The Bollywood Thread

[spycandy]

My theory is that he thinks he owes Yash Chopra after Darr and keeps doing these sappy romantic roles. Break out of the mold, SRK! Play a psychotic killer again. Don doesn't count.

[Deleted]

I'm a die-hard fan, and some of my fav movies of his are where he keeps it real. I love movies like SWADES (His best role), Dil Se, Paheli. I also loved Don, I thought he made the character his own and refuse to believe that he copies Amitabh. Amitabh is no doubt a great actor, but SRK has a unique blend of charm and magnetism that just sets him apart from the others. I'm looking forward to Chak De India.
He looks very different in the film playing an older and a more mature character.

[Deleted]

atpeacewithme said:

Are there any Bollywood films where the characters have real personalities? I would love to watch them!

3 words. Dil. Chahta. Hai.

[chonies]

Oh, Ridha! So true. And Dimple was amazing.

[Karen]

Amitabh in Shantaram:

Mira met Big B on Tuesday night to offer him a pivotal role in Shantaram, the film based on Gregory David Roberts' semiautobiographical bestseller about an escaped Australian convict who finally ends up in Mumbai's underworld.

Bachchan Senior will play Kaderbhai, a benign gangster in Mumbai who becomes Hollywood star Johnny Depp's mentor and surrogate-father.

He will share most of his screen space in Nair's film with Depp, who took the role coveted by many of Hollywood's stars including Russell Crowe.

When contacted, Big B said, "Mira met me and has offered me the role. I've accepted. Now I plan to read the novel that has created a stir the world-over. I saw The Namesake in Toronto. It's a marvelous piece of work. Mira has been meeting me off and on for a long time.

Now this could be very interesting.

[chonies]

Oh, very interesting indeed. My friend keeps promising to bring the book in for lending--is it good?

[Karen]

chonies said:

Oh, very interesting indeed. My friend keeps promising to bring the book in for lending--is it good?

Haven't read it, but wiki now lists Emily Watson and Helena Bonham Carter in the cast as well. I'm hoping that's true, such a cast could do much to save even a weak script/story.

I watched the '60 classic Mughal-e-Azam yesterday and that was close to being one of those famous "magical" movie experiences for me. I don't know why it affected me so strongly, but it did. As a comparison, I like Devdas '02 because of the great songs, over the top beauty and actresses, but the movie still fails as a romance and an epic. When Madhubala and Dilip Kumar looked at each other, though, I believed in their love at first sight. And the soundtrack was absolutely amazing, with beautiful melodies and expressive lyrics (the song duel for/against love, Madhubala's lament in prison, her defiant dance and, well, I'm about to name every song in the movie).

[chonies]

I know what you mean, KarenK. Awaara does that for me, especially when Raj wraps the edge of Rita's sari around his hand. I believe every single minute of that movie.

[Karen]

chonies said:

I believe every single minute of that movie.

MEA made even the most melodramatic scenes work for me. When Dilip is about to be executed and the old sculptor starts singing about the power of love and is joined by that huge chorus, I didn't find it the least bit ridiculous. I was so completely caught up in the story that it was just terribly moving. And during their final scene together there's no need for dialogue. Madhubala may spend half the time veiled but she still has this look of pure love. It reminds me of Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, only even better at silently conveying emotion.

Mughal-e-Azam ended up being a wonderful surprise, a movie that very much deserves its classic status. I'm still feeling giddy.

[Deleted]

Anyone here seen Chak De India?
SRK was mind-blowing in it. I thought Swades was his best film so far, but I was blown away by Chak De! No traces of SRK the superstar, he was every inch the hockey coach he plays in the film...