Mulk (Country)

I recently rewatched this for an upcoming podcast episode. It was my third viewing and I was surprised that it was just as powerful as the first time. It speaks to modern times in America as well as to the original Indian audience.

My original review is below.

This was based on a true case where a terrorist's entire family was taken to court and accused of being a terrorist cell. We were invested on the family's side, as most American viewers would be, and as the movie intended everyone to be. It was also very interesting to see how the top terrorist persuaded the family son to his cause.

The movie did an especially good job of showing the friendly Hindu-Muslim relations between neighborhood families which then spiraled downhill after the terrorist act. And we appreciated the inside views of the horror-stricken family and how they also got different reactions to the crime from inside their own Muslim community.

The actors were all great, especially Rishi Kapoor as the family patriarch and Ashutosh Rana as the public prosecutor. Rana is well known for his "negative roles" and we could see why.

Some reviewers criticized this for a lack of subtlety but c'mon. It's a courtroom drama. That means over-the-top speeches whether in America or India. Even the venerable Twelve Angry Men doesn't escape that. Overall, a good legal movie with a message that works today in America in a lot of ways.

Rating — for viewers with medium to difficult Indian film experience. (It's not rocket science, but without any cultural background at all you might feel kind of lost.)

Major

This was a really excellent biopic/action movie showing Major Sandeep's story. He was a hero of the Mumbai attacks who rescued many people and directed his team in saving others.

I knew very few details of the terrorist attacks and hadn't heard of Major Sandeep, including whether he lived or died. That made it very suspenseful. Knowing it really happened made it hit much harder than the usual action film even though this did have a lot of big moves that you would expect from a Hollywood film.

Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies)

I liked this so much. In many ways it reminded me of Kathal where a police investigation is entertaining and interesting while weaving serious topics into the story without heavy-handed moralizing.

When two identically dressed brides, with requisite scarves covering their faces are grabbed by the wrong groom at different train stations, how will they be restored to their rightful places? Especially when neither can remember the name of their groom's hometown?

I fully expected this to be the story of each bride learning to love the new man she is around, but this story did not go there at all. Add the complication of a Bandit Bride who pretends to get married in order to steal the wedding jewelry, and you've got a captivating set of circumstances. The writing and directing was good, the acting wonderful, and it left us feeling good. What more can you ask for?

Polite Society

"I am the fury!"

Martial artist-in-training Ria Khan believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood.

Really enjoyable, with a fresh, fun feel that made me think of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and The Man Who Feels No Pain. With a touch of a Get Out vibe. 

Coming-of-age stories usually bore me to death but this lively movie leaves regular expectations far behind. I especially enjoyed Ria's two friends as a sort of Greek chorus who predicted both Lena's and Ria's plotline through the film. The fight sequences entertained me in a way they usually wouldn't since they allowed me to gauge Ria's real ability to do the stunts she's been practicing. And the fights that were during the wedding became truly beautiful as the gorgeous saris swirled during kicks and jumps.

 Finally, I defy anyone to watch Ria's "spa day" with her sister's mother-in-law-to-be and not laugh. It's a whole new kind of torture. 

I look forward to more from this director.

A (Time-Loop Thriller) Movie You Might Have Missed 93 — Maanaadu (Public Conference)

After flying in for a friend's wedding, Khaaliq stumbles across a plot to assassinate the Chief Minister  at a political rally (public conference). When he tries to stop it, Khaaliq is killed and unexpectedly wakes up on the airplane again. This second time around he's struck by a sense of deja vu and ultimately discovers that he's in a time-loop. Each time he comes across the plot from a different angle and struggles to stop the assassination attempt. And each time he is killed which returns him to the plane.

This is a really great time-loop thriller with fantastic action scenes and an unexpected twist that ratchets up the suspense and action.

As I was explaining this genre to my mother while we were watching, she asked, "But why is it happening?" And I realized that the time-loop genre doesn't bother to explain why. It is just how things are until the person is released. I mean, we all know why just from watching the story over and over. In Groundhog Day the person must mature. In Happy Death Day, she must figure out who murders her. And so forth and so on.

Maanaadu has an actual explanation that makes sense in the world of the movie (especially, one assumes, if you are Hindu). It gives all the more resonance to the reason Khaaliq wants to solve the problem and find his way to tomorrow.

I really enjoyed the pacing. Often time-loop films drag when they repeatedly show us what is happening or changing in each iteration of the day. This movie quickly gets you up to speed — and speed is the right word — because once we've gone through two or three versions of the day, the director begins each section right at the point where it went wrong before. It doesn't take long to catch on that this is happening and it speeds us right past all the repetitive bits.

The film is self aware enough to mention many time-loop movies and we especially enjoyed when one of the characters complained, "You are confusing me more than Christopher Nolan's Tenet." That Tenet was a confusing mess has never been more universally acknowledged than when it is zinged by a Tamil film. Thank you, Venkat Prabhu!

This is available now on Amazon Prime for $2.99 and it is money well spent.

Kathal — A Jackfruit Mystery

When two prized jackfruits disappear from a politician’s garden, a spirited cop’s investigation takes an unexpected turn as she digs for the truth.

We all really loved this movie which follows Inspector Mahima Basor and her team as they pursue the ridiculous case of two stolen jackfruits. Everyone realizes it is a waste of resources but no one will say no to the politician. As you might expect there is a fair amount of humor but it is usually gentle and understated, which can be a rarity in Indian movies.

We learn a little about the team and what they care about — a dowry for a daughter, a promotion for a constable, a way to balance husband and career. And we meet other characters, most notably a village reporter who is hoping for a big story and dives into the jackfruit investigation. All are likable and even the villains aren't too heavy handed. 

The character development and plot twists were perfectly paced, and wove some serious topics very naturally into the story without heavy-handed moralizing. You don't have to be Indian to enjoy this light hearted film though I'm sure there are many little moments that we missed. 

The talented cast included some actors we have long enjoyed — Sanya Malhotra in Dangal and Badhaai Ho, Vijay Raaz in Monsoon Wedding and Gangubai Kathiawadi. All did a great job and I hope to see other movies with these actors especially the young constable and the local reporter.

Definitely recommended.

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Rocky and Rani's Love Story)

Rocky is a loud, showy Punjabi from a family who made their fortune making laddoos (sweets). Rani is a sophisticated, stylish television personality from a Bengali family. Brought together by a fluke because each loves their grandparents, they fall in love. Struggling to plan their future with such different backgrounds they do the only logical thing (from a Bollywood point of view) — live with each other's  families for three months to adjust to their cultures and backgrounds and to know if their marriage will survive. This leads to funny and interesting contrasts as each has something to learn and something to teach their "new" families.

Rocky Aur Rani is a three-hour long, dance loaded, romance loaded movie that leaves you smiling. It's been described as "delicious eye candy with a rebellious core" and nothing could be truer. Ranveer Singh as Rocky has never been more charming or energetic. Alia Bhatt makes the romance seem genuine. As well as the romance, the contrast between traditional and progressive values gives you something a little deeper than the fun and froth. 

Highly recommended.

NOTES FOR INDIAN MOVIE FANS:

Rocky Aur Rani also is a delightful blending of old and new. We couldn't appreciate it the way that it would strike Indian audiences but our limited knowledge still made us happy when we recognized callbacks to old Indian films. The music was composed by superstar Pritam as an homage to 1960s and 70s songs from Bollywood classics. Some of the actors were actually in those classics. We were especially delighted to see Dharmendra and Jaya Bachan (who we'd seen in the curry-western Sholay, as well as a few other films). 

Partway through, this suddenly struck me forcibly as a modern take on Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (K3G - my review). We watched it early in our Indian movie explorations and it didn't go down well for this American family. I'd forgotten most of the details but somehow that K3G vibe was there. Afterward, I remembered it was an early film for Rocky Aur Rani's director, Karan Johar. It's as if he was shaking off the cobwebs and bringing it into the present. I don't tend to love Johar's films, but this time — we thoroughly approved.

Story of an Egg (Ondu Motteya Kathe)

Janardhan is a Kannada language teacher who's 28 and eager to marry. But every time his parents arrange a marriage, the bride turns him down because he's an "egghead*" which is to say that he's bald.

He seeks advice from two sources. One is a friend at work who is also balding but has been happily married 4 years and has quiet, wise advice. The other is his favorite actor Rajkumar, who is not only a Kannada legend but an Indian cinema legend. Janardhan channels his hero's words of wisdom through Rajkumar's photo benignly smiling down on him and memories of movies and songs. Between the two, he gains courage to approach women.

As he goes along, we recognize how different relationships will work out. These familiar beats allow for both comedy and empathy. When Janardhan finally meets a woman who would be a good match, he doesn't recognize it and winds up having to work through some of the very issues that he himself was a victim of.

We really enjoyed this this sweet, charming film which felt a lot like an American indie movie. I knew how it would turn out, after a certain point, but felt genuine anxiety toward the end where I wanted to urge Janardhan to go get his woman! This is a real tribute to Raj B. Shetty who wrote, directed, and starred in the film. 

The Times of India commented: "The film is probably the best tribute to Dr Rajkumar made on Kannada screen till date and the subtle references to the late matinee idol and his films are a delight to any film buff." That's something we weren't in any position to appreciate, but it is clear that Shetty did a first class job on several levels.

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

*It's funny to think about slang because in America an egghead is a super-intellectual, often impractical, scientist-type.

A Movie You Might Have Missed #85: U Turn (2016)

It's been 12 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

Rachana, a young reporter, is dismayed at the number of illegal u-turns and resulting traffic accidents, and she wants to write a story about it. In pursuing a lead, she finds herself in the middle of a police case dealing with a series of murders. While freeing herself of false accusations, she becomes part of the investigation process. What is behind the mysterious deaths and how are they are all connected to the flyover road?

This thriller is perfect for the wind up to Halloween. One of the most shocking things about it is something that Western audiences will find inexplicable — to have the divider between opposite sides of a highway made simply of large bricks which anyone can move so they can do a U-turn anywhere they feel like it. This blew our minds.

It is the number of U-turns which the young reporter, Rachana, is investigating. Her theory is that this leads to a lot of accidents and deaths. She's right, but not in the way that she originally thinks. Strangely tied to a number of deaths, the unfolding mystery was really intriguing and well told. Keep your eyes open for the number of "U"s showing up, including the beginning where we are upside down and do a u-turn to see the road right side up. 

I can see why this movie is on so many "must see" lists. It is a great thriller and since it is Indian, it is also not too gory.

Note: a "flyover" is what we would call an overpass. That took us a little while to figure out.

Streaming on Netflix now. This is the original which is in the Kannada language. It has since been remade in three other Indian languages.

Brochevarevarura (Who Shall Save the Day?)

This story has the framework of an aspiring scriptwriter who is telling the story to an actress who he hopes to interest in starring in the film he's writing. The film pops in and out of this framework and it is interesting to see how the story can subtly change going forward based on the actress's questions or comments.

As it begins, three slackers (or as they are charmingly called in India - back benchers) try anything and everything to make passing marks. They meet another low performer who is a young lady and the principal's daughter. When she runs into trouble, they turn all their limited resources into helping her out.

For the first half of the movie, this was all good and well, but I kept wondering what led to all the good critical reviews and audience enthusiasm. It seemed very ordinary in many ways. However, about halfway through a plot twist popped up that left us astounded and intrigued. This made all the difference as the movie exploded into action and we were glued to the story.

I would like to rewatch this someday because there are hints in the beginning which are fulfilled by the end. I know that we missed some but the obvious ones were a real pleasure when they popped up. This was cleverly written and well acted and directed. Definitely recommended.

Kantara (Deep Mystical Forest): A Legend

Shiva is a tribal vagabond who lives with his mother in a tiny forest village. He avoids participation in the traditional worship ceremonies due to an unforgettable childhood incident. He is happy loafing around with his friends and doing petty jobs for his landlord. When forest officer Murali enters the scene, it gives a fresh dimension to the man-vs-nature fight. Can Shiva save the forest from Murali? 

I especially liked the beginning which establishes the deep connection that the people have to their forest demi-god and land. And the end is simply astounding. It makes this film a cultural experience that is startling and also wonderful.

In between is a good story of a slacker, traumatized from an experience in his youth, who must deal with an officious forestry police official who is determined to take his people's land. This part of the story is more straight forward to the Western mind, although somewhat unfocused in a few spots. But it has it's own twists and turns. 

RATING — ADVANCED. As I mentioned the middle of the movie is straight forward. However, the beginning and end have cultural elements that you just have to accept and let flow over you.

A Movie You Might Have Missed #81 — The Lunchbox

It's been 12 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

Can you fall in love with someone you have never met?

A mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system (Mumbai’s Dabbawallahs) connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life. They build a connection through notes in the lunchbox. Gradually, this connection promises to move past the confines of the lunchbox.

A nice concept that developed from the filmmaker thinking about a documentary about the Mumbai lunchbox delivery system.

This is a good film but it does at a deliberate pace. The story rests on the stars to powerful performances in roles that demand understatement. They deliver in spades. I also really loved the aunty upstairs who we never see but only hear coaching the young wife in her cooking and fills in with emergency spices and ingredients. There are a lot of touches of humor throughout that make this a very enjoyable movie.

This filmmaker is known for his ambiguous endings and I'm annoyed even after two viewings over his lack of giving us a solid happy ending. Here is the place where we don't want imagination, we want to see it play out for ourselves. That is a small part of this lovely movie.

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

The Romantics documentary series — the legacy of Yash Chopra and Yash Raj Films

Featuring archival footage and in-depth celebrity interviews,
this docuseries celebrates the life and legacy of Hindi filmmaking titan Yash Chopra.

Over the course of four episodes, director Smriti Mundhra covers Hindi cinema in a way that almost no one ever has, from Chopra’s early work to the rise of his sons Aditya and Uday in the ’90s and 2000s, to the shifting sensibilities of the industry and effects of Chopra’s death in 2012. The project was born out of Mundhra’s own love of Hindi cinema and documentary expertise, and a realization that she had never seen a film retrospective about the culture and movies that raised her.

IndieWire interview

A really excellent documentary. Well edited, conceived and executed.

This series is something that Indians will enjoy and that true film fans will appreciate. Other than that, only people like us — a true minority of Indian film lovers who are not ourselves Indian — will appreciate.

We've seen so many of the Yash Raj movies, especially the more recent ones. I loved seeing the story of Yash and Aditya Chopra - it was a wonderful behind-the-scenes view of something we love.

(Also I was stunned to realize that Ali from the Dhoom series was played by Uday Chopra. That took me completely by surprise. That's how out of touch I was with who the family members are.)

Bholaa

An ex-convict must undertake a perilous, violent journey in order to meet his daughter after years of imprisonment.

We saw this at the theater with our daughters and son-in-law. We all gave this top marks. First, let's talk about the fun stuff, which I will quote from my daughter Hannah's review.

I think everyone should see this, ideally in theaters.

Unless you think you’d spend whole thing thinking things like:

“You can’t pull a trident through two guys handle first!”

“How can he be lifting someone off the ground who has already been shown to be taller than he is?”

“You can’t punch a motorcycle out of the air!” with a slight frown on your face.

In which case, I’m sorry you hate fun. That must be really hard for you.

Also — it was a compelling story with clearly drawn characters, excellent acting, clever twists, stylish choreography and imagery, and over the top action very well done.

Ajay Devgn's direction showed an impressive creative vision, all the more so when you consider how good the first half of his Runway 34 was - and how different the requirements of the two stories were. Many directors can't do as well and we look forward to more of his directed films.

Once again, we appreciated his acting, so clearly conveying what he is thinking often without doing much physically. That's not easy and not seen often in Indian movies. Tabu was impressive, as always. It had to be fun to play such a kick ass character.

Recommended for beginners. Rated for older teens.

Enjoyable all round.

ALSO — Discussed in An American's Guide to Bollywood.

Bollywood* Beginner Movies 10-12 — Comedy-Horror, Mollywood, and True History

Part 1 looked at romantic comedies. Part 2 branched out to action,  romance, and myth. Part 3 took us to where India intersects with our movies in Shakespeare, thrillers, and modern life.

Now, we're looking at the Bollywood take on comedy-horror and true history. We hadn't heard any of the history in these movies and you might be surprised too.

To give you a sample of what other movies are offered by other regions, we'll also sample a couple of movies from Mollywood (Kerala language Malayalam movies). Also, because I love these movies a lot.

 COMEDY-HORROR

10. Stree

Comedy-horror that isn't gory. In the small town of Chanderi, the menfolk live in fear of an evil spirit named "Stree" (Woman) who abducts men in the night during an annual festival. It was super fun while being quite suspenseful in places. (My review. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)

MOLLYWOOD

11. Kumbalangi Nights

Four brothers living in a fishing village share a love-hate relationship with each other. Their relationships change when the three oldest help the fourth stand by his love. This is a Malayalam language film (hence "Mollywood") that gives a good sense of what South Indian movies can be. Confusing at first, just let it wash over you. (My review. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)

• Maheshinte Prathikaaram
  (Maheshinte's Revenge)
  A villager in a small town swears off wearing shoes until he gets revenge from a local thug. Starring my favorite Malayalam actor (yes, I have one), this is a charmer. Again, just let it wash over you at the beginning. (Scott and I discuss it here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  

TRUE HISTORY

12. Raid

Sometimes the hero is a taxman. An honest IRS officer and his team raid a powerful politician suspected of evading taxation on an epic scale. This gripping story is based on actual events during 1981.  (My review. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)

• Airlift
  When Iraq invades Kuwait in August, 1990, a callous Indian businessman becomes the spokesperson for more than 170,000 stranded countrymen. The result was the largest evacuation in history. (My review. Scott and I discuss it here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  
• Raazi
  The riveting account of a foreign intelligence (RAW) agent who, upon her father's request, is married into a family of military officials in Pakistan to relay information to India, prior to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. (My review.)
  

For my complete list of recommended films, go here. The list begins with what I've seen most recently.

* "Bollywood" as I'm using it is shorthand for Indian movies in general. The Indian movie industry has a lot of different centers that are based on regional languages and storytelling styles. There will be a few recommendations from others as we go, however, generally speaking, Bollywood (Bombay/Mumbai) offers the easiest entry points for Western viewers.

Bollywood* Beginner Movies 7-9 — Shakespeare, Thrillers, and Modern Life

Part 1 looked at romantic comedies. Part 2 branched out to action,  romance, and myth.

Now we're looking at movies that intersect more with what we'd think of as Western movies. However, these are all distinctively Indian.

SHAKESPEARE

7. Omkara

Othello, Indian-style. Fairly faithful and gorgeous adaptation with gangsters. (My review. Scott and I talk about it here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)

• Ram-Leela
  Romeo and Juliet, Bollywood-style. A less faithful but even more gorgeous adaptation but it examines the families in a very Indian way. (My review. Scott and I talk about it here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  

THRILLERS

8. Kahaani

A 7-month pregnant woman arrives in Kolkata from London to seek her missing husband with nothing to rely on except her memories and a photo. This thriller blew our minds. Hollywood would be proud to make this movie. (My review. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)

• Fan
  They had me at Shah Rukh Khan playing his own stalker. This is a solid thriller and a real star vehicle for King Khan who proves he can really act. (My review here. Scott and I discuss it here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  

MODERN LIFE

9. Piku

Piku juggles her life as a successful architect and caring for her 70-year old hypochondriac father. When they take a road trip from Delhi to Calcutta, the owner of the local cab company has no choice but to drive them personally since none of his drivers are willing to endure Piku or her eccentric father. (My review here. Scott and I discuss it here. )

• The Lunchbox
  A mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life. They build a connection through notes in the lunchbox. (My review here.)
  

NEXT

Part 4 will feature comedy-horror, Mollywood, and true history

For my complete list of recommended films, go here. The list begins with what I've seen most recently.

* "Bollywood" as I'm using it is shorthand for Indian movies in general. The Indian movie industry has a lot of different centers that are based on regional languages and storytelling styles. There will be a few recommendations from others as we go, however, generally speaking, Bollywood (Bombay/Mumbai) offers the easiest entry points for Western viewers.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo — a delightful take on The Prisoner of Zenda

While recovering from an assassination attempt four days before his coronation, a stern prince is replaced by a romantic lookalike.

I love The Prisoner of Zenda, a classic adventure novel where a king has disappeared so a foreign "look alike" is called upon to impersonate him. Naturally, the impersonator can't help but interject some of his own personality in chance encounters, such as with the king's fiancee, and soon sees where the king's deficiencies lie.

This movie is a fun, frothy fairy tale loosely based on that story, tweaked to become Indian and, thus, much more family oriented. Salman Khan plays the double role of prince and loyal imposter. He's intelligent, good natured, and sweet. He already revered the king's fiancee and this is his big chance to meet her face to face. But what effect will that have on the princess?

I first saw this in 2019 when we were fairly early in our Bollywood watching. This rewatch was just as charming and beautiful as the first time. The gorgeous shots and the spectacular location raise this to a visual treat. However, now I realize I didn't appreciate it enough the first time. A real treasure and one that I'll be rewatching.

Hannah and Rose discuss this movie on An American's Guide to Bollywood.

Bollywood* Beginner Movies 4-6 — Romance, Action, and Myth

Last week we began by looking at romantic comedies. We continue with different genres and stars — action, romance, and over-the-top mythical tales. You'll get a sample of a distinctive director, S.S. Rajamouli, whose films Telugu language movies which are called "Tollywood."

ACTION

4. Bang Bang 

Frothy cotton candy action-romance when an ordinary woman encounters an charming thief. Full of diamond heists, car chases, and (of course) lots of singing and dancing. You'll see why Hrithik Roshan is considered one of India's best dancers. (My review, Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)

• Tashan (Style)
  Ridiculously entertaining action film combining Tarantino style action (without the gore because it is Bollywood not Hollywood) with big song and dance numbers (Bollywood not Hollywood). (My review here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  

 ROMANCE

5. Lootera

In a village, a young archaeologist falls in love with a landlord’s daughter. Their union seems doomed. But destiny brings them together a year later. A straight-up romance that's full of twists, turns, and reversals. With redemption in the end. No singing and dancing but a fantastic movie. (My review here)

 ACTION
(From Tollywood)

6. RRR
(Rise Roar Revolt)

The director's dream about two Indian revolutionaries who never met but might have been besties if they had. An over-the-top bro-mance with great choreography for singing and action, exciting dances, and a lot of heart. American critics loved this one. (My review here. Scott and I discuss it here.)  

More from director S.S. Rajamouli:

• Baahubali 1 & 2
  Epic. Myth. Battles. Good. Evil. Singing. Dancing. And war elephants. About a royal family in a mythical India that's more like The Lord of the Rings or 300 than you are probably imagining. CGI in the first one isn't great, but just ignore it. (My review. Scott and I discuss them here. Hannah and Rose talk about them here.)
  
• Eega
  Totally amazing movie about a guy murdered by his rival in love ... who is reincarnated as a fly. And is still determined to take vengeance on his murderer and protect his love. By the director of Baahubali and RRR. (My review here. Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  

NEXT

Part 3 will feature Shakespeare, thrillers, and modern life.

For my complete list of recommended films, go here. The list begins with what I've seen most recently.

* "Bollywood" as I'm using it is shorthand for Indian movies in general. The Indian movie industry has a lot of different centers that are based on regional languages and storytelling styles. There will be a few recommendations from others as we go, however, generally speaking, Bollywood (Bombay/Mumbai) offers the easiest entry points for Western viewers.

Bollywood* Beginner Movies 1-3 — Romantic Comedies

I recently showed one of my favorite Bollywood movies to my book club, by their request. They enjoyed it so much that during the intermission a list of more movies was requested. 

After consultation with my backup crew (Hannah and Rose from An American's Guide to Bollywood), we came up with a good list of beginner movies in different categories. I'm going to spread them over the next few weeks so they aren't overwhelming. I'll include links to my full reviews, Hannah and Rose's discussions, and to the episodes of A Good Story is Hard to Find where Scott and I talk about them.

============

First up, we'll look at the genre that Indian movies are most famous for: romantic comedies. With lots of singing and dancing, of course!

Something to keep in mind is that the movies' beginnings may seem a bit slow. That's so all the "aunties" can come in during that first 20 minutes with their roasted chickpeas, greet their friends, and still be able to tell what's going on in the film. That's kind of useful if you are new to Indian movies. Just let the beginning wash over you and enjoy the ride.

I've got three "must see" movies below, with a few extras. The three groups below each feature one of the three actors who have dominated Bollywood for some time. They share the same surname, though they are not related, and are called the Three Khans.

SHAH RUKH KHAN

1. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
(A Match Made By God)

We'll begin with the movie I showed my book club. 

Mild mannered Surinder winds up in an arranged marriage to the vivacious Taani. When she enters a dance competition, he enters in disguise. Shah Rukh Khan plays a double role as a nerd and an obnoxious "cool" dancer who inadvertently is competing with himself for his wife's love. It's a solid comedy and a funny, sweet look at true love. (My review here, Scott and I discussed it here, Hannah and Rose cover it here.)

• Om Shanti Om
  An aspiring actor from the 1970s is murdered, but is immediately reincarnated into the present day where he attempts to expose the murderer and find Shanti, the love of his previous life. Finally — a movie with reincarnation! Light with tons of singing and dancing. (My review here, Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  
  
• Happy New Year
  Six thieves enter a prestigious dance competition as a cover for pulling off a diamond heist. It's like a Bollywood version of Mission Impossible ... with a dance contest, of course! (Hannah and Rose discuss it here.)
  

SALMAN KHAN

2. Bajrangi Bhaijaan

A simple, righteous Indian man helps return a young, lost, mute girl to her home in Pakistan. Pawan is what the girl's parents have prayed for — a "god-sent man" who will protect their daughter. And therein hangs the tale, including a heckuva road trip. Light-hearted and charming. (My review is here. Scott and I discuss it here. Hannah and Rose cover it here.)

• Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
  This movie is a fun, frothy fairy tale loosely based on The Prisoner of Zenda, tweaked to become Indian and, thus, much more family oriented. Salman Khan plays the double role of prince and loyal imposter. He's intelligent, good natured, and sweet. (My review is here. Hannah and Rose cover it here.)
  

AAMIR KHAN

3. PK

A humanoid alien lands in Rajastan naked on a research mission but is stranded when the remote control for his spaceship is stolen. Amazingly charming, this lighthearted view of humans through alien eyes uses India’s religions (which is almost all of them) as a backdrop to finding his way home. (My review is here. Scott and I discuss it here.)

• Lagaan
  This isn't actually a romantic comedy, but more of a romantic historical movie. A small Indian village battles a sadistic British officer in a winner-take-all cricket match. Lots of singing and dancing, and also Aamir Khan. India's pick for the foreign Oscars that year. (My review is here. Scott and I discuss it here. Hannah and Rose cover it here.)

NEXT

Part 2 will feature action, myth, and romance (of course!) 

For my complete list of recommended films, go here. The list begins with what I've seen most recently.

* "Bollywood" as I'm using it is shorthand for Indian movies in general. The Indian movie industry has a lot of different centers that are based on regional languages and storytelling styles. There will be a few recommendations from others as we go, however, generally speaking, Bollywood (Bombay/Mumbai) offers the easiest entry points for Western viewers.

Gangubai Kathiawadi

Mafia Queen.

Duped and sold to a brothel, a young woman fearlessly reclaims her power, using underworld connections to preside over the world she was once a pawn in.

This isn't usually the sort of movie that would interest me but I'm a sucker for director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This one doesn't disappoint. It is a fascinating look at a young woman sold into prostitution who rises  to run the whole brothel district containing 4,000 women. She does this by both her intelligence and force of personality and the novel idea of protecting the women from the worst depredations of their trade. The story is based on one of the chapters of the nonfiction book, The Mafia Queens of Mumbai.

I've always liked actress Alia Bhatt but have never seen her in a role like this where she exhibits what a wide range she has. Sometimes beautiful and feminine, sometimes swaggering mannishly, sometimes every inch the steely business woman/madam.

Bhansali's films are known for their beauty. Despite this being set in the brothel district of Mumbai, there are still recognizable touches of the director's trademark beauty to be found. The scenes where Gangu is allowing herself to be attracted to the young tailor and the dances showed that familiar style. I appreciated that we are shown the awful life of a prostitute without having to see the details.

Catholics may be interested in a section, based on historical fact, where a Catholic school near the brothel area begins a campaign to clean up the area without any plan for how the 4,000 inhabitants would be able to live. As Catholics we suddenly woke up to the idea that there should have been Christians working to help those in the less fortunate area all along. 

As is usually the case with Indian movies, this would have benefited from being about 45 minutes shorter. The last half hour in particular was much too long and preachy. Despite being in sympathy with the message — the people who sell girls into prostitution and the people who buy their services get off scot-free while the victims are the ones who suffer — I didn't need it told to me in three ways.

Nevertheless, it is a movie that we've been talking about ever since we saw it and is well worth your time. 

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)