5 Favorite Bollywood Remakes

Bollywood has done some tremendous remakes of western classics. Here are 5 to get you going.

1) An Affair to Remember  - The Bollywood version of this is Mann starring Aamir Khan and Manisha Koirala. The story is told a bit differently, and we get more of a back story on the character played by Aamir/Grant – which is really welcome. His transformation from playboy to lover is more moving as a result. The scene where they meet the grandmother on the island is so faithfully recreated you will think they are on the same exact set. On the other hand, the penultimate scene where Aamir/Grant realizes why Manisha/Kerr didn’t show up as planned is less intense in the Indian version. But, because it’s a Hindi film, we do get a wedding scene and the movie wraps up better. If you are a fan of this movie – see the Hindi version.

2) Sabrina  - The Bollywood version of this is called Yeh Dillagi and stars Akshay as Linus, Kajol as Sabrina and Said Ali Khan as the younger brother (except their names are all Hindi names – don’t ask me what they are). This movie translates very well into Bollywood. Because of the added time (Western movies are about 1 ½ hours long – Bollywood closer to 3 hours long), we get to explore these characters motivations more. Akshay’s character has a fabulous “I just realized I’m in love fantasy dance sequence” that is seriously one of my all-time favorite fantasy dance sequences. He’s beautiful to watch. The tension surrounding both men’s desire to marry not only the same girl but a girl of lower class/caste really works well in Indian cinema because even today couples are killed when they do this. Akshay and Kajol are brilliant and Said does a great job in his supporting role.


3) Romeo and Juliet  - probably the best remake of this in India is Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT) starring Aamir Khan and Juli Chawla (both in their first roles).  Again, because we have added time, we get more of a backstory about why these two families are feuding so that when our young lovers do fall in love and run away together, we understand better why the families care enough to hunt them down. Additionally, there is a caste problem and this is a love marriage. The story works very well as an Indian movie and even in his first role, Aamir is a star.

4) The Shop Around the Corner/You’ve Got Mail – This is one of my favorite stories in all its forms (including the delightful musical She Loves Me). The Indian version of this is Na Tum Jaano Na Hum and stars Hrithik Roshan and Esha Deol. This is a very odd movie, but I still enjoyed it. First, the things I liked. I think the addition of the love triangle was brilliant (the odd man out is Said Ali Khan).  The best moment of the movie is when Hrithik realizes that the girl he arranged for his friend to marry is the girl he is in love with through the letters. It was poignant and beautiful and I was crying. Now for the problems. From that point, they change the story and they really shouldn’t have. I think if they had resolved this movie the way the original stories do, this would have worked brilliantly. Second, the artistic choices made by the director of this movie are a bit ... odd. First, you have Hrithik, one of the best dancers in THE WORLD, and they don’t have him dance. At all. He is relegated to posing pensively. It’s a waste. There is a lot of dancing in this movie. It’s just really strange dancing, with bizarre patent leather costumes and fire with fantasy metaphors that are impossible to work out. And don’t get me started on the choice of playback singer who sounds nothing like Hrithik. It’s jarring. I still recommend this movie because even with its flaws it’s still Shop Around the Corner and I still love it.

5) Stepmom starring Ed Harris, Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon in the west was remade as We are Family in India starring Kareena Kapoor (as the Julia Robert’s character), Kajol (as the Susan Sarandon character) and Arjun Rampal (in Ed Harris’ role).  I realize this is not a remake of a classic movie, but I loved Stepmom and I loved We are Family even more. This is a tearjerker (I am welling up just thinking about the ending) and Kajol and Kareena carry this movie together wonderfully. This is a movie where the women rule and your heart burst with love. Worth watching.

10 Silly but still wondefully enjoyable Bollywood movies.

Having just published a list of 10 great Bollywood movies. I thought I should also publish a list of 10 Silly but still wonderful Bollywood films. My feeling on films is that they are first and foremost entertainment. If I am entertained, the movie was good. So here is my list. (Note: technically, these are not all Bollywood movies. (There are Telegu and Tamil language movies in this list).

10 Silly But Still Worth Watching Movies

1) Rowdy Rathore – low brow kick ass movie starring Akshay – he’s brilliant. This is a self-aware comedy that is beautifully done with a tad bit of sadism at the end that makes it not kid friendly – but it’s necessary for plot development so deal with it.

2) Makkhi - a story about a man who is murdered reincarnating as a fly and taking revenge. Sooooo satisfying. And yes, Masala - the only downside is that Rani dies pretty early on and so we only get one hunky guy soaking wet dance sequence. He is delightful. Stay for the credits where the flies do a bollywood dance number that includes chitta chitta from Rowdy Rathore.

3) Fruit and Nut – Doofus bumbles through an underworld plot to take over the city. Includes a great transvestite dance sequence and an old man evil old guy dance sequence that is really worth watching. It’s so funny. Just give yourself over to it.

4) Chandramukhi –Here’s what you need to know. Rajnikath is investigating a haunted house. That’s pretty much sums it up. Once you watch this you will understand why Rajnikanth is the most popular actor in all of India.

5) Koi Mil Gaya – Hrithiki plays a mentally challenged young man who meets an alien in this Bollywood remake of ET – brilliant and silly and it spawned a series of superhero movie sequels.

6) Baasdhah – Shahrukh in a comedy of errors. Delightful – this is what SRK is good at. To understand Shahrukh’s appeal – you need to see this movie.

7) Oh My God – Akshay as Lord Krishna in a movie about an atheist who sues God – based on a true story (well, not the Lord Krishna part). Delightfully done. Krishna is a Humanist, as it turns out.

8)  Hisss – angry snake god takes on a sexy human form and goes on a rampage.

9) Jajantaram Mamantaram – Bollywood remake of Gulliver’s Travels involving mermaids and giant demons. Delightful. This is a children’s movie.

10) Bodyguard – starring Salman Khan – worth watching for the choreographed dance sequence that consists solely of peck pumping to the music. The whole movie is really fun and really enjoyable. It’s basically a movie where Salman makes fun of the kick ass characters he normally plays.

Again - these are not award winning films. But they are highly enjoyable. So give yourself over to them and enjoy. 

10 Great Bollywood Movies

Interested in Bollywood, but don't know where to start? I was asked by my mom to put together a top 10 list of movies I recommend. Here they are.

10 Great Bollywood Movies:

1) Veer Zaara - great movie - horrid acting at the start - stick with it, it's worth it.

2) Barfi! won 11 awards in 2013 - earned every one plus some it didn't. Wonderfully acted. Homages to Charlie Chaplin and Ranbir Kapoor's grandfather.

3) Jodhaa Akbar - epic period piece - has massive battles with camels and elephants and centers around an inter-religious love story and religious tolerance.  Beautifully done. Not masala - meaning - no dancing - but there are some musical montages. Gotta have a montage.

4) Lagaan - my hubby's first Bollywood movie - he loved it - centers around a love triangle and a cricket match and unfair taxes.

5) Ghajini - murder mystery love story. You ain't seen deep pathos until you see this film - basically a remake of Memento but WAY better.

6) Kites - mystery - they kiss - something bad has to happen. Set in Mexico - stars Hrithik and a famous Mexican actress. Don't see Kites Remixed - it sucks.

7) Swades - based on a true story - NASA scientist returns to India decides to stay - love story - dealing with corruption, masala. Shahrukh - wonderful movie.

8) Faana - first half=romantic comedy musical. 2nd half = Cape Fear with the occasional musical number thrown in for good measure. Seriously - this one is so well done and the moral dilemma so well done that you will mull on it for days.It is chilling.

9) Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham - family/father/son relationship movie with arranged marriages and adoption providing the plot. Don't watch this unless you have lots of tissues and make sure to hydrate yourself. I ran out of tears about 15 minutes before the end and it was really painful because I still had a lot of crying to do.

10) Dhobi Ghat - drama - no music. Really good thought provoking movie.

This list includes movies by all the great actors working today. Shahrukh, Hrithik, Aamir, Amitabh, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Kukerji and more.  See these and you will have a good idea of who the famous actors are and why they are famous as well as a good understanding of the wide variety of types of movies that are being made in India.

Enjoy.

Cash - Bollywood Review - Skip to the End

Finally made it through the  movie Cash. It's a bollywood movie. Honestly, I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Too many characters, who were cartooned and when I eventually figured out who they all were, the movie ended. It's a heist movie.

The only reason I am even posting a review here is because even though I wouldn't recommend the film, the end credits, were super cool.  It's all done in one shot and it's well staged and the song is ok but I really enjoyed it.

So, don't bother sitting through this one.  Just check out the end clip here.

Rowdy Rathore movie review - thoroughly enjoyable

Do you love Bollywood movies? Do you love over the top Bollywood song and dance sequences? Ready for a rowdy romp? Rowdy Rathore is the movie for you!

I have become obsessed with Bollywood movies. I pretty much have lost all interest in western films at this point. I only watch western movies for my son and husband's sake. My preference is to watch Bollywood movies.


I watched Rowdy Rathore the other night straight through, which is saying something because it is 2 hrs and 38 minutes long. It was delightful from start to finish which is amazing because it is an over the top self aware comedy and those rarely deliver so consistently throughout a movie, let alone a 2 1/2 hour movie.

When I say this is a comedy, it is more accurate to say it is a comedy/action/romance/musical/thriller.The characters are delightful and have depth to them that isn't normally found in a comedy or action movie. The choreography was some of the best I've seen. the songs were catchy and fun and seriously, there is nothing not to like in this Bollywood movie.  Which is astonishing because self aware comedies don't always work and certainly not all the time. This one hits all the right notes at all the right times. Seamlessly moving from drama to over the top action to romance and to bawdy romance at that.

I've seen lead actor Ashkay Kumar in other movies, but this is the first time I've really understood what a talent he is. His dancing is amazing. And again, it's unexpected considering how big he is. He seems like he should be more awkward, but he is delightful to see dance and he really stands out against the back up dancers. He's better then all the rest and it is easy to see why he is the lead. He is a joy to watch and he nailed the "Amitabh" signature dance move perfectly during the gratuitous romance in a field near a river dance sequence which was a send up of classic Amitabh dance sequences from movies like Silsila . And again, the self aware comedy adds to the sequence and doesn't detract from it. They got the balance just right.

As for the music. I LOVED it. It was everything you want in a bollywood song or a bollywood dance sequence. They don't allow the videos from this movie to be embedded - so I am linking to Chinta Ta Ta Chita here.

What Ashkay manages to do acting wise in this movie is really hard to do. He nails every scene. And again, it's self aware comedy. He dances well. And the dancing is over the top silly yet beautiful at the same time. They somehow managed to get that balance right. He sings well. Acts well (comedy, drama and romance were all required in this movie). In short. He is now one of my favorite actors.

The story line and plot are also engaging. I can't go into it here because a) it would spoil the movie and b) it's too convoluted to explain (as most Bollywood movies are). Suffice it to say, the plot is a good one so the comedy isn't just comedy for the sake of comedy, it is leading somewhere.

My only complaint is that the violence and gore was over the top too and it isn't a movie I would want my son to see. The romance part was fine, the comedy was fine. Most of the action sequences are fine. There is just a lot of gore and sadism near the end. Yes, it is needed for the plot, but it's just not appropriate for younger audiences.

If you are looking for a delightful romp that is action packed, bawdily romantic and fun with a tiny bit of a sadistic thriller thrown in for good measure towards the end. You won't go wrong with this film. I'm curious to see what others think about it. So if you've seen this movie, please let me know what you thought of it. I really liked it.

Why I like Indian cinema

I was watching a movie called Break Ke Baad the other day and I realized why I like Bollywood movies. They are infused with a Humanistic sensibility. This is a love story with a traditional guy and a modern girl. The girl doesn't want to follow the traditional marriage route. She wants to live by her own rules.

They attend a wedding and have a discussion about family obligations. She doesn't like the obligations. He talks about how they aren't obligations. They are ways for you to show that you love the other person by taking their feelings into account in your decision making.

Like the girl in this movie - I think obligations for the sake of obligations aren't a good thing. However, I also understand the fact that being responsible to my relationships and the people I love is what not only gives my life meaning, it is what makes life enjoyable.

Keep in mind that no one in this woman's life is asking her to do anything she doesn't want to do.They want her to fulfill her dreams. They are only asking her to take their feelings into consideration. She is at first unable to understand the difference. It is only when she looses the guy she loves because she isn't treating him well that she finally understands.

As a Humanist, I feel very strongly that we must be compassionate with other people in our interpersonal relationships. It is how we strike the balance between our need for autonomy and our need for companionship that dictates how successful we will be in life.

In other words,you fulfill your social obligations are because of love – you don’t do them because you have to. You do them because you care about the impact you have on other people.

Here is a preview of the movie which I definitely enjoyed even though it wasn't a traditional musical. The musical numbers were all montages.

Ra-One was not so good

I was really looking forward to this movie, as I like Shahrukh and I like sci fi. But this just didn't connect with me. I thought some of the special effects were wonderful. the scene in the junk yard was amazing. but over all, the story just lacked the depth that I have come to expect from a good Bollywood movie.

It was cute, it was fun, but the answer was just too pat and so it wasn't very emotionally movie. I suppose it's a sign of refinement that I've finally seen a Bollywood movie that didn't knock me off my feet. But this one didn't. It was just ok. Maybe it was the lack of really good dance numbers. The main sequence was at a party and it was out of character for our lead - totally out of character. The main character isn't even Ra-One - that is the name of the bad guy. So, yeah it just didn't connect. It didn't help that Shahrukh is not the best of dramatic actors.

Now, had the opening sequence been the actual movie - that would have been cool.

Unbelievably Good - Fanaa - Movie Review

Fanaa with Kajol & Aamir Khan

The worst part about Fanaa is that my husband did not see it with me. Which means, I spent the entire next day (today), contemplating it with no one to talk to about it. Aaaaghhh! It also meant that in order to talk to him about it I had to explain the plot. Which is no simple task, this is after all a Bollywood film.

Before I go any further, let me just say, this is a GREAT movie. I gave it 5 stars and definitely recommend it. It is fabulously acted. This is the best role I have seen Kajol in. Ever. Aamir is incredible in it. He goes from romantic comedy song and dance to a deep pathos. He is totally believable and charming and devastating in turn. Very few actors have that sort of range. He does.

Now, as to why I desperately needed to discuss this movie. If you have ever seen a Bollywood movie, you know you basically get two movies for the price of one. The first hour and a half-ish sets up our characters, after the intermission, you get another hour or so that basically takes off where the first movie ends and gives our characters a new situation to deal with. Often, the 2nd half involves a twist. You will also know that if our characters even so much as kiss (even married couples), something bad is going to have to happen to them. And no, they didn't kiss, but they did something else that is definitely a no no and so, I knew something bad was going to happen, but how bad, given that they hadn't kissed, was unclear and things seemed to be going well around intermission time. Knowing all this I was completely unprepared for the second half of this movie!  It was a total departure from the first part. The first half of the movie is a beautiful and fun romantic comedy with singing and dancing. The second half is a lot like Cape Fear. Needless to say, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride. Well worth it though.

At the end, the moral lesson is clear. Morality is not about choosing between good and evil. It is about being prepared to choose between the greater of two goods or the lesser of two evils. 

A Sappy Movie Worth Watching

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a really sappy movie. REALLY sappy. There is no question in your mind where this movie is going to go, but that doesn't matter. You want it to go there and you need it to go there and are very satisfied when it does. In other words, it is very predictable, but that doesn't matter. It's a great story and lovingly told.

Plus - it stars Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan as brothers. Hrithik - by the way is one of the most handsome men in the world and he is also one of the greatest dancers in the world consistently compared to Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Michael Jackson. Amitabh Bachchan plays their father and he's wonderful. The female leads are also stellar including Kareena Kapoor and Kajol who plays so incredibly well against Shahrukh.

The dancing and the music are extraordinary and of course, plenty of Hrithik dancing. The best sequence was when Hrithik, Shahrukh and Amitabh all dance together.  Wow!

Anyway - this is a tear jerker of a film and when I say tear jerker - I mean to say I was openly sobbing. I didn't just have a tear trickling down my face, I was moaning and sniffling and openly sobbing. When it was over my eyes felt dry like I didn't have any tears left to keep my eyes properly moistened.  It was a lot of crying. Which is surprising given how predictable this movie was. But again, you want it to end the way it does and it is beautiful. So, if you like crying, lots of bollywood music and dance and an emotionally moving family dynamic story - watch this film.

Here is a trailer, which doesn't do it justice, but still, gives you the essence.

Chill Out Dude- Chillar Party Review

I've got netflix on the wii. One of the great things about it is that there are a lot of bollywood movies on demand.  The most recent movie I saw was Chillar Party. It was an excellent movie and I rated it as 5 stars.  Here's why.

It is a film about kids and discrimination and love and friendship and loyalty, the plight of orphans and fighting back against people in power who are trying to crush the little guy for political gain. I cried quite a bit during this movie.  However, that's not why I rated it so highly.  For a film about kids, it was REALLY well acted.  I believed every single kid was exactly who they were.  This was a really well told story that was well directed and extremely well acted.  It is a great movie and worth seeing.

The movie also stirred up quite a bit of emotions in me because the kids in this movie have what should be a typical childhood, yet, in America, we have lost that. My kid doesn't have the opportunity to just go out and about unsupervised with a group of neighborhood kids who are friends by virtue of living in the same community. Sure, there are other kids in our neighborhood, but only one parent is willing to let their kids go free range. We happen to really like these free range kids and they treat my son great. However, most of the other parents are very suspicious about them and won't let their kids out to play with them at all. Result, even though we have a great neighborhood for kids to play in, we don't have a gang of kids out and about playing learning how to be kids from other kids.  It's sad really. Because I do think our kids need to unstructured unsupervised time.

I know I'm not the only parent who feels this way. My friend Cheryl just wrote a blog post at A Little Bit Quirky on exactly this topic. Anyway, it's a great movie. The story is wonderful and quite touching and you are so proud of these kids, that maybe, if enough American parents watch it, they may just start allowing their kids to go free range like they should.

This is really silly

Fruit & Nut is one of those movies you just have to give yourself over to. It is incredibly silly. My favorite bits were the old man dance sequence and when the transvestite mob, mobs our hero in a street dance sequence.

The story line is, well, ridiculous, but enjoyable. Basically a doofus who reminds me a lot of a cute chubby Indian version of Fred Armisen manages to get himself embroiled in a plot to destroy Mumbai and somehow manages to doofus his way through to solving the case. He is super cute in his doofusness.  However, this movie is so silly, it really is impossible to predict how or where this movie will go. Just go along for the ride and enjoy it.

What you should know is that this is a Bollywood movie, so it's in Hindi with English subtitles. It's also a musical. On the plus side, it's only about 1 1/2 hours long, so rather short for Bollywood. But, if you like silly Bollywood musicals, you'll like this movie.

Netflix link: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Fruit_Nut/70132319?trkid=496624