The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

When I first watched a scene from this movie, I thought it would be on the lines of Slumdog Millionaire and switched channels soon enough. The name of the movie continued to intrigue me, and I checked the ratings. I was shocked to see the high ratings, and when I landed on the movie again (on a different day), I decided to watch it from then on.

I enjoyed the movie, and while I found the way Jean and Douglas end their marriage unrealistic, there were several positives. I am now drawn to movies with older characters, and this one had plenty of them. The gay characters weren’t caricatures or stereotypes, the British accents were nicely done and the humour was welcome, the Indians looked Indian and behaved like Indians (even if they spoke better English than usual), and the settings looked realistic. The characters were gripping – their idiosyncrasies and fears were well explored.



This line mouthed by Sonny (Dev Patel) – “Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not yet the end.” reminded me of 'Om Shanti Om'.

My favourite line is this – “All we know about the future is that it will be different. But, perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same. So, we must celebrate the changes.”

I am waiting for the sequel that’s due for release in 2015. Richard Gere is expected to join the cast.

Amelie (2001)

I have never managed to watch the entire movie, and I love the way Audrey Tautou plays the title character Amelie. Her neighbours are presented in an interesting manner, and everyday happenings are treated with love and detail. There are several references to paintings and cooking, and I enjoyed the colours used in the movie.

There is one scene I remember where she decides to help her withdrawn father. She secretly takes his reinstalled garden gnome away, plays a trick and then the reclusive man thinks about his forgotten desire to travel. Watch the scene here, and do watch the movie.

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun..! (1994)

HAHK, as it was popularly known, was released on August 5, 1994 and it became the first Bollywood movie to make over Rs. 1 billion. I recently saw some articles that celebrated the 20th anniversary of its release, and it reminded me of the time when the sibling and I had gone with our mother to book tickets in advance. If I recollect right, this was among the few movies that my paternal grandmother watched along with us at the theatre.

The movie was long even by Hindi movie standards, and the 14 songs added to the length of the movie. They removed 2 songs from the movie, and retained them in the soundtrack. I was a fan of Madhuri Dixit, and the success of the movie made me happy. I have watched several movies multiple times, and it used to surprise me that HAHK did not find favour in my repeat-viewing list.

Back then, I remember reading in some film magazine that Madhuri Dixit (15-05-1967) is elder to Renuka Shahane (07-10-1966) in real life and yet played her younger sister, and now Wikipedia tells me that Renuka is elder by 7 months.

“Didi tera devar” was #1 on music countdown shows, including Superhit Muqabla, for a long time. The sight of a swinging Salman Khan singing “Kudiyon ka hai zamaana” had made me think that this is favourable to women, and I somehow had faith that Madhuri Dixit would not portray characters that allowed men to take advantage of her and treat her badly.



Posters and other promotional material also covered the backless choli and the embroidered purple saree.

I remember discussing the yellow (or was it orange?) salwar kameez that Madhuri wears in this song with some friends at school.



Years later, I realized that Nisha (the character played by Madhuri Dixit) didn’t have it easy. She had flowers aimed at her butt, and didn’t speak up when her marriage was fixed with her dead sister’s husband instead of Prem, the dead sister’s husband’s brother. Prem doesn’t admit to his love either, and stays quiet. "Saali to adhi gharwali hoti hai” – the wife’s sister is half-a-wife – HAHK made use of this theme.

It took a Pomeranian (apparently, the correct term is the Indian Spitz) to rescue the lovers and unite them.

11 years after HAHK, the movie Bewafaa was based on the same theme of “Saali to adhi gharwali hoti hai” and the dutiful younger sister is labelled unfaithful. Would a man’s younger brother ever be forced to marry the wife of his dead brother? In 1981, Silsila explored that theme briefly and it bombed at the box office.

Gender stereotypes exist for several reasons, and movies have a role in perpetuating them. This is a speech by Sharmila Tagore in 2013 and she says, “Traditionally, we as a nation have tended to view a woman either as devi (goddess) or as property of man but never as an equal.” HAHK also found mention in her speech. Post the release of Kick in 2014, this article questions whether the hero is a molester or a real hero.

HAHK inspired a generation to indulge in lavish weddings – in Hindi movies and outside of them. It also cemented Madhuri’s position as the undisputed #1 leading lady, and 20 years later, she continues to receive offers to act. I am happy for her, and am hoping to see lavish weddings lose their lustre.

Teaser post: PK (2014)

Aamir Khan, in recent years, has resorted to interesting ways of promoting his movies. Sufficient buzz gets generated, and before you know, even non-fans are keen to watch his movie.

This time, he has gone one step ahead. He has shed his clothes and has posed on a railway track with a radio covering his privates. This link suggests that the poster has been inspired by a Portuguese musician Quim Barreiros. The movie is expected to release in December this year, and the promotion has started over four months in advance.

Sanjay Dutt and Sushant Singh Rajput are also there in the movie. Given their toned bodies, will they give competition to Aamir Khan by posing in a similar manner?