Or, “Five Movies that Will NOT Completely Embarrass You In Front of Your Non-Desi Friends
1. Om Shanti Om (2007)
2. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
This guy goes to study music at this old guy’s house. The guy and the old guy’s daughter fall in love, only to find out that the daughter’s marriage has already been arranged. Hilarity ensues. OK, no, no hilarity. But, it’s a good movie with an interesting perspective on arranged marriages. It’s a great “traditional” movie.
3. Guru (2007)
A polyester manufacturer embodies every capitalists dream come true. Plus he finds true love. Um. Come to think of it, it sounds more boring than it actually is. And, anyway, I just love this song. (It’s by the same guy that wrote Jai Ho).
4. Three Idiots (2009)
This will make everyone in the West feel a little better about our educational system. Favorite line? “At 5:15, I was born. At 5:16, my father said, ‘My son is going to be an engineer.’ “ If you do watch the film, please feel free to forward through the number “Zoobi Doobi.” Please. I beg of you. My dignity could very well hang in the balance.
5. Being Cyrus (2005)
I just like this actor because he reminds me of my husband. Plus, hey, it’s in English, so no reading!!
******
I picked these movies because I think they would have the most crossover appeal for a gathering that was mostly people who are not very familiar with Indian/Pakistani culture. And, yes, smartypants, I know they’re not the same thing.
Anything you’ve seen that you’d like to add?
Persons who contemplated writing either “Slumdog Millionaire” or “Monsoon Wedding” must forever live with the knowledge that they are, in fact, the most obvious persons on the planet.
The only Indian film that I have seen other than those last two that you mentioned — you know, the obvious ones — is Lagaan. And yes, I own it and have watched it several times.
@Kailyn, Lagaan is a great movie, I own it, too.
Hmmm… the only ones I’ve seen are “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” and “Guru” (I will watch ANYTHING that has Aishwarya Rai in it!)… so thanks for the recommendations!
@Dave2, Ash is my favorite. She’s drop dead gorgeous, a talented actress and an AMAZING dancer. You have great taste.
I am interested in checking some of these out, I haven’t seen many good Bollywood movies. I was just wondering if you saw the movie “Bride & Prejudice” and what you thought of it if you did?
@Rachael, I did see it, and, honestly, it annoyed me. First of all, how many freaking times are we as a society going to remake Pride and Prejudice?!! Secondly, it always annoys me a little when Indian movies rip off Western story lines. There are plenty of homogenous stories for them to choose from, you know?
That said, I do know a lot of people that liked that movie!
I’ve never seen an Indian film all the way through, but I’ve watched the “Jaan Pehechaan Ho” dance number from Gumnaam more times than I would care to admit.
@B.E. Earl, I think you’d enjoy Being Cyrus. No musical numbers. Pretty decent acting.
I usually run… run, mind you… as fast as I can in the opposite direction of 90% of all the films made planet-wide. If there are musical numbers involved the running is faster. And if the female vocalist has the pitch and scree of a CareBear on helium my rockets kick in.
Saeed Jaffrey would be a mitigating circumstance that would get me to watch, as he is not only one of the greats in the sub-continent but also in the world. But – barring things I am not aware of – that’s probably all that will keep me in my seat.
But don’t feel bad. I dislike most American movies even more. ESPECIALLY remakes of remakes and sequels; the making of which simply highlights the scarcity of true artistry (outside of the Coen Brothers) that seems to be an industry-wide scourge over the last ten to fifteen years.
See? Don’t get me started on this subject…
@RW, You should watch Being Cyrus. I think you’d like it and there are no musical numbers. Well, there’s a montage with some music, but that’s it. I really do think you’ll like it.
I’ve always liked Dances with Wolves, but Last of the Mohicans was good too.
@SciFi Dad, HAHAHAHA! Good one. This reminds me of when a friend of mine in college was successfully hitting on a girl at the beach and she asked him where he was from and he said, “Dubai” and she said, “Oh, that’s, like, by California, right?”
True story.
I’m forever in love with the pain of disco and saying “what the fish?”. I don’t even know if I *want* to be educated further because of this.
@Hilly, I know. All I ever need to know I learned from Om Shanti Om.
I’m feeling very boring right now, because I’ve never seen any of those. I will try one soon – I need to expand my horions, obviously.
J.
@HoosierGirl, Oh, you’re not boring… I’ve never seen movies from LOTS of countries. Like… the Philippines. Or Botswana. And I’m sure they make movies there.
The closest I’ve come to an actual Bollywood movie is some miniseries I saw On Demand from IFC. It had Chris Kattan in it. There were musical numbers. It was fun. Not at all what you’re talking about here, but it did make me curious to see real ones.
And I have yet to see “Slumdog.”
@Finn, I SAW THAT!! And I thought it was fantastic!! I really, really like Chris Kattan, though.
In terms of Slumdog, it was a good movie, but I had some issues with using a movie based on a nation’s abject poverty as a *crossover* hit. Of course, there is a LOT of poverty in India, but I felt like the movie capitalized on a prevalent stereotype and was generally successful because it reinforced that stereotype because as far as Indian movies go, Slumdog’s plot and music was not atypical or very original.
A lot of people (some of them Indian, I’m sure) would vehemently disagree with me on this point, of course.
Thanks for this great list-I will check them out
I HATE Slumdog Millionaire. Some people (more than one) have told me that I look like Mira Nair. Really?
@nancy, I did not like Slumdog either, and I have the suspicion that you and I didn’t like it for the same reasons. Mira Nair? Umm, I don’t see it. You both have lovely smiles, but you don’t look similar to me. Maybe it’s the aura of awesomeness that you have in common?
I know this is going to make me sound like some sort of perv, but I saw “Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love” years ago and I really, really liked it. (And it wasn’t a frigging porn, for anyone not in the know!) It had some sex -ish scenes, but overall, it was just beautiful to look at…
Now I am totally going to see some of the movies you mentioned.
@Sybil Law, I saw that movie, and I thought it was really good, too. It was directed by the same woman who directed Amelia, Vanity Fair and Monsoon Wedding (Mira Nair). PLUS, it has Sayid from LOST in it, remember that?
@Faiqa, Yeah – I thought that guy was hot! I don’t watch Lost, but on promos I don’t think he’s hot, so that’s weird.
I think my favorite thing about Bollywood movies are the vibrant colors everywhere. It’s definitely a visual feast! Oh! I’ve totally seen Monsoon Wedding! I forgot until just this moment!
Slumdog is all I’ve ever seen. I think I need to expand my horizon.
And the best hindi crossover movie award goes to….drumroll…”dood, where’s the party?” YES!!!
When’s our next Bollywood night, hm??
Although I know it’s not a Bollywood movie and is therefore slightly off topic, but I just watched the movie ‘Arranged’ (2007) on netflix the other day and thought it was great.
Two supposedly diametrically opposed worlds meet. One woman a Muslum, one an Orthodox Jew. Both woman are teachers who find that as they both have to find their husbands through the arranged marriage process they have more in common with each other than the secular world.
The delight is that is is a pretty straight-up great romantic comedy – Rochel keeps being set up with the wrong guys (some really funny scenes), Nasira gets the embarrassing dinner etc; of course, the road to true love is not smooth…
It really is very funny, witty – and well acted, especially Francis Benhamou as Nasira, who is stunning and positively lights up the screen with her smile.
It’s a must see for any lover of romantic comedies.
@Kelli, I loved Arranged!! Great movie.
I’m in a serious movie watching mood right now. (Why do I have to be at work when this hits?) I was on Hulu last night and they have quite a few good movies, as well as a few I haven’t seen that look interesting. I doubt any of these would be on Hulu, because I’m just not that lucky. Would they be at a Blockbuster? (Yes, I am old fashioned and don’t have a Netflix account. Heh.)
@Elizabeth Kaylene,
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is on veoh. I don’t know about the others.
Faiqa – thanks for recommending these… i enjoy seeing all types movies that I may not otherwise hear of
@jianali, You’re very welcome, let me know what you think if you get a chance to watch any of them!
@Faiqa, I’m in the middle of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. I like. I love the house.. and the colors..and the fact she is not half naked..her eyes just draw me in.
@jianali, That one sounds good. I’ll have to check it out next time I get a little downtime!
@Elizabeth Kaylene, Sorry, I thought I had replied to this! I *know* that Netflix has some of them, but I don’t know if Blockbuster/Hulu has them or not. You can always check Youtube, sometimes, people will post them on there.
@Faiqa, That’s okay! I’m sure I’ll find something on YouTube; I found both Toy Story movies split into parts the other day. It makes me feel a little guilty, but at least I got my fix!