Hamlet
Decided to watch this 1954 version in preparation for setting Haider. Kishore Sahu stars alongside Mala Sinha. I’m not a Shakespeare buff and to be honest I was kinda bored by the proceedings. I think someone more familiar with this genre could appreciate this better.
Haider
Given all that’s been written and discussed, I don’t feel qualified to say anything other than the fact that I loved it and was mesmerised by Tabu.
Thalapathi
So this is the first Rajnikanth film I’ve seen and I’m left kinda baffled… Anyways, my reason for watching this is because it’s a Mani Ratnam film and I’ve been working my way through his filmography. I thought the first half was dreadful – lots of dumb fighting (clearly masala is wasted on me), but the second half drew me in, especially as I suddenly realised the story was based on Karna from Mahabharat.
BA Pass
Rather miserable movie about a young guy whose life spirals downwards after his parents die and he starts prostituting himself to rich women so he can support his teenage sisters.
The Householder
A Merchant Ivory film that is basically about a newly married couple adjusting to each other. Shashi Kapoor is an actor who I usually find charming and manages to do what is required of him. But here I felt his inadequacies add an actor are quite evident. The very beautiful Leela Naidu however plays her part well (though admittedly less is required of her). Durga Khote is brilliant as a nightmare mother in law.
Gone Girl
Extremely watchable and a lot of fun. But when I thought about it afterwards I felt pretty unconvinced.
The Lowland (Novel – Jhumpa Lahiri)
Left me with a sense of sadness that I think is going to linger for some time. Highly recommended.
Khuddar
I watched this multistarrer for Sanjeev Kumar but I didn’t really enjoy it. His role was short and didn’t require anything of him. I found Amitabh kind of annoying, especially in the comic scenes, but the emotional scenes felt really over-the-top too. Parveen Babi was good (she’s so much cooler than Zeenat Aman who I can’t stand).
Gulabi Gang
This is the documentary (not the dumb Madhuri-Juhi film). Saw it at a screening in London which was followed by a Q&A with the director, Nishtha Jain. The documentary itself was awesome, but I was equally charmed by the very charismatic filmmaker.
Bang Bang
Too loud, too long, an ‘actress’ who can’t act, and ‘actor’ who used to be cool but is now just cringe-worthy. But for a few wonderful minutes when Deepti Naval came on screen everything felt better :)
Californication Season 7
A significant deterioration in quality was evident in this final season of a great show. Will miss Hank and his great great quotes.
Sarkar Raj
I got around to watching this after a long time. As with the first one, watching Amitabh and Abhishek together (not in a comedy) is awesome. Aish needs a better director than RGV to be convincing but she got more impressive as the film went on. Also, I don’t usually notice things like background music and camerawork but both were really annoying ) – the former was loud and over the top and the latter seemed to be suffering from ADHD.
Puja aur Paayal
Lol, YouTube indicated this film stars Jaya Bhaduri and Sanjeev Kumar, but it’s actually a terrible b-grade film where they just make special appearances. So I stopped watching after an awful half-hour.
Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi
Kishore Kumar directs, produces, writes, composes for, sings for and acts in this crazy caper about an old man who decides to leave 10 lakh rupees for the dude with the longest beard in town! Started off quite funny but I lost patience after a while and wasn’t paying attention by the end.
Kashmakash (Dubbed version of Noukadoubi)
This Rituparno Ghosh gem exemplifies everything I love about his movies – poetic, moving and engrossing. It’s set in 1920s Calcutta and Kashi, and stars the Sen sisters in basically a tale of complex relationships. I really enjoyed it, and the soundtrack was also very beautiful.
Hamaari Yaad Aayegi
This was Tanuja’s first major adult role but again reinforces the fact that this great actress was wasted in films undeserving of her talent. She plays a street-dweller who struggles to become ‘decent’ after meeting a nice guy. Then there’s a strange widow hanging around too. A rather dull, and somewhat irritating film. The songs are the highlight, including a couple by Mukesh, and in particular the song of Mubarak Begum’s career – the title track Kabhi Tanhaaiyon Mein Yun Hamaari Yaad Aayegi.
Sureeli Baat
I really enjoyed the 12 episodes of this show I found on YouTube. The host, Mala Sekhri was awesome. She seems genuine, passionate and truly knowledgable about music – I’m gonna try to find out more about her! She interviews various singers and composers but most of the show consists of them singing anything that comes to mind! The best episodes were Sunidhi (listen to her sing a few lines of Mehdi Hassan’s Koplein Phir), Kavita, Shafqat and of course the Lata special. Bappi Lahori is a freak.
Archana
A very bad, over the top, excessively melodramatic version of the Anupama scenario, starring Sanjeev Kumar and Mala Sinha.
The Eradication of Schizophrenia in Western Lapland
Dreadful theatre show that I went to see with colleagues. There was a rather superficial and poorly thought through anti-psychiatry stance that naturally I wasn’t impressed with.
Rivaaj
Amazing how Mala Sinha still looked so young and beautiful in the mid-seventies. Sanjeev Kumar costars in this moderately watchable film that touches upon the theme of remarriage of child-widows, amidst the usual masala.
Agantuk
I think someone (maybe Satyam) mentioned that Ray’s later films weren’t on the same level as his earlier ones. So I saw this with lower expectations (this was his final film) but I loved it. An uncle (or not…) who has been missing for 35 years suddenly turns up…leading to suspicion, intrigue and lots of fine conversation. I found the proceedings entirely gripping.
Tamasha
I’ve seen almost every available Meena Kumari film, so when I locate one I’ve not seen, it’s a big deal! I was delighted to find this on YouTube – costarring Dev Anand, and also Kishore Kumar and Ashok Kumar (who produced this film). It’s a comedy, in the same vein as the others Meena did in the early-mid fifties. Often the ‘rare’ films are a disappointment but this one was a pleasure to watch. It has the familiar storyline of a young guy bringing in a pretend wife to placate his dying grandfather (who is also pretending to be ill) – lots of fun!
Roja
I’m about 20 years late but finally saw this. Decided to see the Tamil with subtitles rather than the dubbed Hindi. Loved Madhoo’s performance – hope she won an award.
Geethanjali
This is the first Telugu film I’ve watched it, and I found the language much softer/sweeter than Tamil. I think it’s the only Telugu film of Mani Ratnam and I liked it. It’s a romantic movie, set against the backdrop of human mortality. The comic side plot was extremely irritating and unnecessary.
Agni Charitram (Dubbed as Gharshana in Telugu)
Mani Ratnam’s rather mediocre take on the One Tree Hill scenario of two half-brothers who hate each other. One of his early films.
Finding Fanny
Delicious. Had so much fun watching this – the bizarreness is right up my alley and the performances were delightful. Oh and Deepika looks luminous. And apart from that, given what the title means here in England, it raised a chuckle every time it was said aloud ;-)
Khubsoorat
I wasn’t expecting much and the first half was just watchable, but then as it went on I started having a lot of fun and by the end could say I genuinely enjoyed the film. The only low point was the exceedingly irritating Kiron Kher – can’t stand her these days and she’s particularly annoying here.
Daawat-e-Ishq
Passable film. Good performances are a big positive but the mediocre music is disappointing as a decent soundtrack is a prerequisite for a good rom-com. After having not seen an Indian film in the cinema since D3, I watched the above three on the big screen in the space of a week!!
Just Another Love Story
This Bengali film marked Rituparno Ghosh’s acting debut, in which he plays a gay, transsexual documentary director, shooting about an aged theatre actor whose life mirrors his own. Although initially I found the film kinda weird, I was pretty engrossed as it progressed, and the acting was first notch.
Chitrangada
This somewhat autobiographical film kind of picks up where the above finished, and again stars Rituparno Ghosh, and is also directed by him. He plays a similar character (that I actually found very hard to like), but this time the step of a sex-change is taken. The impacts this has on the individual, his partner and family, is explored. Some incredibly insightful and moving moments, however the overall gloominess (understandably), makes this quite hard to watch, especially knowing how close to home this must have been for Ghosh who died not long afterwards.
Salaam Bombay
Finally got around to seeing this. Good film. But I need to start watching less depressing films.
Death Comes To Pemberley (novel)
Apparently there are heaps of Jane Austen ‘sequels’. This murder mystery was a fun, quick read, and it was a pleasure revisiting the characters we know so well.
Death Comes To Pemberley (BBC series)
This was pretty average fare.
Suits Season 4
Top notch again. Can’t wait for the next season!
100 Foot Journey
Very predictable and mildly dull. But my friends seemed to enjoy it so perhaps I’m being harsh.
Mera Daamaad
Randomly found this 80s comedy on YouTube, starring Utpal Dutt, Ashok Kumar and Farooque Sheikh. A delightful little film.
Amu
The awesome Konkona Sen Sharma plays an American teen who goes back to India to visit family, and find out about her past as she is adopted. This leads her to the 1984 riots. Very well made, sensitive and extremely well-acted film.
Ghar Basaake Dekho
This was just something I randomly came across on YouTube but ended up really enjoying. It is a true ensemble movie, about a host of married couples, all in slightly different circumstances. There’s Johnny Walker, Mehmood, Manoj Kumar, Shyama, Lalita Pawar, Rajshree, Savitri and others. A surprisingly good film.
Queen
Equally enjoyable second time round. Really impressed with Kangana.
Imaan Dharam
Watched this for Sanjeev Kumar, but his role was actually overly preachy and annoying. The film itself, starring Amitabh, Shashi Kapoor (a pair of good-for-nothings who make money by giving false evidence in court), Rekha (playing a South Indian who keeps bursting into Tamil), Helen (the most interesting character – not playing a vamp and not doing a single cabaret- she has a young daughter and she doesn’t even know who the dad is!), and Aparna Sen!! (playing a blind girl). All the lectures about Geeta=Bible=Quran all got a bit much for me but the film was kinda fun. Laxmikant Pyarelal’s music is mediocre (as usual!)
Shongram
Watched this truly dreadful Bengali film at the London Indian Film Festival. It’s about the 1971 Bangladesh issues, but is simply awful – a screechy female lead, an entirely uncharismatic male lead, jarring background music, and a villain straight out of a bad 80’s film.
As part of the above festival I also went to the short films session, which was really good. And also an interview with Farhan Akhtar (Vidhu Vinod Chopra and his wife Anupama were both present in the audience too). Farhan was just like in his tv interviews.
Mouna Ragam
A friend has given me a few Ratnam DVDs so I’m looking forward to seeing them. This first one was enjoyable – certainly not as ‘refined’ as his later work, but Revathy was charming and her ballsy character was awesome, especially in the climax. The fights/songs were a bit annoying but I acknowledge that Ratman had constraints to make the film within.
Positive
A rather pointless short film by Farhan Akhtar that I came across on YouTube. It stars Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi, in a story that is meant to raise awareness about AIDS.
Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne
A fantasy-musical by Satyajit Ray, based on stories written by his grandfather. Two young guys get granted three wishes and end up on various musical adventures. So different in mood to the other Ray films I’ve seen thus far, but a pleasant watch.
Hirok Raajar Deshe
Ray’s sequel to the above film – I liked this one more. The lead pair continue their adventures and end up in a state run by a tyrannical king. The issues raised remain highly pertinent to the world today. Need to get hold of the final film in the trilogy now, which was directed by Ray’s son.
Jaalsaaz
A silly lost and found film starring Kishore Kumar, Mala Sinha and Pran, made somewhat watchable only for the performances.
Bose – The Lost Hero
Finally got around to watching this Shyam Benegal film. 3 and a half hours long!!! I did learn a lot about him (which I guess was the point of the film), but by about 2 hours in I was dying…
Ek Pal
Set in Assam, this Kalpana Lajmi film about an adulterous wife stars Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Farooq Sheikh. Nothing particularly wrong with the movie but to be honest I was a little bored by the proceedings.
Sautela Bhai
One of Guru Dutt’s lesser known acting ventures – this is a horrible film! Painful melodrama where you just want the characters to get a grip.
Amber
Rather frivolous film, starring Nargis as an orphan girl, brought up by a King as his own after she turns up at his door. But she secretly wants revenge! Raj Kapoor plays a loyal protector of the King. Lots of inconsistencies in the plot but the lead pair prevent the film from being unwatchable.
Aashiana
Another Raj Kapoor-Nargis starrer, with them playing lovers seperated by society. Rather boring, but a fantastic soundtrack – one of the earlier Lata-Madan Mohan collaborations. And it did get somewhat intriguing after the interval.
Anhonee
Nargis in a double role – two sisters living in very different situations. One, rich and respected, engaged to a lawyer, Raj Kapoor, and the other a girl of ill repute, flirting and chewing paan. A decent film.
Open
Really enjoyed reading this, Andre Agassi’s biography. I’ve not read so many books in the sport genre but I’m a tennis buff so had wanted to read this for some time. It’s quite a moving story, made up of family drama, romance, friendship, human character and relations, and of course tennis (with heaps of inside goss on his peers!). The character transformation (or formation as Agassi calls it) made me think of Tolstoy.
Amjad Ali Khan – Documentary by Gulzar
Another insight into a master musician. Really enjoyed getting a peek into a life devoted to music, and Gulzar’s style is really intimate.
Adaalat
Tedious and somewhat irritating film, starring Nargis, a studious but unfortunate girl who ends up kicked out of home, duped into working in a brothel, and the shame of being a secretly wed mother (because her husband Pradeep Kumar didn’t tell his parents that he had married before heading off to London to become a barrister). Pran, plays a devilishly cool villain, in various disguises and costumes, who harasses and tortures Nargis through out. The saving grace is Madan Mohan’s brilliant soundtrack: Asha-Rafi’s duet Zameen Se Hamein Aasmaan Par and Lata’s twin masterpiece ghazals Yun Hasraton Ke Daag and Unko Yeh Shiqaayat Hai.
Ek Villain
What a stupid film. I got seduced by the Galliyan song and Shraddha Kapoor but this was just dumb and pointless – a disappointment after Aashiqui 2 which I had really liked.
Nadal (autobiography)
Not nearly as fascinating as Agassi’s story, but easy and quick to read, and reinforces my impression that Nadal really seems like an awesome person.
Gulab Gang
I saw this with low expectations but that didn’t help – two hours wasted on this stupid film.
Chale Chalo
This documentary which is based on the making of Lagaan was fun to watch. Brought back a lot of memories of the great film – one of the very few of the new millennium that is a genuine classic.
Laajwanti
Balraj Sahni is always a pleasure to watch, and here he plays a busy lawyer who doesn’t have time for his wife, Nargis, who is equally awesome here. He ends up falsely accusing her of having an affair and she understandably stomps off. Great acting and very good songs. The last half hour is slightly weaker but def worth a watch.
Ray on the Jana Aranya shoot
Bharosa
Because Guru Dutt was one of India’s greatest directors, it is easy to forget he used to occasionally act in external films too, including Bahurani and Suhagan with Mala Sinha, and Saanjh Aur Savera with Meena Kumari. Bharosa, co starring Asha Parekh unfortunately is the weakest of them all, the only positive being some beautiful songs by Ravi. I can only imagine that the reason Dutt would have been in such a film would be to raise funds for his own productions.
Jana Aranya
Satyajit Ray explores unemployment in his final part of the “Calcutta trilogy”. From the other two I’ve seen Seemabadha but not Pratidwandi. Satyam mentioned that Ray’s cinema is an endless treasure of riches and I’m discovering the truth in that – this one too was a pleasure to watch. It’s the family scenes that I found particularly impressive, especially the very endearing bhabhi..
Madras Cafe
It took me multiple attempts to get into this film set during the Sri Lankan civil war, and I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. Nargis Fakhiri is dreadful by the way.
Hazaaron Khwaahishen Aisi
I thought this political movie was far superior. Chitrangada was really very impressive.
Chacha Zindabad
Kishore Kumar in another of his loony comedies – delightful as ever :-) Anita Guha joins him as his neighbour – their fathers are best friends but Kishore is super western and Anita likes Indian culture. A lot of fun – hard not to howl at Kishore’s antics – eg when she dresses up as a kid and sings Jack and Jill! And some beautiful songs by Madan Mohan – Bairan Neend Na Aaye
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun
Had this on in the background and ended up watching the whole thing. I’ve seen it several times before but this time more than ever I was struck by how simply awesome Madhuri was. And what to say about Lata…
Ek Gaon Ki Kahaani
As the title describes, this is a melodramatic Middlemarch setting kinda film, starring Mala Sinha and Talat Mahmood, the singer! What I liked was the nuanced characters, albeit in a melodramatic way!! Some nice songs by Lata and Talat.
Dil Diya Dard Liya
As a teenager the only classics I really appreciated were Jane Austen. It wasn’t until university that I discovered the Brontes. The three sisters wrote some great novels, but if I had to pick a favourite, it would be Emily’s Wuthering Heights – I’ve not revisited it since then but the word ‘brutal’ describes my strongest memory of it. Anyways, this film is a poor adaptation, but I had low expectations as nobody has anything good to say about this one. It stars Waheeda Rehman and Dilip Kumar, along with Rahman and Pran. A couple of famous songs by Naushad are the silver lining. Dilip Kumar is a favourite of mine, but with the caveat “pre-1960″ – after Mughal-e-Azam, for me at least, the magic is gone. Waheeda looks beautiful but her character is so illogical that I can see why she too has criticised the film in interviews.
Hulchul
Not long after seeing Dil Diya Dard Liya I started this film, which bizarrely is also an adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and is also starring Dilip Kumar, but made about 15 years earlier, and so he’s at his peak. I liked this one much more. Nargis is his costar this time. Some vintage songs and Balraj Sahni (albeit in a small role) are added pluses.
Ek Shola
Stupid film with Mala Sinha and Pradeep Kumar. Rich boy marries a stage dancer much to his parent’s displeasure. However, eventually they realise that social class isn’t so important because this girl is a devi whilst their other daughter-in-law from a rich family is a biatch. The only good thing in this film is the wonderful Tun Tun :-)
Nautanki Saala
This watchable but I found the cast slightly dull and meant I didn’t really care too much what happened to the protagonists. Hummable songs and certainly not a bad film – and I loved the climax.
In Conversation with Waheeda Rahman – Nasreen Munni Kabeer (book)
Fascinating read – I highly recommend this to you all. Not only is her personal story gripping but her decades of experience in the changing industry are a pleasure to read.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 10
Having watched this show for a decade now it’s hard to have much objectivity, but for sure I still enjoy it a lot.
Suits Season 3
Some of my friends feel this show is way past it’s best, and that might be true but I love it!
Queen
Sweet film – Kangana was very endearing. But I still like EV more :)
Humraaz
Wanted to see this BR Chopra mystery for a long time. Fantastic soundtrack by Ravi, their regular composer, and vocalised by Mahendra Kapoor – Na Moonh Chuppa Ke Jiyo, Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Waada Karo, Aa Neele Gagan Ke Tale. Starring Sunil Dutt, Rajkumar, Vimi, Mumtaz and the awesome Balraj Sahni, the film seems rather predictable and typical initially but then takes some really Neend
Hamaari Khwaab Tumhaare
A silly but harmless romantic melodrama starring Nanda and Shashi Kapoor. I’ve only seen them together in Mehndi Lage Mere Haath but I think they did quite a few films together. Om Prakash plays a barber, who after winning the lottery, elevates himself by several social classes, and masquerades as a nawab after moving to a new city. His wife (a truly hilarious Manorama) is very obviously ‘low-class’, and their interaction is really so much fun! His new neighbour is Balraj Sahni (always a pleasure!) who is obsessed with ‘khandaan’ and believing that Om Prakash is a real nawab, is happy for their children to fall in love. Nirupa Roy plays Balraj Sahni’s wife and I really liked her role – she gives him a nice lecture at the end about how his views are ridiculous and indeed contradictory to their religious beliefs. Madan Mohan’s music is decent but the highlight is Asha’s magnificent Koi Shikva Bhi Nahin.
Rootha Na Karo
Nanda plays a really dumb heiress who spends this entire dumb film conflicted about whether her dumb long term boyfriend, Shashi Kapoor, only wants her for her money. C.Ramchandra’s soundtrack is a pale shadow of her earlier classics.
Char Diwaari
Another Nanda-Shashi Kapoor film, in fact the first they did together, and unlike the above two, this is a beautiful film. Beautiful soundtrack by Salil Chowdhury, endearing performances (certainly the best of Nanda’s career) make this sweet film a must-watch.
Preet Na Jaane Reet
An obscure Shammi Kapoor film. He loves Saroja Devi (not seen her in anything else – beautiful but not much of an actress) but when he is attending a wedding he ends up marrying the bride to save her honour after the groom runs away. Actually a potentially interesting plot but could have been made better executed.
Chhoti Chhoti Baatein
Motilal directed this beautiful film about a hen-pecked, unappreciated old man who suddenly inherits a fortune and decides to leave his family with some money and goes off to stay in an idyllic village where he meets Nadira (I loved the way she speaks Urdu). The characters for some reason felt like they were Jane Austen creations :-) I would highly recommend this one. I found it on YouTube.
Nai Roshni
This is one of the most terrible films I’ve ever seen! And it entirely deserves a few more words than usual. Everyone hams to the hilt – sixties films were often melodramatic but this is more like a farce. Ashok Kumar is a respected professor, who abandoned his first wife (pregnant Sulochana, who has a disease that is making her blind). The son (Biswajeet,) now grown up – hates his unknown father but happens to receive tuitions from Ashok Kumar as he doesn’t know it’s his father. Also, blind Sulochana lives with her still-alive ancient mother. Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar’s new wife is a modern bitch who takes her daughter (Tanuja) to clubs and let’s her hang out unchaperoned with boys (so she gets pregnant by one of them and then takes an overdose and dies, after which the evil mother feels bad so burns herself to death), and her other son (Raajkumar) is a drunk because his mummy had no time for him. Mala Sinha (looking beautiful) is an orphan who lives with them and is treated like a servant by the evil one but loved like a daughter by Ashok Kumar. After the death of his new wife and daughter, Ashok seeks redemption but Biswajeet is in no mood to forgive. So Raajkumar goes to touch his new blind mother’s feet and reunite the family. And they all live happily ever after. Classic!
Gunday
A pile of crap. Besharam was a million times better.
Char Dil Char Raahein
Great film by K.A Abbas (famous writer who worked on most of Raj Kapoor’s films). It is about three love stories, that converge at one set of crossroads. Meena Kumari and Raj Kapoor are seperated by caste. Nimmi has issues because she is a Tawaif. And Shammi Kapoor and Kumkum are Christians struggling for money. Really enjoyed this one. very very few Meena Kumari movies left for me to see now… Also this has the great Lata solo Intezaar Aur Abhi.
Highway
This was kinda what I expected – decent but nothing incredible. However, I have to admit, I was very impressed with Alia in the post-climax part, ie the final 20 mins. She really surprised me.
Mera Gaon Mera Desh
I had no idea how much of an inspiration for Sholay this Dharmendra-Asha Parekh-Vinod Khanna film was. A huge number of similarities. The one area where this film scores over Sholay is the fantastic soundtrack – Maar Diya Jaaye leading the list of Laxmikant Pyarelal numbers, by Lata and Rafi.
Saath Saath
Well-made marital drama with the magnificent pairing of Deepti Naval and Farrioque Sheikh. And Jagjit’s Tumko Dekha Toh Yeh Khayaal Hai.
Aashiqui 2
I had no intention of seeing this film but after I saw the lead pair on KWK I decide to check it out. I enjoyed it. Beautiful songs and actually quite a moving portrayal of alcoholism. I liked Aditya. Shardha was quite endearing – her vulnerability and delicate beauty make allowances for her limited acting abilities. Some really lovely scenes, particularly when he sees her looking at a photo of Lata, and says she is like a child looking up at the moon, and she replies that everyone looks up at the moon, but what does that signify…
Bewafa
Fantastic film starring Nargis, Raj Kapoor and Ashok Kumar, all of whom are excellent, and supported by a brilliant soundtrack. Nargis escapes from a life of poverty and rises up the social ladder by becoming the muse of an up and coming artist, Ashok Kumar. But when her friend from the past, Raj Kapoor shows up, there’s much suspicion, jealousy and drama. I really enjoyed this and recommend it.
Hasee Toh Phasee
Nothing special (I def preferred SDR) but this rom-com was watchable for it’s leads – Parineeti is of course quickly becoming a well-rated actress, and Siddarth was fine too. I was intrigued about whether Parineeti has Asperger’s but I wasn’t watching closely I guess (few films get my full attention).
Ek Do Teen
1949, mediocre comedy starring Motilal, who gives his dying father three promises on his deathbed. Meena Shorey plays his lively fiance.
Vicky Donor
I watched this after Zoya stated on KWK that she found it overrated. I agree with her – I found much of the film rather forced and unbelievable. BUT, some really fun parts with the families on both sides, particularly when they meet for the wedding!
Dedh Ishqiya
Loved it. I had found the first one kinda over-rated but no such issues here. Quirky, classy, very good performances, and a great foundation of Gulzar’s poetry and Vishal’s music. And Madhuri here is fantastic – enough to make one forget (and forgive) her silly Ghagra song in YJHD.
Khoobsurat
This might be the last Hrishikesh Mukherjee film I get to watch (for the first time I mean). This was his last major hit but it’s not really a patch on his earlier comedies. The music is pretty average and the cast is also not as appealing (Rekha and Rakesh Roshan). It’s about a strict household run by Dina Pathak and her meek husband Ashok Kumar and what happens when the bahu’s younger sister comes to visit.
Pyar Ke Side Effects
Shit film (but a fun climax). Mallika was actually not awful but Rahul Bose is so bloody boring.
Shaadi Ke Side Effects
I like Vidya and Farhan a lot so this pretty average film was just about watchable.
Khoj
Eeek! A truly dreadful mystery movie from the 80’s, starring Rishi Kapoor as a man whose wife goes missing, and Naseeruddin Shah plays the local inspector.
Listen Amaya
This would have been just passable but Deepti Naval and Farooque Sheikh are so brilliant that it was a pleasure to watch. They play a couple who meet late in life but Deepti’s daughter struggles to see her widowed mother settling down with another man.
Naunihaal
This sweet film is about an orphan, who ia heartbroken about having no family – so when his school principal tells him Chacha Nehru, the PM, is his uncle, the boy is full of hope. He sets off on a trip to Delhi, via Bombay. Balraj Sahni is a pleasure as always – he plays the teacher. Indrani Mukherjee plays a teacher – she resembles Meena Kumari so much! And Sanjeev Kumar has a small role as her boyfriend. Ah and amazing songs by Madan Mohan and Rafi – Meri Aawaaz Suno and Tumhaari Zulf Ke Saaye.
Kirdar
Ah, Gulzar! So I was delighted to find these 13 episodes, each an independent twenty-two minute short story, some based on his own writings and others on the writings of others, but all directed by my favourite poett. They are funny, moving and very engaging. They are all very different but all worth watching. Sunset Boulevard is the only two parter and stars Nadira, rather touchingly playing an elderly, forgotten actress, heartbreakingly clining to her lost glory days.
My latest batch of movies etc:
Daera
WOW! I’ve searched for this Kamal Amrohi movie for many years and was delighted to see it recently uploaded on YouTube. Meena Kumari plays a young girl married to a very old man – they both appear to be suffering from TB. Meena is magnificent in this very grim movie – this was one of her very first performances and yet she is incredible. Some brilliant songs too.
Mahanagar
Fantastic marital drama by Satyajit Ray, where the wife is forced to take a job but this has all kinds of repercussions on the family, especially her husband’s ego. Halfway through I realised that Humkadam (a movie I saw few months back was a remake of this). Also stars a 14 year old Jaya Bhaduri debuting as the daughter! Anyways, this was a masterpiece in my opinion.
Rajnigandha
Really enjoyed this sweet seventies film starring Vidya Sinha and Amol Palekar. Fantastic soundtrack by Salil Chaudhry especially the title track.
Shuddh Desi Romance
After hearing just about everyone rave about Parineeti on KWK I was keen to watch one of her films, and Sushant I liked a lot in Kai Po Chhe so decided to check out this film. Enjoyed it a lot. Very impressed by the lead pair – natural and endearing.
Half Nelson
I was at a friend’s place and we wanted to see 12 Monkeys but it wasn’t working so ended up seeing this very dull movie with Ryan Gosling playing a drug-addict schoolteacher who has a close bond with one of his students. Blah…
Pakeezah – (Book by Lord Desai)
I enjoyed reminiscing about the film but generally wasn’t too impressed by the book. It made some broad statements that I didn’t agree with and there were errors when song lyrics were quoted. Also, some obvious mistakes, e.g. he says that Bimal Roy convinced Meena Kumari to do a guest appearance in Do Bhiga Zameen, when in fact it is well known that she saw some glimpses of the film (she was shooting Parineeta for Roy at the time) and requested to be part of the film in some way so the special appearance with the song Aa Jaa Ri Aa was created for her :-)
Mughal-e-Azam (Book – Anil Zankar)
Much better – well researched and well written – I enjoyed this and learnt some new things. But still some mistakes with the song lyrics!! The writer explores lots of different themes and goes on some interesting tangents too. Worth a read for all fans of the movie.
Californication
A friend recommended it to me, so I zoomed through season 1-6 over a period of two weeks. Brilliant show – Hank Moody is a legend (second only to Gregory House). And my most favourite clip:
Wolf of Wall Street
Thought this was a very good film – Dicaprio was outrageously brilliant.
The Lunchbox
Finally got to see this – for sure it was a good film, but I don’t think I could say it was brilliant. For some reason it reminded me of English Vinglish, a film I rate far higher and have seen three times.
Deep Jele Jaai
Satyam recommended this Suchitra Sen classic and I checked it out the day she passed away. She was spectacular, and much as I adore Waheeda Rahman’s performance in Khamoshi, Suchitra Sen here is in another league. Beautiful music (as was the case in the Hindi remake). I’m definitely gonna try to watch more Bengali films that are subtitled.
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander
I thought it was rather timepass but I can see why this was a popular film – endearing performances by Aamir and Ayesha (this is one of the only films I’ve seen of her). Music could have been better (except for the classic Pehla Nasha).
Dosti
One of those films that is super famous for its songs. Laximkant Pyarelal have composed a host of gems for Rafi in this film about the friendship between two guys, one of whom is blind and the other a cripple. Jaanewaalo Zara Mud Ke Dekho, Chaahunga Main Tujhe Saanjh Savere, Koi Jab Raah Na Paaye, Rahi Manwa Dukh Ki Chinta.
Vishvas
Oh dear, I dunno what induced me to watch this atrocious film starring Jeetendra and Aparna Sen (who looks unrecognisable). Kamini Kaushal plays Jeetu’s westernised, vampish estranged mother who left him and his poor father (Bharat Bushan) but who now wants to get back into her son’s life. Truly terrible.
Desh
Bengali movie starring Jaya Bhaduri, who plays a woman who runs a shelter for women, and who is well respected because of her role of a freedom fighter during her youth – she had shot a British officer. She continues to fight against the evils in society for the same of her country, unwilling to move to Boston with her son (Abhishek in a special appearance). Good film.
Unishe April
I think this was Rituparno Ghosh’s first major success. Aparna Sen plays a famous classical dancer who was widowed many years back – her husband was jealous and unsupportive and her grown up daughter resents her and they have virtually no relationship. I liked the film a lot – very typically Ghosh’s style.
Do Ustaad
Zany film about two long-lost brothers, both criminals, one reformed. Raj Kapoor stars alongside the lovely Madhubala. Average music by OP Nayyar which was a bit disappointing.
Basant
This 1960 Shammi Kapoor-Nutan starrer was a flop and trashed by critics too, and I can see why but I kinda enjoyed it despite the flaws. It’s a breezy rom-com, with added drama as usual. Nutan sparkles and makes it worth watching. Johnny Walker is absolutely brilliant too – one of his most fun performances. It’s basically a variation of It Happened One Night (Chori Chori/DHKMN) and a trace of (An Affair To Remember (Mann).
Dev D
I liked this a lot – it captured the essence of Devdas far better than SLB (not that much is required for that). Very good soundtrack and decent performances. Probably my favourite Kashyap film.
Mahabharat
I was really excited to watch this, but I finally gave up after watching the first couple of months. They have really screwed it up and I don’t understand why. They have made so many changes to the story – and not in the way that one might see it as a reinterpretation of the epic (which could be interesting) but rather just tampering for the sake of it. So Arjun is like the ‘hero’ now, with his brothers reduced to playing his side-kicks. He even turns up to join Krishna in rescuing Rukmini! Really very disappointing. The one good thing that has come out of this is an awesome page on Facebook where they discuss all the inaccuracies and then reference back to the original texts – it is really enlightening.