Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sunday, December 19, 2010

After the lightning...everything is OK

Sometimes I think after watching a movie about how I discovered that movie
and try to trace back that path. So here comes the path that I took to find Minnale.





More than a year back I discovered my first Tamil movie after someone telling me to look into South Indian movies because they where an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino. I watched the Tamil movie Villu with actor Vijay. The movie was so over the top that I found it enjoyable and started to look for other films from the same actor.












A few months back I watched the movie Sachein, which I didn't like but the lead actress played by Genelia D'Souza danced in one sequence to a song. I liked he music and had heard it before on a World Music cd from Putumayo. I had that on my p.c. and the song was called 'Zara Zara'. But in the movie they used the words Vaseegara, so what next……YouTube is your friend. Searching for Vaseegara / Zara Zara and found the Tamil song, which was Vaseegara from the movie Minnale.
The next thing I did was looking for some info on wikipedia and checked the rating on imdb, they gave the movie a 7.4 so I started searching on a Tamil forum, found the dvd and watched is.

Bollywood (Hindi, Tamil and Telugu) movies are for me separated into two categories:
One category are movies that I also dare to watch with non-bollywood lovers
and the other, second category are movies that I don't dare to watch with people not known with the bollywood genre.

The last movie I saw belongs to the latter. The movie is Minnale, a South Indian Tamil spoken movie. Don't get me wrong I loved the movie a lot, it's a good picture. But there are a few things thats made it a cat2 movie:

1. The unnecessary comedy parts
2. Over the top fights ( I like them, but found them not necessary in a romantic movie)
3. Too much talking, especially in the first part.

I can now give you a review of the movie, but everybody can read that on imdb and wikipeda.
Minnale means Lightning, and when that happens in the movie (after 26 minutes), than it becomes interesting. The movie is a romantic comedy, with the first part more towards comedy, while later it becomes more dramatic/romantic (more my style).
Okay, I'll tell you in short: Boy meets girl, girl is going to marry another man which she have not seen yet. Boy poses as the man she is going to marry and makes her fall in love. Later the man shows up she was supposed to marry….etc…Love triangle story indeed.







  The film is directed by Gautam Menon. I saw a few movies of this director (I watched the movies with highest rating) and I liked them all. You can say that he is one of my favorite South Indian directors, the top is Mani Ratnam.




About the cast: The hero lead is played by Madhavan, he plays very good as the different characters, little criminal (pokkiri), romantic hero. Sometimes it's a bit to different, but hey it's a movie :) Also I like his energetic dancing style, which is more fast and energetic than in Hindi bollywood movies.

Then the heroine Rina is played by beautiful actress Reema Sen (not Raima Sen or her sister Riya Sen, or Rimi Sen). I've never seen her in other movies and Minnale was her second movie. I have to say I liked her mostly in more traditional clothes in a sari. Maybe I watch too much Indian movies indeed ;)


One of the most important part for me is the music (and also the dancing and picturisation of the songs). I have to say: I'm a happy man. The music is beautiful, the lyrics are touching, the picturisation is superb. Especially the song Vaseegara, fantastic love romantic song with good lyrics.
The music is from composer Harris Jayaraj, he is really good with the songs as well as the background music. I have seen other films done by this composer (Kaakha Kaakha, Ullam Ketmuae, Vettaiyaddo Vilaiyaddi, Unnale Unnale and Vaaranam Aayiram) and a few of them are also directed by Gautam Menon. This man Harris, he has good taste for enticing meodies.
It's difficult for me too say with words what I like about the music, but with me, it's mostly about the melodies.

In short: A very good romantic comedy movie. I enjoyed every part of it.
I recommend to go watch this movie with a girl…( I didn't, but hey if I could I would) ;)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

ChaalBaaz, wah! Amazing

ChaalBaaz (1989).
Yeah, I've had an unique Bollywood experience again.

The way that I discovered this diamond was in a way like I always do.
Namely, by looking on wikipedia at actors pages and looking for a movie list.
Then downloading the movies that they've won a Filmfare award with.This is really the way, and makes sure that I've a good movie experience.
This time I looked on wikipedia for the actress Sridevi, not an actress in recent bollywood movies, but she has a huge reputation (highest paid actress) in the 80s and 90s.
I was not unknown with her reputation. 
Other movies I watched with her in it were: Chandni, Lamhe, Sadma and Mr. India. And I have to say, the way she plays/acts/dances…they don't make 'm that talented anymore.
It's a different generation, today there are a lot of really beautiful actresses, the look fantastic, but acting….that's a different story. Sridevi is a total package, she can dance, is really expressive with her face, can portray a lot of different emotions, just perfect, oh, and she was not size zero, but just a normal postured Indian girl :)


In ChaalBaaz, Sridevi plays a doublerole (like in Lamhe), but this time she plays two totally opposite of each other characters (sisters). The movie is inspired by 'Seeta aur Geeta'. Sridevi plays both the twin sisters Anju and Manju. They got separated when they were born by there mentally unstable nanny. An evil uncle gets their parents killed in a car accident. Anju stays in a big house with her evil uncle Tribhuvan and his wife.
The uncle is played brilliantly by Anupam Kher. The uncle abused Anju with a whip, by giving her injections.
molest her by throwing her of the stairs (yeah, the beginning of the movie is tough and sad and I don't think Sridevi used a stuntdouble).

The result of this evil behavior is that Anju is a very quiet, timid, frightened girl.
Her passion is classical Indian dance Bharatnatyam, but she is not permitted to dance of course. Yep, melodramatic bollywood as the best. The other sister, Manju, lives on the street, is very assertive, is stage dancer, drinks alcohol often, likes to fight and keeps close contact with her nabour, a drinking taxi driver called Jaggu. Jaggu is played by the South-Indian demigod/legend Rajnikanth (Robot / Endhiran anyone?). I've seen another movie of this actor (called Sivaji: The Boss) But that was too over the top for me. But in ChaalBaaz I liked his humble sincere acting.
After Manju meets a man in a bar (Suraj, played by Sunny Deol) and Anju runs away from home after being almost raped, the next part of the movie if about the confusion and mix-ups of the lead characters with their supporting characters. The taxidriver has a shy Anju that doesn't drink and in the big home the evil uncle and his partner is being put on place by the dominant Manju.

This movie is a comedy, but because the abuses also a drama, and there are also some fightscenes in.
The thing I found really good is that there are a lot of genres in this movie, but everything is just the right amount, like a good recipe. Sridevi plays the two different leads very very good, the introvert Anju and the extravert Manju. Furthermore Sridevi shows that she can dance, as well as Bharatnatyam and modern style.
The songs and music is also real strong. Personally I like the melody of the romantic song "Tera Beemar Mera Dil". Anyway, I really enjoy movies like these, that contains a rollercoaster of emotions and a happy end.
The movie is from 1989, this is visible in the sound and picture quality, but has it's charm.
A must see for everyone that likes not only new movies, but also classics like this one.
Oh yeah, and of course everyone that likes Sridevi has to see this movie.

Anju

Manju


Monday, November 29, 2010

Golmaal 2

As you can see in my previous post I watch a lot of bollywood (indian cinema) movies.
To expend my knowledge I watch every genre and also from the different regions in India.
There are a few reasons why I watch them: Some of them I watch because the movie won awards, some of them I watch for the great music / dance, some of them because I heard a lot about it.
The latter was the reason I watched Golmaal 2, simply because I heard about it.
My expectations were not high, also the 4.6 on imdb didn't help.
I don't know what it is with Indian comedy's, but I almost never like them, except Garam Masala and 3 Idiots, that one was fantastic, but also a serious movie.
Don't get me wrong I like comedy movies from hollywood, but bollywood....nahin.
The movie looked glamorous, fashionable and high production value, with some actors that really can act (I liked Ajay Devgn in OUATIM, Raajneeti, Omkara, Deewangi.. ), but in this movie everything is kind of flat. It reminded me of the movie 'All the best'.



A big important part of watching bollywood movies of for me the music, the songs, the dances.
The music in Golmaal 2 sounds okay, the picturisations look cool, but there are only 3 songs in the movie (including the end credits). Also the song 'Tha Kar Ke' is exact the reggeaton song 'Impacto - Daddy Yankee'.
What I also dislike in a lot of bollywood comedy's is that there's every second a soundbite of the title of the movie. I know the movie that I'm watching people, I don't have to be reminded of it, it also takes me out of the movie experience.

I applaud the effort and I know a lot of people like the movie, but I guess it's just not my cup of ginger chai. So maybe someone can tell me an Indian comedy that I really have to watch?










Next movies to watch:
Maryada Ramanna (South Indian)
The Blue Umbrella (Hindi)
Sachein (South Indian)
Khamoshi: The Musical (Hindi)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

The Indian films that I watched in last 3 years

My first post here contains of a list of the movies I watched in last 3 years.
Why? I don't know, maybe to impress some people, maybe to show that I'm a big movielover, maybe because I dont know what else to post, maybe...

2008:

My Bollywood Bride
Om Shanti Om
Dhoom2
Monsoon Wedding
Salaam-E-Ishq
Kal Hoo Naa Hoo
Bhool Bhulaiya
Namastey London
Salaam Namaste
Deewana
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Hum Tum
Devdas
Main Hoon Na
Veer Zaara
Fanaa
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Murder
Chak De India
Dil Se
Jab We Met
Heyy Babyy
Dil To Pagal Hai
Race 2008
De Taali
No Entry
Nanhe Jaisalmer
Chalte Chalte
Dil Chahta hai
Vivah
The Guru (of sex)
Singh Is Kinng
Life in a metro
Aaja Nachle
Baazigar
Darr
Kisna
Bunty aur Babli
Bachna Ae Haseeno
mohabbatein
Dhoom
Aap Kaa Surroor
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Lagaan
Yaah life ho to aise
Taare Zameen Par
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam
Saathiya
Paheli
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

2009:

Kaante
Asoka
Dostana
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke
Phir Milenge
Deewane Huyu Paagal
Rang De Basanti
Veer Zaara
Swades
Hum Aapke Hain Koun
Rangeela
Om Shanti Om
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Parineeta
Jannat
Awarapan
Banaras
Deewangee
Andaaz
Girlfriend
Awara Paagal Deewana
Don
Billu Barber
Waqt Race Against Time
Pardes
Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye
Karz
Pinjar
Satya
Ghulam
Villu
Chandni Chowk to China
Something, something
Karma Aur Holi
Umrao Jaan
Aloo Chaat
Let's Enjoy
Sivaji
Billa
Santosh Subramian
Pokkiri
Khel Khel Mein
The Namesake
Delhi6
Dev D
Tera Mera Ki Rishta
Kahoo naa Pyaar Hai
Muhje Dosti Karoge
Lamhe
Bluffmaster
Cash
Dus
Bollywood Blues
Munnabhai 1
Munnabhai 2
Garam Masala
Jai Veeru
Naach
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai
Kambakkht Ishq
Munde UK de
One 2 Ka 4
Chandni
Mr India
Jashn
Maine Pyaar Kiya
Kuch Naa Kaho
New York
Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke
Sholay
Kissaan
Kranti
Kisaan
Gauri
Pyaar Isq Aur Mohabbat
Love Khichdi
Dil Bole Hadippa
Aryan
Saajan Saajan
Pukar
Kaminey
Wanted
Rock On!
Apni Boli Apna Des
Blue
Pournami
Sarvam
Bombay
Kanthasamy
Aladin
Kaadhalan
Hey Ram
TUmsa Nahin Dekha
Dosti, friends forever
Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana
Roja
Life in a metro
Vyaapari
Mahatma
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (2e keer)


2010:
Lago Raho Munnabhai
London Dreams
Heer Ranjha
Avakai.Biryani
Athadu
Humko Deewana Kar Gaye
Guru
Silsila
Athidi
Happy Days
Dulha Mil Gaya
Chance pe Dance
Magadheera
Aarya
Tera mera ki rishta
Karz (2e keer)
Ghulam (2e keer)
Alaipayuthey
Vaaranam Aaryam (2e keer)
My Name Is Khan
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
A 1942 Love Story
Yem Maya Chesave
Aadhavan
Kites
Ghilli
Khal Nayak
Bheema
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2e keer)
Lamhe Pardes (2e keer)
Pardes (2e keer)
Beta
Karan Arjun
Deewana Mastana
Kaakha Kaakha
Vettaiyaadu.Vilaiyaadu
Cheeni Kum
Koncham Ishtam, Koncham Kashtam
Loins of Punjab
Sarkar Raj
Unnalae Unnale
3 Idiots
Kabhi Kabhie
Paiyaa
Raajneeti
Poovellam Kettuppar
Boys
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2nd time)
I Hate Luv Storys
Unnaipol Oruvan
Once Upon In Mumbai
Dabangg
Aisha
Fashion
Attagasam
Kanda Naal Mudhal
Siva Manasula Sakthi
Housefull
Anjaana Anjaani
Dil Chahta Hai (2nd time)
Lagaan (2nd time)
Maya Memsaab