Delhi-6 (hindi 2009)

Delhi-6 opened to mixed reviews; the music by AR Rahman was considered one of his best scores - possibly better than SlumDog Millionaire, but the movie itself was given, on the average, 3/5 stars. Abhishek Bachchan stars and Amitabh makes a cameo appearance. The story involves an NRI returning home with his grandmother. Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) gets used to life in Dehli and grows to love it. He falls in love with Bittu and eventually declares his love, knowing it will prevent her arranged marriage. During his visit, the "Black Monkey" is running rampant and causing all sorts of havoc. In the final scenes of the movie, Roshan dresses as the Black Monkey to woo Bittu and is attacked by the neighborhood and beaten almost to death. This is a story of the gods and demons housed within all of us. It examines the importance of self reflection (symbolized by the mirror) and harkens to Plato's reminder, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Kismat Konnection (Hindi 2008)

Kismat Konnection stars with Shahid Kapoor and Juhi Chawla. SRK is the voice of the narrator. This is a cute story about a guy who is at the top of his class in college and just has a streak of bad luck after. He meets a girl, Priya (Vidya Balan), and his luck seems to change. The movie is all about their relationship and the preservation of a community center. Plans are afoot to build a shopping mall on the property, but Priya has other plans and she's the one with luck! More than luck, it's a film about the value of personal relationship and networking, no matter how the relationships happen. The significant person who turns the tide is a "waving friend." For me, this movie was a good reminder about keeping in touch and maintaining relationships.

Jab We Met (Hindi 2007)

Jab We Met is a great little comedy with good acting from Kareena Kapoor (Geet) and Shahid Kapoor (Aditya). The two meet on a train. Aditya has just finished watching his girlfriend get married and is feeling very down. The talkative and sparky, Geet, befriends him and tries to cheer him up. In her attempts, she ends up getting off the train and being unable to reboard it in time. The two end up traveling through Northern India together in an attempt to catch her train and luggage. Aditya accompanies Geet to her Sikh home in Punjab. Aditya wants to elope so that she can marry her true love, Anshuman. Aditya is persuaded to accompany her and drops her off at the doorstep of Anshuman and leaves. 9 months pass. Aditya has become very successful in business and has had a positive change in attitude due to his meeting Geet. On the other hand, Geet's parents look him up and demand that he produce Geet. Geet is nowhere to be found. It turns out that Anshuman had rejected her and Geet had been living in a religious teaching order. Aditya goes to look for Geet to return her to her parents. Ironically, he ends up doing for Geet what Geet did for him 9 months earlier. All's well that ends well and the ending is a good one. I recommend this movie for music, fun, interesting culture, great scenery, and good music.

1942: A Love Story (Hindi 1994)

The story of revolutionaries involved in India's separation from Britain, 1942: A Love Story is set in the Himalayan Mountains of Northern India - possibly Kashmir. The scenery is gorgeous and I've seen some of the locations and houses in other movies ( Jab We Met). Naren (Anil Kapoor) is the son of a rich pro-English landowner. Naren falls in love with Rajeshwari, the daughter of a revolutionary. When Naren attempts to ask permission from his father to marry Rajeshwari, the father turns in the revolutionary and his daughter in an attempt to prevent the marriage. The father dies in a bomb blast and the daughter is saved by a fellow revolutionary (Jackie Schroff). The revolutionary attends a ceremony where he hopes to assassinate an English general. Naren, having broken with his family, attempts to help the freedom fighter and uses a pistol in an attempt to help the revolutionary plan. He is captured and taken to be hanged. The revolutionary saves him and they both accomplish the impossible together. This is a love story with a happy ending, unlike what the beginning of the movie leads us to believe.

The movie won several awards; the music is especially good.

Taal (HIndi 1999)

Taal is a love story between a rich returned from London son with the daughter of a famous folk singer. Aishwarya Rai plays Mansi who falls in love with a man who, returned from school in London, disregards social convention and courts a woman who is below him in caste. Though his father honors the father of the girl who is a famous folk singer in his village, he refuses to recognize him or give him honor in the city. Mansi, insulted on behalf of her father for the treatment he has been given, disavows her love and turns to Vikrant Kapoor (Anil Kapoor), a famous pop singer, producer, and director. Recognizing her talent as a singer and dancer, Vikrant Kapoor catapults Mansi to stardom and asks her to marry him. She agrees. In the meantime, her forsaken love, Manav, vows to win her back and follows her career and attends her wedding ceremony. While there, he confronts Mansi who is unable to hide her feelings for him. Vikrant sacrifices his own interests in the interests of true love and encourages Mansi to leave him and express her feelings for Manav. She runs from his car and embraces Manav as the two fathers forget their differences and embrace also.

While something of a cheesy plot, the acting is good and Aishwarya Rai is great as always.

Devdas (Hindi 1955)

This older Devdas with Dilip Kumar, Suchitra Sen, and Vyjayantimala was quite good. Filling in the story of Devdas and Paro as children, and then fleshing out the Chandramukhi (Vyjayantimala) character added quite a bit to the story. While much simpler than the more recent Devdas, the costuming and sets are simple, this Devdas delivers more of a story and provides more motivation for the characters' acting. Filled with longing, suffering, pride, and irony, Devdas is deservedly considered a classic. The musical score is also quite good. Dilip Kumar's Devdas is a weak man who can't come to grips with his decisions or lack of will power. He is impulsive, loyal, and prideful. His alcoholism seems accidental and then an excuse to avoid responsibility. On the other hand, SRK's Devdas is a tortured soul who truly seems to care for Paro. While I like the back story provided in the older Devdas better, I like the acting in the newer Devdas best.

Faraar (Hindi 1975)

Amitabh Bachchan is considered by many to be the King of Bollywood (compared to him, SRK is not even considered a challenger; however, SRK is the best.) As I have only seen Mr. Bachchan in recent movies, like Cheeni Kum, Veer-Zaara, Mohabbatein, Bhagban, Bhoothnath, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, I wanted to see him in a movie from when he first became famous. Faraar was recommended to me by the very helpful person in the video store. In this movie, Raj (Amitabh Bachchan) learns of his sister's death at the hands of a person who is acquitted at the hands of the law. Raj takes it upon himself to see justice done and ends up murdering the man. He goes on the run and hides in the house of a police man, where he takes the policeman's son hostage. It turns out that Raj is intimately connected in the past with the policeman's wife. She discovers who he is when she overhears Raj singing a song the two of them had shared to her son as a lullaby. (The same lullaby she sings to her son...) What ensues is interesting. The acting is good and the action believable. A good human interest story. I'd recommend this movie also.

Cheeni Kum (Hindi 2007)

Cheeni Kum stars the very attractive Amitabh Bachchan who is the owner of the best Indian restaurant in London. He meets an attractive 34 year old Nina (Tabu), a flirtation ensues and love soon follows. The trick is to convince Nina's father to give her hand in marriage to 64 year old Buddha (Amitabh Bachchan). In a subplot, Buddha's neighbor friend, 10 year old Sexy has blood cancer and is very ill. A charming and entertaining movie, I recommend this one.

Kaal (Hindi 2005)

Kaal is a Hindi thriller set in the Jim Corbett National Park in the central northern part of India. Ostensibly a thriller about naive encounters with man-eating tigers, this is actually a story about a ghost who lures unsuspecting tourists who do not follow the park rules to their death. John Abraham, Laura Dutta, and Ajay Devgan star. This is an entertaining story with some startling moments.

Gaja Gamini (Hindi 200)

A movie unlike any other, Gaja Gamini is a meditation on women. Without plot, the movie proceeds as a collage of images and scenarios. Madhuri Dixit plays the mysterious woman, Gaja Gamini. Leonardo Da Vinci's muse, Gaja Gamini smiles secretively and personifies women across the centuries. The movie is set on a stage divided by a big black wall. On the one side is reason on the other, art. Madhuri plays five distinct characters. Shahrukh Khan makes an appearance. Some people really like this film and some people really dislike it. It is an art film, the subtitles are poor, only about 1/2 of the dialogue is translated. Much of the dialogue seems to be in couplets, but it's difficult to tell. If one thinks of this film as a play set on stage, fractured into pieces much like theater of the absurd, it's a little easier to accept. While I'm not sure that I'd recommend it, I found it very difficult to follow, it is interesting for what it tries to do and how it tries to do it. The director, MF Husain, is a famous painter and was 85 when he directed this film, supposedly inspired and dedicated to the leading actress, Madhuri Dixit. (The painting at the beginning of this post is by M.F. Husain.)

Umrao Jan Ada by Mirza Muhammad Hadi Rusva

Umrao Jan Ada is the life story of a famous Lucknow courtesan. While reading through this story, I was increasingly reminded of a Hindi movie starring Aishwarya Rai. Of course, the movie is Umrao Jaan. The book is considered the first novel that was written in Urdu - the language spoken/written by Muslim Indians. Abducted from her family by a man seeking revenge against her father, Amiran is sold to the procuress of a brothel. Upon her procurement, they change her name to Umrao. Umrao is pampered and raised to read, write, dance, and sing. Upon practicing her trade, her name becomes Umrao Jan (the Jan indicating her status as a courtesan). Narrating her various affairs and ventures, the story is framed in poetry and chapters are introduced by couplets. Revealing a life of luxury and tribulation, the story is interspersed with philosophy and meditations upon the relations between the sexes. Umrao Jan finishes her account with this thought, "My poor, simple prostitutes! Never entertain the false hope that any man will ever love you with a true heart. The lover who gives his body and soul to you will depart in a few days. He will never settle down with you, and you are not even worthy of that. Only the virtuous, who see one face and never turn to another, will have the pleasure of true love. You, women of the street, will never find such a blessing from God" (200).

JP Dutta's film, Umrao Jaan, starring Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, is a very faithful adaptation of this novel.

Love and Longing in Bombay by Vikram Chandra

Vikram Chandra is a powerful writer; his short stories in Love and Longing in Bombay are masterful. All are united by the common technique of the narrator encountering a friend, Subramaniam who tells a story. The narrator says this about Subramaniam, "Subramaniam had white hair, he was thin, and in the falling dusk he looked very small to me, the kind of man who would while away the endless boredom of his life in a bar off Sasoon Dock, and so I shaped him up in my mind, and weighed him and dropped him. I should have noticed then that the waiters brought his drinks to him without being asked, and that the others talked around his silence but always with their faces turned towards him..."(3).

The stories are five, "Dharma", "Shakti", "Kama", "Artha", and "Shanti". I'd read "Shakti first in an Indian compilation called Mirrorworks and had already determined that it was a story that I'd like to use in class. Shakti means "power", as far as I know, and the story is about different levels, kinds, and exercises of power. "Dharma" is the story of a man who meets his ghost. "Kama" is a story about the motivation for committing murder, not sex or love or property, but "the most complicated thing of all." "Artha" is a story about how to live. When suffering is so great, how does one go on? How does one live? Finally, "Shanti", peace, is introduced in response to worry about a woman who is "in despair over the state of the country" and has become cynical. Subramaniam tells the story of a boy who, waiting at a train station with a friend, falls in love with a young lady who is also waiting for a train. Over a period of time, the two become acquainted. The young lady is searching for her pilot husband who is missing in action. She is traveling the length and breadth of India looking for him. Whenever she stops at the hero's station, she has a cup of tea and tells the hero stories that she has heard along the way. Finally, the hero responds by telling her a tale of his own. What the tales have in common is the pure human condition, the existential response to living.

These stories are moving, masterful, and mindful.

One 2 Ka 4 (Hindi 2001)

Another good Shah Rukh Khan movie, One 2 Ka 4 is the story of two cop partners who are working on a big drug lord bust. The senior partner, Javed (Jackie Shroff) is the good father of four kids. Ajay (Shahrukh Khan) is the junior partner and hates kids. Javed is killed in a drug bust and Ajay finds himself the adoptive father of the four kids. This is the story of his attempts to raise the kids with the help of a quirky female friend, Geeta (Juhi Chawla). Of course, it all comes right in the end and we see SRK's character's growth and development throughout. A very endearing and heartwarming story, I recommend this one. (The picture shows Ajay after having begged for just 10 minutes of silence, please...)

Pardes (Hindi 1997)

Pardes is a wonderful film about the difficulties of being an NRI and the difficulties of adjusting to a new land. After 25 years, Kishorilal (Amrish Puri) visits his dear friend in India. He becomes enamored of Ganga (Mahima Chaudhry) and decides the village girl would be perfect for his prince of a son, Rajiv (Agnihotri). Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan) is commissioned by his adopted father, Kishorilal, to plead the suite of Rajiv. He does so successfully and Ganga agrees to the engagement. She visits America, Rajiv's homeland, for a month prior to the marriage. Rajiv shows his true colors and even Arjun can not put an acceptable spin on his behavior. In the meantime, Arjun and Ganga have gained one another's trust and have fallen in love. The movie is their love story and the troubles attendant upon differences in culture. This is a great little movie with strong Indian values contrasted with shallow American values. There is an awesome scene where Arjun demonstrates his unselfish love for Ganga by clasping a naked blade and running his bleeding hand along it...

Parzania (2007 - American/Hindi)

Parzania is a movie about the communal riots in the Indian State of Gujarat. Hindus set fire to Muslim communities, destroyed people and families, and police stood by, watched, and laughed. The movie traces a middle class Parsi family who lives within a Muslim community. Suddenly, without warning, riots erupt, people try to save themselves, and Parzan, the young son and brother, is separated from his mother. The parents spend years trying to locate him. The movie also gives a phone number to call with any info. Starring in the movie is Nasaruddin Shah and Sarika Masterm. Both of these two are very good in their roles. The actors who play the young son and daughter are also good. The American role was annoying. The character cussed every two words and drank continuously from a flask. I'm sure all Americans who visit India are not this uncouth, at least I hope so.

Yeh Mera India (Hindi 2009)

This movie is a melange of different characters trying to make it in Mumbai in the span of one day. Yeh Mera India is about bias and prejudice. By the end of the span, several of the main characters have realized their bias and addressed it. This was a good movie, but much of it was untranslated. About 2/3 was translated and 1/3 was not. Unfortunately, there were periodic episodes of a voice over, I suppose making an editorial comment about the action, that were not translated. Particularly moving was a scene wherein a Muslim terrorist is readying himself to shoot a Hindu target. By chance encounter, he is reminded that one can look at the good in interactions with the other or one can focus on the bad. He remembers being saved during the time of Muslim terror when Hindus were lighting the Muslim neighborhoods on fire and remembers that it was a Hindu home that gave him and his child shelter. After this memory, he witnesses a lost Muslim girl on the street. She is crying and a small boy, whom we and he later find out is Hindu, gives her succor. Her mother finds her and is grateful to the Hindu boy. The terrorist watches. Then another Muslim terrorist plants a teddy bear bomb under a political rally grandstand in the same vicinity. The Hindu boy, seeing the abandoned teddy bear, wants it and reaches for it. The Muslim terrorist watches this as his mark comes out, his partner yells at him to shoot, and he chooses to rush to the aid of the boy, grab the bear, throw it, and is blown to bits himself. Later, another character confronts patrons of a restaurant who are overheard talking about Muslim terrorists and confronts them with their stereotypes, reminding them that all terrorists are not Muslim. Issues dealt with in this film include, economic status, religious affiliation, immigrant status, newcomer status, competition for jobs, attribution of responsibility, and appreciation of the good in people. I recommend seeing this film, but possibly look for a version with better subtitles. I watched Adlabs.

Dostana (Hindi 2008)

Starring what has to be three of the most attractive people on the planet, Dostana is a comedy about two attractive "hot" guys who say they are gay lovers in order to get two rooms in a desirable condo in a Miami high rise. Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham play the two guys and Priyanka Chopra plays the girl who owns the apartment and rents to the two. The guys are actually convincing as gay boyfriends. There are several amusing scenes between the two. Abhishek lets himself go more and John Abraham reminds one of George Clooney. One scene between Kunal (John Abraham) and Neha (Priyanka Chopra) features a background of SRK dancing in the rain during the movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai; they imitate SRK's dance moves. I enjoyed the irony of using SRK to move the romantic plot of the movie along... This was a good little comedy although the gay theme was stereotypical...

King Uncle (Hindi 1993)

One of Shah Rukh Khan's earliest movies, King Uncle stars Jackie Shroff as the male lead and Shah Rukh plays his younger brother. This is a very cute movie with some violent scenes of fist fights. What makes the movie cute is the child actor, Pooja Ruparel. She plays the part of Munna, the Annie to Jackie Shroff's Warbucks. Elder brother, Ashok (Jackie Shroff) has worked hard to become extremely rich. He houses his sister and younger brother in a huge, rule-ridden, loveless and joyless mansion. He marries his sister off to a ruthless and philandering business man with ambitions of gaining the in-law's fortune. Anil (SRK), the younger brother, can not put up with Ashok's rules and tyrannical behavior, upon being confronted with his relationship with a poverty stricken friend, Anil leaves his uncle's house for parts unknown.

The movie begins to get interesting when, after a business meeting in the mountains, Ashok comes across an orphanage and becomes interested in one of the orphans who hitches a ride in his car and shows up to stay at Ashok's mansion for a few days. The clear, lively, joyful spirit of the child transforms Ashok. The rest of the movie is about Munna's King Uncle, Ashok, and his attempts to amend for his past unloving behavior. Both stirring and heart-warming, this is a great little movie. Shah Rukh, Jackie Shroff, and Pooja Ruparel are all very good and fun to watch.

New York (Hindi 2009)

New York is not typical Bollywood fare. There are a couple song numbers, but no big group dances. Rather, this is a story about the aftermath of 9/11 and how it affected the Muslim population of this country. Expecting a typical Bollywood romance, I was surprised by the framing of the story. The movie begins with the arrest and detention (under the Patriot Act) of a young Muslim youth who has come from India on a scholarship to study at New York State College. To escape unjust incarceration and probably torture, Omar agrees to work as an undercover agent by infiltrating a supposed terrorist inner cell. The twist is that his good friend and wife are the ones under suspicion. Omar is expected to win their trust after not having seen them for 7 years and to live in their house in an effort to uncover terrorist activity.

The movie explores the issue of terrorism, loss of dignity, racist policies towards Muslims, Muslim oppression and response to unjust police practices under the Patriot Act, and the waste of talent and human potential that goes on because of the policy. The four main actors were new to me, but all were quite good. Neil Nitin Mukesh plays Omar; Katrina Kaif plays Maya, his love interest; John Abraham plays Sam, the highly competent American Muslim who is detained for 9 months under suspicion of being a terrorist and who exits the detention center a changed person. Finally, Irrfan plays Agent Roshan, an undercover FBI agent.

I haven't seen a movie like this produced by an American company. Having seen it, I hope that I don't get on a list somewhere as a terrorist sympathizer. However, the movie did give a very human face to terrorists and explored some of the issues that could push a person towards it. I'm glad that this film was suggested to me and that I purchased it. I recommend it highly. By the way, the film is produced by Yash Raj Films - Yash Chopra; these productions are always very well cast, acted, directed, filmed, written, etc. I haven't yet been disappointed with films produced by this company. I identify it as a label of quality.

Trimurti (Hindi 1995)

The Power of Three in One is the story of Trimurti. Shah Rukh Khan stars as the younger brother, along with Anil Kapoor( the host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in Slumdog Millionaire) and Jackie Shroff (another long time Bollywood actor). The movie commences with a policeman mother who tries to protect the shrine of the "Mother" for all instead of just the man who has paid for the renovations. To keep the poor from accessing the temple, Kooka (the villain) frames Satyadevi (the mother) to take the fall for killing three policeman. She is sentenced to jail for 18 years and her two sons are left to care for the son newly born in jail. The movie relates the story of the two older boys to raise the younger son, their parting of ways, and their eventual reacquaintance prior to the mother obtaining her freedom. The song and dance in this movie tends to be more religious in nature, devoted to worship of "the mother." The movie is entertaining and Shah Rukh is filled with puppy enthusiasm. His acting is amusing and endearing. He's good as the youngest brother and the other two male leads are also good as the 1st and 2nd brother.

Provoked: a true story of a battered wife (Aishwarya Rai)

Filmed in England and delivered mostly in English, Provoked is the true story of a woman who lights her husband on fire to escape his daily beatings and abuse. Aishwarya Rai delivers a great performance in this movie. Opening with a scene playing off the title of the book, Circle of Light, from which the script was taken, a small flame creates a circle of light as it moves through a darkened house to the bedroom where a man lies sprawled out in bed, asleep. In a moment, the bed is alight and the man is screaming and running from the house. When the police investigate, they come across a weeping, unspeaking woman who is clutching her children to her. In his hospital bed, the burned man accuses his wife, the bitch, of having lit him on fire. The woman is accused of attempted murder and sent to prison to await trial, the children are sent to live with the mother-in-law, and the husband dies. Thus the scene is set for a trial, incarceration, and eventual appeal of Kiran (Aishwarya Rai). During the sequence of these events, Kiran's relationship with her abusive husband is revealed and her character and sufferings are established. Kiran finds freedom in prison and learns to stand up for herself and her friends. She, with the unselfish help of her cell mate, maintains honor and dignity and develops courage and conviction. This is a very fine movie that showcases Aishwarya Rai's acting talents.

Salaam/Namaste (Hindi 2005)

With Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan, Salaam/Namaste is a movie about two people who initially despise one another and trade barbed comments. Ambar (Preity Zinta) is a medical intern who pays her way through school by working as a radio talk show host on station 101.5 Salaam/Namaste. Nick (Saif Ali Khan) is scheduled to be interviewed as a guest on her talk show one morning; however, he is late, as always, and does not make the show. Ambar proceeds to assassinate his character on air and in the process trashes the restaurant where he works as head chef. This causes a series of problems and Nick calls her on air and threatens to sue the station. Later, at a wedding, the two meet without knowing each other's identity, and fall in love. Identities are revealed, Nick apologizes and having fallen in love, invites Ambar to move in with him so that they can get to know one another better. Ambar eventually agrees and the rest of the movie traces their relationship for the next year. The music and dance is catchy, the two have good chemistry together, and there are some amusing moments. Basically a relationship movie, it's good for easy entertainment. The delivery scene at the end is way over the top, almost offensive...

Tony Takitani (Japanese Cinema 2005)

One of the best movies that I've seen in a while, Tony Takitani is based on a short story by Haruki Murakami. With a fabulous musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tony Takitani transports the viewer into another reality. The cinematography is also noteworthy. The scenes are textured and beautifully shot. Texture, color, and design are relished. Scenes move sideways in an interesting bit of camera work that I've never seen done before. The movie tells the story of a lonely illustrator who, rather late in life, becomes attracted to a lovely young lady who loves fine clothes. They marry and Tony finds himself paying for the daily increasing volume of designer clothes purchased by his wife. His wife dies in an ironic accident and Tony finds himself with clothes and time on his hands. How will Tony survive without his wife? Is there salvation for the lonely?

Bhoothnath (Hindi 2008)

A children's movie about a mischievous kid who befriends a ghost, Bhoothnath showcases Amitabh Bachchan's talents. He plays a ghost haunting a "bungalow" in Goa that has been rented by a young family. Banku, the young son, is always getting in trouble -encouraged to do so by his absent father (Shah Rukh Khan). His mother with smiles, love, and humor supports her son and sets herself the task of cleaning and running the haunted household. The ghost receives salvation through the good services of Banku and balance is restored.

This is a good movie about both healthy families and families that have come undone. It moved me to tears in several parts. Amitabh is very good as the ghost. This is good family entertainment with something in it for everyone.

Hum Tum (Hindi 2004)

A Yash Chopra production starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji, Hum Tum is a cute Bollywood movie that tells the story of two friends that fall in love. Meeting on a plane for the first time, playboy Karan flirts with Rhea who expresses interest in his Hum Tum cartoon. They meet accidentally through the next 10 years or so. Karan develops his cartoon strip about a male and female character who have a sparring relationship; Rhea marries and becomes a widow. Eventually, the two begin to spend more time together and develop a relationship which neither can admit to needing for life. Eventually everything works out. What makes the film notable is the HumTum cartoon animation that provides editorial comments on the relationship of the two main characters. Quite cleverly done.

Cachimba (Latin American Cinema 2004)

An ironic look at nationalism and the art world, the humor of Cachimba is underplayed and painful. Marcos, a dull accountant is dating Hilda, a chubby and insecure young lady. Marcos makes moves on her while Hilda continues to repulse him, holding out for marriage. Eventually, Marcos persuades her to do the naughty and in hopes of a daylight romp persuades her to vacation with him for a few days in Cartegena. While negotiating the physical aspects of their relationship, they stumble across a dilapidated museum of art. A crotchety old man, Felipe, is the caretaker of the museum and the corpus of a little known and neglected Chilean artist. Marcos finds himself enamored of the art work and determined to save the works for the posterity of the Chilean people.

Based on a book of the same name by Jose Donoso, Cachimba is, then, the story of what happens when commercial interests become involved with art. In spite of his best intentions, Marcos begins a sequence of events that leads to the destruction of Felipe and the exploitation of the art work. Corruption wins out and even Marcos and Hilda fall prey to it, albeit in a "nice" way. The cinematography is very good. This movie won over 20 festival awards and is well worth seeing. It is fairly slow moving, but the story, scenery, music, and acting are so good that one just goes along with the flow.

Temptation: As Never Seen Before

A traveling stage show starring Shahrukh Khan, Priety Zinta, Rani Mukherji, Saif Ali Khan, and Priyanka Chopra, Temptation runs for 223 minutes. There are a couple of good bits in this and several slow ones. When the five named above are on stage, the shows has energy and charm; however, when others are on, such as the finalists for the Indian Idol or the choreographer, the show lacks sizzle. Shahrukh's interaction with audience members is interesting. This video is a compilation of his 18 stop world tour, featuring bits from Dubai, Bangkor, Toronto, London, New York, Atlanta, LA, etc. One part of the video featured a little humorous home movie with the six main stars acting, dancing, and singing - that was very entertaining. Many familiar songs, Chaiyya Chaiyya (from Dil Se) being the most memorable.

Dil Aashna Hai (2000)

Three college girls from 1973-1974 get wild and one has a child. All three determine to raise the child and claim maternity. 18 years pass. The girls have given the child up for adoption and are living their separate lives. The movie begins with Karan (Shah Rukh Khan) professing his love for a courtesan, Laila. Laila has been brought up in a brothel and makes her living as a cabaret dancer. While performing at a wedding, she gets a phone call from her "mother." Her "mother" is on her death bed and finally tells Laila the truth that she is not her mother. The movie, Dil Aashna Hai, is the story of Laila's search, abetted by Karan, for her mother. The female cast is very strong. It's a well-told tale and SRK's role is understated. While he is a male lead, there are several male leads with approximately equal parts in this movie. It's really all about the women.

Dil Se (1998)

Dil Se is one of my very favorite Shah Rukh Khan films. I say this for several reasons. It's up there with Veer Zaara, Devdas, and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Though it did not do well in the Indian market upon first release ( I wonder why?), it did well in the European market and went on to gather several awards.

Briefly, it's the story of a Radio India reporter, Amar (Shah Rukh Khan), who falls in love with a mysterious girl/woman, Meghna (Nanisha Roirala), whom he meets at a train station. They cross in the night, he continues on to a meeting in Kashmir to interview terrorists for the radio station and then proceeds to look for his love. He encounters her several times with less than satisfying consequences. Eventually, he gives it up and agrees to contract a marriage with a family acquaintance, Preeti (Preity Zinta). Meghna seeks him out and begs to live in his family complex and asks Amar to get her a job at Radio India. Amar, still in love, in spite of his imminent marriage to Preeti, agrees. Too soon, he finds out Meghna is a terrorist and involves himself in attempting to stop the terrorist plot.

This all sounds basic; however, this film has several outstanding features. First, after meeting Meghna at the train station and losing her, Amar has a song and dance routine on a moving train. That's right. Shah Rukh dances fearlessly, seemingly, on the roof of a moving train for many miles. It is awesome choreography, music, and cinematography. It's a famous scene that is mentioned in Bollywood lore as a first and as an accolade for SRK. Next, while oftentimes the lyrics of Bollywood song and dance are not translated into English, the music in Dil Se is translated (Moserbaer version). The poetry is beautiful. Is this a ghazal? I think so - must be, it is so insinuating, lingering, compelling, soulful. The script of this movie is just great. Amar follows Meghna onto a bus going to the hinterlands. The bus breaks down and they travel together. In an intimate scene, after Amar has asked Maghna what she likes and what she doesn't like, she returns the favor and asks him the same question. Amar's response is inspired and to die for - unforgettable. (Men, take note.) Shah Rukh Khan's acting is faultless. He allows himself to be human, to appear with faults, to be absolutely and poignantly human. He is not the big hero in this, and yet he is. The ending is moving, horrible, brave, inevitable, (words fail me, but more remains to be said.) The scenery is stark and beautiful. This movie is memorable and worth seeing more than once.

Baadshah (1999)

Silly, but very enjoyable, Baadshah is a spoof of detective shows, action thrillers, and romance. Baadshah (Shah Rukh Khan) is an adept but somewhat foolish private detective with four partners. The movie open with Baadshah impersonating a mafia don, gambling on cards, and winning a small fortune in cash and diamonds. He promptly turns it over to his client who asked him to recover the diamonds. We see Baadshah is ba-a-ad. He's cool, svelte, quick on the draw, adroit on his feet, and ready for action. We also see his foibles, his conceit, and his humanity. His second adventure involves making Seema fall in love with him, breaking her heart, and leaving her to marry the son of his client. Baadshah is successful, but he ends up falling in love himself. Before his client can marry his son to Seema, they are arrested and sent to prison for fraud and robbery. In the meantime, Baadshah takes a third case involving a kidnapping of a young girl. It is at this point the the audience is treated to the unexpected plot development: unbeknownst to Baadshah, a plot is afoot to assassinate the female government figure, known as "Ma" to all of the land. In an attempt to foil the plot, the secret police plot a counter move involving a secret agent to whom they give the code name, Badshah. From that point on, we have a case of mistaken identity and the plot becomes very convoluted, amusing, and fun. Jokes and irreverent references about politics, movie stars, tongue in cheek dialogue and dance moves are interspersed throughout the movie. LOL several times.

Shah Rukh sports tons of costume changes in designer fashions and plays with the irony and facetiousness in the script. Some of the situations are way over the top; for example, in one of the typical Bollywood romance song and dance episodes - you know, the ones where the loving couple express their devotion through song and dance in Switzerland, quick scene change to the beach, quick scene change to the meadow, etc. - Baadshah and Seema dance with Swiss goat girls and then end up lying together on a Swiss blacktop road with a car speeding up toward them. That's simply ridiculous and funny. Johnny Lever is also in this movie and plays Baadshah's sidekick. He does a good job, doesn't get too loud, and he's not campy. So even though most of the movie is over the top, Johnny Lever is restrained. The female lead, Twinkle Khanna, sports a Demi Moore haircut after the intermission...

Chaahat (Desire) 1996

One of Shah Rukh Khan's early movies, Chaahat is a story of obsession, except this time, Shah Rukh is the object of obsession rather than being the one who obsesses. Although the movie claims to come with English subtitles, they did not work, it was all in Hindi (I presume.) The film is about a father (Anupam Kher) and son (Shah Rukh Khan) who are singing performers. The father becomes ill and Roop (the son) decides to take him to Mumbai for treatment. In the city, a rich hotelier offers Roop a job as a singer because his sister has fallen in love with Roop. In the meantime, Roop has fallen in love with another woman whom he eventually marries. The hotelier is played by Naseeruddin Shah who also appeared with Shah Rukh in Chamatkar. All three of the male leads are very good in this film. Anupam Kher can be seen in many films and he plays a great dad; he is wise, understanding, and loving. The end of his movie is very violent. Roop gets beat up by the hotelier because he has scorned the sister and she's upset. In spite of a horrendous beating, Roop survives to give back some of the same. The drama and action is intense. I just wish that I could have understood the dialogue....Shah Rukh does what he does best in this film.

Fauji Television serial 1988 with Shah Rukh Khan

Fauji is Shah Rukh Khan's first acting job in front of a camera. A serial about the training of commandos, televised in 1988, Fauji received critical acclaim and made Shah Rukh as star. Fauji is out on dvd, in two volumes; Volume 1 with episodes 1-7, and Volume 2 with the rest. Shah Rukh's role was increased as the series went on because he was so popular. He plays Abhimanyu Rai, an irresponsible light-hearted youth who slowly develops into a responsible soldier. SRK's athleticism is prominent in this serial as is his charm and enthusiasm. The direction and storyline of the serial is naive, low budget, and somewhat silly; yet it is interesting if only to get a view into Indian television culture in 1988 (compare to American television at the time) and to see Shah Rukh Khan's beginnings as a film actor.

Chalte Chalte (2003)

A story about love, community involvement in the love story, heartache, and forgiveness, Chalte Chalte was produced by Shah Rukh Khan's company, Dreamz Unlimited. The movie has an interesting beginning. The two main characters are introduced through a dialogue among their friends. The friends speak of Priya (Rani Mukherji) and Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) as a real life love story. The friends relate the story of their first meeting, courtship, and marriage. Then the audience meets the two for the first time at a one year anniversary party. The love story has become rocky and eventually the two separate, but that's not the end of the love story. Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherji are a good combination; their acting is very good, especially in the scenes of conflict, and the story is something that everyone who has been in a relationship can relate to. Several scenes were filmed in Greece. Considered average by critics, the film is entertaining to watch, moving, and plausibly realistic.

Maya Memsab Shahrukh's first movie

A remake of Madame Bovary with Hindi sensibility, Maya Memsaab is the story of a beautiful independent thinking woman who is unable to settle. Deepa Sahi plays Maya, the beautiful, educated, whimsical girl who marries a doctor and then tries to settle down into a middle class life. She has several affairs, one of whom is Lalit Kumar (Shah Rukh Khan), a younger fellow who has developed a crush on her after viewing her from afar. Unfortunately, Maya is looking for romance and stimulation. When all of this fails to satisfy her longing, and her debt has exceeded her ability to pay, Maya takes the only way out, suicide. The movie is an investigation into her death and all is slowly revealed.

I enjoyed this movie. Shah Rukh Khan is good as her spurned younger lover who is then taken up as a play thing by Maya. Her husband and older lover are also good. Stylized as an art movie and the director, Ketan Mehta, stylizing it as a dream, this is a well-acted interesting movie. I'm sure that women can definitely relate. Who of us hasn't fantasized of a way out of hum drum every day existence? The question, though, is can we afford the cost? It turns out that Maya could not afford it. Her house and life was forfeit. Deepa Sahi is very good as Maya (illusion). The movie made me want to read Madame Bovary again. This is a must see.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Straight from the Heart

A great movie, Hum Dil De C huke Sanam is a story about people who learn to love and understand. Samer (Salman Khan) come to India from Italy to learn how to sing ghazals. He is a well known singer in Italy, but he wants to learn more. Nandini (Aishwarya Rai) the daughter of the teacher Samer has come to learn with, becomes smitten with him. Romance ensues and Samer does not step up to engage himself to her. Nandini becomes engaged and then married to Vanraj (Ajay Dvgan). Nandini's father forces Samer to return to Italy. Nandini is miserable in her marriage and Vanraj, loving her, determines to reunite her with Samer. They go to Italy to find Samer. The first part of the movie is typically Bollywood, but as always, the second half turns poignant and meaningful. The movie is all about the second half, which, of course, I won't share with you. Needless to say, there is a twist and a plethora of meaning. See this one. This was my second viewing, better than the first.

2nd scene from The Taste of Tea

Found a picture of the fruit tree from the second scene in the movie and just needed to post it. What a gorgeous tree. I understand why the viewing of blossoms at certain times of the year might just be the only thing one ought to be doing.

The Taste of Tea (2003) Japanese Cinema

Wow! The Taste of Tea was a surprising gem of a movie. With great cinematography, a fine cast, and an absolutely beautiful setting, The Taste of Tea is about the fullness of being. This is a story about the daily life of a family and their encounters with being. Each character, the grandfather, mother, father, two uncles, son, and daughter, are quirky, unique and interesting. The characters struggle with private issues, develop during the course of the movie, and cultivate their gardens. Moments of magic realism irrupt throughout the movie and do not detract but add to the mood developed by the director/writer/editor, Katsuhito Ishii. The direction is very good. The script, casting, settings, pacing, and special effects all contribute to an overall effect of gentle amusement and satisfaction. The second scene under a blossoming fruit tree is remarkable for its evocative power. Much of the imagery is unforgettable. This is a visually stunning movie. What is the opposite of sunyata or emptiness? Fullness of being. The Unbearable Lightness of Being?

Chamatkar (1992) Shah Rukh Khan early movie

Chamatkar depends on the supernatural for the movement of its plot. Sunder (SRK) is tricked into relocating to Mumbai by an old school friend. His friend tricks him into mortgaging his home and land in order to go to Dubai, make his fortune as a teacher, and then return to build a new school for his village on his property with all the money he will have earned. Instead, Sunder's luggage and money is stolen and the train he was told to take ends up in Mumbai. A naive villager, with no friends, no money, and no place to stay, Sunder decides to sleep in a cemetery. While there he is accosted by some criminal types who wish to rob him and just when it looks like Sunder's story will be over before it has begun, The ghost of a murdered mob boss, Marco, rises from the grave and comes to Sunder's assistance. God has promised Sunder revenge for his untimely killing upon the enlistment of help from the one man who will be able to see and hear Marcos. Sunder is destiny's child and Marco's only chance for retribution. Sunder agrees to help Marco and they proceed to right the wrongs that were done 20 years previously and are still being perpetuated in the now of the movie.

The dancing and songs in this movie are passable, the special effects involved with the supernatural actions of Marcos are humorous, and the actor who plays Marco (Naseeruddin Shah) steals the show. He's as convincing as one can be in the role and he carries it off with a certain panache. Shah Rukh Khan is a good foil for him. SRK and Naseeruddin have a dance together which is entertaining, the animation during the opening credits is fun, and the underlying story is satisfying. This is a fun film to see if only to see SRK's puppy side. He's so young and new at the game, it appears that he's just learning how to dance. While some of his steps are wooden or awkward, his energy and potential are very evident.

The Ark Sakura by Kobo Abe

Another odd book from Kobo Abe, The Ark Sakura explores Abe's common themes of insect collection, marginalization, and living on the edge. Like The Woman in the Dunes, the Box Man, and The Face of Another, and Secret Rendezvous, Abe creates isolated protagonists who perceive the world in a manner unique from others. His characters become embroiled in Kafkaesque situations and reflect the sometimes absurd dilemnas of the modern world. The narrator lives in an underground cavern which he has slowly and surely converted into a giant ark. His intention is to stock the ark with crew members, seal it off from the rest of the world, and live in it in the event of a nuclear attack. Of course, waiting for the attack would be too late, so his mission is to offer a key and invitation card to special ones chosen for the honor of becoming a crew member and thereby saving his or her life.

This book opens with a scene of the narrator negotiating to buy a eupcaccia or clock bug from the insect selling man. The eupcaccia is a distinctive bug in that it has no legs and "goes around and around in the same place like the hour hand of a clock, feeding on its own excrement" (12). As an example of the oddness of the narrator, he states, "The eupcaccia promised to become a useful litmus test, I thought, one that gave me an objective standard for deciding among potential crewmen. Anyone who showed no curiosity about such an insect--the fulcrum of a compass with which to draw the circumference of the very earth--was simply too insensitive to merit serious consideration" (13). Abe returns to insects as a focus of interest in several of his books. The narrator entices a couple of people to return home with him and he introduces them to his "ark" and his plan for salvation from the inevitable nuclear holocaust. The plot proceeds. It bogs down when the narrator gets his foot and calf flushed down the giant toilet. He is forced to remain in this awkward position for about 1/2 the book. We, readers, are treated to a lengthy discourse about his discomfort and worries about the situation. Excrement and disposal of human refuse is another focal point in this book.

Actually, while the author is imaginative, he seems a little obsessive/compulsive. Maybe that's why I enjoy reading his books; Kobo Abe is unlike anyone else. Murakami comes close as does Kundera or Kafka. However, while both Kundera and Kafka examine the absurdity of the modern situation, they don't, always, get wierd. Abe does. On another note, the movie based on his book, The Woman in the Dunes, is a classic. Hiroshi Teshigahara's movie is weird, absurd, insect related, sweaty, sandy, and provocative, the movie is beautifully filmed and texturally sumptious. Eerie, terrifying, and never to be forgotten, it is one of my very favorite movies and not to be missed! (Taken from the novel by Kobo Abe, director/producer Hiroshi Teshigahara completed this visually stunning feature on a budget of only $100,000. Winning a Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 1964, the poetic Woman in the Dunes would go on to be nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Foreign Film (1964) and Best Director (1965). ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide, New York Times)

Anjaam (final result)

The most bizarre of the films that I have recently watched with Shahrukh Khan, Anjaam, like Darr is a story of passion and obsession. Unlike Darr, however, the women in this movie are not passive victims to terror, but take a more active role. The real star in this movie is Madhuri Dixit. She plays Vijay's (SRK's) love interest, Shivani. While she achieved critical acclaim for her role as the Courtesan in Devdas with SRK, I think her performance showed more range and acting ability in this film. This is the first film with SRK that I could not find anything to like about the character that he played. Usually there is some redeeming quality that SRK is able to bring out of the character. Vijay is entirely unlikable. He is arrogant, shallow, violent, stubborn, and remorseless. SRK utilizes mannerisms to communicate Vijay's feeling. For example, when Vijay is feeling bothered, he has a right shoulder tic. When he is recovering from paralysis, he uses hand and arm twitches. These are all well and good, but Madhuri's performance provides a strong contrast. Her characterization is more subtle. She doesn't rely on these types of "business" that actors employ, rather her posture, her glance, her timing, her quality of attention to the other characters communicates her motivation and character. Johnny Lever has a gratuitous part in this movie and is very annoying. Every time he came on screen, I found myself having to turn the sound to the lowest setting. In addition, Deepak Tijori plays the murdered romantic lead. He was also the lead in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa where I commented that SRK was much preferable to him, making the premise of that plot unbelievable. I don't blame either of the SRK characters for wanting to bump this guy off.

This movie is filled with violence and made me feel very edgy. In brief, Vijay "falls in love" with an inaccessible woman, Shivani. She makes it very clear that she is not interested in him, yet he continues to pursue her. Eventually, he ends up killing her husband and accusing her of adultry and attempted murder. He is instrumental in her receiving a three year prison term. For Shivani, the innocent victim of Vijay's manipulations, life goes from bad to worse to ... In the end, it is the final result that matters.

Anjaam is a film worth watching as one of the three "negative" roles that SRK played early in his career. SRK has come a long way. I don't agree with critics that say he only plays one role. I think he plays unique characters, but some of the characters that he's been given to play are very similar to other characters that he's played. I think he's a brave actor. He allows himself to appear ugly, foolish, weak, annoying, conceited, etc. There are many actors that would not take roles that portrayed them in a less than attractive light. I have a lot of admiration for this man and his humility.

Devdas (remake with SRK)

Costly to make, with sumptuous costumes and settings, Devdas is a beloved story that has already had the definitive version made in past years with Dilip Kumar. In spite of this, Devdas, with Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai is a classic movie. Aishwarya Rai is a delightful and then heartbroken Paro who does her best to make a life for herself after Devdas. Devdas (Shahrukh Khan) is unable to stand up for Paro against his parent's wishes and abandons her for a directionless life of loss and debauchery. In abandoning Paro, Devdas abandons himself. Devdas depicts a man's loss of self, his compromises, and his ineffectuality. Yet, in the end, he makes the grand gesture. The theme is loss and making the best of what we are allotted in our lives. Very sad, very heart-rending, very beautiful.

Guddu

An older SRK movie about the rift between science/technology and faith/religion, Guddu is a love story about two young people who meet, fall in love, and then experience a tragic accident. Guddhu (Sharrukh Khan) ends up taking his parents to court for the right to make a will. Although this movie has a fairly predicatable plot, characterization, climax, and outcome; nonetheless, it is entertaining and moving.

Veer-Zaara

A favorite love story between a Pakistani and a Hindustani, Veer-Zaara is about star-crossed lovers who are destined to be together. Gender equality, family loyalty, patriotism, and sacrifice are the compelling themes that drive the plot of the movie. With a star-studded cast, including: Preity Sinta, Rani Mukerji, and Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan plays Squadron Leader V eer Pratap Singh with pathos and restraint. This is a Yash Chopra movie with great direction, good song and dance sequences, and fine acting. In a court house scene, Veer reads a poem he has written. It is a great moment. This is my second time seeing the film. It was one of the first Indian movies I ever saw and I didn't know SRK at the time. I just thought it was a great plot and movie and it always stayed with me. I wanted to see it again because now I am familiar with the actors and actresses in the movie and I wanted to see if my opinion had changed. With a fresh appreciation, this movie has become one of my favorites.

Darr (fear)

Another great performance by SRK! Darr is a story of obsession. Rahul (Shahrukh Khan) loves Kiran. He has loved her since college, but he has never told her. In fact, the audience later finds out that Rahul was known as a person who had been in love with a woman and no one at the college could ever find out who the woman was. Kiran is engaged to Sunil and she eventually marries him. During the engagement and marriage, Rahul stalks Kiran, annonymously professing his love. Kiran becomes more and more terrorized. Eventually, Rahul intrudes more and more into the lives of Sunil and Kiran until he is ultimately recognized by Sunil as the stalker. There are several climatic scenes wherein the two (Sunil and Rahul) are beating one another so as to win their lady love. Normally, one would think, audience loyalty would go to Sunil, the beloved of Kiran. However, in spite of Rahul's violence, mistakes, obsession, the audience sympathizes with him. When offered this role and told that the lead man would be beating him, Shah Rukh said, "Let him, every time he pastes me, they (the audience) will hate him. And love me" (Mushtaq Shiekh, Still Reading Khan, 434). So True. Go figure! How does Shah Rukh accomplish this? How does he create that sympathy in the audience for a character such as Rahul?

Patsy by calm179

He picked her, not I. Why? She hung about, did not pretend indifference, nor did she hide from a frank gaze. Her possessions were few and well worn: a tattered copy of Thoreau's Walden Pond, a slender paperback, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and a palm sized ball of glass that reflected light from her window sill.

Simple, quiet, and peaceful in her ways, except when angered; then she would grow trenchant (truculent?) as a horse, restive in the heat of battle and flurry of argument.

She was plain as a Shaker pine box. Nondescript brown her hair, sturdily chunky in figure, and unremarkable in clothing, she was not someone you would look at twice; yet, like the presence of the box would, she grew on you.

Simple in her movements, modest in her glance, comfortable in her body, and in simple, clear conformity with herself, she was beautiful in her way. Though she took no pains and made no effort to enhance her appearance, she was endowed, by nature, with a single charm having twofold expression.

If eyes are the window to the soul, then her soul was the tempestuous riot of the ocean whirl pool and sink hole; a glowing sea green they were. The luminescent aqua shading the depths of the greater turbulence, the clear celadon of a semi-transparent and priceless Ming Dynasty vase, such a color were her eyes that they went lowered before the admiring gaze of those fortunate enough to have been favored with a glimpse.

And her smile confirmed the impression. Though rare in expression, her smile brought light into a room. Hearts were lifted and delight was manifest. Irresistible in combination, her charms were such that her previous "plainness" is now perceived as unfair advantage. As a precious gem is shown to best advantage on a field of black velvet, so too, she.

Without adornment, artifice, or aid, her spirit shone forth with a clarity and forthright character. She was non-pareil, without equal. Of course, he eventually divorced, having lost his eye for seeing, I presume. It was one of those cases where two eyes were not enough. It required three to appreciate her full impact.

She disappeared into the distance. I saw her once. She said that she was visiting, that her window looked out upon a green field and a little hill where a cow picked up grass by the mouthful, complacent in its grazing; a coyote or two sometimes passed to greet the moon or to hail the passing of a friend.

I wondered if she had added to her possessions, if light still sparkled, gathered by a palm-sized globe placed on a sill, by a hill, with a cow grazing complacently. I wonder will it ever end? She causes me to contemplate immortality.

With her smile and eyes and cow and Thoreau.

Pomegranate: the longed for and forbidden fruit by calm179

Laura P__ had a pomegranate tree in her front yard. It grew up agains the low wall dividing her property from the street. Like most of the architecture in La Crescenta, the wall was built of stone or granite, depending.

Laura was in my grade in middle school. Her house was on the way to school. Built of the same stone as the wall, her house was large and impressive. Obviously, her family was more well-to-do than the rest of us.

I never stole those pomegranates, although they hung within reach of the sidewalk. I wanted one, but the maxim, "Do no wrong" was more powerful than my desire.

Her brother, Brett, was tall, attractive, and two or three years older. The years passed and I found myself with Brett in my high school biology class. As a tenth grader taking biology with the seniors, I was a little intimidated. I was also oblivious to the social climate. Brett was my lab partner, so I ended up sitting by him everyday in the high chair at the lab table. He was a senior and very attractive, so, of course, we flirted. It went on for a while. Then, it got wierd, for me, at least.

One day, during class, after whatever verbal foreplay, I must have objected to something in our exchange. He said, "so why don't you slap me?" Being wide-eyed, innocent, and smitten, I did.

Unfortunately, being aware of my own strength was not my strong point. My hand connected, definitely with his cheek. Did you hit him hard enough to leave a mark on his face? you might ask. Well, yes I did. In fact, the outline of my hand seemed permanently printed on this left cheek. Did this become a public spectacle and the talk of the biology class? Well yes, it did.

Oops, I'm sure he was in pain. He turned to me with watering eyes. I'm sure I was blushing beet red in embarrassment. The bell rang.

We left. I don't remember what happened later. I'm sure I was too embarrassed by my lack of social awareness to ever relate to him again.

Kite Song

Like confetti in the sky,
The kites fly, dip, and swirl.
Numerous as stars,
Colorful as saris,
The play of wind and paper
Graces the sky with delight.



-calm179

Don (SRK)

Very slick, modern, gangster movie that is filmed in Paris, Malaysia, and India, Don is a story of the Hindi (can't tell if it's supposed to be a Muslim or Hindu gang...) mafia boss whose slogan is, "Not only is it difficult to catch Don (Shah Rukh Khan), it is impossible." However, in this movie, Don is caught. Vijay (SRK also) is a Don look-alike and the police decide to replace Don with Vijay so as to bring down the crime organization. Vijay steps in...and the plot proceeds apace. After lots of violence, car chases, and intrigue, mistaken identities are revealed (multiple times) and the film ends with an unexpected twist. Quite entertaining - a different role for Shah Rukh. He's good in this, as always. I have not yet found a SRK film that I didn't like for one reason or another. Even though I am (emphatically) not a fan of cop/crime dramas, I enjoyed this one.

Fury by Salman Rushdie

There are many things in the world to be angry about and Salman Rushdie creates a diatribe against them in his novel, Fury (2001). Malik Solanka wanders the streets of New York meditating upon the ills of American consumerist society. He is a man haunted by the Eumenides and has blackouts wherein he doesn't remember where his fury may have taken him. The creator of the immensely popular "Little Brain" doll and franchise, Solanka's creation is out of his control and has taken on a life of her own. Bitter about his loss of creative control, Solanka is also intimately disturbed by his personal life. He has walked out on his wife and toddler son, without a word of explanation and moved from India to New York. He haunts the streets. Looking for answers? Walking off his anger? His answer comes in the form of two women who, in their individual ways, help him to come to grip with the demons that haunt him. ( I think the Neela Mahendra character should be played by Aishwarya Rai...)

Real World by Natsuo Kirino

Author also of Grotesque and Out, Natsuo Kirino likes to explore the psychology of murder. She examines the thinking and feeling of individuals in a marginal state of being. Real World is a story about an adolescent boy who brutally and remorselessly murders his mother, basically because she bugged him. He involves the girl next door by stealing her bike and cell phone. Then he begins to call all of the contacts on her phone and converses at length with her friends. The story is told from the POV of the murderer (Worm) and the four girls with whom he comes into contact. Chilling and disquieting, the novel is a window into the mindset of Japanese high school students. Is this mentality common to high school students the world over? Inquiring minds want to know.

The Tracker Australian Cinema 2002

Starring David Gulpilil (Walkabout, The Last Wave, Rabbit-Proof Fence), The Tracker is a story of humanity, racism, respect, and retribution set in the outback in 1925, or thereabout. A, seemingly, very low budget movie, the soundtrack interprets the action of the story through song in the POV of the tracker. The plot is that a group of three white man accompany an aboriginal tracker for the purpose of tracking an aboriginal who reportedly murdered a white woman. The scenery is limited to the outback, four horses which drop out one by one, a cast of aboriginal people, and three white people who also drop off one by one. In the end, humanity wins out and justice is done. This is a good slow paced movie with some nuanced acting. See this, if you can find the movie. It is rare...

The Quiet American

This movie is based on a Graham Greene novel of the same name. Set in Viet Nam in 1952, it is the story of a British reporter who befriends an American member of the Red Cross. Alden Pyle (Brandon Fraser) in addition to being an aid worker also seems to be wrapped up in the CIA and the third party coming to power in Viet Nam. In addition, he is in love with Thomas Fowler's (Michael Caine's) love interest. Through adventures and intrigue, these two come to know more than they want to about one another. The scenery is gorgeous. This is an interesting movie about the time period prior to American involvement in the war. This is the time period when American is beginning to get its feet wet and it's not a flattering sight. Slow moving, almost lyrical, but also violent and disturbing, The Quiet American is worth seeing, if only to get a picture of American involvement in the 50's.

King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan by Anupama Chopra

Just finished this very interesting book. Anupama Chopra traces Shah Rukh's childhood roots and then follows his development into a world famous a-list superstar - King Khan. Besides being a fairly comprehensive biography and commentary on the films that Shah Rukh has made, the book also explains some history of the Bollywood industry and gives profiles of actors and directors within the context of Shah Rukh's history and story. (Shah Rukh was educated by the Christian Brothers- interesting connection to SMC, even if obliquely.) The writing style is very accessible, I didn't want to put it down and was sorry when it came to an end. Interesting fact, "From 1990 to 2005, India was the second-fastest-growing country in the world after China. The economy averaged a 6 percent growth, accelerating to 7.5 in 2005"(213).

Shah Rukh began acting in movies in 1992 and continues to the present. He has become the poster boy for this age of economic growth in India. It is said of him that, "Shah Rukh Khan is the face of a glittering new India. He is a modern-day god. On streets in India, his posters are sold alongside those of religious deities. Shrines have been erected in his name. For Indians and the varied non-Indian lovers of popular Hindi cinema, Shah Rukh is bigger than Tom Curise and Brad Pitt combined. Over fifteen years and fifty films, he has straddled Bollywood like a colussus. In the paan-stained studios of Mumbai, Shah Rukh's story, how a middle-class Muslim boy from Delhi became one of the biggest movie stars in the film industry in the world, is legend...The media, in tones that aren't ironical or mocking, refer to him as King Khan" (11).

"But Shah Rukh's life is more than just a dramatic show-biz success story. He is a Muslim superstar in a Hindu-majority country and his life reflects the fundamental paradoxes of a post-liberalization nation attempting to thrive in a globalized world" (11). Finally, "Shah Rukh personified the new millennium Indian who combines a global perspective with local values and is at home in the world" (14).