Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002)

Na Tum Jaano Na Hum is just as cute as can be. I desperately try not to fall prey to chick flicks because well, I don't want my teeth to rot out from all the sweetness. At the end of a movie, I hate to feel like my girliness has been taken advantage of. You can't help but like this movie. It's bloody precious.

To sum it up: Sleepless in Seattle meets You've Got Mail + dance numbers.

So basically, as usual, Hrithik runs around looking gorgeous, mischievous and yet somehow approachable. Saif plays the bumbling skirt chaser. Naturally, the two have known each other since childhood and through a chance series of events end up tangled around the same girl (Esha Deol). Oh the irony! One can't help but wonder how the tragically lovesick couple will ever be united. Only after much heartbreak and sobbing, I assure you.

I was even a bit taken in by the exchange of childhood toys between secret lovers. Yes, they went there. I have no shame, I'll probably buy a copy off Neha Flix later...

At any rate, this is the second time I've seen Hrithik in a dress. Not sure how I feel about that. When one is pretty, it would behoove one to guard one's masculinity a bit more closely. But I digress.

It's worth the watch but you've been warned.

Shahrukh does hip-hop

Um, I don't think I should I should say anything about this video because it speaks for itself.

Please Shahrukh, don't hurt 'em.
Or yourself...

Kar Le Kar Le promo for Kaun Banega Corepati
[via Our Bollywood]

Mira Nair, Johnny Depp & Brad Pitt

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous!

Looks like three of my favorite Hollywood types will be making a movie together.

According to Variety, Brad Pitt's production company Plan B is planning to produce Shantaram a film directed by Mira Nair, starring Johnny Depp.

That's the kind of news that makes me happy!

[via Our Bollywood]

White people can't wear cornrows

It's news to me!

I had no idea that cornrows were "an extreme of hairstyle" but that's probably because it's part of my "cultural and ethnic background"? lol.

These two little girls were excluded from regular classroom activities in the UK because they were rocking 'rows. I guess high school sucks everywhere...

As, pointed out on Nappturality 101, straight hair is ok for everyone--texture is an exception allowable only for those with "unmanageable hair."

Blackface Because?

I just got an email day before yesterday from a fellow black American who enjoys Bollywood films:

I find the subject of racist attitudes in my beloved Bollywood a fascinating one. It saddened me to hear of the mistreatment of Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK and when I tried to learn about her, I stumbled upon this image:It comes from a 2004 article: http://www.indiantelevision.com/tube/y2k4/aug/augtube33.htm

After seeing this, I realized how long it's been since I've seen a person in blackface. Then I remembered that I was born in the eighties and the only blackface that I'm familiar with comes from documentary footage. So now, I'm having a bit of a crisis. I love Bollywood films but I feel conflicted with supporting an industry that constantly portrays Blacks in a negative light. I've ignored movies where we are seen as token criminals, glossed over stereotypical expressions in film dialogues and viewed the Rimi Sen comment as an isolated incident. However, blackface is pretty darn hard to excuse. How do I express my love for Hindi cinema, while acknowledging my disdain for the cultural ignorance and racism within its community? I'm at a loss.

-M.

My response:

You're right. That behavior is ignorant as hell. It's also interesting to note that the guy in the picture is wearing a curly wig as if to say, "Don't worry, I'm not making fun of dark skinned Indians, I'm clearly portraying someone of more closely African descent."

Unlike the US, India doesn't have very many black skinned people of prominence and influence. It wasn't until the civil rights movement brought international attention to black Americans (and Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize) that the US was embarrassed into decrying blackface. It's also important to note that there was no federal imperative to do so. People in the entertainment industry simply found it in poor taste as they began--not only to rub shoulders with--but to admire various black Americans for their achievements. India has no such influence to offer a catalyst for change (other than increasing globalization).

It will probably never disappear completely (it hasn't in the US) but I think the offensive portrayals will continue to decrease as India continues to embrace globalization and more of its foreign-educated children take control.

As for me personally, I continue to enjoy the good and use my blog to address the things that need to change.

-t.

All right friends, correct me if I'm wrong. I have faith in you!

Oscars for India!

Over at the Mutiny, Amardeep did an interesting post about Bollywood and the Oscars. He begins by referencing an article in The Indian Express by Shubhra Gupta:

Gupta is right on many counts here. Rang de Basanti does have urban, middle-class kids speaking liberal amounts of English (as well as a white girl, speaking Hindi). What she’s overlooking, of course, is that while Rang de Basanti is a lot of fun, it just isn’t that serious a film. It doesn’t have the sense of gravity or “prestige” that makes a film a plausible Oscar contender. A much better choice, by far, would have been Omkara — which has the three A’s: it’s Arty, “Authentic” (though still legible to western audiences, via Othello), and most importantly, Adult. (I often feel that NRIs or ABDs should pick India’s official Oscar selections, since the Board that currently makes this selection clearly has no idea what it’s doing. Paheli?)

As regular readers already know, I luuuuved Paheli. But in this particular instance, I don't suppose my opinion really matters...

Who knows what motivates those Academy folks. One can never tell. Crash vs. Brokeback anyone?

Anbe Sivam (2003)

So I finally finished watching Anbe Sivam--without subtitles--and I liked it. I'd probably like it more if I knew more details of what was going on!

The first half was fast-paced and funny so it wasn't too hard to follow. After the flashback where Anbe tells about his past and the girl that he loved, the story seems to get more interesting but there's much less physical comedy and "Tanglish" so I missed a lot.

For the life of me, I could not figure out what was up with the old bearded guy with the tikka. He would appear and corner Anbe at the most inopportune times and I was never quite sure whether or not he was supposed to be threatening.

Also, the ending kinda bummed me out. It would have helped to know Anbe's motivation for walking away.

Anyone want to fill me in on the details?

Remembering a King

Hope everyone takes a moment to be thankful for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today!

(And equally as greatful for Malcom X and the Black Panthers--without whom the American government would have never listened to Dr. King--but that's another post.)

My parents grew up through the turbulent times of 1960's lynchings, Jim Crow segregation and the drama of forced integration. I can hardly imagine what that would have been like but I am SO thankful that numerous people sacrificed their lives for me. Everytime I vote I do it for them!

If you haven't already, this would be a great time to make a donation to the Dr. King memorial in Washington DC.

One love!

Play on Players

Gee. I can't imagine what I'll blog about when Hrithik gets old and ugly. Until then, feast your eyes on this John Players ad.
If only life imitated art...

God is like Beyonce

I beg to differ but fellow Nashvillian Kage's post made me laugh. Sounds like he was being harrassed by the neighborhood Mormons...

When asked, "Do you know what God is like?" He answered:

God is like Beyonce. You know Beyonce Knowles, right?

They are both really famous and both have a huge following...I’m equally unsure if either actually really exists...

He ain't right y'all! ;)
You can read the rest here.