|
Post by Dil Bert on Jun 8, 2016 0:52:35 GMT
Say you had to choose two films to introduce someone to Indian cinema. The films had to be readily available (disc easily available and/or on streaming services) and representative of some portion of Indian filmmaking.
I would pick Mr and Mrs Iyer and K3G. Mr and Mrs Iyer is a masterpiece of parallel cinema. K3G is pure Bollywood excess: so many stars, so much emotion, so much everything (except action).
What two films would you pick and why?
|
|
geradium
Dancing in the chorus
Posts: 6
Favorite actor: Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor
Favorite actress: Rani Mukherjee, Vidya Balan, Madhubala, Sridevi, Hema Malini
|
Post by geradium on Jun 8, 2016 2:11:28 GMT
Amar Akbar Anthony, for sure. It's got just about everything you would ever want from popular Bombay cinema.
My second choice... I'd be torn between Sholay (say no more), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (it's the one that drew me in, and it's also got just about everything), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (it's great!), and several more. Meditate on this I will, as Yoda said when he had to make the same decision.
|
|
|
Post by MrB on Jun 8, 2016 12:53:58 GMT
I agree on K3G: it's Indian mainstream cinema turned up to 11, but packaged in a way that's accessible to newbies. I can think of all sorts of options for a second film, with varying reasons. For the sake of argument, I'll say Delhi Belly: it's cry-with-laughter funny, and shows a side of modern India, and modern Indian film-making, that would surprise many people.
|
|
filmilibrarian
Guest appearance
Posts: 102
Favorite actor: Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor
Favorite actress: Vidya Balan, Rani Mukherjee, Anushka Sharma, Konkona Sen Sharma, Deepika Padukone
Upcoming release you're most excited about: Padmavati, A Gentleman, Lucknow Central, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Mubarakan, Simran, Chef, Ittefaq
|
Post by filmilibrarian on Jun 8, 2016 14:14:16 GMT
K3G works well for the reasons stated above. As always it depends upon the type of movies the newbie likes. If they're into sports movies: Chak De India! If they're into historical costume dramas: Jodha Akhbar (the movie that hooked me). If they're into suspense thrillers: Kahaani. If they're into action films: Singham or even Bang Bang. If they're into classic b&w Hollywood films: Awaara or Chori Chori (1956). If they're into dark comedy: Delhi Belly works well. Feel good comedy: Three Idiots. If they're into gangster movies: Omkara (Gangs of Wasseypur if they can handle the running time). Feel good dramedies: Piku or Queen. If they're into art house cinema: The Lunch Box or Black. Dance movies: Aaja Nachle. John Hughes teen films: Student of the Year. Superhero films: I guess Krrish but I have yet to see a good Indian film in this genre. Lord of the Rings/fantasy/mythology fans: Baahubali: The Beginninig or Magadheera. Political/spy thrillers: the underrated D-Day. Romantic comedies: Mere Brother Ki Dulhan or Band Baaja Baarat. Epic romance/Titanic fans: Veer Zaara. Shakespeare fans (or Baz Luhrman fans): Ram Leela.
Though you never know what's going to appeal to people...I gave a list of films to someone recently and they picked Gangs of Wasseypur and Ishqiya to borrow and didn't love them but liked the next round of Piku and Bajirao Mastani much better.
|
|
|
Post by MrB on Jun 8, 2016 16:27:24 GMT
Piku is a good choice. A non-filmi friend recently saw this almost by accident and immediately asked for recommendations of more Indian films.
|
|
Miss Braganza!
Junior artiste
Posts: 60
Favorite actor: Rahul Bose, Irrfan, Ranveer Singh, Rajesh Khanna
Favorite actress: Konkona Sen Sharma, Vidya Balan, Sharmila Tagore
Upcoming release you're most excited about: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Dear Zindagi, Befikre
|
Post by Miss Braganza! on Jun 9, 2016 8:23:28 GMT
Say you had to choose two films to introduce someone to Indian cinema. The films had to be readily available (disc easily available and/or on streaming services) and representative of some portion of Indian filmmaking. I would pick Mr and Mrs Iyer and K3G. Mr and Mrs Iyer is a masterpiece of parallel cinema. K3G is pure Bollywood excess: so many stars, so much emotion, so much everything (except action). What two films would you pick and why? This is actually what I tell people when they ask for recommendations, except that I substitute DDLJ for K3G. Mr. and Mrs. Iyer is a nice counterpoint to either of those, since it's a romance (kind of), and the two main characters are of different communities as in the Bollywood trope, but it is so different in its scope, pacing, and outcome. Come to think of it, K3G might be better since it's more of an examination of being Indian, if I'm recalling it correctly, as is Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. Another thing I recommend is Main Hoon Na, which has a bit of a self-parodying quality and thus makes a good gateway Bollywood. If they want to get into classics, Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam for a tragedy and Mr. and Mrs. 55 for a comedy. (I seem to like movies with Mr. and Mrs. in the title). I just think they are both fantastic!
|
|
ranranbolly
Guest appearance
Posts: 108
Favorite actor: Ravi Teja
Favorite actress: Deepika Padukone
Upcoming release you're most excited about: Bengal Tiger
|
Post by ranranbolly on Jun 13, 2016 5:58:16 GMT
OSO is my first go-to, because it's fast, it's funny, and charming. It encompasses what a lot of people expect from Bollywood, while also hinting at a world of references that could lead the potential fan down a rabbit hole. Plus, I've gotten like 3 people hooked with that one.
After that, Amar Akbar Anthony, as has already been stated. Because that was the one that really got me hooked in the first place, and it really is a fantastic and almost perfect example of brilliant 70s masala. Plus, if you can't fall in love with Big B and Rishi in this one, you can't fall in love with them in anything else either. Plus...I mean...Pran. He's awesome. It's an all-around fun cast. I need to rewatch it for the 100th time now, thank you...
|
|
|
Post by ShantiSal on Jun 13, 2016 6:45:55 GMT
For first pick either Om Shanti Om or Rab Ne Bana di Jodi - they are the ones that got me hooked. Second pick (and it's hard to know what to pick - too many choices) - Haider, such a contrast to the other 2 and it is just so good.
|
|
|
Post by dancelover on Jul 20, 2016 14:30:00 GMT
Pran played Rishi Kapoor's father at least six times, also in Bobby, Zinda Dil, Naseeb, Dosti Dushmani, Gurudev. Twice, AAA & Naseeb, he also played Amitaub's father. Dancelover [snip - d] After that, Amar Akbar Anthony, as has already been stated. Because that was the one that really got me hooked in the first place, and it really is a fantastic and almost perfect example of brilliant 70s masala. Plus, if you can't fall in love with Big B and Rishi in this one, you can't fall in love with them in anything else either. Plus...I mean...Pran. He's awesome. It's an all-around fun cast. I need to rewatch it for the 100th time now, thank you...
|
|