Laawaris (MY Favorite..)

Laawaris was my first Bollywood movie ever.Before I get into the movie, I have to tell you a little story about myself, because it kind of explains how I got so interested in Hindi cinema in the first place.My father is Pakistani, with roots tracing back to the Punjab of India, and my mother German and Mexican, born and raised in the U.S.(as I was). When I was four, we actually lived in Karachi for six months, and the music,language, clothing and food lingers in some of my earliest memories.My parents divorced shortly after my return to the United States and I had no contact with my birth father for 20 years.As a child, I often found it hard to fit in because I wasn't full German, wasn't full Mexican, wasn't full anything...and I really didn't...

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Dhoom 2

Whoa, I must really love Bollywood. I just downloaded a song to my Ipod with a chorus that contains the words, "Excuse Me to Please"(It's catchy,ok? And I'm really really hoping the incorrect word usage is intentional). What's even more hilarious is that I downloaded the entire soundtrack from Dhoom 2 immediately after watching it--Even though I don't speak Hindi and didn't really like the movie all that much.Why did I decide to buy into the hype and watch Dhoom 2, even though I'm not really an action movie fan? Well, I can't really answer that. I guess I was just starting to dabble in Bollywood, and anything with the Yash Raj banner seemed to be a fairly safe bet(I've since branched out and changed my opinion, but that's a whole different...

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Om Shanti Om

Nothing was going to keep me from going to see Om Shanti Om. Nothing!It was only playing once in my hometown. I actually had to skip class to go(Ironically, a class about Indian culture). My brother was supposed to accompany me, but he got sick the night before (wimp) and backed out. Mom offered to watch my daughter, but if she wouldn't have I would have dragged little Isa too.What an experience!The movie was pure entertainment...And if I was uncertain at any point I know for sure now that Shahrukh Khan lives for the sake of making movies his fans will enjoy. If director Farah Khan was the breath in Om Shanti Om,then SRK was the air that gave it life, stretching his over hyped image to its length just so we would get a good laugh. I've never...

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Salaam-E-Ishq

I'm glad I watched Salaam-E-Ishq.No, really I am! Yes, it was about two and a half hours longer than it should have been. Yes, it was about six couples whose stories I didn't care about as much as I should have. But I saw it fairly early in my Bollywood watching days, and it gave me a huge bonus incentive-an introduction to 13 Bollywood actors I had previously never seen before.I guess the movie was so-so. It had some cool moments(the title song) and some real yawners(most of Salman Khan's scenes). I watched it once by myself and then showed it to Ceci(Ok,and once with my mom and bro--so three times). It was way better when you had someone to laugh at the silly parts with you and join you in drooling over John Abraham.But, sadly, the highlight...

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Dor

I'm finding that in Bollywood its pretty rare to see a movie that doesn't rely on a male character to tell the story. I'm happy to report that Dor is the exception.Dor is a beautiful movie about a friendship between two women, with a powerful message of forgiveness. I warmed to both actresses instantly, and the final scene moved me to tears.I don't want to say too much and give any of the movie away, but its definately a gem. I recommend it to anyone!I already knew a bit about how widows can be treated in India and Pakistan. My stepmother's sister was recently widowed and lives in Pakistan. She's very young and going through a very difficult time...I've never met her but she's always in my prayers. Knowing the reality she faces and watching...

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Kal Ho Naa Ho

I am soo glad I found Kal Ho Naa Ho. And Shahrukh Khan, if you ever read this, I love you. You almost lost me for a minute there...you did a couple things in the first half of this movie that made me second guess my feelings...but by the intermission you won me over (once again), and now I am forever yours!As for the movie? I didn't think I was going to like it. It seemed like just another love story (I practically live for love stories, especially ones starring Shahrukh Khan, but I wasn't completely sold on him at the time I bought Kal Ho Naa Ho).As soon as the first song came on, "Pretty Woman", I had a sinking feeling that I had made a mistake purchasing this film(I know Bollywood can be a bit nutty at times, but please, WHO thought it would...

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Fanaa (Lovely)

The fact that Fanaa tries to be romantic, suspenseful, and unique (with a bit of action thrown in)all at once will probably make you either love it or hate it.I, of course, absolutely loved it. I realized that completely when I saw Rishi Kapoor get up and join in on a song about an ant sucking sugar, and found it endearing instead of ridiculous(I get that it's a tongue twister and not supposed to make 100% sense, but to see Rishi's character hopping around in the snow with that hat on...it just made me laugh, but in a good way).This was my second Kajol movie, the first being Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I didn't remember liking her quite so much in that, but since viewing Fanaa I have seen three more Kajol movies and loved her in every single...

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