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.
