Sallu Marathon ... My Mini Review of Maine Pyaar Kiya

I know, I know I have always expressed my dislike for SalMan Khan, he was the guy I loved to hate on...so it came as a shock when I finally watched Maine Pyaar Kiya and I was enamored with Salman.

I think it had to do with the fact that he was the romantic hero, which is something that nowadays I don't get from him.  In my heart that spot was reserved for Shahrukh, how close minded of me...I know.  But I was amazed at how much I really connected with his character, I loved every minute of this film.

Even the 'acting' by both of the lead actors...as one YouTube comment read, "And the best acting goes to the White Pidgeon!..." Which pretty much sums up how well acted this film was, but still even with these flaws I was in love with Salman's portrayal of Prem.

Another confession...I actually found Salman to be attractive...this is something I would NEVER EVER admit to...specially present day Sallu, but god! I would always question and think, try to understand why on earth do women find him attractive, oh well...I think for now I'll just stick to his older films.  It just seems to be a pretty comfortable spot for me, in order to truly appreciate him as a romantic hero.

Which further proves my obsession with Love Stories.  I just I'm just a sucker for that chocolate Bollywood romantic hero, there! I've said it!  Plus!!! Another bonus...the music was fantastic, My theme song in life is now officially, "Aaja Sham..."


Here's the one song that is just so wrong it's right!!!  You won't be disappointed!


Here's the Link for the film, I believe that it is a legal copy since the actual production company Rajshri released it.

... But I Luv Love Stories ... My Thoughts on I Hate Luv Stories

...It's films like this that remind me why I love Bollywood so much...

***SPOILERS***

As Simran {IHLS} says, "...यह फ़िल्मी दुनिया, रोमांटिक कहानिया ..."  This is everything I have come to love, obsesses, and expect from Bollywood films.  Of course the occasional thriller, comedy, and drama grab my attention...but what I have gotten from these films is exactly that...the melodramatic love stories that have filled my world with fantasies and possibilities.  Obviously I never expect any Raj + Simran, a la DDLJ, type of romance to occur in my life, but the possibility of it is what makes these films so inviting, exciting, and just plain addicting.

Now onto I Hate Luv Storys, I really enjoyed this film, but let's be honest who doesn't love romantic comedies???  Especially when you have a fresh jodi like Imran and Sonam. IHLS is the story of a girl, Simran {Sonam Kapoor}, who is infatuated with love stories.  Simran whom is also living a real life fairy tale life with the perfect boyfriend, romance, and life.   

Unlike J {Imran Khan} who is of course the total opposite of her, who hates the type of love stories that are recycled for audiences over and over, and Gasp! he doesn't believe in love!  I know...how shocking!  Of course like in every love story opposites always have a way of attracting each other, and this story is no different.  

But I think that what made this film just a little different from other romantic films are the clear references they make to classic love stories that most of the audience has grown up with.  Yes, i've read some of the negative reviews that say that because most of the DDLJ types of refrences made in the film don't work is because they are so overused nowadays thanks to film camps like Yash Raj and of course Karan Johar's Dharma Productions.  

Maybe it's just me, but every time I get a reference to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or any similar film I squeal like a school girl, just because I got it!  Plus!  I was so glad I had seen Sholay just days prior to watching this film...I  got all the Gabbar and Dhanno references!!!

{P.S. The only thing that really ticked me off during the film was the fact that songs had no subtitles!  Arg! I Live for English subs!!!}


My Top 3 Moments in the Film:

3.  The very beginning was already an indicator that I was gonna really enjoy this film.  The narrator was none other than the King of Romance himself, Shahrukh.  Not only that there was a sort of mini montage of different scenes from some of the most romantic films such as: DDLJ, Fanaa, etc.  Khan's voice help set the mood!

2.  When J follows Simran with the little fan.  There's this moment after meeting, J and Simran become friends and start hanging out and blah blah, but there's this super cute moment during the song, Jab Mila Tu, where J does all these typical filmi gags, and of course one of those is the wind blowing the girls hair.  Which is a super classic move!  

1.  As Raj said in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, "...you have seen enough Hindi films to know that a girl and a guy can never be friends.  After friendship comes love, pyaar, ishq, mohabbat."   So of course J eventually falls for Simran, follows the very same stereotypes of those romantic stories he loves to hate.  He has this daydream sequence in which he sings a song.  What makes this so funny is how he finally accepts that he in fact is in love and went through all these stereotypes in order to finally figure out that yes, he is in fact in love.

Guilty Pleasures of the Month...

I have have been off for a while, at first it was because of finals but then I just got lazy...sorry ya'll.  But now I'm back and hopefully I can keep up with weekly posts.  Right now I have about 5 reviews that I have written, but I have just gotten so lazy with typing them...it may be due to the fact that my summer job requires me to be in front of the computer all day, and so when I get home I really don't get the urge to type anything.


Anyways, I had been pondering with this topic for quite some time...but I was finally inspired to go for it after reading Shell's fabulous post of her most guiltiest pleasures.  I hope I can post on different topics but around the same theme, we'll see how far I can go with this.  This months topic is guiltiest song pictuarizations, and believe me there are a lot that I have but I shall name my top 5.  Here goes:


#5 Shamma Shamma - Mere Baap Phele Aap


I would say that ANY song  from this film is a guilty pleasure, and yes I have purchased this OST from itunes...you know, i would actually consider the actual film a guilty pleasure.  All in all it's a bad film but I had fun watching it.



#4 Aayega Maza Ab Barsaat Ka - Andaaz


I always get embarrassed watching this song in public...it's soft core porn at it's filmi finest.  I Love the song, but the picturization is soo wrong, but yet soo right!



#3 Bhangra Pale - Taalash: The Hunt Begins


Nahin!!! Another Akshay "Golden Man" song...anyways Bebo's outfit is not the business, and that high pitched singer's voice ...wow! ...the first time I was exposed to the high pitched voice of Hindi Cinema I was taken aback, but I eventually got used to it, but when I heard this song...it took high pitch to a whole 'notha level!



#2 My Name Is Ali - Dhoom 2


Uday {Eewday} Chopra is one of the guiltiest pleasures in Bollywood.  But it's not essentially his dancing that's wrong but also the fact that I have no idea what the song is really saying... I mean please, can someone actually translate the meaning of "Excuse me too please!"



#1 Genie Rap - Aladin


Does this really need an explanation??? 

Confessions Of An Abhay Deol Enthusiast ...

So like I promised...here's my review of Road, Movie and while i'm at it a review of Dev D. too!

I'm not really sure what I love about Abhay Deol, he just has this way about him that I really enjoy watching on screen whether it's his films or his interviews.  After reading a fantastic review of Dev D. I knew I had to see it for myself.  Being a fan of Shahrukh's 2002 version of the Devdas story I was a bit apprehensive as to how a modern version of the story would play out.  Based on the promos there would be a lot sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll.  So I was, but then I wasn't interested in watching when it was out in theaters.

\

Dev D.

So, after reading some blog posts on the film I knew I had to see it, it was the best decision I ever made.  From that opening scene I was completely engulfed in this new world of Dev D., not that his world is different from my world but going into the film I was waiting to compare it to the 2002 version, but I was wrong to even assume that.  This is so far from that version, that there can't really be a comparison.

This film was the one that made me fall in love with Abhay, those familiar with the Devdas story will be pleasantly surprised  at this take on a classic love story.  I loved how much the music played such an integral part in the film.  Now, I know that in Bollywood films music are an integral part of a film but this was very different, this is one of the best soundtracks i have come across in a long time.  I was so glad the music director Amit Trivedi won the Filmfare award for Best Background Score and the R.D. Burman award.

One last important detail I must mention is the new talent introduced in the film, i'm talking about Kalki Koechlin and Mahi Gill, but the girl who really stands out is Kalki.  WoW!!! I can't wait to see what else she becomes involved in.  This girl deserved all the praise she got for her performance it was stunning!

 Intermission

END OF INTERMISSION

Road Movie

I was so happy I actually got a chance to watch this film at this years' Indian Film Festival in Hollywood.  The theater was sold out, which was good for the makers of Road, Movie.  I was really surprised, but then again this film has been selected to play in various film festival around the world, the most recent being the Berlinale Film Festival.

Already being an Abhay fan girl I already kinda knew I would enjoy the film.  But it truly was a good film, i miss those kinds of films in which a character decides to leave everything behind and just go...with no real destination, it's just a fascinating concept.  Maybe it's just one of my secret fantasies to just leave my house or where I live, and leave my job, the people i know, and just everything. Whoa!

Overall, the film was very entertaining, Abhay has a knack for playing jerks.  The premise of the film is that of Vishnu {Abhay Deol} who grows restless with each passing day and his lack of purpose in life while working for his fathers failing hair oil business.  He then gets a chance to drive a truck, which he later discovers to be a touring cinema truck, to an antique museum.  

He then encounters an orphan, a mechanic, and a wandering young woman who help him in his journey, a journey of self discovery you could call it, in which he if able to get to his destination and eventually start a new life.

I absolutely loved the music for this film, some of the songs that truly stand out is the enchanting kaisi tanhai and fun revamped tel malish beautifully performed  by Sylvia Gordon.

Indian Film Festival Day 2!

So, in case you follow me on Twitter of on my Facebook, you are already aware of my adventures in this years Indian Film Festival (IFFLA).  I'm getting a chance to volunteer this year in many different areas of the festival...which adds even more excitement to my life!  Plus I got to see Omi Vaidya {From 3 Idiots!} but I got too nervous to approach him...oh, well...he'll probably come back for the 3 Idiots screening on Friday night!

The festival has been hosted every year at the fabulous Arclight theater, located in the heart of fabulous Hollywood, CA.  For any of you unlucky people whom have never been inside and experience the magic of this theater, let me tell you there's none like it.

Most of the Hindi films I have watched have been in the local theater which are the most beautiful theaters and sound and picture quality are just good.  So, to see them in this theater was just AMAZING!  I'm starting to sound like an ad...oh Gosh!  Now onto the films!  I actually didn't think I would get a chance to watch any films based on my volunteer hours...so when I was told I could...I was just ecstatic to say the least.

The first film I really wanted to see was Harishchandrachi Factory.  This was the first ever Marathi film I ever saw, and it was fantastic to say the least.  I have never laughed so much in my life, this was a great film to start off my festival experience with.

The story of H. Factory is that of Dadasahed Phalke, also known as the Father of Indian Cinema, and his struggles of creating the first ever Indian film, the epic story of Raja Harishchandra.  The movie follows him and his family as they struggle to pursue this dream and all the craziness that follows from trying to find and shoot in exotic locations to casting the main 'female' lead of the film.

I would say that the only fault in this film is that everything happened too quickly in that there was no real struggle in getting the money for the film, the actors, etc., there was always way in which the main character just got everything very easily.  This really keeps the film from actually being realistic, but overall an absolutely  fantastic film.

 Next movie I saw was Road Movie, with my newest obsession Abhay Deol *swoon*, unfortunately I missed the first 15 minutes so I need to find an online link and watch to truly feel like I have watched the whole thing, soo I will post up my thoughts once I get to that.

In case there are any of you Los Angelenos {?} that are not aware of the festival, hurry up! There's still time to buy tickets, but I will warn that most of the Bollywood films are getting sold out very quickly!!! As of right now there are still tickets available for tonight's Bollywood film, Kaminey.  So enjoy!

It's Showtime Indeed...

 A review of Prince: It's Showtime...

I will go on record and say that I really liked this film.  I guess, being one of the very few fans of Race...I would be one of the few who actually enjoyed this film.

There where 3 main things that really pulled me into watching this film:

1.  Was Prince Vivek Oberoi:   If any of you are on twitter and you follow him,  then you'll clearly understand what I mean.  Jeez, this guy is soo likable and especially if you you watch any of his interviews...OMG!!! I Love him!

Unfortunately, he only smiled for about 10% of the film, which was a bit of a downer, but I wouldn't be smiling either if I had no recollection of my memory.  I think that the on time he did smile was when he was being seduced by Nandana Sen and I know... who could resist that! ;-)

2.  The fantastic soundtrack was the best part of this film!  This has got to be one of the best soundtracks of the year.  Obviously everyone has a favorite but for me it's gotta be Tere Liye, I'm a sucker for romance!

What I also noticed was the marketing for this film using this song.  Especially the video in which all three heroines of the film are picturized in the song, but during the film the songs comes up after he realizes only one of them is his true soulmate.  I was all waiting to see him seduces all three of the girls, but I was completely in the wrong, and I'm glad I was.  But I really wish they had at least shown the the video used for the promos with all three seducing Prince.

3.  Probably the last 10% of encouragement I needed to watch this film was that it was done with the writers from Race.  So I knew that I was in for lots of WTF moments, which is one of the things I really enjoyed about both films.

Overall, it was a fun ride...but mostly because when I went to go see it there were about 5 people in the whole theater {including me and my friend}, so we got a chance to talk more while the film was on.  One thing I really really liked after watching the film was Nandana Sen, she was my favorite by far.  She is my evil right hand dream girl.  She totally kicked a$$.

But, unless you enjoyed Race or you one of those Vivek Oberoi fan girls then this film is probably not for you.

I missed you Blog!!! But at least I still have Aamir???

Ok, so I know I have been missing for almost a month now, but this thing called life has really been taking up a lot of time...so sorry!

Even with all these things I have been watching films, so no worries...
Thankfully, my friend LOVES buying movies, so I've just been mooching of her collection.  Unfortunately, she seems to have become infatuated with Aamir Khan...so I've had to watch mostly his films, which of course they were fantastic, but still I just don't like Aamir outside of his 'reel' life.

So let me just say a little something about the films I've so far seen of his...

Ghajini

I remember not wanting to watch this film when it first came out, the whole action theme didn't catch my eye, so I just lived on being one of the few people who hadn't seen the film.  But thankfully, IFC was hosting this Wake Up To Bollywood theme every Sunday morning, for about a month I think, and I went to my friends house and watched it.

I loved this film, yes it was action packed but it just about everything i love about films...there was love, evil guys, songs, *sigh* I enjoyed every second of it.  Now I truly understand why it was such a big hit!

Rang De Basanti

*SPOILERS*

Another fantastic film, Aamir really has a knack for picking great films.  But One person that really stood out for me was hottie Kunal Kapoor!!! *melts*

Ok...back to the film...yes! This is gonna sound really ridiculous, but hearing that white lady talk in Hindi was just so weird, I swear I thought her voice was dubbed by someone else, but soon I got over it.  I don't really want to say to much because the the ending made me tear up a little.

Dil Chahta Hai

*SPOILERS*

What can I say I really enjoyed this film.  I loved the whole bromance {which I will say is a guilty pleasure of mine} between Aamir, Saif, and Akshaye.  There are two thing I need to point out, I loved the whole idea of a younger guy being in love with the older woman, but I really had wished they hadn't killed her off.  I wished the relationship would have been explored a lot more, because of the fact that the only type of craddle-robbing relationships you get is that of Older men with much younger women *cough* Shahrukh Khan *cough*.  Not that I have a problem with that but I really wish we could see more of it in more Hindi films.  Wake Up Sid did a really good job at it, but Konkona didn't have great chemistry with Ranbir.

And next point, I will say that I am one of those who ever saw Akshaye being a 'romantic' hero, some guys just don't fit the bill, for me at least.  But there was something about Akshaye that really blew me away, I loved him.

Taare Zameen Paar

If you know me well enough, then you know I have a certain dislike for children.  Therefore, i really try to avoid films that have children as the main aspect of a film, but after hearing so much about this film I gave it a shot.

This was one of my least liked Aamir films, and this is not just because of the kids but I just can't stand seeing an older man make himself acting like a clown, and at some parts the film got too overly sentimental.  I would just roll my eyes, one scene in particular is when Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) looks at Ram (Aamir Khan) painting and realizes that it's of himself, and he starts to cry, I was like "oh, please!"  But don't get me wrong it was a pretty good film.