with threats to his family. Ever the softhearted father he gives into the the boss and is mobbed by the mass of laborors when he tells them that he has given in and not recieved any new protections for them.
Here is when I start to hate him (the father). Anand runs away from the hospital in a bid to win his family some relief from the heckling they are getting from people in town. Anand is the typical fallen hero who can't seem to pick himself up by the bootlaces and carry on with his life. Rather than, oh I don't know, moving to another town with his family, he spends the rest of his life as a Hobo on the trains. That's dispicable.
Meanwhile his son Vijay is beaten up and tattooed with "My father is a thief" (or "liar" my subtitles switched between the two) on his arm because his dad can't be around to protect his son. I just want to vomit.
Realizing that things have gotten out of control, the boys' mother, Sumitra Devi (Nirupa Roy) moves with the boys to Mumbai, trading their modest home for a blanket under the bridge and a life of housework for hard manual labor on construction sites. Sumitra is heartbroken that she cannot give her sons the life they once had, and especially that they cannot attend school. Vijay promises to get a job so that with his salary combined with his mothers, they can at least send Ravi to school.
Vijay gets a job as a shoe shiner on the street where he encounters our main villian, who infroms his goons that Vijay will make his way in the world. Flashforward ten years or so and we see Vijay working at the docks (and covertly with the same villain whose shoes he shined) and Ravi is desperatly trying to find a job post-college education. Ravi is also dating Leena (the delicious Neetu Singh!) who is the daughter of the police commissioner. After loosing out interview after interview (and giving some jobs away to someone worse off because he's just that good) Leena's father suggests he become a police officer.
Meanwhile, Vijay decends further and further down the underworld and smuggler's route as his involvement with the evil villains increases.
Enter: Brotherly conflict.
Ravi is assigned the task of rooting out smuggling and criminal behaviour, but when he is presented with the dossier he discovers that he is chasing his bhai! He broods, sexily (since it is Shashi) and decides that he will take the case. He returns home, confronts his brother and moves out of their house "furnished with stolen goods"* on principle.
Vijay in the meantime not only continues his bad behavior but gets involved with a prostitute, Anita (Parveen Babi). I must admit I was shocked to all hell when the camera cut to the two of them enjoying some post-coital cigaretts in bed. So shocked, but so enjoyed it. How refreshingly, grittingly real! Anita is a special character, she's a strong woman who isn't tragic or needy or reliant on her man. She's a little rough around the edges but I am so glad for that. She knows what she wants, and she's going to get it.
Anita informs Vijay that she's pregnant and quick as a flash, boom! Vijay becomes the sweetest father-to-be ever!** He plans on turning himself into the police, repaying his debt to society, apologizing to his Maa, and asks Anita to marry him. Anita is shocked, since she was never going to force Vijay into any part of their child's life, but she gets very sweet and soft, day dreaming about their wedding. Vijay tells her to get ready and to meet him at the temple that night, and off he dashes to make himself an honest man. He calls his mother to ask her to be there, to bless him and forgive him.
Knowing that Vijay's brother is after them, the Villian and his goons come looking for him. They find Anita, home alone, busining herself with getting dressed for her wedding. They demand that she tell them where Vijay is, but she refuses. They try to intimidate her, yet still she resists. They beat her, and when Vijay returns home he finds her barely clinging to life. They whisper frantic "I love you"s to each other as Anita dies.
Vijay is pissed. (And rightfully so!) Forgetting all about his promise to become a better man he hunts down the people who killed his love and gives them some dishoom-dishoom in return.
Back in the land of Ravi, Sumitra tells him that Vijay was always the favorite, but knowing that it is Ravi's duty, if he must shoot his brother, Sumitra gives him her blessing.
Ravi chases down his brother and in a dramatic build-up, shoots him. Vijay stumbles up the steps of the temple and finds his mother, waiting for him. He dies cradeled in her arms begging for her forgiveness, Ravi watching on, visually tormeneted by what he's done.
Ravi recieves an award for his actions, but as the camera pans away admist his applause from fellow poliece officers there is a very unsettled, unhappy aura about the scene.
I was so stinking tense during the entire movie. The script and the story line were so tight and so perfectly meshed that it was like a never-ending roller coaster of anxiety. What were the brothers to do? What was the Maa to do? Was the dead-beat dad ever going to come back?"
It was excellent, and that's all I can say about it.
This is an Amitabh showcase, and for good reason, his performance in this is absolutely fantastic. We all know that our Big B does the scowly "Angry Young Man" thing to a T, but there are hidden facets of his abilities that are so subtle, you can miss them, which is a shame because they are just so so so good! His subltety stands out against his peers, because, and we love it for this, but Bollys aren't known for their ease of emotion.
Since this is Shashi's birthday I want to talk about him, but I can't help but feel that he was just so overshadowed by Amitabh! It breaks my heart to say so, but it is the truth. I like Shashi best when he's lighthearted, sweet, kind, funny, suave... and there are moments that display those great things about him in this movie, but he was swept aside in favor of Amitabh's anger. It was almost like they thought, "Well, Ravi is the good one, what more does he need than a few vignettes with Neetu?" so that's what they gave us.
I want more Anita-like girls in my films! She rocked it!
This is so one of my new favorites!
*I'm 100% sure they said the same thing in Parvarish... and only 50% sure that they said it here.
**I have limited maternal instincts, and will need a man to make up for my lacking in that department, therefore, when I see men fall to pieces over pregnancy or babies I just melt into goo.
And just to drool over:
Directed by: Yash Chopra
Since I watched this movie and Parvarish on the same weekend about a week ago, I'm getting them confused in my brain, as they both include and good vs. bad brothers, poliece officer brothers, Neetu! and vilians...
Nevertheless I shall do my best to provide you with the right story (thank you, Wikipedia!) and prove to you that I do write about films after all, and not just musings on Mumbai...
Can I lead with "I just loved this movie!!"? Too late, I just did. If there is anything I like, it's Shashitabh, Shashi in an unbuttoned shirt, Amitabh in an unbuttoned shirt slatherd in oil (or you know, sweat) some dishoom-dishoom, Neetu!, expertly gymnastic fight scenes, and Shashi Kapoor. This movie has it all.
The Triumvirate of all things Amazing
It all starts out with Anand (Satyen Kappu) rallying laborors in a strike. He is lauded in the villigae for his leadership and moral fiber. He comes home everynight to his two sons Vijay (Amitabh) and Ravi (Shashi) who idolize their darling Paa and are fed great amounts of "your dad is the best!" at school.
We know where this is going, na?
Please notice the henchmen.
Neither of them change standing positions in the entire film.
Here is when I start to hate him (the father). Anand runs away from the hospital in a bid to win his family some relief from the heckling they are getting from people in town. Anand is the typical fallen hero who can't seem to pick himself up by the bootlaces and carry on with his life. Rather than, oh I don't know, moving to another town with his family, he spends the rest of his life as a Hobo on the trains. That's dispicable.
Meanwhile his son Vijay is beaten up and tattooed with "My father is a thief" (or "liar" my subtitles switched between the two) on his arm because his dad can't be around to protect his son. I just want to vomit.
Realizing that things have gotten out of control, the boys' mother, Sumitra Devi (Nirupa Roy) moves with the boys to Mumbai, trading their modest home for a blanket under the bridge and a life of housework for hard manual labor on construction sites. Sumitra is heartbroken that she cannot give her sons the life they once had, and especially that they cannot attend school. Vijay promises to get a job so that with his salary combined with his mothers, they can at least send Ravi to school.
Vijay gets a job as a shoe shiner on the street where he encounters our main villian, who infroms his goons that Vijay will make his way in the world. Flashforward ten years or so and we see Vijay working at the docks (and covertly with the same villain whose shoes he shined) and Ravi is desperatly trying to find a job post-college education. Ravi is also dating Leena (the delicious Neetu Singh!) who is the daughter of the police commissioner. After loosing out interview after interview (and giving some jobs away to someone worse off because he's just that good) Leena's father suggests he become a police officer.
You can say THAT again!
Meanwhile, Vijay decends further and further down the underworld and smuggler's route as his involvement with the evil villains increases.
Enter: Brotherly conflict.
Can we please look at Shashi's foot!
Ravi is assigned the task of rooting out smuggling and criminal behaviour, but when he is presented with the dossier he discovers that he is chasing his bhai! He broods, sexily (since it is Shashi) and decides that he will take the case. He returns home, confronts his brother and moves out of their house "furnished with stolen goods"* on principle.
Vijay in the meantime not only continues his bad behavior but gets involved with a prostitute, Anita (Parveen Babi). I must admit I was shocked to all hell when the camera cut to the two of them enjoying some post-coital cigaretts in bed. So shocked, but so enjoyed it. How refreshingly, grittingly real! Anita is a special character, she's a strong woman who isn't tragic or needy or reliant on her man. She's a little rough around the edges but I am so glad for that. She knows what she wants, and she's going to get it.
Goodness, that's steamy!
Anita informs Vijay that she's pregnant and quick as a flash, boom! Vijay becomes the sweetest father-to-be ever!** He plans on turning himself into the police, repaying his debt to society, apologizing to his Maa, and asks Anita to marry him. Anita is shocked, since she was never going to force Vijay into any part of their child's life, but she gets very sweet and soft, day dreaming about their wedding. Vijay tells her to get ready and to meet him at the temple that night, and off he dashes to make himself an honest man. He calls his mother to ask her to be there, to bless him and forgive him.
Knowing that Vijay's brother is after them, the Villian and his goons come looking for him. They find Anita, home alone, busining herself with getting dressed for her wedding. They demand that she tell them where Vijay is, but she refuses. They try to intimidate her, yet still she resists. They beat her, and when Vijay returns home he finds her barely clinging to life. They whisper frantic "I love you"s to each other as Anita dies.
Vijay is pissed. (And rightfully so!) Forgetting all about his promise to become a better man he hunts down the people who killed his love and gives them some dishoom-dishoom in return.
Back in the land of Ravi, Sumitra tells him that Vijay was always the favorite, but knowing that it is Ravi's duty, if he must shoot his brother, Sumitra gives him her blessing.
Ravi chases down his brother and in a dramatic build-up, shoots him. Vijay stumbles up the steps of the temple and finds his mother, waiting for him. He dies cradeled in her arms begging for her forgiveness, Ravi watching on, visually tormeneted by what he's done.
Ravi recieves an award for his actions, but as the camera pans away admist his applause from fellow poliece officers there is a very unsettled, unhappy aura about the scene.
I was so stinking tense during the entire movie. The script and the story line were so tight and so perfectly meshed that it was like a never-ending roller coaster of anxiety. What were the brothers to do? What was the Maa to do? Was the dead-beat dad ever going to come back?"
It was excellent, and that's all I can say about it.
This is an Amitabh showcase, and for good reason, his performance in this is absolutely fantastic. We all know that our Big B does the scowly "Angry Young Man" thing to a T, but there are hidden facets of his abilities that are so subtle, you can miss them, which is a shame because they are just so so so good! His subltety stands out against his peers, because, and we love it for this, but Bollys aren't known for their ease of emotion.
Since this is Shashi's birthday I want to talk about him, but I can't help but feel that he was just so overshadowed by Amitabh! It breaks my heart to say so, but it is the truth. I like Shashi best when he's lighthearted, sweet, kind, funny, suave... and there are moments that display those great things about him in this movie, but he was swept aside in favor of Amitabh's anger. It was almost like they thought, "Well, Ravi is the good one, what more does he need than a few vignettes with Neetu?" so that's what they gave us.
I want more Anita-like girls in my films! She rocked it!
This is so one of my new favorites!
*I'm 100% sure they said the same thing in Parvarish... and only 50% sure that they said it here.
**I have limited maternal instincts, and will need a man to make up for my lacking in that department, therefore, when I see men fall to pieces over pregnancy or babies I just melt into goo.
And just to drool over:
15 March 2010
A Shashi-Licious Mumbai Monday
Phew! I'm tired.
I'd be writting about all the films I've been watching (in class while "listening" to my professors lecture) BUT I have only a month until graduation, 42ish days until I fly to Delhi to get on the train to Jaisalmer, and a LOT of packing/studying/test taking and camel company booking to do... So they'll be coming post graduation. I promise.
In honor of Shashi Week, I was looking for Shashi Kapoor type things to do in Mumbai...
The only thing I can really root up is the Prithvi Theatre, owned by the Kapoors, and which kind of seems like the heaven I would never admit to drooling over. I hope, I reallllly hope that they are putting on perfomances while I'm there (it sounds like they should be), it will be interesting after spending time on a film set, THAT I can be certian. It will be a return to my roots, so to say...
If not, I'll take in some dinner at the garden cafe and imagine that I'm having dinner with the Shashi. We'll giggle and I'll demurely flutter my eyelashes and so on and so forth.
And, just because he's Shashi...and that smile...well...what was I saying?
I'd be writting about all the films I've been watching (in class while "listening" to my professors lecture) BUT I have only a month until graduation, 42ish days until I fly to Delhi to get on the train to Jaisalmer, and a LOT of packing/studying/test taking and camel company booking to do... So they'll be coming post graduation. I promise.
In honor of Shashi Week, I was looking for Shashi Kapoor type things to do in Mumbai...
The only thing I can really root up is the Prithvi Theatre, owned by the Kapoors, and which kind of seems like the heaven I would never admit to drooling over. I hope, I reallllly hope that they are putting on perfomances while I'm there (it sounds like they should be), it will be interesting after spending time on a film set, THAT I can be certian. It will be a return to my roots, so to say...
If not, I'll take in some dinner at the garden cafe and imagine that I'm having dinner with the Shashi. We'll giggle and I'll demurely flutter my eyelashes and so on and so forth.
And, just because he's Shashi...and that smile...well...what was I saying?
08 March 2010
Mumbai Monday: Train Drama
Two Mumbai Mondays in a Row? I'm sorry people, I HAVE been watching films! I promise, but haven't had time to write about them...
So, to feed your desires here is another installment of the hopes and dreams I have, fostered by Bollywood, and soon to be either proved true, or false.
Trains are an integral part to Indian transportation. Trains also star as key characters in many Bollywoods, usually at dramatic, weepy, agonizing moment in the film.
I don't think I'm expecting too much by hoping that every time I visit a train station, I see this:
This had better be happening every time a train pulls away. If it doesn't, I might cry.
Also, if anyone out there actually travels by train, I'd like to tell you that I find the whole system confusing and can you explain it to me?
The only experience I have with train travel is on Amtrak from Indianapolis to Chicago... and it took 8 hours. One way.
I am not very nice about trains.
So, to feed your desires here is another installment of the hopes and dreams I have, fostered by Bollywood, and soon to be either proved true, or false.
Trains are an integral part to Indian transportation. Trains also star as key characters in many Bollywoods, usually at dramatic, weepy, agonizing moment in the film.
I don't think I'm expecting too much by hoping that every time I visit a train station, I see this:
This had better be happening every time a train pulls away. If it doesn't, I might cry.
Also, if anyone out there actually travels by train, I'd like to tell you that I find the whole system confusing and can you explain it to me?
The only experience I have with train travel is on Amtrak from Indianapolis to Chicago... and it took 8 hours. One way.
I am not very nice about trains.
01 March 2010
Mumbai Mondays, The Woes of Camel Travel
Ahh, 70s Week is over and we all feel sad...but it was a fun ride and while I'll be getting my other DVD this afternoon (thanks for the stall, Netflix) it is still time to pack up our rad bell bottoms and obscenely patterned shirts (though I shan't be giving up the sunglasses. Never.) and get on with our lives. It is trure that I have a lot of 70s Week post to catch up on now that my time is my own again... and I shall be doing that very soon!
However, I have been mulling over this idea for a long time. Ya'll know that I have a super internship coming up in May... in Mumbai...in films. (And if you didn't, well then, I do!) And with less than two months to go (freak out) I thought I'd share with you all of the wild things my imagination has been coming up with.
Mumbai Mondays will be short splurts (yes, splurts) of the idiocy that is constantly swarming about in my head about all the things I hope will happen, and all the things I pray won't happen, and everything in between, while I'm living the Backstage Bollywood Dream.
Here, is confession number one:
My darling parents have had a million heart attacks since I told them I was fortunate enough to get the internship. I'm the first born, they're a little protective and I'm a little spoilt... however, I do head their warnings and advice about my safety whilst in India. As the favorite it would be tragic were I captured or married or something.
When my coworker suggested I join her for a three day Camel Trek in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan a few days before our internship started I jumped at the idea. There was something very appealing about sitting on a camel for three days and sleeping in the desert.
When I Skyped my parents to tell them my plans this was the conversation:
Me: Can I go on a camel trek across the desert a few days before I start my internship?
Maa: Why?
Bauji: No.
Me: Please! It's in Rajasthan and she's done all the research and found us legit places and everything...
Maa: What's Rajasthan?
Me: It's like Paheli.
Bauji: What the hell is that?
Obviously that was the end of the conversation since I had to explain Paheli to them and they were done listening after I mentioned the word "puppets"...
A word of warning, I guess...
If you're going to introduce your parents to Bollywood, don't let that first movie be Saawariya. They'll never believe you no matter how many times you tell them that Bollywood is great.
However, I have been mulling over this idea for a long time. Ya'll know that I have a super internship coming up in May... in Mumbai...in films. (And if you didn't, well then, I do!) And with less than two months to go (freak out) I thought I'd share with you all of the wild things my imagination has been coming up with.
Mumbai Mondays will be short splurts (yes, splurts) of the idiocy that is constantly swarming about in my head about all the things I hope will happen, and all the things I pray won't happen, and everything in between, while I'm living the Backstage Bollywood Dream.
Here, is confession number one:
My darling parents have had a million heart attacks since I told them I was fortunate enough to get the internship. I'm the first born, they're a little protective and I'm a little spoilt... however, I do head their warnings and advice about my safety whilst in India. As the favorite it would be tragic were I captured or married or something.
When my coworker suggested I join her for a three day Camel Trek in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan a few days before our internship started I jumped at the idea. There was something very appealing about sitting on a camel for three days and sleeping in the desert.
When I Skyped my parents to tell them my plans this was the conversation:
Me: Can I go on a camel trek across the desert a few days before I start my internship?
Maa: Why?
Bauji: No.
Me: Please! It's in Rajasthan and she's done all the research and found us legit places and everything...
Maa: What's Rajasthan?
Me: It's like Paheli.
Bauji: What the hell is that?
Obviously that was the end of the conversation since I had to explain Paheli to them and they were done listening after I mentioned the word "puppets"...
A word of warning, I guess...
If you're going to introduce your parents to Bollywood, don't let that first movie be Saawariya. They'll never believe you no matter how many times you tell them that Bollywood is great.
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