So I finally got around to finishing up my list of RajRahul Shah Rukh Khan songs for Episode 2 of the Bollystalgia Podcast ... it's my favorite songs of his through the 90s and now most of this past decade as well. Again, the sound levels may be a bit wonky, but I figure it'll get better as I keep messing around with it ...
Anyway, from Deewana to Billu, here are some of the most gorgeous ballads, charming melodies, and rocking dance numbers from Shah Rukh Khan's filmography. This was fun because it made me re-visit a lot of the songs that I've forgotten from the early and mid 90s. It also re-established how much I love cheesy Yash Raj movies.
You can see the original blog post on SRK, with video links, here.
If anyone has songs they'd like to add, or thoughts/comments they wanted to share, please comment or email/tweet me, or even send an audio clip of your comments, and I'd be happy to include them in the next podcast.
Up next? My epic Salman Khan love-fest list, BollyDisco!, Villain's Lair songs, Rain songs, and more ...
As I tried understanding the debates around the burqa especially in the French context here, I received many valid, well thought out, and legitimate replies – all in one way or the other against the “forced veiling”.
In a country like India, it is heartening to see educated people expressing their opinion, which is for humanity and moderation and balance. However, it is greatly disappointing to wake up to news that reads: Forced to wear burqa, teacher quits.
What is most shocking about this news is that the Students’ Union pressurized the university teacher!
What is happening to the supposedly educated youth in our country?
Why are young minds embracing religious fanaticism with such ardor?
Are they in search of a unique identity because they feel their individuality is threatened?
Has Indian politics created a whole generation of confused and misguided youngsters – rebels without any real causes?
I still remember my childhood days when religion and caste were only chapters we read in our Civics books. In school, I did not know which caste my classmates belonged to.
Through my growing up years, I had Sikh neighbors with whom I used to happily pile on for the Sunday langars at the Gurudwara; I had Muslim neighbors who were differentiated only because of the wonderful language they spoke – aap, bhai-jaan, abba-jaan – music to the ears; I had Christian neighbors who shared rich plum cakes on Christmas; and all of us together celebrated the “Hindu” festivals of Diwali and Holi!
Come the late 90s and early 2000s, as college beckoned, caste based reservations became the talk of the day. Quota seats – General seats – SC/ST – OBC – all alien terms began to invade my vocabulary.
I still remember the day I started filling out my entrance test forms - all of them asked the following disturbing questions:
Religion?
For the first time I was going to define my identity within a religious institution that had not meant much in my life so far.
Hindu, I wrote. In a fraction of a second, differences based on religion were established between neighbors.
And then the final blow that firmly established boundaries and partitions in once-innocent classrooms.
Select one of the following:
SC, ST, OBC, Others
I was baffled. I asked my dad, what I should fill in.
Hey! So today is my 33rd birthday, and I am super excited to be another year older and wiser. I absolutely refuse to be one of those chicks who thinks my life is over at 40, I'm really enjoying my 30s and wouldn't go back to my 20s for ANYTHING. Life is so much more secure, stable, comfortable, confident and just plain HAPPY in my 30s.
Anyway, realizing that it was my birthday once again led me to think of how my sisters and I, back in our days of being in a band together, always had a song handy in case it was someone in the audience's birthday. The obvious choice was this one:
BAAR BAAR DIN from Farz (1967)
But sometimes we'd choose more off-beat ones, like O MAMMA DEAR MAMMA from Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978) (check out the baby Padmini Kohlapuri in it!), or one of our personal favorites:
HUM BHI AGAR BACCHHE HOTE from Door Ki Awaaz (1964)
Occasionally we'd get a request for O NANHE SE FARISHTE from Ek Phool Do Mali (1969):
or AAYE HAI BAHAAREN from Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
Another standby of ours was:
AATI RAHENGE BAHAREN from Kasme Vaade (1978)
Great stuff.
I only wish my birthdays could be as cool as these:
AAO JHOOME from Ek Ladka Ek Ladki (1992)
MACHALJANE KA DIN HAI from One Two Ka Four (2001)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MR. PEDRO from Prem Deewane (1992)
MERE RANG MEIN from Maine Pyar Kiya (1990)
GAA RE MANN from Baabul (2006)
BIRTHDAY PARTY (tamil song) from Maya Bazaar (1995)
Nalam Vazhvu Ennalum (tamil song) from Marupadiyum (1993)
I remember on my 15th birthday, my sisters and I got into a fight with our friends over whether you're supposed to sing "Happy Birthday" BEFORE blowing out the candles/cutting the cake or after. We were pretty sure it was before, which is clearly the American way. In Bollywood, it appears you sing AFTER the candles are blown out/cake is cut. What do you think, my friends? We finally decided the the Bollywood way was what we would refer to as "Heppy Bird-day" (said in the accent). Those friends were definite HFS (Hindi Film Star) wannabes anyway.
Sooo this year, my sweet husband tried to book me a spa day, but I refused ... too expensive and unnecessary. I'll have the babysitter for a couple of hours tomorrow and will do the requisite mani-pedi or hair appointment if I have time after working out. We'll do dinner after he gets back from work ... but I hope he doesn't have to work late, or else I'll be singing this:
I guess I'll be happy as long as my birthday doesn't turn out like this:
Or the most memorable birthday scene in Hindi Cinema for ME ... the scene in Darr where Shah Rukh Khan shows up at Juhi Chawla's birthday!
TERRIFYING.
Anyway, if someday I do get around to throwing myself a big soiree for my birthday I hope it's as awesome as this party:
Thanks as always for checking out the blog, and hope that if you have links to any great birthday songs/scenes from Hindi or Tamil movies that I've missed, you will definitely let me know.
Today I was humming this gorgeous old favorite from 1983 - Tumse Milke Zindagi Ko Yun Laga from Chor Police, the directorial debut of Amjad Khan which apparently tanked. I don't remember much about the movie, but I always loved this song! And upon re-watching, am a bit scandalized by how sensual it is! Parveen is either a tremendous actress, or she really had some warm fuzzies for Shatrughan Sinha. I can't think about Parveen too much because it is just too strange and sad.
Anyway, this beautiful song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and composed by R.D. Burman.
So I think there is a plethora of Rain Song Lists online, between blogs, articles and fan videos on YouTube, but after Filmfare's recent Rain Songs article and Dhoonya Dance's Facebook call for Favorite Rain Songs, I figured I might as well immortalize my favorites too, for posterity ... my favorite rain songs are ALL OVER THE PLACE in era & type (sexy vs. romantic vs. fun/dance-y). The title of this post refers to my favorite Bollywood rain song - "Parbhat Se Kaali Ghata Takrayee" from Chandni.
I'm not going to add commentary, there's plenty of commentary out there already on rain songs and the highlights/ridiculousness of them, plus the themes and repeat offenders of the rain songs are made obvious by skimming the list. I just wanted to list some of my favorites or ones that have remained in my head over the years ...
Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua (Shree 420) - 1955
Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi (Chori Chori) - 1956
Ik Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi) - 1958
O Sajna Bharka Bahar (Parakh) - 1960
Dum Dum Diga Diga (Chhalia) - 1960
Rhimjhim Ke Tarane (Kala Bazaar) - 1960
Dil Tera Deewana Hai Sanam (Dil Tera Deewana) - 1962
Jaane Chaman (Gumnaam) - 1965
Chup Gaye Sare (Do Raaste) - 1969
Rama Rama (Naya Zamana) - 1971
Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho (Hanste Zakhm) - 1973
Gore Rang Pe Na Itna (Roti) - 1974
Hai Hai Yeh Majboori (Roti Kapada Aur Makaan) - 1974
Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein (Ajnabi) - 1974
Prem Kahani (Prem Kahani) - 1975
Pyar Ke Din Aaye Kali Badal (Mahachor) - 1976
Rim Jhim Gire Saawan (Manzil) - 1979
Aaj Rapat Jaye (Namak Halal) - 1982
Mujhe Kya Hua (Justice Chaudhary) - 1983
Sajna O Sajna (Paisa Yeh Paisa) - 1985
Jhan Jhananan (Nazrana) - 1987
Kaaten Nahin Katthe (Mr. India) - 1987
Parbhat Se Kali, Lagi Aaj Sawan, Aa Meri Jaan (Chandni) - 1989
Dhak Dhak (Gharana) - 1989
Na Jane Kahan Se (Chaalbaaz) - 1989
I Love You Pyar Karoon Choon (Mahasangram) - 1990
Tip Tip Tip Tip Barish (Afsana Pyar Ka) - 1991
Megha Re Megha (Lamhe) - 1991
Dekha Teri Mast Nigahon (Khiladi) - 1992
Teri Isi Ada Pe Sanam (Deewana) - 1992
Obsession theme music (Darr) - 1993
Sun Sun Barsaat Ki Dhum (Sir) - 1993
Rhimjhim Rhimjhim (1942: A Love Story) - 1993
Jaanewale Zara Ruk Jaa (Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja) - 1993
Saajan Re Saajan (Dulaara) - 1994
Tip Tip Barsa Pani (Mohra) - 1994
Dekho Zara Dekho (Yeh Dillagi) - 1994
Mere Khwabon Mein (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) - 1995
Na Na Na Mere Jaan-e-Jaana (Bandish) - 1996
Chak Dum (Dil To Pagal Hai) - 1997
Chori Chori Jab Nazrein Mili (Kareeb) - 1998
Tujhe Yaad Na Meri Aaye (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) - 1998
Aankhon Se Tune (Ghulam) - 1998
Jo Haal Dil Ka (Sarfarosh) - 1999
Boondon Se Baaten (Thakshak) - 1999
Sawan Barse (Dahek) - 1999
Taal Se Taal (Taal) - 1999
Ghanan Ghanan (Lagaan) - 2001
Ishq Kamina (Shakti: The Power) - 2002
Idhar Chala Mein Udhar Chala (Koi Mil Gaya) - 2003
Bhaage Re Mann (Chameli) - 2003
Daiyya Daiyya (Dil Ka Rishta) - 2003
Dheere Dheere (Kyun Ho Gaya Na) - 2004
Hum Tum (Hum Tum) - 2004
Laga Prem Rog (Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya) - 2005
Barsaat Ke Din (Barsaat) - 2005
Woh Lamhe (Zeher) - 2005 I actually like the remix better, but for the purposes of this video:
Zoobi Doobi (3 Idiots) - 2009 I don't actually love this song, but figured I should add it since so many others love it. It's cute and all, but it's just not one of my favorite songs. It is however, a recent example of a rain song!
Kodu Potta (Raavanan) - 2010 *I tried to do a Raavan song, but couldn't resist some VIKRAM, especially when he's in the rain, so I had to do a song from the tamil version*
**Also, just had to do a shout-out to my favorite Tamil rain song of all time, from the movie Karuthamma - 1994 (esp. the part where the guy belly-flops into the water at 1:39)** - I think tamil rain songs will have to be immortalized sometime soon too - :
Clearly there's many more that I've probably missed, but these are the ones that I can think of/remember from my own memory. Based on this I'll have to crown Rajesh Khanna and Sridevi the King and Queen of Rain Songs.
Thanks for letting me share them with you and please feel free to tell me about your favorites! I feel like I'm missing a huge chunk from the 80s and I know there were TONS!
Unbelievably, I woke up this morning with this song in my head. I have no idea why. Perhaps because I was thinking about item numbers in relation to UPodcast, Totally Filmi, Beth Loves Bollywood and Filmi Girl's upcoming podcast? After all, Raveena Tandon is an "item girl" in this movie - the actual heroines are Shilpa Shetty and Raageshwari.
Main Khiladi Tu Anari was an Akshay Kumar starrer, with Saif Ali Khan in the secondary hero role. This song, MAD or My Adorable Darling, was picturized on Saif and Raveena, as Saif plays a film actor in this movie. I thought this song was super annoying so I have no idea why I woke up with it playing in my head, but there you have it.
Thoughts:
- WHAT IS UP with the background guys' outfits? Sparkly, Glittery Silver belly & moob-baring tops? For the GUYS? - The hair is SO 90s. - Whenever people try to tell me Saif Ali Khan is hot, THIS is the guy that keeps popping up in my head. That HAIR. - How quickly did Saif have to run around to jump out of each of the letters M-A-D at 0:41? - Love the disco background. - BTW I love Raveena. Even if she looks like Minnie Mouse at around 2:18. - When the guys finally get to change, they become Black Panthers? With orange biker shorts?
Enjoy! My Adorable Darling, aka MAD from Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994)
A couple of months back, I happened to visit Odyssey (a leading book store in Chennai) and was delighted to spot the Anchor Stitch Kits.
Those not familiar with these kits must know that Anchor provides great designs that you can embroider using long stitch. They give you the design as well as the matching threads.
Though not a pro at these myself, take my word that they are extremely easy to work with – I first did a design (a cute penguin with an easel) eons back in school and it took me 3 years to complete it – not because it was complicated but because of the lazy procrastinator I am :). The framed work still adorns my bedroom back at my parents’ place.
This time around I thought these kits would work well with my resolve to do something more constructive with my free time, especially over the weekends, instead of wiling it away on the idiot box. So the highly ambitious person that I am, I picked two large ones.
After a good amount of dilly-dallying with little progress made in months together, I pulled myself up. And, yes, the self reproach did work.
Here’s the fruit of my labor, and you bet, I am damn thrilled and proud of myself. Forget the fact that long stitch is child’s play, atleast I did it reasonably well. This design (25 cm x 30 cm) is named ‘A Sailor’s Cottage’ and I love the bright, vibrant colors that make the setting! This colorful work goes for framing this week and then its up on the wall :).
I have the next one (and the larger of the two :() to finish now, but want to take a break from all the needlework. Hoping I can get back to my pencils in the interim!
There is an appeal about movies that aren't really about anything sometimes. Seinfeld has that appeal in television. Sometimes we like an easy, simple story that doesn't have or need melodrama, and especially when the story is from a different time - a time when things weren't so complicated by technology and the need for immediacy and instant gratification. When we were just happy to meet people and didn't automatically mistrust them or think they were psycho stalkers/serial killers/rapists. A time when one could actually consider falling for this guy:
Baton Baton Mein (1979) was made by Basu Chatterjee and starred Amol Palekar (with a fabulous french beard) and Tina Munim, with a shining supporting cast of talents like Ranjit Chowdhry and Pearl Padamsee (a real-life son and mother team!).
The movie isn't outstanding in any way - it is certainly low-budget and awkwardly shot at times, has a very sedate and often plastic performance by Tina Munim and no glamour whatsoever, but it is still one of the most charming and sweet movies I've ever seen, and definitely holds a spot on my list of favorite Hindi movies. It takes place in the Parsi community of Mumbai, which I was surprised by as a child. By the time I saw Baton Baton Mein I had seen quite a number of Hindi films, but never one in which everyone wore Western dresses and used English manners.
At its core, Baton Baton Mein is about relationships and dating - and in this movie instead of showing dating as being about running around trees and singing songs - it shows what it REALLY is like ... talking, getting to know one another, getting to know each other's families, misunderstandings, jealousies, and making up.
Nancy Pereira is our heroine, played by the gorgeous Tina Munim. She is obviously depressed as the movie opens, listening to emo music and replaying her recent breakup in her mind.
We find out later in the film that she had been dating a co-worker named Peter, and found out that he was a cheating jerk by running into him and his fiancee (WOOT, Prema Narayan) on a bus ride. Since then she has decided:
I think this is an inspired attitude by Nancy, but her film family doesn't agree. Despite the fact that she's a (mostly) independent working woman, they are hell-bent on getting her married as soon as possible. And they don't think they'll have all that hard of a time because she's a hottie. They just need her to get over this Peter business and get the wedding show on the road.
Her aunt who lives upstairs tries to console Nancy's mother that she definitely HOT.
Nancy lives with her mother (Pearl Padamsee) and younger brother Sabi (Ranjit Chowdhry in one of my favorites roles of his ever), while her mother's brother Uncle Tom (David) and his wife (who never seems to change out of her nightie) live in the upstairs flat of their two-family home (which I try not to call Uncle Tom's Cabin). Uncle Tom and Nancy commute to work together every day, taking the 9:10 public train. Nancy's mother, Rosy, is the star of this movie for me ...she is equally sweet, loving, innocent, enthusiastic, and child-like as well as pushy, overbearing, fretful, mollycoddling, and naive. She worries constantly over Nancy, wanting her to marry quickly and settle down, asking everyone she knows if there are any eligible boys they could introduce Nancy to. Simultaneously she ignores her son, waving off his hilarious comments and tuning out his constant violin playing or seeming lack of a "real" job (he plays violin at a nearby "hotel" - meaning disco/club) or girlfriends.
We then meet Tony Braganza, our hero. Tony is an only child and his mother is an even MORE overbearing, pushy, evil overlord who I renamed "Sarge". She treats Tony like a child and makes all of his decisions for him.
Is that a euphemism Tony?
Tony usually takes the early train to work, but has to take a later one that day because Sarge insists that he eat his breakfast and go with her to the tailor to have a safari suit made. I love that he wears safari suits!!! On the train, he notices the beautiful Nancy, sitting with Uncle Tom. A budding cartoonist, Tony starts making sketches of Nancy. She notices this and is (rightfully) creeped out. She tells Uncle Tom, who is all pleased about the situation and tells her, "Looks like a nice guy! Must be around your age!" - Uncle Tom deeply approves of random men on the train drawing pictures of his niece. Nancy tries to tell Uncle Tom that she's totally not interested in creepy drawing guy or any man, and finally tells him the story of her heartbreak with Peter. Uncle Tom TOTALLY blows off her pain and minimizes her experience, saying it's no big deal and that for young girls:
Nice Uncle Tom, real nice.
Tony, being super creepy, makes arrangements at work to take the 9:10 train and come to work a little later so that he can continue to stare at and draw pictures of Nancy. Finally after getting a few approving smiles and nods from Uncle Tom, he exchanges notes with him to find out more about Nancy. Uncle Tom suggests that they stop and grab a quick drink together (on the way to work?), and pulls Nancy along with him. At this first quasi-date, he shows them his labor of love - an artistic representation of Nancy that showcases her beautiful soul and the pain she has suffered:
Somehow Nancy is not totally turned off by this, and asks him if this is really what she looks like? Tony starts to explain about ART, because he's so deep, but they're getting late for work. Uncle Tom decides to invite Tony to Nancy's house that evening to tell them more about "ART" and Tony happily agrees. Nancy is bafflingly okay with all of this. After work she goes home and Uncle Tom tells Rosy that a boy is coming in the evening. Nancy is snippy and short with her mother, as she has been since the beginning of the movie, but this time she upsets her mother by telling her not to "blabber on and on" to their guest. Rosy goes into a classic Jewish mother guilt trip routine, which she does beautifully and I can't help but say AWWW as I watch her do it.
Eventually she tells her mother that she didn't mean to upset her, and that Tony Braganza is practically a stranger, and she doesn't know anything about him really, but Uncle Tom has invited him so they just need to treat him as a guest and send him on his way. This satisfies her mother for the moment.
Meanwhile Tony is on his way and having fabulous daydreams about Nancy greeting him in a white wedding dress. He pauses to admire himself along the way:
As if she could resist that beard!
Finally Tony arrives and they have an EXTREMELY awkward date with her mother asking pointed questions about his job and even asking his salary. Then Uncle Tom stops by and Tony starts to tell them about "art" and how he decided to go into cartoon artistry. Somehow in this scene he is charming enough to entice Nancy, who suddenly wants to spend some time alone with him. It's either his "knowledge of art" or the fact that her mother is totally disturbed by his interest in cartoons.
Apparently it works for Nancy, Rosy. She digs it.
So Uncle Tom assists Nancy by suggesting that they go for a walk alone, which leads to this lovely song and montage of them spending time together - this is what I love about this movie ... it actually shows the couple talking, spending time together, and getting to know one another!
So Nancy and Tony begin seeing each other regularly, and everyone is pleased except for Nancy's neighbor Henry, who harbors a not-so-secret crush on Nancy. But he's no threat to them, because he is too nervous to even speak to Nancy besides saying hello. Family and friends begin telling Rosy that they need to marry them immediately, but Rosy tells them that they are just spending time together for the moment.
The couple is cautious you see. Nancy is still hesitant to fall in love because of what happened with Peter, and Tony is afraid to tell Sarge about his relationship with Nancy. She never allows him to make any decisions, and he's sure that she'll never allow it:
Miraculously, Nancy is ok with this. They continue having fabulous dates, like this one:
I have so much to say about this video, I don't know where to begin. So I'll just say this ... where is Tony's neck?? It appears to be missing.
And this casual hang-out time at home with her family (my favorite song from this movie!):
As time goes on the couple has more ups and downs. The amazing character of Hazel Pinto (Shobini Singh) arrives to bring a little fire into their relationship -- she shows up at one of their dates wearing a SHOCKING skirt that reveals her knees, which throws everyone into a tizzy!
Word, Tony. But the skirt isn't all. Hazel, who is supposed to be one of Nancy's childhood friends, proceeds to drape herself all over Tony and feed him grapes! After Nancy's mother speaks up and tells her that her behavior is inappropriate, she continues to eat the grapes seductively from across the room and give Tony the "sexy eye" ... Hazel is a little minx. And a crappy friend.
I still get FURIOUS for Nancy when I see this scene. It's bad enough that her so-called friend is totally throwing herself all over her boyfriend, but the dude just sits there and laps it up, and then has the nerve to invite Hazel along on their date that evening!!! Thankfully (and surprisingly) Nancy tells Tony to GTFO and not bother calling her anymore. GO NANCY!
Afterwards Tony tries to get back into her good graces by enlisting Uncle Tom:
Perhaps Tony's beard or massive collars has mystical powers, because he manages to get her to forgive him for his open appreciation of Hazel's knees and grapes. But more troubles are in store for Nancy and Tony ...
For Tony made that crucial mistake -- not telling his parents, or more importantly, Sarge, that he is seriously and exclusively dating a girl. Eventually it was going to bite him in the a$$, and it all comes to heads when their mothers end up seated next to each other at the movies.
Sarge is awesome at the evil one eyebrow lift. She is PO'd that Tony was even friends with, much less seeing a girl whose mother is so "pushy and obnoxious" (has she met herself?). She rants and raves about them to Tony and his father, and insists that Tony never speaks to Nancy again, because she thinks they are planning to ensnare her son for marriage.
I am still amazed by how our lead couple puts up with so much ... Tony with Sarge treating him like a child and openly calling him an idiot, and Nancy with her family constantly meddling in her personal life and pushing her into dating before she's ready.
Nancy (again, showing that she's an awesome independent and smart chica) decides that she's not speaking to Tony because he allowed his mother to treat her mother rudely. She refuses to chase after him at ANY point of the movie, and keeps her head high throughout, never breaking down or compromising her dignity. She's one of the best heroines in Hindi movies!
Rosy is devastated by Nancy and Tony's breakup, and immediately allows her aunt to try and fix up Nancy with another boy.
Tony angsts about his dilemma ... should he pursue his relationship with Nancy and ignore Sarge? Or should he be angry that Rosy puts so much pressure on him to marry Nancy?
Click on the pic above to view the song "Kahan Tak Yeh Man Ko" in which Tony angsts about in his pajamas
Tony can't bring himself to be ready for marriage, it's too much pressure for him, no matter how he feels about Nancy:
And Nancy is being pressured into marriage to some dude named Francis (cameo by Asrani!) by an elder aunt. She knows that Tony feels pressured by her mother, but insists that it's her MOTHER, and whatever she does, she has Nancy's best interests at heart. She doesn't want him to feel pressured to marry her, and therefore thinks that the best idea is for them to not speak ever again.
So what does the couple decide? Will Tony ever escape Sarge's tyranny? Will Nancy be able to handle another guy screwing her over, or will she turn into a total shrew? And will Hazel the Ho find true love?
Nancy and Tony's decision forms the climax of the film, and it's definitely worth seeing how it turns out for them. The movie has a lovely, natural vibe to it and the funky 70s clothing is just the cherry on top. However there's a lot of latent sexism in it that you might find disturbing, but I suppose it's part and parcel of the era this film was made in:
But still, this film remains one of my favorites, with fresh, fun characters that are memorable. Most notably, and despite all the surrounding craziness of parental/familial pressure, it shows what seems to be one of the most normal, healthy romances I've ever seen in a Hindi film, which in itself makes it a film worth remembering and re-watching.
Amol Palekar has done some amazing work as an actor, and I'm not sure where this falls in terms of his career arc, but Tony Braganza is one of my favorite characters of his. I never really remembered Tina Munim to be a particularly bad actress, I always thought she was decent, but in this she is truly stiff and awkward! I think this was only her second movie though, so I'll attribute it to that. Again the supporting cast is particularly great in this movie, especially Pearl Padamsee. The banter between her, Tina and Ranjit Chowdhry is really fun to watch.
As always, constructive criticism, comments, questions, etc. are welcome! Would love to hear your thoughts on Amol Palekar, Tina Munim, this film, etc.
I have been following the various feminist, political, and racial debates that the French proposal for ban on the Islamic full veil or hijab has fanned. Read the latest on it here.
My feelings, stance and opinion remain unsorted and confused. A lot of questions diffuse my attempts at any kind of understanding, and I share them here.
Does Islam really mandate the wearing of a veil that covers the face in its entirety? Doesn’t the holy Quran refer to the hijab in its broader sense of modesty and not necessarily a physical piece of clothing to be worn? If it is modesty and social propriety, is a piece of cloth enough to ensure the same?
Is the enforcement of the mandate of the full veil a fanatic religious measure to keep women entrapped in the dark shadows of illiteracy and ignorance - do the extremists actually believe that women need to be protected, or hidden, or maybe just put away?
Is the proposal to ban the wearing of the full veil in France pro open-faced democracy, and in the interest of the security of the nation, and the feminist endeavor for greater rights and freedom for women?
Is the problem with the veil that it covers the full faces and hence poses security threats? Have there been incidents of misuse of the veil by criminals?
Is the proposed ban against the institution of secularism? Does it indicate religious intolerance and racial bias of the xenophobic “west”?
Do Islamic women see the burqa or the hijab as a cultural identity that empowers them as unique individuals or thwarts their efforts at any kind of progress?
Do Islamic women wear the veil out of coercion or of their own free will? Is their will free or conditioned?
Is the hijab the only form of expressing religious belief? Why should only women carry the burden of religious identity?
So I'm attempting to do this podcast thing which I've been wanting to do for a LONG LONG LONG time - I'm still trying to figure out the technical stuff and how to load it on iTunes and all that, but meanwhile here's the audio ... obviously it's very amateur and I didn't have much time to edit the sound levels - most of my voice recording was in the middle of the night so I was trying to talk quietly and not wake the Hubz and Kid. But I hope that some of you get a chance to listen to some of the fabulous songs included in here - they are some of my absolute favorites.
So here's my Bollystalgia Podcast Episode 1 This is a companion to my original post of Aamir Khan songs, which you can view here. To come - SRK songs, Movie reviews, and DVD commentary/watchalong tracks!
Today's Song of the Day is technically from the 1975 hit movie Julie which starred Lakshmi (now seen in mother roles, most notably the freaky mom-in-law from the tamil movie Rhythm and the crazy grandma from Jeans) in a storyline that reminds me a lot of a V.C. Andrews book - but the version I currently have stuck in my head is the popular remix produced by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (posing as Instant Karma) from the 1996 album Dance Masti ...
This song makes me want to fall in love all over again, and slow dance all night in the arms of my hero (who hopefully will NOT look like the hero from Julie ... I mean, check out this loser, would YOU let HIM knock you up???).
Instant Karma - www.123musiq.c - Dil Kya Kare (The Love Is... M .mp3
For anyone that's curious about the movie Julie and wants to know more, I definitely recommend you visit this post about it at Minai's Cinema Nritya Gharana - a fascinating blog! There are some wonderful screencaps from the film, including a few of a teeny Sridevi!
That reminds me - are you watching your Sridevi movies in prep for SRIDEVIPALOOZA???
