tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34890714002524791742024-03-19T05:16:41.114-04:00Bollywood QueensAmerican girls with a love for Indian film.Kiwi Lee Cheriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00202700105821784265noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-81635938459275445542017-12-14T16:32:00.000-05:002017-12-14T16:32:23.334-05:00How I fell in love with Bollywood movies … via a little movie called Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0d/KabhiKhushiKabhiGham_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0d/KabhiKhushiKabhiGham_Poster.jpg" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="263" height="320" width="202" /></a>It’s a question I have to answer on an almost monthly and sometimes weekly basis: How<i> did</i> you fall in love with Bollywood movies?<br /><br />Since this week is the 16th anniversary of <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/imaansheikh/accurate-and-honest-summary-of-kabhi-khushi-kabhi-gham?utm_term=.xjELqOloqz&utm_source=bffbbuzzfeedindia&ref=bffbbuzzfeedindia#.lljP5l685R"><b>Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham</b></a>, which was my first Bollywood movie, it seemed time to finally write a blog post about it. The story has a little flair of the dramatic -- as it probably should when it relates to Bollywood and especially a Karan Johar movie -- but at its heart is really quite simple.<br />In college, I had a roommate who loved all things Asian, and I had the apartment’s only Netflix subscription back when they mostly did DVDs. She guilt tripped me into ordering her favorite Indian movie, <i>Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham</i>, which I kept pushing down my queue because I didn’t want to read subtitles and hell I couldn’t even pronounce the title. But finally the time came to sit down for a three and a half hour (!!!!) marathon.<br /><br />Spoiler alert: I laughed, I cried, I maybe even fell in love.<br /><br />
<a name='more'></a>Some seven or more years later, I can’t tell you exactly what combo of movie magic, fate and sleepiness combined at about 3 a.m. to make this happen, but it did. The same week, we watched <b>Kuch Kuch Hota Hai</b>, which is still one of my favorite movies (problematic thematics and all). And then we stayed up until the wee hours trying to understand the cricket in <b>Lagaan</b>. In the months that ensued, with and without the roommate, I binge watched hard, to the tune of 30 plus Hindi movies in the span of two months (that’s approximately one every other day, a feat when they’re three-plus hours long) and ultimately estimated I saw 120 movies (about one every three days) that first year. I got my sister and our friend Elysa -- at one time my co-bloggers -- hooked, passing on the obsession.<br /><br />I was probably predisposed to like Bollywood movies, especially cheese-fests like K3G. I love old musicals, the song-and-dance of a classic romance. I’m American, but <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-this-american-girl-needs-her-indian.html">particularly Southern</a>, a culture that also puts great value on family, patriotism and, well, values. I’m a defender of <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-defense-of-masala-and-mindless-cinema.html">“mindless” escapist cinema</a>. <br /><br />But I also definitely fell for Shahrukh Khan. Over the years since I saw K3G, I’ve never been able to put into words exactly why I love him quite so much. SRK <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2012/01/srk-sells-in-us-crunching-numbers-for.html">has an indefinable charm</a> that would probably defy explanation from people far more eloquent than me. <br /><br />And also for Kajol. SRK smiles may turn me to mush, but Kajol antics turn me into a giggling heart-eyes emoji. I have gone on record calling her (semi) retirement the worst thing to happen to Bollywood in the last decade and her performance to be the best thing about the dumpster fire that was <b>Dilwale</b>.<br /><br />And also for Hrithik Roshan. I mean, that face, those abs, those dance moves. Swoon. <i>You, are, you are my soniya.</i><br /><br />Not so much for Kareena Kapoor as Poo, the single most annoying character in Bollywood. More or less.<br />
<br />And on rewatching, it’s abundantly apparent that K3G is way over the top. And that I didn’t understand a whole lot of things. I <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/12/kabhi-khushi-kabhie-gham-revisited.html">revisited the movie about a year after I first watched it</a>, when I was much better acquainted with Bollywood, and catalogued a whole lot of what I understood so much better more than 100 movies of education later. I'm sure years later another rewatch would show even more.<br /><br />I am honestly amazed when I watch it again how I was able to fall in love with something so dramatic and so little understood by me.<br /><br />But that’s exactly how it happened. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-49389089795128113252016-08-03T00:15:00.001-04:002016-08-03T00:15:07.725-04:00New: Dishoom is a fun action-comedy, with some weird moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have had it up to here with serious movies this year. Yeah, okay, not all of them have been bad (<a href="http://bollyspice.com/sultan-movie-review/">I enjoyed <b><i>Sultan</i></b></a>, and <b><i>Neerja</i> </b>was a real tear-jerker!) but there have just been too many serious movies, not enough hilarious action-comedies to keep me satisfied.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />So finally in with a dishoom comes <b><i>Dishoom</i></b>, with a zingy trailer to catch the eye.<br /><br />Thankfully, <i>Dishoom</i> is mostly fun if not the perfect buddy cop comedy, with a handful of head-scratching moments and plot holes. Plot holes are often to be expected in a comedy and especially a Bollywood comedy. When the audience can come up with one more normal solution to a plot problem than the movie, it’s no big deal; it's almost funny. When the audience can come up with four or five while watching it, well, then you really have yourself a problem. That happens a few times in <i>Dishoom</i>, particularly in tense moments like escaping a den full of baddies or dealing with a good guy in a bomb-strapped straightjacket.<br /><br />And sometimes <i>Dishoom</i> makes minor problems glaringly obvious. Take, for example, the fact that most of the action takes place “somewhere in the Middle East” as the first screen after the musical opening says. Well, then, if you weren’t going to tell us where — even though it was filmed in Abu Dhabi — why draw attention to the fact? (And also, what up with almost everyone speaking Hindi except the most random smattering of Arabic? But I digress.)<div>
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<br /><br />In this mysterious Middle Eastern country, a cricket tourney is going on wherein India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are naturally the final three. After dislocating his shoulder and relocating it by slamming it against a brick wall (…seriously, why?), star cricketer Viraj Sharma (<b>Saqib Saleem</b>) beats Sri Lanka to take them to the final and gets himself kidnapped. In flies India’s Special Task Force man Kabir Shergill (<b>John Abraham</b>) to take on the search in secret before word gets out and ruins the final. Kabir is a rules-schmules kind of guy (and his girl just cheated on him back home, so he’s in no mood) so he picks the dopiest guy in the department, Junaid “J” Ansari (<b>Varun Dhawan</b>), to be his guide.<br /><br />K and J, get it? If you don’t, I have a GIF for you.<div>
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<br /><br />From here on out, mostly John Abraham does the macho while Varun Dhawan dopily hams it up. It’s mostly fun and effective, but they are missing some jokey rapport for the true buddy cop feel. I am a <a href="https://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/John%20Abraham">well-documented fan of goofy!John</a>, and would like to have seen him make something of an appearance.<br /><br />Speaking of appearances, <a href="https://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/akshay%20kumar">Akshay Kumar</a> zooms in on a jet ski for a hilarious if occasionally awkward cameo as a gay playboy with a terrible wig man-bun and a kilt who makes Kabir and J strip down to their matching chaddis. And he snaps this hilar photo.</div>
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<br /><br />On the other hand, <b>Nargis Fakhri </b>has a cameo that is 100 percent annoying and pointless. She simply flounces around, speaking with her American accent despite the fact that we’re told a scene earlier that she’s “a local girl.” Her character basically unwittingly served to transport Viraj to the kidnappers, but that’s all. It seems like a wonderful opportunity to make her complicit, but she just shows up a few times more for no good reason. It’s really these kinds of half-planned detours that detract from the movie.<br /><br /><b><a href="https://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Jacqueline%20Fernandez">Jacqueline Fernandez</a></b> as the movie’s main female character — small time con artist Ishika/whatever her real name is who happens to have pilfered the kidnapped cricketer’s phone from the kidnapper — is almost equally annoying, but at least she has some hint of a role to play. Even if it’s just helping the heroes snatch phones and cars and whatever else they might need. (Though how she gets from being deserted by said heroes to dancing for the kidnappers is one of the more annoying plot holes.)<br /><br />Highly welcome, however, is <b><a href="https://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Akshaye%20Khanna">Akshaye Khanna</a></b> as the primary villain, though it takes him a while to appear. He’s got the swagger, the sassy eyebrows and the menacing voice down pat. I’d gladly welcome this villain back if he ditches some of his cronies.</div>
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And I might even welcome back K and J along with him, so long as they can jump over a few plot holes and stop taking weird detours.</div>
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The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-29375296557752985952015-11-15T11:38:00.001-05:002015-11-15T11:38:26.488-05:00NEW: Review: 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' is watchable but not very relatable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prem says welcome to a new blog post.</td></tr>
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Hello, blogosphere. Long time no see! I'm still seeing movies, but sadly not writing about them like I used to. I ought to fix that. (But probably not when I'm in the middle of National Novel Writing Month.)<br /><br />This weekend, I saw<b><i> Prem Ratan Dhan Payo</i></b>, the touted return of Salman Khan as Prem in a Rajshri movie after ... a very long time. It was like the Rajshri that brought <i>Maine Pyar Kiya</i> and <i>Hum Aapke Hain Koun</i> in some ways good (family relationships, songs feel timeless) and bad (several very retro elements, themes feel unoriginal), but there’s an important difference: It doesn’t feel nearly as relatable.<br /><br />The family is royal, its relationship tensions primarily rooted in who controls the family wealth. Can you relate to a brother that wants to kill you because you didn't pay his bills? Doubtful. The four siblings also belong to one father but three mothers, none of whom are in the picture. No parents in a Rajshri family movie? What's up with that?<div>
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But then again, Salman plays up the humor and beats up some guys but not too many, keeping it watchable when the movie doesn't get too deep into the family problems.<br /><br /><a href="http://bollyspice.com/116348/prem-ratan-dhan-payo-movie-review">Read my full review at Bollyspice.com.</a></div>
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The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-42217168100471639762015-07-15T12:46:00.002-04:002015-07-15T14:18:53.196-04:00Baahubali: An aspiring epic held back by conventional problems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey, folks. Long time no see. But a movie as big as <b>Baahubali</b> called me to return to the blogosphere that I have sadly been neglecting.<br />
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My introduction to South Indian films on the big screen was a grand one this weekend (also an expensive one; not sure I can keep up with a $20 per ticket habit). Before I was sitting in a sparsely filled theater Sunday, my watched list included three <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Tamil%20language%2FKollywood">Tamil films</a> (including<b> <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/madrasapattinam-2010-branching-out-to.html">Madrasapattinam</a></b>, which I have been trying to watch again ever since) and one Telugu film that had been dubbed from Tamil. But boy-o, the most expensive movie in Indian filmmaking history (last seen here: <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-raone-dazzles-with-visuals-not-plot.html">Ra.-freaking-One</a>) and an epic was certainly a way to go.<br />
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I have some very mixed feels about it, but all could probably be summed up by this:<br />
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It’s an entertaining aspiring epic held back by some more conventional entrapments.<br />
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<a href="http://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2015-05/baahubali_640x480_61431425520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2015-05/baahubali_640x480_61431425520.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>It’s hard to provide a short plot synopsis, so here goes a long one: It opens with a woman struggling out of a tunnel carrying a baby. She wards off attackers, gets injured and slips into the river. She holds the baby up, says a prayer, and dies but holds him up until he’s rescued. A village woman raises him; the villagers discover the tunnel but seal it because why not! Boy Shivudu grows up wanting to climb to the top of the Waterfalls That Never End and always falling down, miraculously not injuring himself despite hundreds of feet drops. Grown Shivudu (Prabhas) is proven to be insanely strong and good-hearted if rebellious — he carries a Shiva lingam under the flow of water to ease work for his adoptive mother — and then climbs the waterfall chasing a phantom woman. At the top, he discovers a whole new worlddddd (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kl4hJ4j48s">cue Disney music</a>) and that the phantom woman is, duh, real… real bad-ass Avanthika (Tamannaah) from a tribe of people hellbent on rescuing some princess from The Evil Kingdom. He, ahem, romances the woman, takes on her quest and sets off to battle the kingdom’s forces of evil, epitomized by this king dude named Bhallala Deva who likes to kill mythological-sized bulls for sport. After lots of hullabaloo, good Shivudu who obvs is not just Shivudu kills evil prince, then prince’s bodyguard shows up and realizes THIS GUY IS JUST LIKE ‘BAAHUBALI’! Gather ’round kids while we rewind 50 years to tell the story of said Baahubali: He was one of two princes vying for the throne of Mahishmati, having to fight against evil cousin-brother Bhallala Deva for the right from iron-fisted maa Sivagami (Ramya Krishnan as a total badass) who is currently ruling with no probs but has to give away her throne to a male descendant for some reason. But I digress. Baahubali is obvs the thinking man here, the compassionate one, so on, and also, if you needed more convincing, he does a dance number with some dancing girls while on a mission; obvs this is king material, guyz. Bhallala Deva is just pure evil always. You can see how this is going to end already, so the movie throws in a giant epic, awesome battle sequence that takes forever and distracts you from the obvious while further proving Baahubali is also savvy on the battlefield. YAY KING BAAHUBALI! But as you have already guessed, newly crowned Baahubali got killed by <i>somebody</i>, who actually confesses to everybody as the big twist. NO MORE KING.<br />
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Yes, that is really where the movie ends, and I came out of it feeling a bit cheated by that (enough that I’ve told everyone who asked me about the movie to wait to watch it). Even though you can pretty much infer that young Shivudu/whatever his real name is was spawn of Baahubali (or Baahubali reincarnate), the movie really doesn’t really connect the two halves (convention trap No. 1: mismatched halves). How we got from Baahubali being king to his presumed son being carried down the mountain is left up to the imagination until part 2. I might have felt less cheated if the story was linear, or maybe if there wasn’t a full calendar year between the movies’ releases. Sure, we need some mysteries left to draw us in for a second take next year, but let’s be honest: Sure, you’re going to remember that epic battle and that epic waterfall, but you’re going to forget by then what all of the unanswered questions even are.<br />
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I thoroughly applaud the epic effort, the lush terrain, the generations of grudges. I only wish in the rush to be BIG AND AWESOME that really everything was big and awesome. (Age old problem, amirite?)<br />
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What was truly big and awesome: the landscapes, although they nonsensically range from tropical to frozen forest to desert with no transition or thought for geography whatsoever. Just pretty. I can’t say enough in praise of the thought behind this, though, especially the TOTALLY EPIC WATERFALLS (“the water mountain,” the subtitles say; not sure if the translation is accurate, but the descriptor is). It’s worth pointing out, though, that even here, the CGI is flawed. Roughly half or more of the CGI here is really, really good, Hollywood quality stuff. Another fourth is err, okay. What remains is TERRIBLE TERRIBLE “Did you do this in a garage with a 10-year-old computer?” TERRIBLE. It seems uneven, and it’s unnerving in the process.<br />
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Also big and awesome: the wonderfully sprawling battle that dominates the movie’s second half. It involves strategy actually discussed beforehand like it was real life, and it’s filled with imaginative sequences in addition to the requisite body-slinging, showing that battles do, in fact, need some wit.<br />
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Detracting greatly from this awesomeness, however, is the thick, thoroughly icky racism all over the battle sequence. The bad guys are a ruthless, barbaric tribe of darker skinned and speak a clicking language that isn’t even subtitled. It is all bad. All, all, all bad.<br />
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Sadly, as depressing as that whole bit is, it’s not the most frustrating prejudice that leaks through.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't even find a photo of Tamannaa's bad-ass avatar, which shows you how much she's valued for it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The worst is how thoroughly squandered the first half’s leading female character is. I was thrilled at the outset by Tamannaah’s character, a kick-ass warrior woman wholly devoted to her duty. Less so by her need to abandon that duty after stopping to have sex with a guy who has tattooed her without her knowledge (...wut?), disrobed her and put makeup on her face, which magically makes her like her reflection and fall in love with this obvious weirdo. The bold female warrior is a great character; thoroughly ruining her is therefore all the more terrible, and probably the worst bit of this epic being derailed by conventions.<br />
<br />
What was the need to bend such a character into a conventional role as “mere love interest”? In a world where she’s sworn an oath to rescue another woman at all costs, what is the need to abandon her? Isn’t her quest just more interesting with Baahubali in the mix — teamwork vs. going it solo? Couldn’t we have learned more about her, Baahubali and the entire quest if she’d continued on for just a few more scenes? I’m not even really sure what the need was to stop and have the romancing song in the middle of such epic action, especially if the goal was to fade this character off the screen two scenes later. (Ostensibly she twists her ankle in escaping the hordes of baddies, and thus stays behind in the middle of nowhere on an avalanche-torn snowy mountain because somehow that makes more sense.) Wouldn’t it have been better to not waste time dwelling on her if she is so unimportant?<br />
<br />
Alas, perhaps what this epic really needs is an editor to trim some of the fluff that detracts from its epic ambitions. The majority of the movie hits plucks the epic chords just right, and with a little bit of discernment, it could have been even more great.</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-85760802514042677502015-04-12T22:50:00.000-04:002015-07-15T12:58:00.874-04:00New: The non-mysterious (Bihari) Detective Byomkesh Bakshy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Detective_Byomkesh_Bakshi_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Detective_Byomkesh_Bakshi_poster.jpg" /></a>Wow, has it been a long time since the Bollywood Queens have
blogged or what?! (Also, has this blog post taken forever or what! I saw this
movie more than a week ago. Oooops.)</div>
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Yeah, so there are a million excuses and reasons why, but I’m
just gonna say it’s good to be back, however long this lasts! And that I wish
I’d sat down and written a blog post after I saw the WTFery that was <b>Shamitabh</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was far less WTFery to be had here with <b>Detective Byomkesh Bakshy</b>, though there
were, of course, the moments. (The ending. Oh, the ending. But just wait; we’ll
get there.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the first time we saw the Bakshy trailer, I haven’t
seen the bf (hereafter referred to as P) this excited about the release of a
movie … possibly ever. And so my education in the history of Byomkesh Bakshi
(WITH AN I) began. I got the explainer on the beloved television show and did
some investigating on the books that birthed it all. Then P made me watch an
episode of the old beloved show, which is on YouTube, in case ya didn’t know
it. I couldn’t tell you if the original or the YouTube version was to blame for
the shittiest sound quality I’ve ever heard, but I can say it ironically (or
perhaps unsurprisingly, since it was first episode) was the same Bakshi story
upon which the movie is based.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I knew the elements going in. Boarding house. Murder.
Drugs. Perspective — good or bad? We shall see. (And knowing all of this, no
major spoilers ahead; only warnings of gruesomeness and points on the
romances.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livemint.com/rf/Image-621x414/LiveMint/Period1/2015/04/04/Photos/film1-U1703507205674QiE--621x414@LiveMint.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.livemint.com/rf/Image-621x414/LiveMint/Period1/2015/04/04/Photos/film1-U1703507205674QiE--621x414@LiveMint.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhat lame partnership, unfortunately.</td></tr>
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</o:p></div>
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Having watched the original mystery play out (although understanding
but half of the volume-challenged TV dialogue), I can say that the new movie lacks
some of the panache of the original mystery. Instead of trying to figure out what
happened to whom, it gets too deeply enmeshed in war violence, politics and
gang vendettas — who is more evil? This would have had to be a thoroughly conscious
decision, as the original story in the 1930s would have had nothing at all to do
with World War II.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But you should know going in that this “Bakshy” has about a
hundred different problems with canon, just from the title — both in spelling
and the term “detective”; original Bakshi clearly preferred the nomer Satyanweshi,
or “Truth Seeker.” This Bakshi is also not full Bengali — he eats his aloo
bhaja with his tea, apparently a no-no, and of course speaks Hindi. Hell, this
Bakshi is even from Bihar. He a few times makes a point of noting that he is
from Munger, including to a couple of stereotypical Bihari goons (who are
hilariously fooled by Bakshi and Dr. Guha’s English — “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB!”).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAsxCIhU0AEHeQd.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAsxCIhU0AEHeQd.jpg:large" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still don't understand the unibrow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Instead of “Who killed Bhuvan Banerjee and why?” this
version of <i>Satyanweshi</i> is “What is
this giant plot to destroy all of Calcutta and how can we stop it?” As a
result, the movie is structured a lot less like a mystery and a lot more like a
thriller. That in and of itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just made it
feel less like Bakshi or Sherlock Holmes and more like a whole other animal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, I’d say that the movie holds up as a suspense thriller.
There are enough bad guys conspiring on multiple fronts to go around, the
imminent threat of being bombed to death by the Japanese and enough people
being outed as spies for one thing or another. The only downside is that there
isn’t really any large twist that drives the suspense home (well, maybe there
KIND OF is if you haven’t seen the original story and know who the bad guy is
all along) and that a handful of the smaller twists are poorly executed (like
when Bakshi figures out exactly what Bhuvan Banerjee was up to before he died;
played incredibly lamely).<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then, of course, there’s the gore. The movie begins and
ends with gruesome eye gouging. I’d say the point that really drove home that
this wasn’t really a mystery for me was the gruesome, disgustingly gory ending
that kind of comes out of nowhere. Dead bodies covered in insects is one thing.
Eye-gouging violence is another. AVERT YOUR OWN EYES at the end if you’re at
all like me. Haunted me all night! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.tellychakkar.com/sites/tellychakkar.com/files/styles/display_665x429/public/images/movie_image/2014/11/06/lkjtgorlej.jpg?itok=BmcIVsaZ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tellychakkar.com/sites/tellychakkar.com/files/styles/display_665x429/public/images/movie_image/2014/11/06/lkjtgorlej.jpg?itok=BmcIVsaZ" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Ahem. On a lighter, though still slightly peevish note, it’s
rare — perhaps even a first — that I suggest a movie should forgo a romance.
But after a movie-long fling with a little too sigh-happy actress, Bakshy proposes
to the “simple” girl that you pretty much know the whole movie will be his wife
(whether because you know her name from the books or just from the way Bakshy
asks about her, comments on her, etc). She seems unnecessarily introduced here,
in a first movie where Bakshy is just establishing himself as a detective. The
movie’s ending (blegh blegh) obviously teases a sequel that could have been
ripe for a proper romance and then proposal. What little screen space the honest
woman is given, compared with the obvious vamp, isn’t enough to warrant a
proposal here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sum total, good movie if missing a little zing. Just don’t go in expecting to
recognize old Byomkesh Bakshi/y.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-80292914747499865392014-08-22T22:23:00.000-04:002014-08-22T22:28:14.343-04:00Hollywood intrudes: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, gone wrong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>NOTE: I wrote this a few days after seeing the 2014 TMNT in early August. I then forgot about its existence, but stumbled upon it again and decided to post.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
When I heard that the heroes on the half shell were coming back, I rejoiced. <br />
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<a href="http://imageserver.moviepilot.com/-5d8cc3e0-2040-4286-92cc-555c187f46ef.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://imageserver.moviepilot.com/-5d8cc3e0-2040-4286-92cc-555c187f46ef.jpeg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was the rebirth of one of those rare things that my siblings and I have all cherished, from big bro down the line to the 23-years-younger baby bro. Cowabunga!<br />
<br />
When I heard that they were being rebooted by Michael Bay, featuring Megan Fox, I all but cried. And yet within me, I found a little hope.<br />
<br />
For everything that has been wrong with its sequels, I quite enjoyed the first <i>Transformers</i> movie (the first two times I watched, anyway), a reimagining of something that was a blip on my childhood memory. Maybe the reason that I so thoroughly hated this TMNT by comparison lies in that the franchise, from the worn-out videos and then DVDs of the movies to the old cartoon series and then the new, was more than a blip: My three closest-in-age siblings and I each have our own turtle; I have Leonardo, sister Lexi has Mikey, brother Kendall has Raphael and brother Daniel has Donatello (fittingly, the leader, the goof, the hothead and the geek).<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>But the revamped, 2014 version turtles themselves I have no quarrel with. They’re wicked cool, bro. They may look a little weird, but these CGI turtles are totally worth a reboot. Their personalities shine through in their now slightly divergent appearances and the CGI gives them much more facial expression (Megan Fox should drop the plastic surgery and just go CGI). Best of all, they’re actually funny, especially Michelangelo.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/cqxqgqt5sovqaban6tnt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/cqxqgqt5sovqaban6tnt.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikey being funny (not hitting on Megan Fox).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Everything else is a different story, not worth any movie, let alone a reboot of a much beloved franchise.<br />
<br />
What people have been saying about TMNT’s confused lack of core audience is definitely true; it has things clearly leveled at those of us that grew up with it and yet other bits that would only please the 10-and-unders. And blatantly bad product placement that no one can enjoy.<br />
<br />
The plot in and of itself is a joke: The bad guys plan to release a dangerous toxin into the air, holding the mutigen antidote to simultaneously make money and wrest control of New York. This plan was derailed 15 years ago when the lab with the antidote research burnt to a crisp, but it all gets revived once they find out the mutigen-injected turtles LIVE (more on this in a moment). Yet no one seems to stop and think, “Oh, hey, we can just release another toxin for which we have the cure!” The idea that the baddies have held off launching a deadly toxin stored in the spire of their not-so-secret mid-Manhattan lair for 15 years is totally absurd. (Also, I guess this means in the sequel already announced [UGH], Bebop and Rocksteady/Tokka and Rahzar won’t make an appearance, since the bad guys’ inability to reproduce the mutation-causing formula is the whole problem here.)<br />
<br />
The movie has several of the action movie plot holes you’d expect. Why is Shredder, master of the Foot (and now pseudo-Wolverine Transformer), left to fight the turtles solo? How do Shredder and the other bad guy fly in on a helicopter and the turtles slide down a mountain, climb through the sewers and still get to Manhattan in time?<br />
<br />
What was worse than that for me, though, was this secondary, almost-forgotten bit in which an injured Splinter lies alone in the sewer for about the last third of the movie, until the turtle brethren come back to inject him with some of their mutigen blood and save him. Except, um, guys, Splinter was in the same lab, also a test subject injected with the stuff — as evidenced by the fact that he’s a 4-foot-tall rat. It’s the most horrifically stupid of oversights.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/rr2kxpiuug4bd98xrbbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/rr2kxpiuug4bd98xrbbg.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Megan, we must talk about that awful acting."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite that whole stupid “subplot,” Splinter, for the record, is also a much welcome update to the rodent sensei (aside from his thoroughly unsuitable voice). He gets his own action scenes and a tail worthy of a mutant ninja master (although the new explanation for how he became one is thoroughly weak).<br />
<br />
So so far, yes, I have said I’m happy with the turtles and the rat. But yes, Shredder’s new costume is kind of horrible and dumb. But then in an even bigger problem, the film relies too heavily on Megan Fox — whose already lackluster acting is made all the worse by her stiff upper lip (from collagen, folks) — as its human star. If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that Megan Fox can’t carry a movie if her life depends on it, and why anyone even TRIED when there were CGI turtles who could do the job instead is beyond me. Wonderfully choreographed fight scenes — the movie’s only other redeeming quality — are ruined by cutting to Fox hiding, gasping and looking scared.<br />
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Maybe this is just me as someone in the news biz (and now in the entertainment side, no less), but the young-reporter-chasing-a-serious-news-career storyline is done to death and it really has no place here. (Especially since April seems to want to do "investigative" journalism, which mostly happens in newspapers and not local broadcast anyway.) April’s role investigating the Foot is what got her into the fray in the first place in the 1990 movie; the same could have been done here easily enough, certainly without getting some borderline sexist stuff about her career into the mix.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/yzwi0od4bsqtppkssw2i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/yzwi0od4bsqtppkssw2i.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The face Megan Fox makes half of the movie as a rather regressive stereotype, plus awfully not hilarious sidekick!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But then that really is a pretty solid description of what went wrong with this movie: too much tinkering for the sake of tinkering that has complicated rather than simplified things and too many attempts to explain what didn’t need explaining (even the turtles’ legendary fondness for pizza has to have a backstory).<br />
<br />
And that’s one of the reasons why this movie totally reeks of Michael Bay even though he didn’t direct it (probably too busy plotting to ruin more ’80s-’90s pop culture). But I’ll admit there were times when I wish he had. The slow and yet rushed start, for example, seems to say director Jonathan Liebesman understands filmmaking very little at all, even less than the dreaded Bay. The setup is messy, confusing, poorly shot, horribly paced and so on.<br />
<br />
As one of my older brothers said, “It’s not going to be winning any Oscars.” That’s true, but I still don’t think it’s too much to ask that a big-budget<i> reboot </i>of a franchise with <i>pre-determined parameters</i> be coherent and not too painful to watch. Dude, this is a tale about teenage mutant ninja turtles!<br />
<br />
How the hell could you mess that up?</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-20373718758872509122014-07-12T12:51:00.000-04:002014-07-12T12:51:05.270-04:00NEW: Bobby Jasoos could've done with a bit more plotting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d2/Bobby_Jasoos_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d2/Bobby_Jasoos_Poster.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a>I had high expectations, especially after <a href="http://bollyspice.com/77052/at-the-end-of-every-film-there-is-a-sense-of-loss-vidya-balan">Vidya Balan herself talked it up to me in May </a>and Dia Mirza was buzzing about it in front of me in April, and it’s obvious that <i>Bobby Jasoos </i>is high on many
production values, most notably characters and their development.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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What it’s low on: cohesion and continuity. For real.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It starts off with wonderful premise, 30-year-old Bilkis
(Bilkis!) “Bobby” wants to be a detective in Hyderabad’s old city, but nobody
will give her a job or even the time of day. (Unless you count TV news hunk
Tassawur [Ali Fazal], who pays her regularly to foil his dad’s attempts at
marrying him off.) And her family is certainly less than understanding as well,
worrying about marrying her off or at least reining her in enough to get her
sister married off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But then it devolves into continuity errors, seriously
uneven pacing and desperate attempts to wind all of the threads together. (Case
in point: Mysteriously Threatening Bad Guy A, a gangster in love with Bobby’s
childhood friend [whose name is not even consistent] whom Bobby sort of
blackmails, turns out to be the son of Mysteriously Threatening Bad Guy B, who
is paying Bobby to find girls in the city who then quietly disappear.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s not a wonder after<i> Kahaani</i> that we expect big
twists from Vidya, and I don’t know that she’ll ever top that one. But the
twist Bobby pulls at the end to catch the guy I twice called “the worst bad guy
ever” (aka Mysteriously Threatening Bad Guy B) was much better conceived than
it was executed, and in the end the bad-guy-isn’t-really-so-bad is more annoying
than satisfying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But if you want more evidence than that, most of the songs
feel like an afterthought, especially as there are only two — maybe three?
they’re that forgettable — jammed into the course of the movie. One of them is
the “oh, hey, I’m in love!” song … which happens at a hospital in quite
possibly one of the most awfully placed “oh, hey, I’m in love!” revelation
scenes ever. (I laughed. Heartily.) And the hilariously twisted <i>Sweety </i>—
“Oh sweety, can’t you see I am dancing for thee?” replied with, “Oh, sweety,
can’t you see I am running from thee?” — is a wonderful tack-on at the end; I
only wish it’d had some counterparts more expertly woven into the story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But more about what is right in <i>Bobby Jasoos</i> and how
I wish it was carried on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bobby is a wonderful character, smart, caring and also
totally zany and stubborn. She likes disguising herself, which turns out
several totally awesome characters, too. This is where the movie really has fun
and shows some thought, in Bobby constructing convoluted but smart plots to
find the missing girls.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was worried that nine-years-younger Ali Fazal (great in<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/3-idiots-2009-perfect-well-rounded-film.html"> 3 Idiots</a>, effing terrible in<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-always-kabhi-kabhi-2011-are-you.html"> <i>Always Kabhi Kabhi</i></a>) would be too
young/immature for Vidya Balan, much like Shahid Kapoor was for Rani Mukherjee
in <i><a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-honor-of-india-pakistan-in-world-cup.html">Dil Bole Hadippa</a></i>. BLISSFULLY NOT SO. And major kudos to the cast for
this convoluted romance mostly work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://cdn.koimoi.com/wp-content/new-galleries/2014/06/bobby-jasoos-music-review-movie-stills1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.koimoi.com/wp-content/new-galleries/2014/06/bobby-jasoos-music-review-movie-stills1.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tassawur is a great turn on the stereotypical heroine: He’s
the one whose beauty is widey admired, he’s a chicken who won’t stand up to
his parents, he’s something of a silly sidekick roped into Bobby’s adventures,
he falls in love first (with song!), he’s the one preoccupied with marriage
(and wedding clothes), and he has to eventually accept Bobby’s attempt at
reconciliation. All of this while being a real character.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But their marriage — which starts off as sort of a ploy on
Tassawur’s part and becomes a bargaining tool for both parties — isn’t the main
focus of the movie or of Bobby. In fact, it’s sometimes an afterthought and
wedding planning is used as an excuse sometimes for Bobby to go about her
detective work (especially in a fun little scene where she drags the womenfolk
to every biryani stand around).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/News/Images/14/May/vidya-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/News/Images/14/May/vidya-main.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, how is this "undeserving of marriage"?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is, like most Vidya movies, a real statement about a
woman’s autonomy. “I’ve always played women in control of their own lives,” she
told me, and that’s the case with Bobby, which is the upside of a movie that’s
about an empowered woman.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The downside: Many male characters make blatantly awful
statements, most of which we cringe at but some of which become more annoying
in that the ones that seem to warrant a response don’t get one. When Bobby’s father says, “This household doesn’t run on a
woman’s income; I’m still living,” she just runs away without even telling him
it’s Rs. 50,000. When Tassawur’s dad says to him (with Bobby overhearing via
wire) that Bobby is “undeserving of marriage,” Tassawur makes a feeble reply
that “being career-oriented is a good thing” and then expressly walks away to
console Bobby, who doesn’t say anything. “You know how people are,” Tassawur
brushes it off.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But frustratingly both fathers are mostly horrible (maybe
even more horrible than the bad guy). They’re rude to their wives and treat
Bobby like dirt. And then just carry on. There’s certainly something to be said
for shrugging off the haters and for respecting elders, but it might’ve been
nice if all of Bobby’s spunk didn’t suddenly disappear when she’s being
insulted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another continuity error, less blatant than her name-changing
friend and the movie’s tone and speed. But still annoying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-91510474284620635202014-05-10T12:58:00.001-04:002014-05-10T12:58:08.855-04:00The good bits about IIFA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LyxdJSxVyrrqj-UF3fEbO8NbEMoOjYQ9uc__z0JXb14Vt0S2X6i_ZKF_xEghFoRD2GWvKm_Dp5HtfvUWETkipQ_aS8-XCAZmHlfvz7ydLg4cMXLO3rqIppOMQCVMURDdkhL6KKEnFhXn/s1600/Kevin+Spacey,+Shahid+Kapoor,+Deepika+Padukone+and+Farhan+Aktar+Lungi+Dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LyxdJSxVyrrqj-UF3fEbO8NbEMoOjYQ9uc__z0JXb14Vt0S2X6i_ZKF_xEghFoRD2GWvKm_Dp5HtfvUWETkipQ_aS8-XCAZmHlfvz7ydLg4cMXLO3rqIppOMQCVMURDdkhL6KKEnFhXn/s1600/Kevin+Spacey,+Shahid+Kapoor,+Deepika+Padukone+and+Farhan+Aktar+Lungi+Dance.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos courtesy of IIFA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Y'all, I'm not some whiny baby who rants when not everything goes her way. Despite what commenters have said in the last few days after I <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2014/05/2014-iifa-awards-up-close-and-personal.html">posted my IIFA mega rant</a>. (Also, I don't just make stuff up. I'm actually a professional journalist when I don't write about Bollywood <i>as a fan</i>. But that's another story.)<br />
<br />
Ahem, not that I care.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I thought it was worth saying at some point that there were a few nice things about IIFA. Not as many as there were bad things, and having done it once, I still never would do it again (as a member of the media or as a fan). Next time I'll just watch it all on TV.<br />
<br />
But still, here were some fun bits nonetheless:<br />
<br />
<b>Stars said some nice things about Tampa </b>(when they weren't busy gushing about their love for fans despite dodging them all weekend). Aside from the folks who just cooked stuff up because that's what they're supposed to say, there were some real nice sentiments. "Bahut khoobsurat hai, bahut peaceful, bahut charm," singer Ankit Tiwari (now being held on rape accusations... oops) said of Tampa. "I just don't want to leave this place," Anil Kapoor said in the Tampa Theatre. "This theater is absolutely magnificent. It's fantastic. This city has a soul, and I can see that soul in this theater." Vivek Oberoi, who has family in the area and has visited before, said before the event: "It's not as crazy and gritty as Miami but it's so beautiful, so you get the best of both worlds in Tampa. You can relax, unwind. There are beautiful beaches nearby. The weather is always fantastic." It isn't always, but it was for that weekend. Several stars said on the green carpet that they'd been enjoying the sun at Clearwater Beach. In fact I heard this so often that I wondered whether all the fans shouldn't have camped out there rather than the green carpet to see stars. It would've been a nicer atmosphere, for sure.<br />
<br />
<b>Meeting international journalists was awesome</b>. The coolest part of the whole IIFA experience was being sandwiched between journalists from the U.K., Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan and India. Talking with them was overall better than meeting the stars. Except the "media professionals" who think they deserve the spot you've been standing in for six hours because they think they're better than you. They sucked.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPmq_DvQYio_Fs3ddx9nA-Gmt9yVSVnypmKoJtrqiduYKk9Te_fY3PmaOTR5Fl4iChypyJNhULG2JDVDtve2ZEaP_9eSiY00LGMn_dy3JJ8TUbOWfLcvJ5M3kXZnPvo7KVNqUsuYFjGA_/s1600/Kevin+Spacey+and+Deepika+Padukone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPmq_DvQYio_Fs3ddx9nA-Gmt9yVSVnypmKoJtrqiduYKk9Te_fY3PmaOTR5Fl4iChypyJNhULG2JDVDtve2ZEaP_9eSiY00LGMn_dy3JJ8TUbOWfLcvJ5M3kXZnPvo7KVNqUsuYFjGA_/s1600/Kevin+Spacey+and+Deepika+Padukone.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought Deepika's gown was especially nice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Got to see some nice gowns on the green carpet</b>. You already know not all of the big stars walk the green carpet, but the ones that did had some nice gowns when they did. I saw a few fashion disasters (Dia Mirza's gown... yikes; though she seemed nice when I ran into her earlier that day, and I heard nice things about her in general), but most gowns were pretty good. Certainly not something you get to see every day.<br />
<br />
<b>Kevin Spacey doing <i>Lungi Dance</i>.</b> This. It was amazing. If you haven't watched it on YouTube yet, do it. NOW. What I haven't seen on YouTube is the hilarity after, when Spacey bundled up his lungi and laid down to take a nap on stage. Shahid then covered him with his own lungi as a blanket.<br />
<br />
<b>John Travolta strutting his stuff -- at 60! </b>I mean, was there a more perfect Hollywood star to bring to IIFA? Aside from the fact that he lives like two hours from Tampa, Travolta is basically a Bollywood star: He sings, he dances, he acts. He gave his speech reading from cards, which was rather lame, but overall Travolta's presence was a plus. (He wasn't overly friendly on the green carpet, either, tho. I definitely don't intend to sugar coat that fact, either.)<br />
<br />
<b>Shahid and Farhan were funny hosting</b>. I mean, they had to ask for the teleprompter to be fixed about a dozen times, so maybe it wasn't <i>them </i>being funny, but there were some good laughs to be had. (And I'm sure the jokes that fell flat, of which there were also a few, will be edited out in the end.)<br />
<br />
<b>They entered on a pirate ship! </b>I was right beside them when it happened. They threw out beads (I even caught some) like a real Gasparilla parade and everything. (Gasparilla is a Tampa tradition, a big pirate festival and parade every year.)<br />
<br />
<b>The performances were pretty good. </b>Other than some dragging bits that will obviously be trimmed down, the performances were pretty good. However, there were some parts that were way too busy for you to see anything. Like too much happening all at once, lights flashing blindingly in your eyes, etc. <b>Ranveer entered driving around on a motorcycle, which was pretty cool</b> and changed tacky jackets about five times (he must have an endless supply of them...). <b>Hrithik's performance started blacked out with lighted suits</b>, which was also pretty nifty. <b>Priyanka started her performance off with aerial stunts </b>although some of that will definitely be edited out; she didn't seem very comfortable in the harness.<br />
<br />
<b>Milkha Singh was there, and friendly -- and funny</b>. I mean, who would've expected he'd run in place and sing "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" on the green carpet? And that he'd be much better spoken than "star" director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (seriously, slowest, most boring talker ever)? Though I could have done without Milkhaji's 10-minute acceptance speech at the show's end. That's sure to be edited, too.<br />
<br />
So, yeah, most of the good things to be said are about the show itself -- the stuff they did for the cameras.<br />
<br />
Of course the obvious downside of all this good talk about the show is that if you didn't pay $300 or more, you couldn't see or hear anything from the top deck.<br />
<br />
Catch it on TV for free.</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-40977545444242390162014-05-06T19:53:00.000-04:002014-05-07T21:23:40.125-04:002014 IIFA Awards up close and personal: A disastrous, infuriating mess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weekends ago now, I attended the <a href="http://www.iifa.com/">International Indian Film Academy</a> — IIFA — Awards here in own back yard of Tampa Bay as a member of the
media — a dream come true, right? A dream that led me to come home early from
India, to skip a trip to Assam.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Boy, did I end up regretting that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've watched IIFA broadcasts before and was so excited to see it up close and personal, but I came out of it realizing that IIFA is much, much better enjoyed as a TV show. Covering IIFA was a terrible, terrible experience that given
the chance I’d never choose again. It was infuriatingly unprofessional and much
less than promised (more on that later). And I'm not the only one who feels that way. I've heard complaints from everywhere, and there's even <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-HDYN3XS/">a survey circulating </a>about how awful the experience was. Some others have made me feel like a whiny baby though (boohoo the stars came to my back yard but didn't want to see me), so I've held back on posting even after writing this epically long rant<o:p></o:p> days after the events ended. But, nope, most of the fury hasn't died down.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I get the impression that IIFA’s “imperfections” are
generally glossed over by media and everyone else, but I’m not one to sugarcoat
things — ever — so here goes nothing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Running on Indian Standard Time ... but worse</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything starts late. And I do mean late. We all know desi
events are notorious for starting at least half an hour late — which is fine,
when people haven’t paid hundreds or even thousands of dollars to be there and when
the venues are prepared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure how long after the scheduled start that IIFA
Rocks got going, but the Magic of the Movies Technical Awards (which though
smart for getting tiny awards over with was decidedly lame — “double the IIFA,
double the dhamaka” my ass) and the main awards show both started roughly two
hours late, mostly because the green carpet events didn’t start even remotely
on time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were whispers down the media line that the stars wouldn’t
show until the sun went down “because it was just too hot.” That’s all well and
good — except that it left fans and media standing for <i>hours </i>in the sun and heat when temperatures were pushing 90 degrees F (32 C) without even accounting for the heat index (humidity). If you don’t want to stand in the heat, it’s
unreasonable to expect everyone else to do it while waiting on you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Members of the media (including myself) were asked to arrive
at 3 p.m. for events scheduled at 3:30 or 4 that didn’t start going until 7 or 7:30. That’s
an extra four hours standing in the sun, carrying equipment and sometimes
dolled up for the cameras.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Magic of the Movies, co-host Vir Das walked the green carpet at 7:45 —
for an event that was supposed to start at 7.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>The green carpet is a
joke</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of the big stars go on and on about how much the fans
mean to them, but it’s remarkable how almost none of them actually seem to
care. I stood on the three green carpets for a combined 15 hours and<b> I never
saw</b>: Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor, Farhan
Akhtar, Bipasha Basu, Ranveer Singh, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin,
Parineeti Chopra.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I saw Hrithik Roshan, Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi, Priyanka
Chopra and Sridevi once a piece, and other than Hrithik, none of them stopped
for more than a photo at the carpet’s beginning. When you’re not actually
there, you see lots of photos online of these people on the green carpet — but
my personal opinion is that they either come so late that everyone has gone or come in where no one else can see on some back
corner of the “green carpet” and have official photogs take their picture just
for show.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, you might be tempted to make excuses for some of these —
oh, Farhan and Shahid were hosting, Madhuri and Priyanka were performing, so
they need rehearsal time — but Deepika Padukone also performed and she took
ample time with fans and reporters alike while walking with Kevin Spacey. Priyanka and Hrithik were said to be nice with fans at the airport, at least. Madhuri and Kareena were reportedly<b> extremely rude</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And think, well, you'll see them at the awards? Nope. They come for their part, show up on camera and then leave. By the end of the show, most of the stars' seats are empty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who did I see more than enough of on the green carpet and in the show? Gulshan Grover, Aftab
Shivadasani, Stephen Baldwin (he kept coming back to walk again!) and Anil
Kapoor. Gaaaaaaaawd Anil Kapoor. I’d be happy if I never saw him again in my
life. He gives me the serious heebie jeebies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also saw more than enough of boosters who paid big bucks
to walk the green carpet but kept getting in the way of stars, even when they
were ordered by security to keep things moving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And on the last night’s event, security corralled spectators
on a side of the green carpet that stars never walked, completely shutting them
out and giving them a view of a few “VIPs” asked to walk there instead. Think that stopped many of them from getting in the way on the real green carpet? Nope. Still utter chaos.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Promised but never
delivered</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the first press conference in Tampa, the list of
performers was topped by a very particular name: Shah Rukh Khan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now of course you should know by now that SRK didn’t come as
IIFA promised, explained away by everything from the elections to contract
disputes. He’s not the only one. This time, there were no Bachchans (sad since
Abhishek was the one last year who announced the Tampa Bay locale), no Khans
(except, well, Saif), no directors besides the decidedly underwhelming personality of Rakeysh
Omprakash Mehra (who won) and David Dhawan. Not even "confirmed performer" Honey Singh or Genelia D’Souza, who was
touted as coming along with hubby Riteish Deshmukh (who was there), or Sonam
Kapoor, who was reported to be coming with her father.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a matter of fact, there were lots of popular children who
weren’t there with their parents — no Ranbir Kapoor with Rishi, no Sonam with
Anil, no Arjun Kapoor with Boney and Sridevi, no Varun Dhawan with David
(though David promised some of us Varun would come next time). (Those who did
come with their parents: Farhan with Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, Kareena Kapoor
with Randhir, Sonakshi Sinha with Shatrughan, and Siddharth Mahadevan with
Shankar … and Ehsaan and Loy.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t stop there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vidya Balan came for a press conference when it was
announced that she’d be hosting an acting “masterclass” panel with Kevin
Spacey. I met and interviewed her then, and she was very nice (she even knew my
name and who I was before I walked in the door).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But then, guess what?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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She never showed for IIFA. She said originally that she was
coming late after voting in Mumbai’s elections (yeah, scheduling during that
was <b>high on the</b> <b>long list of IIFA’s gaffes</b>), but she didn’t come at all. (It kind of makes
sense now that she hedged my question in that interview about what she was
doing when she came back.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Replacing her on the panel? Priyanka Chopra. What the hell
does model-actress-singer-whatevergetsherfame Priyanka know about acting
compared with Vidya? (Aside from momentary brilliance displayed in <b>Barfi</b>.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And the one star (who shall remain nameless) I was supposed
to interview during the IIFA Weekend? Totally blew off the interview and had a
manager try to reschedule later for a time when they knew we’d be busy on the green carpet. I heard similar stories from other media folks about other stars and their managers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Organizers also told us at the <i>Tampa
Bay Times</i> early on that they were putting together a cricket match with Indian cricket stars and celebrities — then
scrapped that plan without ever giving more explanation than venue troubles. (Planning it <b>during IPL</b> might have something to do with it too. Just sayin’.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Furthermore, they denied the public access to the IIFA Rocks
green carpet after they told us that it was open to the public.<br />
<br />
<o:p>I've also heard several <b>horror stories</b> in the past weeks and months about contest winners who were contacted to be told they won but then didn't hear back on receiving their tickets and weren't given all that they were promised, such as covering travel expenses and accommodations. And then there are the folks who bought presale tickets at Tampa's India Festival last October for $1,800 or more (back when the awards were planned for three days in June at the Tampa Bay Times Forum) and then couldn't get a straight answer out of organizers about their tickets.</o:p><br />
<o:p><br /></o:p>
<o:p>Sounds a lot more like a scam, right?</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Unprofessional</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though made up of extremely friendly people, IIFA’s public
relations team has been the worst one I’ve ever dealt with. They didn’t announce group interviews with stars that I later overheard about and didn’t get back to us
on news-related queries months in advance of the event (including simple stuff like "how does one get in to IIFA Rocks?"). It’s like they don’t
even know what a public relations team<i> does</i>, which is absurd considering they’ve been putting on IIFA events
for 15 years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
IIFA’s PR team also told us that as a sponsoring media
outlet, we would receive tickets to the night events. That didn’t turn out to
be the case, as IIFA gave out tickets to dozens of media outlets who weren’t
sponsors. So, bald-faced <b>lie</b>. And the media seats? They were good for the main awards show, but for
Magic of the Movies, we were literally stuck in the venue’s very last row,
unable to see anything and therefore unable to write about anything. Even
though there were at least a hundred empty seats in some of the sections. They
also told us we couldn’t take photos — but then let others carry in cameras and
let a local TV station film the first few minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Not only that, but IIFA also let some other outlets onto the
green carpet itself, thereby getting in the way of everyone else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It wasn’t just IIFA that was unprofessional. Some credentialed
“members of the media” were highly unprofessional, too, which implies IIFA has very little standards if any as far as that is concerned. I get
that they get requests from all over — I met journalists from India, Pakistan,
Kenya, New Zealand and the U.K. — but <i>come
on</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p>And guess what: I don't mind calling out the rudest of the bunch.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A woman who was from Comcast demanded that one of us give
her our spot because she’d left her jacket reserving a spot that had been taken
over by official Twitter folks hired by IIFA. “What media are you with?” she demanded
to know, as if we were less important. (Worth noting I was there for the <i>Tampa
Bay Times</i>, which just won its 10th Pulitzer.) And when she got into a spot, we
discovered she’d given up where she’d been standing earlier to her children —
who had no media passes and were more worried about taking selfies with stars
than anything else.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A team from India’s News Nation that made<a href="http://www.newsnation.in/videos/entertainment/entertainment-2/5779"> this video</a> came in
to the IIFA Rocks green carpet about 20 minutes before stars walked — about two
hours after the media was instructed to arrive — and asked me to move from the
spot I’d been standing in for more than two hours at that point. So that they
could set up. When I refused — three times — to move, they went around me into
a barricaded off section, climbing over other people’s bags and blocking
another camera that had been set up since before I got there. Throughout the
green carpet experience, they continued asking me to move for them. All because
they couldn’t be bothered to show up earlier.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Stars I’ll never see
the same way again</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite all of their big talk about the opportunities to
meet fans, most of the stars seem to treat IIFA as a vacation in a nice,
previously scouted locale more than anything else. Meeting fans is at the very
bottom of their priority list.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Shahid </b>was in
town for almost a week — he arrived on Monday, the first of the stars to come
in. Where was he when he wasn’t hosting the main awards? God only knows,
because he certainly wasn’t at any events. He's one of the ones that I heard had his managers blowing off meet and greets and interviews.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was already a bit disillusioned with too easily chatty <b>Priyanka</b> after the first press
conference when she came wearing so much makeup I wondered if she actually had
a face at all. She kind of comes off as artificial as her face. Then during IIFA, she was said to take some
time with fans at the airport, but she dodged all the green carpets except the
last one, when she dutifully marched forward without a single photo or interview with the masses. She
performed at IIFA — quite well, actually — and then <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2014/04/iifa-2014-tampa-bay-gossip-priyanka.html">disappeared mid ceremony</a>,
before an award already predetermined for her was given out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Anupam Kher</b>. Know
that bubbly, friendly persona he always has onscreen and online? Completely
dour every time he walked the green carpet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the flip side, <b>Vivek
Oberoi </b>is way nicer than I had ever expected. And when he stepped into the
360 Vine booth, he slow-danced with his wife rather than making crazy faces
like everyone else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>The venues had no
warning</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raymond James Stadium for the main awards show ran out of
food. Ditto for most drinks at the Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre during Magic of the Movies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I’ve been to <i>much</i>
bigger events at these venues before — they can handle the crowds. If they know
what’s coming. Hell, Raymond James Stadium has hosted Super Bowls.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ray Jay, as it’s known, is supposed to only stay open
until 3 a.m., a deadline IIFA pushed to the wire — though it shouldn’t have
been, if it started even remotely on time or kept to its forecast length (it was some 5+ hours long). I’m told the sound was also not
working in the upper decks, where the average joes able to afford $100 seats
were.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like the sound at Ray Jay, the visuals at the amphitheater
were also totally inadequate for the crowd. Many of us up top couldn’t see a thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It makes you wonder what these venues were expecting, and from that what they were told.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Tampa did its part</b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The turnout in Tampa was phenomenal. An estimated 5,000
people came out for the final night’s green carpet alone. More than 20,000
bought tickets, costing $100 to $25,000.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s after the show was moved up to April from the originally
promised June. I know at least a dozen folks who were disappointed by the time
switch and couldn’t make it. Or still others disappointed by the lack of SRK
and Salman.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hundreds more flocked to the airport’s welcoming events and
the Hilton Tampa Downtown, the official hotel, to catch glimpses of the stars
who did come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mayor participated in the show. Visit Tampa Bay lent its
hand to making things happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And somehow IIFA still managed to screw things up. Which, some of those international journalists told me, is just how it operates. All of this I've mentioned? Apparently it happens every year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s just say there’s probably a reason IIFA moves around
to a different country every year. I wouldn’t ever let anyone I know pay to go
back there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To add insult to injury, <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/events/bollywood-ceremony-wont-be-televised-live/2176370">you can't watch the much-edited IIFA Awards of April 26 until they air on Star Plus in June</a>.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-29093093575209983392014-04-29T10:26:00.001-04:002015-04-01T16:42:05.170-04:00IIFA 2014 Tampa Bay gossip: Priyanka Chopra seriously ticks off Ranveer Singh during the show<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa8TrX594-ispFtI5newiiBIaNI8aOnucyq_1lGngses76htHC0ZrfLzewIFr0Vcyv2NN5QDdis-qRzRzp7N78orXGArAZPp5lD0ahjeuAIdUTt93YITYALtb8tPOfHBGn74BHjkxWpE5/s1600/priyankajohn-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa8TrX594-ispFtI5newiiBIaNI8aOnucyq_1lGngses76htHC0ZrfLzewIFr0Vcyv2NN5QDdis-qRzRzp7N78orXGArAZPp5lD0ahjeuAIdUTt93YITYALtb8tPOfHBGn74BHjkxWpE5/s1600/priyankajohn-2.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Photo courtesy of IIFA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've got much more to come later on how covering the IIFA Awards was a nightmare, but first I thought I'd whip this up and put it out there:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Months ago after <b>Gunday</b>,
<a href="http://www.masala.com/ranveer-singh-miffed-with-priyanka-chopra-156532.html">some sources</a> said Ranveer Singh <a href="http://www.india.com/showbiz/ranveer-singh-vows-never-to-work-with-priyanka-chopra-again-12937/">vowed he’d never work with Priyanka Chopra again</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those of us sitting on the floor at the IIFA Awards this
weekend in Tampa Bay saw the rumored spat turn into a full-blown fight during
PC’s act.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After some aerial stunts and busting more than a few moves,
Priyanka descended from the stage during Tune Maari Entriyaan to the celebrity
seating, where she was met by an eager Ranveer. After good-naturedly shimmying
a bit with her Gunday co-star (worth noting other co-star Arjun Kapoor wasn’t
there, though his daddy was), she proceeded to her real target: John Travolta.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
60-year-old Travolta, of course known for shaking a leg in hits like <i>Grease </i>and <i>Saturday Night Fever</i>, was there accepting a special award for his
outstanding contribution to international cinema. He proceeded on stage with
her to show off those dance moves. The video is amazing, if you haven't seen it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/p0k9bsjf6XU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He later accepted the award from and then
<a href="http://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/performances-at-iifa-2014-priyanka-john-travolta-deepika-madhuri/#hrithikjohntrovolta-2">did a dance with Hrithik Roshan</a>, the only star’s name he even tried to
pronounce, probably wisely so after his now infamous Oscar gaffe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But let’s just say Ranveer wasn’t too happy about being passed
over for a Hollywood star.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He stormed off to the side, found organizers and proceeded
to let loose a serious string of abuses. The organizers of course had to
placate Ranveer as he was performing later in the show.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also later in the show, Priyanka was supposed to be
presented with a special “Woman Of Substance” award (you know, one of those things
they cook up just so she gets something). But announcers said she had left to catch a
flight and so her music agent would accept it in her place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to wonder whether a fight rather than a flight was
the cause for PC’s early departure. It does seem odd that she'd plan to leave before being presented with her only award of the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-33448077807209516092014-02-23T21:55:00.000-05:002014-02-23T21:55:19.117-05:00IIFA 2014 nominees are out; who won the Filmfares vs. my favorites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://iifa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/iifa-unit-logos-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://iifa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/iifa-unit-logos-1.png" /></a>IIFA announced its nominees this week for the 15th annual awards, to be held in my very own Tampa Bay in April. The nominees are shortlisted by voting by members of the "film fraternity" (a phrase they all use quite freely) and then voted on by average joes (and janes!) like you and me. (Seriously, <a href="http://www.runtime-solutions.com/iifa_global_voting_2014/">go vote now</a>.)<br />
<br />
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag earned the most nominations with 10 (no surprise given that Farhan Akhtar is co-hosting this year), then Ram-Leela and Aashiqui 2 with seven each, then Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani with six.<br />
<br />
But the clear winner this year? Deepika Padukone, who dominates the best performance in a leading role (female) category with <i>three </i>nominations!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now as you may very well know, the favorites for IIFA awards can often be determined by the winner of the Filmfare Awards, which were handed out last month. In 2013, the best film, best leading male and female actors, best supporting male and female actors, best male debut, best music director and best directorial debut awards were the same between the Filmfares and IIFAs. The table below shows all nominations for the IIFA awards, with the Filmfare winners highlighted in red.</div>
<br />
This is a year in which I've seen each of the best film nominees, so see below the table for my own commentary.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: -5.4pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 984px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Best Picture</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Dhoom 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aditya Chopra</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Karan Johar</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Goliyon Ki Rasleela-Ramleela</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-MX">Kishore
Lulla & Sanjay Leela Bhansali<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Krrish 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Rakesh Roshan</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Kai Po Che</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ronnie Screwvala & Siddharth Roy Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Chennai Express</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ronnie Screwvala,Siddharth Roy Kapoor, Gauri Khan &
Karim Morani</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Bhaag Milkha Bhaag<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Viacom 18 Motion Pictures &
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background: white; height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Direction</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Kai Po Che</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Abhishek Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Krrish 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Rakesh Roshan</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Bhaag Milkha Bhaag<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Chennai Express</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Rohit Shetty</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Goliyon Ki Rasleela- Ramleela</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sanjay Leela Bhansali</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Performance in a Leading Role (Male)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Bhaag Milkha Bhaag<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Farhan Akhtar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Krrish 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Hrithik Roshan</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ranbir Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Goliyon Ki Rasleela-Ramleela</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ranveer Singh</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Chennai Express</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Shahrukh Khan</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Kai Po Che</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sushant Singh Rajput</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Performance in a Leading Role (Female)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Chennai Express</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Deepika Padukone</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 30;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Goliyon Ki Rasleela- Ramleela<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Deepika Padukone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 31;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Deepika Padukone</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
The Lunchbox</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Nimrat Kaur</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aashiqui 2</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Shraddha Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 34;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Lootera</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sonakshi Sinha</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 35;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 36;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Performance in a Supporting Role (Male)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 37;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 38;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aditya Roy Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 39;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Special 26</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Anupam Kher</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 40;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">The Lunchbox<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Nawazuddin Siddiqui<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 41;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Pawan Malhotra</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 42;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Jolly LLB</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Saurabh Shukla</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 43;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 44;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Performance in a Supporting Role (Female)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 45;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 46;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Divya Dutta</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 47;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Kalki Koechlin</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 48;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Krrish 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Kangana Ranaut</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 49;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Goliyon Ki Rasleela-Ramleela</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Richa Chadda</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 50;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
D Day</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Shruti Hassan</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 51;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Raanjhanaa</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Swara Bhaskar</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 52;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Filmfare winner:
Supriya Pathak Kapur, Ram-Leela (nominated in Negative Role category for IIFA)</span></i></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 53;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Performance in a Comic Role</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 54;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 55;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Jolly LLB</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Arshad Warsi</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 56;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Grand Masti</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Riteish Deshmukh</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 57;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Fukrey</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Varun Sharma</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 58;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 59;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Performance in a Negative Role</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 60;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 61;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
D-Day</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Rishi Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 62;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aurangzeb</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Rishi Kapoor</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 63;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Goliyon Ki Rasleela- Ramleela<span style="color: #990000;"> *</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Supriya Pathak</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 27.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 64;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Krrish 3</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Vivek Oberoi</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 65;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">* Supriya Pathak Kapur won best supporting actress at Filmfare</span></i></span><br />
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 66;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Music Direction</b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 67;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 68;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Aashiqui 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Mithoon, Ankit Tiwari,Jeet
Ganguly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 69;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Pritam</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 70;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Shankaar - Ehsaan - Loy</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 71;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 72;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Best Story</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 73;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 74;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Prasoon Joshi</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 75;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
Kai Po Che<span style="color: maroon;">*</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Pubali Chaudhuri, Abhishek Kapoor & Chetan Bhagat</div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 76;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
The Lunchbox</div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ritesh Batra </div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 77;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Filmfare winner:
Jolly LLB, <br />
*Kai Po Che won best screenplay</span></i></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 78;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 2.7in;" valign="bottom" width="259"><br /></td><td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264"><br /></td><td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 4.8in;" valign="bottom" width="461"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Lyrics</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Song </u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Tum Hi Ho<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Mithoon<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aashiqui 2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">O Rangrez<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Prasoon Joshi <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Filmfare won for Zinda)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Bhaag Milkha Bhaag<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sunn Raha Hai<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sandeep Nath<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aashiqui 2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Playback Singer (Male)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Song </u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sunn Rahai Hai<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ankit Tiwari<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aashiqui 2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Tum Hi Ho<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Arijit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Aashiqui 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Zinda<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Siddharth Mahadevan<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Playback Singer (Female)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Song </u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Nomination</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Film</u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Ram Chahe Leela<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhoomi Trivedi<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Goliyon Ki Rasleela - Ramleela<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Sawaar Loon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Monali Thakur<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: maroon;">Lootera<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Sunn Raha Hai<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Shreya Ghoshal<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Aashiqui 2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 26.34%;" valign="bottom" width="26%"><div class="MsoNormal">
O Rangrez<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 32.3%;" valign="bottom" width="32%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Shreya Ghoshal<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 41.36%;" valign="bottom" width="41%"><div class="MsoNormal">
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
Now we get down to my opinion, though it matters very little.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
While I saw and liked <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-bhaag-milkha-bhaag-do-you-have.html"><b>Bhaag Milkha Bhaag</b></a>, almost no one I've talked to came out of the movie feeling wholly satisfied. I may be more sensitive than anyone else to this considering I edit for a living, but the movie suffered from a severe lack of focus as it meandered along. What it really needed was an editor. An athlete's biopic is a nice turn for a Bollywood flick, but this one was not the best (of a similar vein,<b> Paan Singh Tomar</b>, in my humble opinion, was better).<br />
<br />
Does Farhan deserve an(other) award for his portrayal of Milkha Singh? Absolutely. His performance was amazing (especially in a year where all the other men where thoroughly outshined by the heroines). Does Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra deserve another one for directing? Err, not in my opinion. Best film? Nah.<br />
<br />
So, what movie do I think is better? <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2014/01/aamir-khan-katrina-kaif-and-other.html"><b>Dhoom 3</b></a> was pretty awful. <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/11/new-krrish-3-movie-that-will-not-die.html"><b>Krrish 3</b></a> was lackluster.<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/08/new-chennai-express-has-its-bumps-and.html"><b> Chennai Express</b></a> wasn't all we (or at least I) hoped for out of an SRK-Rohit Shetty collaboration.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/11/new-goliyon-ki-raasleela-ram-leela.html"><b>Ram-Leela</b></a>, <b>Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani</b> and <b>Kai Po Che</b> (the last two of which I evidently never wrote about!) were all much more solidly put together. I don't know that I could directly pick a favorite among the three because they were very different types of movies, but I lean toward Kai Po Che for story and I would hands down pick Ram-Leela for directing. It has Sanjay Leela Bhansali written all over it, and the great amount of work he put into making the movie a masterpiece is evident. The pacing of it is also more even (in a good way) than the other two and than typical Bhansali movies.<br />
<br />
While we're on the subject of Ram-Leela and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, we can't skip Deepika. I'm pretty sure it's a given that she'll win the best performance in a leading role (female) award, since she takes up 50% of the category's nominations. Which of Ram-Leela, YJHD and Chennai Express was her best? She outshined SRK in Chennai Express and more than held her own in YJHD, where her role was so far from her normal party girl high-gloss wild style. But she was the anchor of Ram-Leela. You could've replaced Ranveer Singh, though he did do well, but you absolutely could not have replaced Deepika in this movie. It wouldn't have been the same. (The same could probably be said of Sonakshi Sinha in <b>Lootera</b>, but her role had a lot less agency to it, and this has really been Deepika's year.)<br />
<br />
For the supporting role awards, I haven't seen the Lunchbox yet (curse its belated U.S. release!) so I can't <i>really </i>comment, but my voice isn't really needed amidst the constant chorus of praise for Nawazuddin Siddiqui. As much as I loved Anupam Kher in <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-special-26-smart-thrilling-and-full.html"><b>Special 26</b></a>, I'm sure Nawaz has Anupam uncle beat by a long shot. (I'm sure both had a lot more meaty roles than Pawan Malhotra's in BMB and were much better than Aditya Roy Kapoor's general annoyingness, however toned down it was in YJHD.)<br />
<br />
On the women's side, Divya Dutta as Milkha's sister in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Kalki Koechlin as friend Aditi in YJHD were both solid performances, one more somber and the other more well-rounded. Swara Bhaskar was funny in Raanjhanaa but spent most of the movie getting kicked around. Nothing much to cheer for. I can't remember whose sister Richa Chadda was in Ram-Leela, Kangana Ranaut underwhelmed me in Krrish 3 (though most of the movie itself did the same), and I haven't seen D Day so I can't comment on Shruti Hassan.<br />
<br />
Yes, that means I also haven't seen one... or either... of the roles that earned Rishi Kapoor noms in the best performance in a negative role category. I do love Rishi, but Supriya Pathak was thoroughly excellent and deliciously evil as the matriarch Baa in Ram-Leela, so I kind of hope she'll beat him (a possibility since the role won her a Filmfare in a different category). I sure as hell hope Vivek Oberoi doesn't win one for floating
around looking like an emaciated vampire and talking like he’s got a sore
throat.<br />
<br />
Lastly, on the music front, I can't say much as that's not my forte — my intermediate-level understanding of Hindi is far from good enough to comment on the best lyrics. But I will say that I found the soundtrack of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag to be refreshingly different — very rock heavy — and totally suited to the tone of the movie.<br />
<br />
And if you bothered to read all of my opinion, you probably deserve an award all your own.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-39858478238404579032014-01-06T15:06:00.000-05:002014-01-06T15:06:03.761-05:00Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and other things that bugged me about Dhoom 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/Dhoom_3_Film_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/Dhoom_3_Film_Poster.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>Okay, so I think this post may win for “biggest delay in
posting about a new movie.” About four days after watching Dhoom 3, I was like
meh, I don’t know that I’ll blog. And I was told nah, you still should. And so
I started one, and never fleshed it out much. Well, after nearly three weeks, I
don’t know whether you’d call this a real review of Dhoom 3 so much as a me
describing a few things that have continued to bother me when I think about the
movie.<br />
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<i>Synopsis: </i>Like all Dhoom movies, there is Jai Dixit
(<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Abhishek%20Bachchan">Abhishek Bachchan</a>) and Ali Akbar (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Uday%20Chopra">Uday Chopra</a>) chasing down a bad guy on a
motorcycle. This time, the bad guy is <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/aamir%20khan">Aamir Khan</a> playing a circus performer by
night and bank robber by day because that bank wanted to repossess the circus
building owned by his suicidal father (there-too-briefly-to-be-cringeworthy
<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Jackie%20Shroff">Jackie Shroff</a>). Adding the necessary estrogen (or at least the necessary female
figure to drool over) is Aaliya the acrobat (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/katrina%20kaif">Katrina Kaif</a>).</div>
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Much like <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/08/new-chennai-express-has-its-bumps-and.html"><b>Chennai Express</b></a> earlier this year, Dhoom 3
falls into the category of film (or director) famous for one type of movie
meets star actor famous for another type — a recipe, they believe, for a
blockbuster. But that is instead a recipe for unfulfilled high expectations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Dhoom is a great franchise. Aamir Khan is a great actor. But
the two do not mesh well.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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When you stop to consider it, the Dhoom franchise is far
more villain-centric than anything else. Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra are
the recurring heroes, but they’re hardly the stars. No, the featured faces on
posters — the ones that draw you to the theaters — are <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/John%20Abraham">John Abraham</a>, <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Hrithik%20Roshan">Hrithik Roshan</a>,
<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Aishwarya%20Rai">Aishwarya Rai</a> (okay, pseudo villain), Aamir Khan.</div>
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These are somehow the ones we root for.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9y9CGrueGuPEpybnd6rURgTEH8FXh13hPN-yWHatcxOs0m5eBx9aVFnK8BBHwBI6UQWOaEGKxc3CtSKXnXv9DYRsCeuEqF5T3GeUW4OWhOkBrD7YW0jOTSMWrFd5rS5cjABSnMbMpXTA/s1600/dhoom3-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9y9CGrueGuPEpybnd6rURgTEH8FXh13hPN-yWHatcxOs0m5eBx9aVFnK8BBHwBI6UQWOaEGKxc3CtSKXnXv9DYRsCeuEqF5T3GeUW4OWhOkBrD7YW0jOTSMWrFd5rS5cjABSnMbMpXTA/s1600/dhoom3-6.jpg" height="160" width="400" /></a></div>
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That tradition Aamir gladly keeps alive. But the problem is
that it’s not in Dhoom style by being an awesome villain. It’s with a lot of
emotional melodrama meant to make you pity his character. For example, instead
of presenting us with a villain who enjoys thieving for the challenge of it
(like Hrithik’s character in <b>Dhoom 2</b>), this time we’re given a villain
who robs banks because he has a personal vendetta against them that is
explained to us in the opening sequence.</div>
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<i>*Spoilers below*</i></div>
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Though a double role as twins isn’t a step away from
previous Dhooms (like <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Bipasha%20Basu">Bipasha Basu</a> in Dhoom 2), the ones Aamir plays only
compound the mess. The reveal at intermission is a truly marvelous twist to the
plot, but that’s pretty much where the goodness ends.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbNIG3rcOL_dnWpyFbVcAXFv9VS8t82oIQyeBUO3KLYuXA9Z3lpZzvwDfDrltk33-8PoS75WtbzsSUXEELUZIftRck0wxTN9uquYeL69msDHckCMpPeCXL-EGGh4Mj5fl229fkxcshT0h/s1600/dhoom3-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbNIG3rcOL_dnWpyFbVcAXFv9VS8t82oIQyeBUO3KLYuXA9Z3lpZzvwDfDrltk33-8PoS75WtbzsSUXEELUZIftRck0wxTN9uquYeL69msDHckCMpPeCXL-EGGh4Mj5fl229fkxcshT0h/s1600/dhoom3-3.jpg" height="152" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sahir angry! (All the time...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sahir is sort of boring on his own, running around looking
constipated most of the time, but the portrayal of the second half of the
villainous duo is probably the most uneasy part of the whole thing. Samar is a
secret that somehow manages to stay kept throughout the brothers’ childhood
after their father commits suicide — how two preteen brothers, one mentally
handicapped (presumably autistic), survive like that in a foreign country (and
particularly Chicago, no less) is anyone’s guess — and from all of the circus
workers who build and/or see his unnecessarily complicated escape route. (Samar
seems perfectly capable of walking down some stairs in a secret passage rather
than being slow-mo transported in a metal box like a dangerous animal.)</div>
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Maybe even inferior to the child actor’s performance,
Aamir’s mostly smile-and-stutter portrayal is neither overly impressive nor
really necessary for the plot (compare it to <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/shahrukh%20khan">SRK</a>
in MNIK, for example, and it comes up way short). And especially given that
this is the same man who made <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/taare-zameen-par-stars-on-earth.html"><b>Taare Zameen Par</b></a> to champion the kids with
learning disabilities, that gives you great pause.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.cdnds.net/13/51/618x400/bollywood-dhoom-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.cdnds.net/13/51/618x400/bollywood-dhoom-3.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling, so you know who this is...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It also raises some questions about why Samar
who is unable to tie his own shoes is able to deftly evade police on
motorcycle, jet ski, etc. And why, if he is, he takes the bus everywhere else
on Sundays.</div>
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I realize it’s too much to ask from a masala movie to make
perfect sense, but it isn’t too much to ask for one to not make you uneasy and
cause frowning or head scratching every two seconds.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And since the first film, Dhoom has given us villains who
boldly sacrifice themselves rather than being arrested. Dhoom 3 is no
different. But Dhoom 2 ended with hope, a tale of plotting and daring escape.
There is no such hope at the end of Dhoom 3, and I can’t help but think it
would have been nice. Instead we get a half-assed display of brotherly love
that seemed absent the whole movie and really benefits no one in the end
(except perhaps Aaliya, Katrina Kaif’s character; see below).</div>
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<i>*End spoilers*</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Moving on from that, there was another major part of Dhoom 3
that has been nagging me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Women have been somewhat marginalized in the Dhoom series —
Jai’s irritating wife, Sweety (Rimi Sen); Sunera (Aish) who ends up little more than a
pawn between male cops and male thief; potentially kick-ass cop twin Sonali is
injured, made a failure, traded in for bikini-flaunting dumb beach bunny twin
Monali (both Bips) — but perhaps nowhere moreso than in Dhoom 3. Sweety has
entirely vanished, without even a passing reference. The female cop this time:
a dumb blonde even more inept than Sonali, who has like two lines (one being
that she “understands some Hindi,” though she clearly doesn’t) and without any
hint of plot logic whatsoever hangs around Jai and Ali’s flat in skimpy clothing,
“helping” with the investigation long after that pair has been fired.</div>
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And then there’s Katrina Kaif. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2013/12/dhoom_3_-_katrina_kaif_0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2013/12/dhoom_3_-_katrina_kaif_0.jpeg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This outfit. ARE YOU SERIOUS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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I think it goes without saying that this one also runs
around half-clothed most of the time — the fairly logical part of it is when
she’s a circus performer (although her first outfit is literally made to look
like she’s wearing zilch but rhinestones over her nipples and crotch); the
nonlogical part is when she’s pedaling a bicycle around the windy city with
half a shirt and the world’s shortest shorts. But to make matters worse, she
has fewer lines than unapologetically objectifying dance numbers, the most
egregious of which is her introduction song, in which she literally comes in
taking her clothes off, swinging around poles and flinging her legs open. (Only
slightly less egregious is her writhing around in a pink bra and an open, wet
T-shirt for part of Dhoom Machale.) This is the girl who caused a hubbub when
she signed a no-bikini clause? I’d rather have seen the bikini.</div>
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And at least Aishwarya Rai and Bipasha Basu served roles in
the plot. Katrina’s only role in the plot is to expedite the antiheroes’
downfall. (For this, btw, she most likely inherits a circus. Bravo, girl.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>*spoilers* </i>And on that front, we never even get to
see her realize that Sahir and Samar, whom she is
supposed to love, are different people! Seriously. I felt robbed by that. That
is an important factor in the plot, let alone the romance! <i>*end spoilers*</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4RD_ZigLJd12E6DJcwJij92xmLHxy7kT_h2_zGogSUk4eMBUKNvses5bLxSGR4s879eSf1HzZeozyapIUR1ncquyzxeqSy3eCwCb-fIV0ogHxURfXy5UrIBGSYLG7DxLUMjczlgxzNHb/s1600/dhoom3-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4RD_ZigLJd12E6DJcwJij92xmLHxy7kT_h2_zGogSUk4eMBUKNvses5bLxSGR4s879eSf1HzZeozyapIUR1ncquyzxeqSy3eCwCb-fIV0ogHxURfXy5UrIBGSYLG7DxLUMjczlgxzNHb/s1600/dhoom3-5.jpg" height="206" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least the acrobatics are nice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ahem. Anyway, if you can ignore those things — which, as I
have mentioned, have continued to nag at me — Dhoom 3 is a decent time-pass.
There are some fun chases, a decent plot and of course a circus (or at least
acrobats…). I’ll admit the acrobatics are pretty darn impressive.</div>
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<br />
But overall? I think it may actually be the weakest link in the Dhoom trilogy.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-88012240638615077552013-11-23T22:04:00.002-05:002013-11-26T20:22:48.544-05:00NEW: Gori Tere Pyaar Mein: A rom-com with enough fun and funny<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Gori_Tere_Pyaar_Mein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Gori_Tere_Pyaar_Mein.jpg" width="240" /></a>Do you know those times where you’re thoroughly unimpressed
by a trailer but you figure “what the hey, I’ll go see this one anyway”?
<br />
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That was the case today with Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. It looks
like exactly the same kind of rom com formula that produces as many fizzlers as
sizzlers. And then there’s the fact that Imran and Kareena’s last movie — <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu</b> — thoroughly sucked.</div>
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Well, I won’t tell you their chemistry’s gotten a whole lot
better, because it hasn’t. It’s still mediocre.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is actually pretty funny and fun
for at least three quarters of the movie (the ending, however, slows down and
drags on for a while once you hit all of the necessary moral stuff). And maybe it’s just because I wasn’t expecting much,
but I had fun.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Case in point? You get to see Sriram (Imran), eked on by his
unsuspecting family, dash out of his wedding with no shirt (alas, he has no
six-pack anymore, ladies) and his dhoti hitched up around his knees. Meanwhile
his Tamilian bride-to-be Vasudha<span class="st"> (Shraddha Kapoor) stands by
laughing almost as hard as I was.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.indianexpress.com/m-images/Wed%20Oct%2009%202013,%2015:36%20hrs/M_Id_427826_imrankhan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://static.indianexpress.com/m-images/Wed%20Oct%2009%202013,%2015:36%20hrs/M_Id_427826_imrankhan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhaag, Sridevibhai, Bhaag!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Oh, and Dia (Kareena) calls him Sridevi the whole movie,
which Gujju villagers later, with a degree of respect, mold into “Sridevibhai.”
That’s fun too.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But then again, I enjoyed writer-director Punit Malhotra’s
maiden voyage, <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Hate Luv Storys</span></b>.
Even when no one else seemed to.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And I think that Kareena is back in the one role that she truly excels at: a bubbly, high-energy and slightly <i>paagal </i>Punjabi girl. So you don't even have to be annoyed that her acting is lackluster because she's just being herself. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Gori%20Tere%20Pyaar%20Mein/gori-tere-pyaar-mein-5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Gori%20Tere%20Pyaar%20Mein/gori-tere-pyaar-mein-5a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Kareena Kapoor as... Kareena Kapoor!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="st">Other tidbits that were fun: Anupam Kher as
the tax collector villain, which doesn’t happen often with Anupam Uncle; the
tax collector’s crazy father; the in-jokes to Aamir and Salman Khan; the plethora
of cute kids. </span></div>
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<span class="st">The family values and also subtle championing
of the downtrodden (including girl babies, children with AIDS and rural
villagers) were nice too. Also the jokes on Imran’s very fair skin — “he was
switched in the hospital,” the dad says — are a pleasant change from the usual
jokes in the opposite direction.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Things I could’ve done without in this movie: Shraddha
Kapoor, who adds absolutely nothing. The music, especially when it’s imploring
me to shake my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tooh </i>or telling Sriram’s
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mummy-daddy </i>to kiss his ass. Kareena
being called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gori behen</i> (thus the
title). The absurdly neat but illogical ending (the villain’s father gives him
what he wants, which makes no sense, while shaming him into doing what’s right,
which does make sense).</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fileshit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/gori-tere-pyaar-mein-hdwallpapers-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://fileshit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/gori-tere-pyaar-mein-hdwallpapers-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The biggest thing I could have done without? Several
allusions to Kareena’s “age,” and the fact that she’s “much older” than Imran.
Which is absolutely absurd. She’s not even two and a half years older than him.
I know Bollywood likes old heroes with young heroines and a woman past 30 is
often considered out of her prime, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">come
on, guys, it’s not even three whole years!!! </i>Get over it.</div>
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But anyway.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Is this a groundbreaking movie? No. Is it a cute little film
with two not-half-bad-in-these-roles actors, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lagaan</b>
spoofs and a pet crab? Yep.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-8487486683325985482013-11-22T18:53:00.000-05:002013-11-22T23:11:34.075-05:00NEW: (Goliyon Ki Raasleela) Ram-Leela: Every bit the beautiful tragedy you expect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://misstz.com/assets/movies/bollywood/Ram_Leela/poster/Ram_Leela_1359054779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://misstz.com/assets/movies/bollywood/Ram_Leela/poster/Ram_Leela_1359054779.jpg" width="234" /></a><i>Synopsis</i>: In Ranjaar, a gun-laden “town like no
other” in Gujarat, the<b> </b>Rajadis and the Saneras are feuding like it’s 1500 and
they’re the Capulets and Montagues. Except, you know, with more guns and
cellphones. But amidst the feud, there is Ram (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Ranveer%20Singh">Ranveer Singh</a>) the Rajadi and
Leela (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/deepika%20padukone">Deepika Padukone</a>) the Sanera — who must, of course, fall in love and
work to end the feud even as it threatens to swallow them.</div>
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Let me just start my review by saying much of this movie is
completely and totally <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/SLB">Sanjay Leela Bhansali</a>. As one might expect considering
the man himself wrote, directed, produced and composed for this one. The film
is gorgeous (evidenced by this image-heavy post), apparently painstakingly crafted frame by frame — and then SLB
takes that pain out on the viewer in the storyline. He’s one who really knows
how to make it hurt, most of all by letting you hope at certain moments. More
on that later.<br />
<br />
But just as you might expect, the music resonates (dammit if <i>dhol</i>s
aren’t ringing in my head all over again), the cast members are pushed to excellent
performances, the symbolism is very prominent and even the most common of things
are laden in detail and opulence. And also true to Bhansali form, despite all
of the many, many things that happen, the film has its dragging moments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/19631-RamLeelacover-1384769494-176-640x480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/19631-RamLeelacover-1384769494-176-640x480.JPG" width="200" /></a>Also as you might expect, the colors are vibrant. Despite
sizable doses of blue and gold too, this one’s <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/saawariya-2007-slb-got-me-again.html">overall color theme</a>? Red, I
think, which may just mean red is how SLB sees Gujarat considering that was <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/04/hum-dil-de-chuke-sanam-straight-from.html"><b>Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam</b></a>’s color, too. But the red of this one goes so much
deeper — <i>Laal Ishq </i>comes immediately to mind, and the ways that it’s
used in the film, with the lovers each bleeding for their love, is stirring.
(Although someone please advise SLB that cutting is not the answer. I feel after
seeing this and remembering Aish cutting herself in Hum Dil that he needs to be
told that.)<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Ram%20Leela/ram-leela-9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Ram%20Leela/ram-leela-9a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A handful of things, though, I found refreshingly not the
same as the problems I’ve had with previous SLB films. The film is fairly rife
with humor in the appropriate doses, not overwhelmingly somber. The plot
doesn’t unravel about three quarters of the way through, though it does become
annoyingly complicated and a bit hard to follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->The things that are perhaps not as Bhansali in a bad way?
The violence gets overwhelming at times, taking over even in times of
somberness. Every person I went with complained about the gunshots ringing in
their ears by the end. I also found the movie oversexed (other Bhansali movies
have prostitutes as primary characters without having this much sexual energy
EVERYWHERE).<br />
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Frustratingly for a <i>romance</i>, there is almost no
romancing to the beginning of Ram and Leela’s relationship. It’s pure and
vicious sexual attraction from the beginning. Their first conversation is when
Ram climbs into Leela’s bedroom and expresses a desire to sleep with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speaking of which, Leela never even bats an eye when Ram
mentions that one of the things he’s known for is sleeping with all the girls
of the village. Or that he makes his living selling porn. The amount to which
porn is present as a prop and plot device (it’s used as a bribe against probing
police officers) in this film is really annoying and to me offensive. While the
men seem content to gather around and watch porn together more often than they do anything else, once it’s
suggested as a negative thing: Sexually aroused by the porn when a pretty
Sanera widow (Leela’s sister-in-law whose name I forget) appears, the Rajadi
attack her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->But as with everything in their feud, sexual assault goes
both ways with the Rajadis and Saneras. The retaliation ordered for the attack
on the Sanera widow is a mass attack on Rajadi women. Both sides feel the need
to preach about how they respect women (and the Saneras are ruled by women: the
conniving and devious Baa [also the only woman who ever has a back to her
choli], and then Leela), but it is ultimately empty. I think we can all agree
that women’s safety is the popular hot-button topic of the moment in India, and
this feels more like an attempt to latch onto and capitalize on that than any
actual concern for combating the issue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But anyway, there are more frivolous oversexualized things
that are more easily fixed than a decidedly dangerous say-one-thing-do-another
on sexual assault.</div>
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For example, Leela does a dance with a smoking candle oddly
reminiscent of Paro’s diya dance in <b>Devdas</b>, but decidedly more sexual as she
does it less clothed, on a bed, knees spread and chest thrust forward. Did we
really need that? I think not. Leela has already demonstrated dancing grace (holy
cow with the beautiful garba dances, Deepika!) and a desire to sex Ram’s pants
off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wallpapers.oneindia.in/ph-1024x768/2013/10/ram-leela_1383023617100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://wallpapers.oneindia.in/ph-1024x768/2013/10/ram-leela_1383023617100.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too much! Too much! CURTAINS, PEOPLE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And like Ranbir’s infamous towel dance in <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/saawariya-2007-slb-got-me-again.html"><b>Saawariya</b></a>…
Did anyone else have the urge to scream CLOSE THE CURTAINS, YOU FOOLS to Ram
and Leela on their “honeymoon”? Perhaps if they had they wouldn’t have been
dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But alas, in addition to being just stupid for plot
purposes, they must be allowed to hope and feel carefree if just for a time, as
the viewer is too. It’s amazing how much one can hope that Ram and Leela’s
story will end happily despite the circumstances. Despite pride, loyalty,
actions, families...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/movies/bollywood/ram-leela/photo/22655969/Deepika-Padukone-and-Ranveer-Singh-in-a-still-from-Sanjay-Leela-Bhansalis-Bollywood-film-Ram-Leela-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/movies/bollywood/ram-leela/photo/22655969/Deepika-Padukone-and-Ranveer-Singh-in-a-still-from-Sanjay-Leela-Bhansalis-Bollywood-film-Ram-Leela-.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wherefore art thou, <br />angst? Oh, everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But then this is Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who brought the
painful ending of Devdas to whole new levels, redoing the most classic of
painful romances, <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>. The love story is doomed a thousand
times over. Perhaps the greatest triumph of the film is that you go in knowing
that beyond the shadow of a doubt and yet still — <i>still</i> Bhansali can
keep you on the edge of your seat with hope until the very end, which, it turns
out, doesn’t end quite like you expect (it’s more of a mutual murder pact
carried out unnecessarily than accidental and unnecessary suicides).<o:p></o:p></div>
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And there is perhaps more power in the angst of Ram and
Leela’s love — like when Ram cuts off his ring finger to match Leela’s severed
digit, though <i>very</i> frustratingly there is no scene where she realizes
this — than anything else. Certainly there is more to their later pains than
their nonexistent romantic buildup. The scenes in which the separated couple,
each now controlling his or her own clan, meet formally are downright superb.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though we know part of that is the fact that it’s SLB’s
forte, but some serious credit needs to go to the (young!) actors, too.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Ram%20Leela/ram-leela-2v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Ram%20Leela/ram-leela-2v.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is there anything Deepika can't do this year?</td></tr>
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Deepika continues to impress in a year where it seems
impress is about all that she’s done (okay, so there was <b>Race 2 </b>at the
beginning of the year, too, but we’ve all but forgotten that one, right?). You
probably can’t get three roles much more different than <b>Yeh Jawaani Hai
Deewani, <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/08/new-chennai-express-has-its-bumps-and.html">Chennai Express</a></b> and Ram-Leela, but she shines in each of them equally.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/09-2013/ram-leela-first/ramleela2-sep17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/09-2013/ram-leela-first/ramleela2-sep17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't bring a water gun to a gun fight, Ranveer.</td></tr>
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On the flipside, I still definitely do not like Ranveer
Singh. He has some really great moments in this movie, but overall I still find
he mostly annoys me. I haven’t liked him even in movies that I really enjoyed,
like <b>Band Baaja Baaraat</b>. Even the way he talks — and by extension delivers
lines — just gets on my nerves, and I can’t even tell you why. (Also, how many
times this year do we have to watch this idiot fall dramatically? I count at
least four. Twice in this movie and twice in <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-lootera-is-beauiful-but-will.html"><b>Lootera</b></a>. All pointless and
needlessly drawn out to boot.)<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Ram%20Leela/ram-leela-10a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Bollywood%20Movies/Ram%20Leela/ram-leela-10a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was fun, though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Maybe I’ve reached that stage of being a critic at which I’m
just impossible to please. While I definitely did like — and not just
in-theater enjoy — Ram-Leela, it made me realize I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed
and loved a movie since Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and I can’t remember the last
one before that.<br />
<br />
Here’s hoping to movies that get me out of the rut soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-10268129067815769332013-11-18T16:51:00.002-05:002014-01-14T08:11:52.097-05:00IIFA 2014 tickets: were going to cost you $1,800+ (USD)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</xml><![endif]--><b>UPDATE:</b> Since a venue and date change, new ticket sales numbers have been announced, including much better prices. Look <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tickets-for-iifa-awards-bollywood-oscars-in-tampa-go-on-sale-online/2160831">HERE</a> for details!<br />
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Late last month, we had the annual India Festival here in Tampa.
Among the dozens of vendors was an IIFA booth, and one of my Bollywood Club
members just happened to stop by for a chat (I didn’t).</div>
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She passed along this news to me:</div>
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IIFA tickets were on presale there at a “discount,” with
anticipated full prices listed beside them. The cheap seats? $1,200 at the
festival, $1,800 afterward. The ticket prices go all the way up from there to
$12,500.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHmFLTFy8LFdz_PvfSo2rnzIYxPdA0G58DWjO_NGCSZ6WS9k8Hf8g3GtOKlNlV6fkiRQupZ8WGfB-kPzZJND68i3_PZBuw5s70FjG3cAjIVkDp91VcrBT6C7BtIMAsEFS1If0zHmBpKZk/s1600/iifaticketprices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHmFLTFy8LFdz_PvfSo2rnzIYxPdA0G58DWjO_NGCSZ6WS9k8Hf8g3GtOKlNlV6fkiRQupZ8WGfB-kPzZJND68i3_PZBuw5s70FjG3cAjIVkDp91VcrBT6C7BtIMAsEFS1If0zHmBpKZk/s400/iifaticketprices.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been trying but unable to get anyone official to confirm this
information to me, and that’s another annoyance, but I thought this was
information that needed to be shared — even though no one seems to be
publicizing it. I’ve included the photo my friend took as proof if you’re
reluctant to trust my nonofficial reporting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m told the deal on IIFA tickets was this: You can’t buy
tickets for individual events. That $1,800 is for a three-day pass to the
awards, the celebrity cricket match (celebs versus real cricketers, we’re told)
and the “Magic of Movies” event. Oh, and it appears if you’re paying for those
$1,800 or $2,500 seats, you’ll be sitting outside for that last event, watching a
simulcast on a TV screen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I must confess yours truly is highly disappointed. This is
an event in demand, for sure, but there appears to be zero attempt to make this
affordable for any average person. Especially those of us normal folks who also have to make
trips to India
in the same year. (Heck, for this price, I could fly to Mumbai, watch a cricket
match and stalk the stars there, right?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m still up for <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/2014-iifa-awards-will-be-held-in-tampa.html">anyone wanting to come and hang out around Tampa during the awards</a>, maybe even checking out some of the stars’ hotels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I guess we average folks get to hope for a little less
official and a lot more affordable events.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-26574844599481051172013-11-03T00:06:00.002-04:002013-11-03T01:38:13.266-04:00NEW: Krrish 3: the movie that will not die<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<a href="http://www.previewsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Krrish-3-Posters-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.previewsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Krrish-3-Posters-3.jpg" width="220" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Synopsis:</i> Now-married
and domesticated superhero Krishna/Krrish (Hrithik Roshan) gets a supervillain:
Kaal (Vivek Oberoi), a paraplegic telekinetic who is obsessed with finding bone
marrow to fix his paralysis and thus fuses his odd DNA
with animal DNA to create mutant humans. The
mutants don’t help his marrow problem, but they do help him in his evil quest
to rule the world by creating viruses and the providing an antidote based on
that same wacky DNA.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This post should start with the disclosure that I haven’t —
sadly — seen <b>Koi Mil Gaya</b> or<b> Krrish</b>. I have some idea of what happens in both
and had every intention of watching both (especially Koi Mil Gaya, given my
affinity for aliens and science fiction) before Krrish 3’s release, but, well,
it didn’t happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I was able to come in this with a fresh set of eyes that
turned out to be mostly skeptical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, Krrish is a pretty cool all-purpose superhero. I will
give him that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Krrish 3 mostly turns out to be the kind of overloaded
superhero movie that makes you cringe at the plethora of superhero types.</div>
<a name='more'></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Some spoilers below.)</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is freaky science (Rohit opens the film harnessing
light’s ability to bring things back to life; okay) and superhero domestic
struggles (Krishna can’t keep a job because he has to disappear to be Krrish)
and the usual suspension of disbelief that no one realizes handsome green-eyed
Krishna is Krrish even after realizing a connection to Rohit Mehra.... and more
freaky science (gene splicing animals and Kaal’s DNA
onto other people to make manimals, including a tongue-flicking lizard-man…okaaay)
and superhero’s non-super love interest being imperiled (yawn) and the lead
female antagonist falling in love with the superhero as all women must and more
freaky science (Kaal is somehow Rohit’s cloned but handicapped kid who looks
nothing like him… okaaaaaaaayyy) and special effects that add a bit of cheese.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://youthvocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Krrish-3-2013-Music-Review-Songs-Playlist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://youthvocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Krrish-3-2013-Music-Review-Songs-Playlist.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least there's decent choreography.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not to mention, of course, that the music is lame at best
and atrocious at worst. Although I will say the picturizations are not so bad
as the songs themselves, and the choreography is fun. As usual, Hrithik Roshan’s
dance moves are as super and logic-defying as Krrish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While on the subject of the man himself, let me say Hrithik’s
acting is amazingly versatile, but it’d be nice if he didn’t just tremble and
get teary eyed in every anger-sorrow scene. Which, by the way, there are too
many of. I think this particular superhero could do with a little less
righteous indignation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://dd508hmafkqws.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mediaimages/gallery/2013/Sep/krrish-3_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://dd508hmafkqws.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mediaimages/gallery/2013/Sep/krrish-3_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, of course, Hrithik is a beautiful superhero (hey, I
even think he could play Superman) and undoubtedly the strongest performer of
this lot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All Priyanka Chopra (playing Krishna’s
wife, Priya) does all movie is run around gasping in horror and dancing. And
being the least-pregnant pregnant person in the history of the universe.
Emotion? From this one? Keep dreaming. (It’s worth noting that I really don’t
hate Priyanka. She was amazing in Barfi. What I hate is lazy, I’m-just-here-to-look-pretty
Priyanka.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kangna Ranaut is markedly better, although one tires of her —
and the backless leather outfit — after a time. (Although on the subject of her outfits, she pulls off the high-end artsy looks very well.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2013aug/2013september/vivek-oberoi_660_091913034725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2013aug/2013september/vivek-oberoi_660_091913034725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And Vivek Oberoi (when was the last time I saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him</i> in a movie? I can’t even remember) floats
around looking like an emaciated vampire and talking like he’s got a sore
throat. Because we all know that’s what supervillains do, right? Once he sucks
the bone marrow out of his newfound father in a decidedly weird way and
magically becomes able to walk again, he becomes not just an annoying and mind-bogglingly
boring supervillain despite his wackiness but a rather nonsensical one too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then again, I hate about 90 percent of Krrish 3’s
climactic battle. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Spoilers.)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The nonsensicalness of Kaal’s decision to make himself a
metal suit out of scraps from his lair to fight Krrish? Laughable. (Also, the
only purpose it serves is to get him stuck to a magnet later on for a little
while.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we have to watch Krrish/Krishna get resurrected by
Rohit’s crazy light scheme in a slow, drawn out father and son bit that kind of
takes away from the climax’s pace. Okay, that’s not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> bad. We should’ve seen that coming from the outset when Rohit
was experimenting with the resurrecting powers of light. And that he would
sacrifice himself after being marrow-robbed by Kaal, even though I fail to see
how he can work as filter to those burning light rays.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then unfortunately after some more banging around, we
have to watch the whole light ray thing happen again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then the same thing destroys Kaal in the end. Once was
enough, thanks. Also, the number of times everyone dies in the end before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actually </i>dying or living is very frustrating
in addition to just plain poor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://muvimusti.aajkiawaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/krrish-3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://muvimusti.aajkiawaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/krrish-3-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and of course after all the other atrocities that the
climactic fight commits, it goes all Michael
Bay (if you don’t get the reference…
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Transformers</b>) at the end, ripping up
buildings all over Mumbai.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Really, I didn’t hate Krrish 3. It’s okay. But it’s not on
par with the hype in several annoying ways, and it’s not what you’d hope for
from a Diwali release.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-21687311698974291282013-09-27T22:17:00.000-04:002013-09-27T22:17:20.341-04:00NEW: Phata Poster Nikhla Hero looks like fun but is really just a mess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<a href="http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000056962988-amnfub-original.jpg?5e64f12" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000056962988-amnfub-original.jpg?5e64f12" width="320" /></a>Summary: All Mrs. Rao (Padmini Kolhapure) wants is to see
her son grow up to be the honest policeman his father never was. All Vishwas
(<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/shahid%20kapoor">Shahid Kapoor</a>) wants is to go to Bombay
and become a hero. Well, when he does, under the guise of joining the police
force, he’s mistaken for a cop by a serial complaint-filer Kajal (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Ileana%20D%27Cruz">IleanaD’Cruz</a>). So begins a very long tale of a guy who accidentally kicks bad guy
butt (including his father’s) and learns about being a real hero.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Y’all know I love dumb masala movies. I’ve written in detail
<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-defense-of-masala-and-mindless-cinema.html">about why</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Y’all also know I love Shahid Kapoor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think you can sense the big “BUT” coming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Honestly, I do still love Shahid Kapoor. He does well with
what he’s given, and I'm glad to see him goofing off, but well, this movie is just not good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought it would be good ridiculous, as most masala flicks
are. And as pretty much as Rajkumar Santoshi films are (<b>Andaz Apna Apna</b>?
<b>Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani</b>?). But it really is bad ridiculous. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with this movie is that it is entirely
incohesive and mostly incoherent. For one, the not-so-great songs (most of
which besides Main Rang Sharbaton Ka annoy me) disrupt the narrative flow, as a
fellow film-watcher said after the movie. That’s the least of the movie’s
problems, but it is one and it is representative. Everything disrupts the flow
of something else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wallpapers.oneindia.in/ph-1024x768/2013/08/phata-poster-nikla-hero_1375427808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://wallpapers.oneindia.in/ph-1024x768/2013/08/phata-poster-nikla-hero_1375427808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like much of the movie, this was fun for about half the time. Then it got old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it a funny movie about a guy hamming it up in poking fun
at the super cop stereotypes? Well, yeah, for a little while. Before it decides
to make up a series of increasingly wince-worthy coincidences that it pretends
form a plot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hero’s headshot, totally posed photo, accidentally winds up
in the paper as a real policewallah while he is being mistaken citywide for a
policewallah — and that too into a newspaper his mother will read far away? Of
course!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Police commissioner living next door to
hero-masquerading-as-cop and accepting his story and then later conscripting
him into service? So natural.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hero’s long-“dead” father reappearing as the villain? Yup.
And unfortunately this is not a Crimemaster Go-Go style villain. He just has
the potentially fun but unwarranted name Napoleon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://indiannerve.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/phata-poster-nikla-hero-shahid-kapoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://indiannerve.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/phata-poster-nikla-hero-shahid-kapoor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add in some painfully overt moralizing and some half-hearted
romancing and you’ve got yourself a right fine mess.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though I wouldn’t say I hated the movie, I will say I felt
like it had a lot of squandered potential that left me frustrated. The laughs
stop coming after a while, replaced by boredom and the aforementioned wincing
at plot coincidences.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shahid and Ileana are both fun, cute and not bad to look at.
But even they can’t save this one. It’s a shame. I really wanted to like it. It looked like fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
P.S., Why did <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/akshay%20kumar">Akshay Kumar</a> get thanked in the opening credits? To throw us off
of the fact that <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Salman%20Khan">Salman Khan</a> was the real guest appearance? Is this whole movie
just that confused?</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-36796236446561980312013-08-30T00:58:00.000-04:002013-08-30T00:58:48.768-04:00Adventures without subtitles: Hum Aapke Hain Koun...?! (But no, really... koun?!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Hahk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Hahk.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The universe must just know about <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/post-no-100-subtitleless.html">my no-subtitles resolution</a>.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I chose to go without subtitles on <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/08/adventures-without-subtitles-black-2005.html"><b>Black</b></a>, but my
resolve wavered when I took up<b> HAHK</b> (can you believe I hadn’t seen it yet?) on
YouTube late one night. Exhausted that day, I left the subtitles on. Somewhere
around 30 minutes in, I fell asleep sitting up, glasses still on my face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day, I took up watching it again at a more
reasonable hour but left the subtitles on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lo and behold, the subtitles died less than halfway through.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah, universe, how you taunt me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was hardly a new experience. I had a similar problem
with watching <b>Maine Pyaar Kiya</b> on YouTube more than a year ago. But that
was way, way before my subtitless days, and I actually abandoned MPK after
intermission when the subtitles went.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With HAHK, I knew it was a test of myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In some ways, I failed the test. I lost complete track of
who everyone was (except of course Prem [<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Salman%20Khan">Salman Khan</a>], Nisha [<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Madhuri%20Dixit">Madhuri Dixit</a>],
Bhabi/Didi Pooja [Renuka Shahane] and Rajesh [Mohnish Bahl]). In a movie that’s
basically about two families melding, that kind of understanding might have
been important. But family relationship words are one of the things I’ve always
struggled with in Hindi, and it’s probably for good reason (<i>mama </i>vs. <i>chacha
</i>vs. <i>kaka</i> vs. <i>phupha </i>vs. <i>massad</i>… I think that’s all the
words for an uncle? Lordy, it’s plenty). But it also happens to be very
inconvenient when there are no subtitles.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.indicine.com/img/2012/05/hum_aapke_hain_kaun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.indicine.com/img/2012/05/hum_aapke_hain_kaun.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another failure of mine is in my inability to understand
everything when folks start talking fast. Which they inevitably do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But despite dialogues set to speed, the movie is so simple
and straightforward that it really didn’t matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.indolink.net/PB/images/hahk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.indolink.net/PB/images/hahk.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A sweet tale of romances and marriages, HAHK just feels so
positive and upbeat for the most part — a general heartwarmer, so to speak —
that just makes you smile. The story features an arranged marriage and a love
marriage, both equally happy and so both capable of making you smile. There is
ample flirtation, lots of jokes — so much to just put a smile on your face. (Although
like any Hindi feel-good movie, it has to have its dose of sorrows too, namely
Pooja’s untimely and utterly ridiculous death and a mixup that sets her widower
up to marry her sister, who is in love with his brother. Okay, so maybe that
part isn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly </i>simple.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watching HAHK, I was reminded how gorgeous Madhuri Dixit is
and how I really miss her (her number in <b>YJHD </b>was much beloved!). I don’t think
there’s a bad thing to be said for Madhuri playing Nisha in this movie — she is
almost always dazzling with her smile and when she is not, she’s drawing you in
by being marvelously sassy and coy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then young Sallu, so adorably sweet as his ever-favorite
Prem archetype, is infinitely more endearing to me than Sallu in his current
form. Soft-spoken, smiling, teasing Salman — this is the Salman I prefer over
the badass one (although, yes, I have come to love that form of him as well).
Who cannot fall in love with Prem? Especially a Prem that is working on wooing
Nisha?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IEr1mdBkG3I/TOkzQx-8e2I/AAAAAAAABiI/qBQz2ZcdA5s/s1600/snapshot20090925162212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IEr1mdBkG3I/TOkzQx-8e2I/AAAAAAAABiI/qBQz2ZcdA5s/s320/snapshot20090925162212.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Sallu, you can bring me <i>phool </i>any time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Adding to that, as something of an aside, I feel Mohnish Bahl is always or at least
often to be seen in harsher roles. I really enjoyed seeing him as well as a
softer lover/older brother figure instead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then, of course, the songs, the songs, the songs. Even
before HAHK, I had heard (and watched) some of the songs. Didi Tera Devar
Deewana especially. Who can forget it? It sticks in your head and the
picturization cannot help but make you smile. (Also, alas, is that a
short-haired woman I see?! In Bollywood?! Shout-out to the fellow short-haired
lady! Even though she is impersonating a man.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2V56f0xZNqw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, in sum total, even without understanding everything
(slow down when you talk, people), HAHK is one to save for rewatching on down
days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because it is, in a word, endearing.</div>
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The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-25952798633754209942013-08-21T01:49:00.001-04:002013-08-21T01:49:27.971-04:00NEW: Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara (because once isn’t actually enough)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<a href="http://fullmovieonlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Once-Upon-A-Time-In-Mumbaai-Dobara-Full-Movie-Online.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fullmovieonlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Once-Upon-A-Time-In-Mumbaai-Dobara-Full-Movie-Online.jpg" /></a><i>Synopsis:</i> Reigning don Shoaib (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/akshay%20kumar">Akshay Kumar</a>) falls in
love with new actress Jasmine (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Sonakshi%20Sinha">Sonakshi Sinha</a>) amid his bid to control all of
Bombay by taking down Rawal (Mahesh Manjrekar). The only problem is that
Jasmine is also hanging around Aslam (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/imran%20khan">Imran Khan</a>), Shoaib’s understudy (though
she thinks he’s a tailor). Of course this can’t end well.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I must say first that I’m not a huge fan of gangster/underworld
movies. I haven’t seen the first Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara. But the
trailer looked sort of cool and I love both Akki and Imran, so I wasn’t
completely without hope as I went into the theater.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it turns out OUATIMD (dammit even the acronym is long!)
really isn’t typical Akki at all as he plays a not (intentionally) comical
badass, and Imran is, well... In some ways, he’s not a whole lot different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imran plays a man who hates even the idea of love — where
have we heard this before? Oh, yeah, maybe something called <b>I Hate Luv
Storys</b> (and <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/07/imran-khan-week-delhi-belly-2011.html"><b>Delhi Belly</b></a>, and <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-matru-ki-bijlee-ka-mandola-drinking.html"><b>MKBKM</b></a>...) — or a grungy, “cool” sort of
antihero with values. I’m honestly not that fond of the persona and really pretty tired
of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately, it quickly becomes predictable — as much as I
hoped otherwise — that Aslam will be Jasmine’s choice without so much as a
thought, though she carries on with Shoaib, accepting his overtures as if she
has no earthly idea that he likes her (<i>c’mon</i>, she is a ditz, but not
that big of a ditz). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://maacinemas.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tayyab-Ali-Song-Once-upon-A-Time-In-Mumbaai-Dobara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://maacinemas.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tayyab-Ali-Song-Once-upon-A-Time-In-Mumbaai-Dobara.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/06-2013/once-upon-a/20june15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/06-2013/once-upon-a/20june15.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonakshi looks gorgeous throughout the movie (please can I
steal this wardrobe?), but Jasmine doesn’t have a whole lot to do other than
follow the two men around, flirting (unintentionally? I think she's just leading them both on). She is also, as
aforementioned, a total ditz. This includes not realizing that Aslam never
actually seems to be working or that Shoaib isn’t committing suicide or
realizing that that same man who pulled strings to get her an actress’s award
BEFORE SHE BECOMES AN ACTRESS is a gangster.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because, you know, ordinary men can make that happen with a
snap of the fingers while they walk around in sunglasses even inside and are
rarely seen during daylight hours and never doing common tasks. (Three quarters
of the movie, by the way, seems to take place at night.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ukzambians.co.uk/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Akshay-Kumar-as-Don-Shoaib-in-OUATIM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ukzambians.co.uk/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Akshay-Kumar-as-Don-Shoaib-in-OUATIM.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screams don.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, well, how many ordinary guys do you know who talk like
Shoaib does? In his riddles and such. It’s exactly what you expect of a don,
but it really does get exhausting. You can’t deliver a punchline every other
line and expect them to retain a punch. When every line is so emphasized, it
just sounds ridiculous. (I’m sure the nuance of most of the oneliners is also
lost on me, though I did understand things like “aam aadmi” [common man] is
like an “aam” [mango].) If I’m going to hear Akki dish out one liners, I want
them to be funny, not ego-stroking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And by the way, if you think, given the trailer and the fact
that this is about gangsters, that this whole movie devolves after a mostly forgotten plot into a power
struggle over a woman who has very little say in the matter, well, you are
exactly right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/p480x480/969542_651010748260983_1984667855_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/p480x480/969542_651010748260983_1984667855_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Complete with both men freaking out, beating people up and
getting shot. Which is somewhat welcome after the film starts sort of dragging in the second half.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And even with all of that, the ending is a non-ending. We
know as Jasmine clings to a bleeding Aslam who her choice is — although one is
left perplexed by her lack of concern that she just found out ASLAM IS PART OF
THE GANGSTA LIFE SHE WAS RUNNING FROM — but we don’t know if anyone has had
that great filmi change of heart and will stop being a don or don-in-training.
We don’t even know whether he or Shoaib survives!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But of course that’s probably a yes, because they probably
want to make a ridiculous Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Teen Bara.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, at least the songs are really enjoyable. Really. And
even though Imran is certainly not <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Rishi%20Kapoor">Rishi Kapoor</a>, the rehashing of Tayyab Ali
Pyaar Ka Dushman is fun — and it gets stuck in your head. (<i>Haye haye haye!</i>) But
<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Vidya%20Balan">Vidya Balan</a>’s cameo in it is so brief you’ll wonder whether you actually saw it at
all.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PKXve3s24t0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-58482200421863737642013-08-13T15:27:00.001-04:002013-08-13T22:39:53.738-04:00Adventures without subtitles: Black (2005)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<a href="http://www.filmlinks4u.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Black-2005-Hindi-Movie-Watch-Online1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.filmlinks4u.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Black-2005-Hindi-Movie-Watch-Online1.jpg" width="221" /></a>I had been told many times that I needed to watch Black. For
Rani Mukherjee. For its uniqueness. For its style.<br />
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Somehow in all of that I never managed to grasp until the opening credits that it was
a <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/SLB">Sanjay Leela Bhansali</a> film. Perhaps you know my very consistent mixed feelings
about that particular gentleman’s films, but if you don’t, here’s an idea:
cinematography top notch, first half builds beautifully, plot unravels,
depression results, second half crashes and burns. This somehow proved to be
the exception to the second half crashing and burning rule, but much of the
other stuff remains ever the same. Black is beautifully framed and filtered,
with thought behind each shot (although I rolled my eyes at closeups where one
can see Rani’s contact lenses) but its plot begins sloping toward the end, and
yes, there is a lot of depression lingering around it. But unlike the other SLB films I've seen, Black remains unflinchingly somber, so the sadness meshes better with the rest of the film.</div>
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In ways, Black was a great place to start my adventures
without subtitles. It has a lot of English and a lot of talking without spoken
words, including sign language (which I studied briefly in middle school and so
sort of understand).</div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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In other ways, Black was a <i>terrible </i>place to go
without subtitles. Rani’s voiceovers — which kind of puzzled me in general
given the character — are somewhat poetic and completely without visual context
to help me understand what is being said. I found myself bored in these
stretches just because I flat-out couldn’t understand, and
often it proved to not be so important anyway.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://egitimtrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/black-film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://egitimtrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/black-film.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But there is perhaps no more apt place than Black to
experience frustrations with language. In case you don’t already know (but I’m
pretty sure if you’re reading this, you do), Black is about a deaf and blind
girl, Michelle McNally (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/rani%20mukherjee">Rani Mukherjee</a>), and her unusual teacher, Debraj Sahai
(<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Amitabh%20Bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</a>), who himself later develops severe Alzheimer’s. So Black
chronicles for much of the time Debraj’s troubles with trying to teach Michelle
to communicate and later Michelle’s attempts to get Debraj back to
communicating.</div>
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And interestingly, in ways I found it to be somewhat more
even-handed than <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/taare-zameen-par-stars-on-earth.html">Taare Zameen Par</a> in its portrayal of a person with a
disability. Michelle is not perfect character; she is much more dimensional and
real, with a temper (oh boy, does she have a temper) and setbacks and
prejudices and genuine friction with other characters. (And so, for that
matter, is her alcoholic and heavy-handed teacher — absolutely opposite of the
heroic teacher in TZP.) In the beginning, the young Michelle is cringeworthy —
without manners or courtesy, even nearly inhuman in her wildness. But I think
the film makes it pretty clear that this is her parents’ fault for not treating
her like a normal human being, for being too afraid of punishing her or
teaching her how to behave. </div>
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<a href="http://i.indiafm.com/img/feature/08/may/bachche3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://i.indiafm.com/img/feature/08/may/bachche3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Michelle’s temper never goes away — as seen in her outburst
later in the film after her sister basically insults her to her face — but her
determined and rough teacher tames her into a mostly behaved, normal human
being.</div>
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And, as most good teachers and especially ones in movies do,
he opens the door to achievement for Michelle. Somewhat refreshingly, Michelle
has to suffer through failure — and calling her mother to say, “Ma fail” —
before she finds success and graduation. But Teacher — the only thing Michelle
ever refers to him as — ensures that she keeps on persevering.</div>
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The idea behind the film’s title is that Teacher brings
color into Michelle’s life, which was once black. But unless I missed it
somewhere (entirely possible), the film never explains how Michelle even knows
what black is. It’s not like water that she can put her hand out and feel.
Color is considered one of the hardest concepts to teach a blind person. And it
might have been important to explain that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.planetbollywood.com/Pictures/Posters/Black/black11P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.planetbollywood.com/Pictures/Posters/Black/black11P.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But anyway, the performance from Rani Mukherjee is truly
remarkable. I think my love for Rani — already quite enormous — grows daily.
She is one of the rare heroines who is drop-dead gorgeous but won’t depend on
it, instead being unafraid to push boundaries despite being commercially successful. She is not afraid to take on
roles that are sensitive or goofy or downright unglamorous. She’s gone without
makeup, played a prostitute, played a man, played a deaf and blind woman. And
somehow she manages it all with grace. Can you imagine another heroine of her caliber who would take on a film where there is not a single real dialogue? I certainly can't think of many who would try, let alone succeed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Similar praises — though perhaps not <i>quite </i>so varied
— can also go to Big B, who is equal parts endearing and frightening (each in
turn, never together) as the teacher. But then you know Big B is always good for a solid performance. In his own ways, Debraj will make you
cringe almost as often as young Michelle. And just as quickly, he will bring
you back to a high in sharing a breakthrough moment with Michelle.</div>
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<br />
Really, who besides these two could pull off a relationship that covers the map
and definitely crosses into markedly creepy territory without making your skin
crawl? (Okay, without making your skin crawl <i>much</i>.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.bollycurry.com/wallpapers/1280x1024/30080-a-still-from-the-movie-black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://img.bollycurry.com/wallpapers/1280x1024/30080-a-still-from-the-movie-black.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-27199258844150489202013-08-10T19:05:00.002-04:002013-08-12T15:27:13.729-04:00NEW: Chennai Express has its bumps and slowdowns, but it's a fun ride<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2013July/chennai-express4_660_072413060453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2013July/chennai-express4_660_072413060453.jpg" width="304" /></a><b>Synopsis: </b>40-year-old Rahul (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/shahrukh%20khan">SRK</a>)
has cared for his grandfather much of his life, so much so that he wishes the
old bugger would just die already. But then <i>dadaji </i>does bite the dust
(“out on 99,” just like his hero Sachin) and Rahul is tasked with taking his
ashes to Rameshwaram — but newly free Rahul would rather go on a holiday to Goa
instead. Unluckily, however, he ends up missing his stop and getting stuck on
the Chennai Express — with don’s daughter Meenamma (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/deepika%20padukone">Deepika Padukone</a>) as she is
being kidnapped by her father’s big fat <i>goondas</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before even going in, Chennai Express combined two of my
favorite things: Rohit Shetty and Shahrukh Khan. The combination could not help
but thrill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming out of it, though, I did wonder whether it really
lived up to all it could be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/05-2013/chennai-express-behind/chennai-14-may-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/05-2013/chennai-express-behind/chennai-14-may-26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runaway cars. That is Rohit Shetty ishtyle.<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, the whole thing is high-budget gorgeous from a purely aesthetic point of view, but I almost felt like the movie was fairly tame for Rohit
Shetty. (But then many people might find that a positive.) Of course there were flipping cars that defied the laws of logic and
physics, witty one-liners (oh, the one-liners!), lots of pure entertainment.
But it isn’t over-the-top, unrelenting grin-and-laugh from start to finish (<b><a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-bol-bachchan-is-full-of-ridiculous.html">Bol Bachchan</a> </b>had me in stitches; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Singham
</b>never let me stop smiling). The film came with this promise: “This Eid,
come fall in love — Rohit Shetty shtyle.” Maybe I was expecting just a bit
more typical over-the-top shtyle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then SRK doesn’t
necessarily lend himself to Rohit Shetty’s beloved <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Ajay%20Devgn">Ajay Devgn</a> heroics. Sure, he
beats up plenty of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">goondas</i> to defend
his right to a girl (more on that in a minute) in front of her father, but he
did that in <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-enduring-power-of-ddlj-17-years-on.html"><b>DDLJ</b></a>. He doesn’t have a booming voice for dramatic hero lines or an
imposing figure — in fact, he is the one getting imposed upon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thenational.ae/deployedfiles/Assets/Richmedia/Image/SaxoPress/AD20130408668427-Shah_Rukh_Khan_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.thenational.ae/deployedfiles/Assets/Richmedia/Image/SaxoPress/AD20130408668427-Shah_Rukh_Khan_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pure terror describes Rahul's reaction most of the time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinkvilla.com/files/images/CHENNAI%20EXPRESS%20STILLS%20FOR%20PINKVILLA%20(3).preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.pinkvilla.com/files/images/CHENNAI%20EXPRESS%20STILLS%20FOR%20PINKVILLA%20(3).preview.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tangaballiiiiiiiii is the big man here, not Rahul.<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
In a way, SRK spends much
of the movie being a wimp. He’s made to look short (gasp! A hero admitting his
diminutive height!), gets bullied around, hides behind Meenamma and only in the
end turns full-blown hero. And not only that, but Rahul is also the nitwit who
ends up on a smuggling boat to Sri Lanka and then dumped right back in<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="st">Komban village that he’d fled from.</span>
</span>When we are so often asked to worship unquestioningly at the altar of indestructible
mega-hero <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/Salman%20Khan">Salman Khan</a> (and don’t get me wrong, I worship those thug-smashing
muscles as well as most), a wimpy hero of no small starpower is somewhat
refreshing. (It's worth pointing out that Sallu beat up Nikitin Dheer, who plays Meenamma's intimidating would-be husband Tangaballi, in <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-ready-2011-hilarious-top-to-bottom.html"><b>Ready</b></a> in a fraction of the time that SRK spends running away from him.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/hZGR5Sj1Bfo/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/hZGR5Sj1Bfo/maxresdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derp face.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SRK has a wonderful
self-deprecating humor when he wants to, it and it was in full force in Chennai
Express. He takes a couple of jabs at his age (it’s great that he’s finally
admitted he’s 40 now that he’s approaching 50), lots of jabs to his romantic
hero aura and also at his humble “common man” style. (They keep making comments
that he is the common man and a <i>halwai </i>when he’s wearing Dolce &
Gabbana and carrying a Rs. 35,000 phone … okay, Rs. 34,259.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In general, there are two SRK
role types: romantic hero (the <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-enduring-power-of-ddlj-17-years-on.html">DDLJ</a>-K2H2-<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/12/kabhi-khushi-kabhie-gham-revisited.html">K3G</a> SRK)
and antihero (the <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2012/06/baazigar-1993-revenge-with-twisted.html">Baazigar</a>-Darr-<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/11/don-2006-srk-is-badfanny-piggy-chops-is.html">Don</a> SRK).
But if SRK doesn’t play the quintessential
Rohit Shetty hero, nor does he play the quintessential SRK
hero or antihero. This Rahul, really, is none of the above — he’s the
not-quite-hero.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://drop.ndtv.com/Movies/images/reviews/big/chennai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://drop.ndtv.com/Movies/images/reviews/big/chennai.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How long does this animosity last? Remarkably long, actually.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, the film really holds off the love story until well
into the second half. Ditto for the remarkably short songs (which at times
ended up feeling crammed in). Of course, once that romantic plot that we all
know is coming finally shows up, it is exactly what you expect. Rahul shows
strength of body and character. Meenamma falls in love. Throwing his arms wide
in that typical SRK pose and thoroughly
overacting, Rahul comes to her defense in a grand gesture, love songs et al.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maamovienews.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Titli-Official-Song-From-Chennai-Express.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://maamovienews.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Titli-Official-Song-From-Chennai-Express.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But it IS SRK, y'all. This is inevitable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And given the opportunity — and encouragement — to run away,
Rahul just can’t because he’s that honorable. This actual exchange took place
among me and friends seeing it: “You thought SRK
could just run away with a girl?” “I thought we established almost 20 years ago
that he couldn’t do that. Because he just can’t.” “See, he couldn’t even before
he was famous! He certainly can’t just run away with a girl now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in that dramatic scene in which Rahul stands up to
Meenamma’s father and would-be husband Tangaballi, one cannot help but hate
the fact that Rahul gives a long spiel about how daughters have been unable to
celebrate their own independence… then gets into a slugfest for the girl as she
is held hostage by the wrist. After he has thoroughly beaten the other men,
then he is allowed to claim his prize. “Meena will marry Rahul,” her father
declares before there’s any proposal. I know in Bollywood a wedding is a
foregone conclusion for any pair even remotely in love, but <i>appa </i>has
clearly taken nothing Rahul said to heart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bollyone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Chennai-Express-Theatrical-Trailer-Shah-Rukh-Khan-Deepika-Padukone-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://www.bollyone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Chennai-Express-Theatrical-Trailer-Shah-Rukh-Khan-Deepika-Padukone-.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meenamma is not pleased with your sexism, Rahul!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though that was a burr in my saddle, you really can
look at it (and I ultimately did) as a good excuse for the fight that has been
put off all film long. The fight between Rahul and Tangaballi has been brewing
for nearly two hours at that point. It’s time to just let it out. Get it over
with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But at the very least, one wonders how Meenamma gets held
just by the wrist by her old father when she’s been busy outrunning enormous <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">goondas</i> and kicking Rahul’s butt (quite
literally!) all movie long. It really was sad to see a female character who has
been given so much agency during the majority of the film be reverted to a
pretty item held hostage for men to fight over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it can’t be said that Deepika doesn’t otherwise hold her
own in the film. Because she certainly does. From her usual style in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cocktail</b> to something completely
different in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani</b>
to this, Deepika has been on a roll with surprising me lately. And I hope she
keeps doing it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.santabanta.com/gallery/bollywood%20movies/chennai%20express/chennai-express-39-e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://media.santabanta.com/gallery/bollywood%20movies/chennai%20express/chennai-express-39-e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one time Rahul gets the drop on Meena.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She pulls off the South Indian saris and half saris, much
more traditional than the clubbing stuff she frequently appears in,
beautifully. Her comedic timing is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">perfect</i>.
She doesn’t take any <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bakwaas</i>. (“Mere
dictionary mein impossible shabd hi nahin hain.” “Acchaa! <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Kahan se kharidi aisi bakwaas dictionary</span>?”)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, whoever decided that Deepika would be the laugh
generator deserves enormous praise because I would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> have predicted it, but it works. The ongoing gag of the two
leads singing mock Hindi film songs to communicate without the Tamil speakers
being suspicious is also pretty brilliant. There are also a number of
well-thought-out puns across languages.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.koimoi.com/wp-content/new-galleries/2013/07/Sharukh-Khan-And-Deepika-Padukone-in-Chennai-Express-Movie-Movie-Stils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://cdn.koimoi.com/wp-content/new-galleries/2013/07/Sharukh-Khan-And-Deepika-Padukone-in-Chennai-Express-Movie-Movie-Stils.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun, ji.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And on the subject of languages and cultures here, I know I
really can’t say much. I can say that it was nice that Rahul was made fun of as
much for not understanding Tamil as Meenamma was for mixing up her languages — and that assuming the Tamil-speakers can't speak Hindi backfires multiple times (with Rahul and Meenamma early on, then with the pair and Tangaballi). I
can say that it was nice that she was smarter than him and being multilingual was
a positive, even if Rahul jokingly called her Miss Subtitle. I can say that
Bollywood jokes on South Indians tend to make me very uncomfortable, but that
with a few exceptions, most of this movie didn’t make me wince. Very little of
it seemed mean spirited or distasteful. Maybe this was SRK’s
way of apologizing for the pain that was <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-raone-dazzles-with-visuals-not-plot.html"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ra.One</b></a>
(though he still has a lot more apologizing to do for that one…).<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It sure as hell was a better movie than Ra.One. And also better than most of the movies I've seen this year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sum total, Chennai Express is a fun ride even if it’s not
all it could’ve been. Get on the train, baby.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-42950799229418973522013-08-07T02:52:00.001-04:002013-08-07T11:18:00.660-04:00Dil Chahta Hai: The not-sad movie that made me cry twice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<a href="http://s19.postimage.org/edc0lbmo3/Dil_Chahta_Hai_2001_720p_Blu_Ray_n_HD_x264_Nha_Nc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://s19.postimage.org/edc0lbmo3/Dil_Chahta_Hai_2001_720p_Blu_Ray_n_HD_x264_Nha_Nc3.jpg" width="223" /></a>The first time I watched <b>Dil Chahta Hai,</b> I — like
most people who watch it — fell in love. (So much so that it was the first time
I saw Saif Ali Khan in a film and didn’t hate him.) It was a mix of three
well-done love stories and also about life in a way that was neither too
serious nor too comedic.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some time later, grappling with the fear of an impending
college graduation, I decided it was an appropriate time to watch it again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere about 30 minutes in, I shut it off through a haze
of tears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few months later, then freshly graduated, I tried again,
but with the same result in shorter time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve told this story a handful of times now because DCH
inevitably comes up when talking with friends — especially male ones — about
Indian movies. When I try to explain <i>why </i>Dil Chahta Hai, which is
easygoing and hardly a sad film, made me cry, no one has seemed to understand,
even myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best way I’ve been able to put it was that as someone
approaching that unstable, uncertain era of life after college, the film felt
all too real.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s not really about that,” I’ve been told when I say it’s
because I was in that particular post-college stage of life. And, in a way, it
isn’t; the underlying messages of love, friendship and life in Dil Chahta Hai
is the same as the message in the other Akhtar sibling’s <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-zindagi-na-milegi-dobara-adventure.html"><b>Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara</b></a>, which is set later in life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But at the same time, it <i>is</i> about that. And at that
time in my life, I saw Dil Chahta Hai not just as a romantic trifecta and a
friendship film but more so as a true coming of age film. I saw in it not just a story and a film, but a glimpse of the uncertainty and change associated with that period of life that I faced. And it affected me
then in a much deeper way than it had earlier on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To give you some idea, I quoted one of Sid’s lines
(translated into English, of course) in <a href="http://www.alligator.org/opinion/columns/article_79434f54-2092-11e1-bd74-001871e3ce6c.html">my farewell column</a> from college.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was itself an adaptation of <a href="http://www.alligator.org/blogs/lifestyle/filmigator/article_67952c22-1f12-11e1-a3cb-001871e3ce6c.html">a blog post</a> I wrote about
how <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/06/3-idiots-2009-perfect-well-rounded-film.html"><b>3 Idiots</b></a>, Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara resonated with
my fear of life’s uncertainty after college. It may seem strange, three male
trio buddy movies from India resonating with a female grad in the U.S.<a href="http://www.alligator.org/blogs/lifestyle/filmigator/article_67952c22-1f12-11e1-a3cb-001871e3ce6c.html"> </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But to help you understand, here’s an excerpt of what I
wrote then:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>From the time I was a high school freshman, I had my college
career planned to a T. And I've executed that plan. The time spent executing
that plan was supposed to be the time where I made my next plan — a plan for
the rest of my life. It didn't happen. I hit this last semester and only then
realized I had no real plans for life after graduation. The things I had wanted
not so long ago — like a master's in creative writing — were things I didn't
want anymore.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>And that's where another Bollywood film enters: "Dil
Chahta Hai" [The Heart Wants].</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"Dil Chahta Hai" is a film now 10 years old, and I
was only 10 (and nowhere near Bollywood) when it came out. But the essence that
the film captures is where I find myself now.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I remember thinking a couple of years ago that after
college, I'd have all of the answers. Where was I going, what was I doing, what
did everything mean. Do I have all of the answers? No. If anything, I have more
questions.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>That's the story of "Dil Chahta Hai": Three men
graduate college and realize that they have no plans for life or what they want
from it. Akash knows, as he tells his dad, that "there's more to life than
signing checks," but he doesn't know what that "more" is. And
until his parents force him into a job, he has no idea how he's going to
support himself. Sameer flits from girl to girl but has no idea how to make a
commitment. Sid knows that he wants to paint but has to cope with unexpectedly
falling in love with a woman much his senior with a questionable past.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>And Sid expresses (another) complication with figuring out
life after graduation: "We'll soon set sail for our destinations. Our
destinations might not coincide." We're friends for life, he says, but we
don't know where life will take us.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>That's what I've found to be the truth of college. You make
friends with those around you because in the short term, your lives all have
the same goal: graduation. But the world is bigger than college, and life after
graduation means confronting the fact that anyone could, and will, go anywhere
and everywhere. "Who cares where we'll end up?" asks Akash.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That image of starting a life in the real world without a
single friend nearby — our destinations didn’t coincide — to lean on scared the
hell out of me at the time. And it turned out to be a very valid fear as I
spent so much time lonely, missing much about college and wondering whether I
was in the right place and whether it was all worth it. (Not, by the way, that
those feelings have completely left me; they linger, though they are less
overwhelming now.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/somewherein/assets/images/thumbs/writer74blog_1217704278_1-Dil_Chahta_Hai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/somewherein/assets/images/thumbs/writer74blog_1217704278_1-Dil_Chahta_Hai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though yes, I did know that Sid was only speaking of it
in the abstract since the trio in DCH does hold together, part of me, ever the
pessimist, didn’t see that happy ending of friendship for myself. I saw only the loneliness that was guaranteed in the interim.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I’m fast coming up on the two-year anniversary of
graduation, but I had still avoided DCH until this weekend when it became the
popular choice at a movie night at my house. I wasn’t without fear when I
pressed play. Crying at a movie is bad enough alone (and I’m surprised that I
ever fessed up to it considering how much I hate crying); doing it in a group
is unbearable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time, thankfully, there were no waterworks. Maybe —
probably, even — I was a bit mellowed by alcohol. And time, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We didn’t make it to intermission at movie night, and it was
with slightly more trepidation that I later resumed the rest sober and solo,
wondering if the group’s presence is what kept my tears in check. But even
solo, still no waterworks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But that line from Sid still gave me pause. And I thought to
myself that in that typical way of movies, Dil Chahta Hai is happier than real
life because it’s about three friends who fight, go their separate ways and
then reconcile. Everyone's <a href="http://blogs.brandeis.edu/bollywood2013/2013/03/08/loneliness-in-dil-chahta-hai-julia-gron/">loneliness is resolved</a>. My mind flitted across reality: the friends who have gone from
more than entered my life in the past two years, setting sail for destinations
far and wide. It’s sad when you stop to think about some of the things that
growing up costs, like realizing that you have less and less in common with
some people as time goes on. That unlike the DCH trio, you do grow out of a lot
of friendships.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Akash’s parents preparing to ship their son off to
Australia — where he knows no one — for a job still causes a bit of tightening
in my chest. I’m certainly not some spoiled rich brat like Akash that parents
have to force to work (I’ve worked my ass off since age 15), but after college
I did go off for a job to an unfamiliar city where I knew almost no one,
embracing that fact with much less gusto than Akash. There has been no familiar
Shalini to encounter en route and ease the transition (or to fall in love with,
but that’s a pain for another day).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3BHsGAtTR_7i0IDdtwtH-PWHD868YV8XE6_ruL930dtQt4gqc0wgSdzZmsMS4JmyYV3-MkC_GBPfSgp5P8QAdP8_bRjaEZ3XmZw7BIWG1euaAmj1xzxSu86gSw-9HhCJjf9KA480C6k/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3BHsGAtTR_7i0IDdtwtH-PWHD868YV8XE6_ruL930dtQt4gqc0wgSdzZmsMS4JmyYV3-MkC_GBPfSgp5P8QAdP8_bRjaEZ3XmZw7BIWG1euaAmj1xzxSu86gSw-9HhCJjf9KA480C6k/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is also still a pang in my chest watching Akash push
back against his parents about jobs because two years after embarking on a
career, I <i>still </i>fight battles with mine about jobs and the fact that
there’s more to it than signing checks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But perhaps in the past two years I have grown hardened
enough to the coming of age pains in Dil Chahta Hai being in my own life that
I’m no longer inclined to cry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And watching it again, I understand why no one seems to
understand why DCH ever caused me to cry in the first place. So many people see
that era of life after college as freedom — the ability to go and party it up
on Goa’s beaches. To fall in love. To go and paint. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, it never was that. I graduated college with a job
offer (my one measure of stability) and, ever responsible, a need to pay down
debt. And on top of that, it wasn’t full of freedom. It was full of
uncertainty: the fear of a new place (“who cares where we’ll end up” isn’t
feasible when you carry such a hefty idea of home) and a rapidly changing way
of life, a desperate overachiever with no more benchmarks to measure herself
against, with nothing left to achieve.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.filmapia.com/sites/default/files/filmapia/pub/scene/scene/vlcsnap-2011-01-10-20h36m37s235.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.filmapia.com/sites/default/files/filmapia/pub/scene/scene/vlcsnap-2011-01-10-20h36m37s235.png" width="320" /></a>In simplest terms, graduating college and being thrust into
uncertainty was an incredibly painful thing for me, a person who loves nothing
more than security and familiarity (for an idea of how really bad I am, you
should read <a href="http://caitlineoconner.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-5-year-old-sunglasses-and-inability.html">my post about my 5-year-old sunglasses and 10-year-old flip-flops</a>).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Weighed down by responsibility and desperately feeling the
sting of being friendless in a new place, I probably missed college more than
most and felt all too acutely what others — like Akash, Sameer and Sid — had
that I didn’t. Friendship, love, confidence, optimism. What shifts and
uncertainties they talked about in the abstract I felt as real. (Though
conversely, I didn’t have their problem of falling madly in love with someone who
didn’t love me back, which they each do to varying degrees.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, watching now, it is hard to believe I let myself be
that affected, that I hid from rewatching it for nearly two years for a film
that admittedly isn’t <i>exactly</i> about what I was feeling. And, as I said,
I understand why no one else understands. They (understandably) didn’t see in
Dil Chahta Hai what I saw.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I saw first in it a reflection of my own uncertainty and so many life changes that I was already fearing. And then, in a way, I saw in it the happy resolutions I couldn't seem to expect for myself. In a way, I saw in it then, and still do now, what mera dil chahta hai.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-84881799234901709972013-08-01T00:44:00.001-04:002013-08-01T00:46:13.378-04:00The ridiculous image I can't seem to shake: Hrithik Roshan as Superman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know this is totally coming out of left field (is there a
cricket equivalent to that baseball idiom?), but I haven’t been able to get it
out of my head since I <a href="http://bollygifs.tumblr.com/tagged/na-tum-jano-na-hum">found a GIF</a> of Hrithik in <b>Na Tum Jaano Na Hum</b> that
somehow struck me as Superman/Clark Kent-esque. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://31.media.tumblr.com/32f875913744a0b77475c67921305d82/tumblr_moxqtjDJws1r7umseo2_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://31.media.tumblr.com/32f875913744a0b77475c67921305d82/tumblr_moxqtjDJws1r7umseo2_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who better out of Bollywood to play Superman than Hrithik? I
know that question is in and of itself UTTERLY absurd considering — who’s going to
come snooping around Bollywood to cast an American icon? (Letting Henry Cavill,
a Brit, play Superman is also just weird. To me, at least.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But setting that aside, let us consider a few marks in his
favor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Indian%20%20Celebrities(M)/Hrithik%20Roshan/hrithik-roshan-60a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Indian%20%20Celebrities(M)/Hrithik%20Roshan/hrithik-roshan-60a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who has better muscles in all of Bollywood? Answer: No one.
(Sure, there are some others that have very impressive physiques — John Abraham
and Salman Khan come to mind— but none of them quite have Hrithik’s chiseled
look.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2k0uRb6ypNGXz0049fZoDJ_uBhTPUyKZdQaBg_iKH9Mh0x8HiPQm2x2mXh2p-BEl2bAmtgdFWzJCzb3zui6xJHy1eoxRek_IazHcGUTlSvhzHAPGrOukC83yACM2cUZlvnv2bTruz5Y8/s1600/supermans.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2k0uRb6ypNGXz0049fZoDJ_uBhTPUyKZdQaBg_iKH9Mh0x8HiPQm2x2mXh2p-BEl2bAmtgdFWzJCzb3zui6xJHy1eoxRek_IazHcGUTlSvhzHAPGrOukC83yACM2cUZlvnv2bTruz5Y8/s320/supermans.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Previous Supermans — George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, Dean
Cain, Tom Welling, Brendan Routh, Henry Cavill — have all been dark-haired,
tall, striking gentlemen with mostly long, straight noses.
Mostly light-eyed, too excepting Dean Cain (although sometimes filmmakers have gotten way out of hand with playing up blue eyes). For all of which Hrithik fits the
bill again (though I’m pretty certain he lightens his hair these days).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kites%20European%20Premiere%20Inside%20Arrivals%200WXIB3p3Q9el.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kites%20European%20Premiere%20Inside%20Arrivals%200WXIB3p3Q9el.jpg" width="138" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s0BMgV2ydKRangsFC0ILUVwOVkpewD_bRM1NIGEYkOIS1DQUXnt_Fy6Y_4rSwyxunmM3T2peHBIEKy5ZEnGsBt1xcmcyqtre6yd6AAO8IyAGmKJgpq6j75UtYK5O-GjId_nB-Gzb3ls/s1600/still20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s0BMgV2ydKRangsFC0ILUVwOVkpewD_bRM1NIGEYkOIS1DQUXnt_Fy6Y_4rSwyxunmM3T2peHBIEKy5ZEnGsBt1xcmcyqtre6yd6AAO8IyAGmKJgpq6j75UtYK5O-GjId_nB-Gzb3ls/s200/still20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Transformation from nerdy journalist to suave superhero is a
must for any would-be Superman. I’m convinced Hrithik<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> can manage.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.apunkachoice.com/image/u/i/aa/movgal3820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://media.apunkachoice.com/image/u/i/aa/movgal3820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hrithik has already played a superhero with alien powers in
Krrish. Has to count
for something, right?(Admittedly I haven’t seen any of the Krrish movies, yet...)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only major drawback is that Hrithik has to convince us
somehow that he crash landed and was raised in Kansas. But, eh, he can manage that one challenge, right? After all... he'd be Superman. :) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now the real question is... Who would be Lois Lane?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br />
EDIT:</b> I’m apparently <a href="http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/RR51/news/?a=27627">not the only one who thinks this</a>.<span style="color: #1155cc;"></span>
(Ignore the comment there about Hrithik being one of the few good Indian
actors; we all know there’s more than one way to skin a cat. ....and again with my American idioms.)</div>
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The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-54102486258030842572013-07-31T00:43:00.000-04:002013-07-31T00:43:45.021-04:00Taare Zameen Par (Stars on Earth)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bd/TaareZameenPar.jpg/220px-TaareZameenPar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bd/TaareZameenPar.jpg/220px-TaareZameenPar.jpg" width="213" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Synopsis:</u></i></b> 8-year-old Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) is a
wildly imaginative kid who goes about enjoying the small things in life —
minnows in a fountain, for example — but failing academically. He cannot study
or focus, something that leads to him being picked on and knocked around by
bullies, his teachers and even his father. Eventually it gets so bad that
Ishaan’s father ships him off to boarding school, where Ishaan finally
encounters someone — teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh (<a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/aamir%20khan">Aamir Khan</a>) — who takes the
time to understand.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I struggled a lot to write this post because much of what I felt and thought about the movie is difficult to put into words. Even after writing this, I've struggled with whether to post it because I don't know if what I seem to have expressed is what I wanted to. (To give you some idea of this struggle, I watched this movie before <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/07/post-no-100-subtitleless.html">my resolution to drop a dependence on subtitles</a>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps I should preface much of this post by saying I am
the sister of an 8-year-old with learning disabilities. My youngest brother has
auditory processing disorder (sometimes called “dyslexia for the ears”) and,
yes, a form of dyslexia. Excepting time, place and parental compassion level,
my brother could be Ishaan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So at many points in the movie, I couldn’t help but see my
brother in Ishaan. But at other times, I saw anything but.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike Ishaan, my brother is vibrant and outgoing. He is
bold, hyperactive. My brother (despite his auditory processing issues) does not
avoid talking like Ishaan does; in fact, my brother will excitedly talk your
ear off at the slightest provocation. And if you don’t notice he pronounces V’s
as B’s and don’t ask him to read anything, you might never know he had a
learning disability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/175727_10150420952683986_7583784_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/175727_10150420952683986_7583784_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my brother James and my sister.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming from a background with such a similar but different
child, part of me wonders what was the need to make Ishaan so isolated?
“Different” does not need to equal troubled. Nor does it equal loner. Not even
academic failure (so to speak) equals these things; plenty of kids who don’t do
well in school have plenty of friends. Yet while Nikumbh argues for his
academic inclusion in a regular school (and I’ll come back to that later),
Ishaan is very clearly socially segregated from the rest of his classmates —
except the boy who has a physical disability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the film’s idea of ultimately including Ishaan
(socially) is to put him on a pedestal above the rest by having his classmates
all applaud his winning the art contest and then putting his face on the
yearbook. While celebrating Ishaan’s talent is great, that is not inclusion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAWoCtsrTUdJbSkwxRkimhlQeRx2GdrZ1TMJRCK0gfn0SP00ZSZs8J7PSUO9tfFaIe5gqOSGOlji1t712xEq7HCZlAcDBKr8H45f0wjw79Kwp2ghSm1LkmPWdpn0SPA7o9-vHmuw0Ok0/s320/taare-zameen-par-original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAWoCtsrTUdJbSkwxRkimhlQeRx2GdrZ1TMJRCK0gfn0SP00ZSZs8J7PSUO9tfFaIe5gqOSGOlji1t712xEq7HCZlAcDBKr8H45f0wjw79Kwp2ghSm1LkmPWdpn0SPA7o9-vHmuw0Ok0/s320/taare-zameen-par-original.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely painting. Lekin inclusion nahin hai.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, every kid is different and special — including the kid
who does stare off into space as he imagines another world in his mind, the kid
who does not have a disability, the kid who is goofy with no root cause, the
kid who secretly struggles with not understanding. While it endeavors to be,
this film — with the tagline “Every child is special” — doesn’t feel like a
true celebration of children of every sort. Where is the celebrating for the
fact that the physically disabled Rajan is always academically tops? It earns a
passing mention only because one of Ishaan’s teachers feels the need to subject
him to Ranjan’s positive academic influence. Where is the celebrating for the
fact that Ishaan’s older brother Yohaan excels at tennis? There is, I believe,<i> less</i>
than none: Yohaan fails in a major match while Ishaan is left at boarding
school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And what are the odds that Ishaan is the only one in his
entire school — in both schools — who has a learning difficulty? Practically
nonexistant. Dyslexia alone is believed to affect 5 to 10 percent of any given
population. I think it would have been possible to celebrate Ishaan’s triumph
without making him <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the lonely outcast
only one who suffers from this problem</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im.sify.com/sifycmsimg/dec2007/14577378_14571413_still8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://im.sify.com/sifycmsimg/dec2007/14577378_14571413_still8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nooooot your best look, Aamirji.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part of me is also dismayed that <a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/search/label/aamir%20khan">Aamir</a> still has to play the
hero — because he does. While Ishaan may be the focus, it is Nikumbh’s swooping
in — wearing a clown costume no less — that saves the day. (Though while I was
bothered by the heroicness of it all, no one can hate Aamir because he always
performs wonderfully.) It is his efforts that lead to a happy resolution.
Nikumbh (who also admits to being dyslexic and therefore like Ishaan) is the only positive effort in the
whole film, something I couldn’t help but be bothered by.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somehow everyone in Ishaan’s life, despite noticing some of
these problems for years, hasn’t even taken the time or effort to ask a
question about why he’s having trouble in school. Even his mother, who is
portrayed as compassionate, never seems to ask why he has trouble in school. Or
even utter that phrase so common of mothers: “What’s wrong?” Are we really to
believe not just his teachers (who aren’t paid to care/other excuses about poor
teachers) but also the people who love him are all that oblivious? Not, I mean,
oblivious to the dyslexia itself because it may be
hard to pick out; but oblivious to the fact that there are problems not likely
caused by mere laziness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.muvireviews.com/uploads/movie_album/image/taare_zameen_par_10_1024x7684f28fd2a7d1facbad9096ef54555e9c7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.muvireviews.com/uploads/movie_album/image/taare_zameen_par_10_1024x7684f28fd2a7d1facbad9096ef54555e9c7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, yes, let’s assume for the sake of peace in filmidom
that they are all utterly oblivious. Still, it would’ve been nice just to see someone else <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">care</i>, even if they didn’t know how to
help Ishaan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although on that note, it was incredibly satisfying to watch
Nikumbh tear down Ishaan’s father for pretending to care while not really
acting on any genuine care for his child.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, all of that complaining aside, there were things about
the movie that I would love to praise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.images22.com/pics/04/darsheel-with-aamir-khan-in-movie-taare-zameen-par.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.images22.com/pics/04/darsheel-with-aamir-khan-in-movie-taare-zameen-par.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aamir apparently has only one way to talk to kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One would be the pretty remarkable performance of the child
artist himself. The young one more than holds his own among all-around solid in
the film, dazzling as a boy filled with quirks and wonder. One has to wonder if
anyone could have brought Ishaan to life more than he did. I somehow doubt it.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another is the pretty accurate depiction of dyslexia as we
know it. Like I said, I couldn’t help but see my own dyslexic brother in Ishaan.
(I understand several scholars who are much more familiar with this than the
average person also praised this aspect of the film.) The one nitpick in that
is that Ishaan seems to also suffer from dyscalculia, which is unfortunately
lumped into his dyslexia though they are in fact different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another is understanding the issue itself enough to argue
for academic inclusion (even if, as aforementioned, social inclusion seems to
have escaped the filmmakers). Inclusion is a battle hard-fought across many if
not all school systems. The state of Florida
(where I live) just defined “inclusion” in <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/new-law-aids-parents-of-special-needs-children-in-dealing-with-school/2132375">a new law</a> to combat the very issue
that no one knows exactly what it means.<br />
<br />
Yet another is that the film really isn't just about a boy with dyslexia. It has something of an overarching feel of commentary on the rat race (if you will), on such a crushing drive for achievement that no one stops to smell the roses (or in Ishaan's case, paint the space ships). Though I do have something of an issue with that as well considering that even Ishaan's artistic expression is put to the achievement race in the end, forced to be judged and ranked.<br />
<br />
But anyway...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The filmmakers earn many brownie points for the willingness and know-how when
taking on such an issue. But part of me hoped that a real problem would have
been treated more realistically in other regards, such as the fact that Ishaan
wouldn’t be the only dyslexic and struggling kid in the school. But if the film
hadn’t been made and made so well, I would never have been able to voice such
particular complaints about how it compares with reality.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489071400252479174.post-29101914233593011162013-07-18T23:36:00.000-04:002013-07-18T23:36:09.234-04:00Post No. 100: The Subtitleless Revelation/Revolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I have always thought of myself as good with words. No, I’m
not verbally eloquent by any means — in fact I’m probably one of the worst
public speakers ever — but I’m a writer, a grammarian, a spelling bee winner, a
polyglot. Learning language — English and beyond — has always come easy to me.
I leapt ahead in Spanish classes as a child even when I started later than
everyone else.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By pure exposure to Hindi films, I was able to pick up basic
phrases fairly rapidly. As was my sister, who is more talented than me when it
comes to languages (she’s on No. 5 or 6 now). After less than six months with
Bollywood,<b> </b>Paagal Papaya and I were lobbing basic Hindi sentences back and forth in our usual mix of
Spanish and our family’s own language (“Donkey Latin”).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since then, I’ve formally studied Hindi on and off in bouts,
bulking up particularly before I went to India earlier this year. I’ve used
Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, Living Language, Mango — just about everything. But
all in short bursts. The bulk of my Hindi “study” has still been films and
songs, particularly when subtitles lapse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My comprehension level is high enough that I can watch a
Hindi film without subtitles and understand most of what is going on. I saw <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-aashiqui-2-exercise-in-futility-and.html">Aashiqui 2</a> </b>in India without subtitles
(and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://3bollywoodqueens.blogspot.com/2011/09/bodyguard-2011.html">Bodyguard</a> </b>in the U.S. without
subtitles), and I was surprised at my own comprehension level.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://caitlineoconner.blogspot.com/search/label/travel">When I was traveling in India</a>, I also spoke basic Hindi with the tour
bus driver and tour assistant. That’s far more bravery than
I’ve ever had with Spanish, although I know much more Spanish and definitely
can speak more. (Once, the assistant started talking way beyond
my comprehension level, and when I finally guessed that he was asking how I
knew Hindi, I had to tell him, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Main sirf
thoda thoda bol sakti hoon. Bollywood se.</i>”) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Since coming back, then, and being asked several times <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if </i>I speak Hindi and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how much</i>, and answering only once in
(albeit “perfectly accented”) Hindi that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">main
kuch Hindi bolti hoon</i>,” I have wondered why I’ve settled for this level
after nearly three years with Hindi film. Why am I not more fluent? Why haven’t
I learned more? Why don’t I speak it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And why, if I have the ability, don’t I watch movies without
subtitles?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, it’s true that it’s easier to watch movies with
subtitles. Reading English is easier than working to hear and understand Hindi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if I just depend on subtitles, how am I ever going to
learn?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And what am I missing by reading subtitles?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About two years ago, not long after we started Bollywood
Queens, Paagal Papaya was compiling a post (that never quite got finished) on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani</b>. She watched
the film, loved it and started a post. But for the post, she needed screencaps.
So she watched the movie again, without subtitles, for screencaps. “It’s
completely different when you watch it without the subtitles,” she told me.
“You see so much more of the acting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is that what I’ve been missing out on in the past three
years? The true value of the acting? (Even when it’s overacting.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Certainly I’ve missed out on the poetics of dialogues,
whether I could have understood them without the subtitles or not. I’ve long
been able to understand when the subtitles are off. And that includes
understanding that the subtitles rarely if ever do the language justice. (This
is particularly frustrating with Urdu classics, but that’s another story.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Curious, I tested this resolution by going back to a film I’ve
seen a hundred times with subtitles — DDLJ. What did I miss so many times by
watching DDLJ with subtitles? That SRK speaks absolute gibberish in the scene
with the police in Switzerland. That everyone in the film talks <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really </i>fast, unless they’re speaking of
love or delivering a particularly poignant dialogue. (That does mean there is a
lot that is too fast for me to understand, too.) That there is a pretty big
change in Simran’s tones and behavior from one half to the next.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
None of that is earth-shattering by any means.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it does make me wonder what else I’ve missed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, after nearly three years of Hindi films, comes my
new resolution: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Whenever possible, I am
going to go subtitleless.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t expect it to be easy — especially since Netflix will
keep enabling me with subtitles that I can’t turn off. I don’t expect the resolution
to be perfect. I don’t expect to get by unfrustrated. I definitely don’t expect
to understand everything. (Especially, to my chagrin, jokes. A multilingual
professor of mine once said true mastery of a language is achieved when you can
understand a language’s jokes because of the plays on words involved. I’m still
nowhere near that level with Hindi yet.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I do expect to grow in understanding. And that’s the
real goal here. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Expect updates on the progress of this resolution as it goes
on.</div>
</div>
The Mighty Mangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396679854779338852noreply@blogger.com2